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
OutsideWorld
September 30th, 2010
10:17 pm
Stewart Mandel: In all my travels, I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a fan base whose self-perception is so far from reality. Georgia fashions itself a national power in the vein of Ohio State, USC, et. al., based primarily off one glorious three-year run 30 years ago with Herschel Walker (and some kick-butt years in the 1940s). Prior to this season, the Dawgs under Richt had vastly outperformed their historical “equilibrium,” and in fact Richt’s career winning percentage (.752) is the highest in school history (not counting Bobby Winston’s lone 5-1 season in 1894).
OutsideWorld
September 30th, 2010
10:25 pm
HA HA HA HA HA. Tired of all of the trash talking. Go Buffaloes. Sick of the UGA ego and thousands upon thousands of people are enjoying watching this train wreck week after week. I was hoping Miss St would win, they’re a good team, just surprised the score was so close for so long.
Fan of both UGA and Tech
September 30th, 2010
10:34 pm
Mark,
Really?…this sounds to me like propaganda (positive UGA and negative Tech)…I guess AJC/WSB needs to make sure there are plenty of listeners to their advertisements during their semi-pro (UGA) team’s game commercial’s.
Dawggonehome
September 30th, 2010
10:40 pm
Maybe you can wire the pope’s next encyclical on HOPE!
Snoop Dawg
September 30th, 2010
10:54 pm
Great talent, lousy coach. That’s the fact, Jack.
Snoop Dawg
September 30th, 2010
11:00 pm
The Dawgs will receive a smackdown this weekend in Colorado. Does anybody want to differ? It is so obvious that only an apologist could argue differently.
zilladawg
September 30th, 2010
11:06 pm
what if they win every game on out,that would really p!ss me off, read the stats at the 2010 NFL combine for the D line drafted,hell even the last couple of years,A Better Coach Would Have A BETTER Team,point blank botton line.ANGER GRRRRRRRRR
From Where I Sit
September 30th, 2010
11:33 pm
Again, you gotta be joking to think that GA has a chance against FL this year or the next or the next.
This GA program is awful this year. If Miss State can beat GA, anyone can, especially, the Gators!
Gators win the East again in 2010, and will blow GA out in Jax!
Enough Said!
Bama Fan
September 30th, 2010
11:35 pm
7-5 maybe 8-4
aarh
October 1st, 2010
1:57 am
Yo uguys are a sorry excuse for what’s supposed to be a fan. You should never wish the team loses so that the coaches will get fired. Why don’t you just hope they get better with them. I’m sure you know it alls are going to say that isn’t possible. People were saying the same thing 3 yrs. ago after losing to SC at the beginning of the season, & getting blown out against Tenn., & having numerous other close calls, & then ending it by getting hot & finishing # 2 in the nation. Nto to mention numerous other season when they started out slow, & ended up playing good by the end of the yr. Nobody winds every yr. Give the coaches a chance. Before yo ucome back & say that Ohio St., & maybe 1 or 2 other teams are good consistently…just remember that they don’t play in the SEC. It’s harder to win consistently here, & they have never beaten an SEC team either.
aarh
October 1st, 2010
2:04 am
OustideWorld- I don’t claim that UGA is in the vein of the Ohio St. Suckeyes, or USC from the PAC 1. I know those are good teams, but it’s a little bit easier to have a dominanat run when you’re not playing in the SEC. I’m not saying those teams wouldn’t be good in the SEC, but it would be harder to be as dominant. Not only is teh schedule tougher, but the teams also have to play an extra SEC championship game as well…unlike those 2 teams you mentioned. Again, Ohio St. has never beaten an SEC team. The last time UGA played them they beat them too, btw. UGA still usually does have a good team. Nobody wins all the time.
Falcon Fan
October 1st, 2010
6:16 am
Your 1st reason is ridiculous! Why should I read any more of this list. Georgia was supposed to beat Miss St.
STING'EM!
