Lack of improvement a hallmark of 2009 Dogs
Some thoughts and questions arising from the Dogs’ meltdown against Kentucky. …
The same problems plagued Georgia all season long, and while the players must take the blame for the turnovers and penalties, the fact that the Dogs never really could get a handle on either problem has to be seen as an indictment of Mark Richt’s coaching staff. Most of Georgia’s problems were a matter of sloppy or careless play, not lack of talent.
Looks like Joe Cox's eyes are closed when throwing this fourth-quarter incompletion. Maybe that explains those two interceptions. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Early in the season when Joe Cox would make stupid mistakes, many of us gave him the benefit of the doubt by pointing out his relative inexperience despite being a fifth-year senior.
But the most damning statement that can be made about Cox (and his coach, Mike Bobo) is that the quarterback never got better as the season progressed. Saturday night, with nearly a full season under his belt, he was still panicking when pressured and making really dumb throws. His second-half interceptions were two of the most ill-advised passes I’ve ever seen a QB attempt.
Cox completed 12 of 30 passes for 291 yards, three touchdown passes and those two dismal interceptions. He threw some really pretty balls deep. On that two-pass scoring drive in the second half, I wrote down in my notebook: “Joe Cox at his best.” But he was hopeless at the 10- to 15-yard possession pass. And, like I said, his decision-making was just awful.
Was he coached at all this season?
On the fumble at the Kentucky 1-yard line in the fourth quarter: Everyone seems pretty sure now that freshman Washaun Ealey was too close to Cox on the pitch. You have to wonder, if Cox noticed that, why he went ahead and made the pitch anyway. More to the point, why were the Dogs trying a toss sweep in that key moment? Earlier in the game a toss sweep already had resulted in a fumble, and it’s a play that Georgia has had trouble with all season long. Was that really the wisest play call in that situation?
The Dogs fumbled four times, losing two of them. Is it lack of concentration? Poor fundamentals?
What’s left to say about Bryan Evans? I can’t recall a senior starter for the Dogs who I was more anxious to see move on to alumnus status. His tackling was typically poor. And what was he thinking with that blatant late hit out of bounds that helped set up Kentucky’s first score? I don’t blame him for that pass interference call in the end zone, though. He was clearly beaten by the receiver and really had no choice if he didn’t want to give up a touchdown on the play. It didn’t much matter, though, as the Cats did score on the drive with a receiver left wide open.
Georgia had 427 yards of offense, with 196 on the ground, but only 53 of those rushing yards came in the second half. Kentucky had just 63 yards of offense in the first half but ended up with 260. Which team does it appear made successful adjustments at halftime?
One of the officials should be credited with an assist on that first touchdown by the Cats for managing to insert himself into the play and screen the Georgia defender, basketball-style.
Third and short. Normally that’s good news for an offense, but more than once Saturday the Dogs were unable to convert. Kentucky dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage in the second half.
Can we finally agree that kickoff returns are not Branden Smith’s strong suit?
And on the flip side, kickoff coverage is such a train wreck at Georgia that the Dogs probably would be better off just deliberately kicking out of bounds every time and giving the opponent the ball at the 40. That wouldn’t be much different from what Kentucky got time after time Saturday night. That squib kick returned 20 yards by an up back just summed up how hopeless the Dogs are in this area of the game. And, again, that’s another problem that hasn’t improved as the season has progressed.
This is one year Richt and his staff definitely should back up to the pay window.
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547 comments Add your comment
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 22nd, 2009
2:58 pm
Evans has been burned a few times for sure in his career but Renne Curran has been burned twice as much as Evans in coverage over the last two seasons.The entire LB crew is the worst group I have seen at UGA in 20 years.Every single one of them has been a liability in pass coverage all season.Folks are quick to jump on the secondary players(Evans and Miller)but Curran and Gamble have blown twice as many coverages and saying twice is being real generous.Joe Cox is more of a Joe T than DJ….be honest….If a guy never got on the field for 4 years how in the hell did you think he would morph into a ballplayer as a senior?has it ever happened?I know…”It’s the coaches fault for not getting Gray or Murray ready” maybe….or maybe Gray has no game and Murray was not physically ready to answer the bell early in the season.I don’t second guess the RS on Murray though…the run game has been established now and we have weapons in the passing game to go with an experienced line…he will have a much stronger foundation to work with than Cox started out with.Actually Murray will be more options to work with than Stafford or Green as freshmen starters.Young guys and 1st year players make a lot of mistakes…look at where our To’s come from.Cox may b a 5th year SR but at the end of the day he is still a1st year starter.QB and LB are the two worst performing positions on the team.
