Dawgs showing up in preseason Top 10 rankings (UPDATED)
Brandon Boykin won the Paul Hornung Award. (Associated Press)
Mark Richt’s Georgia Bulldogs fared better in the final college football rankings than I had feared, managing to stay in the Top 20 of both polls despite losing their last two games. UGA was No. 19 in the final AP poll and No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches poll.
Of course, it probably didn’t hurt Georgia that one of those final two losses was the SEC championship game and the the bowl loss was a three-overtime affair, or that all four of the Dogs’ losses this season were to teams that finished in the USA Today Coaches’ poll Top 10 and the Top 11 of the Associated Press ranking.
Based on returning talent and a favorable schedule (and perhaps depending on who all leaves or doesn’t leave for the NFL), it’s likely that Georgia will start the 2012 season at least in the vicinity of the Top 10.
Meanwhile, Monday saw running back Keith Marshall on campus in Athens, highly-rated defensive end recruit Jordan Jenkins picking the Dawgs over Alabama and Brandon Boykin very deservedly winning the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player.
Sure, I would have preferred for LSU to win the BCS game (we don’t recruit much against them, unlike Bammer) and I’m not thrilled with Brian VanGorder’s crazy zig-zag career path leading the erratic but undeniably talented defensive coach to Auburn (for the moment, at least). It will be interesting to see how BVG fares in his return to college ball. He’s definitely an upgrade for AU, but if I had to choose between him and current UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who apparently nailed down the Jenkins commitment, I think I’d go with what Georgia has now.
Anyway, overall, the postseason is off to a pretty good start, don’t you think?
UPDATE: Sure enough, the Dawgs are hitting the Top 10 of the early preseason rankings that are showing up. USA Today’s Kelly Whiteside has UGA #8 and says “the Bulldogs are back.” ESPN’s Mark Schlabach’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 has Georgia #6. He says defense and schedule are reasons the Dogs are favored to win the SEC East again. And CBSSports.com’s Brett McMurphy has the Bulldogs ranked all the way up at #3 and says they could be legitimate national title contenders because of their returning talent plus the SEC’s easiest schedule.
So what do you think, is Georgia a legitimate Top 10 team for 2012?
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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502 comments Add your comment
KB
January 10th, 2012
11:28 am
Georgias schedule next year is no easier than most SEC teams schedules for 2012.
BusterBlue
January 10th, 2012
11:29 am
Murray is not “maturing”. He got worse this year in accuracy, and passing rating. And still has not beat a top 20 ranked team. 0-8 lifetime record against ranked teams.
funny...
January 10th, 2012
11:30 am
Georgia was two dropped passes away from putting LSU away.
Georgia was Aaron Murray away from beating MSU and USC.
Georgia isn’t waaaay behind Alabama and LSU like some of you homers are posting.
After 6-7, if I told most of you that Georgia would be 10-4 with an SECCG appearance you would have been happy.
Some of you must lead miserable lives.
MaconKnight
January 10th, 2012
11:30 am
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it : you must not be a born Georgian like most of us on this blog so if you feel that way about GA why don’t take yourself and all of your crap back to Bammer, oh yeah there aren’t any jobs there…LOL
GO DAWGS!
robert
January 10th, 2012
11:36 am
i like this blog….
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How many times has Auburn beaten UGA since 2005?
January 10th, 2012
11:41 am
ha: We own you and Auburn. Funny you hired our old DC to try and help your pathetic D. 5 of the last 6 and 7 of 11 idiot!
Tide is rolling: not much to say as a dawg fan other than congrats on another championship. You all have come a long way in the last 4 years since the firing of Shula. Enjoy it because this sport is very cyclical as you know from the Dubose/Franchione/Price/Shula era.
Dr. Morpheus
January 10th, 2012
11:44 am
It’s a strange game- watching LSU-Bama, it was clear at the half LSU was playing tentatively, as if they were afraid to lose rather than being determined to win. I didn’t see LSU coming back. Hindsight being 20-20 and all, but a lot of people would have liked to see Jarrett Lee in the second series of the second half. But that’s the SEC West: As for us, we moved the ball better on LSU than Bama did, but managed to get blown out. We’ve got the talent to do it next year but we have to execute and develop a killer instinct on offense. A few bad plays can kill you. Kudos to Brandon Boykin- GATA at the next level and Go Dawgs!
