3 Things That Worry Me About Clean, Old-Fashioned... We’re Playing Who??

Happy Thanksgiving to all the readers out there. I’m thankful to have such a great bunch of people to celebrate with, lament with, and ride the rollercoaster of emotions that being a Georgia Bulldog fan brings. I’m also grateful for the wonderful collection of writers on the Dawg Sports staff who never fail to provide a safe haven and respite, as well as a tiny platform of my own. My wish is that everyone is happy and safe, and thanks for spending some of your day with us.

Here is what I’m NOT worried about for Saturday’s tilt against the ‘Cocks from the State of Myrtle Beach and Surrounding Inland Unincorporated Communities:

1) Run Blocking. Okay, more accurately, our runners blocking. Zeus picks up blitzes and stunts like nobody’s business. And though it’s commonly believed Mississippi State got pressure because they played man coverage and brought extra rushers, South Carolina now sees that UGA has the ability to make you pay for such a bold strategy. I honestly don’t think JT Daniels will see the kind of pressure he saw last Saturday night in Athens. Either way, our offensive line has to progress to the mean and block better, and our backs should continue to keep our quarterback mostly upright.

2) Williams-Brice should be nice. I mean, relatively. In late September or even October, catch a noon kickoff there and it’s like a special place in hell due to heat, concrete, and Columbia on general principle. But in late November, after the sun sets, I hear the acres of asphalt really give it a pleasant ambience. At least that’s what I’m told.

3) Jowls. You can keep telling me that Paul Johnson is not the coach of Georgia Tech, and I can keep refusing to believe you. But just because Kirby and Mark Richt beat him out of town and a job doesn’t mean that I won’t get night sweats from fear of facing a triple option come the last Saturday in November. Thankfully, the light of day and a glance at the horribly mutilated, non-sensical, Garity roll-over laden schedule tells me we won’t have to face him and the knee breaking scheme this year.

Now forgive me, as I was weaned at the nipple of Larry Munson’s scratch on AM radio, so here’s what I AM worried about:

1) We are not who we thought we were. 29 yards on designed runs with a relatively healthy backfield and O-line? Giving up 41 completions to an opposing quarterback? Surrendering 330+ yards passing in 3 of the last 4 games? Allowing teams to complete 72% of their pass attempts over the last month? Including Kentucky? We may as well move west of the Mississippi River and see if we can join the BigXII. I look forward to facing Mike Gundy on an annual basis, and developing a rivalry with Jayhawks.

2) Please run the damn ball, Bobo! The last thing I need is for Mike Bobo to suddenly resurrect his offensive coaching acumen and light a fire under the Gamecock passing game and play calling. As DawgOutWest prognosticated Monday, we will likely face true freshman Luke Doty. We haven’t faced a true dual-threat QB this season: Kentucky had a running quarterback but without much of an air game, and Feleipe Franks at Arkansas is serviceable yet not really a quick twitch guy. With so many injuries up front and in back, we don’t need to try and learn something new on the fly. So please Mike, as you love us and as we love you, just send your 190 lb 5’8” scat back into our stacked line over and over, especially on critical third downs.

3) Guess who’s coming to dinner? I know in prior years and prior coaching staffs, the players have been able to visit family for brief periods on Thanksgiving Day before returning to campus and preparing for chop blocks. If I was Coach Smart, I would sell off joyrides in the Kirby-copter to raise funds in order to purchase and cater enough turkeys to fill Stegeman Coliseum with tryptophan. And to keep the players happy, under supervision, exposed to little, and safe.

Call me crazy, just don’t call me late for Thanksgiving leftovers. Sound off in the comments below what worries you about between the Bulldogs of Georgia and the Gamecocks of South Carolina.

And as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!