Richt: ‘I think we’re a team that is on the rise, but we’ll see’
After losing two games to highly ranked opponents, then winning one over an out-manned opponent, Georgia now enters the grind of its SEC schedule.
Saturday’s game at Ole Miss will start a stretch of four SEC games in four weeks for the Bulldogs, all but one of them on the road.
It should be a revealing patch of schedule.
“The thing I like is, we’re a team that is getting better as we go,” UGA coach Mark Richt said Sunday evening. “We do have a lot of room to grow yet. The last couple of performances, minus the huge mistakes, four or five plays that really got us [against South Carolina], I felt we were making a lot of progress. As you watch tape, it’s still pretty obvious we’ve got some youth and inexperience that still needs to improve.
“Overall, I think we’re a team that is on the rise, but we’ll see,” Richt said. “We’re going to play that first SEC game away from home and get a better feel for what kind of progress we have really made.”
That game is at 12:21 p.m. Saturday in Oxford, Miss., against an Ole Miss team that has the same record as Georgia (1-2 overall, 0-1 SEC) but is coming off a particularly dismal defeat.
While Georgia reveled in a 59-0 victory over Coastal Carolina in Athens, Ole Miss suffered through a 30-7 loss at Vanderbilt -– the Rebels’ ninth loss in their past 10 SEC games and the Commodores’ largest margin of victory over an SEC opponent in 40 years.
Ole Miss’ starting quarterback, Zack Stoudt, was poorly protected by his offensive line and threw five interceptions. The Rebels’ defense allowed Vanderbilt to rush for 281 yards.
For Georgia, the trip to Ole Miss is followed by league games at home against Mississippi State on Oct. 1, at Tennessee on Oct. 8 and at Vanderbilt on Oct. 15. Then, following an open date, the Bulldogs face Florida in Jacksonville on Oct. 29.
“There’s a sense of urgency in that if we want to stay in this Eastern Division race we’ve got to win,” Richt said. “Right now we’ve lost control of our destiny in this thing [because of the loss to South Carolina], but there are so many more games to played. Our goal is just to win our first Southeastern Conference game this year, period; that’s all we’re worried about right this minute.”
His players’ confidence seems high despite the losses to Boise State and South Carolina.
“I think we’re ready to get back into SEC play and get going again,” quarterback Aaron Murray said. “We have a lot of guys playing great football right now, and we think we can play with anyone.”
The confidence, Murray suggested, stems not so much from the rout of Coastal Carolina, an FCS opponent, but from the 45-42 loss to South Carolina the week before and the Bulldogs’ belief they would have won handily if not for three turnovers and a fake punt.
To succeed in SEC play, Georgia will need to minimize turnovers and, according to Richt, improve defensively inside its 20-yard line.
“The one area where we’ve just got to get better as we get into more of the Southeastern Conference play is red-zone defense,” Richt said. “We just have not done a great job there yet, but that’s going to be a point of emphasis to see if we can force some field goals instead of some touchdowns when people do happen to get in there.”
Except for the continuing absence of starting inside linebackers Christian Robinson and Alec Ogletree with foot injuries, the Bulldogs appear to be relatively healthy.
Richt said Sunday that he hopes backup tailback Richard Samuel, who sat out the Coastal Carolina game with a heel injury, will be able to play this week. Richt also expects wide receiver Marlon Brown and offensive guard Kenarious Gates to return from ankle injuries and possibly defensive end DeAngelo Tyson from a strained back.
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400 comments Add your comment
Jack P
September 19th, 2011
11:56 am
NEWS FLASH: Coach Richt declares football team “on the rise” following wipe out victory over visiting South Carolina high school team. Dawg fans cheer wildly over team’s success and look forward to a victory this Sat. over a terrible Mississippi team.
DawginLex
September 19th, 2011
11:57 am
I DOG
Actually, 2012 RB depth will be very good
Crowell
Samuel
The kid from florida
Thomas
Keith Marshall?
QB
Murray
Lemay
Mason
OL is where we will have a potential problem short of us signing 2 JUCO big boys.
DawginLex
September 19th, 2011
11:58 am
I’m predicting that we shutout Ole Miss
The offense might not hit 50 but we should at least get 28-35
I’m saying 31-0 Georgia
Reality Ck
September 19th, 2011
12:00 pm
UGA should win most of their remaining games. As far as scheds go, this year is a very easy one compared to most. Nobody in the rest of it is really impressive yet – except for GT. Mock their “high school offense” all you want, but those guys are getting it going. May make for an real barn-burner for the last game of the seaon!
