Sobering up on Sunday: Shod with Shame
by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 12:06 AM EST
in Georgia Bulldogs Football
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PrintWarning: There is profanity in this post. Not-safe-for-children profanity.
I was initially going to post this at 8:00 Sunday morning, but it's now Sunday, so I'm going to go ahead and just post this now. In his post, Kyle sounded a very encouraging tone. And I agree with him in one way: the future could be bright for this team. That optimistic assessment must at least somewhat be called into doubt, however.
Let me state two facts I believe to be incontrovertible before we proceed.
1) There is no inherent shame in losing to the #1 team in the country. LSU is clearly the #1 team in the country.
2) No one should be calling for any coaches to be fired because of this game. The final score is not a reflection of the job done by any member of the coaching staff.
No, there is no shame in simply losing to a team that is both clearly superior and clearly the best team in the country. There are players on our team that should be ashamed of themselves, however, and should be as pissed with themselves as I am with them now. These are they:
Listen up, because some of the guys need some road warrior-like smack laid down on them.
-- Isaiah Crowell - From this moment on, I will refer to Isaiah Crowell as Pussy Crowell. Why? Because Isaiah Crowell is a pussy. You could use other words... pansy, weak, soft, glass-ankled... but none of the sums up quite so nicely the reputation he has built through his actions this season as "pussy."
Some might claim that Crowell has been hobbled by a bum ankle since the second week of the season. To that contention I would respond by asking why he hasn't been held out of games to recover? Georgia's medical staff is not incompetent enough to clear a running back to play who is so injured that he literally can't play more than one play from scrimmage without having to limp off to the sidelines.
When he has come out of games, he hasn't been continually receiving treatment on the medical table or having surgery during the week to fix a problem... they just let him hobble off along the sidelines claming his ankle hurts too much to go in the game. That means his problem isn't with his ankle... it's with his head and his heart.
Or, in other words, he's just a pussy who doesn't like to get hit and can't play with a little pain like the other 99% of his compatriots on the football team have to do. So until further notice, just like the Bond villain, our offensive villain who weakens us at every turn is named Pussy. Pussy Crowell.
-- Georgia's defense - All of the good you have done this season... all of the respect you built by holding LSU's offense to zero first downs in the first half of the SEC Championship Game... all of that has now been obliterated.
You are now not respected, and you now are in a position where you should be ashamed of yourselves. These things are the case because you quit. You gave up before the game was over, and allowed yourselves to be bullied off the field by the selfsame offense whom you had previously shut down completely.
And make no mistake, this wasn't a simple case of LSU's offense making adjustments at halftime. The defense that came out in the second half was a mere shell of the one that played the first half. There was only half the intensity, half the hustle, and half the heart of that squad we initially saw in this game.
And yes,they were put in a very bad position early in the second half by a turnover. And yes, when LSU scored to go up 21-10, we all knew the game was effectively over from that point. But the defense looked like they just stopped playing at that point. Fans can get demoralized and sit down, but the defense can not, and especially not against the #1 team in the country.
For really the first time this year, the defense let us down, and because of that, LSU put 42 points on the board. 7 of those points were legitimately not their fault, but if they hadn't given up like a bunch of cowards, Aaron Murray would not have been so desperate that he had to run the plays that resulted in his pick-6 at the end of the game. So those points can be lain at the defense's feet, as well.
Our defense has been the bedrock of our success this season, and tonight, they were the catalyst of our shameful defeat. They talked big this week about how they were just as good as LSU, but words are cheap. Great teams do their talking on the field, and our talk disappeared in the second half.
Yeah, this is the general position assumed by quitters.
-- The SEC Officials who fixed called this game - I have seen some poorly-officiated games in my life, but it is truly shameful that an SEC Championship Game would be ranked as one of the worst. I saw Tyrann Mathieu chuck the ball early on his punt return from my seat across the stadium in Section 125, and it is inexcusable incompetence not only that the side judge didn't see it live, but that the replay official completely missed the replay. (And it wasn't like the ball was quickly snapped on a PAT, either... Georgia had an injury on that play, and the official had minutes to look at it.)
If the officials didn't have their heads collectively stuck up their asses on that play, instead of being a game-changing punt return, it would have been a momentum-altering touchback (because the ball went into the endzone and out of bounds), and Georgia would have had a 10-0 halftime lead instead of a 10-7 lead. And those 7 points could have made all the difference in the world from a strategic play calling standpoint early in the 2nd half.
The gross negligence of that non-call, combined with the complete lack of apparent capability to deal with clock problems without ruining the flow of the game, seriously calls into question the objectivity of these referees. I've never been one to buy into the conspiracy theory of "The SEC refs fix games so they can have a team in the national championship game," but one can't help but wonder in the wake of this obvious incompetence.
For the game overall, our team came out with their hair on fire, and the offense, who knew they had to be aggressive against the LSU defense to have any chance, and did just that. They weren't going to outscore LSU, however, and everybody knew that coming into the game. We knew from the start that we had to get to at least 17 points and rely on the defense to make that score total stand up. I don't blame the offense for failing to score 17 points in the first half (though they certainly should have, and might have if Malcolm Mitchell doesn't drop a touchdown pass on the first drive of the game). This game, and the resulting scoreline, is entirely the defense's fault. And, of course, Pussy Crowell's fault.
We have to go forward from here, pick up the pieces, and prepare to beat the snot out of whomever we're paired against in our bowl game. Just for the next 24 hours, though, these players and officials should be ashamed of themselves, and should make a big mental note of this night and day. This is what it feels like when you quit and embarrass your team and your university. Never let it happen again.
Go Dawgs!
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I felt like the Defense quit too, but maybe not as early as you think.
This game was a lot like SC. Offensive mistakes and ST mistakes gave LSU the short field and ultimately points. But at a certain point the defense did utterly and completely exit the building. That was the most disappointing part of the game.
You're probably right, hbtd.
I stood up and walked out after LSU scored on the long run up the middle to make the score 35-10. At that time, I tweeted, “Well, I stayed longer than the team did.”
If I’d thought about it for more than 5 seconds, I’d have substituted “defense” for “team.” I really think the offense did as well as they could have under the circumstances. A freak fumble created the short field at the beginning of the second half, but LSU was literally yet to get a first down at that point. I don’t think anyone automatically assumed LSU would score a touchdown, even with starting field position that advanced.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 12:40 AM EST up reply actions
I felt like the defense got tired or something in the second half.
To me it felt a lot like Auburn last year. Jump out on them, take the air out of the ball, have a bunch of 3 and outs, make some dumb mistakes, then watch the other team run all over your.
by DocSkraynj on Dec 4, 2011 12:46 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
*all over you.
I’m not in a good emotional state, and my poor penmanship reflects that.
by DocSkraynj on Dec 4, 2011 12:46 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
So if Crowell racks up a lot of yardage in the bowl game,
will you call him Pussy Galore? Sorry; just trying to inject a little humor. I generally tend to take the more pessimistic view of everything, so I’m not very good at savoring moral victories. I agree with you that the crux of the matter is not losing to a better team (in which there is no shame) but losing because pretty much the whole team gave or screwed up. I would add pretty much our entire receiver corps to your list given the number of drops they had; how much would we have been up by at the half had they actually caught those well-thrown passes? Walsh missing yet another FG didn’t help either. And don’t even get me started on CT up the middle twice in a row to start the half…
by Cherokee's Grip on Dec 4, 2011 12:42 AM EST reply actions
I am more than willing to get started on this:
And don’t even get me started on CT up the middle twice in a row to start the half…
And that was followed by a 4 wideout set with mid patterns right into their zone. Nice halftime work………
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
The receiver drops were bad, no doubt...
… but the most egregious was Malcolm Mitchell’s drop of a wide-open touchdown pass on Georgia’s first drive of the game. It was poor, no doubt, but I’m more likely to give Mitchell a pass on that one (no pun intended), because of two things:
1) He’s a Freshman, and he looked like he was running before he caught the ball in the biggest game of his life to that point, which is a Freshman mistake.
2) He took some hard hits several times in the game, and after each, he popped back up, ran back to the huddle, and waited for his number to be called again.
Mitchell is a tough kid with a lot of talent and heart… much more than P. Crowell, it seems.
That’s a long, tangential way of saying yes, our WR drops killed us, too. :-)
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 12:56 AM EST up reply actions
This will sound slightly crazy -
but I think our playmakers were actually surprised at times – like “OMG, I AM ABOUT TO SCORE A TD ON LSU!”
Mitchell didnt catch the ball first, he knew he had space, he moved his head and body before the catch. Back to 9th grade: Look the ball into your hands, secure it, run. Hopefully we can move to a higher level than that, but our drops were back to basics.
We need to have confidence we deserve to play in the big games just as much as anyone else.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
They shouldnt be surprised to do well, CMR needs to fix that. It's happened before in many games.
We worked on positive energy, now we need to get zen and focus on being in the moment.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I don't think you're still a freshman
13 games into the season at the SEC Championship game.
I like your idea about the Bowl Game, though.
I might do just that, in fact. :-)
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 12:57 AM EST up reply actions
The SEC Officials (sic)
SHOULD BE BANNED FOR LIFE. The honey badger’s return should have been at least LSU ball on deep in LSU territory, if not a touchback for the DAWGS…no touchdown, no momentum shift. I wish they had atleast called the half-nelson on Geathers on Blue’s TD run, the hands to the head on Murray or the pick-pocketing of our receivers…hell, I would be happy if they understood HOLDING in the NCAA.
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
I broke it down: 2 blocks in the back, one hold, and one clip. And he pitched the ball through the endzone, which should be a touchback.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
the block in the back on Frix on that play was beyond bad, and right in the open in front of the return man
no excuse at all. But of course, all we hear was about how great a return it was, how they set up a great wall, and how Mathieu is a big game player.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
This bothers me to quite an extent
How am I supposed to believe he’s such a great playmaker when his teammates illegally blocked for him to do it? Yes, he’s good, but we have five or six guys on our team who can do the same thing if we’re allowed to block in the black, clip, etc.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 10:40 AM EST up reply actions
Don't forget about the helmet slap shoulda been a personal-foul...
Yet another blatant in your face call that was totally blown by the refs and glazed over by tweedle-dee and tweedle-dipshit doing the play by play.
The refs were BEYOND crap for this game.
We commented on this fact about every 2 minutes in the game thread and I feel sure that anyone watching with even an inkling of an even tempered view would say the same thing.
The SEC seriously needs to look into this, because what happened last night is a perfect example of referees influencing a game at a point that it could have gone either way with either team’s mojo.
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
-Cicero
You're 100% correct.
However, the SEC has never addressed this issue. Every year, once a team has proven itself to be a dominant caliber team, the rules get thrown out the window when they play. It’s as if the SEC officiating, once the big team is identified, sees it’s job as policing the games to make sure nothing happens to it’s media darling.
The most pathetic part is that LSU is so great of a team that they don’t need that garbage to get by. I am not at all convinced that proper officiating would have resulted in a win for our guys, but the bad calls put them in a losing battle before LSU could do it themselves.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
I agree the defense quit, and there is no excuse for that, but...
… the offense self-destructed (like only a Bobo led offense can do) and the D knew the game was over. It’s no excuse for a defense, but as a fan, I gave up on the offense the moment they lined up in the I.
The Pillar of Pessimism, the Narrator of Negativity, and the Dictator of Doubt is here to rain on your Utopian Parade.
by VDawg on Dec 4, 2011 1:31 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Our offense was playing against the best defense the country.
I don’t hold it against them that they had trouble consistently moving the ball. They gave it a good fight, and I don’t necessarily think Bobo called a bad game.
The offense fought hard, though they did have some bad drops, one really poor fumble, and a pick-6 in trash/desperation time.
We did not get blown out because the offense failed to score 40 points, though. We got blown out because the defense embarrassed themselves in the second half.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
Our play calling on O went to crap after we ran through the scripted trickeration.
We started CT up the middle and the deep pass and dropped all the creativity that got us off to such a good start. We came out of the tunnel, and our halftime adjustments were: up the middle twice, and a midrange pass pattern into a perfectly called zone D. I have seen this so many times now that there is no point to even go to the locker room.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
You're right...
In Bobo’s mind, the 10 points should’ve been at least 17. Thus, we went into our typical 14-point-lead hibernation. The calls after the half take the cake, but we stopped gunning for them well before that point.
The Dawgs were scared of LSU, and it was disheartening. Yes, LSU is the better team, but they are THAT much better. We played scared. We dropped big passes; we made bad decisions; we panicked when any sort of adversity came our way.
That’s what was disheartening. After winning 10-straight and playing well for most of a half against the Tigers, you thought we would be able to handle the fumble-TD combo that put them up 14-10. Nope. We turned into Ole Miss at that point, a scared, crappy, fightless team.
It was sad.
GATA!
The first series of the second half was the most inexplicable of play calling.
But face it, if you can’t run it up the middle at some point, you have no business being SEC champs.
Trickeration is for teams who are not fundamentally sound. We are not fundamentally sound. Any defeat of LSU would have been a lucky 60 minutes, not because we were the better team. That does not excuse poor play or the inability to scheme to the players you have on the field.
We deserved to be there. But we didn’t deserve to win.
Hopefully we will build on this and put together a line that blocks and opens holes.
