Another case of SEC showing up Big 12
Aggies QB Jerrod Johnson runs into a wall of red. (Associated Press)
A few more thoughts and notes about Georgia’s win over Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl. …
No one will call this a game for the ages, but Georgia’s 44 points were a bowl record for the Dogs, surpassing the previous high of 41 in the Sugar Bowl win over Hawaii, and Georgia’s six touchdowns matched a record set by the 1941 Dogs in their 40-26 Orange Bowl win over TCU. Not bad considering the offense hardly registered a pulse in the first half. …
What kept Georgia in the game (and with the lead at halftime) until the offense could get on track and begin to wear down a surprisingly effective Aggies defense was the Dogs’ special teams play. If this didn’t drive home the importance of special teams to Mark Richt, I don’t know what would. He has indicated in recent days that he would be amenable to devoting one of the Dogs’ coaching slots to a full-time special teams coordinator. Let’s hope that comes to pass. …
Tight end Aron White has sort of become the Dogs’ stealth star. While most of the media attention has been lavished on Orson Charles, White has been a clutch player. Monday night, he came up big, tying a Georgia bowl record with two touchdown catches and being named offensive MVP of the game. When A.J. Green is covered, White is a good alternative. …
But let’s not forget Michael Moore, who had two big catches for 34 yards and jumped on that fumble in the end zone on a TD that was credited to Caleb King but really should have been Moore’s, as replays showed King lost the ball before he broke the plane of the goal. …
Kudos also to the game’s defensive MVP, Geno Atkins, who had three tackles and a sack and, more importantly, a blocked field goal. Atkins was pretty quiet much of the first half of the season but came on strong in later games. …
Aggies QB Jerrod Johnson finished 29-for-58 for 362 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Dogs, but hardly looked like the player who attracted so much attention for his showing against Texas.
What was the difference? Part of it might have been that his performance against the Longhorns was juiced by it being a rivalry game. But it’s hard not to conclude that a bigger factor was that he wasn’t going up against a Big 12 defense. Georgia’s defensive front harried Johnson all night long and while he made some nice plays, he also looked rattled on more than one occasion and made some bad decisions. Johnson only had six picks all season before this game, but Georgia snagged two and could have had three more. …
Joe Cox was … Joe Cox. Not a great night on those sideline routes and he threw a pick (though this one didn’t produce any Aggies points), but he also made some key throws, including the two touchdowns to White. The fact that he came within one touchdown of tying Matthew Stafford’s season record and yet had a mediocre season overall is kind of mind-boggling. …
Coming back from injury and a lengthy layoff, A.J. Green still led the team with six catches for 57 yards, but he was quite visibly rusty. He seemed to lose track of the ball on a couple of plays, got tackled more easily than usual on a couple of screens, and was visibly bothered when he went up high for one of his patented acrobatic catches but didn’t come down with the ball (though you have to give credit to the Aggies defender for excellent coverage). Perhaps Green’s greatest contribution, however, was acting as a decoy, particularly on one of Aron White’s TD receptions. …
The Dogs’ running game really missed Josh Davis on the line in the first half, with Vince Vance struggling mightily. It wasn’t until Justin Anderson was inserted into the lineup in the second half that Georgia was able to run the ball with authority. And that they did, with Washaun Ealey (not “Early,” Mr. Franklin) having 78 yards on 13 carries, Caleb King having 16 carries for 60 yards, and the Dogs’ fullbacks showing some power late in the game, as Shaun Chapas racked up 43 yards on five carries and Fred Munzenmaier added 20 yards on four carries. Heck, even Cox finished with positive rushing yardage for the night!
Which brings up the nonfactor that A&M defensive end Von Miller, the nation’s sack leader, was in this game. Clint Boling might have drawn flags by jumping early a couple of times, but he did a masterful job of handling Miller, who finished with just four tackles and no sacks. …
Quantity doesn’t equate to quality, as the Aggies offense proved Monday. They ran 92 plays for 471 yards, the most offensive plays ever against a Mark Richt Georgia team, and yet were held 14 points under their season scoring average, and that last touchdown was against the Dogs’ scrubs when the outcome already had been decided. Again, Big 12 football vs. SEC football.
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312 comments Add your comment
ugaaccountant
December 29th, 2009
1:53 pm
DawgFan
December 29th, 2009
12:56 pm
sibs, SEC teams won’t go to the Independence Bowl next year. The SEC is sending their #6 seed team to the Gator, replacing the ACC’s #3. It’s ACC vs Mountain West in the Independence next year.
That’s about the most revealing insight into the state of affairs of the SEC and the ACC. We steal their #3 bowl and give them our #8 bowl. That’s awesome.
ugaaccountant
December 29th, 2009
1:55 pm
It’s a shame the Gator wasn’t our bowl this year, we probably would have been the selection. Would have been a much more interesting trip.
