Dogs lost this one in the trenches
Tavares King scores, but it was too little, too late. (Associated Press)
There’s no point in dancing around it. Georgia just doesn’t have a very good football team this year.
I know, some will point to the first half, when UGA moved the ball pretty well between the 20-yard lines and had 100 yards more of offense than Mississippi State and will say Mark Richt’s Dogs beat themselves. And for that half, that’s true. Had Washaun Ealey not committed yet another goal line fumble in his bid to be the Jasper Sanks of this era, and had a terrific catch and run by Kris Durham for a touchdown not been negated by a holding call on Marlon Brown, Georgia would have led 14-7.
But those mistakes were made. And many more, as the game went on.
However, in the second half, it wasn’t a case of Georgia beating itself. It was, unfortunately, the maroon Bulldogs delivering the beating to both of Georgia’s lines.
The UGA defense couldn’t seem to get off the field in that interminable scoreless third quarter, as MSU continually ran it up the gut. As Fox Sports South analyst Tim Couch said, Georgia knew what MSU was going to do, they just couldn’t stop it.
And on offense, playcaller Mike Bobo went strangely conservative in the second half, trying in vain to establish a running game behind our misfiring, criminally underachieving offensive line while eschewing the shots downfield that offered Georgia’s only real hope until the game was out of reach. And all this amid a shower of penalty flags that unfortunately were deserved. (Can’t blame this one on the Dogs’ old nemesis Penn Wagers.)
The head coach, who noted after the game this “is new territory for me,” pretty much summed it up when he said Georgia has failed across the board as a team and “until we get it all together, we’re not gonna win.”
September isn’t even over and the Dogs already are not only irrelevant in the SEC East, they’re the worst team in the conference. Even Vandy has a conference win. At this point, it’s beginning to look like Georgia’s streak of 13 consecutive seasons going to a bowl game might even be in jeopardy unless Richt and company are able to turn things around.
Yes, A.J. Green will be back next week. But with the Richt era Dogs having sunk to new Goff-ian depths, I’m not sure that will be enough.
I’ll be back Sunday afternoon with more thoughts about what went wrong, and where the Dogs go from here.
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318 comments Add your comment
Techmaninathens
September 26th, 2010
8:26 am
CRM is too nice to fire. Bobo needs a veteran QB to make the plays, a good QB like Joe Hamilton made Ralph Friedgen a genius. Hershel Walker made Vince Dooley a great coach. Murray has all the talent, but he needs a very special coach to bring that out. Bobo is good just not good with a talented rookie. Stafford took way to long to develop and he had the best arm in the nation. Bobo is an okay coach, but not good enough to get Murray to become the QB he could become without dumping a season. Think about the freshmen QBs that have succeeded without tanking the season. Either Bobo is not the man, or Murray isn’t.
Will the Thrill
September 26th, 2010
8:38 am
What this team needs is some really cool alternative jerseys or helmets… thats all we are lacking to make this a season that we can all be proud of!
Dvae from GT
September 26th, 2010
8:38 am
It was a pretty tough day………. The only high point was listening to the UGA game……. since it did not make it to the TV……. not even on the local cable.
DawgBone
September 26th, 2010
8:39 am
Bill,
We’re obviously learning more about this team each week. Murray and Durham and warriors. So glad Durham came back for a final year and Murray is going to be one of the Dawg’s greatest QB’s before it’s all said and done with. The crap that Grantham is stuck with on defense is some of the worst fundamentally sound “talent” I think I have ever seen. The OL is highly overrated and a huge disappointment. Ealey should NEVER again be called upon in the the redzone. It was clear he got his bell rung last night and didn’t know where he was for a moment after the hit. Kinda hard to fault a player for a fumble when they were nearly knocked out, but that’s the second costly fumble he has coughed up in the opponent’s endzone. This season is now a wash, so best to just spend the rest of it evaluting all the positions for next year. Go Dawgs!!!!
Lunatic Fringe?
September 26th, 2010
8:48 am
Why do some people *gasp* when we talk about a head coaching change at UGA? (herbstreit) Since Richt has been here, EVERY team in the SEC has fired their head coach cuz they weren’t getting it done. What makes us so different, or Richt so special? Sorry, Mark. Time to turn the page in Athens.
Buckeye
September 26th, 2010
8:49 am
Dawgs are playing soft! Richt shows no emotion, fire or passion for the game. Players have taken on his personality and show no discipline. Buck stops with CMR and time has passed him. Georgia is now a second tier team in the SEC.
Make a change Greg!
edumacated
September 26th, 2010
8:52 am
Durham is a heck of a player. Murray is looking better.
Other than that, I can’t think of much to be happy about. Even Drew Butler’s punts stink. They have no hang time at all.
