Georgia Football: 10 Things UGA Can Do To Salvage The Season
The Georgia Bulldogs aren't sitting pretty right now in the race for the SEC East crown. UGA is just 1-2, and 0-2 in the conference. The start is the worst record Georgia has had, three games in, under Mark Richt, and many fans are griping and complaining.
And rightfully so, to an extent. Being at the bottom of the SEC is never fun. Georgia is currently sitting at the bottom tier in most SEC power rankings, and they might have lost the respect of some fans, their rival fanbases, and the media.
But Mark Richt held his ground the other day, claiming that even with the loss the Bulldogs are improving. I have to agree with him. What I saw in Georgia's first two games was a scrappy team that played with a ton of togetherness and urgency. Seriously, when was the last time we saw Sanford Stadium as electric as it was during Georgia's 14 point comeback on Saturday? It truly was a sight to see, especially considering Aaron Murray--at 19 years old--led the way.
Sure, the team has some kinks in the chain, and their season in terms of reaching their goals might be in jeopardy, but the Bulldogs are a dang good football team. They will improve. Fans have a lot to look forward to this season, and in the coming seasons.
But only if the team, and the fans can follow up on the task at hand. Here are ten points on the agenda for the rest of the football season.
The Season Will Be a Success If: Mike Bobo Admits He Has Playcalling Issues
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One thing that absolutely tore me up the other day was a postgame quote from Mike Bobo, who claimed Aaron Murray needs to get the ball out faster when under pressure.
That answer came from a question pertaining to the number of sacks Georgia allowed on Saturday against Arkansas. Georgia has had problems with converting third downs, and getting sacked, but I don't put more than a tiny portion of the blame on the redshirt freshman quarterback.
There were three situations during the game where Georgia had 3rd and short yardage (two situations with 3rd and 1) where Bobo called playaction streaks.
The play warrants a fake hand off to the tailback, while the three receivers dart down field as far as they can.
Playaction streaks is a great play call, on 2nd and inches. But the fact that Bobo went for it, not once, not twice, but three times baffles me. The play produced no results each time it was run. The receivers were completely covered and Murray spent the time in the pocket scrambling out of the reaches of the Arkansas pass rush.
Even the ESPN crew was completely dumbfounded by the entire situation. Not only that, but I've noticed that nearly every pass play Georgia runs is in fact a playaction pass. The problem is, when you aren't running over people, the playaction pass is asking for it. Defensive lineman are pinning their ears back, rushing straight to the quarterback on all of Georgia's passing downs. Murray is spending every pass play turning his back to the rush to fake the ball to the running back.
The defense doesn't buy it. Georgia has to be able to run straight drop back pass plays. I don't think I've seen them run one from under center all year. Also, the wildcat plays are 100% gimmicky and 100% ineffective. If I see Georgia line up in that formation one more time, especially in crucial situations, I'm going to scream.
Now, the offense did catch fire in the fourth quarter. But, if you noticed, that was because Murray was taking snaps from the shotgun. What a difference a little of offensive versatility makes. And, since 2008 Georgia has had some great offensive games under Bobo. I'm not calling for Bobo's firing--yet. But, he has to prove to us that he can make the right decisions. Next time it's 3rd and 1 Georgia needs to line up and pound it down team's throats.
Message to Mike Bobo: Take the blame for terrible playcalling, and find some versatility when it comes to pass plays.
The Season Will Be a Success If: Aaron Murray Keeps Doing What He's Doing
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Look up the term "Damn Good Dawg" in the book of Georgia Lore, and Aaron Murray's face should rightfully be the adorning picture. The redshirt freshman from Florida has come up to UGA and taken his job by storm.
Murray received a lot of criticism after a lackluster G-Day game, however the former Parade All-American has quickly become the most popular 19 year old in the state of Georgia. He brings an "Aw shucks" attitude to every interview. His modest build makes him look more like a math team member than a starting SEC quarterback.
