Preseason ranking no shocker: ‘We’re still Georgia’
Georgia's ranking "shocked" Ben Jones, but it shouldn't have. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Some folks inside and outside the Bulldog Nation were surprised when the USA Today coaches preseason poll was released Thursday and Georgia was ranked a respectable No. 22 despite coming off a 6-7 season and a horrendous bowl game.
Even the Dogs’ Ben Jones admitted he was “shocked” at Georgia being ranked in the preseason for the 10th consecutive year.
And Abry Jones said he “didn’t think we would be that high since we didn’t do well last year.”
Tavarres King, on the other hand, said, “I’m not shocked that we’re ranked. We’re still Georgia, and I think everybody knows that.”
I think King probably nailed it right there. Despite coming off a bad season and having a lot of question marks, UGA and Mark Richt have enough residual respect to be considered among the nation’s 25 best teams without having played a down yet.
And while preseason rankings don’t mean a whole lot, as Richt said, “I think it’s a good sign for the program. It’s a good sign of respect if coaches feel like Georgia is a Top 25 team.”
Of course, last year the coaches also thought Georgia was a Top 25 team. In fact, the Dogs were ranked a notch higher in last year’s preseason poll, at 21, and briefly made it up to No. 19 before falling out of the ranking for good after the South Carolina game.
And the No. 22 preseason ranking is the lowest of Richt’s tenure since his first year, when Georgia couldn’t quite crack the Top 25.
Still, being ranked at all is encouraging, even if it might be a result of the coaches (or whoever filled out the poll for them) simply listing Georgia out of force of habit.
At the very least, it bolsters the confidence of the Georgia players as they prepare to meet the No. 7-ranked Boise State Broncos.
And another factor is that while Georgia at times looked terrible last year, they also were thisclose to winning some of those games they lost. As Jones put it: “I think people believe in us. They’re not counting us out, because we lost a lot of games by three and seven points. If we would have made the play in the fourth quarter, we would have been the team that’s 10-3 instead of going 6-7.”
Now they just have to see if they can make those fourth-quarter plays this year. If Joe Tereshinski has anything to say about it, I’m betting they will more often than not.
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271 comments Add your comment
Davis
August 5th, 2011
11:45 am
Ealey had a red zone fumble against South Carolina, and the team got into the red zone against South Carolina a few times and didn’t execute, ending up kicking field goals.
GeoffDawg
August 5th, 2011
11:49 am
Pete, you may not realize this coming from the Siberian wasteland of college football but Georgia has more talent than Va. Tech year in and year out. Did the fact that they went on to lose to James Madison escape your keen analytical insight?
Davis
August 5th, 2011
11:49 am
King in the Colorado game had a red zone fumble at the end of the game and lost by 2.
Murray had a couple of off games against Florida (4 to’s), and UCF (2 int’s). Defense had a lot of breakdowns in the Florida games due to missed assingments.
Arkansas Ealey fumbled in the red zone again and missed on defensive coverages to gimmick plays.
Auburn game was close for 3 quarters, then Georgia ran out of gas in the 4th.
Joey
August 5th, 2011
11:51 am
If preseason polls meant anything, we would have the crystal football in our trophy case from ‘08 . . .
Davis
August 5th, 2011
11:52 am
Miss St was where Ealey had the other red zone fumble. Then ran out of gas in the 4th quarter.
Ran out of gas in the 4th quarter against Ark.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 5th, 2011
11:52 am
What about all those 358 broken tackles by Lattimore?
Blame that on your practice facilities?
JB
August 5th, 2011
11:52 am
Boise plays 10 girls schools a year. Really, they do. They’ll get B***** slapped come Sept. 3rd.
Beating North Nevada State 63-10 impresses no one.
UGA Insider
August 5th, 2011
11:53 am
I wasn’t able to be at practice yesterday but I had a good friend who was there and he said The Dawgs look much faster and appear bigger. He said Ray Drew is huge and very quick. He is going to be better that Clowney this year I bet. He also said that Murray and the receivers looked sharp, missing out on only a few and you could really tell they had worked hard this offseason. IC and Samuel looked fast and he said Samuels is HUGE. Like 240 and fast. He said the combo of Figgins/Samuels could really be good. Very intimidating…something Boise has never seen.
