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
alumni
June 30th, 2010
5:06 pm
You got something agin rednecks? I’m from Watkinsville, and yes, Mr. Observor, I can read and I can write. As for the issue at hand, that is, the Dogs, I can only believe they will be better. I watched the replay last night of the Arkansas-Georgia game from last year, and found myself appalled at the absolutely miserable play of the defense. The kicking game, those directional kicks out of bounds, and a lost coaching staff on defense. The penalties were abominable, twice on efforts at a two point conversion. It is a wonder and marvel that the team won as many games as they did. Watching that game last night, I said, coaches should have been fired before the next week. At least, as far as Dog fans are concerned, the good news is that we shouldn’t have to watch those same mistakes week in and week out. This entry will will probably be deleted, as most of mine are, but there goes. The humble and ignorant entry of one from Observor’s Redneck Triangle.
‘
Mike
June 30th, 2010
5:13 pm
Impressive Philsteele.com says Florida reign is over, Georgia’s time is on.
Phil Steele, most accurate predictor in college football, see proof:
http://preseason.stassen.com/prediction-accuracy/2010-10yr.html
Says Georgia is Top 20 ranked team, if decent QB play, will win SEC East, and maybe more.
rogeriter
June 30th, 2010
5:29 pm
Bobdog,
Nobody loves and believes in the Dawgs any more than me…but beating Alabama is ALWAYS a problem, just like Florida. I certainly believe it can be (and will be) done. But to say it’s not a problem…? C’mon!
Alpharetta Dawg
June 30th, 2010
5:34 pm
What’s not to like with this newest edition of Bulldogs
GatorBait
June 30th, 2010
5:39 pm
The Gators were DONE when Danny W,left,Done when SOS,left.Done when Percy,left.Now we are done without 15 & Strong & our D.NOT going to happen folks!
Why Not
June 30th, 2010
5:41 pm
The gaters were done when CUM nutted up to an Orlando reporter.
Johnny
June 30th, 2010
5:43 pm
SOUTH CAROLINA, the toughest game what is this guy smoking, UGA has to beat FLORIDA first something they have done 3 out of the last 20 meetings, get real UGA can’t beat us, it’s not even a rivalry anymore, rivalries go back and forth this is a ONE SIDED AFFAIR.
dog789xyz
June 30th, 2010
5:57 pm
Hello UGA is Just Fine! If you are happy with this lack of coaching, this lack of emotion, if you are happy then you probably will be happy with what we have. I am not happy with our coaching. I believe that our players reflect their coach–no emotion, no excitment. When we get beat by much lesser teams every year, something is wrong!
I don’t measure a coach by national championships, I measure a coach by whether he can coach.
CMR is flat out not a coach. Do you ever hear of a school interested in stealing CMR away? What abour anyone trying to steal one of our asst coaches? Why is that?
I am very happy rooting for UGA which I have done since the early 60’s. You should take your blinders off, quit settling for mediocrity, and demand that we do what it takes to be in the national title hunt EVERY year. We need to demand more instead of paying an inept coach millions while he is on the job training. Also, everyone needs luck. Good coaches and programs make their own luck. CMR is not at FSU anymore where he could run any play and it would work against the inferior athletes on his schedule. In the SEC everyone has athletes. Coaching must prevail!
Delbert D.
June 30th, 2010
6:10 pm
College Football News’ Heisman Preview
CFN’s Heisman Preview Rankings
by Pete Fiutak
1. Terrelle Prior, QB Ohio St.
2. Case Keenum, QB Houston
3. Mark Ingram, RB Alabama
4. John Brantley, QB Florida
5. Kellen Moore, QB Boise St.
6. Garrett Gilbert, QB Texas
7. Ryan Williams, RB Va. Tech
8. Andy Dalton, QB TCU
9. Noel Devine, RB West Virginia
10. Ricky Dobbs, QB Navy
http://cfn.scout.com/2/966826.html
SILLY UGA FANS
June 30th, 2010
6:28 pm
Wierd how an UGA blog is not flooded with GT fans spewing hate like every GT blog out there with UGA fans all over it. I say good luck to UGA and hope we both meet undefeated.
Delbert D.
