Tinker:
Money talks and bull talk walks as the NFL selected the very best college football players out of the 2013 pro draft.
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http://cfn.scout.com/2/1286837.html
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Meanwhile back in college...Money talks and bull talk walks as the NFL selected the very best college football players out of the 2013 pro draft.
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http://cfn.scout.com/2/1286837.html
| Stream of Consciousness - 2013 NFL Draft | ||||
|
Off-the-cuff notes and analysis of the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. | |||
Stream-of-Consciousness 2013 NFL Draft
E-mail
Pete Fiutak
Follow us ... @ColFootballNews Welcome again to my pretentious, goofy and self-serving stream-of-consciousness thoughts and notes on the big games, the broadcasts, the ads and the teams for the attention deficit disordered. E-mail me with your own thoughts and notes and what you'd like to see. - NFL, I’m begging – PLEADING – please don't go all NFLey with this. Here’s what we’re in for. 1) Lots and lots of flag-waving and PR stunts to honor troops, first responders, victims, and everything in between, at inopportune times. Just when the draft is humming and there’s actual analysis to be done, everything will take a 180-degree turn when the NFL tries to attach itself to the applause for the true heroes. 2) A Manti Te’o lovefest, and not in the fun way. People, part of the reason Te’o was “the most decorated player in college football history” is because he played up his totally bullspit story and milked it for everything it was worth during the awards process. He’ll be a fine NFL starter. Let’s just leave it at that. 3) An all-out assault by the NFL trying to show that football is safe and all the steps are being taken to protect the players’ brains. There’s no way to prevent CTE in football since the protein build up comes from the consistent bip-bip-bip-bip-bip, and not necessarily concussions, and the NFL is going to do everything humanly possible to distract you from that. Don’t fall for the actor in a lab coat pretending to be working on the issue. - And it has already started. Goodell in a pre-draft interview, "the NFL has gotten safer and better." - Mike Mayock and Charles Davis are my guys and the best in the business, but for my own selfish, have-to-watch-the-car-wreck purposes, I’m working with the ESPNers. - I really, really hope Kansas City goes with Eric Fisher No. 1. Nothing against Luke Joeckel, but as a guilty pleasure fan of the MAC, I’d love to see the Central Michigan guy go. However, as much as I love Fisher as a prospect, I fell hard for Dan Bazuin and Dan LeFevour, too. - For all of ESPN’s whining about twitter, what does it do? It comes out with breaking news that KC is leaning towards Fisher. Seriously, how are Mort and Adam supposed to be able to do their jobs if they can’t deal with rumors and innuendo about what’s happening? - How can you tell when a draft sucks? Every team is trying to trade down. - All the GMs and scouts are saying the same thing: there’s one superstar, franchise-making quarterback in this draft who’s going to be the next big thing. The problem is that no one has any clue who it is. - With time to develop and with the right team and coaching, that guy is E.J. Manuel. - PLEASE, NFL Draft. Can you do anything to kick this thing off that's not cringe-worthy? Thanks for that, Joe Namath. Kansas City - OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan 6-7, 306 Overall Pick No. 1 CFN Position Rank: 2 CFN Analysis: The Chiefs will forever be married to one of the gutsiest No. 1 overall picks in a long, long time. Luke Joeckel is a rock of a prospect with no downside whatsoever and the potential to become a blindside protector for the next ten years. If Fisher is anything less than a franchise-changing Pro Bowl performer on a consistent basis, this will be criticized forever. But give KC credit for making a big call. Fisher is a terrific prospect who should be fantastic, but he’s the No. 1 overall pick now. It’s a new world he’s entering. - Is this Kansas City passing on Dan Marino to take Todd Blackledge? - No, Jon Gruden, RG3 wouldn't have necessarily "worked out" for Indianapolis. He's already hurt with an injury that looks like will be a problem. Meanwhile, Andrew Luck appears to be truly special, and as great as Griffin was in his first year, again, the knock on him is his size, and that's not going to change. - Gruden: "(Fisher) is what America is all about." FREEEEDOM! NFL DRAFT! Yeahhhh! U-S-A .. U-S-A. Jacksonville - OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M (Jr.) 6-6, 306 Overall Pick No. 2 CFN Position Ranking: 1 CFN Analysis: The Jaguars have to be absolutely ecstatic to get Joeckel here. The pressure of the pick is all on Kansas City for taking Eric Fisher first, and now the Jaguars got a No. 1 overall pick for a No. 2 price. There’s no downside whatsoever to the selection with a cornerstone left tackle for the next ten years, minimum. He might not be a pure blaster, but he’s a premier pass protector. This was an easy, no-brainer pick. - Now Jacksonville has its offensive tackle to protect for Teeee-bowwwwww. - He physically looks like Tony Boselli, even if he's not the same run blocker or talent or prospect or cornerstone. Miami trade with Oakland - OLB Dion Jordan, Oregon 6-6, 248 Overall Pick No. 3 CFN Position Ranking: 6 CFN Analysis: