Time for Dogs fans to shake it off …
Caleb King should give the Dogs a boost both with his feet and his blocking. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Midweek after the Dogs’ second straight SEC loss and with a tough night in the land of the cowbells coming up. Feels like a good time to get out of this funk and focus on ways in which things are looking up for Georgia.
Like, for example …
Caleb King is coming back. Really. Positively. Of course, King said the same thing last week, but he and running backs coach Bryan McClendon swear it’s true this week. And that’s a really good thing, not just because Georgia’s running game is stronger with the one-two punch of King and Washaun Ealey, but because the coaches say King is the strongest pass-protection blocker of their three tailbacks. Aaron Murray should be especially glad to see Caleb in the backfield again.
Murray now has three games under his belt. The kid is getting better each week. After six sacks last Saturday, he’s probably not going to be holding on to the ball too long much any more. Sure, we have one more week without A.J. Green, but Murray and Kris Durham are becoming a really dangerous combination. If Murray can just get the ball off a bit quicker and hit Durham in stride rather than making him wait for it, one of those long passes is going to go all the way.
And Murray showed against Arkansas several times how valuable it is to have a quarterback who’s a threat to run. Heck, he has the Dogs’ longest run from scrimmage so far this year. (Uh, let’s not dwell on that too long. We’re looking for reasons to feel good.)
Bottom line on Murray: He’s still a rookie but is developing at an accelerated pace. I think he’s going to be a terrific player before the year is out.
Overall, there are still a lot of games to play and plenty of chances for the Dogs to turn things around. Sure, there are lots of problems with this team. Until the line play improves, the offense is going to be hobbled. And the defense has got to learn not to give up those big plays.
But the Dogs have been competitive in both their losses and the schedule now turns a bit in their favor. Let’s think positive today.
Feel free to share your own reasons for being optimistic this week. It beats the heck out of all that handwringing. …
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409 comments Add your comment
Coachdawg 2000
September 22nd, 2010
12:12 pm
When this over baby you’ll be wearing gold plated diapers!
Coachdawg 2000
September 22nd, 2010
12:13 pm
I would be doing a disservice this band if I didn’t play the he!! outta this cowbell!
1eyedJack
September 22nd, 2010
12:14 pm
Gather ’round me, everybody
Gather ’round me while I’m preachin’
Feel a sermon comin’ on me
The topic will be sin and that’s what I’m ag’in’
If you wanna hear my story
Then settle back and just sit tight
While I start reviewin’
The attitude of doin’ right
You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between
senoiadawgs
September 22nd, 2010
12:14 pm
There are many positives to point out however the negatives at this point far outweigh them.
Positives:
Murray seems to be real deal to me. I know others do not share my opinion but what I have seen as been impressive minus holding on to the ball but that is easily correctable.
Defense, while tackling has been poor at times I like the tone of the D and can see much improvement over last year.
It’s the last week without AJ. What he did IMO was selfish but maybe there was a good reason behind it we will never know.
The team showed a lot of heart in the 4ht Quarter last week minus that last drive.
Negatives just to your post:
I see nothing positive about C King coming back. He showed us nothing in the first game. Plus it will telegraph when Bobo is calling pass plays. Minus the GT game last year where the holes were big enough to drive a truck through he has showed nothing since he suited up.
Oline has to get better and challenge themselves to be better players. It shouldn’t take half a season like it did last year. Whether it’s talent or coaching we seem to have a problem here.
