Mike Bobo and Mark Richt aren’t why Georgia lost to Auburn
Auburn might have had more sacks had it not been for Aaron Murray's scrambling ability. (Associated Press)
Some more thoughts on Georgia’s loss to Auburn. …
As I mentioned briefly Saturday night, you can quibble with some of Mike Bobo’s calls in the game against the Tigers, particularly when he tried things (I’m thinking Branden Smith in the wildcat or screen passes to the short side of the field on third-and-long) that seemed to have much less of a chance of working than simply throwing it in A.J. Green’s direction.
And while Auburn hitman Nick Fairley (I feel the need for Purell hand sanitizer after just typing his name) is more than a handful to block, the Dogs’ pass protection faltered a bit too often Saturday. The Dogs only gave up four sacks, but that amount might have been close to doubled had it not been for Aaron Murray’s elusiveness and scrambling ability. And besides taking a lot of late hits, Murray was hurried on some key plays, like the too-high pass to Kris Durham in the end zone late in the third quarter when one of the backs missed his block.
And, yes, you can question Mark Richt running out the final 50-odd seconds of the first half rather than trying to get some more points. Perhaps he also should have been a bit more forceful in warning his kickoff return team about the possibility of an on-side kick to open the second half. And, frankly, I think he blinked in the eye-to-eye confrontation with Auburn when he called for a field goal at the end of the third quarter. When you’re in a shootout with an offense that eats up clock, you have to make the most of every possession you get.
But overall Bobo and the Georgia offense were what kept the Dogs in the game, and with the exception of the on-side kick I don’t think Richt and company got outcoached by Gene Chizik.
The reason Georgia lost against Auburn was pretty much the same reason the Dogs have lost five other games: The defense just isn’t up to current SEC or past UGA standards.
And this isn’t a complaint about Todd Grantham’s schemes. It didn’t matter what signals he called Saturday against the Tigers defense, the players on the field simply weren’t capable of stopping Cam Newton and company. The lack of a nose guard able to take control of the line of scrimmage has pretty much submarined Grantham’s attempt to install his 3-4 defense this year and unless Georgia manages to scrounge up a big JUCO player, I wonder how much better it’ll be next year.
Of course, nobody has really stopped Newton, so I’ll give them that. But as a frustrated Justin Houston lamented after the game, the Tigers did a lot of damage with players other than Newton running the reverse, including gashing the Dogs for 31 yards one time and 48 yards another time. Houston blamed “blown assignments” and defenders not being “where they were supposed to be,” adding, “Some guys weren’t as focused as they need to be and it hurt us. It’s been hurting us all season.”
Indeed it has, especially in the secondary, where Georgia’s safety play has been consistently poor. Bacarri Rambo may have snagged a key interception on a tipped ball Saturday, but otherwise his play was tentative much of the evening. And while I suppose it was to be expected that Georgia would be keying on the run since that’s Auburn’s bread and butter (that’s all they did in the third quarter), the Dogs defenders seemed to completely forget that Newton also can throw the ball. He ended up completing 12 of 15 passes (80 percent) for 148 yards and two touchdowns, and that was with a couple of drops in the first half by wide-open receivers.
Come to think of it, on just about all Auburn’s completions the receiver was open. You expect that sort of thing early in the season after a new defense has been installed. But when it’s still happening in the 11th game, you have to conclude the folks out on the field mostly just aren’t capable of getting it done.
Finally, a couple of observations on the way our so-called “country cousins” at Auburn handled this major rivalry game. Afterward, Chizik might have declared himself “disappointed” and “not happy” about two of his players getting ejected when tempers started to flare late, but as I noted in my previous blog he seemed to be doing anything but trying to keep his players’ emotions in check on the sideline.
And then there was the reaction of the Auburn fans when Georgia linebacker Reuben Faloughi went down with a leg injury in the fourth quarter, resulting in the Tigers’ hurry-up game getting slowed down momentarily.
They booed the hurt player.
Really classy. War damn eagle, indeed.
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636 comments Add your comment
ranger bulldog
November 15th, 2010
6:30 pm
Since the o line couldn’t protect Murray’ and our coaches weren’t protesting anainst dirty play, we should take a knee.How sad it has come to that.
