Are Dogs back on track or were Vols and Vandy that bad?
After two big wins at home, the Dogs take their rehab project on the road this week. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
I’m getting back into the work routine today after being on the disabled list, and I figure that’s a good time for a quick check on the confidence level in the Bulldog Nation.
I’m trying to decide which Georgia team is likely to show up in Lexington Saturday night, the one that looked dominant against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, or the one that looked so hapless against Mississippi State and Colorado.
As the pendulum has swung back this week with talk about the Dogs being back in the SEC race, the showdown with Kentucky looks bigger and bigger.
Let’s face it, while the wins over UT and Vandy did a lot to get Georgia back on track, neither opponent was a very good team.
Which raises the question of just how good Georgia is. Have the Dogs really turned the corner? I liked what rarely quoted offensive line coach Stacy Searels told the Bulldogs Blog when that question was put to him.
Said Searels: “You gotta go out every Saturday and compete. If you think you’ve arrived because you’ve won two games in a row, you’re not very smart, I’ll say that.”
Yes, the Dogs have made progress since Starkville and Boulder. Now they’ve got to prove they can do it consistently against better competition. And at night on the road.
So what do you think? Is your confidence in Mark Richt’s team restored or are you taking a wait-and-see stance? Has Georgia really improved that much the past two weeks, or was it all about the Vols and Commodores not being that good?
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171 comments Add your comment
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 21st, 2010
1:01 pm
MSU throttled the Gators in the swamp so I would say they are a pretty good team.SC beat Bama,Vandy beat the Rebels too so it’s not like we’ve played a charmin type of schedule.
This is a different offense with AJ on the field we can score with anybody.The defense will be a success if we can hold them to 21 pts or less
PNWDawg
October 21st, 2010
1:02 pm
I’m afraid Tenn and Vandy are that bad. We looked just as dominant in our opening game (w/out A.J.). But as soon as we faced a challenge the wheels came off. This weekend I have no idea what to expect.
Ron Smith
October 21st, 2010
1:04 pm
GA-FLA game should be an excercise in futility. 0-0 tie after 5 overtimes and thousands of yards gained, and lotsa fumbles and more excuses from the coaches if UGA has enough players out of jail by that time. Auburn or Bama will win SEC. LSU counts on miracles to win. Evidentlly South Carolina and Arkansas were paper tigers. Welcome to the real world
meh
October 21st, 2010
1:05 pm
I think the Dogs have turned things around. They’re finally clicking. they finally got the tight ends involved in the offense, the wide receivers are playing great, and the running game is starting to get going. It’s gonna be a tough game in Lexington but I truly believe the Dogs can win it. Go Dogs!
go away tech fans
October 21st, 2010
1:10 pm
i agree with earlier posts. . .these articles are just an opportunity for UGA haters to spew their trash.
let’s beat kentucky and then worry about florida. no game is 100% this year. . .
great rebound dawgs, no finish the drill
go away tech fans
October 21st, 2010
1:11 pm
“now finish the drill”
Chris S
October 21st, 2010
1:12 pm
When you’re playing well, you dominate inferior teams. Georgia wasn’t able to do that against Mississippi State or Colorado; they did it against Tennessee and Vandy. The question in my mind is whether that reflects improvement or simply an ability to play better at home. This weekend will go a long way towards answering that question–if UGA wins decisively (the game in hand midway through the 4th qtr), the trip to Jacksonville might just be fun this year.
UGA72
October 21st, 2010
1:17 pm
Can anyone tell me if the UGA-KY game will be televised by Time-Warner Cable in the S.C. Lowcountry — Charleston and Myrtle Beach markets? The game is not listed on any of the affiliates that normally carry the SEC Network games.
Michael
October 21st, 2010
1:20 pm
We are always good enough to beat Ga Tech! The occasional times we don’t, are to be filed under the old saying, ” Even a blind squirel gets an acorn every once in a while!”
Michael
October 21st, 2010
1:21 pm
squirrel
cyberdawg
October 21st, 2010
1:21 pm
Let’s not lose site of the fact that Tenn and Vandy were home games. Not only will we see what UGA’s got against KY but we’ll see them on the road too which does make a difference.
Michael
October 21st, 2010
1:22 pm
Believe me, I’m not dreaming when I say that!
Fred Ziffel
October 21st, 2010
1:28 pm
Even if the Dawgs get by Kentucky the season will get kicked back to reality when they play the gators.
