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
LawDawg
October 17th, 2011
10:56 am
It is sort of strange that I felt great about our team after the loss to USC and terrible about the team after the win against Vandy. I am appalled by how awful our special teams are. Twice now an OBVIOUS fake punt has worked and the kicking game is terrible. Walsh must have a case of the Yips because there is really no other explanation.
In other news, Murray seems to be regressing (fair is fair, though, that is larger on the OL and the play calling) and missing open receivers and the D went to sleep.
I have been pro-Richt and pro-Grantham, but they just seem unable to keep the team motivated day-in, day-out
Calhoundawg
October 17th, 2011
10:58 am
Franklin started it — Grantham finished it. Good for him. Go Dawgs !!!
Ellijay dawgcatcher
October 17th, 2011
10:58 am
why not Mike Leach in Athens?
GATiger
October 17th, 2011
11:00 am
All you posters defending Grantham’s behavior and comparing it to Muschamp’s are missing one thing. Grantham is an assistant. His sole responsibility is to Richt, and the HC is, or should be, the sole repository of his questions, arguments, concerns, etc. I don’t care if Franklin was yelling at UGA players all game long. It’s not Grantham’s job to confront any coach in a post game setting. His job is to prepare his defense, and I think it would be fair to say he failed at that. Ultimately, the blame for this ugly incident lies with Richt for failing to lay down the law to his staff.
DIT
October 17th, 2011
11:00 am
Bill, have to dissagree with you on this one. Expect for the fact that TG could have handled himself a little better. I do agree with that. I don’t care who you coach for, if another coach, particularly the HC, of another school comes right out and goes after a player his coach will take exception over it and take up for his player. If Franklin would have said those things and TG sat back there would be even a larger back-lash than there is now.
Hopefully this will do something for the defense to help get them ready for UF. Go Dawgs!
ARdawg
October 17th, 2011
11:01 am
Altamaha
I hate it for Lattimore. I have no love loss for The Ole Bawl Sack but I was looking forward to seeing Lattimore do some things. The kid is a footballer
OkieDawg
October 17th, 2011
11:02 am
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?
Actually, it is the punt return team that is gullible.
SSIgator
October 17th, 2011
11:04 am
Bill King -
Well, He!! must have frozen over – you actually wrote something that I agree with 100%. Of course, all of the other Kool-Aid crowd want your scalp for writing what you did, but they cannot see the truth because of the amount they have consumed while looking through their Richt-colored glasses. Keep at it. Maybe you and I will agree once again some time in the future.
UGA Insider
October 17th, 2011
11:09 am
I have read several comments about Grantham leaving at seasons end. Where are all of these rumors coming from?? I can’t keep blaming trolls, these statements are coming from somewhere.
Ga Kool Aid Crowd
October 17th, 2011
11:10 am
Write only good things about our beloved dogs and dog coaches. They are the best and everything they do is correct! They “stick up for” their players—only coaches at other schools are “out of control.” Dogs are the best! When they lose it is only because of bad luck, injuries or cheating refs! The dogs–#1 in the country!!!
Best Regards
October 17th, 2011
11:11 am
`
Very Well Written Blawg, Mr. Bill King.
.
* Beat Florida
Alabama Dog
October 17th, 2011
11:13 am
LawDawg: Right on!!!! Georgia’s special teams are ABSOLUTELY horrible!!!!!
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
11:15 am
I hate to see that too. I want SC to lose, but I hate seeing a kid hurt to do it. I was actually surprised at myself with a vocal “oh no” when Brantley went down.
My point about Lattimore wasn’t about his injury this year though. It was just about this point in his freshman season last year when he hit a physical wall, missed some time, so I’m thinking that folks need to consider how difficult it is for a true freshman in this league to be 100%, every game before calling him soft. I have no idea what his attitude was/it so I’ll not throw stones at our own players till they prove they deserve it.
outkasted
October 17th, 2011
11:15 am
yall complain when they lose and u complain when they win…. its official u people are just plain crazy…. good win dawgs got 2 weeks to get healthy and be ready to beat the gators…
Alabama Dog
October 17th, 2011
11:17 am
To all: Blair Walsh is undependable on a good day any more.So much so I’ve created a nickname for him: FORREST SLUMP!!!! He’s like a box of chocolates when he lines up for a field goal these days-you never know what you’re gonna get!!!!!!
DAWGMAN
October 17th, 2011
11:18 am
The Georgia Football Coaching Staff ran out of deodorant about five years ago
Please let us declare coach richt an All Pro Person of Character; then elevate him to ‘coach emeritus’.
