Random Rant: "Just when I thought I was out..."

The Niners suck this year, so I put a lot less thought into the team than I'm used to. Don't get me wrong, I still spend an ungodly amount of time watching their games, reading about them online, even posting about them. But growing up in the 80's and 90's, I was used to spending most of my waking hours thinking about them. Now, because of their record and recent history, I care whether they win or lose, but more of my thought goes toward the future -- how are the young players progressing, do they have the right coaches, is the ownership holding them back, etc. Back then, the next week's game was always foremost in my mind, as was the playoff picture. Those are two things I never think about anymore.

But still, come Sunday morning -- or this week, Monday afternoon -- I start thinking about the game, the match-ups, the team's chances. And once the game starts, the competitive juices really start to flow. If the Niners keep it close, I get into it and want to see them win. That's why Monday night's game was so painful. It was a Michael Corleone/Godfather III Special: Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.

I had low expectations going in, but then Rossum returns the opening kickoff for a TD, Morgan makes a circus catch for a TD, the Niners lead 14-3 and suddenly my hopes are raised. By the time the Cards had pulled within 14-13, I was pretty sure we'd seen the best the Niners had and the Cards were just warming up, but then Vernon Davis makes a circus catch for a TD, and I'm feeling hopeful again. When Shaun Hill turned from "effective game manager" to "JTO-like turnover machine" and the Niners lost the lead with 4:16 left (after leading for 55+ minutes), I was ready to throw in the towel, but then Hill drove them down to the Arizona 20 yard line.

After Hill's "Look at me, I'm Brett Favre! Wait, check that -- I'm not" interception, I thought for sure the game was over, but once the Niners stopped the Cards and got the ball back, drove to the 2 yard line and had a 1st and goal with 40+ seconds remaining, I thought for sure we'd win. Unfortunately, that's when the Niners finally decided to go ahead and cut to the chase by crapping the bed. The mistakes came in rapid succession:

1) After Jason Hill went down on the 2 yard line, the Niners were confused whether they should just spike the ball or put in their goal line package first (when there is absolutely no reason to). Because of this, and their inability to line up correctly, it took them 24 seconds to finally kill the clock.

2) Instead of doing the obvious -- and smart -- by calling at least one pass play (and probably two), they ran the ball. Quick passes, like a fade or quick slant for instance, take only 4 or 5 seconds, meaning the Niners could've easily fit in two before finding themselves in a 4th down situation. Even one pass before a run wouldn't have changed the situation much. As close as Frank Gore came from staying on his feet and getting in, his run for no gain changed everything -- by the time the Niners ran another play they only had time for one.

3) Having mismanaged their time so badly they changed a 4 down opportunity into a 2 play opportunity, the Niners used their last play -- their one chance to win the game -- to hand the ball to a backup RB. If this was from the 1 yard line, I still would complain about the ball not going to Gore. But the ball was on the 2 1/2 yard line. Any run from there is misguided. Especially given how the Cards had stacked the middle of their line. Double-especially when considering offensive coordinator Mike Martz and head coach Mike Singletary had extra time to think up/discuss this because officials were reviewing the previous play.

The bottom line: The Niners ran out of time with one down left despite having 44 seconds to play with. They gained 50+ yards on the first three plays of the drive (all passes to emerging star Jason Hill) in just 22 seconds, then proceeded to run only two real plays (if you can even call them that) in the final 44 seconds. That's inexcusable. Still, despite these mistakes, this was one of the Niners most exciting games, which only made the hurt worse, but it is a good sign. Considering the Cards were at home, it was Monday night, and some arizona players had made comments about this being a statement game, this would've been a tough test for a new coach, even if Singletary hadn't had a crazy debut two weeks ago. Everything considered, it was a impressive performance by Singletary's squad -- if a bitterly anti-climactic finish.

"We have to learn how to finish", Coach Sing said after the game, and he was right. It seems the team believes in him. A tough loss like this will be a good test. So will next weeks game against a very beatable Rams team. If the Niners win that in front of the home crowd, he may suddenly find himself with a following -- and some momentum he needs to retain the job next season. If he loses, not so much. And right now, just as I most want to completely give up on the team, I can't wait to see how they play next week.

Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.

For Who? For What?: JoePa FTW!

This wrap-up of the weekend in both college and pro football is named after the classic post-game quote immortalized by all-time favorite/whipping boy Ricky Watters.

