15 Thoughts Better Get a 2nd Job

So, we are guaranteed an extra game. There probably will be more. This is getting expensive.

Chaos, anyone? Jeez…

1. How we feeling out there on this chilly Sunday morning? Is there anyone happy with being one-half of the SEC Championship Game equation after some improbable dominoes fell on an insane Saturday of wildness? Back to this in a moment…

2. Our defense looked like they were putting on underwear with wet feet in the dark. After watching UMass gash us on the ground for 226 yards I’m pretty sure Buster Faulkner and Brent Key are thinking, “oh, goodie!” UMass played 2 quarterbacks. Tech plays 2 quarterbacks. UMass had a very good running back. Tech has a better running back. I know we are better than what we showed, but for the love of Pulpwood’s monkey that was ugly.

3. Bump tackling and poor fundamental defensive football doesn’t work against any offense. Our linebackers and secondary took bad angles early and often with poor eye discipline and worse tackling for ³⁄₄ of the game. Who was happy to see the reserves get in the game and actually play better? I got tired of watching the starters whiff.

What the Sam Hill is going on here?

4. UMass scored 21 points. It felt like they scored 41 points. They actually won time of possession by :05 seconds, but the first half was absolutely lop-sided in favor of the Minutemen and this was yet another classic example of playing down to our competition. Those games are over, at least for the ‘24 campaign. Thank God. It’s enough to put me off butter.

5. Offensively, we clicked the entire game except for one series where Carson Beck made a few inaccurate throws and had some miscommunication on a drive that stalled early in the 4th quarter. Georgia did amass 208 yards on the ground as they should have behind Nate Frazier’s career day (136 yards/6.5 avg./3 TD’s). We played a lot of guys and saw some exciting flashes of the future, especially at receiver. Sacovie White only caught a pair of passes for 16 yards but that kid looks different. He and Nitro Tuggle could be a wildcard going forward this season. These guys have a certain something special about ‘em. You can tell.

6. Chris Cole is beginning to really flex. Despite the defensive showing, we know what we have when they play up to the Georgia standard. Gabe Harris created the turnover that Cole returned for the scoop ‘n score. That kid seems to be around the ball a lot.

7. We did not turn the ball over for the 2nd week in a row. The running backs rotated frequently and protected the rock, Carson Beck was very sharp except for the aforementioned miscommunication with Dom Lovett on a pass that should’ve been intercepted. Speaking of Lovett, He’s still dropping very catchable balls when he’s not making exception catches. There are some inconsistencies there that are troubling, especially after 11 games.

8. Christen Miller may have separated his shoulder in the 1st quarter. He left the game and did not return. No word on his availability for Tech.

9. UMass gained 351 total yards of offense, mostly on the ground. Tennessee gained 319 last week. Georgia’s first string defense lollygagged. Am I worried? Are you worried? I think Tech will face an entirely different and pissed off bunch in 6 short days.

Scare ‘em Kirby.

10. Brett Thorson did not punt today. He didn’t tackle anyone, either. A well deserved day off.

11. Has there ever been a quieter great place kicker than Peyton Woodring? All this kid does is make kicks from all ranges, including his 53 yarder. Special teams allowed a few return yards, but played well. Malaki Starks has no time for would-be tacklers:

12. Georgia was able to play Gunner Stockton (finally) and get him some meaningful reps. With the extra potential games upcoming after the SECCG, he needs to be ready. Beck got a big banged up on the last play of his afternoon, but brushed it off. However, the chance that Stockton has to lead this team down the stretch is only a play away. He played well.

13. Yeah, it was only UMass and they’re not exactly a shutdown defense but Georgia’s offense looks to be gaining some real momentum at exactly the right time. We proved it against Tennessee. We should be able to score against Tech on Friday if we don’t fumble, drop passes and screw up protection for Beck. Some new weapons are emerging; perhaps we get Anthony Evans and Dillon Bell back as well. Arian Smith had a great day and our tight ends again got involved.

TO HELL WITH GEORGIA TECH

14. COFH is next. Tech wants this one, folks. They’ll come into town sky-high. Hopefully our crowd can match the intensity that was so effective when Tennessee visited. It’ll be interesting to see if Haynes King will still be limited as a passing threat because of his shoulder injury. Local kid Aaron Philo (Prince Avenue Christian) is not playing like a freshman. Let’s make him regress. But we must beat Tech.

15. I gotta say, I’m conflicted about the SECCG – either against Texas or TAMU. I really don’t care who we get because right now it’s all about Tech. But putting the cart before the horse a little bit, we really need to win the SECCG because it ensures a bye. That’s a discussion for another 15 Thoughts.

There isn’t a single current potential playoff team out there that scares me. Except Georgia. Georgia scares me to death. That’s sort of a joke.

BONUS THOUGHTS:

• What did Kirby Smart say about playing on the road in this Conference? I don’t know what the long-term future of Brent Venables is at OU, but they dialed up pure hell for Jalen Milroe last night. Why can’t we do this? That game was mystifying but I thoroughly enjoyed watching it.
• The same shitty SEC officiating crew that called the Georgia-Texas game last month also called the Alabama-Oklahoma game last night. In a season full of craptacular calls, this might’ve been the worst. I doubt it changes the outcome, but who knows? Anyway, that entire crew should be relegated to NAIA.

• Auburn nearly spit the bit in quadruple overtime last night, but outlasted Texas A&M. Auburn was bound to win a close game this year. There was some very strange clock management by Mike Elko, and some more really poor officiating that could’ve cost Auburn in overtime on a phantom OPI. Again, playing on the road in this Conference is hell.
• The luster has come off the Iron Bowl a bit, no? We’ll see if Alabama can match Auburn’s fire. I don’t think Bama has a path to the playoffs and that roster might be looking ahead to the NFL.
• This is the look when you outspent the Gross Domestic Product of Turduckenstan on NIL and you still ain’t going to the playoffs. Lane Kiffin is a dorkman.

• Wonder how far Indiana will fall? That is not a playoff caliber team.

• Is college football not the greatest thing ever? Who said regular season games would be diminished once the 12-Team playoff kicked in? (raises hand…drops head).
• Pressure is a privilege. We are pretty danged privileged.

That’s all I’ve got. As Always,

GO DAWGS!