So, I'm a pastor of course, and I had to do a wedding out of town and was gone all day. THANKFULLY, I didn't get to watch the game. I was in NO mood for watching any football or lowlights upon my return home, so honestly, the only thing I've gotten is a bunch of whining from my friends....so, DP buddies...here's what I've heard, tell me if it's true or false and tell me what you think went wrong...

* Fromm looked horrible, Fields needs to play more (imagine that!)
* LB corp just isn't getting it done....however, Robert Beal got a sack and looked pretty good...huh??
* They inexplicably abandoned the running game and Holyfield was running pretty well...coaches need to use James Cook more
* The OL looked great one play and lost the next...they need Cleveland back
* This is a team full of freshmen, that played like a bunch of freshmen

so...what went wrong?

In a nutshell - outhit, outplayed and outcoached. Other than that I guess they did pretty well.

lol I was hoping for a weeee bit more detail Alpha! lol

Here is my take Darin-

Fake FG attempt in a 3-0 game, on a 4th and 9, perhaps one of the worst coaching blunders in my time watching UGA football-which is about 40+ years now. If 4th and 2, MAYBE but with the kicker lining up 7-8 yards behind the LOS, Rod has to run 16-17 yards to get a first down-not likely and also risking one of your top weapons getting injured. Rod is nearly automatic from that distance, tie the game up!!

Defense gave up some big runs-but they also held LSU to a lot of FG's. While not ideal, not horrible in my opinion. But when your offense is struggling, you have to create something-a turnover, a 3 and out, etc. Now, to their credit, we cut it to 10 points, 19-9 and the D forces a 3 and out and Mecole has a nice punt return to inside the LSU 40. First play no gain, next play a 3-4 yard gain, still in FG range, Fromm has enough time to at least throw the ball away but takes a sack which takes us out of FG range. Punt to LSU and the D lets them score a TD-as I think that took the wind out of their sail.

Fromm was really bad on the day-had some key drops but also had some guys WIDE OPEN and made bad throws or decisions. If there was EVER a game to try something, give Fields a shot to spark us, this game was it, yet Kirby wouldn't do it. Fields never threw a pass in the game, sometimes played ONE play in a series?? A very puzzling way to use the kid.

Chaney was outcoached/schemed by Aranda, DC from LSU. I believe we have too much talent for Chaney to know what to do with them. I have not been a big fan of us since his hire, and I continue to wonder exactly what his plan is. You remember that with Eason he was throwing the ball all over the yard, until Chubb/Sony went to him and said hey, we need the ball. Last year we were primarily a running team, and why not with those two studs, but this year I don't think he knows what the heck he is doing, and I think that is a reason for our offense to sputter-just my personal belief but we need a new OC after this season. Think about Chaney, he is not a great recruiter, and he is not a great coordinator. He helped us get Pittman, but I am just not sold on him at all-and I am not sure he knows how to use a talent like Justin Fields.

Bottom line, we got outperformed in all phases just like last year at Auburn. I felt like Auburn was a better team than this LSU team though. But, both teams had their back against the wall and played like it. Now we come to Jax, a place we dominated last year but have not played our best over the past 25 years or so. I am very curious to see what our team looks like against a Gator team that now totally believes they can beat us and win the east. Our backs should be against the wall after that loss, I think it will show what kind of players and coaches we have to see how they respond at the cocktail party. Season is still under their control, so now they have to prove they are a worthy team.

Sounds like a pretty fair assessment Haney.....yeah, I've wondered about Fields coming in for one play myself. I agree with you on Chaney. I think he's trying to keep us balanced, and that's fine, but from what my buddies told me, the running game was working a bit and Holyfield and Swift was getting some hard earned yards, if he would have stuck with it, we might could have scored some more.
Two things that worry me going forward....if Florida beats us and Fromm struggles in that game, AND, as strange as this may sound, if Trevor Lawrence keeps winning over at Clemson....those two things right there is going to continue to put pressure on KS and Chaney as far as Fields is concerned. More and more eyebrows are going to be raised. Fields was supposed to be better than TL and he's still playing second fiddle. In Fromm's defense, he's becoming a victim of the 'what have you done for me lately' philosophy....everyone has totally forgotten how brilliant he played against Ok in the Rose bowl and nearly beat Bama in the NCG last year. But something just seems off this season. Maybe it's the mythical 'sophomore' slump thing, maybe it's the OL being out of sync with Cleveland out, not sure....but if we keep struggling and JF still doesn't get in the game and if ol Lawrence shines a couple of weeks against an undefeated NC State team and we struggle against the Gators, KS is gonna have pitchforks and torches calling for Fields to get in the game, or Chaney's head, one or the other....

