5 reasons the Georgia Bulldogs are better off than you think
Aaron Murray has been pretty darn good. (AP photo)
1. A.J. Green returns this week. Rule of thumb: Having your best player in the lineup tends to help.
2. The Bulldogs shouldn’t lose again until the day before Halloween, if then. The next four games: At Colorado, Tennessee in Athens, Vanderbilt in Athens, at Kentucky. The first three shouldn’t be much trouble, and surely Kentucky can’t beat Georgia two years running. (I mean, could it?) There should be much momentum-building done before UGA heads for Jacksonville, and who knows how good Florida is?
3. Aaron Murray looks legit. Even behind an offensive line that hasn’t blocked a lick, the redshirt freshman quarterback hasn’t been overwhelmed. He has five touchdown passes against two interceptions, and he has completed 61 percent of his passes. And now he gets to throw to A.J. Green.
4. The defense is better. That’s still not to say it’s good, but it’s better. Last season the Bulldogs yielded 78 points in victories over South Carolina and Arkansas. This year it yielded 48 against those two teams. Yeah, it lost both games this time, but whaddaya want?
5. This remains a very talented team. Even if it’s being undercoached on offense, talent cannot be kept down forever. Green will make plays that have gone unmade so far. Washaun Ealey won’t always fumble into the end zone. Orson Charles will do something. I’m not saying Georgia’s going to win the SEC East, and even my prediction of 9-3 seems a bit ambitious, but this team will not — repeat, not — finish 6-6. It’s too good for that.
Equal time (sort of): 5 reasons Georgia Tech is worse off than you might think.
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458 comments Add your comment
Bitter thuga fan
October 1st, 2010
10:13 pm
i’ll give you five reasons to kic–k your as—- bradley, sick sence of humor, ha ha!! p.s. try writing like, 5 reasons why we should start 5 freshman off linemen!!! get it our “O” line su—-x. no 9-3 fool, try 5-7 and hope we can give those freshman “O” line playing time.
Bitter
October 1st, 2010
10:15 pm
“teacher” please stick your head where the sun don’t shine!!!
Drhone
October 1st, 2010
10:33 pm
I am a DIE HARD UGA fan! I’ve loved them since day 1 and always will which is why I feel I am the perfect person to say CMR is GREAT, but Bobo wasn’t any good as a player so WTF makes anybody in Athens think he was gonna be some offensive minded guru?! CMR should’ve fired Martinez loooong ago just as he should’ve done Bobo and sticking with him is going to get him the boot right along with Bobo! CMR has the same syndrome Bobby Cox suffered from all these years that allowed us to be known as a regular season contender and flounder in the postseason… Sticking with the ’starter’, just because Bobo is the ’starter’ doesn’t mean he’s the best guy for the job! Fire his ass and get a legit offensive minded person running the show for goodness sake!!! Anyway… GATA!
Gee
October 1st, 2010
11:08 pm
6. The Dogs have an easier schedule than Boise St. the rest of the season. LMFAO… A Wide receiver can only have SO much impact on a ball game. When you cant pass protect, cant run the ball, and cant play defense. #8 isn’t Owen Marecic he cant be the O-line, a wide receiver,and then go play some linebacker or DB for them.
Hairy Perry
October 1st, 2010
11:15 pm
It is strange to me that everyone is pointing out the Mississippi game so much. This team took Auburn to the wire. Cam and crew barely got out alive. Miss. State didn’t beat us as much as we blew it ourselves. We took Arkansas to the last minute. This team is a hair away from being 3-1. I think it is very interesting with all the Tech fans on here posing as this person or that. Tech fans seem to care far mor about Georgia losing as opposed to what their program is doing. It is funny to me as a dog fan to watch the glee these guys get at watching UGA struggle. They will not even leave any inication as to the fact they are Tech fans when they post for a reason. Guys no disrespect but worry about your own affairs. Maybe if Tech fans would worry more about their “beloved” jackets, when the dogs play Tech in Atlanta it would not look like a UGA home game.
Dawg style
October 1st, 2010
11:26 pm
Georgia wins because they GOTTA win
Hairy Perry
October 1st, 2010
11:28 pm
Dog fans I will be at the UT game next week lets set aside our differences and support these kids. Fill the stadium and get loud we can help get this turned around. These young men need to see we love this team and are here to support it even in the ugly times.This is the difference between us and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech fans will be the last to admit it, but they hate UGA because we own them. No matter what the record, they see us as an L on their schedule almost every year. It drives them insane. They don’t come on this site because we are a “sorry team” , they come with a seething hatred for a team that will punch them in the mouth year in and year out. They know the dogs will be back. They have to enjoy it for as long as they can.
