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
Cognitive Dissonance
October 17th, 2011
9:38 am
I am.
StUGA
October 17th, 2011
9:40 am
Agreed. Glad Coach Grantham is on our side, but he does need to tone it down some regarding his behavior with anyone outside his own players. Lot’s of young folks look up to him as an example. It wasn’t the first time a coach called out an opposing player after a game and it won’t be the last.
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
9:41 am
Lowcountry, not to guess where IC’s head was BUT It sure seemed like our O-line took the night off.
Cognitive Dissonance
October 17th, 2011
9:42 am
@AltamahaDawg
Bobby Williams coaches special teams for Alabama and you must not have watched them play for the past two years if you think that they have problems with kick coverage.
builderdawg
October 17th, 2011
9:43 am
Lets see,,,Coach Grantham is being raked over the coals because he is taking up for his kids, his defense is the ONLY REASON that CMR and boo boo have won the last 5. boo boo,once again you prove that you are one of the most over rated and inept O.C. in college today. You need to start at the high school level with that kind of play calling, and CMR,,, you are the head coach, over rule the guy!!! you are suposed to be this offensive genius, show it!! The ability to take up for your kids wont be lost by them.
Saban
October 17th, 2011
9:43 am
Great game dawgs. Without the dream team you would not be five points better than Vanderbilt.
Choakdawg really stands for everything Georgia is all about. Imagine Richt slapped him with his purse after the game.
Mad Dog 1
October 17th, 2011
9:44 am
I’M A MAN Some coaches shout this and some coaches show this. If someone in a position such as vandy’s coach had yelled at your child while he was walking away what would you have done hung your head and walked away. Not if you are a man. These young men are like our coaches kids.I am one that is proud of CTG. The reason people run over other people is they are allowed to. But not one of CTG’s players. As always GO DOGS & GATA
Jborodawg
October 17th, 2011
9:46 am
I agree with you Bill. There were some positives in the win. And I agree with you also on CTG; it was not a classy moment and almost caused a riot on the field. For those of you who agree with CTG’s actions, you probably still today, as adults, cry, “…but she (wimper) started it!..” If you’ve seen the slow-mo videos, CTG’s repeatedly shouting “FU” was totally inappropriate, especially in front of all those players for whom he’s supposed to be setting an example. And Bill is right that Erk would never stoop so low. He’d get his players off the field and tell em to take it out on the next opponent. One can take up for ones players without totally losing ones cool, and almost causing a brawl. Let the other person be the fool and don’t stoop to his level.
Continually, calling for CMR’s head (Tony, T.Brown, 2-10, flat tire, Pollyanna et al) is pointless. I recall that at the beginning of the season it was near-unanimous that 8 wins would be sufficient in light of last year. After each win thus far, some of you “fans” are constantly finding fault and calling for heads to roll. How ’bout we wait until the season is over? Playing the “IF game” is pointless too: IF we had played LSU; IF we had so and so for a coach; IF we don’t beat so and so (Fla being your latest IF)…ad nausea. Yes, we could lose all of our remaining games; we could also win them all. CMR and many pundits think that CMB is a good coach. Right now, I defer to CMR’s judgement. Why not wait until the season is over before firing anyone; or at least wait until after we’ve finished our SEC games?
One more point before I shut up: last year’s NC team had some ugly wins; they won five of their games by three or less. Yes, they put beat downs on some teams too, but five were by three or less.
We all want our Dawgs to play mistake-free, penalty-free football. We all want them to win. If we’re fans, we back the team and stick together as fans. If you’re a Bulldog fan, I shake your hand and say, “Go Dawgs!”
Dawgfan1978
October 17th, 2011
9:46 am
The main problem with Bobo is he thinks he’s playing a video game. Calling plays against his players and/or friends on Xbox isn’t the same as calling plays against real defensive coordinators. Just because all the fancy trick/long plays works for him in a video game doesn’t mean it will work in a real SEC game. I say offer Richt a contract extension only if he agrees to reassign Bobo to a recruiting position.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
October 17th, 2011
9:46 am
Agreed the O-line was less than stellar, but who got the bulk time at the end of the game? RS, where those should be carries for IC. That along with some of the camera shots lead to believe he was not prepared to go 100% for whatever reason.
Darriel from Columbus
October 17th, 2011
9:47 am
Hey dude why dont u shut your piehole regarding Grantham. Once you have played the game call me, until then keep your “mommy boy” comments away from my dawgs.
