In a fight to the finish, Georgia shows it can punch back
Whoosh! Branden Smith scores on an end-around. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Athens — We learned something about these Bulldogs on Saturday night. We learned that they might not be as gifted or as polished as vintage Georgia teams, but we learned that they still have Bulldog-sized hearts.
Yes, they played better — at least on offense and on special teams — than they had in Stillwater, but the revelation was that they played infinitely harder. They could never quite shake South Carolina, but if not for their resolve they wouldn’t have exited with a careening victory. They’d have left 0-2.
And an 0-2 Georgia team would have touched off a hue and cry unlike any raised since Mark Richt came north from Tallahassee. We know from the week just past that even one loss is enough to set off Bulldog Nation. (”Bench Joe Cox!” “Fire Mike Bobo!” “Hire Jon Gruden!”) A second loss so soon into the 2009 season would brought the even bigger heat. And there were long and scary moments when a second loss seemed a distinct possibility.
They trailed 17-7 early, and if not for a Brandon Boykin kickoff return it would have been worse. Then they squandered 14 points off a 15-point lead by snapping the ball out of the end zone and by throwing the ball to the outrageously talented Acworthian Eric Norwood, who plays for South Carolina, and inside the final minute there was no assurance 0-1 wouldn’t become 0-2.
It was 41-37 with 6:13 left when Carolina took the ball, and within every Bulldog fan’s mind danced something other than sugarplums. Georgia would have to bank on its defense to halt somebody with the game on the line, and we all know what Georgia fans think of their defense and its coordinator. But this time the men of Willie Martinez made their stand.
Inside the Georgia 10-yard-line, inside the final 30 seconds, Carolina throwing for the end zone, and the men of Martinez held up their end. Stephen Garcia’s final two passes fell incomplete, neither of them great throws, but neither were directed toward a receiver left unencumbered. The indomitable Rennie Curran foiled the last throw, and in the end nothing much mattered except the rather astonishing score:
Georgia 41, South Carolina 37.
Loading ...Joe Cox, the quarterback deemed insufficient to requirements by some among his constituency, had a nice enough game except for one regrettable interception. He kept Georgia moving after it fell behind early, and when it was 38-23 Cox seemed to have put the Gamecocks away. But then a bad snap became a safety, and then there came a field goal, and then Norwood’s interception return for a touchdown, and suddenly it was tied.
Except it wasn’t. DeAngelo Tyson, a sophomore defensive end from Statesboro, blocked the automatic PAT, and Georgia still held the skinniest of leads. That’s the kind of play a defensive end doesn’t figure to make, a quick turnaround after the opposing D has just scored, but Tyson threw up his hand and kept the Bulldogs in front by being, not to put too fine a point on it, a bulldog.
And that’s what Georgia fans could and should take from this one. This isn’t a great team by any measure, but it was never going to be. What was troubling about falling to 0-1 was how readily the Bulldogs succumbed to Oklahoma State (which just lost to Houston — yikes). What we needed to see this night wasn’t if Georgia was the nation’s most gifted assemblage — it isn’t — but if it still can play the full-tilt brand of football that made this program famous.
It took a while, both literally and figuratively in a game that lasted four hours, but we have our answer. There’s still fight in these Dawgs. These 1-1 Dawgs.
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539 comments Add your comment
chris in athens
September 13th, 2009
2:18 am
Well, I understand how you may feel when you do not want to accept mediocrity. However, sometimes the coaches do a better job with the talent that UGA has than many think. We are loaded with young talent and NFL talent in certain places… ie… AJ, Rashad, Owens, Atkins, half of the o-line, Curran among others. However, we also have BELOW average talent in other CRITICAL areas such as the Defensive Ends and a good quarterback with Below Average Talent. Cox played very solid tonight with his talent level. Our D-Ends cause problems for our secondary because they cannot pressure the quarterback which allows WR’s to find openings in ANY TEAMS secondary because they have so much time. We are 3 D-ends and 1 Great QB away from being an INCREDIBLE team.
Rob
September 13th, 2009
2:18 am
Had the hope as well but chose to defend you and signed up after 9/11 …and served in the 82nd airborne division with multiple deployments…. and got got my degree afterward but the point is……who are you to judge any UGA fans…
defdog007
September 13th, 2009
2:19 am
We will get better to much talent not to!!!!!!!!!!!!
chris in athens
September 13th, 2009
2:26 am
Your right. Who am I to judge fans, WELL WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE PLAYERS AnD COACHES??
chris in athens
September 13th, 2009
2:27 am
Anyway, our team is only 3 D-Ends and a Great QB away from being OUTSTANDING!!
