UGA heads to Jacksonville having left Kentucky in the dust
These were six of Washaun Ealey's 30 points. (AP photo)
LEXINGTON, Ky. — On the morning of Oct. 9, the Georgia Bulldogs were 1-4. We mention this because … well, because it’s Oct. 25 and they sure as heck aren’t 1-4 anymore.
They’re a robust 4-4, having won three SEC games by the aggregate score of 128-45. They’re 4-4 headed to Jacksonville in a better frame of mind than the hated Gators, who’ve lost three in a row. They’re 4-4 and maybe they haven’t beaten the Who’s Who of BCS Bullies, but it wasn’t so long ago Georgia couldn’t beat anybody anywhere.
And now you’re asking: Is this apparent resurgence the real deal or just a red (and black) herring? And the answer is …
It’s real for this simple reason: Georgia was far too talented to have been 1-4, and we’re finally seeing what happens when that talent is brought to bear. The Bulldogs won big in a place where South Carolina lost just last week not only because Kentucky messed up — though the Wildcats did more than their share of that — but because some big-time players made big-time plays.
Brandon Boykin took another kickoff back 100 yards. A.J. Green rose up a couple of times and reminded us that he’s the best receiver among collegians. (Also that he was sorely missed throughout September.) Justin Houston did a Lawrence Taylor all over the Big Blue — sacking the quarterback, recovering a fumble, coming within a step of making his own Kroy Biermann deflect-catch-and-score memory.
And Washaun Ealey, whose fumbles on the goal line and misadventure in the parking garage became the symbol of that staggering start, came to the Bluegrass and rewrote his bio. He’s no longer Washaun Ealey, the man who cannot be trusted in the red zone. He’s now Washaun Ealey, the Bulldog who nearly outscored Kentucky by himself.
Five touchdowns for Ealey and one for Boykin and three early Kentucky fumbles made this easier than it should have been. (And a cosmetic fourth-quarter rally made the final score closer than the game itself.) Georgia got way ahead — it was 28-3 after 23-plus minutes — and buttoned it down. Aaron Murray threw only 12 passes, and that wasn’t because the offensive minds Mark Richt and Mike Bobo got stupid; it was because they got smart.
The first rule of politics also is the first rule of football: When your opponent is in the process of destroying himself, get out of the way. The ‘Dogs applied enough early defensive pressure to discombobulate the ‘Cats, and the rest was simply for form’s sake.
Yes, there were too many times when Houston and the rushers didn’t put Mike Hartline on the ground, and the Kentucky quarterback found unencumbered receivers. But we saw clearly here that Todd Grantham’s 3-4 can deal with a multi-faceted offense that’s cleverly constructed, and it’s unclear we can say half as much about Florida’s shockingly inept attack.
Simply put, Georgia goes to Jacksonville with a chance to stamp itself as the only real challenger to South Carolina in the SEC East, and who among us saw that coming after the losses in Starkville and Boulder? If you’re asking if this defense looks capable of derailing Cam Newton’s run to the Heisman at Auburn on Nov. 13, the answer frankly is no. But it could come a monsoon that day and Georgia might win 3-0 on a 60-yard field goal by Blair Walsh.
What’s important is that the Bulldogs have given themselves a chance to right a season going wrong. Sure, the schedule has had much to do with it, but the early schedule was tougher than calculus. (Especially without Green for Games 1-4.) A youngish team has gotten better the more it has played, and these past three weeks it has been pretty doggone good.
The Tennessee and Vanderbilt games were in Athens. The Kentucky game always loomed as the pre-Jacksonville obstacle, and Georgia came to Commonwealth Stadium and stacked 44 points on Kentucky and never let the hosts have a sniff at victory. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it came at a perfect time.
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286 comments Add your comment
Kenai Ocelota
October 24th, 2010
8:13 am
Thuggos mirande comenzhari.
jim
October 24th, 2010
8:20 am
Love the win last night. Great running game and some nice plays with A.J. Only concern are the plays on defense where we have them backed up and they make the play for a first down. But having said that, it was a great win and that is what counts. To all the naysayers – get a job coaching, make a name for yourself in coaching, and then complain. Life is full of people who are more than willing to be critical about someone else’s performance. Worry about your own and life gets so much better. Will bet most Tennessee fans will admit that is true now – Fullmer was the problem – does not appear so. In fact, old Phillip may have been and may still be, the solution. Go DAWGS!
