Dogs drawing mixed predictions in SEC race
If Aaron Murray can lead the Dogs past South Carolina, just how far can Mark Richt's team go? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Amid all the speculation about Jim Tressel being toast and Will Muschamp’s Gators being toasted (giving new meaning to the “Florida Way”!), some college football observers have been paying a bit of attention to Mark Richt’s 2011 Dogs, who seem to have become something of a dark horse favorite in the SEC East.
As I wrote last week, Georgia has a high-risk start to its season that could pay off big, opening with Boise State and South Carolina. And while the game against the Broncos has the higher profile, the meeting in Athens with the Gamecocks could have more impact on UGA’s season, since a win there would put the Dogs in the driver’s seat in a division where Florida and Tennessee are rebuilding and Kentucky and Vandy are Kentucky and Vandy.
Barrett Sallee of College Football News says that with “the quarterback issues at South Carolina, the offensive ineptitude that Florida showed in its spring game, and the way Georgia’s schedule shapes up, the SEC East is there for Georgia’s taking. If the Bulldogs beat South Carolina the second week of the season, they absolutely have to get to Atlanta. They don’t play Arkansas, LSU and Alabama this season — the three primary contenders in the SEC West. Plus they get Auburn and Mississippi State, the next two in line on the other side of the division, at home. Sure, the Florida game in Jacksonville is always a tough matchup for the Bulldogs, but even if they lose that game, it’s hard to find two more losses on the schedule, provided that they get past the Gamecocks.”
Loading ...That’s a fairly underwhelming assessment considering that as poorly as Georgia played overall last season the Dogs still managed to finish third in the SEC East.
We haven’t done a poll in a while here, so let’s see if Blawg readers are as pessimistic as those at the CBS site, or whether you’re thinking the CFN view is closer to the mark. Feel free to vote in the poll, comment, or do both.
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398 comments Add your comment
Zeke
April 26th, 2011
12:34 pm
Then again, Richt had a REALLY easy schedule last season, AJ Green & Durham, and a down year for Florida, and ended up 6-7 with the easiest schedule a Georgia team has had in 10 years. Only played 5 ranked teams in 2010. Those thinking the weak schedule=10 wins, need to think about last year, – AJ Green, – Justin Houston, -Durham.
The problem is COACHING and QB, as last season proved.
Ray
April 26th, 2011
12:36 pm
UGA didn’t face Bama or LSU in 2010, didn’t seem to help. Lost to Colorado, UCF, Florida (as usual), Arkansas, South Carolina, Miss St, and Auburn. Auburn’s the only team that UGA should have lost to.
Drew
April 26th, 2011
12:37 pm
For some reason, not playing LSU or Alabama didn’t hel;p last year. So it won’t help this year.
JB
April 26th, 2011
12:38 pm
What would Weis, Muschamp and all the Gators do to have Aaron Murray a Gator about now?
Aaron looked sharp in the spring game. Brantley looked like an Insurance salesman at the park with some buddies.
Ray
April 26th, 2011
12:38 pm
Probabl;y more to do with not scoring points, offensive scheme and leadership (OC & QB), only averaged 15 points a game against ranked teams on offense, last in SEC.
Ray
April 26th, 2011
12:39 pm
zEKE,
So true man, the problem last year was coaching, especially on offense, and scoring, especially at QB against good teams.
Ray
April 26th, 2011
12:40 pm
What would Muschamp do with Christian Lemay?
Zeke
April 26th, 2011
12:41 pm
Richt averages 6 or 7 wins a season, 3rd in SEC East looks about where Richt averages last 2 seasons. Averages 6.5 wins a year since 2008.
JDawg1785
April 26th, 2011
12:41 pm
I’m with you on Orson Charles, Go Dawgs! He’s been an under-utilized weapon the past two seasons and should turn a lot of heads come September. I wish they had gotten the ball to him more often last year- the guy can make some plays.
JB
April 26th, 2011
12:41 pm
Ray, I think we can all agree last years team was bad, the staff was bad, the effort was bad, Rotten apples all in the locker room. Look at the pedigree of this roster vs UCF. Not even close.
Richt has publicly admitted it.
FalconUGAFan
April 26th, 2011
12:44 pm
This is all very nice to speculate on, however the pertinent question right now “Can we beat Boise”. One game at a time and the SEC East will take care of itself.
JB
April 26th, 2011
12:44 pm
Orsen will catch 50 balls this year and 10-12 TD’s and be All SEC and on one of the All American teams. The Guy is that good. TE, plays like a WR
Is it 2012 yet?
