Player Profile: Stanley Jean-Baptiste

Height:  6'3
Weight:  218
School:  Nebraska
Position:  Cornerback
Ranking:  #6 Cornerback
Projection: Day 2 Pick

Strengths
-Height (6'3) and length (32 1/2") are what teams are falling in love with
-Good speed (4.41 at Pro Day) to stick with receivers deep
-Good leaper (41.5" vertical leap at Combine) to be able to contest jump balls
-Displays good ball skills. 4 INTs in 2013.  One returned for TD. 12 pass breakups. A former WR
-Shows the ability of turning his hips to turn and run deep with receivers
-Willing tackler.  Not afraid to come up and make a hit. Drag to the ground type
-Does a good job of changing directions without losing speed.
-Shows the explosion to jump a route to make a play on the ball
-Potential. Only played CB for 2 1/2 years (was a WR in JUCO and start of career). Only going to get better

Weaknesses
-Still Raw.  Only played the position for 2 /12 years. 
-Will struggle to track the ball at times
-Despite his size he isn't very strong.  Needs to learn to be more physical
-Will struggle to disengage from blocks.
-May have to be moved to safety

Summary
Three years ago Stanley Jean-Baptiste was just another receiver hidden on the Nebraska depth chart.  But with an opening at cornerback and a desire to get on the field might have been the best move of Jean-Baptiste's career.  Now with the success Seattle's defense has had, every team wants to find that next Richard Sherman who stands 6'3 and can run with wide receivers.  That should only help Jean-Baptiste who after a stellar senior year really got his name out there with a good Senior Bowl performance. SJB is at his best when he's playing off man to man coverage. Take his speed and explosion and match it with his length and he has the ability to take away a receiver.  That's exactly what he did against Michigan's speedster Jeremy Gallon and Penn State's big physical Allen Robinson. Nebraska didn't run a lot of zone coverage, but when he was he was able to read and make quick plays on the ball. You'd think that with his size he'd be good at press coverage and being physical, but that's not his strong suite. He'll likely go in the third round based on talent, but don't be surprised to see him go somewhere in the second round for a team looking to copy what Seattle is doing.  Jacksonville, Seattle, and San Francisco are all teams that he'd fit schematically and because of needs.  But big corners are in vogue so he could go to any team that has a need.

College Kickoff (Week 9)

Games of the Week

#16 Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-0) at #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0)
For both teams this might be the toughest team they'll both have faced.  Alabama has had a tougher schedule, but they have been blowing everybody out.  Mississippi State is also undefeated but their toughest game was Tennessee.  The winner of this game will control their own destiny and be atop the SEC West standings.  Can Mississippi State's offense score enough points on Alabama's defense to win the game? Or will Alabama assert their dominance over a Bulldog team that won against lesser competition? One thing is for sure, we'll know for sure how good Mississippi State is after this one.
Prediction:  Mississippi State 13 Alabama 35


#4 Florida Gators (7-0) vs #14 Georgia Bulldogs (6-1)  In Jacksonville
Florida is riding high after consecutive wins over South Carolina, LSU, and Texas A&M while Georgia is looking to prove that the South Carolina loss was just a fluke.  A win here would practically give the winner the SEC East Title if they continue to win out.  Florida has made their success behind a good defense and a power running game.  But that could play into Georgia's hand because the strength of their defense is up the middle.  The key to this game could be the play of Georgia QB Aaron Murray.  If he can get the Bulldog offense going, they have a great shot to pull the upset.  But they can't afford to get down big early like they did against South Carolina. 
Prediction:  Florida 17 Georgia 10


#23 Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-1) at #5 Kansas State Wildcats (7-0)
Both of these teams are coming off blowout wins over West Virginia and looking to stake claim to the lead in the Big 12.  You would think that this would be a shootout because of how good each offense is playing.  But lost in all of that, both defenses are actually playing at a high level too.  Will Texas Tech be able to slow down Kansas State's rushing and Heisman front runner Collin Klein?  Can Kansas State's secondary slow down the Red Raider passing attack?  I have a feeling the defense that makes the biggest play will win this game.
Prediction:  Texas Tech 20 Kansas State 34


