Fan talk: Was Richt coaching ‘not to lose’ rather than to win?
Some fans would like to see a more aggressive Mark Richt. (Jason Getz / AJC)
There’s nothing like losing a bowl game you should have won to stir up the fan base, even after a 10-win season and division title. And it’s true, as Greg McGarity has noted, that had Blair Walsh made that field goal, fans overall would be extremely happy even though the same problems facing the team would still need resolution. Nevertheless, the Junkyard Mail this week was overflowing with notes from folks who definitely were not happy. Here’s a representative sampling …
Andrew in Charleston writes: Bill, I have watched, like the rest of Bulldog Nation, the coaching staff routinely coach “not to lose” instead of coach to win. Late in the fourth quarter, we needed one first down to ice the game and Bobo/Richt go with three stuffed runs. They put the pressure on the gassed D to “not lose” rather than the offense to win. Does the staff really not have enough faith in their players to get one first down? Shouldn’t a respectable SEC program be able to gain one first down?
The main complaint I hear from fans about Mark Richt is that he is too prone to play it safe. Sometimes that pays off. Against Michigan State, however, it resulted in the Dogs losing a game they should have won. At times, Richt does seem to coach as if he doesn’t have faith in his offense. Perhaps if the problems with the running game can be solved, he’ll loosen up.
Jeff Maran writes: Bill, what do you think of Mark Richt going for it on 4th and one in the first quarter versus taking the 3 points? I think you have to take the three points at that point of the game. The game never would have gone into overtime had he kicked the three. I think it had to do with the criticism he took in the game against UCF last year when he kicked the field goal instead of going for a first down. However, Michigan State has a top 5 defense, unlike UCF, and points are hard to come by. Also, I am so fed up with the conservative playcalling with 3:30 left in regulation: run, run, run. Richt plays scared, not Mike Bobo. Richt has the final say. Finally, what coach other than Mark Richt settles for a 42-yard field goal attempt on 3rd down in OT? … After intercepting Michigan State, you would think that is like playing with house money. Try to get at least one first down, to get a closer field goal attempt, maybe even a TD. So frustrating.
Tom Sinclair adds: I’d like to hear a discussion of just who should take the blame for the ultra conservative play calling near the end of regulation and in overtime. While I’m not a Bobo fan, I realize that ultimately Richt is the one that sets the tone and could intervene if he chose to do so.
And Roger Dixon writes: [Bobo] is Richt’s man, so they are both responsible. The real problem at Georgia is that Richt wins just enough to keep his job. He has proved he cannot take it to the next level. Georgia will forever remain a second-tier team under him. He looks good at times, but can’t deliver in the clutch.
To touch on Roger’s point first, I don’t believe Richt is incapable of winning it all. He knows how to recruit the talent needed and overall is a good steward of the program. At times, he’s shown he can even go for the jugular. I just wish he did that more consistently. To answer Jeff’s question, actually, I agreed with Richt in going for it in the first quarter for precisely the same reason that I wish he hadn’t played for a field goal in the first overtime: Blair Walsh was simply no longer a reliable placekicker, SEC all-time scoring record notwithstanding. But I was the only one in our group watching the game who felt that way. Everyone else would have gone for the field goal in the first quarter. And Tom is right about Richt being in charge. After Mike Bobo called the first two unsuccessful runs up the middle there late in the fourth quarter, Richt certainly could have interceded when he heard a third one called and said, “Mike, let’s throw it to Michael Bennett,” or something like that. Isn’t that why you have a possession receiver? Yes, Richt has always tended to be conservative during his time at UGA, but it’s not as if he never takes any chances. All we have to do is look at this year’s Florida game to see him doing it right, going for it on fourth down (resulting in two touchdowns) and throwing it to secure a key first down and kill the clock late in the game — exactly as many folks wish he’d done against the Spartans. I guess it takes Jacksonville and the Gators to get Richt’s juices flowing.
