Actually, after sleeping on it, my thoughts haven't really changed. Maybe that's because I didn't get too emotional yesterday. Or maybe it's because I've seen enough of a sample size that I'm not waffling on certain things. Anyway, here goes...
-First, the good. I thought our defense played well. 44 points looks bad (7 of those weren't the result of the defense, but the return of JG's fumble, so really 37 points). But the offense put them in terrible spots all day and they kept standing up. They repeatedly bailed out the offense. Eventually, they wore down. Any defense would. The only really bad drive was the 95 yarder Georgia had, during which we blew about 3 opportunities to get off the field, Flowers dropped an INT, and Shamburger got caught looking in the backfield twice (rust on his part?), once on their TD. Other than that drive, this was a top notch SEC defensive performance and, had it been paired with a top notch offensive performance, the outcome and points allowed would have been MUCH different. The two stops on 4th and short were gutsy. And the goal line stand at the end of the half made me as proud of a Tennessee team as I've been in awhile.
-The WRs actually played pretty well, considering the defense. Palmer stepped up, not just on the TDs, but in fighting for the ball on other plays. Watching on TV, it's hard to know if getting separation was an issue or not, since JG doesn't always find or hit guys who are open.
-The Oline was bad. This is very concerning, given that we have four 5* recruits and a 6th year 4* recruit. The issues were mostly mental. Yes, Georgia's front 7 is elite. But that's what this team will have to overcome in order to get back on top. That said, I think the Oline looked worse than they actually were due to two things: QB play and RBs not picking up blocks. Regardless, this game gives the coaches plenty of teachable moments, especially for the two young OTs, Morris and Wright, both of whom struggled.
-I saw Ty Chandler get beat on blitz pick ups a couple of times. It seems like Gray is starting to get more PT than Chandler now. But we still need a RB who can do it all....I hope Tiyon Evans re-commits.
-It's time to move on from JG. I've maintained an objective position with him and have supported him, since he was the obvious starter this year. But it's obvious that this program will not move forward until we move on at QB. He's not good enough to win big in the SEC and he never will be. He was totally outclassed by a former walk-on yesterday...one who has started 3 or 4 games in his career. JG is a 5th year senior with godknowshowmany starts. His three turnovers were inexcusable. I said last week that he has to be a game manager because he's not the type of guy who can be a playmaker. He failed miserably yesterday at managing the game. Incredibly, his turnovers didn't lead to many points...thanks to great defense...but it gave Georgia more opportunities and it wore down the Tennessee defense. He killed field position, which Tennessee had to win. JG is a 5th year senior and he still can't go through his reads quickly and decides where to go pre-snap...this is evidenced by the fact that he can't execute the simple concept of throwing the football where the blitz is coming from. High school QBs know "the ball replaces the blitzer." We saw JG throwing to the opposite side of blitzes yesterday (again) and we saw it more than once (again).
I think Harrison Bailey is the future. COVID really hurt Tennessee more than other programs this year because it eliminated Bailey's opportunity as an EE to get a spring practice, then he was quarantined in preseason practice. Given that QB is the most important position in sports, that was extremely damaging to Tennessee. He's the most talented QB on the roster by far and, I think, would have won the starting job with that practice time. I don't know if you start him against Kentucky. JG can beat Kentucky and Bailey is still getting up to speed. But I think it makes A TON OF SENSE to get Bailey ready during the off week after Alabama, then start him against Arkansas. That's the weakest opponent on UT's schedule (besides Vandy), the off week gives him time to prepare as a QB without just focusing on game prep, and he will have had half a season's worth of practices by then. We'll probably be coming off a loss to Alabama, so from an optics standpoint, it will make sense. That will allow Bailey to get 4 games under him before Florida...which is our best chance at a program-lifting win this season.
-From an athlete and size standpoint, Tennessee finally matches up with the big boys of the SEC. But we've got to stop making mistakes. The first two games were relatively mistake-free. No turnovers, very few penalties. But great programs don't just play mistake-free against average opponents. They play the same way in big games. We've gotta start playing in big games the way we play in other games. That's another step this program has to take. It will.
-Jeremy Banks and/or Bryce Thompson are going to cost this team a football game if they don't reign in their antics. Banks got away with kicking someone getting up from a pile of players, Thompson got away with a punch. Both are talented players, but they've gotta stop being stupid. And selfish.
-Speaking of which, we missed Deandre Johnson. Tyler Baron played okay, but he's just a freshman and Johnson is the SEC sack leader. He would've provided more pressure on Bennett. The play for which he was ejected was just stupid on his part. Speaking of "just a freshman," it was good to see Morvyn Joseph make some plays. He got some good pressure on a couple of occassions.
Stop with the "fire Pruitt" talk (for those who are saying it). He's our coach and he's a good one. He'll get this program back. It isn't happening overnight, and we're sure not there yet, but it's happening.
This was a measuring stick game. Tennessee, as a program, has improved, but it isn't at Georgia's level yet. The front 7 is much, much better than it was a few years ago. You can win the SEC with that front 7. The secondary isn't great, but it's not terrible. The WRs are good. Better than many expected this year. The Oline is better, but not good enough. The RBs need to get better. But overall, this program has gotten much better and is the 4th best program/team in the SEC right now. However, if we want to break into the top 3, we have to move on from this Quarterback. Good QB play probably puts us at #3. Elite QB play means we can compete for the SEC title. I hope I'm right and Bailey takes over after Alabama. He can be elite by next year, in my opinion.
