Georgia has not been in this position in a long time, and while the celebration of the national championship continues, turning the page to 2022 is upon us.

Questions, however, remain as Kirby Smart has several new faces on the coaching staff, and the Bulldogs continue to face depth questions at wide receiver, and how the offensive line will evolve.

Here are 10 of the most critical questions Georgia must answer in 2022:

Some of the candidates include Marvin Jones Jr. and Mykel Williams, who are a pair of 5-star pass rushers, and Jaheim Singletary is another 5-star at cornerback. Malaki Starks is another key recruit who made 5 tackles in the G-Day game. From what is known about them, Williams is the safest bet to play early, and make an impact. Williams was the highest-rated Bulldogs signee, and he appeared to be the most developed among other elite high school players in the All-American events.

Georgia’s national championship-winning quarterback starts the season in a confident position, yet he no doubt will approach it the same way he did to reach the confetti-filled ending in Lucas Oil Stadium. This is a different dynamic this season because JT Daniels is gone, but the Bulldogs have multiple bona fide quarterbacks in Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff. OC Todd Monken is back for another season, and now he’s even more aware of Bennett’s strengths — and limitations. That’s not something to be overlooked. Since last season was splintered in terms of Daniels’ availability, and whether Bennett could truly take over, this will be the cleanest slate Georgia has had in some time.

Some say that Carter was the best player on the historic 2021 defense. Now he has a chance to truly stand alone as he gears up to be a 2023 NFL Draft prospect worth talking about on the defensive line. He has all the NFL tools, most notably being explosive, powerful and quick off the ball. With a 6-3 and 310-pound frame, he will quickly be in the conversation in NFL Draft circles as being a top 10 pick.

Last year, he made 37 tackles, had 33 quarterback pressures, 8.5 tackles for loss and blocked two kicks.

There are 3 main cogs established on the offensive line, but questions remain beyond Broderick Jones, Warren McClendon and Sedrick Van Pran. The guard spots are the questions, but after some anxious moments on the recruiting trail, Stacy Searles will calm the waters, and find a solution out of the group of Xavier Truss, Devin Willock and Tate Ratledge.

For the running game to truly reestablish itself as RBU, the offensive line needs to step up and set a standard.

Here’s an area where Smart and Will Muschamp should lean on their expertise as Georgia reloads at a position of strength, although experience will be lacking. William Poole can play at star or cornerback and played at cornerback in the spring. Early enrollee cornerback Daylen Everette is another option along with Nyland Green. The stabilizers will be veterans Christopher Smith and cornerback Kelee Ringo.

It has been several years since Georgia was in this position in the secondary, and don’t overlook the fact that the previously dominant front 7 will not be as strong.

Wide receiver has been a bit of a sore spot in recent years, in terms of having a clear-cut No. 1 pass catcher who’s mentioned for the Biletnikoff Award.

Sure, there are Ladd McConkey and AD Mitchell, but plenty of questions remain, especially among receivers who have injury histories. Plenty of names, starting with Arian Smith, Jackson Meeks, CJ Smith and De’Nylon Morrissette. But also Kearis Jackson and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, who may have the most versatility to play all of the wide receiver positions. The tight ends will take some spotlight away from these multi-pronged receiver sets.

Mitchell, McConkey and Jackson will be the key figures to produce here.

With the best tight end room in the country, thanks to Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington, Arik Gilbert and Oscar Delp. By the looks of how G-Day unfolded, and last season’s highlights, it’s clear that Bowers is a game breaker capable of plays that go the length of the field. Monken clearly likes Gilbert in the red zone, and Delp flashed his potential all over the field. Look for mini-roles to be established based on game situations for each player to shine in his own way.

The linebacker already has the goods to garner respect around the SEC, as he’s long been among the most vocal leaders in the program. This time, he returns alongside Ringo and Smith as a clear spokesman for the defense and team in general. Smith is the leading returning tackler (56) after he led the Bulldogs with 2 tackles-for-loss in the national championship. Smith also had 3 QB hurries and a sack, and in the Orange Bowl win over Michigan, he led the Bulldogs in tackles (8) and also had a career-high 7 QB pressures. He clearly can do it on the biggest stages in college football, and now has a season to polish his game ahead of the NFL.

