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
dawgs01
October 7th, 2012
2:27 pm
I am so tired of seeing our linebackers and secondary standing around fightiing with each other over who has what zone who has what man meanwhile the other team snaps the ball it has happened every game this yr and that is no one’s fault but granthams. His second and third level defenders are so confused every game we have given up a td to a wide open receiver bc they ran crossing routes and confused our already confused secondary. Every td pass we got rambo and williams pointing fingers at somebody. No one in the secondary knows who to cover either they are not smart players or grantham is trying to make playing defense into rocket science. This is what the offense can do run left or right or up the middle and they can pass do you need a playbook the size of a dictionary to stop that I hate coaches who make football harder than it should be
Doug
October 7th, 2012
2:27 pm
Georgia is one of the top 5 states in producing high school recruits and sending players to the NFL. Its population is a half-million MORE than Alabama and South Carolina COMBINED. This just means there are probably more potential recruits in GA than AL and SC together. GA has 1 SEC school. AL and SC have 3 SEC schools competing for that talent. Atlanta is the largest media market in the South. With all this in GA’s favor, it ain’t the talent, or it shouldn’t be. Especially with Tech’s program in decline.
Todd grantham
October 7th, 2012
2:31 pm
Mark Richt’s getting pummeled everywhere but I’m sure he’s sitting on his couch, in total oblivion, or denial, not really giving a flip about his or his staff’s and his team’s failure last night.
“Water Girl, bring me so more Cheetos and Pepsi!”
Really?
October 7th, 2012
2:31 pm
I see all the hate filled little nothings have emerged from their dank baesments smelling of their own waste to beat their pathetic chests and brag about a team they have never supported unless they beat Georgia. All the actual chicken fans are still passed out in their own vomit with their underwear around their knees.
swampdude
October 7th, 2012
2:33 pm
@JB, “get off the cupcake schedule crap”? you are right in saying all teams play them early but the defining difference is georgia fans are the only folks that seem to seriously believe rolling the buffalos of the world makes you a top 5 team (every year!). it also wouldnt hurt to schedule lsu or bama in regular season. uga’s schedule is a cupcake compared to sc or uf.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
October 7th, 2012
2:33 pm
No doubt the Old Ball Coach gave Mark Richt a lesson in Big Gama Coaching 101.
UGA has some fine talent no doubt and they’re not as bad as last night while USCe isn’t as good as they appeared. Most of you hit the nail on the head when you say/think that football doesn’t mean the workd to Mark! Many of you like to throw rocks at Nick Saban (some would be ok but not all the time) but the fact the man works 24/7/365 to build a team that will play the game all out and with a purpose and standard. I have watched UGA and they only play well when things go well and most any team can do that. When sheet happens then they fold so easy. Jones quit on you last night just incase you haven’t determined that yet!!!! He quit and the NFL folks saw that as well. #18 and #19 are thugs yesterday,today, and tomorrow and they have no dayum fear of the coaching staff and that is so clear that anybody including your sunshine pumpers. UGA will finish 10-2 and have a good bowl but you haven’t fixed a thing.
UG Gators are on the road back to command of the East no doubt. Will does need to get a handle on a couple of his gators for their conduct. It will not surprise me if LSU plays UF again in Atlanta. My Bama team seems to have hit the wall on improvement but we will see what Nick and staff can do going forward.
dawgs01
October 7th, 2012
2:34 pm
RAMBO sucks he is no all american but he thinks he is. I saw him jawing with a receiver last night and the guy pointed to the scoreboard but that probably did not shut him up. I saw three or four of our guys jawing the the carolina player pointed to the scoreboard. You would think getting your teeth kicked through your throat would bring you down to earth but not these players. I always feel like our players think they are better than they are. I got a feeling mark is a yes coach and does not bring these kids back to reality to focus on the game. I just picture them at practice dancing around swinging their dreads and talking about how hard they hit.
Dogs Smell
October 7th, 2012
2:35 pm
I loved hearing the fans chant “Overrated”, as they are correct. 2 years and UGA has yet to beat a ranked team. Easy schedule, lots of talent and choke every chance they have for a quality win. Yes UGA you are overrated year after year. I also enjoyed Spurriers pre game comment” I always enjoy playing Georgia because you can bank on the having 2 or 3 quality players suspended”
Checking In
October 7th, 2012
2:35 pm
Enter your comments here
Todd grantham
October 7th, 2012
2:37 pm
CMR thinks all is ok, and with a few more wins over weak opponents ( to go along with a loss to Florida and maybe Auburn) he will be allowed to continue his mediocrity. Coach McGarity, this year is shot. The best chance we had to make a real showing, and its all down the drain.
