AP Lazy Picking All-SEC

The Georgia Bulldogs had three 1st team All-SEC members announced by the AP today. WR AJ Green, LB Rennie Curran and P Drew Butler were easy choices as they were statistically superior compared to other players. By statistically superior, I mean “most” or “highest”.  AJ was second in yards per game recieving(83.4). Rennie led the league in tackles(122) and Drew far outdistanced the other punters in gross average by over five yards(48.8). Net punting was a little closer. So far so good.

Kickers as you know are different, all the way down to how you judge who had a better season or career.  Obviously the AP voters chose Leigh Tiffin over Blair Walsh because Tiffin had 29 field goals and Blair only made 19. Forget the fact that Tiffin had eleven more attempts than Blair. Forget the fact that Tiffin actually had misses of 36, 39, 43, and 49 yards and three missed PAT’s. He also had a long kick of 50 yards. Forget that Blair on the other hand missed one kick of 32 and one of 55 yards, period. He did not miss a PAT(37-37). He was 4-5 from over 50 yards with a 50, 51, 52 and a long of 53 yards.

Blair also had 17 touchbacks on 67 KO’s(25%). Tiffin had 13 on 89 KO’s(15%). There is no easy and quick way to know how many of these kick-offs were deep attempts, so I’ll just leave it at face value. Georgia fans know Blair was not allowed to kick deep at times, so his numbers could have been even better.

To make a long story a little shorter, Blair got hosed. I’m sure he knows it, and numbers don’t lie. He should have been 1st team.

Tiffin had better not win the Groza Award. That should probably go to Kai Forbath of UCLA, who is 26-29 on field goals. All three of his misses are from over 50 yards. Not bad.

Congratulations  Blair on an All-American type year, much less All-SEC.

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