This is the week Georgia’s defense needs to step up
Georgia defenders tried to psyche themselves up during warm-ups last year but still got rocked.
ATHENS — This isn’t about losses. This is about humiliation.
Losses come by a field goal or a touchdown. Humiliation comes when an opponent regularly rolls up point totals in the 30s and 40s and is so comfortably ahead so early that the opposing quarterback is waving a towel and leading cheers in the third quarter.
The problem with the Georgia-Florida “rivalry” is that scores like 45-13, 52-17 and 49-10 don’t scream rivalry — they just scream, like the creepy Edvard Munch painting of the same name. That pale-looking creature with his hands on his face and his mouth hanging open resembles the average Bulldogs fan traveling home from Jacksonville.
The Bulldogs have a chance to change that this week. They go into the Florida game with the better quarterback, the better running attack and certainly the better recent results. But Saturday may be less about Aaron Murray, Washaun Ealey and the contrasting directions of the Dogs (three-game winning streak) and Gators (three-game losing streak) than it is about this: defense.
This guy just came from the last Georgia-Florida game.
Florida has won the last two meetings by scores of 49-10 and 41-17. They have won 17 of the last 20 meetings, scoring 30 or more points 12 times, 40 or more six times and 50-plus twice. In only three of the last 20 meetings has the Georgia defense held Florida under 20.
During and since the Dogs’ four-game slide, coach Mark Richt has stressed the need for his team to be more aggressive and physical. He brought in defensive coordinator Todd Grantham in part to help that cause. Too often under Willie Martinez, Georgia was too easy to play against.
If the Bulldogs truly want to end the humiliation, it starts on defense.
They’ll never have a better chance. Urban Meyer doesn’t have Tim Tebow any more, and his offense has tumbled to 89th in the nation. The Gators are looking up to Kansas, Louisiana-Lafayette and Eastern Michigan.
Mark Richt hopes Todd Grantham has the right plan this year.
Mississippi State held Florida to seven points. That’s 34 less than Georgia held it to last year.
Cornerback Sanders Commings said of that 41-17 loss, “It was sickening, really.”
His lingering memory from the last meeting wasn’t a Florida touchdown but Tebow leading the Gators fans in cheers.
“He was running up and down the sideline, pumping the fans up after they got a big lead on us,” he said. “It was like the third quarter and they were already celebrating.”
Most of Grantham’s background is in the NFL but he was aware enough about Georgia-Florida history to bring it up to players when he arrived in Athens.
“He brought up Florida even before we had played our first game,” Commings said. “He brought up Florida at our first meeting back in the summer.”
What did he say?
“It was, ‘If you want to kick Florida’s [rear], you better start working now.’”
The Dogs were run on by South Carolina (189 rushing yards) and passed on by Arkansas (380 yards). They allowed 11 touchdowns in the losses to Arkansas, Mississippi State and Colorado.
The defense has improved since. What we can’t know is to what degree Tennessee’s and Vanderbilt’s ineptitude impacted the lopsided wins of 41-14 and 43-0. Some concern returned last week when Kentucky converted nine of 15 third-down situations and rolled up four touchdowns and 353 passing yards.
When asked about Florida’s struggles, Richt wouldn’t bite. Allowing 90 points in two meetings would make any coach gun shy. He even called Florida a “great football team,” words not being spoken these days in Gainesville.
“Florida has won the East I don’t know how many years in a row,” he said.
Actually only two, Mark. It just seems longer.
Richt again: “They’re still a team that controls their own destiny. There’s no doubt we need to step it up [defensively]. The bottom line is we need to continue to improve. The last three weeks our goal has been to play better, to play more physical and practice more physical.”
This is the week to show it.
♦
Previous two Georgia-Florida posts
♦ Dogs’ key to beating Gators: QB, defense or something else?
♦ Early Georgia-Florida primer (and why Meyer is catching heat)
♦
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227 comments Add your comment
Correction
October 26th, 2010
5:48 pm
No, Jeff, you’re wrong. You also need to know that Bull is gay, but has somehow manifested an Oedipus complex.
rincon dawg
October 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
Who cares POAD why dont you go cheer for your team on your blog. Yall have enough problems to worry about then ours. CLEMSON hahahahahaha
5150 P.O.A.D The Richard Head
October 26th, 2010
5:50 pm
Kansas hahahahah
rincon dawg
October 26th, 2010
5:52 pm
hahaha
rincon dawg
October 26th, 2010
5:52 pm
I hear crickets
Dawg_Mike
October 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
UGA 26
UF 10
Print the posters now.
SatillaDawg
October 26th, 2010
5:56 pm
Big Bad Bruce is UNDEFEATED!
Let’s keep it that way!
Go Dawgs! Go Uga VIII!