Jim
October 7th, 2012
2:37 pm
It is LATE in the season for the defense excuse of ” We had too many missed assignments and poor commmunications”. Outside of Clowney, we had as good as or better talent. It comes down to Coaching!
Go Tech
October 7th, 2012
2:38 pm
Re: Spurrier’s pre game comments: yeah, suspended and in jail.
Todd grantham
October 7th, 2012
2:40 pm
Last comment for today: the thing that kills me is that it’s so obvious Richt doesn’t give a damn about being a winner but he’s laughing all the way to the bank.
predictions
October 7th, 2012
2:40 pm
Gators are back?? I think LSU is that bad. Overrrated!! UGA will crunk Florida but this year belongs to SC and Bama in the title game.
Gamecocky
October 7th, 2012
2:41 pm
Somebody let ” The Real Hairy Dog” know this is college football,not PRO football !!!!!! must be that UGA education kickin’ in……..
nhgamecock
October 7th, 2012
2:41 pm
LOL
Eark Russell
October 7th, 2012
2:41 pm
It’s no longer the 80″s! Herschel is gone, dooley is gone,I’m dead! Get over yourself! Your the best college team in the state — except Shorter College! This is fun you bunch of leg humpers!
slydog
October 7th, 2012
2:43 pm
You what’s funny? That bum Coach BooBoo, after all of that praise some idiots were giving him, just admitted in the article above he has no fffing clue what to do. There are times throughout a football season when the opposing team’s defensive front is more physical than yours, your QB gets hit more often than usual, turnovers, tipped passes,etc. Yet good coaches know how to adjust to adversity and make adjustments, both in game and during practice and still find ways to win games. Look at the masterful coaching job Muschamp and his staff did yesterday. LSU was simply outcoached. But LSU is over rated anyway (just a lil bit) because they have no offense to speak of for 4 years running. Georgia’s coaching staff has absolutely no clue what to do when ONE THING GOES WRONG. All you hear and/or read is IF, IF, IF, IF, IF, this or that and the other.
The last point I would like to make is the fan’s perception of the 2012 Georgia Bulldogs was all wrong for jump street. This is a finesse coach and therefore you are going to have a finesse team and mindset. There is nothing wrong with that approach, just be good at what you do. How dare we fans think of the defense first when it comes to this team? Under CMR, Georgia has never been a tough, defensive, grind it out kind of team. Heck, they have never been really explosive on offense except for a few games. Finesse teams need to score early, often, and in a variety of ways in order to help set up the defense. CMR has never had a defense first mentality, so why were we all so delusional to think it changed now? In less than two years, Muschamp has managed to change Florida from a Fun n Gun mindset, which they had for the last 22 years, to a win it in the 4th quarter, grind it out, kind of team. In Nick Saban’s SEC, this is the only way to win in this league until he retires, dies, or loses his touch.
Pug
October 7th, 2012
2:43 pm
Ummm, Earth to Ward….Our paper has “tunnel vision” because it is the ATLANTA paper, not the Columbia paper….
guy
October 7th, 2012
2:43 pm
Look at our record against ranked teams There is no fear of playing UGA.
dawgs01
October 7th, 2012
2:44 pm
The two frshmen backs and malcome ran hard and never quit which is refreshing. The two young backs had no blocking but they ran it hard and I saw gurley on the sideline trying to wake up the veteran players but they acted like they could care less. The defense gave up in the fourth quarter they had a nine minute drive on us. Murray said he did not sleep the three days leading up to the game which means he had already been beat in his mind and his team mates could see that. They showed him in warm ups and he had a look in his eyes that said I am scared as hell. I told my buddy we are about to get killed especially when they showed that crowd. Got to give it to the carolina fans that’s was a great atmosphere and it scared our guys. We looked gun shy or something very timid. Our guys let another man just physically overwhelm them. That says a lot about a man when you don’t fight back when somenone is just stopping ur stuff in the dirt. No heart.
Richt stays as long as he wants
October 7th, 2012
2:45 pm
Gomer pyle mcgarity made sure richt isn’t going anywhere anytime soon when he gave him a contract extension last year. This goofy and dumb ad and administration has made sure uga fans will suffer for years to come. I have resided myself to this fact and have quit purchasing uga gear or will not attend anymore games until the day richt is finally gone.
