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
WDE
June 20th, 2011
4:00 pm
@Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it correct except for your bunches annual NC that is….anyone at Bama telling any college fan they are overzealous is a real joke. Rooooooolllllll Tide, cheat’em !!
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
4:01 pm
I once saw a painting of David Polluck trying to tackle Herschell Walker. Every DAWG fan should have this painting in their den next to their Coca Cola memoriabilia. It sums up all your good years in one neat 8×12 package.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
4:02 pm
Alabama fans – something to back it up = Georgia fans.
I’ll meet you half way on that one.
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
4:03 pm
“pretty little black jerseys”? You had to realize you seemed like a tinkerbell as soon as you saw that in print.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
4:04 pm
Not as tinkerbell as 31-0 at half
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 20th, 2011
4:04 pm
Let’s see Hearst was pretty decent as a freshman RB…so was Smith,Lumpkin,Ware,T.Brown,Ealey and that Walker kid.
WDE
June 20th, 2011
4:05 pm
@ Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it, tell us sparky do you your replica of the Bear’s hat in your display case..oh sorry no display cases in a trailer sorry…
DawginLex
June 20th, 2011
4:09 pm
tide is drooling and your bib can’t stop it
Question is, where do you soak your teeth?
My guess is the teeth soak in a bama cup from 1973 sitting inside a replica houndtooth hat sitting on the counter of your double wide overlooking your view of your .3 acres of beautiful goat track.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 20th, 2011
4:11 pm
How can you have the “best” OL in the SEC…A Heisman winning back in Ingram and a superstud back up in Trent Richardson…and still NOT win the West?You know you had that “Great” Defense and that superior run game….what happened?Preseason no 1…finished 10-3 at the Capitol One Bowl….sounds familiar don’t it?
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
4:13 pm
You do bring up good points with all the Auburn cracks. Even freaking AUBURN has won a title since the DAWGS.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
4:14 pm
Colorado
Dawg trapped in Bama
June 20th, 2011
4:25 pm
@ Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it……up 24-0 at home and lose….to your arch rival no less.
AltamahaDawg
June 20th, 2011
4:30 pm
RRight, except that was them. They own the 31 points. YOU are a little goober trolling some other man’s sports blog sounding like a tinkerbell. Troll on little man. On your pretty little computer.
Dawg trapped in Bama
June 20th, 2011
4:32 pm
guess that is all it took to stop the tide rolling huh? just remind them of their own beat downs (at home) and just like the Tech fans…..they vanish!
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
4:37 pm
Nope still here and just thinking about how the rest of the SEC laughs at the Dawgs and all their preseason expectations.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
June 20th, 2011
4:38 pm
17 out of 21
Dawg trapped in Bama
June 20th, 2011
4:43 pm
@ Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it….. if that is what makes you sleep better at night…..then far be it from me to take away the joy in your life. My question to you is this…if Alabama is so superior to UGA and you laugh at the thought of our preseason expectations….then why the h*ll are you wasting your time worrying about articles on all things preseason UGA?
DawginLex
June 20th, 2011
4:47 pm
Louisiana monroe
29 vacated wins
Ray Perkins
mike Price
Mike dubose
Mike Shula
blowing 24 point lead to arch rival at home
preseason #1 ranking-ended up in Cap One bowl
4th place SEC west after preseason self annointed national champs
Lather, rinse and repeat on that last one in 2011
Arkansas/LSU play for West title on last game of the season
Dawg trapped in Bama
June 20th, 2011
4:49 pm
@ DawginLex…only thing worse than a self denying AU fan is an egocentric BAMA fan. Of course you would have to explain what egocentric means to the BAMA fan.
