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Three Observations
3. Don’t get cocky.
The bipolar nature of this season might come down to something as simple as injuries and complacency. Georgia came out and blew Clemson out of the water. Everyone felt this team was going to roll through the regular season like it had the previous three years.
That complacency, the expectation that Georgia was untouchable, took a hit at Alabama. The following week we complained about an 18-point win over an arch-rival. We were mad about letting MSU score too much. Eventually, the Bulldogs found themselves as underdogs going into Texas. The complacency was gone, and funny enough, Georgia played like Georgia. The missed tackles disappeared. The nasty blocking was on display. The defensive swarming was everywhere. They hit so hard the refs had to throw players out of the game. A lot of that had to do with getting healthier, but the heart was back.
That intensity is hard to replicate every week. Hell, it’s impossible. Especially when you know you are heavily favored.
Kirby Smart fights that complacency every day. He notes it is a battle. He mentions how close games or even losses are useful for “getting their attention.” Hopefully, he won’t have a team that expects to saunter through Jacksonville and pick up an easy win. Smart’s squad can’t think the hard part of beating Texas is done and it’s smooth sailing. Georgia is still Enemy No. 1 in college football.
2. Run the damn ball, Bobo
We thought the plan would be to run it against Mississippi State, the worst run defense in the conference. Instead, Bobo elected to throw the ball all over the place. And to be fair, State’s pass defense was also one of the worst in the nation. Made sense.
This week presents another chance to run the damn ball. Florida is ranked 94th in the nation against the run. Trevor Etienne is facing his former team. Starting right guard Tate Ratledge is back. The Gators are weak on the edge. I expect to see Bobo go full old school and commit to the run. Or at least the play-action pass. Let’s hope Georgia fakes it up inside more times than a Tech wife.
1. Nature is healing
Longtime readers of this column know I am superstitious about this game. It’s like how some people don’t trust “fancy book-learning” so they go to Auburn. This game has done more damage to my self-esteem than the food pyramid. Younger fans don’t get it. But if you are old enough to have been branded by a seatbelt buckle or left a layer of skin on a hot vinyl car seat, you know of what I speak.
In past years I’d be beside myself with all the rat poison this week:
Add in the fact that Florida is playing better and has a really talented dual-threat QB? I’d fully expect an upset.
Yet, slowly but surely, we are healing. Smart is 6-2 versus the Gators. He seems to enjoy beating Florida more than my wife likes watching Tom Hardy movies. I fully expect him to have his guys ready, rat poison be damned.
Two Questions
2. When will they put it together?
ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi told us this week that Georgia “punched the Longhorns in the mouth defensively and they did whatever they wanted..." I hope that team shows up for the rest of the season.
To steal a line from Star Wars, I’d also like to witness a fully armed and operational Georgia squad.
How many times this season have we said Georgia has yet to play a complete game? And the Bulldogs still haven’t, despite the win over Texas. In Austin, there were dropped passes, dropped turnovers, and a ton of penalties. Beck had three interceptions and no touchdowns. Imagine what the score could have been with the Dawgs firing on all cylinders.
I must say it was fun to watch the Texas fans become unglitterglued when they realized they were demolished by a sub-par Georgia effort. We saw the exact moment when they started asking, “Were we so preoccupied with whether or not we could join the SEC that we didn't stop to think if we should?”
1. What’s wrong with Carson Beck?
The question popped up in the Monday presser but was being asked long before that. Beck is not as sharp as he was last year. But then he also had more help last year. Brock Bowers is leading the entire NFL in receptions. Ladd McConkey is having a huge year too. They made Beck look good. But he was also more accurate last season. He’s still a really good QB with his best games ahead. But the interceptions are a concern. Florida’s only chance in this game comes down to ball security. They have to protect it from Georgia and somehow steal a few possessions from the Bulldogs. Beck can’t oblige them.
One Prediction
As much as DJ Lagway impresses me, I expect Georgia to harass him and limit the big plays. The loss of Anthony Evans to a hamstring issue is big, but Georgia has some guys who can fill in for him. The Bulldogs just need to play their game and they will roll.
Three Observations
3. Don’t get cocky.
The bipolar nature of this season might come down to something as simple as injuries and complacency. Georgia came out and blew Clemson out of the water. Everyone felt this team was going to roll through the regular season like it had the previous three years.