ApopkaDawg
September 22nd, 2010
12:18 pm
Bill:
As much as I (and other Dog fans) would like to “Shake it Off,” I can’t help but notice the disturbing patten developing within our program. Ever since 2007 we have be getting worse and worse. Allow me to illustrate my point,
2008
1. UGA is preseason #1
2. High number of arrests during the off season
3. High number of injuries during preseason practice
4. UGA finishes with a record of 10-3
5. UGA could have EASILY been 6-6; SC – won on the last play, UK – barely stopped a game winning drive that started on the UK 20, AU – barely stopped a game winning drive that again started on the AU 20
6. Despite a dismal Defense, CMR refuses to make any coaching changes, when they are so obviously needed. Also, no change in conditioning staff even though we have more preseason injuries than any other SEC team
2009
1. Start a Senior QB with NO experience
2. Once again, high number of arrests during the off season
3. Once again, high number of injuries during preseason practice
4. Joe Cox struggles despite being a highly touted recruit and being coached by Mark Richt and Mike Bobo
5. UGA get off to a poor start and finishes the year 8-5
6. Defense is once again terrible under Martinez
7. Despite statements otherwise, CMR is forced to get rid of Martinez; Bobo stays on, as well as the Strength and Conditioning staff
8. UGA has one of the worse recruiting years under Mark Richt, despite having the largest number of Blue Chip prospects in the state of Georgia in the last 10 years. Players are going to AU, Clemson, and SC, rather than playing for UGA.
2010
1. Once again, starting a QB with no experience
2. Once again, UGA has a high number of arrests during the off season
3. Once again, UGA has a high number of injuries during preseason practice
4. UGA has stated 1-2, 0-2 in SEC play
5. Mike Bobo is still the O-Coordinator and does not seem to have a clue as to how to get out of this slump.
Bill, I am trying to stay postivie, I really am. However, it seems as though we are losing our battle with the police and keeping our players out of trouble, losing the recruiting battle with the likes of AU, SC, Clemson, UF, and AL, and now we are losing the battle on the field.
If UGA slips again to Miss State, we run the risk of throwing years of tradition out the window and becoming a mediocre, middle tiered SEC team. I never though I would make this kind of statement, but if we lose to Miss State this Saturday, I hope we DO go 4-8. Because 4-8 guarantees change. 8-4, 7-5 will allow this mess to coninue for another year if not two. At 8-4, Dawg fans will have to put up with medicrity for another year to two.
If we lose this Saturday, lets cut our losses and go after Jim Harbaugh and be done with it. Do it hard, do it fast.
Sven Ottke
September 22nd, 2010
12:18 pm
Yes, that dangerous combination of Midget to Durham that averages……..wait for it……..wait for it………….4 catches a game. Tremendously dangerous. You can’t make this stuff up.
WonderDawg
September 22nd, 2010
12:19 pm
Okay, are there any other UGA fans other than Savannah that didn’t know that Aaron Murray had shoulder inflamation in ‘09 that began in camp and lasted basically all season. He had a long and painful rehab to get his shoulder back to normal.
He had a red-shirt because he couldn’t play. Dang, you only have to have basic reading skills, and a decent memory to keep up with current events, guys . . .
bjohndawg
September 22nd, 2010
12:20 pm
The decision not to play Murray is hurting us this year. But he is going to be a good one with an additional 3 years instead of two after this season. Thats a positive.
Ace
September 22nd, 2010
12:22 pm
State by 5. Maybe Mark wants daddy’s old job at FSU.
Blackberry Cobbler
September 22nd, 2010
12:22 pm
How much more evidence do we need that UGA football under CMR has become a mediocre commodity!! Just listen to our own speak– we’re saying state MISSY STATE is a MUST win!!
Enuf said right there!!
UGA is the underdog in this one and some of you clowns think we have a chance to beat FLA, AUB, and KY on the road!! Dream on, it ain’t gonna happen.
Todd
September 22nd, 2010
12:23 pm
Bill, please read and respond.
This is not about players, the question is when is Mike Bobo going to get his act together.
And in the long run, is Mark Richt willing to cut him loose if he doesnt’ come thur this yr.
I beg to ask, once AJ Green is back, the alleged great off. line, A. Murray, 3 great TE’s Ealy on and on, and Bobo ends up avg. 11.9 pts a game.? And get nothing out of Aj’s eligibility?
