Granted this was not the best UT team to beat in Knoxville, but, anytime you get a win up there you have to be pleased. Especially after our last two trips to that place. The game on Saturday was not the best you will ever see, the offense still is not playing up to the potential I think it has but you have to credit our defense yet again, playing sound football and really controlling what had been a very high scoring offense. Yes, they were rolling up numbers against weaker teams but still, they were at home and UT at home is a much tougher team than UT on the road.
The GOOD-the play of our defense of course. Gilliard named D player of the week for his great work-he leads our team in tackles, he had 12 tackles, a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, forced a fumble and had a pass break-up. I also thought the DL was fantastic in completely shutting down the run game of UT. Yes, they had been bad against UF earlier in the swamp but to hold anyone to -20 yards rushing, VERY impressive. The pass D, well, they did have trouble covering the backs and especially the big TE. But, overall, the coverage on the wideouts was pretty good. On offense, Murray had a solid night, no INT's (thanks Marlon Brown) and Malcolm Mitchell was outstanding. Too bad he got hurt but hopefully he is back for the UF game. Also thought TKing played his best game of the season. He picked up some crucial 3rd downs, caught the ball well, could have done even more if Murray had not overthrown him several times. Crowell was ok, scored two TD's which was nice but UT seemed determined to slow him and down and for the most part, they did contain him except for his 17 yard TD run. Butler had a strong game, Walsh made both FG's and hopefully is back in form, special teams did a good job covering kicks. Continue to really like Herrera at MLB as well. Great for Mark Richt to win game 100 in the stadium that actually jumpstarted his coaching career as our head man. I don't think any UGA fan will soon forget the Hobnail boot game, Verron Haynes or David Greene.
The BAD-penatlies in the 4th quarter. I have NEVER seen a 3rd and 56 or 2nd and 56 or 4th and 57. Now, I am not sure I can blame the players because holding could be called EVERY play-how the refs can call that many consecutive penalties, that is just beyond strange. We were very close to FG range, if not in FG range, when the yellow hankies started flying. I also would have like to see the D get more pressure on Simms when he entered the game-keep that TD off the board, that 4th and 15 completion looked really good-how he got it there and the guy held on, great catch but was frustrating. I also don't like our conservative play calling at times, we could have put that game out of reach and not given UT a chance to score late and try the onside kick-course we were trying to do that when then penalties started in the 4th. We have got to have our LB's do a better job covering TE's and RB's or teams will really start attacking us there. The injury to Mitchell was bad, he would have likely scored if not for pulling/straining his hammy.
NEXT UP-a trip to Nashville, a place we usually win but a place we normally struggle. We always play Vandy a week after UT, you go from 100K in Knoxville to 40K in Nashville, and Vandy is always going to be MANY notches below UT in every category from talent to fan base. So, you end up with a bit of natural letdown against the 'Dores and so the coaches have to do a great job of getting the guys up for this week. All the good work of the last 4 games can be wiped away with a careless loss in Nashville. Vandy just got killed back to back at SCarolina and Bama but they beat up Ole Miss in Nashville. They will be back home and ready to play after getting ripped by the Tide last week. Again, our guys BETTER be ready. I think many in the fanbase are taking this for granted but NOT ME. We go there with a lot of confidence, against an offense that is REALLY struggling right now. We have Mitchell out, Crowell banged up, but most everyone else is healthy. Hopefully Wooten might come back this week, Bennett will need to step up, as will Marlon Brown. We SHOULD win this game easily but I have said that before about Vandy only to see us win by a last second FG.
Personal note, the 7 year old Rams put up a solid effort but just couldn't get the offense rolling on Saturday, losing 13-0 to the Mill Creek Hawks (this team is now 7-0 and has given up 7 points all season so a solid defensive team). We close the season Saturday against Lawrenceville, a team we SHOULD beat but we play at their place-sounds like UGA!!! Win that game we finish 5-3 and assure a pretty good seed in our playoffs which start next weekend.
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