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
Gdawg
October 17th, 2011
7:01 am
Bill, always been a fan of yours till now, what if someone is yelling at your son, are you going to “turn the other cheek” We have done that far too often at UGA. As far as taunting the Vandy fans, good. They have a dang high school stadium that is so pitiful it would make tech blush. As someone else said on here it is time to outlaw cut blocking. It allows the teams like Vandy and tech that cannot play big boy football have an equalizer. There is no place for it in college football.
The Real Scoop
October 17th, 2011
7:05 am
Our AD Mr. McNasty is going back to Florida, Granthan is going to Vandy, and Mark Richt is taking his place. Bobo will become the head coach. Tommy and Terry Bowden will be hired as OC and DC. UGA will win NC. The same old fans will gripe but all is well.
Tired of fake crybaby fans and Bill
October 17th, 2011
7:10 am
Well all I got to say is all the folks crying about mean ol coach Grantham is please put your purses away. You are an embarrassment to all. A man that cant stand up for himself or his players is not much of a man and this is what america is coming to..A bunch of crybabies that want to turn the other cheek..
Lars Taint
October 17th, 2011
7:11 am
Bill,
First of all, I would think you would know enough about football to know that an offensive coordinator doesn’t call a deep pass. He calls a pass play, most of which include both long and short routes by the 3 or more receivers on any given play. The qb decides who to throw it to.
Second, while I agree that Grantham got a little carried away, I think you criticism of him is a little overboard. You don’t know what happened or what was said. He shouldn’t have yelled at the Vandy fans at all, but to say Georgia fans should be embarrassed that he is one of our coaches makes me embarrassed that you are one of our fans.
WinderDawg
October 17th, 2011
7:23 am
CTG had the right idea at defending his players but I think he went just to far over the line of being reasonable. I think CMR will adress and it will never happen again. Dawgs are a hot/cold team because they are playing alot of underclassmen. I remember a few years ago when Vandy fumbled in the red zone against the Dawgs and allowed UGA to pull out a victory. Then that UGA team went on and ran the table though didn’t make it to the SEC Championship then destroyed Hawaii in the Sugar bowl. This team can run the table and maybe not make it to Atlanta. CMR needs a recruiting class loaded with offensive lineman. The o-line is the only position that seems sub SEC across the board. If I were betting I think 9-3 is reasonable + a bowl win. Then lets get another running back and some oline in this years class! GO Dawgs
Hello Tampa Dawg.....Hope you read
October 17th, 2011
7:24 am
Well well well……so, the starters didnt get rested for the Florida game……hmmmmmm so morons- maybe now you see we cant afford to take ANYONE lightly. Bill King- care to follow up on your Friday post….a nice fall evening in Nashville….starters resting by halftime….HA! what a joke this team is. Fla will do what Fla always does in Jax and that may be a good thing. As a dawg fan I would hate to see us ebd up in Atlanta for another beat down……maybe someday…we will have a team that PLAYS to their potential instead of a team that has a QB that tosses interception after interception…..special teams that look like crap…..and Crowell in trouble….yep- this team really is improving week to week….BS!
Danielle
October 17th, 2011
7:26 am
Crowell is sitting on the bench because he’s failing his remedial studies. Why on earth does Richt think the lamebrains he recruits can actually read and write.
Jake
October 17th, 2011
7:28 am
Bill…..you are a complete moron. Todd Grantham defended his players. So SICK AND TIRED OF YOU CALLING YOURSELF A UGA FAN………PLEASE PLEASE FIND ANOTHER TEAM
Star
October 17th, 2011
7:30 am
Grantham should have been fired on the spot. The azzhole is the biggest thug on the team.
FRANK
October 17th, 2011
7:33 am
No, no,no,no,no Coach Grantham did the right thing. No question. The players know Grantham’s got their back, and I love seeing this fire in a coach.
chazzo
October 17th, 2011
7:44 am
We will see a different looking UGA team in Jax than the one we saw in Nashville.
georgiadawg70
October 17th, 2011
7:50 am
I support Grantham. I would have done it differently but Vandy players were diliberately tring to injure his players by cut blocking. He should have gotten in someone’s face. The press might not like him but I bet his players do. And that’s what makes them play for him
Red Rules
October 17th, 2011
7:56 am
The punt: We were not set up in our normal punting formation with three blocking backs halfway between the line and the punter. Instead, we had everybody except the punter within a yard of the line of scrimmage. When the one Vandy player broke through, and it only took one of our players to miss a block, he had an open path to Butler. If we had been in our usual formation this would never have happened. You really could say the same thing about the fake punt by Vandy – all of our players except for a couple were on the line of scrimmage – get by that and you’re wide open. Sometimes you should just go with what you always do and don’t out think yourself!!!
