Wrong.
The win was a good win, and UNC is a good team. Make no mistake about that. However, when you review how Georgia got there, we should give serious pause to the Georgia defense and special teams. Let's break it down for the Dawgs by each unit, starting with the offense.
OFFENSE:
Starting with a few things I noticed in the X's and O's department: The Dawgs were running a ton of power running formations in the game, which means they had 2 TE sets regularly. In fact, one of their favorite running plays was a power I formation with extra protection lined up on the strong side along with a fullback, and then the fullback would motion back behind the QB to provide a lead blocker for the RB. They did this over and over again. Here's what it looked like:
Here you can see the FB pulling back from the strong side to get into position. You can also see how UNC bunched up to protect it with 9 guys in the box. What was shocking is that they almost never ran to the strong side where the extra protection was. Nick Chubb would almost always follow his lead blocker #47 FB Christian Payne to the weak side (in this picture the far side of your screen) with moderate success. I sort of wonder why they never tested the strong side much but that's me.
I'll start with Christian Payne the FB who had a phenomenal game. He was out in front of Chubb or Herrien laying the lumber on tacklers over and over again. On Chubb's first big 20 yard run, it was Payne leading the way. When Herrien took the edge for the first TD, it was Payne setting that edge. When Chubb busted the game-sealing TD late, it was Payne running 7 yards down the field to lay the final block that sprung the play. Christian Payne is really really good, and it shines on film. He's a very big reason why our RBs had the success they did. And his efforts will never show up on the stat sheet.
Obviously, I loved what Chubb did with his big gains. At one point Chubb actually spun over a guy on his way to a 10 yard gain. Not spun past. He ran into the guy as he was spinning, knocked him on his ass, and kept going. The dude looks healthy for sure, and I'm hoping he stays that way all season because he's a unique talent. Anybody that can average near 7 yards a carry in a game is a hero, and Chubb is our hero.
Now when it came to QBs, Kirby Smart kept his word and started Lambert. Most fans hated it and probably thought Lambert did a bad job, while loving what Eason did. I think that's hasty. Lambert's numbers aren't impressive. However, the first TD happened because Lambert converted a huge 3rd down to McKenzie. Lambert was mostly asked to hand off and make small passes. Still, with the game on the line, the ball was in Eason's hands. The play all the Dawg fans will remember is the 3rd and 5 late in the game, where Eason looks off the safety and hits McKenzie deep for a 51 yard gain. That would lead to the go-ahead FG that won the game.
Eason had one big play, but it was the game-deciding play. It was also sort of crazy because most coaches would probably put in their veteran down 2 points in the 4th quarter. Kirby Smart went with the kid and it paid off. Early in the first half, UNC was selling out to stop the run by stacking at least 8 in the box. It didn't matter who was QB, they did it regardless. However, in the 2nd half after Eason showed he could go deep with 2 pass interference calls, UNC started to back off, and that's what got Georgia back in the game. I don't think UNC backs off there unless you prove you can go over the top, and I don't think the Lambert has the capability.
Isiah McKenzie was a freak in this game. He was returning kicks, catching, passes, and scoring TDs. Lost in all the Nick Chubb 222 yards and 2 TDs workload is the work of McKenzie who went for 122 yards receiving with a TD, plus a 24 yard return. Add in the other RB Brian Herrien going for 59 yards and TD, and you had probably some of the best power 1-2 punch combined with a deep threat I've seen in a long time at Georgia.
The one downside I found is Georgia's left tackle #72 Tyler Catalina, who had a disaster of a day. He was responsible for 2 sacks that I saw, 3 penalties alone, and several times where I just watched him look lazy on plays. I didn't like much that I saw out of the kid, and that's not a good thing at one of the most important positions on the line when it comes to the passing game. He will get Eason killed if he continues to start like that. If you want to know what I'm talking about, just watch the first series in the second half as things start to come off the rails for Catalina. I'd be looking for better options if I'm Kirby Smart.
