SEC Championship: 5 Things We Learned About Georgia's Loss Against LSU

Georgia entered the SEC Championship Game as a trendy upset pick, having won 10 straight and being beneficiaries of playing in their own state.

For approximately a quarter-and-a-half, those calling for an upset seemed as if they were onto something. Then, turnovers and special teams put the Dawgs at a disadvantage, and they were unable to finish.

They only have one game left, most likely a New Year's Day Bowl somewhere in Florida. But what did we learn about Georgia today that we didn't already know? What can we now reference in regards to the Dawgs as they prepare for their bowl game?

Read on...

Aaron Murray Isn't an Elite Quarterback Yet

It'd be foolish to deride Murray simply because he didn't put up gaudy numbers against LSU. After all, many quarterbacks have faltered against the Tigers' tremendous defense.

That said, Murray had some golden opportunities early to deliver a quick blow to LSU, and he did not cash in. He made three straight poor passes on the first drive and the Dawgs had to settle for a field goal.

The second drive he made a great pass which was dropped (obviously not his fault).

Then, Murray fumbled on the opening drive of the second half. This set up a short field for the Tigers, and they cashed in.

The momentum seemed to have swung LSU's way, but it was still only 14-10 LSU. This is where it was imperative for Murray to step up and lead the team back. As a quarterback, that is his role.

Instead Georgia went out with a whimper, and Murray's body language reflected despair and quit rather than a resolve and determination.

Murray finished 16-for-40 for 163 yards and a touchdown. He added two interceptions and a fumble.

Again, it isn't all about the numbers when going against LSU. Watching the game, however, one could tell that Murray wasn't ready to join the ranks of college football's elite.

Georgia Lacked an Early Killer Instinct

Everything was going the Dawgs' way early.

Playing in their own backyard, they had the crowd on their side. After forcing a three-and-out, they had early momentum. They were unable to put the ball in the end zone and instead settled for a field goal.

They were able to surprise LSU with an onside kick, but a subsequent dropped pass caused them to settle for another field goal attempt. This one was wide left, however, and Georgia was disappointingly up 3-0.

When facing an uphill battle the way Georgia was and playing with the crowd at their back, the Dawgs needed to cash in all the points they could. This one you don't chalk up to LSU's defense. UGA had 14 points on the board, and only came away with three. This shortcoming was all on Georgia.

Yes, they ended up losing by 32, but you never know how things would have swung if they were able to build a bigger lead.

The Defense Is Much Improved, but Can't Do It All

Let's be honest. The defense was incredible in the first half.

The Tigers did not get a first down against Georgia all half and were able to tally only 12 yards of offense.

Still, they were only up three points.

A quick turnover from Murray put the defense on the field with their backs up against the wall. The last thing they expected coming out of halftime was to be on the field three plays in.

LSU finally ran right at them, and Georgia surrendered the touchdown.

After that, Georgia's drives lasted three plays, five plays and seven plays. The Tigers started with an average field position of UGA's 37-yard line.

After that sequence, it was 28-10 with only 10 minutes left. The game was over.

LSU did a better job running the ball in the second half. Georgia didn't do as good of a job defending the run. But perhaps most importantly, Georgia's offense did not put their defense in a position to succeed.

Isaiah Crowell Wasn't Healthy or Otherwise Ready to Play in This Game

Crowell has been banged up for a few weeks now. He didn't play against Georgia Tech and carried the ball twice for 11 yards the week before against Kentucky.

His status was questionable coming into the game, but he took the field during warm-ups and looked ready to go.

I don't know how healthy he was, but he totaled only 15 yards on 10 carries. He led the team in carries, but finished third in yardage.

Additionally, he was totally lost on pass protection. When he was in the right position, he was bowled over. Gary Danielson speculated that Crowell's ankle was bothering him, which led him to be incapable of standing his ground. I'll argue that he just doesn't know how to pass block.

Finally, with the game clock winding down, he got into a minor scuffle with an LSU player. It didn't seem like much, but Richt and the other Georgia coaches quickly pulled him aside and reprimanded him. Perhaps they are upset with his performance/attitude thus far?

I believe that he would not have been out there as much as he was if he were not healthy enough to play at a high level. It follows then, that he wasn't ready mentally for a game like this.

Georgia Can Play with Just About Anyone in the Nation

This was a pessimistic, gloom-and-doom slideshow on UGA, right? Well here's the facts.

If Georgia can play with the same intensity that it did in the first half for four quarters, it can compete with anyone in the nation.

LSU is the No. 1 team in the nation, and it was thoroughly dominated by the Dawgs for 1.5-2 quarters. If Georgia maintained the high level of play for four quarters, it would have been with them the entire game. I'm not saying the Dawgs would have won, but they would have been there. That's impressive for a team that started 0-2.

Georgia fans should be optimistic going forward into their bowl game. They will have a realistic shot of beating whomever they square off with. If they play at a high-level on defense and limit their mistakes, then they'll walk away with a win.