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
Joey
October 16th, 2012
10:51 am
gomdawg, that’s the problem – it’s never “one game.”
How can you defend a coach with this much talent getting blown-out so often? 9 times in 4+ seasons?
That doesn’t seem a little excessive to you?
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
10:51 am
But, on the flipside, if Richt beats Florida and goes 11-1, there is no way he will get fired or quit.
J Dawg
October 16th, 2012
10:51 am
I hate to be sarcastic, but the play calling has been terrible. After falling behind USC you would think Bobo would attack attack attack. But no he starts running that stupid draw play again and again. And throwing horizontally with the pass game. They literally looked scared to try anything at that point. I agree with most on here in that it really appears that they calmly take beatings with no emotion. That has to trouble any dawg fan. I would rather see them cry, fight, or something. Spurrier is laughed at for throwing his visor when things go sour. I wish some of our guys were emotional enough to throw the occasional object!!!!
The Truth
October 16th, 2012
10:53 am
I’d love to see Charlie Strong in Athens, especially if he can bring in a strong supporting staff. There’s no doubt that he knows how to have his teams ready to play every game.
astrouga
October 16th, 2012
10:56 am
DawginLex:
Richt is not going to get fired if we lose to Florida. If we go 11-1, do you think anyone would want him fired? So why 11-2? Now if we were losing to cupcakes like Auburn is doing this year, then I would agree. But if you lose to a legit team, then that is the way it goes.
Now, that said, I don’t think we should have lost to SC. I think the coaches did not adjust quickly enough and I think Murray gave SC the snap count. It was ugly and unacceptable. Still, if we win the rest, it won’t matter.
UGA should have more quality wins. I agree. We shouldn’t be choking on every big game. I think that will change. Richt needs to get some new assistants if they can’t win the big games. Also, he needs to get fired up on the sideline. That is where the AD comes in and tells him “either you show some emotion or you go.”
bamaguy
October 16th, 2012
10:56 am
I agree that Charlie Strong is the best coach out there not already coaching at a major football school. I also agree that his white wife is an issue in the deep south, even though it shouldn’t be.
Maybe he shout skip UGA and coach at Tech and live intown Atlanta where racially mixed marriages are accepted and biracial children common.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
10:57 am
chase
aka Blind loyalist
I know nothing about the actual really well since you know so much please start by answer my list or better yet
How about answering Joey’s one question “How can you defend a coach with this much talent getting blown-out so often? 9 times in 4+ seasons?
come on chase; you are the football guru
I need something a little more educated than “”"”Im not a true fan, I know nothing about football, Im clueless etc”"
Joey
October 16th, 2012
10:57 am
Hey chase (10:51), that post seems to be bashing Flat Tire about bashing people, correct?
I’m a little confused . . .
Bad Dawg
October 16th, 2012
10:57 am
Let me follow the, oh so fresh, “real fan” argument:
Only real fan cheer when your program is destroyed by a rival with equal talent
Only real fans reward coaches who lose every big game year after year
Only real fans want to embrace mediocrity because, after all, it could be worse
Only real fans played (or coached) Div 1 college football
Sorry but I look at UGA football and see untapped potential not the fulfillment of promise and certainly not the best that can be expected.
gomdawg
October 16th, 2012
10:57 am
I SAY THIS THE SEASON IS NOT OVER WHEN THE SEASON ENDS THEN WE SEE WHERE WE AT WE COULD BE 11-1 AND IN A BCS GAME
J Dawg
October 16th, 2012
10:59 am
chase is pretty fired up!! I dont blame him though. We should want to win every game. and being scared to see your team play anybody is unacceptable as a fan. I hope we win out and play Bama in the SECCG.
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
11:01 am
astro
If we lose to Florida, the fanbase is going to be so divided that it will warrant change.
Again, just my opinion
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
11:01 am
gomdawg
You really think beating Bama is possible then playing another top 5 team in a BCS game is a win too
Lets see if the 3 Stooges can coach a 2nd victory over the Gaterds first before we even think of such crazy notions
LOL
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
11:04 am
“UGA is a great program (top 5 in the country over the past 15 years – not BAMA)”
What do you base that on?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
11:05 am
“Maybe he shout skip UGA and coach at Tech and live intown Atlanta where racially mixed marriages are accepted and biracial children common.”
W T F?????????????
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
11:06 am
J Dawg
Im scared to play Bama ???
LOL
Really??? Give me a break
Im a realist; and the reality is this coaching staff cant coach in big games
Here’s another reality; the talent we currently have on our team could easily beat Bama by 10 points
But we have the 3 stooges on the sideline so that means at least a 3 TD loss
Its not fear as poor chase would like you to believe its Reality; or put better, I dont Drink this coaching staffs Dream Team Kool-aid
Bad Dawg
October 16th, 2012
11:07 am
DawginLex:
You may be right. McGarity fired several coaches this year who had CMR-type results. We can play with UF, we can beat UF but if you go by history, we will probably lose by 3 touchdowns. I believe that would be the end of CMR
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
11:08 am
Charlie Strong will end up at Arkansas.
