End result felt kind of inevitable
Some thoughts and questions arising from Georgia’s loss to LSU. …
Welcome to the field, Washaun Ealey! (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
I’ll be honest with you, as my brother and the fans around us at Sanford Stadium were all jumping and whooping and high-fiving each other after A.J. Green went up high over LSU cornerback Chris Hawkins for another remarkable touchdown catch, I was too worried to celebrate much.
I looked up at the clock, where 1:09 remained. “We left them too much time,” I fretted.
The reason I was concerned was because I knew there was a good chance that Georgia would muff the kickoff coverage and LSU would get the ball with great field position. And I was thinking all that even before the officials threw that ridiculous excessive celebration flag that forced Georgia to kick off from its own 15.
My feeling of forboding was based on the Dogs’ past performance: Whenever it really matters that the opponents get pinned deep, Georgia seems to give up a big return. This time, they again did that, along with a penalty for an illegal formation.
It’s all part of the dismal state of the Dogs’ special teams under Jon Fabris, who doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing much of the time, and Mark Richt, who, like his mentor Bobby Bowden, has never put enough emphasis on that aspect of the game. …
Speaking of special teams, I’d love to know why Georgia appears to have given up on returning punts. Even when LSU punted from its own territory, the Dogs called for a fair catch. I can understand, considering earlier mishaps this season, that the coaches might be concerned with ball security, but can Georgia really afford to give up returning punts? If they don’t trust Prince Miller, put someone else back there besides the nonreturning Logan Gray. …
Joe Cox ended up with decent stats and made a couple of really nice throws in the second half, but overall he did not have a good day. In the first half, when he wasn’t overthrowing receivers, he was throwing behind them. And he continues to lock in on his primary receiver and throw into coverage, often ignoring other receivers who are wide open.
It was good to see Washaun Ealey put into the game. I liked the way he hit the holes and the energy when he ran. Georgia’s rushing attack before he came in was pathetic, with just 8 positive yards at that point. Some fans may have booed Richard Samuel, but it wasn’t all the running backs’ fault; Georgia’s offensive line generally gives Cox decent pass protection (with an able assist from Caleb King), but their run blocking is pretty poor. They are definitely the biggest disappointment of the season. …
The Dogs’ defense played good enough to win the game, though Richt overstated things a bit when he labeled their first-half effort “a defensive masterpiece.” Between the 20s, they were still playing way too far off receivers and giving up too much running yardage up the middle. And Bryan Evans was again burned on a big play, though it was called back on a penalty. But inside the red zone, they were superb, especially considering how much time they spent on the field. The pass pressure generally was excellent, with six sacks. That sack-happy first defensive stand of the second half, which ended up with LSU facing fourth and 28 at its own 2, was marvelous. Yes, there were missed tackles on Charles Scott’s game-winning run, but one play doesn’t negate the overall effort. Anyone who blames Willie Martinez for this loss is way off base. …
On the other hand, brickbats tossed at Mike Bobo are well deserved. He called an absolutely horrendous game in the first half, as predictable as it was ineffective, producing just one first down and 49 total yards. He was somewhat better in the second half and the fake full-house on fourth-and-goal at the 1 with a pass to Shaun Chapas was an excellent call. …
The little signs of a poorly coached team continue to crop up. Has no one told Brandon Boykin that if you intercept a pass in the end zone, you should take a knee and get the ball at the 20 unless you have a wide open field in front of you?
Green continues to be a marvel. In addition to his acrobatic catches, he managed to get open on numerous occasions despite being covered by the best secondary Georgia has faced this season. Unfortunately, Cox overthrew him badly on one pass that would have scored and ignored him jumping up and down and waving his arms on another play. …
The Dogs improved dramatically in turnovers, having none until Cox threw a pick on a desperation pass on Georgia’s last play. And the seven penalties was good by Dogs standards, especially considering two of them were bogus celebration calls. But there were still costly flags for stupid infractions like false starts and breaking the huddle with 12 men.
And back to those celebration calls. David Ching of the Athens Banner-Herald has an excellent column on why the SEC needs to rethink this rule. Apparently any gesture, however slight, that might draw attention to a player is considered an infraction. The earlier call on Orson Charles, who gestured with his hand to the Georgia student section after a big catch, was just another case of the officials seemingly looking to insert themselves into the game and determine its outcome. As my son said Saturday night, they’re ruining the game for players and fans alike.
When even ESPN Dogs-bashers Lou Holtz and Mark May are saying Georgia was robbed on the Green call, what more is left to say?
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316 comments Add your comment
First Canary
October 4th, 2009
11:23 am
Winer
Pago Flyer
October 4th, 2009
11:23 am
We’re looking at maybe 3 wins…UK…VANDY….TEN TECH?
Brad in Jasper
October 4th, 2009
11:24 am
Truly a game of inches. Ask Miss St from last week.
Class of '98
October 4th, 2009
11:27 am
We weren’t booing Samuel. We booed either the playcall by Bobo or the audible to the run by Cox.
Speak for yourself, Bill.
Dacula Dawg
October 4th, 2009
11:28 am
Here we go again..Mike Bobo needs to go. The middle was open all day for the Tight End He keeps calling plays out in the flat ..LSU was too fast..downfield DUMB BO ..Reverse…toss sweep..toss sweep. If anyone watched Auburn last night imagine Malzhan at UGA..scary..
When the Dance Party started again..you saw no LSU Tigers dancing. Orson Charles derserved the flag..CMW please tell the players the toss the ball the the ref and go back to the huddle..
When Cox was struggling in the first half why not put in Logan Grey for a spark..he couldnt have done any worse..the last play of the game showed Cox lake of an arm..weak pass across field interception. Its so frustrating being long time UGA fan. Maybe its time for Damon Evans to have a lil talke with CMR about the future of this team.
