I know I'm late, but I want you to know the Georgia game was not the win you thought it was
I went up to Jacksonville again, but won't do a full writeup for the game. It was a busy week and I am only writing this the day before Vandy and apparently now that I am in my thirties my memory doesn't work so well and I can't remember many of the points I wanted to make. Or maybe just the ninety plus humidity fused a few synapses. Either way I am sorry, but not that much given that I am freely handing out great wisdom.
I was high in the endzone which is a view you never get in the student section of the Swamp and it was only the second time I had watched a game from this angle (the first being the Georgia game last year). I did notice a few different things, such as that on kickoffs Janoris Jenkins lines up to the right of the kicker and runs behind him to over balance the cover ageto the left - where the kicks are angled.
Also Georgia's uniforms were ugly (of course I did not mind Tennessee's) and pretty stupid in my eyes. Alternative uniforms are usually just a chance to sell more apparel. I don't see how that would inspire the Bullpuppies to play better.
Anyway this was a nice win, but realize this was not quite the blowout ah la 2008 we have been looking for. Georgia hung around for a while and made it feel that it could become a game. When they closed to 14-10 the Georgia fans were belivin' in the stands. We won by a big margin because we wore them out and got four turnovers, not because we dominated the whole way - although starting with two solid touchdown drives was nice before that attack petered out a bit. We only had 90 more yards of offense than UGA. This was not a complete game and that's an important distinction to make. Still it was our best team game since Kentucky (other than Arkansas the defense has been consistently strong, as they were at LSU and Mississippi State).
Offense: Tebow ran well, but that was in part because of our formations ((more on that later). That was fortunate, because our backs had a nondescript game. And Rainey got hurt again. The OL did its job pretty well, there were some rush lanes and The Savior had time to throw. And I will give credit where it is due and admit I was wrong - Riley Cooper has elevated the last few games and is playing at a level I never thought we would see out of him. Hernandez is still our best receiver, but we have another solid option now. Also Omarius Hines (82) and Frankie Hammond Jr. (85) were on the field a little bit - not that they did, you know, anything.
Defense: Lawrence Marsh played, but is still not right as you witnessed by Georgia repeatedly being able to gash us inside. And despite all the hype you are hearing about Dunlap and Cunningham we were not able to get consistent pressure - especially not in the first half. In the second half when we started getting a little more rush (especially once they were trailing and thus throwing) more mistakes came - that is not a coincidence (more on that later too). Janoris Jenkins has had by far his worst three games ever the last three - which is a shame because he was one of my favorites. I don't think he is hurt, something has happened to his head because he just keeps making the occasional boneheaded play where he drifts away from his man. Hopefully he will figure it out. Overall the secondary had a solid game. We ran a fair amount of zone mixed in with man. Their receivers found some space., but thankfully Cox was not on target much of the day - I swear every catch AJ Green made involved him making a great play to jump high in the air and reach way up and back behind his head to pull the ball down. Some of that may have been Cox making too extra sure to get the ball over shallow linebackers. And let the record show that even if he had hit Green in stride while he would have gotten more yards there were defenders behind him and in position to make the tackle.
Special Teams: While our defense is better than our offense you could say our special teams are best of all, or at least close to as good as the defense. The SEC has figured Brandon James out to an extent (and just don't kick to him as much), but our coverage has been excellent and conveniently as the offense as sputtered, Caleb Sturgis has emerged as a weapon to pick up some of the slack. His accuracy remains shaky, but by kicking a 56 yarder that forces opposing teams to have still another worry about stopping us. He can become an extension of the offense just as Chaz Henry has been for the defense by forcing most opponent drives to start deep in their own end.
Coaching: Early on we mixed in a bunch of new formations (double our WRs on the right and running left for one) and plays that surprised even this veteran Gator observer. They surprised Georgia too and helped us jump out 14-0 in the first quarter. The we got away from it, but the first quarter remains the best and most creative play calling I have ever seen from andUrban Meyer coached team. I was quiet pleased several stories up.
