Georgia’s nightmare: Zac to Dez (and we’ve got video)

Excuse Dez Bryant while he kisses the sky. (AP photo)

Excuse Dez Bryant while he kisses the sky. (AP photo)

Since we’re less than three weeks away from Georgia’s opener at Oklahoma State and there’s all this angst in Athens about whether the Bulldogs will be able to stop an OSU offense that averaged 41 points per game last season, I thought I would add to the panic:

Sporting News Today just named the top quarterback-wide receiver duos in the nation. At the top of the list: The Cowboys’ connection of Zac Robinson-to-Dez Bryant.

Sporting News college football writer Dave Curtis called Bryant a dark-horse Heisman Trophy candidate and wrote: “Bryant slides into the Percy Harvin/Jeremy Macklin role as the nation’s top playmaker on the perimeter. Robinson, lost amid the Big 12’s quarterback bonanza, throws and runs well and possesses as many weapons as any quarterback in the country.”

Addressing the Cowboys’ expectations in the “game to watch” section, Curtis wrote of the Georgia game: “They’re talking championships in and around Stillwater, and momentum sits at a high point in the last 20 years. A downer to open the season would suck away all the energy.”

How many points will Oklahoma State score against Georgia?

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So here’s my question for you: How many points to do you think the Bulldogs’/Willie Martinez’s defense will allow Oklahoma State? It’s the obvious key to the opener because nobody is certain what to expect from the Joe Cox-led offense. I’ve given you a few choices in the poll but I’d like to hear you comments as well. I’ll check in later.

Meanwhile, here’s a little video to give you some nightmares:

202 comments Add your comment

Who is gt??

August 17th, 2009
10:59 am

Gt is IRRLEVANT

First Loss for UGA

August 17th, 2009
11:03 am

No doubt about it.

Saint Simons

August 17th, 2009
11:03 am

(((((( 45 – 42 )))))) hahahahahahahahahahaha

Bryan G.

August 17th, 2009
11:03 am

Well, they scored 14 on us in 2007, and I think they’re better now. So I’ll say 17.

First Loss for UGA

August 17th, 2009
11:04 am

I’ll show myself to the failed firsties fire.

Chris

August 17th, 2009
11:09 am

Jeff,
I believe they will score 20+ for certain but the Texas Tech/Ole Miss Cotton Bowl captured the heart of the matter. When Oklahoma went up against the Florida defense…same thing.

The wingbone, triple option, double veer T, shoot and poot offenses have been around since long before the days of Lavell Edwards. When they go up against a sound fundamental defense, they usually come up short.
Of course back then, our defense may have been a touch more fundamentally sound.

BIG UGLIES WIN GAMES!!!

August 17th, 2009
11:14 am

UGA 38 OSU 24. The dawgs O-LINE and D-LINE will be the keys to the game. The O-LINE will open up big holes for Samuel and Thomas to run. Who will cover Green, Moore & White(who I think will have a huge game) and King. Do not be surprised to see the D start with a 3-4 and use it a lot with the depth we have at LB,…BALL CONTROL & BIG UGLIES WIN GAMES!!

Hey, Chris...

August 17th, 2009
11:15 am

…I sure am glad you added about “back then” to your post – ’cause, based on last year, and who is still in charge, we sure “ain’t” fundamentally sound now!

HH

August 17th, 2009
11:18 am

I wonder if Willie can spell “Zac” or “Dez”?

Evil Richt 2009 S.E.C. World Tour: "Banned in Columbus"

August 17th, 2009
11:21 am

Has Georgia been able to stop any option based team in the last 5 years? TROY scored 34 points against UGA. My concern is that the defense is going to have another WVU-like 1st quarter and the offense won’t be high-powered enough to catch up.

Dawgs73

August 17th, 2009
11:21 am

If UGA & Willie are going to have a chance to show they have improved, it starts in Stillwater. Traditionally, (against good competition) defenses tend to be better than offenses at the start of any football season. If the DAWGS are going to have a chance in this game, they are going to have to keep the Cowboy’s offense on the sideline (which they can do).

