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
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396 comments Add your comment
BuyOutTheContract
October 21st, 2012
7:37 pm
UGA has not won a big game in almost 5 full seasons. It lacks intensity in the worst kind of way. That is directly attributable to the head coach. That’s how football works. The sheep follow their shepherd… or the Wolves rally around their Pack Leader and eat the sheep for being stupid enough to walk onto the field with a bunch of wolves. Georgia is the sheep. Richt is their hapless shepherd leading them to slaughter. Why? Because he is not a Wolf.
JB
October 21st, 2012
7:45 pm
Just watched the opening of the Sprurrier show. did not realize the Carolina D held them to 183 yards all day. The 4 turn overs killed them
Vampire Bill
October 21st, 2012
7:47 pm
I cant believe UGA is still ranked? They barely hold on to beat a injured 1-5 team and they move up in the rankings… WOW
hit a single
October 21st, 2012
7:48 pm
I am sick and tired of the way UGA players look. I mean white and black. Dreadlocks, beards and long hair. It use to be a coach wanted his players to be neat and represent themselves and the school in a class way. Now most teams look like crap. If a kids hair means more than the team then the heck with him. The culture of sports is going down hill. I don’t like the Yankees but I respect them for the way the look and wear their uniforms. I wouldn’t hire half the UGA team if I was hiring. When Coach Richt got to UGA he made Tony Gilbert cut his hair so it would not show out from under his helmet. Well he quit requiring that and discipline has gone to hell.
Vampire Bill
October 21st, 2012
7:51 pm
Richt is tired. Give him a million dollar send off and get some young blood in there. Go dawgs
JB
October 21st, 2012
7:53 pm
I think a good move for the SEC office should be to hire a fired Derek Dooley from Tenn to be Slives right hand man for about two years and them have Derek become SEC Commish.. Smart, Lawyer, pedigree, SEC HC experience. Yep, ought to happen
Obama is a Wuss
October 21st, 2012
7:53 pm
Hey, Obama slapped Romney. Nice try but your vision of reality is somewhat like Richt’s and Grantham’s. Totally skewed. Hahahaha. Just wait until tomorrow. It will only get worse my friend. Bye bye, Barry Soetoro and our country will be the better for it (God will we be the better for it).
Papa Smurf
October 21st, 2012
7:56 pm
Go away Tampa Gator to a Florida blog. We all know that Florida is a better team than Georgia this year, but I don’t need some Gator rubbing my nose in it!
3d
October 21st, 2012
7:57 pm
I’m ready for a new coach
rip
October 21st, 2012
7:58 pm
fire them all everyone in the state of georgia vaguely assoiciated with the u of georgia. come to alabama and take everyone here-then maybe we will rank above 50th in everything but football. Oh wait that is all that counts in SEC country. oh well fire them all anyway, run them out of the state on rails, tar and feather them, give them the ole james the second treatment. football, football, let them eat cake.
georgianabulltiger
October 21st, 2012
7:58 pm
USMC
I’m not surprised that you would lobby for a Petrino hire for UGA, the two of you probably wallow in the same slime together. I think with that sentiment you pretty much sum up the philosophy of the Republican party.
I couldn’t argue it any more succinctly, well done.
Stinger2
October 21st, 2012
8:01 pm
The UGA fanbase who comment on the AJC blogs are so delusional they think their team should never lose and should win a championship every year. They beat KY move up to 12 in AP Poll, and continue to rant and complain about CMR. Get a life people . He is going nowhere except where UGA plays. UGA 24 UF 14.
Nofanshere
October 21st, 2012
8:02 pm
This is the SEC any given week any given team can win …
Any team can jell
NORMAL on the D
Dawgs 28 – Fla – 20 Fla keepin it close after falling behind 21 – 0 at the Half
Remember — Ds just gotta play to there ability .
Ala dawg
October 21st, 2012
8:04 pm
Look we have 1 loss. Every team can find things to complain about. Do u think fla fans are complaining about there offense? R they really the 2 best team in the country?
Techster
October 21st, 2012
8:04 pm
these dogs are not only smelly they are overated. the chickens stomped the dogs bad and now the gators have stomped the chickens.
….next weekend does not look good for dog fans.
hit a single
October 21st, 2012
8:13 pm
I heard Petrino was riding his Harley in Athens and was wearing a Cheetah T-Shirt.
