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This week Ben Maller talks about the only dynasty left in College Football. Big Ben breaks down the big NFL and college games this weekend and give you the insider stats you need to know.

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Monday, October 07, 2002

Monday Morning Quarterback

By Ben Maller

Priest Holmes of the Chiefs has replaced Marshall Faulk of the Rams as the NFL's most dangerous offensive weapon.

It's interesting to see the Kansas City offense with Dick Vermiel leading the NFL. Mike Martz and the Rams are horrible.

The Rams (0-5) are off to their worst start since the 1963 Los Angeles Rams opened 0-5 en route to a 5-9 finish. No 0-5 team has reached the postseason.

Eagles QB Donovan McNabb proved yet again that there are few things better than live television. McNabb threw up in front of a national audience watching on FOX.

Emmitt Smith of the Cowboys had a season high 70 yards in the loss to the Giants. Emmitt is 234 yards from breaking Walter Payton's career record. He might get there by the end of the season.

Did you know? The Patriots fell to 0-13 in Miami in September and October, and lost their second game in a row after winning 12 straight.

Guarantees in life. Death, taxes and the Bengals stinking up the NFL. Cincinnati is 0-5 for the second time in three years

Bruce Smith of the Redskins had one sack, and needs 11 1/2 to pass Reggie White for the career record. Smith has little chance to catch White. He's at the end of the line.

Denver held LaDainian Tomlinson to 48 yards rushing. The Boltz had no juice in the Mile High City.

It looks like the Patriots are back to a 9-7 or 8-8 team again. If you can't stop the run in the NFL, your not going to win very many games. Ricky Williams of the Dolphins was the latest to run for over 100 yards against the Pats.

Coach Tom Coughlin of Jacksonville gets the Lou Holtz award for 2002. In the preseason Coughlin said this year's Jags club has less talent than the expansion team. Well, the Jags have beat the red hot Eagles yesterday and have three winable games coming up. Jacksonville plays Tennessee, Baltimore and Houston coming up.

College Football

USC looks like a better team than in years past, but the loss to Washington State makes you wonder. Carson Palmer out-played Jason Gesser and Mike Williams looked like Keyshawn Johnson. The bottom line in big time college football is wins and losses. The Trojans lost and that's all that matters.

SC's rush defense was a joke. The Cougars had 203 yards rushing against that front seven who shutdown Oregon State.

UCLA RB Tyler Ebell carried the ball 29 times for 202 yards and a touchdown. Where did he come from?

Kansas State's Ell Roberson is not a quarterback but more of a running back or receiver. The Wildcats proved they aren't the real deal with their loss to Colorado. Chris Brown had 167 yards rushing and two touchdown's to lead the Buffs.

Georgia made a statement this weekend beating Alabama on the road. I'm still not sure how good the Bulldogs really are even after this win and their first 5-0 start since 1983 when Hershel Walker was playing.

Bob Stoops gets the biggest game ball of the college weekend. Down 24-23, Oklahoma lined up to try and take the lead on a fourth quarter field goal, but the Sooners faked it and Matt McCoy connected with Chris Chester for a 14-yard touchdown pass. If this play had failed Stoops would have been ripped from coast to coast.

Missouri QB Brad Smith will lead the Tigers to a Big 12 title game. Smith a freshman passed for 182 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball 27 times for 213 yards and two touchdowns.

While Tennessee won on Saturday in six overtimes against Arkansas it's pretty clear that the Vols are not a great team this season.

Notre Dame might have the best defense in the country. The Irish are being led by their defense and special teams. Ty Willingham and Notre Dame might be unbeaten when they play USC at the end of the year.

FireRonZook.com blew up on Saturday after Florida lost to Old Miss. Rex Grossman tossed four interceptions and looked like garbage with all the mistakes.

Maurice Clarett had another 100 yard day for Ohio State but fumbled three times. Clarett still is the second best running back in the country right their with Willis McGahee of Miami.

Random Stuff

The Angels are the hottest team going in baseball. Can the Halos keep it going against the Twins? It's going to be tough to beat Minnesota at the Metrodome.

I'm happy for Tim Mead the long time PR guy for the Angels. Tim's a good dude and he has always treated everyone with respect and class.

Disney must be making a killing on the Angels postseason success. Fans in So Cal are the kings of front running. I'm sure you're going to have a problem finding a rally monkey for the next few weeks. By the way, what does a rally monkey have to do with the Angels?

A's skipper Art Howe is the Marty Schottenheimer of baseball. Howe can take you to the playoffs but not over the hump. Keep in mind Dusty Baker of the Giants also has never won a playoff series.

Look for Roger Clemens to pitch for the Texas Rangers or Houston Astros next season. Clemens is close to 300 wins and would be perfect for Tom Hicks and the Rangers.

Barry Bonds will get his chance to have a big clutch hit tonight for the Giants in game five of the ALDS in Atlanta.

The Philadelphia Phillies will be in the playoffs next season if they sign Jim Thome and hire Joe Kerrigan as their pitching coach.

I'm hoping that Steve Schlanger gets the St. Louis Cardinals radio job on KMOX. Schlanger is among the candidates to replace the late Jack Buck. Schlanger filled in for Buck back in 1998 and worked at the Fox Sports Radio Network briefly.
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