(Photo by Shotgun Spratling)

Last Monday, the 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the top college receiver in the country, were announced. This week, the three semifinalists were announced (which I believe are incorrect).

Since the beginning of the season, I've been accumulating stats for the top receivers, beginning with an article I wrote about just how good Robert Woods had been through the first five games.

I've added a receiver every week or two when they've jumped toward the top of the national leaderboards for the primary receiving stat categories of receptions, yards and touchdowns. Going beyond those three categories, I culled through stat sheets and the play-by-play records of each game to see how many times these receivers had the ball thrown to them, aka targeted.

After looking at all the data, I continue my rankings of the 10 Biletnikoff semifinalists (in ascending order with their candicacy pros and cons):

Robert Woods (USC)

Reception % - 65.13
Yards per Target - 7.76

CONFERENCE TOTALS: 102 targets, 62 receptions, 801 yards, 7 touchdowns
Reception % - 60.78
Yards per Target - 7.85

Candicacy: Robert Woods may actually be the most difficult receiver to cover in the nation. He's extremely quick, has good speed, a great burst and catches just about everything. Plus, he's seemingly always open when the ball is coming his way because of his prestine route-running. But that's a healthy Woods.

A month ago, Woods was a frontrunner to win the Biletnikoff Award. He was battling for the national lead in receptions and receiving yards. But then all the small chinks in his armor began to build up as an ankle he sprained in the spring began to give him troubles again. Elbow and shoulder injuries significantly hampered the sophomore.

After the Notre Dame game, Woods was catching 69.9 percent of the passes thrown his way and was averaging 8.76 yards per target while averaging 129 yards per game. Since then, Woods has caught only 55.1 percent of the passes Matt Barkley has thrown him and averaged only 5.65 yards per target while averaging 60 yards FEWER per game.

Woods' 7.76 yards per target is the worst of any of the Biletnikoff semifinalist (5.26 yards less per target than leader Patrick Edwards) and his reception percentage is eighth on the 10-man list. The game Woods had against Washington (two catches for five yards on seven targets) was the worst performance by any of the Biletnikoff semifinalists this season.

Woods is currently fourth in the nation in receptions, tenth in receiving yards and fifth in receiving touchdowns. He's still a threat, evidenced by the five touchdowns he has scored the last month. And even a beaten up Woods draws enough attention of opposing defenses that freshman Marqise Lee has been able to capitalize on single coverage on the opposite side of Woods. (Lee has broke out with 33 catches for 479 yards and scored six touchdowns, five receiving, over the last four games). 

But the Biletnikoff is given to the nation's best receiver, not the best decoy. I know Woods isn't playing at 100 percent, but that's not a viable excuse to me. If you are on the field, you are expected to produce if you want to win individual awards.

That's why I have a problem with Woods even being one of the three Biletnikoff finalist. When you only pull in 277 yards in four games during the stretch run of the season, then you aren't one of the top three receivers this season. Houston's Patrick Edwards had more than that in one game!

I'm a huge fan of Robert Woods. I love the way he plays and everything about his game. I also think he's a great kid with his head on straight (not always the case with receivers of his caliber). However, I would rather have any of the other nine Biletnikoff semifinalists at 100 percent over a 60 to 80 percent Woods, which is what I think is what we've seen this last month.

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(Creative Commons - Kaleb Fulgham)

Last Monday, the 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the top college receiver in the country, were announced. This week, the three semifinalists were announced (which I believe are incorrect).

Since the beginning of the season, I've been accumulating stats for the top receivers, beginning with an article I wrote about just how good Robert Woods had been through the first five games.

I've added a receiver every week or two when they've jumped toward the top of the national leaderboards for the primary receiving stat categories of receptions, yards and touchdowns. Going beyond those three categories, I culled through stat sheets and the play-by-play records of each game to see how many times these receivers had the ball thrown to them, aka targeted.

