‘Hotline’ chatter on the shotgun and UGA’s red zone blues
Should Mike Bobo be trying something other than the shotgun in the red zone? (AJC File)
I caught most of Mark Richt’s segment of “Bulldog Hotline” Monday night and some of Hondo and the all stars, and a theme that kept cropping up in comments from callers was concern over Georgia’s ineffectiveness in the red zone and especially when in the shotgun formation.
Richt noted correctly that Georgia uses the shotgun elsewhere on the field, not just in the red zone, and said he’d have to go back and watch some film to see whether the shotgun has really been responsible for the Dogs’ problems down close to the goal line.
I’m hoping that wasn’t just a sop to the caller and that Richt really does plan on taking a look at what’s going wrong for the Dogs in the red zone, where they’ve been more times than any other SEC team (20 trips so far this season in conference games) but have gotten touchdowns only 10 times. With the fallback to attempting a field goal no longer a sure thing with Blair Walsh, that’s going to be especially problematic as the level of competition rises down the stretch.
Certainly, there are times the shotgun works well, especially when there’s a lot of field ahead and Isaiah Crowell is at tailback. He likes space.
But Mike Bobo’s penchant for switching gears once he hits the red zone and abandoning what got him there has been a recurring complaint the past few seasons. Yes, as Richt noted Monday night, you have less room to work with the closer you get to the end zone. But it’s pretty obvious what Georgia’s doing down there isn’t as effective as what it’s doing between the 20s.
So what do you think? Are you like the “Hotline” callers who think the Dogs should dump the shotgun and stick to working out of the I-formation once they get in the red zone, or do you see some other solution?
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351 comments Add your comment
DawginLex
October 18th, 2011
3:42 pm
Blair walsh has the yips
He needs to call Tin Cup and get romeo to fix it………
Joey
October 18th, 2011
3:42 pm
Delbert D., it’s a shame that we have to think like that now as UGA fans. Hope UF is “down.” Hope somebody ELSE beats SC. Happy we don’t have Bama, LSU, and ARK this season or next.
We’ve fallen a lot farther than a lot of fans care to admit.
TampaDawg
October 18th, 2011
3:43 pm
Not sure where you got this stat from Flat Tire, “Oh yea we are 3-11 under this staff against top 10 teams the last 10 years” but they are ACTUALLY 7-8 versus top 10 teams since 2002.
G-Dawg
October 18th, 2011
3:43 pm
I didnt mention the UGA, cause its called reading comprehension…you were trying to define the success of LSU BAMA. I agree…we have all lucked up because of the weak SEC east, but that doesnt mean anyone is drinking kool aid. the TRUE FANS are trying to cheer our team on to play hard for us…and for them to know we have their backs on the battlefield (as much a CTG does).
RunDawg
October 18th, 2011
3:43 pm
With Murray only completing 40% of his passes in the Red Zone, you are really wasting 60% of your opportunities by not calling a run. Be like LSU, run the ball, be a Dawg.
Cecilia
October 18th, 2011
3:43 pm
If you ever need a brain transplant, buy one from a UGA player. They’re in brand-new condition, never used.
Make sure you get one from a family that hasn’t been too inbred.
RunDawg
October 18th, 2011
3:46 pm
Since Murray’s throwing it 28x a game vs. 18 compared to Lee at LSU, Murray doesn’t trsut his teammates, crowell or defense, to win the game.
Murray thinks he’s as good as Cam Newton, and sorry, but he’s just not. The ONLY way to beat Florida and Auburn ir to keep the ball OUT of Murray’s hands (see last year’s games for proof on that failed experiment).
Kid can’t handle pressure.
TampaDawg
October 18th, 2011
3:47 pm
AltamahaDawg
October 18th, 2011
3:37 pm
What is the stat for using the same old worn out cliche over and over?
