A tale of two seasons: UGA rights itself; Tech is going wrong
Florida usually wins this game. But maybe not this time. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Seasons can be confounding things. Georgia lost its first two games and its coach was thought by some to be a goner. Now Mark Richt stands one game from solidifying his position once and for all. (Well, at least until 2012.) The game will be played in Jacksonville, the place where Richt fares worst, but still: If the Bulldogs win Saturday, they’ll surely finish no worse than 8-4 and they could well win the SEC East, and either way significant improvement will have been shown.
Consider, on the other hand, Georgia Tech. The Jackets won their first six games and rose to No. 12 in the Associated Press poll. They’ve since lost to two unranked opponents and figure to be underdogs in three of their remaining four games. What appeared to be a bounceback season could become something far less, and a 7-5 record wouldn’t satisfy anyone. Not after the 6-7 of 2010. Not after starting 6-0. Should Tech prove unable to arrest its slide, it would represent the first real reversal of Paul Johnson’s stewardship.
Here we pause for stipulations: Tech’s 6-0 start was largely a function of schedule, the same as Georgia’s 0-2 beginning, the same as the Bulldogs’ five consecutive victories. (Georgia’s four SEC wins have come against opponents that are an aggregate 1-15 in league play.) But you can only beat the teams you play, and you can only play the teams on your schedule. And football, for all its intricacies, is often a game of sheer momentum. Georgia and Richt have found it. Tech and Johnson have lost it.
There are moments where you’d swear this Georgia team is scarcely an improvement over last season’s, but this team — key difference — hasn’t fumbled away so many winnable games. (Only one so far, that against South Carolina.) A starving Bulldog Nation will take the thinnest of victories over the hated Gators and treat it like fiilet mignon. And even if Georgia somehow contrived to lose to Auburn and Tech, it would be hard to part with Richt after a season in which he finally negotiated his tripwire game.
See you soon. Paul Johnson with Clemson's Dabo Swinney. (AP photo)
Tech could lose every game from here until New Year’s and Johnson wouldn’t be going anywhere. He remains in high esteem among his constituency. But here’s a cold slice of truth: The man who beat Georgia in Year 1 and won the ACC in Year 2 has gone 7-7 over his past 14 games. Last season’s collapse could be attributed to the loss of quarterback Joshua Nesbitt, who broke his arm at Virginia Tech on Nov. 4. These past two losses have been far more troubling.
When all else failed, Tech under Johnson could always be counted on to do one thing as well as any team in the land — run the ball. Heck, the Jackets rushed for 411 yards behind a backup quarterback against Georgia last year. In the losses at Virginia and Miami, Tech could muster only a total of 406 yards rushing.
If you’re a Tech fan, that’s scary stuff. It suggests the Jackets’ talent has grown so thin it can no longer power an offense that has been proved to work. After the Miami loss, Johnson suggested Tech was getting the five-blockers-on-four-defenders looks that mandate running up the middle as opposed to pitching wide, but that “the four [defenders] are winning.” That’s not a schematic issue. That’s a failure of manpower.
Most all the players he inherited from Chan Gailey are gone, and in four recruiting classes Johnson hasn’t yet found a talent on the order of Nesbitt or Jonathan Dwyer or Demaryius Thomas. (Unless it’s freshman quarterback Vad Lee, who’s being redshirted.) And if Tech can no longer do well what it has come to do best … well, what hope is there?
But that’s another thing about seasons. Just because you look awful one week doesn’t mean the next will yield greater misery. Georgia stunk out the joint in its opener against Boise State, but here the Bulldogs are, back in the Top 25. Even if Tech still has to face Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia, all three games will be staged at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and Johnson is a fairly daunting figure as an underdog. (Ask Georgia.)
Tech could still make something of its season. Georgia could still find a way to mess up. Right now, though, only one team is on the upward trail, and that’s the one bound for Jacksonville.
By Mark Bradley
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363 comments Add your comment
Herschel Talker
October 24th, 2011
4:13 pm
MB:
Did you watch the Vandy game? Do you honestly feel after that win that Richt has control of the team and has them heading in the right direction?
HT
Reality
October 24th, 2011
4:14 pm
UF’s losses are against much better teams than UGA. I expect UF to win this week by a couple of TD’s.
Although Clemson is better than GT, its a home game and GT will be ready to play. I see a close one.
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
October 24th, 2011
4:15 pm
I think I speak for everyone when I say I’m ready for the Herschel Talker era to end on theses blogs.
Get a life you miserable human being. It’s football. To sit there and still not root for “your” team is pathetic. Get on board or go root for Kansas State. I hear they’re pretty good this year.
