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AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 16
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Blame game at 9-2?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I saw this post-Auburn quote from defensive tackle Corvey Irvin on the Athens Banner-Herald Web site:
“We’ve been getting criticized the last couple of weeks now. They can’t stop the run. Coach Martinez this, Coach Martinez that. And the scoreboard we’re getting 38 and 40 put on us. They scored 13 points on us today. I’m not bragging or nothing, but we were just getting tired of it.”
Yeah, Corvey. The Bulldog Nation knows the feeling. Especially after the latest in the Dawgs’ series of underwhelming victories this season. The reality is, Georgia’s defense didn’t really look that much better Saturday than it had the three previous weeks when it was giving up points at an embarrassing rate. It simply ran into pretty inept offense.
And still Auburn came within a pass of winning the game. Not just because of our porous defense, of course. There was the second straight week of abysmal play by Georgia’s special teams. And the intermittently brilliant offense continued to stall in the Red Zone and have way too many three-and-outs thanks at least in part to Mike Bobo’s increasingly predictable play-calling.
I guess it might seem crazy to some that many Georgia fans are complaining about the team after it just notched its ninth win of the season, but that’s the way it goes for an elite program that was expected (unrealistically, it turns out) to be in contention for a national championship.
There’s plenty of blame to go around, including on the sideline, and not just Willie Martinez and his soft zone. Georgia’s talent level is obviously down on defense, especially at defensive end and in the secondary. Shall we tag recruiting chief Rodney Garner with that? He’s also the coach of the defensive line that has been manhandled by opponents much of the season and hasn’t consistently pressured the opposing quarterback. And while Jon Fabris has turned out some stellar defensive ends in the past when he had more to work with, his special teams coaching is just clueless.
And then there’s the penalty situation. Some of those personal fouls Saturday were totally needless and just plain stupid. I can’t really argue with the critics who call this team undisciplined and not very well coached. The Dawgs don’t tackle well, either. So the players get their share of blame, along with head coach Mark Richt, who sets the tone for the program and obviously needs a reality check. His “Hey, a win is a win” attitude and apparent instant amnesia about what went wrong each time Georgia squeaks by a team it should have dominated is beginning to wear thin.
And yet Georgia stands at 9-2 and, assuming it takes care of business Between the Hedges in a couple of weeks, in line for the SEC’s third best bowl bid. There are programs that would kill for such a result. We used to be one of them. But we thought we had moved past that point.
So, yeah, 9-2 is good. Not great.
POOCH KICKS: Think we’ve seen the last of Prince Miller back there to receive punts? Let’s hope so. And I’m glad someone finally told Logan Gray that fair catch and waving everyone off and letting the ball bounce aren’t his only options. … Thank goodness for Georgia’s Fab Four: Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, Mohamed Massaquoi and A.J. Green. I’ve been wishing all season we’d throw more to Moreno; his score on that screen pass shows why we ought to. And to give Bobo his due, that was a very well designed play. MoMass is a go-to guy. A.J. is a phenom. And Stafford always gives Georgia a chance. … However, unless you’re using misdirection, the quarterback keeper isn’t a good call for Stafford. … Sure sign that a promising Georgia drive is about to stall: Moreno takes himself out after a good play and heads to the sideline. … At least we didn’t try that bubble screen Saturday.
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