Sunday Morning QB With SVS-Jimmys and Joes Still Matter More Than Xs and Os
Yesterday went how you expect games with talent gaps to go. UGA did whatever they wanted with the ball on offense and, sans the first drive, did whatever they wanted to on defense. Injuries are really starting to mount for us and that could be a concern moving forward.
1. I thought Shapen played ok. The first drive was a thing of beauty. We were perfectly tempo?d and even with the sack he makes a great dump off to West that got us back in front of the sticks. I thought the 2nd and 3rd drives were the killers for us. We get a false start the first play of the second drive and then get a BS chop block penalty. On the 3rd drive after the fumble, Evans is held on a double move that is a 95 yd TD. On that same drive Shapen takes a costly sack looking for Thompson, who came open at the end. He then fumbles on a scramble 2 plays later. Shapen had no time but did not do himself any favors either. The hit backside, which is not his fault but some will say it is, looked like it dislocated his shoulder.
2. If you are going to make the switch, you do it this week. Kamario was ok yesterday. His youth showed as much as his athleticism did. But if your line is going to suck, like ours does, you need someone back there that is more run threat than pass threat anyways. He is that. He made a good pass to Thompson, and actually underthrew him a bit, and made a good pass in the intermediate to Thompson as well. He also was closer to my buddy in the Gridiron Club than Anthony Evans when it was 17-7 and Evans had a step for a TD, damn near hit Lebby trying to throw a swing to Ayden, and threw an off target deep ball into double coverage. He is a freshman though. That will happen. Right now, he reminds me of Joe Milton. And you can win the last two with Joe Milton. You can also lose them. I thought for the most part the coaches kept it simple one read stuff with him. You are going to have to open it up more the next two weeks if you make the move.
3. I personally hold Shapen out this week and go to Kamario. If he struggles you go back to Shapen and if he thrives you give Golding and Co. a ton to think about.
4. We need to go back to Booth being the feature back. Fluff is not healthy and he is a between the tackles back. With how our line is, we do not need a between the tackles back. That was a bad drop on the 4th down by Bothwell. We can get into was it a good idea to call it or not another time but it was a bad drop.
5. I thought their pressure kept our WRs from really getting into the flow. Credit to them on that. I am becoming more and more impressed with Sam West as the weeks go on. I think he has a chance to be a big part of the offense next year.
6. Our O Line is crap. Unfortunately the die was cast on that well before Phil Loadholt. Bad evals by Leach, Arnett, and even Lebby have us in this situation. Add in injuries and you have the line we have. Young, out of position, and just not very cohesive.
7. DL looked like the DL of 2024 yesterday. No pressure and no push. We have to get better there in the portal. I know Lebby hates changing up the staff, but it is time for David Turner to go.
8. The LB group and DB group can kind of be lumped together. Kelley Jones is really talented and Brumfield can play at this level. The rest are depth guys in the DB room. Our LB room is just young. Jalen Smith and Lockhart are going to be really good but are not there. The injury to Isaac is a major concern. No way around that. Thought Tony played well in his absence though.
9. We desperately need a win. The national media continually talks about how much we have improved but our own fan base is out because we lost to the number 5 team in the country. Thankfully the people who actually make a difference in NIL donations do not think like the $5 fans who want to tell Lebby the play call with their $60 a year contribution.
10. We also need a win because if we lose next week, Ole Miss is probably going to make DWS Vaught Hemingway East on Black Friday. And that goes back to buy in. The University has given this fanbase everything they have wanted. They wanted to go away from the Block M and go to the script? They got it. They wanted an improved team? They got it. They wanted LED lights? They got it. They wanted to go away from the script and to the interlocking? They got it. At some point, our fans have to do their part. THEY HAVE TO SHOW UP. You can miss your plate of Thanksgiving leftovers and get your ass to DWS on Black Friday. You can even drive back after the game so complaining about hotels cannot be an argument. Of course I am sure the argument now is that the tickets are too expensive and they do not want to sit in the upper deck. Somehow OM fans find a way. We need to start finding the same way.
HailState