At this point..like the Joe T / Stafford year..lets go with someone else. Doesnt need to make the red shirt mistake he did with Knowshon
This team lacks major discipline.
Snoop
October 4th, 2009
11:29 am
After Richt trotted the whole team on the field to dance against Florida, he can’t complain about being watched closely by officials. His entitled pups celebrate even when they make bad plays. Richt’s teams consists of talented, poorly-coached individuals doing their own thing.
Hold Richt Accountable
October 4th, 2009
11:32 am
“A defensive masterpiece”…please. We were helped as much by LSU’s flat offense, like we were helped by the weather and AZ ST’s mediocre QB.
Agreed that Fabris is a huge ZERO. Martinez, even though the D did play well, still must go at the end of the season. And Bobo needs to be reconsidered as well.
Imagine if we had two PROVEN coordinators running both sides of the ball! Let Richt spend his time selling Ford trucks and carpets.
richts tan has fried his brain
October 4th, 2009
11:34 am
What time is the game this week ? Hopefully i wont be able to watch it.. Mark Richt is a FRAUD!!! the world will end before Georgia wins a National Championship with Richt and his BoZo coordinators..
Footballnut29
October 4th, 2009
11:35 am
CRY ME A RIVER PUPPY FANS
Marvin
October 4th, 2009
11:43 am
Agree on all counts
Footballnut29
October 4th, 2009
11:45 am
It comes down again to bad coaching. Georgia as a whole is one of the most talented teams in the nation. With better offensive play calling UGA could have easily won that game. Maybe end around to get the ball in Green’s hands. Or some creative wildcat plays. Regardless the 3-2 record means someone will be fired. Before or after the season is the real question. Now I would look for Bobo to blame Cox. He has to pass the blame somewhere. Sorry pups maybe if you guys had a coach that works with what talent he has like Paul Johnson. He has a bunch of guys with high SAT scores. But still is competitive. That coach at Boise State might be a good fit. He has made a team of nobodies into a national contender. Imagine what he could do with UGA’s talent level.
uga_b
October 4th, 2009
11:48 am
You’ re right. Willie called a great game. The way he told Jefferson to miss throws and LSU WRs to drop easy catches was incredible scheming. Offensive ineptitude does not indicated defensive stoutness. I appreciate interceptions in the red zone and limiting fg, but giving up scores on every drive doesnt give me confidence. Playing prevent at the end of games and hoping the opposing team doesnt move into field goal range is idiotic.
The offensive line has been atrocious. Its a shame the WR core took another step back; Green is amazing but needs some help.
When we will try and block a punt again? Especially if we aren’t going to return them.
Good to see Houston moving around and Rashad flying to the ball. This year has been wasted chances and a lot of it is coaching and play calling. Mainly Fabris and Bobo.
Hold Richt Accountable
October 4th, 2009
11:49 am
Although I think Paul Johnson still has to prove himself as the next savior of Tech football, I agree with nut29 and Richt is going to have to look nationally. I wonder if he isn’t worried about being shown up by an impressive OC or DC?
Harry Dawg
October 4th, 2009
11:51 am
UGA has enjoyed some modest success with the Richt staff. He feels that THE RIGHT COACHES are in place and that they are HIS mates ………win or lose. Fine. Enough is enough.
The Pres of UGA and Damon Evans needs to step in after ugly losses in 09 to very average teams like Tech, Auburn and possibly KY or a U of T and one more ugly BUT NOW ROUTINE loss to our Gator cousins, and make changes. The LSU game was blown by lousy play and even lousier coaching.
The natives ( $$ alums ) are getting restless with Richt’s usual post game oh hums like ” i did not think that AJ’s celebration was excessive”. He should have taught them ( see Orson Charles ) NOT to play that way. They lack discipline and it hurts UGA time and time again. We are ragged and it must change.
UGA needs a new direction, come December. It has to take place or 2010 will be just like this year, with a new untested QB and such. Why wait until december of 2010? Make the change in December.
UGA class of 73
Hold Richt Accountable
October 4th, 2009
11:52 am
Yes, uga_b! Why don’t we go after punts or try to return them? What is going on?
Fools Gold
October 4th, 2009
11:55 am
Its the coaching folks. Pure and simple. CMR is a great individual and knows Xs and Os but lacks the on field in your face coaching. CMRs style is a CEO approach which has its disadvantages. Richt may be involved in too many other things which spreads himself a little too thin in the football program. I watched The style of Paul johnson last night against Miss. State and this guy is hands on coaching till the last play of the game. He was in the huddles durring time outs on the field and in players faces. Brought back memories of BVG coaching the defensive units while he was at UGA. So its coaching. Pure and simple dawg fans!
Robert
October 4th, 2009
11:56 am
Terrible coaching.
Recruiting will take a hit from our mediocrity.
The season is over.
Joey
October 4th, 2009
11:58 am
Pago – yeah, those are the only ones in which we will be the favorite. I thought we were long past the days of “moral victories”, but it appears we will be settling for those instead of the real ones for a while. Maybe, Richt meant LSU had a defensive masterpiece in the first half. We made pretty good stops in the red zone in the first 3 quarters, but let LSU convert numerous 3rd down plays and hold the ball with long drives. Bobo is just terrible – Uga could do as well calling plays….
AZDawg5
October 4th, 2009
11:59 am
Here is the intro to an article in the AZ Republic regarding the 5th yr QB from ASU who much like Joe Cox wore a ball cap and carried a clip board for 4 years….All you have to do is replace ASU with UGA in the article..the only difference is Coach DE is going to do something about it….:
“Football is a complex game. Good teams are a tapestry of assets and contributors. But on college campuses across America the sport can be reduced to a very simple question:
Do you have a quarterback?
In Tempe, the answer seems painfully obvious.
After Arizona State’s football team was bounced by Oregon State on Saturday night at Sun Devil Stadium, a change clearly is in order. Frustrated fans screamed for a freshman backup, Brock Osweiler, while the incumbent, Danny Sullivan, limped off the field with his head down.
