Dogs face two opponents: Gators and Jacksonville hang-up
When it comes to what John Jenkins has dubbed the “Cocktail Bowl,” it’s not just the likely return of John Brantley or the speed of Chris Rainey that the Dogs have to worry about.
It’s this mental hang-up that’s apparently developed in the players’ heads about the Gators tending to win this thing even when they’re not the better team. As Aron White noted this week, “People get a little tight during Florida week.”
Actually, on that front the most encouraging thing I’ve heard this week is all the talk from Florida players and coaches (even the ones who just arrived) about Georgia’s end zone dance … four years ago. Sounds like a team in need of motivation, which is never a good thing for one of the participants in this annual grudge match. (Hence fans’ dismay at Mark Richt’s “fake juice” attempt with the black helmets and pants a couple of years ago.)
Georgia should win this year against a Gators team that’s lost three in a row. But the Jacksonville factor can’t be ignored. On paper, Georgia should have won last year against a Gators team that had lost three in a row, and yet just look at how overamped Aaron Murray came out in that game.
Still, it’s not any perceived Jacksonville jinx that worries me the most. It’s that Georgia has yet to play a complete game this season and continues to have red zone problems. The special teams meltdowns don’t help, either.
The mobility of John Brantley will be a big factor in the game. (Associated Press)
As for the Florida QB situation, I don’t think the uncertainty over who the Dogs will face is any big deal. Todd Grantham’s defense may have to play whack-a-mole with Florida’s three quarterbacks plus Trey Burton in the wildcat, but they’ve known that all along. As Richt said this week, “We’re preparing for their offense not the quarterback.”
If Brantley is in, the Dogs will have to think more about the passing game, whereas if it’s one of the true freshmen, they’ll likely load the box to stop Rainey and Jeff Demps. And no matter who’s in the game, Cornelius Washington and company will be trying to apply as much pressure as possible. That’s where Brantley’s mobility coming back from an ankle injury could come into play.
But the Dogs have to be concerned about Rainey and Demps’ speed, especially if they get to the outside. The Gators no doubt will be throwing to the backs to try to get them the ball with some space to run. The Dogs also have to control Burton, who gashed them for 110 yards and two touchdowns last year running out of the wildcat.
On defense for Georgia, it won’t help that Kwame Geathers and Shawn Williams have to sit out the first half, but getting Washington and Alec Ogletree back is a big plus.
Assuming Brantley isn’t hobbled, the two teams are fairly closely matched, so mistakes will probably be a big key. Georgia gave away a game against South Carolina that way, but Florida hasn’t forced any turnovers in the past three games, muffed four punts and turned the ball over three times last week and leads the SEC in penalties, so if the Dogs can manage to hold on to the ball and avoid late hits and such, the Gators might self-destruct.
Keeping Isaiah Crowell in the game is a key for the Dogs. (Associated Press)
This will be the best defense Georgia has faced since the first two games of the season, but the Gators have had trouble stopping the run lately so keeping Isaiah Crowell on the field should be a major objective for the Dogs. And if Crowell is successful early on, that’ll open up the play-action for Murray and his receivers (even without Malcolm Mitchell) against a young Florida secondary that hasn’t been tested much this year (because opponents have been able to move on the ground).
Both teams have had some shaky special teams play, but while Blair Walsh has missed quite a few field goal attempts this season, the Gators’ Caleb Sturgis has made 15 of 16. So let’s hope it doesn’t come down to a kicking duel.
Bottom line: If Georgia avoids turnovers, gets pressure on the quarterback (whoever it is) and does a decent job against the Gators’ running game, the Dogs should come out the victor.
But it’s Jacksonville. So the biggest thing Georgia needs to do is win its own mind game.
Feel free to share your own views of this year’s Georgia-Florida showdown and the Jacksonville jinx.
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187 comments Add your comment
Dawg4Life
October 29th, 2011
7:55 am
No matter what all of you naysayers are bringing to the table this morning, know this…
CMR is righting this ship and it will come to light on the banks of the St. John’s River today. The Dawgs will restore the faith of DawgNation. All of you whiners, doubters, ‘I could coach ‘em better then they can’ners’, will be silenced (please, please) for a change. Believe it and show it, darn it!!!
Believe in your squad, Dawg fans. Give them (including the coaching staff) your support, at least for today.
Go Dawgs, GATA!!!
