Bulldogs’ ‘NFL talent’ have their heads somewhere else
South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore is among those who've dented Georgia's defense. (The State photo)
ATHENS – Ten months ago, Mark Richt stood in front of a room in Butts-Mehre Hall and pronounced, “Today is a great day for Georgia.”
Notwithstanding that those words came at an orchestrated media event — two weeks after a bowl loss to Michigan State (please forget) and two weeks before national signing day (please come) – nobody could dispute the sentiment. In the room with Richt were 15 players who announced they were bypassing the NFL draft to return for another season. Nine played on defense. Another returnee was Jarvis Jones, who was attending a football camp that day.
Expectations were high for Georgia this season primarily for one reason: defense. There were nine returning starters. There were nine upperclassmen. There were four players projected to go as high as the first round in the next draft. There was a defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham, lauded to such a great degree after the last season that he was given a contract extension, a raise and the title of associate head coach.
So how many games has the Georgia defense shown up for this season?
One: Vanderbilt.
Cornerback Sanders Commings said when he looked around the room at that January photo, “I was thinking national championship.”
Now the Dogs need help just to get out of their division. They’ll beat Kentucky Saturday. This game is more about trying to show that preseason expectations won’t amount to more empty Georgia promises — because otherwise, forget about the Florida game in two weeks.
The defensive rankings scream mediocrity. Expected to be among the top five units nationally, they’re not even top five in the SEC. They’re giving up more yards per games than Ole Miss and Missouri. They have fewer sacks than Kentucky.
With so much projected NFL talent on the roster, it’s not unfair to pose the question: Are players thinking more about the next level than the next game?
It’s not uncommon for agents — excuse me: “family advisers” — to get inside players’ heads about what pro scouts might be looking for, clouding more pressing matters like that week’s game plan.
“Not at all,” Richt said when asked if players might have lost focus because of their pro prospects. “Everybody wants to win. A lot of guys have an NFL future, but they know the better we play as a team, the better everybody looks. Even when we had that press conference in this room, I didn’t tell them what to say. As a matter of fact, I was trying to find out why they wanted to stay, and a big part was because they wanted to have a great season.”
He has alluded to “communication problems.” That seems unusual for a defense with so many returning starters and seniors.
“I don’t want to get into making excuses about anything,” Richt said. “The bottom line is we should be doing better.”
Better than this: eighth in scoring defense in the SEC, ninth in total defense, 10th against the run, ninth against the pass, 10th in interceptions, ninth in takeaways, ninth in third-down defense, 11th in sacks.
Jarvis Jones (ankle, groin) hasn’t been healthy. Suspensions to four starters (Commings, Bacarri Rambo, Alec Ogletree, Chase Vasser) prevented the starting unit from being together until the fifth game.
But that doesn’t explain allowing 199 rushing yards to Buffalo. Or seeing Missouri connect for early touchdown passes of 41 and 69 yards. Or Florida Atlantic driving to two TDs on its first four possessions, with a likely third scoring drive ending with a fumble. Or Tennessee totaling 478 yards and 44 points (even if half that was set up by Georgia turnovers). Or South Carolina driving for touchdowns on its first two possessions and rushing for 230 yards.
Ask what the problem is, you’ll hear general vague responses: mental mistakes, missed assignments, overaggressiveness.
“Sometimes when you have a lot of veteran guys back, you’re all hungry and anxious to make plays,” Commings said. “Sometimes you just have to let plays come to you. I think we realize that.”
Defense was supposed to carry them. Somebody didn’t get the memo.
