NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Georgia defense was looking to hold Vanderbilt to a “goose egg,” according to linebacker Rennie Curran, to prove the unit was viable after two straight SEC losses.

Although the Commodores managed to bust the shutout, the Bulldogs’ defense came out with passion in the first half, helping to build an early advantage in the 34-10 victory.

“That was our mindeset, was to have a full game, a full 60 minutes,” Curran said. “We really just wanted to execute at a whole other level.”

With a similarly maligned Arkansas defense limiting Florida Saturday, Georgia’s defensive effort has added value heading to Jacksonville in two weeks. The Bulldogs showed they could muscle an SEC offense, even if it was Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs saw Florida held in check, and also now possess the confidence to be the group to duplicate the Razorbacks’ performance.

The Commodores scored only three points in the opening half, with the Georgia defense getting off the field after third downs, holding eight times out of nine on crucial conversions.

“We knew we had to come out with a chip on our shoulder,” defensive tackle Jeff Owens said. “Everybody is saying Georgia’s defense is this or that. We had to come out and prove to the world that we were a force to be reckoned with.”

On the first drive of the second half, Vanderbilt answered aggressively, scoring a touchdown. The 11-play, 80-yard drive was “unsettling” according to head coach Mark Richt, but was the final lackluster moment of the game on defense. Vanderbilt didn’t score again, and didn’t advance past the 50 until their last drive of the game. Georgia finished with three sacks, never letting Vanderbilt quarterback Larry Smith get comfortable. And a Reshad Jones interception, along with another near pick by Baccari Rambo showcased a secondary that can make plays.

“We were communicating as good as we have the entire season,” Curran said. “Everybody was on the same page and we were fighting hard. There were some times where they made some plays, but we kept on being consistent, and that’s the main thing we’ve been trying to do. You’re never going to have a perfect game where you feel like there’s nothing you need to work on, but as far as execution and making plays, I thought we did a good job of that today.”

Georgia’s plan involved limiting the rushing attack, holding Vanderbilt to a paltry 3.4 yards per carry. Running back Warren Norman never got into the flow, with 54 yards on 14 carries and a long of 11.

“Our game plan never changes,” Owens said. “It’s get after them on both sides of the ball. Get after them to stop the run, stop the pass and do whatever it takes to win.”

Play action passes hurt the Bulldogs last week against Tennessee, but without a solid running effort, and stronger focus in the Bulldogs’ secondary, Vanderbilt didn’t get much going with the pass.

“We knew they were going to try to do things that have hurt us in the past, and we were prepared for that and ready,” said cornerback Brandon Boykin.

“After last week, allowing [Tennessee quarterback Jonathon] Crompton to have a career game, we said to ourselves, it’s an early game, it’s going to be cold. All the things are going to be against us just like Tennessee, and we have nothing to lose. We just wanted to go out and show everybody how good we could be.”

Running game established

The Georgia running attack wasn’t overwhelming Saturday, but wound up with five tailbacks combining for 161 yards on the ground.

The leading rusher was freshman Washaun Ealey, who broke a 33-yarder in the fourth quarter. That was the longest run by a Georgia tailback since Richard Samuel broke an 80-yarder against Arkansas a month ago, and the longest of Ealey’s short career.

“I was just trying to score, hopefully I could get my first big touchdown,” Ealey said. “It didn’t happen, but we’ve got to get some more.”

Ealey finished the game with 71 yards on 13 carries.

While the run had yet to be soundly established this season, Saturday may have provided a template for the future, even against Vanderbilt’s lackluster rush defense.

Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said prior to the game that his team would stick with the run, even if it didn’t work perfectly at the game’s onset. It didn’t, but, true to his word, Bobo stayed with it.

“You can see, you wear people down,” Cox said. “It didn’t do a lot at first, but you keep grinding the ball, it opens up play action, it softens them up for the run, and then you start busting big runs late. And that helps put teams away.”

Career longs for Cox, Green

Joe Cox had a career-long 65-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter Saturday, one he’ll probably tell his kids about one day.

Just don’t expect him to go into too much detail.

The score came on a short dump to receiver A.J. Green, who made people miss on the way to the end zone, and a personal career-best for himself, too.

“We were on the right hash, I threw it further than a yard,” Cox said, laughing. “No, I probably won’t mention that. I’m not going to sit here and act like I made a great play. Everybody saw what A.J. did. He’s just that type of player, and that’s why we call plays like that to get him the ball, easy ways to get him the ball and get him in space, just to see what he can do.”

Green merely provided his weekly addition to his personal highlight reel, making a Vanderbilt defensive back miss in space before weaving his way through the rest of the Commodore defense.

It was a departure from his usual jump-ball touchdown grabs, but hardly surprising.

“That was fun,” Green said. “This right here is just real life for me. I’m loving every minute of it. It’s just getting better each game.”

- Tyler Estep contributed to this story