Georgia Bulldogs
The Richt Time
By: JJ Lanier
GeorgiaSportsEdition.com news services
The Urban Meyer retirement I saw coming; the Mark Richt retirement, I did not.
Whenever you have a coach as young as Richt abruptly retire, the speculation automatically turns to poor health, albeit with him or someone in his family.
I’m sure over the coming days and weeks more info will come out of Coral Gables as to the reasons why; it will also give us a little more clarification as to whether or not there’s a possibility Richt follows the aforementioned Meyer and returns to the sidelines any time soon.
Rather than try and guess any of those things, I want to take Richt retirement at face value, assume he is done coaching and talk about what legacy, if any, he leaves behind.
Since he had only two head coaching stops during his 18 years as a head coach, 15 of which were spent in Athens, your opinion of his coaching is probably based on whether his tenure at Georgia was successful.
Regardless of how you felt about Richt at the time he ceased to be Georgia’s head coach, he did have a successful run there. He took a program that had been struggling to find some consistency, amid high expectations from alumni and fans and was able to bring in some of that much sought after stability.
Georgia went from a good program to one that people outside of Athens thought could be title contenders on a regular basis.
Miami was in even more dire straits when Richt took over three years ago, and although this year didn’t live up to expectations, he was bringing that program back to respectability.
Unfortunately, despite what he was able to accomplish, I’m not sure that’s exactly what Richt will be remembered for.
As soon I wrote that his team in Coral Gables didn’t live up to expectations this year, I admit I thought “Well, isn’t that kind of his thing?” I mean, for all the triumphs he had as a head coach, his teams never quite seemed to be able to reach their potential.
When you look at all the talent that came through the program while he was there, it’s a bit surprising he didn’t win more big time games during those 15 years, isn’t it?
It’s hard to knock someone who won 2 conference titles and had the misfortune of coaching in a league with both Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, but it still always felt like Georgia could have been more.
This seems to be even more exacerbated by the success Kirby Smart has had since taking over for Richt. Smart has been more successful on the recruiting trail and was able to take them to heights- mainly being a national championship game- that Richt was never able to do.
We all like to talk about how difficult it is to follow a highly accomplished coach on any level, but sometimes it’s more damaging to the reputation to be outdone by your successor.
I have no idea if Richt will ever return to coaching, or if he even has the desire to. I imagine if he chooses to comeback at point down the road, there will a number of college football teams interested in his services. He is a good coach that seems to have a knack for elevating the level of the program he is leading. Just don’t expect him to bring you to the top of the mountain; as you’ll probably remember, that’s not exactly his forté.
Sugar Sweet For Dawgs?
By: Kipp Branch
GeorgiaSportsEdition.com news services
It has been an interesting football season. Georgia won the SEC East and came up just short in the SEC title game against Alabama. Georgia led Alabama for 58 minutes and 51 seconds and just missed the college football playoff.
Texas has a proud football history, but has struggled as of late. Tom Herman is building the Longhorns back into a national brand. The Longhorns lost to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game 39-27. Texas beat Oklahoma during the regular season.
The two blue bloods meet in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Night in New Orleans.
Georgia is coming into the game as a 13 point favorite against the 9-4 Longhorns. The last time the two teams matched up was the 1984 Cotton Bowl where Georgia beat Texas 10-9.
Both teams have just finished signing top 10 recruiting classes during the early signing period.
Georgia is led by QB Jake Fromm and a pair of 1,000 rushers in Swift and Holyfield. Will Georgia feel the effects of the SEC title game loss, or the saga of Justin Fields and his potential transfer?
Sam Ehlinger has given the Longhorns a consistent, quality player at quarterback for the first time in 8-10 years. He was responsible for 38 touchdowns. Only Longhorn legend Vince Young has produced more in a single season.
He’s smarter with the football (only five interceptions vs. seven last year) and he’s a great option in the run game, using his legs to get many key first downs.
Texas has two big-time receivers on the outside in Collin Johnson and Lil’Jordan Humphrey. They are two big, physical pass-catchers who have given opponents problems all season. It’s still on Ehlinger to get the ball to them, which he has done consistently.
Georgia is going to run the football in this contest and Texas, like most teams in their conference, struggles at time against the run. Georgia has the best defense Texas will see this season.
