We’re live from Athens (and Dogs need to channel Butkus)
Can Willie Martinez get his Georgia defense ...
(UPDATED BELOW: Check out the rain picture.)
ATHENS — The former Hall of Fame linebacker, Dick Butkus, once remarked, “I wouldn’t ever set out to hurt anyone deliberately unless it was, you know, important – like a league game or something.”
This is why if you suddenly find yourself in a friendly flag football game one day and Butkus is on the other team, you should immediately stop and say, “Oh, look at the time. I forgot I have that thing
... to play a way that would make Dick Butkus (51) proud?
I need to do today.” And then leave.
Now, I realize this is college football and not the NFL. I’m not suggesting any player should ever intentionally try to hurt an opponent. But Georgia plays its fourth game of the season tonight against Arizona State, and I’m still waiting to see those things football fans love to see and hear things football fans love to hear: train-wreck collisions and grunts.
The Bulldogs are coming off of consecutive SEC wins over South Carolina and Arkansas. But they were the kind of offensive, up-and-down-the-field, play-like-your-hair’s-on-fire kind of games that are fun to watch but tend to give people like Butkus a headache.
Maybe this is what we’re going to see from Georgia this season. Joe Cox and the offense have figured out how to move the ball. But since opening with a strong effort at Oklahoma State, the Willie Martinez-coached defense has been shredded for 78 points and 912 yards in two games, including 721 yards passing.
Steve Spurrier and Bobby Petrino had their quarterbacks attack Georgia’s secondary without fear of repercussion – and seemingly without fear of getting hit. It doesn’t matter what the scheme is. The worst kind of defense is the kind that opponents don’t fear.
The Dogs are not feared.
Arizona State probably can’t duplicate the numbers the Gamecocks and Razorbacks put up. But how the Sun Devils attack will be interesting to watch.
That’s what I’m looking for this game. What about you? Hoping somebody on Georgia’s defense channels Butkus? I’ll be here blogging live, before and during the game, at least until I need to get busy on a post-game column.
Until then, below is a video memory from last year’s meeting between Georgia and Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., won by the Dogs, 27-10.
UPDATE: It’s pouring here. But, of course, guess what section is filled:
You're looking almost live at Sanford Stadium.
Knowshon Moreno, cleared for takeoff
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1,236 comments Add your comment
FalconUGAFan
September 26th, 2009
3:34 pm
Go DAWGS!
Bat Masterson
September 26th, 2009
4:00 pm
Reshad Jones hits people, of course he gets penalized for it.
Bigboy
September 26th, 2009
4:01 pm
LSU is overrated.got the feeling so are Ala and Fla
Bigboy
September 26th, 2009
4:12 pm
Add Mia and FSU to that list too.
honest_abe
September 26th, 2009
4:14 pm
ok bigboy then tell us .. who isn’t?
Chris
September 26th, 2009
4:15 pm
Nice game for GT dawgs. You talked a lot of trash about tech last week. And saying lsu is overrated is bs. It’s called PARITY. So LSU is overrated. What happens if they beat your dawgies next week and GT destroys miss state in starkville?
Bottom line is you DON”T judge a team by one game. GT is much better than that game against Miami. And miss st is not as bad as people think. And there IS parity in football so anything is possible.
VT beating miami now 14-0
S fla beats FSU
This is going to be an exciting year for the NC. I think NO TEAM goes undefeated. Chaos in the BCS will ensue.
Chris
September 26th, 2009
4:16 pm
And I think S fla could hang with the gators. Hey they beat Charleston S by the same amount of points. LOL
45ACP
September 26th, 2009
4:17 pm
Mississippi had trouble moving the ball on USCe.
Alabama is having trouble on offense vs Arkansas.
Just how good are the Dawgs on offense?
honest_abe
September 26th, 2009
4:17 pm
this is “college” football. teams can have their ups and downs. you’re just not going to see a team dominate every week…
as for bama’s vaunted defense… sure looks like it starts with their front 4. as soon as houston and washington start getting some pressure georgia’s d will look a lot better. how bout lsu giving up 24 points to …. miss state?
honest_abe
September 26th, 2009
4:21 pm
if the past 3 weeks have taught college football fans anything its that you should appreciate a win no matter how ugly. so georgia hasn’t been dominant on defense, uga fans should still be happy they’re 2-0 in the sec instead of b*tching about the d. seriously though get behind the team…
Mark
September 26th, 2009
4:21 pm
I know this is a GA blog but does anyone know what happens if GT beats VT and Miami loses to VT, which looks likely now and all teams only have 1 loss in conference to each other? What are the breakdowns for the tie breaker? I know the first is head to head and that will be gone and next is conf division losses and that will be gone too? I wonder if it’s ranking. Which means OOC games will be very important. Please no snide remarks from UGA fans. I’m just asking if anyone knows and not trying to ruffle any dawg hairs.
