What’s on Mark Richt’s to-do list for 2013 Dawgs?
Who's going to help Garrison Smith on the defensive line? (Associated Press)
It’s pretty obvious that what’s driving all those very early preseason Top 10 rankings for Mark Richt’s 2013 Bulldogs is the return of almost the entire starting lineup of the explosive, productive offense led by veteran quarterback Aaron Murray.
It’s just as clear that what’s tempering those expectations, keeping Georgia from being an outright pick to battle Alabama again for a spot in the BCS title game, is the almost complete rebuilding job that must be done on defense after losing a dozen players to graduation and early departure for the NFL.
So finding a way to fill the void left by Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree and company is Job One for the Georgia coaching staff this offseason, particularly replacing the big beef to help Garrison Smith up front and finding the right combination in the secondary.
Yes, as Richt has noted, there is a lot of talent “waiting in the wings.” The big question, though, is whether Todd Grantham (assuming he doesn’t depart for the NFL) will be able to mold that talent into a cohesive, aggressive unit in time to handle the early-season onslaught of Clemson, South Carolina and LSU. It’s a really tough early schedule so, as Richt has noted, “We better be ready.”
But what are some of the other areas of concern as Richt and his staff prepare for the 2013 season?
Kicker Marshall Morgan is still lacking consistency. Who'll be coaching him? (Associated Press)
Foremost, I think, is solidifying the gains made this past season on special teams. Kick coverage was improved, for the most part, and the Dogs actually blocked some kicks. And Collin Barber appears to be coming along nicely at punter.
But placekicking remains a worrisome area. While he finally got in a groove on PATs, Marshall Morgan was entirely too unreliable when it came to field goals in his freshman season, and with no dedicated special teams coach in the program he’s pretty much been on his own.
Richt has talked about taking over coaching this area himself. If he does indeed decide to do that, he needs to do some traveling (like to Minnesota, where they straightened out Blair Walsh). With the graduation of backup Jamie Lindley, who alternated quite frequently with Morgan on on kickoffs, Rich also needs to think about some invited walk-ons at the placekicking position.
Elsewhere, Georgia needs to continue developing depth on its offensive line. While all the starters of this past season’s young line will be returning and hopefully John Theus will start to become more of a force up front, the Dogs are still very thin on the OL. With starting guard Chris Burnette out for the spring with surgery, the coaches should get a good look at the contenders. And, of course, adding prospect Laremy Tunsil to the mix would be a real coup for the Georgia staff.
John Theus and the offensive line need to continue to develop. (Associated Press)
Speaking of depth, with the departure of Boo Malcome, work also is needed on building it behind Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall at tailback so that Mike Bobo’s offense doesn’t become one-dimensional (as it was late in the 2011 season) if something happens to those two.
As for the other big concern — avoiding disruptive early-season suspensions resulting from off-the-field misbehavior — I’m not sure what, if anything, Richt and his staff can do about that (other than, possibly, scheduling drug tests before spring break instead of immediately afterward). This is an area where the future team leaders really need to step up and apply some heavy peer pressure if the Dogs are going to break the cycle of offseason problems.
That’s what worries me about the 2013 Bulldogs. What other areas of concern do you have?
Got something you want to discuss about UGA athletics? Got a question you want the Junkyard Blawg to tackle? If so, send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
Find me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
90 comments Add your comment
tide roll
January 23rd, 2013
3:20 pm
Who is Chris Weldon, or Chris Welton? Apparently he is on your Athletic Board, and has some connection to the Weslyan School. Thus, Booboo “DISCOVERS” some 5th string walkon linebacker. and suddenly he’s starting at fullback ahead of Zander Ogeltree, Richard Samuel, Ken Malcome, and whoever you else you care to name.Then, you move Chris Burnette from center in favor of yet another Weslyan grad, Boss Andrews. and finally You have Karepilis. No. 33,another Weslyan grad, who’s sole purpose apparently is to INSTRUCT Malcolm Mitchell to NOT run the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs. RICHT IS A SELLOUT.