After looking at all the data, I continue my rankings of the 10 Biletnikoff semifinalists (in ascending order with their candicacy pros and cons):

6. Patrick Edwards (Houston)

Reception % - 65.35
Yards per Target - 13.02

CONFERENCE TOTALS: 71 targets, 49 receptions, 850 yards, 11 touchdowns
Reception % - 69.01
Yards per Target - 13.38

Candicacy: Patrick Edwards is second in the nation in receiving yards. He's averaging 13.02 yards every time he's thrown the ball, when none of the other Biletnikoff semifinalists are even at 11 yards per.

So how come he's not a top five Biletnikoff contender? Consistency and the great disappearing act.

Edwards is in a pass happy offense with a great quarterback in Case Keenum slinging it around. As Houston's top receiver, he's expected to put up huge numbers. He's done that...at times.

He had probably the most impressive game of the season by a receiver when he hauled in five touchdowns on a 7-catch, 318-yard night against Rice. The game propelled him onto the Biletnikoff scene. However, the next week, he had only 79 yards on five catches, pushing him to the back of the Biletnikoff list.

He rebounded with a three-touchdown performance last week against Tulane...only to fall flat this weekend against SMU. With all eyes on the Cougars with ESPN College GameDay coming to visit, Edwards managed just five catches for 38 yards on 11 targets. It was his second worst performance and the second disappearing act. Just like in the Cougars other biggest game of the year, when they took down BCS-conference foe UCLA in the opener, Edwards disappeared. Against UCLA, he had only two catches on six targets.

In the two games with a potential national audience, Edwards finished with 59 combined yards and no touchdowns. The UCLA and SMU games were also the only two he's had a reception percentage of less than 50 percent when the ball was thrown his way.

Edwards is the only semifinalist in the top 65 of yards per catch at 19.9, but he also has the fewest receptions of any semifinalists. He's a home run threat, but not necessarily the well-rounded wideout deserving of the Biletnikoff.

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(Creative Commons - Parker Anderson)

Last Monday, the 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the top college receiver in the country, were announced. This week, the three semifinalists were announced (which I believe are incorrect).

Since the beginning of the season, I've been accumulating stats for the top receivers, beginning with an article I wrote about just how good Robert Woods had been through the first five games.

I've added a receiver every week or two when they've jumped toward the top of the national leaderboards for the primary receiving stat categories of receptions, yards and touchdowns. Going beyond those three categories, I culled through stat sheets and the play-by-play records of each game to see how many times these receivers had the ball thrown to them, aka targeted.

After looking at all the data, I continue my rankings of the 10 Biletnikoff semifinalists (in ascending order with their candicacy pros and cons):

7. Sammy Watkins (Clemson)

Reception % - 69.39
Yards per Target - 10.55

CONFERENCE TOTALS: 71 targets, 47 receptions, 742 yards, 6 touchdowns
Reception % - 66.20
Yards per Target - 10.45

Candicacy: This kid may very well win a Biletnikoff before he leaves Clemson. It will be fun to watch the battles for the Biletnikoff that will take place between Watkins, USC's Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, Washington State's Marquess Wilson and the other fabulous freshmen and sophomores the next two seasons, especially knowing that we will get to continue watching all of them on Sundays after they finish they're college days.

But this year, the only freshman among the semifinalists just didn't put up the big numbers consistently. It's not a knock on Watkins necessarily because it was usually the cause of defenses overloading to shut him down and leaving his teammates free to have big games.

And defenses had to account for him at all times because Watkins is probably the top playmaker of all the semifinalists, which is saying something when you consider Woods, Justin Blackmon and Ryan Broyles are still to come in our Biletnikoff rankings. Watkins had a 20+ yard catch in every game this season, three rushes of 20+ yards and an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Despite the number of big plays, Watkins is one of only three semifinalists without a 200+ yard game. The shoulder injury he sustained last week kept him from playing against North Carolina State this weekend and potentially having a standout performance.

