Q&A: Richt disappointed in pass protection, encouraged by players’ attitudes
Here’s what Georgia coach Mark Richt had to say after Saturday night’s 35-21 loss to Boise State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome.
Q: Opening statement:
A: “Congratulations to Boise State. They just beat us tonight. They were better than we were and my hats off to them. Our players understand understand that and our players understand that we’ve got to get a lot done before we play next week and open Southeastern Confewrence play. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We know that everybody’s 0-0 in league play. Our goal is to win the Eastern Division and that’s not changing. So we have to get ready for that. Boise State did a great job tonight and I congratulate them. Questions? . . .
Oh, I have an announcement. (Bacarri) Rambo is eligible to play next week. He was suspended for the first game for the usual team rules violation. Carlton Thomas will play next week, too.
Q: It looked like y’all were trying to execute a hurry-up offense and send in plays after the from the line of scrimmage after the defense was set. Was that the case and how’d you think the offense played?
A: “We did try to go up-tempo. Tried to run some no –huddle. We tried to spread it out a little more and get some of our guys out in space. We didn’t have an awful lot of success. Historically, Boise State’s defense has been pretty good. It’s not like they’re not one of the top defenses in America. But I think we’ll continue to do that. I don’t think we’re going to stop trying to do that. No matter what you do offensively, whether you go no-huddle or not, you’ve got to execute, you’ve got to get first downs, you’ve got to make plays. Whether we huddled or not I don’t know if that had any bearing on it.”
Q: What are you most disappointed about?
A: “First of all that we lost the game. I think our protection on third down was a little disappointing. The majority of our sacks came on third down. First and second down I thought we protected pretty good. Offensively that was an issue. Defensively we just couldn’t get them off the field once they got going in the second half. Just didn’t get them off the field enough.
Q: Your defense did not record a sack. Why couldn’t you get any pressure on Kellen Moore?
A: “He’s a very good player so he knows where to go with the ball and when to go there. They protected him well, too. He rarely got knocked down. We forced him a couple of times to throw the ball a little sooner than he wanted to, but we didn’t get any sacks. . . . We didn’t get enough pressure on him.”
Q: How would you assess the running game?
A: “It wasn’t real clean. They did a couple of things differently. They did a little more stunting and late movement. But we just didn’t block it clean enough to give them some space to run. The backs had to earn everything they got.”
Q: Your impressions of Boise State?
A: “We went in having an awful lot of respect for them.. We knew they were a very good football team. They were good on both sides of the ball. Very veteran defensive football team. An awful lot of experience on the offensive side of the ball as well. And they get after it. They did a great job.”
Q: What kind of adjustments do you need to make for South Carolina?
A: “We get a little time to think about what kind of adjustments we’ll have to do. We’ll have to do a better job than we did a year ago on quick screens and things of that nature. But we’ve got time to work on all that.”
Q: What’d you think of playing in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game?
A: “It was a big game, a big atmosphere. I thought the crowd was into it. The kids were excited on both sides. Everybody was excited. There was a lot of buzz around the city, a lot of buzz around the Dome and inside the Dome. It’s a great venue and a great game to play.”
Q: How bad are the injuries to Alec Ogletree and Kenarious Gates and how’d it affect your team’s play?
A: “Ogletree was probably, between Christian Robinson and Ogletree, we couldn’t really afford to lose one of those two guys. The drop off was going to be pretty steep, with true freshmen and a walk-on in there. They’re good kids and they’re busting their tails, but it was a position we felt we really couldn’t afford that type of an injury. I have to get with Ron [Courson] to find out exactly what’s going on with Tree. Gates leaving was not good for Georgia and not good for Gates. But Dallas [Lee] was a guy we felt comfortable could go in there and play guard. I’ll have to watch the filmto see how he did.
“As a coach you don’t want anybody to get hurt, but at certain spots you feel like you might could take a hit and be OK. The linebacker position was one we weren’t too thrilled about losing anybody and, of course, we lost Alec.”
Q: Did you think your team was too hyped up?
A: “I thought both teams were a little overly excited early on and made some mistakes. But I thought everybody settled down relatively quick.”
Q: Did you think poor field position cost you?
A: “We were in a bind. We decided to take the ball first and didn’t get much going. Maybe we were too excited or whatever you want to say and then we were a little backed up. But then we had the long touchdown by [Brandon] Boykin and then we were back to normal field position after that. So it didn’t really cost us.”
Q: Why did you not kick the field goal on the fourth-and-one you got stopped?
