A statistical look at Ole Miss’ season to date shows a defense which starts out strong but fades over the course of the game…
•In the first halves, Ole Miss’ opponents have rushed for 224 yards on 59 carries (3.8 yards). In the second halves? On the same amount of carries, 371 yards (6.29). Take that a step further, and isolate just the first quarter – 30 carries for 58 yards (1.93).
… and a struggling offense.
•In the first halves of the first three games, Ole Miss has completed a combined 14 of 30 passes, for 146 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
•On third downs, Ole Miss has run the ball 15 times, for negative-34 yards.
•The average starting position for the opposition after a turnover is the Ole Miss 40.5-yard line.
On paper, this looks like a game in which Georgia simply needs to be patient on offense, avoid mistakes and grind the Rebel Black Bears down. Let’s hope that’s not easier said than done.
We’ve done it before. We ran a whole 10-11 minutes off to end a game against Ole Miss back in the Donnan years by just feeding it to Musa. That was glorious. Cutcliffe (I think?) didn’t even use his TOs.
LikeLike
I think that was 2002 at home under Richt … Eli threw a big pick-6 to little Timmy Jennings, too. I brought a friend and Ole Miss grad to that game and he was livid at Cutcliffe for sitting on the timeouts.
LikeLike
Was it? I could have sworn that was at the end of the Donnan era. But, I’ve got a shot memory, so you’re probably right.
Of course, I’ve got the internet right here…
LikeLike
You’re right St. J’s:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores102/102313/20021109NCAAFGEORGIA—0nr.htm
LikeLike
Well, in your defense, Richt won that with Donnan’s players. 😉
LikeLike
Donnan sure as hell wasn’t winning with Donnan’s players. 😉
LikeLike
The last 4 years at UGA Donnan was 35-13 which is a winning percentage of .729 which is about the same as Dooley’s and Richt’s career winning percentages.
LikeLike
I get what you’re saying, but my point is that the criticism of Richt “winning with Donnan’s players” has always annoyed me considering he won two more SEC titles with Donnan’s players than Donnan did. And yes, I know that Russ’ comment was a joke, I’m just playing along.
It’s similar to the criticism Richt gets that “he won against weaker coaching competition”. While that may be true, nobody ever gives Steve Spurrier shit for getting four guaranteed wins out of Vandy, Kentucky, the cesspool at the time in Columbia, and the dynamic duo of Ray Goff/Jim Donnan every year. It’s one of those dumb criticisms that Alabama fans feel the need to throw at us (who am I growing to hate more and more everyday, btw). I’ve never understood why some Alabama fans feel they need to take cheap shots at Richt and the program. Not like their shit didn’t stink for the better part of the last two decades.
/sorry for the tangent, just some things that have been grinding my gears lately
LikeLike
They are still throwing verbal cups at us in their endzone.
LikeLike
On Alabama: perhaps they feel like we’ve not fully been re-paid for killing Brodie Croyle?
LikeLike
I have numerous friends and relatives on my wife’s side in Alabama including my brother-in-law, the Mayor of Tideville. Almost all are Bammers. Believe me when I say they do not remember Croyle being beaten to a bloody pulp by UGA. They do not remember the UGA win in Tuscaloosa in ’07. They do not remember any of the 6 straight times Auburn beat them. They have the unique ability to remember only when Bama wins and forget when Bama loses like it never happened. Until I saw it myself I never would have believed anyone could be so delusional. There is also a sense of entitlement that boggles the mind. These people are fine except when football enters into the equation and then it is like they all simultaneously came under the spell of Rev. Jim Jones-literally a total loss of free will that I can only describe as be “Borg”-like. A collective mentality takes over and they all lose the ability to think independently. Absolutely amazing.
LikeLike
Very astute observation below….read carefully, well done Mr. Mayor
LikeLike
oops…er above
LikeLike
This drive to run out the clock took the entire 4th quarter… Was 100% run plays and ended taking a knee at their 5 yard line. My favorite bulldog offensive drive in the Richt era. Just dominant on the oline
LikeLike
Didn’t CMR do the same, ‘cept the RB was Verron Haynes?
LikeLike
Yeah, that was Richt coaching then, I was at that game and it impressed the hell outta me. Probably the fastest 4th quarter in the history of football, the minutes just kept ticking away.
LikeLike
…and this might be the source of my confusion, but wasn’t the weather complete shit that night? Cold, wet, etc?
LikeLike
Yes. Awful.
LikeLike
Took about 15 of them if I remember right
LikeLike
On paper the Dawgs should come away with an easy W tomorrow. The problem is that this program has failed to win this type of game recently. I am certain that it will be a tight ball game that comes down to a critical mistake late. Here’s hoping that Ole Miss makes that mistake, not us. P.S. I would like to see Mason get some action.
