After another flawed win, are Dogs ready for Florida? (Updated with Grantham video)
Aaron Murray and Georgia had some shaky moments Saturday at Vanderbilt. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 11:50 p.m.)
NASHVILLE – There’s a saying in sports: It’s not how, it’s how many. That assumes, of course, we’re not talking about college football polls or perceptions heading into the Florida game.
Georgia won again Saturday night. That makes five straight. If ever a five-game winning streak can cause discomfort, this is it. Vanderbilt, a team that had managed just three points in its previous two games, scored three second-half touchdowns. One came on a 96-yard kickoff return. Two others came on alarming efficient drives of 75 and 84 yards against a Bulldogs’ defense that was thought to be improving. So much for thought.
The Bulldogs, after leading 23-7, held on a for a 33-28 victory. The words “held on” never should appear before “victory” for a team that aspires to something higher than the Liberty Bowl again.
The Dogs’ four straight SEC wins have come over teams — Mississippi State, Mississippi, Tennessee, Vandy — with a combined record of 1-13. No, it’s not their fault they’re playing lousy teams. But this game wasn’t secure until time expired. A blocked punt with seven seconds hope gave the Commodores one last gasp of hope. An ensuing pass from Georgia’s 21-yard line went off the finger tips of a Vandy wide receiver, Chris Boyd in the end zone.
Is this progress?
The Dogs struggled to finish drives on offense. They wilted on defense. They were absolutely dreadful on special teams. They had discipline problems — from the players down to the combustible defensive coordinator. After this one finally, mercifully came to an end, players and coaches from both teams met at midfield. It looked like the stare-down before a rumble between the Jets and Sharks in Westside story.
At the center of it were Vandy coach James Franklin and Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who exchanged heated words. (Go to the end of the column for the video.)
Georgia coach Mark Richt wasn’t happy after the game, nor should he have been. First, he put an asterisk on the win: “I just don’t know if we’re ready to continue at the top of the Eastern Division the way we played. We’re thankful for the victory but we’ve got a ways to go.”
Then he addressed his team’s lack of discipline and short fuse. He said he didn’t get a good look at the post-game exchange, but commented, “All I know is I hate the fact at the end of the game that we can’t just shake hands like gentleman and walk off the field. … It’s like the end of a play. When it’s over it’s over. Go to the sideline. And we didn’t do a very good job of that. It is heated. It is battle. It’s not war with real bullets but it’s war in a sense and tempers do flare up. I don’t mind our blood [pressure] getting high but we can’t do something that may get us beat, or make us look less than a first-class operation.”
Grantham was cryptic with his remarks, saying only: “Everybody’s competitive. I love my players. I support my players.”
Franklin: “I went to find coach Richt and didn’t find him, so I found one of his assistant coaches and it didn’t go well.”
Was this a Vandy game?
In short, this wasn’t the kind of performance that is going to inspire confidence going into the Florida game in two weeks, even with the Gators themselves struggling. (Less we forget, the Gators were struggling last season when they won for the 19th time in 21 meetings.)
A blown transformer caused four banks of lights at Vanderbilt Stadium to go out with 2:53 left in the first half. Some of the game was played amid dark shadows. Just as well. Most Vandy games are best played in the dark anyway.
Richt was hoping his team would quick start. That didn’t happen. The offense was as dim as the half-lit stadium. The first four possessions: missed field goal (50 yards), punt (three and out), field goal (53 yards), missed field goal (42 yards). Twice the Dogs failed to capitalize on Vandy turnovers. Their first touchdown came only after a botched Commodores punt.
Also contributing to the early problems: The absence of running back Isaiah Crowell. Richt benched him for the entire first quarter. He confirmed after the game it was not injury related but rather for something off the field. But he wouldn’t specify. (The logical assumption: Some kind of disciplinary measure.)
The five straight wins aside, the Dogs still show flaws. The fact they’re showing them against bad competition is the biggest concern. After driving to a field goal to open the second half, they allowed Vandy’s Andre Hal to return a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, which narrowed the lead to 23-14.
