Media/$9.95-er postgame analysis articles (Week 8)

[satyanash 14281]

Collecting post-game $9.95-er articles from the UGA game here:

(Gerald Goodridge) No. 1 Texas loses ugly to No. 5 Georgia: Three things we learned

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This was a chance for the No. 1 Texas Longhorns to show that they truly belonged in the upper echelon of both the SEC and college football at large. While they managed to make it respectable late, the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs looked quite a bit better than Texas in several facets of the game, especially in the trenches.

The offensive line can be bullied

It’s fitting that the game's final play featured a Georgia defender harrying Ewers as he threw up a desperate pass toward the end zone. The Bulldogs sacked the quarterback seven times and came away with 10 tackles for loss, led by the efforts of Jalon Walker who abused both Kelvin Banks and Cameron Williams early and often, two players with a lot of early-round NFL Draft buzz heading into the contest. Nine different players recorded a tackle for loss in the contest and UGA recorded eight tackles for loss and three strip sacks in the contest, eventually prompting quarterback changes from Texas. Not all of it is on the offensive line, with both quarterbacks struggling to process and get the ball out quickly.

Texas can’t survive slow offensive starts

A week ago, Texas started slow but got it going late to beat Oklahoma, but it’s clear the Oklahoma Sooners aren’t as talented as Georgia. Where last week was a slow-cooker win over a rival, Texas couldn’t catch up with the Bulldogs. Texas trailed by 23 points at halftime and managed just 38 yards in the first 30 minutes of play. Even with second-half heroics, there just wasn’t enough time to fully recover. Texas did what you needed to in the third quarter to get back in the game, scoring 15 unanswered points to close the game to one score. But the first-half deficit meant that Georgia changed the entire game state with a few long drives, even if they didn’t result in points. Then, one long scoring drive was effectively a knockout blow, changing how the offense approached the game.

Complimentary offense is still a need

Going into the game, forcing Carson Beck to make bad reads and bad plays was a key to victory for Texas, but the quarterback’s struggles only seemed to highlight Texas’s. Georgia’s first three drives were a three-and-out and a pair of interceptions by Beck, gifting Texas good field position. Texas responded with a pair of punts and a fumble, giving that field position right back to Georgia, and letting them capitalize. In the second half, Texas opened with a touchdown and a defensive stop, an opportunity to get the game back into a surmountable deficit. But, once again, Texas turned it over on downs in response and the offense stagnated. In the fourth quarter with the game on the line, the defense managed two stops, putting the ball back in the offense’s hand. resulted in a turnover on downs that took four minutes off of the clock and another that took one minute. Emblematic of this, Texas went without a third down conversion until the fourth quarter, a 3rd and 2 toss from Quinn Ewers to Ryan Wingo.

Sam Khan Jr.: Georgia knocks off No. 1 Texas as Quinn Ewers’ struggles loom large

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Georgia made a huge statement on Saturday night, earning a convincing 30-15 road win over No. 1 Texas and further upending the SEC and College Football Playoff pictures. The No. 5 Bulldogs, who entered the game betting underdogs for the first time since their 2021 season opener — a span of 50 games — jumped out to a 23-0 halftime lead and staved off a second-half comeback effort. The top-five showdown was filled with drama, including a temporary first-half quarterback change from Quinn Ewers to Arch Manning after Texas’ early struggles, and an overturned defensive pass interference call by officials after Longhorn fans threw debris onto the field late in the third quarter.

Let’s take a look at what went down and the implications of the result for both teams.

Georgia’s season is rejuvenated

Before this season began, if you told Georgia it would get a split of the Alabama and Texas road games, most Bulldogs would have taken it. But after losing at Alabama in heartbreaking fashion and not looking close to dominant in wins over Kentucky, Auburn and Mississippi State, it was an open question whether this team was any good, and whether this season was going anywhere. Now Georgia is back, to borrow a phrase from their opponent.

There’s still work to do, especially with a trip to Ole Miss and a visit from Tennessee coming. (Florida, Georgia’s next opponent, also has looked better lately.) But Georgia is now back in position to make the SEC championship, owning the tiebreaker over Texas, and with Alabama having two losses. The Bulldogs are in even better position for the College Football Playoff. Again, there’s work still to do, but this win and the season opening blowout of Clemson will be very helpful. There’s also the psychological lift, for the team and the program: Georgia remains at the top of the college football hill, at least for now, delivering a message both to the rest of the nation and its own fans, who had grown restless and fretful the last few weeks. — Seth Emerson

Georgia defense carries the day

For a half, this looked like the 2021 Georgia defense all over again: five sacks — three by Jalon Walker — and three forced turnovers, two of them by cornerback Daylen Everette. The Bulldogs flustered Texas into a brief quarterback switch and shut down the edge runs that had plagued them for much of the season. Texas’ first six drives of the game netted only 15 yards. The second half got dicey, with Georgia giving up two touchdowns on relatively short fields, one after the controversial interception/overturned pass interference, the other after Georgia for some reason squib-kicked the second half kickoff. But the defense held on a key fourth-quarter drive.

