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.

408 comments Add your comment

LHardingDawg

September 13th, 2010
2:42 pm

I said last week on this blog that to win the game we needed to control the ball for a minimum of 35 minutes. Well, guess what, SC controlled the ball for 35:20 and won the game.

I also believe we got beat by the 2010 SEC East champions.

R2chs

September 13th, 2010
2:53 pm

My question is simple: how can they receive a withering barrage of criticism like the 4 pages of replies on this blog and not have a “WTF are we doing” moment? How can Richt stare his players in the face when 90%+ of the ardent fans on this key blog are basically calling his coaching team incompetent at worst, mediocre at best? I guess that was 2 questions.

Bdawg

September 13th, 2010
3:00 pm

Any idiot that runs a 3/4 should know that you need a 350lb agile monster at nose guard. Richt keeps saying we need to do this, we need to do that. It’s pretty easy to stick them in the game and let them play. Frankly, I’m tired of the excuses and we need a new OC if not a new offensive coaching staff period. The team is too timid and play like a bunch of girls and don’t deserve to be ranked. Jakar Hamilton needs to live up to the name, “Hitman”. Right now, that’s a joke. Team as a whole needs to develop a killer instinct and become more aggressive from this point on. If we don’t improve it’s time for a coaching change. If you don’t agree, the proof is on the field. Saban comes in and in 3-4yrs wins and NC and Richts been here 10yrs and still no luck. That says a lot for the talent of a Head Coach.

Baron of Brumby (When it was a girls dorm)

September 13th, 2010
3:01 pm

Let’s not panic. Its early. Although the biggest problem I have is the recruiting. We have trended toward smaller quicker RB’s as oppose to the big back a la Tim Worley type. We consistently sign these guys who can only catch swing passes and can’t run between the tackles. Also this trend has continued in our recruiting of DB’s . We nee more power and less finesse. You can not win the SEC with Finesse on both sides of the ball… GATA

lizboy

September 13th, 2010
3:04 pm

The discipline deal is for real—-why not get rid of troublemakers—-looks like their going to maybe win 5 or 6 games anywayso—–why not just play the guys that want to go to school and playfootball. To h—l with the rest of em.————Lets get on with it man!!!!!!

Fair and Balanced

September 13th, 2010
3:06 pm

The best this team can hope for is a 7 – 5 record. All the determination expressed by CMR has resulted in very little – if anything. I can’t point to any bright spots unless we point to the kicking game. QB didn’t play real bad, but we didn’t get any TD’s either. Long year coming up. CMR can salvage something of the season if: 1. He calls the plays. (I’m not sure that will do any good though because he hasn’t done it for so long); 2. The O Line wakes up and gives the running backs a chance to make some yardage. GA could be 1 – 3 before this happens though.

Fair and Balanced

September 13th, 2010
3:10 pm

BTW, CMR looks so fat to me that I wonder if discipline is now a complete foreign concept for this program.

PowerDawg

September 13th, 2010
3:12 pm

Well, ya’ll…
I don’t profess to know everything, and I am not a highly-paid coach at the collegiate level, but…I know one thing for sure and it isn’t even open to argument…DeAngelo Tyson is TOO SMALL to play nose tackle in this league.

He is an excellent player and will be an outstanding DE, but you can’t plug holes and clog running lanes against SEC O-lines at 290 lbs. You just can’t.

SC ran Lattimore over and over right up the middle, at least 95% of the time…right where Tyson was playing. They simply plowed him over and out of the way. Nothing against him as he probably gave great effort, but he was purely and completely over-matched.

Why the coaches didn’t play the bigger, stronger, albeit inexperienced, guys I will never know. They weren’t even on the participation roster for the game. Experience or lack of, notwithstanding, should have been thrown out the window. The big boys should have been called to the front and told simply…”stay low and don’t let anyone through your lane! Here is your opportunity to become the great run-stopper we all believe you can be… Now go in there kick that centers ass!”

Extreme conditions call for extreme measures. The SC game, after the second TD right up the middle, should have become a situation treated as such.

CTG is an excellent coach, but he is relatively new to the college game. He will learn from this and we will be better defensively. Tackling is coachable and easy to fix. I guarantee you that will be priority one this week during practice, along with the personnel changes mentioned.

Offensively, the bindings are coming off and CMR is going to turn Murray loose now. The play book will now be wide open. We have ourselves a very talented, very capable young QB. The boy can play, make no mistake about that. And the O-line? It will reset itself and start hitting on all cylinders like the last half of ‘09…and that should be encouraging to everyone.

We got our noses bloodied Saturday, no doubt. As a young man growing up, whenever I tasted blood in a fight, I got meaner and stronger. I became hardened and resolved not to stop until I got the other guy to want to stop because he was too tired of scrapping with me.

