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
ddawg
October 17th, 2011
8:49 pm
I was at the game. Vanderbilt players cut blocked, going after UGA player’s knees and obviously held all night. The officials were blind and let the game get out of hand. I don’t blame CTG at all for the “Incident”. He was simply tired of watching the other team trying to ruin his kids careers. Vanderbilt’s Coach is so desperate to win that he has taken a high class program and turned it dirty. l
Ga Wins
October 17th, 2011
8:51 pm
Political Correctness is ruining our country
Cognitive Dissonance
October 17th, 2011
8:55 pm
You’re so right ddawg.
Those Vandy kids cheated like the cheating little cheaters that they are. They cheat in every game. that’s why everybody hates them so much. Cheating cheaters!
Cognitive Dissonance
October 17th, 2011
8:56 pm
@Ga Wins
I disagree. Political stupidity seems to be the actual problem.
Mobile Dawg
October 17th, 2011
8:57 pm
A nice calm FU whispered in Franklin’s ear would have been much more appropriate vs an out of control, animated tirade.
Cognitive Dissonance
October 17th, 2011
9:02 pm
@Mobile Dawg
Had Coach Grantham not been reacting from a submissive position, he might have thought of that. It’s hard for some folks to keep their cool when confronted by an Alpha.
Mobile Dawg
October 17th, 2011
9:07 pm
Unfortuately, a “character” flaw. All kidding aside, CTG has a reactionary personality. He’s very sensitive and easily angered. IOW, a meltdown waiting to happen.
Phil
October 17th, 2011
9:14 pm
Totally agree Bill. Grantham is the biggest punk on the team. No class at all, this idiot is an embarassment to UGA.
You also hit the nail on the head about our special teams. I would be willing to bet everything I own that we lead the nation in the most fake punts and onside kicks ran against us than any other team in the nation. And probably for the last 5 years at that. My god, they can’t see anything coming!
I can predict right now that Florida will probably run a fake punt against us. You think Richt and his bufffoons might think that? Absolutely not.
Threagan
October 17th, 2011
9:15 pm
Enter your comments here
Threagan
October 17th, 2011
9:21 pm
Grantham may have been wrong but Richt needs to show a little enthusiasm on the sidelines. Compare him to Sc FLA AU and Tenn coaches he looks like a zombie.
Ringleader
October 17th, 2011
9:29 pm
He is a zombie……………
Paul Midler
October 17th, 2011
10:02 pm
Thanks CTG. Get ready for fla. GATA Go Dawgs!
Send in the clowns
October 17th, 2011
10:07 pm
It’s comical to think how many dawgtards will make the long trip to Jax, only to have a long and very miserable drive back home. And probably get arrested for DUI.
Really, really comical.
Big DAWG
October 17th, 2011
10:12 pm
Grantham is the MAN. He loves his players and refused to let Franklin rip one of his players. Franklin is the one that needs to apologize. Go DAWGS!
Dawgboy
October 17th, 2011
11:10 pm
If coach and the Dawgs can start cruising through the Florida, Auburn, Georgia Tech part of the schedule, all kinds of magic doors will open and the sky is the limit. However, when we start having a hard time handling Vanderbilt, the only door that will open for the coach is the exit door (ask Ray Goff). If recent trends continue, Vanderbilt will start scheduling UGA as the homecoming opponent year after next.
Wee the Willy
October 17th, 2011
11:50 pm
Bill King is a total id10T with this article. While I cannot condone Grantham’s reaction to the situation, I am not going to condemn him either. At least the players know that he has their back.
Franklin’s reaction? Asked if he had any regrets about his conduct at the end of the game, Franklin said: “I’m not a guy that really has a whole lot of regrets. I’m pretty calculated, and I’m pretty well thought out with the things I do for the most part. I am an emotional guy, as you guys know.”
So it’ ok for Franklin to provoke the situation but not ok if Grantham reacts in support of his players, right King? Dude, you are clueless.
bobby
October 18th, 2011
12:10 am
THIS IS MY TAKE ON THE GAME, UGA WON THE GAME BUT HAD NO BUSINESS BEING IN THAT TIGHT OF A GAME. MURRAY PLAYED WELL BUT HE MISSED TWO TOUCHDOWN PASSES. THE FIRST ONE TO KING WHEN WALSH ATTEMPTED HIS FRIST FIELD GOAL, THE SECOND ONE ON THE PASS TO MARLON BROWN A POORLY THROWN BALL, AND A BAD INTERCEPTION. UGA ON OFFENSE IS STILL NOT MAKING THE NECESSARY PLAYS TO PUT TEAMS AWAY I KNOW EVERYBODY WILL TALK ABOUT THE DEFENSE HAVING A BAD DAY BUT IF THE OFFENSE TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS, THEY’RE NOT IN THAT SITUATION PLUS BLAIR WALSH MISSED TWO FIELD GOALS EVEN THOUGH THE FIRST ONE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF MURRAY WOULD’VE HIT KING ON A EASY TOUCHDOWN.
