SECCG Preview: Don't replicate. Just dictate.

It's Texas. Again.

With (almost) everything on the line, Texas comes to Atlanta to face a Georgia team that bullied them in Austin.

Both teams have (likely)^* secured a spot in the CFB Playoffs. So, just go out and win right?

Yes, but as we're all hearing, it's hard to beat a team twice in one season. Some recent examples:

In 2017 Georgia "got the dogshit" beat out of them on the plains by Malzahn's Tigers. Couple weeks later, it was ALL Dawgs in Atlanta. In 2021, Alabama jumped up and surprised Georgia in the SECCG, only to see the Dawgs take care of business with it all on the line in Indy.

This is a little different with the Dawgs having slowed the Longhorns' roll to a stop in Austin back in October. So now we're avenging our road win.

You can throw most everything out the window. I think this game comes down to these two points:

1. Which team runs the ball better consistently. We stuffed their run game on Oct 19th. Wisner had two yards per carry less than his season average. For us, Etienne had a great game, but even though he's upgraded to questionable, I doubt we see him. We need Frazier to have a night!
2. Protect the Mercedes Benz' real estate. Both teams turned the ball over back in October. Longhorns' were more costly. Don't give them a short field. Live to play another series and let Thorson do his thing when necessary.

I recall being very underwhelmed by the Longhorns' offensive line after the first meeting. Perhaps that was mostly due to our Muschamp-infused defensive gameplan, because they have played much better in recent weeks. Especially in College Station last week. They've reasserted their ground attack, which could mean Sark goes earlier to Arch Manning to see how we handle the RPO. Who knows.

But we do know it's going to be hard to replicate what happened in Austin. But that doesn't mean we can't dictate what happens tomorrow in Atlanta. GATA and Go Dawgs!

^*because you never know what shit narrative the committee is going to use week to week

Initial thoughts on Texas Dos

(No, I'm not here this morning to discuss Disney's Show on Brackets. We can talk about that when it matters - Sunday afternoon.)

It's hard to come up with anything we could sink our teeth into. Mainly, because if we've learned anything this season, Georgia has a knack for starting perilously slow. Many times it's the entire team (Kentucky, Bama, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Tech). Other times it's just the offense (Clemson, Texas).

In Austin, we punched them in the mouth. No, the offense wasn't blowing fuses on the scoreboard. But a 23-0 lead at halftime doesn't just come from their QBs on the sideline looking like they are deer stuck in the headlights.

So I think we're in for a closer match on Saturday at 4pm in the Benz. From what I can tell, their offensive line play (which was abysmal in Austin) has improved. Some. If our defensive front can create something similar to the chaos they did in Austin, that would be a good place for us to start constructing some keys to this all important SEC Championship Game victory.

Digesting Texas

First of all, I need to own up. I was one of the ones not just thinking but also espousing that this Georgia defense was not up to the standard we've seen the last few years. And yes, there's still a long way to go.

But Saturday night was special. Our offense turned the ball over twice in the first quarter and the Longhorns still went into halftime with zero points. There's a reason their quarterbacks looked like this on the sideline just before half:

"Did...you see the size of that dude?"
"Yeh."
Yeh."

Jalon Walker was impossible to defend Saturday night on his way to 8 tackles and 3 sacks. Mykel, Wilson and Everette added 4 more sacks. The pressure threw off Ewers timing with his receivers, and their running game was a non-issue. Take away the negative sack yardage and the Longhorns struggled to 64 yards on 17 carries.

In short, Georgia's defense quickly put their offense in a box with one hand tied behind them. And when Ewers was able to get the ball off, the secondary (and linebackers...hello Chris Cole!) were more than up to the task. In 49 dropbacks, the Longhorns managed just 230 yards.

By the time the clock hit zeroes, the Georgia defense had limited the Sarkisian offense to 4.69 yards per pass (that is roughly half what they were averaging coming into this game) and 3.76 yards per run (again, taking out ALL of the sack yardage).

Rumor is Muschamp really stepped in to help the secondary prepare for this road trip. Maybe that was because of Schumann's wife giving birth Wednesday to their 3rd kid, or maybe Coach Boom just needed to scratch an old itch. Regardless, the end result was domination.

Offensively, it wasn't domination but I felt like we executed at a much higher level. Yes, Beck had a few bad reads. The receivers had some drops. And a couple more times pretty sure  they are running wrong routes. In short, the offense as a whole is still not completely in sync.

On the plus side, the offensive line had a great night when Jared Wilson returned to the lineup. Gave up just one sack (which may have been as much on Beck) and provided a steady pocket from start to finish.

Etienne remains a bright spot. It's always nice to have a three down back that can run, catch and block. Delp had his best game of the season.

