THE PACKING LIST: SOUTH CAROLINA

After three weeks of home cooking, it’s time for the DAWGS to get back on the road in pursuit of an SEC East Championship.   This week we head east, but back to Columbia, to take on a Cocky bunch of chickens.  We’ve talked a lot about respect and national perception on the blog this year and it’s hard to see how any regular season game could do any more to impact each of those metrics than this match-up with South Carolina.  If you’re anything like me you’ve had butterflies in the pit of your stomach since last Saturday night, everyone in the national media is talking about this game and there’s certainly an excitement around the program this week.  Given all this, we know traveling can get a little hectic and it can be tough to always remember everything, so we humbly offer up this week’s packing list.   

**MICHAEL BENNETT’S TOUGHNESS**

I was stunned Wednesday when I heard that Michael Bennett had been lost for the year to a torn ACL.  We feel really bad for Bennett.  He’s a great player, a great teammate and a better young man.  But, as we all know, injuries are part of the game and it’s gotta be ‘next man up’.  Now, Bennett is no stranger to the DAWGBEAST list here on the blog, but how he made the list is why this is relevant.  Bennett plays the game the way it is supposed to be played…with maximum effort, selfless and hard nosed.  If the DAWGS are going to go into Columbia and beat a very good Gamecocks team that’s ranked in the top 10, they must attack the challenge with the type of toughness that @MBennett_82 brings to the field every time he suits up.  I don’t know if Bennett will be with the team on Saturday, but the spirit with which he plays the game had better be there is Georgia is going to ride home with the win.  Now box it up!

**TODD GURLEY’S STIFF ARM**

As for your boy Todd Gurley, he’s a full grown man and he’s proved it over and over this year, BEAST-facing one defender after another to the ground with a wicked stiff arm.  Bigger than he’s listed in the program, faster than he looks on tape and stronger than can be imagined until you see him plant another defender in the turf, @TG3II has to be a presence in the DAWGS offense Saturday and that stiff arm has got to be ready to be put to use.  I tell you what.  Make sure that bad boy makes it onto the first truck.  We’re not taking any chances.

**JYD DEFENSIVE PRIDE**

Last season was certainly a good one for the DAWGS defense as Jarvis and the boys snapped taut the chain that restrains the Junkyard Dawgs that are the Georgia defense.  This season however, the unit has not been quite as impressive and the pride associated with the Junkyard Dawgs has been a bit bruised.  Now, there are several reasons for why this has happened, but we don’t have time for any of that now.  It’s no secret that South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore has had his way with the DAWGS the last two years and it’s about time to put an end to all that nonsense.  Game day is almost here and we’ve got to hit the road, so load that #JYDPride in the back and strap it down tight.  There’s a lot of it, and believe it or not that stuff is white hot, so make sure to use extra straps.  We’ve got to make sure the guys know exactly what and who they’re playing for against the Cocks Saturday.

**OFFENSIVE LINE’S MAN CARD**

Now this isn’t a very big item, but what it means is HUGE, and that’s exactly why it cannot get forgotten.  What was widely considered to be a weakness for the DAWGS offense coming into the season is now a position of strength for Georgia and the rushing stats bear it out.  That’s all fine and good, but this weekend is about something more than numbers.  In every way, this game is a challenge to your manhood if you’re a Georgia offensive lineman.  South Carolina’s defensive line is widely heralded as one of, if not the, best the DAWGS will face all season. If Georgia wants to prove they can get the job done, they’ve got to do it when everyone is watching and do it against a quality opponent.  Georgia/South Carolina is the battle of the two biggest bullies on the block that is the SEC East to this point in the season, and in my opinion, of the entire season.  This is a line of scrimmage league and if you want to be considered among the best in the conference, and therefore in the nation, it starts by winning the battle up front.  It’s time to look deep inside and decide just exactly who and what you are.  We’ll just put that card in the glove box for the trip over and keep it behind the bench during the game.  If the boys take care of business on Saturday like we believe they can and show once again what it means to play our brand of Grown Man Football, it will be right there for I.D. verification when it’s time to get back on the bus after the game.

