I've been doing a lot of reading on LSU forums, paying attention to the media talking heads, reading this, reading that, talking to the peanut gallery and getting an overall feel for what the general opinion on this game is. Thus far, this is the overwhelming take I've seen on the game:
- Georgia is only there because of a weak East
- Yes, Georgia's defense is elite, but still no match for LSU
- Fromm is finally showing his colors as a QB that has been the product of good receivers, until now
- Georgia's offense is inept
- Georgia's defense hasn't faced a top 25 offense all season
- Georgia would do well to just forfeit the game and save the embarrassment
My take on the game is this:
Anyone who has been on this forum for any period of time, going back to the midst of CMR's days at the helm of UGA, will remember the fact that all of us lamented not having any O line or D line of size. Specifically, the noise was the loudest about this deficiency in 2015 when Bama and Kirby came into Athens and destroyed us. What was the general take on that loss? That Bama's lines were so dominant that it was embarrassing; like their men playing against our boys. And more specifically, that the SEC elite had lines that dominated the line of scrimmage.
Coach O had a very serious look in his eye in his Monday presser when he said "this will be the best offensive and defensive line we've seen all year." Bingo. He knows. Take all that chatter and crap spewing I posted above and ignore it. Elite SEC programs have elite lines, and with elite lines, ANYTHING can happen.
If Georgia is to pull this game out, it's going to be getting back to the basics of our brand of football. What Kirby has done with a defense that, by his own admission, isn't loaded with star power, is nothing short of amazing. That defense is going to be challenged downfield any number of times this coming week. LSU loves to spread it out with 4 wideouts. They're going to take their shots. If our D can slow that down, this game becomes very different from what the talking heads say it will be. Our lines are better than LSU's lines. Take that to the bank and cash it. If they can pressure Burrow and make LSU transition to a run-first offense, then we have turned the tables on them. If we give up the deep ball in this game, then we're putting ourselves behind the 8 ball and having to play keep-up with LSU and it's pretty much game over.
We need our offense to play some efficient pitch and catch this Saturday. Move the chains and give the defense their rest. That's going to be the key to victory for me. The defense will win this game, but the offense absolutely has got to help them. I don't care if it's a 20 play drive from our own 1 yard line at 5 yards a pop. Move the chains. Give the D their rest. If they're exhausted out there, this thing gets ugly quick.