gtfanfrom1951
November 22nd, 2009
2:58 pm
I just love how quick UGA turn on their team
GO JAckets
Bring Me the Head of Saint Simmons
November 22nd, 2009
2:59 pm
Jack, I’m not Darren, but the solution is simple. I would replace my assistant coaches who could not/would not do the job, I would instill discipline within the team, I would put my best players on the field even if they were underclassmen, and I would seek professional help for my cronic FSU-wannabe syndrome. For $2.8M per year, the fans should expect better.
tender hearted fan
November 22nd, 2009
3:00 pm
jack bull….. Have you seen Clemson play lately? They have improved each and every week and they have not been blown out. Cant say that for the dawgs! Bwahhhhhhh
Darren
November 22nd, 2009
3:00 pm
jack bull, it’s not what I would do differently as I am no college coach. You might want to rephrase your question something like this: What would Nick Saban do different (sic)? How would Urban Meyer adjust the direction of this failed program? How would Paul Johnson approach long overdue changes to the coaching staff? What would Les Miles do about the lack of discipline and focus? Now go have yourself a Diet Coke and just think for a few minutes before posting additional nonsense.
jack bull
November 22nd, 2009
3:01 pm
GO DAWGS!!!!
sccatfan1
November 22nd, 2009
3:04 pm
I thought the GA players were more than a little full of themselves for a team that really hasn’t accomplished anything. They were celebrating in the 2nd half when it was 27-13…joking around and not taking UK seriously. Can’t argue with UGA fans who say this lack of discipline falls squarely on the coaches. PawPaw Brooks would go ballistic if that kind of preening behavior occurred on the UK sidelines.
another ptc dawg
November 22nd, 2009
3:06 pm
Face it Dawg fans, we can’t play. The coaches are responsible for putting the best players on the field. If this is the best they can find, we have a problem. Personally, I think the problem is coaching. Bobo has not improved since the USC game in 2007. WM still doesn’t have a clue how to stop any SEC offense. This season has been a definitive definition of insanity. Doing the same thing, with the same people and expecting different results.
GTJohn
November 22nd, 2009
3:07 pm
Hey Tech, hope you are not believing everything you read in this piece of trash paper. You will not see Joe Cox on Sat except on the sideline and this team will be doing everything possible to win. The Tech pass defense has been less than stellar this year and UGA has a bevy or receivers now that AJ is out of the way.
NorcrossDawg
November 22nd, 2009
3:09 pm
To Cuz- congratulations on youre parenting skills (I am assuming Baylie is youre daughter). Nice to know there will be another good citizen in this world.
To Jack Bull- I commend youre loyalty, but blind faith can also get you in trouble- reference Mark Richt.
To Evan’s detractors. He committed an inexcusably stupid and costly penalty and then stayed in the game. When he finally came to the sideline I saw one of the coaches pat him on the head with an atta-boy. How can you blame the kid if that is the way they are disciplined? He should have been immediately pulled from the game and chewed out with a hand in his fase mask. Instead look for more stupid penalties next week.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 22nd, 2009
3:13 pm
The lack of discipline stuff is more hogwash…stop turning over the damn ball and you win period.The TO’s are the SINGLE most lethal contributor in every loss we have this year.All else is a moot point
VolNation
November 22nd, 2009
3:16 pm
Can someone please tell me that UGA should go get John Gruden. I need a laugh while watching the Falcon’s game.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 22nd, 2009
3:16 pm
NorcrossDawg and Renne makes 5-6 tackles from behind a game of people who beat him in pass coverage and nobody EVER says anything about it.Been going on for two years now
Dissappoint Dog Fan
November 22nd, 2009
3:17 pm
Enter your comments here
Darth Visor
November 22nd, 2009
3:25 pm
Wonder what the ole ball coach could do in Athens
Blawgdawg
November 22nd, 2009
3:31 pm
CMR was right when he said Cox throws a very ” catchable ” ball. So catchable that the defense caught it 14 times so far this year. Cox seems like a good kid, but he should never have started for UGA, or any other D-1 school. So much for his ” never lost a game since the 8th grade” mystique.
