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
LCDawg
October 26th, 2010
6:02 pm
We will score points if Boo Boo doesn’t get cute. Just keep the UF D off balance..pass on first down, play action etc..Also do we have ANY trick plays? Might be a good time to pull one off. I think the key to the game is whether or defense can do ANYTHING.
papadawg
October 26th, 2010
6:08 pm
Key to the game is whether UGA Coaches can finally out coach Meyer and his coaches
GEORGIA'S RED BOOGIE BUS ? PARTY ON TOP
October 26th, 2010
6:19 pm
yo dawg fans will that bus be back @ the dawgpound this yr. ? love the music play some SKYNYRD BECAUSE WE WILL BE IN SKYNYRDVILLE,GEORGIA 4REAL. live in bradenton,fla. but i’am a dawg fan 4life family lives in houston,brasselton,ga. seats are with the gators but thats a ok with me & my family GO DAWGS OSCAR IS A HOTDOG 4SURE !!!!!! get the seats from my mother the best lady in the world love you nana thanks so much too !!!!!!!!
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patrick
October 26th, 2010
7:41 pm
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?
==============================
quick reminder…Richt is 3-1 against ALA
G
October 26th, 2010
7:46 pm
Ealey owes them 5 td’s for the Spikes gouge.
Larry
October 26th, 2010
8:06 pm
I hate Florida; but, we are deluding ourselves. We are going to lose big. This team has no class, character or guts.
tt
October 26th, 2010
8:06 pm
GEORGIA 41
Florida 17
Vinny
October 26th, 2010
8:07 pm
Enter your comments here
DuluthDawg
October 26th, 2010
8:11 pm
If there’s any year that we can beat Floriduh it should be this year. I think it could be a blowout if we play like we have the past few weeks. If not UF will find some way to win because we always seem to be snake-bit when it comes to the gayturs. I hope we win, but 3-17 is an ugly record against them.
GATORMEAT
October 26th, 2010
8:29 pm
Here is the key to beating the Gators:
go back in your little dog house at the cesspool pf the some and lick your own knuts because you will get spanked again as usual if you cuuumm out you flea-infested maggots.
GATORMEAT
October 26th, 2010
8:29 pm
of the south
Dawg man
October 26th, 2010
8:36 pm
Dogs are suppose to win, they are gonna be national champs the next 4 years with all these super recruits coming in
leeroy_dawg
October 26th, 2010
8:43 pm
dawgs whoops some gaytor ass….bring it, dont sing it….gators suck!
wow
October 26th, 2010
9:01 pm
gator fans sure can talk it cant they? my question is how do they beat the bulldogs. and i dont want “oh because we’re awesome” replys. try to give rational and thought out answers”.
Wreckmaniac
October 26th, 2010
9:17 pm
Boy this game is a really gripper. They better get some blowup manikins to put in seats if they want to
look “full” at Jax this week.
Wreckmaniac
October 26th, 2010
9:19 pm
Dawg Man: UGA has been nat champs for the past 10 years so why should the next 4 be any different ?
Ramguy
October 26th, 2010
10:21 pm
Off subject but ESPN is now showing a 3hr Boise St infomercial trying to get them momentum to get the BCS championship game.
Jesup
October 26th, 2010
11:08 pm
Black Helmets and white shoes……that will be the difference
Jesup
October 26th, 2010
11:10 pm
For real tho ……turnovers…I will be there and the Dawgs have never been beat when i go…..of course i have never been before?
UGA 2010
October 26th, 2010
11:37 pm
“But how worrisome is it that Kentucky rolled up 31 points and 423 yards (353 passing) last week? Clearly there are still some holes”
it would be more worrisome had South Carolina not given up the same point total /401 total, 329 passing/ (the same SC team that gave up only 21 to Alabama). It’s to be expected that SEC teams would play tough at home.
And what it really comes down to is, if ya can’t stop …. at least try to out score them!
