The SEC today named Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston its Defensive Player of the Week for his powerful performance in Saturday’s victory at Kentucky.
Houston had 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble in the Bulldogs’ 44-31 win. He also was credited with seven quarterback hurries.
A junior from Statesboro, Houston leads the SEC in sacks with nine for the season. His performance has been a major factor in Georgia’s improvement in forcing turnovers. The Bulldogs rank second in the SEC and 18th in the nation with a turnover margin of +7 (15 opponent turnovers vs. eight UGA turnovers).
Houston’s performance Saturday did not surprise his coach. “You could just see it in his eyes that he was ready, that he was ready to play hard and make some noise,” Mark Richt said. “He knew there was a good chance to get some sacks.”
“I know for us to be a great defense, I have to play great,” Houston told reporters after the game. “So that is what I am trying to do — come out and play hard every game, every snap.”
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was named the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Week, beating out, among others, Georgia tailback Washaun Ealey for the honor.
Newton, a junior from College Park, rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries in leading Auburn to a 24-17 win over LSU, which entered the game as the SEC’s top-ranked defense. Newton broke the SEC single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback during the game; he now has 1,077. He also completed 10 of 16 passes for 86 yards against LSU.
Ealey was listed by the SEC among the week’s “other outstanding performances” for his five touchdowns and 157 yards rushing against Kentucky.
75 comments Add your comment
Nate the Great
October 25th, 2010
12:01 pm
first
Nate the Great
October 25th, 2010
12:01 pm
How bout them yellow jackets?!? Oh wait…my bad
rincon dawg
October 25th, 2010
12:05 pm
ITS FLORIDA WEEK
Get up dogs and get some respect
McDawg
October 25th, 2010
12:10 pm
Houston is going to need 3 more this weekend
i think given the way the season is going-i’d rather not have a bye week
DCJohn
October 25th, 2010
12:12 pm
Justin, to be a great defense, we need the other 10 guys to play great and come out hard every snap. Show us you are a leader and make sure that happens! GATA
Dave
October 25th, 2010
12:12 pm
I’m sorry, but Newton should just fill his name into the Offensive Honors for the rest of the season. I haven’t seen anyone nor do I anticipate seeing anyone stopping him. He’s a runaway dumptruck. It’s almost unfair. I hope UGA tramples the Gators and then just loads the line against Auburn. Try and stop Newton first and then take our lumps with the passing game. The word is that Newton is a one man wrecking crew and if you stop him from running (kiddin’, right?), you can maybe slow down Auburn’s offense. Houston, your ONE job is to get your hands on Newton on every play, whether he has the ball or not.
DarkCloud
October 25th, 2010
12:13 pm
My friends and I were laughing this weekend after the UK / thuga game, saying now all the sudden leghumper fans would start chanting SEC and NC after beating 3 worthless teams in the most worthless division of college football.
RMikel58
October 25th, 2010
12:13 pm
Told ya they beat Kentucky! Congrads Houston you deserve the recognition. Tremendous effort on Defense as a whole. Love the pass rush, secondary needs more improvement but seems theres more of a unit atmosphere than a “me” one.
Twitter This
October 25th, 2010
12:15 pm
I hope Houston rips Brantley’s head off. One question – is that ex-con who said Time to Die to that Cougar playing this week?
DarkCloud
October 25th, 2010
12:16 pm
Totally kidding I don’t have any friends!
Twitter This
October 25th, 2010
12:16 pm
DarkCloud = NERD FAN
superDawg
October 25th, 2010
12:17 pm
Akeem Dent deserves a little love too.
Dap01
October 25th, 2010
12:19 pm
Darkcloud: Not alot going on in your social life huh? Hate the Dawgs? I wonder why you are blogging about the Dawgs?
HBTD
October 25th, 2010
12:20 pm
DarkCloud – Your annual beatdown comes soon.
superDawg
October 25th, 2010
12:22 pm
Glad to see Sturdivant back good luck Trenton I hope you have a stellar game against the swamp lizards.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 25th, 2010
12:28 pm
Congrats Houston. Hell of a game. I listened to the KY broadcast and their announcers were clearly impressed.
