Selecting the Auburn game (instead of Miss State or perhaps UMass) as our Homecoming game was always hilarious to me, and a choice that many expected would rile up our friends from the cow pastures. And they certainly put up a more focused fight than their previous efforts this season, in that they did not commit any turnovers (other than on downs). I thought the spread was too high because the Tigers were good enough to keep it close if they did not turn over the ball, and since Georgia has not been elite at creating turnovers this year, that’s the game we got. My score prediction was 34-17, so not too far off. In spite of some lingering key injuries, the Dawgs played well against a good (but far from great) team and took care of business. And shortly thereafter we got to awkwardly envelop ourselves in the warm schadenfreude blanket that was the Vandy upset win over Bama. Hooray? Yeah, sure. But not as fun as the Pitt-Boss taking down the construction cones from TennRC. On to the bullets!
- I thought the first drive by the defense was telling in that they appeared focused on their assignments, and the DL – even with injuries – was better than the Auburn OL. To me, that was my first sign that the game was likely going to be a comfortable Dawg win. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins tore up the left side of the Auburn line and Naz Stackhouse was creating problems inside. The ILBs were still having trouble shedding blocks at times, but their speed and pursuit were on point. Mykel made an appearance as well, and looked like he was getting closer to full strength. Baby steps for the next 2 weeks.
- Then came the offense’s first drive, and although Bobo’s plan involved more of the screen game, I was ok with it because Auburn has no depth in their front 7, so making them run sideline to sideline was a smart tactic to wear them down. Combining that with the running game and some shot plays to the WRs made good sense. Unfortunately, Dylan Fairchild had some problems, falling down and getting whipped a couple times, but the penalty against Auburn gave the Dawgs some life and they finished it off in 2022 style with a nice rushing TD from Etienne.
- Speaking of Trevor, what a an impressive array of running skills he shows off on almost every play. Terrific vision, explosiveness, toughness, and he seems like he’s one tackle away from breaking off some really long runs soon. A shorter Sony Michel. Suck it, Gators.
- Auburn has some great young WR talent that if they had a good QB would be a problem for our corners. Speaking of the secondary, not a great showing again in coverage and even worse in run support. Something to watch in 2 weeks. Feel like this group needs to run some extra Oklahoma drills. If not for Dan Jackson, where would the back 5 be right now?
- How about Dirty Dan’s FG block?? Happy for that dude.
- Not only Fairchild struggled, but Bobo Jr., Morris and Truss had some really bad moments. Bobo and Morris are more inexperienced, but Truss has no excuse. Again, this is against a DL that has maybe 1-2 draftable kids. Have to improve there. But overall the unit had a good game, Greene played well, as did Freeling in his moments, and the TEs blocked better as well.
- Auburn may not have had any turnovers, but they were amazing at drawing penalties at the worst possible moments for them. Thanks, Tigers!
- The WRs had a nice game. The routes were good, no drops and everyone was on the same page. Bell and Lovett looked great (even combining on a totally planned fake catch TD at the goal line š), and Arian was solid. Maybe the second half last week was the wake-up call they needed? Colbie Young needs still needs to work on his blocking and effort on back-shoulder passes, but he had some nice plays as well.
- Anyone understand why Kirby didn’t kick the FG at the end of the half? Was Woodring missing them in warmups? Was there a wind coming in from the west endzone? Thought the strategy to end the half was curious.
- Can we have a brief moment about McElroy and McDonough? Not their best day yesterday. McDonough had a couple obvious missteps and McElroy was all over the place in his analysis. Something tells me they were distracted by the Bama-Vandy score, although they’ll never tell.
- Damon Wilson (other than one missed edge assignment) had a great game. He’s an effort guy oozing with athleticism, and once he puts it together he’s going to be dangerous.
- Can we possibly find a way to stop the wheel route? At some point the LBs just have to recognize this play and run with the RB. Sheesh, it’s like Willie Martinez is coaching again. (Pause for everyone to vomit now.)
- Rushing the passer was much better, way more plays with guys in their correct lanes and not allowing the QB to spill out. It’s never going to be perfect, and Thorne is slippery at times. Big improvement yesterday on that front, and reason to be optimistic. Also, Schuman is still a wizard at the delayed blitzes from different sides of the defense.
- Beck mostly played well, having only maybe two Dumb Beck moments this week. He had some absolutely beautiful throws yesterday against a pretty good secondary. Keep it up, Carson.
- Nate Frazier made a triumphant return, and he remains an exciting prospect for later this season and next. The game just seems more exciting when he’s in, although Etienne remains a better back.