Prediction: 2010 Dogs 34-17 over Tech.
UGA Guy
October 1st, 2010
11:33 pm
Guys A.J. Green is the difference maker on this team. We need him to get W’s, like it or not. With A.J. we are 3-1, no doubt in my mind. He opens everything up for the offence. You will see a completely different team the rest of the way. Get behind him and this team.
outsideworld
October 1st, 2010
11:39 pm
I still can’t get over this, btw, there are more than GT fans enjoying UGA’s demise, as Stewart Mandell said: “In all my travels, I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a fan base whose self-perception is so far from reality. Georgia fashions itself a national power in the vein of Ohio State, USC, et. al., based primarily off one glorious three-year run 30 years ago with Herschel Walker (and some kick-butt years in the 1940s). Prior to this season, the Dawgs under Richt had vastly outperformed their historical “equilibrium,” and in fact Richt’s career winning percentage (.752) is the highest in school history (not counting Bobby Winston’s lone 5-1 season in 1894).”
UGA Guy
October 1st, 2010
11:42 pm
Mark Bradley,
I apologize for all the trash talk you recieved from some of our fan base on this article. I appreciate you being positive. We need it. The dog nation needs it. You have always been upbeat, respectful in your writing about UGA and other teams in Georgia. It’s nice to see someone who is not trying to kick dirt in everyones eyes all the time. you show far more maturity and respect than Jeff Shultz does and it is refreshing. Keep doing what your doing.
UGA Guy
October 1st, 2010
11:49 pm
outsideworld,
What demise? According to you we had nothing to begin with. I doubt you hang out on Vanderbilt blogs or any other secondtier team. What gives us little dog fans the great honor of your intelligently
crafted summary of our sorry football program Techie.
UGA Guy
October 1st, 2010
11:51 pm
By the way outside world didn’t you post that same thing earlier. How long did it take you to pull all that together.
Hairy Perry
October 2nd, 2010
12:05 am
Nats, Nats, Nats, man why do we have to share the same state with these guys? Hey Yechs free Jeneane Gorafilo posters with the purchase of one or more tickets to any home game.
Hairy Perry
October 2nd, 2010
12:07 am
Oh yeah, We’ll throw in a hotdog ang coke.
SatillaDawg
October 2nd, 2010
12:18 am
No, Dawg style, “GOTTA win” was last week, and we all saw what happened there.
This week, they either win or CMR and the entire coaching staff start looking for new jobs, because if the Dawgs can’t get by Colorado with AJ, then this season’s over and the Dawgs officially suck.
Let’s hope that won’t be the case. I’m not throwing in the towel yet.
So, come on…..Let’s Go Dawgs! Sic ‘Em!
BoWeevil
October 2nd, 2010
1:50 am
Mark Bradley, do you still part your hair in the middle, I can’t tell with the photo cutting off the top of your hair.
5 reasons The Dawgs are better off than you would think ?
39-17 after the 2005 season through this morning, and we are better than I think ?
I think Alabama, Florida, and LSU are better than us. They all 4 have been over the entire Coach Richt Era. So, if we are better than I think, then we are better than Alabama, Florida, LSU. Sorry, Mark Bradley, sir, you are wrong again.
You are right about saying that we play nothing but cupcakes from now on out except Florida. Auburn may be about a toss-up. Colorado has a LOSING RECORD vs EVERY CONFERENCE since we began our run of going to a bowl game every year starting 1997. But, Coach Richt has lost 9 games to teams not ranked in the Top 25 Final AP Poll, so playing cupcakes means nothing to this “coaching staff.”
DOUG
October 2nd, 2010
2:02 am
You are correct,they will not finish 6-6. Try 5-7. The talent pool has been draining for several years. Thats a point most people are missing. Mainly defense. Plus the 3-4 has made several of our DL obsolete. We have an OL that has been together for 5 years and still cant get it done.It all gets down to coaching. Its not good and combined with the sinking talent level means 1-3.
BoWeevil
October 2nd, 2010
2:45 am
“Aaron Murray is legit.”
3 SEC games so far and ALL 3 had a FAR BETTER QUARTERBACK than we had.
# 10 SEC Scoring Offense
# 09 SEC Total Offense
# 08 SEC Pass Completion Percentage
# 10 SEC Touchdowns
# 07 SEC Pass Efficiency
# 10 SEC Sacks of our legit Quarterback
# 09 SEC 1st Downs made
# 08 SEC Passing 1st Downs
# 08 SEC 3rd Down Conversions with legit QB
# 09 SEC 4th Down Conversions
# 09 SEC in Penalties 27 four games nearly 8 / game
# 08 SEC Red Zone TD Percentage 8 of 13 for 61 %
What does legit mean ? He has Lost ALL 3 SEC games. We talked about David Greene winning games. Aaron Murray we have some other measure for ?
