Mustaches Rule

Many thanks to the Anon commentor in the previous post. This was too awesomes to not get its own post.  God, I wish Willie had fantastic hair, too.

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Who Has Two Thumbs and Wears Blue and Orange?

(h/t @bassindawg)

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Auburn Review

After re-watching the game, I agree with Blutarsky, there is too much great stuff to do an article without sounding like a complete sunshine pumper. However, there were a few things that merits mentioning:

• Aaron Murray. 
• Kickoff coverage.  It was awesome.  We kicked to them five times.  The longest return Auburn had was 25 yards.  After the past few weeks, that is more than improvement, that is a whole different game.
• Thomas and Crowell running the ball.  Easily the strongest running performance from Crowell, who took hits to people.  In the second half, no less.
• The run blocking to make it happen.
• Coaching.  Especially defensive coaching.  The best in game adjustments we've seen in Athens in many, many years.  Special props to Bobo for varying the run game in the second half to exploit whatever Roof was giving him.
• Rambo taking the interception, and Auburn's desire to play, to the house.
• 528 yards to 195 yards. 41 minutes to 19 minutes. 30 first downs to 9 first downs. Damn. 

The only glaring issues I saw were the shanked punt and one of the two fumbles.  The other fumble was the best defensive play Auburn had all night.

Check out Hipple's pictures in PWD's posts.  It is good to see more his work again.  

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Photos: UGA vs. Auburn -- Offense

All images by Jim Hipple. Please click to enlarge.

Photos: UGA vs. Auburn -- Defense

All pics courtesy of Jim Hipple. Click on the images to enlarge.















Remember, click to enlarge.

PWD

Domination

I was trying to remember the last time Georgia played a quality*, ranked opponent and physically dominated them defensively like that. I was looking for games where Georgia knew exactly what the opponent's offense was planning and beat the hell out of them for even attempting it.

I think you have to go back to the LSU game in '04 to find a woodshed treatment as flawless, violent and dominating as that. I'm still blown away.

For most of the past 20+ years, I've considered Auburn the consistently most physical team that Georgia faces. With the exception the final few finesse oriented Terry Bowden years, the Tigers were a gut punching, brawling group. Even with Malzahn's offense, there's still a physical point of attack aspect.

That's why Saturday afternoon is even more impressive to me. To have the defense clobber Auburn and drag them out of the stadium by their manhood while the offense imposed their will and stole their lunch money is just staggering.

I'm so proud for the coaching staff at Georgia, and I can't wait to see what the future holds in the final four games. That's right...I said four.

Go Dawgs.

PWD


*Hawaii was not a quality opponent. They were just ranked as such.

Moseley isn't into predictions

Clint Moseley, QB, on a potential LSU vs Georgia match up in the Georgia Dome:

"Both teams know how to play defense. I don't want to cause anything by making a prediction but it will be a great game."

He had a street level view of both teams' defenses. Not to read too much into this, but I don't take this as a throw away line.

Of course, we still have to take care of business next week.

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All In

Your end zone.

Awesome work by @BassinDawg.
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From Munson, With Love

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If you aren't on the way to Athens, why?
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Auburn Preview

Abry Jones and Shawn Williams on the tackle (Image: Hipple)

It is all about their running game.  Yes, Auburn has run the ball well.  Yes, they have piled up the yardage.  Yes, it has been against teams in the bottom half of the conference in rushing defenseWHATWHAT!?

The narrative some would have us believe is that Georgia's defense isn't worthy of its lofty stats, due to the schedule.  In essence, the stats are lying.  I think the same argument could be made for Auburn's rushing success.  Take a look at Auburn's rushing stats (from College Football Statistics, which is the very best place in the world to spend several hours if you dig stats):

