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Now what for Dogs at midseason?
By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/18/07
Athens The sky might not be falling around Georgia, but the perception is that there's been a loss in altitude.
One day you have Jim Rome tsk-tsking the Bulldogs for jumping on the Vanderbilt logo and jabbing how the once-proud tradition has taken a hit. Another day it might be Tennessee reminding everyone how it has put up 86 points on Georgia in two years. Then there are Steve Spurrier's comments about the Bulldogs' recent futility against the SEC East.
"It wasn't like they were some big, powerful team," Spurrier said after beating Georgia this season. "They've actually lost five in a row to Eastern Division opponents. Kentucky and Vandy beat 'em last year."
That number moved to six when Tennessee walloped Georgia 35-14. A last-second 20-17 win over Vanderbilt stopped the bleeding but not questions about a 5-2 team.
How did Georgia get to this point?
As always, it starts with recruiting. The Bulldogs failed to recruit offensive linemen over a two-year stretch and failed to hang onto key defensive players over the past several years.
Since 2003, Georgia has had 25 signed players not make it into school, get injured, get kicked out of school or leave early. That has left Georgia with an immature and inconsistent team.
"I just think that we're young more than anything else overall," coach Mark Richt said. "We're just not at the point where we can mentally overcome things like fatigue, overcome things like momentum going against you."
What's wrong with the defense?
Aside from the aforementioned misses in recruiting, it is not mean enough. Even Richt is aware of this fact.
"I don't know if we are mean enough to be considered great right now," Richt has said.
Players have agreed there is not enough tenacity on the defense and there have not been enough intimidating big hits. Combine all that and what you have is an inconsistent defense.
"They are just about like the rest of the team," Richt said. "Some days are great days and some are not so great days. It has been up and down, but we are not a dominating bunch right now."
Can Knowshon Moreno hold up?
It's doubtful Thomas Brown will be back for the Florida game, and Kregg Lumpkin is out until bowl season. That means the redshirt freshman will get most of the carries against Florida. Moreno had 157 yards on 28 carries against Vandy.
"He maybe got a little bit tired last week with 28 carries in the middle of the game," said offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. "But as the game went on, and later in the game, he was stronger."
"[Having only one guy] puts more pressure on the starting running back," Bobo said. "But there are a lot of teams across the country that only have one back and rely heavily on him. Right now, he is the go-to guy and we are going to ride him."
Will Matthew Stafford put it together?
The sophomore knows he has struggled. But he may not be able to string 60 minutes together until his offensive line does the same.
"We're playing three freshmen," Stafford said a few days after the Tennessee loss. "Three freshmen on the offensive line in the SEC, it is unbelievable."
Bobo has implored Stafford to hang in the pocket more, trust his linemen and make accurate throws. Stafford has shown the ability to focus at the end of games. Now Bobo has got to figure out how to get him to do it for the entire game. "If I knew, we would do it," Bobo said. "Maybe it is more concentration and more focus."
Will a playmaker emerge at receiver?
At first it seemed as though Sean Bailey would resuscitate the passing game. But after 16 catches in the first four games, the senior has just three in the past three games. Richt pointed to tight end Tripp Chandler, wide receiver Tony Wilson and wide receiver Demiko Goodman as three players to watch in the second half of the season. Wilson and Chandler, who both had problems with drops early in the season, came up with crucial grabs on the game-winning drives against Vanderbilt and Alabama. Goodman has four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown in the last two games. He has shown more ability to catch the tough ball than any other receiver.
By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/18/07
Athens The sky might not be falling around Georgia, but the perception is that there's been a loss in altitude.
One day you have Jim Rome tsk-tsking the Bulldogs for jumping on the Vanderbilt logo and jabbing how the once-proud tradition has taken a hit. Another day it might be Tennessee reminding everyone how it has put up 86 points on Georgia in two years. Then there are Steve Spurrier's comments about the Bulldogs' recent futility against the SEC East.
"It wasn't like they were some big, powerful team," Spurrier said after beating Georgia this season. "They've actually lost five in a row to Eastern Division opponents. Kentucky and Vandy beat 'em last year."
That number moved to six when Tennessee walloped Georgia 35-14. A last-second 20-17 win over Vanderbilt stopped the bleeding but not questions about a 5-2 team.
How did Georgia get to this point?
As always, it starts with recruiting. The Bulldogs failed to recruit offensive linemen over a two-year stretch and failed to hang onto key defensive players over the past several years.
Since 2003, Georgia has had 25 signed players not make it into school, get injured, get kicked out of school or leave early. That has left Georgia with an immature and inconsistent team.
"I just think that we're young more than anything else overall," coach Mark Richt said. "We're just not at the point where we can mentally overcome things like fatigue, overcome things like momentum going against you."
What's wrong with the defense?
Aside from the aforementioned misses in recruiting, it is not mean enough. Even Richt is aware of this fact.
"I don't know if we are mean enough to be considered great right now," Richt has said.
Players have agreed there is not enough tenacity on the defense and there have not been enough intimidating big hits. Combine all that and what you have is an inconsistent defense.
"They are just about like the rest of the team," Richt said. "Some days are great days and some are not so great days. It has been up and down, but we are not a dominating bunch right now."
Can Knowshon Moreno hold up?
It's doubtful Thomas Brown will be back for the Florida game, and Kregg Lumpkin is out until bowl season. That means the redshirt freshman will get most of the carries against Florida. Moreno had 157 yards on 28 carries against Vandy.
"He maybe got a little bit tired last week with 28 carries in the middle of the game," said offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. "But as the game went on, and later in the game, he was stronger."
"[Having only one guy] puts more pressure on the starting running back," Bobo said. "But there are a lot of teams across the country that only have one back and rely heavily on him. Right now, he is the go-to guy and we are going to ride him."
Will Matthew Stafford put it together?
The sophomore knows he has struggled. But he may not be able to string 60 minutes together until his offensive line does the same.
"We're playing three freshmen," Stafford said a few days after the Tennessee loss. "Three freshmen on the offensive line in the SEC, it is unbelievable."
Bobo has implored Stafford to hang in the pocket more, trust his linemen and make accurate throws. Stafford has shown the ability to focus at the end of games. Now Bobo has got to figure out how to get him to do it for the entire game. "If I knew, we would do it," Bobo said. "Maybe it is more concentration and more focus."
Will a playmaker emerge at receiver?
At first it seemed as though Sean Bailey would resuscitate the passing game. But after 16 catches in the first four games, the senior has just three in the past three games. Richt pointed to tight end Tripp Chandler, wide receiver Tony Wilson and wide receiver Demiko Goodman as three players to watch in the second half of the season. Wilson and Chandler, who both had problems with drops early in the season, came up with crucial grabs on the game-winning drives against Vanderbilt and Alabama. Goodman has four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown in the last two games. He has shown more ability to catch the tough ball than any other receiver.