I … don’t … get … it. Outside of being ultra-athletic and looking the part, what did he do at Oregon to become the No. 3 overall pick worth trading up for? He’s a pure pass rusher with a world of upside, and he could become a killer if he adds 15 pounds of muscle, but with Lane Johnson there to protect Ryan Tannehill, the Dolphins are taking a major chance. - He's already being compared to Jason Taylor. He'd better be with the No. 1 overall pick. Philadelphia - OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma 6-6, 303 Overall Pick No. 4 CFN Position Rank: 3 CFN Analysis: Perfect. He should’ve gone No. 3 overall to Miami after its trade with Oakland, but he’s the perfect fit for Chip Kelly and the Philly offense. He’s ultra-athletic and can play in the up-tempo style without any sort of a problem. The third tackle taken in the first four picks, it’s not a slam dunk that he’s not going to turn out to be the best of the bunch. He’s a big-time athlete from a big-time program. The talent is there to be truly special. Detroit - DE Ezekial Ansah, BYU 6-5, 271 Overall Pick No. 5 CFN Position Rank: 8 CFN Analysis: Great story, horrible pick. Not just a one-year wonder, he wasn’t even remotely on the map last year at this time and now he’s being asked to be a superstar. That’s the deal with the No. 5 overall pick – if you’re not a perennial Pro Bowl performer, you’re not the right pick. “Potential” guys with lots of work don’t belong in the top five, especially with so many sure things on the board. He might be good, but he’s a huge risk. A HUGE risk. Dominating at the Senior Bowl doesn’t necessarily mean as much as it might seem. Cleveland - OLB Barkevious Mingo, LSU (Jr.) 6-4, 241 Overall Pick No. 6 CFN Position Ranking: 3 CFN Analysis: The Browns have to get more athletic and need more playmakers, but this is another big chance to take on greatness in the early part of the draft. Mingo is long on talent and athleticism and short of proven production, more of a workout warrior than a superior pure football player, but he’s a pass rushing prospect with special tools who could be a difference maker, but it’s a big deal that the Browns passed on Geno Smith and other offensive prospects to try upgrading the D. Arizona - OG Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina 6-3, 311 Overall Pick No. 7 CFN Position Rank: 2 CFN Analysis: There was a thought late in the draft game about whether or not Cooper would go ahead of Chance Warmack, and he did. He’s a different type of blocker with more athleticism and more quickness, and while he’s not a blaster, he’s a good battler who can do it all. There’s no downside here, and an easy case could be made that he might be the best player taken in the first seven picks. He’ll be a key fixture of the Cardinal front line for a decade. St. Louis from Buffalo - WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia (Jr.) 5-8, 174 Overall Pick No. 8 CFN Position Ranking: 7 CFN Analysis: Wes Welker was a function of the New England offense. Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers is a wee bit bigger, and he’s an absolute killer of a No. 1 receiver. Find the smallish player like Austin in the NFL who’s worthy of the No. 8 overall pick. He’s a fun part of a puzzle and a great toy to play with, but with the eight, you need a superstar perennial Pro Bowl talent, and Austin is a specialist. New York Jets - CB Dee Milliner, Alabama (Jr.) 6-0, 201 Overall Pick No. 9 CFN Position Rank: 1 CFN Analysis: NOW we have a player. Everyone projected and guessed early in the first round, and then the Jets filled in its Revis-sized hole with a big, fast corner who’s destined to be worthy of the top ten overall selection. He’s a perfect fit for a team that needed to get younger with more overall talent, and while losing Revis isn’t a plus, Milliner can take over and be rock-solid right away. Tennessee - OG Chance Warmack, Alabama 6-2, 317 Overall Pick No. 10 CFN Position Rank: 1 CFN Analysis: You just knew Mike Munchak was going to load up on the offensive line. There was a time in the draft process when some – like Mike Mayock – had Warmack as the No. 1 overall prospect, and just about everyone has had him among the top five overall talents at some point. There are a few lingering injury concerns, but he’s the best pure run blocker in the draft, taken on the cheap at ten considering Jonathan Cooper went a few picks earlier. San Diego - OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama (Jr.) 6-4, 339 Overall Pick No. 11 CFN Position Rank: 4 CFN Analysis: If San Diego wants to run the ball and blast away, it has its man. While he might not be the type to protect Phil Rivers’ blindside against the top speed rushers, he can be a power blocker who’s perfect for the Chargers’ right side. He can be tried out on the left side for a line that needs a ton of help, and he was a need pick taken at a great time. Oakland from Miami - CB D.J. Hayden, Houston 5-11, 191 Overall Pick No. 12 CFN Position Rank: 8 CFN Analysis: There’s absolutely no questioning his ball skills and coverage abilities, but he’s not a pure tackler and there are always going to be big concerns considering how close he came to dying from a fluke injury. From all reports, it was a freakish occurrence that can’t happen again unless lightening strikes twice, but he still has to show whether or not he can come out and be the same sort of talent. There’s a HUGE risk here, but it’s the Raiders. New York