SHORT TAKES: Georgia shows its talent and its ugly side
Todd Gurley takes off for 51-yard TD run, one of his three first-half scores. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
(I’ll be back with the column off today’s Georgia game soon. Until then, here are my three “Short Takes” on today’s game against Tennessee.)
• 1. Hold off on “great defense” declarations: Yes, Georgia has that potential. But on a day when the Bulldogs got two of their better players, safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree, back from suspensions, the defense had its worst game of the season. Granted, turnovers led to three Tennessee touchdowns (20 points). But the Dogs gave up far too many big plays, and few would’ve predicted the Volunteers would have 477 yards in offense.
• 2. Hey Herschel, look at the freshmen! We’ve addressed before that replacing Isaiah Crowell might be a concern. If that concern hadn’t been completely obliterated after the first four games, it certainly was against Tennessee. With former Georgia great Herschel Walker in attendance, Todd Gurley had first-half touchdown runs of 2, 1, and 51 yards (although he dropped a kickoff return out of bounds at the Dogs’ 1 to lead to a Tennessee touchdown). Keith Marshall blasted off for TD runs of 75 and 72 yards, and through three quarters rushed for 167 on nine carries (although he also had a fumble that led to a Vols score). So if Gurley and Marshall can just stop dropping the ball, the running game will be fine.
• 3. There’s a lot of to clean up: The Dogs will walk away with this win and be happy. They’re 3-0 in the SEC for the first time since 2005, which is the last season they won the conference title. But they can’t play sloppy on offense and special teams and loose on defense like they did Saturday and expect to win at South Carolina next week and against Florida in Jacksonville in four weeks. As talented as the Dogs are, there was enough ugliness Saturday to bring everybody back down to earth.
By Jeff Schultz
•
Some blogs from the digital jukebox
• LIVE: Georgia tries to avoid ‘trap’ vs. Tennessee
• Chipper Jones loved celebration, but it made him an ‘emotional wreck’
• Chipper Jones: Braves lose a legend, fans lose a hero, I lose reason to open laptop
• Weekend Predictions: No ‘bagels’ but Dogs and Falcons win
• Video blog: Are Falcons NFL’s best team (after 3 weeks)? We debate
• Falcons are looking special, and it starts with Matt Ryan
• Short takes: Resiliency, Ryan and turnovers carry Falcons
• Falcons’ defenders preferring Mike Nolan to Brian VanGorder
• Predictions: Dogs win cage match; Falcons upset Chargers
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245 comments Add your comment
Mike Franklin
September 29th, 2012
8:10 pm
@Ellison
Yeah, we may lost a spot or two but the Vols are a better team than the sports networks give them credit for. Another year and they will be challenging for the SEC East.
Vicks
September 29th, 2012
8:11 pm
So much for RAMBO, perhaps he should change his name to BIMBO?
Ogletree looked like Ogletwig.
azdawg
September 29th, 2012
8:11 pm
Jeff is correct, our D is suspect. TN gashed them good part of the game. TN dropped passes the fumble by their QBand a few off throws and the 2 picks by Commings was their downfal. Otherwise they capitalized on GA’s t/o’s and made this a nail biter down to the wire. Should never have been this close but the t/o’s by the dawgs was reminiscent of those bad ole days, again. Credit Gurshell boys just need them to hold onto the ball and play better on special teams. Whats w/this kicker we have?? Hits a 50 yd FG but misses 2 PAT’s??? Bobo did go a little too conservative in 2d half. Our receiver were open most of the game but he decided to run instead. Murray did pretty good and had a couple of passes dropped and the pick was tipped otherwise doubt it goes for a TD.
Well, this game today makes the game vs SC a head scratcher. Right now, KY playing SC tough, 7-3, SC. However its still early. GA needs to watch out for that SC punt returner, ace something. he can scoot. Will be a good game and IMO a toss up. GO DAWGS.
CHDawg
September 29th, 2012
8:12 pm
Ignore the haters! They pop on every win to say the competition was terrible and so are the Dawgs. We are right where we need to be. We just have to keep winning!
UHOH
September 29th, 2012
8:12 pm
WE JUST GAVE UP 478 YARDS TO DAD GUM TENN VOLUNETEERS!!!!
THEY SCORED 44 POINTS!!!!!
THEY RAN FOR 200 YARDS AND THREW FOR 278.
