"Football": a retrospective

11/25/06 - James Madison at Youngstown State, ESPN2 - Eric Collins and Kelly Stouffer

1st quarter: 24

Collins - 12

Stouffer - 12

2nd - 21

C- 14

S - 7

3rd - 22

C - 7

S - 15

4th - 15

C - 7

S - 8

Total: 82

January, 2023 football phrases

Detroit-Green Bay, 1/8, FOX

"pressing the right emotional buttons"

"a culture win"

"he's just a football player" (2)

"a cathedral of football"

Philadelphia-NY Giants, 1/21, FOX

Darryl Johnston:

"this is true 11-on-11 football"

"you rely on your savvy, you rely on your leverage"

"gap responsibilities"

Football phrases: December

12/10/22 - Shepherd (WV) vs. Colorado School of Mines (CO) in the Division 2 semifinals on ESPN

"sound football"

"winning up front"

"third and medium"

"time to hit the panic button"

"bubble screen" (5)

"get momentum back on their sideline"

"Mason Pierce is a ball magnet"

"QB 101"

"the turnover hat"

"escapability"

"a wide catch radius"

"on the NFL radar"

"short of the sticks"

12/21 - Western Kentucky and South Alabama on ESPN with Wes Durham and Roddy Jones on the call.

WD

"we can not live in a third and two world"

"almost like a spy, he just sniffs it out"

"entered the transfer portal"

"they are a chameleon when it comes to their packages"

?

"playing with house money"

"the coaching carousel"

"pistol set"

"the hype train"

RJ

"having that internal clock"

"not only the burst, the juice he has, but the energy he brings to this offense"

"nice play in space"

"vertical concepts"

"play well defensively to compliment what we're doing offensively"

"that was an audacious throw!"

12/22 - Jacksonville-NY Jets, Amazon

"he's got great length"

"when this offense gets behind the sticks it makes it hard to execute"

"he's not just lumbering out there like a baby giraffe"

"tackles in space"

"self-inflicted wounds"

Football phrases - fall, part 2

All games played 10/22....

Mississippi State-Alabama, ESPN

"there's no chaos in his mind, it's just poise"

"a wanted commodity"

"out-executing"

"it's kind of basketball on grass"

?

Washington-California, ESPN

"a bend but don't break defense...now you're getting to the part of the field where it's gonna be tough to bend"

"he doesn't run with his pads"

"fourth and forever"

The Rod Gilmore Trifecta of Nonsense

"they move around what they do back there"

"Cal is forcing Washington other than something that they have been"

"it's a good job by the Cal philosophy" 

Bowling Green-Central Michigan, espn3

pxp: Dan Gutowsky

cc: Adam Breneman

DG

"the tailgate parties are off the charts"

"when his legs are right they are going to make some impact"

!

"he's not just a physical specimen, he gets it between the ears, too"

!

"they took a short play and turned it into a jumbo"

AB

"it's good on good, strength on strength"

"he's what I call a gadget running back"

"what I like to call sneaky athletic"

"quarterback guru"

Texas-Oklahoma State, ABC

"giving Spencer Sanders and this offense prime real estate"

"chunk play"

"he can get to a hole with a drop of a hat"

"tackling one of the biggest things for Oklahoma State"

thanks, color commentator Dusty Dvoracek!

Football phrases - College football fall part 1

The 2022 college football season is upon us, and that means grown men and women yelling nonsense.

We start with the September 1st West Virginia-Pittsburgh game. This game is referred to as "The Backyard Brawl", and the reason I know that is because the announcing team said the expression 13 times.....

and I started watching the game with about 8 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.

Other nonsense:

"remember when I said this game was energy drink? now it's more lukewarm milk"

"coming up with a PBU" (just say pass break up)

"backs against the wall"

"look out for No. 12 because he's gonna be getting better, a lot"

!

WVU up 31-24, 10 1/2 minutes left:

"every possession counts"

9/2 - Virginia Tech-Old Dominion, ESPN

"use his legs as a check down"

"they are holding up this game because some coaches are caught in the elevator"

9/15 - Kansas City-San Diego, NFL Network

"almost...almost...but no cigar."

"Herbert trying to take a page out of Patrick Mahomes"

Mahomes is made of pages?

"the loser of this game's gonna have a loss"

thanks, Al Michaels!

