Poll time: Who deserves most blame for Georgia’s offense?
Mark Richt, Aaron Murray and Mike Bobo are wondering what happened to the offense.
Before getting to the point of this blog, let me quickly weigh in on Georgia coach Mark Richt’s decision to kick Demetre Baker off the team for a DUI and underage drinking: kudos.
This isn’t to celebrate a foolish youth’s mistakes. Baker isn’t the first college kid to be involved in underage drinking and driving. But Richt’s only hope of getting through to players in his program — which has seen 10 arrests since the spring — may be a zero tolerance stance because clearly nothing else has been working.
Loading ...Baker will be fine. Public humiliation is a shock to the system but it can be good for one’s personal growth.
Now, about the Georgia offense: No kudos.
The Bulldogs were held to two field goals at South Carolina, smothered for a good part of the Arkansas game and were limited to two field goals Saturday at Mississippi State until a meaningless touchdown with 1:27 left in the game.
Pass protection has been erratic and run blocking has been poor, surprising given that the offensive line was supposed to be the strength of the team. Quarterback Aaron Murray has made typical freshman mistakes but for the most part he has been impressive. The running game has been disappointing and Kris Durham has been the lone receiver to make big plays in the absence of the suspended A.J. Green (who returns this week).
So who should take the most blame for this? Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has been the most criticized. He deserves some credit for falling on the sword in Starkville, saying: “You can’t turn the ball over, and you can’t have penalties. That’s coaching. It’s our fault.”
But by now, you should know where I stand on this: Issues always start at the top. To me, the problem is less play-calling (albeit, that’s some of it) than it is attitude and intelligence. That’s on the head coach.
Whom do you blame for the struggles? Here are some options:
♦ Richt: The Dogs did not look prepared to play Saturday in Starkville, nor have they looked well prepared in the past several SEC games (2-7 going back to last year). They often don’t play with a sense of urgency. They’re not committing as many personal foul penalties in the past but we still see too many mental breakdowns and times when they get beat physically. The head coach sets the tone.
♦ Bobo: He has been criticized for not using more high-percentage short passes in the game plan, and for a lack of creativity in the game plan. But as we’ve previously discussed in this corner, Xs and Os don’t work if a team isn’t knocking over the opponent.
♦ Stacy Searels: Either Georgia’s linemen have been way overrated or the offensive line coach isn’t coaching them up. Searels is in his fourth season in Athens. He was highly regarded when he arrived from LSU in 2007 and was believed to have been given a raise to not go to Auburn with new head coach Gene Chizik last year.
I’ll throw two other choices into the poll: All of the above and none of the above (which is a vote to blame the players).
So who takes the hit for this?
♦
SACK SCHULTZ: Dude, this contest is like totally ruining my street cred. Went 10-5 last week. At 31-14 overall. Two guys named Ills (Georgia) and Axmann (Wisconsin) lead at 39-6. I’m pretty sure they’re cheating. If you haven’t played, it’s not too late too humiliate me! Click here for details and then here to enter.
♦
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845 comments Add your comment
Brett Michaels
September 27th, 2010
5:22 pm
Give me something to believe in (UGA).
Ed
September 27th, 2010
5:22 pm
Enough about firing offensive assistants. Richt is the highest ranking offensive coach on staff. His reputation was that of an offensive guru when he came here from FSU. The buck stops with him, so you have to assume that Bobo manages the offense the way his boss wants him to.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
5:23 pm
SGDawg88 you don’t see Meyer or Nutt using that logic because they don’t tell the WORLD they are Great Christian Men with High Moral Standards. Richt is supposed to be better than that and still beable to win because GOD is on Richt’s side.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
5:23 pm
I can remember not long ago losing to FLA,AUB,TENN and GT all the time too.
