Dawgs winning the East: Pie in the sky or realistic?
Catching up on my Bulldogs reading after a few days off and away from the blogosphere, I came across the roundtable discussion of UGA football posted at College Football Zealots.
We’ve actually already dealt here in the Blawg with several of the questions posted, including which game is more critical for Georgia to win: Boise State or South Carolina? (To recap: While the Boise game is an opportunity for Mark Richt’s program to get back on the national radar, the South Carolina game a week later looms much bigger for the Dogs in terms of their SEC East hopes.)
But the last question in the roundtable is something I’ve actually been pondering lately as I play out in my head just how likely the more optimistic scenarios are for the 2011 Dogs.
The question: Athlon Sports has rated the Dawgs at #14 and Phil Steele has them at #9 in their pre-season polls. Both have Georgia winning the SEC East and playing in the Capital One Bowl. What needs to happen for Georgia to live up to these lofty expectations?
Well, in terms of wins and losses, obviously, beating South Carolina would be a big step in that direction. You can draw up various scenarios in which Georgia could win the SEC East after losing to the Gamecocks (all of which would require the Dogs to win in Jacksonville), but that definitely would be doing it the hard way.
Are the elements in place for such a season? That’s tougher to gauge. Aaron Murray certainly looks like the class of the conference when it comes to quarterback, the schedule is pretty favorable once you get past those first two games, and Isaiah Crowell has a lot of folks excited. But he still has to run behind a questionable offensive line. And while the arrival of John Jenkins should make Georgia’s defense tougher up front, the secondary still has me worried. And then there are the questions about who steps up at wide receiver to replace A.J. Green and Kris Durham.
Plus, of course, whether the team is going to be able to rise to the occasion in the fourth quarter in big games, something that all too often hasn’t happened recently.
A little luck wouldn’t hurt, either.
So what do you think has to happen for Georgia to live up to those “lofty expectations”? Is this pie-in-the-sky thinking, or do Richt’s 2011 Dogs really have what it takes to be a contender?
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370 comments Add your comment
truedawg
June 14th, 2011
1:24 pm
Gator fans one question, WHY did Burton move from QB? he was clearly better than Brantley last year. Gonna stop bashing and talk football. Much like when someone not a UGA fan can see somethings clearer from the outside. I see UF with problems at QB, and undersized in RB, and a lack of flanker/ wide outs to have a real pro style offense. UGA will have a better D this year and We HOPE better S&C but we’ll see.
RabidDawgFan
June 14th, 2011
1:24 pm
LT: Cordy Glenn (6′5, 348)
LG: Kendarious Gates (6′5, 328)
C: Ben Jones (6′3, 316)
RG: Justin “Bean” Anderson (6′5, 342)
RT: could be Wattz Dantzler (6′7, 310).
Looks good, but we’ll have to see. Those boys have size.
SSIgator
June 14th, 2011
1:24 pm
Travis -
So you are a history buff are you? Then go check again. The series record is 46–40–2 and why you think there is evidence that the recnt history is trending the other direction is a mystery to me. Or is that just wishful thinking? Lay off the KoolAid and analyze with a clear head.
LMAO at the Hopeful (again) Humper Nation
June 14th, 2011
1:27 pm
I almost feel that I am in a time warp; every season it is the same Ol poop: the Humpers are predicting another Championship. When was the last time that happened again?
DawginLex
June 14th, 2011
1:29 pm
2002 and 2005 won the SEC. The rest of the decisions are a beauty contest.
Next question?
SSIgator
June 14th, 2011
1:30 pm
LMAO at the Hopeful (again) Humper Nation -
It is not a time warp. It is a movie called Groundhog Day.
LMAO at the Hopeful (again) Humper Nation
June 14th, 2011
1:30 pm
truedawg,
Burton moved from QB because the offense that he ran last year suited him better than it did Brantley. Brantley sucked last year because they tried to make him Tebow and that was stupid. Charlie Weis will make him into at least a decent QB if not better. Remember Tom Brady was only a 7th round draft pick out of Michigan when Weis got hold of him. Guess who Brady’s worthless QB coach was at Michigan? Scott Loefler, who was Brantley’s coach last year.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 14th, 2011
1:30 pm
Sucks to be a Tech fan that’s for sure.
