It’s when all the scared rats start running away from a sinking market that the true entrepreneurs come in. The true visionaries.

The Smash Williams Farewell Tour complete, it’s time for Six to take his lap around Dillon. And just like Smash, the start of his story places him on a road out of town. I don’t imagine this arc ending with an ebullient Jason Street, relishing a moment of simple pleasure with his friends before heading off on his life’s journey. Instead I imagine him quietly saying his goodbyes – to family, coach, and Lyla – before following Erin and his baby east.

That’s always the way with Street, who’s been given precious few moments of true joy on FNL. He’s been on his back, literally, since the end of the pilot and the writers have never let him off the mat for more than the briefest of moments. Think back on Jason Street’s highlights: Texas forever, but his best friend and girlfriend were cheating on him; kicking ass at the quad rubgy trials, only to be passed over; winning state, from the sidelines. Always bittersweet, always conditional.

We should be thankful the writers don’t seem intent on killing him off as a final, sad coda.

They do the next best thing: partner him with the Riggins boys.

I would have thought seeing Tim sway his idiot brother by parroting Buddy’s smooth line of bull about entrepreneurs would have made Jason and Herc rethink their own decision to flip Buddy’s house, but I guess that line about visionaries really was a powerful motivator.

The return of Tim’s old roommate was a welcome surprise. I was sure it was with the police that Tim and Billy were going to have their problems. Instead, now I expect a bit of good old Texas violence at Billy’s wedding. That, or Herc’s buddy was really an undercover cop, but then I think he’d have made his arrests instead of handing over $20K. Unless – and this is *really* funny to contemplate – he thinks they can lead him to bigger fish.

It wasn’t just Tim and Buddy selling tonight, though. Without Jason’s rousing speech to Buddy, that deal wouldn’t have happened. Something those boys are really going to wish for when they pour good money after bad in this crappy economy.

Jason’s ups and downs in the world of high finance, baby-daddyhood, and love notwithstanding, my heart – as usual – was with Matt tonight. If Zach Gilford doesn’t become a star after he exits FNL, I’ll take it as a personal affront.

Things are tough for Matt all around. On the homefront, he’s got his moms trying to worm her way back into his life. It’s too hard to watch, knowing it’s all going to blow up catastrophically at some point ((As much as Jason Street is the writers’ whipping boy, Matt Saracen is the broad shoulders on which they just keep piling crap. But he at least gets occasional moments of unfettered joy.)) when moms turns out to be, I don’t know, dating Tim’s old roommate. Or a drug mule. Or looking to steal money from Lorraine’s mattress. Something. But he doesn’t see it coming.

Matt’s actually a little happy having someone at home he can talk to about his problems on the team, and it’s nice to see him open up to someone without the tentativeness he normally displays. This isn’t like talking to Julie or Landry or anyone else. His mother can be an ever-supportive ear for his complaints. And he needs that now.

In one of the dumber moves Coach has made, ((I mean, besides having a defense as porous as the Maginot Line.)) moving JD McCoy to the starting position alienates his field general, confuses the players who’ve trusted Matt’s guiding hand on the rudder for three years, and casts his lot with a boy just hitting puberty. I get that he’s better. I see that he’s taller, and everyone has been *telling* me he’s the best damn high school quarterback of all time. And anyone who thinks a strong arm and constant paternal influence are all it takes to succeed at quarterback is advised to look at the cautionary tale of Todd Marinovich. Matt Saracen? His dad didn’t push him. His dad didn’t believe in him. Matt Saracen barely believed in himself, but through hard work, dedication, and the efforts of Coach Taylor became a fine, scrappy leader. JD has proved nothing but raw skill, and that’s not in great enough abundance to warrant this errant coaching move.

But goddamn it all if Matt’s not going to stick it out. He’ll sit and stew and practice and study and be ready to step in when JD’s inevitable stumble comes.

Just like Landry’s going to catch Tyra when her rodeo clown star bucks her off with his *shocking* drug addiction. Remember last week, I was happy Tyra was making a stupid choice again because it was real? Damn, but I hate watching people make stupid choices.

A few other thoughts:

• Lyla had zero lines tonight. She’s a series regular and still appeared on camera for one scene, so I don’t know how much money, if any, that actually saved.
• Herc! There can NOT be enough Kevin Rankin. I want someone to give him his own show, and I mean soon. Maybe Judd Apatow can slum on HBO for a while and give us a show about Lucien as an unappreciated middle manager.
• The Duke Boys. They really have gotten themselves into a heap of trouble this time.
• Who thought Tami was going to show Julie the little tattoo she got on her backside in high school when she pulled that car over? Just me? Must just be that massive crush I’ve got on Connie Britton.
• How damn inept *are* the Dillon Panthers? I mean, it doesn’t matter who the damn QB is. You learn your plays and when they get called in the huddle you run them. Just like that. No figuring out where to stand or where to run. It’s actually pretty damn easy.
• So, Tim hangs with Street and Herc. Does Lyla come by too? How awkward is that?

What did everyone else think?