Short takes: Murray, defense and angry Auburn fans
Aaron Murray has eight touchdowns and no interceptions in last nine quarters. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
If you missed it, here’s a link to my column on Georgia’s SEC East-clinching win over Auburn Saturday night.
And here are my three “short takes” on the game.
Former Georgia and Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder didn't even look happy before the game. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
1. Aaron Murray is just fine: Murray took a beating from some Georgia fans after horrible games against South Carolina and Florida but he has rebounded nicely. He completed his first 10 passes against Auburn (two for touchdowns) and threw for three scores and 208 yards in three quarters before being lifted. In the last nine quarters, going back to the fourth quarter of the Florida game, Murray is 44 for 60 for 675 yards, eight touchdowns and zero interceptions. Offensive coordinator Mime Bobo said Murray had been too “cautious,” adding: “I said, ‘Son, you know what’s going on. You’re one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Cut it loose. If you make a turnover being aggressive, that’s OK.’”
Jarvis Jones levels Auburn quarterback Jonathan Wallace. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
2. Defense gives Georgia a chance against Alabama. Auburn is one of the weakest offensive teams around, but there’s little question Georgia’s defense is finally playing up to the level that was expected before the season. The Bulldogs have allowed just one touchdown (along with four field goals) in the last three games. The missed tackles and missed assignments, partly the result of injuries and early season suspensions, aren’t an issue right now. Add to that the Alabama offense has not been overpowering in the last two games against LSU and Texas A&M. If Georgia’s defense can play at the same level against Alabama in the SEC title game as it has against Florida, Ole Miss and Auburn, it has a very good chance to pull an upset.
This Auburn fan found a lot of room to spread out. (AP photo)
3. Auburn fans are so done with this season. In 23 years of living in Atlanta, I’ve never seen a home crowd for a major college football team — let alone a team that won a national championship just two years ago — bolt from a game so quickly. Jordan-Hare Stadium was full for kickoff, certainly a positive for a winless SEC team. But boos started to rain down in the second quarter when Georgia built its lead to 21-0, then 28-0. When Keith Marshall ran 62 yards for a score to make it 38-0 in the third quiarter, it was like somebody yelled, “Fire,” in the stadium and thousands of fans streamed out. Georgia had more fans in the stadium than Auburn in the fourth quarter. That might be the worst sign of all for coach Gene Chizik.
It was a night to celebrate for Georgia players and fans. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
– By Jeff Schultz
It’s Sunday — time to catch up on your reading
– Georgia wins SEC East — and suddenly looks like threat to Alabama
– Weekend Predictions: Post election, this time it’s all red — Dogs, Falcons win
– Richt coaching through pain, needs hip surgery ( and you’ll never guess why)
– Falcons’ Dirk Koetter may be candidate at Kentucky
– Falcons (8-0) just keep winning — and has anybody noticed?
– Koetter, big reason for Falcons’ success, has been drawing plays since age 8
– Radakovich’s exit illustrates disparity between Tech and Georgia
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336 comments Add your comment
Bad Dawg
November 11th, 2012
5:33 pm
God, I love it. Texas A&M beat Bama so now they’re better than anybody UGA has played in 3 years. Just shut up, tom. You make yourself look more stupid with every additional comment. That great Texas A&M team couldn’t beat UF or LSU, but beat Alabama and suddenly they’re the best team in the SEC? Sorry, tom, it doesn’t work that way. The same history you keep applying to UGA either applies to A&M, too, or it doesn’t apply at all. And that history says that A&M is a 2-loss team in the SEC that was a perennial also-ran in the Big 12. They are NOT the best, or even 2nd best, team in the SEC.
tom
November 11th, 2012
5:34 pm
Well happy veterans day. Thanks for your service
I don’t know it will be 37-16 either. Just stating an opinion. I think the game will be close in the beginning, maybe 16-7 at half or something and bame just overpowers in the second half.
kingdaddy
November 11th, 2012
5:34 pm
Tom
you didn’t think the tide would lose to A&M, but you called the CG 37-16??? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, I might wait before i put any money on you lil-vegas…
kingdaddy
November 11th, 2012
5:38 pm
GeoffDawg
don’t forget, they were playing in Bamm…vegas missed that bet…
GeoffDawg
November 11th, 2012
5:42 pm
I assumed Bama would’ve beaten them by a fairly sizable margin the same as most people kingdaddy. I’m just enjoying poking holes in tom’s agenda. It’s not hard but his reactions are priceless.
tom
November 11th, 2012
5:46 pm
Bad dawg…who said texas am was the best team in the second except you? I said they are better than anyone uga has played this year or the two years prior. Please tell me who you think is better? Am has been getting better each week and they have been impressive in their debut. They lost close games to lsu and florida early. They certainly didn’t lose by 30 to a team like uga did
Geoff if you must know its a trap game any time your qb is crying from a win the week before. They put so much work in to beat lsu its hard to come home and play a fast and hungry totally different offense the next week like texas am. Make sense?
