Is Dogs’ offense up to the challenge?
Joe Cox needs to play keep-away from Eric Berry. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
So how is it that a 2-3 Tennessee team that is winless in the SEC is a 1 to 2 point favorite over a 3-2 Georgia team that is 2-1 in conference play and came within just over a minute of beating the No. 4 team in the country?
Uh, did you see Georgia’s offense in the first half last week?
Yes, a running attack that ranks dead last in the SEC and 105th nationally tends to get you little to no respect from the oddsmakers. Plus Tennessee’s defense played Florida tougher than anyone else so far this season. And, as much as Mark Richt needs a win this weekend, Lane Kiffin needs it more. Going 0-3 in conference play is not the way to win hearts and minds in Knoxville.
The answer to this question should have a lot to do with Georgia’s chances in the game: Can the Dogs keep the celebrated Eric Berry and the rest of the Vols defense honest by establishing a running game?
Richard Samuel is still slated to start for the Dogs, but if there’s any chance of Georgia doing damage on the ground, it’s probably going to be up to freshman Washaun Ealey. I saw one Vols fan saying he gets kinda nervous about freshman running backs playing in Neyland Stadium. A student of history, obviously.
Still, I’d feel a whole lot better if Caleb King weren’t expected to sit this one out. His pass protection and positive yardage on screen passes will be missed. And Georgia’s offensive line needs to step up. The Vols consistently get penetration and average three stops behind the line of scrimmage per game.
On the other hand, the Vols, like the Dogs, have been prone to missed tackles.
Who’ll get the turnovers? The Vol’s much maligned QB, Jonathan Crompton, has been prone to throwing interceptions this year, and we all know about the Dogs’ troubles holding onto the ball. One danger area: Joe Cox’s tendency to lock on to his intended receiver could provide a field day for Berry, probably the best defensive player in the country.
But if anyone can show up Berry, it’s the Dogs’ A.J. Green. And the Vols have not been prodigious sackers, so Cox should have time to find an open man. It’d be great if one of them was Volunteer State refugee Marlon Brown, especially since Tavares King is out with a concussion.
Still, the Vols have a Top 20 defense. The Dogs don’t, but they’ve looked somewhat better the past two games and got six sacks against LSU. Knocking Crompton down a few times could be big for Georgia.
As with the Dogs, offense is the big question mark for the Vols. Tennessee obviously can run the ball. Running back Montario Hardesty leads the SEC with 575 yards rushing this season. But Crompton is inconsistent and the Vols have been poor on third down, going only four for 13 against Auburn last week. And Tennessee hasn’t been much of a passing threat — good news for the Dogs’ sometimes overly generous secondary.
When it comes to special teams, Tennessee is actually in worse shape than Georgia, so another good day from Georgia punter Drew Butler and a return to form for placekicker Blair Walsh would be big positives. Both teams are susceptible to the big kick return.
One thing to watch: Tennessee had some fourth-quarter success against Auburn after it went to a no-huddle offense and Kiffin indicated he might do more of that. Willie Martinez’s troops didn’t look too good last week when LSU occasionally would go hurry-up.
Bottom line: Unless Georgia returns to its bad habit of turning the ball over or has the same lack of success tackling Hardesty that it did on Charles Scott’s last big run for LSU, I think Georgia should defy the oddsmakers. But it wouldn’t surprise me for it to come down to the wire again.
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89 comments Add your comment
L-Dawg
October 9th, 2009
7:16 am
GLORY GLORY TO OLE’ GEORGIA!!!!
SO MUCH FUN CHEERING IN MY STADIUM ON FALL SATURDAYS IN THE SOUTH, RATHER THAN BOOING/HATING/ENVYING ANOTHER PROGRAM FROM A BAR!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!!
29 HOURS TIL WE REBOUND IN KNOXVILLE!!!!!
Johnny Test
October 9th, 2009
7:18 am
This games has had me worried all year. We were so bad the last time we were in Knoxville I can’t forget about it. Never thought I’d say it but if we lose this one then this season is likely to spin completely out of control with additional losses to Fla. Auburn and Tech. That’d make us 6 and 6 if we’re lucky. Something ain’t right at UGA and it sure looks like coaching.
