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
DC
September 18th, 2010
9:04 pm
TACO is a GT Boy!!!
DC
September 18th, 2010
9:04 pm
TACO never played a sport
Delbert D.
September 18th, 2010
9:04 pm
One of Georgia Tech’s 330 pound NTs (T.J. Barnes) got quite a bit of playing time today and made some plays. Their problem is similar to Georgia’s in that the really big guys are young and relatively inexperienced. Barnes subbed some in their 4-3 last year.
daddydog
September 18th, 2010
9:05 pm
Only way this can be a good year is to win the rest of the games!
Romedawg
September 18th, 2010
9:06 pm
Bye Bye, Bobo. You are killing us. And blaming the QB for the sack on 3rd and four when you call a play send all receivers on routes 20 yards down field. What the hell were you thinking or were you even thinking it all? Geez!
georgia boy
September 18th, 2010
9:09 pm
I’ve always been an georgia fan and always will be!!! But enough is enough!!! How can you on 3rd and 4 run that play.Georgia had all the momentum but run all receivers 20 yards!!! Who does that!!!
Skitty Fritty
September 18th, 2010
9:10 pm
I hate to say it but Bobo is the problem. We haven’t been close to winning the East since Richt turned over the play calling to Bobo. 3rd & 1 with our offensive line at midfield and we try to throw a pass, surely we could get one yard on two shots with an experience line, just don’t get it.
terry harrell
September 18th, 2010
9:12 pm
bobo the clown need to be fired now.pack his bags and send him out of athen,ga. the O LINE SUCKS, THE DEFENSE sucks we are back to the goofie Ray G olf days
Romedawg
September 18th, 2010
9:13 pm
And whats with all the play action down by 14 with under 9 minutes. Do you really believe anyone really thinks Georgia would run the ball in that situation?. Let me take that back, you probably would call a run….everything you call seems so senseless…Sad times at UGA. Coach Richt needs to take over play calling, immediately. Spurrier, Petrino, and other head coaches do it. Way to much talent for this .
Delbert D.
September 18th, 2010
9:13 pm
@DC – Read the blog. That was in answer to a question.
“Minnesota Dawg
September 18th, 2010
8:48 pm
Did any of the great coaches have a couple of bad seasons ever? Oh yeah they did!!”
“Delbert D.
September 18th, 2010
8:58 pm
Paterno has 6 losing seasons out of 44.”
Man Enough
September 18th, 2010
9:13 pm
Well I was at the game today and I have to say I feel good about the future. There are some problems in the secondary but it can be and should get fixed. I saw the offense which had the same feel as last week for 3 qtrs and then suddenly felt like they had some heart and an Identity. I do believe this team will get better as we go. Yeah this year is ruined for the conference, but I look for us to make some noise as the season goes on. I know some of you will say I’m a homer, but I am one that is one the fence with CMR. But I do think things will get better. Coach Mike Dodo needs to go though. I think CMR can lead and succeed with a new OC.
TrueDawg
September 18th, 2010
9:14 pm
@soccerdawg — I will buy your season tickets. Despite the coaching problems, they can still turn things around. I have a feeling that this is going to be one of those teams that figures things out 5 or 6 games into the season. It would be nice to see some receivers get some separation, catch a ball in stride and take it to the house. Instead, we seem to catch the ball and immediately fall to the ground.
It was Willie Willie bad
September 18th, 2010
9:15 pm
man enough…… It looked bad on HD TV. trust me. Rest of the college football agrees too !
Delbert D.
September 18th, 2010
9:16 pm
Taco – I watched Vince Lombardi coach for years, and he would not have put up with what you described.
JROLL1
September 18th, 2010
9:17 pm
BOBO SHOULD BE FIRED JUST FOR PUTTING BLAME ON MURRAY. SENDING ALL 3 RECEIVERS DEEP WITH NO CHECK DOWN RECEIVER IN THE FLAT…ALL DAY LONG! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GREAT, EXPERIENCE OFFENSIVE LINE? PLAY CALLING WAS HORRENDOUS!
goatD
September 18th, 2010
9:17 pm
This is all Bobo’s fault. Even the points that the Hogs scored. The team is great. Our O-line is the best. It’s all Mike Bobo’s bad coaching. Support the troops……………….
