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
dawg4life
January 11th, 2012
9:28 am
Bad Dawg- Are you really that stupid???? UGA didn’t remove Bama from its schedule, the SEC did idiot. You see, the SEC had conference realignment this year. A&M (thats Texas A&M since I know you are challenged) was added to the Western Division, and Mizzou (thats Missouri) was added to the Eastern Division. UGA has to play all of the Eastern Division teams nimrod. Hence the removal of Bama, and the addition of Mizzou (thats Missouri). Please go back to the Tech blog. Don’t worry though, UGA is all that is talked about over there too.
Phil
January 11th, 2012
9:35 am
“A sure sign we are mediocre is the fact that NO ONE ever talks about any UGA coaches being considered for head coaching positions.”
Exactly, including Richt.
AltamahaDawg
January 11th, 2012
9:46 am
Ignoring that HC positions are offered to coaches that are actually seeking them, of cource.
AceDawg
January 11th, 2012
9:48 am
BVG was THE Man at UGA. Still, he clearly has zero loyalty to anyone, so Dawg fans should wave him goodbye forever. I wouldn’t want him now even if we could have him, but I would have thought differently if he came to UGA before we hired Grantham. I do think Grantham can outperform BVG, but Auburn will likely be much tougher next year.
@ duronimo ...It's called a running game...
January 11th, 2012
10:18 am
@ duronimo…duuuhhhhh…sure Greene and Stafford had something that Murray didn’t have…it’s called a running game…
January 10th, 2012
5:10 pm
I see comments on here about Murray maturing. Greene and Stafford never had to mature. They were good from the start, stayed that way or got better. They found ways to win, not lose. The fact that Murray is the one making the disastrous mistakes in big games is an unfixable problem. You can either play or you can’t. Murray is missing something important that Greene and Stafford both had.
Frank Lane
January 11th, 2012
10:21 am
THE FOUR TEAMS THAT BEAT UGA THIS YEAR ALL ended up in the Top Ten final poll. And two of them only beat UGA by 3 points, one in triple overtime.
We were a field goal away from top ten this year. Walsh missed field goals in the two games we lost to SC and MS.
WhoLetThemDawgsOut
January 11th, 2012
10:26 am
Pick up Davis and Gurley. Pick up one more OL that can help right away. Pick up a dominating DL. Totally revamp special teams. Make a change at OC and I agree. With all this, UGA is a serious contender for the title.
Bill King
January 11th, 2012
10:26 am
Those folks saying Mark Richt is never mentioned in connection with head coach openings must have missed the whole Texas A&M/Penn State flutter a few weeks ago.
Beast from the East
January 11th, 2012
10:32 am
Bill,
Mark Richt would be hired away by many programs if he decided to leave UGA without question. His problem is he doesn’t surround himself with GREAT assistants. When was the last time in his 11 years as a head coach that any of his assistants were hired away as a HC? That speaks VOLUMES!
G-Dawg
January 11th, 2012
10:40 am
Well, thats all it was…FLUTTER!! just like our offense!!
Hammerdawg
January 11th, 2012
10:42 am
No way we finish top 10 with the OC we have currently…. FIRE BOBO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Columbus Dawg
January 11th, 2012
10:44 am
I just read an article that states that Todd Grantham’s agent has been contacted about Grantham taking the Falcons DC job. McGarity had better get on the stick. Pay the man.
GtDawg
January 11th, 2012
10:45 am
The Schedule looks easy until the teams UGA play win games against Bama LSU and Arkansas. Its a new year yall.
G-Dawg
January 11th, 2012
10:45 am
Revamp the playbook…and remove every play Bobo has used the past 4 yrs. Then we have a chance. Such a great effort by our players, but always nullified by bonehead play calling.
G-Dawg
January 11th, 2012
10:46 am
I’ve heard the same about Kirby too.
Preston
January 11th, 2012
10:46 am
columbus, how bout a link to back that up.
HighHopes
January 11th, 2012
10:53 am
In Saban’s post game comments (aside from the impressive defensive performance), he praised the offense for controlling the tempo of the game and continuing to keep LSU off of the field by staying aggressive. Yet we continue to play conservative (with or without leads), and ask too much of our defense. CMR comments about our defense needing to finish strong could be better addressed by the offense executing the very points Saban touted about the Tide. Even Saban’s #1-in-every-category defense needed a strong performance by the offense.
