MichiganCardinal

I thought Thibodeaux would eventually retake the #1 Edge spot from Hutchinson, though I had hoped it would happen after the combine, not in the playoff.

LOL

Need to find an answer quickly.

They still should have scored at least two touchdowns so far if they weren't continuing to shoot themselves in the foot. Alabama has not looked like a National Champion tonight.

Neither team has looked great.

I’m going to go with Alabama 31 Cincinnati 14 in a game that’s closer than expected until the 4th quarter and Michigan 23 Georgia 21 in a nail-biter until the very end, decided by an Ojabo strip sack on a UGA two minute drive in the 4th quarter.

I have seen better tackling in elementary school touch football.

Reports now seem to trend strong in the direction of Dax being in Miami and slated to start.

I think an expanded postseason would greatly increase revenue, not decrease. The 12-team format I'm a fan of would create eight additional games (four when you subtract the four that the additional eight would have gone to). Just their existence alone would generate tens of millions of dollars. Instead of this nearly month-long lull after the conference championships, you could have the first round games slated on 12/10 and 12/11, quarterfinals on 12/17 and 12/18, a bye weekend for Christmas, and semifinal and championship per this schedule they already have. Both of those additional weekends would be massive cash cows for the networks that picked them up. The other bowl games wouldn't cease to exist either. They can fill in on Monday-Thursday, New Years Day, Christmas, etc., and still generate millions of views. People won't stop watching the Lights Out by 11 Bowl and the Smoke'a Bowl just there are now extra games that matter.

Lol

Realistically I think for what his expectations are he proved himself this year. Goff wasn't shipped over from LA along with a multitude of high end draft picks because he's one of the best in the NFL. He isn't expected to carry a lesser team on his back, or have some magical run to the postseason while throwing to guys like Kalif Raymond and Tom Kennedy. He was and is expected to hold his own, not turn the ball over excessively, and do enough to allow for observation of player development at skill positions. Largely, I think he's checked those boxes if you evaluate him on the whole instead of cherry-picking his worst games. Despite being frustratingly dink-and-dunk at times, he is clearly a leader, has more than 2x the number TDs to interceptions, and we have seen guys like St. Brown emerge as a real potential #2 Wide Receiver for this team. In the sense that this trend needs to continue as we likely add a future #1 receiving threat this offseason, I agree that he needs to continue to prove himself. But I would not discount what he has shown us this year. I agree with pretty much everything else you have said though. To be clear, Goff is not the QB of the future (at Hart 😉), and the answer to that problem is not panic buying a bad QB while there are holes across the roster. I would really go even further and say if we don't see the solution with the Rams pick, don't bother. If they are a solution, a team that finishes better than the Rams (Indy and Green Bay come to mind) would likely select him anyway, and two upper-echelon 2nd Round QBs in the last 30 years (neither upper-echelon with the team that selected them) is enough data for me to say that it probably wouldn't work for Detroit either.

Yes, but I think even if the attributes were switched, Ohio State would get more of a "shot" from the oddsmakers and pundits, just based on having been there in past years. If the unstoppable force of M's run game and offensive line (okay maybe a bit hyperbolic but roll with it) meets the immoveable object of UGA's run defense, I don't think either should get more than a touchdown.

I think the Cowboys, Buccaneers, and Rams are already taking donations, with plans to present it to him at his ceremonial choke job in the NFC Championship.

I don't understand the spread being greater than a touchdown. If you just swapped Michigan for Ohio State - had Ohio State beaten Michigan 42-27 and then Iowa 42-3 - this would not be a 7.5 point spread in UGA's favor. I'm not trying to manufacture a disrespect card or anything, but the SEC is 0-4 so far this bowl season and expected to become at least 1-5, if not 0-6 tomorrow. Georgia was completely exposed against Alabama... I know. It's Alabama. Still. Everything I see would expect this to be a damn close game.

Of course they have a choice. They can choose to understand that a Super Bowl contender isn't built from the ashes overnight. Or they can choose to waste a pick on the next Davis Mills, Jacob Eason, or Will Grier. Taking a QB in even the 2nd round, thinking you've found the next Prescott, Wilson, Brady, or Brees is far more likely to be a wasted pick (that could be spent on any of 10+ positions of need) than prove at all fruitful. I think it's more likely that the Lions next draft a QB in 2024 than it is they draft one in 2022. I think the eventual franchise QB selected will have more to do with them as a prospect and the overall QB draft class that year than the Lions roster or situation at the time they're selected.

In fairness, if the Goff of the last few weeks is the Goff of the future, we should not have any issue riding him for next year and possibly beyond. I still see his ceiling as that of Alex Smith with KC. Serviceable and capable of not losing us games until we spot and move up to get our Mahomes.

If he wants to stay at UM, money will not be an issue. If MSU boosters can make Tucker one of the highest paid coaches, UM boosters (hell, Ross alone) will say "what do you want we'll double it". I think he likely ends up staying at Michigan, but I wouldn't put the odds he leaves at zero. Especially if Michigan wins their next game or two. Harbaugh has just always been a wildcard.

Chicago - Nagy and Pace both should have been gone last year. Ryan Day speculation will also circulate because of the Fields connection, but Chicago ownership would be asinine to do that. Then again...... Minnesota - I thought Zimmer was one of the best coaches in the NFL a few years ago, though granted I had Patricia to compare him to. He's been very bad this year. I don't think he survives, but he deserves another shot after a year or two off. Jacksonville - I think Caldwell would be the best possible hire for that franchise. He won't win anything with them, but he will make them into a 8-9/9-8 franchise, which they (and TLaw's career) desperately need right now. Las Vegas - I think they should probably stick with Bisaccia, but if they do add Rodgers I could see them adding Rodgers' pick of the litter. Seattle - I agree that Carroll will retire into the sunset as they blow it up. Houston - I don't think they should make a change. I want to see them throw their four wins with Davis Mills in Watson's face, considering he had the same success last year. Denver - I think Fangio deserves another year, but I think it will depend on their last two games against the Chargers and Chiefs. 0-2 might see him canned. It's just not his fault the team isn't making the next step, and I think a replacement off the street would have that Broncos team at 3 or 4 wins. Pittsburgh - The Steelers don't take change lightly. I think the mistake of allowing Roethlisberger to go on for far too long will fall at the feet of the entire organization, not just Tomlin. He'll get the chance to pick a replacement (this is my pick for Russell Wilson's destination). Carolina - I think Rhule is a goner. Similar situation to Denver, but 5 wins in the NFC South is a lot less than 7 in the AFC West. NY Giants - Either Daniel Jones is the answer or he isn't. If he is, Judge should be gone. If he's not, then maybe Judge should get another year (unless it's his fault Jones is not).

Boyle with a pick seals it. Really well played game by a bunch of 2nd and 3rd string guys.

These announcers are clueless. I think Campbell's clock management and play-calling in this two-minute scenario has been pretty good.

No matter the result, I would rather be the Lions right now than the Falcons. Falcons could still sneak into the playoffs, but they won't go anywhere. They don't have an identity, and will probably meddle around .500 until they finally blow it up and rebuild without Matt Ryan.

Would agree. Side note, I once received an email from an unlikeable coworker with the subject "Please Resign". I've consciously made sure of my hyphen placement since then.

Pitts should have been called for OPI on that. Clear push off.

Elsewhere in draft relevancy... Texans up 17-12 on the Chargers. Rams up 13-3 on the Vikings. Jets up 13-12 on the Jags.