Same old story: Turnovers doom Dogs against Gators
Aaron Murray finally had a game where he looked like a redshirt freshman, but he also led a remarkable comeback by the Dogs. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
I had a sinking feeling as they broke for the half in the Georgia-Florida game when Urban Meyer told CBS’ Tracy Wolfson, “You look at the history of this series, turnovers win the game. That’s gonna be the key to the second half.”
At the time, his team was leading 21-7 largely because the Dogs had turned the ball over and missed on at least one take-away. As it turned out, Georgia battled back valiantly in the second half to tie the game up twice and send it to overtime. But in the end, Meyer proved to be the seer, as a tipped ball on third down of Georgia’s first OT possession was intercepted by the Gators, giving them the ball and the chance to win it with a field goal by their backup kicker.
I guess you can say that losing a thriller by 3 points in overtime certainly marks some sort of progression over the past two years, when the Dogs were hammered by the Gators, but when you consider that Georgia was favored this year over a Tim Tebow-less Florida team on a three-game losing streak, the end result doesn’t hurt much less than the two previous losses.
The Gators got off to a slow start in the scoreless first quarter, as has been typical of them this year, but then it was all Florida in the second quarter as the game looked to be headed toward a repeat of the same old tired scenario that has plagued Georgia most of the past decade. Despite their talk this week about approaching the Jacksonville showdown as just another SEC game, it was obvious that the Dogs were playing extremely tight, and the turnover problem that had largely disappeared over the previous three games returned with a vengeance.
It wasn’t just the times Georgia turned the ball over. It was the Dogs’ inability to accept the gifts that Florida tried to give them. It wasn’t a case of the ball bouncing wrong; it was Georgia not covering. One fumble Sanders Commings tried to pick up and run with instead of just jumping on the ball, and the Gators ended up getting it back. Another time the Dogs recovered a fumble only to immediately lose it. And with 24 seconds left in regulation Bacarri Rambo had a potential interception hit him in the hands but couldn’t hold on to it.
The tendency might be to lay the blame for this loss on the fact that Aaron Murray definitely had his worst game. I remember back during the depths of the Dogs’ four-game losing streak someone noting that the play of Murray had been the lone bright spot and wondering, “Imagine how it would be if he had a bad game and played like a redshirt freshman.” Well, that happened in the first half, as Murray was frequently off in his passes (a 63-yard scoring strike to Tavarres King in the second quarter being the main exception) and coughed the ball up on a sack.
But Murray looked sharp most of the time in the second half as he led the Dogs back and Georgia outscored Florida 24-10. One thing you can say about this group of Dogs is that they don’t give up. As Mark Richt noted after the game, even on that interception in OT, they could have just let the Florida defender run it back for a score but the last two Georgia players finally managed to force him out of bounds at the 1-yard line. In the end, the Gators still prevailed, but it wasn’t because of a lack of effort on the part of the Dogs.
Not much consolation, though, considering this was the year Georgia looked best positioned to come out of Jacksonville with a win. Facing Trey Burton another three or four years isn’t a very heartening prospect.
I’ll be back Sunday afternoon with more thoughts on the game. Until then, feel free to share your views of the latest loss to the Gators.
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425 comments Add your comment
Let's Talk About UGA!
October 30th, 2010
9:02 pm
Go Dawgs!
I’m sobering up now.
Mama made me turn the surround-sound down in the trailer.
Still got on my Garrison Hearst jersey.
Still got on my red panties (still gettin’ tangled in the dangle).
Go Dawgs!
Sic ‘em!
Woof woof woof!
Tough loss to the gAytors.
But math-matically a Nat. Championship must still loom for us.
Go Dawgs!
Wreckmaniac
October 30th, 2010
9:02 pm
Lord, please keep CMR at UGA
Johnnyboy says
October 30th, 2010
9:02 pm
Next time, leave the 1st string in the cross bar hotel !
CHDawg
October 30th, 2010
9:03 pm
Sanford,
I agree. When you have a bad year, you will have some chihuahuas yapping for his head, but also there are a lot of Tech and Gator fans who get sadistic pleasure from posting here when we lose. What kind of life do you have when the first thing you do when your team wins is go to the opposing team’s city paper and thump your anonymous chest?
Joe
October 30th, 2010
9:03 pm
HAHA, I like the “definately gonna be much better next year” comment. Get a job, a Richt supporter like you must be on welfare right?
