4 Hard Downs: 4 Teams. 4 Downs. Let's Get Going
What should they be focused up on going into the next month
We have the CFP now. Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama. The Tide and Texas move up from 7 and 8 respectively to invade the final College Football Playoff. Washington takes down Oregon for the second time, as a 9.5 point dog and Michigan holds serve against a hapless Iowa team.
I got to do a show this week as the teams and rankings hit. It was fun and I think we might get to do a little more later this month or in January as we get to the semis and the title game.
I had a rough morning but a good show, so check it out on the B/R app. I lost an airpod, got lost going to the studio for the first time since my first time in NYC and had to spend 6 hours in the airport because I had nothing better to do. So you get this early.
So we are going to use all four downs on what the next month or so should be about for these teams.
But first, my kid started basketball this weekend.
It is her first “team sport” because I know swimming is sort of a team but she hasn’t officially started swim team even, she just is a 5 year old who can swim a couple laps of good butterfly.
Rough start, great ending.
Uncertain to start. However as they got rolling she had a blast. Dribbling. Shooting. Running around. What early sports are all about. Skill stuff. Fun stuff. Did I have to leave for her to succeed? Yes. Is this a new thing? No. Which is fine, I’ll stand in the hallway and watch from the window of the gym if that is what helps her get better.
Speaking of getting better, let’s go ahead and SPOT THE BALL!!!
1st Down: Michigan Has To Get Explosive
You are not beating Alabama with 147 passing yards, like you did with Iowa. Sure point to the 93 and the 87 at Auburn and USF “nail biters” but that’s not what this is.
Which means you have to pull out the guns. Colston Loveland has to live in the Brock Bowers world. Donovan Edwards has to be doing James Cook shit. Roman Wilson has to catch passes that are beyond 25 yards.
Hell, JJ McCarthy has to throw beyond 25 yards.
32 runs is not a good second half against Alabama.
This Michigan team has to hunt down 40 points. You might not get 40 points, but you have to be on the hunt for them. Everyone doesn’t get a 12 point buck, but at least they prepare for it. This month is where you prepare for that 12-pointer. This month is where you have to force McCarthy out of the handoff comfort zone. This month is where you get Blake Corum more involved in the pass game than the 14 catches in 13 games. This month is where you work on all the things you avoided in the season to get to this month.
2nd Down: Alabama Will Go Off Tendency
If you’re a Michigan fan coming off that, be prepared to see an Alabama team you’ve never seen before. Players who did nothing all year in key roles. Plays that look like what you watched when you studied them and they do the opposite.
This is a setup, to get wet up.
We saw it in 2009 against Florida in the SEC Championship. We saw it in the Tua Tagovailoa National Title Game. We watched it against UGA in the SEC Championship Game with the Jameson Williams touchdown. When Nick Saban’s back is against the wall he is going to study what you know and then do something different, while showing you the thing you studied.
They are better with time and have been all season long. More time. More better. Go getter.
3rd Down: Washington Has To Bring More Timely Defense
Three punts, a field goal to start the game before Oregon scores a touchdown. I wild interception plus a forced punt to get across the finish line. The defense was not great. They gave up 6.72 yards per play. They were timely. Hot start and the INT after Michael Penix Jr. threw an INT delayed Oregon from taking the lead. The punt that allowed Washington to get turn it into a two score game.
Timely.
Not good.
Timely.
And playing this Texas team will require more timeliness.
We’ll talk Texas in a bit but with respect to Washington, this defense better communicate, get on the same page and get aggressive.
Asa Turner getting healthy is a big deal. Dominique Hampton making good fits is imperative. Bralen Trice getting to the QB is a must against Quinn Ewers.
Offensively we know Penix is a shooter, shooters are gonna shoot. Defensively they have to also run the pockets of Texas to get to where they want to be, playing for a title.
4th Down: Texas Will Have Plays No One Ever Thought Of
Watching the Big XII Championship Game we got a shot to see Steve Sarkisian truly cook. He is going to do the same thing in the semifinals. This man is a great play caller, picked up the “off tendency” stuff from Saban and added that to his wild play design.
Thanks ABC/Disney.
A freaking sick play combining mis-direction, skip toss action and then a push away to the pylong. Lovely.
Expect more of this from Sark.
This is what Washington’s defense is up against. Sark getting in his bag, going sicko mode when it comes to drawing plays, calling plays and making you play yourself.
ALl of this is what I’m looking forward to in the next month. Handle your business. Let’s go.
Cheers!!