Thursday, August 30, 2012

GEORGIA’S FOUR GAME SEASON





Nation, get ready because here comes a shot of cold water. You can very easily argue that our DAWGS have not won a game of consequence since the 2007 season. The best option to buck this idea is probably a road win against a #11 LSU team that finished with four losses, or maybe a road win in 2009 against a #7 Georgia Tech team that couldn’t play defense (allowed nearly 21 pts/game). To give this stretch an even more bitter taste our DAWGS have had a few sour losses too…Alabama at home in 08, GT at home in 08, an uninspired loss on Rocky Top in 09, Kentucky at home in 09 and on the road at Mississippi State in 2010. Ugh. *shudder* Moving on. Essentially, Georgia hasn’t won a game it wasn’t “supposed” to win (according to rankings) in two years. Now that stings a proud DAWG like me.



Now, you know me Nation. I respect every opponent on the DAWGS schedule and I can channel Larry Munson with the best of ‘em. I have seen up close and personal and know the strength of this league…from top to bottom…and get frustrated when I hear some DAWG fans so easily look past opponents and chalk up Ws like checking off a grocery list. And I defend the depth of the Southeastern Conference until I’m red in the face when it is at all possible. Any victory of the HATED Gators is to be cherished. Auburn, Tennessee and Georgia Tech can all go to hell too, for that matter. Therefore, what I’m about to do is not something I do easily.



What I crave as a fan, what I NEED to see from our DAWGS sooner rather than later, is a strong win over a respectable opponent and preferably one that is ranked higher than Georgia and takes place in a big moment. Now again, don’t misread this. Last season was a great ride and 10 straight wins is an outstanding achievement, especially in the eyes of a DAWGS fan. However, it seems that to anyone not woofing and wearing read and black that Georgia has not had that win that has grabbed the nation’s collective sports media by the shirt collar and jerked them to attention in recent years and I would say there is an underlying feeling of disrespect out there. I see it when a commentator speaks hopefully of the DAWGS chances at upsetting the apple cart and winning the SEC this year and then only seconds later, laughs dismissively as they focus on some other team they feel has a REAL shot at being a champion. So, even though I am as excited for Buffalo as I am South Carolina, I am going to attempt to boil the 2012 season down to the four games that will really matter for the DAWGS, especially when you view it through the prism I have just detailed. Regardless, I will be watching (and re-watching) every snap.



***SEPTEMBER 8, 2012***

@ MISSOURI



The Tigers are all kinds of jacked up and ready for this one. The whole state’s been talking about it and pointing to this game for months. Missouri is already a trendy pick for the upset to declare that they belong in the big time world of SEC football. If Georgia goes west and loses, the script will write itself for the doubters and it will drive home the notion that Georgia’s still Georgia and they still aren’t ready to play with the current big boys of the league. By the way, everybody knows that all horse thieves come out of Missouri. Everybody knows that.



***OCTOBER 6, 2012***

@ SOUTH CAROLINA



Ah, South Cackalacka. There are certainly more obnoxious fans out there in our league, but they’re hard to find. The DAWGS will renew acquaintances with Marcus Lattimore in this one and let’s be real, he embarrassed Georgia two years ago in Columbia and was unstoppable when it mattered last year in Athens. Then there’s Steve Spurrier. I don’t think I need to say anything more there. This is THE game in the East this season and everyone knows it. Does a loss in SC end Georgia’s season? No. Although coupled with a loss in Missouri, it would most likely end any talk of a division or conference championship. A win would be tremendous in the standings, but what’s more, it would do wonders for Georgia’s national shine. Until of course, someone wins the race to point out that it was ONLY South Carolina and not a team from the big bad SEC West.





>>>DISCLAIMER<<<



For the record, I would like to state once again that here at the BEAST there is NO victory sweeter than any victory over the HATED Gators.



NOW WE RETURN YOU TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING





***OCTOBER 27, 2012***

@ FLORIDA (JACKSONVILLE)



This is Florida. We all know the deal. I cannot stand to hear the various pundits droning on and on about streaks and Gator athletes. And I can NOT help but hate that incessant and ridiculously obnoxious chomp. Then there’s the orange. But, here’s a fact that we in the DAWG Nation must face and it’s one we’ll most certainly hear leading up to the game: Georgia is 0-4 the last four times they beat Florida the prior season, having scored no more than 10 points in any one game along the way. Victory against the Gators will certainly be sweet. The only downer will be when we hear that it doesn’t really matter because the Gators are still young and rebuilding. I don’t give a damn. We know better. BEAT FLORIDA!



