Even after another Dome drubbing, UGA’s progress is clear
Reasons to be cheerful: Alec Ogletree, Todd Grantham. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
It ended as it began: A massive Georgia contingent arrived at the Dome for a hugely anticipated game against a brand-name opponent, and the folks wearing red went home early. On Sept. 3 the Bulldogs led Boise State 7-0 and lost by two touchdowns; on Dec. 3 they led LSU by 10 points and lost by 32. And now you’re asking: This is progress?
Absolutely. The Boise game was a function of scheduling: Georgia’s choices were either to play or forfeit. The LSU game was for the championship of the nation’s best conference, and the Bulldogs had to win their way there. For the first time since 2005, the Bulldogs graced the big December game in the big city, and to qualify they had to rise from a 6-7 season and a Liberty Bowl to, ahem, Central Florida.
Another way in which the Boise loss wasn’t the LSU loss: Georgia was outfought and out-thought against the Broncos. As tight end Orson Charles admitted not long ago, “The first game was too big for us.” The only thing too big for Georgia on Saturday was its opponent.
The Georgia Bulldogs have played a lot of good teams over their long and distinguished history, but they might never have played one so physically imposing. There have been collegiate teams with greater skill, but as far as running fast and hitting hard the 2011 LSU Tigers might rank near the top of any list you’d care to compile.
To its credit, Georgia started fast and furious. Had it not dropped two touchdown passes and missed a field goal — and had the replay official been more diligent after Tyrann Mathieu flipped the ball to the official at the end of his first epic punt return — the Bulldogs could have led by 17 or 21 points and the game would have changed. LSU would probably have changed quarterbacks. (Coach Les Miles admitted afterward he was considering it at 10-0.) LSU would have had to throw the ball, which isn’t what LSU wants to do. That said …
LSU still might have won. There’s an indomitable nature to these Tigers that comes from being secure in their physical gifts, but such self-assurance is also fueled by the knowledge that they’ve played and won a bunch of big games against teams of comparable worth. Georgia still can’t say as much. Its biggest victories en route to the Dome were against Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech, which lost a total of 15 games. LSU’s biggest victories were against Oregon, Alabama and Arkansas, which lost a total of five games.
This isn’t to say Georgia can’t ascend to that exalted plane. The Bulldogs could return as many as 16 starters and, apart from tailback Isaiah Crowell and receiver Malcolm Mitchell, the effect of the Dream Team recruiting class hasn’t been felt. Georgia will be a Top 10 pick in preseason and the favorite to win the SEC East. (And with Florida and Tennessee in clear retreat, Vanderbilt might be tabbed third behind South Carolina.)
Loading ...Better still, the Bulldogs proved in 2011 that coaching, which failed in 2009 and 2010, is no longer an issue. Todd Grantham’s defense was tremendous. (Can’t do any better than holding the nation’s No. 1 team to no first downs in a half.) Mark Richt recommitted himself to offensive scheming, and the results were apparent. He and Mike Bobo stitched together a cohesive attack without benefit of a reliable tailback, which isn’t easy to do.
That said: The key issue over the winter might again be the question of Crowell. His signing topped off the Dream Team last February, and his first appearance against Boise State was greeted with a mighty cheer. Contrast that to the boos spawned by his third and fourth limp-offs against LSU. Clearly Crowell has tried his coaches’ patience: He was disciplined twice this season, and Saturday he drew an unsportsmanlike penalty from the bench. Two weeks ago Richt, casting an eye toward the recruit Keith Marshall of Raleigh, noted the “tremendous opportunity” awaiting a running back at Georgia.
And he’s right. There is opportunity here, not just for a tailback but for a team. Georgia figures to be back in the SEC title game next year, and in December 2012 the Tigers — don’t look now, but LSU is also scheduled to return 16 starters — mightn’t hold the same edge in manpower and mindset.
In his final words to the media Saturday night, Richt said: “I don’t think we’re that far off. I really don’t.”
Right again. A team that couldn’t break .500 last year just played for an SEC championship. The Bulldogs will play for another soon enough, and before long they’ll win one.
