Kirby knows that we know that he knows ($$)…
Smart said emphatically after the game that the Bulldogs should be able to get that short yardage. On Monday, he was asked more specifically how they can do it. He wasn’t going to tell future opponents any changes the coaches might make but went into the thought process.
“I mean, you be creative,” he said. “You have to sit and think, ‘Are we in the best personnel grouping to do it? Are we giving it to the right side? Are we attacking the weakness of the defense?’ There’s all kinds of things that go into it. Where are their best players, where are our best players?”
Like I said, he knows telegraphing the play with heavy personnel sets over and over again and then jamming the ball straight into defensive alignments set to flood the A and B gaps is likely to be a failing strategy against SEC opponents, and yet Georgia keeps doing it, with the same results. Is he crazy, or crazy like a fox?
So were the more predictable run-up-the-middle calls a simple belief that Georgia should be able to do it or a case of holding back a call to use in the postseason? Smart wasn’t going to say so, obviously.
The problem I have with a Kirby Smart, 3-D chess grandmaster theory here is that the Dawgs have so many goal line options — Bennett read option keepers, passes to a couple of gifted tight ends, coming out in spread formations to give the backs more room to maneuver are just a few things to come to my non-Monken mind — that it seems like non-stop manball is a complete waste of strategic effort. Think I’m gonna have to go with the “Georgia should be able to do it” theory of the crime. Your mileage may vary, of course.
Get The Picture 
The whole short yardage stuff — and the pulling back of the offense generally in anything that approximates weather that isn’t crystal clear, sunny, and 72 degrees — is very frustrating. It feels very 2019 — a Coley-like performance.
Kirby needs to get back to letting Monken call plays.
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Friend, I have good news about MB Stadium…
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Yes, indeed. My concern is that the “Man Ball Mentality” may not dissipate quickly enough.
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My new theory is that once or twice a year (and maybe more if it rains) Kirby just does this shit to test his Offensive Line’s toughness. He’d like to know if this were a playoff game (against TCU?) or another Defense designed to stop the spread if we can just overpower them.
We wouldn’t be worrying about this if Edwards had just followed Carter’s block on one of those plays that got stuffed when he went the other way. Would have walked into the end zone.
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Not a bad theory. I think sometimes, too, that Kirby runs these plays with each of the backs to see who can run it well. As best I can tell from this year, the answer is “no one, right now.”
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Right on JDD… Edwards and Milton both veered away from Carter to run up SVPs a$$…
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It’s maddening and it’s very nearly the only area of play that still causes me to grind my teeth and swear profusely. At Kirby.
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It’s Kirby being stubborn (and stupid). He can’t completely shake his inner manball loving self.
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Strategically, I understand the decision to go for it (didn’t agree with it at the time, but it wasn’t like the fake punt or FG calls we’ve seen Kirby make). Calling the exact same play twice in a row was maddening. Try the heavy formation with a play-action pass on 3rd down. If it doesn’t work, spread the field on 4th down (in 13 personnel) with some kind of check with me based on SBIV’s pre-snap look.
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Right. OK, you want to go for the TD to put the game away? I can live with that choice. Now, do what you have to do to score the TD. Set aside your ego and salt the game away.
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Maybe running Carter out into the flat to catch a wide open TD is coming when we need it? Shit I don’t know.
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Every time I see Carter trot out there for heavy personal I think of Charles Grant. I can’t help it. I can’t stand to see it.
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Like this one, in 2020 against Tennessee?
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Yup
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He caught one last year.
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How much clock did we run? Yeah, I think it’s a strategy.
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None when it was fourth and goal at the start of the 4th quarter.
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11-0…and whiners. D, JD
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This is a football blog…
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A. 4th and 1 Vs Ohio State in mid January with .02 on the clock I hope we see the reason why. A collective “Kirby you mad genius” from the bulldog nation.
B. Or he just can’t stand not being able to overpower a D line for one yard. It just eats him up inside.
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B. Definately B
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Really thought we shook this problem earlier this year. No doubt we wanted to score on Ky there but truly was it a good time to show our best play or even another option from that formation? I think not.
Don’t forget it also gives Kirby more amo in the next two weeks to let the line know they couldn’t push it in from the 1 with two plays to do it!!
