A Welcome Homecoming

The Dawgs return to Athens for their first home game since beating Mississippi State back on October 1. And after the hard fought victory over the Gators in Jacksonville last week, getting a cupcake game could not come at a better time. I am not going to take much time talk about tomorrow's opponent, the New Mexico State Aggies. I did a profile of them earlier this year that you can check out here. They are a bad team from a bad conference who the Dawgs should beat handily. They do have a decent passing offense and are one of the better teams in the country at kickoff returns (which does scare me a little bit). But other than that, there is not much to talk about.

As for Georgia, the feel good vibes from the Florida victory were quickly dashed this week with the suspension of Isaiah Crowell, Carlton Thomas, and Ken Malcome. The controversy surrounding these suspensions is BS and it seems like everyone is trying to take shots at Mark Richt. But the truth of the matter is the tests took place on Thursday, they got the results on Monday, and the players were automatically suspended per AA policy on Tuesday. I really have to laugh at the Florida and Auburn fans who are complaining, since if this had happened at their schools these guys would be playing this week. In the end, it is just an extra week of rest for these backs who we will need down the stretch with Richard Samuel out with ankle surgery (yes, even Ken Malcome).

This Saturday should be a good chance for the Dawgs to rest some guys and get some backups into the game. Despite his insane 4 sack effort last week, Jarvis Jones has an MCL sprain and I would love to see him get some rest. Maybe we get to see more Ray drew? I'd also like to see Mark Richt give Mason some snaps, just in case Auburn decides to carry on the traditions of Nick Fairley and take cheap shots next week.

Despite the suspensions, I feel like the team is in a really good place right now. A win tomorrow (which would be 7 in a row) coupled with an Arkansas victory over South Carolina could mean next week's game with Auburn will pretty much decide the SEC East (there's no way we lose to Kentucky with the East on the line). From a team that started 0-2 and was getting killed in the media to a potential SEC Championship birth, I am proud of this year's squad.

Prediction:
Georgia 48, NMSU 10

GO DAWGS!!!

The Countdown 2011: 93 Days to Go

Homecoming History

This fall, Georgia will celebrate homecoming by welcoming the New Mexico State Aggies to Athens on November 5th. Traditionally, the Dawgs have taken care of their homecoming opponent easily. Last fall was no exception, as the Dawgs shutout the Vanderbilt Commodores 43-0. Aaron Murray threw for 287 yards and hooked up with AJ Green and Kris Durham on touchdown passes. It was a banner day for the Georgia defense, holding the Commodores to 140 yards and forcing 2 turnovers.

All-time, the Dawgs sport a 70-17-2 record on Homecoming. Vanderbilt has been Georgia’s most common homecoming opponent, serving that role 22 times. Georgia has won 19 of those games. The Dawgs have won their last two homecoming games by shutout, as they also shutout Tennessee Tech 38-0 in 2009. Mark Richt has a 9-1 record in homecoming games and the Dawgs have not lost on homecoming since 2006.

A Sort of Homecoming: A Brief Vanderbilt Preview

Normally, the Dawgs enter the month of October in the middle of the SEC race with annual showdown in Jacksonville just a few weeks a way. While all the pagentry associated with Homecoming is taking place, the Dawgs often struggle to put their overmatched opponent (usually Vanderbilt or a bad out of conference school) away. But something is different this year.

With a 2-4 record, any hopes of a Georgia bowl game this year pretty much hang on every contest. While Georgia typically handles Vanderbilt year in and year out, we can't forget 2006 when a struggling Georgia team lost to Vandy on homecoming.

After the drubbing of Tennessee last week, I feel somewhat safe to say that the team will once again handle Vanderbilt without issue this week. Aaron Murray has played great thus far, but has yet notched his first 300 yard passing game. With Caleb King suspended, the Georgia passing game will carry more of the load this weekend. The defense should continue to play well against the run, but that doesn't mean the big pass plays will end.

My prediction: Georgia 38, Vanderbilt 17

Thoughts on Tennessee Tech

What a great game it was yesterday for the Georgia Bulldogs. I know someone will say it was only Tennessee Tech and another person will say, "You only scored 38 points." It doesn't matter. If Coach Richt had wanted the team to score 70, we could have very easily. After we come out and scored on the opening drive of the second half to go up 38-0, the back ups were in and we basically ran the ball up the gut the rest of the day. Tennessee Tech was the worst team I've ever seen us play and we dominated them like we should. Here are my final thoughts on the game:

- I'll start with the only negatives. Still too many penalties, but at this point enough has been said. Logan Gray's interception near the end of the first half was really bad. it was inderthrown into double coverage. As my friend said, maybe no one will ask why Logan is not playing more from here on out after that pass. Alright, on to the positives.

