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
Mike
October 17th, 2011
2:46 pm
I think Grantham was upset with how the UGA defense played, and then blew up at the Vandy coach over him getting on one of the UGA players.. I think that the DC and OC should be in the pressbox, the decisions they make should be as calmly made as possible, and that is the best place to make them from. He has also shown a bit of a history of being a knucklehead, send him to the box, Coach Richt needs to coach the game, he should not have to be concerned about what what a coach might do or say.
chg
October 17th, 2011
2:47 pm
UGA fans and players always whine about how the other team tackles, and it justifies any sort of retaliation. Last year it was Auburn, now it is Vanderbilt? Come on..it’s a tough game and not one for whiners. What a bunch of babies.
harold
October 17th, 2011
2:47 pm
UGA HAS PLAYED NO ONE THE LAST 5 GAMES! HORRIBLE TEAMS WITH LOSING RECORDS AND VANDY NEARLY WON THE DARN GAME????????
IT IS TIME FOR RICHT TO GO!
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
2:59 pm
Wouldn’t the Vandy players appreciate Franklin for standing up for them, just as much?
Top Dawg
October 17th, 2011
3:05 pm
Good to see that fire and passion from the GA coaches. Enough with the PC crap. We loved it what he did.
Coach Grantham is the fiery personality, compared to Coach Richts even keel.
Was the same with Coach Richt and Coach Van Gorder.
They go together well for the team as a whole.
And I’m starting to see some comparable results to Coach Van Gorder with Coach Grantham.
Which honestly, I’m tired of missing Coach Van Gorder…time for Coach Grantham to make his mark on the program with Consistently Great Defenses.
Ron Smith
October 17th, 2011
3:10 pm
2-10, you’re absolutely correct. If UGA beats Florida and/or goes to the SEC campionship game (only to be humiliated by Alabama or LSU) the cry to fire Richt/Bobo will die off and you get more middle of the conference team along side Ole Miss, etc. Too bad the UGA fans seem to be settling for a permanent 8-4 team.
Top Dawg
October 17th, 2011
3:12 pm
And why doesn’t McGarrity 5-Oh politely suggest to Coach Richt he put a full time Special Teams coach on staff. We used to have one and our S.T. were excellent.
It is such an important part of the game, why is it being parceled out to multiple coaches that have other units to coach?
adawgfan
October 17th, 2011
3:12 pm
Had to watch again, but CTG was in fact, coming the the defense of Shaun Williams! Franklin had no business yelling and pointing at one of UGA’s players, maybe he went a little too far or didn’t count to ten before responding but one good turn deserves another! Go Dawgs!
BTW Bill I’m not embarrassed in the least.
Top Dawg
October 17th, 2011
3:20 pm
@Ron Smith, yeah, like we settled on 13-1 in 2002 and final #2 ranking in 2007….teams never go through cycles, huh? Ask Texas right now. “permanent 8-4?”
How about you back up that statement in Vegas with real money stating GA will never be better than 8-4?
Take your hate elsewhere. I’ll bet you today they are better than 8-4 THIS year!
Top Dawg
October 17th, 2011
3:25 pm
Again, please hire a full time special teams coach.
Alabama Dog
October 17th, 2011
3:26 pm
Top Dawg: GREAT point! Our special teams are ATROCIOUS!!!!! We have a field goal kicker that is inconsistent, we can’t tackle anybody on returns, we constanly block in the back on OUR returns, we don’t know how to block in OBVIOUS punt block situations, and the list goes on and on. Idea: get John Kasay to retire from the Saints. If he could be half the coach his father was, he’d be a great addition to the staff, and someone who knows what he’s talknig about.
War Dang Dawg
October 17th, 2011
3:26 pm
You people who take criticism of a coach personally baffle me. Unless you are Richt or Grantham or a member of their immediate circle of family and friends, nothing said on here should offend you. Disagreement over the direction of a college football program isn’t “hate”. Unless we’re talking about hatred of sloppy, mediocre football. That’s allowed, I think.
animaldr
October 17th, 2011
3:35 pm
CTG thing aside…
Why won’t Richt/Bobo roll Murray out and use his running ability and throw to the TE or FB. Then once that has been successful throw all the way back across the field to IC. Atl. does this alot with Ryan/Gonzales.
