As I said yesterday, I had other important matters to attend to yesterday. But I'll be danged if I'm going to allow you to tailgate for tomorrow evening's contest against the Arkansas Razorbacks without a game themed beverage.
Last Saturday the Georgia secondary and linebacking corps gave up tons of passing yardage. To Stephen Garcia. Yeah, that Stephen Garcia. Now it may have been Garcia's coming out party. He may be on his way to greatness that will make Chris Smelley's illustrious Gamecock career pale in comparison. But I'm not convinced.
Like Mark Richt, I tend to think that we need to work on our fundamentals. There was too much open space on a lot of those intermediate routes, and more than one short completion was turned into a big gain by poor tackling. While the defense didn't give away all of the good will it earned during an excellent performance out in Stillwater, and there were some stellar moments, one got the impression that this defense still hasn't recaptured the Junkyard essense of old. That essence is built on solid fundament coverage and tackling.
This week I believe you should go back and review the fundamentals as well. That's why we're going with the go to cocktail for southern football. Bourbon.
Seriously, it's not just for breakfast anymore. Bourbon is versatile like an all-conference sam linebacker, smooth enough to cover the tight end in space yet strong enough to come up and hit like a ton of bricks. Of course, bourbon has a checkered past as a pregame cocktail here. It was the choice before the 2007 Auburn game. And performed well during the 2007 Kentucky contest. But conversely, it was also the choice for the 2008 Kentucky game, a near disaster. Like this defense, bourbon has a world of potential but is still searching for its identity as Dawgsports's pregame beverage of choice. This week will tell a lot for it, just like this defense.
You can certainly choose your own bourbon (assuming of course that you're of age to do so). But if you're looking for guidance, may I suggest Buffalo Trace 90 proof Kentucky bourbon? It is allegedly the first commercially marketed single barrel bourbon, and the first commercial bourbon shipped down the Mississippi River. I just know that it's smooth and has a flavor that's not syrupy or overly charcoaled and mixes well in a variety of drinks. It does what you ask it to in a variety of situations, which is exactly what we'd like this defense to grow into.
Don't let us down bourbon. We're all counting on you.
Until tomorrow . . .
Go 'Dawgs!!!