Heat Check: UGA’s torrid even with Crowell in cold storage
"Excuse me, young man, but have you seen my offense?" (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Our Heat Check begins with the hottest team around — the still-unbeaten-heading-into-December Atlanta Hawks! OK, I’m joshing. (Not to be confused with still-a-Hawk-Josh Smith.)
Georgia Bulldogs: Their basketball team lost by two points at Colorado on Monday, which is actually a good sign. Their football team lost by two points at Colorado last season, and look at it now! Ten wins running, an SEC East title, a comprehensive victory over Georgia Tech, no more hot-seat talk about the coach. Heat Index: Warm, with the chance — should the Bulldogs unhorse LSU — of a truly toasty holiday season.
Isaiah Crowell: The heralded freshman didn’t play a down against Tech due to injury, and it mattered not — except maybe to Crowell’s case for being indispensable. He was, as we know, supposed to be the Missing Man. Now Mark Richt is telling running-back recruits that a great opportunity can be found in Athens. Heat Index: “Keith Marshall of Raleigh, N.C., come on down! You’re the next contestant on ‘Who’s the New Herschel?’ ”
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: The Jackets had nine offensive touchdowns in 60 minutes against Kansas; they managed eight offensive touchdowns in the 240 minutes of their four losses. Heat Index: In other news, Kansas just fired its coach.
Atlanta Braves: Frank Wren the GM is doing his speed-dialing exercises this week. Baseball’s winter meetings convene in Dallas on Monday. Heat Index: Red-hot Wren action coming right up!
Alex Gonzalez: The Braves declined to offer him arbitration, which mean Wren is looking for a shortstop. I’m guessing he doesn’t call Toronto to inquire about the availability of Yunel Escobar. Heat Index: Remember when Rafael Furcal spurned the Braves and John Schuerholz threw a presidential fit? He might have to grant a presidential pardon.
Atlanta Hawks: The NBA lockout is over. The Hawks will restart after Christmas. Might the Atlanta Spirit talk you into buying four dozen season tickets to serve as stocking stuffers? Heat Index: See next item.
Jamal Crawford: The Hawks’ fourth-best player is a free agent. He won’t be coming back. But Kirk Hinrich, who arrived at heavy cost in trade, will. Heat Index: Let the record reflect that the Hawks took top-seeded Chicago to six games in the Eastern Conference semis without Hinrich playing a minute.
Atlanta Falcons: They’re 7-4. Given that Houston might have to deploy Dan Pastorini at quarterback Sunday, they’ve got a real shot at being 8-4. Given that the two games after that are against Carolina and Jacksonville, they’ve got a real shot at being 10-4 when they play the Saints on Dec. 26. Heat Index: A month from now, we could be calling this the hottest team going.
Matt Ryan: He didn’t complete a long ball against the Vikings — Julio Jones dropped one and Roddy White stumbled reaching for another — but he did complete just about everything else. And his team did win. Heat Index: The Iceman warmeth.
By Mark Bradley
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301 comments Add your comment
JB
November 29th, 2011
12:04 pm
We need Pat Dye on the radio this week telling us we aren’t man enough………….I’m afraid he’d mean it this time.
gdawginkalamazoo
November 29th, 2011
12:04 pm
reality Gator! SC isn’t the real winners of the East. If they were then they would be playing in Atlanta this weekend. They didn’t stomp us, we stomped ourselves in that game. Regardless we went out and beat who we needed to beat, they didn’t ….. PS Thanks for hiring Muschamp, it at least shut up the bulldog unfaithful that wnated him here to replace CMR.
JB
November 29th, 2011
12:05 pm
Rumors have Ole Miss talking to June Jones….Oh boy.
I Believe
November 29th, 2011
12:07 pm
Tryone Young
November 29th, 2011
11:56 am
“Reality Gator: The reality is that your Florida program is fast becoming an absolute joke.”
