Notebook: With ‘goal still intact,’ Bulldogs focus on ‘winning every game’
By RYAN BLACK
Special to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ATHENS — Just because Georgia was off last week didn’t mean its players stayed away from football.
Starting right guard Chris Burnette attended the Florida State-Boston College game in Tallahassee, Fla., with his fiance. Tight end Arthur Lynch woke up and watched some of ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast before he took in a local Pop Warner football game. But both Burnette and Lynch were in the same place Saturday night: glued to the television, watching South Carolina face LSU. With the Tigers beating the Gamecocks 23-21, the Bulldogs’ chance to win the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division is a possibility once again.
And Burnette couldn’t be more pleased.
“We definitely feel like our goal is still intact,” he said following Monday’s practice. “We can still keep pushing, and as long as we take care of every game, we can be back in the race. It’s great to see the opportunity arise.”
Lynch didn’t watch the game just to see if the Gamecocks would lose, however. He tuned in because he has stayed in touch with former Bulldogs quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who now starts for the Tigers.
Though he was happy Georgia’s hopes of returning to the SEC Championship aren’t dead, he had no problem putting things into perspective.
“It’s a relief, but it doesn’t substitute for the fact that we didn’t play the game we wanted to play against South Carolina,” Lynch said. “They beat us straight-up, and there’s still work we need to do, and that’s why we’ve been focusing on Kentucky.”
Burnette didn’t dispute that there was more energy during Monday’s practice.
“Seeing that we still have a chance, seeing an opportunity to accomplish our goals, it really keeps you amped up,” Burnette said. “You realize you can’t always focus on what happened in the past. You have to push forward and try to see what we can do in the future.”
Malcolm Mitchell doesn’t like looking into the future. That’s why the sophomore cornerback/receiver doesn’t like playing the “what-if?” game.
If the Bulldogs don’t win the rest of their games, he said, the Gamecocks’ loss means nothing.
“We really just need to be focused on winning every game, honestly,” he said. “If we don’t win every game, it doesn’t matter what happens.”
Phillips more worried about sacks than job security
Joker Phillips cherishes his friendship with Mitch Barnhart. Whatever kinship Kentucky’s coach and its athletic director may share didn’t help Phillips avoid questions about his job security Monday, though.
“We talk a couple times a week. It’s just small talk,” Phillips said during his weekly media conference. “It’s nothing — you know, he’s been very encouraging and nothing what you want to get at.”
When asked whether any of their talks involved his future as coach, Phillips deflected the query. His one-sentence response focused solely on the Wildcats’ next opponent.
“I’m busy trying to get these guys improved and get them prepared to play Georgia,” he said.
Given his team’s 1-6 overall record and 0-4 mark in Southeastern Conference play, Phillips was also forced to defend his team’s resolve. Following last Saturday’s lightning-shortened 49-7 loss to Arkansas, some questioned whether the team quit. Phillips disputed the assertion then, and his stance remained the same Monday.
“Sometimes in a game like that, it might look like [to] the common folk that they are not giving effort, but if you watched the two long touchdown passes, Cody Quinn is straining, busting his tail from the back side,” Phillips said. “I think our guys are giving us great effort. We have to do a better job of executing.”
To Phillips, no part of his team needs to step up more than the defensive line. Though the Wildcats’ defense has tallied 15 sacks this season, which ranks eighth in the SEC, Phillips isn’t satisfied. He wants his players in Aaron Murray’s face early and often Saturday to help the Wildcats’ injury-ravaged and youthful secondary.
“You’ve got to get more pressure on the quarterback. You can’t let him get comfortable back there,” Phillips said. “That’s what happened Saturday. We didn’t get enough pressure on [Razorbacks quarterback Tyler Wilson] and the guy takes advantage of a young secondary. There were some holes, obviously. When you play some young guys, sometimes they’re out of position.”
And if the front four can’t create enough of a push to get to Murray, there are always fall back options.
“You either blitz, and if you can’t get with him with the blitz, you must drop eight [into coverage],” Phillips said.
