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
Mikey
December 29th, 2009
7:33 am
It was nice watching Washaun Early run last night wasn’t it?
Dumbass TV crew….
To Bryan Evans
December 29th, 2009
7:33 am
Thanks for nothing. Its great to know we will never see you in Red and Black again. You should be thank God you had a DC with no balls. Anyone else (even GA’s) would have yanked you. You missed three open field tackles and the GA’s had seen enough. You are the worst DB in UGA history. Good luck in your almost certain “social work”.
DAWG FAN
December 29th, 2009
7:38 am
Hey Atlanta Jacket….Yeah the same UGA team that dominated the Jackets a few weeks ago. I guess that you can feel their pain and disappointment after taking such a beating.
Georgia Still SUX
December 29th, 2009
7:41 am
wow you beat a 6-6 A&M tam….Guess you idiots will be believing you can win an SEC Championship next year…..LOSERS!
We own this division!!! Go Gators!!!!
MiltonDawg
December 29th, 2009
7:43 am
Great game, way to go out with win for the seniors. Houston, Rambo, Boykin, Commings…all looked good. Looking forward to next season already!!
UGA SUX
December 29th, 2009
7:50 am
I guess UGA think they should be preseason No. 1 in 2010. So typical…before the GT game Dawg fans were calling for Richt’s head…now he’s the greatest coach that ever lived…fickle fans.
Congrats on your win.
Manny
December 29th, 2009
7:51 am
I love it that a fan of the Mountain West called out the SEC saying that they’re 3-0. On Dec. 28th. LOL!
Sir, the SEC teams with the worst record that that year bowl before New Years Day. Georgia didn’t have a good season, but they were good enough to beat a Big 12 team- without a DC.
But watch this: an SEC team plays in a bowl New Year’s Eve. 3 SEC teams bowl on New Year’s Day. 3 more play on the 2nd. Then we watch an SEC team play in the national championship Jan 7th.
So let’s count ‘em up: you got 4 teams bowling in the Mountain West. With no championships. OK. Now you got 10 teams bowling in the SEC. In other words, please sit down and watch the big boys play. (But congrats on your bowl wins… especially the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsetta Bowl. Heck, my aunt banks there!)
Big AL
December 29th, 2009
7:52 am
UGA 44 Aggies 20 AGGIES LOSE !
UGA 30 Tech 24 NERDS LOSE !
About as good as this season could possibly end
NERDS LOSE !, AGGIES LOSE !
we need to keep the “interim” mascot
Old Dawg
December 29th, 2009
7:53 am
Enter your comments here
Old Dawg
December 29th, 2009
8:06 am
Dang it! Fumbled my first post. Can I have a mulligan?
What I was going to say in response to “Who said Bobo cannot make play calling? He looked like a genius tonight” was Bobo looked liked anything but a genius in the first half. I am so weary of his love affair with the horizontal passing game. But all’s well that ends well.
Congrats to our Dawgs…they showed a lot of heart, and kudos to the coaching staff. You can tell a lot about a person when their back is against the wall, and the whole team responded to the challenges.
One final shot…I think the departed coaches showed their true mettle by bailing on their players for the bowl game. But, in the end. we didn’t need ‘em. I just hope they’re enjoying their time off…I hope their vacation lasts a good long time.
Jimmy O
December 29th, 2009
8:10 am
From a Ga tech fan, Congrats Dawgs on your victory! Loking foward to next years game. P.S. I’ve been reading these blogs for awhile. St. Simons, Yellow Fuzz etc.. are IDIOTS and don’t represent most of my fellow Tech fans. CUZ, keep up the classiness you always show ! Go Tech!
Bad Dawgie
December 29th, 2009
8:20 am
I thought we were gonna choke there for a second. I for one thought it was a little miserable to watch, but a W is a W i guess..
Dawg Knowledge
December 29th, 2009
8:21 am
With that easy blowout, the Dawgs are on the way to a huge year in 2010!!!! Florida’s down, their coaches are bolting—UGA should beat them easy in Jax next year. Tennessee? Don’t make me laugh–they have nothing coming back and kiffin’s a moron. Dawgs—SEC East title in 2010—mark it down!!!!! The Dawgs are back on top!!!!
collegeballfan
December 29th, 2009
8:25 am
BuLLdawg December 29th, 2009 3:55 am
“8 or more UGA Wins every season from 1997 to 2009. No program but us has accomplished this.”
If this is correct, why do you and so many UGA fans have a real serious inferiority complex about the UGA team and program? The inferiority complex really stands out when you read this and other AJC blogs.
I do not understand what there is to feel inferior about, but it is there. Even the author of this blog cannot escape it. Can anyone explain? Just asking.
Anyhow, congratulations to the team & coaching staff on another fine year in football.
You UGA fans can have the same success in men’s basketball if you will get off your duff and go support Fox and his team. He is a really fine coach but will not be successful without fan support. Putting 3000 people in the Gwinnett Center for the Illinois game was a real disgrace and you guys know it.
