Strange Stuff in the B1G Championship Game to Ponder...

[Charles Fischer]

Yep, we got time to blow before our next game, and I am already weary of all the Rose Bowl analysis.  Naturally, I have to add to it!  A couple of items from the B1G Championship game to pass along for thought...

 

First: Did you see Dillon Gabriel go through a routine when he approached the huddle after a kick-off touchback?  He would make the sign of the cross, and then wave his hands into a pattern going up, out, and then meeting his fingers at the bottom.  It looked like he was making the outline of...angel wings?

 

We all have our superstitions or blessings we like to employ, and I will admit to not noticing this before.  He does it quickly, so he is not trying to draw attention to it, but I noticed it more than once. I believe he is Christian, but I do not know if he is Catholic, as that seems like something a Catholic might do. Interesting, as I have not seen that before in sports...

 

(Taken from my own experience as Catholic, and yeah...I'm a Christian, but I never said I wear a halo, or was noble)

 

Second: I noticed that both Tez Johnson and Dillon Gabriel did NOT fight for extra yardage or take-on a tackler near the sideline.  They simply got as far as they could and stepped out. In the case of Tez, he did that, and after catching a pass over the middle and making two tacklers miss--he was approached head-on by two more defenders, and simply went down.

 

Good!  He would not have made any more yardage, and this kept him from getting injured.  I assume his shoulder is not fully healed, and perhaps this is the "deal" he made with the medical staff in order to play?

 

Regardless, I applaud it. Stay healthy to fight another down...

 

 

Third: There were no touchdown passes to Kenyon Sadiq during season, but two wonderfully designed plays for him to score touchdowns in the first quarter? A wheel route where he hurdled the guy, and a second coming out of the backfield from the H-Back position. Starting to unveil more of the playbook--GOOD!

 

I've got more that will be in a semi-analysis article later this week.  Thoughts?

 

P.S. We have had thousands of Buckeye fans reading this forum, as I noted huge numbers of readers last night, and when I checked a couple IP Addresses....they were in Ohio!

 

[jrw]

On 12/23/2024 at 2:25 PM, Charles Fischer said:

P.S. We have had thousands of Buckeye fans reading this forum, as I noted huge numbers of readers last night, and when I checked a couple IP Addresses....they were in Ohio!

Well, howdy Ohio fans. Why is your team named after a toxic tree?

[David Marsh]

Getting the tight ends involved in the touchdown scoring has been relatively late this season on the whole. 

 

I think the first TE touchdown was against Maryland. Not sure why that was to be honest. 

 

I've liked the way they are getting Sadiq the ball over the last few games. A bit more conventional than some of the weirder stuff they tried earlier in the season and it's been working. 

 

Like you, Charles, I'm curious to see how this offense evolved in the playoff. At times it has really felt like Lanning has held a lot back and sprinkled in some Mad Man Dan crazy stuff but just the good solid deep end of the playbook has remained a bit of a mystery. 

[30Duck]

On 12/23/2024 at 2:25 PM, Charles Fischer said:

Second: I noticed that both Tez Johnson and Dillon Gabriel did NOT fight for extra yardage or take-on a tackler near the sideline.  They simply got as far as they could and stepped out.

This is a great decision. There is not a more agonizing fumble than the one by a player fighting for extra yardage!

 

On 12/23/2024 at 2:25 PM, Charles Fischer said:

There were no touchdown passes to Kenyon Sadiq during season, but two wonderfully designed plays for him to score touchdowns in the first quarter? A wheel route where he hurdled the guy, and a second coming out of the backfield from the H-Back position. Starting to unveil more of the playbook

Getting the ball to Sadiq, another weapon, with very little tape to study? More of that 3-D chess Lanning and Stein are playing. A TE, option, with the WR's that have to be covered? Dangerous!

[Chas Man]

DL has displayed an uncanny and unique ability to forecast the difference-making elements in EACH game this season. A few examples include the "kick the door down" analogy before the Illinois game, punctuated by Whittington's destruction of an Illini d-back on his way to the end zone, the infamous film clip he showed of Mike Krzyzewski highlighting the satisfaction of running fans out of their arena, punctuated by the called time out to watch Michigan fans exiting the Big House, and the almost prophetic announcement to Kenyan Sadiq before the Big Championship game that tonight was going to be his coming out party, punctuated by TWO first-quarter touchdowns.

