GT Special Teams Versus UGAg

[GTNavyNuke]

You can’t make this stuff up. Really.

You have a head case FG kicker who is one of the worst (#105 @ 11 of 18 made) but has the form. He has already had an attempt blocked from 37. With the game on the line is asked for a 53 yard FG in the most important game of the year. He had missed a FG in regulation the previous year against UGAg which allowed the game to go to overtime which was lost. And four years earlier in the cesspool, another kicker (Scott Blair) missed the only EP out of 37 all year to lose a game which would probably have gone to OT otherwise.

Karma’s a *****. Somehow if Butker had had to make it from 60, I think he would have made it. I’ve seen him kick that long easily in pre-game warm ups. But this was the big time, a play that for better or worse will define Butker forever at GT. I just knew he was going to make it.


Straight and true was the kick. Kudos to the right Reverend for calling the time out to have Butker focus better. And thanks to the football gods who saw the first righting of many wrongs we have seen. I think we will see that this one kick has clear his headed and exorcized some of the worst demons. And he has two more years to get better!

Now for the more mundane stuff.

• Gotsis is a hero for his FG block in the third. I think he’s figured out American football and expect him to be even more of a force next year.
• But we gave up a fake punt from the 31 in the fourth which went down to the 3. Our D held and only gave up a FG, but this was an epic ST failure given what should have been expected from the 31.
• UGAg KO and Punt return teams were both ranked #6 in the country.
  • On KOs, Butker kicked both regular ones out. At the end of the half he did a god squib to kill clock. And then the best of the day was the successful on-sides with 4:22 in the fourth which should have won the game.
  • Punting turned out well with Rodwell punting once for a 48 yard TB, a 46 yarder with 1 yard return and then a 30 yard shank where he may have been trying to kick away and lost accuracy. But UGAg did no damage with their return game.
• As mentioned, Butker had a 37 yarder blocked and an overtime EP blocked. Both were low kicks and we didn’t block well up the middle. I think they were mostly blocked because they were so low.

Given the epic success of the game and the bipolar play, I just won’t give an overall grade. But we will all remember the Butker 53 yarder!

I think when the Football Outsiders ST ratings come out we will have fallen a bit from the #19 after Clemson. But at 10-2 we are doing something right.

Past game ST records at:
Clemson https://gtswarm.com/threads/gt-special-teams-versus-clemson.4854/
NCState http://gtswarm.com/threads/gt-special-teams-vs-nc-state.4687/
UVa http://gtswarm.com/threads/gt-special-teams-vs-uva.4564/
Pitt http://gtswarm.com/threads/gt-special-teams-vs-pitt.4483/
UNC http://gtswarm.com/threads/gt-special-teams-vs-unc.4409/
Duke http://gtswarm.com/threads/gt-special-teams-versus-duke.4268/
Miami http://gtswarm.com/threads/gt-special-teams-versus-miami.4212/
VT http://gtswarm.com/threads/st-v-vt.3877/#post-81068
GSU http://gtswarm.com/threads/st-in-ga-southern-game.3760/
Tulane http://gtswarm.com/threads/tulane-game-sts.3655/

 

[GTNavyNuke]

 

[ibeattetris]

I just don't think the blocks were on Butker. UGA players charging the snapper and getting 3-4 yards deep is almost guaranteed failure.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The refs were again rewriting the rule book here as they allowed UGA to have players run right over the defenseless long snapper which is by rule a foul. Each instance should have given us a new offensive possession and first down.

 

[awbuzz]

Just a minor correction, the "on side kick", wasn't an on side kick (even though the result was the same). Coach admitted that the kick didn't go as far as it should have and WTTE -"just don't know which way it will bounce if it hits the ground.'' I'll take the dumb luck!

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Just a minor correction, the "on side kick", wasn't an on side kick (even though the result was the same). Coach admitted that the kick didn't go as far as it should have and WTTE -"just don't know which way it will bounce if it hits the ground.'' I'll take the dumb luck!

Thanks. That intermediate range kick seems like a low risk / high reward type of play. At least until the other team starts expecting it. I just called it what was in the play by play from ESPN.

I'll take luck when you set it up to start! I think we made a very conscious decision not to kick it to their return specialists. And that worked.

 

[B Lifsey]

Thought their fake was a fg not punt??? Or, maybe my memory is slipping

 

[GlennW]

The refs were again rewriting the rule book here as they allowed UGA to have players run right over the defenseless long snapper which is by rule a foul. Each instance should have given us a new offensive possession and first down.

This is the NCAA Rule in Question:

Leverage, Leaping and Landing

ARTICLE 11. a. No defensive player, in an attempt to gain an advantage, may step, jump or stand on an opponent (See also Rule 9-3-5-b).

b. No defensive player who runs forward from beyond the neutral zone and leaps from beyond the neutral zone in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or try may land on any player(s).

1. It is not a foul if the player was aligned in a stationary position within one yard of the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped.
   
   
2. It is not a foul if the player leaps from in or behind the neutral zone.
   
   
3. It is not a foul if an offensive player initiates contact against the player who leaps.
   

c. No defensive player who is inside the tackle box may try to block a punt by leaving his feet in an attempt to leap directly over an opponent.

1. It is not a foul if the player tries to block the punt by jumping straight up without attempting to leap over the opponent.

2. It is not a foul if a player attempts to leap through or over the gap between players.

Therefore, if he didn't simply "leap," but run through our center, then yes, flags SHOULD have been thrown on BOTH blocks.

 

[iceeater1969]

The refs were again rewriting the rule book here as they allowed UGA to have players run right over the defenseless long snapper which is by rule a foul. Each instance should have given us a new offensive possession and first down.

On one play they blew up the left guard (76 I think) and on last play I totally freaked out - when the dribbled the center (56) - easy call and blatant fowl. Got to beat players, coaches, refs, and board of regents.

NAVY - thanks for st stats. I thought we did better here.

Makes me worry about the mismatch we had with talent on st which will get even worse at fsu Because we are going to score so often and will have to return a lot of punts!

 

[AE 87]

The refs were again rewriting the rule book here as they allowed UGA to have players run right over the defenseless long snapper which is by rule a foul. Each instance should have given us a new offensive possession and first down.

This is the NCAA Rule in Question:

Leverage, Leaping and Landing

ARTICLE 11. a. No defensive player, in an attempt to gain an advantage, may step, jump or stand on an opponent (See also Rule 9-3-5-b).

b. No defensive player who runs forward from beyond the neutral zone and leaps from beyond the neutral zone in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or try may land on any player(s).

1. It is not a foul if the player was aligned in a stationary position within one yard of the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped.
   
   
2. It is not a foul if the player leaps from in or behind the neutral zone.
   
   
3. It is not a foul if an offensive player initiates contact against the player who leaps.

c. No defensive player who is inside the tackle box may try to block a punt by leaving his feet in an attempt to leap directly over an opponent.

1. It is not a foul if the player tries to block the punt by jumping straight up without attempting to leap over the opponent.

2. It is not a foul if a player attempts to leap through or over the gap between players.

Therefore, if he didn't simply "leap," but run through our center, then yes, flags SHOULD have been thrown on BOTH blocks.

Fwiw, the actual rule involved, iiuc, is from FR-91

When a team is in scrimmage kick formation, a defensive player may not initiate contact with the snapper until one second has elapsed after the snap (A.R. 9-1-14-I-III).

So, yeah, on that FG at the beginning of the 2nd qtr and the PAT in overtime, they didn't wait that second before blowing up Marshall.

 

[GlennW]

Thanks for the clarification; I appreciate it.