I mocked teams like Florida for the sentiment, so it’s only fair to cringe when Georgia says the same crap after getting embarrassed.
“I don’t know,” junior tight end Isaac Nauta said when asked about them. “Probably should have kept our mouth shut on that one but, like I said, I still believe we’re the better team and they played better than us tonight. Hats off to them. They did a good job. They scheme well to stop us.”
I will admit that’s not as lopsided a statement as some of the Gators made after Jacksonville. At least Nauta acknowledged that his team was outplayed on the evening. So did Kirby, although he clung to his own version of denial with this comment:
“It gives the other team motivation. But our team was motivated to play Texas. Texas outplayed us, outcompeted us. They outcoached us. They out-physicaled us. They did a lot of things better than us.”
Contrary to his assertion, his team has a habit of not showing up for a game every now and then. Nicholls in 2016. Auburn in 2017. LSU in 2018. And now, last night. It’s a hump and they’re not going to get over it by pretending otherwise.
I get that this was a young team and maybe was a little farther along than was expected, maybe even by the team itself. Nor am I slitting my wrists over the disappointment. There will be no existential post coming about the Sugar Bowl coming from me. There’s no denying what Kirby is building with this program. While it’s great to recruit like sumbitches, though, at some point that talent has to show up and prove itself all the way through a season.
That’s the lesson that Smart has to get his team to buy in the 2019 offseason.
Get The Picture 
The team seemed about as motivated to play as I was to watch. Would have been nice to win but I’m not upset. Let’s get to September.
LikeLike
I had hoped we would treat this like the first game of 2019, especially with the natty being in that same building next year.
Now I’m hoping that absolutely was not the case. Need to wash our hands of this one after Kirby hammers them for it until August.
LikeLike
It was kind surreal to listen to the pregame radio show and listen to Zeir and Hondo wax poetically how focused and prepared the team looked as they entered the Superdome and subsequently pregame warmups. They were convinced that their heads were screwed in and dialed up. This got me pumped for the inevitable blowout we were going to put on UT. Alas, they couldn’t have been more wrong. No other word than disappointing comes to my mind.
LikeLike
You’re not going to get an honest assessment from the radio team.
All the evidence from the month pointed otherwise – the coaching departures, the transfers, the flip/flops on who was going to sit this one out, the players’ social media behavior, and the inflated travel roster.
None of it pointed to a team that was dialed-in.
LikeLike
If his team was motivated to play, then the loss is on Smart completely. He seemed very avuncular and Richt-like last night in his demeanor. Maybe he is trying to protect his guys, but it seems from a spectator’s perspective they need a boot in the ass more than an arm around the shoulder.
LikeLike
I think you’re right about protecting players. The coaches weren’t perfect, but they put the team in a position to succeed and yet our guys managed to find every toe in their shoe and blast it off:
-Camarda – shit show
-Swift – 2 fumbles (yes, I know we fell on one)
– Ridley – uncharacteristic bad drop
-Holloman – 3 drops, 2 were unforgiveable
LikeLike
The things about the players you mentioned were true. But I thought the coaching on the offensive side of the ball was abysmal. Almost all night we they were rushing 5 to 8 players and we did almost nothing to counter it. Where were the quick slants or the dump offs to the tight end over the middle or even a true screen pass? The defense after the first couple of series mostly righted themselves although the tackling was not great more than it was good most all game. The offense never found a consistent rhythm. I don’t think anyone on offense had a good day whether they be players or coaches. I expected the youth on defense might pose some problems but there is no excuse for the veterans on offense either on the field or in the booth.
LikeLike
(adding to your list)
– Fromm appeared rusty at best – missing on some throws where he was money during the season
LikeLike
Eh, are we really that pissed at Camarda? fluke play on the one punt that was spectacular, followed by the shank, which was leftover from the fluke.
he was lights out the rest of the night. obviously, he had those two brainfarts, but don’t think he’s on my crap list today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s too easy and really unfair to blame Camarda on the knee. It was a bad snap, and hell, he had to catch it.
To me, this game had a very LSU feel to it. I am rational enough to yield to the actual stats, but it seemed like to me that Jake had as bad of a game as he can have, at least through the first half. The running game couldn’t get going. Swift fumbled twice that I can recall, and even though one got recovered it basically ruined what looked like was going to be a scoring drive. You can’t blame that on Chaney’s game calling. The defense did well considering the missing pieces, but overall, this was a team loss.
LikeLike
The first snap was bad. It’s not all on Camarda. Those things happen. Letting the freshman sulk and getting burned twice is a coaching issue.
We eventually got with him and he finished strong.
