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AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USStill waiting for a complete game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last week, I walked out of the stadium after the Tennessee game feeling pretty good about the Dawgs. Sure, they’d left a lot of points on the field, but they’d more or less much moved the ball at will and played well on defense.
This week, the results were much the same, with Georgia racking up a lot of offensive yardage, if not points, but I didn’t feel nearly as good about the win. My brother Tim said the same thing.
I think the difference was this: Against UT, it was just little mistakes keeping us from blowing them out. Against Vandy, the problems were more systemic. Forget the missed field goals (those can happen to the best of kickers) and the dropped interceptions (if they could catch that well, they’d probably be playing receiver). What bothered me was the three-and-outs and the utter predictability of Mike Bobo’s playcalling much of the time that left the Dawgs facing too many third-and-long situations. And as we’ve learned the hard way in the past, converting just one of eight third-downs isn’t good enough to beat the LSUs and Floridas.
All in all, it was a mixed day. While the young, patchwork offensive line isn’t opening holes up the middle very often, Knowshon Moreno still managed to get 172 yards and the pass protection was good; Vandy, known for sacking opposing QBs, didn’t get to Matthew Stafford.
Stafford was hot and cold. Only one of his two interceptions was his fault. One was a tipped ball; on the other, a long throw downfield, MoMass was open, but Stafford waited way too long to throw it. Stafford also underthrew a couple of other times and zoned out on a screen-pass play, throwing it over the blocking receiver instead of the intended recipient. But his two touchdown passes were expertly thrown, as was that 49-yarder to young A.J. Green, who continues to impress with his Sunday-level catching skills, though Stafford still has to tell him from time to time on which side to line up.
The defense came up big when it mattered in the fourth quarter and pretty well kept the Vandy running game in check. But teams are coming into games against the Dawgs with a plan of picking on corner Bryan Evans, who lets receivers get behind him much too regularly, and that’s exactly how Vandy got its two scores. Evans was pulled for much of the second half Saturday and that seems to have been a good move.
So, yeah, Georgia played good enough to win. Against an improved but still not top-of-the-league Vandy. Asher Allen said after the game that he’d grade the Dawgs a “C” so far this season, and that sounds fair. But to make it past the next two opponents, the Dawgs and their coaches are going to have to lift their game several notches above that.
THIS AND THAT: A lot of fans in the stands were puzzled by Moreno’s absence from the field on some key plays, but it turns out he had taken himself out of the game rather than it being the coaches. No explanation, but as brother Tim noted, when you’re zipping around as the head cheerleader as well as running for 172 yards, you probably get tired. And the way he answered the video review taking away an 11-yard TD run to one side by simply doing it again to the other side was a real highlight. … I know we’re hard up at tight end right now, but on some of those third-and-longs when we ran the ball, why couldn’t we have had a back or one of the receivers run a little short route across the middle for the yards needed? And why is it that Bobo seems to prefer those hard-to-make sideline routes and long shots downfield to dinking and dunking? … Georgia’s special teams play continues to be spotty. Kickoffs again were better, but while Vandy had a great punter, you got the feeling we weren’t too sure about receiving them, no matter who was back there. That returns-by-committee approach needs rethinking. … It was encouraging to see another long fourth-quarter drive, even if it again bogged down at the end. The surging Shaun Chapas was the sparkplug much of the time on this one.
HOMECOMING NOTES: My brother Jon, who was down on the field with the alumni Redcoats, said D.J. Shockley was signing autographs on the sideline before the game. … I don’t know if this was a onetime Homecoming thing or not, but I liked that they brought back Uga’s old red fire hydrant. … The hundred-year-old “Red and Black March” revived by the Redcoats at halftime sounds a bit too much like generic college football music from the movies, but it may grow on me with time. A shorter arrangement might help. … Why isn’t Sanford Stadium a more intimidating place to play? Could be because so many of the non-student fans sit on their hands except on third down. I thought it was a nice touch that Mark Richt went over to the main student stands after the game to thank them for their support. … Driving down Milledge Saturday morning, it came to me that I really miss the old days of the elaborate and humorous Homecoming displays on the front lawns of the sororities and fraternities. Nowadays they opt for floats in the homecoming parade, and even that got rained out this year.
