Fan talk: Dawgs running the spread, Butler’s kick, radio out of sync
Let’s wind up a week in which we learned that Mark Richt and my wife have one major thing in common (pocket dialing) and Coach T apparently already has had his way with Isaiah Crowell by checking some Junkyard Mail …
Could Aaron Murray be effective in the running spread offense? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Josh Cuevas writes: As a UGA alum I love your measured analysis on the Junkyard Blawg. Much better than the staff writers. My question spins off your question concerning what the Dogs have to do to reach lofty expectations. Do you think it’s time for Richt to throw caution to the wind and install something like a running spread offense?
I love old school smash-mouth football, but Georgia’s personnel this year doesn’t seem able to sustain that kind of play.
Here are my reasons for considering a running spread-type offense:
1) a mobile quarterback who has shown he can make good decisions
2) a blue chip running back, but one who doesn’t seem to have the physique to be an inside bulldozer and could probably utilize his speed better and hit some creases if the defense was forced to spread out since the o-line may not open many holes as is
3) a solid but not spectacular receiving corps without a star that would probably benefit from a game plan that spread the ball around
4) an offensive line that is not expected to be able to dominate many defenses at the point of attack
It would be a huge change (and controversial), but it may be the best way to utilize UGA’s personnel. We could still throw it 25-30 times a game and run it about the same, depending on what’s working best, and it could keep defenses on their heels a little instead of letting them pin their ears back and dropping our skill players in the backfield before the play develops.
I just don’t know if the offensive line is going to be strong enough to allow Murray the time to throw or to open holes for Crowell. If they’re not going to be able to do that, the game planning must compensate. Thoughts?
While Urban Meyer had a lot of success in the SEC with a running spread — at least, as long as he had Tim Tebow running it — I’ve never been convinced it’s a great base offense in this league and I think defenses have gotten a lot more adept at handling it. But more than that, I’m not sure the run spread would be the best use of Aaron Murray’s talents. Yes, he has the ability to run, but I think he’s able to use it more effectively with play-action in Richt’s pro set. Also, I’m not sure Murray could take the pounding that he’d have to endure in the spread. However, I do think introducing more spread into the Dogs’ offense on a spot basis would be a great idea. It would make Georgia less predictable — a real problem at times with Mike Bobo calling the signals.
Let’s throw the question to other fans: What do you think about Georgia and the spread?
Huck writes: Hey Bill … Have been enjoying your blogs, as always. Need a question answered and thought your memory might be better than mine. I know that the first “modern era” night game was against Clemson — but do you know if the 1984 “100 thousand mile” Butler field goal game was a night contest? Thanks!
I was pretty sure the game where Kevin Butler’s last-minute field goal broke the hearts of Clemson fans was a day game and UGA sports communications director Claude Felton confirms it: “No, it was not at night nor televised. Kickoff time for that game was 1:30 p.m.”
Claude adds, “In these days we live in, it’s really hard to imagine back in the early ’80s there were very few of our games on TV. People can’t believe it when I tell them that in 1980, our first game on TV was the 8th game of the season!”
Mark Edgar writes: Bill, I’m trying to find out who to contact to encourage the UGA radio broadcast to sync with the TV broadcast. I like to listen to Scott and Eric but also like to watch the action on TV. Unfortunately, the radio broadcast is several seconds ahead of television. If this syncing could be done, I bet the radio broadcast ratings would increase because I’m sure that I’m not the only Dawg fan who would appreciate this change.
I know what you mean. My brothers and I have tried listening to the UGA radio broadcasts with Scott Howard and Eric Zeier while watching the game on TV, but having the play be just about over on the radio as it’s just starting on the TV is just too distracting.
Unfortunately, there’s really no way for the UGA radio network to sync up with the TV broadcast since the amount of delay varies depending on how you’re receiving your television signal. Cable adds a delay and a satellite service like DirecTV delays it even further.
Apparently the only way to really match the UGA radio broadcast with a live television broadcast is to watch on your computer and use a program like Griffin’s RadioShark for the radio signal. It works like a Tivo, recording the broadcast so that you can pause it and pick back up where you were, and this allows you to time-shift the radio coverage to sync it up with the TV picture. At least, that’s what they claim. You can find out more about RadioShark here.
