Where do we go from here: Smart, Bobo, and Searels

To be clear, I think Coach went to bed early Sunday morning second guessing himself on that fourth down call to go for it. We had momentum. The offense was moving the ball and the defense was shaking things loose. Let Woodring do his thing, let the defense make a stop, then go for the lead.

Stockton looked really comfortable finally and Bowens was getting ten yards between the tackles. We were running the ball better than if we had a all-star dream wishbone with Brannan Southerland, Verron Haynes and Herschel Walker!

Absolute worst case, we end up losing in overtime.

Similarly, I believe Bobo also went to bed second guessing the personnel and the play calls if he knew going into that 3rd down that he had two plays to move the chains. That young right side of the line is learning as they go. That pitch to Jones was a tall ask on many levels.

Other than that, I liked the offensive play calling. I believe Bobo will continue to get comfortable with his playmakers and putting them in position to move the chains and score some points. We didn't run as much 13 personnel as I expected, but I think our tight ends were mostly out there to help block. Hopefuly as the offensive line gets healthy we can disguise those guys in more motion and downfield routes.

Speaking of the offensive line, I came into this season defending Searels. At least to some degree. And to be fair, we're missing some key components. It's a position room that needs some healing hands more than any other in recent memory. 

Coach Pittman (via SicEmDawgs)

But I hope Smart makes an offer to Pittman to come pitch in as an analyst. It can only help in my view. Puts Searels in an awkward position, sure. But this is a business. 93 thousand didn't show up Saturday night and millions of others tune in to see a loss.

Bring Pittman home and give him (and by proxy Coach Searels) a three month on the job interview.

But Bobo and Searels aren't the real problem. The former did masterful work Saturday night and the latter is making lemonade with bruised lemons and freshmen lemon squeezers.

So back to Smart, he's gotta be asking Schumann what they're missing. This, in my view, is of the upmost importance. If Searels needs to feel some pressure, our defensive staff needs a hard look. You can't keep winning in the SEC if you can't get to the quarterback with four rushers. Saturday night, we blitzed like Buddy Ryan on steroids in the first quarter. And had nothing to show for it. (Except a bunch of no flags for excessive Bama hugging. More on that in a later episode.)

If it's a personnel problem, make some adjustments/changes. If it's calls from the sideline, give Co-Defensive Coordinator Robinson some more responsibility. Again, this is a business. I really disliked our staff's body language in that opening quarter. I bet those of you in attendance could even see it from the stands. It wasn't a good look, and despite the adjustments, getting back into the game...as a fan it's hard to see. So how did our players feel?

In Schu's defense, the halftime report was his goal was to affect the quarterback. And we did that. Simpson at least cooled off. So his defensive players responded. But it's a 60 min game. Not 45.

Coach Smart said yesterday he worries about everything. He's a man of his word, we know that and he practices what he preaches when it comes to accountability. I know when that dude looks into someone's eyes, from a fan to a recruit and his family, to the players in that locker room, he intends to do what he deems best for this football team. 

We want it. They've earned it. Smart intends to deliver. So, re-evaluate and let's get the F after it!

Tennessee...whew!

What a game on Saturday huh? Aguilar is a couple steps up from that other kid whose name I can't pronounce. Or type.

So what did we learn? I'll take a stab at a list. 

• We're a good team. We're built different than previous versions of a Smart led team. But we can compete against this 2025 schedule and beyond I think.
• We're a young team. I believe we are deep, but when you go on the road in the SEC and that roster gets trimmed down, it exposes your youth. Proud of the way Kirby and Co. rallied them into a team that could fight back.
• We're a lucky team. That's a pretty good kicker (went 3/3 the week prior with a long of 53). I don't think the false start penalty mattered. Good snap, good hold. Bad swing.
• The OL especially struggled. I thought the play calling got too conservative after that amazing drive to open the second half. But on the other hand we seemed to click in 13 personnel. I hope to see that a lot going forward.
• In fact, I would bet if we looked at Reddell's participation, most of his snaps would land in the 4th quarter. Barbour we know is done for the year, and Elyiss Williams made the trip but I don't recall seeing him. I'll re-watch tonight.
• Regardless, with three tight ends and one back in, we really found success both on the ground and off play action especially. I'd love to see more of this going forward. Even with Barbour out, I think we are deep enough at tight end and I think the backs we have would thrive in it.
• If there is one thing thing that surprised me more than anything else, it was our defensive backs, especially Ellis Robinson IV. We know they're going to end up in one on one a lot to start games against Heupul offenses. Even as Schu and Kirby began to put the "roof" back on with our safeties we continued to struggle in 50/50 matchups.
• Also worth noting, Tenn's receivers are better this year. That fact plus Aguilar's arm and composure caught us just as off guard as our secondary.

All things considered, we got to the season's first bye week at 3-0. Just as we hoped. So there is that. Most importantly, the coaches have some good film on their young guys and we should be healthier at OL before the tilt against the Tide. 

Looks like we're recording this week's episode on Wednesday. I'll try and have more then. Go Dawgs!

The OL, Gunner and episode 21

Below is the 21st episode of 4th & 3 Dudes. You can like, share and subscribe in your favorite podcast feeder and on YouTube. Thanks to our guest hosts, Cuz Kate and Ainsley! First, a couple thoughts on our first SEC showdown of the season!

I was one who asked for patience with the offensive line before the start of the season. But after Saturday's showing against the Governors, I was disheartened.

After re-watching and seeing some analytical posts, I feel much better. It's a unit with a LOT of talent and potential. It's there, just not consistent yet. I stand by my point in the podcast that they are not up to the standard we need for an SEC road game, especially. However, I think we'll see growth sooner rather than later.

