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
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 4th, 2011
12:50 pm
I wonder if the slip and slide came out again in the locker room at the half instead planning for and making adjustments
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 4th, 2011
12:52 pm
witness,
I agree about not giving up on IC but UGA def needs to get another RB or 2 along w/depth on the O line.
Maybe IC can get stronger in the off season but not sure how durable / dependable he will ever become as an SEC runner…
Texas Dawg
December 4th, 2011
12:52 pm
Good article, Mark.
We’ve come a long way this season. From Liberty to Outback or Cotton is a big improvement.
Fair and Balanced
December 4th, 2011
12:53 pm
BTW, if Bobo lands another job…..would be great for him but then Ga could go for a premier OC. A proven one…not one Richt has to train.
Future looks Bright ?
December 4th, 2011
12:53 pm
Comical all these posters saying that UGA is headed in the right direction…. We’ve been hearing that since 2006.. keep drinking the kool aid folks!
UGA in the lockeroom during the half
December 4th, 2011
12:54 pm
On WSB radio last night in the Kevin Butler post game call in show, either he or his co host said during the halftime , UGA was shouting and giddy and doing high fives and could not control themselves, nor did the coaches try to. It was wild and out of control.
When UGA came out for the second half they appeared ……………..spent. I just wonder if TRUE, why the coaches would have allowed uncontrollable celebration and glee with a FULL SECOND HALF upcoming.
Anyone out there hear this or know about this comment on WSB??
Gooooooooooooo Dogs.
Dawg Fan
December 4th, 2011
12:55 pm
I don’t think we’re that far off either, assuming we can jump start our offense against someone who actually has a defense. Regardless of how you see the game (the play calling or execution) our offense hasn’t looked improved all year, there has been no QB development, and we’re calling in plays from the sidelines with 10 seconds on the play clock????? WTF!
I don’t like Bobo – not when we were in college and NOT as the OC! I was surely hoping that Mark Richt might be smart enough to see what has happened to his Defense with a REAL Coordinator can do for our team but I guess that he’s no smarter than Bobo.
Mike da Tiger
December 4th, 2011
12:55 pm
@KBP…with all due respect our WRs are head and shoulders above your receivers. Our QBs aren’t as talented so our WRs suffer. Not sure about your LBs either. I think Olgetree is more of a S than a true LB.
@RNB…you need 4 RBs. You have one and ahalf now. Control your state in recruiting and see you all in the Dome next year.
stendek
December 4th, 2011
12:56 pm
I have my doubts the Dawgs will ever defeat Bama, LSU or Arkansas with Saint Mar at the helm. I also have strong doubts about South Carolina unless Steve Spurrier exits. Rest of SEC team tossups. Sad but so true.
alphadawg
December 4th, 2011
12:56 pm
MB, I agree that an improvement was made this year by the program and the coaching staff. Richt and Bobo had these boys more prepared that LSU and that was something we haven’t seen in a while. Having said that, CMR needs to evaluate the 3 main differences between UGA and teams like BSU, USC, Alabama and LSU.
1. No athletes on the offensive line. Our obese OL is unable to compete with athletic defensive lines as they are too fat to get off the ball quickly in the run game or move their feet to protect in the passing game. Bigger is not better, especially if Bobo wants to run the spread. Fitter is better.
2. Need to recruit for a power running game. I do not agree that UGA has good depth at RB. LSU has 4 TB’s that can break tackles and move the pile. Alabama and USC play the same game. UGA has only Samuel and maybe Malcome to do this. Florida (for maybe 2 quarters) was the only game we were able to run the ball effectively when we needed to control it against a good defense trying to stop the run. This is a recruiting issue. CMR and Tony Ball continue to recruit skinny kids from tiny schools like Crowell from Carver and Ealey from ECI that are used to being able to run away from smaller, slower players and were never challenged before they arrived in the SEC and now are struggling with that. Crowell, Thomas, Harton and the like can’t get the tough yards when the defense is looking for it. I would much rather recruit big kids like Samuel or people that come out of tough 5A or 4A regions like Malcome who we know are used to taking a hit and earning their yardage.
