Three Observations
3. The flip side of the coin
The Georgia fans and media have been obsessing over Carson Beck’s troubles, and rightfully so. You can only safely sniff the milk so many times. Likewise, you can only throw three picks so many times before you lose again. If three turnovers a game is Beck’s new standard, well, I hear the 2025 home schedule should be fun.
Lost in the whinging is the fact that Georgia also wins due to Beck. Kirby Smart has stated it multiple times. Smart isn’t going to pull him. Beck has the yips and will soon return to form.
But what about Jaxson Dart? The Ole Miss quarterback is being compared to a combination of Alexander the Great, Plato, Tesla, Saladin, Y.A. Tittle, Patrick Mahomes and Big Jim Slade. If you believe the Tik Tok Pundits, Ole Miss has already won the game once Dart laces up his cleats.
Yet the Rebels fans will point out that, like his head coach, Dart has struggled in big games. Against ranked teams, Dart has one touchdown, one interception, and a 57% completion ranking. Versus unranked teams, Dart has 20 touchdowns, only two interceptions, and completes 74% of his passes.
Still, that’s only three interceptions for Dart to Beck’s 11, but it’s worth noting.
2. Somebody call Paul
I just noted Dart’s stats versus ranked teams, but to be more accurate I should have said “the only ranked team Ole Miss has faced.” The Rebels lost to an LSU team that started the season losing to a bad USC team.
Ole Miss never trailed in that LSU game and only lost in overtime. And the last six quarters, the Rebels have looked amazing. They shut out Oklahoma in the second half and then proceeded to score more in Arkansas than Bill Clinton at an AOPi mixer.
The Rebels are hotter than your seventh-grade pretend girlfriend who lived in Canada. Ole Miss has some gaudy statistics too. They lead the SEC in scoring offense, passing offense, and total offense. Defensively they boast the best run defense in the SEC. Heck, they are No. 2 in the entire nation. Lane Kiffin played the transfer portal well.
But to be fair, a lot of those stats were logged while playing Furman, Wake Forest, Georgia Southern, and Middle Tennessee. They picked up 10 sacks against an Oklahoma team that was playing equipment managers on the offensive line. The Rebels did stomp South Carolina on the road 27-3, but only converted one third-down attempt out of 10 tries against Kentucky. In that same game vs. UK, Ole Miss only rushed for 92 yards on 29 carries (four sacks). And that was with their top back, Henry Parrish Jr., getting 13 carries. He’s out for the Georgia game.
The Rebels are not as stout defending the pass. Ole Miss is 13th in the SEC in passing defense and seventh in total defense. This is another case where Georgia’s opponent is stout up front but average on the perimeter.
1. Man enough
At some point, you have to think that all the hand-wringing about Georgia’s mediocre run game will light a fire under the offensive line. The Bulldogs run game is scarier than waking up to your dog growling at the closet in the middle of the night. For an offensive line that takes pride in being bigger and stronger than just about any defensive line they meet, the frustration has to be immense. Getting Tate Ratledge back is huge. He was pressed into service last week but should be raring to go this week. Plus Trevor Etienne is healthy. Let’s see if the Georgia boys can whip the Ole Miss Varangian Guard
Two Questions
2. Will we see Colbie Young suit up for Georgia again?
Not this week. Or next. My guess is we will see him play for Georgia if the district attorney drops the charges. And then maybe a couple of weeks to get back into shape. Smart is all about giving guys a second chance, and in this case, dropped charges would warrant a return. But the initial allegations were worrisome. And as we saw with Rara Thomas, this situation might repeat. If it does, the headlines would be ugly. That may not be fair to consider, but I am sure it is part of the decision.
1. When is enough enough?
Georgia would be favored by double digits if anyone thought the Bulldogs could hold onto the ball. Every preview or breakdown obsesses over the turnovers. But I have a more important question. What is with all the eyeblack, Carson? Are you trying to break into a bank? I haven’t seen a coating like that since I seasoned my cast iron skillet. Are you trying to hide from completed passes? I kid, I kid. Turnovers are important.
One Prediction
The last time Ole Miss was relevant on the national stage, we were carrying around Binaca breath spray and listening to 3 Doors Down. But Kiffin has this team believing and they are playing much better with their added defensive mercenaries. It’s time to take Ole Miss seriously.
The Rebels need this game. Georgia does too, but the Bulldogs have more leeway to get to the playoffs. So expect the new and improved Rebels to be frothing at the mouth to win what our Ole Miss writer Neal McCready called the biggest game in memory. They want this game more than I want to be Page Spiranac’s golf top.
But both have an equal chance of happening.
Dawgs roll regardless.
(CENSORED)
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3. The flip side of the coin
The Georgia fans and media have been obsessing over Carson Beck’s troubles, and rightfully so. You can only safely sniff the milk so many times. Likewise, you can only throw three picks so many times before you lose again. If three turnovers a game is Beck’s new standard, well, I hear the 2025 home schedule should be fun.