As for Georgia’s offense, Beck struggled for much of the night, throwing three interceptions and struggling to find downfield success. But when it mattered most, Beck came up big: Facing third-and-long from his own 10 with a one-possession lead late in the third quarter, Beck hit Arian Smith for a 21-yard gain. On the next play, Georgia whipped out a trick play: a double-reverse flea flicker, leaving tight end Oscar Delp wide open for a 43-yard gain down to the Texas 30. Georgia eventually got the touchdown to give itself some breathing room. — Emerson

Texas’ slow start looms large

Texas fell into a 23-0 hole after early setbacks in the turnover and field position battles. Georgia only had 170 yards at halftime and had turned the ball over twice, but 20 of those 23 points came on four drives that started inside the Texas 35-yard line, and three of those four drives came off Texas turnovers. Ewers looked lost early, and Texas’ offense did absolutely nothing out of the gate, with 15 total yards in its first 23 plays. It’s hard to put it all on Ewers, as the Longhorns couldn’t run the ball or block in the first half, but Ewers’ inability to evade pressure or get the ball off quick enough hurt the offense. Ewers has come out looking less than sharp in both of his starts since returning from the oblique injury. The Longhorns played better in the second half as Ewers returned to the game, scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter, but the hole was too deep to climb out of. — Chris Vannini

What now for the Longhorns?

This was an absolute wake up call for Texas, which had plenty of folks singing their praises as they cruised to a No. 1 ranking on the heels of six dominating wins. Skeptics questioned the strength of their schedule and were validated in the first half, as Georgia met the Longhorns with a level of speed and physicality they hadn’t seen all season long. The Longhorns managed just 38 yards and looked outclassed by the Dawgs in the first two quarters. They were unable to go sideline-to-sideline or downhill as Georgia met Texas with force every step of the way. The Longhorns’ recovery to make it a game in the second half was encouraging, but they couldn’t finish. Any thoughts of Texas waltzing into the SEC championship game go on hold for the moment.

What does it mean for the Longhorns’ College Football Playoff hopes? Those will still be intact, as they’ll still be viewed as a top-10 team, despite this result. But it reduces their margin for error. Texas will need to finish strong like it did last season after a midseason blip against Oklahoma (the Longhorns won seven in a row to earn a spot in the 2023 Playoff). Everything is still in front of the Longhorns if they can avoid further hiccups. But they have to start quicker. Saturday night was the second straight game they went scoreless in the first quarter, and they have to take better care of the ball. They committed four turnovers on Saturday night and have committed 11 in their last five games. — Sam Khan Jr.

Texas’ fascinating QB situation

Two days before Saturday’s game, Sarkisian tersely brushed off a question about what it would take for him to consider changing quarterbacks mid-game from Quinn Ewers to Arch Manning. But we found out what it took: an anemic offensive start against a top-five team. Manning’s athleticism added a different element for Georgia’s defense to account for, but he didn’t have much more success. Texas did not score and covered only 33 yards on the two drives Manning led. His final play of the night was emblematic of Texas’ struggles: Manning was sacked and fumbled and Georgia recovered.

At halftime, Sarkisian told ESPN’s Holly Rowe that he made the change in hopes of getting Ewers to settle down, and it looked like that strategy worked. In the second half, Ewers returned and led a touchdown drive to open the third quarter. He was much more confident and comfortable, looking more like the Ewers that the Longhorns have come to know in his time on the Forty Acres. Ewers, with the help of a critical interception return by Jahdae Barron, got the Longhorns to within one possession late in the third quarter. But Texas couldn’t finish as Georgia kept coming at Ewers. Mykel Williams forced another Ewers fumble with 10:23 left in the game, thwarting a Texas drive in Georgia territory.

Some may wonder if this creates a quarterback controversy at Texas. The way Sarkisian handled it — and the way Ewers performed after being benched — suggests it won’t be much of one. Manning is talented, but it was clear that he also had his own struggles with Georgia’s defensive speed. Still, it can’t be ruled out. Ewers’ response was one of a seasoned veteran. But it will be something to watch in future Texas games if Ewers has another poor stretch. In fairness to the quarterbacks, it may not have made much of a difference who was behind center, because Texas’ protection issues made it almost impossible for anyone to operate. Credit Georgia for its gameplan and energy. Texas also didn’t help itself with a bevy of mistakes. — Khan

Trey Luerssen: What went wrong for Texas against Georgia?