BoWeevil
October 2nd, 2010
5:11 am
Colorado joins a PAC-10 conference next season which has ZERO (9) BCS National Championships – the only BCS conference without a BCS NC Game Win.
The other part of the B.S. by the media is that there are ALL THESE GREATEST RIVALRY GAMES in College Football, they say :
Michigan Ohio State
Notre Dame Southern California
Texas Oklahoma
I have a question for those media promulgating such B.S.
Why has SEC Won 4 in a row BCS National Championship Games 6-0 ?
Why does PAC-10 have 0 BCS National Championship Game wins 0-2 ?
Why does the ACC have 1 BCS National Championship Game win 1-2 ?
Why does Big 10 have 1 BCS National Championship Game win 1-2 ?
Why does Big East have 1 BCS National Championship Game win 1-2 ?
Why does Big XII have MOST LOSSES in BCS Nat Champ Games at 2-5 ?
Isn’t it REALLY The SEC games that are THE MOST IMPORTANT GAMES ?
Scratch that; that is not a question, now is it ?
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 2nd, 2010
6:19 am
Coop – UGA won’t lose to Tenn and GT but Auburn and Florida are distnct possibilities and Kentucky and Vandy are a toss up. Five losses maybe but no worse in the regular season. Richt isn’t going anywhere unless he wants to. Bobo isn’t having a good year mostly due to the under achieving or under talented (not sure which) o-line and a new QB. Murray only has two interceptions but that could easily be 6 -as 3 were dropped last week and one against Arkansas. Murrray is inconsistent because the o-line is inconsistent.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 2nd, 2010
6:21 am
Snoop Dawg – if you had a brain you would still be stupid.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 2nd, 2010
6:25 am
Call it – sure Florida has had down years and lots of them.. UGA still holds the all time wins over Florida. Learn your history before running your mouth…. and Zook was certainly a downer wasn’t he?
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 2nd, 2010
6:28 am
Elaine are you a female inpersonator? Just curious.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 2nd, 2010
6:39 am
Rock E Topp: I don’t think you have sex with women- not even his mother. You and Barney Frank make a good couple. The only machine Doody is building is a 3 years and gone crapper.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 2nd, 2010
6:48 am
UGA Guy – you haven’t been paying attention…. most of these negative comments are not made by true UGA supporters but closet Tech, GaeTor, Tick Hound, GameCluck, etc. supporters disguised as UGA supporters. These vile little whimps don’t have the guts to say who they really are..;.. shameless cowards.
LK Kool
October 2nd, 2010
7:04 am
The Dawgs will beat colorado like a rented mule. Look for AJ to light up their weak secondary and the Dawg running game to get 200 yards. Colorado may be one of the worst teams in the country—even worse than Ga.
Jborodawg
October 2nd, 2010
8:34 am
“Support The Team”…couldn’t have said it better myself. Way to much negativity here, as usual.
“…Anyone who goes on a blog and blasts their football team is not a REAL fan! People who publicly criticize their program are FAIR WEATHER fans. As long as their team is winning they are happy, when adversity comes they panic. If you have legitimate criticisms you send the AD a letter. You never air your dirty laundry in public so that the program is put to shame. Greg McGarity is an intelligent man and if he feels like changes need to be made, then it will happen. Until that happens cheer for the team. If you want the players to play for the “G” on the helmet, then you need to cheer for the “G” on the helmet, regardless of who the player is or who the coaches are…”
LakeDawg
October 2nd, 2010
8:45 am
Mark, you don’t know much about football and you’re usually wrong in your analysis, but you’re an excellent writer. I really do enjoy reading your articles.
jr
October 2nd, 2010
9:32 am
mark richt should be fired right now him along with bobo the clown. these guys are absolutely clueless when it comes to coaching. with the talent that uga has had the last 10 years not 1 title. the thought that mark richt will get 1 more year is sad. if he can win out yes. but 1 more loss he must be fired. uga should be tired of losing every year. any coach in the country can coach uga to 7 or 8 wins. i cant even bare to watch these players having to listen to these terrible coaches anymore.
MADDAWGS
October 2nd, 2010
12:06 pm
Mark dude ya gotta be kiddin! This is the worst coahed UGA team i”ve seen Ray Golf included.AJ”s great player but the o line is awful and the Dline is under sized.With CMR standing around with his finger up his A$$ letting BOZO calling the plays its gonna get ugly by the time the annual UF pasting comes around.My only hope is the new AD takes action after this sorry loss in BUFF country.CMR toned down coach TG when he shoulda patted him on the back! Please AD take the pain away,its so tough watching our DAWGS being out husseled and out coached EVERY WEEK!!! All ya gotta do to beat us is stack the line and BOZO is gonna run rite up the middle and its over.The entire SEC is laughing at us!!!! What does it take for people to see it?Calling CMR a great coach is insane!!!
