Difference Makers Saturday vs UGA from a retired (for now) coach
Finally soaked up all of the election stuff I can handle so I am returning my entire attention to the big game with UGA at VHS. Here are, IMHO, the potential difference makers that can push Ole Miss over the line for victory. Feel free to share yours.
1. Pressure, pressure. pressure. We have first-hand knowledge of how lethal Carson Beck can be when he has a clean pocket and nothing to think about except where Bowers, McConkey, or Thomas are. Well, all 3 of those security blankets are gone and we have plenty of tape on how Beck reacts when he is put under a little pressure. I hope that we come and get him early and often and make his eyes focus more on what is happening on the LOS and less on what is happening down the field. Stat to watch: 5+ sacks by Ole Miss will result in at least one pick. A pick 6 (great ball play BTW, at least the Dem VP thinks so) would be icing on the cake. If Beck turns it over twice (or more), we win.
2. Protect, protect, protect. The converse of point 1 must be present for us to have a chance. CKS will have those guys amped up about being disrespected and everyone is against them. I fully expect them to go for broke on the 1st series to force a big play (sack and/or turnover) to set the tone for the game. Why do I say that? Our MO is to take the ball and score on the 1st drive. LSU took the ball to try and break this, and, after forcing them to a 3 and out, the big drop on our first play was a result.
We must run the ball enough to keep their elite rushers from ignoring PA fakes and pinning their ears back. I would like to see some creativity in the screen game to make their DL think, thereby slowing their pursuit. I also would like to see quick slants/glance routes (automatic reads) to where the pressure comes from so JD can get the ball out quickly. Stat to watch: If Georgia sacks/hits, and hurries JD more than 8 times, we are in trouble.
3. He who runs, wins. We have to be able to figure out how to run the ball enough to make UGA respect it. I recall the MSU game in 2014 when Bo was on one leg and our offense was limited by several other injuries. To his and his staff's credit, CHF was very creative in that particular game with the running game, having just enough success to keep MSU honest. They let it all hang out in that game, emptying the playbook to win. We must take a similar approach.
Conversely, I like how our DL matches up with UGA's OL. They won't tower over us like last year. Finally, we must maintain lane discipline as we pursue up and down the LOS to keep Etienne and Frasier from slashing off big chunks of yardage and making Beck beat us. Stat to watch: We need to average 5 yards per rush and have at least 2 runs of 10+ yards. Bonus stat to watch: At least 10 targets in the short middle of the field to the TEs/RBs. This will slow their rush.
4. Focused, not frenetic. We must have a total mental focus that we haven't seen this team have this year, but it must be measured. I am again going to reference 2014, this time against Alabama. We were locked in mentally that day and didn't blink for even a second when the breaks went against us early, culminating with Alabama getting the garbage TD right before the half to go up 14-3. UGA is going to bring the juice early to try and hit us in the mouth and put us on our heels, players, coaches, and fans alike. We need to burn our effort and intensity more like oil and less like gasoline. Stat to watch: Focused teams play even-keeled and make few dumb mistakes. Frenetic teams make spontaneous mistakes that are costly, The team that has the fewest dumb penalties (Personal foul, targeting, facemask, unsportsmanlike, etc) wins.
5. Attitude is EVERYTHING! The conditions are most likely going to be less than ideal on Saturday. Both teams will have to deal with it. Like everything else in life, the 10/90 rule will apply here. 10 percent what happens, 90 percent how we react.
When I coached, I usually made our guys practice in inclement weather, except for lightning, of course. I wanted my guys to know what that misery was like before it occurred at the showdown. Further, if I knew it was going to rain on Friday night, I have been known to turn the sprinklers on the practice field to prep.
In 2022, it was unusually cold at Arkansas. The weather, coupled with CLK's AU flirtation and all the distractions that accompanied that circus, played a direct role in us getting steamrolled. The bottom line, we have to embrace the weather mentally and believe that the weather is an advantage for us. Stat to watch: penalties, incorrect personnel groupings, missed assignments, and noticeable lack of effort will all be things to identify who wants it more. Oh yeah, the team that has the most "slip downs" will most likely be the team that is having the most difficulty dealing with the mental aspect of the weather conditions.
