Struggles continue in marquee games; team whipped but not flat, Richt says

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A dismal loss to South Carolina extended and exacerbated the Georgia football team’s multi-year trend of struggling — a lot — against top opponents.

Saturday night’s 35-7 loss — Georgia’s first game of the season against a ranked opponent and its first defeat of the season — dropped the Bulldogs’ record against Top 25 teams to 2-8 since the start of the 2010 season, including 0-4 against Top 10 teams.

And going back a bit further, the loss dropped the Bulldogs to 6-14 against Top 25 teams since the start of the 2008 season, including 1-9 against Top 10 opponents.

The impact of the loss on Georgia’s national reputation was quickly registered. Ranked No. 5 before the game, the Bulldogs tumbled Sunday to No. 14 in the Associated Press media poll and No. 12 in the USA Today coaches’ poll. South Carolina rose from No. 6 to No. 3 in both.

Asked late Saturday night how he responds to the perception that Georgia doesn’t rise to the occasion in high-profile games, UGA offensive lineman Chris Burnette said: “I can’t really dispute it because we haven’t.”

The Bulldogs’ only wins over ranked opponents in the past 2 1/2 seasons came last season against Auburn and Georgia Tech, Nos. 24 and 25, respectively, in the AP poll at the time of those games.

You have to go back to a 2009 victory over Tech, No. 7 at the time, to find Georgia’s most recent victory against a Top 10 opponent. Aside from that, the Bulldogs have lost to every such team they’ve faced in the past 4 ½ seasons: Alabama and Florida in 2008; Oklahoma State, LSU and Florida in 2009; Auburn in 2010; Boise State and LSU (SEC title game) in 2011; and South Carolina in 2012.

“We definitely want to make sure that in the future we can rise up to that occasion,” Burnette said. “We know what we’re capable of, but we’ve just got to go back and look at film and figure out what happened, what we did wrong.”

Saturday’s loss left Georgia (5-1, 3-1 SEC) a game behind South Carolina (6-0, 4-0) and Florida (5-0, 4-0) in the SEC East. Georgia doesn’t play this week, while South Carolina is at LSU and Florida at Vanderbilt.

Georgia won the East last season despite losing to South Carolina. To repeat that feat, the Bulldogs likely would need to win out — including Oct. 27 vs. Florida, currently No. 4 in the AP poll — and would need South Carolina to lose twice (say, at LSU and at Florida).

“I’m definitely not losing confidence in this team at all or in our coaching staff or anything like that,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said Sunday. “That’s the worst thing you can do. Teams panic and they tend to fall apart. But Georgia is not going to fall apart.

“A year ago, we’re 0-2 and everybody wants to decide the sky has fallen and it’s over for Georgia. But what did we do? We stayed firm; we believed in each other; we kept banging away; we started to win; and before you know it, we won the Eastern Division. … It’s unfortunate [Saturday’s game] came out the way it did with so much at stake, but there’s still a lot at stake. The sun did come up, and we’re going to get back to work.”

Richt rejected the suggestion the Bulldogs were flat against the Gamecocks.

“I wouldn’t say it was a flat performance,” he said. “I would just say that South Carolina physically whipped us.”

He continued: “If we’d had more success early in the ballgame, it wouldn’t have seemed like a flat performance. Even the initial drive, if [Bacarri] Rambo hangs on to the pick and we turned it into points, all of a sudden things look a little bit different. So there’s a lot of things that could have happened along the way if we could have [pass-]protected better or run- blocked better and been more accurate or tackled better — all of those things. I’m still going to say South Carolina did a heck of a job, and we didn’t get it done.”

Georgia averaged 48.2 points in winning its first five games, but the Gamecocks jumped to a 21-0 lead in the first 10 minutes and held the Dogs scoreless until the final two minutes.

As South Carolina built the early lead, Georgia had breakdowns on offense (a tipped interception), defense (a missed interception, open receivers) and special teams (a 70-yard punt return for a Carolina touchdown). So it went, the Gamecocks’ domination starting on the line of scrimmage and permeating all phases of the game.

“It’s definitely humbling,” Bulldogs linebacker Jarvis Jones said.

“They were shell-shocked,” South Carolina tailback Marcus Lattimore told reporters. “We hit them in the mouth, and they weren’t ready for it.”