That Oklahoma State Offense looks pretty darn good. Can it be imported or purchased?
Erk didn’t cuss. I used to go down to the hedges and watch him, listen to him, and see him get his forehead bloody with a player who seemed to have lost his appetite for the contest. No cussin. Met him one time to talk with him for a heavenly ten minutes at an alumni meeting. He was a well-spoken man of great humility. No cussin.
Our, and it is ours, football program is without a rudder. Going down the drain. Mediocre at best. How ’bout dem dawgs? Well, sadly we stink. The end of the Vandy game is irrefutable proof.
Now what, pray tell, are we going to do about it? No turning away, and no rationalizing, please!
UGA Insider
October 17th, 2011
11:18 am
LawDawg @10:56,
Perfect post my friend. Well said. I have already had two calls this morning from supposed people in the know who said the Chris Peterson rumors are running rampant. It’s gonna take $4,500,000 to get him here but that’s the number being discussed if we lose to UF and or AU/GT.
Now Adams is embarrassed by the spectacle Sat night. Most of the players went to the Vandy bench and shot birds and cussed at the fans. Adams is a liberal elite as most of the Vandy people are as well. He was sitting with them and had to watch the spectacle. It was ugly to say the least and I think this may be enough for Adams to start looking at a replacement. He is the only one who is not onboard for Peterson.
band aid
October 17th, 2011
11:18 am
Crowell needs to develop an attitude like Lattimore.
Robinwood
October 17th, 2011
11:19 am
CMR doesn’t appear to have the spark to win any longer. I’d take CTG in a heartbeat as an interim coach because I know that move #1 would be to move Bobo to recruiting. The offense is in serious need of some gridiron Viagra.
Dawgs > Gators
October 17th, 2011
11:20 am
Relax—this fla team is terrible, one of their worst ever. Muschamp doesn’t have a clue about coaching at this level. The dawgs will win this game easy–it could get ugly early with a couple of fumbles and INTs. Ga 40 fla 10!~~ Dawgs win the SEC east–book it!
UGA Insider
October 17th, 2011
11:22 am
Also, last week I stated that UGA would give Bama/UF fits in the SEC Championship Game. I was dead wrong and I apologize. We have NO business on the field with them and I hope USCe wins out so we don’t have to get beat on national TV 50-0. I’m sorry but I am so down on my Dawgs I don’t know what to do.
schmeckdawg
October 17th, 2011
11:23 am
Old Coach
October 16th, 2011
9:57 pm
@ Bill
Did it ever occur to you that CTG was having his players BACK? In any sporting event a coach should never try to address the other teams players. This is simply not done. By the way Bill, spend a few bucks and have another picture made, you look like a fruitcake.
***************************************************************************************************************
Now that’s funny, I don’t care who you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
11:30 am
You guys are a bit down on Walsh arent you? He missed a 50 yr attempt by an inch, but then hit a 53 yarder next.(to go along with his 56 earlier this year) Missed a 42 yarder, but hit the last 3 with the game in the balance.
Was 2/2 last week, when he had to be.
His sole miss the week before was a 48 yr attempt.
He had a rough game against OleMiss but other than that I doubt any team wouldn’t be pleased to have him the past 3 weeks.
It’s not like he is shanking 20 yard attempt here.
Joey
October 17th, 2011
11:32 am
DAWGMAN, and all that was in the 60s and 70s. Men wore ties and sportscoats to the games. Have you watched sports in the last, say, 40 years?
You can see (and occasionally hear) F-bombs in every game, be it football, basketball, and baseball.
I can’t stand it, myself, but I choose to put up with it. Grantham comes from the NFL, and that’s the way coaches and players talk. Don’t believe it? Watch an episode of Hard Knocks.
I suggest the faint-hearted switch to watching golf (turn it down when the camera’s on Tiger Woods!) if you can’t take men being angry and saying dirty words.
fiery dawg
October 17th, 2011
11:34 am
Bill, I’m embarrassed by this article.
Walsh will be judged by Florida game as will Murray
October 17th, 2011
11:35 am
Murray and Walsh hurt UGA last year vs Florida. Their legacies will be on the back of their individual game ( s ) vs Florida, with both being Floridians.
We shall see. We shall see. I am not sold on A Murray. He is too short. Erratic passer too. I do like him when he runs with no body open and IF he does that going forward, UGA ought to be ok ……………….if he does not run, UGA could easily lose two or three more.
