Bulldogs defenders admit overconfidence against Gators

Florida's Michael McNeely runs for a touchdown past Georgia safety Quincy Mauger (20) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014.

Coach Mark Richt watches the University of Georgia Bulldogs warmup before a game.

ATHENS, Ga. -- The disbelief remained Tuesday afternoon for Georgia's defensive players, who were still trying to grasp Saturday's 38-20 surprise loss to Florida and the surrendering of 418 rushing yards.

"I have never been beaten that bad or had that many yards run on me," senior defensive tackle Toby Johnson said.

Florida had 42 rushing yards and was 0-for-3 passing in the first quarter before plowing through the Bulldogs for 376 yards in the final three quarters, when the Gators attempted just three passes. Georgia had been allowing 105.1 rushing yards a game but now yields 144.2 as it heads to Kentucky this week.

Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said this week's focus is all about defeating the Wildcats, but isn't there motivation in terms of regaining some defensive pride?

"I don't know what Kentucky's game plan is going to be," Richt said. "I doubt they throw it six times, but they might. They may watch our film and get excited about the thought of that. The bottom line is that we've got to defend what we think we're going to see."

Florida ran the same few plays this past weekend that resulted in Kelvin Taylor carrying 25 times for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Matt Jones rushing 25 times for 192 yards and two scores.

Most Bulldogs defenders attributed a lack of execution as the primary reason for Saturday's atrocity, but senior inside linebacker Ramik Wilson after Monday's practice cited an underestimating of the Gators. Richt was asked about Wilson's comments Tuesday and said, "I think that's why sometimes I don't want anybody to talk to the media."

Yet minutes after Richt made that comment, Wilson had some company.

"We just felt overconfident," junior defensive end Sterling Bailey said. "Instead of focusing and executing the defensive game plan, we were just too comfortable. We didn't respect our opponent."

And why was that?

"I think recent years played a huge part in it," Bailey said, referencing Georgia's three-game winning streak over the Gators that was snapped.

Overconfidence never seemed to be an issue for Florida, which won 13 of 14 against Georgia from 1990 to 2003 and 18 of 21 from 1990 to 2010, but the Bulldogs know it's now time to turn the page from the program's worst performance against the run in 36 years.

"We've got to get back to everybody playing good, fundamental football as far as pad level and the use of your hands and playing the right gap and being where you're supposed to be," Richt said. "We didn't set the edge as good as we should, especially in the second half, and it really does come down to playing good, fundamental football and being physical."

Said Bailey: "Florida just came out there and wanted it more. They gave us that first punch, and we didn't respond well to it. We didn't expect it to be those four plays over and over again."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.