June 30th, 2010
6:36 pm
College Football News on any receiver winning the Heisman:
“Forget about anyone who’s not a quarterback or a running back. Over the last ten years, the only players to crack the top five who played anything other than quarterback or running back were Suh last year, Michael Crabtree in 2008 (fifth), and Larry Fitzgerald in 2003 (second). There isn’t a Heisman-worthy receiver out there at the moment going into this season, and if Crabtree could only get 116 Heisman points in 2008 (Bradford won with 1,726), there’s no chance a Ryan Broyles of Oklahoma or Keith Smith of Purdue will come within 100 miles of consideration.”
Quote from text of CFN’s Heisman Preview Rankings by Pete Fiutak
My Bad
June 30th, 2010
6:38 pm
yes ugag is primed to win the SEC East, just like they have been primed the last 30 years…and one more thing…NESBITT for Heisman
My Bad
June 30th, 2010
6:40 pm
one more thing, to the UGA moron congratulating SC for winning the CWS, as a GT fan I could care less if VT won the CWS, you know why? Because VT BLANKS sheep
Ed the Retard
June 30th, 2010
6:41 pm
my dawgs been choking for thirty years.
every year I and other dawgs fans play that same broken record
Mark Rich has never or will play for a nc title at UGA, just talk about it just like rest of UGA fans.
No Heisman for Richt @ UGA Too.
That Fla coach Urban has 2 National Crown, Mark Richt 0. boy that sucks also but we are georgia!! WOOF WOOF
freelemur
June 30th, 2010
6:41 pm
So murray is a combination of Stafford and David Greene yet he couldnt beat out Mettenburger coming out of spring practice? haha the “blawg” is always good for some laughs.
AltamahaDawg
June 30th, 2010
6:48 pm
JB that’s not really an answer to my question. Murray turning out to be the greatest QB in UGA history has nothing to do with it. Thats no proof he was a better at that time last year, is it? And Only IF Richt believe that he was better at the time, and played Cox anyway (which defies logic), would that prove the accusation I was questioning.
Now, is playing a guy who might not be the best chance to win at the time as a tradeoff to get him more ready for the future is an whole nuther deal. I would argue that Richt trying to win the game at hand, even at the expense of experience tomorrow is far more legit of a complaint or a weekness. Some have argued that (although they tend not to be able to admit the trying to win part).
You got me on Evans. I theorize that with Boykin at CB, who did get badly burned many times last year, they thought Evans was a some experience. Perhaps they thought his leadership outweighed his weaknesses. To just KNOW that Rmabo wouldnt have struggle all year is far from a given too.
I do know this. Evans didnt play out of some misguided “loyalty”.. The aformentioned Boykin playing ahead of older players, or for that matter the many examples of freshman playing over upperclassman prove that the loyalty therory doesn’t exist. If it does, it certainly seems to be quite random.
Ed the Retard
June 30th, 2010
6:50 pm
Murray has not played football in 2 years or in a SEC game and he drinks kool aid just like me.
DAWG DAZ
June 30th, 2010
6:50 pm
South Carolina has a coach who has a knack for having his teams hang around and giving them a chance to win at the end. Great coach, but CMR should neutralize this. What the SC game should come down to is how quick the defense can get into Garcia’s head. Stephen has always been his own worst enemy, and if you put him in a position that he MUST make a play, well 5 out of 10 times he’ll blow it. Word is that Spurrier has lost confidence in Stephen and if need be he’ll start the QB by platoon method once again. Garcia has all the tools except between his ears. Size, arm, mobility, grit, but then he’ll get a brain fart, and the visor goes flying. UGA has the superior athletes over SC and Ark for that matter. A good DC should be able to put these teams back on their heels. Unlike many, I just think the real challanges will be the usual suspects, UT, UF, and I think Auburn will surprise many. Looking forward to see how quickly the defense comes together this year.
BTW, Brantley may not have played in the bigger divisions in HS, but he played in the same division as D1 football factories JAX Boles and Madison County. It’s the same div that gave the Green boy’s (Christian and Chaze) to Florida. Some good players come out of the over the years, Kenny Kelly Miami and Darrell Jackson played in the conference at one time. I wouldn’t take Brantley too lightly.