10/8 - North Carolina-Duke, ESPN

"shake him out of his boots"

"he runs a lot bigger than that"

"laying some wood"

10/10 - Las Vegas-Kansas City, ESPN

"they window dressed it a little differently"

10/13 - NC Central-Morgan State, ESPN2

"he's a well put together specimen"

"wrapped up a number of Morgan State jerseys"

"they put him on an island"

* Soccer commercial slogan: PASSION SHOULD NEVER GO HUNGRY

10/16 - Baltimore-NY Giants, CBS

"they use motion to draw eyes"

"Jones on Jones crime on the first play"

"it becomes an arm throw"

"found him over the middle, in the briar patch!"

Kurt Warner & football: an evening

Kurt Warner saying the word "football" during the radio broadcast of the NFC Championship game on 92.9 FM:

First quarter: said 13 times

Second: 8

Third: 13

Fourth: 16

Total: 50

Notable

"he's playing a whale of a football game"

Football phrases - Divisional round edition

Buffalo at Kansas City, 1/23/22

700 AM Cincinnati

"this is what they call 'bully ball'"

"maximize their playbook"

"creating confusion and success on the same play"

"he pulled a rabbit out of his hat to get to the sideline"

"that's a lot of beef to be running to the sideline"

"next play mentality" (2)

"he's putting the Bills on his shoulder pads and carrying them into the end zone"

"you have to make what they call 'combat catches'"

"roller coaster of emotions"

"you can smell that end zone, you can smell that AFC championship"

Football phrases - November 2021 edition

11/22 - NY Giants-Tampa Bay, ESPN

"fresh set of downs"

"wheel route"

"the shiny toys are out there tonight for the Giants"

"this is being a pure football player"

November 26

Nebraska-Iowa, Big 10 Network

"assignment football" - (2)

"dart route"

"in that running back room"

"like a hot knife through butter with that run"

Kansas State-Texas, FOX

"he's doing a bunch of stuff mentally"

Boise State-San Diego State, CBS

"the theme of the game, bad eyes by Boise State"

Missouri-Arkansas, CBS

"putting his foot down and getting north"

"Eli Drinkwitz's offense has a lot of what you like to call 'eye candy'"

"flip the field"

"Football"

Colorado State-Fresno State, 10/26/19, ESPNU. Commentator Ryan Leaf.

First quarter: said 20 times
Second: 14
Third: 20
Fourth: 27

Total: 81

College football nonsense diary, part 3

The college football season is nearly two-months old and these announcers are bringing their "a-game" & "leaving it all out on the field (in the broadcast booth)". I'm just glad I heard so much of it and own so many pens.



Past diaries from 2019

2
1



Brown-Harvard, 9/27, ESPN News

"you've got a recipe of good football, and intensity"

A recipe of intensity! Great start, Bill Spaulding and Jack Ford.

"he's their multi-talented, swiss army knife"
"the top of the mountain is the Ivy League championship"
"their calling card has been the defense"
"defensive scheme of things"
"it's a new culture"
"he was a riverboat gambler"
"escapability"
"flips the field for the Bears"


Arizona State-California, 9/27, ESPN

"taking the air out of the football"
"dial up some pressures"
"he's an adrenaline type of guy"
"you're trying to influence block him"

?

"find throwing windows"
"it's Mr. Tackle.....Mr. Tackling Machine"
"hidden yardage that can cost you a football game"
"the Herm Edwards effect"

ASU up 21-17, 4:34 left, Cal starts its possession. Commentator Louis Riddick:

"this is a big drive for Cal"

Thanks, Louis!


Duke-Virginia Tech, 9/27, ESPN

"toe meets leather, and we begin"
"great football IQ"
"he tried to thread the needle"
"he's got athletes on the perimeter"
"a physical boundary corner"
"swarm the football"
"the Big House"
"staying ahead of the chains"


UNLV-Wyoming, 9/28, ESPNU

one of the announcers - Rene Ingoglia?

"making plays with his feet" (2)
"get north and south in a hurry"
"the face of the program"
"he runs angry, and hungry"
"ball-hawking defense"
"they're active with a purpose"
"blue chip hard worker with a chip on his shoulder"
"running behind his pads"
"quick hot read"
"he will hurt you with his feet"
"puts it in the belly of the back"
"bad eye discipline"
"gets a paw on it"


Iowa State-Baylor, 9/28, ESPN

"watch the tape"
"high end intelligence"
"here's the contact...feel that in your living room!"
"fighting for scraps in the Big 12"

Brian Griese:

"he's chosen to run with his legs"
"he's not going to beat you with speed, but he's going to beat you with his mind, and his understanding of route running"

"copy cat league"
"he's a playmaker"


Lafayette-Princeton, 10/11, ESPNU

"four down territory"
"controlling the clock, controlling the game"
"textbook form tackle"
"they say 'see what you hit', he did"

?

"there's guys out there still playing football"
"turnover chain"


Colorado-Oregon, 10/11, FOX

Brock Huard!

