Let’s talk about a QB you probably don’t know a lot about….Yes, go get a pen.
Jalen Hurts made his 1st career NFL start for the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday.
And, no one did him any favors throwing him into the fire that is the New Orleans Saints defense.
And, Jalen said, no problem….I GOT THIS!!!!
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Jacoby Brissett got PAID!!!!
And I’m not sure why….
Jalen Hurts is not getting paid, but he deserves your money after his Week 1 performance.
Justin Verlander is still really, Really, REALLY freakin’ good at baseball!!!!
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I don’t doubt Nick Saban.
Throughout my years covering sports, I’ve learned many things: It’s all about the money, I don’t doubt Tom Brady, and I don’t doubt Nick Saban.
Nick Saban is the best college football coach of all-time — and it’s not even that close. What he’s accomplished at Alabama, winning 5 National Championships in 9 years, is eerily similar to the success Brady, Belichick, and the Patriots have had. And that’s what allows Saban to make questionable, bold, even controversial moves.
Monday night was no different.
Down 13-0 at halftime, Saban’s squad was struggling offensively. They had amassed 21 yards through the air and converted just 4 first downs. That’s when Saban handed the ball to true-freshman, Tua Tagovailoa. Until that moment, the Hawaiian native had only appeared in mop-up duty in lopsided Alabama victories. Pegged as a “gunslinger”, Tagovailoa played well in his 7 brief appearances, throwing 8 touchdowns and just 1 interception.
But Monday night, it was time to sink or swim, on the world’s biggest stage. Oh did he swim. Tagovailoa, aka Alabama’s savior, made the 3 biggest plays of the game:
1.) On his 2nd drive, Tagovailoa faced a 3rd & 7. He scrambled right, nearly getting sacked. After breaking not 1, not 2, but 3 tackles, Tagovailoa bounced back to the left, gaining 9 yards for a crucial 1st down. This changed the complexion of the entire game. It kept Alabama from going ‘3 & out’ on consecutive drives. It gave Tagovailoa confidence. And it led to an Alabama touchdown, pulling them within 1 score (13-7).
2.) Fast forward to 3 minutes and 56 seconds left in the game. Imagine being under center, down 7 points, on 4th & 4 from the opponents 7-yard line. Now imagine throwing an absolute strike to Calvin Ridley for the game tying touchdown (20-20). Now wake up, because that wasn’t you. It was Tua Tagovailoa, and he’s living the dream.
Watch the play here.
3.) And last, but CERTAINLY not least, the final play of the game. After Georgia’s kicker, Rodrigo Blankenship, nailed a 51-yard field goal, Tagovailoa and Alabama found themselves down 23-20. Fail to score and go home. Kick a field goal and head to a 2nd overtime. Score a touchdown and win the National Championship. After an atrocious sack, Alabama was staring 2nd & 26 in the face. Have no fear, Tua is here. As he dropped back, the world could see DeVonta Smith inexplicably get behind Georgia’s secondary. Tagovailoa hit Smith, in stride, for a 41-yard, game winning touchdown.
Watch the play here.
Tagovailoa only had to pull off that miracle because his kicker came down with a case of the ‘shanks’. With 3 seconds left in regulation, Andy Pappanastos had a game-winning, 36-yard field goal attempt. Trust me when I say this was the worst field goal attempt I’ve ever seen — ever. This was Pappanastos’ 2nd missed field goal of the night. Clearly he wasn’t on his game. Luckily for Nick Saban, and Alabama, Tagovailoa was.
Was this the best National Championship you’ve ever seen?? Did you even stay awake long enough to see it?? Tell me in the comment section below.
You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .
Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!
SEC?? ACC?? Big Ten?? Just 5 months ago, the world asked what the best conference in college football is. Today, we have a definitive answer:
The SEC!!
With an all SEC championship on the horizon, other conferences don’t have a leg to stand on. How did we get to an Alabama Vs. Georgia showdown you ask?? Well, if you were busy binge watching your favorite Netflix show, rather than watching one of the most exciting “Rose Bowls” of all-time, I’ll tell you….
Semifinal #1 – #2 Oklahoma Vs. #3 Georgia
The question heading into this game was: Who would score more points, Baker Mayfield or Georgia’s backfield??
Baker Mayfield is the best player on most fields. He is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. And he’s only a few months away from being a 1st round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, he picked a bad time to have his worst game of the season.
