Georgia short takes: Dogs should’ve spiked the ball
Jay Rome's touchdown catch gave Georgia 7-0 lead two plays after fake punt. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
(I’ll be back with my column on the Georgia-Alabama SEC championship soon. Until then, here are my three “short takes” on the game.)
1. Great drive until the last decision: Trialing 32-28, Georgia was given a second chance to drive for a winning touchdown when an Aaron Murray interception was turned over on replay, which showed the ball hit the ground. So with the ball at the Dogs’ 28 on second-and-10, Murray then capitalized when completed passes to Arthur Lynch (15 yards), Tavarres King (23) and Lynch again (26), moving the ball to the Alabama 8. However, with the final seconds (from :09 after Lynch’s second catch) ticking down, Murray did not take the ensuing snap and spike the ball to stop the clock. Instead, he ran a play and completed a tipped pass to Chris Conley, who was tackled at the Alabama 5 and time ran out. It was a great three plays and a dreadful fourth. While it’s no guarantee that the result would have been different, spiking the ball to stop the clock would have allowed the Dogs to set up for one more play, potentially a more successful one.
2. It’s still about blocking and tackling: I know Georgia parlayed a fake punt into a first down and eventually a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead, and Alec Ogletree’s 55-yard return of a blocked field goal (by Cornelius Washington) gave the Dogs a seemingly insurmountable 21-10 lead in the third quarter. But we saw again why football is still about being able to knock the other guy over. Alabama’s offensive line, widely considered the best in the nation, took over the game in the second half, enabling the Tide’s Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon to pile rushing yards and the team to drive to three touchdowns after trailing 21-10. As Alabama’s line physically beat up the Dogs’ front, Georgia’s defense started to tire and missed tackles.
3. Georgia proved its worth: It’s probably of little consolation to Georgia fans but the Bulldogs proved their worth in this game. Some doubted their standing of being the nation’s third best team, behind Notre Dame and Alabama (according to BCS rankings). There were criticisms of their perceived easy schedule and the way they were manhandled by South Carolina earlier in the season. But Georgia just narrowly lost a game to a program that has won two of the last three BCS championships and will be favored for another title against Notre Dame. There were four lead changes in the second half. If the Dogs don’t let down, they will have a chance in a bowl game to finish off a 12-2 season with possibly a top-5 ranking.
By Jeff Schultz
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475 comments Add your comment
Trashtalkin'?
December 1st, 2012
9:10 pm
Delusional Dawgs – You’re trash talking? Really? Does Tech even have a football team anymore? I’m not exactly sure what it is they put on he field against the Dawgs these days…
Dewnsav
December 1st, 2012
9:10 pm
lil barry, hopefully your boy Dial will be suspended for that “pasting” of Murray…jackazz…go dogs
JP
December 1st, 2012
9:10 pm
YOU IDIOTS THAT BLAME YOUR COACHES MURRAY AND THE REST SHOULD BE ASAMED OF YOUSELVES AND ARE ALL COWARDS YES COWARDS . GO PULL FOR TECH WE WERE 5 YARDS FROM VICTORY AND THE CLOCK RAN OUT . WE WRE THROWING TO THE END ZONE NOT THE FLAT WE WERE TRYING TO GET 2 PLYS OFF ALL OF YOU COWARDSSUCK AND SHOULD GO BOO SOME 10 YEAR OLD POP WARNER KIDS . YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME PEOPLE CHEERING WHEN WE HIT THE TD . ALL OF YOU SUCK
Fools Gold
December 1st, 2012
9:11 pm
The Kool Aid Drinkers are out in full force tonight with their usual acceptance of mediocrity….
Wormer
December 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
Penalty flags:
UGA– 7
Bama– 2
INTERFERENCE was missed on the tipped ball at the end that was almost intercepted, Sunseri hit him too early.
Another guy got away with an arm around a WR ealy on.
Another Bama guy hit Murray helmet to helmet in front of the refs.
Delusional Dawgs
December 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
@ Will – ya think Tech fans really care if they lose tonight? that game DOES NOT MATTER…..I mean, come on, its not like a loss will take them out of the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME VS NOTRE DAME or anything! SO CLOSE!!!!!
78Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
We left it all on the field….I knew Morgan was gonna kill us in this game….he makes the FG..all we need is 3 to win….CMR please recruit a kicker
DawgFan
December 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
JoeFann
We had to commit to stop the run. Classic play action that worked well. Swann just happened to be the guy. Agreed on the great game. Go Dawgs
Sam
December 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
Dumb- bass,
As long as most of the Georgia fans are happy with a mediocre season with a top 5 recruits, cmr isn’t going anywhere
The Judge
December 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
Where are the Dog fans that were spouting off last week that they would win?
Loser
December 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
“The Truth” you f’in lost peroid!
Dum-Bass
December 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
Some of you, saying not spiking it was the right decision need to limit your sports to bowling.
JSS
December 1st, 2012
9:13 pm
Dang, in the greatest Southern tradition, a defeat was just snatched from real world reality!!!!