Kingdaddy are you blind? How do you think vegas works? Its about matchups. Uga has no advantage against bama. If they just line up and play their games bama will win. Richt and bobo will have to throw in some wrinkles to win.
GeoffDawg
November 11th, 2012
5:50 pm
tom, in the words of Inugo Montoya, I’m not sure that means you think it means. A trap is a game you might be tempted to overlook and assume an easy victory. If Saban did that against a top fifteen team from Texas, then that’s the first time in his career.
DawgCrap
November 11th, 2012
5:53 pm
Auburn and UGA fans arguing is like watching a bunch of retarded kids screaming at each other. Both schools are trash.
Booger
November 11th, 2012
5:56 pm
I’ll throw some money AUtistic way if they will keep Cheesedip another year
tom
November 11th, 2012
5:56 pm
Yes that qualifies as a trap but so does mine. A trap game is any time you get a team at a crucial time in the schedule. It doesn’t matter how that team is doing. For example you guys keep saying this texas am team couldn’t beat florida. If they played next week you honestly think florida would win? They lost in week 2 I believe. They are better now and florida looks to be struggling some. It was a dangerous game for bama after lsu. You’re crazy if you think otherwise.
Discount DoubleDawg
November 11th, 2012
5:56 pm
Prior to the game Texas A&M had no advantage over bama either…
Tampa Gator
November 11th, 2012
5:58 pm
I read on another article that Florida only beat A&M because they played them earlier in the year……and Bama lost to A&M because they are a lot better now. RESPONSE:
1. Florida was no more experienced than A&M in game #2 either.
2. A&M did to Florida what they did to Bama in the first half….with the difference being that A&M could not continue doing to Florida in the second half that they did to Bama in the second half.
3. Florida played A&M in front of the 12th MAN…..and won. Bama played A&M in their house…..and lost.
I am not sure what Georgia would do vs. A&M…..they did not play them. But I know what Bama did vs. A&M….and what Florida did vs. A&M…….and I know that Bama struggled more vs. LSU than Florida did.
So……I have come to the conclusion……that Georgia has a better team than Bama and should be ranked higher than Bama. I also think Florida should be ranked higher than Bama as well. Tell me why they should not be ranked higher…..based on production this year. If Florida beats FSU….then Florida and Georgia both should jump Bama in the BCS poll……before the SEC title game. But we all know that will never happen.
JB at home
November 11th, 2012
5:58 pm
Best part of the weekend. At halftime of the Ga/AU game, The Saban interview on ESPN. He looked like he had just seen Big Foot. He was is total shock.
Junior Samples
November 11th, 2012
5:58 pm
Can’t wait for the jackets to come to town. I can almost smell the fish frying already.
Jon P
November 11th, 2012
5:58 pm
Bill, you said “Murray took a beating from some Georgia fans after horrible games against South Carolina and Florida”:
While I agree that Murray had a horrible game against South Carolina and an equally horrible 1st half against the Gators, you have to admit that Murray had a better 2nd half against the Gators as he led the Dawgs down the field for the touchdown that caused the Gators to need a touchdown and 2 point conversion just to tie the game.
When Alabama QB A.J. McCarron had a horrible game against LSU, but lead the Tide to the winning touchdown to win the game, he was hailed as a “winner” and a “champion” for that last drive alone, regardless of how bad he played for most of the game. Why can’t we Dawg fans feel the same about our QB?
Sure, Murray had a bad game against the Gamecocks, but name one UGA player that didn’t. All I’m saying is that we’ve got the best QB in the SEC. Let’s appreciate him while he’s still here. I’m sure that if he went down that most Dawg fans would be wishing that he was still in the game. Just something to think about.
JB at home
November 11th, 2012
6:01 pm
Bama is “country club” material to ESPN and they will spend the next 4 weeks trying to figure out how to ” arrange” them to be in the big game. Just watch. Losing to Dawgs would really screw things up, and when they play, a little air will be out of Bama’s pride.
tom
November 11th, 2012
6:04 pm
I’m out dawgs. Its been real.
Bama 37
Uga 16
johnny foozball
November 11th, 2012
6:07 pm
Dawgs 42
Tide 12
JB at home
November 11th, 2012
6:15 pm
If Murry is “on” against Bama and the OL shows up, we could give them fits.
