Tigers show Dogs half a win isn’t better than nothing
Malcolm Mitchell contemplates what might have been after dropping a sure touchdown pass. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Is there such a thing as half a moral victory?
If so, you could probably chalk up Georgia’s first-half showing in the SEC title game as something along those lines.
Of course, the cold, hard truth is that moral victories are just losses in which you can find something to make it hurt just a little less. And that’s where UGA fans are left after running into the Honey Badger and Co.
Yes, the Dogs were soundly beaten by LSU in the Georgia Dome in what turned into a very ugly rout in the second half. But that doesn’t change the fact that the Georgia defense played a remarkable first half, holding the No. 1 team in the country to a mere dozen yards of offense and absolutely no first downs.
I can’t remember ever seeing that before in a game against a major opponent.
Unfortunately, while Georgia came out initially with an aggressive game plan that included a flawlessly executed onside kick at one point, the rest of the offensive execution left much to be desired, thanks to several dropped passes (including two sure touchdowns) and continued special teams miscues. And playcaller Mike Bobo suddenly reverted to a conservative approach that took all the wind out of Georgia’s sails.
In the second quarter, neither team could move the ball, as Georgia continued to stuff LSU’s running game but the Tigers defense adjusted to the fact that the Dogs had no running game and they could turn loose and just go after the quarterback.
So instead of leading LSU 21-0 at halftime as they should have, the Dogs had a mere 10-7 advantage.
And then the wheels came off.
I had the feeling it wasn’t going to be a good half for Georgia when Bobo opened it up trying in vain to run little Carlton Thomas up the middle twice, putting his quarterback in just the sort of third-and-long situation you don’t want to face against the ferocious Tiger defense. Aaron Murray’s resulting fumble as he scrambled gave LSU a short field — and one of their patented scoring spurts was off and running.
At that point, you pretty much knew it was over.
Murray had a pretty lousy night, completing just 16 of 40 passes with two interceptions on top of that fumble, but some of the blame for that should go to Bobo, who put his QB in bad situations. Admittedly, though, Bobo was hampered by not having a running game.
You had a gimpy Isaiah Crowell, the anti-Lattimore, who was ineffective running the ball, averaging just 1.5 yards per carry, but who managed to draw a penalty running his mouth. Then there was Thomas, who wasn’t well used by Bobo before leaving the game with an injury. And Ken Malcome, who had some tough runs late in the game when it was already decided and who probably should have been the starter, as he was against Georgia Tech. A curious decision on the part of Bobo and Mark Richt.
No wonder a testy Richt didn’t want to talk about the tailbacks this week. LSU had four pretty interchangeable backs and Georgia couldn’t come up with one consistent threat, which is the difference between pretty good and great.
Keith Marshall, come on down!
Still, Georgia fans shouldn’t get so down in the dumps over our Dogs being throttled by what may well turn out to be one of college football’s greatest teams ever that we lose sight of the 10 wins in a row that secured UGA the SEC East title and a trip to a January bowl game.
Richt’s program isn’t yet back in the SEC elite with LSU and Alabama, at least not for a full 60 minutes.
But Saturday’s first half showed the Dogs aren’t all that far away.
Feel free to share your own views of the game against LSU and what Georgia needs to pull even with Les Miles’ program.
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498 comments Add your comment
Army Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
11:31 pm
Must concur with the comments re the offensive play calling in 2nd QTR, onwards;…not more could realistically have been expected from our DEFENSE….well-played Coach Grantham!
Fitten
December 3rd, 2011
11:32 pm
It was exact opposite of Boise State game:
Against Boise, Richt/Bobo finally went to the I-formation, drove 40 yards, then switched to shotgun for 3-straight plays and got nothing. Stayed in shotgun for rest of game, and we got killed.
Today, we went shotgun, moved up and down the field, but in 2nd quarter went to the I and LSU killed us. So conservative, we got ball in good field position with over a minute and two timeouts, but ran up the gut twice for nothing?!?!
WHY DID WE TAKE OUR FOOT OFF THE PEDDLE?!?!
People need to blame Richt, not Bobo.
Fitten
December 3rd, 2011
11:34 pm
Shotgun worked when we had lead!!!
After Choke King Murray fumbled, and LSU got lead… We were done.
Where is mental toughness, Richt?!?!?
Army Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
11:36 pm
End of 1st Half: Perhaps the coaches saw/knew more than what we could see….but it did seem odd that as well as our defense had played…we would not throw some deep balls to set up a field goal with under a minute and 2 timeouts against the #1 team in the country
Beteez
December 3rd, 2011
11:37 pm
Loganville,this better coach is 3-10 vs ranked opponents for the last 3 years, of these 11 possible wins this year which one is a statement win? Against a depleted Fl with a 1st yr coach? UT? Vandy is Vandy according to Lil Dooley. We played 3 quality opponents al year & lost to all.