Injury report
Five players did not take part in practice, most notably outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who sat out with an ankle sprain. Two other Bulldog defenders sat out after having surgery: inside linebacker Brandon Burrows (fractured left hand; had surgery last Thursday) and defensive end Sterling Bailey (thumb sprain; had surgery Monday). Wide receiver Michael Bennett (torn right anterior cruciate ligament) and tight end Cole Trolinger (concussion) rounded out Monday’s injured list.
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377 comments Add your comment
The Real Shame
October 16th, 2012
10:18 am
You love stupid people?
You must get along great with yourself
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:18 am
“Grown man. Married with kids
Try again Einstein
Answer the question or STFU”
You sure are a liar, aren’t you.
Bad Dawg
October 16th, 2012
10:18 am
Thanks DBC. I graduated in 84 and have been patient with CMR. That “effort” in Columbia was the last straw. To have a team loaded with NFL talent (on defense at least) get absolutely destroyed would suggest that CMR has completely lost whatever touch he had.
Agreed that there aren’t too many Sabans out there but it’s time to try a new approach. What’s the worst that can happen? We lose to an evenly matched USC by 4 touchdowns?
The Real Shame
October 16th, 2012
10:18 am
Shutup Phil
I’ll say what I want when I want
RealDawg
October 16th, 2012
10:18 am
Show some intelligence and be reasonable with your expectations.
Or maybe you should listen to local sports radio for Kentucky, Auburn, LSU (anytime they lose), Tennessee, or Texas. All of them screaming for new coaches.
If just hiring a great coach was the answer, 20 teams who can afford it would already have done so. They don’t exist.
All you guys negative crap doesn’t make kids wanna come to Georgia. How about you support your team and stop pretending like you are some how smarter than the people hired to run it.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:19 am
I feel sorry for shams illegitimate kids. I guess she got knocked up right out of middle school.
The Real Shame
October 16th, 2012
10:19 am
Donnan idiot is a wimp
Won’t answer my question
Candy arse
The Real Shame
October 16th, 2012
10:20 am
I feel sorry for you and your boyfriend
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:20 am
“I’ll say what I want when I want”
And everyone will keep making fun of how stupid you are. I love how you say that you have a college education but you type like a two year old.
HINT: I don’t know any college grads who get on blogs and call other people “retards” etc.
Grow up, child.
The Real Shame
October 16th, 2012
10:20 am
You can dish it out but can’t take it?
Typical coward
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:21 am
“Donnan idiot is a wimp
Won’t answer my question
Candy arse”
Ah, the stupidity continues. Too bad the little troll is going to get banned by the blog moderator.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:21 am
“I feel sorry for you and your boyfriend”
It’s comments like that that get trolls banned on the AJC.
The Real Shame
October 16th, 2012
10:21 am
Who is everyone?
You are the only one I see commenting
Idiot
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
10:21 am
The Real Shame
Will I shut up; um no you so called educated retard; did we clean up the entire list I just gave you
FL is still rebuilding; there is no excuse in losing to them this year
Real solutions
Go after Gary Patterson if offering Chris Peterson the highest paid salary doesnt work; I see nothing wrong with going after Kirby Smart; you Richt appologist realize Richt was an unproven coach too as an assistant like Smart
The Real Shame
October 16th, 2012
10:22 am
Maybe they will ban you TROLL BOY
The Real Shame
October 16th, 2012
10:22 am
None of those coaches will come to Athens
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:22 am
“You can dish it out but can’t take it?
Take what? Your sophomoric low-brow non-insults? Child, please.
The Real Shame
October 16th, 2012
10:23 am
Sophomoric?
That’s rich coming from a mushroom with the IQ of a 3 year old
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:23 am
“Maybe they will ban you TROLL BOY”
Doubt it. I haven’t resorted to senseless name calling like you have. Two other people have called you out on it so it’s just a matter of time before you get banned.
The Real Shame
October 16th, 2012
10:24 am
Later toadstools. Continue swimming in your misery pit
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:24 am
“That’s rich coming from a mushroom with the IQ of a 3 year old”
Oh please oh please continue, ma’am. Continue to name call!
