Bobo tried to outsmart himself at times, despite calling a great game in my opinion. And Richt failed to step in and overrule when necessary. But that's a tweak. That's a minor adjustment in the mindset that's between the headsets.And in the game’s biggest spots, Georgia’s coaching staff didn’t give the ball to Gurley. You do have to credit South Carolina’s defense, which successfully keyed on Gurley, especially as the game went on. And you understand Mark Richt and Mike Bobo’s desire for balance and keeping the defense honest.But sometimes that goes out the window when you have a talent like Gurley, and sometimes you can out-smart yourself. Richt, in his postgame press conference, made clear he regretted the play call on first-and-goal from the 4. Bobo probably does too, although we'll have to wait until the next time he speaks to the media to find out, as he and Pruitt again weren't available after the game.
What Pruitt has weighing in his mind is more complex.
Troy should be an opportunity to play some people and build some confidence. Tennessee's offensive line is young. South Carolina's offensive line played a great game, much better than I anticipated. And now it's painfully obvious that this defense will live and die by its pass rush.Georgia’s secondary looked like last year, players not close to open receivers, poor tackling, and just deficient in talent.Jeremy Pruitt was out-schemed by Steve Spurrier and his son, who harkened back to their 2010 win over Alabama (when Pruitt was secondary coach) and predicted in gameplanning that they could exploit the middle of the field. They did, as Georgia’s safeties and linebackers pinched the outside, and South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson (with no pass rush coming at him) had time to find receivers in the flat.
