Heat Check: Everybody – Tech, UGA, the Falcons – is smokin’
The men of Groh are growing on me, I must confess. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Georgia Tech wins a big game and is back in the Top 25. Georgia beats Florida and has climbed to No. 18. The Falcons don’t even play but gain on New Orleans in the NFC South. Our weekly Heat Check begins with the question: Are we Winnersville or what?
Georgia Tech: A big-time performance was needed, and that’s what the Jackets provided. Coming as it did after two small-time losses, Tech now gives the impression of having turned a corner. (Then again, it’s always nice to happen on a corner and find Dabo Swinney standing there.)
There was a neat little hidden stat coming into the Clemson game, so neat and so hidden I’d have missed it if a faithful Twitter follower hadn’t called it to my attention: In ACC games, Tech was 11th in the conference in total offense but first in the league in total defense. Which tells us that, for all the hand-wringing over Al Groh’s D, he has fashioned a unit that will give the famous offense a chance in every game, provided the offense doesn’t turn the ball over and the special teams don’t collapse completely. Heat Index: Beat the nation’s No. 5 team, even if it is Dabo-coached, and you’re certifiably smokin’ again.
Georgia: I have to say I’m a bit confused. Georgia beat Florida for the fourth time since 1989 after trailing by two touchdowns, and the reaction on this site wasn’t so much exultation but complaint. I’m willing to concede that reader comments aren’t necessarily an accurate gauge of anything and that some folks who present themselves as Georgia fans might not be. That said …
Are you serious? When you’ve lost as many games to Florida as Georgia has, you should take a one-point victory on a safety induced by a punt that bounces off a seagull and be happy with it. I know special teams were terrible. I know this isn’t much of a Florida team. Doesn’t matter. It was still Florida in Jacksonville, and Georgia won. Heat Index: Six in a row after 0-2 — me, I’d call that warmth.
The Falcons: Had a bye. Will have another Sunday. (Technically, they meet Indianapolis. Same difference.) Then again, the Saints thought they’d have a bye in St. Louis, and they lost to an 0-6 opponent. Which means the Falcons are tied with New Orleans in the loss column, which is a pretty good place to be after starting 2-3.
Do I think the Falcons have played to their capacity? No, I don’t. Do I think they can win the Super Bowl playing as they have? No again. But do I think they have room to grow into a Super Bowl-type team? Yes, I still do. Heat Index: After the trip to Indy, the Falcons’ next three are at home, including a Nov. 13 date against New Orleans. Time to get hot, I’d say.
Will Muschamp: The former Bulldog officially became the first Florida coach ever to have a losing record against Mark Richt, and Gator fans don’t know what to do. Should they write off Muschamp as the next Ron Zook, or should they blame Urban Meyer for leaving so little talent behind? Heat Index: Florida was winless in October for the first time since it went 0-10-1 under Charley Pell in 1979. That’s cold.
Dabo Swinney: He replaced Tommy Bowden, who would raise hopes only to dash them, and after two years on the job it’s unclear whether Dabo isn’t really Tommy B. in disguise. Because nothing at Clemson has changed. This is still the team you can’t believe in. Heat Index: When you come into a game thinking about a national championship and trail by three touchdowns at the half, you’ve undergone a cold snap.
The Braves: They finished one game behind the eventual World Series champs. Which sounds nicer than saying, “The Cardinals wouldn’t be champs if the Braves hadn’t squandered an 8 1/2-game lead in September.” Heat Index: A chilly winter awaits.
The Hawks: They’re locked out. Their new owner might not be their new owner after all. Other than that, everything’s hunky-dory. Heat Index: Let’s see, when were the Hawks ever a hot item? In 1988, maybe?
By Mark Bradley
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369 comments Add your comment
drmaryb (*_-)
October 31st, 2011
12:36 pm
* Anyway, that’s MY take on remaining optimistic …
flatsdawg1
October 31st, 2011
12:42 pm
I’m with you Mark,I’m ecstatic with the win over the gators! This Georgia team is becoming a solid team on both sides of the ball. This was a team effort no doubt, the defense picked up the special teams and the offense made the plays when they had to be made. Alot of credit goes to Mark Richt for a couple of extremely gutsy calls,which we have seen a few times this season,dare I coin mark Richt as the St. johns Rriverboat Gambler.!
dtc
October 31st, 2011
12:42 pm
HT, the only addition to next years schedule is Alabama. That is a tougher opponent, than one Mississippi team coming off, but it is just one game, and UGA will be better next year than thus year.
