UGA - ASU Post Game Wrap

Whatcha got Loran?

Well Larry, it’s hot down here in Arizona, but good God this Georgia defense is fast.

Georgia 27 Arizona State 10

 

Georgia’s defense was too much for the Sun Devils Saturday night in the Arizona desert.  Too much speed, too much muscle, and too much determination.  Over their first 3 games Arizona State has averaged over 100 yards on the ground and more than 300 yards in the air but the Bulldog’s Defense led by Rennie Curran held the Sun Devils to 206 passing yards and get this, just 4 rushing yards.  ASU’s Rudy Carpenter is the PAC-10’s top ranked quarterback but on this night was sacked 4 times and could never get in a rhythm.  Georgia took away the running game and adjusted to the quick strike offense, playing a tight coverage package and creating enough pressure to make Carpenter force his throws.  The heat that had been the subject of conversation all week was a non-factor, if anything Georgia’s defense got stronger as the game wore on and is starting to look like the unit we saw come alive late last season.

 

The Georgia offense looked much better than than last week against South Carolina, scoring 3 touchdowns, including a beautiful leaping TD grab by freshman A.J. Green.  Until someone can stop him, every pass should go in his direction.  Green finished the day with 159 yards on 8 catches.  With all the hype going to A.J.’s coming out party, Knowshon Moreno quietly had 149 rushing yards on 23 carries and 2 TDs.  He scored the game’s first touchdown on an airborne dive into the endzone, the guy must have wings or Superman’s cape under his jersey.  Matthew Stafford threw for 285 yards, a career high, and has still not thrown an interception in 2008.  6 different receivers caught passes, even Tripp Chandler, the man with cast iron fists, snagged a ball.  Yeah, surprised me too, now if he could only make a catch on a critical third down we’d be all right.  

 

Overall it was a big win on a national stage with the whole country watching, but there are still things the Dawgs need to work out.  The kicking game leaves me pulling on what little bit of hair I have left on my head.  Why are we not kicking into the endzone on kickoffs?  Instead, Georgia’s special teams insists on the directional kick and tries to rely on coverage to make the tackle.  We consistently give up 30+ yard returns, eventually we will get burned for a touchdown, it’s only a matter of time.  Even a bigger concern are the penalties, Georgia is at the bottom of Division One football in penalties and the Arizona State game was no exception.  The Bulldogs were flagged for everything from false starts, roughing the passer, even leaping on an ASU field goal try.  I’m willing to give a pass to this game, I thought the refs just flat out sucked, (UGA’s Mohamed Massaquoi was flagged for tripping and the only player he came in contact with was Bulldog RB Caleb King!) but Georgia coaches have to reign in the infractions, at least keep the penalty yards to under the length of a football field.

 

Next up: the pressure keeps building as the Dawgs host the Crimson Tide from Alabama for their 2^nd conference test.  It will be another night game picked up by ESPN, and the ESPN Game Day crew will be in town.  Athens will be rocking for sure and Georgia looks to continue the march to an SEC crown and hopefully (if the voters show us some love) get to that National Championship game in Miami. 

 

Go Dawgs!

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