Gamecocks ‘really controlled line of scrimmage’, Spurrier says; changes ahead for Dogs?
Georgia needs to play more — and bigger — people on the defensive line. And it needs to get better play from a couple of positions on the offensive line “or make some changes there.”
Those were Mark Richt’s answers Sunday when asked about an observation from South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier that the Gamecocks “really controlled the line of scrimmage” against the Dogs on Saturday.
“I don’t know if it was total domination. It was actually a pretty close game to the very end,” Richt said on a conference call. “But I think we’ve got to learn our personnel a little bit better.”
On the defensive line, he said, “we’ve probably got to get our bigger men in there, ‘Bean’ [Justin Anderson] and [Kwame] Geathers. We’ve got to find a way to get them in the game more, got to find the right combination in some of our looks. That’ll help us.”
Neither Anderson nor Geathers played against South Carolina, according to Georgia’s participation chart. Richt said the Dogs also need to get Abry Jones more playing time on the D-line.
South Carolina freshman running back Marcus Lattimore, who had 182 yards rushing on 37 carries, said afterward that the Gamecocks “knew coming into the game … we could gash them up the middle.” He said South Carolina center T.J. Johnson “did a great job of moving their nose guard,” DeAngelo Tyson.
The 6-4, 290-pound Tyson has started the Bulldogs’ first two games at nose but also can play end (and prefers it) if the 6-5, 326-pound Anderson and the 6-6, 325-pound Geathers get playing time at nose.
On the offensive line, Richt said the tackles (Clint Boling and Josh Davis) and the center (Ben Jones) “played pretty good” Saturday. “Our guards struggled more than anybody on offense,” Richt said. “We’ve got to either get better or make some changes there.”
Cordy Glenn and Chris Davis are the starting guards.
More on the Dogs in the aftermath of Saturday’s loss:
UGA falls out of polls at earliest point in season since 2001.
What we learned, injury report and more.
Georgia hopes for ruling on Green appeal as soon as Tuesday.
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408 comments Add your comment
lagadawg
September 13th, 2010
10:11 am
Will people stop talking about 07 and what good things Richt has done in the past,the team is in a down hill slide and things Richt done in the past is not going to help him win “squat” in the future.
D-MAN
September 13th, 2010
10:13 am
One nose tackle played every snap,no excuse!Coaching,tackling and ealy cost us the game!
Dawgs 73
September 13th, 2010
10:14 am
Lake Hartwell Dawg – Are you working PR for Richt’s excuses or are you just plain blind. To say that Richt is the third best coach in the SEC due to tenure is just plain stupid. It’s BLIND HOMERS like you that are part of the problem. You always looking in the past, while other universities are looking towards the future. Richt was great between 2001-2005, when the level of coaching and competition were less that National Championship calibur. To say basically say that Richt is the third best coach in the nation is disingenious at best.
Stop making excuses and start being objective. It doesn’t less of a fan to have questions about the state and level of your program.
Rogerdawgfan
September 13th, 2010
10:14 am
td……what part of the last three years did u miss? it is time for change….the leaves r changing…..
CDAWG
September 13th, 2010
10:14 am
I keep hearing how good USC is this year and they may be but we REALLY helped them look good. Spurrier knew he could gash us up the middle. How could we not know that? Richt and Bobo said they wanted to play conservative with our freshman QB on the road, well it backfired. It was as if they had already conceded this game. Don’t do that coach, go into every game knowing we can win, pull out all the stops and let Murray do his thing. I have always wanted to see Richt succeed but with the money this program brings in every year and the talent that we get, the excuses have run out. Bobby Bowden said on TV Saturday that one of his and Florida States problems was their inability to properly evaluate incoming players or they did not do a good enough job at evaluating them. Are we doing the same thing? If Richt has another lackluster year and he is ousted, who would be the right choice to replace him?
Gary
September 13th, 2010
10:15 am
Pretty much played out like I figured. The Defense played better than I expected. Anyone who doesn’t think this is going to be a long year for the dawgs is not paying attention. I still think we can upset an overrated Arkansas, but a four or five loss season seems inevitable.
David
September 13th, 2010
10:15 am
Time to relive the Buck to Lynsey play. We just haven’t kissed Bucks behind enough. That is the only thing that will get us back in good shape.