LMAO at the Hopeful (again) Humper Nation
June 14th, 2011
1:32 pm
DumbinLex what have you done since? Have you lost to Vandy and Ky at home in recent years? How are those for your next questions?
DawginLex
June 14th, 2011
1:33 pm
LMAO at the Hopeful (again) Humper Nation
June 14th, 2011
1:32 pm
DumbinLex what have you done since? Have you lost to Vandy and Ky at home in recent years? How are those for your next questions?
******************************************************
Incapable of adult conversation Gump?
Later loser.
Ron Zook
June 14th, 2011
1:33 pm
I cannot believe that these idiots still think that Helen Hunt look-a-like Mark RIcht is the savior.
Last year
June 14th, 2011
1:33 pm
the best QB was Luck. This year the best QB is Luck. Not the guy from Boise or Murray.
Ron Zook
June 14th, 2011
1:35 pm
DawginLex I would say that 6-7 was a loser or 1-2 against me.
RabidDawgFan
June 14th, 2011
1:37 pm
The last time we lost to Vandy was 2006. The last time we lost to Kentucky was 2009. Does that make you haters feel better? Every teams loses to teams they have no business losing to. Alabama lost to the perennial powerhouse Lousiana-Monroe in 2007 and then Utah in 2008. But I guess that’s ok.
John
June 14th, 2011
1:42 pm
For Richt, it is definitely South Carolina, because if he fails to win a weak SEC East two years in a row, he should be fired. I think we’ll beat SC since the game is in Athens and our defensive line should play better than last year.
truedawg
June 14th, 2011
1:43 pm
Brantley isn’t Brady. He seems alot like Garcia. Looks good at practice. I will say CW is a great OC. But I think it will be 2 years before UF can put a team out to get to 10 plus wins. The East is down. I mean is has to be for USC to be picked to win anything. I think UGA will have to ride on the defense til the running game can get going for UGA to have a shot at the EAST. luckily we have Sc at home and Miss state at home. We play the weaker west teams this year. That is why I think UGA will when the EAST this year, after that who knows…GO DAWGS
RabidDawgFan
June 14th, 2011
1:45 pm
All I know is that people that mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. If your a UGA fan and have positive things to say then welcome aboard, but you UGA “bashers” don’t suddenly turn into a UGA “fan” when we start winning again. You know it’ll happen. You haters suck and have nothing better to do than to come on here and bash 18-21 year old kids that are playing the game of football. You get out there and play in the rugged SEC week in and week out and see how far you get and many ballgames you win.
John
June 14th, 2011
1:45 pm
Murray was great last year and I expect him to have an outstanding sophomore season. Go Dawgs!!
truedawg
June 14th, 2011
1:50 pm
Dang this sux. You know I see the us Dawg fans, and gator fans and USC fans here talking about the EAST…used to we talked about the SEC. I hope the Dawgs are as hungry as they seem. I have talked to alot of the players and they seem like a team, and not individuals. They seem determined, and hungry. But like I said, the work they do now with the S&C will be what matters in Sept and Oct etc.
RabidDawgFan
June 14th, 2011
1:51 pm
Lattimore won’t be able to run up with Jenkins or Kwame. It just won’t happen.
NC Dawg
June 14th, 2011
1:53 pm
Lofty expectations and the Capital One Bowl shouldn’t go together…at least for the Dawgs. SEC East isn’t an SEC Championship. There’s one more game. Take your Capital One Bowl and give me a Nat’l Championship!
RabidDawgFan
June 14th, 2011
1:55 pm
I don’t expect a national championship but I do expect an SEC East title. There’s no reason we can’t. We have the talent, the work ethic. We just need to do it on the field. Unless Crowell explodes and rushes for 1,500 yards then we won’t win a national title. Hopefully he does, but not likely.
Rebel Rouser
June 14th, 2011
2:00 pm
Rebels may not win many, but can usually count on Florida being a win.Is Timmy still crying.
Athens= God's Country
June 14th, 2011
2:06 pm
Hating only means you care and are worried.
8-10 wins will happen. Loss in the SEC championship game at best. SoCAr will fade away just like they always do. Florida/ UGA in 2012 should be rockin’! I just hope Richt is the coach in 2012.