Jets from Tampa Bay - DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri (Jr.) 6-2, 294 Overall Pick No. 13 CFN Position Rank: 4 CFN Analysis: It makes sense for the Rex Ryan defense. He’s a little flaky, he needs to have the switch flipped on all the time, and he needs to show he can really and truly be a pure three-technique tackle at the next level, but his talent and athleticism are undeniable. If Ryan can be Ryan and coach him up, this might be the proverbial right player with the right team taken at the right time. However, if Geno Smith becomes a superstar, Jet fans will always be grouchy with this pick. Carolina - DT Star Lotulelei, Utah 6-3, 311 Overall Pick No. 14 CFN Position Rank: 1 CFN Analysis: Great value for a team that knows how to use defensive tackles. He’s a No. 1 overall pick talent taken on the cheap in the middle of the first round, and now that he’s been cleared medically, this was a fantastic value selection. He might not be a top-shelf interior pass rusher for the Panthers, but he doesn’t need to hang out in the backfield to be what this defense needs. New Orleans - Kenny Vaccaro, Texas (SS) 6-0, 214 Overall Pick No. 15 CFN Position Rank: 2 CFN Analysis: The Saints gave up a bazillion yards and desperately needed defensive back help. Xavier Rhodes would’ve been a nice option, and there were other good safety options on the board, but Vaccaro is a player who’s a desperate need player who’ll be on the field right away with a chance to turn into a statistical star. He’s an instant upgrade pickup. Buffalo - from St. Louis - QB E.J. Manuel, Florida State 6-5, 237 Overall Pick No. 16 CFN Position Rank: 2 CFN Analysis: What does it say about Ryan Nassib that he wasn’t taken by his former coach? What does it say about Geno Smith? Manuel has the biggest upside of any quarterback in the draft going to a coach in Doug Marrone who knows how to mold quarterbacks. It was a chance on greatness instead of playing it safe. It’s a bit of a reach, but if you’re going to reach, go for the guy who’s 6-5, close to 240 pounds and can move. Pittsburgh - OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia (Jr.) 6-2, 245 Overall Pick No. 17 CFN Position Rank: 1 CFN Analysis: Awesome. Seriously? The best pass rusher and the most productive defensive playmaker in the draft going to 17 to Pittsburgh? Take the best player available at the 17?! That’s why the Steelers are always great, and considering Jones is a top five talent, it’s a brilliant pick by the rock-solid organization. San Francisco from Dallas - Eric Reid, LSU (Jr.) (FS) 6-1, 213 Overall Pick No. 18 CFN Position Rank: 1 CFN Analysis: While he’s not a big-time playmaker for the next level, he’ll start right away in the 49er secondary and will instantly be a leader and a key part to a potential championship puzzle. The best all-around safety in the draft, he might not be flashy, but he’ll fit in nicely as a good value pick considering Kenny Vaccaro going a few picks earlier. New York Giants - OT Justin Pugh, Syracuse (Jr.) 6-4, 307 Overall Pick No. 19 CFN Position Rank: 9 CFN Analysis: The Giants didn’t bite on Manti Te’o. The franchise over the last several years has been built on a great pass rush and dominant offensive line, and now it’s getting back to its pounding ways with a blocker who can do it all. He’ll fit somewhere on the line, and even though he’s a tackle, throw him in at guard and all will be fine. Chicago - OT Kyle Long, Oregon 6-6, 313 Overall Pick No. 20 CFN Position Rank: 6 CFN Analysis: It’s almost like Chicago is trying to outthink itself. With so many good prospects and good values on the board, the Bears reached for a second round talent, but they couldn’t move down after spending the last few weeks desperately trying to get out of the 20, and now they have a starter for a leaky O line. Cincinnati - TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame (Jr.) 6-6, 251 Overall Pick No. 21 CFN Position Rank: 1 CFN Analysis: The Bengals gave Andy Dalton another weapon. Considered by some to be a top five overall talent, Eifert’s slide was Cincinnati’s big gain, getting the best tight end in the draft by far in the mid-to-late first round. It was a great steal for a team that needs more offensive playmakers. Atlanta from St. Louis from Washington - CB Desmond Trufant, Washington 6-0, 190 Overall Pick No. 22 CFN Position Rank: 4 CFN Analysis: A good, sound pick, he might not have the upside of Boise State’s Jamar Taylor, but the Falcons needed corner help and Trufant should be able to step in an produce right away. He’s a ready-made pro who might not be flashy, but he’ll be sound right away. Minnesota - DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida (Jr.) 6-3, 297 Overall Pick No. 23 CFN Position Rank: 5 CFN Analysis: Phenomenal value. The production on the field doesn’t match the tools or skills, but in a draft full of reaches and projections, Floyd was considered a possible No. 3 overall pick to Oakland as recently as last week. The Viking defense loves athletic linemen and good defensive players from big schools, and in time, he has the potential to be the next great Minnesota defensive tackle. Indianapolis - DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State (Jr.) 6-3, 266 Overall Pick No. 24 CFN Position Rank: 5 CFN Analysis: Considering he was thought to be a sure-thing top 15 pick a month ago, this isn’t a bad value pick. The Colts had the luxury of going several different directions, and