By Mark Bradley
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507 comments Add your comment
truedawg
December 4th, 2011
7:41 pm
DGD!!! All the guys played with heart and passion! Bobo and CMR called a good game and CTG had his guys ready to play and coached up! Sign them all back up, and lets get some more linemen and a RB. Dawgs will be relaoded in Sept and ready to make another run to the Dome. The passes droped were bad, but then again, we are young at WR Charles and King did ok, but we are not perfect. Against any other team in the nation I belive the Dawgs would have won against any team but Bama. The Dawgs I think played like a top 5 team. Another year of recruits and S&C and we’ll see them at the top again.
North Carolina raise up, but a UGA hat on..lol We need ya Marshal!! I don’t know if IC will straighten up or not. But he is young and hopefully will grow up some more.
GATA Dawgs, we have a bowl game to win!!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!
Dawg48
December 4th, 2011
7:41 pm
Red stick
When those extra 2 guys are big bruising RB that pin ball our DB’s it’s a lot.
Lol
Erk Russell's Dog
December 4th, 2011
7:42 pm
Mike in the ATL
The SEC is the most competitive league in all of football. The patience of the Uga fan base is wearing thin. Coach Richt is a good man,,that has never been questioned . But Coach Richt is now the most tenured coach in the SEC by far .He will be entering his 12th year as head coach at Georgia. The fans are getting tired of one step up and one or two steps back each year.
Mike ,you are correct that the majority of the people than post never coached a team ,and most never played beyond high school.But that does not disqualify them from giving their honest opinion about the state of the program at UGA.I respect your opinion as I hope you respect mine.
Why did we kick to Tyrann?
December 4th, 2011
7:42 pm
Game Stats (UGA won virtually every category except return yards). Knowing that LSU feeds off of Tyrann, would the UGA coaches please explain why we continued to kick to him. Why not kick the ball out of bounds. Inexplicable.
Team Stats
Georgia LSU
First downs 19 13
Rushing 5 11
Passing 11 1
Penalty 3 1
3rd Down Efficiency 7-21, 33% 1-9, 11%
4th down efficiency 1-2, 50% 0-0, -%
Rushes-Yards 34-78 35-207
Passing Yards 218 30
Return Yards 91 202
Completions-Attempts-Int 20-51-2 5-13-0
Sacks-Yards Lost 4–32 2–23
Punts 8 8
Punts-Average 51.6 50.4
Fumbles Lost 4-1 0-0
Penalties – Yards 9-87 8-54
Time of Possession 36:36 23:24
POOPDAWG
December 4th, 2011
7:46 pm
Mikeinatlanta , good job coach.
bubba4dawgs
December 4th, 2011
7:48 pm
It’s just a shame that Crowell hasn’t turned out as planned for the super back they expected. It’s not because of his obvious talent, it’s much more than that and something that may not be able to be fixed. He seems to be his worst enemy and now that everyone else is recognizing it, it just makes the matter worse! Strip him of the # 1 (which he clearly isn’t), bring on a top notch running back (several, please) and let him compete if he has the stuff to compete with. The winners in this league are LSU and Alabama, both sport big and strong running backs. UGA needs the same, men not boys and particularly cry babies and whiners! CMR knows full and well what he needs and I believe he will go get it too! He will only go so far with Crowell as witness what happened to King and Ealey. And, I believe he’s just about had enough of Sir Crowell!! Malcolm didn’t look too bad in the game. He might just be a big help next year! Let him play in the bowl game and leave Crowell on the bench or better still back in Columbus, Ga. GO DAWGS!!!!
flatsdawg1
December 4th, 2011
7:50 pm
Very proud of the dawgs this year and last night was a defensive performance in the first half I won’t forget, problem was as good as the defense was, the offense was that much worse. Les Miles was a couple plays away from startng to throw the ball, which would have given us a chance.,Yea the end was an apparent blowout like every other team had put on them except Alabama, but Al didn’t do that to them in the first half., and if we had caught a bunch of passes in the first half, very different game and who knows. Dawgs will be back!!!
BobDawg
December 4th, 2011
7:51 pm
Lots of jealousy from other teams fans. 10 other teams wanted to play in this game other than LSU & UGA. We went 7-1 in the ” lousy SEC” this year. If u want to beat us, get your teams better and bring it ON!
Big Dawg
December 4th, 2011
7:52 pm
That was embarrassing…………At the half time mark did UGA suit up the backgammon team and field them? What the Hell happened? Give me a damm break………………………..