Jake
September 13th, 2010
10:16 am
The question is, why is it that Georgia coaches these past few years are always figuring things out AFTER THE FACT, while their opponents figures things out in advance and exploit the weaknesses? After a while, you’ve got to start asking what’s wrong with the system.
David
September 13th, 2010
10:18 am
Mark is not going anywhere. I have seen the buyout on his contract. He has very good lawyer.
DAWG with bag over his head
September 13th, 2010
10:20 am
Lake Hartwell Dawg , Vince and Erk ran a tight ship and they always tried to find a way to win a game, instead of playing not to lose. Those teams and coaches had heart and discipline, Richt’s haven’t. It’s not always just about the wins and losses. The current team is not motivated, not disciplined, AND Richt’s teams have never won the big games that could have put them into the NC picture. Vince and Erk’s did.
McDawg
September 13th, 2010
10:22 am
why didn’t Geathers or Andersen play?? fairly certain i saw Andersen out there unless it was special teams
C. Glenn looked terrible
Mobile Dawg
September 13th, 2010
10:26 am
Great speech TD, you did make a couple of good points. Murray is already a good one, well I couldn’t really find another good point. I will keep supporting my team, and calling it just like I see it. Without us vocals do you think CMR would have replaced the defensive staff? The defense didn’t play like champions Saturday but they kept us in the game, and they will get better I believe. The ineptness of the offense had nothing to do with Murray, it’s all coaching decisions “game planning” and yes the fumble hurt but those things happen.
When things get tight I wonder if CMR and or Bobo get the deer in the headlights feeling. Has anyone ever worked with, or around a person in a Leadership role and seen them panic when their leadership is needed most? Do our coaches think clearly and make good decisions at critical times?
And South Ga, USC was a better team. We were in Destin for the week so we ended up watching the game at a local sports bar. There was an elderly couple seated next to us that were Dawg Fans and the NW Florida Bulldog club was there. The old man and I were talking and as you said we joking called the offensive plays and we were right on mostly, especially on the three and outs. The most glaring being the deep balls on first down. That’s how a group of “highly paid” “SEC Coaches” protect their young QB. I don’t get it but I hope it gets better. My experience with this bunch, the offensive coaches, doesn’t, however give me a ton of confidence.
McDawg
September 13th, 2010
10:28 am
where are the adjustments?gee our nose tackle is getting blown off the ball -our LB are sitting back while a 220 lb RB is running downhill at full speed before anyone even touches him-oh well–we need to figure out how to get someone else in the game
ITS CALLED SUBSTITUTION AND PREPARDNESS
WITHOUT LINDSEY SCOTT,THERE'S NO 1980 TITLE
September 13th, 2010
10:29 am
I HOPE TO GOD WE LOSE TO ARK,MISS ST,TENN,FLORIDA AND AUBURN!
THAT WAY MCGARITY WILL FIRE RICHT AND BOBO!
Big Harry
September 13th, 2010
10:33 am
Richt isn’t go anywhere – the season isn’t over and truth be told its better to drop a game or so early rather than later in the season.
That being said: why, I wonder, does Richt have no concern making changes at line positions but not with coaches that aren’t producing? I’m not calling directly for Bobo to get fired but who here hasn’t watched our talent on offense squandered since he has taken over? We have consistently been inconsistent, underachieved, flat, etc…. Had this been a player he would have made a change, just look at Richt’s comments above.
Again, not calling for the doom and gloom with this one loss but asking a serious question.
Larry
September 13th, 2010
10:35 am
Amazing after 10 years Coach Richt and his assistants still lack foresightedness and anticipation. Yesterday we heard both Richt and Bobo admit the the preparation and play calling inhibited Murray’s advanced abilities and preparation for the game and now he says “But I think we’ve got to learn our personnel a little bit better” and “we’ve probably got to get our bigger men in there.”
Yes, coach, but when will you and your staff learn, anticipate and apply these necessites BEFORE a game?
Concrete Pete
September 13th, 2010
10:37 am
We lost, and will continue to lose in the weight room
bdawge71
September 13th, 2010
10:38 am
O.K. LETS COVER EVERYTHING AGAIN, 1- NOT IN SHAPE 2- BOO BOO NOT INVENTIVE 3- OL HAS NO COACH 4- IF SC KNEW WHAT WAS COMING AFTER 1 GAME, WHY DIDNT WE KNOW SOMETHING 5- THE BEST RECRUITS IN GA ARE GOING ELSEWHERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL BY NOT GOING TO CLASSES 6- LET CMR CALL THE PLAYS HE DID PRETTY WELL BEFORE 7- AND FINALLY IF YOU GET RID OF CMR WHO IS LEFT TO TAKE HIS PLACE- MAYBE BROCK LESNAR- NOBODY CAN BEAT HIM. 10-4.
