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Last week we looked at each team in the SEC West. We discussed the fact that as a fan, sometimes we just cannot see everything about our own team...

What Every SEC Fan Needs to Know: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly—Part Two

by GeorgiaDawg (Analyst)

52

4531 reads

Rankings/List

October 13, 2008


Last week we looked at each team in the SEC West. We discussed the fact that as a fan, sometimes we just cannot see everything about our own team.

 

We need a “neutral” party to point out what is good, bad, and even ugly about the teams we love.

 

As I stated last week, I am not here to offend. I am only trying to help.

 

Why?

 

Because we all know that the SEC is the greatest conference in the land. The fans are passionate, and yes, sometimes a little biased.

 

On that we can all agree.

 

Because this is the East we are looking at this week, I will have to include Georgia in my “unbiased” analysis.

 

If you doubt that I can separate myself from that loyalty, then you must not have watched the first half of the Georgia vs. Alabama game. Ugly will not be hard to find.

 

But enough recap, and full disclosure...you know why we are here.

 

So let’s get on with it...

 

 

Author Poll

Will Phillip Fulmer survive the season as the Vols coach?

  • Yes
  • No
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Will Phillip Fulmer survive the season as the Vols coach?

  • Yes

    39.3%

  • No

    60.7%
  • Total votes: 219
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52 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Gray Ghost 8 months ago

    Great read Dawg! Though Tenn. does not look good this year, Fulmer remains larger than life. :0

    Our pass D is making me queasy. We better step up quickly! POTD

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  2. GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

    Thanks GG. Fulmer was fortunate his team rallied last year. I don't think it's gonna happen this season.

    Thanks for the pick.

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  3. Nick The Only 8 months ago

    Florida is finally clicking on all cylinders. 270 yards rushing versus Arkansas, 265 yards rushing versus LSU.

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  4. daniel cox 8 months ago

    gd,

    thanks so much!

    man, is cutcliffe's stock rising more because of what is not happening at tenn. or because of what IS happening at duke??

    i'll let you stew on that one for a minute...

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  5. Isaac Luber 8 months ago

    Florida scares me. If every team has one loss except for PSU, then I would rather have Bama or Texas playing us in the NC game than Florida. When Florida plays like they're supposed to, they are deadly. PSU vs Bama or Texas would be a better match up for us, but we could have a chance against Florida, just not a very good one. Good recap on the SEC East teams.

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      Thanks Isaac. Looks like PSU has an excellent chance to go to the NC game if they can take care of business.

      Florida did look good. I am partial to SEC teams though!!

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    • Isaac Luber 8 months ago

      Florida looked better than good. I'm so scared of them right now. If your Dawgs play them, they better watch out.

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  6. Darth Dawg 8 months ago

    The Urdan Meyer scowl is hilarious!!! Nothing like giving your opponent the stare down in order to make them play bad. I'm sure there are a ton of 300 pound Linemen out there that are shaking in their cleats! lol

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  7. Micah Green 8 months ago

    When you play football your emotions get the best of you. When you lose a game in college football it's very likely you aren't goin' to the show. That's important to Tebow. Dawg have you ever played? If you have then you would understand. The fact that you put that up there shows you could find no problem in our game. =) Florida has a bye week this week. That means my team is Vandy for now. Beat those dawgs!

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      Not true really. Ole Miss lit up the Gators D. The Gators pass D has been suspect all year... where have you been.

      Yes I have played the game. No, I don' think it's necessary to cry after every loss. Very few players do that. He needs to control his emotions... just like Urban.

      Funny... you don't look old enough to have played college football. One loss does not knock you out of the "show"... look at last year.

      Typical Florida fan.... you try to compliment their team, and all they do is point out the negative....

      I will be rooting for "Bye week" against the Gators.

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    • Nick The Only 8 months ago

      GeorgiaDawg - besides one 86 yard TD reception on a blown coverage assignment by Florida's sophomore safety Major Wright, Ole Miss struggled to pass the ball all game.