If I were to quibble, I hope the focus going into the off week is downfield blocking. Sure would be nice to spring Etienne on a few long ones at the WLOCP! But on a night that saw Bobo calling in plays on our own walkie talkies, an enjoyable performance to say the least.

Kirby said it post-game. No one believed in those guys. Word is Gameday was a clean sweep for the Longhorns. They scrambled our comms. Threw bottles at us. And then the refs tried to take matters into their own hands. (sidenote - when will the SEC hire full time referees, and make them face the press after games) And still, the Dawgs more than handled their business road trip.

Lastly, thanks to all you Road Dawgs! You sounded great and added an exclamation point to the win with all the horns down pics around Texas Memorial Stadium that floated onto social media. Go Dawgs!

the Friday Misery doesn't wear chaps

Hey Beevo, keep your dadgum ivoryish bovine protrusions away from our doggy!

steered clear

Seriously, why is that thing on the field? I've heard many raise the question, but have yet to hear a true answer. When Ralphie visited Sanford he was on his best behavior. I don't think his handlers even had to sedate him. I mean he ran on the field without trampling Joe Cox. Thank God!

But if this is the same Texas mascot that was at the Sugar Bowl a few years ago, give him a horse tranq for God's sake!

And I don't even know if Uga is travelling. I sure wouldn't if I were Boom and knew what that ornery two-ton sumbitch tried against Que. Give that good boy a tummy rub and let him just nap through the pre-game from the comforts of the Seiler sofa.

(UPDATE: Charles says Boom will indeed be safe in Savannah this weekend.)

when the secondary is a primary concern

Deeeeep.

Breath.....

Okay, it was uneasy then uncomfortable then unfathomable to watch our secondary get torched time and time again Saturday night. I get it, that was not fun at all. Offense was eating up yards and putting up points, but the defense just couldn't make ol' Missy State quit!

It starts, in my humble never been a tackle football coach's opinion, with the pass rush. I was a little, just a little, too hard on the secondary on Tuesday. Upon further reflection, every time we sent a blitz they had the correct call. And it went for a lot of yards if not a touchdown.

We just couldn't get our hands on the kid. And that starts in the trenches. Tomorrow we have to be able to generate a push and at least get some hands in Ewers' face. We made Miss State one-dimensional early. They wanted to run the ball, but we wouldn't let them.

Here's a dude that can GATA!

And while that eventually turned on us when they started to pass, we need to do the same tomorrow night. Yes, it's hard when Mykel isn't 100%. It's hard with Mondon sidelined. But these kind of games are won up front.

Now everybody...yes, even you pea brains in the back still whining about Kirby's forearm shiver. Let's all get into a three point stance...that's it...get your ass down Poindexter! Okay, now. Right arm up ready to chop wood, and...GET AFTER THEIR ASS!!

egos are especially bigger in texas

Gather around longhorns, and put your 10 gallon learning caps on. You are officially in the SEC now, so you have to act right. Yes, even though you were named after a steakhouse chain. And no, most of us don't want you around here anyway. And it's not because we're afraid of you. No, the decisions were and are made above our paygrade.

So listen here, stop whining every time an opposing fan gives you the horns down. Yes, we know it hurts your feelings and we saw when the Big12 front office enabled you like a green-faced toddler that doesn't wanna eat strained peas.

Grow a pair. Instead of putting a replica of a bull's scrotum on your trailer hitch, try loosening your girly chaps and find your own set. This is the SEC son! We can joke about Vandy "blowing the Admiral", and Carolina's choking chicken, and still have some modicum of respect for each other. Yes, we bark at perfect strangers. Yes, Florida claps like the graduating class for the directionally challenged. Missouri goes on the road...to play UMass! And don't get me started on Tennessee's Tour de Franzia or their depressing locker room mantra:

Narrator voice: "It was true. It could not be found."

Taunting, trash talk, turning Parliament Funkadelic's P-Funk hand signal upside down...it's all part of the fan experience. It's expected. It's understood. (And yes, I understand Auburn is more of an exception. But trust me, they're worse than a toddler with strained peas in his ears.)

Now, proudly pat that SEC patch on your jersey and understand you are now playing in the ELITE playground. No more plastic primary colored fake shit. I'm talking solid wood foundation with steel bars. I guess what I'm saying is, if the slide in our playground doesn't chap your ass, then an inverted set of fingers shouldn't either.

Let's all circle up and pray...take off your cap and let's see your pretty-boy haircut Arch! There we go...Lord, please protect these men tomorrow night as we continue to pray and look for ways to support hurricane victims across the southeast. And please, pleeeeaase! Let us get Ewers jersey dirty. Even after 8:50pm. Because we know it's ALWAYS 10 TO 9 IN TEXAS!! AMEN and Go Dawgs!

Bonus - this week's 4th & 3 Dudes episode