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
QB/DB
January 1st, 2013
10:19 pm
I can’t understand why some DAWG fans are so hard on Murray, no one is perfect, (you aren’t either) he represented you well but ONE HICCUP and you tar and feather him, same with BoBo, you have a great team with a great program and very good Coaches, back off and look at the man in the mirror!
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
10:21 pm
I thought NEBRASKA sucked……….Why did UGa Mutt have such a hard time with the corn donkeys?
Jason
January 1st, 2013
10:21 pm
“We start next season with Clemson and we’re ready to play them now.”
This is why I love Todd Gurley. He’s only a sophomore next season and that’s scary for everyone else. He’s humble but also confident. He now knows what it takes to get ready for SEC play. He had a great year and like Bobo said, “Now it’s time to BE great.” There’s a difference. I think Gurley becomes that great UGA back next season. Can’t wait to play Clemsuck.
Daddo
January 1st, 2013
10:21 pm
UGA will win it all next year? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA…Alabama, LSU, Texas A and M, Florida are all loaded next year, and u will lose your annual game to South Carolina. U will be the sixth best team in the conference next year, if THAT. U can’t hide behind scheduling anymore.
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
10:23 pm
HOW MUCH will UGa have to pay BOBO just too keep him from taking Head Coaching Job?………………………………………………………………..HAHAAHAAAHHA
Smitty
January 1st, 2013
10:24 pm
I hope Murray comes back…but I don’t think so
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
10:24 pm
Is RICHT ready to jump off the High Dive now?
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
10:26 pm
Smitty……………..you hope your wife comes back too but that ain’t happening either…….
Smitty
January 1st, 2013
10:26 pm
Daddo ….bite my A$$ you are such a loser
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
10:27 pm
Smitty you got no AZZZ you just sniff Balz
DawgFan
January 1st, 2013
10:27 pm
Phil is spot on. Murray is a midget, especially compared to the QBs currently backing him up.
Mason and Lemay should hit the road. They are wasting away on the sidelines.
Dont get too excited, Nebraska gave up 70 to “mighty” Michigan State….a fine, fine 8-4 Big 10 team.
The Truth
January 1st, 2013
10:28 pm
Mr. Murray needs to comeback for one more year. He will be a John Parker Wilson in the NFL (back-up quartererback). The defensive talent is overrated… Very overrated. Any NFL team who draft these guys high will be sorry… Lack of Discpline and bad tacking technique.
Smitty
January 1st, 2013
10:29 pm
5150 UOAD ….my wife has been here for 42 years… how long has yours been with you?
Jason
January 1st, 2013
10:30 pm
Tech trolls…ahhh nothing like em huh. Let’s you know you’re above them when they do that stuff. Feels good.
Jason
January 1st, 2013
10:31 pm
Hey DawgFan, before you run your trap, know your facts. Michigan State only scored 24 on Nebraska.
JackStraw
January 1st, 2013
10:39 pm
How many “special admits” are currently on the UGA roster?
Smitty
January 1st, 2013
10:44 pm
Jason …..are you a closet tech fan?
Thomas Brown
January 1st, 2013
10:47 pm
Congratulations on a great season at 12-2 and a win over # 4 Florida, and an impressive win over # 25 Vandie along with now 8-4 in bowl games, although we dropped to 2-3 in SEC Championship Games and 118-40 over-all 9.83 wins per season and 3.33 losses per season. We beat Nebraska to square that record of Top 10 All-Time Football Programs in Wins.
We have some work to do this off-season :
(1) Get some of the high-profile signees a month from now, when we whiffed on them this time last year.
(2) Stay out of the Bad Press this off-season for a change
(3) 2 weeks from now January 15 all the posturing is over and they have to declare or not for the NFL. I figure Mark Richt will come close to taking the national lead 2001 through today in NFL Draft Selections # 2 in the nation with 71 NFL Draft Picks now. Southern California (7-6) needs 7 NFL Draft Picks if Mark Richt has 11. We have 5 Pro-Bowl Starters, and only the vols have as many nationally :
Starters 2013 Pro Bowl Selections :
1. Champ Bailey – Starter
2. Tim Jennings – Starter
3. AJ Green – Starter
4. Blair Walsh – Starter
5. Geno Atkins – Starter
(4) We need to do a better job of preparing our back-up quarterback by actually playing the poor quarterbacks, as this is just one high-profile example, of many on the team where our transfers-out have got to be cut down.
