Kirby likes what he sees when he studies Kentucky tape ($$):
“When you talk to the other coaches, which we all talk to each other week to week, everybody talks about Kentucky’s group of seniors,” the Georgia coach told reporters this week. “Their whole defense, it’s seven or eight defensive players, seems like they’ve been playing for four years. You look back at the tape two years ago when we were up there playing, all those guys are still there. They’re really good football players. …
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Mark (Stoops) and the job he’s done. I think it’s really remarkable, and it shows the patience of an athletic department to stick with a guy who I think is one of the best coaches in all of college football. He’s now put his roster together…”
There’s a lot to be said for experienced, well-coached players. But Smart’s not exactly going into Lexington unarmed.
If you want to tell me that Josh Allen is the best player on the field today, I won’t argue with you, not after the way I saw him take over the Florida game earlier this season. But note that, at least according to PFF, Georgia’s fifth highest graded player has a higher score than Kentucky’s number two. Georgia has both depth and talent to counter UK’s experience.
Allen is a stud, so what Georgia’s tackles are able to do to handle him today will be one story to follow. (In that light, note who has Georgia’s second highest grade, and then remember that Thomas isn’t 100% healthy.)
The more I think about this game, though, the more I wonder if Mel Tucker’s game plan is… well, not exactly to sell out to stop Snell, but at least to lean towards closing down the Kentucky running game. Putting the game in the hands of Terry Wilson seems like what Tucker would prefer to do.
Kentucky has Benny Snell Jr. (78.5) and they want to run the ball – that is known and clear. But if the running game falters in any way, what will QB Terry Wilson (59.3) and the rest of the offense do? Wilson has struggled passing this season, only averaging 6.5 yards per attempt with more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (five). His primary target, WR Lynn Bowden Jr. (79.4), has caught 43-of-51 targets and has seven of the team’s 21 explosive plays in the passing game so expect to see our highest-graded corner, Georgia’s Deandre Baker (91.4), shadowing Bowden wherever he goes. It won’t be just Baker making it difficult for Wilson as the Bulldogs have the second-highest coverage grade in the FBS and have forced an incompletion on 16.4% of targets, third-most in the FBS.
If the game is played on those terms, that overwhelmingly favors Georgia. Is Benny Snell good enough today to dent Tucker’s game plan?
I’ve already mentioned earlier this week that Kentucky isn’t built to emulate the tack LSU took in running a lot of plays against Georgia. If you look at the numbers, UK is very similar in its approach to what Georgia likes to do offensively. Maybe even more Georgia than Georgia, in fact. Both teams’ time of possession numbers in conference play are over half the game, but the ‘Cats have run 32 fewer plays in doing so. That’s a deliberate offense.
Of greater concern to Kentucky than pace has to be that there’s a pretty significant gap in yards per play on offense: 6.64 for Georgia, versus 5.25 for Kentucky. The slower Stoops can make the game, the less that gap matters — but that also makes explosive plays more significant. I’ve got to think Chaney’s going to run some hurry up today. It’s a good way to exploit Kentucky’s inferior depth, it plays into the percentages of Georgia’s yards per play advantage and Fromm seems to play well in it.
Speaking of Fromm, it will be interesting to see if his game today is tailored to his opponent. The Kentucky secondary is experienced; it’s also big, which makes you wonder how the fade and back shoulder passes that are his strengths will work today. Meanwhile, UK’s got some banged up linebackers and that sounds like an opportunity to exploit with the tight ends and Swift coming out of the backfield.
One other possibly intriguing issue to watch, if you’re convinced penalties are a big deal, is whether that’s an area where the more experienced team has an advantage. Strangely, the ‘Cats have been the team that’s been more penalty-prone in conference play, but look at the numbers for opponent penalties. Makes you wonder if the refs will feed on the home crowd emotions today in making calls. In a slow moving, defense-dominated affair, it’s possible some 30-plus hidden yards could have significance.
Georgia should win, but don’t kid yourself. Kentucky’s got a shot today, and not in the on any given Saturday sense, either. Any time you play good defense in this conference, you’ve got a real chance to prevail. Add in the team of destiny factor and the ‘Cats are not a team you want to see the Dawgs sleep on.
There’s a lot at stake and I don’t think Georgia will take this game for granted, but I’ve gone back and forth on it and I believe Lexington’s gonna look a lot like Jacksonville in that it will take Georgia time to take control of this one. Dawgs win by nine.
It’s your game day post, so have at it in the comments.
David Marshall and DAQUAN HAWKINS-MUCKLE aren’t playing.
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What’s this about GA losing to starting DLinemen?