Bob
June 20th, 2011
5:08 pm
Vote for the Bulldogs over Boise State in College Football’s Big Game Poll – http://collegefootballbiggamepoll.blogspot.com/2011/06/week-1-boise-state-broncos-vs-georgia.html
7576DAWG
June 20th, 2011
5:16 pm
AtamahaDawg
Realistic instead of eight minutes I probably should have said 5 to 6 minutes but the meaning is the same. Bobo is the most predictable offensive coordinator there is except maybe Georgia Tech’s offense. If I knew 60% of the plays before they are run the other coach could figure out 90%. One thing I would have done differently, after realizing how weak my offensive line was, was to have both fullbacks in the game along with the tailback and on those plays where the tailback did not get the ball I would have the tailback block and one of the fullbacks go five yards down the field after blocking so Murray could dump the ball to someone in case all his receiver were covered. If you let the tailback be the dump off man most of the time he will not block effectively because he will be to interested in you throwing to him . If you have three people in the game that you can dump the ball off to the other team will have a lot more problems as to which to cover. Way too many times last year all the receivers would all go long. the nearest receiver would be 15 yards away and if Murray got into trouble he would get sacked or only get a few yards. With my limited knowledge I think that would have gotten us a lot more short 5 yard gains that would have made our third down only 1 to 3 yards to go instead of third and 8 or 10 yards to go like we had too many times last year.
With LeMay on the team I hope CMR will use the Quarterback draw a lot more this year , Tebo made a career doing this, not worrying about who will run the team if Murray got hurt. Bobo has a million times more knowledge than I do as to not be so predictable and to use what your strengths are more and to adjust away from your weaknesses. He just needs to show it. He will be amazed how effective that philosophy will be.
JoeMac
June 20th, 2011
5:49 pm
All I know is that foxsports.com has come out with its way too early bowl pics, and they predict that the SEC Championship game will be LSU-Alabama on Nov. 5. They also have UGA slotted in the Music City Bowl, as the SEC’s # 8 team. Sounds about right to me. Maybe CMR is looking at the future by taking this mission trip.
Joggin'
June 20th, 2011
7:09 pm
One thing with Richt is he just can’t run the ball effectively. Almost last in the whole SEC in rushing with the most talented recruits in the nation, it’s sad how bad the guys under Richt’s leadership underachieve.
Class of 93
June 20th, 2011
9:24 pm
Scott Howard sincs great with the TV now. He is usually 2-3 seconds late on the call which sincs with most TV broudcast.
Dawg1922
June 20th, 2011
9:45 pm
I prefer to sync up my Android, IPad, big screen tv, and hi fi radio, games more fun that way.
RamboDog
June 20th, 2011
10:02 pm
JoeMac…… you are “confused”, LSU and Alabama are in the SEC West and can’t possibly be in the SEC Championship against each other. You must be kind of new to SEC football if you don’t know that.
Pago Pago DAWG
June 20th, 2011
10:09 pm
Is it just us, or has ESPN replaced most of the males reading sports scores with females. Sad that men are being replaced.
atl xmen
June 20th, 2011
11:01 pm
the spread stinks and teams with less talent as a team run it. tebow was the only reason that offense worked and for that long. stay with the pro style.
chazzo
June 21st, 2011
7:10 am
I just hade to reiterate what Dawgin lex said:
Louisiana monroe
29 vacated wins
Ray Perkins
mike Price
Mike dubose
Mike Shula
blowing 24 point lead to arch rival at home
preseason #1 ranking-ended up in Cap One bowl
4th place SEC west after preseason self annointed national champs
Lather, rinse and repeat on that last one in 2011
Arkansas/LSU play for West title on last game of the season
chazzo
June 21st, 2011
7:16 am
Georgia has a lot of speedy guys, a bevy of two-way D-backs and small tailbacks. The question is how to take advantage of all the speed without taxing an O-line without a lot of depth? Also, Georgia has the proven ability to strike fast, but it tends to keep the D on the field a lot.
I don’t think UGA needs to run the spread or any other tricky crap. The guys just need to be in better shape than everyone else. Conditioning will tell the story this season. UGA needs to play fast and intense and hustle from start to finish. No letting up even if it means hanging 70 on an easy team. Think Spurrier at UF in the 90s (I know those are painful memories, but I am saying that is the kind of game we need to play). It may not be classy, but his players never stopped going full speed.
chazzo
June 21st, 2011
7:19 am
regarding Bobo’s predictability: Dooley was the most predictable coach in the universe. There are not a lot of surprises from anyone. Maybe you get one or two a game. The key is to be strong. The Dooley/Russell days were all about, ‘you know what we are doing, and we are doing it anyway.’
chazzo
June 21st, 2011
8:32 am
There is a pass out in the flat that often results in a pick 6. There is that silly QB turn around pass in the backfield that just takes too long to develop. And, quite frankly the wild dawg hasn’t been too wild against substantial opponents. Do away with all of the above.
