Some halftime thoughts from Neyland Stadium:
-I was shocked to see Neyland Stadium with several thousand empty seats at kickoff. The Tennessee student section was especially barren. Since then, most of the seats have been filled, but this stadium used to always be filled by kickoff, no matter the start time.
-Georgia’s defense is getting beat consistently by Jonathan Crompton out of the pocket. The Vols have run several play-action passes with Crompton rolling out and he has completed nearly every one of them. At the half, Crompton is 12-15 with 205 yards and three touchdowns.
-Brandon Boykin returned his second kickoff for a touchdown today. This one was also for 100 yards, tying his own school record. UGA went 117 years without a 100 yard kickoff return but now has two in a four game span.
-As bad as the kickoff coverage has been this year for the Dawgs, the special teams have kept Georgia in this one. Boykin’s kickoff return and a blocked punt by Zach Renner for a safety resulted in nine points for the Dawgs. Add in Blair Walsh’s 52-yard field goal and the special teams were responsible for all of UGA’s first half points.
-Joe Cox was intercepted by defensive end Chris Walker after Cox’s pass on 3rd and 3 was batted in the air. The Vols scored on their ensuing possession.
-Marlon Brown saw his first action for the Dawgs this season. Ironically, the Tennessee native got into his first game against his home state Volunteers. Brown was lustily booed by the Tennessee faithful after his first career catch in the second quarter.
-The Georgia rushing attack is once again being stymied. The Dawgs have totaled 30 yards on nine carries led by true freshman Washaun Ealey’s 14 yards on five carries. The Dawgs need to get the running game going if they expect to have any offensive success in the second half. Joe Cox is simply not effective enough on his own without being set up by the running game.
-The two squads have combined for 92 penalty yards and 11 flags in the first half.
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