 

These are not by chance. I think DL has a unique focus on what it was and is going to take to win each game in this first-ever 16-game college football championship. We are watching Coach Lanning use his players and his playbook like a veteran card shark in a game of hearts. After bleeding the other strong suits and hold-out cards from his competitors, he knows he has in his hand what is needed to run the table and take home the prize.

 

DL has set OBD up to run the table, one play at a time. It should be fun to see what he has up his sleeve.

 

In DL we trust.

[DanLduck]

I've noticed the hand gestures by Dillon

 I believe he has been doing it all year.

At least I've noticed it a lot. 

I assumed it had Hawaiian ties, somehow incorporating his family Ohana.

[SoGaDawg]

On 12/23/2024 at 3:32 PM, Chas Man said:

DL has displayed an uncanny and unique ability to forecast the difference-making elements in EACH game this season. A few examples include the "kick the door down" analogy before the Illinois game, punctuated by Whittington's destruction of an Illini d-back on his way to the end zone, the infamous film clip he showed of Mike Krzyzewski highlighting the satisfaction of running fans out of their arena, punctuated by the called time out to watch Michigan fans exiting the Big House, and the almost prophetic announcement to Kenyan Sadiq before the Big Championship game that tonight was going to be his coming out party, punctuated by TWO first-quarter touchdowns.

 

These are not by chance. I think DL has a unique focus on what it was and is going to take to win each game in this first-ever 16-game college football championship. We are watching Coach Lanning use his players and his playbook like a veteran card shark in a game of hearts. After bleeding the other strong suits and hold-out cards from his competitors, he knows he has in his hand what is needed to run the table and take home the prize.

 

DL has set OBD up to run the table, one play at a time. It should be fun to see what he has up his sleeve.

 

In DL we trust.

I agree, I said that Oregon hit a grand slam the minute they hired Dan Lanning.  I hated to lose CDL, but it was absolutely unavoidable.  I was overjoyed when he chose to lead the Ducks because I was so afraid he might take a job with a team I can’t pull for, and because I love Oregon football.  He is a great coach and is quickly becoming a great HC.  
 

If my Dawgs didn’t have Smart, Lanning would be at the very top of my list for a replacement.  He keeps getting better and better.  He is a perfect fit for Oregon and the fact that he wouldn’t even consider the Bama job emphatically emphasizes just how great of a fit he is in Eugene.  Oregon has been a strong program for awhile, but it’s obvious to me that Lanning is exactly what was needed for the Ducks to take the next step.  Great coach and great leader.

 

He now has his team ranked #1 in the nation and on the precipice of their first National Championship!  Whether it’s this season or not, I truly believe it’s just a matter of time.  
 

I wish you luck in the Rose Bowl, Ducks.  I’ll be cheering you guys on and pulling for you to destroy tOSU!  It’s going to be a heck of a game!  
 

GO DUCKS!!!

[OregonDucks]

On 12/24/2024 at 5:31 AM, SoGaDawg said:

I agree, I said that Oregon hit a grand slam the minute they hired Dan Lanning.  I hated to lose CDL, but it was absolutely unavoidable.  I was overjoyed when he chose to lead the Ducks because I was so afraid he might take a job with a team I can’t pull for, and because I love Oregon football.  He is a great coach and is quickly becoming a great HC.  
 

If my Dawgs didn’t have Smart, Lanning would be at the very top of my list for a replacement.  He keeps getting better and better.  He is a perfect fit for Oregon and the fact that he wouldn’t even consider the Bama job emphatically emphasizes just how great of a fit he is in Eugene.  Oregon has been a strong program for awhile, but it’s obvious to me that Lanning is exactly what was needed for the Ducks to take the next step.  Great coach and great leader.

 

He now has his team ranked #1 in the nation and on the precipice of their first National Championship!  Whether it’s this season or not, I truly believe it’s just a matter of time.  
 

I wish you luck in the Rose Bowl, Ducks.  I’ll be cheering you guys on and pulling for you to destroy tOSU!  It’s going to be a heck of a game!  
 

GO DUCKS!!!

 

Hopefully Coach Smart and Coach Lanning stay where they both are for a long time and we see many epic college football playoff and championship matchups between those two for many years to come.

 

(As long as Coach Lanning wins one of those incredibly elusive college football championships, I will be a content Duck fan for the rest of my life...)