**AARON MURRAY’S ZEN**

Zen – noun – emphasizing enlightenment for the student by the most direct possible means.  In other words, nothing beats the peace of mind and confidence that comes from having hands on experience.  Aaron Murray has played in plenty of loud stadiums during his time at Georgia.  Murray’s gone under center in more than one big game since he arrived in Athens.  What Murray has yet to do as a DAWG is beat a top 10 team and is only 2-7 against teams ranked in the top 25.  With that said, I don’t think it matters much.  Murray’s teammates and coaches certainly don’t see as a big deal.  Besides, given how much trouble I’m having with understanding how teams are being ranked this season, once you get beyond the top five I don’t think rankings matter that much anyway.  Murray does not need to be superhuman on Saturday.  He doesn’t have to do one thing differently than he has all season.  What @aaronmurray11 has done so far this season is plenty good enough to beat South Carolina if he gets a little help from his friends.  Murray simply needs to ‘Keep Calm and BEAST On’.  Nobody works harder in the film room than Georgia’s quarterback.  He’s already done the work.  As a three year starter, he’s already seen just about everything a defense can throw at him.  Murray needs to just keep his composure, make his reads, get the DAWGS into the right plays and be smart with the football.  If Murray just continues to do what he does, I’m bettin’ Georgia’s gonna be fine.  Now, I don’t know exactly what shape Zen is or exactly how much room it’s gonna take up, but figure it out.  We can’t leave Athens without it.

UGA’s Ray-Bans – Georgia’s 5-0 start has put the DAWGS back on the big stage for the first time since last year’s SEC Championship game and we all know the story there.  Georgia played really good football despite missing some opportunities early, but then turnovers and big plays turned the game in favor of the LSU Tigers in the second half.  If the DAWGS can stand the bright lights of one of the biggest stages a regular season game can offer, then the sky’s the limit for this team.  So, toss those shades in the cup holder alongside your 64 ounce Gulpinator just to make sure nobody sits on ‘em and crushes ‘em before we have a chance to come struttin’ out of South Cackalacka, stylin’ and profilin’ with a big time win on Saturday night.  We don’t want that now, do we?  Besides, what’s cooler than a bulldawg wearing shades?

Well, that’s it Nation.  We’ve posted the list and we trust that everything is gonna make it on the trucks.  Like our trip to the other Columbia earlier this season, we don’t expect this one to be any kind of walk in the park.  South Carolina is a very good football team and there is no reason to believe that this game will be anything other than a hard-hitting, hard fought affair that will be decided in the fourth quarter.  But then again, when you’re striving to be elite in the toughest conference in the nation, what else is new?  If you’re making the trip, be sure to wear your DAWG colors proudly and don’t be bashful about letting your intentions be known.  Georgia’s only showing up for one reason, and that’s to BEAT THE COCKS!

Glory, Glory!

DAWGBEASTS and the VOLS

Michael Bennett – Bennett continued his stellar all-around play for the DAWGS.  Bennett finished with 5 catches, 70 yards and two scores.  The best thing about Bennett is the way he plays the game.  @MBennett_82 plays with great passion, gives complete and total effort, is as tough as they come and plays for his teammates.  Bennett loves the game and we love him for it.

Alec Ogletree – Ogletree stormed back into the DAWGS line-up on Saturday with a career-high 14 tackles and 3 pass break ups.  The monster that is @B_easy_uga9 was unleashed on the Vols on Saturday and his presence could not be ignored. 

Damian Swann – Swann is becoming a fixture in the Georgia secondary and you don’t have to look hard to see why.  @D_Swann collected his first career interception on a brilliant play on the ball and rolled up six total tackles, including a tackle for loss. 

Sanders Commings – Sometimes it’s not that you’re making big plays, it’s when you’re making them.  Moving back to corner for the first time this season, Commings played physical on the edge finishing with 5 tackles and came up huge late in the game hauling in two interceptions.  @SandersCommings will continue to settle back in at corner going forward and the DAWGS defense will strengthen because of it.

Keith Marshall – Explosive.  That’s the word that comes to mind when I recollect Marshall’s performance against the Vols.  @Truthh4 got loose on Saturday carrying the ball 10 times for a career-high 164 yards and two scores (75 and 72 yards).  Like a lightning fast overhand right, Marshall does his damage before defenses even see it coming.

Todd Gurley – If Marshall was explosive, Gurley was just unrelenting.  The devastating uppercut that is the other hand in Georgia’s outstanding one-two punch at tailback, Gurley wowed again with a career-high 23 carries for 130 yards and three scores, including a 51 yard touchdown run.  By the end of the game, Tennessee defenders didn’t want any more of @TGII3, going low to avoid full contact on nearly every tackle. 

Glory, Glory.

DAWGBEASTS and the OWLS

GEORGIA'S OFFENSE - The DAWGS O rolled up an a school-record 713 total yards, including two freshmen backs that both went over 100 yards rushing in the same game for the first time since 2004, career performances by the quarterback and two receivers and a different wide receiver breaking the 100 yard barrier for the third consecutive game.  Clearly a lot of players and coaches did a lot of good things or a night like this does not happen.  You can't easily produce numbers like this if you line up against air and this level of execution when the lights are on needs to be acknowledged and recognized for what it is, impressive.


