Dogs need to erase memory of a woeful effort
Aaron Murray and Mike Bobo had one of their poorer games the last time Georgia took the field against an opponent. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
If you’re running down the checklist of things Mark Richt’s football team needed to improve from last year, many of the personnel needs seem to have been addressed and a new approach to strength and conditioning looks promising.
But what we won’t know until Georgia is facing adversity on the field is whether they’ll consistently play as hard as they can, something last year’s Dogs didn’t always do.
Richt talked during the offseason about how distressing it was to sometimes see his team outplayed and Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald recently followed up with the coach for specifics. “When you watch the film and you see another team played harder than we did, that’s sad, that’s my fault,” Richt said. “We had some games like that in my opinion. I can name one for sure and that’s the bowl game. It was most evident that game, maybe that’s the one in my craw and is the one I’m talking about the most.”
No argument there. But what I found really interesting was the response Weiszer got from Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who flatly said the lack of effort didn’t come from his unit. “It ain’t happened on defense. When you look at the Central Florida game, I thought the guys on defense were busting their tail. Now we didn’t finish the game the way that we wanted to, but to say that those guys outworked us, that ain’t right. That didn’t happen.”
Sounds like Grantham was calling out Mike Bobo’s offense as the laggards against Central Florida, which pretty much jibes with the way I remember that particular game, a low point for the program during the Richt era.
But that isn’t entirely a fair assessment of the 2010 Dogs. I can recall some times last season when the defense was guilty of arm tackling and diving at running backs’ feet, so you can’t pin the lack of effort completely on Bobo’s troops. In general, the 2010 team just didn’t seem to be the hardest working bunch ever to play Between the Hedges.
Richt’s right about one thing; ultimately, he’s the one who shoulders the blame. His teams have had a tendency in recent years to come out flat at times and to just plain not want it as badly as the opponents.
If the Dogs are going to turn things around — and turn down the heat under the head coach’s seat — that’s definitely going to have to change.
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291 comments Add your comment
truedawg
August 24th, 2011
4:48 pm
If the DAWGS play up and play with heart they will beat Boise. It’ll be close, but Dawgs pull away in the 4th. We’ll see if the S&C program is real. If it is, then Dawgs will roll. And the chickens are next. USC will win big the first game and the whole offense will be drunk for a week and too hung over to play..GO DAWGS!!!
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August 24th, 2011
4:53 pm
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RamboDog
August 24th, 2011
4:57 pm
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 24th, 2011
4:16 pm
If you think Spurrier wasn’t trying to score in 4th quarter, you are a bigger idiot than I thought….and that is almost impossible ! I’ll talk to you after we do it doggie style on the chickens in Athens…bet your big mouth won’t be on here.
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August 24th, 2011
4:59 pm
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August 24th, 2011
5:02 pm
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August 24th, 2011
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Boise in ATL
August 24th, 2011
5:12 pm
Folks cranking on Grantham and BOBO.
Got to love Grantham’s passion – He is correct that the defense played well against UCF. However, UCF scored the winning points in the 4Q. As a matter of fact – UGA’s defense was outperformed in the 4Q on many occasions and could not stop anyone on 3rd down.
I do think that the UGA has addressed the correct personnel for the 3-4 – this should help. However, with the 4Q woes last year – Grantham best served to focus on this year and not comment on last year.
As for Bobo – apparantly a great QB coach – I think the real issue is OLINE depth and development.
Maybe the new OLINE Coach will do a better job.
Tide roll is correct in his posts about OLINE being a key to success.
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August 24th, 2011
5:14 pm
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redandblack
August 24th, 2011
5:17 pm
@SSlgator
What does the SS stand for? Oh I know, “STUPID SOB”. Stay on your own damn site, you twit….
moonbeam
August 24th, 2011
5:25 pm
hey,hey,hey…none of that
Paddy
August 24th, 2011
5:26 pm
DawginLex…….You don’t call out another coach on your team. It is just not done in public. That kind of conversation is held in private. If I were Bobo I would punch CTG right in the nose! But not in public!
Paddy
August 24th, 2011
5:27 pm
Boise in Atl…..Roll Tide is an idiot. Everyone around here just laughs at the little fellow.
Columbus
August 24th, 2011
5:28 pm
Can we change the writer of this blog?
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August 24th, 2011
5:31 pm
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redandblack
August 24th, 2011
5:32 pm
The keys to success this year will fit a used Datsun pick next year, instead of the new F150 Richt is piloting now, should he fail to get this program back on track, instead of straddling the track and waiting for the train to knock us into the next world……get along little doggies….get along……
Dr. Phil
August 24th, 2011
5:44 pm
Well, we know that Richt has been studying to be on the “cutting edge” of coaching as evidenced by his brilliant “energy vampire” program.
