Some Pundits I've read/heard have them right where they are, even one on ESPN said they might be the best of the teams not named Bama yet others see them as anywhere between 7- 10 with a few at around 15 - 19.
After I saw Texas, LSU and Georgia play these past two weeks, I'm happy with the AP position of # 4 buy worry, (after this performance with Pitt) they're really closer to # 20.
I watched the UM game, and don't think they're really a top 10 team but some predictors have them in the playoffs as better than Ohio State.
Other than "we shall see" - post your thoughts as unbiased as possible.
I think both are a little better than ND right now, the reason being the rather weak Oline since Bars injury. Otherwise, with Bars, I think they deserve to be 4th.
considering they have lost a game this year and we edged them head to head in the bowl, I give us the nudge by a pubic hair.
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Alabama is clearly a cut above every one else and we would have about a 10-15% chance to beat them. Ohio State is probably better and I would say we have a 30-40% chance to beat them. The rest of the teams in the say top 12 we have a 60% chance with the exception of Clemson which is 50/50. That is your eye test. You have to look at results against potentially good teams with talent and we did beat Michigan, Stanford and Virginia Tech. All teams with decent talent. Wake we played like we should. Pittsburgh is physical and you can never be flat against them but if you jump on them they generally fold, so we under performed there and obviously played poorly on offense against the poor teams,
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With Jekyll we look top 2-3ish....with Hyde we barely look top 25 worthy (only in top 25 because of defense).
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I will rank them as soon as somebody defines "...eye test..." Every time I've ever heard that term used it is an excuse to insert a person's personal prejudice (good or bad) about a team. I hate that term.
Seriously, you're having a problem with what "eye-test" means? Which word is the most difficult for you? We'll start there.
this team is seriously awesome.
...their paper ranking if they can win out and win some of these last five decisively. Plus being undefeated, should it come to pass, has it's own value, as it's a difficult thing to do against a schedule that includes quality opponents.
get on top of a team, the margin of three touchdowns to five touchdowns is meaningless. Second/third strings may play and the attitude of the team losing makes for either worse landslides or closer scores. Because of meaningless effort by the winning team, along with second and third teamers getting their feet wet and operating with a limited playbook scores can deviate a lot with little meaning as to how good a team may be.
...the offensive line and pass protection gel into a decent unit that can adjust on the fly.
There's no question that the offensive line has been an issue. While losing Bars hurts, the dropoff at the left guard position isn't so bad, considering how solidly Ruhland has been playing.
My greater concern is at the right tackle position. I had thought that Robert Hainsey was starting to get into a nice groove until last Saturday, where he got burnt pretty badly by the edge rushers. I honestly don't know if he's still hampered by that leg injury, or whether he's in a terrible sophomore slump.
Poor blocking at the running back position at times (Avery Davis whiffed badly on a couple of blocks) only made this worse.
They did step up their game in the 2nd half, but let's be frank here... If we give up an entire half to a team the likes of the Crimson Tide, tOSU, or Clemson, it's not going to be a one score deficit at halftime; it's going to be at least three scores.
I wouldn't worry about Michigan. They're not going to beat both Penn State and tOSU. Maybe they pull off a close victory against the Sandusky Stain, but given how tOSU is humming along, I don't see it happening against them.
just win!
1 week at a time!
Purdue looks pretty good. They may give OSU a battle this weekend.
Though the team is loaded with talent and has impressive wins (Michigan, Stanford, VT), but inconsistent performance against weak opponents is not a characteristic of a Top 5 team. Pittsburgh exposed the weaknesses of the offense. Upcoming opponents will take note of these weaknesses. Brian Kelly's (BK) coaching approach will be the downfall of a title search. I would not be surprised with an as usual BK November collapse.