SB Nation - Michael Moore

A Football Preview: Cornered Mongrel Edition

BirdGT — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:00:14 -0000

First, let's start by understanding the history of this rivalry. Read this article on wikipedia. I find it particularly interesting that the worst acts ever committed in the rivalry were by Georgie fans yet they claim they don't care about the rivalry. We belittle them in our fight songs but they question our patriotism in parades, throw rocks at our football team, and stab our mascots. There's a difference between supporting a good, old fashioned rivalry and poor behavior. Historically, Georgie loves to cross the line.

So let's look at some numbers from history that pertain to this coming Thanksgiving game:

1. When Georgie loses the week before Tech, they are 19-19-2 all time against Tech.
2. When Georgie loses to Kentucky in the regular season, they are 5-5-1 all time against Tech.
3. When Georgie travels to Atlanta, they are 30-23-4 all time against Tech.
4. When Georgie has a worse winning percentage than Tech in the regular season, they are 7-30-3 all time against Tech.
5. Combining all of the conditions, Georgie is 0-3 in seasons where they've lost to Kentucky, had a worse record than Tech, and traveled to Atlanta. Those seasons were 1947, 1949, and 1977.

Why has Georgie lost 5 games?
I'd say most Georgie fans would say that Georgia cannot hold on to the football. Looking into their turnover margin indicates a pretty desolate group of statistics. In I-A losses, the bulldogs had a -2.6 turnovers/game. In I-A victories, it was only -0.8 turnovers/game. So the bulldogs are making a lot of mistakes in winning and losing efforts.

Another talking point for bulldoggies is the play of their quarterback, Joe Cox. However, I'm not really buying the hate. Joe Cox is the second-best rated QB in SEC games this season just behind Chris Leak's backup. Bulldog fans came into this season knowing that Joe Cox was a career backup thrust into the limelight due to an early departure. They shouldn't have been expecting the second coming of Eric Zeier. Mark Richt can only recruit for what he does and doesn't have. You can't tell high school kids, "Oh that Matt Stafford will be gone by junior year." Sorry, that's not how it works.

The lack of a legitimate running back has limited Georgie big time. Their rushing attack is sporadic at best averaging 139 yards in I-A wins and 109 yards in I-A losses.

A look at the division of carries based on down and distance shows that UGA really doesn't have a primary back. Different guys have played in different games. There's a little more confidence in Ealey concerning play calling as he's getting more first down carries but for the most part plays are called the same no matter the guy in the backfield. To me, that means there's no game breaker back there if Richt and company haven't settled on a solid running back.

And honestly, putting all of the blame on a particular SA's shoulders is pretty lame. I'm a Blame-Pat-Nix-man so whenever my team's offense struggles, I blame the person directly responsible for game preparation, quarterback coaching, and overall offensive philosophy.

The Bobo Effect
I wanna attack Bobo's play calling like I broke down CPJ's earlier (I, II, & III). Due to limited time, this'll be slightly truncated.

If you look at Georgie's playcalling on the season, it's like a 10 year old losing in a video game. There's frustration when little yardage is gained on first and second down and the run is completely abandoned on 3rd down. Georgie passes 74% of the time on 3rd down. People call us unbalanced. At least we have an offensive identity. Bobo's idea of play calling is simple: run fail, run fail, pass, repeat.

The interesting thing about Paul Johnson's offense is that the offense is simply meant to gain yardage. If a defensive player misses a tackle, it's a touchdown. In passing offenses similar to Bobo's, plays are designed to achieve a certain amount of yardage thus limiting your play makers. A "pro-style" offense limits your playbook based on yardage and personnel. Hence, we see interesting trends in Bobo's pass play calls:

Looks are pass attempts to a certain player either completed, incomplete, or dropped (all kept by uga game stat keepers, blame them for mistakes). I was kinda amazed at the relatively low numbers for A.J. Green. It seems he's only really getting the ball on 1st down or in short yardage situations. I guess it makes sense that uga goes to A.J. or Orson Charles for those short yardage plays. I guess I just find fault in not utilizing your ONLY good offensive player more. Here's some perspective - Calvin Johnson caught 42% of GT's 2006 completed passes while A.J. Green has only caught 28% of uga's this season. The talent level disparity from 2006 Calvin to James Johnson is not that much different from A.J. Green to Michael Moore or Tavarres King this season.

Note (11/27 1:15 pm): FTRS reader Howell asked to see a breakdown of the progression of carries that the main running backs of georgie have received YTD. Well, Howell. Ask and you shall receive! It seems with Samuel's absence, both King and Ealey have seemed to have been told to pick up the slack.

Conclusion
I think GT will struggle against Georgia's passing offense but hopefully some Joe Cox misfires and sacks will keep GT's rushing attack consistently on the field burning clock. I'm worried about this being an FSU-type affair. Hopefully, Dave Wommack realizes people are really scrutinizing his defense these next couple of weeks. That means do your homework. Learn your opponents' tendencies, plays, etc.. Focus your defense. Now is not the time to give up 250-300 yards passing. Our common opponent, Vanderbilt, ran it up and down on us yet Georgie's lamented D handled them. Wommack, it's on you to stop Georgie.

Predictions

Bird: The combined scores from point #5 for those three wins are my prediction of Tech 30, uga 13.
Winfield: It is time to tell the mutts that we are in control. Make them piss themselves and make them leave Bobby Dodd early because of our celebrating. To Hell with Georgia. It's time to wipe them off the face of the Earth. 54-10 Jackets. TO HELL WITH GEORGIA!
Dane: We spot them a few, for a grand finale of 31-10.

Bulldogs vs Yellow Jackets coverage

Kentucky @ Georgia: Abbreviated Look at the Dogs

Ken Howlett — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:45:16 -0000

More photos » by Wily Low - AP

Will UK fans tear down the goal posts on an opponent's field?

Browse more photos »

UK (6-4, 2-4 SEC), coming off a victory at Vanderbilt which secured the 'Cats' bowl eligibility, tackles the 6-4 (4-3 SEC) Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia tonight at 7:45 EST. Kentucky, hoping to improve the chances of playing a bowl game outside the state of Tennessee, haven't beaten the Bulldogs in Athens since 1977, a 33-0 'Cat-washing of the pre-Hershel Walker Bulldogs.

If UK clinches a winning season tonight, this is who they must execute the coup-de-tat against ... after the jump:

Joe Cox -- 6'1", 198 lb senior quarterback: Cox is 150-259 through the air, good for 2,059 yards, 12 interceptions and 18 touchdowns.

Caleb King -- 5'11", 210 lb redshirt sophomore running back: King, who only recently earned the starting spot at running back has rushed for 291 yards on 62 carries (4.7 yards per carry) and three touchdowns.

Washaun Ealey -- 5'11", 205 lb freshman running back: The true freshman has rushed 73 times for 379 yards (5.2 ypc) and three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 26 yards (13.0 yards per reception).

