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
Travis McGee
November 15th, 2010
4:17 am
There were eleven personal fouls called in the game: six against the Dawgs and five against the Tigers.
Looks like there were few angels on the field as the Dawgs got their cropped tails handed to them by a hard hitting undefeated, championship contending, Auburn team.
StatesBurr
November 15th, 2010
4:23 am
The SEC washed their hands of Cam Newton which is evident of the last hour meeting with all parties including the NCAA. From great sources the meeting was a chance for the SEC to ensure that no matter what happens Auburn will be responsible for the decisions. Mr Slive wanted that assurance from the NCAA and he wanted it announced through the media, live, during the game.
The thought is through many parties around the program that the NCAA has only scratched the surface in the investigation and thats why so many other schools have chimed up in order to clear themselves. It is very dirty and no one wants the residual affect of this blast.
According to sources Auburn has no choice because Chizik vehemently argued that at this time with recruiting, 11-0, and BCS ranking he was going to play Newton and play the odds. It was a divided group in the Auburn camp as a who;e they knew it was bad and could get a whole lot worse in the following months, especially during the Alabama week.
I will say this , you can take the above and put it in the bank as legit.
Outside Observer
November 15th, 2010
5:19 am
Live by thug football, die by thug football. Perhaps UGA should think before they dance in any endzones again.
legionaire
November 15th, 2010
6:05 am
Fairley is a cheap shot artist and will get his. I knew that UGA would have a problem with the 3-4 because no one wants to play nose guard unless they are like a Warren Sapp. The NFL can pay guys to play it but a bluechipper can go to any school and not have to worry about having his knees and ankles injured with the double teaming he will be getting on every play.Scrap Grantham and the 3-4. Cash Newton will probably not play next year because if the IRS is now investigating John Bond and preacher Newton’s church it won’t be long.
Savannah Dawg
November 15th, 2010
6:44 am
Bill, suppose we could take a mulligan and redo the entire season with just one change. That change is playing the season with Terry Houge at saftey. Think about it, game by game, and what would the revised season look like?
I think there are serious foundation issues with our program and Coach Richt must address these. But how much better would we have been with good safety play throughout the season? Think about how many points were either scored or set up by blown coverages and missed tackles from that position. Now I don’t know if its the scheme, coaching, inferior talent or player attitude but I think if we can fix that position we’re at least 4 games better off.
The ‘ol ball coach pretty much summed things up after winning the SEC East Saturday. In the locker room he said,”… nobody dropped a ball and no one did anything stupid … and we won.”
spike
November 15th, 2010
6:50 am
At least the coaches had the good sense to not play Vance Cuff, or it would have been worse.
JB
November 15th, 2010
6:55 am
We are maybe 4-5 players away on D to compete……An SEC linebacker group would have stopped him. Houston couldn’t by himself……..Dobbs played well
poultryguy
November 15th, 2010
7:00 am
Blog is right on point. The dawgs defense does not have the talent to play for a conference title.
AltamahaDawg
November 15th, 2010
7:18 am
I tend to agree with Savannahdawg. We don’t have the prototypical NG that we need, but we have not had the DB’s to compete with in a long time. 4-3, 3-4, you have to cover somebody.
As far as not seeing any improvement next year? That doesn’t even make sense to say. May not be the championship caliber, but NO WAY a defense does not improve in it’s second year. We win at least 2 more game early this year if these same guys were in thier second year. It was very clear they just didn’t know what to do at full speed. We might reach a point next year where we run up against much better talent and lose the game, but we aren’t going to see guys standing around asking each other who is supposed to be doing what.
Let’s not forget that this was also the first year giving instruction in the 3-4 for some of the new coaches. Not sure how big of a deal that it’s not going to be Grantham first year running a bunch of college boys, but at least its not going to be that on top of everythign else.
Actually considering we didn’t have a single All-SEC selection going in , and everybody is basically learning, they really haven’t done that bad.
FootballFan
November 15th, 2010
7:24 am
Interesting how people are still making excuses for Richt. Guess what? The same people will be making the same excuses for him again next year, the year after, and on and on. Obviously a lot of UGA fans don’t give a damn about being a first-class program.
Jeff
November 15th, 2010
7:26 am
Auburn is about as classless as you can get….booing a hurt player. I hope and pray it comes back to them twofold. sewage is to good of a word to describe Auburn…..we will see them in Athens next year. Hope and pray Bama or SC can take a couple of their players out…..lets see if the BOO them….Auburn disgust me@!
JB
November 15th, 2010
7:31 am
I think all Georgia fans who study this team realize that Defense has been the demise of this team the last 3 or 4 years…..when you continue to score 35-40 points a game….and lose…
Firing Martinez was a good move…..We just need some studs
11 Arrests 5 Wins
November 15th, 2010
7:33 am
Of course, GA sucks.
