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Random Shots From Week 7

Joe Bryant's Random Shots From Week 7
By Joe Bryant, October 28, 2020

Random Shots From Week 7
Photo: Imagn Images

Hi Folks,

We do a ton of insightful, thoughtful, and serious features here at Footballguys with smart people thinking deeply for you.

This is not one of those features.

This is Random Shots and it's a few pages of me downloading my goofy and dysfunctional mental hard drive that gets stuffed with way too many random items from too many hours watching, reading about, and listening to football every weekend and throughout the week. It's the only way I manage. Here's hoping it has some value for you.

We'll see. Now let's get to it.

J

The Presidential Debate was last Thursday night. Someone sent me this picture from a Delta flight taken during the debate. Red arrow on the Footballguy. It was probably someone reading this article right now.

Dez Bryant is back and the world feels a little more right.

I'm with The Ringer. Let's Go.

Speaking of Old Guys.

Tony Hawk.

Still has it.

I think point differential is a useful stat.

One of these 5 win teams is not like the others...

Peyton Manning is handling retirement just fine...

If New England had Pittsburgh's WR talent scouts, no telling what might happen.

And like Juju Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool isn't just a great talent on the field, he seems like a great guy.

Rock on, 11.

Max Kellerman finally conceded Tom Brady never fell off a cliff.

I know they're having fun with Kellerman here. I get it. But it's a bigger lesson I think. And the lesson is this: "It's ok to be wrong".

It's not fun. It's not preferable. But it's not the end of the world. Sometimes you miss. Sometimes I miss.

I posted before Andy Dalton's first game as the Cowboys starter that he'd be fine.

My reply to my original post:

That's how it goes somehow. I could have made a bunch of excuses about coaching or offensive line injuries or whatever. Nobody wants to hear that. I missed. Own it and move on. Life's so much easier that way.

Week 7 is why grown-up organizations like the Patriots didn't listen to Internet GMs and give Cam Newton an extension after Week 2.

This is how it's going for Dallas. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan had to pause during the press conference after getting Tabasco sauce in his eye.

Sometimes this thing writes itself.

Side note, if a movie's ever made about this season, Bruce Willis has to play Nolan.

Robert Quinn and Aaron Donald with the reminder we're all in this together.

Brian Griese talked about Nick Foles and not having enough time to execute the plays called.

“Sometimes play calls come in and I know I don’t have time to execute that play call. I’m the one out here getting hit. Sometimes the guy calling the plays, Matt Nagy, doesn’t know how much time there is back here.”

The Internet's never met a molehill they couldn't make into a mountain and predictably some people couldn't wait to manufacture a story.

A few things. First let's get the full quote.

Griese said,

"We were talking to Nick Foles yesterday. And he said, you know, sometimes play calls come in and I know I don’t have time to execute that play call. I’m the one out here getting hit. Sometimes the guy calling the plays, Matt Nagy, doesn’t know how much time there is back here. So that's something they have to get worked out."

This was more relaying a conversation and not a direct on the record quote. Foles quickly replied to the story.

Second, you have to think about the context. I'm going to guess Griese talking to Foles went just about like you'd expect two people in the same jobs to talk. They talk about shared and common frustrations. If you talk to QBs, one of the things they're always talking about is having enough time to execute what the boss is asking of them. Probably not a lot different than your job.

Third, having enough time to execute a play is something most every quarterback talks about. NFL Films has this fantastic inside look at the 3rd and 15 from the Super Bowl on the play where Kansas City turned the game.

Before the play, Mahomes walked to the sidelines and asked Eric Bieniemy, "Do we have enough time to run Wasp?"

He wasn't talking about time on the clock. He was questioning whether the line could give him enough time and protection in the pocket for the receivers to get downfield. He needed more like four seconds instead of the more standard two and a half. The line gave him the time and the "Wut?" look on George Kittle's face tells the rest of the story.

So instead of being one of the people that pile on Foles or Nagy or Griese looking for the popcorn as they cheer to watch someone thrown under the bus that isn't there, relax. It's football. It's how it works.

