Gurley: ‘We’re going to push that much harder in postseason knowing how close we came’
THEY SAID IT
“It looked to me like we were a little more tired than they were. But I think our guys did a good job of sucking it up when they were tired. It was a good bit warmer than the weather we were practicing in and certainly Athens was a lot cooler. But we fought through. And when you make a big play or two, all of a sudden that gives you a boost of energy.”
— Georgia coach Mark Richt, on the Bulldogs’ slow start
“I’m so proud of Jarvis. Jarvis has been such a breath of fresh air for us at Georgia. Coming from Southern Cal, sitting out a year and doing a super job rallying the scout team … We already knew he was a special player, then we realized what a special person he was and he just played tremendously on the field for us and has been a great leader for us.”
— Richt on junior outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who set the single-season sack record.
“When I went into the locker room at halftime, I thought Coach Bobo was going to hit me up side the head.”
— Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray on his two-interception first half.
“I give credit to Georgia. That’s a good football team. You know, at the end of the day we had our opportunities. There’s some situations where you just have to make some plays and Georgia made them. We didn’t. This was just one of those games.”
— Nebraska coach Bo Pelini
I felt we had a great game plan and they they just came out and hit us with some big throws. A lot came down to third down and their guys just made some plays and stuff. They made more plays than we did at the end of the day.”
— Nebraska linebacker Will Compton on the Bulldogs’ passing so well on their No. 1-ranked pass defense
“On one he said (Murray) was out of the pocket and you guys saw the play. And on the other one, the one on Taylor (Martinez) it was a screen pass and he got hit. He went down throwing the screen. I mean, I find myself shaking my head.”
— Pelini on no intentional grounding being called on Murray and Martinez being called for it on back-to-back, second-half possessions
“In the offseason we’re just going to be pushing that much harder just knowing we came so close to going to the national championship. It’s not like we got blown out or something. So while we’re working out, we’ll be thinking about all the little things because that could be the difference in the outcome of getting those five yards and getting to the national championship game. We’re excited because we feel like this is the first win of 2013. We start next season with Clemson and we’re ready to play them now.”
— Georgia freshman tailback Todd Gurley on prospects of next season.
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137 comments Add your comment
dawgfan
January 2nd, 2013
9:03 am
Right now what’s standing between us and a national championship is Todd Grantham. He did not have a good year. After getting torched for 350 yards rushing in the SECCG, I saw little to no improvement in the bowl game. I’m pretty sure my grandmother could run through some of those holes that offenses seem to be able to open up on us with ease. Huge swaths of the field are often completely unmanned. Grantham needs to go back to the drawing board because whatever he’s doing isn’t working. I sometimes wonder if our defense is too complicated for its own good. Maybe we should scale back on all the fancy blitzes and “packages” and just concentrate on the basics, like tackling. I am not all that torn up about all this “NFL talent” leaving. I think they’ve been pretty disappointing for the most part, except for Jarvis Jones. We’ll be better off with younger guys in there that are hungry and all about team. They can’t be much worse than what we saw this year.
Offense is bad azz though. Bobo did a great job this year.
mike on lake hartwell
January 2nd, 2013
9:13 am
MURRAY WAS OUT OF THE POCKET. PERIOD. so the refs got it right.
MARTINEZ WAS SACKED WHILE THROWING.
NEITHER SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED. BUT DANG, SHUT UP PELINI.
Gorilla Biscuit
January 2nd, 2013
9:16 am
Seriously? Grantham is why we didn’t win an NC?
bjohndawg
January 2nd, 2013
9:37 am
I dont think Florida Petered out in the end. They kicked FSU backsides. They will have a top ten team next year. Florida will be tough! Wil has done some stellar recruiting.
Nice win for our Dawgs! The offense with Murray or Mason should be scary good. Will need it opening with Clemson,Cocks, and LSU.
Defense could be scary bad but who knows? Maybe some new blood will be good for the D. I will be looking forward to watching the youngsters show what they can do. I hope Geathers stays that will be a big help.
