10 things a Bulldog fan hopes not to see
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, it’s not so much who will start at what position that concerns me, but whether Mark Richt and Co. can fix some of the recurring problems that nagged the Dawgs throughout the 2008 campaign and even before. The kind of problems that put you in a hole and give the other guy an advantage.
A lot of these problems speak to coaching, or a lack of it. They’re fixable. But I’m not convinced Richt’s staff has a handle on some of them; at least, they didn’t last year.
So here we go, in no particular order on things I’d love never to see again from the Dogs:
1. Those high, short directional kickoffs that either sail out of bounds or give the return team a head start, resulting in the opponent getting the ball at the 40-yard line or even near midfield. Richt has talked on both sides of this issue; at season’s end he was lamenting the need for a kicker who could boom it out of the end zone, while earlier in the season he defended the directional kicks, saying they were easier to defend than a returnable kick down the middle. The latter is a problem because Georgia doesn’t seem to be able to get rid of that big seam down the middle of its kick coverage, which generally is slow getting to the ball carrier. And those pooch kickoffs? Don’t get me started!
2. Awful special teams play. No. 1 on this list is actually a subset of the bigger problem: special teams at UGA aren’t special. I know, I know, I’ve harped on this incessantly. But it’s the second longest-standing problem of Richt’s tenure, after clock management difficulties. Special teams coach Jon Fabris, who also handles the defensive ends, hasn’t gotten the job done and Richt doesn’t seem to put a whole lot of importance on special teams, unlike Urban Meyer, who coaches special teams himself and puts great emphasis on them. Meyer knows, like some other great coaches, that special teams win and lose games for you.
3. The Dogs offense suddenly going conservative in the red zone. We saw this time after time last year, including in the Florida game and even the bowl win over Michigan State. What is it with Mike Bobo and the red zone? Georgia came out looking great in its no-huddle offense and raced down the field against the Spartans, only to go away from the no-huddle and sputter once they were inside Michigan State’s 20. Why does Bobo depart from what’s working when Georgia gets within scoring territory? And why does Georgia so often go into a mid-game lull of predictable playcalling that leads to too many three-and-outs? Without Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno to rely on, we’re going to see whether Bobo is really capable of blossoming as an offensive coordinator.
4. Penalties, penalties, penalties. The Dawgs’ ridiculous penchant for drawing flags played a big part in Alabama’s first two scoring drives and deprived Georgia of the fast start they needed against the Tide. Early in the season, Richt sent mixed signals on this, too, saying he wanted the team to stop putting themselves in a hole with needless penalties, but also saying they were the result of aggressive play and he didn’t want them to be less aggressive. The penalties were part of a larger problem last season that Richt does appear to be addressing already: a lack of team discipline. I don’t know if making them tuck in their shirts and shave their goatees will do the trick, but at least it shows he’s thinking about the problem.
5. Penn Wagers and his inept officiating crew working another major Georgia game and blowing another call by not knowing what the rulebook says. I know UGA has no control over this, but it’s just gotten ridiculous over the past couple of seasons.
6. Georgia showing up for a game looking unprepared and unfocused. Last season, this manifested itself in the team’s difficulty putting together two good halves of play, most noticeably in the Alabama game but really throughout the season. And that was still the case in the bowl game, where Georgia kept the Spartans in it through turnovers, penalties and poor special teams play in the first half. Again, this would appear to be a coaching problem.
7. A Georgia opponent scoring more than 30 points. Or, worse, Georgia scoring 42 points and losing. This isn’t the Big 12 or Mountain West. You’ve got to play shut-down defense in the SEC. Georgia played four major games last season and had fatal meltdowns in three of them for losses. And even the LSU victory saw our defense hemorrhaging points. Same thing in the too-close-for-comfort victory over Kentucky. Yes, Georgia had some personnel deficiencies and didn’t get much pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but that’s no excuse for the rampant poor tackling that was a hallmark of the D for most of the year. The defense looked much improved in the bowl game, but can that be sustained? Whether Richt is willing to acknowledge it or not, his pal Willie Martinez is definitely on the hot seat in the upcoming season. One way or another, things have to change.
