University of Georgia Athletics
In Review: Dogs Cruised In Opener
September 06, 2015 | Football
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By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
It was a successful opening day for the No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday at Sanford Stadium. Despite an hour-long weather delay in the third quarter and then calling the game off with 9:54 remaining following more lightning in the area, the Bulldogs largely did what they set out to do, comfortably beating the University of Louisiana at Monroe, 51-14.
What follows is a quick review of the Dogs' performance, as well as a look at how the teams on Georgia's schedule fared this week:
Big Play
Georgia's defense and special teams set up the Dogs' first score. After the defense held ULM to two yards in three plays, linebacker Lorenzo Carter got a piece of Chris Qualls' punt, which went out of bounds after two yards.
The Warhawks were also hit with a penalty on the play, giving the UGA offense the ball at the ULM 21-yard line. Running back Nick Chubb ran for seven yards on first down and scored on a 14-yard run on the next play.
Big Playmaker
Chubb did what we've come to expect him to do: he ran hard and well, rushing for 120 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries. The sophomore started the final eight games in 2014 and he started Saturday. He's rushed for more than 100 yards in all nine games he's started for the Bulldogs, averaging 160.3 yards per game. He's also rushed for at least one touchdown in every start.
Chubb wasn't the only Georgia back to shine Saturday. Keith Marshall, who played in just three games last season because of injuries, had 10 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Sony Michel also made some big plays, taking a short screen pass 48 yards for a touchdown and rushing six times for 41 yards.
What Did We Learn
We learned that quarterback Greyson Lambert, the transfer from Virginia making his first start in the red and black, isn't going to take chances throwing the football. Lambert was 8-for-12 passing for 141 yards and two touchdowns. When he threw into tight coverage, he passed the ball into a safe zone, never putting the ball in a spot where it could be intercepted.
A perfect example of this was on his first touchdown, a 15-yard pass to big tight end Jeb Blazevich at the goal line. Blazevich (listed at 6-foot-5, 248 pounds) had a defender right behind him as he moved toward the front right corner of the end zone. Lambert's pass was like a pitch low and away, where only Blazevich could get to it -- and he did.
It wasn't a flawless day for Lambert, who had one forgettable series. On first down he fumbled a handoff to Chubb, who fell on the fall. He later had back to back passes batted down at the line of scrimmage.
What's Next
The Bulldogs head to Nashville next, for their SEC opener against Vanderbilt. It's a 3:30 p.m. EST kickoff and the game will be televised on CBS. Georgia is 54-19-2 against the Commodores, including a 12-2 record under coach Mark Richt. The Bulldogs did come up short, 31-27, during their last trip to Vandy, in 2013.
How'd They Do
9/5 ULM
This week: The Warhawks' trip between the hedges didn't have too many highlights, though quarterback Garrett Smith threw the ball very well, when he wasn't fleeing a persistent UGA pass rush. Smith finished 23 of 29 for 206 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. Wideout Rashon Ceaser caught the two TD passes, part of a 13-catches, 153-yard afternoon.
Up next: The Warhawks head home to face Nicholls State, an FCS program.
9/12 At Vanderbilt
This week: The Commodores opened their season Thursday night with a 14-12 home loss to Western Kentucky. Down two with 33 seconds left, Vandy's 2-point conversion attempt was stuffed a yard shy of the goal line.
Up next: The Commodores will the Bulldogs to Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturday in the SEC opener for both teams. Andy went 0-8 in SEC play last season.
9/19 South Carolina
This week: The Gamecocks and North Carolina kicked of their seasons Thursday night in Charlotte, playing a competitive, if not always pretty, game that was decided late. South Carolina linebacker had a pair of interceptions in the end zone, including with 3:40 remaining to seal the win.
Up next: South Carolina opens SEC play with a home game against Kentucky, which beat the Gamecocks 45-38 a year ago.
9/26 Southern
This week: The Jaguars, who play in the FCS, opened their season at Louisiana Tech, falling 62-15. One of Southern's touchdowns came on a 100-yard kickoff return by Willie Quinn.
Up next: Southern is back on the road Saturday, at Mississippi Valley State.
10/3 Alabama
This week: The third-ranked Crimson Tide posted one of the more impressive opening wins, beating No. 20 Wisconsin 35-17 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Derrick Henry rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback Jake Coker, named the starter the day before the game, threw for 213 yards and a touchdown.
Up next: Alabama hosts Middle Tennessee State in the Tide's home opener.
10/10 At Tennessee
This week: Like Georgia, the No. 25 Volunteers had to contend with weather delays during their 59-30 win over Bowling Green. The game was relatively tight for a while -- it was 35-27 early in the third quarter -- before the Vols got rolling. UT running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara combined for 267 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Up next: The competition will be much stiffer this week when the Vols host No. 19 Oklahoma, which thumped UT 34-10 last season in Norman.
10/17 Missouri
This week: The two-time defending SEC East champions kicked off their season with a comfortable 34-3 win over Southeast Missouri State, an FCS program. Leading the dominating defensive performance for Mizzou was Kentrell Brothers, who had 16 tackles and a blocked punt. Quarterback Maty Mauck was 12 of 22 passing for 181 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Up next: The Tigers are back at home this week when they host Arkansas State.
10/31 Florida
This week: The Jim McElwain era in Gainesville began with a 61-13 rout of New Mexico State. Quarterbacks Will Grier and Treon Harris combined to complete 29 of 36 passes for 379 yards and four touchdowns. Harris played the first three series for the Gators, whose streak of wins in 26 straight season openers is the longest in the nation.
Up next: Florida hosts East Carolina in a rematch of last season's Birmingham Bowl, which the Gators won 28-20.
11/7 Kentucky
This week: There was a pregame drone crash in Commonwealth Stadium and later a narrowly avoided upset. Mikel Horton scored on a 12-yard run with 57 seconds remaining to lift the Wildcats to a 40-33 win over Louisiana-Lafayette, which rallied from a 33-10 hole to tie the game with 7:36 remaining.
Up next: The Wildcats hit the road for their SEC opener at South Carolina.
11/14 At Auburn
This week: The sixth-ranked Tigers began their season at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, beating Louisville 31-24. Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson threw three interceptions, but the defense under old/new coordinator Will Muschamp made enough plays to stop a Cardinals rally. Auburn led 17-0 at halftime and 31-10 with 10:04 to play, but Louisville wouldn't go away quietly.
Up next: The Tigers play their home opener against Jacksonville State, annually one of the better FCS programs.
11/21 Georgia Southern
This week: The Eagles won the Sun Belt Conference last season in their first year as an FBS program, following a long run as an FCS power. Year two as an FBS program began with a rough start at West Virginia, losing 44-0. The Eagles' triple-option attack netted just 195 yards, well below its average of 381 per game last season.
Up next: Georgia Southern opens its home schedule against Western Michigan.
11/28 At Georgia Tech
This week: The No. 16 Yellow Jackets did pretty much anything they wanted to in Thursday's season-opening 69-6 rout of Alcorn State, an FCS program. Tech ran the ball 52 times for 476 yards -- a gaudy 9.2 yards-per-carry average -- and nine touchdowns. It was 34-0 Yellow Jackets after the first quarter and 48-0 at the half.
Up next: Tech is back at home this week for another non-conference game, against Tulane.
John Frierson is a staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Hall of Fame at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. You can follow him on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