Saban
October 17th, 2011
9:47 am
Would love to play Georgia in the championship game. Give my second team a lot of work. Crowell, he won`t last the first quarter.
To much love on the Georgia team.
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
9:51 am
Isnt he ALSO a position coach? Now maybe they don’t spread it out over as many coaches. But its still a shared responsibility over there.
“return” is a funny kept stat depending on who list it and how. Net, gross. But Alabama has been nearer to the bottom for the past several years, than the top. I do notice they use the high direction kick this year almost exclusively that UGA fans complained so much about in 2008.
coma toast
October 17th, 2011
9:52 am
bill king is correct regarding grantham, he should be fined…you dawg fans who fail to see the real issue here are stunningly stupid…vandy played rough and you barely beat them…VANDY…this struggle didn’t just start this week…ucf, colorado, florida for the last 2 DECADES…and even if we beat florida this season, does it even count?…no, lets keep cmr because we are scared of what might happen to the program….i’m scared of what is happening because we are keeping cmr…
Cognitive Dissonance
October 17th, 2011
9:53 am
Just because your defense is better than your offense or your special teams play, you shouldn’t infer that your defense is good. It is merely the least pathetic aspect of a football program that is fortunate to have attained overall mediocre status. Grantham couldn’t get a job at any other SEC school. Not because he is a lunatic (which he is), but because he is a lousy coach.
He might well qualify, however, as an Evil Genius. His little temper tantrum has got all of you dummies singing his praises now, rather than scoring his defensive performance in Georgia’s near loss to the perennial doormat of the SEC.
WTH… Pass the Kool-Aid.
coma toast
October 17th, 2011
9:55 am
and no more posts using the words “Columbus” in the bloggers name…
ARdawg
October 17th, 2011
9:56 am
I don’t personally care what language Grantham used. If he hadn’t got in Franklin’s face after making ANY negative reference to ANY UGA player after the game is totally and completely uncalled for. If Grantham didn’t, I’d be calling for his dismissal. Franklin is the one needing to put on his big boy skivvies. You lost loser. Get use to it, you are the coach at Vandy
ARdawg
October 17th, 2011
9:58 am
Oh the Nerds flocking to a winning team’s blog with fake handles. Who is surprised? Su<kit Nerds.
Cognitive Dissonance
October 17th, 2011
10:00 am
Grantham should let his boys pack heat when they take the field. It wouldn’t be very long before other teams would fear playing Georgia then!
TallyDawg
October 17th, 2011
10:04 am
I only wish CMR were as emotionally involved and cared as much as CTG obviously does. Franklin was singling out one of our players and Grantham called him out. Good for him. That’s the kind of attitude we’ve missed on our sidelines for far too long. Someone needs to get in Richt’s face regarding his undying support for a clueless OC. The most embarrising thing to me is that we refuse to hire a real OC. Grantham was probably already upset that CMB couldn’t kill the clock like any competent OC should have.
atljad
October 17th, 2011
10:08 am
For the dawg fans complaining about the performance, and Richt, and everything else, just remember that we were 0-2 five weeks ago. If I had told you then we’d be 5-2 now (and tied atop the East), you’d be thrilled and wouldn’t care how we won any of the games. Except for a fumble from a true freshman in his 2nd game ever vs South Carolina (Crowell), UGA would be 6-1 and all alone in 1st place. Coulda, woulda, shoulda, but that Carolina loss wasn’t on Richt. He’s done a pretty damn good job with a REALLY young team coming off a losing season (our best 3 offensive players are Murray, Crowell & Mitchell – Soph, Fresh, Fresh, respectively). Give the man a break. Now, let’s figure out how to get an ugly win against Florida – I’ll take it however I can get it.
Reality Check
October 17th, 2011
10:08 am
UGA has beaten 4 SEC teams that have a combined “1″ win in the SEC to date. Since the 2007 dancing in the endzone incident that gave UGA a black eye, UGA football has stood for multiple arrests, undisiplined play, poor coaching and now you have an overpayed DC that acts like a child. UGA fans love to call him fiery, but the reality is that everyone outside the Bulldawg nation only shake their heads and say that is what UGA football is. UGA football is a trainwreck and everyone knows it.
