Tag: Stats

How many last-minute losses is too many for Drew Brees to shoulder?

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has mastered the two-minute drill but it’s still not enough for his defense to close out a victory

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There’s a few minutes left in the fourth quarter, and the New Orleans Saints have held onto a timeout or two. The kickoff return unit has put the Saints offense in good — not great — starting field position. Drew Brees is under center, having rattled off the play call and waved his teammates into position. Down by a score, the Saints need him to make some last-minute magic to end the day with a win.

How many times has this story played out since Brees first came to town? More importantly, how many times has he came through with what should have been a game-winning drive, only for his defense to choke and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?

The answer to that second question is 21. Brees has retaken the lead 21 times in his Saints career on a go-ahead scoring drive, only to watch helplessly from the sidelines as his defenses cave under pressure and allow their opponents to surge back with their own salvo. That number includes the playoffs, and ties the total set by three other quarterbacks put with (or mistakenly above) Brees in discussions concerning “the greatest of all time.”

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has had to put up with this unique incompetence only four times in the 322 games he’s played in the NFL. Retired great Peyton Manning dealt with just six such answering-score comebacks from teams he put on the ropes throughout his 266-game career. Green Bay Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers has had it the worst of the non-Brees bunch, watching his defense fold against 11 last-second efforts (out of 195 career games).

Let’s reiterate that, to really drive the point home: Brady, Manning, and Rodgers have put their team ahead with a would-be game-winning drive only to lose anyway a combined 21 times in the 783 games they’ve played in the NFL, while Brees has found himself in the same situation 21 times in just 287 games. In other words, the combined defenses Brady, Manning, and Rodgers played with let them down in 2.7% of the games they’ve each played, while Brees has had to face his defense with a thousand-yard stare in 7.3% of their games together.

That’s almost too hard to believe. It speaks to the years of neglect and inadequacy the Saints have put out on defense, going back to the years when the likes of Gregg Williams, Steve Spagnuolo, and Rob Ryan were coaching the other side of the ball. Dennis Allen has done a better job than most during Brees’ tenure in New Orleans, but his flop on Sunday — in which he either chose or forgot to cover San Francisco’s best player, tight end George Kittle, on a last-second fourth-and-two that set up the game-winning field goal — is a painful reminder that Brees can do everything right and still lose the game, despite how talented and effective his defense has been in recent years.

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Deonte Harris got back up to speed quickly for Saints vs. 49ers

The New Orleans Saints needed rookie returns specialist Deonte Harris to make an impact against the San Francisco 49ers, and he impressed.

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The New Orleans Saints went into their game with the San Francisco 49ers with an aggressive mindset, and few players embodied that approach stronger than rookie returns specialist Deonte Harris. Harris returned quietly from a hamstring injury in the Saints’ Thanksgiving game against the Atlanta Falcons, picking up just 30 yards on two kick returns and a punt return, but his numbers versus the 49ers could not have been more different.

The rookie fielded five kickoffs to gain 155 yards, a season-high. He returned a pair of punts to pick up 37 yards, his third-best mark on the year so far and his highest since Week 7’s game with the Chicago Bears, in which he gained 46 punt return yards (and lost a 67-yard touchdown return to a phantom holding penalty). Combine all of his touches against San Francisco — including a 13-yard pickup on a screen pass and an 8-yard gain on an end-around handoff — and he gave the Saints 205 all-purpose yards on the day.

Saints coach Sean Payton credited Harris with his consistent production on kick returns, noting that the rookie was taking advantage of poor kicking by San Francisco rather than following a “green light” directive to try and make a play on every kickoffs, no matter the odds. It’s a sign of Harris’s intelligence that he saw an opportunity to help his team, and took it.

