Finding the good amid a lot of sloppy play by Dogs against Vandy
Michael Bennett stepped up big for Georgia against Vanderbilt. (Associated Press)
A few more observations from Georgia’s win over Vanderbilt in Nashville …
Georgia came out of the game with the Commodores a bit of a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma, as Winston Churchill once said.
The Dogs seem incapable of putting away even a mediocre team and yet have won four straight conference games and are tied for first place in the SEC East. Georgia had way too many penalties called Saturday night (11), got gashed at times by a Vandy team ranked 100th in the nation in running, and has turned special teams play into something resembling Russian roulette.
But they still won, and managed to get back into the AP Top 25 on the basis of that very flawed performance.
There were other positives to be gleaned from the Vandy game. Aaron Murray had several career bests despite still being occasionally off-target with his throws. And his one interception was more a case of superb defense than a poorly thrown ball.
Also, Michael Bennett and Marlon Brown did a more than able job of stepping into the breach in the absence of injured Malcolm Mitchell, with Bennett catching seven passes for 89 yards and Brown finally showing what he can do, with four catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns. It probably would have been three if Murray hadn’t missed a wide-open Brown headed toward the goal line on a third-down play in the third quarter.
And despite being unable to stop Vandy on a couple of long scoring drives, Georgia’s defense did rally to snuff out the Dores’ last three chances.
Also on the plus side, Mike Bobo finally seems to be warming up to the short passing game.
Only not on third down, for some reason. Why does he insist on having Murray trying for long pass plays or tricky sideline throws on third-and-long instead of going with something quick and more likely to produce a first down like a slant or crossing route or even throwing to a back?
Georgia fans also were left wondering Saturday night why the Dogs couldn’t successfully kill the clock after an interception of a Vandy pass had seemingly handed Georgia the win. Without a healthy Isaiah Crowell on the field, Georgia basically doesn’t have a running game.
And why, on a punt where everybody in the stadium and television viewing audience knew Vandy was going to come after the block, the only possible chance they had of staying in the game, could the Dogs still not keep it from happening?
And is the Georgia punt coverage team and coaching staff the most gullible bunch in college football? Let’s see, Vandy’s backup punter comes in and the line suddenly shifts en masse so that the center is now an eligible receiver, and no one suspects a fake is coming up?
As for Blair Walsh, it’s pretty obvious he’s no longer money in the bank. Four out of six would be great in baseball, but not kicking field goals. Though it has to be said that Georgia having to attempt six field goals, which tied a school record, doesn’t make you feel very good about the Dogs’ red zone offense.
Finally, some thoughts on the sorry post-game scene on the field.
I don’t care if Vandy was cut blocking (retaliation for which apparently played a part in Georgia’s three personal foul calls) or if Commodores head coach James Franklin should have picked a better time and place to address some complaint he had about a Dogs player with the UGA coaching staff.
The fact remains that Todd Grantham is supposed to be setting an example as a teacher and a leader and instead he acted like an immature school kid, screaming at the opposing coach, inciting a near riot among the milling players and hurling f-bombs at the Vanderbilt fans in the stands.
He set such a disgusting example that Georgia players started taunting the Vandy fans, which is just plain embarrassing. I mean, it was a close win over Vanderbilt!
Richt said Sunday that he has “addressed it with everybody involved,” but if that doesn’t result in some sort of public apology from Grantham at the very least, if not a fine from UGA or the conference, then it hasn’t been properly addressed. Grantham was reprimanded last year for making a choke sign at the Florida kicker, but he apparently didn’t get the message that juvenile behavior on the part of a UGA coach is not acceptable.
He may very well have been perfectly justified in disagreeing with what Franklin had to say about one of his players after the game, but throwing an on-field tantrum is not the proper response.
And, please, don’t try and justify what he did by saying he’s a fiery, competitive coach and just what Georgia needs. Hey, if he wants to scream at his own troops and that works, I’m fine with it. But screaming obscenities at the opposing fans and coaches is just classless.
And don’t compare him with Erk Russell. Erk might have been fiery, but he was always a gentleman and never made Georgia fans ashamed he was one of our coaches.
That can’t be said about Grantham.