      Here are the stats: Jevon Snead was 9-20 for 185 yards, 2 TD and 1 int. Take out the aberation play (86 yarder on a blown coverage) and Snead is 8-19 for 99 yards, 1 TD and 1 int. Not very impressive.

      Even with the 86 yarder counted in, Ole Miss hardly "lit up" Florida. Ole Miss won that game because Florida gifted them 10 points to start the second half with 2 turnovers on their own 20 yard line and because of a few other Florida miscues (blocked XP, blown coverage on the 86 yard TD).

      By the way, here are the stats on Florida's pass defense:

      Florida is 31st nationally in pass D. Compare that to UGA, who is ranked 82nd nationally in pass D. By any objective measure, Georgia is the team with the "suspect" pass D.

      http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2008&rpt=IA_teampassdef&site=org

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      Nick, Nine receptions for 185 yards and two TD's is roughly 20 yards per reception. We would all like to take away a play or two here or there.... we could change many outcomes if we did. But you can't.
      Those 185 yards and 2 td's cost Florida the game. Turnovers are obviously part of the game, we would all like to avoid those.

      I pointed out UGA's suspect passing D, so you are shedding no new light here.

      Before this past weekend, the numbers looked like this:

      Total Def: Florida was 7th, Georgia was 8th
      Rush Def: UGA was 2nd, Florida was 8th

      Guess I should have picked on the Gators rushing D.

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    • Micah Green 8 months ago

      Our pass D is better than Georgia's. They didn't light us up. OK he hasn't cried after every loss lol. People's emotions are different when they lose. I know it doesn't always knock you out that's a given Dawg. Actually a while back in one of my articles I complimented Stafford and YOU pointed out negatives. Typical Dawg fan. =p Don't worry though when I am old enough to play cf you'll see me. lol No I'm glad it's nice to see a Georgia fan actually compliment us. you and Nick have a little debate goin' and here are the stats. Fla- rush= 17th 96.33 pass= 31st 178.00 overall= 18th 274.33 Georgia- rush= 4th 52.17 pass= 82nd 221.67 overall= 15th 273.83. dang you guys dominate rushing d! the stats differ barely. by less than a yard.

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      One final work on Tebow. My point is that he should be MAD when they lose. He should be leading his team. He should be in their face. He should be MAD!!!!!! Not slouching off the field, CRYING!!! Sure he wants to win, sure he is emotional... but channel that into something that will benefit the team.

      Crying won't get it done. Get mad and do something about it.

      I have a picture of him slouching off the field and crying.... so don't say I'm exaggerating.

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  8. Trey Jones 8 months ago

    Great recap, GD!

    As a Gator fan I can only hope the team that destroyed LSU shows up for every remaining game this season... but we all know how psycho are teams can be... Heck, it wouldn't surprise me if Miss State beat Alabama and The Citadel beats us at the Swamp... that's just how weird I think the rest of the season will be!

    The matchup in Jacksonville should be one for the ages!!! The stress of watching that game will 86 what little hair I have left AND spike my blood pressure for the 11teenth time this season... No wonder my FSU (undergrad) doctor laughs at my health issues... the bastard.

    My prediction... just about everybody in the east goes bowling and we send a bunch more boys to the NFL earlier than we wish... Yeah, a cheesy, no-brainer prediction but when the "TOP 10" changes more often than my ex-wife moods then I better start guessing conservatively!!!

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      Trey, Well said. I can't wait for the LSU and FLorida games.... but UGA has to deal with Vandy and Kentucky too... No off weeks in the SEC.

      The Gators look like the team to beat at this point. I think UGA has the talent to play with them.. so it should be a game for the ages....

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  9. Eric Plant 8 months ago

    The bigger "bad" for Georgia is the injury report. We will look back on this injury-plagued season and wonder, "What if...?"

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      Very true Eric. I heard Cowherd today say that UGA is still a year away. If Stafford and Moreno come back... that could turn out to be very true.