Joe Burger writes: Hey Bill, thanks for your info and insight all year. I’m a UGA alum, living with my wife in southwest Florida, so we appreciate your help in keeping us informed. So, after attending the bowl game, it’s pretty clear that we are much, much improved. However, except for our D, we are still lacking that swagger/killer instinct. Players and teams definitely take on characteristics of their coaches. And in our case, the calm, laid-back approach of coach Richt coupled with the Pontius Pilate coaching of coach Bobo (at crunch time, he appears to wash his hands via uninspired playcalling and is simply content to let the defense decide the fate of the game) leads to an almost blah type of football. It seems many times that the offense plays down to the same uninspired level as its coach. Do the coaches need an attitude adjustment?
Richt has gotten the Georgia program back on track, but I think this season’s tendency toward lackluster second-half play has provided ample evidence that in order to kick it up to the next level Richt and his staff are going to have to take a more aggressive approach in managing games. Keeping your foot on the pedal, as the saying goes.
Is it fair to blame Mike Bobo for all of Georgia's offensive troubles? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Larraine Oakes writes: Re: your article “Same old problems …” I was so delighted to see someone spell out what was a source of extreme frustration during the game. I am not a football expert by any stretch. I’m the wife of Dawg fan that has become almost as passionate as he is about them. So when an amateur like me can see the absurdity of the runs up the middle that inevitably amount to nothing, I am scratching my head and figuring that there must be SOMETHING about the intricacies of football coaching that I cannot understand that would make them continue to do what isn’t working.
Bobo explained his reasoning in calling those run plays: He was trying to eat up clock and force MSU to use up its timeouts. But while that reasoning might have looked good on the laminated play board, it ignored the realities of what was happening on the field. The Spartans were getting so much penetration that those running plays took very little time off the game clock. And based on what had been happening throughout the second half, it should have been obvious to Bobo and Richt that it was a strategy that wasn’t going to work. Perhaps there was a bit of the “put it in the hands of the defense” notion at work there. But, again, that ignored the reality that by that point the Georgia defenders were tired. The result was Michigan State quickly throwing their way down the field and tying the score. That’s my main complaint about Bobo (and, by extension, his boss): Too often they stick to the script even when the situation calls for a bit of improvisation.
BassinDawg in Roswell writes: I am tired of Bobo’s pathetic playcalling, further evidenced this season — especially by those idiotic up-the-gut calls. Is there ANY chance of Bobo being replaced or CMR re-taking over some of the play-calling duties? With decent playcalling we could have won both the South Carolina and Outback Bowl games.
Along the same lines, Cleveland Williams asks: Do you see a need to change the OC or do you think it’s a matter of changing philosophy in the playcalling (adjusting the routes to shorter routes, calling more screen passes and crossing routes)?
And Ross Marshall asks: Can coach Richt overcome his loyalty thing long enough to get rid of Bobo? … Make him QB coach, he does THAT very well.
I’d say there’s little chance of Bobo being replaced as offensive coordinator and playcaller. But while publicly Greg McGarity is backing Richt all the way, one can only hope that perhaps he might gently nudge Richt and Bobo try a more aggressive approach. Already this season they tweaked what they do by going to the no-huddle, so it’s not as if they haven’t shown a willingness to change things up. And Ross is right, Bobo does know how to coach quarterbacks. Of course, we can’t lay the offensive problems all on Bobo. His hands were tied somewhat in the bowl game by the absence of a running game. Should the lack of production and off-field problems at tailback be laid at the feet of Bobo or running backs coach Bryan McClendon? I realize McClendon is a prized recruiter but I’m not convinced the former receiver is the best choice to mold Georgia’s young backs. And while I was encouraged by what Will Friend got out of the offensive line this season with almost no depth, the OL’s deficiencies were definitely a factor in the inconsistency of the running game as well as Murray’s troubles. So pinning all the offensive troubles on Bobo is misguided, I think.
Aaron Murray's decisionmaking has at times been questionable. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Michael Clowdus writes: I would like to ask about Aaron Murray, as two things I see about him drive me crazy! I think Murray is a great talent and I think coaching has as much to do with both of these issues as well. First, can two former QB’s (Bobo and Richt) not teach Murray to look off defenders? He constantly stares down his target and I am surprised he has not been intercepted more. Second, it appears that ANY time UGA had 3rd and long (7-10 yards), Murray would throw it 35 yards down the field. Does our coaching staff not explain that a first down keeps a drive alive or do they not know how to run medium route patterns?
