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Comments
Time to break out the asbestos suit again, Mike, if you're going to write anything remotely honest (which this was) about Kirby or SB IV. Appreciate your unvarnished insights.
Somebody said you're the worst sportswriter in America. Congrats on being in Stephen A. Smith territory - time for a raise!
What? I agree with Mike Griffith, well, mostly....especially on QB...I have already written that Beck looked smoother than Bennett on Sat.....much taller, better able to survey the mid-field, delivered the ball quicker and more accurately. I did not see the usual on-field jitters with Beck this time. This was a better Beck...the future may well be in his hands and Brock's. I understand fully that Bennett is the starter....I like Bennett, but he is no longer the future of UGA football.
Mike didn't mention Brinson....he showed up to play as well.
I really enjoyed the aerial display...Todd Monken was in his glory. Gilbert is definitely the ace receiver we thought he would be. He needs more speed...shedding pounds will help with that. Oscar Delp made me smile. This youngster was all over the field pulling them in. As did Brett Seither. My heart was truly warmed when Dom Blaylock took to the field again. He is such a gifted receiver.
I cheered when the game ended for a job well done....and a groan that it was over....I love to watch UGA play. Kirby is the #1 coach in my book. 2022 is going to be a good year.....lots of newbies eager to shine.
I listened via "radio" on my Echo. Two comments that I remember most were that (i) Vandagriff stared down his receivers and made his passes predictable, and (ii) McConkey was getting beat up a lot without getting passes thrown his way.
Oh, Lord, here we go again…
You're right Mike...as long as you're completely honest by adding context and ALL of the facts. That's what frustrates me the most about today's so-called news media and journalism. LOL
Here...I'll add some facts and context for you. This was nothing more than a glorified sand-lot game, to find out what we have on the defensive side of the ball. They actually looked very impressive, BTW. The Red Team (1st team) defense was getting penetration against one of the best O-lines in College football and the DBs were tight in coverage...particularly Ringo.
As far as QB's....Bennett alternated snaps with Vandergriff in the 1st half and Beck in the 2nd half, on the Black team against the 1st team defense. Neither Beck nor Vandergrif had much success against the Red Team defense. Bennett scored all of the points for the Black team on 3 TD passes. Beck couldn't get the ball in the End Zone from inside the 10 yd line and relied on the running game to score...which the defense was not prepared to defend.
CKS was careful not to put any of the 2nd/3rd team QB's in a situation that would make them look bad and destroy their confidence. That's just good coaching. He's still bringing those guys along. But, it's not the same as giving them false praise. Beck and Vandergriff both, know why they looked better playing for the Red Team. It's an insult to the intelligent to say that Beck's performance on the Red Team side outshines Bennett's performance on the Black team side. We all know why, given perspective.
One more thing...how many of Bennett's passes were dropped? McIntosh dropped a sure walk in TD at the end of the half with 3 seconds remaining. That led to Bennett having to force a pass in the end zone on the last play, that resulted in an INT. The Black Team didn't have the luxury of using the running game inside the 10 yd line like the Red Team did.
Perspective, Facts, Context===Truth.
What we know is that Stetson was A correct answer last year, not THE correct answer. Daniels didn't play. We do not know what would have happened in the alternate reality where Daniels got his job back at some point. Just because Stetson won the title doesn't mean that Daniels was the wrong choice or those calling for him to start was incorrect in their evaluation Daniels was (and is) the better QB. It simply means we may have had multiple choices last year that would have led to the same end-result. The team was good, and they made up for any deficiencies they had.
People get lost in the glow of the story and the championship itself and tend to forget that Stetson was a correct answer only AFTER Alabama was down a significant number of players on offense and defense. Even down their top 2 WR targets and several players on the defensive backend for most of the game, the game was close until the fourth quarter. People conveniently forget we already had a sample of his ability against a healthy Alabama. Injuries are a part of the game,so that is sour grapes coming from Alabama, but the pro-Stetson crowd would do good to remember that game was played against a different Alabama than the Alabama they played in Atlanta.
Georgia is 12-1 with Stetson Bennett as the starter, Mike’s articles are comical to say they very least. I find more mistakes in his writings than any other journalist that covers the team. It’s “bull pen” Mike not “bull pit”.
I agree that Delp and Gilbert looked very good and both will see the field early and often this year.
McConkey had a disappointing day...especially when he dropped a 55 yd pass that hit him in the face mask. LOL...But, to be fair, he was interfered with by Ringo. It just wasn't called.
Seither had at least 3 drops that I remember and AD Mitchell had a couple as well as both backs. There were dropped passes and passes that should have been caught or knocked down by the receiver, all over the field.
