On The Clock: Dallas Cowboys

Record: 9-7, 3rd In the NFC East
General Manager: Jerry Jones, Head Coach: Wade Phillips (3rd Year), Offensive Coordinator: Jason Garrett (3rd Year), Defensive Coordinator: Wade Phillips (1st Year)

Offense Rankings: No. 13 Overall, No. 18 Scoring, No. 9 Passing, No. 21 Rushing
Defense Rankings: No. 8 Overall, No. 20 Scoring, No. 5 Passing, No. 12 Rushing

Last Five Years: 46-34; Last Playoff Appearance: 2007; Last Playoff Victory: 1996 (40-15 Over the Minnesota Vikings)

2008 Draft: (1-22) RB Felix Jones, (1-25) CB Mike Jenkins, (2-61) TE Martellus Bennett, (4-122) RB Tashard Choice, (5-143) CB Orlando Scandrick, (6-167) DE Erik Walden

Top Picks Last Five Years:
2008 – (1-22) RB Felix Jones, Arkansas & (1-25) CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida
2007 – (1-26) DE Anthony Spencer, Purdue
2006 – (1-18) LB Bobby Carpenter, Ohio St.
2005 – (1-11) LB DeMarcus Ware, Troy & (1-20) DE Marcus Spears, LSU
2004 – (2-43) RB Julius Jones, Notre Dame

Booms: WR Patrick Crayton (7th Round 2004), DB Jacques Reeves (7th Round 2004), OLB DeMarcus Ware (1st Round 2005), RB Marion Barber III (4th Round 2005), DE Chris Canty (4th Round 2005), DE Jay Ratliff (7th Round 2005), OT Pat McQuistan (7th Round 2006), K Nicholas Folk (6th Round 2007), RB Tashard Choice (4th Round 2008), CB Orlando Scandrick (5th Round 2008)

Busts: OT Jacob Rogers (2nd Round 2004), OLB Bobby Carpenter (1st Round 2006), WR Skyler Green (4th Round 2006), DE Anthony Spencer (1st Round 2007), OT James Marten (2nd Round 2007)

Additions:
OLB Keith Brooking (Free Agent)
QB Jon Kitna (Trade)
DE Igor Olshansky (Free Agent)
SS Gerald Sensabaugh (Free Agent)
LB Matt Stewart (Free Agent)

Subtractions:
OG Joe Berger (FA-Miami)
OLB Kevin Burnett (FA-San Diego)
DE Chris Canty (FA-New York)
QB Brad Johnson (Released)
CB Adam Jones (Released)
WR Terrell Owens (Released)
SS Roy Williams (Released)

Keepers:
None.

2009 Picks:
Round 2, Selection 19
Round 3, Selection 5 (From Cleveland)
Round 4, Selection 1 (From Detroit)
Round 4, Selection 17
Round 5, Selection 20
Round 5, Selection 30 (From Tennessee)
Round 5, Selection 36 (Compensatory)
Round 6, Selection 24 (From Miami)
Round 6, Selection 35 (Compensatory)
Round 7, Selection 1 (From Detroit)
Round 7, Selection 18

Team Needs – Players of Interest (Day One):
1. Safety: Louis Delmas, Western Michigan
2. Wide Receiver: Kenny Britt, Rutgers; Hakeem Nicks, UNC; Brian Robiskie, OSU; Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma; Mike Thomas, Arizona
3. Defensive End: Jarron Gilbert, San Jose St.; Evander Hood, Missouri; Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn
4. Offensive Tackle: Eben Britton, Arizona; William Beatty, UConn; Jamon Meredith, South Carolina
5. Punter: None.

Photo Credit: College Press Box, OSU Athletics

CFI: ARKANSAS-LSU GAME NOTES

Hillis finished with four touchdowns and 89 yards, while teammate Felix Jones added an additional 85 yards as Arkansas finished with 385 yards on the ground. The exhilarating game eventually ended with the Razorbacks topping the Tigers 50-48 in three overtimes and walking away with the "Golden Boot," a trophy shaped like the states of Arkansas and Louisiana. LSU linebacker Ali Highsmith did his best trying to stop the Razorbacks, making 15 tackles.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

Black Friday: No. 1 LSU Falls to Arkansas in 3OT

By BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU's national title hopes were crushed by a Heisman-worthy performance.

Darren McFadden rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another to lift Arkansas to a 50-48, three-overtime victory over the top-ranked Tigers on Friday.

