Dogs still struggling on special teams

A week after an avalanche of special teams problems nearly cost Georgia against Kentucky, the Bulldogs had more major breakdowns against Auburn.

Georgia roughed a punter, muffed a punt return, had a field goal blocked and had a kickoff go out of bounds.

“Special teams is such a tough aspect of the game, especially with the weather like it was today,” said Bulldogs’ place-kicker Blair Walsh, who has missed six of his last 10 field goal attempts. “I thought we played pretty good on special teams today. We didn’t give up any huge returns, Brian Mimbs punted the ball great, coverage was good. We did a lot of good things but our tendency as humans is to focus on the negative.”

It looked bleak early.

After opening with a nine-play drive to Auburn’s 3-yard line, Walsh’s chip-shot field goal was blocked.

Georgia’s left guard was knocked backward on the play but protection from that close shouldn’t be an issue.

“It was a low kick,” coach Mark Richt said. “All year we’ve had stuff bleeding through. The protection wasn’t pretty but we should still make that kick.”

Walsh, who later made a 27-yarder, agreed: “It was too low; it should have been higher.”

That paled to the mistakes on an Auburn punt later in the first quarter. Georgia’s John Knox was called for roughing the punter when he nailed Clinton Durst in the Tigers’ end zone. But that penalty was declined because Prince Miller muffed the catch at midfield. Auburn’s D’Antoine Hood recovered the fumble at the 48-yard line and the Tigers scored the go-ahead touchdown on the next play to stake an early lead.

Logan Gray returned punts the rest of the game for Georgia.

BURNS GROWS UP AS AUBURN QB

It won’t show up in the win column but Auburn felt like its young quarterback grew up some on Saturday.

Sophomore Kodi Burns had one of his better games. He finished with 179 yards on 16-of-30 passing with a touchdown. He added 28 yards rushing.

Burns’ 52-yard TD pass to Mario Fannin was Auburn’s longest TD pass of the season and second-longest passing play overall.

But all Burns could think about after the game was the two long drives Auburn had that resulted in zero points.

“The few times I did move the team down the field we didn’t come away with points and that really hurt us late in the game,” Burns said. “We missed a field goal and should have scored a few other times. It was tough. We fought but just didn’t come out with the win.”

Coach Tommy Tuberville was pleased with Burns’ play but is still frustrated with the offense, which gained 303 yards.

“We are not there yet as an offense in terms of being able to make a play at a crucial time,” Tuberville said. “They made one and we didn’t. … But I am proud of the effort. Our guys couldn’t have laid it on the line any more.”

ETC. …

Georgia improved to 30-4 under coach Mark Richt in games at opponents’ home stadiums. “We know what happened here was significant,” Richt said. “It was the 30th game in eight seasons that we’ve won at an opponents’ home. We’re 5-for-5 this year in that regard. It’s hard to go into someone else’s house and win.” …

The injury problems continue for tight end Tripp Chandler. The senior from Woodstock left in the first half with a knee injury and returned only briefly. Chandler missed four games earlier this year with a shoulder injury. “Tripp’s just beat up,” Richt said. “He’s just trying to make it through his senior season.” …

For the 11th consecutive game, Auburn kept its opponent out of the end zone in the first quarter. Georgia got to the 3-yard line on its opening drive but failed to score. “We were wanting to take a little pride in getting one into the end zone on them but we couldn’t do it,” Richt said. …

Freshman flanker A.J. Green led the Bulldogs with five catches for 81 yards, including the game-winning 17-yarder with 8:24 left. It was a high, hard pass that Green yanked down in the middle of the end zone. “Going up and getting it, I’ve never played with a guy that can do it like that,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said. Green leads the SEC with 51 catches for 887 yards. Mohamed Massaquoi also had five for 61. …

Linebacker Rennie Curran, who leads the SEC in tackles, had nine more. … Georgia has won three straight over Auburn and is 14-9-2 at Jordan-Hare.