Jackdog
October 31st, 2011
12:45 pm
Great games for GT and the Dogs. I was wondering if there is any type of review for the officials who missed an atrocious off-sides by Clemson at the Tech 1 year line? Too bad there is no review process.
zbulldawg
October 31st, 2011
12:45 pm
Mark Bradley you can find positive in all that’s refreshing these days.And when you do mention something negative you do it in a CLASSY way.You have been one of my favorite sports writters!! the state of GA. has alot to be thankful for.Richt is making the necessary adjustments to compete with the SEC powers.Paul J. is hard as a rock, smart as a fox and will always find a way to beat you! He reminds me of V.Dooley & THE ERK.UGA is starting to get that edge. GrantHam is showing the way with his HAMMERS “the defense” I don’t understand why UGA hasn’t a special teams coach? Maybe budget cuts etc.I do understand that in past years UGA would tire in the latter part of the game.Using there starters on spec. teams wasn’t wooking either.UGA is building the depth thats needed. the conditioning is awhole better!!!!!!!!! Now they are playing Georgia Football.It’s great the Braves are at a point where not making the playoffs is a let down. I can remember an above 500 season was considered a good season.The Hawks are a team you have to play against & win to be considered a top team in the NBA.We are very blessed but spoiled to have the teams we have in the state of GA.All colleges want our student athletes.Everyone enjoys beating our teams.WE ARE THE MEASURING STICK!!!!! For the upcoming and the ones who want to stay there. SICK EM It would be great if we could keep all our Athletes at home ? I’m a HUGE Bulldog Fan but you are right their are plenty of those in question THE SAD THING IS THEY NOT A CLUE HOW MUCH THEY HURT RECRUITING WHEN THEY KEEP CALLING TO FIRE RICHT. As TRUE Fans let’s help keep our players at HOME.The top notch players are border line right now not knowing whether Richt will be there next year let’s quit beating him down!! It’s not fare to him & his family or UGA.
FLA DAWG
October 31st, 2011
12:48 pm
What’s the temperature under Muschamp since having lost 4 in a row with the most recent to UGA in Jax?
YAY
October 31st, 2011
12:51 pm
BRAVES TRADE LOWE TO CLEVELAND
OH HAPPY DAY!!!
JB
October 31st, 2011
12:52 pm
” This Georgia team is really playing well on both sides of the Ball”…………..all I guess is he went to pee every time we were on offense.
Gatorman
October 31st, 2011
12:54 pm
I’ll make the UGA faithful very happy, you beat a horrible Florida team with a nitwit coach who shouldn’t even be a head coach, and oh yeah, you had to come from two touchdowns down to do it. Now doesn’t that make you very warm inside?
The Jackets need to stay focused for the remaining three games. All can be won, and all can be lost!!
JB
October 31st, 2011
12:55 pm
Fla Dawg…………….The Florida message boards thinks Foley made a big mistake. That’s what I read all weekend…..But not unexpected to read losing to us. They think it’s their right to beat us. I say their defense was not depleted and full of 5 star guys….Why didn’t they just stop us from scoring?
DAWGBONE79
October 31st, 2011
12:57 pm
BobDawg….I like it. Florida does have talent and they will get better. That’s why it’s best not to change coaches unless absolutely necessary.
Herschel – you’re not….Talker you are…but your points are pointless. Quit being a poser and go root for your own team…whoever that may “bee”.
DAWGBONE79
JB
October 31st, 2011
12:58 pm
Gatorman…………..and gonna be horrible for awhile. you don’t plug the holes who guys got in one year.
No Qb,RB,TE,proven WR’s, horrible defensive backs. Gonna be a while sport. Enjoy you time in the basement.
JB
October 31st, 2011
1:00 pm
Isn’t Muschamp a defensive Guru?
zbulldawg
October 31st, 2011
1:02 pm
THANK YOU UGA WE NEEDED THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL YOU NEGATIVE PEOPLE “FANS ?” DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAL HOW YOU ARE HURTING RECRUITING JUST SHUT UP
JB
October 31st, 2011
1:04 pm
I was told the Georgia coach’s had the presser of Muschamp “guaranteeing ” a win over Georgia playing on a continuous loop on the TV’s in the locker room all week.
