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
KBP
October 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
Now 6-19 . . . you went all Dukes of Hazzard on Adams, McGarrity, and Richt, HILARIOUS!
Tell um
October 7th, 2012
12:16 pm
If not now, when?
Hanky Panky
October 7th, 2012
12:16 pm
JON GRUDEN FOR UGA HEAD COACH.
Mobile Dawg
October 7th, 2012
12:18 pm
True KBP, but who did those players grow up with? Whom were they influenced by? Right, the Pollacks, the Greenes, and others who came before the 2005 team. Just count through the years and see how the program eroded as we progressed through and away from the Donnan players influence. How many players have left or been kicked off the team since then. Our program lacks several things with the exception of talent. Our players are not “tough”, we’re soft, because of the culture and the environment created by Mark Richt.
KBP
October 7th, 2012
12:24 pm
Flat Tire . . . . your 12:12 pm post: I like what you are asking but I am slowly losing confindence that we’ll see it anytime soon. I don’t understand why our kids are sometimes not ready to play in the biggest games.
monty
October 7th, 2012
12:28 pm
I get so tired of seeing the Dogs get out physicalled by teams that arent puff cakes. We never win the battle of the trenches, where all the top programs do. Goes back to coaching and finesse style football. We need a new mindset(coaching philosophy). You simply can’t play that bad unless you are coached wrong or have that many inferior players. I don’t believe it’s the latter. Although I could be wrong, it could be both.
dogfan
October 7th, 2012
12:31 pm
Press statement of a loser:
“First of all, like I told the team the bad news is we took a whipping,” Richt said. “I told them the good news was we all took it together. I don’t think anybody could look in the mirror and say: ‘I had a great day but the other boys didn’t.’ I don’t think either side of the ball could say: ‘We did our job and the other boys didn’t.’ It was a team loss. We got beat by a very good team that was primed and ready to go.”
Key Pointsof this statement:
1. It is strange that he had to tell his team that the “bad news is we took a whipping,” I hope they did not think it was good news
2.It is OK to lose as long as we are all losers.
3. It is OK to have a “team” of losers
4. The USC coaches actually prepared themselves and their players for a game with BCS implications…That Idea did not occur to us.
5. SEC football is like T-ball or church camp just show up and everyone gets a trophy.
6. Richt also added “Good things can still happen”…only if space aliens abduct the Gators
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
12:34 pm
KBP
and any other person on here
Think about something
When our program is constantly in the news for player arrests and discipline issues along with being in the running for the Fulmer Cup every year…..
Does anyone truly think we are going to field a team that shows discipline on the field that constantly lacks discipline off the field
I really dont think so
cleveland dawg
October 7th, 2012
12:36 pm
Enter your comments here
VA DAWG
October 7th, 2012
12:39 pm
Bill, I have been doing a lot of thinking about this since last night. We are a mediocre program and have been for several years. Just look at Richt’s record against ranked teams over the last several years. They put that graphic up last night on the telecast and it shocked me at how futile our efforts have been. Further I believe we will continue to be a mediocre team and program until Mark Richt is gone. I have not been a Richt basher like some of our brethern but I think that he has brought us as far as he is capable of taking us. In order for us to go to the next level and become an elite team and program we need to hire a new young coach with fire in his belly and a vision as to how we can win a championship. And don’t even get me started on Bobo. Just another no decision that Richt hasn’t been able to make like not firing Martinez until it was almost too late. I like Mark Richt as a peron and I admire his Christian principles but he is not the man to win us a national Championship. If it was not to be this year then when? Are we going to be satisfied forever with 10 win seasons and an annual trip to the Capital One Bowl to play the Big 10? I hope not.
cleveland dawg
October 7th, 2012
12:40 pm
after reading all two hundred and some odd posts, really the only thing i can add is (NEW COACHES PLEASE) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KBP
October 7th, 2012
12:40 pm
Mobile Dawg, It is clear our program lacks something other than talent. My primary issue is with Bobo. 1st and goal in the 2nd quarter, why not put Hall in at FB and run Gurley or Malcome 4 straight times. They are the most powerful backs. Stop playing soft by running out of the spread especially when our line was getting whipped. 4th and 3, why not run a 5 yard pass pattern to get the 1st down and not a 20 yard back shoulder throw? Finishing 10-1 or 10-2 with this much talent is a travesty. Next year we lose way too much talent to be competitive in the east. By the way, where is Ray Drew and why does Jay Rome not have a bigger role in the offense? What backer could cover him? Ugh!
