3 Keys to Bulldogs Success in 2012

It is finally game week and we are on the cusp of college football.  After a long, hot summer, cooler mornings mean football is here.  Our beloved Bulldogs are sporting a nice #6 preseason ranking, and they are getting near unanimous praise from all the pundits. 

Georgia fans grew up listening to Vince Dooley and Larry Munson, so we know how to poor mouth ourselves with the best of them.  Plus, we have simply been let down too much.  We are jilted, scorned lover.

I think the Bulldogs could have a special season and live up to its preseason hype.  Here are the three keys to the 2012 season; if these things happen, we could be in store for a magical season (the defense being great is a given). 

The Offensive Line Avoiding Injuries-There has been a lot made over the inexperience of our offensive line.  Experience and depth on the offensive line has been an issue forever, it seems.  At least since 2007, the biggest concern for Georgia seems to be the offensive line.   Last year, there were 3 seniors on the line, and Georgia’s line gave up a ton of sacks.  Consequently, back in 2007, the line was made up of a bunch of freshmen (3 starters at one point), including left tackle, and the Dawgs went on to finish #2 in the country.

Georgia must replace several starters, including center and left tackle.  It is almost a lock that John Theus is going to be a starter.  The rest of the line looks like Kenarious Gates, Dallas Lee, Chris Burnette.  Watts Dantzler is also in the mix.

I am not overly worried about the starting 5.   Those 5 guys we have can go toe to toe with anyone.  It is the rest of the unit that scares the living hell out of me.  We are one injury away on the offensive line from the season  aking a catastrophic turn.  We   avoided such bad luck last season, but can we really expect to get lucky twice?  The health of this unit will be the number one key. 

2.  Some semblance of a consistent running game-On my list, you will not find Aaron Murray avoiding turnovers anywhere.  I think that with a strong running game, a lot of the ills that plagued Murray last season will go away.  A lot of talk can be made of Murray choking in the big games, but that is over stating things.             

Seven times last season, UGA had rushing yards well below the opposing teams rushing defense.  Taking out the powder puff games against Coastal Carolina and New Mexico State, UGA only had good performances against Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State and South Carolina.  Even against Boise State, Georgia had 157 yards rushing.  80 of those yards came on a reverse to Boykin, and 18 came on a reverse to Malcolm Mitchell.  That would equal 59 yards rushing.  If you thought that was bad, then don’t look at the bowl game; Michigan State held Georgia to 51 yards rushing.   In the last two games, Georgia had a combined 129 yards on the ground. 

I covered all this in greater detail in March.  Go back and see for yourself how inconsistent the running game was in 2011.

Georgia runs to set up the play action; Murray has good numbers when throwing out of the play action.  I know we lost Crowell, but we gained Gurley and Marshall.  Between those two freshmen and Boo Malcome, Georgia needs to find a consistent running game.  I don’t care who it is toting the rock.  I don’t care if it is by committee or if one player runs it 25 times a game.  We just need something that is consistent, and will show up.  

3.     The return of the Road Warriors

I watched the UGA at Tennessee 2001 game last night and do you remember when Georgia teams used to go on the road and win the big game?  Fans used to praise Richt’s calm demeanor as Georgia would go on the road and win in the hostile environments (now his calm demeanor is used against him). 

Remember this beauty:

That road swagger has gotten lost.  Oklahoma State in 2009 was a game that UGA used to win.  In 2010, 6 out of 7 losses came away from Sanford Stadium-including losses at Colorado, Mississippi State, and top ranked Auburn.  Going on the road and beating ranked SEC opponents was the MO for Richt and Bulldogs.  That hasn’t been the case it seems.

The entire month of October, Georgia plays on the road.  3 games-two are away and the neutral site game in Jacksonville.  The Bulldogs’ home schedule this year is weak.  Vanderbilt might be the most challenging home game for the Bulldogs.  Certainly, Tennessee and Georgia Tech are capable of pulling off an upset if the Bulldogs are asleep at the wheel.    But all the real losable games are away from Athens-Missouri, South Carolina, Florida and Auburn.  For Georgia to live up to its lofty preseason goals, it is going to have to recapture the road magic and win in Columbia, MO, and Columbia, SC.   

There are other things that could happen to make UGA stumble or succeed this season.  But to me, if Georgia’s offensive line can avoid injuries, the running game can be consistent, and if we can get back to winning on the road again, then the Bulldogs should be making a return trip to the Georgia Dome the first weekend in December.

Corbindawg

On the 7th day before football, my Uga gave to me…

7 home games

On the 8th Day before football my Uga gave to me

8 SEC victories

Stop And Think For A Minute Why USC Is So Good

The Pete Carroll teams at USC were dominant forces.  Now, under Lane Kiffin USC seems to be “back”.  The Preseason #1 Trojans have plenty of weapons back on offense and seem hungry to get back in the national spotlight.

I was watching some UGA highlights this morning, and something stuck out to me.  Jarvis Jones is good.  Real good.  Just think how different the UGA defense would be without #29.  Now, consider that he could just as easily still be playing at USC.  If UGA didn’t have Jones, we would still probably have a good team, but not a preseason #6 team.  USC lost him, and still is preseason #1.

Want to know why USC, LSU, Alabama, etc. are always so good?  They have 4 or 5 Jarvis Jones caliber players.

Corbindawg

Pregame Speech For UGA

I love the movie Pulp Fiction, and when Twitter was a buzz yesterday that Samuel L. Jackson was hanging out at practice, and Coach Grantham said he liked his temperment, I immediately thought of this scene from Pulp Fiction.  I hope Grantham tells his players to strike down on thee with great vengence. 