This team will do likewise. Count on it.

DAWG with bag over his head

September 13th, 2010
3:15 pm

DawgByte and Eaassy, I’m not drinking your Kool aid this season. Nothing I seen the past two weeks makes me think this won’t be another mediocre season (like the last two when I heard all the same posts about it being too early in the season to write it off). It appears you both like following a second or third tier team.

UGADAWGZ

September 13th, 2010
3:27 pm

Spurrier is an idiot, yea you controlled the line of scrimmage giving up 5 sacks, what an idiot.
Prediction-South Carolina once again starts of strong than crumbles, While UGA only gets better with experience and Aaron Murray gets let loose on Arkansas

PowerDawg

September 13th, 2010
3:40 pm

SomethingToThinkAbout:

You are an idiot.

You are also the exact type of fair weather “fan” that this team needs fewer of.

Last year during the six games or so that Ealey played, you were probably woofing just as loud as as anyone about his great play. Now, when he can’t run because the O-line didn’t do there job, you want him on a bus? With AJ Green? The best WR, hell, the best PLAYER this school has ever had other than Hershel Walker?

They made mistakes that hurt the team as well as themselves. But they haven’t done anything to dishonor the team. You want to know what dishonoring your team is? Selling the SEC championship rings that it took the team twenty years to win…that is dishonorable. These young men simply used poor judgment made a careless mistake but have learned from it. The team has forgiven them and accepted them back in the fold. Who the hell are you to call for their dismissal?

Do us all a favor and go play in a busy street somewhere. Like maybe Columbia or Tuscalooser.

Chump.

Delbert D.

September 13th, 2010
3:42 pm

Phil – “Hard for me to believe that 30 more pounds at nose is going to make any difference, especially if the player isn’t as strong. Pick up a 30 pound dumbell and see if you think placing one of those in someones back pocket would make them better able to stop the run.”

You got it right. Force = Mass X Acceleration. Strength is needed to get that big body moving. You can easily push over a 6′6″ 330 pound log standing on end, probably with 1 hand.

Blowing Smoke up my rear end

September 13th, 2010
3:53 pm

The sky is not falling people because it has already fell . UGA will lose to Arky and Miss. State. You heard it right here.

Wes

September 13th, 2010
4:13 pm

Agree with most that defense overmatched early but TG made halftime adjustments showing he can coach.

Offense – Do we ever have a game plan designed to attack or exploit other team’s weaknesses? It seems to me every series we just run random plays in hoping something will work. No strategy or game plan evident on offense. Did anyone see the sidelines in the 2nd half. Murray sitting by himself on the bench, no sign of Bobo or offensive coaches meeting with offensive players trying to make adjustments, etc. Just waiting to come out for the next series of “random plays”.

Even Lattimore knew what their offensive strategy was based on USCs strategy against 3-4. I bet not one GA player could answer what our strategy was because we apparently don’t have one.

Buddy

September 13th, 2010
4:33 pm

My oh my, 4 pages of criticism, from pretty much 1 lone blogger, using a bunch of fake names. A real fan wouldn’t give up after losing 1 game. What a losing mentality.

Mobile Dawg

September 13th, 2010
4:35 pm

Good observation Wes. I noticed Murray on the bench alone several times during the second half.

Mobile Dawg

September 13th, 2010
4:38 pm

Apparently Buddy this is the only blog you’ve been on. I’ve seen a lot more than four pages of criticism. Mostly constructive and to the point. If you took the passionate loyal fans doing the criticizing out of the stadium as several of you have asked it might surprise you how empty Sanford Stadium would be Saturday.

Halechoi

September 13th, 2010
4:41 pm

POOR Tackle………….SOFT Tackle…………

tony

September 13th, 2010
4:42 pm

Stop blaming these athletes for lack of decipline. If you pamper a child you spoil the child. That’s exactly what Mr.Richt has done to our young men. Here’s an example. Back in 2002 Mr.Richt got upset because the fans booed David Green.http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090602/col_10375439.html They will get their feeligs hurt? Steve Spurrier would of told his qb “If you play poorly you will get booed so live with it” Mr.Richt made it seem like Ealey’s fumble was no big deal. Ealey response. ” Ok Coach” Spurrier would of told Ealey to get away from him.

Think about this. If a player got in trouble for driving with a suspended license which coach do you believe that player would rather face Mr.Richt or Steve Spurrier? I think most would say Mr.Richt. Until we get a hc who will put fear in these players and put the fans above his coaching staff we will continue to have the same issures. I study some coaches who I believe can turn this team around in a hurry.

1) Chris Peterson – I believe he would love to coach in the SEC where the real competition is.

2) Butch Davis – It didn’t take long for him to turn the Tar Heels around

3) Mike Martz(former NFL) – I really like this coach. As a former OC he led the Rams to a SB victory.

