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
DramaDawg
September 22nd, 2010
6:24 pm
Here is a long-time DAWG fan and twice graduate of UGA who loves the Dawgs. Go Dawgs, beat Mississippi State!
Mobile Dawg
September 22nd, 2010
6:31 pm
I respect that Alt, it’s pretty much what I expected. I thought the process probably should have taken place a year before it did. Martinez’s defense were put in awkward positions by the offense many times, and a few more times, IMO, by poor coaching, i.e. playcalling. I go back to the famous 3 and out at AU in 05 in the fourth quarter. In no way was it ever all Martinez’s fault. Gotta run, catch you later….
ApopkaDawg
September 22nd, 2010
6:33 pm
1Eyed:
I agree. These comments don’t mean a thing. Its all about the players and picking each other up, dudusting off and getting it done. We survived Willie. We will survive this temporary setback too.
mark twain
September 22nd, 2010
7:04 pm
well im sailing up the tennessee river to see if coach dooley can take over again, and set things straight. surely he would come out of retirement and put the MARINE ideas in these lads. of course we would have to roll him out in a wheelchair, but so what. then call obama and get a stimulus package to get some pros to come down to BIG A TOWN. where is my mint julip.
1eyedJack
September 22nd, 2010
7:05 pm
@Apopka
Amen.
AltamahaDawg
September 22nd, 2010
7:07 pm
I actually think the “process” did happen a year before. After 2008, I absolutely think Richt had some concerns about the direction of the defense, and that is when he made the decision to let the staff correct the problems and the didn’t. That’s what I don’t get, It was one year. Oh I know folks like to say how they hated Willy a long time before and any team and any DC is going to have some issues that can be pointed to every year, but lets be clear: Any sooner than when he went into the process would have had to have been right after the 2007 season. Considering UGA was right in the middle of the whole, “one of the best teams in the country, should be playing at least in the Rose bowl if not the BcsCG, sure to be preseason #1″, if just difficult for me to believe that us amateur coaches think that is a proper time to gut an entire side of your coaching staff.
64 dawg fan
September 22nd, 2010
7:14 pm
There”s 120 teams in division 1 ball, there”s 1 national champ. so I guess we need to fire ll9 coaches each year?
David
September 22nd, 2010
7:30 pm
I’ll shake it off when I stop seeing a Major College Football Program, my GA DAWGS, turned into a meaningless Christian School and Program. The next time we are getting our asses kicked by a team who we haven’t lost to in 17 years, and all I see is a Team Prayer….I’m done. I’ll pull for Alabama and Nick Saban. Been a Dawg fan for 25 years. I bleed it, but I won’t be able to take it anymore. I can take a rebuilding year, but building your program on God is just a Mental Disorder. Win Championships. That’s all. Stop recruiting from church and get some guys who want to knock guys on their ass..
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 22nd, 2010
7:31 pm
64 dawg not 119 coaches just your coach when he fails to correct problems in a timely mannor. Bobo has been bad too long. Not having a game tested QB this year was a HUGE mistake.
Of the 119 coaches are moving their teams foward as opposed to losing ground or growing stale.
Patsy
September 22nd, 2010
7:32 pm
So, Altamaha, do you think Bobo needs to go or be reassigned ? Or is it too early to tell ?
Jerry
September 22nd, 2010
7:34 pm
I feel positive about Hutson Mason. The kid stepped up, and threw a Touchdown on his first pass in college.
Mason’s 1 of 7 QB’s in history to show that kind of poise so early in their career, on their 1st pass.
Mason has lighning quick release, and practically is impossible to sack. He’s the spark that will eventually turn this team around, but Richt will have to go through more losing until he figures that out.
Like almost all of Murray’s teaammates (who are almost all playing worse when Murray’s on the field–TE’s, O-Line, RB’s, WR’s, FB’s), I’m not positive about Murray’s leadership and imfluence on the team, going 0-2 in SEC competition and throwing just 4 td’s, and already 2 interceptions. Sacks don’t concern me, nor am I impressed by yardage or accuracy, which don’t win ballgames, high td to int ratio wins ballgames (See McElroy and Mallet).
I’ve also been pleased with what I assumed was true about Logan Gray, that he’s a superb athlete, who makes plays. He’s done a good job returning punts, and exceeded expectations at WR, and I’d imagine he could do a whale of a job better at QB than Murray with his elusiveness and ball protection.
But each loss, leads us closer to Mason or Logan Gray. That gives me hope things will turnaround soon.