Texas is looking for its first 10-win season in almost a decade, and I think the Longhorns will come in highly motivated to show the country they belong in this contest. Texas is always going to have great athletes and UGA better come into this game expecting a 60-minute fight to the end.
Keys to the game: The Texas run defense. Can Texas slow down the power run game of UGA?
Georgia’s motivation. Will the Dawgs be motivated to play at peak level?
Can Texas exploit the Georgia secondary?
Will Georgia open up and attack the Longhorn secondary?
I think this will be a great contest that UGA wins 41-28 and finishes 12-2. This may set up a national championship run in 2019.
Texas is on its way back in being a national power. UGA is a national power. Enjoy these times Dawg Nation.
Jason Bishop Show With Kipp Branch December 8
College Football Fallout Week 2
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Week two of the college football season is now in the books and some great outcomes and storylines arose from the “Saturday that was”.
I wonder what it will take for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to consider moving in a different direction, away from Paul Johnson.
A loss to non-Power 5 South Florida has Tech fans groaning again about Johnson and that Triple Option. However, the problem isn’t the triple option or even Paul Johnson’s coaching, the problem is recruiting.
Georgia Tech was considerably outmanned against South Florida, which had athletes all over the field and that ultimately reflected on the scoreboard.
Also, currently, South Florida and UCF are the best 2 non-Power 5 teams in the country. Thus, there should not be a lot of outrage amongst the Yellow Jacket faithful about losing to the Bulls. They are currently better.
Speaking of better, I think it is pretty safe to say the Georgia Bulldogs are better than the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Dawgs went to half up by 10 and then Kirby Smart “let the Dawgs off the chain” in the second half and South Carolina had no answers.
In my opinion, Georgia and Alabama are the two best teams in the country, again.
A team that is not among the best 2 in the country is Florida. The Gators had beaten Kentucky 31 straight time and had not lost to the Wildcats since 1986.
That streak is over. Kentucky took advantage of a bad Florida offense and came away with a 27-16 win in Gainesville. Yes, in the swamp.
Long gone are the days where no one won in the Swamp except for Florida.
One thing that truly amazes me is how the University of Florida cannot find a decent QB when they are the flagship school for one of the four most talent rich states in the country.
Especially, when you thing about the great QB’s that have played there in the last 30 years. One thing is for sure, Feleipe Franks has a lot to work on.
One last thing, for people who are not paying attention, LSU is better than you think.
Next week the Bayou Bengals will have a chance to prove this to the country as they will take on the Tigers from the plains in Auburn.
The winner will have the inside shot of dethroning Alabama in the SEC West.
New Dawgs, Old Tricks
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s been a good start to the Kirby Smart regime. I’d be lying if I said I saw his early success coming this soon, but I have a feeling Georgia fans won’t mind me being a little off with my prediction.
While I understand the excitement, and if you’re a UGA fan you have every right to be, I would caution getting too overzealous. If you’re experiencing a bit of Deja vu, it’s because you’ve seen this movie before.
Kirby Smart and Mark Richt will be forever linked for the obvious reason that Smart succeeded Richt, after the latter was relieved of his head coaching duties. However, it’s some of the similarities concerning each coaches’ first couple years in Athens that I want to talk about; their records in particular.
For one, they both arrived as first-time head coaches. Sure, that’s not necessarily life changing or anything, but neither had any other head coaching experience prior to UGA, which does play a part when assessing their early years.
And going by the first two years for each at Georgia, those seasons are almost identical.
Smart finished his inaugural season 8-5, ending up just outside the Top 25. Richt finished 8-4, ranked 25th at season’s end.
Kirby then followed that up with a second season consisting of a 13-2 record, the school’s first conference championship in over a decade, a berth in the playoffs, and a number two ranking in the final polls. That’s a sophomore slump anyone would sign up for.
What about Mark Rich’s second season? How about a 13-1 record, a conference championship for the first time in 20 years, a third-place finish in the season ending polls, and a Sugar Bowl win. Had the college playoffs actually existed during the 2002 season, Georgia would have been one of those four teams, without a doubt.
I know it’s purely coincidental, but to have two first time head coaches with almost identical seasons to start their career at the same school, is still pretty interesting.
I do have to say that Smart has done a better job on the recruiting trail, specifically with local talent. Richt did a good job with Top 10 recruiting classes those first few years, but I don’t remember him ever having a number one class, like Smart has for this upcoming season.