BusterBlue
January 10th, 2012
11:44 am
Grantham’s career path is just as zig zaggy as Van Gorder’s.
And Grantham ranked 11th in SEC in scoring against ranked teams, and 116th in red zone scoring.
I’d take Van Gorder in a heart beat.
BusterBlue
January 10th, 2012
11:46 am
Grantham’s last 5 tenures were 2 years each. Van Gorder’s is better than that.
Big Enos Burdette
January 10th, 2012
11:46 am
Tide is rolling – “Ga is one airport away from being the biggest joke in the country”
Well, we do have the airport and you don’t. So you defined your own state as the biggest joke.
Bp 1979
January 10th, 2012
11:46 am
@Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it, you would think after just winning the national championship you would have better things to do then read all the post on a Georgia blog.
BusterBlue
January 10th, 2012
11:47 am
Dr. Morph,
When you’re QB turns the ball over 9 times against LSU, Mich St, and South Carolina, you’re not going to win many games.
Rickt
January 10th, 2012
11:49 am
Only uga fans can brag about losing to top teams. Fact is, uga beat no one worth a crap and doesn’t deserve a top 20 ranking. The SEC bias/lovefest continues.
RedandBLackDAWG
January 10th, 2012
11:51 am
Bad Dawg,
I know you have read at least 1000 times on these blogs that dropping Alabama from the UGA schedule was not anything to do with what UGA wanted. You would probably have said it was UGA’s request if Alabama had been the team added on and somebody else taken off. You need to increase your level of comprehension quite a lot. UGA has no more control over the SEC schedule, ESPN has over the BCS. Come on man, wake up.
Harold,
Take a reading comprehension course with Bad Dawg also. You people are just writing something to be on a blog. You both know about as much about the SEC and college football, as my pet Basset hound knows. Correction, she has got you both beat.
ha
January 10th, 2012
11:52 am
“We own you and Auburn. Funny you hired our old DC to try and help your pathetic D. 5 of the last 6 and 7 of 11 idiot!”
UGAG doesn’t have a crystal trophy like the other great teams have. Idiot.
Cdpridg
January 10th, 2012
11:52 am
Tide is rolling….lol at you son…you should be asleep passed out from last night. But as a dumb bammer you are still worried about the Dawgs. It really is all about the great state of Georgia! Isnt it?
ha
January 10th, 2012
11:54 am
“Should be pre-season top 10 in most polls”
HAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!!
ha
January 10th, 2012
11:55 am
“But as a dumb bammer you are still worried about the Dawgs.
Yes, that’s it.
gbal
January 10th, 2012
11:56 am
I really think our predictable play calling is a major problem with the OL and working on this will help as much as anything.
BusterBlue
January 10th, 2012
11:56 am
Let’s be real. What are chances Keith Marshall:
1) pass blocks
2) stays healthy
3) doesn’t fumble
4) stays out of toruble
5) averages 5 yards a carry
6) breaks a 1000 yards
Not good, Crowell got a lot of hype too, look at how that turned out.
Jordan Jenkins will be a good impact player in 2014, but freshman didn’t make an impact on defense this year.
RedandBLackDAWG
January 10th, 2012
11:58 am
Buster Blue,
Does Coach Grantham have anything to do with red zone offense for UGA? Come on now, think real hard, “duhhhhhhh, there is an offensive coach and a defensive coach”. Which one coaches the offense in the game? Which coach is responsible for the offense scoring. I can’t believe you have any idea, what you are talking about. Do you even know where UGA is located?. I’ll give you an easy one. What state does the university of Alabama play in?
IlliniDawg
January 10th, 2012
12:00 pm
Robert Smith at ESPN just named UGA as his preseason #3.
Lakedawg
January 10th, 2012
12:00 pm
Tide Rolling—-Does state of Alabama even have an airport?????
