On UGA’s good offense, patchy defense and weary coach
Mark Richt points out ... well, something in Georgia's victory over Kentucky. (AP photo)
This post is an adjunct to the Georgia-Kentucky game column, which can be found here.
1. Mark Richt looked tired after this one. It was late, and it had been a tough night, but still … the usual Richt bonhomie was missing. He said he was “very excited about the victory” and complimented Kentucky’s coaching and preparation, but after a round of questions bearing a distinctly negative tone he’d had enough. He stopped in mid-answer and said: “Know what? I’m happy with the victory. We’re 6-1. That’s not bad.”
2. Mike Bobo might not be a fan favorite, but he’s the Georgia coordinator having the better year by far. Had the Bulldogs’ offense sputtered here, they’d have lost. But they made no turnovers, which was huge, and Aaron Murray threw for 427 yards and three touchdowns against a Wildcat front that was stacked against the run. Thus did the Bulldogs escape, if only just. “I didn’t see any panic in our guys,” Bobo said. “We told them, ‘You’ve got to be prepared for this (in the SEC).”
3. After seven games, it’s fair to say the defense’s middling numbers aren’t aberrations. No, Jarvis Jones didn’t play, and yes, Abry Jones got hurt in the first quarter, but Georgia yielded 329 yards and 24 points to a Kentucky team that was averaging 215 yards and 9.5 points against SEC opposition. Said Todd Grantham, the defensive coordinator: “We didn’t start like we wanted to start … but guys sucked it up the second half.”
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
396 comments Add your comment
The Grinch
October 21st, 2012
11:28 am
Richt was an excellent OC, but he’s too soft to be a head coach at the highest level. The D’s problem isn’t the talent and it isn’t Grantham. He had their butts sucking buttermilk last year and they were top 5. They should have been even better this year but I guarantee they went and complained to Richt and got the intensity dialed down and now they’re middling at best which is absurd given their talent level. The “Who wants ice cream?” approach doesn’t work in the SEC no matter how well you recruit.
bamaguy
October 21st, 2012
11:29 am
If UGA doesn’t fire Richt this year, Kirby Smart, Charlie Strong and Bobby Petrino will be the head coaches at Arkansas/Tennessee/Auburn next year and UGA will sink to the bottom third of the SEC.
Holy Guacamole
October 21st, 2012
11:31 am
Beast – I think that you are correct in saying that Chizik just happened to be driving the bus when the team came together and won a MNC. That is probably true with most other coaches and MNCs as well.The same is true when the pro’s win a Super Bowl. A lot has to do with team chemistry, injuries, skill, coaching (not first on the list) and most of all, luck (not Andrew).
mcg dawg
October 21st, 2012
11:31 am
It’s all or nothing Saturday…plain and simple.
And the defense better discover “there’s no I in team”!
SELAH!
Frank Lane
October 21st, 2012
11:33 am
Any chance that Grantham is gone next year? This is the worst defense that I can remember since the 50’s.
Black and Red
October 21st, 2012
11:34 am
Defense suks.. Georgia needs to drive over to Alabama and give Kirby Smart a blank check. Hire this man no matter what the numbers are. top 10 defense since he been at Alabama.
KBP
October 21st, 2012
11:36 am
USMC. . . Saban is an exceptional recuiter and motivator. His X’s and O’s are not exceptionally better than other top coaches. He may have a losing record head to head against Miles. There is no spin involved with Richt’s career numbers nor Saban’s. As a Dawg fan, Saban is a better recruiter and motivator than Richt but the career numbers are valid for both. Every coach usually takes over a program that is down and has to build it up. Saban deserves all of his accolades but it’s not like Bama was coming off back to back 2 win seasons when he got there. He’s such a remarkable Coach that he won his first NC at Bama with the majority of Shula’s players. With that, either Richt will make us a consistent NC contender or McGarrity will give someone else a try.
By the way Dawg fans, is our defense really as bad as they have been through 7 games or is Grantham overrated?
Holy Guacamole
October 21st, 2012
11:37 am
I REALLY don’t want Kirby Smart (small man-no morals) or Bobby Petrino (totally the same but on steroids) at UGA next year or ever. Charlie Strong – maybe. Interesting that Urban Meyer’s former OC and DC have both had success running other programs. Mullen and Strong have done good jobs but this is their 1st HC job. I would want someone with an long established winning record or otherwise, why give up Richt (see Tennessee for reference). There are many of them out there that are available, guys.
