Why Georgia is nicely positioned to make real hay in 2012
Orson Charles won't have any part in the next UGA-LSU game. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
It now appears that Orson Charles could be the only Georgia player who’ll leave early for the NFL. If that is indeed the case, the Bulldogs will be positioned nicely for 2012.
They could have lost Jarvis Jones, who’s their best player, and also Bacarri Rambo, who’s one of their five best, but both have said they’ll return to school. And coordinator Todd Grantham, whose name has already surfaced as an Atlanta Falcons’ possibility, e-mailed esteemed colleague Chip Towers and confessed a desire “to be at UGA for a very long time.”
(For the record, I’m not sure Grantham is a fit in Flowery Branch for a rather basic reason: He runs the 3-4, and the Falcons, as Mike Smith noted Monday, have spent four seasons drafting for the 4-3.)
We say again: If Georgia enters the 2012 season with 15 starters returning — including nine on defense — the Bulldogs should and will be a Top 10 team.
Others say so, too. Esteemed former colleague Mark Schlabach ranks Georgia No. 6 in his ESPN lookahead. Andy Staples of SI.com slots the Bulldogs at No. 9. And Brett McMurphy of CBS Sports has the Bulldogs ranked third, behind only LSU and Southern Cal.
I’m on record as picking the Bulldogs to go 11-1 in the 2012 regular season and to win the SEC — and not just the SEC East. The Outback Bowl loss, bad as it was, didn’t change that belief. I should, however, note that a post-Outback post to that effect met with scorn from many of you who claim to be Georgia fans. My point, then as now, was: Nine months from now, who’s going to care about what happened in Tampa on Jan. 2?
And why, since you asked, would I pick Georgia to win the SEC championship game when it just lost the SEC championship game by 32 points? Because seasons change, and so do results. Did not Alabama lose to Florida in the Georgia Dome in 2008, Tim Tebow’s junior season? Did not the Tide beat Tebow and his Gators under the same roof the very next year? (And if Georgia should happen to play LSU again, we’ve just been handed evidence that the Tigers are not invincible.)
Seasons change, I say again. Georgia was lousy in 2010 and got good again in 2011. It will be even better in 2012. Carp over the Bulldogs’ schedule all you want, but things don’t appear much different for 2012. If they won 10 games this time, they should win more next season. So say I.
By Mark Bradley
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631 comments Add your comment
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
12:42 pm
GTBob
hahahahahah are you that d u m b???? Please show me where I said any of that. I will wait……..
Since when is saying it wont be an easy game mean we will lose?????? What a m o r o n.
Try harder if you want to beat me
DawginLex
January 12th, 2012
12:43 pm
bama4life
We play SC just like several of the west teams do.
do you think florida is going to just rollover in Jacksonville and give us the game? Their returning D is legit and they now have a talented OC.
Bama does not play SC or UGA so I say, your schedule is soft.
Rick James
January 12th, 2012
12:43 pm
I think the Georgia’s first half against LSU exposed a lot about them to Saban and Alabama had the depth and talent to expliot.Georgia had the talent But LSU had depth and talent.I agree that next year could be special.
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
12:43 pm
GTBob
January 12th, 2012
12:36 pm
When did I say run you off meant, run you off of all 30 daily blogs???
Please give me an example of when you ran me off. This should be good.
Dont need to give you an example. You run your mouth I shut you down and you leave period.
GTBob
January 12th, 2012
12:44 pm
Heartache is all you have live with it and shut the hell up
I would but you guys make it so easy. It’s going to be fun watching the hype build up all offseason and watch it crumble down once again.
Truth
January 12th, 2012
12:45 pm
@GTBob,
Now I’m getting a kick out of this the way people keep responding. Perhaps you are doing a highschool psychology project. Whatever it is, it’s working. Have a good day, son.
Truth
January 12th, 2012
12:45 pm
Georgia is OVERRATED
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
12:45 pm
RTR22
January 12th, 2012
12:22 pm
Did I say we had more or was I just pointing out the fact that you were overstating how many titles yall had won????
Please read before addressing me directly troll. this was a waste of my time.
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
12:47 pm
Bama4life
January 12th, 2012
12:41 pm
Schedule doesnt matter for SEC teams moron. We will be ranked top 10 next year and all we have to do is win and we are in period. Keep crying over how unfair it is though please
GTBob
January 12th, 2012
12:47 pm
Dont need to give you an example. You run your mouth I shut you down and you leave period.