Nebraska played a good game.
But…Funny notice how the Huskies trolls are gone!
Tampa Gator
January 2nd, 2013
9:39 am
Georgia did not win the NC this year because they lost to South Carolina, had a pass tipped by a Bama DE, and will not play Notre Dame on January 7. But they are one of the top teams in the country this year….for sure.
P.S. Why does the AJC think I want to read about 6 people getting killed in weekend wrecks while I am posting to a sports blog. I would consider reading a story about 6 people enjoying a safe weekend…..but that ain’t “dirty” news.
Jim
January 2nd, 2013
9:40 am
Last year I thought Chris Conley was going to be a special player. Yesterday he showed it. Great game. I thought South Carolina was given a gift win. If the helmet rull says the ball is dead if when the ball carrier’s helmet comes off how could South Carolina recover a fumble? (rule 4-1-3q) I will be watching and pulling for Lousiville to take down the Florida Gators. Love them Dawgs!
DogFaceBlues
January 2nd, 2013
9:40 am
Hope Murray stays but he would be crazy not to go this year. He will have to compete against more QBs entering the draft next year. Hutson Masons first pass of his collegiate career was a touchdown!
DogFaceBlues
January 2nd, 2013
9:42 am
Thanks Tampa, classy post!
Tampa Gator
January 2nd, 2013
9:43 am
Geathers needs to stay. SImply not ready for the NFL. I hope Murray stays He is a class act, and I still cannot believe some Georgia fans egged his residence. Amazing.
Charlie Brown
January 2nd, 2013
9:44 am
With the Dawgs electing themselves PRE-SEASON national champs every year, there will be no stopping them in 2013…………………EXCEPT for the other teams in the SEC.
DIT
January 2nd, 2013
9:46 am
Great win Dawgs! Look forward to our offense next year. However, many think that our defense will drop significantly next season. I thought it was pretty poor this year. Especially with the talent. I think next year with all the reviews coming in negative on them they will put together a better defense, can’t get worse against the run, than this year. Not saying a NC by any means, but the defense will surprise most people next year.
My guess would that Florida will be favored to win the East next year followed by South Carolina. Hopefully that will push this defense even more. Clemson will be one heck of a test for that defense in game one. I was very impressed with their offense against LSU. I think they will have most of their offense coming back.
Great year Dawgs!
Sideline Stalker
January 2nd, 2013
9:48 am
“In the offseason we’re just going to be pushing that much harder just knowing we came so close to going to the national championship. It’s not like we got blown out or something. So while we’re working out, we’ll be thinking about all the little things because that could be the difference in the outcome of getting those five yards and getting to the national championship game. We’re excited because we feel like this is the first win of 2013. We start next season with Clemson and we’re ready to play them now.”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
This is why FRESHMEN should be seen not heard.
dawgfan
January 2nd, 2013
9:49 am
“Seriously? Grantham is why we didn’t win an NC?”
Yes. I didn’t stutter did I? 35 points given up against South Carolina. 33 points and 350 yards rushing given up against Bama. 31 points and 430 yards given up against Nebraska. If you think that’s a championship caliber defense you need to put down the crack pipe and check yourself in to a rehab facility immediately.
Thanks.
DIT
January 2nd, 2013
9:52 am
“This is why FRESHMEN should be seen not heard.”
_________________
Why? This should be the attitude of every player regardless if you play for UGA or tech! When I played ball competitively I believed we should win every game AND if you speak with anyone that played a team competitive sport they would agree.
My guess is that you would rather hear him say, “We will be lucky to beat anyone next year.”
Sideline Stalker
January 2nd, 2013
9:53 am
Tampa Gator
January 2nd, 2013
9:39 am
Georgia did not win the NC this year because they lost to South Carolina, had a pass tipped by a Bama DE, and will not play Notre Dame on January 7. But they are one of the top teams in the country this year….for sure.