If you've joined the Bulldog Bourdon Social Club, Jon makes some great points about Gunner in the VIP lounge. I agree that QB1 won't be hemmed in on Saturday, and I think the stats and, more importantly, the scoreboard will reflect that.

Regardless, we'll rely on our defense and special teams a lot this season. Go Dawgs! Let's beat the Vols...again!

Rewatch notes, plus a retraction

Rewatched the Miss State game last night with the family. It made for a nice evening, so I highly recommend it if you are able. What follows are just a few notes I wanted to add to my original thoughts on the game.

The main reason I wanted to rewatch it is because that goal line stand was at the opposite end zone from where we were seated standing. And man was it even nicer to see up close on the tv screen. It was equal parts pathetic desperation on MSU's part, and sheer effort and domination for the real Dawgs. Best thing about it, those kids making plays are freshmen!

I mentioned Sunday how impressed I was with the secondary. The snaps Parrish played really showed how versatile this group can be. I think Blackledge even mentioned at one point that Aaron Davis is like a safety playing at corner. True enough as those guys hit and tackle as well as they cover.  And it's a beautiful mix of experienced older players and a lot of youth. McGhee's break up was just as awesome as JR Reed's. Very nice to see.

On Sunday I remarked on our "trouble running in between the tackles". Friend of the blog Scott suggested that I reconsider the play of the line, especially those inside offensive linemen. And true enough, Chubb had a nice gain on an inside trap. And that Sony run up the middle featured MSU's all world woman beater Simmons getting double teamed into the turf. Seriously, I think that cat is still buried there five and half feet below the surface.

Roquan.

Watching the replay and is it wrong to say that I hope Roquan Smith marries him a very fertile young lady?

Damn, son. Damn. #Dawgs

— Bernie (@BernieDawg) September 27, 2017

Seriously, that dude is everywhere. He could put the UGA Orbit buses out of business just jetting around campus during the week!

Lastly, at one point while the cameras were focused on Mullen, in the background you could see an assistant coach's hands holding a cell phone. Pan across to the other side and Scott Sinclair is pulling on Kirby's belt while everyone else is coaching. What a telling visual that could explain a lot about what we witnessed Saturday night.

Now, onto Tennessee. Because I guarantee you they'll be a LOT more focused on the game on the field. Go Dawgs!

Pulling Catalina

I find myself continually baffled by how we can go from this in the opener...

...to barely getting 100 yards total against Missouri. And yes, I get that we threw more Saturday night because it was what was working. But even when Chaney came back to the run there was zero ingenuity nor imagination in the sets used and the direction we tried to run the ball.

Against Nicholls there was a feeling that portions of the playbook needed to be protected. On the road in the SEC opener, not so much. Right?

I've watched that toss sweep up there until my eyes cross. Chubb has to be patient for Catalina pulling out, and even with Payne clearing downfield he has to break three arm tackles to get into open space. But that play will work against anybody we play. 

Remember, UNC knew that play was coming and they still couldn't stop it. Surely it could've managed a few yards here and there last Saturday.

Anyway, this Ole Miss defense is fast and aggressive. We're going to need to meet that with some inventive plays and a hard-nosed attitude.

The Mizzou recap is pass heavy and undefeated

Just getting around to having the time to put these thoughts together. I think Kirby put it best in the post game press conference, we’re so close to being 0-3 really, but those guys are playing really hard and instead we’re undefeated. Unreal.

Eason

• Eason is growing up before our eyes. I know we came into that game hoping to be able to run more effectively. The game dictated that we go pass heavy, and 10 really stepped up. Couple bad balls and the one interception, but it’s obvious he’s something special.
• I mean we knew he was going to be special, but it’s different now. The comparison to Matt Stafford is no longer relevant because Eason has so much more composure than Staff did at this point.
• The bottom line is that Eason is working through his progressions which is why he’s starting. He’s reading things well and making plays with not just his arm but his head.
• I think the touchdown pass to Payne exemplifies this. Payne was open and it seemed an eternity passed before Eason finally decided not to throw to the receiver trailing in the back of the end zone. I was sure he'd waited too long, but he zipped that ball in there and Payne ran a great route to meet that throw.
• Just shows he has a different set of skills and his college football mind is developing up to his arm's talent level.
• Yes, he still has a long way to go, but you have to be encouraged with our quarterback’s growth, especially after that game winning 4th down throw.

McKenzie

• Kirby alluded to the only concern we can have about 16 at this point, and that is that there’s no way his body can handle carrying that much of the load the entire season.
• We’ll get to the offensive line in a minute, but Chaney has to find a way to get some yards using his stable of running backs and tight ends as well as guys like Godwin.
• 16 is dynamic and a game changer. We knew that before the season. But it’s more than a little uneasy seeing how much we have to rely on him.
• Still, McKenzie deserves all the accolades he should receive this week. The touchdown run is one only a few guys in college football can make. His first touchdown catch would have just been a long reception for many receivers, but he found a way to make it into a touchdown.
• And the game winner, whoa Nelly. Perfectly placed ball, but 16 went up and got it. Showed a lot of tenacity and grit.

Defense

via

• Defense struggled but made a ton of plays when we needed them to. Not sure what Drew Lock was thinking on Mauger’s  interception in the endzone, but that was a game saving pick.
• And Mauger is clearly the type of player Smart wants. He’s a senior that hasn’t played much but continues to practice hard and makes the most of his time on the field.
• Coach Tucker is going to have to find a pass rush this week if our secondary is to have a chance to keep up with Ole Miss.
• After getting picked on repeatedly Briscoe improved in pass coverage in the second half, but some of that may be attributed to Missouri leaning more towards running the ball once they had the lead. Huepel has to be kicking himself for the shift in his philosophy after halftime.
• I was hoping we’d be more physical than we were, especially considering our lack of pass rush. The next couple games are critical for this defense. As a fan you want both the front seven and the d-backs to dictate the play, but we need at least one facet to step up.

