CleCoTiger

My most solid prediction comes down to this: Kickoff after 8 pm, around 75 degrees or so and LSU fans that smell like corndogs. (A few may have had a bit too much mustard.)

OK folks, everyone knows the next game I coach will be my first so someone smarter than me (a doorstop might qualify) help me out here... I've been watching a replay of yesterday's Ga State game and I'm wondering if the Harsin/Bobo offensive philosophy just eschews the spread concepts. If so, can someone help me understand why? My limited knowledge on spreading the field is that there are several advantages ranging from more room for receivers and running backs to operate, isolating defensive personnel (limited immediate help) and just generally causing issues for the defense that more compact spacing does not provide. I know I'm missing a ton and I'm just kind of wondering if this is what we expected and if this offensive style is what we can expect going forward. So...help and old Ox out.

From my limited viewing my only real comments on Finley is he's a dang big young man, has a dang strong arm and can throw it on a rope.

Glad I didn't pay great attention then. That just might have made me less that ideally happy. To be honest, I barely watched any of the game. I was so unworried about it...well...I just figured the blowout would be boring and I'd be seeing everyone but the scout team after half. I will say this much, the end was exciting. Glad it ended the way it did.

Well, I missed on LSU-Miss State. Got it lucky right on aTm-Arky. That's 50 percent. Know what gamblers call 50 percent? Losing money.

Is he? For real? I didn't pay great attention to Harsin's comments post game.

More than that, he didn't have Hugh Nall and the rest of the BBQ Boys.

I don't think they will be favored, but it would not shock me to see Ole Miss pull out a "W" against Bama this season. I think Kiffin has some insights into Saban. Last season it was like watching a tennis match. Ole Miss kept pace until they "lost serve" after which it was basically over. Regardless, I think this year's Bama team is beatable. I have my doubts that they finish undefeated.

Hope this doesn't get me blasted, but I'm going to recommend people try a "bottom shelf" bourbon that I like very, very much. Before I say what it is, I think I have to point out that my belief is people are often biased by things like price, packaging and marketing such that they are predisposed to find higher priced, better marketed brands to be "better." This seems to be the case with everything from wines to bottled water where experts, blind to what they are tasting, will often find that they like what they thought they hated. In this case, with the bourbon I'm going to recommend, I wonder if putting it in a really upscale bottle prior to having someone taste might have some influence? Anyway... Bottom shelf. Cheap. But I think very, very good as a "sipping whiskey" with a touch of sweetness in the aftertaste, hints of vanilla and just very smooth: 101 Proof Virgin Bourbon Virgin Bourbon 101 Proof is available in Alabama ABC stores for about 15 dollars for 750 ml. I originally tried this back in the early 90's and was pleasantly surprised. I forgot about it for many years as I'm typically not really a fan of most bourbons in general but tried it again a few years back and again found it to be very good, better even than some top shelf brands costing several times the price. If folks can keep an open mind, give it a try. Don't judge by the cheap looking label or price. It's my "go to" bourbon of choice. No kidding.

I dunno about the Tuberville offense in this era, but I'd take most of the Tuberville defenses...with the exception of some games against Arkansas, LSU and the finale against Bama (and a few others.)

Two darned interesting games in the SEC West this weekend. I don't know if Arky is for real but they sure seem to be better than I expected. Can they handle aTm? The Aggies are favored but their offense hasn't done much. I have never really bought into Jimbo Fisher as a great coach. Not a betting man as you all know, but I have a feeling Arky pulls this one out. Hogs 27, aTm 24 LSU played "follow the leader" on defense with MSU receivers last year and lost. I expect more zone, but the game is in Starkville with the cowbells. Orgeron seems to have lost something...namely Joe Burrow, Joe Brady and Dave Aranda. MSU two years in a row? Yup. Second upset special. MSU 42, LSU 31. What say you?

As big as he is I've been under the impression that Finely doesn't really like to stick it up in there on a run. I don't know where I got that impression. Could be wrong. But that was a long two yards. A sneak would be tough.

The Breville Smart Oven countertop convection ovens are hard to beat. I don't know of any online resource on the bricks. Was just an idea I had a few years back, but it's simple. Fire brick comes in full size bricks and "thin" half bricks. I use the thin half bricks and just line the shelf with a single layer to form a "brick deck" and place that shelf as close to the broiler as it can get. Then pre-heat under the broiler on its highest setting for up to an hour. Immediately before putting the pizza in, turn from broil to bake and slide the pizza in on top of the "deck." That's as close to a brick oven as I can come on my budget. (The split fire bricks aren't cheap, around 12 bucks each last I looked. Edit: Six pack at HomeDepot for 35 bucks. Also Northern Tool has a six pack for 20 dollars.) (I use six of them in my oven.)

I haven't used a screen. I "cheat" with an electric countertop convection oven by lining the shelf with thin "split" firebricks and pre-heating them for up to an hour under the broiler before sliding the fresh dough pizza in on top. Gets that "blistered" crust just right, even with a countertop oven.

I hope never again to see AU rush three and give the opposing QB around 8 full seconds unmolested to find an open receiver.

Some of the references in this video: The "intentional" grounding. "I don't know what down it is." "Just call it 4th down." The "4th and 2 fade route."

The blood. It makes the grass grow.

Other than UConn in D1 FBS, which team is? Seriously though, didn't realize they were 7-1 in the COVID19 season. They weren't as good as that in 2019. Still, not Akron level. (Wish we coulda got UConn! )

James Franklin at On3.com might help make some of the inspiration behind this video more clear. https://www.on3.com/college/penn-state-nittany-lions/news/penn-state-nittany-lions-head-coach-james-franklin-calls-out-officials-despite-win-over-auburn-tigers/

This video is pretty funny and obviously gets some inspiration from the SEC referee crew that worked the AU@Penn State game.

I predict that after the first two games, AU will again be among the national leaders in points, yards gained, yards per carry and a bunch of other offensive stats.

Thanks. Pass definitely landed a few yards out of bounds. Don't know if that means it was uncatchable for sure, but it was long. (Link cued to the play.)

The "good play, poor execution" take was the Cubelic/McElroy opinion as well.

Any chance you can get a good view of the 4th and 2 fade route? Listened to Cole Cubelic and Greg McElroy this morning and McElroy's take was similar to what I thought I saw, i.e. that even if the receiver didn't get tangled up with the DB, the pass was out of bounds and uncatchable.

I hope your feeling turns out to be incorrect. If this pattern lasts all season, it's gonna be a long season.