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
Sautee Dawg
September 27th, 2010
2:30 pm
Coach said last night on his TV show with Chuck Dowdel, “We’re a family, We win as a family and WE lose as a family” As of now our record is 1-3 as a family.
Hey Coach. Someone in our family is not pulling their share of the load.
Bo
September 27th, 2010
2:30 pm
Mike Bobo is not the problem on offense. Everyone that wants Richt to go back to calling plays obviously doesn’t remember his ultra-conservative, ‘sideways’ offense. Everyone was thrilled when he “grew” as a head coach and gave those duties to Bobo.
Bobo has called great games with the pieces that he has had. The first 2 years with Stafford, our line couldn’t block anybody and we had to run a lot of screens and quick passes to compensate. Also, our receivers were dropping passes for 2 years straight.
With Joe Cox, we couldn’t throw the ball farther than 20 yards and we still couldn’t block anyone except Vandy and Tech and that’s because those D-lines were undersized.
JB
September 27th, 2010
2:31 pm
Grantham was smart to get a 3 year contract…..He’ll take a year off and go back to the NFL as line coach…..a little richer.
Hayseed Dixie
September 27th, 2010
2:31 pm
Pre season No. 1
Blackout vs. Alabama
Black Helmets vs. Florida
Damon Evans: “If you drink and drive, you lose.”
Red Panties: “He has that power”
Fulmer Award. 10 players arrested.
Third choice for DC. Two guys got raises.
0-3 in the SEC. Losses to Spurrier (Hitler), Petrino (Bin Laden) and MSU (Matthau).
At Georgie, the jokes just write themselves.
If I were blood-donating alumni, I’d be ready to fly the black flag and cut some throats.
What a complete, utter, joke of a program.
Tim Teblows!
September 27th, 2010
2:31 pm
I think it’s more Bobo’s fault than anyone, although Richt is to blame for not taking over the offense. Bobo’s play calling has always been terrible. The only reason we did well when he first took over was because Stafford had a rocket arm. Bobo always calls deep pass plays, and Joe Cox and now Murray can’t make those throws. He needs to call crossing patterns and other shorter routes that allow his receivers to get the ball with some room to run and make a play. Without AJ around, I would have thought he would try that, but he didn’t. When AJ comes back, I bet they call screens and other short routes to let AJ do his thing and the offense will be more productive. He still should have been doing that the whole time. Oh, and what happened to our running game from the end of last year to this year. It is dreadful!
True Dawg
September 27th, 2010
2:31 pm
And Baker is simply a victem of poor timing….Adams issued an edict of zero tolerance and Baker was the next guy.,…..the next guy will get canned, too—if there is a next guy–which is the point. There’s a good chance there won’t be.
Bob Sacamano
September 27th, 2010
2:32 pm
It’s all George Bush’s fault.
superDawg
September 27th, 2010
2:32 pm
Butler is going to have a great year.
Fat Matt Wilson
September 27th, 2010
2:32 pm
The NCAA is to blame. We win all game if AJ play. Georgia best team in world. Best coach, uniform, alumni, history, stadium, players, colors.
Still nauseated from Saturday
September 27th, 2010
2:32 pm
No defense is conditioned to have to play as long as UGa’s has been having to. They don’t even have time to get a drink of water before they have to go back on the field. Hats off to them, at least we haven’t been blown out like 50 to 12. For God’s sake, don’t make the Freshman QB stay under center. He can’t see any routes opening up having to drop back to pass. The HC and OC are to blame here.
ga gator
September 27th, 2010
2:33 pm
True Dawg if McGarrity brings the UF game to Athens, Richt will follow the Zooker.
The way I see it
September 27th, 2010
2:33 pm
Ga should be scoreing at will with their talent…
BoBo said the Q needs to get rid of the ball faster well I agree because if he doesn’t he is pretty much on his own with the non existant
proctection.
