Michigan State Spartans 33, Georgia Bulldogs 30: All's Bad That Ends Badly?
by T Kyle King on Jan 2, 2012 8:17 PM EST
in Georgia Bulldogs Football
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PrintAt the risk of sounding overly melodramatic, the 2012 Outback Bowl encapsulated everything that Georgia football has embodied, good, bad, and contradictory, for the last several seasons.
In the course of their triple-overtime loss to the Michigan St. Spartans in Tampa, the Georgia Bulldogs were aggressive enough to hold the Big Ten runners-up scoreless in the first half yet conservative enough to keep the Green and White in the game. The SEC East champions played with tremendous discipline at times, yet they also proved maddeningly mistake-prone at others. The Classic City Canines were able to come back yet unable to sustain a lead. Aaron Murray finished the season with 35 touchdown passes, ten more than Matthew Stafford threw in 2008, but the Athenians’ sophomore signal caller also finished the season with 14 interceptions, one less than Joe Cox threw in 2009.
The Bulldogs played a game featuring both big plays and dumb plays, which showcased thrilling special teams successes and baffling special teams gaffes, and which, in the end, followed up a ten-game winning streak with a second straight gut-wrenching bowl loss . . . only, this time, the difference in the game wasn’t the decision to kick an early field goal deep in the opponent’s territory on fourth and short, but rather the decision to go for it deep in the opponent’s territory on fourth and short, much as I urged our head coach to do exactly one year ago.
So now the naysayers, both within Bulldog Nation and without, will show up to say, “See? We told you so!” The Conference USA champion had lost four straight Liberty Bowls . . . until the game against Georgia in 2010. The Boise St. Broncos had lost four straight meetings with SEC squads . . . until the game against Georgia in 2011. The Spartans had lost five straight bowl games . . . until the game against Georgia in 2012. Second verse, same as the first.
Those who say so, of course, will ignore how absolutely even the Outback Bowl was. Each team gained 15 first downs. Each team turned the ball over thrice. Georgia converted six of 19 attempts on third and fourth down; Michigan State, six of 20 tries in such situations. For crying out loud, it went to triple overtime. However, we lost, so we still haven’t beaten anybody; so the refrain will go.
Here in the real world, however, the answers and explanations are a bit more messy and muddled than the prevailing narrative would have you believe. We are left with the same question we had following the SEC Championship Game; viz., which was the real Georgia team, the first-half Bulldogs who built up double-digit leads on Louisiana State and Michigan State, or the second-half Bulldogs who let those leads get away?
I don’t know the answer to that question, though it bears noting that we wouldn’t have known that answer if the Red and Black had forced a fourth overtime and prevailed, either. Bowl wins to cap off the 2007 and 2008 seasons did not prevent the ‘Dawgs from faltering in the ensuing campaigns, just as a bowl loss in 2010 did not impair the ability of the Athenians to rebound in 2011.
Nevertheless, the loss in Raymond James Stadium, like the Red and Black’s other two losses in an NFL venue this autumn, did much to dim the luster of the Bulldogs’ campaign of resurgence, and it sends us into the long hiatus separating seasons on a down note, making us understandably more disposed to focus on the half of the glass that remains empty one day after New Year’s Day 2012. We should not forget, however, that a half-empty glass is a half-glass more full than the one fate placed on the table before us one day before New Year’s Day 2011.
Go ‘Dawgs!
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Kyle, with all due respect (see the SNL skit)
This may have been one of the worst prepared and called games on O I have ever seen. By any team.
Place the blame as you will. We didnt dink and dunk when needed one time this year. Our TDs all come by way of the big play. We lose the chess match routinely. We dont control the ball, the clock, nor the chains when it matters.
When your D gets an INT in OT and all you need is a FG, and you run a mindless run play with your worst RB, and then knee the ball for a 2 yard loss, you suck. That’s it. I could respect a failed attempt to get 10 yards. But I cant respect putting the entire game on Walsh’s shoulders.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I'm still trying to get over that sequence of events.
I don’t think I ever will, though. Running a wasted play for 2 yards, then kneeing it back 2 yards, wasting 2 downs…Classic, vintage Bobo.
by Cherokee's Grip on Jan 2, 2012 8:43 PM EST up reply actions
I am 39 years old.
And I know the adage of kicking it on 3rd down “in case” there is a penalty. But I don’t remember that ever being a factor. Seriously. How about 3 creative run plays, and get 5-10 yards, and kick it on 4th down? We had 4 downs. We only used one of them in any productive attempt – a missed FG. BW may have missed it from 20 as well as 42. But the complete lack of effort to try to get something for 3 downs was horrible. Just horrible.
At some point, 1st downs matter.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
If I'm not mistaken, the theory behind a 3rd down FG
is for a botched snap, not a penalty. But then a botched snap on a 42 yd FG, and you’re punting anyway, so it kind of negates the advantage.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
Yea, that too. I say - run 3 solid plays and then kick it.
But kneel on 2nd, then kick on 3rd?
That’s not what dreams are made of.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Does it kinda ake you wonder what would happen if we ever had anything real on the line?
It does me. I don’t see a championship mindset on the offensive side of the ball… bed-wetting seems to be the m.o.
by rbubp on Jan 3, 2012 12:07 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
how about taking a knee in regulation.....
rather than airing it out and at least trying to get into field goal range. this is just quitting in my book.T Kyle- Thanks for reminding me of all the losing streaks that Georgia helped bring to an end. As i have said may times on your blog this season, and have taken a lot of criticism for it, the Dawgs are mediocre,middle of the road, better than half the SEC half the time. No killer instinct. Seriously, i don’t know how much longer my nerves can take it. Bobo does less with the talent he has than any coach i think of right now. Richt is his boss and doesn’t seem to be concerned. I long for my team to be great! to be dominant. to be a contender. Unfortunately, Unless McGarrity gets as discouraged as many of us are, the bulldogs will continue to recruit top talent, continue to put players in the NFL, and continue to pad Mark Richt’s victory count; all with nothing credible to show for it except an SEC championship every 5-7 years. CMR may have saved Christmas, but he ruined the new year. Lets hope the DJI doesn’t follow the Dawgs lead with a drop to 3000 in 2012.
I understand that you're pissed, as I would be if I had to live in Idaho with Boise State fans...
… but I think you’re using a little bit of hyperbole there.
Georgia is not an “average team.” We played 14 teams, and we beat the teams worse than us and lost to the teams better than us. We ended up 10-4, which is a reflection of the class of teams we played this year. I’m sure we’ll drop in the polls for this incredibly close loss to, by record, the best team in the B1G this year, but we lost to 4 legitimate top-10 teams and beat everyone else on our schedule. That doesn’t make us “great,” I’ll grant you, but nor does it make us “average.”
This year, we were above average. Not great, but certainly better than last year, when we were average-to-below-average.
And we have top-10 recruiting classes every year, but so does half of the SEC. It’s not like we’re towering over everybody else in our conference from a talent level and just underachieving. At least 6 or 7 other teams in the SEC have talent that is roughly comparable to ours.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 2, 2012 9:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Believe it or not
I am finally over that BSU loss. I disagree with you wholeheartedly. Not being in the top 10 is mediocre formamsupposedmtopmtier SEC team. Not saying we have to be there every year, but would like to be close. We have been dominated by Florida for almost 2 decades, went 6-7 last year with a grand finale loss to central Florida, went 10-2 with one of our easiest schedules ever to only end up losing to a tough LSU team by falling apart in the second half due to lack of a game plan adjustments and mistakes. Todays embarrasing loss to a team that I would not deem as better was the icing on the cake of SEC mediocrity.
We lost to LSU
because they were a better and deeper team than we are. Let’s not confuse facts with hyperbole. Everyone was owned by Florida the last two decades, look at UT and SCAR’s record against UF over the past 20 years it is about the same as ours is. MSU is a fine team with an amazing defensive line (much like Boise St). Their strengths played right into our weaknesses. They had every right to win that game as much as we did.
I am not sure how old you are but your comments indicate that you seem to be one of the “entitled” younger fans that only remember the early 2000’s. Let’s get real for a few minutes, the SEC West through blatant oversigning has had a HUGE adavantage over every other SEC team that doesn’t oversign. Why do you think that LSU played as many as 10 Defensive lineman this year? I don’t think we have 10 Defensive Lineman on our entire roster, much less 10 we would actually put into a game. How do you think that LSU was able to overcome injuries and suspensions of key players to be undefeated? One word….depth. They have it and we don’t and probably won’t for at least one more recruiting class possibly two. Once the playing field is level again you will see the SEC West come back to reality.
As far as yesterday goes, I pin our loss on three things. 1) the Oline is just not capable of matching up with talented defensive lines (see LSU, Boise St, SCar). We have 2 guards trying to play tackle and they are consistantly getting beat by speed rushers around the corner, and they get no push in the run game. It’s hard to call plays when you can’t run and you can’t pass protect. 2) Blair Walsh has lost his mojo, why I don’t know but I truly feel bad for the kid. Last year that kick was automatic. 3) Turnovers at the most in opportune times. Murray has a knack for throwing a bad pick or fumbling at the worst possible moment. One can only hope that he gets coached up on that between now and next season.
by RocketDawg on Jan 3, 2012 10:16 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Class of 1992
and you are an apologist who is happy with mediocrity. that was a poorly coached game no matter how you spin it.
and
that came after the three similar wasted plays at the end of the fourth quarter when we could have tried to get a first down to ice it……….
