BCS Championship Game 2014 Recap: Winston (Mostly) Saved Himself On The Last Play, Tre Mason To Be An NFL Weapon
ByThe BCS Championship unfolded in neither expected nor unexpected fashion yesterday because of how different the two teams' seasons were. Behind over 50 points per game, Florida State hadn't beaten a team by less than 27 points all season, if you don't count the Boston College game, which they won by 14 anyway. Playing a tougher schedule, Auburn completed one of the closest 11-1 seasons to date. Besides the miracle finishes against Georgia and Alabama, they'd also been tested by Washington State (31-24, and up 28-24 going into the fourth quarter), Mississippi State (24-20 and down 20-17 going into the fourth quarter), Ole Miss (30-22), and Texas A&M (45-41).
Yet, the Tigers had built up more momentum over their last three wins than perhaps any team in recent college football history. As fans, we didn't know what to expect beyond Vegas' ten and half point spread.
Going against Florida State was sports law (it's difficult to last an entire season in any major sport without at least one major test) and betters (more action went Auburn's way both straight up and against the spread, according to CBS). They didn't cover, but they won a game they probably shouldn't have because of a breathtaking kickoff return TD in the fourth by burner Levonte Whitfield (aided by a leg injury on one of Auburn's coverage guys) and an inexcusable 50 yard pass and catch and run on the final drive. Before that, Auburn was gashing the Seminoles defense and manipulating it through the air rather effectively as well.
As for Jameis Winston, he was slightly less than advertised, though my expectations weren't incredibly high. The only game I'd seen him play was his slow start at Florida on Nov. 30, but from his highlight videos, most of the passes he'd thrown were to wide open receivers. I anticipated it would be his team carrying him rather than the other way around. He didn't deserve the MVP over Tre Mason (34-195, TD, and 42-yard receiving TD).
Of course, there's potential there, perhaps aided by the fact that he's not a running quarterback, but moves like a young Ben Roethlisberger in the pocket. Winston will be forced to become a better passer, and he surely will. I'm only worried about his release, which extends a little too low -- sort of like Tim Tebow's before he eventually corrected it. In my eyes, Winston saved himself on that last drive. Though he ran into a little luck on that 50 yard "pass," his body language changed and he executed that last play action throw with authority, even if it was a relatively easy pass.
On a final note, Tre Mason likely would have won the Heisman Trophy if the vote was taken after the championship game. Resembling something between Marshawn Lynch and Darren Sproles, he's going to be an interesting weapon for whichever team drafts him (he's already declared for the draft). I'm already adjusting my fantasy rankings.