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
ncdawg
September 5th, 2011
3:14 pm
tampagator, thats enough from u. no one cares about ur gators. this is a bulldog blog. u know why ur gators looked so great the other day? because they played FLORIDA ATLANIC. yet yall still threw a grand total of 3 interceptions. yet u say brantley looks like a different person? hahahah. go somewhere else with ur flankee bullsh1t
Dawgdownsouth
September 5th, 2011
3:51 pm
I have been a lifelong dawg fan, and i have been a richt supporter but i have to withdraw anydefense of coach richt after the Sat nite game. I witnessesd the same thing we had last year !). An offensive line that was dominated at ther point of attack. 2). How is Tavarress King a starting reciever he couldnt catch a cold! 3) our much improved & better defensive line was stopped cold at the line of scrimmage the defensive backs & linebackers looking around at each other after every complete pass trying to find out who was supposed to be covering? slow getting set , arm tackling yet again! if they game had been played ia a mud field kellon moore’s shoes might have been dirty cause he wasnt touched aLL NIGHT. Georgia players cramping in the second quarter!! i saw no Boise State players keaving the field with cramps! These same things we suffered through last year were suppossed to be addressed by Todd Grantham 2nd year as DC nope SOS with the defense. I have no love for Mike Bobo But no offensive calls would have worked with the way our offensive line was geeting pushed around I thought Joe Tereshinski’s neew conditioning program was suppossed to end that Hmmmm. Last but not least WHO IN GOD”S NAME ON THE GEORGIA STAFF APPROVED THE DAMN UGLY ASS UNIFORMS THAT MADE US LOOK WORSE THAN A LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM!!!! and yet Bosie’s uniforms were very cool!! this once proud program is on a disturbing downhill slide that no one one the coaching Staff or atheletic program knows How to stop. i think its time to look at the teams leader and sdomeone needs to tell mark richt to show some emotion on the sidelines. the fans are very passionate why not the coach?
bugsquacher
September 5th, 2011
4:50 pm
hey richt….. we are disappointed in you…….enough said
GAWGADAWG
September 5th, 2011
5:36 pm
One sorry job of coaching on the defence. looked like the linebackers played 15 yards off the ball and then dropped 15 yards back at the snap. and the slowest tight end in the college game never had anyone covering him. and any reciever that cut accross the middle was allways open. only a moron would coach defense like this and after completions over and over no adjustments were made. even any high school defence coach would know better than this. we have problems and I dont see them improving this coach does not have a clue.
Ragweed
September 5th, 2011
5:53 pm
Has anyone ever noticed the quarterback telegraphs the hand off by running around with the ball stuck out to hand off? And, he always runs back to do it, rather than turn around and and have a quick hitter since they always want to run up the middle. I can see maybe wins over Vanderbilt and Kentucky, but nothing more.
Dawgaholic30286
September 5th, 2011
6:30 pm
I saw Pres. Adams after the game……..He seemed to think we are now in a big mess.
Santa Cruz Bulldog
September 5th, 2011
6:35 pm
CMR had better start calling the plays over Bobo, or he might lose his job. And I would hate that.
Losing Tree was a major blow, after he went down the Boise Offense took off.
Santa Cruz Bulldog
September 5th, 2011
6:50 pm
I just watched the 1980 UGA team beat S. Carolina, on ESPN Classic.
Those guys were a team.
They were well coached and they all grew up wanting to be Bulldogs.
I wish today’s UGA players had that same attitude.
Also I wish we had Offensive and Defensive coordinators, that could get the job done. Like it was back then.
Dawgtired
September 5th, 2011
10:32 pm
Cruz….Boise’s offensive went off right after they stepped off the bus.
The Only Horses I Like Are Under My Hood
September 6th, 2011
12:32 am
**********Some people need to wake up already***************
Name me one other SEC school that would want Bobo as their OC?
Name me one other SEC school that would want our strength and conditioning program (which is run by a football guy, not a strength and conditioning guy)?
