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!
Got a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
Find me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
440 comments Add your comment
Texas Dawg
November 20th, 2011
8:55 am
I’ll take a win any day but I thought we had turned a corner after the AU game……..after the first half I thought we were going to lose to Kentucky for what the third time in five years……..just don’t see LSU-AL- playing that bad against Kentucky
I was so optimistic that we might have a chance in the SEC Chap after the way we played against AU…………..if the offense that played yesterday shows up we don’t have a chance!
chazzo
November 20th, 2011
8:56 am
Flat tire,
I agreed with you. I am puzzled by your response.
chazzo
November 20th, 2011
9:06 am
Flat tire,
I am more puzzled because a) I don’t really think anyone who writes for the Macon Examiner is an overly impressive source who I would site as a strong source for my argument, and b) the article really doesn’t have anything to do with Bobo being good or bad.
It was obvious, that UGA knew they would win and kept everything close to the chest. That is what the article essentially argues.
chazzo
November 20th, 2011
9:09 am
All things considered, I don’t know another fan base that would still be whiney, down-in-the-mouth beyotches when their team just won it’s ninth straight game and clinched a division title. What is with this state? Some of you would stab yourself in the eye rather than admit something positive took place in the world.
Old Dawg Fan
November 20th, 2011
9:12 am
What a defense Grantham has put together. GT and LSU (or Arkansas) will have touble scoring points against us. Offense it seems is always subject to a lot of things but I feel great about our team. What a turn a round. I won’t doubt CMR again.
Weakness
November 20th, 2011
9:14 am
Crowell appears too fragile for SEC play. Thomas appears too stupid.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 20th, 2011
9:15 am
chazzo
So your going to sit there and defend Bobo after watching what Gratham has done all year
And what has Gratham done
Gotten better week after week and been consistant every week
Mike Bonehead has not and had we had a better OC my hopes of winning the SEC championship would be way higher.
Yes we won the east but realistic the East has never been this down; ever
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 20th, 2011
9:18 am
Old Dawg Fan,
I agree about the D. Coming home from the game yesterday we heard that the D gave up 12 yards in the 2nd half.
Yes, I know it was UK, which is nothing to write home about, but if UGA is going to win the next 2 it will be because of D.
Dawg48
November 20th, 2011
9:21 am
I love rivalry weekend! Let’s go out and shut down the bugs!
Our lbs are going to have a field day!
runtt
November 20th, 2011
9:21 am
time to cut Carlton Thomas. 3 suspensions in a year is too much.
Bulldog Bob
November 20th, 2011
9:23 am
Crowell is very young and very soft. He will never be an every down back. We need to recruit some bruisers to run the rock. Crowell is a feature back that has to avoid contact at all cost because he is made of glass apparently.
Niceville Dawg
November 20th, 2011
9:23 am
I don’t see anything wrong with what Bobo said.Someone stuck a microphone in his face in the midst of a locker room celebration and he said,basically,we found a way to win when everything wasn’t going well and we’re not apologizing.What is so horribly wrong with that?Please explain…
Kenny Powers
November 20th, 2011
9:27 am
Murray bashers….so, is the mighty SEC the toughest division in college ball or not? There are two QB’s in the top 20…Bray of UT and Murray…Bray is ranked 14th and Murray 20th…Bray has missed part of the Ga. game, and didn’t face LSU, Bama, South Carolina, Vandy, and ARK, so it is possible that he would have fallen out of the Top 20…now to be fair, Murray also didn’t face LSU, Bama, and Ark, but will have the opportunity to do so in Atlanta.
