Dogs’ defense comes through again to clinch SEC East
Losing Isaiah Crowell made life difficult for Mike Bobo Saturday. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
You can make a pretty convincing case that Georgia won the 2011 SEC East Championship in large part because of the terrific turnaround in its defense this season.
Certainly, on a day when the Dogs’ offense was again missing its top two running backs, its offensive line regressed and its quarterback at times looked like he was throwing with his eyes closed, the defense was definitely the difference in clinching the division title against Kentucky.
Time after time Saturday against Big Blue Georgia’s sputtering offense put the ball game in the defense’s hands, and that proved to be the difference, as Todd Grantham’s troops held the Wildcats to just 165 yards of offense, almost completely shutting them down in the scoreless third quarter. The Cats didn’t get a second-half first down until late in the fourth quarter.
Georgia may not have gotten many style points, at least offensively, in a game where most of their scoring came on field goals, but at the end of the day it was enough, and the Dogs are on their way to the conference championship game for the fourth time in the Mark Richt era.
Now, admittedly, Mike Bobo was dealt a pretty lousy hand when Isaiah Crowell went out for the game with a banged up ankle. With chief backup Carlton Thomas also unavailable, third-stringer Brandon Harton (with an assist from fourth-stringer Ken Malcome) had to step into the fray, and he discovered quickly that even a mediocre SEC defense like Kentucky’s is a whole lot more challenging than New Mexico State. Both Harton and Malcome coughed up the ball to derail Georgia drives.
Unfortunately, it didn’t help matters that when Crowell went to the locker room in the first half Bobo’s playbook also appeared to have gone missing, resulting in one of the more predictable (and least successful) halves the UGA offensive coordinator has had in a while. The low point came at the end of the first quarter and start of the second when three straight runs by Harton were stuffed thanks to the OL letting themselves be dominated.
But the defense persevered (in spite of at least one ridiculously blown call by the officials), and eventually, Bobo started getting a little more creative in getting Harton to the outside (hello, toss sweep!) and the tiny back finally got his 100-yard game as a Bulldog.
And Aaron Murray, who was wildly off-target at times and had a middling day overall throwing the ball, did make a really nice play when he stepped up into the pocket before finding Marlon Brown open in the back of the end zone to open the fourth quarter with Georgia’s lone touchdown.
Still, it was the shutting down of the Kentucky offense in the second half and the turnovers forced by Dog defenders that won the day for Georgia.
They’re not all going to be pretty in a nine-game winning streak, but when a team that started out 0-2 earns its way to the Dec. 3 game at the Georgia Dome, that doesn’t matter a whole lot.
This has turned into a surprisingly good season for the Dogs. They have three games left in which they have the chance to make it a great season that might be talked about for the ages.
One step at a time, though. The SEC can wait a week. First, Georgia needs to focus on the Jackets.
Feel free to share your views on Georgia’s win over Kentucky for the SEC East title.
Go Dogs!
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440 comments Add your comment
Spike 80DF
November 19th, 2011
7:50 pm
i can see it now, when the Dawgs beat LSU to win the SEC idiots will come on here complaining how we blew it for the SEC to win a BCS NC.
Warnell Dawg
November 19th, 2011
7:51 pm
First of all, gotta be happy winning the East (something we never did with Stafford, Moreno, AJ and company). However, after a really impressive outing against Auburn, the offense completely regressed. Yes, losing Crowell and not having Thomas (for experience, if nothing else) hurt, but Bobo completely regressed into conservative, predictable play-calling. Couple that with the accuracy struggles of Murray and the O-line struggling with protection at times equals a subpar offensive performance and a few years off my life. And I’ve gotta give credit to Kentucky’s Trevathan, that kid is a gamer and was a nightmare for us all day. Defense is without a doubt the strength of this team, but we can’t keep relying on them to pull Bobo and the offense’s tail outta the fire, need more offensive consistency, or the next 2 weeks will be very stressful. Just hope the Dawgs don’t forget that we still have a game to play against Tech, I could stomach a loss in the SECCG much more than a loss to Tech.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
7:52 pm
Bill
No unfortuantley I wont be joining your Barney and Friends kool-club meeting
By the way are you Bobo and Slick Willie Martinez meeting tonight at the Moose Lodge to finish your video on how to coach Championship football narrated by your hero Barney Frank
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
7:53 pm
@Spike 80df you need to get out my stash. I need it all so I can really have my munchies come Thanksgiving.
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
7:53 pm
Spike 80
I have thought that my self.
Wow the rest of the SEC will hate us!
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
7:55 pm
WHO is this Barney Frank? He sounds like he is Down! You guys think you can hook me up with the brother? i might want to party with this barney guy for sure.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
7:55 pm
Spike 80DF
I already said we blew a chance at an undefeated season a week ago
Dawg48 should remember that post
Seriously
November 19th, 2011
7:56 pm
Spike80df…Please put down the crack pipe, stay away from sharp objects and please if you get intimate tonight, please use protection…What in the world gives you even the slightest hope that UGA would beat LSU? Was the dominating win over Vandy? The throttling of Florida? Manhandling of Ole Miss or the complete beat down over Kentucky? The East has more in common with the Big East than the SEC West.
