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.
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
981 comments Add your comment
Georgia is full of hick, rednecks
September 18th, 2010
7:23 pm
Same is true of just about every kid up there. Aaron Murray is still fun to watch because you know that he cares. Beyond him and maybe Logan Gray and Chapas and the punter and the FG kicker and Kris Durden, I have no use for the bulk of the Dogs.
———–
So basically you only prefer white players? Typical.
Damnthebutcher
September 18th, 2010
7:24 pm
HB ANDO You are a total idiot. Why does it matter if the coach is a good recruiter if he can’t coach. I don’t give a damn about the recruiting rankings. I want a coach that can take an average player and make them better. Not take a good player and make them bad.
Paul
September 18th, 2010
7:24 pm
Bobo has got to go. He just doesn’t have a feel for the game. I think he got a concussion from the head butt today. Too predictable. You can count on him to take a shot down the field any time he has a first down around the 50 yard line. If he misses, he comes back with a conservative run, then 3rd and long. What in the world was he thinking on 3 and 4 sending three receivers deep with no check down. Move the pocket, role the QB out give him some short options or a chance to pull it down and run 4 yards. I am really suprised that no one is asking Richt point blank what he thinks about the play calling. Unfortunately he would never call out one of his coaches in public.
Murray is proving to be a competitor but he took too many hits today. Seemed like he was holding to ball too long. Announcers kept saying that the receivers had no separtion. Hard to tell on TV. But happy with his performance. Washaun Ealy needs to learn how to pass block.
Could have used a pick from the D-fense today. They gave up a big play last year against LSU that would have changed the season. Gave up another one today. I really can’t stand the small DB’s on the bigger receivers.
richtsucksdicht
September 18th, 2010
7:25 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Borodawg
September 18th, 2010
7:26 pm
True SadPuppyDawg but I would take losing seasons over watching UGA run the gawd awful triple option each week.
TampaGator
September 18th, 2010
7:26 pm
In all honesty…..the Gators really miss Mullen’s imaginative play calling. I think our new OC (who was also terrible last year) got his training at “3 yards and a cloud of dust and then a 2 yard dunk univerisyt.” I can call every play he runs….as I am sure the DC coordinator for the other team can do. Right now…Bama is going to beat us by 24 points unless the offense gets its act togehter…and I don’t think it will with our OC calling plays. He is worse than Bobo.
jerry
September 18th, 2010
7:27 pm
Richt’s ACC offense has struggled to score in the SEC in a hell of a lot of games going back to when he came to UGA. If you don’t believe it, look it up.
layinlow
September 18th, 2010
7:27 pm
Furman Bishop, finally someone else who gets it. My fellow UGA fans keep calling for the heads of our assistant coaches when the head coach is the problem. Now we no why Kirby Smart turned down the coordinator job because he didn’t want to kill his career by coaching for quoir boy and his soft undisciplined players. Football players follow the lead of their head coach. Richt is a passive, soft, and loves to make excuses. His players see this laissez faire attitude everyday. So it really doesn’t matter who they bring in to coach the D because they will underachieve just like their head coach. RICHT IS THE MAIN PROBLEM.
Kerryb
September 18th, 2010
7:28 pm
Jeff, it pains me to say that you are right. Searles has been a huge disappointment but the biggest is Bobo. Bobo is not a big time OC. His play calling is horrible. How can you send everyone 20 yards down field when you only need 4 yards for a first down. On that play Ealey is trying to block a DE. With Richt as a play caller UGA won 2 SEC titles. With Bobo they have been steadily going down hill.
TampaGator
September 18th, 2010
7:28 pm
Anyway….even though many Dawg posters have angered me with their posts this summer….I was pulling for your Dawgs today and got really into the game when they made their comeback. Then you DC let you down once again. The problem isn’t your offense…it is your defense. I don’t think you have the players to play the 3-4 from what I saw today. Not big enough or fast enough.
