Post by Uncle on Nov 6, 2021 8:51:03 GMT -6
It's the final 4 weeks of the regular season and the mad scramble for some teams to get in the Top 4 for the CFP. Even for those teams not in the Top 15, there are big games left to try and reach a New Year's Day Bowl game and finish the season strong and as such, we should expect to see 2022 Draft prospects step up their performance.
So even though the focus for many will be the Top Teams and the push for the Playoffs, there are plenty of other teams/players to watch for 2022 Draft purposes...
Saturday, 11/6 (we all get an extra hr of sleep tonight so we can stay up late to watch West Coast games):
Liberty @ #16 Ole Miss - Noon ET
Even though Ole Miss can still win out and get into a very good Bowl game (probably New Year's Day), this game isn't about the "teams" and "winning or losing" as much as it's about both teams having a 2022 1st Rd QB prospect - Malik Willis (Liberty) vs Matt Corral (Ole Miss). There's pressure on both QB's: for Willis, people want to see if he can perform against a step-up in talent level on defense. He's had dominating performances against non-Power 5 competition and he had an "OK" game @ Syracuse earlier this season (that was an ESPN Friday Night game), he may need a solid game against a ranked SEC defense in some expert's eyes (although Jordan Love had a horrible game @ LSU during his last season and was still drafted in the 1st Rd by Green Bay). For Corral, he needs to have a big game against a non-Power 5 defense to prove, and I think he needs to show more than just RPO's over the middle. We've seen Corral's legs (we know he has mobility)...we've seen Corral operate RPO's over the middle in Kiffin's offense....but I personally want to see more boundary throws, more pocket awareness and downfield accuracy - all of which will be required at the next level.
#5 Ohio St @ Nebraska - Noon ET
Nebraska HC Scott Frost is probably on the last of his 9 lives as HC of the Cornhuskers. He has disappointed during his time in Lincoln to turn around the program and when you look at their 2021 record, this season's been no different - they have to win out to become bowl eligible. But if you look closer, all of their losses have been by just 1 score - they have some decent talent, it's just they have untimely mistakes and costly turnovers at the wrong times (yes, that's on coaching). But if they put together a complete game for 4 quarters, they could give the Buckeyes all they could handle and if Ohio St isn't focused on this game and starts looking ahead to Mich St & Michigan, Nebraska could actually pull off this upset, especially since it's at home. If Ohio St is focused, then even if Nebraska plays well, they'll still lose....but if Ohio St commits mistakes, Nebraska has the ability to pull this off. I'd personally like to see an upset here, which would allow Cincinnati to move closer to Playoff contention.
#9 Wake Forest @ North Carolina - Noon ET
The Demon Deacons, like the Oklahoma Sooners, are undefeated and having been living on the edge all season. They could have easily lost a handful of their games. At some point, the clock will strike midnight and their coach will turn into a pumpkin, and this might be the weekend. North Carolina has disappointed this season without a doubt, but they've started to play well the last few weeks with a solid win vs a resurgent Miami team and playing well @ Notre Dame last weekend. The NC defense will have to step up to stop the high-octane Wake Forest offense, and North Carolina Sam Howell needs a big game like this at home to remain in the 2022 1st Rd QB conversation. I think it's possible we could see an upset here.
#13 Auburn @ #14 Texas A&M - 3:30PM ET
Really good game right here as the winner remains in-contention for the SEC West title and a spot in the SEC Championship (remember, A&M beat 'Bama and if 'Bama) vs Georgia, and the loser is pretty much out of any SEC Title conversation, so it basically becomes an SEC Championship "knockout" game. Auburn is a really solid team and their QB, Bo Nix, has been on-fire the last few weeks. Texas A&M has been riding the "high" from their upset 'Bama win from a few weeks ago and started playing up to their Top 10 preseason ranking. Both a solid teams...both have 2022 Draft prospects...this should have been a prime time game over the LSU/'Bama game...