Pretty Much.

This is the stuff that flies under the radar for most fans.

After their game Sunday, Chargers DE Joey Bosa spent time on the field with Jacksonville rookie defensive end KLavon Chaisson showing him tips on footwork and such.

This wasn't out of the blue. When Bosa was a rookie a few years ago, Kansas City's Tamba Hali did the same for him.

And I'm going to guess some other player helped Hali and another player helped that player before him. The more experienced person takes the time to help the less experienced person. And that inexperienced person grows into the more experienced person and they then pay it forward. And on it goes.

Colin Cowherd this week with some interesting numbers.

Bill Belichick's winning percentage in games where Tom Brady did not start for him is 43%.

Pete Carroll was 14-18 in Seattle before Russell Wilson.

John Harbaugh was on the hot seat before Lamar Jackson arrived.

Andy Reid couldn't get it done until Patrick Mahomes II.

Mike McCarthy with Aaron Rodgers looks different than with Dak Prescott or Andy Dalton.

Quarterbacks have always mattered. But I think we're reaching a point where they matter more than they ever have in the history of the game.

For you guys old enough to remember Starsky and Hutch and sliding across the hood of the car, Denzel Ward with the football equivalent...

Congrats, Baker. You beat the Bengals. Again.

Music note this week is a throwback to 1973. Everyone knows ZZ Top but for lots of people, they're kind of a gimmick. As a teenage kid growing up in Texas in the early '80s, they were the coolest thing going. Tres Hombres is my favorite ZZ Top album and Jesus Just Left Chicago is my favorite ZZ Top song.

It's definitely time now.

I love that this is on the Lions official Twitter feed. They deserve some fun.

I probably could have done the whole column this week on DK Metcalf chasing down Budda Baker.

A few of my favorites...

Rich Eisen chimed in.

Baker owned it.

Adam Vinatieri said, "Don't forget about me..."

And my favorite may have been "I believe that's Mr. Wilson's ball..."

The full scene as I never pass a chance to post a Happy Gilmore clip...

Hat Tip to Joe Tidwell.

Kyler Murray flashing the smile when he sees DeAndre Hopkins in single coverage is too much.

Bears have found their next kicker.

Colts Mood:

Robert Spillane is the Steelers linebacker filling in for the injured Devin Bush. Spillane was an undrafted free agent in 2018 and he's been cut four times.

Apparently, Spillane didn't get the memo Titans RB Derrick Henry is the "Baddest man in the NFL".

Now I understand why Andy Reid wears the plastic face shield instead of a mask.

I love this.

If you like a back and forth game, Browns vs Bengals was your ticket.

This is just mean...

Hat Tip to Geoffrey Garrett.

If the production from A.J. Dillon ever comes close to the talk about A.J. Dillon, he'll be scary.

Wrapping with this one.

Not sure if you've heard, but America is having an election next week. It's been in the news a bit...

I realize full well you read Footballguys content for... wait for it... Football information. Shocker. So this is about as political as I get.

My ask of you folks (and myself) is this: Please show extra empathy. Show extra grace. If 2020 has taught us one thing it's that we're all in this together. We'll get through this too. But it'll take all of us.

That'll do it for today. Thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Clayton Gray, Joe Tidwell, Geoffrey Garrett, and David Dodds for the help on this one. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, send me an email at bryant@footballguys.com.

Thanks for playing along and I hope you make the most of whatever you're doing in your life. Love your neighbor and stick together.

Peace and Grace to you.

J

Photos provided by Imagn Images
Tags Fun Timeless Budda Baker Le'Veon Bell Joey Bosa Tom Brady Joe Burrow Devin Bush K'Lavon Chaisson Chase Claypool Andy Dalton AJ Dillon Aaron Donald Nick Foles Derrick Henry DeAndre Hopkins Lamar Jackson George Kittle Patrick Mahomes II Baker Mayfield DK Metcalf Kyler Murray Cam Newton Dak Prescott Robert Quinn Aaron Rodgers Denzel Ward Russell Wilson

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