Fan of the Game
December 4th, 2011
7:54 pm
Good season Dawgs. To the players that led we appreciate you. Coaches and players improved as the year went on and we will be even better next year. We will miss our Seniors. Hope one younger classman is gone next year. He is a total embarrassement and can’t be helped. Good luck in the bowl game.
Wait til Next Year
December 4th, 2011
7:54 pm
What crop of 5 stars will fix this ? Probably none.
POOPDAWG
December 4th, 2011
7:54 pm
bubba4 , Crowell was playing hurt. Its hard to run with bad wheels . We needed more than he could physically contribute. Time will tell about his heart and desire.
Corey
December 4th, 2011
7:55 pm
All TECH fans. Kill yourselves without pause. The world would be better off.
Erk Russell's Dog
December 4th, 2011
7:56 pm
Enter your comments here
Meandog
December 4th, 2011
7:57 pm
Isiah Crowell has got to grow some for us to really be a better team. It would be great if Keith Marshall came to Dogtown but he’ll still be a freshman and the tailback position is as thin as an onion layer both in terms of DAWGS playing it and experience. Thomas and Harton are too small, Malcome is too slow. UGA once had the rep as “Tailback U’ with greats like Herchel, Knowshon, Hearst, et al…we need to restore the glory!
BUCCADAWG
December 4th, 2011
7:58 pm
Great to be a GEORGIA BULLDAWG!!!!!! Cant wait till next year. I hope mr. Marshall and all the other recruits who wont to play for great coaches, great fans in the best stadium in college football to come on down. God bless aand GO DAWGS!!!!!! G.A.T.A.
Fan of the Game
December 4th, 2011
7:58 pm
Poopdawg – Crowell was’nt hurting between the ears. You walk away from the coach, that has nothing to do with hurting. You can have a good attitude and be hurt. I hope he is gone. He can teammup with Ealey. Both are products of people kissing their butts in high school.
Dawg48
December 4th, 2011
8:02 pm
Dawg48
December 4th, 2011
5:58 pm
TampaDawg
If we pick up KM and TG
Marshal is around 190-195 now will be a early enrollee going threw strength and conditioning should put on around 15 lbs…
Think about this KM 205lbs
TG 215lbs with 4.4 speed
Samuels 230lbs
Malcome 245lbs
IC around 220lbs
That could be a strong!
John Galt
December 4th, 2011
8:02 pm
Next year can be great; we are clearly progressing. Our only glaring need is to sign a tailback, as I cannot imagine Crowell staying out of trouble and returning next year.
There are two scenarios with Crowell. The first is that he is gone by the 2012 season opener. If he is NOT, that should mean he has matured, responded to Richt’s influence, and physical strengthened through a year of Joe T. In THAT case, the SEC had better watch out in 2012. Can you imagine IC focused and toughened?
With that said, I’m afraid I expect him, regretfully, to fail to make it through the off-season. I hope I’m wrong.
IC@UGA
December 4th, 2011
8:06 pm
Where da weed at?
Thomas
December 4th, 2011
8:09 pm
Who is the special teams coach at UGA. I still remember that this had been a problem from years past, when it was revealed that there is not a special teams coach. If that is still the case then this could only be attributed to the stubborness of Richt. I will not past judgement, because it is unknown how much emphasis is placed on this part of the team.
Birrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd Man
December 4th, 2011
8:12 pm
We need more than 1 ore 2 tailback signings…and a couple of fullbacks.
Dawg48
December 4th, 2011
8:13 pm
Thomas
Go look up and see how many teams have a special teams “coach”
Fan of the Game
December 4th, 2011
8:15 pm
We made some strides in the special teams this year. Walsh had his problems but we were able to kick it in the endzone on kickoffs many times. Haven’t done that much in the past. We have got to get better athletes on coverage teams. On the first punt return we just outkicked our coverage and when this happens you better have some athletes because the returner has had time to build up speed and that is what happened yesterday along with two block in the backs.
Birmingham Jacket
December 4th, 2011
8:15 pm
UGA=Way over-rated
Please….
Try to spin a 42-10 into a positive?!!!
We suck, and so do you.
Dream TEAM???
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Birmingham Jacket
December 4th, 2011
8:16 pm
Please…
How do you spin 42-10 positively?
Dream Team?
Ha! Ha! Ha!
college is forever
December 4th, 2011
8:21 pm
http://www.collegelunchboxes.com Even though they/we are beaten, bruised, and bloody the battle cry lives on: Go Dawgs!!
