Before we get into breaking a few plays down, just a couple of quick thoughts after rewatching the game.
It seems like Derek Barnett simply whips Catalina one-on-one, but he does, but Georgia has a few mistakes on this one. Let's watch from the behind view to get a better look.
Georgia has a tight end on Barnett's side, you assume there to help Catalina and you wonder if Catalina thinks that, too. But, the TE takes the interior pressure leaving Barnett in a clean one-on-one situation. Also, Tennessee brings pressure from the right side in a nickel blitz and that forces the RB to take him instead of helping where needed. It's always interesting to look at the different things that happen in a play like this.
A lot going on here but definitely worth the watch. First, Tennessee fakes run and pulls the guard to show run. It definitely bates Georgia's linebackers up to the LOS. The line protects really well, but the issue is the timing.
Dobbs doesn't get back in his drop back quick enough and doesn't have his feet set when Croom makes his cut on the route. He doesn't get his feet set and isn't stepping towards Croom until Croom has already taken two steps out of his break. Georgia brings down the safety to matchup with him and he has enough speed to catch up to the late ball.
But, if that ball is thrown earlier it's there and a nice gain. Instead, Tennessee is forced to punt here. Those extra hops and not getting his feet set quick enough kills that play.
Here's a little more of Bob Shoop's magic show. We have a nickel/linebacker blitz and Tennessee ends up in zero (man coverage with no help). McDowell's assignment is the linebacker and he's the late rusher once he sees Michel stays in to protect.
Gaulden comes from the top and Jumper is coming through the A gap it looks like. It's 6-on-6 and the key here is Gaulden cutting inside behind Vereen. That forces Eason to tuck it and try to evade but by that time Vereen has been able to get the edge on the right tackle. That's exactly what you want a designed blitz to look like. Georgia does a good job picking it up, but Gaulden reads it really well and gives Vereen the extra second he needs after dipping his shoulder to get there.
We saw the nickel blitz a number of times on Saturday as Shoop was really aggressive in trying to get after Eason. UGA won that a few times when Eason noticed it, but he didn't on a lot as well.
- Tennessee's tackling and tackling angles better improve in a hurry or A&M will score all over them. I know Butch said this was Jumper's best game, and he did improve as the game went on, but he and McDowell really struggled in getting to the ball on Saturday. And when there, Sony Michel really made a number of guys look silly. They have to clean that up or it could be a long night in College Station.
- Rashaan Gaulden was a beast. He cleaned up so much stuff on the edge and even came from the backside of the play a number of times to make the tackle. He's really settling in to the role at nickel. You have to remember he's essentially played in five games at nickel now after missing last season. He's starting to grow up I think.
- Tennessee's offensive line played pretty poorly in the run game. I thought they lost too many one-on-one situations. And credit Georgia's front three, they made life tough for Tennessee's running backs to get anything going. But, it was the flip side to rushing the passer. The group isn't very athletic and so they struggled to really do anything against Dobbs in terms of the rush. They were able to get some pressure when they brought five, but in bringing four they were really average. Georgia really needs to find some depth and versatility there on the DL if they want to run a 3-4.
It seems like Derek Barnett simply whips Catalina one-on-one, but he does, but Georgia has a few mistakes on this one. Let's watch from the behind view to get a better look.
Georgia has a tight end on Barnett's side, you assume there to help Catalina and you wonder if Catalina thinks that, too. But, the TE takes the interior pressure leaving Barnett in a clean one-on-one situation. Also, Tennessee brings pressure from the right side in a nickel blitz and that forces the RB to take him instead of helping where needed. It's always interesting to look at the different things that happen in a play like this.
A lot going on here but definitely worth the watch. First, Tennessee fakes run and pulls the guard to show run. It definitely bates Georgia's linebackers up to the LOS. The line protects really well, but the issue is the timing.
Dobbs doesn't get back in his drop back quick enough and doesn't have his feet set when Croom makes his cut on the route. He doesn't get his feet set and isn't stepping towards Croom until Croom has already taken two steps out of his break. Georgia brings down the safety to matchup with him and he has enough speed to catch up to the late ball.
But, if that ball is thrown earlier it's there and a nice gain. Instead, Tennessee is forced to punt here. Those extra hops and not getting his feet set quick enough kills that play.
Here's a little more of Bob Shoop's magic show. We have a nickel/linebacker blitz and Tennessee ends up in zero (man coverage with no help). McDowell's assignment is the linebacker and he's the late rusher once he sees Michel stays in to protect.
Gaulden comes from the top and Jumper is coming through the A gap it looks like. It's 6-on-6 and the key here is Gaulden cutting inside behind Vereen. That forces Eason to tuck it and try to evade but by that time Vereen has been able to get the edge on the right tackle. That's exactly what you want a designed blitz to look like. Georgia does a good job picking it up, but Gaulden reads it really well and gives Vereen the extra second he needs after dipping his shoulder to get there.
We saw the nickel blitz a number of times on Saturday as Shoop was really aggressive in trying to get after Eason. UGA won that a few times when Eason noticed it, but he didn't on a lot as well.
