First, here’s why I’m NOT worried about the resurgent Booger Eaters:
1. The Gators have a .500 record in the Benz, having notched victories over Michigan and losing to Bama in the SEC Championship. But their most recent trip was 2020 – there are mullet coiffed and jort-wearing 1st graders that have never seen their horrible uniforms compete there. And Georgia has played this locale 10 times since then, 3 times in 2022 alone, and twice in 2024, plus just last December where the Red & Black stemmed
the Crimson Tide.
2. Georgia is on a 5 game win streak in this series. And since I have selective memory of this border rivalry like Gator fans, I don’t believe Georgia played Florida in the 1990s, so 5 games is definitely the longest streak by either team. You can’t tell me otherwise.
3. The most famous weakness of the Florida Gators is… well, being a Florida Gator. Only slightly less well-known is that the Gator secondary is next to last in the SEC at passing yards allowed.
They’ve watched teams score through the air in every game but one, let Missouri average over 11 yards per attempt, and permitted South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers to save his coach’s job. In 5 conference games, only Texas and the prodigal son passed for less than 270 yards. So depending on where you rank Gunner Stockton against Arch Manning, and coming off a game where Georgia threw for 325 and 2 scores, this could be a good way to score points.
Now forgive me, as I was weaned at the nipple of Larry Munson’s scratch so here’s what does worry me about the school that I hate solely because of Steve Spurrier, even though I currently am fond of the Head Ball Coach:
1. Wrap it up. I have lamented several times this season, and last season, that the Georgia Bulldogs defense is less than great at tackling in the backfield. The pressure and havoc is there, but somehow these mobile quarterbacks are able to slip through, shed an arm tackle, and either escape or at least avoid a negative play.
We’ve got 51 missed tackles the past two games. And both against teams from the Yellowhammer State. Both have dudes, both are above average, but isn’t our defense above average too? I appreciate the explosiveness from the pass rush, but we simply have to limit the opposing offense by better first contact and contain.
2. Do you think Jadan Baugh is going to play 2 hand touch? He might be one of the best running backs in the country at slipping contact and gaining yards after. The guy has 13 rushing touchdowns this season through 7 games. That is as many as Frazier, Bowens, and Phillips combined. Baugh has more yards than those 3 as well, on a few more carries.
Lest you think that the running game prowess is equitable, remember that the Gators also have Duke Clark, who is toting it for over 7 yards a clip on average. And UGA allowed 161 ground yards from Alabama, and 192 from a previously stagnant Auburn team.
3 . Since QB1 Aaron Philo was injured, Gator Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been cagey about who will start under center in Atlanta. The last injury report is still to come out but I wouldn’t trust it anyway. So we will have no idea until the game is played if Trammell Jones or Philo will be taking snaps, or even if it will be both. Both QBs are capable, but they have different strengths. One beat Texas on the road, the other manhandled Ole Miss. And both are better than 60% against the blitz.
Georgia allowed the backup QB at Vanderbilt to look like a rock star, especially in the first 45 minutes. We’re fresh off Byrum Brown reminding everyone why he’s the NCAA career leader in offensive production. If you remove the gaffes, even John Mateer had a good game moving the ball on the Bulldog defense. Glenn Schumann’s charges have allowed steadily improving totals from the last 5 conference opponents, a troubling trend when strange things happen against the Saurians.
Call me crazy, just don’t call me late fordinner. Let us know in the comments what you’re feeling about an Outdoor Cocktail Party moved indoors due to inclement greed. And as always…
GO ‘DAWGS!!!
