It’s hard to see Georgia’s defense stopping Tech

What's the chance of Willie Martinez coming up with a game plan to upset Georgia Tech?

Any chance Willie Martinez comes up with a game plan to upset Tech?

In 2006, when a 7-4 and unranked Georgia team defeated a 9-2 and 16th ranked Georgia Tech team, it wasn’t difficult to figure out why. The Dogs’ defense rattled Reggie Ball, the oft-rattled quarterback, who went 6-for-22 with two interceptions and a fumble.

“That was our goal from Day 1,” defensive tackle Ray Gant said afterward. “As soon as we started game-planning Tech, shake Reggie.”

The biggest reason not to expect an upset next Saturday when Georgia goes to North Ave? The Dogs’ defense seldom rattles anybody any more.

If this is another indictment of defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, so be it. We watched Kentucky score four second-half touchdowns Saturday night, and even though two of those scores were set up by turnovers, the game illustrated Georgia’s lack of ability to make a play when it matters.

Question: Do you see Martinez putting together a game plan and inspiring a defense to the point that the Dogs can either: 1) rattle Jackets quarterback Josh Nesbitt into making mistakes, or, 2) slow an offense that is among the nation’s per-game leaders in yardage (449.6) and points (36)? I don’t.

Here’s a stat for you: If you throw out the Vanderbilt and Tennessee Tech games, Georgia has allowed an average of 31.4 points in its other nine games. Martinez might want to keep that off his resume.

Can Georgia put up points against Tech? Yes.  But as much as the Jackets’ defense has struggled this season, it also has shown an ability to make adjustments and make plays when it has had to. (Another stat: The Jackets have allowed only one second-half touchdown  in the last four games). The Dogs probably had a better defense a year ago, when Tech torched them for 409 rushing yards and five offensive TDs.

I suppose there’s something to be said for this being a rivalry game and Georgia players wanting to finish the season (pre-bowl) on a high note. But it’s hard to imagine any breakthrough coming now.

678 comments Add your comment

Denver Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:38 pm

What kind of mascot is a foot with black mold on it?

BUD

November 22nd, 2009
6:38 pm

Dawgs will bury Jackets on “Grunt” Field !

icedawg

November 22nd, 2009
6:38 pm

The reality is that this year’s Dawg edition is anemic on both sides of the ball. Their performance indicates that a serious miscalculation has been made regarding the quality of players that were recruited in comparison to the teams that they’ve played. So forget what all the recruiting services say. So when “signing day” comes around ignore it. To make matters worse the coaching has not made up for the lack of talent, in fact it has compounded the problem. Too many penalties and obviously poor game plans have resulted in a total breakdown. So, this year, Tech should have a field day. If it does not win running away then something is wrong with it. UGA must make changes to pull out of the nosedive. If it doesn’t do it now the dip can be a low and long one.

Denver Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:39 pm

What kind of mascot is a turtle?

Auntie Em

November 22nd, 2009
6:40 pm

Beatdown, azzwhupping, Richt’s Last Stand, whatever you want to call it.

Georgia Tech, 52, UGA 24.

Denver Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:41 pm

Here is the story for the weekend, UGA wins with a Blake Walsh field goal as time runs out. Cox throws for 300, Ealey and King get 100 each, and Tech gains about 400 in this track meet.

Auntie Em

November 22nd, 2009
6:41 pm

Hey “BUD”: Dream on!

Super Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:42 pm

Please vote on next weeks motivational uniform

Red socks, black pants, red striped jersey, solid black helmet with no G

Pinwheel socks, striped pants, black jersey, Peppermint swirled helmet

Rick needs the final votes in by Thurs to get the team motivated

Ed

November 22nd, 2009
6:42 pm

This team is embarrassingly bad. Richt looks like he’s in a daze. Players commit egregious penalties without consequences (example: Bryan Evans’ cheap shot out-of-bounds in the 1st quarter). Georgia is losing to teams with inferior talent.

We saw the warning signs in ‘07 and ‘08. Georgia was a terrible football team the first half of ‘07, and should have lost to Vandy to go 4-3. We then beat what turned out to be a mediocre Florida team, and everyone assumed we were great. But the flaws really showed in ‘08. We barely beat Kentucky and a really bad Auburn team, otherwise we would have been 8-5 with ugly losses to Tennessee and Florida. That was one of the worst 10-3 teams I’ve seen, especially in light of the offensive talent we had.

Richt better get his groove back next year or there may not be another next year.

Aunt Fanny's Cabin

November 22nd, 2009
6:44 pm

Tech will lose by being over confident. UGA will move the ball consistenly and will not committ a personal foul in the entire game. UGA will dominate the line of scrimmage, and stop Tech’s run. UGA will inercept 3 passes, one for a pick.

YellowJacket_78

November 22nd, 2009
6:44 pm

Keep Richt at UGA for the next 25 years. Really, he’s the coach you need.

