Tomorrow of course is the next biggest game of the season and it truly is a HUGE game for many reasons which I will discuss further in this blog post. But first, lets take a look back at the game last week which became HUGE win the Gators stomped on the Gamecocks, putting UGA back in control of their destiny.
I am old enough to know that UGA does NOT typically play well in Lexington, Kentucky, especially at night. Take a look at these scores from over the years in Lexington, starting with games in the 70's which is when my UGA history as a fan began.
1970 19-3 W
1972 13-7 W
1974 24-20 W
1976 31-7 W
1978 17-16 W
1980 27-0 W
1982 27-14 W
1984 37-7 W
1986 31-9 W
1988 16-10 L
1990 26-24 L
1992 40-7 W
1994 34-30 W
1996 24-17 L
1998 28-26 W
2000 34-30 W
2002 52-24 W
2004 62-17 W
2006 24-20 L
2008 42-38 W
2010 44-31 W
2012 29-24 W
It is clearly obvious that we have had some close games up there, sure we have blown out the Cats a few times here and there but most games have been very tight. That being said, this year was different. Kentucky is a HORRIBLE football team. They are playing most FR and SOPH's they have lost their top QB and RB for the year, they are a below average offense and defense. We were coming off a bye week, we got beat badly the week before that bye, we knew before KO that Florida had beaten SC and thus given us new life, all that and yet we still came out, let UK go 80 yards running the ball primarily right up the gut and they scored a TD, their first opening possession score since 2010!! Luckily for us, Aaron Murray in particular came ready to play, tossing for 4 TD's and over 400 yards of passing. Our run game was ineffective, but we did give Murray time to throw and he picked the Cats apart. But our OL's run blocking, and continued bad play of our DL, well, that is a cause for great concern this week against a team that has a power run game/more of zone read but they will pound the football on a defense. I simply can't figure out what the problem is with our D but I have a few thoughts.
First of all, our DL is underachieving in a big way. The injury to Abry Jones doesn't help matters, but our play at NT and DT, well, those guys are not getting much push it appears to me. I thought Geathers actually played a pretty good game against UK, but John Jenkins did very little except almost pickoff a pass. Jones was not doing all that much before his injury but needless to say, these guys get ZERO pass rush and then can't get off blocks to make stops in the run game-leaving it to LB's or even safeties to make the first contact with the RB, 5-10 yards down the field. The DL play is making it hard for us to ever generate ANY pass rush from our LB's, or DL, becuase one OL is able to block one DL-they have 5 OL to our 3 DL, 6 if they have a TE in the game-this means OL a free to pick up blitzing LB's.
Second, our guys just seems confused on the field all the time-they seem out of position or appear to be yelling at each other after plays are over, like you were supposed to be in this spot, why were you not where you were supposed to be. This was voiced during the bye week with players saying, we have to communicate better and we have corrected that now.
Our secondary is not very good in coverage. Whether it be because they are not doing what they are supposed to do-communication, or they simply are just not that good in coverage-which honestly no secondary is very talented when the pass rush is as bad as it has been, especially if Jarvis Jones is not playing, as he was not last weekend.
Grantham is also a problem, I don't buy into him being controlled like a puppet by Mark Richt or Greg McGarity. He still has PLENTY of fire when I see him on the sideline, but the man has yet to figure out how to stop a QB that can run, which is a great fear this weekend of course. Honestly, the D this year looks a LOT like his first defense at UGA in 2010, dreadful in most cases, unrealiable to make a crucial stop when you need it. Our offense put us up 29-17 in the 4th qtr, what happens next, the D let's UK drive straight down the field to make it 29-24 and set up what was almost a succesful onside kick. IF UK gets that ball, I can tell you I would have had NO CONFIDENCE we could make that final stop and win the game. For all the Bobo bashers this year and years past, I don't hear enough people on Grantham. He just got a contract extension and raise, he returned almost his entire defense, plus some key reserves and this unit looks like it is made up of true FR and Sophs, it just beyond disappointing to me and I am sure a lot of UGA faithful.
So, this Saturday is the big game against the Gators, with the winner in great shape to rep the east in Atlanta against likely Bama, although if LSU beats Bama, they likely will go. If UF wins, they clinch a spot. If UGA wins, we still MUST beat Ole Miss next week at home, and then at AU on November 9th. Both should be wins but with how this team has played this year, NO GAME is a win until the scoreboard has triple 0's. A lot of people simply look at scores and believe this is an easy win for the Gators. But I really look at this a lot different-here is why.
