A powerful performance by a suddenly powerful UGA team
Did this guy outcoach Paul Johnson? Yes he did. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
There have been times lately when we’ve wondered, “Who are these guys?” Because they weren’t the Bulldogs we’d come to know and admire. They were undisciplined and undercoached. They were always reacting to an opponent, never forcing the issue. They were a finesse team, and a team devoid of force doesn’t win big in the broad-shouldered SEC.
But on the final night of an underwhelming regular season, Georgia played as if it remembered its breeding. It acted like an SEC team. It ran the ball with fury and blocked like the crack of dawn and played big-boy football. And at halftime we were saying, “Who are these guys?”
Because these weren’t the Bulldogs of recent vintage. These were tougher, stronger, meaner. They had come into the stadium of a team looking to solidify its hold on a rivalry and a state, and they’d been the aggressor from the first. Indeed, they were the aggressor from the coin toss. Georgia won it and, rather than do as every coach does in modern football, Mark Richt didn’t defer his choice. He wanted the ball and he wanted it now.
And when his men got it, they pounded Tech in a way Georgia never pounds anybody anymore. Ten plays, all runs, Caleb King and Washaun Ealey taking turns, the unassuming offensive line blowing massive holes in the Tech line. Ten plays, all runs, and just like that Georgia was ahead in a game it was supposed to lose.
Give Richt credit: All week he had to answer questions — one from me on the Wednesday SEC teleconference — about the need for change in his program, and in this game he did change. He and Mike Bobo eschewed the fancy stuff and just Lombardi’ed the game plan, and it was beautiful in its brutality. Three Tech defenders had to be helped off the field in the first half, and after 30 minutes Georgia had outgained the nation’s No. 7 team by 141 yards and had outscored it by 14 points.
But it was only a year ago in Athens that Georgia had led by 16 points at the half, and within seven minutes that lead was gone. Everyone knew Tech would again come out flying, and sure enough the Jackets scored on their first possession. But Georgia needed only one play to answer, Caleb King taking a handoff and fleeing 75 yards. And from then on Tech was chasing, and in the end the fleet Jackets couldn’t run fast enough.
It came down to one possession. Georgia up six, Tech with a chance to win. The Jackets moved across midfield but unaccountably stopped running the ball. Four consecutive passes, the first three nicely defensed, the fourth simply dropped. (The second and third passes were defended by Reshad Jones, the Georgia safety who’d spent the last year answering questions about his missed tackle of Tech’s Roddy Jones.) And suddenly Georgia was the second-best team in Georgia no longer.
Richt and Bobo and Willie Martinez had outflanked the new genius Paul Johnson and had done it without A.J. Green, their best player. And the guys who did play outfought a Tech team known for its pugnacity.
And now we have issues galore. Does one blissful night off North Avenue override the worst season under Richt? Probably not. But for the Bulldogs and their coach and all his coaches, it had to feel good to reclaim state supremacy and to mar what has been a glorious Tech season. (To say nothing of wrecking the ACC title game.) What happens with Martinez and the other assistants can wait until another day. What happened Saturday night was a slice of deliverance 365 days in the making.
Back to our question: Who were these guys? They were the Georgia Bulldogs, only they weren’t the Georgia Bulldogs that contrived to lose five games this season. These were Bulldogs from a different time, a time when Georgia football was power football. (The Bulldogs rushed for 339 yards, the highest total under Richt.)
And if this is the way Georgia football it to look in 2010 and beyond … well, maybe the future isn’t so grim after all. Maybe the future is big and brawny thing.
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1,342 comments Add your comment
jesse james
November 29th, 2009
11:42 am
I heard Tech fans talking about us losing to Kentucky. Coach Johnson kept saying we blew them off the field if it weren’t for the turnovers. I can tell you one thing, you better listen to head coach and thank god Kentucky is not in the ACC.