Murray has been sacked 23 times (28 td’s/302 pass attempts) and the great QB’s that some of you so covet: Houston’s QB (sacked 11 times/38td’s/421 attempts), Boise’s (6 sacks/35 td’s/337 attempts), Stanford’s (sacked 9 times/31 td’s/343 attempts), OKSt’s (11 sacks/34 td’s/486 attempts), Southern Cal’s (7 sacks/33td’s 404 attempts), Okie (5 sacks/28 td’s/444 attempts…and even Baylor with 22 sacks/33 td’s/336 attempts is protected better than Murray…
Many of these teams don’t even try to establish a running game, but just get big bodies and concentrate on keeping their QB upright…
As far as the upcoming Tech game, well we’ll see how good of a DC CTG is, because the3-4 defense doesn’t match up too well against the triple option…remember last year? CPJ was one step ahead of CTG the entire game…sure we won, but it wasn’t a walk in the park that all you goobers think it was…get off Murray and enjoy the trip; this team may win ugly, but they win as a team…
Bullhound
November 20th, 2011
9:30 am
WHEN will Mason get any playing time? Murray can’t throw across the middle because he can’t see across the middle…and he does have the deer in the headlights look more than a team leader should….awesome job by the Defense, I only hope our Offense is firing on all cylinders the next few games….lack of consistency is our biggest problem…What we need is an Offensive Coordinator who has the fire, passion, and brains that Todd Grantham has for our Defense!!…GO DAWGS!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 20th, 2011
9:34 am
Niceville Dawg
I’ll tell you whats wrong he admitted that he was going to call a conservative game. Just like he has always done since he has been the OC
And this is KY our 3rd String RB gained over a 100 yds against them
Are we here to win or just hang on in games and HOPE our defense holds up
What a stupid philosophy
also
That was what he did against Boise St and now instead of being talked about like Arkansas is now with the possiblity of playing the national title we once again are not
mark
November 20th, 2011
9:36 am
the dogs have played ONE good game this year!period, Richt has got to go,I f we play like we have in10 out of the 11 games we have played this year against LSU we will loose by 31, also our QB looks good when he is playing nobody,put a little pressure on him and he cant hit the side of a barn.poorly poorly coached. Tech will be the 3rd best team we have played,I ain’t expecting nothing
Brian
November 20th, 2011
9:43 am
Agree regarding Murray. Not near as good as advertised
Niceville Dawg
November 20th, 2011
9:44 am
I don’t get into some of the arguements that you guys like to have,although they are entertaining occasionally.But we could’ve beaten KY by 30 and you would still find something to complain about.You can break the game down a million different ways,and I know you do,But the bottom line is a win.If that makes me a part of the kool-aid crowd,then so be it.
Jim
November 20th, 2011
9:49 am
I may not have been pretty but it was sweet. So much for covering the spread, playing the backups, and Crowell getting 1000 yards. That double lip-locker Coach Richt put on his wife tells it all, how sweet it is! The next best thing to an ulgy win by the Dawgs was watching Franklin when Tennesse beat Vandy and the Big Boys; OK, OK State, and OR going down. When the BCS rankings come out tonight LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas should be 1,2,3 and Georgia could move up to around #10.
Phillip
November 20th, 2011
9:55 am
We will be a top 5 team at season’s end.
Northern Sympathizer
November 20th, 2011
9:55 am
Flat Tire, Why is it that the Bobo bashers on this blawg have nothing to say when we score 50 on NM State or 45 on Auburn? Obviously, the offense was out of synch yesterday. But, why the assumption that it is all Mike Bobo’s fault? The offense is comprised of underclassmen at the skill positions, we lost our big playmaker last year in AJ, and the offense has still been productive. The two games we lost, UGA scored enough points to win. Time for the bashers to come clean-Bobo can do no right!
jalexan49
November 20th, 2011
10:11 am
Good win. Good game. Stay focused and win the next one. I hope all the players at Georgia who are eligible stay will stay and Georgia get’s 25 top-notch recruits for 2012.
Kudo’s to the juniors who are making a decisionto come back next year!
I hope Hutson Mason decides to stay. The coaching staff believes in him or they would not have offered him a scholarship.
GEORGIA STAY FOCUS AND TAKE IT ONE GAME AT A TIME! Crowell needs to get better, because the team , the coaches, the fans and the University of Georgia needs him! If he wants to be the #1 back, he’s got to right the ship- look at previous backs who toted the rock when they had injuries, Thomas Brown, Garrison Hearst, Terrell Davis, Greg Lumpkin, Tim Worley, and Hershel to name only a few!
If you want to be mentioned as a great running back , you’ve got to give all you got! No guts no glory!
Best of luck and GO DAWGS!