Got a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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300 comments Add your comment
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
June 19th, 2011
1:37 pm
7576DAWG:
HOW CAN WE TAKE YOUR COMMENTS SERIOUSLY WHEN YOU SAY RICHT PICKED MARTINEZ OVER VAN GORDER TO BE THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR….VAN GORDER COULD HAVE BEEN THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR FOREVER AT UGA UNDER RICHT…VAN GORDER HEADED OFF TO THE PROS…YOU GOT TO GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT IF YOU WANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY…THINK RICHT WOULD SEND A GUY PACKING LIKE VAN GORDER WHO HAD BEEN AS SUCCESSFUL AS VAN GORDER HAD BEEN AND PUT A GUY IN HIS PLACE WHO WAS THE SECONDARY COACH…YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING….
7576DAWG
June 19th, 2011
1:39 pm
I can’t wait to see how good our defense is.this year. We certainly have the depth to shut down anyone. I think we will find out Grantham’s defense will keep us in every game and the offense will only have to score 18 to 24 points to win, like the old Junkyard Dawgs use to do.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
June 19th, 2011
1:45 pm
7576DAWG:
Yea, the defense was great last year against Tech…They score 41 points without Nesbitt in the game playing QB…It might have gone in the 60’s had Nesbitt played….
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 19th, 2011
1:46 pm
Man take the caps off!
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 19th, 2011
1:48 pm
Maybe it’s just me…… but I thought UGA beat GT 42-34 last year.
7576DAWG
June 19th, 2011
1:48 pm
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
I don’t think very much effort was given by CMR to keep Van Gorder and it didn’t take long for Richt to promote his best friend. I said back then and I will still say that if your head coach can make 3 million your offensive and defensive coordinators are worth at least halk of that. To keep a great coordinator
old time dog
June 19th, 2011
1:49 pm
L O dawg, Seems you know alot more than me fellow. Just FYI, I saw my first game at Sanford 52 years ago and have been a pretty avid fan ever since. I am not suggesting there have been total disappointments or your stupidity of saying I expect a NC every year. What I like to see is a football team that is balanced enough to be able to line up and control their destiny on the field. No matter the argument you may have with my thoughts On Richt and co., it is readily apparent they often are outcoached and have their team unprepared for a number of opponents. I am still an UGA fan whoever runs the show, only objective and reasonable enough to spot what has been readily apparent.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 19th, 2011
1:51 pm
The Offense scored 30pts 8 straight games with a Freshman QB and folks still complain about Bobo.Crazy
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 19th, 2011
1:52 pm
Mark Richt’s 10 year record is better than any coach in UGA history.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 19th, 2011
1:54 pm
It has to be one of the best in College Football history.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 19th, 2011
1:57 pm
The man’s had 1 losing seasons in over 20 years as a HC and OC.
old time dog
June 19th, 2011
2:05 pm
Great for those who like Richt as coach. I don’t. He is a good recruiter and has thus far kept us out of trouble with recruiting violations. Just feel he has not been as in sync with having control and being able to have the team ready as they should have been. I also think it is arguable that some other individual as coach, whoever that might be, could win in Athens besides Richt. Wish him and the boys good luck but still don’t think he is anything special in coaching the collegiate level. Argue away. It will not change my disdain for Richt and co.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 19th, 2011
2:09 pm
The record speaks for itself old time dawg ..but to each it’s own I guess.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 19th, 2011
2:11 pm
It’s hard to imagine that you weren’t upset with Vince too…. considering how mediocre we were at times back in the 70’s.
7576DAWG
June 19th, 2011
2:19 pm
I wasn’t complaining about Bobo not scoring enough. It was the way he scored and not taking eight minutes to do it which would wear down the other teams defense , which would let us control the 4th quarter.
Grantham was hired in January 2010 for the purpose of bringing in a Pro- Defense , the 3-4. He had very little to say about the 2011 recruits that sign a letter in February 2010. Grantham’s job was to take 4-3 trained players and the freshmen who were recruited for the 4-3 and retrain the entire defense to excel running the 3-4. An impossible task when you take in consideration he was hired in January 2010. Only someone delusional would think the defense wasn’t going to make a lot of mistakes last year. And they certainly did that but IT WAS EXPECTED. That’s when an experienced great offensive coordinator would have stepped up and realized that we need eight minute drives not 2 minute scoring plays. We needed to keep our defense off the field as much as possible.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 19th, 2011
2:32 pm
We started a Freshman at QB…he went through his first two SEC road games without AJ.. a NFL 1st rd pick.31,31,41,42 that’s what we scored against our 4 biggest rivals.I thought Bobo did a great job with Murray last year.