With that being said, UGA will control the clock, carry the ball 26 times, and beat the “over-rated” State boy’s 41-27.

T-Bone

August 17th, 2009
11:24 am

If UGA could not stop GT’s “high school offense” then there’s no way they stop OSU.

how2fish

August 17th, 2009
11:28 am

If memory serves we NEVER have a chance in our first game of the season..these OKIE State guys are going to be a good football team this year..but to be the best you have to play and beat the best..bring’em on..save the hype..we have to take care of our business period, we do that we will be fine..

PMC

August 17th, 2009
11:39 am

Remember last time when the hype was about Adarius Bowman…. where’s he playing now Canada?

Atlanta Sports Fan

August 17th, 2009
11:40 am

I recall UGA playing OK State with it’s self proclaimed “nation’s most prolific offense” and the Dogs whipping the tar out of them.

It will be a good game, but the Dogs win.

Mike Gundy

August 17th, 2009
11:41 am

I’m a man! I’m 40!

PMC

August 17th, 2009
11:42 am

OKC’s KR is the most dangerous player no one is talking about yet.

I expect them to have stud RB’s Stud WR’s and a good QB.. how would that be any different than any other good team out of the Big 12?

Dooley's Cardiologist

August 17th, 2009
11:42 am

Gt is IRRLEVANT??? Sounds like UGA is a bit IRRELEVANT this year as well. Quit being BITTER. Odds are 1980 will never happen again, and quite possibly a trip to the dome may be a long way off as well, but that is no reason to be bitter. OK State will put many points on the board. You just need to hope that Joe Ter….oops I mean Joe Cox coach BOZO can match them. Which will probably not happen.

PMC

August 17th, 2009
11:46 am

If Georgia wins it will likely be because the defense took the ball away more so than shutting them down. I expect to see fumbles or interceptions on both sides really.

I wonder if Georgia’s offense is going to be ready to take advantage of turnovers and convert good field position in to points that they will likely need in this one.

big dawg 89

August 17th, 2009
11:52 am

seems to me we’ve got a WR that can do the same thing.. and i’m pretty confident that cox can deliver to him just fine..

i just hope that coach willie reminds the safeties that you chop a tree down from the bottom..

Sam Robards, Dawg Fan

August 17th, 2009
11:54 am

OSU is a good team, but not a great one. They’ve never had this much hype going into a season, and that, along with the highest preseason ranking in the school’s history, leads me to believe that the ‘Pokes buy into their own publicity and get beat convincingly (by between 10 and 15 points). I say they score less than 25 on our vastly-improved defense, and the Dawgs control the lines and make a statement. But we’ll see! You never know until they play the game!

Who is gt??

August 17th, 2009
11:55 am

GT IS STILL IRRLEVANT!!

Harry Dawg

August 17th, 2009
11:56 am

Hey, Dooley’s cardiologist ………..i-r-r-e-l-e-v-a-n-t is spelled this way. Yes, Tech is that for sure.

Tech needs to focus on mighty Wake, big bad NC and do not foget that bad ass DC team, Maryland.

Also, the mighty VaTechers that UGA recently slaughtered and FSU and the Canes and so forth. This year, Tech will lose 4 games. You heard it here first. Boise ( icy blue carpet ) here you come.

Harry Dawg

Dooley's Cardiologist

August 17th, 2009
12:00 pm

UGA is Irrelevant…We can go at this all day, but the truth of the matter is that there are only TWO teams that have a chance outside the SEC. LSU and Florida. The rest are mediocre at best. But you can just use the escuse that the SEC “beats up on each other.” What a crock. HAHAHA. Nuff Said.

Clayton

August 17th, 2009
12:01 pm

Excellent point Chris. Usually the Big 12 Offenses have trouble scoring against SEC defenses. Lots of injuries to our D last year really hurt them statistically, and most of that was in their 3 losses. I believe UGA will not give up more than 25 points in this game. Hopefully, no injuries and our O line will open up holes for Rich and Thomas, hopefully they can run through them. DAWGS should win this one and be off to a good start.

ray ray

August 17th, 2009
12:02 pm

Here we go again…..every time the dawgs get some “explosive” out of conference team, we always end up spanking them. Enough with this OSU hype, the dawgs win.