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August 24th, 2011
5:45 pm
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Tiger Mania
August 24th, 2011
5:48 pm
Effort starts withe Leadership and Character of players.
The players on the 2010 version lacked either one or both.
Effort also reflects the discipline of the head coach and the fear he cast over a program.
CMR seemed to lose that a few years ago.
Bob
August 24th, 2011
5:50 pm
Hey Coach Richt, how ’bout cutting me a check for my 2009/2010 Hartmann Fund donations and half my season ticket costs, since you didn’t do anything those years to earn it. (And don’t cash my checks for this season until we see if you decided to go back to work.) I am excited about our new signees, but WTH have you and Bobo and your staff have been doing these last couple of years? You realize you’re on double secret probation don’t you?
Terry
August 24th, 2011
5:50 pm
SSIgator is a lonely old man who’s wife left him for another man, give the guy a break, this is the hi-lite of his day. Yes, I know it’s sad, but its true.
Terry
August 24th, 2011
5:56 pm
Bob, You do realize this is a blog, if your that upset with Coach Richt, be a man and tell him face to face, don’t be a coward, and leave a blog message that he’s never going to read.
HOUDAWG
August 24th, 2011
6:00 pm
SSIgator ……. you really ( really ) need a life ….. the never-ending trolling of the UGA blogs i simply, punkish. Idiot ……
Bob
August 24th, 2011
6:01 pm
@Terry…won’t do any good, they cashed my checks in December and March. I do think McGarity has given Richt everything he’s asked for and if we don’t turn it around this year, bye, bye. It’s satisfying that good Dawg fans like you have read my gripes.
A bitter pill to swallow, but swallow it we must
August 24th, 2011
6:02 pm
As usual, Grantham puts his foot in his extremely big mouth.
Nothing is going to change for the better until Richt and the entire coaching staff are run out of Athens and replaced with competent people who care about more than just picking up their large paychecks every month.
dawg4ever
August 24th, 2011
6:06 pm
Richt sounds like a broken record when he talks about how flat his team plays, and especially when he says he will take the blame for it. It has happened so many times since 2007, it is so pathetic to hear him talk about it. Either change the way you coach these kids up, or stop talking. Because after 4 seasons of this lack of effort and lack of having his team prepared, nothing he says really matters. Starting with the 2007 Tenn. game in Knoxville, to the Bama game and Florida games in 2008, to the Tenn. ass whipping again in Knoxville in 2009, to the Florida laughter again in 2009, to the entire 2010 season, ending with the C.FLorida game. How many times does this coach and his coaching staff get a free pass? Most other schools would have had it with this lack of leadership, and this lack of coaching this guy and his staff have provided, but not at UGA. If this guy has any morals at all, and that’s all you ever hear about him, he will resign after this season, and stop embarrassing the UGA program. Would rather hear quotes from Grantham instead of Bobo and Richt. These 2 guys have no credibility with UGA fans anymore. Hope the players take it upon themselves to be prepared mentally and physically, because there is no way in hell this coach has what it takes to have them prepared.
Poire
August 24th, 2011
6:07 pm
Boise State 41, Georgia 17
Same score against South Carolina.
Winford Poitevint
August 24th, 2011
6:09 pm
Bill, while the Dawgs are erasing woeful efforts, they should erase the mental block they have about playing the gators. This one didn’t start with coach Richt
Giselle '93
August 24th, 2011
6:12 pm
One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.
On that basis, Mark Richt is insane and should be sent away to a place where he can’t hurt himself or anyone else. Or any football team.
Brogen's Hero
August 24th, 2011
6:13 pm
SSi Gator- I love the fact you hide when your called out for the tech nerd that you are.
Stick with running the fryer at The Crab Trap.
Midland Dog
August 24th, 2011
6:24 pm
I am truly hoping for big things out of the dogs this year. i have always been a huge supporter of M.R., but that bowl game last year was the worst game I have EVER seen played. how can you have the best receiver to ever play at UGA not have 1 freaking touchdown catch??? Heck, he is making pro corners look bad already! If we don’t win 8 games this year, it is time for some new blood.
Bodda Getta
August 24th, 2011
6:26 pm
Did Grantham flash the choke sign while Georgia was on offense?
Bob
August 24th, 2011
6:27 pm
@Midland…with our schedule this year, if we don’t win eight games, it’s time to replace Richt and Adams.
Bodda Getta
August 24th, 2011
6:29 pm
What did Bobo have to say about Grantham’s team effort against Auburn?
Oh, I almost forgot he was too busy focusing on ways to punk our players.
Bronco Billy
August 24th, 2011
6:39 pm
I am starting to get a picture of just how dysfunctional the UGA program is.
I worry that by the time the first BCS polls come out, our win will mean nothing.
