Georgia Bulldogs
Overall Rank: #7
#3 SEC
Georgia Team Page
After a slow start in 2011, Georgia turned in another 10 win season. It looked gloomy for the Bulldogs after losing to Boise State and South Carolina in weeks one and two. Then they won 10 straight to put them in position to play in the SEC championship game. They would eventually lose to LSU, but at least all of the chatter about Mark Richt losing his job could be silenced for another season. He is constantly on the hot seat when Georgia struggles because so much is expected of the program. It looks like quarterback Aaron Murray is turning out to be the recruit they thought he would be. Should Georgia find themselves in a championship position, it’s Murray who will lead them there.
2011 Record: (10-4)
2011 Bowl: Outback Bowl vs Michigan State (L 30-33 3OT)
Coach: Mark Richt (62-30)
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Bobo
Defensive Coordinator: Todd Grantham
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: Brandon Harton, RB, 247yards
Passing: Aaron Murray, QB, 3,149 yards
Receiving: Tavarres King, WR, 705 yards
Tackles: Shawn Williams, SS, 72
Sacks: Jarvis Jones, LB, 13.5
Interceptions: Bacarri Rambo, FS, 8
Other Key Returnees: WR Malcolm Mitchell, LB Christian Robinson, OT Kenarious Gates, LB Alec Ogletree, LB Michael Gilliard
Key Losses: RB Isiah Crowell, DB Brandon Boykin, OT Cordy Glenn, TE Orson Charles, K Blair Walsh
Strengths:
Georgia’s defense was stifling mid-season. They were third in the SEC in rushing defense at just over 100 yards per game and they also had a top-10 pass defense. They held opponents to 277 yards total per game, which was the fifth best mark in the nation. Georgia fit right in with other SEC teams and their emphasis on defense. Safety Bacarri Rambo was a ball hawk. He picked off eight balls from opposing quarterbacks. He was a big reason why Georgia was constantly on the right side of the turnover battle. They were also second in the conference in sacks at 2.5 per game.
Weaknesses:
The running game was decent for the Bulldogs last season, but it is bound to take a hit this year. Star running back Isaiah Crowell was dismissed from the team in June after he was arrested on a gun charge. Their next leading rusher had under 300 yards. Richt needs someone to emerge quickly to solidify his backfield. Murray obviously showed he is a super-talented quarterback. He just needs to clean a few things up. He will most likely have to throw for more than 244 this coming season. Until the running game gets sorted out, he and his receivers will have to pick up the slack. Also he needs to feel the pressure and his line needs to keep him upright. The Bulldog’s front line was in the bottom quarter of the conference in allowing sacks at nearly 2.5 per game.
The Bottom Line:
Every time someone counts Richt and the Bulldogs out, wins seem to pile up. Richt is a good coach and he constantly has enough talent in the program to do some damage in the SEC East. Last season they made it all the way to the championship game. Even with the loss of Crowell Georgia thinks they can get there again. They certainly have the ability to. Murray is one of the better quarterbacks in the league and he can take the team deep into the postseason. He and his teammates would like to avenge that loss to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl. With most of that strong defense returning, Georgia should make another run to the SEC championship game. They just need to avoid a slow start.
Projected Bowl: Cotton Bowl
2011 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 164.00 (49th in nation, 7th in conference)
Passing Offense: 244.50 (48, 2)
Total Offense: 408.50 (39, 3)
Scoring Offense: 32.00 (33, 4)
Rushing Defense: 101.21 (11, 3)
Pass Defense: 176.00 (10, 5)
Total Defense: 277.21 (5, 4)
Scoring Defense: 20.57 (23, 6)
Turnover Margin: .50 (26, 3)
Sacks: 2.50 (24, 2)
Sacks Allowed: 2.36 (85, 8)
Madness 2013 NFL Draft Rankings:
#22 Jarvis Jones
#35 Kwame Geathers
#68 Tavarres King
#70 Aaron Murray
#78 Bacarri Rambo
#80 Cornelius Washington
Madness 2012 Football Recruit Rankings:
#12 Keith Marshall
#14 John Theus
#27 Josh Harvey-Clemons
#36 Jordan Jenkins
#51 Jonathan Taylor
#71 Todd Gurley
#142 Leonard Floyd
