Mike Bobo’s playcalling didn’t do his young QB any favors
Aaron Murray did get to use his running ability a bit more Saturday. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
We talked here earlier this week about Georgia’s game against Arkansas as something of a test for Dogs offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
Well, it was.
And he failed.
Yes, there were defensive lapses Saturday that the Razorbacks capitalized on, including biting on that play fake on Arkansas’ first score, but thanks to too many three-and-outs again this week the Georgia D was on the field entirely too long to try and keep a high-powered offense led by a talented QB like Ryan Mallett in check.
And showing a lot of grit the Dogs did battle back from a 24-10 deficit to tie it up 24-24 with 3:55 left in the game.
But after a fine defensive series got the ball back for Georgia and the Dogs had moved to midfield thanks to runs by Washaun Ealey and Carlton Thomas, the bizarre playcalling by Bobo that had plagued them all day reared its ugly head again.
Third and 4 and rather than a quick slant pass across the middle, or sending Ealey or Thomas wide, or rolling Aaron Murray out with the option to pass or run, instead Bobo sends all the receivers at least 20 yards downfield and has his QB standing back there way too long. The result is a sack that took Murray’s helmet (and nearly his head) off and the Dogs let a chance to win the game get away from them.
I’ll grant Bobo that Murray has a tendency to hold on to the ball too long in some situations. As Bobo said after the game, “We need to work on getting rid of the ball a little bit quicker.” But that’s to be expected of a redshirt freshman and Bobo knows that. So why put Murray into those situations?
And the play of Georgia’s offensive line continued to fall short, with run blocking up the middle virtually nonexistent and Murray’s protection falling apart too often.
But time and time again Saturday, Bobo showed a lack of a short-yardage game outside the red zone. On an earlier third and 1, Murray was sacked waiting on receivers to get open on long routes. All they needed was 1 yard and he’s looking to throw long??!!
This wasn’t a great defense the Dogs were facing in Arkansas, but at times Georgia made them look that way.
Yes, the Dogs missed suspended ace receiver A.J. Green on some plays, but especially in the second half Dogs receivers, including Kris Durham, Tavares King and the little-used Israel Troupe, came up with clutch receptions.
And because of the poor line play, the running game was inconsistent, though it occasionally showed flashes of what we had expected.
I’ll also give Bobo credit for at least loosening the reins on Murray and allowing him to take off with the ball, which resulted in Georgia’s first touchdown. But where were the tight ends for most of the day? Why didn’t Georgia make more use of the screen and quick hits over the middle?
And there was the predictability factor again in Bobo’s playcalling. When fans in the stands are consistently calling out what the Georgia play is going to be before the snap, you know your offense has a problem.
And I hate to say it, but I think that problem is Mike Bobo. Absent the superior talent of playmakers like D.J. Shockley, Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, who made Bobo look good in the past, he is revealed as a rather pedestrian offensive mind.
I’ll have more on Sunday, but for now, have at it. …
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612 comments Add your comment
G-means GATA
September 19th, 2010
12:42 am
When I left, the discussions of Bobo were rather hot, and these large donors want him demoted immediately. Many are calling this week.
G-means GATA
September 19th, 2010
12:44 am
Adams is also getting involved. I think everyone should call Adams office and express their disapproval of Bobo’s horrible comments putting the blame upon Murray. From what I witnessed today, Murray was a real fighter.
BeerDawg
September 19th, 2010
12:46 am
G-means GATA, a tiny, flicker of a hope. Keep up the pressure. Not sure it will change much but at this point….
for real this time, night all!!
Thwg
September 19th, 2010
12:47 am
Beerdawg – so what does it say about so many people spending so much money on such a pathetic athletic program. I forgot, gymdawgs do draw pretty well.UGA is a has been program. GT is kicking ass and UGA is an ass !
Ronnie Pollock
September 19th, 2010
12:48 am
BoBo has no offense imagination. He needs to watch other offense coaches and watch good play calling. Raplace Bobo is the answer and not Murray.