3. Special teams. Tough to fault the coaches for Blair Walsh becoming the Steve Sax of kickers this year, but the punting game on both sides of the ball was a disaster in the big games for UGA. Why kick to Matthieu? Kick it out bounds and play defense. Be prepared to block a kick and stop a fake attempt once in a while. I think teams were successful 100% of the time this year against UGA on fake punts. The onside kick was well conceived, but overall CMR needs to make special teams more special.
Another good recruiting year and some better fitness overall and the Dawgs can continue to compete.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
December 4th, 2011
12:56 pm
The talent LSU had on defense was super impressive. When you can run 4,5 star caliber players on your 2nd and 3rd team then you are loaded. Being the only show in La helps, and with Texas struggling it has opened up East Texas even more.
The start of the second half where we went run,run and then scramble was a head scratcher of a series. The program seems to be headed in the right direction, but series that begin like that leave plenty of people wondering what in the heck does go on at halftime. You cant help but with the way it turned out.
skeptical
December 4th, 2011
12:56 pm
Bark…..Seems to me that you are quick to jump on and off the UGA bandwagon. Why don’t we wait until next football season to see how much improved they are instead of crowning them SEC champs.
KBP
December 4th, 2011
12:57 pm
Mike da Tiger . . . Appreciate the post. Disagree about Boykin. He’s pretty good but not a beast. A beast would have made the open field tackle on Hilliard by not hitting thigh high but calf high. A beast would have made a better effort in the South Carolina game to stop the TD on a game changing fake punt. He is a good player you guys have beasts. Hilliard is your best back. Hope you beat Bama.
Joe
December 4th, 2011
12:57 pm
You can thank Todd Grantham for the Dogs turnaround. Without him they would have lost 3 or 4 more games. He’s brought an edge to the defense that they haven’t had in the past.
If Mark keeps Bobo he will eventually be fired as head coach. As a former offensive coordinator, he could hire much better than the predictable Bobo.
As someone else has said, can we please stop hearing about how good Murray is. He is an average QB at best. The Dogs have better QBs on the bench. Mark needs to play the best QB he has next year and it is not Murray. Had it not been for Bobo’s bad play calling and Murray’s bad QB play we would have at least had a chance of wining the game last night and LSU would not scored any
where near 42 points.
virginia dog
December 4th, 2011
12:59 pm
Nice post Mike the Tiger and wow what a team you have this year. I duck hunt a lot in Louisiana and let me tell you the LSU fan base is great. They know football and they know how to have fun. I agree … CMR has the team heading in the right direction.( but don’t forget he also allowed the team to go in the wrong direction till he was threatened to be fired) I worry about recruiting. LSU Alabama etc have dream teams every year. CMR is the head ball coach to the flagship school of Georgia and only the states of Florida and California produce more division one football talent. CMR must continue to coach and recruit like his job is on the line every day. We just saw want talent does… Les Miles is a good coach but LSU simply overwhelms there opponents they don’t out scheme them.
dawggirl
December 4th, 2011
12:59 pm
Mike da Tiger, you are welcome on this blog anytime.
Very sound and thoughtful comments.
My problem with Crowell is not his injuries, and not that he’s a freshman. When Richt was rightfully dressing him down for his personal foul penalty, he turned his back on him. Unacceptable. Hoping the recruiting can get back on the right track. Need some big backs, and some more athletes.
Go Dawgs!
