Fortunately, Dogs aren’t about impressing pollsters anymore
Let's assume Blair Walsh and Drew Butler were not declaring, "We're No. 1" after the win. (AP photo)
ATHENS — If after one game you were convinced that this would be a dreadful season, and after two games you figured maybe the quarterback wouldn’t be so bad after all, and after three games you once again were ready to catapult Willie Martinez out of Athens, out of the state and out of a job, well, guess what? They’ve come full circle.
Maybe it’s best to just not assume anything about Georgia this season — certainly not an easy victory.
Blair Walsh kicked a game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired Saturday to give the Bulldogs a 20-17 win over Arizona State at Sanford Stadium. And that’s really all you want to know without a bottle of Tums.
Given that this is a bottom-line business, the Bulldogs will try not to think about how they got there. There was an offense that committed three more turnovers, leading to 14 of the visitors’ 17 points and left the team at a minus-9 in turnover differential this season. There also was an offense that produced only two field goals (and the three turnovers) in 10 possessions after two early touchdowns.
Joe Cox completed only 12 of 23 with two interceptions after the first quarter. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC).
There was bland and unimaginative play-calling and a stunning decision by coach Mark Richt to pass up a potential winning 45-yard field-goal attempt earlier in the fourth quarter to go for it on fourth-and-one (and the play was stuffed).
Good thing nobody is paying attention to polls this season.
“You’d like to think you’re progressing over the last three weeks,” Richt said. “It’s almost like we’re that record that gets stuck and the same things keep happening over and over again. The good news is at the very end we’ve been winning. We’d like to remove some of the drama if possible.”
The defense was strong. That would be the good news. But somewhere it is written that you should not be tied with Arizona State in the fourth quarter on your home field, particularly after leading 14-3 in the first quarter.
Haven’t figured this team out yet? Stop trying.
It was far different circumstances when these teams met at this time a year ago. The Bulldogs still had national championship aspirations. They won in Tempe 27-10. It was one of their best performances of the season, setting up meteoric expectations for Alabama week.
Then came the blackout. Then came the knockout. Bama jumped to a 31-0 lead and it was over. Neither the Dogs nor expectations were the same the rest of the season.
That wasn’t an issue Saturday. The season-opening loss at Oklahoma State smothered the rankings talk early. The wins over South Carolina and Arkansas were fun to watch, much like cartoons are fun to watch. Great offense, no defense, too many penalties and turnovers and exploding body parts.
The game was tied 17-17 when Georgia got the ball back with 5:40 left. But on first down, Joe Cox threw behind A.J. Green right into the hands of safety Jarrell Holman (who earlier returned an interception for a touchdown). This one he brought back to the Dogs’ 20. But the defense held again, and a 38-yard field goal attempt was blocked — by A.J. Green.
Green also caught a 56-yard touchdown earlier in the game. On the ensuing Dogs’ possession after the blocked field, he made a third-down 22-yard catch at the Arizona State 22. That ultimately set up the winning field goal. Pretty sure he was player of the game.
It looked for a while liked Georgia might have an easy night. Didn’t happen. Maybe we should all just assume at this point that there won’t be any easy days or nights.
First the offense stalled, then it started dropping engine parts on the highway (a fumble set up one touchdown and an interception was returned for another score). Suddenly, ASU led 17-14. The Dogs came back to tie it. After forcing ASU to punt, the Dogs drove into Devils’ territory again. But Richt elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the 28 — passing up a potential go-ahead 45-yard field goal. Result: fullback Fred Munzenmaier ran into a wall.
They seemed destined to lose. But at this point we should just assume they’re not destined for anything. Except maybe to keep us guessing.
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617 comments Add your comment
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:17 am
Was Named after Him but he never sat foot in the new word
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:17 am
Wrong Eric the Red
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:18 am
sorry meant world
BrianBulldawginJax
September 27th, 2009
2:18 am
First, as my name shows I live in Jax,FL (howme to the WLOCP) so, I don’t get to make many trips to the Hedges of Athens. But, I do have to deal with the obnoxious Gator F**s on a daily basis.
Having said that, I hope the best for Tim T and believe he will be ready to face a tired LSU squad. He has the by week to rest up, meanwhile, the bayou bengals will be coming home from back to back dog fights on the road (MSU and us).
Fianlly, for those nay-sayers back on the “bench joe sucks” bandwagon, it’s probably safe to say that 3/4th’s of you don’t know what it’s like getting accostumed to throwing a wet football consistently. I may not be happy, but the kid’s got more heart than most of you true “fair weather” fans.
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:18 am
so if you do not have a flag or a national capitol you cannot have a civil war, tell that to the Romans.
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:18 am
A viking war lord of the 1100 S
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:19 am
The romans had a central Goverment
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:20 am
A senate ran Goverment Based on the Greek Policial system
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:21 am
old I think you were talking about Leif”Vineland” Ericson. So that way Vineland was named after him. Have you seen the history channels documentrys on greenland and newfoundland. They are awesome visuals.
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:22 am
Ahh the Roman Senate. It meant a lot before the Ceasars, much less after Julius. Funny how they thought they were something before Alaric sacked them.
Madison
September 27th, 2009
2:23 am
veni vici vidi
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:24 am
Eric the red was Lief Ericson Father founed VIneland after his trip along the east coast of the americas
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:25 am
old, the Greek political system is democracy, well at least the Athenians. Rome other than the mob was more of an aristocracy senate. That is how we combined Roman senate with British house of commons to make our Senate and House.
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:25 am
My wife is Nodic {Oslen} I have studied Nordic History for 40 years
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:26 am
I came, I saw, I conquered.
Not you old. still discussing.
