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
PT
January 2nd, 2012
9:36 pm
You would think that if you had a Heisman candidate QB you would not run one play and depend on a struggling place kicker to win it from 40 plus yards.
LMAO
January 2nd, 2012
9:37 pm
How ’bout them Puppies, heading back to Athens with their tails between their legs. Again. I love UGA for their consistency; you can always count on ‘em to choke. No discipline, no guts, no class. A middle-of-the-road team of no national significance whatsoever and a dim future.
wreckmaniac
January 2nd, 2012
9:37 pm
Another batch of 5A’s and another season of disappointment.
private plane watching
January 2nd, 2012
9:38 pm
Fire Bobo, Fire CMR… no extend their contracts… wait I am confused… wait till next year.. no, we have a top 10 recruiting class… if we could only get our RBs to stop smoking weed… next year!!!!!
Still@theKool-aidBAR
January 2nd, 2012
9:38 pm
I am so IN LOVE with Aaron Murray but Andrew LUCK is the $$$$$$$$$$$$$ Monkey I need. LOL
National titles in the state GT-4. Rednecks-1
January 2nd, 2012
9:38 pm
Stop crying rednecks, y’all are known for choking and it shows again. Just go find a field party or chicken coop in Athens and have sex with your mom or sister. Rednecks! Maybe next year…. Hahahahaha
Dennis
January 2nd, 2012
9:38 pm
Back to the guard rail. Take your meds. Standing on the edge of greatness? That forearm shiver your Great Todd gave to those college boys at half came back in the form of a cool collected comeback.
Mobile Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
9:39 pm
What’s it going to take for people to get that CMR just “doesn’t” get it. It’s so painfully obvious that he thinks he gets it, or he’s just a “con artist” earning a big salary.
LEE
January 2nd, 2012
9:39 pm
wah, wah, the puppies lost their last 2 games. they actually finally played somebody, huh?
private plane watching
January 2nd, 2012
9:40 pm
Dawg48– focus on football… loser!
Now, 3-12 Against Ranked Teams
January 2nd, 2012
9:41 pm
I agree with whoever posted earlier that all sports teams in this state is cursed…..
….welcome to Loserville, USA
Brian
January 2nd, 2012
9:41 pm
The Bulldogs’ collapse in today’s bowl game confirmed what most sports fans have already known. Georgia did NOT win the SEC east because they were the best team, but rather they won because they had the weakest conference schedule. The person most valuable to Georgia’s winning this year’s SEC east was NOT a player but rather was the person who awarded Georgia the patsy conference schedule.
OkieDawg
January 2nd, 2012
9:41 pm
NexT year baby!
LogicalUS
January 2nd, 2012
9:42 pm
Tried to warn ya…NONE of the problems were addressed by the coaching staff…it was simply whitewashed away.
But not to worry…a couple of weeks of lying low and the ajc beaners will be back awarding UGA their guaranteed preseason MNC.
Let the good times roll…..until September that is.
Now, 3-12 Against Ranked Teams
January 2nd, 2012
9:43 pm
next year! next year! next year!
……yada yada yada….same ol same ol
Dawg48
January 2nd, 2012
9:44 pm
private plane watching
How many times will you change your name?
private plane watching
January 2nd, 2012
9:45 pm
dream team, dream team, dream team…. just wait till next year!
Now, 3-12 Against Ranked Teams
January 2nd, 2012
9:45 pm
Does the regents and administration at UGA even WANT to compete for a national title???
….just sayin
dawgenuff
January 2nd, 2012
9:45 pm
Brian, UGA lost the game because the kicker missed the winning field goal. Simple!
Pago Pago DAWG
January 2nd, 2012
9:45 pm
Let’s be glad UGA isn’t playing Stanford/Okla. State. By the way, have you noticed how many players have dead-locks on these teams….
Doug
January 2nd, 2012
9:45 pm
Whoever runs things at UGA (Michael Adams, I guess) has decided average is good, and that’s what we have – an average school with an average team. This is better than a mediocre school (Alabama, LSU) but UGA could be great in academics and athletics but it’s not, and that’s just fine with Adams, et al. What did George W call it, the bigotry of low expectations?
