Georgia projects well for 2013, even with flaws in win
Mark Richt gets the Gatorade bath after Georgia's Capitol Bowl win over Nebraska. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ORLANDO – The players wore hats reading “CHAMPIONS” in all cap letters. The fact that “Capital One Bowl” — and not SEC or BCS — also was stitched on the caps in a much smaller script might deflate that declaration a bit, but it doesn’t take away from where Georgia may be headed.
Were the Bulldogs great in their final game of the 2012 season? Hardly. The defense, purported to be loaded with NFL talent, too often played sloppy and undisciplined. The quarterback, Aaron Murray, threw two interceptions in the team’s first three possessions. It is what happens sometimes in bowl games. The Dogs didn’t save their best for last. Their best came in the next-to-last game against Alabama.
But ultimately, what came out of Georgia’s 45-31 win over Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl were signs that this program isn’t likely to take a step back next season.
There will be new players. There will be a different team personality. The schedule will be tougher. But the Bulldogs just finished a season that saw them go 12-2 and come within five yards of winning the SEC championship and going to the BCS title game. They rebounded from the crushing loss in the SEC championship game to win a significant bowl game. They showed resiliency by losing two starting wide receivers (Marlon Brown, Michael Bennett) during the season and a third in Tuesday’s game (Malcolm Mitchell). They endured several early season suspensions on defense and played without two defensive starters against Nebraska (John Jenkins, Abry Jones).
Jarvis Jones and several defensive starters now are expected to leave for the NFL. Maybe Murray comes back, but probably not. But Georgia is in a good place now, a player again on the national scene, and nobody could have seen that coming two years ago in Memphis when the team schlepped off the field a loser to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl, dragging a 6-7 record.
“The seniors started a legacy here,” freshman running back Todd Gurley said Tuesday. “They’re passing it down to us, and we’re just going to keep moving forward and winning each year. I know a lot of teams will have the goal of going to the national championship next year, but we really believe that. We’re going to bring in a great recruiting class and we’re going to get it done next year.”
Todd Gurley, here breaking through for a 24-yard touchdown, finished with 125 yards rushing to lead the Bulldogs. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
As flawed as the Dogs looked against Nebraska, the result and the season projected well for the future.
It starts with the two freshmen in the backfield, Gurley and Keith Marshall. There were questions about the running game going into the season following the excommunication of Isaiah Crowell, but the two quickly eased concerns. In the final game of the season, Gurley rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown and Marshall made a difficult back-shoulder, 24-yard touchdown catch to give the Dogs a 38-31 lead early in the fourth quarter.
There’s the future.
It doesn’t matter if the starting quarterback is Murray or Hutson Mason. Georgia’s offense should function well, and the team should be in the middle of things again.
When asked about Marshall’s catch, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said, “We’ve kept things pretty simple for him and Todd because they’re freshmen. But that play there gives us a level of confidence next year that we can expand their package.”
Gurley, Bobo said, brought “a physicality to the offense that we needed. He did a great job leading us as a freshman. I told him after the game, ‘You had a great year, but now you have a chance to be great. So let’s go to work.’”
Marshall said he battled knee tendinitis before the season, affecting his workouts. “I lost some of my explosiveness,” he said. “But it’s finally feeling better. I’m looking forward to getting started on my workouts.”
And then this: “Honestly, I feel we’re the best team in the country. We can play with anybody. We were one play away this year.”
There were hiccups Tuesday. The first half took nearly two hours. The two teams combined for 47 points, five offensive touchdowns, three interceptions (including Nebraska’s pick-six against Murray), a field goal and a blocked punt for a safety. The Dogs trailed 24-23, then 31-23. But Murray, after starting 11 for 24, stopped scaring NFL scouts. He connected with Chris Conley for a 49-yard touchdown, then later scrambled away from pressure to connect with Marshall. Later, he found Conley again on a “jailbreak screen” against Nebraska’s blitz — nice call by Bobo – for an 87-yard score. Checkmate.
It ended well. There’s reason to believe it could end well next season, too.
By Jeff Schultz
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772 comments Add your comment
bamaguy
January 2nd, 2013
7:43 pm
Every time I read a discussion on how UGA “could win it all next year” the image of Charlie Brown, Lucy and that snatched-away football comes to mind.
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
7:49 pm
Anybody doing a Live Blog for the Sugar Bowl? It will be funny to hear the dwags complain about Florida.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
January 2nd, 2013
7:57 pm
Being serious for a change I personally want to congratulate GT on kicking some USCw a$$. That was one of the most satisfying games of the BOWLS.
Since I am passing out kudos I may as well include USCe kicking some Michigan butt as well and all this without their 2 best offensive players, Lattimore and Shaw.
I may as well include Vandy and James Franklin with the 2 above teams!!!!
Too bad I didn’t get to include LSU but being a sometimes second guesser I kinda believe if Miles had managed the clock a little better by running the ball and milking the clock instead of 3 passes that consumed only a few seconds, LSU probably/possibly would have won!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well done guys and back to normal for me!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
January 2nd, 2013
8:05 pm
@ Bama Guy:
Instead of Charlie Brown and Lucy Bama’s Cryptonite was “Johnny Football”. Know whut I’m saying?????
