One forecast sees this as the year of the Dawg in SEC East
Quarterback Aaron Murray already has a year in Mark Richt's offensive system. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
So far the preseason estimations of Mark Richt’s team have varied wildly, though most predictions have Georgia improving modestly over last season but still behind Florida in the SEC East.
And then there’s Tom Poisal of the highly respected philsteele.com, who says “Georgia is poised to re-take the throne in the SEC East from Florida” this year. Poisal says the key game is South Carolina. “If the Dawgs survive that test in the sauna that is Columbia in September, they will be off and running barring injuries.”
Poisal’s appraisal of the Dawgs addresses the concerns of an inexperienced quarterback in Aaron Murray and the transition to a new defense.
He thinks this being Murray’s second year in the program will help. “Expect statistics mirroring David Greene [in his redshirt freshman year] and Matthew Stafford’s 2nd year on the Georgia campus at minimum. Murray has a much better arm than Greene but not as much as Stafford. His mobility is better than both and his intangibles are said to be reminiscent of Greene.”
As for the defense, Poisal says “we are talking about a defense that gave up more passing touchdowns than any other SEC team while also creating the fewest turnovers in league play. There HAS to be improvement in those numbers this year given the athleticism Georgia possesses on the defensive side of the ball.” And the fact that opponents won’t know what to expect from Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme “should soften the blow of any potential learning-curve that the Bulldogs may encounter, especially early in the year.”
Plus, Poisal says, “ask any coach breaking in a 1st year quarterback what he wants to go along with the rookie and he will probably say a veteran offensive line, good running game and great special teams.” And Georgia has all that. Plus, he says, a schedule “tailor-made for a 1st year quarterback in the SEC.”
To sum it all up, he says, “The team you see in the final third of the season will not resemble the team that began the year. Murray will be entrenched as the QB of the present and future, the playbook will open, and all the pieces will fall into place giving Georgia an SEC East Championship and potentially more.”
Not bad for a team picked by the Orlando Sentinel to be only the 64th best in the country.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT LEARNING CURVE?
Talking about the defense with the Macon Telegraph, Richt conceded there’s going to be “a learning curve” but noted that “the 3-4 is a good aggressive, attacking style and it’s one where we have enough personnel to run it effectively. The question is, how well will we do it, how many mistakes will we make along the way, and when we make the mistakes, what’s it going to cost us? On the other end, hopefully we’re going to pressure people enough to get them to turn the ball over more than we did a year ago.”
That’s the key: how much Georgia can flip its turnover ratio from last year’s abysmal numbers.
A HEISMAN DARK HORSE?
Alabama’s Mark Ingram is the preseason pick to repeat as the Heisman Trophy winner, but as last year showed the favorite frequently doesn’t win. So what dark horse Heisman contenders could emerge?
Collegefootballnews.com says: “Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green is the first name that comes to mind. Green hauled in 53 passes for 808 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore in 2009, doing so in a rather average offense. In 2010, the only question mark in the Bulldog offensive puzzle is the quarterback. Granted, that’s a pretty big question mark, but Aaron Murray should be able to work off of his running game to get Green the ball in key spots. Green has the talent, it’s just a matter of him getting enough touches.”
Amen.
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253 comments Add your comment
joe
June 30th, 2010
2:46 pm
It’s always the year of the dogs…in June. Then by the end of October, they are nowhere to be seen. More of the same ole same ole this year…5 losses.
Roll_Tide2010!
June 30th, 2010
2:46 pm
bruce mac – Bringing up a game two years against Utah is all you’ve got??? Alabama is by far the premier program in college football and also during that same season two years ago your dawgs (they haven’t worn their Johnny Cash all black uniforms since that game) were totally owned. UGA ill be lucky to have a 500 season this year. If you guys had a decent season last year maybe you could brag a little more but as it stands now you will be in cellar of the SEC east again this year.
bjohndawg
June 30th, 2010
2:49 pm
with regard to Murray’s arm strength…..ask jeff george if arm strength is the only factor to consider.
Murray seems like a well rounded QB, better than average arm strength, touch, mobility, smart. I will take that over a gunslinger any day. AKA David Greene, Joe Montana, Drew Brees, you name them. College or Pro, they tend to be way more sucessful than the guys with the cannons who cannot move or think.
This team will perform way better than last years. Look forward to the Dawgs playing and shutting some haters mouths and some writers pens.
I like our chances to have a great season 11-2.Maybe 13-1.
Will Georgia beat Florida? Win the East? Who knows. But they will be better than last years team. That does not bode well for Tech. They probably wont get a ring again this year.
