Sept 21 | Georgia

[Crazy Balki]

TAMU is recruiting very well now with the new coaching regime (6th last year), and has been top 10 / top 15 for several years going back. And they've got a sheet ton of money and the best facilities. Like it or not, they're on the rise. The SEC patch will do a lot recruiting wise. Auburn is recruiting very well too. They've also ranked hire than us 3 out of the last 5 years IIRC in the final poles.

Auburn has always recruited well, but Malzahn cannot develop a QB to save his life. He was handed a 5-star uber talent in Jarrett Stidham and was able to get jack sh*t out of him. Same was the case with Sean White and Jeremy Johnson. Maybe Bo Nix is the guy who breaks the trend, but probably not happening this year as a true freshman. This isn't a Jake Fromm situation where he's being handed the keys to a turbo-charged bulldozer.

A&M seems to be in a similar boat. We'll see if Jimbo can regain his touch with QB's, but since Crablegs left Tallahassee, his QB resume has been weak. It'll be especially tough for them if Elko leaves, which if A&M's defense continues to play well, then I imagine he'll get some quality HC offers.

 

[Irish YJ]

Highly debatable that this is Smart's best team. Most raw talent? I would say yes. But I think of that 2017 team and all of the known commodities they had.

Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Mecole Hardman, Riley Ridley, Terry Godwin, Javon Wims, Trent Thompson, Roquan Smith, Lorenzo Carter, Davin Bellamy, DeAndre Baker, Natrez Patrick. They were not only stacked, but they had great veteran leadership across the board.

As for Auburn, Auburn is not going to beat Bama or Georgia. They have a very good defense, but their offense is simply porous. Bo Nix is gonna have to make some astronomical strides for that to change and Malzahn's recent track record with QB development is not a favorable one. A&M is in a similar boat. Their defense looks good, offense? Questionable. Mond looked very subpar in Death Valley. Yes it's Clemson, but that wasn't the same juggernaut defense that ND went up against last year.

I agree on proven talent vs raw talent. Regardless, UGA is stacked with high star studs. I think you'll see them take big steps forward as the year goes on. I wouldn't want to bet on the @Auburn game late in the year though.

I think Auburn is going to improve as the year goes along too. Malzahn sucks, but I think Nix will end up being pretty good and would not be surprised if they came out on top of some upsets this year. TAMU is trending very well. At the end of the day, there simply aren't a bunch of teams with better upsides aside from the typical top tier teams (Bama, Clemson, OSU, OK, UGA, etc.). LSU with the new look O might join that top tier as well.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I don't recall anyone here shitting themselves over Georgia's superior depth alone. We beat teams with similar to somewhat better team composite ratings all the time.

They're favored because the last time we faced them: (1) we had a stronger team; (2) they were weaker; (3) we had home field advantage... and we still lost. Now we're weaker, they're stronger, we don't have home field advantage, and the match-ups don't favor us either. Thus we're 14-point dogs. No conspiracy there (bookies don't like losing money), and there's no defeatism here either.

Doesn't mean we can't win (we've got about a 25% chance). Doesn't mean we shouldn't even show up to play the game because Georgia has more 5-stars, higher FEI, whatever. But these Randy Marsh-esque posts calling out anyone who's not pumping sunshine are a little tiring.

Both of these are highly debatable.

Georgia was mega stacked that year, especially at RB, WR, LB and DL. Not just talent though, but they were experienced.

We had a very good OL and RB's, but our receiving group was much worse than it is now. DL is better and secondary is light years ahead of where it was in 2017. Not to mention a (sorry Brandon) MUCH better QB.

 

[Irish YJ]

Both of these are highly debatable.

Georgia was mega stacked that year, especially at RB, WR, LB and DL. Not just talent though, but they were experienced.

We had a very good OL and RB's, but our receiving group was much worse than it is now. DL is better and secondary is light years ahead of where it was in 2017. Not to mention a (sorry Brandon) MUCH better QB.

UGA had a true frosh at QB too in 2017 though.

