Big questions temper optimism as Dogs look ahead to 2012
Georgia returns a lot of talent, including Aaron Murray, but still has some major concerns to deal with in 2012. (Associated Press)
A week ago, in the wake of the SEC’s 2012 schedule being announced, optimism was running wild in the Bulldog Nation.
This week, after watching the Dogs again collapse in the second half amid continued problems with special teams play and establishing a running game, many Georgia fans are tempering their optimism.
The Dogs still may start out next season as a Top 10 team based on a load of returning talent and an even more favorable schedule than this year’s, but there will be some big challenges, especially if the team is hit with major losses to the NFL. Orson Charles going pro would hurt, but the chance of the defense possibly losing two or three underclassmen is more worrisome.
Meanwhile, the offensive line, which was good enough against middling teams this season but gave up 33 sacks and faltered against the four best defenses Georgia faced, will lose three senior starters and will have little returning experience.
The Dogs will have to replace both their placekicker and their punter and still haven’t solved the problem of spotty special teams play overall.
Record-setting QB Aaron Murray will return but has some ball security problems to deal with (his turnovers when pressured or scrambling played a major role in three of the Dogs’ four losses), and Georgia could lose what little backup experience it has at the position if Hutson Mason decides to transfer.
And then there’s the running game, which went from inconsistent to pathetic late in the season as Isaiah Crowell found myriad ways to stay off the field. The bright spot there in 2012 is the arrival of Keith Marshall and probably at least one other freshman tailback, but we learned this season that signing a five-star recruit at that position is no guarantee of long-term success.
So, yes, Georgia reeled off 10 wins in a row this season and took the SEC East but as Mark Richt said, “our guys had a good year, not a great year,” losing to the four teams they played that ended up ranked in the Top 20 while getting their wins against teams that finished the season unranked.
All of which raises this question: Were the 2011 Dogs that much better than the 2010 team that finished 6-7, or was the SEC East title more a function of scheduling?
I think the answer is a qualified yes, the Dogs were much improved — mainly on defense. But they remained, as Richt noted, far from a great team. There’s no denying that a schedule that didn’t include the toughest teams from the SEC West probably was the biggest factor in Georgia’s 2011 turnaround.
They’ll get that break again next season. But it’s going to take more than that for Richt and company to improve on a 10-4 record.
Got something on your mind concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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828 comments Add your comment
ca dawg
January 4th, 2012
11:40 am
hard to call plays when your OL is blocking that poorly, but we looked very out of joint in the second half. they adjusted to our gameplan but we didn’t adjust to their adjustments. very frustrating loss.
Bluesdog
January 4th, 2012
11:40 am
Bobo finished 3rd in SEC in scoring, against ranked teams.
Grantham finished 11th.
Bobo isn’t the problem.
Murray’s turnovers ate us up again for 2nd year in the big games. Guy just chokes.
RakkasanDawg
January 4th, 2012
11:40 am
Losing Charles is not as big a blow I think. First It forces Murray to work through his progression of reads better. Second, Charles’ offensive prowess was mitigated by his horrible blocking so lets stop fooling ourselves. How often did you see him properly stop anyone. If the ball wasn’t going to him, then the defender more often than not was in the backfield looking for Murray. Personally I think Lynch will be much better along with Rome. Will Friend has a lot of work ahead of him to fix this anemic O-Line. Finally, I’m off the OC bandwagon. I’m stumping for Jeff Brohm to get this job. His main credentials are he coached under Bobby Petrino and he can run a pro-style offense which is what we want here at UGA.
Is it true that the play calls are vetted by Richt before they are run? Is this the reason that we in the Bulldog Nation feel that the offense is so limited?
dawgcrusher's paradise
January 4th, 2012
11:41 am
dawginlex surely owns a camo uga cap.
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
11:41 am
Bremen
that’s why it has to be mandated by his boss the AD as a condition of the contract extension.
no changes, no extension and we might even have Richt leave over it.
We will see how much power McGarity really has. You KNOW he wants to win and in order to win, changes have to happen
Lucky Dawg
January 4th, 2012
11:41 am
I wonder how much leeway Murray has to change the playcall at the line. If the Dawgs come out in a 4 WR/1 RB set with a draw play called and the defense still has 7 in the box, can he audible to a pass? He knows there’s no way the play will work when he sees the defense. I know he does alot of gesturing, but that could just be decoy stuff because he knows the play is doomed. At this point with our offense, who knows?