A: “I decided to go for it. I did that because I felt like we could get one yard. I also felt like more than likely touchdowns wwere going to be needed to win the game. I know we’ve got a great field goal kicker and he could’ve made that one. Maybe in hindsight we should have kicked. If I had known we were going to get stuffed I would have kicked the field goal at that time.”
Q: How big of a momentum changer was it for Boise State to score at the end of the fist half and the beginning of the second?
A: “It was big. They got a two possession lead. But as early as it was in the second half, it wasn’t like everybody was in panic mode or anything like that.”
Q: How did you think Isaiah Crowell and Malcolm Mitchell did in their first games?
A: “I think both of them did well. I think Isaiah, I’ll have to watch the film, but my guess is he got about as much as he could get out of what he had to deal with. Of course Malcolm made a couple of nice plays. He had the reverse and three catches and a touchdown. He’s a good football player. Those guys got a bright future.”
Q: How do you team get your team up off the mat and motivated after putting so much into this first game?
A: “I was encouraged by the reaction of our seniors especailluy in the locker room afterwards. They were encouraging everybody to get to work. Southeastern Conference play hasn’t even started and it’s a long season. We’;ve got to get our minds right. After a game like this, there’s no question we know more about our team than if we had played somebody we might’ve beaten by 40. So hopefully that will translate into us having a better idea of how to play these types of games and help us see where our weaknesses are.”
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627 comments Add your comment
TampaGator
September 4th, 2011
3:26 pm
TrueDawgfan….
Man…..you need to take some courses on how to write complete sentences. I can’t make any sense of of what you write in your posts. What are you talking about concerning health?????? And to which post of mine are you making reference to concerning the health thing? Please use periods or something to seperate one thought from another.
Buzz2011
September 4th, 2011
3:27 pm
The Dawgs are branded as ” big & athletic” .. What they really are: “fat, slow and out of shape”.. With the money UGA has and claiming to be a fooyball mill, shouldn’t they have fitness trainers? Maybe you should consider benching your 5 star players for hungry 2 star kids. Hope this helps..GT
TampaGator
September 4th, 2011
3:28 pm
…..I don’t expect you to have a masters in English….but just post complete in complete thoughts and not 35 run-on sentences. Spelling is of no consequence to me….unless the word is not “regconzizzzable” to me. This is just a blog site…as you so accurately said. But readablity is important….right?
True DAWG fan
September 4th, 2011
3:29 pm
This is True DAWG fan’s son, and I am typing what he is saying. I take honors literature and believe me, I understand the concept of puncuation and grammer. Using run-on sentences is faster and easier. I didn’t realize I had to be correct in my typing. Forgive me for my “lack of puncuation and grammer.”
TampaGator
September 4th, 2011
3:31 pm
TrueDawg…..
Actually…..I apologize for going where I did. If I don’t like the way you post, then I should just no read your posts. Please accept my apology. My comments were inappropriate and rude.
Sincerely,
TG
TampaGator
September 4th, 2011
3:34 pm
…….and….may I add…..somewhat arrogant and insulting for no reason at all. My typing skills are horrible…..so feel free to go off on that if you would like…..TrueDawgfan.
Again, sincerely,
TG
dawgster
September 4th, 2011
3:34 pm
@TampaGator…my comments regarding Meyer from last year were not pointed to anyone…I saw alot of comments from dawg fans, gator fans and others that I believe were uncalled for regarding any personal or health issues he had….Did that have an affect on his coaching…I can’t answer that, but thats what people are going to say, the same for coach Richt’s religion..Also, by the way Coach Richt and staff were going thru film this morning, however our game ended late last night so I assume that we would expect that they be allowed a few hours sleep before reviewing film….I believe most coaching staffs follow this agenda…..
At this point I honestly don’t have an answer for all of our problems..Are we as bad as we looked at times or is Boise St that good…Too early to tell at this point, but what bothers me is our continue lack of establishing what kind of team we want to be on offense….I have officially had to admit that Coach Bobo, although a very, very good recruiter and DGDog, is over his head and not using or adjusting to the talent he has….Its true that the players must execute, but I question whether we are being put in the right position to make those plays….One thing I do know, is Murray is more suited to run play action and roll-out type plays where he can use his feet…When he is in the pro-style shotgun formation I’m not sure he sees the field as well…At least that’s my opinion…go dawgs
dawgs01
September 4th, 2011
3:37 pm
i am just typing what is on my mind. I did not know i was getting graded.
TampaGator
September 4th, 2011
3:37 pm
Well…..
Keep the faith, Georgia fans. Remember…..last year you guys got off to a bad start and then came back strong. Maybe this year, the Dawgs will come back strong and keep it up….at least until you reach JAX….and then afterwards. And maybe Richt will learn that close only counts when throwing horse shoes. See you soon.