Inexplicable if you've never watched Bobo call games before today.
by Cherokee's Grip on Dec 4, 2011 9:13 AM EST up reply actions
I dont care if you can run up the middle or not. We scored (and should have scored more)
by finding things that worked. This “keep them honest” line is crap. It’s a wasted play. We didnt throw an out or a slant in the second half, and repeated through a bad deep ball. I have seen this is so, so many games.
Bobo is responsible for the ENTIRE offense, not just play calling. And it generally only works against a bad team.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I don't mean that we have to run it up the middle at a particular point in a game, when that is folly.
I mean if we are going to have success on the season and long term success in this conference we have to have that tool in the tool box. We don’t.
I can’t think of a successful SEC team that couldn’t run the ball.
Point conceded on the blowout...
And the D folding did add an unnecessary embarassment factor to the final result. Now I have to listen all week to ignorant fans that didn’t watch the first play tell me, “I told you UGA didn’t stand a chance.”
The Pillar of Pessimism, the Narrator of Negativity, and the Dictator of Doubt is here to rain on your Utopian Parade.
by VDawg on Dec 4, 2011 1:45 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
The fact that Georgia played the best 30 minutes of football against LSU of any team this year
will surely be lost on most people. 30 minutes doesn’t win games, but we were much closer to giving LSU a scare than anyone except Bama. It just irritates me that people will look at the final score and so, “oh, the game went just how we thought it would”. It didn’t. Georgia held them to zero first downs in the first half. Nobody predicted that.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 10:48 AM EST up reply actions
Exactly.
That’s what makes the final outcome of this game so rage-inducing for me.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
If games were only 30 minutes
Texas A & M would be getting ready to go to a BCS bowl. Instead, they are looking for a new coach
DFA Heyward. I'm dead serious
by wpf3211 on Aug 6, 2011 9:11 PM EDT
Hey Vine - we can always do this, agree to disagree.
However, do me a solid and watch the game again on tv and take notice in the 2nd Q of the change in calling. And then the second half. I would be interested in your thoughts then.
Yes, our O line got destroyed, but we didnt throw an out or slant in the second half, and put AM under center with Tigers in his grill before he turned around. We needed to BSU LSU just like I said in the podcast and it seemed Bobo had no idea what to do.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
You're right, of course, that we slipped back into our old play-calling routine...
… but an offense has to at least make an attempt to run the ball, or a great defense like LSU’s will simply drop 8, even 9 players back into pass defense, and then you get a pick-6 at a point during the game when it actually matters.
And it wouldn’t have been Carlton Thomas up the middle if Pussy Crowell wasn’t a pussy. :-)
It might really just be the difference between expectations and performance. I expected the offense to struggle mightily because of LSU’s great defense, and it struggled mightily. I expected the defense to dominate, and they quit on us in the face of adversity.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
Much love broham.
I didnt agree with this whole “have to run the ball” stuff. I believe we needed to dink and dunk and use trickeration (like we did for 15 minutes). Reverse play action – use short passes to set up the run. AM is not good with the deep ball. I understand they see match ups and go for it, but he simply underthrows most of the time. Bobo should understand that. I want to do what works. We could have scripted plays at halftime and gone to a true no huddle. That isn’t cosmic, but it is more creative than anything Bobo does. OC was owning. The out with MM was owning. And we just stopped.
I think our D, regardless of O, needed to do their jobs. It isnt their problem to worry about the “O sucks” I agree with you on that. But the concept the D has to be 100% both with coaching and execution, while the O gets a break, is crap. The O’s job is to get first downs and score points.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I do agree with you, sorta. :-)
Ultimately, there’s no question that we were not nearly as aggressive in the second half as we were in the first half.
If we were going to even have a hope of beating LSU, we need to play the entire game aggressively, like our hair was on fire. That’s exactly what we did on both sides of the ball in the first half. Aggressive play-calling on offense that kept LSU off balance, and insane crushing defense.
In the second half, though, we seemed to have forgotten the game plan, and we completely lost the aggressiveness and intensity. Give LSU credit for keeping their intensity ratcheted up to 11 all game long, but we blew it just as much as they won it.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
Verbatim
This was my living room rant as the 2nd qtr unfolded. I sensed that the normal thought process and expectation to establish a run game via ponding the ball on 1st and 2nd downs was creeping into Bobo’s mind. I fully believe that our only hope to have establish and run game would have been from establishing the pass as the run and exploiting the underneath spots LSU was giving us. Did you see the deep positioning of the safeties? I just could not handle watching the predictable plays as Murray approached the line to go under center. The shotgun with 1 back should have been the call until we established a greater lead. Also, out lack of desire to put points on the board on the final 2 drive of the 1st half and the opening drive of the second set the tone for the collapse.
Go Dawgs….looking for a good year next year. We must get Marshall out of my current town and send him to my home town!
"Forget about style; worry about results."
Bobby Orr
No, you don't...
quick slants, bubble screens, etc can work the same as a running game. It’s worked for countless offenses before. We were pass protecting great, but we were not getting a push for the running game. Crowell or Thomas, they need a lane to run and LSU’s D wasn’t giving it. They might have given the short passing game, some screens to loosen them up, crossing routes, etc, but we’ll never know.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
My thoughts exactly. Find and do what can work.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
They didn't get the chance to drop a ton of guys into coverage.
Hell, we probably could’ve ran against that. Instead, they loaded the box and we absolutely wasted downs by running directly into the loaded box. They run blitzed. They knew what we were doing and we ran right into it. That is just terrible play-calling and is textbook “getting away from what’s working” and “balance for balance’s sake.”
You don’t have to be able to run the ball if you don’t have a reliable TB and you’re successful throwing the ball. Throwing on 3rd and 9 is one thing. Running into a loaded box on 1st and 2nd down is how you get there. Throwing a dumb pick on 1st and bomb is dumb. But we were completing short passes early that we got away from.
by DocSkraynj on Dec 4, 2011 5:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
You must have been watching a different defense than I was
most of the time they had 7 in the box and were whipping our O line to get off blocks and fit in the gaps. They were playing zone with the CB’s dropping to the flats to take the outs away, LB’s in the middle sitting on slants, and safety help over the top. It was virtually perfect coverage and dictated checking to a run because of numbers (7 to block 7 if you count the FB) but we couldn’t hold our blocks long enough for the RB’s to hit the hole. Not much you can do in that situation
Bobo called a great game, for 15-20 minutes...
then we were up 10-0 and he pulled out the Green Notebook we saw against Ole Miss, etc.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
I am not completely convinced the game plan was
to use all the creativity and imagination, get a 21 pt lead, and then lean on the D. Bad plan. When the script ended, he had nothing.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Offense played hard? Huh?
Oline stunk.
No running game.
No offensive killer instinct after we went up 10-0.
No pass protection.
Receivers dropping balls like they were live grenades.
Did the defense quit? Maybe. But when it feels like the 6th or 7th game of the season where Bobo’s going to just pack it in and make the defense do all the work, maybe its hard to maintain the intensity.
When you don’t feel like you have an entire team all making an effort, maybe its hard to play at that level.
How many times after games was Bobo interviewed and said he shut off the offense because the D was playing so great. And he’d act like that was some kind of complement.
That’s not a complement. That’s failing to do your job, Coach Bobo. There’s no excuse for acting like you can be lazy and not do your job just because CTG and the defense is doing theirs.
CMR let Bobo get away with that garbage too many times all year, and it finally and inevitably hurt us badly.
I think not scoring even a FG in the second half makes for a more concise argument.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
If you go back and look at the posts that The Quincy Carter of Accountants has authored...
… I think you’ll see that our offense has a better track record in 2011 than you’re thinking.
I hate standing up for Mike Bobo, but he’s not the cause of, nor his firing the solution to, all of our problems. Does he get too conservative too quickly? Without question.
But he also was dealing with a true sophomore QB with a proclivity early in the season for throwing pick 6’s and an inability to handle adversity in the pocket. (One might also point out that this is partially Bobo’s fault, as well, since he’s the QB coach, but that’s another issue.) Not to mention the injuries to every scholarship running back (and the fact that we started the season with the 3rd string RB anyway due to Ealey and King’s departures).
I’m not saying Bobo is a great OC. I’m just saying he’s not the worst one there is, and some of his moves are understandable, even justifiable.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
It's Bobo's job to lead the Offense. It's his job to adjust to injuries and changes in players.
It’s more than just Xs and Os. It’s managing practice time. Coaching up. Using strengths in a game, and working on weaknesses in practice. It’s accepting your plan isnt working and adjusting. Bobo needs to go out to somewhere else and develop some experience elsewhere. The fact not a single team would hire him says a lot, whereas we are already worried about losing CTG.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Your last sentence says it all.
The fact that nobody wants to hire him does speak volumes.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
Well, you're right...
I’ll take him over a Patrick Nix, Jeff Bowden, among several others. But should we be satisfied with “he’s not the worst”? Isn’t that sort of complacency and acceptance of less than the best what got us into the problems of the last few years?
http://sportsandgrits.com/
A lights out D helps the O a lot. As LSU has shown us, it takes a lights out D, and very solid O, and STs cant screw you.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
“I think you’ll see that our offense has a better track record in 2011 than you’re thinking”
But that was against weak competition.
/ESPN’d
http://sportsandgrits.com/
by Mr. Sanchez on Dec 4, 2011 8:54 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
That's a rec.
/narrative’d
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
I started to respond and ended up writing 1500 words
I think how to improve the offense is a really really interesting decision for Mark Richt….
Broadcasting live from a secure location underneath the Hell Gate Bridge
by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
Stats lie...
Bobo has ALWAYS been great at padding his stats.
Ever noticed that nobody ever talks about us having a dominant offense? That’s because people know what they see.
We haven’t had an offensive identity since 2006.
We curl up into a ball as soon as we get a 10-14 point lead.
Bobo as OC is responsible for everything related to the offense – including having to rely on a sophomore QB. And I’m sorry, but that’s a redshirt sophomore QB who’se taken thousands of snaps by now and has 3 years in the system.
I realize I'm responding to the sockpuppet of a banned user but....
Stats lie…
They do not. People draw bad conclusions from them when they are lazy
Bobo has ALWAYS been great at padding his stats.
Ever noticed that nobody ever talks about us having a dominant offense?
I refuse to attempt to hold these two ideas together, it is impossible. The knock on Bobo is that he does the exact opposite of padding stats. We get up two touchdowns and then get very conservative. But if he had padded his stats, wouldn’t people be talking about them? Or are you saying that he has tried to pad his stats but failed.
That’s because people know what they see.
They do not. They really really do not. People are passionate about football and watch it with emotion. They over emaphasize novel plays and reinforce their own stereotypes by cherrypicking examples. This is why stats are good. They are not emotional. Now of course a coach wouldn’t only use stats, that would be foolish. You have to take a close look at game film and understand your team dynamics too. But how often do you hear a coach asked about a play immediately after a game only to have them respond, I have to look at the film. Even men who do this professionally, nay especially men who do this professionally know that you need a second objective look to take the emotion and bad judgment out of a situation.
We haven’t had an offensive identity since 2006.
I don’t know what you mean by this.
We curl up into a ball as soon as we get a 10-14 point lead.
Is this when we start padding our stats?
Bobo as OC is responsible for everything related to the offense – including having to rely on a sophomore QB. And I’m sorry, but that’s a redshirt sophomore QB who’se taken thousands of snaps by now and has 3 years in the system.
So you are saying that Mike Bobo is wrong for not having a more experienced QB to rely on, and Aaron Murray is wrong because he is too experienced for something that isn’t totally clear.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 5, 2011 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
Remind me to never get in an argument with you. You will rip me to shreds.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 5, 2011 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Swarles, I'd say your ideas
are well thought out, clearly formulated and pretty darned sensible.
Who could argue with that?
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 5, 2011 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
I guess there is also the fact that it is now becoming a hobby to have muckbeast show up, get made fun of, and banned.
He’s going to get a completely new email and an IP misdirect for the next iteration.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
For Crowell,
Something isnt right, I agree with you there Vine. Either he is hurt, and shouldnt play, or he is well enough to play, and needs to roger up. Something isnt adding up.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
OK, I admit this is my first visit here since yesterday
Does this post resemble the actual general tenor of the good people here about this game? Or is this just a little venting and I shouldn’t take it too seriously?
This is the dark sided rant Xon. On Kyles piece, we are all happy to have accomplished what we did.
As I said after SC, a New Years bowl is a good goal, and we achieved it.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
This
If you told me we would lose to the eventual National Champions in the SEC Championship game (yes, I’m crowning them now, especially if the Pokes make it), potentially win 11 games, and beat Florida, GT, Auburn, and UT, I would have taken it.
We did all of the above with a team of many freshmen and sophomores.
GATA!
OK I'll just move along then
to whatever extent this thread is therapeutic, I’m glad to leave everyone to it!
I will chuckle if you tell me you think Bobo called a good second half. I am not debating it anymore. I would sincerely smile with no hate.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I suppose it is theraputic...
… but it also accurately represents my opinion after watching the game in person.
The season as a whole? Rousing success. This game tonight? See above.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
I'm with you, Xon.
I was starting to wonder whether I was the only one who remembered a first half in which the offensive line gave Aaron Murray all the time in the world to throw, the defense held LSU without a single first down, and the coaching staff called as perfectly-timed and -executed a surprise onside kick as you will ever see.
I’m disappointed, too, but, damn, people!
Manager, Dawg Sports, SB Nation's Georgia Bulldogs weblog.
Go 'Dawgs!
