For pretty much the entire game, considering they played 97 snaps, mostly due to a very anemic offense, the Texas D played like they are capable of, with an exclamation point to end the game.
For 5 plays, the Texas Offense did the same, earning 23 points for their effort. In between, well, you saw it too. Most importantly, they scored 15 points in their last three plays. Do or die.
Which brings us to The Throw. We all rail, scream, cheer, jeer, whatever as our gridiron heroes duke it out. But few put themselves into the shoes of these same players. It’s easy sitting in a comfy chair, with a 6’ 4K TV with Dolby mega surround, a cold libation, and greasy nachos, to pass judgement.
But morph yourself into Ewers on that 4th and 13 play. This is it. No more downs. No more chances. Fail, and a season full of promise goes down in crushing defeat. Eleven bad ass dudes, who have been giving your O-line fits all game, are blowing steam and snot out their flaring nostrils, eyes focused solely on you, with bad intent, hoping to plant your ass into the turf, and allow Brent Yormack to gloat in sweet revenge. All your team mates are looking to you, to find something, somewhere, to make a play, when they have been precious few and far between. Your coach, who has placed so much of his career and reputation on you, has given you the play.
Do you even have the mental bandwidth to digest it? Can you do your job and read the defense correctly, as your heart is pounding and anxiety is pouring through your veins? Can you call the right alignment for the defense you see, in this case a zero blitz? Can you even get the words out of your desert dry mouth loud enough for your team mates to even hear you? Can you call the snap count without causing one of your guys to move early? Catch the hike, while trying to get a better read on the actual defensive call? Read the rush and make the right decision on where to go in the pocket to buy you the time you have been so short of most of the game? Can you accurately judge the timing of the route, with defenders doing their best to mess it up, and correctly predict where to place the ball? Can you wrestle the adrenal pumping through your veins enough to throw a good pass to the spot you picked? Over rushers bent on your demise, and defensive backs trying to knock the ball away?
What kind of composure, skill, and yes courage, allows you to throw that last chance ball, instead of curl up in a heap under that ever relentless pass rush. What kind of steel nerves allow you to put that ball just where it needed to be, because you read the defense right, you called the right play and alignments, and you delivered the perfect strike?
And then do it again, literally one play later. And then do AGAIN yet one more time, the very next play. Three perfect passes, three scores. And the other guys are on their heels reeling, facing near impossible odds to grab back the victory. And the D does their thing to seal the deal. Complimentary football at its best in one and a half OT’s.
Yeah, Quinn Ewers did that. Quinn Ewers did something few QBs at any level do. Quinn Ewers is playing next week. Maybe time to cut the dude a little slack? He’s the QB Sark wants in this run, and he’s the QB I want, to!
For 5 plays, the Texas Offense did the same, earning 23 points for their effort. In between, well, you saw it too. Most importantly, they scored 15 points in their last three plays. Do or die.
Which brings us to The Throw. We all rail, scream, cheer, jeer, whatever as our gridiron heroes duke it out. But few put themselves into the shoes of these same players. It’s easy sitting in a comfy chair, with a 6’ 4K TV with Dolby mega surround, a cold libation, and greasy nachos, to pass judgement.
But morph yourself into Ewers on that 4th and 13 play. This is it. No more downs. No more chances. Fail, and a season full of promise goes down in crushing defeat. Eleven bad ass dudes, who have been giving your O-line fits all game, are blowing steam and snot out their flaring nostrils, eyes focused solely on you, with bad intent, hoping to plant your ass into the turf, and allow Brent Yormack to gloat in sweet revenge. All your team mates are looking to you, to find something, somewhere, to make a play, when they have been precious few and far between. Your coach, who has placed so much of his career and reputation on you, has given you the play.
Do you even have the mental bandwidth to digest it? Can you do your job and read the defense correctly, as your heart is pounding and anxiety is pouring through your veins? Can you call the right alignment for the defense you see, in this case a zero blitz? Can you even get the words out of your desert dry mouth loud enough for your team mates to even hear you? Can you call the snap count without causing one of your guys to move early? Catch the hike, while trying to get a better read on the actual defensive call? Read the rush and make the right decision on where to go in the pocket to buy you the time you have been so short of most of the game? Can you accurately judge the timing of the route, with defenders doing their best to mess it up, and correctly predict where to place the ball? Can you wrestle the adrenal pumping through your veins enough to throw a good pass to the spot you picked? Over rushers bent on your demise, and defensive backs trying to knock the ball away?
What kind of composure, skill, and yes courage, allows you to throw that last chance ball, instead of curl up in a heap under that ever relentless pass rush. What kind of steel nerves allow you to put that ball just where it needed to be, because you read the defense right, you called the right play and alignments, and you delivered the perfect strike?
And then do it again, literally one play later. And then do AGAIN yet one more time, the very next play. Three perfect passes, three scores. And the other guys are on their heels reeling, facing near impossible odds to grab back the victory. And the D does their thing to seal the deal. Complimentary football at its best in one and a half OT’s.
Yeah, Quinn Ewers did that. Quinn Ewers did something few QBs at any level do. Quinn Ewers is playing next week. Maybe time to cut the dude a little slack? He’s the QB Sark wants in this run, and he’s the QB I want, to!
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