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.
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
408 comments Add your comment
Bo
September 13th, 2010
11:08 am
6 points ?
Lefty LaRue
September 13th, 2010
11:08 am
If Richt thinks it wasn’t all that bad he needs to take off the Raybans and read this blog. HAHAHAHAHA!
BAMA STAN
September 13th, 2010
11:09 am
13 NATIONAL TITLES – 22 SEC TITLES!!!
Well guys – I picked UGA to have a special season – I really thought UGA would squeek out a win against an improved SC team.
However – the season has just started – and remember – SC plays Alabama and Florida.
What did we learn?
Defense:
1. Defense needs some beef on the Line
2. Grantham is a very good coach – great adjustments.
3. UGA LB’s and DB’s are good
Remember – when Alabama switched to a 3/4 – it took a year before we became a dominant defense as we had to ingrain the system and recruit the right personnel.
Offense:
1. Offense played it too close to the vest – act liked they were playing not to lose.
2. O- Line is not as good as advertised. In fact – looked mediocre.
3. Murray is a good QB.
A disappointing start – but I believe this is an early wake up call. Still can win the SEC EAST – but lose to Arkansas next week – and SC will need to lose three games.
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!
kyle
September 13th, 2010
11:10 am
Kirby Smart for head coach. Give Richt til the end of his season to prove me wrong. I’ve been a big fan of Richt for years but I feel like Georgia is getting passed by in the SEC. We have to make a move
CDAWG
September 13th, 2010
11:10 am
Remember last year in the BCS championship game when Bama had the fake punt and threw the ball early. I LOVED IT even though it didn’t work. We never do anything out of the ordinary.
Lefty LaRue
September 13th, 2010
11:10 am
Richt only moves under pressure. Who will take over for Grantham with all those missed tackles and allowing 182 yards through the middle? Time to hire some more coaches. HAHAHAHAHAAHA!
ryan
September 13th, 2010
11:11 am
If UGA does not score a lot of points and just kicks field goals i think Bobo will be fired .
DIT
September 13th, 2010
11:11 am
This is just my view about the game. I was expecting this one as a loss. I was not planning on seeing our O-Line get kicked around like they did. Defense corrected a few areas. Let’s just give credit where credit is due. SC played a heck of a game and their RB was awesome. They have a very good team that will beat the Gators. We still have a good team. Can’t believe all the people on here poor mouthing the players and coaches. The ones that are doing this don’t come on here after the Arky game when we win and start to praise everyone. I have seen a big improvement with this years team compared to the past 2. Hey, only 4 penalties. Sucks that Ealey fumbles on the 3, but that stuff happens. WE ARE GETTING BETTER!
I am starting to get more and more on board about Bobo’s poor play calling. You can’t be conservative in the SEC. I don’t care if it’s a freshman or what. CMR is still a great HC. I’ll take him over just about anyone still.
I’m ready to see the changes that will be made to get ready for Arky. I believe that we will improve a good bit. They have a good team, but the Dawgs will prevail by 10! Go Dawgs!
CDAWG
September 13th, 2010
11:11 am
Bama Stan, you nailed it.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
September 13th, 2010
11:12 am
Bobo called plays like Cox was still the QB
bdawge71
September 13th, 2010
11:17 am
WELL BEFORE THIS DAY IS OVER LET US COVER A FEW POINTS OF INTEREST; SCAROLINA IS NO BIG DEAL, NEITHER IS LATTIMORE, WHO HAVE THEY WHIPPED SO FAR , ALSO REMEMBER WITH THE FAB NCAA OR BCS I LOST IS IT FOR THE YEAR BECAUSE OF MONEY MATTERS FROM TV THUS REVENUE TO PAY THESE LAWYERS WHO RUN THE NATIONAL COMMUNIST ATHLETIC ASSOC. MONEY HAS RUINED ALL COLLEGE SPORTS. THUS IT IS WHAT IT IS. 10-4.