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Georgia was a big test for the No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns. The Bulldogs have been a bit wobbly so far this season. They struggled at Kentucky. They lost to Alabama. They struggled against Mississippi State. But the Georgia players and (especially) the coaching staff have a lot of big game experience. Georgia won back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 and were undefeated until the SEC championship game in 2023.

Texas? The Horns big tests in recent years have been mostly against Big 12 teams. When they faced a really good team last year in the college football semifinal, they were beaten by Washington. This season, Texas dispatched Michigan and Oklahoma easily. Both lost again today. Neither is a good team. Texas wins so far have been fools gold. Georgia was a big test for the Longhorns, and Texas failed miserably.

So what went wrong? A lot. And now there are a lot of questions about the mental makeup for the now former No. 1 team in the nation.

Mentality

Let’s start with mentality. In our Longhorns Wire Staff predictions, we mentioned our biggest fear for this game was — Georgia had to play desperate. While Texas was hoping to keep the good times going. If you watch playoff series in the NHL, MLB or NBA, desperation can be a real weapon. Teams facing elimination play different. They HAVE to win. Georgia HAD to win. A second loss tonight, with more tough games ahead on the schedule, could’ve basically eliminated the Bulldogs.

If Texas really was THE dominant team in college football this year, they would overcome Georgia’s desperation, win their individual matchups en route to a big win in the game. That didn’t happen. Now, it’s hard to know what kind of team Texas has. Talented? Yes. Dominant? No. Texas is just one of many contenders for the crown. It’s now Texas that has little room for error.

Blocking

The offense had a tough night and a lot of it comes down to blocking. The offensive line looked pedestrian at best. Texas QB Quinn Ewers was bumped, hurried and sacked all night. Texas went to Arch Manning for a couple series and that didn’t work either. Kelvin Banks, who had allowed two sacks in his entire career, was pushed around by Georgia DE Jalon Walker. Walker had a sack and several hurries. The line had trouble pass blocking and run blocking. Considered the best group on the team, the offensive line was a huge reason for Texas’ loss.

Can't get open

It didn’t help the struggling offensive line that the skill players had trouble getting open. There were dozens of plays where Ewers looked at option one, then option two, then option three. By then it’s too late. He simply couldn’t find open receivers. Like the rest of the team, the skill guys looked slow. They didn’t have urgency. They weren’t running crisp routes. They were playing right into the Georgia defenders hands.

Quarterback Play

In a word, Ewers was awful. He was 25 of 43 for just 211 yards passing, two TDs and three turnovers. It was certainly his worst game of 2024. It was reminiscent of his game against Oklahoma last year and the final drive against Washington in the playoff. He looked lost. By the second quarter he already had that thousand yard stare of someone that is shell shocked. And to be fair to Ewers, Manning didn’t look any better. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian went to Arch late in the second quarter, but he looked shellshocked too. Together the QBs lost three fumbles, two by Ewers and one by Manning. Ewers also threw an interception for a total of four turnovers from the most important position in the sport.

Poor Tackling

The numbers don’t tell the full story. Georgia’s offense produced 283 total yards to Texas’ 259. Not a huge difference. But the Bulldogs fought. Fought for the extra yards. Fought to keep the play going. Fought through blocks and fought through tackles. Especially after Texas rallied to cut the Bulldogs lead to eight in the third quarter, Trevor Etienne and the rest of the Georgia team just seemed to want it more and fight harder. Tacking is about fight and heart. Georgia had a lot more fight in them than Texas did.

Mistakes

Bad reads, back blocks, bad decisions and especially bad penalties killed Texas against Georgia. Mental errors. Texas was mentally weak compared to Georgia. Texas had eight penalties. Most were by the offensive line. Most were drive killers.

 

[WBT 20422]

Craven

the rest

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Gaspar

[dcar00 14035]

what ridiculousness.  If Ewers crumbles because he keeps playing shitty in the first half and got pulled, then maybe he ain't the guy.  he could help his line by stepping up in the pocket sometimes.  Maybe Sark was tired of his lame ass starts and terrible decisions. 

[sith_horn 2370]

Taylor Gaspar is an idiot.

[F250 28691]

16 minutes ago, sith_horn said:

Taylor Gaspar is an idiot.

Yes but would bang.

[Newdoc 3433]

7 hours ago, sith_horn said:

Taylor Gaspar is an idiot.

Why do people keep reposting her asinine tweet?

