Upcoming schedule both helps and hinders Atlanta-bound Georgia defense
There are two ways you can look at the scheduling quirk that has Mark Richt’s Bulldogs facing the triple-option offense on consecutive Saturdays to wind up the regular season before heading to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta.
On the one hand, playing FCS power Georgia Southern this week will give Todd Grantham’s defense an edge in preparing for in-state rival Georgia Tech since both of those schools use a run-heavy triple option. The Eagles might be from the lower level of Division 1 but they managed to run for 302 yards and score 21 points in a losing effort against Alabama last season and they’ll give the Dogs a much better look at that rarely seen offense than Georgia’s scout team could hope to replicate in practice.
Of course, UGA sees Tech’s triple-option running attack every year and did a pretty good job containing it last year. But the extra experience against that scheme is bound to help.
As Richt noted Sunday, “We’re going to play defense so completely different than how we’ve been playing all year long” against Georgia Southern. “Everything changes. The alignments change, the assignments change, the type of block you’re dealing with changes, and it’s very, very difficult to simulate in practice. You just can’t do it. You just have to be disciplined in what your assignments are. This offense tends to have a lot of fumbles. A lot of balls get on the ground when you run that type of system. Sometimes the only way you can stop one of their possessions is with a turnover.”
So you can credit having Southern and Tech back-to-back as smart scheduling.
But looking ahead to the big game at the Georgia Dome, the downside to the schedule is this: Two weeks of concentration on the triple option will take the Georgia defense out of its usual rhythm, and they’ll then have just a week to reboot before taking on the SEC West opponent, most likely Alabama, which runs a pro-style offense more like Georgia’s.
In the meantime, the Crimson Tide has games against lowly Western Carolina and a free-falling Auburn, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Nick Saban had his team spending a bit of time over the next two weeks getting ready for Georgia.
The Dogs, unfortunately, won’t have that luxury.
Now, a few more thoughts and observations from the win over Auburn …
Tavarres King and the other Georgia receivers stepped up big against Auburn. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
The ESPN crew covering the game indicated Tavarres King’s ballet-like move keeping a toe in-bounds on that 17-yard second-quarter touchdown strike from Aaron Murray was likely to show up on “SportsCenter,” and that was indeed the case Saturday night. It was a tremendous effort on TK’s part.
But what was especially encouraging was that it was the kind of play that is par for the course this season for Georgia’s athletic receiving corps. Even with Michael Bennett and Marlon Brown out, the Dogs’ passing attack didn’t appear to miss a beat, with Murray throwing TD passes to three different receivers — Chris Conley and Malcolm Mitchell in addition to King. Special kudos are due to Conley, who was making his first career start against the Tigers. …
Murray continued to spread the ball around, completing passes to six different players, with tight ends Artie Lynch and Jay Rome getting much more attention as receivers. For the most part, they did well, with Lynch catching three balls and Rome making two receptions.
But while it was good to see the tight ends becoming a bigger part of the passing attack, there’s room for improvement: Lynch did have a conspicuous drop on what would have been a first-down pass late in the first half, and Murray had to do some sideline tutoring with Rome after the redshirt freshman muffed a route in the end zone in the third quarter. …
A couple more notes on Murray, who got more than his share of bashing earlier in the season: A week after executing the Rooskie play flawlessly against Ole Miss, he had another really nice play-action fake on the touchdown pass to Mitchell. And after getting the wind knocked out of him on one of the many hits he took from Auburn defenders Saturday night, the tough quarterback came back in to make that perfectly thrown scoring pass to King. …
The Georgia defense gave up some yards in the short-passing game early on (mainly to Emory Blake), but overall played a superb game. And when Auburn was threatening to score in the second half, Shawn Williams helped maintain the shutout by stripping the ball away from Blake in a fumble that Georgia recovered. …
Christian Robinson gets the big-hit-of-the-game award for the way he ran over an Auburn receiver on a failed third-down conversion attempt. …
One quibble: Mike Bobo pulled his starters in the fourth quarter but Grantham didn’t. I fully understand why the fiery defensive coordinator wanted so badly to keep that goose egg on the scoreboard for the Tigers; it’s a tremendous confidence-builder for a defense that took a while to get back in sync this season.
But keeping the first string in the game in garbage time just to maintain a shutout was a questionable decision, as one of Georgia’s star defenders easily could have gone down with an injury well after the outcome of the game was already decided. Fortunately, that didn’t happen, but was maintaining a shutout really worth the risk?
JUNKYARD MAIL CALL
Got something you want to discuss concerning the win over Auburn or the upcoming game against Georgia Southern? Thoughts looking ahead to the SEC Championship game? Or maybe a question you want the Junkyard Blawg to tackle? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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139 comments Add your comment
southgadawghead
November 11th, 2012
10:18 pm
Enter your comments here
Va Dawg
November 11th, 2012
10:19 pm
Bill, in answer to your question yes it was worth it.
southgadawghead
November 11th, 2012
10:21 pm
How about a mention on them Running Backs!!! Maybe two 1000 yard fishers out Gurley (like 27 yards to go) and Marshall!
StratCat Dawg
November 11th, 2012
10:21 pm
Yes
Chris
November 11th, 2012
10:23 pm
After all your bashing of special teams play…would be nice to see you give them credit after a very solid effort.
Roswell DAWG
November 11th, 2012
10:26 pm
Like Grantham keeping the starters playing. Really wished Bobo would have kept the foot on the gas. Auburn has or would of in the same situation. We still own them for the Fairly bush league play of 2010.
Ashevilledawg
November 11th, 2012
10:27 pm
Risk – reward for the shutout. You risk injury when you keep your starters in late in the game like UGA did but the reward was a shutout which I’m sure the players really wanted. Sort of like keeping your starting pitcher in a game if he is pitching a no hitter. He may be over his pitch count for the game but no way you are going to pull him.
Biggdawg33
November 11th, 2012
10:31 pm
Let’s not get too crazy about the starters still in for the defense. Those guys played a full game and looked the best they have looked all season. Wait, they have really not been together all season. So, go ahead and give them more time on the field.