Comments
By jlusmc
October 19, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
We’re still not getting consistent pressure with our front four. We had to bring extra folks in order to make the Vandy QB’s rush their throws. Ole Miss was able to get pressure on JPW without blitzing most times. What are we missing? We cannot give Tebow and Lee all the time in the world to throw. We don’t have the corners to cover that long. Willie Mo will need to open up his bag of tricks the next two weeks if we expect to win. Your right Bill; if we had a tight end like S. Carolina (a guy who was too quick for LB’s and too big for safeties) you would be seeing a completely different 3rd down package. Go Dawgs…GATA
By dovedawg
October 19, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
Looking at the south carolina/LSU game last nite, I was very impressed with the physicality of both teams. We are going to have to play some very physical ball the next two weeks to win these games. Sooner or later, the defenses will adjust to stop Moreno on the toss sweep if we can’t run up the middle…I’m hoping that our young line will be able to get a good push on the LSU front to open some holes on the inside next week.
By dawgforlife
October 19, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
Can you imagine what Georgia could be doing offensively if we had an experienced offensive coordinator? And I’m not suggesting Richt go back to calling plays. We’re definitely better off with him concentrating on being head coach. But Bobo is having to learn his job and so progress is slow. If we had a guy who’d already learned it, we might be putting up numbers like those overrated Big 12 schools. Only with an SEC defense. Now that would be awesome!
Main problem remains putting pressure on the QB. Unless the Dawgs come up with an answer for that, it’s gonna be tough.
By Red Elephant
October 19, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
1.) You create no defensive pressure - the front 4 are not physical. 2.)Your offensive line is young and a patchwork experiment at best. 3.) That zone Defense is killing you. LSU and Florida will destroy your soft underbelly creating mismatches with your LB’s. 4.) Sorry to say this because I really like your coach and have always liked UGA ….you guys just don’t have the ‘go for the throat attitude.’ 5.) You are mentally weak and undisciplined. 6.) Best finish - 10-3; Worst finish 8-5 7.) At least you stay in GA in host the Chicken Sandwich bowl against UNC.
Roll Tide!
By Eric C.
October 19, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
red elephant…you are one to talk about the “go for the throat attitude.” Ya’ll really put away UK and UM.
By GW
October 19, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Whine, Whine, Whine….Martinez one week, Bobo the next, Stafford every week. Give the opponents some credit, they recruit and practice too.
By GoGaBulldawgs
October 19, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Red Elephant, you made a good point. It is good to see Bama routed the two powerhouses of the SEC called UK and Ole Miss.
By big o
October 19, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
After watching the LSU game I think we should drag a reciever all the way across the formation be it a WR or TE or RB and throw it underneath and let them run. If Garcia did what he did we should be able to dominate with our passing game. I like our chances GO DAWGS
By Mikey in the SAV
October 19, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this
While I would like to see us put an opponent away earlier, this is still the SEC and most SEC games go down to the wire with few exceptions( UGA-BAMA, UF-LSU) I noticed that mighty Bama did not put UK or Ole Miss away either…
Complaints:
We need to re think third and 9 and throw the ball at least 10 yards rather than a toss sweep.
Please stop the zone pass coverage
Please find a way to get pressure on the QB
Go Dawgs !!!
By TampaGator
October 19, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this
LSU does not have a good offense, and the QB makes a lot of mistakes. Georgia will beat LSU by 7 to 10 points, maybe more. This will set up the game in Jax just fine. The Gators are lurking.
By Dennis
October 19, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
Dorothy, You will not be in Athens anymore. At least in conference. You had better be ready to have some discipline and character when home calls go against you. This is the time where you either have it or you don’t. Those of you waiting for last year to appear are the same waiting for 1980. Both have nothing to do with this year. For all of Moreno’s accolades, Brown was the MVP of last year and Moreno doesn’t have that complement that Brown gave him when he dissapears.