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
7:56 pm
Flat
Did you make it to the game today?
roc5542
November 19th, 2011
7:56 pm
get off the kid, he was hurt. We still won! It was a team effort, not one player!half of you idiots probably never played any sports. Finish the drill Dawgs, bring it home.
wallydog13
November 19th, 2011
7:57 pm
I don’t think it pays to put too much into one game, whether we win or lose. Obviously, the last two games show that we can be really good or really average. Overall, our defense it getting better. But our offense is inconsistent. When it clicks, like with Auburn, it’s great. But like CMR says, it’s the turnovers stupid! Today, we just got sloppy with the ball again. This is why CMR doesn’t play Malcombe. He’s said so in previous interviews.
Regarding Tech… truth is, who knows? We could play great, keep the triple option at bay and win big. Or… we could cough it up, fall for the gadget plays and lose big too.
Thus is life watching 18-24 year olds play the game of football.
Warnell Dawg
November 19th, 2011
7:57 pm
Completely off-subject, but I’ve got a few Bama friends who are already predicting their return to the NC game. I know the SEC West has still got to get completely shaken out, but if Bama doesn’t make it to the SECCG, I DO NOT think they deserve a shot at the national championship, BCS be damned. Just like the Dawgs were told in 2007: if you don’t win your conference, you don’t get a national title shot. As aggravated as I was at the time, I completely agree with the logic; you shouldn’t be able to leapfrog your conference title game into the national championship. You had your chance in the regular season and you were unsuccessful, end of story.
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
7:57 pm
Everybody in the SEC already hates us. Well, cause they know I’m gonna win the Heisman and 2 MNC’s the next 2 years.
wallydog13
November 19th, 2011
7:58 pm
Oh, and in my book, Crowell has no heart. If it comes out he has a legitmate injury, I’ll take it back. But this was for the division title! Suck it up!
Dawgs ride D to SEC title game; offense shaky – FOXSports.com | moneybusinessblog.info
November 19th, 2011
8:00 pm
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Bill
November 19th, 2011
8:00 pm
Flat on 95, you are a loser! Have fu on this blog.
Dawgs ride D to SEC title game; offense shaky – FOXSports.com : moneyhomeworkdiamondsocial
November 19th, 2011
8:01 pm
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Dawgs ride D to SEC title game; offense shaky – FOXSports.com | hostrealywordpressgoidsocial
November 19th, 2011
8:01 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Dawgs ride D to SEC title game; offense shaky – FOXSports.com | siterealywritegoidbookmark
November 19th, 2011
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wallydog13
November 19th, 2011
8:01 pm
Warnell Dawg… I wouldn’t beat up on Bobo too bad. Losing our backs like that is going to having a major impact on our offense. We don’t play Harton and Malcombe as much because they have a tendency to fumble. And they did! I don’t like the “run the half out” offense either, but hey… 9 in a row and SEC East champs! Hard to argue.
Dawgs ride D to SEC title game; offense shaky – FOXSports.com | incomelightwritegoidsocial
November 19th, 2011
8:01 pm
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WnE
November 19th, 2011
8:01 pm
Our team is embarrassing. We should have easily covered the spread on this game. Cost me a double deuce. There was definitely business done on this game. IC left for “hurting” his ankle? Come on CMR, get him in the locker room, let him smoke a doobie, and put him back in the game.
Fire Mark Richt!
bloggerrealypagediamondsocial » Dawgs ride D to SEC title game; offense shaky – FOXSports.com
November 19th, 2011
8:02 pm
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Seriously
November 19th, 2011
8:02 pm
Wow all the execution problems and its the OC fault. Did Bobo fumble, drop a pass, mss a block or throw an interception?Think Murray may have checked into some bad plays? I guess its impossible for the Qb and Wr to miscomunnicate. Players make plays, thankfully we made enough to win, 2-0, 55-0 or 19-10 a win is a win.
WnE
November 19th, 2011
8:05 pm
I like to blame it on the tech coaches when they don’t execute, but in this case our team is just pathetic. 19 points against KY? Half of them were gift points. Imagine if Walsh hadn’t been “on” tonight. IC better play next week because the rest of our running backs can’t hold on to the football. HE would smoke Tech’s pathetic D.
Bill
November 19th, 2011
8:06 pm
Flat on 95 is either a tech fan, a democrat or an “occupy” participant . . .
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
8:06 pm
Dawg48
Yes I made it.
This is always the saddest day of the year as it is the last home game.
Now I have to wait another 9 months
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
8:08 pm
Man I’ll run all over that Weak LSU team. Look at how bad Ole Miss is making LSU look.
Bill
November 19th, 2011
8:09 pm
WnE, gambling is illegal. Jusy sayin’
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
8:09 pm
Bill
The only person who is an “occupy” participant is you; if you think Mike Bonehead is a good OC
Liberals like you have no sense and cant see the truth glaring right in front of them
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
8:10 pm
@flat
I had family obligations today did not get to make it.