St Simons
November 11th, 2012
6:21 pm
I thought the cheetahs would field a better team, with all the cap room
the freed up with Scam & Fartley heheh
This is the karma for rent-a-scam
now, What do those other losers say?
Respect Saban
Do it now – if you’re not gonna respect my UA degree.
cmon pretty please?
thanks for interviewing, we’ll…um, let you know…
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
November 11th, 2012
6:29 pm
So when they throw toilet paper on those trees, is it used toilet paper?
Yeti
November 11th, 2012
6:30 pm
I just heard the NCAA is opening another investigation against Auburn. This one will center around VanGorders porn mustache.
Draggin' Fly
November 11th, 2012
6:34 pm
“Stop pretending like auburn is some one trick pony.”
Who’s pretending?
kingdaddy
November 11th, 2012
6:34 pm
Tom,
I bet the Falcons will lose today. I also bet that UGA will have to beat Bama to get any love from the polls…
Draggin' Fly
November 11th, 2012
6:48 pm
TG opined “So……I have come to the conclusion……that Georgia has a better team than Bama and should be ranked higher than Bama. I also think Florida should be ranked higher than Bama as well.”
Coaches poll half agrees. They have:
1 Oregon (44) 10-0
2 Kansas State (14) 10-0
3 Notre Dame (1) 10-0
4 Georgia 9-1
5 Alabama 9-1
6 Florida State 9-1
7 Florida 9-1
Choke University
November 11th, 2012
6:51 pm
Don’t mean a thing, if you don’t get the ring.
Dang dawgs, even my papa wasn’t alive when the old dawg farts won that last ring.
Did ya give Cooter or Daisy Duke a honerary ring also?
I wish i could call uga a has been but I think never was is better..
Brhahahahahahahaha
Original Hendu
November 11th, 2012
6:53 pm
JB at home
U are right about ESPN not wanting the Dawgs. Neither does the BCS it seems. Oregon, ND, K State and Bama will all have to lose TWO games before they will consider us.
It has to be because CMR won’t go to the “shoe show” with them. Or maybe it is because Vince Dooley sued the NCAA and made it possible for every conference and institution to make their own TV deals. Or maybe we spend too much money when we travel to a bowl.
Anyway, we need to control what we can and that is getting ready for Georgia Southern, go to class and remain eligible, and stay as healthy as possible.
TalaDawg
November 11th, 2012
6:55 pm
@AU4ever – 1) you may not have but mamy did. 2) More importantly, if you expressly defended CGC as having acquired $cam without some under-the-table deal, you are still part of AU’s problem. 3) I still like AU (the school and my many friends who went their including my wife) but all of the fans with class were embarassed by 2010 and do not like CGC. I want CGC to go so I can go back to rooting for AU (except against UGA).
TalaDawg
November 11th, 2012
6:57 pm
Choke University = classless and evidently the son of a young man under the age of 32.
Choke University
November 11th, 2012
6:58 pm
Baha.
The last time UGA choke was playing a real game. One of Jawja’s finest was showing poor Ned Betty a “good time”…
BRahahahahahahaha
kingdaddy
November 11th, 2012
6:59 pm
Choke
we get it. You’re dad was a child when you were born and you’re in high-school…
kingdaddy
November 11th, 2012
7:08 pm
Choke,
if your dad is 32, that would make you what @14 yrs.old???
Reread your 6:51… telling you to grow-up would be a compliment, lol…
Original Hendu
November 11th, 2012
7:09 pm
TalaDawg – all I disagree with is that I want CGC to stay there. As much pressure as he is under there is no telling how much he will cheat and disgrace Auburn. Then the regents and president will step up and quit letting the boosters and fans run things and clean it up.
As far as Cam, the reason people continue to take shots is the fact that AU showed no solidarity.
When a SEC institution expels a player for theft by taking then the whole conference should respect that and honor the expulsion. Not saying that a kid doesn’t deserve a second chance, just not in the SEC. LSU (Mettenberger) should take note of that too. I can’t think of an example of UGA getting a kid that had been kicked out of a member school. No need for SEC to make a rule, that is just the way that men with intergrity and class do things.
Good blog Taladawg.