Moments later, Sullivan hobbled into the interview room like a man attending his own funeral. He looked glum. He struggled with his emotions. After blocking several queries regarding his mind-set and frustration level, he got up and left the room.
And then coach Dennis Erickson made it official.”
1 – Bozo the Clown is Pathetic
2 – Willie the Fraud is a Joke
3 – Special Teams is laughable…lets trick em and kick off real quick….
4 – 23 & 3 ARE LOST IN SPACE ON THE FIELD
START THE REBUILDING PROCESS NOW AND TRY TO PLAY THE ROLE OF SPOILER THE REST OF THE YEAR….PLAY EVERY DAMN FRESHMAN THATS NOT GETTING A COLORED SHIRT!!!!
AND AT YR END CLEAN HOUSE!!!!!
RxDawg
October 4th, 2009
12:02 pm
I kinda know how ya feel. I really have lost a lot of confidence in this group. It doesn’t mean I’m a bandwagon fan because I still pull for them every week no matter what. Besides, it’s not like the sky has fallen or anything. But honestly we are a B team. Plus, I truly think we have the worst backfield in the SEC. That’s not right. This is UGA dawg gone it!
Oh well, on the bright side recruiting should be going great. I can hear it know. Coach X “for the love of god, look at these guys we have out there! We need you, you will play!”
Eric
October 4th, 2009
12:07 pm
MARK RICHT, GREAT RECRUITER BAD COACH!!! IT TOOK 4 GAMES TO FINALLY PUT YOUR BEST BACK IN THE GAME (WASHAUN EALEY), AND WHAT’S UP WITH MARLON BROWN WASN’T HE RATED AS THE BEST RECEIVER IN THE COUNTRY??? IF PETE CARROL HAD THIS TEAM GEORGIA WOULD BE IN THE TOP 5, BECAUSE HE PUTS THE BEST PLAYERS ON THE FIELD. RICHT IS STARTING TO REMIND ME OF BOBBY COX, TRYING TO BE TOO LOYAL TO VETERAN PLAYERS ON HIS TEAM.
nobody
October 4th, 2009
12:07 pm
Enter your comments here hate to say it, but I agree with Snoop…the officials have been watching and waiting….they chose their moment…and it was magnificent…gave LSU all they needed…hope… and momentum… instantly….like pulling defeat from the jaws of victory….wasn’t it great to see the greatest of them all [Hershel Walker] just toss the ball to the official and trot off the field…would think our kids would figure it out after awhile….
Reggie Ball
October 4th, 2009
12:07 pm
I heard about all the celebrations. Is there a party or something? Why wasn’t I invited?
Joey
October 4th, 2009
12:11 pm
RxDawg, go to Scout.com and look at UGA’s last 7 recruiting years. Recruiting HAS been great for a long time! We are not a B team talent-wise. Just a D team coaching-wise. Richt promised improvement in special teams, defense, and penalties. We rank near the bottom in the NCAA in all categories, still. Things will not get better with great recruiting.
PeligroPero
October 4th, 2009
12:13 pm
Wherefore art thou, Logan Gray? Cox was obviously struggling but no sign of Gray. Is Gray that unprepared, that the coaches don’t trust him for even a series? Is Gray that bad? We’re looking at a quarterback next year with no game experience, unless CMR changes his philosophy and gets a backup in a game here and there.
Footballnut29
October 4th, 2009
12:13 pm
Self distruct in 3 2 1 …………
Boise Dawg
October 4th, 2009
12:15 pm
I doubt it would have made a difference in the final outcome… but after the penalty to Green, why didn’t we kick it out of bounds on the kickoff? With the 15 yard penalty that made sense to me, especially given the poor kickoff coverage we already displayed earlier in the game.
Somebody please correct me if I am wrong, but had we kicked the ball out of bounds at say the 25… wouldn’t LSU have started at the 35? That would have been much better than starting in our own territory.
Again it seems to come down to an undisciplined football team and costly penalties. At least the turnover problem was corrected… but we still made a lot of stupid mistakes throughout this game. Running the interception out of the endzone comes to mind. These players may be talented, but that really do appear to be poorly coached.
RedPantsDawg
October 4th, 2009
12:18 pm
The 2009 season is the result of the lack of changes after the 2008 season.
Buddy Rae
October 4th, 2009
12:19 pm
Oh come on now fellow dawg fans we all should be dancing because its just a football game with 18 – 22 year old kids. This is the new UGA football era now so learn to adapt to the new generation. I mean our players cant celebrate after a big play but its now ok to dance when we lose. We shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings because both teams were winners Saturday. We shouldn’t even keep score so let’s all dance!
jacksonville
October 4th, 2009
12:22 pm
For the record, your beloved Vince Dooley is the reason the SEC has such a strict no celebration policy. It was his influence while on the rules committee that created the excessive celebration penalty. Another great Georgia legacy.
Ralph
October 4th, 2009
12:23 pm
Richt doesn’t seem to care his team is one of the most penalized in the SEC (reminds you of FSU where he came from) – yet the penalties often cost the outcome of the game. Lack of coaching discipline is an ugly trait, and it is surprising that the alumni fans don’t have a big problem with that.
Sempter
October 4th, 2009
12:23 pm
Richt is more of a CEO which is okay provided you surround yourself with good coordinators (see Mack Brown, Bob Stoops, and Pete Carroll who take the same approach as an HC that Richt does). Richt’s achilles right now is his unwillingness to come to terms with the fact that Willie and Bobo aren’t cutting it. Obviously he has no choice but to defend them during the season so we can’t be surprised by that. But here’s to hoping that at the end of the season some changes will be made at those positions…
Robert
October 4th, 2009
12:25 pm
The SEC head of officiating (Redding) is a TECH GRAD….
