Richt got one thing right: Dogs’ performance against the Gamecocks was ‘embarrassing’
The Dogs dared Connor Shaw to throw deep on them, and he did just that. (Bob Andres / AJC)
If you had deliberately set out to script a completely nightmarish first quarter for Georgia against South Carolina, where just about everything went wrong for Mark Richt’s Bulldogs, you couldn’t have come up with anything more demoralizing for the Bulldog Nation than what transpired Saturday night in Columbia.
It was a complete failure on the part of Georgia’s defense, offense and special teams right from the get-go, with the first quarter being the worst a Richt team has looked since the infamous “Blackout” loss to Alabama in 2008.
On the first series of the game, Todd Grantham’s defense loaded the box to try and slow Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore, who had feasted on the Dawgs the past two years, daring Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw to use his arm and go deep to beat them. Which he proceeded to do on the second offensive play of the game, hitting Damiere Byrd on a 42-yard pass on which Bacarri Rambo went for and missed the interception.
Shortly after that Shaw found Bruce Ellington wide open in the Georgia end zone and the Cocks were up 7-0.
Georgia got a great kickoff return from Malcolm Mitchell, helped by a flag against South Carolina, but hopes that the Dogs could keep up with the Gamecocks fizzled on Georgia’s third offensive play as an Aaron Murray pass was deflected (which would turn out to be a frequent occurrence on this night) and intercepted. That turnover led to the Gamecocks scoring a second touchdown — on another play on which Georgia’s suspect pass coverage again left a receiver uncovered.
Then it was time for the Bulldogs’ special team collapse of the night, with a punt returned all the way by the Gamecocks’ Ace Sanders for a touchdown.
So, with less than 10 minutes having elapsed in the first quarter, South Carolina was already up 21-0.
The second quarter saw Georgia briefly threaten to get back into the contest when the Dawgs put together their one sustained drive of the half, finally lining up first and goal inside the Carolina 10 thanks to a great catch by Mitchell.
First down saw Todd Gurley bull his way to the Carolina 2.
Then Mike Bobo decided he wanted to try and score in the most conservative (and predictable) way possible and called another Gurley run into the line that gained a mere yard.
On third down, Murray tried to force a dangerous pass that fell incomplete. Rather than take 3 points, Georgia rightly decided to go for it on fourth down, but for some reason Murray threw a pass in front of the goal line rather than to one of his receivers in the end zone and ended up short — and with no points to show for an 80-yard, 15-play effort.
The game was essentially over at that point, although the second half saw the Gamecocks add a couple more touchdowns and give up one in garbage time as a determined Boo Malcome ran hard against Carolina’s second-string defense to avert a shutout.
The South Carolina defense had its way with Aaron Murray most of the night. (Bob Andres / AJC)
The main storyline of the evening was this: The Gamecocks’ defensive line dominated the Dogs’ offensive front all night, shutting down the “Gurshall” running attack and constantly harassing Murray, who had one of his shakiest performances in quite some time.
And while Grantham’s defense eventually slowed down the Carolina juggernaut a bit, there was no denying that early on they looked absolutely clueless as Shaw directed the Gamecocks’ offense just about perfectly.
So, once again, a Richt team that had soared into the Top 5 by beating lesser nonconference and midlevel SEC opponents came a cropper when it faced a good team.
It was a performance so flat and lifeless that ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit termed it “shocking.”
Actually, not so shocking for anyone who’s watched Richt teams in recent years repeatedly show up looking unprepared and unmotivated whenever they face a Top 10 opponent.
As the Georgia head coach himself put it after the game, it was bad enough that the Dogs lost, but “the way we lost hurts and is embarrassing as well.”
The emphasis there should be on embarrassing.
Feel free to share your own views on Georgia’s complete failure in Columbia.
Got something you want to discuss concerning UGA athletics? Or maybe a question you want the Junkyard Blawg to tackle? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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420 comments Add your comment
THE R
October 7th, 2012
7:22 am
Whoever said hire Jon Gruden what a thing that would be. Someone who would not accept sloppy play and a sad no care attitude, he would be a great choice, hmmm something to really think about.Or keep the nice guy and lose.
