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
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 18th, 2010
7:46 pm
Evans and Jones where a better duo at S to this point.Where was the pass rush?Attack,attack,attack on D?Murray is growing up fast before our eyes and is going to be a good one,
DirtyDawg 91
September 18th, 2010
7:46 pm
Grantham sucks as bad as Richt.
Kerryb
September 18th, 2010
7:46 pm
I totally agree that it is coaching. How many times recently have we heard going into the season that the OL is the strength of the team and they turn out to be the weakest link. They don’t decided to do any run blocking until about November every year. Murray is going to be a great QB if he doesn’t get killed by his OL first. Grantham needs time to recruit his players but Bobo is not an SEC OC. His play calling leaves you scratching your head about 5-10 times a game.
Times Up
September 18th, 2010
7:46 pm
layinlow you are dead on the money. we just need to lose 3 more games and have about 10 more arrest and the CMR days will be over.
Concrete Pete
September 18th, 2010
7:47 pm
Grantham, it’s your job to be sure that the players carry out assignments. Never a bad student, only a bad teacher. Get your team ready coach.
Akita Dawg
September 18th, 2010
7:47 pm
I can feel the anger and the pain. The Bulldawg nation is indeed suffering. Let’s get to the nuts and bolts of this seemingly dire situation.
Offensive: It is predictable, unimaginative and sometimes rather stupid. Not allowing a check down outlet for Murray is unconscionable. Bobo’s play-calling is suspect at best. No swing passes or 5 yard drags by the backs at all. The offensive line is not performing to expectations, but when the other team loads the box with 7-8 players, because their D-backs are able to cover our receivers one-on-one, blocking becomes even more difficult. Except for the one pass to Aaron White, our TEs were non-existent and we have stable of them. Did Charles even catch a pass?
Defense: Gave up too many big plays. At times they looked good and then bam a big play occurs, no one’s sure of their responsibilities, and an Arkansas receiver walks into the end zone with nary a Georgia player within 20 yards. Inexcusable for that kind of breakdown to occur. That was the same problem we had last year. It’s obvious that Coach Grantham doesn’t have his personnel in place, but one player always seems to be out of position one of every 20 plays causing the meltdown. And that’s all it takes.
Coaching; Subpar so far. Richt needs to go against his true personality and light some asses up. He was able to rally the team in the fourth quarter with some sort of motivational speech at the start of it. He needs to be able to get that type of spark out of his team in the other 3 quarters as well. It shouldn’t take a 14 point deficit to motivate these players. Bobo is not improving as a coordinator. On of his biggest flaws is that he does not put place his skilled players in positions where they can succeed. Not enough one on one match-ups in space, especially in that 5-10 yard range; an area where one missed tackle can result in a 30 yard gain. Coach Searles best coaching job as a Bulldawg was in his first year here. Most of the season last year, the line was anemic. This year the line has played inconsistently, surprizing for a unit that was projected to be one of the country’s best. Not having AJ Green also hurts the production of the O-line as mentioned above. Grantham has his work cut out for him. I don’t believe he is a problem or will be in the future, considering his pedigree of coaching in the NFL and working with Coach Saban and Coach Beamer. he just has to understand the limitations of his talent and don’t put players in positions in which they won’t perform. Get the non performers out of the game if they aren’t contributing.
Recruiting: Perhaps this is the biggest problem. Despite so many top 15 recruiting classes the team hasn’t performed to that level in 3 years. Some one argue that this a sign of poor coaching and perhaps that is totally accurate, but our defensive players are undersized and not strong enough. We have no depth at QB which should have never happened. Our running back depth doesn’t seem much better. Except for AJ Green, our skill players don’t appear to be play-makers. Our inside linebackers aren’t big, Our nose is too small for a true 3-4. Not much size in our DBs. It seems that Richt and his staff have recruited many more “finese players” than power players. If you compare Alabama players, the benchmark for the SEC, to Georgia players, the size strength, and speed discrepancy is obvious. We have a long way to go. it starts with recruiting, then coaching.If you take care of the first aspect, the second one becomes a little easier. Enuff said!
DirtyDawg 91
September 18th, 2010
7:49 pm
Murray sucks too. He had chances and blew them. The ceiling on this kid is not very high. He is short and has marginal accuracy. We need a real QB. There’s a reason he didn’t wind up with the gaytors.