Frank Wren
December 29th, 2009
1:57 pm
Texas could have the exact same record playing in the SEC.
No they wouldnt
Saint Richt
December 29th, 2009
1:59 pm
Frank Beamer was getting indigestion somewhere in Atlanta while watching that game last night. That was more like B M ‘er (bowel movement) ball than Beamer ball by the Aggies. What an ugly game to watch. Good win for the Dawgs, but A&M looked like it should drop down to Division II or whatever its called now.
DawgFan
December 29th, 2009
2:05 pm
GTEvan, Why would we want your running backs when the two we have ran for over 340 years against Tech? They would still be running if the game didn’t need to end. Oh, and our coach, 90 wins in 9 years. Bite on that.
BobDog
December 29th, 2009
2:07 pm
Joe Cox, you’re a damned good Dawg. Thanks for sticking it out. I wish you the best in your future endeavors and I hope that maybe one day you’ll be back on the sideline in Sanford Stadium.
And all the best to the other seniors. I’m glad to see you finish with a good win.
Geez
December 29th, 2009
2:09 pm
We’re all “happy, happy, joy, joy” today following a halfway decent win over the Aggies. But I’m still dismayed at the lack of support shown by the Dawg fans who chose the comfort of TV over actually making the sacrifice to travel to the game.
JamMa Bama
December 29th, 2009
2:15 pm
Let us see, the Dawgs beat a team who lost to K State 62-14, only beat Utah State by 8 points,lost to Colorado and finished in the bottom 4 of their conference. Yeah, that sounds like a conference SHOWING up another alright. Bill, leave the “beat you chest, bark like a dawg” talk to the teams who really represent the SEC. Can we trade the Dawgs to the Big 12 for A&M. I would do that in a heart beat.
Bulldog Joe
December 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
CAN ESPN GET SOME DECENT TV ANNOUNCERS BALL GAMES? THAT FRANTLIN DUDE IS AWFUL. TOTALLY UNPREPARED AND UNCOMFORTABLE.
Spike
December 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
Russ for UGA VIII! He is 2-0!!.. Average UGA team-30. ACC Champs-24. HAHAHAHAH.
Go Jackets
December 29th, 2009
2:20 pm
For the record:
Georgia Tech had their best season in years.
Georgia Tech won the ACC.
Georgia Tech is in the BCS Orange Bowl.
And at 2:16 pm on December 29th there are still Orange Bowl tickets available from the Georgia Tech Athletic Department. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
What a sorry excuse for a fan base!!! We Dogs beat ourselves up for not traveling to Shreveport to a terrible venue to support our team. The weenie Jackets can’t muster up enough support to sell their allotment to the ORANGE BOWL.
Give me a break.
Oh yes. One more thing. 30-24.
atlanta aggie
December 29th, 2009
2:21 pm
Dawgs special teams did nothing. Kickoff return guy was not touched and did not even have to make a cut. Punt blocker was not touched. Snap over the punters head was no credit to Dawgs special teams. Bottom line is Aggie special teams stank and gave the game to the Bulldogs. Aggie offense moved the ball well throughout the game. Aggie defense gave up FOUR first downs through three quarters. Georgia may be the better team but jacked up the score in garbage time after multiple Aggie gifts. Georgia offense actually looked better against Florida that against the statistically terrible Aggie defense. Maybe the Aggie defense is so statistically bad because they actually have to play good offenses in the Big 12 instead of Vandy and Kentucky.
atlanta aggie - get a grip
December 29th, 2009
2:24 pm
Chill dude. Your team sucked. You lost to a mediocre team. Crybaby line forms to the left. Yes that line. With all the Yellow Jacket whiners. Ignore the pocket protectors. They are really nice people when you get to know them. Most of them are Asian anyway.
Spike
December 29th, 2009
2:26 pm
atlanta aggie.. You got beat. Deal with it and quit rationalizing.
Joe Rox
December 29th, 2009
2:32 pm
“UGA is playing better than any team in the country the last 2 games. They should open next season ranked in the top 5.”
We have another Dawg in Denial in the house, it is kind of like 07 when the Dawgs didn’t win the East and didn’t play in the SEC Title Game but their fan base said they deserved to play for the National Title because they were the hottest team. Is it something in the water up there in Athens on Broad Street? Oh sorry, Broad Street has officially been renamed, GATOR STREET.
atlanta aggie
December 29th, 2009
2:36 pm
Aggies got beat – - no question about it. They have been down for a few years but there are at least signs of hope – like the Dawgs every year they are having a “Top Ten” recruiting year!!! I just find amusing all the chest beating and SEC chanting from fans of a team that got killed by Okie State and lost to Kentucky at home.
