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
Norm's Panties in a KNOT
October 27th, 2010
11:18 am
#200
MURPHY
October 27th, 2010
11:19 am
Russ555
Yeah I see your point.
HotDawg
October 27th, 2010
11:19 am
It doesn’t come down to Offense, Defense or Special Teams. Both teams have studs for players, both teams have accomplished coaches, both have successes and struggles to deal with on and off of the field. Come Saturday at 3:30, whichever team is tired of the talk, the finger pointing, the critics, the on and off again fans is the team that will man up and do something about it. I say its the Dawgs for the simple reason that losing the past 48 out of 50 by an average score of 40 points (Exagerrated) would get on my Damn nerves to the point to where I would say enough is enough. Prime opportunity to do something about it come Saturday. Put on your pads, helments and buckle your chinstraps extra tight and go make some dang plays and before you know it a new streak will begin.
Go Dawgs!!! 31-14
MURPHY
October 27th, 2010
11:19 am
Enter your comments here
MURPHY
October 27th, 2010
11:25 am
If you want an indication how this game will turn out watch the Dawgs get off the bus on Sat. Look at their faces and thats usually a pretty good indication of how they will play. A facial expression will tell you the mindset a person is in at that moment.
Dawgs Take Control!
October 27th, 2010
11:35 am
The florida run is over—the Dawgs will win this game easy and take control of this series for a long time. Meyer can’t win without tebow–their offense is probably the worst in the SEC. Brantley’s terrible and the Ga D will eat him alive. Dawgs 40 fl 10!!!!! Dawgs–back on top!!!!!!!!
Mobile Dawg
October 27th, 2010
11:49 am
Anyone heard who Richt is flying in to give a speech before the game? If anyone special?
Mobile Dawg
October 27th, 2010
11:50 am
Vince, along with a letter from the Legend of Erk would be appropriate….
Kenai Ocelata
October 27th, 2010
11:55 am
The Gators will not only destroy the dawgtards this year, they will humiliate them by stripping them and dressing them in red panties for millions of viewers to see.
It’s going to be so much fun!
Rowlf
October 27th, 2010
11:58 am
Gators 45, Dawgs 17.
666 P.O.A..J.
October 27th, 2010
11:59 am
P.O.A.D., 5150 fits. You wear it well. By the way, keep clicking on articles about UGA. The click-through metrics the AJC accumulates will encourage more articles about UGA. But you’re a super smart TECH guy and probably knew that.
JB
October 27th, 2010
12:27 pm
Georgia is not the same team they were the first 3-4 weeks and I hope Florida doesn’t pick this weekend to wake up…. The National media ( not AJC or bloggers on here) have all said this team is horrible. These Bulldogs will bring out their best, But they are struggling and won’t have all fixed by Saturday…..We have a chance…..A good one
5150 P.O.A.D
October 27th, 2010
12:41 pm
666 POAJ
My hits don’t make more UGA articles happen, but I have no problem commenting onthe dawgs. I read the Jacket articles and post too. I have really enjoyed Ken S covering the Ga STATE. I read thoes too and comment sometimes too. I do Live Braves and Falcon game blogs but I don’t posst on Braves and Falcon daily articles all the time.
If only HITS on AJC.com were the factor on how many articles are written about UGA then how do you explain all the UGA articles when is was just a print medium?
JP
October 27th, 2010
12:43 pm
As a Gator fan, I just don’t see a Gator win this year. The Gators have not performed well in ANY phase of the game this season. Even when the Dogs were struggling, UGA had a few guys that were going all out and playing well (A. Murray comes to mind). Look for UGA to go up early, like 17-0 in the first quarter and cruise to an easy victory. Only way UGA loses is if the team of the last 2 years shows up. Good luck Dawgs.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 27th, 2010
12:44 pm
Back to the GAME
I still think a BIG special Teams Play makes this game. Please answer me this. Does Boykin return punts now or is Logan “Fair Catch” Grey the punt returner?
bruce mac
October 27th, 2010
12:45 pm
We have had a good chance before, we have had the mental edge before, we have had the open week before, we have had all us Bulldawgs running off at the mouth before. Result is always the same: Gators win and all us Bulldawgs sleek back to ATL, tail tucked. Woof friggin Woof, at least their is always Georgia Tech to whoop up on after the Big Turkey.
gdawg84
October 27th, 2010
1:01 pm
Pretty clear that POAD is more obsessed with UGA than even the biggest UGA supporters-that and he has a curious amount of free time.