jojatek
November 22nd, 2009
3:33 pm
A short note to Bulldog nation (borrowed from my earlier post over on Schultzie’s blog…):
Although I predicted a Wildcat victory last week in Bradley’s space, I never saw this coming… particularly after the Auburn game last week. Penalties, turnovers, and an embarrassing lack of mental discipline in the second half… there really is no other explanation for it. I am a Tech grad, but this one was embarrassing for anyone from the State of Georgia to watch. CMR lost this team several weeks ago… it is time for him to step up and take responsibility for this season. The last time Kentucky won in Athens, I was 12 years old and attending my first college football game between the hedges… nothing against Rich Brooks and the ‘Cats, but the Dawgs simply gave this one away last night. UGA VII deserved better…
Bottom line for CPJ and the Jackets next Saturday: We will need to be very, very careful with this Georgia team. The Dawgs are playing for pride now. This year, unlike so many other years in recent memory, the Dawgs – rather than the Jackets – will be forced to treat our game like a bowl game. Patience, discipline, and hard work on both sides of the ball will give the Jackets the win, but not before the Dawgs take an early lead as they ride a season full of frustration onto the field in the first quarter. We need to absorb whatever the Dawgs throw at us in the first half, maintain our composure, run our offense, and watch knowingly as CMR and his team slowly self-destructs under the combined weight of better coaching from the opposite sideline, a series of untimely and really dumb personal fouls, and our relentless rushing attack. Our house, and our time, Bulldog nation…
Go Jackets!!
Coach Richt
November 22nd, 2009
3:38 pm
Damon Evans punked Urban Meyer during recruiting. I should have known better than to take another undisciplined kid from Jacksonville.
Raleigh Dog
November 22nd, 2009
3:49 pm
I think Richt has lost whatever fire in the belly he had. I wouldn’t be suprised if he resigned at the end of the year to go into the ministry. He’d have more success there. That’s what he’s really suited to do. He’s lost whatever coaching talent he had.
reebok
November 22nd, 2009
3:51 pm
Non-gloating Tech fan here. I really hope Saturday is NOT the day the Dogs pull it together and play a complete game…if my Jackets are looking past Georgia to the ACC Championship, they could get their heads handed to them by a talented team playing with nothing to lose.
See you on The Flats, Doggies.
rabiddawg
November 22nd, 2009
4:07 pm
All I gotta say is from #1 to a bottom feeder in the SEC in a little over a year with a top 5 recruiting class. That says it all. You’ve got Senior night against KY, and your beloved mascot passed away. That is the best we can do is lose to KY. We had a chance to right our season but we lose to KY. I can’t believe that we lost to KY. By the way that is a 2 and 2 record against Ky the last four years. There is a loss to Vandy in there. There are constant humiliatons on national TV, a 2 and 8 record against FLA, 3 out of 4 blowouts to UT, and soon to be 2 in a row to a building GT. You tell me if a new direction is needed.
Darren
November 22nd, 2009
4:08 pm
reebok, there isn’t even a remote chance of that happening. GT has a real hands-on coach just in case that slipped your mind. UGA will lose the game in a huge way. More penalties, blown coverages, turn overs, etc. Another Saturday, another UGA embarrassment. No adjustments on offense or defense and more stupid plays being called. I’d really like to see this game return to the rivalry of the past but that won’t happen as long as we keep CEO Richt & his cronies. BTW, thanks for not gloating.
