THE MONDAY MORNING REWIND

ATHENS – Wow, what a weekend!

I have to say not only was that one of the best games I’ve ever covered at Sanford Stadium, it’s one of the best I’ve ever seen anywhere.

I get asked that question all the time, what’s the best game you’ve covered or what’s the best Georgia game you’ve seen? Well this one might take the cake.

Some of my faves:

• Last year, if the Bulldogs had been able to negotiate those last five yards and beaten Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, that would’ve probably been the best one for me. And even in losing that’s one of the most enjoyable games I’ve personally witnessed.
• In the grand scheme of things, it didn’t mean much, but it was an honor to have chronicled Georgia’s thrilling four-overtime win over Auburn on The Plains in 1996. Some guy named Mike Bobo was quarterbacking for the Dogs and hit Corey Allen for a long touchdown pass with 1 second left.
• I wasn’t around to cover Belue-to-Scott over Florida in 1980, but that’s the most thrilling game in the history of Georgia football, in my opinion. But he first Georgia-Florida game I covered (I was still a UGA student and working for The red & Black) was in 1985. Though it wasn’t close – the Bulldogs won 24-3 – it was exhilarating in the unexpectedness of it. The Gators were ranked No. 1 and Georgia wasn’t given a chance.
• Another oldie-but-goodie from 1985, my first year covering the team, was Alabama at Georgia on Labor Night to open the season. Terry Webster blocked a punt that the Bulldogs recovered for a touchdown to give them the lead with like one minute remaining. In terms of thunderous noise, I’ve never heard Sanford Stadium that loud until this past Saturday. Alas, Mike Shula led the Tide back down the field to score the winning touchdown, making it as quiet as I’ve heard it.
• That “excessive celebration” game over Florida in 2007 was definitely a wild one to witness. And, of course, the 2007 “blackout” win over Auburn was a thrill-a-minute and is the only one I can think of that can compare to the total atmosphere there was in Sanford Stadium this past Saturday.

But, again, I might have to give the edge to this past Saturday’s game between the hedges.

"I'm just honored to be a part of something like that," coach Mark Richt said.

Me, too, Coach.

Now to The Rewind"

THE POSITIVES

Great QB play. You can’t say enough about the game quarterback play overall. Aaron Murray was fantastic and played almost flawlessly. He WAS perfect on the Bulldogs’ final, game-winning drive, going 4-for-4 on the 6-play, 75-yard drive. He finished 20-of-34 for 298 yards and 4 touchdowns with one interception. For the second time this year, he was named Walter Camp national offensive player of the week. Georgia’s passing attack and overall offense is one of the most prolific and sophisticated you’ll see in college football.

Strong running game. Even though Todd Gurley left the game for good with a left-ankle injury early in the second quarter, Georgia managed 196 yards rushing. Keith Marshall got the bulk of it, with 96 yards on 20 carries. But for the second time this year the Bulldogs put in a freshman with the game on the line, and J.J. Green came through big time with an 18-yard run. Gurley’s availability remains uncertain this week, so Green and Douglas will compete to see who’s first in for any playing time that comes available behind Marshall.

Offensive line play. Richt sang the praises of Murray like everybody else, but he was adamant about pointing out how well Georgia’s offensive line played. Not only was Murray not sacked, he was barely even pressured the entire game. And they were creating running room as well. That kind of play allows play-callers to dial up pretty much anything they want.

Defensive pressure. the Bulldogs are starting to look like a formidable defense when it comes to putting pressure on the quarterback. Georgia recorded four sacks, including another one by freshman Leonard Floyd and the first of the season by Jordan Jenkins, a bunch of hurries and defensive end Ray Drew had a critical batted pass on LSU’s last offensive series.

Jenkins should have had an interception and possibly a pick-six on one play, and I loved what he told me afterward. “I got the sack monkey off my back. Now I’ve got to get the pick-monkey my back,” he said.

Special teams come through. Georgia finally had a clean game. Place-kicker Marshall Morgan appears to have really improved since last season. Not only did he make a career-long 55-yard field goal, but he made two other, no-doubt-about-it short ones. In fact, every PAT he’s kicked this season has been strong and true, and that’s saying something after missing four as a freshman last season.

THE NEGATIVES

Secondary issues. I have to qualify this with the fact I believe Georgia has played three of best college quarterbacks and offenses they’ll see all season, but the Bulldogs obviously are struggling to cover wide receivers. Even Georgia’s most experienced pass-defender, Damian Swann, has had a tough go of it. Now LSU’s Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry will be playing in the NFL soon and Clemson and South Carolina have some special wideouts, too. But the Bulldogs simply need to make mass improvement going forward.

INTANGIBLES

Eyes on prize. Richt has been working feverishly since the LSU game concluded to get his team re-focused on the next task at hand. Georgia opened as a 10-point favorite against Tennessee (3-2, 0-1 SEC) and the line might go up from there before the game kicks off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. But Georgia’s Murray, Arthur Lynch and Amarlo Herrera seem to have heard the message and were already espousing the importance of putting Saturday’s thrilling victory behind them. For fans, it may take a while, though.