And the score would have been worse if it wasn’t for South C. and Miss.
receivers dropping wide open passes.
BoBo needs to go now not later! If a team doesn’t have a “D” they had best have a great “O”.
We have neither…………
Honky Talkin'
September 27th, 2010
2:34 pm
I bet Clarke County Detention Center has a great team this fall!
Nick
September 27th, 2010
2:34 pm
Richt, ultimately is responsible for the problems, then it trickles down from there. He needs to have more imput, if not all, into the offensive play calling, giving Bobo at the least a demotion back to QB coach, which frankly I think suits him very well.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Searles needs to go. His linemen have done nothing but underachieve, and at best put a half a season together consistently since his arrival.
Discipline is a big problem, and that lies with Richt.
Richt needs to get an answer from Grantham about constant blown coverages, and the fact that the D-line is being humiliated and blown off the line of scrimmage on every play. Find a way to get some beef up there. Unfortunately Anderson’s lost for the year. He provided a very big boy that could have plugged that line up.
Bobo needs to step aside and give Richt back control of the play calling again, or for crying out loud, at least open the freaking play book up. If something consistently does not work, stop going to it. That doesn’t take a genius. Stop with the conservative crap on 2nd and 3rd and long, etc.
Also, Jeff, I disagree with your assessment of the only receiver doing anything being Durham. Quite frankly, Tavares King has been very impressive, but isn’t thrown to nearly enough. Same goes with Charles.
Kickoff teams continue to be a huge dud. Who’s responsible for that?
1. Richt
2. Fabris.
End of story!
As far as the defense goes, I’ve been the most disappointed in them, save the O-line play. Where is all this aggression and blitzing and pressure on the QB’s we were promised that we’ve all missed so badly since VanGorder’s departure?
I will say one thing though about that, how many times have you seen it take until the second season for things to work out for a new coaching staff? It happens frequently, whether talking about a head coach or an assistant. So maybe things will get better after the new system’s been in place. Who knows?
I kept wondering Saturday and the Saturday before, what happened to that coach that took a new team up to Knoxville in 2001 as under-dogs and saw that Travis kid take a screen pass 60+ yards with a few seconds left. (An unprobable play, mind you). I felt like given that same situation today, this team simply would give up at that point and go home with the heads hung low. But in 2001, they kept fighting even though it seemed at the time to be impossible to win that game considering all factors. I felt it, and so did most of you. Because until then for years, we had seen game after game slip away. Yet they did pull it off. And we have a “hob-nail boot” story to tell forever because of it. Where have these passionate coaches and players gone? I know the passionate fans are still out there. We’re just tired of being disappointed over and over.
And finally, yes, if Richt somehow manages to right the ship and win out, it will take this heat off, but based on what I’ve seen thusfar, I ain’t got a lot of faith in that happening. Please prove me wrong.
Buck Belue wears a toupee
September 27th, 2010
2:34 pm
Don’t blame my best friend Herschel! I use to wash his clothes every Friday night and feed him beautiful blonde women all week. Also helped him with his A-B-C and 1-2-3…. those GED courses were tough man!!!!
MURPHY
September 27th, 2010
2:34 pm
ga gator,
I agree Bama is tough and the best team in the country,but if your team can play them close till late in the 4th qtr you will have a shot.They make great halftime adjustments but so does Urban. This game should be a classic.I will be watching-Good luck to yall.
ga gator
September 27th, 2010
2:36 pm
Thanks Murph, but we will need a lot of luck. John Wooden once said, I would rather be lucky than good.
Billllll Kiiiiing - the junkyard blawgger
September 27th, 2010
2:36 pm
What color socks should we wear next week ????????????
89Eagle
September 27th, 2010
2:36 pm
things need to change Now though I feel it would be best for the program and the coach to lead another program such as the likes for a Georgia Southern or a Georgia State. Only then I think Coach Richt would experience tremendous success both personally and professionally.