My friend has gotten me fired up for the season. Forget all the negatives I have said since the UCF debacle. It is over and I apologize for being so negative. I now think we will destroy Boise and put UGA back on the CF map. Then it will be a slugfest with USCe for basically the SEC East crown in week 2. I’m fired up! Let’s do this!
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 5th, 2011
11:53 am
Agreed, JB.
Yall better not lose to Boise.
bill
August 5th, 2011
11:53 am
Glad to see the optimism here, but please raise your hand if you thought that we would lose to UCF last bowl season…let’s play the first two games before we start predicting a place in the SEC Championship game. We can’t even beat the hated Gators!
Beast from the East
August 5th, 2011
11:54 am
JB,
Most of those were under Spurrier. He dominated the SEC that decade likne no one has since The Bear. Don’t think we’ll see that kind of domination by one team in the SEC again. Too many good coaches to deal with these days.
JB
August 5th, 2011
11:54 am
Sprurrier will have to go to the Air after the first Qtr against us this year. That highway is closed.
Wally My Butts
August 5th, 2011
11:54 am
If nothing else, Georgia will be fun to watch this year, particularly compared to other years. The new attitude and conditioning will help most of all. I really don’t expect them to challenge for the MNC but to just be competitive, not be gassed in the 4th qtr, and have a desire to win will be enough for me and I hope that it solidifies Richt’s job. Getting rid of the attitudes and cancers was, to me, the most important off season change (I of course like the recruiting class as well).
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 5th, 2011
11:54 am
Didn’t Ray Drew play d-line in HS?
And Ga is giving him looks at LB, right?
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 5th, 2011
11:56 am
Spurrier was going to the air anyway.
He knows that georgia’s D will be desperate to stop Latti after last year.
Rolaids anyone?
August 5th, 2011
11:57 am
This will say it all for the Puppies. Marcus Latimore Act II. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5yaKYuhEno
Davis
August 5th, 2011
11:59 am
Lost to Colorado by 2, Florida by a field goal in OT, UCF by 4, and lost to Ark by 7. Combination of being out of shape & poor execution (defensive execution issues due to inexperience in 1st year in new scheme + wrong body types for scheme), offensive due to inexperience 1st year starter at QB (too many sacks–too many missed passes–too many interceptions in a couple of games–tendancy to lock in on 1 receiver—poor reads) & poor RB play (fumbles & lack of big explosive runs & missed blocking in Pass Pro).
Wally My Butts
August 5th, 2011
11:59 am
Hey Rolaids, that’s why they play the game. We’ll see what happens when he runs into Jenkins and Geathers.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 5th, 2011
11:59 am
But yea, it could also be The Lattimore Show – Part Deux
JB
August 5th, 2011
11:59 am
And finer, you and I have agreed before, Your WR’s are killers.
Red Stick (formerly Jumbeauxtiger)
August 5th, 2011
12:00 pm
I agree Beast. Every team in the Top 25 has concerns. The Top 10 will be very different in January; always is.
Joey
August 5th, 2011
12:00 pm
Davis, some of those FGs were because of our coach “going wobbly” on fourth down. He loves him a FG.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 5th, 2011
12:01 pm
Isn’t Jenkins the one that couldn’t finish practice last night?
Did he even participate in summer conditioning?
He might be a factor if he can get on the field.
scotty22
August 5th, 2011
12:01 pm
Tavarres King an outstanding young man with an answer that should make all DAWG fans proud. “We’re still Georgia, and I think everybody knows that.”
JB
August 5th, 2011
12:01 pm
We did play a freshman QB last year, No AJ and 2 RB’s with no heart. Georgia this year, At home. will be different
Elmer Dawg
August 5th, 2011
12:04 pm
I’m feelin anuther perseeson nachunal champeenship.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 5th, 2011
12:04 pm
True, JB.
