Onto Bobo Year 2

 Emerson had me with this:

By the points-per-game metric, Mike Bobo-coordinated offenses now account for two of the three highest-scoring teams in school history. Anybody still criticizing Bobo’s credentials or capabilities is not to be taken seriously on the subject anymore. (LINK $)

In an article that is both a fair and honest assessment of Coach Bobo's first year of his second stint as Georgia's offensive coordinator, as well as thorough look at the depth chart he should have returning for year two, it's hard not to be really excited about the future.

While much of the 2023 offensive production has left Athens in favor of the NFL Draft or the transfer portal, the depth and talent at the RB and WR positions is impressive. Of course, more changes are practically imminent, especially after Spring practices. But Kirby and Co. continue to manage the roster more than effectively.

One of the moves Seth points out that I am also keeping an eye on is Xavier Truss. Searels is the OL's third coach in five seasons, yet we've continued to trot out solid units despite injuries and absolute studs going to the NFL. If Truss decides to return, at best we get another starter. And at worst we get an experienced offensive lineman that can plug into multiple positions.

 - - - - UPDATE - - - -

Ratledge makes his decision official. 

#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/7dRhU6K2sC

— Tate Ratledge (@tateratledge22) January 5, 2024

Considering Stackhouse did earlier, if Truss is staying as well, I would expect that news to drop soon. 

Friday Misery - an abridged history lesson on the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry

A litmus test for whether you, as a Georgia fan, should be worried about Auburn: 1) has their quarterback ever stolen a laptop? No, then 2) has he ever taken teammates cash and valuables from the team lockerroom? No.

Okay. So if Auburn somehow wins tomorrow, we’ll know this Stidham kid is hiding some shit in his dorm room closet.

Then…

It was close to a brotherhood really. I mean, there was no love lost between us. But it’s not like we met in Jacksonville each year to shout our disdain about each others’ mothers and general hygiene habits. We even shared fellow alumni/former players as coaches. Our campuses are one lazy drive away. We didn’t even complain all that much when they used our fight song, and we tolerated their cute yet inferior hedges with a modicum of respect.

And their schizophrenic loyalty to three different mascots at the same time was amusing if not downright...well, yeh it was kinda sad and pathetic even then.

But, there were times they’d beat the Gators and the Volunteers just to show they had our back. We did the same against Bama and LSU more than our fair share.

In 1996 we shared one of the greatest college football games that will ever be. An epic four overtime battle that turned boys into men right before our very eyes. God bless you Corey Allen. And may Robert Baker get a fair shot at his next parole hearing.

It was an experience that helped Georgia fans put the Game Between the Hoses from 1986 behind us on some level. It deepened our bond as fellow SEC compatriots. We drew closer, but always respecting the fact that we would always be on separate sides at least one day out of 365.

Then again. They lost. We won. So maybe that's just how I remember it.

...and now.

Fairley buried the crown of his helmet so deep into the back of our quarterback that we all felt the pain surge through our spines. Then he did it again.

Then yet again.

No flags^*. Of course not. The health and safety of an opposing quarterback shouldn't stand in the way of a plainsman title run pahtnah! And as if the salaciousness of buying players to grab that national championship wasn’t enough, they then resorted to taking Butts-Mehre outcasts and degenerates as their own, shoved them in our face, and essentially told us to get the hell out of town.

Auburn is like that best friend you had all the way through grade school. Until freshman year of high school, when he fell ass first into a Homecoming date with a junior cheerleader because his older sister owed him a favor because of that time Dad took Mom to that three day conference in Columbus and sister threw that party where Johnny Snodgrass got drunk on Bartles and Jaymes and threw up on GramGram’s handmade bedspread and the younger brother didn’t tell a legally responsible soul. After Homecoming he of course developed into a snot-nosed piece of shit that everybody else turned their back on because he somehow always thought he was the Big Man on Campus even though he didn't own a single pair of Nikes, wore a knock-off Members Only jacket from KMart, and ate by himself next to the teachers’ table sophomore, junior, and all of senior year until he walked across the stage of the gym through the jeers and sneers of two hundred and eighty-six other pissed off 18 year olds in cap and gowns (60% of which were also drunk on Bartles and Jaymes wine coolers).

