Morning Brew: Briscoe on the big stage

Column photo

By Tim Dwyer

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Dezmon Briscoe might be the best receiver in the country.

Still.

Despite the infamous drop. And the one before it. And here’s why.

We’ll start with my original concept. You see, about six days ago when this column was conceived it was going to be a “Dezmon Briscoe is the best wide receiver in the country.” But then ­­— well, you saw it. Do I have to relive it? I’m going to say no and save us the agony.

By the way, I want to clear this up before I go any further. Kerry Meier is an absolutely phenomenal receiver. He’s a precise route runner, has impeccable timing with his quarterback and is the proud owner of the best pair of hands in the Big 12 conference, if not the country. But he’s not Briscoe. You know it. I know it. Ed Warriner knows it. It’s why Briscoe was the guy on that fourth and six. It’s why he was the guy on that desperation, three seconds left for a prayer heave by Todd Reesing. Meier, as much as Kansas fans (and quarterbacks) love him, doesn’t get his hands above the entire Colorado defense like Briscoe did on that last play.

But anyway, as I was wallowing in my post-drop misery, I checked the box score. Eight catches for 154 yards and a touchdown? When the hell did that happen? How good does a receiver have to be for an eight catch 150+ yard performance to be a disappointment, regardless of an unfortunately timed case of the dropsies. (Side note, that was a hell of a play he made to even get his mitts on that ball. Hard to fault him on that one.) Briscoe, a 6-foot-3 manimal, has obviously raised his bar to an absolutely ridiculous level.

It’s long been said among pilots that it’s not the spin that kills you, it’s the lack of a recovery (GOOSE!).

And that’s where the “might be” comes in.

If I were a gambling man (oh...wait...) I would bet my non-existent farm on Dez having a monster day this Saturday.

Sure, it’s the toughest secondary he has faced to this point. But Briscoe, as we learned last year, is a beast on the big stage. Kid loves the bright lights. We witnessed this against the Sooners last year.

And against Minnesota in the Insight Bowl. Huge stage. Huge games.

No coincidences.

But more important, and far less of a certainty, is Briscoe’s ability to overcome the mental hurdles of failure, though failure is too strong a word.

We have no idea how he’ll rebound. He’s never been THE guy at Kansas and not come down with the ball. Hell, when was the last time he didn’t come down with the ball, period?

We’ll finally get to see how he bounces back. We’ll see the internal fortitude of this guy for the first time in, well, ever. As Briscoe lay on the field with ecstatic Colorado fans streaming past him, he looked defeated. He wearily unsnapped his chinstrap and covered his face with his hands. Need a picture of the agony of defeat? There it is.

I’m thinking he returns to form, not that it ever really left him.

He’s going big this weekend. Double digit catches, triple-digit yards, multiple touchdowns big. And, no pressure, but he has to.

Briscoe can’t afford to be wearied and defeated this weekend. He can’t.

Kansas can’t afford it. The Jayhawks need him.

He’s THE guy.

And if he proves it again, scratch the “might be.” He is the best receiver in the country.

Thursday YouTube Sesh

I had to do this one in a show of solidarity for Briscoe. It’s a) fitting for the above column, and b) one of the most impressive plays.

Check out this video, and watch the tacklers drop like so many flies.

— Edited by Jonathan Hermes

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