VADAWG
October 30th, 2010
9:04 pm
Another year…another loss…
VADAWG
October 30th, 2010
9:04 pm
Why is Bobo calling an OVER THE MIDDLE pass on 3rd and 9 when you have to make sure you at least come away with the FG in OT. Makes no sense.
Wreckmaniac
October 30th, 2010
9:05 pm
The Shreveport Bowl has just called in to say: ” We are still looking at the UGA dawgs along with Murray State and Temple. If UGA can beat Auburn by 50, we just may extend an offer. We like the way Dawg fans conducted themselves at the Motel 6 last year. We know they left a lot of trash at St Simons beach but we don’t have a beach so we don’t have to worry “
Macclenny_dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:05 pm
Joe we wrapped up good after 10-15 yards after the middle of the field was wide open on a pass!!! Either we get a sack or somebody completes the ball on 3rd down!!! Game wouldn’t have ever went to overtime if stupid Meyer would have let his Qb throw it on 3rd down!!! Brantley would have completed it!!! Am I the only 1 thats sees this!!!!!!
Paper Bag over head
October 30th, 2010
9:05 pm
We just got beat by a team without a QB or Kicker. Enough said!
Juan Williams
October 30th, 2010
9:06 pm
We need to discontinue the football program. It is an embarrassment to this state. Ga. Tech is the only team Georgia needs b/c they win.
j$dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:06 pm
GA showed good fight to come back, but still made all the same stupid mistakes.
The weird thing was neither team looked good.
Hat tip to FL, but still not much to be proud of from either side.
Again, this season, GA keeps beating GA.
CMR is the best Athens can hope for
October 30th, 2010
9:06 pm
We sure did look butt ugly out there today. Good job guys. Yay!!!
SoCal Dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:06 pm
I’m very proud of the way we played tonight. Wish we would have won.
Ron
October 30th, 2010
9:07 pm
You know that you are upset when Tommy Tuberville starts sounding good to you. Or that you might like to have all 3 of the Bowdens. Something is bad wrong in Athens and it appears to be from top to bottom, not just one thing. It does not appear that changing Coaches has helped anything. I personally NEVER thought that Todd “Loud Mouth” Grantham would help anything and posted that when he was hired. He talks much better than he coaches. This was a terrible loss. There is no good that can come from it.
Wreckmaniac
October 30th, 2010
9:07 pm
3 wins out of the last 21. Lets see, if I went to Vagas and bet a thousand at the tables how do my chances compare ? I like my Vegas chances better.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2010
9:08 pm
I hope we lose out
Im tired of watching a team that has to be motivated by uniform changes to win a ball game
Im fed up with a coaching staff that has the HANG ON TO WIN attitude instead of the
Lets PUNCH SOMEONE IN THE MOUTH AND GO OUT THERE AND HAND OUT A BEAT DOWN
Hercshel Johnson
October 30th, 2010
9:08 pm
We need to fire the coaching staff in its entirety and start over.
Middle GA Bulldog
October 30th, 2010
9:09 pm
You people that want to fire Richt & Bobo are idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When an offense scores 31 points that should be enough to win. Give Grantham another year, add J. Jones and R. Samuel to the linebacking corps and you will see a much improved defense. Also, I dont think Myer will get an extra week to prepare next year. Go Dogs!!! The future is bright.
RICHT MUST GO
October 30th, 2010
9:09 pm
What a wasted season this has been for the Dawgs. Murray should have been allowed to play last year instead of red-shirting him. The Dawgs would have started the season with an experienced QB. I’ve had my fill of the coaching staff, from Richt on down. If they can’t beat a Florida team in a down year for Florida, then there is no hope for thie coaching staff. They have proven time and time again that they CANNOT coach with the big boys. It’s time to clean house and hire a coach who is well equipped to run with Saban and Meyer, such as the head coach at Boise State.
Besides not being able to have a coaching staff that can run with the big guys, Richt has totally lost control of the team.Granted, a head coach cannot know everything a player does, BUT he can have a system where his players don’t make the same stupid mistakes that have riddled this tem the last few years (both on and off the field). Bobby Bowden was right, Richt is too nice, As Al Davis says, “just win.” That’s the bottom line. Richt simply has not done that when he’s had to.. HE MUST GO.
SOS Dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:09 pm
Sanford drive why dont you go pull for Vandy if this crap doesnt matter to you.. Most fans are sick of this crap. Mark Richt should be toast !
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2010
9:10 pm
Wreckamaniac
You continue to lose to UGA so what does that say about TECH
SoCal Dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:10 pm
Either there are a lot on techies on here tonight or every moron in GA.
rodney king
October 30th, 2010
9:10 pm
can’t we all just get along?
