3 points about Georgia’s 28-point loss at South Carolina
Connor Shaw ran. He also passed. Not coincidentally, his team won. (AP photo by Brett Flashnick)
1. Aaron Murray didn’t exactly grab his star-making moment by the throat. Delivering a tipped interception on Georgia’s third snap was the worst possible start for the quarterback who still hasn’t presided over a victory against a team of substance. (Florida 2011 doesn’t count.) Murray had maybe his worst night as a Bulldog, completing 11 of 31 passes for 109 yards. In his defense, his line couldn’t block South Carolina’s defensive front. As offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said: “When a guy’s getting hit, he has a tendency not to trust his protection.”
2. The “Gurshall” groundswell got, er, grounded. Freshmen tailbacks Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall combined for 76 yards on 15 carries — this after each had 100-yard games against Tennessee. Again, the Gamecocks’ defensive line overpowered Georgia up front, often pushing blockers backwards into the guys for whom they were supposed to be blocking. “We couldn’t handle their ends,” Bobo said, and then this: “I thought we would be able to run the ball a little bit better.”
3. The Georgia defense didn’t trip the light fantastic, either. South Carolina gained 392 yards while throwing only 10 passes. (Six were completed, for a staggering 162 yards.) That’s what happens, said Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, when the running game works and you can throw off play-action at your leisure. The Gamecocks rushed for 230 yards — 109 by Marcus Lattimore, who had his third consecutive big game against Georgia, and 78 more by Shaw. “For us to get where we want to go, we’ve got to improve,” said Grantham, telling no lies.
By Mark Bradley
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549 comments Add your comment
madelga
October 7th, 2012
11:29 am
WOW! There sure are some whackos on this site!!
BigdaddyJ
October 7th, 2012
11:29 am
Same old, same old….play a ranked team and WHAM, punched in the mouth. Richt has yet to figure out that football is won on the line of scrimmage. Please, can we now bring in a coach who will put toughness and discipline back into our program? Do we not have this same discussion every year due to the same issues?
DAWG
October 7th, 2012
11:29 am
Hell, Feb.( signing period) will be here soon and we can bragg about how our recuiting class
is ranked in the top 5.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
11:29 am
Hey Mcgarity
I really need to know if you think we have enough money left after those contract extensions you gave out to give a drug screen to the coaching staff?
Alpha23
October 7th, 2012
11:30 am
Well, I was afraid ga. hadn’t really played anybody yet that was any good! Now we see the truth behind this team….not really all that much to them!
Moorman
October 7th, 2012
11:31 am
I like mark richt, but imagine saban with the talent georgia has year in and year out. They always get outcoached. Bobo should have run the power i yesterday, since he wanted to stay with the run. You cant spread your offense out like that against a defense playing like that and run the ball. Richt never has his coordinators make the appropriate adjustments….
Mighty GA
October 7th, 2012
11:31 am
reduced to pleeeeeease LSU beat SC, pleeeeeeease FLA beat SC (but not us) so we can be SEC east champs again.
Alpha23
October 7th, 2012
11:32 am
And now there’s a religious fanatic on the blog!!
speedy
October 7th, 2012
11:32 am
the worst line i ever seen my eastway little league
team blocked better than that
mark
October 7th, 2012
11:32 am
It’s all about the coaching, Richt,Goff,Donnan all about the same Spurrier, Saben they are just good coaches and ours are not plain and simple. I would go ahead and offer Smart 4 million and run our clowns out of town, I would Fire Richt today and put Grantham as head coach until the season is over with,Also I would line up every player for a drug test and kick everyone that failed out of school,those DB’S are either stoned or dumb!!
dawg52
October 7th, 2012
11:33 am
” Satan Smells” you drank too much spiked koolaid…..we will NEVER win another SEC or BCS championship game as long as Richt faces the likes of Spurrier, Saban, or Miles……..PERIOD. Time for a major overhaul in Athens……
Alpha23
October 7th, 2012
11:35 am
Ok, so the braves sucked, chipper sucked, the dawgs sucked……..what the hell is gonna happen today with the falcons?
RHall55
October 7th, 2012
11:36 am
Jeff…is right..it’s GROUNDHOG DAY…will not change with this staff…with the Head Strength Coach…with the Head of Player Development…this game proved that UGA is not / and does belong in an elite group…will lose to FL and maybe another reg season loss…and the a bowl game loss…feel sorry for the players because of an inept staff!!