But when No. 11 has stepped on the field this year he has been absolutely spectacular. Sure, he has had a few mishaps, but he's followed each mistake with at least two or three big plays. He has proven he can make every throw, but his running ability has impressed as well.
Mark Richt said he doesn't like it when Murray runs, but the fact is Murray is putting his entire body on the line for his team. I get nervous everytime he cuts back to the center of the field to take on an opposing linebacker too, but I say more power to him.
The kid has guts, skill, and passion, and he's going to win over a lot of fans this year. He's also likely going to win UGA a lot of games before his time in Athens is over.
Message to Aaron Murray: All of the fans are behind you. Get out there and keep doing what you're doing.
The Season Will Be a Success If: The Receivers Keep Catching On Like They Have
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A.J. who?
Yes, the four game suspension of A.J. Green, who will return in two weeks in Boulder, creates more friction between the Georgia passing game the opposing defense. Any time you can field the nation's best receiver, you have an extra kick in your passing attack.
But who are we kidding? The Georgia receivers so far have been outstanding. Kris Durham is making tons of impact catches, especially down the field, which should be no surprise considering it's his final year as a Bulldog.
Tavarres King has also really stood out. You can tell the guy is playing with a chip on his shoulder. Many doubted King's ability to be a compliment receiver, and his reputation was hurt more when he received a one game suspension after being arrested for underaged posession of alcohol.
Let's see what he did on Saturday, though. He caught a deep ball on Georgia's first drive. Later, on need of a big play, King was able to snatch a bullett from Murray after slipping down onto his caboose. And then, King caught a short pass on 3rd and goal and turned it into a touchdown by breaking two tackles.
King earned a lot of respect against the Razorbacks.
And even overall, King, Durham, and Marlon Brown have caught everything thrown their way. Receivers are running good routes and hanging onto tough passes.
How about Aron White's shoestring grab in a clutch situation down the stretch? How about Israel Troupe, coming off the bench to make a spectacular acrobatic catch on a slant? You can tell the Georgia receivers didn't take too kindly of the bashing they received in preseason.
All of a sudden I feel like Georgia has one of the more reliable receiving groups in the SEC, and A.J. Green is still M.I.A.
Just think about how good they can make Aaron Murray look when Green comes back.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The Season Will Be a Success If: The Offensive Line Proves Us Right, and Wrong
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Does the title doesn't make sense to you? Here me out. Georgia entered the year with one of the top rated offensive fronts in the country. Three games in, and they are doing anything but pushing defenses around. Even Louisiana-Lafayette made the line look less than extraordinary.
The broken record that is Georgia's front five's hype and performance contrast baffles me. It seems like every year they are supposed to be good. Then they stumble early on. We make excuses. Then, by the end of the year, they all look like NFL prospects.
So are we really going to just sit here and wait until the Georgia Tech game for the offensive line to impress us? Okay, that might be an exaggeration. But, I certainly don't want to have to wait until the Vanderbilt game, like I did last year, to see this unit get going.
The past three years featured a Georgia front which played musical chairs due to injuries. Georgia isn't suffering from injuries at the tackle, guard, or center position as of now. They have no excuses.
This offensive line needs to start pushing people around. Aaron Murray has impressed with guys running at his face. Washaun Ealey has shown a few flashes of brilliance so far. But the running game and passing game could become a deadly combination if the line gets it's act together.
I have a feeling it will, but it needs to happen this weekend in Starkville, where Georgia might be facing the best defensive front seven yet.
The Season Will Be a Success If: The Defense Continues To Grow
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Georgia's defense has nowhere to go but up, and so far this year they have done that. Yes, even with the three terrible pass plays they allowed to Arkansas. Yes, even after getting stomped by a freshman tailback in Columbia.
The Bulldogs played a sloppy defensive game on Saturday, but they really came alive in the fourth quarter. They also had a pretty darn good showing in the second half against the Gamecocks two weeks ago.
You can tell, however, that the defensive backs are sometimes lost in coverage. The guys aren't executing correctly all of the time.