How do you stop Cam Newton? Dude is a beast. Hope he can stay healthy for the UGA game. He took some licks in that LSU game Saturday.
BDAWG
October 25th, 2010
12:29 pm
Great job Justin Houston. I hope you continue to play this way and I hope the rest of the defense is taking notes, especially the secondary. We are going to need a better job this week against UF. They’ve had 2 weeks to prepare and I’m sure Meyer will have plenty of trick plays going for them. The secondary must stay discipline for the whole game and must dish out a lot of punishement to the UF players. The OL seems to have come together with the changes and I hope they continue to play well. I hope the gameplan is well put together for the UF game. This will not be the time for inept playcalling and mental mistakes. We must play very smart and physical to deliver a strong message that we are back and here to stay. We also need this game for recruiting purposes. Goooo Dawgs!!!
JB
October 25th, 2010
12:30 pm
After watching AU/LSU,the secret to stopping an Auburn drive is to not let them get to a 3rd and 2 or 3 because if they get the snap off, it’s a automatic first down. The guy can not be stopped for a 2-4 yard gain, and that’s with a goal line defense in there. Your ONLY chance is to get them in 3rd and 7-8 or 10. Falling forward is a 3 yard gain for the guy.
Dave
October 25th, 2010
12:33 pm
As far as Newton, any time someo tries to really lay a lick on him, the defensive guy gets the worst of it. I feel like Munson “He’s just too big and fast. We don’t have anyone that can stop him.”
JB
October 25th, 2010
12:34 pm
Mark Richt’s comeback. UGA beats Gators and then beats a #1 BCS Auburn team. Movies are made of stuff like this. If we can run the ball on Auburn, and I think we can , and keep Cam on the sidelines, We win……….
Sportsrealist
October 25th, 2010
12:35 pm
157 yards and 5 TDs is far more deserving of a Offensive Player of the week award than what Cam Newton did. I guess everyone is drinking the Cam Newton cool aid.
JB
October 25th, 2010
12:38 pm
ALL the press was in Auburn Saturday. We were in Kentucky, at night, being televised on a underground college TV station, 10,000 watts, with two mules fighting over turnip in the parking lot drawing more attention……That’s the reason Ealey didn’t win it.
Twitter This
October 25th, 2010
12:41 pm
The media needs the next Tebow…they found him…his name Cam Fig Newton.
truth4u
October 25th, 2010
12:41 pm
My friends and I were sitting around this weekend laughing at DarkCloud!
Tom in ATL
October 25th, 2010
12:47 pm
Auburn and Cam Newton are great – but people – AU plays EIGHT home games. Six of their 8 wins so far are at home. They played Miss St and KY on the road – won both by 3 points. LSU as we all know could easily be a 5-3 team – and they gave AU all they could handle at AU. Clemson – nothing special – same thing – took them to the wire in AU. I am not drinking this kool aid – they are a fine SEC team with a great player – but I think they are very beatable. UGA matches up very well with them – LSU had receivers wide open all day and their QB’s couldn’t deliver the ball. I will not be shocked if UGA, even if they are 5-5, takes them down. Alabama will give them a stern test obviously. Cam is great, I love their freshman RB, and they have one dominant Dee lineman – but they have holes.
Dale
October 25th, 2010
12:48 pm
Dark Cloud, tell us more about what you and your friends think. One person laughing is no big deal, but you say it was you AND your friends laughing? Now I’m self conscious.
Barry
October 25th, 2010
12:54 pm
Houston’s on fire. Playing fast, sound technique. He’s a nightmare for offenses, and plays big in big games. Look for him to follow up his Kentucky performance with something special for Florida.
Hopefully he has a great first quarter agan.
jtdawg
October 25th, 2010
12:54 pm
DarkCloud -
Perfect example of the emotional insecurity of North Avenue Trade Schoolers. Mommie says she’s sorry for making you eat your peas.
