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
363 comments Add your comment
Chris Rainey
October 24th, 2011
10:07 pm
“We gonna beat ‘dem dawgs like we allways do! I hadn’t forgot ’bout ‘dem dancing on us. I didn’t play, but it still piss me off! I I’m da best back in the land, way betta than dat Richason guy. Go Gatas!!!!
Roll Tide
October 24th, 2011
10:13 pm
Honestly, I just don’t think Brantley is that good. He’s a slight improvement over their other quarterbacks and that’s all. Georgia always seem to find a way to choke this game away, however, I think this year Florida’s defense is very vulnerable. The difference in last year’s game in my opinion was Florida’s secondary… while they were exposed a few times for big plays, Ahmad Black and Will Hill ultimately won the game for Florida. However, after seeing their pass defense this season, I am not impressed. I’m just not buying Murray having 4 turnovers in the game this year. Murray makes just enough plays to win the game, 27-20. Georgia wins the East, where Bama beats them, 34-13. Roll Tide Roll and good luck dawgs!
Chris Rainey
October 24th, 2011
10:13 pm
I thought we was betta than Bama an’ LSU…
Roll Tide
October 24th, 2011
10:16 pm
No end, are you telling me you wouldn’t have wanted A.J. Green at Georgia?
Chris Rainey
October 24th, 2011
10:17 pm
Who likes short jorts, I like short jorts!!
Chris Rainey
October 24th, 2011
10:19 pm
I miss Urban, he use to hold my hand and tell me I just made a misstake… time ta die, bitch, LOL!
Roll Tide
October 24th, 2011
10:26 pm
Oh and Auburn sucks! Hahahahaha!!!
Rolling Along
October 24th, 2011
10:37 pm
The problem with Tech, offensively, the past few weeks has been the QB. This offense revolves around the QB. For some reason TW has completely lost it. No better example than the first offensive play against Miami: an open receiver, an easy pass, and he sails it over the receiver’s head and straight to the Miami safety. He was making those throws earlier this season. Quality of opponent has nothing to do with that loss of fundamentals, unless the quality affects TW’s nerves. It’s not only that. He appears hesistant with his reads and his lack of confidence is palpable. If he doesn’t get it together, Tech is in for a very rough ride. Not sure what is up with the kid, bur he is a mental wreck right now,
aarh
October 24th, 2011
10:55 pm
George Stein- UGA may not be playing the best of competition here lately, but I’d hardly say GT started losing bc they’ve been playing better teams lately…unless you consider VA & Miami to be good teams, but the last time I checked they weren’t. At least UGA is beating who they’re supposed to, which is better than they did last yr., & better than Tech has done in their last 2 games as well.
Jackets are used to losing to UGA,,,, but it still hurts!
October 24th, 2011
11:02 pm
test
Dr. Morpheus
October 24th, 2011
11:03 pm
UGA is much improved from 2010, especially on defense. They appear to have a more aggressive attitude and better team cohesion. I attribute a good bit of this to Grantham. While we have no excuse to lose to UF this year, I’ll believe it when the clock expires and we’ve got one more point than the Gators.
Dawg Whisperer
October 24th, 2011
11:03 pm
No excuses please… just win baby! Spurrier willed the gators to win when they were losers for so many years against UGA. Somebody needs to step up and will the dawgs to victory. Who will it be?
Rambo Dog
October 24th, 2011
11:06 pm
SUPERSIZE….been wondering where you were hiding! Too ashamed to show that face after getting arse whipped 2 weeks in a row. I want you on here after the GT UGA game this year. This is shaping up to be a real beat down! I see you have reverted to attacking UGA’s schedule because the GT product that CPJ puts on the field is so pitiful….Tech sucks and you are a sissy…see you in November.
Greg
October 24th, 2011
11:10 pm
If UGA goes 8-4, that’s “significant improvement” over last year only. Even that is debatable considering the weakness of Georgia’s schedule this year. Even if we go 10-2, we probably won’t beat a single team that finishes in the top 25. I’m not part of the get rid of Richt crowd(yet), but 9-3 is the worst UGA needs to finish. Losing 2 of 3 to mediocre UF, AU and GT teams is not acceptable and I think even Richt would agree with that.