with the aging pass rush needing an upgrade, Werner will bring the motor and energy to step in at one end spot from Day One. Minnesota from Seattle - CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State (Jr.) 6-2, 210 Overall Pick No. 25 CFN Position Rank: 3 CFN Analysis: Merry Christmas. Not only did the Vikings get a relative steal in Sharrif Floyd two picks earlier, but they also came up with a big, talented corner who can fill an instant void and need area. There are still several big concern areas and lots of work to do, but they upgraded their defense with some excellent talents in just two picks. Green Bay - DE Datone Jones, UCLA 6-4, 283 Overall Pick No. 26 CFN Position Rank: 4 CFN Analysis: FANTASTIC pick at the right time. Versatile and very, very athletic, he can do anything for a defensive front, and he showed throughout the offseason workouts that he’s able work in any system and any style. Extremely quick off the ball, he’s a pass rusher who can help take the heat off of Clay Matthews. Houston - WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson (Jr.) 6-1, 214 Overall Pick No. 27 CFN Position Rank: 2 CFN Analysis: Forget about the hotel stuff at the Combine – he’s fine. The Texans desperately needed a gamebreaking playmaker to step in for an injured DeVier Posey and to help out Andre Johnson, and he could rise up and be the heir apparent to No. 80 with a little bit of time. He knows how to handle himself in single coverage, and he’ll see plenty of it early on. Denver - DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina 6-3, 313 Overall Pick No. CFN Position Rank: 3 CFN Analysis: Tremendous value. He could’ve been a top ten pick without any worries whatsoever. An anchor, he’s a better run stuffer than Sheldon Richardson and he’s considered dead even with Star Lotulelei. He’s an anchor for all the great Bronco pass rushers to work around. Minnesota - from New England - WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee (Jr.) 6-2, 216 Overall Pick No. 29 CFN Position Rank: 1 CFN Analysis: He’s a project and might need a little bit of work, but considering the Vikings just lost Percy Harvin, they got a bigger version who can be a go-to receiver in time. He’ll get the ball in a variety of ways as he fills a desperate need for an offense that needs receiving weapons. He’s a piece of a puzzle more than THE guy, but he’s a talent and one of the most dangerous targets in the draft. St. Louis from Atlanta - OLB Alec Ogletree, Georgia (Jr.) 6-3, 242 Overall Pick No. 30 CFN Position Rank: 2 CFN Analysis: At the 30, you absolutely take the chance on greatness. Take away the off-the-field personality concerns and he’d have been a top 15 pick. He’ll be a pass rusher who works in a variety of ways and in a variety of roles for Jeff Fisher’s defense. He’s a difference-maker who’s taken in a nice spot considering all the problems. Dallas - from San Francisco - C Travis Frederick, Wisconsin (Jr.) 6-4, 312 Overall Pick No. 31 CFN Position Rank: 1 CFN Analysis: Enough of that. Dallas could never get its center situation right last season, and now it has the best of the bunch who can sit in the middle of the line for a decade. It might not be the sexiest pick, but it works. Baltimore - Matt Elam, Florida (Jr.) (FS) 5-10, 208 Overall Pick No. 32 CFN Position Rank: 4 CFN Analysis: Why is Baltimore always in the Super Bowl hunt? It passes on Manti Te’o for real, live players like Matt Elam. He’s not going to be Ed Reed, but he’s a terrific talent who’ll be an instant starter who’ll do his part for an always nasty defense. --------- | ||||
With the No. 6 pick of the NFL Draft, The Official Cleveland Browns select DE Barkevious Mingo. Congrats, KeKe!
Recap: http://lsul.su/13nfldraft1
![With the No. 6 pick of the @[140314405892:274:NFL Draft], @[87392379683:274:The Official Cleveland Browns] select DE Barkevious Mingo. Congrats, KeKe!
Recap: http://lsul.su/13nfldraft1](https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/s480x480/408626_614047841955912_1964529316_n.jpg)
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jtran1988 
LSU Fan
Tampa, Fl
Member since Oct 2008
1935 posts
Online
re: video of Mingo getting drafted?? (Posted on 4/25/13 at 8:57 p.m. to WackyChris)
link
-------
Minutes
before the NFL Draft Coach Miles joined Barkevious Mingo and Eric Reid
in the green room. It's draft time! Tune to ESPN or NFL Network now. — at Radio City Music Hall New York City.
With the No. 6 pick of the NFL Draft, The Official Cleveland Browns select DE Barkevious Mingo. Congrats, KeKe!
Recap: http://lsul.su/13nfldraft1
Recap: http://lsul.su/13nfldraft1
jtran1988
LSU Fan
Tampa, Fl
Member since Oct 2008
1935 posts
Online
re: video of Mingo getting drafted?? (Posted on 4/25/13 at 8:57 p.m. to WackyChris)
link
-------
Minutes before the NFL Draft Coach Miles joined Barkevious Mingo and Eric Reid in the green room. It's draft time! Tune to ESPN or NFL Network now. — at Radio City Music Hall New York City.
-------------------
http://espn.go.com/blog/
College Football Nation Blog
College Football Playoff scenarios
April, 25, 2013
By Brett McMurphy, ESPN college football reporter | ESPN.com
PASADENA, Calif. -- In 2014, College Football Playoff debuts with the Jan. 1, 2015 semifinals at the Rose and Sugar bowls.
The new four-team College Football Playoff will be different from the current BCS (Bowl Championship Series), most notably that four teams can compete for the national title and not two.
