From Athens - Game Day Friday #6 10-05-23

Good Day All,

Our two SEC games were exactly what our players needed to remain focused and to avoid letting complacency to creep into our program.

Again this is not your 21 or 22  Dawgs that had overwhelming and experienced players.  We were far more dominant than we currently are.

Having said that our HC and his assistants have developed and coached up the two previous year teams to  win Natties B2B. 

Why does it seem unlikely that his process has changed.   Mizzo and Kent State were examples of less than sparkling performances by our Dawgs last season..... tOSU game in Kirby's words...a lucky win for us ... we actually did not play our best football in that game.... however as ugly and lucky as it was... we won and was given the opportunity to play much better against TCU... who we sliced and diced... completely..

Our "23". team is far from a finished and polished product.... yes there are those who feel that is an unrealistic goal....  hmmmm ....

Don't believe that the Wildkitties have the depth and skill players that we do...me thinks...   both the OL & DL  take corrective steps and play better.

Having Ladd & Milton back will help Beck..    having B & B on the same page during the Assburn game will continue to pay dividends for the remainder of the season.

Dawgs win .... 

Growl ... 7pm KO.  grandson putting the squeeze on grandma for "something " Italian ..... I expect the house tomorrow afternoon to be filled with the wonderful aroma of her tomato gravy slowly simmering. She lets it sit overnight in the refrigerator so the flavors can merry together...   always makes a double batch so she can freeze one.....   you playing on your pellet grill ?

Weekend nighttime lows in the upper 40's for the Classic City... our early morning walks are becoming less of a sweatfest.

Pause and give thanks... remember to check on family and friends often.

Stay safe and well...  As always " Go Dawgs"    Blessed

You got it Yd1, it’s going to be Wings and Brauts Day so no Dawg can go hungry when within scent of the Grill.  Looking for a good Game, can’t forget to wear Red so everybody knows we’re a Dawg thru and thru!

GO DAWGS!!!!!  GATA!!!!!

Chief.... love a good brat... spicy mustard and chopped vidilia works for me... yummy.. and the wing is da thing...

Go Dawgs

On Saturday at 7 p.m. ET #20-ranked Kentucky will face #1-ranked UGA at Sanford Stadium. Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), and Molly McGrath (sideline reporter) will serve as ESPN’s announcing crew.

This will be UGA's first time facing a ranked opponent this season. According to the oddsmakers, UGA is a 14.5-point favorite vs. the Wildcats. Fwiw, the Dawgs are 0-4-1 against the spread this season.

According to the 247Sports Team Talent Composite, UGA is the second-most talented team in the country compared to #31 for Kentucky. Note that this doesn’t account for player injuries or suspensions.

The Wildcats enter this game on a high note after beating Florida 33-14 last week, Kentucky’s third consecutive win over the Gators. Former Temple/Vanderbilt RB Ray Davis rushed for 280 yards and 3 TDs, plus scored another TD on a reception vs. Florida. Fwiw, last season he rushed 12x for 29 yards vs. UGA.

Last season UGA beat Kentucky 16-6 in a hard fought game. Wildcats’ freshman WR Barion Brown had a big game vs. the Dawgs: 10 catches for 145 yards and 1 TD. Unfortunately, the speedster (10.67 100m) injured his left leg in the third quarter vs. the Gators and his status for Saturday’s game is questionable. Same for fellow starting WR Tayvion Robinson, who also sustained an injury in the third quarter and did not return. Kentucky OC Liam Coen, back after a one-year stint in the same capacity w/ the Los Angeles Rams, may have to scheme around the absence of two of his playmakers.

As you may know, UGA has had its fair share of injuries this season (e.g., RB Branson Robinson sustained a season-ending torn patellar tendon in August, DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins underwent navicular bone stress reaction surgery after game #1, RT Amarius Mims underwent tightrope surgery for a high-ankle sprain after game #3, etc.). Fortunately, WR Ladd McConkey returned to action last week (albeit in limited snaps) from a nagging back injury and made some key third-down conversions. According to Kirby Smart, RB Kendall Milton has flashed some speed in practice this week and may return to action on Saturday after being out w/ a sprained MCL sustained in game #3.

UGA OC Mike Bobo has caught some heat for a slow-starting offense this season (the Dawgs have scored only 17 points in the first quarter through five games). Some fans want to see QB Carson Beck air it out earlier to jump start things. Some opportunities have been there, but off-target throws or dropped passes and an inconsistent run game have contributed to the sluggish starts. While RB Daijun Edwards missed the first two games w/ another MCL injury, he has proven to be the Dawgs’ best back on inside zone runs. After a relatively poor game (i.e., only 1 catch on 3 targets for 3 yards) vs. Ball State, junior TE Brock Bowers has returned to All-American form making 24 catches for 332 yards & 3 TDs in his last three games. He certainly lifted UGA in the second half vs. Auburn last week and carried the offense on his back down the stretch. From what I’ve seen, Carson has a lot of chemistry w/ Bowers, McConkey, and WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint. We'll see if he and Dominic Lovett have developed the same rapport.

Kentucky’s defense is led by 2022 4* NG Deone Walker, 6’6”, 348 lbs. In five games this season the returning Freshman All-American from Detroit, MI has made 14 tackles and 2.5 sacks and has pushed the pocket. Overall the Wildcats’ defense has notched 14 sacks and 5 INTs (including two pick-sixes vs. Vanderbilt) thus far this season.

Per Kirby Smart on Monday, UGA’s defensive line lacks a “disrupter”. I think sophomore DE Mykel Williams can be that guy, but he’s coming off a concussion (missed game #4). Really what UGA misses from the last few years are dominant interior DL players like Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, and Jalen Carter. None of our interior DL have proven themselves to be of that caliber. Bear Alexander flashed as a freshman last season, but he opted to transfer to USC. His loss hurt our quality depth. Last week vs. Auburn 2023 highly touted 5* DT Jordan Hall traveled, but didn’t play. Meanwhile, 2023 4* NG Jamaal Jarrett didn’t even travel. IMO, UGA’s defensive strength has been the defensive backs, especially sophomore FS Malaki Starks and junior SS Javon Bullard (despite missing two games with an ankle injury). CB Kamari Lassiter has also been solid, which is a pleasant surprise since he was limited in preseason camp with a foot injury.

Kentucky punter Wilson Berry is averaging 45.7 yards per punt this season and Wildcats placekick Alex Raynor has made all six of his FG attempts with a long of 50 yards. WR Barion Brown also returned a kickoff 99 yards for a TD, but his status for this week is questionable.

Team matchups:

UGA’s #15-ranked scoring offense (38.6 ppg) vs. Kentucky’s #19-ranked scoring defense (15.2 ppg)

Kentucky’s #21-ranked scoring offense (37.0 ppg) vs. UGA’s #14-ranked scoring defense (13.0 ppg)

UGA’s #16-ranked total offense (481.2 ypg) vs. Kentucky’s #19-ranked total defense (297.2 ypg)

Kentucky’s #65-ranked total offense (396.2 ypg) vs. UGA’s #16-ranked total defense (287.2 ypg)

This will be Kentucky’s second road game. Their first one was at Vanderbilt with only 26,279 fans in attendance. I can guarantee you it will be significantly louder at Sanford Stadium on Saturday. I’m interested to see how the Wildcats will handle that noise under the bright lights.

Last item of note: ESPN’s Bill Connelly’s SP+ (advanced stats) model projects UGA to beat (75% win probability) Kentucky 30-18.