I’m pretty damn sure you and your ilk fell on your knees and thanked GOD for the tipped pass on the last play of the SEC Championship game!!!!!!!!!!
Otherwise we wouldn’t be hearing a single peep out of you!!!!!!!!!!
DawgNole
January 2nd, 2013
8:18 pm
Moist Dawg
January 2nd, 2013
12:09 pm
My inside sources are reliable.
__________________
You have no “inside sources,” you silly goose.
bamaguy
January 2nd, 2013
8:20 pm
If Johnny Football was cryptonite to Alabama, what is South Carolina and Coach Spurrier to Georgia? (God didn’t have anything to do with the end of that game, competent coaching did).
DawgNole
January 2nd, 2013
8:26 pm
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
January 2nd, 2013
7:57 pm
Since I am passing out kudos I may as well include USCe kicking some Michigan butt as well and all this without their 2 best offensive players, Lattimore and Shaw.
_____________________
Without Shaw? Huh? Better check your “inside sources” there, bud. Shaw played and played well: 18-26, 224 yds, 2 TDs, 0 INTs.
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
8:30 pm
Gators get the ball first……….
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
8:33 pm
Gators with a Pick 6 on the first play…….Looks like PMS Murray is QB for the Gators
Big Crimson 75
January 2nd, 2013
8:36 pm
Jeff Driskel is pure garbage.
Big Crimson 75
January 2nd, 2013
8:37 pm
What a horrific QB!!
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
8:41 pm
GTBob January 2nd, 2013 2:05 pm
“I haven’t ducked the issue at all. I acknowledged that GT has been poor in graduating football players”
“It is embarrassing and our recruiting has suffered because of it.”
___________________________________________________
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
8:55 pm
looks like Louisville came to play. 14-0
Flat Tire doesnt live in Delusionalville Ga.
January 2nd, 2013
9:00 pm
Looks like Flo-rider didnt show up and neither did their fans though I dont blame them: I wouldnt want to go to new Orleans for this joke of a game
Marquis de Mercury
January 2nd, 2013
9:00 pm
looks like that “big” Florida win by Georgia ain’t that impressive afterall…Florida and LSU have the same problem, no quarterback, good defense…
DawgNole
January 2nd, 2013
9:01 pm
Thomas Brown
January 2nd, 2013
2:59 pm
No, DawgNole, they are both obviously that stupid, not making these mistakes on purpose.
_______________________
I called him on it before, and he claimed he did it intentionally to annoy “people like you.” Your take on it may well be the more likely scenario.
DawgNole
January 2nd, 2013
9:02 pm
Driskell damn near got picked again.
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
9:06 pm
Gators are trying to get back in it.
Moist Dawg
January 2nd, 2013
9:13 pm
Floriduh is an embarrassment and I hope muschump is on the hot seat after this performance. We would be up 3tds on either of these “schools”
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
9:14 pm
moist dwag……..you are so full of it. Shouldn’t you be in the basement smoking some dope or something?
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
9:16 pm
When u are a bully like our Falcons and win Super Bowls like we will this year,,,,,,life is good, A. Blank please buy our Braves and make us champions!!!!!!
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
9:17 pm
When you are a Falcon fan you strut not walk these days,,,,,and come on man!!!! gators don’t make us take you sec card
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
9:20 pm
Falcons has a lot lot to prove. The Falcons haven’t earned their NFL card in 46 years
Marquis de Mercury
January 2nd, 2013
9:20 pm
LSU would be so much better off with Bridgewater…good thing he didn’t go to UGA, or Murray would know how Mason feels…on second thought, CMR would have made him into a TE…
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
9:20 pm
Franklin from Vandy put 3 of us in front of Notre Dame in the coaches poll, FL u are making us look bad………….COME ON MAN
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
9:21 pm
5150 THE FALCONS ARE THE NEW BULLY,,,,,,WHEN IN DOUBT WE KNOCK THEM OUT,,,,,,YOU HATE ON US BUT WE ARE THE CREAM IN THE NFL…….ENOUGH SAID
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
9:23 pm
GATOR D,,,,,,,,,”OVERRATED” BOOM BOOM BOOM “OVERRATED”
Big Crimson 75
January 2nd, 2013
9:23 pm
No wonder UGA beat the crocs.
Driskel is actually worse than I expected.
At least we got 1 QB to watch in this game — Teddy Bridgewater.
Sideline Stalker
January 2nd, 2013
9:24 pm
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
6:06 pm
Look Folks,,,,,,,,,SIDELINE STALKER gets mad that a fan gives his opinion! That is what fans do SIDELINE STALKER. why you waste space with putting down a fan for having knowledge on the team?
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Look Go Falcons is Jason’s protector without an argument. That is what losers do.