However, there are other differences between the BCS and the College Football Playoff system.
There are some other changes -- some major, some subtle -- with the new College Football Playoff.
One of the most significant differences is that which teams that play in the six major bowls will vary greatly by which bowls host the semifinals. Also the bowl matchups will be determined by the selection committee and not the bowls.
With all that in mind, here’s how the College Football Playoff bowl system would have looked based on last year’s final BCS rankings and based on the different semifinal sites.
Semifinals at Rose, Sugar bowls:
No. 1. Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Oregon
No. 2. Alabama vs. No. 3 Florida
Orange Bowl:
No. 12 Florida State (ACC champ) vs. No. 7 Georgia (highest-ranked available team from SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame)
Fiesta, Cotton, Peach bowls:
Selection committee pairs the following six teams to the bowls based on geography and other factors
No. 5 Kansas State (Big 12 champ)
No. 6 Stanford (Pac-12 champ)
No. 15 Northern Illinois (Group of Five highest-rated champ)
No. 26 Wisconsin (Big Ten champ)
No. 8 LSU (at-large)
No. 9 Texas A&M (at-large)
***
Semifinals at Orange, Cotton bowls:
No. 1. Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Oregon
No. 2. Alabama vs. No. 3 Florida
Rose Bowl:
No. 6 Stanford (Pac-12 champ) vs. No. 26 Wisconsin (Big Ten champ)
Sugar Bowl:
No. 5 Kansas State (Big 12 champ) vs. No. 7 Georgia (highest rated SEC team)
Fiesta, Peach bowls:
Selection committee pairs the following four teams to the bowls based on geography and other factors:
No. 12 Florida State (ACC champ)
No. 15 Northern Illinois (Group of Five highest-rated champ)
No. 8 LSU (at-large)
No. 9 Texas A&M (at-large)
***
Semifinals at Fiesta, Peach bowls:
No. 1. Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Oregon
No. 2. Alabama vs. No. 3 Florida
Rose Bowl:
No. 6 Stanford (Pac-12 champ) vs. No. 26 Wisconsin (Big Ten champ)
Sugar Bowl:
No. 5 Kansas State (Big 12 champ) vs. No. 7 Georgia (highest rated SEC team)
Orange Bowl:
No. 12 Florida State (ACC champ) vs. No. 8 LSU (highest ranked available team from SEC/Big 10/Notre Dame)
Cotton Bowl:
No. 15 Northern Illinois (Group of Five highest-rated champ) vs. No. 9 Texas A&M (at-large)
-------------------The new four-team College Football Playoff will be different from the current BCS (Bowl Championship Series), most notably that four teams can compete for the national title and not two.
However, there are other differences between the BCS and the College Football Playoff system.
- There will be six major bowls rotating as semifinal sites: Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta and Peach (formerly Chick-fil-A).
- There will no longer be a limit on the number of teams from one conference that can be selected.
- A selection committee, made up of 14-20 individuals, will seed, or rank, the teams that will play in the four-team playoff and the remaining four bowls.
- When the Rose Bowl does not host a semifinal it will always be Big Ten vs. Pac-12. The Sugar Bowl, in years it doesn’t host a semifinal, will always be SEC vs. Big 12. The Orange Bowl, in the years it does not host a semifinal, will always be ACC vs. the highest ranked available team from the SEC, Big Ten or Notre Dame.
- The Big East Conference no longer gets an automatic bid as it did in the BCS. However, the highest-rated champion from the Group of Five leagues (American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt) will.
There are some other changes -- some major, some subtle -- with the new College Football Playoff.
One of the most significant differences is that which teams that play in the six major bowls will vary greatly by which bowls host the semifinals. Also the bowl matchups will be determined by the selection committee and not the bowls.
With all that in mind, here’s how the College Football Playoff bowl system would have looked based on last year’s final BCS rankings and based on the different semifinal sites.
