Observations from Scrimmage Two – Reading Between the Lines

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I couldn’t necessarily nail down one single article that provided all the insights, so I scoured various blogs and articles and came up with the following bullet points. If anyone had any other vantage, please let us know in the comments. On to the bullet points:

  • Playing in an air conditioned stadium for game one will be a blessing for the team. Heat was unbearable again but if they’re dealing with it now, they should be good to go for the first home game.
  • Lots of 1s vs 1s. Dabo was quoted earlier last week saying the 1s looked good in practice, but they are practicing versus 2s. Maybe that spread is too narrow for game 1.
  • From what I’m hearing, D looks good. Real good. They’re giving the offense fits and I heard Cole and Williams are looking like the best LB tandem to be at Georgia in a while. Bolden is also stepping up and looks to be an early contributor. Robinson also is turning heads and is going to be a problem for opposing offenses.
  • Frazier continues to turn heads. It’s Etienne’s spot but as long as the backs stay healthy, RBU is going to be an acronym we will hear a lot of this year. Sounds like the Robinsons will be the wrecking balls and Etienne and Frazier will the spark plugs.
  • One name that keeps popping up a lot is Quintavious Johnson. The OLB has veterans stacked in front of him but he’s expected to be causing havoc this season.
  • One read I saw said that watching this scrimmage was like watching the 2021 scrimmage, that even though we have 8 great OL that can start every game if needed, we just couldn’t seem to block. Havoc was everywhere, and every pass was contested. Everette is showing strides.
  • Tuggle and White were among those contesting for balls but are looking more and more like they can contribute too. Yurosek looks small compared to Delp, and Luckie may be used in split end situations.
Nitro Tuggle ready for liftoff.
  • Arian Smith is looking confident and more like a receiver.
  • Special teams are solid as always, Thorson was looking good but Woodring was up and down but I heard he hit a 50+ yarder.

Overall, I read a good bit of optimism. Some were skeptical about Kirby’s lamentation about depth, pointing to the fact that we’re deeper in some positions this year than we were last, but I don’t question Kirby. Health wise, knock on wood, the team is looking in good shape and healthy considering we don’t have the luxury of a cupcake start, playing two SEC games and Clemson in the same five week stretch. Rub your rabbit foot, your Hail Marys, or your lucky stone and hope it keeps going that way.

26 thoughts on “Observations from Scrimmage Two – Reading Between the Lines”

  1. Good to hear Arian Smith is rounding into form. He needs a breakout year for us. I want to see Beck throwing bombs downfield to an open Smith who can catch and hold on.

  2. Im slow this morning. The linebacker names have me confused. Oh well. If whoever Williams is is playing well that’s good enough for me. One thing Rusty Mansell and Jake whathisface from Atkinson County were saying last night was Roderick Robinson didn’t participate in the scrimmage at all. His injury is a toe and that can linger without rest so that could be all that was and probably so. Also Xavier McCleod didn’t participate and nothing is known about that. Jared Wilson was apparently back out there participating fully with the 1s and that’s a great thing.

    • Justin Williams and Chris Cole. They are buried behind Mondon and Allen but have apparently been impressing people in fall camp. They have bulked up considerably since enrolling in January.

      • Oh ok. Thanks. I was thinking starters and going, “I know I’m getting grey in my beard and this is my first cup of coffee but who is Williams and who is Cole? lol. Thanks.

  3. Also, I have no inside information but I personally believe Kirby’s constant carping about depth is a motivation stone (Remember that? Shouts out to the Senator. RIP. We’re keeping this thing going.) to the twos and even threes to create as much competition as possible. At this point Kirby’s mind games are easy to spot.

    • Remember Kirby was raised a Dawg so he has the poor mouthing thing as part of his heritage. You couldn’t listen to Munson as a kid and not feel we are “just not ready, we lack depth”. Dooley used to avoid Munson to keep from depression.