Richard Samuel -- 6'2", 222 lb sophomore running back: Samuel has rushed 88 times for 395 yards (4.5 ypc) and two touchdowns. He's also caught six passes for 39 yards (6.5 ypr).

Tavarres King -- 6'1", 180 redshirt sophomore wide receiver: King is listed as No.1 on the depth chart at the receiver spot for Georgia even though he has made only 15 catches for 268 yards (17.9 ypr). He's scored one touchdown.

Aron White -- 6'4", 236 lb redshirt sophomore tight end: White has made nine catches for 151 yards (16.8 ypr), good for two touchdowns.

Michael Moore -- 6'2", 210 lb senior wide receiver: Moore is Georgia's leading receiver with A. J. Green out for the contest. Moore has caught 21 passes for 187 yards (8.9 ypr) and four touchdowns.

Orson Charles -- 6'3", 230 lb freshman tight end: Charles has made 16 catches for 284 yards (17.8 pr) and two touchdowns. Charles, along with fellow tight end Aron White will be utilized heavily in passing downs.

Prince Miller -- 5'8", 198 lb senior punt returner: Miller is one of he SEC's leading returners, averaging 12.1 yards per return on 17 punts.

Drew Butler -- Georgia's punter is one of the leading punters in the nation, averaging 49.0 yards per punt (45 punts).

There, folks, you have the high-points.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!

Too Much Information: Georgia Bulldogs v. LSU Tigers

T Kyle King — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:46:15 -0000

Let me own up to this right now: I have no idea what’s going to happen tomorrow. That’s all right, though, because neither does Doug Gillett, neither does Senator Blutarsky, neither do Louisiana State fans, and neither do you. Paul Westerdawg seems to have something at least resembling a clue, but, really, the only guy who truly appears to have a handle on the whole thing is, of course, Matt Hinton.

To that I am able to add only incrementally, if at all, but I will do my best to load you up not with a sensible portion of data, nor with a reasonably-sized slice of insight, but, rather, with Too Much Information. Here we go:

Odds and Ends

This is a strange series. The Georgia Bulldogs and the LSU Tigers have met just 27 times, with four of those 27 meetings coming in only two seasons (twice in 1943 and twice in 2003), yet there is significance to this budding rivalry. In effect, a showdown between these two teams was a central event in Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men, and, as recently as three years ago, before the resurgence of the Alabama Crimson Tide under Nick Saban and of the Florida Gators under Urban Meyer, it appeared that Georgia and Louisiana State would be the dominant powers in the league. That has not come to pass as expected, but neither has it missed happening by much.

The Bulldogs have won three straight from the Bayou Bengals and have taken six of the last eight series meetings. The Red and Black are 12-7-1 against LSU in the last 20 tilts between these two teams.

The most maddening fact about each of these clubs is that both squads offset positive performances on one side of the ball with weak production on the other side. Consider the ways in which a strong Georgia offense is being undermined by a weak Georgia defense:

Statistical Category	Georgia	Opponents
Points Per Game	30.8	29.8
1st Downs on Pass Plays	40	41
Rushing Yards	449	451
Rushing Attempts	126	128
Yards Per Rush	3.6	3.5
Rush Yards Per Game	112.2	112.8
Passing Yards Per Game	245.0	243.0
Passing Touchdowns	9	10
Total Offensive Yards	1,429	1,423
Yards Per Game	357.2	355.8

Now consider the ways in which a strong LSU defense is being undermined by a weak LSU offense:

Statistical Category	LSU	Opponents
First Downs	74	76
1st Downs on Running Plays	33	37
1st Downs on Pass Plays	34	34
Rushing Yards Gained	636	636
Yards Per Rush	3.8	3.5
Rushing Touchdowns	3	3
Yards Per Catch	11.2	11.4
3rd Down Conversion Rate	44%	42%

When not occupied with offsetting themselves, both teams are busy offsetting one another. Georgia has scored 14 touchdowns; Louisiana State has scored 14 touchdowns. Georgia has scored four rushing touchdowns; LSU has scored three rushing touchdowns. Georgia’s defense allows 3.5 yards per rush; LSU’s defense allows 3.5 yards per rush. Georgia has registered five sacks for 35 yards; LSU has registered five sacks for 34 yards. Georgia has allowed 16 points in the second quarter; LSU has allowed 16 points in the second quarter. Georgia has scored 25 points in the third quarter; LSU has scored 24 points in the third quarter.

Ten years ago today, a good (and very nearly former) friend of mine, John Hope, got married. I know that because he asked me to be in his wedding (which did not take place near Athens) before telling me that it coincided with the Georgia-LSU game in Sanford Stadium on October 2, 1999, a date which marked the sixth anniversary of the last time I had missed a Bulldog home game. The ‘Dawgs wore white pants and won. My feelings on weddings that conflict with Georgia football games are well-documented.

I have often wondered whether the 2003 SEC Championship Game was for Mark Richt what the 1966 World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party was for Steve Spurrier. The Bulldogs’ first 13 losses of the Mark Richt era were by margins of five, 14, seven, four, seven, seven, three, 21, five, 18, four, one, and three points, respectively. The beatdown in the Georgia Dome from a Louisiana State squad bound for a national championship stands out, and, since that whipping was administered, the Classic City Canines have handed the Bayou Bengals setbacks by margins of 45-16 in Athens, 34-14 in Atlanta, and 52-38 in Baton Rouge.

Believe it or not, the Bulldogs have gained more first downs on penalties (9) than they have surrendered first downs on penalties (8). We focus on the fact that Georgia is the SEC’s second-most penalized team while forgetting that the Red and Black pick up by far the most yards on opponents’ penalties (94.5 yards per game).

The Classic City Canines have outscored the opposition by four points in the first quarter (45-41) and by zero points in the fourth quarter (19-19). Georgia holds an 18-point lead in the second stanza (34-16) but is at an 18-point deficit in the first 15 minutes following intermission (43-25). The Bayou Bengals are at their best defensively in the third period.

How important is A.J. Green to the Georgia offense? The sensational sophomore averages 107.0 receiving yards per game. Orson Charles, Tavarres King, and Michael Moore combined average 96.2 receiving yards per game. As goes A.J., so go the ‘Dawgs.

The Red and Black have run four fewer plays than the Fighting Tigers, but Georgia averages almost a full yard per play more than Louisiana State.

No team in the SEC has allowed fewer rushing touchdowns than the Bulldogs (1). No team in the SEC has allowed more touchdown passes than Georgia (10). No team in the SEC has allowed more first downs on running plays than LSU (37)

The Red and Black are 3-1 over Louisiana State in seasons in which the Athenians defeat the Arkansas Razorbacks.

