UGA’s version of Thunder and Lightning comes into its own
Keith Marshall showed what he can do Saturday against the Owls. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
One of the things I took away from Saturday night’s record-breaking showing by the Bulldogs offense was that it’s going to be a lot of fun watching Georgia’s tailbacks this season, thanks to the power and shifty moves of Todd Gurley and the slashing speed of Keith Marshall.
Throw in the move-the-pile straight-head power of Boo Malcome and you’ve got a pretty complementary tailback-by-committee.
Gurley, who’d already wowed fans in the first couple of games, broke tackles on a couple of his long runs Saturday night and flashed some pretty spectacular open-field running (and speed) on the touchdown that put the Dawgs up 42-14. And Saturday night Marshall finally stepped up and showed what he can do when he gets a little space, particularly on the 28-yard burst that was part of that all-rushing drive that resulted in Georgia’s third score of the evening. Run. the. damn. ball. indeed.
I loved Mark Richt’s quote about the roommate tandem of Gurley and Marshall, who signed with Georgia because they wanted to play ball together. “It was probably … what they envisioned,” Richt said. “They are good friends, and they wanted to play together and wanted to complement each other with their abilities. I think that they’re probably thinking their plan is going pretty good so far.”
They’re not the only ones.
Some other random thoughts and observations from the win over FAU …
The absence of Jarvis Jones and — for much of the game — Cornelius Washington was felt most obviously in the first half in the amount of time the Owls’ quarterback had in the pocket and in the pinpoint short-passing game that racked up third-down conversions. Nice adjustments by Todd Grantham at halftime, though. … The Dawgs still are drawing too many flags and making too many turnovers. Fourteen of FAU’s points were directly attributable to a turnover. Both are trends that need to be shut down as Georgia enters the meat of its SEC schedule. … Most of the time the past season-plus, the Dawgs’ hurry-up offense has really been a hurry-up-and-wait offense where they get to the line quickly with no huddle and then turn to the sideline and look for a call. Saturday, there was less of that and more true hurry-up. That’s a trend I’d like to see continue. … If there’s one aspect of his game that Aaron Murray is still having trouble with after three games, it’s throwing to his backs. Just off the fingertips generally doesn’t work for them. … On the other hand, Murray had no trouble at all throwing the long ball Saturday night. His pump fake on the 67-yard touchdown pass to Michael Bennett was beautiful and the back-shoulder pass to Tavarres King for a 25-yard completion was perfectly thrown. … A video for “Dawg Bite,” the single by David Richt (the coach’s singing son) featuring Colt Ford, was shown on the big screen. My daughter pronounced it “cheesy but fun” and bought it on iTunes. A bigger hit on the video screen the first two home games has been the “Hairy Dawg, Stadium Defender” film in which the Georgia mascot takes down (literally) folks littering in Sanford Stadium. The clip actually drew applause from the crowd Saturday night!
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113 comments Add your comment
HOUDAWG
September 17th, 2012
12:26 pm
Well ……. # 3 and # 4 combined for 200+ yards. Kinda what # 34 used to do quite a bit …..
But I’ll take it every week …… quite the combo for sure. And yes, gotta agree with others here that CSS is really (really) a sad, somewhat pathetic way to be forced to watch your team ! Much improvement needed …… asap.
MA English 1975
September 17th, 2012
12:31 pm
Have I missed something with all this criticism? Haven’t we won our first three games? No “yes, buts” either! We are 3 and 0!
'94 UGA Alumnus
September 17th, 2012
12:33 pm
If Gurley is Thunder and Marshall is Lightning, then give me Thunder 80% of the time, I don’t see why people still think Marshall is faster than Gurley on the field. I don’t know what would happen on the track, but on the field Gurley looks faster to me (and more powerful and more elusive).
Old Dawg
September 17th, 2012
12:54 pm
If the O-line consistently improves, UGA cuts down on turnovers and penalties and the suspended defenders can create a cohesive unit when they return, there is nothing this team can’t do.
Go Dawgs!
timthebrave
September 17th, 2012
1:02 pm
I loved how CSS missed the TD run because it was busy showing replays and then had an interview with a dog after that……Weak coverage on tv…ha ha….Go Dawgs!
timthebrave
September 17th, 2012
1:05 pm
CSS cont….That poor girl had to keep trying to get a kiss from Russ but he wasn’t interested. Russ was holding out for erin andrews I guess
Dr.P
September 17th, 2012
1:10 pm
A little surpring UGA only ran for as few yards against the Fla Atl Owls.
