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
Snooze
September 27th, 2009
11:13 am
Wake me up when the Dogs play a real team. The SEC is so overrated its ridiculous. The ONLY good teams are Florida and Alabama, outside of those two teams the conference is suspect at best. Please stop with the SEC love fest.
That70sGAdawg
September 27th, 2009
11:14 am
The way the team danced while tied with ASU at the beginning of the 4th quarter, and celebrated at the end like we won the national championship, or beat FL ??? What a joke, how far we have fallen under Martinez and Richt. Yes, CMR is responsible for not doing anything. Yes, I am an Alumni, not just a “fan”, if it matters to some of you blind homeboys.
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
11:15 am
Losers all of you:
lol. And you posted all that at 4:49 AM this morning? lol.
jason
September 27th, 2009
11:17 am
Maybe I am being dellusional, but I thought it was a good game. We couldn’t run the ball, but ASU’s Defense was not that bad. Their front 7 brought pressure all night. ASU’s defense looks to be a little underated. Cox was pressured all night, and the run game was snuffed except for a couple of nice King runs. Is ASU’s front 7 that good, or is UGA’s OL overrated? I think a little bit of both.
I don’t understand why Bobo cannot call a consistent game. Time and time again our offense just disapears with terrible playcalling. Is Bobo too inexperienced to be a SEC OC? That game should have been over in the first half with better play calling.
We had like 2 QB sacks, I think, but consistently pressured ASU QB all night. Geno and Houston should share game ball for the defense. Some people will say, but we gave up some rushing yards. Our D played the pass. the focus being on the pass opened up some running lanes for the RD, who I think looked pretty good. I think people had to be surprised at the physicality that ASU played with. They looked alot more physical than last year.
What to say about AJ… If we were a dominate team, he would be a front runner for the heisman. Not only did he go like 8-157, but he set up Wooten on a long completetion. Running the Wheel route, when AJ went post to the middle of the field, he took the Safety with him as well as the DB. That left Wooten one on one down the sideline where he made a spetacular reception. AJ also had the blocked FG. As far as the non TD catch, I agree with the announcer in that if that was called a TD and reviewwed, it would have stood. I watched the replays and I was not 100% sure it was a clean catch. In my heart, I was 150% sure.
There were some bad calls in this game. As UGA fans they all seem to go anti UGA. I saw the face mask on King. You know only UGA gets 15 yd. penalties, not their opponets. As for the so called Pass Int by AJ on the long reception (someone mentioned earlier), That was a good play by a exceptional WR. Great teams like USC, UF and the like get away with those plays all the time. When you are an established player, you tend to get those. Actually, I didn’t think it was. I saw AJ slow down and the defender made contact (incidental) AJ used the bump as seperation to make the catch. An allpro play by an all pro WR. That had NFL written all over it.
All in all, it was a good game. Like many, I don’t know if the heart can handle much more craziness from this team. It was a nice change of pace from the 51-48 games we were beginning to get accustomed to. Now we have to refocus with LSU coming up. Hopefully we can get another win. Go DAWGS !!!
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
11:18 am
The fact is that TECH totally dominated the number 22 ranked team in the country. While Georgia basically tied the 122 ranked team.
pollywannacracker
September 27th, 2009
11:19 am
Hey office space, Mob Mentality idiot, Mob Mentality is the point, asking for the head of anyone who they don’t agree w/, like the coaching staff, or the President of the U.S., I’ll use politics to make my point b/c if you READ carefully this is about ignorant MOB MENTALITY to get rid of coaches for no other reason than they don’t coach like “We” want them to. Matter of fact go after some of these idiots that blog everyday & take shots at your “President” Allah may he look after you too
RDM
September 27th, 2009
11:21 am
One thing you have to agree on is this GA team is battle tested and they are pretty darn resilient. They are playing hard to the very last play. Hopefully, this will pay off down the road. They might be young but they have been thrown into the fire of SEC football.
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
11:24 am
hey georgia,
Nice last second field goal LOL to beat an unranked team LOLOL from the Pac 10 LOLOLOL at home ROFLMAO. You didn’t sell out your stadium either azzholes! Hope you cleaned up the trash outside it because Arizona State sure did inside it! Stick to gymnastics azzholes!