Baker Mayfield’s Stats: 287 yards passing, 2 TDs, and 1 INT
It was the tale of 2 halfs for Mayfield, as he threw both TDs and caught a TD in the 1st half (jumping out to a 17-point lead). As for the 2nd half, he threw a bad interception and threw ZERO TDs.
The aforementioned Georgia backfield took over the game. The 2-headed monster of Sony Michel and Nick Chubb rushed for a combined 326 yards and 5 TDs. Ultimately, it would be Michel who would cap off a high profile victory for Georgia in DOUBLE OVERTIME!! After trading field goals in overtime, and watching Oklahoma’s field goal attempt get blocked in double overtime, Michel would scamper into the end zone from 27 yards out, sending the Georgia Bulldog’s world into a frenzy. 54-48 F/2OT.
Semifinal #2 – #1 Clemson Vs. #4 Alabama
And then, there was the rematch. The trilogy. Last night’s game marked the 3rd consecutive year Clemson and Alabama would face off in the College Football Playoff (1st time in the semifinals). This game wasn’t competitive. If I were Clemson, or anyone remotely involved with Clemson, I’d be embarrassed to show my face in public today. 6. 6 points. That’s all they mustered after AN ENTIRE MONTH of preparation. Pathetic I say. However, we must bow down to the master; Nick Saban. He doesn’t lose football games very often. And when he does, it’s usually on a freak play (remember this?) or an unbelievable performance.
Saban made sure nothing like that went down during their 24-6 victory over Clemson. Saban’s defense applied pressure early, and often. They picked off Kelly Bryant twice, returning 1 for a TD. And they held the entire Clemson offense to a whopping 184 yards. They also sprinkled in 5 sacks, 9 tackles for a loss, and 9 pass deflections. Ya know, just for good measure.
Now, all that stands in the way of Saban’s 6th National Championship, is Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs. Nothing beats a Mentor Vs. Protégé storyline to bring in extra viewers.
I’ll put my ‘monopoly money’ on Nick Saban.
Who do you think will win the National Championship?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.
You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .
Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!
When the dust settled on Saturday night, there was only 1 decision to make:
A 2-Loss Team Vs. A Team that didn’t even play in its own conference championship.
No matter the direction the college football playoff committee went, 1 would rejoice, the other would use the committee’s name in vain.
Ohio State took on undefeated Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship. Presumably, if Wisconsin had won, the committee would’ve been hard pressed not to put a 13-0 team, from a Power 5 Conference, in the playoff (strength of schedule be damned). However, Ohio State handled their business, serving Wisconsin their 1st loss, 27-21.
And then there’s Alabama. The Crimson Tide. Nick Saban’s playground. College football’s gold standard. Well, you get the point. Until their final game of the season, they sat atop the college football rankings, sporting an undefeated record. A 26-14 loss @ Auburn would be their 1 and only blemish on the season. Due to their “weak” schedule, doubt crept in as they watched the SEC Championship from home.
Alabama is in the college football playoff because they’re Alabama. Yes, they only lost 1 game, but it’s hard to fall back on their record when their signature win is a 31-24 road win against Mississippi State. On the other hand, while Ohio State has 2 signature wins over top-4 teams, they also lost 2 games. Let’s just say it’s tough to overcome a 55-24 beat down from an extremely mediocre Iowa team.
Speaking of bad losses, the top ranked Clemson Tigers lone loss on the season came at the hands of Syracuse (27-24). This is, by far, the worst loss of the 4 teams in the playoff, yet they remain #1. This speaks to the parody that continues to creep into college football. Which speaks to my proposal of an 8-team playoff. I’ve been screaming it all year. It just makes sense.
More games = more money. Period.
Until that happens, were stuck with a 4-game playoff:
#1 – Clemson #2 – Oklahoma
vs. vs.
#4 – Alabama #3 – Georgia
(New Year’s Day @ 8:45 P.M) (New Year’s Day @ 5:00 P.M.)
*National Championship Will Be Played on January 8th, 2018 @ 8:00 P.M.
At least we don’t have to wait a month for these games….
Did the college football committee get it right?? Please post your opinion in the comment section below.
You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .
Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!
It was chaos. Mayhem. Cats and dogs living together. It was just what the doctor ordered for any true college football fan. Multiple teams were dropped from the college playoff ranking this week after embarrassing, blowout losses. Monkey wrench, thrown in….
