Georgia’s tackles feel they gained valuable experience against South Carolina’s ends
ATHENS – The performance of Georgia’s offensive line – and its tackles in particular — against South Carolina this past weekend was one the Bulldogs would just as soon forget. In fact, that seems to be one of their primary goals this week.
“That game’s over,” freshman tackle John Theus said. “We looked at the film and we learned from it and we’re ready to go on to the next game. We’ve all moved on. We’re preparing for Kentucky now.”
On paper, it doesn’t look as bad as it was. Officially the Gamecocks were credited with two quarterback sacks and two quarterback hurries. But anybody who watched this past Saturday’s 35-7 domination of Georgia knows defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor had a much more profound effect on quarterback Aaron Murray and the Bulldogs’ offense.
Murray had career lows with 35 percent completion rate on 11-of-31 passing for 109 yards. The Gamecocks were credited with 10 pass break-ups, several of them occurring nanoseconds after the ball left Murray’s hands.
The end result was the Bulldogs were held to 41 points below their scoring average and 312 yards below their yards per game.
“It’s just one of those games you have to throw it in a bag and move on and focus on our next opponent, which is Kentucky,” junior left tackle Kenarious Gates said. “That’s what we’re doing. We’re working on Kentucky now. We’re not worried about South Carolina. It’s in the past. We can’t do anything about it.”
Gates had the toughest assignment of anybody on the team as he played the entire night head up against the 6-foot-6, 256-pound Clowney. Occasionally Gates would get some help from a chipping running back or fullback. But essentially it was the first-year starting tackle against one of the best pass-rushers in college football all night.
“It was a great experience,” Gates insisted. “He’s a great player. You’re going against one of the best D-ends in the SEC. You’ve to got to give him credit. He’s strong, quick off the line. He opened my eyes to what I need to do to get better and the things I need to work on. We gave each other good competition out there.”
The question now is whether Georgia’s overall confidence on offense has been shaken to the core.
“No,” Gates said. “We still have high confidence in our team. We still have our goals moving forward. We’re still trying to do what we’ve been doing all season, which is to win and be one of the best offenses in the nation”
As bad as Saturday was, the Bulldogs remain second in the SEC in points scored (41.3 per game), third in total yardage (484 ypg) and their nine quarterback sacks allowed are fourth-fewest in the league.
“I think we’ll be fine,” Murray said. “I think we’re still confident with who we have, with the play-calloing, with everything that’s going on. We just didn’t execute when the time came. When plays were there to be made we just didn’t hit on them. . . . But I don’t think we’re shaken up at all. We’re going to come out very confident in our next game and be ready to go.”
Murray feeling better
Murray said he was being sincere when he said Saturday night and Sunday morning were “the worst 12 hours of his life.” Between the Bulldogs’ dismal performance against South Carolina, Murray’s house getting vandalized and finding out Sunday morning that his father had cancer and needed surgery immediately, “My head was about to explode at that point,” Murray said Wednesday.
But he was feeling much better after returning to practice this week. “Things are on the rise,” Murray said.
First and foremost, the prognosis for Denny Murray, who has thyroid cancer, is very good. “It’s a very treatable cancer,” Murray said. “They removed the thyroid completely and now he has to wait a few weeks and get a scan to make sure it didn’t spread. So hopefully we got it early enough and it didn’t spread and it’s gone.”
In some ways, Murray said having to deal with his father’s illness helped him deal with Saturday’s loss and all that has happened since, including getting a speeding ticket in Gainesville, Fla., on his drive back Monday.
“I was being a little baby, then my parents came in and told me about what was going on,” Murray said. “I didn’t even think of football after that. I didn’t think about the game. Nothing. It really does put everything in perspective about what’s most important in your life, who’s most important in your life and putting those things first.”
Said Georgia coach Mark Richt: “There’s never a good time to find out about your father having something like that. But it does help get everything else that happened in perspective. Those things don’t seem as bad.”
Practice update
The Bulldogs practiced for more than two hours in what coaches and players described as a “competition day.” There was a lot of contact and fundamental work and the day ended with the offense and defense scrimmaging.
“We had a good day; we had a fun day; we competed,” Richt said. “We treated it like a spring practice. We had a lot of things to work on and, since we weren’t going to compete Saturday, we decided to go out and compete with a scrimmage today. And we had some great competition.”