———————-
Not sure but the over/under per blog is around 26 for “kool aid drinkers”, 45 for “delusional dawg/UGA/mutts” and 102 for “low IQ, thug, low SAT scores”
TampaDawg
October 18th, 2011
3:49 pm
MURRAY doesn’t call the plays .. (we’ll just keep throwing it out there until someone realizes that Bobo has that responsibility) .. even many of the audibles come from the sidelines.
Niceville Dawg
October 18th, 2011
3:49 pm
Dawginlex,you got it.Remember when Mark Wohlers went from lights out to not being able to hit the backstop?Overnight?Or days when Tom Brady throws 3 picks?These guys are human…it happens.
G-Dawg
October 18th, 2011
3:50 pm
Long-time Dawg….its pretty obvious aint it! LOL with all the skill players on the offense, we still dont know how to get their talents into space and utilize that speed.
TampaDawg
October 18th, 2011
3:50 pm
Ahh, nothing like a Mark Wohlers reference. He almost got it back together in Cincinnati .. almost.
The Diesel
October 18th, 2011
3:50 pm
Call in all you want on the “Hotline”.It’s not going to do any good.The stretch of schedule that is coming up the Dawgs are going to have to start scoring in the red zone.Can’t depend on Walsh anymore
outkasted
October 18th, 2011
3:51 pm
as usual another shot at bobo…. but if im not mistaken i’ve seen even the GREAT ALABAMA go shotgun and 4wr inside the 5 even with their unstoppable running game and have to settle for field goals… y’all nitpickon everything…. we miss st. 24-3 until the pick 6 made it 24-10 yet auburn escapes this same squad by a yrard to hold on yet nothing but complaints…. how bout this red zone play aaron murray misses a wide open marlon brown then have to settle for a fg but i guess thats Bobo fault too…. for a south carolina defense thats so stout GA put 42 on their heads and thats with 3 turnovers yet its Bobo fault…. Go dawgs and this blogs like most on here are a joke….. oct. 29th is 2 weeks away.
Joey
October 18th, 2011
3:51 pm
RunDawg, maybe it isn’t as simple as comparing Murray vs Lee.
More likely, it’s more revelent to compare our OC vs LSU’s OC.
7576DAWG
October 18th, 2011
3:52 pm
Bottom line is Bobo isn’t going anywhere because his wife is related to the Dooley’s so that means CMR is going to have to get involved or we are going to have to accept not being able to moving into an elite program with Alabama and LSU.
Everybody know’s our biggest problem is Murray. He is too short to be able to throw a screen pass to his back’s and has not demonstrated he can play under pressure yet. The more pressure he is under the worst decisions he makes.
All the other coaches in the SEC have tried other quarterback’s this year except Georgia. Any quarterback on a good team can run up stats between the 20 and 20 yard lines but the important stats are from the opponents 20 yard line to the end zone and Murray is about as bad as it get’s . Most of the times the problem is not the offensive line it’s Murray being slow to adjust to different defenses and not being able to dump the ball off to control a blitz. I would be using Boykin and Smith a lot more in the red zone . If the number one defense would go after Murray in practice hard instead of the scout team maybe the coaches wouldn’t be so impressed.
I’m not saying that Murray want turn out to be a great Georgia quarterback in the end but it’s hard to accept that CMR want want even give another quarterback a look.
Joey
October 18th, 2011
3:53 pm
jeez. …revelant…
RunDawg
October 18th, 2011
3:54 pm
Murray has allowed himslef to be sacked 13x because he’s too slow at decision making in the pocket. And he’s thrown 7 interceptions. And Murray has only completed 40% of his passes in the red zone.
Anyone saying those are Bobo’s fault, doesn’t get it.
Probably a Florida fan.
G-Dawg
October 18th, 2011
3:55 pm
They’re not letting Murray be Murray…he was better as a freshman by just playing to his style. seems the coach staff is making him more cerebral and less instinctive. which he seemed more successful with the latter part!!
RunDawg
October 18th, 2011
3:59 pm
Murray committed 4 to’s vs. UF & SC.
