Honestly, I was braced for another round of 2017 Cocktail Party-like gnashing of teeth over this series Saturday.
But this was all Kirby managed to muster in the post-game presser:
Concerns about the run game…
“It always concerns you. If you don’t successfully it can create problems for you. Balance is what the defense dictates you sometimes. They were dictating to us that they were not going to let us run the ball, they were going to make it difficult and try to make us throw the ball. And we did. We hit some explosive plays because of the way they were playing the run. We’re not as big and massive. We don’t have a Ben Cleveland, a Solomon Kindley, some of those guys that are massive. We are athletic. We have guys who make good IDs and put us in the right plays. But we have not been as explosive in the run game or as consistent in the run game as I would like to be. We have some hit some explosive because of the boxes they are giving us.”
Sam Pittman will be back in Sanford Stadium Saturday, but he won’t be coaching the Dawgs’ offensive line. This year’s version isn’t about mashing. As Smart noted, it’s about pulling and being athletic. ‘Cause manball isn’t where this offense is anymore. Here’s where the offense is at:
It is admittedly a work in progress, but it’s worth mentioning that Georgia’s rushing yardage totals have steadily increased over the first four games of the season (and, yes, I’m aware of the quality of the opposition). Maybe that’s why the head coach doesn’t sound like he’s losing his shit over that series, or the ground game in general.
Besides, I’m kinda hoping he was playing a little three-dimensional chess with that manball series for the Cocktail Party — you know, show Grantham a heavy set, get him to sell out on the run and then come up with something different out of the set. Hell, save it for third down, Monken!
Get The Picture 
The line actually did its job on the 4th down play. They got enough push to get it, but Fitzpatrick got whipped, and it killed the play.
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Haven’t looked at it since Saturday, but if I recall that was a DL Carter blocking who completely ignored/whiffed on a free man who slanted in to make the tackle, or at least assist greatly by the ankles.
One of those negatives that can occur when you do odd things with players out of position. I’d rather bring in another OL at 315 who knows how to move and block.
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I rewatched it to make sure I had it right. Fitzpatrick was pushed back into Carter trying to lead the play.
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I thought I saw Jordan Davis at left tackle or guard too (and Jalen Carter @ “FB”? Picking nits, and I get the fun aspect of DL guys on a scoring play, but yeah I’d rather our regular OL be used on 4th down there.
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I’m fine with it. It was a regular offensive player who got beat, after all. Davis’s block was serviceable.
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It seemed like Stetson went on first sound, but the left-side wasn’t ready when it was snapped. Could have contributed to Fitzpatrick losing his one-on-one.
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The whole stadium knew what play was coming.
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I still think the gators drop one of their next 3. They’ll obviously handle Vandy, but Kentucky and LSU are both away. They looked meh against Tenn AT HOME, let’s see them face some adversity in a hostile environment.
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Kentucky will have to at least come out neutral on turnovers to have a chance, and I don’t know if they can do that.
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Yeah, Bluto’s previous post of them being -9 in turnovers is a bad trend, but bad trends have to stop sometime. I just have the felling EmJo is going to give a few away on Saturday. First road game after the close loss to Bama and the poor showing at home against UT, it sets up nicely.
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Everything I’ve read points to Jones having his best game against TN?
I’m willing to bet the the other kid, Richardson?, will have a package for us.
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Yeah, he’s due for a bad game, too 😀
I agree; if Richardson is healthy, we will see him. He’s looked great against competition only slightly more challenging than air. Hammies are tricky to rehab during the season; I’m betting they want to hold him back until Jax. Here’s hoping EmJo cooperates and stinks it up enough to get pulled this weekend or the weekend after next.
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If you have a couple RBs on the level of Chubb and Sony, substituting frequently is fine. Right now, I’m not a fan of the RB by committee approach. I’d prefer we go with Zeus as the lead pony, and put others in when he needs a rest.
