Which Georgia team will show up against Ole Miss?
Will John Jenkins and the rest of the Dogs defense come out fired up again this week? (Bob Andres/ AJC)
A lot of Bulldogs fans are worrying that Ole Miss might prove to be a “trap” game for a Georgia team with a disturbing tendency to play down to its opponent’s level.
They wonder whether the defense that came out all fired up against the Gators after being called out as “too soft” will rise to the occasion without provocation. Even Mark Richt has half-joked that maybe someone needs to call them “sissies” in order to get Georgia defenders’ blood boiling.
Nationally, college football watchers wonder, like CBSsports.com asked, “Which Georgia team shows up? The one that beat Florida or the one that was pounded by South Carolina and barely beat Kentucky?”
Then there are others, like the folks at CollegeFootballNews.com, who see Georgia’s play against Florida as a fluke and believe the anemic showing against Kentucky comes closer to telling us what kind of team these Bulldogs are.
As CFN sums it up: “The Bulldogs had to go to a special place to ramp themselves up for Florida, and even then the team didn’t play all that well with just 273 yards of total offense with 14 penalties, three picks, and converting one of ten third down chances. That might have been a one-shot deal, and Georgia could easily slip back to its pre-Gator mold and be the mediocre team that struggled against a miserable UK team and had issues putting away Tennessee and Florida Atlantic. With a terrific pass rush and an aggressive defensive front that’s great at screwing things up, it’s possible the Rebels could catch an unfocused Georgia team napping a bit.”
In fact, CFN predicts exactly that, picking Ole Miss to knock off the SEC East frontrunner.
Of course, that’s not likely to be the consensus view this week. Most observers think that, while Georgia might have trouble coming out ramped up for Ole Miss, the Bulldogs still have too much talent to lose to the Rebels.
Still, it’d make a nice change of pace if Richt’s team came out this week with a determination to prove the naysayers and doubters wrong and put Ole Miss away early rather than following this year’s typical scenario of letting lesser teams dictate play early on while waiting until the second half to get rolling.
Georgia’s easily the better team. But will the Bulldogs play like it?
Got something you want to discuss concerning UGA athletics? Or maybe a question you want the Junkyard Blawg to tackle? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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194 comments Add your comment
DawgFaithful
October 31st, 2012
4:43 pm
I don’t care what they did against an FCS team in 1 meaningless game. What does that have to do with your stupid statement? They are a top 10 defense PERIOD. You said FL couldn’t run on them. They ran for 176 yds PERIOD. You were wrong PERIOD. Yes, I consider that very impressive to line up 58 times and run for 176 yds when a top 10 defense knows what’s coming and you’re still able to run the ball down their throat. That’s physically wearing someone down until you whip them. Yous hould be familiar with that. That’s what Paul the Genious Johnson trys to do. It took 58 carries to do it because LSU is a top 10 defense. They’re averageing 233 yds on the ground Bob. It didn’t take 58 carries VS lesser opponents. Just the ones with top 10 D’s. We can go round and round Bob. Stop trying to twist reality. Outside of being a Tech fan, reality isn’t that bad. You should give it a shot. Go away Bob. You’re hopeless.
dale
October 31st, 2012
4:45 pm
But I think think the GTBob’s statement “if you think only needing 58 carries to get 176 yards is impressive then more power to you.”
GTBob demands more.
Think Nick Saban is demanding? Try GTBob.
If GTBob was a coach, his team would hold opponents to negative points.
GTBob
October 31st, 2012
4:48 pm
Yes, I consider that very impressive to line up 58 times and run for 176 yds when a top 10 defense knows what’s coming and you’re still able to run the ball down their throat.
Well, we will agree to disagree then. Averaging 3 yards a carry isn’t very impressive to me no matter who you are playing and I certainly wouldn’t call it running the ball down someones throat. If you are getting three yards a play then you are punting an awful lot. Florida struggled to rush against Texas A&M also. They don’t have a very good rushing attack against decent teams.
DawgFaithful
October 31st, 2012
4:49 pm
Dale,
GTbob is an absolute clown. Tech homer with no prospects or high hopes for the future. That’s why he’s so bitter. Just think how you would feel if you were a perpetual loser. You’d be bitter and twisted too. That’s what happens when you go over to the dark side. Sick delusion.
dale
October 31st, 2012
4:50 pm
GTBob calls the crystal football a consolation prize.
DawgFaithful
October 31st, 2012
4:51 pm
Bob,
It’s only impressive VS a top 10 defense. Against a defense like GT’s… Not so much. I thought I made that clear. We definitely can agree to disagree. You’re hopeless.