Reality check
September 27th, 2009
11:26 am
Mark, well written article but you leave out reference to one really big variable in the game – the fact that it was raining which I believe contributed to a lot of the turnovers – still unexcusable but could have very well been contributors.
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
11:26 am
georgia has been “tested” alright. And failed with flying colors. What a FARSE
pollywannacracker
September 27th, 2009
11:29 am
I just don’t overstand, most people expect GA to score 30+ consistently every game & give up 10< every game, not going to happen. This coaching staff only once lost 4 games & kept GA in the hunt. I don't think USC is asking for Carrol's head & he loses to an unranked team every year, again too many idiots out there to convince, I just hope the coaching staff can ignore the terribly misguided "we want our defense of old" buffoons & just continue to guide these young men to be better people & the main goal better citizens so maybe one day we can truly enjoy the game & not get so caught up in the outcome of every game like our lives depended on winning & losing, especially when we win much more than we lose.
TheItalianDawg
September 27th, 2009
11:29 am
we should give a lot of credit to Arizona State they came and played their heart out especially on the defensive side. Our D was decent but honestly we could have played much better, because ASU has only one weapon #31 and we couldnt stop him only late in the 4th Q. play calling was more predictable than none especially in the 2nd half. We are still infected by the Turn overs bug, an average of 3 turn overs every single game, , its a curse. LSU is next and if we going to have -3 turnovers we will lose, Im hoping the team will finally bring their A game
HH
September 27th, 2009
11:30 am
Dear FU: Try looking at the coach from Boise State. Although they don’t play in a “big” conference, the team appears to be very well coached. The talent appears to be pretty good. No coach is a guaranteed winner, but with Richt, its pretty evident UGA will be an also ran in the SEC East, not to mention the GA Dome. So far as other names, I am of the opinion that if you wave sufficient money in front of a prospect’s face, he will consider you. Try waving 2 million in front of Muschamp. He may not pan out either, Hoss, but you have to try. If you want to get beat by Meyer every year and Saban when you play him, no problem. So far as I am concerned with Richt, you know what you got. Try something else.
FUHaterz
September 27th, 2009
11:34 am
That70sGADawg,
Good posts. What a shameful display of celebration after winning on the last play of the game – clearly they should have walked off the fields with their heads down. Also true regarding the depths to which we have fallen under CMR – if only we could get back to the Goff and Donnan heydays. Well, one can dream. It makes me proud when a UGA fan, an alumni no less, speaks with such knowledge. Keep up the well-thought out and totally rational posts.
Carl Spackler
September 27th, 2009
11:36 am
Please read the below posting…really, you didn’t expect to be undefeated…why not, what kind of fan are you…why would you be willing to settle for anything less than 13-0…this is the difference between a top tier and 2nd tier program…heck, the fan base isn’t expecting anything better…wonder what the team feels when they see homer’s giving up before the ball is even snapped…if this is the same thinking as CMR, then you’ll always be also rans…
“chazzo
September 27th, 2009
10:25 am
Wait a minute… Who said we were going to go 13-0 and win the BCS? When over the summer did anyone say UGA was going to be awesome and beat everybody? The predictions were 7-5 and 8-4. UGA is doing fine, doing what it needs to do to get a W. As I have said many times, there are going to be a lot of nail biters, and nobody is beating the Gators. (Well… I have a feeling that somebody’s going to beat the Gators). UGA has played four solid teams, 3 of them actually pretty good. Next week, we will all find out if UGA can rise to the occasion against a big time team.”
Stinger
September 27th, 2009
11:36 am
That quarterback for ASU should be named slooth foot. That was the slowest quarterback that I have ever seen. He was almost a robot. Boy I would hate to see you guys face some of the agile quarterbacks from the ACC. You would not have a prayer. Oh well, you will find out in November.
Jeff
September 27th, 2009
11:41 am
Well coached teams don’t consistently have more turnovers then they force. Of all stats, you can usually find the highest correlation between winning and losing in turnover differential.
Well coached teams place a premium on ball security. Well coached teams constantly preach and practice holding onto the ball. Well coached teams practice stripping the ball and forcing turnovers. In fact, it’s the one aspect of the game that, generally, doesn’t have anything to do with athleticism or recruiting rankings or talent, but rather hard work and discipline. All of which must be instilled by the coaches.