Hiawatha Berry
October 7th, 2012
7:23 am
wow….you clowns know absolutely nothing about football….no matter what Herbstreit said it was not lack of focus or being unprepared……we just got physically dominated. Going into the season we knew the OL might be a weakness after losing three starters……we should be able to recruit better than the chickens to never be dominated physically….disappointing loss, but don’t be stupid….Beat KY and UF.
Artoris
October 7th, 2012
7:27 am
I can’t wait to hear Beau Bach (Bo Bock?), Steak Shapiro, and all the other UGA homers at 790 the Zone tell us what a fine Christian man Mark Richt is.
Newnandawg
October 7th, 2012
7:37 am
We still have the nicest coach. That’s what’s really important.
12 years at one of the best spots in America and we’ve never even sniffed a national championship game. Never will under Richt. He’s no better than Jim Donnan was.
Lance
October 7th, 2012
7:38 am
Think it is 0-20 now versus ranked teams since 2008. Worse loss since Bama. We just need to face it as dawgs fans—- Spurrier is right, Great talent but what happens when they get to GA (coaches) is pretty awful.
Disgusteddawg
October 7th, 2012
7:43 am
UGA’s astounding failure to even compete against top teams has to be considered when reviewing CMR’s record. His teams consistently fail to show up against good opposition. We really have become relegated to the purgatory of mediocrity in the SEC with, unfortunately, no end in sight.
Just about every team I can think of comes up with the occasional “big game” against a “big time” opponent– but not UGA.
Going back and saying the last time we won against a top ten team was Hawaii in 2008 is a joke– that team would not have been .500 in the SEC.
It is difficult for an AD to dump a coach with Richt’s winning percentage but it is becoming increasingly obvious that until we do UGA will be mired at second tier status– unable to get off the treadmill of would of, should of, could of..
Dog Breath
October 7th, 2012
7:49 am
It’s obvious that the “Peter Principle” is at work here: CMR – along with his entire staff – have reached their level of incompetence. Granted, we’re seeing poor player execution. But, is this caused by such “complex” system that players can’t understand? At times, especially our defensive backs, appeared to be smoking some of those “left-handed” cigarettes. Do we have a general team chemistry problem? I agree, our OL & DL just looked clueless…OK, give SC credit (especially the coach) – they came prepared – physically, mentally, emotionally; we didn’t. Bottom line is head coach & entire program not fitting for top 10 program. At this level in corporate world CEO is fired & a new business plan is implemented.
sogadog
October 7th, 2012
7:53 am
It is time for McGarity to get Smart. CMR is a great man but UGA needs a smart hard nosed football coach
It is time to change. If CMR cant win a championship with the talent at hand it will never happen and UGA will be dominated by Florida USC and soon Tennessee.
dogdawg
October 7th, 2012
8:05 am
Spurrier just recruits bigger stronger faster recruits and KNOWS how to coach!S o what do we have? Bozo the clown and a christian head coach.Think about that every time we get our ass handed to us.
dogdawg
October 7th, 2012
8:09 am
We do look like a Big 10 team lol.
Lakedawg
October 7th, 2012
8:13 am
This one hurts for sure, but Rambo handing an interception over to the Carolina receiver was a good indication of what was to come.
Sogadog your suggestion of Smart is not going to happen, he has burnt his bridges with th Dogs.
Still six games to play and all winnable, lets play them and then cool heads can assess the season.
Carolina is not going undefeated this year, remember they win at Nashville because of a refs blown call.
Macclenny_dawg
October 7th, 2012
8:15 am
Like Spurrier says Georgia gets all that talent then what happens to them??? Even though with all that talent there is no coaching talent. Every year we beat teams we are more talented than and even then I see we really get outcoached. Richt has games every year he has beeb here where for a half we don’t show up. Remember West Virginia in the bowl games years ago??? Up 28 in 1st half and we lose. Then we down 28 the next year and win!!! Problem is against the SEC teams there will be NO comeback because the SEC plays defense!!! Murray would be a great spread qb but we can’t seem to let him run. So much for Richt being able 2 study the cutting edge of Football. I will always be a Dawg but until Richt is gone we will never reach the top!!! I don’t care if we still win the east because if we do it will be because of scheduling. I can handle a loss in South Carolina if we lost on turnovers but not prepared was last straw!!!
