Georgia has uncomfortable mix of highlights, slapstick
The Bulldogs celebrated their win but know they have to play much better. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS — Georgia arrived at 5-0 at the most unexpected place: Smack at the intersection of the Sun Belt Conference and a Marx Brothers movie.
This is where it’s important to point out that it’s only September, and style points don’t yet matter, and it’s not like Georgia did not do some pretty spectacular things Saturday (two freshmen running backs, Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, combining for 294 yards and five touchdowns), and this is the SEC, and a win is a win, and (add whatever cliché that comforts you).
But there was a point in Saturday’s game against Tennessee when you found yourself thinking, “OK, who’s going to pull out the seltzer bottle?”
When two teams combine for 95 points, 13 touchdowns, 46 first downs, 1,038 yards, three fumbles, four interceptions, two botched extra points, one blocked extra point, one blocked punt and one dropped kickoff return out of bounds at the 1-yard line, the last thing that comes to mind is that one of these teams supposedly is an SEC and BCS title contender.
“I was about to have a heart attack,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said.
“We definitely can’t do that kind of stuff if we want to be champions,” quarterback Aaron Murray said.
“I think this will ground us a little bit,” cornerback Sanders Commings said.
Georgia defeated Tennessee 51-44. We think. Maybe something else will happen on the replay.
Alec Ogletree had a tipped pass, leading to an interception, but admitted he felt "rust" after missing the first four games. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
The Dogs led 27-10 three minutes into the second quarter. They committed two turnovers and allowed three touchdowns in a span of 4:11 to fall behind. They scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the second half. Then they seemingly tried to blow it again, managing only one first down on their next four drives (Translation: “Take it. We don’t want it”), until Commings intercepted a Tyler Bray pass … with seven seconds remaining.
Well. That was easy.
Next week’s game against South Carolina should be a snap.
“This makes us stay humble,” Commings said. “Just because we’re undefeated doesn’t mean we’re unbeatable.”
And there it is.
Maybe something good will come out of this. The Bulldogs can do great things this season. They’re 3-0 in the SEC for the first time since 2005, which is the last season that they won the conference title.
But instead of receiving affirmation of Georgia’s lofty status in the rankings Saturday, we viewed highlights surrounded by slapstick.
Coach Mark Richt called the game’s PAT mishaps “a little bit of a comedy of errors.” But he could have been referring to almost anything.
If the Dogs had felt a little bit heady after their first four victories, this should bring them back down to Earth.
“We made mistakes, but it says something about this team that we came back,” Gurley said.
That would be the positive way to look at it. The negative will be on tape this week.
In the first half, Georgia seemed to morph from top-5, BCS contender to Compass Bowl bottom-feeder material in what seemed like 37 seconds. It was like watching somebody having this great day, hitting the lottery, finding the spouse of their dreams and taking a celebration stroll on the beach, only to suddenly have a mutant octopus from one of those Japanese monster movies reach out and grab them by the ankle.
It went from 27-10 Georgia to 30-27 Tennessee in 4 minutes, 11 seconds. Touchdown, Tennessee. Sack/fumble by Murray. Touchdown, Tennessee. Dropped kickoff return out of bounds at the 1 by Gurley. Fumble by Marshall. Touchdown, Tennessee.
If it was put to music on Broadway, there would’ve been a lot of cymbals and maybe a gong.
Georgia turnovers set up three easy Tennessee touchdowns (one interception return and two short drives off fumbles). But with the Dogs’ defense getting suspended players Bacarri Rambo and Alec Ogletree back in the lineup, you expected far better than Tennessee amassing 478 yards of offense.
Ogletree on he and Rambo: “We just had a little rust, some missed assignments. You can’t really simulate game speed.”
If anybody was looking ahead to the South Carolina game with supreme confidence, this should temper things a little. We’ll soon find out if a little grounding helps.
– Jeff Schultz
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
340 comments Add your comment
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2012
8:18 am
Last 5 Mike Bobo Possessions of the game
22 net yards 18 play calls
son's who?
September 30th, 2012
8:18 am
To paraphrase Strother Martin’s character in Butch Cassiday and The Sundance Kid: “Morons, I’ve got a blog full of Morons”.
