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Random Shots From Week 12

Joe Bryant's Random Shots From Week 12
By Joe Bryant, November 29, 2023

Random Shots From Week 12
Photo: USA Today Sports

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 brain 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

#Analytics.

Advanced metrics are cool. But sometimes, you have to dig down to the real predictive data.

From Wednesday before the Lions game:

This is just mean.

Well played, Dallas.

Stashing the Turkey Legs in the Salvation Army Kettle was next level.

Sometimes, you just need to ask.

I've no idea where it'll go from here or how long it'll last, but Tommy DeVito in New York is fun.

It's a vibe.

Thanks to Jake Bryant for that one.

More Daron Bland insults.

The emphasis on the "t" is everything.

When offensive line coaches dream.

Perfect.

This is about as random as it gets. But made me smile.

Yikes.

I know everyone loves Gus Johnson, but forcing a made-up name so hard seemed odd.

Random Shots Head Coach. #Winning.

Michigan trying to play the tough scrappy "BE CAREFUL WHO YOU MAKE THE VILLIAN!" card Saturday was fun.

Dude. You're one of the most blue-blood programs in the country and got pinched for breaking the rules and stealing signs. I don't disagree; the rules are dumb. But I don't make the rules.

Exactly no one thinks you're a "Villain". You guys get little gold stars on your helmet for showing up to practice. Same as Ohio State.

And, yes, I know what they mean. Still looks like Junior High.

I'm a big fan of the NFL and how they do their business. They're obviously wildly successful and seem to make the right calls.

But this feels dumb. And wrong.

J.J. Watt is right.

"General rule of thumb: If you have to watch the video multiple times to try figuring out which person did something wrong and you still can't figure it out, we probably shouldn't be taking $43,709 from someone.

"This. Is. Stealing. Money."

Corrected myself.

Exhibit B

and

Thanks to Bob Henry for that one.

Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. thinking about the NFL Draft.

Tom Brady is still the greatest. But Alex Smith did not hold back. And spoke truth. Several things can be true.

Schedule (and Division) matter a lot.

Rex Ryan was priceless.

Alabama's Jalen Milroe thinks he deserves the Heisman.

Or maybe put up more points so you don't have to pull off a miracle play to beat an unranked team on the last play?

I'll never get tired of the "Walk-On gets a scholarship" clips.

How does the league allow this uniform matchup?

I felt this one a bit too much.

Not great, Diontae.

Offense is fun and flashy and sells tickets. But great defense is beautiful.

A picture-perfect stop.

At the end of the day, the NFL is a television show. And the television show is much better with quality quarterbacking.

Literally a game of inches.

I'm no offensive coordinator. But I'd probably put someone on T.J. Watt.

The Steelers certainly seem glad to be without Matt Canada.

Perfect.

Remember when we were worried about Ja'Marr Chase catching passes?

Now he's doing this while also holding his mouthguard.

Jameis Winston keeps getting better.

Thanks to Jake Bryant for that one.

I think this writer is on to something.

I'm surprised sometimes when people are surprised. Jim Nantz said something about Josh Allen being tough to tackle like Ben Roethlisberger, and the internet reacted.

Maybe people forget how athletic and tough it was to bring down a younger Ben Roethlisberger.

Bills fans should do cartwheels if Allen turns in a career like Roethlisberger's.

  • Three Super Bowl Appearances
  • Two Super Bowl Rings
  • 5th all-time in NFL career passing yards
  • 8th all-time in touchdowns
  • 5th in completions
  • Fourth-highest career winning percentage (.710) as a starter in the regular season among quarterbacks.
  • One of six quarterbacks in NFL history to have beaten at least 31 of the current 32 NFL teams.

Ludacris in the Georgia Dome.

Scott Hanson was not leaving his post.

Guy literally was living the meme.

The correct response to criticism.

The internet spent much of Saturday creating a story about division between Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.

Daboll seemed ok with disappointing folks looking for drama.

Hang in there, Marquise.

Lamar Jackson on Zay Flowers' "bouquet" celebration.

He still felt the same way after the game. "It was ass."

Then he immediately went to "My fault, my fault" after realizing it slipped. He seems like a legitimately fun guy.

Will Levis used "capitulate" instead of "matriculate" and apologized to all his former English teachers. Love it.

Thanks to Jake Bryant for that one.

The line of the week came from The Athletic: "An NFL team won last night by scoring zero touchdowns in a game that featured 22 combined points. Iowa's influence, clearly."

Every game matters.

The casualness of "Extra Point".

Nailed it.

I did offensive line coaches earlier. This is what it looks like when long-snappers dream.

Music Note Of The Week is a nod to my Texas roots. Stevie Ray Vaughan was the greatest guitar player I ever saw play live. And I was fortunate to get to see him plenty. I don't think I can pick a favorite, but his cover of Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child (Slight Return) has to be near the top. Vaughan commented in a 1985 interview: "I love Hendrix's music ... and I just feel it's important for people to hear him."

Bonus points for the Snakeskin boots and playing behind the back at the 2:50 mark.

And just a reminder, music has a broad appeal...

Wrapping with this one.

Earlier this year, the Dolphins played in Germany, and Random Shots Head Coach Mike McDaniel had this fun exchange with a reporter.

The reporter, Simon Clancy, obviously knew his football, and Mike McDaniel was duly impressed. Clancy noted in his tweet how he'd been following the game for a long time, and he was clearly thrilled to be in this position. The lesson for us is to stick with the things you love. You'll get better and more competent in the subjects you put effort into. Whether it's football or cooking or parenting or your relationships or whatever, put the work in. Get better. Rinse and Repeat. Rock on, Simon Clancy. And hats off to Mike McDaniel for showing respect.

Thank you for being part of this goofy journey with us.

And thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, Jake Bryant, Bob Henry, and Clayton Gray for the help. If you've got a Random Shot of your own, email me 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 USA TODAY Sports
Tags Fun Timeless Brandon Aiyuk Josh Allen Tom Brady Jake Browning Marquise Brown Derek Carr Ja'Marr Chase Zay Flowers Najee Harris Jevon Holland Lamar Jackson Mac Jones Will Levis Gardner Minshew Kenny Pickett Kyle Pitts Desmond Ridder Ben Roethlisberger Jaylen Warren J.J. Watt T.J. Watt Jameis Winston Bryce Young Bailey Zappe

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