Chicken stock

Tyler cites plenty of stats from South Carolina’s win last Saturday, but with all due respect, none of those are as important as this one:  M. Davis (SC) – 18 CAR, 101 YDS, 2 TD.

Mike Davis is back.  And he’ll be starting Saturday.

South Carolina is twelfth in the conference in total offense and dead last in total defense.  Spurrier acknowledges that this isn’t his most talented team.  His best player is Mike Davis.  Coaching 101 says get the ball in the hands of your best player as much as you can.  Mike Davis hasn’t been asked to carry the ball at Lattimore levels before (he’s only had 25+ rushing attempts in a game once), but Saturday may very well be the time to break that pattern.  Giving Davis a steady dose of the ball accomplishes plenty – it takes pressure off the South Carolina passing game, the Gamecock defense and keeps Georgia’s offense off the field some.

Check out Carolina’s last series of the game Saturday.  It was an eighteen-play drive that ate over ten and a half minutes off the clock.  Twelve of the plays – twelve of the last thirteen – were runs.  Pound the ball.  That’s what Spurrier wants to do next Saturday with that big offensive line of his.

I know Georgia’s secondary is the weak link of the defense.  I expect Spurrier to try some deep throws, especially if the running game helps sell play action.  But I expect to see a lot more of Mike Davis.

The psychology favors South Carolina, despite the difference in the two teams’ starts this season, because of the history in Columbia in the series.  Georgia hasn’t scored more than 20 points in a game there since 1994 and no doubt the stink bomb the Dawgs laid there on the last trip is still on the minds of the coaches.  2012 may be on Mark Richt’s mind, but the game I’m thinking of was the 2005 meeting.  Georgia had a ton of momentum coming off a Boise State win in which Shockley looked all world.  Spurrier came in with the least talented team he’s ever coached, and John Thompson as his defensive coordinator.  And South Carolina came within an eyelash of pulling off an upset.  I’m sure Spurrier would be thrilled with another blowout, but a grinder where his team takes advantage of a couple of slip ups in front of a hostile crowd to pull out a close win would be just as satisfying.

***************************************************************************

UPDATE:  Tyler has some more thoughts in response here.

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82 Comments

Filed under 'Cock Envy, Georgia Football

82 responses to “Chicken stock

  1. frowertr

    Mike Davis looks fat. He looks more like an offensive lineman than a running back. I’m not sure he has the stamina to pound the rock 25+ a game.

    Like

  2. HamDawg11

    I’m not really worried about this game, which has me really worried!

    Like

  3. uglydawg

    This is one game where, if Georgia wins the coin toss, they almost have to take the ball and pound out an early score….If SC get’s it first, Davis, though he may be a little out of shape, will be fresh enouigh to force the defense to stack up and try to stop him..then SS will call the play-action pass with success.
    The answer, as always in this setting, is to score first..and second. Take the crowd out, discourge Spurrier, and grind out a win.
    Talent wise, Georgia has the advantage. With at least four backs that can put the hurt on a defense, and a senior qb who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, South Carolina’s defense has more worries than does Georgia’s.
    The equalizing factors are the home crowd, and the vindictive, little genius that walks the Cocks’ sideline wearing a sun visor.
    Most years I would believe USC has a big advantage in coaching…This year I think CMR has a new, craftier disposition..and CMB has become one of the best OC’s in the land, and CJP is a definate upgrade….So, all in all, Georgia is going into this game at WB Stadium in about as good a situation as your’e going to see…it’s just a tough place for the Bulldogs.

    Like

    • Great post, Ugly. +1.

      I think we know what SC’s offensive plan is. The question is, what will ours be? I have no idea. Unlike Spurrier, we have more options to choose from, as we a far more multiple. But (can’t believe I’m saying this) I trust Bobo has come up with the right one.

      Also, if most of us here know that Spurrier will pound the ball with Davis, we can be sure Pruitt knows it too. So what we do on defense will be interesting. Do we see Mayes, for example (we haven’t seen him yet). Do we see more of a 4-down line than ususal (I mean a true 4-man down, different from just having 4 up there, with a mix of 2, 3, 4 & 5-techniques) and, if so, who will be where? Do we see more of Kimbrough and probably Carter, too (I say yes). And so on.

