Title game goes tonight, I’ll be on the pre-show for Field of 12 starting at 6:30 eastern, so be sure to tune in. Here are the 5 things that I think are the most critical to watch going into the game. A mix of how you win and what you need to see; for the future of some of these players and deciding factors in the game.
OR BIG PROBLEMS that need to be solved for one of them to hoist the trophy.
5: Jalen Carter
Pretty simple here…Is he healthy?
Last week it seemed none of us knew what was going on with him, and then we found out it was an ankle.
Does he stay in the Top 5 of the NFL Draft if he is a ghost tonight?
That’s it, plain and simple.
4: Dee Winters
I think Winters, the generously listed at 230 linebacker for TCU, rocking 13, is a huge key to tonight. With Washington maybe not playing, with Brock Bowers as a weapon and the way he has to be versatile, Winters is the going to have to play a hell of a game.
Johnny Hodges. Jamoi Hodge. Both are quality backers but they can sling that ding-a-ling at over 240, when it comes to stepping into the hole. Winters is operating off the edge and on the edge running things down and him bringing his hips with it to get someone down on the ground is huge.
Not arm tackles, but putting his back into it to make sure the job is done.
In the Michigan Game he was Brad Pitt in “Snatch” and told the Wolverines’ that they would, “Stay until the job is through” and in this game he has to do the same. 3 TFLs. At critical moments for Winters. If you’re watching TCU, yes #1 is their best player, yes #57 is their top tackler…
But buddy, if #13 doesn’t show up tonight, they are in trouble. He’s their most important player.
3: Max Duggan
-Can this guy become QB #3 for the NFL Draft? He’s already declared, there is nothing left for him in college. He finally grew into the guy we thought he might be a few years ago. His performance against Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game was an epic, gutty, performance that most players will never duplicate.
Now, he is trying to get himself into the first round and, honestly, above Will Levis, Anthony Richardson and Hendon Hooker.
Bryce Young and CJ Stroud and QB and 1 and 2, in that order.
Don’t debate me, debate your mom.
Duggan vs Levis is the next discussion, with an unproven Richardson and an injured Hooker on the outside looking to join the talk. A good game against a UGA team, after a lackluster Michigan game, is going to make folks pay attention. Make folks think about it.
These next four QBs after Young/Stroud all have things that make you wonder. Levis fits into a mold. Richardson is wildly gifted physically. Hooker was better than anyone thought he could be and a hell of a technician.
Duggan the amalgamation of all of those things where he isn’t as good at what each of the other three is, but he’s got a little of it in him. Not as gifted as Richardson. Not as “see I’m an NFL QB” as Levis. Not as much of a technician as Hooker. But he has all of those in his bag and let’s be real, he is willing to bleed.
He’s got a shot to not just pull off a major upset, he’s got a shot to help pull an overwhelming underdog into the spot light and let people know that Ft. Worth has arrived.
2: UGA 12 Personnel
Dawgs 12 and 13 personnel have been amazing all season.
The Bowers, Washington and Jones triumvirate was truly a monster all season. Huge ass dudes just controlling the line of scrimmage and then also two of them being a pass catching threat. Without Washington, a man the size of LeBron James, they have to retool their situation.
Change the plan if you will.
19-0-59 was able to overwhelm at the point and force the defense to stay in base people not nickel or dime, while still being a pass receiving threat. In theory, you only have 2 WRs in the game but in practice you have UGA’s best pass catcher and a true giant who can also just jump over a human man.
So we will see if Washington plays, because without him, they lose this 12 personnel advantage and will need something else to keep it cooking.
Which brings us to the final point…
1: Kenny McIntosh
126 offensive yards against Ohio State.
Not including a missed throw from Stetson Bennett that would have probably put him closer to 200.
The guy has wheels and skills.
I think he is the MVP tonight.
Plain and simple.
He is better than I thought he would ever be this year.
He’s fast, he’s got great vision and as you watch him play, you see, much like Brian Robinson from Alabama a year ago, being in school for awhile and learning just gives you some savvy. It is much like the NCAA basketball tournament where a school with seniors can handle a team of young talent because they just know all the little shit.
That’s McIntosh.
He is like an athletic dad juking out his toddler and banging in threes.
He’s seen so much football that nothing phases him.
He is a guy that spent every spring practicing against Nakobe Dean. He has played and beat Alabama. He helped beat Ohio State. Watching LSU take his team down in Atlanta. Beat out Cincy. Went for 10.7 yards per reception as UGA smashed out Michigan.
It is his time and he was close to having a perfect game against Ohio State.
Put it on the board, Monday night, he’s the winner.
This is going to be a fun game. Should be a fun night. Check me out during the game with instant reactions live for FO12. Won’t be there the whole game but at least the first quarter and change you will get to see how I watch, what I watch for and how I react to things.
Let’s have a night…A night that doesn’t include overtime and finishes up tidy!
Cheers!
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