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
I've salved my wounds...
… by buying $7,000 in new furniture and eating at a restaurant owned by a Bull Gator, so I can now say this.
We just got beat by a better team, and it was everybody’s fault at the end of the game. It’s the offense’s fault they couldn’t get one more first down, it’s the defense’s fault they allowed an 85-yard TD in less than 2:00, and it’s the special teams’ fault they couldn’t make the winning field goal. There is equal blame to spread around.
But this is also true: We were 6-7 last year, and we’re standing at 10-4 this year with an SEC East title. That’s progress. Are we expecting more next year? Sure. But this was a damn good season compared to last year.
Even on a night like this, it’s still better being a Dawg than the alternative!
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
10-4 is a lot better than 6-7
but I felt like throwing up after this game. MSU had 16 tackles for a loss but we still kept pounding the ball up the middle. I just don’t get it. It was sickening to watch :(
Yeah, that was the most inexplicable part of the game.
Can’t run the ball up the middle? HEY LET’S RUN THE BALL UP THE MIDDLE!
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
And welcome to Dawg Sports, BosnianDawg!
Good first comment. :-)
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:24 PM EST up reply actions
I have no facts to back this up, but...
I seem to recall one of my big pet peeves at the beginning of the season was the inexplicable 3rd down and a quarter-of-a-mile draw play that only gained three yards and that never seemed to work. I think it was pointed out, fairly well, actually, that that wasn’t done as much as I thought. But it felt like I was seeing the same thing over and over yesterday and had the same visceral reaction to seeing it, Bosnian Dawg.
Our O-Line just wasn’t up to the challenge against their D-Line, simple as that I think. But what’s truly frustrating is Bobo thinking that somehow, someway the O-Line would get better or their D-Line would get worse over the course of the game or that he’d be able to establish a hard run game up the middle if he ran the play at the right moment (which would’ve been during a time out when their D was off the field).
They had three to four defensive players popping our RBs at the LOS almost every run play; that’s not a case of one guy missing a block, it’s a case of our O-Line not being able to handle their defensive front. Which happens to the best out there some time or another; i.e. on any given Saturday someone might get the best of you. And our O-Line, God bless ‘em, they just aren’t the best out there. So keeping that in mind, why didn’t Bobo have any contingencies? And if he did, why didn’t he use them? Here’s an illustration of how he might have approached it using the critical path method:
Game Plan: Run Ball>>>Are we able to run the ball?>>yes>>Continue>>>Win
>>no>>Contingency/Pass to the flats
But this is how he did it:
Game Plan: Run Ball>>>Are we able to run the ball?>>yes>>Continue>>>Win
>>no>>try it again>>>>no, the other side>>>>WIN!
On a more upbeat note…I think it was a great game. I was proud of the players and the defense…not so much the OC, but whattaya gonna do? We’re 10-4 and our team’s gonna be pretty stacked next year.
Go Dawgs!
Back off, man. I'm a scientist.
by Droz on Jan 3, 2012 1:32 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Except when it did
work on 3rd and ten from our own 2 yard line. The third and draw up the middle that is.
That was 100% Boo giving his all. He got hit many times before going down.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
You're right
it did work once. But surely the percentages and odds should be a factor. Right? Am I off base thinking that?
Back off, man. I'm a scientist.
I am going to wake up from some nightmare in 7 hrs with "Frankenstein" trying to hit the corner with speed.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Bobo
has to go if this team wants to progress in any way in the future. You can say what you want but the guy hasnt gotten the job done since hes been OC. There is a reason he has so much criticism year in and year out. Its because he sucks, PERIOD…
GO DAWGS!!! GO PALADINS!!!
by geapsquash on Jan 2, 2012 9:38 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
This loss was harder to realize than the USC game
The missed field goal to end it all in the first overtime, that was heartbreaking. but the heart shattering part was the coaching staff took it for granted that it was in the bag…IV on a corner run????…AM looses two yards on a “positioning” run. That is not UGA football. UGA football would have pushed for 7 points.
The Defense allowing MSU to fly down the field with 2:00 minutes remaining and tie the game, that is not UGA football. UGA football would have slammed the door shut and handed the ball back to the O with 1:00 left on the clock.
Kneeling with 13(or was it 19…my eyes were clouded with tears and blood aat this point), instead of trying to get in place for a game winning FG as time expired…that is not UGA football. “So we’ll try to kick one 100,000 miles. … We’re gonna try to kick one 60 yards plus a foot and a half. … And Butler kicked a long one, a long one. … Oh my God! Oh my God!” That is UGA football. All of these things are heart-breaking.
But the soul-crushing fact is that we had the ball with less than 2 minutes, had the lead and could not put the game away. That is not UGA football. I am old enough to have seen (and young enough to remember) that UGA footbal meant that if the defense played lights outs, and the offense had the lead and the ball with 5-7 minutes on the clock, the bell was ringing.
I hope for 2012 the Dawgs return to UGA football.
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
What is lost amongst all of this,
is Boykin may have had the best total game I have ever seen. He deserves a special DGD status.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Boykin had a "tell my grandchildren about that performance" game
UGA football will miss him greatly next year
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
correction
if the defense played lights outs, and the offense hadsoundly and allowed the offense to have…
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
Okay, if you insist on putting a positive spin on it. . .
. . . how about this: For those fans given to OCD, the way this game ended gave the season’s win-loss tally a beautiful symmetry, 2 losses, 10 wins, 2 losses.
Huh? Huh?
I will count meters on the street
avoid cracks on the sidewalk and arrange salt and pepper shakers so they are harmonious with the zen of the universe…but I will not settled for mediocrity and a “symmetrical” winning record from my football team when there are flaws in the balance of the program.
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
Bobo
The main problem with Bobo is that he can’t make in game adjustments to save his life. He runs play action on 3rd and 10 in OT today (sack), runs Carlton Thomas up the gut, runs Richard Samuel outside (too slow), calls plays scared of losing and not going for the throat and playing to win.
We need a guy that calls the right plays for the right guys at the right time, something Bobo does not do well. Sure he does ok against bad teams, but he can’t make in-game adjustments against good teams and our record against those teams shows it. We need someone else to get into the upper-echelon of teams that can properly utilize our talented players. Demote Bobo backed to QB coach; don’t fire him straight up to save some recruits
"The Dos Equis guys want me to be the least interesting man in the world" - Drama
by BravesDawg16 on Jan 2, 2012 9:59 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
At least we werent in a gimmick uniform.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
by chuckdawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:05 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Hot Seat Question
Okay, Is Bobo officially on the hot seat now? Or would tossing him also cause too much confusion for the offense?
I grew up in Georgia with a 'Bama Dad. I double hate Auburn.
The question is will CMR pull the trigger. Which is likely no.
I dont think there could be less confusion on offense.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
If he does, I'll be pleasantly surprised
and willing to admit maybe the man is finally changing things for the better, and not being satisfied with just good enough.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
The short answer is that Bobo is simply not getting fired.
Mark Richt finally let Willie Martinez go and brought in a new defensive coordinator to completely change the defense because he’s not a defensive guy.
This offense is his system, though, and he’s not going to fire Bobo and bring in a new offensive guy with a new system. Richt has his own system, and whomever he gets to run it is still going to be running the same system.
So if you want to change the offense, you’re going to have to fire Mark Richt.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:27 PM EST up reply actions
I aint buying that bro.
It is mostly his system, but having smart eyes on the field and a good second man is still crucial. General Lee was a great General. He also had a lot of great Generals and Colonels that helped him. A true leader comfortably surrounds himself with great talent without fear of his position. Right now, Coach Richt looks like a buffoon for holding onto a greater buffoon.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
by chuckdawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Man you are on a roll today
And I ain’t even trying to shine you on
thanks, I think. I am so mad, and so sad, at the same time. Cotton is sleeping comfortably though.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Yea that was a legitimate compliment
Last time I gave you one you it didn’t go over so well for me. So mad and so sad is a good way to describe it. Frustrated is another good one to throw in.
I apologize if I mistook a compliment. After all, I get so few. )
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Wasn't it Lee who canned a general
because Lee claimed he had “a bad case of the slows?” Not that the firing helped Lee in the long run…
by Cherokee's Grip on Jan 2, 2012 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
And, (Kyle will hate this) Lee lost the big one being a little arrogant.
But he wasnt scared to have talent around him and command them.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
If Jackson had been at Gettysburg
Lee would have won that battle and the history of America may have been significantly different. the point being, good right hand men make a difference and the lack of them cause defeat.
Actually, that is very true. Kinda crazy too.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Lee lost Gettysburg because
instead of giving orders when he got there, he made suggestions instead.
"Everybody has a plan until they get hit" Iron Mike Tyson.
"Screw 2nd." Lugs Harvey.
"In Grimes we trust, all others get gashed"- Me.
by CaptJackSparrow on Jan 3, 2012 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
Not to get to much into into, but Lee wanted that victory badly, he could have walked away and picked a battlefield that favored his troops.
