Short takes: Murray, defense rebound; freshmen shine
Tavarres King goes up for a 75-yard touchdown from Aaron Murray, one of five TDs from the quarterback. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
I’ll be back with my column on Georgia’s win over Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl shortly. Until then, here are my three “short takes” on the game.
1. Defense underperforms but rebounds: When the season began, we were led to believe that Georgia’s defense was stuffed with several potential NFL players. If that’s true, the Bulldogs underperformed in several games. They were missing two linemen Tuesday (nose guard John Jenkins was academically ineligible; end Abry Jones was out with an ankle injury). But even then, Todd Grantham’s defense too often looked undisciplined (leading to breakdowns and penalties) and was shredded for far too many big plays. However, like in some other games, Georgia’s D made some big plays when it mattered most: Alec Olgetree forced a fumble at the Dogs’ 37, and Damian Swann had two interceptions. Nebraska, after scoring 31 points in the first 2½ quarters, was shut out the rest of the game.
2. Aaron Murray’s mixed performance: He threw a Georgia bowl-record five touchdown passes, but he probably left NFL scouts thoroughly confused. He threw interceptions on two of the Bulldogs’ first three possessions and completed only 11 of 24 passes to start the game, misfiring with open receivers. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said afterward Murray looked unsettled. But to his credit, Murray responded well to the adversity, as illustrated when he followed a first-quarter pick-six with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Tavarres King on the next play from scrimmage. Before two late-game incompletes, Murray completed seven of his eight attempts, with two of those going for touchdowns.
3. Marshall and Gurley will be story in 2013: Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, the Dogs’ two freshmen running backs, far exceeded expectations this season, and we witnessed their special talents again this game. Gurley rushed for 125 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown run. Marshall rushed for 38 yards on only eight attempts, but he also showed off his receiving skills with a back-shoulder 24-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter that gave Georgia a 38-31 lead. There won’t be any uncertainty about Georgia’s running game going into next season. And even if Murray turns pro, Gurley and Marshall figure to be the centerpieces of the offense.
– Jeff Schultz
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146 comments Add your comment
Dawg Patrol
January 1st, 2013
7:41 pm
Phil — I think Athensdawg @7:02 has a legit question. From one fan to another I’d like to know the answer to that question. If Mark Richt walked away tomorrow and went to another team who would we get to take his place? Who that could at least take us to a winning season each year and a bowl and win a few division championships. I’d like to hear anybody’s answer.
Marquis de Mercury
January 1st, 2013
7:43 pm
you got that right ellijay…especially on defense…really bad…
Erk
January 1st, 2013
7:43 pm
If I were Todd, I would feel obligated to give some of my salary back to UGA. Only seems right to me!
Dan - UGA Grad "70
January 1st, 2013
7:44 pm
Ya know I read these blogs and I’m not sure why. I have no idea what some of you people want from Richt or Murray and any other UGA players. It seems as if we don’t win the SEC Championship every year, play in the national championship game and beat SC and FL we suck. I guess no one remembers all the lackluster seasons of the past.
80% of the folks on this blog do not have a clue. They just goo blah, blah ,blah, blah and opine about nothing that really matters.
phil
January 1st, 2013
7:44 pm
We bad?
No we not.
Flat Tire doesnt live in Delusionalville Ga.
January 1st, 2013
7:46 pm
phil
you werent impressed our D only gave up 30 points with 9 D players going to the NFL come on
Next season we dont have an easy schedule so we should go undefeated next year
Come on phil have a drink of kool-aid and dont be apart of the “Society of the Miserable”
Really?
January 1st, 2013
7:47 pm
Was Malcolm Michel hurt or something? I don’t remember him getting a catch.
phil
January 1st, 2013
7:47 pm
Kirby Smart.
And as for you, Dan, you’re yet another of the many that keep us down with your losing is okay mentality.
kerryb
January 1st, 2013
7:48 pm
Phil, quit saying “us”. You’re not “us”.
phil
January 1st, 2013
7:49 pm
Come on, Flat Tire!
I was very impressed with our awesome defense. It looked great the last two games as we gave up the world to bama and nebraska.
Clearly we’re the pick to win it all next year, as we are EVERY year! Lol
JB
January 1st, 2013
7:49 pm
Murray had a pretty good day throwing to his number 4,5 and 6 Wr on the depth chart. Also, Wasn’t the Nebraska Defensive backfield ranked pretty high. My hope is some of these new Defensive Dawgs like to, and know how to tackle.
Flat Tire doesnt live in Delusionalville Ga.
January 1st, 2013
7:49 pm
Having a winning season at UGA isnt that hard to do with the talent level in this state
phil
January 1st, 2013
7:50 pm
Yes, kerryb, i am us.
I don’t know what you are other than overly concerned with what i think and say.
Get a life.
kerryb
January 1st, 2013
7:50 pm
Really?
January 1st, 2013
7:47 pm
Was Malcolm Michel hurt or something? I don’t remember him getting a catch.
_____________________________________________________
Mitchell had a concussion on a kick return.