Please. ;-)

Super Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:45 pm

Oh what a feeling when were dancing on the ceiling

Denver Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:46 pm

Tech will get it’s new uniform from Victoria Secret. That is the only way any Tech students will ever get close a women’s underwear.

YellowJacket_78

November 22nd, 2009
6:47 pm

RNB

November 22nd, 2009
6:48 pm

No way we beat tech this week. I am a loyal but realistic dog fan. I hope CMR is ready to make the changes needed to get this program back on track.

Denver Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:48 pm

Yellow Jacket 78, Suits us, that way we will beat you 21 more times. That is if you can do calculus

Snoop

November 22nd, 2009
6:48 pm

Adams has not only wrecked the athletic department, he has destroyed the university. As long as his pal, Sonny is in office, Adams isn’t going anywhere.

JB

November 22nd, 2009
6:50 pm

A lot of bravado from Dawg fans on this blog. Apparently they missed the game last night between the hedges.

Mississippi_Dawg_Fan

November 22nd, 2009
6:52 pm

Where are we going bowling? I want to start making plans for Dec.

INSIDER

November 22nd, 2009
6:52 pm

I heard from inside sources Martinez, Jancek and Fabris all have been told they will not be back next year.

Super Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:52 pm

Lets hire Bob Davie

He had all the right answers last night

He said we had a great d coordinator

Denver Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:53 pm

JB, we just know we are better than you!

Perfect Option

November 22nd, 2009
6:53 pm

Judge ye not

November 22nd, 2009
6:54 pm

It occurred to me this afternoon that many of us (me included) who are most vocal in our criticism of the Georgia football team and Joe Cox probably can’t play football nearly as well as the worst person on the team. Bad things happen, even to good, well meaning people who try their hardest. It would be nice if Cox and company could end the regular season with a victory over Tech…but realistically, I don’t see that happening. There were a number of warnings prior to Saturday night, but the second half of that game was truly an indicator of major issues–in my view PRIMARILY with the coaching staff and not the players. I’d much prefer seeing them stay home and skip the bowl game this year; I don’t see them being up to it if they continue to play as they have.

The Scoop

November 22nd, 2009
6:54 pm

Why was John Gruden in AThens last week?

Super Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:56 pm

Oh what a feeling when were dancing on the ceiling

Hey where are those dumb derelict fans who supported the dancing on the field this year

Buler Buler Buler

Denver Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:56 pm

The 79 team and one of Goff’s teams voted not to go to a bowl. I wish I could say that they didn’t deserve a bowl, but if Wake Forest and UNC can go to bowls, heck we can too!

PudPuller

November 22nd, 2009
6:57 pm

Don’t worry Georgia fans, Coach Richt will make Martinez the scapegoat at the end of this season and fire him. The rela problem lies at the feet of Coach Richt.

Z

November 22nd, 2009
6:57 pm

Dumb redneck dawggies all over the place. If you folks had any sense of self-respect you would admit that you have an awful team this year. Getting beaten by the Wildcats in your home stadium in front of a national audience — now that’s embarassing! If that wasn’t enough for you there’s more embarassment coming on Saturday. Of course, we’ll expect to see the same crowd that’s on this blog talking about everything except football.

Super Dog

November 22nd, 2009
6:58 pm

You know whats funny

Not many UGA fans will show up and Tech still won’t fill their stadium
to watch UGA get beat

Dubious

November 22nd, 2009
6:58 pm

Hey Hairy, I guess that Meyer, Saban, Tressel, Brown, Miles, Kelly, Hawkins and ALL the rest are either Jewish, Moslem, Hindu, agnostic or atheist. I bet you are a big fan of Glenn Beck and he believes a guy in 1859 discovered some tablets that only a select group of people get to see. Would he be a good college football coach??

play the game and get it over

November 22nd, 2009
6:59 pm

love the dawgs and coach richt, hopefully he will make some necessary changes after the season..he definitely has the talent coming back next year and has been in all but two games this year(fla. and tenn.), but I say get saturday over with , hope we beat tech as their fans would be devastated with all their trash talking after beating us for the first time in almost a decade last year, but..i think the dawgs lose saturday and shouldn’t accept a bowl bid at 6 and 6, make the younger players realize that kind of mediocrity is unacceptable

Thogwummpy

November 22nd, 2009
6:59 pm

Georgia will give up 50+ points using their no-blitz, three down lineman, soft-zone scheme….and Martinez will boast that it was a good showing because he didn’t get burned by a deep pass. DISGUSTINGLY cowardly plans for two years from Willie “Back On Our Heels” Martinez. Sadly, I’m betting Richt holds onto him next year.

Denver Dog

November 22nd, 2009
7:00 pm

Z, enjoy your team buddy, and let us worry about ours. You are right awful to us is this kind of year, and for most of you Tech fans it is average, or above average. Are you going to become a ND fan now?

He threw another pick????

