Is confidence high again in the Bulldog Nation?
The Dogs' running game should be a big plus, thanks in part to Washaun Ealey. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
It’s been an up and down spring for Georgia football fans.
On the one hand, we’ve gotten excited about the rebuilding project Todd Grantham has undertaken with the defense. Sure, it likely will take more than one season to get the Dogs back to Junkyard status, but the fact that basic fundamentals like footwork, tackling and ball awareness are being taught at the Woodruff Practice Fields again fills a lot of us with hope.
And, yes, the new 3-4 scheme will have its kinks early on and the Dogs look a little thin at some positions, particularly outside linebacker. There’ll be a mostly new secondary, too. But the talent there is exciting, and Georgia looks to be putting a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks with Grantham’s scheme. Now if the Dogs can just get some take-aways!
On offense, there’s been the big question mark about quarterback, but concern over that has been tempered somewhat by the fact that Mike Bobo has 10 starters back this season. The veteran offensive line, barring a rash of injuries, will be a strength. That and a revived running game with Washaun Ealey and Caleb King should keep the new QB from having to try to do too much too soon. There’s not a lot of depth behind A.J. Green, but Georgia is absolutely loaded at tight end, a position that looks to become a game-changer for the Dogs this season.
Still, any spring that sees Mark Richt having to kick three players off the team has to be considered troubled. And the fact that one of the players dismissed was a very promising quarterback makes it even worse.
Yes, Aaron Murray apparently would have graded out above Zach Mettenberger overall despite a subpar G-Day game, and the odds were Murray was going to be the starter no matter what. But a lot of us would have felt much more comfortable knowing we had that big kid with the NFL arm standing on the sideline ready to come in if need be.
Loading ...Feel free to vote in the poll, share your thoughts in the comments, or do both.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
245 comments Add your comment
Dumbo
April 24th, 2010
2:08 pm
Sory about that folks…it’s just thinking about what could be UGA record after the 1st 5 games is giving me gas…..I’m praying that our overthrowing young QB doesn’t wet himself in front our 85 K in Columbia. Burpppppp…..
Rick Tamlin - Professional Sports Anchor
April 24th, 2010
2:09 pm
I’d like to extend to you all an invitation to the pants party.
Minnesota Dawg
April 24th, 2010
2:11 pm
Have y’all studied our schedule this year? We have a legitimate chance to go undefeated provided we beat Florida. All the other teams we beat regularly (SC, Arkansas,Miss. St., Tenn., Kentucky,Auburn, G.T.). We do have to play Colorado at their house, so that will be a big test. Could we be singing a different tune the end of this year? Maybe a BCS title?
bufbox
April 24th, 2010
2:13 pm
Let’s just shoot for a BCS game this year, and title the next maybe.
Mid Ga Dawgs
April 24th, 2010
2:16 pm
Can’t wait to see the Ole Ball Coach sling that visor a few times wondering where all the Dawg defenders are coming from. Grantham won’t show anything but vanilla against ULL. Shouldn’t need to.
Tawni
April 24th, 2010
2:40 pm
No confidence at all. At the rate UGA is going, half of the player-thugs will be arrested and suspended.
You know that’s true. Those are the kind of illiterate goons and bozos who Richt recruits.
Dave
April 24th, 2010
2:41 pm
Shreveport again.
Debose
April 24th, 2010
2:42 pm
Confidence has never left Dawg Nation, these blogs were full of fans last year saying they were going to beat Florida or the defense was going to improve. The year before the preseason #1 had fans extremely confident and now Grantham has yet to coach a game and Murray has yet to play in a game and the fans are already talking titles.
WillieM
April 24th, 2010
2:43 pm
You’ll be begging for me to be back on the sidelines after the SC game!
BD
April 24th, 2010
2:50 pm
I am confident that in 10 games or less UGA fans will stop saying that they own the overall record against Florida. Enjoy it while you can. Florida owns Georgia.
bornloser
April 24th, 2010
2:55 pm
richt will never get us to the national championship we now have a midget for a qb, HE CAN’T SEE OVER THE DAMN LINE.