Turner Bostwick
November 15th, 2010
7:17 pm
Rambo continues to hurt the team by his uncontrolable play, his attitude stinks,typical So WE Ga player who thinks he is bigger than life, especally when he makes a play 15 or 20 yards down field, you’d think he had saved the game rather acknowledged a blown assignment – UGA will never rise to its pass level of play until,when and if it replaces its Dbacks and recruits better in that area – SoWEGa Fan
Big Dawg
November 15th, 2010
7:20 pm
I am sure ole N. Saban and his guys are going to figure out a way to keep their QB from getting crushed in the back especially when or if they are already down 18 points. I also can’t believe UGA didn’t try to score in the last 50 seconds of the first half, then came out completely unprepared for the onside kick at the start of the 2nd staff and finally kicking a field goal instead of actually trying to win the game and keep our defense off the field….once again it came down to coaching and Gene but up on CMR
DAWGS might get thumped
November 15th, 2010
7:36 pm
In our last 2 games to only score 31 we have lost. (Fla and Aub) That is the D my friend.
Agree unless we can get some better coverage and run stoppers in the middle we will have to be like Hawaii again next year.
O for the bend but not break D.
11 Arrests 5 Wins
November 15th, 2010
7:37 pm
GA fans talking about dirty play and “class”. Now, THAT is TOO FUNNY! LOL!!!
ChainConsq
November 15th, 2010
7:57 pm
Auburn fans defending Fairley are either stupid or violent people.
Class, what class?
November 15th, 2010
8:22 pm
GA fans talking about dirty play and “class”. Now, THAT is TOO FUNNY! LOL!!!
Yowza, you’re right about that!
Orange10
November 15th, 2010
8:39 pm
The key to beating GA is run your QB. It’s happened in every GA loss this year. This last guy had 151 yds. Sounds kind of sci-fi doesn’t it.
Delbert D.
November 15th, 2010
8:43 pm
I guess Urban Meyer is no longer Public Enemy #1.
An observer among disgusting whining jawja fans
November 15th, 2010
8:54 pm
My gosh, the reason they lost is because when another player plays dirty like Williams on defense and Ben “I ate too much” Jones on offense, the Hump Nation strokes out. Georgia your disgusting whining fan base makes me puke.
An observer among disgusting whining jawja fans
November 15th, 2010
8:57 pm
Check out the elbow whining Hump Nation! Lets hear you talk about this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0357VcZfmE&feature=related
Vince
November 15th, 2010
9:08 pm
What’s there to see?
An observer among disgusting whining jawja fans
November 15th, 2010
9:25 pm
Nothing VInce, it is perfectly legal to knock another players helmet off with a forearm. I hope Tech ends Murray’s career so the humpers really have something to whine about.
Kevin
November 15th, 2010
9:37 pm
I re-watched the game today. Fairly needs to be punished, and I think Chizik will do just that. The first play of the game, if you remember, was a personal foul against GA. The game was dirty on both sides. The knock on Murray’s leg was an accident and that injury angered a frustrated O-line that was basically getting blown off the line for the entire second half. I agree AU looked dirty in that game, but I have watched them all season and I think the dirty dawgs brought it out in them. You guys are the king of dirt, stomping on Florida’s symbol a few years ago, always talking trash. This is football after all, so some players do play rough. I suggest that instead of being mad at the AU defense for hurting your QB, perhaps you recruit some men to block for him. Then maybe you can beat the likes of Colorado and not be 5-6. WDE
Macon Dawg Lover
November 15th, 2010
9:52 pm
I can’t take it anymore. I’m giving up on the dawgs, we just suck so bad. I’m going to cheer for GA State from now on. Maybe my new team can beat Bama this weekend. GO PANTHERS!
srcdawg1
November 15th, 2010
10:02 pm
bill good comments. i have written too the sec comm. office in regards to the officiating in saturday’s game. this group needs be suspended along with Fairley. the officials let it get out of control in the 1st quarter when they let cam newton get by with a shot to the head ” not a stiff- arm” i don’t care Heisman or not you have to call that flag. that set the tempo for the game. the ref’s were to blame. i hope fat A$$ fairley gets his payback against bama. roll TIDE.
Dawg Tired
November 15th, 2010
10:14 pm
It is tough to beat the best team money can buy. However, this win, along with all the others this season will be vacated when the NCAA is finished confirming that Cecil Newton actually did ask for money. The real question is just how much was really paid. I will say it was a brilliant move to play a player after being notified before the game there were eligibility issues. I’m sure that will gain a lot of favor from the NCAA enforcement guys. Of course, without Cam, they lose anyway, but at least they would show some good faith in handling the situation. As it is, they have demonstrated bad faith. Winning is obviously more important than doing the right thing. The penalties could be pretty gruesome when this is all finished with. Maybe CGC can get a job in the NFL – maybe as head coach at Seattle. After these forfeitures are on the books, his record at Iowa State may not look so bad.
