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?
Got a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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789 comments Add your comment
Hairy Perry
October 31st, 2011
12:29 pm
Adios Amigos!
Mad Dog One
October 31st, 2011
12:29 pm
Flat head have you are anyone ever read any excuses I have made. He!! no and you wont. When you go to as many games as I have you can tell a small bit about what a team is doing. You should try it some time and get off the key board. As always GO DOGS & GATA
Auburn
October 31st, 2011
12:30 pm
We are going to do the dogs a favor by beating you and keeping you from winning the SECleast and being embarrassed on national TV in the SEC championship game.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 31st, 2011
12:31 pm
chazzo
I guess the fake punt that went for a TD in the SC wasnt special teams
Subtract 7 points and who wins moron
Yea I watched the game too
Auburn
October 31st, 2011
12:32 pm
please SEC west beat SC for us so we can win our division, something we could not do on the field because we suck and lost to SC.
chazzo
October 31st, 2011
12:32 pm
All BS and speculation aside. Our guys beat the Gators in Jax without pranks, without special uniforms, without trick plays. The best thing that happened is every young player on our team knows that they can beat the Gators in Jax and will expect to do so.
GET OFF THEIR BACKS!!! LETS HAVE SOME POSITIVE TALK FOR ONCE!!! GO DAWGS!!!
Mad Dog One
October 31st, 2011
12:33 pm
And before you start I am an old man, retired DOG fan,season ticket holder since 1984 with not a lot to do but play golf and stay on the computer. As always GO DOGS & GATA
Jeremy N. Foley
October 31st, 2011
12:34 pm
Hey Muschamp, I GUARANTEE you a contract extension.
chazzo
October 31st, 2011
12:36 pm
You are correct. They got a fake punt. But, the offensive turnovers equated for 14 pts. That was the story. Being fooled by a fake punt happens. The missed takcles and blocking assignments Sat. don’t. So who is the moron? You just need to shut your negative mouth and go away.
ARdawg
October 31st, 2011
12:36 pm
Flat Tire
You are correct on probably every single point. There is likely no change forthcoming for OC either. IMHO, that isn’t a change we as fans have a “right” or “no right” to call for. In my opinion the question on the table is to keep Richt or let him go and gut the program. Winning the Florida game was a milestone in keeping him. We should finish 10-2, we might still go 8-4 but, I don’t think the regents will insist on a change with that (even though they did Donnan) Like it or not Richt does have some UGA capital in his pocket. A florida loss would have been his demise IMHO even if he won the rest out. Beating Florida was important to those making the decisions, he did that
Old Dog
October 31st, 2011
12:37 pm
On track to win 10 games? I will believe those wins only AFTER they are won. I wasn’t sure of this win against Florida until it was over. I wasn’t sure about the Vandy win until the last second had expired. Don’t count your chickens until they hatch.
Congratulations to Georgia for a win against Florida, but they need to take it to another level to be assured of wins. That was WAY too close, especially in the first half.
ATL XMAN
October 31st, 2011
12:38 pm
aub is not very good right now..uga has to shut down mike dyer and thats about it. no stupid turnovers to help them out like uga did with south carolina and uga runs away with this game.
'94 UGA Grad
October 31st, 2011
12:41 pm
For all the UGA fans on here trashing Tech……I watched the Clemson game and they looked pretty darn good to me. I for one am concerned about the Tech game. Notice I said ‘concerned’ and not ’scared’ because I definitely think we can beat them if we play up to our capabilities but I do think it is going to be a tough game (the toughest one left in my opinion).
Alabama Dog
October 31st, 2011
12:42 pm
Auburn: you guys take care of your OWN business! Y’all were absolutely EMBARRASSED by LSU, and Alabama will probably do the same (on your HOME TURF)!!!! Don’t worry about the East race-Auburn’s not in it!!!!
Auburn
October 31st, 2011
12:42 pm
Ga is not very good right now, all Auburn has to do is go boo at Crowell, he will take about half the game off with an “injury”, watch Blair Washupped miss a few easy FGs and wait for the midget Qb to throw another pick six.
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
12:42 pm
What year did you graduate Georgia, Flat Tire?
