Georgia Bulldogs Football: What's Been The Biggest Difference In Bulldogs' Wins?

To say that Georgia has played well over the last two weeks would be an understatement. This team has not only played well, they have played better than expected—especially when considering the mistakes and miscues of the previous four weeks that led up to this current streak.



Their success has caused some fans to let down their guards and start wondering what might have been.

You know that game well if you're a college football fan. You start revisiting all the games your team has played, and you begin asking questions about the key moments within each that could have changed that "L" to a "W".

Georgia fans are no different in that regard. In the wake of such above-average play, many have already started to play that exact game in regards to this season: "what if the team had played this well at Colorado", "what if the defense was this proficient against Arkansas", "what if the offense was clicking this well in Starkville"...the Dawgs' could be 6-1 right now—right?


Well, the danger in playing the "what if" game is that it can cloud perspective, and there's too much football left to play for any one to start expecting greatness from here on out.

The talk of tie-breakers, SEC Championship possibilities, and bowl games, is irrelevant and, quite frankly, premature right now with Georgia only sitting at 3-4.



So, here's what's real:  Georgia has a two-game winning streak on the line as they head to Lexington to take on the Kentucky Wildcats.

That's it.

They need to win that game first and then see what happens the next week—one game at a time.


That said, there is no harm in discussing the things that have made Georgia look so different the last two weeks.

What have been some of the keys to their sudden surge:


1. The defense has not allowed the opposition to score first. 

When an offense can score on their opening drive, it fires up their defense—period. It's not rocket science.

Georgia's defense gave up the first points of a game to their opponent in every loss they've had this season. The last two games saw the opposite happen and that's helped build momentum on both sides of the ball. 


2. The return of A.J. Green.

The impact of A.J. Green cannot be understated. Even if he's used solely as a decoy (which he seemed to be for much of last week), he draws a lot of attention. That opens up the other receivers and gives Aaron Murray more options in the passing game.

3. The running game has improved.

Both Caleb King (who played well against Tennessee, but will sit out, at least, one more week) and Washaun Ealey are healthy and running well. Ealey topped the 100-yard mark for the first time this season, and Carlton Thomas is finding ways to make a contribution on offense—scoring twice last week. 

A better running game has meant a more efficiently run offense.

4. The offensive line has improved.

The re-congfigured line has made Aaron Murray's job easier.  He has not been flushed from the pocket as much and he seems to have more time to go through his progressions than did earlier in the year.

Trinton Sturdivant (LT) has looked more confident each week and Kenarious Gates (RG) has played well since being inserted into the starting lineup.

5. More fire!

During the losing stretch, the team appeared lackadaisical and sluggish. At times they showed flashes of life but, mostly, they looked defeated towards the end of games. It was as if they had no more fight left. Nowhere was this more evident than in the game against Colorado.

The team rallied around A.J. Green as he made his glorious return, but, once he left with cramping, they fell back into mediocrity—on offense and defense.

However, over the last two games, they look more focused, more organized, and more confident—particularly on defense—and that has translated into less mistakes and more big plays on both sides of the ball.



The BIGGEST DIFFERENCE:

Confidence. The team finally looks like they are on the same page with the coaching staff.


The defense has given up a few plays here and there, but their tackling is better, their coverage schemes look crisper, and their grasp on the defense looks more sound.


As for the offense, Aaron Murray looks more and more comfortable every week, and he seems more determined to prove that A.J. Green is not the only weapon this offense has on the field. In recent weeks, Tavares King, Aron White, and Orson Charles, have all seen their jersey called on key downs. And, who can speak loudly enough about the contribution Kris Durham has made?

It's tough to say how much of this play will continue once the team leaves the friendly confines of Sanford Stadium, but, it certainly has been fun to watch and, hopefully, that trend continues the rest of the way.

Former Orlando Magic Star, Penny Hardaway, Has Hoop Dreams

Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway wants to join the Miami Heat trio of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James this coming season. He hopes that by doing so, he will finally receive the final piece to his career puzzle—an NBA Title.

Well, isn't that special?

Hardaway is 38-years old (39 on Sunday), hasn't played professional ball in over three-years—more than that if you factor in the time he lost to injury during his final year of play (2007)—and his most recent experience putting the ball through a hoop comes via pick-up games 4-5 times a week.