Frank Lane
October 4th, 2009
12:25 pm
Disception. I have said it before, and will say it again. Neither the offense or the defense is good enough to beat other SEC teams unless they surprise them. The defense was better in that regard this game, with more deceptive rush patters, coverage and blitzes. But the offense has the worst most predictable set of running plays that I have ever seen. Bobo is showing the imagination of a piece of cardboard. It does not work.
What does work? The 4th and goal pass to Chapas (deception), the early downfield throw to Greene that if not way overthrown was a touch down that would have created a totally different game. Why did Ga not go deep down the middle another single play in the game after Greene was so wide open? Disgusting.
What does
Sempter
October 4th, 2009
12:27 pm
Cox did struggle but I don’t think it necessarily falls on entirely on him. I think the plays that are called for him don’t put him and the rest of the offense in the best position to run the best play at that given moment. It’s Bobo.
JDA
October 4th, 2009
12:28 pm
Logan Gray best ” fair catcher ” in NCAA. Form, fundamentals, are beautiful and a thing to watch. No chance of a fumble here.
Another note: UGA goes ahead 7-6 in the 4th Q. LSU has a 3rd and 10 in their half the field. Biggest play of the game I say at the time. We hold them here and then we possibly drive to ” close ” the game out. But as before, we let them off the hook and you have the rest of the story. We keep the opponents, weak or mediocore, in the game all the time.
Please coaches, players, learn how to get out to a fast/strong start…..stay ahead of the opponent and ” close ” the game out in the 3rd or 4th Quaters. You must hold your serve on the homecourt.
Harkle
October 4th, 2009
12:31 pm
Boise Dawg,
To answer your question about why not kick ball out of bounds. I believe that the rule states that if you kick ball out of bounds on a kickoff – the ball is placed 30 yards from kickoff spot. In this case, ball would have been placed at the UGA 45 – which looking back would have been better. I guess it all comes down to the basics – learn how to tackle!!!
without AJ Green...
October 4th, 2009
12:32 pm
this team is mississippi state
Gem Dawg
October 4th, 2009
12:33 pm
Let’s not bail on this team yet. They were in the position to win the game yet again. The D just spent too much time on the field in the first half to have any afterburner left for late in the game.
I think we have a good O line for passing but maybe not so much for running, so when Joe is off, try someone else. How could Gray be further off than that? Ealy is the only one who was able to hit the hole fast enough yesterday.
I’m looking forward to the UT game next week.
The Thin Guy
October 4th, 2009
12:34 pm
What a bunch of cry babies. Were there any justice in the world UGay would have lost to South Carolina, Arkansas, and Arizona State. Considering the complete lack of sportsmanship constantly displayed by UGay they should have been required to kick off from I-285. When Bobby Bowden finally retires at Florida State, they will hire Mark Richie Rich and UGay can bring the old Coach Ray Goof back to lead the Poochies. Next week’s game at Tenn should be called the Whine Bowl between Lame K and Bichey Richie.
RxDawg
October 4th, 2009
12:38 pm
Joey, while your right that our recruiting rankings have been excellent, don’t you agree that is a very subjective thing? Don’t you think that there is a possibility that those players receiving 4-5 stars might just not pan out to be great players? Joe Cox was a 4 star QB and one of the super 11 or whatever it is. Did you look like the 11th best QB in the nation to you?
I have never been on the firs Willie Martinez wagon. I do not think he’s the greates D-coordinator, but I think he’s good enough and gets the job done. His players have droped the ball though…literaly. It’s the players that have to tackle (when that was a big problem). A lack of tackling is not the coaches, it’s the players and a lack of heart. Heck, we have the best pure tackler in the SEC in LB Rennie Curan.
However, Bobo has never really earned my respect. I’m not very vocal about it usualy, but I just don’t feel like he has it. I would support a change here. Also Fabis if he really is in charge of our special teams. Our kickoff is a joke and is a direct reason of why we lose games. Our offense truly looks like boys among men out there though. It’s too slow and it’s too predictable. Some of this could be players as well, but our schemes just don’t seem to be sound. Our O-line and our entire backfield seems like a bust this year though.
Bottom line is, we have a few A+ players sprinkled around in spots on our team, but we have some aweful ones too. The end result is a B team.
Buddy Rae
October 4th, 2009
12:40 pm
Where is all my fellow dawgs fans that want to dance this morning. I dont see them here. I noticed the AJC poll the yes and no vote has narrowed. WHY? Lets all dance to some hip hop!
Footballnut29
October 4th, 2009
12:41 pm
.Here we go again. The ref was a Tech grad. Both teams had the same b.s. call against them. So it had nothing to do with a high school play book of offense. How about letting Joe Cox stink it up out their and not putting in Gray. These excuses and blaming everyone but yourselves is quite entertaining. It is like knowing the wind is blowing and pissing into it and wondering why you have urine on your leg. It wasn’t your fault the wind was blowing but you’re too stupid to realize why. Dry your leg off and get a new coach. That game could have easily been a blow out if the LSU receivers wouldn’t have dropped too many passes. UGA just went 3 and out 4 of 5 possessions. LSU didn’t punt in the first half. This was a case of poor coaching and lack of discipline.
big dog jacket
October 4th, 2009
12:41 pm
There is no sound more beautiful than seeing and hearing the Dawg Nation fans complain about Mark Ritch not being a football coach. He has the best record in Division one football during his tenure and you IDIOTS complain. Just for the record, it is not Bobo nor Ritch who are the Idiots, it is the morons out on the field who are more interested in their own agrandizement than the team. How many of the Ga players are really scholar atheletes//No matter how many blue chippers you recruit, until they put the team before themselves, they will NEVER beat a quality team.