#3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-0) at #8 Oklahoma Sooners (5-1)
Even with the two SEC games this week, this is the game of the week.  Both teams are in the hunt for the National Title and need to win this game to stay in the race.  This will be a battle between the Irish Defense vs the Oklahoma offense.  The winner of this battle will win the game.  The Irish defense has played as one of the best in the nation.  Their front 7 is playing at a high level and have the ability to shut down the Sooner running game.  If there is a weakness it could be the Irish secondary.  QB Landry Jones has improved, but at this point can you trust him in a close game?  If Notre Dame's defense can keep playing well and the offense can run the ball like they did against BYU they can win this game.  Oklahoma will need a big game from Landry.  They go as he goes.
Prediction:  Notre Dame 21 Oklahoma 20


#22 Michigan Wolverines (5-2) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-2)
The winner of this game basically wins the Legends Division.  Michigan right now is undefeated in Big 10 play while Nebraska's only conference loss is to Ohio State.  Nebraska under HC Bo Pelini has struggled against mobile QBs and in last year's meeting the Huskers defense struggled to contain Dennard Robinson.  If the Huskers defense can contain him like they did Kain Colter last weekend they should do well.  Another thing to remember is that the game is played in Lincoln at night.  Nebraska has won their past four night games in Memorial Stadium and overall are pretty tough to beat in that environment. 
Prediction:  Michigan 42 Nebraska 31

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Coaching Hot Seat

Jeff Tedford, California

Career Record:  82-52
8 Bowl Appearances

Tedford has been a coach whose seat has been getting warmer every year.  Tedford came to Cal with the reputation of being a QB guru.  He tutored the likes of Trent Dilfer, David Carr, Akili Smith, and Joey Harrington.  Things started out good for Tedford.  In his first year he took them from one win to seven.  From 2003-2006 the Bears won at least 8 games and even were ranked #2 at one point.  He was even Pac 10 coach of the year twice.  A big reason for the success early on was due to the ability to get top flight talent into the program.  Aaron Rodgers, DeSean Jackson, and Marshawn Lynch are just a few of the top players he's had. 

Things started to change in 2007.  That season they started off 5-0 but ended up losing 6 of their last 7 games and finished with a 7-6 record.  Also in 2010 they only won 5 games.  Coincide the amount of talent that has come to Berkely hasn't been the same.  Tedford has also lost some of his best coaches/recruiters to other schools. 

With all of this, the program has grown stale over the plast couple of years and there really doesn't seem to be any real impact players on the roster.  They are 3-5 on the season so far and they'll be lucky to make it to 5 wins.  With this downturn paired with Stanford and USC being top flight teams and UCLA on the move up could result in Cal administration feeling like they need to do something.

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What happened to....

Florida International Golden Panthers
If you checked out my preseason rankings, you'd see that I had FIU at #24.  Any why not.  They just came off an 8-5 year and were starting to play some really good football under HC Mario Cristobal.  The returned 17 or 22 starters with 10 of them being defense.  They were poised to roll through the Sun Belt and have a legit shot at an undefeated season. 

However this season has been a giant failure.  After losing their opener against Duke, FIU looked to get things back on track with a hard fought win over Akron.  However the Panthers have dropped their next 6 games and look to be settled into the last place in the Sun Belt.  The common thought that having to replace their starting QB and key pieces to the offense has been the issue.  But instead the defense (with 10 returning starters) has been the biggest concern.  The Panther defense is giving up an average of 37 points per game.  It's hard to win games when you have to score 40 points to win.

What's worse is that HC Mario Cristobal was a hot name in the coaching carousel.  He ended up turning down jobs to stay at FIU.  With a season like this, it could hurt his chances of getting the type of job he was being offered.

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How about....

Duke Blue Devils
When you think of Duke we all think of their basketball team and how successful that program is.  The exact opposite can be found in the football program.  There has been some success throughout Duke's history, but most of us know them as being a yearly bottom dweller in the ACC standings. 

However things have changed this year.  Under HC David Cutcliff the Blue Devils leading the Coastal Division with a 3-1 conference record and are already 6-2 on the season.  Even if they don't win another game this season, the Blue Devils are already Bowl Eligible and will go to their first bowl game since 1994.  That's pretty remarkable for a team that had a 22 game losing streak in the middle of that stretch. 

The Blue Devils are lead by senior QB Sean Renfree who has really taken a big step forward this year.  Renfree has thrown for 1,793 yards and 11 TDs so far this season.  His two favorite options are senior Conner Vernon and sophomore Jamison Crowder.

It will be interesting to see where Duke goes from here.  They'll have two tough ones in a row with Florida State and Clemson, but end the season against Georgia Tech and Miami.  If they can win two or three of those games it will be a huge season for the Blue Devils.  But even if they go 0-4 a bowl game will be a great treat for this team and it's fans.