"two guys falling from the same toughness tree"
"I think this is probably go zone"
"he played with some twitch and some edge"
"physicality-wise"
"build on your identity, of what you want to be: Oregon football"
"he's Mr. Reliable, Mr. Dependable"

Well, which one is it, Brock?!

"that's what we like to call a car wash ball"

?

"look at the number of hats that get to the football"
"the ball came out after a football move"
"watch them overwhelm at the point of attack"
"play through the whistle"


Rutgers-Indiana, 10/12, Big 10 Network

Color commentator J. Leman said "four tuddies" instead of "four touchdowns", so we can't let him get away with that.

"chew up possession time"
"this Rutgers offense has to hit the reset button"
"it's all about next man up"


Georgia-South Carolina, 10/12, SEC Network

"aggressive-wise"
"the heart of the South Carolina defense"
"cancelling out gaps"
"bunch set"
"if you're Georgia you gotta find some zone beaters"
"stay in the moment"
"he hears the cadence"
"Death Valley"
"he's chosen to run with his legs"

Football nonsense diary, part 2

We've got several weeks of nonsense, starting with the September 5 Division II game between Harding and Ouchita Baptist on ESPN. Darren Goldwater & Trai Essex on the call...

"he runs the ball with bad intentions"

"smash mouth football" (4)

"he comes downhill to punish people"

"extra beef up front"

"pre-snap movement"
"the pocket collapses"

"great tackle in space"

"the legacy member of the Tigers"

"had him dead to rights"

"he looks like he knows hot to lay a wallop"
"the father of the flex bone"


Southern-Memphis, 9/7, espn3

"two-headed quarterback"
"he's like a defensive coordinator on the football field"
"play assignment football"
"Memphis rolling now...downhill"
"his defense bending but not breaking"


Syracuse-Maryland, 9/7, ESPN

"a little RPO action"
"circus grab"
"in touch with that transfer portal"
"those legs keep churning"
"this is good quarterbacking"
"he runs tough"
"clean pocket"
"checking down"
"pass coverage-oriented"
"a workhorse-type guy"
"foot meets leather once again"
"changes the eye discipline of the defense"


South Florida-Georgia Tech, 9/7, ACC Network

"it's money down here on the flats"
"he definitely has the arm talent"
"peel the edge"
"the numbers aren't going to wow you, from a statistical standpoint"
"a booth-initiated review"
"couple of rooks slinging the rock"


Falcons-Vikings, 9/8, 92.9 FM Atlanta

"win the first two downs"
"third and a bundle"

!

"bunch look"
"pretty good job of swallowing up"
"set a hard edge"
"the second quarter driven to you by Kia"
"the Vikings have dodged two ball handling bullets"
"you gotta trust your skill set"


Broncos-Raiders, 9/9, ESPN

"he has to be a play maker and a change maker"
"tight window throws"
"hostile environment"
"injecting youth into this defense"
"hybrid multi-positional tight ends"
"those are the meat and potatoes of this offense"
"live to fight another down"
"a house of horrors for the Denver Broncos"
"the elder statesman of the receiving core"


Arizona State-Michigan State, 9/14, FOX

"it's going to be tough sledding"
"generational quarterback"
"Sparty"
"the ball goes faster than the body"
"bubble screens" (2)
"run plugger"
"high energy"
"chase the moment" (2)
"he's a bit of a speed merchant"
"that's what you talk about running well in a phone booth"

Pardon me, Spencer Tillman?


Southern Miss-Alabama, 9/21, 640 AM Atlanta/The Crimson Tide Sports Network

"showing the physicality...it's becoming contagious"
"the Chick Fila red zone" (4)
"two minute drill"
"dime personnel"
"roll tide"
"he came with the hammer and knocked the nail"

!

"gang tackled"
"got some meat there up front"
"he's trusting his eyes"


Central Florida-Pittsburgh, 9/21, ESPN2

"he hasn't had the big play theater"
"the UCF players have a chip on their shoulder"
"third down and medium"
"they go max pro here"
"out-gunned, out-manned and out-numbered...and out-planned, too"
"going through the progressions"
"14 plays run in UCF real estate"


Washington-BYU, 9/21, espn3

Steve Levy and Bob Griese

"sense of urgency"
"possess the football"
"that's Zach Wilson as advertised"
"lots of hand fighting on both ends"
"the back shoulder throw"
"a great route runner"
"it's a scoop and score"


South Carolina-Missouri, 9/21, SEC Network

"fell in love with the culture at Missouri"
"both of these defenses have been salty"