I still hate that guy. Hell, he’s probably at some insurance seminar right now talking some sap’s ear off at the Holiday Inn Express breakfast bar about that one time he had a Homecoming date with Sissy “Two Bits” Kowalchuk and stayed out past 10pm. Asshole.

They drew the line, we’re just here to remind them of how often they have failed to cross it. Because that coach that bought them that natty, yeh, he’s now wearing a rented suit on the SEC Network jabbering like a mental patient that’s on the second of three frontal lobotomies. And their new coach, yeh, Malzahn is the equivalent of the high school kid that stole all the answers to the physics test but then fails the final every year because he can't even spell the word "formula".

Malzahn's glasses are just for show because he thinks it makes him look smart. If you take away his reclaimed 5star former safety he’s just a pink slip away from a job on an Opelika used car lot drinking day old coffee because Starbucks won’t validate his latte anymore.

Okay, let’s break this down for real...they’re central time zone. They’re an hour behind and three chromosomes short of a gene pool. We squeeze the Charmin just like the old commercial asks us to, but they rub it on their genitals and hurl it into trees to celebrate a victory, or just another successful evasion of an NCAA inquiry. We #keepchopping, they #keepdodging FBI investigations. We watch Netflix and chill, they go cow tipping and get ill.

They're plainsmen which is evidently the lovechild of a tiger that beds down with an eagle. We just wanna get after that ass! Go Dawgs and also screw it I’ll pronounce Jordan Hair any damn well I please and thank you very much! Now, bow your heads...Lord, please give Chubb 13 yards and any number of one hundreds he chooses. Also, please protect our traveling fans from their deviant time zone confusery. In the name of Wayne Johnson, Mike Bobo, and UGA V, Amen!!

^*CORRECTION: the Senator provides video evidence of a flag after the third late hit. I would apologize, but I'm not yet ready. Go Dawgs!

Belk Bowl preview

As I pack for Charlotte, (actually, while the family and I help fee the local homeless today) here's some predictions for Tuesday evening. Not sure I'll have much more before the game as things are pretty busy right up til kickoff, so please add to this in the comments.

Gonna miss these guys.

• First, don't be surprised if Keith Mrshall plays. Not saying he'll definitely play, especially since there are a couple of backs that may be ahead of him on the depth chart. But word is Marshall has practiced very well this week and really wants just one more year in Athens. Yes, we heard similar things about Marshall back in August, and really before then, about his progression after knee injury. But if he's healthy (and I think he should be) and he truly only wants just one more year of eligibility, then he should be a good change of pace to Chubb.
• All that being said, I think Sony Michel will have an explosive play. Maybe two. He's just the kind of player that we grew accustomed to Grantham defenses overlooking. And #1 can play many positions in a Bobo game plan.
• Also, that being said, how well does Lilly execute Bobo's game plan? It's one thing to have the same plays designed and highlighted as would've been had the offensive coordinator stayed. It's another to call based on instincts and hunches. And experience.
• How big of a deal is Michael Dyer not making the trip gonna be? He's not even their leading rusher. But my guess is he would have factored heavily in Petrino's gameplan. Plus, this is an offnse used to having more than one running back and then figuring out which is the hot hand. Now all that is changed.
• While we're talking about folks not making it to the Queen City, how big of a deal is it that Isaiah McKenzie is in absentia? Sounds like Malcolm Mitchell has taken his reps at punt return. My guess is Mitchell gets more looks (or at least the first look) at punt returner over Reggie Davis. Georgia has options to replace McKenzie, but no one has that kid's play making abilities in the return game. Could be a factor, albeit a subtle one.
• Can the defense play with discipline? It's one thing to not let Grantham get in their heads during media interviews. It's another to allow Pruitt to show he's the better overall communicator that we know he is already.
• Senior leadership. Bowl game wins are almost dependent on it. If you have a group of good ones that really, really want to go out on top, then you have a better chance of seeing a team focused on winning.

