Dogs’ offense looks more versatile this year
Whether rolling out or taking off running, Aaron Murray should bring added versatility to the QB position. (AJC staff)
Despite the uncertainty over who’ll be the Dogs’ quarterback, most fans I’ve been talking with this spring feel pretty good about the offense because of the returning experience on the offensive line and at tailback, and, of course, A.J. Green.
But the Macon Telegraph’s spring practice coverage has touched on a couple of other reasons to be optimistic about UGA’s offensive prospects.
One is the likelihood of additional mobility at QB if either Aaron Murray or Logan Gray is behind center. While Mark Richt’s teams haven’t generally been known for a dual-threat QB except during 2005 with D.J. Shockley — and last year that really wasn’t part of the offense with Joe Cox — Georgia’s coaches think Murray and Gray have that potential. (Zach Mettenberger, not so much, but he’s pretty much taken himself out of the starter’s race at this point with a suspension hanging over his head.)
Speaking of Murray and Gray, Mark Richt said, “I believe those guys are athlete enough to add a little bit of quarterback run, run a little zone read, run a little quarterback draw. I don’t see us running a true option, but … we’ll have quarterback run gamed for them, and you would expect them to make plays either crossing the line of scrimmage or scrambling right, left, buying time and finding someone downfield.”
We’re not talking about the Dogs relying on their quarterback to run extensively. But instead of just sailing the ball out of bounds when everyone’s covered, Richt said, the quarterback can move up in the pocket and maybe have room to gain 4 or 5 yards. “If two times a game the quarterback can cross the line of scrimmage and get the first down when it wasn’t designed for it to happen that way, that’s huge, and I think those guys can do that.”
And if that proves to be the case, it can help the passing game, Richt notes. “Defenders respect a guy who can run and sometimes will come off a coverage to come get him, and all of a sudden they can flip it to a guy who’s open.”
A more mobile quarterback also allows you to move the pocket while he searches for an open receiver, like Matthew Stafford did against Kentucky a couple of years ago. Cox really wasn’t able to do that, which resulted in quite a few of his inteceptions.
The other plus for the Dogs’ offense highlighted by the Telegraph is the potential mismatch with the defense that tight ends Aron White and Orson Charles offer since both are athletic enough to split out at receiver, especially if a linebacker is trying to cover them.
As Murray noted, “It’s going to be good to have those guys just to confuse the defense, not knowing if we’re in a two-tight formation, or spread, or three receiver look.”
“It’s going to pose a great threat,” Murray said. “It’s going to be pretty hard for the defense … we come out with two tight ends, and they think we’re going to be in a two-tight formation and we split one out, or we split two out and they’re in a base defense. They’re not ready to handle four receivers. It causes it a lot of confusion just because of their athleticism.”
Yes, the Dogs will have an inexperienced quarterback this season. But barring any key injuries to the line, I’m still feeling really good about Georgia’s ability to move the ball and score.
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118 comments Add your comment
Call It Like It Is
March 24th, 2010
8:16 am
Hey Pago Flyer,
The answer is NO!
Gators win the East again 2010!
Enough Said!
SOUTHGADAWG88
March 24th, 2010
8:26 am
HD sometimes the other teams had something to do with our poor play on offense.We are not playing the scout team on Saturdays.
Bean Counter
March 24th, 2010
8:30 am
dbc was wondering where to tailgate. Why not start with President Adams’ house since he is the one that issued the order. After all his house is owned by the University.
GaDawg
March 24th, 2010
8:35 am
That is exactly the point that I’m trying to drive home! (RECRUITING) We’ve GOT TO BE ABLE to field an offensive team that can control the ball on the ground FIRST, and until we can do that, I just don’t see any National Titles coming our way. I would sincerely love to eat those words, but I don’t believe that reality will allow to savor them.
GaDawg
March 24th, 2010
8:39 am
My previous comment was directed to AltamahaDawg
Just messin wit you
March 24th, 2010
8:53 am
More versatile this year? Try winning games you should win; like Kentucky and Vandy and Tenn for starters.
noah
March 24th, 2010
9:34 am
First!!!