I'm not so high on our WRs just yet. I'd be more optimistic if the young speedy guys were more involved. Claypool is the only starter I'm confident in. LB and iDL worries me.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Georgia was mega stacked that year, especially at RB, WR, LB and DL. Not just talent though, but they were experienced.

As YJ pointed out, they had a true frosh at QB, which meant a lot of that offensive skill talent could be neutralized. Now their QB is a sure-fire 1st-round-draft pick in his 3rd year as a starter behind the best OL in the nation. And they've got just as much talent at RB and WR as they did in '17, it's just less experienced.

But as YJ suggested earlier, if you're so confident the bookies are wrong, go make some money. I will laud you copiously when you post photographic proof of your fat stacks after ND pulls off the upset.

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

Kmet? I keep reading on how much he is going to help. Last year he had 15 catches for 162 yards (176 yards for his career). He is a better blocker but on offense I do not see how he is going to push us over the top. No slight on the kid just curious why people think he is a game-changer.

You do know that college players often take massive leaps from year to year, right? Junior year is generally when you expect players to come into their own, especially at a position like TE where it is hard to contribute early on -- you see this play out at both the college and NFL level every season.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Kmet? I keep reading on how much he is going to help. Last year he had 15 catches for 162 yards (176 yards for his career). He is a better blocker but on offense I do not see how he is going to push us over the top. No slight on the kid just curious why people think he is a game-changer.

I think UGA has the horses (DBs) to defend the outside 50/50 stuff. IMO we'll need crossing and go patterns to be successful.

Combine the two and you have extra weapons in the patterns. Any help you can give Book the better. I'm not saying they are game changers, but any extra hands has the defense playing on their heels.

 

[Irishize]

As YJ pointed out, they had a true frosh at QB, which meant a lot of that offensive skill talent could be neutralized. Now their QB is a sure-fire 1st-round-draft pick in his 3rd year as a starter behind the best OL in the nation. And they've got just as much talent at RB and WR as they did in '17, it's just less experienced.

But as YJ suggested earlier, if you're so confident the bookies are wrong, go make some money. I will laud you copiously when you post photographic proof of your fat stacks after ND pulls off the upset.

What UGA is best at (running the ball)...ND struggles the most at (stopping the run). Like you said, doesn’t mean ND can’t pull off the upset.

 

[ACamp1900]

TAMU is recruiting very well now with the new coaching regime (6th last year), and has been top 10 / top 15 for several years going back. And they've got a sheet ton of money and the best facilities. Like it or not, they're on the rise. The SEC patch will do a lot recruiting wise. Auburn is recruiting very well too. They've also ranked hire than us 3 out of the last 5 years IIRC in the final poles.

Amazing what a schedule that guarantees you a 500 record just for having a pulse right from the word go will do for a program,... I’m not buying this sale, they’re a fraud

 

[SouthernIndianaNDFan]

If ND wins everyone on this thread is gonna be like "Yeah man, I mean I knew they could win...my 673 posts about them getting bent over and railed in EVERY facet of the game was just the negativity that I carry seemingly always when posting on this thread". You'd think this was the f*cking New Mexico Team Forum. And I know, before you say it "We're just being realistic" "Rose colored glasses derp derp". What I know is this team recruits really well, and we have the players to go down there and win this game. Idc how good NM is, to beat a team that damn badly you gotta have some dogs. To beat a team like that when you're using maybe 50% of the playbook, and trying to find the right combination of guys to use against UGa, is really impressive. I know most of you guys don't, but I expect a win...or at least a damn good game that goes down to the wire in Primetime. GO IRISH

 

[T-Boone]

The reason we lost in 17 was because Wimbush in his second game as starter struggled in the passing game and so Georgia was able to stuff the middle. If you put this Book into that game we probably win it by 10.

 

[Crazy Balki]

UGA had a true frosh at QB too in 2017 though.

I'm not so high on our WRs just yet. I'd be more optimistic if the young speedy guys were more involved. Claypool is the only starter I'm confident in. LB and iDL worries me.