Holy Guacamole
October 21st, 2012
11:39 am
Sorry, there aren’t many of them out there that are available.
1eyedJack
October 21st, 2012
11:44 am
Just listen to yourselves. Who would want to coach for a school who just fired their coach after two successful seasons? And yes, believe it or not, 100 other programs would consider our last two seasons successful.
T-Dawg
October 21st, 2012
11:47 am
SKB
October 21st, 2012
10:57 am
Mark Richt:
111–39 (.740)
7–4 (bowl)
Nick Saban:
153–54 (.73)
7–6 (bowl)
Richt is slightly better than Nick Saban at the moment based on statistics. Sure Saban won National Championship. I think we could win easily win national championship next year if we improve our defense.
…What flavor Kool-aid do you like the most? How much are you being paid by the university to say this? Are you from “manipulatestats.com? One of these HAS to be true if you think Richt is better than Saban.
Another blogger posted this yesterday. This says it all to most of us who live in reality:
# 1….. 26-24… Win……Tennessee #4 in 2001
# 2….. 10-24… LOSS… Florida # 3 in 2001
# 3….. 13-34… LOSS… LSU # 2 in 2003
# 4….. 10-17… LOSS… LSU # 2 in 2003
# 5….. 06-24… LOSS… Auburn # 2 in 2004
# 6….. 34-14… Win….…LSU # 6 in 2005
# 7….. 35-38… LOSS… West Virginia # 5 in 2005
# 8….. 14-21… LOSS… Florida # 1 in 2006
# 9….. 37-15… Win….…Auburn # 9 in 2006 seven (7) seasons ago
# 10… 30-41… LOSS… Alabama # 6 in 2008
# 11… 10-49… LOSS… Florida # 1 in 2008
# 12… 17-41… LOSS… Florida # 3 in 2009
# 13… 31-49… LOSS… Auburn # 1 in 2010
# 14… 21-35… LOSS… Boise State # 8 in 2011
# 15… 42-45… LOSS… South Carolina # 9 in 2011
# 16… 10-42… LOSS… LSU # 2 in 2011
# 17… 07-35… LOSS… South Carolina # 6 in 2012
…eight (8) in row
Holy Guacamole
October 21st, 2012
11:49 am
I totally agree with one-eye.
And, by the way, that school is Bama. They have always been nuts over there.
WHy??
October 21st, 2012
11:52 am
WHy would u say that MB?? Its not like we are a well coached team is it?? What do you see, that most of us fans do not?? Enlighten Me.
david
October 21st, 2012
11:57 am
Beast–on target as usual. Try not and hurt any of us in Jax next week.
No Biscuits and Gravy
October 21st, 2012
12:03 pm
People give ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the excuses you want, this is not a Championship caliber team, Mark Richt coaches and the medium best, and Mike Bobo is so mentally overmatched it’s pathetic. Dawg fans the best thing for UGA would be if Bobo got a D1AA Coaching job, To compare Richt to Saban is just crazy. Let’s see Saban has a Nat’l Title at LSU In 03, and two at ALA in 09&11. and Richt has 0. No comparision there. Have you forgotten second place isn’t exactly glorified and remembered in AMERICAN SPORTS!!!!
Dum-Bass
October 21st, 2012
12:08 pm
“HONEY BOBO” needs to go back to McIntyre and start a Pee Wee Football team. Maybe his act would impress them there. Just like the guy in the WH he is in way over his head, as is Richt.
cmac22
October 21st, 2012
12:09 pm
Grantham is a farce! Because of desperation after the disaster that was willie martinez, he was able to coax an enormous salary out of ugaly. Based on the performance of his highly overrated defense, I assume he spends more time eating twinkies than planning to stop opponents!! And to think that ugaly could have had John Chavious … a real D Coordinator!
UGAJD
October 21st, 2012
12:16 pm
In Grantham’s quote, ” … but guys sucked it up the second half,” the period should have come before “it up”.