UGA2002
October 27th, 2010
12:14 am
Uh, the 3 hour infomercial from ESPN was trumped by Miami Heat vs Celtics. Nobody cares. Really, why is BOI above TCU anyways and why not go independent and start playing fluff schedules so as to ensure you’re in position with a few sympathetic BCS spoilers to play for a national title game based not only off a win against a lousy and historically lousy VaTech team and really primarily off beating a team 5 years ago that everyone beats in big bowls and who didn’t even want to play but had beaten BOI minus a few trick plays run at the end of the game to make up for sharp talent differential. BOI might be good, probably would’ win the SEC East this year when UF, UT and UGA all suck, but the means by which they are trying to get to the NC game should be ridiculed and have them leapfrogged by even 2 loss teams.
UGA2002
October 27th, 2010
12:22 am
I know how we can beat UF, send the entire team out to celebrate on the field after our first TD and then tear down the FG post. Oh wait, don’t do that. I forgot how the next year went and something about timeouts or something. All I care about is UGA long term and long term is lousy with CMR in charge and this current gang we’ve got that want to see if they can out arrest UF players. Something tells me once CMR is gone we’ll find out that we lack talented players, seems to happen everytime a coach is fired. I don’t know how they mask it so well.
BTW, that Heisman trophy probable winner over there in Auburn, the one that started out at UF and won a national title last year and looks as if he might get to have 3 rings from 3 different teams in 3 years, yeah that guy, was he not a Georgia (College Park) native? How come he didn’t chose UGA the first time or even the second time? Oh wait, we had Murray!!!! OH BOY! 6′1 kid thinks he can act like that 6′5 250lb kid.
jc_dawgs
October 27th, 2010
2:53 am
On defense…dont give up the big play…let Fla make mistakes.
On offense…OL must win the battle up front.
Also….I get the feeling there is going to be a fight between players before the game. This is not in Ga’s best interest. Dont give Florida any reason to change there overall psche as a team. There not playing well so lets keep it that way.
Prediction Dawgs 31 – 23
West GA Dawg
October 27th, 2010
3:25 am
if georgia win the turnover battle they’ll easliy win the game, because florida seems to hate handling the football.
Billyboy
October 27th, 2010
3:43 am
There is no key needed as there is no lock on the door. The winner will run through the wide open door with creative offense, the loser will try to run “cute” plays looking for the key. Final score Winner 41, loser 40.
BCSstinks
October 27th, 2010
4:30 am
As usual the DAWGS will get blown off the field by Florida. Are these dawgs just as talented oh yes but no way do they beat the Gators on Saturday. Why are all these people making a big deal out of the 3 game win streak when the teams UGA has beat are so bad. Come on people get real the dawgs get taken behind the wood shed yet again.
Eric C.
October 27th, 2010
5:14 am
It hasn’t been that long since the Dawgs owned the Gators…the pendelum will be swinging back that way
Eric C.
October 27th, 2010
5:15 am
pendulum that is
TampaGator
October 27th, 2010
6:31 am
Eric C…
It has been 20 years….and that IS a long time….and a 4-4 record does not indicate a pendelum swing. Neither does the young talent on the Gators…and the recruiting class they are putting together again this year, expecially with the nations top QB who CAN run the spread extremely well on his way to Gainesville. Yep, the Dawgs better win this year or it might be a REAL long time before they win again.
Dawg4Life
October 27th, 2010
6:34 am
Getting off the field on 3rd down and 27 would be a good start.
UGA ALL THE WAY.
October 27th, 2010
7:25 am
Dean and Dawg Mike, YOU ARE SOOOOO RIGHT. YOU GUYS ROCK. Time for UGA Bulldogs, to kick some gator BUTT. Born in Jacksaonville. Raised in Georgia. Have ALWAYS,been a fan of the Georgia Bulldogs. After Saturday, UGA VII, will be 3& 0.
Pete
October 27th, 2010
7:56 am
To all who haven’t ever played football in your lives let me enlighten you. The teams that are rolling with 3 straight wins don’t want a week off. The team with three straight losses doesn’t want a week off because it gives them to much time to reflect on what has gone wrong. Ga by 10 and the winning takes us to the East championship.
bitter lindsey scott
October 27th, 2010
8:01 am
RUN lindsey run”, ?? when can i stop running, im tired, 30 years of running is to long, im getting to old to keep running!!
