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Random Shots From Week 2

Joe Bryant's Random Shots From Week 2
By Joe Bryant, September 18, 2024

Joe Bryant with a look at goofiness from the past week

Random Shots From Week 2
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

Jim Harbaugh is one of us.

"I love guys who like Football. Guys who like football, they like me back."

Will Compton with a perfect caption.

I'm just going to drop this one right here...

Caddyshack fans rejoice.

My guy Jeff Bell knows things.

Mike Gundy's my favorite living college coach. (My favorite of all time is, of course, Mike Leach.)

I love the honesty. Asked about what he liked and what he saw in a player, he said what everyone was thinking: that the guy was inexpensive.

For schools like Oklahoma State that don't have the money of Texas or Georgia, or Ohio State, they have to be creative. It's like Brad Pitt/Billy Beane and Moneyball for the A's to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox.

Me at 1:00 PM on Sundays for the next few months...

Almost everything worked for Alabama in Madison on Saturday.

Eagles - Falcons in 13 seconds.

It's only Week 3, and I'm already over it.

This isn't Kelce's fault. I'm guessing he didn't ask for Monday Night Football to be turned into the Jason Kelce Show. But I'm with Sports Illustrated's Jimmy Traina; that was embarrassing. 

Florida State is 0-3.

I'm not sure what I expected from Nick Saban on Game Day. But this is great. 

And this is gold.

Truth.

Unfortunate. But Truth.

Justin Jefferson with cold facts.

Jefferson has a point...

Go Vols.

I live in the South, so Waffle House is a sacred institution. This warmed my heart.

Music Note of the Week is a classic.

Whether you'd call yourself a Bob Dylan fan or not (Narrator Voice: You probably should...), he's an undeniable foundational influence in music.

His "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" gets me. 

Sometimes, the "Mic'd Up" segments are my favorite part of the game.

Josh Allen bodied a guy and didn't have to say a word.

In hindsight, the 49ers never had a chance.

Tedy Bruschi with a unique insight into returning to play after a serious injury.

Twitter Community Notes are savage.

How much does Jim Harbaugh love Justin Herbert?

Jayden Daniels with how to win over a fanbase.

Non-Football note. Muhammad Ali was different.

The Colts All Whites are clean.

Made for a beautiful uniform matchup.

Our game can be a cruel game.

A Hook and Ladder play is always cool. But a Hook and Ladder to the left tackle is next level.

And yes, before you fire up a snarky email, I know it's officially the Hook and Lateral. I'm a man of the People. So it's Hook and Ladder here.

Trust me, I know it's difficult to stay on top of all your marketing and social media.

But a gambling ad featuring Christian McCaffrey on Sunday of Week 2 seems sub-optimal.

Herbert was ready this week.

Truth.

Hang it in the Louvre.

Aidan Hutchison is a problem.

If games were won or lost based on uniforms, Oregon would be unstoppable.

Packers leaving it all on the field.

That can create some challenges for the quarterback...

And yes, that's a thinly veiled excuse to post an all-timer.

The Alabama defensive lineman knew it was over at this exact moment.

I hear Eagles or Cowboys fans talk about how terrible things are for their team and shake my head.

God Bless you Panthers Fans.

I felt this a little too much.

Never Apologize For A Win.

There's still room.

Live look in on Kyler Murray.

Malik Willis looked like a different player.

Coaching Matters.

Experience Matters.

I'm no defensive coordinator. But I do not like this matchup.

The Titans are in an interesting and precarious spot. Will Levis will flash potential and then follow with terrible plays. How this staff manages him will be something to watch.

I love Justin Jefferson.

But check out the wheels on the official at the end. 

"Defensive backs are just wannabe WRs who can't catc..."

Better angle:

My friend Cooterdoodle bringing heat.

Send this to the Kansas City hater in your life.

Don't miss your window to sell high on Kyler Murray.

Aiden Hutchison is great, but T.J. Watt's out there sacking QBs with his aura.

Mood check:

Bo Nix takes an early lead for Random Shots Rookie Of The Year.

I'm like Ben. I thought this was going to be ugly.

Random Shots Starting QB, Jameis Winston.

Yup.

This aged poorly.

It's a different game at this level.

Which leads to what I'll wrap with.

I love this so much from C.J. Stroud.

He didn't have to take the extra time here, but he went out of his way to encourage Caleb Williams. Who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. At one point, Williams brushed it off with "Yeah, I know," and Stroud had to pull him back with, "Look. C'mere.." and told him he'd be a hell of a player in this league. 

Williams had just been thrashed on National TV so I get why he might want to get out of there. But Williams isn't the point of this. The point is Stroud. And taking a few extra seconds to encourage someone a little less experienced. And the bigger point is it doesn't really matter how Williams received it. That's on him. For Stroud, his part was to offer some goodness.

As always, I'll ask how this relates to us. Most of us aren't elite professional athletes, and it's easy to shrug something like this off as not applicable. I'd say it absolutely applies to us. I'd be willing to bet there are several people in your circle of influence who'd love some encouragement. For someone to "see" them and acknowledge something good in them. Think about how that might work in your life. About how you might encourage someone. And then do it.

Shoot me an email at Bryant@Footballguys.com if you do, and let me know how it went. 

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

And thanks to Footballguys Keith Overton, 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
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