      The thing is, even if our plans are great we still have to go in there and beat them. And there’s a lot of factors involved in that.

      But despite all of that, I think the same thing applies here that applied to Clemson. And that is, it’s not really about them, it’s about us. It’s about how we handle ourselves, how we prepare, etc.. And we’ve had time to clean up a lot of stuff up, to improve a lot of stuff.

      If we go in there solid and sound, I like us. If we just take care of ourselves, we should be fine.
      ~~~

      Like

      • Cosmic Dawg

        And that is, it’s not really about them, it’s about us. It’s about how we handle ourselves, how we prepare, etc..

        Yep. I saw a lot of tackles of Clemson players at or behind the LOS. I am not worried about this game or Mike Davis or the crowd in Columbia. I think the coaches will have our boys fired up and they are going to go in there loaded for bear and eff all that fake juice and Sandstorm or whatever and blow the doors off the place and it ain’t even gonna be close.

        Our linebackers are going to be in DT’s face all day and there’s gonna be a lot of footballs flying out of his hands sideways – at least two GA INT’s, probably three. Passing game for SC will be a non-factor. DT will get chased into a couple 5 yard slides and pass for 110, Davis will get 65 – 75 yards, but that’s gonna be about it.

        45-17, a full on crushing of the chickens.

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    • Cojones

      This bunch beat’em last year and they can do it again.

      Like

  4. Chuck

    Spurrier is clearly in our (fans) heads, I just hope he’s not as clearly in our team’s and coaching staff’s heads. I’ve gone back and forth on this over the last week, but I think Richt needs to tell the team we should win this game. It appears we’re better than them — no excuses for not winning this game. Certainly remind the team (and coaches) of all the little (and not so little) dumba$$ things we could do to not win the game, but it’s going to be a disappointment if we don’t go out and take care of business against the ‘Cocks.

    Overconfidence is one thing. Underconfidence is another.

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    • uglydawg

      +1 Chuck.
      I’d like to exorcise the little creep OUT of my head, but he’s persistent. I think he’s been in CMR’s head in the past, but that may be past. CJP doesn’t seem to be the kind of guy to let an eccentric bother him..he just takes care of business…
      But then there’s that crowd.
      It comes down to the home crowd vs the Dawg’s ability to ignore it.
      If the Dawg’s win that battle, they should win the game.
      “Overconfidence is one thing. Underconfidence is another”…pretty much sums up the situation.

      Like

      • BCDawg97

        “But then there’s that crowd.” Doesn’t that sound like something Munson would say? Awesome line and that’s what worries me most about this game. I can name a million reasons for us to win, but give that crowd some life, and even a less talented team like we are facing in SC can up their game.

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        • Rickdawg

          There are some real concerns, our top 3 wr’s are injured (MM, CC, JSW). CC might play but his shoulder is limiting him severely.

          The secondary will be tested.

          They could stack the box and test Hutson Mason.

          Dylan might take off running on 3rd downs like Connor Shaw did, or Davis could go off for 200+ like Lattimore did.

          Our No 2 rb was ineffective last game (KM), opens us up to passblocking weaknesses when Chubb and Michel are in. Look for them to try and force 3 and outs when KM is in.

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      • Rickdawg

        No, getting beat 35-7 last time in Columiba SC pretty much sums it up.

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    • Rickdawg

      Congrats, the dumbest post I’ve seen in a while, never had that one, underconfidence, really man? The Jets are about the only team that the Coaches and players all swag, and they suck every year. Take a note from Saban and feel like you’re the underdog. It works.

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      • Chuck

        OK, Rick, you changed my mind. Tell the players all week they suck and have no chance of winning. Don’t create any expectation they should win. Tell them Spurrier’s just too much damn smarter than our coaches. Sounds like a perfect recipe for success. Yeah, I’d much rather talk my team out of thinking they should win.

        Talk about dumba$$ posts.

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  5. TennesseeDawg

    This game will be closer than most think. This has always been Spurrier’s Super Bowl since he has been at South Carolina.

