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
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
10:36 am
DawgNation
You wrote
“Name 1 Coach who has done better in his first 11 years than Richt. Be sure to post stats to back up your conclusions”
I gave you 8 coaches of course there are plenty more
But hey you enjoy mediocrity; you enjoy watching the program get embarrassed you enjoy stats like
A 300 avg against top 10 teams
A 500 avg against top 25
Havent beat a ranked opponent in years
2-14 against ranked opponents since 2008
0-10 against top 12 opponents since 2008
Last big time win 2005 against #3 LSU
Cant beat FL 2 years in a row
Cant beat all the SEC east teams in the same year
Needed help to get to the SEC championship game every time
Im just wondering is beating Tech, Vandy and KY good for you
Obviously it is cause thats the only teams Richt beats
Mobile Dawg
October 7th, 2012
10:40 am
Flat, are you an attorney? If so I need your contact info in case I ever get in trouble. You are right on on every point, this program can’t and won’t get over the top with Richt. In this league the games are won and lost on the line of scrimmage. Richt has never gotten that.
Bill
October 7th, 2012
10:42 am
It’s just amazing that a school that is so focused on football is so crappy at it. The thing that Richt doesn’t get is that even if UGA manages a better record with its cream puff schedule, it DOESN’T DESERVE to represent the SEC East after a performance like last night’s, which was all too like performances from previous seasons against UCF, West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, Boise State …
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
10:48 am
Mobile Dawg
Im not an attorney I do manage a business and as a manager you have to see the big picture
I began to wake up when Van Gorder left, then the 2007 Tennessee debacle got me thinking and after the 2008 AL disaster I realized Richt cannot run a big time program especially when he showed me that his friendship to Willie Martinez meant more than the football program
ED FROM ELLIJAY 78 ALUM
October 7th, 2012
10:50 am
POOR POOR POOR COACHING. WE HAVE THE BETTER TALENT BUT …..
HIRE JOHN GRUDEN, OREGON OR WEST VA ‘S COACHES!!
Tom Dawg 1
October 7th, 2012
10:50 am
What an Asswhipping?
OKC Bulldog
October 7th, 2012
10:52 am
Here is yet another season where we are left rooting for another SEC team do our dirty work for us. We have never under Richt beat every team in the East and controlled our own destiny, even teams we were better than. So we are always needing either Florida, Tenn, or South Carolina to loose twice so that we can back our way back into the SEC Championship Game. And thats acceptable to this coaching staff led by CMR, because all he has to say is that I have won the East 4 times and 2 SEC Championship. But in reality he never ran the East because we always loose a game or two in this division, alot of the times its to a team we are better than.
Murray’s height and inconsistant play continue to cause him not to be able to get the job done. Because he is so short and combine with the offensive line getting shoved back into his lap, his balls are easily batted down and when he misses he misses high because he has to angle his passes higher than most to keep it from being batted down.
The defense is a joke, no other way to put it. We really have not stop anyone from throwing the ball all year long, even Buffalo and Florida Atlantic had success. I dont know how many times all year we have had receivers running wide open in our secondary. And we continue not to be able to get any pressure on anybody’s QB. I’m sorry but a lot of this is coaching. Gratham just got that healthy new raise and extention, but this defense is worse than any defense in the SEC expecially in the passing game, and we have 9 returning starters.
I just don’t think we will when a National Championship with CMR as the head coach but we will already field a good team and be a top 25 team which is more than a lot of programs can ask for. I like CMR, and I would want my son to play for him because I truly feel like he care about these young men on and off the field. I feel that as long as he is in leadership hear we will never have worry about recruiting violations in the future because he does things the right way. I know that you can do things the right way and win championships but it is such a gamble, when you look at USC, Ohio State, Miami teams who won but are now on probation or was on probation. If they dug deep enough They probably finds something on Auburn with Cam. Don’t know if Saban, Meyer, or Miles are doing anything wrong only time will tell, but even if they are not, look at the egotistical, self centered, arrogant personalities of those guys, and ask yourself is it worth taking a chance on those type of guys.
Hanky Panky
October 7th, 2012
10:54 am
CLEAN HOUSE.
HIRE JON GRUDEN AS UGA HEAD COACH.
HIRE HINES WARD AS AN ASSISTANT.
START WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS.
START THE MOVEMENT, DAWG FANS!