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(Photo by Shotgun Spratling)

On Monday, the 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the top college receiver in the country, were announced. Since the beginning of the season, I have been accumulating stats for the top receivers, beginning with an article I wrote about just how good Robert Woods had been through the first five games.

I've added a receiver every week or two when they've jumped toward the top of the national leaderboards for the primary receiving stat categories of receptions, yards and touchdowns. Going beyond those three categories, I culled through stat sheets and the play-by-play records of each game to see how many times these receivers had the ball thrown to them, aka targeted.

After looking at all the data, here's my current ranking of the 10 Biletnikoff semifinalists (in ascending order with their candicacy pros and cons):

8. Michael Floyd (Notre Dame)

Reception % - 70.64
Yards per Target - 8.46

Candicacy: Like the rest of the golden domers, Michael Floyd hasn't necessarily lived up to the expectations this season.

A team that many people expected to be in a BCS bowl is only 7-3 with a trip to Stanford still on the schedule. Similarly, many people expected the team's biggest playmaker, the physical Floyd to break out this season after having four 100+ yard games last season and getting a second chance after some off-the-field issues.

Floyd jumped out of the gates with back-to-back 150+ yard performances to begin the season, but he's had only two 100+ yard games since. He also has been held under 50 yards three times -- the only Biletnikoff semifinalist to do so. He is also the only Biletnikoff semifinalist that doesn't have 1000 yards yet or averaging more than 100 yards per game.

Floyd is also one of only three Biletnikoff semifinalists that doesn't have a 200+ yard game this season (and Keenan Allen is actually very close with a 197-yard performance).

So what keeps Floyd from being even farther down the Biletnikoff rankings? Floyd is actually the only non-Big-12 receiver that is hauling in 70 percent of the passes thrown his way.

He just needs the ball to be thrown his way more. For example, in the Pittsburgh game, Floyd had three receptions on the opening possession. He had another pass thrown his way late in the first quarter and then only saw one pass thrown his way in the final three quarters of a tightly-contested ballgame.

Floyd also has touchdown catches in each of the last three games. Look for him to have a huge game against faux-rival and defensively-challenged Boston College this weekend.

Shotgun Spratling

(Creative Commons - John Martinez Pavliga)

On Monday, the 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the top college receiver in the country, were announced. Since the beginning of the season, I have been accumulating stats for the top receivers, beginning with an article I wrote about just how good Robert Woods had been through the first five games.

I've added a receiver every week or two when they've jumped toward the top of the national leaderboards for the primary receiving stat categories of receptions, yards and touchdowns. Going beyond those three categories, I culled through stat sheets and the play-by-play records of each game to see how many times these receivers had the ball thrown to them, aka targeted.

After looking at all the data, here's my current ranking of the 10 Biletnikoff semifinalists (in ascending order with their candicacy pros and cons):

9. Keenan Allen (Cal)

Reception % - 63.93
Yards per Target - 9.04

CONFERENCE TOTALS: 88 targets, 58 receptions, 802 yards, 3 touchdowns
Reception % - 65.91
Yards per Target - 9.11

Candicacy: Against USC, Keenan Allen had a career-high 13 catches and eclipsed 100 yards receiving for the fifth time in Cal's first six games. Since then Allen hasn't broke the 100-yard mark.

He did average 82 yards receiving in the three games following the USC Thursday night matchup, but he produced a dud last weekend when he only caught three passes for 29 yards. He was also targeted a season-low five times.

Though Allen hasn't produced as well, his production has been an inverse of the team's performance. Cal is 3-1 in the last four games after losing the three games Allen produced his best numbers.

That possibly could be attributed to his quarterback/half-brother Zach Maynard relying too heavily on Allen against Cal's toughest competition so far this season (Washington, Oregon, USC). If that's the case, expect Allen to have a "Big Game" against Stanford this weekend that could possibly push the sophomore back up the rankings.

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A.J. Jenkins hasn't seen this end zone in a long time. (Creative Commons)

On Monday, the 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the top college receiver in the country, were announced. Since the beginning of the season, I have been accumulating stats for the top receivers, beginning with an article I wrote about just how good Robert Woods had been through the first five games.

