University of Georgia Athletics
In Review: Lambert Just About Perfect
September 20, 2015 | Football
View Full Archive of the Frierson Files
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Greyson Lambert was just about perfect, Nick Chubb was again Nick Chubb (159 rushing yards and two touchdowns) and the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs were able to spend most of the fourth quarter Saturday night basking in the warm glow of a blowout win over a nemesis. Having lost four of their last five to South Carolina, the Bulldogs (3-0, 2-0 SEC) drilled the Gamecocks at Sanford Stadium, 52-20.
Senior linebacker Jordan Jenkins, who will end his UGA career 2-2 against South Carolina (1-2, 0-2), said Saturday's game felt really, really good. Especially being able to watch the end from the sideline.
"With the way the series has been the last five years, I'm glad we got another `W' notched on that belt," said Jenkins, who had four tackles. "I think I was in for one or two plays in the fourth quarter and then I was done. That was a good feeling."
It was a feel-good night all the way around. What follows is a quick review of the Dogs' performance, as well as a look at how the teams on Georgia's schedule fared this week:
Big Play
Georgia did a great many things very well in its thumping of South Carolina, so picking a single, defining play isn't easy. But the play that stands out, the play that showed Lambert was more than just on his game, was his 20-yard strike to tight end Jay Rome on the Bulldogs' second drive.
It was second-and-6 from the South Carolina 22-yard line and Lambert threaded the needle on the throw, hitting Rome between a pair of defenders to set up a first down at the 2. It was an ambitious throw, made by a very confident quarterback. And Chubb scored on the next play to give the Dogs a lead they never relinquished.
Big Playmaker
Take a wild guess. Lambert was 24-for-25 passing, for 330 yards and three touchdowns. His only incompletion came on his fifth attempt of the game, and that was followed by a UGA-record 20 straight completions. It was a performance that almost had the feel of a pitcher throwing a no-hitter.
Coach Mark Richt said the plan had been to put in backup Brice Ramsey in the first half, as the Dogs had done the first two games. But when you have a quarterback that obviously "hot," he said, you leave him in the game.
And this is a quarterback that was 0-for-5 in the first half at Vanderbilt last week and 0-for-7 after his first two throws of the second half. Of course it's worth remembering that Lambert finished very strong against the Commodores, completing 11 of his last 14 passes.
In his last six quarters, the junior transfer from Virginia is 35 of 39 for 446 yards and three TDs. That'll work.
What Did We Learn
We learned that Georgia's offense is a lot more than just Chubb and Sony Michel (three touchdowns and a lot of highlight-reel moves). We learned that Lambert is capable of being extraordinary. We learned that the Dogs' receiving corps, while maybe not one of the most explosive bunches in the land, can make a lot of plays. We learned that Malcolm Mitchell (eight catches for 122 yards and a TD), now finally fully healthy, can be something special.
We also learned that there's an attitude, a grit, developing within this team that can lead to really big things. It was evident in the fourth quarter when nobody was content to sit on a lead and run out the clock, or go through the motions on defense. Up big already, the Dogs were going after more -- more yards, more points, more tackles for loss.
What's Next
The Bulldogs are back at Sanford Stadium this week to face Southern University, an FCS program from the SWAC.
How'd They Do
9/5 ULM (1-1)
This week: The Warhawks were off this week after opening their season with a blowout loss at Georgia and a blowout win over Nicholls State, an FCS program.
Up next: Somebody had to face the wrath of a very angry Alabama squad after the No. 2 Tide's loss to Ole Miss, and that fate belongs to the Warhawks.
9/12 At Vanderbilt (1-2, 0-1)
This week: The Commodores picked up their first win of the season by picking on a lower-level in-state squad in Austin Peay. Vandy trounced the FCS program 47-7, getting a school record 240 receiving yards from sophomore wideout Trent Sheffield. The Governors actually led 7-3 early before Vandy got rolling.
Up next: After three straight home games to start the season, Vandy hits the road this week to take on No. 15 Ole Miss, fresh of its upset win in Tuscaloosa.
9/19 South Carolina (1-2, 0-2)
This week: The Gamecocks dropped another SEC game, losing big in Athens, 52-20. Offensively, South Carolina never got too much going against the Dogs' defense, finishing with 258 total yards, though quarterback Lorenzo Nunez ran the ball effectively. Defensively, the Gamecocks had no answers for Lambert, Chubb and Michel, or the rest of the offense.