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF GEORGIA-SOUTH CAROLINA GAME

654 comments Add your comment

G

October 8th, 2012
12:04 pm

The worst part about the UGA loss is that it has to fester for 2 dag-gum weeks. UGA has a bye this week.

The worst part about the Falcons win, is that it’s overshadowed by UGA’s loss.

The best part about the Braves loss, is that it’s overshadowed by a Falcons win and an UGA loss.

The thing about GaTechs loss, is that it was expected with more to come.

The thing about the Dream’s loss, is that nobody cares.

GSU get’s a pass. We don’t consider them a real team yet.

Joey

October 8th, 2012
12:09 pm

Sorry, UGA won’t have any list, much less a “short list” for a HC for a couple of years.

Mark Richt will go 10-2 this year before a bowl loss.

Just like 10-3 last season before the bowl loss.

The UGA Athletic Assoc will be ecstatic, and will go spend a million dollars partying in Tampa . . .

theNumbers

October 8th, 2012
12:14 pm

The numbers don’t lie, Bozo and his scheme can’t mount a running attack. if you average the rushing yards since 2007, for all the games UGA has lost, it is 104.5, that in itself is an indication of what is going on at UGA. Against any team with a good defense, we can’t run the ball. For the life of me, I still can’t understand how Bozo is keeping his job. If my performance was this inept year over year, I would be handed a pink slip, if I even lasted the first year. Mark me down as one of the most frustrated UGA fans…..

gdawginkalamazoo

October 8th, 2012
12:15 pm

IMO I thought LSU was overrated a bit with the new QB and the Stoney Badger gone but regardless Florida looked good Saturday too. They looked like they have the weapons to put the hurt on us in a couple of weeks. I don’t know how you salvage a season after what happened Saturday. We’ll have to see how the season continues and who loses to who before I can make any comments on what or where we deserve to go bowl wise. Any team can rise on an occassion and beat anybody else that ’s why we play these games.

alphamale

October 8th, 2012
12:16 pm

ummm, yes Carolina IS more talented than uga-and by a fairly large margin. Gotta luv these dawg fans who live by rivals recruiting rankings and thus think they are sooooo talented.

USC is better coached than uga. But they also are more talented.

embarassed

October 8th, 2012
12:19 pm

Better players,lesser coaching.One must ask “WHY” do we continue to get beat @ the lines of scrimmage. Murray cant pass from his back,and Db’s cant cover without a pass rush. NFL talent needs NFL coaching!

The Zone Read

October 8th, 2012
12:23 pm

The OBC didn’t run anything flashy at us. He ran zone read all day with Shaw and Lattimore. We had our All-American LB crash on this give, and Shaw just pulled it and ran at will.

I know Bobo is no dummy – but I have a hard time wondering why we didn’t do some of the same to Clowney?

Murray came out of Tampa a a scrambling, dual threat QB. Bobo and Richt have shackled him in the pocket, and thus he no longer has freedom to move from the pocket and make plays with his feet.

Murray is talented and should be given more freedom to do things that other teams do as a basic part of thier offense. Shockley did it well for us, Stafford to a degree. Bobo never did and he’s wasting our talent by not using what he has.

The arguement is that we don’t want him running and getting hurt. So, let’s let him stand in the pocket and get sacked 5 times and harrassed numberous others. That will keep him safe. Logic is flawed. \

Play football!

Old Dawg

October 8th, 2012
12:23 pm

The ONLY place the South Carolina is much more talented than us is on the SIDELINES….and in the BOOTH upstairs…..Come on….we have 5 top defenders in the country! according to ESPN…they had Clowney….Murray is better than shaw…they are better at rb

Joey

October 8th, 2012
12:26 pm

“For the life of me, I still can’t understand how Bozo is keeping his job”
************************************
Didn’t you answer your own question, doofus?

Bobo is running Richt’s offense. Richt listens to EVERY SINGLE PLAY CALLED ON HIS HEADSET!

Damn, the ignorance . . .

Joey

October 8th, 2012
12:33 pm

“Murray came out of Tampa a a scrambling, dual threat QB. Bobo and Richt have shackled him in the pocket, and thus he no longer has freedom to move from the pocket and make plays with his feet.”
*************************************
Did you expect different from the HC who wanted Cam Newton to play tight-end?

