October is Here, Throw the Football Without Fear!

It's October, the air is crisp and DRY. The Georgia Bulldogs are 3 and 1 and the Bengal Tigers come a calling Saturday. The Tennessee state championship awaits as does the cocktail party. I love October.

September was sloppy and full of suspense. Way too much of both. Turnovers, penalties, the flu and questionable play calling usually don't lead to winning 75% of your games, especially against quality competition like that the Dawgs have faced.

Leaving Stillwater, the Dawgs earned an "F" for "fail". Leaving September the "F" remains, but now represents "fortunate". Ultimately, October will start and end with "F", the first for "Fork" as in a fork in the road, the last for "Florida".

The LSU game should serve as a barometer for the Bulldogs future. One could argue this not you typical LSU team, but it cannot be argued they will bring far more talent to Athens than any other opponent thus far. Like Georgia, LSU is loooking for their identity and to prove their place among the nation's elite.

This is a game of survival for two teams undefeated in conference play. Win and you are a legit. A loss does not end your chances, but it certainly does not help. A win is sure to provide confidence that has to be a little lacking for both squads.

Both readers of this space know I favor a running game. Pick sixes aside, I subscribe to the theory "the other team can't score if they don't have the ball". I am throwing that out the window this week. I see a shoot-out as our best chance for success.

Thus far, the only thing the Bulldogs have done consistently is turn it over three times a game.  Yes, yes, they have managed some balance, equal number of running play to passing, and even Caleb King and Richard Samuel garnered the exact same number of carries last week. It is the turnover stat that matters most.

We overcame the turnovers last week due to an inferior opponent and a feroic effort by AJ Green. Against Carolina and Arkansas we overcame the turnovers by simply outscoring the other guys. Obviously, we were unable to overcome three turnovers in our loss to Oklahoma State.

Bombs away! AJ Green has been everything you could hope for, and more. Michael Moore has been as Bernie predicted. Taverres King has stepped up and Rontavious Wooten is showing signs of unstoppability. Only play calling and being on the sidelines has stopped Orson Charles since the drop in Stillwater.

Mike Bobo, throw it. Throw it early, throw it often, and only run it when you feel the need to rest Joe Cox's arm. The offensive line has looked better in pass protection than in the running game, so let's just throw it. Throw the leather off of the damn ball. Let's break out the no-huddle and let our fifth year quartberack have the day of his life on national television. Speaking of a national television audience, don't they deserve to see AJ Green be al that he can be?

To hell with the running game. To hell with time of possession. To hell with interceptions. To hell with Tech (just had to throw that one in there). Hell, if we must run it, let's run a reverse to AJ.

I really don't care what we do, just please win the damn football game. Win the state of Tennessee and beat the hell out of Florida.

Go Dawgs!

One more thing, Willie and the defense had a pretty good game against Arizona State, but I couldn't help but share this little piece from Aladamnbama.

SEC EXTRA: Gentry Estes: Tide success could result in staff departures | Sports from the Press-Register - al.com

Saban's heart was in the right place when he publicly praised defensive coordinator Kirby Smart after last weekend's Arkansas victory. But while there is no doubt that Smart is one of the fast-rising young coaches in the nation, there also is no denying the public perception that this is Saban's defense and always will be.

At least a portion of that perception, in my opinion, stems from the fact Saban typically doesn't allow Smart to share opinions and football knowledge with the media.

Regardless of that, would Smart now leave to take over the defense at a place like, say, Georgia, his alma mater?

What Does Balance Mean to You?

Certainly, we are all aware Mike Bobo called 30 running plays and 30 passing plays last Saturday. Is this balance?

I am not so sure. To me balance has more to do with production. Ideal balance would be 300 yards rushing and 300 yards passing. okay, 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing.

However, if the running game is working, I do not think it should be abandoned in order to achieve balance. Balance is great, but do what works. Take what the defense is giving you. I don't mind running it 50 times or throwing it 50 times, if that is what the defense is giving us and we are having success.

We must be able to run the ball. We must be able to pass the ball. But we do not necessarily need to do both equally in every 60 minute span. Running it successfully four plays in a row should not lead to an automatic pass attempt the next four plays. And I do not expect to see that type of play calling tomorrow night.

I expect we will see typical Georgia balance against the chickens. We will run it more than we throw it, but the yardage produced in the passing game will be similar to that produced by the running game. Cox will produce more than 6 yards per an attempt. He has to.

So what is your definition of offensive balance?