Is swing from pessimism to optimism justified for 2011 Dogs?
Will Aaron Murray make great strides in his second season as starter? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Maybe it’s the Dream Team, maybe it’s just the natural swinging of the pendulum, but some of the national media pessimism about Mark Richt’s program is starting to lift, just a little.
Take College Football News’ Brian Harbach, who earlier picked Georgia to finish ninth in the SEC in the coming season.
Now Harbach is taking another look and writes: “The more I pay attention to what Mark Richt has done this offseason, the more intrigued I become with their chances to jump up from a year of disappointment to an SEC East title.”
Harbach acknowledges that Georgia’s decline from preseason No. 1 over the past three seasons has been “clouding the perception of the program,” but putting that aside, he says, “there are more than a few reasons to be excited about UGA’s opportunity this fall and it is only fair to look at the other side of the coin to see the full picture of this Georgia team.”
One big factor in thinking the Dogs might bounce back, Harbach says, is the schedule. While a lot of folks think opening with what likely will be two Top 10 teams in Boise State and South Carolina looks pretty daunting, Harbach says “the SEC isn’t a mediocre ACC team and this isn’t some meaningless bowl game” so “you won’t see me picking Boise to beat Georgia in Georgia.”
He goes on to note that the Dogs play the Gamecocks at home and get “what most feel are the three worst teams in the SEC West (Auburn, MSU and Ole Miss).” Plus Florida has changed coaches “and Kentucky/Vanderbilt are still in the East. That looks like a pretty manageable SEC slate of games.”
Beyond the schedule, Harbach notes Aaron Murray will be back at quarterback “and while the term Sophomore Slump does exist, most players make the most improvement in their second year. Having Aaron Murray as the returning starter and in his third season at UGA is a huge plus for the Dawgs.”
Harbach takes a remarkably positive view of the Dogs on the other side of the ball, saying “the Georgia defense was actually pretty good last year … with a brand new scheme UGA had the fourth rated total defense and the fifth rated scoring defense in the SEC.” He thinks the “secondary should be very strong” and overall feels “one huge advantage Richt has going into this season is that he doesn’t need to worry about the defense.”
The offense needs attention, Harbach says, “but for some reason I am more confident about the offensive line than in past seasons” thanks to the departure of Stacy Searels, who “just wasn’t getting the job done.”
Harbach isn’t yet ready to revise his preseason estimation of where the Dogs will finish, but says, “The SEC East is wide open, any of four teams can win the division and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if any of the four do win it. When you actually break down the Georgia team it isn’t out of the question to see them having a big year.”
Overall, a pretty fair assessment of Richt’s team, though I’m not sure I’m quite as sold on the Dogs’ secondary as Harbach is.
So what do you think? Was Harbach closer to the mark picking the Dogs ninth in the conference, or is this newfound optimism justified?
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576 comments Add your comment
Dudley
February 15th, 2011
2:19 pm
I agree George has “the gift”.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:21 pm
“Auburn is just sooooo perfect.’
As of right now, yes they are. 14-0.
“I have just have one name for that Bobby Lowder.”
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaawn. Dude, stay away from tigerdroppings.
Franklin
February 15th, 2011
2:21 pm
George, you busted WDE/DIT/Kerry. Funny. We’re all used to this guy. He posts hundreds of times a day to himself on the blog.
Mills
February 15th, 2011
2:22 pm
George-
Great question, wish someone had an answer.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:22 pm
“but you need players to step up into that leadership role and take charge’
Absolutely. Players like Newton and Tebow don’t come along very often and when they do…..
“Pollock was the last one that did that for UGA.
And he was a fantastic football player.
Tide Roll
February 15th, 2011
2:22 pm
WDE= Winky Devourer of Excellence…
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:23 pm
Franklin
The only problem with your asinine comment is the fact that you can’t prove your accusation.
Stupid much?
monty
February 15th, 2011
2:23 pm
If we get more balanced on offense and can get where we can physically beat up a team as well as finnesse them(great combination), then we have a chance. If Crowell is the real deal and our new O-Line coach can inspire better blocking then we should be OK. Win in the trenches everything else falls into place.