The Union’s canons slaughtered his men and it has been proven that just the few degrees of incline was all it took. He should have packed up, left and picked a smarter fight.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
The way it is taught in these parts is that
he got there “firstest with the leastest” and he suggested to some of his lessers that they occupy something called Little Round Top I want to say but then again it was a long time ago that I was in school in the very southeast corner of Jawja and i could be remembering the name of the rise wrong.
"Everybody has a plan until they get hit" Iron Mike Tyson.
"Screw 2nd." Lugs Harvey.
"In Grimes we trust, all others get gashed"- Me.
by CaptJackSparrow on Jan 3, 2012 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, but in all fairness...
… constipation could kill a man back in the 1860’s.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:48 PM EST up reply actions
There are tons of coaches who could run this system
the question is, does Richt want them, and can they run it better. The “pro style” ain’t unique, and there’s a ton of coaches with experience in it.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
Lotta derp in this one....
By my count….
1st quarter getting no points on the fourth and 1 in the red zone – 3 points
Two interceptions leading to easy touchdowns – 14 points
One missed and one blocked field goal – 6 points
Total derp = 23 points
That’s just about South Carolina game level just off the top of my head; likely I’m forgetting some things. We should be less stupid. Also I think our offense would be more successful with running backs.
Michigan State’s a pretty good team….very physical front seven; not a bad qb either.
Broadcasting live from a secure location underneath the Hell Gate Bridge
by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Jan 2, 2012 10:29 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Interesting Derp scoring situation in overtime.....
if we had made the first field goal the second attempt would not have occurred; might need a ruling from the Derp commissioner on whether both should be held against us. Also, since OT Derp is much more likely than regulation Derp to result in a loss, perhaps it should be tracked separately.
Project for next year I guess.
Broadcasting live from a secure location underneath the Hell Gate Bridge
by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Jan 2, 2012 10:36 PM EST up reply actions
You know whats crazy? I just understood what you wrote.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Be afraid :-)
Broadcasting live from a secure location underneath the Hell Gate Bridge
by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Jan 2, 2012 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah,
don’t that suck?
"Everybody has a plan until they get hit" Iron Mike Tyson.
"Screw 2nd." Lugs Harvey.
"In Grimes we trust, all others get gashed"- Me.
by CaptJackSparrow on Jan 3, 2012 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
I wonder if Greg McGarity has a say on whether Bobo should go
Last week, Greg McGarity has given us a manageable schedule this fall 2012 to see if we can make and win an SEC championship. However, McGarity will have to force and pull the trigger if the same crap like this happens again and again
by thefirstgenesis on Jan 2, 2012 10:33 PM EST reply actions
He says its all on the HC for assistant coaches - in all sports.
This is on CMR. He already said “we needed 1st downs”. I will take that as about as big as an admission we will get that the D is doing well, and the chains aint moving. He generally makes good adjustments once he goes there.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I think McGarity leaves decisions of that nature to head coaches
Broadcasting live from a secure location underneath the Hell Gate Bridge
by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Jan 2, 2012 10:37 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think there's any question that McGarity has the authority.
He’s said in the past that he’s not going to micromanage his head coaches, though… so if he tells Richt he thinks Bobo is a liability and Richt disagrees… hard to say which way he might go.
But then again, Richt had to be prodded to fire Willie Two-Thumbs. I think it’s going to be a much harder sell on Bobo, though, for the reasons I outlined above about it being his offensive system instead of something he’s more comfortable dumping and bringing someone else in to run.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:37 PM EST up reply actions
We dont need a change in system, we need someone as OC that can see and utilize talent.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
by chuckdawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:38 PM EST up reply actions 10 recs
I demand a HELL REC button for this post
If it is not green, it is a shame
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
by Dawg2011 on Jan 2, 2012 10:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I'm ashamed I didn't rec this last night,
but I wasn’t exactly in the right frame of mind for noticing things.
by Cherokee's Grip on Jan 3, 2012 8:57 AM EST up reply actions
Disappointing results
Yet we didn’t get destroyed. We could have easily been talking about 11-3 and a top 5 ranking to start the next season.
Obviously, that didn’t happen and could have doesn’t count for much except for trying to establish the reality that either team could have won. We play that 3rd OT over again and we probably win. Odds were about 50/50 at that point in the game.
Bobo had some horrible calls. Absolutely horrible. Nothing will happen there though. Not much to say about Crowell other than that I hope he rehabs and trains well this offseason. I’m not going to bail on him yet as I think he had a legitimate nagging injury. If he didn’t, I’m hoping he toughens up this offseason and that Marshall gives him some extra motivation.
by andycapps on Jan 2, 2012 10:39 PM EST via Android app reply actions
Honest question -
What about taking Boo out to let RS Slow run?
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
That really confused me
it is known that the trust Boo to hang onto the ball…so fumbling was not a factor. Boo was have the better game, so that was not the issue…it just goes back to the baseless BS we have as Bobo the ClownOffensive Coordinator
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
corrections
I apologize for my typos, but the boiling blood seems to affect my typing ability…
it is known that they trust….
and
Boo was having the better…
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
A couple players tweeted that
Boo dislocated his shoulder early and played through that the whole time. Bobo may have found out later and kept him out. If that is true. Wow. Somebody watched the Herschel documentary.
by andycapps on Jan 2, 2012 10:50 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
there were a couple shots
throughout the game where it showed Boo favoring his left shoulder and Ron Courson talking with him/looking at it, so this sounds very likely.
He went up in my book tonight. I just lust for the days of Knowshon Moreno (if we’re speaking most recently,) where we have A GUY and we know who’s THE GUY and we don’t have to have a different SOMEWHAT THE GUY every week.
by HerschelBlogger on Jan 3, 2012 12:41 AM EST up reply actions
I hear that
I’m hoping that with Marshall’s character and natural abilities that he’s that guy. To be honest, I’m not done with Crowell. I think he definitely has the ability and with an attitude change or being 100%, he could be there.
Without him, the closest thing we had right now to that back was Boo. It doesn’t matter who we have, however, if the defense is in our backfield before the RB gets the handoff.
It was Samuel's game tonight
That was a pretty horrible decision. Tonight was like a lot of games where I question our playcalling. Runs aren’t working at all going up the middle? Keep trying instead of maybe putting Thomas in and running it to the outside.
The real problem with trying to run it up the middle tonight was that our OL was imploding. Absolutely horrible effort by them. Almost as bad as BSU.
by andycapps on Jan 2, 2012 10:45 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
I have never seen a coach depend on a guy that is coming off a 6 game injury stretch like that. Especially when he has negative yards.
It hurts my head.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
You can call him "RS Slow," but give the guy a break.
I mean, he has to haul that IV bag and pole with him the whole time, and that ain’t easy against a good defense. Just gives them more stuff to grab and pull him down with.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:50 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I think you said "a season"...
… when you meant “three seasons.”
And Herschel was a golden Adonis from borne from the slopes of Mount Olympus to the home of the Walkers in Wrightsville, where he decided to spend his mortal life before re-joining the gods for eternity. Should we really compare him to a guy carting an IV around in a game?
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:58 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Herschel would like to remind you that...
…. he still IS a golden Adonis borne from the slopes of Mount Olympus.
by HerschelBlogger on Jan 3, 2012 12:43 AM EST up reply actions
And he will knock you out if you dont recognize.
"Everybody has a plan until they get hit" Iron Mike Tyson.
"Screw 2nd." Lugs Harvey.
by CaptJackSparrow on Jan 3, 2012 6:04 AM EST up reply actions
And what about the utilization of tight ends?
Orson Charles had only 1 catch for 2 yards. Our defense couldn’t even stop Michigan State’s TE for most of the 2nd half
by thefirstgenesis on Jan 2, 2012 10:48 PM EST up reply actions
I don't like the "OMG WE MUST CHOP OFF BOBO'S HEAD" reaction after every gorram loss this year...
… but for the record, I had this observation when sitting in the furniture store pondering the season while my wife was spending $7k of our money:
Mike Bobo’s play-calling style likely reflects his personal life and the stage of life he is currently in. He has 5 small children, and wants to have conservative stability and a safe place to see them develop.
What we need, however, and what we got in the first half of the LSU game, is a play-calling strategy that asks the offense to play aggressively, like their hair is on fire. Unlike 4-year-olds, our offense won’t grow if left to a conservative strategy, and it won’t take care of itself if we don’t adjust our calls when the situation demands it.
We don’t need to worry about the friggin’ clock when there’s :30 left in the half. We need to try to score every time we have the ball. That’s not conservative, though, and isn’t a solid, stable system, so it goes against Bobo’s nature. (Or, at least, his tendencies right now.)
I’m not saying we need an offensive coordinator who doesn’t have a family (or just doesn’t care about his family), mind you… all I’m saying is that maybe Bobo needs to be aware of these tendencies and consciously change his on-field strategy. (If he can, which is always a big if.)
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:47 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I dont want to chop his head off. I just want an OC that is on par with our DC. Is that too much to ask? We got 30M in the bank.
And yes, The O needs to do two things: get first downs, and score.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
by chuckdawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:48 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I think, in this case... yes. Yes, it probably is too much to ask.
It sucks to have that answer, but I think it’s just the way Mark Richt has structured his system.
