The New Year Hurts

The Cast

Date: 27 December 2019

FILLERBUSTER’S ELEVEN

BACKGROUND:  This started as a long-winded numbered blog.  It transformed into an organized long-winded category blog.  Now, it is a quick-hitter to ease your pain.  I lack time.  So, the preparation of the blog actually made me procrastinate from writing the thing.  Let’s see who makes the cut.  Barely edited as usual unfortunately, so please excuse any mistakes during my stream of consciousness.  I feel the need…the need for speed.  Let’s turn and burn.

SETTING: This is written a little Thursday evening and Friday evening before the playoff games.  This will be much shorter than usual, you are welcome, as I wanted to get something out pre-playoff games.  Plus, not as much has happened since I just released a blog on Xmas Eve Day.  Plus, once Xmas is done, it just seems DONE, so I need to get the Santa reference off my home page.  Many more one-sentence hooks.  If a new reader wants longer hooks, come back another time.  I might even make it less than 11 things.  But, it will still be long enough.  Don’t you worry. 

1. EVERGREEN:
   1. CLEMSON-OHIO STATE:  Crack on their strength of schedule and conference, but let’s not forget that Clemson has not lost a game…since January of 2018, the end of the 2017 season.  They lost their defensive line pretty much fully after last year, and still have gone 13-0 in 2019.  Give credit to Ohio State, as they have a new coach, new QB, and have simply reloaded efficiently.  But, I like the WR firepower on Clemson to win this game outright.  And Trevor Lawrence’s legs.  He has run for over double the amount of yards as last year, and can throw it to Higgins and Ross and expect them to win most tough balls against anyone.  Yes, Okudah, you are the best corner in the nation.  But, you can’t cover BOTH of them single-handedly.  I remind you that Trevor Lawrence fell off the national radar early because of some bad picks early in the season, but he has a clean slate since October 19^th, like NONE, and that is very consistent.  I think that Etienne and Dobbins are both skilled, physical backs with speed, and they cancel each other out.  In my opinion, an X Factor could be the return of Braden Galloway, Clemson’s tight end who was banned for a substance that we all had to look up on Google.  Chase Young and Okudah will do their thing, but I don’t think they make enough big plays on defense.  Ohio State will NOT hit their yearly average per play of 7 yards (remarkable), as this is the best defense they will face.  Here is where the rubber hits the road.  People forget Clemson’s secondary was first in defensive pass efficiency, and Ohio State catches balls by committee, rather than true stars.  I think Clemson shuts Fields down on the pass, relatively.  Trevor Lawrence breaks a couple big runs early to keep the defense honest, and then TOASTS Ohio State with big plays to Ross and Higgins in the second half.  I got Clemson 31-23.
   1. OKLAHOMA-LSU:  I am calling my shot on this one.  Yes, I married into a Sooner family.  Yes, I have been building up LSU to you in every single blog every week.  Yes, I have fallen in love with the Jalen Hurts story.  But, let me tell you HOW the Sooners will do it.  First, Hurts has to have a big game.  Actually, not a big game.  A MONSTER game.  And he will.  It is easy to plan against a running QB, but teams in the NFL have a hard time prepping for Lamar Jackson, and this will be similar.  He will get his on the ground.  And, let’s not forget he completed 70% of his passes for the year.  He is no slouch as a true passer either.  Second, they have to keep LSU off the field.  Think about it like when playing Manning (Peyton back in his prime) or Brady (any time during his career) in the NFL.  You just can’t give him chances.  Well, you have to LIMIT the chances.  Fall inbounds a few more times on runs, don’t have too many incompletions where the clock stops, and don’t turn the ball over at ALL.  The last item is tough, since amazingly OU has manufactured a 12-1 record being MINUS 7 in turnovers.  That is unbelievable.  But, they only need to take care of the ball for TWO more games to win it all, so the past is history and taking care of the ball is something in your control.  Don’t let Joe Burrow have more chances than he normally would have, and try to make it LESS than normal.  Third, bend don’t break.  Alex Grinch has made the Sooner defense respectable, although still not “good.”  Definitely better than the last two joke-ridden seasons.  Allow the yardage.  Allow some drives.  Joe Brady’s new spread offense is too good to stop, but CONTAIN it.  But, hold them to field goals and YOU score touchdowns.  Make the tackles you HAVE to make, and don’t give up the big play.  Let’s face it.  The OBVIOUS weakness in this matchup is the Sooners corners against the LSU receivers.  They will get some catches, but limit the damage in the end zone.  Fourth, BIG plays.  If you didn’t know this, OU is sixth nationally in the nation in plays of more than 30 yards.  They will need them in this game.  Ceedee lamb will have a big game, and score at least two times on shorter passes that he breaks for a big gain.  Whether it is Hurts getting a big run, or Ceedee doing his thing, they need more than the average amount of BIG plays.  Fifth, they will obviously need a couple of breaks.  I am envisioning a deflected pass or bobble INT or sack fumble for a change of possession.  I am admitting that no one has the firepower LSU has, but that a couple of breaks WILL go the way of OU in this game.  They can game plan however they want, but unfortunately a lucky bounce or two is needed to beat this LSU team.  That is a fact.  But, this Jalen Hurts story is too good, and fortune will give them a chance in this one, I foresee.  Those are the ways, folks, according to The Fillerbuster.  Hurts, time of possession, bend don’t break, big plays, and breaks/turnovers.  All are within the realm of possibility for this OU team, and they just need it to happen all in the same 60 minutes.  Sure, OU would benefit without the suspensions, especially since one guy would be stopping Edwards-Helaire (IF he plays) and the other one would be covering any number of dangerous receivers.  Sure, OU would benefit if they had a full depth chart of RB’s that started the season.  But, this is the hand they have been dealt, and they are still standing for the moment.  Finally, if we bring history into this, the last time LSU-OU played, LSU won IN the title game over OU to win it all (2003).  This is sweet revenge and then some, without the immediate gratification (because they would need one more win).  I think Joe Burrow’s high school decided to build him a statue a few weeks too early.  Anyway, you heard it here.  OU will beat LSU.  I have it 42-34.