KBP
October 7th, 2012
10:55 am
2nd quarter, 1st and goal inside10, why not put our fullback in and run Gurley or Malcome 4 straight times? No pass plays, no pistol, no spread, no shotgun! Line up in the I and run right at Clowney, not away from him, right at him with blockers and see if they keep us out of the endzone. Why no screens throughout the rest of the game to slow down the pass rush? If Murray is going to run the read option, he has to keep the ball sometimes just so their D-ends know he will run it. That would have kept them from selling out on our backs. Better yet, stay away from the read option. Line up in the I and play football. Why does Murray play his worst in the biggest games? Missed 2 wide open receivers for potential touchdowns. Gates got beat all night, why not slide him inside and put Beard at LT? Certainly could not have done worse than Gates at LT. SC clearly was the better team in EVERY aspect. If they win out, I’ll be pulling for them in the Dome.
Big L
October 7th, 2012
10:56 am
Grantham not looking like the genius we all thought either.
Sparks
October 7th, 2012
10:57 am
Yeah…John Gruden. I can see “Chucky” on the sidelines….or maybe even Petrino, the “Anti-Richt”.
nashdawg
October 7th, 2012
11:00 am
I think our dope problem may be bigger than we thought. It appears the whole time was in the fog last night. Most embarassing display that I have ever seen and I have been following the program a long time. It looked like a 1AA team against a BCS team. In the first quarter, we could have been Savannah State. The defense is loaded with NFL players. Obviously they have no heart and are looking forward to the cash. Why did they come back?? Dawgs are 2nd tier in the SEC. Not ready for prime time.
Mobile Dawg
October 7th, 2012
11:01 am
2007 was the season that started to show the foundational erosion that was taking place at UGA. Richts style, his recruits, his lack of discipline, and lack of leadership has become painfully evident since then. Richt won with Donnans recruits, anyone who cares to differ simply can’t see the forest for the trees.
Ed
October 7th, 2012
11:02 am
10-4 last year against the easiest schedule I’ve ever seen a Georgia team play. Beat up the patsies, cower before the tough teams, the trend continues. With a roster that has the NFL scouts drooling. Enough is enough.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
11:05 am
DawgNation
Can you put down the kool-aid bottle and respond
I really need to hear all your great examples as to why this coaching staff is so stellar
Hanky Panky
October 7th, 2012
11:06 am
DRAFT JON GRUDEN FOR UGA HEAD COACH.
Ed
October 7th, 2012
11:08 am
yardawg your post about Dooley is nonsense. He went 11-1 without Herschel in ‘71, won the SEC in ‘66, ‘68 and ‘76 without Herschel, played Pitt for the national championship in the ‘77 Sugar Bowl without Herschel, and the year after Herschel left went 10-1-1 and beat undefeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
He also beat Florida and Tech plenty of times without Herschel’s help.
And his record doesn’t have the benefit of all of the cupcakes Richt and other coaches today play.
Dooley was a heck of a coach.
Huh?
October 7th, 2012
11:11 am
Lou Holtz looks like a genius now…and Herbstreet and Mussberg hit it on the head during the game. I can’t remember a supposed # 5 team in the country getting that exposed in a game…on primetime in front of a national audience. Embarrasing doesn’t even come close.
UGA clearly thought they were better than they were after having played inferior teams…then, when they finally played a good team, they were proven to be what they are…a pretender.
rhbDAWG1
October 7th, 2012
11:12 am
I have made numerous posts on this site and have been an avid Coach Mark Richt supporter. Last night was a failure on the Georgia coaching staff in getting a team ready to play. South Carolina was ready to play and very, very well prepared. They are a good team and deserve all the accolades they are sure to get. I think we are a better team than we showed last night (I sure hope so) but last night exposed a VERY POOR coaching job and that falls squarely on the shoulders of CMR.
MorgantonMike
October 7th, 2012
11:16 am
Today would be a good time to drug test but include the coaching staff as well. If lab work is negative then we must accept the diagnosis that we are a middle tier SEC team.
Snoop Dawg
October 7th, 2012
11:16 am
Solution: double Nick Saban’s salary and put him on a ten year contract with big raises every year. If you want the best, you have topay top dollar. He is the best coach in college football.
UGA has the money. Satan will be a profit able investment with a good ROI.
With Richt, UGA is throwing its millions down a well.
Murray
October 7th, 2012
11:19 am
Murray does not necessarily play his worst game in big games, it might just be that in those games he is facing better players and while he is a good QB, he is not a great one. In addition, reality is a great QB usually has a great OL in front of him and that is just not the case with UGA at this time.