P. Bull Terriera
September 19th, 2010
12:50 am
Bobo said the sack on the last 3rd & 4 play was Murray’s fault because he held the ball too long. I was at the game and haven’t had a chance to see the replay, but it seemed like the defensive player came around the end completely unblocked (who missed him? TE? RB?) and was on top of Murray as soon as he finished his drop back. Maybe it was more obvious on TV replays that Bobo is right about Murray taking too long on the play – even if the actual play called was a poor choice. But, if it happened the way I saw it and Bobo threw Murray under the bus with a bad play call and then ran over top of him by claiming it was all Murray’s fault, Bobo should be at home tonight explaining to his wife and kids why he no longer has a job. Will someone who saw the replay clarify the play for me?
RxDawg
September 19th, 2010
12:50 am
Good write up Bill. I’m glad to see everyone is pretty much on the same page here. Back in the fire Martinez days, I always thought I’d rather get rid of Bobo before Martinez…..I love my Dawgs but I have zero confidence in them. I don’t believe anymore. Sigh……maybe, just maybe we can get a win of the mighty Miss St bulldogs.
Ronnie Pollock
September 19th, 2010
12:51 am
We don’t get Isiah, Rome and Swain duplicate next year as a loser unless we get rid of BoBO. Tires of giving money to this program.
RxDawg
September 19th, 2010
12:51 am
P.Bull, your right. Ealy whiffed on that block. He also whiffed on a lot of other blocks. The season is screwed, Richt should sit Ealy and let him watch our other RB’s block. I now fully understand why King was named the starter. We probably miss him more than people know.
heads need to roll
September 19th, 2010
12:53 am
Bobo absolutely sucks calling plays,when I can sit in my living room and tell people the play before it happens and 90 percent of the time get it right, then you know defenses know the stinking plays.Stop using the damn excuse that you dont want to put to much on Murray, thats a freaking cop out, let the kid play ball, I love GA football, but it sickens me to no end that the season is over by the third game of the year, Screw it we need some major changes at GA, and I mean soon.
Ronnie Pollock
September 19th, 2010
12:53 am
Send BoBo to the farm and let our genius coach make the offense calling. Perhaps Coach Corky Roger/Bolles High School is the answer to our coaching.
G-means GATA
September 19th, 2010
12:54 am
Thwg, your comments are typical of a GT fan. Rather uniformed and to be that of an instigator. We all know the lack of class and dignity that defines your school. Georgia fans are the very finest, caring, intelligent fans in college athletics. Yes we are proud of our gymnastics program as well as our swimming, track and field, and our improving Basketball team. We also pride ourselves in the wealth that we bring into the University of Georgia. Maybe if Georgia Tech was not in the inner city of the most impoverished part of Atlanta, you might be able to at least raise 25% of what the University of Georgia raises. Unfortunately, for an unemployed engineer, I am sure there are no employment because of the degree or lack of degree you hold
Scooter
September 19th, 2010
12:55 am
Unfortunately MR taking over the playcalling is unlikely to make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things. A lot of us seem to forget that the whole reason Bobo was promoted to playcalling duty in the first place is that fans were not happy with MR’s playcalling and his seeming inability to manage other parts of the game when he was calling plays.
I don’t really blame Mike Bobo…this program has gone stagnant in general over the last few years..and to all the rose glassed koolaid drinkers who want to excuse MR due to a new QB and Def Coordinator…who decided to stick with a mediocre senior QB all last season rather than trying to get a future starter some playing time?
Who kept his buddy as DC for several years for several years of failure…for that matter who promoted Willie in the first place rather than looking for someone established when Van Gorder left?
The fact is…all the weaknesses of this team this year that MR apologists are using as excuses..are directly MR’s fault. How many “rebuilding” years is this team going to go through? Next year the excuse is going to be having to totally remake the Offensive Line..which should be fun with the failed recruiting on that front for years…
Ronnie Pollock
September 19th, 2010
12:56 am
AJ Green should not play for the rest of the year and feel the guilt and come back next year to repent his wrong doings. He let his georgia fans down severly,.