No Joe Rox
December 29th, 2009
2:37 pm
Sorry Joe. Not enough jorts or mullets to name it Gator Street.
Moron
December 29th, 2009
2:37 pm
Spike,
I would hardly call this year’s UGA team average. If you want to get down to brass tacks, then we’ll do it. Kentucky got dominated (which the score doesn’t really reflect) by Clemson in Nashville. If I recall, Kentucky beat the Dawgs at their house (you will probably blame it on the officials or Martinez, but whatever). The Jackets BEAT Clemson twice to date. Finally, on that dreary Saturday after Thanksgiving, UGA played their best game of the season. All the while, GT played (obviously) their worst game of the season. So, by your reasoning UGA couldn’t beat the team that Tech beat twice. Wrap your head around that paradox.
atlanta aggie NOT
December 29th, 2009
2:39 pm
UGA has 4 wins in their last 4 bowl appearances. We’ve been to 13 straight bowls.
How many wins does A&M have in their last 4 bowl appearances? And how many bowls have you been to in the last 13 years? I have nothing at all against A&M. But some schools have more to thump their chest about than others. Just the facts maam.
DA
December 29th, 2009
2:40 pm
Joe Rox ,
I really hope your joking!!!!
Hey Moron
December 29th, 2009
2:40 pm
No paradox.
30-24.
Clear as crystal.
William
December 29th, 2009
2:41 pm
So losing to Ok st. the first game of the year is equal to beating Texas A&M in a bowl game. Hmmm, I find this reasoning kinda of Martinez like….
Spike
December 29th, 2009
2:42 pm
Moron. Your name explains you and your goofy logic better than I ever could attempt to do. Just wrap your little pencilneck around this. UGA-30. ACC Champs-24.
Moron
December 29th, 2009
2:50 pm
Like I said, there is a paradox you idiot. The score under your first sentence shows the contradiction in statements. Read a definition before you try to act smart.
Moron
December 29th, 2009
2:52 pm
Spike,
Like you said, “Attempt.” Now get back on the assembly line WT.
Reality
December 29th, 2009
2:52 pm
Grrrrr. When will people, especially the ‘expert sports news’ folks, understand that bowl games are not one conference vs. another….. it is one team vs. another. UGA no more represents the SEC than Vandy, or Tenn, or any other team.
If Alabama wins the NCG, it is Alabama and not the SEC. Alabama is PART of the conference and the conference doesn’t win the game.
A conference is measured by ALL members for the ENTIRE season (including bowl games). Only then does it make any sense what so ever to compare conferences. And, even then, it is very difficult to compare apples to apples since many conference teams do not play against other conferences.
Reality
December 29th, 2009
2:56 pm
UGA fans – I would bet that the Tech fans would stop posting on your board if you can get the loser Ugag fans from posting on the Tech board. Pot, meet kettle.
Spike
December 29th, 2009
2:56 pm
Doe anybody have any idea what this self described “Moron” is talking about?
Hey Moron
December 29th, 2009
3:01 pm
Here’s are a few facts for you Moron.
Since GT’s mythical national championship in 1990, you have beaten the Dogs 4 times. Yet you continue to humor yourselves with the belief that the tide is turning and the better team did not really prevail. I recall many posts after last year’s aberation regarding how UGA would be lucky to ever beat Paul Johnson. Wow. That “streak” ended at ONE game.
So go ahead and jump through your imaginary hoops about who beat whom and what coulda shoulda woulda been. Your vaunted Yellow Jackets laid an egg, got whipped on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and lost to the worst Georgia team in ten years.
And frankly if we have to choose between losing to Kentucky or losing to Tech, I’ll take losing to Kentucky every time.
Hey Spike
December 29th, 2009
3:11 pm
Hey Spike – I think I know what Moron is talking about.
Tech lost to UGA 30-24.
That can’t be possible since Tech is obviously morally, spiritually, intellectually, physically, biometrically, athletically, supernaturally, and aesthetically superior to Georgia.
So he has conjured up a “paradox” that is clearly unsolvable to us mere mortals.
Only he – the great “Moron” can grace us with the truth. That Georgia Tech is the one and only true power and the rest of us are just pretenders – despite the fact their football team got their ass kicked on November 28th.
Homer the Dog Blog
December 29th, 2009
3:19 pm
Way to pat yourself on the back for a win over the Ags!
I guess uGAG would be a FIFTH place outfit in the Big XII…. SOUTH division (behind Texa$$, Zero State [SCOREBOARD], Texa$$ Tech and OU.)
Any of you ding-a-ling dawgs even BORN in 1980???
