Georgia is showing problems are deep and widespread
There are more than a few problems with Mark Richt's football team, as evidenced by a 2-6 record in the last eight SEC games.
ATHENS – It’s not about one player not being here. It’s not about playing a freshman quarterback or having a certain soft spot on the depth chart or the big, bad NCAA being out to get Georgia.
When a program sinks to lows not seen since the Ray Goff administration, it’s not an aberration.
The head coach (Mark Richt) is 2-6 in his past eight SEC games. The vaunted offensive line coach (Stacy Searels) frankly hasn’t done bupkis since his arrival, recent evidence being that his supposed top group of linemen just allowed six sacks to a projected average defense. The new defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham, isn’t looking much better than the old one (Willie Martinez).
When all of those things happen, we’ve transitioned from downward trend to potential new identity. Georgia is an average team right now.
The Bulldogs lost to Arkansas 31-24 on Saturday for the first time since 1993, dropping to 0-2 in the SEC for the first time since opening 0-4 in that same season under Goff. Richt has built far more credits than Goff ever dreamed off, including two SEC titles. But there’s as much uncertainty about direction right now as ever before.
This latest loss was not devoid of positives. The Dogs displayed the kind of resolve that seemingly was missing last season, scoring two touchdowns in a four-minute span in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 24-24. But one late-game rally can’t whitewash the flaws.
The question now is: What direction do they go? Next week’s game at Mississippi State hardly is a gimme. Then comes a non-conference game at Colorado, before the Dogs return to Sanford Stadium for an emotional meeting against Tennessee and the new coach with a familiar last name (Derek Dooley).
Is there any game one can mark down as an automatic win right now?
Richt maintained Georgia continues to “get better,” but he conceded: “When we reach that peak [later this season], hopefully the games will still be meaningful. Right now it’s hard to say if they will be.”
Aaron Murray goes down for one of Arkansas's six sacks, a poor showing by the offensive line. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
It’s easier to project success when the problems are limited. Not the case here. Consider:
♦ Last week at South Carolina, the defense got ripped by the ground game. Saturday it got ripped by the pass. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns. He was sacked just once (with three minutes left). Almost as disturbing: Grantham put it all on the players, seemingly accepting no blame. Quote: “Guys have to do what the calls tell them to do. If you don’t do that, that’s why there’s inconsistency. You may play for 60 plays and 54 of them you look good, but then all of a sudden you give up six explosive plays and those can override a lot of good things.”
Coach: 54 out of 60 doesn’t get it done, especially when there’s not a defender within a zip code of a receiver on touchdown plays of 57, 22 and 40 yards (the decider with 15 seconds left).
♦ The offensive line was supposed to be the strength of the team. The Dogs ran the ball better this week, but quarterback Aaron Murray was sacked six times. Some of that was Murray holding onto the ball too long, but most of it was poor protection. Searels has not lived up to his billing since leaving LSU in 2007.
Murray was knocked dizzy at times and afterward wore a bandage under his chin to cover cuts (he said from his chinstrap).
Bobo looked like a wounded soldier himself, as if he had been punched in the nose. A gash ran down the top of it, but he said he didn’t know how it got there.
“I just saw blood trickling down [in the first quarter],” he said.
Maybe it will show up on film. All of the wounds will. They’re significant, they’re widespread and there is no indication that they’re going away any time soon.
♦
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981 comments Add your comment
Bobby Petrino
September 19th, 2010
9:27 am
Oh wow. Just woke up in Arkansas this morning after leaving Georgia last night and had one of those deja vu things. Brought me back to when I walked out on those loser Falcons and now I just beat…..uh…another sorry team from Georgia….damn…who did we play? It doesn’t matter, I’m going back to sleep.
ViningsDAWG
September 19th, 2010
9:27 am
Also Buck Belue says everything is great.
Bobby Petrino
September 19th, 2010
9:31 am
Oh!! the bulldogs! That’s it!! Boy I wish I had a tan like Mark.
Buck Belue wears a toupee
September 19th, 2010
9:32 am
Hey Schultz you and your homer co-workers can stop picking these losers to win every game now…..
They are a disgrace.
bill
September 19th, 2010
9:33 am
As Sam Cooke said — “A Change is Gonna Come…”
Jeff Cartledge
September 19th, 2010
9:37 am
Once again you show your ignorance, Jeff. This is college football and this stuff happens to young men still trying to figure out the game. Yes the O line is very disappointing but give Grantham a break, these are not his players, he is still trying to teach them his system and it’s tough in such short a time, I see the Dogs gettting better each week and expect them at the top of the game in a few more weeks. This season may end up not so good but the future looks bright, so ENOUGH of your gloom and doom about MR!!!!!