Army Vet
September 18th, 2010
7:29 pm
When #3 started dacing on the field in the first half is when I started pulling for Arkansas. I can’t stand to see that at UGA. Total lack of discipline and arrogance. You don’t see that on other teams. Going to be a long season.
P. Bull Terrier
September 18th, 2010
7:29 pm
The inexperienced RS Freshman QB, who was supposed to be the team’s biggest weakness this season, now appears to be it’s only bright spot.
Still A Dawg FaN
September 18th, 2010
7:29 pm
DDDAAWWGG…
Who are we going to hire????
siskel_god
September 18th, 2010
7:29 pm
No problems with what Grantham said, the players have to be held accountable at some point. There are only so many coaches you can fire. Against SC, the players didn’t tackle. Against UA, the players got beat in coverage. TG can call the right play everytime, but if Rambo has no clue what his assignment is than that is his fault.
Borodawg
September 18th, 2010
7:29 pm
Georgia is full of hick, rednecks
September 18th, 2010
7:23 pm
Same is true of just about every kid up there. Aaron Murray is still fun to watch because you know that he cares. Beyond him and maybe Logan Gray and Chapas and the punter and the FG kicker and Kris Durden, I have no use for the bulk of the Dogs.
———–
So basically you only prefer white players? Typical
Very slippery slope here buddy. Let’s keep it to football and you get out of this blog.
siskel_god
September 18th, 2010
7:30 pm
We need better players, not new coaches.
This was almost as bad as watching....
September 18th, 2010
7:30 pm
This was almost as bad as watching….
that Jennifer Lopez movie.
Pick one. Any one.
Jake
September 18th, 2010
7:31 pm
Didn’t see the first three quarters, but one of those sacks Murray took in the fourth was because Ealey missed a block. And I heard another on radio, where Eric Zeier clearly put the blame on Ealey for missing a block.
Seems like the coaches are saying the right things, but the players aren’t always buying it. Which is why their names keep showing up on the police blotter, and why the Dawgs are 0-2 in the SEC.
So…either UGA needs coaches that these players will listen to, or different players who will listen to these coaches.
And, yes, I am available at my usual rates.
Kerryb
September 18th, 2010
7:31 pm
layinlow, a month ago I would have argued with you but I won’t now. I believe all of the Richt naysayers are right now. I’ve never seen a Georgia soft cream puff team before but we are seeing it now. Also, they need to start checking the IQ’s of these guys because they make really stupid plays on a consistent basis.
TrueGeorgiaFan
September 18th, 2010
7:31 pm
You people are absolutely ridiculous. It is truly amazing how unreasonable your demands are. First off WHO can we get that is better than Mark Richt for the job? He is 91-28 in 10 seasons with the Bulldogs and 7-2 in bowl games. 91-28! with a 77% winning percentage! That is better than Vince Dooley who everyone considers the best coach in the programs history. Dooley didn’t win his ONLY national championship until his 17th season as coach. So Richt is void what? A national championship? Most of you are forgetting exactly how hard that is to do. You are criticizing a man with values second to no one. One of the most respected men/coaches in the entire country. All the man has done is average 8+ wins over 10 seasons. FIND MORE THAN A HANDFUL of coaches who have EVER done that well. And to boot, he has done it in THE BEST FOOTBALL CONFERENCE IN AMERICA. I am sick of fair weather fans like most of you who want to blame someone and feel empowered to dictate who stays and who goes on a weekly basis. Anyone who thinks 8 wins justifies a firing and staff overhaul, you have lost your mind. There is NOT a single coach in the game of football that can take over the Bulldog program and win right away. LES MILES, URBAN MEYER, NICK SABAN; none of these coaches did it, so where do you think this Savior is hiding?
Borodawg
September 18th, 2010
7:32 pm
The only option for a UGA replacement hire is Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp, or an ex-NFL coach (Gruden, Cowher). Anything less would be regressing honestly. All you folks calling for Chris Peterson I would like to remind you of Dan Hawkins. He got Boise State going and now is garbage at Colorado. Just a thought.
