Bulldogs need ‘more of same’ to beat Ole Miss and make Florida win stand up
ATHENS — Georgia’s 17-9 win over Florida on Saturday was impressive on multiple levels. The Bulldogs overwhelmed the Gators defensively, got timely plays in the running and passing games against one of the nation’s best defenses and scored an elusive victory over a Top 3 opponent.
But it will all be for naught if Georgia can’t close the deal the next two weeks. Yes, the Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) are in the driver’s seat in the SEC East. But a loss to Ole Miss this Saturday or to Auburn the next week would make for a gnarly wipeout.
“(The Florida) victory doesn’t mean anything unless we keep winning,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said Sunday. “We know we’ve got to win. We know we’ve got to continue to play like we did this last game to give us the best chance.”
All Georgia did Saturday was give itself the tiebreaker over Florida should both teams finish the season with one SEC loss. South Carolina, which beat the Bulldogs 35-7 on Oct. 6, has since lost two games. Simply put, Georgia has to win out.
Enter Ole Miss, a name that might have brought forth a snicker in recent years but shouldn’t now. The Rebels are in the midst of a turnaround under first-year coach Hugh Freeze. After losing 16 consecutive SEC games over the past two seasons, Ole Miss (5-3, 2-2) just won its second in a row, 30-27 over Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Afterward the last-second win, Ole Miss players were talking a lot about “believing” and “winning out,” and they’re excited about testing themselves against a Top 10 team on the road.
“We’re just getting better and better every day,” Ole Miss wide receiver Randall Mackey told reporters. “We’re trying to go to a bowl game and that’s the main thing. But we’re trying to win out.”
Richt spent Sunday afternoon watching video of the Rebels and he can understand their confidence.
“They’ve got every reason to believe they can win out,” richt said. “They’ve got a really good team. They very easily could have won the (Texas) A&M game and it’d be three games (in a row) that they’ve won. That’s what happens when you start tasting success. You get excited and start believing and that’s what’s happening right now. When a team has a lot of momentum, they’re hard to beat.”
If Georgia is to maintain its own momentum, it will need to generate a defensive effort similar to the one it displayed in Jacksonville. The Rebels come into Saturday’s game averaging 32.4 points and 430 yards offense a game and the 6-foot-5, 210-pound quarterback Bo Wallace has proved masterful at executing Freeze’s fast-tempo, spread attack. Wallace, a junior college transfer, has passed for 1,649 yards and 10 touchdowns and is an elusive runner as well.
Florida’s Jeff Driskel brought similar attributes into this past Saturday’s game and was sacked five times and committed four turnovers. The Bulldogs need more of the same this week.
“We should have been playing like this all year,” said outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who accounted for 13 tackles, four sacks, two fumble recoveries and forced two other fumbles. “We just have to give everything we have in every game.”
This past Saturday’s ferocity may be tough to duplicate. On Sunday Richt called it “one of the most intense games I’ve ever coached from start to finish.” Georgia was penalized 14 times for 132 yards and Florida 10 for 95, many of those of the personal foul variety.
“You want intensity but you want intensity with discipline,” Richt said.
NOTES: Richt did not have an update on starting fullback Merritt Hall, who sprained an ankle on Georgia’s first offensive play against Florida and did not return. “We’re hopeful,” he said of Hall returning this week. But Richt praised Zander Ogletree was a “mistake-free” game filling in for Hall. . . . Richt confirmed reports that the Bulldogs prayed as a team after the Florida game for South Carolina tailback Marcus Lattimore, who suffered a horrific knee injury on Saturday. . . Richt said he heard but hadn’t seen anything on the pregame skirmish that resulted in Florida strength coach Jeff Dillman shoving a Georgia player. “I’m not really worried about that right now,” he said. . . . CBS picked up Saturday’s game for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. . . . Georgia moved up to No. 6 in the USA today/Coaches and Harris polls and 7th in The Associated Press rankings.
GEORGIA-FLORIDA GAME COVERAGE
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228 comments Add your comment
ESPN reporting this mornng that Johnson is out as GT HC
October 30th, 2012
1:00 am
If they indeed all prayed for Lattimore, they were praying they’d never have to play him again.
Dawg gone
October 30th, 2012
1:02 am
The good news: beating the lizard-spawn of Spurrier, whether or not he was in the stadium. The bad news: we’ve probably now got Richt till he decides to retire.
Dawg gone
October 30th, 2012
1:03 am
I kinda liked ol’ turkey neck Johnson. Too bad he’s gone….maybe we’ll see him at Ga. Southern again…..heheehe.
Dawg gone
October 30th, 2012
1:04 am
We should hang a half-century on Ol’ Miss. So they beat Auburn….who hasn’t?
Dawg gone
October 30th, 2012
1:05 am
First things first. Beat Bama in Atlanta, then beat them again for the NC.
Russ the Painted Mascot
October 30th, 2012
1:11 am
Why aren’t we No. 2 after beating Floriday? And yes, they’ve stopped painting my behind, which is why we are winning again.