MP
June 21st, 2011
8:55 am
Joe Cox or Aarron Murray are not Pro Style QB’s. You don’t a good offensive line. You don’t have experienced wr’s. You don’t have the personnel to run the Pro Style anymore than you had the right personell to run the 3-4 last year.
chazzo
June 21st, 2011
9:25 am
Most likely scenario: dawgs lose 3 UF, AU, and either MSU or SC.
Worse Scenario: dawgs lose 5 to UF, AU, MSU, SC, and either BSU or GT.
Best scenrio: of course would be for the dawgs to go undefeated. Best likely scenario: dawgs lose 2 (1 being Auburn) and win the east in more or less a three way tie with SC and UF.
Mark my words:
SC, AU and UF are the most underrated teams in the NCAA right now. BSU is going to be good. MSU will also be good. Georgia does not have an easy schedule.
One more prediction: The East upsets the West in Atlanta!
MP
June 21st, 2011
9:43 am
The pro style offense Richt runs is too risky, it relies on too many long passes, these are low percentage plays, apt for interceptions.
Richt finished 12th in the SEC in turnover margin against winning teams.
You also need a wr that can stretch the field, losing the go-to WR, can be catastrpohic for this system. Richt was 1-3 without AJ Green in first 4 games.
You need a power running game, like Dallas ran with Emmit, and Gibbs ran with Redskins. Georgia hasn’t had a power running game since Moreno left.
You need a good offensive line that can pass block, and run block. Richt hasn’t had one.
You need a TE who can catch mid range passes. Richt’s had this, but hasn’t used it enough.
The Pro Style isn’t good for playing from behind. Richt lost each game where the other team scvored first last saeson.
You also need a QB who can make good decisions. Richt hasn’t had this since David Greene.
MP
June 21st, 2011
9:45 am
the long passing attack, doesn’t play to Murray’s strength’s as Murray was the least accurate passer in the SEC on plays of 10+ yards, against winning teams.
MP
June 21st, 2011
10:05 am
Richt runs a West Coast version Pro Style, basically using the pass to set up the run. You use a lot of short passes, that rely on timing by the receivers (Marlon Brown has struggled here), and you rely on accuracy bt the QB because he’s throwing in traffic.
Murray was 11th in the SEC in accuracy, he doesn’t have the skills to run the West Coast Offense Richt’s in love with.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/911/player/split09/category02/sort03.html
MP
June 21st, 2011
10:10 am
On 15+ passing plays, Murray only completed 35 passes, as opposed to Garcia’s 57, and Mallet’s 70.
In the Pro Style, you have to be able to stretch the field vertically.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/911/player/situational02/category02/sort10.html
MP
June 21st, 2011
10:15 am
You really have to protect the ball well in the Pro Style offense, but it’s a higher risk offense to run prone to turnovers.
Richt finished last in the SEC, 12th, in turnover margin against winning teams.
Richt finished with a -4 to margin, where run oriented SEC teams like Auburn, Alabama had a +6/+7 to margin against winning teams.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/911/team/offense/split09/category12/sort01.html
DawginLex
June 21st, 2011
10:36 am
MP,
More of your crappy stats about UGA “versus winning teams”.
The last time I checked, the schedule is laid out against 12 opponents and they are not classified as “winning teams” or “non-winning teams”.
If Murray and Co. had not played great at home versus UT, UT would have been a winning team.
This is one example as to how idiotic your stats are.
Defense is the key to the season. Richt and Bobo are running the same stuff they have run for the past 10 years. If the defense drops the PPG allowed from 22 down to 14 or 15, UGA will win the East and Murray will have beaten a lot of teams with winning records and then you can spout your worthless stats some more.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 21st, 2011
10:39 am
MP,
Those were last years statistics for a rookie QB, with a poor OL and under achieving RB’s. If the OL jells and increases it’s learning curve, Murray can more than step up and do the job. He did not manage 300 yards plus by not being able to throw the ball and think fast enough to react. A QB can not do it all. If he has a reliable running game to back him up and the OL comes of age quickly, he will have an outstanding year and will be all SEC.
