Dogs’ most dangerous road game?
Looking at the 2009 schedule, the game against Florida on Oct. 31 naturally looms as the season’s biggest challenge, but that’s not technically a trip to an opponent’s stadium so I’m not sure you count it when you’re trying to figure the Dogs’ toughest road game this year. Even if you do, we’ll put that game on a level of its own, especially considering Georgia’s difficulty winning in Jacksonville.
Loading ...Opening the season Sept. 5 against Oklahoma State in Stillwater is expected by many observers, especially in the national sports media, to be a major undertaking for Mark Richt’s rebuilding team, particularly the defense.
Then there’s the trip to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas the week after the conference opener against South Carolina in Athens. That’s a game that a lot of folks are red-flagging as a possible letdown week for Georgia.
All the Lane Kiffin preseason shenanigans aside, Tennessee is something of an unknown going into this season, especially at quarterback, but playing the Vols in Knoxville is never easy. And Georgia’s last visit there was just plain embarrassing.
The return trip to that state the next week to play Vandy is another potential land mine, no matter what sort of team the Commodores have. The Dogs rarely have been at their best in Nashville in recent years.
And then there’s the visit to Atlanta to see if Willie Martinez’s defense has figured out how to defend Paul Johnson’s triple option.
I still haven’t drunk the Kool-Aid when it comes to Big 12 teams, so while I recognize the Pokes have a high-powered offense that some expect to overpower the Dogs defense, and others question whether Georgia’s offense, minus last year’s star power, can keep up, I don’t believe that’s going to be the season’s biggest road challenge. The trips to Knoxville and Atlanta look more dangerous.
Which road game concerns you the most? Feel free to comment, vote in the poll or do both.
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194 comments Add your comment
Smashmouth
June 30th, 2009
10:02 am
1. Arkansas
2. Ok State
coachdawg 2000
June 30th, 2009
10:03 am
JB,
They have preseason all-american(lindy’s) tackle.So the likelihood of over powering them on the outside is pretty slim. We need to overpower their flag football level of defense with a strong running game and controlled passing. If we sputter offensivley we are in line for an embarrassing beatdown for ages.Don’t forget coaching. Their coach is a Man,He’s 40!
Tech sucks
June 30th, 2009
10:12 am
UGA is going to destroy Ok State just like they did before and just like they did with Boise State when everyone was predicting them to lose.
Thugville, I mean Tech
June 30th, 2009
10:13 am
The most dangerous road game will be over in the Hood on North Ave. Let’s just pray that game is not at night, no telling how many shootings and stabbings there will be over there on the Flats.
Sanjaya and Rosie O'Donell Love Georgia Tech
June 30th, 2009
10:15 am
Ramble On: Easy roid rage. I am just glad I got under your skin.
2 blogs to come back at me. Thats weak.
coachdawg 2000
June 30th, 2009
10:15 am
Those were at home with established qb’s,rb’s, and sec championship caliber defenses. We won the sec in 2005 (boise state), #2 in america in 2007(Okie pokes).
Helluva Engineer
June 30th, 2009
10:15 am
Which game will be the Black Out this year at Sanford and Son Stadium???
Natureboy809
June 30th, 2009
10:15 am
Guys, the most dangerous game (not counting Florida of course) will be the one in Knoxville. Tennessee will be better than people think, but that is not the reason. The reason is the timing:
-Okie State is the opener; Dogs will be ready after preparing for weeks
-Arkansas will be tough, especially coming off of South Carolina, but they may be a year away from being a contender. Still a very loseable game for UGA, though
-Georgia Tech is normally tough, but no additional motivation will be needed
-UGA should handle Vandy
The problem with Tennessee is that we go to their place right after facing LSU. Last year we got a big win against LSU, and I think we all remember how well we played in Jax the next week
Ramble On is G@y
June 30th, 2009
10:20 am
On, and has pen!s envy of UGA! Like all Techmites, they aare SO JEALOUS OF UGA that it just gushes out of them all of the time! Go and take a look and see how many UGA fans post on their boards. I guarantee not as many as there are always on here.
Oh well, when you live in your mom’s basement and play Dungeons and Dragons all day I guess you have a little time to waste by posting on the UGA board.