Thomas
December 4th, 2011
8:22 pm
Everyone seems to be so hard on Crowell the freshman sensation, who you all were so excited about on signing day. He is a freshman and may be a bit immature. Not all fresmen coming in behave the same way or show the desired level of maturity, could it be that Richt handed him the starting job without him earning it, which may have spurred whatever problem that yu’all now seem to be talking about.
With some of the things some of you are posting, little wonder some of these guys are willing to go out of state and play with some of our competitors rather than signing with Georgia.
we steal ruin this state
December 4th, 2011
8:22 pm
Rematch; LSU/Bama
01HAWK
December 4th, 2011
8:23 pm
ROLL TIDE ROLL…………………………………..You do not have to watch……………………Who cares if you don’t.
Tech Sucks
December 4th, 2011
8:23 pm
Dawgs will be insanely good next year.
Dawg48
December 4th, 2011
8:27 pm
Back door swung wide open and BAMA came in
DaFlick
December 4th, 2011
8:27 pm
LSU is about #7 Tyrone Matt.
Some Coach will be smart enough to figure that out and:
1- run plays to the other side
2- not kick or punt to him, ever.
LSU ain’t much without #7.
But Richt couldn’t figure that out.
Let's Face It
December 4th, 2011
8:35 pm
We keep overlooking one very big point. EVERY athlete in Louisiana wants to play for LSU. Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and other states do NOT raid Louisiana of it’s best talent. Back in Georgia, schools like Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina regularly get a big share of our top talent. I am a life long Georgia fan who recently moved to Louisiana and can see the difference in culture. In Alabama, Bama gets most of the top talent and Auburn gets not as much, but regularly comes across to get plenty Georgia boys. Tennessee used to get a big chunk, but lately not as many. Dooley may change that. Spurrier gets a share. Florida gets a lot of good ones. If we could somehow get 90 – 95% of all the best Georgia talent, we could have three deep fresh legs and 4 running backs that have each scored at leat 6 touchdowns like LSU.
FLA DAWG
December 4th, 2011
8:41 pm
Bobo & Richt had a gamplan for the first half of the game. After that they shot from the hip and were as usual, clueless.
We cannot afford to have these two on staff.
This is McGarity’s call now and he will have to live with it.
God Bless Us All, Pass The Peas and Fire Richt & Bobo.
(But keep Grantham)
FLA DAWG
December 4th, 2011
8:45 pm
CAN’t WAIT ‘TILL NEXT YEAR!
CAN’T WAIT ‘TILL NEXT YEAR!
CAN’T WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR!
What a bunch of dopes – you’ve been writing the same damn thing for three years now.
You’re too chicken to demand a change.
LSU demanded change and got it.
Bama demanded change and got it.
Auburn demanded change and got it.
Arkansas demanded change and got it.
But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, let’s stick with Bobo & Richt because they are such nice Christian guys.
Make me sick will ya.
MiamiDawg
December 4th, 2011
9:01 pm
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Time to man up and make some changes. There is more pain ahead, there might as well be some upside rather than more years of mediocrity.
kybodawg
December 4th, 2011
9:25 pm
we defanately need a game breaker like marshall or crowell if he gets his head and his heart in the right spot maybe a year with terishinski will help. he will either get with the program or just git. we also need the big backs like seymore and malcome to wear em down in fourth qtr. when does spring practice begin..
Pulaski Dawg
December 4th, 2011
9:26 pm
Coaches had team well prepared. They didn’t drop 2 passes, miss field goal or drop possible interception. Should have been 20-24 to 0 at half. I just don’t get people . We do not have depth we need. Crowell was rated 1 on everybodys charts–so this is the coaches fault. The o-line played their tails off. The defense played their tails off. Murray–? No depth–not their fault and unlike others–I don’t think the coaches caused the injuries or the belly ups of the failures. Things happen–cycles happen–I’m good with Richt–Bobo–Grantham.