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:25 am
“Later toadstools.”
Yeah, those pizzas won’t deliver themselves. I’ll be sure to tip you in confederate dollars so that you can pay off your grand wizard.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
10:25 am
The Real Shame
Taps out LOL
An Educated moron that has no answers to the list I just gave
RealDawg
October 16th, 2012
10:25 am
@Bad Dawg “What’s the worst that can happen?” Ask Tennessee 22-21 since firing Fulmer.
Sorry, but I don’t wanna go through 4 or 5 years of that crap when we are winning. Go ahead, fire CMR, see how many of those top recruits choose UGA after that. See how many years it will take to rebuild. All the while, folks will be screaming to fire the next guy for some superstar d coordinator across the way.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:26 am
“Who is everyone?
You are the only one I see commenting”
Me, Phil and Flat tire have all called you out. Sorry that you are blind as well as dumb.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:27 am
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
Sham is the first person I’ve ever encountered who first said she was more educated than me THEN proceeds to call me every name in the book. Like I said, educated people don’t do things like that.
mike quinn
October 16th, 2012
10:28 am
WOW I SAW A READ ON HERE WITH A NEW EXCUSE FOR A DOG LOS. THEY WERE UNPREPARED. WHATA JOKE. THEY GOT KILLED BY A BETTER TEAM AND THAT WAS IT. JUST LIKE EVERY YEAR WITH GA. THEY LOOK AWSOME AGAINST THE HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS THEY PLAY BUT LET A GOOD TEAM COME IN IT’S A LOSS. THEY SURE DIDN’T DESERVE A SHOT AT THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR WITH THE 5TH BEST RECORD IN THE SEC. THE WAY THEY PLAYED AGAINST SC SHOWS NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
Same Old
October 16th, 2012
10:29 am
Pretty bad sign when you are 6 games into the season and hoping that UF and LSU do the job you couldn’t. Sorry but we had our shot and based on the complete destruction, we do not deserve another.
Will be rebuilding next year. We should start over with a new coaching staff. This one hasn’t got a clue.
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
10:29 am
Evil-9:23 am
Very, very funny…
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:29 am
“Or maybe you should listen to local sports radio for Kentucky, Auburn, LSU (anytime they lose), Tennessee, or Texas. All of them screaming for new coaches.”
Until recently, Auburn fans have not “screamed” for a new coach and neither have most of the other fans of other schools.
The Truth
October 16th, 2012
10:29 am
Flat Tire outlined mediocrity pretty darn well, imo.
tee
October 16th, 2012
10:31 am
We’ll see what happens this week…after the SC whipping and a week off, Dawgs should be ready to go…shouldn’t be a game whatsoever,but with this program who knows. UK actually played SC pretty well for a half. Even with UK jacked for this game, Dawgs have a lot to prove this week, much less next week against Florida. If this is a 4 quarter game against a UK team that is horrible, no way Dawgs beat Florida. Make a statement Dawgs….blast them early and get ready for the Gators!!!
Barry
October 16th, 2012
10:31 am
I am a UGA grad and still a Dawg fan! However, I am slipping….. for many reasons. Here are just a few things that really concern me:
*Seeningly little or no emotion or leadership from CMR when GA is playing horribly in all phases of the game, ie, vs S.C. Mark sometimes appears to be almost falling asleep on the sideline. Take the dang phones off and get actively involved in the game!!
*Major league pro prospect, Jarvis Jones, always going for a sack with little regard (or coaching) for a reasonable pass rush lane against the best running QB in the league, Conner Shaw. Shaw toook major advantage of Jones (and others) blindly rushing upfield and opening the gate for him to take off running repeatedly.
*Again Jones, appeared to never have seen a video or received any coaching on playing his responsibility against the “read option.” He blindly chases the running back across the backfield and Shaw pulls the ball out and runs for yardage and touchdowns, right where Jones should have been! That’s coaching or lack thereof!