Gravy Train
October 24th, 2011
4:15 pm
HT. Get a clue and get a life.
Tossed Salad
October 24th, 2011
4:15 pm
In other words, Georgia’s okay, and Tech sucks.
As per usual.
Gravy Train
October 24th, 2011
4:16 pm
Man Boobs and a stubborn ego are a poor replacement for talent.
GT
October 24th, 2011
4:18 pm
Tech is playing the best team in the country Saturday night, is Florida ranked this year? Miami is much better with all those players the got suspended back. This is why we need a playoff, teams are out of it early and then they make other teams look bad when everybody is healthy and back on the team. The game you can’t get out of your claw is the Va. game. No excuse, just like Kansas last year. We came back and beat all those teams that beat us last year, and that Va. game last year was really close here. It is the Clemson type games we play good in, when it doesn’t matter anymore. Georgia does the same thing, will mess your season up but can’t save themselves.
reckingball
October 24th, 2011
4:19 pm
I still have not gotten over the South Carolina game.
UGA should have cruched them by at least 50 to 7.
reality check
October 24th, 2011
4:19 pm
The FLA game is huge as it is every year.
This year seems it will prove more than most however. We have gotten fat on lower level teams but after last year whose complaining.
This game will prove if the DAWGS are really on the rebound or simply gifted by our schedule.
I think if we really are improving we can win out. That’s my hope at least.
Tech and Clemson always play close kind of like us and Auburn.
It’s Florida week so let’s Go DAWGS!
Birdhair
October 24th, 2011
4:19 pm
The GA/FLA game should be played ga dome, jax, ga dome, jax. Tired of playing an away game every single season vs FLA. It’s unfair. The dawgs show up “tight” and the playcalling early is run up the middle. If we want to become a perennial bcs contender we need to “fix” this game
KBP
October 24th, 2011
4:22 pm
Tech fans probably should not hit the panic button just yet. Sure they do not have the talent they had in 2009 but that offense is still difficult to deal with. If CPJ is not too stubborn to actually develop a real passing game,( a real passing game will help them recruit a real qb) they will win a lot. ( just need to lose to the Dawgs 8 out of 10 times) I think they can consistently recruit enough big time defensive players every year but I doubt they will be able to consistently recruit big time offensive skill players. The probelm with Stephen Hill is that he chose the wrong school. His skill set and CPJ’s offense are not a good match, that’s all. He should have gone to a school where they are going to pass the ball more than 10 times per game.
I am amazed at how most think no one has a chance against AL or LSU but AL or LSU. Hopefully the Dawgs win the east. I am more interested in that than I am in beating the Gators in any year. In this particular year, I would love to see how AL or LSU would do against our defense as neither of them throw the ball very well. I think it would be a heck of a game defensively. Slow Richardson and AL is limited offensively. LSU has nore weapons on offense than AL and I think they win in 2 weeks barring turnovers. Vandy usually plays us tough so our defense has not regressed. IF we beat the Gators and IF we beat Auburn then the West is not a shoo-in for the conference championship.
KBP
October 24th, 2011
4:27 pm
Herschel Talker . . . How does the Vandy game indicate Richt has lost control of the team? Does a 5 game winning streak against SEC opponents mean the program is headed in the wrong direction? Take the wins and move on. I wonder if the gift to the Gamecocks had not happened would there be any question about the direction of the program?
Herschel Talker
October 24th, 2011
4:28 pm
Gravy Train:
“If you ever want to see a combination of ignorance and self serving drivel see H Talker. Dawg Nation refuses to be defined by the rants of the fringe minority.”
You’re right, apparently we’re defined by retards such as yourself who are content with mediocrity. Richt hasn’t had a win of substance in THREE YEARS. Beating 5 worthless teams in a row matters not unless you want us to be Ole Miss, which apparently you do. Dawg Nation doesn’t need idiots like you who champion mediocrity.
FIRE MARK RICHT!!!
HT
War Dang Dawg
October 24th, 2011
4:28 pm
No excuses. Beat Florida. If not now, when?
Joe
October 24th, 2011
4:29 pm
Mark~
You can’t say usually wins this game when UGA holds the all-time lead in the series and in Jax. You can say lately, but not usually. It’s like UF fans that think football started in 1991, it didn’t. UGA is more talented and should win the game. If they don’t Richt needs to go and we should start from scratch.
Birdhair
October 24th, 2011
4:29 pm
Ring ring ring..
Claude Felton “Yes, my I help you please?
Me: I’ve got a young, good lookin’ recruit rated #5 OL in juco that really wants to go to UGA. Can i speak with a coach?”