Papadawg
September 13th, 2010
11:17 am
I knew going in this could be one of our losses. This is a pretty good veteren team we just lost to and it could have been worse if changes weren’t made at halftime by the defense. I want to see the offense play some smash mouth ball and we’ll be alright
DIT
September 13th, 2010
11:19 am
Great post BAMA STAN
I agree 100%. The new scheme takes time. O-Line needs to smack someone in the mouth and get aggressive. Defense will come around.
The Offensive play calling has to be much better this week. CUT MURRAY LOOSE. SO WHAT IF HE GETS PICKED. BOBO NEEDS TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND TAKE A CHANCE. Do that and the running game will open up. No, I’m not a football coach, but this is football 101.
dan
September 13th, 2010
11:19 am
“I think we’ve got to learn our personnel a little bit better.”
Well this inspires confidence. Isn’t that what the summer is for?
And Richt can put all the big men on the DL he wants, but if the LB’s are bad and teams are getting to the second level, then it won’t matter.
Vick=Dog killing thug
September 13th, 2010
11:19 am
I almost got sick when Ealey fumbled. I know its a part of the game but that HURT.
Mobile Dawg
September 13th, 2010
11:20 am
Good post Bama Stan, and you guys made the SEC proud. Good game. DIT, some good points about the improved discipline, less penalties. I really believe we are a much better team than we showed against USC. If our boys get a little taste of success against a good team confidence will grow, along with the team chemistry. Not giving up on the season, just questioning our game planning.
DawginLex
September 13th, 2010
11:21 am
The best 2 players on the field saturday were freshmen Lattimore and Murray.
Time for richt to go back to calling plays.
Time for Bobo to go coach the QB’s on fundamentals, footwork etc.
Allowing Ealey to play bit Richt. I know King was hurt but you play Thomas, Malcome, Chapas whoever.
The defense is better than any under Martinez except maybe 2005 that had not allowed WM to ruin them yet. 24 points in 2 games. Last year, we lose this game 42-6
Murray is going to be a star. Time to let him loose. Pass to set up the run. Let the kid play. Take the governor off of the go cart.
bdawge71
September 13th, 2010
11:21 am
DEAR TD, PLEASE BE ALERTED TO THE FACT THAT MUSCHAMP DOES NOT COACH D AT ALABAMA SMART DOES.
SCTexan
September 13th, 2010
11:22 am
“SCAROLINA IS NO BIG DEAL, NEITHER IS LATTIMORE, WHO HAVE THEY WHIPPED SO FAR”
Ugh….Georgia
Denis
September 13th, 2010
11:27 am
What a fiasco at SC! It’s kind of sad to see all the Dawg fans getting so excited this year (just like the year before, the year before that, etc.). How long is it going to take for UGA fans to realize that UGA is simply no longer relevant in the SEC? In the national picture, UGA isn’t even a blip on the radar, and hasn’t been since the preseason #1 ranking two years ago.
Sit back and be grateful for the seven or eight wins you’ll get every year. Coaching genius Mark Richt may take you to 8-4 or even 9-3 occasionally, but Florida will still win the SEC, meaning no BCS bowls and no top 10 final ranking. Most years, UGA will be very lucky to finish in the top 25, and only after a big bowl win over a nobody opponent.
It’s a different world now, and Dawg fans need to adjust their expectations downward to reflect reality.
Unfortunately nothing is going to change until UGA changes its mediocre coaching. That’s where the difference is, and that’s why everyone outside Dawgtard Nation just laughs at Dawg fans getting so excited year after year about what a great recruiting class UGA gets. It doesn’t matter how many blue chip high school players go to UGA, they simply don’t get the coaching they would get at Florida or Alabama, to name two schools whose programs are far ahead of UGA. And that’s not going to change as long as Mark Richt is in Athens.
Get your heads out of the sand and face reality. And mediocrity and irrelevance.
rebeldawg
September 13th, 2010
11:28 am
I know it is hard to keep up with 18 to young 20 somethings but it seems thr choachs have lost control’they get paid the big bucks,getrdone or get gone.
Papadawg
September 13th, 2010
11:30 am
Denis why don’t you tell us about your jackets
Delbert D.
