Dogs are fumbling away the season (and other lessons from Saturday’s debacle)
BOULDER, Colo. – Three things gleaned from Saturday’s 29-27 loss to Colorado:
1. Georgia is fumbling away the season. Washaun Ealey barely played Saturday -– he got just one carry -– as a consequence of his critical fumbles inside the opponent’s 5-yard line in losses at South Carolina and Mississippi State. Ealey’s benching created more playing time for Caleb King, who gave Georgia its first 100-yard rusher of the season. But in the final two minutes, with Georgia well within range to kick a potentially game-winning field goal, King fumbled the ball and the game away. (Also, of course, someone should have blocked the linebacker who forced the fumble by striking King a split-second after he took the handoff on what coach Mark Richt called “as basic of a play as we’ve got.”)
2. Georgia desperately needs a full game from A.J. Green. The star wide receiver caught seven passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 40 yards on an end-around, but he still hasn’t played a full game in any of Georgia’s past nine regular-season games. He missed 3 ½ of the final four games last season with injuries, missed the first four games this season because of the NCAA suspension and missed much of the third quarter Saturday night with cramping. Just before he left the game, Green caught a 50-yard pass that put the Bulldogs in position to score the touchdown that gave them a 24-14 lead with 10:40 left in the third quarter. By the time he returned to the game in the fourth quarter, after getting intravenous fluids in the locker room, Georgia trailed 29-24. In the two first-quarter series that Georgia didn’t get Green the ball and the two third-quarter series he did not play, the Bulldogs combined for one first down and minus-1 yard of net offense. In the rest of the game, the Dogs had 19 first downs and 410 yards offense.
3. The defense continues to be burned by big plays. Georgia took a 24-14 lead early in the third quarter, but Colorado scored touchdowns on its next two possessions to go ahead for good. Explosive plays set up both of those TDs. A 65-yard run down the left sideline by tailback Rodney Stewart on an option pitch fueled the first of the two drives. A 46-yard pass to wide receiver Will Jefferson, who got open down the middle behind Vance Cuff, sparked the second. Making matters worse for Georgia on the latter series, Colorado tried to settle for a field goal, but a roughing-the-kicker penalty against Cuff gave the Buffaloes a first down and kept the TD drive alive. Colorado opted to take the three points off the scoreboard and quickly put on seven instead, and that proved to be the difference in a game ultimately decided by two.
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223 comments Add your comment
SadDawg
October 3rd, 2010
5:19 pm
Patrick…Please don’t make assumptions. I played football for 11 years. Middle-school through college (albeit a smaller school). To say that we are “3 balls bouncing our way” is the only thing keeping us from 4-1 is missing the forest for the trees. If you can erase one team’s mistakes but allow the other’s then fine…I would agree. The problem is, you can’t. Our opponents made mistakes as well. So, you have to take those things out of the equation. The O-line, which was supposed to be one of the best in college football, has been sup-par at best. The defense is giving up big plays. Murray hasn’t been bad, but has shown the obvious signs of being a freshman. Missed fieldgoals, botched punt coverages, stupid and costly penalties due to mental lapses…all of these things lead to losses.
I love UGA more than anybody possibly could, but I am also realistic. We need to get our heads out of the clouds and concentrate on getting better at fundamentals…only then will we start winning again.
SadDawg
October 3rd, 2010
5:24 pm
Patrick…AND we just lost to Colorado….but you think we are going to beat Tenn, Auburn, Florida and Ga Tech? Please
kerry465
October 3rd, 2010
5:27 pm
Van Gorder as head coach is a joke. He tried and failed. Goff and Donnan both were sorry. If you want a new coach get one. Richt is a great guy but it is time for a change.
I Believe
October 3rd, 2010
5:29 pm
Colorado bent your boys over and broke it off in their neutered bodies.
LMAO
patrick
October 3rd, 2010
5:29 pm
the D is giving up big plays………are u not reading my posts? We recruited for a 4-3 and Grantham needs to find the right personnel and the right mix. He has not had time to do it yet. UGA is ranked in the 20’s as far as scoring D. He will get it worked out and AJ is back….did you not notice the difference he made while on the field (when he came off from cramps we stopped scoring) then he came back and we fumbled.
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So to recap
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1. Not much stood between us and 4-1
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2. Our D will be fine just needs tning
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3. AJ is back and will not cramp half the game as he gets into condition
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4……..well you get the picture or should by now.