Notre Dame dropped from #3 to #8 following a beat down of epic proportions by Miami. With fate in their own hands, and a 1-point loss to Georgia as the only blemish on their resume, Notre Dame folded like a cheap suit. 41-8 is not the storybook ending the Fighting Irish were hoping for. ‘The U’ happily took Notre Dame’s #3 ranking this week.
Georgia also took a tumble, from #1 to #7, thanks to a crushing 40-17 defeat at the hands of the Auburn Tigers. Auburn is now knocking at the door at #6 despite having 2 losses on their record. With a showdown with now #1 Alabama just 2 weeks away, that monkey wrench may get a lot bigger. Auburn being a crucial part of this year’s college football playoff equation, is irony at its finest. For a refresher of the effects of Auburn’s 2004 undefeated season, click here.
In 2014, the NCAA (finally) changed their postseason format to a 4-team, bracket-style, playoff. This has added intrigue to college football, as more teams remain in contention for the national championship. And just 4 seasons since its inception, the college football playoff must evolve again.
The world needs the college football playoff to expand to 8 teams.
The playoffs, in any sport, are used to narrow the field, in order to determine a champion. The challenge, in every sport, is to draw a line in the sand in determining that field.
Here are the current playoff fields for every sport you care about:
NFL – 12 out of 32
MLB – 10 out of 30
NBA – 16 out of 30
NHL – 16 out of 31
NCAA Basketball – 68 out of 351
As you can see, college football is behind the times. Rather than be reactive, college football should be proactive. Expanding the field to 8 teams would increase and prolong viewership, without watering down the playoff field. While I understand there will be ‘an odd man out’ in any format, this would alleviate a lot of headaches (and crying).
There are no logistical issues in the way, only approval from the powers that be. While this idea is awesome, and can be implemented next year, don’t hold your breath.
For now, let’s hope Alabama loses to Auburn, Georgia loses to Auburn, Clemson beats Miami, Oklahoma loses to Ohio State, and Wisconsin goes undefeated. Because nothing screams controversy like an undefeated team not making the playoffs.
Do you think the college football playoff should be expanded to 8 teams?? If not, post your format idea in the comment section below.
You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .
Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!
Hello everybody and welcome back to another edition of One Liner Friday’s. Here you can find the past week in sports wrapped up in one line and one line only. Enjoy!!
So do you think Sergio Garcia and Riley Cooper are best buds?
I think so, I think they hang out at each other’s house and try to come up with ways to alienate themselves and potentially ruin any success they may have ever created leading up to that very moment.
I am slightly disappointed that Michael Vick is taking this whole forgiveness route, I don’t know about you but I think Cooper deserves the “Old Michael Vick” treatment.
You know what I mean.
Inbee Park!!
Who?
Oh you know just a professional female golfer who’s playing for her 4th consecutive grand slam title.
I don’t know how to put this, but I’m kind of a big deal.
Tiger shoots an opening round 66, making every putt under the sun at the Bridgestone Invitational.
This comes just a week after the Open Championship, where he couldn’t putt the ball into a garbage can if it was right in front of him.
SHUT UP BUCK SHOWALTER!!
For those of who didn’t see what he had to say about A-Rod and The Yankees, have no fear:
“If Bud (Selig) lets them get away with that, they’re under the luxury tax,” Showalter told USA Today. “If they can reset, they can spend again and I guarantee you in two years Matt Wieters is in New York. They’re the ones who signed him to that contract.”
Let them get away with that?
I’m sorry, did The Yankees ask A-Rod or anyone else on their team to do steroids?
Are The Yankees, or any team, complicit in the use of steroids?
Is Buck Showalter the biggest crybaby known to man?
It is amazing how big the target on their back is, and how this is only a “story” because it involves The Yankees.
They don’t boo the bad teams.
Alabama is clearly the best college football team in the country, but why does everyone get so riled up over preseason rankings?
Everyone understands that this is not the same roster from last season right?
Just checking.
How about we play the games and see what happens (or let a computer decide everything and not even bother; either way).
I love how everyone is writing Canelo Alvarez off before his fight with Floyd Mayweather, but as I’ve said before and I’ll say it again right now:
Canelo Alvarez will hand Floyd Mayweather his first professional loss of his career.
Isn’t it hysterical that Greg Oden, who was drafted 6 years ago and still hasn’t played even close to a full season in the NBA due to chronic injuries; get’s to choosethe team that will have the ‘privilege’ to pay him millions of dollars.
