The Rise of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans (NCAA Football 07)

[studbucket]

Your QB situation is interesting and hopefully Nottingham can do well this week and Culver isn't too unsettled.

[moose141]

Another week, another QB question, I feel like I'm in Groundhog Day. Hopefully Wilson can just lean on Eddie and keep the ship steering straight.

The Nottingham rumors are definitely interesting, imagine him leaving and heading a mile across Panther Hollow Bridge to Pitt, what a move that could be. Wouldn't hate to see it I would have to say

Will be tough for the Tartans to hold on to him if they keep hanging in the MAC, not sure how long it will take you to get that major conference offer to try and hang onto him. Might have to do a West Ham with Declan Rice and say "hey man, just give us one more season to see how things go before we let you leave."

[Careless Whisper]

Quote: Originally Posted by studbucket

Your QB situation is interesting and hopefully Nottingham can do well this week and Culver isn't too unsettled.

Interesting is a good word for the QB situation, haha. It's pretty crazy that neither Wilson or Culver came in expecting to ever be "the guy" - Wilson was a two-star behind my first prized QB recruit, three-star Bryan Williams, but entered with better ratings than him, and Culver was a one-star with the biggest THP/THA rating discrepancy I've ever seen. They're both extremely flawed in their own ways, yet the constant tug-of-war between them has been fascinating over the last couple of seasons. I will say though that I'm excited to have some stability at the position (*fingers crossed*) when Eric Frederick takes over!

Quote: Originally Posted by moose141

Another week, another QB question, I feel like I'm in Groundhog Day. Hopefully Wilson can just lean on Eddie and keep the ship steering straight. The Nottingham rumors are definitely interesting, imagine him leaving and heading a mile across Panther Hollow Bridge to Pitt, what a move that could be. Wouldn't hate to see it I would have to say Will be tough for the Tartans to hold on to him if they keep hanging in the MAC, not sure how long it will take you to get that major conference offer to try and hang onto him. Might have to do a West Ham with Declan Rice and say "hey man, just give us one more season to see how things go before we let you leave."

Eddie is definitely the best safety blanket for both quarterbacks, and makes living with their inconsistencies a little easier! As for Nottingham, assuming this season ends the way I want and expect it to, I feel like he's leaving. The program's prestige has bumped up under his watch, and a conference championship and/or 10+ win season should have some bigger schools calling. I don't have an inkling on what schools would try to hire him to be honest - I just went through all the BCS conferences and pointed out some schools having disappointing seasons, but if one does extend an offer then he has to go as per my dynasty rules.

The program's future in the MAC is an interesting one. Despite not having a title to show for it, I feel like CMU is the most dominant program in the MAC by a good amount and I could compete at a fair level at one of the BCS conferences. I think it's random when it comes to moving up or down though, and my hope is that I'm not stuck in the MAC for an extended period of time if I (continue to) show that CMU is on another level than its peers.

[Careless Whisper]

Around the NFL – October Wrap-Up
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young is again the clubhouse leader to take home Associated Press NFL MVP honors

Division Standings
AFC East: New York Jets (6-2), Miami Dolphins (4-3), New England Patriots (3-4), Buffalo Bills (2-5)
AFC North: Cincinnati Bengals (5-2), Baltimore Ravens (2-5), Cleveland Browns (2-5), Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5)
AFC South: Tennessee Titans (7-0), Houston Texans (5-2), Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5), Indianapolis Colts (1-6)
AFC West: San Diego Chargers (7-1), Denver Broncos (3-4), Kansas City Chiefs (3-4), Oakland Raiders (1-7)
NFC East: Washington Football Team (7-1), Philadelphia Eagles (6-1), New York Giants (2-5), Dallas Cowboys (1-6)
NFC North: Minnesota Vikings (5-3), Detroit Lions (3-4), Green Bay Packers (2-5), Chicago Bears (2-6)
NFC South: New Orleans Saints (6-1), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2), Carolina Panthers (4-4), Atlanta Falcons (3-4)
NFC West: St. Louis Rams (4-3), Seattle Seahawks (4-3), San Francisco 49ers (4-4), Arizona Cardinals (3-4)

Offensive Players of the Week
Week 5: Jim Manning, HB, CHI | 36 carries, 207 yards, 3 TD; 2 catches, 21 yards in 27-9 win over DET
Week 6: Chris Henry, WR, SEA | 11 catches, 251 yards, 2 TD in 30-24 (OT) win over CHI
Week 7: Frank Gore, HB, SF | 39 carries, 235 yards, 2 TD; 4 catches, 50 yards, 1 TD in 35-11 win over BUF
Week 8: Marc Tyler, HB, MIN | 26 carries, 200 yards, 2 TD; 4 catches, 26 yards, 1 TD in 40-7 win over ARZ

Defensive Players of the Week
Week 5: Freddie Fairchild, OLB, TEN | 6 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD in 30-14 win over MIA
Week 6: Antwan Barnes, MLB, SEA | 6 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD in 30-24 (OT) win over CHI
Week 7: Brandon Condren, SS, MIN | 4 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD in 21-14 win over JAX
Week 8: Andra Davis, MLB, SD | 11 tackles, 1 FR, 1 TD in 29-6 win over KC