SS
September 26th, 2009
4:24 pm
It’s funny how college games work. GA SC in a shootout. GA ARK in a shootout. SC OLE MISS in a low scorer. Bama Ark in a low scorer so far. You just know if Ga played bama it would be a shootout. Where do the defenses go? Weird.
honest_abe
September 26th, 2009
4:25 pm
wow that arkansas d looks stout. lol…. its all relative folks.
bass stringerfish
September 26th, 2009
4:27 pm
If we don’t get pressure on the QB to include sacks, we will never be feared. The run Defense seems to be stout, but the pressure on the QB means the DB’s have to cover too long. We’ve played 2 good QB’s who given the time to throw will do exactly what they ended up doing to us. The Dawgs need to find someone who may get beat on the run now and again, but will flat out get after the QB. It starts there IMO for our Defense.
41 38 49 38 45 24 37 41
September 26th, 2009
4:29 pm
willie is still a joke you blind homers!
reebok
September 26th, 2009
4:29 pm
Mark, my friend, you are just setting yourself up for all manner of abuse from (shall we say) passionate Bulldog partisans? Anyway…
Good luck tonite, Dogs, show ‘em how we play football in the South. See you on The Flats in November!
Matt
September 26th, 2009
4:30 pm
Good luck tonight Dawgs. This from a tech fan. I want you to win out so it will sting even more when we beat you!
I wonder since it doesn’t rain much in AZ, if that will have an impact on the sun devils.
45ACP
September 26th, 2009
4:31 pm
Mark, try this link.
http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/021203aad.html
Mark
September 26th, 2009
4:32 pm
Reebok
Well being a tech fan, I am accustomed to entering the bee’s nest. Haha.
Just thought I would ask. And good luck tonight. Mark made a good point about the rain. Don’t forget your rain coats! And throw that trash in the can!
Sonny Clusters
September 26th, 2009
4:33 pm
“Live from Athens” reminds us of a live bait store we was always going to when we was playing ball together and going fishing after practice. It’s good that the AJC is still doing some live coverage of some games and some news every now and then. We was wondering if it’s raining yet and if the field looks good for the game?
45ACP
September 26th, 2009
4:33 pm
I think that was for basketball but you should be able to find it there.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
4:33 pm
I meant Matt made a good point.
hamburger lips
September 26th, 2009
4:35 pm
The rain will bother spooned Joe Cox. Pick 6 galore Joe boy! Mark it down!
Mark
September 26th, 2009
4:38 pm
45 Thanks. I found the link. It would go to bcs ranking, which means ooc games are HUGE!
Mark
September 26th, 2009
4:39 pm
Looks like heavy rain in the first half and maybe clearing out for the second half of the game.
Chained Dawg
September 26th, 2009
4:44 pm
Glad to see LSU play Awesome D near the end and hang on to win. Dawgs need to care of business tonight then get ready to knock of LSU.!
Chained Dawg
September 26th, 2009
4:47 pm
Wow what a trick play Bama ran on ARKY. UGA should try this with Logan Gray to AJ Greene! Bama 14 Arky 0
Bigboy
September 26th, 2009
4:51 pm
My point about being overrated is there are no real dominate teams out there right now.Everybody can be beaten.
Rafey El Savier
September 26th, 2009
4:52 pm
How will ASU handle a wet field? Can UGA stack the line and handle the pass?
Rafey El Savier
September 26th, 2009
4:53 pm
Nice win by GA Yech. Nesbit looked awful tired at the end.
Sanford Drive
September 26th, 2009
4:54 pm
Willie M looks like a douche in that picture – mostly because he is, in fact, a douche.
Rafey El Savier
September 26th, 2009
4:55 pm
Here’s a different approach on our “D”. Is Gardner the real problem? Has he submarined Martinez?
