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pacman

Burnt Ends
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Posts posted by pacman

  1. 19 minutes ago, Acropora said:

    God I hope not.  Isn't he the malcontent who's talent isn't commensurate.  Would prefer Veiling or Staes.  Both have size and production at this level

    Seems like Billingsley redux...roster has him at 210..only 1 catch on the year, played in only two games despite a Miami TE room that sucked hard

    • Hook 'Em 1
  2. College Football Playoff preview -- Michigan vs. Alabama, Washington vs. Texas - ESPN

     

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    New Orleans will be the unlikely site to see Texas coach Steve Sarkisian reunited with the program, Washington, he led for five seasons before leaving for USC. Both teams won titles in their final seasons in their respective conferences, Texas in the Big 12 and Washington in the Pac-12, before realignment moves them to the SEC and Big Ten next year.

    In two seasons at Washington, coach Kalen DeBoer has taken the Huskies to new heights, winning 24 of 26 games as they head to the playoff with a national-best 20-game winning streak. Sarkisian's turnaround in Austin didn't happen overnight, but it has taken him just three seasons to restore the Longhorns as a national power. The game will feature two of the nation's top quarterbacks in Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Texas' Quinn Ewers.

    Washington (13-0)

    Key player: WR Rome Odunze
    Even as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. generated Heisman Trophy consideration, Odunze has always been the Huskies' best player. Whenever the team has needed a big play, Odunze has gotten the call. It happened, most notably, in the final minutes against Oregon in the regular season, when he hauled in the game-winning touchdown. Then it happened again in the Apple Cup when he took an end around to pick up a monumental first down on fourth-and-1 from the Huskies' 29-yard line. Odunze finished the regular season No. 4 in the country in receiving yards (1,326), No. 6 in receiving touchdowns (13) and is sure to be one of the first receivers off the board in the 2024 NFL draft.

    X factor: RB Dillon Johnson
    As teams devoted more effort to stopping the Huskies' prolific passing offense as the season went along, Johnson became a more valuable asset. He rushed for 615 of his 961 regular-season yards over the last five games, with seven touchdowns in that span. The Mississippi State transfer ran 28 times for 152 yards and two scores to help take down the Ducks on Friday night and should be a key factor in this game.

    How Washington wins: Penix finds his early-season form
    At the halfway point of the season, Penix was the clear Heisman front-runner. He had the numbers. He passed the eye test. There wasn't anything, it seemed, that could slow him down. But as the season went along, something felt off. He was still good enough to lead the Huskies to a 12-0 mark and ranked No. 2 in passing yards (3,899), but his accuracy regressed and the big plays weren't as plentiful. When he's at his best, though, Washington can beat anyone, as evidenced by the Huskies' 34-31 win over the Ducks on Friday, when Penix threw for 319 yards and a score. -- Kyle Bonagura

    251.png&h=60&w=60Texas (12-1)

    Key player: DL T'Vondre Sweat
    Sweat came back for a super senior year to try to help Texas complete its turnaround. It's fair to say that decision has been a massive success, as Sweat became a force in the interior as the Big 12 defensive player of the year and helped the Longhorns win the conference championship. At 6-4 and 362 pounds, Sweat is literally a massive piece of the Texas defense. But as big as he is, he's so quick and agile that he wreaks havoc even on passing plays, despite having just two sacks on the season, because he draws so much attention that it frees up other players, including 6-1, 308-pound Byron Murphy II, who plays next to Sweat and was the league's defensive lineman of the year. In the conference championship, Sweat even added a touchdown reception and a Heisman pose. The man contains multitudes.

    X factor: TE Ja'Tavion Sanders
    With the addition of Adonai Mitchell as a receiving threat opposite Xavier Worthy, Sanders has seen a dip in his production, with a few nagging injuries also a factor. Last season, he caught 54 passes for 613 yards and 5 TDs; this year he settled for 31 catches, 502 yards and one score in the regular season. But at 6-4, 243, Sanders is a nightmare matchup for linebackers and a big target for quarterback Quinn Ewers. He can be a key outlet, particularly near the goal line, where Texas has struggled for most of the season, ranking 104th nationally in red zone offense. Sanders averaged 4.2 catches per game last year, down to 2.6 this year. Entering the Big 12 championship game, he'd caught five passes in a game only twice this year, and both times he went over 100 yards, including 114 yards against Alabama. But against Oklahoma State on Saturday, he had a season-high eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. Sanders could be the cure for the Longhorns' woes in the end zone if they keep him going, particularly with Worthy's ankle injury suffered against OSU adding concern.