2. NFL:  Marshawn Lynch is a good fit for what the Seahawks need right now.  They have been relying on Russell Wilson to do some out-of-body stuff this year, and this will A) lighten his load and B) provide that up the middle punch that will be needed to bruise in the playoffs.  JJ Watt is practicing, and that is bad news for all AFC playoff teams.  Houston will win their game against Tennessee, the Steelers will beat a Ravens team sitting players, and the Steelers will have the oddity of entering the playoffs with one healthy third string QB, unknown backups, RB by committee with Conner out, and their superstar WR just coming back from injury and still shaking off the rust.  The fact that they make the playoffs with no big numbers or healthy players IS a testament to Tomlin as a coach.  Of course, the guy saying they will make the playoffs also just picked OU to win the first playoff game.  Everyone who has the physical skills WILL get third, fourth, and fifth tries to play in the league.  Days after ESPN released a great article on the unknown future of Antonio Brown, the Saints (fresh off of picking up “retard” word using Janoris Jenkins) invite him in for a workout on Friday.  Now, I have to root against the Saints TOO??  I love the season long incentives that don’t get or get made after a technicality.  Giants player Markus Golden was credited a half sack last week, putting him at 9.5 for the season.  They change it to a full sack, and now he is a million dollars richer because he hit double digits in that category.  The Falcons will bring back Dan Quinn and they should.  They PLAYED for him, hard, even after starting the season slowly.  They weren’t interested at all in a better draft pick, and the players made that obvious.
3. COLLEGE FOOTBALL:  BYU is a very good football team, and got beat on a last-minute drive, and when you play in your OWN stadium, I guess good things will happen (Hawaii).  Jacob Eason of Washington will enter the draft.  I would have stayed another year with the QB’s in this draft, but he knows what goes on at UW better than us.  You think bowl games don’t mean anything?  Eastern Michigan’s QB gets ejected for punching opposing players, and Miami fires their OC after posting a donut against Louisiana Tech.  UNC SMOKED Temple, and I truthfully never saw that coming. 
4. NBA:  Luka Doncic returned, out of game shape, and merely posted 24-10-8 in his first tiring game.  Impressive.  Walt Frazier left off Jordan AND LeBron AND Kobe from his Mount Rushmore.  I can’t say that his picks (Jabbar, Chamberlain, Russell, and Robertson) are slouches in any regard.  And they were definitely from HIS era, so he is being a homer.  Kobe, I can agree with.  LeBron has made it hard for me to argue against once he won in Cleveland.  But JORDAN?  Come ON.  Whose mine?  I would say Jordan, Russell, Chamberlain, and Jabbar.  If you tell me I have too many big guys, I would sub in LeBron or Magic or Bird.  But, in reality, I would just carve out more faces into the damn rock.  It gets too tough.  I am leaving off West, Duncan, Olajuwon, Shaq, Dr. J, Moses Malone, etc. and so forth, and that kills me…EACH one.  I would argue with MYSELF on my selections.  My PERSONAL one of favorites would be Zeke, AI, Jordan, and Bird, but you obviously can tell my age from that grouping.   The Nuggets made a good move in extending Mike Malone, as he has proven he can win, and proven he has respect from his players.  The Jazz traded Dante Exum to the Cavs.  So, now Exum is supposed to play WITH Sexton AND Garland?  Not only was Exum a non-shooting guard bust, but now they gather more at the same position?  The Last Dance will be about the last run of the Bulls, and that looks off the hook. XMAS GAMES (I admit later to not tuning in, so just talking about the results).  The first Clippers-Lakers game we wrote off to new chemistry.  Now, the latest will be written off to injuries.  The Sixers proved that if they can get home court advantage, and have an odd good shooting night, they can beat the Bucks.  The Raptors were too banged up, so their loss to the Celtics means nothing.  The Rockets losing to the Warriors was puzzling, but even more funny since the Warriors stuck out like a sore thumb on a day when all good/decent teams were playing.  The Nuggets laid an EGG at home to the OTHER worse team playing on the day, the Pelicans.  Weird day.  I hope Zion waits and comes back totally healthy.  He is going to rock the basketball world possibly.
5. NHL:  You were one of the best players of all time, but do you live in a CAVE, Jeremy Roenick?  Those were some pretty absurd statements to say privately, let alone publicly.
6. MISCELLANEOUS:  The story about Ed Aschoff was surprising and depressing.  Sad loss to the world and the sports world.  Was anyone else surprised that a hockey player let a girl propose to HIM?  She treated this marriage like she was on a downhill.  Lindsey Vonn and PK Subban are getting hitched, and she pitched it. 
7. THIS AND THAT:  My odd notes for the week.  Rodizio Grill is a place I never get sad about my wife finding a coupon for.  And they are out there.  It is almost as if Billy Strings already knows my wife is his biggest fan.  He is playing a small Denver venue (Cervantes) on her actual birthday in March of 2020.  I would say you should get tickets, but those things are GONE.  Stoic & Genuine is one of the fancier looking, cheapest happy hours in Denver, so you know.  Having a drink outside at the Crawford Hotel was really cool on Christmas Eve.  We will definitely do that again.  Carolers around, nice cocktails, very Christmas-y. DO go to Edgewater Marketplace, which just opened by Sloan’s Lake, and I will be a regular customer there.  Food galore, drinks, right by everything near Sloan’s Lake.  Awesome.  DO watch Mindhunter, as we do watch it once a week or so, and it is the best serial killer show I have ever seen.  Daniel Craig is in that Knives Out movie.  And he has the new Bond movie coming out soon.  It is just me, but if I was James Bond, I would ONLY do James Bond movies during my tenure and soak up the character as much as possible.  The guy from the hotly debated Peloton commercial actually bought his real-life girlfriend a Peloton.  I also have a friend who bought his fiancée a Peloton.  I don’t have anything to add on this.  Not getting involved with the debate.  Just an odd, VERY expensive gift though.  Scientists have noted an oddly behaving star.  It is the one on Orion’s shoulder.  It is close to exploding.  They are ballparking 300,000 years until that happens.  Thanks for letting us know.  Star Wars made $500,000,000 in its first week globally.  Insane.
8. THE FILLERBUSTER:  I am still not eating hard boiled eggs out of a package because of this Listeria thing, and it is killing my eating schedule.  We did Christmas Day in the mountains, and that just means a lot of dogs, and prime rib and crab/lobster.  My wife asked if I was Ralphie from A Christmas Story when I was a kid, and she might be mildly accurate with that assumption.  Pretty damn close.  I have matured to the point where I didn’t ask Lindsey’s family to put on an NBA game ONE time during the whole Christmas Day.  Very mature.  I get pre-planned travel and family time, but I am blown away by the amount of people at work who aren’t at annual goal and not in the office.  I would be going crazy if I wasn’t at goal and not trying for a last-minute miracle.  Place was empty today.  Finally, our air bnb had a plumbing issue yesterday and it needed a last-minute fix.  There is nothing so demoralizing than watching a plumber come over and fix something in 10 minutes that would have taken you (I mean me, folks) about three hours…if I was lucky.  But, I learned stuff for the next time.  Presents?  We got Lindsey’s dad Eagles tickets, not knowing his present to us were floor seat Eagles tickets.  Talk about throwing down a trump card.  I got lots of dri-fits as expected, thermals, loud socks, a travel bag, a tool store gift card, key and watch valet, UVA beanie, an expensive Braun razor set, an NWA album, and a cooking gadget to hard boil my eggs (which apparently is needed with this Listeria thing).
9. I am letting you off…
10. With only 9 hooks this week.
11. TWEET OF THE WEEK