UF is a pretty one dimensional offense-granted, the zone read/QB option is an offense we have struggled with since Grantham has been here, but I am hoping the Shawn Williams call out of the Dogs, will inspire this defense. UF can throw it but they prefer not to, that being said, I bet they try early on us because we will expect the run. We need big games out of Williams and Rambo, along with Smith and Commings-all seniors, all leaders of this D-we need the safeties as both help to cover the WR's but also help to contain the QB Driskel and his runs. The D really needs to get the ball back to our offense because I think a key to this game for us to win is keeping the UF defense on the field and getting them tired. Because UF is a ball control offense, their D is fresh and ready to go, creating turnovers and then of course the UF punter is great at flipping the field. The better our D is early in getting 3 and outs, the better shot we have later in this game.
Our offense HAS to have some balance. Granted the UF defense is very good, but I don't think they are any better or as good as the SCarolina D we already faced. Keep in mind that SEC teams in general this year have been MUCH MUCH better at home than on the road-just look at SCarolina, looked great at home against us, not so much against LSU and UF on the road. UF struggled on the road at A&M, were tied with UT at the half before sprinting away in that game, only up by 7 against Vandy in the 4th qtr on the road. This game being neutral takes away the huge edge UF has enjoyed playing in the swamp. Back to our offense, we completely stopped trying to run against SCarolina, despite a few early good runs by Gurley. Course when you are down 21-0 in the first qtr, it does take away from your gameplan. But, to beat the Gators we have to have balance and keep them guessing. IF we can do that, Murray can have some success throwing the ball. UF has been a STRONG second half team so I think it is very important we have some early success and even take the lead early, we need to force UF to play our style game rather than them dictate to us. This will be the second BIG game in row for the Gators, 3rd in the past 4 weeks, can they get up and stay up emotionally the entire game this Saturday.
I think this game represents a big moment in time with Coach Mark Richt. I firmly believe if we get blown out in this game, there is a good shot we lose another game this season, could be either of the next two SEC games. I think this team is fragile emotionally right now, they expected to be playing BETTER than they are and are getting frustrated. This is a game where I see the ship heading two different directions, a win can right the ship and get us headed toward what could be a very successful season, a loss could really sink the Mark Richt ship. I honestly believe if we lose this game badly, and struggle down the stretch, Mark Richt MIGHT resign, or be fired. I think McGarity is going to give him the ability to resign rather than get fired, but I just get the feeling reading quotes from Mark lately, that he has had enough and is ready to move on. The expectations he had for this team, and for sure the fans had for this team, have made this a win at all cost type year and if we come up short, he might very well just walk away and not look back. Let me also say I HOPE this does not happen because I still and will always want CMR to have the ultimate success in Athens because he is a good guy, a nice guy, a Christian man that does things the RIGHT way. The old saying, nice guys finish last, I HATE that because I too am a nice guy. I am cheering for Richt to win one for the nice guys, to say yeah, many times nice guys do finish last but sometimes, nice guys finish first. I think UGA can and will win this game, I am not sure why but just a feeling I have in my gut. I will say Dogs win 24-17, pulling ahead early, and then holding off the Gators down the stretch. This group of Dogs/Gators have played close games the last two years, UF winning in OT two years ago, and UGA winning a tight game last year. I expect it to be close either way.
Finally, a report on the 8 year old Grayson Rams, we won our first playoff game last week, 33-7 over Mountain View. It was our best effort of the year without question. This week we take on the #1 see Dacula Falcons, our boys get to play on the Grayson HS football field which will be a really special treat. This Dacula team has not lost on the season and has only give up one TD or less in all games except one, in which they gave up one TD and one KO return TD. Our offense is going to have trouble moving the ball because Dacula has so much speed. Our D is going to have to play sound football, do their jobs and tackle well as this team has the top RB in the 8 year old division-just a very tough, talented and VERY FAST back. I am going to call for the upset here picking with my heart, but honestly, if we come to play we can beat this team, they are only 8 and you just never know-this team has yet to be behind all year so if we can jump them early, we could stun them. I say Rams 13-12 over the Falcons. If our season does end, it has been a great ride and we will be playing in a post season tourney in a couple weeks so football is still not over for me regardless of the outcome on Saturday.
Hope you all have a great weekend and as always, Go Dogs and Rams.
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