As for Johnson’s win over UGA as an underdog, how much mileage can a guy get from one win? Even in that game, Tech was soundly outplayed for most of the game. An epic 3rd quarter UGA meltdown(thanks again, Wille) when UGA came out of halftime taking another Tech win for granted is all that has kept Tech from being 0 for a decade versus UGA.
Justin
October 24th, 2011
11:43 pm
I don’t think Georgia is “daunted” by Johnson’s 1-3 record against them.
cb
October 24th, 2011
11:55 pm
LAST? Good article, Mark! I’m gonna sum up all the posts- GT; “We misssss you Reggie”!!!!! Why not run Daniel more? Dawgs are what they are-Worse than Boise and better than Tenn- Will beat Gators!!! Sic’em.
just saying
October 25th, 2011
12:27 am
talk up Inbredville all you want but no matter how horrible Florida is playing this year, they will still beat ugag
heeldawg
October 25th, 2011
4:27 am
Bradley changes the direction of his opinion like the wind. Earlier this season, after the South Carolina game, Bradley was reading the epitaph for the Richt era and was proclaiming the dawning of the Age of the Jacket. Now, he’s gone the opposite direction. IMO, this column is premature. If Tech loses again this weekend and Georgia wins, this column might be more appropriate–but what if the opposite happens? What if Georgia loses and Tech wins? Will he then write a column proclaiming CPJ a genius (once again) and Richt a goner (as before)? Georgia’s win streak is more a product of its schedule; likewise, the way things have gone at Tech is more a revelation that the score differential against terrible teams doesn’t prove anything. That’s the reason that this stat was taken out of the BCS formula–it’s virtually meaningless.
In any case, Georgia’s season will be defined by Saturday. Tech’s can be, too. I do feel that Georgia beats Florida, Brantley or no Brantley. No gimmicks this time–just hard-nosed football. If he starts, Brantley won;t last a quarter. The Georgia defense will leave no doubt about which team is the better squad. They were embarassed last week at Vandy, and they will be out for blood. And the offense will exploit the Gators’ shaky secondary enough to force them to take a few gambles on D–which will open up running lanes for Crowell. If the Special Teams can come through with one game in which they simply don’t make a potential game-losing mistake (blocked punt, fake punt, missed FG, kickoff TD), the Dawgs will win this game in a rout.
And I do think Tech loses, as Clemson’s offense will rip the Jackets’ defense to shreds. The Clemson D is not stellar, though–so this could be a score-fest. And therein lies the Jackets’ chance. Get a few turnovers and they could surprise some people.They lost the Virginia game because of misplaced arrogance. They lost to Miami because of miscues and better athletes on the other squad. But they could win this week if they play like their backs are against the wall–which they are.
andy
October 25th, 2011
4:35 am
The Acc is a joke.
Enigma
October 25th, 2011
5:02 am
Anyone who wants UGA football to become relevant again had better hope Richt loses Saturday. The future will be a lot brighter if that happens.
The DAWG
October 25th, 2011
5:43 am
Truth is, Tech might not have a single win if they had UGAs schedule
Rafe Hollister
October 25th, 2011
6:26 am
…and the Tech fan goes, once again, from arrogant to bitter.
Buzzzzzzz
October 25th, 2011
6:39 am
You Dawg fans who keep bashing Tech enjoy yourselves all you want. The thing is… Tech alumni and fans have lives that don’t depend entirely on what a bunch of kids does on Saturday afternoons. College sports are fun to follow, but the biggest reason for going to college is to get an education.
UGA fans don’t seem to care about anything but football, and they don’t care if their players are enrolled in silly majors that no parents who are paying the bills would send their kids to UGA for. The very few football and basketball players who graduate have no job opportunities and end up unemployed or working in menial jobs that hardly require a college degree.
Georgia Tech is a real school with serious academic standards, and that includes scholarshipped athletes. UGA has a long history of being a drunken party school, where parents send their kids for an easy degree, even if the degree itself is worthless.
Jan Kemp exposed the obscene sleazy crap going on at UGA with athletes being enrolled in courses a ten-year-old kid could pass. That was almost three decades ago, and nothing has changed. If anything, the abuses are more blatant today. Way too many illiterate morons are being recruited, and the very high arrest rate shows clearly that Richt does not care if his players have any morals or character.
The bottom line is that most Tech fans have very good jobs and productive lives that don’t depend on Tech’s football record for their happiness in life. It would be great to beat UGA more often, but when you put scholar-athletes up against dummy-athletes, it’s usually no contest.