4) Bill Cowher – I’m dreaming here.

5) Dan Reeve – I like Dan because he is from this state and the players will respect him.

6) Brian Kelly – He did a nice job at Cincinnati.

Any of these coaches will fit in very well. I would like to keep T.Grantham, Belkin and Lakatos.

tony

September 13th, 2010
4:44 pm

Buddy

September 13th, 2010
4:47 pm

SC was 1 play better than Georgia, quit whing you bunch of goons. 1 fumble, that was the difference.

GO DAWGS

September 13th, 2010
5:13 pm

WOW,anyone ever thought that maybe, just maybe SC was a better team and from what I saw in the stands might finally have all the pieces to win the east. The offense cost, but other than last year when have we ever lit it up against SC. Other than a freshman running back(who will go down as one of the best ever in SEC) running all over us the D looked better. There was plenty of pressure, there was no big play given up. The Dawgs will ok, gonna take a few games to get in sync, if we get through this weekend then we will roll to FL with 1 loss. Mark it down.

chuck

September 13th, 2010
5:14 pm

Coach Richt says they need to find a way to get the bigger players on defense in the game. Find a way? Coach, just say GET IN THE GAME! That’s all you need to do. Why didn’t you do that for the first game. Same ole georgia. Charles drops a pass one yard from the end zone and of course the fumble on the five. Georgia should have won that game. You are too conservative coach. Open up the offense if you have one.

Dawgs Tell

September 13th, 2010
5:31 pm

We just need bigger and down right mean linemen on both sides of the ball. Every team we face in the SEC look bigger.Why ??? Also, Richt now needs to evaluate his linemen? What did they do for the last six weeks and the last two years with the SAME linemen??? As Pat Dye said “WE are not man enough”

FLA DAWG

September 13th, 2010
5:47 pm

Richt thinks this game was close until the very end!?
I knew it was over in the 3 qtr.

FIRE RICHT NOW

ugabean

September 13th, 2010
6:08 pm

Defense needs to arm tackle. D also needs big men in the middle. Running game is not the strength of the team. Let Murray run it more and air it out.

BulldawgBite

September 13th, 2010
6:11 pm

dawgfan13 go cheer for florida then homo, we have a freshman QB and a new defensive scheme. We lost to a tough team on the road. They outplayed us. Did you think were going undefeated? Mabey a butt whooping is what this team needed. I have faith in this team. We have a young QB that is going to develop and continue to get better. Not to mention we have him for 4 years. We have good recruits and possibly great if we get Isiah Crowell. Mabey you should have a little faith in your team.

kris

September 13th, 2010
6:16 pm

its all about recruting bad recruits since cmr blake barnes joe cox branndon wood ricardo crawford tyson browning corey moon joe t kevin perez jon miller ben harden andy bailey zeb mckinsey toby jackson israel troupe nadarius ward zach mettinberger michael cooper aj bryant brandon bogatay dontavius jackson brandon seasay jon owens bryan evans charles white marquis elmore darrell holmes bama adams darrius swain rod battle brandon williams kiante tripp

chuck

September 13th, 2010
6:32 pm

The defense was acceptable. The offense was terrible. Bobo must go.

Dawg'em out!

September 13th, 2010
6:38 pm

jump the gun folks, put richt on the hot seat and get somebody else right. wait atleast until the end of the season o make your final judgement on him IMO. from what i have seen from CMR are teams that get knocked down, but always bounce back BIG. just sayin.

Delbert D.

September 13th, 2010
6:39 pm

Georgia’s drives:

Plays/yards/duration of drive/outcome

1st Q
13-60 6:20 FG

2nd Q
3-1 1:26 Punt
3-9 2:15 Punt
3-3 0:41 Punt
3-11 0:53 End of Half

3rd Q
12-64 6:43 FG
4-75 2:30 Fumble

4th Q
3-4 2:18 Punt
3-3 1:20 Punt
5-24 1:12 End of Game

3rd down conversions: 3/11

tell me again

September 13th, 2010
7:04 pm

Wow -one loss and the “fans” are cannabilizing the entire coaching staff and team…..what will you be saying when that is the only game we lose this year? We are going to be fine – we played without Green aned King and Murray had his first taste of real football – he will grow into the job and when we get everyone back the offense will roll. CTG will make adjustments to the nose position and we will solve the probnpems that cropped up…..man, are you people sick….you act like the season is already over. And as for firing CMR – are you crazy? He’s the best coach UGA’s ever had! What? Do you think we are going to win the SECCG every year and go to the NC game automatically? Sit back and get comfy – the Dawgs are hunting for pig on Saturday!

Delbert D.

September 13th, 2010
7:28 pm

Strange stat: South Carolina had the ball for 10:10 in the 4th quarter, and yet was only 1 of 4 on 3rd down conversions.