6. Penalties will punish. The officiating normally plays a role in games of this magnitude. It just is what it is. While I have softened in my previous belief that there is a deep-seated, SEC office-driven conspiracy against us over the years, I do believe that bias, whether intentional or not, is there.
I have to point no further than the non-call of targeting on LSU (and letting the offender watch the replay over the referee's shoulder!) and the fact that they threw the ball 51 times against the nation's best DL and had 1 holding call, for evidence.
The bottom line is we have to not worry about the stripe shirts and just play hard every snap. Stat to watch: Penalties will be huge in this game, like every other. If we have less than 50 yards in penalties, with no more than 2 holding calls, we win. Bonus stat regarding penalties: Which team gets the majority of the "on the field" calls on reviewed plays?
7. Turnover Battle. The expected weather conditions will make the protection of the football even more of a premium than in ideal conditions. We have to win the turnover battle. Stat to watch: 3 or more TOs by either team most likely means defeat.
8. Hold em, or fold em. Both teams are coached by men who are considered top 10-12 in the country in college football. Both cut their teeth under CNS, and both are known for being willing to roll the dice and go for broke.
CKS is known for scheming the other team and for getting his guys to believe they are being disrespected, even though they haven't lost to anyone except Alabama in 4 years. We have to match their intensity early, counter their haymakers with a solid shot to the mouth, make them doubt, and keep the pressure on like a medic trying to stop a sucking chest wound.
CLK is known for his ability to scheme up mismatches and is regarded as a superior playcaller. In my time of watching him closely, I have seen a tendency to "pucker" a little in big games that he really wants. Translation: he usually has a junior high trick play that he has schemed up to obtain a cheap big play/TD. I hope that he embraces this opportunity, leaves the trick plays at the playground, and accepts the FACT that he cannot try to win the game as the play-caller. Players, not plays. The bottom line, we must keep in mind that field position is magnified in weather games. Stat to watch: How many punts vs. 4th down attempts do we have?
9. Punctual, Engaged, and Energetic. This is our role. I refer to the legendary 2003 game against LSU to highlight this point. The stadium rocked that day like nothing I have EVER seen anywhere, before or since (yes, I was at 2014 Alabama). I thought Travis Johnson's pick 6 was going to smash the sound barrier. Here is what I remember:
A. VHS was full an hour before the kick.
B. Everyone was standing, yelling, cheering, etc. THE WHOLE GAME.
C. The energy in the stadium was INCREDIBLE! The players fed off of that energy, playing above their heads that day and having a chance to defeat the eventual National Champions, even while not playing their best game (3 TOs and 2 missed FGs).
We have to set the tone as to the environment that UGA is walking into on Saturday. Imagine the reaction, from both teams, if VHS is full, popping, and energized...in the rain...during pregame warmups. Why wait to get to the stadium? We are going to get wet ANYWAY. Get there early! Tell all you know that are going to get there early. Bottom line: Every snap UGA takes must be contested. Every UGA audible must be difficult to communicate. Every positive play we make must be met with overwhelming energy. Stat to watch: How many false start/delay of game penalties does UGA have?
10. Luck of the...Rebels. We need to get the breaks, plain and simple. I always told my guys that luck followed effort. There is a lot of truth to that statement, but football is played with a prolate spheroid shaped ball. It bounces funny. We need to get the breaks. Stat to watch: Which team makes a big play (turnover) in special teams?
Prediction: I said in the preseason that I agreed with Neal in that I could not unsee what happened in Athens last year. I expounded on that point, stating that UGA can't unsee it either and will have difficulty giving us the full respect that they should as a result. I said then that we would win, and I am not backing up now. Ole Miss wins a tough, intense game, staying in the hunt for the CFP.
