Faithful reader Nick emailed me with this question yesterday:
If Josh Allen of UK is the top edge rusher in the draft, why did he disappear against UGA? His official stats were unimpressive and my memory of the game was that he was a non-factor. PERHAPS the only elite line he faced? Worth a conversation?
Well, with two fumble recoveries that kept his team in the game early on, I wouldn’t say Allen completely disappeared, but with only three tackles and zero sacks, he certainly didn’t dominate Georgia the way he took over Kentucky’s game against Florida.
As to why, I’d say, yeah, the offensive line certainly played a part, but the game plan may have played an even bigger one. Fromm only had twenty passing attempts; meanwhile, the Dawgs ran the ball fifty times for 331 yards. That’s definitely the way to keep a pass rusher from being a factor.
Georgia was definitely focused on Allen and Snell and did a solid job grounding both. I do think Allen in particular is a special talent who will excel at the next level, but in college there’s only so much a kid like that can do facing a loaded team like Georgia when he’s not surrounded by a lot of talent.
Anybody else want to pitch in here with a take?
Get The Picture 
I think both the fumble recoveries came on bad snaps, right? They were more “right place, right time” plays then “Jarvis Jones is coming for your soul” plays.
Kirby schemed for him. That’s proof that he’s good and I think he will be a fixture on Sundays. But he got nothing more than what was given to him against UGA.
LikeLike
Well he did win quite a few awards. He won the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and was the SEC defensive player of the year. There’s know doubt he’s fucking good
LikeLike
Think you nailed it. More than twice as many rushes as passes – does two things. Obviously limits the number of opportunities for a pass rusher. But just as important, even on the pass plays you do run, the pass rusher is still having to think about defending the run first, so may be less quick trying to fire off the line because the threat of the run is in the back of his head.
Not to totally discount our OL either, they played great that game, it was because of them that we could rush it so many times. But if we’d had to throw it 30-35 times to try to win that game, I’m guessing Allen would have been a much bigger factor.
LikeLike
The key is your phrase “when he’s not surrounded by a lot of talent”. Yes, you can scheme around a player to diminish their effectiveness, but that success still depends on them having other vulnerabilities you can have your way with. Football is the ultimate team game, we can all see an individual dominate a basketball game, or a pitcher take over a baseball game, but in football one person can only have singular impact on one, or several, plays.
Kentucky had 2 significant players on their team, one on each side of the ball, so we had success neutralizing their skills. It is why I really like this 2019 UGA team’s chance to succeed, it is like whack-a-mole on both offense and defense. Just need good health, and a focused team attitude to get us in position to roll into Atlanta in December.
LikeLike
“there’s only so much a kid like that can do facing a loaded team like Georgia when he’s not surrounded by a lot of talent.”
nope, you pretty much got it right…..now, the Texas game is a whole different story. I hope they are reminded of it every day.
LikeLike
Texas is a better team than they are getting credit for. I’ll be surprised if they aren’t top 10 this year.
LikeLike
Think so too, but it was obvious to me that the dawgs were just going thru the motions that game. Never should have happened, would have rather them just sit at home than come in with a half-ass effort like that.
LikeLike
Fuck Texas… seriously? you done lost your mind
LikeLike
Sure, fuck ’em. But they have a good coach, a good QB, and strong lines on both sides of the ball. I’m not a fan, but they are one to keep an eye on. To your other point: Oklahoma gets good damn mileage out of retread QB’s, don’t they? And they have a good one for their offense in Hurts.
LikeLike
Okay I’ll give you that. Good point. Not sure about the D line the O line ok maybe and the QB??. I’m not sure. So maybe they’ll do good but I wouldn’t put money on The Texas Longhorns
LikeLike
You should be more worried about Oklahoma
LikeLike
I agree. Texas scared me last year even before we didn’t show up. But they were a young team that had trouble focusing at times during the season. I expect that problem to diminish this season, and they will be a top 10 team. Maybe they’ll win the Big12, go to the playoffs and we can extract a little revenge.
LikeLike
Mizzou’s DT Terry Beckner more than held his own against our OL. I’m surprised I haven’t seen his name come up in mock drafts.
LikeLike
Cause he’s not that good. He’s slow he doesn’t really have the skills and talent it takes to get to the NFL. Yes he did do good against us. But he’s really not a important and irrelevant. I hope does get drafted. I wish him well
LikeLike
I watched a YouTube video of him and also recap the game he played in against us he’s not very good. So I don’t know why you think he’s important? Now maybe I’m missing something with this DT from Missouri I don’t know
LikeLike
The best way to negate a great pass rusher is to run the ball effectively. We saw it in Lexington against Josh Allen. I go back to 2012 when Jarvis Jones was one man wrecking crew in that first half against Bama. Finally, Saban had enough and they started running the ball effectively to negate Jones’s impact on the game.
LikeLike
Ran it right at him. Isaiah Wilson owned him that day. A freshman.
LikeLike
And not just the tackles. We left Nauta 1-on-1 with Allen and still had success.
LikeLike
Isaiah is a bad man. He and Andrew Thomas have to be a top 3 duo of offensive tackles.
LikeLike
I think the game plan had a lot to do with it. I’m very hopeful that Coach Coley will show the same willingness to limit the passing game and go to the run when that’s what is best suited to attack a defense. I love the fact that Coley loves to throw the ball…. but you’ve got to do what’s best for the game.
LikeLike
I’m going to sit back and wait to see how Josh Allen fairs in the NFL. As Nick Chubb said about playing in the NFL (and I’m paraphrasing),’ in college you prepare for that one guy. In the NFL, all the players are that guy.’ So, I think he’s in for a big adjustment. All the best to him, though.
LikeLike
Andrew Thomas makes great pass rushers look average at best. He and Isiah Wilson are pretty terrifying.
LikeLike