Game time!!!!

[Hot Lunch]

how so? The LB hit him hard and he went down. He was not an unprotected or QB. He was 15 yards down field and a running back at that point. If and when Nelson gets hit like that this year while running the ball I would not think it was dirty. Sure the hit was high, but the helmet to helmet stuff does not apply in that situation. It was a very hard hit but not dirty.

Edit: As I look at it again it wasn't even helmet to helmet. The the right shoulder of the LB hit the QB's helmet. The LB over ran the play slightly and the QB didn't quite finish his cutback.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with that hit. Great Hit IMO.

[Hot Lunch]

I thought foreamrs to the head are illegal. The LB/safety's arms weren't open to grasp, they were closed. It looked to me like he put his right forearm into the guy's head. I don't think it was dirty, meaning that he had intent to injure, but it did look illegal to me, even if it resulted from the LB aiming high and the QB diving low. But I could be wrong. ANd the refs didnt call it and they were right there.

My understanding is you just can't close-line the ball carrier.

[ERCougar]

Look at it again and watch all the angles. The LB overran the play. The incidental forearm was an attempt to grab the QB after the shoulder had already hit him. The last replay was the best.

LOL...I was actually going to say the last replay is the most telling....

I'll agree that he overran him, but if he's trying to tackle him, why isn't he low? Don't they know how to coach linebackers at SC?

[Flystripper]

I thought foreamrs to the head are illegal. The LB/safety's arms weren't open to grasp, they were closed. It looked to me like he put his right forearm into the guy's head. I don't think it was dirty, meaning that he had intent to injure, but it did look illegal to me, even if it resulted from the LB aiming high and the QB diving low. But I could be wrong. ANd the refs didnt call it and they were right there.

It wasn't a forearm to the head. The contact was shoulder to the head. The arms were in tight when the shoulder made contact and they opened to grab him after the hit. I just don't see how it was dirty or illegal. If the runner was an RB I don't think we are even having this conversation.

[ERCougar]

It wasn't a forearm to the head. The contact was shoulder to the head. The arms were in tight when the shoulder made contact and they opened to grab him after the hit. I just don't see how it was dirty or illegal. If the runner was an RB I don't think we are even having this conversation.

You're probably right about that, but extra attention to hits on QB's is nothing new.

[falafel]

It wasn't a forearm to the head. The contact was shoulder to the head. The arms were in tight when the shoulder made contact and they opened to grab him after the hit. I just don't see how it was dirty or illegal. If the runner was an RB I don't think we are even having this conversation.

I didn't watch the game, so the first time I saw it was just now in the link you provided. My initial reaction was it looked dirty, but the replays took a little something off that. Regardless, this is the quarterback in open space. I'm positive the LB saw that as an opportunity to really shake him up. Isn't the defense taught to do that anyway? Punish the QB for running around?

What I'm puzzled about is why the LB left his feet. The QB gave no indication he was going to go high. To me, that supports the theory that the LB really wanted to lay him out and decided to hit him high. I think that's dangerous and a bit dirty.

Oh, and I don't think you can say his arms were tight when he hit him. It looks to me like he was opening up for a close line.

[Blueintheface]

Boylen, let me know how that re-watch goes in relation to the linebackers and safeties...my subjective view last night was that they didn't have a great game at all and the OT pass was painfully late and behind the receiver. But if the freshman is Eric Weddle reincarnate than may I be struck with toe fungus.

The front 4 for Utah especially the interior is good...Bruce Almighty good. It's good...it's GOOOD!

[USUC]

You are right, I guess what is more accurate to say is he is a legitimate Heisman candidate (well until we shut him down) and he is the best RB that Utah faces all year, by far. He is also in the argument with all of those guys for best RB in the country. Dion Lewis was amazing last year and his stats from last year are pretty much on par with all of those players you mentioned.

Lewis is one of the best RBs in the country. He will have a sophomore slump though. Last year Pitt had an experienced senior QB (Stull). The offense was more in rhythm and the Stull could keep the defense honest with the pass. Lewis will be the focal point of defenses this year. I think James at Oregon is good but is a "system" RB. I'm interested to see how he does this year with a new QB.

[Blueintheface]

Lewis is one of the best RBs in the country. He will have a sophomore slump though. Last year Pitt had an experienced senior QB (Stull). The offense was more in rhythm and the Stull could keep the defense honest with the pass. Lewis will be the focal point of defenses this year. I think James at Oregon is good but is a "system" RB. I'm interested to see how he does this year with a new QB.

Lewis was getting pissed last night that he couldnt' find any room in the middle. Utah's interior had a lot to do with it but also the patty-cake motion and no push from his interior line didn't do him any favors.

[FN Phat]

There was absolutely nothing wrong with that hit. Great Hit IMO.

Agreed. Homeboy got lit up.

[Surfah]

Lewis was getting pissed last night that he couldnt' find any room in the middle. Utah's interior had a lot to do with it but also the patty-cake motion and no push from his interior line didn't do him any favors.

If I were Lewis I'd be pissed with the play calling. Utah 8-9 guys in the box all night. The pulling guards were worthless. Whatever Lewis got he got on his own last night save his first run he broke off for 18. On that play the right side crashed and swallowed up the Utah interior. After that though, it was all Utah.

[Surfah]

Agreed. Homeboy got lit up.

x2.

[UtahDan]

If I were Lewis I'd be pissed with the play calling. Utah 8-9 guys in the box all night. The pulling guards were worthless. Whatever Lewis got he got on his own last night save his first run he broke off for 18. On that play the right side crashed and swallowed up the Utah interior. After that though, it was all Utah.

I think it is pretty clear that they wanted to grind, limit our possessions on offense and break in their new QB slowly. I think they were worried about him doing exactly what he did at the end of the game, and through the first quarter that was working pretty well. But once you are behind that doesn't make as much sense. It wasn't until they got behind and were forced to throw that their offense started to look balanced. I think a huge part of their offense looking better in the 4th quarter is that our defense, who spent most of the game on the field as a result of TO's was starting to get gassed.

[BoylenOver]

Lewis is one of the best RBs in the country. He will have a sophomore slump though. Last year Pitt had an experienced senior QB (Stull). The offense was more in rhythm and the Stull could keep the defense honest with the pass.

Lewis was getting pissed last night that he couldnt' find any room in the middle. Utah's interior had a lot to do with it but also the patty-cake motion and no push from his interior line didn't do him any favors.

I agree with BITF here. I thought Sunseri played ok, but that inexperienced interior line got knocked around.

That Pitt offense could benefit from the offense opening up a bit, too. Saddler and Shanahan (in addition to Baldwin) are talented receivers that deserve more targets.

[Hot Lunch]

Agreed. Homeboy got lit up.

Those are the hits you just love to see. USC will have that hit on every highlight film they watch before every game this year.