Independence Bowl: The better team won
Washaun Ealey and the Georgia running game took a while to get on track. (Associated Press)
The first half of Georgia’s game against Texas A&M in Shreveport didn’t look so promising for the Dogs, mainly because poor play by the offensive line stymied the running game and led to some questionable play-calling by Mike Bobo. The Aggies were having success with run blitzes on first down.
But A&M’s fast-paced offense wasn’t looking much better early on. Georgia’s much maligned defense looked good up front and got a lot of pressure on Aggies QB Jerrod Johnson, though linebacker and secondary play was sketchy.
Neither team scored in the first 27 minutes. They both looked rusty.
The difference in the first half was Georgia’s superior special teams play.
Georgia’s halftime adjustments on the offensive line were successful and the Dogs eventually took command of the game in the second half. And they seemed like the better conditioned team, too, as the Aggies looked flat-out tired in the fourth quarter. Thankfully, this wasn’t the same Jerrod Johnson that Texas saw in their regular season finale.
Basically, the better team won tonight.
It’s difficult to draw many conclusions about next season from this game since the Dogs will have a different QB and a new defensive coordinator. But I was encouraged by how Georgia ended the season.
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516 comments Add your comment
Joe Rox
December 28th, 2009
10:02 pm
Call your daddy down in New Orleans and ask if you can go out tonight after the game.
Joe Coxs' shadow
December 28th, 2009
10:03 pm
Boy i stunk up the joint for a while but the guys stepped up and saved me, now my coaching begins with UGA…..Yeah i can be the new QB coach and tell everyone about how i won the Avoco 100 bowl game….seriously I want to say what a damn good dawg Joe is and a helluva nice guy….
BAMA STAN
December 28th, 2009
10:03 pm
12 NATIONAL TITLES – 22 SEC TITLES!!!
Denver Dog – regarding my concern about TEXAS A&M potentially upsetting UGA – over 60% underdogs won last years bowl games.
UGA did not care to be at this game – much like ALABAMA was let down to play UTAH – instead of an OHIO STATE/TEXAS or USC type team.
Theat was my point of reference as the why I was concerned about this game for UGA.
HOWEVER – UGA did show us that they are a very proud program – and took over in the second half – great game for UGA – and good for the SEC!
Really – the only SEC team I will not root for in bowl games is TENNESSEE – not because of the PHIL FULMER issues – ALABAMA was cheating and we got what we desreved. I am not a KIFFIN fan.
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!
Alphare
December 28th, 2009
10:03 pm
Who said Bobo cannot make play calling? He looked like a genius tonight!
This game just shows how undeserving Texas is in the NC game. Texas’ highly ranked defense seems a notch below a mediocre SEC team, which have their 3 defensive coaches missing in action.
Oscar
December 28th, 2009
10:04 pm
Thanks, Bama Stan! Classy comments as usual. I think the Tide will absolutely demolish those Texas steers and will be cheering them on. Not even a close game at all. ‘Bama 41 – Texas 20. RTR!!
D(r)ooley
December 28th, 2009
10:04 pm
Another year, another cupcake in a bowl……………………A&M, Michigan State, Hawaii(yes, Hawaii), Purdue……………………the list goes on
Paul's Johnson
December 28th, 2009
10:05 pm
Typical Mutt mindset: “Today the Independence Bowl, tomorrow the WORLD!” Hope springs eternal, even for the 3rd place team in the SEC East.
NCDawg
December 28th, 2009
10:05 pm
Great game. Looks like we are now on track for 2010. Go dawgs..
Old Bulldog Fan
December 28th, 2009
10:05 pm
The main reason “we” won is the fact that Texas A and M was worse than we are. The “best” thing about this game is that this was “Joe Cox’s last GAME!!!!” Yea!!!!! Our offense was terrible in the first half.
The second half was a different story but again we were playing a .500 football team.
I hope for Ga. Football Richt can actually start coaching during the “off season” or get ready for another repeat of this year!!
If Logan Gray is the QB answer then “heaven help us”.
A win is a win but Ga. Football is very far away from being a contender in the SEC.
yamadawg
December 28th, 2009
10:06 pm
Atlanta Jacket
December 28th, 2009
9:36 pm
Ugag dominates a 6-6 team – congrats.
Hey Atlanta Jacket… It felt almost as good dominating your nerds. That 6-6 team was just more of a challenge.
Bride of Chucky Knapp
December 28th, 2009
10:06 pm
Good game! I was excited by this match up, even though it was a dregs bowl. You just get tired of playing the same folks.
Yeah, whose defense was that tonight? Richt? Garner? The grad assistants?
Dawgdad
December 28th, 2009
10:06 pm
After watching Chapas and Munzenmeir, I think Bobo needs to spend the off season coming up with some more plays featuring the fullback. Those two are a load, not easily stopped.