Also, although Richt has veto power on the playcalls, but by the time it comes down from Bobo, the right personnel are on the field, the play is signalled in and then called in the huddle, his only option is to call a timeout. Sure he can direct the strategy between series, but thats about it.
OkieDawg
January 4th, 2012
11:42 am
Georgia will be just fine in 2012. If Charles leaves, we have Lynch and 5* Rome available. If Washington leaves, we have 5* Drew ready to go. I do not think losing Rambo is a big deal. He is out of position several times a game and we have some pretty good safeties ready to step up. Branden Smith is not ready to leave, but there also we have Marshall and Swann who are ready for playing time. Murray is going to be a great QB and he will have another years experience. The O-line is a concern. I think they were the biggest O-line in football for a reason. They were just not in good shape. They were big and slow. Anderson is a DGD but he missed a ton of assignments and was too slow. We will miss Glenn and the leadership of Jones. Our O-line needs to be better at picking up blocking assignments. The TB position will shine if the O-line learns to run block. I am excited about 2012. There were no repeats in 2011 that took place in 2010, i.e., Colorado, Miss. St., UF or UCF.
bitter dawgs fan
January 4th, 2012
11:42 am
all the simple minded sheep(uga grads) that think things will ever improve with richt in charge
are as lost as the yale and harvard types that lead our nations finance into the gutter.
——————————-fact——————richt hates gratham and hates to give credit to him
—————-throws him under the bus at the vanderbuilt game and is so jellous of gratham
—————————–mean and tough coach ability.
—————-TODD GRATHAM FOR UGA HEAD COACH————-GO DAWGS
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
11:42 am
paradise
Nah, I left them all at Walamrt for you and your family for the reunion
Bluesdog
January 4th, 2012
11:43 am
If we had played Alabama, Ark, we’d have had 2 more losses.
Just got lucky with an easy schedule.
Richt doesn’t know how to put together a running game.
gbal
January 4th, 2012
11:44 am
CMR had to know that he couldnt move the ball running in OT. had averaged 1.3 yards per rush for the game and MS was stacking the box.
He had to choose between:
Opening up the offense and risking another AM turnover.
OR
Setting up for a 40 +/- yard FG attempt by Walsh, who has been shakey at best.
At that point I think it was a coin toss.
AM is a great kid and does have talent but the best thing CMR can do for this team is sincerly open the QB competition. No starter named till gametime this fall. AM has shown that he has a problem securing the ball in pressure situations on many occasions. Very skilled, but does nnot have that IT factor at this point in time to will us to win against the tough teams. Inconsistent.
Great job on that late 4Q drive to put us up 27-20… but the INT’s gave MS the chance to win and they took it.
Bluesdog
January 4th, 2012
11:45 am
You win the SEC by:
1) good run defense
2) win turnover margin
3) running game
You got Murray, so that means you won’t win the turnover battle against top 25 teams.
You have no running game at all.
Run defense against top 25 teams is good.
2 out of 3 arn’t there for 2012.
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
11:45 am
bluesdog
Your post makes no sense to anyone who actually pays attention
The defense did great for as long as it could. The offense offered no help and the offense and special teams also gave points directly to the other team versus SC and MSU(pick 6, fake punt, fumbles).
That’s why stats are for losers like you.
The defense is better and is in good hands. The offense needs new direction
Bluesdog
January 4th, 2012
11:46 am
The defense averaged 38 points a game against ranked teams.
You make no sense if you think that’s even good.
bitter dawgs fan
January 4th, 2012
11:47 am
TROLLS TRYING TO DIGEST what went wrong—-O its the offencive line—–O its this
O its that————————its the Da m n —–head coach trolls
———————demand perfection———————fire the best truck salesman ford has
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
11:47 am
How many points did the offense and special teams give to the ranked teams?
Kinda skews your stats huh?
icedawg
January 4th, 2012
11:48 am
I do not think that the players left anything on the field. They played their hearts out. The strategic mistakes that were made by coaches on the offensive side of the ball. It wasn’t the players calling those plays. Murray made his usual bonehead plays but he gave it his all. The problem was leaving him in there after those pics. He gets rattled. The problem was continuing to rely upon a running game that wasn’t going anywhere. The problem was coaching not the players’ effort.
Alphare
January 4th, 2012
11:48 am
DawginLex,
“Anybody got better ideas?”
what about changing your QB? or minimize the role of your QB like BAMA and LSU?
