4 Hard Downs: It Is Finally Championship Monday

We had a long way to go and took a long time to get there; 4 things to watch for tonight

We are finally at the title game and there are a lot of things to watch. I am doing my best to not look at the fucking irony of DJT being sworn in on Martin Luther King Jr’s day, since that seems like bullshit.

So, football, National Championship Game. We’ve already hit on Cover-1 and I got to talk about Quads as a weapon. None of that will be in here. This edition of 4 Hard Downs will be a bunch of things I didn’t really get to talk about, pre-game.

Might as well go ahead and SPOT THE BALL!!!

1st Down: JT vs Junior

Sure, we an throw Jaiden Ausberry into the mix for Notre Dame, but he hasn’t had a tackle for loss since Indiana. And no sacks since terrible Florida State. He’s young, if Wayne Cook has taught me anything it is that experience and older players caring a lot does matter.

So we got with JT Tuimoloau and Junior Tuijalamaka. Two West Coast kids who have spent a lot of time, blood-sweat-tears in their Midwest programs playing a game in Atlanta.

It is not lost on me that they are both Polynesian. I think that is cool as hell. It is not lost on me that they both wear 44. I think that is cool as hell. They both have to have really great games for different reasons.

JT has to have that game for Ohio State to shut down Riley Leonard running the ball when they play man coverage. Junior has to have that game to stop the run game adding to the pass game and make Will Howard uncomfortable, this is going to be fun to see them square off tonight.

And I hope they jersey swap, no matter who wins.

2nd Down: If You’re The Buckeyes, You Don’t Get To Start Slow

Throw the ball far if you’re Ohio State.

From Play One.

How long will it take Ryan Day to put the game into his best players’ hands offensively instead of play risk averse football?

In the playoff they’ve been very forward with how they move the ball and using the pass to create space in the run game. At least 5 skill players that will be in the NFL and you want to probe instead of a attack, that’s a coaching issue between Day and Chip Kelly.

Go kill them

Right now.

Waiting and probing gives hope, hope is what creates problems. That’s how a black widow you find in your crawlspace and try to put into a solo cup bites your ass; same with a copperhead you just want to shoo and they got you. You don’t cut it off at the neck or the torso, you chop them off at the knees (Not the snake, they have no knees).

3rd Down: B-E-A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E Notre Dame

You can’t afford to fall behind. I like Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison and Beaux Collins but they ain’t the trio Ohio State brings to the game. Davison Igbinosun, Lathan Ransom, Lorenzo Styles (GOAT last name, even better than Lorenzo Music), Caleb Downs, Denzel Burke and the gang have to live on their heels.

Cause if they’re on the balls of their feet that means they’re running at you, not after you.

Do not let these guys sit on your hip waiting to rob you like a pickpocket in Time Square. Double moves. Stops. Screens. Attack.

Let’s see how it happens.

4th Down: How Long Is This Game?

60 minutes for Notre Dame to neutralize Penn State on the Jeter field goal.

9:16 to go in the third and Tennessee punts against Ohio State, that’s 35 minutes

TD to go up 41-15 against Oregon with 17 minutes to play, that’s game over.

Tied going into 4th quarter and a TD to start the fourth, followed with a fumbler return TD. That’s game.

How long does this game last. If we get to 47 minutes and it is tight, Notre Dame cane close it because they’re strong and tough and know they want it and have a coach with some flavor. Will make Ryan Day tighten up. But at 47 minutes this game will be decided.

Cheers!!!