Chris
September 26th, 2009
4:57 pm
Big boy that’s called parity.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
4:59 pm
Nesbitt was dead tired. The play calling on offense especially in the red zone was sketchy. PJ needs to work on that. That heavy rain/storms is going to be hitting Athens right at 7. Could be a delay for the kickoff.
CJ
September 26th, 2009
5:00 pm
Braves win! Go cardinals!
Cuz
September 26th, 2009
5:01 pm
Jeff, did you take your galoshes? You don’t want to make your Mom mad.
oldmanfan
September 26th, 2009
5:01 pm
The dawgs should not have any problem tonight.Joe Cox can do the job.After seeing Moreno run and jump over people, we all got spoiled. Someone at runningback, or tailback needs to step up and play with reckless fury. And I think after the way Tenn. played the gators, it just shows the gators CAN BE HAD. If the dawgs play a perfect game in that one they can win.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:02 pm
I sure hope this rain doesn’t cause any more deaths. Sheesh.
Jeff Schultz
September 26th, 2009
5:05 pm
ASU players on the field now. They just gathered for one of those group hug thingies — while standings on the “G”!
Jeff Schultz
September 26th, 2009
5:08 pm
Sonny –How are they bitin’? … It’s a gentle mist here. And the field looks green.
Mark — Not sure I’ve ever actually owned a pair of galoshes. They just don’t make a fashion statement for me.
Odella Dean
September 26th, 2009
5:09 pm
Im tailgating here at the north campus have seen only 3 styrofoam coolers float by.
Bigboy
September 26th, 2009
5:11 pm
I want GT to do well.they are still GA boys for the most part..I hope they win the Acc..besides that would be good for our SoS!!
45ACP
September 26th, 2009
5:11 pm
After supper time,
I would go down to the railway station and wait on ole #9
Whoooooo, Whooooo
Cuz
September 26th, 2009
5:13 pm
Standing on the G, the unmitigated gall of them.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:14 pm
Bigboy
Feel the same way for ga. And this year with the parity we are seeing, sos will be even more important.
Cuz
September 26th, 2009
5:14 pm
45 did you get something in the mail today?
Rafey El Savier
September 26th, 2009
5:14 pm
I like my gall fried with red eye gravey.
45ACP
September 26th, 2009
5:17 pm
Muchas gracias!
Rock on….
Stinger
September 26th, 2009
5:17 pm
You guys kill me talking about other teams being over rated. Did you ever look in your own back yard at your team? It is absolutely mind boggling that UGA could be rated. You haven’t played anyone and looking at your schedule, won’t play a good team until Florida.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:19 pm
FSU and Miami schedule S fla. But the gators won’t. They are scared of them and for good reason.
S fla will be my second team!
Cuz
September 26th, 2009
5:19 pm
And we are thankful that Florida will be the only good team we play all year Stinger.
Stank Dawg
September 26th, 2009
5:19 pm
Boy with all of this rain this trash will sure stink tomorrow. Im puttin on my waders.
beanuga
September 26th, 2009
5:20 pm
It sure would be nice if the dawhs had a defense like Alabama and Virginia Tech. WOW! The Dawgs have the players. Why would MR ever let WM come back another year? Big Mistake!!! GA needs a DC. Where is that FIRE WM CLUB? I am joining that club today.
Cuz
September 26th, 2009
5:20 pm
Go you Hairy Bovines. It’s got potential.
45ACP
September 26th, 2009
5:21 pm
Looking at the NWS radar.
Some bad storms moving toward Athens and Augusta.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:22 pm
Come on Stinger. That is not true. First there is parity. Second, SC beat NC state albeit it was close. SC just beat an overrated Miss team. Ga is going enough on offense to get the W. As PJ says, a win is a win. And Fla doesn’t look that impressive so far. Neither does Bama. This season is shaping up as a nightmare for the BCS. I will predict 10 teams will have a valid gripe to play in the NC game.
beanuga
September 26th, 2009
5:22 pm
Honestly! Watch these other teams defenses. WM Sux. Lets keep everything underneath us ok and rush 3 linemen.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:23 pm
I agree beanuga. If ga had bud foster as DC, they would have won a nc this decade.
Cuz
September 26th, 2009
5:23 pm
45, did I put enough stamps on the thing or was there postage due?
Cuz
September 26th, 2009
5:24 pm
I got it in another window 45, I think Athens is gonna get hammered. The Arizona State bench will think the sky is falling.