Your team get’s hammered, showing why they suck yet again, and you come onto someone else’s blog to attempt to make fun of them for winning?
Wow…. maybe mommie shouldn’t make you eat your peas anymore. Just don’t flip out and start stealing more manhole covers….
dawg from a distance
October 25th, 2010
12:55 pm
TOM in ATL thanks for the insight and hope. Go DAWGS!
Twitter This
October 25th, 2010
12:55 pm
DarkCloud – I was sitting around laughing at Nesbitt and related Heisman hopes.
ATLANTA CITY
October 25th, 2010
12:57 pm
The only team that will beat Auburn is UGA. The UGA team despite the loses they had couple of weeks ago they are now unstapbale. wait and see
SimpleDawg
October 25th, 2010
12:57 pm
Justin needs 3 more sacks this coming weekend….maybe more. If the Dawgs can protect Murray, and run the ball consistently, this could be an enjoyable Georgia / Florida game…..for a change.
It would be a different feeling.
Oh, and yes, Camzilla is a monster, but the Dawgs have hope to beat the Tigers, also…….
…….out score ‘em !
RMikel58
October 25th, 2010
1:05 pm
Auburn could have easily been 3-5…….. beat Miss. St., Clemson, and Kentucky by 3 points, S. Carolina and LSU by 7 points. Things went their way. Georgia lost to Colorado by 2 pts., Arkansas by 7 pts. S. Carolina by 11 pts. and Miss. St. by 12 pts respectively. Ga. could easily be 7-1 but were not dealing with couldve shouldve’s here. This is why turnovers and penalties are important to not have.
Auburn with the exception of Arkansas barely won those games but played at home against Arkansas 65-43. 2 of the 5 SEC games were away and the next one is Ole Miss (away). Im saying Auburn is overrated with the exception of Arkansas , Auburn has won by 5.5 pts. against SEC teams.
Im sure that Georgia will come up with a defensive scheme to contain Newton and limit his running game and force him to pass the ball and him a non factor in the game. If Newton goes then so does Auburn.
Not an easy task but its doable.
clay
October 25th, 2010
1:05 pm
Cam Newton = Tim Tebow = God. A win against auburn = make cam throw the ball.
nerds! nerds! nerds!
October 25th, 2010
1:06 pm
Dark clouds “friends” consist of yoda, spock, and fistina.
SadDawg
October 25th, 2010
1:07 pm
Nesbitt for Heisman!!!!!!!
Haha.
nerds! nerds! nerds!
October 25th, 2010
1:09 pm
Oh yeah…. FIRE MARK RICHT!!!!!!!!!! Not. Idiots.
Unleash the JYD (aka: The Sham)
October 25th, 2010
1:11 pm
The Dawgs have heeded my call… they unleashed the JYD! Granted it was against mediocre teams but they destroyed them as a good team should. Granted the KY game was closer on paper than it should have but we looked head and shoulders above the competition over the last 3 games. I wouldn’t call FLA a good team this year, but we must be ready for their best game coming off the bye. I can’t agree more with JACK in ATL. I think AU is overated by far, but that should make for a sweeter victory and perhaps a leap back into the rankings… and playing in ATL before reality sets in against BAMA… Let’s just hope SC loses one more time…
Again… glad to see the JYD attitude back!
GATA – Sic’em!
Sanford Drive
October 25th, 2010
1:11 pm
Tech “fans” really are funny.
I have seen NOBODY talking about “National Title” after 3 consecutive wins.
Tech HATES UGA. We all know that. It’s proven by the constant “To Hell with Georgia” chants you hear at a Tech game when they are playing ACC powers like Maryland, Wake Forrest, Virginia, Boston College, Duke and NC State. It’s also seen on that ugly car they parade around their field, with the “To Hell with Georgia” flag on the front fender.
UGA also Hates Tech. But we do not show it near as much, unless we are are trying to make a point to a GT Troll on OUR blog, or during the week of Thanksgiving, when we are actually about to play Tech. (And yea i know there are UGA Trolls too.)