CHDawg
September 18th, 2010
9:18 pm
A couple of points: the refs made a terrible mistake on that last sack of Murray. Bequette (sp) speared Murray helmet to helmet as bad as I have ever seen executed. He was pumped up, but the refs have to throw that flag, or somebody is going to get killed. I am amazed Murray didn’t get a concussion. After his helmet was ripped off Bequette was sure to grind his leg into Murray’s face. That was terrible. Second, I see where Bobo blamed that sack on Murray. The announcers blamed it on the call–that all the receivers went long and Murray had nothing short to throw (it was 3rd and 4). Also, Ealey waved pitifully at Bequette as he ran threw him to spear Murray. I would blame it first on Ealey, second on the call, and finally on Murray. Bequette needs to be talked to, and so does the NCAA. To be fair, they didn’t call Gamble’s cheap shot on Mallet, should have been thrown, even if Mallett was faking.
TrueDawg
September 18th, 2010
9:18 pm
Guys, there is no way CMR, one of the nicest guys in football, is going to send Bobo with his 5 children under 5 years old, packing. McGarrity will have to do it or it won’t get done.
livi t
September 18th, 2010
9:19 pm
sick and tired of seeing a playing action pass when it is 3rd and 8, 3rd and nine. everyone in the stands knows a pass is coming why waste the time? a straight up shotgun would be nice.
CHDawg
September 18th, 2010
9:20 pm
BTW, what made the spearing much worse was the Bequette came from Murray’s blind side–he knew Murray couldn’t see him when he speared him helmet to helmet from behind.
45ACP
September 18th, 2010
9:21 pm
The Dawgs lose to the #12 ranked team in the polls.
The #12 ranked Dawgs lost to Arkansas? That’s what it sounds like.
Sure CMR has set the bar high but this years Dawgs are an average SEC team.
The Dawgs had a chance to win at the end.
It is what it is. We suck but we can get better!
Man Enough
September 18th, 2010
9:24 pm
On a side note, a couple of Tech fans showed me just how much hate they have for us today. It’s unhealthy to have that much hate you know? I saw 2 Techies wearing them god awful gold jerseys with Hog hats cheering for the Hogs and while their own game was going on mind you. Shouldn’t you worry about your own game FIRST? I do. For that matter, I tend to pull for Tech to win. Just as a hometown thing, but the more crap I read on here about Techies hating on us and CLAIMING to run the state is starting to make me pull against them. Stay classy!
Dawg_Mike
September 18th, 2010
9:25 pm
Ealey cannot pass block….Caleb tweaked an ankle against LaLa so he is still out, amazingly !!
We try to take Branden Smith’s head off in PRACTICE and give him a concussion, thus we lost a very good pass defender that we obviously needed….3rd and 4 —– we only need a few yards and …wait for it….BoBo outdoes himself with an outstanding play call almost getting Murray killed….
Again, we only need a few yards and could have even went for it on 4th if we didnt make it….Blair Walsh is still warming up for the game winner….
I think I will simply go outside and throw up now.
Gdawg in Yankee-Land
September 18th, 2010
9:25 pm
I am truly saddened to see the Dawgs have steadily fallen from first tier (01 – 05) to second tier (06 -08) to third tier in the SEC. I think the fire and originality may have been played out with Richt. I am not saying he needs to go, but he certainly makes a lot of excuses lately.
It was Willie Willie bad
September 18th, 2010
9:25 pm
Sugar coating and rose colored glasses = Blind homers = Richt apologist !
RGB
September 18th, 2010
9:26 pm
Well, somebody has to compete with Mississippi State every year…….
chickenman
September 18th, 2010
9:28 pm
we dont need another safety…WE GOT OLGETREE.. he isnt redshirted.. i dont understand why you dont play him.. he is a physical specimen and i rather see a freshman struggle than a darn junior… i wanna see Malcome get some carries (was talented tailback in atlanta last year in HS) but like 90% of the dawg nation… LETS GET A NEW OC
Bill King
September 18th, 2010
9:29 pm
Chris:
Yes, Richt was still calling the plays when Shockley was QB. I did not mean to imply otherwise. Bobo was his QB coach, and that’s what I was referring to. Should have made that more clear.
It was Willie Willie bad
September 18th, 2010
9:30 pm
3 SEC losses in a row……..
It was Willie Willie bad
September 18th, 2010
9:32 pm
Furman has now scored 13 points against SC. Furman people!!!!
Delbert D.
