OrangeBowlMagic
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Welp. He did it again. I just completed my 3rd rewatch of the game after being there in person, and I felt this warranted another post like I made in the wake of the Ohio State game.
I'll start by saying I didn't think Beck had his best game overall. He missed a lot of throws early in the game, and I think at times he's being just a touch *too* conservative in trying to protect the ball. We won the game, so my hat is off to him, especially for the last drive, which we'll all remember for the rest of our lives. But I felt in total, it wasn't his absolute best game. However, where this kid really shines is when we need it most, and that's 3rd/4th down. Here we go:
3rd and 8 from the Ole Miss 49 - He's pressured relatively quickly, recognizes it, and is decisive in breaking the pocket and running. As he's been doing in the playoffs and was NOT doing during the regular season, he is full steam ahead and dives rather than slides, and picks up 6. It's not a first down run, but it keeps the drive alive, because we go for it on 4th and 2, whereas if he gets sacked or throws an incomplete pass, we punt. Very likely a 3 point play here considering how the drive turns out.
3rd and 1 from the Ole Miss 31 - *TENDENCY BREAKER* We actually throw it instead of run A-Gap, pick up of 5, first down
3rd and 7 from the Ole Miss 39 - Beautiful ball to Lofton in the middle of the field for 15. First Down.
3rd and 7 from the Ole Miss 21 - We interrupt this breakdown to remind you Malachi Toney is the best player in the country. Beck throws well short of the sticks, Toney somehow runs through a 225 pound backer to pick up a first down he had no business picking up, but he's an absurd alien, and it's a first down.
3rd and 5 from the Miami 30 - Gorgeous, ripped throw to the left sideline from the right hash to Marion. He totally gets Chris Graves spun around, it's an easy throw in the sense that he's wide open, but it's on a rope from the far hash, right on time, and placed perfectly. Gain of 14. First down.
Now in the 2nd half, 3rd and 7 from the Miami 28 - Tunnel to Toney, gain of 19, first down
3rd and 9 from the Ole Miss 33 -- I thought he had Marion (I believe) in the middle of the field but it was a good decision, CJ was one on one with Graves with the entire right side of the field cleared out, I thought Graves played this well and it was incomplete.
3rd and 5 from the Miami 39 -- Another smart, patient decision. Flushed and rolls right, doesn't panic, picks up 8 and a first down and is run out of bounds.
3rd and 13 on the Ole Miss 42 -- Once again, Vanilla Vick makes a great decision, gets upfield quickly and gets 11 yards. Sets up a 4th and short, which we go for, and convert. Again, an incompletion or sack here probably kills this drive entirely.
3rd and 12 on the Ole Miss 24 -- This is the tipped ball interception. Not really much you can do here, the kid comes from the side and gets his forearm in the way, I thought he had Marion on the dig but it was a tight window. Would have loved to see how this play turns out if it's not tipped, but it is, and of course their DB makes a diving pick on a fluttering ball in a game where our DBs dropped 4 picks right into their hands. Sigh. Tough spot though on 3rd and 13 in a condensed part of the field, and some ****** luck.
3rd and 16 from the Miami 46 -- Sack. Not a great spot to play offense on 3rd and 16, and he pretty much got buried here.
Last drive of the game, 3rd and 8 from the Miami 39. This isn't an official play, but I wanted to highlight it. Ole Miss gets called for a facemask on Marion, but the throw was PERFECT, on a rope to the back shoulder, low and away from the defender. I'm 100% certain if the DB doesn't grab his mask, he catches this for a 20 yard gain. Huge throw in a massive situation.
3rd and 6 from the Ole Miss 42 - Gutsy, tight window throw to CJ, who makes a REALLY strong catch and fights for a first down. The ball is put in a perfect spot by Beck into very tight coverage, and it's a good throw, but probably an even better play by CJ keeping the DB on his back and being tough.
3rd and 10 from the Ole Miss 35 - Play/throw of the season. If this is incomplete, we're kicking a 52 yard field goal, and best case is OT. But Beck throws a **** SEED on a dot to Marion, who has been incredible in this game. Looked like he dropped almost to a three-quarters delivery to throw around an Ole Miss lineman, and the ball is absolutely perfect. Game on the line, season on the line, gutsy throw to the middle of the field, gain of 17
Miami wins.
Total it all up, and here's what this dude did on 3rd down:
7/9 for 85 yards, 7 first downs, 1 sack, 1 INT
3 runs for 25 yards, only 1 first down but both of the other 2 runs gave us 4th and 2, which we converted
Professional. I said it after OSU and I'll say it again. This is a professional performance. Nothing overly flashy. No 50 yard dots on the run. Just patiently reading the defense, and delivering accurate ball after accurate ball to the correct read. Also 3 more really big runs. I combined the stats from Ohio State and this game, and this is all this dude has done in the last 2 games/biggest football games we've played in 24 years:
15/20 passing, 159 yards, 14 first downs, 1 TD, 1 INT
5 runs picking up 2 first downs, 2 more that led to a 4th and 2 that we converted, and one that he was robbed after a HORRENDOUS reversal against OSU.
Winning football, ladies and gentlemen. This is what it looks like. Winning football from a winner. We are now 21/35 in the last 2 games on 3rd and 4th down. 60% conversions. That's legendary **** right there.