Niceville Dawg
November 20th, 2011
10:11 am
Northern…..Well said.The fumbles?Bobo’s fault.Interseption?Bobo’s fault.I will admit ,calling a draw play on 4th and whatever…..
bilbo799
November 20th, 2011
10:11 am
BOBO must go. BOBO is at fault because when our three best running backs are out and our O-line is off, he runs three runs up the middle w/ our tiny fourth stringer (for a three and out) and then runs our fifth stringer up the middle (for a fumble that leads to a TD for KY). BOBO is an idiot. That’s why people bash him.
bilbo799
November 20th, 2011
10:14 am
If BOBO gets credit for our good plays that he doesn’t control (circus catches, broken tackles), then he also gets the blame for our bad plays he doesn’t control (fumbles).
bilbo799
November 20th, 2011
10:17 am
21 points is “enough to win” against Boise State? What world are you living in, Northern? The 42 we put up against USC needs to be put in context. Our D put us in great position again and again in that game and our offense couldn’t score.
Niceville Dawg
November 20th, 2011
10:24 am
Agreed that he calls WAY to many draws,but he should not get credit nor blame for execution.
Dawg_Mike
November 20th, 2011
10:34 am
Attn: Keith Marshall
Please see our need for a RB and come to UGA. We need you.
Northern Sympathizer
November 20th, 2011
10:52 am
Bilbo, with an SEC defense, 21 should be enough. We couldn’t stop Boise, hense the loss. Yes, 42 points in any given year should beat SC.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 20th, 2011
10:54 am
Rather wack upp this morning with a ugly victory over being Oregon,Clempsun or Oklahoma St. Simply cant make some folks happy.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 20th, 2011
10:54 am
wake
Toccoa
November 20th, 2011
11:10 am
Whoever said that Georgia wasn’t held out of the Championship in ‘07 because they didn’t win the SEC championship doesn’t know what their talking about. Herbstreet and several other were saying that GA couldn’t go because they weren’t SEC champs even though they were ranked ahead of LSU before the SEC championship and LSU had lost their last game of the regular season to a mediocre Arkansas team. Now their all talking about Alabama being in the BCS championship even though they probably won’t be SEC champs. OH YEA it’s ALABAMA! Another mess when it comes to deciding the real champ. If the same criteria is used that was used for GA in ‘07 then Alabama should not go to the BCS cahmpionship if they are not SEC champs. Don’t tell me I’m whining when Les Miles whined his way into the championship that year. Georgia finished #2 in the country with no chance to prove they were #1. Don’t tell me I’m whining when there’s an obvious double standard among the talking heads.
Niceville Dawg
November 20th, 2011
11:12 am
I totally agree Lowcountry…days like this don’t come around very often.I, for one ,am enjoying the win……and Championship.You can’t let the people with miserable lives make you miserable,too.We are the east champs!Doesn’t matter how we got here!
Northern Sympathizer
November 20th, 2011
11:14 am
Toccoa- Right on! I still have a hard time watching Herbstreit after the last week of the 2007 season (WV lost to Pitt) and you would think the media was about to have a heart attack at the idea of Ga moving from #4 to #2. It’s obvious that Bama is special and we’re not.
timbo
November 20th, 2011
11:25 am
Let’s keep things in perspective here, it was KENTUCKY. Did anyone see LSU play last night? That is how good teams take care of business. LSU earned the west, while UGA backed into winning the east. I think LSU beats UGA by at least 4-5 touchdowns. UGA has no chance.
DawgVoiceofReason
November 20th, 2011
11:36 am
Although others have already taken him down (see “jack bull crazy” and “the real phil” posts), I have to make the observation that “jack bull” doesn’t know jack about football, especially UGA football. He has some crazed agenda against Aaron Murray and doesn’t have the slightest understanding of what is happening on the football field or why he sees what [only he] sees.
Toccoa
November 20th, 2011
11:37 am
Thank you Northern Sympathizer. I’m glad someone remembers history the way it really happened. Georgia obviously isn’t the only team that’s gotten the shaft over the last few years but this love affair with Alabama is sickening. They gave up 21 points to GA Southern yesterday. If anybody should get their shot now it is Houston but there is no chance that will happen. Until we have a playoff, deserving teams will be left out every year.