BoBO’S FAULT TOO?
oldguy
October 18th, 2011
4:00 pm
Come on enjoy the game. To think that the coaches don’t study film or don’t know what they are doing is insane. We don’t know the personnel they work with them all week, they know what will work if the plays are executed properly. Hey they spend their life studying the game most of you maybe during the game just a lot of armchair coaches!!
Joey
October 18th, 2011
4:01 pm
“Like it or not, Vandy will be much better than ever with Franklin as coach ”
*****************************
I might be forced to respect his coaching job, Lex, but I can’t stand a “tough guy” who tries bullying somebody on the playground, then runs crying to the pricipal when the other guy stands up to him.
I also can’t stand what Richt did by apologizing to Franklin before checking with his DC and players who were on the scene.
Red Rules
October 18th, 2011
4:05 pm
If CMR told every nut job that calls in what he really thinks about their suggestions, the show would cease to exist. Thank you sir for your concern and I assure you we will be taking a look at our play calling from now on! Right!!! Do you think they really don’t notice the lack of production there? If Walsh hit the other two FG’s, the game would have been out of reach had nothing else changed. Thirty points should win every game we play – get a job Bill!
TampaDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:05 pm
I don’t think you get it RunDawg. You think EVERYTHING is Murray’s fault. Everyone can see that the pocket breaks down way to often inside of 3 seconds. QB timing revolves around 3 seconds or more, at a minimum, in non-timing patterns. As for interceptions, Landry Jones has thrown 6 in one less game, so has Brandon Weeden.
RunDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:08 pm
UGA QB’s were 4th in SEC in sacks allowed in 2007, 2nd in 2008, 1st in 2009. Then came Murray. Dropped to 7th in 2010, and now 10th in 2011.
Not Bobo’s fault. Scheme has been there 2007-2009.
RunDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:09 pm
Bobo has never since 2007 had a QB at UGA complete just 40% of his passes in red zone. Stafford & Cox were over 50%.
TampaDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:14 pm
Sacks allowed may only be attributed this much to a QB when the football incompetent come on here and talk about Aaron Murray.
First off RunDawg (can’t be a real Dawg fan if you don’t know this), Murray had only 1 TO versus SC, an interception. I know, I heard what CMR said. He said that Crowell was taking too much blame for the fumble. So the idiots come on here and give it ALL to Murray. But what CMR did say was the timing was off because the line was letting Murray get beaten up pretty bad through the game. THE LINE, not AARON MURRAY, THE LINE. The line as all new players that were not starting 3 years ago and a new OL coach. Stop talking about QB play when you obviously know nothing about it.
TampaDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:16 pm
RunDawg must actually be Thomas Brown .. he’s the only guy who has ever argued this much easily debunked crap on AM
BrookhavenDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:22 pm
Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem with Grantham’s strategy of placing 13 players on the field and then bringing 2 off? It seems like it takes him forever to call the play. Vandy burned us a few times by running a quick count when our defense was clearly not ready. If I was Florida I would be ready for this and exploit it.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 18th, 2011
4:22 pm
TampaDawg
He is 8-11 against top 10 teams
1-6 since 08
29-25 against ranked teams
Hasnt beaten but 1 ranked team since 09
AltamahaDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:27 pm
Red rule, nor does he need to worry about answering in the exact words to please everybody.
TampaDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:27 pm
Flat Tire, where are you getting those numbers? Not so much the last one or even the 1-6 since 08, but I only counted a total of 15 games against teams in the top ten since 2001 and that’s what got me to the 7-8 versus top 10.
RunDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:28 pm
Funny. Interceptions, sacks, incompletions, IT’S ALL BOBO’S FAULT.
THE rain too.
Skeptical Dawg
October 18th, 2011
4:29 pm
So, for the last few years I have been telling all my Bulldog Buddies that as long as Mike Bobo is our OC we will never make the National Championship. Now after reading that CMR has not really noticed the lack of success in the red zone, which has been happening for years now, I don’t believe we will make it with him as our HC. I hate this because I really like the Man, but this is about football and winning!! He has to notice that Bobo changes his play calling when we get inside the 20 and it DOES NOT work.
