Unfortunately for Tech, Dogs once again caught not looking ahead!
Dogs prove it once again at Grant Field. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
I wonder what excuse Paul Johnson will use this time for the Dogs walking off Historic Grant Field as the victors for the sixth consecutive time.
Maybe he can take a page from all those folks (including the ESPN “GameDay” gang) who predicted Georgia Tech would prevail in Saturday’s annual Governor’s Cup game because Mark Richt’s Dogs would be looking ahead to the SEC championship game against LSU.
Perhaps Tech was caught looking ahead to the Hyundai Sun Bowl, or wherever they’re going to play next.
Or maybe Johnson’s excuse can be simply to acknowledge what the Georgia players proclaimed again after the game: When it comes to football, “We run this state.”
Actually, Johnson’s best excuse would be to point out that while he may have a little-seen offensive scheme that is tough to defend, he just flat-out doesn’t have the same caliber talent that Richt has in Athens, particularly on defense.
Even playing without their two top running backs, which made Georgia nearly as one-dimensional offensively as Tech, the Dogs still moved the ball easily against the Jackets most of the day, with Aaron Murray looking particularly sharp in the first half. It could have been worse, as Murray missed a couple of opportunities in the second half, but for the day he completed 19 of 29 passes for 252 yards and padded his UGA season record with four more touchdowns to four different receivers. Unfortunately, Orson Charles wasn’t one of them, but he still led the Dogs with five catches for 95 yards and was a big playmaker.
And while the Georgia running game managed only 128 yards, fifth-stringer Ken Malcome showed some gritty running and extra effort as Georgia handed it to him repeatedly in the fourth quarter to eat up the clock. He wound up with 43 tough yards on a dozen carries. Murray contributed 35 yards of his own on a day when Georgia dialed up more designed quarterback runs than usual, and even Zander Ogletree got into the act with a 21-yard burst on the only fullback run so far this season.
But it wasn’t just the offense that was masterful against the Jackets. Tech managed to get 243 yards rushing Saturday but never really got its running attack in rhythm against the Dogs’ resilient defense, despite all the cut-blocks. And much of the time Tech’s passing game was pretty inept, with Georgia snagging two interceptions.
Plus, while Blair Walsh missed one long field goal attempt, Georgia’s special teams generally had a fine day, with Drew Butler pinning the Jackets deep on a couple of long punts and Brandon Boykin’s 60-yard kickoff return setting up Georgia’s first score of the third quarter.
Really, from the time Georgia went up 14-3 midway through the second quarter, the Dogs appeared to have the game in hand.
Much was made by various pundits in the week leading up to this game about how “even” the rivalry has become in recent years, but in realtiy that’s certainly not the case if you look at the bottom line: who takes home the Governor’s Cup.
As Richt noted after the game with characteristic understatement, “Ten out of 11 ain’t bad.”
OK, now we can worry about LSU.
Feel free to share your own views on what excuses Johnson can use for his team’s showing and anything else relating to Georgia’s latest win over the Bugs.
Go Dogs!
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321 comments Add your comment
Virginia Dawg
November 27th, 2011
9:01 pm
I was particularly interested in Johnson’s comments about the “perceived strength of the SEC”. If I am correct theSEC won 3 out of 4 head to head games with the ACC with UF being the only loss against FSU. Even Vanderbilt beat Wake Forest in the battle of the eggheads!
ARdawg
November 27th, 2011
9:12 pm
alpha male
go check the defensive stats on AR and get back to me. Thanks for playing you bitter sore loser
SSDawgsThorn
November 27th, 2011
9:31 pm
@Alpha Male, I am sure you are not.
As for the LSU game, I think we can win this game as evidenced by the many upsets of a few weeks ago. LSU is disciplined, strong, and fast. If we listen to the talking shirts, then we might as well concede the game and rest all of our starters for the bowl game, obviously more important than the SEC championship game. (please not sarcasm). Looking for a great game with LSU. May the best team win. Go DAWGS!!!
Kyle
November 27th, 2011
9:33 pm
Hey Bill, you should look in to the Tech fan and student reaction to Mr Munson’s passing, it will make any human being with half a heart sick! I’ve been hearing a lot of chatter about them disgracing his halftime memorial, and then there’s the GT blog…..
http://www.stingtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?s=42b286726f3dad1ef40394453ab96f42&t=60373
(sorry for reposting this but I want as many people to know as possible what the GT fan base is made of)
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 27th, 2011
9:39 pm
GT stands for girl trolls.
He anybody know what you call a pretty girl at a GT game.
L O S T
Mobile Dawg
November 27th, 2011
9:39 pm
Not many coaches I really don’t like, Paul Johnson is one of them. Tactless, classless. That JMO.
