Watching the Georgia Bulldogs thoroughly dominate a top fifteen opponent results in very mixed reactions for me. My inner Larry Munson relentlessly tells me that the other team is grossly overrated and that we really aren't that good because there are 100 things wrong with our team and we just don't have the pieces we need to compete. On the other hand, my inner child relishes every moment of such a severe beatdown, abused as that inner child was by Ray Goff and Jim Donnan. And Willy Martinez. Like every human, there is a barbaric savage deep inside of me. And that inner savage really enjoys watching Georgia beat the breaks off of a good team.
I'm guessing the reality of what I witnessed Saturday afternoon is somewhere between Oregon is not ready for prime time, and the dawgs are a really good football team. Others have already written extensively on this game, and they are all smarter than me, but I'm still experiencing the thrill of victory, so I would like to weigh in. My boss is an Auburn fan and my bartender is a Bama fan, and they've heard all they want from me about this win, so I have to do it here. (All friendly, of course-it's not conference play, after all, and we all want the SEC to win. Except Florida, I just want their non-conference opponents to lose when they play Florida.)
Defensively, we gave up some yards and plays, but no big plays-which indicates improved secondary play. I expected the secondary to be the weakness of this team, and the PAC-12, for all it's weaknesses, does care a lot about throwing the football around. That our corners and safeties pretty much told them that they couldn't do that (and pressure from the front seven, of course) was a welcome surprise. I mean, sure, Bo Nix, but still. Honestly, I feel almost bad for that guy. To go 0-4 against UGA is going to stay with him for a while, and it wouldn't surprise me if it forever taints his relationship with his father. Plus, there are now two coasts in the United States that shake their head at his inconsistency. Well, three if you count the gulf coast.
Offensively, Stetson Bennett was surgical. I don't recall ever seeing a Georgia QB so mercilessly and consistently pick apart an opposing defense. Todd Monken should get a role in the new Amazon LOTR series, because that dude is a wizard. I'm pretty sure he is the highest paid coordinator in College Football, and I'm pretty sure he is underpaid. Now, I do think Oregon's defense isn't on the level of what we will see in conference play, but they aren't an FCS defense, either. That game plan and play calling was a master class in exploiting any and every opening available.
I'd expected my euphoria to wane a bit by today, but instead I find myself really excited about what this team can do. In years past, when I felt this way, I knew that meant we would lose to Florida and blow a lead against South Carolina, but I don't feel that way today. I'm not comfortable with that feeling because of the aforementioned child abuse, which means I need to watch the replay and hyper-focus on any mistakes I see, and prepare to have my heart broken by what I'm sure is the best long snappah in all of football this weekend against Samford.
For now, though, I'm going to cherish this victory and pull for the Ducks to win the PAC-12. I may even take up duck hunting just so I can relive what it felt like to watch the Dawgs absolutely eviscerate Oregon. I mean, probably not, as that involves getting up really early and sitting in the cold near water, and I'm unlikely to do that. Maybe I'll just break out an old Nintendo and fire off a few rounds that way. Also, I can stand by my preseason predictions this week, so there is that. I'm going to go watch the replay now and hope it tempers my enthusiasm so I don't curse the Dawgs. Until next time, may your (duck) soup be warm, you beer cold, and your bar tab affordable. Go Dawgs!