However, Georgia Tech “fans” cannot stand the FACT that we LOVE our Dawgs. Win or lose, we still wear our “G” gear proudly. We still sell out or 92,746 seat stadium no matter who we play or what our record is. We ALWAYS want to talk UGA football. Tech fans cannot stand it. In their eyes we are a bunch of “Thugs” (you know, like colege kids drinking, not having a middle name, unpaid speeding tickets, emerging from alley’s on scooters, possesing fireworks). So when we continually beat the snot out of them 8 times a decade, they are frustrated when we do not fold up our tailgates after any off field incident, or close loss to another tough SEC team.
Get over it Nerds, we will always be here, and you will always be the Thursday Night JV team in the State of Georgia. Keep hating the way you hate. It makes it that much sweeter every Thanksgiving.
Go to Hell.
I'd like to be a ...
October 25th, 2010
1:13 pm
…fly on the wall watching DarkCloud and his “friends’ giggling . . . well, maybe not . . .
nerds! nerds! nerds!
October 25th, 2010
1:13 pm
What? Nobody wants to fire Mark Richt anymore?
Frank
October 25th, 2010
1:19 pm
Well done Justin Houston, well done indeed.
THWGT!!!!!
Stick With Richt, Bobo Gotta Go
October 25th, 2010
1:25 pm
@RMikel58
October 25th, 2010
1:05 pm
Yeah “Auburn could have easily been 3-5…….. beat Miss. St., Clemson, and Kentucky by 3 points, S. Carolina and LSU by 7 points.”
But isn’t that how championship seasons go? That’s what ‘Bama did last year. It doesn’t matter how you win them. The best teams seem to win even when they should have lost.
Cam Newton is the real deal, and Auburn is a well coached team.
That said, I think the Dawgs can give them a run for their money. And we usually play well in Jordan-Hare.
But first things first. We gotta put an end to the ass whoopins administered by Florida.
Go Dawgs!!!
UGA Insider
October 25th, 2010
1:35 pm
It was about this time last week when I predicted an easy UGA win and and a SEC defensive player of the week award for Justin Houston. I predicted this because I know Justin loves playing under the lights and because he played a dominate game against UK last year. Sometimes I even amaze myself. I will go on record now by predicting a easy UGA win this Saturday against the hapless Gators. This is one year that the turd fans leave early. Enjoy it Dawgs fans because next year the Gators will be good again.
Dogs’ Houston gets honor from SEC – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Best Dog Store
October 25th, 2010
1:37 pm
[...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Dogs’ Houston gets honor from SEC – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Best Dog Store
October 25th, 2010
1:37 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Mike
October 25th, 2010
1:56 pm
@Tom in ATL … I’m with you. Auburn is playing great, no doubt. But LSU has shown all year they didn’t have enough offense for that type of game. I think we have a shot. We definitely have enough offense.
Same with vandy v. south carolina. Just didn’t have enough offense to do anything.
We are in a groove and will be a tough out for anyone. Go DAWGS! Get your popcorn ready Jax … the dawgs are now on a mission.
Alpha
October 25th, 2010
2:04 pm
DarkCloud and his friends were not laughing this weekend. They were at the bottom of the tickle pile.
observer
October 25th, 2010
2:17 pm
“DarkCloud” is a nerd’s moniker. ;Nuff said.
kyle
October 25th, 2010
2:18 pm
Dawgs have to get the deep ball going early against the Gators. They have too much speed on defense for us to line up and run the ball like we did against Kentucky. If we can get Murray passing the ball well and we get some turnovers, then Georgia will win this game
observer
October 25th, 2010
2:18 pm
Make that ’nuff.
NEXT YEAR
October 25th, 2010
2:27 pm
Here are some problems that I have:
1. Why does UGA’s D give up so many 3rd down conversions on 3rd and long?
2. How do UGA’s DB’s still be so confussed about the coverages and schemes?
3. Why are the TE’s not a factor in the offensive schemes?
3. How
Dawg_Mike
October 25th, 2010
2:34 pm
I personally don’t want to hear any more about UGA/AU.