AWESOME
October 7th, 2012
11:37 am
A little reality and perspective here gentlemen. Yes our recruiting is usually top 5-10….but so is Bama, da barn, Gators, LSU and SC. Difference is coaching….plain and simple. Also the media in our state will have you believe that GA high school football is far superior than other SEC states. Facts are over the past ten years when GA high schools play a neighboring state the winning percentage for GA schools is well under 20%. We gotta stop drinking the Kool-aid. Isn’t that right Chuck Dowdle?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
11:40 am
Im glad we have Georgia Tech; Georgia Southern; Ole Miss and Kentucky on our schedule
Thank goodness we will win another 10 WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Im ordering my shirt today
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
October 7th, 2012
11:41 am
Ok, we have a good, not a great team. 1st – the loss of Bennett(WR), really hurts. He was probably the heart of the team when it came to blocking and catching the ball. He hardly ever missed a ball thrown in his direction. 2nd – we perhaps have a bunch of all-stars playing D but they do not play well as a team. Our OL is young and inexperienced and will struggle at times. Lastly, South Carolina, admit it, is loaded. They are very talented on O, D and special teams. If they avoid injuries, it would be a great game between them and Alabama!
Voyager Dawg
October 7th, 2012
11:43 am
The fans have no confidence, the team has no confidence, and that comes from a coaching staff that always plays to just try to do enough to win by one point. That is why every game is an adventure. It seems like we’re always playing to be one game over 500 or just good enough to keep a job for one more year. Even scoring 50 points a game, which one of the five wins were you comfortable that we were better and there was no way we were going to win? You have to be a fired up, well oiled machine to be consistent in the game of football. I keep thinking that there will be that one game that sets this coaching staff off and get’s them to come into games with attitude, but I’m no longer holding my breath. South Carolina has a great team, and they made Georgia look clueless. I just didn’t see a Georgia team with even a spark.
Will
October 7th, 2012
11:44 am
As so it continues……last year UGA was an underdog three times…..UGA lost all three games….last year UGA was favored 11 times….UGA won 10 of 11, losing only to MSU in the bowl game…….this year UGA has been an underdog once…..UGA lost…..UGA has been favored five times….UGA has won five times.
UGA wins the games it is supposed to win and loses the games it is supposed to lose. UGA will never be a nationally competitive program until UGA can win games it is not supposed to win.
UGA still will most likely be favvored in its remaining games with the possible exception of UF. UGA will most likely win the remainder of its games with the exception of UF. UGA will mostly likely play in the Tampa or Orlando bowl unless these bowls think they can sell more tickets to someone else (thousands upon thousands of empty seats last year against MSU).
The good news is that UGA will most likely be favored to beat the Big Ten team.
And the band plays on……l.
esaun
October 7th, 2012
11:45 am
How can us UGA fans really believe we are upper echelon SEC when it is very evident that we have at best the fifth best coaching staff in SEC. I was hated years ago for saying UGA needed to let Richt go or we will waste an era in Athens. Richt is a players coach with no passion not a good combo in the SEC. It is so unfair for the fan base to be held hostage just because a man has so much faith in God. I would rather win and compete with one of the Waltons coaching the team
Billhenry98
October 7th, 2012
11:46 am
I still miss Vince Dooley.
jack
October 7th, 2012
11:48 am
This pretty much says it all. The Admin at UGA have accepted mediocrity, but demand top dollar for an inferior product.
Mark Richt’s record against teams that finished the season ranked in the top 25.
Since 2008: 2-14*
Last 2 years: 0-9
Vs SEC since 2008: 0-9
Vs Top 25 since 2008: 0-9
Dum-Bass
October 7th, 2012
11:50 am
Serious question for Georgia folks: Which is more embarrassing, the Braves fans for throwing junk on the field on national TV, or the GA DAWGS for “putting” junk on the field in Columbia on national TV? Maybe we should ask Joe Simpson(doofus!) that question.
reality
October 7th, 2012
11:51 am
This is exactly what I was talking about last year when they re-did CMR contract. Why? He ran off 10 wins against weak opponents, but lost the three games that mattered. Sigh… Instead of rewarding mediocrity a 1 year extension was in order. Earn the the fat extension by beating somebody (anybody!) you weren’t supposed to… UGA was so worried that some other school would sweep in and steal Richt. I say THAT was a risk worth taking…. Now of course if you want him to go away you’ll have to pay him.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
11:54 am
To all the kool-aid drinkers
Please explain why the mediocrity continues when……
UGA since 2001 has put more players in the NFL than any other school in the SEC
Can I just get an explaination better than UGA has 100 wins over teams like Buffalo, Vandy, and Western Carolina
The Truth
October 7th, 2012
11:54 am
jack – You hit the nail on the head. And it should be the nail in the coffin for CMR. It’s time for him to go. I don’t think he will until we have back to back losing seasons, but he should.
