- --the Georgia offensive line would block pretty well all night
--the WRs would make great circus catches and make the basic catches
--we'd return a punt for TD
--we'd return a kickoff for TD
--AND we'd score 33 points
We didn't win huge because of two things:
1. We played the worst defensive football I've seen from a UGA team since Kevin Ramsey's Auburn implosion in 1999 at home.
2. Joe Tereshinski turned the ball over 3 times resulting in 21 points, and we coughed up another blocked punt for 7 points. You can't beat anyone surrendering 28 easy points off turnovers.
Mikey Henderson for six. Image: DawgPost.com
The Good:
-- The first half: A religious experience.
-- WR Play: They got open. They made the tough catches, and they played DB a few times to save Joe from even more INTs.
-- OL: Mostly a good night. Certainly their best night since South Carolina.
-- Punt Returns: Mikey won't see many more punts this year if opposing coaches are smart.
-- Lumpkin: Solid play; although he didn't get enough carries. Again.
-- The Fans: The fans showed up early. They showed up loud, and they stayed until the final minutes when it was simply too depressing to watch. They did their part to help recruiting and help the team.
Admit it. You were looking for flags. Image: DawgPost.com
The Wildly Inconsistent:
-- Kickoff Returns: We started one possession on our own 5, and we started two more well, well inside the 20. On the other hand, when Thomas Brown finally saw some blocking he took one too the house. If you get tackled on the 5 yardline, it's probably blocking more than the return guy's fault. There is huge upside in this area if we get more consistent play.
Kade wasn't held here right? Image: DawgPost.com
The Bad:
-- Joe T: The entire purpose of playing the 5th year senior with limited athletic ability is because "he won't make mistakes. He won't turn the ball over. He will get us out of bad plays, and he will play smart." 21 points off Joe T turnovers is the difference in the game. Ultimately, we lost because of the worst defensive game plan in 7 years. But Joe's turnovers killed us.
I've seen people complaining because Richt called a slant on 3rd and 3 that resulted in the 1st interception. I've seen folks say, "Why didn't we run the ball there?" And "Why are we asking Joe to do things he can't?" Folks, a 4 yard slant on 3rd and 3 is a damn good call. It's also safe. If Joe can't make that throw, he shouldn't be on scholarship at a school like Georgia. He CAN make that pass. He just didn't. The pass wasn't deflected and intercepted because he's unlucky. It was deflected because his windup is so slow that the Defensive Lineman had time to anticipate the release and jump for the deflection. 12-20 with 2 INTs and a fumble isn't going to cut it. Again...we ultimately lost the game because of the defense. But Joe T's errors were brutal.
The Ugly:
-- Punting: This time it was a bad snap in the endzone, and I think Kevin Butler said on the post-game show that Lumpkin also missed his block. Either way, that's three in 2 games. Yes, I said three because Ole Miss was robbed last week on that call.
The Galatically Absurdly Awful:
-- Martinez: A topic that merits its own post. But the short version is this. UT is better than us right now. Are they 2 points better with a good game plan? Or they 10 points better with a good game plan? I don't know. But I know that no team that recruits at the level that UGA does should EVER give up 51 points to anyone. Particularly not at home, and particularly not to a team that lost to Vanderbilt the year before.
-- The second half: We were outscored 37-9. Ouch. That will leave a mark.
PWD