As Eddie Murphy says, "What have you done for me lately?"
great first half, but then came the second. What have you done for me lately?
http://sportsandgrits.com/
That kind of thinking . . .
. . . got Tennessee in the shape it’s in today.
What they’ve done for us lately, by the way, is win ten games, win the SEC East, beat all four major annual rivals in the same season for the first time in 30 years, and play toe-to-toe with the best team in the country for 30 minutes.
Manager, Dawg Sports, SB Nation's Georgia Bulldogs weblog.
Go 'Dawgs!
Calm down Kyle...
I’m not calling for a complete staff change. I’m saying that introspective review of what’s working and what isn’t, with aggressive and strong attempts to fix what isn’t, just like we made last offseason, are a good idea. We had a great season, last year. That year is over, and we have to work just as hard as we did last offseason, if not more so, on continuing to improve to get to where we want to go.
And I kind of figured quoting Eddie Murphy, it’d be obvious that it was somewhat in jest. But it’s also human nature, a great first half is going to be minimalized (sp?) when it’s followed by that horrific second half. We had a good half, but we did not have a good game.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
I think this is a reasonable point....
introspective review of what’s working and what isn’t, with aggressive and strong attempts to fix what isn’t, just like we made last offseason, are a good idea.
And a tough question we have to ask ourselves (or I suppose that Mark Richt has to ask himself) is, are the same things that got us from 6-7 to 10-3 going to get us from 10-3 to 14-0? The hiring of Todd Grantham, the change in S&C, the energy bus mentality and getting the wrong people off the bus, was great leadership by Mark Richt. I hope he stays as thoughtful, decisive and innovative in this offseason and I’m looking forward to it’s results.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
We can not be complacent. I am happy with this year. I except improvement.
Or, as Mr Sanchez says, we will be right back where we were.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
"Calm down"?
What part of that wasn’t calm? I believe there is a more than adequate answer to the question of what has been done for us lately, that’s all.
That said, I’m sorry I missed the Eddie Murphy joke. I guess I didn’t expect an ‘80s reference from someone who’s never seen “Sixteen Candles.” :)
I agree we have to keep working. I just think we can afford to take five minutes to appreciate how much has been achieved.
Manager, Dawg Sports, SB Nation's Georgia Bulldogs weblog.
Go 'Dawgs!
Calm down may have been a poor way of saying
you are taking what I said to the extreme, and I am by no means saying we need to go to Tennesse like measures. I’d never want that.
And I’ve seen all sorts of stand up acts, with Murray’s Raw and Delirious mandatory. I saw a lot more of his 80s movies than the Brat Pack stuff (of that, Breakfast Club, parts of Wisdom, and maybe pieces of one or two others).
I agree, take 5 minutes. Then get back to work, because we’ve come a long way, but going from bad to good, with our resources, is the easy part. Goff had moments of good. Donnan had regular seasons of good and the moment of 10 wins. But to go from good to great, to go from winning a down East to winning the SEC on the whole, that is much much harder than the steps we just took. It’s a long journey as you said, and we’ve come a long way, but there’s a big cliff up next, and it’ll take a lot more to reach the summit.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
The point of this post was not to make a statement about the direction of the program or the need to fire anybody (even the players I called out).
Rather, it was to tell the named players (and officials) that they should be ashamed of how they let this game slip away.
In fact, the magnificent first half is the reason the outrage was so intense at the performance in the second half. In the first half, we saw what this team is capable of. In the second half, we saw what they can reduce themselves to when they get sloppy.
They need to remember what it feels like when you quit, so that it never happens again.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 10:22 AM EST up reply actions
I hear ya on that.
And that falls on CMR ultimately.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I have to admit
I’m a little embarrassed reading this article and thread. Calling an 18-year old kid a “pussy”? Totally uncalled for. Crowell has had a target on his back from the moment he signed to play here. He’s had total strangers tear him to shreds, and yet he racked up 830 yards as a true freshman. Whether or not you think he has or hasn’t lived up to his potential, he’s still a kid. It just makes me a little uncomfortable hearing grown men calling a kid a “pussy”. This blog is supposed to be more intelligent than that. You don’t know what kind of pain Crowell was in and if you think you do you’re wrong.
And to say everything the defense has accomplished this season has been “obliterated” is a little dramatic.
We all knew from the beginning that o-line depth and running back attrition was going to be an issue this year. It’s a miracle we made it through the season with that we had. Finally took its toll last night.
It’s extremely hard to call a game offensive against the best defense in the nation when you have no running game.
Come off the edge folks.
by DawgGirl32 on Dec 4, 2011 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 8 recs
You take your reasonableness elsewhere madam!
Just kidding :-).
Rec’d for keeping it in perspective.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 12:49 PM EST up reply actions
I didn't really have a big problem with Crowell's performance, until..
The TV camera’s panned to a shot of him after he committed a personal foul and CMR was trying to talk(yell?) at him at the guy was just walking into the sideline with his back to him. That’s the kind of stuff that I don’t like. Its disrespectful. So what if you’re mad?! Get over it, and move on. That kind of stuff makes people think his ego is a little too big for his britches. Maybe he can be humbled and rebuilt during the offseason.
by mbrd71 on Dec 4, 2011 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I have all the sympathy in the world for a freshman who is putting his all into playing and unfortunately gets injured...
… and that player’s name is Malcolm Mitchell.
P. Crowell racked up 830 yards, but he also has an attitude problem. And that attitude is making him weak.
You’re right that no one knows exactly the kind of pain he’s feeling, but it’s also clear that the UGA medical staff is not tending to him on the sidelines, yet he’s still limping. Is there even one other player on the team for whom that’s the case? When you saw Malcolm Mitchell get injured, they kept him out of games even when he said himself that he was ready to go. And the same for Richard Samuel (the Intravenous).
Because the UGA medical team is so conservative and careful with players’ health issues, one can only conclude that when P. Crowell limps off after one or two plays every game and then limps around noticeably on the sideline with nobody helping him, they think he’s not seriously injured. Which means he needs to get off his ass and back in the game.
Literally every other player on the field at the Division I-A level learns to play with pain. Crowell must learn that lesson, too, or he’s useless to us.
And when Mark Richt told him (if my lip reading was correct), “Hey Isaiah, that’s stupid, man,” after a stupid unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Crowell just turned around and walked away without acknowledging him.
The kid needs to get straightened out, and I hope both for our sake and his sake that he does in the offseason, because we need a great, talented guy like him running the ball. Until then, I have to call ‘em like I see ’em… and that’s what I see for P. Crowell.
You might think I’m above calling a guy who acts like a pansy a pansy. You’d be wrong.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
Come on now
Im a teenager myself and even I can realize that its out of line to call Crowell that. Please try to be mature. It’s just a game. That said, I realize that he has had an attitude problem, but what do you expect from a high schooler who was told hes the best thing to come around since sliced bread? Its part of a beautiful process called growing up. Some take longer than others. To add on to that, he has been injured and to what extent, none of us on here truly know, so try to not speculate, much less berate a kid half your age with malicious insults.
Bobo needs to GOGO...
He brings down the energy of the team with his play calling.
The team was pumped because they were not in the same old song and dance rhythm that Bobo employs every game.
He is predictable to the point of being laughable, until that is, we get our asses spanked beyond belief.
I like the name for Crowell. Pussy Crowell is accurate.
I was thinking maybe just use the moniker “Lil’ Pussy”.
He needs to get it through his head that he is playing in the SEC now and this is no longer some rec league where everyone is a winner.
I went to high school with a guy and we graduated back in 1991.
His name is Mike.
(He signed with UGA as a 5 star athlete, but he never played!! I will not name his last name out of respect. He was a really good guy, but he was a primadonna on the field).
Mike was a monster coming straight outta high school, 300+ pound defensive lineman with a sub 5 second 40.
But he was a pussy with a sense of entitlement, the worst kind of pussy.
VERY SIMILAR TO IC.
Mike was showered with praise in high school and was the man on the field, because it was freaking HIGH SCHOOL.
Then when he started being challenged at UGA, he couldn’t cut the mustard and fell into obscurity.
Crowell needs someone to challenge him so that CMR can bench his lazy ass until he performs and gets this primadonna crap out of this system.
That message was for you Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley.
Our defense… Well… I understand your frustration, but I can’t really blame them.
In my opinion, they ran out of gas.
They were overwhelmed by fresh players, because they were playing a rotation of guys, each as strong and as fast as the last.
We need a stable of players.
HEY RECRUITS. Come play for Coach Todd Grantham for what will be one of the most dominant defensive schemes in all of college football.
Come in droves because you will all play and you will all go to the NFL.
CTG has connections, don’t you know?
The refs need to burn in hell.
I hate them with a passion because they changed the mojo of the game.
Last night was a good learning experience, but what I really hope that CMR learned is that he NEEDS TO FIRE MIKE BOBO.
BOBO NEEDS TO GOGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
-Cicero
That would make a good t-shirt.
Or bumper sticker.
BOBO NEEDS TO GOGO.
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
-Cicero
If
Isaiah is a pussy, then Ken Malcome (at least for a day) was the anti-pussy. Upon reflection after a poor-night’s sleep (I mean, really…can anyone actually sleep well after a loss?) I am baffled by not playing Ken until it was garbage time. I really wish I knew what the coaching staff was thinking.
We choose to run Thomas in the middle coming out of the 2nd-half gate. Hell, if this was the true plan, why not put in a running back with some real mass in the game? I mean, 2nd and 8 is a helluva better than 2nd and 13 or whatever. At what point in the game did the offensive braintrust realize we’ve got a back sitting on the bench who could, at the minimum, get some positive yardage in the middle of that LSU line? This baffles me. Again, if Malcome is the Dog House, why just play him in garbage time? He could have been a real asset. Game changing? Probably not, but what Boo has shown over the last few games is that he’s really, really trying. I liked what I saw and that was the ONLY positive in the 2nd half. Point is, the kid can play.
Crowell is a project. His potential is unlimited, but this guy is going to take a lot of time and energy. IMHO the best thing that could happen is we sign those two kids out of North Carolina to push him. And play Boo, dammit. If he’s not starting for the Bowl, then he’s probably transferring. Again, my opinion.
Anyway, I’m just now picking myself up off the floor this morning, vineyarddawg. I rate this post a quadruple espresso with a Red Bull enema. Wow.
Editor @ Dawg Sports. 3rd degree Red 'n Black Belt.
"If we score, we may win. If they never score, we'll never lose."
-Erk Russell
So correct...
“We choose to run Thomas in the middle coming out of the 2nd-half gate. Hell, if this was the true plan, why not put in a running back with some real mass in the game? I mean, 2nd and 8 is a helluva better than 2nd and 13 or whatever. At what point in the game did the offensive braintrust realize we’ve got a back sitting on the bench who could, at the minimum, get some positive yardage in the middle of that LSU line? This baffles me.”
This exemplifies why Bobo should be fired or at the very least demoted to QB/ST coach.
That was his call. From what I can gather, CMR is hands off of the offense and he let’s Bobo do his thing.
I do believe, and I said this previously, that most of the 1st half was scripted by CMR and Bobo… and WE DID WELL.
It all comes back to Bobo blowing it when he has to make calls on the fly.
He simply can not do it.
He can’t
Running right up the gut with a back the size of spud web when he could have run Boo instead makes sense to a 3rd grader.
Anyone who understands the physics behind the collision of two objects of differing mass would not have run those freaking plays.
CMR…. STOP with the loyalty when it doesn’t work .
It DOESN:T work with Bobo any longer and it NEVER has.
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
-Cicero
Interesting thoughts....
CMR…. STOP with the loyalty when it doesn’t work .
It DOESN:T work with Bobo any longer and it NEVER has.
Do you think this would limit your ability to develop your assistant coaches if you were Mark Richt?
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
Develop assistant coaches... Yes...
But defensive and offensive coordinators are not two positions that should be used to develop players.
Those two positions have the most direct influence on the game and they need to be manned by proven commodities.
In my opinion, you don’t develop an offensive coordinator, while they are the offensive coordinator.
Develop them while they are QB coach…. Or special teams coach.
Which, once again in my opinion, Richt needs to demote Bobo to one of those positions and take back the OC position himself.
Bobo needs to Gogo.
no sweat....
I knew what you meant.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 2:10 PM EST up reply actions
Ok I take your point here:
Which, once again in my opinion, Richt needs to demote Bobo to one of those positions and take back the OC position himself.
If Richt demotes or fires Bobo, and I don’t think you can demote him, after having an offense that was third in the SEC in total offense, fourth in scoring offense and his team won the division, with a lot of young players a year after going 6-7 the prior year, does he risk creating an environment in which very good coaches don’t want to be? Does he set a precedent for his other staff in which he fires earlier on when a process isn’t working? How much of this is Richt’s responsibility? Is Bobo doing what he’s being told to do regarding game plans. It’s a hard question in my mind.
Maybe he doesn’t maybe a great offensive coordinator looks at that situation and says, I’m totally confident in my abilities and I’m not worried that it’s a tough job to keep. I can see that even though Bobo was third in the conference, that masks some problems that I can fix and be a rock star here. I worry that he might say, “I’m going somewhere with a better environment.”
But I don’t know, improving the offense is a tough one. That’s why Richt is getting paid what he does though.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 2:10 PM EST up reply actions
I don't want Bobo around at all. Fresh blood is needed.
Scoring offense is a misleading stat, pair out the cupcakes and bad teams (Auburn).