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Like I said…..if you only look at UGAs record I dont blame you for what you are saying….but it is you that is missing the forest for the trees not me.
patrick
October 3rd, 2010
5:31 pm
3 fumbles and AJ away from 5-0 to be quite honest. We have yet to be beaten……..we have beaten our selves.
Richard Dawson
October 3rd, 2010
5:31 pm
Does anybody ever analyze what went wrong, or ask tough questions?
1. My dead grandma knew Richt would run it up the middle with 1:56 to go, setting up for another Walsh miss from longer range than his earlier miss. My dead grandma. Colorado called timeout and ran a defense that just destroyed that play. That led to a fumble. A bad offensive playcall that was so predictable that it was destroyed. Fault? Mark Richt.
2. How in the world do you decide to take a delay of game penalty from your OWN 45 before a punt? Butler, who is slumping badly, didn’t even punt the ball to the opponent’s 20. That is freakish. That is bizarre. That is STUPD. Fault? Mark Richt.
3. How do you commit a roughing the passing penalty when you held them on 3rd down? How do you commit a roughing the kicker on a missed field goal? Those plays were critical. Undisciplined, stupid football. Fault? Mark Richt.
4. Conclusion? FIRE MARK RICHT.
kerry465
October 3rd, 2010
5:32 pm
I think Lowndes would beat Ga
Baddawg88
October 3rd, 2010
5:33 pm
Sorry everyone but I think my saying is coming true that I would be ok if we lost every game except for hated UT and tech! Just hoping we beat Idaho state now.
Richard Dawson
October 3rd, 2010
5:34 pm
Patrick, those are the dumbest comments I have seen in awhile. We were destroyed by SC and Miss St. We were beaten straight up by Col and Ark. Any team in America can say “if we didn’t ever make a mistake, we would be undefeated.” That is brilliant. The real issue is, why are the mistakes so devestating? Because there is no margin for error because we stink so bad. Alabama could fumble 5 times in a 31-6 game and still beat a good Florida team. We fumble once and it’s over. Give me a break.
SadDawg
October 3rd, 2010
5:35 pm
Patrick,
It seems as though John Chavis turned around a sorry LSU defense…AND did it in one year. If you think that the 3-4 is the fix for all that ails our D, then ok. I guess tackling isn’t that important.
So to sum up:
1. Not much stood between us and 4-1 except three losses (due to a number of reasons.)
2. Defense will be ok just needs timing…you just made my point. We will get back to greatness but it will take time…not this year.
3. AJ hurt us more than any other player on the field due to his “mental lapse” by missing the first 4 games.
4. You never will get the picture, but will remain the kind of UGA fan that we don’t need.
Keep smokin’ it if you’ve got it bud. Later
patrick
October 3rd, 2010
5:35 pm
@richard dawson……Richt does not call the plays…….Bobo does.
Alan
October 3rd, 2010
5:37 pm
Rict you bible thumping moron!Go to Liberty and coach.I do not want a religious moron coaching at my state university!!!Get out of Athens!!!!!!No more religious agendas at UBA please!!!!!!!!!GOOD RIDDENCE REVERAND RICHT!!!!!!YOU RELIOIOUS MORON!!!!!!!!
Christopher Columbus
October 3rd, 2010
5:38 pm
The reasonable, hard working secular coaches win. Those who are righteous pimps of the holy inquisition, game-plan over Ouija boards, expecting divine entitlements. CMR’s calling is as a carpenter not a football coach
Bob
October 3rd, 2010
5:40 pm
Hey Reverand Richt-There is a mega church in Atlanta that may be looking for a new preacher.Take your bible thumping FCA BS out of Athens.YUou are a disgrace to my university!!!
patrick
October 3rd, 2010
5:40 pm
defense needs tuning….not timing
.
I didnt say the 3-4 was better or worse. I said we dont have the personnel for a 3-4 as we recruited for a 4-3 for years. Dont you read?
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Again, 3 fumbles away from 4-1 is a “tuning” issue not a “firing the HC” issue.
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I dont believe you honestly think that simply because we didnt have AJ because of a mental lapse and not being on the team for the first 4 games, that it will affect our play the rest of the year…is that your logic?. HE IS BACK NOW. The Offense will be fine.
Phil
October 3rd, 2010
5:41 pm
Reverand Richt is a delusional religious that needs to leave our state university.
Phil
October 3rd, 2010
5:44 pm
Go preach at the mega church in Atlanta Reverand Richt and quit coaching at my university.I am sick of religious lunatics such as your phony two faced self.You are a phony Richt.Leave Athens!