San Jose State-Arkansas, 9/21, SEC Network

"getting vertical and stymying the run"
"they have been stuck in the Arkansas mud...four punts"
"they can kind of pin their ears back"
"that was a grown men drive"
"the desire to get to the end zone"


Georgia State-Texas State, 9/21, 98.5 FM Atlanta

"go route"
"walked off under his own power"
"throwing the ball into the hands of a waiting Bobcat"
"lot of laundry out there on the field"
"east-west running"
"wheel route"


UCLA-Washington State, 9/21, ESPN

Beth Mowins & Rocky Boiman

"a Philly special"
"the offense started to find its legs"
"between the hedges"
"it's a mesh route"
"they went to SEC country"
"he's got a little moxie to him"
"NFL ready"
"he's not the biggest linebacker, but he plays big"

College football nonsense diary, 2019 part 1

Nonsense diary No. 1 of the new season gets started with the defending national champions, Clemson against Georgia Tech on the ACC Network (8/29).

[2018 diaries]

"the ball in the belly of the back"

"this is from our stick cam"

"freakish athlete"

"third and forever"

Our first 'third and' of the season!

It arrives at the 8:39 mark of the opening quarter.

"his Heisman resume"

"Death Valley"

"play at the next level"

"he's become more of an alpha dog"

Wisconsin-South Florida, 8/30, ESPN

Dave Flemming and Louis Riddick:

"pocket passer"

"Jack Coan left some throws on the table"

"he's just being the point guard out there, that's what good quarterbacks do"

"the smash-mouth style"

"the character of this football team"

"complimentary football"

"at Jerry's World"

"legitimate big play ability"

Colorado-Colorado State, 8/30, ESPN News

Roy Philpott and commentator Kelly Stouffer,

a Nonsense Legend who never disappoints...

"clean pocket"

"be disciplined at the point of attack"

"plus territory" (3)

"the Manning Passing Academy"

"statement drive"/"a statement reception"

"physicality"

"couldn't get enough mustard on that throw"

"the football factory that is DeSoto High School"

"Mel Kiper's big board"

First of the season: 14:13 left in the second quarter

"a volume tackler"

"RPO"

"trust your eyes, trust your weapon"

"trying to change the culture"

"a consummate route-runner that can handle the entire route tree"

!

Early candidate for phrase of the year from Stouffer.

"arm talent"

"he's a physical, downhill pile mover"

!

And there's another.

"Rocky Mountain showdown" (8)

"personnel grouping"

"he has some hiccups in his fundamentals"

"your contested catch maker"

"this is what hungry looks like"/"it's the hunger to go get the line to gain"

Georgia State-Tennessee, 8/31, ESPNU

Clay Matvich and Ryan Leaf

"dual threat senior"

"he's the security blanket"

"go through your progressions"

"second and manageable"/"third and manageable"

"off the field under his own power"

"toughness breeds confidence"

"Rocky Top" (4)

"a gut check fourth quarter"

"the Jeremy Pruitt regime"

"strong SEC ties"

"they've struggled to be explosive"

!

"the Big House"

"it's in his DNA"

"coach speak"

"football acumen"

South Alabama-Nebraska, 8/31, ESPN

"the hype machine is humming in Lincoln"
"Heisman hopeful"
"he's a big boy....a downhill runner"
"elite dual threat"
"efficiency through his progressions"
"tale of the tape"
"the Jaguars will try to flip the field"

Toledo-Kentucky, 8/31, SEC Network

"the heart and soul of the Kentucky defense"
"collapsing the pocket"
"bulldozed to the ground"
"the opportunity to tuck and run" (2)
"Mark Stoops rolls the dice"
"elevated in the depth chart"
"he's just a gutty quarterback"
"three-headed monster trying to replace Benny Snell"
"third and a mile"
"a known commodity in your run game"

Fresno State-USC, 8/31/ESPN

"air raid" (12)

['air raid' - 11, 'air raid light' - 1]

"second and medium"

"an embarrassment of riches"

"he's been in the medical tent"

"big bodied defensive end"

"dial up pressure"

"the trenches"

"short field"

"David taking on Goliath"

"there's a lot of scrappy in Fresno State"/"there's a lot of gutty with this Fresno State team"

South Carolina-North Carolina, 8/31, ESPN

"a little border war"

"they're craving for structure, they're craving for leadership...Mack Brown is giving it to them"

"value the football"

"Mack Brown's a football coach"

"he'll be playing on Sundays"

"chunk plays"

"a big powerful, offensive line they want to hang their hat on"

"you're in take a shot position"

"third down and a mile"

"sell out to stop the run"

Colgate-Air Force, 8/31, espn3

"the expectation bar is set high for these two teams"