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    • Junkyardawg41

      Spurrier always circled Georgia as the must win game. He did it at UF and has continued that tradition at SC

      Like

    • Will (the other one)

      And despite having far more talented teams most trips there, the Dawgs have always struggled putting up points in Columbia. Last time we topped 30 points on the chickens in their own house? 1986. We’ve only hit 40 on them once, and that was in 1894. We’ve played there quite often, but only scored 30 or more 4 times in the past 100 years.

      Like

  6. SCDawg

    Weather may be a factor. Bad rain here all week it looks like and calling for rain and t storms on saturday.

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    • AthensHomerDawg

      There was a 60% chance of rain in Athens for the Clemson spanking. For what it’s worth, Do not plan your weekend activities based on the T.V. weather forecasts unless it is already Thursday — but waiting until Friday would be even better. I am always planning schedules around the weather but it’s usually with respect to the seasons. Roads and streets complete prior to Jan-Feb our wettest months etc. Rain this time of year is mostly in AM. Georgia does have experience playing in wet weather. Maybe our receivers can hold onto the ball this time. Spurrier once commented about their IPF that they have only used it a couple of times because of wet weather in Cakalaky. So maybe we have an advantage there.

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    • Then we need to be practicing in it, IMO.
      ~~~

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  7. Macallanlover

    I agree with the sentiments above, there are so many factors in our favor (better talent, better coaching, more available options, history, momentum, etc.) and the only one against us is the location of the game. Overcome that and we win. I am laying the six points, placing my bet on the Dawgs, and sitting back and waiting for this group of Dawgs to take care of business. And yes, I will sweat it come Saturday morning, and expect to continue until the 4th quarter. Losing wouldn’t be the end of our hopes for this team, but it would pretty much bury SC. That’s dangerous but we go into it with our eyes wide-open. We will prevail.

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  8. JN

    This game reminds me of the 08 Blackout. That 08 team and this year’s SCU team are alike in that you can’t put your finger on it, but there just is something not quite right about the teams. The difference was UGA had an unbelievable amount of offensive talent which dug it out of what would have been ~3 more losses to bad teams (UT, AU, UK…bad as in 2 of those 3 coaches with NC’s on their resume got fired) along the way while still having a couple debacles (Bammer, UF, & the gnats). Something isn’t clicking in Cackilacky.

    Here’s to hoping Mike Davis doesn’t change that. I’d love to see UGA’s defense stone him the way Bammer stoned Moreno in the first half of the 08 (I wish I would have) Black(ed)out game.

    Like

  9. Normaltown Mike

    Haven’t watched a down of SCe but read some blogs and their fans say the QB is bad for letting the ball sail. If we can get a lead and make him throw, might luck into a pick. Worse case scenario is they grind us on line and we can’t stop them.

    Like

  10. Russ

    Pound, pound, pound…over the top.

    Great, now I’m really worried. Maybe we can do the same to them.

    Like

  11. 3rdandGrantham

    Was anyone else not terribly impressed with Mike Davis? He looked chunky and a bit overweight to me, and not exactly in the best of shape for a RB. Even if he gets a few nice runs on us Sat, I just don’t see him being able to sustain that for 4 quarters in the heat.

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    • W Cobb Dawg

      Agree. Davis didn’t impress me at all. He’s probably as big as most of the ECU D linemen. Barely breaking 100 against ECU is supposed to be impressive – baloney! Scu looks confused, out of shape, and far less talented than the Conner Shaw teams.

      Like

      • Cojones

        Yeah, I would think that our D line will be more impressive than SC has seen. Our secondary has been burned with fire. We have gambled on speed winning the day and why not? And speedy linebackers coming through the line at you has a tendency to change your play and gameplan.

        With one sack in two games, SC’s D line doesn’t frighten me. And Hutson is a tough man. He’s gone through more shit than SC can throw against him this year and last (70% pass comp vs Clem, others) . He’s seen a lot of confusing Ds and I trust him to pull the right triggers for the right occasion. Hope he gets a chance to heave a long one complete to the fastest receiver Bobo places out there just to show everyone his new skills.

