Ok... I am just hanging watching a Boston Butt creep up to 203F to take to the golf course for a long overdue round, and I got to thinking about sharing some defensive efficiency plays.  If you missed the EPA explanation check it out as I ran through what EPA means for offensive efficiency.  But, it is used to describe defensive efficiency as well.  Dawgs were just behind Wisconsin last season in EPA allowed per play...  but that is hardly a fair comparison.  Georgia faced Alabama twice, Tennessee, and Florida who all had really good to elite offenses and still managed to allow just over 4 yards per play. Ridiculous..  

EPA is a value of a play's result based on down, distance, and field position... here are the top 9 plays from the defense.... caveat... I removed all 4th quarter plays and the pick 6's as though were obviously the most "valuable" plays on defense.  Here are those EPA values for grins..

• Christopher Smith 74 Yd Interception Return -10.504 EPA

• Anthony Richardson pass intercepted for a TD Nakobe Dean return for 50 yds for a -8.617 EPA

• Kelee Ringo 79 Yd Interception Return  -8.552 EPA

Note that all of these were on the Georgia side of field or the 50 YL.  These plays are very high value when successful on offense and conversely when they are unsuccessful or picked off for TD.  With that here are some critical plays which led to Georgia's elite defensive efficiency in 2021

• 4th & 3 at the UGA 3 - Bo Nix pass incomplete -4.083 EPA
• 2nd & 11 at the UGA 19 - Cade McNamara pass intercepted, touchback. Derion Kendrick return for no gain -3.977 EPA
• 4th & 4 at the UGA 17 - Hendon Hooker pass incomplete -3.545 EPA
• 1st & 10 at the UGA 31 - Anthony Richardson sacked by Jalen Carter for a loss of 11 yards to the Geo 42 -2.685 EPA
• 4th & 4 at the UGA 30 - Dylan Hopkins sacked by Channing Tindall for a loss of 4 yards to the Geo 34 -2.599 EPA
• 2nd & 8 at the UGA 31 - D.J. Uiagalelei sacked by Jalen Carter for a loss of 8 yards to the Geo 39 -2.426 EPA
• 2nd & 1 at the UGA 24 - Bo Nix sacked by Zion Logue for a loss of 9 yards to the Aub 25 -2.302 EPA
• 3rd & 6 at the UGA 6 - Bryce Young sacked by Channing Tindall for a loss of 13 yards to the Geo 19 -2.2614 EPA
• 2nd & 6 at the UGA 32 - Hendon Hooker sacked by Channing Tindall for a loss of 7 yards to the Geo 39 -2.245 EPA