 

7 hours ago, F250 said:

Yes but would bang.

And there ya go. 

[satyanash 14281]

Joe Cook: Quinn Ewers' mistakes, both new and recurring, hamper Texas in loss to Georgia

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Texas doesn’t have a quarterback controversy, as Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian emphasized on Saturday night that Quinn Ewers is his program’s starter despite a brief appearance by Arch Manning. But the Longhorns had enough quarterback issues against the Georgia Bulldogs to cost them a victory against the No. 5 team in the nation. Sarkisian elected to bench Ewers late in the second quarter after a dismal 6-of-12 start for just 17 yards plus an interception and a fumble. Ewers wasn’t solely responsible for the poor offensive effort in the first half, but there were enough mistakes for Sarkisian to trot out Manning for the end of the half.

“I just didn’t think he was at his best,” Sarkisian said. “A lot of things I’ve seen him do, I wasn’t quite seeing. I don’t think his eyes were where he needed to be. That’s why I felt like he needed to reset and regroup at halftime.” Sark sought out the proverbial spark from Manning, who picked up three first downs across two drives but turned the ball over at the end of his brief opportunity. Then in the locker room at the half, Sarkisian told Ewers it would be his turn with the first-string offense again.

A mild amount of improvement was made in the second half with Ewers finishing 25-for-43 for 211 yards and two touchdowns, but Ewers still missed throws, hampered the Longhorn offense, and was ineffective under pressure. And there was a lot of pressure. The Georgia defense tallied seven sacks on Saturday night. Jalon Walker was a menace to the Longhorns, one of many wearing red and black. He notched three sacks and four quarterback hurries. Mykel Williams was similarly effective, notching two sacks and forcing a fumble recovered by Georgia in the 4th quarter. With the shape of the game requiring Texas to score rapidly and pass the ball down the field, the Bulldog pass-rush could fix its eyes on the Longhorns quarterback without having to worry all that much about the run, and that it did.

“They’ve got a good D-line for sure,” Ewers said. “It’s tough whenever you get down like that and they know we’re going to try to throw the ball. They get in straight pass-rush mode on the edges.” Added Sarkisian, “I don’t think we put our offensive line in an ideal situation tonight with the way the game was going.” All that was a formula for Ewers to put on a performance that reminded of the last time Texas played host to College GameDay against a top-five opponent at night. In 2022, Ewers was 17-for-39 for 171 yards and an interception against No. 4 TCU, a game the Longhorns also lost despite a stout defensive effort.

There were some key differences. Ewers was totally ineffective in that entire contest with the eventual national finalists. On Saturday, he found an amount of success in the second half that helped briefly turn what appeared to be a game on the way to a blowout into a one-score contest. “I thought we saw the competitor in Quinn really come out in the second half,” Sarkisian said. “I’m sure he wasn’t the happiest guy with me that he got taken out for a couple of series. I’m sure he wanted to stay in there and try to work his way through it. I had to make a decision for what I felt was best for the team in that moment, but also best for him in that moment. Sometimes the players don’t always see that, but I think when he takes a step back and looks at it, he’ll understand I was trying to do what was in the best interest of him to get recalibrated and reset to go play the second half.”

 

[UThomas 33]

will be interested in the PFF grades.  Another thread said Banks actually ended up the highest of the offensive players at ~84

[satyanash 14281]

Coach V: How the better team on Saturday won

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By Mike Venable: The better football team won the game last night. Most might find some fault with both teams. Mistakes were a dime a dozen and the officiating led the pack. The good news is we were treated to a heavyweight slugfest featuring quality play from a variety of players. The bad news is we were also treated to some inferior fundamental decisions and actions. One of these coaches often says it’s adapt or die. Well, one team certainly adapted better than the other. The result was a decisive victory for the road team. We may get the chance to see the same twosome tee it up down the road. Hope so.

I wish to begin with the defensive effort. Watching the replay this morning I feel even stronger about how well we played last night. With the exception of a few missed tackles and a blown coverage or two, we hammered as well as we absorbed. We didn’t lose the LOS near as much as it appeared. We still didn’t always set the edge but that was scheme instead of player error. Pete Kwiatkowski often neglects the comfort of being sound but then I guess that’s today football. Doesn’t make me like it but there must be a tradeoff somewhere in there.

I felt Georgia did a much better job reacting and tackling the dump-offs which resulted in them moving the chains. It’s only fair to mention they brought a next level RB to the game and he is a good one. I believe two plays back to back broke our spirit once we pulled to within one score. The first we brought six on a third and ten and they hit a deep curl minus any pressure from our blitz. The next play they hit a flea-flicker for around thirty yards that set up their final score. Remove these two efforts and we made them blood and guts earn every inch of real estate they won.

