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Reviews
from past weeks: 1
2 3
4
5 6
7
8 9 10
11 12
13 14
15
Reviews from
this week: Randy,
his father review 5 New Year's Day bowls
Reviews from this week: George
calls ABC's Sugar Bowl broadcast 'choppy'
Nessler/Danielson
Put
Claim In For No. 1 Slot
By
George Stahl
Like
Florida, ABC's Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson have established
themselves as one of the best teams in college football. But
while Florida finished No. 1 a couple years ago, Nessler and Danielson
have always played vice president to the top team of Keith Jackson,
Bob Griese and Lynn Swann.
Now,
with the
legendary Jackson vacating ABC's top college football play-by-play
spot, the future of Griese, Swann and the No. 1 team is undecided.
If I had a vote, though, I would elect Nessler, Danielson and
sideline reporter Dean Blevins as the network's new No. 1 team.
Last
night's broadcast of Florida's 31-10 blowout of Syracuse in the
Orange Bowl was just another example of the fine work this crew
has done all year. Nessler
smoothly described the action, Danielson consistently provided insightful
analysis, and Blevins provided quick updates on injuries.
Plus,
the threesome showed they can work well together, such as when
Florida quarterback Doug Johnson went down with an injured ankle.
Danielson immediately talked about Johnson's prior ankle problems
as well as his own.
He then said Johnson's backup, Jesse Palmer, who just came back
from a broken collarbone, didn't look 100% yet in practice this
week.
Blevins
buzzed in, adding that the coaches told him before the game that
Palmer definitely was the backup tonight. Nessler
then discussed Johnson's two-sport athletic career at Florida.
A
few minutes later, Blevins gave his first update on Johnson, reporting
that the quarterback was definitely done for the night and that
the team was being close-mouthed on the injury.
Overall,
it was a very good job by all three and just one small example why
they should be No. 1 next season.
Other
thoughts, notes and observations of ABC's telecast:
Top
tips:
1. While Syracuse at times may look confused at the offensive
line of scrimmage, Danielson said, the Orangemen are doing that
deliberately to throw off Florida's defense.
2. Florida's Palmer doesn't have the arm strength yet that
he had before the injury, Danielson said.
3. Syracuse was going to use the option to get its runners
outside, Danielson said.
4. Syracuse was going to run at Florida's linebackers to
keep them honest in their pursuit, Danielson said.
Good lines:
1. "This game was over quicker than Magic's [Johnson]
TV show," Danielson said.
2. "[Syracuse fullback Rob Konrad] is one of the 25 players
that I've heard going in the [NFL Draft's] top ten," Blevins
said.
3. "It's like dating RuPaul, you're not quite sure what
you're going to get," Nessler said about the complexity of
the Florida offense.
4. After Florida missed deep on a third-and-short but got
the first down by going for it on fourth down, Danielson complimented
Spurrier for thinking two plays ahead and added, "I'll play
him in golf, but I won't play him in chess."
5. "Syracuse
is burning a timeout on fourth down, that ain't bad. But when you're
down 28-3, it ain't good," Danielson said in the third quarter.
6. "It's six-for-six, and another six," Nessler
said after Florida quarterback Doug Johnson completed his sixth
straight completion and second touchdown.
Good shots/points:
1. Danielson said Florida coach Steve Spurrier called a timeout
to discuss with officials a possible illegal chop block by Syracuse.
However, ABC and Danielson showed that it was a legal block.
2. Danielson and ABC showed how Spurrier set up Florida's
first touchdown by running similar plays back-to-back.
3. "When you're running the ball as a quarterback, the
fumbles come from behind," Danielson said.
4. ABC had a camera isolated on a Gator defender who almost
had an interception on Syracuse's first drive of the second half.
5. Danielson wondered why Syracuse coach Pete Pasqualone
didn't put in the backup quarterback at the end of the game. Danielson
proved prophetic a few plays into the final drive, when McNabb left
the game after hurting his knee.
Things
that make you go hmm:
1. "They can't outmatch the speed of Syracuse," Danielson
said about Florida's offense.
2. Danielson said Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb, more
than any other quarterback that he has seen, reminds him of Green
Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre. He made that point throughout
the game.
3. Spurrier compared Florida to the Denver Broncose,
in that both teams pass a lot in the first half, build a lead and
then rack up the rushing yards in the second half, Danielson said.
Top stats:
1. Florida had 417 pass attempts this year but allowed only
17 sacks, Danielson said.
2. The first five Florida possessions were three-and-out,
Danielson said, except that Florida scored a touchdown on two of
those drives.
Glitches:
1. ABC misidentified the interim defensive coordinator for Florida.
A few minutes later, the network had to correct itself.
2. ABC showed the wrong replay after Florida receiver Travis
Taylor's 51-yard touchdown reception.
3. On a play-action fake, the main camera stayed on the runner
and left the quarterback, who still had the ball, completely out
of the picture.
4. Nessler gave the wrong score in the fourth quarter. He
said it was 28-3, when it was 31-3.
Production
problems:
ABC's reoccurring production problems seemed to affect its main
play-by-play camera, which had a surprisingly tough time following
the action at certain points, such as when it was fooled badly by
a play-fake.
Premature
exclamation:
1. Nessler said a Florida field goal attempt in the third quarter
was good when it wasn't.
Bad jobs:
1. ABC got caught off guard when Florida went for it on fourth
down in the second quarter. The crew was focusing on the missed
third down conversion and didn't alert viewers that Florida was
going for it on fourth until Florida was at the line of scrimmage.
Thoughts
on the announcers:
Nessler: very smooth ... made easy transitions back-and-forth
between discussions and play-by-play. ... got a little sloppy as
the game became less and less in doubt.
Danielson:
extremely well-prepared. ... By his analysis, it was obvious that
he spent a lot of time going to practice and talking with coaches.
... consistently made insightful comments ... sometimes slipped
into football lingo too easily. ... may be the best game analyst
in college football.
Blevins:
quick to update on injuries ... a good college football information
man.
Grade: B+.
Danielson and Nessler should be ABC's No. 1 next year.
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To see George's picks/previews of the College Bowls, visit Saturday
Selections.
To post a comment, go to the Speak
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