StratCat Dawg
November 11th, 2012
10:32 pm
Aaron Murray is tied for #1 nationally in yards per attempt and is #3 in passing efficiency. How ’bout that Dawg?
LakeDawg
November 11th, 2012
10:35 pm
I was thinking the same thing, Bill. Facing those triple option teams will take the Dawgs out of their rhythm. However, I think its a good thing that UGA won’t be thinking about Bama the next two weeks. They would just would just get over-hyped. BTW On Grantham keeping his starters in: He wanted them to play a quality game from start to finish. That sets a tone and is much more important than worrying about injuries. You can’t play scared or you’ve already lost.
All Roads go through Florida
November 11th, 2012
10:46 pm
Worth the risk. The BCS is based on flash and dash now and a shutout could earn Georgia some extra points in the polls
Finchdawg
November 11th, 2012
10:59 pm
Bill, I’d like your thoughts comparing this year to 2008, in which we faced Georgia Southern and won but allowed Tech to run over our defense a week or two later. Do you think watching the Dawgs defend the triple option helped Johnson get ready for us and get the win?
Finchdawg
November 11th, 2012
11:06 pm
Oops, just realized that game was at the beginning of the season instead of right before Tech.
Bill King
November 11th, 2012
11:40 pm
To Chris and southgadawghead:
Check Saturday’s postgame Blawg. I discussed the running backs, special teams play and much more about the Auburn game. Today’s Blawg is a followup.
Here’s a link:
http://blogs.ajc.com/junkyard-blawg/2012/11/10/dawgs-exact-sweet-payback-in-return-to-jordan-hare-stadium/
1+3
November 12th, 2012
12:11 am
I am glad he kept the D in the game. If the other team is running its first team trying to score, then we run our first team D and try to keep them from scoring. I like shutouts and to be honest, 38-0 sounds a lot better and 38-7 or 38-10.
Georgia DAWG
November 12th, 2012
1:09 am
Mike Bobo and Todd Granthan both made the right game-plan decisions, IMO.
CTG in letting his starters play four complete quarters, which they will need to do against Bama, and secured a shut out; a goal both the Georgia D and CTG had game-planned to achieve, and it was assured.
Likewise, CMB had game-planned to quickly score and set the tone for the entire game, eloquently mixing the run and pass game, continuously moving the chains on offense and putting enough points on the board to assure the game was well in hand in the first half.
Brilliant play-calling and execution and he called the first-string off when the game was well in hand, particularly with the way the defense and special teams were playing. He definitely did the right thing, assuring no injuries to the key offensive team and letting the subs get well deserved playing time.
Overall, a masterful game plan and masterful team execution. Georgia humbled and embarrassed the Auburn Tiger on their home field, and exacted their revenge on the poor unsportsmanlike play of AU in 2010. Couldn’t have done it any better! IMO, right calls and decisions and masterful execution by the Georgia Bulldogs! 38-0 and securing the SEC Eastern Division Championship looks mighty fine!
Now, let’s get ready to beat Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech, then focus on the SECCG!
Go Dawgs! Get ‘er done. One game at a time! “Our Team. Our Time. No Regrets!”
Georgia DAWG
November 12th, 2012
1:55 am
Enter your comments here
Mountain Dawg
November 12th, 2012
2:23 am
Hell yes, it was worth the risk. You’ve been harping about us not going for the jugular when we’ve got teams down. Well, this time we did. No brainer.
Just Saying
November 12th, 2012
6:14 am
I disagree, when you leave your offense in the game and start passing……you are trying to run up the score. I’m happy we kept the defense in the game because they need more reps and several of them need a little more conditioning. I don’t want to see hands on their hips when they are playing GS, GT or Bama. I do agree we could have lost a key player, but that can also be said for having full contact practices. I hope we don’t lose focus over the next 2 weeks because Ga Southern could give us fits like they did last year with Bama……and GT is still a mystery team and it would make their season to beat us. Go Dawgs!
Water Dawg
November 12th, 2012
6:55 am
So I must have missed it: what’s up with Parker at backup and Christian Lemay at #3? And I completely agree with putting in backups to get some experience. But let them run the offense! If Murray goes down we’ve got two QB’s behind him who haven’t thrown a pass in a game in two months.
Spike
November 12th, 2012
7:07 am
Yes, it was worth it. It will always be worth it after 2010 and the fire hoses.
SouthGaBrave
November 12th, 2012
7:39 am
Finchdawg,
In 2008 (on top of it being at the beginning of the season, like you mentioned) Georgia Southern was coached by Chris Hatcher and ran his shotgun-spread offense.
Homeslice
November 12th, 2012
8:06 am
The State title is on the line two weeks in a row. against the second best team in the state of Georgia, Georgia Southern, and then we play Tech……
NC_Dawg
November 12th, 2012
8:18 am
You could argue that preparing for Georgia Southern and Georgia Techs triple option will actually improve our preparation for Alabama. You have to be alot more disciplined to defend the triple option. You also have to tackle very well. I don’t thik this will hurt our preparation for Bama, I think it will help us in the long run.
NC_Dawg
November 12th, 2012
8:20 am
I’m not really concerned with Bama’s offense. They have not done much to impress against good defenses. I think our D matches up well against them. I’m more concerned with our offense scoring on their defense.
Tide ain't rolling and A&M stopped them
November 12th, 2012
8:50 am
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
AltamahaDawg
November 12th, 2012
8:51 am
My buddy asked me after game, what possible whining could the bloger do this week, and I said, Oh I imagine we will see a battle between the: 5% risk of injury to a starter and the “foot on the gas” cliche’ in full display.
My take on it was: I am sure the shutout was a goal, but I imagine the thinking was more likely that Grantham knows that he finally has his unit playing with all the pieces in place, and wants to get max reps. He is in the mind set that he is dealing with the equivalent of a 5 game season.