Actually I feel bad for the many friends and relatives of mine who are Auburn grads and fans. They are good folks. None of them is happy about any of this. They’ve expressed embarrassment, especially about the school’s decision to play Cam even after being told he might be ineligible. Several have let me know how bad they feel about how dirty Fairly played. I’ve told them he is not representative of Auburn, but CGC needs to take action to correct such behavior. He needs to condemn it it no uncertain terms. One of my best friends ever played linebacker for Auburn for Coach Jordan (a fine man) and tells me Shug would have not put up with that crap. I sadly told my friend since childhood, “Well, I’m not expecting any such action from your current coach.” I sincerely hope I’m wrong.
nashvilledog
November 15th, 2010
10:17 pm
They booed because they thought the player was faking it and trying to stop Auburn’s momentum….
Big Wally Dawg
November 15th, 2010
10:24 pm
Scumbag Fairley could be caught in bed with a dead, underage boy, and Auburn fans would defend him.
DawgFan
November 15th, 2010
10:29 pm
Les Miles is trying to set the stage for LSU, who will not play for the conference championship gets a shot at the National Chamionship….oh I seem to remember in 2007 when the best team in the league was in the same situation and the polls jumped LSU over UGA even though they knew UGA was the better team. All everyone could say then was how a team that did not WIN their conference could not win the NC. If that was the rule then, it should be the same rule now Les, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Dawg Tired
November 15th, 2010
10:31 pm
Kevin – I hope you are right about your coach doing the right thing. That will surprise me based on his apparent approval by letting Fairley continue to play after a clear cheap shot designed to intentionally injure another player. Also, I must say it is pretty weak, not to mention uncalled for, to blame your team”s dirty play on the other team. No one else has tried to intentionally injure any of our players this year. The guys in the national media have certainly made it clear how inappropriate Fairley’s hit in the back of Murray with his helmet was. I don’t expect gutless Slive to do anything. Therefore, the only way Fairley gets appropriately punished is for CGC to do what needs to be done. To date, he has not indicated he has the wherewith-all to do that, but maybe you are right.
As for our obviously poor record, what do you think your record would be without Cam? CMR did not play AJ when told their were eligibility issues. I think our record would be much better if he had played those 4 games. I assume you get my point.
Again, I hope this all works out for Auburn. I also hope CGC steps up and does the right thing. You seem to think he will, I hope you are right.
Big Wally Dawg
November 15th, 2010
10:36 pm
Can only hope that the Ga. dome roof collapses during the SECCG.
TigerJack
November 15th, 2010
10:42 pm
Bill, I think Richt & Bobo did get outcoached. The evidence: 50 sec left in the first half – You’ve got the best receiver in college football, The best field goal kicker in the SEC, facing the worst secondary in the SEC in a game that you knew every point was important and you run out the clock. Then, Auburn takes the ball our of your hands to open the second half with an on-side kick. That’s two possessions you squandered. I call that being out coached!
cg
November 15th, 2010
10:53 pm
Bill, you are a pathetic, whining, crybaby Georgia fan. With regards to the booing…. the player was not being booed. The Georgia coaches were. The injured player was walking off the field on his own accord when the Georgia coaches motioned for him to lay down for an injury time out 5 yards from the sideline. Just so happened that he was in front of the Auburn student section. The entire stadium saw it and reacted to it. Georgia players were called for personal fouls numerous times, including late hits. Fairley was blocked into Murray but UGA whiny losers will never admit that. GA players decided to pound his face into the ground, which resulted in the altercation. Not to mention the UGA fan who set fire to Toomers Corner. Gee, my fingers feel dirty just typing UGA.
Gen Neyland
November 15th, 2010
11:20 pm
Lost any respect for Fairley during the LSU game. Researched Fairley. Found this snipet. Thought you Dawgs would ‘enoy’ a peek into the mind of Fairley :
>>> There was the Fairley and Bynes sack of Lee in the first half, the piledriver Fairley put on Lee on an incompletion that sent the LSU signal-caller to the sidelines for a couple of series and the two times the Auburn junior got to Jefferson in the backfield.
The most emphatic hit of the day didn’t even count, when Fairley peeled off the guard, tracked Jefferson down and lit him up. A full two seconds after the whistle blew for an LSU procedure penalty.