    How Texas wins: The offensive line protects Quinn Ewers
    The Longhorns have the heft along both lines to match up with pretty much anyone, but with Jonathon Brooks, who had 1,138 yards in 10 games, lost for the season, they'll have to find a back to make the running game a factor. But it will take a strong performance from quarterback Quinn Ewers and the passing game to key the Texas attack. If the offensive line can protect Ewers and keep him upright, the Longhorns have the speed to make big plays on the outside, and the offense has shown the potential to deliver when it's needed most. -- Dave Wilson

     

  3. Some tidbits from espn...

    NCAA football transfer portal: 10 small-school sleepers - ESPN

    College football transfer portal 2023: Latest updates, news - ESPN

    Thor Griffith

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    Griffith is a rare talent on the defensive line with a state championship wrestling title. He was an unknown recruit out of New Hampshire who also played hockey in high school, which explains his quick change-of-direction skills in pursuit at 320 pounds. The high-motored defensive tackle posted 33.5 tackles for a loss in his career. His powerful frame, short-area quickness and upper-body strength reminds us of LSU defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo. Griffith's strength is off the charts. His reported 45 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press would have been tops for defensive tackles at last year's NFL combine.

    Louisville, UCLA, California, Michigan State and Oregon State all offered Griffith over the past week. He has one year of eligibility remaining as a grad transfer.

    Joey Slackman

    Quote

    Slackman was also an all-state wrestler and football player from the Northeast who slid under the radar coming from a small school in New York. That changed once he racked up 50 tackles (including 12 for loss) and four sacks. Slackman went to Penn for wrestling but made his way back to the gridiron and showcased his penetrating quickness from the mat while disrupting offensive plays.

    Slackman has more than 20 Power 5 offers, including one from USC. Going from a Quaker to a Trojan would be a monumental jump, but Slackman does have uncommon size (6-foot-4, 300 pounds) and traits. He has one year of eligibility remaining as a grad transfer.

    Akili Arnold

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    The Beavers also saw safety Akili Arnold, who had 60 tackles and two interceptions, officially enter the portal. Arnold’s brother, inside linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, also is set to enter the portal soon. Mascarenas-Arnold leads Oregon State with 107 tackles and added two interceptions and two sacks.

    Quote

    351 football players entered yesterday (All divisions) 1,550 entered since Dec. 4 2,737 entered since Nov. 26 Of the 2,737 athletes that have entered, 1,167 are FBS players

     

    • Hook 'Em 2
    • Like 1
  4. 46 minutes ago, ClubWhatever said:

    How much of this is just basic negotiation - threatening to walk if the sales manager doesn't knock off the clear coat and $1500 under invoice?   Also unlike at Texas, getting in the MF at that place probably doesn't close the door on going back either since they are so desperate.  

    They had the issue last cycle. It was a mix of both, some were testing for more cash while others were clearly set on leaving.

  5. 3 hours ago, Liquor and Poker said:

    Two days ago I said that this was moving too fast for me to keep up.  It seems even faster now.  Why does it seem so much more active than last year?  People getting more comfortable with the process?  Just my perception?  Some cyclical thing?

    15 pages (and counting) since the portal opened on Monday...

  6. 2 hours ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

    Let's take a look and see how things are going at the top of the "greatest class of all time!!".

    Walter Nolan - may/may not enter portal, TBD, looked decent at times, nowhere near 5* ranking.  Going after the highest bid.  Also is soft and always something wrong with him.

    Evan Stewart - took the $$$ bag to go play in an offense with a decade of data to show WR's go to fade away.  May/may not portal.  Definitely not lived up to 5* ranking.

    Shemar Stewart - has been a rotational player that occasionally flashes.  May/may not portal.  Another guy who hasn't lived up to the 5* ranking.

    Gabe Brownlow - hasn't seen the field yet as far as I know.

    LT Overton - hardly ever played, in the portal.

    Connor Weigman - has promise, has flashed (mostly against g5 teams).  Has been annihilated behind that OL.  Who knows, maybe sticks around??  TBD I guess??

    Chris Marshall - 🤣🤣

    Denver Harris - 🤣🤣

    Anthony Lucas - hit the road after one year.

    Enai White - hasn't played much as far as I know.  From the north east so probably a good candidate to portal to E-Rob.

    Smoke Bouie - 🤣🤣

    PJ Williams - we hardly knew ya'.

    Bryce Anderson - looks good.  To bad he didn't end up here.

    That's all I'm doing for now.  Feel free to add on.  Geeze is this going to be like that Herman class where only two or three guys end up being contributors?  Don't care, got/had Jimbo.

    the insignificant overton, the older brother, is in the portal too

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