Georgia News - 6/30/09 | MrSEC.com
June 30th, 2009
10:20 am
[...] teleconference? Read the verbatims right here.On the football front, this AJC blogger believes the Dawgs’ trips to Knoxville and Atlanta look more difficult than their season-opening trip to Top 15 Oklahoma State.A Navy blogger takes a [...]
Helluva Engineer
June 30th, 2009
10:20 am
Mutts are lucky they dont play Bama this year.
coachdawg 2000
June 30th, 2009
10:22 am
NB809
“Okie State is the opener; Dogs will be ready after preparing for weeks”
My concern is that ehy haven’t been preparing for this game. I was a little concerned because we have signs mentioning the gators and geeks. Those games way down the road and i’ve seen this before. west virginia was stoked to pay and we were to busy talking about all of the what-ifs as associated with Shockley’s untimely injury before the coacktail party.
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 30th, 2009
10:22 am
Natureboy809, you must be Buddy Landell, because Ric Flair is a Yellow Jacket, FACT.
Helluva loser
June 30th, 2009
10:22 am
And Tech is lucky they don’t play in a real conference!
Monty8
June 30th, 2009
10:24 am
I say we’re 2-0 heading into ARK…could be tough. ARK could surprise some teams with Mallet and Michael Smith.
nola dawg fan
June 30th, 2009
10:26 am
toughest – OK ST. They are a top 10 team for a reason, even if it is the Big 12. And I agree w/ the comments on Joe… who really knows how he will react. It’s not spring ball or 7 on 7 come Sept.
most important – Tech.
for the actual dawg fans on here… just remember that the only reason losers like Ramble On and St. Simons get on this board is their massive inferiority complex they have w/ UGA. They would never admit it, but they would LOVE to have the program we do. 6 of 8 years in the Top 10. 2 Conf titles and 3 BCS games in the past 7 years. They have NONE of that… plain and simple, sports are unpredictable, they did win a game last year in a big upset, but they really are not on the same plane as us. And deep down all Tech nerds know that.
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 30th, 2009
10:27 am
Ramble On is G@y, nice name change Sanjay.
U so Clever, Me so unworthy!!!
chipperdawg
June 30th, 2009
10:27 am
The UT game is gonna be tough. Their o-line and running game will be stout and the defense will be typical SEC caliber. Plus the 100,000 drunk hillbillies and that stupid song blaring at every chance. The Okie St. game worries me alittle, but, it seems like every year there’s an offensive powerhouse from another conference thats gonna teach UGA how to play football (remember Boise St. or even Arizona St. last year?) only to discover playing an SEC defense is alittle tougher than the WAC or PAC-10 or even the Big-12.
The Real Nature Boy
June 30th, 2009
10:27 am
Its obvious that Natureboy809 is an imposter- because we ALL know who is holding the state title “strap.” Thats right, stylin’, profilin’, space mountain baby!! Come and try to take the strap Dawgs. Its around my waist in Atlanta.
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 30th, 2009
10:27 am
WAHHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Real Nature Boy
June 30th, 2009
10:29 am
How can I have an inferiority complex when I’m holding the strap? You bunch of clowns..
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 30th, 2009
10:30 am
nola dawg fan, deep down we all know that 45-42 ain’t changing soon.
WAAAHHHHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
shannon1776
June 30th, 2009
10:30 am
OK, another blog on how tough our schedule is? We KNOW that. how many times can you blog about our tough schedule. I’ll sum up your blog for you: we have a tough schedule. There. Can we get off it and go to something else? We are the Dawgs, man. just win the games.
Sally Jesse Raphael
June 30th, 2009
10:32 am
Bill, please return my glasses at your earliest convenience.
Whopper Dawg
June 30th, 2009
10:33 am
I think we beat Okie St and Ark. Tenn worries me a lot, they are going to run on emotion this year, and if they get off quickly at home watch out, because with their schedule early they are going to be hungry for wins when we hit town.
I am worried about Tech strictly and solely because of Willie M., if we had a DCoordinator that has at least respectable, I wouldn’t be.
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 30th, 2009
10:33 am
What an embarrassment (if you had any self-respect) to go 6-6 vs. such a sorry conference.
It’s the best thing going.
