5 reasons the Georgia Bulldogs are better off than you think
Aaron Murray has been pretty darn good. (AP photo)
1. A.J. Green returns this week. Rule of thumb: Having your best player in the lineup tends to help.
2. The Bulldogs shouldn’t lose again until the day before Halloween, if then. The next four games: At Colorado, Tennessee in Athens, Vanderbilt in Athens, at Kentucky. The first three shouldn’t be much trouble, and surely Kentucky can’t beat Georgia two years running. (I mean, could it?) There should be much momentum-building done before UGA heads for Jacksonville, and who knows how good Florida is?
3. Aaron Murray looks legit. Even behind an offensive line that hasn’t blocked a lick, the redshirt freshman quarterback hasn’t been overwhelmed. He has five touchdown passes against two interceptions, and he has completed 61 percent of his passes. And now he gets to throw to A.J. Green.
4. The defense is better. That’s still not to say it’s good, but it’s better. Last season the Bulldogs yielded 78 points in victories over South Carolina and Arkansas. This year it yielded 48 against those two teams. Yeah, it lost both games this time, but whaddaya want?
5. This remains a very talented team. Even if it’s being undercoached on offense, talent cannot be kept down forever. Green will make plays that have gone unmade so far. Washaun Ealey won’t always fumble into the end zone. Orson Charles will do something. I’m not saying Georgia’s going to win the SEC East, and even my prediction of 9-3 seems a bit ambitious, but this team will not — repeat, not — finish 6-6. It’s too good for that.
Equal time (sort of): 5 reasons Georgia Tech is worse off than you might think.
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458 comments Add your comment
Mel
September 30th, 2010
3:02 pm
This is exactly why I have no respect for the Bulldogs or their fans. Your sense of entitlement makes you bellyache when you have a losing year (and even when your winning year isn’t good enough) and you all want to throw the coach overboard. I’m no fan of Mark Richt, but he’s accomplished more than most coaches in college football.
DIT
September 30th, 2010
3:04 pm
Pete & Mel – from this Alumnus… Well said!
the real Kirby Smart
September 30th, 2010
3:06 pm
Just for record this “idiot” has 2 degrees from UGA, Pete. And season ticket holder. Mark Richt will NEVER contend for another SEC East crown…….at least not at UGA. We are a sinking ship. you were probably one of those ppl who thought we should have kept Ray Goff just bc we tired Auburn in 94. The sooner Rev. Richt is gone, the sooner we can catch up with the Bama, Fla., LSU, etc. That is unless you like being a losing program………which i guess just makes you a loser.
DIT
September 30th, 2010
3:13 pm
the real Kirby Smart
- Just asking, but how do you know the next coach WILL be better then CMR? How do you know he won’t turn into a flop like Goff or Donnan? Just because we go out and get a new coach will not mean he will be better than CMR. You just don’t know that.
I’m just as disgusted with the play of our team this year as the next. It’s just too easy to say FIRE HIM! if it does not work out. Now Bobo on the other hand….. I tend to agree about demoting him to QB coach. Now if there is not drastic improvement on the team as a whole at the end of 2011 season then yes it will be time for a change.
Not trying to strike a nerve here, it’s just my opinion.
AltamahaDawg
September 30th, 2010
3:21 pm
My insider TGC crew has heard this already from me, but I am convinced that Murray has made a bunch of mistakes that just hasn’t been obvious to us. And for those saying that Bobo was riding him, because he mentioned him needed to release the ball faster (which was 100% true), that’s just BS becasue there has been dozens of plays that Coach has silently accepted the blame as a bonehead call, when in fact Murray checked INTO the wrong coverage/blitz/hole. Certainly any mistakes Murray makes IS the coaches responsibility. He should take the blame for a play that doesn’t work because that is his job. But it’s sort of important to understand what is actually happening on the field, isnt it? Just as an indication if anything will improve.
I can point to several specific play just last week that there is video proof that our QB made a mistake in his reads and the results changed the outcome of the game. Hint: the announcers that some of you love to take at thier word, pointed out one glaring misread, on that last critical drive when the game was still in doubt.
But he is a worlds ahead of Staffords first few games already. (RS)
cantondawg
September 30th, 2010
3:24 pm
Phil,
Richt was also unproven when they hired him. 10 years later and he hasn’t proved very much if you ask me.
You’ve proven that you’re a dumbass with this comment
Paul in RDU
September 30th, 2010
3:25 pm
Monsieur Madame @2:10
You obviously didn’t comprehend my posting. I said “when I travel outside the southeast….”