Come on Bill tighten your act up
Coachdawg 2000
September 22nd, 2010
12:25 pm
Apopka-
Do you think that Bobo called for our Runningback to fumble at the 3 yardline in chickentown or miss his block against arky? Or did CMR call for our safeties to take a bad angle on a tackle. Those three plays probably are the diference between 1-2 and 3-0. Have you ever coached a down of football in your life?
hornblowermg
September 22nd, 2010
12:26 pm
we get to return to Athens again and again.
Go Gators
September 22nd, 2010
12:27 pm
LOL, this is to much fun…
59bulldawg
September 22nd, 2010
12:28 pm
Hey Pollyanna, how long does Richt have to keep Bobo for him not to be your man? It’s good to be positive but some of you defenders are delusional in your devotion to Richt.
Dawgs73
September 22nd, 2010
12:29 pm
I have to make a point about UGA’s recruiting/talent evaluation that is yet another reason taht Richt and this staff need to go. If we look at recent player evaluation, you’ll see that boy genius has done horribly. Let’s start with Knowshon Moreno, who was the 3rd string running back behind Kreg Lumpkin, Thomas Brown, & tied with Danny Ware. It was due to “poor blocking” as the reason for Moreno’s lack of early playing time.
Joe T III started that very same season until boy genius decided to play Matt Stafford.
Let’s not forget the Richard Samuel experiment where he had ZERO business being in the back field, but up until middle of last season he was the starter.
Logan Gray as our “fair catching specialist”.
Joe Cox playing last year when it was clear that he wasn’t going to lead UGA to anything. Now, we are stuck with Murray having little to no experience.
The list can go on and on and on and on. It’s clear that boy genius is terrible about evaluating the recruits he brings to UGA and is not utilizing/finding these guys strengths.
Coachdawg 2000
September 22nd, 2010
12:30 pm
59-
It is not delusional not to be card-carrying member of “the lunatic Fringe”. All of yall fire everybody! clowns make us look bad. Look at any program in the SEC and you’ll see them cycle in and out of dominance.
FlardaState
September 22nd, 2010
12:31 pm
UGA will finish 7-6 or 8-5 and go to chickfila bowl where
FSU will run them out of the dome.
1eyedJack
September 22nd, 2010
12:32 pm
Why don’t you guys knock it off with them negative waves? Why don’t you dig how beautiful it is out here today? Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?
Always with the negative waves…always.
Bottom Dwellers
September 22nd, 2010
12:33 pm
How’s the view down there? Does it stink like a bulldogs arse?
Southeastern Standings
East Conf All
Florida (9) 1-0 3-0
South Carolina (12) 1-0 3-0
Vanderbilt 1-1 1-2
Kentucky 0-0 3-0
Tennessee 0-1 1-2
Georgia 0-2 1-2
Bottom Dwellers
September 22nd, 2010
12:34 pm
The two bottom dwellers duke it out!! Funny how the perrenial bottom dweller is actually a favorite!
Southeastern Standings
East Conf All
Florida (9) 1-0 3-0
South Carolina (12) 1-0 3-0
Vanderbilt 1-1 1-2
Kentucky 0-0 3-0
Tennessee 0-1 1-2
Georgia 0-2 1-2
West Conf All
LSU (15) 2-0 3-0
Arkansas (10) 1-0 3-0
Auburn (17) 1-0 3-0
Alabama (1) 0-0 3-0
Mississippi 0-1 1-2
Mississippi State 0-2 1-2
dawglover
September 22nd, 2010
12:34 pm
I think it is very funny that some uga fans here are talking “blow-out or statement game”; hilarious. If anyone gets blown out it will be uga, not Miss. State. Miss. State will probably make the “statement”. By the way, where is all that uga “talent”. Top 5 recruiting class in the country, every year…what a joke. Looks like uga is relying on recruiting services to select players rather than going out to see who can really play.