But you have no AJ this year and 2 RB’s with no experience!
kevin
August 5th, 2011
12:06 pm
Nothing Could be Finer,
Funny, until last year SC has not been relevant since never. Your team is finally good, but can you dispense with all the sarcastic high and mighty nonsense.
allwehaveishope
August 5th, 2011
12:07 pm
No. 22 is about right. They will have to prove themselves on the field in first 2 games to be ranked any higher. Hope they stay healthy.
festus
August 5th, 2011
12:10 pm
aw shucks I lykes agreein with thait elmer dawg…… preseeson nachunal chaimpeenship.
Whuuh?
August 5th, 2011
12:11 pm
Are we being ranked due to talent, or because our schedule is so easy? From many of the pundits, seems like the latter….if we had a harder schedule, would be be unranked???
Nub
August 5th, 2011
12:14 pm
Whatever win the east or else….. Keep hearing about the GA way….. What is it? And why is it this is the first year we have heard such said at UGA…
RabidDawgFan
August 5th, 2011
12:14 pm
SC went 9-5 losing in horrible fashion to Auburn in the SECCG 56-17 and then turning around and losing to Florida State in the Chik-fil-a bowl. They’re not WORLD BEATERS! They didn’t go 12-0, 11-1, or even 10-2. They lost 5 games last season and just so happened the SEC East was down more than it ever has been before so they went basically by default to the SECCG.
It’s funny how SC has NEVER won a championship but they claim to be the best team in the land. Get a grip. Win a few SEC titles. Then talk. But until then, continue to fade in the latter part of the season and win your usual 8-9 games. Don’t spout off until you can lift a finger and have a ring on it.
Davis
August 5th, 2011
12:17 pm
Good coaches keep it simple. It’s execution that counts. Take the Florida game. In the OT, Murray made a good read, threw it into the end zone in 1 on 1 coverage, but didn’t throw it to the right spot. Also, Murray threw it in OT to AJ on a good read and Charles ran his route too deep so too many guys were too deep into coverage and ball got tipped and picked. Same for Ealey & King’s red zone fumbles against Col, Miss St, & SC. None of these were Bobo’s fault. Guys have to execute, coaches job is put em into position to win. Bobo did. Got to make plays. Same for the defensive guys getting beat on the wheel route or tackling Lattimore. Last year, defense was learning where to line up, this year focus will be on techniques. Last year, had wrong personel, this year have right personel.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 5th, 2011
12:17 pm
some of those FGs were because of our coach “going wobbly” on fourth down. He loves him a FG.
—————————————-
Makes sense. Don’t yall have a good FG kicker?
#1bamafan
August 5th, 2011
12:18 pm
JB…I don’t think all BAMA fans think that we won them all. BAMA does have 22 SEC titles, 7 West Division championships, 7 SEC Championship game appearances and a winning record against all current and former SEC tems. As a BAMA fan I am proud of Alabama as you should be about your team. Ready for some football…RTR
Waltzing Matilda
August 5th, 2011
12:18 pm
A top 25 ranking will just be a bad joke after Boise State destroys the dawgtards.
Shrimp N Grits
August 5th, 2011
12:19 pm
Is there really a Chicken fan on here bragging about their 5 LOSS SEASON. Didn’t they lose by 40 to FSU? Wasn’t there star running back knocked out of that game? Wasn’t their “star” quarterback too drunk to play that game?
Again, you are bragging about your 5 loss season and you are proud of that?
DC
August 5th, 2011
12:22 pm
No disrespect but if im a UGA fan..im shaking my head at Davis….
kevin
August 5th, 2011
12:24 pm
Waltzing Matilda,
“dawgtards”. Is that the best you can come up with? Are you 6? If you think UGA will be blown out by Boise, you know nothing about college football.
War Darn Dawg
August 5th, 2011
12:25 pm
I see 8-5, with losses to Boise, S. Carolina, Miss. St., Florida, and one more (Auburn, Tech or the bowl). The administration will have a tough call on Richt at the end of this year based solely on W-L record, but I think he needs to go.