Gamec0ckmike17

September 13th, 2010
7:48 pm

Why is it that Dawg fans think it’s the end of the world when they lose to lowly South Carolina? I don’t care if SC loses the rest of its games because it was worth it for Lattimore to run the smile right off of UGA’s face. I’m a true SC fan, but I don’t have a problem saying UGA still has a good team and Murray is going to be a heck of a quarterback real soon. Dawg fans just hate to lose to pitiful SC and Spurrier. Cry me a river.

bleed red and black

September 13th, 2010
8:27 pm

Bottom line is that our offensive Co. BoBo is to conservative and been for a while now..I think georgia needs to go another route in finding another play caller…we have too much talent to not put up points on the board he is not aggressive at all….case in point throw first down, run second down, run third down…not gonna get it in the SEC…BoBo needs to just stay at teaching the quarter backs and richt needs to take over play calling or bring in a man that don’t mind playing football and put ur some points and let them dogs go and play football…

Dawgs Tell

September 13th, 2010
8:34 pm

I just so the captains named for the game Saturday. To Heck with this!!! I would not name any starter to be captains. I would let all walk-ons be captains for this game. Hell they practice everyday and be blocking dummies for the team with nothing in return but to say they played ball for UGA. That may wake up a few players!!!

SOS Dawg

September 13th, 2010
9:05 pm

Hey CMR ….. why dont you google Alabama football and watch Saban conduct practices compared to yours. Your Mic ‘ed up on georgiadogs.com is an absolute joke. Your strength and conditioning program is a joke too. we need bigger players ? duh………..

FLA DAWG

September 13th, 2010
9:07 pm

It took YEARS for those of us who knew Martinez was a loser to unload him because those of you who continue to support losing supported Richt.

Bobo is a proven failure as OC. How can anyone dispute that!? Furthermore, Richt hired, trained and supported this loser since Day 1. Richt is a great OC but cannot cut it to make the tough decisions as an HC.

FIRE RICHT

BoBo da baby maker

September 13th, 2010
9:08 pm

hey folks at least I am good in the sack !!!!

Dabbler

September 13th, 2010
9:47 pm

I was hoping Richt would get sick and Ray Goof would have coached the game so SC would have a chance against mighty Georgia, but it looks like SC didn’t need Ray’s help.

Dawg Fan

September 13th, 2010
9:59 pm

The controlled the line because they were holding on every play. Sometimes more than once a play. The refs were blind I guess

Game C0ck Here

September 13th, 2010
10:12 pm

we brought the refs with us

Mark Richt

September 13th, 2010
10:22 pm

Dont worry fans, I’ve got a couple of really good NT’s prospects, both are 5′9 114 lbs, of course there only in 7th grade, but look out

Another silly AJC blog

September 13th, 2010
10:41 pm

Just when we think Spurrier might have become a normal human being, he makes comments about his “once in a lifetime win” against a good SEC team when he wasn’t coaching UF. I take back all my positive comments about Spurrier. He must really be a jerk deep down inside. Those guys, referring t Spurrier and friends, are the ones my momma told me to look out for. (Mom, I know I used a preposition at the end of my sentence, but it was about a bad guy.)

Buck Belue wears a toupee

September 13th, 2010
10:48 pm

Georgia is gonna bounce back and whip them RAZORBACKS butts Saturday!!!!!

Pitbull

September 13th, 2010
11:08 pm

How you going to beat the hogs. You can’t even tackle and our nose tackle gets his butt kicked and we don’t even get him any help. Stupid is as Stupid does! Check please!

01HAWK

September 14th, 2010
7:49 am

Sounds like another year of the POULAN WEEDEATER BOWL in Shreveport, or the PAPA JOHNS BOWL in Birmingham.

Birmingham is nice this time of year. Get rid of CMR and you will solve alot of the problems.

He has let CHEESEDIP in AUBARN get ahead of him.

justanotherthought

September 14th, 2010
8:02 am

I think mark Richt is a grear man. However, he is paid $3 million plus to be a great football coach. I have been patient with him the past few years as many Dawg fans have been. Look at Alabama play ball and then look at the Dawgs. Its not even close to the same result. Same caliber of player different result!
Its coaching ! Hire Kirby Smart as head coach and we may have the same result as Bama!

Ed

September 14th, 2010
9:03 am

OMG! Lattimore just scored again.

Freddie G

September 14th, 2010
11:06 am

Mark Richt had the entire offseason to prepare for this game, he also saw SC game against Southern Miss, plus he had four qtrs, so where was the adjustment when we could not stop SC running game? why were the bigger noseguards not be put in to shore up the middle instead of a 290 lbs NG. Despite the loss, I like the young QB and this team,and hope Bobo will do a better Job this year and that the D will tackle better this Saturday.