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
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:18 pm
Hey NSX, get used to playing your BOWL GAMES in a high school stadium too.
Cuz
December 28th, 2009
11:19 pm
Joe, personally I hope you finish number one in the nation. Much better for the commentary for the next eleven months.
Say it ain't so, GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:19 pm
GT Joe, Are you aware you haven’t won a bowl game in at least four years? And some of those were on a blue field? What are you going to do if Iowa beats you? You going to post on their blogs? 30-24 is really eating you up, isn’t it?
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:19 pm
Hey Coffee, that WR who “choked” was an all american this year. Where was AJ? I thought he was the best WR in the state? apparently not.
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:20 pm
Hey Cuz, if we finish #1, UGA will still be better eh? since they beat GT?
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:21 pm
Yes, I am aware of our recent history in bowl games. But guys, hate to break it to you, but Chan Gailey isn’t our coach any more…
MATHDAWG
December 28th, 2009
11:22 pm
Our A.J. was better than your P.J.!!!!! We won the gam!!!! 30-24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 28th, 2009
11:22 pm
Joe,
Wasn’t it obvious UGA didn’t need AJ to beat GT. Can’t st simons remind joe who won the UGA-gt game?
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:23 pm
Wow, never seen so much excitement about a UGA win over Tech… Is this your biggest game of the season nowadays? How things have changed…
Say it ain't so, GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:24 pm
Joe, You lost last year, and Chan wasn’t your coach then either.
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:24 pm
It was better that AJ didnt play against tech… otherwise, Bobo would have felt the need to have Cox throw the ball more, and we know how that would end up…
MATHDAWG
December 28th, 2009
11:25 pm
Not our biggest game. Just a reminder of what a bunch of nerds you are and how sweet it is to kick you ass!
Pago Flyer
December 28th, 2009
11:25 pm
Still trying to figure out what is a “ADVOCARE” is?
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 28th, 2009
11:25 pm
Joe, I guess the Jets are better than the Colts, huh?? Funny Joe and which of the GT starters were pulled from the game early in the 3rd Q because the game didn’t matter?
No one. OK I thought so.
Cuz
December 28th, 2009
11:26 pm
I think we need a t-shirt that says Tennessee and Georgia 2009 Nerd Champions. We beat both Techs. Thank God we play football instead of World of Warcraft. Maybe GT can show their superiority to Iowa by staging a WOW tournament in the Orange bowl the day before the game.
Mauijacket
December 28th, 2009
11:26 pm
hey mathdog——check the MATH on best bowl winniest percentage—-Georgia or Georgia Tech—I’ll help Tech wins again
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:26 pm
Funny… GT fired it’s coach for too many 7-5 seasons and sorry bowl games. UGA fans are excited about their 8-5 season and win against a 6-7 team in a bowl game played in Shreveport. “Mark Richt CAN coach!!!”
LOL
Cobb Dawg
December 28th, 2009
11:26 pm
from the sofa, stay there. You haven’t the mind to venture far. A&M only lost to TX by 10. They had a down year, like UGA. I don’t know who your team is, but I know that you’re not very intelligent when it comes to college football. You can’t run with the Dawgs, so stay under the porch (or on the couch) where you belong. UGA had a good win. A&M got taken to the shed. Just like I suspect Texas will. SEC rules. Any questions?
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:27 pm
Oh okay Coffee. So that Jets win doesn’t count I guess.
party crasher
December 28th, 2009
11:28 pm
Did anyone besides me feel like we got robbed in the LSU game. I honestly believe the penalty on a.j. caused a dog let down causing us to lose that game. I think it affected the players in other games.
Tom
December 28th, 2009
11:28 pm
Bobo was the one that should have been fired! His play calling is horrible! Good riddance Cox! Our special teams played well and shockingly our defense came through. But we still can’t tackle!!!!!
Someone please take out Logan Gray’s knees!!!
Cuz
December 28th, 2009
11:28 pm
State bragging rights are important Joe. Ask m, yellow fuzz, Saint Simons, POAD, Supersize, Ramble On, Mike Bobo 17 Int or Dooley’s Cardioligist.
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:29 pm
Yeah Cobb Dog, I have a question.
since UGA beat the #5 team in the South Division of the Big 12, is UGA the de facto Big 12 champion?