The ‘Dawgs are the league’s third-worst team in kickoff coverage. The Tigers are the league’s worst team in kickoff returns. The ‘Dawgs field the conference’s best red zone offense. The Tigers field the conference’s second-best red zone defense.

Louisiana State gives up only 15.2 points per game, a little over half of the 29.8 allowed by Georgia. However, 49 of the 61 points the Bayou Bengals have surrendered have been scored in games played away from Baton Rouge, both of which were nailbiters against teams that do not appear to be as good as the Bulldogs.

The Feel Good Stat of the Week

Against the SEC West, Mark Richt is 22-6 overall, 20-5 in the regular season, and 9-3 at home. The Bulldogs’ last home game against a Western Division opponent came in last year’s debacle against ‘Bama. Georgia has not lost two straight home games against SEC West foes in the Mark Richt era.

The Bottom Line

Danged if I know. Given LSU’s penchant for takeaways (first in the SEC in turnover margin), this could be the week that Georgia’s tendency towards giveaways (last in the SEC in turnover margin) catches up with the Red and Black. On the other hand, given LSU’s poor showing while in possession of the pigskin (last in the SEC in total offense), it could come down to a battle of field position and the player of the game could be Drew Butler (leading punter in the league).

We just have no idea . . . but, since even confirmed Georgia-hater Mark May picked us at halftime of tonight’s Big East game, surely we have a chance.

My Prediction: Georgia 24, LSU 23.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Georgia Bulldogs 52, Arkansas Razorbacks 41

T Kyle King — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:24:05 -0000

I know I am arriving a little late to the party---ESPN and the Griffin District of the United Methodist Church did not get their schedules straight when the former lined up three straight night games for the Georgia Bulldogs on the very same weekends on which the latter arranged for me to attend my lay speaking recertification course for four hours every Sunday---but I appreciate the way everyone has kept the conversation going in the comments and in the fanposts.

Permit me to add a few observations, but please bear in mind that I haven’t had the time to check out any other weblogs or the game day open comment thread, so some of what follows may be repetitive, or redundant, or repetitive:

As the first quarter came to an end, I was very nearly ready to flush the 2009 season and get the guy most likely to start under center next autumn out onto the field to get some playing experience. Needless to say, Joe Cox answered any remaining doubts about his competence in the remaining three quarters. He hooked up on 18 of 26 attempts for 375 yards, a record-tying five touchdowns, and one interception. Although undeniably aided by the amazing abilities of A.J. Green (seven catches for 137 yards and two scores), Cox did a much better job of hitting his receivers in stride. This may be damning him with faint praise, but Cox didn’t throw long and incomplete any more often than Matthew Stafford would have.

I was a bit surprised at how surprised everyone seemed to be at the supposed "emergence" of Michael Moore. When was Michael Moore not clearly the Bulldogs’ second-best receiver following the departure of Mohamed Massaquoi? Why did everyone seem so shocked that Moore caught six passes for 91 yards against the Arkansas Razorbacks when he ended last season by catching six passes for 97 yards against the Michigan St. Spartans in last year’s Capital One Bowl? Who didn’t know already the dude was good?

I have always admired Mark Richt’s willingness to give a player an immediate shot at redemption after he makes a mistake. After Branden Smith’s gaffe in the return game against South Carolina, he was given the opportunity to make up for his miscue on the reverse. Coach Richt’s charges respond well to his confidence in them and usually make the most of their second chances. Tavarres King had a couple of potentially game-changing mistakes in Fayetteville, which were addressed by giving him the chance to haul in a 50-yard touchdown pass. He made good on that opportunity. Kudos to the coaches for letting the young man atone for his error and kudos to King for justifying his coaches’ faith in him.

Lisa Loeb. Tina Fey. Sarah Palin. Now Erin Andrews. I don’t know what it is about librarian-style glasses on good-looking women, but, holy smoking barbecue in a wire basket, that’s a look that works for me. Yowzers!

Although his play-calling sometimes seems strangely streaky, Mike Bobo is better at his job than he generally is given credit for being, and he managed a surprisingly balanced ballgame. The ‘Dawgs ran the ball 36 times and threw the ball 26 times. That demonstrates an admirable commitment to the ground game on a night when your quarterback is hitting almost 70 per cent of his passes. Three Bulldogs averaged four or more yards per carry, Richard Samuel rushed for 104 yards on 16 attempts, and Georgia scored on an 80-yard touchdown run. When that happens at the same time your signal caller is airing it out for a career night, you’re sticking with the running game.

The Bulldogs’ growing pains this year will pay big dividends next year. Ere anyone criticizes Brandon Boykin for a few miscues in the secondary, I have two words for you: Bruce Thornton. In his first year in the defensive backfield, he looked hopelessly lost and was picked on mercilessly by opposing quarterbacks. By the final year of his varsity career, Thornton was as good a defensive back as the Bulldogs had. Boykin shows great promise, on which he will deliver. Be patient.

As hopeful as I am for the future, though, I am worried that we’re going to go through this whole thing all over again a year from now if no quarterback other than Cox gets to run the offense for at least a couple or three series per game. As matters presently stand, Cox’s successor is going to come into the job in 2010 with less live game experience than Cox had coming into 2009, which is nothing short of downright scary.

There was a lot to like out of the Georgia offense last night. The ‘Dawgs answered the Hogs score for score, hung half a hundred on an opponent for the first time since last year’s LSU game, and did it without needing a special teams or defensive score to boost the stats. The Red and Black’s nine scoring drives covered 57, 26, 85, 75, 34, 65, 62, 73, and 17 yards, respectively. Other than the first-quarter drive following the Ryan Mallett fumble and the fourth-quarter game-clincher after the poor punt from the home team’s two yard line, the ‘Dawgs were moving the ball well over long distances.

The defense gave up a pair of one-play drives in the first quarter. A 50-yard Cobi Hamilton kickoff return set up a 48-yard touchdown pass to Jarius Wright and Samuel’s fumble was followed by a 30-yard touchdown pass to Greg Childs. I realize that the special teams and the offense put the defense in bad situations in those instances, but the Bulldogs have to do better on potentially momentum-changing drives. No single aspect of this game makes me more fearful for the future than this indication that the Classic City Canines’ inability to adapt to sudden changes in circumstances is one of the ugly holdovers from last year’s meltdown.

Georgia returned the ball well and kicked field goals well. The Bulldogs turned the ball over too often and drew too many penalties. This is a recording.

I truly have no clue what to make of our defense. Georgia gave up 21 points before the break and 20 points after intermission; so much for Willie Martinez’s ability to duplicate Brian VanGorder’s trademark second-half shutdowns (and, oftentimes, shutouts). Last week’s excuses do not apply; Mallett isn’t half as elusive as Stephen Garcia, and the Bulldog D wasn’t overworked against the Razorbacks, who ran 63 plays to the Red and Black’s 62. Georgia held the ball for almost 32 minutes of clock time, so fatigue should never have been a factor. The Classic City Canines gave up next to nothing on the ground (77 yards on 24 carries) while surrendering 408 yards and five touchdowns through the air, without so much as a single pick. On third down, though, the ‘Dawgs permitted the Hogs to convert just over 20 per cent of the time (3 of 14). What gives?