Delta
September 19th, 2010
12:56 am
In the 4th Quarter, Bobo passed too much, got away form the run, got too predictible.
1st drive–4 passes, 2 rushes
2nd drive–6 passes, 0 rushes
3rd drive–3 passes, 2 rushes
4th drive–2 passes, 2 rushes
That’s 15 pass play calls, and 6 rushing calls.
You won’t win many SEC games with that kind of playcalling in the the quarter.
4th drive was particularly puzzling, because Carlton and Wshaun both got 10 yards a carry on that drive, defense was geared to stop the pass, so why pass when you only needed a field goal to win and you’re moving the ball on the ground at 10 yards a carry?
Ronnie Pollock
September 19th, 2010
12:58 am
Goff and Bobo should farm together.
G-means GATA
September 19th, 2010
1:00 am
Ronnie Pollock, you are right. Behind the scenes he mislead Richt. Wesley Saunders though took it to another level at USCjr. He is the one that provided the NCAA with the information for the inquiry into Spurrier’s program. This is why he was suspended and kicked off the team. Spurrier and the AD, knew about the investigation, and had to figure the inquiry was coming.
Ronnie Pollock
September 19th, 2010
1:00 am
Have to pass Delta, no rushing game unless we had Green. What about next year without Green? Green should has no conscience, waiting for Sundays. He let the fans down badly.
Raynard
September 19th, 2010
1:01 am
O-Line is frustrated with Murray, he’s not making fast decisions. Need to throw it in 3 seconds to an open receiver, or out of bounds. Stop getting sacked so much, and holding onto the ball because he’s trying to be a hero. I’d like to see Hutson Mason get some snaps. I hear he’s impossible to sack because he’s decisive and has a trigger release.
senioadawgs
September 19th, 2010
1:02 am
Throwing Murray under the bus on a clear bad play call and whiff block by Ealey should get him demoted or fired immediately.
I personally think the D will be great under Grantham in 3-4 years. He is playing with players that does not fit his and Laktos scheme at all. Laktos prefers tall corners vs. Willie’s short corners and we know the D Line is not an ideal 3-4 line.
Bobo please, if Murray can’t fun the whole playbook after being at UGA for a year and half then that is the coaches fault. You see what a smart offense does is get playmakers in space and get them the ball on short routes and let them make plays. Makes Petrino look like a genius and Mallet look all world. All he has to do throw the ball 5 yards most of the time and the playmakers do the rest.
Raynard
September 19th, 2010
1:03 am
Richt won’t take over play-calling, he doesn’t want the accountability.
Scooter
September 19th, 2010
1:03 am
I actually think there’s a bit too much hate towards Bobo. I’ve come to realize that MR is the king of something called the Peter Principle…ie…promoting someone one level above where they should be…he did it with Willie…decent DB coach…bad DC. Then he did it with Bobo, decent QB coach..bad OC.
Can’t blame Bobo for taking the job or the money…but you can blame MR for being happy with the status quo.
Really playcalling is just one symptom of the overall mediocrity and complacency that seems to be the UGA program over the last few years. Reminds me a lot of Clemson under Tommy Bowden…a nice guy that the press and fans like, recruits pretty well, surrounds himself with former FSU buddies, and in the end…is allowed to stick around longer than he should have just because he’s a nice guy.
RxDawg
September 19th, 2010
1:05 am
One other thing, there was a minority of people calling out our strength and conditioning program over the past few years. I’m beginning to think they really knew what they were talking about. Our boys look weak at times. We’ve been out maned by USC and Arkansas now. Not sure how to fix this, but it should be pointed out as something to fix.
