No, I didn’t make the trip to Stillwater (thank God!) to see the expedition out west. SO many things went wrong that I scarcely know where to start. But the Interwebs and message boards are blowing up calling for everyone’s heads from Mark Richt to Hairy Dawg. Folks, take a minute to chill and get a little perspective. I thought we’d be able to impose our will on the offensive side of the ball and have us a good ol’ smash-mouth SEC-style slugfest. That didn’t happen, and as a result I feel much better about not taking the 5 points (good for me) and while things could have gone so much better everywhere, it could have been a lot worse. So….

The offense looked great for about 5 minutes (that would be the first series). We mixed up looks, used the run to set up the pass, threw in a few wrinkles and actually came away from a 3rd and Goal with more than 3 points. From there on, I’m not sure what happened. A lot of it has to do with play calling, and a lot with execution. I’m still not sure why we got away from the run (at least before Mighty Mouse, aka Carlton Thomas, fumbled after getting hammered trying to run between the tackles). I haven’t heard anything about Samuels having an injury issue, so I can assume it was by design. Of course, when you abandon the run and actually manage to give the QB time to go through his progressions the receivers have to catch the ball.

On that, first let me give a huge bunch of kudos to the O-line. I don’t know what game the people that are bad mouthing them watched, but that is certainly a strength this year. It’s a shame we lost Sturdivant for the year (again), but it’s not nearly as dire as it was last year. Consider that most of those Sophomores and Juniors wouldn’t have that kind of experience under their belts until late Junior or Senior year, and know that things are bright for a few years to come.

As to the passing game, well…. I get it that Cox was suffering from the flu and that it took TONS of cajones to even suit up and play that well. I even get that some of his passes weren’t that crisp and he missed a few – nerves, flu, adrenaline all can do that. But he missed some easy passes, and he missed some really open receivers (think that last INT). I’m already over the comparisons to the Tereshinski-Stafford season. Unless Cox gets hurt, then maybe we can see Mettenburgermeister fill in for Murray after he loses his confidence, before Murray gets his head on straight and comes back at the end of the Mettenburgermeister’s first career start and then go on to… What? Who? Gray? Oh hell, maybe we can just do a quick conversion to the Spread. What? The backup QB (Gray) lined up at PR again on Saturday? Um, methinketh “Backup QB” is an honorary title, sir.

Back on point now. On the passes that were just a little off, these receivers have to step up. I never played college ball, but I’d bet that the rule is the same as when I played in high school: If you can get your hands on it (or it hits you in the chest, Mr. Charles), you should catch it. ‘Nuff said.

About the running game, I’ll say this: If it works, don’t screw with it. A good push up front = 3 yards and a cloud of dust. A guy named Dooley did a pretty sweet job with that a few decades ago. In the age of spread offenses and smaller, faster defensive players to counter that, maybe you’ve got a paradigm shift that works. Like on the first series that scored a TD. Also, I keep reading about how Samuels ALMOST broke long a couple of times. Why didn’t this happen? Because he gets tackled where Knowshon kept going for 4 more yards. Not a criticism, per se, but the Bulldog Nation needs to realize that the Filet Mignon got drafted by the Broncos and we’re back to eating New York Strip. Finally, Carlton Thomas may be BUILT like Warrick Dunn, but he ISN’T Warrick Dunn. Keep the kid on the outside of the tackles until he gets a few more sandwiches in him.

There comes a time when you can prepare too much. Think about it – CMR and Company have been prepping for this game since JANUARY. From 8 months of Mike Bobo‘s work came a beautifully scripted first series that got us a TD. I think the rest of the time he actually out-thought himself, or maybe he over-experimented. When you’re getting a good balance and good results, keep it up. When their shutdown CB is off the field, throw to your star WR. When Perrish Cox went to sidelines, it’s like Bobo thought for sure it would open up the underneath routes on the other side, rather than launching it for AJ against an inferior defender. Don’t out scheme yourself, coach.