AltamahaDawg
January 11th, 2012
10:54 am
I think they were talking about coordinators, not him. Actually only Bobo. But, there are lots of longtime assistants that none of us have ever heard of anyone wanting them to run their program. McElwain has been coaching for 24 yrs all over the place. Clearly that’s apples and oranges to to a guy as young as Bobo who already has his dream job, for now. Saban, who has also coached all over the place, is also more likely to hire folks like that too. He is a great mentor, and will send guys forward, but to say that IF folks aren’t raiding your staff, you can’t run a successful program is pretty shortsighted.
UF just hired an excellent OC. Is the fact that Brent Pease has not been talked about as a HC anywhere an indication how bad he is?
Is Grantham a mediocre coach? Why not? Nobody made him publicly refuse a job he wasn’t looking for. Smart is also an excellent DC. I think he would make a fine HC. I’m not sure Grantham would.
There are multiple reasons to criticize Bobo. This completely made up case (and then just regurgitated by the next guy) that nobody “would want” him is just silly.
GTBob
January 11th, 2012
10:55 am
Those folks saying Mark Richt is never mentioned in connection with head coach openings must have missed the whole Texas A&M/Penn State flutter a few weeks ago.
Richt’s agent did a great job of spreading false information out there. It happens with a lot of coaches when they are up for contract extensions. You honestly think A&M or Penn State were going to give 4 million to a guy who hasn’t beaten a ranked team since 2009?
ole yeller
January 11th, 2012
10:56 am
I don;’t put much faith in the rakings before games are played. Anyone can be a monday morning QB and predict what ever. I do believe the UGA Dawgs are liget. I think they can and will play with anyone. They will be muched improved in every aspect of their game. Just hide and watch. I hope everone has been looking at the returning players and the recuits coming in. I think coach “BVG” left the Falcons because the are not measuring up to NFL. If you dont measure up in the NFL that means NOT FOR LONG. Coaches, Players, VP, ects. Coach “BVG” looking for some security.
GTBob
January 11th, 2012
11:01 am
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 has Georgia #6.
Where did Schlabach go to college again? I’m surprised he has UGA that low.
BG
January 11th, 2012
11:02 am
Top ten team all day and twice on Sunday.
zbulldawg
January 11th, 2012
11:04 am
WE ARE on the way to be a GREAT Team ! Let’s get these coaches locked in ! Bring in some much needed depth ! Get serious in the off season program & focus on what a GREAT team HAS to do to get there ! The next two years are the most important years since the late 70’s & early 80’s !! Let’s quit eating crumbes & LET THE BIG DAWG EAT !!!!!!! As Fans we MUST be Positive, show unity & under stand We Are not there YET ? BUT REAL COSE !!!!! GO DAWGS
jaxdawgfan
January 11th, 2012
11:07 am
To answer the headline… If you keep doing what you’ve been doing (and with the same coaches), you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting.
dawgfacedboy
January 11th, 2012
11:10 am
Based on returning talent and schedule…Yes. Based on coaching…No.
Will still have to face Bama or LSU in the championship game and we are miles from them in ever aspect of the game…from coaching to kicking.
DamntheButcher
January 11th, 2012
11:17 am
No they are not a legit top 10 team. To all the Mark Richt lovers he has been at UGA 11 seasons. Nick Satan has been at Bama 5 seasons and won 2 National titles. Les Miles and been at LSU about 7 years and has won 2 National titles and played for a 3rd. On Mark Richts watch Urban Myer came to UF and won 2 National titles. Gene Slickit came to Auburn and won a National title. Bob “the snake” Patrino has moved the AR program ahead of UGA. The Old Ball Coach has moved SC ahead of UGA. Mark Richt has put UGA in the same class as TN, MS, MS State, Vandy & KY. Don’t be fooled by this past seasons record. GA didn’t beat a team with more than 6 wins!!!!
JB
January 11th, 2012
11:19 am
It’s not a question of is Georgia a top 10 team….with returning talent and a schedule of teams where they ought to be favored in 10 or 11 of them, that’s a given. The question is , is Georgia a CHAMPIONSHIP team……..And from our HC and staff, no is the answer……….And this not just empty words…Why has Saban won 2 titles in 4 years while Richt has none in 11, in a state with much richer D1 talent than that state and as rich, if not richer with money?
uwgwolves
January 11th, 2012
11:20 am
I think UGA has a great chance in ‘12. CMR has a great foundation under his feet, minus that of the OC, but even Bobo showing near the end of the year that he was finally able to call good games. Look for Murray to have more control of the offense in ‘12 just like Stafford did back in ‘07-’08. Watch out 1980 team, 2012 might bring back that illustrious National Championship.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
January 11th, 2012
11:23 am
WHY ME LORD?