WTH
October 17th, 2011
8:00 am
yeah lets kick the DC for defending his players. i sure want another CMR for a coach. he didn’t disgrace anyone! he is exactly what we need. Ask Nick Saban if he gives a crap about what you think of him and what he says to the press, the fans of another schooll, or another coach. He will bite your dang head off and not think twice!!!
Fleming Island Dawg
October 17th, 2011
8:04 am
The personal fouls were not all retaliation for cut blocking. The first one the Vandy player punched our guy in the face on a kickoff and players retaliated. When the flag came out Franklin knew his player was guilty and had just given us 15 yards. He was so mad he ran out on the field and grabbed his player. But the penalty went towards GA instead. Why does everyone think Franklin is innocent? I guess he didn’t use any profanity or sya anything he was just jogging out to shake hands. Florida fans say Grantham is classless. Wasn’t the TN game were Muschamp had to be held back from the refs at halftime when he was mad about interference calls. Got a Youtube video of him using profanity towards the refs but he is classy? This is a man’s sport quit being wimps. 99% of the players are adults and if they don’t want to hear profanity go play tennis…Oh wait maybe not!!!
jackyldo
October 17th, 2011
8:06 am
good teams take steps forward and back — this was a step back and it can be a building block to beating Florida… 5 wins and we are somewhere between a good and a very good team ..
I hate watching the 4-5 run sequences followed by Murray throwing the ball 4-5 plays in a row.
It’s a win and we’re 5-2 — Beat the Gators and 8-2 is a strong possibility before Auburn and the gnats..
no dog
October 17th, 2011
8:09 am
Good blog, Bill.
Robinwood
October 17th, 2011
8:09 am
At $10,000/day, I would hope to God that CMR is smart enough to realize that WE NEED A FRAKKING SPECIAL TEAMS COACH! The points that are making our D look worse than the actual gameplay demonstrates are coming from trick plays and garbage special teams performance. That’s not to excuse this week’s rushing defense, because it was deplorable.
AFAN
October 17th, 2011
8:18 am
I have no problem with Grantham. He was upset and emotional. Another coach addressed an issue that didnt need to be addressed at the time. We all have opinions and I just feel that TG showed his players he cared. They will play harder for him because of it.
What happened?
October 17th, 2011
8:21 am
I’m hoping someone can answer this question because I no one mentioned it during the game and I still can’t find anyone who has asked this question…..Why did Rambo take a knee after his interception???? He had so much room to run! That and the fact UGA went 3 and out and had to punt (which got blocked) almost cost them the game.
I'll gladly take the 5
October 17th, 2011
8:35 am
Thanks, William, I agree. If these know it all supposed fans want to over anusize the game have at it. I will thankfully take a road win over any SEC team and move on. We have an off week to address whatever we need, and get much needed rest. Quit crying about every darn thing and enjoy…..GATA
DawginLex
October 17th, 2011
8:35 am
Bill
Grantham had every right to do what he did
You always defend your kids
Franklin apparently said something directly to one of our players
Grantham defended him
If he doesn’t he is a wimp and he loses the respect of his players
He is why the defense will run through a wall for the coaches.
Scott Beasley
October 17th, 2011
8:37 am
It is past time for Richt to go, I have been saying it for 4 years now and hearing the same lame excuses year after year, He is such a good Christian man, who else are we going to get, he is going to turn it around. I am sick of it, UGA under Richt is undisciplined and uninspired. Other than the cupcake teams they never put anyone away, there is always that doubt until the final buzzer over will this team win the game. The loyalty to assisstants, WIllie Martinez and Mike Bobo, is beyond crazy. Almost every year you hear about other teams coaching staffs possible moving up but you never hear that about this staff. As for this man of charcater and being a good Christian man….. I do not care if he is Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or Atheist as long as he is winning football games and competing for championships! And don’t give me any crap this year about winning the SEC East, that means nothing if you can lose two conference games in doing so! The East is a joke this year! Richt needs to go!!!!
UGA to the ACC
October 17th, 2011
8:46 am
You Georgia fans are pathetic. You must have all grown up on Care Bears and My Little Pony, because you live in a fantasy world. Your football program is in the ditch and it’s just been sinking deeper with each passing year. Still, you come on here and complain to the AJC writers that they should only write “positive” things about the team.
If you want to be sheltered from hearing bad news, then perhaps the columnists should stop writing about the Dawgs altogether after the season starts – you know, while you’re still Kool-Aid National Champions. Because UGA is never going to be a National Championship team at the end of a season. You should join your sister team in the ACC. You’re making the rest of the SEC look bad.