BusterBlue
January 10th, 2012
12:01 pm
I’m talking about red zone defense, Grantham finished #116 there. Teams scored td’s in red zone, every time except 1.
BusterBlue
January 10th, 2012
12:03 pm
Here’s Grantham’s #116 ranking in red zone defense. Guy just can’t scheme a way to get a stop when it counts.
Really, 115 defensive coordinators were better in red zone defense.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/national/team/defense/split01/category27/sort01.html
Jacket99
January 10th, 2012
12:06 pm
Southwest Airlines flies out of Birmingham. Huntsville has an international airport with daily flights to ATL and DFW.
Nom Nom Nom Chuck's Taylor, or Norris if he is avaliable
January 10th, 2012
12:07 pm
76th!!! Just like the amount of Tide commitments.
BusterBlue
January 10th, 2012
12:07 pm
Grantham’s D was ranked 60th in def scoring against ranekd teams.
Willie Martinez’s D was ranekd 62 in 2008.
Not a big improvement.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/national/team/defense/split13/category09/sort01.html
How many times has Auburn beaten UGA since 2005?
January 10th, 2012
12:09 pm
ha: you don’t have a crystal trophy Cecil Newton does. Mark Richt and Mike Bobo own you. 5 of 6 you idiot. You like losing to UGA cause your program seems to oblige???
5 of last 6 and 7 of 11 times we wiped our @$$ with you on the field. That is called being owned over the last decade by a program you try and rip on! Good idea to come on here and run your mouth against a coach and program you have defeated once in the last 6 years! Idiot!
Mr. Dawg
January 10th, 2012
12:11 pm
I guy like Van Gorder was going to leave UGA eventually. But I agree that I’d rather not be competing against him. I also agree that UGA has one of the best in Grantham and as well had made the determination myself that I wouldn’t swap the two. I’m thrilled with the signing of Jenkins. I feel very good about the Bulldogs future.
haywood
January 10th, 2012
12:19 pm
Peoples post on here are so stupid. Who wouldn’t want to finish in the top 20? It’s better than finishing out of the top 20? CMR has done a nice job with recruiting so let translate that into wins like he use to have so back off and let the man coach. He forgot more football than 99.9% u have ever known. I guess the people that POP off about the schedule, don’t read the ajc very often. The SEC makes the conference schedule so talk to them about it being a cupcake in conference. Read folks before u type stupid stuff.
ha
January 10th, 2012
12:23 pm
How many times has Auburn beaten UGA since 2005?
UGAG is a second rate SEC football school. All you have is “How many times has Auburn beaten UGA since 2005?” to talk about?
Whats the all-time record, goober?
Where’s UGAG’s championship trophy?
Auburn and UGAG have the same number of national titles.
Dawg Dude
January 10th, 2012
12:28 pm
Hey Bill copy and paste this article and save it on your computer. You can just reuse it again next year at this time unless we do something about the play calling/Bobo.
Desert Fox
January 10th, 2012
12:29 pm
UGA loses more of the states top talent then it signs and that is very dissappointing. Although the reasons for signing w/another team are varied and personal at times, I have to wonder if the talent going elsewhere, especially on the O side of the ball decides it doesn’t like what they see coming from the OC and his playcalling? CTG probably draws few of the states top D talent but those we lose on that side of the ball may very well make their decision based on what they see coming from the O side especially against teams we played that were ranked in the polls.
GA’s coaching especially on Offense and special teams leaves a lot to be desired whereas when recruits compare these facets of the game w/the AL’s and LSU’s, those issues are of little concern when it comes to placing a check mark in the appropriate box on where to attend college. The dawgs do look promising for next season provided they do not lose any more players that leave early for whatever reason. However, if they cannot correct and improve their Offensive woes and special teams they’ll continue losing to ranked teams, the majority of the states top talent will go elsewhere, and the dawgs could possibly take another step backwards. Have not heard anything from CMR that would indicate definite changes being made by adding or changes in the coaching staff that would encourage one to believe they will better themselves in those areas where they desperately need improvement.
How many times has Auburn beaten UGA since 2005?