- UGA's defense played well the first series w/ D'Andre Walker getting a third-down sack which forced LSU to punt after three downs
- Offense started well when Nauta caught a 19-yd pass, then struggled as Nauta and Swift dropped passes then Fromm missed Hardman; Camarda then followed that w/ a weak 33-yd punt
- On LSU's second offensive series they drove the field then settled for a 33-yd FG to take a 3-0 lead
- On UGA's second offensive series they drove the field on the ground 61 yds, then Fromm missed two passes to Hardman, then instead of kicking a 31-yd FG to tie the game, Kirby opted for a fake FG that LSU snuffed for a 2-yd loss which changed the game's momentum in favor of the Tigers
- On LSU's third offensive series they drove 84 yds, scored on a QB sneak, converted a PAT, and went up 10-0
- On UGA's third offensive series Fromm threw three consecutive passes which netted 1 yard then punted
- On LSU's fourth offensive series they drove the drove the field then settled for a 36-yd FG which gave them a 13-0 advantage
- On UGA's fourth offensive series they rushed for 6 yds, Fromm threw an incomplete pass, then punted
- On LSU's fifth offensive series they drove the field then settled for a 39-yd FG to increase their lead to 16-0
- On UGA's fifth offensive series, Holyfield rushed for 5 yds, Fields enters the game for one play to hand the ball off to Herrien, Fromm threw another incomplete pass, then Camarda had another weak 29-yd punt
- On LSU's sixth offensive series UGA's defense stepped up w/ a three-and-out
- On UGA's sixth offensive series, Fromm rushed for -2-yd loss, completed three passes which netted 27 yds, then threw two incomplete passes; once again Camarda ends the drive w/ a weak 32-yd punt
- On LSU's seventh offensive series they take a knee once to end the half up 16-0; UGA QB Jake Fromm trots off the field after a miserable half where he completed 5 of 16 passes for 47 yds
- On UGA's seventh offensive series, this one to open the second half, the Dawgs got on the board w/ a 40-yd FG to cut the Tigers lead to 16-3
- On LSU's eighth offensive series, they pin UGA down on the 4-yd line after a great punt
- On UGA's eighth offensive series, Fromm throws two incomplete passes then an interception
- On LSU's ninth offensive series, they capitalize on the turnover by kicking a FG to take a 19-3 lead
- On UGA's ninth offensive series, Fields entered the game for one play and rushed for 3 yds, Fromm is reinserted, an LSU penalty put the ball on their side of the field, the officials overturn a completed pass to D Rob, Swift rushed for 4 yds then caught an 8-yd pass to the Tigers 23-yd line, then Field reenters the game and Holyfield takes it in for a TD after two carries to cut LSU's lead to 19-9; inexplicably, Fromm reenters the game for the 2-pt conversion and Swift is stuffed on the rushing attempt
- On LSU's tenth offensive series, the Dawgs defense shows a pulse and forces a three-and-out
- On UGA's tenth offensive series, Hardman rushes for no gain, Fields reenters the game to hand the ball off to Herrien to 4-yds, then Fromm reenters the game to take a backbreaking 9-yd sack on third down to take the Dawgs out of FG range (51 yds), which would have cut the fourth qtr deficit to 19-12 had Rodrigo converted (certainly within his range); after a delay of game penalty on UGA, Camarda punted for 34 yds
- On LSU's eleventh offensive series, the Tigers smell blood and drive the field, score on a QB sneak, and increase their lead to 26-9
- On the ensuing kickoff Hardman decided to return the kick, got blown up, fumbled, and the Tigers recovered the ball on the Dawgs 14-yd line
- On LSU's twelfth offensive series, the Dawgs defense stiffens and holds the Tigers to a FG; however, LSU increased their commanding lead to 29-9
- On UGA's eleventh offensive series, Fromm connected w/ Ridley for a 27-yd TD pass; w/ the PAT the Dawgs cut the Tigers lead to 29-16 w/ 5:56 to play in the game
- On LSU's thirteenth offensive series, they rushed four times for 77 yards and increased their lead to 36-16
- On UGA's twelfth offensive series, Fromm threw his second interception
- On LSU's fourteenth offensive series, they rush for 14 yds then take a knee to end the game

LSU fans celebrate their team's dominating win over #2 UGA by storming the field.