NY Dawg
October 18th, 2011
4:31 pm
To JB,
I looked at your stats that you based your opinion of Murray being a choker and found that at anytime that UGA has been behind in a game this year his stats look like ths. 29-44 for 423yds and 6 td’s, with 1 int. I dont think thats choking.
He could throw the ball away more in the red zone, or when he has a lead because he is coached not to throw an int in that situation. MSU game aside. Just taking a differnet look at stats.
bill
October 18th, 2011
4:34 pm
If Saban goes the the Longhorns, maybe Bama will offer the job to Bobo…
TampaDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:35 pm
RunDawg, funny, you keep throwing stuff out there but not responding to the facts. Time to throw the ball, or lack thereof, is NOT Murray’s fault. I didn’t say it was Bobo’s fault either. But the OL has to be held accountable. You just keep putting stuff out with your own spin but avoiding the facts. You would be a great politician for the left.
Thomas Brown
October 18th, 2011
4:36 pm
RED ZONE ? How do you get to the RED ZONE, when you can’t convert 3rd Downs ?
3rd Down Conversion by Offense :
#1Wisconsin
#2Georgia tek
#3Houston
#4TCU
#5Tennessee
#6Northern Ill.
#7Illinois
#8Texas Tech
#9Texas A&M
10Washington
11Stanford
12Utah St.
13Navy
14Alabama
15Oklahoma St.
16Michigan
17Temple
18Hawaii
19Clemson
20Nevada
21Northwestern
22Air Force
23Kansas St.
24East Carolina
25SMU
30LSU
42Arkansas
68South Carolina
71Georgia
Thomas Brown
October 18th, 2011
4:40 pm
NY DAWG,
Do you consider THIS choking ?
# 22 South Carolina LOST
# 12 Arkansas LOST
# 15 Missy State LOST
# 01 Auburn LOST
# 21 Central Florida LOST
# 05 Boise State LOST
# 18 South Carolina LOST
UNRANKED Colorado LOST
UNRANKED Florida LOST
Team Aaron Murray played against and where they ended up in the only polls published for those years.
wayne
October 18th, 2011
4:41 pm
JUST BLOCK!!
Everything else is secondary. If the largest OL in all of fotball could just figure out a way to actually use their weight to open some holes for Crowell, we control the ball, the game, and we win.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 18th, 2011
4:42 pm
TampaDawg
georgiadogs.com and wikipedia
TampaDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:45 pm
Thanks Flat Tire, I pulled the records from wiki .. will check again.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
October 18th, 2011
4:46 pm
The staff needs to go watch some tape on Texas Techs Red Zone offense and still some information. Texas Tech is 31/33 in the Red Zone this year with 27 Touchdowns. One of the non-conversions was at the end of the game and they kneeled on the ball.
Some of that spread may not work in the SEC but hell it sure cannot hurt to go and spend a few hours and perhaps pickup 2-3 plays to implement in the upcoming weeks.
Thomas Brown
October 18th, 2011
4:48 pm
3rd Down Conversions Quarterback Rating through 19 October 2011 :
1 Barrett Trotter Auburn
2 Tyler Wilson Arkansas
3 Jarrett Lee LSU
4 Tyler Bray vols
5 AJ McCarron Alabama
6 Chris Relf Miss St
7 Larry Smith Vanderbilt
8 Stephen Garcia S Carolina
9 Aaron Murray Georgia
TampaDawg
October 18th, 2011
4:48 pm
You see Flat Tire, I found the problem. I have tried to forget the 2009 year because I was in Iraq and couldn’t see most of the games anyway. My bad.
Lakedawg
October 18th, 2011
4:49 pm
Thomas , Tennessee’s 3rd down conversions did not not help them a whole lot vs the Dawgs.