(5) We have a ton of walk-ons on Full Scholarship which is cutting into our available SCHOLARSHIP RECRUITS :
1-HARTON – doesn’t play
2-MCGOWAN – drops the ball
3-FALOUGHI – doesn’t play on defense
4-SAILORS – doesn’t play on defense
5-VAVLAS – doesn’t play on defense
6-NORMAN – doesn’t play on defense
7-HALL – doesn’t play on offense
(6) These Scholarship Recruits are here already :
1-Ryne Rankin 6’ 1” 228 lbs 4.50 # 36 MLB heavily recruited
2-Brice Ramsey QB 6’ 3” 197 lbs 4.81 # 7 QB headliner
3-Reggie Carter ILB 6’ 2” 230 lbs # 12 MLB 4-Star heavily recruited
4-Josh Cardiello OL 6’ 2” 280 lbs 3-Star # 4 OT heavily recruited
5-Aulden Bynum OL 6’ 5” 255 lbs 3-Star # 58 OT heavily recruited
6-Chris Mayes DT JUCO 6’ 4” 325 lbs 3-Star
7-Jonathon Rumph WR JUCO 6’ 4” 200 lbs 4-Star heavily recruited
8-Kennar Johnson S JUCO 6’ 2” 185 lbs 3-Star
(7) We have 62 scholarship players of which 7 walk-ons are included, not counting the recruiting on-going now and not counting the 8 Scholarship Recruits here already.
62-7=55 Scholarship Recruits all we have – Thank you Rodney Gardner, sir.
Kolton Houston is still not eligible to play according to the NCAA today
- 1 = 54 Scholarship Recruits all we have.
(8) 54 Scholarship Recruits plus the 8 already here on campus counted toward 2012 way-short recruiting class – Thank you Rodney Garner, sir – gives us 62 of the 85-man limit.
(9) 85-man limit of Scholarship Recruits – 62 here ready to play, leaves us 23 more we need to sign in 1-month’s time. We have 30 commitments including the 8 here already on campus ready to play, so we have 22 commitments for 1-month from now and have an open slot – if Mark Richt does not use his available Scholarships for walk-ons who never play on offense or defense, except for McGowan who drops the football. We need this last guy to be VERY STRONG FOOTBALL PLAYER at a position of need who will come in and start immediately, such as at : WR, OL, DL, Secondary, LB, Safety, CB, TE, FB – we have a lot of needs for Starters across the board, and our special teams need to be significantly improved as well. But, mostly we need to do something about stopping the run, and running the football MORE in this pass-happy offense of Mike Bobo :
UGA :
_______________________________
2,556 yards rushing UGA 2012 season
_______________________________
Opponents :
____________________________________
2,550 yards rushing Opponents 2012 season
____________________________________
We out-rushed our Opponents 2012 season by 6 yards with Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. They need to be used FAR MORE 2013. Had Todd Gurley not gotten his 6 yards rushing at the end of the game putting the game away with the score 45-31 at the 11 minute mark, we would not have out-rushed our Opponents 2012 season. This is hard to imagine at the University of Ground Attack. We gave up 4 minutes per game in Time of Possession the 2012 season, which put great pressure unnecessarily on our Defense. Run the damn ball more.
(10) We will start the season ranked # 6. We will have a far more challenging schedule, especially early in the season when we must concern ourselves with not more off-season issues and suspensions for a change from what we’ve done this 12-year Mark Richt era.
(11) We just MUST beat a top-ranked team in the bowl game at the end of the 2013 season on the National Stage. In 12 seasons to-date, Mark Richt has not accomplished this once.
hind tit
January 1st, 2013
10:49 pm
Any rumors on a d line coach?
Jason
January 1st, 2013
10:52 pm
Smitty, hell no. Never would I disgrace myself.