TG
Buck Fobo
September 4th, 2011
3:42 pm
This is how it should be done; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nc2XsimM90 – Herschel Walker
I don’t recall what percentage of Walkers runs were sweep left, sweep right and up the middle, but I know he got to the outside a lot. This play was started up the middle and he bounced it out and over a few people. :0 The good ol’days.
dawgs01
September 4th, 2011
3:44 pm
we should have rolled Murray out of the pocket more and i thought that all last yr too. Our O line cant pick up blitzes so you have to move the pocket and i cant stand the play that Bobo loves where the wide receiver takes a step back and Murray throws the ball 25 yards down the line of scrimmage to gain two yards or lose two yards. I hate that flipping play. That only works when you play inferior teams. Bobo runs that play about 5 times a game. if it happens to work he will run it 10 times a game
TampaGator
September 4th, 2011
3:45 pm
Dawgster…..
Before I go…..did you get the chance to watch any of the Florida game last night. Football has a lot to do with coaching. Good coaching was very evident last night for Florida. They….even though they were playing a much lesser team…..looked well coached and executed extemely well on offense and defense. And Meyer’s issues last year did impact the Florida team…big time…last year. The players have said so to some extent, even though most of them really love Meyer. They know his heart was not into coaching last year. Muschamp, Weis, and Quinn are pros and have lifted the Florida program up already. Brantley is an example. He looked completely different on the field last night. He is still an average, at best, QB. But he showed a lot of determination and leadership last night….and he showed little of that last year. And I thank Weis and Muschamp for that. Florida is going to surprise, in my opinion, a lot of people this year…with their play. I am not saying they are going to beat LSU, Bama, and SC….or even Georgia……but they might…and could….based on what I saw both on the field from the players and on the sidelines from the coaches….last night. Florida is a very talented and well-coached football team. Now….have a nice day. I might check back in later.
P.S. I will be pulling for the Dawgs to upset SC next week.
Newnandawg
September 4th, 2011
3:47 pm
We’ll stay mediocre as long as we fans accept it. “Just give him another year.” This is UGA, not Kentucky.
Richt has been lost ever since Van Gorder left in 2004. There’s no stellar D coordinator to bail out his ACC-like offenses anymore.
PRWDOG
September 4th, 2011
3:49 pm
Thumped by smaller, well coached players – playing with DESIRE, PRIDE, TTOUGHNESS.
bulldog nation
September 4th, 2011
3:51 pm
Crowell is still looking for his helmet strap… while Murray is looking for his jock strap.. And hopefully richt has found a new job.
Buck Fobo
September 4th, 2011
3:54 pm
“encouraged by players’ attitudes”
great, he likes that they can loose – scratch that – get blown out with dignity. Up until last night, I wanted Richt to be our coach. I wanted him to have a great season and quiet his detractors.
Now, I just want another coach.
PRWDOG
September 4th, 2011
3:57 pm
No matter the reason – sickening. All off-season, spring, off season again – NO OFFENSIVE LINE. What’s wrong here? Dominated by a smaller, meaner defensive line who BROUGH IT – every down, a 5′ 11″ center dominates 2 – 350 pounders. Do not believe what you see about recruiting classes. Fight it out with Vandy for last place.
ugafan
September 4th, 2011
4:00 pm
Crowell and Jarvis Jones couldn’t keep their helmets on. Is that a Carver Columbus thing?
