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
Dawgs Roll
October 31st, 2011
5:13 pm
Ga beats Auburn and tech like a rented mule. Tech has 1 big win over an overrated clemson team and auburn’s offense is terrible. Dawgs v. Alabama — SEC title!!!
Tony
October 31st, 2011
5:37 pm
Mr. Bradley,
Do us all a favor and hold off annointing this UGA team until they beat a team with a 5-3 record or better, ok?
SoGABee
October 31st, 2011
5:39 pm
So, Mark, doesn’t changing direction on which team is great so fast hurt your neck? Last week the Jackets were terrible – the first 6 games all an illusion — now, we are great again? Dabo was the second coming a week ago, now he’s dirt. The Dogs couldn’t beat Fl with a stick but now deserve #18. Looks like you just float with whoever looks good at the moment.
But thanks for the bulletin board material over the last 2 weeks — I’m sure it helped get the Jackets fired up for Saturday.
Dawg Tired
October 31st, 2011
5:47 pm
Mark – My take (for what its worth) – As long as UF has Weiss as OC, we’ve got a chance.
ha
October 31st, 2011
6:42 pm
Damn..all the shots we should all be happy. Florida looses DILBO SWINER is taken down a notch and the Falcons look pretty damn good.
FLA DAWG
October 31st, 2011
8:34 pm
I saw the game until the score was 3 – 17 with UF on top.
I was sick thinking we’d be routed.
I had to go to the kid’s school Haloween Party and missed the rest of the game.
Called my brother – in – law who told me The Dawgs won 24 – 20.
I didn’t believe him – I thought he was bust’in my balls.
The Dawgs looked so bad in the first quarter I couldn’t believe they’d come back to win it.
It must have been on hell of a second half or fourth quarter from what I am reading.
Gonna have to watch a rerun.
I still think we’ve played patsy teams except for the two that beat us – which is not a good endorsement. I mean Garcia tried to give us the SC Game but we were too inept to take it.
Boise State just beat us – no contest.
I don’t think The Dawgs will end up in The SECC and if they do does anyone believe they can beat LSU?
andrew
October 31st, 2011
9:02 pm
DO YOU REMEMBER 70S AND 80S WHEN GA DID NOT LOSE
andrew
October 31st, 2011
9:15 pm
i live in fl and love the dogs and i know mark is a good man but after the fl game which we won just look back at the game i think its time for a change from top to bottom nick or wes would have blown the gators away we will never be great if we dont do something hey dont think if we let mark go he will suffer cant let feelings get in the way hell dooly knew when to get out go dogs
andrew
October 31st, 2011
9:30 pm
look back at the ga fl game its time for a chang
Move the Ga-Fla Game
October 31st, 2011
10:49 pm
McGarity needs to get this game moved to home and home. I’m tired of driving to jacksonville every year and paying obscene prices for hotels and dealing with all the rude police and staff in jacksonville and nothing to do the night before the game in that redneck town except go the landing.
Gt
November 1st, 2011
1:37 am
Look…. We will see you again Clemson in the acc championship…. I have lots of respect for the tigers & little for the rednecks in Athens. Go Jackets!!!
Gt
November 1st, 2011
1:38 am
Omg ga fans… You beat a very bad fla team…..but if that’s the only time you can beat fla is when they suck, the congrats
Whatever
November 1st, 2011
3:30 am
Herschel Talker – do you even go to the games? The last thing I thought about at Everbank Stadium, driving back to Jax Beach and later hanging with all my Georgia friends who made the trip was posting on a stupid blog. Hell, I did not even read any AJC articles until this evening. What the Dawg Nation needs is for ignorant A-holes like you to go away and shut the hell up. Mark Richt is a very good coach and just what Georgia needs. You think Saban is going to come to UGA? Maybe you can pay him the $10 mil a year he would want just to think about a switch. Unless you have given millions to the Hartman Fund (go look it up, I am sure you have no idea what that is) over the years, again, shut the hell up. Mark Richt has two SEC Championships, three SEC East titles, 7 top 10 finishes, 2 top 3 finishes, 102 victories in less than 11 years, 2 Sugar Bowl Championships in 3 appearance, and is 7-3 in bowl appearances. Georgia is a program on the rise again. These are cyclical. Mark Richt will get his chance at a NC again and he will bring home SEC titles again and maybe even will do it this year. A lot of our woes in 2009 and 2010 were a result of early departures for the NFL. This is also a young team. And, the problems with the coaching staff have been addressed. And, tougher schedule next year? Again, if you actually knew anything about the program you would know it is no harder next year. We drop Boise for the opener and add Alabama who will lose many players this year to the NFL. Another open weekend before Florida. UT and Tech in Athens. UGA will have a chance for a very special season next year.
Whatever
November 1st, 2011
3:55 am
@ HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH, Actually, Georgia does rank as one of the top academic schools in the country. US News and World Report consistently ranks UGA in the top 10 for Public Universities and has UGA in the top half of the first tier college and universities. US News and World Report also ranks UGA’s Law School in the top 30 out of the 183 ABA accredited schools. And, recently, the Economist in London ranked the top 100 business schools out of the 1,600 in the world. Only two in Georgia made the ranking. #28 Emory, #90 UGA. Georgia Tech’s business school did not make the cut. Then again, Georgia has a nationally known School of Education, School of Veterinary Medicine, History Department in the College of Arts and Sciences and one of the better Biology programs in the country. Delude yourself as much as you want. Go to Tech and find yourself unable to get a job in engineering, let alone a high paying job, and live in bitterness. Or, get yourself so in debt at a private school which won’t actually get a you a better eduation or job when you graduate but will put you $100K in debt.
heeldawg
November 1st, 2011
4:25 am
Congrats to Tech on a great game. I was pulling for y’all. Just a stellar overall effort.
A little-known kernel of truth hidden in all of this: Georgia’s full-strength defense is so good that it can keep them in the game against anyone–including LSU and Alabama. If the special teams meltdowns can be rectified (Georgia has given up big punt and/or kickoff returns and/or fake punts for big yardage which either scored or set up scores against Boise State, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Florida, and has had shanked or blocked punts and missed chip shot field goals against almost everyone), the Dawgs could have a shot against either of the two big boys from the West. The offense is diversified and talented, although depth is an issue, and the D is as good as they come (seventh nationally in total defense, first nationally in third-down conversions, etc).
The Georgia-Georgia Tech game this year will be a classic “irresistable force against immovable object” battle–the Tech running game against the Georgia run defense. Should be a great one–and I add my voice to the chorus about wanting to see two division champs squaring off at Grant Field the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Go Dawgs and Go Jackets!
College Football Fan
November 1st, 2011
8:07 am
Mark,
I have a question for you. Is Georgia Tech that good, or is Clemson that bad. Georgia Tech took it to Clemson, but Georgia Tech got beat by Miami? Go figure?
bubba4dawgs
November 1st, 2011
8:23 am
How ’bout them North Avenue Nerds!!! U GO NERDS!! Bet U want some Dawg meat!!
Move the Ga-Fla Game
November 1st, 2011
8:23 am
McGarity needs to move the game to home and home. I’m tired of driving down there and paying obscene prices for hotels who jack up their rates and dealing with all the rude security and police around that dumpy stadium.
Dawgfan
November 1st, 2011
8:47 am
I just want to know whats going on with UGA’s special teams?! Every week we give up a big play on either a punt return, kick return, or blocked punt! This is not acceptable!