Is it too early to start thinking about next year? I am undecided how I feel about our team and the direction of our current program. I want to believe that if we give CMR and Todd Grantham another year, we could become the next Alabama. I don’t know who remembers, but they lost to La-Monroe in Saban’s first year and went 11-1 the next. However, there are other times when I think that we have been outcoached far too many times and CMR’s best days are behind him. I thought that the OC and DC are coaches that other programs eventually would want to higher as their head coach. I am pretty sure that Mike Bobo wouldn’t even have a job if it weren’t for UGA.
On offense there will be the obvious absence of AJ Green. It is going to be impossible to replace what he brings to this team. He opens up the other WRs, he frees up the running game, and hell he even helps the defense by keeping them off the field and getting them better field position. The hope for next season will lie on the shoulders of our great freshman QB. I believe he gives us a great chance to improve next season. It would be great to get #1 RB recruit Isaiah Cromwell to help out Ealey and have our own version of Marcus Lattimore.
On defense I actually think there are some things to look forward too. Hopefully, CTG will have a year to recruit some players that fit into the overall 3-4 scheme a little better than the current ones. However I think we have made strides. Last year, we gave up 40 points to both USC and ARK even though we were the better team. This year we only gave up 17 and 24 respectively and both of them had better teams than us. We also look pretty aggressive all season and have been stout against the run. We need to learn the defense a little better and stop having so many blown coverages. I think the best thing that could come out of the GT game would be to win and make it to a bowl game so our young players need the extra practice. I have heard that the practice you get for going to a bowl game is longer than spring practice.
Whatever happens I am already excited.
P.S. - Fairley is the dirtiest player I have ever seen.
The looking forward to next year started a while back...
ReplyDeleteFortunately There is a lot to look forward to!
Let's start off with the schedule:
The UGA Athletic department should actually be embarassed about next season's out of conference play. Fortunately they have the excuse that they did not actually schedule it (new administration).
The only road non conference game is GaTech.
At home they play Louisville, Coastal Carolina, and New Mexico St.
They Play Ole Miss and Miss St. from the West (obviously along with Auburn)
And yes, losing Green (and Kris Durham, and Shaun Chapas as well) on offense will be a step back. But, Like you said: Murray is great, The RB's will be back, and the WR's and TE's are young.
I'm Pretty optomistic as well!
PS, good site
Brett