- Aron White and Orson Charles are both playing really well right now. I would love to see them more involved in the passing game as teams will continue to double cover AJ Green.

- Branden Smith = FAST

- The running game looked great. Ealey got the first two TDs of his career and Caleb King has continued to improve. I think these two will be a hell of a backfield in the coming years.

- The defense was lights out. Here's a closer look at how dominate the defense was.
> Tennessee Tech went 3 and out of their first four possessions of the game
> They only crossed the 50 yard line once the entire game
> Georgia allowed only 68 yards passing and -13 yards rushing, for a total only 55 yards of total offense allowed all game
> Georgia held them to 4 of 13 on third downs

In the end, Georgia got the one thing it needed most: a victory. Now we have a huge game with Auburn on Saturday. With South Carolina suddenly struggling, we have a shot at finishing in at least a tie for 2nd place in East.

Let's give 'em hell this Saturday. GO DAWGS!!!

Give 'Em Hell...The Tennessee Tech Preview

Is it just me, or have the Dawgs been involved in the national spotlight more this year (when we are not very good) than in 2005, when we won the SEC Championship? First it was on the cover of SI after we lost to Oklahoma State, then it was at the head of SEC Ref gate with the personal foul call against LSU, and now eye gougin incident with Brandon Spikes. With the record at 4-4, these things may end up being what the 2009 Georgia Bulldogs are remembered for and that is just sad. Georgia has a shot to repair their image, if we can somehow get it together like we did down the stretch in '06. A couple of big victories could put us back into a decent bowl game and a chance to end the year on a high note.

As for this week's opponent, Tennesse Tech, there is no point in a long drawn out preview. They are a middle of the road (at best) 1-AA school who got blasted by Kansas State earlier this season. This will be far the weakest team Georgia has faced all season. Records and stats do not matter, because the level of competition is no where near the same. Georgia should be able to beat this team with nothing but back ups.

This year's homecoming game should bear more importance than it has in year's past. Georgia is coming off of three straight road contests which saw the Dawgs drop two of three. Georgia has not played a game in Sanford in a month and needs to show the fans that despite the record on the field, this team is still trying to get better.

I think the Dawgs play mad, the coaches play mad, and the team shows up to a 1:00 game for once. Big stats for King and Ealey. Defense will probably give up more points than the fans will like, but it won't matter in the outcome.

Georgia 48, Tennessee Tech 20

GO DAWGS!!!

Just What the Doctor Ordered: Homecoming

The basic idea behind scheduling a homecoming opponent is making sure that your team will win the game. For Georgia, the game is usually just before or just after the Florida game and usually involves either Vanderbilt or Kentucky. For the 4-4 Georgia Bulldogs, this year's homecoming game against 1-AA foe Tennessee Tech is chance for the team to put on a good show for the Dawg Nation that has had to sweat almost every game this year.

Since 2000, Georgia has gone 9-1 in homecoming games. The one blemish came against Vanderbilt in 2006, as the Dawgs lost 24-22 on a last second field goal. With the exception of the 2006 loss, Georgia has failed to win homecoming by less than 10 points only one other time in the decade. That came against the Blazers of UAB, who put a scare on the Dawgs in 2003 (the final was Georgia 16, UAB 13). UAB also has the honor of being the only non-SEC school that served as Georgia's homecoming opponent more than once in the decade.

Georgia has won their last 9 homecoming games by an average score of 33 to 19. The Dawgs have three times scored more than 40 points in the game, most recently scoring 44 against Troy in 2007. While Georgia may have struggled in recent weeks, I would be very surprised if the Dawgs are held under 40 this week (even with AJ Green out).

Homecoming should be a lot of fun and hoepfully Georgia scores a lot. I am also looking forward to one of my favorite parts of homecoming, hearing the Alumni cheerleaders chant "Red and Black and Silver Britches, Give'em hell you sons 'a bitches!" Hopefully, our boys will actually be wearing the silver britches this week.

GO DAWGS!!!

Walk On

And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on

Home...hard to know what it is if you never had one
Home...I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home
That's where the heart is

- "Walk On", U2


Florida is over. It is time to move on. At 4-4, the Dawgs still have a lot to play for. Georgia has won at least 8 regular games in every season under Mark Richt. While winning the final four may seem like a stretch at this point, is it really that unthinkable that we could at least finish 3-1 with a shot to pick up win 8 in the bowl game? Joe Cox will be our quarterback, whether we agree with the decision or not, and Willie is not going anywhere until at least the off season. Let's quit worrying about the last month and focus at the task at hand.

