I just want to caution us regarding Gunner and the playoff run. First of all, I’m not saying Gunner will fall flat or that we won’t/can’t win it all. There’s obviously a great chance for us to pull this out and I do believe in Gunner.
1. Everyone assumes our run game will improve vastly with Gunner at the helm. I don’t think this has no chance of improving, but we better hope like hell that it does. If the run game bogs down, Gunner isn’t Beck, won’t ever be, so we simply cannot assume he will be able to throw us out of it like Beck could. Not saying he can’t either, just unproven.
2. While bringing us back in a pressure situation in the SECCG was huge, we can’t assume the offense will have the same amount of juice as it did then. With three weeks in between, I don’t think the team will have the same emotional momentum as they did in that moment. That was highly galvanizing and that “feeling” of that moment is hard to replicate. All indications and rumors are that Gunner is a gamer under the lights. Let’s hope we see that. But there’s a realistic chance that shell shock could be a major factor. If you take the emotion of the moment out and all that remains is the pressure, could get sideways. Again, not saying it will, just caution here.
3. Rookie mistakes. Will they rear their heads? If so, to what extent? If Bobo can consistently put GS in good positions to win with scheme, and Gunner can limit boneheaded mistakes, I like our chances. But combine this with points 1 and 2, and things could get squirrelly quick. This is the least of my concerns out of the three though.
Overall, I love our chances in this playoff, though, even with all that being said. Love that we have Gunner in the wings and that the team has his back. I think our culture gets us through this, and Georgia beating Georgia is the only way this ends poorly. I think Gunner has what it takes, but Bobo has to help him out. Run game HAS to flip a switch, and I’m thinking it will. Pocket has to move. His slower motion and height will be an issue in the center of the pocket if I had to guess. He can’t play hero ball. Take the check downs and throw it away - no need to be Houdini. Stay ahead of the chains.
Bottom line: I call a Natty for us. Our culture and competitive fire are unmatched. I believe this is a storybook season for us. Greatest coaching job of Kirby’s career regardless. Team leaders are stepping up. Nobody has given up at any point. We’ve overcome more adversity than most teams have even faced. We got this.
1. Everyone assumes our run game will improve vastly with Gunner at the helm. I don’t think this has no chance of improving, but we better hope like hell that it does. If the run game bogs down, Gunner isn’t Beck, won’t ever be, so we simply cannot assume he will be able to throw us out of it like Beck could. Not saying he can’t either, just unproven.
2. While bringing us back in a pressure situation in the SECCG was huge, we can’t assume the offense will have the same amount of juice as it did then. With three weeks in between, I don’t think the team will have the same emotional momentum as they did in that moment. That was highly galvanizing and that “feeling” of that moment is hard to replicate. All indications and rumors are that Gunner is a gamer under the lights. Let’s hope we see that. But there’s a realistic chance that shell shock could be a major factor. If you take the emotion of the moment out and all that remains is the pressure, could get sideways. Again, not saying it will, just caution here.
3. Rookie mistakes. Will they rear their heads? If so, to what extent? If Bobo can consistently put GS in good positions to win with scheme, and Gunner can limit boneheaded mistakes, I like our chances. But combine this with points 1 and 2, and things could get squirrelly quick. This is the least of my concerns out of the three though.
Overall, I love our chances in this playoff, though, even with all that being said. Love that we have Gunner in the wings and that the team has his back. I think our culture gets us through this, and Georgia beating Georgia is the only way this ends poorly. I think Gunner has what it takes, but Bobo has to help him out. Run game HAS to flip a switch, and I’m thinking it will. Pocket has to move. His slower motion and height will be an issue in the center of the pocket if I had to guess. He can’t play hero ball. Take the check downs and throw it away - no need to be Houdini. Stay ahead of the chains.
Bottom line: I call a Natty for us. Our culture and competitive fire are unmatched. I believe this is a storybook season for us. Greatest coaching job of Kirby’s career regardless. Team leaders are stepping up. Nobody has given up at any point. We’ve overcome more adversity than most teams have even faced. We got this.
