DAWGBEASTS and the JACKETS

ORSON CHARLES – Georgia’s junior tight end is a nightmarish match-up for almost every team he lines up against and you need look no further than Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech for proof. Georgia Tech had absolutely no answer for Charles and he finished with 5 catches for 95 yards against the Jackets, but the reality is he could have doubled those numbers if the DAWGS had targeted him more often.


Courtesy UGASports.com


AARON MURRAY – Murray was not as sharp last week against Kentucky as he had been against Auburn the week before, but he was still good enough to lead the DAWGS to a SEC East clinching win. Saturday against Georgia Tech, Murray was on point again hitting on 19 of 29 attempts for 252 yards and rang up 4 more touchdown passes.

ALEC OGLETREE – For the second consecutive week, the monster presence at linebacker that is Alec Ogletree lands on this list. Like I mentioned last week, Ogletree is really coming on strong for the DAWGS and against the Jackets, Ogletree was carrying a big stick finishing with 11 total tackles, 10 of which were of the solo variety.

MARK RICHT – Georgia’s lead DAWG improved to 10-1 against the Yellow Jackets. That, my friends, is dominance.

RAGING BEAST STAT OF THE WEEK – Aaron Murray has thrown 14 touchdown passes against only two interceptions in the last four games.

Glory, Glory…and TO HELL with Georgia Tech!

DAWGBEASTS and the WILDCATS

JARVIS JONES – Jones collected 2.5 sacks giving him a SEC leading 12.5 for the season. That leaves the Georgia outside linebacker just 1.5 behind former Bulldog great David Pollack who hold's Georgia's single-season record with 14, and pushed his tackle for loss total to a SEC leading 18.5. Jones also forced a fumble that the DAWGS would recover and cash in for their only touchdown of the game.


Courtesy UGASports.com

ALEC OGLETREE – Tree certainly looks the part of a BEAST and he is playing like one too. Ogletree racked up a team-high 8 tackles, including a sack Saturday against Kentucky. After missing several games with an injury, Tree is finding his stride with every snap he plays and that will only lead to good things for DAWGS the rest of the way.

COACHING STAFF – Much has been made of Georgia’s 0-2 start to the season and coming off of last year, 2011 could have followed suit and gone really wrong. The DAWGS were able to rebound and turn things around thanks to the caliber of young man that makes up the Georgia roster, a talented and character laden bunch, but a great deal of credit must be given to the coaching staff as well. With that said, the men that lead the coaching staff must be acknowledged…offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and head coach Mark Richt...for guiding the DAWGS back to the top of the SEC East once again.


Courtesy Brent Sanderlin/AJC.com

BRANDON HARTON – Harton was not expecting to get much work on Saturday, but football happens and Georgia’s former walk-on wound up carrying the load for the DAWGS. Harton finished with 23 carries for 101 yards. Way to GATA when we needed you young man.

BLAIR WALSH – A few weeks back I wrote “…somewhere down the line the DAWGS are really going to need Blair to drill one to save our wrinkly bulldawg asses.” It turns out Saturday was that day and with the SEC East on the line, Blair came through more than once. I know that somewhere Rex Robinson was smiling.

RAGING BEAST STAT(S) OF THE WEEK – After Saturday’s SEC East clinching win over Kentucky the DAWGS defense leads the SEC in sacks (30), forced turnovers (27) and Tackles For Loss (85). Georgia ranks 2nd in rushing defense and 4th in total defense nationally. GATA!

Glory, Glory.

THANK YOU, LARRY

There will be, there only ever could be, one Larry Munson. I am thankful that I can say I grew up in Georgia and had the privilege of listening to Larry as we both lived and died with the DAWGS. Munson is just as much the reason I went to the University of Georgia as any other and he is absolutely one of the main reasons I wanted to become a sports journalist. I always told myself that if I ever had the chance to live out my dreams, I would never forget what I learned from Larry. While it's a job and you have to be professional, if you feel deeply enough about a team or a place you have to let it show because honesty and transparency matter in broadcasting and journalism and allowing your passion to bleed through only makes the experience of the listener or reader more real and that much richer. I have worked very hard, been very fortunate and as a result, I do get to live out my childhood dreams every day. What's more, I even get to cover my beloved DAWGS and represent the University of Georgia in the process. I will always remember Larry Munson as a fan and I am honored and humbled to be able to claim membership in the fraternity of journalists that have covered (and in my case, lived and died with) the DAWGS...just like Larry.

