Last week’s post seemed to generate some discussion, so let’s do it again. Was the home opener the biggest overdose on empty calories of the season last year? Probably, but that’s what I’ve come to expect from Kirby and the Dawgs in these FCS games. The cupcake doesn’t end up tasting great, and you spend the next week complaining about how bad the baker was.
Here’s a link to my preview post:
Team Statistics:
Gamblers should stay away from games like this. Unlike some other coaches in the SEC (cough, cough … Lane Kiffin … cough, cough), Kirby sees these games as what they are a glorified scrimmage where you get your starters game reps, get them out of the game as early as possible, and play the 4th quarter with a 10-minute clock. He understands these FCS coaches really don’t want these games but have to have them to pay the freight for their programs to remain afloat, so he obliges.
The key statistic of the game was the time of possession. TTU slowed the game down to a snail’s pace, and Kirby was more than happy to go along especially once the game was truly out of hand. Early in the 2nd quarter, TTU kept the ball for 11 plays and gained only 34 yards but took just shy of half of the 2nd quarter game clock. During that possession, TTU converted 2 3rd downs of 6 or more with runs (not of the scramble kind). That’s not what we’ve come to expect from Georgia defensively. I’ll also highlight the 9 penalties for 85 yards. Once again, that statistic is symptomatic of sloppy, unfocused play.
Individual Statistics:
This game was one where I expected to see a lot of Gunner Stockton and either Ryan Puglisi or Jaden Rashada. Instead, Carson Beck played 2 successful possessions in the 3rd quarter before heading to the sideline. Games like this are when you try to see what you have in case of injury to your starter and get your 2nd team QB into the game with the 1st team offense. I really thought this was a missed opportunity by the staff to get Gunner meaningful 1st half game reps instead of using this game to pad Beck’s individual statistics for a potential Heisman campaign.
I’m probably being overly critical with what I just wrote, but looking back on the entire season, this failure to get Gunner meaningful game reps throughout the season eventually caught up to us (and no, I’m not blaming the ND loss on Stockton).
Something to Consider for 2025:
I pulled the individual rushing statistics overall for a look at 2025 on offense. In this game, 4 of the players listed above are returning in 2025. Of course, everyone believes Nate Frazier is going to be the next great back in the RBU tradition, and that pressure is something the young man appears to embrace. Cash Jones is going to be expected to contribute as more than a 3rd down option. Hopefully, the Robinson duo can find some of the pre-injury promise that each had shown on the field in their freshman years. As I mentioned last week, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some Dillon Bell working with the running backs this spring to provide some additional spark.
I didn’t get the complete tackle chart on my phone screen capture, but the reason I took such a large chunk of data here is that there are a lot of guys on this chart who are returning this year and a few that entered the transfer portal in the offseason. In particular, I wanted to highlight Christen Miller. When healthy, he has reminded me of Devonte Wyatt with his quickness, physicality, and pass rush skill. If this defensive line is going to improve its stock in 2025, Miller is going to be a central piece of that puzzle. Joenel Aguero is the other player from this group that needs to take a big step up in 2025 after fighting an injury-hampered 2024 which forced Kirby and T-Rob to move Malaki Starks down from his free safety eraser role to playing the slot/nickel/star a lot last year. No matter how good Dan Jackson and K.J. Bolden were last year, the defense missed a beat when Starks was not at the back of the defense calling signals and being a sideline to sideline free safety. Back to Aguero, it will be interesting this spring to see if he remains at the star role as a thumper or to move back in the defense to Jackson’s strong safety position.
Evans had a big punt return on his opportunity to set up a quick score. I honestly thought we would get more of that last year, but for whatever reason, he wasn’t the dynamic playmaker we all thought he would be as a kick returner last year. Who is going to step into the punt return role in 2025? My money is on Sacovie White, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Demello Jones get a hard look this spring.
Summary
A win is a win. To use a different food & drink reference, let’s use the classic “Great taste, less filling” from Miller Lite.
I think we can safely say that the cupcake didn’t necessarily taste to expectations and it was less filling (and less satisfying).
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
I’m okay with one or two of these type of games during the season for several reasons: good warmup game before a typically grueling slate of big stressful matches, rest for the starters and gives guys opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t get them unless an injury occurred, it’s a game for people that normally can’t get tickets to be able to go to because there’s less demand, good for parents and kids because it’s less chaotic and loud. But, that said, they are kinda boring games that give us a false sense of wellbeing sometimes.
The problem with this game in particular is that we didn’t do any of the above. We had starters in the game into the 3rd quarter.
I don’t mind the cupcake games, but I don’t like the FCS game. It really serves no purpose other than as a home game.
I agree, it would be better all around if the cupcake was an FBS opponent, or if we could just open with Clemson every year, that’d be fine too!
Yeah, that was my complaint, too. Should have had the starters out at half and rotate backups throughout 2nd half.
We haven’t added a RB we know of. Wish you had included receiving stats because I’m guessing the names were different than who ended the season. I hope the QB position is open even if to make them all better. We may be slipping on special teams punt returns, perhaps because of injuries. I again doubt Kirby’s intent is to create an offense that scores 60 per game. The room for improvement on D is where championships are made.
This game was one where I didn’t draw much of a conclusion around pass catchers.
I thought it was more important on the passing game to highlight the fact we didn’t get a ton of meaningful reps for Gunner.
I really appreciate these posts as my craving for Dawgs football hits especially hard in February.
I just love winning. A couple of these games a year don’t bother me at all.
The reason I’m okay with the cupcakes is to give the younger guys more experience with real game action and allow the team and coaches to prepare for more difficult games down the road. Other than that, it’s boring as hell. And someone like me and my bride that amounts to a lot of cash for tickets and hotel stays.
I realize these type games aren’t going away and I mostly don’t care but it seems like if you’re going to get somebody hurt that you can’t afford to have hurt it’s going to be in a game like this. Of course we had the most rotten injury luck we’ve had in a long time last year just generally speaking.
One cupcake a year is good for the soul (and deep bench player development).
Totally agree on Miller’s health and importance this year to success.
Aguero is an interesting case because he’s perfect for the slot but may not be a better corner than Ellis or Demello. If Daniel Harris enjoyed contact more, I’d stick him at Star and move Aguero to SS so Ellis and Demello could split the second corner spot.
As for punt returner, you’re forgetting our transfer beacon of hope, Zach Branch.
Good point on Branch.