Haney said:

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Chaney was outcoached/schemed by Aranda, DC from LSU. I believe we have too much talent for Chaney to know what to do with them. I have not been a big fan of us since his hire, and I continue to wonder exactly what his plan is. You remember that with Eason he was throwing the ball all over the yard, until Chubb/Sony went to him and said hey, we need the ball. Last year we were primarily a running team, and why not with those two studs, but this year I don't think he knows what the heck he is doing, and I think that is a reason for our offense to sputter-just my personal belief but we need a new OC after this season. Think about Chaney, he is not a great recruiter, and he is not a great coordinator. He helped us get Pittman, but I am just not sold on him at all-and I am not sure he knows how to use a talent like Justin Fields.

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Given a sample size of 18+ years as a Division I-A/FBS offensive coordinator, Jim Chaney's offenses have ranked an average of #50 in scoring and #48 in total yards. Therefore, I'm not confident that he's the right coordinator to maximize UGA's offensive talent.

2018 (UGA): TBD
2017 (UGA): #20 FBS scoring offense (35.4 ppg); #32 FBS total offense (435.3 ypg)
2016 (UGA): #102 FBS scoring offense (24.5 ppg); #87 FBS total offense (384.7 ypg)
2015 (Pitt): #70 FBS scoring offense (28.3 ppg); #76 FBS total offense (381 ypg)
2014 (Arkansas): #42 FBS scoring offense (31.9 ppg); #60 FBS total offense (406 ypg)
2013 (Arkansas): #105 FBS scoring offense (20.7 ppg); #99 FBS total offense (357.2 ypg)
2012 (Tennessee): #22 FBS scoring offense (36.17 ppg); #18 FBS total offense (475.92 ypg)
2011 (Tennessee): #106 FBS scoring offense (20.33 ppg); #104 FBS total offense (332.67 ypg)
2010 (Tennessee): #58 FBS scoring offense (27 ppg); #75 FBS total offense (363.77 ypg)
2009 (Tennessee): #43 FBS scoring offense (29.31 ppg); #60 FBS total offense (383.46 ypg)
2005 (Purdue): #36 FBS scoring offense (30 ppg); #25 FBS total offense (428.45 ypg)
2004 (Purdue): #20 FBS scoring offense (31.75 ppg); #13 FBS total offense (446.5 ypg)
2003 (Purdue): #59 FBS scoring offense (26.85 ppg); #65 FBS total offense (372.92 ypg)
2002 (Purdue): #40 FBS scoring offense (29.69 ppg); #7 FBS total offense (452.23 ypg)
2001 (Purdue): #97 FBS scoring offense (20.27 ppg); #105 FBS total offense (306.09 ypg)
2000 (Purdue): #21 FBS scoring offense (32.45 ppg); #4 FBS total offense (471.18 ypg)
1999 (Purdue): #19 FBS scoring offense (32.6 ppg); #8 FBS total offense (456 ypg)
1998 (Purdue): #18 FBS scoring offense (33.9 ppg); #16 FBS total offense (457 ypg)
1997 (Purdue): #21 FBS scoring offense (33 ppg); #7 FBS total offense (459.64 ypg)