Again, this is 1oo% NSFW…

Robin Williams on Lance Armstrong

In light of the news about Lance Armstrong, here is Robin Williams’ take on Lance Armstrong and the French people in general.

Very NSFW!

Corbindawg

Neat Story With Demarcus Dobbs Adoptive Parents

It is about recruiting younger kids and their take on it.  Neat story featured on CNN.

Go Dawgs!

Corbindawg

Are Prepackaged plays the Future of Football?

I was reading a great post linked from Smart Football about a new style of play calling and the complexity that it causes for the defense.  I’m not going to rehash everything that was said, I’d just suggest you spend 15 minutes reading the post. 

The idea is the direction that the spread has taken and the style of offense that Oklahoma State, Baylor, WV and the Packers run.  A “set” is run from the no huddle instead of a particular play and it is up to the quarterback to determine if the defense is weakest against a run draw, screen or deep ball.  This all comes down not to where the defenders line up before the play but the direction that they go to as soon as the ball is snapped.  I see it as a passing version of the triple option.  Of course this can only be perfected if you have a very smart QB and really helps if you have a stand out receiver.  I would loved to have seen how Greene and Gibson or Stafford and AJ could have run this.  So next time we see Bobo call a third down draw know that he’s halfway to running one of Dana Holgorsen’s sets.

“Packaged” plays and rethinking the concept of modern play calling

Seriously, if you’re not reading Smart football or Shaking the Southland’s post on offensive and defensive strategy you should be.

Granite

On the 9th Day Before Football, My Uga gave to Me

On the 9th day before Football, my Uga gave to me…

9-the 9th trip Corbin and Uchee have made to Georgia Florida together (including this year).

10 hot sorority girls in their game day best

11 Aaron Murray jerseys

12 years of Richt

Must See College Football Games In November

I went through the weekly schedule and pulled out what games I am most looking forward to this upcoming football seson.  You can go back and see which ones I pick for September and October. 

November

11/3

Alabama at LSU-No explanation necessary. 

Oregon at USC-This will probably be the Pac 12 Championship game.  Nice preview.

TCU at West Virginia-the two Big 12 rookies will put on an entertaining game, with two very contrasting styles of play.  This will serve up a nice appetizer to the the nights two heavy hitting matchups. 

11/10

Florida State at Virginia Tech (Thursday)-Doing a quick look over, the Thursday night games this season are a little mediocre compared to years past.  But this is going to be a dandy.  A lot of people think that Florida State is a legitimate National Title Contender…we’ll see.  I don’t know what divisions the ACC is separated in, and I don’t care to look, but this game with either be a preview to the ACC Championship game or will have implications on who goes and represents their division (while I was typing that, I remembered that Florida State and Virginia Tech were in two separate divisions, because they have played for the Championship before, but I still wanted to get my dig in to the wacky ACC divisions).

Texas A&M at Alabama-Two of the Bear’s former programs matching up.  How many “Junction Boys” references are going to be made this game week?   Two storied programs facing off will make for compelling television, or at least as compelling as a complete bloodletting will be.

Arkansas at South Carolina-This is a huge game for Georgia fans.  Depending on what happens in Columbia on October 6, this game could determine Georgia’s fate for the first weekend of December.  South Carolina usually falters late in the season, so we will see if all the talent that Arkansas has can win a game despite of John L. Smith’s coaching.

Georgia at Auburn-The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry always has importance and story lines, but this year is even more. The last time the Dawgs were on the Plains, Cam Newton smiled and blew kisses as Auburn blew Georgia out.  Last year, the home standing Dawgs returned the favor in a rout.  Now it is Auburn with revenge on the mind, as Georgia has won 5/6 in the series.   Making the plot more interesting is the reunion of former UGA Defensive Coordinators Van Gorder and Martinez.  Should be another good rivalry game.

 11/17

Ohio State at Wisconsin-Urban Meyer is a prick.  Bret Bielema is a prick.   Should be fun to see Wisconsin run it up on the Buckeyes.

Oklahoma at West Virginia-I think OU might be overrated, so this game will be interesting to see if WV can do well in their first Big 12 season.  With Texas being in rebuilding mode, WVU has a chance to make some noise.

USC vs. UCLA-This is just to see who will kill each other first between Lane Kiffin or Jim Mora.   I  am hoping for the big earthquake to come during this game, and finally separate California from the continental US. Adios vaya con dios, Coaches!

11/24

After a rather disappointing month, November ends in a bang!

Auburn at Alabama-Duh.

Arkansas at LSU (Friday)-One of the most underrated SEC rivalries, but always one of the most entertaining to watch.

Georgia Tech at UGA-I think the only reason we play this game is because we kind of have to.  It means so much more to them than it does to us, until we lose.  Which isn’t often.  I hate Tech fans. 

Michigan at Ohio State-Now, this will be good.  Urban Meyer did very well in the rivalry games while at Florida, but Michigan-Ohio State is a different animal.  And Michigan could only have 1 or 2 losses at this point, and Ohio State is not very good.  Go Big Blue!

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State-Bedlam. 

Florida at FSU-Anytime you have a chance to watch the Gators lose, it is a good day.

Texas at TCU-It would be neat to see little brother beat big brother.  Although, I am personally a big brother and I think those stories are overplayed.  It makes us look bad!  So in that respect, I hope it is close, but then Big Brother crushes Little Brother.  But, going off the last couple of years, who is the big brother and who is the little brother here?

December

December has the bowl games, and of course all the Championship games on the first weekend of the month.  One game I always like to watch is the Army-Navy game, which will be on December 8.  Anchors Aweigh!