‘23 National Champions the Georgia Bulldogs
Back 2 Back National Champion Georgia Bulldogs.
First off, I would like to congratulate HC Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs on becoming back to back National Champions. No matter what the final score was tonight this is no easy feat. I thought we would be in for a treat with a close, enjoyable game. Instead we bared witness to a dominant performance and a reminder of what it really takes to become a National Champion: Toughness, precision, confidence and the mental or testicular fortitude. One must leave it all on the field to earn the opportunity to be called the best in the country. Tonight, only one team wanted that title and it was ‘dem Dogs from Georgia.
TCU started the game with a false start and as a TCU fan you said to yourself, “aw shit these fellas ain’t ready tonight”. Fast forward: they weren’t. TCU went on to punt. After, they went on to punt or turn the ball over every single possession except for its lone TD. The Georgia Bulldogs were visibly flying around the field while TCU was lackadaisical on offense and defense. It felt like TCU was in a walk through practice on a Thursday while defensively Georgia was playing for the National Championship.
We spoke in the preview about how TCU would need to put the pressure on Stetson Bennett to rush him, rattle him and take advantage when he is most vulnerable. Tonight Bennett was 18/25 304 yards w/ 4 TDs with a smile ear to ear that could be seen from outer space and probably was. There was no happy feet, no pass rush to disturb Bennett and he stepped in the pocket as if it was a spring practice in hats & athletic shorts. The Horned Frogs were susceptible to big plays over the top and apparently I was not the only one that took notice. TCU played with at least 5 defensive backs all night and they got twisted leaving the linebackers having to cover downfield. Mind you, these are 3-3-5 LBs who are more of a thumper LB than turn and run LBs. What was the main concern for both teams? 3rd down conversions. Georgia was 9/13 69% with an unprecedented 32 first downs. Max Duggan was trapped in what we feared: a collapsing pocket that turns this Horned Frog not into a Prince but a statue. Duggan could not get enough time to set his feet or scramble around to buy time. There was no rhythm and TCU finished 2/13 15% from 3rd down with only 9 first downs.
The stable of Bulldog running backs did not disappoint tonight. They, along with QB Bennett had 254 rushing yards. The stable had 5 TDs, 5.8 YPC on 44 carries. With a conveyor belt of running backs like this, they stayed fresh while the TCU defense was getting gashed continuously. The most apparent matchup tonight was the offensive line and any Georgia Bulldog blocking on offense against the Horned Frogs front. The TCU 3-3-5 was truly abused. The 3 down lineman had no chance against the Georgia offensive line. It was complete domination. By the time the TCU linebackers blinked the Georgia storm of red already made it to the second level while the Bulldogs earn a first down. Demercado ran hard all night but there was no push compared to what Georgia was doing on the other end.
Brock Bowers made his presence known tonight. The future NFL TE finished with 7 receptions, 152 yards and 1 TD. He found every open spot in the TCU zone and out jumped defenders when he needed to. If it wasn’t Bowers it was our other pregame highlight: Ladd McConkey. He finished with 5 receptions, 88 yards and 2 TDs. Multiple weapons that made the TCU defense pay for every single mistake the defense made. Stetson Bennett didn’t know if they were out at practice or the National Championship because he played pitch and catch with these two tonight burning the Horned Frogs any opportunity that presented itself. For TCU, Duggan and the WRs never got any rhythm. It’s slightly difficult while running for your life. Kelee Ringo locked up Quentin Johnston who only managed 1 catch for 3 yards. There were some moments where TCU WRs got into open space but were unable to see any targeted balls. Max Duggan truly could not get anything off in the pocket. Rough night. Derius Davis did make the most of his 5 catches for 101 yards.
The defensive effort from Georgia deserves plenty of praise. From the run defense stuffing Demercado, Ringo shutting down Q. Johnston to the sacks and turnovers forced. Instead of the pressure rattling Stetson Bennett it happened to Max Duggan. The TCU 3-3-5 was exposed. It was as if Georgia thought, “We have more pass blocking than they have pass rushers, we have more run blockers than they do in the box … let’s just go straight at ‘um”. Sometimes, ladies & gentleman, football can be that easy. Go straight at ‘um and see if they can handle it. The gameplan I expected TCU to come out with tonight. Georgia did instead.
For the College Football Playoffs our mantra was “Don’t ever let life pass you by” (Incubus). Tonight there was only one team that let the thought of losing the National Championship enter its mind. The other team was, as Kirby Smart said at kickoff, “the hunter” and those hunters took their prey home. All the way back to Athens, GA. To the victory go the spoils. Losers are back in the film room tomorrow morning.