September 13th, 2010
11:31 am
Bob Davie (ugh) called out Rambo twice on lack of effort. One one play he said, Rambo “took the play off”, and on the other he called him out for quitting early on a play where the SC player was hit but not down.
Redfern
September 13th, 2010
11:33 am
I almost got sick when Ealey fumbled. I know its a part of the game but that HURT.
Get used to being disappointed by Ealey. He’s a self-destructing smartass punk who can’t get anything right.
DawginLex
September 13th, 2010
11:33 am
Delbert
to quote tubby smith when he referred to Kelenna Azubuke
“looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane”
Rambo has name like Rocky, hits like Paulie
do-dah do-dah
September 13th, 2010
11:34 am
Blame it on the el nino.
Papadawg
September 13th, 2010
11:34 am
These freshman were playing against 17 & under kids last year and now they’re going up against 18 & over SEC Men. Big Difference and you don’t know how good they are or how they’re going to act until you throw them in there. Time will tell
Luke
September 13th, 2010
11:35 am
Auburn turnaround? Richt won the Sec in his second year
do-dah do-dah
September 13th, 2010
11:35 am
Blame it on the loss of Loran Smith.
dawglifer
September 13th, 2010
11:36 am
Our offense looked great those first few years under Richt when he was calling the plays, ever since Bobo has been the OC, our O has been weak. Fire Bobo and start calling the offense again Richt!
dawgster
September 13th, 2010
11:37 am
Hey Dawg with a Bag over his head…to sit here and say that the dawgs under Richt don’t play with any heart or haven’t is totally absurd..How many wins has Coach Richt won on the road against losses…How many wins has georgia won at hostile environments…Green to Haynes at Tenn..Stafford to Johnson at Auburn..Beating ACC champion in their own stadium with not one of the dawgs better teams…Beating Sc last year at our stadium…Man, i could name so many more…just don’t come on here and say the team doesn’t play with heart under Coach Richt…the players don’t deserve that…I don’t believe that there is any coach on the staff that doesn’t give it their best or that doesn’t have their heart into this team…
Swampdawg
September 13th, 2010
11:38 am
This team lacks strong men! Physical and mental! Too many kids running around making diving tackles and misses. Need more players like Boling and Jones!
WonderDawg
September 13th, 2010
11:39 am
Hey, Penis, don’t you think that’s about enough of the “blip on the radar…….” crap. We know who you are, just another nerd who changes your name so nobody can hurt you little feelings.
Boy, it worked out well for Kansas to schedule a cupcake acc team after getting beat up by North Dakota State . . .
mambo
September 13th, 2010
11:40 am
The coaching is pathetic! Guards who can’t block. Nose guard that should be playing end. Nobody knows how to wrap up in a tackle. They all try to block the runner down. They are pathetic! If anything should happen in practice this week, our defensive players need to learn how to tackle. And, if they can’t get rid of ‘em. It isn’t all about x’s and o’s. It’s about out blocking and out tackling the other team, and holding on to the ball.
WonderDawg
September 13th, 2010
11:40 am
Sorry, Denis . . .
ATL Tiger
September 13th, 2010
11:40 am
South Carolina will OWN UGA now that they have Latimore!!! They whipped your tail hands down. Richt is too soft and will never have a championship team. My prediction is South Carolina to win the east with the way Florida is playing this year.
Ron
September 13th, 2010
11:41 am
See we get into the same thing that Auburn did with Tuberville, blaming the Head Coach and wanting him fired can work against us. I think Vince Dooley has some pull and wants the A.D. to keep giving him chances to get better. Vince Dooley also recommended Ray Goff as the New Head Coach and you see where that got us. Dooley stay out of Georgia’s business because your a bad politician. To the University…..quit tying Mark Richts hand and allow him to start calling plays again or get a new O.C. I dont think i would wanna replace a coach that avgs 9-10 wins a season and roll the dice. Keep the politics outta football and let this guy coach, let him make changes that are necessary to make UGA what it once was and my gosh you have the money to get a very good O.C.
Harsh Reality
September 13th, 2010
11:42 am
Not saying the sky is falling, but the team that showed up on Sat, is NOT the same team that showed up week one.