He can demote Bobo back to QB-coach-only and get someone else to call the plays, but they’ll still be running Richt’s system, and he’ll still insist on veto power over all play-calls (as he does now with Bobo). And somebody who’s known as a great offensive guru just won’t stand for that.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:54 PM EST up reply actions
I am trying to open the position up
so update your resumes (or tank just arrange for bombing runs over your opposition)
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
I love Grantham
but three leads were blown. Two of those late in the fourth quarter. For as much as Blame can be put on the offense for not icing the game the defense had a chance to stop Michigan State on back to back drives in the 4th quarter and failed at both of them.
So if we want someone obsessed with scoring...
…shouldn’t we hire a bachelor as our OC? I’ll start updating my résumé.
One of the authors at DawgSports.com
I am the 99% of Americans who love college football
by Spears on Jan 2, 2012 10:48 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
* Note: He doesn't mean complete a resume first.
:-)
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 2, 2012 10:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You should try debating the guy. I am still suffering PTSD from it.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
So we need to tell them he'll be fired if he doesn't score a certain number of points per quarter
regardless of who we’re playing.
Just don’t tell him how many points he needs to score.
by Dawg from Canton on Jan 2, 2012 10:49 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Brilliant.
Make it happen, McGarity.
by DocSkraynj on Jan 2, 2012 11:11 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Today's lost
just was so frustrating on so many levels. Things that the average Dawg fan knows to be true just seems lost to Richt.
1. Walsh is not a good field goal kicker. I don’t care that he used to be good…that was then.
2. Our two favorite plays are the dive play and the bomb (fortunately the latter worked today). If we are going to run the dive play we might as well take a knee.
3. Bobo is incapable of making in game adjustments.
4. RSIV really should not be playing tailback.
5 A screen is something that shades your back yard from your neighbors
Normally, I simply think of bowl games as exhibition football, but today’s game despite the heroic efforts of the D and Brandon Boykin, was really a microcosm of the season…..
What we have learned is that RIcht seems incapable of learning from his mistakes.
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
I like this comment cause I needed to laugh. #5 is great!
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Anyone else watching the Fiesta Bowl?
Did you know that tight ends are allowed to catch passes or that there’s something called a “slant” route? This stuff is going to revolutionize football.
One of the authors at DawgSports.com
I am the 99% of Americans who love college football
Damn you for beating me to it!
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
by chuckdawg on Jan 2, 2012 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Haha
Didn’t mean to steal your thunder, TT, but you get full credit for making me obsess over the fact that we never, ever call those plays.
One of the authors at DawgSports.com
I am the 99% of Americans who love college football
I guess, you being good with stats,
we call the lowest percentage (but sexiest) plays over the highest percentage (but not so cool) plays. The converse is the sexier plays have a higher INT rate.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
To add some color - and I have said this 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times
Its a fo sure 3-5 yards. If the DB or LB backs off 7 yards, then you got a TD. I dont know why this is so hard for Bobo. Every one of our TEs or WRs can run this with no problem. And the INT % is low.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I only counted 999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 times
0000000000000000000000000000000000 times
99999999999999999999999999999999 times
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
Thing is Dawg2011, the hot slant actually can help the run and play action. Grr.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I know....
that was a failed attempt at being a smart butt…I agree with you completely
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
We are amateurs, but seriously, what the hell are we missing? How hard is it for CMB to hit the hot slant?
I am sure CMB knows more than I do. I am willing to challenge him on knowing more about leadership than me. But for play for play, he knows more than me. So, what is so hard about a hot pass? David G did it all the time.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
We see it and are frustrated by it
the only reasonable argument I can form in my bizarro mind is that it is higher risk than a running play up the middle and has less obvious award from a bomb. That argument does not hold water, but it is the only thing I have in defense (and I cannot believe I just typed that) of Bobo
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
Nah, I'll stick with "Rock"...
Good ole “Rock”…nothing beats “Rock”. Not paper, nor scissors.
Back off, man. I'm a scientist.
wow, Stanford scored a TD with a slant from the slot. Its magic.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
And someone explain this...
if you aren’t going to use your fullback for anything other than blocking doesn’t that mean that the D has to account for only 4 players assuming the QB doesn’t run…….and if you can not run the ball doesn’t the D have that much more of an advantage?
wouldn’t the obvious counter strategy is to split your running backs pro style and make the D more accountable or throw some quick passes to negate advantages……a slant perhaps?
I just don’t understand.
Oh yeah…..one last question…….can someone please explain why you run play action on 3rd and 13?
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
by Ozam on Jan 2, 2012 11:01 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
You are all up in my head
You cant run play action on 3rd and 13 when you never had a run game. This is probably the biggest play mistake that makes me wonder drunkenly on I-35 dodging traffic.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I actually followed you there, when you said 'wonder'
interpreted it as you wondering what in the world Bobo is thinking
by Swarles_Barkley on Jan 3, 2012 7:52 PM EST up reply actions
i was going to add
the reason it was 3rd and 13 was that we ran CT or RSIV up the middle on first and second down but I thought that might be redundant
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
I dont like to talk down to the great DS audience. But running play action with no play action on 3rd and long is just freaking stupid.
Might as well go spread and go all in. We failed similarly against LSU
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
i forgot
satire doesn’t always play well on things like blogs. It was a just a jab at Bobo. He has been doing it for years. It is beyond stupid. The second string backer for Valdosta State doesn’t even fall for it.
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
Don't forget
When you have a little success (TD) utilizing the hottest player in the game, make sure you quit using him when the game is on the line.
All this shit aside, I sure wish I could buy Boykin a Chick Fil A. That was the best game I remember ever seeing as an adult.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
tank.....
ironically, one of the great performance by a Dawg was by Bobo at the Outback Bowl. I was at that game and we simply killed Wisconsin. It was cold as a witches tit.
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
Yea, he came out of his shoes in that game. Talk about irony.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
refer back to my "tell your grandchildren" comment earlier
Now I just need to make some children so they can have kids so I can tell that story. Today proved that Boykin should be included when we talk about other UGA outstanding athletes…I will always refer to him as a Damn Good Dawg.
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
The fist play of the game was Boykin tackle for a safety. Damn.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
he was solely responsible for over half the points scored by UGA
I could accept that if he was a running back or a quarterback…but a damn defensive back…DOUBLE DAMN
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
what was sad was when we tried to use him on O at the end of the game. A little too late.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Even worse
was the formations we put him in late in the game only made the defense scream “hawk #2”
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
such a good point
B. Smith is fast but doesn’t have near the moves. When we had our TB problems (not that they went away), I immediately though Boykins clearly could fill in better than a converted linebacker converted from tailback.
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
boykin
elevated himself into Bailey and Hoage territory in my eyes……Like those guys he quietly went about his business. Definitely a Damn Good Dawg……an all-timer
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
By far my best memory from attending the game will be hearing how loud
that hit was all the way from my seat.
by Swarles_Barkley on Jan 3, 2012 7:54 PM EST up reply actions
That game defined Boykin's UGA career
As well as catching up to a speeding Jeff Demps against UF earlier this year.
Just read
The Bulldogs held Michigan State to just 51 yards rushing. That broke the previous Outback Bowl record by one. The Spartans’ 1.3 yards per rush also was a record-low output. In all, 20 Outback Bowl records were tied or broken on Monday, including longest reception, longest reception for a TD, longest punt return, most punt-return yards by a player, best punt-return average, punt returns for TD, most receiving yards, most punt yards, best punt average, longest pass completion, longest TD pass, most interceptions by one player, most interceptions returned for TD, most punt-return yards by a team, best punt average, most punt yards and fewest rushing yards allowed.
Sad part is most of these 20 records belong to the loosing team
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
I said this in a staff email - the stats will blow away the scoreboard.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Let me say it again. I directly wrote the staff an email and said the stats would blow away the scoreboard.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Not surprising, but AJC is wrong
MSU held UGA to 51 yards rushing.
http://collegefanatics.com/boards/
Some days, it seems like there isn't enough coffee.
Some nights, it seems like there isn't enough vodka.
A thought just occurred to me...
Richt came from FSU, and he still trusts kickers to win games form him. This blows my mind.
Sic 'em Dawgs
by ClassicCityDawg on Jan 2, 2012 11:35 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Words from the newest DAMN GOOD DAWG
Brandon Boykin was still feeling forlorn in defeat when a UGA official approached him in the locker room and said he’d been summoned back to the field by the Outback Bowl organizers. Despite the Bulldogs’ 33-30 triple-overtime loss Monday, Georgia’s multi-talented senior had been named the bowl’s most valuable player.
"It was honestly surprising," Boykin said. "Those things usually go to the team that wins the game."
Overall, Boykin finished with 183 all-purpose yards and added 7 tackles and 2 tackles for loss on defense.
"I was blessed to do all that, but none of that could have topped getting a victory in my last game," said Boykin, who hails from Fayetteville. "I’m still kind of upset right now. It didn’t end the way I wanted it to, but I can’t do anything about that now."
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
Even Herschel, with 183 all purpose yards, cant count 7 tackles, a safety and 2 tackles for a loss.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM BOYKIN,
but if you ask his MMA opponents they may suggest that is just because he was never allowed the opportunity to play linebacker at UGA…LOL
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
Does anyone play D west of the Mississippi?
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
Actually D only exists in five states west of the Mississippi
North and South Dakota
Colorad0
Idaho and
Nevada
and none of those 5 believe in it in football
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
by Dawg2011 on Jan 2, 2012 11:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
outstanding........
