"3-0 but we focus on the process"
That was a sign I saw on Gameday Saturday morning. I think it's probably even more applicable now then it was before the game (except for the fact that we're 3-1 now). Before the season I predicted we would lose to UGA and LSU, and tonight I saw nothing to make me change my mind. Does the loss sting? Absolutely. But I don't think anyone was expecting this year's team to win championships. I think some people may have let the first three games fool them into thinking we were back among the elite, but we aren't there yet. We're making progress, but "the focus is on the process."
I thought the game was a contrast in maturity. I don't mean maturity of players or coaches or schemes. I mean maturity of programs. Richt's system has been in place at UGA for years now and it shows. Every player was recruited to fit into the scheme, and they all know their place in it. Their team may be young but the plan is not. Alabama, on the other hand, has just begun building a program. There is a clear direction as to where we are going, but we aren't there yet. Tonight was another step down the road to the goal.
Tonight was not a perfect game. It was not even close. The defense played well considering how long they were on the field, but the pass rush was poor and run defense was inconsistent. The offense did not have a good game. Wilson looked lost at times against the zone and missed several sure touchdown passes that would have won the game for us (this has been a recurring theme for a while now). Playcalling was questionable at times -- what happened to the run? Our running game may have been inconsistent but I did not see any attempt to wear the Dawgs down. We seem to have two modes: the "normal" mode, in which we attempt to hit big plays at the expense of sustaining drives, and the "hurry up" mode, in which we suddenly are able to drive down the field as if it were nothing.
However, despite all of these problems, when time expired the score was tied. We may have been down by 10 on two separate occasions but we didn't stop fighting. We kept playing our game and we were able to fight our way back. I've seen some people on the board say we were lucky not to be blown out, but I don't think that is the case at all. We weren't blown out because we never gave up and never panicked. That in itself is a welcome change from last year.
So am I disappointed with the loss? Absolutely. Very much so. But I know that we are still moving in the right direction and I couldn't be more optimistic about the future. I have all faith that both coaches and players will learn lessons from this game and will continue to improve week by week.
Good game, Dawgs, but watch out next year in Athens.
Roll Tide!
That was a sign I saw on Gameday Saturday morning. I think it's probably even more applicable now then it was before the game (except for the fact that we're 3-1 now). Before the season I predicted we would lose to UGA and LSU, and tonight I saw nothing to make me change my mind. Does the loss sting? Absolutely. But I don't think anyone was expecting this year's team to win championships. I think some people may have let the first three games fool them into thinking we were back among the elite, but we aren't there yet. We're making progress, but "the focus is on the process."
I thought the game was a contrast in maturity. I don't mean maturity of players or coaches or schemes. I mean maturity of programs. Richt's system has been in place at UGA for years now and it shows. Every player was recruited to fit into the scheme, and they all know their place in it. Their team may be young but the plan is not. Alabama, on the other hand, has just begun building a program. There is a clear direction as to where we are going, but we aren't there yet. Tonight was another step down the road to the goal.
Tonight was not a perfect game. It was not even close. The defense played well considering how long they were on the field, but the pass rush was poor and run defense was inconsistent. The offense did not have a good game. Wilson looked lost at times against the zone and missed several sure touchdown passes that would have won the game for us (this has been a recurring theme for a while now). Playcalling was questionable at times -- what happened to the run? Our running game may have been inconsistent but I did not see any attempt to wear the Dawgs down. We seem to have two modes: the "normal" mode, in which we attempt to hit big plays at the expense of sustaining drives, and the "hurry up" mode, in which we suddenly are able to drive down the field as if it were nothing.
However, despite all of these problems, when time expired the score was tied. We may have been down by 10 on two separate occasions but we didn't stop fighting. We kept playing our game and we were able to fight our way back. I've seen some people on the board say we were lucky not to be blown out, but I don't think that is the case at all. We weren't blown out because we never gave up and never panicked. That in itself is a welcome change from last year.
So am I disappointed with the loss? Absolutely. Very much so. But I know that we are still moving in the right direction and I couldn't be more optimistic about the future. I have all faith that both coaches and players will learn lessons from this game and will continue to improve week by week.
Good game, Dawgs, but watch out next year in Athens.
Roll Tide!
