Let me be the very first to wish you all a happy new year and, more importantly, a happy Gameday. Whether you’re enjoying your morning coffee or holding back last night’s cocktails, I hope today is a good
start to a great year.
While basically nothing at all actually changes with a new year, today will bring about big changes in the college football world. The final three spots in the CFP Semifinals will be filled as teams make like a movie theatre attendant and punch some tickets.
The nightcap to a terrific day of ball will of course feature our beloved Georgia Bulldogs once again facing the Ole Miss Rebels. The former confederate allies will go to battle for the second time this season and for the fourth time in the last three seasons.
The last matchup saw Ole Miss get off to a good start with marksman Trinidad Chambliss picking apart the Georgia defense. But much like those that fought for the state some 160-odd years ago, their offense was unable to reload in time to continue the barrage, and the constant cannonballing from the Georgia offense was able to break through.
Statistically speaking, the only thing higher than the rate in which applicants are accepted into Ole Miss (97.8%) was the rate at which Georgia scored on their offensive possessions in that game (100%).
The fact that this is true and the game still came down to the final possession is both a nod to the Ole Miss offense and an indictment of the Georgia defense, especially in the first three quarters. The latter unit struggled to generate pressure on Chambliss, failed to create negative plays in the run game, and missed tackles in space.
Luckily for Georgia fans, there are 4 quarters in a game (or else they probably wouldn’t be called quarters). In that final quarter, the defense was able to pressure Chambliss and make open-field tackles when needed. The pressure was generated by a constant barrage of blitzing Linebackers, and much of the same should be expected in this evening’s matchup.
On the other side of the ball, Georgia moved up and down the field with ease by combining a punishing rushing attack with an efficient quick-passing game. The Tight Ends played a crucial role blocking on the edge and making clutch catches, with Lawson Luckie securing 3 TD catches.
Oftentimes in games following a long break, you will see Offensive Coordinators try to implement new plays and new wrinkles that they devised during said break. They typically get cute, like a puppy wanting scraps from the dinner table. But in this instance, that shouldn’t be necessary for Georgia and OC Mike Bobo.
In the last matchup, Ole Miss was not able to line up and match the physicality of the Georgia offense. The big beefy linemen and aggressive-blocking WRs on the outside wore the defense down, and it paid off in the end.
As much as we can draw from the previous game, a lot has changed since then. My favorite button-down shirt shrunk in the dryer, I learned how to bake a delicious chocolate pie, and I finally got around to watching The Sopranos.
But a lot has changed for these two teams as well. Ole Miss has a new identity at their Head Coach position with Lane Kiffin ditching them for muggier pastures, and the Georgia defense has a less-literal new identity in that they can now more effectively affect the QB and force them into mistakes.
With the long break and changes abound, lots of questions will need to be answered. Will Georgia’s defensive resurgence continue, or will Trinidad and Co. once again score easily out of the gate? Will Ole Miss’ defensive adjustments be able to slow down Georgia this time? Will I remember to hang dry my new favorite button-down shirt? Will Lane Kiffin’s absence be a boost or a hindrance?
If the answers to those questions are: the former, no, yes, hindrance; then we are in for a great start to the new year.