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
9:25 pm
the Falcons have not BULLIED anybody much yet. The Falcons have more to prove than they have so far. I’ve been here 46 years and seen the Falcons explode many times so I will wait to say they are the real deal until they win a playoff game or 3.
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
9:26 pm
there is that SEC class….player running his mouth to the ref.
Moist Dawg
January 2nd, 2013
9:27 pm
Louisville is toying with floriduh like a cat with a mouse.
It shouldn’t be a surprise, we exposed them as a joke already this year.
I can’t wait for clemsin so we can expose them as frauds too!
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
9:32 pm
Moist dWag……how did uga expose Florida exactly? If the Gator RB goes down and doesn’t try to Jump into the endzone it is a 2 point game with the gators going for 2.
Moist dWag really remembers the games as he sees them through the Red & Black glasses and thinks that is what really happened. Stop smoking the UGa players good stuff and watch the games with a clear head.
Big Crimson 75
January 2nd, 2013
9:35 pm
Tampa Gator could write a tragic novel on how awful Jeff Driskel is.
Sideline Stalker
January 2nd, 2013
9:38 pm
Tampa Gator will come up with all kind of reasoning for the pathetic performance that is being played out in the Mercedes Superdome by his beloved Gators. The problem is that he will come out and say that Florida is playing horribly or that the future of Gator football is perilous.
Dawg Patrol
January 2nd, 2013
9:39 pm
Phil@3:02 — Yeah ! Fla., Miss., and Aub. really lit our Defense up……..idiot
Big Crimson 75
January 2nd, 2013
9:43 pm
UGA is in great shape as long as Muschump is roaming the sidelines.
What’s he 0 for 8(?) in the cocktail party as a Player, Assistant & HC?
Even Goof earned a few in that series!!
Big Crimson 75
January 2nd, 2013
9:43 pm
UGA is in great shape as long as Muschump is roaming the sidelines.
What’s he 0 for 8(?) in the cocktail party as a Player, Assistant & HC?
Even Goof earned a few in that series!!
Moist Dawg
January 2nd, 2013
9:46 pm
5150, you can try to rewrite history allxyou want but the truth is that UGA made a mockery of floriduh.
I hope Aaron Murray is watching and licking his chops. My inside sources tell me he’s coming back and maybe a surprise big name too.
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
9:47 pm
Dawg Patrol
January 2nd, 2013
9:39 pm
Phil@3:02 — Yeah ! Fla., Miss., and Aub. really lit our Defense up……………………………..every other team did though. 11 of the 14 teams UGa played had more than 300 yards of offense.
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
9:55 pm
Buffalo 347
Mizzou 371
Florida Atl 318
Vandy 337
Tennessee 478
USC 392
Kentucky 329
Geo Sou 318
Tech 426
Bama 512
Nebraska 443
11 of 14 teams put up over 300 yards against all the NFL Talent on UGa’s Defense.
Moist Dwag………….you really need to go back and watch the UGa vs Florida game.
Pleas tell us what BIG name is coming back that your Inside Sauce(jack daniel’s) told you.
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
9:57 pm
5150 U MAKE NO SENSE,,,,,,ALL UGA DID WAS WIN BABY, STOP RIDING ON OUR JOCKS AND GET YOUR OWN TEAM BUDDDDDDDDDDDD
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
9:59 pm
goFalcons……won against WHO?
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
10:00 pm
OH LET ME GUESS U ARE A BAMA OR SC FAN CAUSE OTHER THEN THAT WE ROCKED THE HOUSE THIS YR
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
10:03 pm
Wow Florida has to use a gimmick play to get a TD.
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
10:04 pm
2013 MAKE 5150 NEVER RETURN,,,,,THE FALCONS WIN THE SUPER BOWL FEB 3RD, HAWKS WIN, THEN THE BRAVES AND WREN TRADE TEHERAN AND BETHANCOURT WITH CUNNINGHAM AND GET STANTON FROM THE FISH AND WIN, AND MURRAY COMES BACK AND UGA WIN,,,,,,,THIS YR IS OUR YR FOOLS
Sideline Stalker
January 2nd, 2013
10:04 pm
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
9:57 pm
5150 U MAKE NO SENSE,,,,,,ALL UGA DID WAS WIN BABY, STOP RIDING ON OUR JOCKS AND GET YOUR OWN TEAM BUDDDDDDDDDDDD
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$4
It looks like 5150 JUST hammered Moist with stats that stopped his argument in his tracks….
jason….errr go falcons just go to bed you are getting embarrassed by every post
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
10:07 pm
I DONT KNOW JASON BUT TOOK UP FOR HIM AND YOU BOY THE UGA RECORD IS THE FACTS,,,YOU GO TO BED KID
goFalcons
January 2nd, 2013
10:08 pm
WE TOP 5 BOY,,,,,,THOSE ARE THE FACTS SON
DawgNole
January 2nd, 2013
10:09 pm
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
9:14 pm
moist dwag……..you are so full of it. Shouldn’t you be in the basement smoking some dope or something?
___________________
Ha! Don’t forget, he has those “inside sources,” which really make him “special.”