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Player Spotlight

Jordon Poyer

Height:  5'11
Weight:  190
School:  Oregon State
Year:  Senior
Position:  Cornerback

One of the biggest reasons that Oregon State is having the success they are this year is the play of defensive standout Jordon Poyer.  Poyer who is a former safety who is only in his second true season as a cornerback.  Poyer is none for being a good athlete and his ability to match up with wide receivers and shadow them all over the field.  He has good ball skills and that has shown with his 5 INTs so far this year.  He even had 3 against Washington State, one of which he took back for 6 which sealed the game for the Beavers.  Poyer also returns kicks and punts for the Beavers. 

NCAA Top 25 (Week 3)

1. Oklahoma Sooners (2-0) LW 1

In their first true test of the season, the Sooners passed with flying colors. It may not have been the blowout that I thought it would be, but Oklahoma looked good and is deserving of their #1 rankings. Landry Jones is the real deal and the defense is their usual stingy self. Watch out Big 12, the Sooners are for real.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (3-0) LW 2

Alabama made little work with North Texas in a dominant victory 41-0. The offense continues to improve in just the right time as they face off against an #9 Arkansas who is looking to prove that they are SEC Title contenders. However Alabama is just too good and should come out victorious in that match up.

3. LSU Tigers (3-0) LW 3

You don't see too many SEC games between two top 25 ranked teams on a Thursday night. However the Bayou Bengals relied on their top flight defense and mistake free offense to knock off a very good Mississippi State team. However that defense will have to deal with the high octane spread of #15 West Virginia which will give them one heck of a test. Its no rest for this team.

4. Boise State Broncos (2-0) LW 4

Toledo gave Ohio State everything they had and almost got the victory in Columbus. However they were no match for the Broncos at home. Boise State continues to roll. Kellen Moore lived up to his nickname (the Surgeon) and carved up the Rocket defense. Boise State should continue to roll until their match up against TCU later in the year.

5. Stanford Cardinal (3-0) LW 5

The match up between Nick Foles and Andrew Luck was thought to be a shoot out, but it was only Stanford that put up the points. The Cardinal defense looked good against a good offense, but they do deal with the lose of LB Shayne Skov who is a big time player. But this team is a lot deeper than people think. UCLA is their next victim as we await the big time match up against Oregon.

6. Wisconsin Badgers (3-0) LW 6

Wisconsin is clearly the class of the Big 10 and a big part of that is the offense that has gone from predictable (but still good) and an explosive attack that can beat you from anywhere. QB Russell Wilson threw for over 300 yards in their win against Northern Illinois. I know it was NIU, but when was the last time a Wisconsin QB did that?

7. South Carolina Gamecocks (3-0) LW 7

Navy gave them a scare, but when push came to shove the Gamecocks made the plays when they needed to and got the win against a very tough match up. Gamecock fans would like them to win these games more convincingly, but these close wins could be what they need to get them ready for the SEC. But its going to be hard for any team to stop Marcus Lattimore.

8. Oregon Ducks (2-1) LW 8

It wasn't a surprise that against FCS Missouri State the Ducks put up a bunch of points and LeMichael James put up big stats. But now the Ducks will be starting off Pac 12 play and their match ups will be a lot tougher than against the Bears. But everything all falls to their November 12th game against Stanford which will be their shot at a 3rd straight Pac 12(10) Championship.

9. Arkansas Razorbacks (3-0) LW 9

Troy gave the Razorbacks all kind of fits, but they got out with a victory. However they can't have a game like this next week when they face off against Alabama. This will be their big chance to get a win over one of the SEC's elite and at their goal of a SEC Title. Don't believe they will do it, but their offense will be in for it against that Tide D.

10. Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-0) LW 10

Did anybody stay up to watch their game against Tulsa? Heck was anybody even there when they finished into the wee hours of the night/morning. But the Cowboys won the game and continue their warm up before conference games start. This upcoming week they get their first big match up against #12 Texas A&M. The winner of this game puts them into the position to challenge Oklahoma for the Big 12 Championship.

11. Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0) LW 12

The Huskers are known for the defense and after three games there are some question marks. But HC Bo Pelini is a defensive mastermind, so don't expect this to last all season. But unlike the defense, the offense is starting to take shape. QB Taylor Martinez is starting to get comfortable in the system and it showed with 51 points over a Washington which isn't good, but isn't bad. Thier match up in two weeks against Wisconsin should be a preview of the Big 10 Championship.