Yeah, and Fromm as a true freshman was a better passer than what ND had in Wimbush. He also had a better receiving corp in 2017 than he currently has.

Claypool is a much better version of himself than in 2017. EQ was good, but inconsistent. Then we had a large hole at the 3rd receiver position. So two inconsistent receivers and nothing in the slot. Sorry, but the receivers now are a massive upgrade.

LB worries me. Interior DL not so much. I've liked what I've seen so far from MTA and Ademilola. Hinish is consistent and he tends to show up in big games.

 

[tko]

The reason we lost in 17 was because Wimbush struggled in the passing game and so Georgia was able to stuff the middle. If you put this Book into that game we probably win it by 10.

Not to mention the hit on Fromm out of bounds on third down.

 

[Crazy Balki]

As YJ pointed out, they had a true frosh at QB, which meant a lot of that offensive skill talent could be neutralized. Now their QB is a sure-fire 1st-round-draft pick in his 3rd year as a starter behind the best OL in the nation. And they've got just as much talent at RB and WR as they did in '17, it's just less experienced.

But as YJ suggested earlier, if you're so confident the bookies are wrong, go make some money. I will laud you copiously when you post photographic proof of your fat stacks after ND pulls off the upset.

I guess somebody forgot to tell just about every opponent that Georgia faced in 2017. Their offensive talent that year was definitely not neutralized. Only teams that had any real remote success against them were us, Auburn the first time and Alabama. All of those teams had good defenses, but Georgia came back against Auburn and was successful.

For the sake of argument, I'll agree that they're as talented at RB. Chubb and Michel is kind of hard to top though, even with a back as good as Swift. But I think we're forgetting how good that receiving corp was. They were all pretty much upperclassmen. Terry Godwin, Javon Wims, Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman. That group was insanely stacked. Doesn't mean they lack talent, but this group is much more unproven and inexperienced.

 

[Cali_domer]

The reason we lost in 17 was because Wimbush in his second game as starter struggled in the passing game and so Georgia was able to stuff the middle. If you put this Book into that game we probably win it by 10.

This Georgia is not the 17 Georgia. It's raining 5 stars with them since then.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If ND wins everyone on this thread is gonna be like "Yeah man, I mean I knew they could win...my 673 posts about them getting bent over and railed in EVERY facet of the game was just the negativity that I carry seemingly always when posting on this thread". You'd think this was the f*cking New Mexico Team Forum. And I know, before you say it "We're just being realistic" "Rose colored glasses derp derp". What I know is this team recruits really well, and we have the players to go down there and win this game. Idc how good NM is, to beat a team that damn badly you gotta have some dogs. To beat a team like that when you're using maybe 50% of the playbook, and trying to find the right combination of guys to use against UGa, is really impressive. I know most of you guys don't, but I expect a win...or at least a damn good game that goes down to the wire in Primetime. GO IRISH

The sharps give us a 25% chance to win. That sounds about right to me. If I was going to bet, I'd take ND to cover, but not to win outright. I'll be thrilled with a win, content if we cover and at least look like we belong on the same field as Georgia, and upset if we get blown off the field.

 

[T-Boone]

Not to mention the hit on Fromm out of bounds on third down.

And a dubious over rule on a Georgia fake touchdown.

 

[T-Boone]

This Georgia is not the 17 Georgia. It's raining 5 stars with them since then.

True but if our 5 star defensive ends bring their a-game maybe we can keep it interesting.

 

[T-Boone]

We don't have to completely stop their run game - thankfully. We just have to make Fromm pass more than he would like with less time than he would like. From there just see how it goes.

 

[Crazy Balki]

This Georgia is not the 17 Georgia. It's raining 5 stars with them since then.

It's been raining 5-stars in Georgia for years. That's a big reason why Richt was canned, because he struggled to get his talented squads over the hump.

That 2017 team was stacked as well, but they also had a ton of experience and leadership.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

For the sake of argument, I'll agree that they're as talented at RB. Chubb and Michel is kind of hard to top though, even with a back as good as Swift. But I think we're forgetting how good that receiving corp was. They were all pretty much upperclassmen. Terry Godwin, Javon Wims, Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman. That group was insanely stacked. Doesn't mean they lack talent, but this group is much more unproven and inexperienced.

