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
Still@theKool-aidBAR
January 10th, 2012
1:07 pm
What? Another EZ chance to get BLOWNOUT in the SEC WEST DOME (aka the any team but Georgia winning DOME)
Whopper Dawg
January 10th, 2012
1:10 pm
That potential top ten ranking along with about 85 tickets will get the Dawgs into the NC game next year.
Red Stick
January 10th, 2012
1:12 pm
First of all congratulations to Alabama. They outcoached and outplayed us last night.
This may give an indication of where UGA will be ranked entering the preseason. Of course underclassmen who declare for the NFL draft may change this, but Danny Sheridan today gave his odds against winning the BCS title next season:
LSU 3:1
Bama 5:1
USC 7:1
Okla 10:1
Oregon 10:1
FSU 12:1
Ark 15:1
SC 20:1
UGA 20:1
Texas 25:1
Mich 25:1
Clem 30:1
Va Tech 30:1
Wis 50:1
WV 50:1
Fl 75:1
Aub 100:1
K St 100:1
TCU 125:1
Boise 125:1
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
gbal
January 10th, 2012
1:22 pm
Uga should be the favorite for the east no doubt, based on returning talent, schedule, and the fact that other East teams are down.
BUT – I just can not see any way we can expect to compete with a West winner…. LSU or Bama… after watching them the last few games this season. Not poor mouthing here; nor out to be critical of any coach or players. Just think it is a fact that without some really major change in phylosophy, attitude, or overall scheme…. They are just in a different class than us.
I hope CMR and GM see this as well and make the necessary adjustments during the off season. Don’t think the answer is “oh we improved and will continue the journey”…. It needs to be something significant in the way of change… personnel, scheme, ???? not sure what it is.
Keith
January 10th, 2012
1:24 pm
Good luck with that. As long as Richt is there and has the play book; it won’t happen. He lost the MSU bowl game and was the only major SEC team to lose it’s bowl game to an out of conference team. Alabama will continue to be dominant for the forseeable future.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
January 10th, 2012
1:27 pm
Saban believes more in GOD than Richt does. Satan’s Son KNOWS God exists but Richt prays that GOD exists. LOL
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
January 10th, 2012
1:28 pm
Nick Saban never sleeps and he’s just getting started folks. 2012 will be another great year for Bama and Nick has the #1 class again. You puppies think you’re getting closer to Bama are just kidding yourself. Bama is locked and loaded for the next 2/3 years. Enjoy the view of our behind!
Lowder school of banking and fraud is on the move…Van Gorder…LOL
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 10th, 2012
1:29 pm
Jenkins uponing committing to UGA on reason why he didn’t go to Bama? “My family didnt think I would be safe”. Only about Alabama would that be said against.
DawgFan?
January 10th, 2012
1:29 pm
K Conway, it is not called cheating but it is called jealousy and envy on your behalf. Since the DawgNation is happy with the current staff, you should be quiet and enjoy the 8-10 win seasons you have signed up for.
missouridawg
January 10th, 2012
1:37 pm
Georgia could have done better (with a better coaching staff)
The Truth Detector
January 10th, 2012
1:53 pm
Okay lets all be realistic and not so much of a fan from our schools in looking at 2012.
Georgia
Returns a ton of offensive and defensive players. Losing a couple of stud DB’s, who are heck of athletes and played on both sides of the ball. The O- Line is going to be a major issue, and we saw this year that running consistently was not very good when it was needed. One more thing about UGA, last nights games proves that a quarterback needs to manage a game not win it with his arm.
Murray and Bobo need to become better game managers.
USC
Losing Jeffrey allows your defense DB’s to play more honestly and against USC. Shaw is going to be better next year. The OL while patched this year will be much stronger next year. The Defense will not be quite as strong but will still be a good one.
Florida
Tons of talent, will the kids buy into the system. Will they find a true running back that has power to run and an offensive line who will transistion from a spread to a more conventional offense. Losing some speed on offense but at Florida speed has never been a problem, but team unity seems a little lacking at times. New OC will not make it easier but Muschamp is a winner eveywhere he has been.
