AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 08
Monday, October 8, 2007
Georgia’s young and they play young
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five things we learned over the weekend:
1. Georgia is a young team and it plays like a young team: Young teams with talent always think they are better than they really are. Georgia is the perfect example. When the Bulldogs beat Oklahoma State in the opener, suddenly all of the problems that existed in the preseason were solved-at least in some minds. So Georgia was not quite ready to play a tough, well-coached team like South Carolina. Beating Alabama on the road and Ole Miss at home did not make Georgia a contender in the SEC East. The Bulldogs were not ready to match the intensity and the toughness of a Tennessee team that didn’t just want to win, they HAD to win. There are no short cuts in the SEC. Georgia’s young players are learning that the hard way.
2. It’s time to give Les Miles some love: In some circles the LSU coach has gotten absolutely no credit for the job he has done in Baton Rouge. Anybody could have done, it, goes the logic, with the players that Nick Saban’s staff recruited. Saturday night Miles put his stamp on the program for good with LSU’s come back win over Florida. He took some risks that most coaches would not take in a big-time game and, yes, he got a little lucky. It’s time to recognize that this guy can coach a little bit.
3. We may see Florida-LSU again: The Gators have gotten their hearts broken two weeks in a row but it says something when a team that young can go into an environment like the one I saw Saturday night and play well enough to win. This team is good enough to win the rest of its games and, with a little help, get back to the SEC championship game. Could they beat LSU in a rematch on a neutral field? You bet they could.
4. Something ain’t right at Georgia Tech: When you run for 175 and pass for 309 with no interceptions, you’re not supposed to get beat. We’ve been calling out Taylor Bennett to play better. Well, he played better. Once again RB Tashard Choice gives you everything he’s got. Saturday’s game with Maryland should have never come down to one series of downs and one kick. There are too many mistakes being made on both sides of the ball and the defense is giving up too many big plays. It’s too easy to blame coaching as the source of the problem. Some seniors on this team need to step up.
5. South Carolina can win the SEC East: The Gamecocks will have to win two tough games on the road (Tennessee, Arkansas) and beat Florida at home (on Nov. 10) to do it. But Steve Spurrier’s team has proven to be pretty resourceful. The defense is very good, even with the loss of LB Jasper Brinkley. And Spurrier obviously has a lot more confidence in his new quarterback, redshirt freshman Chris Smelley. As long as the defense keeps playing well, Spurrier will find a way to manufacture enough points to win. If the Gamecocks can get past Vanderbilt on Oct. 20, their trip to Tennessee on Oct. 27 will be huge.
