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 > 29
Monday, September 29, 2008
Back to drawing board for Bulldogs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, it’s Monday and, for the second day in a row, the sun came up despite Georgia’s unsightly loss to Alabama Saturday night. Judging from some of the e-mails I received from some of you Bulldogs fans there seemed to be some doubt whether that would happen.
Yes, the Bulldogs’ 41-30 loss to the Crimson Tide was ugly and shocking and embarrassing, especially considering all the stock that was put into it with the blackout and all. But it also was very revealing and, at this point in the season, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
First, some perspective. Georgia is neither as bad as it looked in the first half when it was outscored 31-0 nor as good as it looked in the second when it did the outscoring 30-10. As ever the truth in such things always lies in between.
The first half represented a kind of perfect storm of bad things piling up on Georgia: All-star middle linebacker Dannel Ellerbe going out on the game’s third play; the personal foul penalty nullifying a turnover (no telling how that could’ve changed momentum); a horrendous day for punter Brian Mimbs. These were all exacerbated by what is a tremendous Alabama football team that got extremely hot. You see this in the NFL every Sunday.
The reality is — it was just one loss. And it’s not even as bad as the 35-14 defeat Georgia suffered at Tennessee last year and we know how that season ended. If the Dogs were going to lose one game — a big if indeed with the schedule that still awaits — dropping one to an SEC West opponent that is now ranked No. 2 in the nation was the best one to drop. Georgia, like Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Florida in the East, still controls its own destiny. Win the rest and it’s still in business. Do that and a chance at redemption will await in the Georgia Dome.
To be sure, some things have to change for the Bulldogs to have any shot at all of doing that. Thanks to Alabama we know:
(1) The offensive line is not good enough to line up and run the ball in the SEC (see also South Carolina game). As demonstrated in the second half, Georgia’s best option is to throw the football. With the tight end situation such as it is they need to go more to four wides or three-receiver, two-back sets anyway;
(2) The defensive ends aren’t good enough to get pressure on the quarterback. So the Dogs’ are going to have to play a little riskier on defense. Coach Willie Martinez’s defensive scheme is predicated on the front four creating pressure and that’s just not happening. Georgia’s strength is in its linebacking corps, interior D-line and defensive backs anyway. So turn ‘em loose and let them get after it. Yes, they may get burned here and there but they also might create some momentous plays and Georgia’s offense has proven it can score with the best of them.
(3) The penalties situation has gotten way out of hand. Georgia is averaging 10.6 flags for 87.4 yards a game, worst in the nation. CMR said getting a handle on that would be his top priority between now and Tennessee. Not sure how you go about that but they have to figure it out.
There are some other things you simply can’t do anything about. Georgia’s young on the offensive line and they’re not all the sudden going to grow older, stronger and more experienced. And the Dogs have been pretty unfortunate with the injuries. Including this latest onslaught they will have had six starters miss multiple games, and that doesn’t include the possibility of Knowshon Moreno having to sit out Tennessee.
That’s my theory on what needs to be fixed and how to fix it. Have I missed something? What suggestions do you guys have for righting Georgia’s ship?
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