AugustaDawg
September 13th, 2009
2:28 am
Throw out 9/11 comments bc of football….Seriously? Its a game….WE WON! Cox is not Stafford. Samuel is not Moreno…. we are not as good on O as last season…..Nobody wins the SEC every year. Nobody wins the NC every year…..Alot has to fall into place, luck and skill with the current format….How long was it before Mack Brown won it at UT? Would OSU fire Tressel bc he has lost every big game since Miami in 02? What about Stoops at OU? Lets fire him too….. Just fire ecveryone who doesnt win a NC every year…. Dooley only won how many at UGA? Forget him too….Overrated coach?……
In a fight to the finish, Georgia shows it can punch back | Mark … | Georgia realestate live today
September 13th, 2009
2:32 am
[...] strength not be as precocious or as lustrous as oldness Colony teams, Here is the example post: In a fisticuffs to the finish, Colony shows it crapper lick backwards | Mark … Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: about-these, Bulldogs, bulldogs-on-saturday, [...]
45ACP
September 13th, 2009
2:34 am
I am ready. Your call.
RomeDawg
September 13th, 2009
2:35 am
Mark,
Good to have you back on the bandwagon my fair weathered sports writer!
Coach Mark
September 13th, 2009
2:45 am
I see we have nobody here with knowledge of football. If you had a brain you would realize the defensive backs are short and not very gifted. They never turned to face the qb in back pedal. They threw up their hands facing recievers. It means they need saftey help over the top. The line and linebackers did excelent stoping the run in cover 2. Safties are back 10 yards to help d-backs. Now, Loe Cox had 1 int. His throw was based on a saftey read on which way they rotated. He made the right read. Their linebacker just made a super play. Perhaps you should get educated or watch golf. God knows you dont know squat about football. This is why coach Richt makes big bucks and you are disgruntled people without a life or 1/5 of his salry. Get a brain
hugedawgfan
September 13th, 2009
2:52 am
augustadawg–the 10 wins a season is only for stats sake-those results get you second in east and third in the SEC. OK twice it has gotten you a SEC champ but with no chance of playing for a NC. So, you proved my point, settle for the 10 wins and settle for mediocrity. Trouble is another team will have 12 to 13 wins and a nice SEARS crystal ball to go with it if Orson doesn’t break it first. Buddy, try and strive for better results for the program like Nat Titles. The 10 wins a season since 2002 debate is like measuring your manhood in the boys’ room (My stat is bigger and better than yours. see, 10 wins for last 8 yrs says so.) Lets try and go for it all by putting better personnel around Richt-no bandwagon, I will always pull for UGA but I am fed up now, lets take it a step further starting now.
hugedawgfan
September 13th, 2009
2:57 am
yea, coach Mark, their LB made the right read just as everyone else in Sanford Stadium did. Blow Cox never checked his receivers. He constantly looked to the one he was going to throw to. You know, eventually the opposition’s DC is going to pick up on this too, heck if there is a decent LB, he’s going to see this all by his wittle wonesome self and have a quick pick six. I see that the proctologist needs to be consulted to help find your head but take a number as he is busy with CWM, Jancek and FAbris. I think he can work you in on Monday though.
K2elevation
September 13th, 2009
2:58 am
Richt looked disappointed tonight throughout the game. I’m sure a lot of UGA boosters had their say about Cox and put him in a tough spot. Granted he waited 4 years to deserve that kind of attention but it’s clear to me Cox can’t handle the attention and Richt is obviously is under pressure from outside influences. He’s (Cox) enjoying the spotlight too much I can tell by the way he carries himself. Richt with all due respect is in danger of losing his ship. The players are undisciplined. Willie Martinez while finally had enough courage to blitz, was still not able to put pressure on the opposing QB. Offensively without the special teams miracle this could have easily been a blowout.
Bobo’s clearly is at a disadvantage with his playcalling with Cox at QB. Anytime, you’re proud of the way your QB plays at the end of the game spells to me you didn’t have much faith in him to begin with. I saw at least three occasions where he’s poorly thrown balls would have been intercepted if he played against a higher caliber team like Florida or Alabama. He thinks he’s a movie star out there taking off his helmet to make sure he gets the spotlight when the opportunity arises. While I give him some slack because he obviously is very proud of himself he should be more concerned with his own teams interest rather than soaking up what he should realize could be short lived glory.
With respect to him IMO he doesn’t have the leadership skills to lead his squad into battle and personally I think the demeanor along with the realization you have to play 4 full quarters speaks volumes about his lack of maturity. Bobo said it all “he’s proud of his QB.”