So keep on posting your scores all you want, especially since you’re home with plenty of time on your hands. I wish you well, maybe you’ll get lucky and get your old janitorial job back before your unemployment checks stop coming.
All Saints
October 25th, 2011
6:41 am
Just a reminder that we’ll be having our regular tribute and moment of silence on Saturday for Saint Jan Kemp, the courageous martyr who exposed UGA and Vince Dooley’s “remedial studies” fraud.
Please approach this special moment with reverence as we honor her sacred name.
Spike
October 25th, 2011
6:44 am
That noise you hear is the sound of Tech fans bailing out of the bandwagon. Oh, St. Simons, where are you brother?
Weather Channel Expert
October 25th, 2011
6:48 am
Where is St. Simons and that other jag off Supersize?
Weather Channel Expert
October 25th, 2011
6:52 am
All Saints or other Nerd: I thought Gtu was on probation for playing ineligible players AGAIN. You all cheat so much I can’t keep up. Anyway from what I recall you had an ACC title vacated and with the other vacated wins against UGA you haven’t beaten us in 20+ years. My favorite play was when Reggie Ball was going to go for it on 5th down.
Outside looking in
October 25th, 2011
7:16 am
As a Penn Sate grad (32) years ago, I’ll toss my two cents here regarding Head Coaches. Who do the UGA fans think they will get to best the record of a guy who has won over 100 games in 11 years?
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2011
7:28 am
No 1 cares about Georgia tek. They are on NCAA PROBATION in FOOTBALL back-to-back repeat offenders. They have recruited the # 51 average recruiting class every single year under Paul Johnson, downtown in a city of 6 million with but 2 other states over the period who generate more top recruits. It’s sad. And, what is even more sad is that the ACC Chumpionship you list has been stripped from them. And, if Mark Richt is on the hotseat and Paul Johnson not, with Georgia tek having not won a Major Bowl game since 1955 – it is the fault of the Georgia tek fans, both of them.
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2011
7:31 am
No. On 4th down, he threw the ball away into the stands. You are giving him too much credit counting to 5. He cannot count to 4. Speaking of not counting to 4 even, Georgia tek has a worse APR than Georgia in football, in baseball, in women’s basketball and in men’s basketball, while Georgia tek also LOSES to UGA in those sports too. Imagine 1-9 vs a coach who is on the hotseat. You can quit writing about Georgia tek now Mark Bradley; no 1 cares.
The DAWG
October 25th, 2011
7:37 am
I learn something new on the blog everyday. Today I learned Tech has a bandwagon I bet not a very big one judging on the home field crowds uh crowd uh gathering uh group uh trio at grant field
Dogs Smell
October 25th, 2011
7:40 am
Amazing , Once again the “Homers” look to shine. Georgia your first 2 games were the hardest on your schedule. No school in the SEC has an easier schedule than you. Tech’s schedule has only gotten stronger as each week passes while your’s on the other hand only gets softer and you’re bragging? As most of the country wishes, we hope UF, Auburn and Tech hand you a glass of reality. You need a change from all of the Kool Aid you have been drinking!
Hal
October 25th, 2011
7:42 am
Tech needs to take recruiting seriously and I do not see any eveidence that it has.
The DAWG
October 25th, 2011
7:44 am
Exactly who were the powerhouses teck lost to and where are they ranked in the top 25
TechRon
October 25th, 2011
7:48 am
UGA deserves credit for righting the ship. A win over UF would be huge, even if they are favored. I think they have a block about the Gators, so any win would be a really big one.
Tech is in the tank. I really can’t think of anything to say about them that is good. Coaching sucks. QB sucks. Defense sucks. Special teams sucks.
You know, the popular wisdom is that Tech players are at least smarter. That has been around all my life and I am not a young man anymore. I am a Tech grad, so i know something about it. Year after year, I see them play stupid. Like the way they handle punts. Is there no one on that team who can fair catch a punt? How about just get away from it when the game is yours and a fumble would kill you? Tech plays stupid. Stupid coaching, stupid decisions on the field. Someone earlier mentioned Dodd. Well, Dodd teams played smart. They were over-conservative, but they did not make mental errors very often, and they played great defense.
