Observations from Row 49, putting the D in DKR edition.

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So many themes that could have been used in this one. “The Empire Strikes Back.” “Kirby’s Middle Finger.” “Stay Classy, Texas Fans.” But to me, the resounding message sent in this game was that Georgia’s defense, when healthy and motivated, is still great. All levels of the defense played with an intensity we had not seen since Game 1 against Clemson. They shut down one of the most elite offenses in the country this year, and if not for some abysmal officiating, the final result would have been even more impressive. I was at the tailgate and in the building last night, and the atmosphere was electric all day and night, right up until we waived the UT fans goodbye in the 4th quarter and savored another Road Dawg win that felt like 2021.

Having lived here for almost 13 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to find many good friends with similar interests, one of them being music. In honor of the Dawgs coming to town, my friends who have a shaded tailgate spot 200 yards from the stadium hired a local Widespread Panic cover band (Panic Stricken) to play. They invited hundreds of people, had tons of food and drinks, and it was the party we all needed before this big of a game. Shout out to Tony Waller from the “Waitin’ Since Last Saturday” Georgia podcast for stopping by and sharing some libations with us as well. Absolute blast. On to the bullets:

  • I had a few friends in town, and although we groused about the ticket prices, we decided early on that this would replace our annual Cocktail Party trip this year. And in the end, after calling the Dawgs walking out of DKR and later on 6th Street, it was so worth it.
  • This was not a UGA stadium takeover by any means (I’d guess only 10-12K Dawgs in the building), but our section was deep red and loud.
  • My game keys that I posted in ee’s pregame segment this week were: 1) Win the turnover battle, 2) Pressure Ewers and 3) Win the lines of scrimmage. Check, massive check, check.
  • Carson Beck was not at his best, but I just don’t expect that from him anymore. He is unflappable though, and had some really amazing throws last night, bouncing back from some poor ones.
  • However, one of the themes that I was dreading would make a difference (and thankfully didn’t) was the inability to catch passes. I cannot recall a year with this many drops since the early 2000s. I counted 6 myself last night, but I’ve heard others say there were more. I don’t know what else can be done about this, but it’s going to cost them another game if it’s not fixed soon. The Luckie drop that turned into a pick in the red zone was infuriating, given the location and momentum the Dawgs had gained leading up to it.
  • Daylon Everette, come on down! What a time to play the best game of your career, kid. The sack-fumble-recovery on Ewers was nasty, and the interception 2 drives later was incredibly athletic. Shine on.
  • Etienne continues to run hard within the scheme, and UT could not stop any of Georgia’s inside zone plays as the interior of the line was creating 2 yard A-gaps. Perimeter blocking was better by the TEs and WRs, especially on the first TD. Texas was dropping 5 into coverage all night, and I thought Bobo could have man-balled Texas into submission because of it. The OL played their best game of the year as well, dominating Texas’ front six/seven.
  • Brett Thorson remains the most under-appreciated weapon on the team. His field-flipping punts with no return yards are a marvel. He will be missed next year.
  • All week, one of the media talking points was about the matchup between Texas’ elite OTs and UGA’s lack of pass rush. Welp, someone should ask Kelvin Banks’ agent how his draft stock looks now. Damon Wilson and Jalon Walker absolutely embarrassed him and Cameron Williams last night. (But Damon, can we stop grabbing facemasks?)
  • I thought bringing in Arch was a desperate move to respond to the pass rush, since Ewers is not very mobile. But Manning didn’t fare much better, with another sack-fumble-recovery before the end of the half leading to another UGA field goal by Peyton “Money” Woodring.
  • First half stats were eye-popping: Total yards: Georgia 170, Texas 38; Rushing yards: Georgia 70, Texas 2(!); Third downs: Georgia 3/9, Texas 0/7; Yards per play: Georgia 4.4, Texas 1.1; Turnovers: Texas 3, Georgia 2; Sacks: Georgia 5 (for 49 yards), Texas 0. Somebody needed to call the police, because a murder was happening at DKR.
  • I have no clue WTF that second half kickoff was, but Kirby said it was an accident. Whatever it was, it was costly as it allowed UT a short field and easier chance to score (albeit on an obvious offensive PI that went uncalled) and get momentum early. At that point, we all felt this was going to be a game Georgia just had to hunker down and hang on to win.
  • After a couple of stalled drives for both offenses, the most discussed play of the game occurred. Arian Smith looked to be running either an out or option pattern on the sideline and Texas DB Jahdae Barron stopped him from running the route (otherwise known as pass interference) and intercepting Beck for the third time. You could argue Arian gave up on the route, or Beck shouldn’t have thrown that way, but the fact remains that Barron interfered with the route and that prevented Smith from catching the ball. DKR erupted after the replay (because the fans don’t understand football), throwing bottles all over the stands and out onto the field. Total asshats. Meanwhile the refs decided to be the first in history to reverse a penalty after a delayed review, on a play that is not reviewable in the first place. To say we were livid is an understatement. So was AD Josh Brooks.
  • That led to the predictable quick TD from Texas, and now we had a new ballgame. On the TD it looked like CJ Allen got beat on another wheel route from the RB, but the team was still in disarray after the madness that preceded the TD.
  • After that, a wonderful Bobo call on the flea-flicker to Delp helped break the previously ranked #2 UT defense yet again, and the long drive we needed was capped off again by Etienne.
  • I can’t say enough about the secondary. Great plays made by Daylon and Julio all night, Starks played well, Dan Jackson got robbed with the targeting call but otherwise was magical. The front with a healthy Mykel is just different. They had numerous 3rd and 4th down stops to frustrate Sark and Ewers. It was a clinic.

