Obviously, every Georgia fan, and probably a lot of non-Georgia fans would've preferred that the Dawgs pulled out the win on Saturday, 100%.
In my attempt at deluding myself, though, I've seen an unexpected and significant uptick in positive publicity for the Bulldogs over the past couple days.
As Bama was widely recognized as unbeatable and perhaps one of the greatest college football teams of all time, the fact that Georgia outplayed them for much of the game and nearly got it done has led to national sports media-types (including some that have been labeled 'anti-Georgia' at times) on a pro-Georgia crusade.
While the Dawgs ultimately lost out to Oklahoma for the 4th playoff spot, people all over were saying that Georgia deserved to be in, or at bare minimum, that they were easily one of the 4 best teams in the country.
All this positive retrospection of the Dawgs and their season could bear fruit in years to come. Obviously, it's helpful to continuing Georgia's success on the recruiting trail. That much positive exposure has to be of benefit.
Additionally, though, this is a bit of a watershed moment for the national media's perception of Georgia as a whole. What happened Saturday, coupled with the 2017 season's near-ultimate success now has Georgia firmly planted in the collective consciousness of sports media and fans as one of the few elite. Like it or not, it's important for big and sustained success.
So, while I'd prefer a win, and Georgia would still be held in extremely high esteem, there's almost more positive talking going on about the Dawgs, and at least that's something.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Watch: 2018 Georgia Bulldog Season Preview
Gonna try a new video blog and see how it goes.
It's my first one, so be gentle. Very amateurish at this point to say the least, but I'll try to do some individual game week previews as well, and hopefully they'll improve from both a technical and content perspective as I go along.
It's my first one, so be gentle. Very amateurish at this point to say the least, but I'll try to do some individual game week previews as well, and hopefully they'll improve from both a technical and content perspective as I go along.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
What Does Georgia's Win Over Notre Dame REALLY Mean?
As everyone knows by now, Chicago and South Bend were overrun with Georgia fans this past weekend. It was really something. It showed not only the unbridled passion of the fanbase, but also how hungry we are for a winner. It's the consummate "this could be the year" mentality, and it was rewarded on Saturday night with a nail-biting (my index finger in particular was worn down to the nub) 20-19 win.
The question now is, will this end up being a seminal moment in the 2017 season and/or near future of the program, or was it just one of the highs in what will once again be a season of ups and downs?
One thing I would point to straight away is how much better this team responded to adversity, and performed when the pressure was truly at its greatest.
The defense made stops and forced turnovers when it was absolutely critical to do so, and the offense was able to score every time it seemed it was critical to do so, with the obvious final field goal drive being the key to victory.
We as fans tend to try to squeeze every bit out of what we see in each game. So, how much of the glass can we fill with this orange?
Is it overstating it to say that this Georgia team truly believes in itself, more so than last year? Well, we did pull out some last-second victories last season to go along with some last-second losses. Does the fact that this game was at Notre Dame instead of at Missouri mean much?
The thing about seminal moments is that it's pure conjecture to point them out as they occur. That is to say, it's much easier to go back and point them out in retrospect if the rest of the season turns into a great one. If Georgia goes 10-2 or 11-1 and wins the East, the Notre Dame game will doubtless be considered the springboard.
If this iteration of the Bulldogs is going to really go places, then the offense is obviously going to have to become more consistent, and make more plays when they present themselves. While they left 10 points minimum on the field Saturday, there were also the alarming number of 3-and-outs which really could have taken their toll on the defense.
The encouraging thing about Chaney's playcalling and play design (and there was plenty that was discouraging, too) is the sheer amount of looks and sets he employed throughout the game. Now, it's up to him to begin pruning that bush, so to speak. He's got to start altering some of those RPOs and WildDawgs, or scrap them completely.
My biggest takeaway right now is this. We have the defense to win these lower-scoring affairs right now, but Georgia is going to have to make sure to whoop up on the lesser opponents at every opportunity. If the defense is having to bow up and make key stops over and over, then sooner or later they're going to crack.
The question now is, will this end up being a seminal moment in the 2017 season and/or near future of the program, or was it just one of the highs in what will once again be a season of ups and downs?
One thing I would point to straight away is how much better this team responded to adversity, and performed when the pressure was truly at its greatest.
The defense made stops and forced turnovers when it was absolutely critical to do so, and the offense was able to score every time it seemed it was critical to do so, with the obvious final field goal drive being the key to victory.