By Jeff Schultz
•
Some recent ramblings
• Falcons are NFL’s last unbeaten team: Here’s fate of others (with video)
• Falcons 6-0 but Turner is frustrated with running game
• Fan revolts out of control, one even wanted to fight UGA player
• Weekend Predictions: No sacrifices, but Falcons, LSU win
• Radakovich says Johnson is ‘right person for job’
• Al Groh’s problems at Georgia Tech weren’t pure ‘fantasy’
• Falcons are easy highlight in Atlanta’s dark sports weekend
• Braves’ Frank Wren needs to fix good, but not great, team
• Chipper Jones on loss in his finale: ‘Ultimately, I’m to blame’
• Spurrier should take a lesson from Richt on handling criticism
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367 comments Add your comment
Big AL
October 17th, 2012
9:04 am
It’s quite obvious these guys “don’t want to get hurt”. Why do you think we have a walk on receiving punts now? No one wants to MAN UP and risk hurting their draft status. (Think that would happen under Saban’s watch)? I wish they had all gone early to the draft instead of hanging around. Bench these prima donna’s. They clearly disrupted the chemistry the younger guys had built in the first 4 games. I don’t care how much “potential” they might have, if they don’t perform to it, it’s worthless.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 17th, 2012
9:08 am
(1) Lost 8 in row made top 10
(2) Lost 10 in row SEC with winning SEC record
(3) Lost 10 in row who made top 25
(4) Lost 16 of last 18 now who made top 25
(5) Lost 14 of 17 now who made top 10
(6) Has 66 scholarship recruits left + 1 transfer-in of 107 signed to play 2012
Esquire
October 17th, 2012
9:09 am
“Football Outsiders” has given the MIGHTY MIGHTY ATLANTA FALCONS the highest percentage odds of all teams to “WIN” the Super Bowl.
Newman
October 17th, 2012
9:10 am
The problem is very simple. They don’t prsctice hard enough! TWO days practice last week after that butt kicking? Come on. One day in pads (without tackling drills) each week equals exactly what we’ve got.
Newman
October 17th, 2012
9:11 am
If you don’t tackle Monday through Thursday you sure ain’t gonna tackle on Saturday.
Joey
October 17th, 2012
9:20 am
Um, JS, didn’t you hear?
Richt doesn’t want to talk about SC, and that includes references to stats, TDS, big plays, visors, etc.
Ever.
DawgNole
October 17th, 2012
9:26 am
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 16th, 2012
10:26 pm
Forget that dimwit when you told Florida posters that when they went out to Texas A & M and LOST that they’d be in for a LONG SEASON AGAIN.
_________________________
Read the post again, liar, and stop misquoting me. I said IF they lost to A&M–not when. BIG difference–obviously.
DawgNole
October 17th, 2012
9:37 am
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing
October 16th, 2012
10:29 pm
DawgNole October 16th, 2012 10:26 pm
“And I do pull for G Tech as I’ve said more than a few times. You have a problem with it? Crawl back in your hole, sissy boy.”
_______________________________________________________
Yeah, I’ve got a problem with that DawgNole October 16th, 2012 10:26 pm
______________________
You’ve deliberately misquoted me again, liar. Here’s what I actually posted:
“And I do pull for G Tech–in all but two games (UGA & FSU), as I’ve said more than a few times. You have a problem with it? Crawl back in your hole, sissy boy.”
Think you may have intentionally left out some key info there? Any weasel w/o integrity can get on here and alter quotes to distort original intent–just as you’ve done repeatedly. Like I said, you’re way out of your league trying to play word games with me, loser.
NCDawg
October 17th, 2012
9:50 am
I think you may be onto something here, Mr Schultz. Either they are not focused because they are distracted by perceived big money down the road or they are playing “hero ball” and getting burned by being out of position. There is also a tendency to not be as engaged as you should be when you are thinking “we already know how to do this…” If you have ever taken a refresher course you know you can sometimes get tripped up by losing focus at the wrong time. Is it the instructors fault that you didn’t pay full attention? No, it is not.
We’ll see if these guys get their heads back in the game or not.
DawgNole
October 17th, 2012
9:50 am
DawgNole’s Sept 3 (6:33 p.m.) post according to Thomas Brown:
“Mark Richt beats the pansies and loses to the others.”
DawgNoles ACTUALl post from Sept 3 (6:33 p.m.):
“If you go out to College Station and don’t win, then you’re likely in for another long season. Same with UGA at Mizzou. A win in that environment means the Dawgs have legitimate hopes for a solid year. A loss and it’s SOS (beat the pansies, lose to the others).”
