Football Focus: Game Notes from this past weekend!

WOW. What a great weekend of football. From Saturday to Monday, nothing but great games and a few NCAA championships were won. The first was in the FCS with North Dakota State vs. Illinois State. If you missed this game, you missed out on a thriller! The score was relatively close all game but for a good part of the second half, it looked as if ND State was going to win their 4th straight national championship. But then Tre Roberson takes off on a 58 yard touchdown run with 1:38 to go in the game and take a 4 point lead. All Illinois State has to do is stop The Bison. Fast forward 1:01 on the game clock and ND State is celebrating in the endzone after QB Carson Wentz scores from 5 yards out to re-take the lead. (Carson Wentz is a JR who is 6-5, 222 pound athlete. He could be another one of those small school QB's to get a chance at the next level. He's got the size and skill set to make a roster). What a dynasty, they got it going on in Fargo!

New England vs Baltimore

1. A great AFC battle. Patriots overcome two 14 point deficits (which is nuts) to win the ball game 35-31. Tom Brady was locked in and his competitive nature is off the charts. I like seeing him get fired up and his touchdown early got the place rocking. 
2. Joe Flacco is the man in the playoffs. I wouldn't define his performance by how he finished. I was a little critical of that monster contract he signed a few years ago but it is well deserved. He is one of the rare players who actually plays better in the post-season. To know that you have a great post-season QB on your roster is huge in the NFL.
3. Play of the Game: Julian Edelman to Danny Amendola. I love seeing plays like this and to call it at a time when you need it most makes it even better. It is like NFL coaches have no creativity, everyone runs the same stuff. Perfect play for a perfect time. 

Seattle vs Carolina

1. Herm Edwards picked the upset in this game. Carolina played pretty good for about two-and-a-half quarters in this defensive battle. In the end, the Seahawks were too much!
2. Cam Newton may throw the deep ball like a javelin but he had a pretty nice day. Just like Flacco, in the end, he turned the ball over and it led to their demise. If they are able to get some offensive talent alongside he, Olsen, and Benjamin, they will continually be in the mix in the NFC South. Especially when you have Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis playing linebacker for you.
3. Plays of the Game: This was the Kam Chancellor show. What he did before the half was the coolest thing I ever saw in a football game. The anticipation, timing, and athletic ability to hurdle over the lineman on a field goal attempt was incredible. And then he did it for a second time. Oh yeah, I forgot to add, he somehow managed to land both jumps on his feet! And then later in the game he had a TAINT on a poor Cam Newton throw.

Dallas vs Green Bay

1. Aaron Rodgers: He does not look like the same guy who carved up defenses all season. If he lacks mobility this weekend, Seattle may tee off on him! 
2. Terrence Williams has emerged as a big play receiver for Dallas. If Romo and Murray can produce next year comparable to this past season, and they re-sign Dez Bryant, then having Terrence Williams in the mix will make the offense more explosive. I like Cole Beasley in the slot and they need to keep him around.
3. Play of the Game: Tony Romo's deep throw to Dez Bryant on 4th and 2. Romo takes the deep shot and the play was initially ruled a catch. After looking at the review, the play got overturned. When I first saw the play I said, "boy, I really wish that was a catch". After watching the replay, it just didn't look like a reception to me and they got the call right. 

Indianapolis vs Denver

1. This was my upset pick of the weekend. Denver was the team playing the worst of all the favorites and it looks like the Sheriff (aka Peyton Manning) lost a little zing on his fastball.
2. Pressure + Press = Success. I wrote a few weeks ago about how the Eagles secondary were asked to do one of the toughest things in all sports: play press man-to-man defense successfully. The Colts asked their DBs to do that on Sunday and had great success. Part of the reason, they were able to get good pressure on Peyton Manning which led to quicker throws which means less time having to cover the WR. I am interested to see how the Colts defense plays it this week against New England!
3. Play of the Game: Andrew Luck's touchdown run on a zone read play (which was later called back). The NFL is not a league where a super mobile quarterback (Vick, Griffin III, Kaepernick) can play at sustained high level. BUT, looking at these 4 playoffs teams shows you need a guy who can move and convert first downs with his legs. Rodgers, Luck, and Wilson are the best at doing this and seem to have an uncanny ability to know when to use their legs and when not to. They want to throw the ball down the field and are not a "run first" QB. 

Oregon vs Ohio State

1. What a coaching job by Urban Meyer. His team dominated this game and they did it with their 3rd team quarterback. The Coach beats the system in this game. 
2. Oregon's fast-paced offense looked like it was going to be a continuation of the FSU game. They take the opening drive and put the ball in the endzone in under 3 minutes. The rest of the game
3. Ezekial Elliott is the most impressive player I have seen during the playoffs. What an impressive back who should be on NFL teams wish list. I loved seeing the success they had with the WHAM play (Herbstreit highlighted it throughout the game). It is when an offensive player, in this case their TE/H-Back, who comes down the line of scrimmage and "traps" the nose guard. Elliotts first touchdown run was on this type of play.
4. I wonder what effect this game had on Marcus Mariota's draft stock? Some team will fall in love with him and reach for him in the draft. I would not be one of those teams. This is a terrible year for a quarterback so I hope you're team is not one that needs one!  
5. Cardale Jones is a fun QB to watch. Their ability to chuck the ball down the field ACCURATELY forces defenses to play off. They did it last week and did it again this week. Combine that with his size and running ability and you have another dimension to your offense. How about that 4th and 1 play when he got stuffed, bounced the play out wide to left to beat the contain player, and then went over the top of the corner to get the first down. That is a championship effort! 
6. I cannot believe Ohio State turned the ball over 4 times and won this football game. They played far from perfect against Bama and far from perfect against Oregon but still managed to win both games and head home with the first ever NCAA championship!