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
really?
tell that to Boise State who easily overcame a bobo offensive game plan to kick our butts.
But of course!
Idaho is one of the states with a “D” in it!
Manager, Dawg Sports, SB Nation's Georgia Bulldogs weblog.
Go 'Dawgs!
BSU had a rare instance of 4 5th year seniors on the D line. That would never happen in the SEC.
And they are likely to be in a bad way next year.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Stanford is an example of what you do
when you have a chance WITH ANY TIME on the clock to win a game
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
And now all Okie St. needs is a FG.
Hmmm…
by Cherokee's Grip on Jan 3, 2012 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
And we need to encourage him to move to a non-defensive conference
but in this case so does replay
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
What was OSU thinking?
They could’ve run it up the middle, taken a knee, and kicked a long FG.
by DocSkraynj on Jan 3, 2012 12:25 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions
But you gotta watch out, sometimes the band gets in the way.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 3, 2012 12:28 AM EST up reply actions
after watching the Stanford Okies State game
I can say that neither belonged in the MNCG against LSU. That D would have slammed both
I HATE ORANGE, and DGNBs
But given the way their offenses played, half of one of their OC's could coordinate a better offensive game plan than Bobo
by thefirstgenesis on Jan 3, 2012 12:34 AM EST up reply actions
I know that this kind of thing gets controversial pretty easily...
but I would love to have Okie State’s OC running that system at UGA. Though I do like Holgorsen’s more vertical version. But OSU uses the running back more.
My only hesitation would be the “would it hurt recruiting?” thing.
But… I bet it would help for some positions and hurt for others. Still have yet to see a team with a dominant defense (or a particularly good d staff) running that kind of offense. TCU, sorta has. And Bama has definite spread elements. Can’t wait to see one of those absurd OCs get a job at a big time school with a great defense.
by DocSkraynj on Jan 3, 2012 1:08 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I believe the result would look alot like the 2008 Florida Gators
That edition of the Reptiles featured one of the highest powered offenses I’ve seen in the SEC, as well as some shutdown D. Their depth was lacking compared to this year’s Tide and LSU teams, but they still featured several NFL picks on defense. Their offense was far superior to this year’s Tide and Tigers as well.
I have never witnessed an offensive coordinator as inept as ours……..he hasn’t learned a damned thing since he has been here……and AM11 has never won a big game…
by Sex,Dawgs&RocknRoll on Jan 3, 2012 12:45 AM EST reply actions
I hate to go all post hoc ergo prompter hoc
But isn’t it possible that the latter has something to do with the former?
Editor, Dawgsports.com
Sacrificing goats, chugging Maker's Mark, and walking underneath The Arch.
by RedCrake on Jan 3, 2012 1:55 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
*propter hoc
F’n autocorrect
Editor, Dawgsports.com
Sacrificing goats, chugging Maker's Mark, and walking underneath The Arch.
by RedCrake on Jan 3, 2012 1:56 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
ooh ooh I know that one!
After the fact, therefore because of the fact…..
/my latin does not extend beyone the titles of West Wing espisodes
Broadcasting live from a secure location underneath the Hell Gate Bridge
by The Quincy Carter of Accountants on Jan 3, 2012 8:35 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Ignorance is Bliss
I haven’t seen the game (it was on a 2am here and I wisely opted for sleep), so I can’t speak to particulars. However, from what I have read, I have a few thoughts:
1) Richt said his decision in the 1st OT was because he trusted Walsh. Optimism is great, but honestly, Walsh hasn’t been very trustworthy this year. Even with his mistakes, I would have rather have put the game in Murray’s hands. Especially considering the plan to use Walsh included using a largely ineffective running game.
2) I feel bad for the seniors, but most of all Brandon Boykin. It seems like he played his butt off and would have easily won the MVP if UGA had won.
3) In the long run, this loss might be a good thing. Georgia is a good team, but not a great team. After the Auburn game, we all thought they were a great team. Now we know the truth. The potential to be great is there, but more work and some changes are needed. Hopefully, like last year’s bowl loss, this one will spur more change and improvements. Richt doesn’t make any changes on a whim (it’s a strength and a weakness at times), so if these mistakes added to previous disappointments contribute to a change that is good.
- Special teams & the kill mentality need to be at the top of the list of things that need work.
4) The running game needs fixing. This isn’t a blame Isaiah point, because from the box score, nobody was that effective at running the ball. I know Mich St has a strong D, but when we can’t run (against quality opponents), Murray makes mistakes. He is a really good QB, but is good enough to carry the O week-after-week. RBs & OL need work.
5) Finally, Richt needs to realize that the door is open, not wide open, but open, for the SEC East. I think Florida will still struggle. Vandy is tougher, but beatable. Tennessee is a mess. South Carolina will take it, if we give it to them. We can’t afford to do that. We took the East briefly, in the early 2000s, we need to take it again and hold onto it for a long time.
by fotodog on Jan 3, 2012 5:58 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
The only good thing about this game was that
Boykin DID win the MVP.
"Everybody has a plan until they get hit" Iron Mike Tyson.
"Screw 2nd." Lugs Harvey.
by CaptJackSparrow on Jan 3, 2012 6:16 AM EST up reply actions
I agree that the loss is a good thing for the team long term.
Murray needs to carry this bad taste for the whole offseason. He simply can’t make the mistakes he made. Stupid playcalling in OT aside, if Murray throws only 1 bone-headed pick, this game is won in regulation.
Our team is talented and good. It is not great. It got blasted by the two best teams it played. It got beat by the two next best teams it played – and simple mistakes are the difference in both of those games. This team could have won 12 games, but limited itself to 10.
The first rule of being smart is “Don’t be stupid.” If we learn that lesson, next year could be a lot of fun.
by first and thom on Jan 3, 2012 11:22 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Michigan St
Quit blaming Bobo and give the Spartens some credit. Georgia’s only offensive weapon was the deep pass. UGA can’t run the ball. The idea it’s from uncreative play calling is just denial. State was a good defensive team. Georgia struggled to score against Kentucky and Tennessee.
Are we shocked they struggled yesterday?
The defense and special teams made the plays necessary to win. Our QB makes too many mistakes. Some credit goes to State, but some of Murray’s passes yesterday were horrible. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a UGA QB who looks so good and so bad in the same game.
He led us down the field for a TD late and then his last two passes in the game were comical. How can it be the same guy?
by mdhenshaw on Jan 3, 2012 7:58 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Yes, MSU is a good team and I think most of us here make the assumption that we recognize this. Credit them for playing a good game. But they did not bring their boneheaded OC which ran the ball for no gain and punted to give the opponent the ball with 2:38 remaining in the game.
Thanks and Comments from a Spartan
Thanks for the props, it’s a feather in our cap to have played on par with such a good team, and program. We got the W, but it’s hard to say it could have been much closer, or that it couldn’t have very easily gone your way. I’d love to schedule a non-conference regular season game with you guys, I think it might be a nice match-up between two good teams that are often over-shadowed by other programs in their conference.
I’d also be making all these same comments if we’d lost. We made some crazy play calls (our first play from scrimmage comes to mind) and some really good ones (the tight end screen), but in the end we were the team we’ve been all season (mostly pass with a little run, coming from behind, playing good D when we needed to, a little lucky).
I think most coaches can either come up with a great game plan, or make great in game adjustments. The great ones can do both, but those are rare. Dantonio seems to be the in game coach, which is working out well for us, but results in a lot of games where we’re down at half.
Go Dawgs, good luck in the new year.
Christopher
Yea, going to your bread and butter wing pass or bubble screen to open the game wasnt so good. Our DC was completely ready for that.
Especially with your heals against the goal line.
But what I really, truly admired about MSU was when they showed Cousins getting with his players, helmet still on, and talking about how they were going to complete some passes. That’s some great leadership that UGA needs a big dose of. MSU never folded. UGA look defeated once MSU got back into it.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Cousins
This is no shocking revelation, but having a Sr. QB who has started for most of 3 years has been a huge asset in close games and we’ll miss him next year.
I think you D has better athletes top to bottom, Worthy is huge for us (literally and figuratively) and Gholston off the edge will be great if he can get just a little smarter, but I don’t see the quickness and awareness in our DB’s that I see in yours.
The fake bubble screens were beautiful, as were the consistent overloads with 4 receivers on one side.
by first and thom on Jan 3, 2012 4:00 PM EST up reply actions
Dantonio and Play Calling
I think it’s a hallmark of his to keep and utilize a big playbook, including a few trick plays. It’s worked in a few big moments and seems to keep a few teams honest in others. I thought for sure we were going to fake our first OT FG attempt.
Some of this is out of necessity (we couldn’t run on you) and some is a function of having some seniors who have had time to practice these plays.
And some is having good coaching.
I hate losing, but you guys (both team and fans) are good people.
by first and thom on Jan 3, 2012 4:25 PM EST up reply actions
I agree
Leaving the stadium I didn’t encounter a single sore winner attitude among State fans. They either kept their celebrations among themselves or kindly attempted to console some Georgia fans. Good people.
by Swarles_Barkley on Jan 3, 2012 8:06 PM EST up reply actions
Who is responsible for QBs?
And I saw MSU’s QB working with the team and coaches to come up with plays. I have never seen that with AM.