Brian in Athens
March 24th, 2010
9:51 am
A freshman QB has NEVER let his team to a National Championship. RB’s yes, never at QB. This year should be fun, Murray and Mett may be better than Gray, but at some point in some game they will make a mistake and we will lose. 9-10 wins would be nice, and gear up for the next season when all things are possible. I would like to eat my words and have one of those Frosh lead us to the promised land, but it would be a first.
Otto
March 24th, 2010
9:55 am
What games was the OL the strength?
They were the entire season. UGA was #6 in sacks allowed.
Bobo’s lame play calling allowed for WRs to be covered. UGA’s best pass play was a jump ball to AJ which he won because of his talent and being tall.
Samuel and King are mediocre RBs at best. Ealey came in and ran 5 yards a carry as a true freshman. Granted that was against easier competition.
The blame is not on the OL it is on the play calling 1st and RBs 2nd.
Just messin wit you
March 24th, 2010
10:03 am
Try winning the East first Brian. I think that was the problem in 07.
I-DOG
March 24th, 2010
10:45 am
Braniac,
I’m not sayin to sit a guy on the bench for 3 games if he holds. However, what we have done in terms of ball security and turnovers the last two years is unnacceptable. How many times have we seen a false start goal to go and have to settle for a field goal? How many roughing the passer or late hits out of bounds on a 3rd and 12 to give the other team a first down.
I wish I were hearing from the coaches that they were making ball security and penalities their top two priorities, but I have heard very little and am afraid that we are in for a 3rd consecutive year at the bottom of the heap in these important areas. Hope I am dead wrong
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2010
12:42 pm
Otto, my response was to the guy saying the O-line was our strength as far as a power running game. Sacks allowed has zero to do with that. I’ll have to admit, I don’t have the expertise to determine if the playcalling ensured WR were covered. I would say, the good news is that there couldn’t be an easier problem to fix than that. Just don’t call those plays anymore.
I don’t want to get into a whole big back and forth about this because its getting old now,but I will say this: If you really think we had the ability able to run the ball effectively ealier last season and the only reason we didn’t was play calling, That the line blocked well in the rushing game the entire time, I could not disagree more.
I think you and I am everybody else will all be very please how Coach Bobo is going to all of a sudden “get it” this year about running the football.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
March 24th, 2010
3:04 pm
I-DOG: I fully agree that some things are inexcusale like jumping offsides(all one has to do is watch the ball out of the corner of one’s eyes and don’t move until the snap), false starts;unnecessary roughness, personal fouls, etc. are certainly things that should not be tolerated on a continual basis. I just don’t think you can throw blanket applications on ALL violations. Most should be determined by the players intent or just making a Stupid decision. Sorry if I caused any heartburn.
shane#1
March 24th, 2010
5:43 pm
Running the ball will depend on the strenght of the offensive line. Period. You will not make a living running the ball against ‘Bama, yoiu have to mix it up. Otherwise the opposistion just loads the box. A good team that puts more men on the line than you can block will stop the run every time.
Murray's picture...
March 24th, 2010
7:12 pm
I asked this before…anyone know why players only wear on long sleve…I believe Stafford previously had did so, and Orson Charles along w/ Murray has done such…curious only, as it matters as little to me as the glove wearing thing…tks
GaDawg
March 25th, 2010
4:21 pm
shane#1
March 24th, 2010
5:43 pm
That is what an effective running game is intended to do. Force the defense to load the box to stop the run. That opens up the passing game where your quarterback and great receivers have a chance to shine. When the defense has to back off to slow down the passing game, you go back to the running game. They call it “taking what the defense is giving you”, but you must BE ABLE to take it when you get it. Without an EFFECTIVE running game you cannot dictate what the defense has to do in order to stop you!
shane#1
March 25th, 2010
5:24 pm
GaDawg, I agree, an effective running game is a valuable asset. The key word is effective! I am hoping an established O line and experenced backs will better the 2ypc that the running game showed early last season. I think you have to run the ball some even when it ain’t working just to keep the D honest.
joe
April 1st, 2010
8:32 am
if CMR keeps complaining about the lack of WR dept why not cross train Orson Charles out there. Seems his size ( and build) is very similiar to that of some of the dominating WR’s in the NFL 6′ 3′ – 235. He seems fast enough and atheletic enough to be able to split out sometimes. Any thoughts ?