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
bvgdoesneedahaircut
December 4th, 2011
3:21 pm
can’t win with hoodlums gmandog
reality gator
December 4th, 2011
3:22 pm
TampaGator
You are correct, these puppies get crushed by 32 and all you hear oh well we played for a half, talking about lower standards, Mark R. would have been fired at any school in Fla by now:
Never played for a nat in 11 years and oh by the way people like Mark Bradley braggs every summer how they have the best class in the country he would be fired as well”””
Chain
December 4th, 2011
3:25 pm
This wasn’t progress…this was more of the same ol’ same ol’ that has become acceptable in Athens. Yeah, UGA held LSU deep in LSU territory early on, but that’s meaningless, because when they really need to hold them, deep in UGA territory, the D let them stroll into the endzone. That’s the definition of CHOKE… it’s easy to hold a team on their own 10…but hard to do it on your own 10… And UGA never accomplishes anything difficult. They beat bad teams, and lose to good teams. Screw Richt. I don’t care if we fire that loser or not. The whole team/university is infected with this loser attitude…UGA will never be a winner.
bvgdoesneedahaircut
December 4th, 2011
3:25 pm
preach it chain brother
Chain
December 4th, 2011
3:29 pm
Reality Gator… it’s deeper than Richt… why do you think teams like LSU and Florida can win NC with different coaches? It’s the program, the University, and an invasive attitude of winning…UGA doesn’t have that. UGA will never have that. UGA will win the occasional SEC championship in down years…maybe once every 10 years, but they will never win another NC…I’m so tired of hearing all these old loser Dawg fans talk about 1980…that’s ancient history…the game is so different now. At what point do you say, “Hey it’s been 31 years since our last NC, what’s wrong with our program?” If you are a UGA fan, the answer is never, because the losing attitude is part of everything.
bvgdoesneedahaircut
December 4th, 2011
3:32 pm
Crowell should transfer to jr college right away. He is a loser.
bvgdoesneedahaircut
December 4th, 2011
3:33 pm
a sissy loser at that
Hopelessly Devoted
December 4th, 2011
3:42 pm
@Bill Cooper
I expect Mizzou to win the East next year. It’s not that hard to do anymore.
Erk Russell's Dog
December 4th, 2011
3:47 pm
Hey Gator fans
Tebow Mania continues in Minnesota today!
tell me again
December 4th, 2011
3:49 pm
We won the games we were supposed to win – is that a crime now? And we lost to three teams – all ranked….two of those, the # 5 and # 1 teams in the country. Wow – I am so ashamed of that. We made great strides this year / we got to the big game which is more than all of the OTHER SEC teams accomplished. SO – if our season was such a suckfest, I guess everybody else’s REALLY SUCKED, huh? – We are going in the right direction – unlike Tennessee, Florida & Auburn. Time to go bowling! GO DAWGS!
JARVIS JONES
December 4th, 2011
3:58 pm
we need special teams coach and stickem for holding on to ball
west Coast Dawg
December 4th, 2011
3:59 pm
I am one of those who thinks that Mark Richt, nice guy though he may be, is in over his head against the likes of Les Miles and Nick Saban. I’ve advocated his dismissal for the past two years. And while the defense played magnificently up until the mind boggling punt return by Mathieu, I told the folks where I was watching that the game was over. Most assuredly so.
I think Mark Richt should get a bonus for the great improvement. . .but no extension. Here’s the tally: the teams that outranked us beat us (Boise St., SC and LSU). We beat the ranked teams that we outranked: Florida, Auburn and Tech. We have the same schedule next year and the non-conference opponents, save Tech, are minor leaguers. Alabama was scheduled to be played there but I read a snippet that said Missouri would replace them. But SC will be formidable with Marcus Lattimore returning at RB.
No extension. NO EXTENSION.
And please, Mark, address components of this game (LSU). Why did we kick more than once to the awesome number seven? Why? That turned the momentum for us on its head.
We’re a ways from being there: better QB play, more creative offense and we have to replaced Butler and Walsh. No easy task. Oh, we have six starters to replace too.