2011 Auburn Tigers Rushing Offense Game Log through 11/10/2011

Date	Opponent	Surface	Result	Att	Yards	Avg.	TD
09/03/11	Utah St.	Grass	W 42-38	30	78	2.60	2
09/10/11	Mississippi St.	Grass	W 41-34	36	235	6.53	2
09/17/11	@ 9 Clemson	Grass	L 24-38	38	237	6.24	2
09/24/11	Fla. Atlantic	Grass	W 30-14	33	137	4.15	0
10/01/11	@ 15 South Carolina	Grass	W 16-13	67	246	3.67	1
10/08/11	@ 8 Arkansas	Turf	L 14-38	52	291	5.60	2
10/15/11	Florida	Grass	W 17-6	43	155	3.60	1
10/22/11	@ 1 LSU	Grass	L 10-45	34	87	2.56	1
10/29/11	Mississippi	Grass	W 41-23	50	254	5.08	1
	Totals			383	1720	4.49	12
@ : Away, + : Neutral Site

You see they did great work against Mississippi State (65th run defense nationally, 8th in conference), Clemson (96th nationally), South Carolina (44th, 5th), Arkansas (78th, 9th), and Mississippi (110th, 12th). When you look at their average per carry numbers, you have to take out the South Carolina game, as they ran the ball so many times, it was Paul Johnson's personal porn show.  However, look at the other teams they faced: Utah State (34th nationally), Florida Atlantic (71st), Florida (30th), and LSU (2nd). Now, who exactly is feasting on the carcasses of bad teams?

Hey, Auburn can run the ball.  I expect them to do so (what choice do they have?).  I'm just saying that if we stop the run, and I believe we can, and we don't get nutpunched by the wheel route four times, we are in a position to lay the wood on them.

Defensively, Auburn's passing defense is 11th in the conference.  Their run defense is 10th.  There are plays that we can run that will exploit the mismatches.  We execute those and it is a fun day in Athens.

If we don't, and we allow a bunch of special teams points, well, it won't be.  Right now, I'd take a 7 point lead into the 4th Q and seeing Bobo call plays like he did against Florida.

Did I really just type that?

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3 Questions: Auburn

1. Can the Dawgs put together a complete game?  You know, play solid special teams, run and pass well, play the defense we've seen?  Malzahn could find weaknesses in the Magnot line, given enough time. Their defense looks like Ted Roof is the coordinator. Chizik will pull out all the stops, so we'll see at least one fake punt/onsides kick/fumble ruskie. With what is on the line, can the Dawgs play their best game?
2. Does Bobo keep the play book open? Last week (I know it was NMSU), we ran every play we had. Hell, we ran plays I didn't know we had. They are ok at stopping the run, when they key on it (see the South Carolina game). That doesn't mean we shouldn't run, but it should mean that if we aren't having success with one facet, move to another. Fun stat: Auburn is allowing the second most plays per game (72 per game) in the conference. If the no huddle will work, now is the time to exploit that.
3. Can we avoid the headscratcher game on defense? I bet Malzahn had wet dreams about the wheel route, at least before New Mexico State ran it successfully against us. That only gave Grantham something to yell at people about. Of course, it also doesn't mean we won't go back to the old system of 'what me worry?' when a dude sneaks off by himself on the wing. Match up wise, this looks to be a good game for getting some sacks, but you have to always be worried about the ability of Dyer to make good things happen. If we play strong run defense, I'm ok with no sacks. I'm not ok if Dyer gets 200 yards.

Overall, the paper match up favors Georgia.  However, this is Auburn, so you know what you can use that paper for. Just win baby, I don't care how ugly.  Just win.

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From Hunter to Hunted

Smith scores vs. NMSU (Image: Hipple)
Just a quick observation, it feels good to be the hunted again. We go into this weekend with something to win, as opposed to playing spoiler. Much can be made about the mind set of playing when you are playing for something, rather than playing to ruin something for someone else. Now, don't get me wrong, beating Auburn, Florida and Tech always feels good. But for the past few seasons, it has seemed we are 'playing for pride' or looking to knock them off.

Now, they'll be looking to knock us off.

It feels good to play for something more tangible again, to have a late season game that means more to us to win than it hurts someone else to lose. Amiright?

You mean...other than their confessions?