AltamahaDawg
November 12th, 2012
8:59 am
BTW, I think the new of late tech offense will be throwing the ball quite a bit against us, so I am not sure that our DBs are going to be taking a picnic. The front 7 has to play assignments, gaps, as always. Different look, but still.
ARdawg
November 12th, 2012
9:11 am
Altamaha
One would be hard pressed to find anything wrong with that game. I am a bit surprised Richt didn’t go postal and put 50 but, that’s his call. 38 and not letting them score achieves the same result
DIT
November 12th, 2012
9:12 am
No Bama posters yet………………………
Old Dawg
November 12th, 2012
9:14 am
The only thing I worry about in playing Southern and Tech are the chop blocks on the defensive linemen. UGA lost a starter in the seasoning opener against Southern the last time the two teams play.
I understand angle blocking in option attacks; hell, I played against them. But the chop blocks have to go. I hope the officials watch this practice closely and make the appropriate calls.
RxDawg
November 12th, 2012
9:18 am
“But keeping the first string in the game in garbage time just to maintain a shutout was a questionable decision”
You dawg gone right it was questionable. It was pretty dang dumb I think.
1. Don’t risk injury when you don’t have to. This ain’t playstation football.
2. You’ve got to take advantage of real game time to give your backups experience. Practice is great and all, but it’s games where you trully learn to play ball.
gbal
November 12th, 2012
9:31 am
WHAT IF ????
What if the 4 team playoff was implemented this year? Would it be pretty exciting or what?
O, K, & ND playing each week to the end to remain undefeated and in the 4 team playoff!
Bama and UGA headed to a play in game at the Ga Dome for the 4th spot….I’d guess??? What a game that will be!!!
WHAT IF AN O, K, or ND loose a game??? How far will they drop? Below the other 1-2 loss teams at 4 thru 9? (All in the SEC) 6 SEC teams watching from the outside for a chance to work in if a top 3 looses. Or can there be two SEC teams in this year??? Currently 6 sec teams in the top 10!
The SEC is holding spots 4 thru 9 in the BCS ranking. Will there be two SEC teams in the final 4? Could the Bama UGA looser be in or will they drop in the polls and be skipped over by a 5 – 6 ranked team that is….. from the SEC but didnt win their division!!!
Or would this “COMMITTEE” decide that we wont have two teams from the same confrence in the playoff….. We will reach out to another confrence champ….. somewhere down in the 9-10th range ranked team to fill a spot in the
4 teams?
Anyone who said a playoff would deminish the regular season??? NUTS We would have 6-8 teams with a chance to play in, upsets putting teams out, fans interest in any game where a top 10 team was playing because it could mean something.
Wish we were there!!! But guessing UGA’s possible path to the playoff would be the same as it is now. Gotta beat bama and hope for a O<K<ND loss or two.
A lot of controversary to look forward to.
Just Saying
November 12th, 2012
9:34 am
What happened to all the Bama, FL and SC posters?
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 12th, 2012
9:40 am
RxDawg
I totally agree; 2nd and 3rd string should have been in the game getting more experience for next season; especially since we lose this entire defense next year
but what do you expect from our bush league coaching staff;
I mean do they really think thats going to make a difference in the polls when everyone knows how horrible Auburn is this year
RxDawg
November 12th, 2012
9:40 am
gbal, a 4 team playoff would be great right now. It also isn’t enough to diminish the regular season. 8 would probably be the cutoff, because it’s still pretty tough to rank in the top 8. What people worry about, and rightly so, and when the whinning starts about letting in this team, or that conference into the playoffs and then it baloons to 16 or more. That’s when you’ll see the regular season games be a little less important. Especially at the end of the season (when all those big rival games take place) and some teams already have the playoffs and home field advantage sealed up.
That said, I’m with you on a 4 or even 8 team playoff. But they must, and I mean MUST never allow it to grow over 8.
Just Saying
November 12th, 2012
9:40 am
@gbal
Imagine if the top 3 teams were to lose and we were in the new 4 team playoff structure. The SEC would probably have all 4 slots filled in the NC brackets!!! It would be possible in that scenario that the loser of the SEC championship would not be in the all SEC NC play-offs.????? Crazy stuff!!!!
35 - 7
November 12th, 2012
9:46 am
Too bad our second stringers couldnt provide more scoring opportunities to get style points and couldnt gain Todd Granthams confidence to preserve a shut out. Next year UGA is really gonna stink on Defense. Clemson will whip us silly next year. Too bad UGA blew it in Columbia but we still get to go to the CRAPITAL One Bowl.
gbal
November 12th, 2012
9:51 am
OH and WHAT IF ….. Ohio ST is off probation,,,, At 10-0 this season we now 4 undefeated teams.. they are selected by the comittee and the SEC is shut out!!! And with 6 teams in the top 10!!!
Vance
November 12th, 2012
9:53 am
Maybe Grantham is keeping his first team in four quarters, because he knows they will need endurance in the title game. Whatever the reason, it was a stellar effort by the D.
gbal
November 12th, 2012
9:53 am
Agree with you that 8 it the ultimate number. But also feel like it should be based on ranking, which would be SEC heavy.
Ed
November 12th, 2012
10:03 am
Bill, to answer your question hell no it wasn’t worth it. But I’m happy we got the shutout anyway. This is on Richt IMO – he’s the head coach and can order any personnel changes he wants. Maybe he wanted the shutout as badly as Grantham, but can you imagine not having JJ or Rambo or Jenkins in the SECCG?
Hopefully the shutout will free them up to coach smarter in the next two games.
Paul
November 12th, 2012
10:05 am
Is the game this weekend available on TV statewide? I know it is on Chanel 2 in Atlanta but I was most concerned about the Macon area.
Russell Hall
November 12th, 2012
10:09 am
The shutout was worth the risk. I agree with the poster who analogized it to taking out your starting pitcher seven innings into a no hitter.