Ramble On is G@y
June 30th, 2009
10:34 am
No, this is not Sanjay, or whoever that is…but as Nola Dawg stated, YOU and EVERY OTHER TECHIE HAVE A INFERIORITY COMPLEX ABOUT UGA!
Your program will NEVER reach the heights of Georgia’s.
Gravy Train
June 30th, 2009
10:37 am
I still can’t understand what you Martinez bashers are talking about. The defensive formations and schemes are exactly the same as when Van Gorder was here, a variation 4-3. Willie has experimented with a nickel package and three down linemen sets to attempt compensation for depth issues. A team is only as good as it practices, and in recent seasons there have been far too many green jerseys for the D to have meaningful contact. Miami was indeed interested in Coach Martinez. The only difference between Van Gorder and Martinez is the greater number of pro level players that Van Gorder had the luxury of taking credit for. He didn’t do so well down in Statesboro without them neither.
Huh?
June 30th, 2009
10:40 am
Okie State is an overrated poser. There, I said it. They’ve got a few big names on offense and that’s all it takes for the ESPN types to get the hype machine up and running (Yes, kind of like us last year). Someone posted once how many points they gave up at the end of last season. It was almost as embarrassing as how many points our defense gave up at the end of last season. The only difference is that I believe our defense has the talent and coaching to turn that around. Okie State does not. They are an overrated poser that we will dispatch of with surprising ease. Mark it down.
With that said, the two toughest road games are Tennessee and the Techies. The Tennessee game comes only one week after what will surely be a slugfest with LSU. If we go 1-1 in that stretch I would be happy. The Techies have an off week before they play us. Even if they are the overrated posers that I know they are, that will still be a tough game. It always is. Somehow their genius level IQ choir boys always find a way to make it interesting against our illiterate thug criminals, despite our clear unfair advantage due to rampant cheating. Tech football stands for everything that is righteous, pure, and holy in the world no doubt.
Good day.
coachdawg 2000
June 30th, 2009
10:42 am
Ramble on,
Ric Flair said “Woooooooooooo! not wahoooo! That is the mantra of UVA-the team that spanks yall year in and year out no mtter who the coach is, even the beloved genius coach pajamas.
Sanjaya and Rosie O'Donell Love Georgia Tech
June 30th, 2009
10:44 am
Ramble On:
UGA vs. GT
59-39-5
Also,
The ACC sucks!
Natureboy809
June 30th, 2009
10:52 am
Gravy train, I think there is a big difference between BVG and WM. I am not saying “Fire Willie” but to say he is the same as BVG is obviously flawed, especially with what he has done with the Falcon’s defense. Same philosophies? Probably so. But that is where it stops. WM does not have the same fire on the sideline. Also, BVG always seemed to blitz at just the right time.
But IMO, the biggest difference, which you alluded to, is the talent on the field. WM doesn’t seem to have the knack for finding the diamond in the rough like BVG did. He doesn’t go watch a HS BASKETBALL game and offer a 2 star recruit like Thomas Davis a scholarship. He doesn’t covet a 3 star LB from a small town like Odell Thurman. He gets 5 star Tarzans who play like Janes like Reshad Jones. He also lets them act out much more than they should. Some of those penalties that happened last year? In the past, guys would have been afraid to come to the sideline and face BVG after getting a stupid frustration penalty like Jarius Wynn against UF or Reshad Jones against Auburn.
Lazy Dawg
June 30th, 2009
10:58 am
I just hope they don’t move the Tech game to a Thursday night,because I would love for the whole country to see the tail spanking.Tech sux!!!
yellow fuzz
June 30th, 2009
10:58 am
“Dogs’ most dangerous road game?”
GEORGIA TECH
Lose again and the dawg nation will REALLY start falling apart.
RxDawg
June 30th, 2009
10:59 am
Arkansas scares the beejbus out of me.
W/E
June 30th, 2009
11:00 am
Ok St. will be tough but as long as UGA controls the clock i dont see them losing that one. Arkansas will be interesting, but UGA should pull it out. Tenn could be interesting because as many have said, it’s coming after what will surely be a dog-fight with LSU and UT’s defense will be good, the question is will UT be able to score efficiently enough to pull it out. Fla is a 90% chance of being a loss.