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
5:59 pm
I think this is a JEFF SCHULTZ BLOG not a Bulldog blog. Didn’t I read Jeff S on the byline? Yes, Yes I did. Jeff wrote about the Dawgs but it is still Jeffs blog.
Richard Head I never said I watched rape porn you need to read better. And Jeff had the Cheetah add on his article page a few days back.
Clemson is not a bad team. Ask Auburn. Auburn escaped with a no call on interference on the last TD play by Clemson. Auburn escaped the Dome with a close win. That was a game full of big hits.
I don’t go to church every Sunday with mom and Dad, but I do a good deal. Didn’t Christ preach to the hookers and down troden of the city back in his day?
We have NCSU and Kansas.UGA has Colorado and Miss St
GaTruth
October 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
What the heck does 5150 POAD refer to? Assuming you are a Tech Geek, I’ll start with a deep meaning – 5150 is converted to roman numerals LIL – then POAD Piece Of …
LIL Piece Of…..
LIL Piece Of Alligator Doodoo?
OK, if that’s how you roll, it’s your handle. Good luck with that.
DaWg
October 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
Please….Please…Please get it done this weekend DAWGS.
Captain Obvious
October 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
Georgia needs to win the points battle. Points scored is really the key stat in each game.
52-17, or 7-6, it’s either a W or an L. Just win, baby. No more excuses.
rincon dawg
October 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
Hey POAD again if you read the headline what does it say. Its a article written about UF vs UGA. I thought you tech nerds were supposed to be smart?
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
Jeff Schultz did you see what SECWasteManagement about Urban Meyers daughter? That was a little over the line. Nicki Meyer has nothing to do with UGA v UF football game.
rincon dawg
October 26th, 2010
6:04 pm
teacher teacher he said a bad word
Ed
October 26th, 2010
6:05 pm
“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.”
So watch the tape of the three teams that beat Meyer’s teams and copy what they did. Or show up wearing Ole Miss uniforms. Georgia had the bye week last year and got pounded, so if we lose I hope there’s a better excuse than that.
Duckie
October 26th, 2010
6:06 pm
I think UGA’s O will score enough points to win, and it will be up to the D to force the 3-and-outs to keep UF’s offense on the sideline. Our secondary worries me. They can’t “bite” and get burned deep like they’ve been doing. This Saturday will tell us if Grantham has made an impact or not. The D better be ready because you know Meyer’s offense will be. Go Dawgs!!
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
6:06 pm
rincon
It still ISN’T a UGA BLOG it is an article on AJC.com by Jeff Schultz. Don’t you see the balding bearded guy with glasses on the top of the page? I don’t think that is a Big red and black G now is it?
rincon dawg
October 26th, 2010
6:07 pm
You still cant admitt that your on a uga conversation. You need help.
Jeff Schultz
October 26th, 2010
6:08 pm
Vain — Thanks. I can cross it off my bucket list.
rincon dawg
October 26th, 2010
6:08 pm
we all know who wrote it but whats the topic say?
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
6:11 pm
rincon yes UGA Waste did say a bad word about a nice young lady. I hve meet her only 2 times and I do see how one of your UGA brothers can question Nicki’s character.
The Dawgs should win a close game. I still think it will be a Big Special teams Play that decides this game. A real long FG, a great Kick/ Punt return to give a team excellent field posisition. Maybe a fumbled punt.
Larry ht frogjuice
October 26th, 2010
6:12 pm
Bobo should be hc and let Richt go on somewhere. Hardyharhar.
Ed
October 26th, 2010
6:12 pm
Florida had about 26 extra weeks (from Spring Practice) to get ready for Miami (OH), and their offense looked terrible. I think in some years the off week really helps in this series, but right now Georgia is on a hot streak and needs to keep playing and Florida isn’t all of a sudden going to show up with Tebow and Harvin in the backfield because they had an extra week off. It’s time for Georgia to drop the excuse-making and defeatist attitude in this game and get after Florida for four quarters. Don’t quit like we did early in the 3rd QT in ‘08. If we lose, fine, but at least go down playing hard and loose and having fun. Skip the endzone celebrations, please.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
6:13 pm
Ok rincon now you said it right. It is many UGA people having a conversation, but this is not a UGA BLOG. Those are the Junkyard Blog of Tim Tuckers Blog. Now do you get it.
rincon dawg
October 26th, 2010
6:14 pm
whatever all you do is talk crap about georgia constantly. Dont try to kiss and make up. I dont respect you whatsoever. I know that every one is supposed to support their team but what you do is constantly trash our program on every article written and enough is enough. Be a fan and support your team by not trashing ours. End of discussion.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
6:18 pm
Ga Truth
I will explain it for you as best as I can without making Jeff S mad.