12. Texas A&M Aggies (2-0) LW 13

Lost in the whole A&M to the SEC talk, the Aggies are playing some good football. They didn't start off to strong, but they got their ducks in order in a 30 point win against Idaho. But it will be their showdown with Oklahoma State next weekend that tells us what type of team the Aggies really are. Top 10 team or just a middle of the road Big 12 team? Should be a fun one to watch.

13. Virginia Tech Hokies (3-0) LW 14

VaTech continues their roll through their non-conference schedule with a win over Arkansas State. It wasn't pretty, but the Hokies got the job done. Look for a lot of that this year. They are a talented team, but will grind out wins with their running game and a tough defense. This weekend they face off against Marshall before a huge game against Clemson who will be coming off of a big game against Florida State.

14. Florida State Seminoles (2-1) LW 11

I didn't really drop Florida State far because I never really bought into their hype. They are a very talented team that might be a year away from being a contender. But they did do a lot better job than I thought they would and a big part of that was their defense. If the Noles can get past a red hot Clemson team this weekend they'll be in a good position. But it's not going to be easy.

15. West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0) LW 16

The Mountaineers got a big win against a Maryland team that hasn't looked to bad this year. Geno Smith keeps improving and had a career game throwing for 388 yards. However those yards are going to be hard to come by this weekend when they face off against #3 LSU and arguably the best defense in the nation. If Geno can limit his mistakes they could have a shot. But the Tiger D is very opportunistic.

16. Florida Gators (3-0) LW 19

A lot of people thought that Tennessee could knock off Florida, but the Gators showed that they aren't that far removed from being a National Title contender. Charlie Weis has this offense humming and he is getting the most out of John Brantley and Chris Rainey. But we'll see how good they really are when Alabama comes to the swamp in two weeks.

17. South Florida Bulls (3-0) LW 23

The Bulls got outplayed in South Bend in week 1 and were lucky to get out of there with the win. However they haven't looked back since and have looked very good. Hanging 70 on Florida A&M was no joke. The team is lead by talented QB BJ Daniels and looks like a team that could win their first Big East Title if they continue this momentum.

18. Clemson Tigers (3-0) LW NR

Dabo Sweeney had his Mike Gundy moment this past weekend when the Tigers ended the longest active winning streak that Auburn had from last year. Clemson has always had the potential to be a good team, but always lost the big games. Their win against Auburn was a great start. However now they have to face off against Florida State who just got off a tough loss to Oklahoma. FSU better have Oklahoma off their mind or Clemson could make them pay.

19. Baylor Bears (2-0) LW 22

Baylor is a team that can't wait for conference play to start. They had a great opening win over TCU, but with a bye week right after and then a game against Stephen F. Austin doesn't really get you a lot of national attention. A game against Rice won't either. But they do get wins and keep moving up the polls when other teams lose.

20. Texas Longhorns (3-0) LW 20

The Longhorns avenged their loss last season to the Bruins and did it behind new QB Case McCoy. Switching from Garrett Gilbert to McCoy has breathed some new life into the team and has the offense looking much better. Now let's see if the Longhorns can keep avenging last season's losses when they face off against Iowa State who is 3-0 for the first time in a while.

21. TCU Horned Frogs (2-1) LW NR

After starting the season off ranked in the middle of the top 25 the Horned Frogs find themselves back in the mix. They got a big win against an Air Force team that is a lot better than people give them credit for. This past week they took care of business in their win against Louisiana-Monroe. TCU looks a lot more comfortable and are settling in with their new players.

22. Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1) LW 17

The Buckeyes just can't get their suspended players soon enough. After a solid first two games the Buckeyes offense really stalled against Miami where QB Joe Bauserman only completed 2 passes. Adding DeVier Posey, Dan Herron, and Mike Adams would really help out. However if Bauserman doesn't improve than it won't matter who comes back. Ohio State looked like they could challenge for the Leaders Division Championship but not anymore. They'll be lucky to be ranked at the end of the season.

23. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-0) LW NR

768 yards of offense. Yes, 768 yards. And just think that Kansas beat Georgia Tech last year. After a down year, the Yellow Jackets seem to be back on track but they'll have a big time match up this against a North Carolina team that is surprisingly 3-0 despite all the turmoil. If Tech can keep up their rushing attack they'll have no problem with the Tar Heels.

24. Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0) LW NR

When was the last time that you've seen the Fighting Illini ranked in the top 25? Probably not since Kurt Kitner was the QB and Ron Turner was the HC and they won the Big 10. But Ron Zook has done a good job and has one heck of a QB in Nate Scheelhaase. The dual threat QB has been a big part of the Illini success and helped them knock off previously ranked Arizona State. But the Illini have to show that they can win in conference. Something they have struggled to do consistently.

25. Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-2) LW 25

Even though the Bulldogs lost two in a row, I couldn't drop them from he rankings. They are just too good of a team. And their losses where to LSU and Auburn. Not like it was FAU and North Texas. The Bulldogs should be able to rebound and will probably knock off a few SEC big dogs as the season progresses.

Dropped from Rankings: Central Florida Knights, Arizona State Sun Devils, Auburn Tigers

Big 10 Predictions

I've been spending a lot of time lately on the NFL, but with College Football starting soon I'll be taking a look at how I believe each of the conferences will play out.

Today I'm looking into the Big 10 and how it will go with new member Nebraska joining the mix.

Legends

1. Nebraska Cornhuskers, 10-2 (6-2)

Nebraska has the best defense in the conference, but question marks about the offense and mainly their quarterback (Taylor Martinez) could see them struggle in their first year in conference.

2. Michigan State Spartans, 9-3 (5-3)

They return a lot of talent, especially on offense with Kirk Cousins and Edwin Baker who are both big time players. However the ball bounced their way a couple of times in close games and they could not get that same luck this season.

3. Iowa Hawkeyes, 9-3 (5-3)

Iowa lucks out that they don't have to play either Wisconsin or Ohio State this season, but they have to travel to Nebraska and always have trouble playing against Northwestern. Add in that they will be replacing 3 year starter in Ricky Stanzi and are very thin at running back.

4. Northwestern Wildcats, 8-4 (4-4)

Here is my sleeper. Pat Fitzgerrald is one heck of a coach and has the Wildcats on the move up. Look for them to catch a team or two looking past them. Add in that Dan Persa if healthy is one of the best quarterbacks in the conference.

5. Michigan Wolverines, 7-5 (4-4)

A lot of Michigan fans weren't too excited about Brady Hoke being named the head coach, but I feel they got the best person for the job. Harbaugh would have always have an eye towards the NFL while Hoke is there to stay. He has had success at Ball State and San Diego State where others have struggled. It may take a year but Michigan will be back.

6. Minnesota Golden Gophers, 4-8 (1-7)

Jerry Kill wasn't a sexy hire but he is a very good coach. However the Golden Gophers are no where near competitive this season and will struggle in the improved Big 10.

Leaders

1. Wisconsin Badgers, 12-1 (7-1)

The Badgers were one of the favorites going into this season, but then they added Russell Wilson from NC State and Ohio State lost Terrelle Pryor and four more key players. I look for Wisconsin to roll through the Big 10 and either go undefeated or have a slip up. Wilson will give them a playmaker at QB that they haven't had in a long time.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes, 9-3 (6-2)

Even though Terrelle Pryor and Jim Tressell are gone and they don't have four other key players for the first five games of the year, they still have a ton of talent and are going to win a lot of games. The key is the quarterback play. If Bauserman or Braxton Miller don't lose games the Buckeyes can rely on their defense and running game which is still very good.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions, 8-4 (5-3)

Quarterback play is really going to tell a lot about how he Nittany Lions do this season. Robert Bolden was thought to be the man, but he struggled and butted heads with the coaching staff. In their bowl game Matt McGloin played pretty well. If McGloin can build off of that game they could have a good season. But its like they could repeat last year.

4. Illinois Fighting Illini, 7-5 (4-4)

Nobody really expected much from Illinois last year but they got to a bowl game and routed a Baylor team that many thought would roll Illinois. Nate Scheelhaase has turned out to be a great quarterback and will give the Illini a fighting chance in every game.

5. Indiana Hoosiers, 4-8 (1-7)

I really like the hire of Kevin Wilson to Indiana. Wilson's offenses at Oklahoma were always at the top of the NCAA rankings. However its almost impossible to get talent into Indiana for football and Wilson might find it harder to run his uptempo attack.

6. Purdue Boilermakers, 4-8 (1-7)

Purdue is just a mess. They don't have any real talent or difference makers. This is sad because under Joe Tiller they were always a competitive team that produced a ton of NFL talent. Look for a coaching change at the end of this season.

Offensive Player of the Year: Russell Wilson QB Wisconsin

Defensive Player of the Year: Lavonte David LB Nebraska

Freshman of the Year: Jamal Turner WR Nebraka

Coach of the Year: Brent Bielema, Wisconsin