Where does Richt place in SEC coaches, he is behind Saban, Miles, Spurrier and possibly Franklin about even with Mullen. He has been a good recruiter, but what has he had to show for all of that talent?
It comes back to as you say signing reliable RB that gives 100% & wants to be a TRUE DAWG. He has supposedly signed 3 who could have been on this roster he has failed miserably at evaluating RB’s.
KBP
December 3rd, 2011
11:37 pm
Great article, Bill. What does the staff have against Malcome? If he is bad in practice it does not show up in the game. Clearly he is better than Thomas,Harton,Samuel, and certainly runs harder than Crowell. I love Richt, but he may have missed an opportunity for Malcome to help this team win this year. I don’t know the Malcome’s, but I would not blame him if he transferred to a school that would let him play. Can you provide insight as to why the staff did not play him more especially after the Tech game which is the only game where he got extended minutes?
Voyager Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
11:39 pm
Georgia definitely needs a durable every down back. You can’t go into a game with the best team in the country without a running game and expect to win. Hurts your play calling ability as well. As for the fans that are disappointed in a 10-3 season, please get a life. There were 10 other teams that wanted to be in that game tonight that didn’t make it. These kids and coaching staff work hard to win and don’t deserve the negativity from a bunch of armchair quarterbacks, that have never actually competed at the level that these guys do week-in and week-out.
Tigers show Dogs half a win isn’t better than nothing – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dog Shop Blog
December 3rd, 2011
11:41 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
(Mark) another one
December 3rd, 2011
11:43 pm
I think critcizing Crowell is wrong. The young man played with a bad ankle and played hard. However, coaches are fair game. If Crowell is limping around and you have a health Malcome on the bench, why not play him? He started last week, and the last couple of weeks he has done well. He has the size and speed, and he moves the pile. He needs to be in the back rotation.
Army Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
11:46 pm
Beteez, as a dawg, respectfully disagree with your assertion that UGA did not have any big wins this year….besides Coastal & New Mexico State….after our start, injuries, and youth, etc…every game was a ‘big’ game, and big win accordingly. No doubt though…Alabama, FLA, Auburn & now LSU has demonstrated the level, depth and ‘whole’ team required to be at the BCS dance…and we were never there this year.
Supes
December 3rd, 2011
11:48 pm
UGA needs to quit offering scholarships to RB who weight in at less than 200lbs. Little Carlton Thomas and Harton have no business being on the same field as LSU or any other SEC defense. Crowell needs to grow up and put team first or he’ll quickly follow in the footsteps of Washaun Ealey to some other school. That leaves us with 1 legit SEC “size” RB…in Malcolme…who seems to be a strictly in between the tackles, no breakaway speed bruiser. (so basically another version of Samuel) the irony is that we could have used a fiery team first guy like Richard Samuel to run with purpose and be able to stand up and BLOCK tonight.
UGA’s RB situation is a mess…it needs to be addressed in the off-season. So does Bobo’s playcalling…which is less than stellar at various times and beyond puzzling. Our WR need to START making plays in big games (like they did against FLA) and help out MURRAY.
Army Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
11:49 pm
Is Samuel going to be healthy for bowling?
Supes
December 3rd, 2011
11:51 pm
The comparisons with Lattimore and Crowell were all premature and wishful thinking. Marcus is a team first humble guy who practices hard and puts distractions aside…Isaiah is a selfish, immature young man who needs to grow up and stop wasting his God given talent and scholarship at UGA.
We need Keith Marshall to come to UGA…
Supes
December 3rd, 2011
11:52 pm
is Samuel going to be healthy for bowling?
****************************************************
He should be ready to go by the bowl game…God knows he’s needed. Richt should think long and hard about playing anyone else but Samuel and Malcolme at this point.
Army Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
11:55 pm
Roger that, Supes…I think Tron Jackson the last, great small back we had in the late 80s…I think…and he had ball control problems….
Wood
December 3rd, 2011
11:56 pm
You want to know what UGA needs to do to pull even with LSU and Alabama? Oversign.
Fair and Balanced
December 3rd, 2011
11:57 pm
Listening to radio here in Africa very late at night, I said we would have to do something different in 2nd half to start moving the ball. When we ran up gut twice I knew we were in trouble. Then the fumble and I knew we were done. Offense needs more imagination or so it seems to me. D is good but you can’t expect 4quarters like the first 2. Offense has got to be more creative.