Bobo is more than just a guy that calls plays, he is the leader of the offense. We all see CTG as the leader of his D, but few people see CMB as a leader on O, albeit people may disagree on play calling.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I know scoring offense is a misleading stat
which is why I put in parenthesis that it has a lot to do with defense as well :-). I looked at it vs. just SEC teams and vs. all teams, Georgia is third in total offense and fourth in scoring offense in both cases.
If you look at it just vs. ranked teams Georgia only has three games so take with grain of salt, but Georgia has 368 yards per game which is the best in the SEC, and has scored 24 ppg which is fourth. It’s a little bit apples to oranges because different teams have played different amounts of games against ranked teams.
I understand your point on Bobo’s leadership, and if Richt feels the same way, then I think he should go in another direction. If however he feels that Bobo can become the leader of the offense and succeed in that role, I think he should stay the course. Again, I don’t know enough about what happens on the headsets and in the meeting rooms to evaluate his leadership. Richt certainly should though.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
Cool!
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
You damage your credibility by calling for the firing of the offensive coordinator in a year when we won the SEC East.
Bobo has flaws, no doubt, but why would you keep saying he needs to be fired when we have 10 wins?
Yes, our offensive malaise cost us in the 3 losses, but Bobo’s not going anywhere as long as we continue to be successful.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
I dont agree with that at all.
If you want to move from the 10 win area to the 13-14 win area, another great leap is required. Otherwise, 2012 will be much more like 2011 than I desire.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I mean, you're free to say that and all...
… but I don’t think it’s going to convince a lot of people.
Actually, let me restate… I think there’s a better option.
This has been Mark Richt’s offense from the beginning, and Mike Bobo is just running it. I think Richt needs to spend more time with Bobo in the offseason (especially since he now has much less administrative crap blocking his time thanks to Greg McGarity) and re-teach him about calling games effectively.
Mark Richt should know from his literally decades of experience that you can’t just shut down an offense with a 14-point lead and then restart it if the need arises late in the game. He needs to communicate this to Bobo and help him change his play-calling tactics to reflect that fact.
I think that’s a more likely solution at this point than firing Bobo or demoting him. I just don’t think Bobo will ever be fired unless Mark Richt is going out the door with him.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
I'm with tankertoad...
There’s apparently a ceiling with Bobo around 10 or 11 wins. That requires a lot of things to happen, mostly luck, to ever dream of a national title. We have to want to get our own 14-0 season. As long as Bobo has been here, it just seems like he doesn’t consistently call a good enough game to beat our best opponents for a whole season.
You can say it’s insane to want the coordinator out after a 10 win season, but since the three losses we have are largely due to offensive ineptitude, it’s reasonable to question Bobo. That’s not even counting how many times our defense covered up our offensive woes.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
I didn't say it was insane to want to Fire Mike Bobo...
… just very unlikely to happen after a 10-win season, and very unlikely to receive widespread support in any case.
And all 3 losses are not necessarily attributable to the offense. We didn’t lose 42-10 last night just because of the offense. And we didn’t lose to Boise State just because of the offense. The South Carolina game, I’ll grant you… but only because the final score was so close.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
I will agree with you on the unlikely part, which is really leading me in a place I have never wanted to go.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Exactly.
Mark Richt will never fire Mike Bobo… so the only alternative (or at least, the more likely alternative) is to fire Mark Richt.
And I don’t think any of us want to go there right now.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
Understood
It is unlikely a change will happen now, but I stand by Tankertoad’s assessment.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 4:09 PM EST up reply actions
How much is ...
…coaching and how much is talent and execution? Last year Gus Malzhan looks like a genius but without Cam Newton his offense is much more pedestrian. Urban Meyer and Dan Mulin have a lights-out system, if you have Tim Tebow to run it.
Our goal should be to win the East, and therefore have a chance to win the SECCG. Do that, and the MNC will follow.
Cut well, sew well, get well.
As illustrated by this season, winning the SEC doesn't guarantee
a national title shot anymore.
And I’m sorry, but I’m hungry for an undefeated season. Just saying.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 4:11 PM EST up reply actions
And being undefeated doesn't guarantee a shot at the MNC..
see Auburn 2004.
Cut well, sew well, get well.
We have the talent to go undefeated and win despite Bobo
But I think that with the deep pockets of the University and the current positive direction, it would only behoove us to go find a hired gun.
Bobo is in his position because of this dedication to the program.
Not because of his talent.
And considering the caliber of team that everyone wishes UGA to be, Bobo’s current amount of control over game situations is unacceptable.
Bobo needs to Gogo.
Perhaps there is truth to this....
Bobo is in his position because of this dedication to the program.
That dedication could drive him to improve. If he’s aware of the shortcomings or made aware, a motivated person can do a lot of things even if he hasn’t done them yet. Dedication to the program shouldn’t be overlooked.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 5, 2011 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
But Malzhan used his talents
and when we went up 17-0 against Auburn, we took our foot off the gas. Sound familiar?
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
This
Bobo has never showed the ability to maximize the output given the potential of his players for an entire season. A game, or two, or three, or ten. But he almost always costs us games at some point.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 4:18 PM EST up reply actions
How much is Bobo...
…and how much of it is Mark Richt telling him to back off?
Cut well, sew well, get well.
I think CMR's one weakness is too much love for friends, coworkers, players
It took too long to remove Martinez, and he has gotten too cozy with players and it wasn’t until this year he started really kicking people off for being vampires.
The offseason will say a lot. 2012 will as well. If we win 10 or 11 games with basically the same formula, calling, etc, I will then have no confidence in CMR.
2012 truly says if we can go elite or not.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Bobo may have less...
….leeway than Willie Two Thumbs. Martinez and Van Hallanger were Richt’s guys from FSU. Bobo isn’t, even though Richt brought Bobo in from Jacksonville State.
And the conjecture that Bobo and Grantham don’t like each other, I don’t think thath RIcht has Grantham over for dinner very much.
Cut well, sew well, get well.
And that is exactly why I wanted a CTG, because he needed someone that could stand up to him.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I'm not gonna call him a one trick pony.
I do, however, feel like the creativity isn’t there. I fear that whenever a defensive coordinator is preparing for Georgia that he must feel good schematically. He might fear some of the talent we have on offense, but he won’t be afraid of our offense outsmarting his. Problem located.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 4:21 PM EST up reply actions
Haha
Yeah, that’s more or less the point. He might try to throw kinks into his gameplan, but it’s still the same gameplan each week.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
It isn't just playcalling...
… its attitude.
… its leadership
… its killer instinct.
CMB has none of these skills.
Les Miles got rid of his OC...
… when they were generating big offensive stats.
Les Miles knew that OC wouldn’t get the job done.
Look at the result.
Nobody wants Mike Bobo. That should tell you something.
This is a tricky situation for Richt
And I have acknowledged that Bobo is a damn good dawg, but something needs to be done.
If he wants to soften the blow and has to take the play calling duties back, then fine, but he must do it.
What is happening is so eerily similar to Willie Martinez.
And in my opinion, the numbers that the offense is posting are moreso despite Bobo instead of because of him.
CMR and co. sign some of the most elite talent in the nation.
It is inevitable that they will put up some good numbers.
Another coach that this reminds me of is Jim Donnan.
Donnan had decent numbers as a head coach and I remember several people questioned his release.
(or fire if you wanna be truthful about it.)
But the reason Donnan was let go was because the head chiefs “didn’t like the direction of the program under his leadership”.
And the EXACT same goes for Bobo.
I say… Fire him.
Get him out of the way.
He does more damage than good.
Bobo needs to Gogo.
Well said
CMR and co. sign some of the most elite talent in the nation.
It is inevitable that they will put up some good numbers.
Perhaps slightly less than inevitable? Florida signs at least as much elite talent as we do and their numbers in 2011 don’t compare very favorably with Bobo’s. Now I understand they are in a coaching transition, but the same holds true for Auburn.
The analogy to Donnan is a fine point, but isn’t the trajectory from last year to this year under Bobo up? Statistically it is….you can decide if you think the numbers are lying (they do that sometimes). Also, Donnan was the head coach, so while Mike B should certainly be held accountable for his performance, I would hold him to a little lower standard in terms of direction than the head man.
If they do make the decision to go another direction in the coaching, I hope they make as good a hire as Grantham. Another interesting way to look at it might be, is Mark Richt better at evaluating coaching talent than developing it? If he can find the next great coordinator but not develop one, that might be worth considering too. In that case it would seem wise to “buy rather than build.” But if that’s true, it also says something about Richt.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
When your Defense hands three teams a total of like 12 yards, it dramatically impacts how good your offense is.
3 Quarters and we didnt scrape together a FG. Whether we need better linemen, a better QB, a better OC, a better HC, whatever, it isnt the Ds fault we didnt even come close after the first Q attack. If it’s the line, then we need to fix that (and we have problems on the line every year, I blame that on CMR). If ever a QB needed to be coached up, it is AM (that’s on Bobo).
I am a big Richt supporter, however, if we get more of the same for 2012, rather than working to make the leap from 10 wins to undefeated, I will lose faith. He has proven he can get 10 wins – a lot of them. But its now time to make the hard calls to take us to 12+
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Hadn't thought of this in this way.....
If it’s the line, then we need to fix that (and we have problems on the line every year, I blame that on CMR). If ever a QB needed to be coached up, it is AM (that’s on Bobo).
and it’s a good thought. If your O-Line, QB, and (lord knows) running backs need to be coached up that’s a pretty meaningful percentage of your total offense. Does Georgia have a systematic coaching problem among the position coaches on the offensive side of the ball? I’m not sure I know enough to answer that, but it’s an interesting question.
I tend to think of Bobo as a staff that needs to be developed by a supervisor, Coach Richt, but he’s also a supervisor who needs to develop his staff, the offensive position coaches. At least I assume that’s how it works in football, it’s how it works in my world. If that isn’t happening, or is beyond his skillset, that’s got to be fixed too. If that can’t be fixed it’s a problem.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
I read somewhere at dawgsports...
That CMR is more of a CEO than a CFO.
I think that is very accurate.
He is much better at organizing than creating.
He is much better at running a ship than building one.
Stick to your strengths, I say.
Bobo needs to Gogo.
There isn't a single quality coach...
… who isn’t aware of the fact that Mike Bobo sucks.
Stats or not, you NEVER hear people talking about “Georgia’s dominant offense” or “Georgia’s brilliant OC.”
There’s a reason nobody is even trying to hire Mike Bobo away.
Everybody knows he sucks. If CMR finally cut out this cancer, it would not be a discouragement to anyone else looking for a great job.
But Bobo is more than that, he is THE OC
He is responsible for all things O. Using the correct players. Working with the position coaches, managing practices, mixing up players. CTG does all of this. CTG doesnt call plays, he actually said “he like being able to move players around”. Bobo has not shown he can do this. He doesnt lead or motivate, and he can make adjustments. He doesnt have respect of the staff, and he looks like a doofus in interviews. He has been at georgia for, what, over 15 years. He has no idea of other styles or programs.
It is his best interest to grow and mature by being in another program, because he is an anchor in ours.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I agree that Todd Grantham is a better coach than Mike Bobo
I think a reasonable question to ask is if Bobo has taken the offense as far as it can go (in terms of total yards, third best in the SEC, in terms of points per game fourth in the SEC – I understand points per game is has a lot to do with defense as well) under his leadership. What you say about not showing that he can work with position coaches, manage practices and mix up players has a lot of merit. But despite that he’s gotten some pretty good results compared to other SEC teams against SEC competition Georgia is about 100 yards per game better than Florida or Auburn. So in my mind what Richt has to answer is, “can Mike Bobo get better based on the success he has had, or are we as good as we are going to be?” And if he is as good as he is going to be, what then? I don’t know the answer.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 2:24 PM EST up reply actions
Let me put a slightly positive light on his firing:
I think Coach Richt would be helping him. Stagnation is a curse. Coach Bobo has never worked in another system, and, frankly, only knows Donnan and Goff and UGA. He was given a chance at OC as CMR saw potential, but having never dealt with other bosses, other systems, other challenges, it has not given him the chance to grow and mature. Coach Bobo went to UGA, was a QB, was an assistant coach, is OC. He hasnt had to do anything else in his life. On the other hand, Coach Richt was a bartender at one point. He was at Miami, at FSU, he has traveled the world on missions and with the USO. I am not sure Bobo has made it out of Athens. This simply isnt a good way of career broadening. We can bring him back if he proves his metal somewhere else.
And thanks for the cred on working with the entire offense, as a leader and manager, because that is very, very important. I am convinced CTG doesn’t like him – and we like CTG a lot, doesn’t that say something?
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Ideal situation would be....
for him to be hired as a head coach at an FCS place or as a coordinator. Ideal ideal.
And thanks for the cred on working with the entire offense, as a leader and manager, because that is very, very important. I am convinced CTG doesn’t like him – and we like CTG a lot, doesn’t that say something?
You are welcome, it’s a great point. If he can’t lead the rest of the offensive staff and doesn’t have the respect of CTG, he needs to either fix that. If he can’t fix that, it’s a problem.
I have a lot of concerns if there is a different standard of performance for the offense and the defense, coaches and players. You can’t have one group of guys held accountable for excellence and on group not. In other words, there is a problem with “score 14 and then hand it over to the D,” that goes beyond the fact that it isn’t very good football. Players have to be in roles that push them to excel. If the offense isn’t being pushed that way, I worry about it causing team chemistry problems in which the D carries an additional burden which might cause them to resent the O, and the O not being put in a position to succeed which might cause them to resent the coaches and the D. Need that culture to be consistent excellence.