PT
November 22nd, 2009
4:14 pm
I don’t think Richt has the heart to make the decisions reguarding long time associates. He may not have the heart to stick this one out. I saw a total lack of concentration and discipline all year which is a direct reflection of the staff.
Dawg1967
November 22nd, 2009
4:18 pm
GA headed to Da Clean Bowl with a new attitude with an entire NEW staff.
rabiddawg
November 22nd, 2009
4:20 pm
Someone said it best earlier, good coaching outweighs good recruiting everyday.
T.Slay
November 22nd, 2009
4:25 pm
Georgia Tech Old Timer said
“When you look for a beginning of the program demise at UGA – two things come to mind. 1) Think back to the extremely poor sportsmanship displayed in Florida’s end zone after the UGA score. While lies and excuses about the actual words and “meanings” CMR used to gloss over what happened, many folks across the nation, “outside” the UGA family of friends and fans, saw something else – something different about CMR that day. While he might be a great guy on a personal level – he seems to have lost a lot of credibility with his fellow coaches, players and potential recruits and now with his fans. 2) The loss of Stafford, Moreno and Massaquoi – although great players all – leaving should have allowed the next generation of DAWGS to step up. However, there has been a constant “wringing of hands” and excuse making from Athens that the reason the program has taken a huge hit this year is because they left. In all the years past when great players have left, there has been no drop off in talent or productivity as it relates to wins and losses. While most other programs brace for that kind of “hit”, UGA has traditionally been the program that paraded out another star. So then the question is, with at least equal or better recruiting classes, why weren’t these next stars ready to step up? Again I have to go back to the credibility issue between coaches and current players.”
GT Old Timer, you raise a valid point. Two years ago, when Richt encouraged the Georgia players to draw an excessive celebration penalty after the first touchdown in the win against Florida, I had an uneasy feeling then that Richt and Georgia was going to pay dearly for that decision. Since then, Georgia has paid dearly and, because Richt set a poor example two years ago, the players feel its o.k. to dance and behave in an unsportsmanlike manner.
Georgia obviously thought they won the game at halftime last night. Brooks and the other Kentucky coaches must have said or done something during halftime because Kentucky was a different team in the second half than in the first. Brooks is of the Dooley-Dodd-Bryant-Paterno mold because, like those four coaches, he would not put up with the behavior the Georgia players have displayed this year.
One earlier poster noted the similarities between FSU and Georgia. I have also noticed too. I DO NOT want Georgia to turn into another FSU. I have followed Georgia football for nearly 40 years and Georgia, under Dooley and Russell, were known for their discipline, toughness, and willingness to do whatever it took to win. If Georgia loses badly to Georgia Tech (and I think they will) Evans needs to sit Richt down and tell him in no uncertain terms that Martinez is gone, the special teams coach is gone, Bobo is gone or demoted, in 2010 Georgia wins the SEC East and/or beats Florida. If Richt does not like these terms, he needs to go too. If Georgia loses badly to Georgia Tech to finish 6-6, they should not go to a bowl, period.
There were some posts complaining about the fans booing or leaving the game early. The tickets are not cheap and fans or alumni who pay a good bit of money for the tickets (especially with the economy being the way it is) and are forced to watch the kind of play they saw in the second half last night have the right to boo or to leave early. The big money donors needs to send Damon Evans a message that there has to be change or the donations will not come through.
Georgia Tech Old Timer and the other Tech Fans on the board, congratulations on a great season and good luck against Clemson in the ACC championship.
PT
November 22nd, 2009
4:26 pm
Bobo goes fishing with Joe’s dad a good bit. Take that for what its worth.