Offensively, there were many similarities to the LSU game. Holyfield played well and Fromm was accurate early on.
Biggest difference was the communication issues within a now-healthy offensive line. Run and pass-blocking schemes missed key defenders and we had blockers downfield on pass plays. Third down performance was decent but first down performance was terrible.
Not sure what, if anything, was happening on the Georgia sideline other than the frat party with the non-playing team members.
LikeLike
That can be done more effectively in private than publicly. Then again, there’s no spectator’s satisfaction in that, is there…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe Kirby realized that the team just wasn’t focused all week, and being embarrassed is exactly what they needed and had earned.
The worst thing that could have happened was actually somehow pulling that game out.
They have a lot of growing up to do, and sometimes being humbled is the only way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry, but saying Kirby wanted to lose this game as a lesson makes no sense. He and his staff should be embarrassed in the way they planned and prepared the team. His players should be embarrassed in the lack of focus, effort and execution.
LikeLike
You misunderstood. Not saying that he wanted to lose. But understanding that the hay was in the barn by the time the game started.
I think in an honest moment, Kirby would admit that this team lacked leadership and was incredibly unfocused for about 3/4 of the year.
There’s only so much he can do in game to correct a season’s worth of grab-ass.
Now, in the next few weeks, I want to see some Saban level ruthlessness, both with regards to some coaches, and some starters need to be put on notice that they have lost their job until they win it back.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I disagree with the 3/4 comment. Once we lost the margin for error (LSU), the team played its best football until the stupid fake punt.
I’ve thought Chaney was a mistake since the Nicholls game and he was bailed out by two incredible talents at TB and by Jake Fromm in 2017. Kirby isn’t going to fire him based on last night alone.
I do think the Fields situation has been an enormous distraction during bowl preparations.
LikeLike
Georgia has set offensive records with Chaney pulling the levers. He’s done a very good job for the Dawgs.
LikeLike
The problem is not that he can never make calls but that he FUBAR’s at the worst possible moments. And he has had exceptional talent.
LikeLike
Fact is, if our players catch balls that hit them in the hands last night, if Swift holds on to the football last night, if Swift doesn’t take half of the game to get up to speed, then the calls that Chaney was making would have worked out very well indeed. Fromm seems to get out of sorts when players start dropping footballs, and we saw that last night with some overthrows. Blaming Chaney for what happened last night misses the mark for me.
LikeLike
Could not agree more. Chaney did not drop passes, over throw receivers, or fumble.
LikeLike
We continued to try running into a stacked box and rarely tried any true play action. I’d put that on Chaney. Also, no quick slants to counter the blitz. All things we’ve done previously but didn’t try much last night. It wasn’t Chaney’s best night, nor the players.
LikeLike
Recruiting creates expectations. Expectations can be a bitch.
One of the hardest things to do for a college program recruiting elite players is get them to tune out the exterior talk about potential and assumptions about their inevitable greatness. Going blow for blow against Bama is great, but it means nothing in the next game.
Magnifying that, Kirby’s recruiting pitch in part works from the expectation that he is creating a Better Bama – all the consistency, all the success, all the platform to NFL riches and national spotlight without the Saban baggage. Saban’s 2010 team had glitches like these, but they were coming off a title – and ended the season with an outright massacre of Michigan State. And then promptly went back to back titles.
Next year, that 2018 class needs to start dominating. And 4 years in, Kirby’s front 7 should be elite in run stopping and pass rush, the foundation for the team. And they feel a mile away from that right now.
LikeLike
“And they feel a mile away from that right now”
Amen to that…..thought we upgraded in coaching, not so sure now.
Richt 32-8; Smart 32-10 now after 3 years with Smart having better talent imo. Between the call in the Alabama game and last night (& maybe LSU) it makes me question if we have bettered ourselves (coaching). Recruiting is great, but that will level off after games like this. Got to have both coaching and recruiting….not sure if we have the coaching.
LikeLike
The SEC from 2002-2005 was also the weakest it had been in my lifetime. Zook, Holtz, and past his prime Fulmer, Fran/Price/Shula, etc.
The only other team that we could legitimately say had it’s shit together for that span was LSU, and 2004 Auburn.
LikeLike
That was Richt’s best stretch, but also had gone 0-2 against Ron Zook.
LikeLike
Understood, this could be Smart’s best stretch also. We won’t know till we know. His first year there were a lot of questionable things. His second year, the senior leadership helped him get there imo….this year (above). Just saying, I’m not sold on his ability just yet.
LikeLike
The next few weeks are going to be really interesting.
Richt’s second biggest mistake was retaining coaches once it was obvious that they were underachieving. I will be interested to see if Kirby avoids the same trap.