Critically speaking you’re not going to strike fear in your opponents when the other teams defensive coordinator (along with the stadium) knows you lack confidence in your QB throwing deep balls which makes you one dimensional.
Richard Samuel showed flashes on brilliance on north to south running lanes but doesn’t have the agility to outrun defenders on the outside (which once again makes us one dimensional) I don’t know if anyone witnessed the absolutely theatrical dancing brilliance of Carlton Thomas when he dodged four defenders for what would have been a 4 yard loss. He turned it into a one of the most special 4 yard runs I’ve ever seen feet wise.
Finally the linebackers aren’t fearless and have exhibited their defense coaches mentality being unsure of themselves at the lines of scrimmage. I doubt this is due to a lack of experience rather than true football instincts. Bottom line the defense doesn’t instill fear into opposing offenses playing shyly and unsure.. I didn’t notice that much of the secondary other than Reshad Jones relies too much on his unreliable egotistical athletic gifts and rarely gives a second thought of actual football instincts.
With regards to the defense line it’s average at best. There’s no man whore up front with an over excessive amount of pure driven anger whose emotions flow to the rest of the line. In short they lack a ray lewis type of speaker who spirtually guides the team. I respect Rennie for his football playing ability but I’m not sure if I would want him in charge of the tenancity of the defense rather than just a second fiddler. He reminds me a lot of Penn State’s safety that went to the Falcons a few years back.
The team lacks a spoken leader. Defensively it’s apparent to me Willie doesn’t know how to recognize talent or doesn’t use his personel properly to effectively use a blitz. I would imagine there’s someone on our defense we could use as a Demorrio Williams type of player/linebacker who just has explosive amount of agility and speed to onslaught the QB. I’ve yet to see that.
Not being able to put any kind of pressure on the QB means the defensive coordinator is not doing his job effectively and personal character attributes aside doesn’t deserve to be a SEC caliber defense coordinator. There has to be some accountability for not using personnel correctly or not developing defensive one time high school studs. Even with the blitz we couldn’t get pressure on the QB. Without being a coach the coaches need to learn to put the best available players on the field and in the right packages.
Richt needs to take charge of his ship and realize he’s need more of a outspoken Billick/Van Gorder type of personality to balance his overall own passive christian personality. In short there’s need to be more men driven testerone leadership especially on the defensive side of the ball.
In short there’s truly a lack of top head leadership. Richt should have already realized that Samuel is strictly a north/south runner, having Cox’s limited arm limits the offensive playcalling and the way defense respect us, and the general complete lack of strategy and personnel movements on the defense. His nice christian personality and family oriented team atmosphere is respectful but at the end of the day the coach needs to be the field general leading his men into war. He needs to be objective first and then let his christian values lead second. There has to be an authoritarian voice at some point to lay down some acccountability on defense. He’s let his personal friendship get in the way of being a coach.
Later
PHIL
September 13th, 2009
3:02 am
ROB you’re certainly no supporter of our program. 2 years ago we were statistically the number 2 defense in the nation. Same DC How do you figure the coach with more wins per season than any other in the SEC has given us mediocrity? Never played or coach a down of football have you?
PHIL
September 13th, 2009
3:06 am
HUGE you ever play on a team with 10 wins?
rx-dawg
September 13th, 2009
3:08 am
This just in…Joe Cox told Branden Smith to return the kickoff from 8 yards deep in his end zone and fumble around the 15. Additionally, he took responsibility for making sure AJ Green fumbled away the ball inside the 30 yard line. The pick was bad, but if you look at the pass, he made the right read, he just needed to get the ball over Norwood to the WIDE OPEN AJ….I mean there was nobody within 10 yards of him. As far as comparing the rankings go, Cox was the 6th overall ranked QB when he came out, so really, what does Matt Barkley really have to do with this. Barkley was Gatorade Player of the Year as a JUNIOR in high school. He is THAT good. He is not your typical freshman. The reason the game was close was poor bouts of play-calling, not anything Joe Cox did. They draw up the plan and sometimes, the plan just doesn’t work.
Yohan
September 13th, 2009
3:10 am
Idiot Tech fan, no one’s going to Alaska (AK), they’re going to Arkansas (AR), learn state abbreviations and you can pass the GED!