I’m not willing to anoint the defense as fixed, cured, or a team strength just yet. OSU killed themselves with the penalties (and we should KNOW how that affects an offense), we got zero sacks, barely generated a pass rush and lost the turnover battle 0 – 3 (not that we didn’t have opportunities). Let’s not forget that OSU appeared to be more balanced (Offense to Defense) and that this was their first game, too. And they were REALLY under pressure to have a good coming out at their new T(Boone Pickens)aj Mahal. On the plus side, we held them to under 4 yards per carry (albeit giving up 170+) and held their stud WR to 3 catches (albeit 2 of them for TDs). On the other hand, One Scheme Willie did have the aforementioned 8 months to prepare for this one, and OSU didn’t make any adjustments at halftime, really. Of course, our boy OSW didn’t either. The D didn’t look clueless, didn’t try to shoulder tackle, and considering how long they spent on the field against a team running a different tempo every other play, performed pretty OK.

Special Teams was again typically, hell – STEREOtypically, atrocious. Wait for that one to cost us the win that will be the difference between the C1 bowl and the Chik-Fil-A, and maybe we can get a full-time ST coach. I can’t say anymore than that the punter did well, in spite of the odds.

I will not mention the refs in this one, except to say that the calls were decidedly in our favor (that is to say, fair) in the first half and polarly opposite (that is to say, T Boone passed out a few envelopes at the break) in the second. Really, the officials made a few atrocious calls on both sides, usually one making up for the other, and there isn’t a whole lot to complain about with the OFFICIATING. That sissy “don’t hit the receiver when he’s extending for the ball” rule (i.e., Powder Puff Touch Football) is going to do the same thing to football that changing the strike zone did to MLB about 10 years ago. That is to say, make it frustratingly difficult for the great players and that much better for the average players. I thought we already had parity, more or less, in College Football. We don’t need this crap.

But take heart kids, this should be the worst game we see all year. And it was a non-conference game. Ask any coach or pundit worth their salt and they’ll tell you that greatest improvement a team makes is between game 1 and game 2. You can scrimmage all you like, but unless you play a patsy that is basically a pre-season game (you know, like Charleston Southern, Western Kentucky, Troy, Jackson St, Western Carolina, or any other school that either has a direction in the first part of their name or doesn’t have a “B” as the second letter of their division) playing the long game. A win would have been great, but we’ve had our best seasons when we play a solid first week opponent (although we’ve WON those games). All is not lost, Bulldog faithful. Use this Saturday as your measuring stick before deciding how early to start calling for heads on platters. The season starts with the SEC, and that season starts at 7:06 PM Between The Hedges this Saturday. I don’t know what the line is, but I’d wager (well, not really) that if you lost money by picking the Dawgs last weekend, you can make it back. I expect a nastiness and a swagger that we always have when we play the Chickens. I REALLY hope I’m right.

All I’ve been reading lately is speculation about what the off-season holds for Georgia’s football program and what Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno are going to do. First, I think it’s premature to start talking about this – there’s still a bowl game to play and a Javon Ringer to embarrass One Scheme Willie on New Year’s Day (Sadly, it doesn’t look like I’ll be making the trip this year – damned economy). Second, I really don’t think we’ll be spared another season of OSW roaming the sidelines. Third, it’s all speculation at this point as to what MS and KM are going to do. I doubt they even know yet. Fourth, we’re not going to discuss recruits because I doubt you’re going to see any impact freshmen coming on the field next season. But that being said, I’ll run my suck about it anyway….

First, I can’t believe that we got a bid to the Capital One Bowl. That can only be attributed to Bama playing a good enough SEC Championship to receive a bid to the Sugar. A blowout by either team there and we’re playing in the Cotton or some other third-tier junk bowl. Send Bama a Thank You card, Dawgs. I haven’t broken down the Spartans yet, but I do know this – I’m terrified of what Javon Ringer might do to the defense that (didn’t) show up against Bama, UF and Tech. I’m not going to make another promise that I’ll break and tell you I’m going to give you a bowl breakdown before game time. I’ll try, but that’s all I have to say about that for now.