What makes the Georgia defensive numbers appear even weirder is the fact that Mallett was on fire, then, all of a sudden, he was ice-cold. The Arkansas quarterback completed eight of his first nine attempts in the second half, connecting on a pair of 40-yarders and one 30-yarder that was hauled in by Childs for a first down at the visitors’ eight yard line with fewer than five minutes remaining in the third period. At that point, a false start penalty cost the Razorbacks five yards, and, suddenly, Mallett couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. Starting with the very next snap after the flag (one of eleven against the Hogs, who lost a football field’s worth of yardage to yellow laundry), Mallett went three for 14 the rest of the way. His last 14 attempts picked up a total of 36 yards, Mallett was sacked once, and he did not lead a touchdown drive. Maybe something changed that I was missing, but it didn’t look like the ‘Dawgs were getting a good deal more pressure on Mallett than they had before, yet his aim went from lethally accurate to absolutely off-target for no reason I was able to discern at first glance. Maybe Mallett was feeling the heat more than he had been before, but it didn’t seem like the ‘Dawgs were getting to him so much faster that he should have gone from looking like an NFL starter to looking like Jonathan Crompton so swiftly.

In the course of Coach Martinez’s tenure as Georgia’s defensive coordinator, the Bulldogs have surrendered single-game point tallies of 31 and 38 in 2005; 51 in 2006; 35, 30, and 34 in 2007; 41, 38, 49, 38, and 45 in 2008; and 37 and 41 in 2009. Seven of the last twelve opponents the Red and Black have faced have scored at least 37 points on Georgia. That is all.

The enduring value of Mark Richt’s consistent calm was on full display in Fayetteville. Down 21-10 after fifteen minutes of play, Georgia could have come unglued, yet the Bulldogs remained poised and continued to play their game without panic or desperation. There are a lot of problems which persist from last year, but there are a lot of positives that remain present, as well. What is worrisome is the reality that the ‘Dawgs had to come back and hang on to beat mid-tier league challengers in their first couple of conference outings. What will the Red and Black do when facing a ranked opponent whose SEC pedigree dates back before the early 1990s?

Those are my thoughts, and y’all have done an excellent job of sharing yours. (If I happen to have echoed sentiments I have not yet read, well, I guess great minds think alike.) Keep up the good work, and, as always, don’t forget to savor the win while spotting the flaws. Optimism may be overly extreme, but enjoyment and hope are entirely appropriate.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Previewing South Carolina at Georgia: Q & A with Bulldog in Exile

Gamecock Man — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:11:49 -0000

I got together with the fine Georgia blogger Bulldog in Exile to preview this weekend's game. Please check out my answers to his questions here.

1. All eyes will be on Joe Cox this weekend after an underwhelming performance last week in Stillwater. How much was Cox affected by his illness? Will he bounce back against Carolina? When will Mark Richt play Aaron Murray or Logan Grey if Cox continues to struggle?

I don't have a good grasp on the cause of Joe's trouble in Stillwater. I am a big Joe Cox fan. He has done and said all that you would hope a player in your program would while waiting his turn. In that regard, he is DJ Shockley. However, we also knew he wasn't DJ Shockley, talent wise. In my mind, some of the blame has to be laid at the feet of Mike Bobo. If I had a QB that I knew was sick, was in his first game as THE guy, and wasn't going to sling lasers all over the field, I would certainly be looking for plays that froze the defense and opened up play makers. That didn't happen.

I think Joe will have a better game against South Carolina. USC's defensive backfield looked good, but no one will mistake AJ Green or Michael Moore for Jarvis Williams. It'll be interesting to see if the younger receivers get in the game. I am trying to say Joe's problems weren't all on him. A little better game planning, a little better catching and a little better blocking will help make his go from underwhelming to a serviceable QB, which is all anyone will ask from him.

I was surprised to see Logan in only once, although you could say using Branden Smith in the Wild Dawg (or whatever) is a distinction without a difference. I hope we don't see Murray or Mettenberger at all. If that happens, it'll mean the coaches have made the decision that Joe cannot get it done. Absent injury, I don't see that happening unless Cox really does worse than he did last week.

2. Your running game with Richard Samuel looked good at times, especially on the first drive. However, it floundered a bit later in the game as you struggled to find balance. Will Georgia reestablish the run against a Carolina defense that gave up only 59 rushing yards to N. C. State? How will they do it? And what's the status on Caleb King?

As to the first part: God, I hope so. The lay consensus was that Bobo abandoned the run way too early and didn't utilize it to set up the passing game (no play actions, draws or misdirections were called all day against Oklahoma State). Even if the RBs don't get more yards than the 100 or so they gained against Oklahoma State, if the running game is used to freeze coverage or at least make the defense think run, it will yield dividends for the Dawgs. Samuel looked stellar at times against the Pokes. He looked like me at the end of an open bar wedding reception at times. If the offensive line plays up to its potential, I don't worry about the Dawgs getting the running game going.

Caleb King has a hamstring injury. If he plays (which at this point is a likelihood), I don't expect to see him get more than 5 or so touches since he hasn't practiced at speed in a few weeks (warning to your readers: this probably means he will be Hershel Walker like and get 31 touches and run for 189 yards, which I would, of course, take).

3. The Gamecocks defensive front--especially Eric Norwood and Cliff Matthews--was able to exert a lot of pressure on Russell Wilson last week, and Oklahoma State was at times able to penetrate what was supposed to be a stout Georgia offensive line. How will Georgia fare against the Carolina pass rush, especially with Trinton Sturdivant out?

The funny thing about Okie State's pressure is that I never felt like they got pressure on him, with the exception of the hit that yielded a fumble, which was due to a very nice move on the part of the lineman. It was only after I watched the game on TV did I see what Coach Richt called incomplete blocks. Cox had plenty of time, too much, at times. I don't want to see him running for his life, but the passes that he threw on instinct were more likely to be on target. Those he threw when he thought about it were tentative. Not sure what that is, but if I could see it, then everyone can. That being said, I do worry about what Matthews and Devin Taylor showed against NC State.

The loss of Trinton is big, but he is replaced by a senior (Vince Vance) with plenty of game experience. Plus, we've been here before. In a lot of ways, the adversity will only help Coach Searels use the us vs. the world argument to his advantage. You don't want to give Coach Searels any more tools than he already has.

4. How much do you hate Steve Spurrier and what are your favorite and least-favorite UGA-Spurrier moments?

Well, if you had asked me that question in 2000...