____________________
Did you change my quote yet again, Thomasina, you classless liar? How many times is that just since last night? You have NO credibility on here.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 17th, 2012
9:50 am
Richt and the UGa staff could coach the 72 Dolphins to a .500 team.
DawgNole
October 17th, 2012
9:57 am
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing
October 17th, 2012
7:42 am
The only part of my questions which have changed is how many games we’ve lost. Nothing else. But, somehow it is my fault that Mark Richt cannot win on the big stage. Me the problem. Just censor my posts and all will be well.
___________________
“Just censor my posts and all will be well.” FINALLY–a worthwhile suggestion from Thomas Brown. Thought it would never happen.
Spare us your disgusting whining, TB. It wore thin years ago.
DawgNole
October 17th, 2012
10:01 am
Esquire
October 17th, 2012
9:09 am
“Football Outsiders” has given the MIGHTY MIGHTY ATLANTA FALCONS the highest percentage odds of all teams to “WIN” the Super Bowl.
_____________________
That is a rare gesture of respect for an ATL pro team from the national media. Just gotta hope the team can live up to it this season.
atlvol55
October 17th, 2012
10:01 am
I”m not trying to be a “hater” but the fact is the UGA defense was severely overrated last year.
As it has been stated several times, UGA played a weak schedule last year. TN and Florida had absolutely zero offense last year.
The only other teams UGA played, Boise, USC, Michigan State, and LSU scored 35, 42, 33, and 42 points respectively. Boise and LSU just torched Georgia’s defense and they could not stop Michigan State in the second half at all.
Those are the ACTUAL facts. Uga would have lost to Florida last year if Florida had not given UGA two gift turnovers deep in their own territory.
No doubt Jarvis Jones, Ogletree, Rambo, and a very some of the other guys have talent,,,but this TEAM’s DEFENSE wasn’t even in the same class as an LSU or Alabama’s as far as playing sound, fundamental defense.
KBP
October 17th, 2012
10:02 am
I am totally looking past Ky because if we don’t do them like we did Vandy then we really have problems. With that said, just who has FL beaten other than an LSU team with suspect QB play. I really don’t think FL is as good as their ranking and reputation suggests. The SC game on Saturday will tell us who FL is as I am not sold at all on their offense, especially the passing game. It took two great runs by Driskel to beat Vandy. Does anyone see that happening against a very stout SC defense who will undoubtedly have a spy on Driskel like we should next Saturday?
Lastly, Spurrier is one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. He won the ACC at Duke! Duke! They were nothing before he got there and nothing since he left albeit Cutcliffe has them playing better. FL was nothing before he got there and dominated the SEC during his reign and now Meyer and Muschamp should thank him every time they see him because he laid the foundation for that juggernaut. Now SC has become the pivotal game for every SEC east team for the last 3 years. Let that sink in. . . . SC has become the pivotal game for every SEC east team for the last 3 years. SC , to put it mildly, was a non-factor in the SEC every since they entered the conference and now they have beaten my Dawgs 3 straight years and on the verge of beating FL 3 straight years. Everyone lauds Saban and he has certainly turned Bama around, but it’s not exactly hard to recruit there nor LSU nor Michigan State. But Duke and SC, come on. Spurrier gets my vote as one the greatest ever in college.
With all that said, I cannot imagine FL beating SC even though it would put us right back in contention for the east. Nevertheless, I am a Gator fan for a few hours come Saturday.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 17th, 2012
10:16 am
Bulldogs living off beating Tech as their signature win since 2009
Dawg Tired
October 17th, 2012
10:33 am
Jeff – You have a keen grasp of the obvious.
McDawg
October 17th, 2012
10:37 am
how about sticking their butts on the bench –how would NFL Scouts look at that
Resident Georgia Fan
October 17th, 2012
10:39 am
Bad Dawg, you are about as funny as a cockroach on a steak. Give it up.
Pete
October 17th, 2012
10:45 am
Watching GA against SC reminded me of the Falcons a few years back. Whenever GA passed there were DBs all over the WRs. Whenever SC passed their WRs were inopen spaces.
If GA has NFL quality DBs it is time for them to cover men, instead of standing in areas!
