The Calm Before The Storm: Colorado Thursday Edition

Today might be a bit slow, but you all know I'm working on the preview for the shootout in the river city.  Now, I know I'm not supposed to call it that, but 1) we're not playing Miami, so no real guns are involved, and 2) FSU's offense is most similar to a cap gun.  I think we're safe.

Hey Hey!  The contest is up!

In the next 24 hours we will have:

• Two interviews with Colorado people, including one with the guy who wrote the Denver Post Bowden Article.  A mainstream media guy talking to a blogger?  Yes, believe it. 
  
• The Rubric
• The Preview

I finally name the players of the week for Wake... after the jump.  Also, the answers I gave to The Ralphie Report.

First, I did a Q & A with The Ralphie Report.  You'll have to go to their site to see the full thing. 

Here, however, is the answer I gave regarding the FSU penalties:

As for the penalties, they really fell into four categories:

Talent Induced (3):  I'll put the 2 holding penalties against the offensive line here, as well as the Pass Interference against the defensive back who we unaffectionately call "Michael Ray Garbage" (his real name is Garvin).  These guys were trying to get lucky after prom six months ago, and were being asked to block a bunch of 22 or 23 year old men (Redshirt Senior defensive linemen from Wake).  I don't think this is a coaching issue.  The defensive back who was called for PI will not be seeing the field much more now that the remaining suspended 'Noles are returning.

Mental Errors (2): The False Start on the freshman OT and the 12 men on the field calls go here.  I think 1 false start in the game from a group with an average age of 19 years old is acceptable.  The 12 men on the field call aren't, and the coaches and players must share in the blame for this.  Since Mickey (Our DC) was yelling at an upperclassman defensive back, however, I think that DB needs most of the blame.

Inexperience (1): Corey Surrency threw a really egregious chop block, way down field.  This is his first year playing college football, and I have to believe that the former flag football star didn't know any better.  This is a coaching issue, but it's not one that I would expect to occur again.  They will definitely instruct Surrency as to what is and is not a legal block. 

Rage/ Undisciplined (4): The unsportsmanlike and unnecessary roughness calls go here.  This includes the offsetting shoving match that the kickoff team engaged in, the personal foul on Everette Brown, the personal foul on Preston Parker, and the Personal Foul late hit on Myron Rolle.  These ARE a point of concern.  My guess is that these were a result of 3 things: 1) a desire to get back at Wake.  FSU heard about how important revenging the loss against Wake was all week and they were too hyped up for this game.  2) The hyped up angle again.  If the two D1-AA games hurt FSU, it definitely showed here.  They watched as teams across the nation played 2 or 3 games, yet the 'Noles had yet to play a meaningful game.  These guys came out hyper aggressive, to their detriment.  3) Wake is a very smart team, and they effectively baited Brown and Parker into these penalties.  As upperclassmen leaders, these guys need to set the example and not fall for the bait.

Will this situation improve?  Yes, because of situation and coaching, but only to an extent.  The 'Noles have always played with an attitude.  FSU didn't have an outrageous amount of personal fouls last year though, and I think they can keep the number to two or less per game from here on out.  This team is much more talented than the squads from the past few seasons, and selfish mental errors will land a player on the bench, with a similarly talented player filling his spot on the field.

Bad Call(s) (2): The refs had two really costly and blatantly wrong personal foul calls in this game against FSU (and at least one against Wake, as the Zebra's were a bit flag happy, calling 20 penalties).  First, Surrency was flagged for an illegal block after being pushed into a Wake player and falling down. Second, Markus White (awesome newcomer and National JUCO Defensive POY) sacked Skinner by the front of the jersey.  The referee was behind skinner and didn't see the play very well, yet called an extremely costly face mask penalty against White.  Sometimes these things do happen, and the refs are adjusting to the new rules as well, but it is very questionable if White even touched Skinner's mask, much less pulled on it. 

Obviously, coaching can't do much about that.

Aggressiveness (1): E Brown offside

Mickey Andrews is okay with a limited amount of "aggression penalties", which he defines as guys attempting to make a play.  The FSU defensive line has always been ridiculously quick off the ball, and in addition to having great athletes on the edge, anticipating the snap count is another reason why.

I'm sure that is more than you wanted on penalties.  Sorry about that.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wake Forest

WCU: Rodney Hudson

UTC: Corey Surrency

Wake: NONE.

I am sorry, but I am not rewarding an offensive player of the game.  Instead, feast your eyes on this garbage:

Yes, those were the Antone fumble and the Christian Ponder forgetting to slide. 

Okay, enough of that. 

Tomahawk Nation Defensive Player of the Week

Everette Brown

Everette was all over the field and wrecked some serious havoc, tallying a bunch of tackles for loss.  He joins past winners Markus White and Toddrick Verdell.