What a mess

It’s a busy time of the year, as I stated in my last column. Because of this, I don’t want to dig too deep into any one subject. Instead I will give three random thoughts on the Cubs and the NFL, as well as a mini college football preview.

The Cubs

1---In case you’ve been pulling your best Rip Van Winkle impression, I’m going to break some sad news to you. The Cubs season is over. Wait ‘till next year number 99. But since there are still 30 or so games left in 2006, it’s time to take a sneak peak into the future. Time to call up Felix Pie and see if he can really hit and run as good as Cubs management has said he does. Time to hand second base over to Ryan Theriot. Let the young starters prove what they can do. (Wait scratch that last one, we’ve been watching Triple-A starters all season long.) Unfortunately, this team is run by morons and that’s not going to happen. Phil Nevin and Jacque Jones will continue to get four at-bats a game and we’ll have as many question marks going into this winter as we did last.

2---I’m a huge Cubs fan, and sometimes my emotions get the best of me. On occasion, I maybe get a little bit mean. To be fair, I’ve been quite harsh on Jim Hendry. And I really haven’t really been a big Dusty Baker cheerleader. And to those two, I apologize. It really wasn’t all their fault. Because all along, I should have been yelling and cursing at pitching coach Larry Rothschild. No, he didn’t forget to sign any starting pitchers this winter. And he doesn’t sit on his hands when the team has a runner in scoring in position and a good bunter at the plate. But he blows up more arms then the Israeli army. Just look at the Cubs disabled list. O’Malley, Marmol, Eyre, Prior, Marshall, Wood, Miller. Seven pitchers. Sure, some of them just have horrible mechanics (Wood, Miller), but Scary Larry has something to do with most of them. When he was taken out of USC in 01, people said Mark Prior had a perfect delivery that would allow to pitch injury-free for year. Rothschild talks to him for three months and he goes on the DL seven times in four years. Ryan O’Malley was in the minor leagues for five seasons with no history of arm troubles. He pitches two games for the Cubs and strains his elbow. It’s just ridiculous that Rothschild still is in charge of our staff. Good thing Carlos Zambrano hasn’t listened to him yet.

3---A question that I’ve heard a lot recently is what to do with the out field situation for next year. Some feel that the trio of Murton, Pierre and Jones is acceptable and the team should invest in pitchers. Others think that Carlos Lee or Alfonso Soriano in left field would help the team more. And a third group of people think Felix Pie and Angel Pagan should be in the discussion. Personally I like Murton and Pagan, but I don’t think either of them are really Major League caliber, starting left fielders. But they are good enough players that the Cubs shouldn’t give up on them. In my best-case scenario, the Cubs would sign another outfielder, somebody like Jay Payton or Ryan Klesko, and let them compete with Jones, Murton and Pagan for spots in both left and right field. Keep Pierre in center and spend the majority of free agency cash on pitching.

The NFL
1---My complete NFL preview will be out next week, but I’m telling you right now, a team that’s getting a lot of talk that won’t do anything is the Dallas Cowboys. T.O. and Bill Parcells will be going at it by week four, and I just don’t trust Drew Bledsoe to make the plays. Unless Julius Jones runs for about 1,300 yards, which he can’t do if he’s not healthy, I see the ‘boys finishing in dead last in a stacked NFC East.

2---I was really impressed last night by Carson Palmer and the Bengals. Yes, they were playing the Packers, and it is only pre-season, but boy, that Cini offense looked damn near un-stoppable. When Rudi Johnson is pounding the rock efficiently, the defense has no choice but to stack the line of scrimmage. And that gives Palmer plenty of chances to beat the D deep to his great fleet of receivers. If the Bengals defense can play well, look out for them to make a Super Bowl run.

3---Rex Grossman’s struggles are really starting to bother me. It is an absolute must that he plays well this season, because without solid quarterback play, the Bears can’t even come close to sniffing a Super Bowl berth. Brian Griese is OK, but I’d rather see Rex under center when the season starts.

College Football Preview

1---I was going to do a full, complete college football preview where I listed who I thought would win every conference. But since it would be pretty much identical to everyone else’s preview, I decided against it. Instead I’m going to run down what I will be the three biggest games, the two players you should watch, and the one coach with the most pressure on him this season, all leading into who I think will be playing in the National Title game.

