Georgia may have to adjust all of its goals now.
The Tennessee Volunteers had their way with the Bulldogs today by doing pretty much whatever they wanted whenever they wanted to do it. The formerly ineffective Jonathan Crompton passed for four touchdowns and 310 yards on the day and at some points looked like a certain great Vol quarterback of the past who now plays for the Indianapolis Colts.
One has to wonder if that effectiveness was just a sudden epiphany for Crompton or if the Dawgs defense is just that bad.
Not only did the Vols pass for over 300 yards, they also had a 100 yard rusher in Monterio Hardesty who ran for 101 yards on the day.
Meanwhile, the Bulldog offense was just as ineffective as the defense. For the day, no UGA offensive player scored a point. The Dawg’s 19 points were scored either on defense or by the special teams. Blair Walsh connected on a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter after a short drive by the offense, but that was as effective as it got for the Bulldog offense.
For the day, Joe Cox was 19-34 with two interceptions and just 146 yards. The Bulldog running game was stymied for the second week in a row as they could total just 89 yards on 22 carries. Carlton Thomas and Richard Samuel each totaled 30 yards to lead the team.
VOL BOOTLEGS MYSTIFY DEFENSE
Crompton was nearly perfect in the first half when he rolled out of the pocket on bootlegs. Several times in the first half, Crompton rolled out on the bootleg and find a wide open Vol receiver. The senior from Waynesville, NC, finished the first half 12-15 for 205 yards and three touchdown passes.
The Vols kept going back to the bootleg and the UGA defense seemed helpless in defending it.
“What it came down to was (about) 80% of the yards they had was off of the naked bootleg (play) action,” explained a despondent Mark Richt. “We were geared to stop the run. We were vulnerable to (the play-action bootleg pass). We didn’t adjust very well to it.”
Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez gave credit to Crompton for executing nearly flawlessly.
“Early on, they just did a great job on just keeping us off balance,” praised Martinez. “Crompton does a really good job when he’s (bootlegging) and springing out, that when he’s (at his best). Bottom line is, we got whupped. They out-executed us, out-coached us and that’s pretty much it.”
COX STRUGGLES AGAIN
Joe Cox had a rough day as well. The fifth-year senior seemed rattled and made several bad decisions on the day, including two interceptions. In the third quarter, Cox dropped the snap from center out of the shotgun formation, then tried to throw the ball out of bounds while being hit by a Tennessee defender. However, Cox did not get enough on the ball and Vol defensive back Dennis Rogan picked off on the Georgia sideline.
“I was trying to throw it out of bounds,” stated a frustrated Cox. “It was probably the dumbest decision of the game. Coach Richt always says don’t turn a bad play into a catastrophe (but) I did.”
Noticeably absent from the box score is A.J. Green not getting into the end zone. The sophomore from Summerville, SC, has scored at least once in the previous four games of the season. The Dawgs went to Green on several occasions, but never on deep passes which Georgia had tried on numerous occasions in games to this point.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said that Tennessee’s defensive scheme discouraged deep passes, which is why Cox did not throw deep all day.
“They played a lot of cover three,” explained the former Georgia quarterback. “They weren’t going to let him get deep and they did a good job of that.”
BRIGHT SPOTS
The Bulldogs did manage to make some big plays today, especially on special teams.
-The most spectacular play of the day by either team was Brandon Boykin’s record-tying 100 yard kickoff return.
The sophomore from Fayetteville credited his blockers for the touchdown return.
“I had great blocking,” beamed Boykin. “The hole was kind of like it is in practice when you’re going against air. There was just nobody there. It was a matter of me beating the kicker, and I’m not going to let the kicker beat me.”
-Bacarri Rambo’s third quarter pick-six brought the Dawgs to within five points at 24-19 and ignited hope throughout the Bulldog sideline. Rambo read Crompton’s eyes and stepped in front of a Vol receiver before returning the interception 28 yards for the teams second and final touchdown.
- Blair Walsh kicked a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter to score Georgia’s first points. Walsh is now 3-3 from 50 yards or more this season and 5 for 8 in his career.
-Punter Drew Butler increased his nation’s best punting average today with a 49.8 average on six kicks. Butler had four kicks over 50 yards including a 61-yard effort in the first quarter.
-True freshman Marlon Brown saw his first action of his college career today. The wide receiver from Memphis caught two passes for 15 yards and was booed lustily by the Tennessee fans each time.
Black can be reached at sblack@scoreatl.com.
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