        Our O line is trustworthy to protect Hutson vs SC long enough to spot his 2nd and 3rd receivers and to open enough gap to let our fast and upright runners have some fun. Blockers up the ying-yang to lead through any holes.

        We have STs. Kickers, gunners, blockers; all from 1st string. People who like to hit and play the game. They will acquit themselves well.

        TEs, WRs, “Boykins”, Isaiahs – A host of specialty fast guys who will make us proud wherever in the game they play. Don’t tell me that we aren’t excited to a person that we haven’t seen the best of McKenzie yet. We’re just waiting for him to bust loose and make our backfield a combination of Ore and Bama….it can run over most everything on either coast. Don’t get me started on punt return. or kickoff return.

        But guess who gets to worry about all these weapons? Not us.

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        • W Cobb Dawg

          Wow! 1 sack in 2 games!! Didn’t realize scu’s pass rush was THAT sucky against pass-happy teams they’ve played. And both were home games?!

          No way they push us around on Saturday. Davis gets 5 yards-per-gain against ECU, but maybe 2 or 3 yards average against us.

          I think their only chance is desperation stuff – throwing bombs, fake punts, jailbreak blitz (which they used ineffectively against ECU by the way). We should put up 40+ against their crappy D. scu can put up about 4 TDs against average Ds, so I think we hold em to 24 or less.

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          • Cojones

            Your last paragraph should be repeated as the game progresses. We shouldn’t lose sight of that stat, those plays you mentioned, as being who they are. It doesn’t mean they won’t get in their licks because they will (and some will hurt mightily), but if we come back with our bigger stick and wear on’em some, we should eventually prevail.

            Crowd noise will put us in the same pot that Clem was in here. It will cause problems early on, but, unlike Clem, we have the juice to overcome their noise advantage and use hard play to make it quieter. It most certainly will be tough in the heat and some early confusion. No doubt. And I will be patient in waiting for our first rally.

            SC has nothing to lose by playing all-out. We do. Scoring patience and fast play will win the day for us and set us on the road we projected before the season. We prayed that injury wouldn’t take our best players in the Clem game and during game preparations. Thus far prayers have been answered plus new faces have been added to the mix. What’s not to like?

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  12. Dawg151

    South Carolina is on the ropes. They’re already 0-1 in the SEC and escaped East Carolina with a 10 point victory (in a game that was in doubt for a large portion of the contest). Spurrier has all but admitted that this isn’t one of his better South Carolina teams. Their defense has been exposed. Their offense has clicked on only 2 or 3 cylinders…

    …yet, the Georgia fan base, in all it’s Munson’esque glory, refuses to acknowledge any of it and almost seems determined to talk it into being an unnecessarily close game.

    The psychology favors South Carolina only because, in this day and age of social media which opens the avenues of communication between fans, players and coaches like never before, the Georgia team hears from its collective fan base that they’re just not good enough to soundly beat South Carolina. Meanwhile, fan bases of other programs whose teams are experiencing success display a sense of confidence and positivity which undoubtedly filters down to the team itself and becomes a source of encouragement (while their coaches do what they get paid to do and snap the players back to reality). Theirs is a good cop/bad cop routine. The fan base encourages and applauds while the coaches tear down and instruct. Meanwhile, in Athens, the players get yelled at in practice for a full week…then they hear from Joe Bulldog’s Twitter account that they don’t have what it takes to be great and see for themselves the lack of confidence in the fan base…and the results are predictable.

    I don’t know if we’ll throttle SC or not. I think we definitely can. However, I will say that I’m extremely encouraged by what I’ve seen to this point. We played an excellent game against Clemson and South Carolina hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. Will it be tough? Of course it will. Playing on the road in the SEC is tough no matter where you are. Still, sometimes you have to take off the blinders and look at the game for what it is; Georgia appears to have a better, more talented team this season and if they play up to their capability (which, they should), they will win and win soundly.

    Positivity. It’s what’s for breakfast.

    Go Dawgs.

    Like

    • Rickdawg

      Has to be the same guy above (Chuck), no one is truly that dumb. The players don’t read nothin on a blog Bro, they watch tv, that’s it. I guess you gonna make up a hundred fake names and say that 100 times before Sat cuz you is not reel smarts Bro.