Never happened internet Chuck Norris but you keep believing that. If you have run me off 30 times then surely you can give one example. lol.
Spurrier
January 12th, 2012
12:47 pm
DawginLex – Rome wasn’t built in a day. I’ve brought the first SEC East title and the first 11 win season to Columbia. I’m riding a 2 game winning streak against UGA. I’ve got this program rolling now. Let’s talk in a couple of years.
DawginLex
January 12th, 2012
12:47 pm
Bama does not have 14 legit national titles yet their delusional,dumb fanbase continues to brag about it.
Chris
January 12th, 2012
12:47 pm
As long as Bobo AND RIcht keep up with their mundane play calling, lack of good play calling at crucial moments, going conservative with a 7 point lead, and as long as they show an inability to adjust to what the defense is doing, Georgia will loose 2 or 3 games. We might win the East, but we will not win the SEC championship.
Bringing up how Alabama came back and beat Florida the following year is a lame reference. Alabama has Nick Saban. We have Richt, and it’s the same story year after year after year……..
DawginLex
January 12th, 2012
12:48 pm
spurrier
In a couple of years you will be playing golf and SC will still have ZERO SEC TITLES
bruce mac
January 12th, 2012
12:49 pm
Okay Yech fans, we have it now. No reason to post it over and over again like you are covering new ground. Our schedule is weak weak weak and we play nobody including your piece of crap team. We will be lucky to win 7 games and our QB will never beat anyone of consequence. The Bumble Bees on the other hand are suddenly and remarkably going to learn how to cover and tackle effectively and your high school offense will become all world for no apparent reason. We are listening and have it straight now. We also now realize that your BBall team will win the ACC and National Championship within 2 or 3 years. Ours on the other hand, will stink as usual and never beat you again. Now lets post some new material you DA’s.
Bama Rules
January 12th, 2012
12:49 pm
Bama wins real championships while Georgia wins preseason hype. On the field we all know what will happen.
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
12:50 pm
GTBob
January 12th, 2012
12:47 pm
Dont need to give you an example. You run your mouth I shut you down and you leave period.
Never happened internet Chuck Norris but you keep believing that. If you have run me off 30 times then surely you can give one example. lol.
Once again another example of you not reading. 30 was a number I used to refer to the number of daily blogs on here. I said dozens of times I have run you off. And ots over the span of 8 months so no Im not a loser who remembers that kind of stuff, just the image of you tucking your tail between your legs and running away like a little girl.
Heath
January 12th, 2012
12:50 pm
If Georgia is 12-1 heading into bowl season prepare for much hand wringing from Corse, Herbestreet and others about how a one loss SEC team didn’t “earn” a shot at a national title and how a 13 win Hawaii (or Houston or Tennessee Tech) deserves to be there instead.
GTBob
January 12th, 2012
12:50 pm
I wonder if UGA would make the MNC game next year if they went undefeated and a Big 12 and Pac 12 team also went undefeated. With their schedule and the fact that they down have the name value that Bama does, they might not get in the final game.
Spurrier
January 12th, 2012
12:51 pm
DawginLex – Heck, I play golf all the time now and still won 11 games. You might have noticed, but I even finished my season with a nice win over Nebraska in a bowl game. Sure is a nice way to end the season. I’ll see ya’ll in Columbia this fall. Looking forward to making it three in a row – just like the old days!
Geaux Tigers
January 12th, 2012
12:51 pm
42-10 says alot about the Georgia Bulldogs
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
12:51 pm
GTBob
January 12th, 2012
12:50 pm
See even more and more stupidty!!! You would think that nerds would be smarter than this????
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
12:52 pm
Geaux Tigers
January 12th, 2012
12:51 pm
42-10 says alot about the Georgia Bulldogs
hmmmmm. which teckie nerd are you???
GTBob
January 12th, 2012
12:52 pm
And ots over the span of 8 months
I’m pretty sure you haven’t been around 8 months so who do you normally post as? Is this headley?
Geaux Tigers
January 12th, 2012
12:52 pm
DawginLex
How did that 42-10 beatdown in the dome feel?
DawginLex
January 12th, 2012
12:52 pm
Nebraska was a joke
Mich State was alegit team with tons of seniors and a much better coach
Pelini is a joke
The Factor
January 12th, 2012
12:52 pm
@bruce mac
more dribble from your da………
DawginLex
January 12th, 2012
12:53 pm
how did the monday night national embarrassment feel?
Jim
January 12th, 2012
12:54 pm
It’s on my bucket list to see the dawgs finish the drill. Come on dawgs times a wasting!!!