Emmanuel Moody fumbled in the 1st quarter of FL’s game against Troy. It was his only carry. He did not return to the game. Is that fair? Probably not, but I guarantee Mr. Moody understands that fumbling the football = not playing or getting more carries.
yellow fuzz buster
September 27th, 2009
11:42 am
Ask yourselves these questions dawgs:
Would you rather be 3-1 in the SEC or 3-1 in the ACC?(All Cupcakes Conference)
Would you rather know you squeaked out a victory over SC (who beat the #4 team), ASU (who had the #1 def) or a squeaked out victory over pitiful Clemson?
((((((((((((((((( 33-17 ))))))))))))))) hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
C-DAWG
September 27th, 2009
11:42 am
Enter your comments here
Just an observation:
Since Samuel would rather hit or run over someone, move him to linebacker. Also Boykin does a great job of running the ball, but struggles to cover or tackle. Maybe he needs to go to offense. Just seems like a Robert Edwards issue.
Carl Spackler
September 27th, 2009
11:46 am
BTW…anyone know why at the end of the game UGA didn’t take a shot at the fg on 3rd down…w/ a sloppy field therecould have been a bad/mishandled snap, still would leave time to call timeout and take another shot…nope run to the middle of the field and kneel down…heck you had 2 other plays to run to the left and put it in the middle of the field (those two runs that gained 2 and 3 yds and still left the ball out of position)…coaching strategy, clueless…
FUHaterz
September 27th, 2009
11:49 am
HH
CMR = 85-23 record
I know what I get with Richt, and I like it. We don’t get beat by Meyer and Saban every year. We are 1-1 with Florida over the last two years, 2-3 over the last five.
CMR has taken us to 3 SEC east title and 2 SEC championships. I’ll take that. I don’t want Peterson or Muschamp, and it worries me that others do. I’m sure you love UGA as much as I do, and we will just have to disagree, but I think CMR is the man.
Sal Palantonio
September 27th, 2009
11:51 am
Which conference is worse?
A) ACC
B)Big 10
c)All of the above
Dawg Props
September 27th, 2009
11:55 am
The dawgs are on a roll!! They will beat lsu, tennessee, florida and win the East! Mark it down–put it in the bank!
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
11:59 am
Ask yourselves these questions dawgs:
Is Florida going to absolutely kick what’s left of our teeth in on Halloween?
Is Tech going to bitch slap us again for Thanksgiving?
Are we going to celebrate New Years in Boise or Nashville on like, December 21st while Tech plays in the Orange Bowl on New Years Day?
Whose picking up all the trash on our cowtown/trailer park campus this morning?
((((( 45-42 ))))) hahahahahahahahahahaha
FUHaterz
September 27th, 2009
12:02 pm
Jeff,
I’m not buying your argument. Turnovers, more than any other aspect of the game, have to do with player performance, not coaching. And while I’m sure there is a correlation between turnover margin and victories, it’s not the best predictor of wins and losses.
Here are the current top 5 teams in turnover margin this season:
1. Air Force
2. Arizona St.
3. Wyoming
4. Rutgers
5. Colorado St.
Wanna trade spots with any of those teams? Want any of their head coaches? I think I’ll stick with Richt and his 3-1 record.
FUHaterz
September 27th, 2009
12:04 pm
Yellow Fuzz,
Learn proper grammar.
It’s “who’s” not “whose.”
((((((you’re stupid)))))) hahahahahahahahahaha
Sal Palantonio
September 27th, 2009
12:05 pm
Yellow Fuzz, you would know about bowl games in Boise and Nashville.
Office Space
September 27th, 2009
12:06 pm
I don’t call for anyone’s heads just to use them. It’s not an easy year to coach the Dawgs. Maybe I’m crazy but it would be nice to see some of the young QB’s get some reps. Joe’s the man but put bullets in the gun,we’ve got plenty.
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
12:07 pm
I saw a Florida player block a punt and then recover it himself in the end zone for a touch down. A georgia player could never do this because he would have to-
1. block the punt
2. spint 10 yards away from everyone and do a slow motion, strut, dance to show everyone that’s the first time he has blocked a punt since pop warner ball
3. sprint and recover the ball in the end zone
FUHaterz
September 27th, 2009
12:10 pm
Carl Spackler,
Our coaching strategy wasn’t clueless at the end…it was calculate and well-thought out. ASU called their last timeout after 2nd down. We ran on third so that we could run the clock down to 2 seconds and have a shot at winning the game on the last play of the game. If we had kicked the FG on 3rd, we would have had to kick-off to ASU and they would have had 25-30 seconds left in the game. That is perfect strategy – why would you want to give ASU the ball back?
