My deep breath analysis

After a loss, I usually try not to post for a while due to emotion taking over and me saying something stupid that I don't really mean. So I'm trying to give a calmer,less emotional analysis, and what strikes me is that the team just didn't look prepared to play at the start of the game. They kind of had the deer in the headlights look for much of the first half, and I just don't understand why that happens at least once a year in a big game. We seem to have to get blown out and embarrassed at least once a year, and I really thought they had learned their lesson last year.

Most of the members here know that I can understand losing games, if you've put your best effort on the table and left everything on the field, and just got beat by a better team. And while I definitely think 'bama was the better team last night, we definitely did not put forth our best effort. Sleepwalking through most of the first half, dumb penalties, costly mistakes, and some questionable play calling did us in (I mean, really, a double reverse WR pass to the QB????).

For those calling for Coach Martinez's head, there's much more blame to go around. I've been critical of his defense before, but nobody's schemes are going to work when the players give up so many penalties and make bad decisions. Basically, we had their first drive stopped twice, and gave it to them with bad decisions.

Team effort--terrible first half, good second half to maybe have some momentum. We need to spend the next week getting some confidence back. Now, we should be the hungrier team in the UT game for a change. Let's get some conditioning in these next couple of weeks too--no reason that we should still have players missing plays due to cramps in a night game at the end of September.

Coaches, let's get the team excited and ready for EVERY game. We can't afford another letdown. (And have a team unity bonfire to dispose of the black jerseys).

GO DAWGS!!! GATA!!!

Good Post, sadler.
We were outclassed, outplayed and yes, outcoached.
Jerseys don't make the team, effort does. Effort means not only physical effort but mental concentration.
I was proud of our second half, too little, too late.
Time to suck it up.
And may the 'Bama gloaters go back to their own forums and shut up.
Saban is still a sleazy little ####!

I don't think we see the black jerseys again this year. And personally I could go without seeing them next year, too. I was a big fan, but now, they are meaningless to me. GO DAWGS!!!

Good post as usual sadlerdawg. We will know a lot more about our team after UT. Looking forward to that game and a smile on averagedawgs face. Go Dawgs!

Well said Sadler. I totally agree w/everything you said. Bama was hungrier and more focused. On the bright side, I was VERY PROUD of our players and fans for responding in the 2nd half rather than giving up!
DAWGS DON'T QUIT!!!

My deep breath:

I haven't checked here yet, so I haven't experienced any of the 'Bama gloating. I will say that at the game, the 'Bama fans I ran into were very gracious and respectful. So they had that going for them. One Tide-Roller in front of me turned around at the end of the first half and said, \"If these refs weren't calling the game the way they are, it'd be 17-0 right now.\" That made me feel good.

Secondly: I think Saturday was the perfect storm for 'Bama. I don't want to take anything away from them by saying that we had a terrible game, because they probably played the best game they have since 2005 against Florida. But they managed to have their best game on a day when we had our worst. The two mixed perfectly for Alabama and they crushed us. Again, not to take anything away from 'Bama. From what I've seen of them and of the rest of the country (including LSU), they deserve the #2 spot. I don't know what the coaches are thinking.

Third: Every Mark Richt team has a shutdown like this game. We had it in 2002 and 2003 against Florida (I don't count the LSU games, because LSU was just that good that year), in 2004 against Tennessee, in 2005 against Florida and in 2007 against SCarolina. You'd be hard-pressed to find teams that don't; the ONE who doesn't typically wins the national championship, unless they're Auburn. The last SEC team to do it untied and undefeated was Tennessee in 1998. Before that, it was Alabama in 1992. Before that, it was us in 1980. It's damn near impossible. Remember that.

3-a: Mark Richt teams are pretty mediocre heading into a bye week. We're 5-4 in the game before a bye.

Fourth: We're far better than what we showed on Saturday. We'll rebound, and we have a couple of games to do it before we head to Baton Rouge. If we take care of business, we'll be in the top 7 and possibly the top 5 heading into the LSU game.

Fifth: Florida lost, too. And Tennessee's terrible. As is SCarolina, over whom we already have the tie-breaker. Kentucky is down, and Vandy -- good as they look right now -- is still Vandy. We have a terrific shot to win the East and get back at 'Bama if we just handle our business. Remember that Florida still has to play LSU, too.

Sixth: I noticed almost NO ONE dressed in black who came out of that game screaming and crying and cursing and supremely disappointed. Dawg Nation was, like myself, remarkably zen about the whole situation, and optimistic. What Ole Miss did in Gainesville didn't hurt that.

I'm not saying that I haven't lost sleep over this loss. I have. But it's not the end of the world. Go Dawgs.