TN Jeff
October 7th, 2012
8:15 am
The entire nation knew SC was trying to draw GA offsides on 4th and short. How did that message elude Jarvis Jones? Laughable that both he and Murray were ever mentioned in the Heisman talk.
As for Murray – it would be nice if a coach OR someone (Maybe Chipper’s Dad) would teach him how to throw a screen pass. When you have a hard charging defense harassing you, a screen is vital to take the charge out of them. Every time he tries to throw one, it is either intercepted or batted down. Also, why in the world didn’t GA coaches call more plays utilizing Murray’s legs since his throwing was so poor. One & only QB draw was late in 4th Qtr and resulted in a first down. I mean all they had to do was see what was working for SC and mimic it as far as having the QB run the ball.
Lastly, Richt said pre-game that the team didn’t need any motivation in facing SC. Ummmm – I beg to differ. I saw 4 quarters of unmotivated mess. And Richt’s 4th Qtr rally around me soft talk to the players changed absolutely nothing.
chilidawg
October 7th, 2012
8:16 am
Nice work Will Friend! If I were Laramy Tunsil, I would be calling Nick Saban TODAY.
DAWG4
October 7th, 2012
8:16 am
Coach Richt is a great man and I wish he could lead us to the NC and be at Georgia for years. But the fact is the day USC owns UGA, it is time for change. UGA has more money than any program in the nation. We have some of the best high school athletes in the nation. There is NO reason we should ever be dominated by a USC or anyone else. Why can’t we get an OC or DC to get the job done. USC loses their DC and hires their new DC from within and they are 10X better than us. Really? Our offensive calls last night were awful. Basically same three plays in a row near the goal line. Really? With a strong defensive line and weak DB’s, would it kill us to go to a five receiver set and throw quick passes. Spread them out and let our playmakers make plays and I am not talking about wide receiver screens down the line. If we want to see how to use a 5′11 QB, pull out the Boise State film from last year………………….
?
October 7th, 2012
8:17 am
STICK IT PREACHER MAN. YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF DOG CRAP.
Murray the Midget
October 7th, 2012
8:17 am
Lakedog, we could beat that Florida team if Richt was the ref
Rabid Dawg'84
October 7th, 2012
8:17 am
Thanks for the 2 SEC titles, CMR. 0-10 v ranked gets you fired, though. I’ll dvr the Dawgs and watch if they win, because last night was a total waste of 4 hours of a happy life. I’ll seek out SCAR and Bama becouse I really enjoy watching good football.
Macclenny_dawg
October 7th, 2012
8:20 am
Kirby Smart could still come to UGA he didn’t come as defense coordinator cause he knew this staff would ultimately fail. By coming and coaching for Richt would have been cooaching suicide!!!
Murray the Midget
October 7th, 2012
8:23 am
Rambo, the most over rated DB in college football——asll those int’s last year were on
tipped balls when he was 1o yards behind the receiver
tony purvis
October 7th, 2012
8:23 am
With all of the fans in the stadium waving those white towels, the team in the white shirts actually had a “white out” going on, but the team in the dark red uniforms totally humiliated them 35 – 7. If I were a member of the bulldog club, I would demand that our team should never again wear those “god – awful” white jerseys!
RileyDawg
October 7th, 2012
8:25 am
This is not surprising. When was the last time UGA beat a top 20 team? It’s been at least 3 or 4 seasons, right?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
8:30 am
Where are the kool-aid bloggers
You know who you are;
I want to hear how stupid I am for saying this was going to happen once again this season
Come out come out wherever you are
ARdawg
October 7th, 2012
8:30 am
Okay, what did Mark Richt know and when did he know it?
Did these Dawgs even practice last week? What were they doing while SC was practicing and preparing?
