4 Hard Downs: Prepping Fried Pork Chops, Brian Branch S vs CB, Houseguests and NFL Draft
NFL Draft is sneaking up on us all, where should Branch play, the pre-work for a great pork chop and my day at the laundromat.
By the time this hits I should be booked for NYC for the NFL Draft with Bleacher Report. I also think I’ve got some stuff with Stadium coming up to talk more draft. On my own, I’m building out my spreadsheets for the draft and ranking my guys so that I am ready to rock.
If you’ve got questions about your college guys, or who your NFL team should grab, drop them in the comments and I will get to them.
We’re in the world of NFL Draft, while my wife’s best friend is also coming to visit during this week. With two kids and a husband. So there’s a lot on our plate. A week before my kid goes on spring break. There is no “good time” in CFB/NFL so you make due, and I’m excited.
Pizza Wednesday is moved to Tuesday, Wednesday will be a salad day because the visitors are doing dinner with another friend. Thursday taco stations for everyone, adults and kids alike. Friday, pigs in a blanket with fries. We are all set menu-wise and on the supply side. Even did a thing I’ve never done.
So, as I tell you about it, like we do every week…SPOT THE BALL!!!
1st Down: The NFL Draft Is 24 Days Away
The shortest down we’ve ever had. It gets our offense off schedule.
Which is why I’m off schedule. I’m trying to get the 400 guys I need for my spread sheet to not let my homies down and the clock is ticking like crazy. I’ve got 100 in so far but I want to go through and re-watch the next guys and when you’ve got a week of your wife’s best friend and family coming, it gets rough.
But hey, let’s get hype for the draft. I make my money on day 2 and 3, and that is where I’m focusing now so that I don’t get surprised at 3pm on Saturday by a guy from Europe or D-2 that no one else knows.
Grind City!
2nd Down: I Love Brian Branch, I Hate Brian Branch At CB
Branch ran a 4.58. Which put him next to last in the CB group. I have already written about this, but Branch, at CB, he is 6 or 7, probably not a first rounder. I love that a guy I respect, Doug Farrar is on that same track, labeling Branch as an S.
That’s where he belongs. He is a safety.
More specifically, he is a weapon.
Enter Minkah Fitzpatrick, another weapon.
I’m not crazy, y’all. I ain’t good at much but I’ve got a good eye for football and if a DB is involved I’m even more keen.
Devon Witherspoon as the top corner, coming from a C-1 focus but being way better in zone is another point of contention. Everything isn’t plug and play. The gap between Big Ten West “man” coverage and being in the NFL is remarkable, shout out Desmond King, who I love.
Maybe I’m wrong but Witherspoon is a guy I want to play more zone. Branch is a guy I want to play a hybrid safety role where he can come down in the box and destroy or carry a tight end/RB high and get an INT. And I guess, we’ll get more into this in the coming year with Mike Sainristil from Michigan.
Weapon. Not a Corner.
3rd Down: Pork Chop Pre-Work Gets You To The Finish Line
Y’all, you have to season your meat.
This is before it goes into the buttermilk, Texas Pete and ACV bath for a bit. Also before it goes into seasoned flour.
In terms of a dish, this is spring ball. Champions are built in spring.
Salt. Pepper. Cumin. Cayenne.
Smack it up, flip and rub it down. Do me baby.
Then into the buttermilk bath.
Then into the seasoned flour.
Then into the grease at 380.
The seasoned flour ain’t getting it done.
Say less. Do more.
4th Down: LSU National Champs!!!
Geaux Tigers.
The women’s basketball team is champions. Are champions? I still can’t get that is vs are situation right.
Double double from Angel Reese.
17 point win.
Put up over 100.
We don’t have to love Kim Mulkey and her wild outfits. We definitely don’t have to appreciate or respect how she handled the Griner situation.
But this team won.
Yet the controversy is about “class” which is a weaponized and coded word. Caitlin Clark is a monster, and when she gets her swag on, it gets applauded. Reese gives it to her and she is “classless” according to folks.
The reason I threw this into the 4 Hard is because I relate to it on so many levels. Steph Curry does his shimmy, walks away before the ball hits the net or throws a mouthpiece and it is okay, it is swaggy. Another NBA player does it and it is showboating or unsportsmanlike.
Travis Kelce Hits the Quan and he’s a cool dude. I still remember the outrage at Fred Lane (RIP) wiggling with it for the Panthers.
Everything doesn’t get treated the same.
We all should get to celebrate, taunt, act buckwild.
What shouldn’t happen is have it be ok for some and not ok for others. Folks are already at Dawn Staley’s, Charlotte Sting legend, head. If she acted like Mulkey, she wouldn’t have a job.
It is just frustrating.
But to end on a positive, the women’s final four was amazing. Players across the spectrum absolutely killing it. The nation watching. Being the biggest story, bigger than the men’s.
I dig this shit. Let’s go.
Let’s get ready for a good week. Good friends. Good drank. Good fellowship. Good vibes. Good sleep. Good roses too, my girls are about to show out, got about 75 blooms ready to pop.
Cheers!!
If you ain’t sneezin’ you ain’t seasoned
Women's final four thoughts: VT returning Elizabeth Kitley, Georgia Amoore, and Cayla King, hoping to see them back again this time next year! Also, love the trash talk, it makes everything way more fun