September 18th, 2010
9:33 pm
RGB – You may have jinxed it…
edumacated
September 18th, 2010
9:37 pm
Anybody watch Florida today? Do you think Richt has a snowball’s chance of beating Meyer this year. Richt is out of his league. He should go coach in the MAC or something, but the SEC (with guys like Petrino, Meyer, and Saban) is over his head.
It’s gonna suck this year, and Richt’s overall record probably buys him another crappy year we will have to suffer through, but then after that….. the moving van shows up to his front yard.
Count on it.
Fed UP!!
September 18th, 2010
9:37 pm
I am a lifelong Georgia fan. How can coaches like Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Mack Brown, Lou Holtz and others win regardless of where they are coaching. Yet, Georgia has all these top recruits and can not win consistently. As I look back on the last 40 plus years of being a Dawg fan, I am now convinced that Georgia is just a middle of the pack team in the SEC with an occasional good season that raises the hope of the Bulldog nation that 1980 will happen again.
Old Dawg
September 18th, 2010
9:38 pm
Where to begin? Send Bobo back to coaching QBs and let CMR take over the offensive play calling? Put Ealey’s butt on the boards until he learns how to block? Actually throw the ball to your tight ends…more than once a game?
I’m with you, Bill. I think some great players on offense in the past made Bobo look better than he was. Same with Coach Willie before he was jettisoned. We were so afraid to not promote Bobo because we were afraid he’d go somewhere else and beat us…kinda reminds me of Ray Goff’s promotion.
savannahdawg
September 18th, 2010
9:39 pm
My turn…………….I am tired of hearing about who is missing……what about what we have that we are not using. Constant long pass attempts down the middle and nothing short at all……no screens, no using our tight ends, no runs to the outside……..and enough of this wildcat crap!!! Who are you fooling with that? Sorry coach but I don’t see you thinking outside the box. I see predictable play calling and so does the other sideline. And when is this offense line going to start blocking someone? These five suck to hell!!!! My guess is the blocking schemes are just as predictable and the play calling……
Look CMR, I know you are a good man and all that. I respect you for that. But this isn’t Walmart……..this is football……..Is loyalty and patience worth losing your job over? You do not have the coaches to keep sitting back and watching………time to get involved coach!
Remember your FSU teams during that 10-15 year run of greatness? Those teams just re-loaded every year. No matter who left or came in, FSU was going to be a top 5 team? You need those kind of coaches around you. Go get them before it’s too late!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 18th, 2010
9:40 pm
Old Dawg good point
BeerDawg
September 18th, 2010
9:41 pm
OK, I’m finally on board in firing CMR. Since the Hawaii Sugar Bowl game this team has regressed. Richt has lost his fire. Maybe that happened when his wife got cancer, I don’t know. You can change all the coaches you want, but it starts at the top. UGA demands excellence, not mediocrity. Cut your losses now, find the next Saban.
dbc
September 18th, 2010
9:41 pm
From where I sit, part of Richt’s problem is a lack of a “take em to the woodshed” mentality. Every year, he talks about how SC is always a close game — and then it is — and that’s what he gameplans for. Same with a lot of other wins/loses. CMR is “thankful” to win by a point, rather than really beating a team like a drum. Saban wants to obliterate another team. Meyer ditto. They come out with that mindset. If the game ends up being closer, they still win, but they get mad. It’s not enough to beat your opponent these days — it’s how you beat them. I actually thought Richt grew a pair vs. FLA, three years ago. Then he got scolded by Meyer and he got all apologetic and hasn’t been the same since. Especially since the Bama blackout beatdown. Lately, CMR is all about “moral” victories. The last time UGA totally manhandled an opponent was Hawaii. And they weren’t that good, so it was easy to do. It’s like toughness is a sin to CMR. I’ve spent far too many brain cells trying to figure it out, but the Dawgs are a shell of whatever fearless team they used to be. And now Grantham alludes to the fact he was told by Richt to “tone it down” (he said so in an interview)? One can only conclude that Richt is soft. He just can’t hang with guys who are really willing to lay it all on the line. I know he says it’s different, but his record of late says otherwise. And I don’t think CMR is a man who will sell out his personal principles to get where he needs to be — which in a way is admirable — but it doesn’t produce winners, I’m ashamed to say. Tebow was the exception — and he was the good cop to Meyer’s bad. Who knows, but I get the feeling this whole thing can’t end well.