Pete
October 17th, 2012
10:53 am
Richt’s heart no longer seems to be in coaching. He wants to preach and be a missionary. Grantham is severely overrrated as a DC. Bobo is unimaginative and mediocre as an OC. It’s time to get rid of the whole bunch and start over.
Bo Duke
October 17th, 2012
10:54 am
Bull PuP fans y’all say it every year. We are the best we can beat anybody. Best Qb in football!!! Best D in football. Face it y’all suck and always will!!!!!!!!!! How about them game cocks!!!!!
joe jenkins
October 17th, 2012
10:56 am
I can’t really believe one fan on here is worried about grantham leaving??? he has done a poor job of coaching…let him leave that would be great…time for richt to go out and get his first choice.. the great erk russell could coach circles around grantham
Bart
October 17th, 2012
10:56 am
I think we need a whole new coaching staff who can bring new and fresh ideas with them. Certainly if we lose to Florida, the staff must go. Or do we want to settle for mediocrity from now on?
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 17th, 2012
11:03 am
Newman October 17th, 2012 9:10 am
“The problem is very simple. They don’t practice hard enough! TWO days practice last week after that butt kicking? Come on. One day in pads (without tackling drills) each week equals exactly what we’ve got.”
_____________________________________________
The Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator was at Pee-Wee football one day and half before our game with South Carolina watching his 5-year old play, Todd Grantham. Then a day a half later, he gave up 35 to nothing before Steve Spurrier yanked his starters at the 10:45 mark in the game while Mark Richt left Aaron Murray his starting quarterback still in there, while Aaron Murray said that he had not slept in 2 consecutive nights before South Carolina game.
This is the same South Carolina whom
Zach Mettenberger led LSU up and down the field against all night long the next Saturday beating South Carolina and Steve Spurrier. While South Carolina has games 2012 against Georgia, LSU, Clemson – while we play only them.
It is, as you say, very simple. We’re not coached well at all.
You’re right Newman.
Thanks Bad Dawg
October 17th, 2012
11:09 am
That mad me laugh…Unfortunately
gbal
October 17th, 2012
11:10 am
JS – you shoulda been a football coach….. SO good a predicting rankings and the psych of a ball team.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 17th, 2012
11:11 am
__________________________________________________________________
If you pull for Georgie tek, you’re a Georgie tek fan. Is that so hard to understand ?
__________________________________________________________________
If you don’t like my posts because I say Georgie tek is on NCAA Probation 2012 in Football and has been now 8 consecutive years when Georgie tek cannot graduate their recruits and averages only the # 52 recruiting ranking with Paul Johnson who runs a high school offense and has no defense because they practice against a high school offense – which is what the defensive recruits in this state say to Georgie tek, then admit it that you don’t like what I say about Georgie tek, a sorry football program in a stadium half my alma mater’s stadium who has to give away 4 cokes, 2 hot dogs, 2 bags of boiled peanuts and a free parking pass and even then half the seats are empty. Georgie tek is a football program who does not even care about winning. This discussion of them on our blog is not what I came in here for. When you change the topic to that pitiful football program, I say things you do not like. Guess what ? That’s because you pull for Georgie tek and I pull for UGA. You are welcome to pull for Georgie tek; just get used to the fact they suck, nerd.
In the meantime, I came in here to discuss that it’s not just the defense, it’s :
(1) Lost 8 in row made top 10
(2) Lost 10 in row SEC with winning SEC record
(3) Lost 10 in row who made top 25
(4) Lost 16 of last 18 now who made top 25
(5) Lost 14 of 17 now who made top 10
(6) 66 scholarship recruits left + 1 transfer-in of 107 signed to play 2012
(7) 2012 Strength of Schedule # 103 with only ranked team left Florida
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 17th, 2012
11:23 am
__________________________________________________
Mc has a problem October 16th, 2012 9:11 pm
“Richt will probably be 20-4 over two years after this season, regular season. Do you fire a guy after that? If so, who would be better? I’m not saying CMR should or shouldn’t leave, but who would be better that would take the job.”