Spike
December 29th, 2009
3:19 pm
“Hey Spike” Thanks for the heads up. I certainly get the part where the ACC Champs lost on national TV in their tinker toy stadium. I just don’t think the Paradox Moron has wrapped his poindexter mind around it yey. Bless his little heart.
ACC owns you!!!
December 29th, 2009
3:19 pm
Just because the puppies sometimes get lucky against Tech doesn’t make them the better team
Spike
December 29th, 2009
3:20 pm
Sorry, “yet”.
ACC owns you
December 29th, 2009
3:21 pm
That’s right. 15 out of the last 19 years we got lucky.
Spike
December 29th, 2009
3:21 pm
ACC owns you.. We were the better team that night. And that is about the dumbest thing I have read on here in a long time. Where do you nerds get this stuff? And do you really believe this?
jesse james
December 29th, 2009
3:22 pm
BobDog – Great Posts- Joe Cox will make a fine coach one day. Glad to see him and the other Seniors finsih strong with wins over Tech and A&M.
ACC owns you!!!
December 29th, 2009
3:22 pm
We are always the better team. The better team doesn’t always necessarily win
South FL Chapter of the Bulldog Nation
December 29th, 2009
3:23 pm
Great Win Dawgs! I was definitely worried with the play but pleased with the score at halftime. When A&M came out with their opening drive and tied it up I didn’t feel any better, but our boys kept playing their butts off and in the end it was a whoopin and a great showcase for UGA! I’m very proud of the way the staff kept it together and the way the players stayed focused on the task at hand. It Great To Be A Georgia Bulldog! Now, lets get our staff together and close out this top notch 2010 incoming class!
I’m always reading all this bs from classless people who rant about crap that has nothing to do with any team that was mentioned in this article….to be honest, who cares what you have to say! Sore looses, poor sports, cheaters, cheap shot artest….I’m sure that those adjectives describe all of your classless people sporting careers…oh wait, I forgot one or two…bench warmers, team manager, or didn’t make the cut. There is a difference between the majority of fans who have class and cheer for their respective teams and even others within their own conference this time of year, and others who just are clueless…and that is knowledge. That’s knowledge of the sport itself and of how of act as an individual…Regardless, try this for a 2010 New Year resolution….GET SOME CLASS! No one really cares to read about your nonesence! I know that’s probably a little much to ask for some of you blogers, but it’s definitely worth a try! Good luck and we’re all counting on you!
Now, back to business…..SEC, go handle your biz!
2010’s going to be the year of the Dawg! How Bout Them Dawgs!!!! Happy New Year!
simms
December 29th, 2009
3:23 pm
Yet UGA is number 1 in the ACC. Go figure
Bernie
December 29th, 2009
3:29 pm
Good Job Dog’s….no matter what Bowl….SEC Rules !!!!
Stinger
December 29th, 2009
3:32 pm
spike, you are kinda cute on here. Can you send me a picture?
ACC owns you
December 29th, 2009
3:32 pm
The ACC definitely owns UGA. For the last 19 years UGA has won 9 of the 11 games played against the ACC – not counting Tech. So the 19 year record is UGA 24 – ACC 6. Boy – they own us.
JB
December 29th, 2009
3:33 pm
Tech is pitiful……….Johnson is a pretty good coach and will move on soon……Hell, their own Bill Curry left for another job….Nuff Said.
ACC owns you
December 29th, 2009
3:35 pm
By the way – if memory serves correctly – the last ACC team other than Tech to beat UGA in the regular season was Clemson in 1990. I wish every conference owned us the way the ACC does.
SEC vs. Big 12? | The Recycle Bin
December 29th, 2009
3:37 pm
[...] admit that I am a card carrying SEC bigot – all other conferences are second rate at best. This ajc.com blogger thinks that the Aggies performance against the Bulldogs is a sign that that SEC is superior (top to [...]
ACC owns you!!!
December 29th, 2009
3:37 pm
You are nitpicking games that don’t count fake ACC owns you. UGA has gotten lucky when they play the ACC
Spike
December 29th, 2009
3:37 pm
Oh Boy, not only are the idoit Tech nerds on here making fools of themselves, now the gay ones are on here trolling, like Stinger.
GTFan
December 29th, 2009
3:37 pm
The whole Team SEC thing confuses me. I have never seen it in any other conference or sport. SEC fans will actually support teams they hate because they think that if the conference gets a meaningless win it makes their team look better somehow. Being in the same conference as Alabama and Florida does not make make the other mediocre SEC teams look better. Start rooting for your team and quit hiding under the conference flag when your team has a crap season.
JB
December 29th, 2009
3:38 pm
Bobby Ross had enough………O’liar had enough……….So will Johnson………..There is something about that place that reeks. Maybe all the concrete and the urban setting, the crime, the foreign students. Who knows.