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392 comments Add your comment
Greg
October 16th, 2011
10:54 pm
Good grief. The sooner we can put this Vandy game behind us, the better. Embarrassing display on the field during and after the game. These doormats like Vandy and UK should be dismissed without any heavy lifting. Instead, we have a first year coach sticking his chest out and bragging about how the mighty Commodores aren’t taking any flack from anyone. Anyone hear Bama, LSU and any other serious football programs yawning and giggling in the background? Same with Kentucky. Just read an article about Joker Phillips using UK’s victory over UGA in 2009 as a recruiting tool. If UGA is struggling with probably the two worst football programs in the conference, how can we expect to compete regularly with the elite teams in the conference and the nation? Our players and coaches have become so unaccustomed to beating any team worth a damn that we carry on like a bunch of gangsta’s after beating VANDY. Pathetic. What a bunch of BS about Grantham backing the players. Sean Williams was acting like a thug out there and Kwame Geathers punched a guy. Again, this is friggin’ Vandy! Step up and beat somebody worth a damn and then keep your mouth shut and act like you’ve been there before. Inmates running the asylum and Grantham’s example certainly isn’t helping matters as evidenced by Bill’s description of some of the players behavior as they left the field.
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked teams
October 16th, 2011
10:55 pm
And JB, just to convice you I’m not a Tech mole on a Dawg blog…..If UGA does win the East, then get clobbered by LSU/Alabama,
Richt will have enough class not to get the kids “SEC East Division Champs” rings…..ala Tech after their 45-42 win over UGA…….what a joke!!
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked teams
October 16th, 2011
10:57 pm
cmac…..I was thinking the exact same thing today…..What do you think a special teams coach earns these days….$50K, $75K
….and what did I say, Richt makes 3 million/year???
I mean, how much money do you need???
ARdawg
October 16th, 2011
11:00 pm
Bill,
Say what you want about CTG, maybe he has it coming. But seriously, what Richt is doing to this team is much more devastating than a temper-tantrum by CTG. We’re tied for first in the East, Vandy is near the bottom and we were just a few seconds away from a defeat. This IS VANDY and no, they are not vastly improved, we are vastly worse. CTG didn’t do that
I sliced your tire in Jacksonville that's why you got a flat
October 16th, 2011
11:02 pm
More crying uga fans! On this blog to!
Coach (ret)
October 16th, 2011
11:03 pm
Enter your comments here
Bill King
October 16th, 2011
11:03 pm
To “Can’t figure you out!”
I never said Franklin’s actions were acceptable. I said that was neither the time nor the place for him to lodge a complaint about one of Georgia’s players. But that does not excuse Grantham’s childish display. And not for the first time. Let Franklin’s bosses address his behavior. Our concern should be with Grantham.
Myanmar Shave
October 16th, 2011
11:03 pm
Five In A Row!
It’s Sweet As Candy
Thank God That We
Escaped From Vandy
Our Defense Is Suspect
Giving Up Too Much Ground
And Our DC Is Crazy
As A Dawg In Da Pound
We Ain’t Got Much Offense
We Can’t Really Run
But Our Backup Quarterback
Should Be The One©
We’re Saving Him Now
And Using Him Later
He’s Our Secret Weapon
To Pull On A Gator
But Gators Are Mean
And They Don’t Play Fair
So I Don’t See Us Having
Much Luck Down There
Bradley Is Lame
But He’s Healing Each Day
I’m Afraid That He’s Gonna
Be Ready to Play
So Goodbye SEC
Goodbye East Division
Perhaps That Will Spur
An Overdue Decision?
Myanmar Shave©
aarh
October 16th, 2011
11:06 pm
cmacc22- I’d call beating tech in ‘08 when they were ranked in the top 10 a big win, bc they beat UGa the yr. before, & UGA had been struggling to that point. I know they play in the ACC, but I think you can call that a big win.
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked teams
October 16th, 2011
11:07 pm
Myanmar……Eminem called…..wants you to write his next rap…….NOT!!!!
that, my friend, was truly pathetic, sigh!