SEC Observer
October 7th, 2012
11:54 am
Where are all the Dog fans who said they were going to beat SC including those that said UGA would give the Gamecocks a beat down?
tired dog
October 7th, 2012
11:55 am
Same old story with Richt, superior talent and inferior coaching. Sure glad we locked him down for five more years of the same.
Hello Orlando.
UA Grad
October 7th, 2012
11:57 am
I was amazed at how physical SC was with GA in the trenches. SC looked bigger and stronger at every single position.
Next 2 weeks will tell the tale for SC. But after last night, there is no way GA beats FL. Winner of FL/SC wins the East.
Heck, SC may run the table until ATL. Not bad for a program that just went above .500 a couple of years ago.
Joel Osteen
October 7th, 2012
11:59 am
I’m appalled by what I’m reading. Mark Richt is a great man, and more importantly, a great Christian. He is enriching these young mens lives with something much more valuable than a trophy on the bookshelf. If you disagree with that, you need to take a hard look at yourself and your values.
lawzoo
October 7th, 2012
12:00 pm
Carolina is by far the best team in the East. ga. was rank(ed) # 5 only because of very misguided hype. Every year. Same thing.
This game was not as close as the score indicated. Good luck in the Outback Bowl. Hmmmm or Chic-Fil-A ?
GOOOOOOOOooooooo C O C K S !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hirejongruden
October 7th, 2012
12:01 pm
Hire Jon Gruden!!!!! I bet he would sign for $5 million!
reality
October 7th, 2012
12:02 pm
wait…. is Joel serious? If CMR were the campus chaplain that would be great. His job is to make UGA football relevant. Its not so he is not doing his job or earning his 5mill.
DP
October 7th, 2012
12:05 pm
Joel Osteen, based on your apparent criteria for a college head football coach, when Mark Richt retires to become a missionary or minister, Georgia should hire Franklin Graham to replace him.
mambo
October 7th, 2012
12:06 pm
This game is and was about coaching. Every game is about coaching. Sometimes better players will beat a young developing team like Tennessee. But SC’s players are every bit as good a UGA’s and much better coached. Our coaches are not top tier coaches. They’re not and will never be.
dockta
October 7th, 2012
12:08 pm
Someone said its hard to fire a coach that goes 10 and 2—-but you can fire him before he gets to 10 and 2—right?—Hey it may suck for a fews years afterwards but UGA should hire an SEC based type coach—–someone that has the experience playing like Spurrier and were good at what they did. But that is what Florida did and look at them now——Richt is just an average coach because he was an average player——and he came out the ACC—–so there it is folks—And that contract stuff can be worked out——-you let em go and then you hire lawyers to put off paying him for 5 years and MOVE ON!!!!!
RNB
October 7th, 2012
12:09 pm
We need Petrino. Dawg fans eamail McGarity.
ad@sports.uga.edu
sgmjohndavis
October 7th, 2012
12:09 pm
Okay, I love the team and our players. It’s all about them. When there is superior talent and better coaching the lessor team will always lose. Fact is I’ve been a Georgia fan for 48 years and the only reason I can’t stand Coach Spurrier is because he is a GREAT coach. Give him and his coaches CREDIT for the preparation, adjustment, and motivation given to their players to play a GREAT game. I do not understand why CMR just stands on the sidelines with headphones on and never says a word. Worse, I didn’t see any ADJUSTMENTS, MOTIVATION, or PREPARATION with our team. I would like an apology from CMR to the fans and national television audience who had to endure this total embarrassment of a game. The only quote from CMR should have been, “I take full responsibility for my coaching staff’s total lack of PREPARATION and MOTIVATION of our players in this HUGE loss. Yes, we are fans, but we still deserve to know why this happened. GO DAWGS
RNB
October 7th, 2012
12:11 pm
Demand a change NOW
ad@sports.uga.edu
neutral observer
October 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
Long story short. Dawgs got dominated and were overrated to begin with after chalking up gaudy stats against horrile teams- including Tenn. Gurshall got exposed against a good D, so did Murray, the whole team just got whupped. Its bad when the opponent only has to throw the ball 10 times in 1 game.