I think Matt Stafford is showing the NFL right now that Richt and Bobo indeed do know how to develop a quarterback and I would be surprised if Murray doesn’t get better in that regard, and also in his decisionmaking about when to take a sack and when to get rid of the ball. As for those slow-developing third-down downfield pass plays instead of quick slants or screen passes, I know they drive a lot of fans nuts. Unfortunately, I think that must be a personal preference of Bobo’s.
Jack Sanders writes: I heard Kevin Butler on the post-game show questioning the wisdom of Richt having Murray down the ball in the center of the field to set up the field goal in the first overtime. Kevin cited this as an example of where not having a special teams coach or coordinator hurt the Dogs. A special teams coach likely would have been more aware that Blair Walsh has tended this season to miss kicks wide right, so in fact kicking from the left hashmark would have increased the chances of the first OT field goal attempt being good, whereas centering the ball made it more likely he’d miss it. What do you think?
I think Kevin Butler knows more about placekicking than Georgia’s current coaching staff could ever hope to learn, and I would agree with his assessment.
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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370 comments Add your comment
Rabun Dawg
January 6th, 2012
7:23 pm
As long as AM is our qb, you can expect a pick six, fumble to other team at a crucial time, standing in the pocket too long and getting sacked, in every game that matters. He will cost us at least 2 or 3 games every year as he did this year. He may be talented, but doesn’t seem to be getting “coached up”, as he has made the same mistakes each year. He may be great against the weaker teams, but, who has he beaten that really matters? Hopefully the competetion at qb will be opened up this spring, or will CMR play his loyalty card again. Until some changes are made with respect to offensive philosophy at UGA, we will continue to be a mediocre or middle of the pack program!
Big Wally
January 6th, 2012
7:34 pm
It all boils down to the “big uglies” up front on offense. Our O. Line couldn’t block sunlight.
Stephen A.DAWG: Stop the Blame game on Bobo.
January 6th, 2012
7:34 pm
Let’s stop blaming Bobo, the subordinate, and blame the man in charge, Richt. I know people in Thomasville,Ga. that call Mike Bobo up after each loss to cuss him out and they should go after him like that, but they are tired of UGA falling flat versus good teams. I think because there hasn’t been any discussion from Richt or UGA brass concerning constructive change, frustrations will continue to mount.
Stephen A.DAWG: Stop the Blame game on Bobo.
January 6th, 2012
7:43 pm
Oops, I meant to say Mike Bobo’s friends in Thomasville should not cuss him out for following his bosses’ instructions.
Watching a replay of the Outback Bowl on CSS. Murray looked pretty good on some plays in the first half & had a couple of nice throws.
Mr. SEC
January 6th, 2012
8:19 pm
I was not aware of CMR or Bobo coaching at all during the bowl or during most of the season; I saw them standing around most of the time and making excuses; I must had missed something!
New Day
January 6th, 2012
8:40 pm
In the internet age and blawgs like this one, I’m not sure how any coach keeps his job anymore.
Orange11
January 6th, 2012
8:51 pm
The Defense was gassed the second half due to the offense’s failures, most notably, Murray’s pics and fumble. Murray lost this game, The SC game, the main loser in the LSU game, and Throws into triple coverage on the first play of the FL game last year. There are many more but these are the most notable in Murray’s bumbling carreer. Coach Richt was coaching to lose the Otback Bowl for some reason only he knows.
jack bull
January 6th, 2012
9:16 pm
Murray single-handidly lost the bowl game in the second half. he was terrible!!
jack bull
January 6th, 2012
9:17 pm
what play/plays would you have called? let Aaron “Turnover Machine” Murray throw the ball? I hope not.
jvillebil
January 6th, 2012
9:35 pm
@New Day: That was a funny comment. I was just thinking, I wonder if Richt or Bobo or any coaches ever read what people post on here. I’m sure some coaches do. I guess if I were a coach and I was getting tore up on here I’d set up and Alias name then log on and defend myself like crazy. LOL
Will Crafton
January 6th, 2012
9:42 pm
Yes! He always does, every game! He treats the 2nd half like 30 more minutes to hang on.. the 2nd half is when you can put a football game away, not GIVE it away.
