Setting aside all of the concern about areas of improvement for our team... Consider this. Bowe is out. Davis is out. About a dozen dropped balls. ASU has defensive momentum. Playing at a hostile stadium. Fourth and ten. The hopes of an entire state riding on his shoulders. Russell knows all of this. Yet somehow, someway, the guy, with a simple flick of his arm, tosses the ball 45 yards in the air, into the endzone. A perfect pass. Into double coverage. And Doucet makes a great catch. Game over. Guys, we have just had the privilege of watching a singular moment for our team. And for our state. Russell put EVERYBODY on his back and won the damned game. Period. With all of the distractions. With the devastation, tragedy, loss, pain, and fear of the last few weeks--Russell put everybody on his back when it counted most. A lot of our players had great games, and there is a good story with each and every one of them. But last night, in the face of the worst odds I can recall, JaMarcus Russell stepped up. We have our quarterback. And we have our leader. :geauxtige
And he had the confidence in Doucet to throw him the ball when he had already dropped three. I hope Doucet grew up a lot in this game, too.
Since I know you personally, I can say this...without a doubt...that is the cheesiest bunch of shi# I've ever heard you say...and you love the cheese. :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:
Great Post. My sentiments exactly. I was impressed. Remember folks, JR is a redshirted Sophomore. HE WILL GET BETTER, IMO.
Doucet's game last night was very familiar with Skyler's game vs UGA in Tiger Stadium in '03. In that game, Skyler had a rough time and dropped a couple of passes in critical times, but came back to catch the game-winner.
I agree with NoLimit. He definately seems to shine when the pressure is the most intense (Org. St. heroics last year and Cap. One comeback along with the 4th down play last night), and that's a great intangible to have. Aside from couple of passes thrown behind receivers, the strength and delivery of JM's passes was on target all night. I just hope that Aaron Brooks-like play in the redzone on the long drive was an aboration and not something he becomes known for.
JR was having tons fun out there tonight. Did you see him celebrate!!! Our boy grew up A LOT! I wonder if any of that has to do with him knowing he's the man this season... he won't have to worry about being pulled when he makes a mistake. JR's resiliency was impressive. We have quite a QB on our hands.
At one point in teh game, I thought that he was going to be defined by driving the team down the field and then fumbling. He seemed to sputter immediately after that and ASU jumped on the defense. Once the special teams stepped up, it put a spark back in everyone, apparently even JR. If he continues to grow and improve, that pass will definitely be looked back on as a turning point.
I was thinking the same thing. It's good that ED kept his head in the game and was there to make that HUGE catch.
