[su_spacer size=”20″] The game meant nothing to anyone other than a Georgia or a Georgia Tech fan. This was a noon kickoff, televised on one of the several ESPN secondary channels, and the broadcast booth was being occupied by Beth Mowins and Anthony Becht. Not exactly, primetime, on CBS, with “Gary and Verne” making the calls. But hey, when both teams have fallen off the radar and failed to meet even the slightest of expectations predicted by the “so-called” expert prognosticators, what should you expect? Georgia entered their final regular season game with an 8 – 3 record that has left a great deal to be desired to be sure. On the flip side, the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech have had to handle a collapse of monumental proportions, coming into Bobby Dodd for the final time in 2015 with a win/loss mark of 3 – 8.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The game had an odd feeling about it from the very beginning. There was a sense of calm from many fans’ perspectives on the Georgia side. Maybe it was because there was nothing on the line? Well, I don’t know? Is pride nothing? Is character nothing? Is commitment nothing? Hell No! It’s not nothing! Sometimes, it’s everything! And on November 28th, 2015, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, in Atlanta, Georgia, against a “hated rival”….pride, character, and commitment, were exactly that…….EVERYTHING!
[su_spacer size=”40″] THE GOOD:
[su_spacer size=”20″] Once you know who you are and establish your identity, then you can become the greatest version of yourself possible. As the seconds wound down on the 2015 regular season, that is exactly what had become of the Georgia Bulldogs. After facing the #1 team in rushing offense in America in Georgia Southern, the Bulldogs’ defense was treated to the pleasure of facing another triple option threat holding the #7 spot in rushing with an average of 261 yards rushing per game.
[su_spacer size=”10″] Although Georgia Tech was able to nibble around the edges of the Dawgs’ defense early in the game with misdirection, there is no denying Pruitt’s boys were up to the challenge of stopping the option. First and foremost, after last year’s gashing up the middle, Georgia made it a priority not to get beaten by dive plays between the tackles. Georgia Tech ran the football with eight different ball carriers; five of them toting the rock more than five times per. The Jackets best performer was Clinton Lynch, who ran the ball eight times for 78 yards and no touchdowns. Georgia’s strong performance on the defensive side of the ball held the total “Wreck” to just 194 yards rushing on 41 attempts. The Dawgs also forced three (3) turnovers in crucial situations that were instrumental in preserving a victory. Also, Tech was teetering on the verge of being shut out at home for the first time in 363 games; and Georgia was the last one to accomplish that in 1957. And although Tech couldn’t keep their bowl streak alive, they did manage to put some points on the board late in the 4th quarter. As much as the defense would have loved to pitch a shutout, their performance and leading this squad to another “W” will suffice.
[su_spacer size=”40″] THE NOT TOO BAD:
[su_spacer size=”20″] This isn’t sarcasm. The Georgia offense was not too bad on this day. Georgia’s offense found a way to play their part in this victory. For the last several years, Georgia’s offense has had to shoulder the load, scoring at a clip of over 30 points per game. Well, with the loss of production suffered by not having Chubb midway through the season and the “Human Joystick” being unavailable, Georgia again was stymied in putting up points in bunches. But, Georgia’s offensive role in this contest was pretty well designed and orchestrated; work the clock, mix the run and pass effectively, do not turn the ball over and do not put your defense in untenable positions. SUCCESS! Against a team that is a long drive, running threat such as Georgia Tech, Georgia’s ability to possess the ball for over 31 minutes was an accomplishment. Georgia neither put the ball on the turf nor did Lambert put the ball in harm’s way, so turnovers were never at issue. Schottenheimer started the Dawg’s offense off with a nice play action roll out pass showing Georgia was not going to operate in an entirely predictable manner. Lambert was nothing, if not efficient. The once Cavalier now solid Bulldog completed 18 of 25 passes for 224 yards and spread the ball around to six different receivers. The run game was equally stable with a combined total of 34 carries for 178 yards. The bulk of the load was taken by Sony Michel, who has indeed picked up the slack in Chubb’s absence. Although Georgia’s offensive unit was outscored by Marshall Morgan (UGA kicker) by a tally of 7 – 6, it was enough to bring home a victory, avenge last year’s defeat between the hedges, and finish the regular season for the Dawgs at a record of 9 -3.
[su_spacer size=”40″] THE NOT SO PRETTY (Not Quite Ugly):
[su_spacer size=”20″] The game had moments were things got a little tenuous. Georgia finished 4 for 14 on 3rd down conversions, leaving them 10th from the bottom nationally in that category. Also, the Georgia offense wasted several opportunities afforded them by the defense with the three takeaways they were able to muster. Further, clock management, wasted timeouts, short yardage failures, and penalties on the offensive side of the ball continue to call into question the organization and game time management of this team, because it has happened with such frequency.
