Playmakers and punter step forward
Here, if you missed it, is today’s notebook with items on the national acclaim that is deservedly finding Joe Cox, the blizzard of points Georgia is giving up and Caleb King’s much-delayed debut.
Now, a few more things of note from Mark Richt’s teleconference Sunday:
– Not that he advocates falling behind by double digits in the first quarter every game, but since it happened in each of the past two games and Georgia won both, Richt sees a benefit.
“I think the guys are beginning to believe that we are not out of any game at any time,” he said. “The more you get put into the fire, the more it refines you. I think it makes you stronger, makes you a little bit tougher mentally. And I think you do gain confidence that when you get into these battle royales, we can be left standing at the end in victory. We’ve just got to keep that going, and we’ve just got to stop the self-inflicted wounds. If we can do that, we are going to improve tremendously.”
– The past two games have alleviated Richt’s –- and probably Bulldog Nation’s –- concerns about a dearth of playmakers on offense.
“When we started the season, we felt like . . . A.J. Green, maybe Richard Samuel and you-hoped-someone-else might make a play,” Richt said. “Now, we’re like, you know what, Michael [Moore] can make plays and Tavarres [King] can make plays and Aron White made a great play and Orson [Charles].”
King, White and Charles caught touchdown passes against Arkansas, and Moore had six receptions for 91 yards. Plus, Green had seven catches for 137 yards and two TDs, and Samuel had an explosive 80-yard TD run, and Caleb King looked good, too.
“We’re starting to get a collection of playmakers,” Richt said. “Branden Smith [also] has come in and given us some punch. Now, we’ve got more options than we had, and we’re probably going to be a little more difficult to defend now that guys opposite A.J. are starting to make some plays for us.”
– A huuuuuge play late in Saturday’s game was Drew Butler’s 64-yard punt that backed the Razorbacks up to their 9-yard line with 5:25 to play and the Dogs ahead 49-41. For the night, Butler averaged 55.2 yards on four punts. For the season, his average of 54.5 leads the SEC by a wide margin. He has become what the coaches implored him to be: consistent.
“I’d say he’s got a tremendously strong focus right now,” Richt said. “I don’t think he had that when he was behind [Brian] Mimbs [last year]. It’s hard for a young guy . . . if [he's] second-team punter to have the focus you would if you’re the starter. But I’ve just seen a tremendous amount of difference in his mentality, his preparation, his focus, knowing that he’s the guy. We kind of put it on him that we need you to be a consistent performer, not just a guy who can do it five or six out of 10 times. And he took that to heart.”
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And on one last perusal of Saturday night’s stats while flying back from Arkansas, these things jumped out:
– The Dogs and Hogs combined for 1,015 yards of offense –- plus 193 penalty yards.
– Ten touchdown passes in one game –- nine of them covering 18 yards or more, including four of 40 yards or more.
– Three Georgia turnovers in the first half -– and yet the Dogs led 27-21 at intermission.
– Arkansas in the first three quarters: 379 yards passing, 421 yards total offense, 38 points.
– Arkansas in the fourth quarter: 29 yards passing, 64 yards total offense, 3 points.
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65 comments Add your comment
Toates
September 21st, 2009
5:58 pm
Whoever is commenting on Reshad Jones and cheap shots? You are obviously not watching him play. Maybe he missed an assignment, but he certainly did not have any cheap shots. Matter of fact, he was winding up to clock yet another Arkansas player, but he pulled up at the sideline and let him go.
Anyway… fins something to pick on. We shall see what kind of D USC has when Ole Miss comes to town, and we shall see how good Garcia is against Ole Miss’s D. We can compare our game to USC then with a little better understanding.
Also, we shall see how Mallet does against Alabama this Saturday. I know they circled the UGA game on the calendar, and really thought they were going to win, but thanks to Cox and gang, that did not happen. I am curious how Mallet does against a “real” defense, as I know every single one of you will admit Alabama’s D is top notch. If Arkansas and those frisbee catching dogs torch “bama for some scores, will everyone chill just one notch or two down? That is a scary Offense if Mallet is given some time. Hell, that is what most talking heads were saying.
I just want to commend Joe Cox, the OL for giving him time and our playmakers for winning that game and at least giving me hope on the O side of the ball.
Let’s take care of business against ASU and injoy actually being home for a couple of weeks and hope that familiarity allows the Dawgs to catch up on some well needed rest as there has not been a break for three weeks. It is what happens when one doesn’t schedule cupcakes all at home to open a season.
Go DAWGS!!!
