Gators didn’t give the game to Georgia — Dawgs took it
Aaron Murray made some clutch runs. (Jason Getz / AJC)
A few more thoughts about Saturday’s Georgia victory over Florida. …
My wife and I dropped by a Halloween party late Saturday, and one of my neighbors asked if I thought Georgia deserved to win, pointing to the points the Dawgs got as a result of Florida turnovers in their own territory — as if the Gators giftwrapped the game.
To the contrary, those Florida turnovers were anything but unforced. The first fumble by Chris Rainey, recovered by Bacarri Rambo, was caused by the returning Alec Ogletree (who bounced back nicely from a rusty start early in the game). And Frankie Hammond’s fumble, recovered by Shawn Williams, was forced by Jarvis Jones, who had a career day against the Gators.
Yes, the Dogs most certainly deserved their hard-fought win. …
(Speaking of Jones, he’s one of the nominees in ESPN’s Capitol One Cup Impact Performance of the Week vote. You can vote for him here.)
One of the more impressive aspects of Georgia’s win in Jacksonville was that it was in spite of several key players having off days. Aaron Murray missed nine consecutive passes at one point, and some of them weren’t even close. At times, he looked like he was on a completely different page of the playbook from the receiver. Blair Walsh continued his meltdown (though, frankly, I think that might have ended up working in the Dogs’ favor by prompting Mark Richt to be a bit bolder in the red zone, telling Mike Bobo to operate under the assumption that he had four downs to work with). Isaiah Crowell was sporadically effective but again ended up spending more time on the sideline than should be the case with any starting tailback. And the normally reliable Drew Butler had his worst day ever punting.
Had those folks played up to par and had Georgia’s special teams not been abysmal, the game wouldn’t have been nearly as close. …
On the other hand, give credit to Murray for making some clutch runs and throwing some nice balls, too, particularly on the two fourth-down touchdowns — though credit is also due to receivers Michael Bennett and Tavarres King for going up and taking the ball a la A.J. Green, despite being closely covered. Murray had a couple of passes dropped, too. …
I praised Bobo in Saturday night’s report for some gutsy calls, and overall I thought he called a good game. There were a few times when great play calls were undone by Murray’s inaccuracy. But there were several times in the third quarter when Bobo again fell into trying to run diminutive Carlton Thomas up the middle, a low-percentage play against just about any SEC defense. And while Richard Samuel came through big-time for the Dogs when he got the call to go up the middle, I wish Bobo would give up on trying to use Samuel on the toss sweep. It nearly always results in a loss of yardage. That’s just not Samuel’s game. …
From the silly is-he-or-isn’t-he-going-to-start pregame warmup business with John Brantley to the trading of timeouts as Florida tried in vain to draw Georgia offsides on a third-down play in the fourth quarter, Will Muschamp’s attempts at mind games were unsuccessful. Speaking of the third-down defense, Georgia’s turnaround from last year in that aspect of the game this season has been spectacular. …
And, lastly, didn’t it feel great to see Georgia finally be able to get a couple of first downs when it needed to kill the clock to preserve a win?
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789 comments Add your comment
Wavy Gravy
October 31st, 2011
8:04 am
Brantley petered out in the third quarter. Florida is average with Brantley healthy – less so when he isn’t. Good job shutting him down!
BTW: Thanks again Bama.
tndawg
October 31st, 2011
8:09 am
Who deserves to win? The team with the most points!
We all know that Florida is on a down year. And so is Georgia. But, as a long time DAWG fan, it still feels good to win.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!
Phil
October 31st, 2011
8:11 am
Crowell is not 100%, cut him some slack. He had some good runs when he busted it to the outside and used his speed. Samuel came through big time.
Still don’t know why Richt won’t use Malcome, especially now that Samuel got hurt against Florida. Malcome is a power back and he could help carry the load with both Samuel and Crowell banged up. Carlton Thomas cannot do it all.
Blair Walsh is going to cost us a game and maybe the SEC East title. The Auburn game could very well come down to a FG. If we have a backup kicker, then we need to go with him. Walsh has lost it, the backup can’t be any worse.
JE
October 31st, 2011
8:12 am
Finally they quit running Carlton Thomas up the middle and ran Samuel up the middle. Thomas needs to run outside not Samuel…..Why did it take them so long? UGA’s offense is just weird no rhyme or reason why they do anything. As far as kicking in September and late October….there is probably some atmospherical difference in the air in early September and October which effects the distance one can kick a ball…..But it should not have any difference in the play of the special teams.