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 22nd, 2010
7:34 pm
Patsy, if no College in any league wants to hire Bobo that should tell you all you need to know. When UGA was good no team called to talk to bobo about their openings. That is a BAD sign.
Kenny Powers
September 22nd, 2010
7:40 pm
Sure we played some bad games, but just maybe Ark & SC are just that good…we’ll know after this weekend after seeing how all three teams make out!
Patsy
September 22nd, 2010
7:41 pm
5150, I don’t care for Bobo, but I’m not sure he’s the ultimate part of the problem. And David, I don’t see how anyone can call us the Christian School and Program with the arrests we’ve had. And I’m certainly not one to throw stones.
45ACP
September 22nd, 2010
7:43 pm
Semper Fidelis, till death do us part.
Kenny Powers
September 22nd, 2010
7:46 pm
Jerry the troll..
here’s what one of those players has to say about Murray..
T. King
“He’s sick. I love how he doesn’t make too many mistakes, puts the ball where it needs to be. He’s smart at what he does. He’s gonna be great before he leaves here. Extremely great. He’s gonna be one of those names that everybody knows, that everybody remembers.”
Not saying anything about Mason, but give the kid a chance to learn the playbook…root for the team to score enough points so that he gets time behind center
and finally stick to one name, you aren’t fooling anyone
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 22nd, 2010
7:48 pm
45ACP nice to see you around. When does the cookout start Saturday? Should I bring something besides Jack and Ice?
Could be interesting game. Good Luck.
Disappointed Dawg
September 22nd, 2010
7:50 pm
UGA defense is as SOFT as balsa wood. Freshman running back for USC gets 180+. GATA…..please
For what its worth
September 22nd, 2010
7:59 pm
To those people that like to bring up the Dooley years and think Georgia would be better off if UGA Fire Coach Richt, be careful what you wish for here’s something to think on.
SEC Championships
Dooley 1964 – 1988
Shared Alabama and Georgia – 1966,1981
Georgia – 1968,1976,1980,1982
National Championships – 1980
Richt 2001 – 2010
Georgia – 2002,2003,2005
After Herschel Walker No Conference Championship for 20 Years, until Richt comes to UGA
If the UGA Fans would have had Dooley fired after ten years No – Conference Championships in 1976,1980,1981,1982 or National Title in 1980.
Dooleys record at UGA if fire after 10 years
Shared conference championship in 1966
One out right conference championship in 1968
Fact Dooley went 8 years before winning his third Conference Championship.
Fact Dooley has only four our right Conference Championships the other two are shared with Alabama.
Fact Dooley went 16 years before winning a National Championship won it in his 17th year.
Fact Dooley has only 6 Conference Championships and One National Championship in 25 Years.
Fact Dooley in his 25 year of coaching had 12 seasons that he went 7-4-1 or worst.
And this one fact is for the person who brings up beating Florida in the Dooley days.
Fact Coach Richt has won every Conference Championship without beating Florida, so it is not a needed win to bring home the Conference Championship,but it would make all UGA Fans happy if he won more of those games. Plus the years that he did beat Florida we did not win the conference because of losses to Tennesse and Auburn in 2004 and Tennesse and South Carolina in 2007.
45ACP
September 22nd, 2010
8:08 pm
Trying to post a comment….
For what its worth
September 22nd, 2010
8:13 pm
5150 P.O.A.D., you didn’t see anyone knocking down the door to hire Charlie Strong either, just because your a good offense or defensive Coach does not mean you will be a good Head Coach.
AFDawg
September 22nd, 2010
8:43 pm
Bill, Most of the negative posts on here that have nothing to do with analyzing Georgia’s weak points so they can improve for the next week are just attacking the program. It is psychological warfere by mostly tech imposters trying to make themselves feel better or trying to demoralize the team. The Techsters are very scared the Dawgs will beat them again this year even if we do struggle with our SEC schedule this year. I also think Florida is nervous about this year’s game. I think all of the true Dawg fans on here can spot the difference between an imposter (they keep bringing up the same old crap week after week) and a true Dawg fan who has positive crticism. Go Dawgs — beat State!
Jerry
September 22nd, 2010
9:05 pm
One good thing about Georgia losing so many games is that big sweeping changes will be made in leadership, whether it’s this season at the QB position (my hunch), or the offensive coordinator position, or the O-Line coach, or TE coach, or RB coach, or D-Line coach or strength & conditioning coach, in the long run, Georgia will be a better team once the reasons for all the losing are removed from their leadership positions. Losing 5 games last year made Georgia get rid of 3 defensive coaches—the defense will be better off in the long run with the new leadership.