I know this may come across as me antagonizing the UGA fan base- like I’ve been sitting around all day, drinking beer with Skip Bayless and Danny Kanell, scheming of ways to get under your skin- but I promise it’s not like that at all. Even though it’s been 12 years since I lived in Georgia, I was a resident there long enough and remain friends with enough people, to know expectations are at an all-time high.
I’m not trying to knock Smart, or anything he has accomplished; bringing him in was obviously the right call. Bulldog fans have every reason to be excited and should be. This is the greatest amount of promise their team has had since, well, Mark Richt’s first two years.
I will say this though; if you’re a Georgia fan, finishing this upcoming season at 11-3, with a SEC East Division title, to go along with a loss in the SEC Championship game, may not be the outcome you’re looking for, for one particular reason.
As different as Smart and Richt may be in certain areas, so far, they’ve been pretty similar in the one area that counts.
Dawgs’ New Tricks
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Gone are Sony Michel, Nick Chubb and Roquan Smith, Georgia’s best three players. All three will find themselves in the NFL very soon.
Despite losing those key pieces from last year’s run at a National Title, there are some familiar faces returning to the Georgia Bulldogs that were put on display during the annual Spring Game in Athens, G-Day.
Georgia fans will get to watch Jake Fromm return at QB, D’Andre Swift come back as the featured tail back in the 2018 season. UGA faithful will also get to see newcomers like Justin Fields, the number one QB in the country at the high school ranks last season.
Coach Kirby Smart took his team through the dog walk leading into Sanford Stadium to begin one of the most anticipated seasons in Georgia Football history and it all starts with G-Day.
A crowd of over 80,000 showed up to watch the Bulldogs spring scrimmage. In the game the Black team defeated Red team 21-13.
The Black team opened the scoring with a Deandre Baker pick-6 of Jake Fromm. A good sign from UGA’s secondary as most are predicting it will be the weak link for the Bulldogs in 2018.
Justin Fields was put in display for the fan base to see and he did not disappoint. Fields went 18-33 for 207 yards and a TD. He also did throw an interception.
Jake Fromm also put up decent numbers, going 19-38 for 200 yards and a TD. Fromm did end up throwing two interceptions.
Former Pierce County QB Stetson Bennett also out together an eight-play drive that covered 64 yards and ended with 3 points.
Georgia LB, Monty Smith had a great day. Smith ended up with 14 tackles and a sack. Smith will have big shoes to fill as most expect him to replace Roquan Smith at LB.
Overall, the Georgia defense had 4 interceptions. Baker, Richard LeCounte, William Poole and KJ Smith each intercepted a pass. The secondary will need to continue to be that opportunistic when the season starts on September 1.
The Bulldogs will open against Austin Peay at Sanford Stadium. Georgia will have to go to South Carolina on September 8th, host Tennessee on November 29th, go to LSU on October 13th, travel to Jacksonville to take on the Gators on October 27th, host Auburn on November 10th and then close the regular season out with in state rival, Georgia Tech coming to Athens.
The Bulldogs will also be looking for some help at WR. Coach Smart noted the wide receiver corps had a ton of drops in the Spring Game. Terry Godwin and Calvin Ridley look to step up for Georgia in those roles.
Georgia will still be tough to beat in the SEC East and I look for this team to at least make a return trip the SEC Title Game.
Where Will They Go?
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NFL Draft is upon us. I have had so many people ask me where Sony Michel and Nick Chubb will go in this draft.
The most prolific running back duo in UGA history will make a couple of teams very happy in this draft. So, let us take a look at where these two may be selected.
Nick Chubb: Chubb suffered a major knee injury as a sophomore. However, it looks like he’s moved past that setback.
Chubb is a Frank Gore or Ray Rice type of back who can get you 4-5 yards per carry and then break the 25-yard run in the 4th quarter when a defense is getting worn down.
Chubb is rated in the top 5 in every scout’s review of the RB position. This is a deep draft class at running back. Chubb is the #2 rusher all time in the SEC, which has a rich draft history of churning out elite defensive line talent. Chubb’s game will translate well to the NFL. Look for Chubb to go in the second or third round.
Sony Michel: To me, Sony Michel was the most valuable player on the 2017 Georgia Bulldogs.