Now if we score 14, shut it down and run the ball successfully, and continue to score points while killing the clock, I’m cool with that, just whatever we’re doing we have to establish opportunities to be excellent for the players.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
I am in 100% and complete agreement. Absolutely.
Kyle has said it, I have railed on it, but why does the D have to be perfect and the O gets a pass? It’s crap, and it DESTROYS morale. If I was on D, and got my ass chewed out by CTG, only to watch IC blow off the HC, I wouldnt be all that motivated either. It’s bad, bad leadership. We should have had a WR huddle at some point and talk them up. I never saw AM on the phone – Bobo’s chance to keep him going. AM looked demoralized.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
How much of this...
do you think is a problem because CTG is on the sideline and CMB is in the booth?
CMB needs to be in the booth in game - but he has a phone.
Also, CMR can huddle up the O – and he didnt seem to do that much either.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Sorry...
but sometimes a phone call just doesn’t get the point across like a face full of rage. And I believe CMB did spend some time calling from the sidelines a few years ago, it just didn’t seem to improve anything. How many HCs call the game from a booth? He also has other staff that can watch from the booth like he use to for CMR.
I’m not really sure what CMR does on the sideline other than looking thoughtful.
Bobo needs to be in the booth, so I blame the huddles on CMR.
Joe T is usually available for butt chewings.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
...
IF Isaiah is a pussy, then Ken Malcome (at least for a day) was the anti-pussy.
Just don’t call him Dick.
Editor @ Dawg Sports. 3rd degree Red 'n Black Belt.
"If we score, we may win. If they never score, we'll never lose."
-Erk Russell
But....
Can we call Richard Samuel Dick?
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
Dick the Intravenous?
I’m sorry. I can’t type that again without wincing.
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I think the issue with Malcome in the past has been ball security.
I could be wrong, but I think I’ve heard Richt say that before. And in a game where we knew turnover margin was going to be huge, you don’t want to put a guy in there who can’t hold onto the ball.
Fair enough, . . .
. . . but when’s the last time he fumbled? He didn’t against LSU, and he didn’t against Georgia Tech.
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He had some nice runs against GT.
My son who did not see the GT game couldn’t understand when he saw him last night why he had not played more. Although his PT was against their scrubs, he the only way he could have done worse than IC and CT would be to fumble.
Last drive was an almost completely different front seven.
Scrubs is probably not the right term for the LSU second string.
That's true, he's shown some nice effort when he's been given the chance recently
Maybe he doesn’t show that same effort or performance in practice? Pure speculation on my part.
I heard that, as well.
My response is simple: Herschel didn’t practice well, either.
I’m much more concerned with how a guy performs in games. I’m not saying to make Malcome the starter, but giving him more carries earlier in the game seems warranted at this point, particularly since Isaiah Crowell’s injuries sure seem to bother him a lot less right after another Georgia running back has just gone for a big gain. I think a lot of the Crowell criticism is overblown, but that one is entirely valid.
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Through his play in the last three games, . . .
. . . Ken Malcome most definitely has earned more playing time.
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Bobo
We can crap on Bobo all we want, but this one was on the O Line. Once LSU got it together in the 2nd Quarter, our line just got completely demolished. And that’s more on recruiting and S&C than on Bobo’s play calling. We simply don’t have the same type of guys on the OL that LSU and BAMA do.
The old friend from college seated next to me said it best:
“Our offensive line is one-deep.”
The offensive line didn’t quit; they got worn down because LSU had fresh legs and we didn’t. In the first half, they did a fantastic job blocking for Aaron Murray.
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which leads to short passes, screens, etc
the D chases, the DL rushes, but the ball is out quickly and they have to chase WRs. They wear down. Granted LSU’s depth negates that a good bit, but it keeps our OL fresh.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
I agree that the play calling did our offensive line no favors.
I disagree with UgaMatt that the offensive line is to blame. They wore down.
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Which shows a lack of depth.
It’s why the underdog can give the big boys a game for one half but can’t sustain.
It’s an old story. But I want us to move past being the underdog.
Disagree here
very few OLs rotate. Maybe 6 or 7 players, but unlike other positions aside from QB, you don’t see many second string OL get regular snaps outside of less than normal circumstances. We wore down not because of depth, but because of that extra 20 pounds they all carry around their midsections. Being big on the OL is nice, but it helps to have, as I call it, the fat that flexes.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
by Mr. Sanchez on Dec 4, 2011 9:35 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I was not aware of that....
I shall rec it.
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 12:52 PM EST up reply actions
This is correct, most of the O line is the same, with hopefully some really good backups.
It is a combination of lack of power and misuse of assets.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Wait, I'm confused.
I think we’re saying the same thing. I don’t thnk the o-line quit or loafed. I think they all gave it everything they had. I’m not blaming the o-line as people, but they did nothing after the 1st quarter. Bobo could have helped them out some, but we don’t have a gamebreaker at RB on the draws, and we’ve been a terrible screen team ever since Stafford and Moreno left. Oversigning has given Bama and LSU incredible depth on the lines, and it showed.
Thanks for the clarification, UgaMatt.
Agreed.
Manager, Dawg Sports, SB Nation's Georgia Bulldogs weblog.
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second that
I know that I am Bobo bashing, but an undersized line can be accommodated with the correct plays.
Power runs in that gap DOES NOT accommodate a worn down line.
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
-Cicero
This is true,
We simply don’t have the same type of guys on the OL that LSU and BAMA do.
But my question is: why not?
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
That's the million dollar question.
I watched the game last night wondering to myself how come they have all that depth but we don’t.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
Oversigning
That is how the SEC West has become the dominant division over the past few years with the exception of Florida. All of the programs in the West have oversigned for years in order to keep up with the other programs. Georgia and Florida don’t oversign and you can see where that hurt both teams this year in depth. We had around 72 scholorship players and if I am not mistaken I think the Gators had in the high 60’s. You can’t go through the meat grinder of an SEC schedule and expect to not have significant injuries that require depth.
by RocketDawg on Dec 4, 2011 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Oversigning
When you sign 25% more players, every four years you have a whole recruiting class more. In the last 4 years LSU signed 106 players. UGA signed 86. It’s not anymore complicated that that.
by UgaMatt on Dec 4, 2011 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Asked and answered.....
well said
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 4, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
Did the obviously line fail, yes. But who put us in the power I?
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Um....... OC is responsible for the OLine.
What is with this consistent habit of people to forget that the OC is responsible for the entire offense.
Would you give CTG a pass if we had a crappy Dline?
Mike Bobo is responsible for the offensive line. That fact that it has sucked for 5 years is his fault!
Wasn't it Tavarres King who dropped the TD pass on the first drive?
Malcolm Mitchell dropped what would have been a TD pass on the 2nd drive I believe. Either way, the point stands. The receivers just let Aaron Murray down in this game. I feel pretty bad for him that he was only 16 of 40 when I can think of at least 3 passes that were perfectly placed that were dropped (King for a TD, Mitchell for a TD, Figgins just for some positive yardage). And I didn’t even see much of the 2nd half because I had to be at a company Christmas party.
Ah, you're exactly right, MDDawg.
It was King on the first drive and Mitchell on the second. My bad.
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by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 10:25 AM EST up reply actions
No problem, that's what I'm here for.
To make sure we remember both of those missed opportunites in excruciatingly exact detail. :)
On the TK pass - let me add some specifics
Was it catchable? Likely, and that is the time to step up. But the ball was sailed. TK is not that tall. And AM has sailed it in the endzone often. A lower pass, maybe with some lead, would have helped a lot. I see it as say, 60% on TK, and 40% on AM. The ball was going high, but catchable with a timely leap. MM drop was because he saw TD first.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one.
I think the ball was pretty well placed where only our receiver had a chance at it, and it looked to me like he didn’t have to reach that far to catch it. The ball went right between his hands. I say it was 99% on King.
The ball was sailing and high. Catchable, yes, well placed, no.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
but plain and simple it hit him in both hands
when a WR can get both hands on a football, they should make the catch.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
I think Murray put it where he had to to get it over the LB in the middle of the field
Either way, we both agree it was catchable, so there’s that at least.
TT
That ball passed DIRECTLY through his hands. I haven’t been impressed with most of King’s play throughout this season but that was probably his worst play yet.
Sorry
I didn’t realize that every pass was suppose to drop directly in their lap.
The ball hit King in stride with him able to get both hands on the ball without having to fully extend his arms. That’s placed well enough for a TD in my book.
I placed more blame on King. But I will not credit it with Marino level accuracy.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
10 points wasn't enough !!
I seldom post a comment but after watching each and every play of the game, I had to say something.
The first half was lights out for our defense. The second was nothing short of a nightmare.
But, I think if Mike Bobo would have kept the offense mixed and used the same play calling that was used in the first half, to start the second half, things may have been different.
I totally agree that Crowell is a joke. For all his hype, he sure has a way of doing nothing. Bobo on the other hand cuff’s the offense by trying to ride the defense’s thunder. Had he kept the quick drop and a few well set up screens in place instead of CT up the middle, our momentum might have held. LSU is a great team. An even better one with Bobo calling our plays. He needs to go….
by Ogeechee River Dawg on Dec 4, 2011 7:55 AM EST reply actions
Could it be possible...
Do you think Bob Stoops might want Bobo ? He could join that defensive mastermind Willie M. Oklahoma would be in line for a Tidy Bowl selection in a couple of years !!!!
by Ogeechee River Dawg on Dec 4, 2011 9:02 AM EST up reply actions
It really is amazing what Willie Martinez has done for that great Oklahoma defense, isn't it?
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by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 10:28 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Blah
Clicked flag by accident when trying to rec… stupid tiny iPhone screen.
At least you admitted to flagging by mistake.
That’s better treatment than we usually get.
by Cherokee's Grip on Dec 4, 2011 11:25 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Now that's funny
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by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 5, 2011 1:35 PM EST up reply actions
We are a good team, not
a great team. I think we played with everything we had for the first half. Then LSU said, ok, we are going to sit back in coverage and force you to try to run the ball up the gut. And with 120lb Thomas, hurt Crowell, and thin O-line we couldnt do it. All in all, it was a good season…we have a lot to build on, and look forward to what next year can be.
Ahhh the predictable "Crap on Bobo Thread"
this was almost as predictable as some of you claim his offense to be. Maybe you should mix it up and throw in some trickery…like blaming dropped TD’s, turnovers and poor officiating. I’ll have a Fan Post with my thoughts on the game up in a bit.
I agree that several other factors played into the loss
But a good coach knows how to work with what they are given and play to the strengths and weaknesses of both their team and the opposing team.
Bobo does neither.
This is the EXACT same situation as was with Willie Martinez.
He didn’t always completely suck.
He called some decent games.
Like his wins against Tech.
But overall he sucked. And so does Bobo.
Bobo needs to gogo.
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
-Cicero
I agree
Don’t we all want an offensive mind behind Richt that makes our HC and our offense feared and loathed by opponents and their fans. You are right. Bobo has called some good games. However, when he slips into the script, we risk losing and often under perform.
"Forget about style; worry about results."
Bobby Orr
His problem is that he is SOOOO predictable.
And that brings down the team.
Bobo is an energy vampire.
The opposing squad knows what play we are going to run.
Hell, the fans know, the announcers know,
Everybody freaking knows.
He likes to run it up the gut unless his back is to the wall and then he shoots for the moon.
Unless he wants to try and catch the other team sleeping.
Then he goes long.
He really only runs three plays, but in several variations.
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
-Cicero
I am not going to get into a Bobo is great vs Bobo is bad debate.
It seems to come up every game win or lose and the fact is that some folks think that he is doing a good job (me) and some of you don’t. We are all entitled to our opinions for sure.
Bobo did get conservative at the end of the first half and to open the second half because he was trying to prevent exactly what happened. A key turnover that swung the momentum in the game. You can say what you will about the play calling but I thought he did about as well as he could given the circumstances.
Not having a running game virtually eliminates play action and that is our bread and butter. Having those LB’s and DB’s pause for a split second lets the TE’s and WR’s get some seperation and it just wasn’t happening. After the half Chavis went into “blitz, blitz and blitz again mode” and we had nothing. It was mentioned before that we haven’t been a good screen team in years and the draws that we tried to run to slow the pass rush down never developed. What you saw in the second quarter on was a defense that took away everything. They knew we couldn’t run and their DB’s are talented enough to play man to man so they can send extra guys. There weren’t alot of playcalling options there. The bubble screens that we tried to throw resulted in a 4 and 5 yard loss. Swing passes were blown up in the backfield and they were squatting on the short outs and slants with a deep safety over the top. There was literally nothing there. The coverage was dictating a run due to the numbers in the box but they (like us in the first half) were stopping the run with 7 and then blitzing in obvious passing situations. The PA game wasn’t there and those plays were taking too long to develop resulting in 4 sacks. It also doesn’t help when you can’t trust your WR’s to catch the ball. King, Mitchell,Bennett and Conley all had huge drops that would have been TD’s for the first two and key 1st downs for the latter two. You just have to give LSU credit for being that good and stopping everything. We had no running game and were one dimensional and they took that away. I don’t see where any OC could succeed in that situation.
I could understand that argument if I hadn't seen t before.
But both my previous statement and your previous statement could have been used VERBATIM after the Kentucky game.