"that's inside, up there in the brier patch"

"dummy motion"

"he's their burner"

"they won the numbers battle"

Houston-Oklahoma, 9/1, ABC

"win the down"

"collapsing the pocket"

"yards in big chunks"

"a lot of air raid ties"

"top flight wide receiver"

"a trick 'em route"

Notre Dame-Louisville, 9/2, ABC

"the road warrior mentality"

"brings the program fresh energy"/"he's already made some changes to the culture"

"game reps"

"the nose of the football"

"get him the ball in space"

"blue chip player"

"moved the sticks with his feet"

"great catch radius" (3)

"he's a hybrid guy"/"that hybrid rover spot"

"the glue of the Notre Dame defense"

"independent ball movement"

"flying to the football"

"ball security drills"

"fumbleitis broke out"

"Mr. Football"

College football 2018 - rest of September

SMU-TCU, 9/7, ESPN

"Dan Orlovsky!!"
- Bobby Feathers

"battle for the iron skillet" (3)
"a Brian Kelly supporter"
"playing the correct leverage"

?

"QBR rating"
"clock management"
"goes through his progressions" (2)
"the pocket shrinks"


Georgia State-N.C. State, 9/8, Fox Sports

"toting that rock"
"two guys bowing up"
"he's talking core culture stuff"
"they don't call it the Fun Belt for nothing"

Wes Durham after blocked punt: "turned away again"
James Bates: "and then some"

?


New Orleans-Tampa Bay, 9/9, Fox

Chris Myers pxp, Daryl Johnston cc

"go-to bell cow type running back"
"running back committee"
"you can't win a championship in September, but you sure can lose one"
"they call him a game breaker"


Chicago-Green Bay, 9/9, NBC

"bull rush"
"that was a wow touchdown"
"exotic looks"
"blitz packages"
"they've got a bit of thunder and lightning"
"outside the tackle box"


Oakland-Los Angeles, 9/10, ESPN

"third and manageable"
"he came here last year to help change the culture"
"black hole" (2)
"a little cat and mouse game"
"finding the soft spot in the zone" (3)


Boston College-Wake Forest, 9/13, ESPN

"that's a wrinkle"
"football shape"
"vanilla off-coverage"

?

"answering the bell in the play action game"
"four-down territory"


Tulsa-Temple, 9/20, ESPN

"a go ball"
"positional flexibility"
"eye discipline"
"that's what Temple football is all about"
"they're all about the swag here at Temple"
"that's what Temple tough is all about"
"happy feet in the pocket"


Kent State-Mississippi, 9/22, SEC Network

"first and forever"
"no risk it, no biscuit"

!


"showing all the tools that he has in the tool belt today"
"don't let last week beat you twice"
"he's been the bell cow"
"two minute offense"


Tampa Bay-Pittsburgh, 9/24, ESPN

"you have to dial it in"
"that's not the steel curtain way"
"Ben"
"Big Ben"
"matriculate the ball downfield"
"Steeler nation"
"chunk plays"
"Fitzmagic" (4)
"the Twitter sensation"

Thank you for the analysis

"they're going to have to execute here to score a touchdown"


North Carolina-Miami, 9/27, ESPN

"muddle huddle" (2)
"you always want to key the go"

??

"the chain gang"
"stretch the field"
"ball security"
"a bend don't break situation"
"the turnover chain"
"third and 12 is not manageable"

So, third and not manageable?


East Stroudsburg-Millersville, 9/27, espn3

"put the ball back in the belly of your tailback"
"finding the soft spot on the field"
"trial by fire for this football team"
"get him in space"/"cut block in space"


Stanford-Notre Dame, 9/29, NBC

"a drive of promise"
"gunners"
"he's not out of the quarterback manual"
"the two minute offense" (2)
"fish hook move"
"a kid at heart"
"he's a gym rat"
"football plays"
"line up and just smash mouth them"
"Stanford's medical tent"
"keep the legs churning"


Virginia Tech-Duke, 9/29, ESPN2

"white out"
"Gaines has answered the bell"
"a coach on the field"
"he's gonna be playing on Sundays"
"the Hokies lunch pail defense"


Iowa State-TCU, 9/29, ESPNU

"they just get hats on bodies"
"tough as nails"
"that was just Iowa State football: grind it out"
"a wildcat set"
"the jumbo package"
"four star recruit"
"fresh set of downs"
"the real estate ran out quickly"
"he can put his cleats in the grass and make cuts"
"special teams stalwart"


Cleveland-Oakland, 9/30, FOX

"populate to the football"
"little zig route"
"dummy route"
"he learned how to grind"
"freakish athlete"

College football 2018: opening weekend nonsense

Central Florida-Connecticut, 8/31, ESPN

"eye-popping numbers"
"into plus territory"
"close the gap talent level-wise"
"backs against the wall"
"shut down corner"
"well-oiled machine"
"third and manageable"

!