MikeP
June 19th, 2011
2:36 pm
I haven’t read 168 responses, so apologies if this is redundant but: You can order an item online called a “Sports Radio”. It has a controller on it that allows a delay of up to ten seconds, so it’s possible to sync the radio with the TV. The Auburn games I didn’t attend last year were much more enjoyable at home by listening to the home town broadcasters while watching TV. The thing costs $49.99 plus a few dollars shipping.
Part B: It’s not necessary to have a power running QB to successfully run the spread offense. QB’s like Tebow and Newton are nice, but they’d be nice in any system. Coaches like Richt and Saban will eventually wake up and install the spread but as an Auburn fan, the longer they put it off the happier I am.
7576DAWG
June 19th, 2011
2:39 pm
I love CMR but I wish he would admit that at times Bobo seems completely lost and that being a coordinator for a top ten ,1-A college team especially in the SEC , so far, has been way over Bobo’s head.
old time dog
June 19th, 2011
2:53 pm
SWD88, I have hopes UGA comes out swinging this season. Alot of what I have read and heard is encouraging but if we are honest about it, only time will tell. I really think the defense will be better for obvious reasons and that of course helps the offense. It is conceivable that Richt has seen his shortcomings and can right the ship so to speak. I am admittedly old school in liking a strong defense and power running game. I realize balance is ideal on offense but think we have become neglectful in running the ball effectively. Not a coach, so I basically just have my theories on why this has occured. I lost favor with Richt early on with some of his decisions and way of running the program. I felt he was somewhat immature as a coach but should grow into the job. Maybe the former AD emphasized him being more the CEO type of coach and that possibly led to recent disappointments. We may never know. At any rate, it would tickle me for Richt and co. to prove me wrong. As it stands now though, he needs to get things done. Sorry for my long post.
Carl Spackler
June 19th, 2011
3:10 pm
@Joey…thanks for your thoughts on my post, however the wildcat at Florida is not treated as a gimmick play, but is used as part of their offensive scheme…Tyler Burton is pretty good as a running QB/WildCat type of player…if the defense was not so lost last year with the new 3-4, I really doubt that the wildcat formations would had been so successful against UGA…basically, every team exploited/adjusted to the last years short comings; whether is was before, or during the game(s) and it wasn’t just the wildcat formation…CTG had his hat handed to him because he didn’t have the necessary players in house to run a 3-4, and some of his key players admitted that they were “lost,” however this year should be different with a new NG and a year of experience under their belts…again thanks for the feedback
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 19th, 2011
4:38 pm
Snoop Dawg,
I am not using any other name. This is it. You must be getting paranoid because you spend so much time cutting down CMR that other folks get on your case. Maybe if you weren’t so negative you wouldn’t be so paranoid. Your comments are just too stupid to warrant me paying much attention to you, so you will have to get another angle to cover your paranoid behavior.
Dreaming On
June 19th, 2011
4:52 pm
It will be soooooo enjoyable watching Boise State destroy the dawgs’ absurdly-named dream team. After USC, it will be the nightmare team.
Say goodbye to Saint Mark!
LakeHardingDawg
June 19th, 2011
5:04 pm
I was at the Clemson game with a customer that was a Clemson fan. I was very nice and civil, because he was my customer. He never bought anything from me again. At the time he worked for Campbell Soup. It was years before I bought any Campbell Soup again.
Ga Alum 79
June 19th, 2011
5:14 pm
Yes, the O-line will make or break the dawgs this next season….also, the dream team is still a bunch of freshman with no experience….look for another long season but look out in 2 years whoever the coach…
UGADawg83
June 19th, 2011
5:33 pm
The only thing more lame than Bill’s comments are the questions he picks. AJC PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get a decent author for this blog.
Cheaters never win...
June 19th, 2011
5:36 pm
Liar, liar, pants on fire, Georgia. Keep lying and and you could be the next Ohio State.
True enough, it’s coming, and the cheaters in Athens will be exposed even worse that the Jan Kemp debacle.
In the long run, cheaters never win.
DawgByte
June 19th, 2011
6:03 pm
We don’t need a spread offense. We just need to be less predictable and a tad more creative using the pro style offense.
heeldawg
June 19th, 2011
6:22 pm
There will be doubters all summer long.
Those who think Richt would cheat are just plain wrong.