10-15 record in last 25 is very much like Fulmer & Tuberville’s right before big change came to both programs in leadership. Winning and losing comes down to leadership.
Mobile Dawg
September 22nd, 2010
9:07 pm
Alt, just following the pattern of deterioration they could have departed after the monumental collapse at the end of 08. They had plenty of time to correct the issues but didn’t, they only got worse. Which IMO is what’s happening now. Guess we will have to be patient and let the process work. I just don’t think CMR can weather the storm. One reason is his skin is pretty thin, I believe he will crack under the pressure, alienating a lot more fans and possibly the administration.
Jjt
September 22nd, 2010
9:13 pm
Hey Nooga’ Dawg, what does GATA mean?
AltamahaDawg
September 22nd, 2010
9:21 pm
Patsy, my take on Bobo (at this point in time) is that we have a very young season ahead of us and any talk of his fate is premature. Just like with WM, not everything is within his control, that all needs to be considered, but most of all we need to know how the season plays out. It’s pretty clear , he does not have all his puzzle pieces on the board right now. Personally, I think this will be a very good offense before the it’s over. If not, I guess the question is why not. I have a lot more concern about some of the supporting staff than I do about him right now. But that’s all going to work itself out one way or the other. Doesn’t it always?
But no, I don’t think he needs to be reassigned. We are way too focused on his “playcalling”. I think that’s overblown. He isn’t calling a darn thing that they didn’t spend the entire offseason drilling and working on being able to execute. It makes no difference who calls the plays or in what order. If he does not put an offense on the field capable of pulling it off, doesn’t matter. That’s the OC’s job…..to put the product on the field. That’s recruiting, offseason coaching and weekly preparation. Playcalling is just the soundtrack. Bobo is just calling what he came up with over the course of months. If it’s not working , reassigning him, somebody else calling it, its just going to be the same thing. If it IS working then, nobody in the world would be better prepared to call the game than him. I just don’t buy this idea, that our players are completely trained and equipped to execute perfectly, if ONLY Coach Bobo wouldn’t call a play completely different that what they all agreed to do. They are not executing perfectly so, obviously something is not working long before kickoff. That’s on him. Keep him next year or go another direction. It’s not a reassignment issue.
Jerry
September 22nd, 2010
9:28 pm
Obviously, whatever plan Richt thought gave him the best chance to win, was incorrect. It didn’t work. You would think that he’d go back and re-examine his strategy and execution and look at his rationale, because his rationale for those decisions was wrong.
Possibilities:
Thought the fans would support the team regardless of the effort the team appeared to give
1) Richt thought going with an inexeprienced QB would win SEC games because Murray had enough experience and weapons around him
2) Richt thought you could win an SEC game without getting a 100 yard rusher
3) Richt thought he could win without using his te’s
4) Richt thought he could beat SC & Ark by making them 1 dimensional on offense
5) Richt thought Murray’s past high school acocmplishments would translate to wins in college (just watch his highlight video)
6) Richt trusted his ability to get his team to play tough and compete emotionally and mentally and dominate the first quarter was strong
7) Richt thought being conservative with Murray would lead to SEC wins
All of rationales were wrong. Good news? He won’t try any of these anymore hopefully because they’ve all been proven wrong.
Jerry
September 22nd, 2010
9:33 pm
I think the biggest mistakes Richt’s made this seaons have been putting too much confidence in Murray’s leadership abilities/team chemistry, and Bobo’s offensive gamecalling.
the Real Deal
September 22nd, 2010
9:36 pm
Want to see where Jawja rates.
Check out the other teams playing on ESPN3 this weekend. Yea right, Jawja is a championship program. Yea right, Jawja is a top tier team. You good ole boys are dream’n in them thar trailers.
Jawja, a top program,,,,,,FUNNY,,,,
Jerry
September 22nd, 2010
9:37 pm
Team chemistry hassn’t been good. You got new coaches, and new QB. Team’s not been on the same page yet in an SEC game. Looks like no trust or buy-in has been earned yet during Spring, or during the 1st 3 performances. Doubt’s crept in.
Good news? Fix it and you start winning again.