BobbyDawg
October 24th, 2010
8:20 am
I know I shouldn’t but I feel sorry for Idaho State. They’re playing like a train wreck. I hope MR and Bobo will let Mason get some playing time in that one. They just don’t seem to see a need to let the backup QB get ANY playing time. We had a much better player in Joe Cox than he was able to show because of this. I still say use the old Bear Bryant tactics. PLAY EM ALL! Thats what they’re there for. “GO DAWGS”
ronald harris
October 24th, 2010
8:28 am
Could it be that Vanderbilt, UT and UK are not as good as SC, ARK and Miss St?
true blue dog
October 24th, 2010
8:31 am
Game report: Great win, on a serious roll……Fla. next to get the beat down
By the way Some of these comments are far off….Anyone complaining about bobo dosent really know football…News flash ….When your up by 3 touchdowns in the SEC you run the football period!!!! Great playcalling!!! Plus fla has a buy this week ( dont want to show too much)
kral
October 24th, 2010
8:33 am
UNDOUGHTBLY, “Dingbat” you can’t enjoy a real great GA victory..maybe you give alot of money to UGA.. maybe you once QB at GA… maybe you should be the off. cordinator…your so da…smart
true blue dog
October 24th, 2010
8:38 am
Game ball goes to bobo: by the way check his stats the last couple of years
stafford( # 1 pick)
Cox ( not that talented but had good #’s) 5 td’s in one game
now a freshman ( leads all freshmans in just about every stats)
plus the incomming freshmans love him!!!!! Lose Bobo you lose your highly ranked class!!! Think about that next time you bash someone…
fire bobo what a joke!!!!
Buckeye
October 24th, 2010
8:38 am
Ealey is still a classless punk…always will be.
kral
October 24th, 2010
8:43 am
Kudoes to you joe not one good team are you for real ..I’m a life time Dawg fan…every win is good..Let’s see ALA. is no.1…SC beats them…oh Kent. beats SC oh GA beats Kent handily I might add…Ga beats Tenn.. like a drum..Tenn should have won the LSU game..oh I hate we just keep beating up on the Sisters of the poor
frank
October 24th, 2010
8:43 am
Mark B. – sorry about your cats.
Everyone else – Why does Mark Rick always seem to wait too long to turn on the aggression? This reminds me of 2007 in so many ways. Come out ultra conservative and lackluster paying absolutely as if they are terrified of the other team and lose to SC and Tenn then with your backs agains t he wall and nothing to lose play lights out the rest of the way. It would be nice if this Mark Rick guy could bottle the aggression and b@lls to the wall style and use it from day one instead of only once the season is “lost”
just sayin…
Free, white, & 3x7
October 24th, 2010
8:44 am
What does it prove if UGA beats Florida? The Gators have come down to their level.
Crimedog
October 24th, 2010
8:45 am
It is funny that anyone critical of Richt and his thugs is considered a Tech fan and ordered to go elsewhere. There was never a question about the talent of this Georgia football team. The question was of character and discipline. Georgia has beaten two very bad teams and run up the score by keeping the starters in. The crimedogs were lucky to get away with a win last night, after three UK fumbles, and would have lost if the game were longer. Contrast Richt’s lack of sportsmanship with Newton’s taking a knee when he could have easily scored another TD against LSU. Not to worry, Richt is not going anywhere. Georgia will continue to underperform when it matters.
frank
October 24th, 2010
8:45 am
If Mark Rick was a poker player he would fold every hand until his chips were low then go all in every hand.
John Galt
October 24th, 2010
8:46 am
My question is why does dogville let tech fans get under their skin? One would conclude that dogville only wants to beat the jackets and rave about beating the acc. The dogs beat an average, at best, Wildcat team to bring their record to 4-4, which is still not impressive. “IF” the dogs beat the Gators, then I think dogville can start bloviating even more. In the meantime, tech fans have nothing to do except slam dogville, which is quite humorous. Let tech fans mouth off. They are harmless and lost on solving other theories.
Rick
October 24th, 2010
8:48 am
Enter your comments here
Chef Mentuer
October 24th, 2010
8:48 am
HUH?
kral
October 24th, 2010
8:48 am
Hey Buckeye you must know him personally why don’t you go up to him and tell him face to face what you think of him…
Chef Mentuer
October 24th, 2010
8:49 am
My tooth hurts
true blue dog
October 24th, 2010
8:49 am
With a redshirt freshman and a new D, we still have a chance to beat
Fla, Kentucky,Tenn, Auburn,GT, and play in the Dome against ALA…..not that Bad!!!