DawginLex
January 12th, 2012
12:54 pm
???
Truth
January 12th, 2012
12:55 pm
Mich State was alegit team with tons of seniors and a much better coach
Its nice to see a Georgia fan admit the truth. Georgia is Overrated
Edawgs
January 12th, 2012
12:56 pm
No Way Jose, that coaching staff can screw up a two car funeral. Murray better be in a Manning camp and have completed his Lasik surgery before the Manning Passing camp, it’s not fair to ask a color blind QB to perform in the SEC.
burmashave
January 12th, 2012
12:56 pm
Bradley has jumped back on the UGA Dawgwagon. That’s the kiss of death for next season’s SEC Championship prediction.
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
12:56 pm
Actually I have, took a month or so to settle on the name. But after seeing so many c r y ba by U G A fans (Lots of p o s er as well) on here it became pretty clear what I should use.
Geaux Tigers
January 12th, 2012
12:57 pm
DawginLex
Are you avoiding my question?
GTBob
January 12th, 2012
12:57 pm
Nebraska was a joke
Mich State was alegit team with tons of seniors and a much better coach
Nebraska beat Mich St by three touchdowns.
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
12:57 pm
actually took about a month for me to settle on this handel. But after seeing all the cry baby fringe fans on here it became an easy choice. My favorite past one is GT JOKE
Geaux Tigers
January 12th, 2012
12:57 pm
42-10
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
12:58 pm
Geaux Tigers
January 12th, 2012
12:52 pm
DawginLex
How did that 42-10 beatdown in the dome feel?
hey teckie nerd! having fun pretending to be a diff fan???
Spurrier
January 12th, 2012
12:58 pm
Are you talking about the same Michigan State team that Nebraska spanked 24-3? But you’re convinced that Michigan State was the better team?? Probably because of their very accomplished head coach, right? You do realize that UGA was Dantonio’s first bowl win at Michigan State, right? He’d lost all of his other bowl games before this year. Gotta love you Dawg fans!
DawginLex
January 12th, 2012
12:58 pm
tried to answer twice but filters got me
I asked you how did the 21-0 embarrassment feel
On national TV also
Geaux Tigers
January 12th, 2012
12:58 pm
True Mutt Fan
How about beating a real ranked team instead of beating cupcake schools every week then talk loser
Geaux Tigers
January 12th, 2012
1:00 pm
DawginLex
January 12th, 2012
12:58 pm
tried to answer twice but filters got me
I asked you how did the 21-0 embarrassment feel
On national TV also
Felt great. We already had beat Bama earlier in the year so that was no problem with me. At least we was there. Where was Georgia??
burmashave
January 12th, 2012
1:00 pm
Georgia is the team in 2012,
Don’t you believe they’re over their heads,
Championship predictions are easy and quick,
Just like a Ford commercial from Ol’ Mark Richt.
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
1:00 pm
Geaux Tigers
January 12th, 2012
12:58 pm
Well seeing as you are a tech fan, How about you win a bowl game and or beat us more than once a decade clown!!
True Dawg Fan
January 12th, 2012
1:01 pm
burmashave
January 12th, 2012
1:00 pm
Run along little poetry boy. Go cry on your mommies should if you need someone to listen to you babble
Huh??
January 12th, 2012
1:01 pm
@DawginLex…
Nebraska beat Michigan St. this year 24 to 3 .
DawginLex
January 12th, 2012
1:02 pm
We was there?
LSU or Tech education?
did you play?
you got destroyed even though the whole country was pulling for you.
bottom line is miles is a joke in a big game
Still
After Mettenberger does not pan out, Miles will be back on the cajun fired hot seat
Rick James
January 12th, 2012
1:02 pm
@Sonny Clusters
If somebody offer you a lifetime of financial security would you feel obligated to your current employer or to yourself and your family.If Orson Charles gets he degree next year but suffers a career ending injury he will be just another graduate trying to find a job in this bad economy.At wost if Orson Charles winds up on an NFL practice squad he will make $5,600 a week but I expect he will go as high as the second which will mean more money.Take the money and run Orson you have the rest of your life to earn your degree.Personally I think if he comes back next year he’s a sure fire first round pick in 2013 but it’s his decision.
DawginLex
January 12th, 2012
1:03 pm
so what if nebraska won?
According to the ESPN pukes, LSU’s win over bama didn’t erase the “eyeball test”.
I say that MSU was better than Nebraska at the end of the year by my eyeball test.
If they had played again, MSU would have won