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  10. Patterson 8 months ago

    Does the Urban Meyer scowl scare you? Does it bring back memories of the 90's? Are you afraid Steve Spurrier will show up on the sideline?

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      Actually I think the scowl is to hid the arrogance. Meyer has not dominated UGA like Spurrier did.... UGA still holds a healthy lead in the overall series...don't forget.

      He whines about the UGA dance last year... but then kicks a FG to run up the score on Miami. What a classy guy!!

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  11. Nashville Rob 8 months ago

    Georgia's "ugly" might have to be the injury bug. If we lose another offensive lineman, Richt might have an open tryout. I seriously worry about this line when they have to match up against LSU and Florida.We had Vance against Bama and were still destroyed in that game. Now he's gone. With the injuries piling up, we need the young kids to mature in a hurry.

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  12. 12 8 months ago

    Good job Dawg.

    Georgia's injuries are a concern. The o-line was a problem against Bama, and remains a great concern now that another lineman has been injured. Stafford and Knowshon are the strengths, along with AJ.

    Florida may have turned the corner. The ever so slight difference in play calling from the Ole Miss game to the LSU game exposed an offense that can still score, and the defense played lights out against LSU.

    Looking down the road, both Florida and Georgia could be one loss teams when they face each other on 11/1, but UGA's got the tougher schedule from now until then. LSU will be tough at home.

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      Agree completely 12.... I really think Coach MR and staff have done a great job considering all the injuries. Our depth has really helped this year... that has not always been the case.

      If we can get by Vandy this week.. the next two will be a blast, LSU and Florida, BACK TO BACK!!!

      Wow!! Can't wait.

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  13. Lou Vozza 8 months ago

    Nice post. Nice to see you not whining about the injuries in your Georgia assessment. There's nothing more pathetic than a fan blaming injuries, penalties and turnovers for his team's play. Hey, if Tebow's shoulder was healthy, Florida would have won the Cocktail Party last year, right?

    Florida's defense has played good, but spotty for a season and a half now. However, they've been young. They are getting experience now and the LSU game may be a watershed. Will it give them the confidence they need to become a great defense? Watch out for momentum........

    They clearly failed in the Ole Miss game, but were hardly dominated. Ole Miss only got 10 first downs. LSU got 19 first downs by comparison. Ole Miss had short fields and basically made two big plays, the 40 yrd TD run (up the middle) by McCluster and the inexcusable misplay by Wright on the 85 yard TD by Sneed.

    I don't lay the loss on the D at all. Not when Tebow overthrew 3 wide open, relatively short TD passes while under zero pass rush. I'm a Florida fan, but I fully agree with you. Somebody has to talk to Tebow. Men don't cry after losing a game, period. It amazes me what a pass Tebow is getting on this, especially from Florida fans. He's become more of a god than Superman, I guess.

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  14. GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

    Lou, thanks for the read. I don't agree that UF would have won if Tebow was completely healthy. Georgia was playing as well as anybody last season in the 2nd half. They sacked Tebow on numerous ocassions, before he had a chance to run or pass. Besides, Tebow has been completely healthy this year, and Ole Miss won. Florida has some issues, as does UGA.

    Lots to debate with Florida/Georgia..... November 1 is the day we put all of that to rest.

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    • Lou Vozza 8 months ago

      I think you missed my point about Tebow last year. My favorite quote of all time is from Parcells. "You are what your record says you are." There's no point in making excuses with "what if's". Like, what if we hadn't turned the ball over three times, or what if so and so wasn't injured.

      Georgia fans are whining about their injuries now. Injuries are part of the game. If your team can't compensate for them, then it wasn't a very good team. Good teams have depth. Good teams have guys who step in for injured stars and take their jobs away from them.

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      I understand.

      I agree injuries are part of the game. I don't hear many UGA fans whinning about injuries. At least no more than every other team. I have had numerous Gator fans throw the Tebow injury up in any conversation about last season.