Kentucky
Without a quarterback the 2011 season was a disaster, Kentucky has talent but needs to get an identity and stay with it.
Tennessee
That program seems to be imploding and may have a couple of players who feel they are better than the team. Dooley has a ton of talent, but will he have any coaches left to coach them up.
Vanderbilt
Coach Franklin has a program full of kids who have bought into his system and he will win some games he and his team are not suppose to win again in 2012.
gbal
January 10th, 2012
1:54 pm
Dont think ws should be planning for just continuous improvement… Need to take a big step not just in W’s, but how we play.
Turnovers – Murray – Int’s and Fumbles cost us 2 games this year (SC&MS)
Caused a major
Herman Hermit
January 10th, 2012
1:56 pm
2012 season vs 2011 season -
Second verse, just like the first …….
GT
January 10th, 2012
1:59 pm
Brian VanGorder won championships, Todd Grantham has done nothing but start a few fights. Where do you think Grantham is better? I think one of the problems with Georgia is they fall for the eye candy and don’t get the real thing.
Douglas
January 10th, 2012
2:00 pm
As long as Bobo is our OC, no SEC championships for UGA for a while — Richt still doesn’t get it.
BullDawgman49
January 10th, 2012
2:07 pm
I Think the Ranking is fair . Good news about Jenkins kid coming to Georgia , He is supose to have great talent and he is a great student as well. a plus here it might kick start a flow of great players coming in . on another subject I think saw the best Defense that I ever seen last night I just say WOW !!!! Go DAwgs !!!!
BullDawgman49
January 10th, 2012
2:11 pm
@ GT ( Georgia Tech ) I am sure your Defense would love to have Grantham . Where did Van gorder win chamionships he has’nt stayed long enough on every team he has been with to do so..
gbal
January 10th, 2012
2:13 pm
We could win 10-11 games next year and still not really be better. I hate to see us “in the right direction” or “continuing the improvement journey”. I hope we identify the 3-4 points that cost us this season and come with a plan to instantly improve in these areas. Not just gradually get better…it can be done. Look what Saban did…adjust.
i.e.
Fubmles/Int’s – in Key games Murray hurt us with multiple turnovers. Cost us against SC, MS, and really changed the momentum VS LSU. Almost lost to Miss. ST. Make it clear that QB competition is wide open this spring and summer camp. No Anoited one. Don’t care about stats against lesser teams… we can’t have turnovers beat us in key games. open the QB position wil have an effect on the entire team.
Special teams – Field position and scores given up by special teams in key games killed us. SC, LSU, MS. Some to be made accountable and utilize the best resources/talen on the team. FG Kicking – lets pray that the new kid is ready for the big time.
Rushing game – Predictable and conservative in key moments. Gotta scheme to keep DC’s guessing. No one is going to pound it up the middle VS LSU, BAMA, or SC without some variety. S&C for OL.
Eliminate 1/2 to 2/3 of the T.O.’s and special team return blunders and we win 2-3 more games this year. You dont just settle for gradually getting better at these. You fix it.
Snoop Dawg
January 10th, 2012
2:13 pm
Why is the Bulldog Nation celebrating that UGA barely made the final Top 20 this year when we have gotten a top 10 recruiting class every year for the past ten years?
What does that tell you, numbskulls?
gbal
January 10th, 2012
2:17 pm
good question snoop.
gbal
January 10th, 2012
2:18 pm
There is a reason for it???
Go For 2
January 10th, 2012
2:27 pm
I think all Dawg fans are ready for UGa to take the next step but the complacency with the under-achieving coaching staff will keep Georgia FTBall as good but certainly not elite program. I am sure SEC East fans are thrilled to see Coach Richt get more years added to his agreement.
Rick James
January 10th, 2012
2:31 pm
@GT
You obviously misread the article VanGorder is headed to Auburn not Tech..Why are you riding his jock?
James
January 10th, 2012
2:32 pm
Here we go…Next Year – Next Year – Next Year….When I was kid going to the GA-Florida games I always heard Gator fans saying that…They had to wait about 20 years, I think we will too
Rooster
January 10th, 2012
2:53 pm
UGA will never win anything more than the SEC East, if they have a favorable schedule, as long as Richt is the head coach. I have been saying this for three years now.
what of it?
