Episode 9 - 4th & 3 Dudes

This episode may be sensitive for any Texas listeners. If you or someone you know suffers from the Georgia pass rush, seek professional help. And also grow a pair!

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National landscape, week eight shakes things up!

Perhaps last week I was a bit hasty in saying "the waters are a little less muddy." Bama was wildly inconsistent on the road and Texas didn't bother showing up until the 3rd quarter. And even then, only had spurts of success. Let's dig on in shall we?

1. Oregon (bye)
2. Clemson (bye)
3. Georgia (bye)
4. BYU (bye)
5. Penn State (hosts)
6. LSU (hosts)
7. Ohio State (hosts)
8. Notre Dame (hosts)
9. Iowa State
10. Texas
11. Miami
12. Boise State

I watched Miami beat Louisville on the road. I'm still not sold on them winning the ACC, but it was a win in a hostile-ish environment. Clemson however still has the better resume, and I believe the better overall team. Let's not forget, Miami was the beneficiary of bad calls against VA Tech, Cal, and now Louisville. They could easily be 4-3. So the Canes move into the rankings, but that's all I got for them right now.

ACC-lite: Notre Dame looked impressive against GA Tech in the Benz. But again, they'll need to beat Navy this weekend and Army late next month to stay in.

Georgia's win in Austin moves them up into a bye. I debated on how far Texas should slide and landed on (newcomer to the rankings) LSU hosting and Texas moving into a first round trip to Columbus. Alabama's lackluster performance in Neyland was more than enough for me to move them out, especially given it is their second loss in the state of Tennessee. Did the Vols show me enough to move back in? Nope. Keeping the SEC at three teams.

What about A&M, the SEC's other undefeated team (in conference play)? I decided to be as fair as possible. I took to social media and asked followers to vote on these five teams as a third entry for this week's rankings - A&M, LSU, Missouri, Texas, and Vanderbilt. LSU ran away with more than 50% of the votes. (If you don't follow me, here's the FB page and here's my TXitter.)

Moving on, Oregon benefitted from Texas' beat down to move up into the top spot. And they may not give it back as they have #20 Illinois this weekend, and after that their next ranked opponent could be in the Big10 Championship game. I didn't like the idea of both Penn State and Ohio State hosting a 1st round game, but with Bama and Texas Tech dropping out it was hard not to. They play each other in a couple weeks anyway. It'll sort out.

What about Indiana you say? They are undefeated, but the schedule seems soft to me. If they keep winning and take down the Buckeyes next month... 

In the Big12, BYU remains atop the conference with Iowa State. I keep BYU as the conference winner and it seemed time to move the undefeated Cyclones in.

As far as true contenders for the whole enchilada...Dawgs definitely showed they can put things together. Again, I don't think Oregon is going to move much, so I have them as a true contender. And then I guess you have to include Ohio State as well since their game with the Ducks could've gone either way. And I think they're my only three at this point. Everyone else either hasn't impressed me enough to put on that level, or they are simply suffering from a weak schedule so far. We'll see.

Anyway, as always, we close this weekly post with this: Those are at least some intriguing matchups in Round 1. $till not $old on making the $ea$on thi$ long. But I'd watch, and I gue$$ that'$ why they expanded, right?

Digesting Texas

First of all, I need to own up. I was one of the ones not just thinking but also espousing that this Georgia defense was not up to the standard we've seen the last few years. And yes, there's still a long way to go.

But Saturday night was special. Our offense turned the ball over twice in the first quarter and the Longhorns still went into halftime with zero points. There's a reason their quarterbacks looked like this on the sideline just before half:

"Did...you see the size of that dude?"
"Yeh."
Yeh."

Jalon Walker was impossible to defend Saturday night on his way to 8 tackles and 3 sacks. Mykel, Wilson and Everette added 4 more sacks. The pressure threw off Ewers timing with his receivers, and their running game was a non-issue. Take away the negative sack yardage and the Longhorns struggled to 64 yards on 17 carries.

In short, Georgia's defense quickly put their offense in a box with one hand tied behind them. And when Ewers was able to get the ball off, the secondary (and linebackers...hello Chris Cole!) were more than up to the task. In 49 dropbacks, the Longhorns managed just 230 yards.

By the time the clock hit zeroes, the Georgia defense had limited the Sarkisian offense to 4.69 yards per pass (that is roughly half what they were averaging coming into this game) and 3.76 yards per run (again, taking out ALL of the sack yardage).