GT is 4th rate high school team
January 6th, 2012
9:48 pm
The worst thing that happened to UGA is the 10 straight wins this season. Otherwise, we could now be wondering who the next HC and OC will be. If Richt and Co. will keep the same conservative play calling philosophy the Dawg fans will have the same 260 comments in this blog. FRUSTRATION just in summary.
RNB
January 6th, 2012
9:49 pm
You have to be kidding me. Stafford did not improve under BoBo. He got better when he got to the NFL. That’s the problem players never improve under this coaching staff.
Pago Pago DAWG
January 6th, 2012
9:52 pm
Well, we had LSU on the ropes first half.
UGA doesn’t want the Razorbacks either.
Will
January 6th, 2012
9:58 pm
Since Mike Bobo became OC, (50 games) UGA is 32-18. Since Nov 2008, UGA has beaten only 2 teams that finished ranked in the top20, GT in 2008, Auburn 2011. We’ve beaten only 1 team that had a defense ranked in the top “50” FLA this season 2011 and remember, that was a 24-20 final against a 6-6 team! This season 2011, we have 10 wins against teams with a combined record of 56-64. Exclude Non-FBS school Coastal Carolina (7-4), our opponents were 49-60! Our 3 losses, all against ranked teams who combined for 33-3 records were embarrassing. 22 of the 32 wins since Bobo became OC have come against,
Vanderbilt (4)
Ga Tech (3)
Kentucky (3)
Arizona St (2)
Central Michigan
Coastal Carolina
Georgia Southern
Idaho State
Louisiana Lafayette
Mississippi State
New Mexico State
Mississippi
Tennessee (2011) They stunk
Tennessee Tech
That leaves UGA 10-18 against teams like, Ala, Fla, Lsu. Usc, Aub, Tenn, Including embarrassing losses to non conference Ok St. 10-24, Colorado, 27-29, Boise St. 21-35, & USF 6-10, Michigan State 27-30 during this 50 game stretch.
Oldbush
January 6th, 2012
9:59 pm
I think we should reward all this mediocrity with a contract extension and a raise in pay. Being the 11th highest paid head coach is just not enough. Let’s, at least, get CMR in the top ten. Let’s not forget BoBo surely he deserves more money for the stupid play calling he exhibited in the bowl game. He should also be rewarded for a nonexistent running game. Surely they deserve more money for having a wining streak against teams with losing records. We BAD; We BAD!!!!
Saint Jan the Beloved
January 6th, 2012
10:06 pm
I wonder if any of the books about UGA football include the perspective of someone speaking for the late Jan Kemp? The perspective that “student” athletes like Lindsay Scott were playing years without taking college level courses? That the proudest moment of the football program was earned by players who never earned a single college credit?
Dawgtards love to return to 1980, but their memories are really short when it comes to remembering an earthshaking event that happened a few years later that showed the world what a joke UGA athletes were and what a scam artist their beloved Vince Dooley was (and is). So for all those dawgtards with short memories or who think their athletes are actually taking real courses and trying to graduate, here’s the quote that broke the trial wide open and showed what a slimeball Dooley is:
O. Hale Almand Jr., a lawyer for the defense, offered a justification for the favorable treatment accorded the athletes, citing a hypothetical player. “We may not make a university student out of him,” he told the jury, “but if we can teach him to read and write, maybe he can work at the post office rather than as a garbageman when he gets through with his athletic career.”
Nothing has changed at UGA, they just do a slightly better job of keeping things quiet, but that’s hard to do when almost 50 of your player-thugs have been arrested, isn’t it?
UGA: WINNER OF THE FULMER CUP AND THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
Georgiahopeful
January 6th, 2012
10:21 pm
The Georgia Bulldog football team is 1-13 against ranked teams, starting with 2006 season until now. PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!
Dawgfan6
January 6th, 2012
10:23 pm
Bo Bo has to Go Go!!
GT is 4th rate high school team
January 6th, 2012
10:24 pm
FOR @Saint Jan the Beloved
Dawgfan6
January 6th, 2012
10:25 pm
Hey Saint, open window. Jump out.