ChattaDawg
September 26th, 2009
5:27 pm
Please hire the South Florida defensive line coach at the end of the year. Their front four were Dominating!
Larry Munson
September 26th, 2009
5:28 pm
“Look at the Chikin sandwiches falling out of the sky!”
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:29 pm
Ga game is on espnu. No HD. That channel sucks.
RomeDawg
September 26th, 2009
5:29 pm
Stinger,
I can only assume you were talking about Tech? UGA has beat a tough USC team that just upset the #4 ranked team in the nation and we beat a fiesty Arkansas team that is playing with the #3 ranked team in the nation. As for Tech, you just picked up your second win in 4 games against a BCS team. In both loses your were blown out and one of those wins was a clear conspiracy by the refs to keep you in the top 15. The jackets may be the 50th best team in the nation, maybe. Tech finds itself exactly where it belongs…..looking up at the top 25. With that weak schedule you may not get a chance to play another “real” team until the dawgs whoop that arss in Atlanta!
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:30 pm
Larry
S fla is way underrated. I followed them last year and they made it to the top 10. They are def a top 20 team. They beat Char South by the same margin the mighty gators did. Keep an eye on them. they have miami in their second to last game. And their starting qb didn’t even play today.
RamblingDawg
September 26th, 2009
5:31 pm
Somone call Athens and tell Willie to tune into the ALA-ARK game. That is an SEC game, not like the no defense WAC type games UGA now plays.
chamblee dawg
September 26th, 2009
5:32 pm
guess what? its raining
45ACP
September 26th, 2009
5:33 pm
Cuz, no postage due. I really appreciate it.
Thanks again!
Does it rain in Arizona?
Isn’t that a song?
dawgfan1911
September 26th, 2009
5:33 pm
This game will be another barn burner with the defense comtinuing to struggle and looking awful, but the offense will score enough to win the game. On another note, I would love to see Miami play Georgia at the Dome in the Chick Fil A opening game of the year. I am tired of seeing Alabama for crying out loud but I guess they are the only ones that will play a tough opening game. Jacory Harris versus Aaron Murray. Both team’s young talent will be developed by then and it would be a great game. Make it happen!!!!!
TheItalianDawg
September 26th, 2009
5:35 pm
Im watching Alabama and Arkansas and the score is 14:0 Bama on top! Im just wondering does our Idiot DC feel ashamed of him self and realize how bad of DC he really is???!
by the way Arizona State has bad offense so its not in any shape or form a measuring stick to our improvement on D! that in case of holding ASU under 30 points
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:35 pm
Rome you are way wrong. First tech has 1 that’s ONE loss. And this was our THIRD win. Don’t talk bs without the facts. The way things have played out so far, your entire opinion is pure BS. You know very well that if GT played SC, GA or ARK, it would be a close game. And what will your reasoning be IF we beat Miss st in their house next week with them almost and should have beaten LSU today? And what if YOU lose to Lsu. Then what will your arguments be. Just don’t say dumb stuff like that. Let the season play out and then you can talk trash. BTW, instead of talking trash, how about picking it up.
RamblingDawg
September 26th, 2009
5:37 pm
RomeDawg
Dont brag too much. Lucky to have beaten SC actually cusee the D is horrible. SC beating Ole Miss was overated. The Ole Miss number 4 ranking was based on last year and two minor victories over memphis and SE LA who just started playing football again.
Larry Munson
September 26th, 2009
5:38 pm
Willies D will make Arizona look like National championship contenders! Bank on it.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:39 pm
Ark just scored
Bigboy
September 26th, 2009
5:39 pm
Chris I know what parity means…but I am speaking to the hype of some teams and their coaching staff.Hell we have as much chance to win it all as anybody from what I have seen..yeah even with Ol Wille!
41 38 49 38 45 24 37 41
September 26th, 2009
5:39 pm
What will be the next big # after 41 ? 38 maybe ?
Joshua
September 26th, 2009
5:39 pm
Hey Jeff, any word on what the weather conditions are suppose to be at kickoff or throughout the game. I figure weather might play a factor in this game, but it should favor the Dawgs slightly….since when was the last time the Sun Devils played in rain anyways…..maybe pee wee league for those kids. Tell us whats up…
reggie ball
September 26th, 2009
5:41 pm
RomeDawg, big words from a guy who can’t keep our offense under 40 points. have fun the the rain tonight. can’t wait ’til November for another round of excuses
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:41 pm
Personally I think you can use the cliche Any Given Saturday for the sec this season. I think any team can beat anyone. Even the mighty gators.