Michael Bryan
October 4th, 2009
12:45 pm
From the time Richt arrived, he has fostered the strut-about-like-there’s-nothing else mentality in his charges. I have never seen a more undisciplined program. He flippantly says that “penalties aren’t that important” while they cost the team on a weekly basis. He can deadpan all he wants about kids just being kids, but that’s just a sorry excuse for the fact that he has not, nor apparently cannot control his team. Hey, Dawgs, act like you’ve got a modicum of intelligence. Go talk to Coach Dooley, or watch films of how Herschel reacted when he made a great play. You can strut around all you want after the game is over. What a bunch of idiots!!! You need to lay down the law, Coach Richt. IT’s CALLED SPORTSMANSHIP, AND IT CAN BE TAUGHT !!!
GT Rules State
October 4th, 2009
12:45 pm
Hey ajc, charge a $1 for UGA each blogs today and you can help their institute get the garbage truck they need to cleanup all the trash their pathetic fans leave behind. Amazing how many cry babys are blaming everyone but themselves. Losers!
Buddy Rae
October 4th, 2009
12:47 pm
Lets watch our muffin top offensive line and defensive line players get in real physical shape by dancing. Our strength and conditioning coach can make a video and get an award. Our lines look like a bunch of dancing bears with one exception Justin Houston!
JDA
October 4th, 2009
12:47 pm
All UGA player’s who score a touchdown. Take a lesson from Herschel. When scoring, calmly hand or toss the football back to the official and slowly trot back to the bench. Elementary my dear Watson.
BILLY JACK
October 4th, 2009
12:47 pm
I will state the facts very clearly for you.1-Bryan Evans is a huge liability for the defense-he is out of position in crucial situations 7 or 8 times a game-he lets recievers run post patterns right by him,see Ok St-Ark for touchdowns.He is often confused in what coverage is called, often pointing fingers at his fellow def backs after he has blown another big play.2-special teams have not been special for about 3 yrs now,especially kickoff coverage Fabris is the coach and should resign immediatly.3-our punter is the only bright spot and he will be even better.4-our offensive line is getting beat up physically,even Arizona St a pac 10 team stuffed us twice from the one yd line.Van Halanger and staff need to go and we need to get a new philosophy on strenth training,we also have far too many injuries every year.Our linebackers are also a huge problem.I noticed the LSU linebackers had much more footspeed closing speed and could stuff a fullback in a hole and our linebackers do not do this Jancek can also resign.4-Play calling is also a problem especially in the first half.We should keep Mike Bobo but you are on thin ice.5-The atmosphere at the game was special the stadium was rocking and very loud.I looked up after Green scored with a minute and it was amazing to see the bridge was jam packed with people and the noise was deafening,only to lose on another special teams play because we cant cover kickoffs.These are the facts and they are undisputed.
RxDawg
October 4th, 2009
12:48 pm
Er… *did he look like the 11th best QB in the nation to you?
senoiadawgs
October 4th, 2009
12:50 pm
Come on people, a defensive MASTERPIECE? We gave up 320+ yards to the number 105 offense in the country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oldfart
October 4th, 2009
12:51 pm
While the excessive celebration calls themselves were excessive and I agree that at some point you have to let kids be kids but you have to balance this out with the fact this is not the NFL or WWF and there is no place in college football for end zone or sack dances. They should be coached to live under the current rules and hand the ball to the official and then go celebrate their butts off on their own sideline. Granted football is an emotional game but it is the ultimate TEAM game. Celebrations should be held as a team not celebrating an individuals contribution to a TEAM’s accomplishment.
Footballnut29
October 4th, 2009
12:53 pm
The celebration penality didn’t cost the game it was the lack of offense!
Buddy Rae
October 4th, 2009
12:54 pm
Michael Bryan…… Sorry pal but you are just like me we don’t get it. Its a new era of football. We are old Skool. Its limelight football from signing day to TV game day. We should be dancing because we shouldn’t criticize because we don’t know football.
Dawgdad
October 4th, 2009
12:56 pm
I haven’t seen this mentioned anywhere and have to pat myself on the back, because I thought of it immediately. When they called that celebration penalty on us and we were forced to kick off from the 15, why didn’t we just kick the ball out of bounds. The way I understand the rule (which I may not understand correctly) LSU would have gotten the ball at their own 40, much better situation than we could hope for kicking off to Holiday standing at the 30. Any answers?
RxDawg
October 4th, 2009
12:56 pm
BILLY JACK, I agree completely. I don’t like calling out specific players because they are still just college kids trying to play the game. But Evans has let receivers blow past him time and time again. Why do the coaches continue to play him? He hasn’t paned out, it happens. Eat your losses and go to a new guy. He is specificly one of the aweful players I’ve been talking about that bring our team as a whole down.
vic cane corso
October 4th, 2009
12:57 pm
CURRAN CURRAN CURRAN!! Who is JOE Cox? Im in Houston Texas and decided not to wear my GA cap after the Game. Ga loose with Dignity didn’t happen Yesterday. Quarterbacks are important as a whale’s blow hole.
Buddy Rae
October 4th, 2009
12:59 pm
You all need to lay off on Bryan Evans. I mean Vince dooley would have made him cut his nappy hair so he could see the field. Then he would not get burned so much.
BigMike Said......
