FanHouse OwenSchmitt

After watching Owen Schmitt try to give himself a lobotomy with his helmet prior to Sunday's Jags-Seahawks game, it's clear that being clinically insane is a prerequisite to playing professional football.

And that goes a long way in explaining Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio, a former NFL linebacker, whose motivational tactics border on the certifiable.

Six years ago, in an effort to encourage the troops to "keep chopping wood," Del Rio placed a stump and an ax in the middle of the locker room. Not long after, punter Chris Hanson missed the stump, found his leg, and needed surgery to close up the gash. In retrospect, probably not the best idea.

The notion of a fancy party for a video game seems odd -- why dress up and go out for something best enjoyed while wearing ratty gym shorts in your own home? But EA Sports apparently knows what they're doing, and they hosted a party at Marquee -- a trendy Manhattan night club -- last night for the release of NCAA Football '09.

Several college football stars in town for the draft attended the party, including cover boy Matt Ryan (pictured), Arkansas running back Darren McFadden (interview here), West Virginia fullback Owen Schmitt, California WR/KR DeSean Jackson, and #1 overall draft pick Jake Long.

The release also included a full demonstration of the game on large flatscreen TVs, an upstairs lounge dedicated to press interviews, and -- most importantly -- free drinks! Huzzah!

Notes on a trip to the NFL Scouting Combine.

West Virginia's Owen Schmitt is a big, tough guy, fast for his size, and probably the best fullback in this year's draft. He's an old-school player, one who likes to block and can even punt, and he doesn't seem interested in talking about much beyond football.

So Schmitt seemed a bit taken aback today when reporters at the Combine asked him about his mohawk. When asked why he got it, Schmitt looked surprised by the question and said, "I just wanted one, I guess. I had never had one and I thought it would be cool to have one."

And then Schmitt was asked another question about his hair. And another. In the couple of minutes I was near his table during his media access time, he got more questions about his hair than about his football.

I mentioned yesterday that the Combine is a media circus, and this was a good example. Although this event hasn't reached Super Bowl Media Day proportions, I fear that it's going in that direction.

Well, last Friday night against South Florida would have been better, but with in-game and halftime pieces that ESPN's John Congemi did on Owen Schmitt this Saturday, it was a good time for the senior fullback to have a productive game.

Generally not the focus of national media attention on the Mountaineer football team, Owen Schmitt is at least a folk hero to West Virginia fans. Originally a walk on, Schmitt earned a full scholarship after his first year. He doesn't usually show up on the stat sheets, but his size and versatility show up big every weekend. At 6'3 and 260, Schmitt is definitely the guy you want walking off the bus first. The Mohawk and scars from cleft palate surgery don't hurt either.

After a sophomore year that saw him average 7.9 yards per carry, 380 yards on 48 carries from the fullback position, Schmitt began playing at the running back position in 2006 in spot duty. And in 2007 has lined up at tight end, as well as punter. However, his number one responsibility has always been lead blocking for White and Slaton.

Against Syracuse, he did get more than his normal share of touches, carrying the ball eight times for 39 yards and two touchdowns. As well as one screen pass where he imitated the bull in the China shop as he rumbled through the Orange secondary for 31 yards. He also punted for the first time, a 27 yard pooch punt that was downed inside the 20. And finally, Schmitt had time to bake some halftime snacks for the guys.

After the jump, see the screen pass of which I speak.