UGA Golfer
January 1st, 2013
10:54 pm
When I was a kid, I used to fantasize about Georgia playing Nebraska (considering that period was in the 1970’s when Nebraska was loaded). I never dreamed I would get to witness this matchup and watch UGA score 45 on the Big Red Machine! What a sweet win for the ages.
North Georgia Dawg
January 1st, 2013
10:55 pm
Hey guys, how do you castrate Daddo? Kick his sister in the jaw.
Techie
January 1st, 2013
10:55 pm
Ugag had your best run this year. Enjoy it as your last. Gators are back and you finally play a decent schedule.
Daddo
January 1st, 2013
10:56 pm
Ranked 6th next year? U will only be the sixth best team in the SEC next year.
Resident Georgia Fan
January 1st, 2013
10:57 pm
So how tall are you PHIL THE FOOL?
Middle Dawg
January 1st, 2013
10:57 pm
Thomas Brown = Rain Man
Buzz2011
January 1st, 2013
10:57 pm
I think you meant to write, GT projects well for 2013.
The Dogs are done and shot it all and lost the big game yet
again. The Acc is starting to move on the SEC as was seen
by Clemson knocking off LSU. Clemson will take out the Dogs
easily and roll from there GT will again play for an ACC chamoinship.
Special K
January 1st, 2013
10:58 pm
Jason, stay off the drugs. They’re killing you brain cells.
Greg Carroll
January 1st, 2013
10:58 pm
Defense?? Did you say defense?? Prospects or not , we got to be better than this.
North Georgia Dawg
January 1st, 2013
10:58 pm
Guess what haters? Georgia won, get over it you losers! I’m sorry your New Years Day was ruined, but Murray beat a team that will finish in the top-25 team. Wow, I thought that was impossible. He’s the most overrated and lousy quarterback in college football. Your annoying comments and stupid opinions are not going to change opinions of Georgia’s program for any Georgia fans. Georgia went 12-2 and beat three teams that will finish in the top 25, and 1 that will finish in the top 10 if they win.
Ron Roberts
January 1st, 2013
10:58 pm
Y’all are missing the point re: Murray staying/going.
His desire to get a master’s degree in Psychology is great; his family ain’t broke and money isn’t a motivating factor for him. Yeah, he might stay, but his draft position won’t be the factor as much as whether or not he feels accomplishments on the field are greater than getting his master’s.
I’m only concerned about Grantham bolting for the NFL before signing day; he’s been a solid recruiter. I don’t put this year’s effort on him as much, because the situation’s unique; Shawn Williams nailed his teammates with his words earlier in the season, but with so much on the line this year, TG had no choice but to put the best players on the field, even if they were playing tenuous. Even today, it appeared the “stars” on defense were playing as tentatively as they could so as not to get hurt before the April NFL draft – save for #9 and #29.
The Truth
January 1st, 2013
10:59 pm
UGA hasa a long way to go…If they played Florida rightnow they would lose. UGA defense is not even a top 50 defense. Very Overrated!
Buzz2011
January 1st, 2013
10:59 pm
Who is Thomas Brown?? Is he a pro scout or just an uneducated idiot?
Buckeyes 75
January 1st, 2013
11:01 pm
Yes, Georgia beat Nebraska. So they didn’t choke against a ranked team. But Nebraska sucks. Georgia is over average but far from great. Please, Nebraska is so freaking overrated so don’t tell me about how wonderful Georgia is. Georgia Tech is average and is consistently whipped by any team with a decent offense. They are so bad they make UGA look like a good team and that’s hard a lot of times.
North Georgia Dawg
January 1st, 2013
11:02 pm
Buckeyes 75, does the 75 stand for your age or your IQ??? Just wondering which you are bragging about. Or the number of NCAA violations perhaps?
North Georgia Dawg
January 1st, 2013
11:05 pm
Truth, it doesn’t matter if Florida would beat us now or not. We beat them already and we are down two defensive linemen. We played this game without three of our four best receivers (Mitchell left early in the game with a concussion) and two starting defensive linemen.
North Georgia Dawg
January 1st, 2013
11:06 pm
Techie, who cares?? We had a really good season and hammered Tech each of the last two seasons. When you guys actually beat Georgia, feel free to talk smack again. But that may be a few years at this rate. And Florida could be losing a lot to the NFL, they’ve got 5 good players who are considering the draft.