35 - 7
November 12th, 2012
10:09 am
Lets be real…. Aaron Murray stunk it up big in the big games this year (USC and Florida) as he usually does. His numbers are inflated because of UGA’s weak schedule. Some of you need to get off the Murray bandwagon and stop drinking the kool aid.
gbal
November 12th, 2012
10:17 am
PLAYOFF!!!!!
festus
November 12th, 2012
10:17 am
reports are saying Derek Dooley is gonna be fired.
BigJim
November 12th, 2012
10:34 am
Mark Richt: 3-15 against ranked teams since 2009!! PITIFUL!
BigJim
November 12th, 2012
10:36 am
Is anyone but me tired of the CAPITAL ONE BOWL year after year after crappy year?? FIRE MARK RICHT!!!!!!!
RxDawg
November 12th, 2012
10:36 am
“I agree with the poster who analogized it to taking out your starting pitcher seven innings into a no hitter.”
Meh… a baseball pitcher isn’t getted smacked around every play like a football player. But that’s not even the main issue I have with leaving our starters in. I’m upset because our backups (the starters next year, or in one play possibly) could of gotten some rare game time experience.
BigJim
November 12th, 2012
10:36 am
4 words for ALL Georgia football fans….CAPITAL ONE BOWL AGAIN!
vince
November 12th, 2012
10:41 am
Somebody needs to tell Richt that GSU coach Monken called UGA a junior college on his radio show
Flo-Ri-Duh
November 12th, 2012
10:50 am
No need to get another WR injured when the game is done……. good decision to run the ball and the clock. There was some substituting on the “D” but not so much in the secondary. Would be good to bet the backup DBs more playing time.
GeorgiaSouthernFan
November 12th, 2012
10:51 am
Back in 2008, Georgia Southern was not running the triple option, and finished the season 6/11 – a very different team than UGA is facing in 2012. This year, they face a triple option offense that is identical to the one that put 21 points and 302 rushing yards on Alabama in the previous year. As for comparing GSU to GT, yes, they both run the option, but they’re very different. Tech will throw the ball, be it the option pass, or a straight up pass play, 10-15 times a game. GSU will throw the ball 2-5 times a game, and only once you bring the house. Any completion GSU gets will be 40+ yards or a touchdown. Georgia will most definitely win, but I wouldn’t consider this to be a game to skip. If anything, the GSU game will probably be closer than the tech game.
Honey Badger Has the Munchies
November 12th, 2012
10:52 am
Come on BigJim….don’t hate, congratulate. Georgia is built to play a team like Bama and win. Have to play four complete quarters against Bama in order to beat them.
BigJim
November 12th, 2012
10:58 am
Hey Honeybadger….I want Georgia to win! Trust me. I just look at history, that’s all. They win and they’re in a BCS Bowl. But they won’t! They’ll fold, like last year against LSU! And they’ll wind up in the Capital One Bowl, AGAIN! Mark Richt: 3-15 against ranked teams, since 2009! I say…FIRE HIM, and his entire staff!!!!!
Flo-Ri-Duh
November 12th, 2012
11:00 am
Saban has been back in touch with Nkemdiche and Reuben Foster and will likely get an official visit from them. Saban is also keeping a spot open for Kamara in order to lure Nkimdiche and he is considering Denzel transferring to Bummer to get Nkemdiche. Saban doesn’t do package deals but these guys are special and Saban is willing to make an exception. To get Nkemdiche and Foster UGA would have to do the same and UGA has about 6 to 9 openings left. Nkemdiche/Denzel/Kamara, Foster, Tunsil, Adams, Johnson, Rumph, Alvin Kamara….. just maybe!
Lonnie
November 12th, 2012
11:03 am
Jim, patched and 35-7, we won and have won 9 out of 10 games! We are # 5 in the nation and in SEC championship game. Can u possibly blog this comment before your rants!!!!!! “good job dawgs”.
GeorgiaSouthernFan
November 12th, 2012
11:05 am
BigJim, Richt has taken UGA to the SEC championship 5 times in his 12 year tenure at Georgia. The problem with firing Richt, let alone his entire staff, is finding a replacement who will do better. The only person who might deserve to be fired (excluding the fact that he is one of the best recruiters in the nation) is Mike Bobo & his idiotic play calling. i.e. “third and fourteen? I think we’ll run it up the middle.”
AltamahaDawg
November 12th, 2012
11:05 am
Georgia used Carlton Thomas in the second half of the LSU game last year. . LSU weathered the passing attack, adjusted, and Georgia had nothing to counter. Did I mention we ran Carlton Thomas? He was the best best option to run the ball, given Crowell, and Malcome were out. That was the story in it’s entirety.
Does “history” tell you that we will be running Kyle Kerempelis against Alabama in the second half of the SECCG?
BigJim
November 12th, 2012
11:06 am
Lonnie…facts don’t lie! Mark Richt is 3-15 against ranked teams…since 2009! That, sir, is a FACT!
Honey Badger Has the Munchies
November 12th, 2012
11:06 am
BigJim…as Dawg fans we all feel the frustration, especially against ranked teams, in the past. We just can’t seem to escape our past. I try to stay positive (which can be difficult, because history has taught us that). Just have to get past Ga Southern and GT, which we should. Like I said, Georgia has the talent to beat Bama, just have to play a COMPLETE game.
BigJim
November 12th, 2012
11:07 am
I agree Honey Badger…I do. We’ll see, at the Georgia Dome.
SSIgator
November 12th, 2012
11:10 am
“Murray, who got more than his share of bashing earlier in the season”
____________
Like when he went 11-31 with 0 TD’s and an interception?
BigJim
November 12th, 2012
11:12 am
Hey GeorgiaSouthern fan. Mark Richt has won 2 SEC Championships. 2. 2002 and 2005. His last SEC Championship was 2005. It’s now 2012. Since 2009, Mark Richt has gone 3-15 against ranked teams. We have appeared in more Capital One Bowls in the last 15 years than I’d want to in a lifetime. That, sir, is NOT success! I expect more from a coach who finishes in the top 5 recruiting every single year AND who make $3,000,000.00+ per year! If you don’t, I can’t help you!