__________________________________________________
There is NO WAY Mark Richt is going 20-4 in 2013 and 2014 Mc has a problem. He plays Alabama 2013 and he loses his ENTIRE DEFENSE and 2 Starting Wide Receivers. 2013 and 2014 are 14-game seasons, again. He went 10-4 for 2011 and you said that was good, which is what he said too. That would be 20-8 for 2013 and 2014.
__________________________________________________
DawgNole, consistently – over and over again tells us Mark Richt beats the pansies, loses to the others.
I..RomneyRobbedU..
October 17th, 2012
11:39 am
Those are the facts and please stick to them! good thing some of the young guys played earlier this year it will help when the D is depleted next year.
Ted M
October 17th, 2012
12:29 pm
Jeff – You need to do a Brian McCann blog! Thanks, Ted
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 17th, 2012
12:35 pm
_________________________________________________
atlvol55 October 17th, 2012 10:01 am
“I”m not trying to be a “hater” but the fact is the UGA defense was severely overrated last year. As it has been stated several times, UGA played a weak schedule last year. TN and Florida had absolutely zero offense last year. The only other teams UGA played, Boise, USC, Michigan State, and LSU scored 35, 42, 33, and 42 points respectively. Boise and LSU just torched Georgia’s defense and they could not stop Michigan State in the second half at all. Those are the ACTUAL facts. Uga would have lost to Florida last year if Florida had not given UGA two gift turnovers deep in their own territory.”
_________________________________________________
atlvol55 You’re absolutely right of course. That doesn’t make you a hater. It makes you a DGD. The ones calling people who make such statements haters, make the same statements themselves – all of them do. They just don’t want anyone else to. Just only them. They also state loudly that folks like you saying this, have no SUPPORTING FACTS :
# 09 LOST 07-35 South Carolina 2012
# 22 LOST 42-45 South Carolina 2011
# 09 LOST 06-17 South Carolina 2010
# 11 LOST 30-33 Michigan State 2011
# 21 LOST 06-10 Central Florida college 2010
# 02 LOST 10-42 LSU 2011
# 08 LOST 21-35 Boise State 2011
# 12 LOST 24-31 Arkansas 2010
# 01 LOST 31-49 Auburn 2010
# 15 LOST 21-24 Missy State 2010
# 99 LOST 31-34 to UNRANKED FLORIDA 2010
# 99 LOST 27-29 to UNRANKED COLORADO 5-7 in 2010
Todd Grantham whom Mark Richt hired, has LOST 12 games since he got here. Of the 12 games, he’s LOST all Ten (10) who are RANKED TEAMS, and LOST to Two (2) More UNRANKED TEAMS.
He’s given up :
gave up 45, LOST
gave up 35, LOST
gave up 33, LOST
gave up 42, LOST
gave up 35, LOST
gave up 31, LOST
gave up 49, LOST
gave up 34, LOST
gave up 29, LOST
Todd Grantham in 10 of his LOSSES, has given up an average of 33 points per game.
Quit with the excuses for Todd Grantham is how I say it, atlvol55.
atlvol55 thank you for joining the conversation. You’re right the defense has not been good – including last year.
Lakeisha Jackson
October 17th, 2012
12:35 pm
Yes, Jeff..you’re right. But how many years have we had to say the same thing now?
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 17th, 2012
12:43 pm
______________________________
Pete October 17th, 2012 10:53 am
“Richt’s heart no longer seems to be in coaching. He wants to preach and be a missionary. Grantham is severely overrrated as a DC. Bobo is unimaginative and mediocre as an OC. It’s time to get rid of the whole bunch and start over.”
______________________________
Pete, thank you for joining-in. You’re right, too. Obviously. How many great coaching staffs have Lost 10 games in a Row to Every Single Team any good at all they played ? It’s too easy to sit here and say it’s special teams, it’s offense, it’s recruiting, it’s coaching, it’s pervasive over the whole entire DOWN UGA FOOTBALL PROGRAM, it’s not just the defense.
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing every ranked team 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
October 17th, 2012
12:48 pm
Who is our CUPCAKE we play this week we can brag about beating ?