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
11:37 am
8 out of 11 the past 3 week. Misses of 42, 48, 50.
hobnailboot
October 17th, 2011
11:40 am
It’s amazing to me that the same people that cried for a fiery Def. Cor. are now ripping CTG. He simply did what Mark does not have the guts to do. Franklin needs to go back to the ACC. Very dissapointed Mark did not publicly defend his coach.
dap01
October 17th, 2011
11:44 am
Grantham is the best at doing his job on the UGA coaching staff. The UGA coaching for special teams is a joke, the worst in college football.
The ability of our offensive coordinator to put together a plan is terrible.
The only plus is the return of fire from our defense.
Joey
October 17th, 2011
11:46 am
AD, Walsh is a victim of his own success in his three seasons. I do wish he had do-overs on those he missed vs Boise and SC.
We might be 6-1 right now, and be as fabulous as Tech (sarcasm) . . .
old dawg
October 17th, 2011
11:46 am
bill,
you are dead wrong.
vandy’s coach should apologize for coaching his players to chop block until they get called for it. he should be fined by the SEC.
the officiating crew should be suspended for the no calls for chop blocks. they endangered the players just to show the georgia coaches they were in charge and could do what they wanted. they almost determined the outcome of the game, not the players and coaches. they should apologize.
CTG was standing up for the safety of his players. somebody has to. you didn’t. CMR didn’t either. he is to busy playing statesman and not UGA head coach.
if your own head coach will not even step up and protect the players, how should they react?
CMR’s posture speaks to the state and future of the program.
why should the players endanger their health and future for a coach that does not stand up for them?
how CMR handles this will determine the tackling quality for the rest of the year. if he blows it (which he is working on) expect a lot of OLAY! tackles during the fl game.
Bill – put down your latte with the sprinkles and your bagel, get a cup of black coffee and a bisquit and rethink your position. you have wondered into frufru land. if you don’t, i expect your next column will advocate not keeping score anymore cause somebody’s feeling might get hurt.
RxDawg
October 17th, 2011
11:47 am
This alumni isnt ashamed of Grantham. Franklin is the one that wasn’t acting like a coach should, especially the head coach. He tried to verbaly go after one of our players and our coach stood up for him. I’ll take that every day.
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
11:47 am
Half the kicker in the league have not even attempted ALL year the number Walsh has made in 3 weeks.
And nobody has attempted as many as Walsh (20)……if you broke that down by distance, I’d bet nobody even had half as many over 40 yrd.
Nobody has MADE as many either except the kid from UF who is out of his mind. (although fair to point out that he loaded up earlier in the year on OOC games, and hasnt kept pace with Walsh lately)
Sam
October 17th, 2011
11:48 am
Georgia has a wonderful coaching staff, from CMR, CMB, CTG… all of them right down to the new strength coach are the best thing that ever happened to our program and I hope they stay at UGA FOREVER!!!
Sincerely- Fan of any other SEC school
Parker House
October 17th, 2011
11:49 am
It’s kind of sad to see all the Dawg fans getting so excited this year (just like the year before, the year before that, etc.). How long is it going to take for UGA fans to realize that UGA is simply no longer relevant in the SEC? In the national picture, UGA isn’t even a blip on the radar, and hasn’t been since the preseason #1 ranking several years ago.
Sit back and be grateful for the six or seven wins you’ll get every year. Coaching genius Mark Richt may take you to 8-4 or even 9-3 occasionally, but other schools will still win the SEC, meaning no BCS bowls and no top 10 final ranking. Most years, UGA will be very lucky to finish in the top 50, and only after a big bowl win over a nobody opponent.
It’s a different world now, and Dawg fans need to adjust their expectations downward to reflect reality.
Unfortunately nothing is going to change until UGA changes its mediocre coaching. That’s where the difference is, and that’s why everyone outside Dawgtard Nation just laughs at Dawg fans getting so excited year after year about what a great recruiting class UGA gets. It doesn’t matter how many blue chip high school players go to UGA, they simply don’t get the coaching they would get at Florida or Alabama, to name two schools whose programs are far ahead of UGA. And that’s not going to change as long as Mark Richt is in Athens.
Get your heads out of the sand and face reality. And mediocrity and irrelevance.
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
11:51 am
If I had any do-over for that SC game, the missed FG would not the spot I’d use it. (He was still 2/3 in that one). But I agree, we just assume the kid is near perfect, so it’s a surprise if he is not.