FL is the next game on the schedule, so GATA.
Congratulations, Justin Houston. Damn Good Dawg !
Laptop Thief
October 25th, 2010
2:37 pm
Is a Dell worth more than an Apple?
What if it’s repainted? What paint do I use when painting a laptop…latex or enamel ? , should I spray it or brush it on ?
Laptop Thief
October 25th, 2010
2:39 pm
When I painted the laptop I couldn’t get the paint to cover very well. It kind of had an orange peel to it. But it didn’t matter when i tossed it out of the window and into the dumpster it kind of f____ed it up.
My heart is in FL, by the way…..
Dawg_Mike
October 25th, 2010
2:41 pm
@ JB-
LOL….
NEXT YEAR
October 25th, 2010
2:47 pm
If UGA is going to beat UF this is the time to do it…..I hate how the SEC schedules UF’s open week on regular basis…….UF will be up for this game a week off after lossing 3 in a row. Myer has Richt’s number too…….
Gay Dawg
October 25th, 2010
3:08 pm
I thought Nick Fairley won the SEC POW.
gomdawg
October 25th, 2010
3:10 pm
UGA Insider, I don’t doult the Gators will be better next year , but I think Georgia w/ Murray at QB next 3 years look out.
SadDawg
October 25th, 2010
3:16 pm
NEXT YEAR (2:27 pm),
Good questions all. My take -
1) In the past 4 games, our D has stuffed the opposing offense on 1st and 2nd, and more times than not, we give up a first down on the 3rd and long. It’s almost like it’s in our D’s heads now.
2) Think back to Saban’s first year at Bama, where he changes the defense to a 3-4. They lose 6 games (even to La at Monroe) and their D at times can stop nobody. If it takes Saban a year . . .
3) Hell if I know! Read what was written in August on this topic: “http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/tight-ends-loom-large-586873.html
We’ve got 4 big, fast tight ends and just aren’t getting production out of them.
Gay Dawg
October 25th, 2010
3:34 pm
Agaian…I thought I saw were Nick Fairley won the SEC Defensive Player of the week. I saw that game. he was is probably the outland trophy winner this year.
Big Bob
October 25th, 2010
4:33 pm
Washaun, YOU RUN THIS STATE!!!!!
TMC DAWG
October 25th, 2010
5:15 pm
The pass rush will be critical this game. Got to put Brantly on his A%$#@. Look for something totally off the wall from Meyer. I believe that if we beat the gayturds, Meyer will be looking for ways to exit stage left. Lets face it this is not the same team without Tebow and all those defensive players. GATA Go DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jrmdvm1
October 25th, 2010
5:37 pm
I admit that Cam Newton is a terrific player. Just hope that Heisman’s coffin is large enough for him to turn over. I expect that he will if a criminal ( before winning it ) gets that trophy. Combine that with OJ, and there isn’t enough tarnish remover to clean that hallowed trophy.
crap sandwich
October 25th, 2010
6:23 pm
Next year poses 3 very good questions many of us have, this would be my take on those three questions:
1. There appear to be many reasons for our problems on 3rd and long. One appears to be the of the LB’s positioning to stop the run, another is not playing in the face of the WR’s on the line of scrimmage, blitzing when we do not get to the QB and finally misreads of the corners.
2. The issues with the DB’s needs to be separated somewhat. On the strong side we have now have Williams and Commings. They are playing as a tandum. Lights out on every play and the unsung Williams is performing at a very high level and seems to understand his role vs. Jakir Hamilton who is clueless with more talent. Commings is developing into a shutdown corner. Now for the other side when Cuff is in the game, he just cannot play the Lakatos system. In the Martinez system it was read and react, Lakatos is react. This leads to Cuff out of position, slipping, turning the wrong way, etc. But to me the real problem is how he and Rambo bump into each other, push each other aside and play the “I thought he was yours” routine. Rambo is not doing the job either, he often floats before the snap, very bad for a free safety, easy read for QB. So you see him getting there to late. Boykin for whatever reason played the 5th DB this week, unsure as to why, likely the “Cobb” effect. Love played before they inserted Cuff, did not think Love was playing poorly, but he is our most undersized DB. We sorely miss Smith. Then we could alternate Boykin and Smith at Corner and 5th DB. The scheme is fine, Lakatos needs a big corner for the weakside, and we don’t have one.