fayncdawg
October 18th, 2011
12:19 am
All signs point to a need for change a the Head Coach! CMR could not bring aboard his first, second or third choice for DC. Now he seems to have issue with the quirks of the DC he hired! And CTG is doing wonders with thie defense. Barring a bunch of players leaving the program or getting hurt, this defense willbe every bit as good as Bama or LSU next season. Will that defense be enough for the Dawgs to compete for a NC next season? With CMR as HC, I’m not sure. Now if Kirby or Urban were the HC I’d say definitely YES!
Kyle
October 18th, 2011
1:04 am
Bill, can the AJC just end your blog? How did you get this gig anyways? All of these pages of responses…shaking my head.
Cdpridg
October 18th, 2011
1:52 am
When I look at Franklin, he reminds me of that idiot mayor in New Orleans…he too has a very big mouth!
Pago Pago Dawg
October 18th, 2011
2:32 am
Stafford and Green having a good year in the NFL, why not at Georiga?!?
chazzo
October 18th, 2011
6:55 am
I’m not one to call UGA players thugs and all that. In fact, I have defended them on several occasions. But, NO UGA player had any place talking smack after the game. They should be thanking their lucky stars for that “W.” There seems to be a disconnect in a lot of young people between their actual achievement and the amount of celebration warranted.
That being said, Vandy’s coach is a weird dude. He is immature and shifty. He prompts the whole thing, then whines to Richt like he didn’t do anything. Anyone stop to ask exactly how he informed Grantham? What were his exact words? Grantham is a hot head, no doubt. But, Vandy’s coach is a squirrely SOB. Mark my words.
H-Town Dawg
October 18th, 2011
7:11 am
GFY King! This Dawg fan isn’t “ashamed” of CTG. I’m trying to “find the good” in this blog…
Preston Thompson
October 18th, 2011
7:15 am
Bill King…..you are a fool and evidently know very little about young folks. And you also speak for yourself if you think we all are ashamed of Coach Grantham. Now Richt is a different situation. The team does not trust MR but it would fight anything for TG. MR is a disgrace to the staff at Georgia and football in general.
The player know who has their backs, and MR ain’t the one, as he should be. Such a shame.
Dogs Smell
October 18th, 2011
7:28 am
Losses to Florida and Auburn will shut these “Homers” up. Then we can start hearing about the National Championship they will win next year.
Dogs Smell
October 18th, 2011
7:30 am
fayncdawg – Come back to reality and stop dreaming about tomorrow. Fact is georgia will not win a NC for another 30 years. Recruiting is about to takwe a hit because the children of parents of the 80ies are now moving out of college and the past isnt even a memory to those coming up.
1969 Graduate
October 18th, 2011
8:22 am
There were some good things going on in the Vandy game. I thought the team showed some signs of improvement, and a few players had good games.
Problem was all the more prominent signs of a football program in shambles, with a coaching staff unable to deliver.
Is this football program a credit to our University?
Are we getting our money’s worth with these coaches?
Who is ultimately responsible? I don’t think it’s the players, or even the assistant coaches. It is easy to say it is the head coach, the guy who says he’s the CEO. Perhaps he has a boss. Then maybe it’s the CEO’s boss who is ultimately responsible.
With a UGA football program barely able to scratch out lucky wins over the bottom dwellers of the East, with players who resemble thugs more than college students, with coaches who are less than role models, and do a lousy job to boot – isn’t it time for some changes?
I do not know Mark Richt. I was once of the opinion that he was going to be a fine coach at my old school. Those days are long past. For some time he’s not delivered what he’s being well paid to deliver. By all appearances a program struggling to achieve mediocrity is his ideal for the UGA football program.
Would someone please explain why a place that used to be known as “Tailback U” has no ability to run the football? We have a lousy offensive line, or so it appears. We have one half decent (too fragile, too inexperienced), flashy tailback. We have a couple of other guys who look like they’re trying hard, and are team players, but aren’t quite what they should be for that position. Of course, without a good line, who can do much running.
We apparently have no fullback who can run the ball at all?
Why? What happened that we have no depth, and no reserve in the running game?
Our passing game certainly is not good enough to have zero running game.
Either our coaches have zero confidence in the abilities of our players, or our coaches lack the ability to call the plays that my dead grandmother could call while baking biscuits.