January 10th, 2012
3:00 pm
yeah great start to the postseason losing to the Big-10 runner up b/c of miscues and incompetence. I’m sure we won’t lose anyone to the draft, and that all of our discipline issues will work themselves out in the offseason. I’m also sure Tereshinski’s total lack of any credentials as a strength and conditioning coach will cause any problems for the dawgs fading in the second half. Bobo will also likely see a huge boost in competence as an offensive coordinator which will make our offense less predictable. We’re absolutely poised for a national championship next year, and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot and hates themselves.
coachx
January 10th, 2012
3:06 pm
If Offensive coaches will do fine once they have some depth at the RB position.
Marshal, Davis, and Gurley will be the 3 Horseman that UGA rides back to SEC dominance.
Dawg X--Pert
January 10th, 2012
3:15 pm
I got two words for all of y’all : Fa Ton.. ‘Nuff said…..
Fair and Balanced
January 10th, 2012
3:16 pm
GA stepped up the top of mediocre this year. Next year we should take the next step, but that will take changes. The offense has got to be more imaginative and unstupid! The offense has got to step up and do better in the red zone and for goodness sake —- develop a running game! That means an OL that can block!
Here we go again
January 10th, 2012
3:20 pm
Same Ol Ch!t different Pile. Time to fire Mark underachiever Richt.
Stewart G. Griffin
January 10th, 2012
3:23 pm
Enough with the Davis and Gurley talk. It’s one or the other, both are not coming here. There wouldn’t be enough carries to go around.
Well Said
January 10th, 2012
3:29 pm
Busterblue, using your logic, LSU must suck too. They were 106th in the nation in Red Zone defense.
Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane
January 10th, 2012
3:31 pm
Hey stupid and delusional UGA fans
Did you enjoy watching what a program that demands championships and not 10 win season looks like
I hope you taped the game; so that you can have something to dream about when your drinking your spike pre-season national champions kool-aid you dawg fans love to drink
Pago Pago Dawg
January 10th, 2012
3:35 pm
Oh boy, here we go again…another pre-season Top Ten.
Stewart G. Griffin
January 10th, 2012
3:36 pm
Sheriff,
Who still tapes a game?
Sincerely,
- Those of us that have a DVR
Robert
January 10th, 2012
3:38 pm
Number of wins against teams that finsihed in the top 20? Zero.
This season was not a success.
Steve
January 10th, 2012
3:50 pm
Sadly, next season will be a repeat of this season. Raw talent will overcome poor to average coaching and win against the average and poor teams. We will lose to the good teams because of the usual problems: Poor offensive coaching, penalties, poor special teams, Sure wish Richt would take over play calling or even better, hire a real OC, please! But this will not happen.
Hairy Dawg
January 10th, 2012
3:55 pm
You know, after watching that UGA student miss those FGs so badly, I kinda wondered if maybe Blair Walsh was his kicking coach.
Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane
January 10th, 2012
3:55 pm
Stewart G. Griffin
Hey smart mouth; who signs a coach that hasnt beaten a top 20 in years to a contract extension
Thats right UGA
UGA the joke of the SEC
BusterBlue
January 10th, 2012
3:56 pm
LSU & Bama’s D were both top 10 in td’s allowed in red zone defense.
Grantham was 88th.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/national/team/defense/split01/category27/sort05.html
Hairy Dawg
January 10th, 2012
3:56 pm
We should win the East again next season because of our schedule. The real question is whether we will have improved enough to win the big games. I’m not holding my breath just yet.
loel
January 10th, 2012
4:14 pm
Had all of you rather have a degree from UGA or Harvard,,, or even Vanderbilt. no you wouldn’t. .They don’t win NC’s. Alabama just won one,, doesnt’ make me want to move to bama even the slightest of even be a Bama fan or wear anything Alabama. Its just a mindless sport that is sponsored by drunks, beers, and more drunks. When someone moral comes along(Tebow) the drunks pile on. Now act like you have an IQ.