CTG, I believe can get the job done as our DC. BUT we hired him one year later. Imagine if CMR fired
Willie after the 2008 season (you know, when he should have) and CTG was in his 3rd year at UGA instead of his second.
BSU had small offensive and defensive linemen, but yet they won the game in the trenches. I wish UGA would have asked their strength and conditioning coach some tips after the game. BSU was ready to go at all times, while we were so gassed it was all we could do to line up on the ball on defense. WE KNEW BSU ran an up-tempo offense; we even had THE ENTIRE OFF SEASON to prepare for said offense. Yet we failed in the 2nd half, you know, the half that we supposedly “readied” ourselves for all offseason.
It is so depressing. It feels like I was lied to all offseason about this team’s new direction. I personally think USCjr will roll over us and solidify that our coaching staff is indeed incompetent.
Either way though, I will be front and center in the student section screaming my brains out. All UGA fans should do the same despite a complete lack of faith in this coaching staff. Players like Orson Charles, Aaron Murray, Brandon Boykin, Drew Butler, and the likes of them play their a$$ off for this university. They deserve the support of the Bulldog Nation.
In other words, support the players not their incompetent/ so called coaches.
-3rd and 16….draw play…..works like magic!-
Yellow Maggot Killer
September 6th, 2011
1:26 am
RE: HORSES UNDER THE HOOD – Glad to see we still have some students w/ GUTS ! ! ! Yes my 1st year was Dooley’s only losing season – - I was admitted to an Ivy League school but only wanted to be A DOG , the price we pay! ! ! I also came out with the
“DUMP RAY GUMP” bumpstickers . . .
Game day I hate the enemy — BUT we cannot embrace MEDIOCRITY
as so many do – - – during the week, gotta call ‘em like it is. Carry your burden with aplomb. . .
BoiseGrown
September 6th, 2011
1:35 am
I think a lot of you Georgia fans got it right, the coaching was lacking and the team seems to lack discipline. Last year we were blowing out Wyoming (shocker) and (I beleive) Austin Pettis caught a 70 yard bomb from Moore and broke away and did a flip into the end zone. Next game he was suspended for the first half of the next game. Peterson doesn’t put up with that crap, the showboating, the “tweeting” etc. Cmon Boykins, have some class. It’s Richts job to keep his kids under control, not encourage it by saying “you better back it up now (chuckle). We don’t showboat, we just go out and play. UGA is to great a program to unravel, hopefully ya’ll get it figured out. All us Broncos are pullin for ya!
Bobo means stupid in Spanish
September 6th, 2011
5:08 am
At the end of the season this will look like a good result for UGA. At least they stayed competitive against a top 25 team. In a few weeks, farther down the road to another losing season, that won’t look so bad. UGA is an undisciplined team led by an undisciplined coach.
Bobo means stupid in Spanish
September 6th, 2011
5:12 am
All you Richt lovers – show yourselves after SC destroys UGA.
Now UGA fans will know what it is like to be a Tech fan – just without the occasional national championship.
floridabulldog
September 6th, 2011
5:48 am
Still An UNDISCIPLINED bunch and that IS coaching!!!!!!!!
bell@bellsouth.net
September 6th, 2011
7:37 am
Time to go ALL THE Coaches
The red clay hound
September 6th, 2011
7:39 am
CMR…I hear what you are saying….and I also hear what you are not saying. And until you get this sir….your chances of remaining the coach at UGA are slim to none…and slim’s getting ready to hop on that jet.
You might try putting more emphasis on being able to run the football. If you are so worried about the pass protection….try doing a better job at the running the ball so as to lessen the 3rd and long situations. Novel idea….now aint it!
Dawg Squeeze
September 6th, 2011
7:51 am
Good luck with the new stadium video board….you can see the beat downs even better now!