Player and play of the game: No surprise here, linebacker AJ Jones and specifically his tipped interception to himself on the blitz. If you don't watch much football you don't understand how hard it is to do that - lots of guys tip a pass up, but can't get under it. To start the second half that way (including the ensuing TD) was a killer for Georgia because there is a world of difference having to make up three TDs in half as opposed to two. The next time Georgia got the ball they scored, but they had to move the ball quickly and their three following possessions each ended with an INT. One of those was Jones's second of the game. I have always said he is good in coverage, but this time it was easy for him as Cox threw up a duck as he crumpled on one of the few occasions we go pressure.
The Road Ahead: Last time I did this South Carolina made me look idiotic by promptly going out and struggling to beat freaking Vandy at home and them getting pushed around by the Volunteers. They have averaged 11 points in their last three games. So given that they appear to be on their traditional late season swoon I am not particular anxiety-ridden about this game. It will be our toughest, because two win Vandy and FIU here won't do it, nor will a limping FSU that is a shell of its glory days (they may not even have a winning record when they arrive). So let's talk SEC Championship. Assuming Jordan Jefferson remains Jordan Jefferson we'll have another showdown with al-ah-BAMA. I have some worries about this matchup, remember they played us well last year - leading at the start of the 4th quarter. We are good, but were clearly a notch better last year. Because our defensive line has so many injuries (we were healthier last year too) we have been gashed a few on the ground times which worries me about Ingram who had some success against us last time. Hopefully Lawrence Marsh will be fully healthy by then. I'm less worried about Julio Jones just because I have not been impressed with this McElroy guy. Think about what we just saw: AJ Green is a good receiver, but Cox limited him. Jenkins and Haden are rarely matched up on a single receiver all game - usually they just take a side of the field (they don't even cross if both receivers line on the same side). Haden gives up more catches, but always closes and tackles his guy while lately Jenkins has not been in position to take the WR down (he is a great tackler - I would say the best form tackler on the team). Lord help us if either gets hurt and Meyer puts Wondy on the field.
I was high in the endzone which is a view you never get in the student section of the Swamp and it was only the second time I had watched a game from this angle (the first being the Georgia game last year). I did notice a few different things, such as that on kickoffs Janoris Jenkins lines up to the right of the kicker and runs behind him to over balance the cover ageto the left - where the kicks are angled.
Also Georgia's uniforms were ugly (of course I did not mind Tennessee's) and pretty stupid in my eyes. Alternative uniforms are usually just a chance to sell more apparel. I don't see how that would inspire the Bullpuppies to play better.
Anyway this was a nice win, but realize this was not quite the blowout ah la 2008 we have been looking for. Georgia hung around for a while and made it feel that it could become a game. When they closed to 14-10 the Georgia fans were belivin' in the stands. We won by a big margin because we wore them out and got four turnovers, not because we dominated the whole way - although starting with two solid touchdown drives was nice before that attack petered out a bit. We only had 90 more yards of offense than UGA. This was not a complete game and that's an important distinction to make. Still it was our best team game since Kentucky (other than Arkansas the defense has been consistently strong, as they were at LSU and Mississippi State).
Offense: Tebow ran well, but that was in part because of our formations ((more on that later). That was fortunate, because our backs had a nondescript game. And Rainey got hurt again. The OL did its job pretty well, there were some rush lanes and The Savior had time to throw. And I will give credit where it is due and admit I was wrong - Riley Cooper has elevated the last few games and is playing at a level I never thought we would see out of him. Hernandez is still our best receiver, but we have another solid option now. Also Omarius Hines (82) and Frankie Hammond Jr. (85) were on the field a little bit - not that they did, you know, anything.