8. Georgia just squeaking by teams that it should thrash and looking less than impressive even when it wins easily. Playing down to their opponents’ level is a longstanding problem with Richt teams and the one that made Georgia’s tenure as the nation’s No. 1 team so short last year. I know we’ve upgraded our schedule, especially compared with some other SEC powers, but the problem really seems to be a lack of killer instinct. The Dawgs need to develop it. And I don’t think Richt’s “Hey, a win is a win” attitude helps.
9. Another epidemic of pass-dropping. I know the G-Day game isn’t really indicative of what we can expect this fall (at least, I hope not), but wasting scoring opportunities because you can’t hold on to the ball is the worst way to lose. Remember the South Carolina game two years ago?
10. The Dawgs wilting in the face of adversity. This one’s related to the earlier problem about not playing a complete game. Think back to the season before last. After Georgia’s opening score and end zone celebration, the resulting flags helped the Gators race back down the field for their own score. But Georgia didn’t flinch. That wasn’t the case in the 2008 season. Too often, the Dawgs played scared. Perhaps that was a result of the reported lack of on-field leadership. And maybe fiery redhead Joe Cox, known for rallying the troops in that long-ago win over Colorado, is part of the solution. We’ll see.
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205 comments Add your comment
Tony
April 24th, 2009
2:13 pm
I hate this blog, for one. Bring back a real sportswriter — Chip Towers! — and go back to features.
Crazy4GT
April 24th, 2009
2:14 pm
Adam said “They last time they went to a BCS game was in 1967″ – Amazing, I didn’t know the BCS was around back then.
Tom
April 24th, 2009
2:15 pm
Adam: “Sure they won a Co-National Championship in 1990 but no remembers that but them.”
……and, apparently, you.
LOL!
Preston
April 24th, 2009
2:15 pm
GW, I agree that all teams suffer injuries every year but seriously, have you ever seen a team suffer as many as UGA did last year? Pro or college, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. Hopefully we won’t have another injury plagued year like we did in 08′. If we remain healthy through 09′ and fall short, then I’ll start pointing fingers. No excuse for the piss poor special teams play though or lack of intensity.
JB
April 24th, 2009
2:24 pm
doesn’t Crazt4GT mean ” UNDEFEATED”
Crazy4GT
April 24th, 2009
2:26 pm
JB – right. proofreading is everything…
Preston
April 24th, 2009
2:26 pm
TommyP, you hit the nail on the head. UGA could have easily played for two during the Richt era but the BCS is a joke. LSU and UF got the ball to bounce their way in this quagmire of a system and I’m glad they did being a supporter of all SEC teams during bowl season. But the idiots on here that constantly dog UGA for not winning a national championship since 80′ need to really understand how the system works and understand that UGA puts itself in position to play for it as well. They just don’t get the love that other teams get.
jaxdawg
April 24th, 2009
2:27 pm
Bill, I’m happy where our program stands. We’re not that far behind Florida. We had an off year last year, but it happens…especially when you have three freshman on the o-line. Richt has 82 wins in 8 years which isn’t too shabby!
jaxdawg
April 24th, 2009
2:28 pm
Damn! Does anyone work on Friday afternoons anymore?
Saint Simons
April 24th, 2009
2:29 pm
45-42!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahah
Bryan G.
April 24th, 2009
2:29 pm
Bill, this is easily the best Junkyard Blawg ever written. You made GREAT points that I’ve lamented for a while. I don’t think I can add a single thing to what you wrote.
Great blog, sir. The “aww shucks a win is a win” thing drives me up the freaking wall. I wonder if we will ever have perfection (like Meyer and Saban get) until Richt actually DEMANDS perfection.
Northern Sympathizer
April 24th, 2009
2:37 pm
Dawg fans can grumble over anything. Yes, the defense and special teams were disappointing in 08. But, knocking the offense is just stupid. They scored 40 points at least half the time last year. And, if you didn’t like the offensive production last year, it aint gonna get better with the losses of Staff, Moreno, and Massaquoa. Jaxdawg is right. Quit the griping and enjoy UGA’s status-a consistent top-10 contender.
Meyer
April 24th, 2009
2:42 pm
To doyouknowshon, or your players destroying hospital property while being drunk.
Tony
April 24th, 2009
2:48 pm
Whenever I hear that someone is a Tech fan I feel sorry for them & tell them it’s o.k. I’m sure there is a support group out there for you, or a 12 step program. I believe it is a disease, but not terminal if treated early.
rDUCK
April 24th, 2009
2:48 pm
#11- Paul Johnson
Bill King
April 24th, 2009
2:49 pm
I agree that 10-win seasons are not too shabby. But if your program has the potential to do even better than that, I think it’s silly to pretend there aren’t things that need improvement.