In my humble opinion, this argument is happening too often, but more than that, it is always the same argument.
Which leads me to question Bobo’s ability.
Bobo needs to Gogo.
We didnt use play action to start the game. We used what worked. Why'd we stop.
No outs, no slants, stopped using the FB and TEs. Yet more deep ball incompletions. Thats classic Bobo.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Let me also add, yest they dropped some passes, but THEY WERE THERE.
So keep trying it. If Bobo quits plays that worked because of drops, that is a failure in leadership and sends a negative message.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Amen
If I am a kid and I drop a coupla of passes… and then the OC completely changes the game plan and never comes to me again.
I am going to feel completely demoralized.
What we saw yesterday was soooooo freaking predictable.
Bobo needs to Gogo.
You can't win games...
… if you shrivel up and stop playing because you are afraid of the bad things that might happen.
Get a different career if that’s how you think.
Did you even read the post, RocketDawg?
if not, I suggest that you at least go back and read the #2 point I made before the jump.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
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by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
I did read it
and I was referring more to the comments than the post. Sorry for the confusion.
Ah. Sorry for biting you, then.
I’ve been a little on edge. Maybe I should check my BAC. In spite of the title of this post, it might be time for a refill.
For the record, I don’t like the “Fire Bobo” arguments, either. We just finished a 10-win season in which we won the SEC East and showed substantial improvement over last year.
Now is not the time to be firing anybody. It’s time to tweak and reload for 2012.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
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I don't agree. It's time to make even more off season improvements or we will have a 2011 all over again.
No one, players or staff or fans are going to be concerned with Bobo staying, particularly if we get a great leader in that position. 10 wins is a result of great talent, an AMAZING D, a weak east, not because of some offensive genius.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I think there's a "tweaking" option that's likely to be more effective...
… and more likely to be implemented, in any case. I just stated that above in a reply to you before I read this comment, so I won’t type it again, since you just probably read it. :-)
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If I may way in via the road home
Is Isaiah Crowell worth the trouble?
Writer (and a handsome one at that),
And the Valley Shook
honestly
I don’t think so.
I can only judge by his performance.
And I don’t know him personally nor am I privy to what happens in practice.
But he seems to have a sense of entitlement and when things don’t go his way he takes his ball and goes home.
Figuratively of course.
He just checks out mentally and physically, because we are not in a good position with our running backs, presently…
(that was meant for you Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley)
He seems to believe that it doesn’t matter what he does.
Yes, he rushed for 800 plus yards as a freshman and he has shown that he can bring the heat.
But when the going gets tough, he asks to be taken out of the game.
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
-Cicero
It depends
as I just wrote on S&G, I see a combination of Richt backs in Crowell, and would like him to attach himself to the hip of another Richt back.
He has Knowshon talent, combined with a Knowshon method of pulling himself from the game quickly. His attitude has been reported somewhere around Musa Smith (who helped us win the SEC) and Washaun Ealey. He has to become more Musa than Washaun. But we have a great mentor on staff for him in Thomas Brown. Crowell would do well to become Chester the Terrier to Brown’s Spike and spend all offseason working out like Brown and letting Brown mentor him in the “Georgia way”. If he can become more Brown or Musa, than Ealey, he’s definitely worth the trouble. He has elite talent. But if he won’t and wants to take the Ealey path, then no, he’s not worth it.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
You are right
I was allowing my anger to override my rational thought processes.
I mean… it’s just a game.
IC is there to learn to be a man as well as play football.
I do believe that CMR can facilitate a kid’s positive growth toward maturity and create one helluva a ball player.
I, myself, defended IC yesterday because of his youth.
But as I sat in my bed last nite stewing over the loss I actually became frustrated.
And that is a sign of immaturity on my part.
It is sometimes too easy, being that I am a die hard fan, to lose focus of the purpose of college ball for the players.
It is not the pros, and I forget that from time to time.
In all actuality, he is just a kid who most likely has never had this amount of attention accompanied with expectation placed upon him.
I absolutely wish him the best and I want to see the kid succeed.
He is a Dawg and I lost sight of that.
Thanks for presenting a rational view and causing me to rethink my position.
He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.
-Cicero
The short answer (in my opinion) is yes...
… because he’s just about literally all we have right now.
The first and second-string RB’s were dismissed prior to the season, Carlton Thomas will never be an every-down back, and when healthy, Richard Samuel has showed heart, but still goes down at the first sign of contact. There can be reasonable disagreement about Ken Malcome, but as Mark Richt said in his postgame interview last night, Malcome has gotten most of his yardage (including last night) in garbage time.
And behind them we only have walk-ons and one former walk-ons.
P. Crowell is the only really talented RB we have… and he has wasted that talent during his freshman season. I hope as much as anyone else that the offseason coaching and conditioning program will help him get tougher and raise his game. Until that point, however, I have to call ’em like I see ’em for now.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
Not sure if anyone will agree with the below statements but here goes
First off, I think its unfair to go off on Crowell like that. He made a mistake that resulted in a huge penalty against us and he does have some growing up to do. Remember, these are still kids not paid professionals. Additionally, it didn’t help having the RB depth depleted. Samuel was still a no show for the fourth game in row (I think) and the backups lacked the size in order to compete with a defense like LSU. Aside from Malcome none of the RBs had any decent carries. Unfortunately, that is a personnel decision and one that we the fans cannot make.
As for the lack of play in the second half, where does one begin? Georgia stopped getting creative. However, this was something they did in the 2nd quarter. What worked for the Dawgs in the first gradually disappeared because they were trying to establish a more balanced offense. I’m sure most would agree with me that there really is no such thing playing against LSU. Essentially, the people to call into question are the coaches (Bobo) sending the plays onto the field. The trickery should have continued but if their intentions were to lull LSU into a complacent defensive setup by going away from it then I can understand Georgia’s reasoning. The problem was the game plan wasn’t executed properly. Moving on to the defense, you are right. They didn’t play with the same fire or intensity that they had in the first half. I tend to credit that the early turnover on Georgia’s first possession of the half. LSU’s average start in the first half was deep in their own territory. That wasn’t the case during the second half and they made the plays that Georgia couldn’t make when given the same decent field position.
As for the officiating…are your really surprised? SEC refs have been screwing UGA over anytime they play LSU. Anyone remember the UGA-LSU game a few years back when a bogus unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called against AJ Green? Green didn’t do anything to warrant a flag but in the years since, I have seen things done that haven’t been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. So, naturally the officials weren’t going to review the punt return TD.
Georgia had a good run and like all good things they come to and end. There is still a bowl game to be played and I am sure that will be used as a statement game. The Dawgs are young and very talented. They will be a top contender going into next season and will challenge in the SEC. We as fans need to stop placing blame for mistakes on these kids and get behind them. Good things are coming to Athens, we just need to be patient. Go Dawgs!
You get what you put in and people get what they deserve.
by Disciple of Carolina on Dec 4, 2011 10:21 AM EST reply actions
I appreciate your comments, Disciple of Carolina...
… but if the kids are to blame because of their play, then the kids should absolutely shoulder part of the blame themselves. Part of the “growing up” process to which you refer is learning to accept responsibility when it’s your fault.
And Richard Samuel is “still a no show” because, unlike P. Crowell, he is hurt.
As for play calling and defensive intensity, if there’s one thing this team should have learned over the course of this season, it’s that you can’t let one mistake destroy your intensity and focus. I don’t think that’s necessarily what happened (I think they just came out of the locker room from halftime less focused and with the wrong mindset), but if it did, as you claim, then that’s actually even worse.
But on the SEC officiating, no, I’m not really surprised that we got screwed. I really should stop going into big games expecting fair treatment, I guess, because we keep failing to get it.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Dec 4, 2011 10:45 AM EST up reply actions
Are you serious?
You think it was one play? How about the fact that the first 21 points LSU scored were a direct result of crappy ST and offensive plays. You really need to watch the game again, the defense at least showed up for half a game which is more than I can say about the offense or ST.
Agree about Crowell
I love that yesterday nasty commenters were threatened with a “ban hammer” if they said something unkind, but today an editor gets to call a freshman RB, who is and was obviously hurt, a “pussy.”
Take all those excuses away, and you still have no right to call him that. Add one more to your list of people who should be ashamed after yesterdays game: The blogger (with a medical degree and full access to the UGA locker room, apparently) who calls 18 year old football players pussies when they don’t carry the rock as much as he thinks they should. Gross.
by wesgiglio on Dec 4, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
That is not what happened wesgiglio
In the wake of an emotional let down, with a lot of new comers, the staff wanted to make it clear from the start with the “post game vent thread” not to let things get out of control. It didnt, and it was a great thread. In fact it was a GREAT post game thread. Due to many new accounts being created for the sole purpose of trolling, we wanted to ensure things were PC and clean.
Vineyard made his call to go this route. He did so with a disclaimer. I think it is reasonable for someone to disagree, including staff, but you are comparing apples to oranges. The vent thread had a disclaimer, this thread did as well, both for separate reasons.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Not sure what you mean
when you say that’s not what happened. Yesterday people were warned to keep it “PC and clean” or else. Today an editor went the opposite of clean and PC (also the opposite of reasonable, considered, intelligent, respectful, and kind) and did call Isaiah a “pussy.”
I haven’t heard any other editors defending what he said. I think that means something.
You don't and won't know what we talk about privately.
Again, the intent yesterday with 500 vents, was to keep things under control from the start. Threads like that can fire off in a bad direction instantly. It had a disclaimer. This post had a disclaimer.
If you want to say “Vineyard, I think this post is unreasonable and inflammatory.” Do it. But don’t try and compare it to an immediate post game loss thread that went really well.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I am not and was not referring to the content of the thread
I was referring to the insistence on civility yesterday in comparison with the lack of civility today.
Vineyard, I think it is never okay to call an injured 18 year old a pussy. Never. From now on I will refer to you as bigotdawg, because if I extrapolate from the small sample size of your work I read today, it’s clear to me you combine your own limited perceptions with ignorance of an alien reality, and express yourself with hateful speech explicitly denigrating a historically put-upon class of folks (in this case women). I think this is just as fair and considered as you calling Isaiah Pussy Crowell.
What you call me is your prerogative, wesgiglio.
If you look back at my history of 200+ posts and nearly 12,000 comments, I think you will find that I don’t often take a position on an issue that is not well-thought-out or justifiable in some way. It’s certainly not always popular, and is sometimes (probably rarely) controversial… but though I will admit I was very rage-y last night, in the light of day I stand by every contention that I made.
I’m not going to rehash for you what I have already stated at least 3 times elsewhere in this thread. Perhaps try reading the other comments before you flame away at the author. At any rate, though, P. Crowell’s softness and attitude problem is easily deducible from the circumstances surrounding his activity.
I don’t believe that I’m going out on a limb with my statements, and I also clearly have clearly stated that I hope (for both his and our team’s sake) that he can get his shit sorted out in the offseason.
As for what you want to call me, do what you will. Remember that we take personal attacks rather seriously around here, though. (Especially if you’re going to call me bigotdawg, which is a very loaded term.) (And before you troll me on the “personal attacks” thing, calling a player out for his behavior on the field is not a personal attack.)
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
I am not trolling you.
I’ve been reading this blog since 2006 and almost never comment (I had a fan comment published in 2007 under the name rem1984).
I was going to point out that saying you take personal attacks seriously is completely ridiculous in light of calling injured 18 years olds pussies, but you told me not to, so way to head that one off.
I want to tell you this, with heartfelt sincerity wesgiglio, if you can take me at my word
Posts like this are very rare. We 99% of the time run a family friendly site. But every so often, one of us just says what everyone wants to say. Doing it immediately after a game is a BAD time. Which is why the post game thread was closely monitored and Vine waited until midnight to post this. I don’t agree with Vineyard completely myself, but I do respect his position to vent out what a lot of people are thinking, and I know for a good long time he will have me laughing my tail off with his satire.
FWIW, Kyle had a post once about Auburn that wasnt very PC at all. Again, it is very rare, usually pretty thought out, and trying to give voice to the folks that really want to say “DAMNNIT ALL TO HELL.”
And our annual dawgsports get together, the “goat roast”. That name comes because I said
MOTHER FRACKING HELL, SOMEONE SACRIFICE A GOAT AT THE ARCH OR SOMETHING.
I wasnt even on staff then, and Kyle promoted it, because I said what we were all thinking.
It’s rare, it’s not our norm, but sometimes a place for some heated venting is needed. I doubt you will see anything like this again for another year, be great if it is “years”.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
by tankertoad on Dec 4, 2011 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Ok for whatever reason my Fan Post won't publish so here are my thoughts on the game.
We all knew that it would take a perfect (or almost) perfect game to beat a very strong, very fast, very deep and very talented LSU team and for most of the first half we did what we had to do. The second half unfortunately was a series of events that we could not afford and thus the game got away from us. There were some really good things that happened during the game that should give Dawg fans optimism for 2012, there were some bad things that happened that completely changed the complexion of the game, and there were some ugly things that happened that need to be addressed in the off season.
The Good
• The defense played as well in the first half as I have ever seen a UGA defense play. They were filling the gaps, swarming to the ball, and generally making life miserable for Jordan Jefferson. A half where you hold the #1 team in the country to 0 first downs and 12 total yards is pretty darn impressive.
• Kudos to Coach Richt for going with the onsides kick in the first quarter to try and seize the momentum. The play was executed perfectly and was a huge boost to the team. It also sent a message to LSU that we were there to win.