Joe
October 31st, 2011
8:18 am
There are plays that Samuel can run outside or counter inside but they are not in Bobo or Richts heads. When he is the only on in the backfield that at least gives away the play and gives the defense an advantage especially on wide plays.
Nick
October 31st, 2011
8:19 am
Sorry to see Dallas Lee out.
Mtn Dawg
October 31st, 2011
8:22 am
Anyone concerned about Special Teams? I read the word ‘abismal’ thown out. There has to be a fix for those failures, and I’m not talking about Walsh. His problem is between his ears. Put ‘Tree’, Jarvis Jones, other linebackers on special teams. COME ON!
GATA
October 31st, 2011
8:22 am
Yeah that was kind of a twisted good fortune that Blair was missing, forcing Bobo out of conservation mode. Hopefully that play calling trend will continue. Loved those clutch catches the guys were making and killing the final 5+ minutes. Hopefully Samuel is coming into his own; will make a great counter to Crowell. Defense is just awesome, keep it up. Just need to figure out how to stop creating the giant Walmart isle straight up the middle of the field on k/o returns.
Go Dawgs and Hawgs!
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
8:24 am
We probably haven’t run Thomas up the middle a dozen times all year.
mike
October 31st, 2011
8:24 am
Keep in mind that this is a lousy Fla team. UGA still hasn’t beaten a high-quality team. Neither had Tech until Clemson.
Destin Dawg
October 31st, 2011
8:26 am
I’m with you Phil… where is Ken Malcome ????
SEC Football
October 31st, 2011
8:30 am
YOU CAN LOOK AT THE STATS AND SEE WHICH TEAM SHOULD HAVE WON.
OUR SPECIAL TEAMS ALMOST GAVE THE GAME TO THEM!
Destin Dawg
October 31st, 2011
8:34 am
mike… we’ve beaten all the SEC.. teams so far !!! Kicked S. C. all over the field.. just gave them the game.. even Spurrier said so…. Go Dawgs….
Honky Talkin
October 31st, 2011
8:35 am
Maybe the Dawgs can beat a team with a winning record this season. Maybe.
BobDawg
October 31st, 2011
8:36 am
Bill, it was a GREAT WIN anytime against the Gators…. I read Mike Bianchi’s column and very critical of Charlie Weiss and his offense. BUT, then he says Meyer left the “cubbard bare” with no talent!!! Give me a break. The Gators are still loaded with Omar Hunter, Demps, Rainey, Brantley and all their #2 & # 3 QB’s and Burton??? Geez, I’m so tired of that…
BobDawg
October 31st, 2011
8:38 am
Bianchi’s column is in the Orlando Sentinel for those of you not familiar with him… I mean, didn’t the Gators have the #1 Class just a year or 2 ago and mop up every name across the country??? What is happening to those players now when they go to UF???
DawginLex
October 31st, 2011
8:40 am
A couple of comments:
Florida’s team was a lot better with Brantley. Anyone could see that.
I want to shake Richard Samuel’s hand.
I want to thank Coach Grantham for his defense
I truly felt sorry for Walsh and Butler but, knowing their work ethic, they will be back.
Do we need to put out an APB for the following?
GATOR CHOMP
SSIGator
gatormeat
and one final thing:
I won the bet
BEASTOFTHEEASTEATENBYDAWG
IS NOW BEAST OF THE EAST’S BLOG HANDLE
Niceville Dawg
October 31st, 2011
8:40 am
“Almost” lost…..”Shoulda” lost…..but guess what,DIDN’T LOSE….All you naysayers are never satisfied.Cant you just enjoy it for at least a day or so??
JAWJeRDAWG
October 31st, 2011
8:40 am
I’m enjoying the win and looking forward to continued improvement in the areas where it’s needed the most.
Get healthy, stay focused, practice and play hard, and let’s win out and hope we get some help in getting into the SEC CG game! .. Go Dawgs!
Dawg_Mike
October 31st, 2011
8:41 am
FL used a backup kicker.
Is Bogotay still on the roster and if so could he be any worse?
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
8:41 am
I guess I’ll have to stop defending Walsh. Not because I don’t think he deserved it, (still MADE more than most kickers have even attempted), but my contention has always been that inside of 40 yrs he has been quite good this year. It’s the long attempt that other teams are punting that has been his issue. But obviously he blew that argument away this past weekend.
Worth noting that our past great kickers struggled in Jax as well for some reason.
