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Sports Agenda for Monday 9/30/13

Top Stories:
Now that was a fun weekend for sports and we're not quite done yet because the Dolphins play tonight. The Heat hold media day today, bet that's going to be fun, wonder what LeBron's first question will be? The Marlins lose more than 100, but end on a high note, but are still a mess (much like that sentence). And college football craziness, all in the agenda!

Quote of the Day:
"I think I saw Carl Spackler out there," Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich of playing in a monsoon. (Love the caddyshack reference!)

Miami Dolphins: (@ New Orleans Saints, 8:30 p.m., ESPN)
The Miami Dolphins will look to make it four straight victories to open the season when they take on the New Orleans Saints tonight.
Miami will need every bit of its pass rush that it can muster if it wants to have a chance against Drew Brees and the Saints offense.
On that note, Cameron wake traveled with the team, but it's not known if he will play.
Personally, if Wake has any sort of limp or anything, sit him down and get him healthy for next week against Baltimore.
Losing Wake would be huge as Miami would have to blitz more with the linebackers and that opens up the field for Brees to get rid of the ball quickly.
Oh, by the way, remember Miami's horrendous ability to cover linebackers?
Yeah, tonight, they face Jimmy Graham, all nearly 6'7" of him. Advantage = Graham
Defensively, Miami may want to keep Dion Sims on the field all the time to help with pass blocking.
Let's be honest, the Dolphins' pass blocking has been, well, brutal thus far.
If Miami doesn't block well tonight, quarterback Ryan Tannehill may not make it to Week 5 as Rob Ryan's defense will have a field day against him.
That said, remember the best way to counter a fast pass rush? Throw the screen pass early and often.
That, plus a successful running game that opens play-action passing will be key tonight.
So look for Lamar Miller to be involved early and often.
I like Miami, I really do, but I think tonight is just too much to ask on the road.
New Orleans 31, Miami 23

AFC East:
Another week, another Patriots victory, but this one is going to come with a HUGE cost.
Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork tore his Achilles tendon last night early in the game.
Losing Wilfork for the rest of the season, which the Patriots will, is going to really hurt New England's defense.
Why?
Consider this – he's missed a total of six games over his career and hasn't missed a game since 2009.
Remember, this is a guy who looks like he is a couple of biscuits away from being 400 pounds.
Yes, he's that big, as I can attest having stood on the sideline next to him.
New England will use an undrafted rookie temporarily to replace him, but will likely look around on the market to see if any big bodied defensive lineman are available.
This is another chapter that proves the Dolphins must take advantage of the Patriots' this year or else.
Remember, it took an injury to Tom Brady for the Dolphins to overtake Miami before, it might just take an injury that big again and this could be it.

By the way…just how damn good are the Denver Broncos?!?!!?

Lane Kiffin:
Well, USC finally pulled the trigger on the Lane Kiffin-era in Los Angeles.
Kiffin, I still don't understand why, has landed more cushy gigs with no record to back it up than anyone I've ever seen.
He has bombed USc's program just like he bombed at Tennessee and he bombed at Oakland.
The next team to give him a shot should be somewhere in Division III.
Anyways, I guess Texas could hire him to replace Mack Brown? (Just kidding, I wouldn't wish that on anyone…well, except maybe Notre Dame…and Kansas)
So what next for USC?
I would avoid Jack Del Rio because he's never coached in college and would be a tough sell.
I would call Boise State's Chris Petersen because he's a coaching stud, but he's turned down everyone before.
Steve Sarkisian will get a call, but I would want to distance myself from the last say 8 years of USC coaching at this point.
Jeff Fisher…keep dreaming USC.
Here's my choice if I was hiring – James Franklin
Why?
He's done something no one else has been able to do, turn Vanderbilt into a winner.
He's a recruiting mad man to be able to pull that off.
If he can win at Vandy, with limited resources and high academics…think of what he can do at USC with unlimited resources and weaker academics?
That would be my pick with one other SEC guy right behind him, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.
But whoever gets Franklin, they're getting a winner pure and simple.

College Football:
Speaking of college football, here's some of my thoughts from the weekend.
Oklahoma – thanks for beating Notre Dame, please pick up your Big XII championship after beating Baylor.
Oregon – really, nothing can slow you guys down huh? Guess we're going to have to get Spackler to blog up the golfers…NO GOPHERS!
Florida State – nice victory, defense was a little shaky, get ready for a big test this week against Maryland.
Oregon State – yes, remember them, lost to eastern Washington…they are now 4-1 and their quarterback has thrown for 2,018 yards, 21 touchdowns, and two interceptions. Nice!
UConn – either Buffalo is really good, Michigan is really bad, or UConn is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
North Carolina – wow, talk about crashing and burning….55-31 to East Carolina?
Fresno State – guys, you are taking the BCS busters thing for granted. Giving up 34 unanswered points and struggling to hold on against Hawaii?
Fun college stat of the week – New Mexico rushed for 497 yards against UNLV on Saturday….and lost 56-42. Ouch.
Northern Illinois – BCS Busters Part II? They whooped Purdue, 55-24 to move to 4-0. NIU also beat Iowa in Week 1.

Heisman Watch:
1. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia
2. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
3. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
4. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
5. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
6. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor

Miami Marlins:
If you didn't notice, and judging by the attendance, you didn't….the Marlins season is mercifully over.
A final record of 62-100 was really awful and second worst in the Major League's…thank goodness for Houston.
Now, we have the Marlins front office full of Jeffrey Loria yes men which means another two or three seasons of this junk from Loria's guys.
They got rid of the best baseball man they have and now Loria wants to be more involved.
Really?
Isn't this the same owner who said trade Miguel Cabrera for a sack of beans and some peanuts?
How'd that work out…oh yeah, Cabrera's soon to be a back-to-back MVP and has the Tigers in the playoffs again.
Atta boy Jeff!
At least the season's over and we can now turn back to the Heat!

Miami Heat:
Speaking of the Heat, today is Miami Heat media day.
Wish I could have been there for the fun, but alas, the web needed me in the building today.
Nevertheless, I'll have updates from there today.
I can tell you the first question LeBron will get asked…will you resign with Miami?
To which he'll get a little frustrated, and play it off.
Look, forget about next offseason…concentrate on the here and now of pursuing a 3-peat!
Also want to hear D-Wade's comments on Kevin Durant's tweets. That is probably the most compelling storyline out there today.
Also want to hear from Mr. Oden about his comeback…I'm pulling for him because if he can get healthy and give the Heat 10-12 minutes a game…look out!

And one more….It's New York Jets buttfumble…part II!
http://deadspin.com/geno-smith-presents-his-take-on-the-buttfumble-1423697833
And, buttfumble Part I
http://deadspin.com/5962839/the-jetsiest-jets-play-ever-mark-sanchez-fumbles-after-getting-floored-by-his-linemans-ass

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