Same old problems plague Dogs in loss to Spartans
Brandon Boykin had a career day against Michigan State — but it wasn't enough. (Associated Press)
Mark Richt’s Bulldogs didn’t have to find any new ways to lose in the Outback Bowl — instead, they simply let lots of familiar problems resurface in suffering another second-half collapse and dropping a three-overtime battle with Michigan State.
Again, the Dogs wasted a superlative first-half defensive effort by giving the opponent a couple of cheap touchdowns thanks to turnovers by an erratic Aaron Murray, whose two interceptions put the Spartans back in the ball game.
Again, Georgia’s almost complete lack of a running game made the Dog’ offense one-dimensional. And was anyone at all surprised when Isaiah Crowell, reduced to a backup role, limped off the field after a handful of runs?
Again, placekicker Blair Walsh, once one of the nation’s premier specialists, proved himself more a liability than a weapon and ended up costing Georgia the game by missing two kicks in OT.
And again, playcaller Mike Bobo seemed incapable of adjusting to the realities of what was happening on the field and stubbornly stuck with what wasn’t working.
With the middle of the Spartan’s defensive line as solid as a brick wall, Bobo continually called for runs up the middle — often with delays that turned into tackles for loss since State was getting into the Georgia backfield so quickly. Early on, Georgia was able to have some running success on the outside, but once MSU adjusted to stop that, the Dogs basically were no threat on the ground.
To top it all off, with the Spartans continually blitzing from the corner, Bobo insisted on calling slow-developing downfield passing plays, an all too familiar scenario made even worse by Murray’s poor decision-making when pressured and Georgia’s tight ends being a nonfactor in the game.
Overall, Georgia relied too much on its big-play capability and never was able to really sustain anything offensively against the talented Spartans defense.
Typical of the day was what happened with a little over 3 and a half minutes left in regulation. Needing a first down or two to kill the clock and ice a victory, the Dogs went ultra-conservative and ultra-predictable — two hallmarks of Bobo’s career as a playcaller — by trying again in vain to run Richard Samuel up the middle.
It surprised no one, and the fact that it didn’t work didn’t surprise anyone, either.
And then the banged-up Georgia defense, which had played well most of the day, looked gassed on the Spartans’ last drive of regulation, getting no pressure on MSU QB Kirk Cousins, who cooly passed his team down the field to send it into overtime.
Just think how ugly things might have gotten had Brandon Boykin not played the game of his life in his farewell performance as a Georgia Bulldog, nailing a Spartan receiver for a safety, scoring on a thrilling 92-yard punt return that saw him reversing direction and weaving his way all over the field, and then moving over to offense to catch a touchdown pass for his third different score of the day.
He’ll be missed big-time.
So two disappointing losses bookended a Georgia season that started out 0-2.
Sure, the 10 wins between those four losses and an SEC East title is a big improvement over last season.
But, looking ahead, even though Georgia returns a lot of talent and will have another favorable schedule next year, if the problems that continually reared their head this season aren’t addressed, it’s going to be tough for Richt’s program to take the next step forward.
Got something on your mind concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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1,469 comments Add your comment
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
9:35 am
and know more about the program from the INSIDE than some poster who is a Bible-Thumper who ONLY WANTS TO SAY I want my daughter to date Tim Tebow and I prefer Mark Richt to Nick Saban they refer to as the devil
***************************
Liar
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
9:37 am
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
8:55 am
I agree glenn. I don’t want Bobo fired but I do want him re-assigned as QB coach and recruiter. He is loyal to UGA and was a great player. He deserves a chance to remain on staff IMHO.
I also want a wide open QB competition in the spring under the eye of an NFL caliber OC. Fresh evaluation.
*************************
bulldawg, you can say things without writing a book about it
Mark Richt gladly shakes hands with the coaches who beat him
January 4th, 2012
9:39 am
Mark Richt, qb
College: Miami (FL)
Draft: N/A
PASSING STATISTICS
Miami Hurricanes
11 completions 4 interceptions all of 1978
3 completions 1 interceptions all of 1980
18 completions 3 interceptions all of 1981
PMC : “Clearly, he was a pretty good football player in his time.” That is your correction PMC ?
