An ugly win is still a win
So much for the low-scoring defensive struggle that most folks were expecting from Georgia and South Carolina.
What a mixed up mess of a game, with the Dogs unable to put the game away while at times seemingly trying to give it away.
With the Georgia offense missing in action for most of the first quarter, Georgia suddenly became a big-play team on special teams at the same time Willie Martinez’s defense was reverting to last year’s tendency to give up more than 35 points.
At times, Georgia had three defenders surrounding a Gamecock receiver who watched him make the catch before making a move. The middle was open all night and again South Carolina was able to find its tight end all through the game.
Fortunately, there’s one thing about that soft zone defense that Georgia played much of the game that worked in our favor: While it allowed the Gamecocks’ Stephen Garcia to dink and dunk his way downfield, eventually he ran out of room in the red zone and the Dogs stiffened with a terrific goal line stand that left the Sanford Stadium crowd drained. Game ball to Rennie Curran for that fourth down play at the end.
A few other quick thoughts:
Sure, Joe Cox threw a pick 6 and still held onto the ball too long occasionally, but he moved the offense well enough for much of the game.
Richard Samuel kept his feet much better this week and banged out some tough yards when he got the chance. Unfortunately, Mike Bobo again went away from the run early in the second half.
Brandon Boykin and Branden Smith became such a threat that the Gamecocks went to pooch kicks to the up backs on kickoffs.
But the penalty bug returned and Georgia again gave its opponent a short field to work with too many times.
It’s an SEC win, but one that had enough rough edges to leave this fan feeling a bit uneasy.
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153 comments Add your comment
NC Dawg
September 13th, 2009
12:35 am
Take the win and let’s move on! We will get better on D, we have too! First
J Dub
September 13th, 2009
12:37 am
A win is a win at this point. Very thrilled with the freshmen! Charles could be stud!
J Dub
September 13th, 2009
12:39 am
Bend but don’t break reminds me of Joe Kines when Kirby Smart was back there dodging tackles. Feel much better about the offense. BUT Houston beat OK State??? Hmmmmm
ToccoaDawg
September 13th, 2009
12:45 am
Bill you forgot the turnovers. I hope that gets fixed next week because a bunch of Hawgs in Fayettnam were licking their chops tonight,
JacketFanMarcus
September 13th, 2009
12:55 am
“An ugly win is still a win” – that’s what you say when you have no confidence in your team – and knows you probably should have lost this gme.
thUGA hasn’t put together a solid game performance yet. Looks like CPJ has the best coached college team in Georgia.
At this rate, Tech may start to make a run of victories in the UGA-Tech series!!!
Them Cowpokes Are Good
September 13th, 2009
12:58 am
Houston? HOUSTON??!! LOL!!!!
DawgFanMatt
September 13th, 2009
1:03 am
JacketFanMarcus:
You must have watched a different Tech game than I did Thursday night. If I recall y’all were up 24-0 and have to come back at the end to win. And you think you have the best coached team?
You know, smoking dope is illegal . . .
Howabout a win
September 13th, 2009
1:11 am
What does this say about the so-called great SEC??? OSU beats UGA – in which UGA only scores 10 points – but yet HOUSTON scores 45, South Carolina scores only 7 points (of which they only had to run a fumble a couple of yards for a TD) against one of the weakest teams in the ACC (NCS). Oh yea – TN got beat by UCLA (again) today. Maybe the SEC is not so great after all. UGA still sux – this was a game they were SUPPOSED to win – and they only one it due to the poor execution of a pathetic SC team
Too Ugly
September 13th, 2009
1:15 am
Although an ugly win is still a win, the Dawgs still have to go to ARK next weekend. I’d rather see a solid team. That’s the coaches responsibility. When are we gonna see a SOLID UGA football team? When are the coaches gonna get it together…consistently?
Too Ugly
September 13th, 2009
1:18 am
“An ugly win is still a win.” That attitude is so mediocre. That’s not the tradition of UGA football. Will it be the future?
Larry Munson
September 13th, 2009
1:18 am
I gave up and you did too……
KJ
September 13th, 2009
1:23 am
Playcalling is still puzzling. Score should have been 48-27. Stop relying on the pass in the red zone when your power running game is working so well. And mix up the formations more than once or twice a game, I feel sorry for Logan Gray getting in there once on QB, and once to fair catch a punt. Cox could easily have had 3 INTs (to go with another fumble).
