My impressions from the game

Back home from Stillwater this morning... so I thought I would add a few thoughts... I've stayed away from the message boards this summer for a couple of reasons... first, too obsessed with them and needed to spend some time taking care of other things (such as my family)... second... well, I guess the second one doesn't really matter as much as the first one... but with my two favorite teams playing the first game I just ended up arguing with everyone in 2007 and found myself falling into that pattern again, and didn't want to do it.

First, let me state the last game I saw at the old stadium was in 2000 and this is my first game since the improvements started... it was really hard to believe that was ever \"Lewis Field.\" The stadium is first class, really beautiful. It was as loud as you want it to be. The sea of orange before the game and in the stadium dang near brought tears to my eyes. I even got my brother the gooner to wear orange to the game and admit that The Boone was impressive. The game day atmosphere is so much improved with all the tailgating and stuff, which there was none back in the day. It was very much SEC-like, for lack of a better term. It was great to be there. We need to fill The Boone, every seat, every game... show that we're proud of what we're building.

I apologized to the Dawgs fans around us for \"Cowboys 4Ever\". It still reminds me of that Kansas State abomination from last year. It is a derivative bag of cliches, some of which don't make a lick of sense. At least they used it before the players took the field and not as the entrance song. Any time I had the chance I talked with Dawgs fans before the game begging them not to let the drunken idiots they ran into after the game affect their impressions of Stillwater and Oklahoma State fans.

The game... speaking as a Cowboys fan... I was very impressed with the defense. I was very worried when we let them march down the field and score on the opening possession. But then the D held them to 3 points, and that on a 54 yard field goal. The tackling was much improved, the physicality was much improved (although Georgia's D showed us the level of physicality we want to reach). With only a couple of exceptions, the players were in position to make the plays and not lunging or reaching to make tackles. We gave up a couple of 3rd and 9's, but I can live with that as long as we don't give up any 3rd and 10+, which we didn't. Moreover, when the D needed to make plays they did.

Our special teams was kind of mixed. We had a couple of great plays, and a couple of boneheaded ones. Still, overall, we outplayed UGA on special teams and it certainly helped win the game.

Offensively, the game was a little disappointing for three reasons: 1) Georgia's D was very physical - I still say it will be one of the best we face all year long, 2) we played it very close to the vest, there wasn't much of the playbook that was open, and 3) poor execution and stupid penalties (our all american left tackle jumps???). One thing, there was at least twice in the game when we had Dez in the slot isolated on a linebacker with no help over the top. Our senior QB has got to spot that and check to it - even if he yells, \"Dez! Go long!\" Still, we put enough offense on the field to win the game. If you had told me before the game we would win 24-10 I would have been more than happy with it and couldn't imagine disappointment.

Our offense will play better. If our D can stay that tough then the sky is the limit.

I said before the game I thought winning this game was the key to our season. I still think that. I think we go into the Tejas game undefeated and riding high. Need to whip em.

Now speaking as a Dawgs fan... you can't lose the level of talent like losing Stafford and Moreno and not expect a drop-off. I don't think Cox will be the starting QB by mid-season. I don't think he cost the game, but he sure didn't put the team on his shoulders to win it, either. He's okay. That's it, just okay. Won't get you beat, won't win it for you either. The defense is physical, O-State's offense will put up much better numbers through the course of the season and the game the D played will look more impressive looking back on it.

Now that it's Sept. 7, Go Dawgs! Sic em!

RxCowboy welcome back. Really good post.

Welcome back, sir. Glad to see you. Excellent post; can't say I argue with any of your posts. Now that the Pokes have beaten Georgia...sky's the limit. You have an excellent shot at beating Texas this year -- they have to come to Stillwater -- and Oklahoma isn't going to be able to beat you at Bedlam, I don't think. Congrats! You get to be the latest team Florida destroys in January...unless they don't!

I'll just add... the roughing the receiver penalty was a really bad call. It was a clean hit. Sometimes the breaks go your way, sometimes they don't.