Dawg4Life
Recruiting
October 29th, 2011
8:11 am
If only the Dawgs could block like your Mods. Anyway, it is all recruiting, recruit from 2 parent households like Boise St and win like Boise St. It is much harder to recruit this way but worth it in less personal fouls on 3rd and 7 and suspensions will be greatly reduced. Enough of the lazy recruiting of Richt and Co.
david
October 29th, 2011
9:33 am
isnt Crowell the 2nd leading freshman rusher in the country? and you guys are bagging on him? man, thats tough. I guess he needs to lead the nation for you to realize that he is a solid back and will have a great game today. 6 hours
The Wad
October 29th, 2011
9:54 am
Altamahadawg…….you must be very young to think this series has had extremely few upsets. Practically every win Dooley produced(17 of 21) was an upset according to the experts. I guess age does give one a clearer perspective. This game can be won by either team. The one that has the least mistakes will win. That simple.
Wavy Gravy
October 29th, 2011
10:05 am
@david
One must consider, when comparing Crowell’s stats, that there are very few FBS programs who have been forced to rely upon a true Freshman as their starting running back. One must also consider the fact that Georgia’s defense in the past 5 games has posted much better stats than in their first 2 games. UAB would have posted impressive stats if they had played this same schedule. After all, they did recently defeat the Mighty UCF Knights.
Tennessee and Florida have legitimate excuses for fielding an inexperienced squad this year. After 11 years as Georgia’s Head Coach, Mark Richt has no legitimate excuse for the sorry state of the UGA program.
Florida wins 27-24. Not because the Gators are that good, but because Georgia is just that bad.
Get ready Dawg fans. I know there are 1001 excuses out there for losing this game. I have faith in your ability to find at least 999 of them. But just wait ’til next year… CMR is righting this ship!
ARdawg
October 29th, 2011
10:07 am
Mmmm I love the smell of a smacked Gator early in the morning
ARdawg
October 29th, 2011
10:12 am
david
They are in denial. They believe it to be a river in Egypt
Old Dawg.
October 29th, 2011
10:12 am
To everyone that keeps talking about the Jacksonville thing and being in the players & fans head, I remember years ago when the dogs owned the gators and their fans were crying the same thing. Sooner or later it will turn back in the dogs favor. It will happen. A few years ago Tenn was doing the same thing to us and I kept telling people that it would turn around and it did. So keep your heads up it will turn and the gators fans will be doing the crying. Might as well be this year that it turns. GO Dawgs win in JAX.
duronimo
October 29th, 2011
10:27 am
I don’t know boys …. I’m sure Floridia noticed that Grantham’s defense couldn’t stop Vandy’s running game. I think I would prepare for a dose of Trey Burton.
King Gator
October 29th, 2011
10:34 am
Go Gators!
King Gator
October 29th, 2011
10:34 am
5hrs and counting, can’t wait… drinking already! Go Gators!
duronimo
October 29th, 2011
10:43 am
I’m sorry I was a little negative (in my previous post) about our stopping their running game with Trey Burton. But on the bright side, perhaps we can shoot for a record 10 field goals in the red zone. Richt and Bobo set a bad example by consistently “playing it safe.” This shows a lack of confidence that the players can perform in the clutch and it teaches passivity a game of war and aggression.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
October 29th, 2011
10:51 am
RUSS is so embarrassed he dies on the 50yrdline before the game is over
Still@theKool-aidBAR
October 29th, 2011
10:53 am
WOW Andrew Luck is one UGLY sob. Thank god he can play ball and will be rich. He couldn’t get a date with Snookie otherwise.
ARdawg
October 29th, 2011
10:54 am
This game today is another step toward winning out for the Dawgs. That’s the goal. Gators are in the way. Keep focused Dawgs
ARdawg
October 29th, 2011
10:59 am
Luck has got the goods though. Raw talent
Xenophon
October 29th, 2011
11:04 am
If GA loses this game, Richt has to go. We can’t keep losing to FL and expect the rest of our season to be ok. Not going to work. We need a coach who can beat FL at least as often as Dooley did. Or at least half the time. Richt’s record against FL is just abominable and we can’t go on like this. He wins or he should go. And we should explain it to him in those terms.
Charlotte Gator
October 29th, 2011
11:42 am
Where was the Jax factor in the 1980s, when you guys were a lot more competitive in this series?
It’s time to admit that for a variety of reasons–money, facilities, population shifts, coaching and recruiting at surrounding schools, and recent decade success trends–Florida and Georgia are on opposite trend paths, with the upward path belonging to Florida.
At least Georgia has the Falcons, the Braves, and Coca-Cola.
As for college football… Herschel Walker is long since retired. I know you’re used to it, but you need to accept it and stop dreaming about being something you’re not.
DawgVoiceofReason
October 29th, 2011
12:10 pm
As the day gets going, the potential is there for a Great day, if Georgia can beat Florida and Clemson can pound Tech. I think we finally have the defense we need and the offensive playmakers to handle the Gators. Of COURSE I’m nervous; until it happens it’s all just talk.