MCGARITY GET RID OF RICHT IF HE CANT BEAT FLORIDA THIS YEAR
September 18th, 2010
7:32 pm
KIRBY SMART IS THE SMART CHOICE!
bruce mac
September 18th, 2010
7:32 pm
This game was lost on the late punt exchange. Butler is not getting it done and the Arky punter was terrific especially out of his own end zone. And all you Techsters that are predicting Shreveport at the end of the year, the ACC took the SEC spot in that game. Plus, we are not good enough to make it to any bowl at this point.
tc
September 18th, 2010
7:33 pm
The last call on the final drive was horible. 3rd and 4 should have been a running PLAY. Even if you don’t make it, maybe it is 4th and one and you consider going for it. Richt and Bobo don’y like to run the ball period. Every time we get in have groove and start running with some consistantly the opposing coaches don’t have to worry about it. Ga will throw a pass. They can’t stop it and will not stick to running even when it is working. QUESTION: What do you do when you have a new young QB? You RUN THE BALL!!!!! That takes pressure off him. However, Bobo and CMR think you need to go deep. We were on the 50 and needed about 30 yards and had 2 time outs with 50 seconds left. Why are we planning a hail mary??? Terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both Richt and Bobo. Richt needs to go to because he does not see anything wrong with it. If he ever gets rid of Bobo it will be in an effort to save his job, not because he knows what he is doing. HE DOESN”T.
Dennis G. Berdanis
September 18th, 2010
7:34 pm
What player has the least bit of fear, coming back to the sidelines after blowing a play? Ole buddy Richt will just pat him on the back and say, oh well, can’t win ‘em all. Things have just gotten to lax. Never would have believed I would say this up til 2007, but time for Richt to go back to FSU.
The Ole Ball Coach
September 18th, 2010
7:34 pm
Maybe you boys DC should have been worried about Arkansas and Mallett instead of what I was saying
Denver Hog
September 18th, 2010
7:35 pm
Hello Champs Sports Bowl for the puppies, IF they’re lucky. LOL
Air Bud
September 18th, 2010
7:35 pm
Bruce Mac (if that’s really your name), I agree with you: what’s up with Drew Butler?
bruce mac
September 18th, 2010
7:35 pm
So lets see, Bama gets Saban and UF gets Meyer and we suck so bad we have to settle for Kirby Smart. With that logic we might as well hire Goff back. We need a proven head coach winner or it will just be more of the same. This ain’t no training ground for head coaches.
h1022
September 18th, 2010
7:36 pm
UGA could go 8-4 without a coach. What are you paying him for? Pray meetings?
lifer dawg
September 18th, 2010
7:36 pm
We are the most overrated program in the nation since 1983!!! Deep pockets and deep talent in the state and have only backed into the SEC championship game TWICE since then. Other than that its been 4 and 5 star recruits going to no man’s land in Athens. Caleb King, Jasper Sanks etc…. Richt has fallen into the Athens red clay ditch on the side of the road like the rest of the program has. Lets start with….
1. Richt won with Donna’s players in 2003-2005. Once he brought in “his” guys its been downhill as far as what I see on the field. “Not many hearts left on the field” Watch how the playas all jiggin after we TIED!! the damn game. Not won.
2. His fire as a coach went away during the unforgettable 2006 Sugar Bowl and hasn’t returned with any consistency since. We will not go to another SEC champ game with Richt again!!! EVER
3. His coaching staff which was pretty good during some down SEC coaching stretches is now the laughing stock of the SEC. Poor Granthem has nothing but the smaller faster defense that Richt and Wille hand picked. What a bunch of poor tackling losers!
LakeDawg
September 18th, 2010
7:36 pm
Look for improvement on the O-line next week. Richt is going to have them doing some really intense simulated run blocking this week.
TampaGator
September 18th, 2010
7:37 pm
Better take your A game to MSU next week or you will be 1-3.