Ole Miss 27
UGA 23
I will be there, rain or no rain. I will be loud, I will be energetic. I will be engaged. LFG! HYDR! BEAT UGA!
1. Pressure, pressure. pressure. We have first-hand knowledge of how lethal Carson Beck can be when he has a clean pocket and nothing to think about except where Bowers, McConkey, or Thomas are. Well, all 3 of those security blankets are gone and we have plenty of tape on how Beck reacts when he is put under a little pressure. I hope that we come and get him early and often and make his eyes focus more on what is happening on the LOS and less on what is happening down the field. Stat to watch: 5+ sacks by Ole Miss will result in at least one pick. A pick 6 (great ball play BTW, at least the Dem VP thinks so) would be icing on the cake. If Beck turns it over twice (or more), we win.
2. Protect, protect, protect. The converse of point 1 must be present for us to have a chance. CKS will have those guys amped up about being disrespected and everyone is against them. I fully expect them to go for broke on the 1st series to force a big play (sack and/or turnover) to set the tone for the game. Why do I say that? Our MO is to take the ball and score on the 1st drive. LSU took the ball to try and break this, and, after forcing them to a 3 and out, the big drop on our first play was a result.
We must run the ball enough to keep their elite rushers from ignoring PA fakes and pinning their ears back. I would like to see some creativity in the screen game to make their DL think, thereby slowing their pursuit. I also would like to see quick slants/glance routes (automatic reads) to where the pressure comes from so JD can get the ball out quickly. Stat to watch: If Georgia sacks/hits, and hurries JD more than 8 times, we are in trouble.
3. He who runs, wins. We have to be able to figure out how to run the ball enough to make UGA respect it. I recall the MSU game in 2014 when Bo was on one leg and our offense was limited by several other injuries. To his and his staff's credit, CHF was very creative in that particular game with the running game, having just enough success to keep MSU honest. They let it all hang out in that game, emptying the playbook to win. We must take a similar approach.
Conversely, I like how our DL matches up with UGA's OL. They won't tower over us like last year. Finally, we must maintain lane discipline as we pursue up and down the LOS to keep Etienne and Frasier from slashing off big chunks of yardage and making Beck beat us. Stat to watch: We need to average 5 yards per rush and have at least 2 runs of 10+ yards. Bonus stat to watch: At least 10 targets in the short middle of the field to the TEs/RBs. This will slow their rush.
4. Focused, not frenetic. We must have a total mental focus that we haven't seen this team have this year, but it must be measured. I am again going to reference 2014, this time against Alabama. We were locked in mentally that day and didn't blink for even a second when the breaks went against us early, culminating with Alabama getting the garbage TD right before the half to go up 14-3. UGA is going to bring the juice early to try and hit us in the mouth and put us on our heels, players, coaches, and fans alike. We need to burn our effort and intensity more like oil and less like gasoline. Stat to watch: Focused teams play even-keeled and make few dumb mistakes. Frenetic teams make spontaneous mistakes that are costly, The team that has the fewest dumb penalties (Personal foul, targeting, facemask, unsportsmanlike, etc) wins.
5. Attitude is EVERYTHING! The conditions are most likely going to be less than ideal on Saturday. Both teams will have to deal with it. Like everything else in life, the 10/90 rule will apply here. 10 percent what happens, 90 percent how we react.
When I coached, I usually made our guys practice in inclement weather, except for lightning, of course. I wanted my guys to know what that misery was like before it occurred at the showdown. Further, if I knew it was going to rain on Friday night, I have been known to turn the sprinklers on the practice field to prep.
In 2022, it was unusually cold at Arkansas. The weather, coupled with CLK's AU flirtation and all the distractions that accompanied that circus, played a direct role in us getting steamrolled. The bottom line, we have to embrace the weather mentally and believe that the weather is an advantage for us. Stat to watch: penalties, incorrect personnel groupings, missed assignments, and noticeable lack of effort will all be things to identify who wants it more. Oh yeah, the team that has the most "slip downs" will most likely be the team that is having the most difficulty dealing with the mental aspect of the weather conditions.
