4 Hard Downs: Stopping Newest Heisman Candidate, More Clock Management & UNC
4 Hard Downs: Stopping Newest Heisman Candidate, More Clock Management & UNC
The Heels are struggling, Killing the Clock in a bad way, Don't spit on people plus tiers and Warren has entered Heisman chat
I am going to start with the spit from Traeshon Holden:
I missed the spit because I was writing a note and then looked up to see him getting tossed before they even could show the replay. Replay hits, I think he’s just talking shit and then I realize as Davison Igbinosun is wiping his visor that Holden spit on him.
Last week I did say I’m not as bothered by the “gun cellies” on the podcast and this is what I’m talking about. Lump spitting in with ankle twisting and nut punching. Those are what are unacceptable to me.
Spitting should be hands on sight.
Igbinosun’s composure and ability to not get thrown out for absolutely fighting this guy is a testament to his will and, probably the visor too. If that spit goes right into his eyeballs I don’t think he’s going to just look around like, “Did you see this.”
Speaking of “did you see” y’all, did you see Texas, did you see Oregon, did you see Bama and UGA this past weekend just limping forward, did you see Iowa State holding serve?
Let’s go ahead and SPOT THE BALL!!!
1st Down: Who Is Good vs Who Is Great?
Based on this season, Texas and who else?
My buddy Stephen Hartzell loves to talk “tiers” and right now it is Texas as team showing dominance week-to-week, regardless of who plays QB, and the rest.
The rest, in tier two, is still very dangerous. Oregon, Bama, UGA, Ohio State. Then you get to Penn State (who I still don’t trust), Miami, Iowa State, Clemson, Tennessee, Notre Dame and the team they beat to start the year Texas A&M.
LSU, Indiana, Boise State, BYU plus whatever Pitt, SMU and Kansas State decide as a way to finish the season.
This will likely still sort itself and we can talk format tomorrow, got a sick kid at home today (she’s fine but she stayed home due to lack of sleep).
There are two very interesting elements of this entire picture; The Big 12 and Army-Navy. Iowa State and BYU are plugging along, they do not play each other and Iowa State still has K-State at the end to possibly upset their applecart.
Army and Navy is even more intriguing because they could go 11-0, both of them. More likely, with Notre Dame on the schedule they wrap “OUR” regularseason 10-1, each. Army-Navy is the weekend after Selection Sunday.
What the hell is going to happen if that is what’s going on on the 14th of December after decisions have been made?!
2nd Down: More Clock Management Talk
Did Dan Lanning add the 12th man on purpose? Was it a happy accident? No one knows:
If that was planned he is the Squints Palledorous of CFB Coaches…Been planning it for years.
Now, for the finale, with just 6 seconds on the clock the QB, who is, mind you in year five of his career decides, “I’ll run after a slight scramble and then try to save one second.
My man, this ain’t K-State. You’re not young. You’replaying with Emeka Egbuka and super freshman Jeremiah Smith. Give them a shot because you’re not going to win this game.
Against Arkansas was Nico Iamaleava of Tennessee just fully unprepared for what needed to happen as a young QB, Howard ain’t young.
Scenarios used to be my favorite part of practice because you had to think, had to move, had to be sure of yourself and what you were going to do given any outcome on the previous play. They take leadership and a commanding voice. In the words of one of my favorite coaches:
If We’re All Wrong, We’re Alright.
Sounds dumb?
It isn’t.
What he’s saying is if we, as a team, are all wrong the same way, we’re going to be ok. That’s communication and commanding leadership. Where you get into trouble is 1 or 2 guys freelancing or not understand the call, which is a communication issue. An issue of ignorance or a lack of leadership just telling them what to do.
Strong, vocal leadership and understanding should come from the coach Sunday to Friday. However, on Saturday, once you step between the lines, someone needs to be able to get guys lined up, make sure assignments are clear and go out and win.
That’s the difference between a good football player and a great leader and clearly whether it is Howard in a new system or Iamaleava being young, they’re missing someone who isn’t Ryan Day calling shots; because no one on that field seems to be in charge.
3rd Down: How Do You Solve A Problem Like Tyler Warren?!
That’s an ode to one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes and just a great song:
When we talked tiers the Nittany Lions were in that second group, basically by default. What isn’t in the second group is Warren. A Swiss Army Knife of a player who has lined up at tackle, center, fullback, wing, slot, wideout, RB, oh and position of TE.
Now, what I don’t get is USC not knowing and defending him to the max. Motions and shifts be damned. There was not enough talking and communication with respect to where 44 is on every play and to not let him beat them.
Make anyone else beat you. Realize when 15, QB Drew Allar is flexed out, Warren is probably getting the ball in some capacity.
It’s just bad football.
This isn’t teams knowing exactly Marvin Harrison Jr, Reggie Bush, Cam Newton, Alshon Jeffery is. This is a team who just decided to not know where Warren is.
But, speaking of bad football…
4th Down: Last, And Least, UNC Is A Rough Watch
There are worse teams in college football than UNC. There are not worse teams in college football that I was a member of. There are not worse teams that I get constant text messages from my teammates about throughout the game.
So, basically, I waited until the end because this is a me problem, a teammate discussion and a UNC issue.
Thanks TheCW
68 yard touchdown with 26 seconds to play, untouched it goes into the endzone at 16.
This is a problem.
Pick your poison for the Heels. Lose by 1-score in a low scoring affair to Duke, 21-20. Lose to Pitt by 10. Lose to GT on a last 20 second massive run where he goes unmolested.
Or lose to James Madison by 20 after you scored 50!!!!
None of it is good. At least they’re diverse, I guess?
Or it could just be bad.
Which leads to my guy, Roddy Jones, saying he wants Mack Brown to go out on a positive note. This ain’t how you do it if you’re UNC, even wearing the LC Stevens uniforms. Dre Bly and Billy Dee Greenwood was wearing them joints. Hopefully they can “right the ship” and go out swinging but this looks like the writing is on the wall and just like Texas, Mack is going end on a tough note.
Sucks. Because everyone loves Mack. I love Mack. I love getting just to short time talk to him as he’s breezed through ACC Kickoff. He’s a great dude. They gotta find a way to put a finger in this dyke just to limp to a more positive end.
Cheers!!!