See first 9:08 comment!!! AJC Blog SMDH!!!
Georgia short takes: Dogs should’ve spiked the ball – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Ez Dogs Online
December 1st, 2012
9:16 pm
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Sam
December 1st, 2012
9:16 pm
Wormer,
There is no interference on a tipped ball. You can kill the receiver and its not a penalty
Mobile Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:16 pm
Debatable point about spiking the ball. Dawgs practice this type of scenario and knew what they wanted to do. They had enough time to run two plays, Bama made the defensive play tipping the ball. Counterpoint to you Jeff, if the Dawgs do spike the ball it gives Bama time to plan a defense. Momentum was with the Dawgs, I support the decision to allow Murray to go to a predetermined play. Hats off to Bama, beat ND, and try and be classy.
jack
December 1st, 2012
9:16 pm
@ Loser,,, you’re right,,,we “lost”,, we didn’t get beat. Too many bad calls going only in one direction. But then again,, that is typical of Alabama,,,,needs the stripes help to win their games. Quinton Dial is a thug punk who should be suspended for the NC game. If he isn’t then it will be clear who the NCAA wants to win.
El-Toro GATA
December 1st, 2012
9:16 pm
I really believe any one who talk smack about our players and coaches is not a Dawg fan! there is no way for any dawg fan not to be proud of our guys effort so to all Georgia haters on this blog go and get a damn life for your self
Go Dawgs!
GatorGuy
December 1st, 2012
9:17 pm
Notre Dame fans breath huge sigh of relief. They know their gonna get rolled by the Tide. Their worst fear was if they lost to the Dawgs, they would be forever having to explain how. All is well. No truth to the rumor that Dawg players bus already stuck in traffic on I-85 North.
Sr
December 1st, 2012
9:17 pm
Didn’t like the conservative playcalling on the drive with 3+ minutes to go on 3rd and 1.
Go play action bootleg with a run/pass option to convert the 1st down instead of a run up the middle.
Bamadawg
December 1st, 2012
9:17 pm
Would’a, Could’a, Should’a!
Trashtalkin'?
December 1st, 2012
9:18 pm
Delusional Dawgs – You’re right that Tech’s game doesn’t matter tonight, but really no Tech games ever matter…
Where?
December 1st, 2012
9:18 pm
They pay Grantham how much?
doggoneit
December 1st, 2012
9:18 pm
I cringe to think whats going to happen when the Tide gets ahold of the Irish! Irish wont score 10 points!
Ghost of Sinkwich
December 1st, 2012
9:18 pm
What game was that side judge watching?
It will always be great to be a Bulldog, on a Saturday Night!!!
Lil' Barry Bailout
December 1st, 2012
9:18 pm
Dewnsav, after the dwags dirty play last week, you really ought not cry about Murray getting wasted like that.
Karma.
Delusional Dawgs
December 1st, 2012
9:18 pm
@ Trashtalkin’ – you are right!!! they shouldn’t trash talk the mighty dawgs who RUN THIS STATE!! dont worry, youll get another chance at glory in 2044….
Mobile Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:18 pm
As for the cheap shot on Murray, it would have been a legal play due to the interception if it had not been “head to head” contact. Hope he’s suspended for the ND game.
Whiznot
December 1st, 2012
9:19 pm
Why were the coaches in such a hurry to lose? The end game was almost as stupid as goal line run play with no timeouts against Auburn in Richt’s first year. Richt has been on the job for 12 years and has apparently learned nothing. What a disappointment for Georgia players and fans.
We missed our best chance
December 1st, 2012
9:19 pm
Nifty, Nifty look who’s 50!
…..and counting…..
The 1980 Nat’l Champion Bulldogs
We had the easiest schedule we have seen in 17 years and the easiest schedule in the SEC, Aaron Murray, and 11 NFL caliber defense players….. And still couldn’t win our conference.
Schedule is much tougher the next few years. Just a bit depressed right now.
GatorGuy
December 1st, 2012
9:20 pm
If an alien spaceship crashed into Georgia Dome and saw last drive, even they would have spiked the ball. CMR, Bobo and crew add another one to the hit list. Sure hope none of these guys wind up working for Muschamp. Gators have enough to worry about trying to catch up with Bama.
Sr
December 1st, 2012
9:20 pm
Didn’t like calling the fade to Mitchell at the end, he’s not the tallest guy, Lynch, Rome would have been a better option.
Really hurt not having Bennett and Brown in the red zone.
Georgia short takes: Dogs should’ve spiked the ball – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dog Shop Blog
December 1st, 2012
9:20 pm
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kman
December 1st, 2012
9:20 pm
How many of you Dawg 2nd guessers were on the field? Some of you should give up e-mailing and go into coaching.
kman
December 1st, 2012
9:20 pm
How many of you Dawg 2nd guessers were on the field? Some of you should give up e-mailing and go into coaching.
Trashtalkin'?