We supplied three interceptions that kept us in the game. Forcing them to punt wasn’t necessarily the fun it should have been. They boomed long and high missiles that stalled our return game to naught. We hit short line drives that produced good results for them. We also lost a terrific kickoff return from Matthew Golden with a holding call. We definitely lost the special teams contest but the defensive effort was about as even as it gets.

We had our worst offensive game this year. We lost the LOS period. We lost way too many individual battles in both passing and running game plays. We certainly didn’t help our cause with four turnovers. We need to re-teach our QB to escape climbing the pocket instead of the side or back door—he certainly isn’t helping out OT’s with his escape routes where they can’t protect. It appeared they had a good read on our play calls from scouting report because they played percentages to the hilt and made busy when they mis-guessed. We need some serious self-appraisal on our offensive personnel and their strengths and shortcomings.

The good, bad, and ugly from the cheap seats:

Collins (95) was our best defender with his best game this year. (0) Hill had another quality game with several physical tackles to his credit. (3) Guilbeau was solid except for one passing play where he got lost in coverage and failed to hustle for the tackle. (4) Mukuba was consistent but might have injured a knee in the second half—outstanding interception. (5) Muhammad had good tackles mixed with solid coverage. (7) Barron had two interceptions and several quality tackles—great game.

(11) Simmons was very active—he will be very good soon. (15) Norton offered good reps in rotation. (16) Taaffe had tackle high numbers but missed at least two in open field. (18) Lefau has several good plugs but lost too many physical battles and run fits. (25) McDonald played well in the rotation—we might have safety number problems for two deep reps. (33) Gbenda had one tackle but one misread also. (37) Blackwell had a terrific kickoff tackle but also had a misread fit.

(45) Broughton was steady at the LOS but didn’t have a wow play. (88) Sorrell is a really good player. Two big plays plus steady leadership once again. (99) Lole is a big play waiting to happen. Good player.

On offense…

(0) Moore was pretty quiet—decent blocking. (2) Golden another good game—dangerous return man. (3) Ewers had a tough go—antsy feet and poor mechanics. Last two games lack of confidence and positive reinforcement missing. (5) Wingo had another good run on reverse. Need to get him more touches period. Find a way. (7) Bond had good game with a TD and extra point catch. (16) Manning supplied a good energy in his two series. (23) Blue ran with determination and scored on a good route. (26) Wisner gave a good effort had three good plays.

(52) Campbell had his worst game. Several missed blocks (two whiffs) and no movement. (54) Hutson had a good game in a few rotations—hustle and want-to evident. (56) Williams had his worst game. Beat on both run and pass efforts—penalty. (65) Majors had a few problems with good sized DL’s. (76) Connor had his best game. Good run good pass block (78) Banks wasn’t as effective as normal–QB no help with bad escape angles.

(81) Davis had one catch plus a few good blocks. (85) Helm once again played well.

We are still a good football team but sadly found out we aren’t good enough to win with a mistake filled performance.

Charlie Williams: Texas needs the L received from Georgia to stand for lesson and not loss

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Texas encountered a tough reality in the 30-15 loss to Georgia, where a dismal offensive performance wasn’t nearly enough against one of the nation’s elite programs. Although Georgia hadn’t looked like the dominant force it’s been in recent years, the Bulldogs managed to summon their championship pedigree and gave Texas a hard lesson in high-level football.

Offensive Struggles: A Reality Check for Quinn Ewers and the Line

Quarterback Quinn Ewers faced one of his most challenging nights, struggling to find open receivers and appearing hesitant to trust the tight windows Georgia’s defense gave him. Once Georgia’s pass rush reached him early, his confidence took a hit. Ewers began dropping his eyes to focus on the pressure rather than keeping them downfield to find open targets. This is a pivotal area for his growth—staying poised under pressure and capitalizing on opportunities, even when the defense is closing in fast.

The run game was nearly nonexistent for Texas, largely because the offensive line failed to create the space like it had in previous weeks. Georgia’s front four posed a formidable challenge, and Texas couldn’t establish any consistent push off the line of scrimmage. For the first time this season, the Longhorns faced a defensive front that not only matched their physicality but overpowered them. The running backs, who had thrived in space before, were unable to make defenders miss or break tackles, further stalling the offense. This exposed a vulnerability in Texas’ offense: their struggle to generate yardage against a disciplined, physical defense like Georgia’s.