Now, 3-12 Against Ranked Teams
January 2nd, 2012
9:46 pm
Dream Team???
…..more like Nightmare….
private plane watching
January 2nd, 2012
9:46 pm
Dawg48- how many times will you dream about beating a top 25 team!
Dawg48
January 2nd, 2012
9:46 pm
private plane watching
Keep on trolling!
If that’s how you get your kicks!
Tech Guy
January 2nd, 2012
9:47 pm
Sucks, doesn’t it ???
PT
January 2nd, 2012
9:47 pm
I doubt Georgia will lose a game next year!
private plane watching
January 2nd, 2012
9:48 pm
Doggie48- enjoy that “winning streak”???? Vandy, Tech, the state of MS, loser!
OldRugbyDog
January 2nd, 2012
9:48 pm
No excuses. MSU clearly had the better of it in the second half. Georgia didn’t capitalize on field position in the first quarter when they could have put some distance between them and MSU. Murray made a couple of costly turnovers to go along with some great throws. Georgia couldn’t run when it needed to. Special teams (the FG unit) didn’t execute. None of this should be news. We’ve seen it vs. the four quality opponents they lost to. Georgia is a team that is flirting with the next level, but they won’t get there until they address the above. The positives were the defense and the receivers.
GulfwavesGary
January 2nd, 2012
9:48 pm
I knew Georgia’s 10 win season was smoke and mirrors with all the wins against really bad teams. It is a shame that the 10 wins and winning the SEC east get CMR a extension. I said on this blog wait until we see how Georgia plays in a bowl game. BoBo and his mentaility handoff up the middle when everythings on the line made me want to puke.Somethings got to give even with a 10 win season. Please replace the OC with someone with imagination. I just don’t think CMR can make the hard decisions and being a joke in the 2 biggest games of the year is not what Georgia Fans want! GO DAWGS.
Dead Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
9:49 pm
WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR LOOK WHAT WE HAVE RETURNING FOR 2012 SEASON
1 An absolutely Awlfull offensive line that will just get worst
2 No running backs One who should be run off Biggest candy ass ever to play
3 An errattic QB who loses more games than he wins
4 An incompetent coaching staff and an athletic director who is stupid enough to give a contract
extension to a coach who got outcoached in Champ game and had his ass kicked.
5 A defense that people bragg about But are giving up more than 30 points to any half way decent team
Bunch of walking Dead in Athens nowadays
Mobile Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
9:49 pm
Quote of the day in case you haven’t read it, by Matt Hinton, “maybe they should have let him try the field goals in overtime too” talking about Brandon Boykin.
big JOE
January 2nd, 2012
9:49 pm
Bobo’s predictable. Georgia’s coach (RIcht??) decided to not take advantage of a 1st & 10 at the 25 after an overtime interception, running little Carlton Thomas to the outside, then Murray taking a knee at the middle of the field on SECOND Down?? to line up a 42 yrd field goal on 3rd down?!!? Did Richt have LESS faith in Murray passing for a 1st down than Blair Walsh kicking a 42 yard FG?? (Blair Walsh has been aweful this season) Guess after Murray gave up 14 points on his own I see why, but if that’s the case I think Hudson Mason should be the starting QB at Georgia. Murray completely un-does his good deeds with his boneheaded game give-a-ways. RIcht needs to play the BEST QB. PERIOD.
jojo
January 2nd, 2012
9:49 pm
oh, Lord help us!!!!
private plane watching
January 2nd, 2012
9:50 pm
Doggie48– the facts hurts don’t they??? Take a look at the record of the teams you beat this year.
Now, 3-12 Against Ranked Teams
January 2nd, 2012
9:50 pm
Doug….I think you’re onto something. That “blue-blood” crook Adams like our coaches to either look a certain way, talk with a twang, or be in-bred UGA (in Bobo’s case, all three traits in one)……winning or losing doesn’t seem to matter with these southern good ol boy cronies
HANGMAN
January 2nd, 2012
9:50 pm
Why is Booboo allowed to remain? Does he have some sort of dirt on MR?
