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
Daisy
February 15th, 2011
4:15 pm
Oceans?
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:16 pm
“Even in a rivals sports blog, although for the life of me I don’t see why anyone has the time in thier life for that..but sure.”
And yet……..you’re here…….blogging………..
Joel
February 15th, 2011
4:16 pm
Yeah oceans, they are blue
Panther
February 15th, 2011
4:17 pm
I don’t get it, where did oceans come into this?
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:17 pm
“then take your little one liner shotat it’
Do what? I’m not sure what “shotat” means.
Seltzer
February 15th, 2011
4:17 pm
Yea, people like Joel sometimes makes me embarrassed to be a UGA Grad. Of course I have to keep telling myself that the people posting on here stupid comments did not go to college period!
I live in Tampa and mostly don’t comment. I come on here because there is some good information on here that I don’t get reading the paper or on the news.
Just have to filter through the garbage.
Joel
February 15th, 2011
4:17 pm
Like WDE, we like to talk about irrelavant off topic stuff.
Hairy Perry
February 15th, 2011
4:18 pm
WDE,
No offence sir, but I have noticed you have been on this blog for quite along time today. I’m sure your having fun, but maybe try and get a hobby or something a little more productive. I enjoy this blog myself, but man I post a few things and read a few things and move on with life. Auburn had an outstanding year no doubt, given. I just wanted you to know that thier is more to life than hanging out on football blogs all day trying to one-up the opposing teams fans.
By the way we appreciate your devotion to UGA football, you and all the Tech fans that hang out on here all day. Okay you can jump back on and “tell us all off now”.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:18 pm
Seltzer
Joel did not go to college, so don’t be embarrassed about her.
Sandy
February 15th, 2011
4:19 pm
Joel, the ocean isn’t blue, see what happens is blue rays get through, and then what you’re looking at is actually a reflection of the sky.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:19 pm
Hairy Perry
You must be under the false impression that I care what you think.
how2fish
February 15th, 2011
4:20 pm
WDE I think it’s the basketball coach in trouble there were some big time problems with the B’Ball program last year. I think Dooley should be OK unless of course they get hamstrung with limited scholarships for 2-3 years then he is going to be toast as the Vol Nation is not the most patient fan base a lot of them will understand the issues he will have but a lot of Rocky toppers won’t.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:20 pm
“Like WDE, we like to talk about irrelavant off topic stuff.”
Grammar fail.
Seltzer
February 15th, 2011
4:20 pm
L.O.L.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:21 pm
how2fish
True, but Rocky Top has been down for a loooooooooooooooooooooong time. They have not been relevant since 2004.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:21 pm
“No offence sir”
As a UGA fan, you should be more OFFENDED by the fact that you can’t spell the word offense.
how2fish
February 15th, 2011
4:22 pm
WDE correct and if they keep changing coaches and spending time on probation I can’t see that changing anytime soon.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:23 pm
“Okay you can jump back on and “tell us all off now”.
Nah, I’ll let your remedial English teacher do that.
Seltzer
February 15th, 2011
4:23 pm
Not hearing much out of Mississippi Stae. What are they suppose to look like this coming year? Did they lose anyone?
Sandy
February 15th, 2011
4:24 pm
Very few things that appear to be blue, actually are, which seems to be the same problem Georgia has.
Polka
February 15th, 2011
4:24 pm
What’s up with Egypt?
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:25 pm
Seltzer
Not sure about MS State. They didn’t recruit that well which may have something to do with Cam-gate.
Hairy Perry
February 15th, 2011
4:25 pm
Guys I hope the “feel good” stuff last but I have seen much to be concerned about. I know Richt can get this program winning again and I believe he will. It is an attitude that has crept in at UGA of selfishness and half-@ss play and until it gets corrected the smack talk will fly. There is going to have to be a shift in attitude and work ethic in Athens this year. This team won and had success in the early part of the decade and got relaxed. Now the alarm clock is going off and we better get up!
Seltzer
February 15th, 2011
4:27 pm
Ah good point. I do think that Cullen is one of the up and coming coaches in the SEC. If CMR can’t cut the mustard this year, and again I hope he does, I would like to go after him.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:28 pm
“I do think that Cullen’
You mean Mullen, right?