Agreed, AFD, he is the weak link and I don't think Coley is the answer either as far as OC goes. Look at Bama, they are on their 3rd/4th new OC now in the past 4-5 years-but the reason they are, because their OC's actually are getting HC jobs, Chaney is not a HC material coach. We shall see how the rest of the season pans out but I think Kirby might be forced to blow that position up and start over-he wanted to keep Coley because of his recruiting in South Fla, and so he promoted him to Co-OC, and also QB coach. He moved Chaney to coaching TE's, and actually we are throwing to the TE more this season than last, but I honestly just don't see that Chaney takes the talent we have and utilizes it like we all envisioned-with a stacked group at WR, the QB's both above average, still having a stable of backs. Now, you can point to the OL, where Cleveland has been hurt and Thomas as well. But I believe Mays has actually done a very good job filling in for both, and honestly I have been more impressed with Cade Mays playing as a TR FR than with Isiah Wilson playing as a RSFR, and also more impressed with him than Kindley. I would like to Salyer begin to take that spot from Kindley, then then Mays push Wilson for his spot. We are young on the OL though, but we have talent and it just feels like Chaney/Kirby are afraid to let the offense explode like I believe they could if we went up tempo and used Fields a lot more.

The fake FG changed everything. If Hot Rod makes a 31 yarder (chances were excellent that he would have) and everything else played out the same way it did, when we scored to make the game 19-9, the score would have been 19-12. Therefore, we probably kick the PAT and the score becomes 19-13. Then after Mecoles punt return, maybe Chaney calls some different plays, Fromm doesn't hold on to the ball for a half a day, and at the least we get another FG to make it 19-16. If we are only down 3 with the majority of the 4th qtr. left, I would at least like to believe that it would have changed everything. Maybe Burrow's sphincter gets a little tighter, maybe our D is a little more energized that dejected, maybe then the Mecole fumble on the kickoff never happens....

Well, anyway, what's done is done. Time to move on to beating the gayturds. We still have some glaring issues in the middle of our D. Our tackling is beyond piss poor. Some of our freshmen players looked like freshmen. The comparisons to last years Aubie game are striking. I really want LSU to beat Bammer now and I want us to get them in the Benz and exact some revenge just like last year with Aubie.

Yes, the fake FG was just a HORRIBLE call, it was 3-0, it was basically a chip shot for Rod, it was 4th and 9, which again, when a kicker lines up 7-8 yards behind the LOS, Rod is being asked to run 16-17 yards to pick up the first down-against D1 kids at LSU, there is NO WAY a kid like Rod can outrun those guys-and what if Rod gets hit in the knee, strains a knee etc and is out for the year, now you have hurt our kickoffs and nearly automatic FG kicker. Just a really DUMB move, and I really did think that set the tone for the game-similar to how the pick 6 in the South Carolina game and the strip 6 set the tone in our other two road games.

Burrow played a gritty game but not like he played a great game-he was just a fiery leader, but he never really felt the heat of the game being on the line late, and who knows what happens if he did. Between that coaching move, our punter having an incredibly bad day, our QB playing really bad and our OC appearing to not know what he was doing, it was a long day.

The UF game will be the key to our season. Have we ever lost back to back games under Kirby-YES, I do believe we did his first year losing to Ole Miss, followed by the UT collapse. We then bounced back with a win over SCarolina after the hurricane only to lose to Vandy before our week off. Of course then we lost by two touchdowns to UF and they won the east. If this team doesn't come out and play inspired football against the Gators, I will have serious questions about Kirby and company. We are a young team, I get that but we have talent and we need to be playing the kids that give us the best chance to win.

Haney said:

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Agreed, AFD, he is the weak link and I don't think Coley is the answer either as far as OC goes. Look at Bama, they are on their 3rd/4th new OC now in the past 4-5 years-but the reason they are, because their OC's actually are getting HC jobs, Chaney is not a HC material coach. We shall see how the rest of the season pans out but I think Kirby might be forced to blow that position up and start over-he wanted to keep Coley because of his recruiting in South Fla, and so he promoted him to Co-OC, and also QB coach. He moved Chaney to coaching TE's, and actually we are throwing to the TE more this season than last, but I honestly just don't see that Chaney takes the talent we have and utilizes it like we all envisioned-with a stacked group at WR, the QB's both above average, still having a stable of backs. Now, you can point to the OL, where Cleveland has been hurt and Thomas as well. But I believe Mays has actually done a very good job filling in for both, and honestly I have been more impressed with Cade Mays playing as a TR FR than with Isiah Wilson playing as a RSFR, and also more impressed with him than Kindley. I would like to Salyer begin to take that spot from Kindley, then then Mays push Wilson for his spot. We are young on the OL though, but we have talent and it just feels like Chaney/Kirby are afraid to let the offense explode like I believe they could if we went up tempo and used Fields a lot more.