Myanmar Shave
October 16th, 2011
11:10 pm
still unranked
if you don’t like my rhyme
you’re free to write better
when you find the time
UGADawg83
October 16th, 2011
11:11 pm
Bill,
This is the most disgusting piece you have ever written. Grantham was backing his players against an opposing head coach who was out of line. You as a “life long Dog fan” should be backing your coach. I think you should apologize to Grantham. Absolutely appalling Bill. Absolutely appalling.
Dawg48
October 16th, 2011
11:11 pm
@ bill king he stood up for his player! Dude you stir the pot! Ok you like to tell richt how to do his job I will tell you how to do yours! How about talking positive how about not calling samuals one yard in a cloud of dust when he sacrificed his future a line baker to help the team when ealy and king let us down! You sir need to “fix” your problems and let richt handle his like he would ask for your council any way! Or any one of us on this blog!
(STILL) 2-10 against ranked teams
October 16th, 2011
11:12 pm
I’ll say good night after this post…..
The ONLY way Richt should be able to keep his job after this season, is to win out the rest of the year, then beat Alabama/LSU for the SEC championship and win again in the Sugar Bowl
If Richt defenders would agree on this blog to that, I’ll stop calling for his firing…..any takers????
SEC Fan
October 16th, 2011
11:14 pm
This whole incident with Coach Grantham looks bad to outsiders, but what looks even worse is for the fan-base to celebrate his behavior as if it was a good thing.
Dawg48
October 16th, 2011
11:17 pm
I’m ashamed bill king calls himself a life long dawg!
Mobile Dawg
October 16th, 2011
11:18 pm
It will take Richt at least two more years to remove all the cancers from this program, make the staff changes necessary, and continue to improve this football team, that’s what the kool aid krowd is thinking and hoping for. That’s taking a huge risk, it could just as easily continue to erode, based on not so recent history, and some tell tale signs this year, continued mediocrity is more likely than not. JMO.
Terry
October 16th, 2011
11:19 pm
Bill King, Grantham’s human and he’s subject to flaws, just like you are. If someone come up to you, and said, “you guys are a bunch of ___ thugs.” After a game like they had, don’t you think you might have went off on him too? I mean these kid’s are like family to him, I probably would have knock his lights out.
Mobile Dawg
October 16th, 2011
11:20 pm
The 3 Million dollar question I want an answer for is why does this program “always” seem to be surrounded by some sort of controversy lately? Be honest, answer that, and you will have the answer as to what’s required to fix the problem. Bad medicine, but necessary to get well.
Question
October 16th, 2011
11:20 pm
Why is it ok, to some UGA fans, that Grantham’s actions were acceptable becuase he was “defending” his players, but want to call out Franklin and give him a hard time. It appears to me, that he was doing the exact same thing….accept in a much more tolerable way.
Bill, you got it right. Some UGA fans will always want to spin it, and find some excuse to rally around to apologize for a UGA player or coach when that player or coach is in the wrong. However, Grantham is an embarrassment…if UGA fans don’t see that, then they are an embarrassment as well.
Top Dog
October 16th, 2011
11:21 pm
What he said
Brett21
October 16th, 2011
10:06 pm
First off Bill I couldn’t disagree with you more. Grantham essentially did the same thing that Bobby Cox did for his players for 20 years. He took the attention off the player and put it on himself. I have the ultimate respect for a coach that will take up for his player. Secondly, being a former college athlete, he is the kind of coach you want to play for. If you look at the film, Grantham was calm walking out onto the field until he sees Vandy’s Coach yelling at Shawn Williams and thats what set him off. He is a fiery coach and something that UGA needs. Nobody says a dam word when Muschamp is chewing out the refs in his games using every four letter word imaginable. Don’t put down a man when you don’t know what was said. Vandy employs the same blocking techniques as Tech. If we were employing the same rules as the NFL, there would be a penalty called every play. I realize your a “journalist” but don’t call someone when you don’t know the whole story. Completely absurd!!
SEC Fan
October 16th, 2011
11:22 pm
@Terry
I can’t speak for Bill, but I can say that Coach Grantham’s response was unacceptable for a professional adult.
Confused Dawg
October 16th, 2011
11:24 pm
I thought we only blamed the refs for letting the other team cheat when we lost?
Confused Dawg
October 16th, 2011
11:28 pm
Who was injured by Vandy’s illegal blocks?
