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
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
8:36 pm
SGDawg if GREEN, EALEY, and Rambo don’t go PRO in Sports, then what will they go PRO in? That UGA fake Degree will go a long way in the Athens-Clarke County Jail system. Well, Richt gave them GOD and maybe they can start Prison Ministries.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
8:38 pm
45ACP what is UP? I am drinking and poking FUN. How are you? Did you ahve a good day at work? Are you looking at going to the Colorado game? Have you heard from CUZ? Is Baylie doing well?
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
8:39 pm
POAD yeah and Warren Buffet and Bill Gates could eliminate poverty in the entire country between them.I don’t see where you going with that.The point is this…the good ole days aint coming back and for some the old days wasn’t all that good.Being a Gulf War vet all I can say is if a man can fight for his country and put his life on the line…then he deserves the same rights as everybody else.
fastdawg
September 27th, 2010
8:39 pm
Complaining hasn’t help. Try PRAYING for Mark Richt, the coaching staff & the players.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
8:39 pm
45ACP WHITE women? You know I have adopted Korean sisters. I want to know where the Asian women are. They can cook American food and Asian food too.
Hit A Single
September 27th, 2010
8:40 pm
Anybody that is involved in the offense is responsible. First, second, and third teamers are to blame along with the scout team and coaching staff. It is a team game, I know that is hard for some you individuals to understand. NO ONE INDIVIDUAL IS RESPONSIBLE.
Big L
September 27th, 2010
8:41 pm
Y’all shut that crap up and carry the race/political crap to the CNN blogs. God , we come to the sports blogs because life is hard enough.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
8:41 pm
They will share a cell with a couple of Techies I imagine.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
8:44 pm
SGDawg never said they(US SOILDERS) don’t deserve rights. I love that Illegal Hispanics can serve and get citizanship for thier service. They are better than the Trailer Trash Meth smoking white garbage or the Ghetto loving Rap Thugs that carry guns, but don’t know how to go 20/40 on a on Center Mass @ 50 feet.
Politically left
September 27th, 2010
8:45 pm
It’s Fox News’ fault.
layinlow
September 27th, 2010
8:45 pm
5150 P.O.A.D , making fun of a UGA degree but I’m willing to bet he/she didn’t even graduate from college. Tell us Mr. Georgia Tech what year did you graduate from the institute?
45ACP
September 27th, 2010
8:45 pm
POAD – I went to the Arkansas game and sweated my butt off. Man was it hot.
No more games for me until it cools off some.
Cuz and Baylie are well last time I talked to him.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
8:47 pm
SGDAWG a TECHIE is smart nough to build a BOMB, but a UGA student can make one Hell-o-a Beer BONG.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
8:48 pm
45 when did you leave to go to the Arkiesaw game? How long of a drive was it?
45ACP
September 27th, 2010
8:49 pm
Hell, Warren Buffet or Bill Gates could give every American ONE MILLION DOLLARS each and never feel it.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
8:51 pm
45ACP I wish they would just give me 100 grand and I would be happy with that BAILOUT.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
8:55 pm
Last I heard Baylie was not feeling well. That is why I asked if you knew different. Have you heard if Cuz and Baylie get to go to a game this year? Somebody should give them Tickets for the Idaho St game when the new UGA VIII starts his RULE of the HEDGES.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
8:56 pm
Don’t know POAD those fertilizer bombs are pretty potent
No Dooley Fan
September 27th, 2010
8:58 pm
All you people who want to fire Coach Richt probably think Vince Dooley was the greatest coach ever. But in his 25 years, Dooley was out of the Top 10 at the end of 17 of his 25 seasons; his dogs finished unranked 10 times; 16 Dooley teams had at least 3 losses; 10 had at least 4 losses and five had either 5 or 6 losses. Why didn’t somebody fire Dooley?!!! Do you really want a revolving door of coaches at Georgia, like Tech has had? Mark Richt is a class act, one of the top winning coaches in the nation over the last 10 years and he will figure it out and will win big again. And he won’t panic like allyou pitiful bloggers.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
8:59 pm
SGDAWG well, there is a LOT of Sh.T coming out of UGA right now. I guess a UGA student could make a good BS bomb just from what Richt says after a game.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
9:01 pm
That’s too much ancient history…Richt is the only coach a lot of posters know.They wouldn’t recognize Lars Tate if he walked up and hit them in the mouth.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
9:02 pm
They will talking a lot more after beating Tech again
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
9:03 pm
I really love the 2 1/2 men TV show, but when I started watching I thought is was about a UGA freshman sorority girls pledge challange.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
9:04 pm
I’m willing to bet Chris Rainey will be back on the field by the UGA game.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
9:06 pm
Do they have girls at Tech?Bunch of Midtown queens?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
9:07 pm
Hershel Walker and Ricky Williams have MPD. Maybe more college coaches should be looking for MPD running backs. One to play on the short yardage plays and one to run on the long yardage plays. The problem comes when they both show-up to claim the Heisman trophy.