Dawg Squeeze
September 6th, 2011
7:52 am
UGA football…31…er uh…..32 years and counting!
rabid dawg
September 6th, 2011
8:02 am
It looks painfully clear to me that CMR does not place enough emphasis on winning games in the trenches. Just becuase they are big players and you hire a new strenght and conditioning coach does not mean you can abandon the teaching of fundamentals to these kids. Where are you man? We no longer have AJ….you have got to be able to run the football first and foremost and int starts with the O line. CMR just does’nt get it.
skipper
September 6th, 2011
10:13 am
If you watched the game, it was kinda simple….we got man-handled at the line of scrimmage…period! No sugar coating, etc. Our offensive line is just that: offensive. They’re “fair to middling” on a good day. Defensively, we’re so busy trying to learn new stuff that playing good ball hasn’t been incorporated into the mix yet. Get a damn LINE, and put some folks to plug gaps on the defense!! They out hustled us, overpowered us, outsmarted us, etc. We fixin’ to tote an ass-whoopin’ next week,too. I’m not a fair-weather friend, just a realist who see’s us as we are—middle of the pack!
Snappingdawg
September 6th, 2011
10:30 am
Really, dreadlocks, really, dreadlocks, freshmen at that, helmets coming off every other play….2 players with the same number, I’ve never seen that before…players asking to come out because they’re out of shape or fatigued, players with cramps in the first half, no discipline, players not knowing what to do, no blocking, no rushing, very little receiving, no blitzing, who’s running this team…..sickening
OldFan
September 6th, 2011
10:48 am
It seems that the hardest thing for all us Dawg fans to accept is not the loss–it’s that we couldn’t come up with a new way to lose. I’m a fan, and I’ll support the team the way I have for over 45 years. Each program runs thru its cycles and then levels out to a fairly consistent standard that we all can accept. UGA is not, and has never been, an elite program on the national stage. But we have been a first tier SEC team, and that alone will give us national standing and a shot at a national championship over time. The real question for the administration is what standard are they willing to accept now. We have to give CMR the run of the season. Losing the first two games to ranked teams on an upswing is bearable. But if the poor coaching, preparation, and play continue, the administration needs to tell us and show us what they expect from this program. We may be surprised to find out that they don’t expect anything better.
Dawg in Columbus
September 6th, 2011
1:36 pm
Our O-line blocking was very poor. I thought the D played well in the 1st half.
Seems like we decided to play a soft zone in the 2nd half and Moore just picked us apart. I expected the Dawgs to put up much more of a fight and be much better prepared. Seems like we have underachieved ever since Bobo became OC. Demote him back to QB coach and let Richt call the plays again. We were winning games back then. I dont think firing Richt in the middle of the season is the answer. I know we had a lot of young players playing and mistakes were likely but I thought the effort was not what it could have been. I saw flashes of brillance in some of our freshmen. The offensive line play was the biggest problem that I saw and that is a big problem. Sure hope we can make some adjustments for South Carolina and at least be competitive the entire game. I really think Boise is a top 3 team.
ExcogEngineer
September 6th, 2011
2:10 pm
It is funny how the only solution people have is to fire the coach or coordinator. That will only set us back more and we aren’t guranteed to get a better coach next time around. The chances are greater that we’d end up with another Ray Goff or Jim Donnan.
ch
September 6th, 2011
3:16 pm
Where are the hard questions? Softball questions and weak answers. I’m over this. No accountability in this organization.
skipper
September 6th, 2011
4:11 pm
Once again…here we go: not coaching, play calling, etc. just a good ole ass-whoopin’ in the trenches. We have KNOWN for awhile we ain’t got the line, and that is ultimately where the game is won. They whipped us up front so badly it would take Shakespeare four quill-pens and a 55-gallon drum of ink to write about it! Even with all the new formations, the game starts w/the hosses up front! You get your butt kicked at the line of scrimmage, and the rest is history. How amazing Bobo. Richt, and everybody else would look if we could get the folks up front! They’re big, but outta shape, under-talented, and out hustled. I ain’t even sure Herschel coulda run behind ‘em……….