Georgia’s offensive line seeks to keep Aaron Murray upright against Auburn
With the exception of the first half against Ole Miss this past Saturday, protection provided by Kenariouos Gates and Georgia's offensive line has been mostly good for quarterback Aaron Murray. (UGA photo by John Kelley)
ATHENS — Georgia’s Aaron Murray has had a well-documented arrangement with his offensive line this fall. If the line manages to keep Murray upright, the Bulldogs’ quarterback will buy them all the ice cream they want on Sunday. They call it “Sundaes on Sundays.”
And at an average of 308 pounds apiece, the Bulldogs’ linemen can eat a lot of sundaes.
But there were no frozen desserts for Georgia’s grunts this past Sunday — not after Murray ended up getting sacked five times against Ole Miss.
“Nope,” Murray said, laughing. “A deal’s a deal.”
The Bulldogs’ linemen lodged no complaints.
“Shoot, the way he got hit, we do not deserve ice cream or a pat on the back or anything,” sophomore center David Andrews said. “A deal’s a deal and he’s hung in there with that deal. No hard feelings between us and him. The deal is zero sacks.”
In fact, after the beating Murray took, at least one lineman offered amends. “(Guard) Dallas (Lee) said he’s going to take me out to eat on Thursday,” Murray said.
The good news for the Bulldogs is they were able to get it turned around against the Rebels. After getting dropped five times in the first half, he wasn’t sacked once in the second. Not coincidentally, he began to carve up the Ole Miss defense like a Thanksgiving Day turkey.
Murray ended up with 384 yards passing and four touchdowns. He was 13-of-15 throwing the ball in the second half.
“There really wasn’t an assignment adjustment or anything like that,” Andrews said. “It really was just us waking up and deciding to play. That was the biggest thing we were able to do. We finally started to play like we can towards the end of the first half and the start of the second.”
No, most of the adjustments came through the headset of Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
After coming into the game with a plan of wanting to smash-mouth Ole Miss with their run game and throw the ball off play-action, the Rebels proved an unwilling participant. Later in the first half and for most of the third quarter, the Bulldogs opted instead to spread the field. They often lined up in four-receiver sets and had Murray get rid of the ball quickly. When Ole Miss blitzed, Murray simply hit the hot route. Repeatedly.
“We went more five guys out and changed up our protections a little bit,” Bobo said. “The main thing we talked about at halftime was just doing our job.”
The most amazing part of Georgia’s midstream adjustment is it came while it offensive line was in disarray. Starting right guard Chris Burnette went down with a shoulder injury in the first half and did not return to the game. So the Bulldogs brought in sophomore Mark Beard to play left tackle and moved starting left tackle Kenarious Gates to right guard.
Burnette still had not practiced as of Wednesday and remains questionable for Saturday’s game. So that’s likely the lineup the Bulldogs will go with against Auburn. It remains a work in progress.
“I don’t know for sure how we’re going to do it,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said after Wednesday night’s practice. “We’ve been rolling some guys in there. Austin (Long) has been getting some reps with the ones. He’s not going to start but he may get some work. Watts (Danntzler) is trying to get there.”
It would behoove the Bulldogs to get it worked out because, while Auburn has been infamously bad on defense this season, its still pretty good about getting after the quarterback.
The Tigers feature one of the SEC’s best edge rushers in Corey Lemonier. The 6-foot-4, 246-pound junior defensive end from Hialeah, Fla., finished second in the league to Georgia’s Jarvis Jones in sacks and tackles for loss a year ago and has five sacks this season. And Auburn’s defense this season is under the director of former Georgia and Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, who has been known to dial up tricky blitz or two.
“They’ve got a great team, a great front four and some great linebackers,” Georgia freshman right tackle John Theus said. “We know we’re going to have to bring our A-game.”
The Bulldogs have actually been pretty good when it comes to pass protection. They’re fourth among SEC in sacks allowed (1.89 per game) and twice have kept Murray unsacked. The last time came against Florida on Oct. 27.
“They are very good up front,” Andrews said of Auburn. “They’ve got good pass rushers and we’ve just got to be on our toes and ready to go and not start out in a daze like it looked like we did last Saturday.”
If not, there will be no sundaes on Sunday.
MORE GEORGIA FOOTBALL
- Notebook: WR Chris Conley ready to step up again for fallen comrade
- Schultz: Richt finishing drill despite hip pain
- Voter turnout not great in Bulldogs’ locker room
- Familiar faces of VanGorder, Martinez will greet UGA at Auburn
- No. 5 Georgia talks overcoming injuries, not overlooking Auburn
- Justin Scott-Wesley, other WRs aim to step up in Marlon Brown’s honor
- Bulldogs’ QB Aaron Murray named SEC offensive player of week
- Georgia moves up to No. 5 in BCS standings
- Knee injury ends Marlon Brown’s UGA career
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135 comments Add your comment
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
10:01 am
UGA -16 against Auburn. Another game UGA could win if they played their scout team. The spread will probably be even larger in their last two games. Do UGA fans actually enjoy a schedule like this?