CarolinaFun
October 30th, 2012
8:30 am
SEC gotta laughing…..SC and FLA are the darlings this year……and THEY will be sitting at home watching the DAWGS in the SECCG……….How’s it going over there Sprurrier…….” I don’t know what happens to good coach’s when they get to South Carolina?”…..
Even though University of South Carolina will be watching someone else playing for the SEC Championship we will enjoy the fact that we have a 3 year consecutive run over Georgia. The 35-7 game was especially sweet with a National TV audience and Game Day. Those pictures of Clowney throwing the Georgia QB like a rag doll for the past two year are indicative of the fun. I know, I know…. you will beat the crap out of SC next year, your QB gave the game away, your defense was asleep…..Doesn’t matter, you couldn’t get it done over South Carolina in 2012!
Murray's mechanics, when setting up
October 30th, 2012
8:40 am
Murray throws bad balls because he is rushed and does not set his feet. His pics in the Florida game including the tipped ball, all came as a result of poor footbwork.
I reviewed the game and it was so clear. Where are the UGA coaches on this?
Murray is not in the game mentally and his footwork reveals that.
His one good toss was a TD and made possible by MM coming back for the ball and then, great running toward the end zone.
SC in a bother year or two
October 30th, 2012
8:44 am
Lattimore will go pro. He simply has no $ choice.
lwney will soon be gone.
spurrier will be gone within two more years, then back to 7-5 oblivion.
YES! ENJOY WATCHING UGA IN THE SECCG and major bowl.
SC can enjoy SHREVEPORT. AAHHHaaaassa, ahhh,haaaaa.
RMikel58
October 30th, 2012
8:49 am
Though we may possibly win out the rest of our games , i think our schedule will hurt us for any type of BCS. Instead we should just focus on the task at hand with the 3 remaining games we have left and let the pollsters do the rest.
Win the East Bulldogs 1st, then worry about the SEC Championship later and then the bowl game in janurary.
The SEC Championship may pin you up against the No.#1 ranked team and that will be your BCS Championship game.
You can have a phenominal year or you can go down in flames.Concentrate on whats ahead and not on hte what-ifs in life.
RMikel58
October 30th, 2012
9:00 am
Bulldogs have found their MOJO and now they see what its like to come together as a Defense.
Play the rest of the way and you’ll go somewhere dawgs.
Talk amongst eachother and set goals for each game whether it be not allowing a team 100 yds rushing, 1st downs or getting to the RED ZONE.
Challenge eachother and dont be afraid to call someone out.
Our Defense is the heart and soul of our Georgia Team and they dictate the game from the start.
Lay some wood on people from the get-go and theyll be afraid to catch the ball or run it.
Thats what i saw last week in florida……gators hurt on the field, a QB scared to take the ball because he knew he was gonna get hit.
Put fear in their minds and it wont matter what they do because they know they will pay once they cross that yard marker.
I dont want to see anymore sissy football from the past defensive performances of the past. Hit , grab and take them down instead of hitting and not wrapping up an opponent.
Jimmy Crack
October 30th, 2012
9:12 am
Among all the accolades going to the Dogs for their defensive efforts, I haven’t heard too much about Garrison Smith. He was a beast last Saturday filling in for Abry Jones and doing a phenomenal job.
Keep it up, Garrison!
RonDog
October 30th, 2012
9:36 am
To get the crowd pumped up, hopefully Richt orders a blackout for the Ole Miss game—the dogs will be on fire and blow out the rebels!!!!
ugab
October 30th, 2012
10:00 am
It appears some of the players are complaining about the cold weather. Hmmmm?? If they were practicing hard enough, they would not feel the cold. No excuses. Finish the Drill. Our team, our time, no regrets. ……………..
DirtyDawg
October 30th, 2012
11:13 am
Hey Stooge…by Jones, you mean the one that went to USC first, then to Athens? The one that will likely go in the top five, and certainly ten, in next season’s NFL draft and will, I predict, perform better on the infamous Wonderlick (sp?) test than last year’s ROY? Maybe we need to have some sideline puskette put a mic in your face following an exciting victory over a hated rival, and see what comes out… Gems I’m sure.
Lonnie
October 30th, 2012
11:21 am
Jimmy Garrison Smith should have started all year. He was great filling in last year for DeAngelo Tyson. He is disciplined and plays his spots which is immensely important considering The amount of playmakers who take chances. This is also why we have given up big plays. We need guys like Garrison and Arbry to play their position! Jordan Jenkins is extremely disciplined as well. Next year we can build on those 2 + Swann and Vassar to help rebuild the defense!!!!
Lonnie
October 30th, 2012
11:28 am
Rewatching and I must say that Murray and Mitchell redeemed themselves on the touchdown drive! Great job. Our line allowed no sacks and got room for Gurley to get 118 yds and big John and Kwame were great. Awesome win!!