Rumor is Muschamp really stepped in to help the secondary prepare for this road trip. Maybe that was because of Schumann's wife giving birth Wednesday to their 3rd kid, or maybe Coach Boom just needed to scratch an old itch. Regardless, the end result was domination.

Offensively, it wasn't domination but I felt like we executed at a much higher level. Yes, Beck had a few bad reads. The receivers had some drops. And a couple more times pretty sure  they are running wrong routes. In short, the offense as a whole is still not completely in sync.

On the plus side, the offensive line had a great night when Jared Wilson returned to the lineup. Gave up just one sack (which may have been as much on Beck) and provided a steady pocket from start to finish.

Etienne remains a bright spot. It's always nice to have a three down back that can run, catch and block. Delp had his best game of the season.

If I were to quibble, I hope the focus going into the off week is downfield blocking. Sure would be nice to spring Etienne on a few long ones at the WLOCP! But on a night that saw Bobo calling in plays on our own walkie talkies, an enjoyable performance to say the least.

Kirby said it post-game. No one believed in those guys. Word is Gameday was a clean sweep for the Longhorns. They scrambled our comms. Threw bottles at us. And then the refs tried to take matters into their own hands. (sidenote - when will the SEC hire full time referees, and make them face the press after games) And still, the Dawgs more than handled their business road trip.

Lastly, thanks to all you Road Dawgs! You sounded great and added an exclamation point to the win with all the horns down pics around Texas Memorial Stadium that floated onto social media. Go Dawgs!

the Friday Misery doesn't wear chaps

Hey Beevo, keep your dadgum ivoryish bovine protrusions away from our doggy!

steered clear

Seriously, why is that thing on the field? I've heard many raise the question, but have yet to hear a true answer. When Ralphie visited Sanford he was on his best behavior. I don't think his handlers even had to sedate him. I mean he ran on the field without trampling Joe Cox. Thank God!

But if this is the same Texas mascot that was at the Sugar Bowl a few years ago, give him a horse tranq for God's sake!

And I don't even know if Uga is travelling. I sure wouldn't if I were Boom and knew what that ornery two-ton sumbitch tried against Que. Give that good boy a tummy rub and let him just nap through the pre-game from the comforts of the Seiler sofa.

(UPDATE: Charles says Boom will indeed be safe in Savannah this weekend.)

when the secondary is a primary concern

Deeeeep.

Breath.....

Okay, it was uneasy then uncomfortable then unfathomable to watch our secondary get torched time and time again Saturday night. I get it, that was not fun at all. Offense was eating up yards and putting up points, but the defense just couldn't make ol' Missy State quit!

It starts, in my humble never been a tackle football coach's opinion, with the pass rush. I was a little, just a little, too hard on the secondary on Tuesday. Upon further reflection, every time we sent a blitz they had the correct call. And it went for a lot of yards if not a touchdown.

We just couldn't get our hands on the kid. And that starts in the trenches. Tomorrow we have to be able to generate a push and at least get some hands in Ewers' face. We made Miss State one-dimensional early. They wanted to run the ball, but we wouldn't let them.

Here's a dude that can GATA!

And while that eventually turned on us when they started to pass, we need to do the same tomorrow night. Yes, it's hard when Mykel isn't 100%. It's hard with Mondon sidelined. But these kind of games are won up front.

Now everybody...yes, even you pea brains in the back still whining about Kirby's forearm shiver. Let's all get into a three point stance...that's it...get your ass down Poindexter! Okay, now. Right arm up ready to chop wood, and...GET AFTER THEIR ASS!!

egos are especially bigger in texas

Gather around longhorns, and put your 10 gallon learning caps on. You are officially in the SEC now, so you have to act right. Yes, even though you were named after a steakhouse chain. And no, most of us don't want you around here anyway. And it's not because we're afraid of you. No, the decisions were and are made above our paygrade.

So listen here, stop whining every time an opposing fan gives you the horns down. Yes, we know it hurts your feelings and we saw when the Big12 front office enabled you like a green-faced toddler that doesn't wanna eat strained peas.

Grow a pair. Instead of putting a replica of a bull's scrotum on your trailer hitch, try loosening your girly chaps and find your own set. This is the SEC son! We can joke about Vandy "blowing the Admiral", and Carolina's choking chicken, and still have some modicum of respect for each other. Yes, we bark at perfect strangers. Yes, Florida claps like the graduating class for the directionally challenged. Missouri goes on the road...to play UMass! And don't get me started on Tennessee's Tour de Franzia or their depressing locker room mantra:

Narrator voice: "It was true. It could not be found."