October 1st, 2010
8:36 am
F**K You Mark!
Dawgs Back in 2011!
October 1st, 2010
8:46 am
This is a rebuilding year for the Dawgs. Next year, with an experienced QB, a deep and experienced RB group and the best oline in the SEC, the Dawgs will be back—mark it down—the Dawgs win the SEC east in 2011. Florida will be way down next year after losing their Oline and brantley doesn’t look that good. 2011—the year of the Dawg!
404
October 1st, 2010
9:04 am
Listening to the 790theZOne crew destroy Mark Bradley as a complete hack this morning on the radio was one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard.
A thing of beauty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
r2chs
October 1st, 2010
9:08 am
Disagree on the premise not the specifics, the fundamental problem is one of strategy. Same thinking doesn’t magically make things all better in seven days.
AltamahaDawg
October 1st, 2010
9:13 am
I think what Mandel failed to mention is that he came to those conclusion while working on a feature about GT, but since they knew so little about thier own team, only obsessed with being the self-appointed experts on what every Georgia fan thinks, this is the story he came back with.
Doug
October 1st, 2010
9:23 am
As one exists the weight room for the Mississippi State baseball team there is a sign that is applicable to all sports. It simply says, “Attitude is everything.” For 3 games, Georgia’s intensity, concentration, and execution and now add confidence has been lower than its opponents. Unless that changes, this is going to be a very difficult year. Taking Colorado and Tennessee for granted doesn’t change the attitude needed to win.
fold like a tent
October 1st, 2010
9:40 am
I’d rather see Durham than Green……just sayin. Great to see his success so far. I am sick of hearing how Green is our best player. Tired of the excuses people make for him. Bunch of crap!! There are a lot of kids on that team that deserve recognition for their efforts and stellar play and behavior. Bench the problems and play the players, coach. Be a man!!
Elaine
October 1st, 2010
9:51 am
Richt should not survive until the end of the season. Why wait to get a head coach who has a fire in the belly for his team. All Richt cares about is his tan, his hair and where the TV cameras are. Dump him now!
Florida Dawg
October 1st, 2010
10:01 am
No question we are the bet 1-3 team in the nation…but no one has really been able to point out why we are not 4-0.
Don’t think AJ would have gotten us to 4-0 anyway…as Coach Erk used to say, “the difference between winning and loosing is a fine line”.
I know we are better than our record but we have been saying this for over 2 years.
FRED
October 1st, 2010
10:09 am
Can i smoke some of that!
Delta was ready at 6PM Tuesday night
October 1st, 2010
10:27 am
My brother in law flew to Denver the other night on DL. He has emailed me several times. He is staying with a former college roomie from Macon Georgia who now lives in Boulder.
They say that the fans out there are jacked up ( for Colorado standards ) and they do expect a blow out. They think that UGA is about like what we in the SEC think of William and Mary or Elon College or GT. They do expect a 45-10 thing ……………. the score should be about right.
I see wreckless abandon in UGA’s offense. Not because AJ will be playing but because they all know ( UGA coaches know ) that their futures are at stake I see UGA running a spread O with Murray rolling and passing short to intermediate balls to keep the chains moving. I see the UGA TEs heavily invloved in twin TE sets or stacked widde outs with BOTH AJ and DURDEN on one side and Marvleous Marlon Brown ( he cost us the MSU game with holding call ) and then Aaron can have a field day. He can roll out look, or tuck it and run. They ( Colorado ) will not know whether to sit or go blind.
Once the UGA passing attack ala Texas Tech is rolling, then yes, we will see sad, pathetic Ealey getting some nice runs. This is the template for the future at UGA …………should have been done weeks ago but FEAR has them all re-thinking it.
I also see Boo Malcomb from SWD HS playing ……….unless he is injured. He is a bigger back than the three lil boys that are #s1,2 and 3.
Go Dogs.