Somebody also said that TW is PJ’s Reggie Ball and that seems like a good analogy. Ball was awful and it was unexplainable why Gailey kept playing him. Same for TW. I don’t get it. Just like dumbass Fredi Gonzalez continuing to start Derek Lowe when any fool could see that he didn’t have it.
Also, a lot of UGA people are always on Tech about not selling out. They are right of course. The reason is that year after year they do not put the product out there that people care to buy. Back in the day, Tech was huge in Atlanta. Everyone was interested. Now it is an afterthought. I sure don’t spend my time and money down there, sponsoring ineptitude.
Dogs Smell
October 25th, 2011
8:02 am
The DAWG ,
I dont see the word “Powerhouse ” mentioned outside of you. That being said Miami and Virgina are better than any of the teams Georgia will play this year outside of BSU and Auburn.
Thomas Brown
October 25th, 2011
8:03 am
And, why should you ? They lose. They don’t graduate. No 1 else is at the games. You blew up half the stadium to make it seem more full. You haven’t won a major bowl game since 1955. Your recruiting rank is # 51 in the nation every single year. And, your fans are notorious for your bottle throwing, bad sportsmanship and spending all your time on the UGA blogs telling us how bad we are. Neither team is any good.
Elenora
October 25th, 2011
8:07 am
A few facts about your UGA that you might consider:
1. UGA is the nation’s #1 party school. That means that UGA has the highest number of drunks on campus of all the colleges and universities in the U.S. These drunks keep the Athens-Clarke County jail full, and provide full employment to law enforcement personnel, bail bondsmen, and attorneys. Really something to be proud of, isn’t it.
2. UGA athletes are some of the most illiterate morons in the country. Most of them take remedial studies, which is the stuff that most kids learn by the seventh grade. But not your dummies, who you laughingly call student-athletes. The very few who actually graduate have worthless diplomas in worthless studies that no employer is looking for.
3. Even your fans are trashy, stupid drunks. Take a look at what your campus looks like after a home game, and check the number of DUIs the police issue between Athens and Atlanta after a game.
4. UGA athletes must think that ankle monitoring bracelets are bling, they see so many of them in the locker room.
A really miserable, sorry place, and a huge embarrassment to all Georgians.
Hamburger
October 25th, 2011
8:15 am
heeldawg
October 25th, 2011
4:27 am
“Bradley changes the direction of his opinion like the wind. Earlier this season, after the South Carolina game, Bradley was reading the epitaph for the Richt era and was proclaiming the dawning of the Age of the Jacket. Now, he’s gone the opposite direction.”
That’s called reporting. Mark Bradley has no supernatural powers to predestine the home teams’ wins and losses. He just calls it as he sees it – and it’s not his fault that his readers don’t like what he writes.
Ed Pilcher
October 25th, 2011
8:21 am
I’m an option guy in high school coaching circles, and here’s how teams are defending the option…..
1. Using a 4-man front, teams are placing the 2 inside defensive tackles directly into the A-gaps between the center and guard on each side. This plugs the gaps that are used during the mid-line option plays and this defensive formation takes away the dive play…..but only if you play assignment football on defense. Sonetimes the dive will still work, but the chances of this play popping for a huge gain are limited if the defense plays in this formation.
2. All outside LBers and Safeties are utilized to stop the outside veer and pitch plays. Simple enough if you play assignment football. DE covers the QB, LB covers the pitch, and the rest of the run support flows to the play. There will be mor etacklers than can be blocked.
3. Play man-to-man coverage on the 2 WRs. Dare Washington to beat you with his arm. So far, he hasn’t shown that he can do this. There’s no TE to cover in the flexbone. RBs are usually blocking or faking. Use the extra DBs for run support.
So endeth the lesson.
Jimmy Crack
October 25th, 2011
8:27 am
Mark, your trajectories are correct. Paul Johnson is beginning to be on his way out. Run all you want, GT, but without a decent QB his 3 card monte running attack can be diagnosed by a good DC. Coach Richt was in a similar situation as he is finally coming out of a 2 year quarterback worm hole. UGA hasn’t been anything offensively since Stafford left early for the NFL. Cox was ineffective and althought Aaron overachieved as a freshman (and he had A.J. for 8 games), he still made freshman QB mistakes. To begin this year the Boise game may have made his eyes big, but Aaron righted the ship against USC (in a loss that can be attributed to Special Teams) and is on his way to being an elite SEC quarterback. Tech needs a consistent signal caller or Johnson will get more and more heat.