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
10:08 am
Yes, it was a bad weekend for the tech folks…. with thier team losing at Auburn.
falcon fred
October 17th, 2011
10:09 am
why didn’t John Chavis want the UGA d/c job? anyone know?
atljad
October 17th, 2011
10:11 am
Oh yeah, also, there were 2 NFL coaches involved in a much uglier incident yesterday, and I haven’t heard the word “classless” used to describe either of them…
ugab
October 17th, 2011
10:12 am
I hope we are over the Vandy game. Fl is our main concern. Fl has lost to some good SEC teams. The dawgs have barely beat the worst of the SEC teams. If MR does not get his team under control Fl will win big.
Mobile Dawg
October 17th, 2011
10:13 am
Rambo could have run, but decided to play it safe. I saw nothing wrong with taking the knee, didn’t account for the Bobo affect however.
Lowcountry, IC may have been injured but “my opinion” was he was pouting and he did lay down on the team. If that’s so guess what he becomes, that’s right, another distraction.
Macclenny_dawg
October 17th, 2011
10:14 am
Bill,
I agree with you on just about everything. Why do we continue to use Samuel more than Thomas?? It is clear he has more speed and is the better runner!!! The fullback still has no carries!!! The slant is not even in the playbook for Bobo. When a db is lined up 10 yards off our wr why don’t we just have Murray hike the ball and throw it out there??? We did this alot when AJ was here and now its not in the playbook!!! I missed tackle by the db and the wr could be gone!!!
Bill i have 2 disagree with you on Grantham though. I am proud he stuck up for his players. Right or wrong!!! In public you support your team and players and behind closed doors if they are wrong you let them have it!!! Not only in football, your job, or your life if you want someone to give you that extra effort you support them. These kids like to know you have their back!!! I myself am guilty of giving a little extra effort for certain bosses that I know will support me right or wrong!!! Unless we were there and knew what was said you can”t judge that he was wrong. If he was wrong he will answer for it one day!!! Just keep writing Bill and you insight is spot on 95% of the time. GO DAWGS!!!
ugab
October 17th, 2011
10:17 am
Bottom line: We are not bowl elligable. We have to beat Fl and Au, We are not ready for neither Fl or Au. We also have to beat Kentucky to play in the SEC championship. Al or LSU would shut Ga down. Is MR letting off the gas or what?
JB
October 17th, 2011
10:20 am
Tech has one more win left. Duke. Cupcakes catching up with them. Go back and read some comments after they got to 4-0. Cashing checks they couldn’t cover…LOL…… And not to leave my Dawgs out, the only reason we are 5-2 is our schedule, not our play. Put Arkansas and LSU in place of these cupcakes we’ve had, McGarity would openly be interviewing. We would be 3-4.
Dr. Morpheus
October 17th, 2011
10:25 am
I find it difficult to become worked up about Grantham having an angry response to the Vandy coach taking it upon himself to reprimand a UGA player. Grantham adds a little balance to the overly cool persona of CMR. UGA has improved greatly on defense in two years under Grantham (check the stats) and is playing considerably better than last year. UGA’s strength of schedule is rated #17 nationally (see http://www.realtimerpi.com). By comparison, GT’s SOS is #151. Of course, facts and objectivity don’t get a lot of play in the blog comments…
But the real tests of progress this year are coming up: UF, AU, and GT. Once again, UGA should beat Florida soundly and another loss here would be evidence of Richt’s failure to get the Dawgs past the biggest obstacle in our path to football success. I’ve supported CMR until the embarrassment of 2010’s team. We need to beat UF and win out.
Vince
October 17th, 2011
10:27 am
Excellent article. We must have the worst special teams play in the country. Why is this not addressed?
TheItalianDawg
October 17th, 2011
10:27 am
Bill,
Are you now picking Franklin side? are you ripping off Grantham to please Vandy Franklin?!!! what do you expect from Grantham to act when the head coach of Vandy told him your players are dirty cowards!!
or should Grantham apologize to Franklin and ask him for forgiveness to please you and look like a gentleman to you and company!!!
Here is my take Bill as long as our D play solid I dont give a damn about what you think about Grantham! I like coach Grantham even more now
McDawg
October 17th, 2011
10:28 am
2 weeks to get ready for UF
110% 100% of the time
keep on winning
Go Dawgs
tired of the whiners
JB
October 17th, 2011
10:29 am
Chavis is not at UGA because he wasn’t called. See OL hire from UAB to get inside Richt’s head. Plenty on money at UGA but he hires weak assit. Coach’s. Grantham was like 4 or 5 on the list, because he couldn’t get any takers. Not a good school. No. Not pay enough. No. The obvious reason was Richt’s short rope, thus Grantham would only come with a 3 year deal. Deny that all you want, but it is the gospel.
falcon fred
October 17th, 2011
10:29 am
@ Mobile Dawg
Crowell is too soft right now to play as an every down back in the SEC…
Fleming Island Dawg
October 17th, 2011
10:34 am
I need a list of the teams that don’t celebrate after a stop or tackle please. I think the great Teebow was the biggest one to celebrte after every play but he is known as a God. Never forget the running through the endzone at LSU holding up the hand like he was making a phone call.