UNKNOWN FAN
September 22nd, 2010
9:39 pm
Whoever said CMR should resign needs to get real. If he resigns he will not get that big buyout money. UGA had to buyout Goff, Donnan, and I beleive the basketball coach? Some supporters say they will stop the donations unless the A.D. makes changes. If the donations stop that makes it harder to payoff that contract and make the changes that need to be made. I hope UGA does not run out of money.
chickenman
September 22nd, 2010
9:52 pm
KING should have a breakout game.. if he is healthy we should see something.. its put up or shutup and crown recuit Crowell the next big thing… but i like murrays play and firmly expect to see this team get really good.. this team has a chance to finish strong… with florida playing terrible the sec east race isnt over.. but realisticly as a dawg fan i just wanna see them get better… we are young. Finish hard and this is a top 10 maybe top 5 preaseason team… with the young talent we have.. i mean seriously who are we losing next year.. a lineman and possilby AJ.. but with the holdout impending will aj even go? i dont think so
Delbert D.
September 22nd, 2010
10:13 pm
I watched the replays from the game again (each teams key plays), Murray has the intangible right stuff. 3 seconds fro the snap, he had the pass away, was sacked or scrambled for some significant gains. There were a couple of 4 to 5 second plays where multiple defenders penetrated the O-Line and it took that much time to completely bury him. I simply don’t buy the mantra that he holds on to the ball too long. Maybe in the future he will be able to do more reads and checkdowns in three seconds. This kid has talent and he has a strong arm. Next time they want to throw him under the bus, UGA students should make a big poster “Bobo’s Bus” and paste it to the front of one.
MICHAEL
September 22nd, 2010
10:24 pm
GO UGA !!WHIP BULLIES TAIL!!!!!!
UGA Student
September 22nd, 2010
10:28 pm
The best thing that happened last year from the Dawgs having an “okay” season was that more freshman got tickets, and I finally got my hands on a Florida ticket.
If they don’t turn this ship around…freshman will be getting Florida tickets next year.
Delbert D.
September 22nd, 2010
10:34 pm
@chickmenan -”Finish hard and this is a top 10 maybe top 5 preaseason team… with the young talent we have.. i mean seriously who are we losing next year.. a lineman and possilby AJ.”
Here are the players from the 2-deep leaving after this season:
WR Kris Durham
LT Clint Boling
RG Chris Davis
RT Josh Davis
FB Shaun Chapas
FB Fred Munzenmaier
FLK A.J. Green*
LE Brandon Wood
RE DEmarcus Dobbs
RE Kiante Tripp
OLB Darryl Gamble
OLB Juston Houston*
ILB Akeem Dent
FS Vance Cuff
*Probable NFL draftee
UGA Student
September 22nd, 2010
10:34 pm
men*
wildbill
September 22nd, 2010
10:45 pm
A head coach that is paid in excess of 2 mil/year should perform in an exceptional and efficient manner. Such standards should be specified in the employment contract. If said coach/employee does not perform as expected, then said remuneration shall be reduced. The question is therefore, to what degree should CMR’s remuneration be reduced? Or stopped?
X Dawgfan
September 22nd, 2010
10:48 pm
Put a fork in it !!! I’m out of here. Going to be a Ga State fan.
DAWG fan in Florida
September 22nd, 2010
10:52 pm
Is anyone paying attention to the fact that it took Richt amassing the team right before Q4 to get them riled up??? Why not do that before Q1?? I HATE to say this and all due respect to Richt but we need a Saban-like to get these dawgs going whistle to whistle!
DAWG fan in Florida
September 22nd, 2010
11:03 pm
One more thing.. watching the press conference after the game was painful.. not to pontificate my political beliefs but Richt reminded me of Obama getting questioned on the recession. There was pain and apology in his eyes but no resolution! I am looking for resolution! Can anyone bring Teddy Roosevelt or the Bear back as a coach?? I want someone to look the press squarely in the eye and bark at them for bad-mouthing their team.. I want the SportsCenter clip to have *bleeps* in it from the coach adamant about the fact that this will be fixed and he will not stand for mediocrity!
Pitbull
September 22nd, 2010
11:19 pm
Ok team, you guys fought hard last week. You laid down against SC. But fought hard last week. Lets hang in there and turn this season around. We still have a lot of games we can enjoy winning. HELL, if we beat Fla I will consider it a GREAT year!!!
AltamahaDawg
September 22nd, 2010
11:23 pm
I have looked at those graduating and I have to say, in those spots I think our 2 deep next year is fine. Still very experienced in the O-line with still some starting seniors and by next year I see us starting the upgrade we have needed there for a while with Burnette, Benedict, Houston getting more time .We will see what Sturdivant can do long term. We are in as good, if not better shape.