Go Vols
September 30th, 2012
8:26 am
Didn’t claim a moral victory.
ugaclassof2004
September 30th, 2012
8:26 am
Hey gang,
Yesterday was a wake up call to be sure, but at the same time, let’s not go making South Carolina out to be something they are not. They struggled vs. Vandy and Kentucky before pulling away. Yeah they have some playmakers, but they have their weak spots too. The key for us is to not GIVE them opportunities. I’m getting really tired of this blaise “take our foot off the gas pedal” mentality that Richt’s teams ALWAYS seem to have. You can’t slack off in this league and expect to win, EVER. Why to you think Saban is constantly in his guys a$$es? Because he knows its human nature to become complacent when things are going well. If we play our game and limit out turnovers, we will beat South Carolina; there is not a doubt in my mind about that. But if we dick around and give the Gamecocks new life, they will pound us into the pavement.
guy
September 30th, 2012
8:31 am
Say what you want, you are going to have these type games during the season. The challenge is going to be if you can win the ugly games. We did and now on to the Chicken crowd.
Shorty Dog
September 30th, 2012
8:31 am
Ogletree on he and Rambo: “We just had a little rust, some missed assignments. You can’t really simulate game speed.”
That should be “on HIM and Rambo”! What happened to copy editing or just knowing this stuff to start with?
historydog
September 30th, 2012
8:32 am
First, the defense is not that bad. Give credit to Tenn offensive line and to a very good quarter back.
Second, the fact that is of the most concern is BoBo play calling after Ga. intercepted Bray with about 5 min left to play. Just like in the Michigan bowl game, he played not to lose instead of playing to win. Why not call plays like the ones just before half time; drive down and kick a field goal: the game is over! Sure there are risks, sure stops the clock with an incomplete pass, but play to win, be positive in play calling, not negative. The big worry about the SC game, Spurrier will out coach Bobo.
guy
September 30th, 2012
8:34 am
Tennesee would give FSU a run for the ACC title.
guy
September 30th, 2012
8:35 am
DId you see SC game, they looked awful against an awful team. It is what it is.
Beast from the East
September 30th, 2012
8:36 am
Go Vols,
Just busting your chops. I find it hilarious that the vast majority of the Vol Nation was planning their “field storming” celebration over my Gators a few weeks ago. One would think when you’ve been beaten by a team for 7 consecutive years you might want to show a little respect. Maybe they learned their lesson after UF made it 8 in a row? Time will tell.
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2012
8:37 am
_______________________________________________
sam : “Vs Vandy we had one of those 90 plus yard drives”
_______________________________________________
sam : “We did not have those plays called last night.
_______________________________________________
Vandie has 1 win all season long, and it only against Presbyterian Blue Hose college, who is Georgie tek’s only win besides beating Virginia who has lost 3 games in a row now. Tell me again how great Mark Richt is because he beat them ?
Aaron Murray and Mike Bobo always look good against the likes of Vandie. When will we understand that we’ve not beat a team who made the top 10 in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, or 2007. As many times as the defense handed Mike Bobo and Aaron Murray the football yesterday, they combined to take our last 5 possessions and gain a net 22 yards the last 18 plays of the game.
We should have lost that game. It was only the 3 interceptions and fumble recovery by the defense, that prevented us losing that game. Let’s go brag we’re 5-0 and ranked # 5. Maybe South Carolina will play like we do and maybe we will play like our fans know we can but haven’t.
Our special teams are just horrible. The manner in which we jerk around our players is inexcusable. What we do all week in practice, obviously has nothing to do with the game up-coming, except against Vandie.
_________________________________________________________________________
Mark Richt is # 8 of SEC teams at beating teams who made the top 10 in the Mark Richt era.
_________________________________________________________________________
That is not changing this season either, obviously. Now brag about beating South Carolina.
jerry
September 30th, 2012
8:41 am
This is nothing new. The Richt/Bobo m.o. has always been to go conservative with a late lead.
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2012
8:48 am
Go Vols :
“Guess we won’t be hearing about Jarvis Jones for Heisman. Still, a win is a win for the Dawgs. Nice resilience by my Vols to keep it interesting.”
__________________________________________________
Sure, you claimed a moral victory. It’s like our own DISNEYdawgs.com saying we were better than South Carolina last year because Steve Spurrier said so after the game. You did bottle up Jarvis Jones. Yes, his Heisman Trophy is lost forever now.
The vols made it interesting against Florida, and Florida has losses up-coming to Florida State, Georgia, LSU and South Carolina. Against Georgia, with us gaining 22 yards net total the last 18 plays our last 5 possessions, the vols found themselves still down the same score 44-51. You should have beat us. A good team would have. You aren’t a good team. You were unranked before the game. You have no defense. Your coaching sucks. You cannot recruit.
