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
dawg2
September 18th, 2010
10:18 pm
By the way, I’m not thowing Murray under the bus, just interested in what other people think. I thought he played tough today. He took some serious shots.
CHDawg
September 18th, 2010
10:19 pm
I thought he overthrew a couple, including the int. The long balls were a little underthrown, but I don’t think that was an arm issue as much as it was that they were open and he didn’t want to overthrow it–he has had a problem with that.
Perry
September 18th, 2010
10:20 pm
Georgia will finish 12-2, lost 2 tough game sin the last minute to 2 excellent teams.
Hobnailbooty
September 18th, 2010
10:20 pm
Boys and Girls…. and with the girls I am speaking to our football players and coaches. We are 10 and 8 in our last 18 games. Is that acceptable to my fellow UGA fans?? I think not. As a season ticket holder there will not be a 2012 for CMR if we are 7-6 8-5 or worse. I thought about giving up my tickets this year but if we keep winning at this pace I won’t be back in 2012 either and I have had these seats in my family since the late 50’s. Michael Adams must be cringing at the thought that we are the #1 party school – well that is certainly going to change because with all these noon kickoff’s there is no time to tailgate and with all these loses who wants to hang around. I am sure alot of these small businesses in Athens make most of their money on 6 football weekends, with this poor showing they will surely be Bit@#@!ng about where are all the people. Well Mr Adams you be sure and tell them why we are not HANGING around Athens anymore and oh BTW you can leave right along with CMR CTG and CMB. If you can’t tell – I AIN’T HAPPY! Honailbooty OUT!!
CHDawg
September 18th, 2010
10:21 pm
BTW, Hail Mary or not–70 yards is a very strong arm.
Distressed Dawg
September 18th, 2010
10:21 pm
It was about 17 years ago the Defense had their names removed until they earned the right to wear it on their jerseys. I think this team should have the “G” removed from their helmets. They sure don’t deserve to wear it. Embarrassing effort.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 18th, 2010
10:22 pm
My donations to get season tickets are going towards making bail for player arrest
dawg2
September 18th, 2010
10:22 pm
1) Rich Rod – Don’t need that baggage.
2) Smart – unproven coordinator. Not worth the risk.
3) Muschamp – same as Smart.
4)Gruden – NFL guys don’t seem to work as HC in college. Plus, why would he want to do it?
5)Peterson – Best candidate in the list. Plus, Athens has to be better than Idaho.
Drill Sarge
September 18th, 2010
10:23 pm
QB should lead the troops. If pass rush breaks down, create something. UGA needs to find a QB who can lead the troops to victory. Logan Gray or Mason, the losing pattern must stop.
Distressed Dawg
September 18th, 2010
10:24 pm
…by the way, enough of the AJ green talk. Last I checked, he doesn’t play defense…but then again nobody else on this team does either.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 18th, 2010
10:25 pm
Coaches spent to much time at the Clarke County jail filling out paper work for players to be released from jail this pre-season
Me
September 18th, 2010
10:25 pm
How does GA continue to loose & have an 1-2, really 0-2 record with the caliber of talent it has on its team? I hate to say it but the Head Coach & assistants need to gooo. Mark has been there long enough with no National Titles and a season looking pretty grim. GET RID OF THAT COACH AND STAFF.
Man Enough
September 18th, 2010
10:25 pm
Dawg2, I agree. A lot of people keep saying that we can win without him and 1 man is not the whole team which is true, but in the last 2 games I remember at least 4 plays that I said if that had been AJ it would have been caught, a first down, etc. I dont put it all on missing him, but it sure would have changed things in my opinion.
Pitbull
September 18th, 2010
10:25 pm
LISTEN UP! Spurrier took over play calling. Hogs head coach calls his own plays. Richt needs to get off his LAZY ass and call plays. Yes, I said LAZY. Calling plays is extra work and he doesn’t want extra work. Expect more of the same until his job security is threatened. That’s all he will respond too!!
