“Get it together!”

You don’t want to make Nick Chubb mad, do you?

Still going strong

Georgia currently stands second nationally in yards per offensive play, at 8.26, behind only Baylor.

The Dawgs finished in the top ten in the county in two of Bobo’s last three seasons, so Schottenheimer is holding up his end of the deal there so far.

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UPDATE:  The Dawgs look pretty good in Dave Bartoo’s scoring efficiency rankings, too.

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In the SEC, officiating is always a work in progress.

Steve Shaw wants you to know that when it comes to the ineligible linemen downfield penalty, he’s on the mother.

“The term we use is RPO, but it’s run-pass option and people are doing it all across the country.”

The POP pass – it’s not just for option offenses anymore.

That’s where Georgia’s offense is different under coordinator Brian Schottenheimer this year than it was in previous years under Mike Bobo. Before, the Bulldogs’ always came to the line with the ability to audible to a run from a pass and vice-versa. They still do now.

But they also have a package of plays in which they actually call a run and block for it but have the option of passing on the same play.

Alabama, as we all know, has famously struggled with the play, most noticeably in the game tying play in the 2013 Iron Bowl.  But one big difference with Georgia is that Lambert doesn’t present a running threat.

So a lot of Saturday’s game will be about whether Lambert has time to make the reads he needs to make, and whether Alabama’s defense can disrupt Georgia’s receivers enough to wreck the timing of these plays.  We’ll see who wins.

A changed man

This doesn’t sound like the Mark Richt I used to know:

Georgia has played 21 true freshmen this year, and Mark Richt has changed his philosophy when it comes to redshirting, opting to play more guys for the experience and depth.

“I don’t think as much about redshirting guys as I used to, because not many guys stay five years anyway,” Richt said. “Even if they play just a little bit, they’re just so much more ready to play. There’s so many guys that, a year from now, are going to have to play. So if you know a guy’s going to have to play for you next year, you might (as well) get him as many reps as you can possibly get him.

“If he’s a redshirt freshman, he’s almost like a true freshman in a lot of ways. So I’d rather have a true sophomore that’s got a few plays under his belt than a redshirt freshman that hasn’t played a game.”

Again, the most interesting thing about this season is that it’s shaping up to be a year in which Georgia is simultaneously chasing a division title and prepping a young team for the future.  That’s a tough juggling act for anybody and when you consider how Richt has handled roster management before, it seems especially so for Georgia.  The early schedule has helped, no doubt.  But in that regard, this season’s ride promises to be an interesting one.

Head-to-head

If there’s anyone out there who’s qualified to make Alabama-Georgia comparisons, it’s Louisiana-Monroe, the team that’s played both programs.

Safety Tre’ Hunter and receiver Ajalen Holley were concise when scouting both SEC teams’ strengths.

“Alabama is a little bit more versatile, as in the pass game is outside of the box,” Hunter said of the Tide offense. “Georgia is light inside of the box. Alabama can spread you out. Playing in space is always hard. For skilled guys and linemen, playing in space is always hard. There is a bit more to think about than gearing up for box plays.”

Of Georgia’s 1,965 total yards, 52.4 percent have come in the running game. The majority of Alabama’s 1,840 total yards have come through the air. That ratio is 60:40 through four games. Hunter was impressed with Georgia’s between-the-tackles approach led by Nick Chubb’s 71 carries, 599 yards (8.4 average) and six touchdowns.

“They’re awesome,” Hunter said. “That’s what they do. They’re both pretty accustomed to what they know how to do.”

Holley took a deep breath when asked to compare the defenses of Alabama and Georgia. Answers don’t get more specific.

“Alabama’s defense is a lot bigger,” he said. “Georgia’s defense is a lot faster. That’s as good as I can give you right there.”

And how does that translate on the field?

“When it comes to running the ball, I feel like we could be on the edge a little better against Alabama,” Holley said. “When it comes to Georgia, we couldn’t, because they’re a faster outside defense. When it comes to getting downhill, I feel like Alabama is better at filling the gap than Georgia is, because they’re bigger. Their defensive line can fill gaps better than Georgia. That’s from my perspective.”

That ‘Bama run/pass ratio is perhaps the most interesting thing there.  Does Junior stick with what he’s been doing, or does he try to test the Georgia defensive front by pounding Derrick Henry more?

SEC Power Poll, Week Four

Another week in the books, and things are still sorting out.  But it’s becoming clearer that this isn’t a banner year for the conference.  The East is, overall, showing the level of strength we expected (which is to say, meh), but the West doesn’t look as deep as many thought it would be before the season kicked off.

With games like Alabama – Georgia, Mississippi State – Texas A&M, and Arkansas – Tennessee, the sorting out will continue this week, at both ends of the spectrum.

1. Mississippi.  Okay, it may not have been pretty, but Ole Miss got the job done against a Vanderbilt team that’s showing itself to have a little more fight than last season.
2. Georgia.  Season gets real now.
3. Alabama.  More of a 2B to Georgia’s 2A, but things will be sorted out in the wash after Saturday.
4. LSU.  Hey, that Leonard Fournette’s a beast.  Who knew?
5. Texas A&M.  That Arizona State win looks less impressive with each passing week.  So do the Aggies.
6. Mississippi State.  Held their own on the road against Auburn.  You can take that for what it’s worth.
7. Florida.  “You just don’t lose to Tennessee,” McElwain said. “Don’t know if we deserved it or not, but I sure like it this way [rather than] the other way. It was pretty cool. Wasn’t it?” Yeah, it was.
8. Kentucky.  The Wildcats appear to be a little ahead of schedule this week.
9. Tennessee.  The Vols with a big fourth quarter lead are like money in the bank… if you’re talking about a bank shut down by the FDIC, that is.
10. Missouri.  It’s not looking like the Tigers’ year.  Not with that offense, anyway.
11. South Carolina.  The ‘Cocks won, and no longer have the worst scoring differential in the conference.  Sadly, that passes for progress.
12. Auburn.  They can’t blame Jeremy Johnson this week.  Maybe Gus should go full time Wildcat.
13. Arkansas.  It’s not even October yet, and bowl eligibility is already starting to look like a bit of a stretch for the Hogs.
14. Vanderbilt.  A tough out is still an out.

Fabris Pool results, Week 4

This week saw much better results, as we had four finish with identical 9-1 records.

STANDINGS for WEEK 4

Rank	Selection Name	Standings Adjustment	W-L	Pts	Tie Breaker Game 56-23
1	erikzatuga	Adj	9-1	9	44-22**
1	Count Istvan Teleky	Adj	9-1	9	32-24
1	Dawged28	Adj	9-1	9	19-34
1	theotherdoug	Adj	9-1	9	21-7

Congrats to erikzatuga, for pulling out the tiebreaker.

The leader on the season remains the same.

SEASON STANDINGS through Week 4

Rank	You	Selection Name	W-L	Pts
1		mcrice	28-12	28
2		erikzatuga	26-14	26
2		theotherdoug	26-14	26

But it’s a tight race. On to Week 5.