At least Marshall stopped running for 3 yards and falling down.
gurley had 1 big run, and the rest of his carries were average.
Not Ready for Prime Time
September 17th, 2012
1:23 pm
Disappointed how many points weve allowed in the first three games. Should have broke over 60 points on offense in two of our games. I am geting ready for the rude awakening when we hit the meat of our schedule.
GB's Hamburgers
September 17th, 2012
1:25 pm
The fascination with Samuels is interesting. Here is a guy who had a good run against Arkansas, played a great 1/2 quarter against Florida and now stopped a fake punt. These isolated exploits shows that is capable of much more than he has delivered in 4 years. He is an underachiever. Because he’s been moved around, he needs playing time? Tell that to the linemen who are moved around almost every time someone goes down with an injury. HIs size and speed have amounted to very little at UGA.
Dawg Tired
September 17th, 2012
1:44 pm
Note to the “ole ball coach:” If I was making the schedule we’d be playing Arkansas and USCe would be playing Ole Miss.
ZinoDawg
September 17th, 2012
1:47 pm
Isaiah who???
ZinoDawg
September 17th, 2012
1:54 pm
Hey Dr P – we all know you are a Tech fan with nothing to do except troll the Dawg blogs and bash the Dawgs. Cold reality is we are ranked #5 in AP and #6 in the Coaches poll. I guess we really stink and all those sportswriters and coaches are clueless, and you are the all knowing football expert.
Time to get a life knucklehead.
Bumble and Stumble
September 17th, 2012
2:04 pm
I dont know if or backs will be Thunder and Lightning when we hit some real competition. It may be as in the past more like Bumble and Stumble Im afraid. Offensive line needs to knock folks off the line with some authority so our backs can run.
Way too early to judge much
September 17th, 2012
2:13 pm
We judge them all after the SC game. If in that time, we continue to produce Ws, with multiple players producing and scoring TDs, and huge D plays, then maybe we have a ball club. Until that SC game, we wait.
Vandy and UT for sure will give us an idea but by SC, we should know the answer this question:
Are we a 9-3 club, 10-2? or are we really good? Really good, means maybe only 1 loss BUT STILL SEC East C and going into the SEC CG.
Time will tell. Emotions running sky high and being at home, UGA needs to whup Vandy like 45-20 or preferably much worse.
UGA man
Class of 71 & 73
Spike 80DF
September 17th, 2012
2:14 pm
so much for the “big 3 in the West” huh? the Dawgs schedule is not looking so easy now that UT has a pretty good team and Arky and AU look terrible.
Humpy
September 17th, 2012
2:18 pm
BUMPPO, There are lots of really intelligent Georgia players who would love to dispute your claims. Murray for one…taking a full load in graduate school (Psychology) while quarterbacking the team. I believe it is true that not a single starter for GT takes engineering classes. Sweep around your own doorsteps before you try to climb ours.
Ed
September 17th, 2012
2:33 pm
Just beat Tech and the damn Gators, and the rest is gravy.
Flo-Ri-Duh
September 17th, 2012
2:41 pm
Burrell – You don’t keep up do you? Richard Samuel has an unspecified leg injury – nothing serious but no need to use him in this game. Coaches weren’t “heartless’ just did not want to make a mild injury worse. Sorry to burst you gleeful little bubble.
Dr.P
September 17th, 2012
2:44 pm
Thunder & Lightning, you must mean the 2 Vandy backs who average over 7.5 ypc each?
UL
September 17th, 2012
2:46 pm
RB no 1 = 10 yards per carry
RB No 2 = 5 yards per carry
If you’re Mike Bobo, which back gets the most carries?
Bobo went with No 2, Marshall, instead of No 1 Gurley.
He is reel smart and all.
UL
September 17th, 2012
2:47 pm
GT is scarry good this year.
Their offense AND defense are both in the top 20 in scoring.