JB
January 11th, 2012
11:23 am
ESPN radio spent 3-4 minutes trashing what Richt has done to Georgia. Used the word fraud, which he is not, he just doesn’t have the DNA to take this team to the top………………YES, WE ALL KNOW is a better man, role model, citizen, husband, Christian, University representative etc etc than all those other coach’s….BUT, he is our HEAD FOOTBALL COACH.
RedandBLackDAWG
January 11th, 2012
11:24 am
Buster Blue,
If Mettenburger is so great, why didn’t he see some game time this year for LSU. Let him play some games before you award him the Heisman. I don’t care who LSU could have played against Alabama, because the O line had no way to keep the DL of Alabama out of the backfield. Did you watch the game per chance?
Sam
January 11th, 2012
11:25 am
When a AAAAAA school plays AA schools and wins it looks good in win-lost colume . However the ranking based on schedule ranking = it sucks big time..Therefore UGA ranking is a joke..
JB
January 11th, 2012
11:27 am
I have dreams of Chip Kelly being our coach….and we’re playing Auburn at Auburn…..We are ahead 49-10….we get the ball back with 3:42 to play when they punt to us. The first play is a slant pass for 36 yards…..as Kelly looks to score again…………………sweet dreams….
Columbus Dawg
January 11th, 2012
11:29 am
Preston, SicemDawgs.com has it posted at the top of it’s Home Page article itself is from CoachingSearch.com.
iTiSi
January 11th, 2012
11:30 am
There should not even be a pre-season poll. These are asinine and done just to give sportswriters and networks something to do. No poll should even be released until after the third game of the year. How can you rate a team before they even play a game. Every year is different and every team is different from year to year. This is pure hogwash. BTW, what you want to bet that GA’s easy schedule comes back to hurt them in the end. ESPN will make sure of that!
old dawg
January 11th, 2012
11:32 am
put down the kool aid people. these polls mean nothing. peg your hopes to them and then when they are not met, you will be angry and screaming for heads to roll.
the dawgs have not beaten a top 10 ranked team in a long time. until they do and on a regular basis, it is all just a bunch of homer enthusiasm.
the recruiting class is a top 20, so far, but not a top ten. don’t you need a top ten recruiting class year after year to sustain a chamionship program?
someone feel free to objectively explain why they should be in the NC discussion. facts only please. no opinions thinly disguised or stated with heartfelt belief please. just the facts. where are they.
i conceed they have a weak schedule, but that does not get you wins over top ten teams
smyrnaBob
January 11th, 2012
11:33 am
Silly prediction without even knowing which players are going to stay yet.
Tweezer
January 11th, 2012
11:34 am
Excited about UGA being ranked in pre-season top 10? Remember the beginning of the 2008 season with the dawgs ranked # 1? How did that season work out? It included a humiliating beat down by Bama in a blacked out Sanford Stadium. Mark Richt CANNOT take the team to the next level. He has been given ample opportunity and has failed miserably. The whole athletic department is mired in mediocrity. For McGarity the honeymoon is over. Now he needs to show that he has a clue and not just working on his pension and 401K. Someone remarked that UGA should rebrand its athletic program “The Settlers”. I agree with this as everyone at UGA just settles for the status quo. “Don’t rock the boat and we can all make some pretty good money” is the mantra of this second rate program! The Settlers indeed!
Columbus Dawg
January 11th, 2012
11:39 am
At last glance, it looked to me as if the AJC was Atlanta Georgia’s premier newspaper. Will someone please look into the Todd Grantham/Atlanta Falcons DC job offer?
DawginLex
January 11th, 2012
11:41 am
I do believe Coach Richt said recently that he had been contacted by more than one school about his interest in their HC position. He didn’t sound like he was talking about recent stuff like A&M or PSU.
Given Richt’s track record of being open and honest to a fault, I do believe this flies in the face of saying he would not be hired elsewhere.
Bobo is a different story
Joey
January 11th, 2012
11:42 am
That is a dream, JB. You may as well sleep for the next 4-5 years, because Coach FG will NOT be disrespecting other teams like that.
Even though every opposing coach would score 50 on us if possible.
It’s sickening to know what UGA’s offense is capable of – ask Spurrier – our offense scored 42 on SC while their O scored 24. Ask Chizik, or PJ if our O is potent.
But let Coach FG get a 10 point lead (or 16) in a big game, and watch him sit on the ball, and give momentum to his opponent. Ole Miss, Vandy, UT, UK, LSU, Michigan St. On and on.
Yeah, we’ll be in the Top 10 alright.
For 1 week.