We can play jump ball with Big O when we really need it!
If your going to call Monken a genius roll with it!
In Monken I trust!
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He’s only a genius when he succeeds in the precise way everyone expects. 😉
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I assume you mean Oregon!
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Yeah, well, they get that 2 point conversion and the pucker factor goes through the roof.
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The only thing I’m holding to is that it very well could be that he and Monken are holding on to some moves because they just haven’t had to use them. If you line up and show man-ball all year long and then get into a play-off game or Natty and your down on the goal line – then maybe then you do something you haven’t done all damn year – release Washington right over the middle or a quick crossing pattern – that has been there all season.
Have to believe that – I mean how can you call so a good game from our goal line to the 10 yard line and then suddenly become Jim Chaney?
Answer: you don’t
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Well, for one thing it’s immensely more difficult to score inside the 10 yard line than to churn out the other 90 yards on the way there.
But I have to agree with the Senator. There are a million different ways to skin this cat, so if they’re scared to give anything away, just choose the 10th best option and go with that.
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Yup, I just meant from a creativity stand point – I think they are still holding a LOT of cards to their vest – been no reason to play them, with many involving multiple tight end setss
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I struggle to buy this rationale. What are we gaining really at this point when we have an entire season on tape already. Scoring TDs by any means should be the priority. Also you can hold your cards close to your chest and still employ a little creativity at the goal line if running it up the middle for the 8th time isn’t working. There’s a whole lot you can do between emptying out the playbook and manball to get a single yard when you need one.
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More than fair.
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Kirby is a friend of them long haired hippy-type, pinko fags. I bet he’s even got a Bama flag tacked up on the wall inside of his garage. He’s a snake in the grass, I tell you guys. His name may be Smart but that’s a disguise. He’s a mastermind in the ways of espionage.
Agent Smart the Tide calls him.
Fire his ass before he causes real damage to our University. The hard headed muthafuka will never learn.
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HT CDB
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There it is, Ben.
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I bet he drives a hippy van with 4 on the floor too. The F150 commercials are another smoke screen.
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Monken is setting something up for later. At this point, that’s all I’ve got.
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Kicking the FG on 4th and goal to go up by 3 scores seemed like the biggest no-brainer on Earth to me.
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what smart coach isn’t watching all this also thinking, okay what sneaky thing would they try here since it’s been set up a million times as a run in the middle?
sneaking out the tight end?
pass in flat to carter?
stetson boot?
i mean you have to be prepping your defense to spy these things. i just dont see why we think uga fans are the only ones capable to see monken is setting something up for later
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I go back to Stoops. If he and Brad actually had that conversation, it tells you something. They were worried about the potential misdirection… but Stoops decided it was definitely ManBall time. Other coaches and coordinators will likely have that same convo, and it could well be that the call may change depending on which personnel grouping is on the field.
And if it does, and we score a touchdown, we can rest assured it was because Kirby finally learned some decent football strategy from the fine commenters in the blogosphere. 😉
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Number 1 in the country. Undefeated. Doing it after losing a record number of players to the draft. Yet here we are doubting the guy. SMDH.
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Gosh, I’m sorry. I guess I should just post once a week, listing the game score and call it a day.
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LOL, I’m talking more about the posters here myself.
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Man, they’re just carrying on the Munson tradition. If you’re a Georgia fan, trouble is always waiting around the corner. 😉
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Dude, do we even have an answer for…(checks the Google machine)…Henry Freer???
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No, but when you detect a chink in Kirby’s armour you like to post about it ad nauseum. Yeah, he makes mistakes. They all do. Do you need to make a Freudian analysis about it?
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LOL. You make it sound like I’m the only one doing it.
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Q
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Agree, I for one, don’t get it.
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I’m not doubting him. I just think he and Monken made a mistake in this case. If the defense comes in and gets a 3 and out after the failure on the 1 and we score on the next possession, no one is talking about this. They didn’t and the game became much more uncomfortable as a result.
This was a case where Kirby went away from complementary football.
