First Glimpse of the Dogs is Victorious

Georgia Tops Western Kentucky 48-12

It was good to see the Dogs get up quick on the Hilltoppers and keep this game from being a real contest. It allowed UGA to get some young players in and raise the experience of the backups.

The GOOD:

The Defense was spectacular- shutting down WKU for almost a half. The Dogs only surrenders 173 total net yards and put a halt to the run game (35 rushes for 68 yards = 1.9 yrds/carry). Some of the young guys did really well: Asher, K. Johnson.

The Special Teams were also good. Coutu and Ely-Kelso were solid as usual and the return game was "on". Knucklehead of the Game Mikey Henderson returned 2 long punts for TDs although, thanks to his showboating, only one counted. After injuring himself on his grandstanding grandslams, Mikey's replacements also performed well on returns.

The BAD:

We really didn't learn much about the Offense other than unless we start figuring it out, it will be a big problem. Joe T didn't post great numbers and the way the game went (because of the Defense and Special Team's dominance) it was hard to get a grasp on the offense's status. Apparently, Joe T inheritted a problem from DJ and David Green before him: dropped passes. Joe T had at least 4 including a potential TD. My concern is that Joe T is a decent game manager who plays well enough not to lose games, however, eventually you are going to need a QB that not only plays well enough not to lose, but also good enough to win games. You aren't going to win without a QB that carries the team at least once or twice in a season. Joe Cox and Matthew Stafford both saw playing time and each had some good moments. Cox through an INT losening his grasp on the #2 spot and Stafford lead a drive for Georgia's last TD and re-ignited fans' desires to see him take over the #1 spot. Stafford looks to be a guy that could win games for you, but along the way, he might make mistakes and lose some games. The question is which you would rather take your chances with. Or hopefully, Mark Richt will have the wisdom to make the the right choices at the right time. He sure has had enough practice juggling 2 QBs. I see this shaking out like the '91 season when true freshman, Eric Zeier, eventually took the helm from senior, Greg Talley.

The UGLY:

To borrow from another website: "my only additional observation is that making Martrez Milner an offensive lineman would almost certainly have the effect of improving the Bulldogs at two positions." So much potential, so many disappointments. Of course, moving Milner to the Offensive Line wouldn't completely solve his problem as he is also apt to get you a false start every other game.

OUTLOOK:

We take on the Gamecocks this week in Columbia (the armpit of South Carolina). While UGA has a 43-13-2 lead in the all-time series with SC, anyone who has watched Georgia football for the past decade or so, knows this one is always a tough one and the Cocks have taken their share from the Dogs (4-1 in the Richt Era with most of the games being close except teh 2003 blowout).

Honestly, I don't think South Carolina was that impressive againts SEC West cellar dweller, Miss St. The defense did pitch a shutout, but offense hasn't exactly been Miss State's forte in the past few years. I was surprised at how poorly Rice and Davis performed after last year's glimpses of greatness. But other than Cory Boyd, the punter was the star of the game for Spurrier's squad.

Basically, this one will be a defensive game, with special teams, TURNOVERS and a few big plays (or busted coverages) deciding the victor. If we protect the ball, play great defense and special teams and sound offense, we should come away with win #2.