You guys blaming Bobo need to wake up and realize that his problems are only a tiny portion of the overall larger problem. Richt’s program is broken from top to bottom, and even if given time, he can’t fix it because he doesn’t know how.
Royal D
September 26th, 2010
8:53 am
Watching Georgia self destruct (yet again) took me back to the Ray Goff era… Have we really sunk that low? Can Richt really straighten this out? Sooner or later the time comes when a coach needs to walk away for the good of the program and I seriously question if that is where Richt now finds himself? I love the Dawgs and they are my team good or bad. However, facts are facts and season after season the Dawgs have continued to get worse rather than better. I could go on and on, but think you get the message.
BoWeevil
September 26th, 2010
8:55 am
I predict Coach Richt QUITS
turkeycaller
September 26th, 2010
9:01 am
Good morning. I really think Miss. St. showed more fire and determination to win the game. I can’t really recall many times when we have really showed up as a complete football team the past few seasons. It seems like something is always missing. As important as playcalling and game plans are, you still have to have the grit and refusal to be put away. The other teams, especially SEC schools, have beaten us fair and square. I certainly don’t have the answers but it has become alarmingly evident this team and the preceeding ones don’t show up to win. It’s sad but true that Richt has accomplished all he is willing or capable to do. Complacency and a atmosphere of entitlement have replaced the energy and hunger.
WDE
September 26th, 2010
9:02 am
Vanderbilt has more SEC wins then yall. HAHA
BoWeevil
September 26th, 2010
9:05 am
39-17 Georgia Bulldogs Coach Richt and his sorry butt “coaching staff” after 2005
Coach Richt is # 21 after 2005 in wins, recruiting in a state which finds only 3 with more high school players in the NFL and coaching for the # 11 football program in 1-A wins all-time.
This is the 5th year after 2005, for those who think this is 3 games, 2 years, or 3 years.
Year 5 after 2005.
Year 5, second half of the Coach Richt Era when Jim Donnan recruits were gone NFL
I point out that Year 5, second half of the Coach Richt Era when Jim Donnan recruits were gone NFL, that The University of Georgia Bulldogs are # 2 in Fulmer Cup over these 5 years too.
Get it straight that it is not just the last 3 years, and please note that we lose 15 seniors and 4-5 juniors after this season – so 2011 with a far tougher schedule than this, is going to be no different.
NONE.
Note please that Demetre Baker ARRESTED for DUI at 4:26 a.m. this morning is ARREST # 10 for Coach Richt’s recruits SINCE MARCH 7.
Nashdawg
September 26th, 2010
9:07 am
The season for all practical reasons is over. Just let her rip and stop trying to run a conservative offense. Oh by the way Richt should calling the plays again.
Stuart Townsend
September 26th, 2010
9:11 am
“It was the best of times, It was the worst of times.” Every team, at some point or another, will go through a season like this. This, as my dad used to say, is where we separate the men from the boys. UGA WILL rebound and I will always love my Dogs, good, bad, or ugly.
We need to regroup, dig deep and find a way to salvage this season. I have full faith in Richt, Bobo, and Grantham, and always will with the Dogs! I will be there next week in Colorado when we win a much needed game; Hang in there Bulldog Nation, Georgia will rise again!! Go Dogs!
What??
September 26th, 2010
9:13 am
Bill,
I agree with your comments. We were spanked in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
Stacy has not impressed me since he has been in Athens.
Carolina, Arkansas, and M. State all broght the house on D and our O line has failed terribly!
idiot detector
September 26th, 2010
9:15 am
Some fans are real idiots….just like a lot of you here. Georgia is average at best at running back, the offensive line is playing below average and may not have above average talent. Our secondary once again stinks even without Bryan Evans and Willie. I see very little difference in the defense this year and last year. We still have costly penalties and turnovers and cant seem to recover a fumble. The quarterback is going to have to carry the team offensively that is Georgia’s only chance. Who is the guy who said Carlton Thomas is a Jeff Demps type player, you got to be kidding me! We dont have UF talent.
GaDawg
September 26th, 2010
9:18 am
You know,
the good thing about all of this is that I really don’t have to let it get me down.I’ M GOIN’ FISHIN’.
by y’all,
Preacherskid
September 26th, 2010
9:19 am
Play calling was ok in the first half. We moved the ball at will pretty much but a goal line fumble and then a penalty cost us two scores. The O-line was inconsistent. They go from opening a hole that you could drive a truck through to folding like a tent. Bobo went conservative with Durham out of the game and we became predictable. Defense doesn’t have the personnel for Granthams 3-4. It will probably take a couple of recruiting years to get him what he needs to run that scheme. You need a beefy Nose guard and two large DE’s in a 3-4 and we don’t have it. So based on what I’ve seen. Consider a 6-6 year a success and hope that we can do better than that with A.J back. Keep in mind that Bobo is running Richts offense. Not his own. He calls the plays but this offense is Richts.