Special teams

• I’m glad we didn’t have to line up for another field goal, but if we had it would’ve been interesting to see if the coaches actually would’ve stuck with Ham or given Rodrigo a shot.
• I would expect more emphasis on this phase of the game this week in practice. You can’t give up return yardage and leave points on the field like we have and expect to beat Ole Miss on the road and Tennessee the following week.
• And there’s moments to build on for sure. For instance, Tyrique McGhee had a great tackle in kick coverage. Just seems to me we have some guys sticking to their lane and others not as conscious about it or trying too hard to make a play.

Offensive line

• I was legitimately optimistic after beating UNC. I saw real promise in the run blocking and thought we’d have some time to develop better pass protection.
• Nicholls showed our offensive front could be outworked. That was an eye opener.
• Then Saturday night we saw a great defensive front just dismantle them play after play. Charles Harris never stops. He might end up being All-SEC for sure and might be the best pass rusher we see, even better than Tennessee’s Barnett and Auburn’s Lawson.
• But we have to run the football more effectively. Just as McKenzie can’t carry us at receiver all season and survive, Eason can’t throw it 55 times a game. We just can’t rely on that week in and week out.
• The coaches know that. Chaney is in Athens because Kirby respected him as a play caller and developer of quarterbacks. If the line can’t run block we have to do two things: find guys who can and develop plays that get Chubb to the second level.

But in all honesty, what do I know? Seriously. I looked closely at our schedule in August and scoffed at Missouri being able to beat us. I truly believed we would go in there and run them out of the state.

So I don’t know squat, except that I have a bruise on my arm from pinching myself Sunday morning.

Did you see what we just did?

— Bernie (@BernieDawg) September 18, 2016

I know I love teams that fight hard. This team does. They believe in each other from start to finish. And that’s the biggest reason why we’re heading to Oxford undefeated.

Go Dawgs!

Sunday Thoughts on double entendre'd pancakes

Yesterday 'tween the hedges is what happens when the following perfect storm hits:

• inflated early season ranking inflates players' egos
• inexperienced and non-cohesive offensive line plays in front of a freshman quarterback
• receivers that can't consistently get separation
• and playing against a team with absolutely nothing to lose

Absolutely nothing.

And that's where I want to start. Because you have to tip your cap to the Nicholls Colonels. As much as I hate seeing my team struggle, I always really enjoy seeing an underdog rise to the occasion. It's what makes college football great. Those guys were tremendously undersized. Tremendously! They barely had enough scholarship players to fill one bus. Just one! And they gave a bunch of four and five stars all they could handle.

Now, take a step back from the ledge and bear with me now. Read the last sentence of that last paragraph again. Because that's a good thing. I mean, right? There's no question the guys in Red read those press clippings last week and grinned a little too big last week. There's no question they came out the tunnel at Kirby's first home game having already lost whatever pregame direction the coaches' had given.

And there's no question they struggled to regain their composure the next 60 minutes of the game clock.

That's what young teams do y'all. Think about all the young players we're putting out there. All over the field. Even at quarterback, the most important position on the team. Plus, you even have experienced guys like McKenzie making crucial mistakes and even Chubb fumbling the ball...just a weird day. Real, real weird.

So here's how the coaches fix this:

• Keep Eason in. No one is going to respect Lambert deep and running backs need some room. Keeping 10 in there keeps the safeties deeper and helps the offensive line grow up.
• Unleash Rocker and Pittman this week. If I were Kirby I'd tell them to chew ass from dawn til dusk. SEC play starts Saturday night and SEC wins come from the trenches. Those guys need to eat space and eat pancakes.
• Get McKenzie and Godwin more touches. Those guys can neutralize some other mistakes with their speed.

And hey, the kickers played well yesterday. Otherwise we're the headline on ESPN for 24 hours as having lost to an FCS team. Anyone remember Appy State? No, not that one. This one. I really, really like that we trotted Ham out there for the 53 yarder and he nearly delivered. Even though he missed it, it still shows necessary confidence. Necessary.

Granted, a little surprised Blankenship prefers non-fake turf. But then again, so do I. Especially when it's Sanford's.

Two more things y'all. First, hearing a lot of uncomfortable comparisons to Saban's first loss to UL Monroe. Or whatever. Last time I checked we do our goddamn business in Athens GA. Who are y'all, Travelocity.com?

Look, we just need to chill. Stop bitching and moaning and comparing and trying to make this game fit so nicely into your cerebral cortex. Yesterday wasn't as fun as we'd hoped. We should've known better. The coaches should've known better. The players definitely should've known better. But I'm always reminded of how new seasons go when there's a new coach, new philosophy, new procedures, new everything:

Before the season starts, I just ask that y’all support your team. It’s a new era. Many of y’all ain’t experienced this yet. (1/3)

— Bernie (@BernieDawg) September 3, 2016

Not always easy. But we’ll get there together, thru the ups and downs. Go Dawgs! (2/3)

— Bernie (@BernieDawg) September 3, 2016

That said, we’re gonna run unc out of Atlanta like he’s a 21st century Tecumseh Sherman. Go Dawgs! #DawgsOnTop (3/3)

— Bernie (@BernieDawg) September 3, 2016

Okay, speaking of pancakes. Shout out to Smokewagon for borrowing ol' Russ Tanner's variable speed rotary griddle thing, which happens to be the most amazing invention I've ever ever ever experienced. It fed a legion of hungry Dawg fans pancakes, bacon, sausage, and eggs. If only it would pour my beer faster...

Pancakes for a hungry hoard of Dawgs!

A video posted by Bernie (@berniedawg) on Sep 10, 2016 at 6:20am PDT

GDay: Questions. Answers?

