Woodson's Weekly Winner

[Woodson]

Another Winner with Ohio last week, making Woodson's Winners 2-0 Since it's start.

This week you don't have to wait long. Memphis (-2.5) by 9 over UAB.

 

[Woodson]

Williams gets primetime showcase
10/31/2005, 12:31 p.m. CT
The Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) ? DeAngelo Williams of Memphis finally gets his first chance at a prime-time show Tuesday night.

The senior running back is the nation's leading rusher, averaging 187 yards per game with 1,309 yards. That also ranks first in Conference USA by a wide margin ? 102 yards more than Rice's Quinton Smith.

UAB counters with Darrell Hackney, the conference's leading passer in yards, completions, percentage of completions and passing efficiency.

"I'm excited to see two of the best players in Conference USA history lining up against each other for the last time," UAB coach Watson Brown said. "They've gotten to know each other, and that's an extra piece of this. They get to line up against each other for the last time on national television."

Memphis (4-3, 3-2) will be looking to keep its bowl hopes alive with a third straight win. And while the Blazers (3-4, 1-3) are on a three-game losing skid, they have controlled the series, winning the last five matchups, which have often started the Tigers on lengthy losing streaks.

"Every one of them have just been to the wire, nail-biting games, and we've been lucky," Brown said. "They've all been very close. It hasn't been like we've been dominant or anything in any of the games."

The key will be which offensive star gets more help from his banged-up backfield.

Memphis is on its fourth quarterback after losing the first two to broken legs, and the current quarterback is wide receiver Maurice Avery, who last played quarterback in high school. That has forced the Tigers to rip some pages from the offensive playbook.

"I saw where Georgia was crying like crazy because they lost their starter," Memphis coach Tommy West said, referring to D. J. Shockley. "Are you kidding me? I'd be tickled to death if I had only lost my starter."

The quarterback carousel has caused Memphis to lean more on Williams, who now ranks seventh among the NCAA's all-time rushing leaders with 5,371 yards and fourth in career all-purpose yards with 6,858. Williams has rushed for 200 yards four times this season and failed to top 100 yards only in the season-opening loss to Mississippi when Byrne was hurt.

Williams had 226 yards in the Oct. 22 victory over East Carolina, moving him past Archie Griffin, Herschel Walker and LaDainian Tomlinson on the NCAA rushing list. His 39 carries in the 27-24 win was a career high.

"That's where we are," West said. "You've got to kind of get a feel during the game. I didn't anticipate him carrying it that many times."

Hackney lost his leading rusher Oct. 21 when Dan Burks hurt a knee in a 37-28 loss to Southern Mississippi, which will keep him out up to four weeks. But he does have Corey White, who has started three games ready to step in.


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Williams gets primetime showcase
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Williams had 226 yards in the Oct. 22 victory over East Carolina, moving him past Archie Griffin, Herschel Walker and LaDainian Tomlinson on the NCAA rushing list. His 39 carries in the 27-24 win was a career high.

"That's where we are," West said. "You've got to kind of get a feel during the game. I didn't anticipate him carrying it that many times."

Hackney lost his leading rusher Oct. 21 when Dan Burks hurt a knee in a 37-28 loss to Southern Mississippi, which will keep him out up to four weeks. But he does have Corey White, who has started three games ready to step in.

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Still, it's Hackney's show. He threw three touchdowns against Southern Mississippi, giving him 13 for the season. He averages 306 yards passing and has completed 67 percent of his passes.

"He's a phenomenal player, just like DeAngelo," Brown said. "We call on Darrell for us, and Memphis calls on DeAngelo when they get in trouble."

UAB has controlled Williams better than most. Williams has rushed for 100 yards only once against the Blazers ? 107 in 2003 ? and he had only 25 yards in his freshman year. UAB ranks first in C-USA in rushing defense, allowing 136.1 yards per game.

And with Memphis ranking last in the conference in pass defense, the advantage sets up for Hackney.

"It's my last game against Memphis, so hopefully we can go out with a bang," Hackney said.

 

[Woodson]

Top Trends for this game.
UAB is 29-14 ATS (+13.6 Units) as an underdog since 1992.
MEMPHIS is 1-10 ATS (-10.0 Units) in home games off a win against a conference rival since 1992.
MEMPHIS is 6-18 ATS (-13.8 Units) after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins since 1992.


Head-to-Head Series History
UAB is 2-0 against the spread versus MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons
UAB is 2-0 straight up against MEMPHIS over the last 3 seasons

 

[Woodson]

Blazers will have their hands full at Memphis
Monday, October 31, 2005
STEVE IRVINE
News staff writer
The moment was captured on film, but that still didn't mean it was easy to believe.

One moment Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams was surrounded by five defenders. The next moment, Williams was running down the field after making all five defenders miss.

UAB linebacker Mastaki Smith and some of his teammates were watching a Memphis game tape recently with defensive coordinator Wayne Bolt, "and we were just amazed at his moves," said Smith. "He made like five people miss at one time."

Udefensive tackle Sam Williamson saw the same tape. As a Blazer veteran, however, he wasn't that surprised.

"That's DeAngelo Williams," Williamson said. "That's all the time man. You're going to see that three or four times every game. You know you're going to get a `wow!' every game."

UAB's task on Tuesday is to minimize Williams' `wow' moments when the Blazers travel to Memphis to play their Conference USA rival in an ESPN2 television game at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty Bowl.

UAB coaches said that other than Ole Miss, which held Williams to 85 yards on 24 carries, no one has really stopped Williams this year.

Williams has cracked the 200-yard rushing mark four times in seven games and leads the nation with an average of 187 yards per game.