ARdawg
October 7th, 2012
8:34 am
I’ve never been on the kool-aid train Flat but I am here for my fair share of abuse. I was sucked in once again, like every year
sogadog
October 7th, 2012
8:35 am
Dawg fans have waited 32 years for a national championship. I dont know if I have another 32 to wait. The powers that be at U G A must answer two questions is our goal to win national championships and if so can Mark Richt achieve this goal?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
8:37 am
I said the contract extension was a mistake and should not have been given until his current one ran out
But oh no; the kool-aid bloggers on here slammed me over and over again
Hows that contract extension looking now
Come on out kool-aid boys
TallyDawg
October 7th, 2012
8:40 am
Out coached, out played, physically dominated. Yep, that’s UGA against real competition.
Let’s go through our handy dandy UGA/USC checklist
Bobo kept running it up the middle no matter how much it didn’t work …check
Murray throws a costly pick….. check
Murray misses wide open receivers …check
At lease one special teams snafu for a touchdown…..check
calmricht.jpg ….check
Coverage breakdowns in the secondary … check
NorthStars Dave
October 7th, 2012
8:40 am
If coaching doesn’t matter, how come Spurrier has beaten us at two places that UGA once owned….he’s right, we don’t own South Carolina anymore.
CMR and the current Dawgs remind me of the 70’s Vikings with Bud Grant….and Tarkenton….when the big games come along, disaster awaits because the other team is more prepared and motivated. You can’t just take a business as usual approach in the big games!
Unlike Tarkenton….and Belue, for that matter….our QB is easily intimidated in big games. Remember, in this offense, the QB can check out of the play….Stafford used to do it all of the time….David Greene was probably the best at it….and Murray, who wears the ‘C’, is making all of the wrong decisions….especially in the big games. He was terrified!
We simply were not ready….and this trend is troubling if the goal is to win not only an SEC title, but a National one as well.
Maybe we should apply and move to the Big 10….maybe not….Urban and Michigan State are there….
LoDawg
October 7th, 2012
8:41 am
1- Greg McGarity needs to be replaced, he has no clue how to win big games as an AD. McGarity REALLY considered firing Mark Richt after the 6-7 2010 season, where Richt lost to every team with a winning record. Then 2011 came and Richt went 10-0 against teams that didn’t finish in the top 25, but 0-4 against the teams who did. McGarity decided to retain Mark Richt. Then 2012, and Mark Richt beats the unranked teams by 21, and gets blown out 35-7 by the first top 10 ranked team he faces.
2- Mark Richt has to go. He cannot figure out how to beat teams that finish top 25, Richt’s 2-14 since 2008 against those guys. 4 seasons is long enough to know, if Richt COULD beat top 10 teams, he WOULD have figured it out. The sooner McGarity replaces richt, the sooner things start to turn.
3- The UGA staff is medicore, with no proven experience at any position. UGA has become an experimental training ground for coaches that have never experienced success at their position in college. the lesson to be learned is: ONLY HIRE COACHES THAT HAVE PROVEN THEY CAN WIN AT THEIR POSITION. Goes for Head Coaches, Def Coor & Off Coor, NONE had experience or success at the position they were hired to do at UGA. Mark Richt had no previous experience as head coach winning big games, Grantham had no college experience as DC winning big games, Bobo had no experience as a college OC winning big games.
Ohio State got Meyer, Notre Dame got a winner, Bama got Saban, South Carolina got Spurrier. All had proven they could win big games as Head Coaches in college.
Only 7 points seperate the UGA Coaches from the Tenn staff, think about THAT.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
8:42 am
Where are the Richt has won 100 games crowd this morning?
100 wins against KY, Vandy, Buffalo, and Savannah Tech State doesnt mean a thing people
Dog4Life
October 7th, 2012
8:45 am
Okay, Bill. I remind you of that silly dribble in pre-season concerning whether losing to USCe would be as bad as losing to Fla this season. Well, how do you feel about that answer now? I say again, a long time ago I fretted over losing to Fla three years in a row and was castigated that fla would never command the series. They do command the series and our record is abysmal against fla and Muschamp is getting the team gelled and buying into his new true sec philosophy of strong D and managed D. Now, USCe with Spurrier at the helm has now taken charge of the series, the recruiting, and the attitude. Do you see how far we have fallen; we are losing to south carolina, a perennial second tier team. We are now solidly etched into second tier status–and that does not bode well for confidence or recruiting. I warned you guys in July that this was the worst possible scenario for UGA and now it has come to fruition–God help UGA!!!