The players came out flat
The coaches looked flat
I’m not saying Richt has got to be something he’s not personality wise, but players take on the persona of their coach period. There were times when I wondered if Richt even had a pulse on Sat.
South Carolina came out jacked up ready to hit someone in the mouth and did so. Both lines of scrimage got pushed around and the sad part is with few execptions the Dawgs just seemed like they lost their will to fight. I blame that on coaching.
In the past I’ve been one who’s said the off field issues aren’t a big deal, college kids will be college kids, most of the infractions were minor, but now it appears to be a symptom of a much larger problem. The players obviously have no fear of consequences for their actions on or off the field. The fact that our defense got pushed up the middle and we had Bean and Geathers on the bench is insanity at it’s worst. hmmmmm our smaller NT (who btw knows he’s better suited for one of the DE spots) is getting pushed around, so let’s leave his 6′6 320 and 6′5 325 counterparts on the bench and not even give them any reps.
Then on the other side of the ball you’ve got both Richt and Bobo coaching scared. They are bound and determined to make Murray something he’s not and that’s a pocket passer. Part of what makes Murray so dynamic is his ability to use his legs and improvise. I knew we were in trouble when all Richt could say about his TD run last week is that it was ill advised. Murray is a redshirt freshman and is going to make some mistakes, but I have no doubt that he wouldn’t have taken off and ran last week for that score unless he was absolutely confident he could make it.
UGA is no better now than when we were in the last days of Donnan. Richt has just been given a little more rope since he’s won a couple of SEC championships.
The players obviously don’t respect the coaches or their fellow teammates with a performance like that.
Is it just me, but I just can’t understand how a team can come out all jacked up and ready to play agaisnt LA-Lafayette and then in a CRITICAL game against one of your biggest rivals just come out and show up flat and just go through the motions.
We have the talent we just need more agressive coaching and coaches that don’t coach with fear of failure or fear of making mistakes or fear of putting too much on young players. Quit coddling the young players and let them play!
I’ll be shocked if we actually “Open up the offense” this week. They say this crap everytime after a big loss and we’re still waiting for them to open it up.
This crap is getting really old. I’ve been a big Richt supporter but the program has hit a wall and he’s lost control of the team. Think back to the last days of Donnan, players were getting in trouble left and right, he started losing to teams we were supposed to beat, and tons of excuses but few answers.
I keep thinking what Bobby Bowden said when he was hired, “Mark’s a very good coach, but I think he may be too nice to be the head man”
Swampdawg
September 13th, 2010
11:43 am
Iowa… now that’s a team! Why can’t we be more like Iowa!
Did you see Iowa beat Tech in the bowl game? Rock Solid blocking and tackling!
Chip
September 13th, 2010
11:45 am
Breaking news! Lattimore just trucked three more UGA defenders for ANOTHER first down!
wildbill
September 13th, 2010
11:45 am
If AD McGarity wants to keep his job, I would recommend that he have a couple of cups of caffeinated coffee and pay CMR a visit. That is of course, assuming Pres. Adams hasn’t reined him in too. I know nothing of behind the scenes goings on, but it appears to me that CMR has gotten fat and lazy and let the animal house go free with their antics.
Swampdawg
September 13th, 2010
11:47 am
I am sick of these kids that we have running around trying to make flying tackles. And when they do make a tackle they do that damn showboating. Need some adults on the team!
AltamahaDawg
September 13th, 2010
11:47 am
No Mobile, really wasn’t directing it to a specific person. I don’t know the specifics of why gave up this or didnt try that. I assume they could break it down in a filmroom and convince every single one of why it “seemed” like a good idea at the time. And then show us why it didn’t work. Maybe SC adjusted to the outside run. Not hard to look down from the press box and notice them bringing help over to shut down that corner. And then we didn’t have an answer.
We did run a wildcat formation a few times, we did run a draw play several times. Play action. Obviously we didn’t do the exact same thing every time. I think when they do something even a couple of times and it doen’t work, we tend to remember that’s all they tried.
In hindsight I bet they call different ones. In the words of Vince Dooley….”well hell no I wouldn’t run that again, I know how that turned out.”