AltamahaDawg
November 12th, 2012
11:13 am
You could probably count the actual times Coach Bobo has run it up the middle on 3rd and long in the past few years on your toes. take out the instances where they were back up and protecting terrible field position (which is the exact correct call to make there), and I bet you could count it on one foot. Not to say that any number of complaints about of the job he has done is not warranted, but the “3rd and long run” cliche’ is frankly a complete myth.
I agree with the thesis, that “anybody” could do better in the fire/hire discussion. No, very very few coaches in America could do better than Mark Richt has done at Georgia, and there is no guarantees they would fit in as well.
Uncle Kirk
November 12th, 2012
11:16 am
Tire is still flat……maybe the much smarter than you coaches should play for this year now…..and worry about next year when this year is over. Still so bitter. We will continue to help you through your insecurities.
gbal
November 12th, 2012
11:18 am
Play your subs in a slaughter….. The right thing to do… Lets move on.
wr29te
November 12th, 2012
11:24 am
Let coach Spur cry about his next year schedule now At Uga,Vandy,Ky, at Ark, at Tenn, at MO, Miss St. and Fla……… it could be tough
Disco Duck
November 12th, 2012
11:27 am
Did Mark Richt bail his pal Caleb King out of jail when he was arrested last week?
SSIgator
November 12th, 2012
11:29 am
Richt after the game against Alabama on December 1, 2012:
“First of all, the bad news is we took a whipping. The good news is we all took it together. It was a team loss,”
AltamahaDawg
November 12th, 2012
11:30 am
Well he DOESN”T finish in the top 5 recruting every single year (hardly). The few coaches that have have done consistantly better than Richt since 2009 actually HAVE, and make a lot more money.
Not supporting Richt is your choice, thats fine. But if you insist on convincing the vast majority of us that do, otherwise, you might want to list criteria that are actualy factual.
MadDawg
November 12th, 2012
11:32 am
Enter your comments here
AltamahaDawg
November 12th, 2012
11:34 am
So Jim’s take on the 2012 SEC East Champs, 9-1, #5 team, is……..back 3 years ago, we weren’t as good.
MadDawg
November 12th, 2012
11:36 am
Keep the petal down hard and stay sharp these next two weeks. Bama is going to come with it to ATL and UGA best be up if we want to have a chance… A&M stirred the hornets nest!
BigJim
November 12th, 2012
11:37 am
AltamahaDawg….keep on supporting mediocrity and a LOSING RECORD (3-15) against ranked teams since 2009. You, sir, and happy just beating the Buffalos (barely), Florida Atlantics, Georgia Southerns, and other DIV II opponents…while getting killed against the quality, ranked teams! I, sir, and sick and TIRED of accepting that! We can do better, and we SHOULD! But we will NOT under Mark Richt!! I’m happy for you that you are tickled at beating crappy teams. I think the Georgia Bulldogs should aspire to greatness…not crap!
BigJim
November 12th, 2012
11:38 am
Mark Richt’s last SEC Championship…..2005!
BigJim
November 12th, 2012
11:39 am
Mark Richt’s record against ranked teams, since 2009: 3-15!!! That is a FACT!
ARdawg
November 12th, 2012
11:40 am
Good luck to Nkemdiche wherever he goes and I hope it’s not UGA
LawDawg
November 12th, 2012
11:42 am
I’ll say this for Murray: He is a tough kid and when he comes out to start a game not looking like he needs to take about 13 valium to get his head in game-mode, he can be a great, great QB. The problem is he usually spots good teams the first quarter.
I will say that Johnny Football is probably going to win a national championship in the next 2-3 years. Texas A&M is a great addition to the SEC. They were good last year and added an absolute stud QB and a great coach right in time for the SEC debut.
Bama/UGA should be a pretty good game. That Bama D is more disciplined than UGA, but less talented. As Pollack said on GameDay, when you watch them it is still a very good D, but not nearly as talented as the last three years (turns out losing 5 top-40 picks makes a difference). UGA has amazing talent, but sometimes loses focus. If Murray plays a solid, nearly mistake-free game and UGA can keep Lacy from gashing it, UGA has a good chance.
I am worried about being in triple-option mode, but maybe it is not a bad thing that we will not have extra time to overthink things.
Don’t sleep on Southern or Tech. We still have two games before Atlanta, and I would hate to see the season come to a shrieking halt with a loss to the bumblebees.
ARdawg
November 12th, 2012
11:44 am
Maddawg
C’mon, Bama hasn’t been the jaggernaut they’ve been given credit for. They were actually exposed in the Ole Miss Game and completely uncovered in the LSU game. McCarron isn’t as good as thought. Anyone can be good behind that line. Great lines on both sides of the ball can mask inefficiencies. Georgia can beat Bama in a good game in ATL. Talk about drinking kool-aid, those Bama fansrunning around with their chest poked out, now thats some serious koolaid drinkers
Desert Fox
November 12th, 2012
11:45 am
By pulling the starters on O so soon left our defense on the field which could have cost the dawgs dearly in injuries. You want to give the starters on O a rest CMB should also allow the replacements a chance to make first downs w/some easy pass plays instead of running the ball all the time and going 3 and out most of the 4th qtr. That might eat the clock but it also puts your D back on the field w/little rest between series. With so much at stake the next 3 weeks coaches need to consider a strategy that both gives backups playing time but not at a wholesale rate especially w/a entire quarter to play. I’d be somewhat upset at CMB if I was CTG. Wonder if this was discussed by both of them along w/CMR before doing it? Dawgs will be a tired team (esp on D) going into the dome if they pull this again in next 2 weeks.
LawDawg
November 12th, 2012
11:45 am
SSIgator (pronounced “sissy gator”): I know your life is so empty, lonely and devoid of meaning that you crave attention so much that you must have people react to you, even if the only attention you can receive is negative attention from strangers.