Army Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
11:57 pm
Well, since we are talking RBs and their play (or lack therof)…was there any discussion putting in Brown or Boykin…in a SEC title game…to WIN?
Army Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
11:58 pm
Can we ask where in Africa?
Lamar
December 4th, 2011
12:01 am
With all the money GA has, WHY DONT YOU HIRE A SPECIAL TEAMS COACH??? All year long the special team play has been HORRIBLE, yet they do not show any improvement at all!! Its a part of the game that is as important as offense and defense and it can cost you the game. BOTTOM LINE, FROM 2ND HALF ON, 3 FUMBLES 21 POINTS AND THEY HAD TO MOVE THE BALL A TOTAL OF 42 YARDS TO GET THE SCORES. THEN 2 MORE SPECIAL TEAMS MISTAKES FOR 14 POINTS WHICH BETWEEN the 2 they scored 35 of the 42. YOU WILL LOSE every time like this. THEN YOU HAVE A RB that is FRAGILE AS GLASS, all of this is a bad recipe for success!!
Army Dawg
December 4th, 2011
12:06 am
Well, I guess we don’t have any space on the coach’s bench for a ST Coach…someone earlier suggested the OC should handle it…UH OH….that would mean squib kicks and quick kicks with BoBo
Lamar
December 4th, 2011
12:08 am
THE REASN THEY DO NOT PLAY MALCOME AT RB IS BECAUSE HE FUMBLES TO MUCH! BUT AT LEAST HE CAN TAKE A HIT!! Even Thomas can take a hit better than CROWELL! I can not stand this kid! One minute he is limping bad, THE NEXT HE RUNS HARD, is he this fast a healer?? JUST SAYING!
MODog
December 4th, 2011
12:09 am
You knew the game was over when Bobo ran the midget up the middle on the first two plays of the second half and put the quarterback in a position where only bad things could happen. Got ahead by playing lose and lost by playing tight. After the first three plays of the second half, it was OVER.
SE GA Dawg Fan
December 4th, 2011
12:11 am
Your friend, Chip Towers, really dislikes UGA and LOVES Mathieu. He failed to mention that Mathieu’s glorified runback should have been overturned because he threw the ball to the official prior to crossing the goal line. Why was this not reviewed?
daddo
December 4th, 2011
12:13 am
Daddo knows.
Just the most fair and objective facts.
Daddo told u that u would see the huge gap between West and East.
Daddo told u that u couldn’t run on LSU.
Daddo told u that once the run was cut off Murray would run for his life.
Daddo told you the “real” Murray would show up.
Better than Alabama’s defense. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Enjoy watching Alabama win another national championship while u sit home eating clay.
Listen to Daddo. Daddo knows.
Just the most fair and objective facts.
SE GA Dawg Fan
December 4th, 2011
12:14 am
@Bateez…you are stupid…
SE GA Dawg Fan
December 4th, 2011
12:16 am
I honestly don’t care who LSU plays in the championship game, but I do hope they lose. The mocking and excessive celebrations were over the top.
UGADawg83
December 4th, 2011
12:17 am
There were ten teams in the SEC that did not have the opportunity UGA had tonight. That’s all there is to it.
timbo
December 4th, 2011
12:17 am
When Sam Montgomery sacked Murray in the 2nd quarter, the game was over. That is what woke LSU up. I have been saying this since after the Kentucky game, UGA does not have the athletes that LSU has. Did you see that freshman RB run over Boykin! And where was Jarvis Jones?
Russell Hall
December 4th, 2011
12:19 am
The Dogs played a great first half but lost to a better team. Cut the kids some slack, for Pete’s sake.
Army Dawg
December 4th, 2011
12:19 am
Roger that, and welcome Tex A&M & Mizzou
aarh
December 4th, 2011
12:23 am
Taco Meat- Ken Malcome had a lot of injuries earlier in the yr., & earlier in the yr. Crowell was actually playing well, but lately he’s rarely on the field. He’s often injured, or supsended, which is a shame, bc I really do think he has a lot of potential. The coaches have finally been playing Malcome more lately. Probably partly out of neccesity, & he’s been getting more playing time, & been playing pretty well. So w/ the way Crowell has been so inconsistent & proven to be unreliable. I probably wouldn’t be surprised to see him get more playing time now.Most people felt like UGA needed Crowell to have a big game tonight to have a chance, but it just didn’t appear to happen.