But we need to remember we have a lot of young pups out there, and they are still learning the new scheme being implemented by defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. As a segway into my next slide, I want to assure the Bulldog faithful that the defense will get turned around.
Aside from getting stuck on their heels trying to defend Ryan Mallett in the last minute, the Georgia defense was pushing Arkansas around in the fourth quarter of the game. They've got a lot of young guys, and more and more game experience will produce results.
Some are going to say, "These guys have all summer to learn their assignments", but the fact of the matter is the defense doesn't get it all down until they face diverse opponents on gameday. The defense did perform well all spring and summer, but that was against the Georgia offense every day.
Then you put them up against Spurrier's, and Petrino's offenses in back to back games? There might not be a team in the country other than Alabama that could have had complete success with that schedule.
The Season Will Be a Success If: The Players Keep Their Attitude
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There is one thing this Georgia team has this year that I think they lacked last season: Attitude.
Watching player interviews, especially after two losses, I can tell that the team is very focused and determined. They brought everything they could have in the past two games, but it just wasn't enough. But, you have to give them credit.
South Carolina and Arkansas, last time I checked, are top fifteen teams. And, Georgia lost by 11 and 7 points. It's not like they layed an egg in the first two games.
Some of the player interviews I've seen, which include interviews from Aaron Murray, Josh Davis, Christian Robinson, Kris Durham, and DeAngelo Tyson really put me at ease, because I know that even at 1-2 this team has a goal, heart, and determination to finish this year as strong as possible and win over the hearts of the Georgia faithful.
They may not be executing perfectly now, but they are going to work their tails off to make sure they do in the future. You can tell Mark Richt and Todd Grantham won't let this team slide into dissaray. When it comes to Bobo, ehh, no comment. Let me just say I see the offensive players really rallying around Aaron Murray...
...I really like this team though. I see a lot of character guys on the field, which will go unnoticed since Georgia has become "Arrest-U" in the past few years. I wish there was a way I could personally tell each and every player how much I appreciate the way they played so far.
This Season Will Be a Success If: The Fans Can Prove Their Support and Passion
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The Bulldog faithful swings and sways with every success and failure of the Georgia program. We used to praise Mark Richt as one of college football's best coaches. Now fans are calling for his head, or his staff's head.
Fans complain, complain, and complain some more when things go bad, and it's impossible to access any type of internet UGA community without seeing tons of negative comments.
But, the Dawgs, again, are learning on the fly. They are going to improve, and eventually become a team expected to win nearly all of their games. They played their tails off at home this weekend.
But, when mounting a fourth quarter comeback against Arkansas, Georgia fans had already started leaving the building.
Now, I don't blame all. 85 to 90 percent of the fans at the game stayed, and I'm sure they are all as faithful and enthusiastic as me. But what in the world is going on with the emptying of seats before a game is over?
There are thousands and thousands of fans who don't show up on Saturday to Sanford Stadium, who would love to if they could. If you are lucky enough to have tickets to a Georgia Bulldogs football game, you keep your rear end planted into that plush red seatback until the final horn blows.
Do that, and you might be able to be a part of more comebacks like the one Georgia had the other day. Maybe next time you will be on the winning end. Nothing makes me more proud of a program than when the team and the fans are working together as one cohesive unit.
We need to support this team, even at 1-2, and fill Sanford Stadium for the final home games. We need to be as loud and obnoxious as possible when the opposing team has the ball. Sometimes, recently, I've felt like we've lacked just a little bit.
Again, I think the majority of our fan base are doing a heck of a job of being supportive and making noise. But, we can do more.
Remember the blackout in 2007? The unity in that stadium created some insane electricity, and it translated into a win. Even when decked in red, Georgia fans simply need to make...
...noise making a TRADITION. We have a stadium that seats 92,000 fans. We have potential to make Sanford Stadium the toughest environment in the SEC. All fans have to do is come to games with a game face.