ugab
October 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
SC embarrassed the ga coaches, players, and fans. OVERPAID COACHES.It is the same bullcrap every season with CMR. IT STARTS IN THE TRENCHES . IT STARTS IN THE TRENCHES. SO HAPPY THE GURSHALL BULLCRAP IS GONE. H. WALKER IS AND WAS IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN. THERE IS NO COMPARISON. Why didn’t we have TE’s and our veteran RB’s helping the OL. Everyone knew that SC had great DEs. WTH??? Ga got out Coached!! This game should have been close. Not a blow out. Why is the Defense playing so soft? Where is the blitzing and man to man. Are we playing Zone D now? Let’s just bring back WMartinez.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
12:16 pm
To all the kool-aid drinkers
Please explain why the mediocrity continues when……
UGA since 2001 has put more players in the NFL than any other school in the SEC
Can I just get an explaination better than UGA has 100 wins over teams like Buffalo, Vandy, and Western Carolina!
Gordon
October 7th, 2012
12:16 pm
Just be patient. Have you seen the rankings of our latest recruiting class?
barneyfife
October 7th, 2012
12:17 pm
I have been saying it since 2008- while Mark Richt is a great man, he is NOT a great D1 Head Coach! 0-10 against ranked opponents. But UGA gets what it deserves- when they gave him a 5 yr extension for an obscene salary, what do you expect? He will NEVER be a great Head Coach- it’s not in him, sadly. Even as a UGA grad, I can honestly say that this result should come as no surpise to anyone. And the committment to medicrity will continue in Athens. So don’t act surprised.
DP
October 7th, 2012
12:20 pm
Lou Holtz said before the game that Lattimore and Shaw combined would outrush “Gurshall” (you Dawgs should retire that one along with the black jerseys) and it turns out he was too conservative in his prediction. Lattimore and Shaw both outrushed Gurshall individually.
When South Carolina got Georgia to jump offsides on 4th and 1 in the 4th quarter, as if Spurrier was going to go for it on his own 20 up by 4 touchdowns, it was classic Spurrier and classic Georgia. Spurrier knew who he was coaching against, and his smirk and first down gesture after Heisman Candidate Jarvis Jones jumped was hilarious.
Hobbler
October 7th, 2012
12:22 pm
Like I say every year, please promote Richt to the AD and get all nfl coaches staff in here to coach up and run plays like the next level does so that we can win the big games and all the nfl coaches when recruiting attracts all the nfl talent in wanting to come to the UGA program. May be a very expensive staff but will it pay off in the long run if we ever want to be #1 again in our life time.
Reservoir Dawg
October 7th, 2012
12:22 pm
I’ve never seen UGA dominated on both sides of the line like they were last night. Dawgs play soft, and have for some time now. And I don’t see the pups running with the big dogs anytime soon.
Kiss
October 7th, 2012
12:23 pm
the Visor and own your beatdown!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
12:23 pm
DREAM TEAM III
Is coming to Sanford Stadium soon
They will win another 10 win season national title
Gman 84
October 7th, 2012
12:25 pm
Richt looked like he is 5 Xanax into his evening last night. He has that same confused look every time they show him. Never saw his lips move once. He’s clearly out of things to say and judging by the comments, so are we. Time for all to move on.
Wasting this much talent is criminal. No NFL eligibles will ever again consider staying at UGA and wasting a year of their prime earning years with this inept coaching staff. If I were a recruit I’d decommit quickly
Huh?
October 7th, 2012
12:29 pm
Last year, UGA lost the 4 big games they played…BUT the 10 wins against weak opponents got the UGA fans into a frenzy….then, the Kool-Aid continued through spring practice and into the fall…then, UGA starts beating bad football teams, and UGA fans are thinking National Championship…
Through the first 5 games of the year, there have been plently of obvious signs that a letdown was coming…bad special teams play….UGA’s weak D-line…UGA getting gashed on the run by inferior teams…but UGA fans didn’t want to hear it. They talked about “how this UGA team is just different” and “the chemistry on this team will lead them to greatness” and “I expect UGA to play much better this week…” The problem, as is now clear, is that UGA fans continue every year to be unrealistic about their team.
I had a UGA fan complain to me this week about how UGA wasn’t getting any respect from the National media. I told him that UGA needs to focus on winning their games, and the respect will come. He kept arguing that UGA should be ranked higher in the polls…he also couldn’t stop talking about the SEC CG that UGA was going to win against Alabama…and how he thought UGA would play Oregon for the NC. I tried my best to talk to him about the areas where UGA needed to improve, but he wouldn’t listen. It’s sad that many other UGA fans are the same way.