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AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 26
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Not enough game balls to go around
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wow, 52 points on LSU in Death Valley.
A lot of heroes came off the field for Georgia at the end of Saturday’s coming-of-age for the Bulldogs in Baton Rouge, with Matt Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and A.J. Green all having big days, as we’ve come to expect. And Mohamed Massaquoi, Kenneth Harris, Demiko Goodman and Michael Moore snagged a few key passes, as they’ve been known to do before.
There also were the unexpected names called. Fred Munzenmaier (two career carries; two touchdowns). Aron White (injured in practice and not supposed to make the trip but a clutch 48-yard reception when it seemed like years since we’d thrown to a tight end).
And Darryl Gamble’s star turn was spectacular. Two interceptions and 13 tackles. As Mark Richt said after the game, “If we gave game balls, he’d be the one to get it.”
But I don’t think enough can be said about the game that the Dawgs’ much maligned offensive line put together Saturday. With the Georgia OL riddled by injuries, having played fruit basket turnover in positions and starting three freshmen and two sophomores, the expectation among media observers and, yes, fans was that LSU’s strong, veteran defensive front would overwhelm the young pups and make life miserable for Stafford and Moreno. Especially when the Tigers’ much-feared LSU Express formation, rushing four defensive ends simultaneously, was utilized in most third-down situations.
The reality was something quite different. Yeah, at times it was almost impossible for Georgia to run up the middle, but that didn’t stop Moreno from dancing through what holes the Dawgs linemen managed to pry open. And the pass protection was nothing short of phenomenal, with the Tigers only getting to Stafford one time all day and the junior QB making some big strikes with LSU blitzing its brains out.
So, Mr. Gamble, please let the OL guys hold your hypothetical game ball for a while, OK?
POOCH KICKS: That final score looked like something from the Big 12. And it was mostly a day of big plays, good and bad, for the Dawgs. The one major negative to take out of this game was the Georgia defense’s susceptibility to the big play, especially the yards they gave up to LSU receivers after the catch and LSU runners after the first hit due to poor tackling. … A.J. is benefitting from some on-field coaching by his quarterback. After being held without a catch in the first half, the frosh dropped one in the second half. You could clearly see an exasperated Stafford say to him, “C’mon!” Next play, Stafford hit Green for a 49-yard touchdown that is one of this week’s nominees for the Pontiac Game Changing Performance (to vote for it, go to ESPN.com and search “Pontiac”). … Besides Moreno’s “call me” gesture to the LSU student body after his touchdown run (taking a cue from Tim Tebow last year, who also was victimized by Tiger fans calling his cellphone the week before the game), my favorite TV shot Saturday was head cheerleader Knowshon fanning and toweling off Gamble after the linebacker’s second interception-touchdown. (A sidenote: One of my son’s roommates found a cellphone in front of their house near the UGA campus this week and she punched the most recently called number to try and identify the owner. Knowshon answered; turns out the lost phone belonged to a friend of his who lives next door). … My son, seated in the upper level Saturday, noted that the noise made by the famed Death Valley crowd wasn’t all that fearsome, probably because it was an afternoon game and they hadn’t gotten all likkered up yet and also due to Georgia’s fast start. … It was obvious the Dawgs put on the brakes in the fourth quarter offensively, trying to keep the ball on the ground against a stacked box to try and eat clock, and also that our defense was getting a little tired. It didn’t turn out to be a major problem, but maybe Richt and Mike Bobo ought not to try again to sit on a lead, even a three touchdown one, with six minutes left in a game. Especially against an explosive offense. … Brian Mimbs did a great job punting Saturday, and Georgia pretty much held LSU’s returns in check, but one of those short kickoffs, with a late-hit penalty tacked on, gave LSU the ball in Georgia territory and resulted in a quick scoring drive. That’s precisely what those of us who are critical of Coach Fab’s kickoff philosophy are talking about. Why make it easier for them in terms of field position? … Not only did Lou Holtz and Mark May not have any snide comments about the Dawgs on ESPN’s college football wrapup Saturday night, but Gamble got singled out for one of their helmet stickers at the end.
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