I texted my Georgia group chat this yesterday: “Guys, I don’t want to overreact, but this team looks really f-ing good.” Most years under Kirby, Georgia has handled lesser opponents with varying degrees of competence. Sometimes they seem to be trying out different guys at different spots, sometimes they lack focus, sometimes certain positions reveal themselves to be weak links or omens for the future. Yes, they always win and almost always comfortably. But several of those games have left us wanting more.
Not so this year. The first and second string teams have absolutely eviscerated the first two teams on the schedule with such an easy brutality that, considering the star power and historical coaching acumen present on the team, you have to believe is potentially scalable to conference play. And I don’t know what’s got into Kirby, but he’s been confident, snarky and prickly at press conferences this year, which is different from last year when he was more forgiving about the team’s play. Are the two connected? Does that mean anything? I could be wrong, but I think it means this team is on a mission. On to the bullets.
- I consider myself a uniform traditionalist, but damn those all-white unis were sweet. Maybe the kids are on to something. I hope Kirby does it annually.
- Our visitors from the genteel southern town of Bowling Green were kind enough to bring us a house-warming gift on the opening kickoff, leading to a lovely TD pass to Barbour for the quick lead. Thank you, kindly.
- Yet again, the starting defense looked extremely well organized, with great push from the DL into the QB’s passing lanes, getting off blocks to make tackles, speed on the edges, and good coverage by the DBs. Utter dominance.
- WKU has an athletic QB and a pretty good RB1 and WR1, but they did nothing all game.
- Gunner was in total control of the offense yet again. He knew where to go with the ball without hesitation, even if he’s not perfectly accurate every time. The two times I saw when he got pressured, he easily maneuvered out of the pocket and got positive yardage.
- 5 TDs in a half, going deep on 3-4 plays, 14.6 YPA. Shades of Stetson vs UAB?
- Loved the shot of Bobo’s dip cup in the booth taking up half the screen. Also white! 😉
- Running game was competent and efficient (after taking out that long run from Puglisi). Nate had some great hesi moves that reminded me of Swift. Bobo and Glover hoisting Nate into the end zone was really fun too.
- The interior of the OL missed a couple of stunts and delayed blitzes, but otherwise the unit looked sharp.
- Ellis handled their best WR with back-to-back PBUs in the first quarter, and the top DBs never really looked challenged. Interesting to see Braylon Conley rewarded with some early PT ahead of Gentry Williams, but he certainly showed why. And Demello had a gorgeous pick over his head running full speed. Too bad he couldn’t finish off that run back.
- Chauncey made the 100M hurdle team, on his second attempt. That kid looks rocked up yet again.
- The pass rush was fast and aggressive again, with Gabe Harris picking up his first sack of the year and Chris Cole and Justin Williams erasing bad angles with their 4.4 speed.
- I thought the high-low passing concept that got Sacovie free for the long TD was really well conceived by The Crayon MasterTM , and I can’t wait to see what else he’s been up to this offseason as the more competitive games start. Exciting times!
- Speaking of the WRs, Talyn Taylor is now 2 for 2 in being unguardable in games this year. Arrow up.
- Downfield and perimeter blocking was ridiculously good, and the TEs continued putting on a clinic.
- As for the young guys, I thought Dean and Ogbokbo turned in some nice performances yet again. They’ve got to work on sustaining that play over time, but having talented kids that can back up Gabe and Jordan will be huge, especially with McLeod gone.
- I had a conflict for the 4th quarter and missed it, and apparently it was good that I did because the rest of the third stringers and the wet conditions apparently conspired to prevent what could have been the biggest blowout in Kirby’s tenure. Ah, well.
I don’t think we as fans could ask for much more than we’ve received from the Dawgs to start the year. The starters have look incredible against weak competition. The immediate depth is coming along well. The defense looks fast, physical, and disciplined; the pass rush is improved. The offense looks efficient and explosive; the WRs look promising. The slow build of the schedule continues next week against the worst team in the conference, but on the road. Plenty of decent talent on the roster, but a new coaching staff and coming off a beatdown from a Big 12 team. I’m sure we’ll get their best shot. Go Dawgs!
To your opening comments- I used the word “lackadaisical” to describe our team the last 2 or 3 years more than I did the rest of my 50 years. Two games in this year, this team comes out on fire and I couldn’t be happier. Let’s keep it up and aim for 60 every Saturday.
I’m concerned about the injury to Tyriq Green. Why he was in the game on the last kickoff that late in an out of reach game is beyond me as he’s a dynamic playmaker and now it appears that he may be out for awhile as he needed assistance leaving the field after the game was over.
Good point, I left that out. I was going to ask if anyone saw the injury and how bad it looked.
Easy enough to just fair catch it.
I don’t want anybody on our team to be hurt but his injury isnt a “concern” in terms of the team’s ability to do what they need to do. The secondary is even deeper than the tight ends room and that is DEEP.