Mobile Dawg
September 13th, 2010
10:41 am
Besides the Dawgs falling into mediocrity probably “The Most Telling” factor in evaluating CMR’s Leadership qualities is that none of his assistant coaches have been interviewed for any head coaching openings or high quality coordinator positions. As a CEO, you surround yourself with quality people, then develop them, then prepare to lose them because you have done them a tremendous service by allowing them to learn and grow. Learned that in management 101.
Dogs Smell
September 13th, 2010
10:42 am
Fat Matt Wilson , I will assume you’re a UGA grad.
AltamahaDawg
September 13th, 2010
10:42 am
The problem I have with using the term “predicatble” as an explaination for losing is that playcalling is predictable for a reason. It’s predictable because everybody knows what we should have been calling. The game plan this past Saturday was predictable because for the entire summer, and all week , and an hour before the game, EVERYBODY said this is the game plan we would and should use. It didn’t work, now all of a sudden we have folks who spent the summer critical of the staff for not being committed to running the ball enough in the past, wondering why we didn’t air it out with our QB playing in his first real game. The entire summer we heard how coach is too “in love with his QB”, and will throw it too much despite having this o-line and Ealey.
It also helps if his WR get open, and then catch the ball. I wonder how much of the “reins” had to do with the receiving end of the equation. I really thought we were deeper in WR talent than this.
Good teams all over the country won saturday being very predicatble in thier playcalling, including SC. If we had stopped thier RB and forced them to go all unpredictable and creative, does anyone think that would have worked for SC? No, we wished they had. Predictablity is not the problem. We better figure out how to do the predictable.
I understand adjusting, but that makes the assumption that there were option, and I am not so sure there were that many. We actually had a 45% pass/55% run attempt, (which has been oft critisized in here as “pass happy”) What happens if Murray throws 2 picks because we just give up the run and start letting a freshman sling it around? History shows what happens.
The question in my mind is NOT why didn’t we do something different, something nobody wants, something proven in the past to not be a very good alternative……..the question in my mind is why CAN”T we do what we should be able to do?
I’m not upset with the OC because of what he called, I’m upset because it didn’t work and it should be.
td
September 13th, 2010
10:43 am
Rogerdawgfan, Like that change for change sake worked well in Tennessee? BTW: Who are we going to get? What choice was CTG? 3rd, 4th (although I do think we got a great coach). Why is it that our first two choices did not want to come to UGA. Was it the money? I do not think so. Could it be because we have some DA fans that think we have to go 12-0 every season and if not they get on blogs like this one and call out the coaches, players and think the world is ending? Probably.
I have watched every Georgia game since 77 and can say without a doubt the CMR is the best coach UGA has had since I have been watching. Saban runs the most vanilla offense in the country, so does Ohio State, Texas, LSU and how is Florida’s offense looking this year with a new QB? One thing they all have in common is they play great defense. Was Saban and Muschamp at the top the first year they came to Bama? No, it took a year. Why was Florida great the first year Meyer got their? Could it be because he was smart enough to retain Charlie Strong? We have not been great since CBV left and it will take a year or two for this defense to become great again and then we can talk SEC championships and MNC’s but until then do a little research and stop being a DA knee jerk fan.
Big Question
September 13th, 2010
10:43 am
If Richt is to evolve into a true head coach he’s going to need the best coaches around him: Bobo isn’t it.
I understand he wants continuity and consistency. He may have gotten that from his long tenure with Bowden but let’s face it – FSU was winning games then.
This will likely be the last year for Bobo…and I can’t wait.
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
September 13th, 2010
10:48 am
WAIT ‘ TIL NEXT YEAR
FIRE A COORDINATOR
THOSE REFS STINK
CDAWG
September 13th, 2010
10:48 am
Altamaha, good post!