CHDawg
April 24th, 2010
2:59 pm
Delusional,
We have 34 back in the backfield finally: Ealey/King, and I think the Dawgs were 6-5 in ‘79…just prior to 12-0. If the O line is dominant, then we will have a great year, but if they are just OK to quite good, we will likely be less successful. We have very strong playmakers on O. Not sure about the D, but CTG seems to know what he is doing.
Darindawg
April 24th, 2010
3:02 pm
Hey George…..we had some close games….we had some bad games…we had some good games…..but as bad or good as we was, you know what we did do?…..We beat Tech….MORON.
TXDAWG
April 24th, 2010
3:02 pm
I don”t expect miracles next year, but I believe we will see an improved team. Finally, TO HELL WITH GEORGIA TECH.
BD
April 24th, 2010
3:04 pm
1979 was a long time ago. Plus, look at the records of your opponents in 1980, pathetic. Florida was mediocre, Tennessee mediocre, Tech was awful. UGA’s 1980 team was the luckiest national championship outside of BYU’s in the last 50 years.
alumni
April 24th, 2010
3:05 pm
I’ll be excited if four to five games into the season the team actually seems to have improved. Watching them the past two years, I got the feeling that there was no forward motion. I got sick of watching the same mistakes week in and week out, as if the team could not learn from those mistakes. Give them a few games to see if there is improvement from games one and two before getting excited.
CHDawg
April 24th, 2010
3:08 pm
Bornloser,
Go back and read your messages…I think a demon has a hold on you…you can stop him by not sending anymore messages, or if you can’t resist posting at least switch to the Tech board to root for them some!
CHDawg
April 24th, 2010
3:12 pm
BD,
They were undefeated in the SEC…lucky would be losing a game or two and still winning the NC!
Dave In Tampa
April 24th, 2010
3:16 pm
It will be all about how well the Defense gels. I’m not worried about the Offense. defense needs to pick up the new scheme quickly and stop the stupid penalties and do a better job reading the offenses. Also, needs to apply presure on the QB. Lot’s of if’s for the defense.
I think we will have a good idea about the defense after the SC game.
george
April 24th, 2010
3:19 pm
good post darindawg. Yall beat an average team from a below average conference. CONGRATS. Minnestota dawg- can I please have some of the crack that you are on? Teams you beat all the time??? You were 6-4 against ut and au over the last ten years. Doesnt sound like beat them all the time to me. And UT has your NUMBER. not to mention the poor little wildcats beat the pups at home last year. I guess you are forgeting about Florida, South Carolina, gt, and miss st. too. I bet you $100 UGA loses at least two of those. 9-3 at best for the puppies this year prob 8-4.
Daisy Mae
April 24th, 2010
3:20 pm
Let me tell you one thing. This 2010 team will be just as lame as last years squad. You can bet on losing 5 or 6 games. CMR put a band aid on the problem by hiring some good defense coaches. He should have also fired BOBO THE BOZO. CMR will last about 2 more years in Athens because it will take the fans that long to finally say that we have had enough. Like I told you last year it will be the same thing that happened at Tennessee when they finally had enough and had to get rid of the giant pumpkin Fulmer. CMR did the whole team a great injustice last year by letting that no good Joe Cox play every game. CMR should have gotten LG some action. It won’t be 2 games before Aaron Murry is hurt. The guy that got kicked off for drinking and touching females should have never been at GA. if it wasn’t for his mama working in the office. We could have used that schlorship on a good human being and player. This is just another blunder by CMR.
italian_29
April 24th, 2010
3:21 pm
Bornloser, boy have you got the right handle. Get a Life and go to your teams blog, you aren’t a UGA fan.
Troof
April 24th, 2010
3:24 pm
You Dawg fans ask why Bama is preseason #1 with all those defensive losses? Well, first off the offense returns a Heisman winning RB in addition to every main contributor from last year. Secondly, Saban has recruited so well that the defensive depth across the board is nuts. We aren’t sending guys out there that haven’t played a down on defense. Many on the DL were in the rotation last year and saw significant playing time. The secondary is a bit young but with the athletes they are and Saban’s coaching they will begin contributing very soon.
