College Football Superlatives from Kramer's Korner: The Death of Defense
That’s approximately—give or take a few hundred—how many seconds it took for Baylor and TCU to play a regulation football game on Saturday.
For those who don’t operate in seconds, this equates to roughly four-and-a-half hours, give or take a few minutes. For those who don’t judge football games with a stopwatch, this works out to 119 points right on the nose.
Baylor had to fight and claw its way back into this contest, and it did so with a barrage of scoring. After being down throughout the entire game—including 21 points scored against them in the fourth quarter—the Bears scored 24 points in the final 11 minutes to edge TCU 61-58.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
I hope that score was as weird to read as it was to type. Let’s try that again.
61-58.
There’s a very real possibility that TCU and Baylor’s basketball teams will not match this total later this year. And while we could zero in on this particular matchup—and we will momentarily—these types of games are almost assumed in 2014. Now, you may not anticipate 119 points, but you do expect scoring.
Notre Dame needed 50 points to edge North Carolina by a touchdown. The once defensively fueled Michigan State Spartans powered past Purdue 45-31. Oregon dropped 42 points on a UCLA defensive that was billed as one of the nation’s best coming into the season.
This is only a small sampling of the vast amount of offense that Week 7 provided, and in reality, it’s only a small, glaring aspect of a changing landscape. As it stands now, 35 teams are averaging 35 points or more per game. In 2009, only 11 teams finished the season with this weekly offensive output.
It’s where the game is going, and there’s nothing that tells you this trend will revert course. Offense is powering the game you know and love, one absurd box score at a time. Defense is still scattered throughout the country, although it's so much harder to find. It has lost the football war.
As for the awards, notable happenings and necessary Vines of Lou Holtz dancing, here is your Week 7 recap.
Offensive Player of the Week: Bryce Petty, Baylor
It’s not just the 510 yards passing and six passing touchdowns, although let’s begin there. Baylor’s gifted quarterback is accustomed to piling up incredible statistical numbers against defenses that really have no answer, although TCU presented a much different challenge entirely.
Down 21 points in the fourth quarter, Petty led his team back from the dead. The Bears scored 24 points in the final 11 minutes, in large part because of their deadly QB.
Each one of Petty’s touchdown passes for the day was at least 25 yards. Three were at least 45 yards or more and two were over 60 yards. By delivering from long distance, Petty kept Baylor's playoff hopes alive.
Dominant Defender: Terrance Plummer, UCF
Terrance Plummer had himself a game. Playing against a Taysom Hill-less BYU squad, the UCF linebacker was all over the field on Thursday night.
In total, Plummer finished with 17 tackles (11 solo) and four-and-a-half tackles for loss. Plummer also came away with a sack, a forced fumble and even added a fumble recovery as the cherry on top. Such hoggish box score work is not only appreciated, but it’s also celebrated here.
More importantly, the Knights took down the Cougars in overtime to win their third straight.
Video Game Box Score
-Let’s head back to Waco to more silly Baylor-TCU happenings. You’re already well aware of the 119 combined points, but toss in 1,267 total yards and 62 first downs. Add in the 227 total penalty yards, and you’ve more or less reached NFL Blitz in real life.
-Iowa and Indiana stake their claim to this section, just like we all expected. In a matter of 52 seconds in the first quarter, the Hawkeyes and Hoosiers combined to score 21 points. If you’re wondering exactly what this looks like—and I don’t blame you if you are—here’s the answer.
"In the span of 52 seconds… pic.twitter.com/E2NPdiVbih
— Adam Jaco-booOOOooo (@Adam_Jacobi) October 11, 2014"
Anti-Video Game Box Score
-Remember how I told you that Baylor and TCU combined for 62 first downs? Well, to provide some perspective of what the opposite of this might look like, UConn and Tulane combined for 27 total first downs in its matchup. And in terms of total offensive production, the Huskies and the Green Wave fell just short of the Bears and Horned Frogs by 104 points and 748 yards.
