SEC Network analyst questions defender’s action on ‘odd’ touchdown

When Mississippi State goes over the film of Saturday’s game against Georgia, one defensive player is probably not going to have a lot of fun. And Matt Stinchcomb, who was an analyst for the SEC Network’s broadcast of the game, explained why.

Early in the fourth quarter, Georgia’s Carson Beck and Arian Smith connected on a 42-yard touchdown pass. Gaining the final yards was a lot easier for Smith than it should have been, thanks to a curious effort from Mississippi State defensive back, Brylan Lanier. Smith caught the pass close to the five-yard line. Lanier was trailing him on the play and had a good chance of bringing Smith down. He even managed to wrap the receiver up. Only, just after wrapping Smith up, Lanier let him go. With no other defender close to the play, Smith went into the end zone.

Understandably, Stinchcomb had a hard time explaining what happened.

“I don’t know what Lanier’s doing right there,” Stinchcomb said. “He (Smith) clearly caught the football. Watch No. 3 (Lanier). After Smith, who clearly caught this ball. I don’t know if he thought he was already in the end zone. I think maybe, there’s a chance that Lanier thought that — that is as odd of an ending to a play as I’ve seen in a long time.”

“I don’t know what Lanier’s doing right there. He clearly caught the football…I think maybe, there’s a chance that Lanier thought that — that is an odd of an ending to a play as I’ve seen in a long time.”pic.twitter.com/JokGiLyFk5

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 12, 2024

If Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby has a hard time figuring out what to say to Lanier in film session, playing Stinchcomb’s reaction may not be a bad idea.

[Photo Credit: SEC Network]