South GA Dawg
December 4th, 2011
4:07 pm
DGD this year we just need to get a running game and learn how to catch the ball. LSU would have been in trouble. The defense is one of the best in the country. Held LSU to no First downs in the first half. take away the punt return for TD, Int. for TD, Int on 18 yrd line, Punt return to the 16 yrd line and the Defense was solid all night. Hard to stop someone when you give them momentum and short field guys. I am damn proud to be a dawg fan this year. They played with heart other than our running game and special teams everything looks promising for 2012. We will get a good OL and another good TB this year.
Chain
December 4th, 2011
4:15 pm
Hmmm…Julio Jones drops a game-tying catch for a team I pull for….can any player on a team I like, PLEASE GOD, step up and make a play…CATCH A BALL!!!!!
Barry
December 4th, 2011
4:16 pm
No crystal ball for next year, but there is a lot to be optimistic about. I think this is a very good and fair article that Mark Bradley has written.
Pierce Co Dawg
December 4th, 2011
4:19 pm
Should have went to the rugby punt to keep #7 honest and to help with people around him. That is how boise handled the punting with us. I am proud of the coaches and players.Looking forward to the bowl game and next season.GO DAWGS. Please get us 2 good power scat backs in this recruiting class. Look forward to seeing our boy
Chain
December 4th, 2011
4:19 pm
Tell me again….you’re the problem with UGA football…fans that are okay with a #20 ranking and 2nd place in the SEC. You make excuses for losing. UGA is soft, there’s always an excuse, and no one ever steps up. This team is the definition of weak-a55, pathetic mediocrity. Go find another team to pull for, you and the “I’m okay with being the 20th best team in the country…wait til next year crowd” can go pull for some other team.
Tramp
December 4th, 2011
4:21 pm
Mark. Just a little improvement only. As long as Saban and Miles are in the SEC, there will be NO championship for Ga. Loved the comment at half time by CMR, ” At Georgia, We take it to them in the first half, and close it in the second”. That was really funny!!!!!
Pierce Co Dawg
December 4th, 2011
4:22 pm
Look forward to seeing our Boy Quayvon Hicks in the back field and blocking for the Q back and half backs next year. As i mentioned earlier go dawgs and the future looks bright.
Chain
December 4th, 2011
4:24 pm
You apologist Dawg fans are really pi55ing me off. Like it’s okay to go 6 years without an SEC championship…like considering this season a success…The goal is an SEC championship…that goal wasn’t met. Quit making excused for players that are garbage…players that choke to the highest degree…this team reminds me so much of the Braves after another loss in the playoffs…”well, we’ll be back next year… things are looking up.” How can anyone say that after a loss? I want players throwing chairs and fighting…No one on this team has passion or ba77s enough to win…I hate this team.
Chain
December 4th, 2011
4:26 pm
Nothing’s worse than feeling conned or jobbed or deceived…and yet that’s just what UGA did on Saturday. They actually gave UGA fans hope in the 1st half. Then they folded and left every fan that ever dared to believe out in the cold…what kind of team does that. That’s cruel!
Pierce Co Dawg
December 4th, 2011
4:26 pm
We need more depth on both sides of the ball. That would go a long way. Starting with running backs.
ZebraHands
December 4th, 2011
4:27 pm
I am not hopeful.
Murray is horrible against ranked teams. Panics in big games. Gets worse every time.
We played 3 teams that ended up in top 25 rankings, Murray played terrible in all 3 games. Sure, he did ok against the lousy unranked teams, but he’s not the answer.
Come on Lemay or Mason, come on Richt & Bobo, sit Murray. We can do better.
ZebraHands
December 4th, 2011
4:27 pm
Winless against teams that ended up in top 25 in 2010.
Same in 2011.
No improvement, nothing changed.
fan
December 4th, 2011
4:27 pm
GO DAWGS
ZebraHands
December 4th, 2011
4:29 pm
Get a new QB & a new RB, and this team can win the big games.
fan
December 4th, 2011
4:30 pm
Bring on the bowl game
Chain
December 4th, 2011
4:30 pm
The amount of mistakes made by UGA in this game was staggering…and how does that happen? NO EXCUSES! LSU wasn’t that good…UGA was just that bad. Dropped balls, fumbles, interceptions, penalties, poor coverage, poor tackling, mental mistakes…what kind of team does that in the biggest game of the season? What kind of player has his worst game in the most important game? What kind of coaching staff doesn’t have his team prepared for a Championship game? The whole team and coaching staff are weak. I don’t care if they all left (players and coaches) and started from scratch…maybe we could get rid of the losing attitude that must be required to be on this team.
