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
fpice
June 14th, 2011
5:43 pm
Unfortunately, the worst coach in America will soon bring all this nonsense about a championship to a halt! Come on! Really! How do you lose SEVEN games at UGA?
kerryb
June 14th, 2011
5:45 pm
Excuse me Bob. I ment to address that to terminator
kerryb
June 14th, 2011
5:50 pm
fpice, the same way you lose 7 games at Texas but you don’t hear this nonsense about getting rid of their coach there. Most REAL UGA fans understand what went on the last 2 seasons and know it’s about to turn around. The nonsense you hear about Richt is from fans of other schools that hope he is going to leave and not turn it around and people who are not REAL UGA fans.
fpice
June 14th, 2011
5:59 pm
kerryb – ok you got me there.
Beast from the East
June 14th, 2011
6:02 pm
“The nonsense you hear about Richt is from fans of other schools that hope he is going to leave and not turn it around and people who are not REAL UGA fans.”
kerryb,
I’d be real careful about a statement like that. Fans are well within their rights to be unhappy with a coach. Were Bama fans not true fans when they wanted Shula gone? How about us Gators that wanted Zook replaced? The coaches’ results are what warrant their support and they are paid handsomely to garner that support……or disdain.
jMac
June 14th, 2011
6:06 pm
4-8, bout right.
Firo
June 14th, 2011
6:06 pm
UGA, 5-7.
Goose Creek Dawg
June 14th, 2011
6:07 pm
6-6 at best.
ValDawgsta
June 14th, 2011
6:08 pm
Hopin for 10-2, but fo reel ya’ll, we lookin at nuther 6 & 6 type season.
ValDawgsta
June 14th, 2011
6:09 pm
JMac, 4-8 2 lo man.
jMac
June 14th, 2011
6:10 pm
Only four wins on the schedule, you got Coastal Caro, New Mex, Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss. Lose the rest.
ValDawgsta
June 14th, 2011
6:11 pm
Yo, jMac, no W’s gainst Kent–Techies–Volz–fo reel?
jMac
June 14th, 2011
6:12 pm
Go Tech!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coldocky
June 14th, 2011
6:12 pm
Georgia will be pummeled in the first two games, but will rebound for a 5-7 season.
tony
June 14th, 2011
6:13 pm
I got this feeling that Mr.Richt and the dawgs will play for a national championship this season. Just A Feeling.
Coldocky
June 14th, 2011
6:13 pm
Tech is #1
DrDawg
June 14th, 2011
6:23 pm
It is amuzing how people worry about losing AJ Green. He was “great” because he made acrobatic catches. When your receivers make acrobatic catches it means 1) the coverage was very good; 2) it was a lousy pass; or 3) the receiver was out of place and had to compensate. So let’s have fewer of those spectacular catches, okay?
in depth analysis guy
June 14th, 2011
6:30 pm
SSIgator… you must have no life… you know all of these details about a team you hate… and I could care less about doing such research about Florida… Why? Because I am not a Gator fan and I will leave discussions about them to people who actually are interested in them… you must have come of age in the late 70’s when Georgia was stomping the reptilian hordes into the ground every year. Get a life.
Minnesota Dawg
June 14th, 2011
6:46 pm
We need to go out and beat Boise State Defensively like we did Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. Our Defense will set the tone for this year. Win the first two and we are back on track. This is our time to get Florida. We could hold the East for a few years if we take advantage of it.
MarineDog
June 14th, 2011
7:00 pm
@ga gator
June 14th, 2011
5:09 pm
Still in. Been in since 1985. Trying to make it to the 30 year mark.
JDawg1785
June 14th, 2011
7:04 pm
You da man, MarineDog! Thank you and God bless!!
rs
June 14th, 2011
7:04 pm
Hey guys,
UGA will do well this yr.They r hungry,Its been a long time.
joe taxpayer
June 14th, 2011
7:05 pm
The talent is there but is the coaching.
JDawg1785
June 14th, 2011
7:10 pm
I have proof that things are heading in the right direction, y’all. It’s the middle of June and no one’s gotten into trouble! (knock on wood) There’s reason for optimism right there.
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2011
7:13 pm
The difference is that Shula and Zook never proved they could get it done. They could have fired either one of them in thier first few years, and there was never a reason to believe otherwise. That’s completely different than a coach that has raised to level of the program to 20 yr highs, then had a couple of down years.
Big D
June 14th, 2011
7:28 pm
There is NO way you can compare what Shula or Zook did to what Richt has done. CMR has taken this program to new heights and is one of the most successful coaches currently coaching. McGarity will make the big difference. CMR said it himself…he is now more excited about coaching than he has been in a long time. I think that will be the difference and if will show on the field starting Sept. 3rd!
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2011
7:33 pm
Beast 4:46. Absolutely.
FLA DAWG
June 14th, 2011
7:37 pm
Not even a tough call.
Dawgs place 3rd or even 4th in the SEC East.
SSIgator
June 14th, 2011
8:05 pm
tony -
“I got this feeling that Mr.Richt and the dawgs will play for a national championship this season. Just A Feeling.”
Are you related to Anthony Weiner? He has feelings also.
DrDawg -
Correct sir. When you have a QB that cannot through an accurate pass, the receiver will be at great risk. While entertaning, Green could have been seriously hurt. No wonder he left early.
MarineDog -
A sincere thank you for your service. Lost a lot of friends in Nam. Too bad they did not have some of the technology we have today for you guys.
JDawg1785 -
It is called the gathering storm.
Big D -
And now it is rocketing to new depths. You must have liked amusement parks as a kid. Especially the roller coasters.