Semifinals at Rose, Sugar bowls:
No. 1. Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Oregon
No. 2. Alabama vs. No. 3 Florida
Orange Bowl:
No. 12 Florida State (ACC champ) vs. No. 7 Georgia (highest-ranked available team from SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame)
Fiesta, Cotton, Peach bowls:
Selection committee pairs the following six teams to the bowls based on geography and other factors
No. 5 Kansas State (Big 12 champ)
No. 6 Stanford (Pac-12 champ)
No. 15 Northern Illinois (Group of Five highest-rated champ)
No. 26 Wisconsin (Big Ten champ)
No. 8 LSU (at-large)
No. 9 Texas A&M (at-large)
***
Semifinals at Orange, Cotton bowls:
No. 1. Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Oregon
No. 2. Alabama vs. No. 3 Florida
Rose Bowl:
No. 6 Stanford (Pac-12 champ) vs. No. 26 Wisconsin (Big Ten champ)
Sugar Bowl:
No. 5 Kansas State (Big 12 champ) vs. No. 7 Georgia (highest rated SEC team)
Fiesta, Peach bowls:
Selection committee pairs the following four teams to the bowls based on geography and other factors:
No. 12 Florida State (ACC champ)
No. 15 Northern Illinois (Group of Five highest-rated champ)
No. 8 LSU (at-large)
No. 9 Texas A&M (at-large)
***
Semifinals at Fiesta, Peach bowls:
No. 1. Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Oregon
No. 2. Alabama vs. No. 3 Florida
Rose Bowl:
No. 6 Stanford (Pac-12 champ) vs. No. 26 Wisconsin (Big Ten champ)
Sugar Bowl:
No. 5 Kansas State (Big 12 champ) vs. No. 7 Georgia (highest rated SEC team)
Orange Bowl:
No. 12 Florida State (ACC champ) vs. No. 8 LSU (highest ranked available team from SEC/Big 10/Notre Dame)
Cotton Bowl:
No. 15 Northern Illinois (Group of Five highest-rated champ) vs. No. 9 Texas A&M (at-large)
http://espn.go.com/college-
SPORTSCENTER VIDEOS
Naming Rights
Naming the College Football Playoff was the easy part, but FBS commissioners need to make sure they get the difficult questions right. Mark Schlabach »Name revealed »Your take »Nation blog »Darren Carroll/Getty Images
- Arlington to host 1st title game
| Schlabach - NCAA reportedly meets with Oregon, Kelly
- Chick-fil-A Bowl name to change for playoff
- Penn State QB Bench to transfer | Bennett
- Emmert defends change to recruiting rules
- Dunker, accused scooter stealer, to transfer
- Chizik, Auburn AD vehemently refute report
- Schools grant ACC their TV rights | Adelson
- New Mexico signs Davie to 2-year extension
- Arkansas lists Allen as first-team quarterback
- Haney: Georgia's D can survive draft losses
-------------------
http://espn.go.com/college-
Wide Open Spaces
Gary Patterson has been preparing TCU for a moment like this since it was a 5-6 C-USA team. A wide-open Big 12 presents a golden opportunity. David Ubben » Pachall's path back » Blog »-------------------
http://espn.go.com/college-
Arlington to host title game
Updated: April 24, 2013, 11:05 PM ET
By
Brett McMurphy | ESPN
Name Of Four-Team Playoff Revealed
Rece
Davis and Kirk Herbstreit report from the BCS spring meetings, where it
was announced the four-team playoff will be called the College Football
Playoff.Tags: Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, BCS Spring Meetings, BCS, Playoff, Four-Team Playoff
NEXT VIDEO 
Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be awarded the College Football Playoff's first national championship game, to be held Jan. 12, 2015.
Also, the Fiesta, Cotton and Chick-fil-A bowls will join the Rose, Sugar and Orange bowls in the six-bowl semifinal rotation for the new playoff.
More on ESPN.com
However
bland the end result, naming the College Football Playoff was the easy
part. Now come the more difficult questions in forming the game's
four-team playoff, writes Mark Schlabach. StoryBill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff, said Arlington was awarded the first game over Tampa because of Cowboys Stadium, which can hold more than 100,000 fans.
"The stadium itself [was the main reason], everything about the stadium," Hancock said. "It's still the stadium with a capital 'T.'
"Tampa was very close; we were very impressed. Tampa won a lot of hearts and minds of the commissioners."
Hancock said the first year of the College Football Playoff will feature back-to-back tripleheaders on Dec. 31 (Cotton, Orange, Fiesta bowls) and Jan. 1 (Chick-fil-A, Rose, Sugar). The Rose and Sugar bowls will be the national semifinals.
"The culture of New Year's Eve will change in this country," Hancock said.
ESPN paid an average of $470 million annually for the rights to the 12-year College Football Playoff, sources said.
Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, said Tampa would bid again for the 2016 and 2017 title games.
"We're not letting our foot off the gas," Higgins said. "Our work toward 2016 or 2017 begins right now."
ACC commissioner John Swofford said Tampa "got themselves on the radar" for future title games.
This summer, the College Football Playoff will start accepting bids for the Jan. 11, 2016, and Jan. 9, 2017, championship games, sources said.
Hancock said it would be a long shot for a cold-weather, non-domed stadium to get a future title game.
Hancock confirmed an ESPN report that the Chick-fil-A Bowl would become the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl as part of the playoff.
Robert Shelton, executive director of the Fiesta Bowl, was relieved the Fiesta was chosen as one of the six semifinal bowls.
"Relief," Shelton said. "Everyone saying don't worry, you're in. But we wanted to hear it from the powers to be."
Shelton said Glendale, Ariz., and University of Phoenix Stadium would bid for the 2016 national title game. The Fiesta Bowl will host the 2017 national semifinals.
"We couldn't be more excited about bringing college football's biggest game to Cowboys Stadium," Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "Rest assured, we all pledge to do everything we can to make sure this game exceeds everyone's highest expectations."
"Our ultimate goal has always been to shine the spotlight on the great sport of college football while supporting higher education, and creating memories that will last a lifetime," said Rick Baker, the president/CEO of the AT&T Cotton Bowl.
"This is one of the great days in the 78-year history of the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic," said Tommy Bain, chairman of the AT&T Cotton Bowl. "Our dream and vision has been to return to the top of the college football landscape."
The official vote and announcement of the first title game and semifinal sites were made Wednesday from the Langham Hotel in Pasadena.