Richt's Butt Cut
October 21st, 2012
12:19 pm
Mark Richts’ record vs top 10 teams since he came to UGA:
# 1….. 26-24… Win……Tennessee #4 in 2001
# 2….. 10-24… LOSS… Florida # 3 in 2001
# 3….. 13-34… LOSS… LSU # 2 in 2003
# 4….. 10-17… LOSS… LSU # 2 in 2003
# 5….. 06-24… LOSS… Auburn # 2 in 2004
# 6….. 34-14… Win….…LSU # 6 in 2005
# 7….. 35-38… LOSS… West Virginia # 5 in 2005
# 8….. 14-21… LOSS… Florida # 1 in 2006
# 9….. 37-15… Win….…Auburn # 9 in 2006 seven (7) seasons ago
# 10… 30-41… LOSS… Alabama # 6 in 2008
# 11… 10-49… LOSS… Florida # 1 in 2008
# 12… 17-41… LOSS… Florida # 3 in 2009
# 13… 31-49… LOSS… Auburn # 1 in 2010
# 14… 21-35… LOSS… Boise State # 8 in 2011
# 15… 42-45… LOSS… South Carolina # 9 in 2011
# 16… 10-42… LOSS… LSU # 2 in 2011
# 17… 07-35… LOSS… South Carolina # 6 in 2012
Obama Slapped Romney
October 21st, 2012
12:23 pm
Dum Bass, What do you know about the WH? I ‘M NOT TALKING about the one that you and you family pick up and move when you realize the rent is due!!!!!!!!
SV STEVE
October 21st, 2012
12:26 pm
MR, nice guy, but he is a woose. Needs to motivate these guys. We have a very talented team but do not produce!
We need a new coach
SavDawg
October 21st, 2012
12:27 pm
We need to watch film of the first half of the SEC championship game against LSU. Since then, it has been all downhill. Embarrassing, totally embarrasing. No pride, no fire, just excuses. Florida will blow us out worse than they did SC. If we win out then, go 10-2, it will be the greatest underachievement in UGA football history. Still, the “Disney Dogs” will come out and support Richt and the whole pitiful staff. If that happens I hope McGarity grows a pair and makes some changes.
Billy Ray Valentine
October 21st, 2012
12:32 pm
MB,
Do you believe in your heart that Richt is on the same level as the top coaches in the SEC… Saban, Miles, Spurrier (and Urban Meyer when he was at Florida)?
Kydawg
October 21st, 2012
12:33 pm
My 83 year old dad who is positive about everything and loves CMR said after the game, “If we don’t beat Florida, the season is lost”. He’s never been that fed up…nor have I.
Coach potato
October 21st, 2012
12:33 pm
I, as many others, like Mark Richt as a fine gentleman. That said, can any of us envision a smiling Bear Bryant, Nick Saban, or more locally, Vince Dooley on the sidelines midway through the first quarter after viewing the “fast start” emphasized before the game of another lumbering defensive display on the Wildcats first possession? That speaks everything to me of a coach who is not viscerally involved in the combat. Though it’s only a game, true competitors cannot be genteel at a moment of exasperating ineptitude from one’s troops. It IS time for Mark Richt to step down quietly at the end of this what will prove to be inglorious season to explore other venues more in keeping with his aptitudes!
ed f
October 21st, 2012
12:34 pm
Stats that’s all I see on TV by SEC media. Let’s get Murray into the NFL. THat Was a goal offered to get Him to Athens. Do we not see Murray is setting all the records to get to the NFL. Tell me WHO in the top 5, 10, or 15 He’s beaten. This is about keeping your word to a recruit. We have. The Ole ball coach would have beenched Murray several times. There are several coaches that could win it all in Athens. But I can say after buying a National Championship Auburn is a big goose egg. We’ve Never been a Joke under CMR. Thankful for That. Let’s focuss on winning not keeping our word to recruits. You either are or not a BullDawg!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Big Crimson 75
October 21st, 2012
12:35 pm
He’s such a remarkable Coach that he won his first NC at Bama with the majority of Shula’s players.
——
That is a gigantic mis-statement.
Dawg Tired
October 21st, 2012
12:35 pm
I just wish we could run the hurry-up play out of punt formation without a penalty. Cause: Poor coaching.