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:26 am
But I am enjoying this you seem like a very bright person not the norm for chat sites
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:27 am
so old, we are not in disagreement with the Scandinavians.
spanishfan
September 27th, 2009
2:28 am
Bottom line is that Richt is a milktoast coach who is incapable of making the tough decisions like firing Willie. He should have done that three seasons ago. Couple that with the aptly named Bobo (means stupid in spanish) and you get the mediocre and inconsistent performances we’ve seen year after year. If Richt views success after almost a decade at UGA as winning a couple of SEC titles and winning nine or ten games a season, the guy needs to go coach at NC State, Vandy or Wake Forest. Someone needs to sit down with this head coach and explain to him that the expectaion at UGA is now and always has been to win multiple national championships.
Marseilles Mutt
September 27th, 2009
2:28 am
I agree, we may not be a top 10, or even top 20 team. However, what does UGA have in common with Oklahoma, USC- both east and west- California,Ohio State,Ole Miss,
Okie State,GT, and Washington? Yup, they have all lost at least one game, and every one of those teams was ranked ahead of the Dogs in the polls by the so-called experts. There, however, the commonality ends, for none of the aforementioned are playing so many young, or inexperienced players at key positions. Operative words might be ‘inexperienced at their position.’
Especially on defense.
Further, think about it; three of the first four teams that UGA has played had all summer plus several weeks to prepare for Georgia; only South Carolina played a BCS school prior to the UGA game. I believe they played NC State to open the season, but could be wrong. The rest had ’scrimmages’ and could point to UGA from the ‘git go’ as their first Big Game or ‘real test’.
Each game had a different defensive strategy it appears, and left the coaches open to different forms of criticism ; in game one we tried to stop the run and double up/concentrate on one particular WR. Game two, give up the short passes and don’t get beat deep. Game three, commit totally to stopping the run- including using run blitzes- and make an inexperienced (in the SEC) quarterback in his first big game beat us and yes, he almost did. However, I found it encouraging that Georgia’s defense seemed to play better in the even numbered quarters against Arkansas. Adjustments appeared to have been made.
Game four, tonight’s, the defense played a more complete game and did show a marked improvement. The fact that they did all the above while trying to hide their lack of experience at different positions, especially in the secondary, is rather gratifying. But as someone who has had open heart surgery, I would like a little less stress from the ‘O’ side of the ball. Personally, considering my alternatives, I am truly excited just to be here, and this has been one heck of a season so far! I really love this team!
Referring to tonight, the good news is that I missed the TV with the glass when I inadvertently threw it after the second interception, but the bad news is that the window it exited through was closed! It slipped- that’s my story, as Alex once said, and I am sticking to it. Duck tape works wonders. True story.
I am sorry, this has become a boring column. But cease and desist with the rhetoric! Last I heard a W was better than an L. I am a homer, pure and unadulterated, with three letters in football, and live and die (oops! Bad choice of words.) with my Dawgs! If that makes me an idiot, so be it.
And one last thing; I have never measured anyone’s intelligence by how much they agree with me…..unlike some of the bloggers that appear on here from time to time.
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:29 am
And it dosent seem to work to well here either Our Senate lol
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:29 am
so old, you know the differnce between Harald and Harold in 1066?
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:29 am
No we arent just the time Frame
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:30 am
One was Of Germanic orgin the oother Franco
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:31 am
Mutt, I am that dumbass you speak of. I thank you for your support of the dawgs.
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:32 am
if my memeory is correct but at my age the memory sometimes slips lol
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:33 am
cuz where did you go to school
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:33 am
Well I was looking for the king of Norway going to England to fight Harold for the throne after he recieved it from Edward the Confessor. Harald lost to Harold who lost to William the Bastard from Normandy.
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:34 am
you there cuz
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:35 am
old, I graduated UGA with a major in Agriculture and a minor in History. I love history. I devour it now. I am fifty.
Devil Man
September 27th, 2009
2:38 am
Enter your comments here
I think we proved tonight that those stats about our D are pretty accurate, Comes down to the fact that you have a QB who can make plays we do not. Go look at the game we moved the ball all day you did not. You scored on two busted plays and the first TD was due to a “hold” questionable vall I’d say since the ES ‘We love SEC no matter what” PNU never showed the hold. With that being said I hope you run the table for our sake though I don’t think you will
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:38 am
old, I love running into others that know history. Fun, I like the fact that I can argue either side mostly. JSS thinks I am a reb. The few ancestors I have that fought in whatever you want to call the 1860 war fought for the Union. I live in the south, so I am a dumb redneck.
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:38 am
I went to UGA in the late 60s early 70S then later to U of South Carolina Med School Am a PA. And if you think my typing is bad you should see my hand writing lol
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:39 am
59 here
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:39 am
and like you love history
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:40 am
Enter my comments no matter how stupid here.
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:41 am
I asborb history.
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:42 am
should be absorb.
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:42 am
My Fathers people were from Northern Irland My mom people are native American and my wifes father was first Generation American from Norway her Mother Full blood German
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:43 am
some mixture huh lol
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:43 am
savered like a fine meal my friend
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:44 am
old, all my classes that were not required were history. I may have a history degree that I did not ask for since I was in the college of Agriculture.
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:45 am
old your fathers peoples are the oppressors.
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:45 am
so were mine
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:46 am
you travel much cuz?
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:47 am
No they were forced out because of their political stand
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:47 am
One of my ancestors got a comte by defending Belfast.
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:48 am
They didnt really get along with the powers that where lol
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
2:49 am
Not much anymore, I have a disabled daughter, I stay close to Augusta.
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:49 am
How they ended up in America powers that be hoped they will perish here
oldbrave
September 27th, 2009
2:50 am
Sorry to hear that my friend our kids are our hearts for sure