LSU @ #2 Alabama - 7:00PM ET
With LSU unranked, battling injuries on defense, and their HC, Ed Orgeron, on his way out following this season, this game doesn't seem to have as much "teeth" as prior LSU/'Bama matchups. But LSU has played relatively tough the last few weeks every since they announced Orgeron would step down following the season and this is a rivalry game. LSU and Orgeron have nothing to lose at all and 'Bama can't afford any missteps so I can see this being a closer game than it probably should be. I'd love to see Orgeron and LSU pull off the road upset here and knock 'Bama from the Top 4 with 2 losses.
Possible late night games to watch - because you get an extra hr of sleep tonight:
San Jose St @ Nevada - 10PM ET
Viking's GM Rick Spielman was reportedly scouting Nevada QB Carson Strong last weekend. Strong is at the top of the 2022 QB class on some draft "expert" lists so this is a chance to check him out. Keep in mind Strong is a pocket/downfield QB with limited mobility, but with a solid arm, presnap ability and solid accuracy so be on the watch for those attributes as you watch.
UTSA @ UTEP - 10:15PM ET
In case you're wondering, UTSA stands for University of Texas San Antonio and the reason to watch this one is the fact they are one of the few undefeated teams left at the D-I level. They were left out of the first CFP rankings and will have something to prove on the road vs a solid 6-2 UTEP team.
USC @ Arizona St - 10:30PM ET
I've mentioned watching Arizona St QB J Daniels earlier this season so this is another chance to check him out, but USC has two 1st Rd prospects to watch, both with the first name "Drake" - WR Drake London and DE Drake Jackson. Since we're somewhat set at WR with Thielen/Jefferson/Osborn for 2022 (at least for now), I want to see what DE Drake Jackson brings. Upon first glance, 6'3, 255 lbs sounds more like a 3-4 OLB than 4-3 DE and Zimmer/Patterson have been intent on having 6'5" DE with long arms....but Zimmer's future in Minnesota beyond the 2021 season is in serious doubt, so it's not a given that this team wouldn't look at "smaller" DE's like Jackson. The "skinny" on him is that he's highly athletic, has the bend, but perhaps is unrefined at this point, and will need some NFL level defensive coaching-up to unlock his ultimate potential - which doesn't sound like Top 25 prospect - it sounds like one of those DE prospects that went at the end of Round 1 in the 2021 Draft.
So even though the focus for many will be the Top Teams and the push for the Playoffs, there are plenty of other teams/players to watch for 2022 Draft purposes...
Saturday, 11/6 (we all get an extra hr of sleep tonight so we can stay up late to watch West Coast games):
Liberty @ #16 Ole Miss - Noon ET
Even though Ole Miss can still win out and get into a very good Bowl game (probably New Year's Day), this game isn't about the "teams" and "winning or losing" as much as it's about both teams having a 2022 1st Rd QB prospect - Malik Willis (Liberty) vs Matt Corral (Ole Miss). There's pressure on both QB's: for Willis, people want to see if he can perform against a step-up in talent level on defense. He's had dominating performances against non-Power 5 competition and he had an "OK" game @ Syracuse earlier this season (that was an ESPN Friday Night game), he may need a solid game against a ranked SEC defense in some expert's eyes (although Jordan Love had a horrible game @ LSU during his last season and was still drafted in the 1st Rd by Green Bay). For Corral, he needs to have a big game against a non-Power 5 defense to prove, and I think he needs to show more than just RPO's over the middle. We've seen Corral's legs (we know he has mobility)...we've seen Corral operate RPO's over the middle in Kiffin's offense....but I personally want to see more boundary throws, more pocket awareness and downfield accuracy - all of which will be required at the next level.
#5 Ohio St @ Nebraska - Noon ET
Nebraska HC Scott Frost is probably on the last of his 9 lives as HC of the Cornhuskers. He has disappointed during his time in Lincoln to turn around the program and when you look at their 2021 record, this season's been no different - they have to win out to become bowl eligible. But if you look closer, all of their losses have been by just 1 score - they have some decent talent, it's just they have untimely mistakes and costly turnovers at the wrong times (yes, that's on coaching). But if they put together a complete game for 4 quarters, they could give the Buckeyes all they could handle and if Ohio St isn't focused on this game and starts looking ahead to Mich St & Michigan, Nebraska could actually pull off this upset, especially since it's at home. If Ohio St is focused, then even if Nebraska plays well, they'll still lose....but if Ohio St commits mistakes, Nebraska has the ability to pull this off. I'd personally like to see an upset here, which would allow Cincinnati to move closer to Playoff contention.