TampaGator
November 29th, 2009
11:43 am
ratherBgambling….Florida will lose a lot of talent to the NFL this year. Dunlap, Cunningham, Spikes, the Pouncey twins, Hernandez, Stamper, and Haden. It is almost scary to think about all the talent on this team. But Florida has outstanding athletes to replace every single one of them, including Jeremy Brown for Haden (Brown has a back injury and is being held out this year). Bushnell is a really good RS Fresh CB, too. Plus, they are returning all the DTs and they are very good. William Green and Duke Lemmens will effectively replace Cunningham next year. Trattou and Earl Okine (6′7, 290 lb RS fresh) will effectively replace Dunlap. Bostic will effectively replace Spikes in the middle. J.J. Jones, Hicks and several others, including Janlani Jenkins (the #1 LB recruit last year)are returning at the other LB positions. All the other CB and Safties are returning (Hill, Brown, Wright). Meyer is also going to bring in the number one recruiting class in America this year. Yes, it is going to be another excellent year for the Gators in 2010. The Dawgs will be better, but SEC teams do not win titles with freshman QBs. And Brantley is no freshman QB. He practices against the number one college defense in America every day.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 29th, 2009
11:43 am
I haven’t heard much praise going to Chapas but he literally destoyed the GT DB’s on a couple of plays.
Even the TV crew was remarking how GT was dropping like flies. It’s GREAT to be a GEORGIA BULLDOG.
Give it up to Russ also – great fill in for UGA VII, don’t you think?
TampaGator
November 29th, 2009
11:45 am
BigL…maybe not, but I believe they will be a different better, if that makes sense. And, if you remember, I was posting in early 2008 about how good Florida’s defense was going to be in 2009 and every Dawg fan was making fun of me. Time will tell. But I believe the Gators will be just as good in 2010 and will take another run at the NC.
Brian D Hypes
November 29th, 2009
11:46 am
What does this weekend tell us about the ACC and the SEC when two middle of the road SEC squads handle the two ACC Championship participants?
B D Hypes-
TampaGator
November 29th, 2009
11:46 am
I meant to say I was posting in early 2008 about how good the Gator D would be in 2008….and Georgia fans were making fun of me for saying posting that.
takedowndawg
November 29th, 2009
11:48 am
CoffeBluffdawg, great reminder of the blue collar players who do the heavy lifting. Totally agree. The offensive line also performed at the level last night what most of us had expected from them at the season’s start. Clint Boling was a Beast!!! Go DAWGS!!!!
1eyedJack
November 29th, 2009
11:49 am
This just in…..Caleb King just scored again!
jason
November 29th, 2009
11:50 am
Chapas is another in a long line of talented UGA FBs. Does his job without flair. UGA has been missing that kind of FB play majority of the year and it held the RBs back early in the season.
UGA should be stacked next year, but you have to have the coaches at the same levelas the players to successful. UGA’s only weakness next year seems to at DT where we will lose the size in Owens and Weston. UGA just needs to play to their ability and talent. Also just play smart. UGA will be in the MNC hunt if they just limit stupidity. No PFs, No dumb ints. Take advantage of TO chances, and just ley Walsh continue to boom the ball through the EZ.
Dennis
November 29th, 2009
11:50 am
Those GA Dawgs took a bit out of Gt last night . I was thinking the iron bowl would be the best SEC game of the week but after watching this game ,will it win hands down in my opinion .
random fact
November 29th, 2009
11:50 am
John,
I’m as big a UGA fan as any… but that was farily ignorant of you… especially considering UGA plays 12 regular season game + 1 bowl game in most years.
Other than that, can’t complain too much! GO DAWGS
Bo Doodly
November 29th, 2009
11:51 am
For those of you saying this win is meaningless….ask Saint Simon or this butt buddy, the Yellow Fuzz Fairy how meaningless this was….bwaaahahahahahahahahahahaha ((((( 30 – 24 )))))
Bye Willie, ain’t gonna miss you……
VolnATL
November 29th, 2009
11:51 am
The Mighty SEC beats down the two best the ACC has to offer on the same day!!! Kind of makes that title match-up look pretty lame, eh ACC folks?
I am no GA fan by any means (Go Vols!), but I have to offer my congratulations. That’s a great win.
TampaGator
November 29th, 2009
11:52 am
Now that Georgia has again proved the current weak state of the ACC, who wins the SEC title game? This one is going to be something to watch. Two great defenses. The team with the lesser amount of turnovers wins, I think. It could go eiter way. Of course, I am pulling for the Gators. I hope the AJC Georgia Bulldog writers cover the SEC title game this week and allow for some serious Bama vs. UF postings. Man, the Dome is going to be loud. Have a nice day. Gotta go enjoy a walk on the beach with someone now.
jdawg
November 29th, 2009
11:52 am
TampaGator,
Your discussion of all the up and coming player to replace senior/juniors leaving for the NFL sounds very similar to what the UGA fans were saying this year about replacing Stafford, Moreno, Massaquoi. There is a replacement for talent but there is NO REPLACEMENT FOR GAME EXPERIENCE!!!! If there is no fall off next year then, I will personally crown U Meyer as the modern Lombardi.