Oh, Kentucky – I mean wow. Kentucky has lost every game all season long except Kent State 1-6.
DP
October 17th, 2012
12:56 pm
“Better than this: eighth in scoring defense in the SEC, ninth in total defense, 10th against the run, ninth against the pass, 10th in interceptions, ninth in takeaways, ninth in third-down defense, 11th in sacks.”
Dawg Nation was assuming the Georgia defense past Alabama’s this year because of all those players Georgia returning while Alabama had to replace 6 or 7 starters. But while Georgia’s defense has been mediocre or less, as documented by the statistics above, Alabama’s defense with all those new starters is in the same place it was last year, leading the nation in all 4 major defensive categories: points allowed, yards allowed, passing yards allowed, rushing yards allowed. Do you think coaching and discipline might have something to do with it?
Mutti
October 17th, 2012
1:03 pm
It sounds like something else is going on with Jarvis Jones, and Richt is calling it an injury to avoid the truth, which is probably another “rules violation” (UGA-speak for illegal drugs).
Since Richt is a known chronic liar, I wouldn’t put it past him.
DawgNole
October 17th, 2012
1:22 pm
Thomas Brown 5 yrs of losing
October 17th, 2012
11:23 am
Mc has a problem October 16th, 2012 9:11 pm
“Richt will probably be 20-4 over two years after this season, regular season. Do you fire a guy after that? If so, who would be better? I’m not saying CMR should or shouldn’t leave, but who would be better that would take the job.”
There is NO WAY Mark Richt is going 20-4 in 2013 and 2014 Mc has a problem. He plays Alabama 2013 and he loses his ENTIRE DEFENSE and 2 Starting Wide Receivers. 2013 and 2014 are 14-game seasons, again. He went 10-4 for 2011 and you said that was good, which is what he said too. That would be 20-8 for 2013 and 2014.
DawgNole, consistently – over and over again tells us Mark Richt beats the pansies, loses to the others.
____________________
Once again, here’s the ACTUAL quote:
“If you go out to College Station and don’t win, then you’re likely in for another long season. Same with UGA at Mizzou. A win in that environment means the Dawgs have legitimate hopes for a solid
year. A loss and it’s SOS (beat the pansies, lose to the others).”
Where does it say in there that “Mark Richt beats the pansies, loses to the others”? It doesn’t. It’s clear to even an imbecile with your limited skills that I suggested a UGA loss to Mizzou likely would lead to another year of SOS for the Dawgs. Obviously, we didn’t lose, and as a result, we still have a chance for a strong season.
And where is just ONE other post (much less “consistently–over and over again”) in which I’ve said “Mark Richt beats the pansies, loses to the others”? There are no such posts, because I’ve never said it. Liar.
And while we’re at it, take a look at how you’ve distorted the quote above of “Mc has a problem.” He’s talking about the PAST two years (2011-2012, REGULAR season). You’ve twisted his words to imply that he means 2013 and 2014. Read his post, dolt. He’s simply questioning the wisdom of firing Richt AFTER going 20-4 over the 2011-2012 regular seasons–assuming Richt does that. It’s hardly a safe assumpion, granted, but you’ve completedly altered what the guy said/meant. So your “correction” of his projected 20-4 for 2011-12 to 20-8 for 2013-14 is totally irrelevant. Duh.
Again, you have NO credibility here. And it’s fast becoming increasingly clear that you’re not only a liar, a coward, and a distorter, but that you have reading comprehension problems as well. What a total waste of blog space. And quit kissing the butts of the other bloggers now, you fraud. Most of them know about your sick-minded posts as well as I do.
LHarding Dawg
October 17th, 2012
1:37 pm
I’m not sure what the big fuss is all about. The last I checked we were 5-1 (not 1-5 like AU) and ranked fairly high in all polls. We have a lot of football left to play and normally Coach Richt teams get better as the season progresses. I believer we will match up well with the Gators and hopefully beat them and end up doing good things this year.
Ed
October 17th, 2012
1:45 pm
We have the same problem that we’ve had to a large extent since Vince Dooley retired after the ‘88 season: we get outcoached. A lot.