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
12:12 pm
Sal Palantonio,
And YOU soon will.
When our program was in running in reverse we went there and it did suck. But now that it’s YOUR turn I think it’s great.
georgia freezes their hairy azz of in Boise Idaho the week before Tech plays (and we party) at South Beach.
Life is good
Losers, all of you
September 27th, 2009
12:15 pm
Yellow Jizz — Yeah, I did post it at that time. I am in Amsterdam on business (6:15PM at the moment) and unfortunately, you are still a loser. You are pretty much in the center of the demographic that the posting was targeted.
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
12:15 pm
Just be glad you have two out of 100 players playing up to their potential (AJ Green and the kicker). Sad part is they will both leave after their Jr season too forcing you to blame everything on youth (for the 29th straight year)!
Jeff
September 27th, 2009
12:16 pm
FUHaterz, I’ll stick with my school’s HC, Urban Meyer. You stand by CMR.
Now, would you like to trade?
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
12:16 pm
Loser,
whatever
Frank Wren
September 27th, 2009
12:20 pm
Tech is a mediocre program from a terrible conference. Yawn
Whats so sad is they cant even win the ACC.
UgaJersey.com
September 27th, 2009
12:21 pm
http://www.UgaJersey.com for replica dog jerseys.
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
12:21 pm
Frank Wren,
But we can win in Athens!
Frank Wren
September 27th, 2009
12:22 pm
Now, would you like to trade?
umm no. I wouldnt have Urban Crier for a coach.
wreckmaniac
September 27th, 2009
12:22 pm
Seriously dawgs, no BS here. I thought that if UGA held any team to 17 they would have a very impressive day. But no so.
When I see AJ Green I can only think about what Calvin Johnson could have been at Tech but never had the chance. Green is the best in the
nation. His catch in the endzone that was ruled out of bounds (and wasn’t) was one for the ages. Kudos to Cox on that one too. As an avid
UGA basher, a kid like Cox is the kind of guy I want on my team whether
its the corporate world or the military or coaching or any other endeavor. He personifies guttiness. A guy who gets a big job with no
fanfare and no one expecting him to succeed has something in the belly that is more valuable than talent.
Frank Wren
September 27th, 2009
12:22 pm
But we can win in Athens!
Once a decade. Yup you sure can !!
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
12:25 pm
Frank,
We don’t need Urban Myer as a coach to beat you in Athens (45-42).
Dawg Station
September 27th, 2009
12:25 pm
I’m desperately hoping and praying that notre dame loses a few more games, so Weis gets fired and ND hires Meyer away from Florida—this will give the Dawgs a much better chance against Florida in future years, especially after Tebow leaves!!!!
Sanford Drive
September 27th, 2009
12:26 pm
I’m so relieved Yellow Fuzz is back from his hiatus.
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
12:27 pm
Frank,
Hope you do a better job picking up 70 tons of trash than you do talking it.
Cuz
September 27th, 2009
12:27 pm
Hey Fuzz, you might want to quit throwing stones in your glass house.
You got mauled by Miami, or have you forgotten, 33-17. It stings still doesn’t it.
Miami gets the taste knocked out of their mouth by VTech, 31-7.
You have a game with VTech on October 17.
What is that yellow liquid running down your pants and puddling on the floor. Smell your own sorry fear. Hell is coming and it aint wearing Red and Black. Thanks to you, I will now cheer for the Hokies. You freaking idiot.
Frank Wren
September 27th, 2009
12:28 pm
Hope you do a better job picking up 70 tons of trash than you do talking it.
We dont pick it up. We round up nerds like yourself from tech campus and make them do it while we drink beer
Jeff
September 27th, 2009
12:29 pm
There are a few other things that you don’t have either, Frank Wren. Two national championships in the past three years and the number one ranked team in the country.
However, you do have endless excuses, poor coaching and underachieving players. Oh–and you have that pithy ‘Urban Crier’ moniker. Me, I’d rather have the titles.
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
12:29 pm
lol, who let the dogs out?
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2009
12:30 pm
Frank,
No you said it all in the first sentence “We dont pick it up”