I finally learned my lesson last year after the boise st game not to get excited about anymore unprepared and listless mark richt coached teams. Before the kickoff last night i even told my wife that uga would lose the game by two touchdowns and boy was i wrong it ended up being four. I used to get so upset and bent out of shape but was able to chuckle at the disaster last night. Why get mad when you know before the kickoff that they won’t be fired up and ready to play? I’m done worrying about this team until a coaching change is made.
B5
October 7th, 2012
2:45 pm
It is absolutely hysterical that Tech fans are saying anything! First, you can’t sell out ANY game in your mini stadium, and secondly, you lost to MTSU! Oh, and lets not forget that the Dawgs own the Nerds. What’s next, Auburn fans talking smack? If you’re gonna run your mouth, at least have something to back it up with!
CigarDawg
October 7th, 2012
2:45 pm
Congratulations to the Gamecocks. You showed us what a well-coached team with a solidly researched and prepared game plan by a coaching staff who responds quickly to what is actually happening on the field looks like. You clearly wanted and earned that victory from the opening kickoff.
Dear UGA Coaching staff,
Please take notes on what it takes to win important games. USC gave you a clinic on exactly how to do it.
First Time
October 7th, 2012
2:46 pm
This is the first time I have ever commented. Are all of ya crazy. We got beat. When you can’t control either line of scrimmage you are going to get beat. I don’t care who you are or who you are playing. Did you really expect this team to go undefeated. How many teams each year go undefeated. The last 5 weeks everyone was talking about how great the offense was and how great Bobo was at calling plays. Now they are terrible. Coaches coach and players make plays. The players just did not make plays. Either support the team or get off this site.
westerndawg
October 7th, 2012
2:48 pm
Preparation…preparation…preparation-1 for 8 against ranked teams under current head coach. He’s in charge of the other coaches, it’s his job to override assistants as needed, game plan, and prepare his players for what will come. O-line wasn’t prepared; Secondary was confused(again); Blitz wasn’t effective enough; no speed dbacks covering SC QB; Murray needs to double pump. Don’t they see what we do? 6 more games to dispell the “pretender” label.
drjUSC#1
October 7th, 2012
2:48 pm
Enter your comments here
Glenn
October 7th, 2012
2:50 pm
As long as Georgia fans are satisfied with just beating Georgia Tech, then Mark Richt will remain Head Football Coach in Athens.
Ed Pilcher
October 7th, 2012
2:52 pm
2-15 against ranked opponents since 2008. That says it all, right there.
CigarDawg
October 7th, 2012
2:53 pm
First Time’
Apparently yesterday was the first time you ever watched a UGA game, too. Please abide by the newbie posting rule of Read more, Post less until you are able to understand the context behind the comments you are decrying.
Oh, and nice way to throw the actual players under the bus with your 1st post.
dawgs01
October 7th, 2012
2:54 pm
Grantham has worse numbers against the top 25 than willie martinez but y’all wanted him as head coach over the summer even though in the four games we lost last yr we gave up over forty points three time and I think 35 to boise. Our stats were padded bc the teams we beat had horrible offenses.
dawgs01
October 7th, 2012
2:57 pm
Grantham better get this defense fixed bc if he has 5-8 players drafted off this defense and continues to produce these numbers just imagine how bad next yr will be. Mel kiper and herbstreit last night said you will not see a defense as loaded as the georgia defense. Kiper saying uga could have eight defenwive players drafted which would one of the best of all time in the nfl draft. What does that say about our coaches.
Eark Russell
October 7th, 2012
2:57 pm
B 5 Get back to work, the lines are getting longer at wallmart!
drjUSC#1
October 7th, 2012
2:57 pm
I love the sense of entitlement from UGA fans and players. Instead of blaming coaching and preparation how hard is it to realize we beat you on all sides of the ball because USC is the more talented team. Murray can barely pass gas. Gurshall…please get the eff out what a joke. Big # 29…looked like he was at a roller skating party. Baccari…haha enough said. Quit blaming Mark for y’alls on the field failures. Instead blame him for sugar babying all y’alls players and making them feel more special than they actually are. UGA fans, I know that it’s 2012, but in the big boy world not everyone actually gets a trophy.
short memories
October 7th, 2012
2:59 pm
Fire Adams, Richt and also the special teams coach!