January 10th, 2012
12:32 pm
All I have time to talk about is what an idiot you are to come on here and run your mouth when Mark Richt and Mike Bobo own your program.
If we are a second rate program yet own the same number of NC’s and have won 5 of 6 over you what does that make Auburn? A program that has been on probation including a bowl ban in the 90’s, a school that almost lost their accreditation as a university, and a team that got completely run over in Sanford stadium this year maybe??? sound about right??
roughrider
January 10th, 2012
12:34 pm
We will be a second tier team until we get a good offensive line. When we get to where we can run the ball against any team, we can talk about championships.
Dawg Dude
January 10th, 2012
12:36 pm
4 quality opponents – record = 0-4
10 mediocre to bad opponents – record = 10-0
I am a season ticket holder and my love for the Dawgs is 2nd to none but these are the facts and I dont see them changing. I have been faithfully on the Richt bandwagon for all these years but I just don’t see a championship coming until he is gone. I want to be wrong in the worst way. The only difference in this year’s 10-4 compared to last year’s 6-7 is an uptick in talent and a few breaks. The coaching remains the same.
How many times has Auburn beaten UGA since 2005?
January 10th, 2012
12:37 pm
Go run your mouth on the MS State or Ole Miss blogs where you have had a little more success lately. Idiot!
The Truth Detector
January 10th, 2012
12:38 pm
The OL will be the telling point for UGA in 2012. Either they learn to run block or it will be another season of beating weak teams and losing handily to good teams.
The Truth Detector
January 10th, 2012
12:40 pm
Lakedawg
January 10th, 2012
12:00 pm
Tide Rolling—-Does state of Alabama even have an airport?????
Did you take the wheels off your house or are you leaving them on so when you move next week to avoid paying your lot fee?
Old Dog
January 10th, 2012
12:41 pm
” He (CMR) forgot more football than 99.9% u have ever known”
Too bad he forgot it all. Is that why he is “studying the game of football”?
AltamahaDawg
January 10th, 2012
12:41 pm
At some point, it might not be everybody else, BV.
Mr. Dawg
January 10th, 2012
12:43 pm
I’m afraid that will be the X Factor Truth Detector. New Blood will be counted on up front.
DawginLex
January 10th, 2012
12:47 pm
stats are for losers like busterblue who picks and chooses to suit his agenda
All that matters is winning.
We went from 6 wins to 10 and we want and expect more in 2012
Go suck on a tailpipe busterblue and take HA with you
DawgInaTruck
January 10th, 2012
12:47 pm
Desert Fox
January 10th, 2012
12:29 pm
UGA loses more of the states top talent then it signs and that is very dissappointing.
__________________________________________________________________
Last year 99 kids from the state of Georgia signed FBS scholarships. If every one of UGA’s signees were from in-state we still would have lost the vast majority. No one, repeat NO ONE, will get the majority of talent from Georgia.
old dog
January 10th, 2012
12:51 pm
Same old song…no line (run-blocking) no improvement!!!!!!!!!!
RedandBLackDAWG
January 10th, 2012
12:58 pm
Buster Blue,
And yet, UGA’s defense finished 5th over all in the country in 2011. Now I wonder how that happened. You can fashion statistics to look as good and as bad as you want. Since your little graphs there and referenced are not broken down into, how many times the offense gave up the ball inside the 20, and various other factors, they are just raw data. The statistical analysis class I took in college, warned against assuming anything based on limited factors considered.
Spanky
January 10th, 2012
1:01 pm
…getting back on point, I do believe that going from an “F”(6-7 season), to a “B+”(10 wins and SECCG appearane) is MAJOR IMPROVEMENT!! With most of the gang coming back and Christian LeMay in the picture, we have a reason to be optimistic! Go Dawgs!!
tass
January 10th, 2012
1:01 pm
BVG is nothng but a self-serving Bobby Patrino yellow backed skunk.. Glad he did such a great job with the falcons- ha.. Pollack made him and AU can have him…..
K Conway
January 10th, 2012
1:07 pm
Bear was a cheater and so is Saban!