Will we drop a game? Perhaps as you can’t win forever. 26-2 over the last 2 years isn’t bad. Will we be in Atlanta? Most definitely.
Mid GA Dawgs, your “Saban will be gone in 3 years” schtick is sad. Your dream that Saint Nick will be gone soon won’t happen. Get used to seeing Crimson in ATL in December. Richt will be fired before Saban leaves. 30 years without a MNC can’t be good. When will you Dawg fans demand results from your coach. Richt’s attempts to get tough on his players and fire WIllie are sad attempts to save his job. Same with the Grantham hiring. Copy the master by bringing in a coach that worked for him. What happens when that’s not enough? You think it was hard to find a DC willing to come to Athens wait until you try to find a HC that will satisfy Dawg Nation.
stephen
April 24th, 2010
3:26 pm
Hey Ron Burgundy…2004 called…it wants its movie quotes back. Good Lord, get some new material.
stephen
April 24th, 2010
3:29 pm
As for the full story on Mettenberger…let’s just say he should keep his hands in his own pants. Especially when he’s been warned about it. And then, when the cops give you a chance to walk away and go home, you TAKE it. You don’t stand there showing your ass, talking about how you did nothing wrong.
CHDawg
April 24th, 2010
3:31 pm
Troof,
Bama will have another strong year, but really…why go to another team’s blog to talk smack? What do you expect from a Ga blog site? Being preseason #1 makes you a target…you do have two great RBs, though.
BD
April 24th, 2010
3:32 pm
CH, I’m sorry, I don’t drink your kool aid on the 1980 team. I don’t care how much you chant SEC, UGA did not have to play Alabama that year and everyone else on the schedule was mediocre. Best team during the regular season was 8-4 Florida, a team that got absolutely DISMANTLED by Miami 31-7. UGA needed a miracle to beat UF.
Hell, UGA almost got beat by 3-8 Mississippi in 1980 – is that a tough SEC team?
Auburn was 5-6, barely beat GT, and only had victories over Duke, Richmond, TCU, GT, Mississippi State, and Southern Miss. They, of course, got pounded by Alabama.
You beat a Clemson team that got destroyed by Maryland. MARYLAND
How about UGAg giving up 20 points to GT, a team that couldn’t even put 20 up on Duke, Navy, Tulane, or Memphis that season? In fact, UGA is the ONLY team that GT scored 20 on that year. As for your “championship” game against Notre Dame, this is the same team that 1-9-1 GT tied.
You should have an “*” next to your trophy.
Your 1980 team wasn’t that great. Time the mutt “nation” woke up to that fact.
SatillaDawg
April 24th, 2010
3:37 pm
Go Georgia Bulldogs!
Sic ‘em! Woof, Woof, Woof!
Looking forward to a great season!
Glory, Glory to Old Georgia!
PT Dawg
April 24th, 2010
3:56 pm
Sorry Dan, you dont know what you are talking about
Delusional Dawg
April 24th, 2010
3:56 pm
CHDawg…I sincerely hope you are not expecting lightning to strike twice. I see a couple of talented backs in the backfield but nothing resembling Walker. The schedule IS somewhat favorable and if Stafford and Moreno were still in the fold…..but I’m sorry, based on a rational view from even a Delusional Dawg…I’m not seeing what you’re seeing.
Marina
April 24th, 2010
4:02 pm
Minimal confidence. Jacksonville will likely be another humiliating beatdown, so that’s that as far as playing for the SEC.
Maybe we’ll beat Tech again, but Tech players are real students, so they have an excuse over our jailbirds.
ZachM
April 24th, 2010
4:07 pm
25-6. That’s the score that counts, you UGA morons!