• The offensive line did a fantastic job of protecting Murray and opening a few holes to run through.
• Coach Bobo came out with a solid offensive game plan for the first half. We were aggressive throwing down field and the reverse almost pass was a good call at the time.
• Drew Butler was BOMBING punts to keep flipping the field after LSU had bombed punts to us.
• Isaiah Crowell and Carlton Thomas had great blitz pick up blocks in the first half. Both of them leveled the guy coming on the blitz.
The Bad
• Special Teams were "special" again. Walsh missed a 40+ yard FG that would have made it 6-0 at the time, the punt coverage team didn’t do its job allowing a TD return and a long return that set up another TD.
• Dropped passes. What is this 2006 all over again? I don’t think our guys have dropped that many passes all year. The two drops that would have been TD’s really hurt and came back to haunt us later. If we score on those two plays it’s 21-0 or 21-7 at worst going into halftime. Maybe we see Jarrett "pick-six" Lee in the second half and it would have been a different game.
• Sanders Commings dropping a sure pick-six. You just can’t let opportunities pass you by when you are playing a good football team.
• The offensive line in the second half. I don’t know if they were gassed (likely) or if it was LSU rotating fresh bodies in (also likely) but the line couldn’t sustain the play of the first half in the second half.
• No running game! Say what you will about Isaiah Crowell (and much has been said both for and against) he at least gave it a go on an obviously gimpy ankle. Carlton Thomas was hurt early in the second half so we really had nothing as far as a running game. I am not sure what is going on with Boo Malcome, he has played well the past three games and in my opinion deserves to start the bowl game. Maybe he is having problems with blitz pick up because he is running the rock well.
The Ugly
• The officiating. It was as bad as I have ever seen a game called and when you have Penn Wagers and Marc Curles in your conference that is saying something. The first punt return had two blatant blocks in the back that were right in front of an official and weren’t called. Then the ball was flipped to the official before Mattheiu crossed the goal line and no one caught that either. Jarvis Jones was held all night and not just a little bit either. It was a very poor effort by the entire officiating crew, but then again what do you expect from a conference that consistently has the poorest officiating in the country.
• Aaron Murray in the second half. It wasn’t all his fault since he had no running game that LSU had to even pretend to respect and the line gave him no time. That being said he was off on many of his throws that could have been completions and kept the chains moving. The pick six was inexcusable, everyone in the stadium saw that coming except for Murray.
Take Away
Like I said in the beginning we needed an almost perfect game to beat LSU. Giving up a punt return for a TD, a punt return to set up a short TD, a pick six, a fumble to set up a short TD, and another mid field INT will get you beat by most average teams and will get you blown out against a good team. The game plan was solid but the execution was lacking and to me that is indicative of a young team with nerves. You have to be happy with how the defense played in the first three quarters. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around they were gassed and it showed. This is a good young team with most of the important parts coming back next year. There is no reason that we shouldn’t win an weak SEC East again next year and get back to the Dome for a second straight year.
On a side note, if you are one of the "fans" that follow the players on Twitter and feel the need to send them negative comments or criticisms after the game you need to stop. These are still kids that are 18-24 and they don’t need your uniformed, never played the game opinion on their performance. Grow Up!
by RocketDawg on Dec 4, 2011 10:58 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I follow a few of the players
and Christian Robinson in particular tweeted something about stopping with the negative messages. Even Coach O tweeted something about it. I think it’s disgraceful personally. Those kids played their tails off (nobody quit contrary to what some of you might think) and they deserve our support and praise. LSU is just a better team, depth and talent usually prevail.
I disagree with the game plan being solid.
The good calling, to include the onside kick, was scripted creativity with the intent to get 21 pts. That was the plan: get 21 pts and then hold on D and go conservative on O. When that didnt (although almost did) work, we had no plan, and made no creative adjustments. Just as we need 60 minutes of players fighting hard, we need 60 minutes of coaching and play calling. It’s both.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Has anyone actually said that this was the gameplan?
I can’t imagine any of the coaches saying “we wanted to get 21 points, no more, no less, and then ride out the rest of the game on our defense”
If there’s a quote from one of the coaches saying that or something similar, I might just throw up.
having rewatched a lot of the game, and based on similar games, and some serious deep thought,
it;s just my opinion. Because everything good that happened on O happened immediately. And then it completely went out the window.
And yes, Bobo has said many times after they get a lead he goes conservative, why would that be different yesterday?
We were conservative against AU, they just couldnt stop the run for anything.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Yes, the officials cost us points/gave LSU points, but the biggest failure was in letting Crowell on the field after the first series.
He was clearly incapable of playing the position on that ankle, and they just kept on putting him back in the game. That’s a coaching failure. I’m seriously disappointed… well, frankly incredulous, they got it wrong over and over and over again, but I can’t say I’m disappointed in the season.
I can’t defend the medical staff’s apparent decision to give all our receivers cortisone injections in their palms, however.
An Open Question on Bobo:
What would be the harm in a demotion/reassignment similar to what CMR gave to Van Halanger? Keep him on staff in a less critical role. CMR could take the playcalling back with no major disruptions in the general offensive scheme. He could then comb the country and find a proven ST coach.
OR he could make a really good offer to one of these recently fired HCs to come on board as OC. Most of us agree that it is CMR’s offense anyway. It’s the calls during the game that Bobo seems to consistently screw up. Instead of continuing to try and groom Bobo, we should offer a PROVEN OC some serious money to come and get onboard with the lure of a MNC. What say you?
"I know I'm asking a lot, you guys, but hunker it down one more time!"
Good thoughts, but you cant demote CMB and add at ST coach - we are at the ceiling now.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Good point. I just feel that we have the resources to bring in a proven winner-
I am getting tired of Bobo’s on the job training. IMHO CMR should either take back the offense and hire a ST coach or make a bold hire from outside the program to run the offense and CMR should take over coaching ST.
"I know I'm asking a lot, you guys, but hunker it down one more time!"
BTW I hear that Mike Sherman and Turner Gill are available...
"I know I'm asking a lot, you guys, but hunker it down one more time!"
this hits me -
tired of Bobo’s on the job training.
I feel ya.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I don't think CMR calling plays...
… is the answer.
We don’t need a 1990s offense.
We need a modern, top notch quality OC like we have CTG for defense.
Just Some Observations that I Noticed and Noone Has Mentioned Them
The Oline was not the problem. The problem was the lack of the OC to call plays that countered the slanting Dline. We have problems where we run is pretty obvious and the Dline that can slant to that side will help. Chavis knows this and exploited it.
Bobo, while I agree does not have the ability to make adjustments, does not even get it. It seems that he has not identity for the offense. CTG is a 3-4 guy who know what he wants and gets those players. I am not sure that CMB understands what he wants for his offense. Sure it is a pro-style offense but what is its identity. The root cause of many complaints about Bobo stems from this lack of identity. Are we going to be a Run and shoot pro-style, then we must recruit for this identity? Are we going to be a pound it out pro-style offense, then the same goes?
The lack of identity causes us to recruit the tiny TC and the massive BM. Bobo is looking for great players so he can do it all. But that is the problem. He needs to have an identity that will allow him to recruit specific players. LSU did not have one single tiny back. They had four large beasts. Had UGA possessed and offensive identity we would not be using tiny 3rd stringers when we wanted beastly 3rd stringers. It seems that CMB wants the AJ’s, KM’s, and MS’s of the world to let him have the freedom to do what he wants. But that is the problem; he does not know what he wants to do with the offense.
Secondly, I am not down on the defense. I agree with the statements which allude to the D giving up because the O is held to a lower standard. It showed they were pissed that they had to go back onto the field after the second 3 and out in the 3rd quarter. This is where I thought they lost their tenacity.
Thirdly, the point about the officiating is a key to understanding the D’s ultimate let down. While they lost their tenacity because of the O ineptitude, they lost their poise when they realize that the officiating was not going to call anything on LSU. I believe that LSU told their offensive linemen at half time to hold the Sh*t out UGA until it was called. There is not doubt in my mind that they were going to try and get away with it. While it might not be a conspiracy by definition. LSU was hoping that the unwritten rule of not calling holding calls against teams that play UGA was going to be upheld. It has happened too often not to be an “unwritten” rule.
I am not sure I am that upset with IC’s personal foul penalty. It was pretty lowkey compared to what LSU was doing. To have it called by the refs was a statement of we are not going to let UGA win this one. In the first quarter when the Fullback from LSU gets up and starts pushing people ready to fight, there was no personal foul called. IC did much less.
I can on and on about the officiating but I think we all get the picture.
Thanks for letting me rant and get some observations off my chest.
In my very first podcast ever with Ludakit
I specifically said we had no identity. I am still in complete agreement with this. You cant run play action “some of the time”. When you go spread for 2 downs, then try play action on the 3rd, that’s a disaster. I am so in agreement with your take, we must know what we want to do, recruit for it, scheme for it, use it, and put the best players in the best positions to execute it. Runs for nothing up the middle followed by a bomb is haphazard at best. Not understanding Murray is not Stafford is a failure of Bobo.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
to add to this point-GRANTHAM GETS IT-BOBO DOES NOT
"I know I'm asking a lot, you guys, but hunker it down one more time!"
I was just saying that CTG gets HIS players to run his defense
and the results speak for themselves
"I know I'm asking a lot, you guys, but hunker it down one more time!"
The Sorry was for Tankertoad
Sorry for the confusion
to futher point #3, Copeland was in an aggressively engaged posture on the ground
and then he stood up and head slapped a player in front of the ref-no flag. IC was walking away, turned and shoved a player in front of the ref-flag. The blatant partisanship on display was disdainful. And the bad calls or non calls only went one way. See Honey Badger, et al.
"I know I'm asking a lot, you guys, but hunker it down one more time!"
Copeland not getting a PF was insane. Absolutely insane.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I would hope the SEC reviews Copeland's actions
and issues the same punishment that was handed to UGA and Vandy
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
Sorry I must still be slightly inebriated
I almost had forgotten that Mike Slive will not do anything that would threaten the chance of a 6th straight SEC MNC. If he punished Copeland and LSU lost then the SEC would fall apart.
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
I feel the same way about the officiating.
LSU would have won regardless, but the officiating insured that Georgia could not win. Once the defense was being held every play with no flags, it was over. At that point, rules are out the window, what can you do? Holding is illegal for a reason – there’s no way to defend it.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
If I am Todd Grantham...
then I know how bad the offense is schematically. If the offense and defense scrimmaged all out, the defense would chew them up and spit them out. It’s not talent. It’s that Grantham would be prepared for everything Bobo does. He can make adjustments, he can sub players in and out, and he can move guys around to fix any problems. He motivates, instructs, and demands excellent play. Grantham knows what he wants to do and makes it happen with the guys he has on the field. Bobo thinks, “hmmm….what would they not expect right now if they’re expecting creative play calling? Oh, I know – not creative play calling”.
If I am Todd Grantham...
I think I might want to consider talking with the AD and letting him know about my feelings. I might even take the position that another OC would help the defense wink, wink nudge, nudge
But it comes down to this… IMHO… if we want to win a championship, we cannot with Bobo. Martinez took a lot of the heat that should have come toward Bobo. There were instances where Bobo relied on Martinez to win the game for UGA. Certainly, this could not have happened because, welllllllll Martinez is ….. Just look at Oklahoma. ha ha ha ha.
This hoping the D will protect whatever lead Bobo gives is indicative of CMB’s mindset. He thinks that all he has to do is get a lead and the D will handle it. I mean even if you share Erk’s mentality about defense; that does not imply, logically or hyperbolically, that the O can quit. This is the thing that infuriates me about Bobo. He gives up.
Which makes me wonder about the situation in the locker room. Could it be that the Primadonna’s see this and latch on to it. I can see that being the case. If Bobo can quit on offense and he is not disciplined then so can I. Maybe this was an underlying issue the past few years and the reason the “energy vamps” took hold. May even be the reason why the D was so willing to give up during the 2nd half. No amount of screaming by CTG would have motivated them if they thought another coach had given up.
To me there is something fundamentally wrong with Bobo’s approach to coaching that makes me wonder what is going on.
I can assure you of this:
for years I have been saying we come out of the tunnel almost “surprised” to play on O. I have no idea why we defer the coin toss so often when nothing ever happens to start the 3rd Q.
This is on CMR. Whatever happens in the locker room is a failure.
I wont say it’s impossible for us to win a NC with Bobo, because our D is getting so good, oversigning is being addressed, and we have a lot of talent, but I believe he is an hindrance. The fact he has recieved zero offers as OC at one of the top athletic programs in the nation speaks volumes. Most any of our coaches, in any department, would be hired somewhere else, except Bobo.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
If the reason you don't want to fire your offensive coordinator goes like this:
“He’s my friend and if I fire him, nobody else will hire him and he will be unemployed. I just can’t do that.”
then it’s obvious that he’s not fit for the job.
by Swarles_Barkley on Dec 4, 2011 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
I agree with the 3rd Q thing
I was afraid for the start of the 3rd Q because I figured we would come out flat. Since, the 2nd Q was so bad on O I thought that maybe CMB had something up his sleeve.
Then I realized I was the idiot for thinking it was going to be different.
Thats really true -
I thought “This is the game we come out on fire” – then I saw that 3 and out, and was shellshocked.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Honestly,
At the beginning of the season I was expecting to see a true spread offense with MM, TK, OC, AW, and one of the other WR. With the problems at RB, I thought it was time for a change. I looked out weapons and thought this would be way to go. It would be a change of pace and would give AM the confidence to go along way. Boy, I was wrong.