69 Dawg
October 9th, 2009
7:22 am
Willie Martinez’s defense (expecially the secondary) never looks good. Willie so poor at making adjustments. I cannot believe he’s still there. Can you say unranked and at best headed to the Pizza Bowl (Papa John’s)? When a team like Tenn is favored over Georgia, you know you’re in trouble. Like a Vanderbilt or SC or Miss State (second tier programs), no one fears Georgia anymore. The last two years under Willie’s D has cost us more than we can imangine. It’s time to give Willie and Fabris their pink slips and get them out of Athens. When is CMR going to wake up and smell the coffee about Martinez and Fabris?
It’s time for the U-haul rentals and a pink slip. How many people on this blog feel Willie Martinez should be replaced now. The numbers and stats don’t lie (even though CMR spins and makes continual excuses).
IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE. FIRE WILLIE AND FABRIS NOW…. What do you think the score of the FLA game will be?
Dawg Nation
October 9th, 2009
7:23 am
Time to rise up boys!!! Go Dawgs!!!!!
Dawg Nation
October 9th, 2009
7:25 am
Quit cryin 69 Dawg!! Good Grief put a passey in it!! Old Fogey, it is what it is and we all know where the weaknesses are. You make it hard to be a UGA fan with all your negativity!!
Mikey
October 9th, 2009
7:29 am
I am more worried about Special Teams-
we refuse to rush the punter and we fair catch everything!
Anyone remember this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMLVGMfjK_w&feature=related
L-Dawg
October 9th, 2009
7:31 am
THE BULLDAWG NATION DEF NEEDS POSITIVETY RIGHT NOW
I WILL SUPPORT MY COAHCES, WHOEVER THE COACHES ARE, SO LONG AS THEY ARE THE COACHES OF MY TEAM.
IS IT TIME FOR A CHANGE?? PERHAPS IN SOME AREAS. BUT ITS NOT HAPPENING TODAY, AND ITS NOT HAPPENING THIS SEASON.
SUPPORT YOUR TEAM FOR WHO THEY ARE, NOT WHAT YOU WISH THEY WERE, AND WE WILL WORK IT OUT!!
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Munson #1
October 9th, 2009
7:40 am
Crompton sucks.
Georgia wins by at least two touchdowns.
They better win or things are really going to go downhill fast in Athens.
Carlton Powell
October 9th, 2009
7:53 am
I thought last week’s game against LSU was important, but tomorrow’s game against UT is probably for the season. A loss, and the best UGA can really hope for is 6-6, with bad beat downs from FL, AU and GT. Further, there’s always the potential of losses at Vandy or at home vs. KY. Nothing is a given. Given this game is against TN in Knoxville, I think of the “hobnail boot” game in ‘01. That winning TD was the result of discipline, and focus. Is there anyone who thinks such a winning effort would now be possible? UGA had a similar opportunity last weekend and “spit the bit.” At some point CMR has to look himself in the mirror and decide where he wants the program to go. At present, there is little doubt it is headed south quickly. Sure, there’s plenty of talented players, but that talent has to be focused, refined and actualized. It ain’t happening. I predict the ‘Dogs will go down to defeat this weekend. But, never fear, there will be excuses galore, which is fun reading all the same.
Joey
October 9th, 2009
8:02 am
If anyone can make Compton look like Dan Marino, it’d be Willie.
uuughh...
October 9th, 2009
8:11 am
Hey Munson, Richt said he wanted Crompton to play for the Dawgs as bad as any QB they’ve ever recruited. What does that tell you?
Our lethargic offense is only marginally better than their lethargic offense. Their Defense is better than ours. Every highschool team in Georgia has better Special Teams than we do. I think this one comes down to which defense puts up more points. I look for UT’s D to score 14 (Cox is prone to throw into double and triple coverage) and ours to score 7 (and set our offense up for another 7 but poor play calling nets us 3).
