If the first night of games is any indication, we are in for
one heck of a season. Everything we thought we knew about South Carolina and
Texas A&M changed in the blink of an eye. Last night should be a lesson for
Georgia.
Simply being at home should give Georgia an edge in their
season opener against Clemson, but South Carolina showed last night that if you
don’t come prepared to play, it doesn’t matter where you are playing.
Georgia brings back a team that is full of talent and
questions.
Todd Gurley, Michael Bennett, Keith Marshall, Chris
Connally, Hutson Mason, David Andrews, Jordan Jenkins, Ray Drew, Leonard Floyd.
These are the names that you know.
Lorenzo Carter, Isaiah McKenzie, Sony Michel, and Nick
Chubb. These are the names that you will know by this time tomorrow.
Georgia is absolutely stacked with talent on both sides of
the ball, and most of the talent is very young. The question that we will
answer over the next three months, is whether the talent accumulated by Mark
Richt and his coaching staff will produce on the field.
I’ve already said that I think Hutson Mason will be the
difference for the Georgia offense, and that starts tomorrow. Mason has
experience, but whether or not he can use his experience to make plays remains
to be seen. Dylan Thompson was erratic for South Carolina last night, missing
high on many occasions. Thompson was missing one thing that Mason will have
going for him tomorrow afternoon: Todd Gurley.
Gurley is an absolute beast, and tomorrow will be the
beginning of the end for him in a Georgia uniform. I can’t imagine a situation
where Gurley would return to Athens next season, so let’s make sure we enjoy
him while we can. Mark Richt has made it clear that all five of the running
backs, Gurley, Marshall, Douglas, Michel, and Chubb will play tomorrow and
while that is exciting, Gurley still needs to be the focus of the offense.
If Todd Gurley doesn’t touch the ball 20 times, then Mark
Richt will have some major questions to answer.
If Mason is the most important member of the 2014 Georgia
Bulldogs, then Jeremy Pruitt is number two. The new defensive coordinator has
made his presence known in Athens. Quickly, Pruitt made it clear that it didn’t
matter what happened before he got to Athens, everyone would have to earn their
spot. Ray Drew and Ramik Wilson quickly got demoted on the depth chart when
Pruitt didn’t feel their performance was up to par.
Pruitt’s background is as a defensive backs coach, which
will be the part of the defense that has the most question marks. Georgia lost
three potential starters in the secondary since the end of last season. Pruitt
has said that his philosophy centers on putting talented players in the right
positions to make plays. That is music to my ears. Too many times over the past
few years, Georgia’s defensive players were confused and out of position when
the ball was snapped.
Alec Ogletree apparently told a member of last year’s team
that his new defensive scheme with the St. Louis Rams was much simpler than the
scheme he played in at Georgia. Hopefully a simpler approach will mean that
Georgia’s defense can go from being absolutely awful to at least average.
Special teams were yet another Achilles heel for last year’s
team, so it will be important that those mistakes to be corrected immediately
this year. I think the coaching staff has finally recognized that special teams
are 1/3 of the game, and that they deserve a lot more attention in practice.
As an eternal optimist, I believe that this season has the
potential to be special. Georgia opens at home tomorrow, and then has two weeks
to get ready to travel to Columbia for a game that could eliminate the
Gamecocks from the SEC East race. Everything has opened up for the Dawgs, now
they just have to take advantage of the opportunity.
Tomorrow is going to be a special day in Athens. The city is
alive. The coaches and players seem to have a quiet confidence about them. It
will be hard for any team to make an impression like A&M did last night,
but I think Georgia will play a complete game against the Tigers. The offense
will be consistent and effective. The defense will be fast and improved. The
special teams will be good, which will be a huge improvement. Georgia will
avenge last year’s loss with a solid victory 34-20.
My bold prediction is that Isaiah McKenzie, the freshman
wide receiver will score, maybe by running a punt or kick back. He is going to
be a fan favorite very quickly.
It is finally here. It’s time to kick off another season.
Enjoy it.
Go Dawgs!
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