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Kirby Smart: Georgia players ‘slowly’ turning focus toward Orange Bowl CFP Semifinal with Michigan

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Comments

  • BubbaBillBubbaBill Posts: 1,227 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    I agree with your thoughts regarding JT, but I believe he would have been sacked numerous times or running for his life in the Bama game so those 2nd and 3rd reads would be a pipe dream. Hopefully CKS will select the best QB. I’m confident Kirby is not playing “favorites” because he played D’Wan over Bennett, then played JT the last 4 games last season, then started JT in the first few games this year. I sincerely believe JT isn’t starting because of a “JT issue” and nothing else. We will likely find out the real story at the end of the season.

  • navydawgnavydawg Posts: 3,448 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    Much, Much debate, speculation, discussion etc. about the QB position. I understand that, I get it. But Just As important speaking For Me as a devout Dawgs fan is getting the Defense back Much More like we saw during the regular season. IF our D can feast Big over Michigan that would take a good bit of the pain away from the SECCG debacle. Many Dawgs fans ( including me) talk about what they wish Would have happened in that game with our O. But the Dawgs D failed every bit as bad, Much Worse really. All Dawgs fans knew there were questions going in about the O. But what about the Dawgs Defense ?? The pride of the team. Kirby’s Baby. HOW did they just fall Completely apart ?? Some might say well youth in the Secondary. After 12 regular season games ?? Well we had injuries, Especially in that unit. But isn’t an Entire Season enough to have backup players Better Prepared ?? I sure Hope that Kirby, every assistant coach, every analyst, every player, anyone that has any part of the Success or Failure if this Dawgs team WILL be as prepared as they possibly can be for this game vs Michigan. Now I have No Clue whether it will happen or not but I’d Dearly Love to see a totally Dominant and Decisive Win by our Dawgs. NOT saying that will happen, but I’d Love to see All Three units of this team perform and execute to an Elite level. IF they Do that THEN a great measure of my faith will be restored that At A Minimum the Dawgs could give Bama a Much, Much Better game. That SECCG took Allot of wind out of my sails. It was a humiliating and crushing defeat. I’d sure Love to see our Dawgs remove most of if not All of that pain. I’d gladly trade that SECCG Loss for a National Title WIN verses Bama. But I NEED to See a decisive and dominant victory vs Michigan for me to start getting all pumped up again. Just being honest. Always Have and Always Will Love our Dawgs though !! Go Dawgs !!

  • UGADad20UGADad20 Posts: 1,958 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
    edited December 2021

    Bubba Bill you don't have much faith or trust in the UGA OL. I think they can and will play better. The beauty of JTD is that he makes the 2nd read before the ball is snapped. He already knows what he has before the ball is snapped. In the time it takes SBIV to do his read and react, JTD makes 3 reads. Navy, What happened to the D vs Bama won't happen vs MI. MI will be tried and true to what got them this far. THAT'S where Saban is different. He saw how UGA played vs formations and routes and then changed those routes. Saban had the UGA D completely confused. Guys were running open all over the field. UGA D especially DB's must step up big the rest of the way. MI will be a tough game. Top OL and good QB. Hate to think AAnderson's immaturity/poor decision making will cost UGA a championship.

  • saldivensaldiven Posts: 72 ✭✭✭ Junior

    "A deeper dive into advanced metrics shows Bennett has six first-down runs on 11 third-down rushing attempts vs. SEC teams. Bennett also has been sacked six times on the 65 third-down plays he didn’t handoff in league play."

    I'm sorry, but this is too favorable. They mention his rushing on third down, but don't mention his passing on third down. On third down, against all opponents (including the patsies), he's 26 of 51 with 15 first downs, 4 TD, and one Int. Rushing on third down against all opponents is 17 attempts for 60 yards and 6 first downs.

    So, his combined 3rd down conversion rate is 21 (22 including the TD) first downs out of 68 attempts, or less than 1 out of 3. That's not good.

    Compare that to the quarterback for upcoming Michigan, Cade McNamara. His passing on third down is 50 of 80 for 30 first downs, 6 TD and on Int. Rushing he has twelve attempts and 4 first downs. The total is 54 of 92, or 58.6%.