JB
September 13th, 2010
10:48 am
Big problem looming: If…..and I mean if we lose 2 -3 more games in the next 5-6 weeks, the Media, blogs, talk shows will heat up to make today look like nothing. That means recruiting becomes an issue from a stand point of commits or the ones we’re trying to get to commit. That being said, McGarity will HAVE to come out with a statement, and he will have to be careful. That statement sends out signals to everyone, including our opposition. Yes, I think it would/could get that bad.
Let’s hope we take of business and upset Arkansas this weekend.
bruce mac
September 13th, 2010
10:50 am
The OC calls the plays CMR tells him to call. The game plan was conservative because we have a freshman quarterback and we thought we could run the ball. It didn’t work. I know all of you fans know more about football and this team than CMR and his staff so just pick another team to root for. This team doesnt’ need any fan that are this stupid. GO DAWGS.
td
September 13th, 2010
10:51 am
Dawgs 73, You were calling for firing CMR last year and the year before. You will never stop. CMR is not going anywhere so I guess you need to put on that pee yellow jersey and root for a different team.
J-Smoove
September 13th, 2010
10:52 am
Rambo lookes scared out there on D…. how many tackles did UGA miss on Saturday? CTG defense didn’t give up any big plays, but they could not get off the field. That first drive for USC of 16 or 17 plays/ 8 or 9 minutes really set the tone of the game. Murray looked ok, but Bobo was too conservative in the first half. It’s still early in the season, so hopefully the Dawgs will bounce back on Saturday against Arkanasas. GO DAWGS!!!!
TN Jeff
September 13th, 2010
10:52 am
There was ABSOLUTELY no FIRE on either side of the ball. Also, Rambo looks incredibly tentative & he needs to hit somebody – I think he’s afraid of getting another concussion. For that matter – they need to start having hitting in their practices cause WAY TOO much arm tackling.
J-Smoove
September 13th, 2010
10:52 am
looked
Dogs Smell
September 13th, 2010
10:54 am
If you dont think its your coach, why is it Saban wins a NC in just 2 years. Les Miles does it under 4. CMR is in his 10th and you pup fans want to talk as though you have the best football program in the country ? Other coaches in the SEC are doing more with less. I cannot stand Lane Kiffin, but he did keep his promise, “As long as I am at Tennessee, we will never lose to Georgia”.
JB
September 13th, 2010
10:54 am
And by the way, I think McGarity say’s Mark Richt is going nowhere. I don’t think he means it, but he’ll have to. One other observation from late Saturday. Late in the game, Murray could not find and open receiver. He had to throw one away, get sacked or scramble. That concerns me.
CDAWG
September 13th, 2010
10:55 am
td, I think what we are seeing is frustration. I like CTG A LOT!!! He said early on that he does not have the perfect personnel in place to run his D but he no doubt will in the future. I think if CTG stays in place we will end up with a beast of a D. Now the frustration comes from Florida, LSU and Alabama winning NC’s with their Coach having much less time on the job. What would be the correct explanation for that? We have done a poor job in the past from recruiting in our own home state. That is only one reason.
Dirty Dawg
September 13th, 2010
10:55 am
It could be worse…we could be Virginia Tech.
Mobile Dawg
September 13th, 2010
10:56 am
Good morning Altamaha. I know you weren’t talking to me directly, and you have some good points. No question, we should be able to man up physically and run straight at them. I also question why we can’t be successful, at least some of the times. As far as statistics go, Murray accounted for 6 of those runs in your totals so I don’t really think we committed to the run, or made an honest effort to establish it. Another question I had as well as others is why we abondoned running outside the tackles, that’s what WAS working in the running game.
Predictability is throwing the long ball on first down, run up the middle on second down, throw on third down. I saw no creativity or imagination in the play calling Saturday. Where were the screen passes, did we throw in a fwd lateral, i.e. shuttle pass, draw plays, quick play action short throws over the middle to the tight ends. I could go on and on. Our frosh QB shouldn’t have been asked to throw the long ball so often. We (and yes it sounds like a monday morning qb) should have stayed with a ball control style offense, and punted when we should have. I made that point numerous times before we ever got to this game. Our offensive game plan had no sync. USC had something to do with that but our game plan, IMO, had as much to do with it.
That’s why I’m down on the coaches. This has been going on now for years Alt.
kyle
September 13th, 2010
10:57 am
We learned alot about the Dawgs, but the game against Arkansas will tell us everything we need to know about them. But i agree that if Richt has another average year, he will really be on the hot seat, and deservedly so. Bobo has to go, our program started to deterriorate when he became OC.
