Bump N’ Run w/ KT: UConn, Johnny Football, Jags, and DraftKings

Welcome to the new weekly column Bump N’ Run with KT. Every Monday (a tough Giants loss could change that) I will be exploring some of the big storylines from the weekend in college football and the NFL. I will also throw in some observations from the weekend that some of you may be thinking…hopefully. Essentially, this article is fun and a fan friendly way to look at the football weekend. I am not an insider nor am I am football expert, I am just a guy looking at the game from a fan perspective like all of you. If you agree or disagree or just have an observations of your own, let us know. We are always open to hearing from other fans but enough talking let’s get to Bump N Run with…

Connecticut quarterback Bryant Shirreffs tackled by a group of Missouri players during a game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Did You Know That Draft Kings Is One Week Fantasy Football?

I think the concept of Draft Kings and FanDuel is a good idea. Some people just can’t handle the struggle that is Fantasy Baseball or even Fantasy Football, although football is once a week so if you can’t handle a whole season you are likely negotiating nuclear treaties. But those sites are quasi gambling sites and the NFL along with their network partners are pushing the hell out those sites every week. The hard sell is on and both FanDuel and Draft Kings are benefiting from the constant mentions because daily fantasy sites are a multi-million dollar business…but god am I sick of those commercials.

UConn Fails Miserably Against Missouri

On Saturday the UConn Huskies made their way into the Midwest to take on the No. 22 ranked Missouri Tigers from the SEC.  This game was brutal to watch as both defenses played well but it was really more about both offenses not being able to find their left foot from their right. Down 9-6 late in the fourth quarter, UConn lined for a 42-yard field goal to tie the game and take the nationally ranked Tigers into overtime. Instead of overtime, UConn pulled an unexpected move…

They went for a fake field goal.

Instead of a 42-yard goal, the Huskies chose to go for a fake field goal. Missouri’s field goal unit knew what was coming as they put their defensive backs behind the line and instead of calling out of the fake, UConn went through with it as backup quarterback Tim Boyle threw an interception on the attempt and the game ended with a Mizzou win. So instead of going for the tie and overtime against a major SEC team, you go for a fake field goal. UConn head coach Bob Diaco…the Bump N’ Run Donkey of the Week.

The Jacksonville Jaguars May Have Turned A Corner

The Jaguars picked up their third win in the month of September since 2011 after defeating the Miami Dolphins on a walk-off field goal. After years of futility and pain, Jacksonville may have finally found some building blocks for their team on both sides of the football. Led by linebacker Paul Posluszny, the defense is young and flies around the field and gets tremendous pressure on the quarterback. Meanwhile the combination of Blake Bortles and Allen Robinson has the makings to be a formidable QB/WR tandem for years to come in Jacksonville. Maybe the Jaguars won’t be moving to Los Angeles…or London…or anywhere for that matter any time soon. Maybe not this year but I see the Jaguars making the playoffs sooner than later.

Johnny Manziel Wins A Game But Still Not A Pro Quarterback

Manziel had a good line on Sunday in the Cleveland Browns victory over the Tennessee Titans. He went 8-of-15 for 172 yards and two touchdowns. While Browns fans were excited about what the former Heisman Trophy accomplished and the future of the 2014 first round draft pick, let’s be honest…he’s not a NFL quarterback.

I’m pretty sure the Browns took out half the playbook and the remaining plays left were plays that Browns coaches knew Manziel could execute. He does not have the size to withstand a 16 game NFL season and before you give me the Doug Flutie comparisons, Flutie was a quarterback who was able to read defenses and create based on how the defense was set. We don’t know whether Manziel can really read an NFL defense right now or but from these first two games this year and his three games from last year, it’s a major question mark. Here’s hoping that Johnny Manziel has a long and successful NFL career but I don’t see it happening.