Otherwise, it's really just a means to an end. 

Go Dawgs!

As Mike Bobo packs

When I was a student at Georgia the football team sucked. The actual game was just an excuse to party outdoors. The game on the field had at best a 50/50 shot at entertaining you. Then we'd all head back to the dorms to drink some more, order a pizza, and discuss the quarterback controversy.

For the record, I was a Preston Jones fan.

Anyway, in came this hotshot Eric Zeier. That dude had an arm. And holy shit we were winning some football games. Should've even won in Jacksonville! Damn. But then reality sunk in that 1) my parents were no longer going to subsidize my education and 2) Goff had squandered the best quarterback Georgia had seen in years.

However, word started to spread of this kid with a funny name - Mike Bobo. Word was his dad was a coach and the kid also had an arm. A coach's kid with a good arm sounded pretty good to me.

Well, I'm not sure he was as good as Zeier, but this new guy knew where to put the football. We won some games we shouldn't have. He threw the ball all over the field. Mike Bobo was a damn good quarterback. I remember the night we went toe to toe with Auburn in 1996 - Miracle on the Plains. Bobo didn't always amaze, but he made play after play. The Mrs. and I made her mom and aunt wait two-plus hours before we would sit down to dinner, because Dammit! The Dawgs might just win this thing after all!

Fast forward to the night news broke some guy named Mark Richt would be the next head coach at Georgia. We all gathered around Nama's computer because it was connected to something called the internet, which is what told us of all the assistants Richt was bringing to Athens. The only one we recognized was that kid named Bobo. "Y'all remember him from the Outback Bowl a couple years ago right? Nice to have a damn good Georgia man on board!"

Now, fast forward to last week. That's the same guy who served 14 years on staff, who recruited his ass off for UGA, and won ball games with actual points on the board while his bosses were giving raises to the defensive coordinator that just pulled his pants up. Same guy AD McGarity let fly off into the sunset last week to interview in Colorado.

WTF?

Mike Bobo, the one time phenom that helped keep a program relevant and then helped it score many, many points, was allowed to leave on a plane to friggin' Colorado without even an offer of a raise. I don't think I'll ever get over that. Ever.

Ever.

No, I'm very happy for Mike Bobo. He's past due for a shot as a head coach and even more past due for a raise in pay. He'll do well out yonder where he'll recruit circles around everyone else and surprise a few with how prepared his team is. Most of those teams will lose the game.

I'm happy for Mike Bobo. I'm just very sad for Georgia football.

Very.

Bobo has a real sharp sharpie.

He's gone. And I'm in a really dark place. Really.

Dark.

The man behind the playsheet used to be accused of being the dumb one with the crayon. Truth is he never, ever got out-coached by his peers. And now he's on the way out of town. And all I can think is he's the guy that realizes the ship is on fire before the rest of us poor, dumb assholes do.

I took you for granted. I'm sorry.

Gurgle gurgle. Blurb. Blurp....

Why didn't McGarity offer him a raise before he left on that plane last week?
Why do we lose coaches (note, plural...) to Mountain West teams? (Or whatever the hell conference Canadian State is in.)
Why don't we spend money on assistant coaches?
Why did we pay Grantham money that Bobo had actually earned?
Why won't Bobo get one last chance to pull Toddles pants down on national television?

I'm pissed. Sure, I understand this is a chance for Mike Bobo to prove himself as a head coach. And sure as shit that is the way Greg McGarity will spin this development. It's not as much about money as it is a difference in opportunity. Possibly. But we could've made just one measly effort to keep the guy that's been here since before Monica Lewinsky even bought a blue dress.

