The Georgia Bulldogs (6-7 in 2010-11) enter the 2011 NCAA football season off a losing record for the first time in coach Mark Richt’s tenure. Can they make the right adjustments in the offseason?
Despite Richt’s 96-34 record, many fans inare becoming agitated by the team’s recent lack of success. Mark Richt responded by pulling in a consensus top-10 recruiting class, and the head ‘Dog seems focused on righting the ship next season.
Bodog.com listsas a 50-1 longshot to win the 2011-12 BCS National Championship. Will the Georgia Bulldogs become the SEC’s next club to hoist the crystal?
Sophomore Aaron Murray (3,049 yards, 24 td, 8 int) returns for his second season under center. Aside from an awful performance against UCF in the Liberty Bowl,actually had a very good freshman season. Five of his eight interceptions came againstand UCF, meaning he was extremely accurate in his other contests. His numbers would have been even better had his top wide receiver, A.J. Green, not missed the first four games due to “agent-gate.”
The rushing game is going to be interesting in the fall. Junior Washaun Early (811 yards, 11 td) is the favorite to start, but Richt has not named him as the starter due to hamstring issues during spring practice. Caleb King and Carlton Thomas received most of the reps this spring, but they don’t seem to be the answer in the backfield. The x-factor may be five-star recruit Isaiah Crowell. Richt has publicly stated that he may start Crowell againstin the opener.
Here’s an understatement:and the Bulldogs will miss Green at wide receiver. Tavarres King (504 yards, 3 td) is expected to be the number one receiver heading into fall, but there are questions about whether he can be “the guy.” Marlon Brown and Michael Bennett are competing for the other starting spot. Tight end Orson Charles (422 yards, 2 td) should be a larger part of the offense during the upcoming season.
The Bulldogs had to shift their offensive line around during the spring due to an injury to starting left tackle Trinton Sturdivant. Cordy Glenn will take his slot on the line. Kenarious Gates and Chris Burnette are entrenched at guard, while senior Ben Jones will anchor the line at center. A.J. Harmon and Justin Anderson are in competition for the final spot on the line. This is a talented group, but there is limited depth due to Sturdivant’s injury.
There will be significant new and returning talent in’s base 3-4 defense. Kwame Geathers had a dominant spring at nose tackle according to reports and will take that spot on the defensive line. Geathers (6’6”, 340 lbs) could have a Terrence Cody-like effect on opposing rushing attacks. He will be joined on the line by DeAngelo Tyson and Abry Jones. It is also likely that juco transfer John Jenkins will rotate in, particularly on passing downs.
The Bulldogs should also be strong at linebacker. Alec Ogletree has been moved from safety to linebacker, and coaches are extremely impressed with his progress. Five-star recruit Ray Drew is expected to have an immediate impact as an outside linebacker in the 3-4, even though he played defensive end in high school.returns plenty of other experienced players at this position, such as Jarvis Jones, Christian Robinson, and Cornelius.
The secondary is deep, even though there have been injury concerns during the spring. Brandon Boykin, Branden Smith, and Jordan Love are a nice trio of corners. They will be joined by recruit Malcom Mitchell, who will likely see playing time on passing downs due to his leaping ability. Safeties Bacarri Rambo, Jakar Hamilton, and Sanders Commings all missed time this spring with injuries. Rambo is set at strong safety, while Hamilton, Commings, and Shawn Williams will compete at free safety.
I expect the Bulldogs to take a major step forward next season. We’ll see what they are made of early, as they open withat the neutral (ha-ha) Georgia Dome, and then host the South Carolina Gamecocks. 1-1 sounds likely, and I think the win will come in the SEC East.
The schedule gets much easier at that point, with home games against Coastal Carolina, Mississippi State,,, and.is the only scary game on that slate, but I thinktakes it. The Dawgs will go 5-0 against these teams.
will face road games at,,,Tech, and a neutral site game against. Those are all teams rebuilding or in transition. A conservative call on these five games would be 4-1 (due to’s recent dominance at the Cocktail Party), but I actually lean toward 5-0.
The Bulldogs look like a double-digit win team to me. That could get them into the SEC Championship Game against a highly ranked team from the West (, in this writer’s opinion). That game would be played in the “neutral” Georgia Dome.
I don’t think thatwill win the BCS Title next year, but there seems to be a lot of value with their college football odds listing at 50-1. The Bulldogs avoid,, and LSU in the regular season, which is critical. There’s a lot of talent inand the schedule is favorable. A small play at 50-1 could have a nice payoff.
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