Week's Sports

Thursday, November 3, 2011

UF Students Caught in The Act

Wonder if they were doing it Dawgy style?

"Well, it was kind of funny in a way, but it was kind of crazy coming in here and doing that, especially on a picnic table where everyone eats lunch," said Mark Lopez, who works at the construction site. "Yeah, it bothers me. People come in a place like this and do that."

Dude, your picture is on the internet.

TD

(h/t @celebrityhottub)

3 Questions: New Mexico State

Less questions, more random musings:

Do we get anywhere close to 100 yards rushing with traditional plays? For my money, we simply open up the pass playbook and go to town. I know it isn't in Richt's nature to run the score up, but New Mexico State is allowing over 32 ppg. Their passing defense isn't terrible (mid 60's in the nation), but they don't exactly defend any one type of passing team well. Yes, we'll run some. Especially with a couple of the trick plays. However, it would be a good game to get the rust off of some of the plays we've been missing on.
Can we get a shut out or at least hold them to 10 or fewer points? I don't see it without the ability to run the ball. Strong defense and time of possession are chicken and egg propositions. But it would be very difficult to run a pass first offense and get a shut out against a pass first offense. The one thing NMSU does well is pass the ball. They are going to move it down the field. Unless we really play lights out pass rush and have 4+ ints, I just don't see it.
Letdown? I know, I know. Florida was an emotional high. We have Auburn next week. I look for the stadium to be 75% full at kickoff. Hopefully, the leaders on the team will step up and lead. It is too much for me to think we'd lose, but God I hope we don't end up in a Utah State at Auburn deal with these jokers.

For my money, we win by three TDs, but who knows.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

More Defensive Stats

More stats on the defense's dominance vs. the offense/special teams self inflicted gunshot wounds.

Scoring Defense: 20.4 pts/gm
Scoring Defense MINUS 7 TDs allowed by Off/Special Teams: 14.3 pts/gm

That's a stunning 6.1 points per game in miscues. The damage comes from:

INT – 2 (SC and MSU)
Fumble – 1 (SC)
KO Return – 2 (UF and Vandy)
Punt Return – 1 (Ole Miss)
Fake Punt – 1 (SC)

More defensive stats can be found here and here.

PWD

So, we have some dudes that are suspended. That isn't extraordinary. That it is three running backs is. That is also life, except when it isn't life at nearly half of schools in DI (h/t Blutarsky). That number includes at least 10 other members of the SEC (including Texas A&M) and Georgia Tech. In case it gets posted to the SEC website again today, Mizzu also doesn't penalize for the first test.

I honestly have no idea if the test results were known before the Florida game. It is hard for me to believe they were considering the line Coach Richt has consistently taken on player suspensions. It is a disingenuous, at best, for any fan of any school that has a more lax policy to be outraged at any actions of a school that has a tougher policy. There is no moral high ground when you are not on moral high ground. Furthermore, if failed drug tests are what led to the suspensions, it also illustrates the lengths Georgia drug testing policy goes to, testing at least three of the four scholarship RBs in a RB focused offense. Of course, all of this is circumstantial, and therefore based on my suppositions.

Finally, I admit I am a Georgia homer. Hell, the name of the blog should indicate that. I also can admit when I am wrong. It would, frankly, shock me if I am. I wish others, especially those that write for less subjective outlets, would be, you know, less subjective.

TD
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For Further Reading:
-Bradley: I trust Richt and McGarity. (AJC)
-Weiszer: Richt Defends His Integrity (ABH)

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

At Least Smith Can Play Offense Now

I guess there will be no worries about that. Hell, Branden can wear 24 and 30, too.

Time for the Nick Marshall show.

Florida Review

So, it has been three days and 300 miles. I did re-watch it, but didn't get too much more from the experience, except the abject joy of seeing disappointed Gator fans leaving the stadium.

The Good:

The defense.
Honk your horn if you sacked Brantley Saturday night.
Jarvis Jones, honk your horn a bunch.
Bullgoat sized balls on three different must have play calls: Two fourth down TD passes and Murray's first completion in 10 attempts for first down to keep a drive alive.
A manhood robbing 9 play, 58 yard, 5:32 drive to end the game.
Give Richard Samuel a high four for his best rushing game, not statistically, but actually, of his career. He ran hard, with purpose and looked to punish the defense. That is what we've been looking for from you Mr. Samuel.
Offensive line's run blocking.
Aaron Murray running the football.
Michael Gilliard quietly leading the team in tackles. Again.
The defense.
Georgia playing like they own the series, probably for the first time since 1989.

The Bad:

Drew's punting. Gotta have you back, big guy.
Allowing a TD on 4th and 19. Ogletree had a monster game, but no way you can allow a receiver to get that open on that play.
Falling for the one play you knew they would run to open the game. Mad props on keeping it from happening again.
QB and receivers not on the same page. I get some of that is the clown cop car full of WRs we keep pulling into the stadium (we've had 17 players, approximately 1/5th of the roster, catch a pass this season; we have five guys with double digit receptions), however, when it happens on back to back plays from inside the opponent's 20, that has to be fixed.
I toyed with putting Walsh's performance further down, but his problems are fixable. He is getting plenty of leg on the ball, he is just pushing it right. Consistently.

The Ugly:

Scary special teams play.
Kickoff coverage. Just have Walsh kick it out of bounds. I agree with Blutarsky that it was worse on TV. Guys didn't contain lanes, and even worse, ran to a spot on the field and stopped.
I miss Fabris [insert sounds of power puking].

I am sure I missed some good and bad stuff. Overall, I am always happy with a win in Jacksonville. To me the most impressive thing of this game was coaching. We outcoached the Gators. We played like a team that never thought it was going to lose. We played hard, made defensive and offensive adjustments to win.

When is the last time you could say that at all?

Stats: Defensive Improvement

Todd Grantham: Image by Jim Hipple
If you're looking to pinpoint the exact areas where the defense has improved the most, here are some stats to shed light on the issue:

All of those stats lead to the Godzilla Stat of the Season so far...

The scoring defense is down almost two points per game overall, and it's down almost four points per game in SEC contests. Both numbers would be better if it weren't for special teams and offensive TDs. Which bring us to the bad news.

Fix the special teams, and the defense will look even better as the field gets longer for the opposition.

All stats via CFBStats.com the absolute best college football stat site on the web.

PWD