DJ Dawg
September 19th, 2011
12:01 pm
@DawginLex- I hope your right but dont you feel the same way I do? When we play the teams that we should handle easily for the past few years it seems we come out to relaxed and play at their level.
DawginLex
September 19th, 2011
12:01 pm
And i believe Joker Phillips and charlie Strong must have both seen their shadow Saturday night
6 more weeks of bad football in Kentucky
I went to that game and that was a pukefest of the highest order
DawginLex
September 19th, 2011
12:02 pm
DJ
In the past, we would have let CC score
Not this year
Grantham is the real deal
Bobo and Richt need to follow his lead
I-DOG
September 19th, 2011
12:08 pm
GT Joe:
Maybe you can explain what no tech supporter has ever been able to:
How in the world did Kenny Anderson, Travis Best, John Salley etc… get in to tech and stay eligible with all those calculus classes they had to take? GT doesn’t recruit academic projects?
Beast from the East
September 19th, 2011
12:09 pm
“Florida is not back and will struggle on the road this year. As mentioned above the gators have trouble in the red zone and JB has not proven he can consistently make the big throw down the field which they will need against fast defenses that will match up well against rainey, burton, and demps.
The East is South Carolina’s to lose at this point…”
You’re right that UF will struggle. Heck, playing Bama, at LSU, at SC and at home against FSU, who wouldn’t struggle with that schedule? Maybe the Green Bay Packers? Add in an improved Vandy, on the road against Auburn and a rival game in UGA, it makes for a really tough schedule. I also agree that the road to the East goes through Columbia. Who would have ever thought UGA and UF would be saying that? My, how times change!!!!
Ohio State - not ranked either poll
September 19th, 2011
12:10 pm
GT Joe September 19th, 2011 10:44 am
“It’s hard to have debates on the tech blogs because we are destroying every team we play.”
Is that why it is hard to have debates on Georgia tek blogs ?
Are you certain it is not because the Georgia tek fans, both of you, spend all day every day at your work in the UGA blog, ignoring that you don’t graduate your football players, and that you are on back-to-back NCAA PROBATION in FOOTBALL, while you play NO ONE with Paul Johnson proclaiming that he wants to play schedules like are playing. Which also, therefore explains why you have blown up half the seats in GRANT field.
I know 1 thing for certain. Mark Richt is on the hotseat at UGA and if he loses to Florida or loses to ANYONE else on this “schedule” he has the rest of the season, he is toast; and you come in here to talk about THAT while you are 1-9 vs him. What does that tell you ?
Contractor
September 19th, 2011
12:12 pm
I-Dog,
You need to question Stephon Marbury’s admittance into Tech. Georgia Tech University I believe he called it.
I-DOG
September 19th, 2011
12:15 pm
Dawg in lex:
When Marshall signs with UGA, I’ll count him in the numbers and I sure hope you are right, but that RB depth chart looks a little scary to me:
Samuel has not stayed healthy and we haven’t seen Thomas have much success yet against SEC caliber competition. That leaves Crowell and Samuel when he is healthy as folks we can count on at this point.
I-DOG
September 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
contractor:
Another good example. My posts are wordy enough without naming ALL the questionable tech academic projects. Thanks for the reminder.
TampaDawg
September 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
GT Joe “But maybe, just maybe, the kids that get offers from BOTH UGA and GT have high SATs/grades? Did you ever think of that? But the dummies that UGA offers don’t get GT offers.
GT doesn’t recruit academic projects, but UGA does. Case in point: I’m pretty sure GT didn’t offer Crowell.”
—————————
Nope they didn’t offer Crowell a scholarship. But GT did offer Zach Debell, Justin Scott-Wesley, Watts Dantzler, Nick Marshall, Amarlo Herrera, Ray Drew, Sterling Bailey, Chris Conley, Damian Swann, Xzavier Ward and Devin Bowman. That’s quite a few for that to be the only smart ones in the UGA class. People like Herrera, Drew Bailey and Swan are already making an impact too.
WDE
September 19th, 2011
12:18 pm
@GT Joe you want to talk academics at Tech two words = Reggie Ball.
icedawg
September 19th, 2011
12:20 pm
There really is no way to tell from the game last weekend how the DAWGS will fair the rest of the way. We really do know now that they are capable of beating Coastal Carolina, that’s about it. The UT game in Knoxville will be a better barometer. Hopefully this was a step in the right direction.