Jeff, We get that it’s all about page views but you’ll have to rely on POAD as I’m the latest to be driven away. These boards could be great fun but instead they become completely childish (at least by page 2 or 3).
5150 P.O.A.D
October 27th, 2010
1:09 pm
gdawg84 look at the time of page 2 posts. They were after work hours and during the Boise St v La Tech game. Not much traffic on the blog for that game.
Since you refferenced me can you tell me for sure if Boykin is now the punt returner or is it still Logan? I hear at one time AJ would try punt returning but I don’t think that has happened yet. Has AJ tried Punt returning?
DAmn the rain is coming down. The deer in the front pasture just crossed the drive to lay under the lean too shelter. I think I would take a shot but I might hit the riding lawn mower and it just ins’t fair. Well, I don’t hunt really. I let friends hunt the property as long as I get some of the meat.
What?
October 27th, 2010
1:10 pm
Why not just ingnore 5150 P.O.A.D?
No one loves the sound of his voice more than him. It appears JS knows him and the POAD man gets off on this.
What?
October 27th, 2010
1:21 pm
5150 POAD, I’m sure you are a nice guy but you “bark at the moon” too much.
Urban Meyer slammed again for Chris Rainey decision | Jeff Schultz
October 27th, 2010
1:28 pm
[...] ♦ This is the week Georgia’s defense needs to step up [...]
robodawg
October 27th, 2010
1:36 pm
Yep, kicking their [rear] starts with D. We can’t get pushed around, we’ve gotta not blow assignments, and we’ve gotta show we can tackle the guys who don’t go down easy. I think our rushing defense stats are deceiving in that regard. The KY RB had a pretty good game against us. We haven’t quite filled the shoes of our 3 DTs who graduated and went to the NFL last year.
Stuff the run, don’t give up big plays on broken assignments, and force some turnovers. That’s how we’ll turn this series back the way it’s supposed to be!
robodawg
October 27th, 2010
1:43 pm
5150, Boykin doesn’t return punts, I don’t know why. Branden Smith is supposed to be back for this one and that’s been his job. AJ has returned a couple and Richt said he may get some looks there this week. Logan Gray calls the fair catches when the punt is expected to land inside the 20 and no return is on.
I don’t think it will matter for this one. The Florida punter has maybe the best hang time in the nation. Nobody returns punts against him. A good kickoff return is more likely — hopefully the Gators won’t score much and there will be few opportunities there.
Equal
October 27th, 2010
3:29 pm
This year’s rendition on the Georgia-Florida series is as even as it gets. The Gators are a little better defensively across the board but the Bulldogs offset that by being better offensively, especially at quaterback and receiver. In factoring offense and defense, UGA gets the edge but when all is factored in, meaning Meyer is simply a better coach and schemer than Richt, you have as even a game as this series has ever seen.
Nick Rails
October 27th, 2010
4:02 pm
No doubt about the defense stepping up but the
main reason for the Dawgs shortcomings in Jax
under the CMR regime, has been the Gators defense,
handcuffing the Dawgs offense look at ‘02,’03,05,’06
It was pretty much the lack of offense that did the
Dawgs in. And most of those yrs Charlie Strong was
the Gators DC that had the Dawgs number. He’s not gonna
be on the sidelines this yr and it’ll be huge factor
in the Dawgs offensive success vs. the Gators!
cadawg
October 27th, 2010
4:21 pm
you’re right on, schultz. if we win this game it’s going to be because our defense controls the LOS and doesn’t allow big plays.
History Major
October 28th, 2010
8:54 pm
I would like to think that the Dawgs will break through this week against the Gators, but after the game UGA’s once-insurmountable lead in wins will have dwindled to 47-to-40.
‘Way back in the early ’90’s, some wise head came out in print saying that Florida would be the S.E.C.’s king in future years, for a variety of reasons. They would displace Alabama as the perennial top of the heap. That has pretty much happened, even though LSU and Tennessee have a look-in every now and then. I fear this Saturday will be more of the same.