Georgia football is well-known around the country for its strong defense. Fans of Georgia football are not surprised that Kirby Smart is regarded as one of the finest defensive coordinators in college football, since his defenses often rank in the top 10 nationally.
Still, there has been a change in the Georgia program recently. Todd Monken’s hire in 2020 marked the beginning of a shift in perspective on the offense. The Georgia offense was modified under Monken, and the Dawgs’ offensive became more daring and expansive.
During his brief stay in Athens, Monken stated in a media appearance that he called plays as if he would never return. Translated from “coach speak” to “take chances” and “don’t miss anything.”
That was Monken’s action. You may witness that in action during the fourth quarter of Alabama’s 2022 National Championship game. In the last two Georgia offensive drives in the 2022 Chick-fil-A Bowl game against Ohio State, there was another example of Monken’s catchphrase being used.
Monken departed from the Georgia Football program to coach two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson in the NFL. Mike Bobo, though, had the Dawgs well covered. Bobo, who previously worked as a coach and player at Georgia, was part of the 2022 team.
Not to write a book on the previous year, but the offense got off to a poor start, particularly with rookie Carson Beck. But when the Dawgs were down against Auburn in the fourth quarter, Beck and the Georgia offense really clicked.
Looking back on the season of 2023, it seemed like something was lacking. Neither 2021 nor 2022 felt like it did. The offensive was scoring about the same amount of points and putting up stats as it did in 2022. But all year long, something was absent.
I was never really able to pinpoint it, and if you go back at some of my previous articles on post-game analysis, you will notice that even though this year is nearly a carbon duplicate of the previous two, there is a man who is having difficulty understanding what is different.
If you still don’t get what I’m trying to say, there’s just one way I could sum up last year. The 2023 offensive for the Dawgs resembled a baseball uniform clone from a wholesale internet retailer. There are no differences in the material, colors, or stitching. However, the player’s or the team’s name is spelled incorrectly or has a letter omitted. Though it appears correct, something is wrong.
I went back and rewatched all of the 2023 games once February got underway. It was only the other day when I finished the Orange Bowl. I’ve just realized what was lacking. Bobo seemed to lean conservatively while calling plays when it counted most of the time. Was that done to keep Carson Beck safe early in the season? That might be the situation. But against Alabama in the SEC Championship game, the play calling was spot on.
Some readers will brush this off or even fight with the screen. Go back and take another look if you belong to that group. Watch the Dawgs in several games run a screen or a draw on third and 8 in the red zone. After that, return to the 2022 season and let me know where you observed it!
With Trevor Etienne on board, the Georgia offense will now be better. Since D’Andre Swift, Etienne is arguably the most complete back the Dawgs have had. In addition, I heard several pundits lamenting the wide receiver core’s decline from the previous campaign. They may have a point, but the wideouts will be at least as excellent. However, that’s only a feeling.
Thus, the attack of the Dawgs could be superior to that of 2023. So why write a blog post criticizing the man who chooses the plays? In order for the Dawgs to secure three consecutive national titles in four years, Mike Bobo must call plays as though he will never be back.