Excuse me while I go laugh in the corner.
 
Ever since (LeBron) James and (Chris) Bosh decided to join forces with Wade in Miami, everyone wants a piece of their potential success.

I understand that the Heat are looking for roster-fillers to compliment their bench, but it's not like they are looking for NBA retreads to do it.

By his own admission, Hardaway has stated that "mentally I was retired and physically I was retired. I was playing recreational ball,"...uh huh, and that has prepared you for the gruel of an 82-game regular season how?

Granted, he wouldn't play significant minutes, but, he was hardly impressive in his last significant year of play. As a member of the Phoenix Suns in 2001, he played 80 games. He averaged 12.0 points and 3.8 assists.

That was nine years ago.

Every year after that saw repeated injuries and poor play and by the time he reached Miami in 2007, he was absolutely useless. He has nothing to offer the Heat this time around either and I have little doubt that they are well-aware of that fact.

Hardaway may feel like  he "...could really be good in that (Miami Heat)system," but the truth is he's done. He's been done since 2003 when it became clear that he couldn't nail a jump shot with a sledgehammer

Just be like Charles (Barkley), Penny, and accept the things you cannot change. Your playing days are over, you didn't win a championship, that sucks but it is what it is—just deal.

Then again, maybe I'm being too hard on Penny. After all, he did give me years of great entertainment with this:



...NOT!

Stay retired, Penny. No need in messing up a good thing. After all, the "veteran experience" you could offer Mario Chalmers is hardly worth leaving the confines of your cushy online gig—trust me.

Am I being too harsh? Probably, but, come on man—get real—those pennies you drop aren't from heaven anymore, Anfernee— just your pocket. 

Georgia Bulldog TE Bruce Figgins' Return Should Bolster Offense

When Bruce Figgins was suspended at the start of 2009, many felt that the tight end position took a hit. Despite the potential at the time, of both Aron White and Orson Charles, it was the size and blocking ability of Bruce Figgins that many hoped to see on the field in 2009--especially given the inexperience of Joe Cox at quarterback.

After the first few games of the season however, it became clear that both Charles and White were doing a solid job as starters and, their production on the field was significant enough, that Figgins felt comfortable opting for a medical redshirt.

This allowed him to continue rehabbing his shoulder and preparing for a fully healthy season in 2010.

His six-game suspension in August 2009 likely factored into the decision as well. He was due to return for the seventh game of the year, but there was no guarantee that he would have been ready, conditioning wise, to play at the level fans were accustomed to seeing.

2010 brings a fresh start and Figgins is ready to get back to buisness on the football field.  Even so, that doesn't mean it will be an easy task for him to steal reps from the firmly established rotation of Orson Charles and Aron White.

After all, their performances firmly established them as receiving threats in the offense and Charles, in particular, could prove a comfortable target for new quarterback Aaron Murray--the two are good friends and played together at Plant High School--as he gets comfortable with his starting role.

On the other hand, it couldn’t hurt to bolster the offensive lines expected strength with an extra body that knows how to pick up a blitz and open up running lanes for the tailbacks.

Last season, the Dawgs offensive line struggled against the pass rush and was inconsistent blocking in short yardage situations. Figgins’ size and aggressive nature at the point of attack could help alleviate some of those issues in 2010 by adding another big body on the line of scrimmage.

Figgins has always shown a proclivity for being an outstanding blocker and he can hold his own against some of the tougher defensive ends in the SEC.

This year it is expected that the Dawgs will lean on the run game heavily in the early going and a healthy, strong, and rejuvenated Figgins lining up alongside an experienced crew, would be beneficial in both protecting Aaron Murray and opening running lanes for the tailbacks.

Furthermore, his healthy influence on Arthur Lynch cannot be discounted. He and Lynch are similar in both size and style of play, and Lynch has shown that he can be a formidable blocker in the future.
Figgins’ ability to catch passes should also not be dismissed. He may not be called upon to fill that role very often, but that does not mean he is not capable of doing so. He has good hands to go with his strong frame and that makes him an excellent redzone target.

Georgia has a lot of talent at the tight end spot, but the return of Figgins is significant because of his above-average blocking ability. Georgia will need him to remain healthy and focused (both on and off the field) this season. If he can do so, both the passing and running game should be helped by his presence on the field.