Despite some bad throws from Beck, more defensive penalties coming at the worst times and 2 targeting ejections, Georgia played excellent complimentary football on the road in a hostile environment against a really good team. This was a flag-planting game. Kirby and the team I’m sure heard all the whispers and talk this week about culture, the lack of discipline, a program on the decline, etc. It’s clear to me that they didn’t like it and wanted to show up in a big way in Austin. A familiar message was sent to the SEC and college football world last night: Don’t forget about Georgia. They aren’t going anywhere.

39 thoughts on “Observations from Row 49, putting the D in DKR edition.”

  2. I may not know as much about the intricacies of the game as many of you, but I would be lying if I said that I was not screaming at the TV to “Run the damned ball!” I felt like Etienne was working on a hot streak; I believe he was averaging 10.3 ypc in the first half. I lost confidence in our ability to catch the ball, and some untimely picks. My son and I kept texting that we felt like Bobo was seeing something in the texas defense that we were not seeing. That said, Beck impressed me with his total cool.
    Brooks is going to bat this week. This officiating debacle isn’t over yet.
    SEC officials need remedial classes.
    Once again, piss on Matthew McConaughey.

    • Yeah, RTDB was definitely being yelled by us too, given all the 6-man boxes they were giving the Dawgs.

  3. From Andy Staples…

    The officials got the call wrong. Then they talked about it and got the call correct.

    At least that’s how the first two paragraphs of the SEC’s statement on a controversial reversed call in the Georgia–Texas game read.

    “With 3:12 to play in the third quarter of the Georgia at Texas game, Texas intercepted a pass at the Texas 46-yard line and returned it to the [Georgia] 9-yard line. Texas was flagged for committing defensive pass interference on the play which resulted in Georgia maintaining the ball with a first down.

    The game officials gathered to discuss the play, which is permitted to ensure the proper penalty is enforced, at which time the calling official reported that he erred, and a foul should not have been called for defensive pass interference. Consequently, Texas was awarded the ball at the [Georgia] 9-yard line.”

    This would be the equivalent of J.R.R. Tolkien writing that Bilbo Baggins left the Shire and then wound up back in the Shire with nary a mention of dwarves or a dragon or a discovered ring. Some stuff happened in the middle that matters quite a bit.

  4. Me and a buddy kept texting each other “Run the ball!” It was working and Beck, for whatever reason is just playing really schizophrenic. Good to know that an injury has played a role in that because I could not figure out what was going on with him.

      • Brooks Austin is talking about it. Kirby will never and I mean never make it public and just admit to it. It’s why Beck has not looked like himself.

  5. Yep, couldn’t figure out why Bobo didn’t RTDB later in the game. At least put a back in there with Beck to give the appearance of a run. Empty backfield when trying to run the clock is just dumb.

  6. Having previously been critical of Beck’s enthusiasm for running to get the 1st down and continuing drives, I’d like to give him props for not turning away from the hit when it counted. He continued to find green ahead of him and went for it, even foregoing the slide to assure getting the yardage. Admittedly his running style is something akin to a baby stork learning to walk, but, he did put it on the line. Kudos.

  7. Great job by our fans! You could hear them on the broadcast and you just know that chapped the locals.

    Entienne did great. Fraiser still learning. But we need a big punishing back who can spell 1 and wear down a D.

    SBIV would throw wildly stupid WTF interceptions. Beck’s are just head-scratching misses (discounting all the ones caused by his own receivers). If we could run more consistently and have passes caught I think Carson is more surgical and effect like last year. He just appears to be pressing.

    The drops. Something has gone wrong in training, coaching, fundamentals and psychology. Luckie got more looks and missed several. Humphries had one in his chest. Dom got caught looking ahead. Smith is a head case and for all the controversy he was not looking for the pass but hand-fighting the defender. Kirby’s going to be in the portal for some WR and RB talent in December for sure.

    But the piece of the puzzle that had to be found was the D and they showed out. Welcome to the SEC horns! Better get used to being punched in the face like that. The brisket is especially tasty this morning…anyone seen Bevo?