3. Lately we have inserted a 2 TE set. If you noticed Figgins played the most he has all season. KY had 9 in the box, I would say play action to the TE’s, but Bobo knew running on KY was the way to win. The yards were not easy, the OL played well, but most credit went to Ealey who found the openings. We never tested KY enough deep and with 9 in the box I sure would have taken my shots. This would have opened up the TE’s. By the way, we are a poor play action team and Murray to all his credit, needs to read the run blitz better, that is when the TE’s can be invaluable as receivers and wouldn’t mind an H back occasionally in this offense as our TE’s are athletic.
77DAWG
October 25th, 2010
6:41 pm
My post will stay about 30 minutes, then ajc will throw it out, why? I didn’t even say anything about your mama. Only missed spell UF as FU. and abreviated Coach Urban Myer as CUM. I don’t have spell check on my Word, gosh!.
Dawgette
October 25th, 2010
6:48 pm
I’m in a mixed marriage- husband AU and me UGA- so I’ve made several trips to Auburn. First, all UGA fans need to go to the AU game even if they don’t have tickets just to tailgate. It’ll bring back good memories of what tailgating used to be like at UGA. There are tents and flat screen tvs and grills going and families all having fun ON THE LAWN OF SAMFORD HALL, which is their version of North Campus. Vehicles are parked all over the place-no designated spots- and adults are drinking and walking around with their open containers and no one is getting arrested for it. The one thing AU did that UGA didn’t was to put trash containers around. As for Cam Newton, he’s a rock star at Auburn. He’s a bruiser and a one-man football team. He runs over players to get to the goal line. The O line has become more solid than at the beginning of the year so Cam is given enough time to pass or to run. IMO he seems to keep the ball more than give it to other players whick can pose problems for most quarterbacks. Taking Cam down will be the trick- he’s HUGE! Pat Dye says he’s the best he’s ever seen, for what that’s worth. The one thing all AU fans are saying about their team is that the defense and secondary are still weak. A funny- after the LSU game, lots of my husband’s AU friends came up to me BEGGING, please don’t beat us Nov.13! History is on our side to ruin a perfect season.
Dawgy Style
October 25th, 2010
9:34 pm
Sanford Drive @1:11 pm
Well Said!
hind tit
October 25th, 2010
10:49 pm
Look for Huston to have a Bill Stanfield type game against the gators.
Wreckmaniac
October 26th, 2010
9:55 am
What you guys are describing about Newton is the new normal. The game of shotgun passing to a bunch of AJ Greens is obsolete. You now have to find a QB that can take a beating which is not the UGA style. The new game calls for a QB that runs for about as many yards as he passes. And why not? The QB can do much more than run 2-3 times for 10 yards.
Wreckmaniac
October 26th, 2010
10:13 am
Sanford Drive. You represent the typical dawg fan who knows he’s inferior and believes that being loud can make up for it. Find a good social worker. Your dawgs will not give you a life.
Wreckmaniac
October 26th, 2010
10:19 am
It looks like UGA will never lose again. Wow.
Jonkdawg
October 26th, 2010
11:31 am
We just play great defense win every time…
Mature-Dawg
October 26th, 2010
3:13 pm
Hey TrollerManiac, I guess we need a great running QB like Nesbit…………..he sure can take a beating, but on the flip side, he sure can take a beating………….Thanks for your education on the “new game.” Typical
INFALLIBLE
October 29th, 2010
4:48 pm
I take no pleasure in some of my infallible predictions. Florida 28, UGA 20.