My favorite part of the news that Auburn has been cleared of any wrong doing is the part where the NCAA says the allegations against Auburn didn't meet "the burden of proof."

To clarify...that means a confession isn't enough enough proof.

More allegations surfaced in March when the four former Auburn players raised additional claims of wrongdoing in the program.

Raven Gray, Stanley McClover, Chaz Ramsey and Troy Reddick told HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" that they received thousands of dollars while being recruited by or playing for the Tigers.

They said the cash was delivered in book bags, envelopes and even handshakes. Ramsey played at Auburn most recently, in the 2007 season

And by confession...I mean four confessions.

Auburn is running circles around the NCAA. We are truly in the Golden Age of NCAA Rule Violations. Bear Bryant tips his cap to the Aubies. We all stand in awe.

PWD

Poking the Bear

Either Chizik is starting to believe the Alabama press about his intelligence or getting a pretty ring to wear has made him very arrogant, but I don't think trying to show up the NCAA's head of enforcement is a good idea, either way.

Maybe he should have Gus Malzahn with him all the time.

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Chip Kelly, Bargain Shopper

Maybe after watching Auburn's $180,000 QB up close, Chip Kelly probably thought $25,000 was a steal.  I mean, even a QB on spec is a deal at a seventh the price. 

The steaming pile of crap the 'recruiting service' head left for Kelly will certainly get the NCAA fired up.

“The service I provided went beyond what a scouting service should … I made a mistake and I’m big enough of a man to admit I was wrong.”

The bad news for Kelly is his conference's commissioner isn't named Slive or Delaney.

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Real Auburn Championship Rings

So, without looking at the years, could you guess which national championship ring is more real? 

Any bets on when the one on the left becomes as real as the one on the right?

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(H/t to Matt Hinton at Dr. Saturday)

Buying a Tiger

This is why the Internet was invented.



Uploaded by cwashpt . HT - trillium via the DawgVent.

In All Fairleyness ...

Frankly, the Dawgs performed better than I thought they would tonight.  This was one of the few games in the Richt era where I thought we had almost no shot of winning.  While we weren't that close to a win on the scoreboard, the team performed quite well in spurts.  The first quarter was some of the best football we've played all year.  Eventually, however, we just couldn't keep up with Auburn's offense.  As soon as we kicked a field goal in the third, I knew the game was essentially over because they had broken serve.  That offense was the best unit we've seen all year.  Our defense continues to struggle and I think this is just who we are, fundamentally inconsistent, not particularly physical, and perpetually susceptible to a big play.  With that said, Grantham has two weeks to get ready and I expect a good performance against a hobbled Tech offense.

The Dawgs got a takeaway early and ended up winning the official turnover battle, but I would count the onside kick as essentially equivalent to a turnover.  It was a gutsy call by Chizik, but it worked and stole a precious possession that could have helped UGA put the pressure on Auburn to keep up with us, instead of us keeping up with them.  Richt said he had prepared the team for such a tactic, but they weren't watching for it when it actually happened, I guess.  Based on Boykin's second half returns, I guess they were only concerned with the onside kick after Auburn got one and forgot to block.

Three other good things before I get to the bad.  Aaron Murray and Alec Ogletree are as good a set of freshmen as we've had in a while.  Murray is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorites.  The kid was getting beat senseless, but kept fighting at every turn.  Tonight might have been his best game of the year all things considered.  If we had a legit running game to really sell the play action fakes, he'd be an absolute mortal lock for SEC and national freshman of the year.  Ogletree needs to start every game for us until he turns pro.  He's big, physical, as sure a tackler as we have in the defensive backfield, and he needs experience.  I know he got toasted on Auburn's last touchdown, but the way they were running all night you can't blame him for the cheat step up.  And lastly, A.J. Green is the best receiver we have ever had or will ever have.  How exactly will our offense function next year without him?  Nevermind, I know.  I was in Starkville.