Josey Whales
January 11th, 2012
11:43 am
Pre-Season top ten, maybe……Post Season-Bust……….100%.
Hey UGA fans, you can always brag about beating Georgia Tech. Other than that, UGA is the 4th or 5th best team in their conference.
Techman '01
January 11th, 2012
11:47 am
Can UGA fans even remember the last legit win they had against a quality opponent? Of course not. UGA is a ealking example of mediocrity.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 11th, 2012
11:48 am
Calling all dawg fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay friends it is that time of year again. Time to ante up to pay off the schedule maker for 2013 Season schedule. Boy did he/she set us up bigtime in 2011 and 2012.
Loosen those purse strings.
gbal
January 11th, 2012
11:48 am
Goals from CMR for next season … Monday –
1) “We want to win the East. If you win the East, you have a shot at the SEC, if you win the SEC you have a shot at the National Championship. Those goals aren’t going to change for us.” (Same as this past year)
2) “I think there is no doubt that we have to be a whole better on special team, top to bottom,” Richt said. “We went through some growing pains with some young guys and kind of bit the bullet playing some true freshmen and some inexperienced guys. The good news is that that will have a year of experience heading into next year. It will be all hands on deck when it comes to special teams next year. We’re going to do whatever it takes, personnel and coaching wise, to make sure that we improve.”
3) “We also have to work on the fundamentals, like ball security, but the most important things are consistency and maturity at the running back position.”
I’d like to hear more like …
1) “LSU and Bama have to be the west favorites again next year and although we improved this season, we are obviously not in their class. We will prepare every day in the off season as if we were playing LSU or Alabama in the SECC game and expect this level of play starting game 1 of the 2012 season. If we do this, our SEC East schedule should take care of itself and we will be prepared going into the SEC championship game and whatever bowl game we are selected to play in.”
2) “No doubt we have to be a whole lot better on special teams. We choose this past year to play some young guys, which you always have on your team every year, vs lining up with our most experienced and talented players on Sp teams. It will be all hands on deck when it comes to special teams next year. We’re going to do whatever it takes, personnel and coaching wise, to make sure that we are the tops in the confrence in special teams.”
3) “We also have to work on fundamentals like ball security. We recognize that 3 losses this season could be attributed to turnovers (SC, LSU & MS), missed passes (LSU), and then special teams letdowns (vs LSU and SC). We are talented enough to beat the Tenn, Vandy’s, and Miss’s of the confrence with these problems but we will not beat good teams or be champions with three T.O’s. from our QB position
Competition will be open for ALL positions and we expect a level of play that will beat the LSU or Bama in the SECC game, every practice and every week. It is not good enough to just get by the weaker teams. The best at protecting and securing the ball will play regardless of past experience.”
4) “Our coaching staff will redesign our offense to utilize all of the talent that we have on the roster and be less predictable for opposing defenses. We will develop a “petal to the gas” mentality for 60 minutes and expect this level of performance out of all players and coaches every week.”
5) “We are dropping this “journey to get better” mentality. Teams change every year. We got better this past year but there is another big step we must take to win the SECC game. We will not be satisfied with moral victories or sloppy wins against lesser opponents. We will be satisfied only with perfection from coaches to the last freshman on the roster.”
6)”We will not tolorate “Me” attitudes, on or off the field period. This is a team sport and any incident on or off the field that shows an individual is not acting in the best interest of the TEAM. Well….Hell to pay!!”
“These are our goals and direction going into next season and If we meet these goals and throw in a little luck here or ther… we will be celebrating next December and January. Congrats to LSU on the SEC championship and to Bama on the NC. Look out… Uga is in your rear view. ”
CMR
Techman '01
January 11th, 2012
11:49 am
*walking
Josey Whales
January 11th, 2012
11:51 am
Bill,
You seem like a nice guy. Let me help you out so you can save a lot of time and effort. Use this exact same article next year and the year after that.
bill arp
January 11th, 2012
11:54 am
Not with the returning QB, they shouldn’t.
DP
January 11th, 2012
11:56 am
We’re back into the part of the college football season where Georgia always excels, mid January into late August. In the offseason they’re always a top 10 team and they probably have more PCNS (preseason national championships) than any other program.
Does anybody seriously think any of the pundits would be ranking Georgia in the top 10 for next year if they had Alabama on their schedule like they would have before expansion, or if they had LSU and Arkansas on their schedule like South Carolina does? 5th best in the SEC (if Florida stays down, not a given) and 3rd nationally, that makes a lot of sense.
gbal
January 11th, 2012
11:57 am
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