CoachesWallofShame
November 22nd, 2009
4:27 pm
Mark Richt – No passion, No smarts, ??? Can he fire/Can he Hire The Best – WE WILL KNOW WHAT NEXT YEAR BRINGS WHEN WE SEE WHO HE FINDS
Stacy Searels – His SEC days have past, lucky to find work in 1-AA
Mike Bobo – Been average at everything – should be a great HS coach
Rodney Garner – Not a great coach but a great recruiter – ONLY KEEPER
Willie Martinez – Never should hold a clipboard again
Tony Ball – Should find work in ACC
Jon Fabris – Needs to be a High School AD
John Jancek – No name coach #1 – Should be in PAC 10
John Lilly – No name coach # 2 – Should be in BIG 10
Bryan McClendon – Because you played at UGA – you will find work at GSU
Doug Patterson
November 22nd, 2009
4:29 pm
Wish I could disagree with any of Bill’s comments but the program at GA has fallen like a rock starting with the Alabama debacle last year. Of course there was the Tech debacle and then we come to this year. We are on the slide of losing to TN, FL, Tech and if this were Ray Goff or Jim Donnan people would be screaming. I think Coach Richt deserves 1 more year but without substantial improvement it will be time to move on. He had a great run but just doesn’t seem to be able to sustain it. It will be interesting tomorrow to hear Buck Belue. He is such a homer it is not funny. At least Kevin Butler has the cajones to tell it like it is.
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 22nd, 2009
4:34 pm
AGREE WITH COACHES WALL……….
Joe Not Dawg
November 22nd, 2009
4:35 pm
Wow! Football team loses. Basketball team loses. And then you dog dies. Bad weekend to be a Georgia fan. But hey, look at the bright side. At least there is a good football and basketball team in Georgia. Assuming you’re a Tech fan.
“I say its bad, to be, a Georgia Bulldog.” Hehehehehehe!
Gooooooooo VOLS!
Tito
November 22nd, 2009
4:38 pm
UGA never has to worry about being like FSU; they’ve never in their history been as consistently good as the Seminoles were from the mid 70’s to the mid 90’s. Bulldog nation seems to think every team but the Dawgs is only as good as their worst season, whereas UGA is a top program because of the Herschel years. I was at the Kentucky game two years ago when the biggest cheer of the night went to a replay of the “blackout” earlier that season. Fans then thought wearing black could win a game; now they know that they’re losing because of coaching. Who can take such people seriously?
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 22nd, 2009
4:45 pm
TITO HAVE YOUR FUN NOW
Bo Williams
November 22nd, 2009
4:57 pm
UGa should downsize its stadium. Then there won’t be such a large congregation of idiots of Saturdays.
Tito
November 22nd, 2009
4:58 pm
What fun? I’m just saying the same group of people that was proclaiming Richt & Co. the greatest staff in the NCAA two years ago when GA won the preseason national championship are now saying they’re not fit to coach a Pop Warner team. They have already proven they don’t know what they’re talking about, so why listen at all?
Steve
November 22nd, 2009
4:58 pm
UGA will be fine – we are just panicking now. We are just getting over the residual effects of poor offensive recruiting under our previous OC – we will never have another QB as untalented as Joe Cox for a very long time, unless injuries occur. Bobo has finally come to CMR’s rescue, and is getting us a SEC offense installed of smash mouth football with great talent at WR also – it just takes time. I hate to say it, but wait until next year – I knew the OL was still a year away. We return everybody but Joe Cox, and it’s all better from here offensively (give the new QB 3 or 4 games next year to get settled in however).
Defensively – we’ll see. Hard to judge this year with the terrible Offensive and Special Teams. They have been put in so many terrible situations – and they haven’t handled them well. Would give CWM another season and see (and that is a change for me – calling for his head earlier this year).
Overall, UGA is a program on the rise, with young coaches, who is just suffering a terrible year. If Special teams and Penalties/To’s don’t improve next year – gotta start looking at the HC – he is the one doing a poor job. In this business, a Coach is only as good as his assistants. I know my take is not popular, but that is as objective as I can be.
jesse james
November 22nd, 2009
5:01 pm
Coaches Wall of Shame – Boy they should hire you. You seem to know it all. How do you know what it takes to be a high school coach or AD?