Technically Correct
October 25th, 2011
8:36 am
My daddy would have taken me to the woodshed had I brought home a report card like this one from CBSSports.com…
Oct. 24, 2011 11:42 a.m. – by Larry Hartstein – Grading the Yellow Jackets: Coaching
Grade: D. If not for the defense rallying, this too would be an F. Coach Paul Johnson said afterward he was “frustrated that we couldn’t find something that they could do on offense better.” Coaches better find something fast before Clemson arrives with its ACC-best offense (40.6 ppg). Jackets RapidReports
Oct. 24, 2011 11:41 a.m. – by Larry Hartstein – Grading the Yellow Jackets: Special teams
Grade: F. This unit hit rock bottom. True freshman PR Zach Laskey had been a bright spot all season, but he fumbled a punt for a Miami TD and failed to catch another punt. Tech had a 13-yard punt and an 8-yard KO return. On the plus side, Jamal Golden blocked a FG Jackets RapidReports
Oct. 24, 2011 11:40 a.m. – by Larry Hartstein – Grading the Yellow Jackets: Defense
Grade: B. With LBs Jeremiah Attaochu and Daniel Drummond back from injury, the D did a much better job against the on run, holding Miami to 3.0 yard per carry. Tech did not allow a 100-yard rusher for the first time in ACC play. DE Euclid Cummings got good penetration and made four tackles, one for loss. Jackets RapidReports
Oct. 24, 2011 11:39 a.m. – by Larry Hartstein – Grading the Yellow Jackets
Grade: F. QB Tevin Washington sailed his first pass for an INT. On the option, Tech couldn’t get the ball to the perimeter. Miami’s speedy LBs helped limit the Jackets to 2.8 yards per carry. The Jackets also couldn’t get the ball to their biggest weapon, WR Stephen Hill (1 catch, 9 yards). Jackets RapidReports
Vampire Bill
October 25th, 2011
8:36 am
I don’t see that UGA has improved that much. While not terrible they are far from a NC championship contender which is what is ALWAYS expected by the BULLDAWG NATION. Sad state of affairs in Athens.
Dawg House
October 25th, 2011
8:40 am
Dawgs blow out florida and tech and upset lsu for the SEC title!!! These dawgs are for real. Grantham’s 3-4 D may be playing the best in the SEC right now and murray and crowell are lighting it up big. Tech will be lucky to make some crummy bowl somewhere like shreveport or idaho.
FANtastic
October 25th, 2011
8:41 am
Last year’s debacle for Tech was a function of losing 4 of your 5 best players (Thomas, Morgan, Dwyer, Burnett) to the NFL early, and then losing your last one (Nesbitt) to injury. This year was always going to be a rebuilding year, it’s the way the team is built. Tevin is not an option QB. Sims is still transitioning. Stephen Hill is much improved and Orwin Smith is a beast. The future is very bright for this team.
Engineer Tech!
October 25th, 2011
8:45 am
the university of football is better than Tech this year!! Congrats! Maybe some of the players are actually learning how to read letters and numbers in their developmental studies!!! Georgia fans should be proud of these academic “scholars” on the field!!!!
Rationalizations
October 25th, 2011
8:46 am
If the team can’t put points on the board in the second half?
“Conservative Play Calling”
If the team wins games against 5 unranked teams with only 1 SEC victory among them in spite of a lack of offensive production?
“This Defense is Awesome!”
If the team loses (again) to the hapless Florida Gators?
“Location, Location, Location”
blue
October 25th, 2011
8:46 am
While I was NEVER buying that GT was all that good because of their schedule and figured they could lose about 4 (or more) towards the end, here is a number for you process about strength of schedule beforey you get TOO excited about the UGA resurgence; the combined in-conference record of the SEC teams that GA has beaten is 1-14.
The DAWG
October 25th, 2011
8:47 am
CPJ is too danged stubborn and will not changed his precious running offense. CPJ talking to QB recruit. I don’t care how many TD passes you threw. Can you run and block for my RBs. Wide receivers. I don’t care how fast or how many yards and TDs you have. Can you block for my RBs. Yeah passing QBs and WRs are going to GT
Dog Smell Deoderant
October 25th, 2011
8:55 am
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