Pete
October 7th, 2012
2:59 pm
Attn. Mark Richt :
If your demeanor translated any more “Deadness” to your players they would be declared legally lifeless.
You try to act so composed, so utterly cool, when in reality it’s all a cover …………..a cover for your ineptness and failure under pressure and the spotlight.
You PALE in comparison to most other SEC coaches.
Steve Spurrier wouldn’t hire you as an assisstant special teams coach.
I’m sure he insists on coaches with a pulse.
What an impostor.
dawgs01
October 7th, 2012
3:00 pm
Rambo sucks I can’t believe he is an all american or should I say was. He has looked awful the past two games. I get tired of people saying it will take a few games for them to adjust what are you talking about. Then why don’t they say that on the first game of the yr. Rambo sucks
dawgs01
October 7th, 2012
3:02 pm
Grantham is about to look like a fool when he breaks a record for having the guys drafted off a defense in the history of the nfl draft and he is giving up all these points and yards. Kiper and herbstreit both said this georgiw defense is as loaded as a defense can get. Kiper said they got a chance to have five guys go in the first round but I don’t see how.
Ed Pilcher
October 7th, 2012
3:03 pm
Oh, and get ready for another loss in Jax to the Gators. I have no confidence whatsoever in Richt’s ability to coach in big games anymore, and Murray? Forget about it. He’s done nothing of substance as far as winning a big game against a ranked opponent since he drove up here…..except for getting a picture of him banging some ho placed on the internet, that is.
Carolina Girl
October 7th, 2012
3:03 pm
Hahahaha As long as you keep Richt you will lose ( keep him we love kicking your butts!!)
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
October 7th, 2012
3:03 pm
The only way Rambo gets into an NFL game is if he buys a ticket
Checking In
October 7th, 2012
3:04 pm
@First Time, here are a few thoughts;
1) UGA did not prepare for the ESPN game of the week.
USC started running the ball because UGA played prevent and SKI.
2) Spurrier knows how indisciplined the UGA players are.
3) Richt is not a good HC and Spurrier knew it.
4) Grantham is not a good defensive coach and Spurrier knew it.
5) Bobo is very predictable on play calls and Spurrier knew it (SKI).
6) UGA was a pretend top-ten team and SKI.
7) USC started out passing because UGA defended the run & SKI.
9) Mark Richt has no clue and SKI.
Any questions???
Ed Pilcher
October 7th, 2012
3:04 pm
Carolina girl……Get me a beer and a sandwich…….after you climb off me, that is.
Reality
October 7th, 2012
3:07 pm
Spurrer hates U.G.A. Back when he was Q.B. at U.F. and won the Heisman the dogs whipped him and the gators good. The Ga. defense trash mouthed him every time they sacked his butt. He’s NEVER forgotten it. He will always work his game plan and his players harder before every Ga. game as long as he is coaching. Some Ga, team will get him sooner or later, but not with CMR as coach.
Concerned
October 7th, 2012
3:08 pm
On what I perceive as the issues within our program.
1. We under estimate our opponnets.
2. We are not prepared with the proper game plan on both sides of the ball.
3. We do not make quick adjustments to change our course.
4. We try to pound a round peg into a square hole when there is enough evidence that says this will not work.
5. Our O Line and D Line is not man enough, and quite possible are not physically big enough and strong enough for Top 5 football.
6. Our D Backs are not strong enough, like themselves too much, and are void of making big plays. Hence when was the last time they did something like return an Int. a punt, or a kick-off. D Backs are our fastest guys or they should be, and they have been beaten deep every game.
7. The footwork of our guards, tackles, and center is not good enough. They run flat footed, and not on their toes. The same is true for our interior D line. We need better athletic line play. i.e. LSU, Florida, Alabama, and YES SC.
8. Our offensive play calling is not broad enough, too basic. No screens, no passes to the backs out of the backfield, and no designed runs for our QB.
9. Our outside edge people ran up field, and out of the play opening up wide running lanes for fast QBs. Why, and how in the world this happen more than once if any?
10. If we want to run right at them, then why no double tight ends, or even a line of scrimmage with a two offensive tackle set on one side? Not sure that our offensive play caller is able to adjust on the fly with new wrinkles. Surprise is everything when they are bringing it to you.
11. It also appeared that our defense is more interested in pro contracts than playing lights out defense. Yes they made a name for themselves, but somewhere that name has been forgotten.