The ENTIRE defense is going to be better next year. It’s a very well well accepted concept that the most noticable improvement in a new scheme is the second year. I’ll trade any of those guys leaving right now for the extra year in the ones that are returning. Houston is the only one leaving that I would even consider a playmaker right now. It looked to me as if our best talent is actually the younger guys on that squad right now. Frankly I think we can only to improve at some of those spots. Not to mention a complete D staff not being new. If I am not mistaken, not all of those new coaches ever worked in the 3-4 either.
Kickers back
RBs back
QB situation should be like the difference between night and day next year.
Missing AJ, but we have at least 3 WR that could/should be reaching prime next year.
Missing Durham, but Gray couldl be an actualy threat, not merely a surprise, by then.
We will need to to develop a FB.
AltamahaDawg
September 22nd, 2010
11:28 pm
Wildbill, do you not think all the other coaches get paid millions as well to make sure things go a different way?
AFDawg
September 23rd, 2010
12:43 am
Delbert D, we lose that many to graduation every year. AltamahaDawg is right — the biggest worry is at the FB position. DAWG fan in Florida , Bobo tried with the head butting before the game. That first drive by Arkansas is something you see a lot in college ball, performance improves as the team settles in. The key is to keep your confidence up through the entire game and never throw in the towel. I don’t think you’ll see this group of Dawgs ever throw in the towel — no matter how dire the situation might seem. They’re all DGDs.
No.Metro Dawg
September 23rd, 2010
2:02 am
I bet ya we are gonna beat them dawgs i mean Missy St.
yep thats rite…..
Sick of mediocrity
September 23rd, 2010
2:26 am
As a two time graduate and die-hard Dawg fan I’m trying to stay optimistic but it’s time to face up to some cold hard facts. If Georgia loses at Miss State this weekend they will be 20-15 since the end of the 2005 season, Georgia’s last SEC Championship year. Five games over .500 in an over 5 year period should be no Georgia fan’s definition of a successful program. Richt had a great 5 year run when he got to Athens, but since then things have been a different story. Numerous bad coaching decisions such as keeping Willie Martinez way too long and failing to identify that Mike Bobo is not up to the task of being the OC are unacceptable. I’m sure these are both nice people but failure is failure. This isn’t Sunday church league softball. We have absolutely no identity whatsoever on offense. Richt wasted a year last year with Joe Cox chucking and ducking all season. Now we get to waste another season while the excuse is that we have a freshman QB. What is the excuse for the O-line being horrendous this year when they were supposed to be world beaters? Next year I can only assume the excuse will be that most of the O-line graduated. Too many excuses in a profession that demands results. If Georgia fails to produce on offense Saturday Bobo needs to be demoted immediately. I never thought much of Richt’s play calling in the past but my 5 year old nephew can call plays better than what I’ve seen this year. If this season goes down the toilet in the end, which I sincerely hope it won’t, it will definitely be time for some big changes. If the head coach can’t find the right people to put in place to build a highly competitive program that is in the upper echelon of the SEC, it just might be time for him to go too. Alabama is the gold standard by which all SEC programs will be judged for the next few years. Right now, we aren’t anywhere close and there is no excuse for that. Georgia has everything required to be a top notch program on a national level. I’m sick of the mediocrity. I’ve said “Wait till next year” a million times over the last 20 years. I’ll never not be a rabid Dawg fan, but it’s getting really old.
Leather Helmet Blog: Dawg Daily 23Sep
September 23rd, 2010
4:02 am
[...] Think positively: [...]
Bobo must go
September 23rd, 2010
5:13 am
The Bulldog Nation had to scream and threaten and almost boycott the team to get Martinez gone. It looks like we’re going to have to do the same thing with Bobo. He is the worst OC in the SEC and maybe one of the three worst in the NCAA. Richt is still Richt but Bobo is the rotten apple in the barrel. Why can’t CMR see the offense under Bobo is terrible. Bobo must go for us to move in the future. Georgia football just hasn’t been Georgia football since Bobo took over the OC position. Performance should count and right now Bobo’s effort and performance are terrible.
Bama Fan #2
September 23rd, 2010
6:03 am
Things WILL get better for the dawgs after beating Miss. St.!! Having a red-shirt freshman qb
start and no AJ Greene and new defense coaches things have to get better or Richt is end
deep trouble with the locals!! RTR