*Really good teams do not have the total inconsistencies that Georgia has had for several years. Example: this year with the exception of Vandy, even against the softest teams, we played VERY poorly for at least a half, and totally collapsed vs S.C. It is maddening how we go drastically up and down in our performances, even when we win.
*Experienced, senior veteran secondary player, Rambo, in the first series vs S.C. allows the receiver he is covering to run right by him. The ball is underthrown so he finally catches up, only to have an apparent interception taken away from him by the receiver for a huge S.C. play and major momentum for them right off the bat! Later he gets GA a 15 yard penalty for a delivering a hit 2 yards out of bounds. Rambo is always good for no less than one major penalty per game and a few assignment busts.
*One last thing – it seems no matter how bad we may play – on TV or in the news reports, one nevers sees or hears Richt, or anyone on GA staff say anything strongly negative…like… “we totally stunk” – as in Columbia S.C. Generally, being positive is fine, and good. But, occasionaly, I for one, would love to see somebody getting ripped for stupidity (Rambo) during a game. Or, it would be great to hear a post game comment that told it like it really was – when it really was….. lousy!
Sorry, but I could go on like this for an even longer time, but the message is clear. We frequently, if not usually, are a very undisciplined, and sometimes poorly coached team. CMR and his staff need to get it under control quickly. Yes, I know we are 5 and 1 and we still can have a great season – but we need more leadership and more consistent, positive results!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
10:32 am
RealDawg
Lets come to reality
Fulmer was a joke without his offensive coordinator David Cuttcliff and it showed when he left the program then came back
You bring up Tenn; Tenn is in the shape they are in because of hiring a con artist in Lane Pimpen
Well lets bring up
Barry Switzer and Bob Stoops
Tressel at Ohio St
Carrol at USC
Spurrier at SC and FL
Meyer at FL
Schnelenburger at Miami
Saban at Bama and LSU
Stallings at Bama
I think those coaching changes worked out really well dont you think
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
10:33 am
There are only three coaches in the SEC with national championships in the last 10 years. Two of those coaches are doing well and one isn’t. The problem with UGA is coaching. CMR is past his prime and had his shot 10 years ago to do it. UGA has an easy schedule and their fans seem to think that because they beat teams like Buffalo – UGA is somehow a powerhouse. UGA is not a big defensive powerhouse like Bama and LSU. Saban hired an offensive coord that no one had ever heard of they keep racking up points. Their defense is rock solid and he keeps recruiting the best of the best. The guy is simply the best defensive mind in all of college football.
Bad Dawg
October 16th, 2012
10:34 am
When you’ve lost every big game you’ve played for the last 3 years, what exactly are you holding on to? Is the rationale for keeping CMR, “this is the best we can hope for because there are worse coaches out there”?
The team tuned CMR out. Most of the fans tuned him out years ago.
Joey
October 16th, 2012
10:37 am
I wasn’t asked, but I know a few I’d like to see at UGA one day when Richt decides he has had enough ass-whippings:
Kirby Smart (Saban’s protege), Chris Peterson (Boise), Gary Patterson (TCU), Chip Kelly (Oregon), Dan Mullin (MSU), John Chavis (LSU DC).
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
10:40 am
Where’s Gandhi when you need him? Oh yeah, he’s dead. Any other “peace-makers” out there? I’m tired of UGA fans n-fighting…
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
10:42 am
To all the appologist for our current OVERPAID coaching staff please give me a reason according to my list here why they are so great
Its not about winning the National Title
Its never beating FL 2 yrs in a row or when UGA does beat FL; its because FL is terrible
Its about not being able to even beat a top 10 team
Its about your last signature win was 2005 against LSU but then getting embarrassed that next game in the Sugar Bowl against WVU
Its about 2-14 against ranked teams
Its about not beating a top 20 team in 4 yrs
Its about national embarrassment and being known for player arrests every year
its about losing to SC for the first time ever 3 yrs in a row
Its about losing to Miss St for the first time in 35 yrs
Its about putting friendship with Willie Martinez above the program
Its about stupid gimmicks (Dream Team I, II, Energy Vampires, Uniform Changes etc)
Its about not being able to win every SEC East game in the same year yet Spurrier does it a SC
and its about putting more players in the NFL and having more top 10 classes than any other SEC yet the best you can do is 9-10 wins while FL, AL, and LSU have won 2 National titles in that span of time and you cant get to the SEC championship without having to back door your way there
The Truth
October 16th, 2012
10:43 am
Mullin, Chavis, and Patterson – no thanks. The others are a nice start to the list.
