Auburn downs Georgia behind the performance of Cam Newton, 49-31

I do not know what to say, or even how to express how enamored, awestruck, and baffled at Cam Newton. This kid is special, no one knew he would be this special, but I bet Gene Chizik and his staff would tell you they did. I crown Auburn as the best team in the nation, with Oregon escaping a scare against Cal (15-13); there is no doubt in my mind that the Tigers are the crème de la crème.

With all the swirling allegations about the recruitment of Newton to Mississippi State, Newton got it done on Saturday which he has been doing for eleven weeks now. Yeah, people are going to start piping up about Auburn’s luxury of home games this season, not playing defense, and they have to go to Tuscaloosa to play a pretty good Alabama team but for Newton it’s no sweat.

Cam Newton deserves Ric Flair's robe and heavyweight title

Players respond differently to adversity, some fold under the pressure and others rise to the occasion and that is what Newton did and his teammates. Newton made some NFL-type throws on a rope that were beautiful. He was playing with an angry streak, showing the doubters that he is unaffected by all this mess and hubris surrounding him. If there is one thing I know is that you do not want to play against a pissed off Newton, that’s for sure. The Crimson Tide better hope there is no damning reports coming out in the next ten days leading up to their Nov. 26^th showdown.

I’m usually level headed, but I say to hell with defense just score. And that is why I say Auburn will beat Alabama. Make it a track meet and watch the Tigers sink ‘Bama. There is a growing fear that if Newton touches the ball, they are going to score. So all those analysts can talk about Nick Saban telling his boys to run the ball (what running game, I say) and control the clock, but every time you turn it over, Auburn will score. You cannot kick field goals to beat this team and if the Crimson Tide is going to wait for the second half to wake up and game plan against the Tigers it will be too late.

This is Newton’s year (eighth player in FBS history to have 1,000 yards rushing and 2,000 yards passing), and he will seize the opportunity. I know earlier in the season, I compared Newton to Terrelle Pryor and forgive me for that. I had water on my brain. For the record, Pryor wishes he had Newton’s ability. Pryor should be utilizing his size (6’6, 233) in a better manner: bowl over defenders, stiff arm them, and show some true grit! Until Pryor shows urgency at the quarterback position, Ohio State will not play for the national title.

 Newton plays with fervor and moxie that Pryor does not show on Saturdays.  To be a star athlete you got to have a nasty streak and you got leave it all on the field, every time you step out there or why bother lacing up the boots. Newton has that mercurial touch and hopefully instead of turning things to gold, he can make a crystal trophy appear in his hands.

So Kirby Smart and Saban better be ready, bring all your powerful weapons because Auburn will be ready this time and it will be in their favor.  And Alabama’s offensive line better be ready for DT Nick Fairley and friends because they will be coming for blood. 

Is the 40 time that important?

On Saturday, the first workouts for the NFL Scouting Combine begin. This is the season where we get a heavy dose of Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay. They provide us with the insight on these players, from the good to the bad. Mike Mayock, of the NFL Network, will add a no-nonsense approach to his top draft picks and those that are flying under the radar. Fans and media-types are enamored by the blazing 40 times these kids run and also the super-athletic players. But what do we truly gain from knowing a kid runs a sub 4.30, or better yet what do the 32 NFL teams take away from the combine? NFL personnel attend the combine to see what these players look like in person and the interview process. Of course, they like to see them perform in the drills, but the 40 time is not the essential component to the days spent at the combine in Indianapolis. There will be teams that fall in love with the Chris Johnsons, Reggie Bushs, or Darrius Heyward-Beys of the world. But what does the 40 yard dash determine? It shows that a kid has either good or bad straight line speed. A top-end 40 time is not going to help a corner cover a wide receiver better or be better in zone coverage, and it is not going to help a running back with running in-between the tackles, his balance, or agility. Every position has important pertinent drills specific to that position, but the three-cone drill and the shuttle drill are more important to teams. The three-cone drill measures a player’s agility, fluidity of his hips, and his quickness, which is important to how he transitions from one movement to another. The shuttle drill measures the player’s acceleration, his first step speed and his lateral quickness. This allows teams to see how quick these players reach optimal speed for whatever purpose and how they control their body coming out of different movements. The Oakland Raiders are a team that falls in love with the most athletic and fast guys but this comes with a disclaimer: off the field issues or low football IQ. We know that Al Davis is going to make whatever decision his heart desires but this has not produced on the field success for his franchise. As NFL teams push forward, they are looking for athletes that have no prior baggage that will be detrimental to them and then eventually the team. Teams will use the combine to cover every psychological factor of each player. They really want to get to know these players and not only from a football standpoint but what kind of human beings are these kids. We should see more stories like Myron Rolle (Rhodes Scholar) than the kids involved in robberies and altercations. As you get comfy on your couch with your beer in hand and popcorn on your lap, forget about the 40 times and look at the other drills and make your assessment based on how these kids test in them. A glamourous 40 time doesn’t mean anything, just look at Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith, any arguments? I didn’t think so.

In Tebow, I Trust

Just like Martha Coakley thought she had the Senate seat in the bag, maybe the Timothy Tebow naysayers will eat crow when he becomes successful in the NFL as a quarterback. Granted, he did not look good in the first Senior Bowl practice, fumbling six snaps, but who are we as fans and journalists to determine his fate. For starters, he is probably the best collegiate player in this modern era to play college football: two national championships, Heisman Trophy winner and many more offensive accolades to add to the growing list of accomplishments. With 32 NFL scouts in Mobile, Alabama, he was skewered, devoured, and regurgitated for the viewing public to witness. We all know he came from a spread-option offense run by Urban Meyer and these quarterbacks (think Alex Smith) have trouble lining up under center and making the necessary drop-back throws in the NFL. But who are we to think that Tebow, a God-fearing kid from Jacksonville, FL, will not make it at the next level? There is no denying his passion for the game and as a leader; it has been on display for the last four years as he suited up as a Gator. He did not get the nickname of Superman for no reason. Everyone has witnessed his bowling over of defenders for first downs and touchdowns, his patented jump-pass, his fiery pep talks, his vow to never lose again after a bittersweet loss to Ole Miss in ’08. The scouts are saying that he needs to switch to H-back or tight end. But then they question his speed, is he fast enough to play those positions? It took a lot of courage for him to attend the Senior Bowl; he knew the critics would come out in full force to dish out the criticism real thick like some Missouri barbeque sauce. What kills me is that those who adored everything he did in college are the ones who are vehemently against his success at the quarterback position. It took me a while (three years to be exact) to warm up to Tebow. I guess I had a negative affinity toward Urban Meyer and his winning ways at Florida; it was his mocking smile underneath the surface, and his penchant for exacting revenge on a rival SEC coach if they slighted him in a press conference or his team on the field. But I like Tebow and I think he is good for the sport of football. If I were Tebow, I would do the NFL Scouting Combine and his pro day. The more work he gets in on his mechanics the better for him in the long run. In the senior bowl last Saturday, he did OK; he was not awful. You can still see the hesitancy lining up under center. He had two fumbles but that North defense was a ferocious bunch. I felt that the ball did not come out with enough velocity to reach its target, but all these things will be worked on through him being drafted and well into his career in the NFL. I cannot tell whether he will be a star in the NFL, at the quarterback position, but you know that he will give a 110% in improving his weaknesses. This kid won’t rest or take a day off; when the rest of his team will enjoy the clubs and the bars, he will head home to watch more tape and improve. It’s is in his DNA, and those individuals that are doubted and no one gives a benefit of the doubt to, do rise above the negativity. And I hope, Tebow does. He deserves it.