Prediction: UT 21 UGA 17. After the game Richt blames Phil Fulmer for the loss claiming that he farted in the stands and knocked Blair Walsh down one of our kickoffs.
uuughh...
October 9th, 2009
8:13 am
…that should be ‘on one of our kickoffs.’ Syntax is important.
jessica
October 9th, 2009
8:13 am
go dawgs!! getting ready to leave for knoxville to watch the dawgs win big
JB
October 9th, 2009
8:14 am
I think we can hold the Vols to 10 points………………….CAN we score 13 ?
lefty fielder
October 9th, 2009
8:14 am
Enough of the negative crap! Georgia has the better team. Play a good game and we win easily. Go Dawgs! GATA.
Munson #1
October 9th, 2009
8:15 am
Tells me Richt is good at not saying what he really thinks in public, and that he got that one
R-O-N-G wrong.
You think he’d say “Crompton really sucks, we were wrong, I’m glad he’s at UT now?”
JB
October 9th, 2009
8:20 am
Mikey, watching that punt return was great…………………….We do not attempt that anymore. We fair catch ALL punts using 3 or 4 different people to do it. Now, please notice, we NEVER try to block one anymore, we retreat to set up a return……………BUT THE RETURN IS NEVER ON. JUST GREAT COACHING I GUESS.
Jeff
October 9th, 2009
8:25 am
I hate to say it, but UGA leaves Knoxville with a L. It’s going to get very ugly before it gets better.
Bruce
October 9th, 2009
8:31 am
Same old story…different year…..yeah, we won 10 games last year and finished #2 the year before. problem with that is we were picked and had the talent to win it all last year- (of, I forgot, we got hurt) nevermind the two blowouts and a classic meltdown. and the year prior, we got hurt again and nevermind the classic meltdown in Knoxville…..hmmmm doesnt take an rocket scientist to see a pattern here. Like I said,…..same story…different year
Sautee Dawg
October 9th, 2009
8:32 am
Bill,
Correct about the offense. Kiffin Sr. will have no problem disecting Bobo’s playcalling. Bill whats the chance of Joe Cox being our next OC?
Would be a great game to throw the ball to Marlon Brown, and Ealey looks like he could really do some damage on a screen pass.
Something just tells me though that we find a way to make Compton look good tomorrow. Hope not.
George
October 9th, 2009
8:38 am
After watching some game re-runs, I noticed that we have not tried to block a single punt this year and are fair catching 80% of them. Doesn’t make sense. Either put the return on and actually return it or try to block it and fair catch if you need to. Really bizarre, kind of like the directional kick off stuff…
JB
October 9th, 2009
8:39 am
If we lose to the Vols, It will tell us that our eye’s and the stats are not lying. We are last or close to it in most category’s in the SEC. That’s offense, Defense and special teams. these stats don’t lie. Across the board bad stats means a bad football team. Are we snake bit? No. Bad players? no. Coach’s? A couple or 3 bad ones. WHAT IS WRONG IN ATHENS ? And for my fellow fans on here that are in denial, they are ‘whispering” about us all over the SEC. I hate it….Maybe we blow these guys away tomorrow and rebound !!!!! HBTD.
DawgNation
October 9th, 2009
8:42 am
I just wanted to point out that the poster above Dawg Nation is not me. Thank you however for putting a space between your name to discern the difference.
Minnesota Dawg
October 9th, 2009
8:51 am
As I’ve said before, it’s opportunities! Georgia needs to take them and set the tone for the game. We can do it!
DawgNation
October 9th, 2009
8:51 am
After watching Tennessee a few times this season and Georgia, to be honest, I have no idea as to how to call this one. Either team can win if the other reverts to its bad habits. Neither team has shown the consistency of all facets of their game to be a favorite but both have show the ability to be a spoiler. I don’t even have a score prediction. This is one that I will just have to suffer through to the end and hope Georgia pulls it together.
AltamahaDawg
October 9th, 2009
8:58 am
Wow that entire article and managed a matter of fact one line, “Oh yea, the O-line could play just a bit better”. Yea.
