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- 3/17/19 UPDATE -- We've updated the permissions for our "Football" and "Commit to the G" recruiting message boards. We aim to be the best free board out there and that has not changed. We do now ask that all of you good people register as a member of our forum in order to see the sugar that is falling from our skies, so to speak.
Georgia midseason report card: Offense passing test, defense proves fast study
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Georgia midseason report card: Offense passing test, defense proves fast study
ATHENS — Georgia football hasn’t had all the answers in each game this season, but Kirby Smart knew there were going to be some growing pains in 2022.
Comments
@MikeGriffith I enjoyed this article, and I think these are all solid assessments of what we've seen so far this season. The offensive line seems to be a curious area that has my attention. They've performed up to your B- , but they seem to posses the individual talent to be so much better. I can't help but believe they are capable of pushing defenders backwards and to the side, creating bigger lanes for the run game. Controlling and dominating the line of scrimmage at another level would be a difference maker for the entire offense (an offense that's averaging over 41 points per game; we're really getting spoiled). Go Dawgs!
They need to hit some deep balls. WR's need to get better. DB's better get ready for Florida and Tenn. Pass rush needs to show up.
Very good and fair assessment of where UGA is right now. Best point, and it is always good to get this as a reminder, there have been 28 players that had experience and many were or would be starters that have left the team since last year. The ability to fill in that much of a void and be this competitive is a huge positive for recruiting and coaching. As you state, i believe the D line would be stronger if Carter were playing more and that leaves a hole that is difficult to fill. O line remains a big concern and it is hard to figure out exactly what is wrong. Love Ratledge’s attitude but it does seem that the weakest link in that line is around the right guard spot. Hoping it gets better and DAWGs take another run.
Stetson gets a B-, really? How can you rate Stetson lower than his receivers? He's not Reggie Ball throwing to Calvin Johnson. He should be rated no lower than the lowest rating of his receivers.
The QB's got a B- and the Receivers got a C+. What are we missing?
Another meaningless article - who gives rats a$$. The article is devoid of meaningful analysis to justify the ratings; therefore, it is merely one reporters biased opinion. I rate the reporter as C minus — and that is being generous
@MikeGriffithI enjoyed this article. I think I would push all the defensive categories up a 1/2 a grade or two. While the TFLs are few, the defense is top 2 or 3 in the SEC in almost all defensive categories. See this link:
2022 Southeastern Conference Team Defense | College Football at Sports-Reference.com
More impactful than TFLs I think are forced turnovers. UGA is low compared to the rest of the SEC - #10
I think offense in general deserves higher grades. Currently in SEC: least turnovers, least penalties, most first downs, #3 total yards/play, #4 avg yards/rush, #3 points/game; #3 pass pct., #3 passing yards/game, etc.. In most of these, there isn't much spread between #1 and #3.
The next 4 games will (obviously) tell a lot about UGA. Go Dawgs!
Couldn't agree more, @GoodOlDawg! I realize that there are a few "chapped" posters on this one (personally, I think it's a good thing when the various DN writers stimulate differing opinions... kinda why I read the comments section in the first place), but I think these "checkpoint" articles are useful to challenge the readers' thinking. In this particular case, I thought the grades were pretty fair and logical, and I like the fact it's sort of an average across the season-to-date, as opposed to just for a single game. It does a decent job of ironing-out the peaks and valleys (and overshooting emotions in either case).
More broadly, I really like where @MikeGriffith has headed in the past few weeks with his write-ups: being a pro-Dawgs journalist and putting supporting data for his assessments, yet calling (politely/subtly) BS where he sees BS... all while avoiding "coaching from outside."
The comparisons and contrasts across MG, Connor, Sentell, etc. articles, at least to me, have been super entertaining and informative lately.
Hope everyone enjoys the weekend off from Dawgs play!