49-31
November 15th, 2010
7:34 am
BWAAHAHHHHHH……BWWWWAAAHHHHH…..you bunch of freaking 5-6 cry babies!
Laughable
November 15th, 2010
7:38 am
GA complaining about cheap shots is laughable.
big hoss
November 15th, 2010
7:38 am
All you Thugas suck canal water and are only sore because you don’t have a real man like Fairly-Farley on your team. You need to find out how it is that a player like Green who does not have two nickels to rub together is driving an Escalade???? There are no fans worse than the Dawgs. And let us face it, with the Offensive line you have you only win 5 games, next year will be a repeat of this year. Just suck it up!!!I hope the Tech sissies beat the crap out of you.
11 Arrests 5 Wins
November 15th, 2010
7:41 am
Maybe if your “over-rated and over-hyped” joke of an offensive line could block Fairley, you wouldn’t have to complain about your “over-rated over-hyped” QB getting hit.
tom
November 15th, 2010
7:46 am
The game turned when our punter had a 25 yard punt before half and #9 could not cover a tight end twice Pure and simple
1983AUTiger
November 15th, 2010
7:55 am
Why is no one talking about the two (one called one not called) chop blocks against Fairley. You call us thugs and classless. Where were all of you hyprocrites when Knowshon Marino was dancing and making an ass out of himself at the blackout game. That is ok for him to rub it in. Its ok for him to taunt Auburn, but God forbid anyone do anything to the freaking UGA nation.
since Saturday you lovely bunch of people have threatened Auburn next year when they come to Athens. Let me tell you, Athens is a horrible place to come if you are a visitor, so it ain’t like you could do a lot more to make it any more miserable than it already is.
Look no further than Mark Richt and the Georgia announcers for this mess. They planted the seed that Fairley did some questionable things and while i agree a couple of the hits were unnecessary, they were not illegal and the refs did not throw a flag. But Georgia had to take things into their own hands. Richt has no control over this team.
STAN
November 15th, 2010
7:56 am
I agree…..B.Rambo is not the player we thought he was when we recruted him. He constantly gets burned on passing routes. He does not need to be on the field. His play is pathetic!!!
BUCK
November 15th, 2010
8:01 am
What I saw was Auburn coaches and the officals loose control of the game. I havent watched many auburn games but if you go back to the Clemson game and check the helment to the back of the clemson qb. you will see the dirty play didnot just start with the Ga. game
1983AUTiger
November 15th, 2010
8:06 am
Jeff – for anyone to say that they hope another player intentionally gets hurt is just sad. And you call Auburn classless. I would be the first to admit a couple of shots Fairley took at Murray were probably not necessary, but definitely not illegal, based on NCAA rules. If they were cheap shots are not, that is in the eye of the beholder. Why would he want to intentionally hurt Murray with 3:00 minutes left in the game?
Robert Horning
November 15th, 2010
8:07 am
As an SC fan I am used to doing poorly. I have to watch little things to be entertained. Auburn is coached dirty. Look at the Clemson QB Parker. He was beaten up also. Garcia was hit late several times and fumbled twice in the fourth. It is NOT just one game , they are coached that way.
1983AUTiger
November 15th, 2010
8:08 am
Ok Buck – so I guess your beloved Bulldogs have not been called for any helmet to helmet contact this year? It’s football!!! When bodies that are as big and fast as they are today that is going to happen.
jtdawg
November 15th, 2010
8:10 am
I’m not pleased with our D. We got whipped and we all know why.
I am all of a sudden a HUGE Nick Saban fan.
Sombody call Kirby Smart and send him a tape of his alma maters game this weekend. Maybe he’ll have some “headhunting” of his own to do…
War Trash Eagle!
1983AUTiger
November 15th, 2010
8:13 am
Robert Horning – has South Carolina been called for any personal fouls this year? There are questionable hits every week.
Kyle Parker was running the ball on a scramble out of the pocket and he got hit as he was going down. It is part of the game.
Do you have facts that Auburn is coached dirty or are you just jumping on the band wagon with the pristine and unbleamished UGA fans?
Phil
November 15th, 2010
8:14 am
Fairley is a dirty player, plain and simple. I was going to pull for Auburn against Alabama, but after Saturday’s game, I hope Alabama chop blocks him on the first play of the game and blows out each knee. And then goes on to blow out Auburn.
G Stings
November 15th, 2010
8:14 am
1983AUTiger Let me tell you, Athens is a horrible place to come if you are a visitor…..
well then don’t come……
jtdawg
November 15th, 2010
8:14 am
I am amazed, or appalled, at the people on here defending that trashy, classless play.
