Dogs’ key to beating Gators: QB, defense or something else?
Urban Meyer was more relaxed before last year's Georgia game than he will be Saturday.
ATHENS — Just arrived in Happy Town, where the football team has won three straight, the basketball team is considered a conference dark horse and the outside of Stegeman Coliseum is almost completely encircled by glass panels. (OK. Still looks like an old barn with a new shine. But not bad.)
It’s Mark Richt news conference day and I’m planning on writing something about Georgia-Florida later. The focus will be on what I believe is the key to not only this game but the key to affirming that the Bulldogs really are headed in the right direction this season and beyond.
Loading ...The answer is . . . well, you’ll just have to wait. I know. I’m such a tease.
If you haven’t heard, the Dogs actually are favored in this game for the first time since 2004, according to Todd Fuhrman of the Caesars Place Race and Sportsbook in Las Vegas. That year, they were 6½ point favorites and won (and covered) 31-24.
This year Georgia is favored by three. Sounds strange, doesn’t it, given that the Dogs have lost 17 of the last 20 meetings and the last two by a combined score of 90-27? But a winning streak (even over the soft competition of Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky) has altered some perceptions in Athens and, maybe more importantly, the Gators are a train wreck. They’ve lost three straight regular season games for the first time since 1988 and coach Urban Meyer’s vaunted offense is ranked 89th in the nation.
So here’s the question of the day, until I post the column later: What is the biggest key to beating Florida? I’ve put up a poll, but here are the choices. You can only pick one.
♦ QUARTERBACK: Aaron Murray (12 touchdowns, three interceptions, 1,766 yards) has been great for Georgia. John Brantley (six touchdowns, five interceptions, 1,266 yards) has been mediocre for the Florida. Is it as simple as Murray outplaying Brantley?
♦ RUNNING GAME: The formerly suspended Washaun Ealey, starting the last two games for the suspended Caleb King, rushed for 280 yards and six touchdowns against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Florida has struggled to run the ball. Is it as simple as the Dogs controlling the ball with the running game and winning?
♦ DEFENSE: What to think? Florida is struggling (they scored seven points in a loss to Mississippi State and six in a loss at Alabama) and there’s no question Georgia has made some progress. But how worrisome is it that Kentucky rolled up 31 points and 423 yards (353 passing) last week? Clearly there are still some holes.
♦ SPECIAL TEAMS: Rivalry games often turn on freakish plays like a long return or a blocked punt.
♦ TURNOVERS: See special teams.
So those are your choices. I know which way I’m going. Until then, what do you think? I’ll check back shortly.
♦
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351 comments Add your comment
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:08 pm
Steve has his title, and let’s talk 1995 between the hedges. Spurrier is a great coach and doing a good job at USC.
He beat Alabama, unlike UGA getting throttled by Alabama 2008 at home, College Gameday, do you want to talk about that ass kicking?
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:09 pm
Dawginlex…nice comeback.
MURPHY
October 26th, 2010
4:10 pm
Bobo 17 INT,
Im not one thats happy with our program,players,coaches or anything else at this time.Im smart enough to know that its not going to be addressed mid season.The Dawgs are playing well right now while the Gators appear to be in decline.I dont wish that on any SEC program it weakens the conference but I aint gonna lie when I say Im laughing hard at you and your team at this moment.You are right your program has been dominate over UGA in last 20 years but it appears the cycle may be turning back in our favor.Only time will tell but Saturday at 3:30 I do believe the Gators have more to prove to the nation than the Dawgs do.It will still take a dominate performance by my Dawgs to get me drinking the Dawg kool aid again this year.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:11 pm
SEC, since we just identified your IP address I will forward your comment regarding Urban’s daughter to him and I am sure he will be in touch.
Best of luck!
GaGator
October 26th, 2010
4:12 pm
SECWasteManagement
You are one sick SOB————–get a life loser.
Devil's Advocate
October 26th, 2010
4:12 pm
Here is the key to victory. It is UGA VIII. If UGA bites the gator, we win. If UGA barks a lot, we win. Simple as that. We need UGA to lead us to victory.
STUDENT ATHLETE
October 26th, 2010
4:12 pm
Florida 42 Georgia 13. Does the sun rise in the East?
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:14 pm
MURPHY
I do agree the Dogs are playing well right now and could go on a tear, however, based on the lack of coaching (i.e.CMR, Grantham and Bobo) you will most likely be outcoached, thus another one in the L column.