Eston
April 24th, 2009
2:50 pm
Tony,
I know what you mean…every time I hear a bulldawg fan cry about how close they came to winning…I sit back and look at both of the titles that Meyer has won for UF
Sanford Drive
April 24th, 2009
2:53 pm
Sure Tech fans get on here and spew, but none of them will publicly admit they pull for Ga Tech.
SEC1
April 24th, 2009
2:56 pm
AMEN, Bill
Please send copies of this to the coaching staff at UGA, PLEASE!
I’m hoping this was an anomoly of a season, given all the hype that went to the players heads, and the relative softness from the coaches. There were the injuries, but overall there was no excuse for the sorriness I witnessed last year. I have several former players as friends and they too commented that they had never seen such an undiciplined team.
The optimists out there say hurray for the 10 wins, but during my tenure at UGA in the late 80s, we would have been a 7-4 or at best an 8-3 team. (the “ten” means nothing when you just have more cupcakes on the schedule) PLease think about that, folks. Ten wins today is not the same as 10 wins before the additional game was added to the regular season schedule.
I love the dogs and I cheer for them week in and week out. The point here is to discuss ways to improve!!!
Over.
Northern Sympathizer
April 24th, 2009
2:56 pm
Bill King-Of course things will need improvement…It’s college football.
The question is: Does 10-win seasons in the nation’s best football conference satisfy a reasonable person. Answer: it should. Winning a national title requires as much luck as skill. There are around 114 Div-1A or whatever the heck they call the level now who compete and about half of those teams (about 60) are in reality eligible for the BCS. 1 in 60 odds ain’t so great.
Old Retired Army Officer
April 24th, 2009
2:59 pm
Martinez should be carrying a clipboard for an experienced defensive coordinator who knows what he is doing and ditto for Bobo for an experienced offensive coordinator. Other than that, they could collaborate as a vaudville team: “Martinez and Bobo”. They’d bring down the house.
jaxdawg
April 24th, 2009
2:59 pm
If everyone stays healthy and we still see some of the same problems that plagued us all year last year, then I think it would be fair to start pointing some fingers at the coaching staff. Until then, you have to give the coaches credit for getting us back to the top and keeping us there.
Yellowsforpiss
April 24th, 2009
2:59 pm
Techies need to hold on to last years win, & be proud of it, besides one out of eight aint so bad. Write it down on a hankie, date it & put it under thier pillow every night for a year. Next November when they lose yet again they can use the hankie to wipe away the tears & the slobber from thier bubblin lips. Another bad thing about being a Techie is that a few of them can sit around talking football & one can say “you remember the time we beat Georgia” & everyone will know what year he’s talking about.
SoCal Dawg
April 24th, 2009
3:00 pm
I can’t believe how many of you are “satisfied” with 10 wins. If I was vandy I’d love 10 wins but we are THE GEORGIA BULLDOGS!!! I don’t like losing practically every big game we play in… UF example. All Bill did was point out what every UGA fan I know is already saying. I like CMR but that doesn’t mean there is not room for improvement.
dogeater
April 24th, 2009
3:02 pm
Preston…..UGA don’t get the love other teams get…… Win games and maybe you could win a national championship. CMR is a great person but not a great coach. There is one word that sums him up SOFT, thats why Fla St did not want him as their coach. There is nothing wrong with winning 10 games every year if the fans are happy with that and then watch other SEC teams play for the national championship. Look at how many big name kids are leaving Ga to go play at other schools because they know that UGA will not make it to the national championship. If high school kids can figure this out why can’t the coaches and the fans. Instead of saying every year that this is going to be the year UGA wins the national championship just make shirts up that say “Another 10 win season and we are happy” because with CMR thats all you are going to get.
Old Dawg
April 24th, 2009
3:02 pm
I’ve said this before and I know I’ll say it again: UGA leads the list of top-tier SEC teams of the past 8 years in victories with 82. Under CMR, Georgia is 6-2 in bowl games and 2-1 in SEC championship games. With the exception of Florida, UGA has a winning record against every team it plays in the SEC and Tech.