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 28th, 2009
11:29 pm
Joe,
Cox throw the ball more, and we know how that would end up… No Joe, your d was not good enough for that. Maybe UF or a good SEC team but not GT.
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:30 pm
Hey Cuz. Who cares about those guys. Ask CPJ if it’s the biggest game of our season. He’ll say no.
Cuz
December 28th, 2009
11:31 pm
And he should Joe, and he should.
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:32 pm
Why Cuz? doesn’t help us win the ACC or go to a BCS bowl…
If we are 10-0 going into Athens next year, it will be, however.
Cuz
December 28th, 2009
11:32 pm
No matter what you say to rile me, still pulling for the insects in the Orange bowl. I just like responding to the smack talk. When you get my age you need a hobby.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 28th, 2009
11:33 pm
Joe,
The Jets win counts just like UGA win over GT counts. Did you play your 2nd team O? It looked like a 2nd team D. Oh, I forgot it doesn’t matter to you. If it doesn’t matter why are you on a UGA blog?
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:33 pm
If UGA was SEC champs and going to the Sugar Bowl or the BCS title game, they’d forget about a 6 point loss to GT also…
DAWGDAZ
December 28th, 2009
11:33 pm
Just an observation, but did you see AJ give Cox the brush off after he re-hurt his shoulder. AJ snubbed him again after another play where he again threw another bad ball which laid Green out to a big hit. Another thing is Cox doing the Jim Valvano running around and looking for someone to congratulate after he makes a big play. After seeing these snubs to Cox, I find it hard to believe the BS that was being fed to everyone all year concerning the teams love for Cox (boy that doesn’t sound good does it..lol). Maybe I’m mistaken, but it didn’t look like Cox has to many buddies on the team. Oh well, glad this was his last game and I’m glad he went out a winner along with the other seniors.
jimbob
December 28th, 2009
11:34 pm
Given these last couple of games, and 4 straight bowl wins, it means one things: these UGA teams are woefully underachieving during the regular season.
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:34 pm
Hey Coffee… Are the 3-12 Bucs better than the 13-2 Saints?
Explain that one chump.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 28th, 2009
11:36 pm
Joe,
We’ve already forgotten about the 6-pt win against GT. We wouldn’t be talking about it if not for you.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 28th, 2009
11:37 pm
Joe, Saints choked just like GT. Beautiful.
Cuz
December 28th, 2009
11:38 pm
I just said, you must have mistaken it, that CPJ should have said the UGA game was not the biggest game of the season for the Tech program this year. It was not. Conversely, this year at the end of the year, the Tech game was our biggest game. For CPJ, the ACC championship had to be the biggest game. No season starts as Tech or UGA being the biggest game, but it can end that way. Last year for Tech, this year for UGA. That is just the way the football bounces. It could be reversed next year. I personally would love to see both teams undefeated going into the 2010 game and that week it be the biggest game of the year for both teams. Doubt it will happen, once again the ball bounces funny. But a man can dream.
Mauijacket
December 28th, 2009
11:38 pm
party crasher—-Can you say “delusional”—-Please don’t excite the masses with things like
“Pre-season #1—know what i mean????——You lost 5 games for crying out loud.
GT Joe
December 28th, 2009
11:39 pm
Nice dodge, coffee.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 28th, 2009
11:41 pm
Joe,
Sounds like you’re still enjoying that last GT drive where your O just imploded.
Mauijacket
December 28th, 2009
11:42 pm
You go CUZ—right on—Glad for your win tonight—-and we have chance for TOP 5 in the country—-could be a SWEET ORANGE bowl.
Cobb Dawg
December 28th, 2009
11:43 pm
BTW, hate to rub salt in the wound but we played better (got after the QB) without CWM than we played with him. We put more pressure on Johnson than have any QB all season. Everyone’s not cut out to be a coordinator.
I look forward to the next couple of seasons. We’ve got some good, young talent. They just need to be coached to be hungry.
Joe Cox Better than Tebow..
December 28th, 2009
11:49 pm
Joe Cox ended up 1 td less than setting ther Georgia record for td passes. Not bad. Good job Joe for your 1st year as a starter, you almost were the best in Georgia history. You crushed Tebow this year. Way to bring it.