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They have both been out so I don’t know why Gameday called it “breaking news”.
https://247sports.com/college/georgia/LongFormArticle/Bulldogs-injury-report-for-Kentucky-Wildcats-124151238/#124151238_6
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Jordan Davis = difference maker. Especially in cool weather. He eats up blocks, Monty gets a read, Snell goes down, Wilson/Bowden get limited success. Dawgs win. Yes, it is in KY, and yes, these are not your father’s Mildcats, but they still needed a miracle to beat Mizzou, scoring only 15 points in the process. They only scored 14 against Vandy. We’ve scored more in every game we’ve played except LSU than they have in their last two games combined. Trends favor UGA. We should have no problem winning this game. Probably kind of close at the half, but we should close well in the second half.
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Exactly. When’s the last game they played? They’ve both been out multiple games.
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Dead on, this isn’t an “any given Saturday” type of matchup, KY is legit on defense. Also, we have one less DL player out than we did against LSU, and Davis has developed in those 3 weeks so we are, slightly, in better shape. Add to that KY is even less a passing threat than LSU so UGA should be able to provide some run support from the secondary.
I sure hope we do go fast, Fromm is excellent at it and we have a lot playmakers to get ready for in a little bit of time. Just figure out a way to scheme around Allen and we should put some distance between us and the Wildcats, hopefully early.
My problem is assigning too much credibility to PFF stats. I read earlier this week they have our OL rated best in the country, and our defense rated like 3rd in fewest tackles missed. While I don’t see either, it is the defensive rating that baffles me the most. I don’t know what qualifies as a missed tackle but I clearly have definition than they do. Whatever it is, I hope we play better than we have because we continually let teams extend drives when I feel we should have made the stop earlier based on our position when near the ball carrier.
That said, I feel we win by 10-20 because our offense seems to have had a different gear last Saturday. Score similar to last week sounds about right if we don’t go back into our offensive shell again. Stay out of the way, Chaney, cut them boys loose!
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“different definition than they do”
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Who is the DLine guy that returns?
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We went to Baton Rouge with 3 DL guys not making the trip, think it might have been Wyatt (who played in Jax, but not against LSU if I remember correctly.) Didn’t mean we weren’t still hurting there, especially without Marshall, just that we had gotten one back since them and that should help some. Still disappointed the ND transfer hasn’t contributed as expected.
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Like has been suggested previously on the Sens. site, maybe 4 honest linemen will see time in some alignments. Like never that I can recall, I trust the defensive schemes that the coaching staff hatches. And with the defensive backfield that the Dawgs are trotting out here, I am relaxed.
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True, if you don’t have the big nose, a 3 man front can kill you. Don’t see us make that change on full time basis, but I sure wouldn’t mind it. Depends on how much you have been working with a 4 man front in practice. The fist year we went a 3-4 I recall we were really in a 4-3 about 70% of the time for the exact same reason. Have to go with the alignment your personnel allows you to play best in, and that could vary from opponent to opponent.
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And then there was an Adam Anderson sighting!
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Scheming around Allen- I remember Clowney came into a game all ballyhooed and we schemed right around and through his ass and wore him out. Lets see the same today.
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… if the Dawgs are haven’t coughed up some terrible TO luck in the 1st Half (like -3) and are at least even going to the break, I believe depth and that Kirball mindset prevails later in the game. The Dawgs’ proficiency at preventing +20y plays should give KY more opportunities to spit up the ball. And there are tons more big-play guys wearing red hats than blue today.
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More nervous than last week.
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Without a doubt. KY is a better team than FU, and the matchup in the trenches is worse for UGA. Still think we get them today, primarily because the offense against the Gators looked more like last season. If we keep that rolling, I don’t see how Kentucky can keep up. Should we take a step back, or turn it over giving the Wildcats a short field, we could be in trouble.
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Benny Snell is going to have to play like Marcus Lattimore his freshman year at Willams Brice AND their D needs to resemble the ‘85 Bears for us to lose.
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And then there was a TE sighting! That Chaney, he’s a sly one…..
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I will never understand being in the shotgun with a yard to go.
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Fromm keeps, and it’s a 15 yard gain. I think this is a setup for later in the game.
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Hey! Someone tackled us from behind on a short yardage play.
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I am becoming convinced that we would be dangerous if we could pick up one yard when we needed it.
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Ain’t it the damn truth.
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As if no one realized it, this Galliard thing could be VERY concerning. He ain’t coming back.
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Gotta be deep to be a championship team. Next man up.
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True to dat…. Maybe Jake stays under center for the remainder here.
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The only person Fromm wants on the field is JH. He won’t even look at anyone else.