AARON MURRAY - Murray may have played the most complete game of his career Saturday against Florida Atlantic completing 14 of 19 passes for a career-high 342 yards, 2 TDs and an interception.  Murray also tacked on 2 rushing TDs.  Putting up big numbers and running the offense brilliantly is great, but @aaronmurray11 is on my list this week really because of stat and one play.  Georgia's junior starter averaged a whopping 24 yards per completion on Saturday, meaning the DAWGS were pushing the ball vertically and when you can hit those balls over the top that creates a tremendous amount of stress on a defense. Shout out to the O-line here because none of those big plays happen if your quarterback does not have the time.  Which brings me to my next point.  Late second quarter with the DAWGS up seven, Murray pump faked and hit Michael Bennett with a 67 yard touchdown strike on a perfectly thrown ball.  As he waited for Bennett to break open, a defender bore down on Murray but he held the ball to within a split second of being blasted before releasing a perfect throw that would provide the knockout blow to the opponent, breathing room for the coaches and a snapshot memory for everyone that saw it.  The play was beautiful on several levels, but nothing compares to Murray's example of how to play big time quarterback in a pro-style offense and efforts like that deserve to be on a list like this.


TODD GURLEY - One half of Georgia's talented freshman duo continues to impress, toting the rock 10 times for 111 yards including an impressive 38 yard TD run.  @TG3II hits the hole with purpose, power and, although he's a big man, appears to glide around defenders with his speed. 


KEITH MARSHALL - The DAWGS "other" freshman ball carrier rolled to 10 carries, 104 yards, and punched in his first career TD against the Owls.  Finally @Truthh4 found some space to operate in and flashed the brilliance that makes him special.  We cannot wait to see more from Marshall in the very near future.


MICHAEL BENNETT - Bennett followed up last week's effort in Missouri in which he had a career high 8 receptions with 4 catches, another career-best 110 yards and a thunderbolt of a TD.  @MBennett_82 became the third different Georgia wide receiver to go over 100 yards in three games this season. 


ARTHUR LYNCH - Ah, just like old times. We saw the resurgence of the tight end in the DAWGS offense on Saturday night as evidenced by the career-high 3 catches, 73 yards and the first career touchdown for @alynch1788.  Lynch's score was highlighted by a fantastic FIFTEEN YARD stiff-arm and diving effort that is will get you on my list without fail.  Through three games, one thing that is becoming evident is Georgia has no lack of weapons on offense and the emergence of the tight end in the offense will only create more sleepless nights for the DAWGS opponents going forward.


SHAWN WILLIAMS - He wasn't the notable absentee or the guy with the pick six on Saturday, but Williams was the guy that racked up 12 total tackles against the Owls.  Williams was all over the field, especially early on, and is the intimidator of the DAWGS secondary.  Williams plays right up to the line, right through the echo of the whistle, and the DAWG Nation loves him for it.  Leadership, hands and the hammer.  We are glad to see Williams on our list this week.

Glory, Glory.

DAWGBEASTS and the BULLS

Todd Gurley:  8 carries, 100 yards, 2 TD; 100 yard KO return for TD

The DAWGS freshman tailback burst onto the college football scene Saturday.  Speed, power, vision and attitude…Gurley showed all the necessary skills to be back on the BEAST list several times over the next few years.  Welcome to the party, @TG3II.

Tavarres King:  6 catches, 117 yards, TD

Georgia’s first option in the passing game played like it on Saturday.  The DAWGS left some big plays on the field against Buffalo, but @TKUnoDos did haul in a big one with a 63 yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.

Michael Bennett:  5 catches, 76 yards, TD   

Bennett played his tail off against the Bulls and he is on this list mostly for his efforts when he did not have the ball in his hands.  @MBennett_82 delivered block after block throughout the game and when the ball did come his way, he got the job done. 

Aaron Murray: 15 of 26, 258 yards, 3 TD  

The DAWGS third year starter at quarterback finished with nice numbers after finding his stride in the second half.  @aaronmurray11 threw several nice balls on the day and his receivers did work with the ball in the air as Georgia rolled up 485 yards of total offense.  More importantly, Murray took care of the football on Saturday and did not turn the ball over.

Jarvis Jones: 8 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss

Georgia’s returning All-America linebacker picked up right where he finished last season. If Saturday’s performance is any indication, @SacManJones_29 will continue to terrorize opposing QBs in 2012 and find his way back to the BEAST list.

Glory, Glory.

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.