North Georgia Dawg
January 1st, 2013
11:08 pm
Daddo is probably a jealous Tech of Auburn fan. Two teams we absolutely destroyed but refused to run up the score on. He’s pathetic.
Tony
January 1st, 2013
11:09 pm
Great game by the Georgia offense I was wondering why we kept throwing it so much but I guess Bobo and Richt knew what they were doing. I’m glad to see Marshall play more and Gurley looked good yet again. Good win dawgs and it’s great to head into the offseason with some momentum.
Athens
January 1st, 2013
11:11 pm
@5150
What a tool…How old are you…..over 50 right?: I pity you…
Jason
January 1st, 2013
11:15 pm
Tech fans…actually beat us then talk. Until you can do that…SHUT UP
JackStraw
January 1st, 2013
11:19 pm
UGA football has tons of money, fantastic athletes, supportive fans and excellent facilities, but it consistently performs below expectations. When the going gets tough fans resort to one of three things (1) blame coaching; (2) talk about next year or (3) brag about beating Tech. It’s embarrassing.
Jason
January 1st, 2013
11:23 pm
JackJaw, we don’t “brag” about beating Tech. It happens every year. No need to brag. But what is funny is how Tech trolls blogs that pertain to UGA just to hate. I mean it shows your envy.
John
January 1st, 2013
11:24 pm
Wow, I thought only Nebraska fans devoured each other
You won 12 games, nearly won an SEC and national title. At least you have won a couple SEC titles – pretty hard to come by in the toughest conference in the land.
Look, Dawg fans, you weren’t perfect. Don’t think that Nebraska brought their A game either. You beat a 10 win team by 14 points. Nebraska’s defense isn’t good. Our offense is really good, though. But it’s not like you were beating Kentucky or Vandy out there – you beat the #16 team in the country and showed grit doing it. Enjoy the win. You have a nice team. Our team was pretty good too.
Best of luck in 2013.
John
Eternally hopeful Husker fan
Bama
January 1st, 2013
11:28 pm
Will you UGA fans quit whining?! You call out the people who aren’t happy with your season, then call everyone else “Tech trolls”, instead of listing facts. Good job on 12 wins, understand you went 2-2 against “real competition” the rest of your schedule was a joke, only good teams you played were us (loss) Florida (lucky to win) South Carolina (beat down) and for fairness sake ill throw in the corn holes you beat today. You could have easily lost to Tennessee and Kentucky. The guys on here who have concerns are telling it like it is. This was your ONE shot this year and you pissed it away. That’s why they’re upset. I guarantee Saban wouldn’t be happy with a 1-2 record in the SEC against the top teams and because he doesn’t accept mediocrity he pushes and disciplines his teams to excel. That’s why we do it year in, year out. There is a top tier in the sec and those teams are in contention every year for the mnc. The second tier where you guys are will be capital one bowl champions, occasional sugar bowl when the big boys play for the title, but that’s it. It’s the way it is. It’s the way it will be. Deal with it.
JackStraw
January 1st, 2013
11:32 pm
@Jason
You sound like a broken record – Tech trolls this, Tech trolls that. I think you may have an unhealthy obsession. Ask Aaron Murray – he studies psychology.
Jason
January 1st, 2013
11:34 pm
Bama if we’re not good, then why are you even on here? If we just aren’t relevant at all, why come on the UGA blog? Why waste your time?
Jason
January 1st, 2013
11:35 pm
4 yards away from losing and “Bama” thinks they’re so much better than UGA. UGA dominated the game. Up 21-10 at one point. Bama was lucky to beat UGA. How ya like them apples fat boy?
treyaries
January 1st, 2013
11:36 pm
Big up to Murray he is coming back next year this will be the year that the defense will have to step up big the schedule is going to be tougher offense should be fine with those running backs and offensive line coming back!!!!
Daddo
January 1st, 2013
11:38 pm
350 rushing yards shoved down your throat is domination. U should have lost to Bama by 18 to 21, and would if u played again.