Claude Felton: “Well, RG is devouring a big mac. Bobo got off the wrong stop taking the bus. Birdhair is at Church.”
Me: Okay, I’ll call manb**bs Johnson
B'dawg
October 24th, 2011
4:30 pm
Talk is cheap. You cant hide behind keyboards on the field. Georgia has a more realistic chance of going 10-2 than the honey bees. And even real nerds cant argue that logic! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Jim 70
October 24th, 2011
4:31 pm
It should be a high scoring game. Clemson’s defense is not good, but then tech hasn’t shown much either. It basically will come down to our being able to run the ball, tevin making six or eight fairly accurate passes, and our pass defense not giving up the big plays.
Driving 12 hours to see the game, hopefully not in vain.
Go tech
Sopwith Camel
October 24th, 2011
4:31 pm
Mark, if Richt negotiates his “tripwire” game, it’ll be because Florida is having a down year. I want UGA to be able to beat Florida when they are having one of their usually good years. If everyone feels great about Richt if he beats UF this year……they are celebrating a hollow victory. I want Richt to be able to beat UF at their best!
B'dawg
October 24th, 2011
4:32 pm
GEORGIA TECH JUST LOST 2 GAMES TO TEAMS WHO COULDNT BEAT THE SAME TEAMS WE JUST BEAT MORON!
Hankie Aron
October 24th, 2011
4:33 pm
Agreed War Dang Dawg. HT- a “real” fan wants his team to win no matter what. Losing is losing and winning is winning. Instead you want your team to lose so Richt gets fired. The grass is not always greener my friend, ask any fan of UT.
Herschel Talker
October 24th, 2011
4:36 pm
Hankie Aron:
I never said I didn’t want the Dawgs to win. As for your UT comment, just because UT was too stupid to hire a competent successor to Fulmer doesn’t mean that firing Fulmer was the wrong move. That is a logical fallacy: post hoc ergo propter hoc.
HT
Big Albany Dawg
October 24th, 2011
4:37 pm
Mark,
You are so INTELLIGENT and WISE, it is ridiculous. You sir, by far, have to be the best sportswriter in the country. You deserve a raise. GO DAWGS!!!!
George Stein
October 24th, 2011
4:37 pm
Your comment used no logic, B’dawg.
ty webb
October 24th, 2011
4:39 pm
unofficial editor’s note: Paul Johnson did not win the ACC in year two.
GTBob
October 24th, 2011
4:42 pm
Tech has just completely lost it. They will probably have a hard time getting it back, especially if Tevin stays at QB. A 7-5 season is pretty much a lock. As for UGA, im not sure why anybody would say they are good at this point. They have played the worst teams in the SEC and haven’t looked that great against them. They may win the SEC east, just because no one else can really win it at this point, but would that really be all that impressive?
Herschel Talker
October 24th, 2011
4:43 pm
KBP:
We had a 3 TD lead and blew it. All we had to do was get off a dang punt, and we couldn’t do it – the blocker came in untouched. Then afterwards, more fisticuffs. Then trash talking to VANDY. Do you think a Saban-coached team would act like that? If you don’t see continued problems here, you’re being duped by the record against cupcakes.
HT
wesmcdawg
October 24th, 2011
4:43 pm
Mark,
.
I have constructed a vodoo doll for the next time you speak ill of our beloved dawgs. Extra long pins and the lady down on Hwy 441 said it is bad juju.
Hankie Aron
October 24th, 2011
4:55 pm
HT- Most fans are still in the wait and see category. On the UT comment you made, your’e not always going to hire the right guy every time. Sadly, AD is going to make an expensive misfire. See Lane Kiffen
ICMIII
October 24th, 2011
4:55 pm
HT,
Amen to your last post.
Hankie Aron
October 24th, 2011
4:57 pm
HT- Would you fire Richt if he ran the table and into the SEC Championship game and narrowly lost to LSU or UA? Just a question, I value your opinion
Hankie Aron
October 24th, 2011
4:59 pm
I agree there some lingering problems, but most programs do have some. Not all are all that visible when your’e undefeated. Winning cures everything right?
dan the nerd
October 24th, 2011
5:01 pm
MB,
How many games did you predict GT to win this season?
At the end of the season, GT will probably have 8 wins. Which is more than the experts predicted. Will the season seem like a disapointment? Of course it will, until next season…
And thus is the nature of college football. The “experts” are usually wrong and every team is undefeated in the preseason.
I do love how you can sugar-coat UGA’s win against Vandy! That team is going to screw up and win enough games for St. Richt to keep his job.
Also, good thing you got this published this week. I have a feeling that after Saturday, Richt will be right back in the hot seat.