Noley
December 28th, 2009
10:07 pm
Good Gawd. Where the announcers the biggest couple of A&M homers ever?!? UGA’s on offense and they talk about that supposed great pass rusher on A&M. A&M’s on offense and they just about give their quarterback the ‘10 Heisman. Geez. Guess folks outside the Southeast (and our friends in the All Crummy Competition Conference are a little jealous about SEC football.
wow
December 28th, 2009
10:08 pm
folks..don’t get too excited…we beat a weak team and when we scored it was on a short field….Offense looked bad…D played good. It seem that we never exploit the weakness of our opponent. They always seem step up when they play us and we just try to keep doing the same thing….It was a win however over an out of conference team….Loved the score but it was misleading…Next yr looks great though
Bride of Chucky Knapp
December 28th, 2009
10:08 pm
Man some of you Nerds fans are sickos to be posting over here. Do y’all eat your own larva?
Next year..........
December 28th, 2009
10:09 pm
Top Dawg
December 28th, 2009
9:43 pm
I have been waitin’ for “next year’s team” for over 20 years
So true Top, that is the typical UGA fan attitude, next year Richt rolls, next year National Champions, next year….next year……next year…….10-30-10
gss303
December 28th, 2009
10:10 pm
6-6 texas a&m team …..they are better than Ga Tech.
Go Dawgs…be thankful
rob
December 28th, 2009
10:12 pm
Where is 1.4 Million/Saint Simons/Yellow Fuzz/Really? Certainly not in Miami. Their tickets were sold to Hawkeyes, who will incidently win the game. ROFLMMFAO
Dawggie
December 28th, 2009
10:12 pm
With everything playing out in the SEC in regards to Fla, Tenn and Ga,
How in the world wouldn’t K. Smart not want to come here? Fla committs are ripe for the picking, Tenn is going to be under NCAA sanctions soon (soon is relative because every english speaking person understands that Lamo Kiffin will totally screw up), SC, Vandy and Kentucky round out the rest of the East.
UGA stands to be on top and on top for awhile. Ala stands to fight like hell to defend the West vs LSU and Ol Miss. Which path seems easier to you? And last I checked, By coming to UGA you inherit te help of some of the nations top recruiters and a HC that has proven success AND stability.
If Smart isn’t beating down UGA’s door to come here I would be suprised.
BAMA STAN
December 28th, 2009
10:13 pm
12 NATIONAL TITLES – 22 SEC TITLES!!!
HUNKER DOWN – thanks!!!
I know its way too early to tell – but 2010 should be a good year for UGA – thinking that it will be like Richts first year – maybe even win 9 games. However, Florida and Tennessee both replacing a lot of key players.
2011 is when I think UGA has a serious shot to be in Atlanta for an SEC Title. I am hoping that BAMA will still be in the up cycle and face UGA in a title game – would be fun as both programs really go after each other when we play. Again – teams run in cycles – and it may be our turn to struggle to get 9 wins or so – but who knows!
Need OLE MISS to beat OK STATE as well to make an SEC sweep of the Big 12.
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!
westcoast techie
December 28th, 2009
10:13 pm
Congradulations UGA on a good bowl win (this from a yellow jacket alum). Unlike some on our blogs, I root for the SEC when they aren’t playing Tech or other ACC teams. Texas A&M’s defense pretty much held the Dogs in check until the Aggies’ special teams imploded. You could tell they lost heart after all of their kicking blunders. That’s when the Dogs padded their stats.
An interesting observation, Georgia had a hard time running against A&M’s front seven when the game was in doubt. They just destroyed our defense. Either A&M has some future pros or we really, really stink. I think the latter. We need to at least score 40 to 45 points against Iowa or we’re in for a long day at the Orange Bowl.
On Track? You on Crack
December 28th, 2009
10:13 pm
NCDawg
December 28th, 2009
10:05 pm
Great game. Looks like we are now on track for 2010. Go dawgs
You were on track in 2008 with the $50 million dollar man………………………………how did that work out for you? By the way next year the QB will have not played in a game in almost two years………in high school……………..against high school defenses.
#1DawginMississippi
December 28th, 2009
10:14 pm
The victory gave Georgia an 8-5 record, the Bulldogs’ nation-leading 13th consecutive season of eight or more wins. It also was Georgia’s fourth consecutive bowl victory !!!!!!!!
trey
December 28th, 2009
10:15 pm
Two straight cupcakes (Ga Tech and Texas A&M) and little ole 5 loss UGA whipped them both.
And in case you’ve forgotten:
(( 30-24 ))
St Simons Daddy
December 28th, 2009
10:15 pm
aTm, gtu are actually about the same. No reason to be excited about beating either IYAM. Go SEC in the rest of your games.
THWGT
Barack Dawg
December 28th, 2009
10:17 pm
Saint Simons – let me remind you 30 – 24 hahahahahahahah- biatch
NERDS!!! 30-24!!!