April 26th, 2011
12:44 pm
Georgia will go 8-4, make it to the Chick-fil-A bowl where they will lose to Clemson, Mark Richt will be fired within the following week, and Mike Bobo will go back to Thomasville.
dawgfacedboy
April 26th, 2011
12:45 pm
Altamaha- Good thing you aren’t a literal thinker. What is it about our offense that makes you feel warm and cozy?? You think they will be able to give our D adequate time to rest? I sure don’t. Of course that is my opinion and have no statistcal evidence or the ability to see the future.
SSIgator
April 26th, 2011
12:45 pm
Same coaches and same coaching philosophy minus some really good players from 2010 = not much better results for this year.
Richt is the Jim Jones of UGA football. Keeps the fan base under his spell. Have another glass friends. Remember, he was a bartender and a salesman before he arrived at UGA.
Thomas
April 26th, 2011
12:46 pm
I’d say 6-7, or 7-6, bout where Richt gets you these days. 6 or 6 wins, includes the Bowl game.
DawginLex
April 26th, 2011
12:46 pm
SSI,
so in other words you confirm your status as a TROLL and refuse to answer my question.
thanks for clearing that up
Mississippi Dawg
April 26th, 2011
12:47 pm
Every time I see someone misspell “losing” with “loosing”…I hear Ricky Ricardo in my head…Ju got some splaining to do”….
JB
April 26th, 2011
12:47 pm
2012…. it really could be that simple. Our biggest nightmare is that 8-4 is OK for Prez. Adams.
He’s not a big fan of win at any cost. He’s a “fielded a pretty good team this year” kind of guy
Thomas
April 26th, 2011
12:48 pm
WR’s got a lot worse losing Green and Durham, and Bobo throws to the TE’s about 2-3x a game. Murray can’t score against good teams, 5 or 6 td’s against winning teams last season was all. Offensive line can’t passblock. Passing game is in trouble.
SSIgator
April 26th, 2011
12:48 pm
DawginLex -
And the question was?
Cmon man
April 26th, 2011
12:48 pm
typical uga fans one minute you love justin houston the next minute you people talk bad about him. uga has the worst fan base in football.
DawginLex
April 26th, 2011
12:49 pm
go back in the blog and read it yourself.
Logger
April 26th, 2011
12:49 pm
Richt ain’t reel good at seizing the moment, and seeing the opportunity when it’s there, look at last year, no Bama, no Miles or LSU, and you go 6-7?????
DawginLex
April 26th, 2011
12:50 pm
c’mon man,
I spoke facts.
houston messed up and I described what he did.
Who is your team?
WDE
April 26th, 2011
12:51 pm
SSIgator your HC won a game yet?
JB
April 26th, 2011
12:51 pm
SSIgator………..Like I said, the Gators lost 5 last year, have tons of questions. Going to a pro type offense without a proven between the tackles tailback, do you have a fullback on the roster, and Brantley needs Dr. Phil. Muscamp is a screamer and that’s OK IF you have their respect, and he hasn’t yet….Good luck.
Logger
April 26th, 2011
12:51 pm
Last year Bill’s survey said 67% felt real good about the season.
Ended up 6-7.
Not a good sign that fans are saying the same thing.
http://blogs.ajc.com/junkyard-blawg/2010/04/24/is-confidence-high-again-in-the-bulldog-nation/
schmeckdawg
April 26th, 2011
12:54 pm
@ DawginLex
I just finished reading about Houston. All that I can say is WHAT AN IDIOT!!!!
JB
April 26th, 2011
12:55 pm
Anyone got any tickets for Tech/Western Carolina? Having a big weekend in Atlanta for a wedding with friends and family. I called the ticket office. They only have 23,000 available. Help a brother out…….
SSIgator
April 26th, 2011
12:56 pm
JB -
No doubt it will be an interesting season in Gainesville. This will separate the kids who really want to play from the ones that just want to be on the team. I like coaches who demand perfection and admire playes who strive for it. Spurrier demanded it and Danny delivered.
Mississippi Dawg
April 26th, 2011
12:56 pm
As far as Mullen winning with sub-par facilities and support…C’mon, this is not like June Jones in Hawaii; Starkville might be in the middle of nowhere, but they have plenty of support and a top notch stadium (with the Biggest and Best Hi-Def screen in the SEC)…I agree with the earlier post…he hasn’t really done anything yet…so don’t compare him to CMR…lets see him win a couple of SEC crowns and win 8-10 games practically every year, then then you can talk.