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Shortly after being hired in December 2016, Kirby requested permission from former Arkansas HC Brett Bielema to speak w/ OC Dan Enos, but the latter had an SEC no-complete clause that the Razorbacks wouldn't waive. Thus Kirby settled on Chaney in order to secure OL Coach Sam Pittman. While the latter has proven to be the real deal as a recruiter and position coach, I'm less than blown away by UGA's offensive production. In fairness to Chaney though, I don't know what, if any, constraints Kirby puts on him as far as which players get to play, at what time, and what plays get to be called (i.e., I'm uncertain if Chaney has a free reign to do as he pleases). Anyway, after Bielema was fired on 24 November 2017, Enos became available and Alabama hired him as their quarterbacks coach on 25 January 2018. As you can probably guess, the Crimson Tide QBs have been killing it this season:

Tua Tagovailoa: completed 88 of 123 (71.5%) passes for 1,760 yds w/ 21 TDs & 0 INTs; QBR 248.1
Jalen Hurts: completed 37 of 50 (74%) passes for 687 yds w/ 5 TDs & 1 INT; QBR 198.4

apmdawg said:

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The fake FG changed everything. If Hot Rod makes a 31 yarder (chances were excellent that he would have) and everything else played out the same way it did, when we scored to make the game 19-9, the score would have been 19-12. Therefore, we probably kick the PAT and the score becomes 19-13. Then after Mecoles punt return, maybe Chaney calls some different plays, Fromm doesn't hold on to the ball for a half a day, and at the least we get another FG to make it 19-16. If we are only down 3 with the majority of the 4th qtr. left, I would at least like to believe that it would have changed everything. Maybe Burrow's sphincter gets a little tighter, maybe our D is a little more energized that dejected, maybe then the Mecole fumble on the kickoff never happens....

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Agree. In tennis they would characterize that decision as an unforced error. Unfortunately, the game's momentum pivoted on that call and the Dawgs never recovered from it.

That is actually good to know AF, I was aware of Enos being the first choice-but that bodes well in my thought process because since he is only the QB coach, UNLESS Bama is in need of an OC after this season, Kirby could reunite him with Pittman in 2019. I have often wondered if Pittman/Chaney were tied together since they have worked together numerous years, but Pittman also has a history with Enos so I could see where Kirby does try again to grab him for next year-especially if our offense continues to sputter along. This has been an issue all season, the slow starts and the defense and special teams has really bailed out the offense. Due to Kirby's horrible decision, the special teams actually hurt us badly in this game-between the fake FG, the punter having a horrible day, and Mecole's fumble on the KOR, it was a BAD DAY. Now, in the case of Mecole-he shouldn't fumble there but I didn't have a problem with him trying a return either, he was TRYING to spark us there and I can't fault the kid for doing that-again he just needs to not fumble the ball.

Last year, we had a huge fumble at Auburn that helped turn that game around on special teams if I remember correctly.

Dean just wrote about this fake FG, he made it sound like Rod could have run or passed to Woerner if the play was excecuted properly?? I have to strongly disagree. Delpit-somehow read this from the start, and from how Charlie is playing, it looks to me like it was a run only for Rod and not a run/pass option. Charlie immediately seeks out White to block and then stays with him, instead of trying to head to the endzone-at the very least taking White with him. Bottom line, this coaching decision was about as bone headed as you can get, and that falls squarely on coaching. You are asking a kicker to run nearly 20 yards to pick up a first down, and that kicker is nearly 100% accurate on FG's in the 30 yard range.

This fake FG call ranks up there with the squib kick call at the end of the 2014 game vs the techmites.

I have heard a rumor that one of our offensive quality control guys that has experience has an OC was hired as the OC in waiting. I can't remember his name right now. Anyone else heard this?

apmdawg said:

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I have heard a rumor that one of our offensive quality control guys that has experience has an OC was hired as the OC in waiting. I can't remember his name right now. Anyone else heard this?

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Jay Johnson has OC experience at Minnesota, Louisiana, Augsburg University, Truman State, and Southern Miss and played QB for Northern Iowa:

https://georgiadogs.com/staff.aspx?staff=415