I think that Coach will have his way and get to keep Martinez for another season. But I believe there will be mass conditions attached. Like learning to anticipate and make adjustments. And not heading the biggest embarrassment to call itself a Georgia defense EVER. I’ve heard a lot of people say that they shouldn’t can him, but demote him and keep him as secondary coach or something. That’s like the commanding general firing a battalion commander but keeping him as the battalion’s executive officer. He’d have absolutely no respect from anyone, least of all the fans. Having said that, try – as hard as possible – to arrange for this guy to get a head coaching job somewhere. Preferably someone on our schedule….. It’s unconscionable for us to have the top rusher and passer in the conference and lose 3 shootouts like that. Let’s just all hold our breath, cross our fingers and hope for the best. And if anyone knows someone who’s a big booster at a school looking for a new head coach, put in a good word for Willie.

Now, the hot question is whether Stafford and Moreno are coming back. First, I’ve heard that Moreno is very serious about his education and because of that he’ll be returning. If that’s the case, great – we’ll have him for at least one more year. But think about it – how many players have gone out early for the draft and finished their degree later? There’s a lot of money riding on this. There is talk of a rookie salary cap, like in the NBA, coming to an NFL near you next year. Would he (can he) pass on that kind of money? Me, being poor and all, says that 10 mil is as good as 40 mil. But there’s another saying that, “a million here, a million there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.”

Same thing goes for Stafford. The guy is looking at top 5, maybe even number 1 money. He doesn’t want to be the next Matt Leinart (he lost at least 5 spots in the draft by staying in another year). But Stafford has one neither a Heisman nor a NC ring, as Leinart had when he made his decision to stay. And I think he’ll wait to see what some of these other guys are going to do. The Junior Class of college QBs is strong right now, but how many of them will be around next year? How many will he compete with not only on Saturdays, but on Draft Day? He’ll be a late entry, if at all, I think.

I’d like to think that these two fine young men will look at each other and say, “You know, let’s come back behind an experienced, healthy O line and run amok next year. Let’s finish what we started.” That’d be swell, gents. But, I also don’t worry too much if one or either of them go. If I had to choose one to lose, it’d be Knowshon. Yes, I said Knowshon. Samuel will be great if he can hold on to the ball and think a little more. That comes with experience. King will be great if he can get a killer instinct and not think so much. That can be taught. And there’s a host of great backs waiting in the wings to become the NEXT Knowshon.

Matt Stafford has a set of tools in his bag that you can’t teach. As great of a backup as I think Joe Cox is, he just isn’t physically able to make some of the throws and plays that Stafford can. David Greene won more games than any QB in college, even the great Peyton Manning. Who’s got the MVP, Super Bowl ring, and ginormous contract? The guy who’s a physical freak of nature at QB, that’s who. (hint: he wore Orange in college) Besides that, Mike Bobo has shown his love for the pass and the offense has shown great proficiency throwing the ball this season. Even without MoMass, AJ and company will strike terror into the hearts of SEC defenses next year. Add a stud like Stafford delivering the laser beams and you can use the pass to set up the run.

But seriously guys, nobody could really blame you for going pro and chasing the dollars. But you’d be Dooley-esque if you stayed and won a championship next year. Hell, you’d both be solid Heisman contenders and winning that would make you both Herschel-esque (whether you win it or not).

The recruits coming in are really not that important to me. Why? Because we (hopefully) won’t have that many holes to fill next year. Maybe that can be the start of a trend – reloading with RS Sophomores and Juniors rather than starting 4 Freshmen on the O line every 4 years. You can blame the first one on Donnan, this year falls squarely on the current staff. And I just don’t see an AJ or Rennie Curran (i.e., an impact Freshman) coming in this year. The prizes of the class are both QBs and Logan Gray is still a great talent waiting in the wings. Both of those boys will probably redshirt if Stafford comes back. And that’s good, because I’m tired of relying on Freshmen to win championships. The first time it worked, we got lucky and had enough Seniors to overcome them (Coach’s first SEC Championship). This year, it was painfully obvious that talent couldn’t overcome experience AND talent on the other side of the ball.

So, that’s the initial take of a few things I had to get off of my brain. I will do my best to get you guys my breakdown and predictions of the C1 bowl BEFORE kickoff, but again I make no promises. You wouldn’t believe the shit I’m doing at work, especially in a down economy. Maybe I’ll have time to BMWC about that later, too.