Defensive Performance: Bright Spots Amid Inconsistency

Defensively, Texas showed flashes of brilliance, at times appearing like they could match Georgia’s defensive output and smother their offense. Barryn Sorrell and the defensive line managed to pressure Georgia quarterback Carson Beck into some errant throws. However, the consistency wasn’t there. The defensive front often lost their gap integrity, allowing Georgia to break off meaningful runs.

Texas’ linebackers, usually a point of strength, were tested in ways they hadn’t been before. Georgia successfully targeted them in the passing game and put them in uncomfortable situations. Though they struggled early, they gradually found their footing in the second half and started reacting quicker and trusting their instincts more. Still, the adjustments came too late to stop Georgia from building its lead.

The secondary, one of Texas’ more reliable units, had a solid night overall with three interceptions, but Georgia exposed some cracks. For the first time this season, Texas’ secondary faced an offense capable of finding the soft spots in coverage and creating separation downfield. While their performance wasn’t dominant, it was solid enough to keep Texas in the game. However, the missed open-field tackles allowed Georgia’s receivers to gain extra yards after the catch, extending drives and hurting Texas at critical moments. This is something they’ll need to clean up moving forward.

Special Teams Woes: A Game-Changer

Special teams play, often overlooked until it becomes a problem, was a glaring issue for Texas. Georgia outclassed Texas in this phase of the game, and it had a significant impact on field position and momentum. Penalties erased what could have been explosive returns, and poor decisions by Silas Bolden pinned Texas deep in its own territory. Special teams miscues are often the deciding factor in close games against high-caliber opponents, and Texas simply didn’t measure up in this area. This is something the coaching staff will need to address immediately if they want to avoid similar pitfalls in upcoming games.

Georgia: A Necessary Measuring Stick for Texas

This game served as a valuable measuring stick for Texas. For the first time this season, they encountered a team that not only matched them athletically and physically but also brought the same level of intensity, preparation, and execution. Texas came up short. It was a humbling moment and a clear reminder that no matter how well you’ve been playing, there are always levels to climb if you aspire to compete at the highest levels of college football.

This loss offers Texas an invaluable opportunity to learn. It’s a chance for every player and coach to reflect on what went wrong and identify areas for improvement. Humble pie, as bitter as it may taste, is sometimes the best motivator for growth. Texas has the talent, the coaching, and the potential to bounce back from this defeat, but it will require an honest assessment of their weaknesses and a concerted effort to correct them.

With the right mindset and adjustments, Texas can use this loss as a catalyst for improvement. Georgia exposed the areas where Texas still needs to grow, but that awareness is crucial for long-term success. Now, it’s up to Texas to decide whether this game becomes a setback or a stepping stone. How they respond in the coming weeks will define the remainder of their season and determine if they truly belong among the nation’s elite.

 

[LTtxfan 48980]

Just "Film Guy" reactions to this game... 

Georgia Goes HUNTING vs Texas

[Dark Horse 2263]

20 hours ago, UThomas said:

will be interested in the PFF grades.  Another thread said Banks actually ended up the highest of the offensive players at ~84

PFF seems to be hanging most the sacks on Quinn, our pass blocking grade was 79, Banks graded out a 81, second behind Majors at 84.

 

 

[UThomas 33]

2 hours ago, LTtxfan said:

Just "Film Guy" reactions to this game... 

Georgia Goes HUNTING vs Texas

Interesting comments on Texas facilities at the end relative SEC peers...

[tokamak 6352]

Here's Dane Brugler on the performance of draft prospects during the game (embedded videos don't work, sorry):

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With so many future NFL Draft picks on the field, there was something to learn on almost every snap of Saturday night’s showdown between Georgia and Texas.

Here are a few of the main takeaways after reviewing the film:

Georgia’s feasting front seven

Texas has a talented offensive line, but Georgia’s front seven simply played better, led by future first-rounders Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker.

 

Williams missed most of September with an ankle injury and is still on a pitch count. But when he’s on the field, he is a difference-maker with his blend of quickness and power. This strip sack from the fourth quarter, while matched up against Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., is a good example of why Williams is a projected top-10 pick.

Banks is a good player and should be an NFL starter at this time next year, but I have struggled to get on board with the top-10 hype surrounding him —  and his negative reps against Georgia illustrate some of the reasons why.

That said, I did love this Banks missile block …

On the subject of Texas’ tackles, it is a strong bet right tackle Cameron Williams will be a first-round pick whenever he goes pro, because of his freaky traits. But he still has single-digit starts, and that lack of experience showed in a big way against the Bulldogs — easily Williams’ worst performance of the season.

Georgia finished with 28 pressures Saturday. That number included a game-high seven by Walker, which was made even more impressive by the fact he spent most of the game dropping or spying. Lining up 60 percent of the time in the box and 40 percent on the edge, Walker finished with eight tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and a fumble recovery. His performance looked even better on tape.