Pete

October 8th, 2012
12:34 pm

Kind of hysterical how some folks react when UGA gets wiped out playing a decent team. What do you expect from a program who annually plays the easiest schedule this side of North Dakota ??
We all see the true level of this over rated team as with the game this past Sat. nite in Columbia, S.C.
Nice work dogs.
Bring on the powerhouse Kentucky and Ga. Southern !!
Whoopee !!!!!

G

October 8th, 2012
12:35 pm

Observation: UGA didn’t play any different than we did from the first game of the year. UGA has started all games slow, flat, unfocussed, or whatever you wish to call it. The previous five teams did not have a defense to make UGA pay for early miscues and letdowns. Have to give SC for being a stout opponent in all phases of the game to give UGA the ultimate test.

One thing that UGA needs to understand, is that even against Buffalo, you have to execute with flawless abandon. As long as you have the ball and time is on the clock, score and score again. Hit them harder in the 4th quarter than the 1st. Don’t EVER give up or let up. That’s how you prepare for better calliper opponents.

The culture of UGA football needs to be restructured. There’s only one way to get it done…………

TigerMan

October 8th, 2012
12:36 pm

Knew UGA was going to be exposed by USC. Said it, said it again, and again…Thank goodness I don’t have to listen to all of the National Chmpchp talk anymore. People are quiet now, thank goodness.

Prepare to lose to UF, GT, and your bowl game as well.

Devil's Advocate

October 8th, 2012
12:37 pm

Mark Richt is like Paula Deen handing her recipe collection over to the young gal who can’t cook worth a lick and asking her to make Thanksgiving Dinner given all the premium ingredients necessary.

Bobo is the TV dinner cook of OCs. When he tries to make a real meal it gets burnt to Hell and leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Devil's Advocate

October 8th, 2012
12:39 pm

Pete,

You are ignorant. UGA doesn’t annually have an easy schedule compared to their peers’. Please go learn some history and report back to us just one example how you were wrong for that post.

DeezNutz

October 8th, 2012
12:44 pm

I’m a UGA fan and alum, but I’ve been beaten down so often over the past 20 years by Spurrier coached teams, that I honestly believe that we will never win another NC while Spurrier is coaching against us. I know this makes Darth Visor happier than any other thing on this planet, but that’s how I feel. When UGA killed his NC dreams as a player before I was born, I’m sure the hate was branded into his soul and he’ll go to his grave trying his best to exact as much vengance against us as is humanly possible. The day Darth Visor retires, I’ll believe again. Till then I’m just gonna have to be satisfied with less lofty goals like beating rivals. That guy is truely an Evil Genius.

Jeff

October 8th, 2012
12:46 pm

I wonder what Mullen, Muschamp, Saban , Spurrier or Saban would do with UGA players. As a Tech fan at least there is some chance Tech can win against CMR coached team with vastly superior football talent. Good to know he will be there as long as he wants.

DeezNutz

October 8th, 2012
12:49 pm

My only consulation is that we won 7 out of 23 against Spurrier, and I know those 7 will drive him crazier than Hell.

Chicago Dawg

October 8th, 2012
12:49 pm

This game was an exact replay of the Georgia-Bama game in 08, They beat us so bad, that I was sober before the 2nd quarter. and I was at the game, didn’t know Sanford Stadium could get that quite until that day. I’m glad I wasn’t drinking for this game. We needed this wake up call.

SP

October 8th, 2012
12:53 pm

Offense:
1. Murray should be running for 60-80 yards a game like Shaw. This would have slowed Clowney down the same way Shaw slowed down Jones.
2. Clowney should have had Lynch/Samuel/Theus triple teaming him all night long and running plays to the other side where Rome and Malcome/Samuel were ready to block the other side. No excuse for not protecting Murray’s blindside. Had to come out of the gate with 2 tight end sets. And best RB passblockers too in Malcome or Samuel. Might have run 2 RB sets too with Malcome & Samuel back there to passblock.
3. No long developing passplays should have been called. This shoud have been a Boise St style short passing game.