P.S. Why does the AJC think I want to read about 6 people getting killed in weekend wrecks while I am posting to a sports blog. I would consider reading a story about 6 people enjoying a safe weekend…..but that ain’t “dirty” news
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%5
We all know your MO. Talking up UGA because we beat the Gators and you will do or say anything to make your Gators look better. Alabama beat us and we and you need to stop the 5 yards, 5 seconds, tipped pass talk. Lets face it Alabama is the best team in the country and we are second while Florida is somewhere around 5 to 10 range due to no offense.
Sideline Stalker
January 2nd, 2013
9:55 am
DIT
January 2nd, 2013
9:52 am
“This is why FRESHMEN should be seen not heard.”
_________________
Why? This should be the attitude of every player regardless if you play for UGA or tech! When I played ball competitively I believed we should win every game AND if you speak with anyone that played a team competitive sport they would agree.
My guess is that you would rather hear him say, “We will be lucky to beat anyone next year.”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%5555
Who needs trash talk? Bullentin Board Material? Be Humble and just do your job and act like you have been there before. It is called class!
pbt dawg fan
January 2nd, 2013
9:59 am
I will make the bold prediction that UGA’s defense will be better in 2013. Damien Swann, Amarlo Herrera, Ray Drew, Jordan Jenkins, Josh Dawson, Garrsion Smith, Jonathan Taylor, JHC, Rebeun Foster, Tray Matthews, Sheldon Dawson. are going to surprise some people next year.
DIT
January 2nd, 2013
10:12 am
I did not see it as trash talk. I read it as a player having confidence going into next year. We obviously read it different ways.
I have not seen you on this blog much. If you have been on this blog long enough you would see that Tampa Gator brings a neutral perspective to this blog.
DIT
January 2nd, 2013
10:13 am
I do believe that our defense will be better next season. The 1st 2 games will let us know pretty quickly where it lies.
Fred Funk
January 2nd, 2013
10:14 am
‘SpiketheballStupid’ at 7:57 am. :JC Defensive Lineman Chris Maye signs with UGA.
Did you ever wonder why the vast majority of players coming out of junior colleges go there in the first place? They usually are too dumb to get into a good university right out of high school despite all the concessions granted them because of their athletic skills. Of course, there are exceptions, i.e Cam Newton who is just a thief but a generational player in college. For any decent university to sign them to a scholarship shows that the university is willing to take the bottom of the barrel as long as there is a shot they might help the team get better.
bruce mac
January 2nd, 2013
10:15 am
How can we be worse on defense next year? Did anybody watch the games against good teams. We will be better next year for sure but it certainly needs to get better. Too many stars and not enough grunts. Bring on some big uglies that like to hit somebody and play their role. GO DAWGS!!
docdawg
January 2nd, 2013
10:29 am
RNB what a moronic forecast for the new year, sound like Obama, Long time between now and aug 31st, Ga should have no problem with Clemson, LSU played a lackadaisical game and the play calls at the end by lsu were about as stupid as you can dia up, no Pop Warner coach would have XOd that scheme. Bobo believe me would have run it twice, forcing timeouts and running clock, idiotic, look forward to that game as well next season.
AceDawg
January 2nd, 2013
10:35 am
The defense did do some good things this year, but they were sloppy enough and gave up enough yards that frankly I don’t know that a young, unproven defense next year can’t do just as well. If they are even average, UGA should be a title contender considering the offensive talent.
secbama
January 2nd, 2013
10:36 am
Florida and LSU will beat Pups next year. Bama vs Florida in SECC game in Atlanta. Sorry puppies, 5 yards is as close as you will ever get with Nicky around! RTR.
Frustrated, Inc.
January 2nd, 2013
10:39 am
It must be the off season again. A lot of bulldawgs walking around with their chests pumped out. Time to start the annual uga rite-of-passage as the nations best team January through August 31. It is like watching Lucy move the ball as just as Charlie Brown goes to kick it. Face it, uga will not win a BCS championship. That three year weak sauce schedule is gone. The cold slap of reality will hit home with September losses to South Carolina and LSU.
Erin "spike the ball" Murray
January 2nd, 2013
10:48 am
2013 will really really really really really be our year!