Retired HS bball coach
October 21st, 2012
8:16 pm
Grantham used one word that correctly describes HIS defense’s performance this season (sucked). Any one who criticizes Bobo is simply showing their ignorance of football. They won the game with a very average (at best ) offensive line. Our Dawgs simply have to get better on the line of scrimmage to compete with Ala/LSU/SCarolina.
hit a single
October 21st, 2012
8:19 pm
Retired HS Coach – I agree. Our line is over matched against quality teams. Just like the Falcons. They found out in the playoffs last year that you have to be tough up front. We are slow on the line of scrimmage.
Contractor
October 21st, 2012
8:26 pm
Nofanshere,
You’re crazy as hell. No way Georgia wins next weekend. I find it hard to believe they couldn’t get up for the South Carolina game, said they were ready to “bounce back” against lowly Kentucky, but now they’re supposed to come in and put that first loss on the Gators record? I absolutely hate Florida, but I know they will win this game. Georgia can’t beat a decent Florida team, barely beats a crappy Florida team, and has no chance against any great Florida team. It sucks to admit that, but the truth is the truth. Quit playing the stupid extreme homer role.
FLA DAWG
October 21st, 2012
8:28 pm
The Dawgs absolutely CANNOT beat Florida this year. If The Dawgs lose big there is a reasonable expectation the Richt’s (& Bobo & Grantham) days are numbered.
Hard to write this but if losing big to Florida will ensure a change in coaching staff then I’m hoping The Dawgs lose and lose big. It’s called Tough Love.
By the way, we could have had Muschamp as HC a couple of years ago
jarvis jones
October 21st, 2012
8:29 pm
We will beat the hell out of the gators, i will be back and i will lead us to the W and i will not be on sidline in sweats, sorry gators you opened the door by beating the ole ball coach , i will take it from here , we all had great film review this afternoon and Diskell is mine,,,,WE WILL WIN….
jarvis jones
October 21st, 2012
8:30 pm
FLA DAWG GO GET U A GATOR T-SHIRT YOU ARE NOT A DAWG FAN
SEC Fact Finder
October 21st, 2012
8:31 pm
I will address what I have notice about UGA compared to other SEC schools.
UGA is a very very good offensive skill team. Their speed is great, their backs and Wide Outs are great. The freshmen running backs are as good as advertised. The O line is on the average side. Their play calling seems predictable and repetitive and some plays according to defensive players are easy to read and dissect.
The UGA defense offers problems for most teams if they are one sided. If teams are pass happy the players on defense are capable of blowing up the protection. Teams that run have a hard time moving the big men in the middle and the linebackers clean up. Teams that are equally pass/run run/pass are able to misdirect UGA and their linebackers and DB’s have a tendancy to overpursue plays leaving holes in the field behind the line of scrimmage. However most teams have the same problems. The difference is the great defensive teams are so disciplined that they play assignment football and rarely get out of position. Take teams that play Oregon, they press teams and the teams they have played with the exception of LSU and a few others played the ball and got out of assignment football. UGA as I see it, played very good assignment football in 2011, but the attitude of wanting to make a BIG play seems to have taken over some of the Dawg players mentality.
UGA has the talent, Grantham is a good coach, his staff is a good defensive staff, but gettting players to play assignment football takes very smart, dedicated players who put the team before stats and headlines.
Tampa Gator
October 21st, 2012
8:37 pm
Georgia is ranked #10 in the BCS…..FIRE RICHT AND HIS COACHES…..NOW…..
still a dawg fan
October 21st, 2012
8:40 pm
Defense looks lost especially Rambo. AO played better last night but he looked lost in the 1st half. We know what Florida is going to do but the question is can we stop them from running the ball. If we can’t it will be a long day & the results will be the same as it was against SC.Pray that we can stop the run because I don’t see our offense doing much against Florida’s defense & Florida has a big advantage in special teams. Other then that lets hope we can play a competitive game. Go Dawgs
Tampa Gator
October 21st, 2012
8:44 pm
Papa Smurf…..
Take a reading comprehension course…….I have repeatedly posted….against what most Georgia fans are posting on here…..that the game this weekend in JAX remains a toss up…..and it is now the number 2 BCS teams vs. the number 10 BCS team. You need to tell your Georgia friends to stop rubbing your nose in it…..as they are the ones telling you that Florida is going to clobber your team this weekend.