They said it
“First of all, I say we have the best fans in America. They do foolish things sometimes, usually in the first few hours after a ballgame. That’s just normal emotions. . . . Every once in a while a fan will do something foolish. But that doesn’t mean all fans are foolish.”
– Richt on fan behavior
Etc. . .
All-America outside linebacker Jarvis Jones was held out of practice for the second day in a row with a sprained ankle. Thursday is the last day of practice and it will be in shorts and helmets. . . . Richt said junior defensive end Garrison Smith has played exceptionally well in a backup role and will see his repetitions increase in the second half of the season.
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508 comments Add your comment
333
October 11th, 2012
8:57 am
Gates looked like a deer in the headlights !!! Most of the time he was turned around looking at the DE close in on Murray.
ARdawg
October 11th, 2012
8:59 am
Lessons learned by the tackles? C’mon, the only lesson available to them last Saturday night was to face up to the competition and learn how to be completely submissive. The only thing the Bulldog play was missing was intercourse
Hard cold factoid
October 11th, 2012
9:00 am
@Tide Roll.
When will the state university of AL become elite in its admissions and drug testing policies. Right now they are at the bottom of the dirtiest conference in the US.
But racist rednecks continue to be proud of a team whose players they would spit on if they didn’t play football.
son's who?
October 11th, 2012
9:01 am
VeeJay, would your game scheme for Florida, please. I have enjoyed reading your posts.
Here we Go
October 11th, 2012
9:02 am
Tide Roll- agree with your views on our O/L.However,the O/L coach played at Bama.Should have some experince on how to play the O/L.Also,we only have two legit SEC linemen.This has been our problem for the last 7 years.Oh well maybe we can get Crowder and Tunsil this year.I hope!!!!
ARdawg
October 11th, 2012
9:03 am
333
In all fairness, Gates should have been getting some help. Bobo was lining them up in a 4 WO set all night long. “Most coaches” would have eventually surmised, “Hey, why not keep these Tight Ends in and double team these beasts that are being mean to my QB”. I guess Bobo can’t think on his feet. Obviously Richt can’t
Eddie Haskel
October 11th, 2012
9:06 am
The main thing they learned is they dont want to play Alabama in the SEC championship game.
mcdaviddawg
October 11th, 2012
9:06 am
There are no lessons learned from the game, Richt is incapable of learning and making changes. That’s why Georgia needs to make a coaching change. It’s about 4 years overdue.
LowcountryDawg
October 11th, 2012
9:09 am
Although I would do a wild rain-dance if St. Richt left, Richt could easily save himself for a little while just simply getting rid of Bobo. But, he doesn’t want to call the plays and take the pressure and heat anymore.
graphite
October 11th, 2012
9:09 am
Another thing they learned,it happens every year! Can’t wait until the puppies get back on Bama,LSU and Ar schedule.There won’t be enough towels to dry the dog tears.
Matthews Dawg
October 11th, 2012
9:11 am
All you doom and gloomers, read this from LBH. Not that bad after all.
“Georgia got our rear ends kicked on Saturday night. I get that, and am as grumpy about it as the next guy. But enough already with the woe is me.
Mark Richt has the best overall and SEC records in school history. He is 8-4 against Tennessee, 3-1 against Alabama, 7-5 against South Carolina, 7-4 against Auburn, and 10-1 against Tech. 7-4 in bowl games. This year’s team is 5-1, ranked 14th, and is likely to win at least 10 games. If we can repeat last year’s victory over Florida in Jacksonville and get our third win in five years there, there’s a good chance Georgia returns to Atlanta to play for the SEC championship. The only thing Richt hasn’t done is win a national championship.
It took Dooley 17 years to win one. It took Bear Bryant 17 years to win his first. It took Bobby Bowden 27 years and Mack Brown 22 years. Nick Saban took 10 years, and it was 13 before he had an undefeated season. A national championship is not easy to get, and is not the right measurement anyway. After all, Larry Coker and Gene Chizik have both held the crystal football high, but I’m guessing most of us wouldn’t be too excited about hiring either of those guys to come to Athens. I know that fan is short for fanatic, but try to keep calm and carry on.
Be glad that the bar has been raised at Georgia to the point that ten or eleven wins just about every year is no longer considered good enough. And then remember who put that bar there, and be glad you have him.”