Reality Stinks
September 26th, 2010
9:22 am
Ok
If the status quo remains, then Dan Mcgarity
Stop making fans have to pay excessive donations for season tickets
Preacherskid
September 26th, 2010
9:27 am
One more thing. I agree with something that Buck said on 680 the fan. I think we missed the boat on some of these O-linemen. Either our scouting miscategorized them or they’ve under acheiving or Stacy Searels isn’t the O-line coach that he’s been touted as. Also, King and Ealey are not what we thought they were. You would never see Moreno go down with an arm tackle from a lineman that’s laying on the ground like Ealey did last night. Where’s the determination from the backs? Sad state of affairs. I like Mark Richt and I hope he can find something to turn things around.
st simons
September 26th, 2010
9:32 am
and everyone believes in the four and five star HIGH SCHOOL recruit ALLEGATION. please. i’ve seen one stars become nfl players. IT’S COACHING. how about doing bed checks and forgetting the latchkey kid method???????????????
DawginOH
September 26th, 2010
9:39 am
Since this season is over before it began, the Dawgs should try different players in different roles to build for next year. I’d love to see Richt declare every job on the offensive line available to the most deserving candidate. Since most of the guys on the line are upperclassmen (and terrible) anyway, we might as well let the younger guys get some experience. Just imagine how awesome Murray would be at this point if he played about half of last season.
Suches Dawg
September 26th, 2010
9:45 am
I have always admired Richt as a Christian and man of integrity, but his coaching skills have to be questioned at this point. Does anyone in the Bulldog Nation doubt that we do less with more talent than any team in the country ? How can you miss the continuing flaws in our guys year after year- penalties, fumbles , etc. It’s all about coaching- other teams get better as the year progresses while we keep self-destructing . Now both our O & D lines are getting beaten by the likes of MSU…..Time to clean house, starting with CMR , who shd offer to resign immediately unless some miracle approaches Athens (and no it isn’t A J Green …) At this point our year is lost and so will our recruits unless they see hope for the future. Would you want your HS senior to play for UGA if he had offers to play elsewhere ??
The ensuing ’start-over’ will be painful- it will likely take 2-3 years to get competitive again, but I will support a new regime and be patient as long as there is hope for improvment. CMR’s real calling is faith-based and he shd have no qualms about joining Tony Dungy in helping troubled kids find hope in their lives.
Bring on Boise State’s Peterson, and soon . Go Dawgs .
BlawgDawg
September 26th, 2010
9:47 am
Fire the whole bunch, start over and hire Mike Leach. We’ve got nothing but a bunch of whiners from the preachaman on down.
Reality Stinks
September 26th, 2010
9:47 am
Saying it again
Ok
If the status quo remains, then Dan Mcgarity
Stop making fans have to pay excessive donations for season tickets
Dick
September 26th, 2010
9:49 am
Last weekend I saw Jimbo Fisher get in the face of two refs complaining about a no call. It didn’t get the penalty that time, but it did two things in whichi Reich has nnver done. One, Jimbo showed his players he was with them, and Two it made the refs keep in mind teh FSU coach was not going to take any crap. CMR has neer shown any emotions. You can show emotions without being ugly and still be a witness for Christ. Mark will never do that.
Nauti-dawg
September 26th, 2010
9:51 am
Mindset
Alabama = We are going to try to win the National Championship every year – Period.
UGA = We are going to try to compete in the SEC East as we rebuild every year – Question mark.
Pick the mindset you want your coach to have.
BlawgDawg
September 26th, 2010
9:51 am
I’ve got a great idea! Why don’t we change our hem-let and jersey colors to black…We’ll call it the ‘Black Out’
There couldn’t be a better description of this abomination.
Dr Morph
September 26th, 2010
9:52 am
Looking on the bright side, Aaron Murray is playing very well, AJ is coming back, and the games leading up to Florida are against lower echelon teams we should beat fairly easily if talent and depth were the only things that count. But, we seem to be lacking swagger, that aggressive self-confidence factor one sees in such hated rivals as Florida and Bama. It has to be the coaching staff, doesn’t it? If CMR is the leader we need, he will lead us out of this morass into a brilliant turn-around culminating in knocking off the Gators and winning out. I’d love it, but I’m not holding my breath.
DAWG with a bag over his head
September 26th, 2010
9:54 am
I’m sick of hearing that A.J. is going to be our savior. He shouldn’t play another down. He should sit on the bench right next to Ealy. Why was Ealy even playing after the fumble (or before for that matter)? Three game-changing fumbles reaching back to last season and he whifs on a block that probably changed the outcome of the ARK game. Another disturbing example of our how well our staff coaches and evaluates talent.