Paul Has a Small Johnson
June 30th, 2010
6:50 pm
Well those are high hopes
But right now Im still used to the conservative play calling when we make the trip to Jacksonville and the beat downs that ensue.
Richt if your reading this MAN UP AND DO WHAT YOUR PAID 3 MILLION TO DO AND BEAT FL instead of bending over and expecting a beating to the rear end.
Murray the midget
June 30th, 2010
6:55 pm
I drink kool-aid
Dawgs Rule the East
June 30th, 2010
7:14 pm
The Dawgs are loaded—Richt’s keeping it quiet. Mark this down: the Dawgs will beat UF easily in Jax and win the East and play Bama for the SEC title. This is the year of the dawg. UF’s run is over.
Paul Has a Small Johnson
June 30th, 2010
7:22 pm
Boy I wished I had that much Kool-Aid flowing in my veins as the post above
james1
June 30th, 2010
7:37 pm
Oil is gushing into the ocean may not stop for years millions of fish birds and other wildlife are dying So so hey lets talk about the really important things like football
Delbert D.
June 30th, 2010
7:47 pm
Working with College Football News data, I have calculated the average (mean) height and weight of the 12 projected starting SEC QBs:
6-4, 221
Uga bill
June 30th, 2010
7:51 pm
Easy on the dope there man! Beatin’ the gators would be great, but will NEVER be easy!
Uga bill
June 30th, 2010
7:57 pm
This entire collumn is crazy, when we beat Fla. a couple of times in a row and look good again, then write an article like this.This really is the silly season !!!
college is forever
June 30th, 2010
8:17 pm
http://www.collegelunchboxes.com This is the first year of what will become a very special run for the football team and for Bulldog Nation. Coach Richt and staff are putting all the right pieces in place. Check out the UGA retro classsic tin lunchbox, perfect for the new school year.
Paul in RDU
June 30th, 2010
8:25 pm
2010 is the Year of the Tiger
2011 is the Year of the Rabbit
Last Year of the Dog was 2006, meaning the next is in 2018
killerj
June 30th, 2010
8:34 pm
Learn how to spell humps,4 to 1 baby! THWG!,Last to win a conference championship and national title!ROLL WRECK!
Reptillicide
June 30th, 2010
8:35 pm
If you say Murray is too short, you’re just a tool. Go check the stat page on the winning QB from the Super Bowl last year and see how tall he is.
AltamahaDawg
June 30th, 2010
8:45 pm
Other exceptions would be at offensive line, linebacker, DE, wide receiver, kicker, running back. Not just QB which you claim is the given postion that the loyalty doesnt exist even thought QB the topic that brought you to say he would always play the older player. And what redshirt freshman would you consider to be better than a starting junior on the defense? Why would it matter what Grantham would do anyway. You seem to be under the impression that it’s Richt’s call on who starts on the defensive roster.
FLA DAWG
June 30th, 2010
8:51 pm
We have plenty of talent – though some with little experience.
I am more concerned with the playcalling of our most seasoned coordinator Bobo than I am Grantham.
messin with.............
June 30th, 2010
9:14 pm
gymdogs?
Urban Meyer
June 30th, 2010
9:39 pm
If Phil Steele were a crack dealer he could retire off the Homers in Athens and Atlanta. Let’s see, Phil comes out and gets all sorts of pub for his off the wall prediction about big bad Georgia “possibly” being able to win the SEC East. Now Tom Poisal comes out with this. Hell, Aaron Murray for Heisman! Oh yeah, if Georgia is such a good rushing team, what happened last year:
RUSHING OFFENSE G Att Yards Avg. TD Yards/G
1. Miss. State 12 555 2731 4.9 21 227.6
2. Florida 14 555 3105 5.6 30 221.8
3. Alabama 14 601 3011 5.0 31 215.1
4. Auburn 13 550 2756 5.0 24 212.0
5. Kentucky 13 551 2486 4.5 26 191.2
6. Ole Miss 13 503 2387 4.7 22 183.6
7. Georgia 13 447 2093 4.7 17 161.0
8. Vanderbilt 12 451 1920 4.3 12 160.0
9. Tennessee 13 477 2043 4.3 19 157.2
10. Arkansas 13 395 1713 4.3 23 131.8
11. LSU 13 435 1596 3.7 15 122.8
12. South Carolina 13 435 1576 3.6 12 121.2
CDAWG
June 30th, 2010
10:00 pm
Fellas, relax, we will take care of business against South Carolinas chickens. Our guys are BIGGER, STRONGER, Faster,Hongry and will be just down right nasty with CTG at the helm.
fprex
June 30th, 2010
10:00 pm
Click the link, Urban, and read what he wrote.