S.E. Dawg
October 3rd, 2010
5:45 pm
I think CMR and the coaches have forgotten more than I’ll ever know about football. With that said if CMR has to go maybe we should hire all these no-it-all internet blog coaches since that have a finger on the pulse of the program. Wonder where that would get us.
Bob
October 3rd, 2010
5:45 pm
No more preacher coaches at UGA please!!!!!
Ansilex52
October 3rd, 2010
5:45 pm
Everyone please pile on at this time. We suck.
SadDawg
October 3rd, 2010
5:48 pm
Patrick…Do you ever read? I have yet to mention firing CMR one time.
Browndog
October 3rd, 2010
5:51 pm
Hopefully CMR can get this train back on the tracks and can get a W next Saturday. Should be an entertaining game and maybe things come together for a complete game. I thought there was improvement on both O and D but Colorado deserved the win as they kept fighting and played every down. This team has to keep trying and play through this adversity and hopefully get things turned around. Remember the sports writer from Orlando said UGA was no better than 61st at the beginning of the season. I thought he was crazy, but as it turns out, he was way ahead of us!
A.Nawlcex
October 3rd, 2010
5:53 pm
Here is Coach Richt explaining how he makes decisions. We should give him a chance. It will work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMhqq5F_RZ4
NOBODYYOUKNOW
October 3rd, 2010
5:54 pm
Bucky! Get someone to translate please? Whoever made the comment “we don’t rebuild we just reload”. In the SEC you rebuild, period. BAMA went through some off years beleive me. They want to forget it but I remember it well.Why the UGA fans think every sucessful coach in the country is falling all over themselves to coach in Athens is ludicrous. Remember people CMR was not UGA’s first choice, Nor was Donnan. Some very good coaches turned it down. How soon we forget!
Ansilex52
October 3rd, 2010
5:55 pm
The kids in Athens have no respect for the coaches, the team, themselves, or the uniform they wear. If they did, we would not see the issues that happen off the field.
If there was a fight at WACO when Tomberlin was there, you were more likely to get hurt by a ballplayer running away from the fight so as to not be around it than you were by any stray punches being tossed. They knew that if they got in any trouble, they were off the team. They had a known set of rules and obeyed them. They had discipline and respect and this was at a High School Level!
Angry Dawg
October 3rd, 2010
6:01 pm
I kind of agree with the though that Richt seems preoccupied or at least distracted. I just know what I’ve seen and as his religion has been more outward it seems like he has lost his grip on the brass tacks of coaching. Those group motivational speeches on the sideline with the entire team seem desperate and misguided. If a kid can’t get motivated in an SEC game in front of 90,000 fans then a quick “win one for the Gipper” speech is useless. I think he’s gone soft in his pursuit of a stronger faith.
willie martinez
October 3rd, 2010
6:25 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
uga-TNDawg
October 3rd, 2010
6:34 pm
BVG(junkyard dawg) for head coach,won’t be long.I’m sure we could find a good OC for him.A coach that is real good on defence is working well at UA,and if there’s any defence I would capare to nick saban’s that would be BVG’s(junkyard dawg) defence.If we get another head coach then BVG(the real Junkyard Dawg) should be our DC,no matter what the cost.Go Dawg.
ramblinman
October 3rd, 2010
6:35 pm
GO BRAVES!
Fred
October 3rd, 2010
6:41 pm
If Richt and Bobo had played Murray last year, he wouldn’t be a red-shirt freshman with no experience this year.
Two years, two inexperienced quarterbacks, two dismal seasons.
No, I didn’t play pee wee football but I do help coach it. If you think you have to play the game to understand it, you are stupid.
Don
October 3rd, 2010
6:48 pm
Much as I hate to say this, but, CMR has lost control of his team, and his players have no respect for him or his assistants. It’s time for a drastic change and that starts at the top. Richt is as fine a person as you’d ever know, but there’s no fire in him. PMA and GMc needs to bite the bullet on Nov. 28 and do what needs to be done. Trouble is, now we have to pay CMR through 2016…who came up with THAT contract?
UGA model
October 3rd, 2010
6:53 pm
Richt needs to recruit a bunch of those fsu type thugs he had at fsu—his Ga thugs aren’t as good and he’s not even beating bad teams like colorado.
wildbill
October 3rd, 2010
6:58 pm
McGarity should start emptying house with the recruiters. There is a lot going on there, signed up buffoons and saying they are ’star’ athletes. Clean house of all current recruiters. Heck, just go to a few competent high schools, look for good players with clean records. How complicated is that? I doubt anything will be done to the coaching staff, I would like to see the fans bring water balloons just for the coaches. Now, THAT would be fun.