Michel made big play after big play in crunch time for the Dawgs magical run in 2017. He can catch out of the backfield, he can make people miss in space, and while he only ran a 4.54 at the combine he plays much faster than that.
Many are saying Michel could be the second back off the board after Saquon Barkley, who many feel is the best prospect in the draft.
Sony Michel is a big-play back and will be a three down back in the NFL. Michel has bulked up and can handle 20 carries per game. Sony Michel could end up being a Pro Bowl type player in the NFL. Look for Sony to be off the board by the mid-second round.
Teams that are in need of help at the running back position:
1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs cut Doug Martin loose this offseason and now they need someone who can handle 20-25 carries a game to take some pressure off of Jameis Winston who needs to develop into the QB Tampa invested millions in.
2) New York Giants: This team needs help everywhere and I mean everywhere.
3) Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey is a playmaker in space, but a strong, consistent power back is needed.
4) Miami Dolphins: Signing Frank Gore is great short term. Dolphins need to address the position.
5) Detroit Lions: The Lions have not had a running back rush for over 100 yards in a single game since 2013. Ouch!! Even with signing LeGarrette Blount the Lions need major help at the position.
Who will end up taking this UGA dynamic duo?
The Detroit Lions have pick 51 in the second round and I think the Lions will take Sony Michel. Michel will be the long-term solution at RB in Detroit. The Colts have pick 36 and 37 and could take Michel, but I think the Lions snatch him up at pick 51.
Nick Chubb: The Bucs have pick 38, but I don’t think they select a RB with that pick. The Panthers have pick 55 and 85 and I think if Chubb is still on the board at 85 the Panthers take him.
The New York football Giants have pick 69 and if there was ever a player that fit the traditional mold of a New York Giant it would be Nick Chubb. I think Chubb ends up being in the Big Apple and a year one starter in New York.
One thing is for certain with these two and that is they will bring their lunch to work daily and never cause an organization any trouble.
This duo will be greatly missed in Athens, Georgia.
The Big Boys Play Here
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2018 National Signing Day was earlier in the month. Now we know how each of your favorite teams did. Let’s look at the SEC recruiting classes. There are 9 SEC Schools with top 20 recruiting classes.
Surprisingly, Georgia tops the list. The Bulldogs almost won their first national title since 1980 and that success on the field is translating in recruiting. Out of the 26 recruits signed there are seven 5 stars and fifteen 4 stars.
Quarterback Justin Fields headlines the class. He was the #2 overall recruit in the nation and he’s a dynamic dual threat.
Fields is 6’3, 221 pounds and I expect him to gain another 10 pounds once he arrives in Athens. He will be sitting behind Jake Fromm for at least the next two years but we will see how that plays out.
UGA is becoming Running Back U over the past decade, so of course they signed another stud in Zamir White. He was the top ranked RB in the country and #9 national recruit. I expect him to step on campus and rush for a thousand yards immediately.
Alabama’s class was ranked 6th which is the worst it’s been since Nick Saban’s first year in 2007. The Crimson Tide are coming off of another national championship but I think their nervous about Georgia’s success. Bama only signed 19 recruits, two 5 stars, twelve 4 stars and five 3 stars.
They struggled on defense the last two years and they heavily addressed the defensive line. Eyabi Anoma is the 4th ranked national recruit and #1 defensive end.
Stephon Wynn also signed and he’s the 3rd ranked defensive end. The pass rush should be lethal in Tuscaloosa for the next few years.
The other five-star recruit is the best cornerback, Patrick Surtain Jr. If you recall his father played in the NFL, most notably for the Miami Dolphins. Clearly, Surtain Jr. has the pedigree to be successful.
Auburn’s class is ranked 12th but they don’t have any 5 star recruits.
They have sixteen 4 stars and eight 3 stars. Auburn is an interesting program because they have trouble sustaining a high level of success on the field. The Tigers normally have a breakout season every 4-5 years. Maybe this class will provide stability and help them build on their 2017 season.
One notable signee is defensive tackle Daquan Newkirk from East Mississippi Community College. If you watch Last Chance U then you’re familiar with that program.
Newkirk originally was in the Tigers 2016 class but his academic status forced him to go to community college. At 6’3, 282 pounds and two years of playing experience I expect him to be a key contributor in 2018.