Along with his overall record, CMR has an amazing road record.
It’s easy to sit back and be critical of every facet of the team, and it’s easy to provide answers. Like many folks, I recognize weaknesses in the team, but at the same time it’s difficult to exclude the overall production when reviewing the team’s success under CMR. It is also obvious that the coaching staff has reviewed its mistakes, is working to correct the injury problems and working feverishly to overcome Florida’s dominance … which, by the way, it holds over the remainder of the conference!
It always amazes me how critical folks are of football and other athletic teams, but when it comes to their slip-ups at work and in the family there are always other factors to consider (dude, that’s not my problem).
In other words, if we all were as perfect in the business world as we expect football coaches to be, we’d all be billionaires and we wouldn’t be in the financial meltdown we’re currently experiencing.
Grow up people, no one is perfect!
jaxdawg
April 24th, 2009
3:03 pm
SEC1 are you kidding me?? Have you looked at Georgia’s schedule? There’s only one cupcake on there and that’s Tennessee Tech. Every team shoots for 10 wins, and that’s considered a good season these days.
Kendawg
April 24th, 2009
3:03 pm
If we can solve our kickoff problems, that would be a substantial improvement in our chances to win big games. Maybe one day Richt will understand that.
Northern Sympathizer
April 24th, 2009
3:05 pm
Old Dawg says it for me.
Altamaha Dawg and Cuz
April 24th, 2009
3:07 pm
Our top 10 (repeated in almost every blog ever written):
1) Everybody would love to be 10-3. Doesn’t matter how much talent you have or what the expectations are, a coaching staff that loses only 3 times by any margin deserves to be showered with love and praise.
2) Anybody criticizing the bulldogs for anything is not a true fan and shouldn’t be allowed to watch a game at Sanford Stadium.
3) CWM is a great coach. We know because CMR likes him. As such all true dawg fans must love him also.
4) Anybody criticizing the dawgs doesn’t have a sophisticated understanding of football (like us).
5) Anybody criticizing the bulldogs didn’t play the game and shouldn’t voice their opinion.
6) Anybody criticizing the bulldogs has their priorities all wrong-these are college kids.
7) We had more injuries than anyone in the history of football and shouldn’t have been held to a high standard.
9) Anybody criticizing the bulldogs doesn’t remember Ray Goff.
10) Life would be perfect if we were the only 2 fans at the games from now on!
Denver Dog
April 24th, 2009
3:07 pm
Way to go Eston, you are a genuis. Go to your blog, oh yeah your school doesn’t have one, or you don’t have a school, other than jr high.
Bill, I don’t want to see a rash of injuries. I don’t want to see poor calls on any side of the ball. I really want to see everyone quit dissing coach Martinez, or any other UGA coach.
I want to see us play well now and score at will. Stop the other teams, kick the ball into the endzone, make tackles and make field goals. If we do that, we won’t have to worry about the rest
Uradork
April 24th, 2009
3:08 pm
Eston,
I bet a person such as yourself likes putting dollar bills in all the strippers “jort thongs” at all the gay strip clubs you visit on the weekend with your mouth. Is Eston pronounced with a lisp?
UGAly
April 24th, 2009
3:08 pm
Florida fans like Eston, have to resort to vicariously living off the successes of their favorite football team to make them feel better about themselves. I doubt he ever even saw the inside of a UF classroom. Imagine a Gator tank top, jean shorts and a mullet.
SEC1
April 24th, 2009
3:08 pm
Agreed. The SEC is tough. I’m referring to those who are not on the level of a Florida or LSU. (not necessarily a GA Southern) The Vandys and Kentuckys should be “cupcakes” for us. Perhaps I should have used another term, but my point remains the same…
Tony
April 24th, 2009
3:12 pm
Uradork,
I can’t stop laughing. Thanks.
Northern Sympathizer
April 24th, 2009
3:13 pm
There are no guaranteed wins in the SEC any more. Everyone is good. Gone are the days when you can count on a win over Vandy or Kentucky. They field good teams. Parody is here to stay. Ask Michigan, who got spanked by Appalacian!
JB
April 24th, 2009
3:15 pm
Obama working on a way to Tax Wins……..Florida is in trouble….Uga at 10 wins will get a tax increase.