As is the entire Eastern Division of the SEC. They shouldn’t even get a team in the playoff game, but those are the rules.
Crap
November 29th, 2011
12:08 pm
Cobbler: Have to admit that Clemmons College beat Awbarn earlier this season.
Reality Gator: “Everyone knows…”? Those same “everyones” also know this: The Dawgs turned a 42-17 win into a 45-42 loss with 28 gift points, and Spurrier acknowledged the chickens were outplayed. Also, the Dawgs are not the same team that lost 2 early. “Everyone” knows that.
ARdawg
November 29th, 2011
12:08 pm
Apparently Ole Miss isn’t looking to fix the situation.
JB
November 29th, 2011
12:09 pm
Speaking of Florida, who’s coming back NEXT year that resembles a QB,RB,FB,TE &WR’s that can make that Pro offense work? The answer…..No one. Look for 4 or losses next year at the least. Paying 3 years off of contract of Muschamp will be expensive.
JB
November 29th, 2011
12:13 pm
I tell you what would be funny. Grantham coach’s last year out of contract next year. Dawgs do really well, say 11-1. Grantham hired away by the NFL. Enter our new DC, a freshly fired Muschamp from Florida. Welcome home Will.
Ted M
November 29th, 2011
12:14 pm
“Keith Marshall of Raleigh, N.C., come on down! You’re the next contestant on ‘Who’s the New Herschel?’ ”
Great line Mark!
Bobo, Bobo, a pirate's life for me
November 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
MARK BRADLEY,
Is that a clever play off of the episode “the night man cometh”?
If so, bravo sir.
gdawginkalamazoo
November 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
Bama Mike, if Richardson couldn’t take advantage of that I don’t see our RB’s doing anything. Only our walk-ons want to play RB. The other guys don’t seem to care that much. Now I would appreciate it if they did show some interest because they might have the talent to make a name for themselves.
Scrod
November 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
Can we talk Kansas into showing interest for CPJ???
fla dawg
November 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!…your post was good until the 12-0 statement. next year all of our usual tough opponents will not be so weak. Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida will probably never be as bad in the same year as they were this year. We go to South Carolina and maybe you forgot that we play Alabama in Tuscaloosa next year.
it is ok if you drink a little of the Richt KoolAid but just dont drink all of it.
I Believe
November 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
If we got credit for our “coulda” won against BSU and our “shoulda” won against SC, then perhaps we “woulda” won a National Championship this year – just like in 2007.
It’s all ESPN’s fault. It ain’t fair!
monty
November 29th, 2011
12:18 pm
If anyone thinks LSU is just going to line up and run the ball down our throats well they got another thing coming, if our offfense takes care of business and does not turn the ball over and special teams does their thing, LSU will not score more than 21 on us. That may be enough to win it, but I think we can score 28 on them. THe earlier we score,the more we take away their run it and grind it offense. I don’t think their QB’s can throw against a good secondary.
come on
November 29th, 2011
12:20 pm
I Believe…i totally agree with you except for the fact that if Richt had never lost a game at UGA then we would have always won the national championship, not just 2007. some of our fans are totally delusional. watch how they will disappear again next week.
JB
November 29th, 2011
12:21 pm
What’s everyone’s take on the pre season mags next June about the SEC East forecast. I’m saying Spurrier still gets the nod over us. especially if we end the season with a loss in the SECG and our bowl.
Dan Pastorini
November 29th, 2011
12:21 pm
Hand it to Earl, baby!
Mark, you are showing your age on that one…..