Georgia has a marquee game to open the season, with Oregon, and the Dan Lanning and Bo Nix storylines. Still, overall, it’s a favorable schedule. The Bulldogs dodge Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M, and get Auburn in Athens. Like last year, Georgia is likely to be favored in every regular-season game it plays in 2022.

Departures from last year include Dan Lanning, Cortez Hankton, Jahmile Addae and Matt Luke. That cleared the way for additions like Bryan McClendon (receivers), Stacy Searels (offensive line), Fran Brown (defensive backs) and Chidera Uzo-Diribe (outside linebackers). Championship coaches make seamless transitions and create a plug-and-play culture and environment that the overall program continues to chug along amid turnover. This is one area where Smart can prove he can be among the elite to maintain the program’s championship status.

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Still expect UGA to be at or near the top of the rankings all season. No one in the regular season is going to beat them unless USCe pulls another stunner or UGA stubs their toe against Kentucky, Tennessee, or Florida. Auburn could scare them a bit also, but they will go undefeated at the very least through the regular season.

It is almost assured that the SECCG is going to be a rematch between UGA and UA. Both are going to be very good. It will probably be at that point where one team will show if they have what it takes to be great.

The one National Championship dynasty. Jawga.

TRUTH ABOUT THE DYNASTY!!! HAVE THE COURAGE TO ACTUALLY READ ALL…..

Luv……….Listen. To be fair I am the one calling DYNASTY!!! Have other Georgia fans said it? I don’t know. Still I think there is more to being a dynasty than just winning a national championship. Don’t worry, Georgia will win more than you’ll be comfortable with under Kirby Smart!!!!

Still the SEC has had DIVISIONS for a long time now. And everyone in the east who is honest, would admit. Georgia has been a dynasty in the east since 2017 WHEN GEORGIA WON THE SEC!!! Auburn won the west that year and Alabama got in by a committee vote. WITHOUT EVEN PLAYING IN OR MAKING IT TO THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!!

IN 2017 WHILE ALABAMA WAS SIPPING ICE WATER IN THE SHADE WATCHING. GEORGIA WAS POPPING PADS WITH THE #1 TEAM IN THE SEC WEST!!! SAME AUBURN TEAM THAT DOMINATED ALABAMA BY 2 TOUCHDOWNS OR MORE!!! GEORGIA AVENGED OUR ONLY LOSS!!!! AUBURN DIDN’T SNEAK UP ON ALABAMA. NOR DID ALABAMA PLAY ITS WORST GAME AS GEORGIA HAD!!!

AUBURN JUST BEAT ALABAMA PERIOD!!!

Georgia gave auburn it’s 3rd loss 28-7 in the SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!! Before that Auburn beat #1 Georgia and #1 Alabama back to back in convincing fashion!!! If memory serves me correctly. I think auburn lost the first game of the season by 6 I think. I believe it was clemson? Their second loss is one where they had a huge lead and blew it vs a good LSU team!!! Then after that Auburn went on a tear!!! When auburn beat Georgia and Alabama back to back. I would say there wasn’t a better team in college football, AT THAT TIME!!!!

Had they beaten Georgia again in the SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. They had already said Auburn was in. It was win and be in!!!!! That is why I didn’t agree and still don’t with Alabama being voted in. Because if you don’t even win your division. No matter how good your season was. You don’t deserve to be in!!! Let Georgia have 1 LOSS and not win the east. Let Florida be the team we lost to, who maybe won it with 2 losses. Then see if anyone votes Georgia in. IF IT DOESN’T APPLY TO EVERYONE. IT SHOULDN’T APPLY TO ANYONE!!!! FAIR IS FAIR AND UNFAIR IS UNFAIR!!!!

MY POINT GEORGIA WAS FORCED TO BEAT A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER AUBURN TEAM TO WIN THE SEC AND GET IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!!

YET, GEORGIA WAS THE TEAM FORCED TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TO PLAY PROBABLY THE SECOND BEST TEAM IN THE LAND, IN THE ROSE BOWL, AND THEN RETURN ON A SHORT WEEK TO PLAY A RESTED ALABAMA.

Then on top of that Alabama was given literally every break in the game that mattered. Several terrible game changing calls and no-calls that all went against Georgia. Georgia had won the game in regulation SEVERAL TIMES!!! But each time a bad call or no call would cost them. Any honest fan on either side knows it’s true!!!!