Chuck UGA
September 19th, 2011
12:28 pm
Richt better beat Miss State and Tennessee, especially Tennessee, if he wants to kee his job. All the hayseeds out there think he only has to beat Florida. Wrong. 8-4 with another loss to Florida ends it. However, he has to end the pathetic losses in Neyland Stadium if he wants to stay unemployed. It’s the Eastern Division that counts.
Chuck UGA
September 19th, 2011
12:33 pm
GT Joe, so you have the academic transcripts and have an idea of Isaiah Crowell academics? Or are you just stereotyping Mr. Crowell? You’ve been exposed pal.
GT Joe
September 19th, 2011
12:33 pm
Reggie Ball has a degree from GT; which is more than any UGA fan can say.
Judge Dawg
September 19th, 2011
12:34 pm
I know we are out of our league this year. By next season when Murray (quarterbacks take a little longer) and Crowell get some playing time under there belts we should contend in the SEC East. A mid-level bowl is a real possibility in 2012. Hold tight Dawg fans those winning ways are coming back the the Classic City! Mark Richt will be our coach for many years – and you can tell them the JUDGE said so.
GT Joe
September 19th, 2011
12:35 pm
Chuck: What other reason could it be? The #1 back in the state not even getting an offer?
And before you yap about the offense, he got the #1 back in the state 2 years ago, Charles Perkins.
GT Joe
September 19th, 2011
12:36 pm
Please don’t talk about graduation rates: last I checked, UGA was at 57%, Tech at 49%. Pretty close, but if that’s your claim to fame, ride it.
Chuck UGA
September 19th, 2011
12:37 pm
If you want to see what depth problems and a shortage of talent does to a team, watch Tennessee from here on out. Other than the Georgia game, they will struggle. Why the Georgia game? Because Richt and Bobo have a record of overcoaching and underpreparing the team for these weaker SEC opponents. I’ll believe it when I see it. Tennessee’s best chance at an SEC victory prior to their matchup with Vanderbily is the Georgia game. They have zero chance against South Carolina, Alabama and LSU. I believe they play at Arkansas, so that is likely another loss.
WDE
September 19th, 2011
12:38 pm
@GT Joe what we can say is that the folks with degrees from UGA can all count to 4.
GT Joe
September 19th, 2011
12:38 pm
I-Dog: Best, Marbury, Anderson, etc. were known to be 1-2 years players at best. And are you seriously going back to the cremins days? Wow. I know you guys like history, but dayum.
Tech football: highest average SAT in the country…and highest poll ranks in the state. Thank you, and good night.
Gator Man
September 19th, 2011
12:39 pm
Here we go again, losers at UGA beat a high school team and they are talking about running the table, Georgia has the weakest schedule in the SEC, they dont play LSU, Ala. Flordia bea beat two high school team in their opener, but you did not hear Florida going around saying how good they are.
What a desperate program, get a grip losers it was only a high school team you beat””’
GT Joe
September 19th, 2011
12:40 pm
WDE, the chain gang at the game didn’t change the down marker to “4″, hence Reggie’s confusion. Chain gang was probably UGA’s best and brightest graduates at the time…
Desert Dave
September 19th, 2011
12:42 pm
Simple facts: Since #1 preseason ranking in 2008
-24-17 overall ( 15-14 since ‘09)
-13-12 in SEC
-1-9 vs ranked teams
-9-3, 8-5, 6-7, 1-2 equals 4 consecutive years of decline
-Ga Southern, Central Mich, Tenn Tech, LA- Lafayette, Idaho State, Coastal Carolina are included in that tally!!!
-Nick Satan, Les Miles, Gene Chizek, Will Muschamp, Derek Dooley are now head coaches
-Rival recruiting rankings: 07-9, 07-7, 09-6, 10-15, 11-20..even recruiting is starting to feel it!!
-All new assistant coaches but for 2..
- Oh yeah..HE MAKES MILLIONS!!!
-HOW CAN THIS BE DEFENDED? But, then again, we did beat Coastal carolina.So maybe we should keep him.
DawginLex
September 19th, 2011
12:42 pm
Reggie doesn’t have a brain to be able to count?