7576DAWG
January 23rd, 2013
3:47 pm
Murray is definitely our best Quarterback, by far. For those of you who can’t wait for Mason to start you will get your wish next year if Murray get’s hurt because I think Murray will be doing a lot more play action and will have a greater chance of getting hurt. But if Murray can avoid injury for 2013 Mason will get his chance in 2014 but don’t be surprised if Ramsey or another recruit isn’t the starter at Quarterback before 2014 season is over. I’m not hoping Mason fails , in fact I hope he is as great as a lot of you think he will be but in reality there is NO way of knowing if Mason will be able to cut it in the SEC until he has played a complete game or two. All I hope is , if Mason isn’t the Quarterback GOD that some think he will be , Richt will let Ramsey and any other Quarterback on the team see if they can do better and don’t go back to that ENTITLED attitude that hurt Georgia so much in 2009 and 2010.
4811GAWG
January 23rd, 2013
4:36 pm
Murray is our best qb by far? That’s funny.
Mason has a higher rating EVERY TIME HE’S GONE HEAD TO HEAD WITH AM.
Say Murray is good against unranked teams, agreed, he finished #1 in pass effic vs. UNRANKED teams (my guess is Mason would have finished #1 against RANKED TEAMS).
Against RANKED TEAMS, AM’s passer efficiency rating drops dozens. He is not good against the best teams.
But no, he’s not the best QB on the team, by the stats, that would be Hutson Mason, NOT CLOSE.
4811GAWG
January 23rd, 2013
4:39 pm
AM is ranked #70 QB vs. ranked teams, in accuracy. He’s hideous, look away.
4811GAWG
January 23rd, 2013
4:45 pm
#1 on to do list? get a new quarterback. AM has got to go. Why has he only won 1 game vs teams that finish in the top 20 in three years?
Desert Fox
January 23rd, 2013
4:48 pm
aaron in arizona
January 23rd, 2013
12:43 pm
Totally agree. Might add keeping the HS DL 5 stars in state. Not one of them lists the dawgs as favorite according to atl Jour recruiting guru.
Need another place kicker. Not a walk-on but a schollie caliber kicker. His miss in the AL game required GA to score a TD instead of a FG attempt from the 7 yd line.
Need another top caliber RB to replace Boo Malcome and back up Gurshall.
Can’t lose CTG. Rather have him in place and not screw up the recruiting if he left. Not really raving over how the D performed in 2012 but they did come through w/few exceptions however huge the results when they came up short.
Again, good comments from aaron in az.
DawginLex
January 23rd, 2013
4:53 pm
only a certifiable moron would pine for playing Mason over Murray based on spring game stats
What an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMFAO!!!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Desert Fox
January 23rd, 2013
4:54 pm
tide roll
January 23rd, 2013
3:20 pm
He is a 1981 graduate of the Terry College of Business, where he majored in finance, and a 1985 graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. At UGA, Welton was an Academic All-SEC and Academic All-American defensive back on the 1980 National Championship football team. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Georgia Community Foundation, Olympic Aid and the Nature Conservancy of Georgia.
DawginLex
January 23rd, 2013
4:57 pm
DESERT FOX
Well, we aren’t signing another kicker. Limited schollies left. Makes no sense
We have Turman committed and he is a stud so the 3rd RB is coming
CTG ain’t leaving. The 49ers LB coach will be the eagles DC after the SB
drbasic1
January 23rd, 2013
4:58 pm
do some of you people have a man crush on Mason? We know “tide roll” has a man crush on lineman not white. Some of you obviously do not watch the games……of over 120 FBS schools, how many would NOT want Murray as their starting QB?…..ya, that’s what I thought!
drbasic1
January 23rd, 2013
4:59 pm
@biff……….great name….and so is 4811…………….same person
Mr. Peabody
January 23rd, 2013
5:01 pm
So comparing G-Day and scrub mop up duty stats of Mason vs Murray makes Mason a better QB???? “Peabody here….and you’re dumb.”