Tech will get a stimulus check i’m sure
rome dawg
April 24th, 2009
3:16 pm
Look Willie is not that bad. Look at the team we had last year. Stafford was good but he lacked the leadership that the Dawgs needed. Look at the D-Line. There was not a defensive end on the line that could do anything that the ones in the past could do. Every team has a down year. It is funny that every one complains because Georgia was ranked number one at the beggining of the season and ended up ranked 9 at the end. To tell you the truth I am happy that we had 10 wins because it could of been a hell of a lot worse! We, as fans, need to quit blaming the coaching and start accepting that UGA is on the rise! They have not made it there yet but will in do time. I will say this anyone that thought UGA was going to go all the way with the teams they had to play last year was a damn fool. I bleed red and black but I am also a realist. Just wait, I know every fan says it but, for the next couple of years. And as much as I liked him good riddens to Stafford but I sure wish Knowshown would of come back! Lets GO DAWGS!!!
Daniel
April 24th, 2009
3:17 pm
This might be one of the stupidest things I have ever read. Really, you think Mark Richt doesn’t care about special teams…”Meyer knows, like some other great coaches, that special teams win and lose games for you.” Wow I guess Richt could read this article and learn something from you, actually I will put a little more trust in a guy that has one of the highest active winning percentages in the NCAA. News flash…this is a COLLEGE PROGRAM, so you will always have dropped passes, wilting in the face of adversity, and not being prepared- that doesn’t mean we can;t curtail on them but these guys are 18-22 years old. Please don’t write down 10 things a 5 year old could get frustrated about and call it an article
Eston
April 24th, 2009
3:17 pm
UGA fans are sooo sensitive…We Florida grads will continue winning our national championships….and UGA can continue celebrating top 10 recruiting classes and 10 win seasons….you will always be the woulda coulda shoulda of the SEC….stay down little puppies or get out of the way for the Big Gators
Tony
April 24th, 2009
3:17 pm
I know it’s probably not very popular here to say that CWM isn’t the problem. He’s had a few bad games last year, but his over all body of work is very good. I wouldn’t have anyone else except Muschamp, & from the look of things it’s not gonna happen any time soon.
Eston
April 24th, 2009
3:19 pm
Uradork, why dont you continue to share with the rest of the blog your knowledge of the inner workings of Gay strip clubs….its ok to just admit that you smoke a bologna pony….for you at least
TROTTINGHOMETUDD
April 24th, 2009
3:19 pm
King of Slop is what this is. Cut and paste article with a question added
Digidydawg
April 24th, 2009
3:20 pm
Whenever I read Eston’s comments I hear it in my head with a lisp. Funny.
Golden Dawg 84
April 24th, 2009
3:22 pm
OK, many will give the dawgs a pass on 2008 and perhaps rightly so. The problem for the rest of us is that after many very good years under CMR 2008 appeared to be the best chance in decades for the dawgs to break out and contend for the MNC as a favorite from the beginning. We all know how talent cycles run in CFB and this seemed like a culmination of talent and experience with no glaring weaknesses.
To regularly come completely undone and give up points in bunches was extremely disappointing. As Bill points out, many of the issues seemed to stem from attitude. I’m truly glad that many of my bulldog brethren can brush 2008 off as no big deal. The fan group I hang out with (as fervent as any-traveling to most games home and away and yes, all with real lives) haven’t yet recovered from the massive letdown that was 2008.
Here is hoping that we snap back in 2009 despite obvious talent shortages at key positions. How this team responds will go a long way to determining the CMR legacy. Is he a great guy and good coach who can occasionally compete for a SECC (hey that’s not bad-seriously-certianly better than what we used to have), or an elite coach who will have us competing for championships every year.
Eston
April 24th, 2009
3:23 pm
Uradork….thanks for taking up for your girlfriend tony
Uradork
April 24th, 2009
3:24 pm
Take it easy Eston. I must have touched a button. I would admit it, but I’m sure you give demonstrations.
Eston
April 24th, 2009
3:27 pm
digadydawg…..do you hear a lisp when i call your dawgs choke artist? Or is your crying, from another “we should done better year” drowning out my lisp
LAC
April 24th, 2009
3:27 pm
WOW… Whata complete waste of space & time for all…
Eston
April 24th, 2009
3:30 pm
A demonstation….sure….first tony unzips his pants….and then uradork drops to his knees with a big smile on his face and then……Tony starts to sing the uga fight song