Delbert D.
September 27th, 2010
9:08 pm
No Dooley Fan – Were you ever a Dooley fan during those 25 years?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
9:09 pm
SGDAWG: GT has many pretty girls. They don’t compare to the Prozide brian burned drunk bimbos at UGA, but the Tech girls can think and bring home a paycheck.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
9:10 pm
damn. Peroxide Brain.
Mike T.
September 27th, 2010
9:10 pm
Vince, 201 wins and a NC. 17 WINS OVER FLORIDA
I guess he just did the right things,at the right time.
UGA S+C needs help
September 27th, 2010
9:11 pm
Our Strength and Conditioning program is one of our biggest problems. We recruit some of the top athletes in the nation but we always fail to develop them physically. Look at our offense and defensive lines. They are getting blown off the line by teams that should be inferior to us. The fullbacks are resorting to missed chop blocks when they should be squarely blasting linebackers onto their backs. Our running backs, most 4-5 star recruits, can’t break the first arm tackle or hit they encounter. W. Ealey took a heck of a shot on Saturday and fumbled the ball. Do you think he would have fumbled the ball if he was physical enough to take a blow like that? I don’t think one of our running backs are what you would call a physical running back. It seems like King is always getting hurt. It’s not like they are the workhorses of our offense.
Hard hitting physical safeties and linebackers used to be the staple of our defense. Now the linebackers are too busy fending off offensive linemen because our defensive linemen aren’t requiring double teams. The safeties aren’t punishing receivers or running backs anymore. It is easier for them to run along side them and jump on their backs for a game of rodeo. We are injury prone year after year. That isn’t just a coincidence!
One of the earlier posters was dead on about what other coaches in the NFL and at other colleges are saying. “We are weak, fat, and out of shape”
I hate to compare other teams to UGA but look at Alabama’s S+C program. Scott Cochran has his team physically ready to beat their opponents into submission. The offensive linemen are driving defensive linemen into the linebackers. Their defensive linemen are clogging up the line of scrimmage. Even the receivers and cornerbacks play physical.
It doesn’t matter who is calling the offensive or defensive plays. If our players are all wearing green jerseys or can’t knock an opponent on his back then we will continue this path of mediocrity.
rick garland
September 27th, 2010
9:11 pm
Bobo became a offensive coordinator at Georgia he never was one any where else.We are in the SEC we are going to have to have a big name coordinator not one that never been one before so i blame Bobo and Mark Richt for putting him there.Auburn offensive coordinator is probably better than the head coach. Maybe we need him for a coach.Mark Richt best years were with Jim Donnan recruits.What does that tell you.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
9:11 pm
Delbert D all the DAWG fans forget when Dolley left UGA for AUBURN for a weekend, but they can’t forget when Crimmins did the samething.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
9:13 pm
I was kind of with you until you brought up BAMA.They didn’t look any better than us Sat on defense.
running backs coach
September 27th, 2010
9:14 pm
same ol deal, what do we do? This whole deal will work out soon. Maybe 2 more games. If not, change is a comin—-
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
9:14 pm
Richt became a HC at UGA with no prior HC experience.Bobo just aint getting it done
Delbert D.
September 27th, 2010
9:14 pm
SD88 – The female enrollment at Georgia Tech is now 36%. I found that out while looking for the diversity information that “Bill” requested in his racist post at 6:37.