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
9:39 am
don’t even blame him for his horrid games vs teams who end up top 25 at 0-9, running up his stats vs teams who are not top 25 not today, not ever. I blame the coaches.
*********************
Liar, you bashed Murray.
You blame the coaches yet you want richt to get his extension right now and you have bashed our “tennis player AD” for not getting it done???
Does one side of your brain even talk to the other side?
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
9:42 am
To help clarify to a degree here as this has gotten out of hand it was not Thomas Brown who mentioned anyones family. It was a handle that had Lowcountry Bulldawg is a Dou che. Now he could have simply changed the handle as he often does but I have not seen Mathew Ciaf aro/Thomas Brown/4.29/Personal Attacks/buLLDawg make any personal attacks like that.”
*************
How does he know if it was you?
Because a liar like you who admits to changing his blog handle all the time denies it?
Nope. Liar
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
9:44 am
Now, bulldawg, sir, I have a question for you.
Are you and I going to continue like this?
Are you going to continue copying and pasting and me doing the same and arguing?
I am not going to leave these blogs because of you.
So I am asking are we going to continue like this?
Or, are we going to call a truce and pretty much just ignore each other going forward?
Answer SIR???
Hatfielfgeoff
January 4th, 2012
9:51 am
Can somebody tell me why Mich. State’s most dangerous defensive lineman #2 was not accounted for on 5 or 6 running plays in the fist quarter. Perhaps they did not throw to Orson Charles because he went blind because on several of the plays he is seen running past the lineman with no thought of blocking as though it were a passing play. the lineman then came in and stuffed the runner in the backfield. Bill you are right in all you say. These things are what makes me questions Bobo and Richt. I can’t beleive they did not try to throw for the first down at the end of regulation (perhaps they feared another mystery throw from Murray). Murray is good but I certainly hope they open up the competition for QB. We need to see what the others can do and Murray certainly needs to improve. There were many other problems including the playcalling but Murrays two picks were killers. The first he could have run for 10 yards if he keeps it and the pick six was really a mystery it could have been a bad throw to one of two receivers but it went straight to the MSU DB. Why do so many of our running plays involve Murray running over to the back who then begins the run late and from a standing start or the back going over to Murray and taking the ball and then going forward from basically a standing start again. what is the point of speed backs if they can get up to speed in the back field. Whatever happened to the toss sweep. Those big linemen would have been much more tired later in the game if they were chasing across the field more often.
schmeckdawg
January 4th, 2012
10:16 am
Aaron Murray:
Champagne stats, beer wins!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Richt gladly shakes hands with the coaches who beat him
January 4th, 2012
10:22 am
Some poster tells me in a post here on this blog here that he ONLY WANTS TO SAY he wants his daughter to date Tim Tebow and he prefers Tebow as NFL Quarterback and prefers Mark Richt to Nick Saban they refer to as the devil, and nothing I can say sways them that Tim Tebow is NOT an NFL Quarterback, nor that Mark Richt is not close to the accomplishments here at UGA while Nick Saban has been at Alabama, or Les Miles at LSU.
____________________________________________________
AND THIS IS YOUR EXCUSE TO SAY I AM TALKING ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN and threatening repeatedly to beat me up, daily repeatedly in this AJ-C blog ?
You need a doctor. And, a psychiatrist. I cannot be expected to deal with explaining to you that OBVIOUSLY this is NOT ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN.
Jeez Louise. Move on. Get a life. Grow up. Get a pair. Deal with the facts that Aaron Murray Mike Bobo and Mark Richt DID NOT GET THE JOB DONE THIS SEASON, just exactly precisely as I specifically told you they would not.
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
10:26 am
So this is your answer?
So we ignore each other moving forward?
No more stalking and cutting and pasting?
Agreed.