EJ
January 23rd, 2013
5:05 pm
#1 on Mark Richt’s list???
STOP LOSING BIG GAMES.
FIGURE OUT HWO TO DO BETTER THAN 1-10 VS. TOP CALIBRE TEAMS LIKE THE ONES THAT WIND UP #20 OR BETTER.
FIGURE OUT WHAT’S WRONG, AND FIX IT.
IT’S BEEN 3 YEARS.
STOP LOSING!!!
EJ
January 23rd, 2013
5:08 pm
So what if Murray loses every time to Mason in gday, regular season, or in SEC Championships, it shows how great Murray is.
So many geniuses on this blog…
Old Dawg
January 23rd, 2013
5:20 pm
I don’t care who’s playing D-line or linebacker, Grantham needs to develop better run-stopping schemes. Granted, Alabama had one of the best offensive lines in recent memory, UGA struggled against the run with other teams.
I understand the 3-4 has benefits in regard to pressuring and confusing QBs with different coverages, but if you can’t stop the run in the SEC you won’t be competitive against the conference’s elite teams.
tide roll
January 23rd, 2013
6:18 pm
Nice credentials on this guy Welton. No wonder Richt caves in to his wishes. Try that crap with Saban and see where it gets you. Richt and Bobo are in it for the money plain and simple. Until you clean that up, your’re destined to suffer the same results, on and on and on into the 22nd damn century. PITIFUL
Mr. Peabody
January 23rd, 2013
6:47 pm
“Peabody here…EJ is wearing his rose colored glasses in comparing QB’s. Only a fool would compare G-DAY stats, regular season MOP -UP Duty and 4th string defenders in an SEC championship game blow-out loss as equal playing time. But if we were comparing G-DAY STATS, regular season MOP-UP Duty and 4th string defenders in an SEC championship blowout loss why yes..yes EJ (A.K.A Mason’s Dad/Uncle/Cousin/Mom/Aunt/Neighbor down the road by the big pine tree) Mason’s a more experienced QB.”
waydownsouthdawg
January 23rd, 2013
7:26 pm
just real frustrating,the athletes in this state and the flagship university hasnt won a nat title since FOREVER whether its the ghost of jan kemp or whatever there always seems to be an excuse personally i believe a football team is direct reflection of the head coach and mark richt is soooooft i really thought grantham was the fire we needed but waaaaay too many yards rushing given up and he doesnt seem to be overly concerned it was a good season but not great i think we didnt take advantage of 2 yrs of ,by sec standards,mid level competition maybe we can put it all together one day i just dont know P.S. spike the damn ball
larddawg
January 23rd, 2013
7:35 pm
The D will be just fine next year. i really think they will have better #s that in 2012 . What i am worried about is gremlins and trolls that mite eat us all!
A person SMART enough to know.....
January 23rd, 2013
7:59 pm
Reading a good book on When to SPIKE the football.
RED DOG 77
January 24th, 2013
12:22 am
Bill…………Greetings, and happy new year!…………Me?………….Concerns?………….Nosereebobtail, I’m just as I was this time last year. I am not an upight Debbie downer……nor a homer…………I see the Univerity of Georgia football as it is…………..SOLID…………I am certain “my” DAWGS will have an excellent 2013, SECCG ?…………mabe mabe not…………..Clemson, South Carolina, LSU all in September is pretty strong………..but 2 out of three ain’t bad, and certainly early enough to right the ship for a possible National Championship run………….So no…………Me worry? Me doesn’t think so…………..Regards, RED
bigeasydawg
January 24th, 2013
12:44 am
I agree with the place kicking. If the kicker had not missed that field goal in the SECCG, we would have been able to try and kick a field goal on that last drive instead of having to score a TD.