6. Penalties will punish. The officiating normally plays a role in games of this magnitude. It just is what it is. While I have softened in my previous belief that there is a deep-seated, SEC office-driven conspiracy against us over the years, I do believe that bias, whether intentional or not, is there.
I have to point no further than the non-call of targeting on LSU (and letting the offender watch the replay over the referee's shoulder!) and the fact that they threw the ball 51 times against the nation's best DL and had 1 holding call, for evidence.
The bottom line is we have to not worry about the stripe shirts and just play hard every snap. Stat to watch: Penalties will be huge in this game, like every other. If we have less than 50 yards in penalties, with no more than 2 holding calls, we win. Bonus stat regarding penalties: Which team gets the majority of the "on the field" calls on reviewed plays?
7. Turnover Battle. The expected weather conditions will make the protection of the football even more of a premium than in ideal conditions. We have to win the turnover battle. Stat to watch: 3 or more TOs by either team most likely means defeat.
8. Hold em, or fold em. Both teams are coached by men who are considered top 10-12 in the country in college football. Both cut their teeth under CNS, and both are known for being willing to roll the dice and go for broke.
CKS is known for scheming the other team and for getting his guys to believe they are being disrespected, even though they haven't lost to anyone except Alabama in 4 years. We have to match their intensity early, counter their haymakers with a solid shot to the mouth, make them doubt, and keep the pressure on like a medic trying to stop a sucking chest wound.
CLK is known for his ability to scheme up mismatches and is regarded as a superior playcaller. In my time of watching him closely, I have seen a tendency to "pucker" a little in big games that he really wants. Translation: he usually has a junior high trick play that he has schemed up to obtain a cheap big play/TD. I hope that he embraces this opportunity, leaves the trick plays at the playground, and accepts the FACT that he cannot try to win the game as the play-caller. Players, not plays. The bottom line, we must keep in mind that field position is magnified in weather games. Stat to watch: How many punts vs. 4th down attempts do we have?
9. Punctual, Engaged, and Energetic. This is our role. I refer to the legendary 2003 game against LSU to highlight this point. The stadium rocked that day like nothing I have EVER seen anywhere, before or since (yes, I was at 2014 Alabama). I thought Travis Johnson's pick 6 was going to smash the sound barrier. Here is what I remember:
A. VHS was full an hour before the kick.
B. Everyone was standing, yelling, cheering, etc. THE WHOLE GAME.
C. The energy in the stadium was INCREDIBLE! The players fed off of that energy, playing above their heads that day and having a chance to defeat the eventual National Champions, even while not playing their best game (3 TOs and 2 missed FGs).
We have to set the tone as to the environment that UGA is walking into on Saturday. Imagine the reaction, from both teams, if VHS is full, popping, and energized...in the rain...during pregame warmups. Why wait to get to the stadium? We are going to get wet ANYWAY. Get there early! Tell all you know that are going to get there early. Bottom line: Every snap UGA takes must be contested. Every UGA audible must be difficult to communicate. Every positive play we make must be met with overwhelming energy. Stat to watch: How many false start/delay of game penalties does UGA have?
10. Luck of the...Rebels. We need to get the breaks, plain and simple. I always told my guys that luck followed effort. There is a lot of truth to that statement, but football is played with a prolate spheroid shaped ball. It bounces funny. We need to get the breaks. Stat to watch: Which team makes a big play (turnover) in special teams?
Prediction: I said in the preseason that I agreed with Neal in that I could not unsee what happened in Athens last year. I expounded on that point, stating that UGA can't unsee it either and will have difficulty giving us the full respect that they should as a result. I said then that we would win, and I am not backing up now. Ole Miss wins a tough, intense game, staying in the hunt for the CFP.
Ole Miss 27
UGA 23
I will be there, rain or no rain. I will be loud, I will be energetic. I will be engaged. LFG! HYDR! BEAT UGA!
