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October 19, 2008

UGA vs. Vanderbilt Recap: Defensive Stats / Thoughts

I spent some time tinkering with the box score and drive charts. Some interesting stats jumped off the page at me.

Did You Know:
  • UGA held Vandy 45.8 yards below their rushing average for the season. The Dores were averaging 158.9 yards rushing per game. Georgia held them to 114 yards rushing.

  • Georgia gave up 40.7 more yards passing than Vandy had averaged. That sounds bad until you realize that they were only averaging 90.3 yards passing prior to this match-up.

  • The Dawgs held Vandy more than 10 points below their average for the season (24.5). South Carolina's highly touted defense gave up 24 points to the 'Dores while Auburn's strong D gave up 14 just like we did. (AU's D is good. Unlike their wretched O).

  • No Big Plays. UGA didn't surrender a play over 20 yards to Vanderbilt. Against Tennessee, the Dawgs gave up 4 plays over 25 yards (which accounted for around 52% of the entire Vol offensive yardage). In this game, the longest Vandy play was 18 yards.
Drive Chart: Vandy had 13 Drives on Offense:
  • 2 ended in touchdowns
  • 7 ended in punts
  • 2 ended in downs or end of game
  • 2 ended in turnovers
  • Average # of plays / drive was only 4.5
  • Only 4 drives lasted longer than 5 plays
  • Vandy only had 1 sustained drive over 40 yards, and there were 2 pass interference calls (one was questionable) that kept that drive alive.
  • Vandy's 2nd TD was a 26 yard / 4 play drive that was started by a UGA turnover.
In other words, Vanderbilt could sustain nothing offensively.

The biggest legitimate defensive complains about our performance in this game would be:
  • Pass Rush - We really didn't pressure Adams at all. However, there was no consequence in this game for that action. Why blitz when there's no punishment for not blitzing?
  • Hands of Stone - The inability to catch passes thrown directly to the defenders. Over the past 2 games, we've probably dropped 8-10 interceptions.
The pass rush is a concern. But otherwise, they did what they were supposed to do on defense. Greater defensive pressure will be required to rattle LSU's young QB, and I would assume we'd get a different game plan. We'll see. Next week will be interesting to watch.

PWD

15 comments:

Unknown said...

According to cbssportsline.com, the kickoff of the LSU game is at 3:30.

Good news- no night game with the crazies down in Baton Rouge.

Anonymous said...

three additional points:
1. Vandy came in leading the league in sacks by some way. They had none, I think, and got no pressure on Stafford.

2. We DID blitz! Of course we blitzed! Habitually, we blitz almost every third and long--but Vandy did not have a lot of third and longs, or obvious passing downs, so we didn't blitz in those cases where they might run. Why would we?

Two notable cases of blitzing: on the third and nine in the second half after the interception on our 25--sent two up the middle, they picked it up and completed the pass for the first down; second, on their last play of the game--there they tried to run a screen but the blitz pressure made them hurry it.

3. Vandy's WR that caught both the TD passes was quoted by the Nashville Tennessean as saying that they "knew" the UGA DBs would bite on a short route prior before the corner fade, because "they like to play right up on the goal line, they don't think you can get by them."

Unknown said...

Ryan - you got a link? I couldn't find that.

Anonymous said...

hey what's 7-0 feel like? oh shit my bad, your no longer undefeated. 7-0,41-30 ROLL TIDE!!!

Muckbeast said...

> your no longer undefeated

Go back to college. Wait... Maybe high school first.

Anonymous said...

Hey Bama fan...tell your team to learn that there is a second half...gotta love nail bitters against ole miss at home.

Anonymous said...

wow, after 15 years of irrelevance, it's only taken Bama 7 games to challenge Florida for the most obnoxious fans in the SEC. Congrats Tide

Anonymous said...

I think it's more specific than just targeting DBs.

It's targeting Bryan Evans.

This week and last week, the man has accounted for three touchdowns thrown to him. Two of them yesterday were the exact same. The kid does not learn, does not adjust. I'd like to go back at this point and survey the season. If I remember correctly he was responsible for some big plays against Arizona State as well.

It's bad when you've got a corner that makes Prince Miller look like a dominant cover back.

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with the Evans comment. When I saw the alignment Vandy had I told the guy next to me "they are going to throw it in the corner to the guy Evan is covering". If the fans can see it in the stands, then the opposing team's coaches can see it too.

The pass play was a carbon copy of what Tennessee did.

I think it underscores the need to get taller CB's during recruiting this year.

Anonymous said...

On Evans it is obvoius he can't cover anybody. He is a big-time focal point of OCs. I was very happy to see him replced by Cuff after the 2nd TD.

Anonymous said...

anon 5:47,
with the way we dominate teams in the first half, 31-0 for example, we obviously don't need to play the second half.

Unknown said...

Paul- here is the link.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball

Its on the main CBS advertising banner. 3:30 kickoff.

Anonymous said...

Funny how bama fans forget the past (recent) losses to us so easily. Lot's of ball left to play bama fan - don't get to cocky just yet.

Interestingly, bama fan reminds me of TN fan a few years ago - albeit without the success.

Anonymous said...

What about the fact that Georgia was 1 for 8 on third down conversions...

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised Evans hasn't been meat more often this year. They ought not throw Asher's way.

I'm curious what's up with the return rotation. I have yet to see why Samuel or Gray ever return kicks versus Ramarcus Brown and Prince Miller, who are excellent.

 
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