Defense: Lawrence Marsh played, but is still not right as you witnessed by Georgia repeatedly being able to gash us inside. And despite all the hype you are hearing about Dunlap and Cunningham we were not able to get consistent pressure - especially not in the first half. In the second half when we started getting a little more rush (especially once they were trailing and thus throwing) more mistakes came - that is not a coincidence (more on that later too). Janoris Jenkins has had by far his worst three games ever the last three - which is a shame because he was one of my favorites. I don't think he is hurt, something has happened to his head because he just keeps making the occasional boneheaded play where he drifts away from his man. Hopefully he will figure it out. Overall the secondary had a solid game. We ran a fair amount of zone mixed in with man. Their receivers found some space., but thankfully Cox was not on target much of the day - I swear every catch AJ Green made involved him making a great play to jump high in the air and reach way up and back behind his head to pull the ball down. Some of that may have been Cox making too extra sure to get the ball over shallow linebackers. And let the record show that even if he had hit Green in stride while he would have gotten more yards there were defenders behind him and in position to make the tackle.
Special Teams: While our defense is better than our offense you could say our special teams are best of all, or at least close to as good as the defense. The SEC has figured Brandon James out to an extent (and just don't kick to him as much), but our coverage has been excellent and conveniently as the offense as sputtered, Caleb Sturgis has emerged as a weapon to pick up some of the slack. His accuracy remains shaky, but by kicking a 56 yarder that forces opposing teams to have still another worry about stopping us. He can become an extension of the offense just as Chaz Henry has been for the defense by forcing most opponent drives to start deep in their own end.
Coaching: Early on we mixed in a bunch of new formations (double our WRs on the right and running left for one) and plays that surprised even this veteran Gator observer. They surprised Georgia too and helped us jump out 14-0 in the first quarter. The we got away from it, but the first quarter remains the best and most creative play calling I have ever seen from andUrban Meyer coached team. I was quiet pleased several stories up.
Player and play of the game: No surprise here, linebacker AJ Jones and specifically his tipped interception to himself on the blitz. If you don't watch much football you don't understand how hard it is to do that - lots of guys tip a pass up, but can't get under it. To start the second half that way (including the ensuing TD) was a killer for Georgia because there is a world of difference having to make up three TDs in half as opposed to two. The next time Georgia got the ball they scored, but they had to move the ball quickly and their three following possessions each ended with an INT. One of those was Jones's second of the game. I have always said he is good in coverage, but this time it was easy for him as Cox threw up a duck as he crumpled on one of the few occasions we go pressure.
The Road Ahead: Last time I did this South Carolina made me look idiotic by promptly going out and struggling to beat freaking Vandy at home and them getting pushed around by the Volunteers. They have averaged 11 points in their last three games. So given that they appear to be on their traditional late season swoon I am not particular anxiety-ridden about this game. It will be our toughest, because two win Vandy and FIU here won't do it, nor will a limping FSU that is a shell of its glory days (they may not even have a winning record when they arrive). So let's talk SEC Championship. Assuming Jordan Jefferson remains Jordan Jefferson we'll have another showdown with al-ah-BAMA. I have some worries about this matchup, remember they played us well last year - leading at the start of the 4th quarter. We are good, but were clearly a notch better last year. Because our defensive line has so many injuries (we were healthier last year too) we have been gashed a few on the ground times which worries me about Ingram who had some success against us last time. Hopefully Lawrence Marsh will be fully healthy by then. I'm less worried about Julio Jones just because I have not been impressed with this McElroy guy. Think about what we just saw: AJ Green is a good receiver, but Cox limited him. Jenkins and Haden are rarely matched up on a single receiver all game - usually they just take a side of the field (they don't even cross if both receivers line on the same side). Haden gives up more catches, but always closes and tackles his guy while lately Jenkins has not been in position to take the WR down (he is a great tackler - I would say the best form tackler on the team). Lord help us if either gets hurt and Meyer puts Wondy on the field.
posted by El Breto @ 9:51 AM
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