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Even if I believed the 3-D chess, saving something for later theories (which I don’t), wouldn’t it be just as beneficial to show a variety of plays in short yardage situations? That way your opponent has more things to worry about and prepare for. It’s a difference of having a tendency and breaking away from it when your opponent least expects it versus having no tendencies and leaving your opponent not knowing what to expect.
And Stoops said in his post-game presser that he had a feeling Kirby was going to try and run it down their throats there, just knowing Kirby’s mentality. See about the 11:30 mark of the video below. So at this point it’s Kirby’s tendency to go for it there in that situation and judging by his own post-game comments he knows it.
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This probably will be met with eye rolls but….
I think he does it to teach his offensive line that they need to work harder. Seriously.
If he gets the first down and/or TD, great. If not there’s no better way to show them they need more work.
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We finally have a winner. This 3D chess stuff is just ridiculous. He wants the o-line to get a yard. And if they don’t, he can show them they need to block better to get a yard.
This is the essence of manball. And I have to tell you guys, this is who Kirby is and will always be. I have no problem with it. He wins.
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Agreed Jared S. Nothing motivates a competitor as much as getting his ass beat.
Still, Kirby has more confidence than I. He got that W.
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It is nothing more than this. He said so! Monken told us earlier he has one job…score points. Kirby overrode the play call options and challenged the OL…and subsequently the D…to man up. Bad execution. Film room and practice time. Expect to see it vs the gnats, but then Monken will be in charge for trophy games.
Unless Kirby feels he needs to send another message. THAT is his style.
BTW…Carter went right and shoved his man 5 yards deep into the endzone, but our RB did not follow him. On the 3rd down try, if Stetson keeps he walks in on the left side. Seems the play call was very specific…up the middle, between the guards.
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I can believe this.
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The rational behind the play call is irrelevant. Fact is, everybody seems to have figured out the tailback dive on the goal line. Your move, Kirby!
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This. If you don’t score, all the reasons are nothing more than lame excuses and bullshit.
Fess up and admit the mistake rather than blame the players for a dumb call.
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I know I’m hard headed but I have a hard time believing Kirby went to the trouble of hiring Monken, got him a nice raise after last year, openly admitted 2019 against LSU was his come to Jesus moment with himself about offense, but then won’t let Monken run the show the way he wants. We will find out because if that’s how it is I doubt Monken hangs around much longer.
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Anybody think this marriage is working pretty well?
One loss in two years a Natty and heading back to SEC Championship as a 15 pt favorite!
Monken is getting lessons everyday in how to build a winning team and motivate players! ( payoff will be in 10’s of millions $$$$$)
Kirby is getting an offensive mind that can dial up an offense to take advantage of our strengths and exploit the weaknesses of our opponents.
They both make great halftime adjustments.
Kirby is the lead Dawg so things are naturally going to bend his way (man ball)
WIN the damn game, Develop your talent, get the best damn Talent that fits in your program !
That is the three legged stool that supports this historic run.
PS I was in Lexington, that was no day to air it out, period.
Just Win Baby! Now: Tuck Fech!!!
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Usually, somewhere around 4:20, my inner Munson gets medicated, mon. This offense this season has relaxed me and comforted me…transcended my old manball ways…don’t worry…cause everything is going to be alright
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“Little”
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Whatever gets you over the hump, FD. I’m digging Leonid and Friends today.
🎵Should I try to do some more? 25 or 6 to 4.
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Gotdam hippies.
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🤣
Eurotrash gotdam hippies.
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Leonid and Friends? Shit you must be in a mellow mood today…that’s basically elevator music…Chicago style. When I think of RR…I envision AC/DC
We need to get fired up to demolish the gnats…Kirby and Monken are on the mutha
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Oh yeah! That’s my theme song. I prefer Bon Scott’s version; but, that’ll do.
Thanks FD.
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Just float it to Darnell like a point guard hitting his big man posting up…. up and away from wherever the defender is, and let Darnell just box him out.
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It’s the easiest call to make in the world. You’ve got two absolutely deadly tight ends. Pick your poison, Kirby!
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Sucking in short yardage when we have a versatile RB1, two TEs who can chip and catch short throws, and a QB who can fucking run is baffling to me. Like going to a buffet and filling up on the rolls.
