Besides rooting for an asteroid in Indianapolis, the question of risk-taking intrigues me most in this one.
It’s always possible that bammer runs away with the lead early because Bryce Young is that elite, though I don’t expect it in the rematch. And I don’t see UGA having the firepower with Bennett to run up say a 14+ point lead early unless it’s off a defensive score.
And neither offense is likely to gash the other defense on the ground to annex a big lead. These defenses are stout.
So if the game stays pretty close into late 2nd quarter, each head coach starts to be tested between the ears as to risk aversion. The analytics dude will be in the headset talking the math of going on 4th down, but there comes a time in these big games a HC has to trust gut feel as much or more than the textbook, partly because the opposing coach is already expecting the textbook. Like Saban’s onsides pooch kick that beat Clemson.
So you’d figure Kirby feels more urgency to take risks in this one to even the playing field, get Saban off balance. Saban can lose this game and it doesn’t do much harm to his legacy. And in that sense, Saban has more freedom to call a high risk play or three than Kirby. Because in the back of his mind, Kirby has to be aware of the reality of not just losing again, but having a boneheaded call (e.g. fake punt or onside kick that blows up in his face) wrapped around him for years to come. #1980
On the other hand, if UGA loses in similar fashion as the last time these two played and shows little or no sign of taking risks commensurate with the level of challenge bammer brings, he’ll catch hell from all corners, including Dawg fans. “You played scared.”
So who blinks when the game is at a turning point? Kirby already burned the halfback pass call vs Michigan. Or can one team make huge plays to get to a big lead shifting high risk calls to the other coach?
Bet on Kirby to roll more dice, but do so under far more pressure. And clear thinking rarely comes from overheated brains.
It’s always possible that bammer runs away with the lead early because Bryce Young is that elite, though I don’t expect it in the rematch. And I don’t see UGA having the firepower with Bennett to run up say a 14+ point lead early unless it’s off a defensive score.
And neither offense is likely to gash the other defense on the ground to annex a big lead. These defenses are stout.
So if the game stays pretty close into late 2nd quarter, each head coach starts to be tested between the ears as to risk aversion. The analytics dude will be in the headset talking the math of going on 4th down, but there comes a time in these big games a HC has to trust gut feel as much or more than the textbook, partly because the opposing coach is already expecting the textbook. Like Saban’s onsides pooch kick that beat Clemson.
So you’d figure Kirby feels more urgency to take risks in this one to even the playing field, get Saban off balance. Saban can lose this game and it doesn’t do much harm to his legacy. And in that sense, Saban has more freedom to call a high risk play or three than Kirby. Because in the back of his mind, Kirby has to be aware of the reality of not just losing again, but having a boneheaded call (e.g. fake punt or onside kick that blows up in his face) wrapped around him for years to come. #1980
On the other hand, if UGA loses in similar fashion as the last time these two played and shows little or no sign of taking risks commensurate with the level of challenge bammer brings, he’ll catch hell from all corners, including Dawg fans. “You played scared.”
So who blinks when the game is at a turning point? Kirby already burned the halfback pass call vs Michigan. Or can one team make huge plays to get to a big lead shifting high risk calls to the other coach?
Bet on Kirby to roll more dice, but do so under far more pressure. And clear thinking rarely comes from overheated brains.
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