Which is going to more time than anyone mentions that on 3 pages of responces.
shards1967
October 9th, 2009
9:06 am
UGA lacks a quality SEC caliber QB and next year, we will struggle with two new faces. Period.
UGA lacks big time SEC caliber L backers and Def. linemen. we have no skilled cover men in the secondary and Reshad Jones is a cheap shot artist and I wish he would quit. Brandon Boykin returing his pc vs LSU to the 2 yrd line shows that we are simply not smart on D,
The UGA O line was vastly over rated and inuuries hurt, of course, but that is not whay we are average ………… recruiting has got us bringing guys in that either quit and go home or they are over rated. I will not name names here but we know that about 4- 5 UGA recruits for the O line are not playing. Why did we sign them?
6-6 will bring the change that we need.
UAG class of 73
sdakdog
October 9th, 2009
9:13 am
How many clock eating sustained drives has UGA had this year.We need Gray at QB, Samuel at FB and Ealey at RB. Heck with loyalty to players on the field, off the field CMR can be loyal to his boys. But, lets put the best team we can on the field and be loyal to the team. All done.
senoiadawgs
October 9th, 2009
9:14 am
UGA 10 – TN 9 Why…
Green, Moore, Wooten, Charles, White, Brown, Ealey, Boykin, Smith, Rambo, Curran, Houston, Owens, Coaches
TN 31 – UGA 13 Why…
Cox, Jones, Evans, Miller, Fabris, Martinez and Bobo
Bulldawg
October 9th, 2009
9:16 am
“Mikey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMLVGMfjK_w&feature=related”
Man did that team have “Swagger”! CJ Byrd, Tray Battle the true JUNKYARD DAWGS! We need to return to our roots, whatever it takes! GO DAWGS!
AltamahaDawg
October 9th, 2009
9:16 am
JB, we have have about 25 Punt attempts so far this year, and I can’t remember a single time when anyone took a serious attempt to load up the box to block one of our either. There were somewhere around 600 punts in the SEC last year, how many blocked? 12-15 maybe? 2%, 3%.? I know Renner got 2 last year before he got hurt. “NEVER’ might also be an exageration. Not many times for a low percentage result is more accurate.
Not sure what the percentage of fair catches in the league is, but I would bet we are proportional to it. “ALL” might be a bit of an exageration. Hell we have a better Punt return average than FL. Does that make you feel better?
uuughh...
October 9th, 2009
9:27 am
Altamaha…to answer your question: No. Our Special Teams are horrendous (except for Butler that is). When we depend on our Offense to overcome our defensive failings and vice versa, you would hope that we could get a spark on Special Teams, be it a block or a big return. We attempt neither. Are we Cool Hand Luke trying to beat the rest of the SEC with nothing!?
“Let’s see if we can win with no special teams effort at all.”
“Why?”
“Just to see if we can do it.”
“Reason enough for me.”
“Let’s also try a directional kickoff scheme that none of our special teams personel are smart or talented enough to run.”
“Good ideas Fabris…you get a raise at the end of the year.”
Paul H
October 9th, 2009
9:28 am
UGA wins – by benefit of UT’s anemic offense. That will be the difference.
Paul H
October 9th, 2009
9:29 am
If UT wins, it will be because of our kickoff coverage. If we spot them the ball at midfield every time then they might have a shot.
DawgNation
October 9th, 2009
9:30 am
Bulldawg,
I remember that one as I think we won it 27-14. I am surprised however that we didn’t get a celebration penalty called.
Worm
October 9th, 2009
9:30 am
Weather, weather, weather…Cox’s small hands and dawgs inability to run! This does not look good..If we win, it’ll be UGLY!..Then again, we’ll take it!… 3-2 Dawgs
Neutral observor
October 9th, 2009
9:31 am
2 bad football teams. Someone’s gotta win. I’ll take UGA to not suck as bad as UT in a classic battle of non titans
Otto
October 9th, 2009
9:39 am
UGA may get some field goals early but UT’s defense keeps it close and UGA out of the endzone. UGA’s offense turns more one dimensional than normal. The UGA defense tires with UGA’s 3min or less offense and UT’s ground game finally produces results late in the game. UT scores late to win the game.