Why hasn’t Vandy used these “illegal blocks” in prior games this season? Did they have to come up with a special game-plan to cheat against Georgia because we’re so much better than Alabama?
Terry
October 16th, 2011
11:32 pm
Sec Fan, if I had wanted your insight, I would have spoken to you, and as far as what you think, no one care’s, because you’re thinking is flawed.
kerryb
October 16th, 2011
11:33 pm
My gosh Bill. Cant you ever write anything positive at all? When you finally make an attempt at it you always follow it with something negative. What the hell is wrong with you? You are the most depressing columnist I read. Are you really a UGA guy? You could have fooled me. We just won 5 games in a row. Dont really care how we did it. Write about that. We could have just lost our star running back to a knee injury. We could be a bad UF team this year. Be positive man.
kerryb
October 16th, 2011
11:34 pm
SEC Fan, dont have a problem with Coach Grantham. Stuck up for his guy. Dont have your guys cheap shotting my guys below the knees all night then have the nerve to come up talking trash to my player. Love what he did.
Terry
October 16th, 2011
11:35 pm
This is what was said happen.
Coach Franklin took offense to some of the tackles on his guys. A few times they got thrown the to ground. Sort of like Nick Fairley did a year ago…whipping, throwing ball carriers to the ground hard. And then, the posturing afterwards. And a little smack-talk.
It wasn’t illegal. But some of it was “in your face, dude.”
Emotions were running high. It was a hard-faught game. And the Vandy coach wanted to be heard. He couldn’t locate Richt, so Grantham had to hear it. And the scene exploded.
kerryb
October 16th, 2011
11:40 pm
Terry, So, I guess you shouldn’t be thrown to the ground in tackle football. The difference in what Fairley was doing was throwing QB’s like that after they had thrown the ball which is cheap. UGA players were throwing runners before they could make more yards and receivers when they came down with the ball. Not QB’s who no longer had the ball.
Flo-Ri-Duh
October 16th, 2011
11:43 pm
The Vandy player went for Gaether’s knees from behind. The ref must have been blind because he was looking right at him. Worse yet, this was the second time this happened and the ref didn’t do a thing. The guy should have been thrown out of the game the FIRST time it happened. Instead, had to defend himself.
Highlands Dawg
October 16th, 2011
11:45 pm
Seriously? You’re going to get mad about the Grantham incident? It is a football game, things like that happen. Should Geathers hit a guy? No, but he was properly penalized. To think Grantham is an embarrassment is a weak point of view. You complain about the team not having a fiery attitude, yet when it does, you complain. I also wish you would quit talking about the Erk Russell days. He’s gone and not walking through that door. Last night’s win was way too close, but I think we should all just be happy that this team, a young one at that, got a SEC road win.
alphadog
October 16th, 2011
11:47 pm
The running game is a major concern. Bobo doesn’t understand the spread offense he has fallen in love with. Yes, it is easier to throw out of, but it doesn’t work for long unless the QB is a threat to run on every play. This is how Tebow and Scam Newton made it work. The line and IC are doing pretty well when they are able to match up with the defensive front 7 with a TE and FB, but UGA will not be able to run effectively from the spread if Murray is just a handoff guy and doesn’t freeze the LB’s and safeties. Garcia was a threat to run and that is what opened things up for Lattimore. Murray is not running that read option at all so Bobo is constantly creating situations where we have 5 guys trying to block 7.
Get Murray under center, put Figgins and Charles in there and then see how you match up with the defense. I am sure it is not as interesting for an OC, but it has worked every time UGA has stuck with it this year. This is especially needed when Mitchell is not available to stretch the defense.
Old Coach (ret)
October 16th, 2011
11:48 pm
Mr king;
Your comments are appreciated, but, I must disagree.
Vehemently !
I was not privy to Coach Grantham”a language,
and only the few who were there could bear witness.
[as I'm sure you can]
but with today’s 24 hour loop & media scrutiny … your’s included,
I’m not certain Coach Russell would pass the Saint Erk test today ?
Having coached and been in that situation;
I can empathize with Coach “G”.
1st and foremost the vandy coach sought him out
(not the other way around).
2nd even a grown man does not have to listen to a young upstart
yammer in his ear.