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
December 29th, 2009
8:26 am
Garner will now become the UGA defensive coordinator.
Lindsey
December 29th, 2009
8:28 am
I am so happy for the Bulldogs!! This is another positive step for next season, GO DAWGS!!!
yellowjacket82
December 29th, 2009
8:32 am
Good game Dawgs. Your defense and special teams played well when it mattered. We will take care of Iowa and looked forward to Athens next year. By the way, does anyone know the status of AJ Green for next year…will he jump to the NFL?
Wen you assume you make an a#$ out of you and me
December 29th, 2009
8:32 am
I missed the best part of the game (first half); because I figured UGA would blow it out from the beginning. Then I tuned in at half time to find out A&M was hanging with them. Who schedules a game at 5:00 on a Monday? They wanted to make sure they got that College Basketball game in right after it I guess…After the first half, it looked like what I thought it would. Two mediocre teams duking it out in a crappy bowl, but the Dawgs came out in the second half with a purpose. They also did something that I thought they were incapable of doing. That is, making halftime adjustments. Where has that been all season???
john
December 29th, 2009
8:34 am
I just do not understand the 52 week hatred. I just really do not
It’s called internet. And the AJC is loaded down with teens that keep the internet blogs active with in-your-face posts all year long. Perfect example is the way Saint Simons, RambleOn, M and Yellow Fuzz kept shoving it all year after last year’s win over UGA. Are you honestly unable to comprehend that those bozo teens are what have made so much of this blog hate? And now those three have new names and are keeping it going.
Outside of the AJC blogs I can’t name a single UGA fan who even cares about Ga Tech except during the week before the game. It’s all AJC-blog related hate and it’s due primarily to the juveniles that run rampant and unchecked on these blogs. But the AJC has to have hits on their blogs and there’s no better way than to have blog wars going on.
Jake
December 29th, 2009
8:37 am
As a Vol fan,, Way to go Ga. Go SEC.
Steve Spurrier
December 29th, 2009
8:48 am
UGA has always had the talent. What happens to their players after they go there? LOL
RonnieGarDner
December 29th, 2009
8:52 am
IF UGA had played that good all year they would have been undefeated. They are playing better than anyone in the country right now. I think they will be a top 5 team when the preseason rankings come out this summer.
From the sofa ...
December 29th, 2009
8:57 am
6-6 people …. A&M was 6-6 overall and 3-5 in the WEAK Big 12. Don’t get too pumped over the “big” win. 6-6 (3-5)…a win over that is anything but “big”. But the dogs did kick butt with special teams play & a bad snap on a punt that turned into 21 points, and -3 (blocked FG) for A&M.
I guess A&M forgot to practice special teams leading up to the IND Bowl.
But bowl games don’t do anything for the next season, it’s 9 months from now! I doubt this win will propel GA to the NC game season, and I doubt this loss will plummet A&M to 0-12 next season.
Sterling Smith
December 29th, 2009
9:00 am
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…
Hey GT Joe: We didn’t give our players RINGS for winning against GT… Who spend countless hours posting the score on this blog throughout the year? You do remember last year? Who was all excitied about that one game?
Get a life… stay on the GT blog and live w/ the fact GT is in a weak conference.
Richts Butt Cut
December 29th, 2009
9:12 am
Kirby is coming to Athens… mark it down. It’s signed, sealed, just waiting to be delivered.
WonderDawg
December 29th, 2009
9:15 am
Cuz if your yeller shirt is dirty for the OB, I’ll loan you my wife’s gold thong….
DawgFan
December 29th, 2009
9:17 am
YellowJacket, Thanks for the congrats and good luck in Miami. On your question of AJ Green, he will be back. He is a true sophmore, thus cannot jump to the NFL until after next year. You must have completed your third year in college (whether a junior or redshirt sophmore like Morino last year) prior to going to the NFL draft. As a matter of fact, UGA returns 17 of 22 starters next year.
Dawgbyte
December 29th, 2009
9:18 am
The primary thing the game with Texas A & M showed is what a terrible defense Tech has.
icedawg
December 29th, 2009
9:19 am
Great win. Team showed character. The rust from the layoff showed, but that even occurs with the best of teams. This was a great team effort. It is far better to end the season on this kind of note. The win over Tek and now this is very positive. Who knows what will happen next year. The QB situation with very little game experience could hurt, at least early in the season. Hopefully we’ll find someone like David Greene (not Stafford) who will be a good field general.
WonderDawg
December 29th, 2009
9:19 am
Before we all get too hyped up on next year, keep in mind we are losing our entire interior D Line. All 900 lbs of it….
TW
December 29th, 2009
9:24 am
Though I knew MArtinez was awful, it was sickening to watch how well we played last night without him.
What a scary defense we should be, and will be, when CMR brings in a real DC.
Sad to think of all the talent we wasted under Willie…has he returned any of his money yet?