Sorry We have a coach and we don’t want Richt here. We have the best of both worlds. Coach Monken is a great man and also he has shown that he can really coach. We don’t want to become FSU/Miami. Keep him in Athens.
Dawg_Mike
September 27th, 2010
2:36 pm
Folks, here is all you need to know:
CMR said he talked with Bobo about moving back up into the press box so he could see the field better. Bobo said he was more comfortable on the field.
It’s pretty obvious that CMR goes along with whatever his assistants want to do right or wrong.
juvenal
September 27th, 2010
2:36 pm
gotta be a red jumpsuit, russ-ut’s got dibs on the orange/cuffs look…at some point folks gotta wonder about the scam the recruiting services run, basing on only athletics & not character is not useful-Sean Bedford, a walk-on brought no stars to brag about, & he’s about the only good OL we’ve got-get well soon!
joe
September 27th, 2010
2:38 pm
I blame Ray Goff
new regime is the only answer unless...
September 27th, 2010
2:38 pm
It doesn’t matter who’s fault it is. What does matter is that the trend over the last three years has been a tremendous downward spiral. That, in turn, affects recruiting. So, even if the Dogs improve this season (like last season) it won’t help. When Donan arrived, we had an upward spike. Then his teams faultered. When Richt arrived, we had another upward spike. But, he instead of building on that momentum by recruiting and building better teams, the opposite has happened. That’s what matters. Richt has been losing the recruiting and developing game to Florida, Alabama and now South Carolina and Auburn. Richt’s a good man, but it ain’t happening in Athens.
Miss St or Uga...can't tell the diff.
September 27th, 2010
2:39 pm
What’s the problem. Did you really think Starkville Tech would be a pushover? I told you they weren’t.
Uugh...
September 27th, 2010
2:40 pm
Sorry that was your blogger friend Bill “I am too Sensitive” King.
Richt.
He is too passive. He worries more about the players reaction to a bad play than he does about preventing the bad play in the first place. Meyer and Saban actively coach kids not to fail. Richt says “Here is how to act when you do fail.” If you expect success, maybe you get it. If you expect failure, maybe you get that too.
He should also be held accountable for our laughable Special Teams. We look ridiculous defending (if you could call it that) punts. We don’t try for a block or set up a return. Plus the guys on the line come out of their stance and just stand there. It looks like a walk-through in a real-live game!! ALL of the coaches should be embarassed by this.
Much of the failures of this team are on Richt…I would like to mention one of his successes though. We should all congratulate Coach Richt for Recruiting and Coaching up the single greatest Fair Catch Specialist in the history of college football. Logan Gray? He has it all–He waves his hand as the ball is coming towards him, he catches that ball, hands it to the ref, and runs to high fives on the sidelines. You are way ahead of the curve with this one Coach–Congratulations!
One question though…why don’t any of the other 115 teams in college football have a Fair Catch Specialist. Could it be because they actually try and return punts!? That likely requires practice though. I know, I know, we don’t have an extra 15 minutes a day in our hectic practice schedule for Special Teams, what with all the trips to the pool and the NOT tackling going on.
WonderDawg
September 27th, 2010
2:40 pm
Bo is actually Bobo (2:30)
What up?
September 27th, 2010
2:40 pm
If Bush were in charge, he’d definitely screw it up.
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2010
2:42 pm
The Dog fans deserve a lot of the blame. Every coach and players (and recruit) reads these blogs regardless of what they tell you. And only a complete idiot would want to coach-play for a fan base as negative as georgia’s. I’m not kidding. You guys are impossible to play for.
Jeff
September 27th, 2010
2:43 pm
IT’S THE ECONOMY STUPID!
coachKR
September 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
dog fan
i agree with you 100%!
Uugh...
September 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
Thanks man.
jdawg1735
September 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
I think that it’s not so much the player’s fault as it is the coach’s. The coaches do the recruiting. All that aside, Go Dawgs!!
