Josh Carr
3 days ago3 min
I have always thought it was funny watching fanbases lament losses. While UGA’s failures are the least funny, our fanbase is far from immune to the lunacy that follows a disappointing game. I have to be honest, I think Florida is a lesser team, and I still believe we could have and should have won. Even though that aspect increases the pain factor, let’s try not to lose our heads.
As far as offensive and defensive production goes, we were operating at around 50% due to injuries by the end of the game. This is overwhelming, and no star talent replaces experience or cohesion on any team. This was most evident last Saturday in the linebacker and secondary.
Between the missed coverages and confusion, the pick plays torched the Georgia defense. The hot take here was that our defense was overrated… Let me assure you. Our defense is not overrated. I would say just the opposite. The only times we’ve given up any significant rushing yardage was when we were against a pass-heavy team. The big plays we’ve given up, for the most part, have either been due to a hero type play on the offense with a defender in their face or a defensive back falling down. This defense is loaded with NFL talent, and they are disciplined, fearless, and hungry.
Offensively, taking George Pickens out of the equation creates a situation where defenses can scheme to stop the run and feel comfortable in their coverage packages. Especially with our inexperience at WR and lackluster quarterback play.
Let’s just agree that it is a bad situation, and combined with the injuries and inexperience in the wide receiving core. The offense has been rendered ineffective. We’re not as bad as we look. Now that we have our offensive line set and performing well, we have run the ball effectively against 6 and 7 man fronts.
It is worth noting that Florida often had eight available for run support. The best thing about our offense so far is the potential. We’ve had receivers open, great running back play, and we have shown stints of being efficient. Our offense has promise, and the scheme is incredibly useful. The only missing piece is the quarterback. Our receivers have done enough this year for us to be fair, and our receiver room will only get better.
My second favorite hot take is that Kirby can’t win the big game and can’t win a national championship. In my mind, this is absurd. He has gotten us on the doorstep multiple times now. He’s brought us within one play of winning one and close to another trip to the College Football Playoffs.
Teams do not get opportunities at a National Championship without having a great coach. We have had big wins every year against incredible adversity. Let’s not complain that we haven’t beaten Alabama and haven’t won a National Championship. We’re still the third-best team in the nation the last three seasons combined. Only behind the best college football coach, there has ever been in Saban and another coach that I believe is on the same trajectory in Dabo Swinney. We have fully arrived at a spoiled fan base status, and I, for one, will enjoy our time here in the light because lord knows it will not last forever. If we hang around here long enough, we’ll get our championship and maybe a few of them. I won’t be surprised with Kirby’s tenacity if he gets on the same trajectory as Dabo.
My last and favorite hot take is that it is time to fire Kirby. I have always been and will always be surprised when fanbases want to fire a coach over a two-loss season. Especially in our situation with a QB opt-out. The only two spots where we didn’t stretch our depth Saturday were the offensive line and running back.
I believe that Kirby is doing exceptionally well, but his miscues with the quarterbacks have been exacerbated with injuries and lack of depth at wide receiver. You would be hard-pressed to convince me that he hasn’t aggressively gone about fixing those issues.
Remember 2018, when our special teams were a mess or the last two years, we were all complaining about not getting enough sacks. Those problems are well in the rearview now. I trust that our quarterback problems will soon be as well. If there’s one thing we know about Kirby, it is that he recognizes and fixes deficiencies. He’s a great coach, and we’re all benefiting from his efforts. Please stop with the fire Kirby nonsense.
One last thing to keep in mind, a recent tweet from our friend Brooks Austin made the point that Kirby has a higher win percentage through 62 games than Dabo, Saban, Bear Bryant, and Bobby Bowden. If that doesn’t give us some perspective of how fortunate we are I’m now sure what will.