4 ncs are better than 1
September 18th, 2010
7:49 pm
This is what happens when you run a dirty program.
4 ncs are better than 1
September 18th, 2010
7:51 pm
Well, I guess it’s about time for the old Ugay saying…….JUST WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!
joe
September 18th, 2010
7:51 pm
I predicted an 0-2 SEC start for the pups (and I was right for once). How’s 0-3 gonna taste? Might not happen, but Miss St at home won’t be a sure win. An 0-3 start signals the end of CMR.
He Hate Gator
September 18th, 2010
7:51 pm
2-6 in the SEC speaks volumes of the direction this program has gone. The 2 SEC titles under CMR seem like ancient memories now and as pointed out in another post, the 2 titles were early in Richt’s career and included many players from a previous regime. The defense clearly at this point does not have the players to play a 3-4 and it will take time to recruit the right players for it but I have greater concerns elsewhere….the constant stream of players visiting the sheriff’s office, the top player on the sideline suspended for the 3rd game in a row, questionable game preparation by the coaching staff in general, the huge embarrasing AD incident over the summer all indicative of a program on a slipper slope…thank goodness McGarity came in when he did…FYI, McGarity was not amused by CMR’s tactics with the endzone thing in Richt’s Fla win so seemingly long ago..
mb
September 18th, 2010
7:52 pm
Yeah, I know it sounds crazy but it reminds me alot of 2007 when we lost to South Carolina and then got whitewashed at Tennessee. Things could not have been worse in Dawgland and then we held on to win at Vanderbilt went on a tear and ended up ranked #2 in the nation. So keep watching and we will see who is right.
4 ncs are better than 1
September 18th, 2010
7:52 pm
What team has wasted more talent???????
FedUpDawg
September 18th, 2010
7:52 pm
Finish the Drill Bobo!
Wallydawg
September 18th, 2010
7:53 pm
Please come back Kirby. We’ll even let you practice hitting and tackling instead of the two hand tickle approach our defense has now.
Concrete Pete
September 18th, 2010
7:53 pm
And oh yea, problems on the line of scrimmage and Ark RB’s falling forward your an extra yard or 2 can be attributed to what I’ve been saying for years: WE NEED A NEW STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAM. If you don’t believe me, ask anyone who played major college of NFL ball. It’s obvious
He Hate Gator
September 18th, 2010
7:53 pm
slippery slope…
dawgster
September 18th, 2010
7:53 pm
TampaGator, i figured you would take your shots at the dawgs and i guess they deserve it…I don’t think your gators looked to great against Tenn, but hey you won and are undefeated, we can’t say that…Our DC i think will be fine, but he needs to get some people in here that fit his schemes and coaching attitude…I’m not ging to compare DC’s right now, we all know your talent level on defense is above the dawgs right now…I am concerned about our offensive schemes, dispite the absense of AJ..O/ Charles had absoulutely “0″ passes thrown to him..our other tight end had maybe one, possibly two…This team dispite the first 3 quarters did show some real life in the last quarter, i was proud to see that, but some unbelievable playcalling on our next to last posession when we were running very good, we decided on third and four to send our receivers 20 yards down field and of course we know how that turned out…I have always defended the dawgs as you well know but i am sadly becoming dischanted with the coaching…I know the coaches can’t keep the players from fumbling or dropping passes, that is the players responsibilities…and as far as our O-line, well what we all thought including the media, is that thaat would be a strength, but i haven’t been impressed too much so far…I still think Coach Richt is a very good coach and brings in some very good talent and we have some great recruits committed for next year, but if this trend continues, the dawg nation will be calling for additional changes…Ususally when that happens your program falls behind a few years….I hope it doesn’t come to that, the season still is young and i think we will or should improve every week in every phase, but the patient is wearing thin….
FedUpDawg
September 18th, 2010
7:54 pm
O-Line needs to man up! I am sick and tired of their weak effort. They are extremely overrated, fat & slow.
Kerryb
September 18th, 2010
7:54 pm
DirtyDawg91, that has been about the most idiotic comment on here tonight. He was the only one out there that was getting the job done while getting his head beat in. His WR’s were not getting open for him and his OL forgot how to pass block or are too soft and getting pushed around and run over.