Stating the obvious, this spring game has a different feel. A buzz is in the air and I expect a record crowd tomorrow in Athens. Most everyone will try to crowd into Sanford for a glimpse at the rapper that bailed McG out, the pigskin slinger that should be at his prom in the northwest territories, and the coach that Mama called to come home.

Other than those new, shiny things, this will eventually be like any other spring game that provides more questions than actual answers. Unless Lambert takes a shotgun snap on first down and punts it into the Hedges while Ramsey wrestles Hairy in the northeast corner of the endzone, and Eason goes 10/12 for 250+ and a bomb to Godwin to win the game, we're not going to know who the starting quarterback against UNC will be until we hit Atlanta. (Pssstt, it'll be Eason...)

But, that doesn't mean there isn't much to glean from what we see tomorrow. Here's some things I'll be looking forward to observing on the field...

• Quarterbacks. Specifically how much of Chaney's playbook each one seems to carry into the huddle.
• Tight Ends. Do we have any on the roster this year?
• Defensive Ends. Barnett was making moves before a sprained knee slowed his rise in the depth chart. Rochester looked to be a worthy beneficiary until WalMart sold him a BB gun. Considering Rivers is suspended for the first three games, who steps up? 
• Running Back. Chubb is making inhuman strides, but we won't see him play tomorrow. We know what we have in Michel, so it will be interesting to see how Douglas and the younger ones pick up yards...and blitzes. (Pssstt, Crowder's number is 30.)
• The coaches. Past GDays have been a relatively laid back affair. I'm expecting more intensity to trickle down from the top tomorrow. You don't urge the fans to fill the stadium for a glorified scrimmage without wanting to give them reason to stand up and get loud.

And most importantly (to me at least), offensive line play. Catalina gets here this summer to add some depth. Is Ben Cleveland game ready? Have last years starters bulked up? Do we at least look like we can develop some quality depth heading into the Fall?

If you're heading into town, have a great day in Athens. It's always nice to see the campus in the spring time, especially when you can also hear the crack of the pads 'tween the hedges!

Go Dawgs!

Sunday's thoughts on overworked uprights

via UGA Paint Line

This is going to begin where it should - the defense.

You're going to hear (and already have most likely) a lot of "well buts" in terms of how anemic Missouri's offense is as an excuse for why the defense looked good last night. Don't know about you but I find those fans' vision extremely near-sighted. We lost to Tennessee because we couldn't tackle. We beat Missouri because we did. Very well.

And that three down stop that began inside the one yard line to start the game was as big as keys to the game get. They score there and we're likely still in bed with a pillow over our heads right now.

Some other important notes on the defense:
- Couldn't help but notice that Jonathan Ledbetter and Natrez Patrick were on the field early.
- Came into the game worried a lot about the Tigers' defensive front spending the night in our offensive backfield. But Pruitt's guys were the more aggressive unit as they racked up nine tackles for loss, including four sacks.
- 42 yards rushing allowed. That's just plain sexy right there.
- My favorite play might have been Sterling Bailey's sack. Just blew up his blocker and devoured Lock for a seven yard loss.
- The only downside to the defense last night was losing Dominick Sanders for the first half of the Florida game. I thought it looked like a bad call, but heard Richt say it was the right one. I'll see if I agree when I rewatch the television version.

The offense is going to continue to take a local, regional, and national pounding for all of the inefficiency before they play again. Schottenheimer and his squad need to have some serious soul searching as they prepare for the final stretch of games. So glad we have an off week. Because although I did find the offense hard to watch at times, I think there's still some tweaks that can make this offense into what we need it to be - ground/clock control that sets up the play action game.

Look, you can't lose a playmaker like Chubb and not have to adjust. That's going to take some time. Yes, we can't afford for it to take longer than the next game on the schedule. But unless you have a second Nick Chubb on the roster (which we don't by the way, I checked) you're going to have some growing pains.
- Especially when you don't have a quarterback that can shoulder the load.
- You're going to be able to find all kinds of really hot takes about Greyson Lambert and the Georgia quarterback play today. I'm not going to beat a dead horse. I've summarized my feelings before with the fact that this is what you get when you don't recruit the position to the level that we need.
- Greyson Lambert is the quarterback at Georgia. I've wanted to see Bauta play since last season ended, but for whatever reason, that's not going to happen. So it's really time for the offensive coordinator to earn that scratch we're paying him.
- Like any quarterback, Lambert works best when he's able to set his feet. That's not always happening in the pocket. He moved outside the pocket a lot more earlier in the season. It seems like now he's being told to step in and make a throw instead of extending the play when he can.
- We saw that last night on the interception to start the game and the almost interception towards the end. The first one was tipped, but it was still a bad throw to make there.
- We have playmakers in Malcolm Mitchell and Terry Godwin that can wreak havoc in the secondary with just a couple more seconds.
- Plus, if Lambert were to roll out just a few times it would open up some of the intermediate routes that he's forcing balls into.
- You say all that and then realize that the guy still completed 72% of his passes. Which is why I think that even though most of the fingers are pointing at the guy wearing the jersey, most of the blame lies at the guy with the playchart.
- That screen pass to the stacked receivers is cute, once. Maybe twice. How long does it take to realize that we're not able to block those guys? Lucky their defensive backs didn't jump one and house it.
- Maybe Schotty was using those quick screens to slow down their edge rushers. But we have other screen passes in the playbook. I know. I've seen them.
- Sony is everything we need in a starting running back. I'm impressed with the way he runs between the tackles and gets into space. With some extra time the next two weeks I think he'll have more space to run as the line adjusts to his style and speed and he adjusts to what he's seeing.
- And that last point is key. Chubb's vision is what makes him elite. And his vision made him patient enough to let things develop. Sony's getting to the action a lot quicker. That should be something they work on a lot before Jacksonville.
- Robert suggested the key may be to have Sony split out into the slot and Keith Marshall in the backfield. I tend to agree, but mostly as a way to avoid rushing Michel to the point of exhaustion by mid-November. #1 needs 20-30 touches a game, but 70% of them can't be runs between the tackles. He's just not built for that.
- I'm sure the offensive line is banged up after these last few games. I think they're still trying to find themselves again after what Bama was able to do. And that was a great, great defense they played last night and held mostly in check. Yes, they gave up several tackles for loss (which is something we talked about leading up to the game). But only two sacks allowed is impressive against that front.