WDE
June 14th, 2011
2:06 pm
@SSIgator so spanky what do you get for the what 2 mil your paying a HC who has never won a game yet? Answer you haven’t got a clue we know CMR can win the SEC you KNOW jack. And for all your big talk about others should ” analyze with a clear head” ? Analyze this loser you’ve never brought anything to the table just hot air, hate and envy for all things UGA…that’s why your a loser unlike a few Gator fans like Beast from the East he brings football knowledge and passion you bring..well not much.
BIG JOE
June 14th, 2011
2:07 pm
Will Hill, Stop changing names– it’s cowardly..
I didn’t forget anything –I only Re-posted what W.I.N. had posted.
I also do not know who you believe to be my ‘buddys’. Please, enlighten me Will Hill.
This Dawg Want Hunt!!
June 14th, 2011
2:08 pm
Too many question marks for this team to win the East. The biggest might be the q.b. Murray has yet to prove he can win a big game, and he has a tendency to start slow, and with this defense and secondary, starting slow agains Boise&S.C will be a disaster.Couple that with a patchwork O.L that has 2 starting tackles that didn’t play the position last year, and you have a huge problem. How UGA can constantly be so desperate on the O.L. year after year is a testiment to RIcht and his staff doing a terrible job recruiting for need and not for top 10 classes. Gardner and Richt have no clue on how to build a team with depth at every positon. The secondary is in the same shape as the O.L., and the running back postion and wide recriver position has no playmaker between them. How could this pahetic staff be so bad at evaluating talent, and getting out recruitied year after year for the positions that need help. All you kool-aid drinkers talk about how great Richt is at recruiting his top 10 classes every year, but if that is so, how does UGA have no talent or depth at so many postions? O.L, R.B, W.R, lb, cb, and safety. Total joke, and this team will not win the SECE. The NIGHTMARE in Athens continues.
Wonderful Ohio on the Gulf 'Dog
June 14th, 2011
2:11 pm
Georgia’s $64,000.00 Question (actually worth much, much more than $64,000.00) is “:whether the team is going to be able to rise to the occasion in the fourth quarter in big games.”
That one question is bigger than questions about the O line, the secondary, the running game, the receivers, and game-time coaching decisions all combined.
Georgia has failed to play with that old Junkyard Dogs spirit the past few years.
The one true question is whether old Father Joe Tereshinski and his trusty Novice Thomas Brown have exorcised the “Underperformance” demon from the Bulldogs’ football program.
If they have, whatever personnel woes or shortcomings that befall Georgia notwithstanding, we’ll do great. Otherwise, …
Dawg Gone
June 14th, 2011
2:13 pm
Bill good article I wonder myself how this team will perform, the schedule certainly is in our favor. The key will be Boise if we had them the 3rd or 4th game I think we blow their doors off , however we will be using a new OL in their very first game as a unit..I can’t help but think our blocking timing won’t be very crisp so I see us in a pretty low scoring game. If anyone scores 30 I’ll be floored if Boise does well it won’t be good for the Dawgs. I also think if we can pull out the victory we can beat hell out of USCe, we will go into that game with confidence and if we do that and Gracia is the QB and we have half a pass rush I think we win…but if we lose to Boise I think it will be a rough row to hoe. Go Dogs!
BIG JOE
June 14th, 2011
2:13 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88 : “I’m not really worried about the O…Richt has found a way to get it done on offense his entire tenure”
REALLY??? 6-points against Central Florida & couldn’t get a 1st round draft pick AJ Green the ball in the 2nd half of the Colorado game. Might want to re-think that statement.
Beast from the East
June 14th, 2011
2:19 pm
I just finished reading all the comments. It’s a riot that we (Gators & Dawgs) continue to bash each other and try to reason why OUR program will be better this year. Truth is we BOTH sucked last year and have no idea how our teams will fare this year. It’s just wishful thinking as we both have tons of questions that cannot and will not be answered until the season starts. Right now, South Carolina is the team to beat in the East yet so many UGA faithful continue to give them no credit. I sure hope your players don’t do that or they will get absolutely demolished at home. Spurrier will not hesitate to hang a number on UGA given the chance.