You and GTBob and BigJim and whoever else don’t really bother me. I just pity you and I hope things get better in your life where you do not need to have your identity reinforced through anonymous commenting. God bless.
Dwayne
November 12th, 2012
11:59 am
bigjim=bama/tech/gator troll
AltamahaDawg
November 12th, 2012
12:00 pm
The problem with you pretending to be an expert on what I think, JIm, Is that I know you are FOS, instantly. So there is that.
And what is so critical about “2009″? Just wondering why a coache’s entire record is not used if you are so sure that those specifit “facts”are all that matters? Do you use that to show a recent trend? Aside from the reality that (you are cherry picking stats) ………clearly Georgia Football is not trending downwards today? Please clarify your point for us, because it sounds like you are simply repeating stuff, with little thought put into it.
and those hackneyed insults to my manhood and expectations are a bit worn out and weak at this point aren’t they? did you just copy and paste that (most likely from YOU in another name)?
Newman
November 12th, 2012
12:16 pm
Very bush league on Grantham’s part. Coaches don’t forget those things…
AltamahaDawg
November 12th, 2012
12:22 pm
So if he has to face Chizik at North Dakota State anytime soon, payback is heck?
SanDiegoSunshine
November 12th, 2012
12:24 pm
Sorry, Bill, but I have to agree with Grantham on keeping them in. While injuries are part of the game and can occur at any time during the game, I believe keeping them in to secure the shutout was a major confidence builder in their ability to do what they’re suppose to do = keep the opponent from scoring. After a disastrous first half season, the game ball should go to the entire defensivie team and staff for the Auburn game. Goose eggs don’t come cheaply anymore, and this was a nice price. Great job, Grantham & Dawgs!!
Lonnie
November 12th, 2012
12:35 pm
Big Jim, this year is what matters and we are 9-1 #5 and SEC east champs!!!!!! Yes I am proud of the dawgs! Once again can u say good job. This is the same Auburn who played a 12-10 game against LSU! Yes we stunk it up against SC but we have rebounded well.
DrC
November 12th, 2012
12:47 pm
Bill – Players are susceptible to injury in practice during the week (see Michael Bennett) and to argue to keep them out for injury’s sake is not realyl valid…those players wanted that shutout more than Coach Grantham and to their credit, they earned it.
Just Saying
November 12th, 2012
12:58 pm
Yes indeed……… And ALL the negative bloggers and press ALWAYS point to where the defense ranks. A shut-out means a lot toward “style” points at a time in the season when it all starts to matter. I think holding Auburn scoreless was huge and worth the injury gamble.
Neutral
November 12th, 2012
1:09 pm
To ALL the Murray haters,
Please understand that he has never choked!!! You just think he does when he faces a Top 5 defense. Examples: LSU, Michigan State, FL and SC. If he choked then what did the #1 ranked LSU team do twice last season against Bama? In case you forgot……they scored 3 field goals in 2 entire games. Murray has never been that bad. What did the SC QB do against FL and LSU this year…..correct, absolutely nothing!!!! And what did The FL QB do against UGa this year? Correct if you say he didn’t even score a single TD. Even Bama’s QB on their NC team last year did not score a TD against LSU in the first game last last season. In fact, Bama only scored 6 points in that game. Sooner or later you doubters need to get a clue that it isn’t Murray “choking” in the big games…..it is what happens when ALL teams face great defenses. That is why a team like Oregon will look very different if they were to face a great defense like UGa, Bama, LSU, SC or FL.
35-7
November 12th, 2012
1:10 pm
Losing to South Carolina fo the third straight year means your program has slipped. Stay off the Kool aid People. Bama and the West is gonna cream the SEC East champs for a third straight year.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 12th, 2012
1:41 pm
Altamaha
Captain Kirk
When your team has only beaten 1 top 20 team in 4 years and is 1-10 against the top 10 and 3-15 against the top 25 in 4 years those are realistic stats not cherry picking
the season is not over; we will be playing a great team in Bama and possibly a decent bowl team; win those then you can say we are doing much better
beating 1 decent team this year doesnt constitute a turn around performance
3 teams KY Tenn and Aub are probably going to fire their coaches Ky already has those 3 teams dont even have an SEC win this year
SC blew us away
Vandy Buffalo Florida Atlantic; Ole Miss and Missourri are a laughable joke so that leaves FL who on offense are horrific
So please inform the class how thats not cherry picking an easy beat no one schedule this year
LHarding Dawg
November 12th, 2012
1:58 pm
Last 8 quarters of football against Auburn, the score 83-7. Look really good!
Former Georgian
November 12th, 2012
2:12 pm
Agree with Grantham’s call. It seems like it would be really special for the Seniors on defense to get a shutout in their last regular season SEC game.
Uncle Kirk
November 12th, 2012
2:22 pm
It’s getting worse patched……you are noe bi polar blogging with 2 different names……we are still here for you.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 12th, 2012
2:25 pm
Admiral Kirk…..Captain of the SS Kool-aid
Im not blogging with two different names
BTW
I will be here for you when we lose another game and you realize we didnt beat anyone this year
Uncle Kirk
November 12th, 2012
2:41 pm
Sorry patched….I won’t need you. Even if we lose, I don’t feel the need to spew out ignorant rants and raves because I either don’t like the coach or I am a fan of another team just trying to stir crap up. I will support my dawgs and the coaches no matter what. If you can’t see that we have gotten better each of the last 2 years then you have blinders on. Heck, you are so biased and negative, even if we beat Bama it would be because they had a down year. Don’t worry, your negativity can be cured. Just takes time and a big support cast…..we are here for you.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
November 12th, 2012
2:43 pm
Nobody will say it…but is C. Lemay a bust at qb?
Steve Superior
November 12th, 2012
2:52 pm
Don’t forget who your daddy is.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 12th, 2012
3:16 pm
Admiral Kirk…. Captain of the SS Kool-aid
Ignorant rants???
I have blinders on cause we have gotten better the last 2 years
Seriously the only one who needs help is you..