THIS IS A TRAVESTY!!!!
eddie willers
September 29th, 2012
8:13 pm
I never knew how many bellyachers there were in the world until they invented the Internet.
We hung 51 on Tennessee and have a pair of tailbacks not seen since the likes of Henderson & Worley. South Carolina has been underwhelming this year to say the least (I’d hate to see THEIR blog).
Look for a big win next week,
01HAWK
September 29th, 2012
8:13 pm
harold……………………….No reason for SABAN to go to that DUMP called CLEVELAND.
He has enough money.
Not So Fast
September 29th, 2012
8:14 pm
LSU barely beat Auburn…Auburn looked pathetic until that game. Therefore, LSU sucks….See how stupid that logic is?
t2go
September 29th, 2012
8:14 pm
This may be a cock eyed way to look at it BUT…we had 3 turnovers and STILL scored 51 pts.!!!! Thats amazing!
Sergeant Joe Friday, LAPD
September 29th, 2012
8:14 pm
You people take this way too serious…it’s just a football game. Get a life!
RedHead
September 29th, 2012
8:14 pm
UGA still hasn’t played a ranked team, 5-0, and hasn’t beaten anyone yet. This is not a top 20 ranked team, heck, not a top 25 ranked team. UGA will drop out fo the rankings, Tenn looked better.
Rex Winn
September 29th, 2012
8:15 pm
Maybe UGA can be grateful they did not play Middle Tennessee today.
Jim Jack
September 29th, 2012
8:15 pm
TERRIBLE DEFENSE!!!!!!! Thank you, OFFENSE!!!!!!
t2go
September 29th, 2012
8:16 pm
This may be a crooked eyed way of looking at it but we had 3 turnovers and STILL scored 51 pts.!! Thats incredible…..
TossSweep
September 29th, 2012
8:16 pm
This is what sets Alabama apart from the rest of the SEC. What Alabama has, UGA is still trying get and that’s discipline football. Every time UGA goes up in points, they fall asleep on Defense. UGA will squeak by undefeated going to Atlanta but they will get smacked in the face by a really good Alabama team. Sorry to say…but I’ll enjoy this win for now.
ODawg
September 29th, 2012
8:16 pm
Let’s see here, giving up 44 points to unranked teams like Tenn =
giving up 65 to ranked teams like Florida & SC.
THE UGA DEFENSE IS PATHETIC.
ADMIT IT.
CHDawg
September 29th, 2012
8:17 pm
Folks, Don’t forget the D came up with three huge plays late to win the game. The O went into hibernation as we went one-dimensional.
Observer
September 29th, 2012
8:17 pm
Rankings don’t mean squat this time of year! You win and move on if you get to the SEC Champ game and win you play for BCS NC . Period!!!!
GreenTomater
September 29th, 2012
8:18 pm
Offense had to score 51 to win this game.
NOT a good sign for UGA moving forward.
I also expect UGA to fall out of the rankings.
TheCheeze
September 29th, 2012
8:19 pm
UGA was favored by 21, and won by 7. You can look forward to falling out of the top 15, since you underperformed AGAIN.
t2go
September 29th, 2012
8:20 pm
Jim Jack….offense made it harder for the D..ya gotta admit. But( to everyone else freaking out) at the end of the day ITS A GAME!! Its only football…and it was a very fun game to watch! These guys are players,,,there are gonna be mistakes made…THEY WON!!! Relax…Georgia has a very good team! ENJOY!!!
Observer
September 29th, 2012
8:20 pm
USCjr looks awfully tough losing against KENTUCKY…………
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
8:21 pm
Kentucky is leading SC……and the Gators made the Cats look like a high school team. Towson is playing LSU tough. I feel much better going into the LSU game….as a Gator fan. If LSU is having difficulty moving on Towson….imagine them trying to move the ball on the Gators.
Not So Fast
September 29th, 2012
8:21 pm
How is South Carolina looking to all you trolls now?
Ga dawg
September 29th, 2012
8:21 pm
We did not correct not fielding punts all year and it almost cost us this game along with a number of other things. The D play because of Tenn. QB did not work.
TheCheeze
September 29th, 2012
8:22 pm
UGA =
BAD DEFENSE
+
BAD SPECIAL TEAMS
+
OFFENSE THAT TURNS THE BALL OVER=
7-5 TEAM.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
8:22 pm
…..and FSU is currently not dominating USF like I thought they would. Very stange football season so far.