Frank Wren
November 29th, 2009
11:52 am
UF is losing their entire defense and will have to break in a new QB. They are going to find out what UGA found out this year. You dont lose Stafford Moreno etc and still maintain the same level. UF was 9-4 in 2007. I see a similar record in 2010
Bo Doodly
November 29th, 2009
11:53 am
If not for the same reffing crew that cost us the LSU game, Florida would not be playing for the NC.
clermontdawg
November 29th, 2009
11:53 am
HEY ST SIMONS 30-24 hahahahahaha
Frank Wren
November 29th, 2009
11:54 am
Of course, I am pulling for the Gators. I hope the AJC Georgia Bulldog writers cover the SEC title game this week and allow for some serious Bama vs. UF postings
Why would they? In case you havent noticed this is a Georgia newspaper. Im sure they will have plenty of coverage in the Florida papers.
Big L
November 29th, 2009
11:55 am
Of course we were, 20 years of getting your head kicked in will make you grasp at anything. I just believe that UF will start to lose coordinators and an evening out in the SEC east will happen.
Bo Doodly
November 29th, 2009
11:55 am
Thought I’d NEVER say this….Go BAMA!
1eyedJack
November 29th, 2009
11:55 am
There’s a new sheriff in town, and he just turned into Barney Fife with 1:30 seconds to go and 1 timeout.
AIN'T Simon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 29th, 2009
11:56 am
30-24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
once a neard, always a nerd!
November 29th, 2009
11:56 am
Still believe UGA would be 5th in the ACC Bradley? You can’t even write your article and give the Dawgs their credit without taking your shots at them (’underwhelming regular season’, tech’s ‘glorious season’, ‘contrived to lose 5 game’). That loss really eats at you MB, doesn’t it? Order Restored got it exactly right. The ACC and GT absolutely suck! End of story!
Bo Doodly
November 29th, 2009
11:56 am
Saint Simon and Yellow Fuzz Fairy….suck it….suck it good….bwahahahahahahahahaha
((((( 30 24 ))))) hahahahahahaha
chris
November 29th, 2009
11:56 am
30-24! what? no St.Simon…not surprised
2Dawgs
November 29th, 2009
11:57 am
30-24, Tech will hear it all year!!
Boo Radley
November 29th, 2009
11:57 am
1eyed — CPJ is indeed the new Barney Fife in Town. Who knew that when GA beat SC back in September it was for the ACC Championship?
Hahahahahahahahah…..suck it losers!!!!
jason
November 29th, 2009
11:58 am
TampaGator, I am going to say UF wins in a close and physical game. You are right TOs will be key, but I think more important will be QB play. Tebow is the better and more expeiienced QB. I have a buddy at work who is a UA fan and he keeps asking my opinion on the game. I keep telling him the same thing. QB play. UF has a huge advantage there.
takedowndawg
November 29th, 2009
11:58 am
Mark, do you subjectively choose which posts are allowed on?
Hawksfan30
November 29th, 2009
11:58 am
Where you at St. Simons? 45-42? 30- 24 !! Joe Cox is a good qb when you dont try and turn him into a gun-slinger. Great job O-line, King and Ealy.
Dawgs rb still runnin
November 29th, 2009
12:00 pm
Even when we win Saint Simons is still in our blogs. GET the F out
jason
November 29th, 2009
12:02 pm
Hawksfan30, St Simons is over on Bill King’s blog whining about bad ref calls that cost Tech the game, never mind the 350 UGA ran on them.
Mid town
November 29th, 2009
12:03 pm
Let’s see. Georgia runs out on field against Florida and according to Mark B. changed the series for 10 years. Last year before season started according to Mark B. Georgia would be a top 10 team as long as Coach R. stayed. The last two weeks Paul J. is the second coming of Paul Bryant and now last nite. Mark Bradley do you know anything about football. The three passes in the last two minutes last nite was the worst coaching decision I have seen this year.
