UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 13
Monday, October 13, 2008
Fans letting me hear it about Bobo
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the most interesting aspects of this job is finding out what people think. Used to be we reported, wrote our stories and, if we were lucky, we might catch some feedback the next Sunday through a letter to the editor.
Now we live in a world of instantaneous feedback. That’s mostly a good thing.
I’m sitting in the press box at Sanford Stadium covering the Georgia-Tennessee game and actually got several e-mail messages from fans that were sitting in the stands. This was DURING the game.
Most of what I received — and this was reinforced on both my post-game and in-game blogs — was people criticizing offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. For what it’s worth, I also got a few complaining about defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, even though his unit held Tennessee to only 208 total yards, including 1 rushing yard. But mostly people were after Bobo. The either wanted to him change his philosophies, take away his play-calling responsibilities or just plain fire him.
And this came on a day when Georgia rolled up 458 yards and 29 first downs on the team that led the SEC in total defense!
Now, I must confess, there were some things I questioned Saturday (and judging from chit-chat in the press box, some others did as well). If I never see Georgia attempt another fade pattern it’ll be a good thing. Seems to me like it’s a 50-50 play at best and gives a good defender a good shot at winning the ball. And I especially don’t like fade routes when you have a supposed Heisman Trophy candidate at tailback and you’re inside the 5 with the lead. It was after Eric Berry’s interception and return of 54 yards that I got most of the e-mails.
But you know what? Bobo spends all day and all night all week looking at video tape and developing game plans. The Bulldogs spend all week practicing those plays. I hated all the fade calls but there was at least one on which defensive holding was called that should have resulted in a first-and-goal. And I can see how Bobo likes the odds of A.J. Green or Kris Durham should coming down with those most of the time. I, too, really didn’t like the fake-screen-right-throw-back-left thing. But I do understand it was flukey that the defensive end just happened to stay at home on the line on that play.
The bottom line is this: The Dogs ran 81 offensive plays. Based on the stats and the points on the scorebard, the majority of them seemed to work pretty well. Georgia did, after all, win the game. And in case you haven’t noticed, the Dogs were first in the SEC in passing offense, first in passing efficiency, second in total offense and third in scoring offense BEFORE Saturday’s offensive onslaught.
But what do I know? Maybe I’m totally wrong about this. Let me know what you think. What is it you think Bobo should or shouldn’t be doing? What should the gameplan be moving forward? You think the Dogs would be better off if Mark Richt was still calling plays?
Speaking of feedback, here’s some from this past weekend:
Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer tells reporters neither he nor his team is thinking about quitting… .
Meanwhile, columnist Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes that Tennessee should think about quitting on Fulmer… .
Here’s a story from the Nashville Tennessean that gets into some of Vanderbilt’s shortcomingsthat were exposed in the loss to Mississippi State… .
And finally, Birmingham News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky gets after coach Tommy Tuberville pretty good in the wake of Auburn’s loss to Arkansas.
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