https://mobile.twitter.com/JimMWeber/status/1210531347929935877

https://mobile.twitter.com/GolicAndWingo/status/1210204347797250048

ALTERNATE CATEGORIES THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE CUT:

1. THE BEST WORKOUT SONG EVER FOR THIS WEEK (because the best song this week IS the best song ever…for now):
2. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
3. LINKS TO SAVE YOU TIME IN LIFE
4. TRAVEL
5. THIS WEEK’S LIST
6. MY NUMBERS
7. GONE FISHING (the riddle for money):
8. PICS BY MY PIXEL (pictures from my phone):
9. LIFEGUARD ENTRY:
10. COLLEGE BASKETBALL
11. MLB

The theme?  Calling my shot.  Jalen.  Either I am a genius, or this blog title sits on my blog page for way too long telling people how I was an idiot for thinking a fourteen point underdog could win against LSU…the same LSU team I have been lauding ALL year.  But, as my wife noticed, my blog title works whether he wins or loses.  Yay.

And our weekly reminder of the greatest sequel ever made coming out next summer… Top Gun 2.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIgYcrHiTgw

Tell that monster Asian hornet in Washington to fly the other way…

That’s it for today.  Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed.  Remember two things.  First, feed yourself, feed your family, but always, always remember to…feed the wolf.  Second,  if you can’t spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker.  Will I blog again?  That is a CLOWN question, bro.  As one shepherd said to the other shepherd, let’s get the flock out of here.

EXTRA: My off the cuff Stars Wars notes written IN movie (yes, there are spoilers this time, so don’t read on unless you don’t care or have already seen the movie):