5150 is the police code for a crazy person. Usually they are put on a 72 hour hold.
P i$$ On A Dawg. So I am crazy enought to …..on a Bulldog. Do you get it now? Not sure you reall wanted to know but now you have it.
The chant goes:
What is the Good Word
To Hell with Georgia
How bout them Dawgs
P…on them
Dr. Phil
October 26th, 2010
6:20 pm
Meyer is a self-anointed saint and hippocrate. Meyer’s daughter is not fair game. Jeff should erase that comment and bounce the jerk who posted it.
Mark "Crimson Crier" Ingram
October 26th, 2010
6:21 pm
The Dawgs should wear their black helmets and take the penalty and the whole team dance in the endzone again!
GTDog
October 26th, 2010
6:21 pm
Yes, I agree Cpt. Obvious! I have found (in my VAST experience) that the team which scores the most points usually wins the game. Are you and I the only people who have figured that out so far?
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
6:23 pm
Does the Boykin kid return punts now too or is Logan “Fair Catch” Gray still the punt returner?
GTDog
October 26th, 2010
6:29 pm
POAD, how’s the waste bidness treating you? Still working in ‘bama alot?
Correction
October 26th, 2010
6:30 pm
rincon, the Schultz, Bradley and Barnhart columns are NOT UGA blogs, even when their topic is UGA. Point to P.O.A.D. If you can’t take the trash talk, don’t participate. REAL end of discussion.
Thomas
October 26th, 2010
6:35 pm
Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde defense, who’s showing up Saturday? GO DAWGS!
rincon dawg
October 26th, 2010
6:37 pm
correction if its a article refering to georgia its a blog about georgia it doesnt matter who wrote it. or should I say poad.
Beast from the East
October 26th, 2010
6:37 pm
Not sure that the extra week will help our offense at all. The playcalling has been suspect (a kind way of putting it). Until I see UF play 4 quarters of football, then I won’t predict a win against any team we have left on the schedule. I don’t mind losing….I just hate losing because we played so poorly. It’s one thing to get beaten by a better team. It’s another to self-destruct. That’s what has happened to my Gators all year. Sure hope we can come out and play solid, mistake-free football for an entire game for a change.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
6:38 pm
GTDog
No not much in Bama the contract was not worth the wear and tear on trucks. I didn’t find good drivers closer to the locations. Well, you win some and you lose some.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
6:40 pm
rincon that was not me postin as correction. You can believe me or not but that was not me.
rincon dawg
October 26th, 2010
6:42 pm
yeah it was just your other split personality
Thomas
October 26th, 2010
6:43 pm
Bad snaps near endzone could create an advantage to either team.
GTDog
October 26th, 2010
6:43 pm
Shoulda caught me about ten years ago, I could’ve gotten you all the textile waste your heart desired….
Thomas
October 26th, 2010
6:44 pm
A solid kicking game is good attribute, A good return team can offset it.
Thomas
October 26th, 2010
6:45 pm
Don’t know if it will be a close game?
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
6:48 pm
GTdog thanks I wish. Where in N Ga?
Schultz
How runs the Sports, Gt, and UGA vents? Can you talk to them to get it updated more often. Maybe they can stop the Tue. & Wed. sports, gt, and uga vents but Run those vents On Thursday-Monday.
jimmy
October 26th, 2010
6:52 pm
5150 P.O.A.D… can’t quite figure you out? except there is one thing for sure, you sure do troll on blogs. Do you have a job? If so, can i get an application where you work. You have done me a favor though, i no longer read past the article because i am a little sick of seeing your post. Take a breather pal and sit a few out…..
bart
October 26th, 2010
6:53 pm
I cannot see where Grantham is earning his money as one of the highest paid DC’s. In fact, I’ve been told that people within the program say he is clueless. I obviously do not know if that’s true or not. I hope it’s not.
GTDog
October 26th, 2010
6:54 pm
No offense POAD, but I make it a policy to NEVER reveal detailed info to people who know what “5150″ means….lol
GTDog
October 26th, 2010
6:55 pm
But nowhere in N Ga anyway….all south of Newnan, but we had a few locations in the Carolinas and Tennessee…
But we best quit, we’ll get yelled at soon because we’re not killing each other over who’s going to win in November…time to start hating again…
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
6:58 pm
TY GTDog.
Really does the Boykin kid return punts too or just kickoffs?
dagadawgs
October 26th, 2010
6:59 pm
5150 P.O.A.D you have to be the biggest troll on this board. You are an absolute ass!
5150 P.O.A.D
October 26th, 2010
7:05 pm
TY dagadawgs glad I could make your day. Don’t worry I shold have to be on the road for a few hours tomorrow for sure. I know I will be gone most of the day Thursday as I do have a few scheduled appointments as of right now.