An outstanding space athlete, Walker is at his best when he can show off his closing burst working downhill. (His Conor McGregor celebration here is on point, as well.)

Williams and Walker were the headliners in the Georgia front seven, but veteran defensive linemen Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse were major reasons why the Longhorns couldn’t find any consistency running the ball. I expect both players to be mid-round draft picks.

Sophomore linebacker CJ Allen isn’t draft eligible yet, but you can bet I will be talking about him a lot a year from now.

Jahdae Barron returned for these moments

NFL teams expected Barron to be in the league this season. Instead, he returned for his “super” senior season, a chance at a national title and to improve his draft status. Time will tell about the championship aspirations, but Barron has only helped his stock with scouts, especially as he’s playing an expanded role as an outside cornerback in 2024.

 

He finished with a pair of interceptions and four tackles, showing his nose for the football. Barron might not be elite, by NFL standards, in terms of size and speed — 5-foot-11, 194 pounds and expected to run a 40-yard dash in the 4.45- to 4.50-second range. But his football IQ and controlled reactions stand out on tape.

Though not as memorable as his two picks, this play is a good example of the confidence level he has diagnosing and making plays on the ball. Lined up across from Dillon Bell, Barron comfortably reads the route, drives and knocks the ball away.

I received some pushback for ranking Barron No. 41 on my initial draft board this summer. So far, he hasn’t made me regret that ranking. His experience across the secondary will be a valuable trait come draft time.

Veteran quarterbacks disappoint

If you watched only this game and nothing else, you would have no idea that Georgia’s Carson Beck and Texas’ Quinn Ewers were popping up in first-round mock drafts.

It was a difficult night for Ewers, who played a below-average game and didn’t receive much help from his offensive line, run game or pass-catching weapons. He looked like a shell of the quarterback we saw play at a high level in Week 2 against a talented Michigan defense.

Ewers was responsible for six turnover-worthy plays Saturday (he had eight all of last season). He struggled to negotiate muddy pockets, and you rarely saw his fastball because of his preference to feather throws while stepping backwards, instead of creating ground force and firing strikes.

Ewers also got in trouble predetermining his throws. On this fourth down, Isaiah Bond is never open from before the snap to the whistle — and even if this pass is completed, Bond still would be two yards shy of the sticks. Slot receiver Matthew Golden gives his quarterback a window over the middle of the field, but Ewers never looks his way.

Beck has played fine for much of the 2024 season, but he hasn’t produced first round-worthy tape. And that trend continued against the Longhorns, despite the win.

Beck didn’t have any multi-interception performances over his first 17 college starts, but he has three in his last four outings, including the three interceptions (and zero touchdowns) he threw against Texas. He spread out his passes (10 different Bulldogs saw a target), but he averaged just 4.3 yards per attempt and only tight end Oscar Delp had more than 35 yards receiving. Even then, almost all of Delp’s yards came on a 43-yard, reverse flea-flicker that left a delayed tight end wheel wide open.

The Texas defense deserves credit for making things difficult for the passing game, but Georgia had opportunities. Most of the night, Beck battled inconsistent timing and accuracy on his throws.

Just inside the red zone on this play, Georgia uses a boundary-scissors concept to scheme open tight end Lawson Luckie and give the quarterback a clear passing window. But Beck misses high and out in front and forces Luckie to go full extension just to get a hand on it. The resulting tip leads to the Barron interception. If the throw is on target and hits Luckie in stride, this is a first down, at worst (and a touchdown, at best).

But inconsistent ball placement was a theme for most of Beck’s night, and it costs him a turnover on this play.

Georgia’s touchdown machine

The Bulldogs scored three touchdowns, all by Trevor Etienne on the ground.

Etienne has a good feel at the line of scrimmage for how to read and set up his moves. On this play, he does a great job dropping his weight to plant and cut laterally, without stopping his momentum, and gain a head of steam into the second level (and the end zone).

Etienne also showed off his lower-body run strength and caught the ball well throughout the game. He won’t join his older brother (Travis) and be drafted in the first round, but Trevor Etienne is another example of how deep the 2025 draft class could be at running back.

 

Edited October 21 by tokamak

[LTtxfan 48980]

Texas has to learn from this loss and get better

Georgia shows Texas how to win big games, Alabama’s shrinking path to the CFP & Indiana is for real

 

[The Ace of Aces 5106]

3 hours ago, UThomas said:

Interesting comments on Texas facilities at the end relative SEC peers...