Look, UGA has had great talent over the past 10 years, but has failed to do anything with it. Van Gorder was the one who got UGA on the winning streak, then he left for Jax and everything went south. Your AD and overall management did not place enough emphasis on defense, which is the crux of the current problem.
I appreaciate your candid and professonial conversation and I will be glad to buy you a beer from the back of my Pinto one day.
SECWasteManagement
October 26th, 2010
4:14 pm
Gators end up in Boise by seasons end. At least you get to ride snow mobiles in the days leading up the the bowl game!
SECWasteManagement
October 26th, 2010
4:14 pm
*to the
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:15 pm
Yes, the sun does rise in the east, but you might want to increase that Florida score by a field goal.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:16 pm
Amen GaGator…they are mad because their program sucks and they just cannot admit it. You remember 1995, man that was a good year between the hedges.
MURPHY
October 26th, 2010
4:16 pm
GA Gator,
How many of those recruits are in school yet? NONE! That recruit ranking doesnt mean anything untill you get them enrolled. Look back and do some research-Flo-ri-duh has a tough time getting a good part of these kids into school and keeping them there. By the way where is CAM”LAP TOP” NEWTON ATTENDING SCHOOL RIGHT NOW?
Vince
October 26th, 2010
4:16 pm
You win in the SEC with (1)Good defensive line play, (2)Good running game, and (3)Good special teams play. It’s been like that for some time—-and will probably continue to be so.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:17 pm
Recruiting is not everything, it is what you do with recruits. UGA can recruit because the low academic standards (i.e. Caleb King). I know for a fact that Caleb would not be able to get into Gwinnett Tech, but he got into UGA to tote the rock.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:17 pm
Tend to agree with you Vince.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:19 pm
UGA goes on the road last year against OSU, gets a beatdown, thus proves they cannot open on the road against a competitive program. Therefore, UGA has to point toward Charleston Southern and other small schools for confidence builders.
lawzoo
October 26th, 2010
4:19 pm
This is a BIG game for ‘em dawgs and gators. Playing for the runner-up spot in the East behind Carolina.
Urban Myth and Helen Hunt matching wits. It could get ugly !
SECWasteManagement
October 26th, 2010
4:21 pm
Well Vince, that’s 3 things UF can’t do this year. They finally have their place kicker back though.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 26th, 2010
4:21 pm
GA Gator, like Murphy said you have to get them enrolled and paroled. At least at Georgia. But we haven’t had an arrest since Caleb. And that was two whole games ago almost 3 weeks.
SECWasteManagement
October 26th, 2010
4:21 pm
Haha don’t even talk to me about confidence builders and Florida’s past schedules. Isn’t immitation flattery?
MURPHY
October 26th, 2010
4:22 pm
BOBO 17 INT,
Who did the Gators play in the first 3 games this year?
MURPHY
October 26th, 2010
4:23 pm
gdawginkalamazoo,
KNOCK ON WOOD-DONT JINX US!!
Dawg Whisperer
October 26th, 2010
4:24 pm
Mike Bobo 17 INT… it’s your constant trash talking that initiates responses of the kind you received. Anyone can hide behind the veil of the internet. You might re-consider a wiser way to invest your time. Your comments are along the same line as many of your gator kin that have nothing better to do with their time than feel good about denigrating someone else. Grow up. It’s a football game.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 26th, 2010
4:24 pm
Sorry MURPH!
Charlie Pell 107 violations
October 26th, 2010
4:26 pm
Ugh, am I still the greatest coach at UF or what?
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
4:26 pm
SECWasteManagement
How do you know Nicki Meyer? She is a sweet young lady. She plays Volleyball at Tech. How do you know she is of questionable character.
SadDawg
October 26th, 2010
4:26 pm
So how about we serious football fans just come back on here later, when idiot is gone?
the Owl of Prophecy
October 26th, 2010
4:30 pm
Most of you are correct in that the main key is a lack of turnovers. I would also add SEC calibre offensive play calling and CMR getting in the ref’s face on questionable penalties. Why does the SEC have such poor officiating with all the money they rake in…could it be to make sure the “higher ranked team” gets the benefit of the doubt? Just my opinion, and you can look for Urban Crier at Notre Dame in 2012 after a year off next year.
Gator Flops
October 26th, 2010
4:33 pm
One of the finest moments in NCAA competitive history.