- Going back to a prediction I made the other day in response to JP’s post on the TEs, it does appear that Lawson Luckie may have surpassed Oscar Delp as TE1 for at least a week, and he’s playing really well. Even Jaden Reddell got some PT in the game and blocked well. Hopefully Oscar turns it around, but this is why elite recruiting can never stop.
I hope it was as nice of a day for all of you Refugees as it appeared to be for the Dawgs, and I hope those of you who were able to attend the pre-game honoring of Senator Blutarsky enjoyed each other’s company, knocked back some cold ones and made some connections. I wish I could have made it, but hopefully next time I’m in town for a game I’ll stop by that tailgate and say hello. In the meantime, this game provided a needed cleansing after the Bama loss, and now we host the Bizarro Bulldogs for a tune-up before our beloved Dawgs come to my town for the next Biggest Game of The Year. If I missed anything in the bullets, feel free to let me know, and Go Dawgs!
Penalties are still a problem. Some were ticky tack and some were just plain dumb. That’s the only thing you may have added I can think of. Christen Miller left the game with an injury, anyone have an update on that?
Good analysis as always.
The penalties whether real or imagined gave Auburn life. Etienne was a step away from breaking big ones a couple of times, and heās good out of the backfield. The offensive line was a mixed bag ā¦ good and then lousy. While Bobo had some issues yesterday, heās not the gift scholarship some have been making him out to be. He filled in well as a starter with Wilson out. The start of the 2nd half wasnāt good at all on either side, and then we locked them down. Dom Lovett is playing his tail off.
On the late half question, the wind was in our face in the 2nd quarter. Iām guessing Kirby knew it was a risk a 55(?) yard kick or go for it. The punt was the right call, and the defense made it pay off by getting the offense field position.
This picture from saturday is who UGA football is in 2024, good enough to win it all, good enough have struggles/missteps, good enough to give CKS weekly film session moments of hair pulling, good enough to be team first and trust each other, good enough for all those first-year peeps to understand/absorb CKS “process/culture of UGA football”….GO DAWGS!!
Agreed, Bobo Jr. is doing the best he can and heās not a bad player. Heās not Wilson or Van Pran yet, but heās got time.
Thanks re the wind, that was my guess but McElroy and McDonough were busy worrying about Bama to provide the answer.
Auburn still sucks
Bama is undisciplined, how are you dancing in the endzone after scoring a TD and you are still losing to Vandy.
DeBoer is about to get his āso this is what they meantā
Like how satan has engulfed hisself with the commercial brand of nil, knowing that one day “anchor down” would get a “w” vs the bammers, decided to git, so as to not have that mark on his resume….GO DAWGS!!
So what you’re saying is that “Kalen DeBoer has lost control.”
Having the “king of the sec” win vs the bammers is ok, knowing vandy can/will beat FU on a regular basis, is always something to raise a glass to….GO DAWGS!!
I thought 16 had mono
he had a key 3rd down conversion catch
Yeah, I noticed that also. Glad he’s back because he seems to have sure hands.
Huge surprise for me too when London trotted out there like normal, a week after mono.
I know Dean Legge and his crew have a three guys in the car on a Sonic commercial quality but I always watch their Riding Home segment. Leggeās seemingly uncontrollable road rage moments are unintentionally hilarious. But they said something I agree with. It was just a boring game honestly. I never thought Georgia was going to lose. Auburn was somewhat pesky and had a Stoopian āWe aināt goin away without a fight!ā quality but it was obvious they were outgunned and there was no real threat there. Itās a solid win over a rival so Iāll take it. I just wish we would not do so much farting around. I do believe my theory that this team is just kind of immature is correct.
Yeah, it sort of felt like 2019 and Coley again. We would win, but it always felt like we were fighting ourselves.
lol. I donāt know that is that bad. That ā19 team was painful to watch. I felt tired after the games ended.
On a site note, I still see the header for last night’s post about the Pit Boss beating Tennessee, but when I go to read it, it says post not found? Was it taken down?
I see the post in the Jetpack app but says the comments are closed but not in Safari. I hope Otis and crew can find the source of the bugginess soon. Miss seeing who āLikesā.
The defense still gives me massive angst. The DB’s never seem to know where the ball is when it is in the air. They forget that they have to turn their head at least momentarily to find it in flight. That is resulting in getting burned or getting a PI way too often. But for that skill, the last TD by ‘Bama never happens. Once they do register where the ball is, for the most part they don’t seem to know how to tackle. The long run by Auburn yesterday NEVER should have happened. Being great open field tacklers was one of the hallmarks of the previous few groups of DBs. Hopefully it is just a “young and inexperienced” thing, and they develop.