And I echo a previous blogger ” G2Rhett”, no one is looking forward to playing the Dawgs this year.
Scott W.
June 30th, 2010
2:52 pm
Love how these highly educated and highly successful people feel the need to respond to negative comments from anonymous people over the internet and GO DOGS!
bamadawg
June 30th, 2010
2:52 pm
Roll-_Tide2010…the Athens game, we owned Bama in the 2nd half dude and Saban was mad as he–…you know it…Saban will go 7/6 this year like his first year…HAAAA……..and Auburn will also kick your booty! War Eagle! Go Dawgs! See ya in Atlanta if you can make past LSU, Ark. and AU…
JB
June 30th, 2010
2:53 pm
JLC…… We don’t hate you…….just having some fun with the competition …..now if you are a TECH guy, we know you hate us, and we’re OK with that, cause we own you at this point in history. But, coming on here with the typical party line from Tech folk will get you a few balls upside the head……i would expect the same on a Tech blog…if ya’ll had one…..
DAWG DAZ
June 30th, 2010
2:55 pm
Murray delivers the ball to a place that only the receiver has a shot at it. They must catch it with their hands and keep their eyes on the ball. I finally got to see some of the film from the G-Day, saw Murray zip one to Charles who started running before securing the ball which would had been a nice pickup. Also saw the interception and it wasn’t what some numbskulls on this site had been making it out to be. The protection broke down and he was hit in the shins when he was stepping up by a guy crawling towards him. It wasn’t anything like some of those so called fans were making it sound like. He wasn’t trying to make a superman type of play. He was trying to deliver the ball underneth, in front of a LB, exactly what the D was giving him..
AltamahaDawg
June 30th, 2010
2:55 pm
JB, I am not sure that you Richt as well as you think you do.
Are you seriously suggesting that he would put his job, his family, his coaches, and 100 other player at risk because he had some “back-up envy” left over from 20 yrs ago?
Him not playing the player that gives the team the best chance to win can only be explained but one of two things. No other explaination works.
1. He knows the players abilities and evaluates the best chance of winning exactly as you do , BUT chooses to lesson the chances of succeeding in the game.
2. He has a different criterai of evaluating the players, and calculates the chances of winning on a different criteria that you do, therefore his action while in his mind maximize the chance of victory, it doesnt agree with what you think you would do hypothetically.
Now of those two, which one is more logical?
Boss
June 30th, 2010
2:59 pm
Flordia owns UGA. Oftentimes, Florida will rent UGA out to birthday parties at Chuckie Cheese, so they can entertain small childern.
CHDawg
June 30th, 2010
3:01 pm
I think the server ate my message. Anybody else have that happen? SC shut down Stafford and Moreno by loading the box with 7-8 and blitzing like crazy. Too many bodies to block and they put a lot of pressure on the QB–a 1st rounder. Interestingly, they did the same thing with Cox, daring him to go up field and he ate them alive! Smith’s light speed reverse helped, too. Anyway, I don’t like the talk about bringing Murray along slowly! Put him in the ULL game and establish the UGA passing attack first! If we go into SC with the slightest bit of hesitation about Murray being able to take them deep, they will load the box and try to shut us down like they did in 07-08! Murray is going to have to grow up quick if we want to be champions. After the Spring game, you can bet SC and ARK are going to use this strategy–force Murray to beat them with his arm, by throwing everything at our running game and enough bodies to pressure Murray. He has the technology; imho, the sooner he shows them who’s boss, the more effective the running game will be. I would love to see Murray throw it 50 times against ULL.
JB
June 30th, 2010
3:01 pm
AltamahaDawg……………….I’ll be better prepared to answer that AFTER this season….you make good points…….But….if Murray shins this year, as a Dawg fan you will have to second guess Mark for sticking with Cox. There were rumors that Cox and Murray had the “dead arm” last year………..After watching us the last 2 years, you MUST ask yourself if we had the best players on the field to help us win? Does Bryan Evans ring a bell?
Evansdawg
June 30th, 2010
3:09 pm
“If we get past USC, we will go to Jax undefeated.” Really? Is someone forgetting Arkansas the week after Carolina? That game is daunting. I say we will gel in the first three games, and the fact that we are in transition will cost us an early game. But, our team will get better as the season goes on. The article is spot-on. The late season team will have little resemblance to the team at the season’s start.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 30th, 2010
3:09 pm
I think we will be just fine. Dawg fans enjoy the last season of AJ Green, the arrival of Charles and a two-headed running attack that will destroy defenses. Murray has the best surrounding cast of ANY team in the SEC.
