Topics for Discussion // 09.13.09

1. I thought both Carolina and Georgia’s offenses were underrated going into this game. That was probably more true of Carolina, who actually played an efficient game against N. C. State offensively but got blasted by the media due to failing to put more points on the board. Carolina has a good quarterback, a good line, and some good running backs. The missing piece after last night seems to be receiver, but hopefully that will come around. Georgia’s offense is loaded at every position except one. Unfortunately, that’s quarterback, and it’s going to hurt Georgia this year. Cox played better than I expected last night, but let’s face it, the guy’s a senior. He’s not going to get any better, and if Georgia thinks he’s the best they’ve got, then the backups must not be anywhere near ready. Other than Cox, though, the ‘Dawgs have the tools to have a great offense. Their line, Richard Samuel, and A. J. Green are all solid. They’ll also be getting Caleb King back in gear soon, which will give them one of the conference’s best backfields.

In other words, I think you’ll see these two teams continue to play well but not great on offense. Neither is as bad as the first week indicated.

2. The Carolina-UGA score was more surprising. While I thought the offenses would play better this week, I did expect more defense and less wackiness. The Auburn score shouldn’t have surprised anyone that payed attention to what they did last week. Mississippi State isn’t significantly better than Louisiana Tech, so it makes sense that Auburn would put up similar numbers against them. Plus, I think people are going to have to disabuse themselves of the idea that this Auburn team is going to be like last year’s version. They may not end up being great, but the talent is there for an eight- or nine-win season, and whatever you may think about Chizik, he brought in some good assistants.

3. Emphatically, yes. They won’t put up these circus numbers against better teams, but this time last year they were struggling to put up 27 points against Southern Miss. They’re much better this time around. Neither team they’ve beaten has been great, but neither is a cupcake, either.

4. I don’t know what to think about Tennessee. I thought they would wax UCLA yesterday, but maybe they’re really not going to be good this year. I’d think Florida would wax them even if Tennessee had won big yesterday, so obviously I’m still thinking a big Gators win.

5. I wouldn’t take too much away from that game. It went about as expected from Vandy—tough defense, no offense. As usual, Vandy will stay in games with their defense, but they won’t win unless they get some key turnovers. Their offense is no way to measure LSU’s defense.

- Perhaps all of the above for both, except Okie State’s D – Houston diced and sliced them pretty thoroughly. My impression is that UGA has a better supporting cast on offence, and USC has the better QB. Garcia could turn into something special after all… if, that is, a head-hunting safety or linebacker doesn’t snap him like a twig when he’s scrambling. Slide, dude.

- UGA-USC – this is rarely a high-scoring matchup, and the perception was obviously that the defences were stronger on both teams this year. Auburn probably has the talent on hand already to be respectable, they just needed to sort out the coaching situation (that acquiring a 5-19 head coach from Iowa State may qualify as sorting it out says volumes); MSU, not so much.

- Yes. The defence was as scrappy and valiant as always – UCLA’s no juggernaut, but there were stretches where it looked utterly hapless. But the offence… oof. If option #1 is Crompton, and option #2 is Stephens, perhaps the correct answer is secret option #3, Eric Berry in the wildcat. The second-half formula, installed after Crompton’s last pick. isn’t going to get the job done against competent defences – “run up the middle, run up the middle, bootleg screen to the tight end, punt” is no way to go through life, son.

- Well, it’s nice, sure… certainly better than getting blitzed by Washington (though the Huskies are going to be a much better team this year than last.) But Vandy hasn’t had an offence worthy of fearful respect since Cutler left, and they don’t appear to have one now. So judgement of LSU’s D is still pending.

1. B. South Carolina was in a three man front the entire second half after one DT was lost to injury and another was sitting due to suspension, so I’m willing to cut them a little slack. They also had to consistently defend a short field due to ST gaffes. The points still count, but Georgia had one sustained scoring drive longer than 52 yards, along with a 12 play, 47 yard drive for the final FG. They also netted a mere 308 yards. South Carolina lost this game largely due to a ST meltdown of epic proportions.

The Gamecocks had drives 9, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 15 plays. Georgia did not force a punt in the final three quarters. Carolina only stopped themselves with drops or untimely penalties in the red zone, including two that canceled out TD’s. Unless Ryan Mallet’s relative immobility leads to multiple sacks, the Dawgs could be in for a long trip home from Arkansas.

2. A. For the first time since Ryan Petty was on campus, the Gamecocks had an honest-to-God field general. Even Garcia’s INT took an incredible individual play from the Georgia DB. The WR’s still need to come around a bit (or at least start matching the drops to the penalties and catching the TD’s on the non-penalized plays), but South Carolina showed off an above average SEC caliber QB and O-line for the first time since the Outback Bowl seasons.

3. Auburn-Mississippi State Those teams struggled to score against everybody last year, and they are both in their first season under relatively unproven coaching staffs. Though they hadn’t done it against each other yet, everyone has seen Mark Richt and Steve Spurrier (even at South Carolina) led teams explode for 30+ occasionally.

4. Yes. Even without a proven passing attack, the Tigers have put up big numbers and have two of the top ten rushers in the nation. In six days, I suspect they will pay homage to visiting West Virginia with a very Rich Rod-like 400 yards rushing/120 yards passing stat line. Afterwards, Bill Stewart will patiently explain that West Virginia actually won because he thinks they are playing Stewball, a game in which teams score points not for getting into the end zone, but for coming as close as possible to an undefined “balanced” playcalling split.

5. Yes. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. That was my sympathetic laugh.

6. Not really. Last year, Vandy generally muddled around on offense and won games with smoke and mirrors. I think around 240 yards is their absolute ceiling for a night game in the rain at Death Valley. Thus, I’m not particularly impressed by “holding” them to 210. I don’t know what’s wrong with LSU so far, but they need to throttle an SEC team other than Vandy, Tennessee, or Miss State for me to start feeling better about their defense.

1) (a) South Carolina’s defense

After the first 10 minutes of the game, the Gamecock defense gave up 34 points. They also had the considerable advantage of lopsided T.O.P. on their side.

2) (a) South Carolina’s offense

Stephen Garcia had the kind of game that college recruiters were drooling about a few years ago. A lot of that had to do with Willie Martinez rushing 4 and dropping into a soft zone for most of the game, but give him credit for making smart decisions and good throws. The Gamecocks will have to develop more of a red zone running game though, now that UGA has provided the blueprint for bend-but-don’t-break against Carolina.

3) Georgia/South Carolina

The new coaching staffs at Auburn and MSU both have reputations for being able to take new faces and score points quickly. There has been nothing in the past decade to suggest anything resembling the track meet in Athens.

4) Probably

So long as they run the ball anywhere near their current clip, they won’t need much production out of Todd. I also am not convinced they have more than two D-1 caliber WR’s, so they are smartly going with the horses they have.

5) Yes

Crompton is plain awful, and will continue to hold the Vols back. Looking at their depth chart and current recruiting class, I’m not so sure UT will have anything resembling competent QB play for a few years.

6) No

I said before the year that LSU would go 8-4. I’ve seen nothing to convince me otherwise thusfar.