How come we blame the players on O, but the Coaches on D? How come CMR and CMB get a pass if our O stinks?
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Because we’ve had the same OC for years. The offense was fine with Stafford. The offense was fine with Shockley. The offense has struggled with Cox and now with Murray.
A team’s offense is only good as the QB. There were some boneheaded play calls, but we have a serious question mark at the QB position.
Murray turned it over 3 times. He took a knee when the defense wasn’t offside. It goes on and on.
And again, coaching those weaknesses is part of the QB coaches job. Bobo couldnt coach Cox nor Murray up, the two guys that needed it most.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Haha… let me get this straight. If Georgia ever has a bad QB it’s only because of the coaches? Why doesn’t the NFL have 30 great QBs if it’s only a matter of coaching?
That’s just a nonsense argument.
We have had three years of some bad QBing. I am no longer blaming players.
Joe Cox was supposed to be this great game manager, he wasn’t. Aaron Murray needs some good coaching and it looks like he has been coached down. Coach Bobo has a direct impact on the recruiting, coaching and play calling for these guys, and they have not lived up to needed expectations. There are only so many years of the same problem before you have to look at the staff and not the players. Coach Bobo does not use AM in a manner that enables his skills, and the lack of prepartion to face a stout running D falls on his shoulders as well.
I am tired of excuses and blaming players. I have the same expectations from CMR and CMB that we have on CTG. CTG is getting it done. We went from a bottom of the barrel D to a top 4 D in 2 years. Mike Bobo has had much longer and he has consistently failed to coach up where needed, and have a long view to solve future issues such as shortages on the line. I am just asking to hold CMB to the same standard we laid on Willie Martinez.
My argument is not nonsense. It is based on 3 years of failure to plan and execute well on O aganst quality teams, and even lose against bad teams.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
by chuckdawg on Jan 3, 2012 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Congrats tankertoad...
you officially have BDS (Bobo derangement syndrome). Bobo does share some responsibility for some bad play calling, but the armchairs are out in full force.
The offense was fine when Stafford was the QB. It was fine before that… for you argument to make any sense we have to assume:
1 – Stafford and Shockley were so good that they overcame bad coaching.
2 – Joe Cox was supposed to be a special player
3 – Murray’s fumbles and interceptions are the result of the OC
I do believe there are some issues with our running plays, but it’s difficult to do much we our current backfield. We do get too conservative, but when your QB is a turnover machine that happens.
Over the years I think you’re one of the best writers on this blog, but I think you’ve lost the plot when it comes to Bobo.
You can debate me all you want, but calling me names - not cool. In fact, I find this demeaning, and don't care to discuss it with you any further.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
/hattip. Fair enough. If I can get over this cold, I will write my magnum opus on this topic, and you can pick it all apart. )
The one thing I can say that is true, is I havent been a Bobo fan since Richt made the decision. It’s not like I just started with the game yesterday; I see the game yesterday as the inevitable conclusion of having him as OC.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Stafford was that good
and he made a lot of the same mistakes you see out of Murray and Cox, except his arm strength overcame it.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
That's my assessment. Stafford's innate skill overcame lack of offensive creativity. He could thread a needle and throw it a mile.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I can dig this.
Should we blame Murray’s turnovers or Bobo/Richt’s conservatism? Yes. They’re mutually reinforcing.
Murray has got to be more careful with the football. And Richt and Bobo have got to be less careful with Murray.
I thought we had a good wrinkle prepared for QB runs yesterday. Murray kept handing off and sprinting right while the RB disappeared into the mouths of an endless swamp of hungry Spartans. It looked like a zone read, but either (1) it wasn’t really a read play and just looked like one or (2) Murray made epically bad reads. Our best runs (both of them!) came on cut-backs.
by first and thom on Jan 3, 2012 3:58 PM EST up reply actions
It's all Bobo's fault
Only thing I can type, when you boil all the things that were done in the second half of this game down, it all comes down to 1 person. Coach Bobo.
He did not manage to engineer ANY lengthy drives, time of possession was horrible. So, HE wore down our fantastic defense.
With the defense being worn down, eventually they could not stop the run which killed us in OT. In the broad, big picture sense, Coach Bobo is the 1 person that I hang this game on. Poor offensive game plan, lucky big plays, terrible drive engineering, insanely frustrating “prevent” offense. We gave the ball to MSU with 2:38 remaining in regulation by running the ball up the middle 3 times and punting. This is where the game was lost.
My heart goes out to all the great players, It pains me to no end that they played their hearts and minds out only to be “snakebit” by Coach Bobo who singlehandedly screwed up this game. Congrats also to Coach Grantham. Great job sir!
MSU
had 17 plays that resulted in a loss for UGA. You can blame play calling (like what we did in OT before the FG), but Georgia’s line had their ass kicked. We were dominated at the line.
Did you not see the adjustments made on D and O by MSU? Yet we failed to make any adjustments on O, and this isnt new.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
BOBO
A move to QB coach would serve him well , b/c he is certainly overmatched as an OC. MSU made the adjustments at the half and picked us apart with less than stellar athletes.
Our play calling is very predictable !! And why on earth can we not throw to Orson Charles who is clearly one of the best athletes on the field. Don’t expect to see him back next year..why would he stay to be a blocking TE.
One more streak comes to an end:
Georgia was 7-0 against Big Ten teams in bowls until yesterday. All were played on New Year’s Day until yesterday. The first Georgia bowl victory over a Big Ten team was against Michigan State.
Editorial Staff, Dawg Sports, SB Nation's Georgia Bulldogs weblog.
@NCThom
Go 'Dawgs!
by NCT on Jan 3, 2012 9:36 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions 1 recs
I agree wholeheartedly
that Bobo is not a very good O coordinator but isn’t he just an extension of Richt. Our offense under Richt’s play calling was not much better. Bobo is bad but the issues are more on the head coach here imo and I’ll bet there isn’t another coach in America who takes a knee on second down to try a 40+ field goal from the hash with a kicker who is fifty / fifty at best.
Our lack of strategic effort on offense really was an embarrassment. I’ve had friend calling me this morning saying what the hell happened to Georgia?
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
This...
…isn’t he just an extension of Richt…
… has basically been the core of all of my “Bobo ain’t the root of the problem” replies to everyone who wants to OMG FIRE BOBO NOW. He’s basically just doing what Richt did, and in fact Richt still provides input to the play-calling process during the game. It’s not just Bobo making these calls… it’s the head guy, too.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 3, 2012 10:20 AM EST up reply actions
exactly.....
and this doesn’t bode well for the future……..
Even with a Van Gorder or Grantham at the helm of the D, if our O stand up against quality defenses, the Dawgs will be hard pressed to win their fair share against tough opponents.
Maybe losing yesterday was a good thing as it forced a discussion about the “elephant in the room”
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
At this point
All of this is an exercise in frustration as there will be no changes at offensive coordinator next year. I don’t think Richt identified that as an issue.
I agree......
and that makes us doomed for mediocrity……..with the occasional really good and really bad year.
I have no doubt Richt wants to win, but striving for excellence should be the goal.
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
Well, to be honest
Forget Bobo’s playcalling for a minute. If Murray hadn’t made 1 of those two picks we win the game and we’re having the discussion where we beat 1 of the 2 best teams we played. If Walsh hadn’t missed his first field goal we wouldn’t be having this discussion. If he hadn’t missed the second one, we may not be having this discussion.
Point being, a lot of players didn’t execute on what they were supposed to. So we can definitely blame Bobo for some horrible playcalling, but there’s also a lot of individual blame that the players have to shoulder. It’s not Bobo’s fault that Murray threw those picks, or that Walsh laid a couple goose eggs on the field.
by andycapps on Jan 3, 2012 12:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yes, traditional case of holding the DC responsible on D, but the players responsible on O. Good old double standard.
We have seen what a good DC and CB coach can do in two years. Doesn’t the O deserve the same boost?
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
I'm not denying Bobo shares responsibility
But he didn’t commit the errors I was talking about. That may speak more to the fact (which I think is correct) that Grantham is better at his job than Bobo is at his. Grantham is better at gameplanning and educating his players on their roles. We aren’t blaming defensive players for anything because no one player committed a game breaking play.
Grantham gets credit because his unit performed well as a whole and no one player committed any game breaking gaffes. Bobo is getting crap for calling bad plays, yet he can’t take all the blame as several of the plays he called resulted in interceptions or missed FG’s (which were obviously not what he called for).
Hey Dawgs
That was a helluva game, and continued this Spartan team’s tradition of causing weekly heart attacks among its fanbase. While I’m obviously happy my team came out on top, I was really impressed with the Georgia team. You have a ton of good young talent on that squad, and I fully expect yall to contend for the SEC and possibly MNC next season.
If it means anything, beating a team like Georgia is considered a HUGE win for us, as people have a lot of respect for your program. Good luck next year!
https://twitter.com/#!/SpartanKC
by Spartan D on Jan 3, 2012 10:14 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Thanks, Spartan D.
I appreciate your classy comments, and thank you for showing up and being sportsmanlike in your manner.
Without intending to cause any offense to you, however, I think most of the folks around here are ready to go back to hearing folks say, “Dang, we had an opportunity for a statement win there, but just let it slip through our fingers.” :-)
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 3, 2012 10:24 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Much obliged, Spartan D.