Like yourself, I bowed out in the 4th Q. But that first half watching the men stomp a mudhole on an overmatched club was something else. Getting everybody in and building badly needed experience/depth is so crucial. I like the intensity and enthusiasm I’m seeing. Two games in, the sense of urgency is palpable.
Maybe it’s the competition they’ve faced so far, but this team looks a LOT faster than the last couple of seasons. The closing speed of the defense looks like the NC years. They also seem to play with much more fire in their bellies. TSU was nothing more than a glorified scrimmage, but traditionally WKU is SUPPOSED to be one of the better group of 6 programs. The DAWGS apparently didn’t read that memo.
Many things look improved. We’ll get a better idea in the next couple of weeks. OL is my biggest area of concern which still has areas of improvement over last year. OU should really let us know there. Gunner looking like a veteran. Frazier looks great as well the entire RB room. WR play improved, TE room is looking like Bowers and Big O are back, and defense looks fast.
Easy to have big expectations at the moment, my inner Munson wants to keep things toned down until we face stronger competition.
Stay healthy, out of trouble, and there is a foundation for this team to be great.
Otto, I agree with on the O-line. As mentioned in the bullet points, there were multiple breakdowns up from against an inferior squad. The left side of the line in particular looked less than stellar at times yesterday. Is this a one time blip, or a sign of things to come? I am rooting for a blip, but fear it is far worse.
When I saw the final score of WKU’s game last week, I knew this would be a complete blowout. Did I see 70? No (but I didn’t see 2 TDs caused by or for special teams and a defensive TD). Did I see 20? No (I also don’t think that would have been without the short fields our 2nd and lower teams gave them). While I was driving home, when they scored the last TD, I couldn’t help but think, “Just fair catch the ball and let the offense run out the clock.” Instead, that decision could be the butterfly that led to Green’s injury.
I want to know what Gunner said to Bobo as he ran past him chasing after the SW-H TD. I’d like to think it was along the lines of “step it up, fat man…”
The thing that grabbed my attention how White Helton pulled away on the short pass over the middle.
Love ‘The Crayon Master’. Also, on the white out business I didn’t expect to hate it or like it because we’ve had all white uniforms before. What was different was the helmets were white, and that made the G pop and and the red and black stripes were a good look. I liked it.
What I think is different about this team is not just speed – seems like we’ve always had speed with CKS – but these guys seem to trust their speed. Sacovie White picking them up and laying them down was glorious. Not turning his head looking to see if anyone is close, or looking to maybe stiff arm someone, or juke someone just a ‘catch me if you can’ attitude. I have been somewhat frustrated by some of our guys track speed not trust it in the past.
We know what championship football looks like. We have seen it up close recently. We also know what it doesnt look like. We have seen that up close recently too. This team aint like last year’s team (which was a good team but had some flaws) and it sure aint a thing like the ‘24 bunch who I think just had too many guys on it Thst had been part of the back to back and were fat and happy. This bunch is the real thing and can be special.
You know it when you see it. And who the opponent is doesn’t matter.
So far, this team hasn’t played with their food like they have so many times in the past. Play calling has also been more open for all the players. Kirby seems to be building that depth for the long haul.
I’m trying to not be too giddy. While there were a few blips with the OL, I think they will continue to improve and be another real strength of this team. The one thing that concerns me is that cupcakes are getting “cupcakier” due to many of their good players transferring up. Thus, I’m worried that part of the reason we look so good is that these teams are headed downhill. Anyone that thinks there is parity and it’s getting more so aren’t seeing what I am seeing.
I’ve seen the same positives that most others have here through two games so I won’t repeat them.
I know there are a lot of Jeff Dantzler haters here, but I will say his football radio call is pretty good and light-years better than Scott Howard. I caught a little of the radio call yesterday and think JD will be pretty solid. He didn’t do any of his shout outs while I was listening and don’t really expect him to since calling football is much different than calling baseball where there is much more time to fill between the action. We won’t have to worry about hearing anything like “McConkey on his donkey” or “Nooo-ohh-ohhh gooooooddddd, nooo-ohhh- ohhhh goohuhhuh-uhhd” ever again.
There’s not much to say about the first two games other than we looked great, at least 1st team, and man is it good to have college football back.
As to the uniforms, I’m a traditionalist and love the red with silver britches (not silver anymore). But I decided to wait and see & then make a decision about what I thought, which I’m pretty sure no one at GA cares. Well I watched…..still hate them. They looked okay but they definitely weren’t GA. I really don’t understand the new trend or obsession with unicolor uniforms. You see it all over the pros and college. Our uniforms are great, great color scheme, great combination. I’ve got an idea, let’s take all the colors and make them white. It’ll be awesome! College football is nothing but change now. Leave the few traditionalist schools alone. Just my worthless opinion.
Oh yeah, get off my lawn!
Stockton didn’t have a clean pocket a good bit of the time he was in, which was surprising. He got flushed several times and took a couple of shots as he was releasing the ball. Uniform got pretty dirty. Causes my lying eyes a little bit of concern. But maybe it’s nothing to be concerned about.