And yes I remember that topic……(lol)
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
8:12 pm
I like Liberals. They want to smoke with me ll the time. White women love to smoke with me. It is so hip to them.
WnE
November 19th, 2011
8:14 pm
Crowell be sure to get a medical exemption so you can partake legally this time. Hopefully CMR will fly you to Cali for thanksgiving. Get you on a good mellow high before the tech game so you won’t feel pain or take yourself out.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
8:16 pm
Dawg48
Gratham really has shown he can coach
Bill and Bobo were working in the concession stand this game. They served me a coke and pretzel
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
8:16 pm
I didn’t take myself out. When Coach Mark wanted me he showed me this Missing Running Back formation. I just let Coach mark run that play sometimes in the game
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
8:17 pm
@crowell
Go hit your bongs
And
Eat a box of ding dongs
You sir
On this blogg don’t belongs
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
8:18 pm
Oh wait I forgot to say
Burma shave
Baddawg
November 19th, 2011
8:19 pm
Very ugly and frustrating win for a dawg!! But it’s still a win and we are The eastern champs!! Now let’s play tech and the west champ like we did against Auburn and everything will be great again! Kick tiny Thomas off the team! Would have gone for the field goal to make it 22-10 myself. Bobo’s play calling really sucked today along with our offense!
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
8:20 pm
@ flat
I only got to catch the last half of the 4th
But I did hear Murray was off today!
You know I don’t like to bash bobo but that was a fourth and dumb at the end of the game!
Bill
November 19th, 2011
8:21 pm
Flat on 95 is from California.
PerroGrande
November 19th, 2011
8:22 pm
Anybody think that if we couldn’t get in the end zone against KY, that LSU will let us score. Our D gave us setup after setup, and we couldn’t score 6 but once. Poor execution isn’t Bobo’s fault. They wouldn’t put Malcome in the game, so we get to a point where we really need him, and he is as green as an Oregon Duck. They should have played him earlier. They should have had Mason in earlier against NMST and AU. The backups need to get practice, so they don’t mess up when we need them. CMB could roll Murray out to get him away from the rush. There are many other things the coaches can do. Remember he wouldn’t throw it last year against SC because they played Cox the whole year instead of pulling Murray’s RS and getting him some experience.
ADMan
November 19th, 2011
8:24 pm
Enter your comments here
BURMA SHAVE
November 19th, 2011
8:24 pm
A win is a win, yet it’s true
Even if we whipped the boys in blue.
Crowell went out he couldn’t fight,
Maybe itt had something to do with getting high?
Here’s to two more weeks of good luck
Now it’s time for me, your mom I will …. do nasty things to in the near future.
I <3 rednecks with no teeth.
Go DAWGS!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
8:28 pm
Dawg48
No; I’ll tell you what was dumb 2 times on 3rd and 10 we ran Hartman up the middle
Im mean are we here to win or hope we can beat KY
Give me a break
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
8:31 pm
Bill
Is a patient at Arkham Asylum
I suspect
November 19th, 2011
8:32 pm
I suspect that 75% of the Murray haters and the Bobo haters here tonight are GT nerds in the apartments or dorm room eating Cheetos and slurping organge drinks and dateless. The real UGA fans are at Outback or Stoney River in Johns Creek or some place like Gold Fish in Perimeter Mall Just got homefrom Athens, very tired ( in my 60s) with STEAKS AND TATERS tonight w/ salad.
ON YEAR AGO………………….we did not have these problems about who fumbled or why Murray was off …………..because we had NOTHING TO PLAY FOR YOU MORONS> this is why I know that you are GT nerds.
GT nerds, go get a date and try and get a life. After next week, you can go to the BB games and study. UGA’s D line THIS YEAR in not the same as it was in 09 and 2010. We are solid end to end and will not be easy with your smallish linemen to move AND…AND we also have JARVIS JONES AND ALEC OGLETREE AND GILLIARD AND ROBINSON and Garrsion Smith and Abry Jones and DeAngelo Tyson and John Jenkins and Gathers THAT is huge. ALL but Tyson and Abry Jones are brand new !!!!
See you nerds next week. My steaks are just about right.
Hotdog
November 19th, 2011
8:32 pm
Play calling was very predictable today. I called about 80 percent of our plays before they were snapped.
Bill
November 19th, 2011
8:35 pm
Flat on 95 swallows, but he likes it.
BURMA SHAVE
November 19th, 2011
8:35 pm
I suspect – you suck again
Your wife gives it to a lot of men.
The only thing tech could learn from your blokes
Is how to take 1000 tokes.
Now please go it needs to end,
Someone got you a pair of depends.
I may have to burp,
Or give your wife something to slurp. (only disgusting old redneck men use words like “slurp” anyways LMAO)
GO DAWGS!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
8:37 pm
I suspect
Do me a favor put in the 2008 AL and FL games with Stafford Moreno Green and Mo Mass and tell me Bobo is a genius
By the way
Heard Gus Malzone and Kirby Smart are being considered for the UNC job. Didnt see Bobo on that list