Fan from sec 123
September 18th, 2010
10:26 pm
Why so much play action? A freshman QB needs time to read the defensive backs. Murray has his back turned to the defense while faking a run up the middle (which everyone in the stands knows isn’t scaring any defense) and he is losing time to make a choice. He works best out of the shotgun. By putting him in the gun he has more time to decide. Murray is still adjusting to the speed of the game and a little coaching smarts would help him.
ryan
September 18th, 2010
10:26 pm
They need tell Murray to slide feet first and not head first he going to kill him self .
Delbert D.
September 18th, 2010
10:28 pm
Murray still doesn’t have the whole playbook. Under the extreme circumstances of a mostly ineffective running game and blocking breakdowns, I though he did well.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 18th, 2010
10:28 pm
Drill Sarge
Evidently you watched the game from 36,000 feet
Distressed Dawg
September 18th, 2010
10:28 pm
Isn’t it intereting that after the last two Georgia games there was a new Heisman leader? Hmmmmm…
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 18th, 2010
10:29 pm
ryan
and others
they do not teach fundimentals at UGA
Delbert D.
September 18th, 2010
10:30 pm
Forget Harbaugh. Palo Alto vs. anywhere in Georgia is a no-brainer.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 18th, 2010
10:31 pm
McGarity fell into a big pile of crap that must be cleaned up
Man Enough
September 18th, 2010
10:31 pm
How can Murray not have the whole playbook? You mean to tell me he doesn’t have all 3 of Dodo’s plays yet?
Distressed Dawg
September 18th, 2010
10:32 pm
Murray really needs the rest of the playbook asap. That play, Bobo 1: Drop back, key on one guy, and if he’s not open…immediately try to run play isn’t working vey well.
Distressed Dawg
September 18th, 2010
10:33 pm
…and it is an issue for sure on 3rd and 2.
Delbert D.
September 18th, 2010
10:34 pm
Tiggers vs. Tiggers going to OT.
Distressed Dawg
September 18th, 2010
10:35 pm
Which one of our players bloodied Bobo’s nose today. Give that Dawg a bone. By the way, I noticed a bunch of bones on player helmets today. Really? From this season?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 18th, 2010
10:36 pm
Man Enough Great poin
Run up straight up the middle
Sideline pass
Deep pass
Murry you got it yet?
Delusional, d-e-l-u-s-i-o-n-a-l...defintion>
September 18th, 2010
10:36 pm
Perry
September 18th, 2010
10:20 pm
Georgia will finish 12-2, lost 2 tough game sin the last minute to 2 excellent teams.
BeerDawg
September 18th, 2010
10:38 pm
Dawg2, I agree. Petersen has the best resume. But I wonder if that wide open style of the WAC would work in the SEC. You need a stud defense and pound-it ground game. Muschamp hasn’t proven that much to me. As for Smart, everyone knows it’s Saban’s show
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 18th, 2010
10:38 pm
Distressed Dawg
Those are bones from previous arrests
SickandTired
September 18th, 2010
10:38 pm
Bill how about you man up and say what needs to be said. This is all on Mark Richt. Not Bobo, not the offensive line, not the defense. This football team has the stamp of Mark Richt. You afraid you might not get into the press room if you show some cods and call out Mark Richt. He is the head freaking ball coach if you didn’t know it. It takes a real man to tell the truth and I’d like to know if you’re a Mark Richt fan or a Dawg Fan…..they don’t have to be one in the same. I think you have not the guts to say that Mark Richt needs, screams to be fired.,
Delbert D.
September 18th, 2010
10:39 pm
Don’t forget the QB scramble. That was one of the most effective running plays today.