By laxdawg
October 19, 2008 8:27 PM | Link to this
Why does it seem like Bryan Evans is constantly out of position? He has been extremely disappointing this year. Hopefully Willie will give Vince Cuff or Ramarcus Brown most of the snaps in practice. They are both capable corners, and if Bryan isnt cutting it, this needs to happed.
By Waitin Gator
October 19, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
The Dawgs have a great running back, the next Randy Moss, a talented but inconsistent QB, and…
Not much else.
You will probably still get by LSU. They are physical, but way too inexperienced at QB. And Les Miles’ coaching luck is finally regressing to the mean. You can ask your Jacket buddies in Atlanta what that means.
By Hairy Dawg
October 19, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
Both picks were Stafford’s fault. He threw the ball right into a defender on the “tipped pass.” Stafford didn’t see the guy, but the man was right in the path of the ball before the throw was even made. That’s just poor awareness on Stafford’s part. The other pick was a result of poor mechanics. He had the time to set his feet and make a strong throw. Instead, he tried to rely on his big arm without a solid base underneath. The ball floated up there and was easy pickings for the corner.
By murfdawg
October 19, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
Are you ready for OCTOBER-NOVEMBER MADNESS?This is going to be football’s answer to MARCH MADNESS. Every week the opponent gets better, every week the games get bigger and all you need to do is survive and advance.
The offensive playbook will be wide open the next two weeks. The defense will come up with new blitz packages that haven’t been seen(or scouted) in the first 7 games.Now is the time to play with emotion and yes pull out the famous CMR motivational ploy to give the Dawgs an edge.
Will this be enough to run the table and win the SEC? I hope so. Now is the time for all good fans to come to the aid of their beloved DAWGS!!!
By Bama Stan
October 20, 2008 5:43 AM | Link to this
I will always cherish that 31-0 half time lead. If we don’t win another game this year, that is OK, because we were up 31-0 against Georgia in Athens! It just gives me chills thinking about it…watching the UGA fans with their heads in their hands at half time on national TV. It was one of the greatest moments in my life and I will never let UGA fans forget it. HA HA HA HA
ROOOOOLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By FLA DAWG
October 20, 2008 6:44 AM | Link to this
LSU and college football fans are in for a surprise Saturday.
Towers was predicting a “Breakout” against Vandy - I said no. While it was certainly a solid win, it was no breakout.
Against LSU a 10 point win would be a Breakout - and that’s what we’re about to see happen - in Baton Rouge on Saturday.
UNCHAIN THE YARD DAWGS !!!!!!!!
By D.Ellis
October 20, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this
Bama Stan-If that is one of the greatest moments in your life then you have lived a sorry pathetic life to date. It’s just football Bama Stan.
And be real. If you guys didn’t win another game this year…you would drink pine sol and be done with it.
By Sautee Dawg
October 20, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
Bama Stan
I remember watching the same thing back in the late 70’s and will be my all time favorite between the hedges. Shutting out Alabama for 4 quaters with Bear Bryant watching. Some games just seem to stick with you don’t they?
By mikey
October 20, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
Is it just me or does it seem like the only way the Ga. defensive backs can cover a receiver is to get called for pass interference.B Evans continues to get burned by opposing qbs.
By HamDawg11
October 20, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Interesting that other teams’ fans come on here just to take shots at UGA. I’ve always heard that ‘inferiority breeds contempt’, guess this is what the guy meant when he said it.
Face it guys, there’s no team in the SEC that’s much better than everybody else. We’ve all got our weaknesses, some just come to light at more opportune times than others. We all have to deal with injuries, some just don’t affect a team as much as others.
Who knows what will happen over the next few weeks. UGA may beat LSU and lose to UF, lose to LSU and beat UF, or beat both of them and lose to UK and AU. There’s no reason to get ahead of ourselves, the season’s too short. I wait all year for college football and I don’t want it to be over any time soon. As the coaches say, let’s just take it one week at a time!
GO DAWGS!!