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Zeus runs hard as hell straight ahead. He may be the hardest running back we’ve had in years. But I don’t see many instances of him making cutbacks, finding holes where the play wasn’t designed to go, using his vision. We got so spoiled with Gurley, Chubb, Sony, Swift. Zeus is a bad man and I wouldn’t want to have to tackle him but we need more big plays out of someone. I’m hoping Milton gets healthy and we keep giving him more chances.
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I’ve seen Zeus run with much more vision this season, making great cuts to find a seam. Or if the seam isn’t there, then just making his own. I’d love to see Zeus turned loose for a series or two so he can get lathered up.
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I’ve always been bothered by their RB management of frequent substitution. We need to settle on 2+ guys and give them the lion’s share of the touches.
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I agree. Watching Hunt and Chubb feast during the Browns game yesterday was so thrilling to watch. Reminded me of peak Sony + Chubb days. We don’t ride the hot hand like we used to because no RB has time to get hot.
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I had to watch the Falcons, really wanted to see that bears game.
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Bowers and Washington on the field together is a DCs nightmare
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I suspect we will find out Saturday
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Running it three times there was a win-win. If we get in, then we show that we can put it in regardless of how many the defense lines up inside. If we don’t get in, then we have a great motivational point going forward.
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It was a bad look regardless
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I agree that Monken was setting up future DCs, one in particular who I won’t name but his initials are Todd Fuckn Grantham.
FTMF.
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It’s frustrating seeing condensed formations. This isn’t those teams. I think we can run, but we can’t with everyone packed in, and we can’t between the guards. It’s going to have to be spread people out, and get to the edge.
Again with this: Matt Luke has shown me absolutely nothing. He’s a good ole boy and he sucks.
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Nothing? Have you not been watching the pass pro?
Jesus, there were plays Saturday when Bennett had enough time to compose a short story because of a complete lack of pressure.
UGA is fifth nationally in sacks allowed.
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Ok, maybe you’re right. We’ll see how it plays out.
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Pass protection Saturday and past has been a bright spot, plus, it really shows when the UGA QB looks left, looks over the middle, orders a pizza, looks right and then looks left again to find a receiver to throw to is really something to see…and it occurred play after play…
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And Arkansas not too far behind – perhaps a point to watch Saturday is which O-line comes out of the game with its lofty ranking…
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Agreed. He’s shown me nothing as well.
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Our run game seems to always get better as the season progresses and blocking improves in any year. Also, with JT’s downfield passing (honestly Stetson’s too), I think few teams will be able to load the box. This is a year when we should see the least resistance to the run in the Kirby era so far.
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The reverse to Bowers play is now the ultimate power in the universe.
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I’m not bitching…I actually like having a first down and it not being a 100% probability it would be a run play…so far, we’ve run it when we’ve “needed” to run it…pass protection is good, party on Garth.
“I welcome the newness of balance “ ether Siddhartha or maybe Charles Bronson, can’t remember
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I was pleased to see a lot of Broderick Jones at LT.
will he start on Saturday? I think so.
#55 for Arkansas was fast off the edge. Hopefully Jones is athletic enough to keep him at bay.
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He won’t start for that very reason. 55 is their best pass rusher and Jones doesn’t look completely ready yet.
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Ain’t nuffin’ like 5 running backs with fresh legs going into November and December!!
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Re:Shifty. The play from about the 5 in Q1 (I think) when we forced Vandy to take a TO was a great representation of this and the options/players we have. We had James and Kenny in the backfield then shifted to a 5 wide set forcing Vandy to call the TO. We have those same options with Bowers (really, a jet sweep to a TE?) and will with Washington too. A D’s ability to personnel match is really limited because of the multiple talents of these skill players and Monken’s use of them
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Well dang! Kirby’s starting to sound like he’s actually evolved into the modern era. Being content with explosive passes because that’s what the defense is giving you is a long way from the 2019 decision to repeatedly run into the teeth of a loaded box just to prove you can rush the ball.
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Speaking of Pass Protection…one Dawg Protecting another…
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Sony for the win! So glad he’s teamed up with Stafford this season.
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