We as fans tend to try to squeeze every bit out of what we see in each game. So, how much of the glass can we fill with this orange?
Is it overstating it to say that this Georgia team truly believes in itself, more so than last year? Well, we did pull out some last-second victories last season to go along with some last-second losses. Does the fact that this game was at Notre Dame instead of at Missouri mean much?
The thing about seminal moments is that it's pure conjecture to point them out as they occur. That is to say, it's much easier to go back and point them out in retrospect if the rest of the season turns into a great one. If Georgia goes 10-2 or 11-1 and wins the East, the Notre Dame game will doubtless be considered the springboard.
If this iteration of the Bulldogs is going to really go places, then the offense is obviously going to have to become more consistent, and make more plays when they present themselves. While they left 10 points minimum on the field Saturday, there were also the alarming number of 3-and-outs which really could have taken their toll on the defense.
The encouraging thing about Chaney's playcalling and play design (and there was plenty that was discouraging, too) is the sheer amount of looks and sets he employed throughout the game. Now, it's up to him to begin pruning that bush, so to speak. He's got to start altering some of those RPOs and WildDawgs, or scrap them completely.
My biggest takeaway right now is this. We have the defense to win these lower-scoring affairs right now, but Georgia is going to have to make sure to whoop up on the lesser opponents at every opportunity. If the defense is having to bow up and make key stops over and over, then sooner or later they're going to crack.
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Terry Godwin - Slotted For Success?
Last season, Terry Godwin was expected to build upon his fairly successful freshman campaign. In fact, he posted virtually the same exact numbers, and failed to reach the end zone (with a reception, as he did have the onside kick score vs. USCjr.).
Reports suggest that he will be assuming the role of slot receiver vacated by the electric Isaiah McKenzie. It's pure conjecture at this point, but there are certain aspects of his game that would seem to lend themselves to this being a more natural and productive fit.
The use of the slot receiver has really made a jump over the last couple decades, particularly in the NFL. Long thought of as a safety blanket, the slot is now an integral weapon for offenses. It's quite common for a team's slot receiver to lead in total receptions, which was unheard of until about 10 years ago.
What makes a good slot receiver?
A lot of people's first instincts are to say that he's smaller and quicker. While quickness is key, stature is becoming less and less important. For example, Larry Fitzgerald had a resurgence of sorts last year with the Cardinals moving over to the slot, and he's a good 6'5".
To me, all receivers need some degree of quickness, but your slot receiver needs to run precise routes, have excellent hands, and perhaps above all, be tough. Most catches are happening at or just beyond the second level, and often in the middle of the field, so you need a guy whose not going to get those alligator arms, as the danger of an interception is augmented when throwing to those areas.
Godwin has shown that, while quick, he doesn't have elite top-end speed, and at 5'11", he's not going to typically "out-physical" a DB either.
What surprised me most, especially since he did not really play WR in high school, are his hands and his toughness. He's had very few, if any, drops in his career, and I love the way he catches everything with his hands out away. He has the ability to snatch balls out of the air. It wouldn't surprise me if some of this comes from playing so much baseball (he got a tryout with the Braves farm system before settling on UGA), where quick and instinctive hand-eye coordination is vital.
I was also surprised at how tough he is, particularly for someone of a relatively slight build. He's tough to bring down, and doesn't mind contact. Again, at his size, he seems to enjoy delivering a blow to opposing DBs if the opportunity to make a guy miss is not there.
In the end, Georgia needs a legitimate deep threat to help loosen up defensive secondaries. So, I'm not expecting Godwin's move to be the be-all, end-all of fixes for the offense. But, I absolutely think he will be a much better fit than his was outside. If Wims, Ridley, and a couple of the incoming freshmen (Holloman, Webb) can provide that outside presence, then look for Godwin to have a career year and possibly lead Georgia in receptions.
Reports suggest that he will be assuming the role of slot receiver vacated by the electric Isaiah McKenzie. It's pure conjecture at this point, but there are certain aspects of his game that would seem to lend themselves to this being a more natural and productive fit.
The use of the slot receiver has really made a jump over the last couple decades, particularly in the NFL. Long thought of as a safety blanket, the slot is now an integral weapon for offenses. It's quite common for a team's slot receiver to lead in total receptions, which was unheard of until about 10 years ago.
What makes a good slot receiver?