Jimmy T
October 27th, 2010
8:05 am
The running game. The dawgs have righted their ship largely due to an improved running game. When they establish the run they control the clock and the tempo of the game, and can mix in some play action passing. Aaron Murray can worry more about managing the game than winning it himself. Controlling the clock also reduces the amount of offensive possessions for the Gators, which is always a good thing.
takedowndawg
October 27th, 2010
8:39 am
tampagator and gatormeatball, so you think that this is our first and “ONLY” chance year of beating your gators? Assess that position, really. Look who we have coming back next year with experience and look who you have coming back/particularly at QB!. The mystic of your gators not losing is gone. Once that mindset takes place you become vulnerable. For how long, no one knows. We DAWGS are definitely in the building mode right now on OFFENSE and defense, while, it may be a while for fl, in my opinion, to bounce back. I predicted last year in mid-season, you may remember, that fl (minus Tebow) would lose 4-5 with Brantley this season. You and other gator faithfuls implied that it was nonsense and that Brantley would bring a more pro-set, balanced approach to fl’s offense. Hopefully, Georgia will do its part in bringing a 4-5 lost season to fl INTO reality. Turnovers will tell the story. Here’s hoping we win that area of battle. Houston, dial Brantley up, and dial him often. I do expect Brantley to release the ball though repeatedly within 2 sec.s of snap underneath. Coach Grantham plan accordingly. Make him be looking for 7:00 PM and the game finally over. Go DAWGS!!!
Cousin Curtis
October 27th, 2010
8:48 am
If our turnover margin is positive after the first half, the players get to wear black socks and red skull caps under their helmet in the second half. If Murray hasn’t thrown a pick in the first quarter, he gets to dress up like the Giants pitcher Brian Wilson for the rest of the game. If our first team defense allows fewer than 175 rushing yards against our second team offense in Friday’s scrimmage, they get to do elaborate high-fives and suggestive dance moves right in front of Florida’s bench in the pre-game Saturday.
We totally got this one.
Cousin Curtis
October 27th, 2010
9:00 am
Psst. UGA all the way…
UGA VII is no longer with us.
Cousin Curtis
October 27th, 2010
9:05 am
Psst. TampaGator…
“Expecially” is not a word. Not even close, really.
BullDawg Man
October 27th, 2010
9:29 am
If you need a score prediction here you GO:
Dawgs 28
Gators 17
Football33
October 27th, 2010
9:52 am
If Rainey and Demps are full tilt, probably the Gators.
However, Green and Murray will have a thing or two to say about that. Georgia needs to stay away from being predictable in the passing game b/c Florida’s DBs are too good. If they force young Murray into hurried throws there will be lots of picks and a route. If Georgia can get a rythym to their running game and pass when least expected, they have a shot.
Bride of Chucky Knapp
October 27th, 2010
10:01 am
All comes down to corching!
Inthecellar
October 27th, 2010
11:06 am
This the national championship game for the Dawgs!! Lose it and you stay in the cellar!
Relaxed Dawg
October 27th, 2010
11:38 am
This dawg’s heading down to St. Simons tomorrow for 4 days of hard partying baby!!! Ga’s getting a blowout win on Saturday and we’ll be celebrating all night long. Next up: an upset of Auburn and the SEC East title! Mark it down—these Dawgs are for real!
Dog Fan
October 27th, 2010
12:04 pm
UGA has this one in the bag
CPO Dawg
October 27th, 2010
2:54 pm
I would like to see UGA:
- Come out with no uniform gimmicks
- Give 110% effort ALL four qtrs on both sides of the ball and win soundly.
- shake hands and simply walk off the field ,,,no last second funny stuff. Give Coach Meyer a lesson in class.
GATA !!!!!!
CPO Dawg
October 27th, 2010
3:09 pm
TampaGator,
No disrespect intended but, even though UF has won the last 18 of 21 and the gators are still behind in the overall series, I think I can see why you guys rub in the the wins everytime. That being said watch out.. sometimes these rivalry games are streaky and come and go in cycles. times could be a-changing. Just an observation.
This is going to be a close one this year.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!
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