Turning the ship around begins this weekend against Tennessee Tech. While most teams have some easy warm up game where they get to put up big numbers and rest the starters during September, the Dawgs get their chance in early November. With an important match up looming with the Auburn Tigers, the Dawgs must get right and get healthy. AJ Green is out this week and I think he should enjoy his week of rest. He has carried the Dawgs on offense and his absence will make someone else step up. Georgia must put together a complete game and dominate Tennessee Tech, not only to get back to winning but to win back fans who are questioning where the program is headed.

For those of you in the Bulldog Nation who are thinking about skipping the game this weekend, this is not the time to make the excuse that it is only Tennessee Tech. The team needs the fans right now and after being gone for a month, it would really help to play before a packed house at home. I'll be there Saturday, decked out in red and black, ready to root on the Dawgs. I hope to see everyone in Sanford on Saturday.

GO DAWGS!!!

Homecoming 2008: "Vanderbilt is a fine academic institution..."

"... but they f***ing suck at football." - Bubba, while standing on the Vanderbilt car that we painted and hit with a sledgehammer during Homecoming 2004.

Who are these guys?

Vanderbilt has long been known as the whipping boy of the SEC but during the 2008 season, this academic school from Nashville has tried to make its own mark on the college football world. ESPN College Gameday even came to Nashville two weeks ago and what followed was a Vanderbilt upset of then ranked Auburn. Unfortunately, the real Commodores came to play the next week as they got "Croomed" by Mississippi State in one of the most offensively challenged games of 2008 (Funny how Mississippi State has been in a couple of those so far).

Vanderbilt comes to Athens ranked #22 in the country touting a 5-1 record. Could this be the worst ranked team in the country? The statistics would say yes:

Vanderbilt's defense is ranked 10th in the SEC (ahead of only Arkansas and Ole Miss) and Vandy’s biggest strength on defense is their ability to get turnovers. Vanderbilt has 11 interceptions on the season and that includes all four starting members of their secondary having at least 2. They are also very good in Red Zone defense.

Things get really ugly for Vanderbilt on the offensive side of the ball as they are ranked 118th out of 119 Division I teams in total offense, featuring a passing offense that averages only 90 yards a game. The running game is not that much better; Jared Hawkins leads the team in rushing with 333 yards on the year and their second leading rusher is on again/off again starter Chris Nickson. Auburn game hero Mackenzi Adams will get the start in place of Nickson and Dawg fans will remember Adams as the guy who led Vanderbilt down the field in 2007, nearly upsetting UGA before a Daryl Gamble forced fumble saved the day. However, Vandy does an excellent job converting turnovers into points and is very efficient in the Red Zone.

"Your name is Mackenzi? You would go to Vanderbilt, wouldn't ya?"

What are the Dawgs going to do?

Hopefully, the UGA Homecoming crowd will get a healthy dose of Knowshon left, Knowshon right, and Knowshon up the middle. Vanderbilt's strength is their secondary and their leader is standout two way player D.J. Moore. Coming out and establishing the run will be huge and there is no reason to think that Knowshon Moreno can’t have another 100 yard game or get closer to 150 yards, as he did against the Commodores last year. These yards should be easier to come by than the 100 yards he had against Tennessee last week. However, Vanderbilt tackles very well and is disciplined on defense, making strong offensive line play pivotal. Expect Mike Bobo to continue to call screen and swing passes to AJ Green early in the game. Getting Vanderbilt's D to bite on these established plays should open up passes over the middle later in the game.

Knowshon for Homecoming King, '08

On defense, having Adams in the game may present some problems for Georgia. The pass defense is statistically the worst in the league, giving up 222 yards a game, and Adams is a better drop back passer than Nickson. DC Willie Martinez should try to confuse Adams early, sending blitzes to hit the Vandy play caller in an effort to force mistakes and turnovers. If Georgia jumps out to an early lead, look for the linebackers to drop back into pass coverage and attempt to contain short passes and the option game.

What's going to happen?

Historically, Georgia is a slow starter in these 12:30 games. Rarely do the Dawgs come out and put away a team they should beat early in the first half. Georgia dominated Tennessee last week but failed to put the Vols away with a couple of costly turnovers. This week, history shouldn’t repeat itself and expect the ever changing O-Line to leave gaping holes for Moreno. After failing to score for the first time last week, expect at least 2 touchdowns for the kid from New Jersey. Vandy's offense will struggle against UGA’s physical defensive line and look for Georgia to get a couple of turnovers that lead to quick scores. The Dawgs need to stay focused with two huge games looming and a solid, dominating win would create great momentum.

Georgia 34, Vanderbilt 13

GO DAWGS!!!