I think Mike has a right/job to say whatever pleases him. It's his job. No one has to read these articles or even comment . As with most social media you can just simply choose to scroll on past. Why subject yourself another minute to something or someone you obviously don't like. Or you can certainly read the article and comment as I and many others often do and attempt to offer something meaningful . No one on here agrees with everything anyone else says that includes Conner, Mike, King or any of us commenters. We get to give our take/opinion on things. Opinions are like belly-buttons, as they say. Whatever is written on DAWGNATION, we're certainly getting more than what we paid for, dont you think? I don't get the vitriole @Mike.
Generally agree with the grades. We've got to really improve on the both sides of the ball at the line of scrimmage to have a chance of making it to the playoffs. If we don't then I see at least one loss in November.
I'm still trying to figure out this Georgia team. Having a hard time finding its identity. Wondering which team shows up each Saturday. We'll all know what kind of grit, determination, skill, and resilience this team truly has by Thanksgiving.
GO DAWGS!!
Defensive line C+??
*They (DL) are 4th in the country in rush defense.
*The defense is 3rd in the country in total defense.
*8th in the country in pass defense.
*2nd in the country in points allowed.
All of that looks pretty **** good to me, not sure what you are watching........it doesn't matter how many tackles you have for a loss, what matters most is the end result. All of the above plays together......C+ is ridiculous.
Nothing wrong with being critical, just get it right if you want to do it.
Off topic but there is a video circulating on TikToc of JErmaine Burton reaching out and striking a female Tenn fan who looks like she talked a little smack in passing after the game Saturday in all the hoopla as he was walking off the field. It wasn't a hard smack but certainly something he had no business doing.
Because SB IV misfired on a ton of throws during the "Kent State until the 4th quarter of Auburn" stretch. And because even in the games that he plays well in the gameplan is still obviously designed to avoid more difficult passes, which makes the WRs and TEs individually less effective and allows the defense to ignore those areas of the field and commit defense resources elsewhere (like stopping the run).
So while you say that SB IV is not Reggie Ball throwing to Calvin Johnson ... at least Johnson put up numbers with Ball. This IS NOT the case with UGA this season as through 7 games no UGA WR or TE has 30 receptions, 400 receiving yards or 3 TDs, and only Bowers and McConkey have 300 receiving yards. As for the RBs, no one has 350 yards and only Edwards has 300. As for the WRs specifically, aside from McConkey no one is getting 2 catches a game. Kearis Jackson and Dominick Blaylock have 20 receptions, 292 yards and 1 TD combined. Remember: Jackson is a starter, Blaylock is supposed to be the veteran off the bench who plays all 3 WR positions and will start in Jackson's spot next year.
The whole "we are spreading it around to keep everyone involved" thing to explain this is specious. UGA has no more elite talent at WR/TE and RB than other ranked teams, especially contenders. That isn't the reason why UGA has no one among the top 100 pass catchers (Bowers is tied with 3 guys at 104) or rushers (Edwards is 130). Even worse when you consider that most teams have only played 6 games to UGA's 7.
Yes Bennett is #10 in passing yards - for now, a bunch of guys who have only played 6 games will pass him this weekend - but saying "he should be rated no lower than the lowest rating of his receivers" is really choosing to exist in a different reality. Instead, it is really easy to conclude that Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington, Kearis Jackson, Dominick Blaylock, Kendall Milton and Kenny McIntosh would all have (much) better numbers in a more traditional offense designed around a more traditional QB.
I just pulled-up “secsports.com” and was shocked to see Bennett’s statistical standing in the SEC after 7 games. In a conference that is loaded with great QBs he is #2 in total yards passing and #2 in percent completions with only 1 interception. Only Will Rogers is performing better, but has 4 interceptions. Those stats don’t factor in Bennett’s running ability which has been fairly impressive this season. Go Dawgs!!!
No mention of Kearis Jackson under Receivers is telling. A strong, quick, reliable-catching senior (i.e., fully capable) not getting the ball is a problem. And I suspect it has less to do with him than it does Monken and/or Bennet. Go Dawgs!