What do you think?
Go Dawgs!!
middle tennessee
October 11th, 2012
9:12 am
WE HAVE A BETTER PROGRAM THAN THE JACKETS
Hate GT
October 11th, 2012
9:13 am
JM
I agreed with you.
All these whining Georgia fans!
one loss and all the sorry A$$’s want is all the coaches heads on a chopping block
But not one of them has a solution.
I will ask again as I always do . Who are you going to get if you want CMR gone?
Flat tire get a life
snoop dawgy dawg
October 11th, 2012
9:14 am
we are like miami producing good nfl players that do nothing in college
GatorBait 18-4
October 11th, 2012
9:16 am
Barack——–never thought I would agree with anything you have ever said but your right about Richt. Maybe the most overrated coach in NCAA football———-one correction, Richt is 3-8 against the Gators and when he loses in 3 weeks he will be 3-9, not 3-10, but your heart was in the right place.
He will lose because he never has and never will be the Gators 2 years in a row, once every 4-5 years is his speed.
Mobile Dawg
October 11th, 2012
9:17 am
I think you can convince yourself of anything MD.
DouglasDawg
October 11th, 2012
9:17 am
I have been one of CMR biggest supporters. Wow, the SC game opened my eyes. That just can not happen. I don’t mind loosing, I don’t like it, but can handle it. What I saw was a talented team get punched in the mouth, and never able to bow up and fight back. I don’t think UF is as good as SC but if this team looses again I think McGerity will ask CMR to step away. McGerity is a winner and will not tolerate a championship talented team failing.
jerry
October 11th, 2012
9:18 am
UGA fires Richt and all of a sudden they are in the Elite? Why hell no, they will just hire some assistant somewhere who has influence and no real qualifications. It won’t be a coach who has had success at the same level as Georgia plays on, that is not the way they do business. So keep what you have, the next one will probably be worse.
snoop dawgy dawg
October 11th, 2012
9:19 am
if we fire CMR who are we going to get?
LowcountryDawg
October 11th, 2012
9:19 am
Matthews Dawg,
Shoot we don’t have to Win one every year. Just possible play in a national championship every 30 years?
and Hate GT: One loss? Fans like you are the reason we come to expect mediocre at UGA. Nobody is upset on here because of one loss. It’s the fact that we are sick of Richt padding his record against cupcakes and can never show up for the big games that matter. PLEASE REMIND ME WHEN HE HAS BEAT A TOP TEN TEAM AGAIN?
RNB
October 11th, 2012
9:22 am
Time for Richt to go. Go get Kirby Smart.
Barack Obama
October 11th, 2012
9:23 am
I Barack Obama, too have an issue with having that needed Killer instinct but this post from Top Dawg has just inspired me, take a look:
Sorry guys but I love Georgia football, but the Richt belongs in the ACC. I’m a Bulldog trapped in Tallahassee, FL for over 20 years and I have been watching Richtball most of that time especially when he was at FSU. Bowden had very talented teams at FSU, when Richt was his OC. Legend here has it that many times Bowden would have to put the boot to Richt to apply the coup dais gra or deathblow to opponents. In order to avoid cursing in his frustrations, Bowden coined the good ole boy term “DAGGUMMIT” and DAGGUM ! Richt heard more that his share of that term from Bowden. When Richt got the UGA job Bowden immediately questioned Richt’s intensity and went vocal with his fear that Richt lacked the killer instinct he would need to survive the SEC. Vince Dooley rushed and made a hasty decision in hiring Richt and it has taken Georgia fans 12 years to acknowledge the real Mark Richt. Richt is a good, christian man, but you don’t take a minister to a bar fight against Saban, Miles, or Spurrier.Vintage Rev. Billy Graham has no chance in mortal combat against vintage Chuck Norris, Mike Tyson, or Clint Eastwood. But none of those characters could preach like Rev.Graham either. The point is that football is the religion of Spurrier, Saban, and Miles. Sadly for Georgia the same can’t be said for Mark Richt.
GatorBait 18-4
October 11th, 2012
9:24 am
Hate GT, are you serious, lets just quickly start with the coaches at, Boise State, Texas Tech, TCU,
Texas A&M, Vandy and the list goes on.