BurningRedBleedingBlack
June 30th, 2009
11:00 am
OK State is going to be the test. This will determine the whole season.
murfdawg
June 30th, 2009
11:03 am
OKST will be the toughest because they are the best team we will face on the road. Jax is a neutral site, the tix are split 50-50. Unfortunately, the level of play has not been 50- 50. The Tech game will be tough because the players do not care about Tech. after playing Florida and Auburn and the rest of the SEC, the GT game is a nuisance for the players. Kind of like flying insects are a nuisance.
DR
June 30th, 2009
11:07 am
Hats off to Georgia for playing the toughest schedule in the SEC.
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 30th, 2009
11:17 am
Thanks for the correction there coachdawg.
Woooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The UVA monkey will be off our back this year.
Sanjay, I’m going to do you a favor, which I don’t typically like to do for fleabags, but I’m really embarrassed for you.
I don’t even think the fleabags on here with GED’s think your name is funny or clever. I was glad to see you drop that stupid Momma and sandwich thing though. That was really baaaaaad.
Just do something simple, like Nadlicker or Bossdawg (may as well lie… who knows).
You can thank me later when you get a degree in something.
Damn Good Dawg
June 30th, 2009
11:21 am
November 24, 2009
GT's Nuts
June 30th, 2009
11:26 am
Murfdawg- you suck on the radio as much as you suck on these blogs. I love that we are just a nuisance on your schedule. Typical UGA arrogance and overblown ego. Oklahoma State will wear you guys out first and most of the high school dropouts in the state will be off the bandwagon by the time you reach Atlanta.
Good Dawg
June 30th, 2009
11:26 am
Sanjay, I’m a dawg, but if you’re older than 14, I sure wouldn’t admit it.
Mr Analysis
June 30th, 2009
11:27 am
dawgs go 8-4 in ‘09 –losses to @OSU, LSU, vs UF and @GT. Outback Bowl 2010
DIAMOND DAWG
June 30th, 2009
11:28 am
MAYBE ONE DAY TECH WILL PLAY A SCHEDULE LIKE WE DO YEAR AFTER YEAR. RECRUITS KNOW IT TOO. COME TO ATHENS AND PLAY ON PRIME TIME AGAINST BEST TEAMS AROUND COUNTRY. LET THE BIG DAWG EAT!!! GO DAWGS!!
Jake
June 30th, 2009
11:29 am
Same old story when these teams from big conferences come play the SEC. The SEC has more speed. If the Dawgs can pressure the QB then they should do ok vs OK St. Anyone remember the QB from Boise St that was to be a Heisman Hopeful, or the Hawaii game with their Heisman Hopeful. Maybe history repeats itself
gbal
June 30th, 2009
11:32 am
OSU is the toughest, because it is the FIRST.
Win and we can build confidence and “MO” going into the rest of the season. Loose it and we have confidence questions still looming for the rest of the season. AND all of the road games on this schedule are tough
Any D-1 team could loose any 1-2 of these. Got to keep it up, but the FIRST is the toughest and all UGA should be thinking about. Have a great plan and focus… good showing and this could be a very interesting season.
and UGA/FLA is a road game…for both teams… It only seems like more of a road for one when the other dominates a few seasons.
Scooter
June 30th, 2009
11:33 am
One aspect on the Okie State game to consider…. you guys don’t think that Okie State will be under ALOT of pressure on this game. They lose this game and their season is practically finished because they got Texas and Oklahoma, etc. It is not like we are the only ones with alot to lose (or win) on this game. They will enter this game as a decided favorite and really this is a nightmare scenario for them. Play a talented Georgia team, albeit with some question marks, at home as a favorite with their own guys believing that Georgia is down without Stafford and Knowshon… I like how the psychology of this particular game sets up for Georgia. Okla State will have ample self doubt as well as having looked at their top 10 ranking… Ga will slow the game down and win by a touchdown.
Drew-G-A
June 30th, 2009
11:38 am
I think Nashville or Knoxville is going to be the toughest. Surprisingly, I think Vandy will be the one that comes down to the wire more sos than any other road game we play.
That being said, Jaxsonville is obviously the hardest non-Sanford Stadium game we will play.
Winder Dog Fan
June 30th, 2009
11:38 am
we should have another black out for 09′. last year was a fluke. come on coach richt!
gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo dawgs!! Sic em! Hoo Hoo!