***DECEMBER 1, 2012***

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME



This is the one that really matters. Even though the talk is already brewing to keep any SEC team out of the National Championship Game, nothing short of a DAWGS upset victory in Atlanta will do the trick to make the rest of the country understand that Georgia is a team worth their attention. If the DAWGS take advantage of their “manageable schedule” in the league and win the East, beating a crazed Missouri team, a top 10 South Carolina team and perennial nemesis Florida along the way, no one outside of Georgia will really care because they will fully expect another double-digit loss to the SEC West champion in the Georgia Dome. But if the DAWGS step up and take care of business, especially against Alabama…..man, I hope it’s Alabama…..then Mark Richt and Georgia will have a win to hang their collars on and national perception of the program will finally change….and get right back to where it’s supposed to be.



Glory, Glory.





Wednesday, August 15, 2012

HOT READS 8.16.12



Coach Richt was swallowing his words during his meeting with the media after Wednesday’s scrimmage and that was probably wise, but I seriously doubt he did the same with the team.  Seven turnovers.  Seven?  Doesn’t matter the color of the bonnets lined up across from you, a turnover’s a turnover and nothing will get you beat quicker.  Turnover ratio is absolutely the most important statistic in football and the Lead DAWG knows this better than anyone.  I don’t think this display hot potato will be indicative of how proven players like Aaron Murray (@aaronmurray11) (INT, fumble) will perform this season, but you play like you practice and CMR will drive that point home in the coming days.

“I thought we looked 'good,' like a pretty good team. But you know, pretty good is about 8-4, but I don't even know if that's pretty good, maybe 9-3, but you know we'd like to do better than 8-4, 9-3, but that's about how we played today. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't great, either.  Was there a great effort every play, No? Was there great effort lot of time? Yeah. Was every guy busting his tail every play? No. I don't know. I didn't see a team that was ready to be great. I saw a team that just wanted to be pretty good. I wasn't that thrilled about it."

Nation, if the DAWGS stumble their way to 8-4 I think we all know that Coach Richt will not be the only one that’s “not too thrilled about it.”

Georgia’s young backs continue to impress.  For the second straight week, the DAWGS freshman backs are making noise.  Keith Marshall (@Truthh4) and Todd Gurley (@TG1UNO) are forcing the issue and will be on the field when the season starts.  This ‘flashbang’ (Marshall’s the flash; Gurley’s the bang) pairing look to be serious about doing big things in Athens this fall.

Wide receiver Chris Conley had four catches for 114 yards and a touchdown of 70 yards.  Two words come to mind when I think about @CCon_TreUno: body control.  Long and lean with soft hands….Murray has yet another nice option on the outside in Conley. 

Also, John Theus (@jtheus71) is banging away and appears close to locking down a starting spot on the o-line.  Totally called it.  It’s a good thing too.  Given Georgia’s losses among the hog mollies heading into this season, Theus’ commitment was heartily welcomed and the DAWGS need him to step up and handle business right if that unit has any shot at coming together before the season.

Glory, Glory.

Monday, August 6, 2012

HOT READS 8.6.12






Georgia looks massive along the front lines. Apparently if you’re not six foot twelve and three hundred and a pile of biscuits you need not apply.

Maybe it’s just me, but I get the feeling Coach Grantham can’t wait to turn his defense loose this season, and he certainly seems happy with the young pups.  I loved his comments on recruiting.  GATA, coach!  Get the guys you want and that want to be at Georgia, coach ‘em up and cut ‘em loose.

I am really excited about Ken Malcome 2.0 (@BooMalcome24).  Every time I’ve seen this kid tote the rock in game action, I’ve been impressed.  I’m excited to see the freshman (TG1UNO and @Truthh4) and Richard Samuel (@Dos_Dos_1911) made his legend against the Gators last year (I HATE FLORIDA), but Boo feels like a hang your hat kinda back to me.  He reminds me of Danny Ware.  Malcome’s got some explosion, angled vision and when he gets a chance it looks like he’s trying to punish tacklers.  I know that sounds like recklessly high praise at the point, but I’ve just got a feeling.



Courtesy: UGASports.com

The ‘Swag-o-meter’ potential for the DAWGS defensive backs is off the charts.  A quick look at the roster to check the measureables, crazy athleticism and the early reports from camp have me raising an eye brow at the possibilities for this group.  Seriously.  With speed and agility like this group has, it looks like something I created in Dynasty mode on NCAA football.  Locking down WRs, dropping the hammer and fighting over pick-sixes on every other possession.  Buuuuut, that’s not reality.  Still, that don’t change the fact that if this group gets the scheme on lock and lets their physical skills take over they can write their own ticket.  Swagger only suits you if you’re good enough to back it up.  If the DBs raise their play to that level, it would go a long way towards the DAWGS cashing that sucker in for a SEC Eastern division title. 

Glory, Glory.