Ed
October 26th, 2010
4:34 pm
Edawg71, you made good points. It took Urban about 5 minutes to quit after his one true love’s eligibility ran out. He could have stayed retired and been thought a genius for all time, but now he must face the future without one of the most dominant players in college football history. We’ll really see what the Crier is made of now. So far, 4-3 post-Tebow.
1984 the Sec Presidents speak
October 26th, 2010
4:35 pm
To remove the Gators SEC Title that year due to probation.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:36 pm
MURPHY
I agree that Florida opened with 4 easy ones, including UT and KY, which confirms the fact that UGA is only on a short winning streak due to weak opponents. What I am driving at that UT goes on the road against Cal and UCLA and loses to so called weak Pac-10, now Pac-12. UGA goes on the road and gets drilled by OSU in Stillwater.
This is not about Florida, but about UGA and their lack of confidence and winning percentages.
This is the week Georgia's defense needs to step up | Jeff Schultz
October 26th, 2010
4:36 pm
[...] ♦ Dogs’ key to beating Gators: QB, defense or something else? [...]
Galen Hall....
October 26th, 2010
4:36 pm
Need your child support payed for? He is the man for the job!
AltamahaDawg
October 26th, 2010
4:37 pm
It will probably come down to the score.
They played football before 1990?
October 26th, 2010
4:38 pm
Despite their prior successes, the Gators had never been considered a national power, having never officially won a conference championship in eighty-three seasons of play
Fiasco Bowl
October 26th, 2010
4:39 pm
Nebraska owns Spurrier!
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:39 pm
Even Oregon stepped outside of their conference and scheduled UT in Knoxville, kicked their ass then moved on and now they are at the top of the BCS. Point is, UGA needs to schedule a Big 12 or Pac 12 on the road, win decisively, then maybe, just maybe they will get some style points.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:40 pm
AltamahaDawg
Agree with the score comment.
GaGator
October 26th, 2010
4:40 pm
Don’t bet against a winning streak.
Even though the Las Vegas oddsmakers say Georgia is a 3-point favorite against Florida this weekend, there are more than a few things working in the Gators’ favor.
The most obvious one is how they’ve dominated this rivalry. Florida has won 17 of the last 20 meetings.
But Florida coach Urban Meyer has a few things working in his favor, too.
The Gators are coming off a bye, and Meyer is 31-3 (.912) in his career when having more than a week to prepare for a game, and that includes a 16-1 record at Florida.
Also, he’s 16-1 against Florida’s traditional rivals (Florida State, Georgia, Miami and Tennessee) with eight consecutive wins. His only loss came to Georgia in 2007 when the Bulldogs won 42-30.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:40 pm
Just strap them on and get it on.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
4:41 pm
Didn’t the Vols play Michagan a few years back?
Gator Fans made fun of us?
October 26th, 2010
4:41 pm
On January 2, 2002, Steve Spurrier resigned as head coach of the Gators and ten days later became the head coach of the National Football League’s Washington Redskins. Athletic Director Jeremy Foley initiated a coaching search that focused on then Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan[38] and former Gator defensive coordinator and current head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, Bob Stoops. After being turned down by both coaches, Foley decided on former Gator assistant coach Ron Zook as Spurrier’s replacement.
Gator Fans made fun of us?
October 26th, 2010
4:42 pm
They settled for ZOOOK! Great job!
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:42 pm
Quite frankly, LSU has the toughest schedule in all of D-1, including Florida, Alabama, Auburn, and opened with North Carolina in a neutral territory and they were undefeated until last saturday. UGA could never run that gauntlet, never.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 26th, 2010
4:43 pm
GaGator
I will gladly take Florida and 3, just tell me where to escrow my money.
Steve Spurrier
October 26th, 2010
4:43 pm
“He [Meyer] could have stayed retired and been thought a genius for all time”
Tell me about it. I should have retired after the 2000 season. Some would say my time with the Redskins and Gamecocks is “karma”, if not proof that I was just the right guy in the right place at the right time when I returned to Gainesville in ‘90.
Now I’m the master of 5-6 loss seasons and many think I’m only the SECOND best of the last three UF coaches. Dang, this coaching business ain’t so easy, after all.
Charlie Pell 107 violations
October 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
Come on Bobo 17! Let’s have at it! You wanna run that mouth don’t you! Lets have at it! O little does of humble pie? Little humility now? Get outta here you flipping loser!
GaGator
October 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
Mike Bobo 17 INT
I’m with ya