Dr. Phil
January 10th, 2012
4:16 pm
Anyone who thinks UGA is a top 10 school next year with the midget we have at QB is delusional at best.
Dr. Phil
January 10th, 2012
4:18 pm
BusterBlue, with the record of the teams that we played during the 10 game streak, our defensive ranking along with Grantham’s ability are over rated.
huffsleeper
January 10th, 2012
4:21 pm
Georgia opened up the second half against LSU with a slim lead and ran two running plays up the middle for no gain. Alabama opened up the second half against LSU with a slim lead and ran two pass plays for 19 and 25 yards. The pathetic and predictable play calling by Richt and Bobo, the lack of discipline, lack of complexity and imagination, as well as playing scared ie not to lose instead of playing to win. Yes their receivers made better catches but the playcalling was far superior. I was embarassed to claim UGA as my school watching the difference in preparation and mentality. Also on defense the Saints and Alabama put 6-7 on the line and you have to guess who’s rushing. The falcons, lions and uga put 4 on the line, with the linebackers so deep you know they are not rushing. Total predictability on who to block. How can coaches miss the obvious so much. Fire Richt and Bobo quick and get someone who has a clue. Also fire the special teams coach (oh wait thats Richt too).
Vampire Bill
January 10th, 2012
4:21 pm
Any word on Orson Charles?
short memories
January 10th, 2012
4:26 pm
UGA is a disgraceful idiot if they resign richt and bobo. No wins against top twenty teams in years despite the supposed great recruiting classes. they are dinosaurs in a modern world
UGa man here and in all honesty
January 10th, 2012
4:27 pm
95% of the ever growing internet chatter about UGA winning the MNC one day, comes primarily from teens aged 13-16 or 17. After that, when older they are chasing girls or they are likely Tech bound nerds with NO DATES NOW OR EVER.
So, in all honesty, the UGA alumni do not wake up desperate for the MNC, like possibly Alabama fans do. Atlanta is far more cosmopolitan and so is the state of Georgia. No disrespct to the Crimson Tide or to the fine state of Alabama where I traveled on business for over 35 years. One of my best former customers for many, many, many years was Pres. of the Alumni Assoc. They are the finest of the finest people. I like Alabama but we UGA folks are wired differntly. MNC s are THE CULTURE IN Alabama. Period.
UGA fans really want UGA to always be in the 9-3, 10-2 range and play in the SEC CG about 2 times over 5 or 6 years and always land in the Outback or the Capital One Bowl or at worst the CHi Fil A, which UGA fans really consider scraping the bottom of the barrel. We prefer the Sugar Bowl once every 4, 5 or 6 years and a Cotton Bowl every so often, although this bowl sadly, has not been seen by UGA since the mid 80s. Orange Bowl would be nice but it has that weak, weak ACC link and to play a 7-5 Clemson would be no interest to UGA. When we faced Va Tech 5 or 6 years ago in the Chic Fil A, we spotted them 26 points, then blew them out. The Orange Bowl is tainted by their ACC affiliation.
Just being 100% honest. UGA goes 10-2 or 11-2 in 2012 and plays in the SEC CG again and wins, that will hold UGA fans for a few years. 2012 and 2013 are the years that UGA fans can count on, then back to medicority of 8-3 or 9-2,etc. If Richt does that, he will be fine ……………it is the 6-7 thing of last year that he must avoid.
Folks ………….it is what it is. 10-2 is UGA’s mark over the last few years on average.
Class of 71 & 73
Wife ,Class of 73
Buck Blew
January 10th, 2012
4:30 pm
here we go again. 31 years of mediocrity and every year it’s next year will be the year. bama rules the sec and will for many many years. richt will never win the national title.
what a joke. Run Lindsay!!!
BusterBlue
January 10th, 2012
4:33 pm
ESPN has UGA at pre-season #6. LSU at #1, South Carolina at #10.
Zach Mettenberger will torch this conference in 2012, he has an arm, and just wins games.
UGA & SC & LSU are all probably pre-season top 10 because of their defense.
But LSU with Mettenberger would have torched Bama’s D Backs.