4 Hard Downs: Eggs Be Deviling, Marvin Harrison Jr & Access Is the Big 10/SEC Point
The money helps but making sure others don't get the money is the reason plus everyone's favorite WR thoughts
I was home on Monday with a not sick kid who did throw up last night and so she cannot go to school today. She is fine, just had a big weekend and something didn’t agree with her stomach’s constitution.
So pardon me if this is a Tuesday/Wednesday instead of Monday, I’m trying. I’m redoing laundry and getting her bed set back up let’s just say, this isn’t the Monday I wanted to have at all.
Let’s go ahead and SPOT THE BALL!!!
1st Down: Marvin Harrison Jr Is Fine
First up, MHJ seems to be the consensus best non-QB and he is living that life. Skipped the combine and is also skipping the Ohio State Pro Day, today. He is very pro ready and it does seem like working out and not running a good 40 or dropping some passes or being out of shape can only hurt him.
As I do my draft prep, yes I do see that he was remarkably productive:
155 catches in 3 years, 31 touchdowns and 2613 yards in those same three years.
When I watch him I see him make contested catches, consistently. I see a guy who can box out and catch back shoulder or track the ball down and across the field to edge out a DB.
What I don’t see is separation. Which leads to this from my guy Chris Simms:
I don’t agree with the entire list but I do agree with viewing Harrison as not the best because he can’t get away from defenders. Which is probably why he isn’t running the 40.
He’s not fast.
Like, he’s fast for a normal human but his number compared to these other guys would hurt, not help. As myself and Joshua Perry, a former Ohio St LB, discussed on our old show “Inside Football” Harrison is great at everything except being fast.
He is sudden, he is quick, he runs great routes, he wins 50/50 balls and his pedigree is undeniable. He will be the first WR off the board but if I’m a team that gets Odunze or Nabers, let’s go.
2nd Down: Wide Receivers Are My Weakness
I say that whole Marvin Harrison Jr thing to say I have to call and ask people about WRs more than any other position because I am so jaded by my own experience.
As a former DB, guys like Harrison are terrifying to me. Same with LaQuon Treadwell when he came out of Ole Miss. Kelvin Benjamin out of Florida State. Big guys who could bully you out of the spot and win jump balls.
Hell, last year, Quentin Johnston from TCU was a monster, for me. Big human with speed and good ball skills.
I’m not gonna talk all the way around my ass to get to my elbow so here it is:
GETTING MOSS’D IS FUCKING TERRIFYING
So I grade so much of WRs on if they could “Moss” me. Which is a true forest for trees situation because worrying about getting Moss’d doesn’t apply to the bulk of the asks for a WR. Fast guys are fine, you have to give them space and give yourself grace so that you can corral them make the tackle.
A guy like Tyreek Hill? He’s gonna burn me. Nothing I can do about it but get back. Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson can burn me, but also if I’m in that hip pocket they will just take the ball away from me and I will look a child where the bully is saying, “stop hitting yourself.”
In summation, wide receivers are the hardest spot for me in draft evaluations.
3rd Down: Big 10 & SEC is a Marriage of Foes
A quick one here because the podcast will hit in a few hours.
Now, here is my quick take. This isn’t about the amount of money being made by the SEC and Big 10, it is about stopping the amount that the ACC and Big 12 can make. Both leagues have decided to add in their rivals so that they can stop all challengers.
The Big 10 has added most of the teams they played in the Rose Bowl. The SEC has added in the teams they would play in the Cotton Bowl. Now, these two leagues that hate each other are working together to make sure no one else can flourish.
This is a symptom, or a byproduct, of the disease. It isn’t about, “we get all the money,” it is more about, “they don’t get nearly as much money.” Which helps with recruiting, paying the coaching staff, analyst staff leading to getting more teams into the now 12-team playoff and repeating the cycle.
These leagues hate each other but they are aligned to make sure no one overtakes them. They will go to the grave before they let the ACC, Big 12, Sun Belt, MAC, MWC, C-USA & Independents have a shot.
4th Down: The Devil Is In The Eggs
Your boy be killing the deviled egg game.
Perfect boil. We all know that is eggs in the water and then bring to boil, get them off the heat and sit for 11 minutes before putting them in an ice bath.
Peeling is my least favorite part but it does get you to where you can slice and easily dump the yolks.
The whites are just waiting for that delicious filling.
Pipe it up. I had a conversation the day before about not being able to find my piping tips with my mom and she said, “just use a spoon,” and I was like, “yeah but I have 30 eggs so like piping is easier.” Piping is the way to go, I stan piping your deviled eggs because it also means your filling is creamy enough to flow.
I don’t do relish. My filling is: Mashed Yolks, Duke’s Mayo, ACV, Texas Pete, Salt & Pepper, Homemade Ranch and Tarragon. All whipped, which makes piping it much easier and quicker.
I don’t like relish or onions because they make it very chunky and as we’ve discussed with my red sauce, I don’t like chunks. I get the vinegar from the relish by just adding vinegar and the onion comes with the chives, or you can do green onions.
Deviled Eggs. Very Good!
Cheers!!!!