Game I---Ohio State @ Texas Sept. 9
Last year, when these teams had seven future first round picks between them, Vince and the Longhorns came off the Ohio Stadium field as victors. Texas went on to win the Rose Bowl; the Buckeyes went on to win the Fiesta. This year the goals are the same, just flipped. Both teams want to play in Arizona on January 8. I think Ohio State is just too fast and deep on offense, and with a freshmen QB, the ‘Horns won’t be able to keep up.

Game II---Florida @ Auburn Oct. 14
Call me a homer, call me a suck up, I don’t care. I think the Florida Gators, on paper, are one of the two best teams in the land. They have an established senior QB. They have a deep fleet of speedy wide-outs. They have one of the top front seven’s in the entire country. And they have the most intimidating home field advantage in the nation. There only flaw this year…the schedule. Road trips to Tennessee and Florida State are tough, as are home games with LSU, Alabama and South Carolina. Toss in the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville with Georgia. And you have one tough slate. Oh, and did I mention they also go to the Plains of Auburn. The Tigers have one of the most complete teams in not only the SEC, but the entire country. Unfortunately, I see Auburn winning this, ending the Gators National Title hopes.

Game III---Notre Dame @ USC Nov. 25
Last year’s game in South Bend was an instant classic won by the Trojans on a last second Matt Leinart touchdown sneak, helped of course by a helpful shove from Reggie Bush. This year USC is at home, but they don’t have Leinart0 or Bush. Instead it is the Fighting Irish that has all the offensive firepower. With Brady Quinn, Darius Walker and a good group of receivers, Notre Dame has the talent to topple the men of Troy. Look for them to take advantage of a young USC team and win this won in LA.

2---As for the Heisman, I don’t want to make a pick for that in the pre-season, because I feel it’s ridiculous to try and predict who the best player will be before any snaps have been taken. Instead, here are two guys you should be paying attention to this season:

Patrick Willis, Linebacker, Ole Miss
When you think of SEC football, big time linebacker’s from Mississippi aren’t probably the first thought that pops up. I’m guessing that it wouldn’t even be in the top 100. But Patrick Willis is a big time backer, and definitely someone to focus on in 2006. Last season he led the nation in solo tackles with 90. He had 128 total tackles, as well as three sacks, a couple of fumbles forced and an interception. This year the talent around him should be even better, allowing Willis to be even more of a force for the Rebels.

Michael Bush, Running Back, Louisville
In 2005, when everyone else was focused on a different running back named Bush from the West Coast, Louisville running back Michael Bush was tearing up defenses in the Big East. The big bruiser for the Cardinals ran for over 1,100 yards and scored a school record 23 rushing touchdowns, including a career high four in a triple-OT thriller with West Virginia. In 06, with the other Bush out of the way, all the attention should be on this one, who will lead Louisville to Big East title contention.

3--- It’s a strange time in the Big Ten, were the nation’s oldest and two youngest coaches all compete. But it’s a fourth coach, Michigan head man Lloyd Carr, that has the most pressure on him heading into 2006. Last year the Wolverine’s finished a Michigan State-like 7-5, the worst record and UM since 1984. Most people would respond to that saying, ‘OK, one bad year. It’s all right.’ Not at Michigan it’s not all right. Carr has recruited top ten talent every year he’s been in Ann Arbor, but hasn’t finished in the top ten at the end of the year for a while. And considering he’s 1-4 against Ohio State since Jim Tressel took over the Buckeye’s, the pressure’s really on Carr this season to get the job done, or he may be job hunting when the year’s over.

So with all that out of the way, who will win the new BCS title game on January 8, 2007 in Glendale, Arizona? I think every team this year is flawed. Notre Dame’s defense is too weak, Ohio State doesn’t have the secondary, Auburn doesn’t have an explosive wide out to keep defenses honest, West Virginia doesn’t have the experience, and Florida’s schedule is too tough. I think it will come down to USC (despite there loss to Notre Dame) and Louisville, with the Trojans taking home their third title in four years.