No one respects UGA why because we didnt beat a ranked team last year and lost to every good team we played except 1 the last 4 yrs
Its not negativity Uncle Kool-aid its facts; beating teams like KY and horrible teams like Tenn and Aub do not constitute a turn around
Stiffneck
November 12th, 2012
3:18 pm
“Questionable decision, as one of Georgia’s star defenders easily could have gone down with an injury well after the outcome of the game was already decided.”
Bill, c’mon man. Mitchell got hurt in a simple walk-though earlier this season. No promises either way.
17-9
November 12th, 2012
3:29 pm
SSIGator
Like when the mighty Gators celebrated like they just won the SEC East by returning a blocked punt against a 5-4 Sun Belt conference team after trailing by 7 with less than 2 minutes left in the game.
The Dawgs won the SEC East this season by beating the Gators for the 2nd straight season and forcing he swamp lizards into 6 turnovers.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 12th, 2012
3:32 pm
Uncle Kool-aid
Wait I forget getting better to you means beating the Vandy’s Buffalo’s and Ky’s
AltamahaDawg
November 12th, 2012
3:33 pm
As it turns out we could have easily beat Auburn with quite a few second string guys in the line-up, and that was pretty clear before halftime. So why not pull the starters out of the lockerroom, if injuries were the issue.
I think we are missing the point of using the shut out as a “goal”. sure, there is some bragging rights, or statement to be had there………but I imagine what Grantham was really doing was using that as a simulation, a training tool, to have his squad accomplish something, so that down the road when it really matters, they are better prepared. (holding a lead where it is, or getting the ball back for the offense when its down)
7576DAWG
November 12th, 2012
3:58 pm
Grantham should have kept his first string in the whole game so they will have a feel for what will be expected against Alabama. If they get tire with 10 minutes left against Alabama if the game was in doubt until then , it won’t be after they get tired. In order to beat Alabama we better be able to play for 60 minutes and the Defense better be able to get a few stops in the fourth quarter and make Alabama punt.
ARdawg
November 12th, 2012
4:01 pm
Altamaha
There is also the idea that TG may be preparing the defense to playing lights out for 4 quarters as a preparation measure for the championship game in Atlanta. With two option teams in the next two weeks it does make a modicum of sense
AltamahaDawg
November 12th, 2012
4:08 pm
dis is what I’m sayin.
35-7
November 12th, 2012
4:49 pm
Lemay and Ray Drew are bust.
Mobile Dawg
November 12th, 2012
4:57 pm
Proof will be in the pudding Patch, lighten up a little and enjoy the success for now. I have questioned the wisdom of extending and keeping Richt for at least a couple of years now. No gurantees he keeps the Dawgs focused, or from getting blown out in the SECCG.
I’m not close to ready to declare a turnaround has been achieved, but I’m not going to let the concern for the future overshadow the “joy” and “fun” of beating the Gators twice, watching the OBC seething with envy, or seeing a bunch of young guys enjoying their success.
Watching Bama is evidence that on any given day even a great team can come not prepared to play. I think the Bama players have been paying a little to much attention to the media, and not enough to their coach. I imagine they will be loaded for bear when we get our chance on the “National Stage” again. Hopefully we represent ourselves well. If Richt, and company, underestimates Bama it could get ugly quick.
35-7
November 12th, 2012
5:05 pm
Beating the Gators twice is Great but losing to South Carolina for the third straight time is embarrassing.
Dog4Life
November 12th, 2012
5:15 pm
DRC Band–It is difficult to truly evaluate LeMay. He lost his senior year because of an indiscretion with some female student on school grounds. To come into the SEC with senior yr experience is difficult enough, but to not have played–we will wait on this guy and see. BoBo said in Savannah last year that LeMay has the poitential to be a true dual threat QB–it will just take time. As far as Bama, The thing that I see different this year than last year against LSU is our running attack. Gurley and Marshall are quality backs–if we don’t blow up the game plan in the first 3 minutes as we did against carolina (everybody, the O and the D panicked in columbia and we never recovered), We should be able to hold our own–how does that translate–I don’t know–that is why we play the game. I was there for the LSU beat down and I will be there for the Bama game. Go Dawgs!!!!
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 12th, 2012
5:18 pm
Mobile
I agree; frankly if we beat FL every year I would be happy with 9-10 win seasons as long we are more respectable beating ranked teams and having the occasional upset every and fielding a team that the opposing teams know not to take us lightly like Dooley did
The problem Ive had for years on this blog is the idea of price gouging the fanbase for season tickets when the product on the field hasnt warranted the cost.
also the morons who come on this blog talking about pre-season national championship and mid season national championship;
and the ones who when you make a statement about play calling or anything else they pull the get off this blog your not a true fan garbage
but of course I get blamed for only wanting nothing more than a National Championship but that isnt the case
3-15 against the top 25 and 1 victory over a top 20 in the last 4 years is not respectable football with the amount of talent weve had
Thats been my issue
Mobile Dawg
November 12th, 2012
6:42 pm
I agree with you Patched Tire on just about every point you made. I hope the performance can be sustained consistently. Mark Richt has to realize that he has to give it 100% all the time. No rest, no satisfaction, he’s paid and his job requires absolute committment.
Mark (another one)
November 12th, 2012
7:09 pm
Grantham plays a lot of players to keep the team fresh. This also means the depth has meaningful snaps, not just mop up time. I don’t see an issue. Also, these guys practice all year to play 12 games. Are we saying they don’t get to play late in a game that they’ve spent all that time preparing for?
Richt, Grantham and Bobo will always get some criticism. Some want us to pour it on and others want us to play the backups. It is always a balancing act and our opinions don’t count in the equation.
DawginLex
November 12th, 2012
9:07 pm
How many games has this entire starting defense been together?
Six.
Our opponent in the SECCG has a defense that has been together 10 games.
That’s why the starters didn’t get pulled. You idiots can’t be pleased. If he pulled the starters and it ended up 38-21 you would gripe about Richt being soft
Some of you are too stupid to even live in society without someone with a brain to guide you around
DawginLex
November 12th, 2012
9:15 pm
SSI idiot
Funny thing about Murray.