Jeezus.

It's just really, really hard to hate something you love so goddamn much.

With or without you...

Coach Richt has alternatives ready should Bobo be packing boxes on December 30th instead of sitting in a Bank Of America stadium booth calling plays in Georgia's bowl game. However, these alternatives are privately tucked away in his head.

Asked if he had to prepare in case Bobo wasn’t coaching at the bowl, Richt said: “We’ll have a plan for everything. I can say that.”

Would Play Caller Richt return for an encore? Does Evil Richt even have a play sheet? Personally, I hope we never find out.

The Mike Bobo saga - day three, a coach and his AD converse (in my head)

Just some conversations I like to think Coach Bobo and McDaddy G have had the last couple days.

Bobo:"I'm going to Fort Collins man." ADGM:"Can you believe I've had this same stapler since the Reagan administration." #Dawgs
— Bernie (@BernieDawg) December 17, 2014

Bobo:“Back from Colorado in time for practice.” ADGM:“I gotta a $5 footlong for lunch & the stupid cashier gave me too much change!!” #Dawgs
— Bernie (@BernieDawg) December 17, 2014

Bobo: "Mr. McGarity, you think we can talk sometime this weekend?" ADGM: "Hey Mike. You got any valid Redbox codes?" #Dawgs
— Bernie (@BernieDawg) December 18, 2014

Bobo: "Mr. McGarity, you seen this season's stats?" ADGM: "I know right. Can't believe the downloads this Serial podcast is getting." #Dawgs
— Bernie (@BernieDawg) December 18, 2014

Bobo:"Here's your Christmas card Mr. McGarity. Hope you Sheryl & Alex have a nice holiday." ADGM:"um...ok here's a paper clip Mike." #Dawgs
— Bernie (@BernieDawg) December 18, 2014

The Mike Bobo saga - day three, McGarity and Teddy KGB

Fletcher Page preaches. I don't believe McGarity is in this particular choir. But I hope he's not dozing off in the back pew.

Because Bobo has been penalized for staying loyal, for not jumping jobs. His longevity — as a former Bulldogs quarterback and longtime second-hand man to Mark Richt — is being used against him. 

Think about this — Bobo was given a $240,00 raise in the spring of 2013 just to get him to the ridiculously underpaid point that he’s at now. 

In the coaching field, you'd be hard pressed to find someone as loyal to their program as Mike Bobo. Unless I'm mistaken, Frank Beamer is the longest tenured head coach in the nation. But it's clear he's hanging on and potentially causing more long-term problems now than he's solving short-term.

That's not Mike Bobo. He's taken his paycheck and gone to work each and every day to make the team better. As Page points out, the fact that a peer to Bobo like Cam Cameron at LSU can make more than twice what the Georgia offensive coordinator does and only score 19 points a game against conference opponents, good for 13th in the league, is absurd. Georgia scored 38.8 points a game against the SEC. That's good for first by the way, and is four more points a game than Lane Kiffin at Alabama who is making a hundred grand a year more in his first year in Tuscaloosa than Bobo is making in his 14th season in Athens.

Speaking of longevity, here's a closing thought - when is the last time Georgia didn't have one of the best offenses in the SEC? It certainly hasn't come under Bobo's watch. Since he took over play calling full time, the Dawgs have finished 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 3rd, 4th and now 1st in the SEC against conference defenses, which are the fastest, most talented, and best coached defenses in the nation.

And that's why McGarity should've met that jet on the runway yesterday and told Mike Bobo to get on off the plane. Like I said yesterday, I doubt Mike Bobo is the next coach at Colorado State. But, to borrow from both Page and "Teddy KGB", I do know its past time to pay the man his money.