Dawg Day
October 21st, 2010
1:39 pm
It absolutely cracks me up when I see Tech fans say UGA is irrelevant because we haven’t won a NC since 1980.
Tech acts as if they won a NC in the last couple years or something. 1990, they GAVE THEMSELVES a title, but didn’t Colorado celebrate their 1990 NC team while we were there a couple weeks ago?
Even if Tech did win an outright NC in 1990 (which NOBODY outside Tech Nation, all few hundred of them, thinks), what is the big difference in 20 years and 30 years when speaking on this topic??
There are 120 teams battling for a NC. That means in 119 years from TODAY, at least 1 will be talking about their 120 year NC drought. (and we all know it will be more like 100 teams). To win one is pretty darn special. Tech doesn’t just win them at will like they would like to think. And either do 99.9% of all programs.
So next time you Techies want to pull 1980 out to feel like you are not a virgin, put the whole picture into perspective.
(((((30-24)))))
8-1
60-39-5
We Run This State
10 SEConds
October 21st, 2010
1:40 pm
Bill, it’s both, isn’t it? UT and VU aren’t very good. And, I’m no football expert, but it seems to me that UGA’s coaches have finally figured out which personnel to have on the field and at which positions. It took a while for the new D coaches to figure that out because they were, well, new, and still had to figure out how best to deploy their personnel in actual games–always different from practice. Something similar seems to have happened on the O Line. Plus, AJ’s back. Also, “Old Lady Luck” as Larry would say, has decided to smile on the Dawgs again. The bounces went the wrong way for 4 weeks, and went our way the last 2 (e.g., UT turnovers and Vandy missing out on a surefire early INT for a TD). Can’t underestimate that! We’ll beat UK, but have to assume a loss to UF, just based on recent history.
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 21st, 2010
1:52 pm
IMO we had to beat Tenn and Fla this year regardless of how the other games went.One down one to go.We should beat Kent but we must beat the Gators.
ColumbiaDawg
October 21st, 2010
2:06 pm
We are what we are. We’re 3-4 with those wins coming against very bad teams.
Jackson
October 21st, 2010
2:06 pm
Bill,
You are asking the $1,000,000 question. Looking at the season thus far, you have to scratch your head. Of all the things that went wrong, lack of concentration appeared to be the achilles heel. The fumbles were lack of concentration/execution but I have to really question the early season offensive philosophy that was placing so much pressure on a defense in transition. The first thing CMR has ever said that left me dumbfounded was when he was questioned about the offense not helping out the defense and he basically came across as saying that the defense is the reason the offense was not successful I think that in a nut shell has described his coaching tenure. He wants to be patient on the offense, not force the issue, and rely on the defense to hold on. I think that philosophy is what put those games early in the season into the loss column. Have we turned a corner? i believe so. Ultimately, the offense has got to find better ways of being productive to allow the defensive system to work well. Again i point out that our offense was sluggish because we never opened up the play book to attack. When we got down early, it changes how the defense plays.
Case in point… look at baseball. If a starting pitcher gets a couple of runs early, chances are, he pitches a lot more relaxed and tries to do the things he does well. When he is behind, he is looking at trying to minimize his mistakes to “keep” his team in the game. The offensive needs to score first and often early to open up the defensive attack scheme.
If that happens, I think you will see a W this saturday… if not, another L
DawginLex
October 21st, 2010
2:19 pm
The season hinges on Saturday. Plain and simple.
Wouldn’t we all love to play our schedule over again right now?
Not saying we would be 7-0 but with AJ, we sure wouldn’t have lost those 4 straight.
say what?
October 21st, 2010
2:26 pm
Dawg Day where did that come from? I looked back and observed no posting with any tech fan saying anything at all about UGA here. Did your boss just yell at you or soemthing and just because he graduated from GT you became upset and decided to rant? Oh and the resaon some GT fans give the idiot dawg fans grief over that is because every year some of you go on and on about how dominant UGA is and act like the road to the NC passes through Athens. Just like all the idiot band wagon UGA fans had nothing to say and stayed away from GT blogs for weeks then Tenn and Vandy fall and once again some of you think you are world beaters.
Ed. note: This does not pertain to the rational UGA faithful who can actually be objective.