Going to Williams for a scouting report on himself isn't very useful.

"I couldn't describe (my style) because I want to say it's unique," said the 5-foot-10, 217-pound senior from Wynne, Ark. "I just want to be a complete back. A lot of people want to compare me to Emmitt Smith and L.T. (LaDainian Tomlinson) and some even compare me to Walter Payton's running style but a little faster. I just want to have that unique running style."

UAB head coach Watson Brown has seen Williams enough to know what to expect. UAB is one team which hasn't let Williams run for big numbers. He's rushed for more than 100 yards only once in three tries against UAB.

Brown knows that could change quickly.

"He's very, very tough to stop," Brown said. "He has unbelievably quick feet. He can cut on a dime. He can be in the hole, shoot left and he's gone. Normally those are scatbacks who do that."


Therein lies the problem, according to Brown. Williams has scatback capability with a bigger back's strength.

"He's built so low to the ground that when you hit him and hit him high he carries you a little bit," Brown said. "You hit him and you think it's second-and-eight and it's second-and-four."

Smith said the key is limiting the big play, although that's easier said than done. Williams has runs of 76, 74 and 63 yards this season and a career-best 86-yard run against Tulane in 2002.

"You've got to make sure everybody is around the ball," Smith said. "He can get loose quick. A lot of times against teams he gets the 80-, 70-, 60-yard break."

Opponents were hoping Williams would bypass his senior year for the NFL. And it nearly happened, according to Williams, who gained 1,948 yards and scored 23 touchdowns in 2004.

"I was 50-50 the whole way," said Williams, who is projected by NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper as a top five draft pick this time around. "I was very confused. It was pretty much the love of football vs. the millions that the NFL offers. I ultimately made the right decision as far as coming back. I'm loving it here. I'm still young. I'm still having fun. I'm still playing pranks and jokes and stuff like that."

And striking fear in opposing defenses.

 

[bej0101]

like the pick..gl

 

[Woodson]

One deminsional??? Not with two running backs

One deminsional??? Not with two running backs

"With Avery back there they've got a second runner, which changes your thought process a little bit," said Brown, whose team carries a three-game losing streak to Memphis. "They've done a lot with the (shotgun formation) and misdirection stuff. They fake to (Williams) one way and you've got a really good runner coming at you the other." ....
....


Memphis breaks the trend tonight and their running attack at QB and RB allow them to get the yards when needed. While UAB's QB is top in their respective conference, Memphis' line opens it up for Williams tonight. THEY WANT HIM TO SUCCEED... HE GETS 200 yards and 3 td's tonight.

Memphis 28 - UAB 17


....
Avery, a 6-foot-1, 214-pound senior from Atlanta, may be as athletic as anyone on either roster. He played quarterback, receiver and punter as a freshman, once was a member of the Memphis basketball team and entered this season as the team's top receiver. He has been the full-time quarterback the past two games - largely because the top two quarterbacks are gone for the year with broken legs and freshman Billy Barefield wasn't helping. The Tigers beat Houston and East Carolina in the process.

Memphis head coach Tommy West wasn't fully pleased with Avery's play last week against East Carolina, even though Avery was 10-of-14 passing for 117 yards and rushed for 49 yards on 16 carries.

"I could show you two or three plays in the game that were big hits in the passing game and we didn't look at the number one read," West said.

West still thinks Avery is the number one option at quarterback.

"He has given us a chance to win at quarterback and he can give us a chance to be a pretty good football team all of the sudden," West said.

West is more concerned with the opposing quarterback tonight. UAB's Darrell Hackney is the premier quarterback in the C-USA. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior leads the conference with 2,144 passing yards and he's thrown 13 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

No C-USA team has more trouble defending the pass than Memphis. The Tigers allowed 280 yards per game with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. In the past four games, the Tigers have given up 431 yards to UTEP's Jordan Palmer, 290 yards to UCF's Stephen Moffett, 386 yards to Houston's Kevin Kolb and 297 yards to East Carolina's James Pinkney.

The good news for the Tigers is that UCF is the only team to beat Memphis during that period.

"DeAngelo carrying the ball 39 times is where we are offensively," West said after Williams rushed for 226 yards on 39 carries against East Carolina.

 

[Woodson]

Great opportunity for a middle if the score can stay Memphis by -7 going into the half. Williams scare injury :cursin: has affected the offense and UAB receivers will make catches as they feel the momentum swing.

If Memphis can hold a 7 point lead going into the Half, a UAB +1.5 half time bet will be worth looking at.

 

[Woodson]

Riding out my play with Memphis -3. Anybody with Memphis -3 can take UAB now as a Pick and worst case is double juice.

It comes down to Williams playing second half or not. I'm sticking with my play.

 

[Scott4USC]

I bought my bet back. I can't stand that Memphis D. If Memphis got ball first in 2h I might have kept my bet but UAB has ball and Memphis D can't stop the UAB O. Too scary. I got middle though as I have UAH +.5 2h and Memphis -2 for game.

 

[Woodson]

Great middle for you as a 17 all 2nd half would be great!

Problem for me is -3 and pickem at half time...

GL2U Scott!

 

[Woodson]

Williams never showed back up after the injury and the result was a Memphis team who went straight down the shiitter.

The game was played with the thought of a double threat of Avery and Williams. The option shuffle worked well in the first quarter. 2nd quarter injury to Williams, turnovers as they move to a passing game, 150 yards negated in penalties... Memphis showed how one demensional they were without their running back.

Complete washout as with Williams first Quarter 14-3 100 yards, then on it was a losing ticket...