Xs and Os: Good and bad from Georgia’s season-opening win
We got our first look at the 2023 version of the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday. The good news is that they won 48-7. The bad news is that they looked discombobulated in the first half before getting it rolling to a much larger extent in the second. The Bulldogs managed just 17 points against FCS program UT-Martin, but it turned it on in the final two quarters. DawgsHQ has reviewed the entire game and we’ve singled out seven plays that stood out. Take a look at those below in our Xs and Os series.
Carson Beck is a little late, but why?
I thought Beck stared his man down when I saw this play live but after a second glance, it looks like it might have been a case of right defensive call at the right time. Based on leverage and off quarters coverage to Beck’s right, that’s where the ball needs to go.
It looks like he wants to go to Oscar Delp because the linebacker is way inside. The problem is that No. 7 for UT-Martin, the edge defender, robs that route. He drops underneath it and takes away the easy first-down throw. Beck then decides to work to the outside when, in reality, he probably should of come back to the other side of the field or thrown the ball away.
I’d also like to point out C.J. Smith’s route. It’s a tad sloppy. It’s supposed to be rounded off because it’s a speed out but it’s not supposed to drive a yard and a half to two yards up field. If he takes that perpendicular to the sideline, it has a much better shot of being complete.
Nice design, poor execution
This is not an attempt to point a finger because, in the end, calls, plans, schemes, and execution all go back to the coaching. But this play is a strong design that didn’t work because, as Kirby Smart said after the game, a first-year starter isn’t on the same page with his new receiver.
I really like this call on 3rd and 3. The motion forces the Skyhawks to communicate. It’s effective eye candy. The bunch formation allows Dominic Lovett to get lost. He also runs a crisp route at the perfect pace for it to work well. But instead of hooking it up, Lovett angles in. Beck throws it behind him because he expects Lovett to sit down for an easy first down. Growing pains.
Perfect defense…
Georgia did plenty wrong on defense Saturday but not on this play. In fact, this is exactly how you play the screen game and it goes beyond the guy who makes the play. Tykee Smith eyeballs the flat motion coming right at him. At that point he already starts getting width so that he can keep contain. When the ball is snapped, Smith gets more width so as to not lose the flank.
When he reads the block and sees the quarterback, Smith fires his gun immediately. He’s flying downhill with outside leverage, making the tackle for loss. That’s impressive but just as impressive is Javon Bullard from the inside. Georgia has this clamps on this play as Bullard is working a “J” angle from the inside out to clean up if Smith is unable to get his guy on the ground. Even if the tight end is able to get a hat on Smith, Bullard would be there to blow things up.
All wrong…
When I first watched this play I was going to give conditionally criticize Kendall Milton for not bouncing it off right tackle. Yes, it’s very easy to criticize a running back for missing something when you’re up high and seeing it from an angle that he’ll never see it from. I still think he could have taking it right off Delp’s hip for a good gain, though.
But that’s not what went wrong on this play. It looks to me like there is a significant mixup because Beck is treating this like a zone read while, as will become more clear with the next play, Brock Bowers and Dillon Bell are executing an RPO concept.
Beck’s eyes are in the right spot. He’s reading the off-ball linebacker to his left but instead of pulling it and hitting Bowers, who is getting a legal pick from Bell, he hands it and carries out a zone read fake. If he pulls this and hits Bowers, it’s a big play. I could be wrong but this looks like an instance of not being on the same page.
Here’s what it looks like…
This is what the previous play should have looked like. This is a good execution and a strong RPO concept. It’s similar to the one that Monken used to score with Bowers in the National Championship game vs. Alabama and the Orange Bowl vs. Michigan except with a wrinkle.
Instead of relying completely on the read with a blocker out front, it appears as if Bobo has implemented a pick element to the play. It gets Bowers open and into space quicker. Another wrinkle is the way Bowers comes in motion on the play. Monken’s version of this RPO often had Bowers in a three-point stance on the end of the line of scrimmage, sometimes beside the guard with the offensive tackle flipping to the other side. But Bobo has installed a concept where Bowers splits out, comes down in motion, and sells it like a split zone movement before releasing. The result speaks for itself.
Basic + execution can still = a big play
This is good design but nothing special. It’s a nice throw, a great route, and a strong concept, but it’s one you’ll find in just about every offense. It’s an example of how good execution of general offensive concepts can be really effective.
It starts with a solid play fake. Then you get to C.J. Smith‘s route where he hesitates for a split second to sell himself as a blocker before releasing for the deep over. Rara Thomas helps out as well because he immediately engages the guy on his nose like he’s blocking. He’s wide open when he releases, too, and the fact that he’s in space pulls the linebacker down to create more room for Smith. Beck sees that and knows where the ball is supposed to go.
Mekhi Mews moves the needle, assists with big play
Brock Vandagriff is in the game and he’s looking for his first career completion. Considering Mews had just snapped off a long touchdown and has three catches for 75 yards in the game, why not use him as a decoy?
Mews goes in flat motion and you can see how it gains the attention of the safety. He follows the motion to the inside giving Thomas a vertical release into space with a chance to get outside of him and inside of the cornerback. Combine that movement and disruption with the play fake and this is the perfect way to attack quarters coverage. The safety, due to the eye candy from the motion and the fake, is late opening up and running and that allows Thomas to take the top off. Great ball from Vandagriff, too.
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