October 4th, 2009
1:00 pm
First I’ve got to say you critics who absolutely don’t know football shut the bleet up! In sane human being knows that that Terrible call by the referee last night swung the momentum of the game, it took the air right out of the team that had made an incredible drive, and done an incredible job on Defense last night. Joe Cox has got to learn to stop dialing in on A.J. Green so much, Michael Moore was open often last night, and Bobo’s lack of use with our T.E.’s is amazing. I don’t know what the situation has been with W. Ealey, but I see him in the immediate plans for the future. The kid hits the holes the way our last #24 did ! Our special teams suck period. The only bright spot on them last night was the punting of B. Butler, the coverage is pathetic, and lanes being filled doesn’t seem to be a priority. Hey coach a little advice to you, put some players who are fringe players on the edge of getting some playing time and watch them hustle there ass off to get that one stand out hit. The love affair with Caleb King is gone, he lacks premium speed, and doesn’t know how to wait for blockers when screens are thrown his way. He lacks good vision when hitting the holes, and looks to consistantly find the “outside”, instead of where he should be going. Samuels on the other hand isn’t a bad back, but has got to realize this is the S.E.C., and your not running over players like you did in H.S. Once he takes the mentality to hit the holes from tackle to tackle looking for the open instead of somebody to hit he’ll be fine. I’ve already did my W. Martinez must go thing, but I’m honest enough to say that he called a excellent game last night. The six sacks are a testament to that(critics if you’re gonna say it was because of L.S.U.’s offense, blame there coaching not Martinez’s)and his blitz package was cosistant all night. Bobo on the other hand didn’t seem to get right until the 4th quarter. Coach did you have an epiphany? Why no use of L.Gray on offense in reverse’s, wild cat formations, options, and anything else that would have kept L.S.U. off there feet last night. Sad part about it was L.S.U. was doing it with Sheppard, and he’s a “true” frosh. One last thing, TKing can stretch the field vertically like no one on it, we must get him the ball, and Joe Cox who was suppose to have a strong arm, but accurate one missed more receivers in the first three quarters than an “accurate Q.B. should. Plainly put this comes down to coaching, and CMR and his easy laid back mentality has got to do something to bring a spark to this team. It’s a hard job coach, but you’re not getting paid millions for mediocrity. This is after all the S.E.C. and when you ‘ve got guys playing on Sundays all over the NFL and were not putting it all together something is wrong.
Sam
October 4th, 2009
1:00 pm
I take some issue with calling Bobo’s first half play calling poor. Cox missed several throws where guys were open; those were obviously good play calls just bad execution by the players on the field.
I concur on the celebration penalties. Even the one against Charles Scott was bogus. The Charles one was really bad.
Buddy Rae
October 4th, 2009
1:01 pm
Hey I heard UGA is gonna don the black jerseys against Tenn. Tech. Is there any truth to this?
Gator1
October 4th, 2009
1:04 pm
Bench A.J. Green!!!!
Oldmactech
October 4th, 2009
1:04 pm
Face it-Dowgs could just as easily be 1-4.
Buddy Rae
October 4th, 2009
1:05 pm
Oh BTW Vince Dooley championed the taunting penalty and Grant Teaff championed the excessive celebration.
Footballnut29
October 4th, 2009
1:06 pm
Man I can’t wait for later in the year when UGA has to play even better teams that are proven winners. UGA has been Mediocre at best! The wins this year have been by luck and biased refs. It has been too close to even declare them a top 25 team. The coahces not the players are the problem. Playing joe cox is like dating a fat girl, it is all fun until all your friends see you riding it! The blow hole analogy is just as lame as the play calling by the UGA coahces. Oh yeah when you would have kicked the ball out of bounds the coach would have to a called the play!
BigMike Said......
October 4th, 2009
1:07 pm
Billy Jack, That was well said and like your last word, “Undisputed !
Buddy Rae
October 4th, 2009
1:08 pm
Boy Gamehen nation is happy they will jump us in the polls!
coachgb
October 4th, 2009
1:08 pm
First Bradley now even King! Why do you guys try to fire up the ignorant blogggers instead of intelligently discussing the games? Do you get paid by the hit? The defense played well. The O-line is great at passblocking but can’t run block. Caleb knows how to run but is slow, Samuels doesn’t see the field but has speed, Ealey, well we will just have to wait and see. The only thing you said King that I agree with is that the Georgia special teams are poorly coached. They haven’t got a clue. With all the bad things all you experts keep pointing out, the one thing that should jump off the page is that the dawgs have still been finding a way to win ever since the OK. St. game! Yes they did find a way yesterday, that official find a way for them to lose. All the naysayers like you can continue to predict all the gloom and doom you want. This team will be fighting at the end of the Auburn game for a birth in Atlanta! Watch and see.
GT Rules State
October 4th, 2009
1:09 pm
Carefull … UGA doesn’t know better. They will think that checkered end zone is a dance floor. They may get a penalty in the pregame activities before the game ever starts
Harkle
October 4th, 2009
1:09 pm
Dawgdad,
Look at earlier response. LSU would have gotten ball at UGA 45 which in retrospect would have been better but blame needs to fall on special teams and our complete lack of even a pulse of an offense in the 1st half.
Larry Munson
October 4th, 2009
1:10 pm
Look at the Chickin Sandwiches falling from the sky!
BigMike Said......
October 4th, 2009
1:12 pm
Vic cane Corso this is a men’s section, please lets not talk about blow holes. I suggest you move your blogs to the living section!
Is it me, or
October 4th, 2009
1:12 pm
did you think the back from LSU could have run another 20 yards untouched. The excessive celebration penalty meant nothing. He would have still scored.
Richt knows if he had 4 or less losses, the bulldog nation (what an idiotic phrase) will still have open arms for him. Idiots.
SuperB
October 4th, 2009
1:13 pm
When even Lou (He was run out of South Bend) Holtz said Georgia was robbed–we were robbed. When fans even remember who called a game– the officials didn’t do a good job. And when an official decides the outcome– the job was horrendous. The call was co$tly!
Larry Munson
October 4th, 2009
1:14 pm
I predict it will Clemson and UGA in Atlanta in the BO BOWL. Fire BOBO FIRE DABO!!!!!
BigMike Said......
October 4th, 2009
1:15 pm
We’ll still beat Tech and all will be forgiven in Dawg land!
BigMike Said......
October 4th, 2009
1:25 pm
Is it me..or For you to say the excessive penalty meant nothing shows obviosly you know “nothing”. It changed stategies on the field instantly on the two point conversion, it cost Uga much field position on kickoff coverage, and it lost them some ticks on the clock. Plus we all know that football is a game of not only strategy, but emotion and timing. The wind and the emotion of the game was gone. These are kids, let them play. Is it me…. or, yes it’s you who doesn’t know jack about the game. Shut the F#$K UP!
