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
Dawgs ride D to SEC title game; offense shaky – FOXSports.com « goodpoweredenterprisecountrytime
November 19th, 2011
8:37 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
headley lamar
November 19th, 2011
8:37 pm
I suspect, please stay off the internet. You clearly had one too many beers at dinner and give the rest of us Dawg fans a bad name. Thank you
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
8:42 pm
Don’t take my Coach BOBO. Bobo is greatest OC in the land. he be say’n he gonna be the Dawg HC soon for sho.
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
8:43 pm
@ fiat
I heard about malhzon name mentioned at north Carolina…..
Chizick want last long without him…….
One thing About Georgia it does seem like we play down to our competition…..
Jenkins
November 19th, 2011
8:44 pm
Crowell, you a foo. Bobo dont know shiz. 1 2 3 up da middle. When we gon blaze?
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
8:44 pm
I Suspect that is what the po po says to me all the time.
Bill
November 19th, 2011
8:45 pm
Flat tire is a GT fan.
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
8:45 pm
I suspect that ( I suspect ) is high on life right now! LOL
Jenkins
November 19th, 2011
8:45 pm
Some gay fella says he gon show you how 2 hide da foozball.
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
8:46 pm
Jenkins dat up the middle is MY play. Don’t be F..ing with my touches.
Jenkins
November 19th, 2011
8:47 pm
Crowell, dont make me beatchu you down son. We gon destroy g tech, lsu, and penn state N da sugar bowl. Den we gon BLAAAAZZZZE. Hellssssss yeah.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
8:50 pm
Jenkins
That would be Bill
They play that at Arkham Asylum
Bill
November 19th, 2011
8:51 pm
Okay, Maybe I was wrong about Flat Tire, she might be an Auburn fan…
Jenkins
November 19th, 2011
8:53 pm
Crowell I know U aint blazin witout me. I’s always waits fo you when you be thru
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
8:53 pm
LSU ain’t go nothing We beat Ole Miss 27-13. Psssst I don’t see no special thang but LSU it only 35 -3 in the at the half.
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
8:55 pm
I ain’t Blazin. I am letting my brain take a bubble bath.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
8:56 pm
Dawg48
Well I can say after watching our offense last week it was like a small fire was lit inside me that maybe Bobo will finally get it together but that was put out by a glass of kool-aid thrown on that fire today
After today I will now stand by what Ive said in previous past posts
Until we get another OC we will lose a couple games next year do to his typical inconsistant play calling
And Im not changing my mind even if we happen to upset LSU.
Just letting you know so when Altamaha gets on here running off at that mouth about how great Bobo is
goodpoweredenterpriseimagetime » Dawgs ride D to SEC title game; offense shaky – FOXSports.com
November 19th, 2011
8:57 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
BIG MIKE
November 19th, 2011
8:57 pm
I SUSPECT…………You forgot WILLIAMS, RAMBO, SMITH, BOYKIN…….The most talented and well coached defense UGA has had in almost 30 years….hands down. If they beat LSU (and I pesonally think they will), it will be because their defense is better than the Tigers. I know the ESPN SPIN DOCTORS think that LSU and ALABAMA are the be-all, end-all of the SEC. But they have always….and I mean always failed to recognize the fact that young teams improve throughout the year and UGA is a much better team now than they were in August. Not just because they are winning….that’s the obvious indicator, but because they have learned to play as a team….a very talented TEAM. The playbook is wide open when all the pieces are in place. On defense they are as deep as any team I can remember. Offensively they are thin, but if no one else gets hurt, they are a a force to be reconned with. Don’t let the performance against UK foo you. Regardless of the team they are playing, they will rise to the occasion and compete.
About Murray…….I can’t think of a single quarterback in the history of football, that didn’t have an off day. Not one. Even the great Mathew Stafford had similar days. One against UF. If I was picking a team from all the players in SEC to play for me, Aaron Murray would be my top quarterback pick. BTW, any of the defensive players would do.
Jenkins
November 19th, 2011
8:59 pm
Crowell now i’s knows you don started smokin it up witout me. LSU gon be tuff but we take care of dem like we done did kentuckee.
kybodawg
November 19th, 2011
8:59 pm
i rember when we offered harrow a scholarship everybody said it was to get crowell. im not so sure we didnt offer crowell to get harrow.
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
9:00 pm
Big Mike you pick my man Murray? man you been in my stash too. Murray get scared in big game. You lose with him. he don’t bet nobody goodz.
Dawgs ride D to SEC title game; offense shaky – FOXSports.com - businessbloginternet
November 19th, 2011
9:01 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
bloggerhomeworkdiamondbookmark » Dawgs ride D to SEC title game; offense shaky – FOXSports.com
November 19th, 2011
9:02 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Jenkins
November 19th, 2011
9:04 pm
Nah foo Murray be just fine. He take away from some of yo touches tho when he run wit it. Need 2 learn how 2 throwit better.
Bill
November 19th, 2011
9:05 pm
Flat Tire is anal retentive…
Pville Dawg
November 19th, 2011
9:06 pm
Our offense looked pretty much how it has all season up until 2 games ago. Murray either has a good game or a bad game, it’s like there’s no in between with him. He’s either hot or cold. Plus, it seems Bobo still doesn’t know how to make adjustments whenever his orginal gameplan isn’t going to work. He just grinds it out like a stubborn child who only sees what he want’s to see.
Either way, our defense has played lights out and if that’s what it takes to get the win, i’ll take it all day long. At least we’re ATL bound! GO DAWGS!!