GoGADawgzzz
September 13th, 2009
3:13 am
Its funny to see these dumb jacket fans, they have been stinking the joint up for years. Now they have a decent team, they are talking like they’ve won or going to compete for Nat. Titles? Yes, it is going to take some time to get the Dawgs back on track. But its better than playing the garbage ACC F-ball conf and think there’s some strong teams. But, mark my words end of the year we will beat sucker Tech, bottom line we have better talent overall. Last Year was a miracle win. If that team last year lined up with the tech team 10 games, we’d win 9 out of 10. Well probably lose two more this year no more.
GoGADawgzzz
September 13th, 2009
3:20 am
also, Why are there so many dummy tech fans hanging out in a UGA forum? ENVY, I guess. I see it every year, some dumb nerdy techie, putting their two cents in, then when we bust them up almost every year, they are laying low at the corner bookstore, with UGA T-shirts on!!! hahaha
Rod
September 13th, 2009
3:22 am
Ga your drinking to much Kool Aid GA is gonna lose to Tenn,Fla is gonna ring up 50 on em and you know it days b4 the game this blog is gonna awfully quiet your like Brandon Adams Houston just stumped who you lost too you could not even beat them what flavor is that kool aid boy?
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
September 13th, 2009
4:15 am
Meanwhile, USCe is about as good as NC State, and OK State lost to HOUSTON!
This all too entirely 2nd tier for anyone with any sense about which to care.
Even USC and the Ohio State University are more compelling, and, quite frankly, they’re not all that good.
After these first two games are said and done, Florida and Penn State great, and there are some good teams, and towards the bottom there are some mediocre teams, which include my beloved Yellow Jackets and my hated Dawgs.
At the end of the year, neither of us are going to be playing for that God Awful Ugly Sears Trophy.
bulldawg4life
September 13th, 2009
4:38 am
read all the comments, and i said last week. the quarterback and running back play gotta improve for us 2win, so we’re 1 – 1 now. i’ll take that over 0 – 2 anyday, with it being said we got the ravorbacks in 6days. lets keep improving b.cause i see all this talk about how the dawgs are over-rated & not coached right. funny, week 2 week teams dont know how they gonna play or the outcome on saturday/ but we at home do. like my name say, there’s no question about it hope every other team on our schedule takes georgia lightly.((yeah under richt/ u count on us finding ways to lose the game, hell we do it what 8 to 10 times every year…lol)) my bad, where they do that at?
BravesAreDone
September 13th, 2009
4:47 am
Willie Martinez STILL needs to go.
ugot2bkidding
September 13th, 2009
6:17 am
Bugkiller, you need a girlfriend.
McDawg
September 13th, 2009
6:50 am
welcome back JUSTIN HOUSTON
Spike
September 13th, 2009
6:54 am
The reports of our demise were premature. Sorry ,Tech fans.
GR82BAG8R
September 13th, 2009
7:02 am
The reports of your demise are actually prescient. You know you will lose to Florida, and it won’t be close. South Carolina ran up 427 yards on your defense. Imagine what the rest of the SEC will do to you.
DHD
September 13th, 2009
7:05 am
That’s as good as UGA can do at home against one of the worst SEC teams? Uh oh…
Connie Lingous
September 13th, 2009
7:05 am
Psssst – Mark! D. Tyson ain’t a DE, he’s a DT.
DawgNation
September 13th, 2009
7:13 am
Does anyone know anything about Arkansas this year? The Dogs need to start focusing on them now and come up with a much better defensive game plan. I can guarantee Arkansas is already pouring over the last 4 hours of game tape we just provided.
southgadawg88
September 13th, 2009
7:19 am
Ark can pour over everything they like…..so what?when did Ark become such a great team?Branden Smith is starting to make a name for himself….could be freshman of the year in SEC.
Spike
September 13th, 2009
7:21 am
GR82.. Perhaps. But at least we have played two varsity teams and not two middle school teams at home. But the ‘Cocks will beat somebody they are not supposed to beat. Maybe you?
Atl Resident
September 13th, 2009
7:28 am
How are you UGA fans going to blame a close game on Cox? Always gotta be whining and blame somebody for something. Just be glad they won. This was damn good game with two talented teams. There were good plays that were made on both teams. If all the USC field goals were instead touchdowns UGA would be 0-2 and that’s why Richt was so happy at the end.
rosezee
September 13th, 2009
7:37 am
Another sloppy, undisciplined, poorly coached football UGA game. Richt must go!
DawgNation
September 13th, 2009
7:38 am
SGD your right he is making a name for himself and its not as a kick off return man. Three tries from 7 yards back in the end zone in two games? Come on special teams 101 there.