Franklin knew what he was doing.
Franklin is and was seeking publicity for his moribund program.
*[see recruiting] *(they had 75 recruits on hand Sat) *(grandstanding)
I would not have listened to his lecture either.
Plus his Police Officer & Big Lineman exacerbated the situation.
The P.O. grabbed Coach “G” and this after Franklin initiated the melee.
Bill … you need to re-assess this column.
You sir are seeming a bit presumptuous, pompous, autocratic & smug.
Coach Grantham should not apologize.
Do we now live in a world where we must apologize for “seeming” ?
Yes I said “seeming”.
That’s all Todd did was seem to be a certain way.
Your perception was….. what it was…..and that’s all.
Back to my next to last paragraph:
Are you presumptuous + pompous + autocratic + smug + ?
Should you apologize to me for seeming so ?
If Todd must apologize, then I’m calling for your apology as well.
Fair is fair.
Old Coach (ret)
kerryb
October 16th, 2011
11:48 pm
I think Bill King’s column is an embarrassment for real UGA fans. He’s the one always stirring up the negativity in the fan base. Bill if you cant write anything good please dont write at all.
STUDENT ATHLETE
October 16th, 2011
11:51 pm
The problem is not play calling the problem is players – or better put the lack thereof. What major college football program is forced to use a linebacker as its primary running back. CMR thinks he can win in the SEC by playing pitch and catch. With consistently substandard offensive lines and no ground game Georgia will never compete which Alabama or LSU, etc. Until this team is built from the inside out it will continue to come up short. Losses to Florida and Auburn to follow. And if you can’t beat these two teams this year ……..
kerryb
October 16th, 2011
11:52 pm
alphadog, I think you are right. Every time we go into the old I formation Pro set we move the ball. WE need to go back to what we do best.
kerryb
October 16th, 2011
11:56 pm
STUDENT ATHLETE, you are wrong. The only reason we are thin at RB is one transferred and the other failed his classes, I don’t know what you mean by building inside out. This years class gave us outstanding skill players and bolstered the defense. Next years class is picking up more O-lineman. What else is there?
The original OLD Greg
October 17th, 2011
12:02 am
so BIll,
if its up to Franklin’s bosses to address his behavior, then who are you to address Grantham’s behavior without a clear understanding of exactly what happened. I know for a fact you are not CTG’s boss so you’re disgust when talking about him is completely inappropriate and I think you should call him and apologize to him. I have watched the replay I don’t know what Franklin said nor does anyone except franklin and grantham so why don’t we let it go and say they were both wrong until we hear otherwise
Phuch Le` Duc
October 17th, 2011
12:10 am
(pronounced – foosh le duke)
If Paul Johnson displays a certain behavior,
such as calling his own player stupid on national TV,
he is put on a pedestal and nominated for coach of the year.
— by this newspaper —
P.J. suggests his fan-base punch UGA fans in the face;
if they don’t like what they are hearing from UGA fans.
— “well that’s just Paul, being Paul” —
Never once have I heard anyone from GaTech call for an apology.
Nor should they.
My point is that CPJ is not a bad person -either- .
Yet, he is a respected coach.
I realize this is a BullDawg site.
I hope the Tech comparison does not fall on deaf ears.
CMR the hypocrite
October 17th, 2011
12:37 am
I find it VERY laughable what St. Mark said today regarding the incident of another classless UGA coach at the end of the Vandy game: “We need our players at the end of a play to not be chirping or anything. Just go back to the sideline…or go back to the huddle.” That is such CRAP – UGA Thugdawgs are known through the college football world as one of the dirtiest teams. They take cheap shots well after the play and they constantly talk smack and get in everyone’s faces after a play. They are THUGS and CMR coaches them that way – otherwise they wouldn’t do it.
Once again, St. Mark Richt shows himself as the hypocrite he is.
dbc
October 17th, 2011
1:02 am
Way to tank your own article, Bill. Positives? You just wiped them out with negatives. I bet CMR really let Grantham have it — bailef!, whack his pee pee!
Alphare
October 17th, 2011
1:03 am
Bill,
very classy post of yours. Why would the thuggish stuff happen with UGA football? just look at the thuggish responses you get from lots of UGA fans when you are criticizing those thuggish stuff.