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
9:08 pm
Flat
You and altamahadawg need to go on college football final on final verdict and debate on mike bobo
Let Reece be the judge
Tally Ho!
November 19th, 2011
9:09 pm
UGA man here, no troll, honestly think that Aaron Murray sucks as a QB. He locks on receivers, pats the ball before throwing, has happy feet and loves to throw into double or triple teams. The system is fine, but the quarterback is not sound.
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
9:10 pm
Vandy is bashing Tennessee on rocky top
@tally ho!
November 19th, 2011
9:10 pm
Maybe Murray is related to Reggie Ball? No…wait…he can count to 4. HAHA
Tally Ho!
November 19th, 2011
9:11 pm
Also think that Jarvis Jones is honestly one of the greatest players I have every seen at UGA.
Bill
November 19th, 2011
9:12 pm
Flat Tire is a Georgia State fan.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
9:13 pm
Big Mike
Our O-line had trouble blocking KY today
That will be the difference as LSU has a 2 deep D-line that everyone of them will be playing on Sundays
Plus someone has to make sure Bobo isnt busy giving Bill a counseling session during the game that would keep him from calling plays
Today he was working the concession stand
Im hoping George Jefferson has one of his typical INT games that will be the only way I see us winning
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
9:14 pm
Dawg48
I will win that as Bobo has been bashed many times on ESPN
If it was 680 the fan that would be another verdict
Crowell
November 19th, 2011
9:15 pm
jarvis say today he go’n for DA CHEDDAR fo so now. he wanna be smok’n the finest weed and sling’n it to da best Hoez.
BIG MIKE
November 19th, 2011
9:17 pm
THE REASON FOR THE HOT ‘N COLD CRAP IS SIMPLE………..EITHER OUR LINE BLOCKS WELL AND WE RUN THE BALL (AND MURRAY IS HOT) ………..OR WE GO ONE DIMENSIONAL AND OUR RECEIVERS AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH TO GET OPEN CONSISTENTLY (OR HANG ON TO THE BALL IN TIGHT QUARTERS)……….WHICH MAKES MURRAY LOOK COLD
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
9:18 pm
You will have Lou and mark on your side for sure!
Who do you think will end up at north Carolina?
Georgia fans eats idiots sandwiches
November 19th, 2011
9:23 pm
Last weel all you Georgia rednecks inbreds were hugging Murray and Bobo Nutzs, now it’s back to get rid of everybody.
Old Dawg
November 19th, 2011
9:27 pm
Nothing wrong with Murray that a good QB coach can’t fix. Sometimes I wonder if Bobo is watching the same game I am. It appears that he has the game/plays prescripted and calls them regardless of what the defense is showing. And, what the heck is all that “stop and look to the sidelines” crap? Why not just let Murray react to what he sees?He IS a D1 QB, isn’t he? Oh, they saw that in the pros and like long hair out of the helmet, just gotta be cool! God, Bobo better get his act together before LSU!
Hope Les Miles Don't get arrested
November 19th, 2011
9:27 pm
For dawg abuse for the beat down UGA going to receive from LSU!
BIG MIKE
November 19th, 2011
9:27 pm
REAL HAIRY DAWG FANS ARE OUT CELEBRATING RIGHT NOW……………NOT PONDERING THESE LOSER BLOGS………..I;VE GOTTA WORK TOMORROW SO I’M ONE OF THE DESIGNATED SUPPORTERS REPRESENTING!!!!!!!!!!
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
9:27 pm
BIG MIKE
I think it has to do with the OLIne in the beginning of the year Murray ran for his life!
The past few weeks been getting good protection and last week our OLine knocked auburn off the line the whole night and Murray looked great and so did bobo…. I went back and watched the game (cause I missed it today) my thinking we looked tired OLine did not open holes and not having crowell or a thamas or a samuels effected our offense Kentucky went after the run game and made Murray beat them threw the air. ( we were one demential ) and our offense needs to be balanced to work.
Flat tire
November 19th, 2011
9:28 pm
KY has two deep with Sunday prospects? Name me TWO players from their D line that will get drafted. That’s right. LMAO. You smoke pot as much as crowell does.
buzzDawg
November 19th, 2011
9:29 pm
Not very pretty but the Dawgs are going back to the Dome for the SECCG. If we play like we did today, it will definitely be a low scoring affair like the AL/LSU game was. Still 12 points would have beat either one. Hopefully our offense will return to its look during the Auburn game. Of course, the first matter is to beat Tech – the Dawg’s D will shut ‘em down. GO DAWGS!
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
9:32 pm
Their may be a coaching job on rocky top after this year! Getting beat by vandy
Dawg48
November 19th, 2011
9:35 pm
A lot of the top teams seemed to have bad weekends
Okie st got beat Oregon getting beat bama gave up points to ga southern
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 19th, 2011
9:36 pm
Flat Tire
Buy Hooked On Phonics
And when you get done with it go back and re-read what I posted you retard
Because I never said KY has any NFL prospects on defense nor did I say they were two deep
Make sure you cut the lights off when your done cleaning the toilets at Bobby-Bu-Shay Stadium
ugarick
November 19th, 2011
9:45 pm
Any idea what Carlton Thomas’s “personal reasons” were for missing the game?
Flat tire
November 19th, 2011
9:46 pm
Oh by your point then LSU will destroy our dawgs. Good point you stupid f uk ing troll. I just happened to miss that after I got thru banging your mom.