Injury Report
Antonio Bryant, WR, CLE | Broken femur (season)
Robert Meachem, WR, NO | Severe concussion (season)
Jarred Fayson, WR, JAX | Torn Achilles tendon (season)
Brandon Marshall, WR, PHI | Upper arm fracture (10 weeks)
Jason Worilds, DE, MIN | Torn bicep (5 weeks)
Marcus Stroud, DT, DEN | Foot fracture (season)
Matt Johnson, OLB, TEN | Foot fracture (season)

Cadillac MVP Watch
Vince Young, QB, TEN | 101.3 QB rtg., 173-270, 1,595 yards, 21 TD, 3 INT; 70 carries, 683 yards, 4 TD
Frank Gore, HB, SF | 251 carries, 1,274 yards, 8 TD; 36 catches, 308 yards, 3 TD
Shaun Phillips, OLB, SD | 52 tackles, 8 sacks, 1 INT, 4 FF, 1 FR
Tim Tebow, QB, MIN | 72.6 QB rtg., 148-247, 1,360 yards, 7 TD, 7 INT; 43 carries, 306 yards, 6 TD
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, NYJ | 96.0 QB rtg., 152-235, 1,938 yards, 9 TD, 4 INT

[Careless Whisper]

Tartans to the League: October 2012 Review
Jim Manning won NFL Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 9 after a 207-yard, three-touchdown rushing performance

In the 2012 NFL Season, the Carnegie Mellon Tartans have six former players on NFL rosters. At the end of every month, we will provide a brief review on how each player’s season is going.

Todd Andriano, FS, Detroit Lions (#1 FS, 85.0 PFF grade)

Todd Andriano made a bevy of impact plays in the month of October. In Week 5 against the Chicago Bears, Andriano snagged a pair of interceptions off of Andrew Luck in a 27-9 defeat, and then two weeks later on Monday Night Football, he scooped up a fumble and ran it back 67 yards to paydirt for his first career touchdown. The Lions also lost that game to the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-13, but won twice against the Green Bay Packers in Week6 (34-27) and Week 8 (27-6).

October Stats: 7 tackles, 2 INT, 1 FR, 1 TD

Calvin Burton, CB, New Orleans Saints (#3 CB, #1 KR, #1 PR; 82.0 PFF grade)

Calvin Burton continued to handle primary return specialist duties in October as the New Orleans Saints defeated the Washington Football Team (35-14), Atlanta Falcons (21-17), and New York Giants (34-17) all at home. Replacing reigning Associated Press NFL MVP Reggie Bush in the position, Burton's best day returning the ball came against the Giants, as he averaged 12.4 yards per punt return over seven attempts.

October Stats: 1 tackle; 9 kick returns, 156 yards; 17 punt returns, 179 yards

Matt Fitch, G, Houston Texans (#4 LG; 69.0 PFF grade)

Matt Fitch continued to remain on the Houston Texans' practice squad in October. The Texans sit at 5-2 with wins over the Indianapolis Colts (34-17) and Cleveland Browns (22-19) during the month, but they suffered their second loss of the campaign at the New York Jets (31-17) in Week 6.

October Stats: N/A

Matt Johnson, OLB, Tennessee Titans (#1 LOLB; 84.0 PFF grade)

Matt Johnson suffered a torn ACL in the Tennessee Titans' 45-13 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 2 and will miss the remainder of the season. The Titans remained undefeated on the season with victories against the Miami Dolphins (30-14), Jacksonville Jaguars (20-6), Cincinnati Bengals (34-17), and Chicago Bears (32-17).

October Stats: N/A

Jim Manning, HB, Chicago Bears (#1 RB; 81.0 PFF grade)

Jim Manning registered the NFL's top offensive performance in Week 5, as he rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns in the Chicago Bears' 27-9 win over the Detroit Lions. He won NFL Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts, and now sits at 777 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the season.

October Stats: 86 carries, 388 yards, 3 TD; 5 catches, 50 yards

Mark Toth, MLB, Chicago Bears (#1 MLB; 81.0 PFF grade)

Mark Toth continues to man the middle of the Chicago Bears defense, collecting his second interception of the season in a 27-9 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 5, and forcing a fumble in a 34-16 loss at the Green Bay Packers in Week 7. Toth recorded a career-high eight tackles in a 32-17 defeat to the Tennessee Titans in Week 8.

