Arizona Vs UCF 🏈 Game Preview/Discussion Thread 11/2/24 1230pm FS1

[KansasCityCats]

The parents at the K-State game said that the players enjoyed the current staff more than Fisch but it was "too early to assess whether they were making progress on the field".  Brennan brings in a great "culture"...but it doesn't matter if we can't beat the teams that we're expected to beat.  Fingers crossed that they turn things around because it'll be hard to recruit if we continue in this direction.

[arxpert]

I've been wondering for years were these coaches have gone.

They are mostly in the NFL. Coaches like the Harbaughs who are masters of Scheme football and being able to mold a team into a "Program", that finds ways to put what they have in the best positions to succeed. Being adaptable.

As for Lute, he still was stubborn with his 1-3-1, but back then it wasn't as much of an issue because Chef Curry was a figment of Dell Curry's imagination / a baby. Now the game is different and if anyone were to try 1-3-1 as consistently as Lute, they would give up 40 wide open 3pt shots.

[arxpert]

He said "McMillan will be fine, it's a weak draft class." Shortly thereafter he ditched me to sit with the McMillans. Obviously, that was an upgrade for him.

First of all, Lol at the upgrade.

Second of all, I agree it may be a weak class overall, but the 1st round isn't going to be weak. There will be some QBs taken naturally, but there won't be a pressing need to force a WR pick in the Top 10 other than Travis Hunter since he has all the momentum going for him. Even Luther Burden should go before T-Mac now and he isn't a world beater right now either.

If Ryan Williams wasn't "17" and a true freshman, he would be the best prospect coming out. Alabama found a true generational player there. If he can finish out next year and just get to the Pro's with his young age he could really challenge for some records. But that is putting the cart in front of the horse. It is all a wait-and-see overall.

T-Mac should leave regardless. I hope he slides though and the Ravens scoop him up. The Chiefs will probably trade their soul to get him in the early 20's. I can't even imagine the amount of vomit I would have to let go of in the moment if that came to fruition.

[KansasCityCats]

What's wrong with a banged up Diontae Johnson??  Seriously though, I think he'll be a positive factor for Lamar after he learns the playbook and is 100%. He's unquestionably squaring off against Hopkins in the AFC title game this year.

[arxpert]

What's wrong with a banged up Diontae Johnson??  Seriously though, I think he'll be a positive factor for Lamar after he learns the playbook and is 100%. He's unquestionably squaring off against Hopkins in the AFC title game this year.

I don't think Dionte is hurt. I wonder if he gets some usage though. Can't hurt to have 4 or 5 viable WRs ranging from WR1-WR3 level without the drop off to the true WR4 "5th round Rookie" pick level to have to rely on.

Hopkins clearly didn't want to be a Raven. Last year the Ravens paid OBJ more money to come instead of Hopkins. Just seems like Hopkins wanted to be in a more loose setting where passing the ball is valued over the more regimented way the Ravens go about their system.

OBJ somehow has grifted the most money out of the league for a true do-nothing. I think last year he earned about 500k per catch the way he played/lack thereof. It should be studied how he is able to use charisma to be rostered.

At the moment I don't know if it will be a KC Ravens title game again, but I do know that the AFC is a massive gauntlet and the 1st round Bye is crucial. NFC is much more wide open. I don't care if the Lions are blowing teams out right now. They play in a Dome and that makes it much more Any Given Sunday at the end of the day.

[KansasCityCats]

The Ravens are better than Buffalo because their front seven is better. I think they'll be in the title game but anything can happen in January.

If I were a receiver, I wouldn't want to play with Lamar. He's possibly the most talented athlete in the NFL but his accuracy is garbage and the wideouts are constantly scrambling because he refuses to be patient in the pocket.

[KansasCityCats]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/42509325/debunking-10-myths-2024-nfl-season-teams-chiefs-49ers-lamar-jackson

First off, I was wrong about Diontae. He may never contribute for Baltimore.

Second, this article doesn't take into account, the fact that a majority of Lamar's passes "from the pocket" are dump-offs to RB's and TE's.

Third, the Chiefs are actually winning, despite being the most penalized team in the 2nd half (including OT), while their opponents have the 3rd least calls. Aside from the idiot that allowed Spags to call timeout, KC reminds me of Arizona during the days that officials were out to get Miller.

[KansasCityCats]

Bump. Draft boards aren't making me optimistic that T-Mac will last until the final pick of the 1st round but you never know!

[arxpert]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/42509325/debunking-10-myths-2024-nfl-season-teams-chiefs-49ers-lamar-jackson

First off, I was wrong about Diontae. He may never contribute for Baltimore.

Second, this article doesn't take into account, the fact that a majority of Lamar's passes "from the pocket" are dump-offs to RB's and TE's.

Third, the Chiefs are actually winning, despite being the most penalized team in the 2nd half (including OT), while their opponents have the 3rd least calls. Aside from the idiot that allowed Spags to call timeout, KC reminds me of Arizona during the days that officials were out to get Miller.