      • Yeah and I know this is blasphemy but that always fit on my nerves and I would turn it off for a minute when he started that. Larry was great as far as how exciting he made it other times but I couldn’t stand the gloom and doom stuff he did.

      • Kirby’s idea of lack of depth is different from most coaches. He is used to having three 1st round picks stacked at a position. This year he only has two 1st rounders and a second rounder. What is a coach to do with that kind of drop off?

        • Poor mouthing works as motivation for current players and those being recruited to take their places. 😉

  4. I have no doubt the defense is going to enter the season breathing fire. All that 2021 defense heard leading up to the Clemson game was about how Kyle Trash had taken them to the woodshed with the wheel route. All they’ve heard this off-season is how Bama dominated us front on both sides of the ball but, in particular, against our defense.

    If I were an opposing OC, I would be very, very afraid of what Kirby and Schu’s Junkyard Dawgs are about to unleash.

      • How’s that H Town weather Russ!!?? I sure as hell don’t miss it ONE Damn Bit…

        My only complaint about finally moving back to Georgia is I can’t eat BBQ with RR like we had planned…God Rest his Soul.

    • Should opposing oc’s not take UGA football “D” serious/very serious year in, year out, as long as CKS has the HC title, said oc could be embarrassed, unemployed or both…whether CKS openly admits which sec program he does/doesn’t care for, that 2019 seccg changed his direction (as an HC) in a profound way, do believe the 2020 season sucked and didn’t get to show what UGA football was capable of (staff wise), cause 2021 season sure did….GO DAWGS!!

  5. Regarding the depth. IMO, I think Kirby throws those snippets out there to keep challenging the back-ups.

  6. I guess it doesn’t really matter which Robinson you mean when you say “Robinson is going to be a problem” With that said, Mike Cooley said something about a toe for R Rob? If true, then is this overreacting? Should we be concerned? Yes, depth, but would still like to start the season with all hands on deck. Then again, after Clems-son we do have a nice little cup cake and before UK ( not taking KY lightly either) before an off week and then the gauntlet starts.

    • Hard to say, Moe. Like I said, I claim no insider info. This was what Rusty Mansell said last night. A toe can be an injury that can not be that big a deal or it can linger and linger if you rush it. I imagine what they’re doing with Roderick is precautionary and they know if they have to rest him against the Sons of Clem they’ll be fine.

      • Thanks for the follow up. Its hard to get much news up here in Dalton. I do feel pretty good about having the depth we have at RB. I have a suspicion we will have a pretty good ground game this year. A bit better than we have had in the last 2-3 years.

        • For good info check out Brooks Austin’s YouTube channel. His delivery can be annoying sometimes with all the bruh stuff but he knows what he’s talking about and provides good info as far as what he sees and hears.

  7. I talked to a players mom this morning that went to the scrimmage. She said there were at least 3 freshman starting on defense. Said defense looked really good. Also said Beck did not look real sharp.

  8. “..Kirby’s lamentation about depth…”

    I don’t think he is kidding.

    But that’s because if Kirby had 100 NFL players on his team where some were better than others he would be worrying about depth. And he will be trying to find a way to solve the ‘problem’. And hat’s why we love having him as a head coach.

  10. I’ve noticed that the DAWGS don’t have ANY consensus 5 stars in this upcoming recruiting class. I wonder if that is by design? The dollar figures that are associated with these top of the class recruits it insane. There is only so much money to spend. Have they decided that it’s better to have a class loaded with high 4 stars and a few 3’s OR a few 5’s a few 4’s and loaded with 3’s. It’s like the NFL draft where you trade down. Give away your 1st round pick in exchange for a couple of 2nd round picks and a 3rd round pick. You have to manage your resources. Looks like an Ohio State, LSU, Oregon, and 10rc are breaking open their piggy bank.

    • No Zayden Walker, Isaiah Gibson, and Elyss Williams are all five stars. I dont know who told you there weren’t any in that class but there are already three.

      • Rivals does not list any of UGA’s recruits as 5 star. They list each of them as a high 4 star.

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