E-From Riverdale
October 21st, 2012
8:46 pm
Everything has already been said. The ovious is thyat Ga. players make penalties and just set upr the nesxt play. Most coaches wil at least have the player come out of the game for a play or two, while they coach them up on the side line. Something has to be done with Theus for those costant false start penalties and I hate to say it I am and have always been a Ga. fan but the defense looks lkie a bunch of thugs with the cheap shots and unsportsmanlike penalties. TGreally duped Ga. and yes USMC, the 3-4 defense in college is not working. Most teams in college have gone away from it. Look at the problem the pros have stopping the run in a 3-4.
Old Dog Class of 80
October 21st, 2012
8:46 pm
I have come to believe that if CMR went 0-11, he still woud not be fired. I just wish if everyone is content with mediocre football, we could just pay for a mediocre coach, say $500,000 a year. Why are we paying $3 million for mediocre results.
Maybe we should transfer to the ACC.
SEC Fact Finder
October 21st, 2012
8:51 pm
E-From Riverdale
October 21st, 2012
8:46 pm
Everything has already been said. The ovious is thyat Ga. players make penalties and just set upr the nesxt play. Most coaches wil at least have the player come out of the game for a play or two, while they coach them up on the side line. Something has to be done with Theus for those costant false start penalties and I hate to say it I am and have always been a Ga. fan but the defense looks lkie a bunch of thugs with the cheap shots and unsportsmanlike penalties. TGreally duped Ga. and yes USMC, the 3-4 defense in college is not working. Most teams in college have gone away from it. Look at the problem the pros have stopping the run in a 3-4.
Teams like Alabama, LSU, TCU are doing pretty well with the 3-4, but recruiting players who are the right fit(not the right size) is the key to running the defense which is run properly stops the run and gives support to the DB’s in slowing down the pass by making the quarterback to make an additional read before throwing the pass.
crossdawg
October 21st, 2012
8:52 pm
Grantham need to cut out the Fri nite brownie parties for his defense. These mop heads need to have their heads on straight if we are to have a chance in Jax. If they play like they did last night it will be more bovine excretement than the Dawg Nation can stand. Our D has got to GATA or tuck their tails & ask “do you want fries with that”.
Erk Russell's Dog
October 21st, 2012
9:07 pm
CMR is not going to be fired after this season win or lose against the Gators ,the Dogs will have another 10 win season and play on New Years Day . As long as CMR and the Dogs keep dominating Tech he will coach at UGA until he decides to leave.With the addition of the two Big 12 castoff’s to the SEC and playing a 12 game regular season with at least two tin cans and Tech,CMR should be able to win 10 games a year for the next 10 years.
DDDF'S
October 21st, 2012
9:19 pm
Cannot wait to see UF wear this defense out. It is gonna be ugly. Hire the fourth choice for dc and feed him a steady diet of cupcakes and then reward him with contract extensions. And then wonder why he gets his a** kicked in big games.
dawgfan10101
October 21st, 2012
9:22 pm
If UGA loses to FL I would move Richt to Athletic Director, bring in Kirby Smart to be the Head Coach, move Bobo to be the QB coach, and get new Offense and Defense Coordinators. That would solve the problem of losing to ranked opponents.
DDDF'S
October 21st, 2012
9:23 pm
Impressive that saban’s d was able to shut down that Tennessee powerhouse that put nearly 50 points against the leghumpers.
DDDF'S
October 21st, 2012
9:32 pm
If? You truly are a dddf. If. Too funny.
Lazy Sunday
October 21st, 2012
9:40 pm
Certainly not making any predictions here, but if UGA doesn’t get it together on D, they’re going to have their hands full with Georgia Southern (currently 6-1, #3 in FCS). I can only point to they’re showing last season at Alabama (#1 defense), where they scored 21 points…more than any other team.
Erk
October 21st, 2012
9:51 pm
I don’t think Grantham suddenly doesn’t know how to coach. I think our defense over pursues, plays undisciplined and does not maintain individual assignments. What happened between last year & this year? We were very strong against the run last year and have everyone back. By the way, I was in Lexington and as flat as we played, I think Kentucky would have beaten us had their stadium not been a third empty.