      Like

      • AthensHomerDawg

        Nice catch.

        Like

      • Dawg151

        Do me a favor: get yourself a Twitter account then go follow a few players. Once you’ve done that, check out how many replies they get to their tweets about UGA football from average fans.

        You can do the same for Facebook accounts, as well.

        Once you see how much interaction there is, then come back and say that the players do nothing but watch TV.

        I guess you could be right, though. Maybe they just Tweet and never read replies or Tweets they’re tagged in. Maybe we are still living in 1985 where the overly pessimistic call from “Bubba in Calhoun” can be pre-screened on the old Ma Bell phone line…or, maybe the communication lines between fans and players have been blurred irrevocably by social media. My money is on the latter.

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        • AthensHomerDawg

          Perhaps I was mistaken.

          Like

          • Dawg151

            Nah, I’m not Chuck. Not really meaning to be bad-mouthing fans who like to keep their expectations conservative, either. I can see both sides…and either extreme probably isn’t wise. Enthusiasm sometimes needs to be tempered. By the same token, it’s perfectly alright for Georgia fans to feel confident once in a while. It just seems like we’ve always been a fan base that defaults to pessimism…which is the Munson-Dooley way of handling things. I understand it and love Munson and Dooley as much as anyone; many of us (including me) grew up with Larry wondering how we were going to merely survive a quarter with another team…and Dooley wondering how we could possibly stay on the field with Vanderbilt. It’s part of our Georgia heritage. I just think, personally (feel free to disagree…it’s cool), that it’d be nice for us to open a new tradition of Georgia football…one where we let loose with the confidence a little bit. We all want the same thing, in the end: for UGA to win and be successful. I’m merely choosing to acknowledge good/great play on the field and expect good/great play from here on out.

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    • raven

      “fan bases of other programs whose teams are experiencing success display a sense of confidence and positivity which undoubtedly filters down to the team itself”

      Bah, they know better than to pay attention to this mess.

      Like

    • Dog in Fla

      “Still, sometimes you have to take off the blinders”

      Blinders on. Blinders off. Either way, HBC gets waxed

      @Macallanlover
      September 8, 2014 at 8:20 AM

      “That’s dangerous but we go into it with our eyes wide-open.”

      Like

  13. sniffer

    Without breaking down match ups and schemes, I don’t see Carolina being better than Clemson. Williams-Brice will make it tougher, but I see the game being much like last week.

    Like

  14. Cojones

    My question would be how the ECU D line was rated vs the run and how much better the D line is when compared to our D line. Anyone have any comparisons that are useful to us when trying to judge Davis’s effectiveness? Getting over 6yds/carry vs ECU may not translate as well against a better D line.

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    • Will (the other one)

      TAMU’s got a fast, but not big D line and shut them down, but Davis barely played.
      My hope is their rushing numbers the past few years were inflated by how good Shaw was scrambling/on zone read plays. It was almost impossible to get him to throw a pick plus he could get 6 yards any time he kept it, seemingly.
      Thompson’s not a statue, but he’s not as mobile, and not as good at not getting picked.

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  15. Good post. I think all of it is dead on.
    ~~~

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  16. Scorpio Jones, III

    God almighty its only the second game of the season and here we are…nasty crowd, possible lightning…we’ll never make the plane outa here if they delay this thing…Hunker down you guys.

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  17. AthensHomerDawg

    Those are impressive stats. The first 100 yard game in 6 games going all the way back to Miss. State 2013. Yikes! And he did it with bruised ribs against ECU. A team that is better than the bottom half of the bIG 10 (h/t SOS). I’d also like to Add to Steve’s caveat and step out by suggesting that ECU is better than the top half as well. Hell the bottom half may be better than the top half. It’s a tipsy, topsy bIG 10 conference right now. But uSC is Not in the top half of the SEC… a place where there are currently 5? -count ’em- SEC teams . (Go Dawgs!)