1eyedJack
November 29th, 2009
12:03 pm
30-24!!! Glad it still hurts!!!!
Swampdawg
November 29th, 2009
12:05 pm
WHAT an O LINE! What a TANDEM! My God A Freshman! What a DEFENSE! The future looks BRIGHT!
30- 24! 30-24!
Tron5000
November 29th, 2009
12:06 pm
Last night undid all the work CPJ has done in 2 years. Last year GT was a good story, winning 9 games and beating UGA for the first time in 8 years. This season we were supposed to take the next step. I thought that had happened, with the way the offense has progressed, losing only 1 conference game and heading to Tampa for the ACC Championship, and what many assumed to be another win over UGA to begin GT’s own winning streak.
Last night took all that positive and dumped it on its head.
Yes, they won the Coastal and are still headed to Tampa. Yes, they may play in (and win) a BCS Bowl Game. They got to mark a couple goals off the board. But another goal was to beat UGA, and they fell short, and in the oddest fashion. As I watched from the North stands, I found myself asking, “Who is this team? What are they doing?” Letting Jaybo launch it deep on the first play of his first full (haha) series? Jumping offsides on 4th-and-short? Crossing midfield on the final, surely-game-winning drive, then inexplicably going deep on 1st and 2nd down with plenty of time on the clock?
Why did these things happen? They can’t have been scared, so were they not prepared? Did CPJ outsmart himself by trying to outsmart (haha) Willie Martinez? When the were trying to run that dive over and over, did they not see the safeties crashing on every play? And if they did see this, did no one think it may be a good idea to get the ball in somebody’s hands on the outside (as they finally did on Thomas’s catch-and-run TD)? Did no one think that perhaps you should stack the box a little with UGA running all over your D?
There are many questions, and I want answers. I’m still a CPJ guy, but when I’m seeing things happen (and calling them before they happen), why aren’t the coaches doing the same?
I’m gonna have this bad taste in my mouth for 364 days.
jason
November 29th, 2009
12:06 pm
By the way, how many tackles did Rennie have last night? 20 ?
ApopkaFlDawg
November 29th, 2009
12:06 pm
Great win to end the regular season. However, the reality is the Dawgs had to get back on the bus after the game and return to the SEC. We still need coaching changes if we are going to compete in the SEC. I love beating Tech, but beating an ACC team is no big deal.
tc
November 29th, 2009
12:06 pm
whoever called that 3rd down pass on georgia’s last drive, behind the line of scrimmage, resulting in a 3 yd loss and subsequent 55 yard field goal attempt is an idiot.
georgia won in spite of the coaching…..tech likely would have won if bebe had not dropped an easy pass.
reebok
November 29th, 2009
12:07 pm
Tech fan here. Congrats to the Dogs and their fans. Good luck in your bowl game.
tulevol
November 29th, 2009
12:07 pm
Great win Dawgs, way to represent the SEC. I am a VOL fan, but I despise the overrated ACC. Way to pull it together. Where are all those mouthy Tech fans at? You guys stuck a big plug in their mouth. Go VOLS!
22 wins in a row
November 29th, 2009
12:09 pm
Jackets are no Gators. Congrats on a big win, way to represent the SEC and your football program.
Big L
November 29th, 2009
12:11 pm
Russ for UGA VIII. A little brown never hurt nobody.
where r u st. simons
November 29th, 2009
12:13 pm
30-24 hahahahahahahahaha
route66
November 29th, 2009
12:16 pm
Was that Ealey or King going for 10 yards again? I forget to mention TO HELL WITH TECH.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 29th, 2009
12:16 pm
tulevol,
Congrats on the UT win (again) over an improved UK. See you in Athens next year.
Swampdawg
November 29th, 2009
12:16 pm
The DAWGS were only a few turnovers away from having another 10-2 year!
Mike
November 29th, 2009
12:17 pm
Really, what difference does it make which conference is the best? Root for your team. Nothing else matters.
jason
November 29th, 2009
12:17 pm
tc, agree, that was Bobo’s worst and pretty much bad call of the game. Should have just ran the ball to the middle of the field, in a power I formation. Probably would have gotten the first down. Tech’s DL was tired, you could see it.