December 28th, 2009
10:17 pm
NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!!
anotherdawg
December 28th, 2009
10:17 pm
The defense and the past rush looked more aggressive, which has been one of our major problems. Special teams looked alot better also. I know Texas A & M ’s record is not that great, but they had a prolific offense. The defense looked good early on, especially the goal line defense against the run. I can see how they gave Texas a hard time.
Barack Dawg
December 28th, 2009
10:18 pm
For you guys questioning the QB situation next year. It won’t include Logan Gray. He will be changing positions to wide receiver. If he was going to play QB at Georgia it would have been this year. When cox stunk it up, he did not get into play. Not even in blow outs like Florida. He won’t be the starting QB next year.
NSX
December 28th, 2009
10:19 pm
Great way to wrap up the ‘09 season. Can’t wait till next year! A few thoughts from the game. Aron White got robbed on the reception/no-reception replay call. The announcers obviously got called up from their previous gig at some northern Louisiana highschool- what a couple of poorly prepared peckerwoods. The Bulldog special teams had one of their best outings in the last five years, and Fabris wasn’t on the sidelines… go figure, huh?
jarvis
December 28th, 2009
10:19 pm
Old Bulldog Fan….what’s with all of the quotations?
Barack Dawg
December 28th, 2009
10:19 pm
Hey nerds – what was the last BCS game you were in?
Orange Bowl Ticket Office
December 28th, 2009
10:19 pm
PLENTY of tickets STILL AVAILABLE!!!
What more do you want, free hotdogs and cokes?!
Jed
December 28th, 2009
10:20 pm
“The victory gave Georgia an 8-5 record, the Bulldogs’ nation-leading 13th consecutive season of eight or more wins. It also was Georgia’s fourth consecutive bowl victory !!!!!!!!”
Big deal you haven’t even sniffed the BCS Title Game.
Orange Bowl Ticket Office
December 28th, 2009
10:21 pm
And we at the Orange Bowl Ticket Office haven’t sniffed a sellout this year.
Not even close.
Barack Dawg
December 28th, 2009
10:22 pm
Answer – none – this is your first one. How many national championships have come out of the A She She in the last 10 years? How many out of the SEC? Yeah – remember who owns you. UGA does.
Regardless if you beat Iowa, who is not even the best team in the Big Ten, you still lost to UGA 30-24. Nothing changes that.
Ned
December 28th, 2009
10:22 pm
Barack get your teleprompter, you are talking crazy.
Barack Dawg
December 28th, 2009
10:23 pm
Jed – what have you sniffed lately? Your sharpie…
Barack Dawg
December 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
sorry nerd i mean Ned not Jed
Georgia Tech Virgin
December 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
We GT fans blog tough, but we don’t travel well.
Not unless it’s DragonCon or a Dungeons & Dragons sleepover, that is.
Fraud-Bama
December 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
Teleprompter Bama, you own the Jackets, the Gators own you.
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
Wow. a bowl game in a “high school stadium”…
I was looking for the upper deck… no dice. You doggies get ESPN2? Did your boss let you off early to watch it?
Congrats. Beat A&M. a 6-7 team.
Williams
December 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
Congratulations UGA and SEC fans on evening your bowl record at 1-1.
Love,
The Mountain West (3-0 in bowls)
Georgia Tech Virgin
December 28th, 2009
10:26 pm
I’m sure Jed was sniffing something I’ll never get to sniff.
*sniff*
NSX
December 28th, 2009
10:26 pm
Are there STILL Yech trolls on the Georgia blogs. I thought after getting their a$$es kicked all over Grant field they would go back into hibernation for another 7 years. It must really suck to be a jealous GayTech fan.
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
10:27 pm
Jealous? Yeah. Shreveport is sooo much better than Miami…
klemcudtlhopr
December 28th, 2009
10:27 pm
defensive takeaways and special teams, I really enjoyed this game. I am glad that this was the last game for joe and am looking forward to the upcoming qb competition. I thought Chapas was mvp of this game.
Georgia Tech Virgin
December 28th, 2009
10:27 pm
The Mountain West fans will have plenty of time to celebrate their bowl record after they finish getting buggered by goats. Good luck tonight, champ.
jackson
December 28th, 2009
10:27 pm
BAMA STAN: I’m with you on the Tennessee deal but I hope yall whip the Longhorns.
Denver Dog
December 28th, 2009
10:28 pm
thanks Stan, just meant that Utah had a bunch more to play for than the Aggies had, and that was the reason that they did what they did. Did not mean to compare UGA and the Tide.
I don’t think that Texas can stay on the field with Bama and unless there is some kind of meltdown, the Tide should roll easily.
I thought the D looked decent tonight, but I’m still not sold on the Bobo schemes. However we wore them out, and that is the most important thing that came out from the adjustments. We just ended up stronger and won on that basis.