F.A. Grantham
September 18th, 2010
7:54 pm
Tell me fellow dawgs,How much am I getting paid? How do you like my attacking defense? Me and my boys attacked the hell out of the pre and post game meals.SUCKERS!!!
Rosezeee
September 18th, 2010
7:54 pm
So let me understand this – – you go for it on 4th down on your own 30 IN THE SECOND QUARTER, why????
Lets hear the intellect of that decision.
GEORGIA WILL ALWAYS BE SECOND, IF NOT THIRD RATE, WITH RICHT RUNNING THE SHOW
DirtyDawg 91
September 18th, 2010
7:55 pm
mb, pass the pipe.
Pigeon
September 18th, 2010
7:55 pm
Even Russ has let us down. Just goes to show how a little paint can affect a Dawg.
There is really not a football program left at Georgia any longer.
Concrete Pete
September 18th, 2010
7:55 pm
Kirby is not the answer. He’s not Saban, he only works for him. When kirby gets his own gig, he won’t do so well because he is not a work-a-holic like Saban and Meyer are
Rosezeee
September 18th, 2010
7:55 pm
Richt and Bozo
Dumb and dumber
FedUpDawg
September 18th, 2010
7:55 pm
Screw AJ Green…Tavarres King for President! Durham for Vice President!
todd grantham
September 18th, 2010
7:56 pm
this just in!!! Aaron Murray is pressing charges against Washon Ealey for leaving the scene of a hit and run!!
Mark Richt
September 18th, 2010
7:56 pm
you boys know what upset me about the day? My hair was way out of place there in the 2nd half and I had a lot of camera time. Plus I really need to work on my tan. You boys settle down here, it’s a long season.
Rosezeee
September 18th, 2010
7:56 pm
That O Line is incredible. Man do we dominate the line of scrimage on both sides of the ball
4 ncs are better than 1
September 18th, 2010
7:57 pm
Ugay looked good against that D-2 school, maybe you should drop down a level.
GR82BAG8R
September 18th, 2010
7:57 pm
If Georgia’s offense does not improve when Green returns, Bobo will be fired by year’s end. Georgia’s defense will improve by year’s end, a switch to a 3-4 takes time. The question is who will Georgia get to fill in for Green next year. Richt is one of the top recruiters in the country. You don’t get rid of that. Of course he does have the advantage of being the only in-state program available to most of the blue chip athletes in a state that worships high school football.
The End
September 18th, 2010
7:58 pm
For the first time, I have to agree with Schutlz. The Richt Era is coming to end fast. I will not be surpurise if a change is made at the end of the season. What has hurt Richt is his loyalty to his staff especially to Bobo. Bobo could not scheme his way out of a box. When a tv annoucer calls out your play before the ball is snapped, you are very predictable.
Dawg H8R
September 18th, 2010
7:58 pm
Will you officially accept my decree for months,…Carl from Sling Blade shouldn’t be here! The redneck faction that loved this good ole boy are seeing the writing on the wall!
Mark Richt
September 18th, 2010
7:58 pm
Tennessee will get better each week. I’m worried about that game. May call for a Blackout, complete with black helmets and all! I’m excited already!
Wallydawg
September 18th, 2010
7:59 pm
At least Kirby Smart has learned from one of the best for a few years now. I have to believe that some of Saban has rubbed off on him. I’ll take that vs what we have now – the dumb and dumber show.
Rosezeee
September 18th, 2010
7:59 pm
This guy makes George Bush sound like an intellect:
http://www.georgiadogs.com/allaccess/index.html?media=195765
MORE——-ON!!!!!
Baldemar Huerta
September 18th, 2010
7:59 pm
Mark Richt is UGA’s Booby Cox.
Mark Richt
September 18th, 2010
8:00 pm
You boys calm down here. Remember, I learned everything I know from Bobby, he’s a legend you know.
NCDawg
September 18th, 2010
8:00 pm
Jeff, I agree there are multiple problems, but 3 games doesn’t a season make. There’s still a lot of talent on this team, and the past two weeks we’ve played, quite frankly, two teams that are better than UGA right now. Granted the defensive woes are glaring — the secondary looked really bad this week after the run defense stunk last week. The offensive line has been offensive at times — I don’t know what the problem is there, but I suspect it’s just that the talent level isn’t as good it’s been touted.