GEORGIA WAS THE TRUE NATIONAL CHAMPION IN 2017!!!

If that were in the record books correctly….

THEN 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WINS IN 5 YEARS. TO GO ALONG WITH ALL THE SEC EAST DOMINATION. THAT WOULD ABSOLUTELY MAKE GEORGIA A TYPE OF DYNASTY!!! YET 1 CORRUPT GAME CHANGES THAT????

Then imagine if Georgia hadn’t been attempting to set new records with injuries???? Had the 2017 game been called right. Who’s to say Georgia doesn’t get even better recruiting. Allowing them to make an extra play or two in the 2018 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME??? EVEN CONFIDENCE COULD HAVE CHANGED IT. PLUS OUR TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER GOT HURT LATE ALLOWING HURTS TO RUN WILD.

IF WALKER WASN’T HURT. THEN HURTS DOESN’T COST GEORGIA!!!!

Lots of little things have went right for Alabama, and wrong for Georgia period, over the years! Otherwise yes, Georgia has been every bit as dominant as Alabama!!!!

In 2019 Georgia played a stronger schedule and finished better. Again making it to the SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. CRIPPLED BY INJURIES BUT WE MADE IT. ALABAMA DID NOT FOR THE 2ND TIME SINCE 2017!!!!!

In 2020 injuries absolutely stole Georgia’s season. And Florida played and beat our SCOUT TEAM!!! But had we not had those injuries. Georgia has another rematch with Alabama in the SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME! GEORGIA WAS PROBABLY THE HOTTEST TEAM IN AMERICA AT THAT POINT!!! THE WAY ALABAMA BARELY GOT BY FLORIDA TELLS ME GEORGIA WINS IT. PROBABLY EASILY!!!!! Once again just injuries and a bounce here and there is what crowned Alabama and cursed Georgia!!!

ONCE AGAIN THIS PROVES ALONG WITH RECRUITING JUST HOW CLOSE ITS BEEN!!!

Georgia broke the curses and deserve the championship!!!! They were the best team all season BY FAR!!!! People warned Georgia of Ohio state and Michigan took them to the woodshed!!!!

THEN GEORGIA TOOK MICHIGAN TO THE WOODSHED!!!!!

Luv, just for once. Why don’t you and a few Alabama fans admit all of this is true???? PLUS, GEORGIA AIN’T FINISHED!!! THEY ARE OH SO FAR FROM FINISHED!!!!!

I’VE SEEN IT SON!!!!!! I GUARANTEED IT ALL. AND IT WILL HAPPEN, GOD WILLING!!!

You’ll find out. He needs to be willing. Because he can change the future anytime he wants!!!!

PS. Still like I said, I’VE SEEN IT!!! THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING!!!!!

YOU BETTER BET ON THE DYNASTY KID!!!!!! LOL © Negan

GO DAWGS!!!! FIRST REPEAT, ONE GAME AT A TIME! THEN 3PEAT!!! THEN, WELL WE’LL SEE!!!! LOL

I love how the 2017 national championship game lives in your head rent free, and it ALWAYS WILL! How about that 2nd and 26 pass that WON it for Bama? It is amazing that game will always make you so upset. Last time I checked, Alabama is in the record books for winning that game. Go back to your coloring books you sister loving inbred.

It sounds like you love to play the what-if game, so let’s play. What if Bama’s two beat wide outs and two best corners don’t go out? Then Alabama wins the NC and I’m saying pretty easily. They already showed it in the SEC championship game, and they were on pace to do it again. The funny thing is that things happen in games or the season that nobody has control over. Georgia just played better and won in the end. You need to stop playing the what-if game and just face the fact that Alabama won in 2017, beat you guys in 2018 and again in 2020. Football is not just about having the best players with the better play calling. You have to adapt when adversity happens. Too bad you cannot understand that. It’s funny how you always call out Bama fans when they play the injury card, and you just played it throughout your novel above. I guess if you didn’t have double standards then you wouldn’t have standards at all.

You gotta start somewhere. Bama has been the gold standard in the SEC, but the Dawgs got their revenge, and Natty when it counted. I’ll be curious to see the A&M/Bama rivalry, and how that plays out? Kirby’s been knocking on that door, and got it done. We look forward to the future.