And, your fans run onto our board after the game and say you presume you won’t hear anything further about Jarvis Jones’ Heisman Trophy now and your vols sure did make the game interesting throwing 3 interceptions, fumbling the ball, missing extra points and having your punt blocked. How is that interesting to vols’ fans ?
Go Vols
September 30th, 2012
8:50 am
Fair point, Beast. Frankly, I was amazed at our confidence level going into that game since we’ve done nothing for several years against anyone. The UF – UGA game will be huge, especially if both are undefeated.
South Georgia Writer
September 30th, 2012
8:50 am
hitand run is gamecock. don’t expect him to understand football.
Mr. Hankey
September 30th, 2012
8:53 am
Did all that really happen? Man, I was there and didn’t see it. Gotta slow down my drinkin ways I suppose. Go Gata! (Just love to say that in fond memory of Corrine Brown.) We have da fyness corch in da nashun.. Okay. Seriously, I just finished my next to last beer. Thank goodness for the handle of Absolut still in the trunk or the Falcons game might be bleery eyed indeed. Remind me next year that I’m way too old to have season tickets for both teams. And that I am in a desperate state and crying for help. Help! Wouldn’t you know it, another stripper just answered my cry. Don’t tel my wife where I’ve been.
Shouldn't have done all that acid in the 70'
September 30th, 2012
8:54 am
Enter your comments here
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2012
8:54 am
Florida loses both of the next 2 weeks.
Georgia sober fans expect a loss next week, they all said on this blog. And, that is the only team we play.
Cosmo
September 30th, 2012
8:56 am
Tennessee has the worst defense I’ve ever seen ! Several long runs were given up without even touching the ball carrier.
Shouldn't have done all that acid in the 70's
September 30th, 2012
8:57 am
Mr. Hankey:: Thank you for your flowing writing style. You should be a writer. I’m totally impressed. Oops, gotta go. Corrine Brown is dancing on center stage to Glory Glory to ‘Ole Georgia. Don’t foret to tip your waitress!!!! Go Gata!!!
Beast from the East
September 30th, 2012
8:59 am
Cosmo,
You obviously haven’t watched Arky or GT play this year. UT’s defense looks like the Steel Curtain compared to them.
chazzo
September 30th, 2012
9:00 am
Great Analysis, Mr. Schutlz. It was vaudevillian. Actually, my thought after the Vandy game was, how is UGA going to respond when they get down or face some adversity. Gurley is right, they hung in there. Good job. But, never again think you have a game won until the end of the fourth quarter.
I am worried about Connor Shaw. I am worried about the Dawgs ability to stop the run. Let’s hope UGA’s doppelganger doesn’t make the trips to Columbia or Jax.
2 old dawg
September 30th, 2012
9:09 am
Those two big UT tackles did everything to J. Jones but unscrew his head and crap in it.
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2012
9:12 am
chazzo,
Is that you ?
______________________________________________________________________
chazzo September 27th, 2011 8:59 am
“If Richt wins out and SC loses and all the planets line up and we win the SEC (hypothetically speaking) there are certain folks who will always, always find something negative to say.”
_____________________________________________________________________
10-42 against a team who beat 3 teams making the top 10, losing to Alabama who beat 2 teams making the top 10 while we’ve not beat a single team making the top 10 in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007. 6 years not beat a team making the top 10 making Mark Richt # 8 of just SEC teams in beating teams who made the top 10 in the Mark Richt era.
Why don’t you share with us your guarantee for the South Carolina game ?
Wild Dog
September 30th, 2012
9:16 am
RTR hit and rfun from Atlanta — After all of you expertise flow. You can now announce to the world that you know all and start interviewing for a head coach position.
Visions of Willie
September 30th, 2012
9:17 am
I cringed at times when our secondary couldnt wrap up on tacles late in the game. Bobo and Richt went conservative again late in the game. Its the same ole crap and recipe that will get us beat again this year. All you little league fans here who dont have high expectations need to go to loserville. OUR DEFENSE STINKS. TODD GRANTHAM STINKS!
PowerDawg
September 30th, 2012
9:17 am
Sometimes you have to be slapped in the face with adversity and fear to be truly alert and able to respond accordingly. With that said, this team hung together and played hard for the entire 60 minutes. and even the best teams are going to go through this type of thing. They are going to be tested and the outcome often defines their whole season.
I am proud to be a Dawg today and everyday.
This team would not have lost to Carolina last year. Turnovers, eerily similar to last years loss to USCe (pick six, sack/fumble that ended in easy scores), did not deter us and could not break our team apart.
We perservered and became stronger last night, I guarantee it.