Dawgboy
December 4th, 2011
9:39 pm
Review of season: Pretty good coaching, pretty good players. We should all be proud of the effort and results. However, we were beaten soundly by 2 good teams. Boise State beat us because of better coaching. LSU beat us because of better players. TV analyst Gary Danielson would be the best person to answer the following question. Which Bulldog players could move from thieir UGA position and replace a starter for LSU in that same position in the National Championship game this January? Given that LSU plays skillfull, mistake-free, power football, and plays well in a big time setting, the only Bulldog player that I believe could replace a LSU starter is Orson Charles.
aw
December 4th, 2011
9:44 pm
1st versus 4th for SEC Title? That makes sense. Pathetic! UGA is the luckiest team in the SEC everything seems to fall their way. Lost by a slight 32 points. Hunker Down! They get the freakin Citrus Bowl when Arkansas gets the Cotton. Sad, Petrino would whip UGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just so UGA fans don’t get mad name the top team y’all beat this year? I bet they weren’t better than 8-4!!!
FLA DAWG
December 4th, 2011
9:50 pm
Pulaski,
Count again the number of dropped passes. There were 2 for sure TDs and many more for great yardage that hit concrete hands. When talented receivers can’t catch that’s pressure on the QB and / or coaching. During the first half Murray had time to pass and so many were dropped it was sickening. That is game prep and we didn’t have it in the receiving corps.
The coaches had a gameplan for most of the first half then Bobo changed it to a running game with no O Line run blocking and no tough runner – brilliant! It crashed and burned in flames thereafter.
The Lapinksy Files
December 4th, 2011
9:56 pm
mikeinatlanta:
So you say we, Dawg Fans, don’t have patience??? How about 12 years? Is that long enough to wait for a National Championship. MR is an OK coach. Not great. You know how I know? Results. That’s how. He’s a good man. I want my preacher to be a good man. I want MY football coach to be a WINNER.
So why GA fans like you are fine with 7, 8, 9 or 10 win seasons AND GOING TO TAMPA EVERY YEAR, there are most out there like ME that will NOT stand for it. While I want to play for a NC, you resist change, and enjoy mediocrity. That’s a YOU problem.
I don’t blame Richt, I blame people like you that like MEDIOCRITY.
jaxdawgfan
December 4th, 2011
10:02 pm
Mark,
I disagree that Bobo has passed any significant test to the point that we can proclaim him “good.” I agree with those who say that we benefited more from a string of opponents experiencing down years than we did from a savvy OC. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for the results but I don’t think we should turn down the heat. The Dawgs, who I love, deserve better in that area.
I don’t condone calling for Richt’s job UNLESS Bobo stays another year.
On the plus side, thanks TG for growing a great defense. Atta Boy! Looking forward to seeing more of the same at the least. Go DAWGS!
aarh
December 5th, 2011
12:33 am
David- A&M is in the western division, & they didn’t end up being that good anyway, & besides they just fired their coach, & most teams struggle in their first yr. a/. a new coach. UGA is scheduled to play AL., but my understanding is that they’ll have to play Mizzou bc they were actually going to be in the east, & it is most likely that they’ll switch out AL for Mizzou. Next yr. they don’t open against Boise either. So, the schedule doesn’t look that tough next yr. either. Now, the next yr. is a different story. But hopefully they’ll be a better team by that point.
Dawgie Poo
December 5th, 2011
1:54 am
Dream Team? lol already crowned SEC Champs next year by you…what a joke…
Dream Team II
December 5th, 2011
6:23 am
Next year, Richt is bringing in an even better group of superstar recruits—GA will own the SEC for years! Ga wins the SEC easy next year with blowouts of tennessee and fla again and beats alabama or the SEC title—take it to the bank!!! Dawgs on top.
OoltewahDawg
December 5th, 2011
9:13 am
‘Ham Jacket, until it is YOUR team that beats us 42-10, you have no room to talk. 31-17, 10 of 11, 62-27-5. Even if you win each of the next 34 years, you will still be behind in the series.
You’re just another Tech fan living vicariously through other teams that beat the Dawgs because your own team can’t do it!
OoltewahDawg
December 5th, 2011
9:19 am
Big Dawg, you ask what happened? LSU woke up during halftime, just like they did against Arkansas and several other teams.
LawDawg
December 5th, 2011
11:44 am
If Murray had come out a little more confident and some receivers had made some plays, we may have won that thing, but you have to hand it to Les Miles and LSU. That team is GOOD. Even so, our defense is stout and I cannot wait to see how next year goes. We get almost everyone back and Justin Anderson graduating should be addition by subtraction (at least for pass blocking, he is a good run blocker). Another year of seasoning for Ogletree and Jenkins? Opposing teams may end up with negative rushing yards for the season against us.