Ed
October 31st, 2012
4:54 pm
Give GTBob a break, guys. As a Tech fan he lives vicariously through UF the same way some of us lived vicariously through FSU (I admit it) during the darkest days of losing to Florida in the 90s.
I think his main point is that UGA was merely the beneficiary of a bad Florida performance and we were lucky to win. So what, concede the point. Who cares? I hope he makes the same arguments next year and the next year after that. Hopefully in a couple of years he’ll be griping about UGA’s incredibly unimpressive 4-game winning streak over Florida.
I think it’s the “win” part of the equation that has him confused. That’s not really how GT rolls these days, so they’re sort of orientated towards looking for moral victories. Let them.
DawgFaithful
October 31st, 2012
4:57 pm
Ed,
I’ll agree but I’m not sure we were luccky to win. We won because we out played them. It wasn’t luck. We stuffed their run in every way. The had been running for 233 yds/game. All that stuff about Bob and Tech. Right on.
dale
October 31st, 2012
4:58 pm
When GTBob played, he was forced to wear a helmet to protect the other team.
Ed
October 31st, 2012
5:00 pm
And Bob’s other point is that Florida sucks…
I couldn’t agree more.
Georgia shouldn’t be that impressed with itself after beating Florida by 8. We should strive to beat them by 3 touchdowns. Let’s work on that in the offseason.
takedowndawg
October 31st, 2012
5:10 pm
I believe the UGA defensive players needed to experience what it is like to terrorize an opponent’s offense again. A healthy Jarvis makes believers out of all of them and to go forward with their ears pinned back……I like others express real concern with Murray at the helm….He can look like a pro in a game(not top 10 ranked ) and then look like a deer in the headlights when playing better competition….If it is confidence he needs(after 2 3/4 years starting), he is probably not going to get it with the Ole Miss or even GT games coming up, must less a SEC final game. He may be another Joe Cox in big games. Hope he proves me wrong, and I really, really mean it! Go DAWWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!Go Muuuuuuray, prove me wrong!!!!Please!!!!!!
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
October 31st, 2012
5:31 pm
GtBob does not understand SEC football is a league where games are won in the trenches and the ability to get 3-4 yards inside the tackles wins games. That is what moves the chains. He is used to fish fry telling him how great it is to play in the HEY SHE SHE.
Running between the tackles is big boy/grown man football that no one in the HEY SHE SHE understands or plays.
Cmdawg99
October 31st, 2012
5:50 pm
SISSIES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cmdawg99
October 31st, 2012
5:56 pm
SEC champs wanta beeees!! The “D” is soft. Kentucky 200 yards rushing, are you kidding me!! Not to mention Buffalo!!!! This red drink is gettin old!!!!! Same ole’ Same ole’… Run run pass punt.. Run run pass punt!!! Just tryin to do my part…… Hope it helps. Go dawgs !!!! Woof!
DogRun
October 31st, 2012
6:45 pm
there is no way a 5-3 ole miss team will come close to the Dogs 7-1 after that fla beatdown, ranked 6, heading to the BCS! Take this to the bank—the dogs put this game away early with some big plays and turnovers. Dogs 40 ole miss 20
@bob
October 31st, 2012
7:00 pm
Okay Bob UGA just isn’t very good. Is that what you want us all to say and feel because we know that is what you want the case to be.
As a 2001 UGA grad and fan of college football all I care about is beating our rivals and we almost always beat Tech. We have now beaten Florida 2 years in a row. You and SSIgator can talk all you want about the dawgs but winning means more to true fans than a bunch of blog posts from fans of teams that we beat.
It is annoying to continually read your posts but you have a right to voice your opinion.
GTBob
October 31st, 2012
7:02 pm
Florida:
vs Texas A&M: 2.96 yds a carry
vs LSU: 3.03 yds a carry
vs South Carolina: 1.86 yds a cary
vs UGA: 1.98 yds a carry
National Rank (yds per carry): 63rd
What a power rushing attack.
GTBob
October 31st, 2012
7:04 pm
As a 2001 UGA grad and fan of college football all I care about is beating our rivals and we almost always beat Tech.
That’s good. Keep your expectations really low and you will rarely be disappointed.
@bob
October 31st, 2012
7:13 pm
Your comments all have the same theme: somehow nobody UGA plays is any good and when we beat a decent opponent it is only because they failed at every level to play a good game. If it wasn’t for your incredible insight into the world of college football the rest of us would be lost.
I don’t remember your posts before the Florida game letting us all know that UGA would win but only because Florida is terrible and obviously overrated. Thank you for being the best Monday morning quarterback and captain obvious of all time and enlightening us all with that information.
