The Problem at Hand

Congrats to our Dawgs! You played very well against ASU. Our stars shined, i.e. Stafford, Moreno, Curran (I dare to call him one now), and the latest addition, AJG.

I would have to say that our overall defense was very solid with slight glitches in our pass defense. I can see little to criticize in the way our defense played (ASU Offense: 4 yds rushing; QB sacked 4 times; 208 yds passing).

I throw Dawgbones to the offense as well. They seemed to be pretty effective for most of the game (24 first downs; 176 yds rushing; 285 passing; 1 sack; 0 turnovers; TOP: 34 min to 25 min.).

Now to the problem at hand, The Alabama Crimson Tide. This game is flush with similarities to the Bama – Clemson game which opened the season. Bama was a decided underdog. Clemson was a significant favorite; Clemson was ranked in the top 10 and Bama was unranked; Clemson had ACC conference title aspirations and possible national title aspirations; Clemson was projected to be a dynamic, offensive powerhouse. We know now what a strong SEC team can do to such hopes and dreams.

There is no doubt that there are differences in this game as well. The Dawgs are unquestionably strong on both offense and defense, well-balanced on offense with quick-strike, big play capability. Our defensive play appears to be improving with Curran emerging as a legitimate star, and the defensive line looking like they may become the anchors that are needed for an SEC title contender.

Conventional wisdom is that most games are won “in the trenches,” meaning of course, the line play. But not all games are won there. Some teams can lose a close battle at the line of scrimmage and still manage to win the game if other parts of the game go their way. With Georgia’s explosiveness on offense manifesting itself more each week, it makes the Dawgs a candidate for such a victory once or twice during the current season (I would dare to suggest that our win over SC was just such an example). But losing the overall battle at the line of scrimmage always places your team in serious jeopardy of ultimate defeat, and that is what worries me about the Bama game.

CMR’s personnel changes on the offensive line appeared to work well against ASU. I hope these gentlemen Dawgs are ready for what will no doubt be a gritty battle against the Tide. I believe the Dawgs will get the job done!

The big difference between this game and the 'bama/Klempsun game is that we are a good team, Klempsun is not.

It's gonna be a war in the trenches on Saturday. With Cody and Smith Bama has two terrific anchors to their lines who have to be contained. Our run defense has been outstanding all season and our DLine does a great job of standing up and letting the LBs make plays. We'll need more of that against a good run offense like Bama's. I think we got a gigantic advantage at the QB position with Stafford. John Parker Wilson might be experienced and all, but he's not the exact guy I would want to call the signals against an elite team. Hopefully we bring the heat and rush him into some stupid decisions...

The big difference, sadlerdawg, between this game and that game...well, there are a lot of differences.

1) That was Week One. This is Week Five. In Week One we allowed 21 points to Georgia Southern, for example. In Week Four we allowed 10 points to Arizona State. See how we're getting better?

2) Clemson and Alabama should have been flipped, with CU at 24 and UA at 9. Let's face facts; 'Bama is good this year. We now know just how bad the ACC is (not to take anything away from one of my hometown faves, the Demon Deacons, but come on!).

3) 'Bama came into that game with much more to prove. They're coming into this game thinking that what they excrete smells like roses and Bear Bryant's aftershave. This is exactly how I want them. I want them overconfident and swaggering, not hungry and focused.

4) The Tide is not rolling with a crowd advantage this time. I know Tech is in Atlanta, but Georgia is SEC country, and no matter how they tried to sell the stadium being split down the middle it was not. We will be blacking out Sanford Stadium and drowing out signals. We've proven (LSU 2004, Auburn 2007, even Central Michigan this year) that we can make Sanford as loud as any stadium in the country.

5) This ain't Cullen Harper. This is Matthew Stafford. I need to say no more.


As long as the DAWGS have their head right and Coach Searels resolves those line issues, we should do all right.

Not that I'm not scared of this game. I've been terrified of it since mid-summer. 26-24. That's my final score, in favor of the Dawgs.

I would prefer 45-0. I guess I'll take a W regardless.

I would prefer 45-0. I guess I'll take a W regardless.