Army Dawg
December 4th, 2011
12:23 am
I had the same sentiment immediately after the game….but as a earlier post stated, some of the play calling should be looked at those by those with responsibility for the program…the team showed up to play…and why not let them….did they forget the 3 key 4th down throws against FLA, the chance long passes against Auburn & Tech…sometimes you gotta let ‘em play and have fun….????
angela
December 4th, 2011
12:25 am
i think that richt is never going to compete at the top level
any coach that would not have malcome in the start is not capable of coaching peewee football
malcome looked like trent richardson when he got in the lineup
what is in the mind of richt is beyond me
murray is not great but ok as long as he has a real run game to keep the defense honest
we need a 6ft 5 in qb like mettenberg —what a waste of talent going back to the spring game when he outplayed murray
i would like for richt to resign since he is too nice a fellow to fire but facts are facts
peterson from bosie or malzan please come and interview
Army Dawg
December 4th, 2011
12:26 am
…and why not cycle RBs…we don’t have a consistent RB leader or performer…so simply cycle them until one emerges…other BCS teams do it…we did with Hampton, Henderson, Worely, Tate and others…
wins-by-a-link
December 4th, 2011
12:27 am
Georgia played a great first half, Probably played over their heads, Then reality set in and the Dog nation saw how far away this program is from winning a championship, The running game does not exist, IC will probably never make it at Ga. Thomas and Harton are too small, Can’t block, Can’t move the line, Malcome is best of the lot but didn’t start, Bobo called a good first half then really blew in the second half, Guess its not a disgrace to get beaten by the best team is the nation but it sure is discouraging.
Texas Dawg
December 4th, 2011
12:28 am
Bring on the bowls.
KBP
December 4th, 2011
12:29 am
Lamar . . When has Malcome played enough to fumble too much? If this is the coach’s reasoning considering the lack of consistent production at the position, then that is a problem.
reality gator
December 4th, 2011
12:30 am
Should Ark be celebrating a moral victory? they were up 14-0 at half, only losers celebrate 1 half of football, ha, ha
Army Dawg
December 4th, 2011
12:30 am
Did anyone see how IC turned his back on Coach Richt, after the personal foul….on National TV…Coach RIcht was talking to him, and he simply walked away…check the replay for yourself…we simply don’e need that, and younger players on the team, or coming to UGA don’t need to see that crap either!!!!!!!!!!!
Beteez
December 4th, 2011
12:32 am
@SE GA Dawg Fan what did I say that was so ignorant, we have a serious losing record against quality opponents, CMR is midpack as an SEC coach. that there has been a failure at evaluating potential RB recruits, or that teams that have had fewer NFL players have won MNC’s & we have not? I feel all are valid points.
daddo
December 4th, 2011
12:35 am
I saw IC turn his back on Richt, too. You think a kid could do that to Nick Saban? THAT’S the difference u can never fix.
timbo
December 4th, 2011
12:38 am
The dawg blogs sure look a lot different today then they did this time last week. A whole lot of confidence, Richt is great, Bobo is great, we are going to shock the world, we will play for the MNC.
Reese Davis on ESPN said it best, “LSU opened a can in the 3rd quarter, and the dawgs went whimpering back to the dawg house”.
reality gator
December 4th, 2011
12:38 am
Boy had pupies been up by 10 in the 4th qtr and lose they would have torn down the goal post, ha, ha
Ala was up by 7 in the 4th on LSU Ark was up by, should they be happing with a morale loss?
This shows what stupid sports writers in this state ha, ha puppies beat teams combine wins in the sec 12-54 incl gators who sucked, and lost all 3 games with teams with a winning record, and these idiots saying the season was a sucess, ha, ha
Army Dawg
December 4th, 2011
12:39 am
Alright, we do have to be consistent…we are in the best football conference in the land…so when you finish with 9-10 wins annually…that is an accomplishment…when you win 12-13 games…you are champions…what would we be saying had we beaten South Carolina (no 21 points from turnovers or special teams), no injuries or suspensions, but lost the East on a crazy night in Nashville….the team deserves awesome credit for playing the schedule they were given…but again the play calling could be discussed
Army Dawg
December 4th, 2011
12:42 am
And roger that Daddo…my concern is the perception it sends….
GODawgs
December 4th, 2011
12:47 am
We had a ten win season and lost to the best team in college football. You people need to get a life.
reality gator
December 4th, 2011
12:48 am
Wv, Al, Ark were all leading LSU at half asked them are they celebrating a moral victory?
Only a program that has not won a NAT since 1980 would think like that, oh but wait UGA has the best class every year ha, ha
GODawgs
December 4th, 2011
12:49 am
Reality gator i would not be talking to much smack considering the season your gators had.
Army Dawg
December 4th, 2011
12:52 am
Hey GODAwgs…give ‘reality gator’ some latitude…they’re not used to their season being over by the 2nd Advent…