CMR may not win every game,
And Bobo’s play-calling may at times be called lame,
But a lack of coaching character is not to blame.
Can’t wait until fall.
That’s all.
DJ
June 19th, 2011
6:46 pm
a) Bobo has no clue how to beat teams with winning records:
11th in SEC in scoring
12th in to margin
10th in rushing
12th in red zone td’s
b) Murray is 0-6 against winning teams, 6-1 against losing teams.
c) Richt’s 2-9 against ranked teams last 2 seasons.
UTurnU
June 19th, 2011
6:48 pm
Richt has te program in the wrong direction.
11 wins in 2007
10 wins in 2008
8 wins in 2009
6 wins in 2010
Richt wins elss games than te year before 7 out of alst 8 seasons.
12% chance Richt wins more than 5 game sin 2011, 88% he goes 5-7 or worse.
UTurnU
June 19th, 2011
6:57 pm
Going back to 2002, from that year own, Richt’s declined worse than the season before every season except 2007.
2002 13 wins
2003 11-3 (-2 change)
2004 10-2 (-1 change)
2005 10-3 (-1 change)
2006 9-4 (-1 change)
2007 11-2 (+2 change)
2008 10-3 (-1 change)
2009 8-5 (-2 change)
2010 6-7 (-2 change)
Richt doesn’t know how to fix stuff, rarely do his plans work (1 out of last 8 years), and isn’t good at creating + seasons.
dan
June 19th, 2011
7:05 pm
If Richt goes below 8-4, he will be gone. If Richt goes above 8-4 he stays. My prediction: he’ll go exactly 8-4 which will be JUST enough prove that he has the program going in the right direction, and get to keep his job AGAIN–further prolonging the agony that is UGA football
tide roll
June 19th, 2011
7:27 pm
Uga Fans: Bobo is not lost. His job is to protect Vince Dooley’s legacy, He’s married o Barb’s niece. They probably had Sunday dinner with ‘em. An incredible conflict of interest. Richt is aware of it obviously , and allows it to continue. He’s sold you down the river. Samuel is your best running back, but Bobo endorsed the move. How can ya’ll continue to not figure it out!?
I hate Georgia
June 19th, 2011
8:02 pm
to the “fan” who asked who my team was and backed his team up with 20 bowl wins (woo hoo). I like college football, but I can’t understand why people like you go on and on about NOTHING. Nobody cares about the “wins” b/c they are who cares games? Were you in the NC hunt and or game??? NO! When you are like Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, and maybe TN…..let me know. OTHER THAN THAT SHUT UP!
Class of 93
June 19th, 2011
8:22 pm
You guys are a den of fools. The fact that Bill King does not know, or no one else of you does not know, when the first modern day night game in Sanford Stadium was proves that. For the record it was Labor Day Monday Night 1982. I hope you guys keep having fun 69ing each other.
UTurnU
June 19th, 2011
8:42 pm
Richt’s 2 best years at UGA, 2002 & 2007, he had a rb get 1300+ yards rushing on 250+ carries.
Musa Smith got 1300 on 250 carrie sin 2002, Richt went 13-1.
Knowshon Moreno for 1300+ yards on 250 carries, Richt went 11-2.
Richt also beat Florida both seasons, and had a RB rush for 100 yards against Florida in 2002 & 2007, for his ONLY 2 times he has had a 100 yard rusher in the Georgia-Florida game, and only 2 times Richt has won the game.
Team Dream
June 19th, 2011
10:26 pm
sounds like Crowell has been eating too many Scrambled Dogs at Dinglewood in Columbus.
A-Ville Ranger
June 20th, 2011
12:08 am
I’ve reviewed all of Murray’s big plays from last year. While he was very good at converting broken plays. His best work was on play-action. I’m all for LITERALLY spreading the receivers out, but not running a true spread offense. I don’t know why Richt doesn’t take the whole offensive staff to Norman Oklahoma for a week during off season. The Sooners are doing a fantastic job of using the best of the spread while retaining the pro-set.
RED DOG 77
June 20th, 2011
12:35 am
“My” Dogs will be just fine this year without some silly version of the spread. We probubly have the deepest stable of Tight Ends in the nation………Big ‘ol gooduns that can block and big ‘ol gooduns that can block and catch………a former Tight End at fullback……a pretty good starting Oline, and a bunch of RS Freshmen and true Freshmen linemen ready to step-up………..I simply don’t see what all the fuss is all about…………and furthermore……is everyone forgeting about Austin Long and Brent Benedict……….both 5* studs, had some injury problems coming out of high school……but should be A OK……for Summer practice……..All Good ! ” Don’t Worry, Be Happy”……..GO DOGS………….Best to all, RED
» SEC: South Carolina earns another dramatic win at CWS John Clay’s Sidelines
June 20th, 2011
6:29 am
[...] Is Georgia running the spread offense this year? [...]