    Over the course of 2013 Davis averaged 15 carries/gm at William Brice.
    2012: Ranked fourth on the squad with 52 carries for 275 yards as a true freshman… scored a pair of touchdowns…
    He ain’t no Gurley Man now is he? He may not be a Chubb or Michael either. I’d try to compare him to a
    JJ Greene:
    G Att Yards Avg. TD Att/G Yards/G
    13 68 384 5.65 3 5.23 29.54
    or a
    Brendon Douglas:
    G Att Yards Avg. TD Att/G Yards/G
    12 84 345 4.11 3 7.00 28.75
    but they have only rushed for their freshman season,JJ is now a DB and Davis is into his 3rd season. A Heisman Trophy candidate to boot.
    Points being Is Davis an every down back in a multiple back world? AND Who are the backs behind him cause I couldn’t find them in the Texas A&M debacle or in the ECU come from behind “good win for us/SOS” game?
    Which team do we most resemble? Texas A&M or ECU?
    2 things that cause me to be somewhat confident-
    I don’t think Thompson can stay in the pocket and throw down field.
    I don’t think Davis can finish the game pounding the rock. The Old Ball Coach may even have to sit down in the fourth quarter. I’d have a chair on hand if I were the trainer. Dooley’s record remains until SOS plays Vandy. Georgia by at least 10. Vegas be damned!

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    • +1. The offensive game plans are likely the same for both teams. Spurrier will mix some HUNH offense to try to limit our D substitutions just as much as he’ll want to see if he can pound our middle…but so will Bobo. In the end, our O talent is much deeper and DL stronger for us to have the decided schematic advantage…plus, dare I say, ST play.

      Tough 1st Q due to the crowd, jitters, road game, etc. but then Dawgs pull away. 37 – 20.

      Like

    • W Cobb Dawg

      SOS can hardly walk. Wouldn’t surprise me to learn he spent all of summer camp in a golf cart, and doing little, if any, coaching. I thought last year was his last as a HC visiting Athens, and it looks even more likely now. Hope Dawgs give him a proper send off this week.

      Like

  18. Rickdawg

    Excellent article Senator. I’m with you., Only an idiot wouldn’t respect how Spurrier and South Carolina play at home. He’s 18-1 in his last 19 home games, we are the underdog, and we sure better come with kind of humble outlook. Arrogance and pride come right before you get your butt kicked.

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  19. Rickdawg

    We are a 3.5 pt fav at the Wynn, not too many guys who vote with their dollars are as confident as the blogger here predicting a UGA blowout.

    Like

  20. awreed79

    What’s the over under on how long this game will last in real time? I bet it’s done in under 2 hrs.

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  21. Will Trane

    Carolina came into ’14 preseason ranked in top 10. They lost some players on defense, but they brought some back. They are a SEC team. They have some coaches. 18-1 says alot about their roster and coaches. Home field advantage. Played back to back games. Have momentum and some confidence back. Say what you will but Davis is a durable player. He is the type who can go in the fourth. Said in a previous post that the 4th quarter drive by Carolina was impressive. Can say what you want, like or dislike. The time of the drive, the number of downs in the drive, the distance of the drive, and the size of their line … in summary…their O line play and our D line play will be a major factor.
    The other big factor goes back to what I said before season started. Hutson Mason. This is his first SEC game and it is own the road against a very savvy coach staff.
    Can not give Carolina a short field to play on thru out the game. Absolutely no turnovers. No mistakes in the kicking game.
    Performance against Clemson is over. Performance and execution will be important by every player every down. Both teams know the importance of SEC games. Carolina does not want 2 losses in SEC.
    It will be a brutal game…physical in the trenches. Will get a preview re LB play in first quarter against their O. Spurrier will look to hit the seams routes often because he wants an early lead and use his O line and Davis later. The secondary will be severally tested early. And if the Dawgs receivers do not showup…well it could get ugly. That means Mason is factored out and Dawgs become a running game only…not good.

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    • AthensHomerDawg

      What Van Gorder was to Georgia. Strong was to Florida. Ellis Johnson was to uSC. The house that Spurrier built at uSC has taken a step back. I don’t know for how long. The game next Saturday is for Georgia to lose.I don’t think they do.
      imho.