Pass The Ball
October 30th, 2010
9:10 pm
Well, what goals do we have left for the season? With 6 wins can we go to a bowl game (considering that Louisiana-Lafayette and Idaho State would be 2 of those 6 wins)?
Ralph
October 30th, 2010
9:11 pm
The perennial second tier thUGA dwags are once again gator beyatches. (18 out of the last 21)
Maybe thUGA should have had a pre-season parade down Atlanta’s Peachtree Street when the AJC predicted 9 – 3 – they seem to be a good pre-season team except for those in jail.
Can’t wait to read the AJC sportswriters about how Georgia will still run the table, win the SEC East, SEC Championship game, and a BCS Bowl.
Wreckmaniac
October 30th, 2010
9:11 pm
Juan Williams: The problem you descibed is being resolved. That is why the GA State program was created. UGA has not been a “flagship” school in any manner and Ga State will join Tech as the only two national programs in the state. This will take time but is already underway. Just be patient.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2010
9:11 pm
Middle GA Bulldog
2-8
how many more years please let us know
damon evans
October 30th, 2010
9:12 pm
fans please dont drink and drive home, you might get intercepted and lose.
Darren
October 30th, 2010
9:13 pm
Murray’s timing was off the 1st half. 0 yards in the 1st quarter. The 1st pass INT seemed to rattle the kid. Tons of overthrows, almost got Durham and AJ killed with underthrows. Murray had a Joe Cox “I’m a hero” meltdown of titanic proportions:3 int’s, and a 32 yard fumble that moved the ball from Florida’s 40 yard line to Georgia’s 27 yard line. Forced the ball to AJ too much, shopuld have used AJ as a decoy or run some legal pick plays or corssing routes to get AJ open.
Defense gave up a big 3rd and 19 and yet ANOTHER wheelroute. Also missed 2 easy fumble recoveries treying to scoop and score. Defense got gauged with the run and gave up too many big plays, Burton’s 50 yard scamper was a killer.
Play-calling in over-time was bad–go long to Durham–almost picked. Inside run for 2 tards. Then throw over congested middle into triple coeverage to AJ for INT?
Murray’s too much like Brett Favre. Too risky. Not a team guy. He’s a “me” guy who tries to make big plays, like scramblign away from a sack and fumbling the ball 32 yards nstead of throwing the ball out of bounds.
Murray just killed Georgia, like Cox did last year.
Same song, different jersey number.
Murray is Joe Cox Jr.
Let's Talk About UGA!
October 30th, 2010
9:14 pm
Anybody want a beer?
I live at the Southern Classic RV Park and Drive-in Estates.
Mama’s trailer is Red and Black and we have a concrete bulldog out front next to a little yard gnome with a knitted UGA sweater.
We can watch re-runs of the Buck Belue to Lindsey Scott catch.
Go Dawgs!
Sean Hannity
October 30th, 2010
9:14 pm
Who cares about the game, I am pumped about Nov. 2. That will be be the ture victory,
tim
October 30th, 2010
9:14 pm
I’m a proud Gator, but I will not denigrate this fine Georgia team…that was a great game….one for the ages..maybe the best UF/UGA game in the past 30 years…..ya’ll won on Buck to Lindsey in 1980, and we won on Murray to Will Hill in OT this year, At the end of regulation I would have been OK declaring a tie…be proud puppies you played your asses off and should have won.
Yo
October 30th, 2010
9:16 pm
Socaldog’s IP address that he is in fact from Macon, GA. dam you sad. Doxycycline Man.
Sonny Perdue
October 30th, 2010
9:16 pm
I have declared a state of emergency in Georgia after this one.
Mobile Dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:17 pm
You pretty much summed it up Bill. Not a lot to add. Murray played tight early and it hurt. We lost some opportunities early unfortunately. I didn’t expect that out of Murray today. The missed turnovers hurt tremendously. Overall we still suffer from the “Gator Funk”. Seems as if we’re expecting something bad to happen, and it does.
Sanford Drive, glad your enjoying the kool aid brother. While your sippin it and still in a good mood please explain to me CMR’s logic in going for two, the first time. If you can’t answer that question intelligently you just may be one of us. There was no excuse, it was brainless.
Mister T
October 30th, 2010
9:17 pm
I thought they were goingto pull it out. Definitely had the mo in the second half.