Where does this stand in recent Saints history? Harris has an argument to make as the best special teams returner in the Sean Payton era, because his 269 punt return yards this year trails just two other single-season performances going back to Payton’s hiring in 2006. Only Reggie Bush’s 2008 season (270 punt return yards) and Darren Sproles’ 2011 campaign (294) are above Harris’s output, and he still has three games to play. He needs 26 combined yards in those games to set the high-water mark for Payton’s tenure.

His next game comes on ‘Monday Night Football’ against the Indianapolis Colts, who will be without all-time great kicker Adam Vinatieri after his recent knee surgery. Vinatieri has not been handling kickoff duties for the Colts, with third-year punter Rigoberto Sanchez standing in. Harris will have opportunities to build on his impressive rookie season in front of a national audience.

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Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm suffers ankle injury in SEC title game

Three-year starting quarterback Jake Fromm suffered an ankle injury following an awkward landing on a sack.

In the second quarter in today’s SEC Championship game, three-year starting quarterback Jake Fromm suffered an ankle injury following an awkward landing on a sack.

Backup quarterback Stetson Bennett has stepped in but Fromm’s injury appears to be minor and will not keep him out of the game.

Fromm since returned but looks rattled entering the second half.

Bad luck for the Dawgs: Joe Burrow passes to Joe Burrow

Following several dropped passes on offense, Georgia’s luck got worse.

Following several dropped passes on offense, Georgia’s luck got worse.

This prolonged a drive that ultimately led to a questionable catch ruled as a touchdown.

 

Georgia football alumni are hyped up for SEC Championship

Former Georgia lettermen take to social media to hype up the SEC Championship game.

Some of our favorite Dawgs have experienced the joy of victory and the agony of defeat against LSU in the SEC Championship Game.

Georgia and Louisiana State have met three times in competing for the conference title. The Tigers have bested the Bulldogs 2-1 in such scenarios, claiming the conference championship in 2003 and 2011. Georgia won the 2005 matchup behind D.J. Shockley’s electrifying performance.

Here’s what the lettermen had to say:

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ITS THAT TIME!! #GODAWGS #BEATLSU

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They seem confident that the Dawgs can even the series.

BIG 12 Championship Game: What it means for Georgia

What the Oklahoma vs Baylor BIG 12 Championship Game means to Georgia football ahead of its UGA vs LSU game.

Currently, Oklahoma and Baylor are in a fight for the BIG 12 championship.

The Sooners and Bears, No. 6 and No. 7, respectively, are both playing for a shot at making the College Football Playoff.

In order for either of them to get in, they’ll need Georgia to lose to LSU today.

But if Baylor wins, the Bears may need more than just a Georgia loss. They may need Georgia to lose by at least one touchdown.

If Georgia loses to LSU today by, let’s say three points, then the Dawgs could have a very real argument for remaining at the No. 4 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings and sneaking in.

Now if Oklahoma wins today, Georgia needs to flat-out win. A close loss would not cut it.

However, it’s a different story when it comes to Baylor.

It’s unlikely, but does the committee want Baylor in? I personally don’t think they do.

Georgia has three top-15 wins to date, and if Baylor wins today it’ll have one top-25 win.

I don’t think anybody truly believe Baylor could hang with LSU, Clemson or Ohio State. And if Georgia manages to lose to LSU in a fight to the finish, there would be no doubt that Georgia would be the better option for the playoff.

But maybe I’m a little biased.

Score, stat predictions for Georgia vs LSU SEC Championship Game

Here are some score and stat predictions for Georgia football’s LSU vs UGA SEC Championship Game.

Here are some predictions for the Georgia vs LSU SEC Championship Game. 