The alumni and the UGA money men $$ make the decisions
September 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
UGA grads for a few years have been dis satisfied by the UGA results. Yes, the last Sugar Bowl was a no pressure, nice win but we knew that they ( Hawaii ) were too small and had no talent. We of course, were right. A nice win and we will take it.
Last year was THE YEAR for Richt to have excuses …….. a transition year between M Stafford’s era and Aaron Murray’s, new running backs, new O line, new this and new that. Well, um, ah, we went 8-5, Joe Cox was horrific after being in the system for 4+ years and the loss to KY at home was very, very bad, in historical terms. When that happens, usually over history, the coach gets gone from UGA.
Now ………..we are STILL losing to all of the SEC teams ……….and the team appears to be in disarray. We know the many issues. UGA might not win but one or two more. Another 7-5 year would have been very bad for Richt ……….now this??? 4-8? 4-7?? Wow.
The alumni and the UGA heavy $$ money folks will quietly talk with new AD McGarity and Dr Adams and they will make the decision. Personally, I think this is over due by three or four years.
UGA can easily have a fair to good recruiting year in 2011, with a brand new staff, then get some beef in 2012 and 2013 and along the way, rebuild our franchise for the better. This is not life and death folks.
Go Dogs
UGA class of 71 &3
Dawg_Mike
September 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
speed of the captain …speed of the ship.
It’s CMR’s program, thus…it’s his responsibility to put a product on the field worthy of wearing that Uniform and symbolizing our University proudly.
Please excuse me, I think I just threw up a little in my mouth….other than Murray, Durham and Gray, we aint got no damn good dawgs this year.
WonderDawg
September 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
Superdawg, yeah, at Butler will have at least two miles of punts!
Bobo’s 3-and-outs will build his leg up, get him ready for the NFL . . .
It is simple math
September 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
Unrealistic Expectations+poor coaching+0 Discipline=The current state of the UGA football program
Boise Dawg
September 27th, 2010
2:45 pm
Truth be told.. I feel like our offense has struggled and underachieved every season under Richt. Yeah we have put some points up, but in games we have dominated and won during his tenure a lot was due to the defense creating turnovers. Richt has yet to field a top 20 offense during his tenure at Georgia. We have had a few good offenses, but never a great one. Georgia didn’t start to struggle as a program until the defense started to falter.
Dawg_Mike
September 27th, 2010
2:45 pm
I know my grammar wasn’t correct but there is simply no other way to say it.
It is simple math
September 27th, 2010
2:46 pm
A leading punter+leading fieldgoal kicker=poor offense
DaltonDawg
September 27th, 2010
2:46 pm
I usually don’t agree with Yellow Fuzz but I do think that bloggers, no matter how well intended, can work against the team. I read some serious micro managing (even in the plastering of La-La). And the last three weeks has just been brutally disheartening.
Hayseed is a Moron
September 27th, 2010
2:46 pm
Hayseed Dixie…what a complete, utter joke you are for a person!
WonderDawg
September 27th, 2010
2:46 pm
Fuzz, you should try GT’s blogs on the AJC these days. You guys are giving PJ and Co at least as much grief as we are program.
The way I see it
September 27th, 2010
2:46 pm
If it takes a year for new coaching to take affect the if we get a new “O” coach next year Ga. will suffer through another rebuilding year.
Why is it that Fl. in a rebuild year still wins games and UGA is always a wait till next year team.
