RBs & TV

Everyone talks about Todd Gurley being a Heisman candidate, that he is one of the best backs in the nation. To gain that status he will have to stay healthy and play a greater percentage of the games. Toward the end of the year Gurley began to take over games, which is what he will need to do next year with the inexperienced Hudson Mason at quarterback. Gurley is good, but I’m not sure he was the best back in the SEC last year.

Tre Mason was invited to the Heisman Awards Ceremony. After a slow start, his yards began to pile up late in the season as the Auburn offense really began to click.

I am most impressed with Alabama’s TJ Yeldon. Thought not the fastest or most powerful, he has a knack for picking his way through the line of scrimmage for big gains. Next year he will be pressed for playing time by other backs. Like Georgia, Alabama will be replacing a veteran QB this year.

yards.att.avg.TD.games

0903 144 6.3 10 09 Todd Gurley, GA

1621 283 5.7 22 13 Tre Mason, AUB

1163 190 6.1 13 11 TJ Yeldon, AL

1185 175 6.8 14 11 Jeremy Hill, LSU

1134 194 5.8 11 11 Mike Davis, SC

1074 000 6.6 13 13 Henry Josey, MO

Others: Alex Collins (ARK), Ben Malena (A&M), Tavius Mathers (Miss), Rajion Neal, Jerron Satmour (Vandy), Mack Brown (FL).

CBS’ NFL pregame show is replacing Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe with Tony Gonzalez. Excellent move for several reasons. The desk was too crowded to begin with. Marino and Sharpe were the weak links. Though I rarely watch Sunday afternoon NFL pregame shows, I would still rather watch Terry Bradshaw on Fox. Like CBS, having Kurt, Terry, Howie, and Jimmy competing for air time leaves each little time to talk. Perhaps it’s best that way. Fans would quickly grow weary of hearing any of them talk too much. Interesting SI article about Terry and Howie’s relationship. I didn’t realize they were so close.

I do enjoy NBC’s Football Night in America, which is filled with my favorites: Dan Patrick, Bob Costas, Chris Collinsworth, Al Michaels. Tony Dungy adds an air of dignity to the show. Costas seems to have his share of haters, and I’m not sure why. He is the most prepared in his field, giving out the most information with a small bit of humor. He makes a point of keeping the emphasis on the game, as opposed to trying to steal the show like the overbearing Chris Berman, who has become a parody of himself. And ESPN’s College GameDay is great.

When I was a kid, long before the internet and ESPN, there were so few places to get sports news. Sports Illustrated only came once a week. Sport Magazine’s articles delivered little new information. Even the photos were dated. I would watch every second of the NFL Today on CBS, with Brent, Irv, and Phyllis. Also loved NBC’s baseball game of the week on Saturday afternoon, with Vin Skully, Joe Garagiola, and Tony Kubek.