It is amazing that a fanbase is so desparate that this type of play is condoned.
Of all the crap I am embarrased about with my Dawgs, I will take 11 arrest, choke signaling, 5 win teams than be represented by that thuggish trash I saw in Auburn uniforms on Saturday.
You excuse making nuthuggers on here – you’re perfect for each other = trailer trash!!!
jtdawg
November 15th, 2010
8:18 am
Keep sticking up for that trashy play.
Im amazed by the lack of cojones you people leave on the table because of your record.
I am the first to stand and scream that UGA and Richt are flat wrong, and embarrassing, for not suspending Ben Jones for the same type of antics in the MSU game near the end. Ben Jones is trash and I’m not sure he deserves to be a Bulldog after that crap.
What about you guys?? “Oh WAHHH. Everybody is WHINING. We’re 11-0 and Cam Newton is Jesus re-incarnated! Leave us alone!! Every body plays like that!! WAHHHH!”
Plain and simple disgusting trash.
Uhoh
November 15th, 2010
8:18 am
This just in: Auburn just scored again….
1983AUTiger
November 15th, 2010
8:18 am
jtdawg – ok, suppose the two or three hits by Fairley are called as penalties. Does that make a difference in the outcome of the game? NO!!!!
1983AUTiger
November 15th, 2010
8:25 am
jtdawg – your entitled to your opinion. It’s a shame the Bulldog nation has allowed Rex Robinson and Richt to stir this up to the point of threaten people and wanting people intentially hurt.
Brown Eye Be Blue
November 15th, 2010
8:26 am
Seems much ado about nothing & the continuation of offering excuses, crying, moaning etc. The dogs are not a good team no matter how much folks want them to be. There is no doubt that potential is there. Murray should be on of the better QBs in the SEC/Nation shortly. The defense lacks talent to run the 3—4. But the dogs will slap the jackets to sleep.
crapsandwich
November 15th, 2010
8:27 am
Bill, you are so right about our Safety play this season. We all knew we would have problems at the Nose, but the safeties? Williams is the only Safety that has played reasonably well, and we let Ogletree start. How about Ogletree and Williams playing back there? Dump Rambo.
Ogletree was often the “spy” to Newton, yet he continually took himself out of the play. Hamilton was a bust. Georgia has no where to turn for next season except to the Juco route for Safeties and Nose Tackles.
We also lose Dent at LB, Gamble and likely Houston. Wow there is nothing left on the Defensive side of the ball. It will be a long season next year.
michigandawg
November 15th, 2010
8:29 am
When will we know the start time of the Tech game?
auAubie
November 15th, 2010
8:32 am
Bob in Buford and Mike are typical of the Georgia and Auburn fans that don’t want the truth. They want to place all of the blame on each other’s team. It’s good that you Ga. fans have such a classy coach, because both of you want to blame, instead of doing the fair thing like Mark Richt has always done.
Truth-Georgia did a chop block on Au. Forget that?
Truth-AU was wrong to hit ga players with their fists.
Truth-The offical ejected 2 AU players that was needed. but they did not eject numner 60 of Gerogia for the same infraction. Look at the tape.
Truth-Farly got thrown into the quarterback’s legs before the scuffle on a block. i think it was a Ga. player that blocked him.Check the tape.
Truth- Fairly was targeted by 3 Georgia players as he lay on the ground.
no one called a penalty on that danger.???
Before you call AU dirty…Go look at the game. Some Georgia and some Auburn players were dirty,. Not all Georgia and Auburn players were dirty.
Be classy and fair.
KeepDreaming
November 15th, 2010
8:32 am
I will give it to AUB, they outplayed GA across the board (special teams was a nightmare for the Dawgs). How sad it will be when AUB must forfeit another perfect season and miss out on another change for an NC b/c of Cam THE SHAM Newton.
And was it just me, or did it seem like Cecil Newton paid off the announcers for the game? It was a friggin Newton Love Fest. I thought Tebow already graduated! If I had a dollar for every time one of them said “What a feel good story” about Newton. REALLY? FEEL GOOD? I wonder if the person who’s laptop Cam stole has a ‘good’ feeling about the SHAM? Or CUM for that matter…what a joke. Dawg fans will be the ones laughing when the door gets blown off this hoopla surrounding that thug.
JB
November 15th, 2010
8:33 am
I don’t the “class” AU folks agree with the way 90 plays…..The SEC had already warned AU from previous games of his type of play…….The shot he took in Murray’s back two seconds after the ball had left with Murray just standing there should have gotten him ejected. do any open minded AU fans consider that he’s getting chop blocked because of his rep as a dirty player and pile driving QB’s over and over is nor allowed in the NFL, and my bet won’t be allowed in the SEC next year…..Everyone loves a good, clean hit, but you can’t defend this guy…..Lot’s of Bama bloggers on the Birmingham post talking about this guy….Bama will be ready………ROLL TIDE
Bob
November 15th, 2010
8:35 am
Dude…..LOL. Dude……………you are in so much denial. Richt & Bobo the DoDo are jokes and an embarrassment to this great state. They must go now. Bye-bye.
