Interesting graphic, if you can make sense of it:
Looking at it, the four teams that made the “final four” had about a 50% rush rate for offensive plays (balance) but Georgia’s was below 40% on the year. Unfortunately, I don’t have this for earlier years, but I didn’t realize we were passing as much until I see data like this.
A few things – one, more passing means more opportunities for interceptions and drops. Mybwondering is if we started to get more balance around the Tennessee game and if Beck’s interception rate began to drop because we started to get more balance (I’ll have to look into that). Second, though rushing was down, the RPO/PA rate was high, which makes me wonder if this feature became too predictable and lead to a lack of success on plays utilizing this concept because of heavier use.
What’s your thoughts on a slow Sunday?
A couple of thoughts. First, RPO vs. bubble screens in the calculation. We threw a lot of screens early in the season and I wonder if that was calculated as a RPO or a bubble screen.
Second, I think teams clamped down on the traditional RPO game and played the WR screens as the season progressed. Defenses dared UGA to run against fronts where UGA had the numbers. We could not run the ball effectively which forced us to do other RPOs. Beck’s arm angle made for more batted balls on RPO slants. Finally, to your point about INTs, I think a change in what we were asking Beck and the WRs to do changed. I think half of Beck’s INTs this year were due to miscommunication — either the wrong play being run or the QB and WR seeing the field differently on option routes. I am not sure who is responsible but I think the simplification of the playbook cut down on the turnovers but led to a more vanilla offense.
We sucked running the ball. Bobo likes to use the pass to setup the run but we sucked at that too. Bobo didn’t scheme TEs to whiff blocks and WRs to drop passes. Etienne was good not great before the rib injury, Frazier was a spark but fumbled. How long do you wait for your talent to execute vs radically changing personnel and plays? When do you stop repping 1s in practice because of game day mistakes? We survived on talent but that engine was wheezing and sputtering all season.
*How long do you wait for your talent to execute vs radically changing personnel and plays? * I think this is what concerns me most about next year.
During Kirby’s tenure, there have been several times where Freshman WRs were in the top 4 in receptions in a year.
2024 was the first year Kirby has had a Freshman RB lead the team in rushing.
We have had several years where Offensive Lineman started as Freshman.
I have 3 strong beliefs on this:
1) We could not run the ball effectively last year because the runs were predictable and our OL regressed. That led Bobo to throw more screens as a replacement for the run plays that weren’t working.
2) We promised Carson more passing plays and believed he could handle it well because of how he finished 2023.
3) We were behind in more games, which required more passing.