UGA Rocks!
October 31st, 2011
1:08 pm
Hawks? Is that our new hockey team??? Women’s professional softball team??? Haven’t seen that name around town since I moved here 6 months ago and just might want to go watch them play.
TheItalianDawg
October 31st, 2011
1:19 pm
we are happy with the win but extremely disappointed by the offense and special teams performance. Florida is not that good. probably they will lose to Vandy this week.
Georgia has major issues on offense and special teams
Bobo is mediocre at best, he doesn’t know his own players
Walsh and Butler both played terrible! what the heck happened to them
especially Walsh, someting is going on!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DawgDad
October 31st, 2011
1:22 pm
The Tech victory was truly inspired and inspiring. Oh, wait, I’m a Georgia fan.
Let me just say I spent the first half SCREAMING at the ineptitude displayed by the Dawgs in Jacksonville. Heat Index: I didn’t see near enough from the Dawgs to believe they’ve turned the corner to compete with the big boys. This is a top-25 team based on talent at hand, but they remain disorganized and error-prone. A healthy Florida teams drubs them into an after-thought.
The Conley kid sure looked good, didn’t he? There is a brighter future at hand for the Dawgs, if they can maintain some semblance of discipline.
SatillaDawg
October 31st, 2011
1:24 pm
I’ll be smiling all year.
Go DAWGS!
BS Patrol
October 31st, 2011
1:24 pm
How the H111 can ga be ranked above Tech with that string of twinkies they have beaten?
Alex Muerlo
October 31st, 2011
1:25 pm
i am your only hope.
Riddy
October 31st, 2011
1:25 pm
Do not underestimate that New Mexico team we play next week. They are lighting up the scoreboard average 46.5 points per game and allowing an average of 17.6 points. Take them lightly you may end up like Texas Tech. Close game this Saturday.
Tiger Ron
October 31st, 2011
1:25 pm
Cold Water on Bradley’s sudden Lovefest with Tech and UGA:
Dabo and Clemson have 4 Quality Wins(Auburn, FSU, VA Tech, UNC) this Year over teams with winning records.
Richt has 0 Quality Wins this year and Johnson and Tech have 2(Clemson & UNC).
Just Saying….
The Truth
October 31st, 2011
1:26 pm
Gt kills UGA in the ATL in November!!
Toothless Gator
October 31st, 2011
1:27 pm
Check out Bianchi’s article on the Gators, Ouch!
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-bianchi-florida-georgia-1030-20111029,0,6125786.column
ramguy68
October 31st, 2011
1:34 pm
I’m all in when comes to being a UGA fan and certainly no fan of Tech but I have to admit that their win over Clemson by far was the best victory of the year of the two schools. The Dawgs met with a depleted Fla team and let them get big plays right off the bat. Special teams were embarrassing. They stumbled through the gave and to give them credit they pulled together and pulled it out. On the other hand Tech met a Clemson team that had everything going for them, rank, confidence and an undefeated season. Tech jumped on them and didn’t let them back up even with the terrible non-call of offsides when Tech was going to put up even more points on them.
Muschamp Outcoached!
October 31st, 2011
1:36 pm
Muschamp had florida looking at replays of the 2007 so much they forget to prepare for the game! the motivation thing didn’t work—florida got owned. Fla will be down for a long time–they have no talent and some weak coaches. Ga is the new big horse in the SEC!!!
He Hate Gator
October 31st, 2011
1:42 pm
I can’t believe the people on here saying Dawgs played a good game….it was more like Fla was even more worse than Ga….Ga barely won against the worst Fla team in years (though I’ll take any win against Gators). The games against ranked teams, Auburn and GT will be more a test of how far the dawgs have come or they just simply haven’t played a good team since seeing SC….
He Hate Gator
October 31st, 2011
1:44 pm
Zbull….surely NO recruit bases his decision on this silly blog…
DawgInaTruck
October 31st, 2011
1:45 pm
Don’t know if we’re the new big horse in the SEC just yet but we will be soon. We are playing as many freshmen and sophomores as anyone in the country and we are winning with them. Yes, some of the wins look ugly but that is what you get with youth in this league and they are wins nonetheless.
One of the main reasons the haters are out in full force and throat is that they know this. They know this team is going to be SCARY GOD for several years to come. Its killing them already.
The Truth
October 31st, 2011
1:46 pm
You are funny Dawginatruck.