Not for the worse… I could not have expected a better season than this but I was a bit surprised to see the same ole thing.
"Surprised by O"
Congratulations; you have just inspired my first-ever double poet feature. I had already decided what to do, but I can’t pass this one up (not that a Dawg failing to pass should suprise anyone). Actually, I might just dedicate this one to you since it’s probably going to be right up your alley (but hopefully not emerging from one). At least I hope it will.
by Cherokee's Grip on Dec 4, 2011 7:29 PM EST up reply actions
That's pretty cool - I hope to print and frame it!
For some reason, “Suprised by O” reminds me of “Saved by Zero”, which, oddly, maybe exactly what this offense needs in the off season. /deep
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Is this serious?
I rarely comment but read quite frequently. I understand the ire directed at Crowell but using this blog as a platform to call an 18 year old kid a pussy because he isn’t living up to your expectations is childish and embarrassing. I expect better from this site. Disclaimer or not, this is trash.
by AintNothingFiner on Dec 4, 2011 5:00 PM EST reply actions
Yeah it is serious
But i agree with your statements on the whole except for one thing.
He is not living up to anyone’s expectations and certainly not his own.
I can agree to that
I’m certainly disappointed with both his play and his behavior as well. I’m just not a fan of how this site has chosen to express that.
by AintNothingFiner on Dec 4, 2011 5:19 PM EST up reply actions
You are entitled to your opinion, AintNothingFiner.
But for the record, as with all that I contribute, this post reflects only my opinions and not those of T. Kyle King, MaconDawg, or any of the Dawg Sports admins.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
There is a lot that I am mad about from last night but seeing TG with a bloody lip on the sideline was freakin awesome. I love that mans intensity
by jtl585 on Dec 4, 2011 5:05 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
New Name for Crowell Is Not Appropriate
I agree with DawgGirl 32 and the few others who have called vineyarddawg to task over his new name for Crowell. I’ve been a reader of this blog for years but have never signed up and commented before tonight.
I have always appreciated the passion for Georgia sports, measured with courtesy and class, on this site. The bloggers are enlightening, entertaining, and sometimes erudite. (Cherokee Grip needs to stop what she is doing for a living and write the Great American Novel. Seeing her play with words is like listening to Wynton Marsalis play jazz.) The commenters on this blog generally meet the high standards set by the staff.
With all that said, I have to say that calling Crowell what vineyarddawg called him is just not right. We are all disappointed, but we truly do not know the extent of his injuries. As the father of two boys growing into men, I can assure you that at age 18, he’s not done with the maturity process. We can all deplore certain things Crowell has done or not done this year, but this crosses over the line, and I’m surprised to see the usually level-headed vineyarddawg wrote what he did and Kyle permitted it.
As I said to AintNothingFiner...
… you are entitled to your opinion, CurraheeDawg.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
Vine, I've enjoyed your posts....
…and likely will continue to do so. But this one is simply wrong to attach a label like that to any Dawg. You appear to be drawing a line in the sand about defending your opinion, but the criticism is about your choice of the label. I submit that many would prefer you own-up to the immature word choice and offer a simple retraction. In other words, don’t be a …. well, “stubborn person” about it.
Run Lindsay Run!
by ausdawg85 on Dec 4, 2011 8:01 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Why would I retract anything that I've said?
Do you think I should be contrite and apologize just because some people were offended by a post that I put a disclaimer at the top of warning you that it contained serious profanity?
I have not apologized for using the term I used, and I do not intend to apologize for using it. Given the evidence I laid out above, I don’t see how one could conclude anything other than the fact that Crowell has shown through his actions that he has a bad attitude, poor constitution, and can’t play through the tiniest ding, which is a requirement if you’re going to play any position in the SEC, not just RB. If I were writing about this topic this evening, I would use exactly the same terminology I used last night.
Let me ask you this, though… Would it have made you feel better if I called Crowell “a weak pansy-ass jabronie” instead? Because that’s a similar characterization to the one I used. The difference is that it’s just not a word that is as emotionally charged.
Either way, you are entitled to your opinion, ausdawg85. The fact that I’m acknowledging that you are entitled to you opinion does not mean that I’m saying you’re wrong or disparaging you for stating your opinion. It means that you are entitled to have and state your opinion.
I don’t ask you to retract your opinions that I disagree with, and I would appreciate you not asking me to retract mine simply because you disagree with it.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
You may be exasperated by now for defending this.
I thought I was clear that I took no exception to you expressing your opinion. I would hope you may see the word choice could be considered as equally immature as the behavior you assign to young Mr. Crowell. Clearly you don’t. So be it.
For the record, I don’t think he’s a pussy. Challenged, frustrated, immature, troubled may all describe his apparent attitude, but the fact is we really don’t know the whole story. I don’t think I’d call any Dawg a pussy to his face. We all have different standards I guess.
Run Lindsay Run!
by ausdawg85 on Dec 4, 2011 9:05 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions 1 recs
Things only happen one way, what if means nothing
I was watching from way up in the corner of the Dome sitting with my oldest daughter who grew up in Baton Rouge and loves LSU. She was getting discouraged when the Dawgs essentially kicked LSU’s butt in the first half and I said to her, “I wouldn’t get too down, yet. When you miss chances like Georgia had in the first half, it comes back to bite you.” I hoped I was wrong but you probably felt the same way I did.
I believe that our miscues encouraged LSU to believe they would come back as they did against Arkansas and Alabama. The big return by whats-his-name did the same thing. I think the game was already lost when the teams went to the locker room for half-time. We (and the refs) played into their view of themselves.
So, maybe vineyarddawg is right about us quitting, maybe we bought into it, too. But the dominoes fell the wrong way starting from our first drive. Human beings always want to blame someone but to me it was Fate. Flying to my home of 30 years in Baton Rouge on a plane load of people wearing purple and gold, I listened to Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony as loud as my Ipod would play it to drown out their gleeful chatter. It had to be classical music to reflect the depth of sadness. But, painful as all of this was to go through yesterday, we’ve had a great season and I’m not going to blame individuals and start calling for anyone’s head. I hope to see us rebound against our bowl opponent and hit the ground running in 2012. As long as IC sticks around, I hope his talent will contribute again. I believe you build on the positive. UGA worked with the metaphor of “the bus” this year and I’m going to support that concept- you win as a team and lose as one. Everyone’s entitled to their feelings- these are just mine. Go Dawgs!
"Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." Thomas J. Jackson
I don't even feel like banning you after that. ) Nice comment.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Thank you.
I felt ahead of the game we needed to get a lead and make them doubt themselves while reinforcing our pre-game confidence that our players stacked up well against theirs. Then our defensive strength and their weakness in the passing game could create turnover opportunities and cause them to get frustrated (hey, I’m a psychologist in Real Life). We came close to getting in that position but you know what they say about close. Letting them hang around, the refs, their depth and our lack of RBs became factors but, again, the fumble by AM when he was making a great play for a first down- what can you say? That was the point at which I saw us wilt. Us being all of us. It just wasn’t our day.
"Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." Thomas J. Jackson
How long until this is CTG vs. CMB...
… instead of Buddy Ryan vs. Kevin Gilbride
5 plays that changed everything
1 & 2. The two dropped TD passes. We got 3 points instaed of 14. Add 11 to our score and you’ve got 21 for UGA.
3. The phantom TD punt return. Take a way 7 for LSU.
4. The fumble giving them the short field to begin the 3rd quarter. 7 more gift points.
5. The pick 6. 7 more.
Take away 21 from LSU, add the 11 for us and the game is 21-21. 5 big plays changed everything.
It's a gas, gas, gas.
by Keith Richards on Dec 5, 2011 7:24 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
And oddly enough
The defense figures very little in those scenarios. You didn’t even mention the punt return to UGA’s 19 yard line.
Not so odd, just having a good D exposes out O weakness that has always been there since Joe Cox.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I meant odd
considering the main post focuses on how terrible our defense performed.
That, IMO was just public perception, as our D was bad and got burnt deep so often.
But we have had a total team problem for 3 years, and that’s why I have been not “pro Bobo” for 3 years. Now we still have problems on O and STs. I think STs can be fixed if CMR takes control. I hope CMR develops more identity and so called “killer instinct” on O. We will know a lot this offseason and 2012 if we are going to make the moves from a 10 win team to what it takes to be a 12+ win team.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Looking over the play by play
I didn’t realize during the game but our offense never made it onto LSU’s half of the field from the start of the second quarter until less than 5 minutes left in the forth quarter.
It really looks like the D got burned so bad at the beginning of the second half because of bad O playing. Our first possession was a fumble, then a 3-and-out (with a huge punt return), and finally an interception. Starting field position for LSU on those plays were the UGA 26, 17, and 30.
Our first possession of the second half was a three and out, but yea, and yea, and yea.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I was in the bathroom at the time...
so maybe the espn play-by-play is wrong, I couldn’t say for certain.
Was there a pick 6?
I don’t remember that. Maybe I’m just repressing bad memories…
by AintNothingFiner on Dec 5, 2011 9:33 AM EST up reply actions
The pick 6 was the final score of the game...
… with about 4:00 or so left in the 4th quarter, if memory serves.
I think we’d all be doing good to just repress that particular memory, though.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Dec 5, 2011 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
Man enough?
Vineyarddawg,
as a fellow UGA alum I respect your passion for the team but calling a D-1 athlete a pussy is bush league (and crude). Are you a D-1 athlete? Would you say that to IC’s face? Probably not because I suspect he could put you in the hospital. Hell, I’d put you in the hospital if you said that to me and I am by no means the physical guy IC is. Have you been in a fight? Been knocked out? Played football- ever? Boxed? Done anything besides sit on the couch and criticize others? Do you realize how much these guys hurt and bleed in the off-eason and during the games? Have some respect brother, I guarantee you they had more at stake in the game than you. And if you aren’t man enough to say it to the guy’s face then STFU. Seriously.
-Eric Black, UGA ’95, HLS ’98
You are entitled to your opinion, blacke06.
What you are not entitled to do, however, is personally attack me or anyone else on this blog, especially with your first comment. Longtime commenters that have built up a track record get a pass when they get angry at a controversial article… first-timers do not. Especially when written with a tone like yours.
This is your formal warning.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
Not trying to be disrepectful
But I think there are plenty on here who agree with his sentiments. Youre comments were out of line and suggest that youre taking what supposed to be a fun game too seriously and taking it out on someone you shouldnt, and as a high school athlete myself, I can see where he’s coming from, albeit its a little too far
It's a bit of a struggle sometimes with just how seriously to take football....
Football and other sports, like you say are games and games should be fun. But I would ask you as an athlete don’t they take on a larger meaning as well? Playing sports for young men can form their identity, for better or worse in a way that other things do not would you agree? That was my experience as a high school athlete, albeit one of little skill.
Blacke06 noted the preparation over the months in the offseason, which he correctly identifies as driving a stake in the game beyond someone watching it. He identifies a partition between those in physical danger and those outside, similar to Mark Richt’s “in the arena” speech a few years back.
While I understand the desire to dismiss those outside the arena, to do so would understate the power that college football has in galvanizing campuses, communities, states, even blogs around a cause which we all want, with varying degrees of desperation to prevail. In my opinion it is what makes college football a wonderful sport.
Do I agree with Vineyarddawg’s choice of the word “pussy?” It isn’t what I would have chosen at my best, but it’s better than things I’ve said at my worst.
I think that we as college football fans have a choice about whether those of us outside the arena are “allowed” to engage at the same level of passion as those inside it. We can say, this sport is for those that play, and those who do not are not a real part of it, but if we do so, perhaps it should be played in slightly smaller stadiums.
Now you may call bullshit on all of this and say, I’ve got no problem with an engaged fan base, but we must maintain civility. I respect that, and I would add that it we prefer to remove offensive language from our fanbase, perhaps we should consider removing sanctioned violence in stadiums of 100,000 as well. Perhaps it’s time better spent doing something else. Like many things in life, not an easy decision.
Do I interpret your handle correctly to mean that you will be graduating from or matriculating to UGA in 2013? If so congratulations, if not, best of luck in wherever you find yourself and hope you’ll continue to stop by the blog.
Broadcasting live from a secure location underneath the Hell Gate Bridge
by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Dec 5, 2011 5:26 PM EST up reply actions
ok
Vineyarddawg, I’m sorry I offended you. My proudest moment as a dawg was seeing a girlfriend calling out a drunk frat boy using crude language after a dawg loss. Sorry, I’m just old fashioned that way. But you’ve warned me. Ask Kyle if he defends your language over my tone.
Not first time commentator. Just embarrassed by your language. But if you can defend it, good for you.
Go Dawgs bro. Sorry I called you out.
Go dawgs
And apologies to vd and anyone else I offended. Let’s try to be gentlemen in defeat as well as victory. I love UGA as much as anyone.
Peace y’all.
I had written a relatively long-ish reply to you previous comment, blacke06...
… but I’m more than happy to let our disagreement end on your cordial note.
This post certainly riled up a few people, and I’m ok with that. It’s a risk one runs when authoring a post of the nature I did. It’s not my normal fare, and I hope you continue to visit and contribute to the site.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
Yo
Vineyarddawg,
Best and happy holidays. Sorry I wasn’t cordial in my initial post, that wasn’t cool. Best wishes for happy holidays.
-E
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