DC
September 18th, 2010
10:41 pm
We have NO energy on both sides of the ball !!!!!! it’s going to be a LONG season!!!! There is NO PLAYBOOK besides “Off Tackle” Good Job Bobo!!!
smitty
September 18th, 2010
10:41 pm
3rd & 4, why would to have all of your receivers running 20 yd routes? Bobo gots to go too
BeerDawg
September 18th, 2010
10:41 pm
BTW, I wish the Dawgs would learn to hit like the 2 Tigers teams!
dawg2
September 18th, 2010
10:41 pm
Murray is a redshirt freshman. He’s been in the system for more than a season. He has the playbook. The problem is implementing the playbook under fire. Plus, we all agree there isn’t much to the playbook, or at least the selection of plays from it.
Richt was adamant last year that it would be wasting Murray’s talent to play him instead of Cox once the season was toast. So, that decision has cost us two wasted seasons instead of one. I have to believe Murray would be much better this year with significant game experience from last year. It was a big time mistake to intentionally start two consecutive seasons with inexperienced QBs.
bigdawg87
September 18th, 2010
10:42 pm
Agree Bozo needs to go! The ESPN announcers were questioning too many of his calls. As for defense I think we will get there with this new scheme and coach – just need a few game film reviews with him screaming at you and they will improve! We just better win the games we are supposed to this year like Miss. State, Colorado, UT, Vandy, Kentucky, Idaho State and Tech! Wins over the gators and Auburn would help improve things also!
ryan
September 18th, 2010
10:43 pm
I guess that why Saban is so respected strength and conditioning the fundimentals and discipline see that what it takes to be a champion .
dawg2
September 18th, 2010
10:44 pm
BeerDawg, you make a good point about Peterson. BTW, Chizik certainly wasn’t a sexy hire for Auburn.
Delbert D.
September 18th, 2010
10:45 pm
dawg2 – “So, that decision has cost us two wasted seasons instead of one.”
That was predicted by a lot of folks last year.
Distressed Dawg
September 18th, 2010
10:46 pm
One thing is for sure…Bobo is consistent.
Urban Meyer
September 18th, 2010
10:47 pm
Look at the bright side Dawg fans, you’ve still got the best special teams in the SEC. Maybe you’ll get a trophy at the end of the season for that.
DK
September 18th, 2010
10:47 pm
If you guys really want to get rid of your coach, there are probably eight SEC teams that would take him.
Yea, you had a down year with eight wins last year.
And yea, you’ll probably have another this year.
But dang, the guy can coach. He almost talked that team into winning that game in the 4th quarter. And he did it despite the fact they were pretty much over matched.
I know you guys hate losing to teams you think are inferior, but Arkansas is a top 25 all time program. They are getting back to where they should be based on historical performance. Nothing to be ashamed of, and nothing to over-react about.
If you lose next week, then freak out.
Fair and Balanced
September 18th, 2010
10:49 pm
CMR has been a bad CEO. His philosophy is to hire up-coming coaches and try to hope they get better. By the time he thinks they are ready, he has built some kind of stupid loyalty that is based on personal relationships and not on performance. Hence, he can’t let ‘em go. He hires 5’s and hopes they work up to 7’s or 8’s. Good grief man! Hire a 10 and win games! It is nothing but stupid to hang onto Bobo with this kind of obvious incompetence.
Delbert D.
September 18th, 2010
10:49 pm
I predicted that Ingram would get 6 carries against Duke, and Saban shamelessly ran him for 9.
Dawg2010
September 18th, 2010
10:50 pm
You can blame Bobo all you want, but Coach Richt has the headsets on as well and hears every play call, did he bother to change any? Look this is a problem that starts with the O-line not being able to run block at all, if you are running out of the I formation and counting on play action as a big part of your base offense; then your line has to be able to run block. Period.
Distressed Dawg
September 18th, 2010
10:50 pm
DK’s right. Not in to firing CMR…BUT, if you don’t make the changes to fix the problems, you become the problem.
GatorGuy
September 18th, 2010
10:52 pm
Enter your comments here
BeerDawg
September 18th, 2010
10:52 pm
I think Gruden would be the best hire, but he will never leave that great gig with MNF