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
November 29th, 2011
12:23 pm
@Reality Gator; You need to change your first name. Reality is Fla has consistently scheduled several patsies over the years to pad their offensive figures and won/loss record but in the PT(Post Tebow) years it ain’t gonna matter. Y’all gonna be looking UP in the SEC East standings for a long time because even the King Rat left your sinking ship “because of health and family reasons”. Apparently both problems haved improved dramatically or at least enough for him to take the Ohio State job.. Would you be squealing about UGA’s “soft” schedule if it was the Gators “soft” schedule and SEC East Championship? I think not. Besides your Gators were a part of that “soft” schedule. Hope all those 4 & 5 star recruits and OC(aka “Heavy” Weiss) didn’t bust the Gator recruiting fund. How are they working out for y’all?
just facts
November 29th, 2011
12:25 pm
will just one uga fan please explain to me why uga is gonna be able to do what no other team has been able to do to LSU. i dont mean why in your red and black tinted opinion. it is not like uga is recognized as the consensus second best team in the country. just give me something to back up your statements.
Dan Pastorini
November 29th, 2011
12:26 pm
Mark, I wonder how many people (without the aid of a quick google search) really know who I am.
Had the NFL used instant replay back in the day, we might have beaten the steelers and went to the superbowl….
JB
November 29th, 2011
12:26 pm
Richt and Grantham have got to come up with a game plan with a twist. Les and Chavous know that Georgia is Georgia and if you prepare for what they do, you can stop it. I would love to put them on their heels. I don’t make 3 mil a year coaching them, so I don’t know what twist to install, but I would love to see some wrinkles on both sides of the ball.
I Believe
November 29th, 2011
12:27 pm
I don’t think they can either monty. LSU is over-matched in this game. It won’t even be close.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
November 29th, 2011
12:27 pm
JB: Didn’t Spurrier get his a$$ handed to him on a platter in the SEC Championship game last year?
JB
November 29th, 2011
12:30 pm
This game Saturday is kinda like the Rocky movie fighting the Russian. Richt gotta convince the team that they CAN bleed.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
November 29th, 2011
12:31 pm
JB: If Murrey in on the top of his game AND we move the ball a little on the ground. Now that ain’t a prediction but mostly wishful thinking. LSU has got the horses.
dean
November 29th, 2011
12:31 pm
Yep. Pastorini was the man in SD. And as I recall, he had the need for speed. Crashed a racing boat and killed some folks, didn’t he?
Bob
November 29th, 2011
12:32 pm
Gosh you UGA people are funny. You lost to the two best teams on your schedule. You flew threw terrible teams all year and then think you are hot stuff when you beat a freshman Auburn team and an inconsistent GT team. That’s the only reason your defense looks good. LSU is going to throttle UGA by 3 TDs.
JB
November 29th, 2011
12:32 pm
It’s ” Murray” Brainiac LOL
JB
November 29th, 2011
12:33 pm
hope it’s that close Bob
JB
November 29th, 2011
12:35 pm
With the line at 11, Vegas really thinks it’ll be 28….They’ve just got to hedge their bets and draw some bets the other way.
I Believe
November 29th, 2011
12:35 pm
We can brag all we want right up until Saturday.
Gotta take what you can get when you’re a Dawg fan. Trust me.
2012
November 29th, 2011
12:35 pm
Regarding your comment on Jamal Crawford, please look at his stats during the playoffs. 8 point average with 1 rebound. Yeah, no thanks and bye!!!
Bama Mike
November 29th, 2011
12:36 pm
You just got to love Spurrier
“” Well we aint LSU, we aint Alabama. We definitely aint Clemson but we were the only team in the
East to win all our divisional games. Quite an accomplishment in my opinion.” He just cant let it go.
Hoops Dawg
November 29th, 2011
12:36 pm
I admit that I haven’t read this whole string and someone may have already said this, but you Crowell doubters out there ought to consider this–IC is an 18- or 19-year-old freshman coming out of 2A high school ball who had a month, at best, to step into a contributing role at the highest level of college football. Given these truths, I think he’s done pretty darn good when he has been healthy enough to play. My guess is that IC will benefit immensely from a year of off-season conditioning and will come out much tougher next Fall, and that even if we get Marshall and Gurley, they will have their own first-year problems, just as IC has had this year. Let’s face it–freshman running backs like Herschel Earl Campbell, and Lattimore are not all that common, and to expect that kind of performance out of true freshman borders on the delusional.