DawgInaTruck
October 31st, 2011
1:46 pm
SCARY GOOD-regrettable typo
DawgInaTruck
October 31st, 2011
1:50 pm
Truth, I’ll tell ya what. My name nor my participation on a UGA blog won’t be changed by wins or losses and you won’t find me on another team’s blog except to say congratulations. The same can’t be said for you.
Haters hate;
Dawgs dominate!
Big Dawg
October 31st, 2011
1:51 pm
Smokin? Georgia fans should be happy that the team won on Saturday, but that’s about it. Be humble and not get too carried away here just yet. The only thing that should be on fire is the Dawgs’ special teams game plan.
StuDawg
October 31st, 2011
1:52 pm
I dont know what your talking about Mark, the DAWGS win over Florida was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! I am still celebrating!!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS!!!!!!!!! AND GO HOGS this wknd!!!!!!
Dontavius Supremo
October 31st, 2011
1:58 pm
I’d feel better about Tech if they had beaten a top twenty team from outside the ACC.
Big Dawg
October 31st, 2011
2:02 pm
Dawgs are smokin’? Great to have a victory over the Gators, but let’s not jump the gun here. Long way to go before we can go around acting like world beaters. The only thing really that should be on fire is the special teams’ playbook. IF they even have one.
1eyedJack
October 31st, 2011
2:11 pm
I’m just happy.
D man
October 31st, 2011
2:17 pm
Let’s go Falcons…
Mary
October 31st, 2011
2:18 pm
I don’t see so many “We got to get Muschamp or Mullens for HC” anymore! All of these CMR haters think that it’s so easy to get a great HC. Be very careful what you wish for!!
Eric C.
October 31st, 2011
2:19 pm
UGA Insider, I think Bobo called a pretty good game against UF…Murray was just inaccurate at times.
2010 BCS CHAMPS
October 31st, 2011
2:20 pm
“I’ve got news for you, just because your little Aubie team lost to Arkansas, AGAIN!!!,”
Auburn didn’t lose to Arkansas last year.
“Gonna be a long time before Auburn beats UGA again!!!!”
Two weeks is a long time?
D man
October 31st, 2011
2:23 pm
Speaking of the Dawgs, I am happy for the turnaround. You can’t be a top 5 team every year. Teams go through down times and the Dawgs are in it. They will be back soon enough. I’m just happy they have won 6 out of 8 games after last years disappointing season. Now if they win their remaining games and the bowl game, then that would be a great season. I don’t think any team will beat the winner of this Saturdays national champion game between LSU and Alabama. Those teams look like pro teams playing high school teams each week.
doggoneit
October 31st, 2011
2:41 pm
Herschel Talker – Mark Richt will be around for another 10 years! Time for you to come out of the closet and declare your true love for GA. TECH
FL dawg
October 31st, 2011
2:42 pm
Yeah I love CMR. But it’s apparent that alot of NFL teams do too. He’s an exceptional recruiter. The guy knows talented players, even if we can’t play too “special’.
JB
October 31st, 2011
2:45 pm
Bad news for Gators….Dawgs will be even better next year. They are really young…and talented…and this Jerk that wrote this article talks about the Dawgs as Road kill. Florida will not be much better next year. Running a pro set without a proven Qb, RB’s,TE’s Wr’s…….They have a lot of holes to fill….and starting 8 or 9 hot shot freshman won’t fix things. Look for muschamp to be fired mid season in year 3. The are delusional down there and have no patience.
Furman Bishop
October 31st, 2011
3:29 pm
Before I’d get all excited about extending Richt’s contract because of a 4 point win over FL as one blogger suggests, I think I’d wait till after the SEC Championship game provided he makes it there. Winning the East won’t mean a lot after Saban/Miles(take your pick) beats him like a drum on national TV.
Gdawg
October 31st, 2011
3:42 pm
Coma Toast, wake me up when you maggets beat someone who plays D1 defense.
Big D
October 31st, 2011
3:53 pm
Dawgs still don’t have a win over a team with a wining record. New Mexico this week. Another laugher. Give the AD credit for the easy schedule. Auburn and Tech on the horizon, things are going to get sticky. But Richt is safe. 4 or 5 losses is considered good in Dawg Patch.
LHarding Dawg
October 31st, 2011
4:28 pm
Big D – What team do you pull for? Inquiring minds would like to know.