Bill, it starts with the fans. The thuggish stuff has a good market among UGA fans which subsequently influence the football team. They are simply playing to the taste of the fan base. People like Bill with courage to stand up against it are getting attacked by the same fan base.
Simply sad.
dbc
October 17th, 2011
1:07 am
And Mobile Dawg, I agree. UGA always has some “thing” keeping them down. Every year it’s something else. Or is it? Let’s all look for the common denominator shall we?
bitter dawgs fan
October 17th, 2011
1:08 am
@alphare——stop kissing bills as—s—and go back inside your single wide in tusk-ca-loose–sa
——————he/she troll
bitter thuggnificent vandy coach
October 17th, 2011
1:17 am
vandies coach used his cop security to attack grantham——-low life franklin
rally
October 17th, 2011
1:45 am
UGA can be really exalted over its Neanderthal DC Grantham. He has provided more laughs to us here in Nashville than you could imagine. We saw the real trashy ThUGA here. You all can be real proud.
THOMAS CO. CENTRAL DAWG FAN
October 17th, 2011
2:32 am
What about the game turned in by my friend Ray “The minister of defense” Drew with his 2 sacks. Glad to see him back at DE with his hand in the dirt which is what he has been accustomed to playing. He may be able to develop into the rush OLB next yr but the kid is 6′5″ 255# and very athletic (same size as Abe for the Falcons) and if we can get a consistant pass rush from a DE, in a 3-4 no less, then we will be unstoppable on defense with our gigantic NG’s and rush down DE’s. My man Ray gives us an added dimention on defense now.
Vandy was mean to us
October 17th, 2011
3:01 am
24 hours later and Dawgs are still whining that mighty mighty Vandy plays too rough. I hope you back into winning the pitiful SEC East so you can learn about big boy football first hand in the dome. I can’t wait to hear about how Saban or Miles don’t play fair. Did Grantham strain his vagina crying about the big bad bullies from Nashville?
William
October 17th, 2011
3:49 am
I was in Nashville Sat. night, and I watched the game on Tivo. Vandy played like they didn’t have anything to lose and they didn’t. Georgia weathered the storm. A win on the road in the SEC is big regardless of how ugly it was. Look at USCe. Considering all the penalties that weren’t called on Vandy and all the ones on Georgia, it’s a wonder we won. Richard Samuel deserves a medal for being a team player. Let’s face it, this team is no LSU or BAMA. But it is our team. you pull for them no matter what. Winning five in a row is nothing to sneaze at. Quit finding faults and just pull for the kids. They are trying really hard to be good. Considering all the problems with losing players and having to play so many underclassmen, it’s a wonder they are as good as they are. I think the coaching staff has done a good job this year. Next year should be even better. Get behind the dawgs and pull for them to beat Florida. GATA.
Billy
October 17th, 2011
4:04 am
Bill King, You are a very boring and dull writer. You need to step aside and edit stories full time. It is bad enough that we have to hear all the boring stories about what your family and friends think….now we are subjected to your misplaced sense of authoritative conduct enforcement standards….you say “we” should be concerned with coach G’s behavior….you are pitiful…..coach G is a pro and if he uses the f word with a jerk fan, it’s ok with most mature adults; as most will trust his judgementy and give him the benefit of the doubt. (ie. we don’t have a clue what has gone on, but he does). I have been on the sidelines at several Vandy games and some of the Vandy fans who sit right on top of your head are nasty sounding Tennesseans just like the bad apples in Knoxville. Many things go on during the game on the sidelines and field about which you don’t and will never know…..please take your hillbilly’blawg’ back to your kitchen and let yhe AJC get a real writer. You have your nerve thinking it is your place to tell others how to behave. You, sir, have not earned the right.God, you are a terrible writer. Someone please, please send us a legitimate writer with some originality and creative ability; then I would respect his/her occasional moral instruction. Not from such a boring writer. I am sorry to be so harsh; but, you out punted your coverage with this misplaced moral diatribe. I notice several of the “thuga” using techies love you for the article. Pitifully done. Please resign your position immediately. You do not deserve it. Can you say: God Awful?