Special Teams:
1. Let your punt returner do something besides fair catch. Look what SC did with their punt return, this plan was too conservative.
2. Try something like a fake punt, or onsides kick to spark the team.
3. Don’t kick the ball to Ace, didn’t we learn that in the LSU game?

Defense:
1. Stop a running QB by staying in the lanes better, outside in rush was destroyed by Shaw. Funnel him towards to middle, even at the 2nd level.
2. If Shaw ran, force him to the middle of the field and hit him hard and make him pay. Don’t let him get out of bounds untouched.
3. Make injured, not 100% Lattimore beat you carrying 35 times instead of a deep ball pass. You came up 3 points short in 2011 and could have won in 2011 without turnovers and special teams gaffes. That defensive plan worked for the most part, why change it?
4. Need faster guys than CRob, try Jordan Jerkins.
5. Put Garrison Smith and Mike Thornton in a 4 man line. Abandon the 3-4. It’s not working.
6. Move Ogletree to outside LB making teams pay if they double Jones.
7. Give Stripling & Drew a shot at DE. Got to get more pressure on the QB. And at this point it’s building for next year.

Coaching:
1. Abandon any thought you can win the SEC PASSING THE BALL.
2. Hire a top notch Special Teams Coach, get rid of the tight ends coach.
3. Go out and get a world class oline coach and a world class dline coach.

Big Crimson 75

October 8th, 2012
12:57 pm

Stop whining & regroup.
Ya beat Fla and y’all still win the East.
SC has too tough a road to hoe.
SC will lose 2 games with their remaining schedule.
Beat Fla again & y’all are back in the SEC CG.

SP

October 8th, 2012
12:57 pm

OLine needs to learn how to do legal cutblocks like a lot of inexperienced OLines do.

Devil's Advocate

October 8th, 2012
12:59 pm

Pete,

Let me help you get started with some out-of-conference scheduling info from 2010 and 2011. Please explain to me how UGA has easier schedules annually.

2010

Auburn: Ark State, Clemson, Louisiana-Monroe, UT-Chattanooga – 1 major program
Bama: San Jose State, Penn State, Duke, Georgia State (1st season ever!) – 2 major programs
Florida: Miami of Ohio, South Florida, Appalachian State, FSU – 1 major program
Tech: South Carolina State, Kansas, Middle Tennessee State, UGA – 2 major programs
UGA: Louisiana-Lafayette, Colorado, Idaho State, GT – 2 major programs

2011

Auburn: Utah State, Clemson, Florida Atlantic, Samford (not Stanford!) – 1 major program
Bama: Kent State, Penn State, North Texas, Georgia Southern – 1 major program
Florida: Florida Atlantic, Alabama-Birmingham, Furman, FSU – 1 major program
Tech: Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee State (this year means 3 in a row!), Kansas, UGA – 2 major programs
UGA: Boise State, Coastal Carolina, New Mexico State, GT – 2 major programs

embarassed

October 8th, 2012
1:03 pm

I guess we just have to accept the fact that the powers that be do not care what we fans think about our program. If the AD had any sense he would listen to his consumers if he wants to build his program[buisness]. It seems the fans are the only ones emotionally invested in this program.No wonder this team gets no respect even the ESPN pundits disrespected us on national TV.

DeezNutz

October 8th, 2012
1:05 pm

@Big Crimson 75
Getting dominated like we did this game takes some time to get over. You’re right, but after a pathetic performance like we had you start to question everything. I was surprised when the sun rose in the East Sunday morning.

Joey

October 8th, 2012
1:08 pm

“Thank goodness I don’t have to listen to all of the National Chmpchp talk anymore.”
***************************************
Come on Tigerman, there are a couple of doofuses on here that talk that Nat Title crap, and they may be techies doing their masquerade-gay-acting-class thing, but real UGA fans know better.

For all we know, you may be a techie too. They do like to “dress-up” in other teams colors . . .

