AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 29
Monday, October 29, 2007
Georgia played like GEORGIA again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five things we learned from the weekend:
1. Georgia played like GEORGIA again: I don’t have any problem with Mark Richt’s motivational ploy against Florida, but the SEC office may have to say something given their previous stands on sportsmanship, etc. But Georgia didn’t beat Florida because the whole team rushed the field after the first touchdown. The Bulldogs won because they played GEORGIA football again.
They ran the ball.
They were physical for 60 minutes.
And every time Georgia had a chance to hit somebody, they did it with enthusiasm.
And did I mention that they RAN the ball?
After Saturday’s game with Troy, which is pretty good team, the Bulldogs had better buckle it up for Auburn on Nov. 10 because the Tigers are going to come to Athens and challenge their manhood.
2. Tennessee still has issues on defense: You have to give the Volunteers credit. They were dominated in the second half by South Carolina and, in a normal year, would have lost. But this, we have learned, is not a normal year. Tennessee gave up 501 yards of total offense with 355 coming in the second half. Because the defense is basically holding on for dear life, it is going to be very difficult for the Vols to win their last three SEC games with Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. Tennessee may control its own destiny, but unless that defense gets better that destiny is looking pretty shaky.
3. A team with three losses could win the SEC East: It’s happened in the SEC West, but never in the East. But given the kind of year we’re having, it’s going to be hard for Georgia (4-2) to beat both Auburn and Kentucky. It is also going to be hard for Tennessee (3-2) to beat Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. Just looking at the standings, where everybody else has three losses, it might take somebody from MIT to figure out the tiebreakers.
4. No coach in the country is doing a better job than Jim Grobe: After Wake Forest opened the season with losses to Boston College and Nebraska, a lot of people dismissed Wake Forest’s 2006 ACC championship as a flash in the pan. Since then the Deacons have won six straight and are bowl eligible for the second straight year. Wake Forest has to play three out of its last four games on the road with trips to Virginia, Clemson, and Vanderbilt. Nobody gets more out of his talent than Grobe, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year in 2006.
5. We shouldn’t be surprised by Mississippi State: The Bulldogs (5-4) won at Kentucky on Saturday and won at Auburn earlier this season. This is a solid, well-coached team with a good defense. This season is proof that Sylvester Croom is building something that will last in Starkville. If it qualifies, this team deserves to go to a bowl. It would have to win one of the last three against Alabama, Arkansas, and Ole Miss.