I've added a receiver every week or two when they've jumped toward the top of the national leaderboards for the primary receiving stat categories of receptions, yards and touchdowns. Going beyond those three categories, I culled through stat sheets and the play-by-play records of each game to see how many times these receivers had the ball thrown to them, aka targeted.

After looking at all the data, here's my current ranking of the 10 Biletnikoff semifinalists (in ascending order with their candicacy pros and cons):

10. A.J. Jenkins (Illinois)

Reception % - 65.52
Yards per Target - 9.77

CONFERENCE TOTALS: 80 targets, 48 receptions, 768 yards, 5 touchdowns
Reception % - 60.00
Yards per Target - 9.60

Candicacy: A.J. Jenkins rose up the ranks after putting up amazing numbers in back-to-back games against Northwestern and Indiana that helped Illinois move to 6-0.

It's been all down hill since then. The Fighting Illini have lost four straight and part of the problem has been the inability to get Jenkins in the end zone.

Jenkins had three consecutive games below 100 yards and only got past the century mark against Michigan when the Illini threw the ball his way 19 times. The 11 incomplete passes intended for Jenkins were the first time any of the Biletnikoff semifinalists has reached double digits in that category.

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(Creative Commons/Keith Allison)

Justin Verlander is one hell of a pitcher. I'd argue he's the best in the game, just slightly above Roy Halladay. Verlander throws 100+ miles per hour complemented by a knee-buckling curveball and a 90 mph changeup.

He was absolutely tremendous this season. He won the pitching triple crown, leading the American League in wins (24), strikeouts (250) and ERA (2.40). 

But why in the world is everyone talking about his ALCS Game 5 win Thursday night as if he is Don Larsen?

Verlander picked up the win by pitching 7 1/3 innings and sriking out eight Rangers. But he also gave up eight hits, walked three batters and gave up four runs, including the two-run homer that Nelson Cruz smacked on Verlander's final pitch of the game. 

That final pitch was pitch number 133 for Verlander and it was 100 mph. That doesn't change the fact that the pitch was traveling much faster as it headed out of the ballpark. 

Safety Troy Polamalu has wreaked havoc in the Pittsburgh Steelers' secondary since coming into the NFL. It's the same thing the six-time Pro Bowler did at USC when he became a two-time All-American.

Well, Polamalu created a little bit different havoc in Hollywood at Madame Tussauds celebrity wax museum during a promotion for Head & Shoulders: 

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Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy is no stranger to being a YouTube sensation. In case you didn't know, he's a man, he's 40 and he doesn't read the newspaper.

But with the Cowboys being undefeated and ranked in the top 10, Gundy has been doing more celebrating than ranting. After Oklahoma State rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit, scoring 27 points in the final 30 minutes against eighth-ranked Texas A&M, Gundy showed the players he still has some moves and then lauded his team's effort (skip to 3:30) in the locker room.

Since the clip of Gundy has made the rounds on the internet and TV, even appearing on Sportscenter, a "Teach Me How to Gundy" remix has surfaced. And it was just too good not to share with you:

(H/T Jason Phillips)

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(Photo by Shotgun Spratling)

How good is Andrew Luck?

The Stanford senior quarterback is already the hands-on favorite to be the No.1 overall pick in next year's NFL Draft after he would have been the likely No. 1 pick in this year's NFL Draft had he left school early.

Luck has led the Cardinal to four blowout wins so far this season, including a 45-19 thrashing of UCLA on Saturday. Luck put on a dazzling performance completing 23 of 27 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns.

And then there was this...


They say every Heisman Trophy winner has a "Heisman moment." Though I don't think this is Luck's, since it was in a blowout win against a bottom-tier conference for, the play will definitely be on the highlight reel, showing the athleticism and versatility of the 6-foot-4, 235 pounder.

(H/T Cork Gaines at Business Insider)

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