Not sure where all the “fire Richt” stuff is coming from. Not sure a new coach is the answer. You got a new DC and not much has changed. We did the same at Tech. Not sure the 3-4 is catching on in college. You guys have the athletes for it though. Tech doesn’t have the beef on the D-line to run it.
Your guys still look a bit too big & strong for our OL or DL this year.
THWg!
SoCal Dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:20 pm
Yo- Not sure what your talking about. I live in LA but I’m visiting Memphis TN. Not Macon GA, guess you’re not as smart as you think you are.
Darren
October 30th, 2010
9:20 pm
Is 4-5 acceptable with this kind of talent?
Wreckmaniac
October 30th, 2010
9:20 pm
The real question is how can rational person talk themselves in believing that a team defeated by
Miss State, KY, and Colorado stand any possible chance of beating team of national stature such as
FL ? How ? How can the mind be so easily twisted ? It makes me worry about the human brain
being a reliable device. Could any such person (if sober) be relied upon to assume responsibility ?
Yet some of them do have responsibilities, I guess.
Any nutcase predicting a win over Auburn ( and there will be some) should be immediately incarcerated.
Yet by Friday I expect an AJC article entitled ” 5 reasons why the Dawgs will Shock Auburn” Count on it.
CHDawg
October 30th, 2010
9:21 pm
On Murray: he did make some dumb mistakes–none worse than missing some wide open guys and throwing into coverage instead a few times, but he made some NFL throws, too. The little release deal he did with Charles was an amazing throw and catch when you look at it real time–they played that on TV. Also, the rifle shot into coverage for the TD to Green with three guys on him was an amazing throw. Getting picked by one of the top DBs in the country on his first pass probably shook him a bit. Murray’s third Qtr was as good as any UGA QB in recent memory. Still, if we would have held on to any of the many fumble/int opportunities we probably would have won. Keep grinding Dawgs!
Darren
October 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
Goodbye potential Georgia recruits. Good luck with you to whichever team besides Georgia you decide to play for.
Sigma Dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
Once again the same mentality takes place. Wait till next year!!. We always have to answer the other team’s score. When are they going to consistently answer our scores. What I mean is GA has to be the boss. A subordinate has to answer to the boss, not the other way around. When does GA become the boss? I’m tired of the same rationale. It is time for some real talk about GA’s future, not live in the bygone Herschel area. The new AD needs to have a fact based discussion with Adams regarding the future of GA football. No emotion, not speculation, but the facts of where we are from 10 years ago.
CHDawg
October 30th, 2010
9:23 pm
Wreckmaniac,
Get a life, buddy.
Wreckmaniac
October 30th, 2010
9:24 pm
I’ll start this ” lets beat Auburn” party by reminding us of the recent comments by one of our dawg Koolaid drinkers:
Atlanta City ( Oct 25)- ” The only team that will beat Auburn is UGA. Auburn is not unstapbale
( did he mean unstoppable ?)”
MaconKnight
October 30th, 2010
9:25 pm
IM PROUD OF THESE GUYS THEY COULD HAVE FOLDED BUT THEY CAME OUT AND FOUGHT…. THE RED ZONE PLAY CALLING WAS VERY SUSPECT DURING THE OVERIME POSSESSION… MURRAY DIDNT HAVE HIS BEST GAME, BUT FOR A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN HE PLAYED VERY WELL.. OUR OC DIDNT GET NUMBER 8 THE BALL ENOUGH AND TRIED TOO WHEN EVERYONE IN THE STADIUM KNEW WHO HE(MURRAY) WOULD BE THROWING TOO ON 3RD AND 9 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD…IT LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE THE PLAY COX THREW LAST YEAR THAT GOT A.J. BANGED UP… WHY ARE WE SO PREDICTABLE ON OFFENSE?
Scott
October 30th, 2010
9:25 pm
You’d have to say this game was Richt’s Last Stand.
That’s got to be the end of the Richt era.
Bruce Springsteen
October 30th, 2010
9:25 pm
I think that Georgia’s arrests and poor football play might make an excellent song.
Thanks DAWGS!
Fitten
October 30th, 2010
9:26 pm
EVERY YEAR we have stupid turnovers
EVERY YEAR we come out flat
EVERY YEAR we don’t look mentally ready to play
THE CONSTANT
EVERY YEAR we are stuck with Coach Mark Richt
3-18
October 30th, 2010
9:26 pm
Better luck next year. Go Dawgs! Go Sarah Palin! Go Christine O’Donnell, Go Mark Richt.