You have a heck of a football team, and a heck of a head coach. Best of luck in the Big Ten again next year.
Manager, Dawg Sports, SB Nation's Georgia Bulldogs weblog.
Go 'Dawgs!
I'm sure it has been mentioned already
But anyway you look at it, the Dawgs had a chance to win that game. They should have one it in regulation. Georgia was up 2-0 and deep inside Michigan St territory. Mark Richt wanted to be aggressive and go for the touchdown/first down on 4th and 1. Had he elected to kick the FG, the Dawgs would have been up 5-0 and would have won by three in regulation.
Integrity first. Service before self. Excellence in all you do. -- USAF Core Values
by Disciple of Carolina on Jan 3, 2012 10:22 AM EST reply actions
but last year....
I don’t think its fair to blame the decision to go for it, instead of kicking the FG, especially after we howled at him for taking the conservative alternative exactly 1 year ago.
Someone mentioned it earlier—and it’s a problem that has always bothered me—why in the heck do we run play action on 3rd and 10. Does anyone really believe we’re not going to pass. I could maybe see a fake draw on 3rd and 20 (dang, that really would fake people out, considering our tendencies), but 3rd and 10 is a legit, go-for-it passing down (as opposed to a surrender down).
Yesterday, they were bringing that middle linebacker all day. We could have dinked and dunked them into change, and what happened to the WR screens that seemed effective early ?
A wayward dawg in Memphis looking for the voice of reason
by esquiredawg on Jan 3, 2012 10:44 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
we should have...
negated that run blitz by putting Murray in the shotgun all game, letting our back chip, and hitting our back or our TE on short dumps over the middle seam….
A wayward dawg in Memphis looking for the voice of reason
Would have been worth a try
Instead we keep trying to run it up the gut while their linebackers are in our backfield by the time our RB gets the ball. Was there a single toss sweep yesterday? More than one screen pass? More than one slant route completion?
by andycapps on Jan 3, 2012 11:06 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
exactly....
it was like we were stuck in some “three yards and a cloud of dust” horror film. my five year old is smart enough to change tactics when something CLEARLY is not working.
if the bulk of our offense is a dive and hail mary, then something is seriously amiss.
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
Thank you!!
I don’t understand why we don’t do that!
I know I’m probably missing something, but it seems the playcalling starts to become…off-kilter at times. Take a knee on second down? Really?
Back off, man. I'm a scientist.
How in the World
Can Bobo have the talent he has had HANDED to him at UGA and do basically NOTHING with it? For the love a God we had the #1 overall pick in the NFL at QB, and really didn’t do much at ALL with him. Period. This game almost put me in the hospital. I know my BP was 300/ 280. It had to be. My face was numb. Get a lead…..start calling crappy run plays that NEVER work, the butterflies in Murray’s stomach turn into BATS and there we go……another LOSS. Brandon Boykin summed my feelings up pretty well post-game…
“Said Boykin, a senior who was the game’s MVP: "We made huge strides from 6-7, but great teams finish when they’re supposed to. The LSUs and Alabamas — there’s a reason they’re going to the national championship game. We held LSU to 12 yards in the first half and didn’t finish. We had the lead today and didn’t finish. Once they figure out how to pound a team and not give up anything, Georgia can be special."
"Because it's Everything Auburn isn't, Better than Tech, a Southerner's Dream and a Northerner's wish; the Pride of Georgia; The Ultimate College Experience; Downtown Shopping; Florida's Worst Nightmare,
And A Place That Can Get in Your blood and Stay Forever..." HOW ‘BOUT THEM DAWGS?!?!?!?!?
by SGMASH74 on Jan 3, 2012 11:48 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
To be honest
I think the dropoff in the second half points to our conditioning being better than last year, but not yet where it needs to be. I think Tereshinski can get us there, but it’s not something that can be overhauled in one offseason. That’s something that takes at least 2 years to start to see.
by andycapps on Jan 3, 2012 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
People have seem to forgotten that the offense wasn’t the problem when Stafford was around. Our Defense got blown out countless times. We couldn’t stop anyone.
I think that even back then in the Stafford era, Bobo’s unimaginative play call left Martinez with their heels on the goal line a lot of times. While I like Grantham better than martinez, I personally would have rather kept Martinez and let Bobo go back then. Martinez needed to coach his defenders to turn around and look for the ball.
by carlton.collins on Jan 3, 2012 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
I actually was continually talking about the O throwing the D under the bus and then blaming the D back then.
We would throw an INT and then get mad at the D for giving up pts.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
Sorry SEC!
I’d like to apologize to the rest of the SEC.
UGA vs. MI State was like an old man without his Viagra. We had good intentions, but couldn’t get it done.
Why we lost
The blame for UGA losing the Outback Bowl belongs in one place – Coach Mark Richt. His philosophy is to get a lead of any size and then play “four corners” and run the clock out. And that lost us this game. And it will lose other games, too. We were faced with an OL that was getting man-handled and CMR decided to run the ball three times (forcing MSU to use all their timeouts) and punt, hoping his defense could hold. They didn’t.
We just needed a FG to win in OT and he decided to have the QB lose three yards to “center” the ball, counting on his kicker to make a kick he had consistently missed all year. Predictably, he missed. (To Walsh’s credit, the 47 yarder in the second OT was clutch.)
Those plays stand out and everyone points to them as the reasons for the loss, but they were just the last examples of how CMR lost this game. And we lost for one reason – CMR is timid and scares easily. One bad play and he curls up in his shell and pulls back and hopes the boogieman will just go away. We opened the third quarter with a 16 point lead and stopped them on their first possession. Our first possession, we are still in our offense throwing the ball short and gaining yards, then Murray throws in INT. MSU puts together a good offensive drive for a TD and CMR turns yellow. Two runs, an incomplete pass and a punt. I knew then we were in “prevent offense” mode and in big trouble.
Then Murray throws the pick 6 and we really go into a shell. Running on first and second down and trying to pass on third and punting, hoping the defense can hold. Just pathetic. Playing to not lose, not playing to win. The drive we put together after MSU took the lead shows you what we could have done if CMR were not such a coward. 5 plays, 81 yards for a TD and a great 2 point conversion call. When we let the offense play, we made plays. CMR kept them in check and let MSU win the game.
Anyone blaming Bobo is pointing the finger in the wrong direction. He is following the instructions of his head coach. And the head coach blew this game.
http://collegefanatics.com/boards/
Some days, it seems like there isn't enough coffee.
Some nights, it seems like there isn't enough vodka.
I agree with almost everything you said, except that last part. When Richt called the plays, he was more likely to run in obvious pass palys and pass on obvious run plays, he had David Green fake really well, he ran misdirection plays and threw in a few trick plays. Thhat’s not at all what Bobo does. Bobo lacks imagination and mostly stickls to up the middle and long bombs whether it is working or not. So I don’t see how you can label this as Richt’s direction. I do agree that Richt is too afraid to fire Bobo because of loyalty and because Bobo has all those kids to feed.
by carlton.collins on Jan 3, 2012 3:57 PM EST up reply actions
I keep reading about the play calling
but think it goes much deeper than that – our scheme / game plan sucked.
I think we all agree on a few points MSU has a very stout run defense – we have a somewhat suspect run blocking OL and obviously less than stellar RB’s. Bobo must have missed the scouting report since he schemed to run right at the MSU strength. Our WR’s & TE’s should have been a total mismatch all day long and Bobo schemed them out of the game.
Either Bobo thought we could trick them by using our weakest offensive weapons against their strengths or he is completely stuck on a balanced attack. Maddening – simply maddening………………..
by JRL on Jan 3, 2012 1:14 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Read this clearly: No more Blair Walsh jokes. They are sick, not funny, and it's just going to be a ban from here on out.
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
by chuckdawg on Jan 3, 2012 2:01 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Agreed on it being sick and unfunny
Guy feels bad enough, and he’s a stand up guy for speaking to the media after the game. That takes some guts.
Didn't mean to get under anyones skin...
by Ogeechee River Dawg on Jan 3, 2012 2:38 PM EST reply actions
We're good, Ogeechee River Dawg.
The issue is closed, and there are no hard feelings.
Just for the benefit of anyone else who would post a similar comment, though, ORD repeated a joke that was told in last night’s post-game thread regarding suicide and a recently-disgraced Georgia kicker.
While I know this was meant as a harmless joke by both ORD and the commenter last night, this subject matter is not an appropriate one about which to tell jokes, and any such jokes told by other commenters in the future will also be dealt with sternly.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Jan 3, 2012 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Will refrain from it in any other comments...Sorry
by Ogeechee River Dawg on Jan 3, 2012 2:38 PM EST reply actions
Agreed.
It’s forgiven and forgotten, Ogeechee River Dawg. Carry on, everyone.
Manager, Dawg Sports, SB Nation's Georgia Bulldogs weblog.
Go 'Dawgs!
Thanks Guys !!! Never meant to be disrespectful...
On another note, our 2 boys heading to Athens from here in Millen should provide some help on the offensive and or defensive line in the next few years. J.Taylor is a horse and if he puts his mind to it, should make an early impact.
by Ogeechee River Dawg on Jan 3, 2012 4:01 PM EST up reply actions
You're killing me Bobo!