This being said, I don’t believe there’s reason to panic and turn on Richt and the team. Arkansas has one of the better QBs in the country — he’s going to make a lot of people look bad this year. Our QB is a Freshman getting bettter each week. USC seems to have their best team in years. We figured to struggle early with a new QB and a new defense. I think the team has gotten beeter each week in many respects. Let’s come back after the UT Game and see where things stand.
Mark Richt
September 18th, 2010
8:01 pm
And Kirby smart is no nick saban or Urban Meyer. He had his chance to come back to UGA.
Baldemar Huerta
September 18th, 2010
8:03 pm
‘come back to UGA” Why would anyone ever want to go there in the first place?
Wallydawg
September 18th, 2010
8:03 pm
Hey Mark Richt, maybe Smart didn’t come back cause he didn’t want to be apart of your train wreck.
82Dawg
September 18th, 2010
8:03 pm
Jeff, The only point of your article that makes is accurate is the offense playcalling. Bobo has to be replaced. You’ve got to remember — we lost two very close ballgames (could have gone either way) to two SEC teams in the top 15. This isn’t beating an ACC team devoid of 12 players. With some smart playcalling in the last two games — Georgia probably wins. Also, you can’t pin those sacks on the line — most were due to the backfield not staying on their blocks. Call the right plays — and UGA gets back on the winning track.
Dogs Smell
September 18th, 2010
8:04 pm
Shreveport anyone? Are you going there to watch the school your wife pulls for because your dogs wont make a bowl game! Give us all a break about losing without Green. Good teams are not a 1 man show. That being said its the same song from you Homers every year ! Full of excuses when you lose and hype when you win. Was Alabama worried about losing without Ingram? NO because they are that good. I cannot see you beating Tennessee because they are about the youngest team in the SEC and play 2 top 10 teams and looked better than UGA with 1/2 the talent. 6-6 in 2010.
Twest
September 18th, 2010
8:04 pm
Jeffery o great and powerful leader! yep we got problems it seems the biggest problem is the evalution in recruiting processs. Seriously dawgnation how many bonafide 5 stars DO we REALLY have one that’s it soit should be no surprise we are where we are. Secondly our guys football IQ is quite low. My biggest disappointment is i don’t think the coaches were quite honest during spring or preseason THIS is not a good team How did they ever think it was. It is crystal clear it is not. instead of letting the dawgnation get carried away they should have said whoa everybody we got issues it certainly would have made the disappointment easier to handle for the more rational of us dawg fans if there is such a thing Coach Richt is in a tough situation now. we need a miracle!!!
OldFan
September 18th, 2010
8:04 pm
Back off! A no. 12 ranked team with a Heisman candidate beat an unranked average team. That’s exactly what’s supposed to happen. Remember when UGA had it the other way around. It’s our turn now to be the whipping boy. Why on earth would anyone expect something different? Or be disappointed when the upset doesn’t happen.
SOGADOG
September 18th, 2010
8:04 pm
Keep fighting Dawgs.
dawgster
September 18th, 2010
8:04 pm
Tampagator…i know you say our defense is the problem and yes we have seen some blunders but if our offeense could sustain some drives and score some poinst on a consistant basis and not just field goals..of course we did a little better today but it wasn’t enought to keep the ball out of Mallet’s hands…You are quiet right your OC is not much better than ours at least up to this point, but right now i am really concerned in the direction that Coach Bobo is leading our offense in despite the loss of AJ…We do have some talent on that side of the ball, but there is very little imaginative play calling..You know alot of posts on here give the dawg fans heck for getting excited and pumped for the upcoming season, and why shouldn’t we if we love our school and college football…and this year was no different, but yet here we are in the 3rd game of the season and more than likely already out of the SEC east race as if we were ever in it…i guess i need to be careful and not be so critical as these young men are only playing a game and with everything else going on in the world football is minor in comparison…i’m sitll all dawg but i realistic about our chances the rest of the season…
Baldemar Huerta
September 18th, 2010
8:05 pm
“ACC team devoid of 12 players”
Pot, meet kettle.