And lest any of you say something silly like it was a SOD coached Tennessee, or some other nonsense…all our SEC bretheren better recognize one immutable fact…the Vols are going to beat a team this year that no one would expect them to. Carolina? Alabama? Are you listening?
These guys have an outstanding O-line, folks. They kept a bunch of All-SEC and All-American defenders at bay for 54 minutes last night… and they’re running game is getting better every week.
And just so there’s no misunderstanding, Tyler Bray is one hell of quarterback and he is dangerous.
I give credit where it’s due and deserved, and the Vols earned it. Last nights’ trial-by-fire, with no injuries I might add, will only make us better prepared for our next opponent and beyond this season.
One other thing. Carolina’s struggle in the first half with Kentucky… LSU’s close win over Auburn…UF’s improving QB play and solid defense…Bama’s remaining schedule…
This is gonna be fun, ya’ll.
Go Dawgs, and keep GATA !!!
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2012
9:19 am
Where do we stand from what we’ve seen of USCe and UGA to-date 2012 ?
(1) can both teams run the football ?
(2) can both teams pass the football ?
(3) are both teams equal on special teams ?
(4) can both teams sack the quarterback ?
(5) who has the better talent ?
(6) who plays the tougher schedule ?
(7) are both teams equally coached ?
(8) on paper, which team should win the game on talent ?
(9) will we play like we should, or as we in fact have done all 2012 ?
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2012
9:22 am
Good Lord, PowerDawg, the vols were an unranked team before the game, have zero defense, have a coach there for maybe another couple of games max, and have not recruited in so long the new coach will continue to suck for years into the future.
PowerDawg
September 30th, 2012
9:23 am
Correction to previous entry:
“THEIR running game” is getting better every week.
My bad.
george
September 30th, 2012
9:23 am
Great recap Jeff! Very clever and well written. I really enjoyed reading this. Typical GA footballl and I hate to say it. Do your best to beat yourself and frequently with TN over the years. From the quotes it sounds like the players realize the cold hard truth. In the end talk is cheap. It could be ugly in Columbia. But…Go Dawgs beat Gamecocks! and don’t give us a heart attack!
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2012
9:24 am
______________________________________________________________________
“All you little league fans here who dont have high expectations need to go to loserville.”
______________________________________________________________________
Amen to that. Now, on to the 1 game on our entire schedule.
Visions of Willie
September 30th, 2012
9:25 am
We still have poor coaching. Murray hasnt learned how to protect the ball. Special teams are horrific. Our D has been a joke that was seen with our first game with a highschool team in Buffalo. Its the same ole crap that reared its ugly head again and we still have fans who want to bury their loser heads in the sand. Mark Richt will NOT win us a championship at UGA.
olddoggie archie
September 30th, 2012
9:27 am
can’t they find a kid(male or female) THAT CAN CONSISTENTLY HIT AN EXTRA POINT…pitiful
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2012
9:27 am
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL September 29th, 2012 9:45 pm
____________________________________________________
“I wouldn’t throw stones at South Carolina, I’d just ask for mercy.”
____________________________________________________
Dumbo
September 30th, 2012
9:27 am
Thomas Brown…funny how you sound just aTech Turd named Supersize
St Simons
September 30th, 2012
9:33 am
I’m proud to be a Dawg every day.
EVERY day that I meet an Ala grad, Auburn grad, a Notre Dame grad,
a USC grad, a BigJoke10 grad in the workplace, I’m really proud.
Tech & UF grads are usually sharp fellows.
However, I expect a loss on Saturday.
Our qb is a liability in big games, more chokes than the Braves,
and we can’t kick a flippin extra point.
Those two things will cost us the game I think.
It angers me to say that, it really does.
and its hard for anything to anger you in de islands mon
Sad Richards
September 30th, 2012
9:36 am
Wow at one point yesterday I found myself buying into the hype when we were up 27 – 10 only to come back to reality in a matter of moments. Then it was 30 – 30 at half time. Its the same ole same ole and I should have known better. Once again Richt and company was hanging on to a game in the end that we could have easily have lost. Im ready for the bubble to be bursted next week in Columbia.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
September 30th, 2012
9:37 am
Ok so Phase I is over for the teams and after 5 games it’s still hard to know the deal. Bama is just grinding and we’ve lost too many players due to injury. UGA has a very good team but again they have no discipline and that will cost them a big game down the road. UT can score with the best of them for sure but Sal has little talent on defense and no depth at all. The LB’s at UT are awful and that includes AJ Johnson. The Ole Miss game was a challenge with that spread stuff but give them credit for they ran stunts and had 7/8 men in the box all night and had success. The story is when you play an SEC game then you better have your A game or you could get beat and that means anybody in the SEC!!!! As Nick Saban said “You never arrive”….some folks think that isn’t true but you see it every week. Bama saw it last night and UGA did as well if they were looking.