JB
June 30th, 2010
3:10 pm
Also, it will be interesting if Grantham pulls a starting “junior” and replaces him with a better, say
“redshirt freshman”……… That has not been Mark’s MO……….He likes to play players who have been in the system rather than a better younger player. The only exception is QB, where is has thrown Green, Stafford and now Murray into the deep end. Gonna be fun either way.
Kool-aide drinkers anonymous
June 30th, 2010
3:10 pm
BobDog
June 30th, 2010
11:58 am
“If we make it to the SEC Championship game, I don’t see a problem with beating ‘Bama. They’re going to be off this year on defense and we’ll pound them until they try to stop the run, then blow them out with the receiving corps. They’ll score some points on us, but not enough to make it close.”
Bob,
I would like to cordially invite you to join our group therapy cause it looks like you need it. I think you drank a 55 gallon drum of kool-aide, snorted 40 of those packets of kool-aide, and smoked the empty packets after snorting the stuff.
JB
June 30th, 2010
3:14 pm
This year will be fun…. 2011 with be really exciting………This year is love’em rahrah, but I think 2011 could be special……..We have to prove it………Got the boot of Bama and Florida on our throat as of now, but shaping up to be competitive again.
CHDawg
June 30th, 2010
3:19 pm
JB,
I think this is the year! Been wrong before, but this group is hungry and our O line has a number of seniors. Talk all we want about the position guys, but the line is the key. The D is going to be better than people think as long as we can stop the run….
anotherdawg
June 30th, 2010
3:23 pm
Alot of people are saying 2011 should be better than 2010, but I think we need to do it now. Worry about next year,next year. I’m basing this on we will probably be without AJ next year, for I’m sure he’ll go pro. We’ll also lose alot of seniors, including Clint Boling, Shaun Chapas, Chris Davis, Darryl Gamble, Brandon Wood, Kris Durham, Quinton Banks, Akeem Dent, Vance Cuff, Kiante Tripp, Demarus Dobbs, etc. I know we’ll be young at QB this year, and we’re learning a new defense, but the time to go for it, is always now!
How2fish
June 30th, 2010
3:24 pm
JB I humbly disagree with us having Bama and UF’s boots on our throats..UF well no way to deny that one but…Bama I really think we have matched up with Bama well enough to dispense with the boot on throat comment. We do a lot better against the Tide than the Gators of late..but its a new year and like you said it should be a lot of fun!
CHDawg
June 30th, 2010
3:29 pm
Agreed another and How 2; plus the Gators brought in enough talent this last year to stock three normal SEC teams–they aren’t going to get any easier, and that is if there is a let down this year because of all of the talent and experience that left Gainesville!
anotherdawg
June 30th, 2010
3:33 pm
And you take every game serious, especially SC, Ark, Mis St, Ten, Vandy, Kentucky, Fl, Aub, GT. Take um one at a time, and play every one of them like its for all the marbles, cause some times you look back and say, if we had only won that game. The year we finished at 2nd in the final BCS poll, just one game, and we could have easily been playing Ohio State for the NC, instead of LSU playing them. The Ohio fans I know were more worried about UGA then LSU because of the way we finished the season.
JB
June 30th, 2010
3:34 pm
How2….I’m really talking about the last two years………I think we will be better this year, and in 2011 have the Ability again to beat anybody we play, no kool aide……but, the last two years, we have been roughed physically….and Mentally. Last year in Knoxville was all on the coach’s. We took the field very unprepared to play physically or Emotionally. I don’t see that happening this year with this new staff.
Kirby Smart
June 30th, 2010
3:36 pm
Bwahahah hahahahahahahahaha,
Year of the Dawg?
Hahahahahahahahahaha!
JB
June 30th, 2010
3:39 pm
CHDawg…….I hope you’re right….I’ll take it…..
Kirby Smart
June 30th, 2010
3:41 pm
My apologies everyone. My real name is St. Simons, and I like Oscar Meyer’s stuff.
How2fish
June 30th, 2010
3:53 pm
JB agreed on next year and about the UT game that was just the perfect storm..we were flat,confused and who would have every thought the UT QB would pick that day to wake up from the season long coma he had been in up to that point.