“[Auburn’s commitment was] very important because through my journey a lot of schools turned their back but Auburn didn’t. That’s very special to me,” Newkirk said. “As you can tell no one really knows about me. Every time I got offered by a big school I didn’t post it on Twitter. I was just a humble guy throughout my whole process.”
Florida is ranked 14th which is impressive considering they did not hire new head coach Dan Mullen until November 26, 2017.
They signed several four-star recruits on offense, which has been weak for several years. Some of the signees are receivers Jacob Copeland, Justin Watkins, running back Dameon Pierce and tight end Kyle Pitts.
LSU is ranked 15th, Texas A&M 17th, South Carolina 19th and Tennessee 20th. That means we can expect to see some very good games over the next 3-4 years.
Jason Bishop Show w Kipp Branch Jan 6
National Championship Game Breakdown
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The SEC takes center stage in the biggest game of the college football season, with the conference’s two best teams finally getting an opportunity to settle it on the field.
This matchup should have taken place the first weekend of December, but Auburn ruined that as the Tigers upset the Tide at Auburn on November 25th.
This championship game between Georgia and Alabama has a lot of twists and plots. Georgia with second year coach Kirby Smart going against his mentor Nick Saban, who holds a perfect 11-0 mark against former assistants. Smart served as Saban’s defensive coordinator for years in Tuscaloosa before coming home to UGA.
Alabama beat up Clemson 24-6 in the Sugar Bowl and UGA outscored Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl 54-48 to get to this game which will be played in brand new Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ticket prices are through the roof and this ticket may be the priciest in the history of sports events in the state of Georgia.
Keys to the game:
Which Quarterback plays the best? Alabama QB Jalen Hurts has taken some heat from the Tide nation recently with his play but all he does is win as a starting Tide signal caller and has his team playing in the title game for the second year in a row as a starter.
Georgia freshman Jake Fromm looks like a seasoned veteran with the Bulldog offense and the game tying TD drive with Oklahoma in regulation is the stuff legends are made of.
Fromm is a better passer and Hurts is a better runner. In the end this game may be decided by the mobility of a QB. Advantage: Hurts and Alabama.
Which Offensive line holds up best? Both of the units were dominated by the Auburn defensive front in the Iron Bowl, and first UGA/AU matchup at Auburn. Both groups learned something from it.
Georgia dominated Auburn up front in the SEC title game, and Alabama handled the great Clemson DL in the Sugar Bowl. Alabama is dealing with an injury to a starting OG Cotton Jr. and UGA is coming in healthy. Advantage: Georgia
Coaching? Nick Saban is the best head coach in football. Kirby knows the Alabama way and has changed the culture at UGA, but in the end Nick has five national titles. Advantage: Alabama
Atmosphere surrounding game? Yes, Alabama has been here before. This game is in Atlanta and is the biggest game for UGA since the 1983 Sugar Bowl. Georgia looks like a team of destiny. Advantage: UGA
Positional Group Analysis:
QB: Hurts or Fromm? Slight advantage to Alabama.
RB: Both teams are loaded here. Chubb, Michel, Swift, Holyfield, Herrien. Advantage: Georgia
OL: Both groups are solid. The Tide is dealing with an injury to a starter. Advantage: Georgia
WR: Calvin Ridley is the best WR on the field during this game for Alabama, but who else steps up for the Tide? Wims, Godwin, and the TE’s make it tilt UGA’s way. Advantage: Georgia
DL: Alabama is better than UGA here. Advantage; Alabama
LB: Two words for you. Roquan Smith. Alabama is beat up here. Advantage: Georgia
DB: Minkah Fitzpatrick is the best DB in America. Advantage: Alabama
Special Teams: Alabama is slightly better at punter and UGA is light years better at FG kicker with Rod Blankenship. Mecole Hardman is ready to explode on the national stage for UGA. Don’t be surprised if he has a big kick return in this game. Advantage: Georgia.
Vegas has Alabama as a slight favorite, but Lorenzo Carter, Sony Michel, and Nick Chubb all came back to UGA for their senior seasons and turned down big NFL money. This is a magical season for UGA and the championship game is in Georgia’s capital Atlanta.
Prediction: Georgia 24- 20. The University of Georgia your 2017 College Football National Champions in a season that will never be forgotten in state of Georgia.