Ron Smith
October 17th, 2011
3:35 pm
Don’t be a hater Top Dawg. This isn’t personal. This is America, free speech and all….
dooley guy
October 17th, 2011
3:42 pm
How many times the week before did Alabama have problems with Vandy? Never seen Richardson want to fight anybody until that game. Upchurch suspended 1st half because kicking vandy player wonder what he did? Wonder if anybody else has had a problem with them this year?
Top Dawg
October 17th, 2011
3:45 pm
@war dang dawg,….people shouldn’t mind constructive criticism, but the juvenile comments and criticisms are what most take offense. And people know the difference.
Georgia Fans
October 17th, 2011
3:47 pm
Upchurch plays in the NFL. Bama’s backup running back is injured, not suspended. Alabama had no problems with Vandy – on or off the field.
Georgia Fans
October 17th, 2011
3:54 pm
This was a brilliant move on of Coach “Original G”.
Nobody is discussing the pathetic performance of the Georgia D in allowing Vandy to almost pull off a huge upset.
In hindsight, I’m not so sure that it would have even been an upset.
South GA VU grad
October 17th, 2011
4:03 pm
I knew Erk Russell and Coach Grantham is no Erk Russell. Classless behavior from a classless university.
walter geiger
October 17th, 2011
4:08 pm
no problem with ctg ripping that asshat franklin but taunting vandy fans is over the line.
UGA Insider
October 17th, 2011
4:14 pm
Dairy Queen called Mike Bobo and they want their “Vanilla” back.
Pathetic!!!!!
Top Dawg
October 17th, 2011
4:17 pm
Looks like south ga vu grad is showing his class. Or lack thereof
Gay Dawg
October 17th, 2011
4:18 pm
Man Grantham was spraying franklin in the face in that get together. Grantham is aquite abeefcake.
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
4:21 pm
Bobo did not call a vanilla game. FAR from it. I think he was throwing the ball something like 5 out of 6 plays deep into the 4th quarter. He called some very questional formations on what was an obvious running situation to end the game, but there is a difference between “vanilla” and just plain bad calls.
Virginia DAWG
October 17th, 2011
4:25 pm
Franklin was wrong and so was Grantham. Neither showed class or a good example to their respective teams. Since this was Grantham’s second incident I have to wonder about him somewhat. I am pleased with what he has done with the defense, but the penalties for personal fouls certainly won’t subside when the coach acts this way. As far as Franklin, he knew he had done wrong right away. His patronizing comments at his post game press conference about how impressed he was with the UGA fans was just to shield him from their disdain once they saw what he did to a UGA student/Athlete.
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
4:25 pm
In fact the mistakes he made was not being vanilla enough when he needed to. Throwing the ball when he should have just run it on 3rd down, (int) and lining up in the shotgun for 2 downs to presumable have more options rather than just I formation 3 times and running it vanilla (trying to burn the last few seconds)
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
4:27 pm
VA dawg, I agree, you could tell Franklin knew he was just as guilty as soon as he started that presser.
Mobile Dawg
October 17th, 2011
4:35 pm
Quite a change from the balanced offense he usually runs. I realize we don’t have a running game but do you ever wonder why? We have the athletes.
Gay Dawg
October 17th, 2011
4:38 pm
All this talk about big coaches fighting is getting me all hot and bothered!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 17th, 2011
4:39 pm
AltamahaDawg
Any thoughts on why Bobo cant ever score when we are inside the 30
I need to hear some positive spin
minnesota dawg
October 17th, 2011
4:53 pm
Just win against Florida, Auburn and Kentucky and all will be forgotten. We might even get everyone back on the bandwagon.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 17th, 2011
4:56 pm
minnesota dawg
I’ll get on the band wagon when we beat those 3 teams when they are good
Jordan
October 17th, 2011
4:59 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/10/17/east-title-for-dawgs-tainted/
PHIL
October 17th, 2011
4:59 pm
Bill, I can’t ever understand why the coaches don’t consult you and your brother over play calling. Maybe even have you in on the offensive meetings during the week. You two are obviously so qualified to make the remarks you do I can’t see why they don’t include you. I know it was a tough decision for Muschamp between you and Charlie for his OC. Maybe next time you’ll get to be one.
As far as Grantham is concerned, why don’t you call Shawn Williams parents and see what they think of Granthams actions? Or maybe a new recruits parents who they are going to turn their child over to the staff at UGA. See if those people approve of someone standing up for their kid.