WOW!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2012
3:03 pm
GT scarry good
LOL
Against who
They lost to VT who got beat by Pitt
UL
September 17th, 2012
3:05 pm
GT has played a ranked team, UGA has played some jokes, and is still ranked #45 in defense. Tech is ranked in top 20 in defense and offense. UGA is nothing but offense.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2012
3:10 pm
UL
Get a clue
GT plays no one
They had wonderful stats at the start of last season against no one
Same this year
And that UGA team you are running off at the mouth at is going to beat you by 3 td’s this year
why
Cause we get a practice game against that stupid middle school offense with GSU the game before
ReallylostOC
September 17th, 2012
3:31 pm
Bobo the Clown: Please give Todd Gurley 20 carries this week. He’s averaging 9.9 yards a carry, almost double our next best back. He would definitely have broken the century mark in all 3 games and be talked about nationaly if we’d used him like we should. Being talked about nationally would be good for the school and recruiting, coach. 20 carries a game will not use up a back, coach. Think like a good coach and use your best back.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2012
3:37 pm
ReallylostOC
I agree Gurley needs at least 20 carries
Gary
September 17th, 2012
4:15 pm
UL, any thought that Bobo might not Gurley to play as much in a blow out to save hime fo Vandy? Any thought that Bobo might be trying to get Marshall more reps to improve his performance. Again, it was FUA. It is the best time to rest guys and give guys playing time. If Gurley lost his knee when it was 42 14 you would call him the dumbest coach in the world. The both got plenty of reps and neither one got injured. Gurley did take one shot to the ribs that I did not think he was going to get up from.
Gary
September 17th, 2012
4:17 pm
Seriously, I can type, does anyone else have this problem with the AJC? It leaves out entire words. FUA is on me.
Gary
September 17th, 2012
4:24 pm
Really Lost OC
How is having a great running back getting all the caries good for recruiting? I would think sharing the rock would be more attractive to players. Knowing you would get some playing time and experience. I fugured we got these guys because they new they would not see he field much with Lattimore at USC. Again, it is FAU. Why risk getting the kid hurt for a blowout that does not count. Marshall is pretty damn productive. Neither of these guys are ready to run 20+ in a game and be productive in the fourth quarter. When they are juniors they will be brutal, but these are true freshman. They have not had a full year of strength training under their belts like most backs. Why try to break them. Let them share the load.
McDawg
September 17th, 2012
4:39 pm
if Marlon Brown can hold some his blocks Keith Marshall would of had 2 long TD runds
still like Malcome as starter
AltamahaDawg
September 17th, 2012
5:05 pm
Why did Gurley need 20 carries in just the 2nd game of his college career? I don’t understand that logic. Especially given how that game progressed in reality, not hypothetically.
I am assuming you didn’t mean he needed 20 carries in either blowout win, when we were emptying the benches and playing as many players as possible. You know, because that would be a pretty silly thing to suggest.
AltamahaDawg
September 17th, 2012
5:16 pm
Hmmm, so it’s the AJC. I knew it!
BILLY JACK
September 17th, 2012
6:17 pm
ITS FUNNY THAT ALL THE LITTLE TECH NERDS SAID NO WAY WE BEAT MISSOURI-NOW MISSOURI IS NO GOOD-NO WAY WE WILL BEAT TENN AFTERWARDS-TENN NO GOOD-SAME WITH FLA-ON AND ON AND ON -YOU BETTER GET OFF UGA BLOGS TECHIES OR YOUR BEATING IN NOVEMBER WILL BE ONE OF THE WORST YET.
Strat Cat Dawg
September 17th, 2012
6:38 pm
I like where we are right now. The Dawgs’ talent is overall our best in years, with two future NFL freshman RBs showing remarkable poise and maturity, a superb and seasoned QB, a fine receiving corps, and a defensive unit that will get better and better as the starters return. And, of course, Jarvis Jones, #2 on Stewart Mandel’s Heisman list this week, despite not playing against Florida Atlantic. We’re progressing well and the schedule is geared toward facing the best teams (SC, UT, UF) as we hit midseason form. This could be the year.
Outer Banks Dawg
September 17th, 2012
9:00 pm
@ altahamadawg… Agree 100% with you regarding Gurley’s carries. Also, I agree 100% with developing Marshall, and I love Boo Malcome running with authority, especially in the 2nd half.
See, I’m up here in the great state of North Carolina where Gurley and Marshall played their HS ball. I love how the local Wolfpack and Tarheel faithful lament the loss of such fine homegrown talent to my alma mater. They all hate me right about now, and I can’t stop grinning!