University of Georgia Bulldogs Football Daily » January 24, 2013
January 24th, 2013
4:47 am
[...] starting lineup of the explosive, productive offense led by veteran quarterback Aaron Murray… [Full Article Here] NFL Draft: The New York Giants Should Draft Alec Ogletree Alec Ogletree may not be the best [...]
DawginLex
January 24th, 2013
8:16 am
Why doesn’t someone have the guts to do something about the racist posts of tide roll??
Instead, my comments are “awaiting moderation”….
Why??
Because I speak the truth and call it like it is!!!!!!!!!
All he does is spew lies about our coaching staff. 75% of our team is African American!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do something about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JB
January 24th, 2013
8:26 am
Maybe bring in a tackling coach for spring practice. Hum, old format?
Columbus Dawg
January 24th, 2013
8:36 am
First thing he should do is explain to Grantham that when you are the highest paid asst. coach in the history of UGA, and one of the highest in the SEC, that your work should look the part. Grantham was not going to get the Philly job to start with, and it seems more like a positioning ploy by Grantham and his agent to get additional money from UGA. He has not EARNED a raise, period. I have been tough on Richt,(the coach), and Bobo, but Bobo has turned it around, I don’t care what any of these idiots on these blog say. Bobo is a DGD. Grantham, on the other hand spent his first two years complaining about Bobo’s O, and the 2011 offensive problems centered squarely around the fact that there was absolutely NO running game at Bobo’s disposal. Bobo has done decently well when he had a competent rushing attack. I know that Coach Richt was desperate to fix the running game when he fawned all over the thug Crowell, and while everyone here in Columbus knew the deal with the thug Crowell, everyone here HOPED that he would turn out differently than expected, for the Dawgs sake. Now that UGA has been blessed with the two top notch kids in Gurley and Marshall, those problems seem like a distant memory. The only consistent problem that it seems won’t go away is the NO DEFENSE PROBLEM. I’ll admit that the pass D improved, but when your chances at a championship hinges on stopping, or at least slowing down some of the nation’s best rushing attacks you have to have a solid Erk Russel type run stopping defense, and this is something that has eluded Georgia. Van Gorder had a good couple of years, and the 1992 team under Ray Goff was second only to, you guessed it , Bama, that year. Other than that the Dawgs have been virtually toothless on that type of defense in most years.
While I’ll agree with the above posts that the kicking game MUST get fixed, I’ll also say that with the type of high scoring offense that Georgia should field in 2013, having a half decent run defense is most important. One thing about it, if it is worse this year, there aren’t many spots to fall in the defensive rankings.
old dog
January 24th, 2013
9:36 am
At least we are not Notre Dame, the most over-rated team in the country! We can see the things that need fixing on our team, yet the pundits and experts and all-knowing folks thought that the Irish were the #1 team in the nation? They could not win against the top four or five SEC teams. It was not just that ‘Bama blew them out, but they would beat those slow-boys 100 out of 100 times!
Yeah, I know, this is about us next year and I digressed. Our o-line improved, but is not elite. When I was at UGA, it seemed we had better, more accurate kickers. Leavitt, Robinson, Butler, etc. all seemed to be more accurate than what we have now, and one would think with all the kicker camps, etc. that today’s kickers would be 100% accurate. Over all, tackling could improve. Nate Taylor, an undersized walk-on who started in the middle years ago could give some lessons on sure-tackling. Overall, we will be above average, even great next year. But, so will ‘Bama, South Carolina……….here we go again!
DawginLex
January 24th, 2013
9:46 am
old dog
We had Hartman to work with the kickers back in the day and I don’t think he was considered a coach on the staff officially.He basically volunteered. He was awesome
old dog
January 24th, 2013
10:11 am
DawginLex,
Good point. He coached one of my best buds at UGA, who did indeed think the world of him. Wish there were more like him around…..apparantly his value was more than we all knew.
Revdawg
January 24th, 2013
12:05 pm
I know that Brice Ramsey is a quarterback but the guy can really boom the ball when he kicks it. I’d say give him a shot at kicking as well!