Seriously, I think Steve Spurrier has been one of those coaches that changed the game, especially the way it was played in the SEC. Now, on a scale between my ex-wife's lawyer on one end and the guy that is in the left lane going 1mph faster than the traffic in the right lane on the other, he is much closer to the guy in the right lane. Yeah, he's annoying, but after he's been passed, I don't think about him much. He's lost a lot of his bite. Particularly disappointing were his apologies over Tebowgate. Old Steve Spurrier would have waxed eloquent about Jevan Snead and mentioned that Tebow is a great player, but Jarred Lorenzen was a better pure quarterback pound for pound.

As for my least favorite moments, I would have to say all five Georgia-Florida games that I saw with him coaching Florida to wins are ties. In that regard, I will have to say ever time I hear a Florida fan say 16 of 19 is pretty high on my least favorite moments.

5. What's going to happen in this game? Who will win and how will it go down?

It'll be a typical Georgia-South Carolina game, with both teams squandering chances and one team needing a defensive stand near the end to win. While Joe Cox isn't Matt Stafford, he isn't Quincy Carter either, so I have to believe it will come down to the team that does better in converting chances. Given a 35 yard field with Georgia's defense against a Steven Garcia led offense vs. a 35 yard field with South Carolina's defense against a Joe Cox led offense, I just like Georgia's chances better. 24-20 won't surprise me any more than 12-10.

A hearty thanks to Bulldog in Exile for participating.

Out of Curiosity: How DID Julio Jones steal the spotlight from A.J. Green?

Todd — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:00:29 -0000

Inspired by kleph's Stupid Question of the Day fanpost from Friday (and therefor AJC columnist Bill King's poor answer to said question), I thought it was time for another "Out of Curiosity" post to take a look at some of the reasons Julio Jones has received more attention and hype than A.J. Green despite both being VHT Five Star types that had stellar freshman seasons. King has two theories about it, one of which has merit and one of which could have merit if it wasn't wrapped in pure, homer paranoia, while I have five (hopefully solid) reasons of my own. Let's begin:

Julio was simply a higher profile recruit than Green. Though both were arguably as highly touted by Rivals (the #1 and #2 receivers, respectively, and both were top ten overall recruits), Green committed to Georgia in October of '06 while Julio waited until National Signing Day to choose Alabama (at a televised news conference, no less). In the four months between commits, Green flew under the radar while Jones remained in the public eye by refusing to name his leader while also taking all of his official visits, and reportedly being asked to leave during an official visit to Florid for "recruiting" for Oklahoma (which all turned out to be nonsense, but it was still quite a story). Further, while Green was certainly a huge get for UGA, it can be argued that he was just another link in the chain of stellar recruits that Mark Richt has brought to Athens over the years, while Julio put the cherry on top of what turned out to be the #1 recruiting class in the country at a program that hadn't been doing so well in that regard for...ever, really. So even though both were big gets for their respective programs, the differing circumstances surrounding their individual recruitment made Julio a household name and Green just another VHT at a school that was no stranger to them.

Julio was a bigger part of Alabama's passing game. This actually ties in with King's theory that Julio deserves more credit because he was stuck with a "servicable" John Parker Wilson running the Tide offense while Green had the luxury of Matt Stafford, the eventual #1 draft pick, throwing to him. This one actually has merit to it, if only for the fact that, with a QB like Stafford, the ball was being thrown around a lot more and there was a greater emphasis on the passing game. The numbers bear that out as well:

Georgia	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Avg/G
Mohamed Massaquoi	58	920	15.9	8	78	70.8
A.J. Green	56	963	17.2	8	54	74.1
Michael Moore	29	451	15.6	2	46	34.7

Alabama	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Avg/G
Julio Jones	58	924	15.9	4	64	66.0
Nick Walker	32	324	10.1	2	40	23.1
Mike McCoy	16	191	11.9	1	30	14.7

Looking at the top three receivers for each team last season, a few things ought to jump out at you:

1. The top three receivers for UGA were just that; receivers. Meanwhile, the Tide's #2 man was a Tight End and, to take it even further, the Dawg's 4th and 5th leading receivers were WRs while the Tide's Glen Coffee (a RB) was fourth ahead of WR Marquis Maze at Alabama.

2. Though Green led the team in receiving yards, Massaquoi actually led the team in number of receptions and tied Green for # of receiving TDs with 8. Meanwhile, no one on the Tide's roster came close to touching Julio's production from a # of receptions or receiving yards standpoint. Green was clearly a crucial cog in the UGA passing game, no doubt, but given Massaquoi's similar production and the fact that Michael Moore was a reliable third man, Greene didn't carry the burden of receiving production alone. Julio, on the other hand, was essentially the entire passing game for Alabama. Furthering that thought...

Knowshon Moreno stole A.J. Green's thunder, not Julio. With Stafford, a solid overall receiving corps, and a star at tailback, the Dawgs had a much more balanced attack than the Crimson Tide, and therefor the individual cogs in the UGA offense had more opportunity to shine. This made Knowshon Moreno very happy:

This is in no way meant to imply that Moreno is some sort of showboating hot dog, but let's face it, when you have teammates leaping over defenders and creating some of the more iconic images of the season, it's kind of hard to separate yourself from the pack. In Alabama's case, though Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram (and Roy Upchurch, when healthy), were solid running backs they weren't out making highlight reel moves, they were simply lowering their shoulders and running defenders over. Julio, on the other hand, was a one man highlight reel:

Soundtrack Warning

This all goes back to the idea that Jones was able to remain in the public conscious while Green was just another part of the Georgia offense.

Alabama had the better season. This is probably the biggest reason Julio has received more hype and attention than Green, and one King somewhat touched on in his column (in a condescending, homerish way):

So what’s the difference in how Green and Jones are being perceived? Does Jones being on a team with the magic name of "Alabama" that went to the SEC Championship play into it?

Yes it does and, quite frankly, it should. Before the Tide and Dawgs met last season, Georgia was a national title contender, and thus the focus of plenty of media coverage and the attendant scrutiny of it's players. After that game, though, Alabama became the national title contender and, considering Georgia was absolutely slaughtered by Florida four weeks later and dropped their season ending match with Georgia Tech, remained heavily in the discussion of "best teams" in the country while Georgia fell off the radar.

No one knows what the Georgia offense will do in 2009. Now that Stafford, Massaquoi, and Moreno are in the NFL, there is far more uncertainty about the Georgia offense than there is Alabama's. Though the Tide will try and open up the passing game and develop receiving threats outside of Jones in 2009, all the elements are their to continue the kind of physical, run first approach that dominated the play calling in '08. Mark Ingram and Roy Upchurch are back to continue on with the power running, the TE position is again one of the deepest we have, and we have another smart if unspectacular QB that can make the throws necessary but who's biggest asset is taking what the defense gives him and avoiding negative plays. With the mindset that Alabama will be doing pretty much the same thing it did last year, it's only natural that a focus be put on Julio Jones, who was such a big part of the offense's success. Georgia, on the other hand, has more pressing concerns like finding a QB and replacing Moreno in the backfield, two issues that are going to be first and foremost in the minds of fans and the media when discussing the upcoming season.