I liked seeing a facebook group the other day titled "Georgia vs. Arkansas: LOUD OUT 2010". Did we succeed in pulling off a loud out? Yes, the 85,000 fans who were there late did. But we need to make a "loud out" the goal in every game we host.
There is nothing that current players, as well as prospective players love more than making an entrance into an electric, screaming stadium. It's time Sanford Stadium fans do their part in turning up the volume and making Sanford Stadium the most special college football stadium experience.
We can do it. Players would feed off of it.
This Season Will Be a Success If: Georgia Wins Their Next Five Games
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The Dawgs had quite a tough start to their SEC schedule. South Carolina and Arkansas are sitting at No. 12 and No. 10 in the polls, respectively, proving that Georgia's close losses to both schools are very respectable ones.
Georgia's image might be down right now, but people will think very highly of the team if they can win the next five games and justify their start. I don't like two SEC losses anymore than you do, but I don't think I'd be an upset camper if Georgia is 6-2 heading into their match up with Florida.
The next five games are at Mississippi State, at Colorado, Tennessee and Vanderbilt at home, and then Kentucky on the road. None of those teams are anywhere as close, when it comes to national perception, as Arkansas and South Carolina. Georgia will likely be favored in each one of these games.
The toughest might even be the road test in Kentucky, with the Wildcats possesing plenty of talent to go around. The Tennessee game, at home, should have plenty of revengeful fans. And, the two other road games aren't in the most hostile environments.
Although, Mississippi State is an improving program, and cow bells are now legal (as if they followed the rules in the past).
Many picked Georgia to lose either at South Carolina, or at home vs. Arkansas. Many also picked Georgia to be 7-1 heading into the game vs. Florida. So, if Georgia can get there at 6-2, will we really be that disappointed?
Sure, the SEC East is going to be extremely difficult to win now, but Georgia still is mathematically in that race. And, they have plenty of pride to play for.
This Season Will Be a Success If: Georgia Beats The Gators
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Hopefully (and most likely) Georgia won't bring the black lids back out against Florida this year. If goofy uniforms have any correlation to losing, then maybe this is Georgia's chance?
The Gators will be rocking their awful pro combat uniforms for the Georgia-Florida game. Okay, so maybe gator skin helmets and pants aren't going to distract the Gators as much as our "Grambling-Out" uniforms distracted us.
But Florida is clearly a different team without Tim Tebow, as well as a slew of other great players they don't have this year. If Georgia's offense can develop enough to be able to face that always tough defense, then the Dawgs have a shot at beating Florida.
Georgia's last defeat of the Gators came in a year where the Dawgs had early losses to South Carolina and Tennessee (losing to the Vols 35-14).
It appeared a down year then, and it appears a down year now.
But it was a Sugar Bowl year then.
Basically, I have hope. I think Georgia can get themselves into a January Bowl Game, though they probably don't have a chance at sneaking past the SEC East champion into a BCS bowl like they did in 2007.
The Season Will Be a Success If: The Dawgs Finish 9-3 Or Better
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So we give them an allowance of one more loss. How likely is this?
Well, the next five games all look winnable for Georgia. The Georgia-Florida game will be the breaker game. If Georgia can get past Urban Meyer and the Gators they will be left with Idaho State, a road game at Auburn, and the home game versus Georgia Tech.
When it comes to the final three games, the one game that stands out is the road game at Auburn. As I said in my preseason predictions, that's going to be a tough game. I predicted Auburn to be right there in the hunt for the SEC West when we play them in the plains.
So far it looks like the Tigers could be a top ten team when they face us. This game, if won by Georgia, could be even more of a statement win than a win over Florida.
But with my optimistic predictions laid out in front of you, I have Georgia losing at Auburn, just as I have them in my season preview article.
I do, however, have them rolling over Idaho State and winning decisively over an obviously less powerful Georgia Tech team.
Considering a horrific start, Georgia could very well finish with a good year and have a chance to get to double digit wins with a bowl game victory.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