Aiken29801
September 27th, 2010
5:25 pm
When a team loses a game, it is the teams fault. Never is it just an individual’s fault. Even a glaring mistake with seconds leaft on the timer. You can say if so and so had not pulled the kick on that field goal we would have won. Well if the offense has scored the kicker would not have been kicking and on and on it goes. However, Georgia’s problem starts with character, they have none. They lack the intestinal fortitude to play hard, clean, down in the trenches ball, every down, every series. These are problems that start and end at three desks.. Head coach, Athletic Director and University President. Georgia will continue to struggle until it hires and recruits people with character, The character it takes to make others walk the line. Forgiving others is great but accountability is a must. Best wishes……. Chumps
UGAArock
September 27th, 2010
5:26 pm
Richt is a fantastic coach. He does allow his loyalty to get in the way, but for the most part he makes great decisions. Herbstriet had it right when he was talking about the defense alone on Gameday. You have to understand that they have been recruiting for a different scheme, and they had to convert an Offensive Tackle to play nose. Really? Already Grantham has done substantially better than Martinez, and we are still giving up the big play and not getting sacks like we should yet…
For you guys that are talking about Bobo, you are absolutely correct. Richt allows his coaches to be successful or fail all on their own. He will not over step the control that he’s given them because that is part of the game of football, confidence. It is just like if you were in the military, what would happen if you had Eisenhower down on the front lines telling the Captain that he moved in the wrong direction. Perspective! You have your best player off of the field. This player prevents all out blitzs that South Carolina, Miss State have been able to pull out on you. 5 guys can’t block 8 or 9. The play calling is horrific. I feel like when I am watching a UGA game that I am playing Madden football on ridiculously easy. I can sit there and call every play Bobo is calling probably before he does. They don’t script the whole game, and usually it is just a few drives.
Good news is that it appeared that Richt started getting onto Bobo for the play calling in the Miss State game, but you do have to let your coaches coach. You can’t baby sit everyone or else you’ll drive yourself crazy.
Herschel Walker
September 27th, 2010
5:27 pm
Richt is getting what he deserves for recruiting thugs like he did at FSU and for allowing his teams to stomp on the other teams logo and for allowing stupid things like end zone celebrations. I guess the next thing he will do is encourage all the fans to wear red panties.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
5:27 pm
It is LEEBURNS fault. He keeps selling the DEVIL JUICE all over Athens and or Players are tempted buy drink and cheak, dumb, fake blonde white chicks. Can you Blame the players for that?
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
5:28 pm
5150 Richt played at Miami and coached under Bowden so you can be assured he has seen everything under the sun twice over.The leash on a UGA coach is much shorter than it is at BAMA and FLA.
Bobo's A Bozo
September 27th, 2010
5:28 pm
Clown calling the same run up the middle and vanilla offense. Its a carnival out there.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
5:28 pm
sorry: By and Cheap
Delbert D.
September 27th, 2010
5:29 pm
NoGaGator – “It could be worse – apathy.”
Nobody gives a damm about apathy.
DIZZY DOG
September 27th, 2010
5:29 pm
I don’t know what you guys are complaining about. We beat the living hell out of Louisiana Lafyette, the biggest rival on our schedule. Who woulda thunk it? Us giving them a beat down they won’t soon forget?!?! I say Go Dogs and wait till next year. Thank keww.
Herschel Walker
September 27th, 2010
5:30 pm
Wayshon hit 3 more parked cars today.
Mike
September 27th, 2010
5:30 pm
jEFF-
The problem with your sensationalitic way of thinking, is, as usual, it defies common sense.
If you’re going to discredit Richt for his ONLY down year in the last 26 years as a coach, then you must ALSO credit Richt for the 6 top 10 finishes in the last 9 seasons. And for being in the top 5 in win % among coaches with 5 years experience. Among top 20 coaches since 2005.
So, which is it, discredit Richt for 1 downyear, or credit him for the other 25 up years? Can’t have it both ways Schultz.
Bring back Vick
September 27th, 2010
5:30 pm
I am not ready for Richt to be fired just yet. He’s got to make this team a lot better from here on out to deserve another year, but I’ll wait until he loses a couple more games, before I’m ready to bail on him. If he is fired at season’s end, I’ll miss him a lot and I’ll keep wondering what could have been if he had kept Vangorder and hired a decent offensive coordinator.
Herschel Walker
September 27th, 2010
5:31 pm
A.J. Green just sold another jersey.
Delbert D.