A lot of people's first instincts are to say that he's smaller and quicker. While quickness is key, stature is becoming less and less important. For example, Larry Fitzgerald had a resurgence of sorts last year with the Cardinals moving over to the slot, and he's a good 6'5".
To me, all receivers need some degree of quickness, but your slot receiver needs to run precise routes, have excellent hands, and perhaps above all, be tough. Most catches are happening at or just beyond the second level, and often in the middle of the field, so you need a guy whose not going to get those alligator arms, as the danger of an interception is augmented when throwing to those areas.
Godwin has shown that, while quick, he doesn't have elite top-end speed, and at 5'11", he's not going to typically "out-physical" a DB either.
What surprised me most, especially since he did not really play WR in high school, are his hands and his toughness. He's had very few, if any, drops in his career, and I love the way he catches everything with his hands out away. He has the ability to snatch balls out of the air. It wouldn't surprise me if some of this comes from playing so much baseball (he got a tryout with the Braves farm system before settling on UGA), where quick and instinctive hand-eye coordination is vital.
I was also surprised at how tough he is, particularly for someone of a relatively slight build. He's tough to bring down, and doesn't mind contact. Again, at his size, he seems to enjoy delivering a blow to opposing DBs if the opportunity to make a guy miss is not there.
In the end, Georgia needs a legitimate deep threat to help loosen up defensive secondaries. So, I'm not expecting Godwin's move to be the be-all, end-all of fixes for the offense. But, I absolutely think he will be a much better fit than his was outside. If Wims, Ridley, and a couple of the incoming freshmen (Holloman, Webb) can provide that outside presence, then look for Godwin to have a career year and possibly lead Georgia in receptions.
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Dawgbone May Not Want to Hear This, But Coaching CAN'T Fix Our Kickoff Coverage
OK, maybe "can't fix" is a bit strong, but obviously Georgia's kickoff return coverage in 2016 left fans wanting. The Dawgs finished the season ranked 115th of 128 teams, giving up an average of nearly 24 yds per return.
I was perusing these stats, as well as where certain teams fell, and while I don't want to say I was able to draw some iron-clad conclusions, I found some things very interesting.
First, with respect to some teams with stacked rosters and presumably good coaches, I found it interesting that Alabama ranked 79th, Michigan at 92, and Florida at 110. On the flipside, teams that you wouldn't think would have the depth to support an excellent KO coverage team (of course, they may play a lot of starters) topped the rankings. Bowling Green, for example, led the nation. Purdue, who played a lot of talented teams last year, came in at #5.
So, it's tough to find a correlation between a team's talent and depth, and I submit that these teams aren't lacking in coaching, unless Bowling Green's ST coach(es) is a diamond in the rough, in which case Kirby should hire him tout suite.
Here's what I find even more interesting.
In 2015, Alabama was ranked a more typical 23rd. Michigan and Florida were at a mediocre, but not poor, 50 and 51, respectively.
Bowling Green went from 62nd to #1. Conversely, Georgia Southern went from #1 to #83.
So, did the teams that improved just "figure it out," while the teams that had it figured out simply forgot what the heck they were doing? I can say with a certain degree of certainty that the level of talent neither improved nor dropped off so dramatically as to cause such a great variance in ST performance.
One variable is the kickers themselves, but even here, there doesn't seem to be much correlation. Florida, who, again, was barely better than Georgia at #110, led the nation in kickoff yds/kick, and was 15th in touchbacks. Memphis was 3rd in touchbacks, and 2nd overall in kickoff coverage. So, while I know that most teams would love a guy who can kick it through the back of the end zone every time, there's still no real conclusion to be drawn as far as coverage on non-touchbacks.
OK, but what does it all mean, Basil?
I don't want to say that a more complete, talented, and deep roster won't have any effects on Georgia's kickoff coverage, and I applaud Kirby for hiring an assistant away from Auburn to be more of a consultant/adviser.
But, the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that kickoff coverage is coached pretty much the same way all around, and sometimes, chit happen.
I was perusing these stats, as well as where certain teams fell, and while I don't want to say I was able to draw some iron-clad conclusions, I found some things very interesting.
First, with respect to some teams with stacked rosters and presumably good coaches, I found it interesting that Alabama ranked 79th, Michigan at 92, and Florida at 110. On the flipside, teams that you wouldn't think would have the depth to support an excellent KO coverage team (of course, they may play a lot of starters) topped the rankings. Bowling Green, for example, led the nation. Purdue, who played a lot of talented teams last year, came in at #5.