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August 24th, 2011
6:48 pm
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FLA DAWG
August 24th, 2011
7:11 pm
Wow Bill!
You’ve uncovered the likely fact that Bobo is a total failure and has been carried by Richt for a few years!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Alert The Media!………….Oh sorry, YOU ARE PART OF THE MEDIA !!!!!!!!!!!
Grantham has not turned out to be the quality DC I thought he would be either.
I gotta tell ya DAWG Nation………….It’s more lilkely The Dawgs will play more like last season (and the season before) than a BCS contender – or an SEC contender for that matter.
But we can all hope for the best…………bring it on Boise State……let’s see what ya got and let us see what we’ve got.
FLA DAWG
Class of “79
Poobear Jenkins
August 24th, 2011
7:15 pm
@ Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
U hit it dead on the head My man. Finally a Enthusiastic & Optimistic Dawg Fan!!!!!!!! Go Dawgs
effort
August 24th, 2011
7:26 pm
This quote from an article on the Boise page on BR.com:
“As is the case with most SEC teams, Georgia has quality athletes and will put up a fight, but the sense of urgency lies with the Broncos. Boise always seems to step it up on national television and never seems fazed, so look for a win over the Bulldogs to start the season.”
Looks like BS is counting upon a lack of effort. I think with the rotten eggs out of the basket, they will be in for a surprise.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 24th, 2011
7:29 pm
Bob
I agree with you. I could use the $5000 back from those 2 season to pay for my gas
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 24th, 2011
7:32 pm
Glad to see Grantham calling out the offense
Arm tackling Bill, yea your right but when they were taught that by Slick Willie its going to show every now and then until Gratham can break them from it.
Finally a coach with some spirit on our sidelines
FLA DAWG
August 24th, 2011
7:35 pm
Flat Tire,
Don’t forget that Richt dressed Grantham down for yelling at his players.
My guess is he’s already gotten an earful from Richt (Bobo probably doesn’t have the cajones to do it) for his comments.
War Dang Dawg
August 24th, 2011
7:43 pm
I agree LHarding Dawg, it’s better to remember Goff as an SEC-winning quarterback. Something his coaching nemesis, Steve Spurrier, will never be.
I love the way No. 32 came roaring up to stop that Gator back. Erk must have had a great halftime speech because the Gators got blanked in the second half.
Brucerugby79
August 24th, 2011
7:51 pm
Bill i agree with earlier post–energy vampire–I understand you are trying to please two groups–but it is 9 days away-get on board you ole dog
War Dang Dawg
August 24th, 2011
7:56 pm
If a team takes on the personality of its coach, no wonder we can’t beat Florida. Richt soils his pants every time he enters the Gator Bowl (or whatever the hell they’re calling it now). That’s really my biggest issue with Richt – he can’t beat Florida even when he has the better team. Mississippi can beat them. So can Auburn and Miss. St. Hell, the whole SEC West save Arky beats them about half the time. But not us. It sticks in my craw. I had different expectations from a Bowden disciple.
My feeling is, let’s try someone else. Ohio State got rid of John Cooper, let’s get rid of our version. There’s plenty of coaches out there who can lose 8 out of 10 against Florida, for much less money.
@AltamahaDawg
August 24th, 2011
8:02 pm
AltamahaDawg
August 24th, 2011
4:03 pm
Did the members of the team tell you that they quit?
***************************************************************
If it’s important to you, I will ask the next time that I see them. I think their point was that when the coach doesn’t have faith in you, it sort of takes the wind out of their sails.
My take on it is that not everybody on the team is happy with CMR. He’s not as highly thought of as some may want to believe. The players are playing for UGA and themselves, and really don’t care who is the HC. If CMR is sent packing, there may not be such an uproar that some may think from the players.
Hairy Perry
August 24th, 2011
8:06 pm
Bronco Billy,
Every one knows Boise State is a paper tiger, I plan on seeing them get thier @sses handed to them like they did last time we saw you sorry saps.
Hairy Perry
August 24th, 2011
8:09 pm
I will be very dissapointed if we don’t crush these posers into the astro turf.
Hairy Perry
August 24th, 2011
8:11 pm
Hasta Luego Pedros!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 24th, 2011
8:12 pm
FLA DAWG
Yea I know
I also know why he did it. Because some woman called in on the post game show after the 1st game boo hooing because she heared Grathum using bad language on the sideline
I can almost bet you she didnt hear a thing. She is one of those parents who hires a high priced attorney to sue the school after her little Johnny Be Good got cut from the bowling team.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 24th, 2011
8:17 pm
War Dang Dawg
Richt has had the better team every year except 2 yrs. He just doesnt really care that much if he beats FL. Until someone does we will continue to lose to them