Special teams were good. No touchbacks unfortunately. But the angles and assignments on the coverage were maybe the best this season, as evidenced by Missouri's fumbled punt and that last kickoff.
- Great call putting Mitchell in as a gunner. He and Michel are our most dynamic players. He's a senior and is really leading by example on offense for a young receiving corps. Letting him do the same on special teams was something I was happy to see.
- So we know if a game later in the season comes down to a field goal, set Morgan up (if possible) in the middle where he's money. That left hash must be where I tee off every time Mrs. Bernie lets me play golf.
- Barber's punts won't stand out on the stat line, but he had three inside the 20. In a game that relies so heavily on field position, that was so important.
- Godwin looks as comfortable returning punts as Steve Spurrier does quitting on his team. Easy, smooth, and as fast as a lightning strike!

Whew. That was a lot. I know I've missed some things. We'll hit on them later in the week. I could use a nap. Go Dawgs!

58 carries. 210 yards.

It has little to do with this two game skid, but I just can't get comfortable thinking about this Homecoming game. And I'm not alone either as I've heard many question the 16+ point spread.

Why?

Is it the fact that it's a night game? Is it Missouri's record (which happens to be the same as Georgia's)? Or is it last year's game in Columbia when the Dawgs absolutely humiliated Missouri? Chubb and Co. carried the load 58 times for 210 yards on the way to a 34-0 victory.

But even that isn't reliable evidence. Missouri's defensive front is young, but man are they talented. Just looking at the tackles for loss, last year the team had 104 on the season and this year through six games they have 57. Leading the way is sophomore lineman Charles Harris with 11.5 TFLs amongst his 29 total tackles. Then there's redshirt freshman Walter Brady who has 8.5 TFLs, 6 sacks and an interception.

All that to say that this isn't the same defense that got railroaded last year. But it'll need to a similar performance from Georgia's offensive line if we're going to be able to end the skid. Schottenheimer is running the ball at about a 58% clip. If the o-line comes ready for the challenge it might allow their offensive coordinator to get closer to last year's 67/33 split in favor of running the ball.

And I think that would mean very good things for this offense Saturday night.

Bama week - a battle of the minds and the muscle

Most of the commentary I've seen and heard this week gives Georgia the edge in having multiple game changers. Personally, it's probably closer to even except for one guy - Sony Michel. I agree that the Dawgs may have better talent at receiver, but it's largely untested in the scope of a game of this magnitude.

Still, the Tide lost one of their best receivers in Robert Foster a couple weeks ago. To fill some of that void, Saban hinted that they may use Cyrus Jones in a receiving role Saturday against the Dawgs. Jones is a senior defensive back and one of Alabama's more explosive players. He's their leading punt returner and is a guy that can find space quickly.

Saban said using cornerback Cyrus Jones some at wide receiver is "something that we've discussed and certainly, probably have to consider in the future." Starting wide receiver Robert Foster suffered a season-ending injury against Ole Miss Sept. 19. Tide wide receivers had six dropped passes last week.

Still, OJ Howard remains the big target that Pruitt's defense must focus on stopping. Or at least minimizing his impact.

Howard leads the team in receiving yards despite not catching a touchdown this season. At 6-foot-6 242 pounds with wide receiver skills, the Alabama native creates matchup problems for every team The Crimson Tide faces. He’s quick and athletic enough to gain clean releases at the line of scrimmage. He’s too big and physical for defensive backs to cover him but too athletic for linebackers. It’ll take a strong game plan and proper execution to throw him off his game.

And Ty Flournoy-Smith has a couple catches on the season too. Remember him?

I said early in the week that this is one of those games that will be won in the trenches, and I still believe that. Both teams have been in games like this before, even against each other. In the fourth quarter, when the game is in the balance and there is a critical third down, someone is either going to win or lose right there at the line of scrimmage.

That being said, the offense that does the better job stretching the defense from sideline to sideline as well as down the field will have a tremendous edge in winning the line of scrimmage. Kiffin will want to get Drake, Henry, Stewart, and Ridley into space with the ball, just as Schottenheimer will try to with Chubb, Michel, Mitchell, Blazevich, and McKenzie.

I think both teams will want to do that without getting cute. Imposing one's will on the other will be the order of the day for at least the first half. Who pulls out the reverse pass or other trickerations out of the playbook first?

This game is why Richt went out in January and got Brian Schottenheimer. This game is why we got an offensive line coach with a hard edge in Rob Sale. This game is what makes Tracy Rocker so pissed off at the entire world.

In short, tighten those chin straps boys. Rammer Jammer Yeller Hammer. Hunker it down one more time!

Bama week - the offensive line

Let's start the week's analysis where the game will be won - in the trenches. Georgia's offensive line is a large reason why the Dawgs are undefeated coming into the game Saturday night. There's little question that since halftime in Nashville Schottenheimer's offense has been clicking on all cylinders and the line has kept Lambert's jersey pretty clean. Of course, the holes for Chubb and Michel have been there too.