evansdawg
September 30th, 2012
9:38 am
I love the way the fans are all about CTG for a while and then we have a tough game and everyone thinks he’s sub par. At some point, you have to acknowledge that UT came to play and played well. Bray was really sharp and very impressive. Their running backs were fast as greased lightning once they hit a hole, and their receivers were finding themselves open all day…(that rust that Alec referred to.) If anything this should grab the team’s attention and focus us for sound execution at Carolina next week. I am DEEPLY concerned about our defensive coverage in the middle. UT was gaining 4-6 yards up the middle by seemingly just falling forward. Lattimore will have 150 yards minimum if we don’t take care of the middle.
RunninWithTheDawgs
September 30th, 2012
9:38 am
I thought this was one of the most exciting games I’ve seen in a while. If we payed Fl. Atl. a million to come here and play us then we should pay Tenn. at least twice that. What a game. Yay ! Boo ! Yay ! Boo ! Yay ! Boo ! I just wish these kind of games didn’t leave me with such a hangover. GO DAWGS
Sad Richards
September 30th, 2012
9:42 am
@ evans dawg…. Not me Ive always said CTG is sub par.
All the Hoopla
September 30th, 2012
9:45 am
Where was Jarvis Jones yesterday? So much for the Heisman push.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 30th, 2012
9:47 am
The D line is a disappointment and Bobo showed once again that when things get tight he goes conservative and predictable and allows teams to stay in the game
Chris Snow
September 30th, 2012
9:50 am
Thomas, no disrespect man but you do not seem like a very happy person in life, and it shows in your post on here.
PowerDawg
September 30th, 2012
9:53 am
Doubting Thomas Brown…they’re defense needs work which is why they gave up 51. We gave them 21 gift-wrapped points with TO’s and VERY short fields, but they earned the other 23.
I didn’t write about their defense, did I? I am talking about their OFFENSE and and if you think that Tennessee isn’t talented on that side of the ball then you’re a fool.
Their O-line has over 100 combined starts and Neal will turn out to be one of the best in the conference this year. We set out to keep Hunter and Patterson from beating us and we succeeded. All of Brays’ yardage was accumulated without hitting any deep passing plays, which they have made a living on previous to last night. Just like I said the other day, you can’t stop everything a team tries to do. You just have to pick one phase and go with it. If we don’t make the ST mistakes and commit the TO’s we did, this game would’nt have been as close as it was
None of that means squat and does not change the fact that Tennessee is capable of and WILL beat some teams deemed better than them.before this season is over. Bank on it.
All your doing by stating these things about their defense, coaches and recruiting is really just a veiled attempt to criticize the Dawgs and their performance last night. I don’t believe you’re an actual supporter of the team and if you are than you’re a piss-poor one at best. This team will never be able to satisfy some people like you no matter what they do.
If you couldn’t see that Tennessee is better than some are giving them credit for, on both sides of the ball for that matter, than either you don’t no $hit about football, or you’re just another idiot troller taking a shot.
Shut up.
Chris Snow
September 30th, 2012
9:58 am
My biggest concern with game last night was the turnovers. It was like we got a 17 point lead, then everyone loosened up and TN took advantage. Even with the yards the D was given up, they made plays when they HAD to be made. Plus it’s not like TN is KY or Ole Miss, did you people forget they have one of the offenses in the SEC as well? Just be glad we got the win and that we will not go into SC big headed.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
September 30th, 2012
10:02 am
We all agree, UGA didn’t want to show USC/UF anything.
Can you imagine how many points WVU would score vs UGA!
dawginduluth
September 30th, 2012
10:04 am
Richt got out-coached and will get out-coached in Columbia.
Bobo? How many times did Bobo call turns runs leaving 3rd and long? When will he and Richt learn that throwing on 1st is VERY effective. When will they learn that the pass sets up the run?
I guess they haven’t gotten to that chapter.
#5 may be playing #6 next week. Which one will we be?
Visions of Willie
September 30th, 2012
10:10 am
@ powerdawg…… get you head out of the sand clown. Our D still needs to stop teams from scoring. long field or short. No excuse! Pick Six I’ll give you that one but our D still hasnt the “Break Their will Mentality”.