TechRon
October 21st, 2012
9:54 pm
Dawgs were way over rated. That defense is pretty spotty if Kentucky can come that close to them. Still, they should win the rest except for Florida. Auburn has their worst team that I ever remember. Dawgs are definitely better than Tech, which has the worst defense in the nation.
slydog
October 21st, 2012
10:11 pm
@MB
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).”
If you are going to make a declaration like that, then it’s best not to support it with the sentences that followed. Basically, BooBoo had a good night because Kentucky kept 8 in the box. BoBo is having the typical year: His BS play-calling only works against sub-par competition. Luckily for him and Georgia, they get 8 or 9 of those a year.
cugas
October 21st, 2012
10:20 pm
I’ll take Gary Patterson for our new coach.
harold
October 21st, 2012
10:29 pm
NOT SURE WHO IS WORST. GRANTHAM OR SAL AT TENNESSEE?
Georgie Boy
October 21st, 2012
10:32 pm
@TechRon
UGA still has to play Ole Miss. They could beat Florida and still not win the division.
slydog
October 21st, 2012
10:36 pm
“…Any one who criticizes Bobo is simply showing their ignorance of football. ..”
This is an absolutely absurd statement. BooBoo IS NOT A GOOD OC. THIS IS NOT HIS OFFENSE. This manifestation is the creation of CMR. BooBoo is simply regurgitating the exact same vertical throw strategy as Richt did 12 years ago. To date, since BooBoo has taken over play-calling, there has not been ONE SIMPLE WRINKLE added to that vanilla offense. Alabam’s offense is vanilla, but is executed to perfection. OC make adjustments according to the personnel they have on hand. They adjust game plans and call sheets from series to series and from the 1st half to the second. Name ONE time when BooBoo did that? You can’t because he has not. When was the last time you’ve seen a Georgia receiver run a simple 5-7 yard crossing or slant route to beat a blitz? You haven’t seen one since Donnan left to steal money….lol. When was the last time a Georgia running back ran the ball up the middle besides a delay or a draw? Not in the past 12 years. Then BooBoo puts up HUGE numbers against inferior competition and idiots look at stats at the end of the year and say stupid things like: It’s not BoBo’s fault. When was the last time the offense made a play or scored and it turned the momentum of a game? You can’t remember one time since BoBo took the helm. Instead of saying”if Rambo would have intercepted the ball at S. Carolina, it would have been a different game,” how about if the offense would have shown some grit and scored on the next possession, like most good teams do? If the offense can’t get 50 yards on a toss sweep or gain 40 yards on a post or flag route, then the y can’t move the ball. Look at the damn game man. Stop defending BooBoo.
JRW7
October 21st, 2012
10:46 pm
CMR and DAWGS are winning, 10 games per year, BUT, they are winning ugly. With struggling wins over teams like KY, that they should have beaten by 4 TD, and losing all the big games, something’s wrong with CMR, either he’s burned out and just going thru the motion of coaching, but something’s very wrong, I don’t believe he will get fired, but, I think he quits. He’s had enough!
Benadawg
October 21st, 2012
10:52 pm
All you non-believers go jump on Bamas wagon, florida had 188 yds offense, we will not fumble as many times…we are gonna bring it in Jville
Contractor
October 21st, 2012
11:02 pm
Benadawg,
I’m hoping alcohol is the culprit of your delusion instead of just lack of intelligence.
Strange Murphy
October 21st, 2012
11:32 pm
347th WOOT! WOOT! WOOT!!1
KenDawg
October 21st, 2012
11:32 pm
I’m surprised at the lack of conditioning, especially the offensive and defensive line. They just look – and play – soft. A world apart from Bama, Florida, etc. All of the talent in the world won’t make up for hard work and the physical advantage that it brings.
Nofanshere
October 22nd, 2012
12:11 am
This is the SEC any given week any given team can win …
Any team can jell
NORMAL on the D
Dawgs 28 – Fla – 20 Fla keepin it close after falling behind 21 – 0 at the Half
Remember — Ds just gotta play to there ability .
Nofanshere
October 22nd, 2012
12:11 am
Enter yThis is the SEC any given week any given team can win …
Any team can jell
NORMAL on the D
Dawgs 28 – Fla – 20 Fla keepin it close after falling behind 21 – 0 at the Half
Remember — Ds just gotta play to there ability .
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