Goose Creek Dawg
June 14th, 2011
8:30 pm
I got it 6-6.
6 Wins?
Vandy, Coastal Carolina, Ole Miss, New Mex, Georgia Tech, Kentucky
6 losses?
Boise, South Carolina, Florida, Auburn, Tenneessee, Mississippi State
Still@theBAR
June 14th, 2011
8:37 pm
Pie in the Sky? More like dog poop in the front yard.
Win the east and be maybe the 5th best team in the SEC.
Still@theBAR
June 14th, 2011
8:46 pm
No Comments allowed on The DREAM TEAMER Bowman? Another one of the UGA rocket Scientists I have no doubts.
Still@theBAR
June 14th, 2011
9:35 pm
It does seem that all the Swimming trips coach Richt did with the team worked out well. L Pope jumping in an saving that kid was great.
Randall H.
June 14th, 2011
9:47 pm
K. Geathers!
CHUCK UGA
June 14th, 2011
10:01 pm
Definitely “pie-in-the-sky.” 9-3 and a trip to the Outhouse Bowl in Tampa very likely. Will lose to either Tennessee or Florida (haven’t won both of those games in same season since 1988), Auburn or Ga Tech and one other, possibly Ole Miss or South Carolina. Georgia WILL defeat Miss State in Athens and Boise State in the Dome. In 2012, UGA WILL win the SEC Championship. That you can book,
CHUCK UGA
June 14th, 2011
10:04 pm
S SIgator,
If you are suggesting Aaron Murray cannot throw an accurate pass, you need to spend time watching other sports because you have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. Zilch. Nada.
Still@theBAR
June 14th, 2011
10:11 pm
Chuck UGA
The SEC is really a running league. Look at Murray being the #1 QB and has only played in 13 games and lost 7 of them. That is a joke for sure.
SSIgator
June 14th, 2011
10:44 pm
CHUCK UGA -
Simply agreeing with DrDawg and his comments. Take your personal problems to the Doctor.
Big D
June 14th, 2011
10:51 pm
SSIgator is just trolling…I guess nothing going on down there tonight. Pretty pathetic if you ask me. I heard a local radio host here in Charlotte talk about Stafford when he was covering the Dawgs. He said he was a real piece and that his teammates didn’t even like him. I don’t know how true that is but if it is I can see why UGA didn’t perform to the hype in 2008 and with one year QB’s since it makes sense that it has continued to slide.
I’ve heard recent comments about the cancers that were on the team that are now gone. I really do hope that there are some true leaders there now and that they are ready to step up. Sounds like it but we have heard that before. I am happy to hear of Murray’s work ethic and I think that can’t be anything but a good thing.
I am also happy to hear that McGarity is giving Richt what he needs to succeed. Why on earth would an AD not allow the head coach to implement a nutrition program at a program like UGA. I also think that McGarity will work at opening the week before the UF game so that UGA is more prepared. It seems that UF has had that open week for years and I think it has helped most years.
Who knows whats going to happen this year. I hope its a good year…got to be better than last.
Go DAWGS!!!
whatthedawg
June 14th, 2011
10:53 pm
One game at a time. Beat Boise St., get the momentum rolling in the right direction, and then worry about SC from there.
Still@theBAR
June 14th, 2011
11:00 pm
The real issue is that 13% of high School seniors can’t pass the History portion of the High School Graduation test.
Sounds like most high school students could be UGA football player material.
SSIgator
June 14th, 2011
11:02 pm
Big D -
“I hope its a good year…got to be better than last.”
Really? How does 5-7 or 4-8 strike you? That would seem to be worse for UGA than better. But you appear to be the expert.
Big D
June 14th, 2011
11:10 pm
whatthedawg…well said!
SSIgator…you crack me up. I’m sorry I just don’t see it turning out that bad. If I were you I think I would worry about new coach and staff and not UGA so much. Didn’t do so well last year with new staff but same HC.
The Defense should be much improved and that will be the difference in those close games from last year…yes including the one in Jacksonville.
Still@theBAR
June 14th, 2011
11:24 pm
There is no game in Jacksonville.
The trip to Jville for dawg fans is like having to visit your In-Laws. It has to be done but it sucks the whole time you are there.
Big D
June 14th, 2011
11:36 pm
still@theBAR…LOL!!
GO DAWGS
June 15th, 2011
12:24 am
socar whatever your name is braves fan,
false, scar does not beat uga in talent are you kidding? with the addition of john jenkins and a beefed up ogletree manning the middle i see lattimore having a sub 100 yard game. and if you dont have stephen garcia..alshon jeffery wont get the ball too much. gonna be a completely different game this year in athens
Bodda Getta
June 15th, 2011
2:42 am
Dawgs winning the East? Pie in the face!
DAWGMAN
June 15th, 2011
2:53 am
Chocolate Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream. Chocolate colored jersey, Ice Cream colored pants and shoes, with cherry colored helmets. This will be another ‘rebuilding’ year come October.
dmr
June 15th, 2011
4:47 am
Realistic or Pie-in-the-sky? You know what they say about OPINIONS. Georgia has been relying on a past history that will get them nowhere at this moment in time. Coaches should stress the old cliches; one game at a time, just take care of our business and the rest will work itself out.
Georgia does not need to worry about rankings, predictions, media, or the fans. Focus, discipline, fundamentals, assignment football. The rest will take care of itself.
JR
June 15th, 2011
7:55 am
One game at a time. Focus, discipline, fundamentals……….
Tried all that last year, went 6-7.