Snoop Dawg
October 7th, 2012
11:19 am
Correction. Saban, not Satan!
tell me again
October 7th, 2012
11:20 am
No need for all of the vile posts – it’s only one game – granted, one we hate to lose. Alabama lost one last year too and you didn’t see them tossing the season out over it – you remember how they ended up….it’s discouraging, frustrating and makes us just mad as hell but we really don’t know what goes on in terms of preparation or game time dynamics. All of you “coaches in waiting” are hilarious – you are just so much smarter than our coaching staff – that is why you’re working in a cubicle or answering phone calls for J.C. Penney’s customer service division – just sit down and shut up. Having said all of that – we have no D / something is missing in that unit this year – it looks like maybe we need a refund on Grantham’s contract – Tennessee should have been the warning shot across the bow. Defense wins championships – get used to the fact that we will have a very nice year and that will probably be it. Florida is playing well and has a good D and so unless we are hiding our defensive starters somewhere and haven’t played them yet, that game is not looking good right now. This game is over, in the books, no need to wet your diapers over it. Time to move on and work for what is still on the table. Here’s hoping we find a defense somewhere before Jacsonville. Go Dawgs!
Will Trane
October 7th, 2012
11:21 am
Defense. We have no defense ends, and we have not had them for awhile. Ask the d line coach where he has been lately re recruiting. Why did we zone Carolina so much. Grantham had a very poor defensive game plan. Spurrier put the ball up deep on three plays. Two should have been intercepted. This iw what happens when your head coach does not manage a roster. And you have players constantly suspended and miss 4 games of playing time. For Rambo is looked like his first game back. Any NFL coach would be unwise to consider this guy for any playing time. Does not show up in game and misses a fourth of the season. Why have players like this on your roster. Saban, Spurrier, Muschamp, Miles,or any other SEC coache would put up with this.
Offense. Can not put a game in Murray’s hands to win. They have been down that road before. Bama, Ole Miss, Florida, Carolina, LSU, Missy State…all understand it is the offensive line play that counts in the SEC. You can talk D all you want, but SEC champions have O lines. The Dawgs blocking, schemes, and game plan re the O line is substandard in the SEC. Plus Bobo does not understand point of attack in blocking and creating running lanes. Look at the center. Too small for SEC.top defenses. Have running backs but has no rotation on the line and does little rotation with backs. For years our running backs coach has done a very poor job re pass blocking with backs. Has a fresh set of faces each season because we can never keep them on a roster.
Richt fails with roster management, game preparation, and game plan
If the Athletic Board and AD think this is a successful coach, staff, and program then they need to take a long hard look at the result of games against top SEC teams. Can start with last night, go back to the SEC title game, 2011 Carolina game and Boise game.
Mark Richt and staff need to go.
Look at the coach at MSU or Florida’s OC.
but stop wasting time, talent, and money.
Well
October 7th, 2012
11:21 am
at least Ga beat Sc’s second team 7-0.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
11:26 am
Hey Mcgarity
I really need to know if you think we have enough money left after those contract extensions you gave out to give a drug screen to the coaching staff?
Huh?
October 7th, 2012
11:26 am
tell me again….after getting embarrased on the national scene with a 35-7 beatdown, I wouldn’t make comparisions to Alabama…they lost by a few points to the #1 team in the country.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
11:27 am
rhbDAWG1
It might do you some good to go back and research the last 12 years
Its been a pattern all the time
WHY
October 7th, 2012
11:29 am
Why does coach christian still have a job today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Frank Hall
October 7th, 2012
11:32 am
The big game now for the coaching staff is Florida, if Georgia plays like they did last night against the Gators then a coaching change is in order. I recommend Georgia schedule at least one top notch program on their non-conference schedule every season play them early to avoid debacles in conference play. Also they need to play Alabama more often to toughen up themselves for post season. What you do early on isn’t as important as what you do later on meaning early non-conference cream puffs leads to 35-7 conference defeats later on.
Now 6-19 Against End of Season Ranked Teams since '05
October 7th, 2012
11:32 am
I dunno Flat…..maybe the only smart thing McGarrity has done was including a rather paltry $1 million buyout when he signed “Pastor Richt” to his extension….
….now does Boss Hogg (Pres Adams) tell Roscoe P. Coltrane (McGarrity) to finally cut ties with Enos(Richt)?????