      “Any Team Can Beat Any Other Team On Any Given Day”

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      • Cojones

        Agreed. Your first paragraph is dead on thinking when it comes to comparisons and what Spurrier has lost. They were overrated by Spurrier’s media; they overrated his recent past record. They have a big human-interest investment with him so they embellish his every action and get him in your mind. They downplay the neg stuff in his twilight.

        We just have to see him off into that twilight.

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  22. Lumpkin street walker

    Humbly, here are my keys to the game:
    Stop Davis with our front seven
    Don’t get beat over the top on play-action
    Respect the QB scramble — Thompson has two legs
    Win the field position battle
    Kickoff out of the end zone and keep our starting O/D players that moonlight on ST out of high-impact plays
    Form tackle, helmet on the numbers and wrap up
    We must convert 3rd downs and continue moving the chains
    Play the ball on man coverage
    OL has got to protect Mason to give him time to get in a rhythm
    RB/FB’s have got to pickup the blitzes — SC’s LB’s are a talented group
    Gurley must be fresh in the 2nd half
    Get KM in space and let that windmill fly!
    Cover the punts
    WR’s have got to catch the ball
    CMB has got to stick with what’s working — don’t get cute
    Keep rotating the D and the RB’s; we need fresh legs
    Theus must be capable of owning the blindside
    Get the TE’s involved in the game plan to take advantage of overaggressive LB play
    Take the ball at KO, don’t let the SC crowd into the game
    Run the ball 50 times
    Mason Must hit the play-action
    We cannot afford any penalties, especially PI or personal conduct
    Take the high-confidence / high-percentage plays with Mason — wheel routes, short slants, and bubble screens will counteract their line play
    No Pass Interference! No OL offsides! No block in the backs! No holding!
    CJP’s gotta bring the blitz and pressure Thompson early
    Let’s see some 3-back sets
    Pound the ball with TE’s and FB’s leading the way
    WR’s have got to catch the ball first to move the chains, worry about y.a.c. after you secure the ball
    No billboard material during the week!
    Don’t forget UGA IX’s ice bag
    Pre-game meal must not be spaghetti

    We do these few things and I believe we have a real shot

    Like

    • Macallanlover

      Feel better, Coach? Not saying any of that is inherently wrong but I watch a lot of football, the only times I ever see any team do all that is in uncompetitive, cupcake games. But we have to start with a plan, so OK. I will say I didn’t see the stupid defensive PF penalties and trash talking against Clem’s Son. Looked like they were focused and having a good time. Hope they are again Saturday afternoon.

      Like

    • Bulldawg Bill

      Yep! That about covers it, lumpkin!

      Like

    • Cojones

      You inadvertently separated the last two parts to your name.

      Instead of “I’m Walkin the Floor Over You”, you can substitute “street” for “floor”. Could we get a video of you watching the game? 🙂

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  23. Biggus Rickus

    The fact that they needed an 18 play 10:30 minute drive to ice a game against East Carolina says more about them than the drive itself. I think Spurrier will try to play a power game as long as it remains close, but – and maybe I’m too confident in Georgia’s front seven and offense – I just don’t see that working. Nor do I see Dylan Thompson beating Georgia on very many clear passing downs.

    I don’t like feeling this confident about the game, but South Carolina has looked like a 6-6 team so far.

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    • W Cobb Dawg

      I agree. Scu squeaking by ECU at home does not impress me. We have 5 RBs and a safety (JJ Green) that would run for a hundred against the pirates. If they use the Shaw read option against us, CJP should be lickin his chops. Thompson has virtually no mobility.

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    • Cojones

      Now see what you did? You entered another worry into the mele: Long drives that keep the ball away from our O. Damn! Just, damn!

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  24. Guys…stop psyching yourselves out. Whatever juju Spurrier had over us got left in Jacksonville. He’s still a good coach but he’s not the same. The only way I see USC winning is if we don’t play with good fundamentals. There is no boogie man under the bed.

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  25. FWIW, quite a few of you keep talking about how big and fat Davis looks. And I gotta say, I don’t get it. He looks pretty good to me. And I suspect he won’t be looking so big fat to any of us Saturday.

    I’d love to be wrong about that. But I just looked at some of the ECU tape, and Davis looked just fine.
    ~~~

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