BTW, anyone else notice how fat Richt is? Good grief, in that Ford commercial he waddles! At least he still has his membership at California Tans – his lovely golden hues keep everyone from noticiing how fat he is.
Been there and Done That
October 24th, 2011
5:04 pm
Bradley why do you Kudo people who only post first and no other commnet? kindred spirit of losers?
Franklin
October 24th, 2011
5:04 pm
When UGA starts playing #1 LSU… #2 ALA #5 Clemson..#7 ARK.. #10 South Carolina (which they lost) then you will see how good they really are…Check AUBURN schedule these are the teams they have to play…
Hankie Aron
October 24th, 2011
5:05 pm
Dan the nerd- future Jenny Craig spokesmodel
GTRay
October 24th, 2011
5:05 pm
I said 2 weeks ago that not only were we NOT the 12th best team in the country, but not even in the top 25. We simply don’t have the talent to overcome mistakes and a less than stellar effort. I hope the players get it together and win at least 2 of the last 5 games (including a possible bowl game). But right now Clemson and UGA are on a roll, VPI is looking good, and I’m really concerned about us being able to beat Duke. I certainly hope I’m wrong.
Hankie Aron
October 24th, 2011
5:05 pm
Dan the nerd- future Pulitzer Prize winner as well
Knowall Moreno
October 24th, 2011
5:06 pm
We will kick some Gator tail this year, believe it! Sic em’ woof woof woof time for the BIG DAWG to eat them some gator bait
War Dang Dawg
October 24th, 2011
5:08 pm
Have to agree with Joe (4:29 pm), Mark. If Florida “usually wins”, then the overall series record is hard to explain. The last two decades have been horrible for Georgia fans, but I guess we know what it was like for Florida fans for most of the first 6 decades.
Richt should go if Georgia doesn’t win on Saturday. He’s 1-3 against 5-loss Florida teams – ‘02, ‘03, 04, and ‘10. This year’s Florida team might be lucky to finish with only 5 losses.
If Richt can’t beat their worst teams, then it’s time to find someone who can. Enough is enough.
dan the nerd
October 24th, 2011
5:08 pm
HT – I’m not quite sure you are using the right fallacy of composition. Actually, I’m not entirely sure he is stating a fallacy. It seems more likely that UT is not be making a valid statement.
But I agree with just about everything else you said.
headley lamar
October 24th, 2011
5:08 pm
When UGA starts playing #1 LSU… #2 ALA #5 Clemson..#7 ARK.. #10 South Carolina (which they lost) then you will see how good they really are…
We have winning records against all those teams recently.
Not scared at all.
headley lamar
October 24th, 2011
5:10 pm
Herschel Talker is not a dawg fan.
Don’t you guys realize he is a thinly veiled Tech fan who pretends to be a Georgia fan so he can play his game.
Just ignore him. The other thing worse than a fool is the other fool who listens.
cantondawg
October 24th, 2011
5:10 pm
HT,
“Let the Kirby Smart era begin”. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME…What has he accomplished? Everyone knows that Saban is the one running that defense. I’d rather let KS cut his teeth on some mid-major program first and see how that works out before i take a chance on him.
Snake Doc
October 24th, 2011
5:11 pm
UGA rights itself????????????????/ Give me a friggin break. UGA has not beaten a ranked opponent in lord knows how long! And how long has it been since they’ve beaten any team with a winning record?
Boneheads yapping about how great UGA is are truly small minded useful idiots!
headley lamar
October 24th, 2011
5:12 pm
What has he accomplished? Everyone knows that Saban is the one running that defense. I’d rather let KS cut his teeth on some mid-major program first and see how that works out before i take a chance on him.
Absolutely right.
Talk to me when Kirby has won 100 games in 11 years in the toughest conference in America.
Then Ill listen.
cantondawg
October 24th, 2011
5:13 pm
Herschel Talker,
You need to stick to talking about something you actually know something about like Band or possibly knitting…We all know you never played football and are a 130 pound weakling.
cousin vicker
October 24th, 2011
5:15 pm
Paul Johnson has beaten UGA once in three tries. One of those losses was when HIS team was the huge favorite. Daunting? Sorry Mark, but not everyone in Georgia thinks as highly of Coach Bear Rockne Johnson as you do.
Birdhair
October 24th, 2011
5:17 pm
I’ve won 100 games and my headset is sponsored by “Birdtell Wireless” so there
David Granger
October 24th, 2011
5:17 pm
Mark, when Georgia has to hold on (and be a little lucky) to beat Vanderbilt…especially when you consider the difference in talent on the two teams…you can’t realistically say that Georgia has “righted” a damn thing.