SSI
October 17th, 2011
8:48 am
You’re right on all points!
Joey
October 17th, 2011
8:51 am
Come on Bill, Grantham isn’t the only coach hurling F-bombs these days.
Watch a UF game – Muschamp goes beserk at least once a game.
That cool, calm, collected crap on our sideline (Richt )has worked great lately, huh?
The only folks that Richt inspires anymore live in Hatai or the Honduras . . .
Way to go, Grantham! Glad somebody on the sideline has their players’ backs.
dawgfacedboy
October 17th, 2011
8:52 am
Grantham is overrated?? Their defense has improved dramatically since he’s been there. I’m an alum and I have no problems with what he did. I’ll say it anyway; he’s a fiery coach and exactly what we need on the sidelines. Enough with this “put your arm around him and tell the kid you love him” crap.
I’m not sure there is a lot of good in this game. Marlon Brown had 75 yards of his 121 on one play where he was WIDE open down the sideline. It’s nice to see him contribute but I wouldn’t get too excited yet. He’s been invisible for a couple of years now.
Fact is the dawgs are damn lucky to come out of Nashville with a win. Plain and simple. Better get ready for Florida. This is yet another year that there is no reason (other than being undprepared, undisciplined, or out coached) they should lose that game.
RNB
October 17th, 2011
8:52 am
I support Coach Grantham and think Coach Richt was correct in is comments.
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
8:55 am
So you will write the actual “finding the good” article a bit later on?
dawgfacedboy
October 17th, 2011
8:58 am
While I”m at it; When the F are we going to hire a special teams coach??? If I were coaching against UGA I promise you we would practice and then run a fake at least once, if not twice a game against them.
That’s called getting schooled and it’s happened more than once this year.
beachdog
October 17th, 2011
8:58 am
Re: Todd Granthum
I disagree with Bill.
He had all the right to go ballistic since Cocah Franklin started yelling and pointing at Shawn Williams.
Re: Vandy doormat
Get used to it, Coach Franklin.
Joey
October 17th, 2011
9:01 am
“Our concern should be with Grantham.”
**********************************
Nope. Don’t agree with you at all on this one, Bill.
Our concern should be with Grantham’s boss. He and Bobo couldn’t manage a game and keep momentum if their life depended on it. And their clock management is atrocious.
Grantham should give Bobo and Richt the “choke sign.”
Niceville Dawg
October 17th, 2011
9:08 am
Will some of you haters change your attitudes after we beat the lizards?Would any of you have taken the offer before the season to have a chance to win the east going into Jax?I would.And in 2 weeks I’ll be walking into Alltel(or whatever it’s called now)with confidence.Only get the chance to go to a couple games a year and I plan on enjoying it win or lose.
Terry
October 17th, 2011
9:09 am
Bill, after reading the ajc and athen banner it seems you are the only one who is willing to give a more complete story of the altercation at the end of the game between grantham and the vandy coach. You are right, cusing and f bombs hurled at fans and players show a total lack of class for someone coaching at one the premier colleges in all of college football. Hopefully richt will read him the riot act.
Joey
October 17th, 2011
9:10 am
Remember preseason when the reports all said we had “the best special teams in the country?”
Boy, those were the days . . .
Mobile Dawg
October 17th, 2011
9:12 am
I saw some positives, and many negatives, again. If you use a set of Franklin scales the positives must outweigh the negatives because we won. Then can someone tell me why I just don’t feel like it? I have to give Vandy some credit, Rodgers and Stacy are two quality players, and our defense didn’t act like they were really into the game at times.
Dawg Fud
October 17th, 2011
9:13 am
Grantham should be fired.
DAWG with two bags over head
October 17th, 2011
9:14 am
Bill,
I thought you were spot on with your first blog after the game, but with this one you couldn’t have been farther off the mark. Looking at the post-game tape it’s clear that Franklin started the whole thing. Grantham was calm until Franklin yelled and started pointing fingers at our players. We have the benefit of seeing Grantham’s face, but we aren’t able the see Franklin’s. Unless you were down on the field, or you have some inside information from someone who was there, I don’t think you have any basis for going off on Grantham.
True, Grantham should probably reacted differently, but what I saw was not too far out of bounds given what I heard was going on from our radio announcers and from Kevin Butler, who was actually on the side lines during the game. Vandy was apparently violating rules on cut blocking and on blocking the center during punts and place kicks. Despite repeated protests from our bench, the officials refused to enforce the rules and let the game get out of hand. If you want to go off on someone, look at the arrogant officials that didn’t do their jobs. I’ll take Grantham’s slightly out of bounds animation over Richt’s “run my hands through my thinning hair” reaction any day.