Score:

What my head is telling me: LSU 27, Georgia 20

What my heart is telling me: Georgia 30, LSU 28

Stats predictions:

LSU players:

QB Joe Burrow: 25/37, 321 yards, four touchdowns, 1 interception

RB Clyde Edwards-Hellaire: 17 carries, 31 yards

WR Ja’Marr Chase: 7 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD

WR Justin Jefferson: 9 catches, 75 yards, 1 TD

Georgia players:

QB Jake Fromm: 16/29, 210 yards, 1 TD

RB D’Andre Swift: 22 carries, 158 yards, 1 TD

WR Dominick Blaylock: 4 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD

LB Monty Rice: 11 tackles

LB Azeez Ojulari: 1.5 sacks

K Rodrigo Blankenship: 2/2 FGs, 2/2 PATs

College GameDay crew picks winner of Georgia vs LSU

The College GameDay crew picked the winner of the Georgia football SEC Championship Game. UGA vs LSU.

To close out College GameDay from Atlanta, the shows’ crew, accompanied by country music star Zach Brown, picked their winners of the day’s biggest games.

And none is bigger than what is taking place in the SEC, where Georgia and LSU will fight to bring home the conference championship.

The guys picked their winners for the SEC Championship Game.

Desmond Howard: LSU in a close one – saying Georgia’s offense is too banged up

Zach Brown: Georgia – Go Dawgs.

Kirk Herbstreit: LSU – saying it’ll be close for three quarters or so

Lee Corso: LSU – noting the Tiger is more handsome than Uga

Pat McAfee, David Pollack pick winner of Georgia vs LSU SEC Championship

Pat McAfee and Georgia football great David Pollack picked the winner of the UGA vs LSU SEC Championship Game today while on College GameDay

After calling the Dawgs on the set of College GameDay, Pat McAfee gave his prediction for the winner of the Georgia vs LSU SEC Championship Game.

He noted Georgia’s incredible defense and he commented on Rodrigo Blankenship being the best kicker in the country, but in the end it was Joe Burrow’s crazy success this season that ultimately led him to pick LSU.

Accompanied by David Pollack, a Georgia football great, the two previewed the game today. Pollack mentioned that Georgia will need James Cook to step up and make some plays as a pass catcher with George Pickens and Lawrence Cager out (Pickens is missing the first half). He also discussed how playing fast and getting D’Andre Swift might be the key for Georgia to win.

He did, however, also pick LSU to win today.

How Georgia football’s defense can limit LSU QB Joe Burrow

UGA’s defense allows 10.4 PPG. It’s the best defense LSU has seen all year. The Tigers’ offense is the best the Dawgs will face in 2019.

Georgia’s defense is giving up 10.4 points per game and is by all metrics the best defense LSU has played all year. The Tigers’ offense is the best that the Dawgs have faced in 2019 and is led by Joe Burrow, who will likely have his name inscribed onto the Heisman Trophy in a few short weeks.

Burrow has completed an insane 314 of his 401 passing attempts (78.3%), has thrown an even more insane 44 touchdowns, and has amassed 4366 passing yards, enough to make him the SEC record holder for passing yards in a single season.

Those numbers are staggering and present a daunting task for the Silver Britches. But if any unit can possibly limit Joe Burrow, it’s the Bulldogs’ smothering defense.

The Tigers’ quarterback is poised and methodical with an ability to scramble outside the pocket the extend plays. He keeps his eyes downfield and has the speed to roll out and tuck the ball for quick gains to the sideline.

For the Junkyard Dawgs to diminish Burrow’s prowess, they need to keep him in the pocket. Rushing three men while dropping eight, including a spy linebacker eyeing the quarterback, keeps Georgia’s defense in a man free alignment that can negate big plays and contain Louisiana State’s explosive offense.

In 2019, several SEC West teams have used this formation in attempt to confuse Burrow to no avail, but Georgia’s speedy and physical defense possesses better athletes than any defensive group the Tigers have seen thus far, save for Alabama (which is debatable).

All of this is much easier said than done against a team with the Southeastern Conference’s best performing signal caller and an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position, which includes Biletnikoff Award finalists Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. If Georgia’s secondary can maintain man coverage downfield while the front seven can keeping a spy on Burrow, they can hand LSU their first loss of the year.