DEL.ICIO.USDefense ‘played good enough to win’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Had Georgia lost to Kentucky on Saturday, an angry mob might have been waiting for defensive coordinator Willie Martinez back at Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall in Athens.
Martinez has been the focus of fans’ ire because the Bulldogs gave up 87 points in the previous two games and have now given up 125 points in their last three games after Saturday’s 42-38 escape.
Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com
Georgia’s DeMarcus Dobbs runs off the field after securing an interception at the Georgia 13-yard line with 46 seconds remaining that meant the Bulldogs escaped Lexington with the win.
Against Kentucky, Martinez’s charges seemed bewildered by the option attack, which rolled up 226 of its 331 yards on the ground, controlled the ball for nearly 35 minutes and scored 38 points — nearly twice its highest output in any other SEC game this season (21 points).
But Georgia coach Mark Richt wouldn’t criticize the defense after Saturday’s game.
“They played good enough to win today,” Richt said. “They got three stops when we needed them and I’m proud of them.
“Even though they struggled the defense had to stop them three times at the end of the ballgame, and they did.”
Demarcus Dobbs’ interception of a Randall Cobb screen pass at the Georgia 18 with 46 seconds remaining sealed the Bulldogs’ victory. Kentucky’s last score came with 12:15 left in the game and gave it a 38-35 lead.
In between, the freshman Cobb gashed Georgia for 187 yards, including 82 rushing. Running backs Tony Dixon and Alfonso Smith added another 121 yards on the ground and Kentucky had 10 third- and fourth-down conversions on the way to rolling up 20 first downs.
“I thought our guys were ready. I thought we were prepared,” Martinez said of Kentucky, which ran more option Saturday than it has all season. “There were a couple of defensive calls we made that weren’t good. Early on we were trying to get some pressure on them and the worst thing you can do is come hard up the middle when they’re hitting you outside with the option. But I think they blocked it well more than anything.”
Georgia defensive players came away frustrated but impressed with Cobb.
“They’ve got a great quarterback,” Dobbs said. “I know he’s a rookie and hasn’t been there the whole year but he’s a great athlete and he made great reads. We knew when 18 was in the game it was going to be an option.”
Said defensive end Rod Battle: “You’ve got to play disciplined. Everybody has an assignment and everybody has to take care of it. We didn’t always do that.”
Special teams breakdowns
Usually one major special teams breakdown can get you beat.
Georgia had three of them and lived to tell about it.
The Bulldogs:
• Gave up a 96-yard kickoff return.
• Had a punt blocked.
• Had an 18-yard punt.
All three gaffes led to Kentucky touchdowns.
“I’m just glad we got the win,” said punter Brian Mimbs, who averaged 34.7 yards on three punts. “Special teams is a huge part of any game you play. Sometimes one phase doesn’t work as well as you’d like and some other phases have to pick it up. The offense and the defense picked us up today. Fortunately we work well as a team.”
The biggest breakdown came early in the fourth quarter after Georgia had taken a 35-31 lead. Kentucky returner Winston Guy took the kickoff from two yards deep in the end zone and rumbled 98 yards up the center of the field.
“Everybody wants us to kick the ball out of the end zone,” Richt said. “Well we had the wind at our back and we were going to try to kick it. But we didn’t get enough air under it and that’s what can happen. He brought it right back. But if you look at the history of Kentucky football the last five or 10 years, they’re one of the best kickoff return teams in the country.”
As for the blocked punt, Richt said: “I’m not going to throw anybody under the bus but we had a missed assignment there. Scheme-wise we just didn’t protect like we usually do.”
Another offensive lineman injured
Georgia struggled on offense in the middle of the game and at least some of that might have been because another offensive lineman was lost to an injury.
Redshirt freshman Justin Anderson, who has started the last six games at right tackle, did not return in the second half because of a foot injury.
Anderson was replaced in the lineup by sophomore Josh Davis. Kiante Tripp also got some snaps. Richt couldn’t say how long Anderson might be out — “could be this week, might not be until the bowl game” — or how the line may look going forward.
“We’re running out of guys up there,” Richt said. “We have enough players on scholarship to field a line but we’ve taken some really, really big hits with our offensive tackles.”
The Bulldogs have used four players at left tackle and lost two to season-ending injuries.
Etc.
Demarcus Dobbs’ game-saving interception was his second pick of the season. He also had a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown against Central Michigan. “I’ve always had the best hands on the team,” Dobbs said. “I’ve been saying it all year but people just didn’t believe me. So I thought I needed to step up and prove it today.” Added Richt: “He’s moving to tight end.” … Quarterback Matthew Stafford had a career-high 376 yards passing and three touchdowns. He was 17-of-27 on the day and did not throw an interception. He was sacked twice and Kentucky recorded two hurries. … Georgia improves to 29-4 in road games under Richt, who recorded his 80th win as the Bulldogs’ head coach. The annual neutral site game against Florida in Jacksonville does not count as a road game. … Senior linebacker Dannell Ellerbe started the game ahead of Darryl Gamble at middle linebacker. “He’s a senior, he’s 100 percent healthy and he had a good week of practice so we thought he deserved it,” Martinez said. Like last week, Ellerbe also lined up at “A-B” linebacker — a sort of stand-up defensive end — in the Bulldogs’ nickel package. … Senior walk-on Andrew Gulley of Vienna started at left defensive end along with Rod Battle on the right side.
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