Dorsey Hill
June 30th, 2010
3:55 pm
Skipper,
The suggestion that beating Florida is all it takes to win the East is a common misconception. The fact is that the 3 times that CMR’s teams won the East, UF won the game. In the 2 years that we beat UF we were not the East representative. In fact it can be argued that the key to UT winning the East is UGA beating UF, because that it what has happened in the past. UGA’s futility in the UF game has had a greater impact in UGA’s success on a national level than it has on our success within the conference. BTW: In the other 4 games we lost to UF, 2001, 2006, 2008 and 2009 we would not have won the East even if we had beaten UF. Ergo, there has not been one season under Richt that the UF game result was decisive in whether UGA went to ATL or not. However, beating UF in either 2002 and 2005 would have greatly enhanced our chances of playing in the big game.
npgator
June 30th, 2010
3:57 pm
Surely he jests! UGA will possibly come in third in the SEC East right behind USC.
Dale
June 30th, 2010
4:02 pm
If only it were true. Someday.
NCBulldawg86
June 30th, 2010
4:09 pm
Just want to know which “great” running team it will be that is going to run over the Dawgs early in the 2010 season. Will it be that notorious and always dangerous USCe running game that a what, #91 last year in rushing? Or will it be that ever dominating rushing attack of Arkansas that was ranked #81? No, no, my bad, it will be that road game to MSU, though I do worry a bit about that game, that will have the Dawgs crying.
Not saying UGA will be undefeated through September-early October, but just tell me which vaunted running game is going to exploit UGA’s supposed “susceptible” D?
See, it is not that easy to bet on now, is it?
Anyway, 30′ish days before the boys get back to camp and we can start getting really itchy for kickoff with real news coming from camps, verse this crap about predictions and smack talk fodder.
I, for one, can not wait for the season as I eagerly await to see the new look Dawgs on D and that potentially potent O take the field this Fall. Come on, Murray, lead this team and make as few mistakes as possible.
Go Dawgs!!!
Hunkerdown
June 30th, 2010
4:16 pm
Evansdawg
You and I both think the same that USC is going to be tough and if anyone thinks ARk is a win already, well I think you better rethink. That Mallet kid I have watched in person and he is good. Dawgs will have thier hands full in both of those games I feel and might go down as a split between those two teams. Hope not but I know it is going to be very exciting this year and that OL should pay off this season and running game develope.
UGA is Just Fine...
June 30th, 2010
4:28 pm
NC Bulldawg- well said!
When you look at our schedule it is very favorable…a couple of early tests SC, Ark, maybe Miss St then soft until UF.
Grantham will have the benefit in the early games of oposing teams having little if any game film on the Dawgs D until they grow up.
The Gators meanwhile replace not only their heisman winning QB, but one of their top WRs in R.Cooper, top TE, and 6 starters on D.
They also have to play @Bama, LSU, Miss St back to back to back before getting a week off before UGA which they will need.
All the talk about how bad UGA is going to be is fine I get it the Dawgs have to prove it on the field, but anyone who thinks UF isn’t capable of losing 3-4 games is fooling themselves.
Go Dawgs!
JB
June 30th, 2010
4:35 pm
Rival’s did a story on New Qb’s today (it’s still on line if you want to read it) and they talked a lot about Brantley at Florida and there is a real concern about WR’s and a proven SEC tested running game, but they said their OL is the Best in the country. interesting.
dog789xyz
June 30th, 2010
4:36 pm
Are you kidding me? I love UGA, but CMR will fail miserably as usual. CMR can’t coach, he can’t motivate, he can’t evaluate talent. Will he again lose to KY, Vandy, Tenn, OK ST.or someone else that we should never lose to? I hope not! I fear we will! We must replace our leadership! We have the facilities,we have the fan base, we have the recruiting base. How much longer will we put up with this mediocrity of leadership and coaching?
Look at Fla & Ala. Both schools took off when they got the correct leader/coach. I am sick of this. I know CMR is a good man, a good person, a great sunday school teacher. I am happy that he is! I am not happy with 2nd or 3rd place in the SEC east. Hire a COACH!
Alphare
June 30th, 2010
4:45 pm
UGA actually has a simple task in the new season: beat Florida.
If UGA beat Florida, you are most likely the EAST champ. If UGA lose Florida, you are most likely not the EAST champ.
If UGA beat Florida and wins SEC champ game, you are most likely in the NC hunt. If UGA lose to Florida, you are most likely not in the NC hunt.
It’s all about Florida…
Ed
June 30th, 2010
4:45 pm
Meyer’s lucky charm, NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, Percy Harvin, gone.
That’s 1000 yards of offense, and 17 td’s, Meyer won’t ever be able to replace.
No Percy + No Strong = No SEC EASY CHAMPIONSHIP FOR GATORS
Bulldog59
June 30th, 2010
4:46 pm
Dawg Daz, agree with everything you say, and I believe the film shows that the receiver was actually in traffic, screened from the ball ….but I think Murray also threw back across the middle of the field (into the crowd) on a play where protection had broken down. Not a wise decision and that is the cause for concern.
