NCAA football open thread (plus Tashard Choice discussion)
by Dave Halprin on Dec 6, 2008 11:31 AM CST
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PrintTick, tick, tick...like, um, is someone slowing down time in the universe? Can it take any longer for Sunday afternoon to finally arrive?
This is an open thread for today's NCAA championship games.
Tashard Choice is ready. Since Georgia Tech is my alma mater I watched almost every game Tashard played in college. If he has to start or take over at some point in the game, the challenge won't be too big for him because he attacks a football game. His energy and passion for playing are always at the surface ready to erupt. So you will see a confident kid giving maximum effort. I'm sure he'll make a few mistakes along the way, but it won't be from lack of effort.
Tashard isn't a dancer. He's looking for the hole and trying to get through to the second-level quickly. That doesn't mean he's not patient, he will allow the hole to form but once he sees it he's going for it quickly. He's a north-south runner. In open field he does have some wiggle, he can make a guy miss, but it's not the core of his game. Balance and vision are the keys for him. He doesn't have the home-run speed you'd want, I've seen him get rundown from behind, but he's got enough juice to bust off some long runs. And when he gets tackled, he's almost always going forward picking up the extra yard or two.
Choice is a workhorse back, too. At GT, we had plenty of games where we fed him the ball 25+ times. I don't think he will come close to that in this game, but he's a tough runner and can be a time-eater late in games if his team has the lead.
Also, as Rafael pointed out, Choice is not a bad option as a pass-catching back.
Someone asked me if Choice is a ‘mudder' since the field and weather in Pittsburgh could be less than ideal. I can't say for sure, the home turf at GT was never an issue and I can't recall any specific games where a ‘mudder' was needed. But given his running style which is north-south and his nice balance, I think he'd fare well on uncertain turf.
The latest on the weather forecast. At 4 PM EST on Sunday, the temp should be around 24 degrees with winds at 17 mph. That means it will feel like 11 degrees. Burrr. The chance of snow showers falls off heavily by 2 PM, but overnight/morning snow the day of the game seems likely. The winds are expected to remain in the 13-17 mph range for the game.
<-- At least it won't be Ice Bowl cold.
Troy Polamalu, fear the hair!
Bradie James is busting out.
An interesting view of the five key Cowboys in the game, according to our SB Nation friend and Steelers blog, Behind the Steel Curtain.
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10 days between games seems like forever
plus the added anticipation of playing a very good opponent and Tashard starting.
I can hardly wait!
You can't teach an old dogma new tricks.
-Dorothy Parker
I'm also excited to see Coleman
they guy is really quick and fast and built like a house. His arms are probably bigger than my thighs.
I really want to see Florida/Oklahoma or Florida/Texas for the Title.
Oklahoma/Alabama would also be a very interesting game in the vein of a great styles clash between the top offense and defense in the nation. Texas definitely got screwed, though. When a team loses a game by 40 like Texas Tech did, they should be considered the weak link and odd team out and shouldn’t have even been factored into the equation. Depending on how it all plays out during the Bowl season, I smell another one of those certifiably goofy split national championships.
That was a nice preview of the game over at Behind the Steel Curtain. How close are Jamal Williams and and Casey Hampton as elite nosetackles because as I recall Gurode manhandled Williams quite a few times in that preseason game.
Just watching the Army-Navy game
And Army’s uniforms are pretty sick. Camo helmet and pants.
"When it's third and ten, you can take the milk drinkers and I'll take the whiskey drinkers every time." -Max McGee
I was just thinkin that. Those uni's are bananas.
Channeling my inner Pacman.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Dec 6, 2008 2:28 PM CST up reply actions
Excited About Choice
From what I’ve seen, I think he’ll be fine. I love how hard he hits the hole, and the way he drives forward after contact. Reminds me somewhat of Emmitt.
Just wish Jason Garrett could have worked him into the lineup more. Maybe if he does as well as we think he’ll do, he’ll have a bigger role the rest of the season.
If he turns out to be a solid back, can you image a backfield of Barber, Felix and Tashard? Talk about a scary three headed monster!
Wow.
I just watched the interview with Choice on the mothership website. I love this guy.
He knows his role, but he looks unafraid and confident.
I think he is really gonna help us down the stretch and beyond. Great Pick.
Channeling my inner Pacman.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Dec 6, 2008 12:32 PM CST reply actions
The weather forecast = business as usual
When Dallas played in Washington three weeks ago the winds were gusting 30-40 mph from one end of the field. Teams could not kick more than 40 yds. going into it. Romo led a game-winning drive right into it, throwing the football with three fingers.
Last week, New England and Pittsburgh played in a rainstorm in cold conditions. The rain greatly affected play. There were lots of dropped passes and the game changing kickoff muff was due to the wet.
It won’t be windy tomorrow, relatively speaking.
It won’t be wet.
It will be cold, but mildy so. Mid-20s is nothing compared to zero or below zero. It gets this cold in Dallas all the time.
I’d much rather have some cold than wind or precipitation. This is a non-issue.
I agree 100%.
"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"
No word on MB3 until game time
The odds are that MB3 is not at 100%, leaving some playing opportunities for Choice. And there is the possibility MB3 doesn’t play. I get the feeling Choice will be called on to contribute in this game.
On the official sit ethey are saying MBIII won't even make the trip. I guess we'll see what the backups got.
I am Pro Choice he will open a lot of eyes tomorrow.
Don't believe everything you think.
Choice
Will make a good showing of himself. Let MB get ready for the playoffs.