November 22nd, 2009
7:00 pm

If Joe Cox is the best qb we have then we have big problems. He is horrible, can barely see over the line. Run some kind of WILD DAWG like back in the day with Hines Ward. It beats throwing interceptions all over the place. But yes Willie and Fabris have to go. Why can we not find somebody to kick the dam ball through the endzone on kickoffs is beyond me. It has been going on for way toooo long this pooch kick crap and sorry coverage.

Super Dog

November 22nd, 2009
7:00 pm

Hello

I said where are those dumb derelict fans who supported the dancing on the field this year

Buler Buler Buler

play the game and get it over

November 22nd, 2009
7:01 pm

yeah , lets hire bob davies , he’s a complete moron, i had rather have lee corso, lmao

Lou Vales

November 22nd, 2009
7:02 pm

Judge ye Not, We probably can’t practice medicine as well as a urologist, practice dentistry as well as an orthodontist or know as much about the law as a Supreme Court Justice BUT I’m betting that ALL of us–including you–criticize them when we don’t agree with them or they mess up. According to you that would not be allowed. Right?

JB

November 22nd, 2009
7:02 pm

Denver Dog

I know you’re a dog, but you could at least TRY to post something intelligent and objective every now and then. I know the air is thin in Denver but your posts are thinner on logic than the rarified atmosphere you live in. Oh, did I use too many big words for you big fella?

The shadow of Lewis Grizzard

November 22nd, 2009
7:03 pm

I will personally intervene in this game. I’ll be there jackets, so you will rue the day that you have spoken ill of my dogs. Watch that special bounce, it will be me, your player trips, it will be my dog Catfish. I’ve done it before, and the only time I do is when you Tech fans get cocky and arrogant. That is the only time he will let me interfere. Dogs will win, I’ll see to it.

King Gator

November 22nd, 2009
7:05 pm

Even though the Dawgs record isn’t where they had hoped it would be, at least they play hard, don’t turn the ball over, never act like celebrating fools on the field and keep the penalties at a minimum. Very sound and fundamental football folks, good coaching too. – Bob Davie’s analysis… LOL

play the game and get it over

November 22nd, 2009
7:05 pm

Denver dog? why denver dog do you think we should go to a bowl, now tech would jump at going to a bowl at 6 and 6 because they have had a bad program more than they have had a good program the 44 years i have been alive, but uga shouldn’t go to a bowl at 6 and 6

Danny Ford

November 22nd, 2009
7:05 pm

Everybody in Clemson and most of the rest of the ACC will be pullin’ for the Dogs this weekend. Limber those Yalla Jackets up for us and our turn to open a can on em in Tampa. RESTORE THE ORDER! Go Dogs!! CJ Spiller will dazzle when he puts on a show in his home state next month.

play the game and get it over

November 22nd, 2009
7:07 pm

yeah i agree King Gator, how did davie get that job??? good luck to your gators against Alabama , i have never liked Alabama

Denver Dog

November 22nd, 2009
7:08 pm

Sorry JB, son, would you bring me another appetizer. Shine my shoes while you are at it. Take a shower too, that humidity in the south makes you stink! Is there such a thing as a Tech blog, or do you just have to go to the UGA blogs? Here is something intelligent, we own the series, and if you don’t get my shoes shined, you will not get to work second cook over at the waffle house tonight.

Super Dog

November 22nd, 2009
7:08 pm

Tech

You get ready cause Santa Willie is comming to town to give you a beat down

Yea

Z

November 22nd, 2009
7:10 pm

We ARE enjoying our team Denver Dawg! That’s more than you can say about your team… isn’t it? I know you truly believe that we have a high school offense playing in a high school stadium, with below average talent, playing in a below average conference, etc. etc. How is it going to feel when you’re supposed juggernaut of a team, conference, stadium, etc. gets pummeled by our team? Logicaly speaking you have just insulted your team to a level BELOW what you think our team is. So, be careful when you put us down with your empty insults about our program or school. We might just beat you on Saturday and you will have to face the ugly fact that your program is below ours. Good luck to you, you’re going to need it!

play the game and get it over

November 22nd, 2009
7:11 pm

last comment for the yellow jacket fan who makes fun of Coach Richt, ya’ll need to win 6 in a row against him just to even your record against coach richt’s georgia teams, course you include his days at FSU and the years of futility Tech had against the Noles when he was their O – coordinator and you bugs would never even the record against him!!!!

BIRDDAWGONE

November 22nd, 2009
7:11 pm

It,s hard to image Jeff Schultz catching a football.

2001 Seatle Bowl W
2002 Silivon Bowl L
2003 Humanitarian Bowl W
2004 Chams Sport Bowl W
2005 Emerald Bowl L
2006 Gator Bowl L
2007 Humanitarian Bowl L
2008 Chick Filet Bowl L Sad, Sad!!!

SHERIFF ROSCOE P COLTRANE

November 22nd, 2009
7:12 pm

GOOD NEWS
GOOD NEWS
GOOD NEWS

If we win this weekend Richt can keep Willie another year!!!!!!