Timothy
February 15th, 2011
2:23 pm
WDE and DIT and Kerry–all the same person?
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:23 pm
Tide Roll = Tide Rolled
28-27, loser.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:23 pm
“WDE and DIT and Kerry–all the same person?’
Nope.
kerryb
February 15th, 2011
2:24 pm
Franklin, I assure you that we are different people.
Dallas
February 15th, 2011
2:24 pm
Why would someone talk to themselves on a blog like WDE appears to do so much?
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:25 pm
Dallas = Franklin = Timothy = moron.
Dallas
February 15th, 2011
2:25 pm
I agree, the chances 3 Auburn fans come on Bill’s blog and hijack it about Auburn? Slim.
kerryb
February 15th, 2011
2:26 pm
Franklin, believe me I wouldn’t know how to act posing as an Auburn fan. I guess I could learn how to toilet paper my own trees.
Dallas
February 15th, 2011
2:27 pm
You guys, just report the guy to Bill, it’s called trolling, you’re not supposed to post off topic, this blog is about pessimism/optimism of Georgia program, not Auburn, just report em.
George
February 15th, 2011
2:28 pm
What UGA fans don’t get, is IF Mark Richt COULD turn the program around, and start winning more games than the previous season, why hasn’t he for the last 3 season in a row?
kerryb
February 15th, 2011
2:28 pm
Dallas, “I’m going to tell on them”. Dude, are you still in the third grade?
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:29 pm
“Dallas, “I’m going to tell on them”. Dude, are you still in the third grade?’
Looks like it.
bill
February 15th, 2011
2:30 pm
Reasonable to be optimistic, yes…the delusional part of our fan base that are predicting us winning the SEC East and competing for a NC, no. This is the year that Richt & staff have to coach up the players, or it’s so-long Mark…
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:30 pm
Dallas
What you write makes absolutely no sense. Especially since Auburn is mentioned in the column AND is one of UGA’s biggest rivalries.
If you want to act like a little 2 year old, I can treat you like one.
Dallas
February 15th, 2011
2:30 pm
WDE & kerry = same person
DIT
February 15th, 2011
2:30 pm
@monty – “Win in the trenches everything else falls into place.”
Could not agree more. I’m not sure sure that people realize how big getting Jenkins in the middle of that defense was. That should really give the defense a boost. I think CTG is the right person for DC. People were expecting miracles in the 1st year. I think we will see big improvement from last season. Some people are going to need to step up and lead.
Offense, I think Murray will be even smarter this year. The O-Line will need to make openings for which ever RB has the ball. This will take the preasure off Murray. Some people complained about Murray last year, but the man was running for his life most of the time. Balance the attack and good things will happen.
We have potential, but potential means nothing if it does not become fruitfull.
Go Dawgs!
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:30 pm
“you’re not supposed to post off topic’
And you saw this where?
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:31 pm
Dallas = crybaby 2 year old with a wet diaper.
kerryb
February 15th, 2011
2:32 pm
George, have you been watching UGA football the last two seasons? The reasons are 2009, fifth year senior QB (which we found out why he could never start )and defense. Last season Freshman QB and new defense and not having the right players in place yet to run new defense. Now we do and have a QB with experience. Will be different season next year.
Dallas
February 15th, 2011
2:32 pm
The article is about Georgia, not Auburn, the chances of 3 Auburn fans finidng this blog, slim to none, you all the same guy.
N.GA.DAWG
February 15th, 2011
2:33 pm
Why all the fuss about uga fans being optimistic? Heck I was wondering what might of been a few times last year myself. If we were so terrible, as some have said, why would you even be on this blog (au, bama, etc.)posting about a team that just went 6-7? No way auburn wins the west with what they lost! Arkansas lost the best qb the ever had! So I’m gonna go out on a limb and say they wont either(win the west)! Bama also lost their qb but they didnt rely on him as much as au or ark. did at qb. So they(bama) lost less in my opinion. Clowney will have to be 1 heck of a player to make sc a 17pt. favorite over UGA in Athens according to george. It will be more like 3 either way. As for the UGA Boise game. We will wait and see and just like the last time we played I like our chances. Go Dawgs.
ugab
February 15th, 2011
2:33 pm
IT STARTS IN THE TRENCHES!