I don’t know if we can just bench the kid and do better though.
reality man
October 31st, 2011
8:41 am
I am laughing uncontrollably. Probably as a whole the two worst teams this year at the 3:30 time slot. Muschamp was an idiot for not changing qb. ‘Dogs bragging about sacks and D—-’Bama or LSU woulda had 15 sacks. Enjoy your little victory. Remember your SEC wins have been against teams that have a 3-18 record in the conference, and if they “back in” to the championship game–it will be uglier than their season, if that is possible.
Phil
October 31st, 2011
8:42 am
Destin Dawg
I think Malcome is still in Richt’s dog house. But come on, either use him or just cut him from the team. We need him now more than ever with Crowell and Samuel banged up. He’s fresh and might possibly bust loose against Kentucky and Auburn. He could really make the difference in these last 2 SEC games.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 31st, 2011
8:43 am
Bill, I have to disagree with you on the comment that the Dawgs took this game. I did predict UGA would win this game, but only due to the fact that the Gators are so beat up with injuries, that if UGA failed to win this game, then CMR should have been fired on the spot.
This game was between two of the sloppiest teams in the SEC, under-coached and it was basically minor league football. You also beat another unranked team, now go out and beat a ranked team, then come see me.
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
8:43 am
yrds
chazzo
October 31st, 2011
8:43 am
reality man,
We all know how great LSU and Alabama are. Telling us that makes you look like an idiot and a bore.
Joey
October 31st, 2011
8:43 am
“If we have a backup kicker, then we need to go with him.”
********************************
I agree, Phil, Walsh is a head case now (and it may have sread to Butler), but I read where Richt said the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind to make a change, so that’s that.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 31st, 2011
8:45 am
AltamahaDawg
I have to defend Walsh, he is one of the best kickers in D-1 football. UGA has always been known for exceptional kickers, and as much as I rag on this program, Walsh is a good kicker and needs a huge curve. Believe me, you do not want Walsh on the other sideline, his foot and accuracy are exceptional, and reminds me a great deal of Kevin Butler.
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
8:45 am
where would he find you?
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 31st, 2011
8:46 am
Have to admit, the score did tell. However, it is still 18 of 22, and not a lot to write home about. True UGA fans will take this win, and they should, but professional UGA fans should still be sitting tight before smack talking and see if UGA can knock off a ranked team.
GATA
October 31st, 2011
8:48 am
Unless you’re LSU or Bama these days, no SEC team should discount a win in this conference. The sheer caliber of talent alone makes any team capable of beating you. Look at what Vandy did vs. Arkansas. Of course there are games you “should” win (Ole Miss, Kentucky), but ask Muschamp about guaranteeing a win. Yes the special teams made it closer than it should have been, but I’ll take the progress on D and much improved play calling and continue to build on that. Take it one game at a time.
DawginLex
October 31st, 2011
8:48 am
Interception dude
You can’t have it both ways.
florida was not all banged up as you say. Brantley played and he makes a huge difference. Ask Bama. 169 yards passing in the 1st half before he got hurt.
You can’t have it both ways.
Georgia beat florida. Florida is loaded with 5 star recruits yet we gashed them with a former linebacker running it right down their throats.
You can’t have it both ways.
Georgia is better than Florida.
chazzo
October 31st, 2011
8:50 am
Oh come on. Lay off Butler. He had one crappy punt. One almost was blocked so he hurried it (chalk it up to lousy blocking). One he punted out of the end zone with the O-lin on the 2. One he pinned UF on the 4. One lousy punt and one blocked (against Vandy) all season. Butler is okay. Believe me.
Walsh is filled with doubt. I hope he works it out. He changed his pre-kick routine. Need to go back to the wood shed. Slow down his pre0kick routine and do the same thing everytime. Needs to kick about 1000 this week, and take lots of opportunites agst. NM State.
4Real
October 31st, 2011
8:50 am
Not a UGA fan but they did win, congrats!!!!!!! Just don’t try to see me a DVD for $19.99 on UGA’s Win…….
DawginLex
October 31st, 2011
8:50 am
Who cares about 18 of 22? That is ancient history.
It is now 1-0 Richt versus Muschamp.
Muschamp is the interim guy and everyone knows it.
He won’t make it there.
chazzo
October 31st, 2011
8:52 am
Final word on brantley: UGA WON BECAUSE A) THEY OUTRUSHED UF 185 YDS TO -21, THEREBY DOMINATING THE CLOCK. B) UF HAD 14 PENALTIES AND 2 FUMBLES.
NONE OF THE ABOVE HAVE A DARNED THING TO DO WITH BRANTLEYS ANKLE.
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
8:53 am
Joey, do you remember Bogatay getting very many attempts in the past 3 yrs even when were were leading by wide margins and the other subs were in the game? That aught to tell you why he isn’t even considering replacing his All-SEC PK with him.