The Mike Bobo saga - day two, in moving Holiday pictures

December always brings coaching rumors and news in college football. Actually, November brings it and then December douses it in lighter fluid and then flicks its cigarette casually in its general direction. And things have certainly escalated quickly in terms of Colorado State's head coach search and specifically how that relates to Georgia's offensive coordinator. With the help of Christmas Spirit as well as YouTube, let's take a peek at where things stand currently.

Feeling overlooked and underappreciated for his particular skillset, Mike Bobo strikes out on his own towards Fort Collins, Colorado.



Given the news, many fans react with raw and honest emotions. For reasonable fans that dwell in facts, they're pretty pissed at getting a low rent Barbie doll, or a can of soup, or entertaining the possibility of playing with a used dish sponge on Christmas Day. 

The lunatic fringe however, absolutely LOVES their new Mr. Literal Potato Head!!!1



Meanwhile, back at Butts-Mehre, Greg McGarity is just way too excited to operate in reality.



Now, how will these distinct subsets of persons find happiness and joy this Holiday Season, and especially just 13 days before the season finale? Stay tuned.

In this episode: Bobo, the Rams, and McGarity's checkbook

First off, Mike Bobo is definitely not probably not most likely not going to Fort Collins CO to coach tackle football. He's one of several names on a list that has emerged. In terms of where he ranks on said list, I'd say probably third at worst.

Personally, I would have him first. I think Mike Bobo is a better offensive coordinator than Scott Frost, and I know he's a better recruiter than Pat Narduzzi. I also think this would be a good move for Mike Bobo. With the right assistants that have some regional ties, he would certainly do better than Florida's new coach did out yonder.

Here's Emerson's summarization of Bobo's skills:

Georgia ranks eighth in the nation and first in the SEC in scoring offense this year. Georgia's offense, a pro-style system, has nonetheless put up big numbers the past few years. Two years ago the team set school records for total yards in a season (6,547) and touchdowns (72), and last year a new school record was set in average yards per game (484.2.) 

Last year he was named the offensive coordinator of the year by 247Sports.com, and two years ago he was a finalist for the Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant coach.

Bobo is also one of the Bulldogs' top recruiters, credited this year with being the main recruiter for defensive lineman Trent Thompson, one of the nation's top prospects.

First and foremost, Bobo consistently has an offense that produces yards and points whether he loses top talent to injuries and suspensions or not. And he's a relentless recruiter that recognizes today's high school talent as tomorrow's college team that can get him more yards and more points as well as help his fellow defensive coaches.

Yes, to me Mike Bobo is the perfect candidate for a program looking to pay a current assistant coach to be their head guy.

But I think Mike Bobo wants to be Georgia's next head coach. I didn't have the pleasure of talking to him on the phone last night, so this is just speculation, but I don't think he wants to pick the family up and move out west.

And although he may not admit it publicly or even among close friends, but I would imagine somewhere deep inside Mike Bobo is ready to be compensated commensurate with his regional and national peers. And that's why Blutarsky hits on the key question in my mind - Is Greg McGarity ready to take the blinders off and be proactive in dealing with his coaches' contracts?

There are many Dawg fans that are really busy scoffing at the news and possibility of Mike Bobo leaving Athens. They look down their noses and welcome any and all changes on staff. And that's fine. I would caution them to be careful what they wish for and all that, but they're entitled to their opinion. For me, I just trust Mike Bobo's numbers and production a lot more than I trust Greg McGarity's willingness to recognize and appreciate it.

That's my opinion.

"Miracle on the Plains" to air tomorrow morning

You've been warned:

Awesome. Set your DVRs, 1996's "Miracle on the Plains" airs on SEC Network tomorrow morning at 4:30am. All Hail Bobo to Allen! #Dawgs
— Bernie (@BernieDawg) December 16, 2014

And if you're Robert Baker, hold onto your man parts. "That Uga'll bite you!"
— Bernie (@BernieDawg) December 16, 2014

Grantham. Tremendous.

