Week 11: Rodrigo Throws!

The biggest play of the weekend wasn’t Nick Chubb’s record-setting 92 yard touchdown run, or Baker Mayfield’s four touchdowns, or Clemson knocking BC QB Anthony Brown out of the game, Fromm to Godwin on fourth down, or Deandre Swift’s 71 yard touchdown run.

 

No, the play everyone’s still talking about was an incomplete pass: UGA kicker Rodrigo Blankenship barely overthrew his tight end on a fake field goal attempt with 3:20 remaining in the game. Not sure if the tight end had alligator arms. The fake was the cause of much discussion after the game. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn tried to not comment, but a player told the media what Malzahn said on the field.

Kirby defended the call, claiming a field goal kept Auburn within three scores – “what’s 17 plus three?” He had a point, as bigger comebacks have come with less time on the clock. In the high stakes world of college football, the number five team in the country has to do everything in its power to make sure the win. Blowhard Steak Shapiro would have none of it, calling the game “OVER!” 

 

The announcers loved the call, and did not even bring up whether Georgia might be piling it on. Instead they said “He kicks, he runs, he throws – had he completed that pass the stadium might’ve fallen down.” At the time I did wonder if there would be a fuss, and like Brian Finneran, I wondered if it might’ve been better to keep that play stashed away in case it was needed against Bama. The two fakes hold some defenders back from rushing the kick, which is a good thing. But the play was indeed delightful.

Early on in the game Malzahn protested vehemently when his defender was called for targeting, but the call was obvious, the hit unnecessary. Malzahn looked like LSU coach Ed Ogeron, screaming his objections.

Fromm was his usual steady self, converting on eight of 13 third down plays (and one for one on fourth down. The Dawgs continued to struggle on the goal line. It’s almost become a mental thing. Some of the play calls have changed, and freshman QB Justin Fields saw more action – enough action to make a few freshman mistakes.

The announcer called Fields the “equal” of Fromm just before Fields made a horrible play, scrambling backwards for a huge loss. While Fields completed both his pass attempts, several other times he dropped back to pass but, seeing his primary receiver covered, chose to run instead. Fromm will stay in the pocket looking for receiver until it collapses, then scramble to buy time to pass. The sophomore carries out the fake after handing off of the read option better than the freshman, though Fields’ talent forces the defense to stay back more. Very rarely has Fromm kept the ball – he may be waiting until the Bama game to run more. Steak Shapiro wasn’t carrying on about Fields this week, but I only heard one segment. 

Swift ran for another career high. After the game when asked, smiled and said he still wasn’t 100%. On his first carry Holyfield moved the pile 15-20 yards. Herrien saw some action as well. Wonder if Cook will redshirt. Soon the NFL will feature Gurley, Michel, Chubb, Crowell, Swift, and Holyfield. Former UGA tight end Orson Charles was playing fullback for the Browns. A UGA RB for every NFL team.

The Dawgs played their fourth straight ranked team. Their schedule has been one of the toughest in the nation. Not sure this will help against Bama. They’ll have to hope Tua is still hobbled.

 

 

Tech is learning how to win. Miami is struggling, but it was still a good win for the Jackets. Now the Jackets are bowl eligible after winning five of their last six. They’ve been eliminated from the division championship. If they had the chance to play Pitt and Duke and USF again they might could’ve won all three.

After playing the lion’s share of the last two games, two time ACC freshman of the week Tobias Oliver sat for most of the Miami game. Embattled senior starter TaQuon Marshall rushed for 106 and two TD’s and threw for another TD and 73 yards, but fumbled twice.         

 

Tech punter Pressley Harbins III had a good night, averaging a net of 49.3 yards, with two inside the twenty and two longer than fifty yards.

As usual, Boston College played Clemson tough. Might’ve been even closer had starting QB Anthony Brown not been knocked out of the game on BC’s first possession. The teams traded punt returns for touchdowns, and the potent BC D-line provided freshman signalcaller Trevor Lawrence with some valuable experience heading into the college football playoff. Dabo needs his O-line to step it up. You heard it here first: the crack 680 morning crew predicted Clemson would beat Pitt by 50.

The Falcons flew into Cleveland just in time to see a greatly improved Baker Mayfield, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for another. Fellow rookie Nick Chubb is also hitting his stride, breaking away for a Browns record 93 yard TD run, eclipsing Bobby Mitchell’s record held since 1959, and former Bulldog Isiah Crowell’s 85 yarder from just a few years ago.