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
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
10:08 am
Correct it would be suicide. And not just going to the spread. It would have been suicide to fire Bobo and hire ANY new co-ordinator (with a new philosophy)this year. IF there are any changes made to the offense it will be NEXT year, when the learning curve on the other side of the ball is clearly behind them.
Big Dawg
June 20th, 2011
10:13 am
Tide Roll with all due respect,
I normally agree with you on things concerning our offensive line, but on Richard Samuels you are all wrong. IMHO it was a BIG TIME WASTE and MISTAKE to have allowed him to try being a running back, first he fumbled to much, he missed blocks, he went down whether he was hit or not a lot, he ran straight up and seemed to trip over his own feet at times. He is a much better linebacker and we wasted two plus years of his eligibilty because the coaches gave in and allowed him to try being a running back. Yes he is very fast, but not well suited to play running back and having seen him in high school, on TV at UGA and what a few of my friends have seen when he was not injured playing defense he is a very hard hitter and could quite possibly be the most talented LB at UGA right now. Anyway I hope he plays lights out and the Dawgs defense is as tough as I believe it is going to be and they leave it on the field after each game.
Go Dawgs
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
10:21 am
It was play Samuel at RB, or open the 2009 season with an empty backfield wasn’t it?
Big Dawg
June 20th, 2011
10:31 am
UturnU,
We lost to Florida in 2002 when we went ultra conservative and it cost us a chance to play in the Fiesta Bowl against Miami and a possible National Championship as we were ranked ahead of Ohio State until we lost that game. But I agree with you when we have successfully run the football we have been a very competitive team and IMHO a lot of our losses can be attributed to this tendency of first Coack Richt and now Bobo to get pass happy.
Go Dawgs
SilverBritchin
June 20th, 2011
10:33 am
ESPN has both UGA lines ranked #7 in SEC, both off/def lines. Not good.
SilverBritchin
June 20th, 2011
10:34 am
In both of Richt’s wins over Florida, he got a 100 yard rusher, that’s true.
SilverBritchin
June 20th, 2011
10:36 am
Teams are making Dawgs 1 dimensional, taking away the run, daring young Murray to beat them.
Whiskey Breath
June 20th, 2011
10:37 am
Red Dog, could you be a bigger homer? Ga has has a steady decline for the last 4 years and your dawgs are going to be just fine? That is because the typical fan has lower expectations.Ga plays into every SEC team’s hand. The only problem I have with Ga now is their coach tries to change the rules.
You guys are not smart enough to know Mark is trying to deflect questions on his declining record. He really knows how to use the media.
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
10:48 am
07′ was a decline over 06? How so?
What rules is he “trying to change”? Thats the “only ” problem you have with Georgia? Wow. The only problem you have is a made up nothingness? You are a much bigger homer that red then. And how many typical UGA fans have you interview to know what we expect? I believe there’s about a million of them. Your sample size would be?
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
10:54 am
It doesn’t matter what the dawgs run. The penal colony doesn’t have the determination and dedication to field a championship team.
tide roll
June 20th, 2011
11:04 am
The things ya’ll are complaining about regarding Richard Samuel should have been corrected through coaching. Who was it at the time, Tony Ball ? No big deal, let’s just move him to Wide Receiver coach, and promote McClendon,who was a wide receiver and not a running back ,and who is only slightly older than Samuel, and let him coach Richard! Only at UGA. It is Richard Samuel who has suffered from under qualified, inexperienced coaches. In High School, the kid averaged over 8 yards a carry, rushed for nearly 3,000 yards, and scored 43 TD(s). in two years! It’s so typical of Uga coaches to blame the kid, when the truth is the coaches either lack the qualifications, or are too lazy to work through the issues. Just tell all the fans, in spite of facts that show otherwise, that the kid’s not a running back. Samuel needs to get out of that nut house. There is no way, with the time that has passed since he played linebacker (4yrs), that he’s in a position to be a factor this year, and probably not next. Did his high shool team even run a 3-4 ? Apparently Richt’s excuse now is that your problems on defense were the player’s inability to pick up the system. If that’s true, where does that leave Samuel. What a waste of premium talent! Spurrier is so right- SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ‘EM.
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
11:13 am
What needs to happen is for you to say that exact same thing for the the 12th time.
WDE
June 20th, 2011
11:21 am
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it….from ending up 4th in the SEC west.
WDE
June 20th, 2011
11:23 am
@tide roll hey did that offer to coach a SEC team show up over the weekend?