G-means GATA
September 19th, 2010
1:05 am
With the new regime of the NCAA, you had to figure Green was not going to be given anything less than the 4 games. When the NCAA finishes with USCjr, it is going to be one ugly penalty. We have there, alumni paying for housing, cars, a boat and yes several alumni “extra” goodies. Look for penalties as severe if not worse than anything we’ve seen in years. The NCAA is committed to cleaning up college athletics.
AUG24
September 19th, 2010
1:08 am
We did way too much play action. We weren’t fooling anybody on 3rd and long with play action. BOBO has to go. Everyone watching the game could see Murray needed to be in the shotgun. Bobo is a sorry OC. Always has been. Stafford covered up for his terrible play calling. Get rid of Bobo. He is the only person that can hold Murray back. It is Richt’s faught for allowing this terrible play calling.
THIS IS A.D.MCGARITY & RICHT IM WATCHIN U!
September 19th, 2010
1:11 am
YOU FINALLY GOT SMART BILL!
P.S NOW WE NEED TO GET SMART,KIRBY THAT IS!
Scooter
September 19th, 2010
1:11 am
Unfortunately RxDawg, the S&C coach is another of MR’s former FSU cronies so I’m sure he’ll be around as long as he wants to be. Really, has MR ever hired a good asst. coach since VanGorder? I’m going to leave out Grantham because the jury’s obviously still out, but everyone’s forgotten about the former WR coach Eason…then there’s a former WR coaching running backs and a former RB coaching WRs, Willie being promoted, Bobo being promoted…Searels not exactly working wonders with the OL over the last few years…yikes.
Raynard
September 19th, 2010
1:14 am
Bob was great in the red zone today, scored 3 td’s and a field goal, and no turnover’s in th red zone.
Raynard
September 19th, 2010
1:15 am
Bobo was much improved over last week in red zone scoring.
76-DAWG
September 19th, 2010
1:15 am
Some on this blob are criticizing Grantham and I for one think you are dead wrong. Not one recruit belongs to Grantham and UGA defense are all having to learn the 4-3 . When you make that radical of a change we have to expect some problems. What I saw today was a much improved defense that didn’t miss many tackles . I didn’t see but a few body and arm tackles. If UGA tackled last week like they did today UGA would have beaten SC. So I applaud the improvement on defense . We have to give Grantham time to recruit and for the new defense to work. Mallet is one of the best Quarterbacks in the nation and will go in the first 10 chosen in this years draft.
Now Bobo is a different story . He has been here long enough to make better calls on offense than he does. Surely CMR see’s that Bobo need to go.
RxDawg
September 19th, 2010
1:15 am
Scooter…..I know
G-means GATA, nice posts. Rational stuff on a board full of ticked off irrational bloggers.
RxDawg
September 19th, 2010
1:15 am
Scooter…..I know
G-means GATA, nice posts. Rational stuff on a board full of ticked off irrational bloggers.
uuugh...
September 19th, 2010
1:17 am
Dawgster…why would a top caliber back want to come to UGA? RB by commitee ges you several also rans instead of one stud. Furthermore, why would a stud at any position want to come to UGA? AJ would win the Heisman if he were at AK–What is he doing at UGA? Look at Orson Charles–that guy could be awesome. We have got him blocking. UGA’s TE’s used to rock. Now they come here to waste away. Sweet lord…we should throw it to Orson 8 times a game just for breaking Florida’s NC trophy!
Dangerous
September 19th, 2010
1:24 am
UNTIL BOBO IS GONE I AM THROUGH WITH THIS TEAM! BILL YOUR ARTICLE SAID WHAT I HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR THE LAST 4 YRS!……………….MURRAY NEEDED A QUICK SLANT PACKAGE OF 5, 10, 15 ETC AND A DRAW PLAY OUT OF A 3 AND 4 RECEIVER SET TO MAKE HIM SUCCESSFUL THIS YEAR……EVERY F’N PASS PLAY LEFT HIM IN THE POCKET AND THEY FEASTED ON IT ALL DAY…….WHAT A GD BONE HEAD TO LET THIS HAPPEN ALL FREAKIN DAY LONG ………. FOR THE RECORD… I HATE BOBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@thwg
September 19th, 2010
1:25 am
GT owns this state now. That’s hilarious….