ARdawg
October 31st, 2011
12:42 pm
ATL XMAN
I’m feeling pretty confident on this defense to shut Dyer down. They did a jam up job on Demps and Rainey
Auburn
October 31st, 2011
12:44 pm
ALA you better worry about LSU, it is OK for me to be talking about Ga, in case you forgot we PLAY them dummy.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 31st, 2011
12:45 pm
chazzo
You stated
“Our guys beat the Gators in Jax without pranks, without special uniforms, without trick plays”
and
“The missed takcles and blocking assignments Sat. don’t”
And whose to blame for those 2 statements Coach Marky Mark
LOL now whose the moron
Auburn
October 31st, 2011
12:47 pm
the only way GA wins the east will be because the west teams on SC’s schedule beat them because the Dogs could not.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 31st, 2011
12:47 pm
AltamahaDawg
Im in 2nd grade I havent graduated yet
Im just a stupid moron remember many months ago
And what does it matter when I graduated
ATL XMAN
October 31st, 2011
12:48 pm
i watched that clem / tech game too and tech looked liked the over matched team on defense. clemson pretty much shot themselves in the foot with some costly turnovers inside techs 20 3 times. uga defense is way better than clemsons so no worries or concern from me. tech has only about 5 total players that should be playing div 1aa ball or potential to go to the next level. they just dont match up very well against most of the teams they play..like mia and va techs and virginia and UGA and on and on…clemson moved the ball at will pretty much the whole game when they had it. tech did a good job of playing keep away but against uga that wont happen
icedawg
October 31st, 2011
12:49 pm
It was an ugly, ugly win but nevertheless a win and beautiful in that sense. The DAWGS defense did what it had to do. Kudos to them. Granted Brantley was not anywhere near 100% but that really does not matter. It does not matter who did not play for UGA either for whatever reason. You win or lose with who you’ve got to play regardless. The pass interference penalties called on Florida were legit. There have been years when we have been heavily penalized, too. Those are lame excuses for losing games. I wonder what would happen if the DAWGS ever played an “A” game on defense, offense and special teams?
Alabama Dog
October 31st, 2011
12:52 pm
Auburn: funny you should bring up the “injury” thing. Wasn’t it your own Heisman winner Bo Jackson who used to bail out of games with injuries (see Tennessee ‘85 & Florida ‘85 games) he classified as “toothaches-they come and go” when he wasn’t having a good game, and the hits kept coming?
ARdawg
October 31st, 2011
12:54 pm
icedawg
That non-call where Boykin went over the top wasn’t interference IMHO, but a demm good play. The defender has a right to the ball. He never touched the receiver until he touched the ball. There was a lot of Florida whining over that one
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 31st, 2011
12:57 pm
AR Dawg
Your right about the FL game being a milestone on keeping him.
In my opinion though beating FL 2 yrs in a row will be the milestone
Whats stupid is reading posts yesterday from UGA fans saying the curse has been lifted; really?
I guess the curse was lifted in 97, 04, 07 too right.
Im just not a delusional person. Ive heard the we are re-building garbage for years, its time to show you have rebuilded; and next years UGA team should be playing in the SEC championship game next year without the help of other SEC east teams losing out
UGA should be 11-1 next year, no excuses period
Im out Back in a couple hours
Auburn
October 31st, 2011
12:57 pm
typical dog, living in the past. I am looking at NOW and commenting on this year’s games, just like our NC last year does not mean anything about this year’s game. You do know what NC stands for don’t you? Oh that’s right Ga has not won one since 1980.
TampaDawg
October 31st, 2011
12:58 pm
nothing like seeing Aub/UA fans jawjacking on a UGA blog.
Dawg 39
October 31st, 2011
12:59 pm
The Dawgs took It & the Dawgs deserved It. The Junkyard Dawg Mentality appears to be back.GATA.
d-dog
October 31st, 2011
1:00 pm
Too much “D”..
These DOGS will hunt not bark at the moon.
Auburn
October 31st, 2011
1:01 pm
That’s right you Ga boys are going to be hearing from us on your blogs just like you all go on other team’s blogs all the time. Oh, that’s right only the Ga fans have the right to do that.
timbo
October 31st, 2011
1:03 pm
@ ATL XMAN – Did you really watch the Tech-Clemson game? Really? You said that the UGA defense is way better then Clemson’s. Really? Based on what? That UGA beat a Florida team that had a disabled QB? That UGA only gave up 28 points to a stellar Vandy offense? Maybe because UGA shut out Coastal Carolina.
And Clemson moved the ball at will against Tech? I guess so, they scored 17 points. Yup, looks like they did whatever they wanted to do against Tech.
Tech did a good job of playing keep away??? 31 points and 443 yards of offense is playing keep away? Another delusional UGA fan.
Auburn
October 31st, 2011
1:05 pm
where oh where have the little doggies gone?
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
1:05 pm
Matters to me obviously, or I would not have asked. What year?
Tom in Atlanta
October 31st, 2011
1:06 pm
Time of possession 37 mins to 22 mins
Rushing 185 yards to (-19) yards
Turnover battle – 2 to 1 UGA
Penalties – UGA commtied 4 for 22 yds
All UF did was return kicks well and got 72 yards on a bubble screen when UGA missed 3 tackles. Their only score in the 2nd half came on 3 yard drive.
UGA deserved to win this game – and by 3 or 4 TD’s. But we’ll take the 4 point win and move on.