CarolinaChris
January 24th, 2013
12:29 pm
Eeveryone at South Carolina hiopes Murray keeps starting. Murray has just been unlucky against teams like Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, and Florida, he hasn’t had a good games against any of them yet, but he’s a great QB, you guys shouldn’t ever start Hutson Mason, Murray’s amazing, Spurrier agrees.
DawginLex
January 24th, 2013
12:57 pm
carolinachris
Football is a team game. Our OL and defense had a lot to do with those losses plus he beat Florida-twice.
Just shutup and go plan your 10 wins and 3rd in the East parade
WDE
January 24th, 2013
2:20 pm
CarolinaChris tell you what you keep your QB and we will keep ours….looking forward to seeing your bunch in the fall…
Moist Dawg
January 24th, 2013
7:49 pm
What CMR’s to do list should look like.
1. Make room in the trophy case for a cristal football.
2. Make another cristal middle finger and mail it to saban’s house.
3. Fly a blimp over tech every day that looks like a cristal football.
LSUFAN
January 24th, 2013
8:23 pm
Zach Mettenberger can’t wait to play Murray again. He expects Georgia to give him more of a battle this time than the 42-10 drubbing the last time the two teams met. Zach finds it odd how the great record setting Qb Murray can;’t beat the LSU’s South Carolina’s and Bama’s. And agree with the above, Murray has not played well against Florida yet in 3 years either. So in nutshell, Murray has player horrendous against the 4 top tier SEC teams, which is surprising considering all the records Murray has set.
LSUFAN
January 24th, 2013
8:25 pm
WDE, SC is 3-0 vs UGA in the Aaron Murray era, so much for your “we’ll keep our Qb” smack. I’m sure SC hopes you do keep Murray as the starting Qb. 3-0. 3 wins, 0 losses.
ty
January 25th, 2013
6:37 am
The running back situation at Georgia is shakey…When I say that, we lost Derrick Henry to UA. UA iss known to play their backs early and often in their first two years. Then they go pro. GA just does not seem to get a good rotation enough to recruit great running backs consistantly….That may sound wild but. Bama has stocked up with three of the first five Backs in the country including Henry and they may get Kamura. If Marshall was hurt vs Bama it should have been noted otherwise not giving him a chance to really break one vs Bama was a mistake. Bobo saying we are going with one back took away the long shifty runs Marshall was capable of. The commet Bobo made about Malcomb will probably be used by other teams to steer backs away from GA. We have good backs but not keeping them fresh like Bama does really hurts. Our passing attack probably does not help recruiting backs either…Why you lose a kid like Henry is not good.
The East
January 25th, 2013
7:50 am
The U of SC hired THREE coaches in the last 45? Years and the three ALL ON the MNC at other schools, prior to arriving in Columbia,SC. Once there they achieve NOTHING.
Steve Spurrier, Lou Holtz and Paul Dietzel are the three men who won BIG, BEFORE arriving in Columbia. SC has NEVER WON anything, beyond their one, sad, SEC EAST title.
SC is now and has always been a backwater program. Some things never change, Ask Coach Spurrier.
Lou "the toe" Groza
January 25th, 2013
8:00 am
Before looking too far outside for back up PK, Richt has potential replacement for Lindley in his own stable. #93 Beless did most kicking for the dawgs scout team last year and has the accuracy to give confidence if given shot at camp this year. Trained under Rex Robinson, he did not miss while in high school games. Just not high profile, but may be why not so much effort being spent looking outside.
jonesjr
January 25th, 2013
10:36 am
Grantham is a good coach.He deserve what he want everybody should be rewarded for what they do and give all coaches a chance to move up and do good.All they need is a chance.you have some good players that finish there under Coach Goff there,that can do a great job thats coaching in the NFL if given a chance.Clothing get old and people get old and get more experiences just like you and have a lot of wisdom about what they can do.