Patterson is not going to UGA.
Chip Kelley is NOT going to leave Oregon to come to UGA.
UGA will most likely keep Richt for another 2-3 years and the window to hire a great coach will close. Kirby Smart will most likely go to Texas.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
11:09 am
“the talent we currently have on our team could easily beat Bama by 10 points”
Only if Nick Saban coached them.
Layinlow
October 16th, 2012
11:10 am
Richt will be gone at the end of the 2013 season most likely. Everything lines up better for next season being his last in athens. Adams will be long gone, a much tougher schedule, a buyout that drops to a very manageable 2.4 million, and finally grantham will only have a year left on his contract at that point. Of coarse if Richt can suddenly start winning big games things would change. But based on what we have seen the last five years his tenure will end at the end of 2013. That is my prediction and I’m sticking to it.
DawginLex
October 16th, 2012
11:14 am
layinlow
I do agree that Adams has been a Richt supporter/buffer. Him leaving could make it tough on Richt.
I still think he has to beat florida to keep his job. You can say it is not fair to pin it on 1 game, but it has been 5 years since we were nationally relevant.
UGA Insider
October 16th, 2012
11:14 am
I could see CMR resigning at season’s end. 2013 will be a total rebuilding job on defense and the schedule is brutal. Could be another 6-7 season and I don’t think CMR wants that on the resume. I think he thought 2012 would be the best chance he had at a MNC and UF or a random upset could set all of this in motion. Also think that CTG is tired of recruiting and ready to go back to the NFL. If you guys will notice we are losing recruits left and right and this could give credibility to the rumor.
G-Dawg
October 16th, 2012
11:16 am
Need to switch to a 4-3 for rest of season if we can make any consistent stops…personally, i’d run a 4-2 with Williams as a LB/SS rover. Since he has good run support. Place Rambo with Commings or JHC as dual safeties…with a variety of CB match ups…depending on opposing teams receiving corp. DL would consist of A. Jones (sub Drew, Dawson), Jenkins, Geathers, and Washington ( sub J. Jenkins). LBs corp…just J. Jones and Ogltree (sub with Herrera and Vasser when needed).
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
11:21 am
chase
???????
Im tired of hearing crickets chirping
I thought you were so knowledgable about football
Im still waiting for you to break my list down and explain to me why this OVERPAID coaching staff is so great
Crickets chirping
Crickets chirping
Crickets chirping
Crickets chirping
Crickets chirping
Crickets chirping
astrouga
October 16th, 2012
11:23 am
DawginLex:
I can’t see that happening. Richt is the coach with 9 lives. By my count he has at least 4 left.
UGA fans (including myself) tend to have unreasonable expectations. Having almost daily updates from a major paper like this one is actually part of the problem. SC and most of the other schools don’t have all thay hype. I mean, even when the major sports sites aren’t talking about UGA, there are often multiple stories on this site each day. Who can blame the fans fro drinking the kool aid?
I just think Richt can play the “dump Bobo” card at any time and buy himself 3-4 more years.
gomdawg
October 16th, 2012
11:32 am
FLAT TIRE WE CAN GO 11-1 AND NOT PLAY ALABAMA , IF SC BEATS FLA. THEY PLAY ALABAMA AND WE COULD PLAY IN A BCS BOWL
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
11:34 am
If Richt is smart he will dump Gratham too he hasnt done anything either
A great leader surrounds himself with good people
Richt has yet to do it except for Van Gorder; and this is why Richt has put himself in his current position
gomdawg
October 16th, 2012
11:35 am
LOOK WHAT VAN GORDER HAS DONE IN AUBURN
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
11:36 am
gomdawg
Again #1 I dont see it happening and two if we play in a BCS bowl against a top 8 team do we win I doubt that
The Truth
October 16th, 2012
11:37 am
gomdawg – Mark Richt and his coaches will seal the victory for their opponent if they make it to a bowl that pits them against a ranked team.
astrouga
October 16th, 2012
11:38 am
BadDawg:
Were you talking about the women’s gymnastics and golf coaches that McGarity let go?
I think those are easier fires. Sure, UGA gymnastics is big, but expectations dropped when Yoculan left. Those really were under the radar.