The overall philosophy of UGA offense is QB centered, just like Arkansas or Big12. Your team is in trouble when your DB is in trouble. You knew Texas had no hope when BAMA knocked out their QB in 09 NC game.
bitter dawgs fan
January 4th, 2012
11:49 am
@bluesdog——stop being a idiot—–murray alone gave each top 20 team 14 points due to pick 6’s
fumble converted into td’s——————close your trailer door troll
Alphare
January 4th, 2012
11:49 am
“Your team is in trouble when your DB is in trouble” should be “Your team is in trouble when your QB is in trouble’
Bluesdog
January 4th, 2012
11:50 am
defense dropped form 3rd in SEC against run against ranked teams, to 6th in 2011.
average.
and red zone defense was deplorable.
teams scored 29 out of 32 times inr ed zone on defense.
Agaianst ranked teams, 16 red zone attempts, 14 scores, 12 were td’s. (worst in SEC)
gbal
January 4th, 2012
11:50 am
Okie … Another years experience???… He has 28 games experience as a starter and has shown repeatedly that he can not handle the pressure of the big game.
Not all him… predictable play calling, very limited running game … both contribute as well.
I just thik we need to shake things up at the QB spot to hopefully motivate others to step it up.
And new blood at the QB spot or at least real competition… might eliminate the poor choices that result in INT’s, fumbles, and some of the sacks!
JDawg1785
January 4th, 2012
11:50 am
2011 was a step in the right direction, but the last two games sure proved that there’s some serious work to do before the Dawgs can be considered a great team.
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
11:51 am
alphare
That’s why I want to see what Lemay can do because he has the ability to run and throw.
We don’t have a downhill running game. I think Coach Friend wants to get there but we don’t have it.
I hope we platoon the QB’s next year and figure out who can win a big game.
Maybe the 3 of them combined equal 1 great QB?
Frank Lane
January 4th, 2012
11:51 am
I think that it was Todd Blackledge last night on the Sugar Bowl (I wasn’t paying much attention) that made some excellent points about aggressive play calling and playing to score touchdowns not set up field goal tries. I think that it was Todd who led Penn State to the last play victory over the last Herschel team in the 1981 National Championship game. His point of view played out in UGA losing, Stanford losing and Va Tech losing last night. PLAY to score touchdowns not field goals.
bitter dawgs fan
January 4th, 2012
11:51 am
BRANDON BOYKIN—one of GRANTHAMS players scored 16 points yet you sheep think
murray scored 30 points—————–wake up——we win 5 games if not for TODD GRANTHAM
Rooty Tooty
January 4th, 2012
11:51 am
UGA was an average football team this year, nothing great. They had a cupcake schedule. They beat the cupcakes but lost to the better teams they played. The Dawgs should win 10 games every year with their schedule. They have above avg talent and cupcake schedule. I hate to have to repeat that about the schedule.
Bluesdog
January 4th, 2012
11:51 am
CHECK OUT gRANTHAM’S RED ZONE DEFENSE:
http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/911/team/defense/split13/category27/sort05.html
Walker, Texas Ranger
January 4th, 2012
11:52 am
Richt chose to run the ball in OT because he has no confidence in Murray or at least less confidence than he had in the kicking game.
All those recruits....
January 4th, 2012
11:52 am
same ol ga
Desert Fox
January 4th, 2012
11:52 am
GA’s OL was outmatched when they went up against defenses that were their equals which was evident in UGA’s 4 losses. However, the dawgs OC and HC didn’t do much to counter the opposing D. They lined up and continued to run into the middle w/the same results. Until GA can produce an OL that dominates good defenses they will have to change their Offensive strategy. Their current way of running the O has become dated. They need an infusion of new ideas on offense. Just look at the D and how they’ve become one of the best since TG entered the pic. Same needs to be done for the O and if the current staff doesn’t know how get someone else that can.
The 2011 GA D has been the difference maker in 2011 from 2010 disaster season. Take away the great play of GA’s crop of young receivers and the O doesn’t look much better than last years team. They still cannot run the ball and their backs for the most part are still inconsistent as last seasons crop. The QB play may have statistically gotten better yet the mistakes and TO’s at that position have gotten worse and played a major reason in the 4 losses this season. Special Teams was a disaster and it showed in the 4 losses. That leaves coaching. Again, the only true improvement in that dept was the D which was clearly better this season then 2010 as TG entered his 2d season as DC. The glaring deficiency is the O side of the ball. It hasn’t gotten any better in years even w/the likes of Stafford and Moreno, et al. If indeed Mike Bobo was soley responsible for the playcalling in this years bowl and the other 3 losses then there needs to be a change. If the HC had anything to do w/those inept decisions then he must also be held accountable. If not, the 2012 season will be a repeat performance of this season. They’ll beat teams of lesser ability but find themselves losers to ranked teams where they were outplayed and outcoached.