Mobile Dawg
October 17th, 2011
9:16 am
Good point Joey, come to think of it it seems every year our “potential” strengths all of a sudden become inconsistent or problem areas. CMR is one “snake bit” dawg. Nah, honestly he’s just to nice and doesn’t “seem” to be able to hold anyone accountable. Have you ever seen the kid that the parents just continue talking to them about their bad behavior vs the ones that have a healthy respect for their parents?
Mobile Dawg
October 17th, 2011
9:18 am
If anyone thinks CTG is anything but a “ticking time bomb” you just don’t know people. I only act like that at Walmart when someone takes the parking place I’ve been waiting for for 5 minutes. Emotion is fine, great, I love it, unless it’s uncontrolled, then it becomes dangerous.
Joey
October 17th, 2011
9:19 am
Ms Dawg Fud, just go take a Pamprin. You’ll be a much nicer lady after a bit.
Cognitive Dissonance
October 17th, 2011
9:21 am
I wouldn’t fire Grantham for his childish behavior. I’d fire him for his poor performance. This defense has been barely serviceable against the weakest teams in the conference and was absolutely out-classed by Vandy – a team that is only barely better than the previous four cupcake opponents on the schedule.
You think that Florida is weak because you have seen them play three legitimate football programs in succession. You’d all better stock up on your favorite nerve medication prior to watching the Gators disassemble your pathetic defense in Jax.
Something is coming down the track. It’s called the Truth and it’s gonna be mighty painful when it crashes into your your little fantasy world. You all got a little taste of it in Nashville, but Florida is gonna serve up a heapin’ helpin’ at the Big Beverage Party.
dawgpoo
October 17th, 2011
9:21 am
UGA continues to amaze with its antics(e.g. taunting and celebrating the opposition after a big gain ) during and after games.If Richt and his staff taught and enforced discipline they probably would be one of the elite teams in the country! All the blame for the incident falls squarely on Richt’s shoulders.
Christopher
October 17th, 2011
9:26 am
The athletic history of UGA is full of so many sordid, sleazy incidents – dating back to Vince Dooley and continuing through Mark Richt – that it’s impossible to overlook. The school has come to stand for drunkenness and lawlessness, coddling of illiterate athletes who should never have been admitted to college, and rampant cheating by coaches. And now even the coaches are t-h-u-g-s.
UGA and Mark Richt are an affront and an embarrassment to all decent people in this state.
The Ole Ball Coach
October 17th, 2011
9:28 am
CTG had every right to be upset after Franklin verbally attacked him and UGA players…
But throwing the F-Bomb is not a good example….for any coach or teacher.
The Football game was emotional and hard fought, I think Franklin was mad that he lost
and was yelling to relief his stress.. Did you see he yelling and pointing at his own players
during the game….hmmm and Frankie is innocent he needs to give no reasons for his actions…..
dovebirddog
October 17th, 2011
9:35 am
Dawgs win. Get a life.
Cognitive Dissonance
October 17th, 2011
9:36 am
CTG had every right to be upset after Vandy exposed the pathetic state of the UGA defense.
He has been praised all year long as the only coach on the staff actually getting his job done. Surprise! He’s also a monumental failure.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
October 17th, 2011
9:36 am
I am more worries about IC not showing up after sitting out the first quarter. Was he injured or did he just lay down on the team?
Also again the inability not to run the clock out and have to punt with :30 left in the game.
Those two items along with the penaltys concern me more than how CTG acted.
richie
October 17th, 2011
9:37 am
Whats with all the comments about the coach going crazy,U great fans are going crazy every week on here……..Who is calling you out…….
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
9:37 am
Does anybody know if there is a limit for coach positions? Very few teams have a dedicated Special teams coach. LSU is one of the few that do, but Bama doesnt, Muschamp must not thought it was worth it, Meyer didn’t. And when you look at how they all faired, they are up in some categories and near the bottom in others. ie. LSU is the best at covering kicks but near the bottom in returns. ALabama for 2 years has been near the bottom in coverage but doing well in returns. Georgia have always had relatively strong ST but seems like every year its one specific thing that lacks.
Not sure a dedicated coach is the answer though. I can’t see how sny of the things that happen Sat would have been avoided by a single coach.
I do think John Lilly is having a crappy year, and maybe we need to get somebody else handling that. Some of that might be that we are thin at what historically makes up those teams such as back up FB, LB. But that block was a result of bad decisions. We were in the right protection to start with but came out of the TO with a different set having one protector in the backfield. I guess they shifted more guys to the line, but obvioulsy we were better off not to overthink that one.