I've decided to piggy back on Estes' work in combining all of the thought provoking quotes and summarize yesterday's UGA Media teleconference with Louisville's defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.

Put your thesaurus down folks. This should only take a sec.

Leaving Athens
"Tremendous decision on my part. Tremendous chance to unite with my brother, coach with a tremendous offensive mind, and pursue an ACC/National Title. Both of which we were tremendously close to this year. Well, at least one of them."

Facing Bobo
"Tremendous opportunity. Bobo is a tremendous offensive mind. Petrino, of course, is tremendouser. But still, Bobo is real good at doing what he's trying to do." 

"(whispers to himself)...carry the one, add the 2...Hey Mike, we winning?"
"Yeh Todd. We're winning."

Facing Bobo's players
"Houston Madsun is tremendously patient, waited his turn behind the other guy. Andrew Davidson is a tremendously tough center. Georgia is a tough, physical team. It's tough, really."

The Georgia players he stole took in
"Did a tremendous job for our scout team, which in turn helped them avoid pesky appointments to give urine samples to Coach Richt. Those things were a tremendous hindrance on my depth chart while at Georgia."

Stopping Chubb
"We won't. Not completely. He's real good at running the football, which is also something he wants to do when he gets the football. Have to avoid the long gains. It presents as a tremendous challenge."

On facing old faces
"I don't really give a shit about that. We had a tremendous season here. Other than Omarlo Wilson and Quincy Swann I don't even remember those guys' names."

On Pruitt
"He's a very good coach in what he's trying to do. I have no clue what the hell that means. And you probably don't either. But it sounds like I'm saying something nice when really it makes no sense whatsoever."

On possibility of giving the Georgia sideline the choke sign
"Nah. I knew I'm awesome. No reason to rub it in. I mean, my defense was tremendous in our time there. 8-1 against some rival teams I'm going to try and list for you in a second. I mean, nevermind it had more to do with the offense outscoring Florida, Auburn, Tennessee and Georgia Tech and Auburn and also Vanderbilt..oh wait... Again, Mike (Bobo) is a very tremendous coach in what he's trying to do."

Anything else?
"I like Belk belts. And also tater tots. You're welcome for the time this morning. You're welcome."

Hey Toddles, the truth is in the statisticals man.

When writing about an upcoming matchup, I'm one that usually falls back on statistics to find some angle or glean some other curiosity. And that's what Brad did here when comparing Grantham's run defense to Bobo's rush offense.

Here's the crux of his findings:

Georgia, of course, did much of their work while many of its stable of running backs missed several games for a number of reasons.  So it would seem that while the numbers look even going in, that the Bulldogs do have a decided advantage in the rush game vs. the Louisville defense.

Just like when Grantham was here in Athens, a lot of smoke and mirrors.

And ol' Todd has been blowing a lot of smoke about his defense. To his credit, they have been impressive in his first season. But Brad's right that the truth is in the numbers. At least right up until kickoff. A large part of why Georgia's rushing attack was so consistently dominant, despite the state of flux at the running back position, was due to the offensive line having such a great season.

The Bobo vs Grantham angle will continue to be the more intriguing story leading up to the bowl game, and most certainly during it as well. But Georgia's offensive coordinator is going to need those hosses up front o have a game more like Auburn than Georgia Tech if the Dawgs are going to get to that 10th win.

At least it wasn't Steckel

The Broyles Award, which somehow omitted Mike Bobo's name as a finalist despite being at the helm of an offense that once again saw numerous injuries and suspensions yet still averaged 41.7 points per game, went to Ohio State's offensive coordinator Tom Herman. The Buckeyes saw their own difficulties and overcame them, most notably losing Braxton Miller to injury, and still averaged 45.7 points a game.

Yes, that was in the B1G. But at least Missouri's Dave Steckel, who Bobo shellacked back in October, didn't win it.