No, inmate #174954, you will no longer get airtime on my watch; thank you very much!
So, Kansas City Chief’s offensive coordinator is obviously messin’ with the same stuff Derek Rose is if he thinks Alex Smith is the best QB in the NFL.
I get it, he’s trying to build Smith’s confidence after it was trampled last season, but Smith is not even the best team in his division forget the whole league.
Let me end by saying that what Riley Cooper said is horrible.
It is obviously extremely insensitive, and I feel that that word (along with any slur towards anyone) has no place in society.
I’m here to bring levity and comedy (hopefully) to the world of sports, so please don’t take offense to anything I say or any pictures I may post even in regards to a sensitive situation.
Thanks for reading as always, and I hope you all enjoyed this weeks One Liners.
If you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. Also you can follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!
WHAT?? The Jets did WHAT?!?!?! This has become a common response as a Jets fan lately. I will NEVER understand the New York Jets. They literally do the exact opposite of what they should be doing at all times. For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, the first round of the 2013 NFL draft took place on Thursday night. The Jets as usual made a debacle out of a pretty simple process. Let’s delve right in shall we? As bad as the Jets were last year, their strength was definitely their defense. Even without Darrelle Revis last season the Jets secondary was ranked 2nd in the NFL (in terms of passing yards given up). Plus, all the Jets do is draft defensive tackles that don’t amount to anything. However, this year I figured with a new general manager and the glaring need for offensive players, the Jets might actually draft with a purpose. They have more holes to fill offensively than any other team in the league, and with the 9th and 13th overall picks you could plug up some of those holes right away. So what did they do with their 2 first round picks??? They drafted 2 defensive players of course. What else did you expect? Usually when it comes to sports, I can put my thinking cap on and figure out why something happened. I, for the life of me can not figure out these draft picks made by the New York Jets. The only thing I can think of is that the Jets are actively trying to be a sideshow to stay in the news and remain profitable, but even that doesn’t make any sense. I honestly can’t comprehend the decisions made by this franchise. They are clearly in rebuilding mode, but I think everyone knows that except for them. Let me tell you what they should have done last night:
You have the 9th and 13th pick in a draft that is not filled with an abundance of superstars, especially offensively. Your only need defensively is either a linebacker or a defensive end that can really get after the quarterback. Offensively you are in need of a quarterback, a running back, at least one wide receiver, a tight end, and at least one offensive linemen. With the 9th pick they should have drafted either of the players who were selected 10th and 11th last night; Chance Warmack or D.J. Fluker. Both played at Alabama on what was the best offensive line in the nation last year. Both are NFL ready and can instantly provide protection for your quarterback and improve your run game. But no, instead the Jets draft a cornerback (who is coming off labrum surgery, oh no I’m sorry he’s coming off FIVE SURGERIES) to immediately replace Darrelle Revis. Good idea!! His name by the way is Dee Milliner. If healthy he can be pretty good, but cornerback is simply not the Jets primary concern. Then what transpired at the 13th pick can only be described as a train wreck in slow motion. Have I mentioned that the Jets need offensive players? No? Okay good. What they should have done is trade the 13th pick for 2 picks at the end of the first round or into the beginning of the second round. There weren’t any offensive skill players that you could have justified taking with the 13th pick. So, if they had traded down, they could have drafted any combination of a running back, a wide receiver, a tight end, or a quarterback. I simply don’t understand taking a defensive tackle for the third consecutive draft. And if you ask me I don’t think Sheldon Richardson is even the best player at his position from this draft. Do these drafts seem eerily familiar to you? Find theory below:
Ah Rex Ryan, how I hate thee. I don’t know if it’s true, but the consensus is that Ryan was the “mastermind” behind these picks. If that’s the case this infuriates me more than I can ever express in words. Rex Ryan isn’t going to be the coach after this coming season. So why in the world would he be allowed to handpick players for the Jets? Something stinks here, but I’m not sure what it is. For the Jets sake and for the sake of Jets fans everywhere, I hope they draft a slew of offensive players with the rest of their picks. If they don’t I might have to jump ship and find a new team to root for. I’m only half kidding because loyalty in sports is literally all you have as a fan. But let me tell you that as each day passes it is becoming exponentially harder to root for the Jets. Like, love, or hate the Jets draft choices so far? Tell me about it in the comment section below….
If you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. Also you can follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!
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