In the ten days leading up to the beginning of the season, the cup is recapping its top ten moments and memories from last season. Today, Juco All-American brings the faithful readers moment number four.
The following is my reaction in the moments leading up to selection number four.
Enrique... I can't.... I can't believe that you let that happen. We were about to go up 45-28 on a top ten team. Then you blow it with.... wow... just wow.
Okay defense, can't let them get back into this one... c'mon let's make a play...
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING PATRICK? HE'S GOING TO THROW IT TO THE... YES!... YES!.... YES! [fin gesture] LANDSHARKS BITCHES!
In case you've forgotten (though if you have, you're probably not reading this blog), here's the video of the play which I feel sealed the deal on the 2009 Cotton Bowl.
A few things to notice about this play:
- Wow. Peria Jerry is incredible. Look at the jump he gets right off the snap. Because he draws the double team and Lawon Scott is able to drive his blocker into the center of the field, Trahan comes through untouched.
- The oafish left guard (how could this happen to me?) tries to get a hand on Trahan well after he is already past the Slipknot-looking wannabe. I wouldn't ever call that a "block," or even an attempt at one. It's not even really effort-filled. It's more of an "OH NO NO ONE UNDERSTANDS ME MY DAD DIDN'T LOVE ME" block than anything else.
- I'm not exactly sure whether Scott was doing a two-handed landshark fin or the signal for a safety. It's probably the latter, but I like to think it's the former. We use two hands when we want to say, "You just looked like an idiot on national television."
- I love how Graham Harrell, a bit after the conclusion of the play, just shrugs his shoulders with a look that says "what am I supposed to do?" This play, more than any other, is a testament that yes, Texas Tech, the wide splits on the line were a poor choice. When linebackers come in untouched on the one yardline between a guard and a tackle, something is wrong. Yeah, double-teaming Peria Jerry, while necesary, may not be the best decision of how to use blockers in that situation.
- Why didn't they just f-ing run the ball like other teams would? How'd that play action work out for ya Mikey? Anyone who has played NCAA Football 2010--which, if played enough, obviously makes you an expert playcaller--knows that you NEVER run play action in the end zone. It gets eaten up. I bet Harrell's passing icons weren't even up yet when he got hit.
But the bigger point to make here is this. Patrick Trahan screwed up. It turned out to be a great choice, but the coaches didn't want this. Trahan's assignment on the play, per his own words, was to make sure the tight end didn't release into the flat. Trahan looked at the tight end for maybe a half-second before deciding he was going to blitz. Really, he was likely going to blitz no matter what.
Sure, it worked out here, but the thing is that the tight end did release. In a lot of situations, that play could have gone for a large gain. Graham Harrell just couldn't make that throw because of the non-existent passing lane. I'm really glad Trahan got that safety, since that was a big momentum swing right after Tech got an equal swing in momentum. However, I'm also glad that our coaches were intuitive enough to know that the tight end might release. They were prepared for that. Trahan just didn't listen to them.
But again, why have a passing play that requires the development of a route when you're backed up to your goalline? Good plan Mike Leach. Didn't you go to law school? You sicken me.
So that's it. LANDSHARKS BITCHES! MOMENT NUMBER FOUR! [makes wild fin gesture, kicks over a lamp, curses in wife's presence, has sexual advances declined]