Sunday thoughts on the pig pickin'

I don't watch College Gameday. But I did watch Twitter while it watched College Gameday, and the angst level was particularly high. Personally, I just kept wondering if word of the national disinterest in a Georgia sans Gurley team was reaching the ears and eyes of the team out in Little Rock.

Whether it did or it didn't, Richt's team made quite the statement. Whenever Hutson Mason hangs up the cleats he should make a nice career as a motivational speaker.

- That opening drive by Arkansas was everything this game was built up to be - smash mouth, physical football. It was efficient and bullish enough to make you a little worried.
- But if this was supposed to be a grind it out three yards and a cloud of dust affair, Georgia didn't get that memo by the time Mason took the first snap.
- That play action was probably Mason's best of the season and the ball was thrown perfectly to Conley. As impressive as Mason's 78% completion percentage was last week against Missouri, his 10+ yards per attempt yesterday was equally so.
- And that was clearly by design. Bobo decided to get the Razorbacks' defense off kilter early and his quarterback responded by making his best throws of the season.
- And then Chubb took care of the rest.
- I mean, what more can you say about this kid? I'll let Nabulsi handle that kind of heavy lifting:

Nick Chubb's first two starts: 68 carries 345 yards 5 catches 3 touchdowns 2 SEC road victories
— Radi Nabulsi (@RadiNabulsi) October 19, 2014

-  Seems to me that young man has earned a bye week. Good timing.

- Special teams. Take away the poorly executed onside kick and it was about as good of a day in the kicking game as you could ask for as a whole. Morgan had four of his seven kickoffs go as touchbacks.

- And hey! A blocked kick! Cool.

via

- Damian Swann was everywhere the ball was it seemed: 11 total tackles, two forced fumbles, a sack, an interception. Wow.

- If the first few games were about watching the secondary struggle, the last two have been about watching them play with more and more confidence. Sure, it was uncomfortable to watch the second half slide into Arkansas' favor, but the reaction to the ball and the overall coverage skills are vastly improved over the first couple weeks of the season.

- Staying with the second half drop, give Arkansas credit. They didn't give up and took everything Georgia was giving. It many ways, that was the team we expected to see in the Razorbacks.

- Which makes the way Georgia started even more impressive and brings me back to that first point. During two weeks when little attention is being given to the team as a whole, the coaches have had the guys ready to play and the team leaders have led with their words and their play.

Looking forward to the bye week. Looking forward to some closure in Gurley-Gate. Looking forward to spending 14 days devoted to nothing but hating Florida.

Ahem...what about Bauta?

Look, there's three different camps when it comes to Georgia's quarterback situation. Actually, there's probably four when you include that one that thinks Todd Gurley should be under center. And roughly half of them are serious about it.

But for the rest:

1. Mason is okay. Just needs his full arsenal of receivers and things will be fine as long as he can hand it off to Todd Gurley 25 times a game.

Ok, but I don't think Mason is okay. I was willing to give him time to get okay, but we're five games into the season and just how long were we supposed to wait? From my seat, well outside the arena, it's all in his head. I can still make an argument that there's something physically wrong, but more and more people who see him throw on days that aren't just Saturdays keep saying he's zipping it around the practice field like we got used to at the end of last season. And those people aren't just other players sticking up for him.

Regardless of whether it's mental, physical, or both, again...how long are we supposed to wait?

2. Ramsey is the guy. And the time is now. 

via

This camp thinks that a) the season is lost somehow and might as well start the future guy now, or b) he's the best option regardless.

I'm not willing to throw in the towel on 2014 just yet. I mean, we are 4-1 and control our own destiny. Let's see how Saturday plays out and which team is left in the front seat before we take the whoa is me attitude. However, I would like to see Ramsey press for the starting spot rather than wait for it to fall in his lap. You can see he has the more lively arm. He just has to prove he can manage the game as well as #14. 

And I think he can prove that he should be the game's starter by being the game's finisher. He led the team on a decisive drive in the first quarter of the Vandy game that ended in a touchdown to put us up 21-0. Do something like that in the fourth with the game on the line and this becomes a whole other argument.