Really?
January 1st, 2013
7:50 pm
It took reading 3 comments to remember why I stopped coming to the ajc site. I see flat tire aka 5150 aka still at and whatever other names he has added is still here all day every day.
Bird house sales slow this season you sad little nothing?
JB
January 1st, 2013
7:52 pm
Win the SEC East, play Bama to the final whistle for the chance at NC game and win a bowl game…..And the Techies and haters still post on here. Geez. Pretty good year at say 115 of 120 D1 teams.
c u later
January 1st, 2013
7:52 pm
Where was Malcolm Mitchell today? CMR refused to answer when the sideline reporter asked about it.
kerryb
January 1st, 2013
7:52 pm
Phil, you don’t talk like a UGA and I don’t and have never believed that you are a real UGA fan. You are a poser. You are too negative and bashing everything too much. There is never ANYTHING positive about the team with you.
FalconUGAFan
January 1st, 2013
7:52 pm
First thing…GG Dawgs. I fully expected them to fold in this game and they showed some grit today.
@Dawg Patrol…I like MR as a coach and as as a recruiter. Actually I think that is his strong suit because parents seem to love him. I would love for him to stay as our coach IF he cleans up the stupid penalties and worked some real discipline into the tough love. I’m not talking suspensions (he seems to handle that fine). I’m talking about the stuff that happens before that.
Skeptic
January 1st, 2013
7:52 pm
I reckon everybody ought to go over here now
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2013/01/01/georgia-projects-well-for-2013-even-with-flaws-in-win/
phil
January 1st, 2013
7:54 pm
Kerryb = dummy
Really?
January 1st, 2013
7:54 pm
Thanks kerryb. The one positive to the ajc is I can usually find out info quickly and it is usually reliable. Other than that arguing with and ignoring the countless trolls and haters is just too annoying and exhausting for me anymore.
I don’t even care if the fake Really? uses my name anymore. If it’s an anti Georgia or Falcons or Braves post it’s the fake Really?
Flat Tire doesnt live in Delusionalville Ga.
January 1st, 2013
7:56 pm
Really?
I see you still have no come backs other than to think Im some Tech fan under a different name
Keep living the dream and dont forget to pick up your 2013 Knocking on the Door To Greatness T-shirt at Walmart next week
Really?
January 1st, 2013
8:01 pm
Phil is another perfect example of the idiot children that post here every day. Imagine if your life was so empty you had to pretend to be a disgruntled fan of a school you hated to get any pleasure out of life. Then imagine having a stranger sum your depressing life up perfectly and continuing the charade because that’s all you have.
I’ll be back closer to signing day.
Really?
January 1st, 2013
8:03 pm
Flat tire
I never said you were a trade school fan but you just admitted you are. Oooops!!!!
Sherlock
January 1st, 2013
8:04 pm
Hmmm….. the ever present and Dawg obsessed tool known as Buckeye is the first to post. Then nothing? Nope: “Phil”.
Stinger2
January 1st, 2013
8:09 pm
Based on his multi-post on this blog, phil appears to be the same “phil” who is a regular all day poster on David O`Brien`s Braves blogs. phil and about 6 or 8 others
clog up the DOB blogs with nothing but general conversation between themselves.
Its a clan type group that rattle on and on day after day during the Braves season.
mgdawg
January 1st, 2013
8:11 pm
The defense has been a disappointment throughout the season. They’ve had many excuses, but mostly the excuses were due to themselves. They didn’t have many injuries, unlike the offense that lost two of it’s top WR’s and in this bowl game didn’t have Mitchell for much of the game.
Murray needs one more year of college, I think everyone agrees with that. The only real question is whether the QB class is weaker this year then it is going to be next year.
Gurshall is going to be a threat for years to come. They have all kinds of talent, but they are missing one thing. That one thing is an offensive line that can run block. The pass blocking this year has been pretty good overall, but the run blocking is awful. The entire Oline should be back next year, this must be improved.
AugDawg
January 1st, 2013
8:11 pm
To JB and all others. This was a great year by any standard. You are correct that most D1 teams would love to have this record and season. The problem is that over the last 30 years, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida, and Tennessee have either won or contended for national titles, while UGA again dreams of “Next Year.” When will “Next Year” come? The state of Georgia has incredible talent. UGA is a great school. The athletic department has resources to use in legitimate ways. We recruit incredible classes of players. We have all of the elements to be an elite program, but the coaches cannot seem to push the program to the next level.
We have a great team and this season was good by any measure, however doesn’t the Dawg Nation deserve better?
gdog5159
January 1st, 2013
8:12 pm
I would like to say that Phil is a complete Ahole but I doubt he has the ability to complete anything. Give it a break, jerk! If you are not going to be supportive of Georgia Football, get the f— off this site!