CHDawg
September 4th, 2011
4:00 pm
Ok, here’s my two cents. First, congrats to the Spud Studs, coach Pete, and the staff. You took a bunch of 2-3 stars and humiliated a star studded UGA in our own backyard! What great coaching and playing. Dawg fans, one word: equanimity, find some! We are all frustrated, but the team can’t quit, and don’t turn your back on the kids or the coaches. Turning on them will only make it worse. Constructive criticism and positive comments: the D looked better and we tackled better, but we have a long way to go imho. There were some issues to consider. Both of our inside LBs got hurt, one safety was suspended and the other got hurt, and we wound up with a number of walk-ons in there, and it was noticeable when we really got on the roller skates in the second half. We looked better early. Was that the cause? Don’t know, but it couldn’t have helped. J. Jones showed some flashes of brilliance. We didn’t play well enough, but I do see some hope on D. Offense was a disaster. We started with what? 3 penalties in the first three and out? We looked like we simply weren’t ready to play. Our line failed to open holes, and they failed to protect Murray and they looked mystified–we have to coach better. I know we were very thin, and we had an injury. I didn’t like the play calling, either. The up tempo thing looked like it caused more confusion for us than it did for Boise! Crowell is very green, and he reminded me a little bit of Ealey. Serious time in the weight room, better knowledge and experience, and more confidence (maybe a haircut to keep his helmet on), and I think he might become a very fine UGA TB. It is going to take some time. He will continue to get better with more play, but I sure wish Malcome could get healthy. My chief concern with TK was ball skills; last night was a step backwards imo. Brown looked good, but obviously got hurt early. Mitchell looks good, and I didn’t notice Bennett at all. We have to get guys in there that can catch it, though. Maybe it is Mitchell and Bennett, and maybe it is Lynch at TE and Charles at WR. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for with size. I think he could play it if we can’t find somebody who can catch. Charles looked pretty sharp at times. Let’s get the playmakers on the field. My biggest gripe was play calling. Look, we know Murray can play. Looking at last year and his HS tapes, his strongest suits are his wheels and his ability to scramble and find the open man. We have problems with protection, so what would you do? I would call bootlegs, reverse bootlegs, rollouts, screens, bubble screens, and delayed screens, anything to neutralize the weak protection. I would do swing passes, delays out of the backfield, and anything to get the ball to the RBs in space where they don’t have to rely on holes being opened. Admittedly, I don’t have 1% of Richt’s or Bobo’s experience, but those seem like very obvious changes based on the reality of our situation. We have to improve tremendously to match last year’s record. Again, hats off to Boise. And no, I won’t turn on the kids or the coaches! We didn’t do half as well as I thought we would, but Go Dawgs anyway.
PRWDOG
September 4th, 2011
4:02 pm
Somebody – please call Bill Stanfill.
Utah Dawg
September 4th, 2011
4:02 pm
SLC Dawg I feel you pain. Thoroughly out coached and out classed. The play calling on offense was almost comical. Nice penalties in the first series to put yourself in a field position hole. That’s poor coaching. An how about the tackling angles on returns? Imagine if Spurrier had this level of talent.
it's great
September 4th, 2011
4:03 pm
we are the bull dykes! We are chumps!
PRWDOG
September 4th, 2011
4:03 pm
Did I hear somebody calling for a black out for USC?
Yall suck
September 4th, 2011
4:04 pm
Oh yeah, Murray is a “gamer” alright, just not in any big games. You guys are still delusional- that kid rolled over like a chump last night. Why don’t you wait until he wins one big game before you call him a gamer? LOL, gamer, thats good. I don’t care what anybody says – he quit last night. And for what its worth, I’ve played college ball and I would never have laid down like that.
PRWDOG
September 4th, 2011
4:06 pm
Can anyone tell me – is it illegal to ship all of my UGA stuff up to Athens – for them to dispose of? I can still wear it in my heart.
Tweet this
September 4th, 2011
4:07 pm
Anybody that knows football could have seen that Georgia was beat with the way they reacted to Boykin’s fluke touchdown on the busted play by the Boise D. They acted like it was all over at that point. All bark, no bite. A bunch of trash talkin clowns.
Herschel makes no sense
September 4th, 2011
4:09 pm
Did anybody catch that interview of Herschel’s happy personality? Too bad he didn’t make any sense with what he was saying. I bet they wanted to interview Evander, too, but decided not to after Herschel talked crazy. 2 great ambassadors there for Georgia football- dumb and dumber.
Where was Jarvis Jones?
September 4th, 2011
4:11 pm
Was he the one making tackles 30 yards down the field with his helmet falling off? No wonder things didn’t work out at USC.
Jeff
September 4th, 2011
4:12 pm
Yada, Yada, Yada… Same old play or lack there of and same same old wore out comments from CMR. What the heck were you doing since that pathetic showing against Central Florida. UGA looked as unprepared to begin the season as they did when the season ended. Watching the game I could not honestly see any area of improvement by this football team and CMR is responsible for that and the AD continues to allow medocrity.
NOTSO FAST
September 4th, 2011
4:13 pm
If Coach R hadn’t got the new uniforms,there is no telling how much they would have scored,
Pro Schmombat?
September 4th, 2011
4:13 pm
Chip – has anyone mentioned the early slips etc. last night? Hard to go to battle without traction… shoes and helmets coming off like I’ve never seen before. I could care less about color, design – whatever, but performance of nike pro combat was disappointing. Tavarous King was disappointing too – Mitchell should start along w/ Wooten. I liked Murray’s rhythm in the latter part of the game, and would like to see an air attack early in the SC game, with Zander Ogletree or Bruce Figgins blocking, along with our o-line!