ZebraHands
December 4th, 2011
4:30 pm
Need a Special Team’s coach.
ZebraHands
December 4th, 2011
4:31 pm
3 changes to win a big game:
1- New QB
2- New RB’s
3- Special Team’s Coach
Wild Hoage
December 4th, 2011
4:32 pm
Mike Da Tiger, appreciate the classy posts as well and would say good luck against Bama, but don’t think you’ll be needing any when you get the Tide down there within a trumpet’s blare of Bourbon St. Talked to my relatives in Red Stick before the game and they warned me the Tigers would overwhelm us by the third quarter or so. Hated to see it, but it all came true. Agree with Bradley that we make those plays earlier and get the correct call (fumble) on the Honey Badger (love watching the guy, don’t get me wrong) and maybe it’s a different game. That said, you guys are playing on a different level and everybody knows it. Hope to see you next year, and even the score with a much improved rushing attack. Murray’s getting a lot of grief, but he is play action guy with nice ball fakes, not a quick release Kellen Moore type. Play action fails by definition without a running game, but he was still looking at least a 3 td night if receivers catch the ball. That said, I agree with the commenters calling for more playing time for other qbs particularly in some games (and there weren’t all that many of them) where defeat was not a reasonable concern. And to our east rivals, FL, SC, TN, you guys are going down in 2012. We may not be LSU or Bama, but you ain’t either.
Chain
December 4th, 2011
4:32 pm
Thanks for nothing Dawgs…your 10 win streak? Meaningless, because you took a cra9 during the biggest game of the year. Played great for a half? Hardly…I’ve never seen more missed opportunities…oh, and football is 2 halves. How can I pull for a team that gives up and quits? This is my school, and I’m sick of a bunch of thugs and scams ruining it.
fan
December 4th, 2011
4:33 pm
I think we have some Q Back,JUST NEED TO PLAY THEM. We really need the 2 backs from north carolina.Fauta might be a good start next year at QB. Try all of the QB,S
duronimo
December 4th, 2011
4:33 pm
Georgia wasn’t getting worn down. LSU mounted zero drives in the first half. Then it was halftime. They were fresh starting the third quarter. Fact is, Georgia players are still not ready to play an entire game like their hair is on fire. Players take on the character of their coach. Miles and Saban would simply not allow their teams to play half a game as Georgia so often does. A properly coached team will be better in the second half. This one simply quit.
fan
December 4th, 2011
4:35 pm
I agree with you ZebraHands
fan
December 4th, 2011
4:37 pm
I agree ZebraHands
Chain
December 4th, 2011
4:39 pm
Next time I hear a Dawg fan talk up a recruit, I’m going to punch him in the face…cause all I heard about for 6 months was Crowell…you would have thought this high school thug was Walter Payton… but of course he isn’t…he’s garbage…my 7 year old brother could have gotten more yards last night…so, just how accurate are the recruiting rankings? All I know is that every year we end up ranked real high in recruiting and real low in real football. Looks like we can’t scout…oh, and the kids coming to our school are garbage…hate you UGA…give me my team back a77wipes.
evil empire
December 4th, 2011
4:40 pm
you people act as though this is Richt’s second or third year in Athens…he’s going into year 12, with only 5 or 6 SEC caliber O-linemen, a handful of too-small, too dumb rb’s, and freshmen playing all over the place…what on earth has he done with all this “talent” he has collected for the past 11 years?…they all couldn’t have been “problem kids” or “energy vampires” (the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of…that alone should have gotten him fired)…face it, yall boy Richt isn’t a championship caliber coach now or in the future…he’s mid 90’s ACC in the 2010’s SEC…and it’s cost you well over $20 million in salary to figure that out…
ZebraHands
December 4th, 2011
4:41 pm
Murray had the qorst game of his career. 40% completions, 2 interceptions & a fumble. 72 pass effic rating.
Any game where we put the game on Murray’s shoulders (29 or more passes), got scary, went 4-3 in those games.
Any game where Murray threw 26x or less? 5-0.
Don’t let Murray carry the team, he can’t.