Dooley was a better coach than any of his predecessors, but may have been the worst recruiter of the 4. But rarely did a Dooley-coached UGA team get pounded on the field by equivalent talent because we got outcoached or strategized. On the rare occasion that his team did get pounded, there was usually a noticeable talent deficit such as the ‘77 Sugar Bowl game against Pitt.
We look an awful lot like the Florida teams from the 60s through the 80s. Talented, but soft and prone to self-destructing against tough, disciplined teams.
gdawginkalamzoo
October 17th, 2012
1:59 pm
I wish we could just come out and smash somebody in the mouth for 60 minutes. SC came and smashed us in the mouth, we yelped and climbed back on the porch. And that was in the first quarter.
The Beatdown City Gazette (afternoon edition)
October 17th, 2012
2:00 pm
Florida 45, Georgia 17
gdawginkalamzoo
October 17th, 2012
2:12 pm
If SC beats Florida our season is over.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
October 17th, 2012
2:15 pm
Just read that the Ohio Buckeyes will Stop playing MAC teams, waaay tooo many close games.
DocDawg
October 17th, 2012
2:25 pm
It is only through a artifact of schedule making that we don’t take a yearly waxing at the hands of Alabama and/or LSU. Tennessee is currently wandering in the wilderness, leaving the Gators as the true test of our perennial top 5 recruiting classes. Yet we lose to USC and every other decent non-conference opponent. Georgia Tech has essentially given up football, but somehow an annual thumping of them “counts”. Why is this? Why do we settle for this mediocrity? We know what it is and it’s coaching. At some point we have to decide to take the next step to compete for SEC and National Championships because it surely isn’t going to be with CMR and staff.
Phil
October 17th, 2012
2:54 pm
“I think we need a whole new coaching staff who can bring new and fresh ideas with them. Certainly if we lose to Florida, the staff must go. Or do we want to settle for mediocrity from now on?”
Unfortunately we are already there. As long as Richt gets 8,9,10 wins a season, McGarity and all the other administrator buffoons are happy. Doesn’t matter about the 2-3 beatdowns we occur every year against the big boys in the league. All is good with the UGA brass!
If you gotta go, that’s alright. | Get The Picture
October 17th, 2012
2:58 pm
[...] Jeff Schultz: Georgia’s defense sucks because all the players who turned down the NFL draft to return to [...]
Mike S.
October 17th, 2012
3:06 pm
I think a lot of people need to revisit their definition of mediocrity. UGA was losing to teams like Kentucky and Colorado a couple of years ago, just like they were doing under Dooley in the years leading up to his “retirement”. That’s mediocre. Last year and this year we have seen them beat these teams. They arent losing to middle of the pack teams or low ranked ball clubs.
They are losing to top 10 caliber teams and national champions. SC, Boise St, MSU, and LSU all finished in the top 11 last year. SC was #6 when they beat UGA this year. UF is now top 5. How many top 10 ball clubs were they beating in Richts “glory years” last decade? The lost to LSU twice in 2003. They lost to Auburn in 2004. They lost to WVU, Auburn, and UF in 2005. All the ranked teams they beat were in the lower half of the top 25 except maybe UT one of those years and LSU in 05. That’s not exactly dominating top competition.
Mike S.
October 17th, 2012
3:13 pm
I agree UGA has the talent to win the SEC and compete for national titles, but I also realize there are a lot of SEC teams that can say that. Bama, Florida and LSU have been out recruiting UGA. UT, Auburn, and South Carolina have been at least on par with them. Texas A&M is now recruiting as well if not better than UGA. SEC has dominated the BCS era with 8 of 14 national championships. No one has beaten an SEC champ for a national title. So lets stop pretending this is a team with far superior talent than everyone else in the SEC and get some perspective. Its not…period. The best you can do in a conference this tough is stay in the mix because you never know when things will break your way. That is exactly what Richt is doing.
gdawginkalamzoo
October 17th, 2012
3:49 pm
Sure we have the talent no question about that. We stack up with any team in the country when it comes to talent. We are somewhere in the #50 or so ranking when it comes to the mentality to win the big games and totally dominate an opponent.