Steve
November 22nd, 2009
5:01 pm
And whoever wants to get rid of John Lilly is insane – have you seen the TE crop we are developing – they are beasts!
jesse james
November 22nd, 2009
5:03 pm
Hey Bo Williams, is Bo short for Bozo?
cantondawg
November 22nd, 2009
5:03 pm
I don’t know why people even post about firing CMR. He has 4 years left on a contract that pays him 2.8 million per year…That would be an 11.2 million payout not to coach. In a day and age where teachers have to take unpaid furloughs every year, i don’t see Georgia pay CMR 11 million not to coach and then turn around and pay another 12-16 million for a new coach. The better solution would be to go out and hire the very best OC and DC coordinators and pay them $1 million a year. This would be the best football and financial solution
George P. Burdell
November 22nd, 2009
5:12 pm
Enter your comments here
George P. Burdell
November 22nd, 2009
5:13 pm
If Tech beats Georgia and is 3-0 in the Bubba League, are they required to have to play in the Bubba Bowl?
jsmuga
November 22nd, 2009
5:18 pm
Joe Cox no improvement over the year at all………………….
jsmuga
November 22nd, 2009
5:20 pm
Steve you are an idiot………..
Buckhead Bulldog
November 22nd, 2009
5:22 pm
jojatek – Sadly, I concur.
dh
November 22nd, 2009
5:25 pm
Now you know how Tech fans felt with Gailey not coaching up either Ball or Bennett at the QB position.
Another thing I see in CMR is that he learned a lot from Bobby Bowden. Bowden’s teams were undisciplined, getting in trouble on and off the field. I don’t think Richt’s personality will change because that is who he is. I think he still a great coach, and simply needs to get better football people around him. However, unless he steps up to the plate and demands his players play and act disciplined, then things may start to decline like they have down at FSU, because even FSU is still getting the good players, but you see what they are doing with them.
gadawgs
November 22nd, 2009
5:29 pm
If according to CMR Joe Cox gives us our best chance at winning we are in serious trouble come next year people cause #11(Murray) or #5 (Mettenberger)must not be that good (and have no experience either thanks to the brilliant redshirt decision made once again by our coach) because Cox is PATHETIC.
BOBOSAV
November 22nd, 2009
5:33 pm
Typical CMR “do the right thing” move sealed the fate of this season in September, and that was starting Joe Cox.
If Joe C. is the best we got, we in trouble for awhile!
I dont think Aaron Murray ever factored into the job, CMR had his mind made up.
Remember Joe Tereshinski….started 4 games before hurting his ankle and CMR having to play Stafford, Joe T still gets job back against UT and Vandy once healthy, loses both of those, Stafford comes back.
I’m sorry, but this aint the Boys Club, its the SEC.
Not only had to endure this year, but as we know because of this undying loyalty we’ll have to go through growing process with Murray next year.
Fans are fed up with this, and I’d imagine some players are as well.
Not all Joe C.’s fault, but CMR’s loyalties have caught up with him.
You think either Joe’s would have stepped on the field under Saban or Meyer?
Not hardly. Its become embarrasing.
Boise Dawg
November 22nd, 2009
5:34 pm
Bill I agree with your point in the first paragraph, but it appears you let Mark Richt off the hook. We can blame the players and assistants all we want, but at the end of the day the team is a reflection of their leader. It is the job of Mark Richt to evaluate his staff and players and determine who should be playing and who needs to be coached up.
I am not a Bobo fan, but I don’t think it is fair to blame for the lack of Joe Cox’s development. I think at quaterback you either have the head for it or you don’t…. what concerns me is if he is the best we have right now, how good are we going to be at this position next year?
As for bringing in new quality assistants, I think that could be a big problem. What great DC or OC is going to want to leave their current situation (assuming they are a top flight DC or OC) to come and work for a HC that is clearly entering next season on the hot seat… and with a new redshirt freshman at quarterback that has never taken a snap?
SatchelBuzz
November 22nd, 2009
5:34 pm
Last year was just the beginning. Come Saturday,…ugag nation is again going to pay the price for the arrogance and lack of humility that they have repeatedly displayed.
There’s a reckoning coming…….6 days.
THWG!!!