Thank god for GTBob to ensure all UGA fans know just how bad our team really is and how we only win because nobody else is good and they let us win. You are the smartest most observant college football fan of all time and the rest of us are just living in your world Bob.
dale
October 31st, 2012
7:14 pm
The GTBob Trophy is more coveted than the Heisman.
It has never been awarded.
Johnny Vaught
October 31st, 2012
7:22 pm
You guys are making this harder than it will be … Ole Miss is razor thin and the talent gap is very wide. Bulldogs by at least 21, maybe more. Ole Miss has a chance to knock off Vandy and State, no way against Georgia and LSU … just can’t hang for four quarters. Defense is still very suspect, lots of injuries in the secondary and players playing out of position due to a lack of talent. Don’t lose any sleep over this one – after all, you are Georgia.
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2012
7:34 pm
This was the 56- to- not sure they even got a first down after the 1st quarter, game?
Unreal
October 31st, 2012
7:41 pm
UGA will beat the Rebels and the War Eagles.
Neutral
October 31st, 2012
7:44 pm
Absolutely no team has gotten close to matching UGa’s beat down of a good and bowl-bound Vandy team. Why do the “experts”(nod nod wink wink) focus on KY and fail to mention the UGa/ Vandy game?
Unreal
October 31st, 2012
7:44 pm
GTbob, is your name Richard Head?
bubba4dawgs
October 31st, 2012
7:49 pm
Swoopin, you been a smokin!! Your Aww – burn Tigers can’t carry the DAWGS jock straps!!
Mountain Dog
October 31st, 2012
7:50 pm
There are regulars on this site who throw around the term “Haters” as if they are the only true dog lovers and that legitimate critism of Coach Rich , or his inability to get the players to have any consistency in their play, is hate speech.. Many of the dog fans expressing their concern for the obvious inconsistency and lack of effort b y some of the players, have been ardent dog fans for longer than some of their critics have been alive, and love the dogs just as much.
The victory over the Gators raise as many concerns as happy relief, since it also highlights the lack of effort in most games this year.The failure to inspire or lead the dogs to strong efforts is on the coaches as well as the players. Anyone who does not see this has never played the game at even the high school level. You have bloggers on this site who played the game at the highest leval and want to see good effort, win or lose, every game. Are we haters because we want a championship as much as Florida,. Alabama and LSU fans and think it is not unreasonable to think that winning one in 1942 and again not until 1980 and none since is too long a wait. If wining is not the object of the game, tear down the score board or demphasize like the University of Penn. did years ago. .I like the values ofCoach Rich and the way the players love him and we do not have to worry about scandles. Is that enough? I am not even sure about that myself
OtownDog
October 31st, 2012
9:05 pm
relax—Ga puts this game away early. Marshall and Gurley will run wild all day. Ga 45 ole miss 16
Sylvester the DAWG
October 31st, 2012
9:26 pm
People forget about players missing games for whatever reason, Jarvis Jones is close to being back to his old self. This is the team everybody hoped to be on the field, I think we will close the season strong.
Rabid Dawg'84
October 31st, 2012
9:43 pm
Love this GtBob comment: UGA doesn’t play anybody. We play the institutors! I would never say a team that played UGA doesn’t play anybody. Does he know what he is saying?
joe jenkins
October 31st, 2012
9:56 pm
I tell you what..i cant wait to beat gt again…..their is two things certain in life and that is…the sun will come up and we will stomp tech!!! out of all the games remaining on our schedule…the one that scares me the most is the aub game…and thats because of willlie and bvg being familiar with our staff!! but if we show up with our hair on fire i think we win by at least 14
wins-by-a-link
October 31st, 2012
10:12 pm
Georgia no doubt played at the top of their game against Fla and at the low end of thier game against SC and Kentucky, The remaining games are very winnable and should present no competition for the talented Dogs, But the Dogs have a problem getting motivated on a weekly basis which seems to be a problem at other SEC schools except Bama, Lets hope Coach Richt and staff can keep the fire stoked and get the Dogs through the remaining schedule and wind up with a single loss and see what happens in the rankings, Looks like a top five finish at best.
Flo-Ri-Duh
November 1st, 2012
12:39 am
It took Bummer the 4th quarter before they put Ole Miss away 30 -14 so don’t expect UGA to blow Ole Miss out early if at all. 14 point spread is to much. I will be happy with a ONE point UGA win. You still get a “W”.
lol
November 1st, 2012
2:08 am
yeah that’s right Mark “softy” Richt, you need someone to call your team out because we know you’re not man enough.