"they stress your eye discipline" (3)
"plays in space"
"the Heisman conversation"
"move the chains"
"throw it all over the lot"
"self-inflicted wounds"
"that's his bread and butter"
"another big chunk play"
"on the two deep"
"he's a run finisher"

"football"

"it means a lot to this football team"
"he wanted to put his stamp on his football team"
"in football talk"
"we're looking for positive football plays"


San Diego State-Stanford, 8/31, FS1

"he goes up and makes a big boy play"
"a savvy vet guy"
"the Bryce Love Show"
"he's at his best when he's running downhill"


Army-Duke, 8/31, espn3

"high octane offense"
"best kept secret in college football"
"vaunted triple option"
"sun-splashed Durham, North Carolina"
"four yards and a cloud of dust"


Florida Atlantic-Oklahoma, 9/1, FS1

"running back U"
"he was baptized by fire"
"they are gap sound"
"old school Oklahoma football"


South Dakota-Kansas State, 9/1, ESPN

"a lot of atta-boys for Lynch"
"two minute drill"
"watch this young man grow up before our eyes"
"scooping it up off the carpet"


Mississippi-Texas Tech, 9/1, ESPN
Mark Jones pxp, Dusty Voracek cc

"he won the locker room" (2)
"YAC yardage"


James Madison-NC State, 9/1, ESPN

"let this clock bleed"
"survive the ground"
"turnover chain"
"in street clothes"
"bring your 'A' game"


BYU-Arizona, 9/1, ESPN

"they're trying to get in the blocking business"
"exuded that type of leadership"
"big play differential"
"jet sweep"
"west coast style quarterback"
"four down territory"
"Mel Kiper's big board"
"the Pac 12 narrative"
"bunch set"
"big boy football"
"tackle in space"

An evening of football phrases

Houston-Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl, Chris Cotter & Rod Gilmore on the call for ESPN:

Cotter

"described as a lunch pail guy"
"that defense bows up"
"putting the ball on the carpet"
"Hokit is running with abandon right now!"
"Xs and Os"
"trickeration"

Gilmore

"we talk about a guy who brings everything to the package" (pardon?)

On Houston's Ed Oliver:

"relentless motor"
"Fresno State coaches love his motor"
"we told you about his motor!"

"royalty in that DNA"
"timeout in your back pocket"
"throwing into the teeth of an eight-man coverage"
"a little buzz, a little action out of his team...a little tempo"

Football phrase diary, part 6

Games played from 10/30 - 11/11


Denver-Kansas City, 10/30, ESPN

"Denver jumped into their NASCAR package"
"out-flanked"
"in traffic"
"hard count" (2)
"like a coach on the field"
"bunch formation" (2)
"a nose for the ball"
"directional kicking"
"hybrid safety"
"edge rushers"
"two minute offense" (2)
"dime package"
"run the rock"
"ball skills"
"effort plays"
"showcases after the ball skills"
"high motor"
"circus catch"
"a glum John Elway"
"what a grinder"


Ohio-Miami (Ohio), 10/31, ESPNU

"dual threat guy"
"feast or famine"
"Frank Solichesque"
"circus catch"
"he leaps out of the stadium and plucks that ball out of the night sky"
"tackle in open space"
"tough sledding"
"four down territory"
"slant window"
"stack the box"
"inching their way closer to pay dirt"


Oklahoma-Oklahoma State, 11/4, Fox Sports 1

"zone concept"
"it's a schematic issue"
"skinny post"
"quality route runner"
"five star recruit"
"bedlam" (13)
"they have a no-flinch mentality"
"helmet to helmet contact"
"the legend of Baker Mayfield"


Michigan-Minnesota, 11/4, Fox Sports 1

"by the nose of the football"
"play power football downhill"
"eye discipline"
"run conflict situation"
"ball hawking"


BYU-Fresno State, 11/4, ESPN

Roy Phillpott and Tom Ramsey on the call:

"the two deep"
"a mash unit"
"pick six"
"McMaryion has been the conductor in the Bulldogs' orchestra"

!