Alabama cheated
Castle pines canine
January 2nd, 2013
10:53 am
Good win over big 10 ranked team. Looks like we beat # 2 in the country, Acc runner up,Big Ten runner up, 4th year of Grantham coming up, we will see what kind of D program he has by how young men step up.
LSU. Very poor coaching decisions, Zachary Mett showed why Aaron Murray had beaten him out.
2013
January 2nd, 2013
10:58 am
ga will be 1-3 by the end of September and once again praying that some body else will beat SC
Buckeye who lives aming
January 2nd, 2013
10:59 am
Enter your comments here
TP Dawg
January 2nd, 2013
11:08 am
way to get called out on national television/espn dawg fans for toilet papering and egging your qb’s house! classy!
kerryb
January 2nd, 2013
11:08 am
secbama
January 2nd, 2013
10:36 am
Florida and LSU will beat Pups next year. Bama vs Florida in SECC game in Atlanta. Sorry puppies, 5 yards is as close as you will ever get with Nicky around! RTR.
___________________________________________________________________________
Enjoy while you can. Mediocrity is around the corner when he leaves.
kerryb
January 2nd, 2013
11:10 am
To the Bama fans. You’re D lineman getting his hand up is the ONLY reason you will be playing next week and don’t forget it. Murray was throwing a back shoulder throw to Mitchell in the end zone and he had beaten your guy. The ONLY reason you are playing next week.
Dawg Fud
January 2nd, 2013
11:32 am
At Clemson first game….going to be a tall order. That offense runs about 80 plays a game.
SportyDawg
January 2nd, 2013
12:17 pm
On Murray’s 2 interceptions. I wasn’t surprised Murray had multiple turnovers in a Bowl game, considering his track record (3 turnovers vs. UCF, 3 turnovers vs. Mich St). I figured Nebraska would throw in a couple of new looks they hadn’t showed yet with some weeks to prepare for the game, on one of those picks, the guy dropped off the TE into the middle for the pick, I think Murray thought Nebraska would go Cover 2 there, was a new look. The pick 6 changed the momentum of the game, and the lb saw it early from the way the wr was trying to block him, I don’t think Murray ever saw the lb there who jumped the route, a goal of the matchup zone Nebraksa runs. Murray throws most of his interceptions from his own 20-40 yard line, and this Bowl game proved no different with the pick 6, it’s still, after 4 years at UGA, Murray’s blindspot area, he hasn’t corrected it yet.
Nebraska tried to stay behind the pass receivers to prevent the big play, so you go back shoulder a lot, and Bobo called that a bunch.
Conley made some great run after catchs, caught the little 1 yard throw and turned on the jets turning it into an 87 yard td, great blocking by Lynch, King, and the OL on that play. The pick plays on 3rd down, and the crossing routes, seemed to be a new Bobo wrinkle he hadn’t shown on video much. Thought it was a great way to attack the middle of the field against the match up zone. Also liked the draws and screens on 3rd down and the Wildcat early, seemed to keep that safety out of the box, because someone had to drop out of the box and go over and man up on Murray–Gurley bruned tem big on a Wildcat formation. Bobo called a great offensive game.
Liked the lb on rb matchup, a weakness of the matchup zone, and Bobo exploited it with a play designed for Marshall who beat the LB for an easy td.
Bobo saved his newest looks, like the crossing patterns, and screens, for 3rd down, the offense converted a high percentage on 3rd down, so it really did work out.
thank goodness the offense played well, and Bobo’s gamplan worked, because once again, Grantham’s D gave up a load of points to a ranked team, for the 7th time in the last 8 games vs. ranked teams. really dissapointed in Grantham’s D against ranked teams. And Nebraska had 2 rb’s average @ 6 yards a carry. Lucky for Grantham, Ogletree forced and recovered a fumble, and Swann picked 2 passess off or else Nebraska would have scored 50 points.