HiLo
June 20th, 2011
11:24 am
D-Line was 7th in SEC against the run, O-Line was 10th in SEC in rushing. Both are scheme flawed, talent’s not the issue.
RxDawg
June 20th, 2011
11:52 am
Another thing about the TV delay vs. Radio broadcast is that the Radio is exactly live and therefore the people actually at the game can listen to the radio and watch the on field performance. Of course this affects very little but still… I gave up on listening to the radio while watching the TV long ago.
However, I do usually have a radio going outside near the grill. So it’s funny to hear people yell on the deck while they’re just lining up on the TV.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
11:56 am
Well, let me reverse on that dedication (at least with the fans). I don’t know how you Dawg fans do it. You have all the intangibles in place to be a perenial powerhouse, talent rich state, no other big school to compete with, big time facilities, big time fan base, big budgets. Seriously, only LSU and a few other select schools can match this list and LSU has two titles in the last 10 years. You are underachievers of the college football universe who’s signature win in the last 30 years come against Hawaii. I don’t know what runs rampant in your organization preventing UGA being what it could be, but it’s been that way before Richt got there. Take away Herschell Walker and you’re Miss St.
So maybe the penal colony does have the dedication on the fan side, but something else is holding you back. And don’t take it too personal, it seems to be sports in the entire state of Georgia that are lacking.
Clipper
June 20th, 2011
11:59 am
Until Georgia gets a running game, they’ll continue to bottom feed the league.
UGA Insider
June 20th, 2011
12:00 pm
Maybe Mathew McConaughey will call Mike Bobo and remind him he may want to run “The Veer”. That’s the correct offense for Olines with no depth.
DawginLex
June 20th, 2011
12:00 pm
tide is drooling and your bib can’t stop it
Any contact made by the NCAA yet to alabama about revising Saban’s record since he has vacated wins?
They made Calipari do it, saban should be next.
WDE
June 20th, 2011
12:12 pm
@Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it …how do you Bama fans do it..all that talent, all that fan passion the coaching staff, the genius that is Saban, and you can’t hold a 24 point half time lead vs your arch rival and end up 4th in the West…yes yes that is performing at the highest level of Bama tradition isn’t it? Question what is more important to Bama Nation..beating Auburn or winning the SEC West..Answer… you can’t do either.
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
12:20 pm
I guess Alabama has been in steady decline for 2 years now.
thom smith
June 20th, 2011
12:26 pm
#1 recruits should come in better shape.
Big Johnson Dawg
June 20th, 2011
12:29 pm
Yeah, back when very few games were on TV, the only way to catch a game was be there, or listen to it on the radio. Of course, we had Larry Munson, so in some ways, it was even more exciting.
LawDawg
June 20th, 2011
12:37 pm
I agree that Alabama last year was the most underachieving bunch in the country. They were very similar to UGA in 2009: ranked #1 preseason and end with the same record. Alabama is on the DECLINE!
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
1:46 pm
Alabama had 5 first round draft picks on that team, AND perfectly healthy, and still couldn’t win its own division. Yup, should have fired some staff members for that.
MarineDog
June 20th, 2011
1:46 pm
I maybe way off base here……but I get the strangest feeling that TideRoll personally knows Mark Richt or member(s) of the UGA coaching staff and he has a bone to pick with them.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
1:51 pm
Oh you Dawg fans forget how easy is it to “chase” a 10-3 season when you have a championship since Jimmy Carter has been president.
schmeckdawg
June 20th, 2011
1:56 pm
Don’t y’all sleep on “Boo” Malcome this year. He is a big back like Lattimore that we can use as a pounder AND has decent speed! Add in King, Crowell, Thomas and we just might have something. But nobody is going anywhere if the OL doesn’t get it done! That is my biggest concern going into the season!
WDE
June 20th, 2011
2:03 pm
@Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it …you want some cheese with that whine..sparky?
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
2:20 pm
Just wondering, for the Dawg fans that were actually alive during their last championship, did you have to get up and walk to TV to turn the channel after the game?
7576DAWG
June 20th, 2011
2:24 pm
CMR is a great coach who , over the years , have become very soft and compassionate for the KIDS that make up his teams. I think he has tried and failed to find that balance of letting the players remain college kids as long as possible with what it takes to compete against the great coaches, like Saban, Spurrier and Miles, that don’t have any compassion and are only concerned with winning. The only reason Spurrier is not in the top ten every year is because the state of South Carolina doesn’t produce the depth of talent needed. Put Spurrier in a state like Georgia or Florida and he would excel. Some great coaches have been fired in recent years because they are too mean to their players and treat them like it’s a job and not a college sport being played by 18 to 23 year old kids.