-In perhaps the strangest box score of the day, Oklahoma finished its 31-26 victory over Texas by converting only one—yes, one—third down. If you tuned into the first half of this matchup, you were also treated to one of the more dominant box scores of the year. And somehow, after the carnage below, the Sooners were still ahead at halftime.
"The ball does indeed lie. pic.twitter.com/1Vnr3pmjNE
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) October 11, 2014"
Biggest Surprise
I did not expect to see Lou Holtz dancing this week while wielding a giant cowbell. But there he was, swinging the noisemaker as a sunglass-equipped Rece Davis cheered him on in front of a perplexed Mark May.
In a Vine so good you’ll have to watch two, three, four or perhaps 400 times, watch the ESPN trio celebrate Mississippi State’s enormous win over Auburn in style.
You will not be able to stop watching this. I’m just warning you now.
Best Moment
It was not long ago that we all wanted Dan Mullen fired. In fact, the Mississippi State head coach spent the better part of last season fighting off tired hot-seat conversations that appeared to be gaining steam.
Then the Egg Bowl happened. Then 2014 happened. My, how foolish we all were.
As Mississippi State tied a bow on its 38-23 win over Auburn on Saturday, Mullen could no longer contain his emotion. His reaction on the sideline, given everything that’s happened over the past few years and what it’s taken to get to this point—to the nation’s No. 1 spot—was perfect.
Although there is still so much left to be done, I hope Mullen, Mississippi State and its entire fanbase soaked up every ounce of awesome from this victory.
For the Highlight Reel
Having watched this live, it first appeared to be some sort of glitch. My first thought was that the television had to be broken.
On a critical third down late in the fourth quarter, Texas Tech quarterback Davis Webb threw up a prayer to wideout Jakeem Grant as he was being pressured. The problem, however, was that Grant got tangled up with a defender and fell backward as the ball was falling from the sky.
In most instances, this would be a problem. Not here, though.
For the Highlight Reel: Part 2
Have no fear, LSU fans. There's no need to sprint to the comment section to express your displeasure (yet). Travin Dural’s catch is deserving of the utmost praise, which is why this week has multiple Highlight Reel chapters.
While being mauled, Dural hauled in a magnificent one-handed grab to give the Tigers a 27-24 lead over Florida deep in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, LSU won this game in very Les Miles fashion, and it was in large part because of this catch.
Well, that and a few other things. But the catch helped.
For the Highlight Reel: Part 3
How about a little love for the defense?
Utah State linebacker Zach Vigil wasn’t content with simply handling his assignment. He decided that it was time to blow up Air Force’s trick play, so he did.
Not only did Vigil doom this play from the get-go, he managed to come away with the tackle once the ball had been pitched. Oh, and he finished with 22 tackles, too.
If the College Football Playoff Started Today... (or Why I Hate Your Team)
Ah, yes. This is my favorite part of the weekly feature, a time when I can enrage the masses with so few words. Keep in mind, this is not a playoff projection. (Although it’s likely not far off.)
This is what my CFB playoff would look like if it started today. For the record, my playoff would be 128 teams and take seven months to complete, but the four-teamer will have to suffice.
Those four teams are…
- Mississippi State
- Ole Miss
- Florida State
- Baylor
Five Leftovers to Chew on
1. At some point, Bret Bielema is going to win an SEC game. That’s remarkably obvious, of course, although you almost feel for the coach as his team inches closer and closer to that first victory. Look no further than the 14-13 loss to Alabama on Saturday, a game in which Arkansas really battled. Perhaps that changes next week when the Hogs draw Georgia at home.
2. Speaking of Georgia, it still baffles me that a human being is being punished for putting pen on a piece of fabric. As a result, we’re using terms that the NCAA has more or less crafted—words like “amateurism”—to punish running back Todd Gurley. Should Gurley have known better? Of course. Am I going to stand on a soapbox and crush him for trying to pad his pockets some? Goodness no. This system is currently being taken apart one brick at a time. Eventually, perhaps sooner than we know, this won't be an issue.
