Status RUT ROH

Well. Here we are, 5 days from last weekend's drama that was football. I had to gain perspective and for me that took 5 days instead of the usual "24 Hours".  I am going to try and make sense of it in the next few paragraphs and I definitely am not sure I have the answers. It feels more like words spewing out of my mouth. I'm trying to catch them to formulate points or at least make sense. Trying not to hate. Trying not to sound totally off my rocker.

There is the disappointment that is FSU. I don't like saying it. Not at all. They are MY team. When the preseason polls showed them Top 5, I was a little worried.  I was worried when Jimbo would come out of preseason practices and say he was disappointed how the _____ (defense, offense or special teams) practiced on a particular day. It seems as though FSU believed they were better than everyone else, taking for granted what used to be easy wins. College is becoming more and more like the NFL: Any Given Sunday (or Saturday as the case may be). In life you can't take anything for granted. In football, take NOTHING for granted. Not even Wake Forest.

The Jacksonville Jaguars. I've heard people say all week, the first half of the game was boring. Really? You know why it was boring? Because there was nothing to hate on. Because the Jaguars, in the first half, looked like a typical football team on Sunday. Isn't that what we all want?

The second half brought excitement and a lot of drama. Nothing brought more excitement than Gabbert's long throw to Jason Hill. There is definitely a spark with Gabbert. Turk kicking a 22 yard punt was not helpful. I will not say more than that. He's a veteran and now he's been released.

The big item of concern I feel happened inside the 2 minute mark in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars are on the line of scrimmage. Jones-Drew is making changes behind the offensive line. Then out of NOWHERE, Meester hiked the ball. Gabbert apparently wasn't ready and began trying to regain possession of the ball.
First of all, it took 20 seconds or so for this to transpire. Second, the abruptness with which Meester hiked the ball surprised everyone. Sometimes the defense of the other team yells out numbers to catch the center off guard.I believe that could have happened but Meester is too proud to say so.  This guy has hiked the ball a few times in his career. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

The first of those 2 observances needs to be explored. Twenty seconds? Seriously. This isn't the first time we have seen this mistake this season. I believe there was one similar in the Panthers game. A Game Manager (P.Manning, T. Brady, or B. Roethlisbereger) knows how to get the play off quickly and stop the clock. The Jaguars have played these teams repeatedly and been a victim of these Game Managers. Jack Del Rio, are you teaching Blaine Gabbert to be a Game Manager? Are you saying he can't have one, uno, 1 play in his hip pocket to pull out in an emergency situation? He doesn't just need to use it when it's a close game or inside 2 minutes. He needs to use it anytime a play could be considered questionable (so the other team doesn't have time to throw the challenge flag) . So, this is my challenge to the Jaguars organization: are you setting Blaine Gabbert up to fail? Or are you going to make this kid a Game Manager?

Well, let's tally up. Turk said he was disappointing, Jones-Drew said it was on the team not the coach, Jack Del Rio said it was his fault, Blaine Gabbert said it was his fault and Meester said it was his fault. How about this: IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I FORGOT MY PAWS AT HOME. I'm sorry.

Well, I've said my peace for the most part. It's the end of the day and I still love both my teams. Which is more than I can say for others.

MDK in the HOUSE

P.S. I could go my whole life without seeing that last play the Jaguars used at the end of the game that allowed the Bengals to score another touchdown. Really.

Shortly after I came home from Sunday's game, I came home to decompress and get my blood pressure down. I decided more football was NOT the answer. I pushed the button on my remote for the DVR. It said "no recordings". NO RECORDINGS?? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR DVR MIND ? I used my DVR as a football archive: Bobby Bowden's last game at the Gator Bowl, 2010 Pro Bowl in Miami, Scobee for 59 yards, and Mike Thomas immaculate deflection. All gone. I proceeded to melt down further and badly. To date, I have recovered one item, Bobby Bowden's last game. I went to Football Fanatics website. They had 10 copies left. Now they have 9 ;-)