UGA fans for BCS Championship

October 8th, 2012
1:08 pm

@embarassed, I agree, taking a quote from the movie Meet the Fockers, “I’ve never seen such an acceptance of Mediocrity” When is making to the dome not going to be enough…………………

OkieDawg

October 8th, 2012
1:14 pm

Since I am not an expert and given the fact I’m not paid for my opinion, I will not give my opinion. However, I do share the opinion of two highly paid, highly respected experts. Near the end of the game, Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit had this to say:

Kirk…”Outside of the National Championship last year, can you think of another big game like this where it was just so flat? Where a team had this big a disappointment in a big game? Brent…We expected so much of them, the 5th ranked team in the country they have played a couple really tough games against SC over the last few years. You fully expected Murray and the Dawgs to play their hearts out in this game. Now I have been so disappointed in what I see here tonight. I can’t believe someone in the SEC would come in here as flat as they are tonight.

Kirk…”To see not just Georgia lose the game but the way they have gone about their business tonight, SHOCKING. Other than LSU in the NC game, I can not remember leaving a stadium more disappointed than tonight in what Georgia did.”

Kirk…”The defense didn’t listen to Mark Richt when he asked them to show some fight.”

I guess to have your team called out like that over the ESPN game of the week, has to leave the Dawg Nation EMBARRASSED to say the least. And to hear CMR’s remarks as to being flat seem very shallow. I’m sure the powers that be at Georgia are not listening to the uninformed ticket buying fan base but they should all be aware of what the Rainmakers at ESPN are saying.

Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville

October 8th, 2012
1:14 pm

Joey

Remember i told this would happen with the fanbase if Richt pulled his magic again

I knew he was going to do this; he does every single year

Richts teams always comes out 2-4 games a year looking like they never played football before

All I can say is he better win out and not go 8-4 next year even though thats whats going to happen with the amount of players we lose this year

Just my opinion on that though

Played the game

October 8th, 2012
1:16 pm

Murray constantly over thorowing/under throwing receivers; trust me he had time and o-line wasn’t completely dominated; receivers dropping catchable balls; two senior safeties kept looking in the backfield and letting receivers run across their face – most basic thing all safeties are taught is you’re the last line of defense so don’t let anyone get deeper than you…looking for big hit i guess which neither one ever got and those don’t win ball games but playing your assignments does win games…team was prepared but players didn’t execute and carry-out the plan well. SC did and deserved to win.

G

October 8th, 2012
1:16 pm

UGA will probably come off the bye with a big win against Kentucky, which doesn’t mean anything more than a game you’re supposed to win. In the back of all our minds is the game against Florida. Will this be SC all over again, or will this team show us something different and pull out a win? Honestly I’m hoping for a win, but I’m not confident we will. I’ve seen both FL and UGA all season. The weight of consistency and coaching is on FL side.

azdawg

October 8th, 2012
1:24 pm

With the easy win over GA, SC will win a close one over punchless LSU and Lattimore will shine against FL, so will Shaw. Dawgs don’t back in the east or SECC game this year and do not deserve it. Thats reserved for winners that prove they are winners on the field. GA is still over rated at #14. After this off week they’ll most likely fall further in the polls by teams lesser ranked but win their games while GA sits idle. Looking at film won’t correct what went wrong w/GA this past w/e. Look in the mirror boys, thats what you have to correct! And as for CMR and his pseudo illustrious staff, take a hike. You’re no where near as good as billed either.

TigerMan

October 8th, 2012
1:24 pm

Here are some cold, hard facts that ESPN noted on a slide during the game, 3rd quarter I think:

“Georgia Struggles vs Teams which FINISHED SEASON ranked:

Since 2008 2 – 14
Last 2 years 0 – 9
vs SEC since 2008 0 – 9
vs Top 12 since 2008 0 – 9″

embarassed

October 8th, 2012
1:26 pm

@ okie dawg I wouldnt say Dawg nation is uninformed we follow are team religously. And we care far more than anyone on Espn.

embarassed

October 8th, 2012
1:33 pm

Richt said team whipped but not flat, WOW coach that makes me feel better. How about do us all a favor and coach your team to actually Finish The Damn Drill!!