GO DAWGS
MP
June 21st, 2011
10:47 am
Stafford finished:
6th, 2nd, 6th in TO margin in SEC against winning teams
Joe Cox:
12th, last
Aaron Murray:
12th, last
http://www.cfbstats.com/2008/leader/911/team/offense/split09/category12/sort02.html
chazzo
June 21st, 2011
11:17 am
MP,
Stafford threw 13 picks his freshman year, and he didn’t even play the entire season.
Look at Murray’s stats versus #1 Auburn at the end of the season versus 2 of the best D lines in the SEC in Ark and SC (per ESPN) the 2nd and 3rd games of Murray’s college career.
chazzo
June 21st, 2011
11:23 am
Be fair, MP, and compare freshman seasons
PASSING GP Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/G
——————————————————————–
Matthew Stafford 13 108.99 135-256-13 52.7 1749 7 53 134.5
PASSING GP-GS Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/G
———————————————————————–
Aaron Murray 13-13 154.48 209-342-8 61.1 3049 24 66 234.5
JM
June 21st, 2011
11:44 am
you can’t comapre Stafford’s TRUE FRESHMAN year with Murray’s RED SHIRT FRESHMAN YEAR.
You’d have to compare Murray’s 2nd year in the system (2010) to Stafford’s (2007)
Stafford blew Murray away in 2nd year in the system and went 11-2. Murray went 6-7.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2007/leader/911/player/split09/category02/sort03.html
I-DOG
June 21st, 2011
1:53 pm
Snoop Dog:
If Richt is so terrible and can’t do any of the things you listed in your post including asess talent and coach up talent… then how did he finish 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 8th, and 10th in the country ? (five fluke seasons?) There are usually 10-15 very talented football teams around the country each year, so he must have outcoached a lot of them during those five years. How did he beat Alabama, Florida, LSU, TN, South Carolina, Auburn, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Boise State?
I understand as well as anyone that the last two seasons things have been going well and that includes last year’s nightmare unacceptable season, but to say that he has no coaching skills isn’t consistant of the evidence of the results from his head coaching history. He may or may not have LOST the ability to get it done, but I think you are going just a bit too far in saying the guy basically doesn’t know football.
chazzo
June 21st, 2011
3:59 pm
JM or MP or whoever,
No. I don’t think that you compare someone’s second year of playing live and in college stadiums to someone’s first year of doing so. Redshirt or not, he was a freshman. But, for the sake of your legless argument:
PASSING GP-GS Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/G
———————————————————————–
Matthew Stafford 13-13 128.92 194-348-10 55.7 2523 19 84 194.1
PASSING GP-GS Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/G
———————————————————————–
Aaron Murray 13-13 154.48 209-342-8 61.1 3049 24 66 234.5
Murray is clearly better than Stafford, statistically speaking in his first year whether you factor in the redshirt or not. I would also argue that Murray is a better team guy with better intangibles. I would also argue that Stafford had a sounder supporting cast.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 21st, 2011
5:16 pm
As much as I loved watching Stafford throw, I almost always cringed when he did because he was such a gun slinger and believed he could thread a needle every time he threw.
The interceptions that Murray threw were in large part due to him trying to make something happen, running for his life when the OL broke down or when a RB missed a blocking assignment. He still managed to throw for over 3000 yards which isn’t bad for a rookie or a seasoned veteran. More importantly over all, he became the on field leader that they will need this year. The kid took some pretty tough hits and almost always was back on his feet, ready to go again.
Lemay may be the better pure athlete, but will need to work hard to see meaningful time on the field this year and probably next. Murray is the all around leader that will drive this team. Mason is a fair QB, but Murray is the leader.
There is very little down side to a QB like Murray if he has some support out there.
chazzo
June 21st, 2011
5:41 pm
@IARS,
Amen.
chazzo
June 21st, 2011
6:07 pm
I was there for Butler’s kick, BTW. One of the best sports moments in my life, heck maybe one of the best memories period. It was 1:30, and it was HOT even for this FL boy. I was taken aback by all the frat boys wearing ties and blazers.