He notes the success in the last 7 games in the running game.
Dawghater
June 30th, 2010
10:12 pm
Is this the same economist that forecasted we’d be out of the recession by the fall????? Yep, two years ago the puppy dawgs were National Champs in June, July and August! Just wear all black and all will be OK!
Chuck Uga
June 30th, 2010
11:01 pm
All I care about is beating SC by ANY margin and totally destroying Tennessee. Richt won’ run up the score on young Dooley which is frustrating. I wish he hadn’t taken that job!
Fast Eddie
June 30th, 2010
11:19 pm
Ed @4:45 pm, you appear to be obsessed with UF. I thought this article was about UGA. My guess is that you still will lose to UF………………but that’s just a guess!
col fot
June 30th, 2010
11:20 pm
murry county mystic it’s hard to sleep at night, isn’t it? I mean 30-24 and all.
No. Ga. bob
June 30th, 2010
11:55 pm
Murray County never produced a golfer because nobody there know his a$$ from a hole in the ground!
hangman
June 30th, 2010
11:57 pm
they sure haven’t produced any football players!
Is the Sugar Falling?
July 1st, 2010
12:15 am
As usual you Dawgies are such rabid fans that you will drink the Kool-aide all summer long – until you start playing.
GAFAN1987
July 1st, 2010
3:48 am
Well, 1st off, I think we could be A LOT better, but we could be ALOT worse too. WAY to early to tell!! I agree that if SC is the “most important game”, then we are DEFINITELY in trouble!!! I think the D will be better (i mean how could you get any worse???), I think Murray will be ok, (thank god for LA-Lafayette 1st game), and I think AJ will move himself into the Heisman trophy consideration. Also, I think the O-line returns hungry to silence critics, and GA’s an overall better team. SEC CHAMPS???- Maybe. NAT’L Champs- Maybe I say at least 10 wins!!!! GO DAWGS!!! GATA!!!
Guess Who
July 1st, 2010
6:24 am
All you Georgia fans are out to lunch! 30 years and no National Championship, wiahfull thinking. Get rid of CMR and get you a real coach. He’s to soft. And you’ll all have to get up early in the morning to beat ‘BAMA anywhere anytime, it just won’t happen!!! ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess what
July 1st, 2010
7:06 am
Guess Who- GREAT command of the English language, tidetard! By the way you write, I bet you never even went to college and you barely passed your GED. However, since UA won the BCS last year you went to WalMart and bought yourself a Bama cap and t-shirt, and you now call yourself a fan, huh? Who will be your team next year?
Charlie Bama
July 1st, 2010
7:12 am
Hey, Dawgies– You’re all so CUTE!! Tell you what, beat FL in the regular season game (like we will) and then we’ll talk about how easily to you can handle Bama in the SEC Champ match. Seriously, you’re so CUTE! But ya’ gotta learn to crawl before you can walk! And forget about running–that’s a few years off.
Charlie Bama
July 1st, 2010
7:15 am
And guess what, Guess What? This is about football, not 6th grade schoolyard insults.
Roll Tide
July 1st, 2010
7:36 am
Sturdivant, Burnette, Anderson, = you win. Boling , Jones, Chris Davis, = you lose. Roll Tide
Roll Tide
July 1st, 2010
7:44 am
You’re not going to beat Floraida with a redshirt freshmen Qb, and your current starters on the offensive line. Simply emulate what the Gators do. Xavier Nixon, Carl Johnson, Mike Pouncey, Maurice Hurt, Marcus Gilbert = Trinton Sturdivant, Cordy Glenn, Chris Burnette, Bean Anderson, Josh Davis. You now have a superior offensive line to Florida’s. Incredibly, Richt and Booboo refuse to do this (and we know why, don’t we georgia fans). Thus, your running game will be shut down and you’ll get beat 100-0 again. It’s got to be tough being a dog. Roll Tide.