Discount DoubleDawg
November 11th, 2012
7:14 pm
“The Bulldogs are closing in on the eighth 10-win season in Mark Richt’s 12 years at the school and clinched their second consecutive trip to the SEC championship game”
Just saw this on espn and it reminded me of many people many forget how solid our coach is. No one can say much I haven’t heard before about Richt and I will just say this… Look no further than the Tennesee debacle for the most common post-Richt scenario if there ever is one… Hopefully not… I wish the haters would just be realistic.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
November 11th, 2012
7:30 pm
The Bama loss was the worst thing that could happen to those Bama will play the rest of the season. Bama has been playing with so much pressure not to lose that the team was playing way to tight and I don’t think they really enjoyed much of what the had accomplished. Give A&M and there QB all the credit for playing almost a perfect game. I love the tampon gator talking about how good his team is the beat the crap out of ULL in the alst 2 seconds. Really give it a rest sport and enjoy the tidy bowl you will get.
UGA will not beat Alabama. Don’t get lost in what Johnny Football can do with what Murray can do. Bama is setup as a down and distance team with personal and the spread gives us so much trouble over and over. UGA doesn’t matchup well vs Alabama and you ain’t LSU.
joe jenkins
November 11th, 2012
7:32 pm
No I don’t have any sympathy for the war buzzards…I hope they lose to alabama a&m….now wouldnt that be funny.lol. I was glad to see chris conley step it up….I hope they will be another WR step it up also…sec east champs…it dont get any better than this…unless we win the mnc
joe jenkins
November 11th, 2012
7:35 pm
The only reason we might not beat bama is because of the loss of bennett and brown…..aj mccandy is overated….the bama defense has alot of holes….We need jsw to step it up badly for us to have a chance to beat bama
JB at home
November 11th, 2012
7:51 pm
Saban probably ate a whole box of little debbie oatmeal cakes this AM rather than the usual 2.
JB at home
November 11th, 2012
7:52 pm
What time was the Bama team running stadium steps this morning?
35-7
November 11th, 2012
7:57 pm
<<<<< still stings like a Bee.
AdMan
November 11th, 2012
8:07 pm
TOM….YOUR A DICK… BUT YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT DIDN’T YOU!
festus
November 11th, 2012
8:09 pm
Derek Dooley is fired!
Bad Dawg
November 11th, 2012
8:48 pm
tom,
As a UGA alumnus, I’m not as big a fan of our in-state rivals as you, an Auburn fan, appear to be for Alabama. But I would take this year’s mascot-confused Ga Tech Yellow Jackets/Ramblin’ Wreck/Engineers over the similarly schizophrenically-named Auburn Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen, even though they have a mediocre record in a mediocre conference. Auburn is THAT bad, their only wins over 6-4 La-Monroe (
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
8:52 pm
tom
November 11th, 2012
3:59 pm
Bama will win by 20 against uga.
tom
November 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
Bama 37
UGA 16
_______________________
Must be that Auburn education. 37 minus 16 is 21. Duh!
dap01
November 11th, 2012
8:57 pm
AU4EVER: Auburn cheated. They knew they cheated. You know they cheated. Karma is catching up with a bunch who decided to cheat. Cheaters are classless, not the people who call them out.
By the way, UGA is beating the heck out of Auburn (of course, everyone else is also). Ha, Ha.
TrueDawg
November 11th, 2012
9:02 pm
I will be in the Dome pulling for my Dawgs win or lose. Unfortunately, I think Saban will be extra motivated to finish strong and will put together a great gameplan. Not sure our staff can outscheme them, but I hope so!
DawgNole
November 11th, 2012
9:08 pm
tom
November 11th, 2012
5:46 pm
Bad dawg…who said texas am was the best team in the second except you? I said they are better than anyone uga has played this year or the two years prior. Please tell me who you think is better?
__________________
LSU and fla are better, dimwit. Both of them beat A&M this year–AT A&M.
Tampa Gator
November 11th, 2012
9:14 pm
DawgNole….
SImply have to copy and frame your last post……saying something good about the Florida Gators. Amazing……and about time. Looking forward to the game at the Doak. Will be watcing on TV this year.
George
November 11th, 2012
9:19 pm
Texas A & M deserved to win the game. As a Bama fan , I will say they just out played us. The media has over hyped us all year. However, we are a good football team. I look forward to the SEC championship game. Some of you Dawg posters are brutal and as for Tampa Gator, “Please” . Your Gators are not that good. Good night .
Tampa Gator
November 11th, 2012
9:20 pm
David Poll-Dawg on ESPN’s BCS Countdown show said # 4 (Bama), #5 (Georgia), and #7 (LSU)….could all beat Notre Dame……conveniently leaving out #6 (Florida) from his list……even though the #6 team beat that #7 team and beat the #9 team (Texas A&M) that just beat the #4 team (Bama). How funny…..unbiased…..ESPN talking head….Mr. David Poll-Dawg.