"plus territory"
"the cream of the crop of the Mountain West Conference"
"touchdown saving tackle"
"an extra set of eyes"
"prescribed route"
"that's good body position"


Miami Ohio-Akron, 11/7, ESPN2

"move the chains" (2)
"this guy's got moxie"
"laundry on the field"
"Akron trying to bow down"
"a sideline to sideline kind of guy"


Georgia State-Texas State, 11/11, CSN

"route design"
"overcome adversity"
"showing physicality"
"out of the shadow of their own goal line"
"trickeration" (2)
"taking it to the house"
"gap containment"
"the film room"
"and Mr. Ripley, believe it or not, is on to punt it away"

clock

"internal clock"
"manage the clock"
"the clock is your enemy" (2)

"a next level guy"
"the Andy Reid school of burning timeouts"
"a whale of a ballgame"
"move the sticks" (7)
"victory formation"

Football phrases diary, part 5

Games played from 10/23 - 10/28


Washington-Philadelphia, 10/23, ESPN

"a great motor and a great get-off"
"that's right down Broad Street"/"the bullies from Broad Street"
"burst route"
"gut pressure"/"gut check"
"Cinderella story"
"he's North Dakota tough" (2)

!

"two minute drill"
"natural route runner"
"got their sea legs under them"
"fresh as daisies"
"he comes from a football family"
"selling out for his football team"
"the medical evaluation tent"


South Alabama-Georgia State, 10/26, ESPNU

"1-2 punch"
"stable of backs"
"a bend but don't break outfit"
"getting beat like a drum"
"concussion protocol"
"football math"
"head on a swivel"
"flip the field"
"at times he throws perfect dimes"
"they're a football family"
"rugby-style punter"
"ready to lay some lumber"
"big body type"
"go routes"
"50-50 balls"
"cat and mouse game"
"their M-O is bend but don't break"
"they got hit in the mouth"
"four down territory" (2)
"coverage sack"
"scissors route"


Stanford-Oregon State, 10/26, ESPN

"they gave up some significant real estate"/"they have lost significant real estate"
"stretch the field vertically"
"he got trucked"
"right in his hip pocket" (2)
"double cadence"
"a time out in your pocket"


Florida State-Boston College, 10/27, ESPN

Mack Brown! Welcome. Up to this point, you've been missed.

"heavyweight fight"
"we're talking about a field position game"
"hidden yards" (2)
"Chestnut Hill" (2)/"people have been restless in Chestnut Hill"
"every hat is in the right place"
"it's gap control" (2)
"plus territory" (4)
"boots and nakeds"
"move the chains going north and south"
"body language on the south boundary"
"he just pancaked the guy"
"this is rare air"
"right at the sticks"
"keep our foot on the gas"
"the tutelage of Paul Pasqualoni"
"football is a game of attrition"


Nebraska-Iowa, 10/28 Fox Sports 1

"the heartbeat of this Minnesota defense"
"steps into a clean pocket" (2)
"seize the opportunity"
"utilize a little pump action"
"jet sweep action" (3)
"boot action"/"Nate Stanley booting"
"grind some clock"


Mississippi State-Texas A&M, 10/28, ESPN

"tip drill"
"Ford tried to lower his hat"
"chunks of yardage"
"play recognition"
"play fast"
"home of the 12th man"


New Mexico-Wyoming, 10/28, ESPNU

"roll the pocket" (2)
"it's a powder puff cupcake schedule"
"draft stock"
"loaded the box" (3)
"quick strike"
"between the hashmarks"
"in search of their identity" (3)
"the Pokes" (2)
"they'll show the power 1"
"went the junior college route"

Football phrases diary, part 4

Games played from 10/13 - 10/22


California-Washington State, 10/13, ESPN

"near the sticks"
"paid dividends"
"pick six"
"chunk plays"
"Pac 12 after dark" (3)


Ohio State-Nebraska, 10/14, Fox Sports 1

"puts on the after burners"
"keeps the chains moving"
"from the shadow of their own end zone"


Georgia State-Louisiana Monroe, 10/14, espn3.com

"on all cylinders" (2)
"amp it up"
"the RPO area of their offense" (2)
"a jack of all trades"
"that has been the bugaboo"

"pre-snap read"
"they're very vanilla on defense"
"turf toe"

Our first turf toe of the season!


"he moves chains"
"the bubble set up"
"third and manageable"


Louisiana-Arkansas State, 10/19, ESPNU

"vocal leader"
"these two camps describe this rivalry as 'healthy hatred'"
"50-50 balls"
"double digit gallop"
"lowered the pads"
"wall of blockers"
"ran out of gas"
"razzle dazzle"
"plus territory"
"we're still more than a week away from Halloween, but the bag of tricks for the Redwolves!"