Aaron Murray
September 4th, 2011
4:15 pm
Don’t worry fans, I will fake a hamstring injury this week against SC but will come back strong with 300 yards passing against Coastal Carolina. Then we can go back to calling me the man again. Don’t forget I’m a 5 star!
Don Delk
September 4th, 2011
4:16 pm
Enter your comments here
UGADawg97
September 4th, 2011
4:18 pm
Aaron Murray is terrible. Way over hyped. Surely we can find a real QB. I can’t take 3 more years of this guy.
FLA Bronco
September 4th, 2011
4:20 pm
I have been reading the comments on these blogs for awhile and all I heard was “Georgia was too big, too fast, too talented to lose to Boise State…Mark it down!” Where are all these people to take their crow?
ES
September 4th, 2011
4:21 pm
TampaGator, I did see the mighty gators!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you think after this year they might let them into the NFL?
jim from Atlanta
September 4th, 2011
4:22 pm
REALLY!!!–No racial intent meant but–Did anyone notice that Boise was 98% causasian and UGA was 100% African American?
WHATS up with that. White boys play prety good football–EH?
And Mark Richt–Whats up your butt dude? Lousy coaching, thats what.
Don Delk
September 4th, 2011
4:23 pm
Did you notice good off.cord. ie Coach Peace,Boise,when you cant run between tackles ,against a agressive defense he ran screens and slants,short quick hitting passes. In short he adapted as the game dictated BOBO DID NOT. WHY? Enter your comments here
All Vol
September 4th, 2011
4:24 pm
Mark Richt is the new Phillip Fullmer of the SEC cant win the big ones. Great people but cant coach up there players.
Ckgator
September 4th, 2011
4:33 pm
The only thing Georgia fans should think about firing are their unrealistic expectations. You lost to the #5 team in the country. Get over it.
Richt is as good as it gets for your program, and Kirby Smart or any other replacement would only delay the inevitable conclusion….
That Georgia is not an elite program.
whippy
September 4th, 2011
4:39 pm
Before too long we are all going to go insane according to definition.. We keep watching a poorly coached team make the same mistakes over and over and over while expecting different results. This coaching staff has had every opportunity to make adjustments but we keep seeing the same BS.. How many times are we going to watch the slow developing run up the middle for little or no gain.. And why would you run that play on fourth and 1 when you have been getting stuffed all night.??
ES
September 4th, 2011
4:41 pm
Bo Bo has got to go! I like CMR and hate to see him ride Bo Bo right out of town.He stayed with Willie to long and he’s doing the same thing with Bo Bo.They could be run on outside.Why did we keep ramming it right at their strength? Why bombs to Taveras and Wooten?When all we’ve heard about was Malcolm’s speed going deep! Which we did get to see it,in the 4th quater when the game was over.What was he 5 yards behind them like we had heard he had been doing to our guys all summer.
Rozeman13
September 4th, 2011
5:05 pm
Ckgator, I think you are wrong. There is one coach who could take us to the promised land,and he will be ready to prove he is The Coach of the SEC again. And Mcgarity knows him. I think his name is Urban something. Only my opion but hey I thought my Dawgs were gonna win last night and got drunk for nothing Sala
dawg7
September 4th, 2011
5:07 pm
496 comments to fire BO_BO and ????
Rozeman13
September 4th, 2011
5:09 pm
dawg7 its 497 fire BoBo
Buck Fobo
September 4th, 2011
5:10 pm
Bobo is a pretender. He is way over his head and can’t make adjustments. When he stumbles on something that works, he doesn’t stick with it, but tries to go back to what wasn’t working – but, what he imagined working when he watched films.
Please Bobo, resign. Fall on your sword for the team and Head Coach you love. Do it now.
GR82BAG8R
September 4th, 2011
5:10 pm
UGA’s penalties in the first series were eerily similar to those from Reggie Ball to start a game during the Chan Gailey/Reggie Ball era that UGA fans love to belittle.
Absolutely incredible…
More talent has gone through Georgia over the past 10 years overall than any other program. What has it produced?
Rozeman13
September 4th, 2011
5:19 pm
Buck agree about Bo Bo and the sword but Coach Mark needs to got go too. Hes a great man we all know that,he just doesnt have the fire in the belly anymore. He loves the kids thats why ne stays
Really
September 4th, 2011
5:19 pm
I can’t believe Ricth said that instead of beating someone by 40. They can’t beat anyone by one point.
Kick your dawgs
September 4th, 2011
5:20 pm
UGA- worst fans in the country & most underachieving football program ever. Not sure why expectations are so high every year. Boykin is a punk, he’ll be in jail soon.