September 27th, 2010
5:31 pm
5150 P.O.A.D – About the proof reading you mentioned earlier…what is it, 80, 86, 100 or Ron Rico 151?
Jeff Garner
September 27th, 2010
5:31 pm
The picture profile of Coach Richt at the top of this piece says a lot…He’s gotten fat. Much too concerned about how his hair looks on the sideline. He is not the man he used to be. Nuff said…
Bayside
September 27th, 2010
5:32 pm
According to Jeff Schultz odd view, Saban should have been fired after 2007, since Saban lost back to back to La Monroe, and Miss St, and lost 4 in a row.
1 year, out of context, makes no sense. It’s rather stupid to look at 1 yerar of of Richt’s 9. Duh.
BTull
September 27th, 2010
5:32 pm
You all sound like Bama fans. Fire and move on. Fire and move on. We have a great coach which has dropped to a level of performance we’ve never seen with HIM. We’ve seen this with every other coach we’ve had, so don’t act like we’ve ALWAYS been National Championship contenders. 1980 was a long time ago. We haven’t been close until CMR got here. Don’t be so quick to forget. If you want to be a fickle, band-wagon fan who screams for firings thinking a new coach will waltz in and our program will accend to levels greater than we’ve seen, do it silently so you don’t make the realistic fan base look like IDIOTS.
Herschel Walker
September 27th, 2010
5:32 pm
Did the bulldog highlights show get canceled?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
5:33 pm
SGDAWG88 then why isn’t RICHT gone if the LEASH is so short? HAHAHH UGA wants a winner at ALL Costs. Richt don’t have a C. WARD handing off to a W DUNN whne the Screen is not working. Ealey can’t block for the QB and can’t hold on to the ball after a big SEC hit.
I will take UGA’s D and Techs o and beat UGA with Tech’s D. I will take Tech’s D and Tech’s O and still beat the dawgs. Tech can score TDs UGA can’t.
Gman84
September 27th, 2010
5:33 pm
You wanna keep our players out of the Clarke Co jail?
Put goalposts on the front lawn and paint the grass like our end zone. Trust me, they won’t go near the place.
DAWGGONE
September 27th, 2010
5:33 pm
Look cmr has to get his act together, but firing him isnt the solution. cmr needs to kick aj green off the team because he showed poor judgement and lacks leadership. too many people work too hard for a win for a key player like green to just screw it up for everyone. zero tolerence richt. Mike Boo Boo has to either go or be stripped of play calling. when richt called plays WE WERE BETTER! petrino calls his own plays. meyer calls his own plays. saban runs his defence. paul calls his own plays at tech. why cant richt??? and as for that o-line, dont let any of them start another game. they are mostly seniors who will never play again. they’ve had their chance, we gootta get some experience for nxt year our season is already shot. Call your own plays richt and get more involved so that you can preserve your J-O-B!
Eddie Long did it
September 27th, 2010
5:34 pm
Simple, freshman QB, no receivers, no playmakers on defense, average running backs= nothing special. Dawgs will lose in Colorado, then come home & beat Vols, Vandy with AJ back & home cooking, go to Kentucky & lose, lose to Gators as usual, come home & beat Idaho States high school team, then lose @ Auburn before losing last game at home to Bumblebees, so were looking at what? 4-8 WOW AJs gettin out of town just in time, Dawgs looking for a bone & a miracle! 5-7 best case scenario SAD days in Athens!
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
5:34 pm
Delbert it is Jack(green label) & Ice. Thanks for asking.
Rikky
September 27th, 2010
5:35 pm
Jeff-
So you’re not impressed with Richt’s 1st 9 seasons?
90 wins (1 of 7 coaches in history to do that in 1st 7 seasons)
77% win % (top 5 in 120 programs)
6 top 10 finishes (6x more than Saban & Bear Bryant did in their 1st 9 seasons COMBINED)
Whatever.
ARdawg
September 27th, 2010
5:35 pm
Jeeze, this is a bit out of hand. The fires have gone from Bobo to Richt and now Ealey AND Green. Come on now Bugs, you got your own worries with that Jr. High team playing in the ACC. Go poor mouth on your own blogs. No, wait a second, I was there the other day, they don’t want you there either
NICK SATAN
September 27th, 2010
5:35 pm
Hello Bulldogs (Georgia variety). It sucks being you don’t it?
