That might be the epitaph for Jake Fromm’s Georgia career.
One thing I’m really curious about after watching the replay is why the coaches didn’t trust Jake more in the first half against Notre Dame when the defensive scheme begged him to put the ball up deep to take advantage of an aggressive alignment designed to clog running lanes.
If it were due a lack of trust in receivers still fairly new to the offense stepping up, okay, maybe, but it’s not like Cager and Robertson didn’t look awfully sure-handed when called upon. (For that matter, Pickens probably would have been productive had the refs enforced pass interference.)
I saw a quarterback Saturday night who was extremely accurate with his throws, even those with some distance on them, and a defense that was ripe for the deep ball. I’m not buying the narrative that forcing Fromm to throw longer passes is the way to shut down Georgia’s offense because the playcalling isn’t taking the bait. But I sure would love to see that narrative tested more often.
Get The Picture 
I wonder if that first half wasn’t overly influenced by the LSU game from last year, when it was clear that Cheney went away from the run way too quickly and never went back to it.
Yet, at the same time, about everyone in the stadium who knows football could see that the defensive alignment was crying out for at least one “shot” play in that first half from around midfield. Even if it was incomplete, the need to open up that possibility of a deep ball was needed. Second half sort of proved that.
LikeLike
Yeah. I wonder why people wonder why we continue to run the ball against stacked alignments. KS talks about manball foreverly & the game plan is obviously, and always, the same (wear the other team down). You can’t give up on the run in any circumstances in this philosophy (well, maybe if you get down by enough points)…LSU being exhibit A. I’m not saying I agree with it or like it, but isn’t “why” obvious by this point?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it was situational to some extent. They only had three possessions in the first half, and the third chewed up 8 minutes. I think they thought they could take advantage of mismatches on the edge, but Notre Dame did a good job of making sure they had numbers on the flanks, and on the rare occasions they didn’t, they tackled well. Georgia also had trouble getting bodies on them. Whether that was on Georgia’s edge blockers or the result of Notre Dame’s anticipation of the plays, I can’t say.
LikeLike
Mays in particular struggles in space. He’s fine at guard, but has some work to do at tackle. Once Wilson came in, everything was better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mays was abused on the edge the times I looked his way. Having played a good bit last year, and been the primary backup to IW all of this year, I expected more. If this is a speed issue, and it looks to be, another 12 months might not change things and we could leave him at guard. I was surprised at his performance, he was our “utility” guy but we may need someone else at tackle.
LikeLike
I could see Pickens ultimately setting a school record for most PI fouls drawn (assuming a better ref crew in future games). Even against FCS opponents, it seems like DBs have to just maul him to prevent a catch.
LikeLike
Only if they change the rule that says,
“PI can only be called against UGA. It cannot be called on any UGA opponent.”
LikeLike
I was looking for that rule myself. Apparently it is in the ACC rule book for sure. Those were not pass interference, they were muggings.
LikeLike
Here is the answer for some, including myself. Maybe we will see more of this change as the season goes on. Thinks we are better off IYAM:
” If anything, Smart was disappointed the staff didn’t put Fromm in position to take control of the game and make more decisions on his own.”
Nice article, thanks!
LikeLike
I thought that maybe we didn’t think we could handle their pass rush when they were fresh. Since they didn’t have much depth on the DL the first half game plan was to make them chase with a lot of horizontal throws. They definitely didn’t have the same steam in the second half. With a little more tempo and Simmons catching the damn punt I think we steamroll them.
LikeLike
I’ve begun to buy into the notion that Fromm is being held back by his head coach more than anything. The good news is UGA did seem to open it up more in the second half, but why it took a full half to realize that dinking and dunking for 2 yards was futile is beyond me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We get to take our refs to Tech in November, right? Apparently they don’t call pass interference in the ACC or something, and I think we’re a much different football team if Pickens, Blaylock, Robertson, et al are allowed a fair chance to catch the football without being mugged. If that’s the state of officiating in the ACC, I’d very much prefer not seeing them again for a long while.
LikeLike
If officiating makes the difference at BDS this year, something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I think they could take some of those yellow painted nerds and put them out on the field to officiate and the Dawgs would still roll.
LikeLike
We did not run a toss sweep or good ol’ student body. Same as 2017 regular season Awbarn game. That is a play made for SWIFT. It is also one of our bread and butter plays. WHY we did not run 5-7 in that game beats me. We should always have several of those called every game. I am all for running between the tackles. BUT FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING HOLY. Run toss sweeps and student bodies PLEASE.
LikeLike
I don’t think they’ve run one all year. And I don’t understand it either.
LikeLike
Dude we haven’t run a toss sweep in 2 years. No fullback = no toss sweep.
It’s sad, frustrating, etc. but you better get used to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ND was selling out to stop the run and were jumping on run plays, watch how quickly the LB’s attack the run plays. I don’t remember exactly when I think 2nd quarter a play action pass to #8 worked so well because ND was determined to stop the run. I think maybe the coaches didn’t trust the young WR’s and hopefully they will trust them more as the season progresses. The offense game plan was definitely a safe plan. The plan actually was sound, poor special teams play kept ND in the game.
LikeLike
This. When I went back and re-watched the game, on almost every play that wasn’t an obvious passing down, the ND linebackers were attacking the line immediately. Zero hesitation. Clearly ND committed to stopping the run.
If I can see it, there’s no way Coley and other assistants didn’t see it. Why they wouldn’t slide some receivers behind the linebackers is beyond me.
LikeLike
“He wasn’t afraid of the moment.”
I think that would also apply to Hot Rod
LikeLike
I have yet to see a moment too big for Cool Hand Jake. We had a couple of key TE recruits visiting Saturday, they may to commit to ND after looking at the way they featured their guy in the passing game versus our sparing looks. Seems with their LBs crashing the LOS, the middle should have been open for us.
LikeLike
So much for Kirbys statement that they had to get the ball in Cooks hands. If there is one guy who I think could have really helped is Cook especially on quick outs or sweeps. Passing to the backs became obsolete apparently. Cook is the one guy who is really dangerous in space according to Kirby. Oh, excuse me Coley loves to throw to the backs!
LikeLike