Up next: South Carolina returns home this week to face UCF, which is coming off a stunning home loss to Furman, an unranked FCS program.
9/26 Southern (2-1)
This week: The Jaguars took it to rival Jackson State, winning 50-31. Quarterback Austin Howard threw for 395 yards and running back Lenard Tillery ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Willie Quinn, perhaps Southern's most explosive player, had six catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Up next: Southern heads to Athens next for the first meeting between the two programs.
10/3 Alabama (2-1, 0-1)
This week: A strong effort by Ole Miss and five Alabama turnovers did in the Crimson Tide in a wild and wacky 43-37 home loss, snapping a 17-game home win streak. The Rebels used the turnovers to jump out to big leads, only to see the Tide close the gap again and again. Derrick Henry had another big game with 127 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
Up next: The Tide will try to take their frustrations out this week on ULM.
10/10 At Tennessee (2-1, 0-0)
This week: The Vols, fresh off their stunning home loss No. 16 Oklahoma in week two, had a very easy day at the office Saturday. Tennessee roughed up Western Carolina, a long-struggling FCS program, 55-10. With Vols legend, and Kansas City Chief, Eric Berry, now cancer free, on the sideline, Evan Berry, his younger brother, returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.
Up next: Tennessee opens up SEC play at Florida, a matchup of two traditional conference powers that are trying to get back to their usual spots among the league's elite.
10/17 Missouri (3-0, 0-0)
This week: It wasn't pretty but the No. 22 Tigers stayed unbeaten with a 9-6 victory over UConn, which in the final minute ran a fake field goal play that resulted in a Mizzou interception. The Tigers got a safety from their special teams for the game's first points and then quarterback Maty Mauk scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter, for Mizzou's only points.
Up next: The two-time defending SEC East champs finally kick off conference play Saturday, on the road at Kentucky.
10/31 Florida (3-0, 1-0)
This week: It was neither pretty nor easy, but it was enough. The Gators opened SEC play with a 14-9 win at Kentucky, despite being shut out in the second half. The Florida defense had six sacks and two interceptions, holding Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles to 8-for-24 passing for 126 yards. Offensively, Florida was 2 of 11 on third down and had 245 yards of total offense.
Up next: The Gators host longtime rival Tennessee this week and they'll likely need some points in the second half to knock off the Vols.
11/7 Kentucky (2-1, 1-1)
This week: The streak continues. The Wildcats, fresh off their win over South Carolina last week, were hoping to end a 28-game losing streak to Florida. That didn't happen. Too many interceptions (two) and too little offense (241 yards) did in the Wildcats, who certainly did enough on defense to snap a streak that began in 1987.
Up next: Both Mizzou and Kentucky struggled to do anything offensively Saturday. Will that continue when they face off this week at Commonwealth Stadium?
11/14 At Auburn (2-1)
This week: The No. 18 Tigers survived a big scare from Jacksonville State in week two, prevailing in overtime against the FCS power. There was no drama this week as a Leonard Fournette-led LSU squad ran right over Auburn in a 45-21 win. Fournette had a career-high 228 yards rushing and three TDs, on just 19 carries. Auburn had just 260 yards of offense, while No. 13 LSU racked up 485.
Up next: In a matchup of two teams that can't afford another SEC West loss, Auburn hosts Mississippi State.
11/21 Georgia Southern (2-1)
This week: Lining up against a familiar foe, former Southern Conference rival The Citadel, the Eagles, who moved up to the FBS and the Sun Belt a year ago, manhandled the Bulldogs like the big brother they now are. In a matchup of option teams, Georgia Southern rushed for 383 yards and The Citadel had 318.
Up next: The defending Sun Belt champs, Georgia Southern travels all the way to Idaho for the league opener this week.
11/28 At Georgia Tech (2-1)
This week: The No. 14 Yellow Jackets were a hot pick to head to South Bend and knock off No. 8 Notre Dame. It didn't come close to happening. The Fighting Irish held Tech to just 216 yards rushing and led 30-7 with less than a minute to play before the Yellow Jackets scored, recovered an onside kick and scored again to make it a one-score game.
Up next: Tech will try to get its ground game rolling again this week as it opens ACC play with a tough Coastal division road game at Duke.
John Frierson is a staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can follow him on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