UT kept a much more dynamic Auburn offense out of the endzone for much of the game, UGA will not be a problem.
Crompton was not the problem last week. The UT WRs dropped more passes that UGA did in the spring game. Also how many INTs does UGA have?
senoiadawgs
October 9th, 2009
9:39 am
So far all of the blind supporters of what is going on in Athens with the coaches, I have an experiment I would like you to try. Over this weekend and and next week walk up to any UGA fan outside of your group you usually hang out with and ask a simple question win or lose vs. UT this weekend “How Bout dem Dawgs”? You can find them by all of the UGA hats and Shirts easily. See what your response is.
Now don’t use the excuse that these people didn’t go to UGA or they purchased their gear from Wal-Mart please. They are just as much of a fan as anyone else and contribute to the overall success of the program. Maybe by doing this you can get a real feel for how the Dawg nation is feeling.
Mikey
October 9th, 2009
9:39 am
DawgNation and BullDawg,
On the Flowers punt return video I got a kick out of Blackledge saying that ” Georgia is a very good tackling football team”…
How did we lose that ability and that swagger in 4 short years?
Also, regarding the lack of a flag on the Flowers TD- remember…this was 2 years before the FL celebration. Since then we get flagged for standing upright after a big play….
GO DAWGS !
Bulldawg
October 9th, 2009
9:41 am
DawgNation: I know! That was back when the refs use to let the players play the game and not make things messy with extremely subjective calls. Not to mention, I think Dawgs were more liked at that time. I don’t know why, I just get that sensation.
senoiadawgs
October 9th, 2009
9:45 am
Mikey… the answer to your question is simple. Most of the guys on that defense were coached by BVG for sometime.
Bulldawg
October 9th, 2009
9:46 am
Mikey…now that you say that, maybe we are now facing the repercussions of our end zone celebration 2 years later. That is “the suck”, but we definitely are far from having the swagger and hardnosed playing style of 2007 and before.
I’d love to see a sack party against UF again this year. Repeat of the 07 game!
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
October 9th, 2009
9:49 am
Things are never as good as they seem, things are never as bad as they seem. Ga wins because they have more playmakers. I simply can’t believe some of you guys are giving up on a team that plays as hard as this group. Say what you will, but this is an exciting football team. IF the o-line begins to play like they want it then we’ll be fine, if not I’ll go down with the Bulldawg ship, but I’m NOT giving up
Paul H
October 9th, 2009
9:54 am
Starring Kam Fong has a good point. Say what you want about this team but they do play hard week in week out.
'96 Dawg
October 9th, 2009
9:55 am
Agreed. Fire Martinez and Fabris…give Bobo fair warning.
Bulldawg
October 9th, 2009
9:58 am
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho (long enough name LOL) I by no means am giving up. I watched the LSU game till that very last second even after the interception (in hopes he did step out of bounds). Reminiscing over the Dawg Days past isn’t a bad thing. Every week I have to defend the Dawgs W or L becuase I live in this God Forsaken “Gator” State! So trust me…I’m in the same ship and will ride it sink or swim.
That said, even Richt has said that the Dawgs are still looking for that identity and that swagger. Not that they aren’t trying, they are just having a difficult time finding it. I have no doubt they will…hopefully sooner than later! Trust me, the day I give up on the Dawgs is the day I die!
Saint Simons
October 9th, 2009
10:04 am
20 – 13 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahhh 45 -42 !!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Otto
October 9th, 2009
10:06 am
‘96Dwag I’d take CWM over Bobo. Fab does need to go.
Will
October 9th, 2009
10:09 am
Bill, you forgot to mention our kick-off team. I think this game will be close only because we will fair catch every punt and pooch kick every kick-off ending in big returns. UGA has the worst special teams unit in the country and everyone knows it. Lazy coaching in this area is starting to get very boring.