By Red Elephant
October 20, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
Hey guys, chill out, I LIKE Georgia. True, Bama is having some trouble putting games away, but I’ll take a W any day of the week. I just think UGA should do something about that soft zone Defense. Maybe we will meet again in ATL!’ Roll Tide!
P.S. Hey HamDawg11, the proper quote is ‘familiarity breeds contempt.’ Maybe you are talking about UF, LSU, or AU.
By Biggerthanbigdawg
October 20, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
The play calling was not the problem, the execution was. I would like to think that CMB would look to shuffle his tendencies before a huge game with LSU by calling more 1st down throws and keep the LSU coaches guessing in the film room then on Saturday do a complete 180 on all those tendencies. Keep in mind # 7 has the authority to check off into different play at the line. Many of those checks worked and some did not.
By Hunk Erdown
October 20, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this
So… Can someone explain to me what a Bama Stain is? Is it like skid marks in your underwear? I just don’t see why anyone would be on here bragging about something like that…Ohhhh wait… it says Bama “Stan”… Ohhhhh okay… nevermind.
By long dawg
October 21, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
Hey how do we make sure CMR sees all this insightful commentary so he can put together a winning game plan for the DAWGs vs LSU? Oh, but before we do let me throw in my 2 cents worth. 1. LSU will blitz like crazy… 2. LSU will run right up the gut.. 3. Georgia must throw quickly and often.. 4. Georgia must blitz like crazy… 5. Blair Walsh will be the difference… OK, that should do it.
For the Bama fans. Hope we can meet up again in the dome. Looks like you used up all your mojo in the excellent first half you played in Athens.
By PI$$ on a DAWG
October 21, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
UGA will not have enough KNEE GAZ out of JAIL to play the SEC SHIP game in DA ATL. Had to spell sojd jew KNEE GAZ could reedZ.
By Hawkinsville Dawg
October 21, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
I like southerland at tight end with chapas at fullback. Southerland catches well and everyone knows southerland’s blocking. wouldn’t be surpised to see that surprise.
By scdawgfan
October 22, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
why do all of these other teams fans come on here to read our blogs? it makes no sense to me! i have no desire to go and read their blogs then post stupid comments. i do have to respond to the bama fan that wrote about the 31-0 halftime score being one of the greatest highlights of his life. how sad is that? it’s only a half of football and means nothing. dabo swinney said it best (a former bama player and interim head coach at clemson). he has a quote on his desk that states- there is nothing more insignificant than the score at half time.
By AltamahaDawg
October 23, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
The sad thing is, that might actually have been the greatest moment in his life.
By Hunk Erdown
October 23, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this
I don’t doubt it Altamaha, my sister-in-law has a brother who’s 3 favorite past times are:
1-Bammer Football
2-‘Coon huntin’
3-Draining mud-holes (I’m not kidding)
I can relate to bammer football.. went coon huntin a few times, didn’t like it.. cannot fathom the supposed enjoyment of riding old field and dirt roads just to find mud holes and drain them, guess its an Alabama thang.
By D'Marcus Jefferson, Kappa Alpha pledge at UGA
October 23, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
A few comments from my 25th floor office overlooking Atlanta:
1.) I’m not a DAWG fan, but give them a break! Stafford has a golden arm, he can play at 50 percent and they’ll still win the SEC this year. Knowshon is the best RB and he barely has to run in the SEC! So everyone ease up!
2.) I’m voting for that Irish Catholic from Chicago…BROCK O’BAMA. And what’s with his sidekick Money girl….OPRAH?? I think all the Republicans and McCain/Palin supporters should BOYCOTT that FAT SLOB’S SHOW!!!!
By FLA DAWG
October 25, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
This was the Breakout Win I predicted - (see above). Congratulations Big Dawgs - You earned that Big Time Win!
The Gator Fans down here are no longer boasting they’ll beat us by 40 or 50 points.
The Dawgs will beat The Gators by 7 to 10 points.
The Season Has Just Begun!
By Site Administrator
October 27, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this
PI$$ on a dawg….you may want to watch your racially toned comments. I run the blog and do have your e-mail address. If you can not control your ignorant comments you will be removed from the blog and turned over to a higher authority.