[su_spacer size=”10″] Worry not, because the defense does get poked here a little as well. Early on Georgia was having a great deal of trouble sealing the edges and keeping Tech from exploiting areas outside the tackles. But the worst error of all was committed by one of Georgia’s most consistent defenders; Jake Ganus. Now the Dawgs would be in real trouble without Ganus’ play and leadership all year, but his “taunting” penalty on third and long gave Tech new life and led directly to Tech’s only score of the game, which prevented the Dawgs from pitching a shutout.
[su_spacer size=”10″] Special teams played reasonably well on this day, but another adventure on a kickoff should finally lead everyone on the Bulldog coaching staff to the conclusion that special teams need some special attention.
[su_spacer size=”40″] THIS IS UGLY ):
[su_spacer size=”20″] The season didn’t turn out the way most people had hoped; especially those who suit up and play. But the handling of Mark Richt’s coaching tenure by the Athletics Department and whoever handles the Bulldog’s public relations has been less than stellar. Rumors will always be a part of storylines and with the injection of social media, those rumors will, more times than not, take on a life of their own. Regardless of what may or may not take place as it pertains to the entire football program, uncertainty is the greatest of all evils and allowing rumors to fester is not beneficial for anyone.
[su_spacer size=”40″] THROW ‘EM A BONE:
[su_spacer size=”20″] Sony Michel did the Dawgs proud. After Nick Chubb had gone down, Sony became the primary ball carrier. His performance against Tech put him over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season, which is very impressive for someone who was sharing carries early in the season and was playing in an offense that was known not to be a threat stretching the field with the pass. On 4th and 1 and Georgia’s first drive, Sony burst up the middle for a 34-yard touchdown run.
[su_spacer size=”10″] Terry Godwin continued to emerge as one of Greyson Lambert’s favorite targets. Godwin caught the ball eight times for 78 yards.
Malkom Parrish and Dominick Sanders each had an interception; one to keep Tech out of the end zone and the other to end the game. The young secondary has continued its ascension and development.
[su_spacer size=”10″] James DeLoach showed great individual effort on a Yellow Jacket 4th and 1. DeLoach broke through the line and all but swallowed up the running back in the backfield stifling the drive.
[su_spacer size=”10″] Lorenzo Carter made a great play on the ball in the 3rd quarter. After Justin Thomas had completed a 3rd and 13 pass for a 1st down, Carter made a heads up play by stripping Ricky Jeune of the ball.
[su_spacer size=”40″] NO BONES ‘BOUT IT:
[su_spacer size=”20″] NOTE: ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT JUST AFTER 12 NOON ET ON SUNDAY CAME DOWN THAT MARK RICHT WOULD NO LONGER BE THE HEAD COACH OF THE UGA FOOTBALL TEAM
[su_spacer size=”20″] Georgia beat Georgia Tech. There is no way that those four words should ever be viewed as a negative! I don’t care what the record. I don’t care what the circumstance. You should never apologize for beating whoever is on your schedule. I don’t hear Dabo Swinney apologizing for beating Clemson’s in-state rival that happens to be dreadful this year, by only 5! I don’t hear Iowa apologizing for beating a majority of doormats. Rivalry games always matter and winning is always the goal. Mark Richt ends the regular season with a 9 -3 record and a 13 – 2 record against in-state rival Georgia Tech. Georgia will also extend its bowl streak to 19 straight, which is the 2nd longest active streak in the nation. The game seemed to have less drama than the circumstances surrounding it. Rumors have been swirling around the program regarding Mark Richt’s future. Over the same period, in the opposite division, Les Miles of LSU was under similar scrutiny. By the stroke of midnight going into Sunday morning, LSU had put to rest any speculation that Miles would no longer be employed by the Bengal Tigers. The University of Georgia had made no such declaration to clear the air about their head coach. We all know the numbers, and aside from a National Title and a National Title game appearance, Richt and Miles are carbon copies of one another.
[su_spacer size=”10″] Georgia’s offense scored only eight (8) offensive touchdowns in their final six games! Think about that. No amount of coaching was going to change what the Bulldogs were on offense. Georgia lost its premier running back, could not keep one of its most dynamic playmakers healthy, and did not have an SEC caliber quarterback running the show. The special teams’ play was sporadic at best. This team, in retrospect, was defensive in identity. Georgia players and coaches could have phoned it in after the way October played out, but they did not do that. So, Richt’s lessons of pride, character, and commitment seem to have stuck. And perhaps that alone should be enough for one more run…
[su_spacer size=”40″] NO BONES ‘BOUT IT.