Props to Beck and the whole operation. Go get one more, boys.
I'll start by saying I didn't think Beck had his best game overall. He missed a lot of throws early in the game, and I think at times he's being just a touch *too* conservative in trying to protect the ball. We won the game, so my hat is off to him, especially for the last drive, which we'll all remember for the rest of our lives. But I felt in total, it wasn't his absolute best game. However, where this kid really shines is when we need it most, and that's 3rd/4th down. Here we go:
3rd and 8 from the Ole Miss 49 - He's pressured relatively quickly, recognizes it, and is decisive in breaking the pocket and running. As he's been doing in the playoffs and was NOT doing during the regular season, he is full steam ahead and dives rather than slides, and picks up 6. It's not a first down run, but it keeps the drive alive, because we go for it on 4th and 2, whereas if he gets sacked or throws an incomplete pass, we punt. Very likely a 3 point play here considering how the drive turns out.
3rd and 1 from the Ole Miss 31 - *TENDENCY BREAKER* We actually throw it instead of run A-Gap, pick up of 5, first down
3rd and 7 from the Ole Miss 39 - Beautiful ball to Lofton in the middle of the field for 15. First Down.
3rd and 7 from the Ole Miss 21 - We interrupt this breakdown to remind you Malachi Toney is the best player in the country. Beck throws well short of the sticks, Toney somehow runs through a 225 pound backer to pick up a first down he had no business picking up, but he's an absurd alien, and it's a first down.
3rd and 5 from the Miami 30 - Gorgeous, ripped throw to the left sideline from the right hash to Marion. He totally gets Chris Graves spun around, it's an easy throw in the sense that he's wide open, but it's on a rope from the far hash, right on time, and placed perfectly. Gain of 14. First down.
Now in the 2nd half, 3rd and 7 from the Miami 28 - Tunnel to Toney, gain of 19, first down
3rd and 9 from the Ole Miss 33 -- I thought he had Marion (I believe) in the middle of the field but it was a good decision, CJ was one on one with Graves with the entire right side of the field cleared out, I thought Graves played this well and it was incomplete.
3rd and 5 from the Miami 39 -- Another smart, patient decision. Flushed and rolls right, doesn't panic, picks up 8 and a first down and is run out of bounds.
3rd and 13 on the Ole Miss 42 -- Once again, Vanilla Vick makes a great decision, gets upfield quickly and gets 11 yards. Sets up a 4th and short, which we go for, and convert. Again, an incompletion or sack here probably kills this drive entirely.
3rd and 12 on the Ole Miss 24 -- This is the tipped ball interception. Not really much you can do here, the kid comes from the side and gets his forearm in the way, I thought he had Marion on the dig but it was a tight window. Would have loved to see how this play turns out if it's not tipped, but it is, and of course their DB makes a diving pick on a fluttering ball in a game where our DBs dropped 4 picks right into their hands. Sigh. Tough spot though on 3rd and 13 in a condensed part of the field, and some ****** luck.
3rd and 16 from the Miami 46 -- Sack. Not a great spot to play offense on 3rd and 16, and he pretty much got buried here.
Last drive of the game, 3rd and 8 from the Miami 39. This isn't an official play, but I wanted to highlight it. Ole Miss gets called for a facemask on Marion, but the throw was PERFECT, on a rope to the back shoulder, low and away from the defender. I'm 100% certain if the DB doesn't grab his mask, he catches this for a 20 yard gain. Huge throw in a massive situation.
3rd and 6 from the Ole Miss 42 - Gutsy, tight window throw to CJ, who makes a REALLY strong catch and fights for a first down. The ball is put in a perfect spot by Beck into very tight coverage, and it's a good throw, but probably an even better play by CJ keeping the DB on his back and being tough.
3rd and 10 from the Ole Miss 35 - Play/throw of the season. If this is incomplete, we're kicking a 52 yard field goal, and best case is OT. But Beck throws a **** SEED on a dot to Marion, who has been incredible in this game. Looked like he dropped almost to a three-quarters delivery to throw around an Ole Miss lineman, and the ball is absolutely perfect. Game on the line, season on the line, gutsy throw to the middle of the field, gain of 17
Miami wins.
Total it all up, and here's what this dude did on 3rd down:
7/9 for 85 yards, 7 first downs, 1 sack, 1 INT
3 runs for 25 yards, only 1 first down but both of the other 2 runs gave us 4th and 2, which we converted
Professional. I said it after OSU and I'll say it again. This is a professional performance. Nothing overly flashy. No 50 yard dots on the run. Just patiently reading the defense, and delivering accurate ball after accurate ball to the correct read. Also 3 more really big runs. I combined the stats from Ohio State and this game, and this is all this dude has done in the last 2 games/biggest football games we've played in 24 years:
15/20 passing, 159 yards, 14 first downs, 1 TD, 1 INT
5 runs picking up 2 first downs, 2 more that led to a 4th and 2 that we converted, and one that he was robbed after a HORRENDOUS reversal against OSU.
Winning football, ladies and gentlemen. This is what it looks like. Winning football from a winner. We are now 21/35 in the last 2 games on 3rd and 4th down. 60% conversions. That's legendary **** right there.
Props to Beck and the whole operation. Go get one more, boys.