Chuck UGA
September 19th, 2011
12:42 pm
GT Joe, perhaps the kid had zero interest in Ga Tech? What a moron you are. You think all kids in Georgia are interested in Ga Tech as football program?! LMAO completely at that. You’re just trying to defend an position with your usual spin. Georgia (nor Tech for that matter) offer scholarships to kids who express no interest in their school. Get real. And to state nonsense about Tech’s academics…believe me, Tech has a “program” for freshmen who need it, especially football playing freshmen.
TampaDawg
September 19th, 2011
12:43 pm
Yeah GT Joe, that’s pretty close, so is the fact that your beloved bumble bees have only had 1 more football academic all-american than UGA has.
Chuck UGA
September 19th, 2011
12:44 pm
Judge Dawg, you are wrong. Mark Richt has room for only two more losses, and they better not be prior to November. He might be able to survive another loss to Florida, but only if he wins every other game left on the schedule.
DawginLex
September 19th, 2011
12:44 pm
Over on the GT blog, “Saban” closed hos comments with “Go Jackets”
confirmed what we always knew
Saban is a Tech fan hiding under the blog handle of a program that he thinks can beat Georgia
DJ Dawg
September 19th, 2011
12:45 pm
Gator Man- You’re the loser! read the post. Who’s bragging?
GT Joe
September 19th, 2011
12:45 pm
Tampa: hard to get good grades at GT. UGA? Not so much.
Chuck UGA
September 19th, 2011
12:45 pm
Gator Man, what are you reading? Are you hungover or something? No one is spouting off about how good UGA is unless they are drunk.
DawginLex
September 19th, 2011
12:46 pm
Gator man
Show me somewhere in my comments where I am desperate and crowing about beating CC?
You can’t
You are just another in a long line of TROLLS spewing the same old crap over and over again to take a dig at Georgia and to make you feel important.
Loser
Big Dawg
September 19th, 2011
12:47 pm
I think Coach Richt is right, while I was extremely disappointed the first 2 games I did see big improvement from the Boise State to South Carolina games. He does have a team that can win the rest of their games, especially if they come prepared and play them one at a time. No more games where they are just going through the motions Boise State, UCF in the bowl game, also no more gimme games where they give the other team points by loss of focus and players taking plays off i.e. # 83 on defense and # 71 on offense that cost them the South Carolina game. Anyway I hope they do win the rest of them and this fire Richt talk becomes a thing of the past.
Go Dawgs
AltamahaDawg
September 19th, 2011
12:47 pm
So the problem you have have with the speculation that we should be in a position to win the rest of our games, is that the remaining schedule is so weak? Were you attempting to ridicule or reinforce?
GT Joe
September 19th, 2011
12:47 pm
Chuck: Crowell had 50 offers. I guess Isaiah showed interest in 50 schools? LOL
DawginLex
September 19th, 2011
12:48 pm
GT Joe
Georgia’s business school and school of accountancy is capable of kicking a student’s butt
Not everyone wants to be an engineer.
You really need to get some new stuff to spew.
WAR CHICKEN!
September 19th, 2011
12:48 pm
Let’s see ………. except for fumbling the ball twice, a pick six, no protection on a fake punt – and a missed 29 yeard field goal – heck – we should have won the game!!!!!!!
DawginLex
September 19th, 2011
12:50 pm
war chicken
Didn’t pay enough for your QB this year…………….
1eyedJack
September 19th, 2011
12:50 pm
GT Joe “highest poll ranks in the state.”
Georgia Southern folks might argue that point.
DJ Dawg
September 19th, 2011
12:51 pm
War Chicken- Even your own coach said yall should have lost the game! At least he has the guts to admit who the better team was.
GT Joe
September 19th, 2011
12:52 pm
GT football:
Average SAT: #1
AP: #25
ESPN: #24
Nothing much else to be said, huh?
AltamahaDawg
September 19th, 2011
12:53 pm
if ONLY.
DJ Dawg
September 19th, 2011
12:54 pm
GT Joe- nothing to say look at your record and still at #25
GT Joe
September 19th, 2011
12:55 pm
For every Crittendon, there is a Barreia:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/former-uga-player-charged-167891.html
JB
September 19th, 2011
12:57 pm
Hey GT Joe, head over to the Tech blog. Pandemonium going on over there with 3 or 4 bloggers over that win Saturday. NC has 7 starters on defense who will be drafted in the first couple of rounds. We’ll know more after Saturday.