I LOVE DA DOWGS
September 27th, 2010
9:16 pm
THE DAWGS WILL WIN THE REST OF THEIR GAMES AND WIN THE SUGER BOWL. BOOK IT!
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
9:16 pm
Name me a coach who DIDN’T win with the other guys players..The former coach couldn’t win with them was the problem
P. Bull Terrier
September 27th, 2010
9:17 pm
Jeff Schultz
September 27th, 2010
3:58 pm
“P.Bull Terrier — As most will tell you, I’m the least obsessed guy when it comes to recruiting. But most of those 4-5 star ratings don’t come from “media.” They come from recruiting services and websites.”
Thanks for the reply Jeff. In today’s world, when blogs and youtube videos are considered “news”, I use the term “media” loosly. Recruiting services are in the business of running web sites and generating page views to earn a buck – just like the AJC. Most even distribute print editions to a declining subscriber base – just like the AJC.
As far as my arguement that the problems at UGA are the fault of the “media”, it’s as logical as anything anyone else has posted here. That may not be saying much, but at least it was worth a couple of page views.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
9:17 pm
36 percent huh?No wonder
5150 P.O.A.D
September 27th, 2010
9:18 pm
SGDAWG BAMA’s D didn’t look better? Well, BAMA can find that 10 yard X 50 yard ENDZONE. Does BOBO have a GPS? I think he needs it to just find what Stadium his Offense needs to look for the ENZONE in. TYPE in BOULDER, CO to at least to see a satalite view of the Colorado Endzone.
Brandon
September 27th, 2010
9:18 pm
I don’t see how anybody can say that Richt has “blind loyalty” to his staff when he fired his old college roommate (and defensive coordinator) last year, along with the special teams coach and some other coaches at the end of the year… The new defensive coordinator and new defensive backs coach have sucked it up as far as I’m concerned. Yes, the offense has been anemic and lacked creativity, and Bobo definitely needs to go… But the most obvious problems have been a secondary who has given up huge plays and left receivers open by 20 or 30 yards, defensive arm tackling, and NO PRESSURE on the opposing quarterback. What happened to that “attacking defense” Grantham was supposed to bring? Murray has been great, but stupid offensive play calling has plagued us for years. There is not a more predictable offense scheme than running dive plays on 1st and 2nd down, and throwing on third and long. Or, going for it all on first down (and missing) once a game…
Delbert D.
September 27th, 2010
9:18 pm
POAD – Well, Cremins did get a parquet floor named after him, he and was welcomed back for the “Lethal Weapons 3″ anniversary.
P. Bull Terrier
September 27th, 2010
9:20 pm
As far as my misspelling “argument” (and who knows what else?), that was worth a page view, too.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
9:24 pm
POAD Richardson and Ingram…that’s the difference between UGA and BAMA I saw in that game.I’d take them two over anybody in the SEC though.
Dawg lifer
September 27th, 2010
9:25 pm
It seems like the time the wheels started coming off the offense is when Richt quit calling the plays. Time for him to be the offense leader again before the season ends.
Buckhead Bulldog
September 27th, 2010
9:26 pm
CMR needs to grow a sack……NOW! I knew BimBobo was an idiot in the UF game 2 years ago. Let me set it up for you…Stafford gets injured, Logan goes fresh into his first (1st) college game ever in the 3rd quarter, and the Dogs are still in the game…Dogs backed up within their OWN 10, and what does Miiiikay do? He has Logan throw into triple coverage with two future NFL draft picks on the number 1 defense in the country. Luckily, UF dropped the ball. Wouldn’t that kinda make you just run it up the middle and then kick? Not according to the Mikester…No, he throws it again, but this time Spikes does a pick 6. Not Logan’s fault…Mike Bobo’s fault. What a tard. He even looks like a waterhead.
First time in 38 years I have EVER turned a UGA game off at half time. Sickening!
Delbert D.
September 27th, 2010
9:26 pm
SGDawg – That’s up by 3 percentage points over the previous 4 years. By the way, the University of Georgia enrollment was under 10,000 when I was in high school.
J Scott
September 27th, 2010
9:26 pm
I blame BoBo and the Watergirl