Positives:
1. Unlike 2012 against Bama, we were not outmatched from a physical or team speed perspective. Even our position groups that are supposed to be the weekest (LB and DL) went toe-to-toe with Georgia. It was even a step up from Clemson last year. And Georgia is loaded. Loaded big time.
2. The stage was not too big and we weren’t shell shocked. Unlike Bama 2012 or Miami a few years ago. They were very poised and ready. Give some credit to Kelly here.
3. The Oline was very good in pass protection against a very good front seven.
4. Book did a fine job of staying in the pocket. He made mistakes for sure, but his pocket presence was a big step forward.
5. Cole Kmet is a beast.
6. We have some fantastic young players all over the defense.
7. The play calling in the first half was good IMO and the defensive scheme was great.
8. While Georgia did make a few ridiculous catches, our coverage was very very good all night. For the most part we had their receivers blanketed all night.
Negatives:
1. The play calling in the 3rd quarter was abismal. Just shaking my head on that one. This is on Kelly or Long or both.
2. Our biggest hole in the roster is RB. We just don’t have a Williams or Adams this year.
3. We don’t have (or aren’t playing) a true difference maker at WR. I’m talking a Michael Floyd type player.
4. We still don’t know if the Oline can run block. It wasn’t in the game plan to run much so we just don’t know for sure yet.
5. Procedural penalties on the Oline.
Bonus positives (for the future):
1. Our new Michael Floyd and Golden Tate are on their way to South Bend next year. It seems to me from watching Clemson game and this game that this is the key remaining area that is keeping us out of that elite top 4 tier. That seems to be getting resolved. With a 10 or 11 win season this year, recruiting should keep trending up.
It sucks that we lost a HUGE game that we were in position to win. But admit it. Almost everyone thought we were going to get embarrassed and run out of the building. We did not and we had the “most talented team in the country” (from the SEC no less) shitting their drawers in that game.