One too many wine spritzers huh, fancy pants…lol
76-DAWG
September 19th, 2010
1:26 am
Bill
I agree with everything you are saying and more. On that 3rd down pass why is Ealey trying to block a defensive back . When the defensive back got by Ealey and was about to sack Murray I thought it was by design and that Murray was going to quickly turn and throw a screen to Ealey which would have also worked when we were just trying to get 4 yards,
68DAWG
September 19th, 2010
1:29 am
I hate to say this because I love the Dawgs. But they are suffering from poor coaching in all areas of the game, except the D line. I love Richt but he and the staff appear to been out matched/coached the last two weeks and the last few seasons. New secondary coach and the D backs can not cover or takle. Special teams are poorly coached and are not desciplined. The offense is simply a mess. The O line either does not know how to block or refuses to block, and that was alledegdly the strenth of the team.
When Willie was fired, Richt said, he was the steward of the program and it was his obligation to make the changes. Now it appears that Richt should be held to his own standard.
Dangerous
September 19th, 2010
1:31 am
Murray does need to pull the trigger a lot sooner and Orson Charles is so under utilized and for this Bobo should be shot!!!!!! Bobo you are blooooooooooming idiot! You can’t get out of the way of a train wreck
76-DAWG
September 19th, 2010
1:33 am
I meant to say defensive end , number 91, not defensive back . Ealey could have blocked a defensive back but not a defensive end that probably weighed 265 pounds.
Dangerous
I agree with your 1:24 comment.
Dangerous
September 19th, 2010
1:41 am
It is a damn shame that Donnan and Gary Gibbs didn’t get one more year!
Oldawg
September 19th, 2010
1:41 am
real uga fans stick with your team…you hear???????
Scooter
September 19th, 2010
1:44 am
Haha, Dangerous, what if Jim Donnan had never met Quincy Carter?
Dangerous
September 19th, 2010
1:49 am
76-Dawg my posts go back for years. This has been going on for years! What the hell, how can Richt not see what’s before him. I really can’t take it any more. I love the SEC and will always pull for SEC teams, but I think that I am going to pull for Stanford the rest of this year.
Dangerous
September 19th, 2010
1:51 am
Scooter, He would still be here today!
Tweets that mention Mike Bobo’s playcalling didn’t do his young QB any favors | UGA: The Junkyard Blawg -- Topsy.com
September 19th, 2010
1:53 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by amy mengel, Shelley Ashworth Lee, Googlyfish Israel, TC Chantharath, Lindsay Taylor and others. Lindsay Taylor said: RT @ajcjunkyard: Mike Bobo’s playcalling didn’t do his young QB any favors http://bit.ly/aZbdIw [...]
Scooter
September 19th, 2010
1:55 am
I’m with you on the frustration Dangerous…though sadly I find that losses bug me less and less. After spending the latter half of last year almost hoping in spite of myself that the team wouldn’t finish the year in strong fashion so that MR couldn’t find an excuse to keep Willie…I almost am seeing another one of those situations this year…and it sucks.
Dangerous
September 19th, 2010
2:08 am
Oh Bobo has to go…….he is our Major Applewhite and Saban cut him lose after 1 year of medocrity!
Offensive Line
September 19th, 2010
2:24 am
We are the best in the country which we showed by our pass blocking at USC. The way we run blocked today, why are we passing with 3rd down and game…we would have opened a hole big enough to drive through.
Offensive Line
September 19th, 2010
2:25 am
Now we know why we are called ‘Offensive’.
Jason
September 19th, 2010
2:30 am
Where is Marlon Brown these days anyway?? All the dig fuss about his recruitment and potential seems like a distant memory now.
As for Bobo…Richt needs to step up and get back into play calling duties. If anything, Bobo shows his immaturity, bot so much Murray alone.