GTBTP
October 2nd, 2010
3:35 pm
Mark, you never cease to show how incompetent you can be within a public forum… kudos to that i guess, and all those thug’s in the clink up in Athens… Georgia is the Florida State of this decade…
outsideworld
October 2nd, 2010
4:56 pm
The question I have is after years of top 5 recruiting classes, if not better, where did those guys go? Stafford was #1 HS QB coming into UGA, in year 1 he was pretty good, then he never seemed to improve. Cowherd said he looked lazy at UGA. Somewhere players aren’t being developed and that to me is 100% coaching.
Thats my unbiased review of UGA. But I cheer against UGA for 1 reason, the “never been on campus other than a saturday” fans and the male alumni. HA HA HA HA HA
Outside world = ATL btw
Bradley Curse
October 2nd, 2010
7:22 pm
“8 reasons why the Braves won’t squander this lead”
why would anyone actually believe 3 less reasons about UGA?
Already losing the Colorado, Bradley makes great predictions.
Bradley Curse
October 2nd, 2010
9:57 pm
how is it possible for one guy to be wrong about everything he writes about?
Bradley Curse
October 2nd, 2010
10:40 pm
“2. The Bulldogs shouldn’t lose again until the day before Halloween, if then”
lol … wrong!
Woodstock Jacket
October 2nd, 2010
10:44 pm
Lookin’ good pups! Way to go buffs. Hahahahahahahahahaha
THE CURSE OF DAVID JUSTICE LIVES IN THE ATL
October 2nd, 2010
10:45 pm
THANKS BUFFS FOR BEATING THIS SISSY TEAM!
Superdawg1
October 2nd, 2010
10:47 pm
what an idiot Worst players and coaches in lasr 50 years
Orange Sky Vol Fan
October 2nd, 2010
10:47 pm
Bulldog fans should hold their heads up! True fans stick with their teams. The SEC is no cake walk!
marc richt sucks dicht
October 2nd, 2010
10:58 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
steve p
October 2nd, 2010
11:01 pm
Today scores prove you are just a paid for hack. Wishing does’nt mean squat on the bottom line.
mike
October 2nd, 2010
11:01 pm
one man doesn’t make a team Bradley, you obviously never played football, your an idiot for even posting this.
last in east--vandy or ga?
October 2nd, 2010
11:02 pm
Funny article–what a joke
Buford T. Pusser
October 2nd, 2010
11:03 pm
Wow Mark, after your column and the results of the CU game (another loss, now 1-4). I’m optimistic that UGAg will get better with each and every game. You are quite the seer. Have you ever been mistaken for Nostradamus? … The Sheriff has spoken.
Ed
October 2nd, 2010
11:05 pm
I have one comment for your five reasons…….sounds like you’re in wonderland with Alice and the head coach!!!!
stendek
October 2nd, 2010
11:05 pm
It is time. Mark Wretch is the absolute worst head coach in major college football. The absolute worst. The loss to Colorado was an absolute embarrassment. No excuses will be tolerated. None. Mike Dodo calling for a handoff exchange in backfield when all that was required was safe plays to run out clock? Way to go a$$hole. Team not prepared to compete. Again. Fault of head coach. Conservative play calls? Why? For team on three game slide. Excuse me. Four. Wretch should have been presented discharge papers walking off field. Anyone would be imporovem4ent. Promote water boy. It is painfaul to be Dawg football fan. Team plays without heart, guts, courage or common sense. All traits of head coach. Field goal kicker sucks too. This shet simply must not be tolerated by Bulldog Nation. I am totally nauseated and pi$$ed. Anyone else? Oh yeah. Five reasons Bulldogs suck out loud. Mark Wretch. Assistant coaches. Offense. Defense. Special teams. That pretty much covers it. STENDEK
Gatormeat
October 2nd, 2010
11:07 pm
KEEP MARK RICHT! KEEP MARK RICHT
Gatormeat
October 2nd, 2010
11:08 pm
Still more arrests than wins! KEEP MARK RICHT! KEEP MARK RICHT!
Gatormeat
October 2nd, 2010
11:09 pm
Come on down to Jacksonville for your whipping! KEEP MARK RICHT! KEEP MARK RICHT!
Gatormeat
October 2nd, 2010
11:11 pm
Colorado? C’mon, I mean really, Colorado? And you get smacked down? KEEP MARK RICHT! KEEP MARK RICHT!