McDawg
October 11th, 2012
9:30 am
just win
McDawg
October 11th, 2012
9:32 am
do not get kirby smart
ARdawg
October 11th, 2012
9:34 am
The same cries from 2 years ago. “Richt’s gotta go” “Richt deserves a chance to right the ship” “Richt’s a good man”
Well, the ship was righted. He did find a way not to lose to the cupcakes on the weak schedule. Richt hasn’t found a way to inspire his team or win any meaningful game. Yes the ship is righted but the hump is now a mountain and Richt can’t get over it
Mobile Dawg
October 11th, 2012
9:36 am
I think we should offer Muschamp 5 Million per year, worst thing that could happen is he turns us down. He’s proven he can build a staff, clean up a program, coach a game based on a specific opponent, and most of all, instill his intensity and drive into those around him.
Whoever we get, they have to be able to energize the team, the fan base, and most importantly, restore our pride. Right now there is no confidence whatsoever we will ever compete for a championship.
L E G H U M P E R S should have known.
October 11th, 2012
9:38 am
Any team that starts a true freshman at OT is in deep trouble as far as talent and depth. Theus sucked against Carolina. Several times he was pushing his man down while the DL of Carolina was laying on top of either Murray, Gurley or Marshal.
Gene
October 11th, 2012
9:39 am
Best wishes to Murray and his dad’s recovery. The problem with this team is not talent. Richt will run up big scores against UK and GA Southern, but will lose to UF. Richt will declare the season a success and can be proud, particularly of McGarrity’s brilliant scheduling.
Dawg Whisperer
October 11th, 2012
9:40 am
I only read a few comments on the first page but it is clear that many of you need a life adjustment. UGA football should not be the most passionate thing in your life. See where it’s gotten you so far. Even Bammer fans are in for a major funk when Saban leaves.
G-Dawg
October 11th, 2012
9:40 am
Hire Herm Edwards!!
GatorBait 18-4
October 11th, 2012
9:41 am
Richt will be desperate when he play the Gators this year. Mark my words, he will pull out some “bush league” ploy to”inspire” the team that he can’t coach to victory.
I would strongly suggest he rethink that, this is the most physical group of Gators he has ever met.
If he makes Mushamp mad, be assure the Gators will save all their time outs and in the 4th quarter Muschamp will run over the dawgs just like they did over LSU. The Gators got a taste of Tiger blood and can’t wait for some dawg meat. This will make the 2009 look like a mercy killing.
I hope old Mark has noticed the Gators have not been scored on in the 4 th quarter and only give up 13 points in the entire 2nd half. They are the real deal.
Statesborodawg
October 11th, 2012
9:42 am
This has got to be the biggest group of dumb bloggers I have ever seen. You are talking baout richt padding his percentage with cupcakes look at who you call the great and holy god sabans playing this year . If Van gorder was so great why is the auburn team he is coaching the defense getting beat down right now what are they 1-4 and got beat by arkansas. You people need to get a life and if you just going to whine about losing one game. Always screaming 32 years nobody in this blog could coach there way out of a daycare center but you have all the right anwsers. Please get a life where were you before Mark richt got here sometimes you were not even the 3rd best team in the sec east. Screaming get kirby smart everybody knows thats sabans defense and kirby is a great defensive assistant. Kirby does not have sole control of that defense. If not mark richt than who…… Somebody from a lower conference. This is big boy football the freaking SEC!!!!!!!!! Quit crying like a bunch of babies because of one game……
ga gator
October 11th, 2012
9:44 am
Mobile Dawg it is quite funny how many people (including UF fans) were 2nd guessing our AD for hiring Champ. Muschamp has won the right way, rebuilding the team from the ground up while hiring the best strengh coach in the US. The dude was the head of training at IMG Sports Academy in Bradenton Florida and the players love him. I am sure every coach has a price but I believe Muschamp truly wants to be in Gainesville as he spent 10 years there growing up. If I was McGarrity I would go straight after Kirby Smart who learned at the feet of the master just like Muschamp and would never leave UGA. Richt is a great man but will NEVER take UGA where they want to go. You had better make the switch now before Kirby goes to either Auburn, Tenn or Arky.
I feel a blackout in Jax
October 11th, 2012
9:47 am
UGA is the home team in Jax this year and Richt is desperate.