WTF WordPress? Actually, it’s probably the server. I already typed this stuff in and it puked the post. Anyway, I wasn’t gonna bother with anything today because I’m laid up on the couch with a dose of the crud, along with Whit and the Heathen. But this is turning out to be one hell of a game so I’m going to pick this up midway through the second quarter and do my best.

Well Dawg fans, here’s another installment of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. This time, there isn’t as much at stake as there has been in year’s past, but that doesn’t change the importance to the true fans and the players.

Auburn is doing its best to salvage a winning season and some half-assed bowl bid. UGA is still hoping beyond hope that they can sneak into a BCS bowl, but they can’t win their way in like last year – a lot of good teams have to fall on their swords to keep us from booking that trip to central Florida for the Outback or Capital One bowl. But this should still be a pretty good football game.

Georgia has an offense that has shown some really high octane at moments and Auburn’s D has been pretty solid all year (see the 3 – 2 win over Mississippi State). Georgia’s D has been suspect, to say the least, lately and Auburn appears to be finding their groove since they fired their OC halfway through the season. So, it’s strength against strength when the Dogs have the ball and weak against weak when the Tiggers have the ball. No, that wasn’t a typo. Anyway, we’ll be rolling along with CoverIt Live! for the live blog, and it’s getting close to kickoff. So, tune in to Raycom Sports and join me in watching the Dogs beat down the Tiggers. Or watch this blog and join the comments, whichever.

First, let me eat the well-deserved crow. I wasn’t as bad as some, but I still talked smack about the Gators. I thought, especially after that LSU game, that’d we’d be winning that elusive second Cocktail game in a row. I was wrong. So very wrong. Any Gator fans that feel the need to flame, try to keep it civil as possible please, but I’ll accept it all graciously. The entire Bulldog Nation are yours to abuse for a week. Enjoy it.

Now, let’s break this down. The Interweb has been awash with Bulldog apologists, blaming everything from Penn Wagers and his crew to Global Warming for the loss. I’m big enough to admit that the Gators opened the whole truck of whoop ass on us Saturday. And that they’ll play Bama for the SEC title. And that we should have been ready for this after last year. But, in an effort to stop the self-loathing for all the fans out there I’m going to break this thing down (and probably renew a rant I never should have abandoned).

4 things happened Saturday: Lady Luck gave us the ol’ Rochambeau, the officials blew some Bush-league calls, them damn Gators played a superb game, and we left our heart back in Athens. Much as I wish it could be blamed on the first 3, the last one was what really did us in.

First about the officials – yes, they blew some atrocious calls. But the worst ones weren’t seen by most. The hands to the face call that nullified the interception should have been a holding call to begin with. On Stafford’s first INT, while you could have called interference or holding, it didn’t really matter since the defender actually kept AJ CLOSER to the poorly under-thrown pass. The offensive interference call that wasn’t – did it really matter at that point? I think we already started warming up the bus by then. But the ones that really killed me were questionably late hits on Stafford that weren’t called, and the blatant holds on UF’s O line that were let go. I know that holding is part of the game, but DAMN! The challenge that everybody KNEW was good, but that replays couldn’t PROVE was right by letter of the law, but I believe it changed the spirit of replay for some time to come.

Surely the staff has finally managed to edit the tape that they send (every week) to the SEC office to about an hour. Will we get a few more favorable calls against UK and Auburn? Probably. As long as Penn Wagers’ crew isn’t on the field. Say what you want, but those guys get their revenge too. And I grew up thinking that he ran a pretty tight crew, but that has changed in the past few years. However, at the end of the day, you can’t blame the officials.

The Gators played a superb offensive game, taking every advantage we gave them and exploiting it for 49 points. Granted, we gave them a short field most of the time (which is why we outgained them by an order of magnitude or so), but that’s what good teams do. And it doesn’t help that we never, not one time, showed any testicular fortitude and tried to take the momentum away. I still say that their defense is suspect. They outmatched us up front (just like Bama did) and were able to stop the run and let us beat ourselves the rest of the way. 7 days out of 7, I’ll take LSU’s secondary over UF’s. We didn’t kill ourselves in Baton Rouge. We committed Hiri Kiri in Jacksonville. read this entry »