45ACP
September 18th, 2010
9:41 pm
Bill – I remember a lot of folks complaining about CMR’s play calling before Bobo took over. Even after 2 SEC Titles. Bobo has been at UGA all of his coaching life. Time for a new OC? I don’t know. But I agree the play calling is suspect at best.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 18th, 2010
9:42 pm
Could someone tell me
How many times are we going to run straight up the middle
continue to get nothing yet go back and do it again
CHDawg
September 18th, 2010
9:42 pm
What makes it even worse is that the coaching staff has been talking about how they were going to bring Murray along slowly. They should be talking about how well Murray throws–no lie. By telling opposing DCs that they weren’t going to use Murray’s arm or overtask him, the coaches have made the DC’s job easier. Also, wouldn’t it be easier on Murray to let him operate out of a shotgun where he can see what is coming at him better?
Boo Boo's boo's from Sanford Stadium.
September 18th, 2010
9:42 pm
uh oh Awburn has tied Clemons…. hold that thought on DABO
Bremen Dawg
September 18th, 2010
9:43 pm
We can’t compete in the SEC anyone. Time to clean house in Athens.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 18th, 2010
9:43 pm
Could someone tell me
How many times are we going to throw those stupid no gain sideline passes
TazzDawg
September 18th, 2010
9:44 pm
One common thread in the Dawgs downfall. One common thread. CMR! Wake up homers, until MR, I won’t put the C in ever again, is gone, nothing will change.
No NC’s, NO SEC Titles, unless Saban, Spurrier and Cryer fall off the face of the earth. More arrests, more stupid football, more thugs!
MR is the root of the problem!
CHDawg
September 18th, 2010
9:44 pm
On the spearing–happened in the Auburn Clemson game and both players got hurt. Parker may have a bruised kidney. I’m all for playing hard, but these guys are so big and fast they have to watch spearing with the helmet.
BS
September 18th, 2010
9:44 pm
What happened to my name is Coach Mike Bobo and I am going to have the QB throw to his HB or FB in the flat or on a screen….wait a short pass…..that would be normal play calling when it is 3rd and 4. Idiotic play calling would be sending all receivers on go patterns….Bobo won’t do that….wait Bobo is doing that. Did his bloody nose cause him to forget that we have one of the best kickers in college football. Did he forget that we only need 2 first downs on 3rd and 4 to get in field position, and have a great comeback win after a miserable performance for 3 1/2 quarters. Did he forget simple pass plays to help a young QB out. It reminded me of the Miss. St vs Auburn game last week when Miss St has a chance to win/tie the game with a FG and guess what they did 4 go routes….when they are on the 50 yard line….brainless. I am tired of Bobo and I love Richt as a person, I spent an evening at his house in college, but he has got to learn to call timeouts better, fire coaches who simply are not skilled at their job. I mean a timeout would be appropriate when your defense is running around confused and Mallett is getting ready to throw a game winning TD…..I mean you DVR fans, go watch that play, at least 4-5 guys are still getting lined up when Mallett snaps the ball………grow some Richt and over rule Grantham, Bobo, etc, call timeouts when it is needed (ironically, we waste them, yet don’t call them when the game is on the line and we are not ready). Done. Take a chance, fire Richt, Bobo and Hire Kirby Smart…..and and offensive expert and lets go from there.
dawgs01
September 18th, 2010
9:44 pm
Thank you coaching staff for another loss 3rd and 4 and we run 3 fades how about rolling out or bootlegging our QB who has some pretty good wheels. The announcers kept saying our receivers could not get seperation but it was not that You cant get seperation when Bobo wont call passing plays then in the 4th quarter he started calling them and look what happened they were open and making great catches but 3 times on 3 and short BOZO called streaks for all the receivers with no check downs last wk against SC he would call a pass longer than 8 yrds. I dont understand him. He sucks, Searels sucks and the Strength coach sucks
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 18th, 2010
9:46 pm
Fans had to tell these coaches to kick it in the endzone
They dont do it one time today and they ended up with the best field position of the day
Are the fans having to tell these high salary coaches how to coach,
I want my donation refunded
sore loser
September 18th, 2010
9:46 pm
BoBo the Clown, what a racist statement about Nesbitt, why the AJC allows you to get away with such remarks. I am going to report this to the AJC editors. And Junkard Dog editor you are responsible too