Observer
April 24th, 2010
4:14 pm
3 “TE” Set — Basically, a one back set with Charles at receiver and White/Lynch/Figgins making up a 2 TE set. Could you imagine the look on the LB’s eyes trying to figure out how to cover White and/or Lynch and the DB trying to cover Charles?!?! That would be some creative play design but anything is possible with that kind of talent. Oh and having to worry about covering AJ, trying to stop the run and keeping Murray contained….This offense has the POTENTIAL to truly be explosive. Not saying it will be, but it COULD be.
Daisy Mae
April 24th, 2010
4:16 pm
By the end of the year everyone will be agreeing with bornloser. Fire BOBO THE BOZO and CMR.
Remerton Municipal Court
April 24th, 2010
4:18 pm
Hey Zach M,
See ya on Tuesday buddy!
Daisy Mae
April 24th, 2010
4:28 pm
Hey Zach M. I bet you make your mama and daddy very proud. Talking about a born loser. HA HA HA HA
LOVES GEORGIA
April 24th, 2010
4:31 pm
I’m so tired of everyone looking for the rest of the story about mettenberger. He was drunk, put his hands all over girls that did not want his attention and lied to his coachs. He would be an accident looking to happen if he were still on the team. He is not GEORGIA FOOTBALL material and I’m glad he is gone. THERE IS THE REST OF THE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike
April 24th, 2010
4:34 pm
How could you write an article like this. Confidence? Georgia’s football program is on the ropes after 2 incredibly sub-par seasons and the annual drubbing by Florida. Confidence? Georgia will start the ‘10 season with a freshman quarterback, one that has never played a down in a real game. Confidence? My phase would be “everyone is waiting until about the 6th or 7th game of the season”.I said it 1st months ago, and I will continue to say it – it is vital for Georgia to beat Florida AND play for the conference championship THIS YEAR. So, quit drinking the Kool-Aid and stop the CMR love fests now.
Real UGA Dawg
April 24th, 2010
4:36 pm
Georgia’s going to beat florida this year like a rented mule! Brantley will not be able to deal with Grantham’s new 3-4 D—pressure from every direction. Brantley throws 2-3 picks and the Dawgs run it up!
BD
April 24th, 2010
4:52 pm
Grantham? The sam Grantham that was fored from his only DC job in Cleveland for having a defense that was 25th against the pass, 27th against the run, and 30th in total-yards in the NFL? He did manage to keep a job at Dallas, but not as DC.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Way to go mutts. You are paying for a third teir DC. After this season, you’ll think back of Martinez’s defenses as “the good old days”.
Rick Tamlin
April 24th, 2010
4:54 pm
Hello, Stephen. For that, consider yourself uninvited to the pants party.
Ron Burgundy
April 24th, 2010
5:24 pm
Stephen, 2000 called and they want your joke back.
RockytopATL
April 24th, 2010
5:28 pm
As usual, the Dawgs will find a way to underachieve. There’s nothing but Kool-Aid on the menu now, but you guys will be crying in your beer after another sub-par year.
DawginLex
April 24th, 2010
5:34 pm
I’m always excited and optimistic about the Dawgs chances. I expect us to win. I want us to figure out a way to get out of columbia with another W and the rest will fall into place.
Dave In Tampa
April 24th, 2010
5:40 pm
I could not agree more – DawginLex
Sean
April 24th, 2010
5:47 pm
Major Nelson, what is your problem? Obviously you care or you wouldn’t have read my post and then made a comment about it. Nothing I said was bad. This comment section is for fans to post their opinions. If you don’t like them, then don’t read them. So many crybabies inn this country now.
TXDAWG
April 24th, 2010
5:57 pm
Give Murray and Grantham a chance to succeed or fail. You “I can walk on water” people amaze me.
bornloser
April 24th, 2010
5:57 pm
been a dawg fan my whole life, grew up in athens ga, went to clarke central and im a uga grad. but i hate mark richt he is MORON
bornloser
April 24th, 2010
5:59 pm
you people really think we are going to beat uf hell we cant beat kentucky or tenn
Dawgs goes from contenders to pretenders
April 24th, 2010
6:32 pm
Enter your comments here