Sports

Welcome to another WUOG live blog! I’m here today covering the Georgia vs. Tennessee Tech football game. It is a beautiful day in Sanford Stadium for Homecoming. Hopefully, the score won’t be too close which should actually make the game quite interesting. Many players and coaches have come under fire after a poor season thus far, leaving Georgia at a 4-4 mark, and we’ll see if any changes and adjustments are made during this game. Will our young defensive backs see more playing time? How many snaps will Logan Gray take? Who is going to step up for the injured AJ Green?

I can update 3 times per quarter and once at halftime. Follow us on Twitter for every scoring update @WUOGSports. I’ll be back with much more later, but I spotted some red velvet cake in the press room and must indulge.

WUOGer Mike Terry, who also works for the athletic department, advised me that the red velvet wasn’t much good. If I get hungry later, I’m going to try it anyway. How can red velvet cake be bad?

A few more notes as we’re about 30 minutes from kickoff. This is a game Georgia has to win in every aspect: not just the score. Georgia needs to win the turnover battle, time of possession and please for the love of God have less penalties. Another thing I’d like to see is getting back to a more creative offense. Lets see Branden Smith on offense again. Lets move the pocket around with Logan Gray. Maybe a little option running? Lets just mix it up. We have a very standard offense right now and when you don’t necessarily have the personnel to succeed (read: Joe Cox) you have to change things around.

Georgia won the toss and elected to defer. We’re off folks.

Update 7:25 The first play of the game is a 3 yard loss for Tennessee Tech. Rennie Curran got in the backfield and snuffed out a running play and pounded his chest. Lets hope that heart starts showing on the defense. They need it.

The first drive for Tennessee Tech saw a good push from the defensive line. The quarterback, Lee Sweeney didn’t have much time to throw the ball on the 3rd and long and were forced to punt. Prince Miller was returning. So the young players not seeing the field. Would have liked to see Boykin, no?

Georgia comes out in the no huddle offense. Good to see some change! Barry O’s message finally got through. Or maybe not. The no huddle lasted for one play. Caleb King has been running the ball well on this first drive.

Whaddya know? Georgia runs the ball well for a few plays which sets up the play action pass to Aron White to get Georgia in the red zone. Georgia can often run the ball well which opens everything up. I don’t know why Bobo gets away from it. I really don’t. It can be a simple game sometimes.

Washaun Ealey busts up the gut for a 7 yard touchdown run. The running game looks very good. I know Bobo will want to open it up a bit to see what he can do, but I’d like to see that drive replicated at least two more times before I’ll feel comfortable.

Update 4:58 The defensive pressure continues for Georgia as Geno Atkins and Demarcus Dobbs team up to annihiliate poor Lee Sweeney. Much like the basketball game yesterday, the size difference is going to be tough to overcome for the Golden Eagles. Tennessee Tech punting again, Miller is returning.

Prince Miller returns one back to the house in an attempt to shut me up. If I told you there was a holding penalty, would you be surprised? No? Good. Because there was.

Running game? What running game? Georgia’s first three plays are all passes, all using the no-huddle offense, the first to Orson Charles (my favorite freshman), the second a screen to Caleb King and the third was a beautiful touchdown catch by Charles. Georgia leads 14-0. I said in the tailgate show that I thought Charles would be the guy to step up in AJ Green’s stead. Good start.

I suppose the passing game has been a bit more of an issue on Georgia’s offense when you take out AJ Green’s production, so I can see why Bobo would want to address it early. I disagree, but mainly because I have a different fundamental approach to football. My NCAA dynasties are always run heavy to set up the deep ball. So, uh, I guess Bobo’s probably a bit more qualified.

Update end of the first. Branden Smith takes the direct snap 52 yards for another Georgia touchdown. It’s 21-0 Dawgs. His speed is sensational. It’s very good to see the creativity back in the offense. Building a lead early is exactly what Georgia needed to do. In the second half we can all see what Logan Gray is capable of. Or not capable of. Still hopelessly clamoring for Aaron Murray.

Defensively, Georgia is giving it’s young guys a shot. Rambo, Boykin and Cuff are all seeing significant time. Not that it matters, the defensive line is getting so much pressure that I could be out there. Seriously. Another sack fro Georgia brings up their 4th consecutive 4th and long. A poor punt leaves Georgia at the 47. Lets see what they come up with now.

As on defense, a lot of guys are getting reps. Israel Troupe, Rantavious Wooten and Tavares King are all seeing time. With this lead, it’s time to see what everyone can do. I guess I’ll concede my running game desire. They’re obviously going to be able to run the ball well on this team. The offensive line is just too big and strong to get any sort of test. Georgia still leads 21-0.

Update 6:39 Washaun Ealey just scampers 44 yards for another touchdown to open the second quarter. Huge hole. You know it’s a beatdown when Georgia doesn’t even have to hold to gain yards. Tennessee Tech doesn’t have a chance at stopping this run game. None. 28-0.

Here are some quick stats from the first quarter:
Cox is 6-6 with 80 yards and a touchdown.
Charles has 38 yards and a touchdown
Ealey had 11 yards and a touchdown
King had 26 yards
Smith had the 56 yard run for a touchdown.

Georgia commits it’s second penalty of the game on an offsides call which enables Tech to pass for their first catch. Nice diving catch by number 17 Demetrous Garrett. Penalty battle: Georgia 2, Tennessee Tech 0. Even this Tech team in a blowout has been more disciplined that Georgia.