Jeff
September 22nd, 2010
12:35 pm
Thanks Bill….but think about this one…..What does it say about the state of our football program when Missy State…yes, that’s correct- MISSY STATE becomes a huge must win game for us. Sad…..VERY sad…..the truth hurts- we need to quit trying to act like its all a bed of roses…..IT’s NOT
Rob
September 22nd, 2010
12:35 pm
Can’t wait to hear the excuses this week.
Miss St 20
Ga 17
59bulldawg
September 22nd, 2010
12:38 pm
Well first of all coach I wasn’t referring to you but that’s ok I’ll play. If the only problem in the program were wins and losses you might have a point. But it goes much deeper and started long before this season. I think the real “lunatic fringe” are the nuts who refuse to see reality because Richt is a “good” man. You guys are the clowns!
1eyedJack
September 22nd, 2010
12:40 pm
Maybe we refuse to “see reality” because we’ve won more games in this decade than we ever have.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 22nd, 2010
12:41 pm
The next 5 games are all very winnable.We’ll see how good SC and ARK are sat.
59bulldawg
September 22nd, 2010
12:42 pm
How’s that working for you lately?
Gatorbait 17-3
September 22nd, 2010
12:42 pm
You know what UF and sand castles have in common?
They both look good till the Tide Rolls In….
CJDawg
September 22nd, 2010
12:45 pm
OK…with no AJ, the defenses we face stack the box and by stacking the box, it makes it hard to run. What people forget is that also, stacking the box clogs throwing lanes. With a young QB that is not 6′5, lanes being clogged means you HAVE to rely on timing for completions to TE’s and slants. He is also burdened with the notion of NO turnovers. That makes for hesitant and sometimes painful decisions like holding onto the ball a fraction too long. AJ attacks his catches and allows the QB to throw to an area. When he gets back, look for AM to loosen up, move the box back off the line and Ealey and King to find room to run, we control the ball more and put the onus on the other team to try and match us.
And again, if you are coming here to just do a fly by one line zinger against UGA, I think you’re just being a bit immature. There’s no call for that. We are all a bit frustrated, but to me athletics are still about overcoming your shortfalls. I have faith in my Dawgs. We will turn this around and by the end of the year, we will be strong.
gcs
September 22nd, 2010
12:47 pm
Crazier things have happened.
SC still has to play Auburn, Bama, Arkansas and Florida – potentially 3-4 losses.
Florida has Bama, LSU, UGA and SC. And UK could upset them as well.
.
MURPHY
September 22nd, 2010
12:48 pm
Bottom line is a program is measured by how many championships it has won not by how many 9 or 10 win seasons they have.Look at the list of coaches that have won a National Chanpionship in a very short time after being hired as a head coach:
Stoops
Meyer
Miles-even if it was with saban recruits.
Saban
Im sure there is more.My point being we must compete year in and year out of championships not just be ok with a 9 or 10 win season.We must change the culture in Athens.We have all the tools to do so.
Coachdawg 2000
September 22nd, 2010
12:48 pm
59-
I usually agree with most of what you post but please accept that we just aren’t that good YET! I just think that we all were a little too drunk on the koolaid this summer. I think with or without AJ Green we would have lost one of those games. We lost both but I think everybody should agree that OUR team represented the Bulldog nation proudly when they got off the mat with 10 minutes and some change on the clock they erased a 14 point deficit and were within a couple of plays of beating the #12 team in the nation. That is heart, that is fire, and for 2 drives the “D” GATA. But you know what they’ve got an outstanding QB and our guy missed a tackle out in space. We are not what we want to be,we are not what we are GOING TO BE, but thank God we are not what we used to be. We were way better last week than in Sowf Cackalacky!
OneDawgFan
September 22nd, 2010
12:49 pm
We suffered thru how many seasons with Willie Martinez? How long must we suffer before Coach Richt realizes that he needs to take back over the play calling? Will it take a terrible season with good talent and experience before he realizes or will he take over now before it gets worse?