A big reason the offense is averaging 45 points a game is because it has stayed inside of the chains. However, I would expect the Tide to really challenge Schotty's passing attack by both daring Georgia into passing (and thus keeping the ball out of Chubb and Michel's hands) and pressing the receivers on the outside more than we've seen thus far.

Vanderbilt is probably going to end up being one of the better defenses we see this season. But even they let our receivers ease into their routes without much disturbance. Bama will press and disrupt the timing of Lambert and his receivers. They'll do this as an attempt to get Lambert to check into a run, or pat the ball too many times when he drops back.

So, the offensive line will have its hands full. Saban will want to challenge Sale's unit at the point of attack. For instance, Schottenheimer has made a living thus far by pulling guards in the running game and taking advantage of matchups in mostly short and intermediate routes in the passing game. The common denominator in both has been an offensive line that could give the running backs holes to get through and the quarterback enough time to release the ball.

What should we expect? Well, for one we haven't seen a talented front seven like this. Alabama's linebackers are going to be better prepared to keep Chubb and Michel east-west and on passing downs they'll stunt and stretch the offensive line's protection to try and bait Lambert into a bad throw.

Bama is loaded with All-SEC talent - Reggie Ragland and Reuben Foster at linebacker and DJ Pettway, Dalvin Tomlinson, A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed on the defensive line. But keep your eye on #93 Jonathan Allen. He's a junior from Leesburg VA that the Tide has mostly used in nickel packages on passing downs. But he bulked up this past off season with 20 pounds of muscle in hopes of earning more playing time on 1st and 2nd downs. And so far he's been a force - seven tackles, three sacks and two QB hurries.

Allen was banged up some against ULM on Saturday, but Saban said he's expected to play. And if he does he has the size and speed to be a game changer on Saturday night.

Sunday's Soggy Southern Thoughts

First and most importantly, thoughts and prayers for Devon Gales. More tests being run this morning at Athens Regional. If you'd like to share some of those thoughts and prayers directly, I found their coach's contact info here:

dawson_odums@subr.edu 225-771-5989

Not a lot to say, but here's a few things to propel us into a week that is sure to be fraught with words, memes, tweets, posts, bulletin board material, and then more words.

- My initial takeaway after the first half is that Coaches Rocker and Sale are going to have a lot of asses to chew this week. I thought Southern played with a lot of intensity in the trenches and for a big span of the first thirty minutes were winning the battle at the point of attack.

- Other than that, the game went about as expected. Chubb got his yards. Michel dazzled. The reserves got plenty of time and played well. 

- Lambert picked up right where he left off against the Gamecocks. Beautiful deep pass to Mitchell that was called back.

- The kick coverage was better. I'm sure the players heard a lot about it through the week. Willie Quinn had a long of 32 yards and averaged just over 20. That shows some accountability for improving in that area after the USCe game.

- The crowd was good for a non-conference cupcake after a rainy tailgate. The Southern Band was as advertised. We had a few Jaguar fans in our section. Quiet bunch until halftime when they moved to the edge of the tunnel and recorded the show while singing and dancing.

All in all, a good warmup to a week we've been looking forward to for quite some time. Get some rest, take your vitamins. Go Dawgs!

The Gamecock rewatch

Some final notes and observations after watching the televised version yesterday. Let's start the only place you can after that game, with Greyson Lambert.

The only blemish for Lambert on what really was about a perfect a day as a quarterback can have was a few wide open receivers downfield that were missed somehow. I wouldn't even mention it considered the day that Lambert had throwing the ball, except that there have been a few of these a game that he's either not seen or checked into a closer option. My analysis is that he is set on one option pre-snap most of the time (remember, he's only been on campus a couple months).

Otherwise, Lambert was a a machine. Seriously, he never made a questionable throw. Even the one incompletion was a ball thrown where the defender could not make a play on it. The Jay Rome completion was a dart that set up the first touchdown nicely. The back shoulder fade to Mitchell was reminiscent of another #11's signature throw in recent memory. And when Lambert's checks allowed some measure of a pass rush to develop, he appropriately extended the play or tucked it and ran.

In short, Lambert unequivocally shut up the doubters. I think the progressions downfield is something worth keeping an eye on as he continues to mature under quality coaching. But how can you argue against him being the starter on a team that doesn't need a world-beater? Just a smart guy that can make the throws and the handoffs alike.

Onto the bullets:
- The only blemish overall was the kick coverage. I think Morgan only had one kick that wasn't either in the endzone or near it, yet still their returner had gaping holes to choose from as he jaunted toward midfield. We're lucky Morgan was there to plug it up and wrap him up a couple times. A kick return for a touchdown could've changed the mood dramatically.
- This offensive line is a joy to watch. Blackledge and Nessler made mention of their experience. But we've had experienced lines before. These guys are road graders. I guess we'll see how good they are when Alabama comes to town, but they've been a joy to watch the first three games and I think Coach Sale deserves some kudos for how clean Lambert's jersey has been.
- Sounds like the media just caught wind of Ramsey's punt last night since it happened towards the end as the clock was draining. We noticed it in the stands but tv was busy elsewhere I guess to give it much airplay. But when the timeout is called you can clearly see Ramsey mouth to the sideline "You want me to punt it?" The stories that emerged last night mostly attributed it to giving him a live rep in preparation in case he's ever needed to punt. But...you have to think it has at least an added benefit of giving opponents something else to look at.
- And what a nice punt it was!
- Malkom Parrish is a joy to watch. He has a nose for the ball and seems to embrace run defense on the edges so much I'm not sure why teams run to his side. I know I've said that before, but it deserves repeating. I won't compare him to #4, but I have a special place in my heart for defensive backs that play physical on the edges like Champ did.
- Jenkins and Floyd get a lot of the attention (and very much deserved), but Ganus and Kimbrough are earning their own mentions in the middle. The future Mrs. Ganus must've been impressed. :)
- The flags got old, did they not? I thought this crew did as good a job as they could've when the game was getting out of hand from an emotional standpoint. And the targeting call was the right call on the field, at game speed. Then the replay officials rightly overturned it. But a few other flags were excessive or questionable at best. Especially the offsides on the pooch kick.
- On the drive back the wife turned to me and asked, "So, South Carolina is really bad right?" That's a good question and my quick answer was "Yes, yes they are." So there's a word of caution there in getting too excited. I do believe Vanderbilt is better, at least defensively. And we had the added benefit of getting the Gamecocks a week after their quarterback went down. Once that Nunez kid can add some passes to his skillset, they should be much better offensively.