DallasDawg
November 20th, 2011
11:41 am
Darrell Royal, the great coach at Texas in the 60s and 70s once said, “You never have to explain a win, and you can never justify a loss.” Yesterday was a win that had some warts on it, but it’s mission accomplished, win the East and ticket is punched to the Georgia Dome in two weeks. How many of you that are critical of this team not winning with enough ’style points’ wouldn’t have taken 9-2, 7-1 in the conference at the start of the season? And yeah, I’m high on Murray on QB, I know the inconsistency can drive you crazy at times, but the kid has talent and he throws a boatload of TD passes, we need him to play at a high level in the SEC championship game, because we aren’t going to run consistently on either LSU or Bama, the chance to won the game is big plays in the passing game.
Eric C.
November 20th, 2011
11:42 am
timbo,
LSU struggled with WRN KENTUCKY until the 4th quarter. They also only put up 6 pts in 4 quarters against Alabama while GA SOUTHERN put up 21 pts and probably should have had more. LSU is far from perfect. Also, do you seriously believe UGA backed into the east? How does winning 7 straight SEC games qualify as “backing in” to the SECCG?
DawgVoiceofReason
November 20th, 2011
11:44 am
timbo,
“UGA has no chance”. Just like Iowa St., Baylor, and NC State, right? Georgia won the East on the field of play and didn’t “back” into the division championship. Are you a jealous SC fan or are you from some other school staying at home championship weekend? Spurrier won the battle but lost the war!
Doodaddy
November 20th, 2011
11:44 am
Nice camera shots during the game. I really enjoyed watching Crowell munch on his fingernails, leaning back and smiling like some sort of clueless retard. A team player would be cherring his mates, trying to fire them up during a tough game. But he night hurt himself doing that. Please keep him in the locker room the next time someone farts on him and he can’t get out on the field. He is not worthy of camera time.
Eric C.
November 20th, 2011
11:45 am
I’m certainly not happy with the way the Dawgs won yesterday, but after all of the upsets and struggles this weekend, you can’t take anything for granted…a win is a win and this is the sweetest of the year so far.
Eric C.
November 20th, 2011
11:48 am
Anyone have updates on Richard Samuel? He is the kind of back that they’ll need against LSU or UA…hope he can make it back and be effective.
DawgVoiceofReason
November 20th, 2011
11:48 am
DallasDawg,
Right on! We need Murray in the SEC Championship game and we won’t win without him making big plays. He had a terrible stretch in the Florida game this year, but he made the big plays at the critical times that won the game. He will go down as one of the great UGA quarterbacks of all time, before his career is over.
Toccoa
November 20th, 2011
11:48 am
If Georgia just backed into the SEC Championship then what did LSU do in ‘07, the year they won the NC but lost their last game of the regular season?
bigbadjohn
November 20th, 2011
11:59 am
Dawg nation, lets not get ahead of ourselves. Realistically this is the weakest SEC eastern division in 25 years, that is the only reason we will be playing for the SEC title. I love em and support em, but this team is mediocre at best. The Dawgs have got a ton of work to do if they want to compete for a national championship any time soon.
Niceville Dawg
November 20th, 2011
12:09 pm
Doodaddy,so glad you brought that up.I was there so I didn’t see that live,but did see it on replay.He couldn’t be more uninterested.He looks like he could absolutely care less.
Bug Killer
November 20th, 2011
12:14 pm
Bill, good blog, and my thoughts?
Big Bad John is too negative. We actually won the South Carolina game 42-17. But we felt compelled to give them 28 more points at no charge. A championship is a championship. I don’t care how people rank the East. Just a few years ago folks said the West was the weak sister.
The Junkyard Dawgs are back!!!!! Defense wins championships. Teams used to hate coming into Athens ’cause they knew they were going to get beat up. I hope that aura has returned. Erk would be proud.