Marshall is a stud, and so is Gurley. Play em both. These fans on here with a football IQ of zero need to get a life. Rotating in fresh back every series increases our productiveness. We are following the LSU model. Keep bringing in fresh legs and wear them out.
Nervous but confident about the next 2 games. GATA
Around the Bowl, Down the Hole, Roll Tide Roll
September 17th, 2012
9:01 pm
We don’t know squat about our backs yet. We haven’t played anyone worth a poo.
Thunder and Lightning ??
September 17th, 2012
10:51 pm
DirtyDawg34
September 17th, 2012
10:57 pm
Let me remind them once again, all of you GT nerds get to come back to ATHENS again and cheer for your panzy coach and pathetic group of sissys, you nerds call a football team. Nov. 24th can’t wait!!!
funny...
September 17th, 2012
10:59 pm
I agree Bill!
I like a slightly run heavy offense for two reasons,
one it keeps the defense off the field for a longer period of time to catch their breath
two it takes pressure off of Murray
Huh?
September 17th, 2012
11:05 pm
I agree that it is too early to judge the running backs.
UGA is 3-0 because of two cupcakes and a Missouri team that is trying to figure out how to play in the SEC. UGA has to stop taking off the the first quarter or two, or they could be beaten by 2-3 teams remaining on their schedule.
jad
September 17th, 2012
11:19 pm
Bill what about the quarterback controversy the media has been reporting about Vanderbilt? Do we have any updates on this situation?
AltamahaDawg
September 18th, 2012
8:45 am
OBDawg, Counting Gurley’s carries is classic “something to whine about”.
The fresh legs in the game strategy is only one of the factors (a great one) NOT to give it to him 20 times, IMO. Not sure that’s even the most overriding factor right now, of the three I can name. But since NOW seems to be the only thing that some fans see, that seems to be a good enough reason to go no further.
Although I remain open to hear a well thought out explaination for 20 carries, at this point of his career.
AltamahaDawg
September 18th, 2012
8:58 am
Huh, I would completely agree that UGA could be beat by several teams on the schedule (even though (you perhaps)? and others have insisited that we don’t play anybody capable of doing that) .IF…….IF the situation for the defence were the same as the 2 OOC patsies first quarters. I assume you meant defence. Our Offence can hardly be accused of taking the first half off..
However, when playing actual games, it’s not likely we would be freely substituting in with freshmen. It’s not likely we would be playing our most basic defensive alignments and just trying to beat the guy in front of you for the sake of practise. It’s not likely we would never blitz, nor otherwise put in schemes to disquise or disrupt.
IN fact the only thing you can really conclude (from that observation you made), is that IF UGA played the same type of strategy against TN, or FL, as they do when playing FAU, that would not work. And fair to say, same enthusiasm to start out.
I sort of doubt that would be the plan.
Also, Isn’t it also fair to say if they shut down everybody in the second half (which they have also done so far), they should win any game they play?
DawginSewer
September 18th, 2012
2:57 pm
weesss isses dtheseds bestess dwaggeis eversss. Passess deses doughnutses choaks.
gbal
September 18th, 2012
3:55 pm
Bill – I had lost you for several weeks!!! Thought the AJC had dropped you! not on the main sports page; had to click UGA to find your piece.
Melrose
September 18th, 2012
5:30 pm
with murray, gurley and marshall and all the top receivers, the dogs have the best offense in the SEC! mark this down–the dogs will upset south carolina and win the sec east and beat alabama in the title game. the tide cannot stop the dog’s O!!!
Not Ready for Prime Time
September 18th, 2012
5:41 pm
@ Melrose…. pass the kool aid please
snoop dawgy dawg
September 18th, 2012
7:26 pm
Gt fans have to get off our blogs, go lose to VT again
Bill King
September 18th, 2012
7:57 pm
Jad:
Vandy hasn’t named a QB starter yet but Austyn Carta-Samuels is listed as No. 1 on the depth chart.
Texas Dawg
September 18th, 2012
8:34 pm
@ MAD dog One…….I am a glass is half full tpye of guy…but my point is that the talk of NC is very premature at this point……was I thrilled that we beat Misso….heck yea!!!!
All I’m saying is don’t dring the kool aid until we are undefeated after the Carolina game………….at that point I say pour me a glass full of kool aid! ……….and a cooler if we win the sec champ game