    Nobody is out there talking about Cade McNamara being a top tier quarterback. He's a game manager, too, with only 100 yards more in passing than Bennett, hence the comparison.

    To see what "good" looks like, check out Bryce Young. On third down, he is 81 of 113 with 60 first downs, 14 TD and 4 Int. In rushing, he has another 28 attempts with 7 first downs. So, his third down conversion rate is 72.3%.

    I'll repeat what I've been saying since the middle of 2020: If Stetson Bennett is the best option UGA has at QB, there is something seriously wrong in that quarterback room.

  • dogs_n_bravesdogs_n_braves Posts: 121 ✭✭✭ Junior

    "If Stetson Bennett is the best option UGA has at QB, there is something seriously wrong in that quarterback room."

    Truth.

    Even with Fromm / Eason / Fields, the QB situation did not dominate all discussion boards and comment threads. The QB situation dominates now because it is obvious to everyone that the gameplan defies logic. Compounding the issue s CKS's refusal to show his cards. Is JTD still injured? Why keep SBIV in every blowout after half instead of getting reps for Beck and Brock? All the eggs in one basket just does not make sense to us, the football audience - we recognize that we are not coaches or even experts, but we have a clue about the game. CKS may need to keep the edge of mystery for his opponents . . . if so, we'll understand as long as he explains after the season. In the meantime, we'll speculate and gripe and grumble against a strategy we don't understand. If he never explains, candidly, the skepticism will only grow.

  • navydawgnavydawg Posts: 3,448 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    OK. Let me ask you a question ( No sarcasm at all just asking). Assuming the Dawgs get the W vs Michigan which I have a gut feeling Will be a very tough game. And ( Nothing is impossible) I Sure don’t see Cincy beating Bama !! CAN Kirby FIND Some way, Some how to Finally beat the “Ole Fox” Nick Saban ?? I’m gonna ask You and anyone that wants to chip in their deep and completely Honest trying Very Hard to lay aside all homerism. WILL our beloved Dawgs beat both Michigan & Bama ?? If Yes then Why ?? My humble Take is the Dawgs will beat Michigan in a Tough, Hard Fought, Nail Biting, Hat Slinging contest. Bama ?? I’m just not sure. I WANT to Believe, I Really do. But I’m starting to think Saban has Kirby’s number Much like Kirby had Dan Mullen with the exception of one loss. Thanks UGADad for your response and take !! Look forward to Yours and Any Dawgs fan response & take on my questions.

  • UGADad20UGADad20 Posts: 1,958 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
    edited December 2021

    NDawg Saban has EVERYBODY's number. Dabo only beat him because he had the best QB's in CFB. AND THEN it took an illegal pick play on the last play of the game for Clemson to score a TD and beat BAMA. As long as Saban is at BAMA recruiting #1 classes (AND now cherry picking the TP for 5*'s) everybody else is playing for 2nd. IF UGA had Gilbert, TSmith, AAnderson, TRatledge, GPickens AND could convince more of their best players to stay 4 years (a la BAMA) then UGA would have a better chance. Sunshine beat BAMA because he was able to pick them apart. Maybe JTD can do that to this AL D. The UGA we saw vs AL is not the real UGA. The AL we saw vs UGA is the real AL. Margin for error is extremely small. It will take no mistakes and better play all around especially at QB.

  • MontanaDawgMontanaDawg Posts: 2,119 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    @Hemingwey...There is some truth to that, BUT right now the FCS is in the middle of their expansive playoffs (semifinals this weekend), so I don't see their education or holiday activities as any less important than in the FBS world. A little reshuffling of exams, schedules, etc. may need to be done when our playoffs inevitably expand.

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  • UGADad20UGADad20 Posts: 1,958 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    Like I said. Saban has everybody's number. Richt ain't coming back. Saban will probably retire in 3 years. How many championships did Saban and Spurrier win in their 1st 6 season? CKS is growing in knowledge and experience. He is a great recruiter in a talent rich state. He is in his dream job (remember LRiley?). Who are you gonna get that is better? This is CKS team and I am happy to back him. I believe CKS will get Saban before Saban retires. If not UGA is building the belief that UGA is the 2nd best program in the country. It could be worse.

