Work over the last couple of months got in the way of continuing the series of 2024 lookback posts through the view of the statistics. Let’s get back to the series.
In a classic let-down spot on the schedule between a Homecoming win (snicker) over the Greater Opelika Cow College and a looming showdown in Austin with Texas, the Dawgs hosted the Bizarro Dogs of Mississippi State and look underwhelming in doing it.
Here’s the link to my preview:
Team Stats:
If you told me before the game, the real Dawgs would generate 600+ yards of total offense, control the clock and score more than 40 points, I would have told you that Georgia wins this game going away. Two turnovers resulting in 10 points for Mississippi State with one of those taking a likely score of some kind off the board will change the look of the scoreboard. Multiple explosive plays and 2 4th down conversions on scoring drives given up to an offense that did not have that profile coming in made this game competitive well into the 4th quarter.
Individual Stats:
Those rushing stats look solid when you look above at the team statistics. When you dive into the detail and look at the running back stats with 90 yards on 24 carries for 3.75 yards per attempt. When you compare the team statistics to the rushing yards MSU gave up to ranked opponents (Arizona State – 346, Texas – 198, Tennessee – 240, Missouri – 204, Ole Miss – 254), our rushing output looked anemic. For a coach that wants to bully overmatched teams, the running game throughout the season had to be driving Kirby nuts.
Something to Consider for 2025:
Out of Georgia’s 6 top pass catchers in this game, only 1 returns in 2025 in Dillon Bell as 4 of them head off to the NFL and 1 transferred out. For the hype Noah Thomas and Zach Branch have gotten since arriving in Athens, both of them need to pan out immediately. Colbie Young needs to be the player he was starting to emerge as before his legal troubles and subsequent suspension began on this week. While I believe there is a lot of talent between the wide receivers and tight ends, we need playmakers that are going to be consistently productive.
0 sacks in a game (and only 3 TFLs) in a game where your defense had the scoreboard on its side and had the offense one-dimensional for most of the games … frankly, that’s horrible. To provide additional context, Mississippi State allowed 38 sacks in their remaining 11 games. I want to see this Georgia defense get back to consistent havoc, and this stat probably explains some of the deep shots the back-end yielded in this game.
Summary:
This game should have been a blowout of epic proportions. Turnovers, a poor running game, and lack of defensive focus led to a game that was much more uncomfortable than it should have been. Mississippi State put up more of a fight against us than Auburn did … let that sink in for a minute.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Glad to see this series bsck. What I remember most about this game is never being worried about losing, just annoyed that we did such Richtian farting around with an overmatched opponent. The other thing I remember is how insufferable Joe Tessatore was. I have always been kind if indifferent about him but not anymore. His hot take as the game came to a close was, “I know all the Georgia fans are focused on their prime time show down with Texas in Austin next week. But I’ve got news for you! What you better have your minds on is having to face these Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville next year!” I’m serious. He said that. I remember saying out loud, “What is this idiot babbling about?”
I think this was the game where I came to the realization that this team was a case study in being head cases and that there was a key missing component to the team chemistry, and it’s wasn’t about receiver’s hands. This was a shit show from start to finish. The Kentucky game was possibly two guys on the other team who had intimate knowledge of tendencies, the Alabama game could’ve been attributed to the home crowd and environment, the Auburn game was “homecoming” and solid, but not pretty, but this…watching Kirby lose his composure on the sideline and inadvertently pushing Martin Van Buren to the side reminded me of a dad losing his mind when the kids have finally worked the last nerve for the last time. It was clear that focus and composure was not this team’s strength, and the source of that could be debated six ways from Sunday. Sounds like, based on the sound bytes from Kirby and little snippets of intel from spring practices, that Kirby’s doing all he can to re-establish the composure and focus with the 2025 version of the Dawgs.
This game was the worst win for a Smart team. It was awful to watch us shoot ourselves in the foot over and over. After being used to UGA taking care of business for the last few years this was a shocker.
When the offense was humming, the defense sucked, and vice versa. Crazy season to be SEC champions. Kirby’s best coaching job by far.