WDE
November 29th, 2011
12:37 pm
@Bob we beat that freshman Auburn team as badly as LSU did and worst than Bama did…but thanks for your concern now kindly troll on off into the sunset.
Eisendawg
November 29th, 2011
12:37 pm
Good luck on finding the next Herschel. I’ve been hearing that for the last 30 years and have come to the conclusion there will not be another one. But, we have had some pretty good backs. I would be tickled to get one even close to Knowshon. P.S. There will never be another Larry Munson either.
Just Saying
November 29th, 2011
12:37 pm
UGA has been the recipient of an really cushy schedule this year, but you still have to give them props for winning. However, I think their “torridness” will be significantly cooled after Saturday. LSU is going to throttle them due to their depth and talent.
just facts
November 29th, 2011
12:38 pm
dean….am i assuming incorrectly that SD is San Diego? Pastorini never played in San Diego. he played 9 or 10 years in Houston and maybe 3 yrs in other places but none were in San Diego. maybe you were thinking about Dan Fouts who did play in San Diego?
I Believe
November 29th, 2011
12:41 pm
@Bama Mike
Spurrier has a point. They are the true SEC East Champions. They beat UGA straight up.
reality Gator
November 29th, 2011
12:41 pm
Hard Truth Black Soldier, Tryone Young
3 NAT in 15 years speaks for itself and by the way, when we won those tittles we played Al and LSU during the year we did not play 8 straight games versus 500 below teams.
We also did not go around bragging we won the east knowing we lost to SC but I guess when you have not won a championship since Ronald Reagan was President you have no choice”””’
Turkey Neck
November 29th, 2011
12:42 pm
LSU 45 Blair Walsh 9…..Fire Bobo!
gdawginkalamazoo
November 29th, 2011
12:45 pm
Bama Mike, even Spurrier admitted that we outplayed them. It must be eating him up. Which is fine by me.
Choke the Turkey Neck
November 29th, 2011
12:45 pm
31 – 17 !
Gary
November 29th, 2011
12:45 pm
My fear,
Run, 1 yard, pass no one open, get rid of it, run, 4 yards punt. Defense on the field again. Next series, pass, interception. Defense on the field again. Next series, run, nothing, Pass to right, two yards, pass no one open, sack… Defense on the field again.
gdawginkalamazoo
November 29th, 2011
12:46 pm
Turkey Neck, and how many attempts does Walsh get to make those 3 FG’s? At the current rate it would take at least 6.
Hold Dem Tigers
November 29th, 2011
12:47 pm
Hold Dem Red Panties too!
Terry
November 29th, 2011
12:49 pm
Bob, Georgia played some of the same teams that LSU, Bama, and Arkansas played, according to their defensive stats, I would say Bama has the best defense, but LSU and Georgia are neck, and neck, with Arkansas worst among those four teams.
This is a list of the same teams all of them played, these are Net yards, so it does not take in account, the yards that the special teams gave up.
Plays-Net Yards allowed
————-SC——MS——-MISST—-TN——VANDY—-FL——-AUB——KY
UGA—67-395–56-183- —67-213—63-270—-67-349—56-226—48-195—57-165
LSU—————61-195—-59-193—49-239—————-48-213—58-248—64-155
AL—————–52-141—-59-131—50-155—-43-190—52-222—55-140———–
ARK—58-207–76-370—–63-211—77-376—-70-462—————77-395———-
Paul in NH
November 29th, 2011
12:50 pm
reality Gator
Ronald Reagan was not President when UGA beat ND in the Sugar Bowl. Jimmy Carter was.
dean
November 29th, 2011
12:52 pm
just facts.
That’s right. Houston it was. And I knew it. Grey hair disease. Thanks for catching that.