ARdawg
October 31st, 2011
1:07 pm
Flat Tire
I have not deluded myself. I won’t believe it if we beat them next year. There has to be a lot of beating FL (4 out of 5 maybe) going on before I’ll believe we’ve corrected it. Florida is reeling and wounded but, they’ll be back. I wouldn’t be surprised if the East is back to it’s old self as early as next year. There’s a lot of talent in the east.
As for Richt, he’s bought himself some time. Agree/disagree, like or dislike doesn’t really matter. I’m with you on the term “rebuilding” it is used way to much and one generally only hears it when a team is losing. Georgia is rebuilt and has been for two years now. It’s time to start winning. Playing a full game on both sides of the ball would be a nice start.
We’ve turned a corner but, we still have a long way to go. We’ve got the favorable schedule, the time is now
d-dog
October 31st, 2011
1:08 pm
@Auburn, Stop dreaming, The team from last year is gone (and they were good) but still gone.
Remember you old boy’s got to come to the house.
That same bunch of nasty old dogs will be between the heages waiting.
lookinh forward to that take down……….happy trails ……gooo dowgsss
ARdawg
October 31st, 2011
1:08 pm
Auburn
You should finish up your business on the porn channels before momma ‘n nem gets home
solja
October 31st, 2011
1:10 pm
This is so funny reading all you mutt fans’ celebrations over the worst UF team in ages in a game you STILL almost lost.
Auburn beat UF a couple of weeks ago and all it was was just another win in another SEC matchup. That’s the difference between programs with national championship caliber coaches and players and silly little program like THuga.
WDE
October 31st, 2011
1:12 pm
@Auburn this is all we need out of you troll boy. 1) show up on time in Athens 2) try and have your bunch sober…we will do the rest.
TampaDawg
October 31st, 2011
1:14 pm
solja
October 31st, 2011
1:10 pm
This is so funny reading all you mutt fans’ celebrations over the worst UF team in ages in a game you STILL almost lost.
Auburn beat UF a couple of weeks ago and all it was was just another win in another SEC matchup. That’s the difference between programs with national championship caliber coaches and players and silly little program like THuga.
——————————————
Spoken like a true troll who KNOWS nothing about this rivalry. Auburn beat them and they move on because they have to focus on winning in their own division. Aub/UF isn’t NEARLY as big of a rivalry as UGA/UF. But that is the different between real fans and people like you who are clueless, but possess the audacity to post anyway.
WDE
October 31st, 2011
1:15 pm
@solja now that’s funny, did you not hear/read what the Barners were saying after the UF win? Granted they played hard and deserved the win but there wasn’t much Oh its just another day at the office …it was we beat the bloody gators we rock and they suxxxxxx
Roger Johnson
October 31st, 2011
1:16 pm
There’s a clinical reason the Gators lost. Call it “Reptile Dysfunction”
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
1:18 pm
1990, 1974, 2001, 1987,?????? Surely you know what year it was that you Graduated from the University Of Georgia?
Flat Tire?
TampaDawg
October 31st, 2011
1:18 pm
And Auburn fan has ONE good year and is proclaiming dominance. That is laughable. Not worried about it unless we are playing the Carolina Panthers, because Cam was that good. Auburn otherwise is not. So let’s see if I got this straight; Auburn lost to Clemson, who couldn’t even look worth a crap against GT. The same Auburn team that gave up 220 yards rushing to OLE FREAKING MISS and 333 to Missy Sissy State now wants to talk trash? Give it a rest dude.
ARdawg
October 31st, 2011
1:19 pm
Roger Johnson
October 31st, 2011
1:16 pm
There’s a clinical reason the Gators lost. Call it “Reptile Dysfunction”
Thats funny, I don’t care who you are
Hosan Lee
October 31st, 2011
1:21 pm
Dawgs suck.
d-dog
October 31st, 2011
1:25 pm
@TampaDawg
Auburn is still haviing withdrawal pains about not having cash Newton and dirty nick.
seems thay can move on without them.
………………….happy trails…………..
Tiltman
October 31st, 2011
1:25 pm
I know stat lines don’t always translate to the ultimate W or L, but I gotta say, I kept looking at the scoreboard in comparison to the stats popping on on the TV. I mean, it was an odd game. Holding your opponent to negative rush yards, one touchdown, low percentage 3rd down conversions and FLA was in it ’till the end. You gotta think those are the pivotal lines that define a win, usually. Give credit to FLA, they made it game, all things considered. If Blair Walsh can get out of his own head, Murray finds consistent rhythm, kick-off coverage takes a crash course, and depth at running back finds a way, there’s not a team in the land we can utterly dominate. This team finds a way to win, I ‘ll give you Boise St., If I can take back USC! Overall, any true dawg fan oughta be pleased with the resilience of what is a very young team. Let’s find a way to amend these fixable issues and you just might see the dawgs spoil another BCS title for the SEC and book us a trip to New Orleans.
TampaDawg
October 31st, 2011
1:26 pm
Hosan Lee .. so do you