The semifinal rotation has been determined as follows: The Rose (Pasadena) and Sugar (New Orleans) bowls will host the semifinals in 2015, the Orange (Miami) and Cotton (Arlington) bowls will host in 2016, and the Fiesta (Glendale) and Chick-fil-A (Atlanta) bowls will host in 2017. They will keep that rotation through January 2026.
During the 12-year College Football Playoff contract, the semifinals will be at:
• Rose and Sugar bowls: Jan. 1, 2015; Jan. 1, 2018; Jan. 1, 2021; and Jan. 1, 2024.
• Orange and Cotton bowls: Dec. 31, 2015; Dec. 31, 2018; Dec. 31, 2021; and Dec. 31, 2024.
• Fiesta and Chick-fil-A bowls: Dec. 31, 2016; Dec. 31, 2019; Dec. 31, 2022; and Dec. 31, 2025.
The Orange, Cotton, Fiesta and Chick-fil-A bowls are not held on Jan. 1 because the Rose and Sugar bowls are guaranteed to be played on Jan. 1 or Jan. 2 every year even if those bowls are not hosting the national semifinals.
The Holiday Bowl was the only other bowl to bid for a semifinal site.
The championship game dates (all played on Mondays) are: Jan. 12, 2015; Jan. 11, 2016; Jan. 9, 2017; Jan. 8, 2018; Jan. 7, 2019; Jan. 13, 2020; Jan. 11, 2021; Jan. 10, 2022; Jan. 9, 2023; Jan. 8, 2024; Jan. 13, 2025; and Jan. 12, 2026.
On Tuesday, the commissioners announced the name for the four-team playoff. This season marks the final season of the Bowl Championship Series. For months, the commissioners said they wanted a simple name for the new playoff.
"We decided to call the playoff what it is -- the College Football Playoff," Hancock said. "We think the new playoff will be the most dynamic improvement to college football in a generation. Certainly, it's what the fans want. We also invite everyone to vote online to select the logo and help us kick off the new College Football Playoff."
Besides landing the inaugural College Football Playoff championship game, Cowboys Stadium will host the NCAA men's Final Four nine months earlier, on April 5 and 7, 2014.
In years the Rose, Sugar and Orange bowls do not host the national semifinals, they will get the highest-ranked team from their respective conference tie-ins: Rose (Pac-12 vs. Big Ten), Sugar (SEC vs. Big 12) and Orange (ACC vs. highest-ranked from SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame).
The playoff also initiated voting for the logo for the series, which will continue through Monday. Although individual computers may vote only once a day, an individual with an IP address in Austin, Texas, cast 50,251 votes for Logo No. 4. Before those votes were taken out, Logo No. 4 had more than 52 percent of the vote.
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http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/
SEC Blog
Miles is happy with new-look defensive line
April, 24, 2013
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
There's no question that this year's NFL draft really hit LSU's defense hard -- especially up front.
Gone is projected first-round draft pick Barkevious Mingo at defensive end, along with very productive leader Sam Montgomery. The Tigers also said good-bye to their plug in the middle, Bennie Logan.
That trio combined for 27 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hurries in 2012. It's a lot production to replace, but coach Les Miles said during Wednesday's SEC coaches teleconference that he was pleased with the way his new defensive line looked this spring.
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The Tigers welcomed true freshman Christian LeCouture this spring and watched him play his way into the two-deep at defensive tackle. Miles also said he was pleased with the play of veteran tackles Anthony Johnson and Ego Ferguson.
People know about the skill these two possess, especially Johnson, but it's all about being more consistent for these two. Miles seemed pleased with that this spring, and he's also hoping junior Jordan Allen finally comes into his own at defensive end after suffering a season-ending knee injury last year.
He was also very happy with the improvements made by rising junior Jermauria Rasco, who played in 13 games last season and recorded 10 tackles (two for loss). He'll have the responsibility of replacing one of LSU's talented ends, but Miles feels very confident in his ability to get the job done.
"Jermauria Rasco, in my opinion, is going to be a guy that can step right in there and play just as well as any of the guys we'll lose to the NFL draft," Miles said.
That's a lot to ask of someone who has had to wait in the wings for a while, but Miles and his coaches have no choice but to push players like him.
Sophomore Danielle Hunter is also expected to make a strong impact this fall, too, after he played in 12 games as a true freshman. Miles said Hunter, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 235 pounds, "has all of the ability that we would be comfortable with at the defensive end spot."
And once fall rolls around, the Tigers will have even more bodies to work with up front. LSU signed seven defensive linemen in its 2013 class, meaning six more, including ESPN 150 members Tashawn Bower (DE), Maquedius Bain (DT) and Greg Gilmore (DT).
"We're going to have a number of guys who will come in behind them as true freshman," Miles said.
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I'm really HAPPY that Miles is HAPPY with lsu's new HAPPY-go-lucky defensive line.
1 fan likes this.
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LSU just reloads. They have 6 more coming this fall. By next year, they will have the best DL in the country...again.
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Damn, now he's coming to the SEC blog. The kid's a terror.
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LSU
new d-ends making their first starts will be tested by veteran
offensive tackles in Aviante Collins and Tayo Fabuluje of TCU that have
26 starts combined
Johnny
Manziel likes that new front 7 too. Just kidding guys and gals. Can't
wait for the game at Tiger Stadium next year! SEC, SEC, SEC!!!