Beebo
October 24th, 2010
8:49 am
Way to go Georgia, you beat 3 teams with a combined record of 2-11 in SEC play. Woohoo!
Dawgie-style
October 24th, 2010
8:49 am
I love what a full moon does to the SEC! Glad to have my pups rebound!
Topp Dogg
October 24th, 2010
8:52 am
Water Lizards here we C.U.M. I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE READY.
kral
October 24th, 2010
8:53 am
3×7 anytime you beat the Gators it’s like heaven..
kral
October 24th, 2010
8:54 am
TRUE bLUE YOUR MY KIND OF FAN…
frank
October 24th, 2010
8:56 am
UGA will beat FLA.
I know cos it seems they always win vs FLA when the win cannot be parlayed into a title.
» BBL: Cats can’t keep digging those holes John Clay’s Sidelines
October 24th, 2010
8:59 am
[...] Georgia heads to Jacksonville having left Kentucky in the dust, writes Mark Bradley of the AJC. [...]
Buzz
October 24th, 2010
9:00 am
“A robust 4-4″, I am no dawg fan but that would make me want to punch MB right in the schnauz
PTC DAWG
October 24th, 2010
9:01 am
GATA!!
kral
October 24th, 2010
9:04 am
Hey Beebo who do you pull for if it’s that yeller team from Atlanta you my want to shut up…
JD
October 24th, 2010
9:05 am
The QB is not a RS freshman anymore. He has started 8 games. Lay off Bobo. We did not have to pass to overcome the short field position this week. In previous games we had long fields in most every games except vs ARk in the last quarter when we made a comeback. We beat UF with the running game the last time by confusing them then hit them with the pass because they started looking for Moreno to run and threw to Mass. Defense was tired because they were on the field 3/4 of the game. Go dawgs.
kral
October 24th, 2010
9:07 am
There you go Frank take a positive thought and make something negative out of it
boohoo
October 24th, 2010
9:15 am
All of you pathetic sore losers 4 weeks ago wanting entire staff gone , Now the wins again and no mention of this. Glad too see everything back to normal in the bolldog nation, oh except for at least top ten ranking and more natl exposure. Its a great day when Ga loses
trufan68
October 24th, 2010
9:15 am
Really sick of soo much negative dismantlings of a Win! Can’t stand the fair weather fans ! One week let’s fire Richt! now WooHoo we beat KY. UGA started out rough with a brand new QB that is very young , A brand new DC , A team with no confidence due to so many screw ups and without it’s best player on the team! Richt never would have expected to start the first game this way back in the Spring. And as with any jolt of failure it starts a downward spiral (Just look at FL) Football is Football. I have been a fan for too many years to remember and can not remember watching a perfect game by any team!!!!! We are in a season that has Boisie St. TCU and UTAH and Oregon in the Top of BCS! Point out a dominant team to me and I will show you they got beat! Auburn was never pointed out in the beginning of the season to go unbeaten! Cam N. is a great player. But if UGA can connect on passes and beats them and Alabama beats them at end of season they end up in Capital One bowl or something.
And for the TECH fans on hear well you all show your stupidity in your statements so your not even worth the breath!
UGA will go to JX and play a rejuvinated UF team that will have a new found confidence entering this game. We will have the best chance in years at winning this game! We will have mistakes and the same bad play calling as always but who cares as long as we win! And for all you negative fans out there, If we hold Cam N. to 4 TDs we will beat Auburn too!!!!!! And for GT , That will be another TN game!