Sporty
September 29th, 2012
8:22 pm
Really need more Lou Holtz
CHDawg
September 29th, 2012
8:23 pm
Observer is correct…winning is all that matters. If we win them all, we will be in the BCS. If we lose ‘em, we won’t go to Miami. Talk is irrelevant.
Vr
September 29th, 2012
8:23 pm
UGA is the ONLY SEC DEFENSE THAT GAVE UP 44 POINTS TODAY.
Neutral
September 29th, 2012
8:23 pm
Kentucky 17. SC 7
TossSweep
September 29th, 2012
8:24 pm
GO BLUE. KY 17 – SC 3….it’s a good sign. I know, it’s very early but…
Observer
September 29th, 2012
8:24 pm
KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL UP 10 on USCjr…….boy USCjr defense is awesome
Barkin' Dog
September 29th, 2012
8:24 pm
01HAWK — all 4 of these teams are struggling as we write.
3. LSU
4. FL ST
5. SOUTH CAROLINA
6. TEXAS
There is no way to predict the rankings right now.
The Dawgs will remain at 5… that’s MY opinion.
CHDawg
September 29th, 2012
8:24 pm
Vr, the defense didn’t give up 44…
TossSweep
September 29th, 2012
8:24 pm
Ooops, KY 17 – SC 7
RY
September 29th, 2012
8:24 pm
UGA is a lot like Arkansas, can’t win the SEC with only offense and NO special teams and NO defense.
Not So Fast
September 29th, 2012
8:24 pm
Anyone see Kentucky running crazy on USC, what do you think Gurshell is going to do?
Neutral
September 29th, 2012
8:25 pm
VR,
At this rate SC will give up 100 so quit counting!!!
dawggirl
September 29th, 2012
8:25 pm
Let’s be serious, trolls. Dawgs won’t fall farther than one spot. Same as LSU vs. Auburn. Ugly win, but still a win.
And look at Kentucky dominating SC.
CHDawg
September 29th, 2012
8:25 pm
Where is Huh? when you need him? His Wildcats are making a show…
STUDENT ATHLETE
September 29th, 2012
8:25 pm
YOU ARE WRONG “NOT SO FAST”. CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS DO NOT HAVE THESE KIND OF GAMES. CAN YOU IMAGINE A NICK SABAN TEAM GIVING UP 44 POINTS TO TENNESSEE – AT HOME. UNTHINKABLE. THIS IS A TYPICAL OVERRATED GEORGIA TEAM. 10-2. OUTBACK OR LIBERTY BOWL.
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
8:25 pm
Mettenberger is absolutely horrible. Towson is one the LSU one yard line….trailing 3-7. Wow.
Ron Roberts
September 29th, 2012
8:26 pm
A good chunk of blame has to go to Mike Bobo for letting off the gas pedal in the 2nd quarter. I get playing it more close to the vest inside the 20, but when you’ve got a great college QB and sure-handed TE, WRs and even Gurley from the backfield, you CAN’T just “three-and-out” it up the gut handing off to the TB when that’s precisely what your play-calling tendencies dictate you’ll do and your formation clearly shows.
That hesitancy, coupled with bone-headed punt/kickoff decisions by Gurley and Malcolm Mitchell, put us in bad positions and gassed our defense in the 2nd quarter.
Oh, and Alec Ogletree got burned; hopefully the reps get him caught up and he learns from that. Went for a couple of tips/INTs instead of tackles and we got gashed.
Mike
September 29th, 2012
8:26 pm
@The Cheeze, oh so we’re only going to win 2 more games? We’re 5-0 doofus. I see your logic. lol
Tampa Gator
September 29th, 2012
8:26 pm
Towson leads LSU…..Towson leads LSU……Towson leads LSU….Towson leads LSU…….
Neutral
September 29th, 2012
8:26 pm
VR,
And how many teams have scored 51?
Observer
September 29th, 2012
8:26 pm
TOWSON LEADIN LSU LMAO!!!
Not So Fast
September 29th, 2012
8:27 pm
Tampa Gator that’s what all these trolls don’t realize it’s college football and crazy things happen. A win is a win. In the past today’s game is the type UGA would lose. USC looks miserable right now but doesn’t mean they won’t have their A game next week. Same goes for UGA next week.
Observer
September 29th, 2012
8:29 pm
I see Oregon score 50 every week without a defense and the pollsters just drool over them..RANKINGS DON’T MEAN SQUAT!!! JUST WIN BABY!!