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Gunner Stockton reflects on Alabama loss, but coaching more at fault for defeat
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Posts: 12,868 admin
Gunner Stockton reflects on Alabama loss, but coaching more at fault for defeat
Stockton took complete accountability after the 24-21 loss to Alabama saying, âIt starts with me, Iâll look myself in the mirror and get better.â
Comments
No, this is on Kirby. Yes, a young team is part of the issue. But after numerous high ranking recruiting classes, this is coaching. Fans on this site have yelled all year about our O line, but they didn't bring in a single transfer. 21 points isn't going to win ballgames. I mean, this is fine for North Carolina State, but for one of the top programs, Kirby really needs to work on solutions. This won't be a quick fix.
I don't care about rushing stats when we can't score points. Bama certainly didn't need to rush the ball to win this game.
We scored 7 points in the 2nd half. Bama scored ZERO. We still lost.
Inexcusable.
Coaching is definitely an issue, but far from the only one. Execution is mostly on the players, and we lacked that in spades Saturday. Bama had a much better game plan than Bobo did. I'll give them that for sure. OC Grubb was aggressive and hit us in the mouth - at home - to silence the crowd. Simpson was simply the better QB.
Let's get rid of Bobo and Searels if this continues. Schumann will be some team's HC next season.
@jdatl3 Can't agree more. We actually witnessed the slow starts last year along with an O-line getting blown up at key times by opposing teams. Lots of drops last season but they did bring in some talent. Of course there was a major dropsie Saturday but that could have been anybody. The play calling is one thing but the execution or the effort is something else. So, yeah, this is Kirby's to resolve.
@MikeGriffith So here is my two cents worth, we were close enough to kick a field goal, so why not kick it, and trust our defense to keep them out of the endzone or field goal range? I get that our defense was porous, but I would have rather played an OT than loose on a play call that everyone sees coming. And where were our TEs all night? Not to mention, where is Noah Thomas? He was specifically brought in to stretch the field.
I've waited to post anything because of the incredibly high emotions on this site for the past two days (understandable), but now I think @MikeGriffith gets it right here the best so far.
I applaud Gunner for taking some heat as a good on-field leader, but IMHO he's taking more on his shoulders than he should. In this game, for which there was two weeks of prep for both teams, it does NOT start with Gunner.
In a program where the head coach sets the tone [it was CKS who dictated the run-first/mostly tone (as he told everyone who would listen), made the riskiest, low-probability red zone decisions, said he doesn't adjust his strategy to the opponent, and approved a plan which didn't use Gunner's legs intentionally and lacked any innovation to leverage his best new talent], the QB is purely an order taker, and the assistant coaches develop their plans based on HIS strategy, the improvements MUST start with Kirby, full stop.
Should Smart hit the road as some have called for? Ludicrous. There is no one better in CFB today, IMO. Is he Dabo 2.0? Hardly. He doesn't whine and rest on his laurels when the chips are down. Is he on his way to becoming Saban? No, and he never will be nor will anyone else in the TP+NIL world that (being frank) caused Nick Saban to walk down the hall 15 minutes after a recruiting call to leave coaching in an unplanned manner.
All that said, Kirby's "10 out of 10 times" comment is the most disturbing thing I've heard in his UGA tenure. It's a concerning indication of a lack of self-awareness, shifting blame elsewhere, and (frankly) a regression toward immaturity for a seasoned, no-longer-young leader.
I'm hopeful that this is both temporary and a statement that was more "heat of the moment"... if CKS is who the vast majority of us think he is, this will change and become energy for the future. All of the points and speculation from various writers and DN posters (most rational and a few debatable when it comes to a 3-point loss) can be addressed... but none can be fixed unless one thing is made front and center, especially for CKS himself: it starts with KIRBY.
We make every opposing QB except for Ewing/Texas look like a HEisman potential winner. THis isn't a new thing. Tennesse, now BAMA. We made Milroe lastyear look like a viable NFL starter day one. Look at his passing against UGA compared to other teams. Against UGA he passed for 374 yards on 27-33 attempts and 2 TD's , 82% completion ratio. His ratio for the whole year was 64%. HUH?
We made even the back up QB last year for OLE MIss look like a Heisman, I think he hit on his 1st 10 passes? That guy has gotten beaten out by another QB for Ole MIss. Have mercy!
We made Haynes King look like a potential Heisman winner passing for 303 yards against us with 2 TD's and a passing percentage of 72%. He was 62% for the whole season last year.
Michael VanBuren Jr at Miss St. torched us for 300 yards last year and 3 TD's. He's now a back up at LSU.
Houston we have a problem! Evey year we supposedly get a top 3 receuiting class. We can't cover receivers and we can't get to the passer. What gives?
Are we going to stop wearing red jerseys now?
I’m gonna take a leave of absence after this post until maybe the day before the KY game or on that day. Frankly I’m sick of hashing through it.
So I’m just gonna say this give Gunner an O Line like Simpson had and a innovative and creative OC like Simpson had and Gunner would look much more like a Heisman candidate.
I don’t believe Simpson is even a smidgen better than Gunner I think he just has the Luxury of playing behind a very solid O Line and plays designed to Help him not Hurt him. Unfortunately Gunner doesn’t have those.
I Love Kirby and I’m SO thankful for All he’s done. And firing him especially now would be a very foolish move imho. He’s a great coach and great recruiter but Terrible CEO imho. As a CEO he needs to be able to make the tough decision to let “ friends” go and Hire the very best upgrades available. See Dan Pittman. And PAY Muschamp enough to get him back on the sideline.
This was a TEAM loss but it’s mostly on the HC imho. So take care my fellow Dawgs fans and great friends see Yall later this week God willing. Go Dawgs !! P.S. The coaching changes I referenced Pittman & Muschamp would be temporary in nature ( the balance of this year and perhaps next year Until the Very best available could be found and hired for more permanent staff)
We’ve got a serious coaching problem right now.
Bottom line: these issues are piling up, and only our CEO can fix 'em—I don't want him to lose his "best in the country" title.
Enjoy the break!
Excellent comment!
I agree, kick the FG! Defense actually played better the 2nd half, holding Bama to 0 points. Kick the FG, and trust your defense to get a stop..
I'm concerned about what we may see on Saturday with this noon kickoff! UGA is notorious for slow starts when they start that early.
GO DAWGS!