Fan of the Game
December 4th, 2011
1:01 pm
UGA is fine and headed in the right direction. I hope Coach Richt is at UGA for as long as he wants to be. I am glad the AD doesn’t listen to all these want to be coaches. We have suffered because of poor choices in recruiting in the RB area. Correct this and the program will really be headed in the right direction.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 4th, 2011
1:01 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg
Can you admit we need someone in the OC position that can make adjustments
Until then the future isnt bright, just another 10 win what might have been season will happen next by the way our schedule looks
dawggirl
December 4th, 2011
1:02 pm
Time to turn on the Falcons, hopefully one of my teams can come out with a win this weekend. Although I’d have much rather it been UGA.
george
December 4th, 2011
1:02 pm
same story different day. UGA’s motto since 1980 “we are a year or two away”
OoltewahDawg
December 4th, 2011
1:02 pm
Mike Da Tiger – You are one classy LSU fan – Appreciate the stuff you’ve said. I thought going in that LSU would win the game, but was thinking it would be closer. The depth that LSU had is what caused our guys to give out, along with allowing the punt return TD and the two easy drives you had at the start of the 3rd quarter. LSU is a beast of a team, and UGA pulled off a major feat by yielding no first downs and only 12 total yards in the first half.
Fan of the Game
December 4th, 2011
1:02 pm
Crowell is a product of these high school programs that kiss the so called stars tails.
mambo
December 4th, 2011
1:03 pm
Georgia played probably one of the best college football teams in the last 25 years and got drubbed. The Dawgs are on their way back and need running backs to complement the receivers and quarterbacks and defense we have. We also need a quality special team that blocks and covers punts, recovers on-side kicks, kicks field goals and can run back kick-offs and punts for TDs.
KBP
December 4th, 2011
1:05 pm
Mike da Tiger. . . your receivers have better reputations than ours but not better route runners and that may be a function of how our passing game is designed and the fact that we throw much more than you. I judge receivers by the versatility of the routes they can effectively run. I think we have an edge because of our passing game.
jdawg
December 4th, 2011
1:06 pm
I have a good friend who is closely related to Marshall. He told me last night that he thinks he is going to commit to UGA on Tuesday. Murray had no time but has GOT to learn to respect the ball. Defense played well, but couldn’t overcome the momentum our O and ST gave LSU. I couldn’t care less about Crowell. He looks like he has potential, but potential with no commitment is worthless to me. I don’t understand why we had to wait until the 4th for Malcome. I have seen him in two games now and he runs harder than any of the backs we have been putting out there. We are in good shape for next season with a couple of good moves in the off season. I predict we will play well in our bowl.
Fan of the Game
December 4th, 2011
1:06 pm
george – there is one thing and that is in August I don’t remember a season where UGA felt like they didn’t have a chance to have a good ball club. That is not the case at many schools.
doctorW
December 4th, 2011
1:06 pm
Okay, LSU is way better than UGA.
They play ten games, LSU wins ten times.
Still, some rather disturbing items:
(1) With all the great HS athletes in GA, UGA can’t come up with a big, bruising, fast tailback?
(2) If you swap out all GT receivers with all UGA receivers, who could tell the difference? None can catch a football.
(3) UGA crumbled when the going got tough. Even the game announcers said the players just seemed to lose heart. Richt’s teams always seem to lose heart when things get tough.
(4) Why can’t a supposed top twenty team cover punts?
(5) UGA coaches knew LSU had an imposing front four. They blew right past the UGA linemen all gane long. Why didn’t Bobo and Richt design some plays to counter that rush?
(6) Raise your hand if you think QB Murray has an NFL future.
Did anyone besides me notice another referee blunder: On the play early in the game when the LSU QB flipped the ball to a running back while he was being dragged to the ground, his knee actually hit the ground well before the ball left his hand. Although the play turned out to be inconsequential, the officials still blew it.
The MNC game
December 4th, 2011
1:06 pm
Alabama LOST to LSU and at home. For Bama in the MNC …………….. game over. Next !!
LSU vs Oklahoma State for the MNC. Period. End of story.
Bama? Sugar Bowl vs Michigan. Bama fans ………………you had your shot. Alabama is getting farther and farther away from their one MNC in years. Sabin will be gone in one or two more years and you are running out of time. IN 2012 UGA will win the SEC C Game and you all will not have the team that you have had lately with Trent, and Ingram,etc. LSU will win it ( SEC West) again. UGA will win the East going away next year. NO ONE in the EAST WILL BE CLOSE TO UGA.