Now, on to the ugliness.  I've never been a fervent Auburn-hater like Kyle King.  I've always sort of considered us friendly rivals with outbursts of mild fire-hosing or drink-throwing, but nothing of the Tech or UF caliber hate.  Our games always seem to be physical, hard-fought games that are fun to watch and inspiring of a certain earned respect.  With that preface, Auburn was a dirty football team tonight.  Perhaps it is unfair to characterize an entire team for the actions of a single player, so I guess I'll say Nick Fairley is a dirty football player.  I realize I'm biased, but it's not just me who thinks Fairley was unsportsmanlike.  Every father should show his son Fairley's actions tonight and tell them "if you play like this, I'll kick your ass."  Nick Fairley's a good football player and he'll be a millionaire very soon, but he'll never be able to buy a good reputation.  He's dirty and he plays the game the wrong way.  I'll never cheer for a player to get injured, but I'm as close as I can get to breaking that rule for Fairley.

Update: Lots of Georgia blogs are on the Fairley thing, but here are some more unbiased opinions for you too. 

Quinton

Thoughts on Cam Newton's saga

I'll start by saying that I find it highly unlikely that Mark Schlabach, Pat Forde and Chris Low would all put their names on the original story involving Newton and Mississippi State if they didn't have it cold. Joe Schad's a different animal entirely. I'd put his willingness to put himself out on a breakable limb as pretty high, but I digress.

It's important to remember that Forde, Schlabach and Low didn't say Auburn paid for Newton, and that's an enormous issue in this story. They simply said that a representative for MSU stated that someone representing Cam Newton tried to sell Newton to MSU.

Yes...Schad is reporting that the MSU recruiters say they were outbid. However, I wouldn't put much stock into that as the MSU recruiters have nothing to lose by lying or exaggerating to Schad. And I think Schad may be the weakest link in the entire ESPN news organization .

Hello, I'm Agent Killjoy:
However, the FBI getting involved as TMZ is reporting makes it an entirely different thing. Ask yourself why and how the FBI gets involved in a case like this? They certainly don't care about college football's integrity or NCAA violations. So why get involved?

Well...laundering money through a entity with non-profit tax status like a church...that's on their radar. Using cross state phone lines to commit fraud or other crimes is also on their radar.

But again...the FBI doesn't get involved with a lot of wild goose chases. They simply don't have the time. So why this case?

Consider these three facts:

1. The NCAA has no subpoena power. They can't make a Church(es) reveal documents they don't want to reveal. Nor can they make "runners" or "agents" cooperate with them.

2. Contributing to non-profit organizations in a non-quid pro quo manner is not an NCAA violation. Take a look at a some of the big name AAU basketball programs' web sites and notice that several have very visible "Donate Now" pay pal buttons that anyone can hit. Routing money to AAU coaches via their non-profit AAU status is very common and tough for the NCAA to prove without subpoena Same with routing money through a church I'd imagine.

3. NCAA investigators are often retired/former FBI agents who love sports and hate being lied to.

So,What's more likely? That MSU, Bama or UF called the FBI into this saga? Thereby increasing their own legal costs and creating distractions for their personnel. Or that an NCAA investigator called a former co-worker at the FBI and shared his information to date.

Bringing in the FBI is perfect for the NCAA. They can then let the Feds do the heavy lifting regarding the money trail and leverage their subpoena power to find dirty secrets. Then the NCAA can read the testimony and discovery documents after the fact.

The NCAA wants real meaningful change in the recruitment of student athletes and what better way to facilitate that change than to have the parents, runners, agents and/or coaches involved in high profile cases go to jail?

So is Auburn in real trouble?
Maybe. Maybe not. If I were betting, I'd suggest that Cam Newton's dad was more likely to end up in hot water than anyone at Auburn. But Auburn officials should be sweating bullets. Just remember, there are five people that you never want to see in your front yard:

1. Jim Cantore
2. An IRS Agent
3. An FBI Agent
4. Greta Van Susteren
5. Chris Hansen

If Cam and Auburn want due process, well..they are going to get it. Sadly, just not fast enough for Georgia to benefit on Saturday.

PWD

You know what to do

This one is pretty straightforward.

PWD