[...] heels of running into a Mack Truck or a buzz saw Saturday against South Carolina, UGA’s headman Mark Richt vowed he wouldn’t let this team fall apart. “I’m definitely not losing confidence in this team at [...]

dawgfan

October 8th, 2012
1:36 pm

Good grief. If I’ve said this once I’ve said it a billion freaking times. We lose big games because we have no talent on the offensive line. Richt/Bobo simply do not understand the game of football. A lot of UGA fans don’t either because they constantly say we have the talent to win championships. We most certainly do not. You can have 12 wide recievers that are 6′6″ and run 4.3 forties and you will lose if you don’t have an offensive line. You can Peyton Manning at QB at you will lose without an offensive line. You can have the most brilliant and “balanced” game plan ever created and you will lose if you don’t have an offensive line. This has been proven time and time and time again but these Bozo’s simply don’t get it. We get our azzed kicked up front year after year after year. Just watch the freaking games people. This isn’t rocket science.

See you at the Chicken Bowl.

Joey

October 8th, 2012
1:37 pm

I know Flat Tire – and you’re a HATER! Ha. I guess I am too. Mark Richt cannot beat any team with equal or better talent. I’m not saying we could have beaten SC Saturday night, but a good coach would have limited the damage. I’m tired of watching UGA in big games and worrying that somebody is gonna score 50 on us, or that we won’t get a 1st down.

We will see on Draft Day who has the most talent between Spurrier and Richt, but I’ll say ahead of time, Richt can’t carry Spurrier’s jock strap. I must be a HATER too.

Richt was CLUELESS on our sideline – how do I know? We looked the same in the 4th quarter as we did in the 1st. Richt is no more a sideline coach than Gomer Pyle – hell, Gomer might kick over a water cooler sometime, instead of just trying to look cool.

Big Crimson 75

October 8th, 2012
1:40 pm

Flat — 1 question, I hope you answer it honestly. Are you one of UOADs secondary handles?
I enjoy reading the majority of your posts.
But it irks me when reading them per I think your 5150/smart half the time!!

Nutz — understandable. National Title is out the window again this year.
However, lets be real, this D isn’t good enough to win it all.
I’ve stated all year, y’all are a year away.
Murray could have the same kind of season Jason Cambell had his SR season at the Barn. Remember, Cambell was pretty bad at Aubie til his SR season. Those RBs are only gonna get better.
Of course the problem is, the Gators are back!!

Joey

October 8th, 2012
1:41 pm

Played the Game,

How would you have handled the QB job Murray had Saturday night? How many times did he throw the ball when he didn’t get the – - – - knocked out of him either before, during, or after attempting a pass?

To use a military term, he had to be “shell shocked.”

You should sympathize with Murray, and save your criticism of the ones who called the plays – and I ain’t talking about Bobo – blame the one who owns this offense.

the go to play

October 8th, 2012
1:44 pm

3rd and long draw play. It’s gonna be awesome if it ever works.

A Question....

October 8th, 2012
1:46 pm

Why in the world would Richt not bring offensive linemen to that game? Art majors and cheerleaders dressed in the uniform were not enough to block that pass rush.

He Hate Gator

October 8th, 2012
1:48 pm

Its clear from Richt’s comments he refuses to address the team’s ongoing performance in games against ranked teams with his standard line “its just one game”….0-10 is not a coincidence….its coaching….

A Question....

October 8th, 2012
1:48 pm

Was the plan to let Clowney run free until he just got tired? Certainly looked like it.

A Question....

October 8th, 2012
1:49 pm

Does Richt have any plans to implement a strength and conditioning program anytime soon?

Joey

October 8th, 2012
1:49 pm

“I’ve stated all year, y’all are a year away.”
********************************
Thanks for the compliment Big Crimson, but you are a cruel man to put that thought in the Richt-Fan-Boys’ heads. They’re already lighting candles for their man. “A year away” will be posted the rest of the year.

Seriously, you do know your football, but in my opinion, “we are a new head coach away.”

He Hate Gator

October 8th, 2012
1:50 pm

Are running plays from the shotgun inside your own 10 yard line signs of good coaching?

embarassed

October 8th, 2012
1:52 pm

Overheard from the AD’s office,[it's all Russ' fault] if not for those spots it’d be all white

Joey

October 8th, 2012
1:53 pm

Hey, hey hey, “A Question….

Did you NOT hear Mark Richt earlier this summer?

Quote: “I know what the hell I’m doing.”

Any more questions?

dddf's

October 8th, 2012
1:53 pm

Joey, great observations, but I think UGA prefers the term “wait till next year”. I think it is part of the road signs announcing you are entering Athens.