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I have a feeling none of this will matter come the playoffs, but still, it’s just baffling in real time.
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I bet that the Oline is feeling it today as they are being “instructed” on how to drive block. Bloody Tuesday is here, buckle up you chin straps Oline.
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Something else we haven’t hit on here, with Kirby’s “you gotta be able to get a yard” mentality….
Injuries happen at any moment.
The next time we have 4th and goal at the 1, we might be without Brock and/or Washington. We might not have Stet in the game. You have to be able to trust your OL to get you that yard.
Trusting his team to be able to get that yard is the backbone of Kirby’s philosophy, and there is no greater instructor than failure.
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Good point.
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My old roomdog, Cunningham, says the best feeling in the world is almost fucking up. Almost.
Kirby must be feeling pretty good about now.
😉
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I like that. Im gonna use it!
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Roomdawg. Love it. Takes me back to Athens and living on Morton off Five Points. I thought me and my roommates (and some Theta Chi brothers) were the only ones who used that term of affection. Glad we were wrong.
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We lived in the granite house across from the Putt Putt on Lexington. Great place. Couldn’t hear the traffic as granite is a great insulator of sound though not temperature. Alternatively our music was inaudible outside. 3 separate stereo systems hooked together and you couldn’t hear a damn thing if we had the doors closed. We were evicted at the end of spring quarter ‘83. Landlord sold the place and house was torn down immediately.
That lot is still empty near 40 years later.
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10 hours “surf fishing” with out a bite. I did catch the biggest sand flea I ever seen. I was using live shrimp and fish bites but some pomps were caught on frozen sand fleas so I may give that a shot. It was chilly with a north wind but got up to 70 before the clouds rolled in. Good day all-in-all.
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Still a better day than working! The week gets progressively warmer. I’m thinking about heading to the Gulf fishing soon. Filled half my venison quota Sunday. Deer liver, onions and gravy for breakfast yesterday. Fried venison tenderloin biscuits for breakfast this morning. The rest is aging in the deerferator.
Tight lines, I84!
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That playcalling against Kentucky was too bad to not be intentional. It’s almost like Kirby wanted to keep the team humble and creates spot challenges as a tool for doing so. It seems dumb to think that they he’d walk away from easy points, but when you’re confident and you really understand what you have in the team, I could see a coach doing that. It was the same with shutting it down against Tennessee. We could’ve hung 50 on that defense too even in the rain, but Kirby seems to be playing chess with his team as much as with his opponents.
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Rap’n Kirby response: 🎼 All I do is win win win…
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Why would Kirby pick that point in a game to challenge the Oline? Isn’t that what is supposed to be going on in practice all Spring and Fall? We have a great Dline, isn’t that enough challenge every day in practice? Our Dline is certainly better than Kentucky’s. Game day is for winning, not for making a point.
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He probably figured if it worked against Alabama in Indy it should work against Kentucky.
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Kirby views most games as training exercises. He hasn’t said it directly but you can see it in the game plan as it develops on the field. He has said numerous times that he has better players and he uses the season to develop them into monsters. Kentucky was a great opportunity to develop toughness; so that’s what we did. We went out and did the hit; now go to the film room for the AAR; then out to the practice field this week to tighten up shot groups of the weak areas. Sometimes you let the Iraqis run the mission even though they aren’t the best option because everyone needs confidence targets and you can always bring in the AC130 to clean up if necessary. Sometimes it gets a little dicey (see COMO) but usually it works out because you’re bringing pipe hitters and they are swinging a stick. Shit was truly real twice or three times this season; those opponents got an explosive breach followed by a lear jet swat team…Ask UT or Oregon how it feels.
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Yea, we had Charlie outgunned too, how’d that work out?
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Love your analogy, CTCI.
I84, I’ve come to realize that US military actions are not always about winning. Feeding the military-industrial complex is the goal. (That’s not necessarily a bad thing.) When you got a guy such as Ike warning the entire country you’d think someone would believe him.
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If there’s one thing I learned from being the boss in some capacity since I was a chap is no matter how successful you are there will always be someone prepared to pounce on your decisions and it’s best to listen. Hell, you might learn something.
Never forget that you’re the boss.
Until you ain’t.
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