All in all, Georgia fans have every right to consider A.J. Green one of the top receivers in the SEC (and even in the country) and should hold out high hopes that he will continue to develop into a truly elite player, but what they shouldn't do is get upset that Julio Jones is receiving more attention in the preseason. He earned it.

Dawg Sports Discusses Georgia Bulldogs on ESPN Radio in Gainesville/Ocala

T Kyle King — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:00:36 -0000

For the benefit of those of you who were unable to hear the show live, here is the audio clip of the segment on which I appeared, brought to you with the generous assistance of "The Morning Drive" team and Rocky Top Talk’s Joel:

Aside from almost referring to Willie Martinez’s offensive philosophy (which may have been a Freudian slip), I don’t think I made too much of a hash of this interview, but feel free to point out any other errors in the comments.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Kyle Gets Contrary: Why Mark Richt is Wrong About Moving the Georgia-Florida Game

T Kyle King — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:00:15 -0000

I trust it goes without saying that I am a huge Mark Richt fan. I believe he is, and history will bear him out to be, the best head football coach my alma mater has ever had. However, this does not make him perfect, and there are certain subjects about which I respectfully disagree with Coach Richt. Inasmuch as I intend to address one such subject, it is time to introduce the latest installment of the popular series of postings in which I get contrary.

Senator Blutarsky thought Coach Richt was kidding, and I hope he’s right, but this is what Coach Richt said:

I don’t know what’s going to happen. But when people ask me the question, "Do you really think [Jacksonville] is a neutral site?", I say, "No, it’s not neutral." When you play in the state of Florida every year –- we fly, they drive; it’s hotter for us, it’s cooler for them. It’s played in a stadium that [used to be called] the Gator Bowl. But what the heck? If nothing else, we’ll make Jacksonville pay more to keep it there. . . . I wouldn’t feel bad having a "neutral site" game in Georgia – in the Georgia Dome.

In Coach Richt’s defense, he was speaking to the Columbus Bulldog Club, so it’s entirely possible he was cutting up with the home folks. I know quite well from my professional life as a lawyer that reading a transcript is by no means the same thing as hearing the words as they are spoken. Vocal inflections, facial expressions, and hand gestures are missing, and these form an integral part of human communication. If Coach Richt was joking, and he may have been, then it’s the fault of those of us who read his remarks but did not hear them for failing to get the joke.

However, since none of the other answers quoted in Tim Tucker’s article sounded like they were said in jest, and since the question whether to keep the Florida game in Jacksonville is a divisive one in Bulldog Nation, and since Coach Richt is on record as wanting to move the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party from the Gateway City, I am operating from the understanding that the remarks were intended sincerely and that, therefore, C&F is right when he writes:

With all due respect to Mark Richt, this has got to be the lamest reason for moving the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party Cocktail Party Cocktail Party away from Jacksonville that C&F has ever heard. For one thing, it's factually untrue -- the temperature in Jacksonville is precisely the same for both teams. Funny how that works. Second, the game is played in late October or early November. It's not usually snowing in Jacksonville that time of the year, but it's usually not blazing hot, either. Is it relatively cooler for Florida players than Georgia players? Perhaps. But -- let's be serious.

While I left a comment in response, the point deserves amplification, so I wanted to iterate what I wrote there and add an extra note or two, as well:

1. It’s not played in a stadium that used to be called the Gator Bowl. The last Georgia-Florida game to be played in the Gator Bowl was in 1993. I know; I was there, sitting in the miserable drizzle while the rain ran down the grooves of the old metal bleachers and seeped up through the seat of my pants until I was drenched from the bottom up rather than from the top down. The old Gator Bowl was built in the late 1940s and replaced Fairfield Stadium. While the 1994 demolition did not take down the old venue in its entirety, the west upper deck added in the early 1980s is the only part of the Gator Bowl that remains in the new N.F.L. arena called Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (nee Alltel Stadium).

For what it’s worth, Cale Conley’s War Between the States reports that Georgia played Florida in the stadium known as the Gator Bowl from 1948 to 1993, a span during which the Bulldogs went 23-22-1 against the Saurians. The Red and Black have gone 3-10 against the Orange and Blue in Jacksonville since the Gator Bowl was demolished. Maybe, just maybe, having the name "Gator Bowl" on the building didn’t have much to do with which team won.

2. The fact that we fly and they drive undercuts one of the most frequently-asserted arguments against keeping the game in Jacksonville. When we discussed the Cocktail Party in a recent installment in this series, Year2 made these reasonable points against the canard that distance is significant:

A) Both teams spend the night before in a hotel
B) 17-21 years olds aren’t affected in the least by a 6 hour bus ride
C) There are plenty of Georgia fans in Jacksonville (and it’s close to all the South Georgia Bulldogs)
D) The stadium is split right down the middle 50/50
E) The stadium is all of 30 miles from Georgia soil

It’s as close to a true neutral site as there is in college football. The only "advantage" Florida has is that its team bus ride is shorter.

To those arguments, I responded:

All good points, but I’m not even sure about the bus ride

Don’t the ’Dawgs fly from Athens to Jacksonville?

I’m pretty sure they do, and, if they don’t, we need to quit complaining about the venue and start asking why one of the most profitable athletic departments in America doesn’t pony up for a charter flight.

Coach Richt has answered my question: Georgia flies and Florida rides. The argument that our team has a longer bus trip to take is false. One of the central tenets of the anti-Jacksonville position has been refuted by the testimony of the most highly-placed proponent of moving the game.

3. It isn’t cooler for the Gators, not even relatively. It gets plenty hot and humid in the Classic City, so I’m not buying that Bulldogs who didn’t wilt on the day of an early afternoon kickoff in Athens in late August are going to wilt on the day of a mid-afternoon kickoff in Jacksonville in early November.

Even if we assume (falsely) that North Georgians can’t take the heat, though, that shouldn’t affect such Red and Black players as these:

Bryan Evans (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Aaron Murray (Tampa, Fla.)

Bacarri Rambo (Donalsonville, Ga.)

John Knox (Statesboro, Ga.)

Vance Cuff (Moultrie, Ga.)

Israel Troupe (Tifton, Ga.)

Carlton Thomas (Frostproof, Fla.)

Kalvin Daniels (Eastman, Ga.)

Nick Williams (Bainbridge, Ga.)

Justin Houston (Statesboro, Ga.)

Shaun Chapas (St. Augustine, Fla.)

Darryl Gamble (Bainbridge, Ga.)

Jeremy Longo (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Tanner Strickland (Nashville, Ga.)

Geno Atkins (Pembroke Pines, Fla.)