12. With a defense playing man on our recievers we stand a great chance on running outside plays with pulling guards. Our recievers have an easier time blocking d backs right on them than running their routes.
13. Pulling our lineman in sweeps the first half would have opened up the middle of the field in the sprint option on run or throws.
14. Our QB is not a very good pocket passer when pressured due to size, and our OC and HC knew this, and they was no game plan to get outside of the 6′ 6″ and 6′ 8″ SC DEs. This was our biggest mistake, and this # 14 is why we got beat. It made us look like we could not compete, but a better game plan would have yielded a closer game, and placed the other team to a plan B.
15. We are out coached in that our HC does not have a complete handle of preparing his coaches and players for these type of games.
16. Many of our players are individules who think they are really good, and they are average SEC players.
17. The key defensive players do not respect themselves, and thus will not respect the HC. Others may, but our best players who are the NFL hopefulls do not as evidenced by crimes, pot smoking, and lack of focus to details.
18. With an 0- 10 record since 2008, and a 2 – 15 record all time for HCMR on ranked teams, this is enough to know history will repeat itself unless there are major changes.
19. Much has been lost as in years past being down to West Virginia 28 – 0, and Alabama 31 – 0 at half we were able to score 60+ points in the second half to make those games competitive. Last nights team packed it in at halftime, and this is BIG cause for alarm. Their expectations (players and coaches) are not in alignment with reality.
20. Lastly, now that reality has come, will our players and coaches answer the bell, and do what is necessary to get better. I see some personnel changes coming on the D line, O Line, and D Backfield.
CigarDawg
October 7th, 2012
3:10 pm
Congratulations to a deserving SC team. You put on a clinic and showed what a motivated group of well-coached athletes can do when it is given a properly researched, planned and administered game plan by a staff of victory-hungry coaches who actually know how to adapt to game conditions in real time.
UGA coaching staff: I hope you took notes because you were given the blueprint for success last night.
UGA Athletes: You are loved and supported by your brothers and sisters out here in Dawg nation. You deserve the same level of commitment, execution and results from your coaches as you saw SC receive last night. We apologize that you will never get it because your coaches do not have it within them to give and we as a whole do not have the guts to do what it takes to give it to you in the form of a new staff of fire-eating leaders like Saban, Miles, and Spurrier.
dawgs01
October 7th, 2012
3:11 pm
Every time we are on espn in the national spot light we come away looking like fools. I am so tired of it. You fans that don’t have a problem with what is going on in athens are being fooled or you don’t really care about winning. Grantham was the wrong choice I have been saying that for a while. He will have trouble ever getting a job after this season with all that talent and this is all he can do with it. They would be better off not being coached at least then they could play fast they are thinking so much out there it is killing them. All I see is finger pointing going on whcih tells me no one out there knows who should cover who.these guys that stayed are gonna wish they went to the draft bc theya re sliding and slikding fast. Rambo has already fallen a ton. Last yr he would have been a first rounder leading the ncaa in picks this yr once again like his freshmen and sophomore yrs he leads the ncaa in blown coverages and bad angles and the worst at high pointing a football. The problem with all this ks future juniors will never stay bc our coaches are killing their draft stock
Beast from the East
October 7th, 2012
3:12 pm
UGA, proudly serving as Spurrier’s b1+ch for 20+ years.
Ken
October 7th, 2012
3:15 pm
I am a supporter of the program, coach and players. However I have a question. Why does Mark stay with one quarterback through his playing time at Georgia and not change up quarterbacks when things are not going well? Go ahead and give the quarterback Mason [redshirt] a shot and see what he can do? If not, when it “comes his turn” next year, he will have no experience.
Flo- Ri- Duh
October 7th, 2012
3:15 pm
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah – listen the OL didn’t cut down the oncoming DT and the ball got tipped leading to a TD on a short field. Then S.C. ran back a punt for a TD due to very poor tackling. That’s two TD’s that were not on the defense. The game, without the errors, would have been 7 – 0 at the half. The Offense and special teams lost this game just as much as the “D”. In the 2nd half UGA was out scored 14 -7. Erase the two errors and it was 21 -7. S.C . outplayed UGA for sure and the OL could not block the DE’s without help. That was the difference. For the most part UGA’s “D” controlled Lattimore but Shaw hurt them scrambling in the 1st half. S.C. got conservative in the 4th quarter.