I live and die with the Dallas Cowboys
Now we see why
Choice was a good choice in the draft.
go back and listen to the Doc's interview from Tuesday night
He was saying Barber has a torn ligament or ligaments in his toe, and it can be a serious injury.
Here’s the proof.
I agree with Grizz
I really like the way Choice moves in small spaces, finds a seam and explodes through it. In that regard he’s better than Barber.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
Tim Tebow is hands down the deserving Heisman Trophy Winner..
2 INT’s all year against the BEST conference competition in the land ??
to go with 39 TD’s passing, several rushing TD’s and leading his team to a conference championship over previously #1 undefeated Alabama……….WITHOUT HIS best weapon Percy Harvin……….any other winner is a complete sham……Big 12 overall pass defense is a friggin joke…Harrell, McCoy, and Bradford…all good QB’s….but none have the fight, guts, and determination of one Tim Tebow….
A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.
"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones
Choice has what it takes
I’ve been stoked about Choice ever since reading up on him before the draft. Also, the youtube video of him at GT getting his teammates worked up made me a believer.
Dan Horne
aka: texastoast
http://www.CowboysFTW.com
Whoooooo!!
my hair stood up.
Channeling my inner Pacman.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Dec 7, 2008 6:27 AM CST up reply actions
Wow those guys at the steel curtain are delusional!!!
I went over to take a look at there 5 Dallas players to watch out for and was amazed. Both at that analysis and the comments made over there.
After reading the analysis I was not sure if that guy knows the difference between Pros and Cons. Most of the Cons seemed to be more of a continuation of Pros. You guys should go over and take a look. Take an aspirin before though because it’s a little confusing and your head will hurt in the end.
As for the comments:
Man there are some haters over there. Most of the posts were from guys saying that all we do here is talk about how much we disrespect the Steelers and how Romo will through for 300 yard and 10 touchdowns. Plus how we have no idea of what we are talking about and can’t formula a cohesive thought.
Actually looking back it would be easier to sum it up this way it was like entering a bizarro world of the DMN for Steelers fans.
I would appreciate a warning next time a link like this one is added to a thread.
Quincyyyyy
I think your wasting your time trying to reason with those guys over there. It didn’t even look fun.
by I'm a Cowboy Babe on Dec 6, 2008 8:51 PM CST reply actions
I agree, to me it made me scratch my head when I saw who the five players were
I mean c’mon to leave off TO, Jay Ratliff, and Flo is just ignorant. Are they just assuming that these players will do nothing tomorrow? I just finished watching an nfl network game center preview and jaime dukes feels that dallas can win and his counter part Waddle feels that the stiller’s d will be too much and completely ignores the fact that dallas’ d is 2nd in sacks.
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
There you go making sense again...
Don’t go back there again, you may loose that ability.
Pass the aspirin Please.
by I'm a Cowboy Babe on Dec 6, 2008 11:08 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah
They think their defense has NO weak links…..
They are delusional….said their LB’s will shut down Witten and Tellus…HaHa
They are in for a rude awakening….They haven’t faced an offense like ours.
BTW….they should be worried about P Crayton on 3rd downs…He’s been money in the slot!!!!
You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach
Takes more than one
I love the way Crayton never goes down with the first hit. Which usually leads to more yards.
by I'm a Cowboy Babe on Dec 7, 2008 11:13 AM CST up reply actions
That's pretty good
I would appreciate a warning next time a link like this one is added to a thread.
A warning label about possible side effects.
You can't teach an old dogma new tricks.
-Dorothy Parker
Grizz's comments about Choice sound like Emmitt to me
Kind of eery how much of his description could have been said about Emmitt. I’m sure I’m getting carried away but tell me how that doesn’t fit.
by StillHateTheGiants on Dec 6, 2008 9:45 PM CST reply actions
eery you can say that again...
Here is part of my post from Rafael’s last Tread in response to a good post by Scottmaui.
‘Good observation on Choice’s running style. I to noticed these very same qualities in him. Plus maybe a a little Emmit to, not a lot of speed but very good quickness getting to the next level. Its left to see if he can make the first guy miss like Emmit used to do. If that happens then look out we should see 30 to 40 yard runs before he is caught from behind. Again just like Emmit.’
Personally I think we should see the YPC average go up.
I got to go I’m starting to here the Twilight Zone music.
by I'm a Cowboy Babe on Dec 6, 2008 11:03 PM CST up reply actions
I watched the 92 NFCCG again a last week or so
My observations of Emmitt with my now much more informed eyes show me that he is very smooth. He had tremendous balance and didn’t waste movement. He would set up a would-be tackler to keep him from getting a clean hit most of the time and then push past him with a subtle movement to pick up at least a few more yards, if not another 20 or so. He got to run through some huge holes, but his ability is truly undeniable.
That lower body strength, balance, and smoothness seems to sum up Emmitt. I think Tashard comes close to fitting that from what little I’ve seen.
Emmit look alikes
When I saw some old videos of young Emmit, the one thing that stood out was how light on his feet he was, it almost seemed like he would not even touch the ground. His ability to make head on hit into misses or glancing tackles not just made him special, but it also allowed him to play for so many years.
I have not seen this ability from Choice on a consistant basis, but most of the other abilities are fairly evident.
Ray Rice was the one guy I really liked this year coming out of college, because his abilities compare so well to Emmit plus he also has tremedous lower body control. They also can’t be one year wonders they have to have done it there entire college carrer. We will get to see this guy in a few weeks.
by I'm a Cowboy Babe on Dec 7, 2008 10:16 AM CST up reply actions
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