GatorBait 18-4
October 11th, 2012
9:47 am
Mobile Dawg
Completely agree with your 1st paragraph, except he is worth more than 5 Million a year, what Muschamp has done in 1 year and 5 games——————PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!
He has got to the favorite for coach of the year at this point.
Mobile Dawg
October 11th, 2012
9:49 am
Ga Gator, you’re right, we missed our chance on Muschamp. For all the things that are right at UGA, I just don’t understand our lack of committment to excellence within the football program. Not sure Smart is the real deal, also it has been recently brought up that he may be the HC in waiting at Bama. I think it was Beast who said the other day that the Gators took potential (with Muschamp) over experience but it’s looking like the gamble worked. It’s obvious the buzz is back in Gator football.
Same Old
October 11th, 2012
9:51 am
It always ends badly for “players” coaches, unless of course they coach at UGA
C-Dawg
October 11th, 2012
9:52 am
does anyone know which player dislocated his finger yesterday???
PMC
October 11th, 2012
9:53 am
Oh I have no doubt they learned from it, they are freshmen, they’ve probably never seen guys that good in thier life other than Jarvis Jones.
GatorBait 18-4
October 11th, 2012
9:54 am
I feel a blackout in Jax
October 11th, 2012
9:47 am
UGA is the home team in Jax this year and Richt is desperate.
Glad to see you made my 9:41 point
Chris
October 11th, 2012
9:55 am
Georgia shouldn’t be looking to “Learn Lessons” with a veteran QB and a veteran defense. It seams that all we ever do is “Learn Lessons”, and then we forget everything we learned the next time we play a quality opponent.
PMC
October 11th, 2012
9:55 am
Kentucky is the only thing that should matter next week, this week, relax, study, be college kids… and think about beating Florida.
1eyedJack
October 11th, 2012
9:57 am
“Every once in a while a fan will do something foolish. But that doesn’t mean all fans are foolish.”
Obviously, Coach don’t read the AJC blogs.
schmeckdawg
October 11th, 2012
10:00 am
I’m sure that it didn’t help our OL that Clowney came out and said that they had figured out our snap count on like our second offensive series.
To bad Bobo wasn’t smart enought to realize this!!!!!!!!!!
A.B.
October 11th, 2012
10:02 am
MOBILE DAWG FOR PRESIDENT, MOBILE DAWG FOR UGA HC,,MOBILE DAWG FOR UGA AD !!! DAMN MOBIE DAWG, I CANNOT AGREE WITH A HUMAN ANYMORE THAN I DO WITH YOU ! WILL YOU MARRY ME? AND CMR NEEDS TO PUT #93 JONES ON THE END OF THE BENCH AND TAKE HIS HELMET,HE WAS USELESS AGAINST SC. JONES WAS JUST PUTTING HIS HAND DOWN WHEN THE BALL WAS SNAPPED AND BY THE TIME HE LOOKED UP A SC OL WAS KNOCKING HIS ASS 5YARDS OF THE BALL. PITIFUL ! SELAH
Joey
October 11th, 2012
10:02 am
You are the dumb blogger – “one game” my butt. We now get beat by every good team we play, usually by blowout.
Just a few scores of losses the past 3 years. 35-7, 42-10, 35-21, 49-31, 41-17.
Just one game?
CDAWG
October 11th, 2012
10:04 am
It’s not the O that I am concerned with it’s the D. We are giving up way too many points and yards. I don’t think the D is living up to expectations this year after last year. What is the problem?
Mobile Dawg
October 11th, 2012
10:06 am
1. I could do a better job than the person masquerading as President right now.
2. I could do at least as good a job as the HC we have now, probably better.
3. Jury still out on our AD, I’m willing to give him a chance. Probably have to wait on a new University President.
4. Only if your Dawggirl, kidding, I’m already married to an AU girl, she’s just as po’d as we are.
Joey
October 11th, 2012
10:11 am
Amazing to me that Mark Richt is not, himself, sick of getting humiliated in every big game UGA plays in. Every one. He is ruining a once certain, hall of fame career with his “hanging on” to the UGA job.
When the camera cut to him Saturday night after SC scored their 2nd TD, the look on his face was one of cluelessness. I told my friends right then that Richt didn’t know how to “fix” what was going wrong, and the only thing in play was how bad the final score would be.