True Maniac
January 6th, 2012
10:27 pm
Let’s be real. UGA lost every game (4) against a formiddable opponent. Boise State,SC,LSU,MSU.
Then they beat the weak teams 10 in a row.
The decision to kneel down and take a 2 yard loss then let inaccurate head-case Blair freaking Walsh miss a 42 yard field goal on 3rd down was retarded. Blair Walsh has failed time and again throughout the year yet you intrust him with the game on the line ?
GT is 4th rate high school team
January 6th, 2012
10:31 pm
FOR @Saint Jan the Beloved, ONE STRAIGHT FINGER IN ONE HAND WITH THE REST OF THE FINGERS FOLDED.
War Dang Dawg
January 6th, 2012
10:37 pm
We are witnessing an era where all but the top defenses get torched pretty much on a weekly basis. That includes even conference champs, like Clemson and Oklahoma State. If Richt doesn’t have confidence in his offense to close out a game, then he needs a new approach to offense because there are a lot of points and yards to be had out there.
Fair and Balanced
January 6th, 2012
11:06 pm
Riches lack of faith in the offense is justified. Whe we are ahead …..we don’t play well. Richt and Bobo probably make the offense nervous due to their conservatism. Thank goodness they decided to beat FL.
Am I the only one who notices this: Murray cant throw a spiral!
P. Bull Terrier
January 6th, 2012
11:18 pm
The two biggest problems with Mark Richt’s coaching are,
1. Richt takes too many gambles, like going for it on 4th down in the first quarter against Mich St instead of just kicking the field goal.
2. Richt is too conservative, like when he settled for a field goal attempt in overtime against Mich St instead of trying to move the ball closer or score a touchdown.
Most people won’t see any problem with the logic in those two statements. A few might claim that making illogical decisions that cost his team a win indicates that Richt is a bad coach. I think it comes down and a problem with the running game more than anything else. If Georgia had been able to gain a yard on 4th down in the 1st quarter, chances are that they would have put some points on the board and won the game. Everyone would be talking about what a gutsy call Richt made that set the tone for the rest of the game. If Walsh had made the field goal in overtime, everyone would be saying that it was a smart move to center the ball up for the SEC’s leading kicker and kick the field goal on 3rd down to minimize the chance for mistakes and provide a margin for error in case of a bad snap. With a little luck, both calls could have been good calls.
Georgia could have created all the luck it needed in both situations if their running game was more reliable. I wonder if the problems in the running game are due to the lack of a stronger running back coach. With Richt and Bobo being former QB’s and McClendon being a former WR, it seems natural that all three would be predisposed to rely on the passing game. It appears that Georgia relies more on the individual talent of their running backs than on designing a game plan to give them a better chance of success running the ball. The problem might not be the talent of the coaches that Georgia has in place, but the lack of a strong voice in the running game.
Georgia could solve two big problems – their lack of a strong running game and their difficulties on special teams – without sacrificing the recruiting abilities of Bobo and McClendon, if they would hire a strong running backs coach and move McClendon to special teams. McClendon might not be as capable as Kevin Butler when it comes to kicking technique, but letting him put all of his focus on special teams and recruiting would almost certainly be an improvement over the current situation. Bringing in a running game expert would help balance the focus of the offensive coaching staff and improve the overall approach to the running game. A strong, knowledgable running backs coach might also help Bobo become less predictable as a play caller. It sounds logical to me.
funny...
January 6th, 2012
11:28 pm
You guys talking about Hutson Mason, the kid is gone.
He is transferring.
You’d better hope LeMay can win the job because Hutson won’t be there.
Chris
January 6th, 2012
11:30 pm
ok i think bobo had a pretty solid year this year as offensive playcalling even without a running game. Yes, I think we were too conservative at the end of regulation. I wish we would have gone for the knock out by getting the first down. We were trying to force them to use a timeout. 1 timeout would not make a difference when we were up 7, maybe only 15 seconds. I thought going for it was the right decision in the first half and also i thought it was smart to put the ball in the middlefor walsh. We just didn’t execute on both of those plays.