Buzz
September 19th, 2010
9:44 am
But wait, you are the greatest football machine of all time, with all of your 5 star recruits, 92,000 fans, greatest looking women and academic superiority……
dale morphy
September 19th, 2010
9:44 am
I absolutely loved Butler and Zeier lambasting Georgia fans for leaving early in the 4th quarter on the postgame radio show. Did anyone notice how many seats were empty at kickoff? It is a true testament to the resiliency of the Dawg nation that we got anywhere near 80,000 in there to begin. Our fan base is deeply frustrated and disillusioned, and its not JUST ABOUT THE LAST TWO SEASONS! You can only take so much underachievement before you lose faith in the direction of the program. Sorry, but even true Dawg fans are ready to throw in the towel on this coaching staff (not on the team). Only somebody who is PAID directly or indirectly by UGA would be a blind apologist for this program at this point. The players and fans deserve better. When Sanford is half full later in the season, what excuses will they make then?
Phi;
September 19th, 2010
9:46 am
Time to send this goat back to where they comfortable loseing i.e. the ACC and Florida St.
Paddy
September 19th, 2010
9:47 am
When the “Coward Coach” can come into your own backyard and beat you, things are really not too optimistic. Arkansas in not going to any prestigous bowl this year.and we are not playing “Georgia” football, not too gooooood!
Gary
September 19th, 2010
9:48 am
Jeff:
You said the same cynical negative stuff in 2007 when Georgia started out bad. Georgia finished #2 in the country that year. You’ve never been too accurate at assessing Mark Richt.
sherman to the sea
September 19th, 2010
9:50 am
THUD! X 11
the problem
September 19th, 2010
9:53 am
is that teams have figured out your antiquated offence and all teams have film how SC and Arky have whipped you…looks like the spiral continues.
valleyboy32
September 19th, 2010
9:55 am
yes do it
Mike
September 19th, 2010
9:56 am
Jeff-
Georgia has ‘widespread’, ‘deep’, ‘problems’. Really?
Richt’s finished rankings, since 2001:
01- #22
02- #3
03- #6
04- #7
05- #10
06- #23
07- #2
08- #10
I like those kind of deep, widespread problems.
Paddy
September 19th, 2010
10:02 am
Rocky Mountain Bulldawg….the O-line is having run-block and pass-black problems because they are just avg in ability. We were led to believe otherwise the last two years but now we know the truth for ourselves. If your line can’t compete, avg teams like Arkansas will beat you at home. Going on the road this season will be walking thru a minefield.
ga gator
September 19th, 2010
10:04 am
Think it’s pretty bad when coaches Bobo and Grantham who are adults defend themselves by throwing Murray and some defensive players under the bus when Christian Robinson (I think I have the name correct) who is a redshirt Freshman refuses to throw his teammmates under the bus by saying “we don’t point fingers, we win or lose as a team”, fine young man. When coaches start throwing college players under the bus instead of owning up to not properly preparing them, they know that the end is near. I wish Coach Richt well if it happens as there isn’t a finer man coaching football except for maybe Tony Dungy. The same happened to him in Tampa and look how his career turned out.
WE RUIN THIS STATE
September 19th, 2010
10:07 am
Thats for sure
MPK7441
September 19th, 2010
10:09 am
Let’s face it, we are a middle of the road team this year. All the things we hoped to gel and come together have not. The OL is the biggest disappointment Shreveport here we come….
Wright
September 19th, 2010
10:15 am
This did not have to happen. Why did CMR insist on playing Joe Cox when he was an ineffective fifth year senior, why did CMR keep CWM as long as he did? When you compare CMR with the elite SEC coaches you know why UGA is a 2nd tier team. Winners have to make decisions that are for the good of the team not the individual.
Mike
September 19th, 2010
10:17 am
Bear Bryant & Nick Saban combined, only got 1 top 10 finish in their 1st 9 seasons. Richt had 6.
Nothing like facts to answer sensationalistic journalism.
How’s that for deep & widespread problems?
Georgia Bulldogs
September 19th, 2010
10:20 am
Don’t worry, techmites. No matter how bad we are now, we’ll pull it together long enough to kick your sorry behinds again. But then you already know that.
