UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 04
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Martinez: Great coordinator or just OK?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Obviously Saturday is a huge game for both Georgia and Tennessee. Lose and winning the Eastern Division is a virtual impossibility. Win and the national championship is not out of the question (not very likely, granted, but possible, right?).
Anyway, there’s been a lot of talk already about how vulnerable the Vols look on defense and they certainly have been, especially to a good running team, which Georgia is starting to look like. But on the flip side of that is the Dogs’ defense versus Tennessee’s offense and I wouldn’t say that’s an ideal matchup for Georgia either.
I’ve got a buddy that lives down Augusta way and he’s as big a Dogs’ fan and as loyal a UGA alum and you’ll find anywhere. But Georgia’s defense under Willie Martinez drives him crazy. I was talking to him not long after the Ole Miss game and he went into a rant.
He was not happy at all about how Ole Miss “rammed the ball down our throats” on the two drives to start the game and the one to begin the second half. That got him going about the South Carolina game and how the Gamecocks banged out three quick first downs running the football at the end of the game. Then he ranted about Bama flying down the field at the end of the first and second halves. That led him to last season and how Vandy and Kentucky — again, his words — “rammed it down our throats the final five minutes.” He even alluded to the Mississippi State game and how the other Bulldogs were in position to win at the end if they didn’t fumble it away.
“Pair that with the Tennessee disaster and being down 14-0 to Florida before we could even work up a sweat, and I’m prone to think something bad is brewing with WM running the Georgia defense,” my friend said. “And that’s not to even mention getting run off the field by West Virginia and Virginia Tech early in those contests. Bottom line: We aren’t prepared coming out of the gate and we tend to play soft when big plays are needed.”
Now those are his assertions, not mine. The fact is, Georgia’s defense has continued to be ranked in the Top 10 or 20 nationally in total defense and scoring defense under Martinez. But my buddy does point out some breakdown tendencies over the last couple of seasons.
I’m interested in hearing where you guys fall on this issue. You think Martinez does: (A) a great job; (B) an adequate job; (c) a mediocre job; or (D) a poor job; coaching Georgia’s defense? And what’s the key for the Dogs this weekend. Coach Mark Richt says you must always shut down the run first but the Vols under quarterback Erik Ainge are the top passing team in the SEC. Does that mean you sellout coming after the quarterback or do you have to be even more wary about that since the guy is such a good passer and can burn you deep?
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