I just wish we could shift into the wildcat formation without a penalty. Cause: poor coaching
I just wish we could run a 4th down play with 15 seconds left in the game without having to call 2 timeouts. Cause: poor coaching
I just wish we could put a game away by running the football in the forth quarter. Cause: poor recruiting.
I just wish we could stop a power house like KENTUCKY from running the ball down our throats. Cause: poor coaching and poor recruiting.
I just wish we could refrain from taking a player who is 3 yards out of bounds and throwing him on the ground. Cause: no discipline, which is, of course, the result of poor coaching.
I just wish I could accept the fact that our goal as a university is to have a mediocre football program.
Need I continue?
WillinRoswell
October 21st, 2012
12:40 pm
I think it is the band. They are playing the same old, tired, dumb time-out tunes they have played for the last 20 years. I know. I have been there, and the Dawgs choke at the most inopportune times – like when the band plays. Now, have we spread blame around to all possible guilty parties?
Big Crimson 75
October 21st, 2012
12:40 pm
I REALLY don’t want Kirby Smart (small man-no morals) or Bobby Petrino (totally the same but on steroids) at UGA next year or ever. Charlie Strong – maybe.
—-
Charlie Strong’s recruiting “morals” in the southeast is somewhere between Trooper Taylor & John Blake.
Dawg Tired
October 21st, 2012
12:40 pm
Time to ditch the 3-4 no defense scheme.
01HAWK
October 21st, 2012
12:41 pm
SKB
October 21st, 2012
10:57 am
Mark Richt:
111–39 (.740)
7–4 (bowl)
Nick Saban:
153–54 (.73)
7–6 (bowl)
Richt is slightly better than Nick Saban at the moment based on statistics. Sure Saban won National Championship. I think we could win easily win national championship next year if we improve our defense.
How about SABAN has 3 BCS Titles………………………..OH, you forgot that one.
Dawgy Style
October 21st, 2012
12:44 pm
When we whipp the jort wearing clowns arse next week will all you cry babies shut up??
Big Crimson 75
October 21st, 2012
12:46 pm
Saban is an exceptional recuiter and motivator. His X’s and O’s are not exceptionally better than other top coaches
—–
All Time Record Setting Defensive Numbers don’t qualify as exceptional X’s & O’s —– in this era of record setting Offenses, no less.
7576DAWG
October 21st, 2012
12:47 pm
Either Richt is depressed at the news conference or he was discussed. I hope he was discussed. Mark Richt is not the problem . Grantham needs to run a modified 3-4 , 4-3 combination. For some reason just the 3-4 is not working against the run. Georgia has never given up yards like this up the middle.
The reason I hope Richt was discussed is because maybe he realizes that our problem is his coaches are not getting the job done. They are not getting any fire from their players. Coaches are the one who inspire . Garner needs to be moved to a desk job and Georgia needs to hire an energetic Recruiting Coordinator , Defensive line coach and Special Teams coach to replace him. I don’t know what other coach needs to go but having an entire coaching staff showing no emotion is not good .
If I was Richt I would call a meeting with my coaches and rip them a new one. It is time for Richt to demand more from his coaches or get replacements who want to inspire and really coach.
Big Crimson 75
October 21st, 2012
12:49 pm
MB
Do you believe in your heart that Richt is on the same level as the top coaches in the SEC… Saban, Miles, Spurrier (and Urban Meyer when he was at Florida)?
—
I’ll take that one, No.
Big Crimson 75
October 21st, 2012
12:52 pm
If UGA would hire Chris Pederson, they’ll be battling Ohio State every year for the BCS championship in the years to come.
—–
Who’s Chris Pederson?
*{jj}*
October 21st, 2012
12:53 pm
UF will win my at least 2 TD’s.
*{jj}*
October 21st, 2012
12:56 pm
@ 12:19..what more do you need to know..Richt needs to go!