Richt has been on autopilot for some time now and after 10 seasons has simply lost the fire and focus to be an elite D-1 head coach. During his tenure, Alabama and Florida turned it up a notch and Richt had no response. No shame in that, but Georgia shouldn’t spend another 2-3 years trying to ourselves of what’s become obvious since 2009.
DawgInaTruck
August 5th, 2011
12:28 pm
Shrimp, when you have nothing to brag about…you get the idea. I have an idea chicken chokers have to type using one hand because the other is always busy doing something else.
kevin
August 5th, 2011
12:31 pm
War Darn Eagle,
If your prediction is right, then Richt must go. Richt needs to win the East this year or he should be gone.
dawgtalker
August 5th, 2011
12:32 pm
Davis thanks for the recap of last season, although some observations are facts, that’s a whole pile of excuses we’ve heard too many times. let it go, 6-7 is on the books. Be a man. Drop it.
I do like what I saw in practice, lot of talent both ways. We are gonna hurt some people for sure. Let’s see the coaches do their jobs and get W’s. Players are ready.
Delbert D.
August 5th, 2011
12:32 pm
Look how the AP did last year. Oklahoma was the only team within 1 spot, pre/postseason.
AP 2010 Poll
Preseason (final)
1 Alabama (10)
2 Ohio St (5)
3 Boise St (9)
4 Florida (U)
5 Texas (U)
6 TCU (2)
7 Oklahoma (6)
8 Nebraska (20)
9 Iowa (U)
10 Va. Tech (16)
11 Oregon (3)
12 Wisconsin (7)
13 Miami (U)
14 USC (U)
15 Pitt (U)
16 Ga. Tech (U)
17 Arkansas (12)
18 UNC (U)
19 Penn St (U)
20 FSU (17)
21 LSU (6)
22 Auburn (1)
23 Georgia (U)
24 Oregon St (U)
25 West Va. (U)
Of the 12 preseason teams that were not in the final Top 25,
only Iowa, Florida and West Va. received any votes.
Where the AP went wrong, groups of 5 and # unranked team in Final Poll:
1 – 5 (2 Unranked)
6 – 10 (1 Unranked)
11 – 15 (3 Unranked)
16 – 20 (3 Unranked)
21 – 25 (3 Unranked)
The Oracle
August 5th, 2011
12:33 pm
I predict that many on here will be eating crow. Ooooooh, Ahhhhhhh.
Let the damm season play out you fools. Richt needs to go? We haven’t played one down yet.
I predict Nothing Could Be Finer will become much more wise this fall. He certainly can’t get any dumber. Your team lost 5 games last year…
The Georgia Way
August 5th, 2011
12:35 pm
Oh yeah, let’s do it the “Georgia way.” let’s see, that means…
* A high percentage of the team members will be arrested or be cited for everything under the sun, including DUI, driving with a suspended license, and urinating in public.
* Recruiting and playing stupid punks who have the literacy of a third grader, and will have difficulty in passing remedial studies.
* The trashiest, drunkest fans in the US, requiring hundreds of tons of garbage to be removed after home games.
* Keeping bail bondsmen and lawyers fully employed in Athens. No recession for them!
* A head coach who is paid more in one year than most people make in a lifetime. How’s that working out for you homers?
* A proud legacy that includes Jan Kemp, Jim Harrick, and Damon Evans and his red panties.
Yeah, the Georgia way!
Beast from the East
August 5th, 2011
12:35 pm
Delbert,
They whiffed on almost half of the Top 25? WOW! I’d say that proves how worthless these preseason rankings are.
chilidawg
August 5th, 2011
12:37 pm
I just watched the last drive of the BSU/VaTech game in the above link. Two bad calls put them down there on the doorstep. The picked up block-in-the-back call on the return and the late hit. Officials don’t get instructions before the game, do they? I’m sure it made for better tv ratings for BS the “BCS Buster” to be in the mix for a while. Until they lost to Nevada.
Dave from the border
August 5th, 2011
12:41 pm
Boise State 38, Georgia 17
USC 42, Georgia 24
After that, it’s bye-bye time for Saint Mark. Time to get a real FBS-caliber coach.