There’s no way Georgia can improve on an opening week beatdown, there’s no way the players can play motivated, and the fans get another subpar home opponent. And the fans will be well-hydrated thanks to more liberal concession offerings. What, me worry?
Here’s what I’m NOT worried about when we meet the #1 Public University in the State of Tennessee (according to Money Magazine):
1) Let’s not kid ourselves here. I don’t know a lot about the team or the school, so I had to do some research, and here’s what I found: In 2023 Tennessee Tech football ranked in the bottom 10% of FCS schools in turnovers lost, tackles for loss allowed, passing efficiency, and interceptions thrown. And ranked in the bottom quartile of FCS in 3rd down conversions, fumbles lost, passing yards per completion, and scoring offense. TL;DR version: They didn’t do well with the ball, and often gave it to the other team as a kind gesture.
2) Let’s continue to not kid ourselves. I don’t know what the formerly known as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute are expecting when they come into a Sanford Stadium, filled with 93,000 fans very hungry to see Georgia football. I do know their Athletic Director, President, and Board of Trustees is very happy no matter the outcome. Because they have been counting the chickens resulting from the game check UGA cuts to the school. Tell that to the offensive line and running backs.
3) 60 point victory spreads. Some in the media were making a big deal about the record number of SEC schools that recorded a victory in opening weekend by at least 60 points. Arkansas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Auburn all racked up victories against overmatched opponents by massive margins. Even Texas won by 52, Mississippi State by 49, and Missouri won by 51. So I’m sure everyone is looking for Georgia to tally tons of touchdowns against the boys from Cookeville. I, for one, am not.
Some context: most of those schools were programs with new coaches looking to make a splash, coaches with warm seats looking to appease the hordes, or coaches trying to justify their lofty pre-season rankings and maintain a national narrative while the sun shines. And all were against football programs not in their class. In many cases, the scores were inflated by unexpected pick sixes. Contributing factors like horribad coverage downfield, bad tackling, and getting left in the dust were also gifts given to the big boys.
Yet these teams weren’t ranked #1, aren’t coming off a dominant win over a ranked rival and recent playoff contender, and most importantly don’t have Kirby Smart over here playing chess. They might have played to beat someone badly; Coach Smart is playing to beat everyone. And that means strategy with playing time, testing personnel groupings, and utilizing the schemes he wants to practice or put on film. So while I would love a 70 point beatdown, I’m very content to see a comfortable win and getting game reps to the players that need it.
Now forgive me, as I was weaned at the nipple of Larry Munson’s scratch. So here’s what does worry me about Saturday’s contest against Las Aguilas Reales:
1) Dropsies. I counted 4 dropped passes between Colbie Young, Dominic Lovett, and Nate Frazier (who I think had 2). Not all of these were uncontested and perfectly thrown, but to my recollection were all very catchable. They didn’t have a huge impact on the outcome of the game, but they can also be contagious. A dropped hitch on 3rd and 7 can be big, and a dropped screen wide open in the flat can also flip a game’s momentum. Let’s not get into that habit.
And then think of poor Carson Beck! This guy is used to throwing his tattoos around and completing over 70% of his passes. With these 4 drops, he only completed… (checks the numbers, whips out the trusty TI-30, gets the result, turns it upside down and puts in new numbers, giggles)… 69.7 %??? You’re gonna cost him a Heisman… let’s clean up the hands.
2) Strength & Conditioning. Specifically for our kickers. Brett Thorson punted 4 times last Saturday, something he’s only done 5 other times in his Bulldog career (obligatory “Carson Beck hates punters” meme/gif).
And Peyton Woodring put toe to leather a total of 13 times that day: 7 kickoffs, 4 PATs, and 2 field goals. That includes the 55 yarder in the 2nd quarter. But its obvious he wore down because Coach Smart didn’t trust him from the Georgia 43 with 8 seconds left in the 1H. And then his 7th and final kickoff was actually returned by Clemson. Someone needs to be watching these kickers in the weightroom and building up those glutes and hammies. Fellas, it’s time to feel the burn.
3) Aussie Aussie Aussie. The Techies are fully invested in making their football team great. As everyone knows, that always means having a big punter from Australia, and crikey, they’ve got a beaut. He’s 220 lbs, has a mullet, has a moustache, and is from some place called “Geelong”. Fair Dinkum, this cobber is checking all the boxes. Anthony Evans will have his hands full.
Call me crazy, just don’t call me late for dinner. Sound off in the comments below what worries you about the Bulldogs of Georgia versus the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech. And as always…
GO ‘DAWGS!!!