FORTY ONE POINTS to your seventeen points
September 26th, 2010
9:55 am
good mornin boys….how’d you do yesterday?
((((((((((((((((((((((((((41-17))))))))))))))))))
saban
September 26th, 2010
9:55 am
Hear Idaho State is favored by 7.
Long year Dawgs.
BlawgDawg
September 26th, 2010
9:56 am
Dick’s right on the money…zero emotion aka leadership from the preachaman. He’s too busy profiling with his matrix shades. Who can catch the Dawgs? The GA State Patrol…FINISH THE DRILL!!! Catch phrase…yeah, that’s a good way to misdirect and obfuscate. Did we just run it up the middle again?
Reality Stinks
September 26th, 2010
9:58 am
Yep
Ok
If the status quo remains, then Dan Mcgarity
Stop making fans have to pay excessive donations for season tickets
same ol GA
September 26th, 2010
10:00 am
All those recruits…all the hype every year….all the lofty talk….same ol GA
Next Year
September 26th, 2010
10:04 am
It’s time for you UGA redneck fans to begin talking about how GREAT your team will be next year. About all thos 4 & 5 star recruits that your going to sign.
And on and on and on, And on and on and on,And on and on and on,
UGA IRRELEVANT IN SEC FOOTBALL,,,,,,,,,,0 – 3,,,LAST PLACE SEC,,,,
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!
Clarke County Correctional
September 26th, 2010
10:05 am
On a good note, mutties, since your football team was losing in Starkville….no players were arrested last night…..LOL
Same ol Same ol
September 26th, 2010
10:05 am
This faith in CMR is touching….and totally undeserved. He isn’t leading this team out of anything, other than a chance at a bowl game. But if missing out on the Music City Bowl means getting a shot at a fresh start, I’m willing to make that ’sacrifice.’ Just keep doin what you’re doin, Coach. After all, it’s how you play the game, right?
You Are
September 26th, 2010
10:05 am
UGA WHIPPN’N BOYS OF THE SEC
chazzo
September 26th, 2010
10:06 am
Look at the box score. UGA won every category with the exception of three: Rushing, Penalties, Turnovers. Ealy has to get the ball more than 10 times. I don’t care about the fumble. And, adjustments need to be made on “O” to counteract the exact same blitz on nearly every play. If they are sending that many guys, someone should be open. Why not roll murray out of the pocket? Why not use the shotgun more? Everybody says he holds the ball too long, but the defenders were in his face on his first step back.
Tennessee Dawg
September 26th, 2010
10:08 am
Stendek is right someone by now should have told Ealey when you see a football on the ground you cover it. You don’t just gaze stupidly at it. CMR had the chance to fire BOBO had didn’t do it. This Georgia team is the worse coached team in the country and it is taking years off of my life.
chazzo
September 26th, 2010
10:08 am
Both Ealy fumbles involved him trying to get too much. In both cases he was trying to lunge that extra yard for the end zone and get the ball in position. Coaches, tell him not to do it. Wrap it up.
PMDawg
September 26th, 2010
10:09 am
Time for Bobo to gogo! I’ll be amazed to see UGA in a bowl game this year. Can’t blame the D they held up as long as they could, it’s all on the coaching and the offense. This team is soft time to revamp the offensive staff just like we did the D last year and if Richt can’t handle firing somebody than he’s gotta go too. I like CMR but UGA should not be losing to Miss St. last count thats 7 of the last nine SEC games we’ve lost. Georgia has become irrelevant in college football and it makes me sick!
who runs this state
September 26th, 2010
10:11 am
Mississippi State RUNS (I MEAN RUNS) the State of Georgia.
Miss. St. MANNED UP and shoved it down your 4 & 5 star throats. Then they took away your offense’s 4 & 5 star lunch money. Come on now. Let’s hear more from you rednecks about all those great recruits you signed.
ARdawg
September 26th, 2010
10:11 am
Anxiously awaiting my turd sandwich
PMDawg
September 26th, 2010
10:11 am
So many haters on here, I know that they don’t have newspapers in Ala. but really come on a UGA blog and talk trash that’s just sad.
ARdawg
September 26th, 2010
10:12 am
Thanks Coach, may I have another?
T Grantham
September 26th, 2010
10:12 am
I’m tellin you now…you just wait…if that Miss St coach says anything…you just wait..I’LL TELL HIM!
#!1
September 26th, 2010
10:13 am
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!
jax jim
September 26th, 2010
10:14 am
No bowl game???Oh please, had they not enjoyed the fascinating week in exotic Shreveport last the would have been no $1,000 jersey deal.