All that being said, I’m not worried. I think the kid realized before the play ended he blew that one. Lesson learned. Better there than at Columbia on 9/11.
He is the #1 QB, and will prove that CMR was correct all along.
Why Not
June 30th, 2010
4:52 pm
For all the gater fans, I am going to take off my shirt in the company parking lot and drive home with the windows down blasting some rap music just like you all do in the Orlando, Tampa, Gainsville area ie.Redneck Triangle. Hopefully, there will be stopped traffic on the perimeter so I can yell Go gater to everyone looking at me. 12345, that gater take no JIVE.
Ed
June 30th, 2010
4:54 pm
Other reasons I hear on why Richt, who’s finished in the top 10 16 of last 19 seasons, not preseason top 10.
1) Turnovers
That’s a myth. Vandy was best in lowest turnovers in SEC, they went 2-10. Many of the best teams in nation when it comes to not committing turnovers, went 5-7. This is a myth by misinformed people.
2) Penalties
Richt is 25-2 when UGA commits 10+ penalties, aggression is good, Meyer ranked #93 in penalties went 13-1. Meyer’s 2 natl champ years, gators were horrible in penalties. This one’s a myth too by uninformed Richt critics who don’t like facts and reality.
3) rUSHING
MSU was #1 in SEC, went 5-7.
Ed
June 30th, 2010
4:56 pm
Brantley has started a single game against a single hard team in high school or college. He’s not been hit like he will by Alabama,LSU, and Georgia. He’s frail, he can’t run, Gators gave up 30 sacks last year. Brantley’s untested.
Ed
June 30th, 2010
4:57 pm
Meyer usualy schedules 3 easy teams for 1st 3 games, avoids playing georgia in georgia, and schedules his 2 week bye for georgia. weakest strength of schedule usually, finally has a harder schedule than georgia.
UGA is Just Fine...
June 30th, 2010
4:59 pm
dog789xyz…Are YOU kidding?! Richt has had 2 seasons where he won 8 games, the rest of the time it’s been 9 or better. 2 SEC titles, been to the championship game another, losing to eventual nat.champ-LSU.
You can’t measure a coach by national championships, there is too much luck involved. You have to have the right team, schedule, and yes luck.
Why don’t you just band waggon on the flavor of the year. You’ll be much happier!
Go Dawgs!
GatorBait
June 30th, 2010
4:59 pm
Pleaseeeeeee! Bring it pups!!!
Observor
June 30th, 2010
5:00 pm
Why not,
Dude. You call Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa a redneck triangle? Really? I got one better than that. How about Athens, Watkinsville, and Monroe? Go to Watkinsville and Monroe and you will see the true epitome of what a redneck really is.
Ed
June 30th, 2010
5:00 pm
Why doesn’t Florida have a team of SEC all-stars this year?
why do Meyer’s RB’s fumble so much?
who’s brantley throwing to with any experience?
who on D-Line or LB’s have experience to stop Georgia’s running game?
why is philsteele.com, accurate predictors, saying Meyer’s reign is done, geoergia’s is on?
Ed
June 30th, 2010
5:01 pm
why does meyer quit on so many teams, never loyal to a single team for more than 6 years? why did he REALLY quit back in DEC?
Observor
June 30th, 2010
5:02 pm
Ed,
I doubt the gators are scared of Athens. I believe that when the gator bowl was undergoing renovations that they traded home and homes and in Athens Florida won 51-7. So much for being scared of Athens.
Ed
June 30th, 2010
5:04 pm
IF HEAD TO HEAD MATCH UPS ARE only MEASURE OF SUCCESS, mEYER IS winless AGAINST aUBURN, 0-2, RICHT’S NOT WINLESS AGAINST ANYONE HE’S PLAYED TWICE.
Bulldog59
June 30th, 2010
5:05 pm
UGA is Just Fine… I would add an overlooked fact by MANY. UF also has a new DC. Charlie Strong is gone. Teryl Austin is probably a fine coach, but he spent his career as a DB coach. He has never been a DC, let alone in the NFL’s AAA league, AKA the SEC.
Florida is still the team to beat in the East, no question. Loaded with talent, but they have a few question marks for the first time in years. Let’s see if UGA or anyone else in the East can capitalize on it.
Ed
June 30th, 2010
5:05 pm
WHY DOES richt send more guys to NFL than Meyer? more heisman trophy winners than Meyer?