Because we have some coaches that need the opportunity to experience success elsewhere IMO.
LikeLike
Maybe this is why Baker decided he was not going to play? Did he see half assed effort during practices and thought it was not worth risking injury if no one else game a crap.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s possible I suppose.
LikeLike
I’m gonna have to disagree with this hypothesis.
If anything DB saying essentially “if it don’t count, count me out”, spread the sense that the game wasn’t worth preparing for to the other players.
Cause, not effect.
LikeLike
Why he was allowed to stand on the sidelines is not clear to me.
LikeLike
Me either. He had already told the team he didn’t want to be a part of it any more.
LikeLike
So was it turning pro or standing on the sidelines that hurt the team?
LikeLike
There’s no way that you don’t understand how the best defensive player, standing on the sidelines, isn’t a distraction and doesn’t have a mental effect on those around him.
LikeLike
It was having someone on the team whose stated, explicit priority wasn’t winning the game. Kirby should have said “I understand and wish you the best.” (I do) and asked for his badge and gun.
LikeLike
This ^
LikeLike
Agree, it may have been one of several causes for the bad performance. Baker, as a senior leader, basically said this game isn’t all that important. Ford was at home nuzzling up on mama’s teat, Fields has created a firestorm of walking away, Tucker and Johnston were in Colorado, and many of our key guys were busy tweeting about something that could only help the opponent.
It doesn’t excuse the cruddy play by the offense (especially OL), nor the defense being decimated by injuries/desertions, but it certainly didn’t help a situation where Texas already held the high ground for motivation. Baker should not have been there, Kirby sent the wrong message there, imo. Can’t change that now, but the 2019 group had better have more heart than this 2018 bunch or winning the East is their ceiling. Everyone thinks it is all about the Jimmies and Joes, that is a great start, but it isn’t just that involved in being a champion. We had better J&Js last night, and we also did in Baton Rouge in October.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If Baker had more of a motivational effect on the team than Smart did, that’s Smart’s fault, not Baker’s.
LikeLike
I hope Smart will give the situation of players sitting out for the NFL some thought in the off season. Allowing someone who has stated that his priority isn’t the team winning to remain on the team is incredible to me.
I support the players sitting out, btw. They don’t want to be on the team anymore. Makes perfect sense. Then leave.
LikeLike
No one said he had more of an impact, but if you don’t think an AA Senior leader projected to be a 1st round pick doesn’t influence some, or minimize Kirby’s comments to a degree, you are very naive. And all he has to do is appeal to a few players to disrupt a team. Poor performance by 3-4 players can change a teams productively greatly. Just one guy out of position, or not hustling for a fumble, or missing a block, etc., etc. Football is a very interactive sport where all pieces have to work together.
LikeLike
Next year won’t be any better.
LikeLike
Well, maybe we got our inexplicable failure to show up of 2019 out of our system so we can actually arrive and play in every game next season.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s finding the silver lining in a very black cloud. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, New Year, New Me. Gonna try to look at silver linings as much as I can.
LikeLike
GO YOU SILVER LININGS!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know. It can be hard to get up for some if these exhibition games. Maybe if the playoffs expanded to…./snark
LikeLike
So it’s a tragedy to lose to a “Big 12” team but it’s the greatest thing in the world to beat one?
LikeLike
lose = bad win = good
LikeLike
Kirby could have made decisions to leave some non-contributing and disinterested players off the travel roster, but the problems popped up in front of early signing day and making these moves carries recruiting risk.
Also, a game plan needed to be developed without his DC and several of his top contributing defenders.
He decided to play for the long term and it showed last night. Kirby is also in need of an-enforcer type of coach on the 2019 staff to address the bullshit.
LikeLike
FWIW my two cents.. We were out played, out coached, out hustled, and looked like we didn’t give a shit. Texas wanted it more.. and played like it. I’m a Dawg thru and thru but I’m glad I didn’t spend a fortune to go out there to watch that. Oh well, on to next season. That was just bad.. I don’t mind getting beat, but not giving them a fight for most of the game, that I cannot abide.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This.
I had scheduled the time off of work to head to NOLA, but as soon as I saw the Baker stuff, I canned those plans and salvaged the money I would’ve spent there even if I already forfeited the money I’d have been making at work.
As soon as I saw that news and Kirby kissing his ass for sitting out, I knew the team and Kirby were treating it as a scrimmage.
Thank god I only wasted $25 on the cancelled hotel reservation.
LikeLike
As soon as I saw that news and Kirby kissing his ass for sitting out, I knew the team and Kirby were treating it as a scrimmage.