Diontae has a chance to sign somewhere and contribute. Bad attitude, but incapable of accepting a role that was "beneath him" in his mind. He was released and picked up by Houston who then released him and Baltimore picked him back up just in case he gets a "prove it" contract and outperforms it the Compensatory pick will be good. They didn't really risk much. About 10-15 picks between Round 5 and Round 6 is the net effect. If there is a player the Ravens truly want, they could always use their 5th and 6th to move up and take the player or their 7th/Future 6th/7ths. It should really equate to nothing.

KC definitely got another good game out of Buffalo, but they avoided the 1 team that would have beat the brakes off of them stylistically. In other words, I don't believe it would have been close if KC lost this season. I think it would have been close if the Ravens lost though.

The type of team KC saw in Week 1 was completely different than it was last Sunday when Buffalo had enough help from refs and the outright mistakes of Baltimore to advance.

Buffalo is always going to be a threat with Josh Allen, but they were lacking a real pass game this year which is strange because they did have Amari Cooper.

KC is just the deepest team I have maybe ever seen on offense. Their Defense is getting a great Rep lately, but they aren't really playing up to that Rep.

Too many "calls stand" type bail outs for my taste.

This was the one time of the last "so many" years where the NFL finally set up a Ref Crew that had a Win% of 65% for Away Teams. Last year, they pulled the 65% Away Team thing for KC @ BAL

KC overcame it somehow. I don't want to say they are just better outright. They matchup against Buffalo a lot better than most think.

Baltimore can't get out of their own way and as the saying goes, "you can only play the team that is on your schedule". So it is really just one of those situations where maybe KC was let off the hook. At no point was I worried for KC.

Lamar really had a great season throwing the ball. I think more WRs will be interested in what Baltimore has evolved into. Henry is a true force and deserves a ring. Lamar doesn't really deserve one how he plays when it matters, but he was leading that comeback vs the Bills in tough conditions. The Fumbles and Drops just did them in.

I think KC is the only team to survive a game losing the turnover battle, but if you count a Turnover on Downs as a turnover then I think KC won that.

I looked into it more too. Baltimore beat Buffalo, Houston, Chargers, Steelers, and Denver. They lost to KC with a Toe on the Line in a poorly officiated game Week 1 with no continuity, no chemistry. Nothing like what the team looked like last week. They also took out Tampa Bay and DCC from the NFC.

The only team that truly Whooped them was Philly. I admit that. It took until around 6min left in the 4th to "pull away" from the Ravens, but I truly admit that they whooped them good.

I think Philly has been the best team all season. KC may be initial favorites, but I expect this one to actually be a Philly win this time.

The last matchup, Philly was just rolling out the gates. I think I posted about this once. They had it all going their way until Hurts fumbled in the most idiotic way which put KC right back into the game enough to get them rolling with "SOME" momentum. Just enough I guess. The flag at the end of the game was talked about a lot as a factor and also being held to 3.. but as an analyst of the game, I know for a fact it was that nonchalant fumble that basically caused Philly to lose that Superbowl in the 2nd quarter.

I am looking forward to a better game overall. Kelce has really done Nothing all year except be a pest and set great moving screens.

Hopkins
Tinywood Brown
Xavier Worthy
JuJu

Pacheco
Hunt
Perine

Kelce
Gray
Hendershot

not even getting into Justin Watson who is solid too. Rashee Rice would be there too if not injured. He will miss time next year I believe. A lot of time for his legal issues.

I was selfishly rooting for KC tonight. I didn't feel Buffalo was worthy of slaying the beast. I think KC is beatable, but I am rooting for someone other than Allen to do it.

Anyway, I will be rooting for the Eggs and their University of Georgia Defensive front 7 basically.

Jayden Daniels had a great season not to be forgotten.

Maybe Lamar paved the way in this New Era because the Mobile QB who can throw is the preferred QB nowadays.

I think Allen gets the MVP, but Lamar definitely had a better regular season and the H2H win was a Blowout.

[arxpert]

Bump. Draft boards aren't making me optimistic that T-Mac will last until the final pick of the 1st round but you never know!

T-Mac is going to shine at the Combine. I doubt he falls past 16. But in the event something happens, he may slip. He will never make it to 31 or 32 though. Not happening. In fact, anyone who is interested in him should trade their 1st and 3rd if he is in the 12-16 range. I hope he lands with the Cardinals TBH. Not expecting it, but T-Mac and Marv Jr would be very difficult to defend.

I am curious where Jeanty goes. Now that we are seeing the "RB1" era making a comeback and the "committee" era fading away, it looks like Jeanty may get some respect even with a lot of tread on the tires. The best teams know that 1 workhorse RB is extremely valuable as it opens up roster spots for other positions. RB2/RB3 can be had later in the 4th-6th.