2-1 versus the gators
Muschamp would give his right testicle to have him on his team
You remain a pathetic moron ma’am
Love
Nancy
jocrazy
November 12th, 2012
11:24 pm
please leave qb alone.name one better than murray in sec.how many better in nation.just look around.every sec team would love to have him.he is great.
Fair n Balanced
November 13th, 2012
1:31 am
The biggest problem for GA going into these last two reg season games is injuries from a different blocking scheme. Then comes the fact that we will have to revert back to normal defensive set up to play Bama.
Lonnie
November 13th, 2012
5:35 am
Great year dawgs let’s finish the drill!!!!!
Pulpwud Smiff
November 13th, 2012
7:19 am
Frankly, I’m pretty fed up with all of the Richt apologists with their lame whining that all schools have the same problems with their athletes. That’s utter tripe. UGA has so many athletes arrested and suspended or dismissed outright because Mark Richt recruits low class dummies with no moral compass, no sense of teamwork, and a “me first” attitude that’s like a cancer to the team.
Don’t tell me that Ealey, King, Crowell, Sanks, and all the other punks like them weren’t already bad when Richt recruited them.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 13th, 2012
7:40 am
pulpwood you moron. If there was no discipline, then the kids that mess up wouldn’t get in trouble and you wouldn’t know about it. The reason you don’t hear it from most other schools is because they have rules not as strict and/or just sweep it under the rug.
ugab
November 13th, 2012
10:09 am
There was plenty of backups on Defense in the game. I had a Ray Drew sighting. Auburn played dirty a couple of years ago. It was nice to see the goose egg0. lol The dirty GT blocks are coming. I hope no one gets hurt.
Joey
November 13th, 2012
11:41 am
“…as one of Georgia’s star defenders easily could have gone down with an injury well after the outcome of the game was already decided.”
************************************
True, but as we have seen, a star WR (Bennent) can tear an ACL, blocking, on the last play of practice also.
Injury can happen anywhere anytime.
Mobile Dawg
November 13th, 2012
11:42 am
Mobile Dawg thinks that if one Dawg goes down to an illegal block Paul Johnson becomes a sideline target like a couple others that have gone down the last few years. Imagine a toss sweep with a couple of big uglys leading the way aimed right at CPJ, now that would be sweet. Hope it’s not to mean spirited for some of you warm and fuzzies.
Joey
November 13th, 2012
11:51 am
“We still owe them for the Fairly bush league play of 2010.”
*****************************************
Dang, Roswell DAWG, 83-7 since 2010 ain’t enough payback?
Ghost of Sinkwich
November 13th, 2012
11:57 am
Bill, I don’t believe they will forget everything, they have learned all year, in these net two weeks.
Alabamas’ talent and coaching are my concern.
Jon P
November 13th, 2012
12:59 pm
BigJim, I understand the facts of UGA’s non-success vs ranked teams since 2008. BUT did you prefer Jim Donnan or Ray Goff’s record’s and ZERO SEC championships or even ZERO appearances in the SEC Championship game? I prefer Richt and the way he conducts his business. We’ll get there, maybe not this year, but we will. How long did it take Tom Osborne and Bobby Bowden to win championships? Did they get fired for not winning a national title? Only 1 team can win and it’s hard to do. Richt WILL do it, it’s just a matter of when.
Rolling Stones 50
November 13th, 2012
1:42 pm
Wish we had Tech first to prepare for Southern. LOL
joe jenkins
November 13th, 2012
3:25 pm
I hope we put another beat down on tech…I hope we wear black jerseys for the seccg…i mean whats wrong with that? RED AND BLACK ARE OUR SCHOOL COLORS….Anyways i’m still waiting for jsw to step it up
Z Dawg
November 13th, 2012
3:50 pm
35-7, can you tell me who won the SEC East this year?
BMOC
November 13th, 2012
5:23 pm
Yes, it was worth it Bill.
‘0′
Ty
November 13th, 2012
7:26 pm
Trash the defense for playing the sarters???? Remember the earlier games where Murray was still in the game in mop up time and the other qbs were only in the game maybe two minutes. If the other team still has its starters in you keep your starters in except with a huge lead as the earlier games and the offense. One of these years Richt and Bobo are going to regret not having a back up qb ready to play when the starter gets hurt. Holding breath this year that Mason does not have to burn his red shirt. It will be a disaster vs GS, GT, or Bama if Murray gets hurt and he looses his red shirt and has not been in a game in two years. Besides that Welch has beat out the Blue Chipper who missed his senior year. So basically there is no game experience on the bench at QB. Welch or LeMay should have been given more time this year than they have. LeMay looks lost out there.
Jon P
November 13th, 2012
10:18 pm
Z Dawg, UGA won the east THIS YEAR and LAST YEAR. Head to Head scores only matter if the teams end up tied. IF USCe could beat a bad Auburn team at home last yeary (a team that lost to UGA 45-7), USCe would have won in 2011. IF USCe could have beaten a Florida team that UGA beat 17-9 (USCe lost 44-11), USCe would have won in 2012. SO, to answer your question, the team that had a 7-1 SEC record in 2011 & 2012 (UGA) won over a team that had a 6-2 SEC record in 2011 & 2012 (USCe). Nuff Said.
Jon P
November 13th, 2012
10:20 pm
35-7….you guys played a great game and kicked our tails, but we won the east no matter how much that pains you.
Jon P
November 13th, 2012
10:22 pm
Z Dawg, my comment was directed at 35-7, not you….just used your comment and added the stats and information for the USCe bitter fans comments that you were replying to.
Voyager Dawg
November 13th, 2012
11:52 pm
Stay focused Dawgs. Don’t look past Ga. Southern. Worry about the SECCG at the end of the season. Go Dawgs!
joe jenkins
November 14th, 2012
9:32 am
@ 35-7…..we still lead that series 46-17……