It is simple math
September 27th, 2010
2:47 pm
Bad football team= #1 punter+#1 fieldgoal kicker
Captain
September 27th, 2010
2:47 pm
The problem is rather simple, yet complicated. It isn’t the play calling, it isn’t the style of offense. The problem is two fold: 1) there is an absolute lack of talent on both sides of the ball. There are no Playmakers/Difference makers on either side. No RB who poses a threat to the opponent’s Def to take one the distance, nor a WR who can stretch the field, the skill set weapons are non existant. Couple that with a rookie QB and you will struggle. The OL is vastly undertalented and lacks physical strength and physicality. They don’t bury anyone, they aren’t nasty. Ala starts two OL from the state of Georgia, Fla starts one from Georgia, yet none were recruited or offered by Coach Richt’s staff. 2) the strength and conditioning program is lagging far behind others. We hear it from NFL folks, we hear it from players. Coach Richt’s good friend Dave Van Halanger is behind the times. The OL is certainly showing the effects. As for Stacy Searles, he had fine lines at LSU, many players who went to the NFL. Should we conclude he has forgotten how to coach? It seems to me, we’ve had critical injuries to big talents which everyone forgets. Trinton Sturdivant was an All SEC LT as a Freshman, yet double knee surgery kept him off the field in 2008 and 2009, he isn’t the player he once was. Austin Long was regarded as one of the nation’s top OT prospects, however a serious back injury put his future playing in jeopardy. This year’s prize OT freshman Brent Benedict suffered a major knee injury in high school, from which he may never fully recover. Combine the injuries with the misses and the S&C program you end up with a patchwork, undertalented, weak performing OL.
Not excuses, facts. Could the coaching be better, Recruiting is part of coaching, it is evident someone wasn’t doing the job. Someone has to answer for the lack of talent. Please, don’t cite recruiting rankings, some of the players in those classes didn’t make it, some have been injured, plus there were some very bad choices made. Caleb King over Jon Dwyer, Jon Knox over Morgan Burnett, not offering Mario Fannin, overlooking the 3 OL mentioned above. The program didn’t arrive at where it is overnight, the problems can’t be resolved in a flash.
joe
September 27th, 2010
2:47 pm
The nails in the coffin for CMR and staff might be a losing record this year, followed by committed recruits jumping ship before signing day. I’ve already heard a few commits are wavering, so if that turns out to be the case, bye bye coach.
bamafan
September 27th, 2010
2:48 pm
What a nice bunch of folks on this blog!!! WAR DAMN EAGLE !!!! is still blogging with himself on the Barnhart article………..7 pages of blog and he must have posted upwards of 60 comments.
I am sorry to see what has happened in Athens even though I am a BamaFan. I think the off-field
problems and lack of discipline gave way to a lack of discipline on the field. The coaching at all levels appears to be suspect. The laid-back coaching style is not getting it done. The changes to the defense occurred one even two seasons too late. Understand the young QB and a new defensive scheme; cannot understand what has happened to the offensive line and running backs.
This is reminiscent of the 2000 season at Bama where we went 3-8 (and lost to Central Florida) and had to fire Mike Dubose……..Ugly – I think Richt needs to find a new line coach and new offensive coordinator quickly……….
The Dogfather
September 27th, 2010
2:48 pm
lowcountry- vs. lltc. after the score cCTG chewd a litl azz out. CMR told him to tone it down….
Top Dog
September 27th, 2010
2:48 pm
I think the GA Fans and alumni are owed the Itinerary for the course of action that CMR is taking to fix this crap. I do not want to hear well, “We are getting AJ back this week”. I am still not sure that he should not be suspended for the entire season.
Dawgystyle
September 27th, 2010
2:48 pm
Coaching, coaching and more coaching!
It start’s at the top with CMR and it goes to the coordinators.
Granthem gets a pass because it’s his first year and not his players in a new scheme.
But, CMR & Bobo do not get a pass at all. CMR for the overall preparation and style of play.
Bobo aint helping with his horribly predictable play calling.
I suggest EVERY coach on the team start holding each player responsible for their actions.
If they make mistakes over and over, get them out of the game.
If they are not smart enough to make an adjustment, get them out of the game.
This all goes for off the field too.
Until this happens UGA will continue to struggle and poor results follow.
So then the question becomes: is a coaching change needed?