Times Up
September 18th, 2010
7:37 pm
I just hope 10 of them go out and get arrested for robbing a liquor store in Athens tonight so we can speed up the process. All I want for Christmas is for CMR to be the full time music director at Athens Baptist.
TheTaxJacket
September 18th, 2010
7:37 pm
*** Nesbitt for Heismen ***
(((( 45 – 42 ))))
Wallydawg
September 18th, 2010
7:37 pm
Hire Kirby Smart as soon as Tech beats us. We need a coach who stresses fundamentals instead of one who comes up with catchy phrases.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
September 18th, 2010
7:38 pm
Deep and widespread . . . that’s pretty accurate. We were not a very good football team today. I take my share of the blame. The mascot work could be better. I have not been myself since the unexpected a$$ painting. It seems this program has a lot more problems than the color of a little dog’s a$$ on game day. UGA needs to step forward and name me full-time mascot so I can help get the players ready to compete at the highest level. Most of my work, though, remains with the fans who need to improve their game drool and slobber. The fans left the stadium today a lot like I left Shreveport after the a$$ painting.
Kirby Smart
September 18th, 2010
7:39 pm
Maybe you guys should offer me the HC job. I still wouldn’t take it but I wouldn’t mind another raise. Life is good being #1.
mb
September 18th, 2010
7:40 pm
I am as disappointed as anyone about the outcome of the game today but I say with conviction that we will only lose one game the rest of the season.
layinlow
September 18th, 2010
7:41 pm
Kerryb, we get the same type talent as other top SEC schools.Trust me it’s the coaching and not the players fault. All 18-21 year old kids will be undisciplined if it is allowed. Guys like saban don’t put up with that immature bs and they mold their players into men who want to win championships. The mental makeup of this team is terrible and that is a reflection of Richt and not the fault of the players or the assistants.
mb's wife
September 18th, 2010
7:42 pm
MB, please put down the liquor…you’ve been drinking all day and not making any sense.
Bama Dawg
September 18th, 2010
7:42 pm
As much as I like CMR, it’s time for a change. This is similar to what Tommy Tuberville experienced his last few years at Auburn. Inconsistent defense, undisciplined o-line play. The players don’t respect Richt on or off the field. I think UGA will make the SMART decision and hire Kirby.
Supes
September 18th, 2010
7:43 pm
This should have been advertised as a REBUILDING year, but it wasn’t.
Defense had HUGE breakdowns on those easy TD scores by ARK, and Offensive play calling was beyond bad. Bobo got our QB killed, didn’t get the TE involved enough (or the FB on screen pass plays), didn’t move the pocket enough and didn’t give our QB short passes(safety valve options). A 12 year old kid calling plays on MADDEN would have done a better job than BOBO, sorry but it’s the truth. Even the announcers on TV were calling him out on his mistakes.
Krogunner
September 18th, 2010
7:43 pm
I want some of what mbs been smoking.
Times Up
September 18th, 2010
7:43 pm
congrats mb you are the new president of the idiot club.
Wallydawg
September 18th, 2010
7:44 pm
AJC has just reported that UGA will join the Sun Belt Conference next year. UGA feels that Richt and his coaches are a better fit in that conference.
Krogunner
September 18th, 2010
7:44 pm
I can’t believe all the Kirby Smart talk. We need a proven Head Coach. Chris Peterson should be at the top of the list. That would be a similar hire to Urban Meyer.
Bob Horner
September 18th, 2010
7:45 pm
rotten day..Kelly McGillis is a carpet muncher..who knew..??.dawgs lost…sux 2 b me
Mike
September 18th, 2010
7:45 pm
Richt may have to let Bobo go after this year. Bobo was never a good coordinator. Richt promoted him too soon.
TROTTINGHOME
September 18th, 2010
7:45 pm
SAD TO SAY…Head Coach needs to go….he will never fire BOBO…he made a serious mistake giving BOBO that position…which is his first gig…The only option is to let the university fire him…Richt will never fire BOBO…who has 5 kids…Richt underestimated the southern tradition of power football…just sad.