Taunting, trash talk, turning Parliament Funkadelic's P-Funk hand signal upside down...it's all part of the fan experience. It's expected. It's understood. (And yes, I understand Auburn is more of an exception. But trust me, they're worse than a toddler with strained peas in his ears.)

Now, proudly pat that SEC patch on your jersey and understand you are now playing in the ELITE playground. No more plastic primary colored fake shit. I'm talking solid wood foundation with steel bars. I guess what I'm saying is, if the slide in our playground doesn't chap your ass, then an inverted set of fingers shouldn't either.

Let's all circle up and pray...take off your cap and let's see your pretty-boy haircut Arch! There we go...Lord, please protect these men tomorrow night as we continue to pray and look for ways to support hurricane victims across the southeast. And please, pleeeeaase! Let us get Ewers jersey dirty. Even after 8:50pm. Because we know it's ALWAYS 10 TO 9 IN TEXAS!! AMEN and Go Dawgs!

Bonus - this week's 4th & 3 Dudes episode

National landscape, week seven

Waters are becoming less muddy I guess. And now that we're in the thick of it, and despite knowing that some two and maybe even three loss teams will make the playoffs, it sure feels like some one loss teams need to prove their worth.

1. Texas (bye)
2. Oregon (bye)
3. BYU (bye)
4. Clemson (bye)
   
5. Ohio State (hosts)
6. Georgia (hosts)
7. Alabama (hosts)
8. Texas Tech (hosts)
9. Notre Dame
10. LSU
11. Penn State
12. Boise State

The biggest game of the weekend brought us the best game of the season. The Ducks outlasted the Buckeyes and have solidified their bye week, at least for now. To round out the Big10 I kept Ohio State at 5 and dropped Penn State down to 11.

The Big12 has three undefeated teams in BYU, Texas Tech, and Iowa State. I'm keeping BYU as the conference winner, kept Texas Tech at 8, and considered letting Iowa State in. I've felt like Utah would play themselves back into contention, but their loss to Arizona State Friday night is gonna leave them hunting for a bowl game. BYU (probably) has the easiest path to a bye week in the playoffs. But along with Texas Tech and Iowa State, I think Kansas State and Arizona State are in contention.

ACC...each week I feel Clemson stakes a better claim than Miami. We'll see if the Tigers can hold it together.

ACC Lite...will it be Notre Dame's last week in the standings? They have trips to GA Tech and then Navy in the next two weeks. Win those as well as a 11/23 home game against Army and they may just survive that home loss to the Salukis.

Boise State Cruised through Honolulu, and they may very well keep cruising all the way to their season finale against Oregon State. As a reminder, the Broncos' only loss is to Oregon, by a field goal.

Lastly, the SEC. The only real change was swapping Ole Miss for LSU. I still feel it's more likely the SEC gets just three teams in the playoff bracket. Texas seems the only shoe-in. Bama is on a couple shaky wheels, and it's hard to believe LSU is good enough defensively to carry them into a playoff bid.

And with our Dawgs, the next month's gauntlet will prove we're deserving, or not.

Anyway, as always, we close this weekly post with this: Those are at least some intriguing matchups in Round 1. $till not $old on making the $ea$on thi$ long. But I'd watch, and I gue$$ that'$ why they expanded, right?

Digesting Miss State

Let's start with the bad. Our secondary was exposed. To be fair, we couldn't develop a pass rush after we made them a one-dimensional offense. But every time we committed to a blitz, our secondary couldn't stand up to the task.

Burnt toast!

So it was nice to see Ellis Robinson gets some snaps late in the game. The true freshman may need to grow up fast if we are to challenge the meat of our schedule starting Saturday night in Austin.

The good. The offense found a groove. Carson trusted his playmakers downfield. That rollout where he flung it to the endzone and Dillon Bell caught it for the touchdown...that's what we've been waiting to see. The screens and check downs are still there, but our offense used the entire field Saturday which was nice to see.

The short of it is this: we're not the team we were hoping for. It was discouraging to give up so many long passes and touchdowns. Mississippi State is not a good football team and they're depending on a true freshman quarterback. Have seen a lot of people lament on Muschamp not being on our sideline any longer. But I prefer Brooks' point:

I answer this question as Kamari Lassiter, Javon Bullard, and Tykee Smith are in the midst of starting for yet another week in their rookie seasons.

The harsh reality is… you aren’t as good because you aren’t as good.

