You think you were impressed with Georgia’s game Saturday night? Bill Connelly really dug it. And check out this chart:
Before Gurley’s kick return After Gurley’s kick return Score Clemson 21, Georgia 14 Georgia 31, Clemson 0 Yards Clemson 208, Georgia 117 Georgia 342, Clemson 83 Yards per play Clemson 5.6, Georgia 5.6 Georgia 7.4, Clemson 2.1 Sacks Georgia 1, Clemson 0 Georgia 4, Clemson 1 Turnovers Clemson +1 Georgia +1
I guess that return was kind of a big deal.
Get The Picture 
The kind of play that raises a whole team up. A Heisman kind of play.
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Absolutely. When I rewatched the first half last night (I missed Gurley’s TD return the first time because a storm knocked out the signal), the defense seemed to be re-energized when they came back out. That’s a big deal because they had just given up the lead and were being asked to go right out again. To say they responded well would be an understatement.
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Slightly off topic: Senator, if possible, please improve on your “crudely lettered GTP sign” or maybe describe your canopy (“we’re the red one, with the power “G”). I tried to find you in the railroad lot, but it was like hunting for a particular rug merchant in a mid-Eastern bazaar. Anyway, keep up the great work.
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You think red will make it stand out, but a sign won’t?
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I forgot the sarcasm font 🙂
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LOL!! You got me
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Bill Connelly – “When healthy — and with his running style, he hasn’t been able to play a full season in his first two years — he is one of college football’s 10 best players …”
Did Bill miss the 2012 season? Gurley didn’t miss a game. He apparently watched too much ESPN this off-season.
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Yeah amazing how a meme takes hold. This will be how the media eventually Dawggrades Gurley’s performance this year.
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“One of college football’s best 10 players.”
I suppose this is true, in the same sense that Lebron James is one of the NBA’s best 10 players. Methinks Bill is underselling TGIII a bit.
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There are 30 NBA teams, which means there are 150 “starters.” There are 128 FBS teams, which means there are almost 3,000 “starters.” I’m comfortable saying top 10, and top 10 is really, really, really good.
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Just curious who else you’d put in there with him…?
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I watched almost no ESPN whatsoever this offseason.
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Bill thanks for checking in, and for all the digging you do. However, Gurley played the entire first season. He had nicks and bumps like all players do but he played all season. That’s all we’re saying.
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+1 – your comment was the ESPN meme all offseason. Thanks for responding! Love your stuff, by the way!
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So maybe special teams DO matter.
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Gurley’s kickoff return for that TD was definitely the turning point in the game.
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No doubt. The D was already becoming more solid. But it jumpstarted everything. ST’s (ours) were really the story of the 1st half.
~~~
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He left off another important before and after
Negative fans before the kick return: Richt doesn’t treat special teams as an equal part of the game!!!
Negative fans after: yeah he scored but the best player shouldn’t be out there on special teams!!!
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lol – nice one.
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How true.
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Yes, if TG had pulled a hammy again on that kickoff return, CMR would be roasted by the haters as a fool for using starters on STs. It will happen to one of them yet, and they will pounce. TN’s best player made big plays on STs too last night, all good teams do it to a degree. Whatever formula that was Saturday night, I am all for continuing to take risks for the sake of putting your best out there. I still think I would put McKenzie back there but if Todd wants to do it, I am all in.
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As Gene Hackman said on “The Replacements,” winners always want the ball.
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Gotta love that TG beat Clempson’s fastest guy to the goal line. Losing a little weight=big AND fast.
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We set the bar too high. Folks will be ready to slit their wrists again when the USC game is much closer. Even though we win it.
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I’m drinking the Kool-Aid this year 🙂 Me being over-optimistic isn’t going to affect the team’s play vs. SC, because I KNOW the coaches aren’t over-confident going into the game, and I haven’t played a down or run a sprint in a very long time. So until I get proof otherwise, the team that played the second half vs. Clemson is going to be out there all year. Let my euphoria last for a week and a half. There’ll be plenty of time later for buzz kill.
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Yeah, I can tolerate the after-game feeling for the next two weeks. Hell, let’s make it 3-4 weeks. Ok, but the euphoria is gonna begin to wear off in 8 weeks, I’m telling you. 13-14 weeks tops and only because of crippling chop blocks that insert dread into what used to be a good game.
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One game at a time but oh did this feel soooooo GOOD!
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It was a big deal. It will forever be in the mind of Dabo, who doesn’t think it was necessary for the Dawgs to tie up the game.
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It must be a huge confidence booster for a team to see the big run from a previously injured superstar player. As a teammate, you must think that if we have that beast on our side, we can go balls out on Defense or special teams. If something bad happens, we can always ride this Gurley guy to the promised land.
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We kept Hudson Mason’s jersey clean… that was all we needed to do and we did it and we won. If the dead cocks get no more than one or two sacks we win that one too.
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I don’t give us an A+ for the game but it was damned satisfying because I think we saw a glimpse of the future, and it could be the upper end of A. I do agree the second half was an A+. Keep plodding along and build that experience base, something really good just might happen.
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Yeah, it’s just a start. But it’s a very good start. We thought we were on the right track, and now we have some evidence that it’s true.
~~~
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+1
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Not to take anything away from Todd Gurley because part of being a great player is making teams pay for their mistakes which Todd did, dearly. But Clemson’s kick off coverage team was terrible on that return, the shield met maybe one white jersey and todd was on the kicker almost immediately with a blocker between them to boot.
On another note, this dawg is super happy Gurley and Marshall committed to Georgia instead of being on the other sideline Saturday as Clemson was their runner up.
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