Discipline and intelligence remain issues: On the ensuing kickoff, Shawn Williams hit a Vandy player late, drawing his second personal foul of the game. (Later in the game, Kwame Geathers was flagged for punching Vandy’s Logan Stewart on the ground after a play, but officials called offsetting personal fouls.)
Aaron Murray threw for 326 yards but he also misfired at times (22 for 38). The Dogs couldn’t finish drives, and Murray missed a wide open Marlon Brown at the five-yard line for a certain touchdown before the team settled for its fourth field goal of the night. The lead (26-14) was comfortable. The performance was not comforting.
It took two trick plays before they found the end zone against Georgia: a 35-yard pass play on a fake punt, and a 43-yard, half-back pass from Zac Stacy to Jordan Matthews for a touchdown. But there they were, reeking havoc late. First came the kickoff return. Then came the 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that closed the lead to 26-21. When Murray responded with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Brown, Vandy — Vandy! — showed its resiliency with another long scoring drive, this one ending on a 19-yard run by Stacy with nine minutes left.
The Dogs kept us guessing to the end.
Going into the Florida game, that’s a problem.
Grantham goes ballistic
By Jeff Schultz
Follow me on Twitter (@JeffSchultzAJC). Friend me on Facebook (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
958 comments Add your comment
The SEC West
October 15th, 2011
11:05 pm
winner will really appreciate the secLeast winner providing us with warm up scrimmage for our NC game.
Mike D
October 15th, 2011
11:05 pm
I wanted to believe in Mark Richt but now am convinced I was delusional. I’m firmly in the corner of those that would like to see a change…Fire Mark Richt, it must be done. It’s embarrassing that we’re playing around in the 4th quarter with a team like Vandy, I’m done and I hope CMR is too. No one can seriously believe this team has a chance to beat either Florida or Auburn and therefore will lose the SEC East and be relegated to the Liberty Bowl or Outback at best…
jack bull
October 15th, 2011
11:05 pm
uh, that is an oxymoron if i heard one…..another flawed win?!?!? huh? Come on Man!
don
October 15th, 2011
11:06 pm
You’re kidding me? What kind of gutless, unlead football team do we have anymore? McGarity & Adams, it’s time to do the right thing and end this debacle that continues to embarrass the entire UGA family. Go find someone to instill some accountability and respect to this team before it’s too late. I hope it doesn’t come down to the alumni withholding their $, but it may be the only thing you understand. I know I’ll be withholding my AF contribution. Let’s see how many other 6 figure donors I can get to go along with me.
Brandon
October 15th, 2011
11:06 pm
I have seriously had it with some of the idiot fans on this site….You call for CMR to be fired, let me ask you something, who else out there has a better track record as a coach. There isnt anyone out there, of course there are some assistant coaches, but that is exaclty what CMR was when he came to us. All he has done over the past 10 seasons is take us to 2 SEC championships, and another SEC championship game. We have finished in the top 10 at the end of the season all but 3 r 4 times I believe. Won somthing like 8 r 9 bowl games, including 3 BCS bowls. he has over a 100 wins(average that out over 10 years). We are lucky to have him.
GaDawg
October 15th, 2011
11:07 pm
After another flawed loss, are the Gators ready for Georgia?
Shepdawg
October 15th, 2011
11:07 pm
We are the worst 5-2 team I have ever seen! I almost can’t watch them play anymore and I have been a fan my whole life. This is sad. Really sad.
Joshua
October 15th, 2011
11:07 pm
You guys need to stop your whining about Todd Grantham….he is doing something that CMR should have done a long time ago. He is getting fired up about his players, and he obviously has their back in a fight. CMR is all about singing kumbaya and modeling young men. Grantham cares about one thing and one thing only….Winning…duh!!
JB in Blakely
October 15th, 2011
11:08 pm
Not a good performance but an ugly win is better than a well played loss! Crowell is hurt, Mitchell is out, and Walsh is struggling. Biggest concern is special teams. Backups are not cutting it. Need to get a few more starters on special teams against Florida.