NSX
December 28th, 2009
11:49 pm
GT Ho, It doesn’t matter who your coach is or what Georgia’s record or final ranking is relative to your All Cup Cake conference team. The fact is GayTech will always be our biatch… even when we have one of our worst seasons in recent memory. So talk smack all you want, and, I’m glad you find comfort on our blog where you can spout your delusions about being the best team in the state. But we both know that just ain’t in the cards… don’t we? Because at the end of the day, you guys are just the turkey basting pan catching our drippings!
Rusty
December 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
Who is this GT Joe loser?
Cobb Dawg
December 28th, 2009
11:52 pm
GT Joe said: “Yeah Cobb Dog, I have a question. since UGA beat the #5 team in the South Division of the Big 12, is UGA the de facto Big 12 champion?”
No, but UGA is the de facto ACC champion since we beat both the “so-called champion” (Biting Gnats) AND beat the team (USC) that beat the “so-called runner-up” (Clempsun). Need more proof?
PHIL
December 28th, 2009
11:53 pm
Joe, you lost big, period, you’re about to get waxed again. Your team will never, ever be able to compete with REAL teams in REAL leagues. You’re ranked? Big whoopty do. Cinci, Boise, and TCU are all ranked ahead of you and they suck, too. If you play in a soft league against nobodys all year you can get ranked. If you play in the SEC and play good teams 10 out of the 12 , it’s harder. Just crawl back into your hive and go to back to sleep.
Bill “poor play by the offensive line stymied the running game and led to some questionable play-calling by Mike Bobo. ” WHY in the world can’t you write an article that doesn’t ridicule a coach? And read what you wrote. Do you think that you would have said the play calling was bad if the line had blocked the way they did in the second half? The “adjustment, the ONLY one, was to replace the tackle. Not in scheme or play calling. It was in the players performance that the adjustment was made. That’s not much to do with play calling. GEEEEZ I wish all the whiners like you who no NOTHING about football would just go over to the dark side on North Ave.
And some one said that Joe Cox wasn’t up to usual UGA QB standards. He made some dumb decisions, Freshman like. I’d say it was because it was his first year. Does he not now hold second place all time in Touchdown passes for a season? ONE behind Stafford? If the QB next year has the EXACT same year Cox had and ties for second all time in TD passes for a season, has the same amount of turnovers, you guys will all say “it’s only his first year, give him a break” and you will hail him as the one to lead us out of the wilderness.
The main thing that concerned me tonite was the plays that weren’t made and the tackles that were missed on the first drive of the second half. There were missed tackles on almost every play of that drive. A sack for a huge loss was missed that would have certainly stalled the drive. Jones dropped an interception. Those things won’t be fixed by a new DC. DC’s have never dropped a single interception during a game, nor have they missed a tackle. By the time you get to college, there is no teaching you to tackle. You tackle either because you are good enough to or because you want to. Tackling is 90% want to. You miss tackles because you either don’t want to tackle or you don’t have the ability. The defensive play on that drive was TERRIBLE, yet the coaches had put the players in position, they just didn’t make the plays. No new DC is going to change that.
The Ole Ball Coach
December 28th, 2009
11:57 pm
Why are the Tech fans so hostile ? LOL wawawawawawawawawa HAHAHAHA LOL
Sterling
December 28th, 2009
11:57 pm
To Atlanta Jacket. In case you forgot, UGA dominated a 10-2 ACC champ also. ‘Nuff said.
DawgFan
December 28th, 2009
11:58 pm
Congratulations Dawgs, you just got into the Top 25 along with extending a nation leading 13th year in a row for 8+ wins. Funny, a 6-6 Big 12 team was more of a challenge than the ACC champs. So the streak continues for the Dawgs in the top 25 under CMR. With 75 percent of the starters returning, next year looks promising.
Mauijacket
December 29th, 2009
12:01 am
PHIL—-almost a good post—but plenty of times the dogs have played a week schedule—-YOU KNOW IT—–and did not bring that fact up—-just tooted their horn.
Two things———2nd best td passing total at a running school is not something to be proud of—–and your last paragraph is the WHOLE TRUTH and nothing but the truth.