The edge is still a problem and even the talking heads yesterday were commenting on it (one of the few times they made sense). Even Kirby seems to have had his fill of it hence his “we need to open a can of whoop ass” comment about getting off blocks.
The offense is not great but appears to be “good enough”.
Special teams continue to lead the way.
I just need for us to get better so we don’t lay an egg in Austin. I have to live amongst the whinny T-sips and if we lose, they’re going to be even more insufferable than they already are. It’ll be like being sent to one of Dante’s circles of Hell. I already had to endure their arrogance after the Sugar bowl a few years back. I don’t want to relive that. Let’s make “Texas is back” the punch line of a joke once again.
Believe me, I can relate. These Horns fans are like living among Yankees fans.
I live in DFW so I have a little relief. You’re stuck in the belly of the beast.
DIA-Im headed to Austin for the game. staying near Airport and MLK. Where should an opposing fan go for the tailgate? What can we expect from TX fans? Recs for a place to eat? Getting around Austin?
Not really appreciating Kirbs post game comments re: fans. Considering 50-60% of those in the stands could’ve stayed home, cleared debris, kept the generators running, helped their neighbors/community, etc…he should prob be grateful for the turnout considering the circumstances!
I hear ya and youāre right but the crowd was mostly useless yesterday.
Agreed. It didnāt seem very loud and I commented on that to friends during the game, but that was a bad time to bring it up.
We were there. It was nice to have a sense of normalcy but the energy in the stadium was not there. We yelled as always but the crowd was āoffā. I attribute it to the storm and weariness. I swear the loudest cheer was when they showed Vandy beating Bama on the Jumbotron. I hope there is more energy next week. It was super humid there. It felt much hotter than the temperature. Hopefully the team keep working on their negativity and the fans actually get into the game. The anti-Bobo fans behind me only yelled when they were yelling about Bobo.
Connectivity not negativity. š¤¦š¼āāļø
I have never played the game so this may seem like a dumb question: Is Robinson not getting the blocks or is he hitting the wrong gap? Or is it that the opponent knows that whenever he is n the game its a run up the middle? Guy just cant catch a break.
To me we wonāt see the real Branson Robinson again until next season. Even Nick Chubb took a second year after the injuring to return to his old self. I canāt understand what is going on with our guysā feet and ankles. It seems like thereās a new foot or ankle injury every week.
Mike, I’ve read some talk concerning the foot/ankle injuries, and some think it’s because of sub par Nike shoes/cleats. But you’re right, seems like a new one every week. Would like to know our Head Athletic Trainer Ron Courson’s thoughts on this. Have read where Kirby knows Nike head honcho Phil Knight well, maybe Kirby needs to address this with him personally. And while he’s at it, tell him to make us some damn Silver Britches!!!
HBTFD
How long is Smael out this time? Do we know?
To me, he doesnāt look like heās confident choosing and hitting the hole. Still just tentative from the injury and the time away.
Honestly, heās missing his calling. Watch film and it seems he tries to take a light side step to juke defenders but itās not doing anything for him. He just needs to embrace his power role, lower his head and run behind his shoulder pads.
My take, for what it’s worth, is we are not playing with the same passion as the last couple of years. Seems our defensive speed is not, well, up to speed. We seem a step slow at LB and our secondary is not getting to the ball carrier with their frigging hair on fire. Our coverage skills are no where near what we have seen in the past. Just looks like the hustle to the ball and effort is lacking. Starks even seems a step slower and is definitely not playing the way he played his freshman and last year. The defensive line upped their game. The secondary is just not up to the Georgia Standard that I’m used to seeing. I’ll rewatch the game later this afternoon and see if I change my mind.
Weird how people look at the same thing and see two different things. Starks in particular hustled his ass off from what I saw.
I too feel that Starks looks a step slower, but I don’t see it as a lack of hustle. I think he has some indecision due to the corners not being able to be trusted as in the past. I think he is now having to think instead of just reacting. That split second of indecision is all it takes.
He was definitely not slow when I was watching him.
Yeah, he looks plenty fast. Itās his toughness Iād question. Almost every ball carrier goes through him. He needs to knock some folks back.
Frazier reminds me of Knowshon.
Testing again
Every comment you make requires approval. Why? No damned idea. Settings say, one approved comment clears you to comment in perpetuity. Still more WordPress quirks!
Got your test
Is it now a rule that defensive players cannot use their hands and arms when tackling?
It seems that the only players using their hands are the offensive linemen. Wrap up, dammit.