Dawg
September 19th, 2010
10:21 am
Come on guys, get a grip. Doesn’t anyone have any common sense. We are playing with a FRESHMEN quarterback, without our best player which by the way is one of the best in the country on top of losing most of our “D” line last year. When A.J. comes back watch what happens.
Big Earl
September 19th, 2010
10:22 am
It’s not the team we need a new newspaper. The AJC has no offense or defense. When the game is on the line the writers can’t rise to the occasion. We need new blood.. Fire the editor. Barnhart being suspended for selling his typewriter to an agent is not acceptable. Schultz being caught DUI with a pair of panties in his lap ain’t go get it.
Dawg H8er
September 19th, 2010
10:22 am
‘Morning, rednecks. How’s it hanging? A little droopy this morning? A little too quiet around the trailer park?
Get used to it. I love to read the preseason rantings, when you boast of winning the NC. I love even more reading your lugubrious post-game comments, in which you inevitably call for the firing of almost everybody. You got rid of Willie Martinez, who was immediately called by numerous head coaches who wanted his services. Now your target seems to be Bobo, although some of you want Richt’s head too. Maybe the problem is you. You don’t want a college team; you want a pro team. That’s why you boast endlessly about the recruiting haul, as if the recruits were so many NFL draft choices.
Good luck with that. Meantime, I’ll continue to enjoy watching you get your noses rubbed in it, while other real teams exhibit the enthusiasm and team spirit that differentiate college football from the pro version. Face it: you are losers.
Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2010
10:23 am
I hate UGA and I need to move to another state!
Let's Get Real
September 19th, 2010
10:32 am
When you are delusional enough to expect your team to win the SEC and be in the BCS Championship game, it hurts that much more when you come down to earth. How was it that a first year DC with a new scheme was going to transform the same average bunch of players into a dominating D in one year ???? But a lot of fans thought that would happen. How was it that the same, under-achieving OL would be one of, if not THE best OL in the nation when they had NEVER shown consistency before ? I can only remember one or two games in the past where they looked pretty good. Yet the fans put it in the bank. And how was it that a redshirt freshman QB with no previous starts would all of a sudden become Charlie Ward or David Greene in his first few games ????? These kinds of pre-season expectations are what make for the letdown that you have right now. It happens EVERY year. The sportswriters and scouts buy into it, too. So why should you believe them when they tell you that UGA’s recruiting classes are that great ? Cut expectations back to realistic levels and you’ve got yourself a team that’s performing just about how they should be. Have you GOT that ??
Big Earl
September 19th, 2010
10:33 am
Should have played Murray last year. Not playing in a game for two years, to long. All I heard all summer was all the new changes in defence, I don’t see it. I think it’s been DEFENCE for the last 2 to 3 years. We need to build the greatest defence in the nation. The meanest,biggest,fastest.ugliest,toughest group of thugs the conference has ever seen. Hurt people, cripple them, some one might lose their life against us. That’s the chance they take.
PMC
September 19th, 2010
10:42 am
The sad thing is it’s quite obvious that while they continue to try and “get better” Georgia has regressed massively. They aren’t competing for the top of the SEC. They are middle to bottom. At this point their talent isn’t even close to the top of the league. Basically they should be doing everything they possibly can do to get Isiah Crowell to come to Georgia. They need all the help they can get.
Bud
September 19th, 2010
10:43 am
I believe I read where Grantham said “after someone plays us they’re going to be glad they won’t have to see us again”. Right!
WasSHUN Ealy
September 19th, 2010
10:51 am
WHO DIDNT LIKE MY HAND WAVE IN FRONT OF MY VISOR??? YEA HOMIE, THAT WAS TIGHT!
Bud
September 19th, 2010
10:53 am
When you invoke fear in your opponent you’ve won most of the battle.
WasSHUN Ealy
September 19th, 2010
10:53 am
ME AND GREEN ARE OUTZ DIZ MO FO FIRST CHANCE WE GETZ. GONNA MAKE DAT BLING.
Buckhead Bulldog
September 19th, 2010
10:57 am
Kris Durham and Aaron Murray played the way a true GEORGIA BULLDOG should play. It is obvious to me Durham’s figthing winning influence has flowed to Murray. i juts wish the other guys would catch it. Robinson looked pretty good on D too. Fklying around and playing with some fight.
Washan needs to get a grip on his place on the team…the little washing the face mask thing after his good run in the first half was unneeded and out of place. Ealey ain’t all he thinks he is, and he needs to realize thta he is probabaly the 8 or 9 best back in the SE. Those 2 backs from Clemson sure knew how to run the ball without the showboating.