October Stats: 17 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF

[Careless Whisper]

Carnegie Mellon Tartans (7-1, 5-0 MAC) at Ohio Bobcats (3-5, 2-2 MAC)
Saturday, November 3, 2012 | 12:30 PM
Athens, Ohio – Peden Stadium | ROOT Sports Pittsburgh

Record vs. Opponent: 2-0-0
Last Five Meetings
2011 – Carnegie Mellon 49, Ohio 26
2008 – Carnegie Mellon 37, Ohio 35

The Lowdown
Returning to the field after its bye week, Carnegie Mellon will look to keep its Mid-American Conference (MAC) unbeaten record intact when it travels to Ohio this Saturday. The Tartans are coming off a 43-27 victory at Akron two weeks ago, and are riding a seven-game winning streak following their season-opening 51-32 defeat at No. 25 West Virginia. This is the first time that CMU has played the Bobcats in back-to-back seasons, despite both schools residing in the MAC East Division, and the Tartans will attempt to extend their record to 3-0 in the series after recording wins in 2008 and 2011.

Despite sitting at 3-5 overall, Ohio has played better of late by winning two of its last four games against Western Michigan and Buffalo by identical 31-17 scores. The Bobcats also dropped tough games against Ole Miss (47-42) and Eastern Michigan (34-33) over that stretch, and prior to its Week 5 bye, they fell at Notre Dame, Columbia, and Kent State by a combined score of 133-14. Ohio has been hampered by injuries, including lengthy ones to starting runningback Marcus Miller (70 carries, 393 yards, 4 TD in 2011) and reserve defensive tackle Andrew Hicks (3 tackles), as well as a couple of suspensions, with redshirt senior tight end Joseph Finley the latest to sit out for a violation of team rules.

Scouting Ohio
Ohio boasts a veteran offensive line, with Preseason All-MAC selections Kevin Stanley and Dave Joyce anchoring it at the tackle spots. Stanley, a junior, is one of the most talented left tackles in the MAC with an 82.0 Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade, while the redshirt junior Joyce was an All-MAC Second Team pick last season. They protect first-year starting quarterback Ron Britton (131.2 QB rtg., 124-206, 1,380 yards, 11 TD, 3 INT), who has been a reliable pocket passer in his first collegiate action. Replacing Miller in the backfield is redshirt junior James Brown (179 carries, 988 yards, 10 TD; 13 catches, 159 yards, 2 TD), who also has had a good season. Redshirt senior Matt Wade (42 catches, 556 yards, 3 TD) is the Bobcats’ top receiver, while Dante Cox (36 catches, 355 yards, 3 TD) has emerged as the second option as a true freshman.

The defense is led by junior middle linebacker Andrew Ross (48 tackles, 3 sacks), who recorded 67 tackles, four sacks, four interceptions, and a touchdown last season while being named to the All-MAC Second Team. The unit’s most talented player is senior safety Stephen Marshall (17 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT), an often-injured playmaker with eight career interceptions and an 82.0 PFF rating. Ohio also has multi-year starters in redshirt junior defensive end Matt Roberts (26 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), junior linebacker Kyle Crawford (39 tackles, 1 INT), and sophomore cornerback Daniel Williams (20 tackles). The Bobcats have one of the better special teams groups in the conference, with senior punter Justin Merritt (41 punts, 44.7 avg., 11 inside 20) making Preseason All-MAC, and redshirt junior Anthony Thompson (4-10 FG, 22-23 XP) previously being an All-MAC Second Team selection in 2009 despite this season’s struggles.

Did You Know?
Since joining the MAC, Carnegie Mellon is 3-1 in its first game after a bye week. The Tartans’ first-ever MAC contest after the week off came against, ironically, Ohio on Nov. 8, 2008. In that meeting, CMU’s defense intercepted six passes and ran one back for a touchdown in a 37-35 win at Peden Stadium. Tartans runningback Jim Manning rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, while quarterback Justin Keyes produced 214 yards of offense (115 passing, 99 rushing) with a pair of touchdown passes. Mark Toth intercepted three of the six mistakes from Bobcats signal-caller Brandon Jones, and Matt Johnson’s 20-yard interception return in the third quarter gave CMU the lead for good.

Prediction
Only one team has finished within a score of Carnegie Mellon in MAC play, and that was Miami (Ohio) in a comeback 42-35 win on Oct. 13. That trend should continue on the road against Ohio, who like the rest of the conference, face a large talent gap despite having some All-MAC players. The Tartans know that they’re past the halfway point on the road to a MAC East Division title and don’t take the Bobcats lightly. Carnegie Mellon 42, Ohio 17.

[studbucket]

What an MVP watch list LOL.

Quote:

Cadillac MVP Watch Vince Young, QB, TEN | 101.3 QB rtg., 173-270, 1,595 yards, 21 TD, 3 INT; 70 carries, 683 yards, 4 TD Frank Gore, HB, SF | 251 carries, 1,274 yards, 8 TD; 36 catches, 308 yards, 3 TD Shaun Phillips, OLB, SD | 52 tackles, 8 sacks, 1 INT, 4 FF, 1 FR Tim Tebow, QB, MIN | 72.6 QB rtg., 148-247, 1,360 yards, 7 TD, 7 INT; 43 carries, 306 yards, 6 TD Matt Hasselbeck, QB, NYJ | 96.0 QB rtg., 152-235, 1,938 yards, 9 TD, 4 INT

[Careless Whisper]

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