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AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 01
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Getting ready to go Cattin’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five reasons to be optimistic going into Saturday’s game with Kentucky in Lexington:
Kentucky is last in the SEC and 115th in the nation in passing defense (yielding an average 269.75 yards per game) and has given up a SEC-worst 18 touchdown passes. And Georgia’s much-maligned (deservedly so) receiving corps is way overdue for a big game catching the ball.
Martrez Milner is finally out of the starting lineup (though Coach Richt reportedly says Milner still will get about half the playing time — hopefully only the plays when we’re running the ball or throwing to someone other than the tight end and can benefit from Milner’s blocking talents).
The Wildcats’ overall defense ranks No. 118 out of 119 in the nation in yards allowed, surrendering 455.63 yards per game, and they rank 102nd in scoring defense (30.75 points per game).
Kentucky’s No. 1 tailback, Rafael Little, is out with a knee injury and their second-leading rusher, Tony Dixon, is questionable with an injured hamstring. (Of course, their third tailback, Alfonso Smith, rushed for 92 yards against Mississippi State, which is 12 yards more than Kregg Lumpkin got against the Maroons.)
It’s Kentucky! And we’re not playing basketball!
Five reasons to be wary going into the game with Kentucky:
Georgia teams traditionally come out flat for a game against a lesser opponent and also have been known to be down immediately after a big game, even if their effort in the big game fell short. And we don’t appear to have a senior team leader or a fire-breathing motivator on our coaching staff.
The big change in our ineffective offensive line this week is replacing the gimpy Chester Adams with the underperforming Michael Turner, who a couple of times last week waved rushers on past him like a Wal-Mart greeter, resulting in two of the Gators’ four sacks. Of course, thanks to our poor recruiting on the OL, there’s not really any choice but to start Turner. Said Richt about protecting the QB last week: “At times we got physically beat. … As far as doing anything about it, there’s not enough depth to do anything about it.”
If defensive coordinator Willie Martinez falls back on that lame soft zone of his, Kentucky’s passing game could have a big day. Second-year QB Andre Woodson is ranked No. 25 nationally in passing efficiency, and the Cats’ passing attack is ranked 22nd.
Nobody in the SEC fears the Dawgs this year. Even the league’s chump teams smell blood when Georgia comes up on their schedule. Mississippi State believed it could beat Georgia and damn near did. And Kentucky beat MSU by the same 3-point margin as the Dawgs.
… OK, I couldn’t come up with a fifth one. It is Kentucky, after all. And we’re not playing basketball!
POOCH KICKS: My friend Herb, a UK stalwart, predicts, “Bud, you’ll take us by at least two touchdowns. Your guys played better in the second half against the Gators. Take away all the mistakes and you’ve got a different ballgame.” Of course, Herb would make Vince Dooley look like an optimist. He always downplays Kentucky’s roundball prospects, too. … A familiar sight on the jumbo screen at Sanford Stadium and in telecasts of Georgia games is the bald head painted with a Georgia Bulldog belonging to Mike “Big Dawg” Woods, one of my classmates (Class of ’70) at Athens High School. I’m told that Mike is one of the finalists in Aaron’s Super Fan Contest. You can vote for him starting Thursday, Nov. 2, at SouthernSportsAwards.com. … AOL Sports NCAA Fanhouse blogger Ted Kian presents the case against OL coach Neil Callaway and his recruiting at http://georgia-football.aolsportsblog.com. … ESPN.com’s Ivan Maisel and Mark Schlabach (remember him?) did their bowl forecast this week, and both see Georgia in the Peach-fil-A against Boston College. If we don’t make it to Atlanta, it’s likely to be the Independence, Music City or Liberty. And while we’re talking bowls, which one wins the worst-name award? It’s between the Meineke Car Care Bowl and the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia — neither of which we’re in the running for, thank goodness.