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
12:44 pm
Some of my personal favorites:
‘94 UGA Alumnus
October 1st, 2012
4:09 pm
I love the overconfidence being shown by USC fans and other Dawg haters. I’m not guaranteeing a win, but we will not be blown out and will be in the game.
____________
Ooops
Coach Scott
October 7th, 2012
12:45 pm
This is what happens when you play a weak schedule – you aren’t prepared by fire for the big games. I didn’t see a lot of difference in last night’s D than any Willie Martinez coached. Many of these guys are already cashing NFL checks it seems. Last, I’ve seen a live game this year in both Columbia and Athens – Bulldog fans just aren’t hungry anymore. No is afraid of coming to Athens; and, all we can celebrate is highlights from 1980, Hershel and Larry Munson. We are searching for an identity; we are searching for leadership.
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
12:46 pm
WDE
October 1st, 2012
3:22 pm
I think we are much better right now on D than this time last year and we have 2 less losses…but this weekend will really show us where we are
___________________
And exactly where is that?
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
12:47 pm
AltamahaDawg
October 1st, 2012
3:07 pm
SC doesn’t have nearly the passing game that TN has. Not the qb, not the wr, not the oline.
_____________________
Well, obviously they had something, right oh wise one?
dogfan
October 7th, 2012
12:48 pm
Great posts,I agree with all. One team one goal; a BCS Championship. We need a coaching staff committed to that. When Nick Saban, Les Miles were hired that was the only goal talked about.
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
12:48 pm
Just Sayin
October 5th, 2012
6:31 pm
Hey Guys,
CMR is 4-4 against the “Ole Ball Coach” (and should have been 5-3 after last season). Don’t panic…..we have a great coach! I believe we will win….and win big!
__________________
Do you also believe in the tooth fairy?
Mobile Dawg
October 7th, 2012
12:49 pm
Coach Richt needs to answer those questions KBP. I thought the old Hob Nail Boot play against UT would have been a good option on first down.
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
12:50 pm
ARdawg
October 5th, 2012
4:09 pm
Ed
I’m digging it. I don’t now nor have I ever viewed SC as any type rival or SEC power.
___________________
Hmmm, how is the view as of this morning?
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
12:51 pm
Ed
October 5th, 2012
3:09 pm
We have to win tomorrow. Georgia football just doesn’t lose three years in a row to South Carolina. South-freakin’-Carolina
____________
Uh, Ed – Sorry, but they did.
KBP
October 7th, 2012
12:51 pm
Flat Tire . . . Ogletree, Rambo, Cummings, Crowell were all recruited by other top notch SEC schools including Bama and I contend they would have smoked weed anywhere they signed because that’s what they do. Other schools have arrests also. If Richt had Meyer’s drug policy, none of our kids would have missed a game. Meyer won 2 NC’s with multiple off-field behavior issues. Look at Spurrier and Stephen Garcia. I don’t fault the coaching staff for player misconduct, I would fault the coaching staff if there were no consequences of misconduct.
Gotta go watch the Falcons.
Later.
Mobile Dawg
October 7th, 2012
12:52 pm
Great game against LSU SSI, let us suffer in peace please. A lot of us know we’re still pretenders….
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
12:53 pm
P-Man
October 5th, 2012
12:34 pm
SSIgator,
Though I rarely agree with you, you at least usually say something somewhat intelligent. I’m sure you know that a team NEVER stops working on fundamentals. I’m sure you know that
___________________
When exactly are they going to work on them?
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
12:54 pm
DIT
October 5th, 2012
11:30 am
Shoot me, but I just don’t see us running the ball very well. I don’t think either of our backs will come close to 100 yards.