WDE
November 8th, 2012
10:03 am
@old dog damn son tell us how you REALLY feel….that was classic!
WDE
November 8th, 2012
10:05 am
@GTBob yes Bobbie its the burden the SEC has put on us but we will endeavor to persevere …you joke you couldn’t beat Middle Tenn State and your talking about schedules ??
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
10:10 am
you joke you couldn’t beat Middle Tenn State and your talking about schedules ??
Yeah, we are bad, but at least we get to watch a football game every Saturday that could go either way. It adds a little excitement to the game knowing that it is possible for you to lose. I’m surprised you guys can maintain such good fan support when the games are so meaningless.
WDE
November 8th, 2012
10:16 am
GTBob really you typed that with a straight face?? I think you were at least 21 point favorites against MTS and lost by what 20+ ?? And you want to know what is fun beat the no.2 team in the country at a neutral site on national TV….that’ll wake up a fan base. And the definition of worthless in Big Boy Football is a ACC title which your bunch won’t even sniff this year.
Honey Badger Has the Munchies
November 8th, 2012
10:17 am
@GT Bob…..as a Dawg fan I would rather have a much tougher schedule. Lends a little more credibility to your ranking and bowl positioning. Go back to 2002 to 2007. Played some great schedules and teams, including GT
old dog
November 8th, 2012
10:17 am
@GTBob,
I welcome you to a real blog….one where real football is discussed. Since your school HAS no real football to discuss (except a high-school team that couldn’ beat MLK high) and couldn’t bring in a real QB even if you paid him more than Auburn paid Cam you can rant and rave over here. At least you will be insulting people who know something about football! lol
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
10:27 am
And you want to know what is fun beat the no.2 team in the country at a neutral site on national TV….that’ll wake up a fan base.
You should enjoy that game. It was one of the only real games you have this season. You will probably end the season having only played 3-4 teams that you weren’t a double digit favorite against. Do UGA fans really enjoy a season that consists of 9 uncompetitive games, 3 good games, an SEC championship that you have little chance in, and a Capitol One bowl? This may sound crazy but I think I would rather go 6-6 and not be bored all season.
Hank Hill
November 8th, 2012
10:29 am
Remember Nick Fairley’s dirty hits on Murray. That’s all the motivation needed.
John Theus
November 8th, 2012
11:09 am
Maybe I better quit playing with my beautiful long red hair in front of the mirror and start concentrating on protecting Murray.
Gene's Chisik
November 8th, 2012
11:10 am
The Barn 27 The Jail 24.
WDE
November 8th, 2012
11:11 am
@GTBob bored Bobbie?? the Bug fans I know wish they were just bored .
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
11:23 am
@GTBob bored Bobbie?? the Bug fans I know wish they were just bored .
If they would rather be bored than watch exciting sports events than that is their decision. Personally I like having a reason to watch.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 8th, 2012
11:30 am
Clinching the SEC East and playing your oldest rival and a chance to even up the all time series record
All reason enough, except for a 90 year old bug who hates UGA
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
11:33 am
Clinching the SEC East and playing your oldest rival and a chance to even up the all time series record
You are going to win by like 40 points. If you are excited to watch this weekend’s game then you are probably the type that gets really excited for mid week practice sessions.
WDE
November 8th, 2012
11:53 am
@GTBob and Bob with your life view your the type to like your blow up dolls meek and submissive .
ARdawg
November 8th, 2012
11:56 am
GTBob
Just like every other team in the nation, we play whoever shows up on the field on Saturday. Those schedules are set 4 years in advance, but you knew that already, didn’t you? Why must you persist in this vein and project yourself an idiot?
RedandBlackDAWG
November 8th, 2012
11:57 am
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
10:10 am
When the games are so meaningless you say. Securing the SEC east is so meaningless?
And yet, he continues to try and defend what his spastic fingers type.
Chris Snow
November 8th, 2012
11:57 am
Hopefully we will be able put the back ups in by the 3rd quarter.
Chris Snow
November 8th, 2012
11:58 am
Agree with the above post. EVERY game we play from here on out, is VERY important.
ugab
November 8th, 2012
12:05 pm
Lets all hope Uga OL can pass protect and run block. It is time for the OL to start protecting AM. How many times did Ole miss get to Murray? Uga need to finish strong. The team needs to play lights out. WRs will be missed in blocking. Someone has to step up. TEs and RBs get ready to catch a few more balls.