Clayton

August 17th, 2009
12:02 pm

Hey Dooley, didn’t UGA put of a 52 spot on LSU, who won that game anyway?

Whopper Dawg

August 17th, 2009
12:05 pm

Dawgs gave up 38 or more points 5 times last year. Willie cannot stop a quality offense, simply can’t, doesn’t have the capability. The only chance the Dawgs have is to ball control the game and Bobo won’t sit still long enough for that. It breaks my heart, but without a real quality game plan and game day from both coordinators, it could be rough. O St has enough talent on the O side of the ball that we can’t simply out talent them which is our saving grace against the mid-level teams. Dawgs give up over 40.

ATLdawg

August 17th, 2009
12:05 pm

Dude throws an ugly ball.

In case there is any doubt about whether Georgia will knock the snot out of Okie State, here’s a quote from espn.com: “Some of the impetus to improve on toughness came at the end of last season, when the Cowboys were outhit late in their Holiday Bowl loss to Oregon.
Oklahoma State players were embarrassed by that performance and have put a priority on developing more physical play.
“They feel uncomfortable with getting outphysicaled in the fourth quarter of the bowl game,” Gundy said. “They weren’t exactly fired up with that.”"

‘Outphysicaled’ by OREGON?? The Duckies in the space suits? Come on….

m

August 17th, 2009
12:05 pm

If ugag looks as clueless in this game as they did against Tech last year, they may give up 50 points or more.

Gravy Train

August 17th, 2009
12:07 pm

Two points:

1. You idiots that are still putting greif on Coach Martinez are really saying that you know very little or nothing about real football. It is common knowledge to those with football IQ that any team will be adversely effected by multiple injuries that interfere with depth and practice abilities.

2. To illustrate the previous point, let’s examine the Falcons game from last Saturday. In many peoples eyes Brian Van Gorder is a great coach. He did very well statistically at UGA. But if you examine his record at Georgia Southern and the results of his most recent outting against the Lions, suddenly he doesn’t look so good. So were Van Gorder’s philiosophies different? No. He had players that were unable to execute for whatever reason. Is he now a bad coach because the worst team and franchise in the NFL was able to make his calls look foolish? No. He had third string and scout team players to work with. Very similar to what Coach Martinez had to deal with for an entire season last year.

I think the defense will be rejuvinated and driven by the determination to disprove all of the naysayers. So keep talking trash, because UGA is reloading.

UGA East Campus Smells

August 17th, 2009
12:11 pm

GT is a real school dat plays other real schools. Jville St. game not sold out goto techtix.com and help fill up the high school stadium

Clayton

August 17th, 2009
12:11 pm

I think due to everyone on Def being healthy that the DAWGS run DEF will be much improved which will help the pass DEF. Also, getting pressure off the edge will help as well. Everyone knows in college football that this changes yearly. The speed of UGA’s linebackers will give OSU fits in this game.

AltamahaDawg

August 17th, 2009
12:18 pm

It depends on if we only have to defend against the bad guys. We always do well in that case.

reebok

August 17th, 2009
12:18 pm

Tech fan here. Whether Georgia can beat Okie State will come down to how mentally tough the Bulldogs are when they get behind…because OK State can score a LOT of points. If the Dogs melt down against the Cowboys as they did last year (Florida, Bama & GT) when they got behind, then it could be ugly.

On the other hand, if Georgia stays focused and plays tough and fast, they can win. I am confident UGA has better athletes thatn Okie State…IMHO as always…good luck…see you on the Flats in November!

Drew-G-A

August 17th, 2009
12:19 pm

With as bad as their defense was last year, and will probably be this year, we will win by running the ball down their throats. Yes, RB is still a questionable position for us, but with as many backs as we have I don’t doubt that we will be able to have a lot of 3 and 4 yard gains for 1st downs which will allow us to control the clock and keep their offense off of the field. We’re gonna win this one the old fashion way. Run all over their pathetic defense and stuff them on defense at the line of scrimmage. Jeff Owens and whichever D-ends play are gonna get some big hits on Zac Robinson.

GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hello world

August 17th, 2009
12:26 pm

Nicely said – Gravy Train

Brad

August 17th, 2009
12:27 pm

Yawn. Didn’t we hear this same thing two years ago around this same time? OK State, once again, is being billed as “the most powerful offense in the world.” Oooooooooooooohhhh.

I gota give it to you Jeff, you never miss a chance to try and stir us Dawgs up. But you’ll have to forgive me if i don’t take this seriously considering the source. This is from the same man who delighted in referring to UGA as the “trebling chiuauas.” Nice. Also the same guy who referred to the UGA fan base as a “Skoal spitting, angry, mob”, not sure about the the mob part, but angry and skoal spitting is word for word. Nothing worse than an pseudo intelectual who over estimates himself. Isn’t there a flattering GT article you could be writing or some flavor of the month Euro trash rock band, whose music you could be downloading?

Spike

August 17th, 2009
12:27 pm

Blah, blah,blah. We heard all this with Boise State in 2005, and Okie State in 2007. How did tose games work out? And do you Dog hating idiots know our road record? Calculate that.

Spike

August 17th, 2009
12:28 pm

Sorry. “those”. Get spell check on this thing.

Voice of Reason

August 17th, 2009
12:28 pm

PMC- Dez Bryant is OK State’s KR that is “so dangerous”. I am pretty sure A LOT of people are talking about him.

reality check

August 17th, 2009
12:29 pm

Scary video? HMMM…Jeff are you not aware that Oklahoma State LOST that game 42 – 31?

The better defensive team tends to win. Georgia has been much better defensively than Oklahoma State despite what the Willie Martinez bashers have to say. Georgia gave up an average of 312 yards a game last year defensively compared with Oklahoma State’s 406.

Two years ago the media “gurus” were predicting an Oklahoma State win against Georgia based on their vaunted offense. The result? 35 – 14 Georgia.

For those bloggers commenting that Georgia tends not to play as well against option teams, I say there is some truth in that position. But what does that have to do with Oklahoma State? They run out of the pro set like Georgia. They aren’t an option team.

Georgia should win this game.

Macon Dawg

August 17th, 2009
12:30 pm

1. All ESPN could muster up was a clip of the same 2 catches over and over again?
2. Didn’t OSU have Dez back in ‘07?

My prediction is we put up and all the same points from the last meeting with the Cowboys.

Voice of Reason

August 17th, 2009
12:30 pm

For all of you saying UGA did this last year and that last year, remember that the year before last UF went 9-4, yet last year won the MNC. Last year is sooooo last year.

PT

August 17th, 2009
12:33 pm

Was that Kansas they were playing? Please you should look good playing Kansas. Did they win a game last year playing a legit defense?

Gary

August 17th, 2009
12:33 pm

I wonder how Robinson is going to be when he comes back from his pulled hammy. Yeah, you guys do know he hasn’t practiced at all last week? And pulled hammy’s don’t just go away after a few days rest either.

Also, did the AJC issue a directive that everything written by a columnist in the next several weeks has to be negative towards UGA?

ugggh!

August 17th, 2009
12:34 pm

dooley… it’s “excuse” not escuse… Nice! you must be a UF fan. Go Gator. They are suburb to all other teams.

mike

August 17th, 2009
12:35 pm

Is there not a GT blog? Apparently not, because their five fans post here more regularly than most of us DAWG fans! Live for something else you nats other than being merely a sandspur. You no how small a sandspur is babybees? You don’t qualify as a sand in an oyster. But, merely a sandspur.

smashmouth

August 17th, 2009
12:36 pm

Their offense can’t score unless they have the ball. Lets hope that we can make them do what we want them to do instead of them controlling the game for 4 quarters. [i.e. 08 UGA vs LSU]. The defense needs to control the momentum of the game – as we have seen time and again at UGA… when a defense makes you face third and long all afternoon the offense is going to become very predictable. Offense needs to score TOUCHDOWNS early and often. Get the lead and make them play our game. Only two Saturdays stand between us and gameday!!!

Go Gatuh!

August 17th, 2009
12:38 pm