I have never seen a GEORGIA line as weak and noncompetitive as our offensive line was last year. We recruit top high school line talent every year because there are so many great players in our state and surrounding states from the high schools. Georgia had plenty of great line players too get the job done but CMR allowed them to get real soft and as long as we have to compete against coaches like Spurrier, Miles and Saban we have got to decide which way we are going to go, up or down.
I see a lot of very positive things like our new Defensive coordinator who had to be pressured by Richt to dial it down a few notches because this is college not the Pro’s but Grantham is the real deal and we hired a AD that is used to being on top and we have the right people in charge of S&C now. The question is can MARK RICHT live with the changes and do his part?
DawginLex
June 20th, 2011
2:45 pm
tide is drooling and your bib can’t stop it
Still won’t comment about the vacated wins huh?
29 since 1993 including 7 by Saban in 2007.
NCAA needs to do the right thing and contact Saban, Steve fisher and others if they are going to make Calipari change his win total.
VACATED WINS-ANOTHER CRIMSON TIDE POINT OF PRIDE
Can’t wait to watch LSU and Arkansas battle for the top spot in the SEC West while Bama fight to stay out of 5th place with Auburn and MSU.
A 2nd year in a row of preseason annointed national champions and end up looking up at others in the West, much less the entire SEC.
Robo
June 20th, 2011
2:57 pm
Richt Rod explains the basic play with 3-4 options. Murray could run this play.
1- Handoff
2- QB run
3- Pitch
4- Bubble Screen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e4zyYXJUnE&feature=related
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
2:57 pm
“I have never seen a line as weak and noncompetitive as ours last year”.
But this morning you couldn’t understand why Bobo just didn’t hold the ball for 8 minutes at a time..
WDE
June 20th, 2011
2:59 pm
@Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it..I am old enough to remember the time honoring saying “If the Tide ain’t cheating the Tide ain’t winning” and I’m not that old.
Robo
June 20th, 2011
3:01 pm
When Urban Meyer had Percy arvin and TE Hernandez, and Tebow, he ran some wild options.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA5yTbtDwRU&feature=related
Junior Samples
June 20th, 2011
3:04 pm
I think my enthusiasm for the program is trending down.
I’ve been with it a long time and the hassles with parking and tailgaiting out weigh the fun.
Time to start unloading season tickets and let some new blood take over.
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
3:05 pm
I’ve got a set of windshield wiper on my truck that are old enough to remember when Alabama Football stunk.
DawginLex
June 20th, 2011
3:13 pm
altamaha, it wasn’t that long ago. The wipers could be from 2003,4,5,6 or 7.
I especially love the 2003 home game where we knocked 2 QB’s out of the game.
Hooper
June 20th, 2011
3:23 pm
Don’t see Richt running his QB Murray.
Richt’s too afriad of risk to win a National Championship.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
3:27 pm
I especially love the 2008 game when UGA thought their pretty little black jerseys would constitute a game plan to utlize a first round QB and running back…
DawginLex
June 20th, 2011
3:30 pm
Still no comment about vacated wins?
Can’t wait for the NCAA to get off their butts and engage their brains and make Bama revise all their records.
WDE
June 20th, 2011
3:32 pm
@Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it I especially love the 2011 Iron Bowl when the mighty Tide lead by that defensive genius Saban could NOT hold a 24 point half time lead vs Auburn.Good times hey sparky?
WDE
June 20th, 2011
3:33 pm
Sorry I was so tickled by that memory I put in 2011 it was as we all know so well the 2010 Iron Bowl.
2011 is the year!
June 20th, 2011
3:37 pm
UGA wins the SEC east in 2011–bet the house. Florida will not have much and Ga will beat usc in athens. Dawgs v. Bama—for the SEC title!!!
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 20th, 2011
3:57 pm
UGA will have a better record than Bama this year.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
3:57 pm
Every year is the year for DAWG FANS! WOOF WOOF!
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 20th, 2011
3:58 pm
If the Tide finishes 3rd in the West this year will some coaches be cut?
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
3:59 pm
“COPY/PASTE YEAR” is our year! Wuff Wuff. We’ve got no depth on the o-line and depending on a Freshmen RB. WUFF!