    • Smith’s drops are particularly confusing. For a burner, the two ecstatic dreams are being invited to a baby oil party with Charlie’s Angels or having a soft ball lobbed to you in full stride behind the corner with nothing but green in front of you. He’s dropped a few of those. IMO, he’s more consistent crossing the middle, which is usually where the burners don’t want to go. Weird.
      As for the others, I wonder about ball speed. Catching a rocket is hard, particularly at close range. Maybe Beck puts a little more zip on when he feels pressured? Just thoughts.

      • Beck has always put zip on his throws. That used to be a feature. The quickness allowed him to tread the needle last year. Maybe we just stronger stickum on our gloves. You can’t go a week without seeing someone I’ve never heard make a one handed catch. Find out what those guys are doing.

    • One play they showed Frazier blocking. The DE or LB was much bigger than him, but he had him squared up and did enough to by Beck some time. The dude just pretty much walked him back, but he did not shy away from the block.

      • Yeah, that was nice. Frazier will handle it better next time with a little more beef, but he did well in that situation. Glad to see the freshman get in there a block.

    • I commented to my Longhorn wife how loud our fans and band were. It was great to hear.

  8. Great work, DiA. This week is going to be sweet for Dawgs like you and Texas Dawg. Enjoy.

    On the game itself, I’m sure the stadium was quiet as the first half rout was on.

    I said in the game day thread, last night would be a good day for our “best shot” game. The defense definitely provided their best shot … when those guys decide to play and are healthy, last night reminded the rest of college football world that Georgia is different on defense.

  9. I don’t think PI should have been called, but once it was called there is no way in hell they should have reversed it. They only did so because of all the extra time after the play due to the fans throwing beer bottles on the field. Total BS.

    In the end, I think it is better it happened the way it did. Now they can’t say Georgia won because of a bad call.

  10. I had a bad feeling about this game going in and said so here. Happily, the Dawgs proved me spectacularly wrong. In my opinion, the defense turned in their best performance of the year. What a game! It was nerve wracking to watch. Turnovers, dropped passes, absolutely putrid officiating, bad coaching decisions and the Dawgs just kept keeping on, beating the number one team on the road. Two things stand out. I’ve said this before, but with all the money flowing in college football we should have professional referees. Referees that are not affiliated with any conference. Secondly, if you want to sell alcohol in the stadium that’s your prerogative. But it’s really stupid to let people keep the cans and bottles. Pour it in a cup. A situation like last night was inevitable. And their ability to reverse the call means it will happen again. Most likely often. The SEC needs to get this situation under control within the next 72 hours or they will regret it. With Florida looking better and the Vowels riding high after taking down Alabama, Georgia will need a few more stellar performances by the defense. It won’t hurt to work on our pass catching skills either. We played up to our potential for an entire game on D and mostly played up to our potential for at least a half on offense. It’s the closest we’ve come to a complete game so far this season in my eyes. Before last night I figured we simply were what we were up to that point. Now I’m optimistic we can continue to improve. We need to, quite frankly but I think we just might do it. Go Dawgs!

    • They used to confiscate water bottle lids in Sanford. I always brought my own in my pocket. Too many spilled drinks. The problem was the behavior not the cans or bottles. The real UT threw mustard bottles at Kiffin before alcohol was allowed in stadiums. Blaming it on alcohol is a cop out.

      • I agree the problem was the fans behavior. But there are two things influencing that behavior, alcohol and the availability of something that can be thrown on the field. My point is cups, even full of liquid, don’t travel very far and mostly just get the people in front of you wet when tossed. The wet folks will generally stop the behavior going on behind them. Don’t give patrons water bottles and cans and there’s less garbage that can make i to field level.

  11. We have all seen crappy officiating in games; missed calls, unfair calls, favoritism, the Bama bias, etc. But I beleive that’s the first time I have ever seen a crew blatantly cheat for one team so badly that they actually broke a rule that we all know. PI is not reviewable, and the excuse that the ref meant OPI instead is laughable. They had already walked it off and set the ball down. Perhaps they were concerned for their own safety, so they did what they did? I dunno, but if this just on them and no one else (SEC executives) were involved then heads should roll. The crew at a minimum should be suspended for a game and fined. Not to sound like a tin foil hat guy, but I think they were most likely told by someone not on the field to reverse the call. They got their story straight at midfield and just blatantly lied about it.

  12. Thanks so much for a great write-up. With so much money everywhere in college football, it is time to upgrade and pay professional refs.

  14. I was glad to be wrong about this one, I predicted a similar outcome but the scores reversed. The defense played a full and dominant 4 quarters and the team isn’t who I thought they were. I guess the first half of the season was a warm-up and I hope this team is who shows up the rest of the way. Go Dawgs!

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