I’ll get more into the answers on tape this week. https://t.co/oyT0gJwVE7

— Brooks Austin (@BrooksAustinBA) October 13, 2024

National landscape, week six. The Tide falls.

For the second week in a row, the Alabama Crimson Tide is the lead story, and the biggest cause for the poll's shuffle. Vandy held the Tide down, inspiring the Fighting Sam Pittmans to take down the Vols.

So here we go:

1. Texas (bye)
2. Oregon (bye)
3. BYU (bye)
4. Clemson (bye)
5. Ohio State (hosts)
6. Georgia (hosts)
7. Alabama (hosts)
8. Texas Tech (hosts)
9. Penn State
10. Ole Miss
11. Notre Dame
12. Boise State

Michigan and Tennessee fall out of this week's poll after losses to Washington and Arkansas respectively. In their place I've moved Ole Miss back in, as well as Notre Dame.

It's not that I'm sold that both of those teams will make it in the end, but I couldn't find another team to go in ahead of them. Miami's gonna get caught paying off referees eventually, so I couldn't put a 2nd ACC team in. 

In the Big 10, Oregon hosts Ohio State this weekend. I doubt I drop the loser out next week. They'll probably just swap spots. Penn State impresses a little more each week and they travel to USC this weekend.

And if Ole Miss survives a night game in Baton Rouge, they'll have proven me right. For this week at least.

As for the SEC, I think in the end the committee will likely (at least try to) keep the conference at three teams. I just can't put a Miami ahead of Ole Miss. Who else is worthy? Iowa State? I just can't see it.

I do see a chance for Utah to move back into the picture. The Utes host both BYU and Iowa State next month.

So a lot to be settled in the next couple months. And it starts this weekend!

the Friday Misery doesn't want Abuurn's company

If a group of young men decide to use paint to express their school spirit, it is generally praised and welcomed by other fans. If said paint is to be used to spell words, it adds a delicate layer of importance in regards to placement.

Trust me, I was once the "W" in DAWGS for a winner take the SEC conference crown matchup in Stegeman Coliseum between Hugh Durham's basketball team and LSU's Tigers. And sure enough, when the camera did aim in our direction, the five of us were in the correct order. There was no confusion as to why we were rooting for "DWASG" or "ADSWG".

Then there's these dipshits from the plains.

Hey, any idiot can throw a roll of toilet paper...you know, in the event their War Eagle Tiger Plainsmen win a tackle football game. But it takes a special group of mouth breathing, illiterate dumbasses to misspell their school's name whilst calling so much attention to themselves with painted bare chests.

the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry

This game used to define friendly rivalry. These football programs have a history intertwined and woven into the very fabric of their being. Most notably: Vince Dooley was an Auburn man before he moved to Athens; and Pat Dye was a Georgia guy before settling in West Opelika.

Good boy Magillicuddy! (via)

There was even a time about 10 years ago when the series record was not only tied, but the total points scored were remarkably close. Georgia at Auburn in 1996 produced the SEC's first tiebreaker. Uga V tried to take a bite out of Auburn's Robert Baker, which brought the Georgia team out of the doldrums and we came back from a 28-7 deficit to force the OT.

But time has not been kind to this Auburn football program. They are the team you thought of when you were ever posed the question: would you rather win a national championship and then go through years of CFB purgatory, or have a consistent team that always at least makes a bowl game?

They paid Cecil Newton for his son, won the natty, everyone bailed, and they're on their fifth head coach since winning the 2010 BCS trophy. Worse than that, they've become whiny little pissants that get to play two home games against Georgia in back to back years. They not only yell obscenities at a coach on his way out, but also on his way in! 

They're miserable humans. I mean I don't approve of what Harvey Updyke did, but I get it. It's tiring listening to them complain when a call doesn't go their way, when they can't figure out which shoe is for their right foot, who their true mascot is, why their personal pan pizza is SOOO hot, and when it turns out the story their coach having an illicit affair was falsely reported by one of their own!

Maybe misery does love company, but go kick rocks Auburn fan. Sick of your shit!

10th Magnolia Avenue freeeezze out!

It's so fitting that Auburn bought out Harsin's contract just to bring in noted slut shaming Mr. School Issued Burner Phone, just so they could beat Saban's mighty Alabama. You know, the way Freeze did when he was racking up NCAA violations at Ole Miss. How's it working out? Well, Bama beat the War Tigers last season by a field goal, Freeze finished his inaugural season on the Plains at 7-6, then Saban retired.

