Where do we go from here?

I can honestly say that I was never really worried about Georgia losing to Tennessee on Saturday. To me, Georgia was in control for the vast majority of the game. If Hutson Mason doesn't turn the ball over with two interceptions, Georgia probably covers the 17 point spread that they were favored by. More than anything, yesterday's game has left me with the uneasy feeling that this season, which promised so much following the Clemson game, may end up like last season, with Georgia fans, players, and coaches asking themselves, what if.

Moving forward, Mike Bobo has to figure out how to make this offense more versatile without a legitimate passing threat. We saw one play yesterday out of the "Jet Sweep" look, where Sony Michel was lined up a quarterback and Isiah McKenzie was running across the formation at the snap of the ball. Put Todd Gurley in as a set back to either side of Michel, and Georgia's three most dangerous players are all threats on the same play. I think Georgia has to do more creative things like that if they are going to continue to be prolific on offense. As good as Todd Gurley is, and he is better than advertised, against the best defenses in the league, you can't be one dimensional and win. Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, and Auburn will all be able to contain Gurley unless there are other offensive wrinkles that take the focus off #3 for at least a play or two.

I've said all along that Hutson Mason is the key to this season, and that is why I am no longer optimistic that this season will end with Georgia playing in the SEC title game. Mason looked bad against Tennessee yesterday. The two interceptions were poorly thrown balls. There were about four more passes that were really terrible as well. He showed no poise in the pocket, and his feet were bouncing around constantly. The best plays he made yesterday were when he was running the ball, or when he was blocking for Gurley.

Mark Richt and Mike Bobo want to win more than any fan watching at home. They obviously know the players on their team better than we do, and they feel that Hutson Mason gives Georgia the best chance to win right now. Having not seen any of the backups play in a significant game, you can't possibly say that Bryce Ramsey or Jacob Park would be a better option. Mason only has one more chance to turn me around on him as a player. Next week, he will have all of his weapons back. Malcom Mitchell, Johnathan Rumph, and Justin Scott-Wesley are all on track to return to action against Vanderbilt. Against a bad team in Vanderbilt, maybe Mason can finally show that he has the ability to deliver the ball down field with accuracy, because at this point in the season, he hasn't been able to challenge opposing defenses.

Mason's longest pass play of the season is 36 yards. That was against Troy, so it doesn't count at all. Mason's second longest pass play was against South Carolina, for 35 yards. You will remember this play because it was a pass to Isiah McKenzie that traveled about 5 yards in the air, and McKenzie darted his way into the end zone on Georgia's second offensive play. It might look like a 35 yard pass on the stat sheet, but it wasn't.

Mason is averaging 6.7 yards per attempt so far this season. By comparison, Todd Gurley is averaging 8.8 yards per attempt, Sony Michel is averaging 9.7 yards per attempt, and Nick Chubb is averaging 6.3 yards per attempt. When looking at those numbers it is staggering that Georgia is averaging 45.1 points per game this season.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm still optimistic about where this defense is headed. Despite giving up 32 points to Tennessee, I feel like Georgia is doing a lot of positive things on defense, and just not quite executing to the best of their ability. Yesterday, the tackling wasn't good for the first time this season, but that Tennessee running back, along with their two top receivers, are big guys that are hard to bring down.

Georgia is doing a good job at getting after the quarterback, and in this age of bend but don't break defense, they have the ability to put the opposing team behind the chains early and then hold them on third and long.

However, there is one play that I am now tired of seeing. In every game this season, except for the Troy game, Georgia's opponent has scored a touchdown by throwing to either a tight end or a receiver in the slot and getting that player matched up with either Amarlo Herrara or Ramik Wilson. The plays look so similar its maddening. The ball travels over the arms of the defender who has his back to the quarterback while chasing two steps behind the receiver. Georgia has to do a better job about getting into an extra defensive back on the field in those situations and not putting their middle linebackers in those situations. It is not an accident that it keeps happening. Opposing teams are seeing it on film, and purposefully attacking the weakness week in and week out. Jeremy Pruitt needs to figure it out, or Georgia will continue to give up big plays right down the middle of the field.

The one thing you do have to give Georgia's coaching staff a lot of credit on is the drastic improvement that we have seen on special teams this season. Georgia was awful on special teams last year, and it cost the Dawgs a possible victory against both Vanderbilt and Clemson. Missing field goals is going to happen from time to time, but the solid performance by Georgia's kick and punt return teams along with their absolute excellence on the coverage teams has kept Georgia in a positive field position for the majority of the season. It seems like Georgia's opponents are starting drives close to their own 20, while Georgia always seems to have the ball around their 35. That is a huge difference, and the special teams play on the fourth quarter punt yesterday set up the game winning score on defense.

I started this blog by saying that Georgia fans were going to be left wondering what if again this season and I really believe that. What if Georgia had a quarterback that could soften up defenses for this amazing stable of running backs? What if Georgia's defense had just a little more experience in the secondary. What if?

I hope I'm wrong, but this seems to be a good team in a year where there are no great teams, that is just too flawed to make a run at a title.

At this point last season, Georgia had survived the toughest September in school history. They were undefeated in conference play, and looked like they had all the ability in the world to make a strong run towards the SEC title. October changed all that. Georgia went 2-2 last October, with one of those wins coming in overtime against Tennessee in a game Georgia should have lost. Losses to Missouri and Vanderbilt doomed the Georgia title hopes, and sent the season into a free-fall.

October will again define Georgia. Next week will hopefully be a confidence booster against Vanderbilt before heading on a two game road trip that will make or break the season. Georgia travels to Missouri on October 11th for what could be an SEC East title game and then travels all the way back out to Arkansas on October 18th to play a physical and much improved Razorback team. Win those two games, and Georgia will be a Top 10 team in the hunt for the playoff. Lose either of those games, with Florida and Auburn still looming, and you can kiss the playoff goodbye.