I decided to shake things up, and start writing about the entire weekend in football – college included. Part of this springs from the fact my Niners are stinking it up so bad, I’m having trouble putting too much thought into the NF of L, and part of it has to do with the fact when I started this blog it was too early in the season to seriously discuss who the best teams in college were. As I’ve previous made clear, I’m not a fan of jumping into to bed and ranking teams before we have a chance to get to know each other a little better.

But with the leaves changing colors (I’m assuming, because the leaves in LA are on strike), and the teams coming more into focus, I figured it was time to unleash The EL’s first ever Top Ten in college football:

1. Texas (8-0)
2. Alabama (8-0)
3. Penn State (9-0)
4. USC (6-1)
5. Oklahoma (7-1)
6. Georgia (7-1)
7. Florida (6-1)
8. Texas Tech (8-0)
9. Oklahoma State (7-1)
10(tie). Utah (8-0)/Boise State (7-0)

Notes: A few differences between my list and the polls – both BCS and AP: I have USC over Oklahoma based on their superior defense; I have both Georgia and Florida over Texas Tech based on playing stiffer competition, but if Tech beats Texas this week, you can expect to see some leap-frog action; So as to not slight either of the undefeated teams from the Mountain West, I have Utah and Boise State tied for the final spot.

Penn State may be 3rd on my list –- and 3rd in both the BCS and AP as well –- but after their big win at the horseshoe over OSU this weekend, I feel they may have the best chance of any team in the nation to play for the National Championship in January. Both of the schools ahead of them, Texas and Alabama, still have to each get through a highly-ranked opponent on the road, a rivalry game, and a conference title game. Meanwhile, Penn State has only one speedbump on its schedule, and the Big Ten is one of the last remaining conferences without a championship game gauntlet to run.

#1 Texas is the hottest team in the nation, maybe even it's best, but they are in an epically rough portion of their schedule and the hard work isn't done yet. Coming off a big win over Oklahoma State, the 'Horns have another tough matchup this week, at undefeated Texas Tech. If the ‘Horns can slip past the Red Raiders, they get the Aggies, and while Texas A&M is 1-5 this year, you know the Aggies will save their best game for the Longhorns. get past the Aggies and Texas lands themselves a showdown vs. the Big 12 North Division champ. That’ll likely mean a rematch with #11 Missouri, this time at a neutral site – Kansas City, where there could be a yet another difficult obstacle -- snowy conditions.

Alabama’s schedule isn’t any easier. They have a tough matchup at #19 LSU in two weeks, and a home game against feisty rival Auburn after Thanksgiving. If the Crimson Tide can survive that, they face an even tougher challenge in the Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship Game – either #7 Georgia or #10 Florida.

As good as both the ‘Horns and Tide are, I simply can’t see them both running the table. Penn State, on the other hand, has just one ranked team left to face, #21 Michigan State, and that game’s at home. If they avoid a stumble there – and I can’t think of the last time the Spartans played spoiler to anyone’s title hopes – ol’ JoePa himself will be having a last laugh on critics (like myself) who called him over the hill years ago.

Around the NFL:

--Don't look now, but the Carolina Panthers are the 2nd best team in the NFC. You may want to argue, but I bet you'll have a hard time doing it. It's not that I think the Panthers are dazzling -- they're not. But this is a process of elimination deal here, and besides the New York Giants, I defy you to name me one team you'd be confident in wagering on against them. Last week, I had them behind only the Giants among NFC teams in my power poll, just ahead of Tampa and Arizona. They beat the Cards this week (albeit at home) while Tampa lost to a the limping former juggernaut known as the Dallas Cowboys. The next team down the list is the Redskins, who struggled to beat Detroit.

Then you start to think about their weaknesses, and they aren't too many. Delhomme isn't the best, but he's proven he can get deep in the playoffs. The two-headed running attack of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart is solid. We all know Steve Smith is a beast. And on D, Julius Peppers is looking like he did a few years ago, which is a good thing. There's a lot of time left in the season, and the Panthers have a very tough run toward the end of the season, but suddenly the Panthers look like a solid darkhorse contender for the Super Bowl.

--The Niners aren't really worth talking about right now, and I don't want to force things, but I do have to say a word about Mike Singletary (with more probably to come). He showed more fire today than any coach or player for some time. And he made more moves fans have been dying for than Nolan ever made. "Samurai Mike" may not be a good coach, but at least for one day he made me believe he is. And even if he fails, I'm glad he pulled JustTurnOvers and sent VD to the showers because that's what they deserved, and his passion is what they need.