Buddy Landel
October 21st, 2012
12:57 pm
How much fun would Schultz have if UGA ever hired Petrino?
azdawg
October 21st, 2012
12:58 pm
GA has no run stoppers. Go to SI.com and the GA-KY game page and read the scouting report on Corn Washington. Cannot stop the run stands out like a sore thumb. alludes to poor coaching as well. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/gameflash/2012/10/20/49856/index.html#boxscore
small things bothered me in the KY game. Late in the game Marshall was in and not gurley who is the power runner. this is becoming a trend in GA games this season. makes no sense. there is no imagination to ga’s offensive scheme. every opponent we’ve played stacks the box against the run and yet they run it up the middle. of course its going to get stopped. there doesn’t seem to be a plan to counter this defense other than pass the ball which works well except when playing top D’s where Murray is pressured and has no time to throw. Good coaches don’t repeat something that is not working but ga is the exception. they continue to run it up the middle or the end around which did not work vs KY. why can’t ga install the spread into their scheme. they can still throw the ball. simply, ga cannot run the ball w/this offensive line when the box is stacked.
the D is a disgrace. they’re over rated as well as their coach. CTG also cannot win the big one. FL will be an ugly game for UGA. Even w/JJ back and AJ too it won’t be enough to stop FL and their offense. they will run thru and around ga’s defense. doubt murray will have time to throw the ball nor will they run it effectively. turnovers and special teams will implode as well. it will be a beatdown worse then SC game. GA will be outcoached in all facets of the game. Folks, it’ll be worse next season. need new coaches plain and simple.
Georgie Boy
October 21st, 2012
12:58 pm
It’s all a big plot by that Kenyan Communist Nazi Obama!
We need Mitt to come to Jax to make sure them Dimmycrat Gators don’t cheat on us like them Socialist Wildcats did!
Yeah… That’s the ticket!
Dawg Tired
October 21st, 2012
1:07 pm
Dawgy Stye – Answer is NO! As much as I hate to say this, the truth is I am hoping we lose out. Sadly, that is the only way Richt gets fired. It seems clear he will not do the honorable thing and resign.
GB's Hamburgers
October 21st, 2012
1:07 pm
In your first column Mark called Georgia a wierd and strange team. Almost every hear, half tlhe season goes by and even the experts don’t know exactly what they are seeing or how good or bad they are. They rarely play a complete game. So Mark is totally right. Richt fields the wierdest and strangest of teams. Saban on the other hand … the very first game against Michigan, had Alabama playing to their potential. This well prepared team became a known quantity right out of the gate. With Georgia one never knows had good the team really is or can be.
28 Point favorite
October 21st, 2012
1:11 pm
After seven games, it’s fair to say the defense’s middling numbers aren’t aberrations. No, Jarvis Jones didn’t play, and yes, Abry Jones got hurt in the first quarter, but Georgia yielded 329 yards and 24 points to a Kentucky team that was averaging 215 yards and 9.5 points against SEC opposition. Said Todd Grantham, the defensive coordinator: “We didn’t start like we wanted to start … but guys sucked it up the second half.”
Grantham is way over rated——FLA will run all over us—-ugly
KBP
October 21st, 2012
1:14 pm
Big Crimson. . . I respect Saban very much. His record setting defenses are a result, in my opinion, of his being an exceptional recruiter and motivator not X’s & O’s. Other coaches can copy his schemes but they can not copy his ability to recruit and motivate. That is his competitive advantage not superior schemes.
fayncdawg
October 21st, 2012
1:15 pm
Right on the MARK (PUN INTENDED) GBBurger!
CommerceDawg
October 21st, 2012
1:17 pm
CMR is a great man no doubts about that. The problem is we are watching teams like Alabama and Florida within a few years go from messes to championships. CMR has great talent and still can’t get it done. Which leads to the unfortunate truth CMR cannot win a national championship and at the end of the day that should be his goal. I think the best thing for both the coach and the team is for them split. Just tired of the excuses every year from the assistant coaches and then hearing CMR try to blow roses up our rear. The assistant coach from FSU needs to call it quits.
wrecked again
October 21st, 2012
1:21 pm
just when is 6-1 not getting it done?
Here we go
October 21st, 2012
1:24 pm
CMR is not going anywhere!!! We cold lose 2 more games and he will be at UGA next year. As stated in other blogs in the past two weeks;the year of change will be after the 2013 season.The AD and other Admin.staff see this could happen and the change will be less complicated with a won/loss record of 7 and 5 or 6 and 6.My feeling CMR will walk away at that time for other goals in his life. Oh well this season and next of the same ole,same ole.However he may shock everyone by beating the Gators this Sat.You never know,stranger things have happened before in college football.Go DAWGS.Class of 72.