Dave Cohen
January 1st, 2013
8:13 pm
Interceptions are overrated—especially early in the game. Look at the throws he made. Thats what NFL scouts care about. Contrast that with the Nebraska QB who made virtually every throw off the wrong foot. You want to talk about bad coaching thats an example. The ineligibility of John Jenkins also very fishy. Did he fail several courses based on final exams or was he failing all those classes back around the time of the SEC Championship. If that was the case he should have been ineligible then. I think Murray cannot get better as a college QB but would benefit from the sophistication of
pro coaching. Remember too that David Greene and DJ Shockley were on NFL rosters or taxi squads for a combined 6 years and never played a down in a real game. They exhausted their college eligibility but were only practice practice players in NFL. Murray is far better than they were.
Flat Tire doesnt live in Delusionalville Ga.
January 1st, 2013
8:14 pm
Really?
Ooops
Where did I say im a Tech fan;
again still waiting; been waiting and most likely will continue to wait on a legitmiate post from you
Old Dawg
January 1st, 2013
8:17 pm
Phil, Mom said to get off the computer and take your bath. You stink.
DawgNole
January 1st, 2013
8:19 pm
Mike S.
January 1st, 2013
7:10 pm
I’m not sure UGA will miss all these NFL talented guys on defense. They clearly did not have focus this year, starting with the offseason suspensions. Once they got called out mid season for playing soft, they responded the rest of the year until the second half against Bama. The first half today was more of the same.
Especially if Murray comes back, UGA wont be any worse next year. I cant see the defense playing worse than this one has most of the season. The offense will be lights out.
____________________
This has occurred to me. Hope we’re right.
Pat
January 1st, 2013
8:21 pm
Murray isn’t going anywhere. I think it’s hilarious that people actually think he is. Truly comical.
ugafancolumbusga
January 1st, 2013
8:21 pm
HOW BOUT THEM DAWGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGSSSS!!!!! AM PROUD TO BLEED RED AND BLACK.. TRUE FANS HAVE FAITH AND BELIEVE IN UGA TEAM…
DawgNole
January 1st, 2013
8:22 pm
rogeriter
January 1st, 2013
7:15 pm
My pea-sized brain has written three novels, a best selling hit song which has been featured on 5 albums. I also was elected to the Atlanta Country Music hall of Fame. In addition, I have run several of the largest Real Estate firms in Ga. and served as President of the Metro South Atlanta association of Realtors. I have been a speaker in every state except 3 and have key-noted three National Conventions. Now there is Part of my resume!
______________________
All of which has exactly what to do with UGA football?
DawgNole
January 1st, 2013
8:26 pm
Flo-Ri-Duh
January 1st, 2013
7:20 pm
LSU, Clemson, S.C. , Florida and Bummer in the SEC champ game
__________________
Clemson in the SEC championship game? Now I see why your name’s Duh.
DawgNole
January 1st, 2013
8:36 pm
c u later
January 1st, 2013
7:52 pm
Where was Malcolm Mitchell today? CMR refused to answer when the sideline reporter asked about it.
___________________
That’s already been asked/answered here. Concussion.
rogeriter
January 1st, 2013
8:57 pm
Skeptic–I don’t blame you. I am an old man who, by the way loves boiled peanuts. I did accomplish all those thing and more. But only with the help of my glorious Lord! I also served my country in time of war. But none of those thing matter as much as my relationship with Him. I only posted those because Phil was putting down some people with real accomplishments. I believe that critics don’t count…only the ones in the arena fighting and coming up short…if the do come up short. But I don’t care for people who mealy mouth others when they have done little or nothing with their lives. He suggested I had a pea-brain. He’s right…but despite that, I accepted the challenges and did most of them. I’m certainly nothing special…but rather than critcize those who do things…I prefer to praise them for AT LEAST they gave it there all
Jason
January 1st, 2013
10:16 pm
Why does everyone think Murray is turning pro? He isn’t. He obviously loves UGA and wants to win a championship before he leaves. He has a great chance to do so next year. The offense UGA has will have the ability to simply outscore people. And for people talking about the schedule, yes it starts out tough but we get both SC and LSU in Athens.
Phil is a Tech troll. I’ve figured that out. He may be a Falcon fan, but he is no Dawg fan. There’s no way. He’s a Techie so inflamed in jealously of UGA that he doesn’t know what to do. You’d think Tech would be happy over their bowl win over USC and celebrate on their own board but the UGA boards are much more lively.
Destin Dawg
January 2nd, 2013
6:07 am
Great season for the Dawgs… one play away from AWESOME… thanks guys.. and we’ll get ‘em next year… need to start strong vs. the State of South Carolina !!!
ArealDAWGfan
January 2nd, 2013
9:08 am
Fire Phil for making so many stupid negative remarks!
JSS
January 2nd, 2013
9:09 am
“Phil is a Tech troll. I’ve figured that out.”
Never let this person near a casino, he’ll need a bail out faster than AIG!
today
January 2nd, 2013
1:58 pm
Who cares. Football is over, how bout those court dawgs
bye aaron
January 6th, 2013
6:00 am
this year was the weakest schedule in years for the dawgs. next year won’t be nearly as easy, and UF won’t spit up 6 turnovers. get ready for a return to mediocrity.