Still, all in all, just a masterful game. Especially for Coach Schottenheimer and his gameplan. Georgia didn't punt until late in the third and only had to face three third downs all night. I guess if you want to pick nits you could point out we only converted one of those. But really, that would be like eating a delicious steak only to complain about the steak knife needing to be sharpened.

ULM rewatch - the offense

Vanilla. Plain. Ho-hum.

That’s how many are describing the offensive (and defensive for that matter, which we’ll get to next) performance Saturday. For those who use those descriptions in a critical manner, I’m not really sure what they were expecting to see.

Afforded the opportunity to rewatch the play selection, line blocking, running backs’ decision, downfield blocking, and of course the quarterback play, I was looking mostly for fine details to mention and discuss. Every running play was virtually the same. And passing downs, what few there were, evolved as an exercise in caution.

But there was a lot that can be gleaned regardless. Let’s start with the line of scrimmage.

The offensive line didn’t come out of the gate with bad intentions. But Sale’s group dominated ULM’s front overall. The only concern I saw was when we moved Kublanow over to guard. He may have had a costly penalty for a chop block (I believe), but the line was better with him at center for sure. Pass protection was good. The couple times Lambert was rushed was more due to downfield coverage. And the lanes Chubb, Michel, and Marshall had were reminiscent of last season against Auburn and Louisville.

I’d forgotten how nice it is to have an experienced returning offensive line to start the season.

The running backs were as advertised of course. There really wasn’t much of a surprise here. The only exception might be that we were treated to what it looks like to have three healthy backs that would probably be starters for most other teams. Marshall ran with confidence and the kind of power we may have forgotten he had. His first touchdown wasn’t due to blocking as much as his sheer determination to get in the endzone. And Michel showed plenty of power between the tackles too, moving the pile forward a few times for extra yards.

The only disappointment may have been not getting Turman in the game before it was called. Oh well.

It might be easy to gloss over the receivers as they did not get much in the way of stats. But the truth is they got plenty of work. Mitchell was putting on a clinic blocking, and both he and Blazevich made great catches for scores. Godwin showed us how his speed and athleticism can lead to separation from defenders. He’s going to be fun to watch develop once he’s out of the doghouse for that non-fumble.

Ok, the quarterbacks. Again, to me it was clear why he was named the starter as he just looked more poised. But the main thing is the offense was just better with him out there. You’re probably pointing to the one drive Ramsey had, and you’re right. Not much to go on and Bauta didn’t even get in the game.

But, I saw something Lambert did that Ramsey didn’t, and that was change the play at the line of scrimmage. We were running so many times between the tackles that it was repeatedly an easy call for ULM to blitz up the middle. Lambert looked like he audibled into a better run on Chubb’s second score; Ramsey should have done the same on the sack he took. There were just too many defenders for the center and Keith Marshall to contain.

As I said Sunday, I hesitate to put too much on this one (almost complete) game. But there was enough there to go on, with Lambert’s day in particular, to frame what we might see going forward. And that’s that Lambert has taken better overall control of the offense. Just as I was pleased to see Ramsey make a great touch pass to Michel on the screen, I was even more pleased to see Lambert throw the ball where defenders had minimal (if any at all) chance of putting a hand on it.

Just as it will for the season, the running game set the tone Saturday. Eventually we’ll have a game where the passing game will need to win one for us. Nothing I saw from this “vanilla” version of Schottenheimer’s first game leads me to feel uncomfortable about where this offense is heading.

Here's hoping we get to see all three quarterbacks in Nashville.

Tailgate Roundtable - the center situation

Day two. Here's yesterday discussion on the quarterbacks.

Perhaps more importantly, who snaps the ball to the eventual starting quarterback?

AHD - I think Wynn gets the nod. He's a soph and had two great guards in Kublanow and Pyke to help him when he needs it. Long will provide valuable back up. 

Robert - When I look at starters returning on the offensive line for any team, I look at the center position.  This IS an important question.  I guess they are looking at Kublanow, Wynn, and Long in that order.  We have been lucky recently with injuries along the offensive line.  They do have the luxury of Wynn and Kublanow playing at guard, so that will play a role in the decision of starting center once they see which unit works best together.  If they stay injury free along the offensive line, it will probably be Kublanow with Wynn at guard.  It seems like there is a lack of depth along the line, with only 6-7 guys that can really contribute.  An injury to any position would really shake things up.

BDB - I think Wynn gets the nod too. But I'm satisfied either way. Hearing great things about Coach Sale. Hopefully whoever he goes with has the same fire in his belly that Ben Jones and David Andrews had.

Summer's most pressing questions

Spring semester classes are done. GDay and spring practices are a fairly distant memory. As we ease towards the summer months, here are the questions I have rattling around in my head.

1. Who will step up at quarterback?
Yes, why not start out with the obvious? The idea of bringing in the kid from South Bend was laughable to me. But uneasily so. After all, we are still waiting for the next starter under center to emerge. And I truly hope one does over the summer and especially into August camp. If this questions lingers into the season it could seriously hurt the team's chemistry. So if Park or Ramsey or Bauta want it now, the time has come for someone to take the reins.

