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 > 2008 > September > 10
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Dogs’ D: Just average or still undetermined?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s hard to draw many conclusions off of two games whether they come against a pair of Top 10 teams or a couple of Sisters of the Poor. But early returns on Georgia’s defense after games against Georgia Southern and Central Michigan don’t offer much evidence that coach Willie Martinez’s unit is going to be much more than average this season.
After playing a rebuilding Division I-AA team and the two-time MAC champions the Bulldogs are ranked in the bottom third of the SEC in almost every defensive category. Entering Saturday’s game at South Carolina, they stand ninth in the league in points allowed (19.0 pg), eighth in rushing defense (80.5 ypg), ninth in passing defense (219.0 ypg) and ninth in total defense (299.5 ypg).
Again, Georgia hasn’t played a BCS conference team yet.
Comparatively, Saturday’s opponent, South Carolina, has played N.C. State and Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks lead the league in total defense (181.5) and pass defense (69.5). Florida is giving up just 6.5 ppg and ranks 12th nationally in total defense after games against Hawaii and Miami. Auburn has allowed a total of 13 points to Louisiana-Monroe and Southern Miss. Kentucky has allowed only five points after facing Louisville and Norfolk State.
Now granted, very little in football is like comparing apples to apples or even apples to oranges. Obviously Georgia was ahead 38-0 in the Georgia Southern game and 28-0 against Central Michigan. And the Chippewas will likely be one of Division I-A’s most prolific offenses again this season behind quarterback Dan LeFevour. But let’s face it, if you’re the No. 2 team in the land and defense is supposed to a big reason for that ranking, you expect to see them shut down non-BCS opponents and probably a few conference teams as well. So far that hasn’t happened.
Martinez has been Georgia’s D-coordinator since Brian VanGorder bolted after the 2004 season. In the NCAA rankings his units have finished 8th, 20th and18th against the score and 18th, 8th and 14th in yards allowed the last three seasons. Currently they’re 48th and 45th, respectively.
So what do you think you think? Does Georgia have issues on defense this season? Do you have confidence in Martinez as coordinator? Do you need to see a couple more games to form an opinion?
PRACTICE UPDATES COMING LATER.
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