Dawgs overcame alot of adversity tonight and won. Go Dawgs!
Red Dog 77
October 15th, 2011
11:08 pm
Anyone remember a few years ago, Alabama had to block a fielg goal by Tenn. with time running out to win………….If memory serves, Alabama won National Championship that year………Tenn. won what 5/6 games?………Yup, I wasn’t happy with having to change my drawers, but it was a W!……….You can’t do better than a win……….RED
Puppy puke
October 15th, 2011
11:08 pm
burp…
Josephus
October 15th, 2011
11:08 pm
The Grantham incident was disturbing and embarrassing. I wonder if he’ll be fired. If so, it’s sad……he seemed to have gotten the defense on the right track. JMHO….
DAWG with two bags over head
October 15th, 2011
11:09 pm
Special teams were horrible. Let’s fire the special teams coach! Oh wait, we don’t have one. That might be the CONTINUING PROBLEM!
King Vitamin
October 15th, 2011
11:10 pm
The Dawgs can play better than that and Jeff can write better than that. An off night for both. Well let’s get to work and beat Will and Fat Charlie.
Arx
October 15th, 2011
11:10 pm
One thing is certain… Dawgs fans don’t like to lose… or win badly. Speaking for myself, I know I don’t. I know we are better… the talent on this team is almost unmatched anywhere.
I also like Richt… like him a lot. I also liked Donnan too. Sometimes like and dislike don’t play. Sometimes it just goes over the hedges.
I think TG let his emotions get the best of him. It may cost him a job. I think Richt needs to sack Bobo and get the offense on track again before he loses it all.
Talent, tradition and a huge, adoring and cranky fan base… UGA has it all.
How I long for the days of the Junk Yard Dawgs.
kerryb
October 15th, 2011
11:11 pm
The question should be is Florida ready for the Dawgs? The answer is no. Florida is just terrible.
jack bull
October 15th, 2011
11:11 pm
A Murray is the problem here people. not the coaching. Not. Very. Good.
kerryb
October 15th, 2011
11:12 pm
Josephus, Grow a set. It’s football. I think he was sticking up for his players because they were getting cut blocked all night.
joseph pulitzer
October 15th, 2011
11:12 pm
guess the north ave trade school would like to have had an ugly win today….ugly, undisciplined, same ol same ol, however take this win over a pretty loss…..How bout those UVA Wahoos
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1eyedJack
October 15th, 2011
11:12 pm
Damn guys, let’s look on the positive side.
We got the win.
No serious injuries?
Murray had a good game.
We get two weeks to rest up and get healthy.
We got two weeks to work on some things…I hope.
Florida lost.
Grantham didn’t actually throw a punch. The boy’s got fire. Wonder about his anger management.
South Carolina still appears vulnerable.
Marlon Brown finally had a breakout game.
GT got beat by Virginia!
We’re not Georgia Tech!!!!
Go Dawgs!
Red Dog 77
October 15th, 2011
11:12 pm
Can anyone tell me what happened at the end of the game between Todd Grantham and Vandy’s coach?………….That is when everyone is tired of crapping on Richt and “my” BULLDOGS………..Thank you for the feedback in advance………..RED
Dawg Nation
October 15th, 2011
11:12 pm
A win is a win. It wasn’t pretty, but it keeps us alive in the race to Atlanta. All the Tech losers commenting on this board need to get a life and boo-hoo yourselves to sleep over the epic collapse to…. VIRGINIA! AHAHAHAHA!! LOSERS! Dawgs win! Get over it.
MDG
October 15th, 2011
11:12 pm
The refs let the game get out of hand in the second half by not calling cheap shots. I put the scuffle at the end of the game on them. You can only take so many cheap shots before you lose your cool. Most of you idiots never played football but are calling someone classless for losing it in the heat of the moment. Could Grantham have had a cooler head, sure. But I love his fire when his guys are under attack. Bobo’s end of game playcalling on the other hand…
Fla's
October 15th, 2011
11:12 pm
losses are to Ala,Lsu,and Aub-you really think Ga would have beat any of those teams the way they are playing? I would not be counting my chickens(beating Fla) before they hatch.