RxDawg
January 4th, 2012
11:53 am
I think losing Bean and maybe Jones will be a good thing. Maybe not Glenn so much, but he was playing out of position.
What I really can’t stand is that we are probably stuck with Murray for another 2 years. That’s not all bad, but when Murray starts having a bad game it doesn’t go away and he get’s in a major funk. And our coaching staff just will not let another QB play if Murray goes bad. Things will have to get terrible before the staff actually gives someone else a shot at QB.
Josey Whales
January 4th, 2012
11:54 am
Bill,
You seem like a nice guy and you have undying love for your school, UGA. But it has to upsetting to keep writing stories about what UGA will become or do next year. In my suggestion, here are the few things that UGA will need to do.
1. Accept the fact that you are a 2nd tier team, for now
2. Play anybody, anywhere……..beef up your OCC-SEC East is down
3. Realize that when people talk about the SEC, usually they are talking about the top tier teams.
4. Change the coach staff and AD
5. Spell dogs with an O, not an A
RxDawg
January 4th, 2012
11:55 am
Were also stuck with Bobo. Who is brilliant if we have a running game. But if we can’t run, he just can’t adjust to whats happening on the field. It’s quite frustrating as a fan to watch.
Don’t know what happend to Walsh, but I’m sure our freshmen can step right in so I think we’ll upgrade there. At least upgrade from this year. I’m not to worried about our kicking game.
TAS
January 4th, 2012
11:55 am
Lke I said. In the spring there must be open competition for QB and no d….. favorites. If so Murry should be concerned based on his performane…
SSIgator
January 4th, 2012
11:55 am
Bluesdog -
Careful. Throwing that much reality at DawginLex is dangerous. He is dealing with a terrible hangover from Monday.
Half Century Dawg
January 4th, 2012
11:56 am
The schedule was for sure a plus, but we did show improvement overall IMHO. I am greatful that our AD is calling the shots and not the know it all BOZO’s on this Blog.
bitter dawgs fan
January 4th, 2012
11:57 am
AJC WRITERS including chip towers are not doing there job asking the tough questions
——————cravell should be on the road just like towers did all of jan last year
————recruiting news needs to be taken to the recruits not reproduced from the office
Derryck
January 4th, 2012
11:57 am
Think about it. Other than Bobo being at Georgia where else did he coach? He was an average at best QB. We have a high school lever offensive Cordinator calling plays with NFL talent. That being said he does not put his players in the best position to be even more successful than they are. If it were not for really talented players I fear that Ga would be horrible. Look at all of the games this year that our offense and special teams cost us or almost cost us the game. We got lucky at Florida. Folks when we had Stafford, Moreno, and Green our offense still lacked the over all punch we needed to be a great team. Its sad that as a fan you can see the offensive calls coming and know how to stop our own offense. It is really really sad!
kdubble
January 4th, 2012
11:58 am
I like CMR he is a good coach and a great man….After 11 years a decision must be made…Do we want to be a good program or a great one? If the answer is good then keep what you have and be satisfied with the way the program is, as is….If the answer is great then changes must be made, and that includes the head coach. Teams take on the persona of the one in charge. Coach Richt is a good coach, and I am starting to think sadly, not a great one. After 11 years there is one constant. We have made changes at both co-ordinator spots(Richt used to be his own OC) and at many position coaches….What else can it be?? It doesnt take a decade to determine whether or not a man is great, the question is UGA what do we want??
Bluesdog
January 4th, 2012
12:00 pm
Bobo finished 3rd in SEC in scoring against ranked teams.
Bobo is not the problem.
30 points against Mich St & 42 against South Carolina SHOULD be enough to get a win.
Bluesdog
January 4th, 2012
12:01 pm
Under Richt, 8 straight losses to top 20 teams. No running game for 2 years. Load sof turnovers against top 20 teams. Averagew run defense against top 20 teams.
Not going to win SEC again with Richt.
dawgster7
January 4th, 2012
12:01 pm
Move Bobo to QB coach and hire a big time Offensive Coordinator like you did with Grantham CMR. Don’t stick too long out of loyality like you did with Willie Martinez.