Were there other fires? I think firing Richt this season would take some big balls.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
11:38 am
gomdawg
Van Gorder has been there one season plus there’s more to that story at Aub; i mean come on why would Gus Malzon take a pay cut to go to Ark St when he had an opportunity to go to Vandy or UNC
Joey
October 16th, 2012
11:39 am
Man I got a bad feeling about the UK game – on the road, Murray distracted with his family problems. UK seems to play it best vs UGA – remember last year?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
11:41 am
“Van Gorder has been there one season plus there’s more to that story at Aub; i mean come on why would Gus Malzon take a pay cut to go to Ark St when he had an opportunity to go to Vandy or UNC
Malzahns offense needed a Cam Newton type of QB. Vandy is Vandy and always will be Vandy. UNC isn’t exactly a stellar coaching job either. Aren’t they on probation?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 16th, 2012
11:42 am
“LOOK WHAT VAN GORDER HAS DONE IN AUBURN”
He hasn’t even finished one season. Give him a year or two and AU will be back to having a solid defense. The offense is where the biggest problem is right now.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
11:42 am
Joey
Have you heard from CHASE
You know the most knowledgeable football guru on this blog
Im still hearing Crickets Chirping when I thought I was going to recieve some brilliant football knowledge
Chase
You there?????????????
tell me again
October 16th, 2012
11:44 am
All of you “fire CMR” folks better think about what you’re wishing for. You are asking to replace a consistent winner and top tier recruiter with some “savior ” of a coach who AT BEST is one, maybe two games a year better. Ok, give me a list of coaches, besides Saban of late, that CONSISTENTLY wins 11 or more games a year in a conference equal to the SEC. Short list? He## , THERE AIN’T NO LIST!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
11:45 am
It still makes no since as to why you would take a $400,000 pay cut to go coach at Ark St
Ark St is way worse than coaching at Vandy; plus he would have made more there as the head coach and wouldnt have been forgotten
Joey
October 16th, 2012
11:48 am
Ole chase is at the Butts Mehre doing the Dawgs laundry. He washes Richt’s stuff by hand, oh so lovingly . . .
Layinlow
October 16th, 2012
11:51 am
Dawginlex, you could be correct especially if the loss to UF is an embarassing one. However, if we play respectable and lose and finish out the season at 11-2 I could definently see them retaining Richt. They could easily argue that we can’t fire a coach who just won 11 games. Plus something tells me that Adams doesn’t want Richt’s tenure to end on his watch. Next year Adams is gone and the schedule will be really tough and Mcgarity will have all the cover he needs to relieve Richt of his duties. Thats just my take on how I see this thing shaking out but who knows.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
11:53 am
tell me again
Les Miles
The other schools
FL
Vandy
Arkansas
Miss ST
Ole Miss
Aub
Tenn
Havent had coaches longer than 4 yrs
Spurrier is doing a fine job at SC a program that has only won 5 bowl games and 1 conference championship in their history but he comes to SC and beats us 3 yrs in a row something theyve never done and
He beats every team in the SEC East last year something Richt has never done
So I hate to break it to you; your stupid argument holds no water when these coaches havent had a chance to do anything in a short amount of time
Joey
October 16th, 2012
11:54 am
tell me again, maybe you can answer my question that chase declined to answer.
How can you defend a coach who has this much talent, yet loses 20 games since ‘08, and worst of all, with 9 losses in blow-out fashion?
That’s a “red flag” big enough to cover a football field.
kingdaddy
October 16th, 2012
12:04 pm
Lex
Do me a favor…Wear your bullet-proof vest to the game or pay someone to wear a shirt with your blog name on it close to where you’re sitting in Lex, Ky. Topper is mad cause he’ll get booted from the Dawg blog. Just kidding about the vest. He doesn’t have any stones, just a big pie-hole. Go Dawgs…
BjohnDawg
October 16th, 2012
12:09 pm
Watch LSU /SC game. Seen how the LSU blocking on the oline adapted. That is how you play SC. UGA did not change at half time. And our def line puts no pressure on the QB unless J Jones blitzes.
Adapt or fail. We failed two saturdays ago…..Different season same song.
Play that way against Kentucky…same outcome.
SEC Fan
October 16th, 2012
12:12 pm
The Richt supporters like “tell me again” are probably right. Georgia can’t possibly hire a Head Coach with a proven winning record. Might as well just be happy for what you have. It won’t be getting any better. Anything that you do will only make the situation worse. At least Georgia is still winning it’s cupcake games. That’s better than Auburn.
The Truth
October 16th, 2012
12:13 pm
Tell me again – it’s time to get yourself checked out. 10/11 wins against unranked teams doesn’t mean anything to anyone but you and the rest of the Disney Dawgs.
BILLY JACK
October 16th, 2012
12:17 pm
Has anyone else noticed that almost no Alabama fans ever went to Alabama or apparently any other school.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2012
12:19 pm
The Truth
I like that “Disney Dawgs”
They are
Altamaha Dawg
Sammy
Columbus
tell me again
Lobosolo
Truth??
Brainiac
Chase
Lharding Dawg
Who else am I missing
SEC Fan
October 16th, 2012
12:22 pm
Georgia doesn’t exactly win 10 games every year. They won 10 last year, but who wouldn’t have won those 10 games? Nobody seems to remember that they only won 6 games in 2010 or that they won 8 in 2009. They were good in 2008. They only lost to Alabama, Florida and Georgia Tech. Hey… That’s still 10 wins, right?
Delbert D.
October 16th, 2012
12:23 pm
The best-case scenario is for Georgia and South Carolina to win the rest of the regular season games, and SC to lose in the SEC championship game to Alabama. That way Georgia and Alabama can meet in the BCS top game.