#9 Wake Forest @ North Carolina - Noon ET
The Demon Deacons, like the Oklahoma Sooners, are undefeated and having been living on the edge all season. They could have easily lost a handful of their games. At some point, the clock will strike midnight and their coach will turn into a pumpkin, and this might be the weekend. North Carolina has disappointed this season without a doubt, but they've started to play well the last few weeks with a solid win vs a resurgent Miami team and playing well @ Notre Dame last weekend. The NC defense will have to step up to stop the high-octane Wake Forest offense, and North Carolina Sam Howell needs a big game like this at home to remain in the 2022 1st Rd QB conversation. I think it's possible we could see an upset here.
#13 Auburn @ #14 Texas A&M - 3:30PM ET
Really good game right here as the winner remains in-contention for the SEC West title and a spot in the SEC Championship (remember, A&M beat 'Bama and if 'Bama) vs Georgia, and the loser is pretty much out of any SEC Title conversation, so it basically becomes an SEC Championship "knockout" game. Auburn is a really solid team and their QB, Bo Nix, has been on-fire the last few weeks. Texas A&M has been riding the "high" from their upset 'Bama win from a few weeks ago and started playing up to their Top 10 preseason ranking. Both a solid teams...both have 2022 Draft prospects...this should have been a prime time game over the LSU/'Bama game...
LSU @ #2 Alabama - 7:00PM ET
With LSU unranked, battling injuries on defense, and their HC, Ed Orgeron, on his way out following this season, this game doesn't seem to have as much "teeth" as prior LSU/'Bama matchups. But LSU has played relatively tough the last few weeks every since they announced Orgeron would step down following the season and this is a rivalry game. LSU and Orgeron have nothing to lose at all and 'Bama can't afford any missteps so I can see this being a closer game than it probably should be. I'd love to see Orgeron and LSU pull off the road upset here and knock 'Bama from the Top 4 with 2 losses.
Possible late night games to watch - because you get an extra hr of sleep tonight:
San Jose St @ Nevada - 10PM ET
Viking's GM Rick Spielman was reportedly scouting Nevada QB Carson Strong last weekend. Strong is at the top of the 2022 QB class on some draft "expert" lists so this is a chance to check him out. Keep in mind Strong is a pocket/downfield QB with limited mobility, but with a solid arm, presnap ability and solid accuracy so be on the watch for those attributes as you watch.
UTSA @ UTEP - 10:15PM ET
In case you're wondering, UTSA stands for University of Texas San Antonio and the reason to watch this one is the fact they are one of the few undefeated teams left at the D-I level. They were left out of the first CFP rankings and will have something to prove on the road vs a solid 6-2 UTEP team.
USC @ Arizona St - 10:30PM ET
I've mentioned watching Arizona St QB J Daniels earlier this season so this is another chance to check him out, but USC has two 1st Rd prospects to watch, both with the first name "Drake" - WR Drake London and DE Drake Jackson. Since we're somewhat set at WR with Thielen/Jefferson/Osborn for 2022 (at least for now), I want to see what DE Drake Jackson brings. Upon first glance, 6'3, 255 lbs sounds more like a 3-4 OLB than 4-3 DE and Zimmer/Patterson have been intent on having 6'5" DE with long arms....but Zimmer's future in Minnesota beyond the 2021 season is in serious doubt, so it's not a given that this team wouldn't look at "smaller" DE's like Jackson. The "skinny" on him is that he's highly athletic, has the bend, but perhaps is unrefined at this point, and will need some NFL level defensive coaching-up to unlock his ultimate potential - which doesn't sound like Top 25 prospect - it sounds like one of those DE prospects that went at the end of Round 1 in the 2021 Draft.
... and neither is this Chris guy.