JB
September 13th, 2010
10:57 am
Me thinks the D plays better this week. Richt better unleash Murray. The kid can do it.
dbc
September 13th, 2010
10:57 am
As I’ve stated before, someone tell me when was the last time UGA played a COMPLETE game against a QUALITY opponent? That is, offense, defense, and special teams. Not against the LA LA’s or Vandy’s of the world, but against someone actually good. Anyone? And don’t tell me Florida from three years ago because they weren’t that good and still put up 30. Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl? Please. The only games I can think of were the two SEC championship games we won. Folks that was FIVE years ago! We had our chance against BAMA several years back and Richt and the boys wet their pants on natl tv. I do feel better about the defense. CTG had them in the right spots, they just missed the tackles. And they only gave up 17 points and sacked the QB five times. With 10 starters back on offense, we should have easily won that game. I’m not convinced SC is all that this year — I still see them losing 3 games. For some reason CMR is not engaged. He’s too soft from a discipline standpoint and that’s were it all starts. His decision making, from calling plays to personnel to even clock management is suspect, and this strange loyalty he has to coordinators who can’t cut it will eventually be his downfall. As Lattimore ran all over us I could only think one thing — had he signed with UGA CMR would have red-shirted him. Got to give a fella a chance to learn “the system.” Well if this is what “the system” produces, then the system blows.
OK my rant is over for the day. I just can’t talk about this anymore…
'94 UGA Grad
September 13th, 2010
10:58 am
Destin Dawg,
You hit the nail on the head. The main reason we lost this game is Mike Boo Boo and his ultra conservative play calling trying to “protect” his Freshman QB. How many games are we going to have to lose “protecting” our Freshman QB. I say let him play and play to win! It’s ironic to me that everyone was so worried about how our Freshman QB would handle his first career start in the SEC in a hostile environment and it was our coaches that we should have been worried about and who chickened out(no pun intended) and did not trust their young QB.
VT food Mgr
September 13th, 2010
10:58 am
got a call today to change from Dolly Madison snack cakes in the dining hall to little debbie’s WTF.
kyle
September 13th, 2010
11:00 am
If i remember correctly, Richts last game calling the plays was when we traveled to #5 Auburn in 2006. Dawgs exploded for 37 points…with a true freshman QB. Next game? Bobo was calling plays, and we scored 15 points
JP
September 13th, 2010
11:00 am
I am a Gator fan, and after 2 weeks, it looks like SC might be the best team in the East (that’s after 2 weeks). Both UGA and FLA have issues. Still A LOT of time to tighten things up for both teams. I think UGA will bury Arky this weekend….
GTJeff
September 13th, 2010
11:00 am
I was talking with a UGA buddy of mine. He & I agree, MAYBE yall should be looking to get Kirby Smart at your HEAD COACH before someone else scoops him up.
gt
September 13th, 2010
11:00 am
All weekend long the airways have been full of apologist for Georgia. No one is willing to say Spurrier just kicked it or that South Carolina has passed Georgia as a program. Anybody else, Tech, the Falcons, even the high flying Braves will find themselves under the shoe of talk radio or even this newspaper, but the secret that is so guarded in this area is Georgia is not Georgia any more. It is like the Titanic, “and the band played on”.
Lefty LaRue
September 13th, 2010
11:02 am
182 yards up the middle by a freshman running back and you wonder why you lost? HAHAHAHAHA!
JB
September 13th, 2010
11:02 am
dbc……………………We all feel your pain………………..And you are correct. Ask folks around the country about Georgia. Ask Vegas. Yes, The Brand is damaged. Not dead, damaged.
Lefty LaRue
September 13th, 2010
11:04 am
That big ole corn fed line was gaping some holes wasn’t it? 182 yards! Richt says it wasn’t so bad though so it must not have been so bad. HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Lefty LaRue
September 13th, 2010
11:05 am
Was Richt watching the same game? He sounds a lot like Bobby Cox. HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Mature-Dawg
September 13th, 2010
11:06 am
It’s simple: Running game not established too much pressure to pass with our new QB. He is very talented and will be a strong QB. Until we establish a running game, we will not sustain drives. I have seen this for too many years now and it is time for UGA to make a move at OC. If that does not work, CMR should be relocated to the WAC. D looked good and held a very good offense to 3 in the second half. Too many three and outs by the O…..Pathetic.