JB
April 26th, 2011
1:03 pm
SSigator………..Another thing that will take time in the Weis offense. Accurate route running by the WR’s. Meyers passing game in the spread was more like a jail break.
ugaclassof2004
April 26th, 2011
1:06 pm
Well let’s see…
Considering we haven’t won an SEC East title since 2005 I’m going to say NO.
But Coach Richt’s the greatest coach in the world!!! He’ll right the ship!
Jeez…what a bunch of morons!
Danny
April 26th, 2011
1:07 pm
No offense fellas, but I don’t think 0-6 against winnign teams starter Murray would be starting for a team like Idaho State, much less Georgia. Pretty easy to see why the season qwent so bad last year, had the same offensive line, same running backs, same receivers, but QB changed.
DawginLex
April 26th, 2011
1:08 pm
Florida Atlantic WIN
UAB WIN
Tennessee WIN
at Kentucky WIN
Alabama LOSS
at LSU LOSS
at Auburn WIN
Open Date — —
Georgia LOSS
Vanderbilt WIN
at South Carolina LOSS
Furman WIN
Florida State LOSS
For You SSI 7-5
Brantley benched
Dogs drawing mixed predictions in SEC race – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dog Shop Blog
April 26th, 2011
1:09 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
LOL
April 26th, 2011
1:10 pm
A poll… on AJC.COM …. and a Bulldawg Blog to boot… and you want to take a poll to see where Georgia will finish in the East?
Thats hilarious…
Why dont we also take a poll among wino’s to see if wine tastes good…….
What a waste..
SSIgator
April 26th, 2011
1:10 pm
ugaclassof2004 -
They are not morons – they are lemmings.
JB
April 26th, 2011
1:14 pm
Gators lose 5 again this year….and one is to Dawgs, there ain’t Prozac in the world to help those folks. Muschamp will get NO honeymoon. They will tell him Dooley walked into a mess and he walked into a Nike All American camp……
DawgDawgDawg
April 26th, 2011
1:14 pm
Bill,
“thanks goodness for Kentucky”
What??? Kentucky has given us problems recently. Do we even have a winning record against them for the past 5 seasons?
UGASlobberknocker
April 26th, 2011
1:15 pm
@LOL nobody asked you to come to this blog to “waste” your time. You can leave anytime . Go to your team;s blog and waste your time there..You wont be missed. Nobody here will even notice you’re gone.or care
RNB
April 26th, 2011
1:17 pm
I have no confidence in our coaching. They finish second at best. Time to clean house and bring in some SEC caliber coaches.
DawginLex
April 26th, 2011
1:17 pm
Murray would have won 3 or 4 of those games if the d could have stopped somebody.
The defense’s improvement will determine the season. Improve the defense, Murray doesn’t have to generate 30+ points to win. Can’t run the ball playing catchup.
Except last year, last 4 BCS/SEC champions won at least 2 games during the year with the defense saving the day.
JB
April 26th, 2011
1:18 pm
People on here will scream, cuss, Have me banned, but if Richt falters Kirby Smart will be the new Georgia coach. It will be an assit. from somewhere because a big name ain’t coming because they want to keep their big name. Alum, had a good teacher, good recruiter. Say what will will or won’t, he’s it. I’m not endorsing it, I just feel it.
DawginLex
April 26th, 2011
1:19 pm
OK RNB, let’s fire Richt now and become the laughing stock of NCAA football.
Great idea.
It is Pathetic...
April 26th, 2011
1:20 pm
It is pathetic how many losers hang on this blog just to bash the Bulldogs. Dont you imbeciles have anything better to do?. Go to your own teams blog and write your crap there.
It is the old adage, losers try to make themselves feel better by dumping on others. Pathetic
SSIgator
April 26th, 2011
1:21 pm
DawginLex -
“OK RNB, let’s fire Richt now and become the laughing stock of NCAA football.”
Hate to break it to you, but you are already that.
DawginLex
April 26th, 2011
1:21 pm
Wouldn’t surprise me JB but I do think GM goes for a coach who has already been a HC, not an assistant.
My guess is:
Mullen
Peterson
Strong(if UL keeps winning)
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
April 26th, 2011
1:21 pm
Give me a break Bill and the rest of you kool-aid drinkers
Richt couldnt even beat Ron Zook and we are talking about winning the FL game come on
Richt better hope FL loses out like usual so he can go to the DOME
And sorry, Zook was fired when he did finally beat him