Another Patriots Game Ends With Official Confusion

I'll launch a tirade about the call-then-non-call at the end of the game. Then I'll get to the game.

I find it odd that pushing a teammate when trying to block a field goal is penalized, but hugging a tight-end in the end zone is not. And I find it odd that a lawyer from Nebraska (referee Clete Blakeman, who did play QB for the Cornhuskers in the 1980s), can make an instant judgment about the athletic abilities of Rob Gronkowski AND Luke Kuechly. On the spot, the officials determined that Gronkowski would have been physically unable to turn and compete for the football in the end zone. Further, the refs determined that the influence Luke Kuechly exerted on Gronk wasn't what kept Gronkowski from competing for the ball.

So a former college player and current lawyer decided, with no benefit of replay or review, what Rob Gronkowski was and wasn't capable of doing. And what Luke Kuechly was and wasn't capable of preventing Gronkowski from doing. These are two of the best athletes in the League, and a 49-year-old lawyer determined what they were capable of.

I hate games that end this way. Any games. I hate games that end with rule book explanations.

I hate the fact that one official, who was on top of the play, instinctively threw his flag. He saw SOMETHING. Then the crew decided that whatever he saw was nullified because of something else. And it's still unclear what any of those somethings are.

If the official in the end zone had kept his flag in his pocket because it was the last play, and in all sports officials allow things to happen at the end of games that they would normally penalize in the earlier stages, that would have been fine. Instead, a flag was thrown for some reason, picked up for another reason, and the game ended with a question mark. Not a period, or an exclamation point.

Just questions marks.

To the game...

The Patriots did plenty to lose this game before that last play. Stevan Ridley's fumble might have cost them a touchdown. The 4th quarter pass on 3rd and 1 in the Red Zone was also poorly executed and a weird decision. A trademark of a Josh McDaniels offense is that he tries too hard to stay one step ahead of you. Instead of having faith in the players to execute, he tries to outwit his opponents. And instead of staying with something that works, he'll try to adjust his offense BEFORE his opponent adjusts to what had been working.

It's like trying to counter a chess opponent's move before he's made it. It's not strategically sound.

The Patriots defense also looked much weaker than it's been in earlier stages of the season. With no Wilfork, no Mayo, no Dennard, the Panthers were able to mount some impressive drives. Aqib Talib was criticized a great deal, but his game wasn't as horrible as you might think. Steve Smith caught 4 passes for 62 yards. Talib didn't have his best game, but he wasn't torched either.

Every time the Patriots collapsed the pocket around Cam Newton, it was a bad thing. Give him credit for making sensational plays. But also criticize the Patriots for not being cautious with him. You don't want to collapse pockets around Newton, you want to contain them. He's explosive, and with explosives you want to keep them contained and controlled.

I'm not disheartened or worried by the outcome of this game. This game was winnable. Carolina played better. But the Patriots weren't inferior in terms of talent or ability or effort. Just in execution. If Ridley keeps the ball, if Talib keeps his temper, if the play-calling was better, et cetera. These are all attainable ifs.

So I'm not concerned by this. The Patriots failed a test, but did show they have the capability of passing it.

Speaking of tests, the Broncos come to town Sunday night.

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Mike McCarn

Flutie Award for College Athlete of the Year

This Award goes to the athlete that performed the best, but also did so on the biggest stages. In other words, the Williams soccer team will likely never have a winner of this award, while BC and BU athletes have claimed most of these.

For the second consecutive year, the winner is Luke Kuechly, linebacker, Boston College.

Kuechly won many awards this year, as the lone bright spot on a struggling BC team. He was a consensus All-American. ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He won the Butkus Award (best linebacker in college football), the Lombardi Award (best lineman or linebacker), and the Bronco Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player). If he decides to enter the NFL Draft, he'll likely be a top 15 pick and the first linebacker taken.

Clearly the best college athlete in New England.