I don't disagree here. Their offense versus our defense isn't a total mismatch (particularly if we can force them off-schedule), and I trust Lea to keep us in the game. It's our offense versus their defense that I don't feel good about. Long has blown out a lot of teams with bad to mediocre defenses over the last two years (which is a very refreshing improvement!), but he hasn't shown that he can hang enough points on an elite defense for us to win yet.

 

[Irish YJ]

Yeah, and Fromm as a true freshman was a better passer than what ND had in Wimbush. He also had a better receiving corp in 2017 than he currently has.

Claypool is a much better version of himself than in 2017. EQ was good, but inconsistent. Then we had a large hole at the 3rd receiver position. So two inconsistent receivers and nothing in the slot. Sorry, but the receivers now are a massive upgrade.

LB worries me. Interior DL not so much. I've liked what I've seen so far from MTA and Ademilola. Hinish is consistent and he tends to show up in big games.

I'd be happier with Finkster at the slot, and I'm not sold on McKinley (especially against UGA's DBs). Overall, I love Claypool, but would prefer the youngsters in the other two spots. I just think we'll need more speed vs UGA.

 

[Cali_domer]

It's been raining 5-stars in Georgia for years. That's a big reason why Richt was canned, because he struggled to get his talented squads over the hump.

That 2017 team was stacked as well, but they also had a ton of experience and leadership.

look at their last 3 or so years. The classes are another level. Richt recruited really good, but not as good as they do now.

 

[Irish YJ]

It's been raining 5-stars in Georgia for years. That's a big reason why Richt was canned, because he struggled to get his talented squads over the hump.

That 2017 team was stacked as well, but they also had a ton of experience and leadership.

Not like the last couple years. Twelve 5 star kids in 2 years. I don't think UGA has ever had the many in a two year period.

 

[stlnd01]

I'd be happier with Finkster at the slot, and I'm not sold on McKinley (especially against UGA's DBs). Overall, I love Claypool, but would prefer the youngsters in the other two spots. I just think we'll need more speed vs UGA.

We'll probably need to mix it up. Agree that Lenzy and Keys need to get the ball in their hands. But Book does seem to benefit from big targets on the outside (like McKinley). And Finke perhaps our most reliable pass catcher. We can go with a few different looks at WR, and that'd be a good thing.

 

[Irishize]

This Georgia is not the 17 Georgia. It's raining 5 stars with them since then.

As good as Richt recruited...Smart has taken it to another level these past three seasons.

https://www.dawgnation.com/football...tly-recruiting-highest-level-recorded-history

 

[calvegas04]

I assume ND isn't take the band? Kind of annoying they only take their band to one away game a season. Other lesser schools always take theirs

 

[Cali_domer]

As good as Richt recruited...Smart has taken it to another level these past three seasons.

https://www.dawgnation.com/football...tly-recruiting-highest-level-recorded-history

Yep, night before the games is usually when hope springs eternal and people determine we're gonna kick butt.

 

[Irish YJ]

We'll probably need to mix it up. Agree that Lenzy and Keys need to get the ball in their hands. But Book does seem to benefit from big targets on the outside (like McKinley). And Finke perhaps our most reliable pass catcher. We can go with a few different looks at WR, and that'd be a good thing.

I think Book likes anyone that's open... He's had to settle for a lot of outside primary reads that become more like 50/50 tosses due to lack of separation. It's great and all that our guys are big bodied and good at contested catches, but I think improved separation would benefit Book even more. The 50/50 stuff works with average or below average DBs, but UGA DBs are no joke. My biggest fear is a pick 6 on a toss to a slow McKinley where the UGA DB is simply so much faster (they all have great verts too) that it's more of a 30/70 ball lol.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Yep, night before the games is usually when hope springs eternal and people determine we're gonna kick butt.

Alcohol will do that to a muthaloofa