The DAWGs “O” is a lot better than Bobo allows them to be. Last year Bobo ran about one misdirection play a game, six against GA tech. All but one worked. This year, he ran almost none, (3 against LSU). By contrast, Florida traditionally runs about 17 misdirection plays per game.
Without any misdirection plays, defenses can simply read the surge of red jersies and instantly know where the running play is going. With no element of surprise, defenses don’t have to stay put and be kept honest.
Bobo seems to think that because UGA’’s O line is the biggest in college and the NFL, that they should be able to run over anyone. That’s simply not always true – and MSU proved it. Bobo also ran up the middle several years ago against Alabama’s Terreance Cody with no success, but he doesn’t learn, and he never adjusts. Once it was apparent that MSU’s size was able to stop us up the middle, Bobo should have changed strategies to use our superior speed around the ends, but alas, Bobo made it a game about strength, not a game about speed. MSU is not as fast as UGA, but they were just as strong – which is what made the game so even. HELLOOOO BOBO – speed is what the SEC brings to the table.
Is Bobo just too stupid to recognize when something’s not working that he should try something else. Does Bobo view misdirection and trick plays as gimmicks that are beneath the UGA strategy? If so, that’s crap – even the New Orleans Saints were throwing tailback passes against Atlanta last week – and you could argue that MSU’s successful tailback pass to keep the drive alive won them the game.
Sure, the DAWGs have a some nice offensive stats, that’s true. But I think the DAWGs have amassed those stats despite Bobo’s unimaginative play call – not because of it. When Richt called the plays, he was nmore likely to run on obvious pass plays and pass on obvious run plays, and fans and opponents alike never knew what was coming. But Bobo is an up the middle, up the middle, long bomb nut – even when it’s not working. say it with me Bob – “NAKED BOOTLEG”, “REVERSE”, “TAILBACK PASS”, “QUARTERBACK KEEPER” – keep the defensives honest for a change. Everybody’s on to your play call Bobo!
by carlton.collins on Jan 3, 2012 3:18 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Running The Ball
I will add that Crowell’s outstanding high school films shows him to be good out in the open, so why does Bobo keep running him up the middle where his talents are less effective? Put him in the I 8 yeards deep and let him pick his own hole.
Also, Samuels may be a fast stud that looks like a Greek God with his shirt off, but he is unable to gain a single inch after first contact. Except for that excellent 80 yard touchdown (where is was untouched) and his excellent effort against Florida, Samuels is the worst running back every to wear a Georgia jersey.
If you are low on running backs, why not line Orson Charles up as a running back?
Murray has proven to be a good runner and Florida and Auburn won national titles behind some good quarterback running, suggesting that UGA maybe do just a little bit of this. We just need to get Murray to take better care of the ball. When Murray did scramble on 3rd and 17, why didn’t he slide with 13 more yards needed for the first down? Wasn’t he aware that he wasn’t at all close to picking up the first down and in this case, taking a hit is not warranted? Is this a coaching matter?
Crowell has turned out to be a big disappointment – his high school film is fantastic, but his ankles are like like egg shells. They need more tape on those ankles – I’d say at least two rolls per foot!
Will someone please tell Christian Robinson to use his speed like olgetree and Boykin do – many times Christian was lazily waltzing on the field instead using his full speed.
and our O woes
are exacerbated greatly by NEVER incorporating the fullback into the game plan.
If you cannot run the ball (and make no mistake we could not consistently do it well in 2011), we simply are wasting an offensive position by running the I formation.
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
I 100 per cent agree, Ozam.
This is why I wrote a posting recently about the incredible vanishing fullback. Use him or lose him. If we’re not going to accomplish anything by having a fullback, replace him with an additional tight end or wide receiver.
Manager, Dawg Sports, SB Nation's Georgia Bulldogs weblog.
Go 'Dawgs!
As my dad (God bless him) used to say..
the answers are easy if you don’t understand the problem. Are we, the casual (but committed) fans, missing something?
Sometime I think the Bobo/Richt brain trust (that might be an oxymoron) is insane. Why else continue to run the same thing over and over and over if it is not working. Taking that thought to the extreme, maybe Richt wanted to have Walsh kick the field goal to say “see he really can do it” despite the odds of 2:1 against.
I used to think that positive change was always right around the corner with RIcht, but after 10 years I am convinced that what you see is what you get!
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
I sat at the front row on the goal line...
and took away a few interesting observations I had not made previously wathing games on tv.
One of the biggest things I noticed was how disciplined and crisp our defensive players were and how undisciplined and hesitant our offensive players were. For instance, most of our handoffs to RBs were either bobbled or incredibly slow. I watched a few minutes of the okie st/ Stanford game last night and saw how quickly Luck turned and stuck the ball into Monter Ball’s hands and then he was off in an instant. Too many times did I see a hole open up only for the exchange to develop so slowly that the hole had disappeared.
The second big observation I made was how the defense carried itself. During the first half the defense had a confidence and swagger as it imposed its will on Mich St. During the second half, following Bobo’s three and outs (as well as the TD drive that consumed all of a minute of play) the defense was gassed. Their swagger was gone, mentally from being left out to dry by the offense and physically from never getting off the field.
Our offense was clearly the problem. Bobo has not shown the ability to put a product on the field worthy of sharing the same sideline as grantham’s defense.
by Swarles_Barkley on Jan 3, 2012 4:40 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Sorry for not having paragraphs.
I typed it on my phone and totally did put spaces in between paragraphs but it didn’t show up in the post.
by Swarles_Barkley on Jan 3, 2012 4:41 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I got paragraph breaks in my view.
Ah, Internet. You’re a tricky bitch.
Editorial Staff, Dawg Sports, SB Nation's Georgia Bulldogs weblog.
@NCThom
Go 'Dawgs!
by NCT on Jan 3, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions
I mentioned in the live thread our handoffs didnt look good.
And I get to say it again, who coaches QBs?
Editor, "Dawgsports"
"The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker
maybe
the handoffs look so bad because our mind immediately fills with rage as we see RSIV or Carlton being handed the ball up the gut one more time…………………….
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
I mentioned it above, but it bears repeating...
After watching probably 15 handoffs in which I have a really good view, then seeing some of the top-notch offenses in college football play later that night, it’s like watching high school then pro ball. Every time we handed the ball off, our RB stops completely, reaches out and grabs the ball, then looks up and decides where to go. I saw a play last night where Stanford started to drop back to pass, and if you blinked then you missed the exchange. Luck handed the ball off to their fullback lightning quick and it caught the defense off guard.
Offense is predicated on a lot of little things being done right on conjunction. When you really look deep, those little things are not being executed properly. This falls on the coordinator and ultimately the head coach to keep him accountable.
by Swarles_Barkley on Jan 3, 2012 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I'm totally with you.
I may not have made it entirely clear, but I was basically ranting about how Bobo doesn’t have his hand on all of the little things (that’s an unfortunate sounding way of phrasing what I just said). But it all goes back to what you keep screaming about, and I am only attempting to demonstrate more specifically that you are right. Bobo is not only a play caller, but is supposed to be the executive of the offense, meaning he is responsible for everything from having a healthy o-line that can block to having the qb-rb exchanges in proper form.
by Swarles_Barkley on Jan 3, 2012 8:26 PM EST up reply actions
After a day of decompressing
and careful consideration, I’ve decided that about the only difference between the Outback Bowl loss and the LSU SECCG loss was this: We managed to actually catch a few touchdowns instead of dropping them.
Our defense got tired, and whatever craptacular mindset we’ve obtained after halftime returned like the plague. This team has a ton of potential, but has a lot of work to do, too.
What a game by Brandon Boykin. Such a shame it was wasted.
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
Tired D
Our defense got tired, and whatever craptacular mindset we’ve obtained after halftime returned like the plague.
Yeah, they got tired, but you’d probably get tired, too, plus a wee bit disheartened if you played your ass off in the first half, shutting down a good team, and then:
- Watched your own offense hand over two free touchdowns, nearly tying the score (but for a failed 2 pointer).
- Watched your own offense (coaches included) give up on winning the game.
- Had to keep taking the field after a series of 3-and-outs.
What would you say to the D towards the end of the game? “Hey guys, we can still win this, even if the offensive side doesn’t want to.”
by UncleBenny on Jan 4, 2012 8:18 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
This is exactly how I felt watching the game.
The offense gave up on winning and took the offensive players out of the game, the fans out of the game, and the coaches acted like the game was beyond their control and whatever happens, happens.
by Swarles_Barkley on Jan 4, 2012 8:31 AM EST up reply actions
I guess that depends on what
one defines as wasted.. If one defines success as 1st round as opposed to 2nd round then maybe it wasn’t. We shall see I guess.
"Everybody has a plan until they get hit" Iron Mike Tyson.
"Screw 2nd." Lugs Harvey.
"In Grimes we trust, all others get gashed"- Me.
by CaptJackSparrow on Jan 5, 2012 7:36 PM EST up reply actions
Did anyone hear Buck Belue today?
Normally he is a serious homer (not that anything is wrong with that!) First he defended Bobo skills as an O coordinator, going as far as saying we are lucky to have him. But, then he started talking about our offensive and defensive line play. It was Buck’s contention that unless, and until, we improve depth and skill on both sides of the ball we are not even close to being a top 10 team……top 25 yes, but not elite.
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." George Bernard Shaw
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