Ramblin man
December 4th, 2011
4:41 pm
42-10 loss vs a LSU team that returns 16 starters. One thing is clear….UGA couldnt hold the jock strap of the SEC elite such as bama and LSU. Bama will drill the mutts next year. Mark, you are funny. 1st half of the season you write uga off then jump back on the wagon when uga beats who exactly? A terrible auburn team? The 4th best team from the ACC which may be the worst conference in america? Was it new mexico state that did it for you? They have played NOBODY mark! NOBODY! Look what happened when they did. Boise state dominated them and are barely a top 10 team.
DREAM TEAM= 42-10 LOSS VS THE SEC ELITE
Uga will never win another SEC title as long as saban and miles are in the SEC. Mike bobo is an idiot and mark richt can’t control his players. Do i need to take your job mark for balanced and legit reporting?? lol
GT
December 4th, 2011
4:49 pm
As long as Florida and Auburn are down Georgia has hope. One big item is the realignment of the divisions with new teams coming in. I think most people outside Atlanta were writing this game off as an exhibition, and LSU is in a different league than Georgia. Though Georgia has improved from the team that lost to Colorado they have a long way to go to be in that other league. LSU has one of the finest teams that we have seen in a long time. Georgia acts like they are LSU, they are not and I really don’t think they will ever be. Alabama maybe but not Georgia.
Double Zero Eight
December 4th, 2011
4:51 pm
LSU had more talent and depth. The starters got wore down
after the first half.
We need to be recruiting a top notch big running back
just in case……Crowell appears to be somewhat injury
prone.
dawgfan4life
December 4th, 2011
4:54 pm
we will be alright as long as we dont play in the georgia dome. but all jokes aside we should win the east division as long as we can pull it out in South Carolina. once again the east will be considered between georgia and s. carolina. the defense is going to be stronger once Kent Turene add to a LB core that should return all the starters and with jenkins and gathers in that middle should be ranked in the top 5 in defense. the only thing that needs to be adddress is the run game and the dropped passes by the WR’s.
reality gator
December 4th, 2011
4:55 pm
Ramblin man
You are on point, no wonder these people have not won anything big in 31 years they are out of touch with reality, they actually think this was good to play good for a half and then get thrashed for 32 points.
Mark Bradley is a joke, his standards are as low as UGA, Fl news papers are ripping this 1st year coach for that bad team this year, yet Mark B. is patting these losers on back for a blow out with a 11 year coach talking about standards”””
Mobile Dawg
December 4th, 2011
4:55 pm
I think you missed the mark on the coaching. I think there was more focus, therefore the better results. But the nuts and bolts of coaching, Richt and Bobo didn’t cut it. To many mistakes, not enough strategy, still a little to loose on discipline, my opinion.
ZebraHands
December 4th, 2011
4:55 pm
was it progress or?
1. easy schedule
2. bad sec east competitors
roughrider
December 4th, 2011
4:57 pm
Lack of depth on the OL and the DL killed UGA yesterday.Also, Malcome needs to be moved up to the #1 RB and Mason given more snaps.
Surf Guy
December 4th, 2011
5:03 pm
To all you Murray haters, I would love to see any Divison 1 QB have a great game with the amount of pressure the LSU defense was putting in Murray’s face. But its pretty easy to be running off your big mouths stuffing Oreos in your face and downgrading the kid. The only stress you idiots were ever under in a team sitting is where to move your chess piece before the timer went off.
FLA DAWG
December 4th, 2011
5:13 pm
Mark I respectfully disagree.
If there was any improvement it was in our D. They played with great heart until it was obvious our O was too inept to maintain the win. When so many receivers drop so many passes it is coaching and not the player(s).
Unless Bobo is unloaded after the bowl game we will continue to lose against any team of worth.
And when that happens how do you recruit O or D players?
If this game was an improvement where was our running game?
If this game was an improvement where was our pass blocking in the second half?
If this game was an improvement where was our run blocking the entire game?
I’m afraid all this game did was confirm the hunch that our patsy schedule was much more responsible for our 10 game win streak than an improvement.
I’d sign Grantham is a multi year contract, unload Bobo and probably Richt.
Richt is a great human being but has no killer instinct and a killer instinct is what is required to be an SECC Game Winner and BCS Title Holder.
Grantham has it but not Bobo or Richt.
Just Sayin'
December 4th, 2011
5:17 pm
10-3 with none of the 10 wins over a team currently in the top 25.
Just don’t see the “Great Season” so many are claiming just happened.