So, it's tough to find a correlation between a team's talent and depth, and I submit that these teams aren't lacking in coaching, unless Bowling Green's ST coach(es) is a diamond in the rough, in which case Kirby should hire him tout suite.
Here's what I find even more interesting.
In 2015, Alabama was ranked a more typical 23rd. Michigan and Florida were at a mediocre, but not poor, 50 and 51, respectively.
Bowling Green went from 62nd to #1. Conversely, Georgia Southern went from #1 to #83.
So, did the teams that improved just "figure it out," while the teams that had it figured out simply forgot what the heck they were doing? I can say with a certain degree of certainty that the level of talent neither improved nor dropped off so dramatically as to cause such a great variance in ST performance.
One variable is the kickers themselves, but even here, there doesn't seem to be much correlation. Florida, who, again, was barely better than Georgia at #110, led the nation in kickoff yds/kick, and was 15th in touchbacks. Memphis was 3rd in touchbacks, and 2nd overall in kickoff coverage. So, while I know that most teams would love a guy who can kick it through the back of the end zone every time, there's still no real conclusion to be drawn as far as coverage on non-touchbacks.
OK, but what does it all mean, Basil?
I don't want to say that a more complete, talented, and deep roster won't have any effects on Georgia's kickoff coverage, and I applaud Kirby for hiring an assistant away from Auburn to be more of a consultant/adviser.
But, the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that kickoff coverage is coached pretty much the same way all around, and sometimes, chit happen.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Lorenzo's (Carter) Oil
If you got that reference, then congratulations on being a Susan Sarandon fan.
As I dissect every sentence uttered by Kirby Smart during his post-practice pressers, I often have to remind myself that they'll probably have at most a 50% chance of being a telling prediction of the upcoming season.
On aspect that I found interesting yesterday regards Lorenzo Carter. Carter, you'll recall, was a high 4-star/5-star recruit who many viewed as the next Leonard Floyd. A lengthy, athletic, first-off-the-bus kind of guy who could be a terror off the edge once he matured and gained experience.
While far from bad, Carter's career seems to have been marked by inconsistency, as well as an inability to finish off plays.
I was intrigued to hear Smart talk about Carter as a high-energy guy, a motor, to go along with his freakish size and athleticism.
To me, high energy implies that he doesn't take plays off, doesn't let up until the whistle, etc. Take that, along with his natural ability, and you wonder why he hasn't had more of an impact to this point in his career.
As he supposedly played at around 235-240lbs last year, you might make a case that he was a bit underweight to hold up for 60 minutes against the run, and yet, I would have still expected more sacks and QB pressures.
Kirby made it a point to mention that they are going to try to keep his weight at or above 250lbs. this year, so perhaps that will pay dividends. He's also mentioned himself that the finality of this season with respect to college ball (and no championships to speak of) has really hit him, so perhaps that will be the extra motivation he needs to finally get over the hump.
It will be interesting to follow his play this year, and honestly, I think we'll be able to tell early on if this will be the Lo Carter we've been hoping to see since he arrived in 2014. App State's offense doesn't lend itself to many true sacks, but if he goes off against Notre Dame, look out. If he's sitting at 1/2 a sack and 1 QB pressure after 3 games, then the defense might be in a bit more trouble than we thought.
As I dissect every sentence uttered by Kirby Smart during his post-practice pressers, I often have to remind myself that they'll probably have at most a 50% chance of being a telling prediction of the upcoming season.
On aspect that I found interesting yesterday regards Lorenzo Carter. Carter, you'll recall, was a high 4-star/5-star recruit who many viewed as the next Leonard Floyd. A lengthy, athletic, first-off-the-bus kind of guy who could be a terror off the edge once he matured and gained experience.
While far from bad, Carter's career seems to have been marked by inconsistency, as well as an inability to finish off plays.
I was intrigued to hear Smart talk about Carter as a high-energy guy, a motor, to go along with his freakish size and athleticism.
To me, high energy implies that he doesn't take plays off, doesn't let up until the whistle, etc. Take that, along with his natural ability, and you wonder why he hasn't had more of an impact to this point in his career.
As he supposedly played at around 235-240lbs last year, you might make a case that he was a bit underweight to hold up for 60 minutes against the run, and yet, I would have still expected more sacks and QB pressures.