Bobo's A Bozo
September 27th, 2010
5:37 pm
Great question. Where was the Mark Richt show Sunday ?
76- DAWG
September 27th, 2010
5:37 pm
Along with Searles and Bobo we need to add Rodney Garner as recruiting coordinator to the get rid of list.
Scott
September 27th, 2010
5:37 pm
Hi Jeff–
Like most here, I blame the AJC and all your dark cynical articles about Georgia and Richt.
You’re responsible for hurting the team’s confidence more than any other single indvidual, since you’re SOOO interested in the blame game.
guy
September 27th, 2010
5:37 pm
This season is not over yet! (You’ll have to wait until 11-27-10 for that to occur!) It’s still hard to watch all of this going down.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
5:38 pm
5150 But UGA will still beat GT this year.UGA does NOT want a winner at all cost and that’s part of the problem when comparing us to teams that do.Richt after 10 years still don’t have the leeway Saban and Meyer did from day 1.
Mickey Mantle
September 27th, 2010
5:38 pm
Why do we have to blame someone? That’s all America does, not fix it but blame. Blame the president, Blame BP. Things happen and work to make it better.
Roll Tide
September 27th, 2010
5:38 pm
In my opinion, Richt is a good coach who could lose his job from his failure to hire a solid staff. Think about how Tuberville went down at Auburn. He didn’t make changes (I’m glad to see that jerk gone though). Les Miles’s seat is on fire and yet he sticks with his OC. The point is, I like Richt, but it was his responsibility to fix his staff and discipline issues and he hasn’t done it. I remember watching a UGA game with my son (he’s a Georgia fan, I’m for Bama) in 2006. They were playing Tennessee in 2006 in Athens. The defense was terrible all game long, especially against the pass and my son pointed out he thought the defensive coordinator shoulld be fired. Even he knew what Richt should have done.
Bayside
September 27th, 2010
5:39 pm
I’ll say it again:
1 year, out of context, makes no more sense, than watching a 5 minute clip from the middle of a movie.
Bobo's A Bozo
September 27th, 2010
5:39 pm
I blame Mickey Mantle.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
5:40 pm
Russ is still looking for any ANTIFREEZE puddle to drink from. The selected UGA VIII is trying to remove his name from the list of considered new UGA VIIIs list.
LARRY KING
September 27th, 2010
5:41 pm
Vidalia, go ahead. You’re on the Jeff Schultz blog!
Paul in Tarsus
September 27th, 2010
5:41 pm
Green and Ealey should be sent home now – today – before their stupidity and attitude spread to the entire team like the plague.
Bobo's A Bozo
September 27th, 2010
5:41 pm
So you alone are looking forward to playing Auburn,Tenn,Fla,and Tech ?
Heck we probably lose to Colorado,Ky,and Vandy as well..
dissappointed
September 27th, 2010
5:42 pm
I was on the Bobo and Grantham band wagon. But I will have to admit they both look like they are in over their head.
No flow, no changes or adjustments. It is sad.
dissappointed
September 27th, 2010
5:43 pm
I am not sure just how bad this year is going to turn out….we have only a win or so left in this schedule that many said before the year as being favorable.
This is the worst case scenario for sure being lived out in front of us.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
5:44 pm
SGDAWG Richt has been in the top 10 in the Fulmer Cup for the last 4 of 5 years and winning it this year. What do you mean RICHT don’t want to winn at all cost? Look at the players he HANDS a COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP to. LeMay is still a recruit after all he has done. What does that say about CHRIST’s great football coach Coach MARK CHRIST?
dissappointed
September 27th, 2010
5:44 pm
Agree with Paul in Taursus 100%. Cancers that have destroyed the team.
Tiger
September 27th, 2010
5:45 pm
Can anyone tell why is a kid out at 4:00 AM. What time do the player have to be in their rooms.
just want to know
September 27th, 2010
5:45 pm
What has Ealy done that resembles the train wreck AJ has provided? Other than his fumbles in key situations.
Tiger
September 27th, 2010
5:46 pm
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