Mark Richt gladly shakes hands with the coaches who beat him
January 4th, 2012
10:40 am
Stick it where the sun doesn’t shine – no, this is NOT MY ANSWER. My answer is I NEVER HAVE THREATENED YOUR CHILDREN, THAT THIS TRUMPED UP BS TODAY IS MORE PROOF OF SAME THAT NOT HERE, NOT NOW NOT EVER HAVE YOU EVER ESTABLISHED I DID AND THAT OTHERS HAVE TOLD YOU REPEATEDLY THE SAME, THAT I DID NOT. AND, YET YOU KEEP IT UP. STICK IT.
shankit
January 4th, 2012
10:42 am
Dawgs got beat by a superior coached, physically and mentally tougher team.
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
10:44 am
You can shove it
Jborodawg
January 4th, 2012
2:15 pm
Y’all keep hammerin’ Bobo and “up the middle” running plays. I beg to differ on Bobo’s play calling and why the Dawgs lost.
With 8:22 to go and MSU ahead 20-19, we go down the field from our own 19:
pass, pass
Thomas hit in backfield (O line breakdown)
Murray hit as he throws (O line breakdown)
TD pass to Boykin; pass for 2 point conversion; Dawgs lead 27-20 with 6:44 to go
MSU starts at their own 20; march down the field; Ogletree tips pass, Jenkins gets the INT
UGA ball at our own 30 with 3:56 to go.
Samuel to the left, one yard loss. Announcers state this is MSU’s 16th tackle for loss. Stop right here. To me, this means the O line has not been doing its job. Not sure if I’d characterize it as Bobo’s insistence on running up the middle as the problem. This is the biggest O line in all of college and pro football. Just way too many TFL; not to mention QB hurries and sacks.
This drive: 3 rush and 2 pass; end up punting.
We have MSU at their own 15 with 1:55 to play. They march down the field, and the scoring play is a…run up the middle. Score tied and we go to OT. The D allowed MSU to march 85 yards in less than two minutes to tie the score. Bobo’s play calling? I don’t think so.
1st OT-Rambo gets an INT. UGA ball. Murray takes a knee between the hash marks to get a better angle for Walsh. Last year a Lou Groza finalist and All SEC First Team. This year made FGs from 39, 43, 44, 53, and 56. Had a bad year overall, but … I’d go with him too. But alas, he missed.
We had the lead and looked like a win until the D allowed the tying score. We had 2 minutes more time of possession. So, I don’t blame Bobo as much as I do the O line, Murray turnovers, and the D…and a heartbreaking missed FG.
Glass half full: King sets school record with 205 yards; Boykin has MVP type game; D probably would have done better but Jenkins and Jones were injured (Jones continued but not as effective); Murray 63% passing.
Jborodawg
January 4th, 2012
2:17 pm
And….I think this blog might continue on until spring.
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January 4th, 2012
6:04 pm
[...] Same old problems plague Dogs in loss to Spartans Again, the Dogs wasted a superlative first-half defensive effort by giving the opponent a couple of cheap touchdowns thanks to turnovers by an erratic Aaron Murray, whose two interceptions put the Spartans back in the ball game. … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
CRO-MAGNON MAN
January 5th, 2012
6:47 am
I can’t believe Aaron Murray BLEW THAT GAME to go to 0-9 vs teams ending top 25. 3 sacks, fumble, 2 interceptions, 9 rushes minus 14 yards, 1 reception blocked pass minus 3 yards – all with 16 point lead.
January 4th, 2012
9:03 am
No, I am someone who knows football…You are only a snotty nosed crybaby that bet on the Dawgs and lost….pay your bookie and move on with your life….YOU, SIR, MUST BE AN EXCUSE FOR A PERSON TO SPEND ALL DAY POSTING THIS DRIVEL…get a job and go to work, I’ll teach you about those caps sometimes…
CRO-MAGNON MAN
January 5th, 2012
6:50 am
Jborodawg
January 4th, 2012
2:15 pm
JONESBORO DAWG IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT…NOW HE IS A GUY WHO REALLY UNDERSTANDS FOOTBALL…read his post closely, he “gets it”…..
BigLefty
January 5th, 2012
7:36 am
Just fire BOBO…..PLEASE.