Kirby made it a point to mention that they are going to try to keep his weight at or above 250lbs. this year, so perhaps that will pay dividends. He's also mentioned himself that the finality of this season with respect to college ball (and no championships to speak of) has really hit him, so perhaps that will be the extra motivation he needs to finally get over the hump.
It will be interesting to follow his play this year, and honestly, I think we'll be able to tell early on if this will be the Lo Carter we've been hoping to see since he arrived in 2014. App State's offense doesn't lend itself to many true sacks, but if he goes off against Notre Dame, look out. If he's sitting at 1/2 a sack and 1 QB pressure after 3 games, then the defense might be in a bit more trouble than we thought.
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
OK, we've got 'em, now where do we put 'em? Georgia's welcome conundrum
If you followed and/or hated on Mark Richt, particularly during his downfall years, you noticed an alarming trend; two, actually.
First, you saw a woefully undermanned roster in terms of total players on scholarship. The top number of 85 was certainly not reached, and even dropped to around 70 for a time.
Secondly, you saw under-recruited or mis-recruited positions and position groups, necessitating several position changes to provide adequate depth at these positions.
What followed was not only a shortage of talent on the field at certain spots, but also a lack of true competition during spring and fall. Not to suggest anyone was lollygagging by any means, but it's human nature to kind of go through the motions if you know a job is yours.
So, now it's 2017, and after what seemed to be some deft roster management (bringing in another kicker for a 1-yr scholarship, bringing in what many hope to be the next I-Mac, etc), Georgia finds itself with a fair amount of depth at most every spot on the field. Granted, much of it is young and untested, but it's there nonetheless.
Now the questions of who starts and who plays arise, but just as importantly, where do a lot of these guys settle in.
The biggest area for this to me comes in the DB group.
Georgia is clearly going in the direction of taller, lengthier DBs. They go 6ft, 6ft, 6ft, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, and 6-3 as far as who the Dawgs signed in the last class. Now you've got to figure out who is a true corner, who's at the Star, and who might grow into or be a natural safety. You might even see, depending upon how the 2018 class goes, some redshirts who grow into LBs. LBs can grow into DE's, and so forth.
As confusing as it can get, the beauty is that the Bulldogs are, at present, not going to be required to make these changes based upon need at another position. There won't be much, "We really need some more depth at safety, so who's our biggest CB?" Instead, it will be because, after assessment in practice and eventually games, the staff will be able to make some changes based upon, "This guy's best position is such-and-such."
I'm not suggesting there will never be a roster issue, or a depleted position group, but for now, it's nice knowing we've got the talent and sheer number of bodies to not have to play musical chairs.
First, you saw a woefully undermanned roster in terms of total players on scholarship. The top number of 85 was certainly not reached, and even dropped to around 70 for a time.
Secondly, you saw under-recruited or mis-recruited positions and position groups, necessitating several position changes to provide adequate depth at these positions.
What followed was not only a shortage of talent on the field at certain spots, but also a lack of true competition during spring and fall. Not to suggest anyone was lollygagging by any means, but it's human nature to kind of go through the motions if you know a job is yours.
So, now it's 2017, and after what seemed to be some deft roster management (bringing in another kicker for a 1-yr scholarship, bringing in what many hope to be the next I-Mac, etc), Georgia finds itself with a fair amount of depth at most every spot on the field. Granted, much of it is young and untested, but it's there nonetheless.
Now the questions of who starts and who plays arise, but just as importantly, where do a lot of these guys settle in.
The biggest area for this to me comes in the DB group.
Georgia is clearly going in the direction of taller, lengthier DBs. They go 6ft, 6ft, 6ft, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, and 6-3 as far as who the Dawgs signed in the last class. Now you've got to figure out who is a true corner, who's at the Star, and who might grow into or be a natural safety. You might even see, depending upon how the 2018 class goes, some redshirts who grow into LBs. LBs can grow into DE's, and so forth.
As confusing as it can get, the beauty is that the Bulldogs are, at present, not going to be required to make these changes based upon need at another position. There won't be much, "We really need some more depth at safety, so who's our biggest CB?" Instead, it will be because, after assessment in practice and eventually games, the staff will be able to make some changes based upon, "This guy's best position is such-and-such."
I'm not suggesting there will never be a roster issue, or a depleted position group, but for now, it's nice knowing we've got the talent and sheer number of bodies to not have to play musical chairs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)