ZinoDawg
October 17th, 2011
5:17 pm
Bill – while I always enjoy your blog I couldn’t disagree with you more. Who made you the moral compass for Georgia football? A violent sport breeds that kind of emotion. CTG is acting like his mentor Nick Saban and is just the kind of personality a good defense needs.
And if the Dawgs don’t fix their special teams and penalties in a hurry they are in big trouble the rest of the way. Go Dawgs!!!!!
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
5:31 pm
No, since that is just another one of your silly exagerations, I do not have any thoughts on that.
bp1979
October 17th, 2011
5:35 pm
Grantham is what we need a coach with fire and some balls
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 17th, 2011
5:50 pm
I guess bill has been exagerating on that too since he has mentioned it several times this year
Late Sleeper
October 17th, 2011
5:56 pm
Since when did a D1 football Coach become a teacher. What does he teach? Oh yea let knock the hell out of somebody. If Franklin did not want to stir the pot he should have kept his mouth closed. I dont think Grantham went looking for this. It just walked right into his face and he did not back away. If you dont want emotions go play tidly winks.
Cheryl
October 17th, 2011
6:21 pm
Grantham is psychotic. Fire his ass now before he kills someone. This jerk is nothing but trouble, and that will come back to haunt them with a vengeance one day.
nose in the air
October 17th, 2011
6:30 pm
too tall to know what its like down on earth. your article is mediocre, its worse than the way UGA played against vandy. The olnly difference between lsu/bama and UGA is that UGA leaves points on the field. sucks but its true. other than that the players have the talent and the coaches call the right plays.
Leave Grantham alone, bet the only pressure you have is when your spell has a malfunction. OOOOHH boohhooo, if your kid is acting up and your taking care of it and somebody else jumps in and tries to throw their 2 cents in wouldnt you tell them to back the “F” off. i would and i would do it for my fellow colleagues in the US military. You are to soft and thats a problem in America.
did hear any problems about Grantham when he was the reason UGA won the previous 3 and this one. i understand that their needs to be a standard of self representation but there is no reason for people to be talking about it and posting articles about it. your just as bad if not worse than the incident on the field.
GO DAWGS!
AltamahaDawg
October 17th, 2011
6:35 pm
Nope, that is not the truthful. Bill King never called 85% “can’t ever”. After all, he is an adult.
Hairy Perry
October 17th, 2011
7:02 pm
I’m concerned our defence got exposed for what it realy is.NOT THAT GOOD. I hope I am wrong.
Hairy Perry
October 17th, 2011
7:05 pm
I really hope this team can get it done after a two weel break. If we can’t beat the gators this year……….well I don’t know when we will.
Hairy Perry
October 17th, 2011
7:07 pm
Have a great Tuesday Dawgs! Talk to you later.
Gus
October 17th, 2011
7:16 pm
I am so tired of Murray trying to give games away. Look at the 4th quarter. We get a nice lead, then a 5 play drive interception, 4 play drive, punt, and 3 play drive–blocked punt. We need a new QB. The kid has never beat a ranked team. He’s been sacked 14 times now, and thrown 7 int’s in 7 games.
Anytime Murray throws for over 27 throws, we’ll lose the game (lost 6 of 7 last year when that happened).
In 4 wins this year, Murray threw 27 passes or LESS.
The more Murray throws, the more crazy things get. He sort of freaks out, not a poised QB as we all remember the SC game with his 4 to’s and the last UF game with another 4 to’s.
Dawg Gawn
October 17th, 2011
7:50 pm
Whether you thing Grantham was out of line (I do) or not, I doubt very seriously Franklin will EVER call out a UGA player again. Settle it on the field like men, or whine about it on Twitter like girls.
Cognitive Dissonance
October 17th, 2011
8:24 pm
What Coach Grantham did was commendable. I think that we should place a statue of Coach Grantham outside of our stadium with spittle spraying forth profusely from his gaping maw as he gives the traditional “choke” sign to passersby.
Cognitive Dissonance
October 17th, 2011
8:27 pm
We could even hire some Tech nerds to come over and wire up a motion detector so the statue could bark like a rabid dog whenever anyone approaches it.
How cool would that be?
kb
October 17th, 2011
8:31 pm
Gus you show your lack of knowledge, , every sack and interception isn’t the qbs fault.Murrays just a soph. he is going to be one of the best to ever play at Georgia.