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True, Fromm is an idiot. Shows it every game doesn’t he? Anybody you and Justin have in mind that he should favor? Hope the opposing DCs never get as bright as you, or that Kirby catches up to you before they do.
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Hey, Jackass. He threw to him five straight times never looking away with other guys open. It was a fair observation at the moment. Isn’t there an age requirement to post on here? Disagree if you like, but no need to make it apparent that you are a little man in real life.
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3rd and Tucker.
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Holy Lord, LeCounte just took the worst angle possible on 3rd and 5. Somebody should take his Hit Stick and give him a Fundamentals of Tackling Stick.
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Sure hope this D don’t get worn out. Converting third downs on command! SAD!
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Good point. Getting killed on TOP.
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Good time for your first sack, young man.
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I’m not sure how that worked or where in the world it came from, but that was the single best blitz I’ve seen from UGA this year.
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It absolutely was. Where has that been? Guess Kirby and Tucker have been playing the long game.
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Guys, I don’t think Bohanna is hurt. Lol.
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Swift, my God, Swift!
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Run of the season.
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Are you kidding?? That was nuts!!
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Made 4 guys miss, carried 2 into the end zone. A healthy Swift makes a big difference, huh?
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They just said UGA is 9-0 when Swift scores!
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Number 6 nor number 8 for Kentucky wanted any part of tackling Swift on that carry.
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D’Andre Swift is a steely-eyed missile man!
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Two turnovers. Just damn.
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Take away at least 6 pts.
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Thought we had a real shot at another TD there at the end of the half.
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Me, too. Got to be fundamentally sound, especially in or near the Red Zone.
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I don’t know if that was going to be a play-action pass, but it sure looked like it.
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Hope that doesn’t cost us. Very bad mojo giving up points.
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G A M E O V E R !
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Lord man. Please don’t say that.
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He got out athleted!
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By Swift and he wasn’t even on the field for that play.
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We’ve got us 2 damn fine RBs. Shades of 2016. A healthy No. 7 changes everything for our offense.
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Now is when we drive them before us and hear the lamentations of their women.
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UK is fortunate this isn’t much, much uglier.
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What did I tell you guys?
Ground and pound and they’ll crack in the middle of the 3rd.
Right on schedule.
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Not over. Wildcats driving.
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Uh oh. Here we go.
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UK is wilting under the relentless physicality of the Dawgs. That OL cracked!
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I think Carville had the wrong team on his shirt. Greg Sankey obviously loves Kentucky. What a bogus p.i. call on Baker sheesh….
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I expected as much from the worst crew in the SEC. Without that call UK is dead in the water right there.
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Our goalline offense is an embarrassment to college football.
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I think Kirby had some words for the OC though.
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Can someone teach Fromm how to run a sneak? Can’t anyone here play this game???
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We’re nearly playing cardboard linemen. With the injuries, it’s a major miracle we can move the ball at all. Chill, dude
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Just a thought, but if they’re going to play Fields, they should use him in short yardage situations instead bringing him in for 1 or 2 plays in the middle of drives.
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God help us. There’s the play that lights the fire.
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Just wait until Justin Fields throws his first college pass.
Are they paying these morons in the broadcast booth? This might be the poorest-researched game I’ve ever heard.
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Driving me insane. Plus “they brought Justin Fields in for his legs not his arm.”
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I honestly thought he was making a joke. Then I realized he might be serious.
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This is the biggest Jekyll and Hyde team in the nation.
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Come on Tucker you’re letting a running QB pick the secondary apart. This guy never has to make reads and you can’t even disguise your coverage a little. Don’t make it easy on them.
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Why? Why?
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What is Chaney thinking?
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Some of y’all are gonna read the stats later and wonder what you were thinking. A very banged up Dawg team has dominated a very good UK team. One punt and two turnovers and we’re winning by a lot.
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Love your confidence.
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Agree, some of these guys need to step away from the keyboard during the game and actually watch…
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ATL!!!
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How valuable is hot Rod?
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Hot Rod is our MVP so far.
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Agree completely.
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In Rod we trust.
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I hate a fucking prevent defense.
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“We could lose the next three”
Baloney.
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I don’t mind being wrong. Auburn is on a roll, though. And Florida had success against us with the option. Makes me worry about the trade school.
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Please keep it coming with the game day posts. Honestly you entertain me. I’m just glad I’m not sitting next to you because I would probably slit my wrists.
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Lol. I can’t help it man. I love being wrong, though.
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No problem. I know a few Dawgs like you. Just make sure to enjoy the good times because things could be and have been a lot worse.
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Dawgs on top of the east! I can dig it.
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Now beat Auburn and Tech, and we put a great season in the books.
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And Bama………..
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Or LSU.
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It was never in doubt…
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