Tater Tot
November 27th, 2011
10:03 pm
See Neil Callaway got fired from his head coaching job.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-uab-callawayresigns
Dr. Morpheus
November 27th, 2011
10:58 pm
I think the Dawgs will go into the SEC C game ready to prove they can play with the undisputed #1 team in the nation. The game will be won on defense- LSU has a huge edge in TO margin but we have a lot more take-aways. If we stop their running game, get Jarvis in Jefferson & Lee’s face, don’t give up big plays, and don’t turn it over, we will win. And LSU will still play in the BCS NC game while we go to the Sugar Bowl. Life is strange.
minnesota dawg
November 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
LSU is big and physical and will try to pound the DAWGS and wear them down. We have to stop their run and we will have a chance. It will be interesting to see how LSU responds to a offense like ours.
Dap01
November 28th, 2011
8:51 am
ESPN is horrible for college football. It is sad when a TV network can decide that the results of the SEC Championship (the biggest game in college football) has no meaning on who plays for the NC.
It has been decided weeks ago that Bama and LSU are playing for the NC no matter what rules are broken or how bad their offenses are. ESPN has already decided.
Go Dawgs, Shock the World.
ARdawg
November 28th, 2011
9:44 am
minnesota dawg
LSU has already responded to a defense like ours, Bama’s and as you know they came out on top. The bigger question IMHO is how will they respond to our offense. Yes their defense is excellent especially against lesser offenses. Defense won’t win this game, offenses will. Excellent defenses on both teams. It’ll take a good offense to win this one me thinks. For the open minded, you have to kind’a sort’a give that edge to Georgia
robodawg
November 28th, 2011
9:45 am
The “caught looking ahead” talk was hilarious. Obviously from people who don’t know this rivalry.
dawgfan
November 28th, 2011
9:54 am
Yes, very convenient for Herbstreit to call the SECCG “irrelevant.” Me thinks it wouldn’t be so irrelvant if it were on ABC/ESPN. He kind of backed off that comment later though saying that LSU fans are probably very excited about playing in the SECCG. Absolutely no mention of Georgia of course. I doubt Herbie has even seen us play this year. Why else would he pick Tech?
Herbstreit is a clown. Lay off the teeth whitening dude. Him and Musberger calling games is awful. Thank god they are doing Battle of the Overrateds type of games instead of big boy SEC football.
ARdawg
November 28th, 2011
10:10 am
dawgfan
That analysis by Corso and Herbie was pathetic. Said “Georgia is looking ahead” what kind of lame brain BS was that. Notice next week, no one will challenge them on it either
Johnson For President
November 28th, 2011
10:25 am
Paul Johnson should run for president. He isnt the only man brought in during the 2008 year that promised change but didnt deliver… hes certainly qualified to pick up in the white house.
LawDawg
November 28th, 2011
10:58 am
I don’t think anyone predicted 10 regular season wins this year. Great job, Dawgs and Richt. I’m not optimistic about our chances against LSU, but who knows? If we can prevent special teams touchdowns and keep Jefferson grounded, we may pull the upset. Great year anyway and with the young receivers and our stout D, next year should be fun too.
TampaDawg
November 28th, 2011
11:24 am
alpha male
November 27th, 2011
2:29 pm
note to ardawg…what the heck was Arkansas if not potent offense and strong defense…you dawgtards are something else…Arkansas would roll uga by 30…
—————————————
Soooo, Arkansas gets by UGA last year on their last drive with a better QB (by any reasonable person’s standards) and a lesser UGA team, but somehow this year, they would roll UGA by 30? That is pure insanity. Hell, no Arkansas doesn’t win by 30 and I would bet even money that they don’t beat UGA at all.
AltamahaDawg
November 28th, 2011
11:33 am
I thought that was a very interesting comment from one of the TV guys (which is unusual because they typically wing it from thir pre-detemined talking points only) that Georgia made a very effective change after the Boise game. Starting out they had the linemen spread further apart to create bigger running lanes for Crowell or whomever, but because Murray had no protection, they made a change which has been very effective, pulling the line in tighter. Good adjustment from the staff.
AltamahaDawg
November 28th, 2011
11:53 am
Lawdawg, if folks are being honest, this year did exceed everybodies expectation. Now, having to deal with lowered expectation as a result of the previous year is a legitamate beef, but the reality is this is not only a great year based on that, but also most fair folks would say, just pretty darn good year in general. I know a few other fan bases that would trade places right now, even if they had to take last year in the deal.
We will of cource be told by some that thier “(he) BETTER win 10 or yada yada” was the equivalent of a prediction, but we all know what it really was.
DawgVoiceofReason
November 28th, 2011
5:37 pm
The Tech Fans are despondent. http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=140&f=2938&t=8329204. Almost, makes you feel sorry for them….
BuzztheKiller
November 29th, 2011
4:54 pm
Congrats to UGA for the win, you deserved it this year, you played a better game. Good luck against LSU, you will need it. See you next year in Athens!