LoDawg
October 7th, 2012
8:46 am
Bama & South Carolina made the wisest Head Coach hirings.
Both hired Head Coaches that had won a National Championship in college.
Both hired Head Coaches that had won a National Championship as a Head Coach in the SEC.
ARdawg
October 7th, 2012
8:47 am
We’re just slightly better than Tech and that ain’t good
I bought my UGA gear at WalMart
October 7th, 2012
8:48 am
OK,,,,so we need a new head coach….so….who wants to come to Georgia and be the head coach??? Anyone??? Buhler????Feris Buhler???? Anyone????? Chirp…Chirp….
GatorsWaiting
October 7th, 2012
8:48 am
Welcome back to reality, Dawgs.
R Allen
October 7th, 2012
8:48 am
So many things wrong, so little space. I really like Richt. I have stayed away from criticism. Now, I am ready for a change. A college team cannot have so much talent in the pros with nothing to show for it. Our offense has no identity. Rather, we have a playbook. We don’t set up one series for another. How do you explain being a spread offense, down 28-0, and run the ball 5 of 6 times then punt? I never liked the scheme of the new defensive coach. But, if you can make it work, so be it. But we don’t coach simple techniques. We allow week after week defensive ends crash down the line or rush past the quarterback leaving gaping passing lanes and running lanes. Often our alignments are not ready by the snap. Most of all though, is intensity. Since that blackout embarrassment against the Tide, we have failed to show up with any intensity. Our offensive line play against intense defenses is the worst in college football. Sure, hang 50+ on teams like Buffalo, but good grief, Murray has been on the run his entire college career against tough opponents. All of this is coaching. It is consistent poor preparation and game planning, embarrassing, and takes us back to the Goff years. Yes, coaching is that bad. Does anybody remember the Va Tech bowl game? Finally, when coaching is like this, the criticism is loud; it becomes a snowball of mistrust in the locker room that only gets better with change. Ask anybody still alive that played for Johnny Griffith.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
8:50 am
Where are the kool-aid bloggers
You know who you are;
I want to hear how stupid I am for saying this was going to happen once again this season
Come out come out wherever you are!
!
LoDawg
October 7th, 2012
8:56 am
The 2-14 slide against teams that finish top 25, started in 2009 when Richt went with JOE COX as his starting QB.
It continued in 2010 & 2011 & 2012 when Richt went with Aaron Murray as his starting QB, even though Murray is now 0-10 vs. teams that finish top 25.
In 2010, Richt made the most important hire of his tenure, he fired Martinez and picked an unproven coach named Grantham, and the team has never beaten a team that finished top 25 since Grantham was hired.
Richt is still trying to win the SEC passing the football. It’s a SEVERELY FLAWED STRATEGY DOOMED TO FAIL in the SEC. It assumes you have: a) excellent oline that can hold blocks long enough 2) poised QB that can make throws in big games c) running backs that can passblock well, but cant run d) receivers that know how to turn small catches into big plays in big games
e) medicore dlines who can’r pressure the QB f) DB’s who don’t jam receivers holding them up at the line. UGA has NONE OF THOSE.
ApopkaFLDog
October 7th, 2012
8:57 am
The bad news is we lost again to a ranked team. The good news is we only have to play one more ranked team in the regular season; Florida. If you don’t think a coach makes a difference, look how Muschamp has brought the Gators back in only his second season. And he doesn’t look like a zombie standing on the sideline like our coach does. That laid back attitude resonates to the team and they play with no emotion. The sad truth is we can’t beat a ranked team.
rednecknation
October 7th, 2012
8:58 am
There is rumor going around that CMR said in the locker room that he was not sure how the dawgs could get over a beat down this bad, and that he looked around saw rambo and ogletree with kind of a dazed look on their faces,,, what do you think that ment??????