And it's been downhill since for the little war tigers and Coach Freeze. Instead of developing quarterback talent, ol' Hugh has taken to bad mouthing his personnel to the media, radio show listeners, his wife, their equipment crew, or just about anyone who will listen. Or at least pretend to.

You weep reap what you sow little brother! This is the resume for the guy you hired:

1. engaged in rampant recruiting violations at Ole Miss
2. blamed a former coach for the violations, thereby opening up a defamation lawsuit by Houston Nutt
3. Nutt's attorneys then discovered the escort service calls, dating back to when he landed in Oxford
4. And definitely worst of all, while head coach at Liberty, DM'd a sexual assault survivor that had been critical of the school's hiring of Baylor's former AD who had been part of its unchecked sexual assaults by Baylor student athletes.

Wow. But this is the fanbase that celebrated Trooper's towel and Fairley's late hits. So we hope you are ready for your whoopin' Barners! Then you can continue to enjoy your stroll through Purgatory. Now, let's bow our heads...Lord, please keep Coach Freeze away from Chip Towers' Toppers this weekend. And please let his team's offense continue to be abundantly inept at protecting the football. Amen!

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In memory of the great Senator Blutarsky. He did not care for Auburn. Sir, I hope you enjoy this one from your spot upstairs. Go Dawgs!

National landscape, week five. The Tide rises!

This week finds another shakeup in my poll as well as the SEC. Alabama's 1st half beat down followed by its 4th quarter resiliency forces Texas out of the top spot. Beating Georgia is a quality win. The Longhorns defeat of Michigan (even though that one was on the road) isn't nearly as shiny.

Let's get straight to it.

1. Alabama (bye)
2. Oregon (bye)
3. BYU (bye)
4. Clemson (bye)
5. Texas (hosts)
6. Ohio State (hosts)
7. Georgia (hosts)
8. Michigan (hosts)
9. Tennessee 
10. Texas Tech
11. Penn State
12. Boise State

Sticking with four teams in the SEC. Ole Miss could play their way back in, but Missouri has the easier path. Alabama goes from 7 to 1 as they look the most ready for a post-season run. Meanwhile, Texas drops from 1 to 5, and therefore Georgia drops from 5 to 7. Tennessee stays put.

From there, things get muddy quickly.

In the Big10, I'm sticking with Oregon getting the conference's bye. Ohio State and Penn State I believe will be the other contenders. The Nittany Lions move into this week's poll thanks to UCF's loss to Deion Sanders' ego Colorado. Indiana and Michigan lead the conference with 2-0 records.

Over in the Big12, Utah's loss takes them out completely. I suspect they'll remain in contention however. And I hope the Utes bounce back, because after BYU there is Texas Tech and Colorado. The Red Radiers grab the 10 spot with the toss of a coin.

Lastly, I'm giving the Group of 5 spot to Boise State. The Broncos are the highest ranked G5 team in the AP, while UNLV is ranked in the Coaches Poll. I went with the Broncos because Ashton Jeanty is chasing record books and a Heisman trophy, not NIL money (that I know of).

Anyway, as always, we close this weekly post with this: Those are at least some intriguing matchups in Round 1. $till not $old on making the $ea$on thi$ long. But I'd watch, and I gue$$ that'$ why they expanded, right?

Digesting Alabama

My first point is most important, to those that wanna blame Mike Bobo...was this your first experience watching a football game?

We had the correct game plan. We didn't have the proper execution. And while you can, in some manner, blame the coaches for the latter, you cannot blame them for the former.

via

We needed to be aggressive offensively. We needed to stretch the Crimson Tide defense. And we did just that with two deep balls on the opening drive. After a drop by Smith, and a catch by Lovett that was negated by an offensive pass interference call. After that, the offense spent roughly 23 minutes of game clock as a shell of itself.

Defensively, I'm perplexed as to how to defend Jalen Milroe. Back in December we frequently spied him, sometimes with two linebackers. That didn't work. Heading into Saturday night's contest, I thought we'd have more success since (I thought) he didn't have as many weapons. We played a lot of zone coverage to keep our eyes on the ball, and he still torched us.

Kudos to DeBoer and his staff. Kudos to the Alabama players. The Tide knocked us to our knees before we got to the second commercial break.

But hats off to our team for not giving up. That second half was an epic turnaround. Beck shook the cobwebs loose. Lawson Luckie had his best game. And Bobo had Alabama on their heels. 

And we had the lead for about 13 seconds. Then it was over.

Hopefully a Homecoming matchup against Auburn can provide a reset. Although it seems a reset at least started in the halftime locker room Saturday night.