Every team has things that are wrong with them, coachs that are not popular in their position, and loses they should have won. No one really knows whats going to happen until the ball is kicked off. If your a fan then be a fan and not a comentator or sports writer! Stay a fan even in bad times! ( I remember going to games with soo many extra tickets I couldnt give them away so we caught them on fire to keep our hands warm ! And I have been to the Sugar bowl to watch us kill a ranked team!) If you can’t be a fan then do all of us a favor and stay at home or give your ticket to someone that is there for the team!
kral
October 24th, 2010
9:23 am
You said it True 68
ratherBgambling
October 24th, 2010
9:23 am
UGA is will be 4-5 this time next week.
mike
October 24th, 2010
9:28 am
great article mark , i do not always agree with you mark but to read this on the day after the win
you are dead on and go dawgs…great job sir!….4 and 4 and wanting more…hell i am a poet too!
kral
October 24th, 2010
9:29 am
Hey Boohoo the season ain’t over yet.. who knows what might happen..I’m hoping great things but I ain’t betting on anything…
clay
October 24th, 2010
9:30 am
Key to beating auburn: Make Cam Newton throw the ball. Stack 8 in the box the whole game. He cannot throw the ball that well. He is not accurate. The passes that he completes are within 10 yards.
crap sandwich
October 24th, 2010
9:33 am
Mike, you are a great poet!
kral
October 24th, 2010
9:36 am
What we ought to do is start a let’s fire Mack brown club…he lost to Iowa ST…Let’s fire urban he lost 3 in a row..Let’s fire Paul Johnson he lost to Kansas and got embarressed by Clem….
joey
October 24th, 2010
9:39 am
I wana winout as much as any Dawg fan, but i know thats a tall order. Whats not a tall order, is to get ready for a heck of a run next year. Play loose, have fun, enjoy the game this coming week and all that remain. Once these guys learn there respective spots and we get ALL the talent we need, this team is going to be special. Now go to Gainsville and GATA! Win or loose, i dont care, just show up and make some highlight reels. Dont take plays off and get lazy, just get to it. Go Dawgs!!!!
JunkyardDawg
October 24th, 2010
9:39 am
Hey Tech,
Just read where YOU are now projected for the bowl in S-H-R-E-V-E-P-O-R-T!
Serves you AH’s right.
Where is Yellow Fuzz and St Simons?
((((((((((((((((((((((((( 30-24 )))))))))))))))))))))))) hahahahaha
1eyedJack
October 24th, 2010
9:41 am
The Dawgs did what they had to do and looked fairly impressive doing it. They ran the ball, they stopped the run, they played sound special teams (except a missed extra point and badly executed onsides kick) and they won the turnover battle (going to be some scruffy Dawgs in Jacksonville next week). That Tech fans is the winning formula.
Meanwhile Coach Fish Fry burnt the hushpuppies and Super Bowl Coach Al Groh missed the bus again. Just shows how hard it is to win without FBS recruits. The little Yeller Feller’s are imploding while the Dawgs are hitting their stride. Sux to be a Gnat don’t it? At least three more losses to come with Miami, VT and Georgia. Ya’ll be lucky to make Shreveport.
kral
October 24th, 2010
9:43 am
Another fan firing club to add to the list Stoops who just got beat by Missouri
JunkyardDawg
October 24th, 2010
9:44 am
W
H
E
R
E
I
S
Y
E
L
L
O
W
F
U
Z
Z
?
Hahahahahahahahahaha
kral
October 24th, 2010
9:45 am
I wish ole yellow pizz was here myself I always respect his lofty opinions…
Dawgs win!
October 24th, 2010
9:49 am
There are some really dumb @ss arm chair qb’s on this post. As I sit here and read them I feel that I am at the lowest point for mankind. You know like a crack head for 20 years. Not a good feeling to have when you know what silly blogs are for. Everyone has got the answers to the problems, right? Do not be scared that dawg will take your face off!!!!
JunkyardDawg
October 24th, 2010
9:52 am
Hey yellow fizz-
Where are you this monrning little man?
Cats still got your tongue?
Hahahahahahahaha.
tell me about that beatdown you’re gonna give us next month
Hahahahaha.
Hahahaha
Can’t wait to get you and your Heisman candidate Between the Hedges
Hahahahahahahahahaha
Still going to a BCS bowl?
NOT
Maybe never again.
Should not have talked so bad about S-H-R-E-V-E-P-O-R-T little man
Or about the Dawg Nation
hahahahahahahaha
Dawg Tell
October 24th, 2010
9:53 am
Ugly win ,but a good win.Need to replace Vance Cuff.He is starting to remind me of Bryan Evans.No coverage,no tackling. Everybody better put their game face on”IT IS FLORIDA WEEK” GO DAWGS!
Run it UP
October 24th, 2010
9:54 am
This Dawg team is on fire. Look for a blowout win over a terrible florida team in jacksonville, followed by a huge upset of Auburn—mark it down: UGA wins the SEC east and plays bama for the title!!!!