Dawg Man
October 21st, 2010
2:28 pm
Why all the hate from haters? Why can’t you be objective, same for Dawg fans, be objective.
Dawg Man
October 21st, 2010
2:29 pm
We got a game Saturday night in Lexington against UK=ALL THAT MATTERS
Dawg Man
October 21st, 2010
2:30 pm
Thanks say what. I am a UGA fan, I stay off of GT blogs. It only makes sense right?
Dawg Man
October 21st, 2010
2:31 pm
I always think the Dawgs can win any game but am rational enough to know sometimes your’e not gonna get it done every week.
Dawg Man
October 21st, 2010
2:32 pm
Why is common sense so uncommon?
still a dawg fan
October 21st, 2010
2:43 pm
Vandy & Tenn were that bad–Ky will be our 1st real test since ARK.
CAM NEWTON
October 21st, 2010
2:54 pm
I wish someone would please do a little explaining on how our instate recruiting is falling through the cracks. We sure let one get away with Cam Newton and Auburn is rolling at 6-0 going into LSU. He is a one man show. I just want to know how he get away and why Georgia didn’t go hard after him.
Gertrude Passionata
October 21st, 2010
2:55 pm
Kentucky 38, Georgia 24.
A return to reality for the dawgtards.
Hobnail boots hurt, don’t they?
Oh look, red panties falling from the sky!
rduck
October 21st, 2010
2:59 pm
Dawgs have the talent to be champions but the lack of coaching and discipline keeps them at middle of the road status.
Snoop Dawg
October 21st, 2010
3:00 pm
UGA won those games because of inept QBs. We have problems with mobile QBs who escapes for positive yards after the defense collapses the pocket. This game will get us prepped for Auburn and Cam Newton. Run a 4-3 defense, with our fastest LB spying the QB…and we’ll be fine.
rduck
October 21st, 2010
3:05 pm
This weekend will be a big measuring stick for how far UGA has come this year. The wins against Tennessee and Vandy were impressive but at the end of the day, they were Tennessee and Vandy. Not trying to knock on the dawgs, just trying to keep some perspective. As for Dawgman.. I am a Tech fan but I also like to keep up with the dawgs because my wife and many family and friends are dawg fans. I try to keep it classy but sometimes you can’t ignore the ignorant rants of some of the UGA faithful who live and breath nothing but Dawg. Try looking at the GT posts from time to time and I will guarantee you it will not take 3-6 posts on the blog before an UGA guy comes on there bashing Tech..
Bo
October 21st, 2010
3:08 pm
Cam Newton, he was a Florida commit that got kicked off the team. Auburn took a chance on him this past year.
You have to remember that UGA had 3 QBs that we liked at the time Newton came out of JUCO…UGA didn’t need Cam Newton at the time and I doubt that he would’ve come here if GA offered. There was plenty of competition at the time and UGA runs a Pro-style offense.
Dawg Trainer
October 21st, 2010
3:08 pm
“Can anyone tell me if the UGA-KY game will be televised by Time-Warner Cable in the S.C. Lowcountry — Charleston and Myrtle Beach markets? The game is not listed on any of the affiliates that normally carry the SEC Network games.”
I don’t think it is being carried by Time-Warner. Best bet is ESPN3 since Dish Network will have it.
76-DAWG
October 21st, 2010
3:14 pm
It’s obvious that the defense is learning more and more about what each player has to do on the 3-4. UGA could have beaten Tenn. and Van. much worst.The reason UGA has done so much better is because AJ has spread out the other teams’ defense and the run has fed off of the passing game. Bobo should have realized, this year you have to establish the passing game first, then the running game next. We lost the SC, ARK and the COLO. games because when you focus on the wrong thing, the running game , and if you aren’t ahead in the game all you will do is help the other team run out the clock. I know in the SEC it is important to establish the running game but UGA has some of the best receivers in the country and by far the beat I have ever seen at UGA.
I remember all the dropped passes when Stafford was at UGA. If we had these receivers back then, UGA would have won the NC. We need to take advantage of our receivers while they are here because our running attack will be our spotlight on offense soon enough.
Devil's Advocate
October 21st, 2010
3:14 pm
The game at Kentucky, I’d say they are 10 point favorites, at least. Also, any dawg that fumbles, acts up, takes himself out of the game and pretends injury, should be put in a cage with Herschel and be on the receiving end of 3 body slams by the Heisman winner.