Kuechly Wins Lombardi Award

After winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, then the Butkis Award, BC linebacker Luke Kuechly won the Lombardi Award, given to the best linemen (offensive or defensive) or linebacker in college football. In other words, the best player in the trenches on either side of the ball.

There's really not much more for Kuechly to accomplish in college. And in my opinion, the 20 year old junior from Cincinnati should turn pro. He's projected as the top LB in the draft, and will likely go in the top 10 to 15.

There might be personal reasons for him to stay in school. And that's his business. I defended Luck when he decided not to leave Stanford early. Kuechly is a business major, which doesn't seem as engrossing and rigorous as Andre Luck's architectural design studies. Then again, maybe Kuechly wants to get his undergrad degree now, play football, then get an MBA when he graduates and start/run his own business. Who knows.

But in terms of football, there's nothing more he can accomplish at BC. The Eagles aren't competing for a BCS title, or an ACC title, or a divisional title. They'll struggle to attain bowl eligibility in 2012.

As far as his football career goes, he's reached the highest point in college that he'll reach. He's winning trophies, he recorded 191 tackles this year, he's established himself as one of the best linebackers in BC history. What else is there? Maybe a Heisman bid if he made 250 tackles, got 10 sacks, and 5 INTs.

He should enter the NFL Draft.

BOSTON COLLEGE: HOME OF THE MORAL VICTORY

BC Football has been frustrating to watch all season. An outstanding defense undermined by an incapable offense. It's tragic in a way. BC entered this game with the 19th best scoring defense in the country. And they lived up to that reputation. They also brought the 109th scoring offense in the country, and lived up to that reputation.

Let's be positive and talk about the defense. Nevada averaged 42.6 points per game this year. BC held them to a season low 20. They averaged 535.5 yards per game (only Oregon was more prolific). BC held them to 304. They averaged 305.6 rushing yards this year. BC held them to 112.

But my favorite stat was this one: BC forced Nevada to punt 7 times. They averaged 2.3 punts per game this year. The Eagles also forced 3 turnovers, to go with those drives ending in punts.

One of those turnovers was an interception by sophomore All-American linebacker Luke Kuechly. This is one of the best players in the game. He's fast, he has a nose for the ball, and he's strong. Keep an eye on him next year.

That's the mantra for BC football. This was a "rebuilding year," to put it kindly. The offense needs to improve. Freshman RB Andre Williams has a bright year ahead of him. But freshman QB Chase Rettig looked like he was about to cry at the end of this game.

I understand the idea of starting Rettig, to get him experience and make him a solid QB as an upperclassman. However, the style of offense BC uses is too bland, too straight-up, too NFL-esque. Why not run more misdirection running plays? Why not try the option? Why are the Eagles using the same kind of offense that Matt Ryan ran? It won't work with mediocre QBs. Even if Rettig improves to serviceable, this offense isn't dynamic enough.

I'll put it like this: BC will never be stronger or faster than their top tier opponents. So trying to beat them eye-to-eye, nose-to-nose is suicidal. Be smart. Be clever. Be elusive. At the very least, be more exciting.

Anyway, a forgettable season with a semi-memorable ending. At least more memorable than losing to Vanderbilt or winning the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Photo Credit:
AP Photo

FLUTIE AWARD FOR COLLEGE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

This Award goes to the athlete that performed the best, but also did so on the biggest stages. In other words, the Williams soccer team will likely never have a winner of this award, while BC and BU athletes have claimed most of these. The nominees for this year are:

Montel Harris - RB, Boston College Football
Luke Kuechly - LB, Boston College Football
Cam Atkinson - F, Boston College Hockey
John Muse - G, Boston College Hockey

And the winner is...

Luke Kuechly



You may have never heard of him, but he's a big deal. He led the country in tackles with 170 (101 solo), and was a consensus First Team All-American, BC's first since Mike Cloud in '98. He won ACC Player of the Week 4 times this season, and was one of the primary reasons that BC finished the year with the 19th best scoring defense in the country. He's only a sophomore, and the sky is the limit for this kid.