JB
November 15th, 2010
8:36 am
Last week I blogged I hope all this was not true about Cam…… Forget it…..I hope it is and I hope Auburn only has So. Miss games to attend and cheer for for three years. Lesson learned for Dawg fans…..Be careful who you hire to run your program……
jtdawg
November 15th, 2010
8:39 am
Keep defending the trash. Who cares about the outcome of the game? I don’t when it comes to that type of classless play.
Never said anything would have changed, but that trash never belongs on the football field and you people show what is REALLY important to you for defending it.
I feel sorry for your children.
Auburn fans need to know something about UGA fans
November 15th, 2010
8:41 am
You see it is this way:
#1. They have been asleep for 30 years.
#2. They love every player who considers playing for UGA.
#3. They hate every player who decides not to play for UGA.
#4. They love and think Richt is the greatest coach in the US.
#5. They evidently don’t hold Richt responsible for hiring poor assistant coaches.
#6. They complain more about officiating more than the rest of the SEC fan bases combined.
#7. Every year they believe UGA is the preseason #1 team.
#7. They think Erk Russell was the best D-coordinator in the history of football.
#8. They still think Jan Kemp was the villain and Dooley was a saint.
#9. They think that ESPN and the BCS hates UGA.
#10. If any commentator says anything wrong about UGA, they think that they are biased, because after all UGA is the #1 NCAA football program of all time.
#11. They think Mark May hates them (well maybe this one is true).
#12. They think they have the most beautiful women (probably true also).
#13. They think that Spurrier hates them, not true (he does not respect them).
#14. They believe that Richt is the greatest coach in the SEC. Not true, he comes after Saban, Spurrier, Miles, Meyer and Mullen.
#15. Before even seeing Grantham coach, they believed that he was the second coming of Erk.
#16. Kirby is a traitor.
1983AUTiger
November 15th, 2010
8:41 am
JB – I would be the first to admit that Fairley has had some questionable hits, but it is not up to the offensive line of Georgia to levee punishment. If the officials don’t flag a play then the coaches should take it up with the SEC. If the NCAA wants to change the rules then change them, but until then this is still football and it is a contact sport.
JB
November 15th, 2010
8:41 am
Georgia was just defending themselves from a street thug….plain and simple……..Come on NCAA…….Let’s see them play Bama without the ” professional QB “…… The definition is someone who is PAID to perform…..
Auburn fans need to know something about UGA fans
November 15th, 2010
8:44 am
JB, and Hershel was not professional? What a bunch of freaking whining hypocrits jawja fans are.
JB
November 15th, 2010
8:45 am
We know THIS about AU…….tied for second most NCAA infractions in Div 1 the last 30 years…..THAT we DO know……..The AU handshake and wink is still there…….Some Classy AU folks I talked to at the game ARE WORRIED about the program….I would be also……
1983AUTiger
November 15th, 2010
8:46 am
jtdawg – if you are capable of having an intelligent conversation about the game, please join in. If all you plan to do is call names, then I think we see who the trash is.
Jam Kenp
November 15th, 2010
8:46 am
Not only was Hershel a professional football player, he cheated on exams too, or should I say that Vince had someone take his exams for him.
Mark
November 15th, 2010
8:46 am
Bill,
Stop your whining already. In watching the replay last night, had to note that the Dawgs were the first to be penalized for several personal fouls early in the first half and the announcers commented that Georgia’s aggressive play was being fueled by Richt’s “animation” on the sidelines. And let’s not forget before we talk too much about Auburn’s playing rough that it was UGA and Richt who pulled the famous charge the field stunt that almost resulted in a brawl in the UGA-Fla game a few years back. That said, Nick Fairley did add fuel to the fire with some of his hits, but it should be noted that other than the one roughing penalty, no other penalties were called. Until the SEC or NCAA addresses the issue of body slamming quarterbacks as has the NFL, (and they need to do it soon) such hits are legal in college football. The Fairley hit on Murray that ignited the near-brawl was actually not the worst of the day and on the replay it appears Fairley was blocked (for one of the few times all day) into the quarterback. It was the Dawgs who retaliated from there and then made things worse by rushing off the sideline. To be honest, there was plenty of guilt to go around. All that said, fans on both sides should expect better from both players and coaches. The Auburn-Georgia game has always been a special and generally civil rivalry and it will continue to be once the emotions die down.