Qualitative Bullets: UGA Edition

There's no sense in trying to muster a self-centered narrative about my feelings on the game. It was frustrating. So, bullet me.

-After the first drive, didn't it feel like Auburn would lay half a hundred on the scoreboard? Give credit where credit is due: Willie Martinez. UGA fans everywhere just buried their head in their hands.

-I haven't seen it in print anywhere, but have thought this all year. Chris Todd has extremely odd body mechanics when throwing. His back leg collapses, and it gives the appearance that he throws off his back foot. Many times this year he's done it, I cringe, yet he completes the pass.

-Lee Ziemba: you're an elite talent on the offensive line. Act like it. On the last drive, I can't believe he didn't know the snap count. Therefore it follows that he jumped out of his stance early in fear of getting beat by the end. This has happened too often. Trust yourself Mr. Ziemba.

-These procedural penalties are getting old. Kodi's 3rd down pass to Zachery worked like magic, except for the yellow laundry that negated the play. I know Malzahn reps these pseudo trick plays--I use the modifier because in Malzahn's offense, nothing is really a trick, because it's sort of all a trick, I swear that made sense in my head--so the procedural penalties that accompany them is tiresome to say the least.

-Relatedly, down 14-17, 3rd and 3, Malzahn calls the formation with Lee Ziemba split out wide. I know, I know. It probably wasn't executed correctly, and Georgia got tremendous pressure on Todd. But really, would a draw to Tate, swing pass to Fannin, buck sweep, or even speed sweep to McCalebb have been so bad? My 9th grade English teacher used to tell us KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. I'm still firmly aboard the Malzahn bandwagon, and will probably never get off, but that was a huge missed opportunity.

-Wes Byrum, thank you for the Groza-esque performance this year. We missed you last year. Great to have you back.

-My memory could be betraying me, but it seems like Neiko Thorpe has been burnt deep badly in the last few weeks. One Joe Cox throw into the end zone that went incomplete saw Thorpe trailing his man, the incompletion was not a result of Thorpe's coverage. And the 3rd and 16 catch by Tavarres King cannot be overestimated in terms of importance. If not for the depleted depth--NOT ELTORO TOO--I might even advocate putting Demond Washington in over Thorpe.

-Georgia's front four really played well in the second half, pressuring Todd more and saving their secondary's hindquarters. In the first half, Todd carved up the UGA secondary. The second half was different because of Georgia's d-line play.

-Can a fanbase feel more strange about a victory? Not only did UGA win, but Willie Martinez acquitted himself well in the Bumbling Fool (Martinez) v. Mad Scientist (Malzahn) matchup.

-After yet another botched punt catch, I was all for Donald Trumping Demond Washington and enlisting Trooper Taylor himself to catch punts. Then, Washington exploded on that kickoff return. Keep him back there, he's the most explosive and competent option.

-Joe Cox passed the eye test. I know his completion percentage wasn't great, but he made plays at key moments and that deep ball on the aforementioned 3rd and 16 play was beautiful.

-Washaun Ealey=stud.

-Kodi Burns has thrown, run for, and now caught a TD. Count me as someone that thought the whole, "Kodi will still have a role in this offense" was a PR thing. Glad he's made a tangible impact this year.

-On Todd's 2 picks. Unfortunately, football is football and the law of averages catches up to you after a while. His arm getting hit on one play was tough. The route miscommunication between him and Darvin Adams was bad too. Sadly, these things happen in football and they are less a referendum on Todd's ability than random occurrences that are bound to happen as the sample size gets larger. Anyone jumping on the 'start Neil Caudle bandwagon' following this game needs to have their head checked.

-That being said, the pick in the 4th quarter when driving to go up 31-24 was crippling. Duh.

-Mario, the crossing pattern was a tough catch. But you are the designated tough guy for this team. That's why the coaches called that play, because they trust you to make the grab. Tough play that needs to be made.

-Bacarri Rambo, all good thoughts and wishes your way. Heal quickly, you're a stud.

-UGA won the 'explosive play' contest which was almost as important as winning the turnover battle. Which, if you missed it--I'm sure you didn't--UGA won 2 to 0.


War Eagle. Maybe some quantitative bullets will follow.