Kool aid
September 22nd, 2010
12:50 pm
Sounds like you had some of the Bobby Cox kool aid.
Coachdawg 2000
September 22nd, 2010
12:51 pm
Murphy-
Stoops? Stoops? Stoops? “Big Game Bob” hasn’t won jack since 2000! He has gotten spanked in bowl games every year. At least pick a better example.
Vick=Dog killing thug
September 22nd, 2010
12:51 pm
I cant imagine even the most arrogant of dawg fans thinking Miss st. will be a blowout win.
Dawgs73 you bring up some good points. Some of the things CMR does really makes me wonder.
barrow dog
September 22nd, 2010
12:52 pm
I’m behind the dogs…good years and bad… nuff said
oh yeah MOBILE DAWG.. red snapper is always in season at the cheatah
TN Jeff
September 22nd, 2010
12:52 pm
I agree, think positive. I’m positive we’ve still got a shot at 3rd place in the SEC East!
greg
September 22nd, 2010
12:53 pm
Hey Sven Ottke at 12:18:
There are alot of things you could pick to dog UGA out about right now, but you pick Kris Durham? Really? This shows how utterly stupid and uninformed GT fans are about football. Here are some stats for you dummy:
Kris Durham:
#28 in the country in receiving yards
#3 in the SEC in receiving yards
He would be #2 in the ACC in receiving yards.
Good lord, do just a little bit of research. You look like a doofus.
Oh yeah…”you can’t make this stuff up”
MURPHY
September 22nd, 2010
12:54 pm
Coachdawg 2000
I agree. But he did win big very early! Somewhat similar to our situation uh? Are Richt and Stoops getting stale?
meh
September 22nd, 2010
12:55 pm
I’d to see the tight ends more involved in the offense. give Murray more options to throw to.
Inlet Dawg
September 22nd, 2010
12:55 pm
Bill, I was hopeing against hope that with Grantham we would have a renewed energy of CMR’s first five years and that BOBO would pay attention that when we did run and control our drives that our Defense looked pretty good.But he keeps on doing what does not work at UGA or anywhere else,slow developing plays,looking to air it out,he just does not understand the whole game,CMR still does not get that special teams are SPECIAL,not a practice after thought,Miss St.will continue to load up return yards.
But to keep with the positive vibe maybe we can somehow separate ourselves from Vandy in the next few weeks.
Dawg 39
September 22nd, 2010
12:56 pm
2 tough losses to 2 national ranked teams. Hopefully playing them early has been a learning experience that will benefit the Dawgs as the season rolls on. Preseason I thought USCe & Ark. were the 2 best teams on the Dawg’s schedule. Time will tell. GATA.
Lindsey
September 22nd, 2010
12:58 pm
Great feel-good Blawg today!! It gets me more more excited for our trip out west to Starkville Friday, we can’t wait to cheer the Dawgs on to a win!! GO DAWGS!!!
Mobile Dawg
September 22nd, 2010
1:02 pm
Hey Barrow, haven’t been there since my Brothers bachelor party some 20 years ago. They stopped serving Old Milwaukee’s Best. Thanks for the memory….
hotbobby
September 22nd, 2010
1:03 pm
Stay positive. It will be better next year. It can only go up from here. Grantham is our saving grace. Look at next years recruiting class. No more players will have a brush with the law. We’ll beat UF this year….. I don’t believe you people! When reality finally hits you, we will be sunk so deep Bear Bryant couldn’t raise us up. I give up!
Hurtin Dawg
September 22nd, 2010
1:04 pm
I have moved on.. waiting on basketball season !!
how2fish
September 22nd, 2010
1:04 pm
Coachdawg 2000 your going to be called a koolaid drinker by many but I couldn’t agree more..GATA!
how2fish
September 22nd, 2010
1:05 pm
Hurtin Dawg we ain’t going to miss you one little bit enjoy B-ball.