That complacency, the expectation that Georgia was untouchable, took a hit at Alabama. The following week we complained about an 18-point win over an arch-rival. We were mad about letting MSU score too much. Eventually, the Bulldogs found themselves as underdogs going into Texas. The complacency was gone, and funny enough, Georgia played like Georgia. The missed tackles disappeared. The nasty blocking was on display. The defensive swarming was everywhere. They hit so hard the refs had to throw players out of the game. A lot of that had to do with getting healthier, but the heart was back.
That intensity is hard to replicate every week. Hell, it’s impossible. Especially when you know you are heavily favored.
Kirby Smart fights that complacency every day. He notes it is a battle. He mentions how close games or even losses are useful for “getting their attention.” Hopefully, he won’t have a team that expects to saunter through Jacksonville and pick up an easy win. Smart’s squad can’t think the hard part of beating Texas is done and it’s smooth sailing. Georgia is still Enemy No. 1 in college football.
2. Run the damn ball, Bobo
We thought the plan would be to run it against Mississippi State, the worst run defense in the conference. Instead, Bobo elected to throw the ball all over the place. And to be fair, State’s pass defense was also one of the worst in the nation. Made sense.
This week presents another chance to run the damn ball. Florida is ranked 94th in the nation against the run. Trevor Etienne is facing his former team. Starting right guard Tate Ratledge is back. The Gators are weak on the edge. I expect to see Bobo go full old school and commit to the run. Or at least the play-action pass. Let’s hope Georgia fakes it up inside more times than a Tech wife.
1. Nature is healing
Longtime readers of this column know I am superstitious about this game. It’s like how some people don’t trust “fancy book-learning” so they go to Auburn. This game has done more damage to my self-esteem than the food pyramid. Younger fans don’t get it. But if you are old enough to have been branded by a seatbelt buckle or left a layer of skin on a hot vinyl car seat, you know of what I speak.
In past years I’d be beside myself with all the rat poison this week:
- Reporters asking about Georgia seniors going 4-0 vs. Florida
- Arain Smith saying the game is personal to him
- Lawseon Luckie saying he can’t wait to play the Gators
- Rece Davis calling it the Mocktail Party
- Trevor Etienne’s comments about transferring so he can play in December
- Everyone on Florida’s board picking Georgia
Add in the fact that Florida is playing better and has a really talented dual-threat QB? I’d fully expect an upset.
Yet, slowly but surely, we are healing. Smart is 6-2 versus the Gators. He seems to enjoy beating Florida more than my wife likes watching Tom Hardy movies. I fully expect him to have his guys ready, rat poison be damned.
Two Questions
2. When will they put it together?
ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi told us this week that Georgia “punched the Longhorns in the mouth defensively and they did whatever they wanted..." I hope that team shows up for the rest of the season.
To steal a line from Star Wars, I’d also like to witness a fully armed and operational Georgia squad.
How many times this season have we said Georgia has yet to play a complete game? And the Bulldogs still haven’t, despite the win over Texas. In Austin, there were dropped passes, dropped turnovers, and a ton of penalties. Beck had three interceptions and no touchdowns. Imagine what the score could have been with the Dawgs firing on all cylinders.
I must say it was fun to watch the Texas fans become unglitterglued when they realized they were demolished by a sub-par Georgia effort. We saw the exact moment when they started asking, “Were we so preoccupied with whether or not we could join the SEC that we didn't stop to think if we should?”
1. What’s wrong with Carson Beck?
The question popped up in the Monday presser but was being asked long before that. Beck is not as sharp as he was last year. But then he also had more help last year. Brock Bowers is leading the entire NFL in receptions. Ladd McConkey is having a huge year too. They made Beck look good. But he was also more accurate last season. He’s still a really good QB with his best games ahead. But the interceptions are a concern. Florida’s only chance in this game comes down to ball security. They have to protect it from Georgia and somehow steal a few possessions from the Bulldogs. Beck can’t oblige them.
One Prediction
As much as DJ Lagway impresses me, I expect Georgia to harass him and limit the big plays. The loss of Anthony Evans to a hamstring issue is big, but Georgia has some guys who can fill in for him. The Bulldogs just need to play their game and they will roll.