BG
October 31st, 2011
8:54 am
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joey
October 31st, 2011
8:54 am
reality girl, check the stats for the game. Similar numbers for UGA as LSU and Bama vs UF.
If not for the kickoff return for TD and Walsh’s missed chip-shot FGS, the score would have been similar too.
We’re nowhere as good as LSU and Bama, but we played UF as well, especially in offenseiv and defensive yardages.
Look it up after you finish painting your nails.
Phil
October 31st, 2011
8:54 am
Joey
I see the Auburn game being really tough and close, they usually are. Would not surprise me to see it come down to a FG try with a few seconds on the clock. Does anybody really want to see Blair Walsh out there with the SEC East title on the line?? I sure as heck don’t. Surely there is somebody else on the roster that can kick.
DawginLex
October 31st, 2011
8:58 am
I wish they would let Bogatay kick it out of the back of the end zone
We win 24-7 if that happens
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 31st, 2011
9:03 am
DawginLex
I will give you the win, and you are only as good as your last report card, however, just be sure you hammer on your own program when you lose, which you will. This was win over “another unranked” team.
As I said before the season started, CMR will just enough to keep his job. I pray that you guys win the SEC east, so you can play either LSU or Alabama, so one of these programs will drill you do bad you will have no clue.
UGA is not a top-tier program, and will never be until you gut the entire program, from the coaches to the AD. Let’s say you go 10-2, so what? 8-4, so what? 11-1, so what? You win an SEC every 3 or 4 years, so what?
How many titles have you played for in the past 30 years?
How much talent have you had in the last 11 years and did not even play for a national title?
Stats are nice, but crystal trophies are nicer….just ask Saban, Miles, Brown, or Stoops.
Phil
October 31st, 2011
9:03 am
DawginLex
Amen brother. Walsh cannot kick deep anymore. But I blame coaching that he was kicking it right to Demps instead of trying to kick to one side of the field and cornering him up. That’s just bad coaching. But the fact that we DON’T have a special teams coach might explain that! Come on Richt, spend a few bucks and go get somebody!! It’s obvious the position coaches don’t know anything about special teams!
Joey
October 31st, 2011
9:04 am
It’s not even worth debating, AD cause Richt won’t make a change, even if Walsh misses every kick from here forward.
I feel terrible for Walsh – he’s throwing away thousands with every miss. Bet he wishes he would have gone with AJ and Houston now.
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
9:07 am
Bogatay was brought in specifically to kickoff, and he was never able to win that job. Obviously he has not been better at PK either.
And for my money if the Au game (and I am able to drop a bunch of it that weekend to be there) is on the line, I vote we go with Walsh. When he misses it’s a surprise and still a much higher % than surely somebody else can kick on the team.
Hoo da man?
October 31st, 2011
9:08 am
Does this hypothetical rant sound familiar?
The program is out of control. Absolutely no leadership from the head coach. He doesn’t have a clue and the team reflects his incompetence. 14 penalties for a total of 106 yards. Just no discipline from the top down thus the players act like T H U G S. The offensive coordinator is a dud. This bozo needs to be fired. He’s overpaid and over his head. Only 1 first down in the second half. Negative yards net rushing. QB only completes 35% of his passes. The defensive coordinator hasn’t a clue. Wasted a 17-3 first quarter lead. The guy needs to be fired. 4 losses in a row. Haven’t won a game since September. We get all these top recruiting classes and the coaches do nothing with the talent. Our head coach should be on the hot seat. I hope the AD cleans house after this season.
No, we’re not talking Georgia. We’re talking Florida
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
9:08 am
NO, I’d say if Walsh misses “every kick”, the situation might change.
DawginLex
October 31st, 2011
9:09 am
interception
I never said we were world beaters this year, but, I do want to get to Atlanta. I want Sc to lose. Your prediction of destruction may be right but I want to get there and see the game.
Riddle me this:
Florida vs LSU with Brantley
Florida vs Bama with Brantley
You don’t think those games would have been a lot closer?
Answer: Yes
No doubt.
Comparing the scores of those 2 versus Florida and our game is apples versus oranges.
Phil
October 31st, 2011
9:11 am
AltamahaDawg
I respectfully disagree, When Walsh MAKES one, I am surprised. I think he forced Richt’s hand to go for it on those 4th down plays because he’s not confident in Walsh. You know Richt, he would never go for it on 4th down.
GATA
October 31st, 2011
9:12 am
Should have done onside kickoffs after the second long return.