Peyton Hillis also scored three TDs, the last in the third overtime. Felix Jones ran for the critical 2-point conversion to make it 50-42 Razorbacks (8-4, 4-4 SEC).

LSU (10-2, 6-2) responded when Matt Flynn found Brandon LaFell for a 9-yard TD, but Matterral Richardson intercepted the 2-point conversion attempt, and Arkansas' bench emptied onto the field in triumph.

McFadden, last year's Heisman Trophy runner-up, rushed for 206 yards 32 carries and now has 1,725 yards rushing this season. No doubt there are West Virginia and Ohio State fans who'd vote for McFadden for Heisman if they could.

By knocking off LSU, which was in first place in the BCS standings, Arkansas boosted the national championship hopes of West Virginia and Ohio State.

McFadden wasn't the only running back LSU had trouble wrapping up.

Hillis and Jones each ran for 89 yards as Arkansas finished with a 385 yards on the ground against one of the best run defenses in the country.

It's the second time this season the Tigers have fallen while at No. 1 and it's probably too late in the season now for them to get another chance.

The winner of tomorrow night's game between No. 2 Kansas and No. 3 Missouri will likely take over the top spot in the rankings and the BCS standings. No. 4 West Virginia, which was third in the BCS standings, has a chance to sneak up to at least No. 2 in each with a win over Connecticut.

As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes are done and waiting it out. They were fifth in the last BCS standings.

Flynn finished 209 yards passing and three touchdowns. He also ran for another score in the first overtime, when LSU could have emerged victorious with a stop on fourth-and-10.

But Casey Dick found Hillis open for a 12-yard game to keep the Razorbacks alive, then later found Hillis again for a 9-yard tying TD.

Jacob Hester rushed for 126 yards and two TDs for LSU, which had to rally from a seven-point deficits three times in the second half, and convert two fourth-down plays on its last drive in regulation, just to force overtime.

But in the end, Arkansas and embattled coach Houston Nutt walked away holding the ``Golden Boot,'' a trophy shaped like the states of Arkansas and Louisiana.

Nutt, who will have his team in a bowl game, may not be back with the Hogs next season after growing unrest in Fayatteville, Ark., and a slow start to the season. Arkansas officials have yet to confirm that, however, and firing Nutt may be a less popular move now.

LSU had already clinched the SEC West Division and will move on to the conference title game in Atlanta on Dec. 1, but will do so feeling a little hollow after letting a chance at a national title slip away. Winning the SEC title will put LSU in New Orleans in January, but for the Sugar Bowl, not the BCS Championship game they wanted to be in a week later.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: University of Arkansas

No. 22 Tennessee needs a strong run defense to stop SEC's top rushing duo

By BETH RUCKER
Associated Press Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- California's Justin Forsett, Alabama's Terry Grant, South Carolina's Terry Boyd and half of Florida's offensive lineup had heydays rushing against Tennessee this season.

Arkansas' Darren McFadden and Felix Jones could be next. Consider Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis optimistic, though. "It's a big opportunity, there's no doubt about that. I may be saying something differently after the game, but we're excited about going out and seeing how we can match up," Chavis said Tuesday.

The No. 22 Vols (6-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) will have to come up with one of their best defensive performances of the season to stop McFadden and Jones, the top two rushers in the SEC.

Tennessee fares a bit better against the run than against passing, giving up an average 167.7 yards rushing per game compared to 244.8 yards passing. But Arkansas (6-3, 2-3) boasts the second-best rushing offense in the nation, putting up an average 315.9 yards a game.

"Arkansas is one of the most impressive teams I've seen offensively," coach Phillip Fulmer said. "They just totally manhandled South Carolina's defense. McFadden is easily one of the best players in the nation."

Manhandle they did last week, posting 542 yards rushing and 109 yards passing against the Gamecocks. McFadden ran for an SEC record-tying 321 yards, nearly 100 yards more than any other player has rushed for in a game this season, and Jones added 166.

"To be honest, I couldn't believe it," defensive end Xavier Mitchell said. "South Carolina is a pretty sound defense most of the time. The way that they just kind of tore threw them, it kind of took me by surprise. But anything can happen on Saturday."

The Vols' defense fared well against Arkansas last year for three out of four quarters, holding the Razorbacks to just 13 points, but had a miserable second quarter in the 31-14 loss. McFadden had 181 yards and two touchdowns in the game and Jones added 72 yards.