Now 6-19 Against End of Season Ranked Teams since '05
October 7th, 2012
11:34 am
BTW, Where’s Braniac, AltamahaDawg, et al telling all of us UGA “traitors” how it’s only one game and Richt is the best thing since sliced bread??
chilidawg
October 7th, 2012
11:35 am
I honestly don’t see how any coach on this staff can deposit their check this week with a clear conscience.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
11:38 am
Im glad we have Georgia Tech; Georgia Southern; Ole Miss and Kentucky on our schedule
Thank goodness we will win another 10 WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Im ordering my shirt today
castle pines canine
October 7th, 2012
11:38 am
Ok, so we have cleaned house. ………. Not so fast my friend, we still loom large with the BOBO bar. How bad of play calling does it get. Let’s match play calling. Spurrier vs BOBO. Croosing route throwback vs up the middle. C’mon, we can figure that out. Everyone can figure that out. We were not going to knock them off of the ball. A l ittle finese would have been great. Wonderful punt covereage. The good news is: We have had our embarassing game and loss this year. The bad news is: We have had our embarassing loss this year. I will say it again, just like after Boise, I will take a group of average well coached players, over a bunch of poorly coached superstars anyday.
dogfan
October 7th, 2012
11:42 am
The benchmark for NCAAF is the national championship. Make it or not there should be no other goal. Richt’s benchmark every year is the SEC east championship. Which is great if you are Vanderbilt…not Georgia. This is what he considers a successful “keep your job” season. Set your goals low and you will never be disappointed and your job is safe. If you can only reach your already low goals if the rest of the division is un-ranked it is time for change. Based on last night’s game Florida will demolish us. Richt needs to at least pretend he is interested in a less than mediocre goal. 3 Million should be buying us a BCS chance not financing mediocrity.
Krak
October 7th, 2012
11:43 am
No I went to UAB not UGA
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
11:45 am
Yea I really want to hear from Altamaha Dawg
Brainiac give us your thoughts
tide roll
October 7th, 2012
11:52 am
Until you replace Bobo and bring in a Coach willing to go after a QB as talented as ANTHONY JENNINGS, and offensive linemen the quality of SHAMIRE DEVINE, JEREMI HALL, OCTAVIOUS JACKSON, JOSHUA OUTLAW,MARCUS SWAIN, TRENT BROWN, DEVONTE SEYMOUR, and DELANDO CROOKS, it will just be more of the same. Nothing ever changes up there. 32 friggin years. THE MOST UNDERACHEIVING COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAM IN HISTORY.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
October 7th, 2012
11:52 am
So how many other schools come “after” our coaches every year? NONE…..
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
11:52 am
To all the kool-aid drinkers
Please explain why the mediocrity continues when……
UGA since 2001 has put more players in the NFL than any other school in the SEC
Can I just get an explaination better than UGA has 100 wins over teams like Buffalo, Vandy, and Western Carolina
Capitalist Dawg
October 7th, 2012
11:56 am
Look, I get my a** handed to me for under-perfomance when my numbers slip in the sales arena. CMR keeps under-performing and keeps getting paid. No accountability from the coaching staff. No expectation of winning at UGA. The last decade has been all one big crappy single game.
tide roll
October 7th, 2012
11:56 am
The only time this wierdo Richt shows a pulse is when he’s trying to sell you a truck. Muschamp was your answer.It’s kind of sad. Dawg supporters should not be subjected to this. The guy’s stealing money from you . He’s like Elmer Gantry or something. I’ve never seen anything like it.
rhbDAWG1
October 7th, 2012
12:00 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville – I have researched the past 56 years by going through each game either listening, watching or reading (I remember Johnny Griffith – and Ray Goff, for that matter) and I know sometimes it takes some hard times for a coach (Dooley had his) to get things just right. You demand instant success – just take a look at Tennessee. I sure don’t want that. CMR has had many chances and my patience is wearing thin but he still MIGHT “right the ship” but time is running out.
flintriverdawg
October 7th, 2012
12:06 pm
chickens come home to roost…………..very hard to take after braves game fri nite……….we turned the tv off just after half……….there is little left to be said for what has sadly become of our program………and fla beats lsu………doesnt get much worse…….except for richts lame tone afterwards…
KBP
October 7th, 2012
12:09 pm
Mobile Dawg, “Richt won with Donnan’s players”, yes he did. However, the 2005 team was mainly Richt’s players. For that matter, Saban won his first Bama title with mainly Shula’s players, but no one disparages him for that.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
rhbDAWG1
i dont demand instant success
Is it asking too much to beat FL 2 years in a row
Is it asking too much to beat every SEC East team in same year (Spurrier has done it at SC)
Is it asking too much to be above 500 against the top 25
Is it asking too much to be 500 against the top 10
Is it asking too much not to be 0-10 against the top 12 since 2008
Is it asking too much not to be 2-14 against the top 25 since 2008
I mean seriously when UGA puts more players in the NFL since 2001 than any other school in the SEC and has more top 10 recruiting classes than any school in the nation since the late 90’s
Is what Im asking for too much
I really dont think so
Tell um
October 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
Flat Tire. This is year four now where we have not been up for the big game. Four years is not just one game.
UGA FAN NO MORE
October 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
#72 offensive lineman for UGA is the worst blocker I have ever seen in college football !!