Party school
October 3rd, 2010
7:20 pm
Patrick, 3 fumbles really??? Wouldn’t you have had to replace those fumbles with touchdowns? So what your really saying is eliminate those three fumbles and replace them all with touchdowns right? Both of those propositions are totally irrational.
catlady
October 3rd, 2010
7:34 pm
Why do we recruit these “highly talented players” who come in and think they are going to set the world on fire but they do stupid things like get arrested, or they are frequently hurt or they can’t hold onto the dadgum ball?
If we want to play this poorly we should just recruit for brains. At least then we would have something.
Pogo
October 3rd, 2010
7:35 pm
These idiots blaming Richt’s religion are pitiful. Richt’s biggest problem is probably he really does care about his teams atheletes and he thinks he can make a difference in their lives. Actually what todays atheletes need are prison wardens, not coaches. Most atheletes today are pampered thugs who are glorified and promoted through their school years because they can play a childrens game while at the same time they can’t even write a legible sentence. They have no restraint, no discipline, no education and no morals and it is all OK in our society because they can play a sport. Who cares if they most of them can’t even function in society just as long as they entertain us, right? The only ones to blame for the way these people act are ourselves since we will ignore everything about them just as long as we have something to watch on Friday nights and on our televisions.
bulldawgbill
October 3rd, 2010
7:35 pm
680 BUCK, URBAN AIN’T 1-5! YES, THERE ARE DOWN YEARS, BUT HOW CAN YOU LET A TEAM GO FROM #2 TO THIS LOW? SOMETIME IS TERRIBLY WRONG IN THE RICHT CAMP. EITHER HE OR SOMEONE IN HIS FAMILY HAS A SITUATION THAT HAS DISTRACTED HIM. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION WHY SUCH A PROVEN COACH COULD LET THIS HAPPEN, UINLESS HE JUST DOESN’ T CARE ANYMORE.
Coach Randy McPherson
October 3rd, 2010
7:36 pm
Kerry 465, Thats what we are thinking too…. but dont tell Georgia. Then they wont add us to their schedule, they will replace us with charleston southern
catlady
October 3rd, 2010
7:38 pm
Such as, “Did you know Johnny can benchpress 2200 on the SAT?” Or, “He can do Differential Equations in 4.2 seconds!”
bulldawgbill
October 3rd, 2010
7:39 pm
Don, the man who came up with the big contract for Rich was “Red Panties” Evans!
Does that clear it up for you?
come on
October 3rd, 2010
7:45 pm
remember when CMR was running his mouth in the preseason about uga winning the SEC. hahahahahahah
Steve
October 3rd, 2010
8:06 pm
Enter your comments here
DOO DOO LEE
October 3rd, 2010
8:10 pm
well no one got arrested last night, you can celebrate that
Music City Dawg
October 3rd, 2010
8:37 pm
I watched the game and King’s fumble was set-up by #78 on UGA’s offensive line – Josh Davis missed his block and the Colorado defender was in our backfield on top of King almost before he got the ball. Yes, our coaches need to “coach them up” but the offense is a seasoned one and needs to motivate themselves to get their butts in gear and get their jobs done – no excuses!
goatD
October 3rd, 2010
8:45 pm
Take a look at the stats, fellas. Florida actually out-gained Bama. They just bumbled it away at the goal line time and time again. Kinda like the dawgs. It sux, but there’s not much a coach can do about that. Maybe fumbling drills and some mile runs when Washy puts it on the ground…….
Terry Trippe
October 3rd, 2010
8:51 pm
Ga. football fans need not get upset with the way things are going. You should have enough football savy to realize the Ga. football team is composed of mediocre football players who can’t run with the other SEC teams. Just accept the fact they aren’t the caliber players our recruiters thought they were. So, let them play out their time, Richt knows this but he won’t go public with it because it will make his recruiters look foolish and completely demoralize the “team”.
Party school
October 3rd, 2010
9:04 pm
So, to all the Richt supporters, how long does he get to turn it around and what does he need to accomplish for you to say he has turned it around?? 1 yr, 2, 5?? 9 wins, 10? and SEC east championship?
Technophobia
October 3rd, 2010
9:05 pm
Maybe the rest of the conference has “figured out” Richt.
Florida Dawg
October 3rd, 2010
9:12 pm
We didn’t lose the game because of a fumble..we lost it as a team. Game should not have been close enough for a fumble to make a difference.