And enough of this talk about how the defense “stood tough at the end”, or whatever. SC needed 70 yards, and got 65. That is not standing tough. They made Garcia look like Peyton Manning.
Chained Dawg
September 13th, 2009
1:26 am
I so wanted those style points today but as usual we failed!!!!
oregon dawg
September 13th, 2009
1:26 am
Another column that will bring out all the idiots who want to bench Cox and run Willie out of town. One simple fact is making me smile – the dawgs currently sit on top of the SEC east. There was certainly lots to improve upon, but we’ve got some stars in the making. I’m sure looking forward to watching these guys get better every week. I hope Justin Houston will give us a little better push on the edge week. And I hope Joe Cox doesn’t read the idiotic posts on the AJC comment boards. Nice game kid! its gonna get easier every week. Go dawgs
oregon dawg
September 13th, 2009
1:30 am
And one other thing. I can’t wait to see Richard Samuel’s break out game. That guy’s about to explode.
Too Ugly
September 13th, 2009
1:32 am
We are on top of the SEC East? After 1 SEC game? That makes you smile? I’m embarrassed to think what winning a national championship would do to you. Have you ever thought about that?
Oregon Dawg…you are too simple.
Bob
September 13th, 2009
1:33 am
Forget the Houston-Okie State score. Means nothing. This stuff happens every week of every season. Comparing scores in CFB is a waste of time. Simply cannot make sense of it, except that the game is played by 18-22 year olds and you will get wild fluctuations.
While in Stillwater last week, a bunch of the Cowboy people I tailgated with were fearful that they would be flat and think they could win the game easily. It does not matter how much coaches try to convince these players, they are still kids and they are hard to convince.
Good win. Gut wrenching and plenty to gripe about….especially the penalties.
DvilleDawg
September 13th, 2009
1:34 am
Your Exactly right Oregon Dawg ppl will talk about the negative, I just hope that the players enjoy the win and get ready for the pigs! Not the norm between these 2 teams usually low scoring.. what a ball game! This young team will only get better. Go DAWGS!!!!
Fierce Dawg
September 13th, 2009
1:35 am
Too Ugly, you are a Nerd.
Too Ugly
September 13th, 2009
1:41 am
Fierce Dawg, you are mediocre.
KJ
September 13th, 2009
2:23 am
Oh, and LOL at the NATStards that are mocking our win, even they won in the exact same fashion, against a crappier team, with the help of the officials.
superDawg
September 13th, 2009
5:27 am
signs of life.GO DAWGS!
76Dawg
September 13th, 2009
6:57 am
Are the Junkyard Dawgs ever going to come back? I guess not while CWM is in charge of the defense.
m
September 13th, 2009
7:16 am
The dawgs are in big trouble this season. They got manhandled by Okie State…a team that got whipped by Houston yesterday.
And then lowly South Carolina, who could only manage one 14 yard scoring drive against NC State, scores 37 points on you and you luck out and hold on to win.
Unless the dawgs improve significantly, they are going to get their azzes handed to them by quite a few teams….especially Tech.
Thank God and Greyhound that chan gomer gailey is gone…you dawgs are really going to miss him.
Coach Scott
September 13th, 2009
7:29 am
Joe Cox looked better; defense did not.
yellowjacket82
September 13th, 2009
7:34 am
Way to go Dawgs. After a performance like that, looks like you will the NC.
Steve Spurrier
September 13th, 2009
7:39 am
I’m back. Got me a QB. Now if special teams had done their part this one would not have been close. See you in Columbia.
Michael Scharff
September 13th, 2009
8:05 am
This one took FOREVER and EVER on T.V. I am home recovering from surgery, otherwise, I would have been there last night in person. The ESPN 2 guys were appparently very surprised by the high score, as I’m sure most of us are. Mike Patrick was very enthusiastic about the close back and forth.
I was on pins and needles until the final play by Curran. I had the sinking feeling that CWM had nothing left in the bag to stop USC and that time would expire with a UGA heart breaking loss. Thank goodness for Rennie!
Who Cares?
September 13th, 2009
8:14 am
Who Cares!
NJDAWG
September 13th, 2009
8:18 am
That was a good defense we scored on. Better execution by the offense. The things to take away are we aren’t as terrible as we thought offensively. We’re not as good as we thought defensively. We haven’t solved the penalty bug. And for those of you who want Gray or Murray to start, why would we take off the red shirt from Murray unless we have to? Gray isn’t ready. They are working him in slowly. Look for him to get some more time as we go forward.