LikeLike
I think the Dawgs take care of business in Oxford. I don’t view this as one as a dangerous game because we outgun them on paper big time, too much even for us to give a loss away. But I’ve said that before … Colorado, UCF, etc.
LikeLike
Save your concern for when the Dawgs play Mississippi State. That’s when you can sweat.
LikeLike
Actually, this is the type of game they’ve won. Beating the dregs of the conference hasn’t been the problem recently. Beating the middling to elite teams has.
LikeLike
Run like her daddy is after you…
LikeLike
Dawgs destroy those bears from out west. Screw those sissies.
LikeLike
I can understand the doom and gloom (especially given our new and improved O-Line troubles), but I have to believe the Dawgs have enough talent (even unproven) to break down this sad Ole Miss team. If your line gets stoned early, you have the talent to screen them to death, mixed with some nice play action calls of course. If we come out running the no huddle from the jump, I might have to have to be restrained.
LikeLike
Didn’t you answer your own fear? Get your cuffs ready….
LikeLike
I am referring to this week’s game as the You’re Fired! Bowl.
We should be able to go in there and blow Ole Miss out of the stadium. To me, we can’t just go in there and eek out a win. We need to dominate for 4 quarters. If we can’t do that, then we have some troubles on our hands for several reasons.
One, we are back to the old schizophrenic team from the last couple of years. Two, Vandy has a pretty good team. Three, the MSU and UT games all of a sudden look even tougher than I originally thought.
LikeLike
All signs point to an easy win but with the Dawgs, it seems nothin is easy.
I could see us floundering through this game.
Side note- I’m sitting at Hartsfield-Jackson right now. Flight delayed 2 1/2 freaking hours. I’m about DONE with Delta these days.
LikeLike
I smell Colorado Buffalo. This one screams trap game. We snooze and we lose. We get sloppy and we lose. I take nothing for granted now, the last 3 years have taken all my confidence in this team away.
LikeLike
I’m afraid this game has more on the line than first appears for Richt. His major goal must be proving that this team does not play down to the opponents level like we’ve done for the past few years. There must be considerable signs of improvement–mainly with consistency and execution. If we play this game like Colorado or UCF and even WIN the game, things won’t improve for Richt or for the outlook of this program. No room for error..
LikeLike
Exactly. We need to stomp them while playing a complete game and showing continued improvement in all areas. This is not just a must win game, but a must win pretty game.
LikeLike
Georgia wins by 14
LikeLike
CMR has to be impressive in these one-sided matchups to retain his job, particularly if we lose 2 or 3 games later in the season. I’m sure a lot of UGA people look around and see other coaches producing sound teams, and make comparisons to the Dawgs. There are good coaches out there, who get top performance from lesser players. I’m not sure this staff understands how close they are to to the exit door. As many have said, we should be playing like our hair’s on fire. I’m hoping to see the best effort and fewer screw-ups from our Dawgs for the rest of the season.
LikeLike
After the CCU performance, we should be led to believe that we’ll come out and crush the fuzzy bear rebs 35 – 7 with a dominating offensive performance displaying “balance” (yes, I said it) and smothering D.
But the OL woes and a stupid turnover or two early that lets Ole Miss score means the Richt vampire demons may rise again. THIS is the problem with the program…how can we possibly be concerned about this game? Would Fl, USC, LSU or Bama have such worries?
I will proudly wear red & black tomorrow and scream loudly from my huddled-up fetal position in the corner until I see we are up 28 – 0.
LikeLike
Does anyone know if this game is gonna be on TV or just the ESPN 3 online thing?
LikeLike
It’s on the SEC network. Not sure what your local cable carries that on, but it’s Peachtree TV in the metro-Atlanta area.
LikeLike
SEC tv, but I don’t know what that means locally.
LikeLike
I have uverse. So I hope so, otherwise have to get the laptop up to the TV room and connect it. I did see a game on Peachtree, but it did not mention the teams.
Thanks.
LikeLike
That’s our game.
LikeLike
Check your local listings for the SEC Game of the Week…for out of area or where the cable companies wise up it’s on Game Day…as for ESPN3, no, our agreements with SEC TV prohibit streaming to computer networks. If you’re really down and out in the boonies, try Serius or XM and your imagination. Dawgs 42-14 unless CMR gets all nicey and hold off. Go Dawgs, GATA!!!!
LikeLike
Georgia 45… Ole Miss 10. Could be worse. Rest well and worry about something else tonight. 🙂
LikeLike