Remember Alabama fans ……………..YOU HAD your shot and LOST, just like UGA did.
Go Dogs.
Stating the Obvious
December 4th, 2011
1:08 pm
Mark,
Another nice suck up article.
You’re the best at making the rednecks feel better.
We Ruin This State
December 4th, 2011
1:09 pm
Yesterday, once again, the loss of Urban Meyer proves that no team in the SEC East is ready for the SEC West. And we know that Crowell is not ready for prime time.
What batch of 5 stars will change this ? Probably none
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 4th, 2011
1:10 pm
With the state of Georgia being a top 4 recruiting state
One would think you could beat a good team more than once every 6 yrs
Stating the Obvious
December 4th, 2011
1:10 pm
‘Nice’ one Mark
dawggirl
December 4th, 2011
1:12 pm
Our receivers were definitely not on last night. They have had a good season though, especially Mitchell.
The officials missed a call or two, but it didn’t affect the outcome of the game. I’m glad it was mostly clean.
chilidawg
December 4th, 2011
1:13 pm
ALL dawg fans were saying “don’t kick it to him, don’t kick it to him.” We don’t make big bucks coaching big time football. Why the heck didn’t CMR know it? Both times he burned us, he caught the ball on the hash marks.
george
December 4th, 2011
1:18 pm
this years schedule was a joke. Hell Auburn would have won 10 games with the puppies schedule. next years schedule is even more of a joke.
evil empire
December 4th, 2011
1:20 pm
flat tire, why can’t the CMR lovers see that?…amazing to me that is acceptable performance…granted, I am as far from a uga fan as one could get, so I hope they sign CMR to a lifetime contract, thereby guaranteeing me a lifetime of mediocre uga football…that being said, the acceptance of average coaching is stunning…I feel your pain brother…
jaglaw
December 4th, 2011
1:21 pm
As I understand it Crowell did not attend class…thus did not make his grades. He WILL NOT be eligible for the bowl game either.
jaglaw
December 4th, 2011
1:24 pm
George…..Auburn would have lost to Boise, UGA, and still lost their last 4 games get real.
allvol
December 4th, 2011
1:24 pm
Congratulations to UGA on making the championship. Great turn around season for you guys. Very good first half for sure. I don’t think anyone can beat LSU this year. What a team.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 4th, 2011
1:25 pm
jdawg,
I was wondering the same thing about Malcomb. He should have been in last night early and often. He was the only power RB available, which was needed against LSU.
With some O additions for next yr DAWGS are in good shape. D will be lights out in 2012 on the way to the Dome again.
gofortwo
December 4th, 2011
1:25 pm
What is this love affair that Bobo has with Carlton Thomas. He’s a light weight running back but here we are running two plays up the middle putting us in the dreaded third and ten to start the second half. Didn’t we just last week has Malcome in the back field running out the clock against Tech with four/five minutes left in the game. And he moved the chains. He’s a power runner and moves the pile forward. Crowell wasn’t game ready. Our closest back to Samuel is Malcome and he’s on the bench. If it’s because he has a bad attitude, how does Crowell continue to play. Even CR says he was impressed how hard Maclome ran the ball. Talk about a finese running game and your talking Bobo’s style. What a waste last night not using Malcome earlier too see if his power running would have made a different.
Erk Russell's Dog
December 4th, 2011
1:25 pm
Flat Tire
We all know your feelings about Bobo, but CMR is still the de-facto OC. Bobo is just a figure head with a lower than average salary. He is another hold card for CMR to play when the heat is on . He will give him the Willie Martinez treatment when it will save his job,and only then. So the 10 win season means another 3 or 4 years of the same inconsistent play calling the dawgs have now.
Get em on.....Get em over..... Get em Home
December 4th, 2011
1:26 pm
Hey george? Where is your team on that schedule?
TampaGator
December 4th, 2011
1:30 pm
Mark….
“And with Florida and Tennessee in clear retreat, Vanderbilt might be tabbed third behind South Carolina.”