Dawg Pacer
October 1st, 2010
10:58 am
With AJ back, the Dawgs will blow out a weak colorado team and get on a roll. AJ will put up 3 TDs against that sorry buffalo team—count on it.
danny
October 1st, 2010
11:02 am
Enter your comments here
Mark Richt appears to be Tommy Tubberville icarnate during his last year at Auburn. Totally disengaged and smug, hopefully the team won’t quit on CMR as Auburn did in 2008.
N.GA.DAWG
October 1st, 2010
11:11 am
It’s funny how some folks (or fools) get on here and bla bla how your team is so bad and how you think your gonna win the nc and bla, bla, bla! And alot of the bad mouthing are coming from uga fans. I for 1 am proud to be a GEORGIA BULLDAWG.! I’m glad to have alot of expectations from my team. When they dont meet those expectations I will not throw them under the bus. We are not that good right now but I was at the Tenn. game in 07 and thought we would lose most of the games we had left that year. How I was wrong. And alot of you are wrong now. I love our coach and players and I expect them to fight every game and maybe they will salvage the 2010 season. If not, I will still be behind them 100% no matter what. And I might add, with pride! GO DAWGS!!
McKay
October 1st, 2010
11:14 am
Talent? We have one NFL prospect and he hasn’t even played yet this year. Talented teams put players in the pro’s! The state of GA. has to much talent to go over 30 years without a National Championship. Richt had his chance, lets try someone else
Headley Lamar
October 1st, 2010
11:17 am
Talent? We have one NFL prospect and he hasn’t even played yet this year. Talented teams put players in the pro’s!
1. We have alot more than one pro prospect.
2. UGA has put a ton of players in the pros under Richt
3. What have you been smoking?
McKay
October 1st, 2010
11:24 am
That was the past . This is now. Green is the only national profile player
Lowcountry Dawg
October 1st, 2010
11:26 am
Love to agree with you Mark, but I just can’t…
I see us losing to UF and Auburn
Beating Idaho St…given
Colorado, UT, Vandy, KY and GT are tossups…
7-5…and that’s if we don’t slip up one of the 5 tossup games…
Gonna hate these trips to Shreveport…
Jorts on Sale at Gainesville, FL Wal-Mart
October 1st, 2010
11:33 am
Gay-turds fan should be seen and not heard!
Green is not our best player
October 1st, 2010
11:35 am
I thought Houston was, but I’d have to take Murray now.
Rick
October 1st, 2010
11:46 am
I’m a UGA and I say they will be worst than 6-6.
Headley Lamar
October 1st, 2010
11:57 am
Nobody
And I mean nobody circles the wagons like the Georgia Bulldogs
Watch and see.
droopydawg
October 1st, 2010
12:11 pm
Reality check: MSU’s defense is pretty darn good and Starkville is a tough place to play. None of the 4 upcoming games should be considered more difficult. People who think MSU is worse than the 4 upcoming games are living in a pre-Dan Mullen mindset.
droopydawg
October 1st, 2010
12:13 pm
Rick said “I’m a UGA [sic] and I say they will be worst [sic] than 6-6.”
I hope you do not mean UGA student or graduate, because then this post would be embarrassing to alumni like myself.
Nauseaous...
October 1st, 2010
1:56 pm
We will win 4 more games.
Colorado
Tennessee
Vandy
Idaho State
We will loose the rest and I think The GT game will end in a tie because they will BOTH try to out sorry each other.
Rock E. Topp
October 1st, 2010
2:25 pm
Bradley….please take off your HOMER blinders. UT (as scraggly as we have looked) will NOT lose to UGA. I don’t care if the game is being played in Sanford & Son stadium….its NOT HAPPENING. Lest I remind you that UGA is 0 – 3 in SEC play. Mississippi State had their way with them last week. Maybe you did not get to see the replay. I don’t care if AJ Green is back….he has not practiced much nor seen game time action all year. He will be about as rusty as UGA’s National Championship dream. Vols are weak and I openly admit that….but NO WAY they lose to UGAg. Book it, Dano! Vols 24 UGA 13
Headley Lamar
October 1st, 2010
2:47 pm
Any team that just took 2 OT’s to beat UAB isnt beating anybody anytime soon.