Bazooka Joe
October 17th, 2011
11:56 am
Bill King a journalist ? hahahahahahaha thats the funniest thing I have ever heard.
Bill King couldnt write for an elementary school newspaper.
So Ga Dawg
October 17th, 2011
12:06 pm
Dawg fans remember 07 it took a late field goal to beat Vandy and we went on to crush Hawaii oh and the mighty gators. Vandy has alot of plyers for Ga on their team that didnt get the invite to come play for the in state school and play extra hard. UGA on the other hand look to be looking ahead or just plain flat to start the game . No need to panic because of a close game to Vandy its happen before and it will happen again. Go Dawgs!!!
ARdawg
October 17th, 2011
12:07 pm
Altamaha
Agree you with you on Lattimore and FR in general. He has been a trooper for Spurrier. “Just give me the ball coach”
The odds were going to catch up with Walsh eventually. He gets called on more than any kicker in college ball. Cut the kid some slack. He’s been sure footed in the past and will again. I would still put the game on his foot
War Dang Dawg
October 17th, 2011
12:09 pm
This year’s WLOCP has a similar feel to last year’s game, only Georgia at 5-2 is a little better (if still underwhelming). Florida is pretty much the same; 4-3, on a 3 game October losing streak. Only this year’s UF team was blown out in two of those games and seems even more lost offensively than last year’s version.
Richt absolutely must win this game. No excuses. He cannot drop to 0-3 against first year Florida coaches. He cannot drop to 2-9 overall against our biggest rival, certainly our biggest in the SEC. His record against average-to-mediocre Florida teams (’02-’05, ‘07, and ‘10) is only 2-4; it cannot get worse.
I said this last year (under a different moniker, before it was stolen by someone else): It’s time to man up. Beat Florida. No excuses. It’s unacceptable for Georgia football to basically concede a yearly loss to a division rival. Just our recruiting alone should make this game a 50/50 proposition, but that’s not the way it has gone.
If not this year, then when?
If we lose, Richt must go.
Vinny Ocean
October 17th, 2011
12:09 pm
Bill RELAX with the comments about Grantham. Was it the classiest move? No, but I like the intensity. His defensive players know that he has their back. Players will play hard for a coach like that. I don’t think it needs to be an incident that needs to happen again but a little intensity from the coaching staff is nice. Grantham is making up for the lack of emotion from Richt.
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
12:11 pm
I would even venture to say that the way this game went is better for the team going forward than had it been easy.
Ellijay dawgcatcher
October 17th, 2011
12:11 pm
@SoGa Dawg
why, my friend, why the denial? the kool-ade is obviously clouding your judgement. promise you won’t drive or operate heavy equipment until you sober up. unless of course, mediocrity is your goal for this program. if so, drink away!
Joey
October 17th, 2011
12:14 pm
Actually, Parker House, irrelevance is a whole conference (acc) having only as many BCS Bowl wins as several teams, including UGA.
Now that’s irrevelant . . .
Ellijay dawgcatcher
October 17th, 2011
12:15 pm
question to the kool-ade drinkers:
where is the line? if UGA loses to Florida but wins the rest? if UGA beats Florida but loses to Tech? if UGA wins out, obviously loses big to LSU/Bama and stinks in a bowl game? where is it? what keeps Richt? what gets him fired?
War Dang Dawg
October 17th, 2011
12:15 pm
Bill, agree 100% with your comments about Grantham. Very bush-league.
Ellijay dawgcatcher
October 17th, 2011
12:16 pm
joey, if you want to talk about tech, go to their blog…
KB
October 17th, 2011
12:20 pm
Parker house, Richt wins an average of 10 per year, Go back to your little tech blog and brag about how relevant your program is with Duke. As Joey stated Uga has as many BCS bowl wins as the entire ACC, and actually since Richts Arrival finished in the top 10 more times than the entire ACC.
Thomas Brown
October 17th, 2011
12:20 pm
The good is that we don’t play Arkansas, that we don’t play Alabama, that we don’t play LSU.
It is a good situation for us, that we do not play a single team all season this entire season, who has beat anyone at all. That’s the good part. And, the only good part; otherwise the offense stinks, the special teams have no coach and no one responsible, the coach yells at his assistant coach in the press, not face to face, and the coach also yells at the players – that they are ALL DIRTY according to Mark Richt. Did I cover it all ?
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
12:20 pm
I would too. Again he has made more FG than most attempt. Especially long ones. Other teams are punting in those situations. It’s not fair to call out Walsh for that.