Seltzer
February 15th, 2011
4:30 pm
@Hairy Perry
I totally agree. I read back a couple pages at a poster that said the seniors on the team need to take charge and I agree with that. We have lacked leadership. It does start with coaching and I still believe in CMR, but if he does not get it done this coming year he will be out.
We need some serious leaders on this team. Set examples for the rest of the team to follow. No more of this “I” crap.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 15th, 2011
4:30 pm
Wimpy Delusional Eggsucker
Cam-gate is about to slam on Awbarn.
Polka
February 15th, 2011
4:31 pm
WDE = Seltzer, same person
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:32 pm
This could get really good!!
Clowney takes a few digs at Nick Saban
http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/20057/clowney-takes-a-few-digs-at-saban
Seltzer
February 15th, 2011
4:32 pm
Crap – RIGHT – Mullen. I’m not sure what I was thinking when I typed that. Thanks for the heads up. I guess I was taking after that lady on the news yesterday that starting speaking jibberish and people thought she was having a stroke.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:32 pm
“Cam-gate is about to slam on Awbarn.’
When?
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:32 pm
“WDE = Seltzer, same person’
Prove it.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 15th, 2011
4:32 pm
Mullen gets a lot of attention for a fifth place finish. Richt will be UGA coach for next 15 years.
Fire Jim Tressel
February 15th, 2011
4:34 pm
….just wanted to see how it felt.
Buckeye
Seltzer
February 15th, 2011
4:34 pm
Polka – really??? Two people having a civil conversation about the topic at hand have to be the same person because it is civil?
I guess it’s just foreign territory to you. You should try it some time.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:34 pm
“Mullen gets a lot of attention for a fifth place finish. ‘
Miss State beat UGA and finished in the top 25. UGA, not so much.
“Richt will be UGA coach for next 15 years.’
You sure do know how to write stupid comments.
TheItalianDawg
February 15th, 2011
4:35 pm
blah… blah blah blah blah blah blah….. blah blah blah blah.. blah… blah blah and blah! we heard this story before: Georgia this and Georgia that. talk to me when they man up and start the season 2-0. we have the schedule, we have the players but we also have Bobo! under 2 minutes left and he run the ball up the middle with 160lb RB. there is no way in hell that we can win the SEC again with Bobo! very predictable!
Hairy Perry
February 15th, 2011
4:36 pm
For the first time in a long time I have know idea what think about the upcoming season . It could be a season of celebration or another oh crap season. I don’t get to hyped up on the young kids coming in until I see results on the field.
Seltzer
February 15th, 2011
4:36 pm
@WIN WITH RICHT
I hope your right. I would love to see CMR at the helm for another 15 years. We need his type of character at UGA and in all of college football. But in the SEC it’s all about wins and he needs to hurry!
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:36 pm
WIN WITH RICHT
Funny, I don’t see UGA on this list but I do see MS State.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings
WIN WITH RICHT
February 15th, 2011
4:36 pm
Polka
Who cares about Egypt and the rest of Austalia? we are talking college football.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:37 pm
“For the first time in a long time I have know idea what think about the upcoming season
It’s no idea, not know idea. Please re-take remedial English.
DawginColumbus
February 15th, 2011
4:37 pm
Fire Jim Tressel
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:38 pm
“Who cares about Egypt and the rest of Austalia? ”
Folks,
this is what happens when you drop out of middle school.
Seltzer
February 15th, 2011
4:38 pm
@TheItalianDawg
I’m with you on that. I have also heard, not sure how reliable it is, that CMR is supose to be a LOT more involved in the play calling. Hope so. I like Bobo as a past QB, DGD, but as an OC it’s just not happening. Let him be the QB coach.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 15th, 2011
4:38 pm
Wimpy Delusional Eggsucker
Will they take back the trophy when the probation hammer drops?
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:39 pm
“Will they take back the trophy when the probation hammer drops?”
What probation hammer?
WIN WITH RICHT
February 15th, 2011
4:40 pm
Wimpy Delusional Eggsucker
Go play with your crayons and quit bothering grown folks.
WDE
February 15th, 2011
4:41 pm
“Go play with your crayons and quit bothering grown folks.”
Do you even realize how stupid you come across? Oh wait, I forgot, you’re not smart.
Hairy Perry
February 15th, 2011
4:42 pm
Is Crowell this super star everyone seems to think. I don’t know guys ,but my brother told me he came from the same school Jasper Sanks was from. Lets hope things turn out alot different, Heh?