Toates
September 21st, 2009
5:59 pm
“fins”=find, damn grammar police
Toates
September 21st, 2009
6:02 pm
“injoy”…. wow, just damn. “ENJOY”
outkasted
September 21st, 2009
7:49 pm
how do we know alabama’s D is a real defense?? b/c they shut down north texas or were u talkin about fla int?? great job D…. u guys forced punts when u needed to force punts…. i saw mallet makin throws where a db was right there just a great throw and catch hell 6′4 suppose to beat 5′11… wonder what will be said say arkansas goes to bama and put 40 on them… it amazing how u guys give other teams credit like usc west but then they lose to the worst team in div 1 but hey pete carroll knows what he’s doing… they shouldn’t be ranked… i know this we take care of ASU then beat lsu we’re right back in the hunt… arkansas also plays florida can’t wait to see petrino throw it on those boys… plus south carolina plays ole miss onm thursday wonder what u’ll say if south carolina takes care of business with the ole boy coach definitely puttin it in the air… 6-6 are u nuts this team just may run the table… we got playmakers all over the field now… boykins and smith and the rest of the redshirt dbs r gonna get better… T King the speedster, michael move the chains moore, AJ the star, finally some TEs that will catch the ball…. caleb king is back and playin terrific made some great blocks and ran hard… samuel needs to focus on holdin on to the ball and why r they running thomas up the middle he needs to be in space… justin houston on one side and cornelius washington on the other with the two big studs in the middle and the lbs keep stuffin that run… ASU, LSU, TENN, and VANDY be4 fla could and should be 6-1….10-4
Scott Anderson
September 21st, 2009
7:57 pm
Great game by a motivated Georgia team. Cox fired the ball in close spaces when he had to. I think Arkansas was wishing they had not called out AJ Green as he burned them up and down. Wow
Samuel ran tough as did King when given his chances.
Pass defense has got to worked on as well as the penalties again.
There were times in the flats when the Arkansas receivers were just way too wide open.
Hard place to play and win. Got to hand it to the Dogs. They did good.
big dawg 89
September 21st, 2009
8:02 pm
tim, how was the flight back sat.nite?? the weather made it look like it could’ve been a bouncy ride..i did have a little concern there for everybody..enough on the horrible pass defense and kick off game. do have a question, what’s the word on AJ Harmon? he was supposed to be one of our MEGA-RECRUITS a few yrs ago and hadn’t heard his name much…just wondering….thx
DOGZILLA
September 21st, 2009
10:15 pm
Outkasted, gotta agree with you. A couple of Mallet’s throws were so on-the-money, even with a Ga. DB right there. At the stadium, you could see how close our D. was. My concern is that sometimes (especially underneath), he had receivers wide open.That said, it still ticks me off how everybody is down on Willie. We don’t have (apparently) a Pollock, a Johnson, a Moses – you name ‘em – at DE this year, hence, lack of pass rush. Willie changed the D in the 4th, and the Hogs defense sputtered. And am I the only UGA fan that thought it was remarkable that we gave Arkansas two TDs following turnovers and still won? And am I the only one who sees that this team would be 3-0 if Cox hadn’t been sick at OSU?
BuLLdawg
September 21st, 2009
10:34 pm
PAC-10 continues to get beat up by the WAC.
PAC-10 Oregon LOST to Boise State while the PAC-10 tries to tell us how great Oregon is. And PAC-10 Washington State LOST to Hawaii of all people.
PAC-10 has 4 of the worst football teams in America.
Washington State is the most miserable football team of all. Southern California plays them next and for the 4th year in a row now we all get to hear Pete Carroll whine that the BCS just does not give Southern California a chance to play for the BCS Championship. Every year some team like Washington State beats Southern California and then Pete Carroll blames the BCS for Southern California not being given the opportunity to play in the BCS Championship Game.
Stanford hasn’t played football in forever.
Arizona State absolutely sucks.
Arizona is arguably worse than even Arizona State, if that is even possible.
How can a “conference” which only has 10 teams, have 4 of the worst football teams in America yet again this year.
Oregon State LOST to Cincinnati of the Big East. That’s just great Oregon State.
Stanford plays Weak Forest, San Jose State, and Washington State, 3 teams sure to lose nearly 30 games between them. Oh, Stanford LOST to Weak Forest.
California now PAC-10 fans try to tell us is the Number 1 team in the country. Really ? California golden bears play Maryland who is going to lose 10 games this year, Eastern Washington – whatever that is, hapless Minnesota, Washington State, and Stanford. This well could be the 1st group of 5 teams to LOSE 50 games in a single season.
UCLA who isn’t about to be a ranked team with their opponents plays hapless Tennessee vols, San Diego State whatever that is, gruesome Kansas State, Stanford and Washington State. Not 1 of those 5 teams is ranked in the BCS Top 82 teams this morning. Nice schedule UCLA.
Arizona State, who UGA plays next, has played so far wait for it now : Idaho State and UL Monroe. God Almighty PAC-10 fan Lorentino.
Arizona not to be outdone has played Central Michigan and Northern Arizona. I am so impressed.
