Georgia Football 2014 – Better, Worse or about the Same?

OFFENSE

Despite no longer having quarterback Aaron Murray and its offensive line returning just 57 career starts, Georgia’s offense features both one of the best running backs and receiving corps in the nation.  

Replacing Murray, fifth-year senior Hutson Mason ended last season as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback, passing for 619 combined yards in the team’s final two games.  Although Coach Richt has said, “the [offensive] system we’ll run this season will be very similar to a year ago,” there’s been some indication that Georgia will actually run a little more of a no-huddle, up-tempo style, and pass even more than before, to better suit Mason’s skills. 

As far as what an “inexperienced” offensive line ultimately means for a Bulldog team, consider that in 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2012, Georgia returned 31 or fewer offensive line career starts, yet the average victory total for those four seasons was a lofty 11 wins.  

Still, it would be mighty difficult for any offense to maintain Georgia’s recent and torrid pace of averaging 37 points and 476 yards per game the last two seasons.  Therefore, the Bulldog offense will remain excellent in 2014, but not quite as efficient as a year ago. 

Georgia RB Todd Gurley

DEFENSE

Last season, Georgia’s oft-confused and out-of-position defense under the direction of departed defensive coordinator Todd Grantham allowed 375.5 yards and 29.0 points per game, and forced only 1.2 turnovers per contest – the fifth, first, and second-worst per-game averages, respectively, for a Bulldog defense over the last 72 seasons.  Improvement is predicated with the addition of new DC, Jeremy Pruitt, who served as national champion Florida State’s DC a year ago. 

Besides Pruitt’s arrival, the Bulldogs return a whopping 12 defenders who started at least six games a year ago.  And although the secondary, despite its depth, remains rather suspect featuring no true standout players, Georgia’s defense overall should certainly be better than last season’s unit – it couldn’t get much worse. 

Will Georgia be better, worse or about the same as last year? 

Not only should Georgia’s defense be much improved, but so should its overall special teams unit, which was near inept in 2013.  For the season, the Bulldogs incurred seven detrimental special teams snafus – two fumbled snaps while punting, two fumbles returning punts, two blocked punts, and a botched snap on a short field goal try – six of which directly led to an opposing touchdown. 

Improved defensive and special teams units, an offense which is nearly as efficient, plus a manageable schedule (Clemson, Tennessee, Auburn, and Georgia Tech all must play between the hedges, while the one opponent the Bulldogs will most likely face as an underdog – South Carolina on the road – falls after a bye week), equates to a 10-2 regular-season record in my opinion, or two games better than 2013.  

Georgia will likely lose to the Gamecocks in Columbia and, as is seemingly the case for the Bulldogs most seasons, drop a game they have no business losing.  But, in the end, and like in 2011 and 2012, Georgia could very well find itself atop the SEC East and heading to Atlanta for a shot at the SEC title despite a loss to South Carolina.

Patrick Garbin of About Them Dawgs! Blawg provided the information for our Georgia Football 2014 spring wrap up. For more Georgia football information, commentary and analysis, please check out Patrick’s Facebook page.