RDU = Raleigh-Durham, NC – which is in the southeast. Before you start throwing around insults, perhaps you should have at least a basic understanding of both the geography of the United States and the English language.
Patrick Joyce
September 30th, 2010
3:25 pm
How will the spin read next week after traveling across the country to lose to a mediocre Colorado team?
Pete
September 30th, 2010
3:28 pm
Hey real Kirby Smart…were your two degrees in Home Consumerism and Interior Design…? Just kidding, must be that freaking joke, Management. Stings doesn’t it? So, from the world of demographics I will offer this to you: We live in Georgia. A small state. We are not a Florida. We are not a Texas. So, recruiting will be tough. And I will bring you back to earth for a second, we are not considered a national powerhouse. Hey, just ask ESPN. So, we cant rest on our laurels like Tennessee does. Finally, we recruit within the SEC, a gargantuan task. Then, you go off, and think we should win the East, every year. Sure, the last time we won was 5 years ago. I know, that is just awful isn’t it….? Crickets, crickets. Seeing as UF (as much as I hate them) won a natl. championship, almost had the chance for two, it was a tough division. So, hey…we should win every year right. Why not the National Championship. We should win that as well. Oh, and by the way, what does “tired Auburn” mean? Way to use both of those degrees. Now, if you could have only learned to use a dictionary, or maybe just a spell checker (all you need to do is right click on the word in question). Embarrassing.
Shankit
September 30th, 2010
3:28 pm
“BoBo must go supporters”
I guess if an offensive coordinator
cannot take his head coach’s freshmen
quarterbacks for two consecutive years
to an East SEC championship, he should
go.
Phil
September 30th, 2010
3:29 pm
DIT,
You’re right, you don’t know the next coach will be better. But I’n afraid we are in a downward spiral, and it’s been happening the last few years, you can see the direction this program is going. Down, not up.
I don’t think you take a chance on an unproven when you want to get to the next level, you go get a top notch guy, like Florida and Alabama did.
I say Jim Harbaugh. He has proven a lot at Stanford. He has made an academic school a tough physical smash mouth program. If he can do that at Stanford, just imagine what he could do here with all the access to the recruiting in this area. He could produce a team that could stand up to Alabama.
There are a couple others out there also, but Harbaugh looks to be the best.
And before all the Richt loyalist go off again, do you really think he would have lasted 10 years at Alabama or Florida without ever getting to a National Championship game? If you’re honest with yourself, then you know he wouldn’t have.
Shankit
September 30th, 2010
3:30 pm
What makes you think Jim Harbrough
would leave Stanford to come to this
briar patch?
Phil
September 30th, 2010
3:36 pm
Shankit,
I don’t know that he would, but if you throw enough money out there, you can get almost anybody. Saban would leave Alabama if the money is right. Don’t think we could afford him though.
Gary
September 30th, 2010
3:38 pm
Pretty sure Tennessee needed OT to beat UAB. God I hope we a better than UAB.
JD
September 30th, 2010
3:40 pm
Mark Badley written article is at it again… another homer for UGA. Maybe UGA’s problem is all the bad karma that is assoicated w/ mark badley written. UGA is not that well off and tech is in a better position.
but what else is new, Mark is standing up for his team and trying to insult their rivals at the same time.
this guy sucks.
Evansdawg
September 30th, 2010
3:40 pm
“Undercoached offense?” That is an understatement. WAKE UP COACH RICHT. I don’t want to see you go. If you cannot admit this…perhaps its time. I think this is the most basic of our problems. Grantham hasn’t had the time to build his unit, and the D is already somewhat better.
Loran, whatdayagot?
September 30th, 2010
3:47 pm
” Not much,”
1-1 at home
0-2 on the road.
0-3 in the SEC.
drstrangelovejr
September 30th, 2010
3:49 pm
Here is ONE reason that negates your 5 reasons. Mark Richt is UGA’s coach!
JD
September 30th, 2010
3:52 pm
tech is 1-1 in the acc
uga is 0-3 in the sec
yeah, UGA looks like they are gonna be fine!!! nothing to worry about! QB looks great.
Tech is gonna have a better season. Even if ur a fan of UGA you should be able to see that.
cugas
September 30th, 2010
4:03 pm
Its all Russ’s fault…..that poor dog will go down as the biggest loser in UGA history.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 30th, 2010
4:05 pm
UGA couldn’t even force OVERTIME against Miss St. you know the Miss St that is 42-76 since 2000 and only has 2 winning seasons since 2000.
cugas
September 30th, 2010
4:05 pm
Can you imagine how the defense might look if Grantham thought the offense could actually score a touchdown. Those poor guys are having to play from behind every game…..let’s get the defense a 14 point lead and see how they do.