Rockin' Rita
October 21st, 2010
3:15 pm
Why is common sense so uncommon?
There is a tiny rip in the fabric of the space-time continuum that is located deep underground in Athens, Georgia. This occurred almost thirty years ago when Jan Kemp exposed the rotten, unspeakable way that UGA was sending sthletes through the now infamous “remedial studies,” with many athletes playing four years and never attending a real college class.
Unfortunately, the once-tiny rip has become a giant hole through which goodness and common sense have completely escaped, leaving Athens a dead, burnt-out, and joyless place fit only for thugs and morons.
It’s actually a bit more complicated than that, but it would take a rocket scientist to understand, and the closest ones are fifty miles away at Georgia Tech.
And that’s just one of the reasons why UGA is known far and wide as The Cesspool of the South.
Did I mention red panties and the Fulmer Cup?
Sammy
October 21st, 2010
3:18 pm
“… any dawg that fumbles, acts up, takes himself out of the game and pretends injury, should be put in a cage with Herschel and be on the receiving end of 3 body slams by the Heisman winner.”
Amen to that!
Stupid Dawg
October 21st, 2010
3:20 pm
We weel beet that teem from kentucki thie weak. Thens we weel beet Florada, Aubarn and Georgia Tek College. Anysone that beets Tennersee and Vandybilt can beet anbody. The AP will votes us a national championship since we weel be the best eight and for teem in the kountry.
Go Dawgs!
Rant
October 21st, 2010
3:25 pm
I assume that most of you either don’t have jobs, or you steal time from your job to post here.
I’m self-employed, so I can spend whatever time I want to, but I think most of you have no excuse. If you’re unemployed, go out and look for a job instead of web-surfing.
DawgBuzz
October 21st, 2010
3:34 pm
Dawgs need to score early and often to beat them ‘Cats.
KeithB
October 21st, 2010
3:36 pm
B
Dawg Tired
October 21st, 2010
3:55 pm
Who knows? We will know something after the KY game. Ky is decent, which is apparently about as good as it gets in the weak SEC East. I’m thinking SC, KY, FL and UGA are all about equal. Obviously TN and Vandy are not very good at all.
If we can get by KY, we have a shot at beating FL. Auburn seems to be improving, but has had some moments where they did not look that good. Tech seems pretty weak (losing to a terrible Kansas team, stc.). So the schedule is not that difficult from here on out. Could finish strong considering the miserable start. But only time will tell.
kb
October 21st, 2010
4:12 pm
Not worried about 2 games Idaho St. or tech. Tenn. has better overall talent than tech.
Evansdawg
October 21st, 2010
4:13 pm
AJ’s return coincided with the team hitting the track a little better. The value of experience on the 3-4 will help us at the end of the season. We are certainly better than we were at the beginning of the season. Will that stop the losses this year? We shall see. Should everyone jump on the Fire Richt bandwagon if we lose a couple? No. I think we are seeing the slow birth of the next wave of winning at UGA.
Dan Mullen and the #24 ranked bulldogs
October 21st, 2010
4:16 pm
I hope georgia wins so it can be a rematch for the SEC Championship and we all know who will lose
5150 P.O.A.D
October 21st, 2010
4:19 pm
V & V are that bad and you know it Mr. King. Idaho St will give UGA as much of a game as those 2 teams. La Laf, Vols, and Vandy do not a good winning season make. Hell if the Dawgs added Colorado it still would be the Dawgs beating High School Teams.
robodawg
October 21st, 2010
4:19 pm
I’m with Michigan Dawg. Our problems have been more mental than anything. So it does seem like we’ve turned a corner. I’m just hoping we don’t relapse — any games we lose from here on out, I want to see us at least playing our best.
And it is still possible a good offense (Kentucky, Auburn) could confuse our D with something they haven’t seen yet.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 21st, 2010
4:21 pm
Bill
Are you doing better? I hope you are feeling good and will be on the blogs for the game. Are you going to The Commomwealth for the game? Be safe and have a good time.
Dan Mullen and the #24 ranked bulldogs
October 21st, 2010
4:23 pm
5150 P.O.A.D welcome to the Mississippi State blog, how is tech doing this year
Dawg Day
October 21st, 2010
4:24 pm
The exact same Tech fans who are saying we are nothing for beating Vandy, are the same ones that beat Vandy last year and claimed to “own the SEC”