Rock E. Topp
October 1st, 2010
3:19 pm
@Headley Lamar…….does not matter if UT took 13 OT’s to beat UAB. The thing is they WON. As opposed to UGAg who got their azzes handed to them by Mississippi State. UGAg only had 6 measly points until late in the 4th qtr until they got the TRASH TD. I guess AJ will be playing skins this week since he does not have a jersey, huh? He should be extra easy to spot in amongst all those Buffaloes….come to think of it….maybe not. So Headley….feel free to blow it out your azz! Vols 24 UGAg 13 Call your bookie today!
Date your sister in Knox County, TN
October 1st, 2010
3:40 pm
Volunqueer fans, please join your fellow Gay-turd bretheren…
Vol Master
October 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
The vols will beat georgia easily in athens—take it to the bank! Vols 30 Dawgs 20
Dooley’s building a machine in knoxville. The dawg machine broke down and there are no spare parts.
Rock E. Topp
October 1st, 2010
4:27 pm
@ “Date Your Sister”…….Why would I want to do that when your mother and your sisters put out like Coke vending machines. Heck, with them you don’t even need exact change. I know you are upset that UGAg is 0-3 in SEC play. But look on the bright side….well OK….I guess in Athens there is not bright side. PS…tell your Mom to get that rash checked. I have been itching like crazy!
Dawg H8R
October 1st, 2010
4:46 pm
Why is GT WORSE than we think? Why is jawja better than we think? Sounds like the homerism bug has hit the airwaves again. Just because Green is returning and you guys are playing Colorado,
it doesn’t mean pick jawja as untouchable again!
Waiting to See
October 1st, 2010
5:50 pm
5 reasons why the Bulldogs are not better off: 1)Richt 2)Bobo 3) Richt 4)Bobo 5) Richt.
Alec
October 1st, 2010
6:38 pm
Mark Richt needs to grow a pair and finally start looking for a new offensive coordinator because if i had to choose one person other than the team for why we have a 1-3 record i would choose dumbass Bobo for not being as ambitious all he does is take the ball up the middle for 2 yard gains and wastes possessions im ready for something different.
teacher
October 1st, 2010
6:54 pm
I wonder if colleges around the USA have even considered the idea that the NFL should not be connected to college football in any way, shape, or form. For example, players would register to go to school and then go to the classes as other students and then if they had time to play football they could do so. No scholarships.
On the flip side of the coin, all thuggs and rapist and murderers could just go from high school to the NFL, start making large sums of money, and never torture colleges with their idiotic dances and crimes commited. Why lower the standards of colleges just so that a bunch of thuggs can give the NFL a free chance to see how good they might be while playing college football so on—most of these guys leave college anyway in their 3rd year and go to the NFL.
Then again I also realize that the average American has a fourth grade education, and an idea like this would never make any sense. But it will be thrown out to the public at some point I am sure. To me, especially after watching Georgia and their sissies try and act they can play football(all the while getting a free education and training in a sport), this idea makes a tremendous amount of sense and I would welcome it————-Just think, they wouldnt even have to give any scholarships. And no recruiting. And no more games. Too good to be true I think. Hey, no more problems with agents.
teacher
October 1st, 2010
6:56 pm
On second thought—-How do it know? I hope Georgia gets at least 4 wins year.
Thomas
October 1st, 2010
7:05 pm
Mtn Dawg: I am not sure if you are positive, optimistic or dumb to believe this team will win all their remaining games.
77Dawg
October 1st, 2010
7:27 pm
…and # 7. UGA will be OK, lots of $$ for professors We play no ball next year, it’s too rough of the sport.