The time is now for Hutson Mason step up. The time is now for the Georgia defense to grow up. The time is now if Georgia is going to rise up and become the team we all hoped they would be. It is either now, or never for the 2014 Georgia Bulldogs.

Georgia/Tennessee Preview

It is time for Georgia to decide what kind of season it is going to be in Athens. Georgia was at the top of the college football world after crushing Clemson in the opening week of the season, but the loss two weeks later to South Carolina left a lot of questions in the Bulldog Nation. After dismissing Troy is predictable fashion, the 2014 season will truly begin to take shape tomorrow at high noon, between the hedges.

Who are the 2014 Georgia Bulldogs? On offense? On defense? What should we expect from this team the rest of the season? 

If I told you I had the answers, I would be lying, but I think I know who this team is, and I think you are going to like it. I think Georgia is one of the best teams in the country, and I fully expect Georgia to go on a winning streak that is going to last a while.

Georgia has the best running back in the country, they have play makers all over the field on offense and defense, and apparently, now we can execute special teams plays without messing everything up.

Tennessee is a solid team. They might go to a bowl game this year. But they aren't on Georgia's level. Tennessee is rebuilding their offensive line, and that will be the difference in the game tomorrow. Georgia will play solid against the run, and try and force Tennessee to throw the ball. Justin Worley is an average quarterback, and even though Georgia's secondary is suspect, they will hold up against Worley. There are some threats at the wide receiver position, but I think the Georgia game plan is going to be to pressure Worley early and often and not give him time to get the ball to those receivers down field. 

The smart guys in the desert think Georgia is a 17 point favorite tomorrow, so that should make you feel even better. 

Let's talk about the Dawgs. Everyone knows and loves Todd Gurley, but I am getting more and more excited about watching Sony Michel. He is fast, that is obvious, but he looks like he isn't even trying when he is running the ball. The word that comes to mind is smooth. He glides across the field and makes the defenders look silly.

The reason this offense is appointment television is because right now, there are four players on offense that can take it to the house each time they touch the ball. Gurly, Michel, Chubb, and wideout Isaiah McKenzie can all go the distance as soon as they get the ball in their hands. First and ten from the Georgia 20, Boom! Gurley 80 yards for a touchdown. At this point, I'm more surprised when Gurley is tackled than when he scores.

The most rare thing in sports is an athlete living up to the hype. Todd Gurley lives up to the hype every week. The opposing team knows they have to stop him to win, and they just can't do it. Please, please enjoy watching number 3 carry the ball, because you aren't going to get to see it much longer. 

The most important thing that can happen for Georgia over the next two weeks is for Hutson Mason to start establishing himself as a credible threat passing the ball. The toughest part of the schedule that remains for Georgia is back to back road games at Missouri and Arkansas. Georgia will have to be balanced to win those games, and Georgia can't be balanced without Mason improving. 

Georgia is going to start showing the world just how good they are tomorrow, I think we are going to have a lot of fun. 

Georgia 51   Tennessee 27

Go Dawgs!

What can we learn about Georgia this weekend?

This week is an example of a time-honored tradition in college football, the cupcake game. Georgia is paying Troy to come to Athens this weekend to get a butt kicking. For fans, it is hard to get excited about watching Georgia play Troy, for players it feels like a bye week before another big game next Saturday, and for bloggers it leaves you writing at 6:50 am on a Friday morning because you just realized you never wrote a preview for this weekend...

Coaches insist that you have to respect the team that is coming in to play you and anything can happen, but this Troy team lost to Abilene-Christian last week, so no, you don't really have to respect them as a legitimate threat. Even if Georgia underwhelms for the first half, first three quarters, or the entire game, they aren't going to lose.

There is nothing positive that Georgia can take out of this game. The only thing that could happen that would effect the rest of the season, is an injury so let's just hope that nothing significant comes out of the game.

Rather than pretend to break down anything having to do with this game, I want to pass along a quick story that I heard this week on Athens' radio. 

Tuesday, Mike Bobo, Jeremy Pruitt, and Mark Richt addressed the media in that order.

Bobo stepped up and took responsibility for Georgia losing to South Carolina. Bobo said that when you have the ball first and goal from the four, you should score a touchdown, and as the offensive coordinator, it is his job to make sure that happens. A reporter asked specifically about the play-calling, and Bobo said that at the time the thought he was calling the best play he could call to help us Georgia score. He said that he is always trying to get better as a play caller, and he would learn from the South Carolina game just like he tries to learn from every game he coaches.

Next, Jeremy Pruitt steps up. Pruitt said that he appreciated what coach Bobo said, but that coach Bobo was wrong. Pruitt said that when you go on the road in the SEC and score 35 points you should never lose. Pruitt said he and the defense were to blame for the loss to South Carolina. Pruitt made no excuses for the poor performance, he only said it was up to him to get the players to perform better in the future.

Finally, coach Richt stepped up and said that he was the head coach, and ultimately the responsibility for all players and coaches fall to him. 

As frustrating as the loss was, Georgia fans should feel good about the future with these three men leading our program. So often you hear coaches make excuses, blame referees, or pass the buck, but Georgia's coaches are all taking responsibility for the part that they played in the loss, and furthermore, they all think that their shortcomings were why the team lost. 

I'm not saying that the attitude of the coaches means that Georgia is going to run the table, but it is nice to hear them step up and be held accountable. 

Georgia still has big questions on defense, and it remains to be seen whether Hutson Mason is capable of leading this team to big wins in the SEC, but for some reason, I feel really good about where the program is headed.