Most of the time what happened last year happened last and this year will be a story all its own. This isn’t most of the time. Georgia finally won another SEC Championship and played two overtime games in the playoffs on the way to a heart wrenching and inspiring loss to the Bama boys. This year anything short of a National Championship will be a disappointment. This is where Georgia fans always knew they belonged.
Coaching Changes
Shane Beamer left Ga where he coached special teams and tight ends to be relegated to insignificance at Oklahoma. The Oakies must have liked what they saw from Ga special teams when played to double overtime in the playoffs. This caused a bit of a round robin on the offensive staff with Jim Chaney the OC moving from QB coach to TE coach. James Coley had WRs last year is now the QB coach and Cortez Hawkton was brought in to coach WRs. Mr. Hankton is a Texas Southern alum that spent 6 years in the NFL. Most recently he coached WRs and Vandy for 3 years and he has to be happy about that move.
Kevin Sherrer left to go Tennessee to be the DC. I wish him the best but that looks like a train wreck waiting to happen to me. Dan Lanning comes to Georgia by way of Memphis where he coached inside linebackers. A rule change allowed for another assistant so Georgia promoted Scott Fountain from Special Teams Analyst to Special Teams Coordinator to round out the staff.
The biggest thing I see here is that Chaney will now coach TEs. Georgia has a beast of a TE with Isaac Nauta who has underperformed his first two years. It’s time for him to come into his own. With Chaney coaching him you can be sure he won’t be overlooked in the game plan.
Offense
In 2017 the Bulldogs scored 34.5 points, rushed for 258 yards and passed for 177 yards per game. Most of that production appears to be intact although some very key players will show up on Sunday this year. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel ended their collegiate careers as the #2 and #3 all-time rushers in Georgia history. They were behind only Hershel and ahead of guys like Gurley, Terrell Davis, Garrison Hearst, Lars Tate and Isaiah Crowell. Two other offensive matriculators were Javon Wims (WR) and Isaiah Wynn (OL). One wouldn’t be crazy to think the offense would suffer this year.
Oh contraré mis amígos! Let’s not forget Georgia played with a true freshman at QB last year, mostly voluntarily but still it took a while before the coaches would open up the playbook. He comes in this year full throttle from the get-go and the #1 QB in the 2018 class, Justin Fields, is right behind him. I am guessing Chaney will create a couple of packages to get Fields on the Field since he is a “triple threat”. I assume that means he throws well, runs fast and he’s awful pretty to boot. Whatever gets him across the goal line.
Georgia’s skilled positions on offense seem to be OK. Even without Chubb and Michel, D'Andre Swift is... well…fast. He ran enough last year that the coaches know he is special. Behind him are 4 phenoms in their own right who have a lot to prove – Herrien, Hollyfield, White and Cook. Herrien and Hollyfield are solid upperclassmen while the freshmen White and Cook were highly touted by the recruiting websites. I saw them as #1 and #3 RBs in the country at one point last year. Georgia hasn’t had exceptional WRs for some time but they always have a serviceable squad. That may change this year. The top spots are likely to go to Godwin, Hardeman and Ridley. If they play to their potential then the sophomore QB is going to have some open targets. This is a run first team so the amount of yards means less than making critical plays. I think they can get it done. And don’t forget about 5-star Jr. Nauta at TE. He has underperformed the first two years but this year has the potential to be a breakout year. He's in a good situation.
Overall Georgia’s O-line has the talent and experience to keep rolling on offense. Moving the TEs under Chaney should have a significant impact because Nauta can be all-world if they consistently work him into the game plan and he doesn’t have any problems blocking. The interior 5 are strong with 4 out of 5 returning including Gillard (C, Sr) Cleveland (G, RSo) Baker (G, Sr)and Thomas (T, So) and lots of depth. I expect to see true freshman Cade Mays who registered early get good playing time this year too.
Defense
The defense has to be the side of the ball to worry about. The unit was 6th in the country in total defense and scoring defense so the bar has been set pretty high. And….only four returning starters losing the likes of Roquan Smith (LB), Lorenzo Carter (LB), Trent Thompson (DL), Dominic Sanders (DB) and more. Holy decimated defense Batman! How do you replace all those guys? Well grasshopper, remove the pebble from my hand and I will tell you. Read on understanding that I am a total Dawg homer. I see nothing but green pastures, blue skies and warm cow patties.
The D-line has good depth. Ledbetter should take a leadership role on the defense. He along with Clark and Marshall give the unit experience. We also have Notre Dame grad transfer Jay Hays to help out. The line is going to be solid and its going to have to be so the LBs can roam a little. Returning outside linebackers are D’Andre Walker and Walter Grant and Natrez Patrick on the inside. Serviceable perhaps but not likely to be as good as the guys they are replacing. That’s what happens when you follow a Butkus Award winner. This is one area they need that 5-star recruit to step up and make an impact. Brenton Cox came into camp early and has been impressive but he’s a linebacker playing in the SEC as a true freshman. That’s a tall order. If he gets on the field he can’t be the weak link or our opponents will eat him alive.
That leads us to the real unit of suspect – the secondary. Returning is J.R. Reed and Deandre Baker and …well …..there are others. It’s not as if they don’t have guys to play. They have a lot; it seems like they all have something to prove. It is possible a couple of freshman could make an impact. Remember that #1 recruiting class? The list is impressive with Divaad Wilson, Tyson Campbell, Otis Reese and Christopher Smith all vying for playing time. If you think playing a freshman at linebacker puts a target on his chest try playing one or two in the secondary. Gators and Tigers and Tigers oh my!
The one saving grace is this is Kirby’s specialty. Mel Tucker is also a great DC so you know the young men will be coached up. They got two weak sisters early in the season with South Carolina in between so as long as they get the kinks worked out Georgia should make it to Atlanta. That’s why they received 271 first place votes out of 283 cast at the SEC media days. Change is part of what makes college football fun. Georgia fans are in for a lot of fun this year.
Notes: Most of this information is sourced from the 2018 Georgia Football Media Guide. My next post will run through the schedule and give my predictions. Hint: The Dawgs will do well.
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