Chris
September 26th, 2009
5:42 pm
Yep all you have to do is outscore them. But I do feel there will be a game or two where your offense sputters and it will be up to the D to save you. And that can’t feel to promising.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:44 pm
As much as I dested Petrino, he is a helluva college coach and his teams get better as the season progresses. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ark wins today.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:44 pm
Nevermind. Their secondary is awful like FSU’s.
Chained Dawg
September 26th, 2009
5:45 pm
Bama just scored 21 – 7
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:50 pm
Joshua
use this
http://www.weather.com/weather/map/interactive/30024?from=36hr_maps&zoom=8&interactiveMapLayer=radar&animation=true
Driver8
September 26th, 2009
5:50 pm
Any local station caryying this game for those unfortunates who don’t get ESPNU with Charter Cable?????? Unreal this game is not available with Charter.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:51 pm
Looks like it’s getting ready to pour in Athens. Then light rain until kickoff and another band comes through. Second half should be clear.
Mark
September 26th, 2009
5:52 pm
Driver8…and the train conductor said…sorry but nope. might be on espn 360 on the internet. i had the same issue with dtv and versus and wanting to watch fsu byu last week.
Driver8
September 26th, 2009
5:52 pm
Oh well guess I’m going to have to do the radio thing for this game. Been a long while since I haven’t been able to watch a UGA game on TV.
Driver8
September 26th, 2009
5:54 pm
Mark …. I tried looking that up on 360 as well and it’s not one of the games they are showcasing tonight. So its radio for me tonight. And yes R.E.M’s best song … I think.
Odella Dean
September 26th, 2009
5:58 pm
Whats all of this yella stuff in these styrofoam cups here at the north campus tailgating area?
45ACP
September 26th, 2009
5:58 pm
Get the picture. The Dawgs will be moving from left to right on your radio dial.
Nothing wrong with the nostalgia and charm of a radio broadcast.
Matthew
September 26th, 2009
5:58 pm
The idea of any team being overrated right now is a joke… this season in particular has shown that rankings are worthless until at least 4 weeks into the season. Miami leap frogs many teams by beating Tech, and then is currently getting creamed by VT. FSU smashes BYU, then loses to South Florida. Each time a team makes a move, they get knocked on their butt. Before the day is over, 3 top ten teams will lose this week to teams they shouldn’t. The ratings are a joke right now.
Chained Dawg
September 26th, 2009
5:59 pm
Bama is bearing down on Arky. 28 – 7
Mark
September 26th, 2009
6:02 pm
Driver 8. Yeah it sucks when your cable comp doesn’t have a channel. Maybe go to a neighbors house or a friends? What really is a joke is espn is showing ND Purd. YUCK. And I agree. Top 3 best songs. Have you ever seen this video? It’s classic!!
I learned it on guitar several years ago and play it when friends come over.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjX7udu1SxE
kurula
September 26th, 2009
6:02 pm
when are the powers that be going to learn that preseason polls are pointless!? i blame the ESPN monster for most of it. i think any polled released before the second week should be rendered superfluous. also, until a team plays a team not in the division formerly known as two, they shouldn’t even be consider a top 25 team, no matter the beating the deliver. i think those games should only count if a team loses. because that would really tell me where a program stands. i mean, is it just me or does it seem like voters really WHIFFED this year?
Mark
September 26th, 2009
6:03 pm
I wish s fla was in the acc.
45ACP
September 26th, 2009
6:03 pm
Dial in the Dawgs.
Turn the lights off. Light some candles.
Grab your significant other and what happens in the privacy of your home is your business.
Sonny Clusters
September 26th, 2009
6:04 pm
We was almost swept away by rushing waters awhile ago. It’s raining real hard and there’s so much water going over the curb that some of it came up and caught me by surprise. It’s a good thing we was wearing our game shoes and had some cleats or we’d a been gone for sure. We was wondering if the Dawgs will be wearing their mudders tonight?
beanuga
September 26th, 2009
6:04 pm
What ever happened to a three and out? You will not see that with WM’s defense.
Odella Dean
September 26th, 2009
6:07 pm
My garbage bag just floated away and it was still open.