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
12:08 pm
When the games are so meaningless you say. Securing the SEC east is so meaningless?
Lets be real. You secured the SEC east when you beat Florida. Nobody thought Ole Miss had any chance against UGA and nobody thinks Auburn does either. I would be rather shocked if your starters are even playing in the second half against Auburn. That makes the games meaningless. It doesn’t matter what UGA does or what Auburn does. We already know the outcome.
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
12:12 pm
Just like every other team in the nation, we play whoever shows up on the field on Saturday.
ARdawg, im not saying there is a great deal that UGA could have done about the horrible schedule this year, but I still think it must be pretty sad when the final four games of the season are all against terrible teams and you are going to be favored by 2-4 touchdowns in each game. Seriously, are UGA fans just getting ready for the SEC championship at this point? What is there to keep their attention for the time being?
ARdawg
November 8th, 2012
12:13 pm
“Nobody thought Ole Miss had any chance against UGA and nobody thinks Auburn does either”
Being one of the best teams in the country GTBobby does have it’s perks. OPPS! You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?
ugab
November 8th, 2012
12:14 pm
Auburn has some great players on both sides of the ball. Uga will get beat, if they think they are going to come in a dominate without any effort.
Sports Illustrated
November 8th, 2012
12:15 pm
Ability to make adjustments:
Willie Martinez- Normally makes good adjustments about halfway through the season
Grantham and Bobo – Do a good job at making adjustments around halftime.
Saban – Normally has adjustments in place by kick-off.
Chris Snow
November 8th, 2012
12:16 pm
“Seriously, are UGA fans just getting ready for the SEC championship at this point? What is there to keep their attention for the time being?”
There is plenty. Each of the teams we will be playing, would love nothing more than knocking us off of our high horse. Plus we will be paying attention to the undefeated teams, and hoping they get beat.
Loveliest Village
November 8th, 2012
12:16 pm
There will be no sundaes this Sunday.
Auburn 27, Georgia 24
Murray will be black and blue all over. He’ll have more bruises than one of Sanders Commings’s girlfriends.
ugab
November 8th, 2012
12:19 pm
I thought Ole Miss had a chance. Ole Miss had Uga beat for a couple of quarters. OL was not protecting AM in the first half of the Ole Miss game.
WDE
November 8th, 2012
12:19 pm
@Loveliest Village it could happen and then Harvey Updike could become a AU season ticket holder I mean its possible….
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
12:20 pm
Being one of the best teams in the country GTBobby does have it’s perks. OPPS! You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?
lol. Like anyone actually thinks UGA is one of the best teams in the country.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
November 8th, 2012
12:21 pm
*** ANNOUNCING A CASTING CALL ***
The producers of the upcoming musical drama Isaiah and Me will be holding tryouts soon in Athens. The show will be a poignant re-creation of UGA coach Mark Richt’s wooing of uber-talented high school star Isaiah Crowell, Crowell’s triumphant arrival in Athens, his ups and downs, and his ultimate downfall and estrangement from Richt, who he looked upon as a father figure.
The highly acclaimed Bobby Petrino has already signed to play the role of Mark Richt. Said Petrino, “Mark Richt and I are so much alike that it will be easy for me to play him on stage.” When asked about this, Richt gave the reporter a blessing and replied, “No comment,” but Richt has hinted to associates that he’s tickled pink to have a quality coach playing him.
Coach Rodney Garner will be played by the Goodyear blimp. Coach Todd Grantham will be played by Jackie Sherrill, and Coach Mike Bobo will be played by Bozo the Clown, who’s on loan from Ringling Brothers Circus.
Several current UGA players were considered for the role of Isaiah Crowell, but none of them were able to read the script without assistance, so this role is still open. Rumors are circulating that Cam Newton wants the role, but his dad insists on the cash up front.
Other roles to be cast include several of Isaiah’s girlfriends and some of his homeboys. Those trying out for girlfriend roles must be suitably trashy-looking and should be able to speak fluent Ebonics. Homeboys should have the same qualities, and should be familiar with trashtalk and handguns, as well as the proper way to roll a blunt.
This is a great opportunity for budding thespians, so don’t miss your chance to be immortalized on stage.
Tryout dates and times will be posted here soon, so watch for the news.
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
12:22 pm
Plus we will be paying attention to the undefeated teams, and hoping they get beat.
I stand corrected. UGA fans do have a reason to watch someone play football the rest of the season. Sitting at home praying for one of the better teams to lose so they can back door their way in.
ugab
November 8th, 2012
12:23 pm
Uga needs to win big in every game to finish the schedule strong. Score alot of points, just like Oregon does. Do not give up any points, just like Alabama.