GT Rules State
October 4th, 2009
1:27 pm
Come on Dawg fans … your schedule really ain’t nothing except for Oklahoma St, LSU, Florida and GT @ end of year. The rest of them should be a walk in the park. Ain’t been @ the dance for close to 30 years and haven’t handled a Top 5 team in your own stadium in last 25 years. Amazing how much you expect. #1 Walmart UGA piece of merhandise should be a pacifier.
WildBill
October 4th, 2009
1:28 pm
See Herschel run.
See Herschel score.
See Herschel hand the ball to a ref.
See Herschel trot to the sidelines.
Hear the fans cheer.
Now, why is it so hard for our dawgs to not understand the rules of celebration?
Footballnut29
October 4th, 2009
1:28 pm
So when the LSU broke the that run to win the game I didn’t see him being tackeled within the 15 yards your crying about Big Mike. CRY ME A RIVER OH YEAH DENILE IS A RIVER IN AFRICA.
JDA
October 4th, 2009
1:32 pm
I understand the fans being upset about the officials excessive penalty at the end of the UGA score. I am upset to. But my argument to the coaches/players is ” do not ” put yourself or the team in a position where the official could throw a flag in that situation. Score, give the football back to the official and go back to the bench. This is coaching 101. Elementary my Dear Watson.
dan
October 4th, 2009
1:37 pm
Bill,
I felt the exact same way you did, when AJ scored. This team has been playing by the seat of their pants the last 3 games, and it finally bit them in the butt yesterday. It seems like this team is learning how to win all over again, and truth be told told they’re a very average football team minus AJ( who might be one of the best WR’s I’ve seen since Randy Moss was playing). Congrats to LSU, but they’re not the 4# team in the country this year. They will get exposed, and previous UGA teams would have blown that team out.And this is the problem with the program right now, it is a total rebuilding year. Then again, it has felt like a rebuilding year 3 out of the last 4 years. When are they ever going to be able to reload? The answer: Never. UGA football is what it is: A consistently good football program that shows flashes of greatness, but can never quite get over the hump. As for this season, let’s just hope for an 8-4 season and a shot at a decent bowl.
UGA Journalism Student
October 4th, 2009
1:39 pm
What a bitter loss this one was. The drive with 1:09 left. Where in the world is the leadership on special teams?
Fabris hasn’t cut it, and it’s time to bring somebody else in.
Washaun Ealy earned the running back position.
Amazingly, the Dawgs still have their entire season goals to play for — and its early yet.
Winning the SEC East is still on the table, and if ever it was time for a mid-season come to Jesus moment, this is it.
If all of our team’s components could be consistent in one game, I have no doubt we could hang tough in the SEC Championship.
barneyb
October 4th, 2009
1:40 pm
Sadly, I totally agree with “Hold Richt Accountable”. All 3 assistant coaches must go! Calling it a defensive masterpiece is insulting. Even the 3 wins this year thus far are indictative of the trouble this team & coaching staff are in. Yeah, those calls were criminally retaliatroy, but face it- even as a UGA Alumn and one who loves the Dawgs, it starts at the top and our staff is so far over their heads.
george
October 4th, 2009
1:44 pm
IS there ever going to be a game that UGA loses that the PATHETIC dawg nation does not manage to blame it on the refs. That one game did not cost the dawgs the games you dolts!!!!!!!!!!!! Had he not made the call It simply would have taken LSU 30 more seconds to drive it down the throats of your pathetic defense. PLEASE GET A CLUE dawg fans and just realize just like most years the pups are an average at best football team this year so stop trying to make excuses otherwise!
Footballnut29
October 4th, 2009
1:45 pm
Shot at the SEC championship maybe in lollypop land.
c
October 4th, 2009
1:50 pm
Along with not returning punts, apparently were scared to block them too. No pressure when LSU punts from 4 yard line????
KaliDogg
October 4th, 2009
1:53 pm
When officials love the rules more than they love the game (and the young men who play it), it’s time to mourn the passing of the time when it was still a game and we reveled in the joy kids got from playing it.
dawgs2002
October 4th, 2009
1:54 pm
You guys can blame it on the celebration penalty until the next snow comes. But the reason the game was lost was the offense. Joe Cox did nothing in the first half. Zero. Zip. Nada. And in the 2d half, when Bobo wasn’t calling stupid plays that didn’t fit the situation, Cox was (still) throwing passes behind the receiver that only a circus contortionist could bend to catch or so far in front of the receiver that only superman could’ve caught in mid-flight. Yes Cox had some good “stats” but remind me again of how many scores he orchestrated in the first half.
The defense played a good game. Yes they had some misses but to go into halftime with the score only 6-0 when the QB has just played 2 quarters like a little girl, it’s quite an accomplishment. Of course I’m sure we’ll hear this week that Cox was battling a cold…
Logan Gray was a 4-star rated QB. And he’s sitting on the bench behind Cox? And Cox is =better= than Gray? Huh? Say what? How can this be? Did Gray go to UGA and then morph into a tard? Or did Bobo, with his incompetent QB coaching skills, stunt Gray’s growth as a college QB?
The only games on the schedule left that UGA will win are the two Trade School games – Tn and Ga techs. They might luck up and beat Vandy, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
senoiadawgs
October 4th, 2009
1:55 pm
The call most certainly changed the game. Most likely LSU would have at least had to throw the ball and Scott would have never touched the ball. Now that doesn’t give me much hope considering once again our safeties left guys wide open all day again.
If Cox is truly a leader he will stand up and say that another QB gives this team a better chance to win.