DirtyDawg
October 30th, 2012
11:33 am
Oh yeah, what I meant to say to the Gator from Tampa…don’t be so damned sure about you guys going to the Sugar Bowl. The Dogs could give Alabama a real game of it – should we make it there and all that – and you guys could, and likely will, get beat by FSU. Then we’ll see which team is the higher rated when it comes to the BCS selection. Frankly, Georgia would have the more attractive team – potential top NFL draft pick, Gurshalls at RB, a QB that holds the record for TD passes at Georgia, a defense that’s finally living up to it’s preseason billing, a wide receiver corps that’s as good, top to bottom, as any in the Conference, etc…and what’s Florida got of note – other than all those TV common-taters that went there and keep beating their drums for you guys and a head coach that routinely makes the highlights with his tirades and antics (whatayabet rival recruiters see to it that Mommas and Daddies of kids considering Florida will get videos of Muschumps teeth-gritting, smoke coming out of nostrils, performance he pulled on one of his “charges’ Saturday? No, I wouldn’t book any rooms in New Orleans just yet. We’re not either, but we’re a damned site more likely than you guys are, despite what your ‘apologists’ on ESPN and FauxSports and Showtime say.
Lonnie
October 30th, 2012
11:38 am
Delta, please get a life!!!!
DoRunRun
October 30th, 2012
11:43 am
Dogs beat ole miss easy, win the East, play alabama tough. Even with a loss in SEC title game, Ga goes to the Sugar Bowl. But, the dogs might pull the upset, since alabama will be overconfident. florida—another minor bowl after a beatdown by fsu.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
October 30th, 2012
11:45 am
@ Slobodan:(11:14 pm post)
Go back and watch the film!!!!!!!!!!!!
Two of Murray’s three interceptions were tipped/dropped by his own WRs and according to Athens the 3rd was the result of misunderstanding over the route the receiver should have run!!!!!!!!!!!
You had a decent post going until you added that last BULLST _ _ comment on Murray. Apparently you were stonea$$ drunk and relied on what you read on here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big E
October 30th, 2012
11:57 am
I fully expect the underachieving Bulldogs to return to form against Ole Miss.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
October 30th, 2012
12:04 pm
@ Dirty Dawg:
You make some good points but I think CMR should be a little more emotional like CWM when chewing out MM for getting us a 15 yd MOUTH RUNNING penalty while having only a one point lead. Sometimes you can’t help penalties for pass interference, holding, illegal procedure, etc. but the MOUTH problem is optional and should NOT be tolerated by CMR;
MM is an excellent player but he needs to pick the correct time and place and the officials had already warned BOTH teams early in the game that if they didn’t get control of their players some might get ejected.
We were extremely fortunate that MM did not get ejected or he would not have been in there to make that marvelous catch and run for a 45 yd td. He is a great player BUT you can’t have a different set of rules for certain players!!!!!!!!!
Do you ever see Jarvis Jones getting UGA penalized fo BULLSH _ _ actions??????????????????
I don’t think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
October 30th, 2012
12:23 pm
@ The two Stooges{
Maybe you shouldn’t be badmouthing Jones and Ogletree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is pretty obvious that they will be NFL millionaires next year, if they stay healthy and they might give you a nice tip if you supersize their order. That way the combined IQs totaling 100 would be sharing their wealth with you, a SINGLE DIGIT IQ guy!!!!!!!!!!!
FYI >>>>>>> Single Digit IQ = LESS THAN 10 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AlistaDog
October 30th, 2012
12:34 pm
florida was holding jarvis jones the whole game or he would have had a bunch more tackles and sacks. florida got all the breaks from the refs.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
October 30th, 2012
12:48 pm
@ Billy Jack(2:49 pm post)
Good stuff Bro but we CAN NOT and MUST NOT go into the Ole Miss game without counting on a hard fought battle. It will be nice if the defense has a replica of their Jacksonville efforts and hopefully the offense can make a really good showing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
None of us, me, you , CMR, UGA Team, Dawg Nation, etc should even think about Auburn or any game beyond that until Ole Miss is dealt with properly. It MUST be ONE GAME AT A TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DirtyDawg
October 30th, 2012
1:17 pm
Brainiac…Mark Richt has to be Mark Richt. You and I don’t know just what he’s saying to the kids when he gets in their grill, but I suspect the kids do. Now if you’re suggesting that Richt should act like Muschamp on the sidelines, then I suggest you stop and think about what yore saying. Muschamp has already earned the reputation of being an out-of-control idiot – he’s even said to the Florida faithful that he’s trying to tone it down – but it doesn’t seem to be working. His teeth-gritting, smoke-out-of-nostrils, fire-out-of-eyes, act Saturday made him the winner of ESPN’s ‘list’ for stupid-a$$ acts for the day. I’ll take Richt thank you…and don’t say he doesn’t show, over-the-top, emotion when it’s called for, cause we saw it Saturday. At the same time I agree that young Mr Mitchell needs to ‘cool it’, particularly when it’s obvious that the Florida kids were ‘baiting’ him…and it worked. And even CMR said that he, and the rest of the staff, were taking the ‘baiting’ into consideration Saturday. You’ve got some fired up kids that ain’t gonna take any sh*t off no damn Gators…and it cost us to the tune of 100 plus yards…and Florida almost as much.
atomic beats
October 31st, 2012
6:23 am
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