JB
October 17th, 2011
10:35 am
If Crowell plays 3 years at UGA I would be surprised. Fellow Dawg fan at the game told me his body language all through the game was poor, and seem to pout and not run hard when he did play. Richt sat him for some reason, and his attitude was, “you don’t know who I am”. ope that is not true, But it’s one loyal Dawgs observation.
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
10:37 am
Kind of like Lattimore was too.
Grantham Rules!
October 17th, 2011
10:37 am
Richt needs to call the SEC and order them to investigate vanderbilt and their coach for illegal blocking. Grantham’s not going to put up with this again!
dolla dolla bill
October 17th, 2011
10:37 am
you are probably right about Chavis JB. I can see where Richt doesn’t want people who will stray from his “coddle coocoon”. can see crowell transferring after this season also. the kid doesn’t look like he is cut out for sec football. he’s an acc back playing in a big-boy league, and knows he’ll be physically beat down by the time the NFL come’s calling, just look at what Spurrier is doing with Lattimore for proof.
Larry
October 17th, 2011
10:43 am
After watching the game it became quite apparent that Georgia football has lost it’s positon of the better teams in the country. You can talk all day about Grantham, BoBo and Richt, but the bottom line is the dawgs are not going anywhere. They barely get by teams they should dominant and don’t have a chance against top teams. If they beat Florida, it is only because Florida is having a down year. We have had 4 and 5 star recruits, but still nothing. When we do score a lot of points, we give up just as many. Time to move own. Tired of watching LSU, Florida, Auburn and Alabama keep moving while we stand still.
Henry D.
October 17th, 2011
10:44 am
I agree that Grantham may have gone a little berserk. However, the camera was focused on his face and all you can see of Franklin is the back of his head, so you don’t know what he was doing or saying. You can see in the video that Franklin is yelling and pointing at a Georgia player. Grantham is shown walking away when he heard it and turned around to see what was going on and that’s when he lost it. Thre is plenty of blame to go around so don’t just go after Grantham.
Joey
October 17th, 2011
10:44 am
Whew, the techies are in a tizzy over Grantham cussing! Like your “new sheriff in town,” PJ, doesn’t throw F-bombs around every game?
It’s a man’s game. Stick your little fingers in your ears if cussing offends you.
Mobile Dawg
October 17th, 2011
10:44 am
Crowell may be a good back with a lot of talent but mark my words, he will be a “headache” with his attitude. You can take the “person” out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the person if you get my drift. Have a good day Dawgs, time to get some work done.
bill
October 17th, 2011
10:46 am
It all comes down to the game in Jacksonville…we beat the Gators, and Richt is with us for another 5 years at least (not my choice, but i don’t write the checks like Leeburn)…we lose, his “stellar” record against UF goes to 2-9, and the speculation continues…
Inlet Dawg
October 17th, 2011
10:49 am
Don’t care what you or anybody thinks I am a Grantham FAN
dawgfacedboy
October 17th, 2011
10:50 am
Cognitive dissonance- the D has been barely serviceable???? Have you even watched the games???
Matt
October 17th, 2011
10:53 am
When they fire Richt they can hire Grantham as far as I”m concerned. He coaches with a passion, with an anger. He will hold the players accountable. The players will fear him. The players will practice harder because they will fear for their job if they don’t perform. He means business. All things Ricth doesnt’ do. I’m tired of hugs and feel good crap.
Carl
October 17th, 2011
10:55 am
Why do we suddenly equate pitching a profanity-laced tirade with “sticking up for his players”?? I am 53 yrs old, retired from the military and a life-long UGA fan. I grew up during the Dooley and Russell days when UGA football was not only about winning, but winning with class. Grantham seems to be a fine DC, but his behavior Sat night should not be applauded nor endorsed and it is a total misrepresentation to even suggest that Erk Russell would have done the same thing. There is a huge difference between being firey and passionate and defending your players and acting like a jerk. Wish folks would realize that.