“Coach Rocker asked me, ‘Why you always trying to slam the quarterback?’ Fairley said. “And I was like, ‘When you’re in a fight with somebody and you slam them, you take the heart out of them.’”
Or, to put it more simply: “I did all this work, I got to hit you. You know?”
Edwarto
November 15th, 2010
11:23 pm
Enter your comments here
Edwarto
November 15th, 2010
11:25 pm
If we dont like the guy hitting our qb, we ought to block better. Meanwhile, so true about the defense, it has been pretty sorry going on three years………
Georgia Whiners
November 16th, 2010
12:01 am
So Chizik was the cause of the brawl now? Funny because I remember Auburn staying on the sidelines when the game got nasty but I seem to recall almost all of the Georgia players being on the field where was the so saintly Richt then? Thats right he was on the field screaming with the rest of the UGA trash. You should go back and watch what started the brawl before you stating how perfect Georgia players are, if you watch you will see #3 coming at Fairly HELMET FIRST at knee level while Nick was engaged with a lineman. You do also remember the chop block on Fairley earlier in the game right?
The play where Nick hit Murray in the back was bad and deserved a penalty, the play where Murray got hurt happens 15 times in a football game. Nick was falling and never make a move to grab Murray it was bad luck and nothing more.
Roy Wood
November 16th, 2010
12:08 am
Just take the reins off def coach Granthan quit worring about a few choaking signs let him coach like Van Gorder used too. recruit a few head hunters and we will be in business.I have never pulled for Bama in my Life but I sure will when they play.I dont worry about Newton he will get his when they find out where the money went.Maby Fairley will get run over by a car.They are right this will never be a friendly game again Chizik made sure of that.Remember what I said the sun dont shine on the same DOGS A– always I doubt this will post but what the heck
larry
November 16th, 2010
7:08 am
It isn’t news that Auburn has no class or that they countenance animalistic behavior by their players and their fans. That’s been their stock in trade for years. They are winners without honor and achievers who have nothing to admire or to emulate.
Skeeter
November 16th, 2010
7:08 am
I certainly hope SC beats AU. It would be extremely embarrassing to have the dirtiest team in the SEC represent us in the NC game.
AltamahaDawg
November 16th, 2010
7:11 am
cg, unfortunetely thats the nature of booing and why it is so classless. You don’t get to force the players into knowing that “oh its not you, it was just the coaches”. They don’t have to accept that explaination to make you feel better about your actions. You BOOED, the man was hurt laying on the ground, you look like an ass, it doesn’t matter why. End of story.
AltamahaDawg
November 16th, 2010
7:13 am
Maybe the NCAA needs to come up with YET ANOTHER rule to prevent intentionally hurting players as a result of the AU game. (Rosegreeen)
Bobo's A Duldo
November 16th, 2010
7:38 am
You are wrong about the bad coaching of Richt. You say it wasn’t bad then you say exactly why it WAS bad coaching : “Not trying to get the td instead of the td,running out 50 seconds at half not trying to score,not ready for onside kick”.
# 9 Ogletree is the worst db I’ve ever seen period. He couldn’t cover you with 100 pounds of armor on you, Bill. Does Grantham teach playing off receivers 20 yards ???
THIRTY FOUR POINTS to your thirty one points
November 16th, 2010
7:38 am
just a reminder
(((((((((((((((((((((((((34-31))))))))))))))))))))
8 out of 10
18 out of 21
3 straight
THIRTY FOUR POINTS to your thirty one points
November 16th, 2010
7:43 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0357VcZfmE&feature=related
stw
November 16th, 2010
8:17 am
What else do you expect from Alabama’s ungle little sisters??
stw
November 16th, 2010
8:26 am
AN OBSERVER AMONG WHINING, ET AL: Do you actually believe Tech ends Murray’s career? If so you are a sick SOB..
Mitch is a tool
November 16th, 2010
8:29 am
Mike is simply dumb.
RMikel58
November 16th, 2010
8:35 am
I agree that the offense in last saturday’s defeat performed quite well. But Aaron Murray needs to get that screen play down better. Under throwing and over throwing backs coming from the backfield was something a 5th grader does. Need to work on that better Murray. Why didnt Bobo double team Fairley more or make adjustments after the half?
Still think no matter what Bobo needs to go, even if we do good i still think his inexperience hurts Georgia. Georgia gets all that talent and Bobo never seems to know how to utilize it. We look great with weaker teams but the real good ones we seem to stumble.
I tell you Georgia had alot better talent against Auburn but they had a spectacular athlete Cam Newton and he made the difference.