3. Why isn’t USC running back Javorius Allen getting more love? After his 205-yard performance on Saturday against Arizona, he has now rushed for at least 100 yards in five of six games this season. For the year, he now has 781 yards rushing—four yards short of last year’s total—and he's only getting started. It’s not just the numbers, either. For a big back, he is remarkably athletic. Now, start talking about him more.
4. For the second season in a row, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota has reached the halfway point without throwing an interception. His first last year came on November 23 against Arizona. Through six games this season, Mariota has totaled 23 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Celebrate him for as long as you can, because he won’t be ours much longer.
5. Marshall is not going to make the College Football Playoff, although it’s looking more and more like the Thundering Herd will finish the regular season without a loss. Quarterback Rakeem Cato is fabulous, and the Marshall offense has scored at least 42 points in every game. I know the competition is remarkably weak, but I cannot wait to see this team (hopefully) take on a quality opponent in a bowl game.
Intentional Flop of the Week
Maybe, just maybe, Andre Debose has hands made of an undiscovered metal. Perhaps that’s how you could explain why LSU safety Jamal Adams was “thrown” to the ground when the Florida wideout made contact with his facemask.
Or, perhaps Adams was, well, “selling” it some. Regardless of where you stand on this important superhero debate, his downward fall drew the flag.
Unintentional Flop of the Week
Did you know that the enormous Kansas Jayhawk in the middle of the field is actually made of ice and banana peels? You didn’t?
Well, thanks to Oklahoma State quarterback Daxx Garman, you do now.
Fan of the Week
As a child, I had braces. As an adult, I still sport a retainer in the evenings. (Please don’t tell my dentist I don’t wear it during the day. Call it our little secret.)
I say this because Week 7’s best fan sported his braces proudly, showcasing his fine robotic smile with pride following Clemson’s victory over Louisville. It’s not just the braces, either. The wide spectrum of facial expressions added quite a bit here.
Once you join #teambraces, you never leave. Smile on, good sir. Smile on.
This Week in Telling Photos: Part 1
Sometimes you don’t need video to tell a story. Sometimes all you need is a still shot of bewildered fans trying to understand what just happened.
Behold a group of Texas fans wearing vastly different attire, trying to process the first half of the Longhorns' season. There’s just so much here.
"#Texas pic.twitter.com/aPha0MrN5z
— Michael Shamburger (@mshamburger1) October 11, 2014"
This Week in Telling Photos: Part 2
In fairness to the Washington State defense, it put forth a solid effort against Stanford on Friday night. With that said, it shouldn’t alter the enjoyment you take from this incredible ESPN graphic that was used to depict the unit.
"Yup, that about sums things up pic.twitter.com/NIUCeU1DU6
— CougCenter (@CougCenter) October 11, 2014"
This Week in Incredible On-Field Dance Moves
I'm sorry, Lou Holtz. But you have nothing on Dennis Norfleet, Michigan wide receiver and incredible stadium dancer.
Against Penn State, Norfleet showcased his moves as ‘Atomic Dog’ blasted over the stadium speakers. If you needed a reason to tune into Michigan football for the remainder of the year, you have one.
From the Peanut Gallery (Best Tweets of the Weekend)
"TCU, basically pic.twitter.com/pJA3Xy9kjV
— Ramzy Nasrallahween (@ramzy) October 12, 2014"
"pic.twitter.com/JJka3LpLq2 He finally talked to me!!!! Lol #Winning
— Josh Lambert (@J_LambertWVU) October 11, 2014"
"Much respect. RT @_DCReeves: What Bret Bielema is wearing on national TV> pic.twitter.com/PJYPuTbc0g
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) October 11, 2014"
"These were good times. pic.twitter.com/o5PeFWqvms
— Landon Howelloween (@landonhowell) October 12, 2014"
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