gomdawg
October 16th, 2012
10:44 am
I’M GLAD GEORGIA HAS REAL FANS BECAUSE MOST OF YA’LL CAN NOT CALL YOURSELF DAWG FANS .
georgedawg
October 16th, 2012
10:45 am
Lets support our team for the remainder of the season. We may have a shot against Florida – they will have played some tough games in a row – that takes a toll. But whatever the case this is supose to be fun. We’ve got a good team that, as usual, has some deep flaws. Hope we start recruiting better for the o line. Hate the Moreno is having such problems – I figured him to be a star.
J Dawg
October 16th, 2012
10:46 am
Don’t worry dawg fans. We will defeat the gators with 32 draw plays out of the shotgun formation. They will be in shock because we NEVER run that play!!!!!
nate from detroit
October 16th, 2012
10:47 am
The SC loss sucked, no doubt. However, I get tired of the bipolar UGA fans that always holler this coach needs to go and this player is terrible after 1 loss. Any team sport season is more like a distance race not a sprint. We played horribly against SC and the chickens played as good as they could and got most of if not all the breaks. It happens that way sometimes.
I am not drinking the UF koolaid yet. They are improved but everyone that thinks that Coach Boom has suddenly turned into Nicky Jr. may be jumping the gun. Driskell has shown that he can run, but if he needs to pass the ball for UF to win, can he? I’m not saying he can’t, we just haven’t seen it yet. The gators have question marks, we have question marks, the chickens have question marks, the only team in the country that has fewer unanswered questions is Bama but injuries could start to slow them down.
gomdawg
October 16th, 2012
10:47 am
SOUTH CAROLINA HAS BEAT 1 TEAM THIS YEAR IN TOP 15 AND I KNOW THAT WAS US . BUT ONE GAME DON’T KILL A SEASON
Joey
October 16th, 2012
10:48 am
No thanks? You prefer what we have currently, to those guys?
Every one of them do more with much less than Richt and Co do.
Just my opinion . . .
The Truth
October 16th, 2012
10:48 am
J Dawg – the draw play is no longer in the rotation since Frostproof left the team.
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
10:48 am
Wow. The insanity continues. I said it last night and got ridiculed as a kool aid drinker but here goes: Richt has to beat Florida. If we lose to them, Richt will either quit or McGarity will run him because of the divide in the fanbase. McGarity has stood by him through 6-7 and 10-4. He can say to him “I gave you every chance”.
My $.02
Now here is where flat tire will call me Disney and a kool aid drinker.
As far as the next coach, the fanbase should put aside the racial comments and hire Charlie Strong. Arkansas is all over him though. His white wife is an issue whether we want to admit it or not. He could win big in Athens
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
10:49 am
gomdawg
So Im not a real Dawg fan because I believe UGA can be better than what they have shown
How about giving me a reason other than Im not a real fan garbage as to why this OVERPAID coaching staff is so great
chase
October 16th, 2012
10:51 am
Flat Tire
YOU go find another team please! You are the worst kind of “fan”
You know nothing about the actual game! all you do is come on here and bash the team and Richt because #1 you don’t understand football, #2 you just don’t like Richt, #3 you have no class!, #4 you are a coward!
“you don’t want to play in the SEC title game because you are afraid of losing”?????
That sums up who you are as a person and a “fan” – gutless, clueless, and all you can do is bash people to feel better about yourself because winning every game dictates how feel about yourself!
UGA is a great program (top 5 in the country over the past 15 years – not BAMA)…….The season is long and we’ll see what happens…do they need to improve and play better? YES….But you sir, cannot improve…it must be miserable in your world with your point of view on life in general
Georgia does not need fans like you!