That thing that’s on your face in early November is a smile. I tell you that because it took me a while to figure it out too. It’s all too rare that we get to smile this time of year. I like it. We should try it more often. A huge win (like old times) in Jacksonville coupled with several losses around us puts us at the top of the SEC East (1/2 game up on UT) and has scooted us up to the top 10 in the polls. Oh happy day. This week we get a dangerous out of conference opponent that has caused some teams some trouble this year so we’ll have to get the focus back and put the hammer down. All of a sudden this season, considered a loss after that meltdown at UT, has considerable promise again.

About the UF game

From the first play from scrimmage where we sacked Tebow, you could tell this team was bringing a different kind of energy than we’ve been seeing so far. Then came the first score. Then came that thing that everyone’s been talking about, the celebration. I debated even mentioning it here given the ridiculous amount of overblown comments made about it but I felt I’d be a bit remiss if I didn’t use this semblance of a forum afforded me to make some type of statement about it.

Look, it’s obvious Richt didn’t intend exactly what happened. What he intended was to get his players to loosen up. He got that. I don’t think he envisioned a full team celebration. His decision was basically an acknowledgment that we’d played far too tight for far too long and he wanted to remind this bunch of college kids that they were playing a football game just like they did every other weekend. What was interpreted from his request of the team to draw a celebration penalty on their first score was an expression of emotion that we haven’t been privy to too often in Athens. We saw a UGA team that was having fun again. Richt’s move would’ve certainly looked stupid if we had lost but we didn’t and I don’t know that you can separate the two, I’ve watched too many lifeless, tight, scared performances from more talented UGA teams down there for years (far pre-dating Richt’s arrival) to think that.

I thought we might change some stuff up coming out of the off week. I was pleased to see our defense get a little more aggressive but I was also pleased to see us get pressure without blitzing as well, as we continued to mix blitzes in with some of our typical defensive methodology. I was not expecting Knowshon Moreno to come out of the week off looking like a man possessed. I suppose I should have expected it as this kid has done nothing but impress time and time again, but honestly, who saw THAT coming? I remember watching another freshman that wore #24 back in 2001 and thinking I’d love to have a back like that. That was Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and he was setting (I think) an AU freshman RB carries record against us in Athens. It was a very similar performance. He was everywhere. Knowshon was everywhere. That performance certainly cemented his status in UGA-UF lore for all the red-clad folks (those wearing orange are trying to forget him) but something tells me we’ll be seeing a lot more of this kid. My God, a Freshman.

Troy Offense

Troy uses the spread attack, just like UF. They’ve averaged nearly 35 ppg on the year and have scored 26 or more against everyone, including BCS foes Arkansas [4], Florida [5] and OkSt. They are a balanced group, throwing (275 ypg) and rushing (175 ypg) equally well.

If Senior QB Omar Haugabook is able to go (he’s got a hamstring issue), then Troy is a dangerous, dangerous team. Haugabook leads the team in rushing attempts (actually tied). He’s a very mobile guy that is also completing over 60% of his passes. He’s a little loose with the ball though, throwing 11 INTs this season to 12 TDs. He threw 17 INTs last year as well, so he’s prone to those. Along those lines, he’s thrown an INT in 7 of 8 games this season. If he can’t go, freshman backup Tanner Jones will get the nod. He’s only had 15 attempts this season so you’re likely looking at a completely different offense. Given that Troy can win the Sun Belt Conference this season and still have several conference games remaining, it’s hard to say how much they plan on Haugabook playing if he’s not 100%.

Senior RB Kenny Cattouse is the guy that holds the New Jersey career rushing record, a few yards ahead of our own Knowshon Moreno. He averages over 3 catches a game so he’s got good hands. He’s averaging 6 ypc as well so he’s got good legs. Freshman Dujuan Harris has seen a good bit of carries this year as well though he’s not been quite as effective as Cattouse.

The Trojan WR corps is interesting. They start in the 3 WR set and go 4 wide often. Seniors Gary Banks and Josh Allen lead the team in receptions and yards. Those two along with Cattouse are the only 3 guys on the team with more than 15 catches. They spread the ball around a good bit though, as 11 guys have 10 or more grabs on the year. Then it gets a little weird. In the redzone they don’t have a go-to guy at all, with 13 different guys accounting for the 15 passing TDs on the year. That makes it difficult for the defense to key on anyone.

The Trojan OL (the starters anyway) is comprised of 4 juniors and a sophomore. They’re good sized, with each guy being over 305. The two OTs are shorter than average at 6-2 and 6-3. They’ve done a good job of protecting the QB this year, allowing only 6 sacks after giving up 28 last year.