They looked rusty in the passing game all around, but, there were flashes of great things to come. I agree with Greg Macelroy when he said UGA could run out of a fourteen offensive set next year and drive defenses crazy with mismatches. A 14 offense means lining up with 4 TE's and a RB. Bowers, Washington, Gilbert, Delp and any one of the 3 or 4 RB's they use.
@TopDawg5 Kirby said "Bull pit" -- go watch the video.
I know what a bull pen is, but maybe Kirby calls the area of the sideline where they warm up something else, IDK?
But that's what he said.
Feedback is great, I'll do my best to catch those typos. But the head coach said "Bull pit" so that's what I wrote on this one!
Happy Easter!
Listen folks this is who we have covering the Dawgs. This guy doesn’t bleed red and black and he does nothing but attack Kirby Smart and constantly question his remarks. The day Mike finds another team to cover will be a great day. He was wrong last year in his assessments and he is right on track for another year of pathetic journalism.
@BigDawg61 Are we grading how many passes were dropped into stats?
Are you saying I should say Bennett should have 3 interceptions because one was dropped?
I disagree with that.
I also don't think we should take away a touchdown pass because a player made a great play on a poor throw.
You are welcome to qualify your take however you wish! I'll take the time to read your comments, and I appreciate the time you took to read my story.
Feedback is a good thing.
You seem to forget that in 2020, if Bennett doesn't get injured in the FLA game, he very likely would have taken the Dawgs to the SECC, possibly the CFP... and Daniels might have only seen the field in a backup role. Perspective is a B-i-t-c-h...ain't she. LOL
All we know, is what DID happen. Bennett won it all and he did it with MVP performances in both CFP games. Don't know how Daniels or any other QB could have done it better....or even how that matters.
That's my Dawgs.
First, let me say...the pass to the back corner of the end zone was a great catch and a good throw. Bennett put the ball in the only spot on the field where the receiver had a play on the ball to keep it in the End Zone. The defender didn't have a play on it and wasn't looking for the ball. So, yeah, we don't see that play the same way.
And, if you do that, you have to give Bennett credit for 4 TD's and 1 INT...that, in my opinion shouldn't have been an interception. Regarding the intercepted pass over the middle in the 2nd half with 2 mins to go. The receiver (#5) wasn't aggressive in trying to catch the ball or converting to defender when the ball bounced around. It could have been caught, or at the very least, knocked down. It wasn't a great throw, but, it wasn't a terrible throw. It was a little behind the receiver. Lackadaisical play on the part of Mitchell. K. Jackson came to play.
The fact is, Bennett made 1 or 2 physical errors against a very good defense under less than optimal conditions. I'm sure he was told to stay in the pocket and work on quick release. He was told not to run the ball...take no unnecessary chances that would risk injury. And, above all...don't make any mental errors. I think he succeeded on all counts.
Beck outperformed Vandergriff under what appeared to be equal conditions. Not sure why Beck didn't attempt to run with the ball as Vandergrif did...unless, he was instructed not to, due to the possible fact that he IS the #2 QB and Smart didn't want him risking injury. Either way,, both had miscues.. Beck over-threw Morissette on a 20-30 yd pass to the end zone that Morissette had 2 steps on the defender. Vandergriff had 2 badly under thrown passes to the end zone from inside the 10 yd line..
You have to remember, this wasn't a game so much as it was a practice.
As for drops....and there were plenty...I think that just points to the rust on the backs and receivers in the passing game. For instance, Rosemy Jack-Saint dropped a 30 yd back shoulder pass at the flag stick. McConkey failed to catch a 50 yarder that hit him in the face mask.. Seither, Mitchell, McIntosh and Milton had several drops.. Personally, I think "dropped passes" is just as valid a STAT as "Sacks". Bennett was barely touched by N. Smith on his way down...and that was a "Sack". Give me a break.
For the record...I enjoy reading your articles and will continue to do so. You provide a good perspective of UGA football and I like your enthusiasm...even though, sometimes I think it's misplaced when it comes to QB's.
Keep up the good work. I appreciate the fact, you were able to reel out a story almost immediately after the G-Day game.
It was great to see Dominick Blaylock back on the field making plays. Hoping Dom has a breakout year this season. He's definitely worked to put himself in a position to do just that..GoDAWGS!
FYI, I don't know if any of you guys have watched a USFL game...but, I'm watching N.O. vs PHI right now and Davin Bellamy (former Dawg) is killing it. He's got 4 sacks and wreaking havoc on every play defensively.
I like it anyway...good football.