2. Who will snap the ball to Bauta, Ramsey, and/or Park?
Unlike the question at quarterback, I think we have a better idea of who might start at center. Sophomore Isaiah Wynn is still in a race with some others for the starting job, but he seems to have only solidified his hold this spring. If he returns in August in the same form I would bet the coaches would like to name him the starter given his youth.

3. Who will catch the balls thrown by Bauta, Ramsey, and/or Park?
Aside from overly dramatic concern when a junior with four career catches leaves, the depth at wide receiver should come into question. Mitchell and Scott-Wesley are plenty qualified to sit atop an SEC two deep, but can they sit there for an entire season? McKenzie had a great spring expanding his role in receiving, right up until his injury at GDay. Other names to keep an on are Charlie Hegedus, Reggie Davis, and Shakenneth Williams, as well as true freshman Terry Godwin.

4. Will the run defense improve to a championship level?
Coach Pruitt's 2014 unit, except for a trip to Columbia SC, was very impressive against the run the first half of the season. Once Florida ran right through, around, and over us though all bets were off...until the bowl game. Hence the reason for the clarifier in the question; the run defense was good overall last year, but not up to SEC Championship/BCS Playoffs standards. As was pointed out in Kevin's roundtable, there may be some questions in the secondary, but the edge rush should be second to none which will only help ease the tension with the pass defense. So Pruitt just needs to find some run stoppers for first down and short distances.

5. Will Collin Barber return to 2012-13 form?
We'll especially need this early in the season as a new quarterback gains his footing and teams stack the box to slow down Chubb. Our punt game was strong until last season. I've wondered aloud about Barber's junior season. It makes me wonder, even though there are no lingering physical effects from his 2013 concussion, if he's just not over that hit on Rocky Top.

In a few months many at William Hill American football betting may be wagering on a big season for the Dawgs. Whether Georgia can live up to it may rely mostly on the answers to those questions.

Dust settles, OC search heats up

Remains to be seen if the suits in Butts-Mehre are on the same page as the football coaches, but they're at least in the same chapter. But no question things are more settled than they were before Friday's news of contract extensions and raises.

So it's a good time to talk about the open positions on the staff, most notably the offensive coordinator search and offensive line position coaching spot that's open. Weiszer runs down some names that have emerged. I would suspect more names will come up as the process of a coaching search requires many leaves to unturn and countless beat guys, ESPN personalities, bloggers, and of course random agents to help along the way. (Which by the way is something the latest Seth and Gentry Show hits on this morning in talking about how certain coaches provide links between Richt and certain prospects.)

So coaching searches are a lot like suspense dramas without anyone getting killed. Usually.

The guys being talked about the most are Kurt Roper, Tyson Helton, and Mike Bloomgren. I'd advise you to read MaconDawg's analysis of each those names as he approaches their experience from all angles. For an instant snapshot I'll simply add that Roper is looking for employment (so he'll come up on many lists), Helton is a fast rising star through the coaching ranks, and Bloomgren seems to have a style that favors a lot of Chubb. Which I really like.

But I certainly don't have a preference as yet. Actually, my preference is in the process of being verified - that we search the nation for the best possible successor to Mike Bobo. To simply hire from within is the Mark Richt we knew ten years ago. I really think that ship has sailed and a job that allows an offensive coordinator to feature Nick Chubb and groom some talented young quarterbacks should bring in many, many names.

Sure, we still may promote someone like John Lilly. But if we do it speaks to the fact that Richt was not satisfied with anyone else he interviewed, and that he's most comfortable with his long time colleague. And it might also point to current staff considerations. For instance, someone like Roper who is looking for a job might be perfectly fine keeping the offensive coaches we have, while someone making a move from a current gig may lobby to bring his own guys.

And that's where the search gets interesting. We have a long way to go, but the questions are already hanging in the fog out there. Is Richt only looking for someone that fits current personnel, both players and coaches? Or is he willing to change the scheme Bobo had all but perfected? We know even after he brought Pruitt in last January Richt still had final say so on some of the defensive assistants. Will he also make final determinations on open position coaching spots?

Because I'd love to have this guy, a current GA, on staff full time as the new offensive line coach. He would bring some nasty to those big fellas that this old Dawg would really enjoy seeing.

A consistently healthy offensive line is like a blue moon

Nice write up by Weiszer on this year's unit up front. This shouldn't have caught me by surprise, but it did.

Unless offensive line coach Will Friend makes a change or an injury pops up in practice before the game against Louisville, this will be the first time Georgia will have gone through an entire season with the same starting offensive line since 2000 in Jim Donnan’s final season as coach.

Also, much is made about the running attack this year, and rightly so. But this offensive line also did a good job keeping Mason's jersey clean. Granted we didn't throw the ball as much this season, but they've only allowed 15 sacks thus far. That's the lowest total since Will Friend arrived in Athens.

At the center of the matter

For kicks and giggles, heading into bowl practice Emerson takes an early look at the 2015 depth chart. Probably the biggest question of the off season for the offense will be replacing Boss Andrews. Center is such a key position, and Andrews was a legitimate Rimington Trophy candidate this season. Not to mention the offensive MVP.

Sure, the new starting quarterback battle will get plenty of ink and page hits between now and next August. But we know Ramsey is the heir apparent. Who snaps the ball to him is truly up in the air.

Emerson lists Isaiah Wynn, Josh Cardiello, Hunter Long, and Kolton Houston as the candidates. I would add Brandon Kublanow in there as well. Much will depend on how some of those newer faces develop and where the key pieces fit.

The good news is that regardless, Will Friend is looking at four returning starters. That makes a lot of Dawg fans smile.