Hot, hot, hot

… Georgia’s offense in the red zone, that is.

I posted about the Dawgs leading the SEC in red zone efficiency a couple of weeks ago.   With Georgia going 4 for 4 in the red zone against Florida, it’s upped that league leading percentage to an incredible 96.4.  (The only miss in the red zone this year was at the end of the Oklahoma State game when Georgia was in its clock run mode.)

The Athens Banner-Herald has a nice article up on the subject, with plenty of comments from the players and Bobo about their newfound prowess in this area.  Most credit a combination of avoiding penalties and staying focused on running the ball.

There’s also a stat worth noting in the article:  Georgia scores touchdowns three out of every four times it gets inside the opponent’s red zone.  That, too, leads the SEC.  And it’s the best by a wide margin in the Richt era, as well.

Georgia’s percentage of touchdowns in the red zone is on pace to be the best in Richt’s seven seasons, ahead of the 63 percent showing last season. The Bulldogs were between 50 and 55 percent every year from 2001 to 2005.

It’s early in Bobo’s career as a play caller and coordinator.  He’s made his share of mistakes.  But he’s got his priorities in order…

“You’ve got to have greater focus because any mistake can cause you from getting points,” Bobo said. “That’s just been a focus this year – red zone and turnovers – and we’ve done a nice job of it.”

… and he’s done an admirable job emphasizing them.

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More stuff on you know what

I suspect this isn’t the beginning of a trend, but try as I might, I couldn’t find fault with what Stewart Mandel wrote in his Mailbag about The Celebration. Here is his most pertinent point:

… For those who say it was “classless,” first of all, I can tell you from first-hand interaction that Richt is one of the classiest coaches in the profession. Secondly, all he actually told his guys to do was celebrate a touchdown. They didn’t taunt Florida; in fact, they never even looked the Gators’ way. And most importantly, there was no intent to hurt anybody.

While Richt’s directive may have involved a more literal rules violation, think about all the pregame speeches that go on in locker rooms every week where the coach tells his team to “hit ’em in the mouth,” or “show them who’s tougher,” etc. While those words include no explicit instructions to break any rules, inevitably, a couple guys will get carried away, make a late hit, start jawing at somebody, etc., and draw a 15-yard flag of their own. To me, that’s a far more dangerous and classless head game to play than jumping up and down after a touchdown.

On the other hand, maybe I owe Franz Beard an apology for mocking the statement in his letter to Mike Slive that Richt risked a riot breaking out in the stands by allowing his players to run out on the field. Obviously, Mr. Beard is far more aware of the reckless behavior of Gator fans at football games than I am. It must be a cause of serious concern. Otherwise, why would UF find it necessary to institute a code of conduct?

Florida instituted a code of conduct for Gators fans five seasons ago. Since then, a handful of fans are ejected from each home game because of disorderly conduct, anything from spitting at someone to shoving people to using profane language, said Capt. Jeff Holcomb of the university’s police department.

Natalie Gonzalez, Florida coordinator of operations and facilities, said the school implemented its “Gator Fans Code of Conduct” to treat visiting fans with respect.

 

“No! It’s the guy in the next seat over that spit! The one with the mullet!”

I had no idea things were so dicey. Thanks for your concern, Franz.

More SEC East madness

From Ivan Maisel, in his “I-Formation” column today:

If Georgia loses to Auburn and to Kentucky;
If Tennessee beats Arkansas and loses to Vanderbilt and Kentucky;
If South Carolina loses to Arkansas and beats Florida;
If Florida beats Vanderbilt and loses to South Carolina;
If Kentucky loses to Vanderbilt and beats Tennessee and Georgia;
And if Vanderbilt loses to Florida and beats Kentucky and Tennessee;
The SEC East will have a six-way tie for the championship at 4-4.

Hey, this season stranger things have happened.

Oh, and who would go to Atlanta in the event that all came to pass?

The SEC has a seven-step tiebreaker in place that begins with the teams’ records within the division and will winnow out teams until there are two remaining. At that point, the higher-ranked team in the final BCS standings will “win” the division, with one exception. If the lower-ranked team is within five places of the higher-ranked team, yet won the game between the two of them, then it “wins” the division.

Keep hope alive, Vandy.

Steve Spurrier has some advice for Urban Meyer.

The Evil Genius is ready if anybody ever tries to pull that Celebration crap on him.

Make sure you watch the video to get the true flavor of his comments… it’s pretty tongue in cheek.

(h/t Best of the SEC Blogs)

It’s a lot more fun to talk about the WLOCP than losing to Phil Fulmer.