What is richt supposed to do?? he has gotten criticized for being to aggressive in the first half. And then also being to conservative later on in the game. We just didn’t execute at the key points.
But the future looks bright for next year!
Go dawgs!!!
ole dawg
January 6th, 2012
11:43 pm
Boy what a bunch of idiots.. including Bill.
Andrew in Charleston wants to know why Richt doesn’t have faith in his offense to knock out a first down and Jeff follows with why did Richt go for it on fourth down? Bill, you looked foolish plkacing these contradictory comments back to back.
Oh yeah, you also looked like a back stabber indicating the current staff could never know as much as Butler. If he’s so damn good why doesn’t he have a job coaching kickers at a D1 school for say $500,000 per year. Maybe he isn’t quite the expert Bill thinks he is. I doubt he would turn that gig down.
Truth
January 7th, 2012
12:05 am
Anyone who thinks their 5000 word posts are getting read, get a life. You too, SSIweisel….
Georgia
January 7th, 2012
12:09 am
How long is Greg Mcgarity’s honeymoon? Just saying?
chaz
January 7th, 2012
12:49 am
I realize that we will have problems next year with the OL, special teams and the fact that our strength and conditioning program still isn’t state of the art as evident by the second half collapses in the past two games. The biggest problem is Bobo. He has to go. We had over a month to get ready and Bobo got totally outsmarted by the Michigan State coaches. The horrible performance against Michigan State was just an example of what has been happening consistently under Bobo.
1. The offensive game plan was terrible. We decided to run right at an All American DT versus running toss sweeps AWAY from the future All American DE Gholston. Knowing that we were overmatched on the offensive line because out strength and conditioning program obviously isn’t up to par, why the heck didn’t we have a plan to include Orson Charles in the game plan other than as a blocker? Charles got ONE pass today for 4 yards. Why didn’t we figure out a way to utilize the second best TE in the country?
2. I’m not against going for it on 4th down early in the game BUT we ran the wrong play. A running play in that spot was doomed because we couldn’t run on Michigan State’s DL.
3. Once again, we decided to play dead and not get first downs late in the game when even my wife who sometimes asks me what inning the game is in knew the defense was gassed and couldn’t stop Michigan State from scoring.
4. The crowning blow of incompetence was the decision to again play dead and try and kick a 45 yard field goal with a kicker that had already missed 12 field goals this season. Every person at our party knew this was a mistake and was first guessing this decision BEFORE the kick was missed.
RED DOG 77
January 7th, 2012
12:52 am
@Chris…………Your post is dead-on my friend…………GO DOGS
pooh p
January 7th, 2012
12:56 am
Boy, some of you guys really write a lot. Brevity is the soul of wit y’all.
JIM
January 7th, 2012
6:15 am
Don’t forget that State run it down the Dawg’s defense’s throat from their own 15 yard line to score a touchdown to get it to overtime.
just stop it there
January 7th, 2012
7:48 am
How in the world do you expect a tennis player, and not a good one at that, to explain to a football coach with 25 losses over the last 6 years, that his offensive play calls are absolutely pitiful ? Bizarre reasoning.
ole yeller
January 7th, 2012
8:20 am
“D” will be fine. Coach “G” should get a raise and a extention. Coach’s “MR” & “BB” must do a better job at play calling. Special teams must get bgetter. I think the running game will be better as will the “O” line.
RedandBLackDAWG
January 7th, 2012
9:09 am
If UGA has a decent O line and a couple of running backs, we aren’t discussing a loss to Michigan State. It is simple to say that Murray threw a pick six and that was the difference in the game. How about Murray was pressured the whole game by their big DT, that we couldn’t keep out of our backfield, and tried to complete a pass that shouldn’t have been thrown rather than get sacked. Wouldn’t it have been nice to have a RB or two in the game, that could actually last for more than 2-5 plays.
Hopefully, we will have the Rb’s next year, by virtue of recruiting them. Marshall looked pretty good the other night in that High School All American game. He is darn fast and he can take a lick. We will need for Crowell to mature physically and physically, but we will not know that until the fall. We need to get one more solid back either way. We probably have about 2 more Ol’s to get, but they will still be faced with the fact, they will not have a lot of experience. There will only be so much you can do on offense until they get some time on the line. In the SEC, inexperience can kill you as the defenses are always pretty big and fast.