Pdiddy
September 19th, 2010
10:58 am
The problem is that CMR is more focused on his church and mission work than he is on football. I think what he does of the field is wonderful, but we are paying him over $3MM to focus on football.
WasSHUN Ealy
September 19th, 2010
11:01 am
WHAT BUCKHEAD, YOU DONT LIKE MY SONIC SPEED HOMIE? CANT STAND MY FLASH BROTHA?
Deep and Widespread INCOMPETENCE
September 19th, 2010
11:04 am
Awful play calling and clock management in the final minutes.
Like toothsayer said, BOBO needs to GOGO,
NOLA
September 19th, 2010
11:07 am
what u folks bitchin about? cmr is a nice dude. he belongs to a cult and attends meetings every Sunday.
Maybe if he attended meetings more frequently that mythical being up in the sky might grant him more wins.
Better find another mascot because I don’t think this puppy will survive this season. That poor pup did not sign up to witnesss the setback of football.
This is just awful.
Deep and Widespread INCOMPETENCE
September 19th, 2010
11:07 am
toothsayer says Bobo needs to gogo
and I say,
take GrantHAM with him.
LIVE: Falcons look to avoid 0-2 start (and deep hole) | Jeff Schultz
September 19th, 2010
11:09 am
[...] ♦ Georgia is showing problems are deep and widespread [...]
Read all about it: Georgia’s loss to Arkansas | UGA sports blog
September 19th, 2010
11:10 am
[...] Jeff Schultz’s column, which notes Georgia’s 2-6 record in its past eight SEC games: ATHENS – It’s not about one player not being here. It’s not about playing a freshman quarterback or having a certain soft spot on the depth chart or the big, bad NCAA being out to get Georgia. [...]
SEC watch
September 19th, 2010
11:26 am
Mississippi State is also 2-6 in their past eight SEC games.
Now we see where UGA has arrived.
crack for lindsey
September 19th, 2010
11:32 am
I guess you clowns are REALLY looking forward to Jacksonville.
Dawg
September 19th, 2010
11:36 am
How much does a ticket cost now to watch Ga lose at home? What a joke that Ga keeps losing games at Sanford Stadium & they keep raising ticket prices. Ga has the least intimidating stadium in the SEC besides Vandy. It’s an awesome stadium & should be feared by opponents, but isn’t because they are poorly coached in the most critical positions i.e the trenches. Games are won & lost in the trenches. The lines on both sides of the ball have played pathetic, w/o passion are leadership.
Vickery
September 19th, 2010
11:38 am
Jeff:
Only 26 more negative pieces on Mark Richt to go this season. At least your negative dark brooding cynicism is consistent. Some things are easy to predict, like the chances of you writing 26 more nagative pieces on Mark Richt.
P.S. You forgot to mention Mark came within 15 seconds of Georgia beating a top 12 ranked team at home for the 1st time in 17 years. Georgia doesn’t beat top 12 ranked teams at home very often.
Sam
September 19th, 2010
11:40 am
Guys, lots of good here.
Down 24-10 in the 4th quarter to the #12 ranked team in the country, Georgia came back, tied it up, had a bunch of defensive stops, and had the ball with 2 tieouts to go, and only needed to move it 25 yards for Walsh to kick a game winning field goal.
It was that close.
The team played, very, very well.
jerome
September 19th, 2010
11:45 am
I think the lack-of-character thing is continuing to manifest itself.
Greg
September 19th, 2010
11:50 am
The AJC Newspaper has deep, widespread problems. Continues to lay off staff by the hundreds, losing $1 million a week. Are articles like this one, that take shots at the fan base and coach and home team, responsible for the massive drop off in profits? Likely so.
Nobody’ better at calling people’s baby ugly than Jeff Schultz. Jeff is #1 in that skill.
Laughing Bee
September 19th, 2010
11:55 am
Fire Mark’s Rectum!
Common Sense
September 19th, 2010
12:00 pm
On our last drive facing 3rd and 5, Bobo calls for deep routes.
Ealey misses another block. Game over.
King, who is a whorable back, IS a better blocker. That would have helped.
But we have seemingly forgot how to run slants and Bobo’s play calling is just utterly amazing.
Our play action passing attempts put Murray in harms way through 3 qtrs.
When finally in the shotgun, the kid excelled.
I truly think Richt has a bunch of dumbasses working for him who might be good coaches, but are retards at game management.