CLEAR RETREAT……are you kidding me.
Florida dominated Vandy this year. Played SC very tough up there. Lost to Georgia by 4 points with a one-legged QB. Held FSU to under 100 yards of total offense. Florida lost to LSU (down there and with freshman QBs playing the entire game) 41-11. Georgia lost to LSU in the SEC title game….with everyone healthy except cry baby Crowell……42-10. Georgia had the 5th best defense in the country with a strong offense……..Florida had the 10th best defense in the country (mostly feshmen and sophs) with a horrible offense. And have you checked the commits to Florida so far this year….almost all of them addressing the offensive issues at TE, RB, OL, and WR….with many more to come.
Yep…..all that says Florida is far inferior to Georgia and in serious decline in comparison. Yep….and the moon is changing into the sun overnight.
And the Vols get Hunter back next year at WR to go with Rogers…..and Bray healthy as well. And they are young just like the Gators. And they beat Vandy too.
Yes, Georgia made great progress this year….but has serious issues at RB to clear up….as does Florida at QB. But I would say Florida currently has better prospects at QB (Brissett and Driskell) than Georgia does at RB (the “thug is all about me”, Crowell, who gets hurt every two seconds, and absolutely no one else)….and even if Marshall commits to the Dawgs. And I think Davis and Jones are going to be a terrific dynamic duo for the Gators at RB, and Gillessie, Brown, and Burton are returning as well. All Florida needs is for one more WR to step up (and Debose started to do that towards the end of the season) to join Jordan Reed, add some OL depth to the OL, and get a blocking TE (Colin Thompson is already committed)….and the Gators make up that 4 point deficit to Georgia this year…
Clearly in decline…….what a completely biased and uninformed comment, Bradley. Florida has tons of talent on offense….and just needs 3 or 4 more pieces in the offense to be right back where they were. Maybe next year…..for sure in 2013.
jaglaw
December 4th, 2011
1:30 pm
SICK OF IT: yes the schedule was easier…for once. For years now …even ESPN has talked about the dificult schedule UGA has. Off course…when u loose 4 games playing a tough schedule…no says look at the schedule as some concession. We have played whoever, where ever, and when ever. We can’t control our opponents ability within our conference. Florida always scheduled 3 high school teams each year and no body talked about their schedule….so shut the f up about the schedule.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
December 4th, 2011
1:32 pm
Flat,
Hard to say we need a new OC. We can play the if game really. If we had a elite back, if King makes the tough catch on the first possession, if Mitchell makes the TD catch. If Figgins didnt drop a pass. So many missed opportunities and it is easy to make Bobo the punching bag. I will defintely say again coming out of halftime why start the drive with two runs then put yourself in 3rd and 10? That is not just a Bobo issue if you want to point fingers. Richt certainly new what plays where going to be ran to open that drive. It was just a tough second half to watch all the way around.
mid town
December 4th, 2011
1:33 pm
Mark,
If McGarity’s meeting with Coach Richt would have lasted another hour then according to
your article last week we can assume GA would have beat LSU.
Let’s be honest here, if GA would have had LSU, ALA, or ARK instead of MISS ST and MISS,
Coach Richt would be out of job right now.
Not GA fault just the way the schedule turned out.
7576DAWG
December 4th, 2011
1:34 pm
I want CMR and the coaching staff to review the film and come up with why didn’t LSU get tired like we did. Georgia out played LSU in the first half and even though we should have been much farther ahead at half than we were I don’t think it would have changed the final outcome.
Give LSU credit , This is one of the best team I have seen in the last 10 years. Georgia played a very physical game and because of that got tired . After reviewing all the stats. I’m sure we can come up with WHY DIDN’T LSU GET TIRED. Get that answer and make the changes to our program so we can play for 60 minutes against the best and we will win championships.
Preston
December 4th, 2011
1:35 pm
gofortwo, Malcome has issues holding on to the ball. That’s why he’s not playing much.
kl
December 4th, 2011
1:37 pm
one word: EXPOSED