BIG JOE
June 14th, 2011
2:21 pm
With our speed & size we stack up good against Boist St. Their offense may be good in their pansy league but I don’t expect them to score much agianst UGA. UGA offense will look average against the Boise ‘D’. DAWGS win.
SCar will be a bigger challenge — I expect our ‘D’ to do well but they may run out of steam if our Offense sputters all day. Our Offense will sputter at some point because of the lack of depth at O-Line & the SCar Defense is pretty darn good.
Alphare
June 14th, 2011
2:27 pm
Bill, dawgs always win SEC East, SEC and NC during pre-season contests. It’ll be a disappointing season for the dawgs if otherwise.
TampaDAWG
June 14th, 2011
2:28 pm
@ Big Joe,
UGA scored over 30 points in 8 games last year. A bad game against UCF and a bad half against Colorado doesn’t mean the offense was the problem. The defense gave up too many points last year. Yeah, with that said not really worried about the O
bham dawg
June 14th, 2011
2:40 pm
@tampadawg: Do we have any shot at landing Agholor? What are you hearing round Tampa?
DawginLexisSmart
June 14th, 2011
2:41 pm
If we Dawgs get home and the wife wants to get with it, doesn’t that make us “humpers” in a good way?
Kinda’ changes the meaning of the term don’t it?
Black Toenail
June 14th, 2011
2:42 pm
Apple pie is my favorite. These guys are trying to sell magazines, pandering to a bunch of suckers.
JB
June 14th, 2011
2:44 pm
I feel real good about some of the changes. S&C program, 2 new coach’s,sense of urgency since the Bowl game last year, Richt on hot seat( yes,he’s on it)Defense looking better year two under Grantham….. All that being said, can this head coach and staff have this team ready to play…and a game plan that will work. I would like to see a different mind set take the field. I just don’t know. We come out confused and lackluster, we will start 0-2 , and the ONLY story you will read about this team if that happens will be regime change.
Ron Smith
June 14th, 2011
2:48 pm
Remember the 2010 Liberty Bowl? Colorado? The 2011 “Dream Team” is brought to you by essentally the same crowd. Pessimistic? Probably Hopeful? Yes
JB
June 14th, 2011
2:50 pm
One more thing different this year. More than one player hinted that some cancer on the team from last year is now gone.
SSIgator
June 14th, 2011
2:50 pm
WDE -
“envy for all things UGA”
Coughed some of my Pepsi out of my nose. Jay Leno needs another good joke writer. You really should apply.
DawginLex
June 14th, 2011
2:52 pm
SSI,
Switch to diet Coke from regular Pepsi.
Lot less calories.
might help you to fit into your size 48 JORTS
OldFan
June 14th, 2011
2:52 pm
No way we can go from last year’s chumps to this year’s champs. The Dawgs will be better, especially defensively, but there are too many uncertainties, too many big holes to fill, and way too much unproven in O-line performance. Hope that’s a big pie.
Beast from the East
June 14th, 2011
2:54 pm
SSI,
Just stick with the Natty Lites that all of us Gators love so much. LOL!
JB
June 14th, 2011
2:56 pm
Auburn like a squirrel finding an acorn. One lucky year. Even our poor teams lately have owned them.
Auburn with heavy personnel losses and that wicked schedule will fall back to earth. I’m thinking Bama and SC repeat in the dome again.
GT-JLC
June 14th, 2011
2:58 pm
Is this a broken record? Don’t we hear this every year? In all honesty…I think the pupps are a solid year away. Gotta get those freshman some game experience. I say either t-2 or 3rd in East.
SSIgator
June 14th, 2011
2:59 pm
Beast from the East -
No. Miller Lite. Helps offset the calories from the fried puppies.
JB
June 14th, 2011
2:59 pm
Beast, God help Muschamp if ya’ll lose to us this year……They will forget about that “growing up near the shadow” of the swamp fairy tale.
JB
June 14th, 2011
3:02 pm
GT-JLC………I’m a Dawg fan….but you are correct….We are the worst at hanging our hats on pre season optimism
Greg
June 14th, 2011
3:02 pm
GTBob, you are a real football expert, aren’t you Ace? The whole point is that any SEC team could win 9-10 games or more playing Boise’s schedule. Stick to Dungeons and Dragons.