Georgia shuts out Vanderbilt

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATHENS -- A football team that looked hapless and hopeless two weeks ago flexed its muscle here Saturday.

Georgia put up big numbers on offense and the most impressive number of all on defense, beating Vanderbilt 43-0 in a happy homecoming game in Sanford Stadium.

The shutout was Georgia's first against an SEC opponent since 2006. The margin of victory was Georgia's largest against an SEC opponent since 2004. And the win was Georgia's second in a row after four consecutive losses.

"This is the way we feel like we could have played the whole year," quarterback Aaron Murray said.

Well, that would have spared a lot of anguish.

Georgia piled up 547 yards of offense Saturday, led by Washaun Ealey's 123 yards rushing and Kris Durham's 112 yards receiving, but seemed more energized by the stinginess of the defense.

"I thought the shutout was important ... because that's a statement," defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. "To be the kind of defense we want to be and the kind of defense I feel we can be, I think you need to do those kinds of things."

After the Bulldogs built a 22-0 halftime lead and 43-0 third-quarter lead, and even after they substituted freely in the fourth quarter, Grantham kept stressing the importance of preserving the shutout.

"Based upon what the score was, I kept harping on [shutout] on the sideline because to me that's a mindset," Grantham said. "Yeah, you're winning the game ... and sometimes, yeah, that's good enough. But at this time, you can shut ‘em out. You know, we can stomp on ‘em."

Consider Vanderbilt (2-4, 1-2 SEC) thoroughly stomped upon by Georgia (3-4, 2-3).

Asked if he was embarrassed by the magnitude of the defeat, Vanderbilt coach Robbie Caldwell replied: "Don't you get embarrassed when you get shut out, whether it's horseshoes, pingpong or whatever?"

Georgia's defense limited the Commodores to 140 yards total offense, did not allow them to penetrate the UGA 35-yard line and held them to 1-of-11 on third-down conversions.

"I think it's rewarding for the players," Grantham said of the performance, "because they have worked hard, they have bought into what we are doing and today they executed very well."

Said linebacker Akeem Dent: "We have a lot more confidence in the scheme and the things we are trying to accomplish. ... Guys are a lot more focused on trying to make plays and get to the football."

On offense, Georgia saw the 43-point explosion as more evidence of the importance of wide receiver A.J. Green. In three games since his return from NCAA suspension, the Bulldogs have scored 111 points.

Green caught three passes for 64 yards Saturday, including a 48-yard touchdown that stretched Georgia's lead to 29-0 early in the third quarter. More important, he drew defensive attention that opened opportunities for other players.

"A.J. being back in the lineup has meant a lot to our other receivers and to our run game," coach Mark Richt said.

Albeit against less-than-stellar opposition in Tennessee and Vanderbilt, Georgia has won its past two games by a cumulative 84-14. Significantly, Georgia has not committed a turnover in either of those games.

"It looks like we're getting better," Richt said. "It looks like we're playing with a little more passion. It looks like we're building some on the momentum that has been created. ... I thought we were improving when we were losing, but hopefully we will keep getting better."

Said Green: "It just feels like we are really clicking now."

The victory over Vanderbilt was Georgia's fifth shutout under Richt and just the second against an SEC opponent (the other an 18-0 win at South Carolina in September 2006). And the margin of victory Saturday was Georgia's largest against an SEC opponent since a 62-17 win at Kentucky in November 2004.

Georgia will enter its next game -- Saturday night at Kentucky -- within a game of .500 in both overall and conference record.

"We're going to be trying like mad," Richt said, "to even our record."