R. Rich

Great drama (if not great defense) to kick off the season from the TCU-Baylor game last night. What an upset win for the Bears! Yeah baby…..college football is back! We’re getting’ close to game time for the early ones today, so here goes my take on a few matchups from opening week. Here's a few games I'll be watching/tivo'ing/VCR recording this week: GAME #1: Indiana State @ PENN STATE Why this game?: Duh. It's the opening game for my beloved Nittany Lions! I think they could surprise some folks this season, but they are still not a finished product. Player(s) To Watch Out For: While neither guy is getting’ the All-America hype, DE Jack Crwaford and DT Devon Still are players who can make a difference for the Nittany Lions. LB Michael Mauti gets plenty of props as the next “great PSU ‘backer”. We’ll see if he can live up to such high praise. I am curious to see what sophomore RB Silas Redd can do. WR Derek Moye has been a good playmaker, but we’ll see what happens w/ the QB shuffle PSU seems to be set to use w/ Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin. Prediction: The Lions need to get off to a great start. They have to show they can run well, play good defense, and settle their QB issue. They had better get it together quickly. PENN STATE 30 – Indiana State 14 GAME #2: Louisiana-Monroe @ Florida State Why this game?: It's a chance to see one of the nation's top teams, the 'Noles, in their debut. I actually believe they could finish, if there are no stumbles along the way, higher than many of the polls and predictions I've read. What helps is that the ACC won't be nearly as treacherous to navigate for FSU as the SEC will be for LSU, 'Bama, Florida, and the like. Player(s) To Watch Out For: ‘Noles QB EJ Manuel can run it and throw it. Who will catch it? Well, that’s another story. The ‘Noles return 8 offensive starters, but will miss WR Willie Haulstead, who is out for this game w/ a concussion. Look for Rodney Smith and speed Bert Reed to step it up. On the defensive side, the ‘Noles have two of the better players in the nation in CB Xavier Rhodes and LB Nigel Bradham, but also have a couple of solid linemen in DE Brandon Jenkins and DT Jacobbi McDaniel plus the returning Everett Dawkins, who missed last year due to injury. Prediction: Louisiana-Monroe could be in for a long day. The ‘Noles bring back a wealth of talent and appear to be the class of the ACC and a legitimate BCS contender this year. Manuel could have a monster debut. Florida State 44 – Louisiana-Monroe 13 GAME #3: Oregon @ LSU Why this game?: Two of the top rated teams in the nation mixin’ it up @ the Jerrydome. Ducks have plenty of talent. Enough to slow down the Bayou Bengals? We shall see. Both teams are hurt by losses: the Ducks lose all conference defensive back/return man Cliff Harris, while LSU will be w/out QB Jordan Jefferson and, perhaps more substantial, WR Rusell Shepard. All three were suspended due to off the field infractions. Player(s) To Watch Out For: For the Ducks, it starts w/ their dynamite tandem of QB Darron Thomas and RB LeMichael James, a Hypeman finalist last season. Both players have game breaking ability and are threats to break off the big play. TE David Paulson is also a solid weapon for the O. The line, anchored by G Carson York, lost 3 starters, so we’ll see how they adjust. LSU will be led by backup signal caller Jarrett Lee, who has lost ‘bout 20 lbs this offseason and appears to be committed to gettin’ the job done. This is his chance. He’ll get help from the defense, led by CB Morris Claiborne and LB Ryan Baker. Prediction: The Bayou Bengals will certainly miss havin’ Shepard out there. They’re gonna have to get more out of guys like Lee, RB Spencer Ware, and WR Reuben Randle in order to keep up w/ the Ducks. What should help ‘em is their defense, in particular their front seven. I’ll give ‘em a slight edge since I’m old school and, as they say, defense wins championships. LSU 21 – Oregon 17 Enjoy the games, folks!

T minus..... 20 days and counting!!!!

25 days and counting!!!!

Yes. Please go.

The online draft will be next Sunday, August 28 @ 2:00pm EST. Yahoo! ID#: 469146 Password: IDAREUSYOUTOPLAY! Good luck to all.

30 days and counting!!!!

I actually thought they had the talent and depth to run the table last season. And then a funny thing happened on the way to an undefeated title run. That was a reminder that you can never know what is going to happen in the early stages. That's one of the things that makes college football such a superior overall game than professional football.

37 days and counting!!!!

Yep. I'll be posting something 'bout it shortly.

Game time!! Those who are in either the R. Rich's Buffalo Bills League or the TBD2 league, you have been sent email invites to renew for this year. Settings will be the same as they've always been and all the details 'bout the draft should be included in the invite. I will put the league info up here after the returning owners have had a chance to either renew or decline.

Yeah, maybe the NFL archives do, but true NFL history doesn't begin 'til the advent of ESPN. You know this, Kenneth.

Some guy who would make a decent tight end in today's NFL. Maybe.

While I appreciate the love for Sterling Sharpe (would've been a Hall of Famer no question had he not had the neck injury), I'm wondering if you were saying he was one of the 3 best of his era or all time? If it's his era, then maybe. Tim Brown and Cris Carter have to be in the discussion also. But if it's all time and we're disregarding Don Hutson and many other legends, well that's........justnzane.

No.

One XL and one 3X for us, please.

We will be there.

41 days and counting!!!! Got our hotel reservations made and lookin' forward to the much needed time away from work!!

46 days and counting!!!!

More like your list is like this: 1) Weak joke attempt 2) Food 3) through infinity) anything else infinity +1) Reading comprehension

...and a solid receiving option @ TE.... ...and another pass rushing DL.... ...and a few pass rushing OLBs.... ...and a few (healthy, consistent) CBs (rumor has it that teams throw the ball these days)...

I'll miss Helen more than any stromboli. We all had a blast when they came down for the Bills @ Ravens game last season.

Welcome to TBD.

Randy Quaid.........is that you?

Buddy Nix. He sucks, and the Bills are doomed before the season even starts. Behold, the coming of Armageddon...

WHAT????