_______________
After all of this time, DIT finally said something I agree with.
Mobile Dawg
October 7th, 2012
12:55 pm
One last thing from Mobile Dawg today, Muschamp has cleaned up the Gators program and got it headed in the right direction in only two years. He’s a Georgia guy, maybe we make a run at him and try to bring him home. I like the fire and competetiveness he shows.
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
12:57 pm
UGA Insider
October 5th, 2012
9:45 am
UGA 42
USCe 20
_____________
Hope you didn’t actually put real money on that.
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
12:58 pm
dawgingatorville
October 4th, 2012
6:52 pm
Well heck, the Dawgs don’t even need to show up huh?
________________
Guess what – they didn’t
Thommy
October 7th, 2012
12:58 pm
Richt is on anti-depression meds.. No doubt. That plus being drunk on Jesus does not make for ass kickin football..
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
12:59 pm
ARdawg
October 4th, 2012
2:31 pm
A good defense is held in check and on their heels against a balanced attack. When both run and passing game are effective with a dual threat QB, even great defenses are immobilized to some extent. Murray plays his game and he’s very capable, we win this one cruising in the 4th qtr.
_________________
Damn, that KoolAid is powerful stuff
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
1:00 pm
CHDawg
October 4th, 2012
11:14 am
I think our D is for real, and this game will begin to show that.
___________________
It sure did – they are for real – real bad.
UGA fan
October 7th, 2012
1:02 pm
Mark Richt and company have never won a big game when it matters. He will continue to recruit, continue to have winning seasons against lesser teams, but he will NEVER win it all. Outcoached again last night! All the talent in the world cannot overcome bad coaching. Hats off to Spurrier. He is doing more with less!
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
1:02 pm
Columbus Dawg
October 2nd, 2012
9:17 am
There is no way anyone can convince me that SC wins this game without being given something.
___________________
They were – a superior coaching staff.
UGA fan
October 7th, 2012
1:04 pm
agreed SSI gator. lets not forget the fact that murray has never beaten a top 20 opponent. UGA needs to start playing hudson mason. he is better
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
1:06 pm
And a last comment from the Yoda of UGA football:
AltamahaDawg
October 2nd, 2012
8:54 am
Personally I was very glad to see our team be able to overcome some setback. We lost those games in recent years. That is a sign of mature players, and good coaching IMO.
__________________
Too bad the mature players and good coaches were on the SC sideline. And by the way, UGA is still losing “those games”
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
1:08 pm
Avery
September 30th, 2012
9:36 pm
Who cares about defense, the UGA offense is averaging more yards per game, and more points per game,
__________________
Right on Avery
Chatsworthdawg
October 7th, 2012
1:08 pm
I have been a supporter of CMR for years but I have come to the conclusion that he is not the coach to take us to the place we want to go. He is a nice guy and super person but not a championship coach
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
1:10 pm
west ga dawg
September 30th, 2012
11:42 pm
the dawgs are better because we have more weapons
________________________
Now, if they could only find a coaching staff to go with the players.
Dog4Life
October 7th, 2012
1:11 pm
Here is your flaw dawgnation, Dooley had winning records against Fla, Sc, Tenn and Ga tech and was 500 against Au. Richt has a great winning percentage against cupcakes and Gt. Stats do not always tell the entire story. It is not always about the losses so much as it is who one loses to; that is the bigger question. As far as this misguided Kirby Smart for HC–please. Saban is the brains in that organization and I see him yelling at Smart as well as players–Smart is not HC material. Muschamp seemed to get in trouble with Saban very little when they were together at LSU. That suggests Muschamp understood things better than Smart–so let us look for a proven HC with winning capabilities on the grand stages of college football–I would prefer little Dooley over Smart–People who know football can see the improvement of both Fla and Tenn. So let’s be cautious and not hire some joke like Smart or Donnan or Goof. This next hire is going to have a great deal of work to do to get the losing mentality changed at UGA.
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
1:13 pm
tell me again
October 1st, 2012
4:59 pm
They have an avg. QB, we have a very good one. They have Lattimore, we have Lattimore times two. They have a good defense and so do we. Game to the Dawgs by 17 or better.