But now, it is REALLY time to focus. I do not want to see bugs coming on our boards for 364 days crowing about their 2nd win in last 12 years. Beat Tech. Exterminate the bugs. Stuff that ckicken wing offense. Hit that QB so hard the first time they run the option that we know the pitch man is going to get it after that. Knock him into the lousy seats at the North Avenue Trade School. THIS is the most important game of the year. We cannot go into the Dome to play for the championship of the best conference in football after losing to a mid-level team from the Almost Competitive Conference (which but for Va. Tech. would lose their AQ BCS status). Especially the bugs.
GO DAWGS!!!
Inquiring About Crowell Also/Praise the D
November 20th, 2011
12:17 pm
Doodaddy, I posted similar thought about Crowell on Chip Towers’ blog. Won’t repeat whole thing except to say, doesn’t this kid WANT to play?
Gdawg
November 20th, 2011
12:27 pm
Congratulations CMR and Bulldawg Nation!!! I give the credit of an SEC East Championship to CMR and to our new Athletic Director for holding our players and coaches accountable for their results and their behavior on and off of the fied. Finally, we now have a very disciplined team, as evidenced in our reduction of penalties and in our turnover ratios. Also, our sense of urgency has skyrocketed as compared to last year or the year before, and this fact is very evident when the camera focuses on the sideline and you see CTG chewing tails after we give up a TD on a very short field. Also, CMR has a tremendous amount of nervous energy as compared to last year. You can tell that he actually has a pulse during a game, and I am very glad to see the excitement that this year has brought to our team and our fans. I too have concerns about our inconsistent QB play, but I truly believe that yesterday can be attributed to the RB position, as a large part of pass protection depends on how well the RB picks up his blocks. I would like to give a shout out to the young man for stepping in and performing very admirably by gaining over 100 yards and for taking some tough shots and never quitting. That walk on is a very tough kid. Pound for pound, I believe he is one of the toughest players on our team. I wish Malcombe would step up and take advantage of his opportunities. Nevertheless, it is very apparent that CMR should focus heavily on the OL and RB positioins in this years’ recruiting, as we have zero depth at either position. Several years ago I blogged that I was very frustrated at our recruitment strategy, because we seemed to place too heavy of an emphasis on the skill positions and not near enough emphasis on the trenches. The last two years have been better, but our coaches must continue to address both the OL and DL if we expect to win championships year in and year out. Great job CTG! For what it is worth, I told my son you were the man before you were ever offered the job. Hey Bama’s vaunted defense gave up 302 rushing yards to GSU yesterday, so, so much for Mr. Kirby Smart. Grantham just brings that edege to the stadium that any defense needs to lead them. CTG has addressed the type of personnel that he needed and he has fully installed a very effective 3-4 defense that is arguably one of the best, if not the best in college football. Now, if CMB can learn from CTG and address his weaknesses in recruiting and in making in game adjustments, watch out! UGA will be contending year after year. Please go out and sign a couple of solid backs, but most importantly, sign some hogs up front that has skill and an upside for improvement. I love UGA and I am very grateful for these 9 victories; I will be pulling for you guys very hard for these remaining 3 games. Aaron, come on dude, settle down and go out and show everyone that you are the real deal. If we are to run the table on our remaining games, you must step your play up. Stop playing scared! You appear that you are playing not to make mistakes, and this approach has you on your heels and makes it appear that you are aiming the ball. Go ahead and cut loose, and realize that there may be times when your top backs are not available. Those times require you to step up and take the team and put them on your back. I knew when I first saw you in your first Spring Game that you were the real deal. You have the quick release and you are elusive and have good speed, but you also get mental blocks that prevent you from being at your best. Stop worrying about making mistakes and just go out and play and have a good time, and I guarantee you that the stats and the wins will continue to pile up. CMR thank you for staying the course, and thank you for being a great role model for those boys. CTG thank you for all you have done. You have restored repectability to our defense in a very short time, and I am no longer embarrassed to look at the stats on Sunday mornings. CMB you can do it. I know my previous statement is true, because you have game planned and done it many times in the past. However, you must have a solid plan B and plan C if plan A is not working. This is an area you must improve in and you will be one of the best OC’s in country. Congrats to all of you guys and to your team and keep on working and believing. You guys can run the table! My son and I will be with you as you continue your quest to revitalize our beloved UGA Football Team!!!! God Bless!!!!