GT is in turmoil as usual
November 1st, 2012
2:54 am
UGA should drop hapless GT and pick up M.T. St. U.l
Ty
November 1st, 2012
5:50 am
Wow, When was the last time you saw two good teams play and they made each othere look good. The GA Fl game was played sloppy because both teams were good and their defenses made the offenses look terrible…..What a concept!!!!! When was the last time you remember seeing a good well played GA FL game? In recent years they have always been trash, Knock down drag out defensive games with many turnovers and penalties. They do not like each other. It was not like this was Vandy and GA or FIU and Georgia…Possibly Aaron Murray had a bad game because of the UF defense. Possibly the Fl QB had a bad game because of the GA defense. Some of the media stories are presented like they were on file somewhere in your sports library and you just changed the dates, names, or teams in the reports. Come up with something original for a change. More of the same but changing names etc. is not progress or good reporting.
MA English 1975
November 1st, 2012
7:18 am
UGA beat FLA. Period.
OrlandoDawg
November 1st, 2012
7:25 am
Dawgs fired up and fans fired up! Sanford will be rockin this Sat.!!! What a great day it will be in Athens! Go Dawgs!
papadawg
November 1st, 2012
7:33 am
Poor GT fans. Once again their team Sucks and all they have left is trying to rile DAWG Fans with a load of crap. Face it teckies your team will be very lucky to go to ANY Bowl.
Your upset special of the week, sponsored by Kool-Aid
November 1st, 2012
7:56 am
Upset special: Ole Miss 23, Georgia 20
The Plain Truth
November 1st, 2012
8:14 am
All Dawgs know this, but with their weak minds, they tend to forget, so here’s a reminder:
Georgia Tech is a very highly ranked academic school that has a football team. Its alumni and fans have real lives and careers that don’t depend on the football team for their happiness.
Georgia, on the other hand, is basically a sell-your-soul-to-the-devil football f-a-c-t-o-r-y that also gives diplomas – worthless as they are. They have scumbag coaches like Mark Richt who have no scruples or ethics, who recruit lawless morons who can not even read, and collect huge paychecks, but still can’t win championships. This is a huge embarrassment to the State of Georgia and all of its citizens.
Now, can you remember all that?
Devil_Dawg
November 1st, 2012
8:34 am
@GTBoob You have some nerve talking UGA down son. Your team can’t beat their way out of a wet paper sack. Get a life dork
dale
November 1st, 2012
8:49 am
Plain Truth, you had me at “They have scumbag coaches like Mark Richt who have no scruples or ethics.” That’s the consensus on Richt. A good coach but really a bad person.
papadawg
November 1st, 2012
8:49 am
Here it comes. Whenever GT Football Team Suckjs they pull the academics card. I’m wondering if GT people are so smart(in their own minds) why can’t they come up with something new
Ngemdiche's Momma
November 1st, 2012
8:50 am
Ole Miss will win and seal the deal fo Robert to head to Oxford, and I don’t mean no Englands.
NCDawg
November 1st, 2012
8:50 am
UGA Insider… you didn’t think the Dawgs had a chance in hell against the mighty Gators. They promptly BEAT them… they smacked them in the mouth and kept punching. So much for your know it all predictions.
The Dawgs that show up will probably be in between the Kentucky game Dawgs and the UF game Dawgs. Ole Miss has a good offense and it will require some plays to slow them down. I think we will be able to run the ball on them unless they stack the line. If they throw 8 in the box then we will see another 300-400 yard passing game from Murray. They are chippy, like Vandy was last year. I think the intensity will be enough to keep the game in hand. It might not be 28-7 at the half or something like that but the Dawgs should win going away.
BTW the guys have said all week that the UF win is meaningless unless they win this one… that might be all the edge we need.
dale
November 1st, 2012
8:52 am
And it’s a good thing GT alumni and fans don’t depend on the football team for happiness. The world would run out of prozac.
63-39-5
November 1st, 2012
8:55 am
Georgia Tech is a very highly ranked academic school
The Joke by Coke is a MIT wannabe.
63-39-5
November 1st, 2012
9:02 am
And it’s a good thing GT alumni and fans don’t depend on the football team for happiness.
If winning football games are not important to you then quit playing football.
Techies are worthless snobs. Best said ya’ll are the Ole Miss of the academic world.Stanford, Harvard, Yale, MIT. GEORGIA TECH IN THEIR LEAGUE? I don’t think so.
dale
November 1st, 2012
9:04 am
Rhodes Scholars: UGA 22, GT 3