If Richt is truly a leader his pocketbook will be much lighter after blasting the officials, Fabris, Martinez. Bobo we know longer handle their current responsibilities Ealey will be declared the starting RB and Marlon will also play. I’ll be D#@N if I believe the coaches that Marlon is not ready since we heard Ealey wasn’t ready and he is clearly the best back we have. Did this staff not learn anything from Knowshown?
KaliDogg
October 4th, 2009
1:58 pm
Another comment, which I left out.
Supposedly, every play in a game is not “review-able” by officials. When a flag is thrown, they often confer.
In this case, these officials should have gotten together, looked at replays if necessary (as every analyst was doing while scratching their heads — we’ve YET to see the “gesture” that Green supposedly made), and GET THE CALL RIGHT.
This crew threw THREE flags for the same thing and none of the incidents warranted changing the outcome of a football game that, for some of these players, could have been the most important one they have played in their football lifetimes. This goes for both teams.
barneyb
October 4th, 2009
1:58 pm
“Defensive Masterpiece”……what a joke. Over 320 yards run against us, so don’t give me that line of crap. This team and the entire coaching staff are floundering, and will continue to deteriorate for the remainder of the season. start by getting rid of 3 assistant coaches, tell those thug players to stop dancing Solja Boy on the sidelines, cut those dreadlocks or tuck them up in your do-rag and don’t take the helmet off, cover up those thug tatoos, and play some football! If you can’t do that, then get your undsciplined, coddled butts off campus. CMR- this is the beginning of your undoing if you don’t grow a set.
P
October 4th, 2009
2:06 pm
George is right…..The “dawgs” personna (players and fans) is your worst enemy and reflects very clearly who you are…..overstated, overrated, self-obsorbed, party animals!
KaliDogg
October 4th, 2009
2:08 pm
Hey, didn’t mean to suggest I’m “blaming the loss” on the celebration calls. Who know which one thing led to the loss. It’s a long game, full of moments, any of which could have changed the outcome (it’s called a “close game” for a reason). But, my point was (and is) that this needs to change, for ALL teams in this conference for ALL time. And, certainly, it took the game, to some extent, out of the hands of the players at the end. Our kick coverage didn’t exactly overwhelm me, either. Just a clarification.
Let’s talk about Mark Richt. What’s happening now is (IMO), he’s letting the players play themselves into decisions that are his decisions and should be faced and made by him. I’ve been a big booster of Joe Cox, before the season, on the basis of his past history, his rankings out of H.S., his leadership, many reasons. But, if you look at Logan Gray jogging off the filed after another fair catch, you can see the athlete in him. Joe knows the system, yes. But, he does not have the field vision, quickness of release, or arm strength to play at this level. Hurts me to say it. Even passes that Green catches are often behind him or ahead or high or off stride. Those passes, delivered more quickly (so he has time to make a move after the catch, for example), and in stride, are much bigger plays.
Same with defense, RB, special teams.
Mark Richt is letting his team down so that, if a change is made, nobody can blame him for doing it. Yes, this is an opinion and I’m sure he’s not doing it intentionally. It’s just the kind of guy he is. He puts harmony first. He needs to put team first. A team that plays together and that knows (these players know — trust me) that the best players are on the field and the best coaches are behind them — in other words, that they’re being given the best chance to win — is a team with harmony. I just don’t think he sees that.
Whether or not he can, who knows. I guess we’ll find out (which is another variation on what he’s doing — but I don’t have a choice since I don’t run the Athletic Department). Mark Richt does have a choice and he’s doing his players and his “team” no favors by shirking his responsibility to make the hard decisions and stand by them.
GatorNation
October 4th, 2009
2:09 pm
That was quite possibly on of the ugliest games I’ve ever watch. Not sure is was due to great defenses or two anemic offenses. I have to say anemic offenses. I have to agree with the announcers, “It’s like watching 1960’s football”. No offense for either side. Man, both made the two defenses look with world beaters out there. We all know that’s not the case. Yesterday’s game concluded LSU is really over rated and UGA no way belongs in the top teir of any conference, much less the SEC. If you guys can’t put it together will all that talent, well then, I don’t know what to say. There’s just too much talent to be wasted on what we as sports fans have seen. At this point, Green is the only real shinning star in the whole bunch. See yea on Holloween!!!! GO GATORS
Footballnut29
October 4th, 2009
2:10 pm
So when the same b.s. penality was called on LSU. That doesn’t mean anything right. DENILE JUST ISN’T A RIVER IN AFRICA!
Not happy
October 4th, 2009
2:11 pm
1) Worst coached game since the Goff era – Special teams: terrible as usual, Offense: terrible play calling, Defense: How many missed tackles and assignments?
2) Where are all the Top 5 rated recruiting classes? This team looks no better “on the hoof” than South Carolina or Miss State. We look slow and average on both sides of the ball.
3) Three years ago Alabama was middle of the pack average. Look at them now. Is Saban the variable? Georgia has regressed in three years. Reason anybody? Richt, coordinators, players??? We need a full scale attitude adjustment.
Footballnut29
October 4th, 2009
2:12 pm
OH YEAH PICK UP AFTER YOURSELVES YOU BUNCH ON SLOBS.
buck
October 4th, 2009
2:14 pm
just got beat by a better team…buy no one in the state of georgia is willing to admit…what a shame…..
The Ghost Of Wally Butts
October 4th, 2009
2:17 pm
Good article, Bill. Tough to write, tough to read, but I admire you for coming out and putting it into print.
This lack of discipline will lead us to maybe a 6-6 year, unless one of the more mature and disciplined teams self-destructs on us.
Thinking back through the years I’ve watched, Donnan would lead this current group to 8-4, maybe 9-3. Goff, about 6-6, 7-6 with a bowl win, and always with more self-respect than this dancing, poorly executing crowd.
Dooley would have led this crop of talent to at least 9-3, may even 10-2 or 11-1.
I don’t know what my record would have been, but I do know that the official name for any player caught dancing and celebrating prior to the clock being zero would be “former UGA player”.