Georgia v. South Carolina In-game thoughts

Pardon me, non-Georgia football fans while I digress and talk about my beloved Bulldogs for a moment.

Just some thoughts from things I am seeing during the game.
** First loss against South Carolina in 6 years, that completely blows, but there were signs of good and bad. This team isn't bad. The defense was ok. The offense was ok, they actually outgained Carolina, I believe, but couldn't get in the end zone. I think South Carolina is finally reaping the benfits of the recruiting Spurrier has done. They are a pretty good team. They had some undisiplined penalties, but they had ZERO turnovers and essentially the difference was the fact that they were able to get in the endzone and Georgia wasn't.
** It was overall a clean game. Only 12 penalties between the two teams.
** After being unstoppable in the red zone against Oklahoma State, the Dogs couldn't punch it in against South Carolina.
** This is totally not a shot at Brandon Coutu, or the kicking game in general, but the playcalling at the end of the game would have been completely different had he made the 48 yarder in the first quarter.
** Mike Bobo is again calling a ton of short passes, wide receiver and running back screens and such in the first half. Is it conservative by nature or is he concerned about the OLine's ability to hold up to SC defense? Last week it worked to perfection with the yards after the catch, but that obviously wasn't a SEC defense.
** The ironic thing here is that late in the game (specifically the 2nd half) when Georgia was behind in the game and Bobo HAD to open it up, the boys reacted. The protection for Stafford was average to slightly better and some holes were being opened for Moreno.
** On the subject of the OLine, I think Moreno and Brown are a good fit for this offensive line. I feel bad for Lumpkin, but with this line, I haven't seen a ton of big holes. Those guys are a bit shiftier than Lumpkin and without a stud OLine that is a good thing.
** Continuing the offensive theme, I feel like this team is REALLY close to being the best Richt has had offensively. That might be a bit premature, but there are a TON of playmakers out there and with Stafford and Moreno there is long-distance potential on any play. I still wonder who is going to step up among the WR to be the go-to guy...Massaquoi and Bailey are showing flashes, Wilson has played alot, but isn't producing much. Mike Moore and Kenneth Harris are pretty invisible. Bryant got hurt again and Henderson still seems more of a screen guy, although he had a nice play on a out in the 4th quarter.
** Just a statement about pass protection and such, on the final drive, Thomas Brown was in the game and they were putting him or Southerland on the side of Sturdivant to chip the Carolina DE and help the Frosh out.
** I loved Greg Blue and Thomas Davis for their hitting ability, but I am excited to see what Reshard Jones, Kelin Johnson, C.J. Byrd and Quinton Banks can do as more athletic playmaking and coverage guys than Blue or Davis were capable of. I remember the days of Sean Jones and company from the SEC Championship Team and they combined the occassional big hit with great playmaking in general.
** The wide receivers aren't getting open a ton, but are making plays when they can. Massaquoi just had an amazing play on 3rd and 23 to move he chains in the 4th quarter.
** I love the play fake, hold the ball play that David Greene was great at and honestly, I think that 3rd quarter sack by Carolina on that play might be the first sack ever on that play. Greene usually had an incomplete if it wasn't there, but Stafford, either waited too long or Carolina didn't buy it or something...not to mention good coverage by Carolina. Still, I am not sure that was the spot for it. I know Bobo (or Richt) was shooting for an all or nothing, but down 7 with a struggling offense, perhaps just trying for a 1st down was the call there. Huge balls to call that play when if it fails, Carolina takes over on downs.
** I would LOVE to see Moreno in more pass plays like the fly pattern down the right sideline that Stafford overthrew. Back in the day that was a staple of Wayne McDuffie's offense with Garrison Hearst. There was a game in 92, I believe Auburn where Hearst was miserable on rushing but had about 100 yards receiving including a long TD. In man-to-man situations, that is a winner because there isn't a LB in the league that can cover Moreno. Even in zone it would be darn good getting him into the open field.
** I hate to say this but Blake Mitchell is not playing like a complete moron that we have seen in the past. Maybe some of Spurrier's coaching is finally sinking in. He has been solid today with very few if any boneheads...besides a couple slippery fumbles. I say that and then he almost gets a pick on the slant to Freddy Brown in the 4th quarter. Actually could have been offensive pass interference.
** What happend to the days where we had Boss Bailey and others leaping in the middle to block kicks. We haven't blocked a placement from the middle in a while that I remember. In 2001 they seemed to come every game.
** I feel alternately great that Sean Bailey and Thomas Brown are back on the field and bad that Antavious Coates can't play. Coates reminds me of Albert Hollis a few years ago. He was supposed to be a great kid and just couldn't get healthy to get on the field. Great to see Howard wearing 17.
** I couldn't tell where Coutu missed the first kick from but the next four were money. He is back 100% if there was any doubt.
** After settling down in the third quarter, the defensive line and linebackers are getting GASHED again in the fourth quarter. Garner and Martinez must have made some adjustments, but in the fourth quarter on two straight drives, Davis and Boyd were strolling through the middle.
** Great play again by Marcus Howard on South Carolina's attempted reverse with McKinley on 3rd down under 2 minutes.
** Oh and just for the record, where the heck are Mike Gottfried and Ron Franklin. I hate these two bozos they have doing this game tonight. They didn't say that Thomas Brown missed the whole year this week but did put that on a graphic saying he missed the season on a graphic late in the game after his block in the back. They also told a couple of the same stories (i.e. Moreno backflip). Oh and Mikey Henderson again shown on the offensive line graphic. That is HORRIBLE! I liked Ron Franklin much better.