I guess I am actually being more pessimistic than some. Some seem to think we had better options and just inexplicable choose to call play that would be less effective. Why somebody would do that, I’m not sure, but maybe so. That seems a lot easier to fix, just call better plays. I am making the assumption that we went with our best options, and just couldn’t get the job done. That seems like a bigger problem to have.
Papadawg
September 13th, 2010
11:47 am
I am beginning to think also that Coach Richt is to nice for Head Coach. We need someone tougher minded altough I’m still a supporter of his. I’m hoping some of Granthams toughness will rub off on him
jack e. row
September 13th, 2010
11:51 am
Jeff,the word is Voila!,not wa la. Why can’t Uga players tackle? As said previously, they leave the ground to make a tackle,and so they do not have any force behind them to make the tackle. Nothing except their arms! This was a major issue last year,and now here it is again! The defense is much improved,just think how good it will be when they can tackle! Trust me, tackling better is a necessary key to the defense. I,for one am not worried about Mallet. He threw for hundreds of yards last year,and we still beat them!
Stephen Garcia
September 13th, 2010
11:55 am
I wanted to pass the ball, put what was the need? With the huge holes in the GA defense and the lack of tackling ability, I became the ball giver to Lattimore all night. Seems like the GA coaches would have realized they were getting blown off the line of scrimmage, so that I could throw the ball more. Next time please realize you are getting manhandled and pounded inside so I can pad my passing stats.
Also, thank you GA offense, for being an easily predictable running offense on the same downs, over and over.
pbj
September 13th, 2010
12:03 pm
“I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass. And I’m all out of bubble gum.”
Razorback
September 13th, 2010
12:04 pm
I know you Georgia sidewalk fans do not like Coach Petrino, but do you really expect Richt to outcoach him?
To quote Coach Spurrier while at Florida, “if Georgia always gets the best players, why do we always win the game?”
You know the answer,
Ron
September 13th, 2010
12:04 pm
Harsh is right………….. We have got beef up the middle on defense and i think Georgia will do that this weekend against Arkansas. Im sure that they are studying the game films by now and see how weak we are up the middle and Grantham knows this as well. Remember that these players are still trying to learn Granthams scheme so be patient but we cant have players that are too chicken to tackle out there on the field like Rambo did last saturday.
Im guessing that Rambo will not play this saturday because of lack of skills tackling and hopefully Brandon Smith or atleast someone with some guts to fill this void. The offense needs dramatic improvement and only 11 first downs is unacceptable. You guys kept our defense on the field too long. You cant expect the defense to save you and win games for you. Quit making excuses that things would have been better with A.J. Green because one of you have to step up and make a difference on the field. I thought that when Ealey came back he would make a difference but the offensive line couldnt move SC line and that hurt Ealey’s rushing performance. Now i do blame offensive line because there’s 2 seniors, 2 Junior’s and 1 sophmore thats very experienced and they blocked very well on pass protection but poorly on opening holes. I’d say utilize the tight end more, more screens and when something is working good for ya, stick with it…..quit calling “wildcat plays” and looking like highschool football team. Richt needs to assume play calling again but i was detested on how Richt would rub his hair and adjust his sun glasses, be a coach and stop worrying about a photo op’s for Sports Illustrated. Guy’s this is serious business, looking over at the sidelines and seeing you guy’s smiling and cutting up like it was another day on the golf course really concerns me.
Get with it Bobo
September 13th, 2010
12:04 pm
Box score says it all. Defense gave up 17 despite poor tackling and inability to stop middle run game. Offense should never score less than 17 in a game.
fact is we had 2 rushing first downs and averaged. 2.3 yards per carry on 26 attempts. Compare that to 9.1 yards per attempt (over 13 per completion) and 9 first downs through the air. 21 total attempts (45% of the play calls) were passes, the only part of our offense that was productive. we ran the ball up the middle for no gain a number of times and ran the ball around the corner for 7-10 yards 2 to 3 times and quit. BOBO, stop finding weaknesses in defenses and going back to the old UGA run-it-up-the-gut offense. stop being scared to open the game up.