It might also be nice if our kicking game returns to the standards of past years, minus 2011.
Once these OL’s can do the job, I would expect UGA to be able to open up, and go for the kill. If we can get some balance between the running and passing game, and the OL can do a better job of passing and run blocking, we will and should open up a lot more on offense. We simply can not depend on the defense playing more than the offense each game, and trying to hold onto a small lead, every game. I am just not sure the offense had enough pieces in place to compete weekly with good teams. The tendency is to blame the QB for everything that goes wrong, but it is 22 players on the field, not just one. I think the outcome of this year would have been a little different if we had had a RB or two that could play the game, and the OL had been better at protection.
FloridaDawg
January 7th, 2012
9:15 am
I’m tired of all the coach bashing, but does anyone think that a Miles or Saban or Spurrier coached team would have lost to Mich State? I’m thinking we are the only SEC team to lose a bowl game this year. Of course, come Monday we will be one of two.
I was at the Outback Bowl and it was obvious in the first quarter that we could not run against MS. No way. Only the UGA coaches were unaware. Yes, our team was coached not to loose in this one.
Flo-Ri-Duh
January 7th, 2012
9:54 am
Kevin Butler should be asked to coach the kicking game for UGA, if he is willing to do so. He probably did not want to do it while his son was there and he doesn’t need the money but Richt needs him NOW. It wouldn’t hurt to ask. You may be right about the RB’s development and handling. Since McClendon has been the RB coach the RB’s have had a lot of problems in their personal life. He was very young to be hired for this position and he was a good RB in college so he should know what he is doing – still the results so far have not been good. I do give him credit for bringing in the top RB two years in a row. Now show me you can make them reach their potential. Keep in mind that RB’s can’t go where there has been no hole and that was obvious this year.
RedandBLackDAWG
January 7th, 2012
10:28 am
FloridaDAWG,
Don’t forget that Vanderbilt lost also this year, so we will be one of three to lose a bowl game this year.
missouridawg
January 7th, 2012
10:32 am
CMR once said that if fans expect 10 wins every season then their expectations are too high. I say fire CMR and his gang and bring in better coaching. We can do better, people! Stop accepting this crap from this coaching staff. Support the team, certainly, but let the administration know we want change/improvement! Go Dawgs!
Troup Co. Dawg
January 7th, 2012
10:59 am
It is the same old excuses year in and year out, this team doesn’t have the hunger to win in the 4th qtr. Until the coaching staff changes it’s attitude of mediocracy….we will continue to lose the big games year in and year out. The Defense did all it could and the offense couldn’t muster up the will to win!!! A Good team’s offense should compliment the defense, but we have turnovers that kill us! We need a 6′ 5 QB that can move and we win the big games!
Elementary My Dear Watson
January 7th, 2012
11:05 am
Coach Mike Bobo, please tell me what you were thinking on that last drive in regulation? Never mind, I know what your answer is: ” Well, our defense was playing excellent and I wanted our defense to secure the victory “. ” I felt like if we ran it three straight times, that would run some clock off “. Ok next question: Was a first down, that would have closed the victory out, ever in your thought pattern? “. ” Oh , no it wasn’t, just running some clock, punting the ball back and let our defense do it’s thing. Coach Bobo please put this on your calendar next week. Dale Carnigie Sales Seminar on ” How to Close the Sale ” is coming to Athens and I myself, am enrolling you. You must be in attendance,,,,roll will be taken.
Jborodawg
January 7th, 2012
11:16 am
“…DawgByte@2:56 pm…I originally thought Bobo and Richt were playing not to lose late in the 4th Qtr., however upon further analysis I believe they were very limited given the situation. After UGA obtained a 1st down with about 3:26 left, Murray attempted a pass to the left side of the field and missed BADLY. Given the fact Murray had two picks; including one for 6 pts., Bobo wasn’t willing to risk another INT. He ran the ball two more times thinking our #3 ranked defense could stop them…a sound strategy. Could Bobo have called some more creative running plays?…I’m not sure outside runs would have faired any better…Bobo…was not the cause of our demise. The problem was as follows: 1. Aaron Murray choked again in a big game. Three turnovers…2. We have no running game…3. Our OL is a patchwork!….”