Rodney Allan
October 15th, 2011
11:13 pm
At least Todd Grantham has emotion about football. While Mark Richt just plays with his mic. Todd Grantham cares about his job and his players, no one can argue that. TG is a damn good coach! Will Muschamp runs, jumps, and yells so why can’t Todd Grantham do the same? I don’t care if he was yelling or cussing at the coach. When did college football become hop scotch and cake baking, grow a pair and stand up for what you think is right! GO DAWGS and Thank God for TODD GRANTHAM!!
David
October 15th, 2011
11:13 pm
4 years ago this week: UGA ” eeks out a win at Vandy” after 2 early season losses. Has an off week before FLA. With a Soph QB & a Fresh RB tears through the rest of schedule, misses winning east in tie breaker. Finishes season winning Sugar and ranked #2. Not saying it happens again, but don’t freak out too much about “how” you win certain games
J Clay
October 15th, 2011
11:13 pm
Not defending Grantham but would like to understand what happened before demonizing him. Some are saying Franklin made some comments to him first. Possible it is like the late hit call when many times it is retaliation that gets seen….or maybe not. Point is let’s get facts before calling for his head
OkieDawg
October 15th, 2011
11:14 pm
Last year, I attended both the Colorado game and the UCF game and was able to see the body language of our players on the side lines, NO PASSION. I left both those games with a sick feeling about the future of UGA football. With wins against CC, Ole MS, Ms St and Tenn, I allowed myself to feel good again about UGA. However, we just witnessed another UGA outing against an inferior opponent that was as ugly as Colorado and UCF. Is being outsmarted time and time again the same thing as being out coached? PITIFUL! I’ll wait to find out what caused the CTG outburst and not condemn. Hopefully, Coach Franklin started it and CTG was just showing some PASSION, albeit, the FIRST of the night.
I remember the Real DAWGS
October 15th, 2011
11:14 pm
Our special teams were a disaster. Someone tell the coaches and players about fake punts, on side kicks, and how to block when we punt. And why are we kicking off short? And the inability to tackle is shocking. And the DAWGS are not improving. And where is the discipline? It really hurts to see an Alabama team play football and know that Georgia is so nonfunctional.
kerryb
October 15th, 2011
11:14 pm
Red Dog 77, havent heard yet but everyone seems to believe that he was angry because Vandy was cut blocking at the knees of his players all night.
TampaGator
October 15th, 2011
11:14 pm
Dawg fans….
Congrats on your very impressive win over Vandy tonight. Still think you have a chance against LSU or Bama? The SEC East really horrible this year. If you don’t beat the Gators this year, you may never beat the Gators again.
P.S……to the refs of the Auburn/Florida game tonight……you can’t hit the punt returner before he catches the ball…..that is a rule. And note to Muschamp….spend some time having your punt returners catching punts.
Herschel Talker
October 15th, 2011
11:14 pm
Schultzie:
The Mark Richt koolaid drinkers are out again. Another crap performance by our guys against another crap team. Nice to see Richt coaching up his punter on the last play of the game. Brilliant stuff. Just tell the guy to kick it fast, but no, I guess he forgot that he actually has to coach. Another garbage win making this mirage of a comeback season even more of a mirage. Pathetic that this doofus is going to get another year.
HT
John McCain
October 15th, 2011
11:14 pm
Jeff: Take off your Sarah Palin glasses and be a man, or I’ll send Todd Grantham to pay you a visit. Wish you had been at mid-field, would have been awesome to see you pee your pants.
matt
October 15th, 2011
11:15 pm
Jeff,
Where was your article after the win in Knoxville last weel? It was conspicuously absent.