You did not have to be a Georgia fan to be a Larry Munson fan but if you're a DAWGS fan and have ever heard Larry Munson paint the play-by-play picture of a Georgia Bulldogs game, you most certainly have a favorite Munson call. My favorite call comes from 2001 on Rocky Top against the Tennessee Volunteers. The play was huge at the time and would no doubt have gone down in Georgia lore on its own merit, but because Mr. Munson was behind the mic there was no doubt it was an instant classic. Now it is known by only three words...the hobnail boot. This play and this call mean the world to me because of everything it meant at the time and has meant since. It will forever be my favorite call by the legendary Larry Munson.



Thank you, Larry. Thank you for everything.

DAWGBEASTS and the WARTIGLESMEN

AARON MURRAY – Was that Aaron Murray or Aaron Rodgers firing back shoulder throws deep down the field with a G on the side of his helmet last Saturday in Athens? If you didn’t know better, you might’ve confused the two. Murray not only hit the deep ball, he hit the intermediate, short and the dump off passes as well to the tune of 224 yards and 4 TDs. How about this stat; Murray had four TD passes at the half…against only three incompletions. At the end of the day, Murray had broken Matthew Stafford’s school record for touchdown passes in a season with 27 and tied Stafford’s career total with 51.

ISAIAH CROWELL & CARLTON THOMAS – Both of these DAWGS have landed on this list this season and this is a sweet return trip. Both Thomas (127 yards) and Crowell (132 yards, TD) went over the century mark for Georgia and Thomas recorded his first career 100 yard game. The best part is that both backs ran with a downhill tilt. You cannot have too many good backs to tote the rock in the SEC and DAWG Nation can rest well knowing that we have at least three men that can get the job done.

OFFENSIVE LINE – You cannot have the type of offensive success that Georgia had against Auburn unless the O-Line is doing work. Sure, there were plenty of dominator blocks to be found when you look back at the tape, but it was also a thing of beauty. Seeing Ben Jones and company pull around and lead Georgia’s backs down the field time after time was extremely gratifying and definitely something I hope to see a lot more of going forward. We are dishing out kudos to the big men on a job well done.

BACARRI RAMBO – Rambo made this one count. Despite being among the league and national leaders in interceptions this season, Georgia’s Junior free safety had not put one in the end zone until Saturday. Rambo grabbed his seventh pick of the season, the 12th of his career, and returned it 24 yards for the touchdown with a little help (in the form of a couple of crushing blocks) from his friends. Rambo’s score was the DAWGS first defensive touchdown of the year.

MICHAEL BENNETT –



Courtesy UGASports.com

I don’t think I need to say anything else.

RAGING BEAST STAT OF THE WEEK – Like our friend Krisi (@Ludakrisi) likes to say, you can’t spell GRANTHAM without GATA. Need proof? How about the fact that
the DAWGS defense has given up a total of 12 rushing yards to Tennessee, Florida and Auburn combined this season. We tip of our cap to @RadiNabulsi for sharing this beastly number.

Glory, Glory.

DAWGBEASTS and the AGGIES

AARON MURRAY - Murray threw five touchdown passes in the 2nd quarter on his way to completing 18 of 23 passes for 238 yards.

CHRIS CONLEY - Conley had a breakout day for the DAWGS with five catches for a career-high 126 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown grab.


Courtesy: UGASports.com

BRANDON BOYKIN – Boykin made plays all over the field Saturday, racking up 6 total tackles, including a tackle for loss and a forced fumble on defense. On offense, Bam had a 42 yard catch and run for a touchdown.

BRANDON HARTON – Georgia’s former walk-on Brandon Harton rushed for a game-high 98 yards and a touchdown on a day that the DAWGS were without four running backs.

RAGING BEAST STAT OF THE WEEK – Georgia pushed its winning streak to seven games in the regular season for the first time since winning the first seven games of the 2005 season. Nine different players scored touchdowns for the DAWGS as they rolled up 627 total yards, their highest total in Mark Richt’s 11 seasons in Athens.

Glory, Glory.

I HOPE WE BEAT THE HELL OUTTA AUBURN

Auburn had a great team last season. Congratulations on your SEC and National Championships, Tigers. I just wish you could have done it with a little less play after the whistles and with a little class. Auburn made the plays to win that game last year, but what we saw on the plains last year from the Tigers that was not related to Xs and Os was a pitiful display. I hope the DAWGS feel disrespected. I hope the DAWGS have a chip on their shoulder. I hope the DAWGS remember. The DAWG Nation certainly does. I hope we beat the hell outta Auburn. I hope we earn their respect. I hope we can contain our emotions and do it between the whistles. I know we'll do it with class. I hope we BEAT THE HELL outta Auburn.



Glory, Glory.