I agree….except minor details…3:56 on the clock…from the single back formation…Samuel off left tackle, lose 1 yd…pass, pass…Samuel toward the right, gain 1 yd…Samuel toward the middle, gained 2 yds…punt. This is also about the time that the announcer says that MSU has 16 tackles for loss. No RB will do well if a DL has you in the backfield on half the running plays. Bobo’s fault?
To those that continue to rant about “runs up the middle”, it just isn’t accurate. I’m not gonna go back and dissect every run play; but many run plays were off-tackle. Granted, some of us don’t understand not using the power I more with Figgins blocking (or catching).
RE the criticism that Charles only had one catch: Were Charles/White covered all game, or did the QB just not see them? Did the line not run-block, or do our RBs not have “vision”? Personally, I don’t think they run-blocked very well. Bobo’s fault?
RE: Crowell’s a wuss; a pansy, etc etc. Same for Lattimore; injured all year? Dyer? Davis?
Bobo is the problem? As much as many bloggers love Les Miles, he says, “It’s not the Xs and Os; it’s the Jeffs and Joes.” So, if you love Miles (and Saban) so much, you have to agree it’s not Bobo (logically speaking). Since LSU and Bama have top 5 recruiting classes every year; and UGA has top 10-15, it does seem to point to “Jeffs and Joes”. Since they have Heisman candidates (Mathieu and Richardson), it does seem to be “Jeffs and Joes”. If any Kool Aide is being drunk, it’s probably us thinking we have “great” players; believing that a #1 RB recruit will equal championships. (That’s probably true IF that RB is a Heisman winner…big IF). I also think that LSU and Bama get “top 5″ linemen recruits pretty consistently.
“Play not to lose”? Crazy. All coaches and players play to win, far as I know.
Jborodawg
January 7th, 2012
11:18 am
“…Samuel off left tackle, lose 1 yd…pass, pass…Samuel toward the right, gain 1 yd…”
I should point out that both passes were incomplete; “missed BADLY”.
alphadawg
January 7th, 2012
11:48 am
Bill, GA has some fundamental problems with its offense that prevents it from being successful. First, the spread formation requires the QB to be a running threat on every play. If the QB is not going to run, you never freeze the backside of the defense and the 5 linemen have to block 7 defenders in the box so the running game doesn’t work.
Second, the UGA O linesmen are too fat to block defenders in open space so spreading out the defense does not give Murray more time to throw.
Third, Bobo does not throw to his RBs and therefore the defense only has to defend part of the field in the passing game.
GA was most successful this year in the I formation with a FB and TE to clear holes and pass on play action. Hobo is in love with the spread, but doesn’t understand it
ugab
January 7th, 2012
11:53 am
On January 9 we will watch 2 well coached teams. The Outback Bowl wan an example of a poorly coached Uga team. It has been the same ole story every year with CMR. I would never sign CMR for another 5 years. I would make CMR prove his self next year with the easy schedule. THE BOTTOM LINE IS CMR AND BOBO ARE PAID BIG MONEY . I AM EMBARRASSED TO BE A DAWG FAN. CMR IS A GREAT PERSON. CMR IS NOT AN SEC COACH. IM SORRY, BUT THE TRUTH HURTS. UNBELIEVABLE. THERE IS NOTHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT SEASON. THE PLAYERS WERE OUT OF GAS AGAINST LSU AND MS. WE WILL LOSE GAMES NEXT SEASON. MY POINT IS; A TON OF MONEY IS BEING WAISTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GA. OHIO STATE MADE A GREAT HIRE.
ugab
January 7th, 2012
11:55 am
IT IS TIME FOR A NEW COACH! A GOOD ONE. ONE WHO EATS SLEEPS AND SHTS FOOTBALL.
ugab
January 7th, 2012
11:59 am
OUR OL WILL BE A DISASTER NEXT SEASON. DO NOT SIGN CMR