3. What about Faton Bauta?

Yes. What about him? This is probably the smallest camp of the three. In fact, it may just be me. But the fact is - this is a run first offense. More than that, this is an offense that wants (and needs) to lean on the run in the fourth quarter. Bobo is intentionally keeping Gurley fresh for the last 15 minutes because he has both the luxury and the necessity to do that.

Bauta is made for the zone read game. It would be absolute money in the fourth. Bauta is likely the third quarterback into the game because his coaches trust the other two more. But as long as Ramsey is getting a series to "wet his feet", why not give Bauta a series to pound the damn rock?

*Yes, I know it's picking nits when the offense is averaging 45 points a game. But eventually this offense is going to need to be more dynamic. I mean, how many tricks can Gurley hold up his sleeve that is already full of biceps?

Hurry up Bobo

It's increasingly been on my mind, as well as many others, so I'm just going to leave this here after finding it last night. It's from a Friday mailbag, but not at all stale if you ask me.

Andy Johnson: With Georgia seemingly a score often team and be scored on often team why not go with the hurry up for points?

RN: You've got me on that one. You want to see Mason light up the passing game? Go full speed. I said at the beginning of the season that one of the biggest changes we needed to see out of Bobo's play calling would he go as fast as Mason wants to. By his own admission, Mason likes to "grip it and rip it." Look back at the Georgia Tech game. Georgia fell behind until the offense went hurry up. Mason is like Ricky Bobby -- he wants to go fast. Having him sit in the pocket waiting for routes to develop like Aaron Murray is a bad idea. That is not who he is. If Bobo floors it then Mason will respond.

As long as the coaches are tinkering with the QB reps, isn't it worth giving Mason a tempo he prefers?

Sunday Thoughts on another HillBilly nail biter

Look, Tennessee was (alot?....somehwat???...) better than I thought they'd be. But....

• We made it as easy on them as we could. Turnovers. Penalties. Prevent defense.
• Defense showed its flaws. Sure. But to be perfectly honest, they worked their ass off. How awful was it for the defense to force a punt on 4th and three, just to have to go right back on the field after the illegal substitution? And then we came out with only 10! Jeebus.
• Judging a young secondary for its glaring mistakes is one thing. But for my money, the coaches nor the offense did them many favors. Especially the second half.
• Great job by the pass rush to put Worley on his ass. Lorenzo Carter is a young man with really bad intentions.
• Great job by the front seven to even the turnover margin.
• And how bout that punt! Great job by the punt coverage to give the defense that opportunity.

Now.

• I don't know that we need a backup quarterback, but we need one that can stretch the field and make a play on third and long.
• Mason isn't the same. Something is off. I don't know if he's having issues with his arm or if it's something else.
• And it's not all his arm either. What the hell was with that roll out/waggle...to his left? I think it was Conley that broke wide open, and it was a beautiful play call. But there was no way Mason was going to be able to make that throw rolling to his left.
• It's going to be an interesting week. A lot to work to do during Vandy week, with difficult road tests looming.

What accountability looks like

Putting Gamecocks in the rearview

Ready to move forward. And I feel like we probably will be able to later today when (hopefully) the coordinators are made available to the media. Had that happened Saturday night in Columbia I think there still would have been some gnashing of teeth, but at least we would've heard from the two guys that were making the decisions and designed the gameplan.

Sure, the truth is we're not likely to hear much of anything that will stop the message boreds and the twitter from bleeding a death of rage and self-destruction. But leadership should have a face in both good times and bad. I'm fairly certain we'll hear from Bobo. Coach Pruitt evidently decides when he is and when he isn't available for the media. If he chooses not to sit in front of the cameras on Tuesday after two of his players answered questions Saturday night, that's a much bigger issue for me than why his gameplan didn't work in Columbia.