Oh, and let’s not forget how HORRIBLE A FOOTBALL COACH JANCEK WAS!!!! NEVER HAS A POSITION COACH WASTED MORE TALENT THAN JANCEK DID AT LB WHILE AT UGA – seriously, go to rivals and look at the LBs in the recruiting classes that Jancek was given and did NOTHING with…sickening.
57 Magnum
December 29th, 2009
9:25 am
BuLLdawg, You really need to stop posting. Give me a headache…
Go dawgs !!
GT Joe
December 29th, 2009
9:27 am
I’m back over here on the UGA board. The Tech board is way too nerdy. I LOVE to try to explain how my beloved Jackets coughed up a hairball against Georgia.
57 Magnum
December 29th, 2009
9:27 am
Anyone have any info on Aaron Murray? Interesting comment made that he studies harder than any player Bobo has seen. I wonder if he’s living up to his billing during his red-shirt year?
WonderDawg
December 29th, 2009
9:28 am
Obviously it wasn’t enough when Kirby Smart said, “I’m not looking to go anywhere. I’m very happy in Alabama.” About 20 different fans of these blogs keep saying, “he’s coming to UGA. Mark it down!” If “Kirby’s coming” why did Richt offer the job to Bud Foster? He ain’t coming folks.
Sterling, apparently there are no GT blogs…
GT Joe
December 29th, 2009
9:29 am
My ass is still red from the butt whipping I took on November 28th. So I’ll spend my day posting meaningless comments on how great my Jackets are instead.
GT Joe
December 29th, 2009
9:31 am
I know a lot about high school stadiums. Most of the ACC stadiums fit that description.
jawga boy
December 29th, 2009
9:31 am
Next years dawgs are looking like TIGERS GIRLFRIENDS…….THEY’RE STACKED !
GT Joe
December 29th, 2009
9:32 am
I also know a lot about high school offenses. I’ve watched Tech run one for two years.
GT Joe
December 29th, 2009
9:33 am
However, I don’t know anything about high school defenses. I would describe our Tech defense as more middle school. Most good high school defenses are better than us.
#1 BAMA FAN
December 29th, 2009
9:36 am
Congrats to all of the DAWG fans…..well done. RTR
Lakedawg
December 29th, 2009
9:38 am
Say what you wish about Joe Cox, but he has the heart
of a true Bulldog and made some good plays. He had
some questionable/poor support this year (defense,
kickoff coverage, penalties), and still led us
through to the end and vs the 4th toughest schedule
in the nation. Nobody here is satisfied with
an 8-win season….not the fans, not the players,
not the coaches. Joe Cox probably won’t play in
the NFL, but IMO he did his job this year and
did it pretty well.
From the sofa, getting boarhogged by my manly roommate........
December 29th, 2009
9:38 am
That 30-24 still tastes bad, huh, nerd??
Fed Dawg
December 29th, 2009
9:38 am
It was nice to see Georgia win a game the way they lost so many this year. They dominated turn overs and special teams play. Never kicked the ball out of bounds. We were the ones getting the short field play for a change. Maybe the team can learn from this a see just how important special teams play is. I don’t know what this means for next year. I just hope the young guys are ready. Should be nice to finally have a more relaxed out of conference schedule to start with before playing Colorado. We also get a week off before Tech this year not that it did Tech any good this year to take a week off. Who knows, with Florida and Tennessee’s drama we may sneek back into the spotlight. They did a great job last night against the kind of offense that normally gives us fits. CMR stats are just crazy. I know it was a rough year but look at the numbers. He is a great coach. Considering the talent we lost, with exception to the Kentucky game a the horrible call in the LSU game, I got to enjoy some football. To all of you tech fans. Enjoy your year. Just remember, even our worst games are still a better ticket and more fun than your best. We may loose to Florida too often, but damn, if that is not one of the best weekends every year.
WonderDawg
December 29th, 2009
9:42 am
Anybody notice how much better A&M’s defense was than the acc champ’s? Boy, if Tech was in the Big 12, they’d be what, 5-7?
GT Joe
December 29th, 2009
9:43 am
Your freaking dog died rather than stick around and wait for this sorry season to end.
Alabama Jack
December 29th, 2009
9:44 am
Now its time for relevant football.
GT Joe
December 29th, 2009
9:48 am
Quit stealing my identity leg humpers. St. Simons is getting mad and won’t share my Snuggy with me.
GT Joe
December 29th, 2009
9:53 am
Watch out!!! There goes Ealey for another Georgia touchdown! When can we get back to good old ACC two hand touch football???
BILLY JACK
December 29th, 2009
9:54 am
BAMA STAN AND ALL THE TECHIES WHO SAID UGA WOULD GET BLOWN OUT-WE JUST RETIRED YOU FROM THE PREDICTING BUSINESS.DONT COMMENT ABOUT SOUTHERN COLLEGE FOOTBALL AGAIN.YOU CLEARLY DONT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.