DEFENSE:
Now for the real bad news. The defense has major issues at almost every level. Let's start with the fact the defense produced almost zero pressure all day. UGA was obviously running in a very vanilla 4-rusher set the entire game, and rarely blitzed. They didn't get much with the vanilla set at all. For the first half this didn't matter because the secondary did a great job of knocking down big plays. #2 Maurice Smith made two fantastic plays to knock down sure first TD deep balls that would have turned the game around. Also #14 Malkom Parrish was very solid in coverage all day long, and had some great pursuit on the edges to make tackles, and a breakup of a pass in the end zone that would have been a TD.
Then there's #24 Dominick Sanders who is supposed to be our "best player" on the defense. If he is, I didn't see it. The junior safety looked out of position several times, including a horrible play on special teams on the opening kick of the second half. Sanders took a bad angle, then tried to dodge a block he felt coming, then sort of lollygagged his way as the returner took off past him. He looked like he was more concerned with getting hit than actually making a play. I can't have that. He took a bad angle on a 30 yard gain run that should have been a loss. He got burned on a deep ball along with #12 Juwuan Briscoe, who also had a bad day. Briscoe was the guy who quit on a scramble play by UNC late in the first half, setting up UNC for an easy FG.
How about the line and linebackers? They looked okay in run protection at times, but they were totally lost in pass coverage and rush. There was a series where TJ Logan (who actually had a better day than vaunted RB Elijah Hood) got loose several times while all our guys looked confused. #78 DT Trenton Thompson got burned inside on a 30 yard scamper by Logan that should have been a loss in the backfield. #51 LB David Marshall completely bought a QB fake at the goal line that allowed the UNC QB to waltz uncontested into the end zone. Kirby immediately grabbed Marshall as he was exiting the field to remind him what his job was, in not so kind terms I'm sure. #17 LB Davin Bellamy was almost non-existent and the time I noticed him it was as he got buried on a block by a lineman. All in all, I'm seriously concerned about the UGA ability to pressure anybody that can pass.
Some defensive players that did have good days? They were mostly linebackers. #3 LB Roquan Smith was all over the place, but he looked young and out of position at times too. I like his energy but he needs to get smarter out there. #6 LB Natrez Patrick tried to blitz a few times and didn't get there, so he needs to get better on his lane moves, but he was also involved on some big tackles for losses late in the second half to seal the game. Lastly #7 LB Lorenzo Carter was big with his quick pursuit and high motor. I really like his chances to continue to be an impact player if he studies even harder on how to jump tendencies. Where the Dawgs really need to see improvement is on the fat guys up the middle. If they can sort all that out, they can go from scary uh-oh to scary oh-yeah!
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Well, when you give up a kick return TD, and miss a FG, and barely make a 20 yarder to take the lead? I'm going to give special teams an D- in this game. The only reason they don't get an F is because the second FG went in. For the first time in a long time, Georgia doesn't have a kicker and that should scare everyone. Plus they got penalized for a formation issue on special teams, their overall coverage was shaky, and at one point Coach Smart elected to take a time-out instead of a delay of game when trying to incite UNC to jump offsides on 4th down. I'm fine with trying it, but don't give up a second half time-out. You might need those later on.
WHERE THE GAME WAS WON:
In this game Georgia won up front as they continued to abuse UNC for 289 yards on the ground. How did they do it? Here's an example:
You can see here on a short yardage play that UNC has brought 6 men to the line, and 3 more LBs in the box. That's Chubb way back in the back there getting ready to take the handoff from Eason. As it looks on the screen, UNC is in a good position to clog up the lane and get a stop.
Here's the play about one second later. You can drive a truck through that hole in the left side. One of the LBs mistakenly pulled back, one is chasing, and all the line guys have been throughly cleared to the right side of the wash. Hat on a hat as there's still a free lineman looking to hit somebody. Georgia dominated the game this way in their heavy sets, just daring UNC to try and stop it. The Tar Heels couldn't do it, and that's why they lost the game in the long run. Sure, one long pass made it look good at the end, but this one was won up front big-time by the big guys of Georgia.
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