Lost in the whinging is the fact that Georgia also wins due to Beck. Kirby Smart has stated it multiple times. Smart isn’t going to pull him. Beck has the yips and will soon return to form.
But what about Jaxson Dart? The Ole Miss quarterback is being compared to a combination of Alexander the Great, Plato, Tesla, Saladin, Y.A. Tittle, Patrick Mahomes and Big Jim Slade. If you believe the Tik Tok Pundits, Ole Miss has already won the game once Dart laces up his cleats.
Yet the Rebels fans will point out that, like his head coach, Dart has struggled in big games. Against ranked teams, Dart has one touchdown, one interception, and a 57% completion ranking. Versus unranked teams, Dart has 20 touchdowns, only two interceptions, and completes 74% of his passes.
Still, that’s only three interceptions for Dart to Beck’s 11, but it’s worth noting.
2. Somebody call Paul
I just noted Dart’s stats versus ranked teams, but to be more accurate I should have said “the only ranked team Ole Miss has faced.” The Rebels lost to an LSU team that started the season losing to a bad USC team.
Ole Miss never trailed in that LSU game and only lost in overtime. And the last six quarters, the Rebels have looked amazing. They shut out Oklahoma in the second half and then proceeded to score more in Arkansas than Bill Clinton at an AOPi mixer.
The Rebels are hotter than your seventh-grade pretend girlfriend who lived in Canada. Ole Miss has some gaudy statistics too. They lead the SEC in scoring offense, passing offense, and total offense. Defensively they boast the best run defense in the SEC. Heck, they are No. 2 in the entire nation. Lane Kiffin played the transfer portal well.
But to be fair, a lot of those stats were logged while playing Furman, Wake Forest, Georgia Southern, and Middle Tennessee. They picked up 10 sacks against an Oklahoma team that was playing equipment managers on the offensive line. The Rebels did stomp South Carolina on the road 27-3, but only converted one third-down attempt out of 10 tries against Kentucky. In that same game vs. UK, Ole Miss only rushed for 92 yards on 29 carries (four sacks). And that was with their top back, Henry Parrish Jr., getting 13 carries. He’s out for the Georgia game.
The Rebels are not as stout defending the pass. Ole Miss is 13th in the SEC in passing defense and seventh in total defense. This is another case where Georgia’s opponent is stout up front but average on the perimeter.
1. Man enough
At some point, you have to think that all the hand-wringing about Georgia’s mediocre run game will light a fire under the offensive line. The Bulldogs run game is scarier than waking up to your dog growling at the closet in the middle of the night. For an offensive line that takes pride in being bigger and stronger than just about any defensive line they meet, the frustration has to be immense. Getting Tate Ratledge back is huge. He was pressed into service last week but should be raring to go this week. Plus Trevor Etienne is healthy. Let’s see if the Georgia boys can whip the Ole Miss Varangian Guard
Two Questions
2. Will we see Colbie Young suit up for Georgia again?
Not this week. Or next. My guess is we will see him play for Georgia if the district attorney drops the charges. And then maybe a couple of weeks to get back into shape. Smart is all about giving guys a second chance, and in this case, dropped charges would warrant a return. But the initial allegations were worrisome. And as we saw with Rara Thomas, this situation might repeat. If it does, the headlines would be ugly. That may not be fair to consider, but I am sure it is part of the decision.
1. When is enough enough?
Georgia would be favored by double digits if anyone thought the Bulldogs could hold onto the ball. Every preview or breakdown obsesses over the turnovers. But I have a more important question. What is with all the eyeblack, Carson? Are you trying to break into a bank? I haven’t seen a coating like that since I seasoned my cast iron skillet. Are you trying to hide from completed passes? I kid, I kid. Turnovers are important.
One Prediction
The last time Ole Miss was relevant on the national stage, we were carrying around Binaca breath spray and listening to 3 Doors Down. But Kiffin has this team believing and they are playing much better with their added defensive mercenaries. It’s time to take Ole Miss seriously.
The Rebels need this game. Georgia does too, but the Bulldogs have more leeway to get to the playoffs. So expect the new and improved Rebels to be frothing at the mouth to win what our Ole Miss writer Neal McCready called the biggest game in memory. They want this game more than I want to be Page Spiranac’s golf top.
But both have an equal chance of happening.
Dawgs roll regardless.
(CENSORED)
Here's something new from Bulldog Snacks!
4 Bars. 1 Cookie Pouch. Free Shipping.
Their new Sample Pack has 4 bars and 1 cookie pack, plus free shipping. Plus they include a nice surprise in the package. It's an easy, inexpensive way to see what everyone's been talking about. Will also make a nice gift. A large part of the proceeds go to Georgia's NIL efforts and with three commits this week, they could use every bit of it.
LINK: https://www.getbulldogbar.com/products/sample-pack
I'd really appreciate it if any of you who have bought some already would leave a review: https://www.getbulldogbar.com/products/sample-pack#