Blair Walsh (Boca Raton, Fla.)

Kevin Perez (Miami, Fla.)

Justin Anderson (Ocilla, Ga.)

Michael Moore (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

DeAngelo Tyson (Statesboro, Ga.)

Jeff Owens (Sunrise, Fla.)

Once again, it may be the case that Senator Blutarsky is right and Coach Richt was just kidding. However, even if he was, his words will be taken seriously by an element of the Georgia fan base which I believe to be devoted and well-meaning, but with whom I must respectfully and vehemently disagree. I believe there are arguments for moving the Georgia-Florida game from Jacksonville which, while still falling short of sufficiency, nevertheless are better than these. Coach Richt is a great coach and a good man who is right about many, many things, but, if he intended these points to be taken seriously, he is, in this instance, quite wrong.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Georgia Bulldogs 24, Michigan State Spartans 12

T Kyle King — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:30:05 -0000

Shortly before my family and I sat down to supper on New Year’s Eve, my wife, Susan, asked me what I wanted to drink with my evening meal. Reflexively, I told her I wanted a Coke.

When we had members of our extended family over for Christmas, however, my in-laws brought some soft drinks with them, including a twelve-pack of Fresca. My son, Thomas, who is five years old and whose status as a mojo savant has been confirmed repeatedly through several successive football seasons, asked me whether I wanted a Fresca instead. Without thinking much about it, I took him up on his suggestion.

After we had finished eating, I sat there at the kitchen table for a few more minutes when my eye spied the empty Fresca can, along the side of which were emblazoned these words: "Original Citrus."

Then it hit me: Thomas intuitively had done it again. Just before kickoff of the Chick-fil-A Bowl---an Atlanta-based postseason game featuring an Atlanta-based rival team---I had chosen the definitive Atlanta-based soft drink until my son talked me out of it, convincing me instead to drink a beverage billed as the original citrus on the night before the Bulldogs were to take the field in the Capital One Bowl . . . or, as it previously was known, the Citrus Bowl.

Coincidence? I think not.

From that moment forward, I had no doubt that Georgia Tech would lose, Georgia would win, and order would be restored to the universe . . . or, at least, to the Peach State, which is near enough to being the whole cosmos to suit me.

If you buy the idea that Thursday’s game was a referendum on Willie Martinez, you are free to come to one of two conclusions. If you prefer to see the glass as half-full, it is clear that the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator put together as effective a game plan against Michigan State as he had against Hawaii a year ago. If you prefer to see the glass as half-empty, it is equally clear that, if the ‘Dawgs are given four weeks to prepare for every opponent and Georgia joins the Big Ten or the W.A.C., Willie Martinez is our man. Against S.E.C. opposition with a game every Saturday, not so much . . . although my confidence would be bolstered by a public announcement that Coach Martinez TiVo’d the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Nevertheless, credit must be given for a stout defensive effort. The Spartans spent much of the first half in Georgia territory but managed only six points before the break. A first-quarter interception thrown by Matthew Stafford set up M.S.U. with first and 10 at the Bulldog 12 and a personal foul penalty halved that distance. Sparty picked up three yards on the next three plays and settled for a field goal.

Later in the opening period, a forced fumble was recovered by Michigan State on the Red and Black’s side of the field. The ‘Dawgs held, turning first and 15 into third and 24, when a borderline roughing the passer call give the Big Ten team a fresh set of downs at the Georgia 36 yard line.

By the way, as many times as Brian Hoyer was put on the ground on New Year’s Day, how could the announcers not use the phrase, "Down goes Hoyer!"? (Associated Press photograph by Michael Conroy.)

It was the sort of situation in which the Georgia D has folded this season; it was, in fact, the sort of situation in which the Georgia D has given up a play that covered whatever number of yards separated the line of scrimmage from the end zone. Instead, Asher Allen threw Keshawn Martin for a six-yard loss back to the 42. Javon Ringer’s second-down carry yielded a four-yard setback to the 46. An incomplete pass made it fourth and 20.

Overall, the Spartans held the ball for exactly 30 minutes of clock time, won the turnover battle, and picked up nearly as many first downs (16) as Georgia (19). Even so, though, M.S.U. was limited to a 25 per cent conversion rate on third down (4 for 16), managed only 236 yards of total offense, and averaged less than one yard per carry (34 rushes for 31 yards). Ringer picked up 47 yards on 20 attempts and never carded a scamper of longer than 21 feet.

There were, as there too often are, foolish penalties (7 for 53 yards) and long stretches in which Stafford simply appeared off his game. (From his vantage point on my living room couch, my brother-in-law opined that the Georgia quarterback was simply trying to get out of being drafted by Detroit.) Knowshon Rockwell Moreno had more receiving yards (63) and touchdowns (1) than rushing yards (62) and touchdowns (0).

Smart second-half adjustments saw the Georgia offense improving significantly, as the ‘Dawgs got away from attacking the middle and began using screens and going after the perimeter. Kris Durham had a moment or two at which he looked like he could be in the passing game what Brannan Southerland was in the running game. With six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, Michael Moore took up the slack when A.J. Green and Mohamed Massaquoi were held in check.

Our Michael Moore totally outclasses theirs.

Bad breaks and dumb luck (particularly in the kicking game) appeared for a while to be conspiring against the Classic City Canines, whose no-huddle attack worked like gangbusters for the first four plays of an eight-play opening drive that looked at the outset like the prettiest initial series ending in three points ever . . . or, at least, since the 2005 Outback Bowl. After that, though, it looked like a typical 2008 Georgia effort, in which the ‘Dawgs looked great in one phase of the game but only intermittently good (at best) in the others.

There is no denying that the Red and Black were lucky to be trailing only by a field goal at halftime. The opening possession of the third quarter gave little cause for confidence, as a 24-yard kickoff return and a 16-yard drive were squandered on a penalty and a punt. It wasn’t that I ever doubted that the ‘Dawgs would win---again, the Fresca on New Year’s Eve and the resulting Chick-fil-A Bowl win for the good guys left me certain of a Bulldog victory---but I had my doubts whether the Red and Black would win any way other than ugly.

Then an Aaron Bates punt went 53 yards and took a favorable bounce for the Great Lake State Gladiators inside the five. Moreno went 10 yards on first down and caught a five-yard pass two plays later. Stafford’s next five passes went to Moore for 16 yards and a first down, to Green for 12 yards, to Durham for 13 yards and a first down, to Caleb King for 11 yards and a first down, and to Moore for 35 yards and a touchdown. After that, the outcome never really was in question.

The 2009 Capital One Bowl resembled the 2005 Outback Bowl in ways more profound than the similarity of the Bulldogs’ opening drives in the two Sunshine State season-enders. We knew that beloved players, including an established starter under center, were or probably were playing their final game in silver britches, and we felt a profound sense of disappointment at the thought of what that season might have been.