You’re a hater. You look for any reason to hate on this program and have done so since CMR dressed you down in his presser 6 yrs ago or so. YOu’re becoming an embarassement.
Hairy Dawg
October 15th, 2011
11:15 pm
We ready to put the wounded lizzards out of the misery. I told you we goning table running to GA Dome. Gaytors wents in opposites direction streaking with losses and finding ways to lose by fumblings punsts. The Zooking team of traitor Muschumps and flabby boy Wies don’t have a “schematic advantage” when playing teams with talents like Dawgs. I looking forward to partying down to Jax and then partying on win on drive back.
Gooooooo Dawgs!
Sick ‘En!
Coffee Bluff DAWG
October 15th, 2011
11:15 pm
That’s about as bad as it gets and still get a win. Doesn’t look like Vandy could win a FB game if you gave it to them.
Actually we tried to give it to them.
tonto
October 15th, 2011
11:15 pm
Another reason we need a coaching change…………pitiful
real dawg
October 15th, 2011
11:16 pm
Fat tire, Tech needs you you are a sorry excuse for a dawg fan, not pretty but a win, Why is it difficult for you to tip your hat to a team (vandy) that played its heart out , pulled every trick out the book and still lost. Tech needs you. I will be in Jax. werar a T shirt that says flat tore and I will make sure your face resembles one
Vinings Dawg
October 15th, 2011
11:16 pm
Dawgs need better special teams and the psychiatrist smoltzie used once upon a time. Now even the kickers suck … Geeeze
1eyedJack
October 15th, 2011
11:16 pm
Say what you will about Samuel, but that boy is a DGD. He limped through the whole game but manned up.
Crowell looked a bit stiff and stove up. Ineffective. Hope some rest does him some good.
Special Teams???????? WTF?
ok
October 15th, 2011
11:17 pm
to bad that grantham gets fired. woody hayes incident and ncaa may get involved
Troup Dawg
October 15th, 2011
11:17 pm
Grantham was addressing the cheap way the Dores finished plays. The Oline for Vandy went for the knees of Ga. players several times after the play. I applaud him for taking to the Vandy coach. If gonna coach dirty play take the call out when it happens.
kerryb
October 15th, 2011
11:17 pm
TampaGator, Dont even try tonight. You couldn’t score a TD against an Auburn’s defense which is not very good.
Sambo 4 Rambo
October 15th, 2011
11:17 pm
Love the school spirit TG showed. Bout time im not the only one pissed at the cheap shots the whole game! And seriously if the special teams did there job this would have been a blow out….but they didnt so now all you tree huggin “ga fans” think we need a whole new coaching staff. It humors me from all you office cubicle rejects chime into judging these coaches and the game and have never played a down of football.
RNB
October 15th, 2011
11:17 pm
We need to thank Jeremy Foley for hiring Muschamp. Mark it down this will turn out to be a huge mistake. Good coordinator, not a head coach.
Teerod
October 15th, 2011
11:17 pm
Nah, all you fat bstards missed the point, when’s the last time GA got one of those 5star road grader O-linemen like Albalama and Erburn get ____Every year? What part of loosing the battle at the line of scrimmage do you not get? AAArrg.Stupid.
Dr. Morpheus
October 15th, 2011
11:17 pm
Memo to actual UGA fans: All those people criticizing another SEC road win and a 5 game winning streak are just trying to get a reaction out of you. That’s their idea of “having a life.” If a comment has no thought behind it, ignore it. Time to gear up for UF…
jack bull
October 15th, 2011
11:18 pm
let’s see, start at 33, two missed FG’s, + 6= 39, missed WIDE OPEN M Brown for a TD, +7=46, throw an Int when you definitely should be playing for a FG +3+.=49.. that’s the way i saw it.
Not pretty
October 15th, 2011
11:18 pm
Mark Richt may not be a great coach but he is a better football coach than Jeff Schultz is a journalist.
Professor Moriarty
October 15th, 2011
11:18 pm
Let me guess: Is Willie Martinez coaching the special teams?