Clemson rewind

A few points after watching the game:

• I thought Langley's game was a mixed bag. He didn't allow Watkins to get alone behind him, but part of that was the cushion (by design) that he was giving.
• Ramik Wilson got better at recognizing plays and what his assignments were as the game wore on. He got moved out of position the first few drives with men going in motion and the play action. Nothing terrible, but it bears watching.
• The best example of that is the TD to Watson immediately after Gurley's long TD run. Wilson and Norman bit on the play action leaving Swann alone with a ten yard cusion on Watson. Swann's gotta make that tackle, but if Norman and Wilson are playing back, even a step, Boyd has to put some air on that ball instead of hitting Watson in stride.
• Wilson looked really good on the blitzes.
• I think I'm going to like Mike Thornton.
• Offensively, Murray was off on the back shoulder pass. That was evident on the attempt to Bennett early that almost got picked. That had to have had some impact on the later goal line play calling.
• WARNING, NITPICKING ABOUT THE OFFICIALS: Boyd got away with a grounding by throwing the ball out of bounds. Conley got a catch, but it was ruled an incomplete pass on that next drive. The pass interference against Matthews was a terrible, terrible call. Norman got pushed off on by Bryant later. There were several chop blocks called on Georgia but not called on Clemson. 
• That 97 yard drive was beautiful. Hicks 37 yard run. Murray pass to Scott-Wesley for 11 yards. Murray run out of a collapsing pocket. 12 yard out pattern to Wooten. Murray throwing on the run to Wooten. Hick FB dive for a TD.
• Giving credit where it is due: Venables made some very nice adjustments after Georgia just drove down the field for 97 yards. Georgia's next six drives netted 32 yards total. 
• Most of that was just mixing up rushes and stunts. I don't think Georgia's line ever adjusted to that. Of course, that also led to Murray's INT inside the 20 later, as that guy had been on speed rush since the 2nd Q.
• Which leads to the inevitable question, why didn't we throw to the TE a lot more (oh yeah, that INT was intended for Lynch)?
• Yet, we managed to run block really well at times. Note: All of Gurley's big runs were with Hicks in to lead block.
• Will Friend's group looked just as over matched on Monday night as they did on Saturday night.
• I loved the big clanging balls call on the fake punt.
• We only ran one play action bootleg play with all the blitzing. Why?
• Was it me or was ABC's camera work really bad? Cutting away at bad times, missing key plays, weird angles.

Overall, we held Clemson to about the number of yards you'd expect. We didn't play nearly as competently as we'd hope on defense, but I still maintain most of what I saw was youthful mistakes and not out talented or poorly coached. 

Also, after re-watching the three plays that came before the botched FG attempt, I'm willing to give Bobo some slack, with the exception of the 3rd down call. There should have been a check down play if Clemson put all 11 in the box, which they did. Either some sort of pitch with Hicks and Hall seal blocking for Gurley or a play that slides Lynch out one way and Hicks/Hall/Gurley out the other.  Note I don't think we should have gone for it there. While I'd have been ok with going for it, I kicking the FG and tying the game there is a right call.

My final take away is that Murray played a very good game. He had an INT on a play that was very well called by Clemson. He was 20/29 with 333 yards passing. He was off on the back shoulder throws, but that is the only thing I can say was wrong with his game. If he completes 70% of his passes and throws for 4000 yards this season, he'll probably spend the second week in December in New York. 

This was a game Georgia lost because it made one mistake more. Giving Clemson that 16 yard field was the difference in the game. You have to give Clemson their due. They are a good football team. 

TD

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