TommyP
September 13th, 2009
8:18 am
Bill: Ever think that Bobo’s lack of runs was in some part due to Cox audibles at the LOS? There were tons of audibles last night.
Defense is a huge worry.
RandyBogart
September 13th, 2009
8:25 am
Georgia should be very thankful to the men in stripes because if those three (Count them 3) face guard penalties had been called the dogs would have lost. The defensive back is supposed to look at the ball he cannot position himself in the face of the receiver with his back to the ball. If those 3 had been called you guys would be 0-2
Vickers
September 13th, 2009
8:26 am
The penalties and turn overs really hurt but the team showed a lot of resiliency with the offense answering the SC scores. The most disturbing thing was the lack of a pass rush on Garcia. He looked good because he had all day to throw and could run at will on the defense. Cox had good day and he was probably a lot sicker than we knew for the Ok St game.
Even though the defense gave up a lot of yards I applaud them for fighting hard and not giving up at the end. I blame most of their problems on the scheme and not getting pressure on the qb.
Steve
September 13th, 2009
8:26 am
We got out coached once again but eeked out a win on luck and talent alone. WHY do they go away from the running game??? The power running game was working so well, do it until they stop ya!! Samuel could have had 150+ yards!
T
September 13th, 2009
8:34 am
Soft Zone….. the defense could not get off of the field. SC ran 30 more plays than we did.
CWM is HORRIBLE!
Cuz
September 13th, 2009
8:40 am
Yeah, it would have been better if we lost. I bet Bill if you won a million dollars you would complain about having to fill out the tax forms.
traderclaude
September 13th, 2009
8:43 am
Let’s please remember that 21of SC points came on fields where they had to go less than 20 yards… Defense was put in some bad spots which caused them to be gassed wore out in second half… that can be corrected… Go Dawgs
George P Burdell
September 13th, 2009
8:45 am
Enter your comments here
George P Burdell
September 13th, 2009
8:46 am
Coasting to victory over a great team…guess you expect to be rated #1 like last year?
snapshot
September 13th, 2009
8:50 am
Ugly, Ugly, Ugly. Lucky, Lucky,Lucky. South Carolina is very over rated on defense. Terrible defense.
dylandawg
September 13th, 2009
8:50 am
face guarding is not against the rules in college Randy
Brett
September 13th, 2009
8:50 am
For the love of God, will somebody tell Martinez that his zone coverage SUCKS!!! The only reason the Dogs were able to hold off Carolina is because they were sandwiched in the red zone. Give them 5-10 more yards to play with, and it would have been an L, guaranteed.
txdawgs
September 13th, 2009
8:52 am
DAWGS defense needs to improve greatly. I was at the OK St game — and the Def doesn’t look any better. Thank good for special teams — if not, we would be 0-2.
Bill Donnan
September 13th, 2009
8:55 am
Another lucky win by an undisciplined, mediocre team. Particularly like the way your #9 “cheap-shot-to-the-head” tries to tackle. Any good team will beat this bunch, and a very good team (see FLA), should have no trouble putting up 65 points.
Nick
September 13th, 2009
8:56 am
I, for the life of me, cannot understand why Bobo refuses to establish a running game.
dawgstephen
September 13th, 2009
8:57 am
WILLIES DEFENSE DID NOT GIVE UP A TOUCHDOWN THE FINAL 3 QUARTERS!!!!
WILLIES DEFENSE DID NOT GIVE UP A TOUCHDOWN THE FINAL 3 QUARTERS!!!!
WILLIES DEFENSE DID NOT GIVE UP A TOUCHDOWN THE FINAL 3 QUARTERS!!!!
WILLIES DEFENSE DID NOT GIVE UP A TOUCHDOWN THE FINAL 3 QUARTERS!!!!
dawgstephen
September 13th, 2009
9:01 am
i WILL TAKE the win and build on it. Not the way we wanted, but hey, it is WIN..a conference win… 1-0 in conference. focus on the hogs!!
http://www.dawgstephen.blogspot.com
DoctorDave
September 13th, 2009
9:01 am
Did anybody else see the ghost of Erk Russell on the sidelines during those last two plays?
Brett
September 13th, 2009
9:02 am
Touchdowns, no. Field goals, yes. Points are points, dawgstephen. Martinez’s zone coverage was what allowed them to get in postion for said field goals. And lets not forget, it was the same zone coverage that was allowing Carolina to march down the field on us at the end.
Big Dawg
September 13th, 2009
9:02 am
FIRE WILLIE MARTINEZ!
Please!