Teerod
June 20th, 2011
7:39 am
Naysayers. How big and bruising was QB Pat White of WVa when he ran all over the Dogs in the Chic Fillet Bowl? Certainly not in Tebow or Newton’s class.
Whiskey Breath
June 20th, 2011
8:23 am
Believe or not, Ga will never be physical as long as Mark is there. I have known it for years but trying to get rid of the kick off is one of may examples of a man that doesn’t care for physicallity of the sport.
If Mark going spend a lot of time trying to change the rules, is that really good for the SEC? I wonder if he was winning would he spend as much time trying to change the rules. The spread doesn’t really do very good against SEC teams. We are smash mouth league.
virginia dog
June 20th, 2011
8:30 am
Boys , Boys … the 84 Clemson game was a day game and not on TV because Clemson was on probation for the large amount of cheating they did to win there only national championship.
In fact Clemson was the reason the death penalty was invented because they did such a nice job using the liberal red-shirt rules of the time and bacically handled the probation so smoothly, and the football team continued to do so well that the NCAA decieded that they needed a rule with teeth. … of course ,as we know, with SMU the death penality was too hash and will never be used again.
robodawg
June 20th, 2011
8:47 am
I’ve contacted WSB before about putting a delay on the broadcast. They’re response was 1) people listening in the stadium want it live, and 2) the same thing you mention here, there is no standard delay that would satisfy all listeners.
I’ve wondered about a TiVO type delay you could apply yourself. Sounds like a big hassle though, plus you have to pay to listen to the online broadcast. Maybe the Bulldogs radio network will at least develop a setting for the online broadcast where you can specify your own delay amount. I’d love to listen to Howard and Zeier.
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
8:53 am
UH, whiskey…….he wasn’t “trying to change any rule”. He was asked an opinion of sombody else’s idea. If you are basing your absolutes on false (made up) information, what does that say about your arguments?
He’s been a football coach (and a former player) at the highest levels for decades. I’d love to see you debate the “physicallity” of the sport with him for about 2 minutes. How do you think that would go?
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 20th, 2011
8:57 am
The spread doesn’t really do well against SEC teams?I guess the 3 NC’s won by FLA and AUB don’t count.
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
8:59 am
75, I guess you simply were not paying attention when we ran the ball ineffectively time after time after time last year, in an effort to do exactly what you are saying. You don’t just “decide” you are going to keep the ball for 8 minutes. They don’t just award first downs. What did you want to do, just stubbornly punt the ball 10 times rather than taking some shots at scoring? AND Are you seriously suggesting that this staff doesn’t understand why keeping the ball longer is a good thing?
DawginLex
June 20th, 2011
9:18 am
The spread will work if you have a Tebow or a Newton.
For 2011, it would be suicide to change the offense and try and implement it before the opener.
You can put in some stuff for Nick Marshall but that is about it at this point. Get Lemay and Mason ready to play in case of injury or what I prefer, is to play more than 1 QB.
DawginLex
June 20th, 2011
9:22 am
tide roll
You are undoubtedly the biggest idiot on these blogs.
Richard Samuel was a straight ahead runner who fumbled a lot. You picking out his 1 good run against Arkansas is like me arguing with a Mormon or a Jehovah’s Witness about the Bible when they pick out one verse and want to convince me they have all the answers.
That same game against Arkansas, you conveniently forget to point out he was pulled from the game for 2 critical fumbles which is why he ultimately was benched and the redshirt was removed from Ealey.
Just go away.
Poms
June 20th, 2011
10:07 am
Murray was the #1 rated dual threat QB coming out of high school. He could potentially be a Tebow or Newton.
The zone read is 1 play, it’s not hard to learn, read the defensive end, if the defensive end takes the back, QB runs, if opposite, go to back, throw in the tight end inside counter or WR mis direction end around like Meyer did for variation.
If you’re not going to use Murray’s legs, and going to run a Boise type of offense, put Huston Mason in, he’s a 70% accurate passer, run that in high school with perfection, and can run the passing offense better than Murray.