Georgia: Dogs want it all to click

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia football coach Mark Richt doesn’t believe in a perfect game, but his Bulldogs tend to get close at least once a year.

The Bulldogs snapped out of a sluggish stretch last year by rolling up 413 yards and sacking Tim Tebow six times in a 42-30 upset of Florida, and they had lost four of five games in 2006 before whipping fifth-ranked Auburn 37-15. Georgia rolled up big victories over LSU the two seasons before that, winning 45-16 at Sanford Stadium in 2004 and 34-14 at the Southeastern Conference title game in 2005.

The Bulldogs have yet to have that monster game where everything clicks this season.

“Every facet of our game at one time or another has really had a good game, but I can’t say that everybody has hit their stride in one game in particular,” Richt said Tuesday. “Hopefully we can, but your opponent usually has a lot to do with it.”

The Bulldogs face the past two BCS national champions the next two weeks with games against LSU in Baton Rouge and Florida in Jacksonville.

Georgia used big plays in the passing game, with David Greene in ’04 and D.J. Shockley in ’05, to jump on LSU in their past two meetings. The Bulldogs lead the SEC in passing (260.1 yards per game) this season and have the league’s leading receiver in freshman A.J. Green (81.9), but quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown four interceptions the past two weeks.

That has led to a pair of solid but not sizzling wins over Tennessee (26-14) and Vanderbilt (24-14).

“It’s tougher than the average fan would think, I guess,” Stafford said. “I don’t know what it is. We’re shooting ourselves in the foot and not executing, and it’s really one or two plays a game in the red zone that have really been hurting us. I think it’s a positive that we’re still putting up 24 when if we could iron everything out we’re scoring 45.

“One of these games we hope it will click, and we can put a big number up.”

Freshman kicker Blair Walsh missed two midrange field goals last week against the Commodores, while the defense collected two interceptions but dropped at least four other opportunities. Richt could not name Georgia’s most complete game this season, but junior cornerback Asher Allen believes it was the 27-10 win at Arizona State on Sept. 20.

The Bulldogs racked up 461 yards and held ASU to 212, but they were flagged 12 times for 104 yards.

“I think we’re really close,” Allen said. “I feel like we’re OK in all phases of the game. The defense, including myself, left a lot of turnovers on the field last week. The offense left some points. Hopefully we’ll be able to do it soon.”

Youth has been a factor, especially on offense. Receiver Mohamed Massaquoi was the only senior to start against Tennessee, while Stafford and tackle Vince Vance, who tore his ACL midway through the second quarter, were the lone juniors.

The Bulldogs were 9-of-17 on third-down conversions against the Vols but suddenly backtracked, going 1-of-8 against Vandy.

“That’s part of being young and part of growing up, but we keep fighting,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “If we keep getting better and can put it together, I think we’ll have a chance to really live up to the potential that everyone expects us to be.”