Of the three things I said Georgia needed to win this game, Time of possession, penalties and turnovers, Georgia is winning exactly none of them. Of course, Georgia is scoring so fast that TOP is an irrelevant stat at this point. You could drive buses through the holes this team in creating. Could have done without that false start though. Senior Vince Vance coming through there. Penalty check, Georgia 3 Tech 0.

Lets get back to the positives. Which is just about everything, as it should be. Georgia runs the ball well to get in the red zone and now faces a 3rd and 1 inside the 5. They tried a sweep which fails to convert. Really, a sweep? With so much success up the middle, that call is a bit surprising. But I suppose they’re trying to work on things. If that’s the best effort, they’ll have to work harder. I wish they would have converted as they really need to work on the passing game in short field, especially with AJ out. Blair Walsh converts the short field goal, Georgia leads 31-0.

Update 2:16 We have our first Logan Gray sighting. We should see the play book open up a bit. Everyone wants to know what he can do. The first two plays are running plays the second of which is halted to due a false start. Georgia 4 Tech 0. Gray then takes a direct snap and runs into traffic. It’s third and 5…can we get a pass play please? Yay! A wide open Orson Charles makes the grab but it’s short of the fourth. Georgia barely converts the 4th and inches. And guess what? Logan Gray throws an interception. Tennessee Tech picks it off in the end zone as Gray attempts a pass in double coverage. Not a big fan of his. Aaron Murray, though…

Still 31-0

Update 0:01 Sweeny is sacked for the 82nd time tonight. Georgia has called a couple of timeouts now. I guess that want to give Gray another shot.

But apparently the defense didn’t. Hell, after that throw I’d have allowed Tech to pick up the first down as well. More thoughts coming at the break, but as of now it’s 31-0 at the half.

Halftime Update They were out of red velvet cake so I tried another one. I don’t know what it was, but I loved it, which makes me think Terry’s assesment of the red velvet cake may have been off. But who knows?

What kind of confidence does this team have in Logan Gray? He was only put in during a 31-0 blowout against a division two opponent. More importantly, what kind of confidence does he have in himself? He threw an interception during a 31-0 blowout against a division two opponent.

I was chatting with a few Red and Black beat writers during the break and we all basically agreed on the Aaron Murray situation. It’s weird that he’s going to be red shirted. One theory was that if Murray didn’t have the shoulder tendinitis it might be a different story. But who knows?

The second half is about to begin. Will we see more of Logan Gray?

Update 10:36 Georgia starts off the drive with a few quick passes. Joe Cox is under center. That last series was almost a statement from Coach Richt: you guys wanted Logan Gray, you got him. And that’s why we went with Cox.

The offense is back to work, a nice completion to Aron White sets up a goal line set for the Dawgs. The offensive line is also back to work, committing two false start penalties on the drive. Georgia 6, Tech 0.

It’s a Mike Moore sighting! An athletic catch over the middle, which is the same play they used to score against Florida. Good drive there, aside from the penalties. (Does that even need to be said, or is it just a given that we’ll commit at least one penalty per drive?) 38-0 Georgia.

Update 6:20 The defense just committed a holding penalty. Perhaps they caught wind that Logan Gray might return. That’s just the third first down allowed by the defense but the 8th penalty. Georgia is now losing the turnover, time of possession (but again, doesn’t mean much) and naturally getting crushed in the penalty column. The score is irrelevant. Those are the issues that need fixing on this team. Tech did pick up a holding penalty as the offensive line tried desperately to keep their quarterback from further abuse. Georgia still got to him which forced a punt. So technically, since the penalty was declined, it’s still 8-0 Georgia. Embarrassing.

Update 2:05 Branden Smith breaks another big run! So explosive! But there was a clipping penalty. You think I’m kidding but really, I can’t make this stuff up. Cox then throws his first incompletion of the game. It’s all unraveling for the Dawgs. Kidding.

Washaun Ealey has been a fantastic runner today. He’s got the shifty ability Georgia has lacked this season. If only he could pass block. Tennessee Tech lines up offside so they finally get on the board. But don’t worry, Georgia answers immediately with a false start. Don’t tread, Tech. 9-1 Dawgs.

We’re getting our first dose of Richard Samuel now. His first attempt is a loss of one. How the mighty have fallen. I’d look for him to be playing some linebacker next season. He’s fast, we’ve seen him aggressively pass block and he already does some hitting on special teams. He was one hell of a linebacker in high school. And with Ealey running well, we don’t need a third tailback.

Bit of a weird offensive sequence there. Samuel can’t get much going, the false start, a poor pass to T. King that really should have been a pick 6 and a badly executed screen force Drew Butler into action. He continues to be Georgia’s best player, nailing the Eagles inside the 10. Still 38-0.

Update 7:04 Logan Gray is back in at quarterback, Samuel at tailback, Marlon Brown at flanker, Fred Munzunmaier at fullback…you get the idea. That doesn’t stop Georgia from another false start. The gets the Dawgs into double digits for the game. Congratulations!

Richard Samuel just ran over a poor Golden Eagle. Looked like it really hurt. It’s looking like Georgia will just run the ball down for the rest of the game which plays right into Logan Gray’s hands. Even on the third and 6, Bobo calls for a QB keeper. I’ll let you know if anything major happens, but don’t hold your breath.

Update Final Georgia finishes this one up 38-0. Back with a post-game wrap up.