The long list of glaring problems makes it very hard to find the few gems, and they sure aren’t in the coaching.
Dwayne
October 18th, 2011
8:41 am
Mark Rikctht is a guest zombie on The Walking Dead, no make up needed.
Lakedawg
October 18th, 2011
9:01 am
A win is a win is a win, beat Florida anyway sloppy or not I do not care. A win is a win. Will take 6 more just like that one and be happy Dawg fan.
Maybe Muschamp will mouth off to Grantham after a Dawgs win? Muschamp did say in his acceptance speech he would never lose to the Dawgs, we find out in 2 weeks.
Believe a 3 year extension is coming after thr Tech win, followed by another good recruiting year and things look bright next several years. CMR will break Coach Dooley’s win record before retiting.
AltamahaDawg
October 18th, 2011
9:07 am
Homers? On a fan blog about thier college football team…..ya think?
Now what on earth is your miserable excuse for being in here?
BullDogMike
October 18th, 2011
9:25 am
Just wait and see through the rest of this season, and then the next couple too. The not-so -special ..special teams will always kill us. We barely won against Vandy in spite of them, not because of them. You just wait and see. Coaches who don’t really believe that special teams play is all that important are doomed to lose the big games on their schedule each year. We haven’t played but one BIG game so far. ( Carolina) And look what happened. Watch what takes place when we play Auburn, Florida, and Teck.
UGA Insider
October 18th, 2011
9:43 am
Chris Peterson’s phone must be ringing off the hook this week.
Also, I heard a MAJOR rumor from a fairly reliable source yesterday….
Nick Saban to Texas at season’s end…… Texas is going to offer a 10 yr $100,000,000 contract. You heard it here first.
wr29te
October 18th, 2011
9:45 am
Here we go again talking about what happened on the field when no one on this blog was there.. But we look to blame anyone we dont like.. Most are like me OFTEN WRONG BUT NEVER IN DOUBT->>>>>>UNTIL WE FIND OUT THE FACTS
Texas Dawg
October 18th, 2011
9:48 am
I watched the end of the game again and I will say that I was disappointed with the way our players were acting!
What has the state of our program come to when we start acting out in celebration and disrespecting when its VANDY that we just almost lost too, in the past our players would hang their heads in disgust about playing so bad!!!!!!!!!
Florida has lost three in row and has had the worst offensive games in 23 years………… I hope we don’t make there offensive unit look great…………………
If we don’t beat Fla this year Richt and Bobo must go!
Cognitive Dissonance
October 18th, 2011
9:58 am
I was there. When the Georgia fan-base is present, I am always among them.
mcdaviddawg
October 18th, 2011
10:01 am
Bad team, very baad coach, save Georgia football. FIRE RICHT!
SEC Fan
October 18th, 2011
10:19 am
Championship teams have championship coaches. If UGA aspires to be one, then they better find a coach who can get them there. The Richt era ends Oct. 29. Muschamp guaranteed it.
2010 BCS CHAMPS
October 18th, 2011
10:21 am
I can’t even remember the last time UGA beat a ranked team.
Do any of you thuga fans know?
2010 BCS CHAMPS
October 18th, 2011
10:22 am
BTW, UGA has a really sad history of hiring bad coaches.
Donnan of a new era comes to mind.
Ray Goff comes to mind.
Maybe UGA will go and hire Houston Nutt.
YellaWood
October 18th, 2011
10:34 am
If they want to sniff a conference championship within their lifetimes, then Georgia will hire Rich Rodriguez before this season ends.
UGA Insider
October 18th, 2011
11:17 am
SEC Fan,
You could very well be correct. The Vandy debacle followed by a UF loss could very well end the CMR era without a doubt. That way it will give us time to go after Chris Peterson full throttle. I want every UGA fan to know I wish CMR the best and I really did want him to turn it around this year. However this season is a total disaster. Yes we are 5-2 but the 5 teams we beat are HORRIBLE! I think a combined 1-13 in the SEC….ouch! UGA has the worst special teams in the nation and UGA has the one of the worst OLines. If UF beats us then it is over and the search begins.; There is just too much water under the bridge and it’s time to start over.
1969 Graduate
October 18th, 2011
12:52 pm
UGA Insider, why wait?
Fire Richt now.
I don’t care if he “wins out.” Our football program has been in a shambles for years.
That’s not to say that I don’t want to beat Florida, Auburn, and NATS. Beating them would be great (always is, on the rare occasions {discounting Tech}), but fire the lousy CEO, and hire a good one, giving them clear instructions, and a set of performance standards.
Standards include competitive football, and law abiding student-athletes. Standards include graduation. Standards include respect for the university, the sport, and sportsmanship.