Please get rid of him. Hang him high!
big JOE
January 2nd, 2012
9:52 pm
Tech Guy
Yes. However, losing 10 of 11 sucks more
faithfuldawg86
January 2nd, 2012
9:53 pm
Play calling was awful, especially in the 4th quarter and OT, but leave the players alone. Blair Walsh has had a tough year after giving his all for 4 years. Do you think he’s HAPPY that he missed the FG?? Murray and receivers had a few miscues, it happens. I think we could have/should have won the game if we had not been too conservative… but I am ASHAMED of so-called dawg fans who are blaming these young men and posting horrible things to their twitter etc. I love my dawgs and it is ALWAYS GREAT to be a Georgia Bulldog – as real fans would know.
Same old...
January 2nd, 2012
9:54 pm
Dogs suck. Braves suck. Falcons suck. Who cares about the Hawks. Will it ever end?
Tim Tebow
January 2nd, 2012
9:54 pm
Murray could throw 4INT’S every game and Richt wouldn’t make a change. Richt does not have a lions heart.
timbo
January 2nd, 2012
9:54 pm
This is excellent watching dawg fans heads explode….love it. Wasn’t it just a month ago that you idiots were posting comments right here that if you can beat LSU, maybe you get a shot at the MNC? And we (the non-Kool Aid drinkers, dawg haters) were called idiots, Tech fans, d-bags, etc. when we tried to tell you the dawgs schedule was weak, and that you stand no chance of beating LSU, and the Tech game was your last win of the season? You dawg fans really should start listening to us. The comments you dawg fans are posting are the same ones we were posting back in October and November, but you didn’t listen.
Now, 3-12 Against Ranked Teams
January 2nd, 2012
9:56 pm
my 2012 UGA prediction: UNDEFEATED……except for losses to SC, Aub, and Florida
translation…..undefeated against the cupcakes while choking against any decent team
then Richt gets a lifetime extension
Dawg48
January 2nd, 2012
9:56 pm
Mobile dawg
That was probably the worst performance by our O Line since the SC game.
We could not establish a running game or pass block, the tackles could not stop any one,
And still can not get a consistent running back. When Carlton came in I new we were beat.
Just don’t thick you can pin this one all on richt and bobo.
If Walsh did hit the field goal it would have been a W.
PaulieOldSchool
January 2nd, 2012
9:57 pm
Why is Richt still employed by my alma mater? Why? Can anyone tell me we will be in any different position next year at this time than we are now, with this has-been and his assistants still in place? Why does this man still have a job at Georgia? Why?
Now, 3-12 Against Ranked Teams
January 2nd, 2012
9:59 pm
LOL Mobile Dawg…..that Boykin comment was priceless
…hell shoulda let him play QB too, couldn’t have done worse than INT Murray
just the truth
January 2nd, 2012
10:00 pm
At Bama we have been where Georgia is now. Georgia’s problem is not Bobo, it is Richt. Both Bama and Georgia are getting good players. Here is the truth, Nick Saban can develop players, Mark Richt can not.Georgia is recruiting well, the state of Georgia has plenty of good HS football players. Guys it all starts at the top. Your team plays as a reflection of your head coach. Saban is a hands on coach, heavily involved, and TOUGH on everyone around him. Richt is not….. just the facts. Players have to be developed .
timbo
January 2nd, 2012
10:00 pm
I heard that Walsh missed the flight back home.
Sheldon Cooper
January 2nd, 2012
10:02 pm
Knocking on the door of greatness….. Penny, ….. Penny,…….. Penny!
Dawg48
January 2nd, 2012
10:02 pm
PaulieOldSchool
January 2nd, 2012
9:57 pm
Why is Richt still employed by my alma mater? Why? Can anyone tell me we will be in any different position next year at this time than we are now, with this has-been and his assistants still in place? Why does this man still have a job at Georgia? Why?
Richt is employed by UGA, not Miami.
Now, 3-12 Against Ranked Teams
January 2nd, 2012
10:03 pm
On a serious note…..Bill headline starts by “Same old problems plague…..”
A. problem identified
B. problem reportedly addressed
C. time given to rectify addressed problem
D. problem still arise
….hmmmm…..and just exactly why does he continue to support CMR???