December 1st, 2012
9:20 pm
Delusional Dawgs – Thanks for being so focused on GA since you’re team is terrible. It may be 2044, but ya’ll will probably officially end your football program 20 years before then…
Jlew
December 1st, 2012
9:21 pm
Someone else may have already pointed this out, but defensive line got manhandled because they were out of gas. I did not see any backups playing for Geathers or Big John Jenkins the entire game. Do we not have anyone that can give them a break? Way too many snaps for those guys.
next, for those of you blaming Murray after the completion to Lynch. If you watch the reply, he was running to the Line of scrimmage looking at the sidelines and motioning to spike the ball, but must have been signaled to run the play. I believe we must have thought we had a better chance without letting Bama get set up, but unfortunately it got tipped. Also, don’t blame Conley. You are taught to catch the ball and it was just a reaction. We played hard and gave great effort, just lost.
Mobile Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:21 pm
Sr, hindsight is 20/20. We’re watching before and debating on pass or run. It was 50/50. We should have been able to get one yard.
Delusional Dawgs
December 1st, 2012
9:21 pm
@Trash talkin – does it make all the pain of watching a national championship slip through your fingers 4 yards and 5 seconds short by putting down Tech? good! because at least from now on, EVERY TIME you get smacked down in a big game in your own conference that matters, you can always remind everyone that YOU RUN THIS STATE!!! noone can take that away from you!!!
(you might just be dull enough to keep the salt wound rub going)
poise
December 1st, 2012
9:21 pm
forget stats for a second, ikno that may be brain surgery 4sum but wait….-okay, whats the best option when you’re in leadership thinkn-….if i use my strengths, i can help the team win….poise (((-now whats our record in big games vs. ranked teams-))) ps. and i will always be a georgia bulldawg fan, we play tuff football halfbacks & quarterback plus we hit & be physical….but most importantly we captialize off other teams mistake, not go 1 – 11 in big games… saw david greene tonight, poise quarterback who ……if you dont know, then you dont know…. we lost the game when we didnt do anything when we was up 7 – 0 after the defense created a turnover in bama territory
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2012
9:22 pm
Dawgs were lucky the game was close. Statistically it was an asskicking. We had over 500 yds total offense. Georgia couldn’t get to 400 yds. Differential of 119 total yards and in return yardage was outdid them by 125 yards. 7 more first downs and 37 minutes time of possession. A lucky blocked kick return for a td and a fortuitous 4th down fake punt are the only things that made the game close. Otherwise our running game just mauled the dawgs. It was a dominating performance and a physical beatdown of the dawgs. Dawgs can whine all they want to about spiking the ball or the refs or whatever. The reality is that on the field we manhandled the dawgs.
Georgia short takes: Dogs should’ve spiked the ball – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Ez Dogs Blog
December 1st, 2012
9:22 pm
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Jlew
December 1st, 2012
9:22 pm
350+ pound guys can’t play the entire game, they need subs to stay fresh.
GatorGuy
December 1st, 2012
9:22 pm
Dawg fans
Home made Prozac now available on Craigslist, and Ebay. Better hurry, big order coming from ND fans once BCS ends.
Sr
December 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
Thought Murray played too conservatively tonight. Seemed afraid of being blamed for the loss, just tried to avoid throwing interceptions, instead of making plays.
Murray seems to always be either too aggresive or too conservative in big games either way, his team nearly always loses, Murray is now 1-11 against ranked teams as a leader.
GT Fan
December 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
Bama blown fake punt … ends poss
UGA Successful fake punt … TD 2-3 plays later.
Bama int in the endzone
Blocked FG ret for a TD … in which the replay offs blew the no-tip. Yes, the ball was NOT tipped.
Bama had 26 1st downs, 512 total yds, 37+ mins TOP. UGA…you’re lucky is wasn’t another blowout.
All team with, as Danielson continuously said, that has 9-11 future nfl’ers on D ain’t supposed to need all the “gifts” bama gave them to have a chance to win.
Shine
December 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
Congrats to Richt and the Bulldogs
well to Bama too.
gotta say the Bulldogs did Ga proud. much improved. wish they hadda spiked the ball at the end and got two plays but that’s the way it goes.
poor notre dame. there are at least 6 SEC teams that can probably beat them…Bama, Ga, Fla, Texas A&M, LSU, And South Carolina even with Lattimore out and with the new QB considering what he did to Clemson last week.
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
The only reason the dawgs even got all the way down there is because Saban went all conservative- wayyyyy to conservative and almost ended up blowing the game. Prevent defense can sometimes prevent you from winning.
Trashtalkin'?
December 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
Delusional Dawgs – Dull enough?…Yes! Lest I remind you that YOU started the trash talking to begin with. I’m actually putting down the team of a guy who put down my team for no reason. It just happens to be Tech. Who seems dull in this situation now? Really?
Dewnsav
December 1st, 2012
9:25 pm
lil barry, not crying, just stated fact…he will be suspended for the NC game…I have never taken delight on a shot like that as you did…whose your team again ?? go dogs