1 fan likes this.
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It's not entirely new. We return 2 of our 3 LBers from last year.
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Miles problem is he is happy way too often while Saban is NEVER happy. Don't know if the grass he eats has that effect or not.
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why is it that Miles has the problem? Maybe saban has the problem? Who wants to be miserable all the time?
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I'd rather have 4 national champinships than 1
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(USA Today Sports Images)
It was about this time last year that LSU coach Les Miles started his campaign to remove Florida from the Tigers’ schedule and the efforts continued Wednesday during the SEC’s post-spring teleconference.
"It's interesting to see how you would compare our schedule with others," Miles said on the SEC coaches' post-spring teleconference. "I wonder if there should be no permanent partners. I wonder if we couldn't choose cross-division opponents through a random computer draw."
A computer draw? Hold on, we’ll get back to that.
Miles claims the fact that LSU has to play Florida as its cross-divisional rival puts the Tigers at an unfair disadvantage because it adds yet another tough game to an already daunting schedule.
Florida has won more SEC East titles than any other team.
"This is all based on some vague tradition that is not considering that you're adding teams to the conference," Miles said during SEC spring meetings last year. "Tell me about the tradition of the conference when you add teams to it.
"I mean, Florida isn't even a nearby state. This tradition of rivalry is the fact that we enjoy playing them."
So, to solve LSU’s scheduling quandary, and perhaps put some of the other teams in the SEC West at a similar disadvantage, Miles would like a random computer draw to decide the crossover games.
Really? After all the headaches computers have caused in college football, Miles wants to bring them into his league? I’m sure his fellow coaches would love that idea. After all, they’re already a little fed up with his complaining about the schedule.
"If we want to be fair, we wouldn’t have permanent opponents," said South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier, who was on the call right after Miles. "But nobody said it was supposed to be fair."
Still, the schedules are only set through the 2013 season, so maybe there's some hope for Miles' plight. But in reality, the league needs the cross-divisional rivalries, even if they are the bane of Miles’ existence. People want to see LSU and Florida clash. There’s something to be said about the history of Georgia-Auburn and Alabama-Tennessee. Even Kentucky and Mississippi State has some love for it.
And really, if you want to be a conference or national champion, you should have a resume that looks the part of a national champion. In that regard, LSU - with Florida on the schedule - currently has the advantage.
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cbw057
LSU Fan
Birmingham, AL
Member since Oct 2010
1 post
I got married on 4/20 and this was my groom's cake. GEAUX TIGERS!
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Sister/wife-You
would much rather be happy with your team no matter how they look than
not be happy because you KNOW they can improve and do better? Not me. I
trust Coach Saban and if he isn't pleased, then that means they are not
finished. Miles, on the other hand, doesn't seem to care about 2nd or
3rd best. He is just happy with them way too much.
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http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/
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http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/
Yahoo! sports
(USA Today Sports Images)It was about this time last year that LSU coach Les Miles started his campaign to remove Florida from the Tigers’ schedule and the efforts continued Wednesday during the SEC’s post-spring teleconference.
"It's interesting to see how you would compare our schedule with others," Miles said on the SEC coaches' post-spring teleconference. "I wonder if there should be no permanent partners. I wonder if we couldn't choose cross-division opponents through a random computer draw."
A computer draw? Hold on, we’ll get back to that.
Miles claims the fact that LSU has to play Florida as its cross-divisional rival puts the Tigers at an unfair disadvantage because it adds yet another tough game to an already daunting schedule.
Florida has won more SEC East titles than any other team.
"This is all based on some vague tradition that is not considering that you're adding teams to the conference," Miles said during SEC spring meetings last year. "Tell me about the tradition of the conference when you add teams to it.
"I mean, Florida isn't even a nearby state. This tradition of rivalry is the fact that we enjoy playing them."
So, to solve LSU’s scheduling quandary, and perhaps put some of the other teams in the SEC West at a similar disadvantage, Miles would like a random computer draw to decide the crossover games.
Really? After all the headaches computers have caused in college football, Miles wants to bring them into his league? I’m sure his fellow coaches would love that idea. After all, they’re already a little fed up with his complaining about the schedule.
"If we want to be fair, we wouldn’t have permanent opponents," said South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier, who was on the call right after Miles. "But nobody said it was supposed to be fair."
Still, the schedules are only set through the 2013 season, so maybe there's some hope for Miles' plight. But in reality, the league needs the cross-divisional rivalries, even if they are the bane of Miles’ existence. People want to see LSU and Florida clash. There’s something to be said about the history of Georgia-Auburn and Alabama-Tennessee. Even Kentucky and Mississippi State has some love for it.
And really, if you want to be a conference or national champion, you should have a resume that looks the part of a national champion. In that regard, LSU - with Florida on the schedule - currently has the advantage.
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cbw057
LSU Fan
Birmingham, AL
Member since Oct 2010
1 post
Tiger Stadium Cake (Posted on 4/24/13 at 6:17 p.m.)
I got married on 4/20 and this was my groom's cake. GEAUX TIGERS!
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