____________________
Uh, you forgot the part that really matters – coaching.
Austin Dawg
October 7th, 2012
1:24 pm
@ Raleigh Dog,
Well said.
Don
October 7th, 2012
1:33 pm
It took me long enough, but, it’s time to clean house and move on. Grantham is the only thing going for UGA right now. Unpreparedness is not worth $3m a year. time for them to go.
dogfan
October 7th, 2012
1:39 pm
Bobo Press Statement:
On what he thought Georgia could do offensively heading in: “I thought we’d be able to run the ball a little bit better than we did in the first half. We were not successful with that. We thought we’d have some guys open if we could protect. There were times when we protected and we didn’t complete the passes and times we didn’t protect. We had a plan for Clowney of chipping him and things like that but those guys did a great job of getting to the quarterback. Just had us on our heels all night. You’ve got to give that defense credit.”
Key Points:
1. We could not run or throw against them …because thier Defensive Cordinator is smarter than me.
2. I was and still am completely clueless on how to beat SC, even though it is my job to figure this stuff out.
3. Clowney is big and mean and ruined the 5 minutes I spent preparing for this game.
4. “You’ve got to give that defense credit.” ….Just don’t fire me because I am not very good at my job.
Dawg Tired
October 7th, 2012
1:42 pm
DawgNation – You don’t seem to understand. Its not the loss that has every body upset. It’s the lack of effort, lack of preparation, lack of discipline, lack of emotion, etc. I was a season ticket holder when I lived in Georgia during the Dooley years. I never saw a Dooley team give up. I never saw a Dooley team that was not well prepared in all three facets of the game. After Coach Richt had a team meeting between the third and fourth quarters last night, the defense actually showed less intensity. To me, that speaks volumes. The point is it seems rather obvious that he does not have the respect of the players. It is also obvious that the team does not react well to adversity. Our 5 wins have come against very poor teams. Missouri lost to Vandy at home last night. SUNY Buffalo is terrible. FAU – enough said. Tennessee is not very good. Last night was predictable, but the Vandy game fooled many of us into thinking this team just might actually be good in spite of the evidence to the contrary we had seen in those other games. Our linemen, both on offense and defense, are fat and slow. Compare the lineman for USCe. Much quicker, athletic, etc. Clowney should be thankful he did not come to UGA. He would be just another fat guy by now because we would have had him in our WEIGHT TRAINING PROGRAM which apparently focuses on the WEIGHT part of the deal. We can flat out put weight on a kid. He may show up sleek and athletic, but with time we can make him fat and slow.
I could go on, but why? If you can’t see what’s happening, it is useless trying to get you to understand.
same ole same ole
October 7th, 2012
1:46 pm
boycott the games until a change is made with the coaching staff. the program has reached its pinnacle under richt. i have no desire to watch anymore georgia games this year.
Old dog class of 80
October 7th, 2012
1:46 pm
Let the rebuilding get started. I have tried to hold my tongue because we were winning . We need to fire the entire coaching staff. Sure, CMR is agood Christian man, but we could get plenty of those for half a million. We don’t need to pay three mil. If we just want a mediocre team and a mediocre coach, then we should be able to get one cheap.
what of it?
October 7th, 2012
1:46 pm
the only things more pathetic than last night’s performance are the richt apologists and the people who keep renewing his contract.
MorgantonMike
October 7th, 2012
1:46 pm
Punt return personnel problem solved: Don’t force opposition to punt.
SOUTHGADAWGG88
October 7th, 2012
2:06 pm
Fire Garner,If I was CTG i’d tell Richt that one of us HAS to go!!!The dude is the most overrated coach on the staff.Look at all the talent he has squandered at DT over the years.Pathetic.
dale
October 7th, 2012
2:12 pm
It’s gotten embarrassing to be a Georgia Bulldog.
Last 4 big time games getting national attention.
Alabama in 08
Boise State last year
SEC title game last year
SC yesterday.
Georgia is falling away. Why would any recruit want to come here? Not to win.