Im not sure how i would have played them even if you put linebackers on him and defensive ends it seemed he still found a way to get around them with his deceptive speed. I saw several plays where the Defensive Ends got sucked into the play and they went around them on reverses and mis direction plays.
Todd Grantham im sure yelled at them to stay put and contain the ends but when they were containing the defensive ends would rush too far up field and Cam Newton would hit the gap for lots of yards.
Grantham seeing this should have blitzed the Cornerbacks and had one-on-one coverage to pressure Newton. He ran what 40-50 times? They ran off the ends and on the right guard and tackle slots. Mostly 3 areas they seem to favor alot.
Players on Defense havedone this all year not lining up or being in the right spot for coverage. It shows that alot of the players are not used to Granthams system yet so hopefully next season the players will be better acclimated but i still think it will take 2 more years to know if we have a good defense or a bad one.
Tired of the whining
November 16th, 2010
8:39 am
stw
November 16th, 2010
8:17 am
What else do you expect from Alabama’s ungle little sisters??
We expect the same as you get from Florida’s little sisters: see below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0357VcZfmE&feature=related
Bill's country cousin
November 16th, 2010
8:40 am
You’ve embarrassed yourself with the last two blogs, Bill. I realize things were nicely set up for a big Bulldog win Saturday, but jeez, grow up, man. God forbid that Awbarn should win one after four years of losses, a couple of them pretty humiliating. And your reaction is to beef and whine about late hits and that big meany No. 90 and overzealous fans. The real sign of CLASS is how you lose, and you and the mob cheering you on here have failed the test. Now excuse me while I go use some Purell to wash off the stench of this blog….
RMikel58
November 16th, 2010
8:52 am
Todd Grantham pulling those corners back 20 yards is like giving a team 1st downs and eating up yards. Todd why do u do that? Ogletree and Vance Cuff are terrible at coverage and you should know that and make adjustments.
Put Branden Smith on one on one coverage and double team. I hate the zone coverage, those guys go back 10-15 yards and you know the QB is gonna throw underneath. When the other teams hike the ball and their tight end and RB come out on the flats why dont you let the LB’s cross on the play?
This may result in an interception or an immediate tackle with a few yards gained. Plus coming across and putting a hard hit might make that player think twice about catching a pass the next time.
We know that their gonna dump the ball for short gains because these are high percentage plays and you dont have to do this every play, just mix it up.
Dont do the usual usual coverage……….. go 5 instead of 10 yards, go 12 instead of 15. Play up and jam the wideouts before they take off to disrupt or delay the pattern.
Oh yeah this off season you guys need to find a RB more like Moreno Herschel Walker type because Washaun is too timid running. Richt came from a passing team Florida State and Bobo was a QB and they both like to pass the ball instead of running.
Bobo's A Duldo
November 16th, 2010
8:58 am
Its pretty simple. The db’s need to block the recievers at the line of scrimmage and it will throw off the timing of every pass play. Why they line up 10 yards off them is a mystery to me. Why give a receiver 10 yards to juke you ? Just line up and tie him up at the line of scrimmage for 3 seconds and the pocket will collapse on the qb.
A-Ville Ranger
November 16th, 2010
8:58 am
Mark Richt is the HC. He is absolutely responsible for these continued problems.
simplythetruth
November 16th, 2010
8:59 am
The nominees for SEC Dirty Players of the Year are Nick Fairely (AU) and Ben Jones(UGA). Both have video clips of their cheapest hits. Give the award to both of them and let’s get back to playing ball.
Bobo's A Duldo
November 16th, 2010
9:00 am
The UGA defense is pathetic. You are up 21-7 on Auburn them lay down ? Richt’s gotta go…
Bobo's A Duldo
November 16th, 2010
9:02 am
Bill you need another blog picture. You look like a big headed goof ball. Your head looks too big for your body.
Utahjazz1
November 16th, 2010
9:03 am
And Ga. chopblocking all night (feel like I need to wash my hands because of the dirtiness of Ga’s line play) isn’t dirty? 1 called…4 more observed. cmon…it’s what led to the Aubie’s finally getting fed up with it. There was enough dirty play to go around…but that’s the whole SEC as far as I’m concerned (INCLUDING Ga and Auburn)…..This from one who doesn’t even have a pony in the race.
Bobo's A Duldo
November 16th, 2010
9:05 am
# 90 Fairley hit Murray 3 seconds after the play was over in spearing him with his helmet in the back. He wasn’t even ejected. He should have been ejected,forced to sit out the Bama game, and fined.