My-Guy
January 2nd, 2013
12:21 pm
Our defense just had SENIORITIS this year, they were so focused on the NFL and they weren’t as active as they were in the 2011 season! the 2013 defense will have a majority of sophomores and juniors including some from junior colleges! Todd Grantham better make some corrections during the offseason though!
My-Guy
January 2nd, 2013
12:23 pm
When your defense has SENIORITIS, they try hard to avoid injuries so they can stay healthy for the NFL draft.
gdawginkalamazoo
January 2nd, 2013
12:25 pm
Husker’s O only scored 24 points, seven after the half. I though the D did well enough the 1st half and dominated the second half. It wasn’t pretty by any means but they made good adjustments and gained a second wind to hold on for the win.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
January 2nd, 2013
12:45 pm
JOEY………….PMSpadmy stats against crappy teams) MURRAY did beat a top 25 team.
Murray’s career record against top 25 teams is 4-10 Wow color everybody impressed.
2010……0-4
2011……2-4
2012……2-2
SportyDawg
January 2nd, 2013
12:48 pm
Alabama hasn’t given up 30 points to a team in 2 years on defense.
UGA has given up 30+ points in 8 games, almost everytime against ranked teams.
SportyDawg
January 2nd, 2013
12:49 pm
Murray’s record against teams that finihs top 25, is 2-11.
SportyDawg
January 2nd, 2013
12:52 pm
Nebraska became the 7th ranked team in the last 8 games to score 30 points or more on Georgia.
SportyDawg
January 2nd, 2013
12:55 pm
UGA defense couldn’t really get lined up properly before the snap, thought the attempt to substitute so much, didn’t work out so well.
Mark (another one)
January 2nd, 2013
1:03 pm
For all the hype about our defense, remember that the line was:
Abry Jones, 308
John Jenkins, 358
Garrison Smith, 297
Reserves:
Kwame Gaethers, 355
Ray Drew, 284
Cornelius Washington, 268 (really an OLB)
With Jones and Jenkins out, the line was depleted and we needed younger guys to step up. Of that rotation, only Smith, Drew and possibly Gaethers will return. Of course, the normal for each year is that the next guys need to step up, but this is the weakness we saw exploited by Bama and Nebraska. Their offensive lines were able to get a push and we needed to use speed to counter their power.
Mayes will help next year but we need line depth of defense. Taylor, Thornton and Bailey are in the system and need to join in the fun by becoming the forces they were recruited to be.
SportyDawg
January 2nd, 2013
1:04 pm
Give me a break. The line with those guys (Jenkins & co.) gave up ridculous numbers against the run all season long.
SportyDawg
January 2nd, 2013
1:07 pm
UGA finished 12th in the SEC in rush defense, worst than everybody except Tenn & Auburn, both teams had their coaching staffs fired afterwards.
SportyDawg
January 2nd, 2013
1:12 pm
You thought the defense played better in 2011? Wow, they gave up 39 pts per game vs ranked teams in 2011, what’s that about Senioritis and how they got worse this year?
SportyDawg
January 2nd, 2013
1:17 pm
The rush defense gave up less rush yards in this game, than the last 3 games without John Jenkins or Abry Jones. Dline got better without those two. Garrison, Jordan played better vs. the run than John or Abry did.
SportyDawg
January 2nd, 2013
1:18 pm
DLine looked better without Rodney Garner. Those grad assts outcoached Garner.
Laughing out Loud
January 2nd, 2013
1:32 pm
No way, RND, does anyone know who will win what games next year. It is your opinion that Georgia will lose to Clemson next season, but that’s all it is an opinion. That’s all right for you to have such an opinion. My opinion is that the Bulldawgs will beat Clemson. But, that is why the game is played! What a grand game it will be! Go Dawgs! This past season was great and perhaps, we hope, next season (2013) will be even greater
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
January 2nd, 2013
1:35 pm
SportyDawg
January 2nd, 2013
12:49 pm
Murray’s record against teams that finihs top 25, is 2-11.
======================================================
I gave you Murray’s record against top 25 teams. He has faced 14 top 25 teams and won 4 times.