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:34 pm
“The article is about Georgia, not Auburn”
And like I said, Auburn is mentioned. Can you not read?
George
February 15th, 2011
2:34 pm
No, that won’t work, Georgia got worse with Stafford in 2008and he had expeince. Stlll lost more games than previous season form 2007 to 2008.
Try again.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:34 pm
“the chances of 3 Auburn fans finidng this blog, slim to none, you all the same guy.’
You’re really not smart are you.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:35 pm
“No way auburn wins the west with what they lost!’
Then again, you can’t see the future.
Jules
February 15th, 2011
2:35 pm
Dallas, agree, odds of 3 Auburn fans stumbling on to an article about Georgia, impossible.
kerryb
February 15th, 2011
2:35 pm
bill, do you really think CMR has forgotten how to coach? I just stated the main reasons why this team struggled the last 2 years. In 2008 there were too many injuries to overcome. I think we were starting a new O-line every week. Next year is a different situation. I believe CMR is going to have the team like the one he had from 2002-2005 next season.
Dude
February 15th, 2011
2:35 pm
WDE = War Damn…Either….either Tigers or Eagles…we are just like women we reserve the right to change our minds or our mascots..
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:36 pm
“Arkansas lost the best qb the ever had!
Their backup is good. Better than Murray.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:37 pm
“WDE = War Damn…Either….either Tigers or Eagles…we are just like women we reserve the right to change our minds or our mascots..’
Making fun of mascots? Really, is that all ya got?
Ok, at least we don’t rent our logo from the Packers.
kerryb
February 15th, 2011
2:37 pm
WDE, Auburn will struggle next year. You can’t lose that many players and not. I believe that the team in the west will be LSU next year. Look out for Auburn in about another 2-3 years if the players they got do work out.
Jules
February 15th, 2011
2:38 pm
You guys let’s leave and let WDE/kerryb/ talk to himself like he does everry day for hours on the AJC blogs. It’ the same person.
how2fish
February 15th, 2011
2:38 pm
George are you insane or just slow? Stafford in 08 was playing on a team that suffered over a dozen season ending injuries try just try and be objective…
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:38 pm
Dude = Dallas = Franklin = Jules = Timothy
DIT
February 15th, 2011
2:38 pm
Some of you can think that I’m an Auburn fan if you’d like. I was just giving props to Auburn. They are the champs. I’ve been on here posting on UgA blogs now for a couple years. Dawg through and through. Alumnus 1985!
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:39 pm
“Auburn will struggle next year.”
No they won’t.
“Look out for Auburn in about another 2-3 years if the players they got do work out.’
Uh huh.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:39 pm
“It’ the same person.’
Prove it.
kerryb
February 15th, 2011
2:39 pm
how2fish, I tried to tell that dummy that, but he is a Richt basher. Probably not even a UGA fan. Probably a Tech fan.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:40 pm
DIT
Dude = Dallas = Franklin = Jules = Timothy
Not one of them has commented on UGA football. Just me.
kerryb
February 15th, 2011
2:41 pm
WDE, if you don’t believe Auburn will struggle next season compared to LSU and Bama then you are a real dellusional Auburn fan. You can’t lose that many top players on your team and not struggle. If you are counting on these freshmen coming in then you will be greatly disappointed.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
2:42 pm
kerryb
Saban had the same players on offense as he did in 2009 and lost 3 games. Anything can happen in college football but to say that Auburn won’t be good is not accurate. Yes, Auburn lost Newton and Fairley but they also have great WR, RB etc.. They also have some really good defensive players left and some outstanding players that didn’t get to play last year.