Thomas Brown
October 18th, 2011
4:52 pm
Here are the only 3 teams
Mark Richt EVER beat
who ended up in the AP Poll Top 10:
(1) 2001 beat # 4 vols but ended up # 5 in SEC with 4 loss
(2) 2005 beat # 6 LSU but ended up # 3 in SEC with 3 loss
(3) 2006 beat # 9 Auburn but ended up # 5 in SEC with 4 loss
NY Dawg
October 18th, 2011
4:52 pm
I could only find the stats for this year.
BSU 55% 236 yds 2 td 1int
USC 66% 248 yds 4 td 1 int
From just about any qb in the country a decent team could overcome these terrible stats. Just saying!
Blaming Murray is like blaming Barry O. It aint all his fault!
Thomas Brown
October 18th, 2011
4:53 pm
17 CUPCAKES – which of these is not a CUPCAKE we are ok for losing to ?
2010 @ Should’ve been 8-Loss Colorado who fired their coach because they lost to 7-Loss CA Lost to 6-Loss Baylor Bears for heaven’s sake and Lost to 5-Loss Texas Tech but who did not lose to UGA Even with their win over UGA did not finish in Top 25 CUPCAKE.
2010 vs Central Florida Conference USA good heavens who lost to NC St Kansas St and Southern Mississippi but who did not lose to UGA last year and who as a result of beating us ended up # 22 therefore had they not beat us would not have been ranked CUPCAKE.
2010 @ Should’ve been 6-Loss South Carolina who Lost to 7-Loss KY to end up ranked # 22 and therefore would not have been ranked had they not beat us CUPCAKE.
2010 vs Should’ve been 6-Loss Florida who did not end up Top 25 CUPCAKE.
2009 @ Should’ve been 7-Loss vols CUPCAKE who Lost to a 6-Loss UCLA and a 5-Loss Auburn did not end up Top 25.
2009 vs Should’ve been 7-Loss Kentucky who did not end up Top 25 and who Lost to a 7-Loss Missy St 6-Loss South Carolina 6-Loss vols and a 5-Loss Climpsum CUPCAKE.
2009 @ Should’ve been 5-Loss Okie St who did not end up AP Poll Top 25 CUPCAKE.
2008 vs Should’ve been 5-Loss Georgia tek who Lost to 7-Loss VA 5-Loss LSU 5-Loss NC and ended up # 22 therefore without win over UGA would not have been Top 25 CUPCAKE.
2007 vs Should’ve been 7-Loss South Carolina who did not end up Top 25 no bowl CUPCAKE.
2007 @ Should’ve been 5-Loss vols who Lost to 6-Loss CA and to 6-Loss Alabama, the quintessential CUPCAKE losing to multiple crappy teams like that.
2006 vs Should’ve been 5-Loss vols who ended up # 25 and would not therefore have ended up Top 25 without their win over us CUPCAKE.
2006 vs Should’ve been 9-Loss Vandie who did not end up Top 25 CUPCAKE.
2006 @ Should’ve been 6-Loss Kentucky who did not end up Top 25 CUPCAKE.
2003 vs Should’ve been 6-Loss Florida who did not end up Top 25 any poll CUPCAKE.
2002 vs Should’ve been 6-Loss Florida who Lost to 6-Loss Ole Miss 5-Loss LSU 5-Loss FL State CUPCAKE.
2001 vs Should’ve been 5-Loss Boston College who was not ranked when we played them and would not have therefore ended up ranked without then beating us CUPCAKE.
2001 vs Should’ve been 6-Loss Auburn who Lost to 5-Loss NC 5-Loss AL 5-Loss Ark CUPCAKE.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 18th, 2011
4:54 pm
TampaDawg
I want to make it clear I dont hate Richt. Richt frustrates me because he refuses to do the hard stuff like dealing with Willie Martinez and now Bobo
Im for Bobo going back to Qb coach but continuing as an OC will not win us the big games
We change D coordinators and Grantham is showing so far that he is getting the job done. Our D is ranked #8
Our offense has shown no improvement for years and when you cant win with Stafford Moreno Greene and Maseqoui your not going to ever do it
Richt is putting himself in the situation he is in. Maybe he should take a page from Dabo Sweeny he made a change at OC and they well have looked much improved