Chavis said a quarter like that second quarter, during which Tennessee gave up two rushing touchdowns to McFadden and a passing touchdown from McFadden to Marcus Monk, is when it's important for players to be confident. Confidence in overcoming mistakes is how a team can swing the momentum back in their favor, he said.

It also comes down to fundamentals, the coaches say. Tackling well, closing gaps at the line of scrimmage and getting away from offensive blocks can stop a good runner, they said.

"You've got to have 11 guys that are playing well," Chavis said. "In this situation, you can have 10 guys doing a great job, and if you've got one guy that's getting blocked or losing his battle, it could end up being a big play."

Secondary coach Larry Slade was more to the point: "I don't care how they get them on the ground, let's get them on the ground."

Auburn held the Razorbacks to an impressive 67 yards rushing in October in their 9-7 win, but while giving Auburn credit, Chavis blames some of that lack of production on a rib injury McFadden suffered against Chattanooga the week before.

Still, Chavis knows there are two faces to both Arkansas' offense and Tennessee's defense. There's the Arkansas offense that manhandled South Carolina and the offense that was shut down by Auburn.

For Tennessee, there's the defense that gave up a painful 255 yards rushing to Florida with quarterback Tim Tebow leading the way. There's also the defense that held Georgia running backs Thomas Brown, Kregg Lumpkin and Knowshon Moreno -- now the league's third-best rusher behind the Arkansas duo -- to a combined 69 yards.

"We've had some moments that we've played very well against some very good football teams, and then we've had some moments we've been pretty bad," Chavis said. "The biggest thing we need to do now is make sure that we play 60 minutes and get off the field when we need to get off the field."

Source: AP; Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

CFI: THE SEC REPORT

BY RAFAEL GARCIA
SEC INSIDER

FULLY ARMED

1. John Parker Wilson - 32-46 363 yards (career high) and three touchdowns: The Vols made him look like an NFL QB.
2. Mackenzi Adams - 8-16 123 yards: Not much, but he managed the game well for his first start.
3. Tim Tebow - 18-26 256 yards and four touchdowns: I think he is so big we ought to start calling him AT& Tebow.
4. Andre Woodson - 35-50 415 yards and five touchdowns: This guy is the real thing in case y'all didn't notice.

ROAD RUNNERS

1. Arkansas' two-headed monster of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones combine for 32 carries for 211 yards. Too bad that's all they have.
2. Tim Tebow 20 carries for 78 yards: Seems like he is this section every week.
3. Alabama Terry Grant 26-104: Helped his quarterback keeps the Volunteers off balance all day.

CATCH HAPPY

1. D.J Hall had 13 catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns: It seemed like he had about twice that many yards as he caught anything and everything thrown his way.
2. LSU'S Early Doucet had 10 grabs for 182 yards: He showed how important he is the Tiger offense now that he is back.
3. Kentucky duo of Steve Johnson and Dicky Lyons each caught eight passes with Johnson getting 128 yards and Lyons getting 124 more.

BIG HITS

1. How bout them Commodores: The way they manhandled South Carolina and had seven sacks by seven players. They also had two interceptions both by D.J Moore. When they had every reason not to show up…they just outplayed Steve Spurrier’s highly touted defense by holding them to just 26 yards rushing on 22 carries on offense.
2. Heads up to the Bama defense: They may have allowed Tennessee to move the ball several times in the second half but they held them scoreless too.

AIN’T THAT SPECIAL

1. LSU kicker Colt David continues to come up big: He had three more field goals, but more importantly, started another LSU comeback with his sure foot

INTO THE MINDS

1. After a losing to Vanderbilt, Coach Spurrier said that the loss to Vandy should not be a surprise. I take it that he is giving them too much credit or not giving enough credit to his team. Before and during the season he kept preaching how his team was ready to compete for the East. Well make up your mind coach because I am sure you did not have the ‘Dores in mind when you said that. It is also the wrong message to send to his team if he wants to keep their confidence up the rest of the way. They have to go to Knoxville next week and Arkansas and they have not fared well there recently. On top of that, those games are followed by a visit from Florida. He better get that famous motivation speech ready, if he does not, what started as a promising season can sink fast.