For the TL,DR crowd he says the bubble is ancient, ugly and antiquated, says the practice field is a faded beach sandpit, says the stadium is filthy and old and outdated. He says UT facilities aren't up to SEC standards and we have the worst facilities of any of the top programs. 

[ClubWhatever 12087]

Best drone show.  Most ad revenue.  Fewest band interruptions of Jumbotron entertainment.

[Stunns38 3357]

Taylor Gaspar is an idiot.

Her tweets are mind-numbingly bad

[Harvdog 2276]

On 10/20/2024 at 12:24 AM, sith_horn said:

Taylor Gaspar is an idiot.

If she wasn’t a blonde with big cans, no one would care what she tweeted.  I don’t think she’s every broke anything of importance or had a take that was worthy of any praise. 

[Davis Lane 5553]

Why you people choose to get kicked in the nuts in beyond me.

There is more football left to be played.

Move on already.

With that said, yes Taylor Gaspar is an idoit but she does bring something to the table.

[satyanash 14281]

On 10/20/2024 at 11:22 AM, UThomas said:

will be interested in the PFF grades.  Another thread said Banks actually ended up the highest of the offensive players at ~84

Justin Wells: Top PFF grades from Texas' 30-15 loss to Georgia

Quote

In UT’s first big SEC test, the Georgia Bulldogs came to town and took a bite out of the Horns, 30-15, from Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. Here’s how the team graded out via PFF.

OFFENSE

QB – Quinn Ewers, 40.3

The Longhorns starting quarterback had the worst grade of all the Texas offensive players on Saturday night. 25-of-43 passing, 211 yards, and two touchdowns doesn’t look terrible, but it covered up poor play, poor decisions, and getting benched in the second quarter.

RB – Tre Wisner, 55.7, Jaydon Blue, 63.4

The Texas rushing attack was virtually non-existent on Saturday night. Wisner led the tailbacks with 52 yards rushing on 15 carries. They were held to 29 total yards (adding sacks). Blue added seven catches and a score on the night.

WR – Ryan Wingo, 71.5, Matthew Golden, 59.3

Texas’ leading receiver was a running back, but Golden tallied 77 yards on three catches, and Wingo notched 19 total yards in the game. Isaiah Bond added a touchdown catch.

TE – Gunnar Helm, 83.8

Helm was solid, and notched 62 yards on six catches, but was kept out of the end zone.

OL – Kelvin Banks, 83.4, Hayden Conner, 67.5, Jake Majors, 67.1

The Longhorns offensive line was awful collectively on Saturday night. Banks graded highest among the offensive players, but Georgia’s front seven was dominant.

DEFENSE

DL/EDGE – Alfred Collins, 83.7, Jermayne Lole, 83.2, Barryn Sorrell, 67.6

The Longhorns defensive front was solid, forcing Carson Beck into three turnovers. Lole had six tackles and .5 tackles for loss, while Collins added six tackles and a pass deflection.

LB – Anthony Hill Jr, 70.5

Hill led the linebackers with eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack, but didn’t grade well, primarily in run fits,

CB – Jahdae Barron, 67.6

While Barron’s grade wasn’t spectacular, his play on the field was last night. His four tackles and two interceptions were big in keeping the Longhorns in the game.

S/N – Michael Taaffe, 71.6, Andrew Mukuba, 86.8

Texas’ safeties were strong in last night’s loss, with both Taaffe and Mukuba notching 14 total tackles, one pass breakup and one interception between them.

 

[Topper13 3201]

25 minutes ago, Davis Lane said:

Why you people choose to get kicked in the nuts in beyond me.

There is more football left to be played.

Move on already.

With that said, yes Taylor Gaspar is an idoit but she does bring something to the table.

She looks like a gremlin. Nice rack though

[LTtxfan 48980]

20:49 mark, Texas vs jawja 

Why Georgia's defense dominated, why the Alabama offense struggled & who else can win the SEC?

 

[JBJ 3649]

22 hours ago, The Ace of Aces said:

For the TL,DR crowd he says the bubble is ancient, ugly and antiquated, says the practice field is a faded beach sandpit, says the stadium is filthy and old and outdated. He says UT facilities aren't up to SEC standards and we have the worst facilities of any of the top programs. 

Sanford just increased concessions and toilets this offseason.  I haven't been there since since, but this segment feels a bit like false swag.  There's no way he thinks Sanford is better overall.

 

[LTtxfan 48980]

Since this is more postgame analysis...

Texas Defense is the Real Deal | Any Offensive Silver Lining? | Texas Longhorns | Second Watch | SEC

[Monahorns 34]

I useed to look forward to this, but this season it has been a big disappointment.  Looks like they have come to an agreement with Inside Texas and other paid sites to avoid them.