Algonquin j. Calhoun
September 30th, 2010
4:18 pm
The Dawgs are awful and credit must go to the coach. so long Richt!
Phil
September 30th, 2010
4:28 pm
cantondawg,
Go over and read Shultz’s predictions for the weekend, he’s picking Colorado straight up. That’s where Richt has this program. It’s a joke. AJ Green is not the savior, he will help the offense for sure. But our problems go way deeper than just 1 player.
Voice of Reason
September 30th, 2010
4:38 pm
Mark is right, UGAg will not finish 6-6, they will finish 5-7. Enjoy your season, my new favorite radio station is 95.5 because there are so many crying puppy fans out there. Wa-wa-wa, Loosers!
GR82BAG8R
September 30th, 2010
4:45 pm
5150 P.O.A.D and JD – Tech may have a better season than Georgia, but until Tech gets a defense, Georgia will run over them again. They did it last year, just like Iowa did and LSU did. Tech’s defense is their downfall and it is not getting better….
uuugh...
September 30th, 2010
4:49 pm
I think Bradley is putting the cart before the horse. Let’s get a W in Boulder before we go talking about winning streaks.
Plus some of UGA’s very best teams have been spanked by Tennessee…even when they have bad teams. I don’t think we have much of a chance in that one.
Shankit…FYI last year’s QB was a 5th year senior. That is 5 years under Bobo. How do you think Bobo did with those 5 years? This year’s RS Freshman QB looks better than Cox did last year. OC’s are supposed to put the offensive players in the best position to succeed. His play calling has not done that AT ALL this year. I think some of the playcalls have put the kids in a position to fail many times. This coupled with his apparent lack of down and distance understanding leads me to believe we can do better than Bobo. Sorry fella.
Big time?? Not
September 30th, 2010
4:51 pm
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes
5150 P.O.A.D
September 30th, 2010
4:56 pm
GR82 I guess no matter what happens all year we will have just wait and see after Thanksgiving now want we? It will still be fun, but it might not matter to anybody in the SEC or ACC by the time the game is played. PJ is 1-1 against Richt. Russ is 1-0 against Tech, but UGA VIII has never been on the sidelines. We will see.
TommyJack
September 30th, 2010
4:59 pm
Georgia. STILL the most under-achieving team in America. And have been for years.
Win P.
September 30th, 2010
5:01 pm
MB, I think it is more likely that UGA will have a 3-9 season. Based on the last 3 games, UGA doesn’t have the “right stuff”.
Jenna Jamison's OBGYN
September 30th, 2010
5:03 pm
Where is good ole’ Damon Evans when you need him?
Win P.
September 30th, 2010
5:05 pm
You are expecting more from A.J. than I am.
GR82BAG8R
September 30th, 2010
5:06 pm
Georgia’s season now centers on Green. If he comes out and plays with a vengeance, his presence on the field will open up more opportunities for the rest of the offense.
If he is shut down, Georgia could really be in trouble.
GTfanfrom1951
September 30th, 2010
5:16 pm
Oh No Mark you are just like the weather man……no clue
What the Huck!
September 30th, 2010
5:18 pm
On my way to Boulder to support my team while all you naysayers sit and your computers and bitch and moan. Even if Georgia DOES finish 6-6 this year–you can take ANY five year period of the Mark Richt era and compare them with ANY PERIOD IN GEORGIA FOOTBALL HISTORY (except 1980–82) and Richt’s record is better. Any five year period against any other 5 year period. Get up off the man and let him do his job!
Red Panties
September 30th, 2010
5:27 pm
Mark,
You are dreaming, the dawgs lose 2 of the next four. Then they lose to the Gators and Auburn to be 5-6 going into the Tech game. That’s a 50-50 proposition now, so you are looking at a 5-7 worse case and 6-6 best case——-either of which will lead Richt to replace all offensive coaches-he only make a move when forced to.
Red Panties
September 30th, 2010
5:37 pm
uuuugg………
you are exactly right. Also, I would rather have Durham out there and not Green.
Durham plays with alot of heart and look what he when through the last 2 years just to get back on the field, Green is out for Green and I doubt he will play as well as Durham has.
beaker
September 30th, 2010
6:09 pm
79 was a winning but non-bowl season; 77 was the losing season; Ray Goff had several losing seasons. Butts was wining in his early years; but except for the 59 team (SEC champs) and 60 (6-4), UGA generally had losing seasons throughout the 1950s. If you exclude 80, 81, 82, and 83, Dooley’s record was just so-so.