It’s a brave new world. One in which coaches are feeling their way in handling circumstances few have faced before. Kirby is guilty of some things regarding last night but he was juggling a bunch of “no win” decisions. No DC, player sitting for the draft, injuries at key positions, little(no) leadership. He’s responsible, but not sure how at fault he is.
LikeLike
$7M a year says it’s his fault. I love the guy but he’s the head coach. Whether he (or anyone else) likes it or not, the buck stops with him. Those pissing press conferences when he hem-haws around about owning the responsibility needs to stop. He’s highly paid for a reason, so I think he needs to accept the bad and the good.
LikeLike
This team is good but not as good as they will be remembered as being. They lost to the three best teams they played. They didn’t show up for two of those games. If not for the two red zone turnovers by bama that game would not have been particularly close either. They were outscored 21-0 from the end of the 3rd on. The SEC championship was within grasp winning the playoff was never a reality for this team (particularly with all the injuries on defense).
LikeLike
To be fair, if not for the two disasters from our punter followed by a fumble from a 1,000 yard rusher, this game would have been different. Thems the breaks.
LikeLike
Last night’s game was a cluster fuck all the way around. I’m embarrassed and pissed. Now I’m going to wonder which GA team is going to show up to play games. The focused one or the one that decided to phone it in? Then there is the whole Holly Rowe story about how they had threaten to pull the starters because they weren’t giving enough effort in practice! That is NOT what I want to hear on national television served with the Dawgs screwing up left and right! Geez, Louise!
LikeLike
When I heard that, I feared that what happened was inevitable. “Meaningless scrimmage” or not, you would think the motivation of not getting embarrassed on national TV when you are the ONLY game on would be enough. Apparently it isn’t. This team appears to have a wealth of talent but a HUGE deficit of leadership. The guys we lost to the NFL last year appear to have been as much if not more more important for the leadership that they provided than the talent they had.
LikeLike
This game is similar to the Alabama/Oklahoma game of several years ago when it was obvious that the Alabama players did not give a shit about being there, even with Saban scowling on the sideline. If the players don’t give a shit, then there is not much the coach can do about it. It was a big deal to Texas but not to Georgia. Having said that, my only concern with Kirby is does he have the testosterone to get rid of staff who underperform, let’s say Chaney or others as an example, or will he be gutless like Richt and hang onto a Martinez when even a 10 year old realizes it’s time for him/them to go. Selah.
LikeLike
Don’t forget Ole Miss in 2016 as another “not showing up” game
LikeLike
I found myself wondering whether every player on the team was coming off some kind of injury. Almost lamenting I didn’t have the team contract for crutches and bandages. Seems like we sent our JV squad to New Orleans.
Oh, and for those undergrad players thinking about turning pro, FUHGEDDABOUDIT! If the news I’ve been reading the last couple days is correct, there’s already something like 300 “first round” players coming out. Even the undergrad RBs from fu think they’re gonna be first rounders!
LikeLike
I would put good money on Baker getting dinged up during bowl practice and not wanting to make it public before the draft. I don’t think that affected the defense’s motivation pr performance more than Walker and Jordan Davis being out. Our run defense especially reverted to its early season softness with Davis out, and Walker getting home a couple of times (and wrapping up!) would have changed the dynamic of the game much more than Baker.
As for the offense, I got nothing. The OL, #7, #11, #8, and #9 all looked off and/or not focused. I don’t understand why we didn’t roll more with Herrien, and others that were producing. This staff has never really figured oiut how to ride the “hot hand” within a game. And as for the overall game plan and play-calling, I sure hope this is not what Chaney looks like without his (Jay) Johnson.
LikeLike
One of the things that has stood out all year has been the tackling (or lack there of). When the 2017 team got to you, they wrapped up and put you down. This year I have seen more lower the shoulder and try to just knock them down in stead of wrapping up. That was very evident last night. Guys would just bounce off and continue on their way. Roquan’s stop on 3rd down in OT last year in the Rose Bowl where he stonewalled the guy should be required viewing before every game.
LikeLike
+100
Lecounte repeatedly embarrassed himself by bouncing off a Texas ball carrier.
LikeLike
I’m afraid #2 thinks he can bring the hammer ala Thomas Davis or Greg Blue …but lacks the heft to do so at 185lbs
LikeLike
Live and learn. Bama had this happen to them. Going forward, one will find out, what will or will not happen.
The sun comes up again today and will tomorrow.
LikeLike
I’m going to go ahead and say it. Sam Pittman is a great recruiter and a mediocre coach. Our o-line is massive…and soft. His o-lines at Arkansas were massive…and soft.
Fire Chaney and let Pittman go with him.
LikeLike