Scooter
January 4th, 2012
12:02 pm
Here is what should happen at UGA. The AD must mandate that a commission be set up to study all the offensive stats and plays of the 2011 season. Compare the plays that were called with potentially successful plays, based on the defense that was run, the down & distance, and the game situation. Create a play-calling chart for every possible situation UGA might face in the 2012 season. UGA could then set up a voting hot-line like on American Idol and allow every genius offensive mind on this board to quickly call in and vote for the next play, based on the selections presented by the commission. Then, when it does not work, you caould all write in and demand that Richt fire YOU! After that, when the defense has a bad game and you all want Grantham fired, you could do the same thing for the defense and allow you to vote on all stunts, blitzes, and coverages.
Derryck
January 4th, 2012
12:02 pm
Our Defense was the only reason why we were able to be in the game to begin with. We stopped them for 7 3 and outs and a safety. Plus the Int’s that we got nothing out of. Your defense cannot be on the field for 45 minutes and expected to win!
Mike
January 4th, 2012
12:03 pm
Look this program needed a LOT of work coming into this year, and had a lot of players and attitudes that needed washing out. The O Line was no exception. These are Stacy Searles’ guys who have chronically underachieved. They will likely not be missed. The kicking game wont be either. It is stupid to think a bunch of freshman RBs were going to turn the running game around on their own. Odds are they weren’t going to pay bid dividends until next year or the year after anyway. The fans want instant gratification, but this program is definitely headed in the right direction:
1) This team is indeed better than last year. They took care of the games they were supposed to win (until the bowl game which they were technically favored in although most “experts” picked MSU). Last year they lost 4 games against the type of teams they beat this year (UF, Miss St., Colorado, and UCF).
2) No one should blame this team for losing to Boise or LSU. They would have to be a national title contender to beat them. South Carolina? OK they blew that badly, but its still to a good team. Michigan St., however, had the best conference record of the Big 10 and was 3 pts away from beating Wisconsin for a second time and going to the Rose Bowl. That was basically an OT loss to a BCS team. Frustrating, but not something to hang your head over.
Last year they were a bad team. This year they moved up to good. If they make any improvement at all for next year, they will be on the verge of being great. Turning around a program takes time. UGA is moving in the right direction.
who cares
January 4th, 2012
12:04 pm
UGA will win the SEC Easy again, but once again, get blown out of the Championship game by whoever wins the SEC West.
KC Dawg
January 4th, 2012
12:05 pm
I could not have said it better myself DawginLex. An excellent analysis and an even better set of recommendations. For those who haven’t seen it, please read those comments:
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
10:48 am
in order to improve, changes must be made. No changes, no big wins
1.) Hire an NFL caliber offensive coordinator and give him full control of the offense just like Grantham does with the D
2.) Keep Mike Bobo on staff as QB coach and recruiter
3.) fire our running backs coach and replace him with a coach who understands and teaches the importance of securing the football and running downhill
4.) Place Richt in charge of special teams and play scholarship players and go back to making this unit a difference maker
5.) Throw all the money you can get to secure Todd Grantham
6.) Give Richt a 2 year extension ONLY if he agrees with all of the above.
dawgster7
January 4th, 2012
12:08 pm
Amen!
DawginLex
January 4th, 2012
10:48 am
in order to improve, changes must be made. No changes, no big wins
1.) Hire an NFL caliber offensive coordinator and give him full control of the offense just like Grantham does with the D
2.) Keep Mike Bobo on staff as QB coach and recruiter
3.) fire our running backs coach and replace him with a coach who understands and teaches the importance of securing the football and running downhill
4.) Place Richt in charge of special teams and play scholarship players and go back to making this unit a difference maker
5.) Throw all the money you can get to secure Todd Grantham
6.) Give Richt a 2 year extension ONLY if he agrees with all of the above
gbal
January 4th, 2012
12:10 pm
You know… at times we say on these blogs that UGA needs to run the ball more. Well my take has been that we can’t run the ball! And I really dont blame our RB’s. Yes, unstable there this season but any of these guys are talented enough to move the ball if there are some holes opened up. The good defensive teams absolutly smothered our RB’s in my opinion. handing the ball to a RB was like setting the ball on a tee in most cases; no where to go!!!
Vanilla running plan or OL not moving people… I think its predictable running plan allows teams to stack the box and we can block them… then our passing attack is not a big enough threat to cause the D to back off.