Memphis-Houston, 10/19, ESPN

Color commentator Andre Ware:

"quarterback pitch man relationship"
"hybrid linebacker-defensive end"
"third and medium"


Third And rankings
[updated Oct. 19, 2017]

1 - Third and manageable
2 - Third and forever
3 - Third and California
4 - Third and medium



"chomping at the bit"
"getting a receiver in space"
"they mash the gas"


bumper sticker:

"fleet of foot"
"that's just film study"


Idaho-Missouri, 10/21, SEC Network

"it has to be a building block game"
"clean pocket"
"they've leaked points"
"Mel Kiper's draft board"
"flip the field"
"hybrid linebacker"
"throwing under duress"


Atlanta-New England, 10/22, NBC

"there's Belichick's number two pencil, sharpened"
"a slot player"/"pure slot player"
"power football"
"run stuffer extraordinaire"
"win a finesse game"

Football phrases diary part 3

Games played from 9/29 - 10/7


Nebraska-Illinois, 9/29, FS1

"walk off under his own power"
"speed rush"
"bubble screen"
"eyes to the tuck"

?

"scoop and score"
"that's a make your quarterback look good moment"
"trying to overwhelm Illinois, like waves on a beach - over and over again until they break"

!

"gang tackled"
"power football"
"wheelhouse" (2)


USC-Washington State, 9/29, ESPN

"USC, are they battle-tested, or battle-scarred?"
"the 'it' factor"
"fresh legs"

Our first 'fresh legs' of the season!

"that's all want-to and willpower"
"prototypical NFL pocket passer"
"violent hands"
"plus territory" (2)
"he's very cerebral"
"un-Mike Leachesque"

Again -

"un-Mike Leachesque"


Clemson-Virginia Tech, 9/30, ABC

"stem the tide"
"the linebackers are trying to eat tonight too"
"ball hawking safety"


Indianapolis-Seattle, 10/1, NBC

"the 12th man" (3)
"the legion of boom"


Washington-Kansas City, 10/2, ESPN

Hello again, Jon Gruden:

"edge player"
"grinder"
"this Hogs 2.0 outfit"
"situational awareness"

This phrase is 100% nonsense.

"the Toledo Rocket rockin' the NFL!"
"bells and whistles"
"he's been selling chemistry"

I was a boy scout for a couple years, and once a year we'd go around to houses and try to sell items from this giant suitcase to make money for the troup. One of those items was a chemistry set.

THAT'S selling chemistry.

"hard count"
"they bring juice on the opposite side"


Boise State-BYU, 10/6, ESPN

"I love this guy as a football player"
"extremely high football IQ"
"dragged down in space"


Minnesota-Purdue, 10/7, ESPN

Welcome to the Kelly Stouffer Hour, sponsored by Nonsense

"ball hawks"
"continuity up front"
"chip on their shoulder"
"big body tight end "(2)
"splash plays"
"gadget plays"
"RPO - run, pass option"
"multiple personnel groupings"
"hard count"
"pre-snap intel"
"third and forever"
"legacy Boilermaker"
"he's a game manager"


Fresno State-San Jose State, 10/7, ESPN

"rivalries are just what they are: rivalries"

You can say that about absolutely everything, commentator Forrest Conoly. Look:

Cupcakes are just what they are: cupcakes.
Train schedules are just what they are: train schedules.


"handed the keys to the offense"
"a team that plays through the whistle"


Western Illinois-Northern Iowa, 10/7, Panther Sports Network

"bend but don't break"
"a fresh set of sticks"
"pocket awareness"
"change of pace back"


Michigan State-Michigan, 10/7, ABC

"legacy game"
"move the sticks"
"in the trenches"
"exotic pressure"
"the Paul Bunyan Trophy"


San Diego State-UNLV, 10/7, ESPN

"he's going to have to grow up fast in a hurry"

!


Rest of San Diego State-UNLV game

"student of the game"
"play the sticks"
"hat on a hat"
"old school power back"
"Big 12 flag bearer"
"throwing window"



Previous diaries

9/16-9/23
9/1-9/4

Football phrases running diary, part 2

Games played from 9/16-9/23


Rice at Houston, 9/16, ESPN

"he plays at pad level"
"get them in space"/"get them on an island"
"going through his progressions"
"moving the chains"


Mississippi State at Georgia, 9/23, ESPN

"tackle box"
"big body receiver"


Houston Baptist at McNeese State, 9/23, FOX

"you have to play four quarters" (said four times)
"second and a mile"
"pick six" (4)
"highlight reel catch"
"shift of momentum"
"Johnny on the spot"


Oklahoma at Baylor, 9/23, FOX

"not necessarily bad blood, but familiar blood...recruiting blood"

wow!

"matching some physicality"
"home run threat"
"carry the mail"