      Tebow played.... Georgia has lost 2 left tackles, and a D Tackle that was the leader on D. They have also lost one of their best LB's. YET, we are still 5-1. Our depth is what has us there.

      I try not to make excuses. Everyone could. You just gotta play the game with what you have.

      We could be Vol fans.... now that would be something to complain about !!

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  15. Jordan Coleman 8 months ago

    Kentucky's defense should be under the ugly catagory.

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  1. Gaytor Hater 8 months ago

    I love seeing TeBlow cry.

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  2. GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

    One thing is certain GH.... we get plenty of opportunites.

    Thanks for the pick.

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  3. Nathan Towles 8 months ago

    Any defense will get tried if they are playing basically the whole 2nd half. Its just not right to say that they had a bad defensive game. The first half was good. The offense can't move the ball for its life. The offense is down right pathetic. Or should I say Mike Hartline.

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      Nathan, excellent point. Too often the D gets blamed for losing a game, when people seem to forget they were on the field constantly.

      Thanks for the read.

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  4. Cody Dockens 8 months ago

    Great Article! I predicted Georgia to dominate this season, and murder my Tide. I still think Bama is a year away from a national championship but other Bama fans disagree. Anyway next year Bama Georgia in ATLANTA, why not this year. Best of luck, I hope to be sitting across the stadium from you in Atlanta.

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      Cody, thanks for the pick.

      Sounds good to me. I would love for the Dawgs to get another chance at the Tide. Of course, the Dawgs have got a long way to go before that happens.

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  5. Kevin Paul 8 months ago

    You know, I hate to admit it to the 'Dores, but I laughed out loud when you joked about "Vandy looking ahead". It's true...

    Real impressive win by the Gators over the weekend though... I'm curious to see how LSU responds as the season progresses... and really how big or impressive that win was...

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  6. Timothy Croley 8 months ago

    Dawg, sorry I am a little late on this, but I have been in a little something called work. Blah, who ever invented five day work weeks needs to be strung up by their toes. I submit a motion to have a five day weekend and two days of work. Anyway...

    This was a great overview of the East. UGA i sstill strong and a win over Florida will be huge to vault them on to a great finish. I have been telling a lot of people, and will tell you the same, one loss is not the end of the world. While it probably won't happen again this year, a two-loss team did win the NC last year. So, chin up on that one.

    Florida looks like they have bounced back since the Ole Miss game. I agree that Superman doesn't cry. Tebow has now been officially cast off the list of possibly being worthy of having his own pjs.

    Kentucky came to Tuscaloosa looking for an upset, but you are right, the four games elading up hurt them. Had they played anyone legit, even with a loss I believe they would have been in a better position to pull off the upset. The four wins helps, because now they only have to beat Arkansas, State, and UT to have a shot at a bowl. Very well could happen.

    SC is coming around. I agree that they could have easily won both the UGA and Vandy games. They had the lead in both but let it slip away. They will surprise one team this year. Perhaps LSu or Florida???

    Vandy, nice run. You still have a chance to do great things. Don't give up yet. A lot of teams get upset by State - Bama, Auburn, SE Louisiana. (Wow - can't believe I just poked fun at my own school)

    UT...well, there is no hope. I am not even going to waste my time.

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  7. John Lorge 8 months ago

    If Tebow doesn't grow up he will have a lot of tears trying to make it in the NFL!

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  8. Jeff Kneis 8 months ago

    It has been painful to watch Tennessee so far this year. They lost to UCLA who is doing pretty bad in a very weak Pac-10.

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  9. Jeff Kneis 8 months ago

    It has been painful to watch Tennessee so far this year. They lost to UCLA who is doing pretty bad in a very weak Pac-10.

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    • GeorgiaDawg 8 months ago

      I feel your pain Jeff. Who would have thought that Vandy would be the best team from Tennessee in the SEC this year!! Go figure. Just wonder if Fulmer will survive for another year...

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  10. John Doe 8 months ago

    Great Article Dawg!

    www.thedawgsden.com

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