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
12:25 pm
I thought Ole Miss had a chance. Ole Miss had Uga beat for a couple of quarters. OL was not protecting AM in the first half of the Ole Miss game.
Yeah, its too bad for them that football games are longer than two quarters. You probably thought UGA had a chance in the SEC championship last year too, didn’t you?
ugab
November 8th, 2012
12:27 pm
Has anyone seen the comment one of the OL for auburn said about JJones? JJ can be blocked. Tacklin fuel!!!! I love my moma very much.! Compliments of Cptn. Insano.!
WDE
November 8th, 2012
12:28 pm
Just read that Nkemdiche decommits from Clemson…as talented as this kid is I hope we stay very far away from him….he is a drama looking for a queen…and I don’t mean a GTBob queen.
@GTBob
November 8th, 2012
12:30 pm
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
10:27 am
And you want to know what is fun beat the no.2 team in the country at a neutral site on national TV….that’ll wake up a fan base.
You should enjoy that game. It was one of the only real games you have this season. You will probably end the season having only played 3-4 teams that you weren’t a double digit favorite against. Do UGA fans really enjoy a season that consists of 9 uncompetitive games, 3 good games, an SEC championship that you have little chance in, and a Capitol One bowl? This may sound crazy but I think I would rather go 6-6 and not be bored all season.
Well, for once, I have to agree with you. We did enjoy that game. And yes, we enjoy all victories,and appreciate a chance at any championship and/or bowl victory. And since you prefer it, we hope that you get your wish, and have a mediocre season, and not be bored. May you continue your quest of setting a new NCAA record of consecutive bowl defeats.
ugab
November 8th, 2012
12:32 pm
Gtbob, has to get on the uga blog. You wanna know why GTbob is not on his teams blog. BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO BLOG ABOUT. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHBAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WDE
November 8th, 2012
12:34 pm
@SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT that was a riot ! Now how bad did we beat your bunch by??
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 8th, 2012
12:38 pm
hey special announcement
Who is playing you?
PEE WEE HERMAN??????????????
GTBob
November 8th, 2012
12:38 pm
You wanna know why GTbob is not on his teams blog.
Most of my serious GT discussion is done elsewhere. I reserve my time here for conversing about the shortcomings of other teams.
Tomás Broun
November 8th, 2012
12:41 pm
I’ve never understood how anyone – even an alumnus – could support and take pride in UGA’s football team. When you look at their history for the past forty years, how can anyone ignore Jan Kemp and the “remedial studies” scam, the Jim Harrick fiasco, the DUIs in the athletic office, the DUIs and other arrests of players, the #1 party school tag (i.e., the most drunk students), the suspensions and outright dismissals, the Fulmer Cup, and on and on?
As disgraceful and humiliating as it is, I don’t see many alums and fans demanding an end to this sordid activity. It sets UGA apart as the kind of school most people abhor, and it’s become an embarrassment to the whole state of Georgia.
Will it never end? Apparently not while Mark Richt is at UGA. Richt is the biggest hypocrite in the United States. But even with all the cheating and lawlessness that he ignores, he still can’t win the SEC.
So you’re paying him to be BCS champions, but he can’t even win the SEC. So why do you pay him millions of dollars a year?
danny
November 8th, 2012
12:50 pm
Neutral, why don’t you get a life and y’all quit complaining about the QB getting hit 2 years ago!
Discount DoubleDawg
November 8th, 2012
12:50 pm
Bob- I like you but that really seems to make you look insecure. There is not a better explanation as to why someone would enjoy discussing percieved shortcomings of others. I am not saying there are not other reasons… just not better ones. C’mon Bob- you’re better than that.
ARdawg
November 8th, 2012
12:55 pm
“lol. Like anyone actually thinks UGA is one of the best teams in the country.”
Obviously somebody does besides UGA fans Bobby. We are ranked #5 in the country. Or with your warped logic is it just UGA fans that vote on the BCS?
ARdawg
November 8th, 2012
12:58 pm
WDE
Yeah I am a bit baffled on why the visit for the Ole Miss game. Someone could have just sent him a few free tickets or better yet, let Momma who is licking her chops for future riches just buy them
baddawg
November 8th, 2012
12:59 pm
Come on OL do your job the rest of the season and quick being entitlement slugs like half of our society has become!
Voters DID decide
November 8th, 2012
1:00 pm
Win it for me, Dawgs, because the elections when EXACTLY as I wished! Go Dawgs! Go Obama! Goodbye, Allen West!
Voters DID decide
November 8th, 2012
1:03 pm
Who the HE-double-hockey sticks is Tomas Broun!?! Go back to your mom’s basement, Tech troll!