LoDawg
October 7th, 2012
9:01 am
UGA’s slide can be traced to:
1- Horrendous QB play in big games from Cox & Murray
2- Horrendous hire in unproven Grantham for DC
3- Wrong offensive strategy of trying to win the SEC passing the ball
4- Horrendous special teams, with no special teams coach
KeepDreaming
October 7th, 2012
9:01 am
I’ve had it with Richt, no more excuses, no more sticking up for him. He’s had his time, now it’s time to move on. We need a coach with passion and fire, not someone who’s looking to get to church the next Sunday morning after game day.
He can take BOOBOO with him!!
usaf_dawg
October 7th, 2012
9:04 am
Lifetime dawg fan, I understand you can’t win every game but you can be competitive when you have equal talent. This boils down to coaching or lack there of. This program has become stagnant and predictable. Spurrier is right about us, recruit all that talent and they just dissapear as soon as they get here. UGA needs to take notes from other schools such as UF, UA, LSU, SC. Tough hard nose coaches win championships and big games. Our athletic dept is completely fine with mediocre 10 win seasons, only beating sub-par teams and going to sub-tier bowl games. Richt is a guidance counsler not a head coach, at least not in a superior conference. I know these post have no bearing on what will actually happen but how many people, announcers, coaches, and fans have to see and say the same thing about this program every year before someone decides its time for a change.
drdawg
October 7th, 2012
9:04 am
Florida is going to destroy this team. Why? Because they will be prepared and motivated and their coach shows fire on the sidelines. These young players feed on the emotions of the coach. With Richt, the players are asleep. We need Kirby Smart. He would come in a heartbeat and clean house in the coaching staff.
dogfan
October 7th, 2012
9:05 am
The dawgs were out-coached again by a ranked team. They have the best pool of talented players in the SEC possibly the nation. What is keeping us from a SEC and national title run is coaches that cannot get the job done. Bobo and Richt are predictable and out coached by ranked teams every time Time to get rid of them both.
LoDawg
October 7th, 2012
9:07 am
Want fire on the sidelines? Hire derek Dooley. Sure.
Duncan Hines has the best Brownie Mix
October 7th, 2012
9:08 am
The sad part is this will continue for the next 5 years. I said we would go 8 and 4 or 9 and 3 with some breaks.The Admin. at UGA are happy with CMR and the average season year after year if they (the football program) makes money.Everybody accept it !!!! It will not change.Bottom tier of the SEC.
Gdawg
October 7th, 2012
9:10 am
CMR is a lot like our president; in over his head! Hey Dawg Nation let’s not forget that this is only a game and we put too much faith in these 18-20 year old kids. I turned the game off in the third quarter, because I had seen enough to know that this is another one of Richt’s typical teams. Richt is a great person and I love him as a person in Christ, but he is actually not a very good coach. His assistants kept him propped up over the years. It is time for a change; Richt will be fine, as he has made millions, and he could probably retire today and not have to worry about money.
Dawg Tired
October 7th, 2012
9:19 am
The thing is broke. It’s off the tracks. Need to start over. At least Urban had enough sense to know when that had happened at Florida. He quit because he knew he couldn’t get it out of the ditch. Muschamp appears to have put forth a Herculean effort and put the train back on the tracks, but whether it’s headed back into the ditch or not is unknown at this time. Only time will answer whether his coming in and partially cleaning house will be a permanent solution down there.
As for UGA. A complete overhaul is needed. Every body needs to leave. Everything needs to be completely sanitized and then burned to insure the blight never returns. The virus is deadly and must be totally eradicated. After that is done, we need to start over understanding it may take 3 to 6 years to be competitive again. We must be sure and not repeat the mistake Auburn made and go for a quick fix. That is disastrous – Auburn is exhibit A as to how that works in the long run. The new coach must have one key thought: discipline, i.e., my way or the highway. No scum bags allowed on scholarship. No quitters allowed. No chokers allowed. Only boys with high character allowed. When a player tweets something along the lines of that tweeted by # 83 (Washington), he will be automatically dismissed from the team. Time to fix this disaster is NOW!