During his tenure, only Bryant was a clearly superior SEC coach to Dooley. Vaught, Charlie Mac, Jordan were good but probably a touch below Dooley. Galen Hall might have been better but he was screwed royally by UF. Hall is the guy who kept Jo Pa sucessful; without him Paterno would have suffered the same fate as Bowden
Brooks was a good coach at KY; but he just didn’t have the talent base. SC, FL, LSU, and Bama have better coaches than Richt. Mullen is unproven; but he is making a good showing at MSU; however, there just isn’t the talent base in Mississippi. It’s too soon to tell about Tenn and Auburn. Overall, the SEC coaches in the SEC are quite good. UGA, however, does have the talent base; with this base, UGA should beat(SEC East and traditional opponents):
SC–7 out of 10
Vandy 9 out of 10
KY 8 out of 10
Tenn 6 out of 10
Auburn 6 out of 10
FL 4 out of 10
Tech 7 out of 10
UGALEE
September 30th, 2010
6:26 pm
Keep Richt. Fire Adams.
60 on the 27th
September 30th, 2010
6:35 pm
Wish on, you what if bunch of xxxx. The dogs ain’t jack and will not even meet fat xxx bradley’s expectations this year. So xxxxxxx what.
Chett Peebles
September 30th, 2010
6:38 pm
I hate to say it- but Mike Bobo is the problem. Put him back in the skybox- if that doesn’t work, send him packing. Coach Richt should be calling the offensive plays. Bobo wasn’t that great as a GA QB- even less effective as an OC.
Dawgs not Ford Tough
September 30th, 2010
6:54 pm
Mark and all you dumb mutts fans keep drinking the Kool- Aid!
Uuugh...
September 30th, 2010
7:14 pm
Panties. I have been impressed with Durham’s effort…and I think that Green’s presence will help Durham shine even brighter. I like those guys on opposite sides with a shorter speedy guy in the slot.
There will be match up problems thanks to Green coming back. The problem is the Line still has to block long enough to get a pass out and Bobo has to call something other than an inside draw on every single 2nd down (regardless of distance).
Snellville GT
September 30th, 2010
7:16 pm
Mark, UGA is just “down” this year. It happens. When I spent two years in Athens, matriculating at the University as part of my education, I heard it said, “Oh, yeah – - Georgia. That’s the school that USED to have good football teams.” Well, they snapped out of it, and they will again. If they finish 6-6 this year, fans have to understand that you have to have a poor season every now and then. Richt is a good man, and he’s not the cause of what the Bulldogs are going through.
old dawg
September 30th, 2010
7:25 pm
Mark,
please go back on your meds.
the O line has no heart nor pride. everyone in the world knows this and can’t wait to tee off on them.
is the D better than last year? yes, but losing 14-3 is still a loss.
until CMR fixes the offense, the end is the same. that will not happen before the end of the season.
fix the offense and go recruit. and by the way, i am way over our recruiting genius.
wow weeza
September 30th, 2010
8:18 pm
The biggest reason the bullfrawgs are better (sorry if this has already been mentioned because I didn’t read all entries) is DRUM ROLL…….all of their players are not in jail! God Bless the proud recipients of The Fulmer Cup! Woof Woof!
autiger83
September 30th, 2010
8:39 pm
In case you havent figured it out yet. Mark Bradley is an idiot.
Just Saying:
September 30th, 2010
8:46 pm
Mark, Lets get realistic and debark the Homer Train:
1. Yes AJ will help, but only so much. Without an OL to block it is hard to pass the football downfield.
2. Shouldn’t and Couldn’t are two widely different words but should be used in every sentence when speaking UGA Football. 7-5 and 6 and 6 are more likely and UK on the road is a tough one.
3. Aaron Murray is legit, but that poor guy is getting killed by poor blocking.
4. Lack of quality players is not going to make life any easier with the upcoming schedule for this defense, do not think that UK, UF, AU will not poor it on the defense with Touchdowns and field goals.
5.Talent on this team is very very sparse, now I am not saying it is not there, I am saying it was signed each February, delivered each summer, but coached down every fall. When Green, Durham leave after this year life in Athens on Saturday will not be a place where 90,000 fans will be happy.
Douglas
September 30th, 2010
10:05 pm
Lose babee lose so we can find these recruits better coaching. The faster we lose and the more we lose the faster Richt is gone and the bleeding can stop. I think we ought to start looking at Jim Harbaugh as our next coach.