Clemson is going to wear Tech out (thrown in for you lurking Tech fans).
Go Dawgs!!!
DawgVoiceofReason
October 29th, 2011
12:14 pm
Charlotte,
The series will turn again in UGA’s favor and don’t forget that we still OWN you in the overall series record! And that “trend” you think you see in success factors is just an illusion.
Go Dawgs!
Wavy Gravy
October 29th, 2011
12:17 pm
Oh well… If Tech loses, then we can call that a victory for Georgia.
A Dawg’s gotta take whatever he can get these days. Times are hard.
adawgfan
October 29th, 2011
12:44 pm
Sittin here on the St.John’s river looking at Everbank field for the first time in 20 years. Last time I was here i accidentally flipped the light switch off. Came back to turn it back on. GO DAWGS!
Wavy Gravy
October 29th, 2011
1:00 pm
Did you bring your pyramid along?
Align it with the arc of the Sun for maximum effect.
ARdawg
October 29th, 2011
1:57 pm
adawgfan
’bout time you showed up
DRU2012
October 29th, 2011
3:04 pm
I don’t normally go on rivals’ sites and offer my opinions–I think the trolls who DO are generally lame little brats with too much time on their hands. I am only here because it was a head-lined link from my Gators’ Sportslink email page…once here, I DID read your comments with some interest, and without meaning to come in and “foul your nest”, I do have an observation:
The biggest difference I can see between ‘Dawg fans and Gators is that you accept, even excitedly EMBRACE your mediocrity. We find it unbearable, to the point of unacceptability. There is NO WAY we would accept year after year of underachieving disappointment the way that y’all do and are. I could never figure that out in your program the last, well, let’s face it, almost a decade now.
I guess I finally understand: the HOPE that you MIGHT beat us now and then is enough for you all, at this point. Yes, as one of your commenters put it, we ARE “teed up to be beaten” by Richt and Co., but I warn you, big changes are already happening down deep in our program, and this will be the last chance (you had last year, too) that that will be the case for a long time.
Relentless Pursuit
October 29th, 2011
5:06 pm
Really doesn’t matter to me anymore.
This season was lost before the first game. Richt has wasted tons of great talent since he’s been at Georgia, he’s just not capable of coaching in this league any longer. Really four years is long enough to put up with this crap…the fact that he wasn’t fire last year shows that alumni and donors are willing to put up with it. We are destined to become the University of Pittsburgh in the SEC…once great now an also ran. I figure I’ll never see UGA compete for a national championship again in my lifetime. I think I’ll go fishing…..
BulldogsRock
October 29th, 2011
5:14 pm
DRU2012: Yes FLA has dominated the last 2 decades and have had a superior football program during this time. However, you’re just another ignorant FLA fan, who has lost his memory (or too young) of UGA’s 15-5 record in the 2 decades (1970-89) prior to your “recent” edge. And, not to mention the 46-40-2 overall series record for UGA. UGA fans don’t accept anything, especially when it comes to FLA and arrogant FLA fans. Go back to your own website boy!
Phil Horning
October 29th, 2011
7:38 pm
I hate to expose my igonrance
Lakeland Dawg
October 29th, 2011
7:40 pm
I hate to ask, but why do we not have a speciual teams coach?
Bill
October 29th, 2011
7:47 pm
Bill King swallows. Jefff Schultz is gay. Georgia Wins!!!!!!!!!!
BulldogsRock
October 29th, 2011
7:56 pm
DRU2012: Record this decade, 1-1.
Magnolia, Tx Dawg
October 29th, 2011
8:14 pm
OH HELL YEA, DAWGS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
alex
October 29th, 2011
8:32 pm
2 bad coaches,2 bad teams;richt keeps his job,5 more years of mediocrity…..Ga. needs a quarterback!
Jeff Adams
October 29th, 2011
8:32 pm
Phil, I presume use of the words “ignorant” or “boy” exposes ignorance to you? On the contrary, it only exposes irritability as used. That Florida fan’s comments were irritating.
minnesota dawg
October 29th, 2011
9:03 pm
Defense, Defense, Defense!!!! Finally we are stopping some teams. Defense set us up for the win today boys!
John A. Adams III
October 29th, 2011
9:14 pm
Hark!
Bark at the moon.
Beat that ass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeSKhcpLkIM
gdawg
October 30th, 2011
10:13 pm
Pulpwud Smiff, you missed! We are relevant. I dont think anyone is interested in Florida’s coaching!
I will give you Saban and maybe scumbag Miles.