Dawg Max
September 13th, 2009
7:38 am
Mark it down—next year, with all this young talent, UGA wins it all! This year will be a rebuilding year, with 3-4 losses–no big deal after losing all those nfl superstars
rosezee
September 13th, 2009
7:40 am
Another sloppy, undisciplined, poorly coached football UGA game. Richt must go!
DawgNation
September 13th, 2009
7:43 am
Poor Joe just doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. First the snide “never played a down” comment last week about the over vocal fans and this from the post game interview about the interception: “No, I’m not,” he said, still smiling. “I mean, I was laughing with [Norwood] out there. I knew it was a play where we we’re going to throw the ball. And it was one of those things where I could work either side. I kind of even saw Norwood, and I was like hmm, and I decided to throw it anyway and he made a great play.” Throw it any way? Good lord if you saw him in your throwing lane why make the “decision” to throw it? Just keeps on giving fuel to the anti Joe crowd.
GR82BAG8R
September 13th, 2009
7:46 am
Georgia always has the talent, in fact signing top-10 recruiting classes year after year. With all that talent you must ask why Georgia is not in the hunt for the NC every year. It just doesn’t make sense. If Florida can win 2 NCs with its talent, and position itself to win another this year, why not Georgia? Why? Deep down you know….
winterville dawg
September 13th, 2009
7:46 am
This from the silent majority of UGA supporters. Great win by our fantastic team and we are proud of our quarterback’s performance. Imagine if he hadn’t been recovering from the flu last week. Mark Richt is our fantastic coach and our DC Willie Martinez is a class leader of young men. Congratulations on a exciting and accomplished win. 1-0 in the SEC is all that matters on this day. Go Dawgs!
Jon P
September 13th, 2009
7:50 am
GAGRAD05, you’re right, but I can’t help it. The your-you’re thing is a pet peave of mine. My problem (but I don’t drink and maybe bloggers shouldn’t either…it makes UGA grads look bad). BUT, the issue is that our defense didn’t look good AT ALL! SC had over 30 more offensive plays than we did and scored 37 points. Yes, we scored 41 points, BUT we’re going to HAVE to if the defense doesn’t tighten up! This is getting to be ridiculous! Pay BVG 4 million to come back (as DC – not HC)! He’s worth it!!!
AL Dawgwalker
September 13th, 2009
7:59 am
Give the rock to Samuels, he’s a beast in the making. Let Joe Cox manage game, not try to win it with his average arm. Good article Mark B., I’m not afraid to take a win.
LarryJones
September 13th, 2009
8:02 am
Spike
The reports of UGA’s demise were premature Spike? Are you kidding? You lose to OSU who can’t beat Houston….then you luck out against SC after the refs take away two SC td passes. And thats to a bottom dweller SC team. Oh yeah…you guys are the bomb.
Ramguy
September 13th, 2009
8:05 am
Bottom line the Dawgs won. It does look like the pass rush and the secondary needs improvement. Some folks were saying the refs gave the game to the UGA. I don’t know about that but the refs called two facemasks/headgear penalties on the Dawgs. One correctly and the other not so much. I think the one on Jones was a bad call. Then on the great reception and run by AJ, he is hit high and even his helmet goes flying. No flag there and there should have been.
PT
September 13th, 2009
8:13 am
Mark wrong on the gifted part. We are as gifted as we haeve ever been, just young
barneyb
September 13th, 2009
8:22 am
Still say this team and coaching staff is mediocre at best. Purrier or not, when you have to struggle like that to beat SC, you have serious systemic problems from the coaching staff on down. Talent is lacking and some staffing changes must occur.
Carpetbagger
September 13th, 2009
8:23 am
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO SAW 12 PLAYERS ON THE FIELD FOR GEORGIA IN THE FINAL TWO PLAYS? I have a DVR and rewound the last two plays, paused an went up to the TV and counted 12 players, 5 lineman, 7 defensive backs, Somebody please confirm what I saw.
Wille ???
September 13th, 2009
8:37 am
Over all a good effort… My hopes of 10-2 are gone … I still love and support my dogs but I realize now its a rebuilding year. The freshmen look good, Offensive effort was good. Maybe we can keep BoBo but our defense is SORRY…..
Loula dawg
September 13th, 2009
8:39 am
dawg fans get all excited about a poorly played game against a lousy opponent, way to raise the bar..fayettevile could be ugly.
Bob Horner
September 13th, 2009
8:40 am
Joe Cox did what he had to do in this game — he bounced back and took control of the team. Not to mention all of the outstanding throws he was making all game. WAY TO GO KID!
Crazy game, huge win, and #1 is going to be a weapon!