  • navydawgnavydawg Posts: 3,448 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    Thank you UGADad and tcs59 for your responses. In different ways y’all said similar things. The main take away is that At Least at this juncture Saban has Kirby nailed. And the Only way that Kirby can shed that is to Beat Nick Saban. UGADad you described very accurately what I had Hoped for and Expected to See in the SECCG. A very close game with No margin for error. Instead I saw Kirby and Dawgs destroyed !! And Not Only was Kirby unwilling to make changes In Game at the QB position he apparently wasn’t willing or Didn’t Have answers for adjustments to the Dawgs Defense either. To tcs59 Yes I absolutely believe Mark Richt could have Won 1 possibly 2 National Titles in the Earlier part of his tenure under Two conditions 1) That the powers back then at UGA threw all the $$$ at him as they Have with Kirby ( though Yes I’m Very glad that they have ponied up the $$$) 2) Had there been a Play Off system back then Instead of the Heavily Biased Bowl Committees at the time. Georgia was blatantly Cheated by those Bowl Committees of at least One National Title Opportunity possibly even Two. I challenge any HONEST Dawgs fan to go back and Look at Mark Richt’s first Seven years and give an Honest take. PLUS Richt beat Saban when he was at LSU and at Bama though only one game there. Am I trying to just bash up on Kirby ?? NO !!! But in my humble opinion he Does need to look in the mirror at HIMSELF and ask I demand Elite and the ability to be flexible and adapt from my coaching staff and players what about ME ?? Am I placing the Same demands on myself ?? I cannot think of ANY Logical reason that he didn’t give the backup QBs more time in Many of those Blow Out wins in regular season. And When Ever JT was found to be pretty much fully healthy Why No playing time for him ?? If Kirby honestly believes Stets ( with ALL due Respect to Stetson) is The Man, Period, what would happen, past and future tense if Stets got badly injured ?? It just doesn’t make sense in any capacity to Not have another one of your QBs BETTER Prepared in the event of injury to the starter. Also as has been pointed out repeatedly Saban has beat the Dawgs Twice by changing QBs IN GAME ( which really rubs the salt in). So once it looked like it was pretty much game over what would have been the harm in bringing in JT just to SEE what he could have done ?? If JT came out there and was a total flop then the vast majority of Dawgs fans would have said Well guess we see now Why Kirby is sticking with Stets. But if JT came out and did pretty good, then what is it ? Kirby to proud to admit he made a wrong decision ?? For the record I have defended Kirby on here All regular season for playing Stets in front of JT !! But in the back of my mind I always had the haunting question WHY are the backup guys not getting more snaps In Particular JT ?? In conclusion of this novel IF being Stubborn is Kirby’s Achilles heel he needs to Recognize it and Change it or some where down the road (waaay down the road) it could lead to his Leaving UGA in a very bad way !! Saban is NOT stubborn and will take High risks to win. And it seems that 99% of the time his (calculated guesses) risks have paid off !! Still very thankful for Kirby. Still trust him. But he Needs to recognize that Something is broken and Needs repair regarding his playing against Nick Saban. Let’s Hope he gets another shot at Saban on Jan 10. And let’s Hope that Kirby has it figured out and This time gets the W !! Gotta a Big handful with Michigan first though.

  • navydawgnavydawg Posts: 3,448 ✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate

    Amen to that !! Things Can be much, much worse !! See the Ray Goff years !! Great guy, terrible Head Coach !! Just wish Kirby could make adjustments and beat Michigan ( which is Not a given by any stretch, Dawgs better take care of business), then beat Saban and Bama Finally. Man you talk about a bunch of Happy Dawgs Fans !!! Wow !!! This whole state would be rockin and rollin !! And the SECCG would be in a Very large part Forgotten bitter memory. Thing is there’s Still plenty of room for Hope. But Kirby has Got to be willing to pull out all stops AND be willing to Step Out of his “Normal” thinking. He and Saban spent so much time together. Saban is his mentor. The Only way he’s gonna beat Saban is to catch him by surprise by thinking out of the box. Let’s all Hope. It would be just Awesome if Kirby could pull it off !! Go Dawgs !!

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