That feeling has pervaded most of this autumn. It will rear its ugly head anew as I sit down to watch the national championship game in which my alma mater’s football team does not appear. That depressing sense of opportunity lost will weigh me down throughout most of the coming offseason. Even with Thursday’s victory, this will be a cold hard winter in Bulldog Nation. For now, though, I am going to enjoy a game which, however imperfect, ended in a Georgia win. That’s enough, at least---if only---for the moment.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Georgia Bulldogs 42, Kentucky Wildcats 38

T Kyle King — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:20:31 -0000

All right, let’s start with the good news.

The Bulldogs started strong by leaping out to a 14-0 lead on the road, converted 40 per cent of their third downs, averaged almost five yards per rush, rolled up 520 yards of total offense despite holding the ball for barely 25 minutes of clock time, incurred only five penalties for 58 yards, and scored 42 points on a Kentucky defense that had given up more than 24 just once all season long.

Matthew Stafford had statistically his best day as a Bulldog, completing 17 of his 27 pass attempts for 376 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Knowshon Rockwell Moreno averaged 5.6 yards per carry, rushed for 123 yards while hauling in three passes for 40 yards, and found the end zone three times. Mohamed Massaquoi snagged eight passes for 191 yards and a touchdown, A.J. Green went up and grabbed the game-winner in the back of the end zone, and Michael Moore once again proved reliable in the clutch with two catches for 68 yards.

Also, the Bulldogs won.

So we’ve got that going for us.

That brings us to the bad news.

The Wildcats, who are as injury-riddled as the ‘Dawgs (if not more so), held the ball for nearly 35 minutes, converted eight of 17 third downs (usually in short yardage situations) and two of three fourth-down tries, and scored 38 points, all with a wide receiver at quarterback. Randall Cobb---no, not Randall "Tex" Cobb; we’re playing S.E.C. football here, not searching for Nathan Arizona’s baby---ran the ball 18 times for 82 yards and three touchdowns while hooking up on 12 of his 20 passes for 105 yards and, mercifully, one crucial interception.

Of course, the fact that the ‘Cats did all this to the ‘Dawgs while amassing only 331 yards of total offense is more than a little telling. Due to the increasingly ludicrous offense-boosting kickoff rules, the Blue and White began their first scoring drive from their own 40 yard line after Blair Walsh’s kickoff went out of bounds. The second quarter possession on which Kentucky tied the game began at the home team’s 33 yard line when the Red and Black turned the ball over on downs.

The Wildcats’ third quarter field goal was set up by Tony Dixon’s 28-yard kickoff return out to the U.K. 35 to begin the second half. The home team took the lead when Danny Trevathan blocked Brian Mimbs’s punt to give the Bluegrass State Felines custody of the pigskin at the Georgia nine yard line. Mimbs’s next punt went just 18 yards, setting up Kentucky at the Bulldogs’ 29 yard line. The ‘Cats scored three plays later.

I’m not picking on Mimbs, I’m just saying. (Associated Press photograph by Mary Ann Chastain.)

After Georgia scored to reclaim a 35-31 lead, Winston Guy broke a 96-yard kickoff return to set up another three-play touchdown drive. The Red and Black’s next two drives appeared promising until Massaquoi fumbled in U.K. territory, but both turnovers could be classified as what appellate courts call "harmless error": Kentucky took over on Georgia’s 49 yard line and the Wildcats’ 38 yard line, respectively, yet those two first and tens turned into a fourth and 15 at the Kentucky 46 and a fourth and eleven at the Georgia 35, producing no points.

From there, Massaquoi atoned for his earlier miscues by taking Stafford’s first pass on the Bulldogs’ final drive for 78 yards to the U.K. seven yard line. A foolish (albeit apparently accidental) facemask penalty on what otherwise would have been a game-sealing fourth down stop by the Georgia D gave the Wildcats new life, which Demarcus Dobbs proceeded to snuff out with the pick that at long last ended all doubts as to the final outcome in the final minute.

Kentucky moved the football more than they should have, but they seldom had to move it much. As was the case in Jacksonville last weekend, the initial blame for the opposition’s unsightly point tally must be laid at the feet of the offense that gave the ball away and the special teams that set the other team up with good field position. There is plenty for which to blame the defense, but, when a new U.K. quarterback who hasn’t put a lot on film is set up with field position ranging from good to great in his home stadium all afternoon, even a solid defensive effort is going to be made to look bad.

Consequently, I’m more concerned about the kicking game than I am about the defense. The Wildcats began three of their five first-half drives at or in back of their own 30 yard line; that trio of possessions produced no points and, on average, lasted four plays apiece and generated fewer than 20 yards each.

I don’t have Willie’s back, necessarily, I’m just saying.

Kentucky never had to drive the length of the field. The Wildcats’ longest drive was 67 yards. Only two of their 13 possessions went for more than 50 yards. Just four U.K. offensive series covered as many as 35 yards of real estate. Had the Blue and White started in the neighborhood of their own 25 or worse as often as the ‘Dawgs did, Georgia would have won the game by at least two touchdowns.

As I noted earlier, the last two Saturdays have borne a disconcerting resemblance to the middle years of the 1990s, when beatdowns by the St. John’s River and shootouts in the Bluegrass State were the norm. I have to admit that it starts to look more like the rule than the exception when three straight opponents hang 38 or more points on the Bulldogs, but a couple of asterisks have to be appended to those tallies: Alabama hung 41 points on Georgia at home and every one of them accurately reflected the prowess of the opposing offense. The last three games were played in Baton Rouge, Jacksonville, and Lexington, and, in every one of them, the numbers artificially were inflated by garbage time yardage after the game was decided (at L.S.U.) or by offensive and special teams miscues (against Florida and at Kentucky).

There are problems in need of correcting; maybe there even are changes that need to be made among the members of Mark Richt’s coaching staff. Right now, though, we in Bulldog Nation have more immediately concerns. The Red and Black are 8-2, with two games remaining in which they may earn a New Year’s Day bowl berth, a top ten ranking, and a sixth ten-win season in a seven-year span.

Considering all of our lofty preseason expectations, that might not sound like much for which to play. I suspect a similar sentiment was heard in Tallahassee near the end of the 1992 season that was Florida State’s sixth straight ten-win campaign with nary a national championship to show for it . . . until the ‘Noles, with Mark Richt as their quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator, proceeded to finish No. 1 in the nation twice in the next seven years.

Forget about all that for now, though. Next Saturday, the Bulldogs will renew the Deep South’s oldest football rivalry when they travel to the so-called Loveliest Village to face an Auburn team that was tied with Tennessee-Martin---not Tennessee, but Division I-AA Tennessee-Martin---with just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter. Now, as ever, there is nothing wrong with being a Georgia Bulldog that beating Auburn can’t fix.

Go ’Dawgs! Auburna delenda est!