Oregon Ducks played Number 84 Purdue. Really tough game there Oregon Ducks. Did I mention Oregon Ducks already LOST to Boise State.
Oregon State has played Portland State. Portland State ? I never heard of that one. UNLV. Is this basketball ? Football. UNLV. Nice. And, Oregon State has already LOST to Big East Cincinnati. We are sure to hear from PAC-10 fans how great Cincinnati is, right ?
Southern California who has been beaten 5 times the last 4 years by zero football teams has done it again this year. Try to forget when Pete Carroll says the BCS doesn’t give his team a chance to play in the BCS National Championship Game that they just LOST again to hapless Washington. How was your game against San Diego State, Southern California ? Can’t wait to hear how great Notre Dame is and how great Ohio State is, when everyone else beats them both.
Want to know how bad Washington State is ? They LOST to Stanford. Now, that says it all.
The BCS Ranks 6 of the PAC-10 teams as the worst teams in America.
And, the PAC-10 is great and Pete Carroll will whine again in December that the BCS just doesn’t let him play in the BCS National Championship Game.
Uh no because the PAC-10 is arguably the worst conference in college football, isn’t it ? PAC-10 has the largest population and lowest attendance, plays cupcakes, refuses to play anyone but the Big 10 (who wouldn’t) in its Rose Bowl and refuses to play a conference championship by adding 2 good teams to a lousy only 10-team conference.
Get a Life Lorentino.
So far, the PAC-10 does NOT have a winning record against The SEC, the WAC whatever that is, the ACC, nor the Big East. But, somehow the PAC-10 is the Best Conference eh ?
DawgRot
September 21st, 2009
11:37 pm
Ewer so rite BuLLDog weez gonna kill doze ASU boys they’z PAC-10 so we killz ‘em huh?
monty
September 22nd, 2009
11:35 am
Two delay of game calls on the extra points attempts of going for 2? Like the announcer said on the Sports South replay( a GA guy).”you only have a couple of designed plays that you work on, I don’t understand what the problem is?”
monty
September 22nd, 2009
11:38 am
OUtkast
No way Arkansas goes to Bama and scores 40, you can take that to the bank. They probably won’t score over 21! AND I’m not a Bama fan!
ROLL TIDE
September 22nd, 2009
2:37 pm
Agreed monty. Georgia put up all those stats on a second tier defense and Arkansas did the same on a second tier Georgia defense. They will facing one of the toughest defenses in the nation Saturday when they come to Bryant-Denny stadium. Bring on the pigs.
BE#3
September 22nd, 2009
10:47 pm
Josh Fields (backup FB/KO Return upback) was the player who injured his shoulder.
A former UGA kicker told me that the kickers approached Fab about the directional crap and Fab has a theory that the corner kick with hangtime gives the coverage team a little more time to get downfield. The kids actually tested the bs theory out and the extra hangtime accounted for only about .10 seconds. And how many players can cover 10 yards in a tenth of a second???? The kickers want to kick it deep but Fab won’t let ‘em. And if we gave a scholarship to Bogatay b/c he could boot it out of the endzone, why isn’t he out there? Is this another Andy Bailey situation?
IslandDawg
September 23rd, 2009
12:44 am
HEY GEECHEE!! I cannot believe what I just read, what you just wrote! I have NEVER, (I repeat, NEVER!!!!) said I was fed up with the Dawgs! to quote you:
…geechee: “There were just so many of you that I can’t keep up with the names. I do remember an Island Dawg, Truman08, and someone who called himself Hugedawgfan who posted that he was fed up with the Dogs after only 1 game.” …
And while at times, like most fans of any ilk, I have been frustrated I have never given up on or been “fed up with” them much less post anything that could be remotely construed as such! You started by saying you were unsure of whose posts’ bugged you then you go on to mis-name and mis-quote me? Watch what seeps from your loose lips my “friend”, as a tried and true, bleeding Red and Black Dawg Fan, from the day I was born I have never gotten off of my wagon of unquestioned loyalty and positive public words for them. In fact I can count the number of posts I have made on this blog on just one hand!
Maybe my screen name just stuck in your mind because you WISH you could be an IslandDawg!!
Amelia Island Dawg
September 23rd, 2009
4:18 pm
They all want to be Island Dawgs……. The open-underneath stuff didnt start last week. Bryan Evans being out of position didnt start last week. Bad kickoffs last week didnt start last week. Willie d knows what they need to do but it seems like if everybody just says it they dont actually have to DO it. Too bad Tavaris doesnt hold on to the one bomb that he fingertipped. I think it was this week that White fingertipped one too. Would have been crazy for Cox to break the record of five touchdowns with just one more. He could have reminded people of that for a long time. Im pulling for Tavaris big time but he needs the consistincey that Michael Moore found a year or so ago. Coaches-please keep throwing to the tight ends. I love swing passes to the backs especially the full. OUT from the original (Amelia) Island DAWG.