2. What does it take to get Tennessee back to its winning ways? Definitely not the brand of football they are playing. When you are running the ball well you don't punt on fourth and one when you need points. You do not run a fourth stringer on third and two when you have guys in front of him getting the job done. At one point in the first half, the Vols had almost three times as many passes as they did runs. Didn't offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe say not too long ago that he would run more? Yet, he continues to pass. In the third quarter they were driving down when they faced third and eight and Erik Ainge made a huge pass for the first down. Next play is a run right? Not these days. Cutcliffe calls pass and the ball was picked off. That ended any hopes for the Vols. The Alabama players would later say they noticed the Vols had given up. Look folks this may be acceptable in other conferences but not in the SEC boys. Here is where the big boys play and if Phillip Fulmer and his staff don't put some fight into their troops the heat will come hard and fast. Rocky Top just ain’t taking it anymore and the call for his head is getting louder with each loss.

3. Last but not least let’s hear it for Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson. For so long the Vandy fans have suffered. They have been as patient as Chicago Cub fans. After losing in the closing seconds last week, Johnson put his teams’ character to the test. They could fold it up for the season or show themselves and the football world that winning ways at Vandy are here to stay. Johnson had it all when Jay Cutler took over and offered a glimmer of hope for a sorry program. Then they lose Cutler to the draft and instead of packing it in…the coach told his team that this was a new day. The Vanderbilt Commodores would no longer be the doormat of the SEC East. He worked tirelessly with his coaches and players so that they would believe in themselves. The results are clear. No longer can a team come to Nashville and just expect a win. He has taught his kids the art of winning and it's getting contagious. Four wins in the book with two more for a bowl game. Chances look good for Vandy and the future is now brighter thanks in part to a heck of a game day coach. So now the fans wait for what may be the best stretch run this school has ever seen and possibly that elusive bowl bid...................Hip Hip Hooray.

D-Mac and Felix Want Fans to Pick Their Costumes for Halloween

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas’ Darren McFadden and Felix Jones have already established themselves as the best running back duo in college football. McFadden (137.0) and Jones (112.2) form the top rushing tandem in the nation averaging 249.2 yards per game. This Halloween, the two All-Americans and good friends on and off the field are teaming up to have some fun dressing up and raising money for charity.

Last year, McFadden gained national attention when he showed up on campus dressed as a clown for Halloween. This year, Darren and Felix need the fans help in determining what famous duo they should impersonate with their Halloween costumes. Go to www.Hogwired.com or www.5DarrenMcFadden.com to cast your vote.

Darren and Felix want you to decide between The Blues Brothers, Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble and Sonny and Cher. The voting will end at noon on Friday, Oct. 19.

The duo will don the costumes on Halloween (Wed., Oct. 31), just a few days prior the Hogs showdown with South Carolina at Donald W. Reynolds Stadium. The pair will go about their daily activities dressed as the famous duo that, the fans, choose.

In the following days, both Darren’s and Felix’s costumes will be put up for auction on www.Hogwired.com will all off the proceeds going to charity. The money from Darren’s costume will be donated to his hometown Boys and Girls Club in Little Rock, while the proceeds from Felix’s outfit will go to his hometown Boys and Girls Club in Tulsa.

PHOTO CREDIT: Arkansas University Media Relations

KENTUCKY 42 ARKANSAS 29

BY RAFAEL GARCIA
SEC INSIDER

At one point in the first half, it appeared that the momentum favored the Razorbacks. They out gained Kentucky 373-131 in yards but had only a 20-14 lead to show for it. Kentucky trimmed the lead to six points when Arkansas RB Michael Smith fumbled on a key drive. That led to a 66-yard return for a touchdown for Kentucky with 26 seconds left in the half. Then just as quick as the Wildcats took the lead in the third quarter. After giving up a safety and a touchdown to fall behind 29-21, Andre Woodson turned it on and showed his Heisman credentials. He simply took over the game and led his team to 21 unanswered points to put the game away.

Key Points
1. Kentucky’s Trevard Lindley’s 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown to cut the lead to six at the end of the first half.
2. Kentucky WR Keenan Burton’s 32-yard touchdown catch to retake the lead.
3. Arkansas scores on a 16-yard fumble return to open a 10-0 lead and momentum.


Fully Armed
1. Andre Woodson throws for 265 yards and two touchdowns and runs for another score. He engineers a fourth quarter comeback for a second straight week.

Road Runners
1. Arkansas RB Darren McFadden runs for 173 yards and the lone offensive score.
2. His running mate Felix Jones runs for 133 yards of his own on only 12 attempts.

Low Ends
1. Kentucky defense gets shredded for nearly 300 rushing yards.
2. Kentucky fumbles three times and losses all three. Gotta hold on to the ball or next time you may not get the win.
3. Arkansas gets all kinds of yards running the ball but it never amounted to the scores they needed to win the ballgame.