They’ll stub their toe once, I’m saying at SC or at Cowbell. Kirby will have them honed in on big opponents Oregon, UT, UF, and AU.

The game that concerns me is @ MSU. They gave us fits last time we played. Not worried about anyone else.

We beat MSU like a drum from the first play td. I don’t think they even got a td.

I believe you are thinking about the game in Athens when Cowbell had Dumb Dan. The most recent C o v i d year matchup was a shootout, I believe in a rain storm too if I remember correctly. JT Daniels had a big game for UGA.

That was 2017 – the flea flicker.

We played again in 2020 against Coach Leach.

You should worry about every game. Your attitude is what causes a good team to lose games they should win.

I am certain the players do worry about every game as well as the coaches and staff. I doubt the attitudes or concerns of random internet sports forum posters have much to do with the outcomes of the games. Except for Negan of course since he is recruiting on here aparently.

“They’ll stub their toe once’

One thing’s for sure, UGA will stomp UF again.

Not so fast my friend. We won’t roll over and play dead with Napier. Mullen purposely threw AR to the wolves in his first start last year to prove he was right.

” We won’t roll over and play dead with Napier.”

We? You’re not a member of that team.

OK, UF won’t. Feel better now? Go outside and throw a roll of tp in a tree and release some of your stress.

UF will play better vs UGA then Auburn will. I promise you that.

Are you related to Nostradamus?

I’m a Ducks fan who will be at the game and simply hoping that Oregon can cover the +16.5 spread.

RIP Spencer Webb. Poor lad had NFL potential at TE and was the presumptive starter for the Ducks.

Will we see good or bad Bo vs UGA. To date I know that Bo has not played very well vs the Dawgs.

I’ll be surprised if UGA is not in the 2022 final 4.

Really sad to hear about the TE. Best wishes from the SEC to everyone in Duck land.

UGA will not lose a regular season game….the east is still down and their west draw is a gimme game for them.

Are you another human that can predict the future? We have several of those who post on here.

We can all predict the future, and I can prove it.

Alabama plays Utah State week 1.

Isn’t that the purpose of off-season discussion and preseason polls?

My 2022 prediction: both Bama and UGA are back in the final 4.

Numbers 1 and 3 respectively in the Blue Chip Roster rankings.

Same today as it has been for decade upon decade in CFB: Not about the X’s and O’s, it’s about the Jimmies and Joe’s.

I also see Ohio State in the final with the 4th spot being anyone’s guess.

All the critical questions are on defense. The losses of players to the NFL and the portal are all well documented.

Most people don’t know that the Dawgs had to replace a DC, an OLB coach, and a DB coach as well.

So there’s a ton of change on that side of the ball.

Interesting that UGA dodges Bama, LSU and A&M again during the regular season.

SBIV knows the offense so well that they’ll be tough to beat. His arm strength seemed better last season, but his height and size challenges remain, so any team that can force him into a couple turnovers may have a shot.

UGA finally coming to Kyle Field 2024!!!

…unless expansion happens early, so don’t bet on it.

We will get there eventually, maybe!

He’s bigger than Bryce Young.

“Interesting that UGA dodges Bama, LSU and A&M again during the regular season.”

I don’t see Bama or AU on UF’s schedule. In fact, UF’s schedule is pretty easy. Quit acting like a crybaby.

UGA opens with Oregon. Florida opens with Utah.

Jeez, calm down Ron. Not even Corch took the post as an insult. It is interesting. Would you put AU above LSU, tA&M, or Bama? I wouldn’t. And given that the East isn’t ready to give UGA fits, so West games are the determining factor. By that measure, UGA has a favorable schedule.

UF plays LSU and tA&M, and has the UGA juggernaut to try and survive (or at least not embarrass itself).

You also obviously don’t keep up with anything but UGA. Utah will probably be a top 10 team in a majority of preseason polls and universally higher than Oregon (Phil Steele has Oregon at 10 and Utah at 6).

UF’s schedule is more difficult than UGA’s this year. As it currently stands, UGA will play 1 team in the preseason top 25. UF will play 3-4, depending how high the media is Kelly/LSU.

I think the east will be greatly improved this year. Bama and UGA (with Bama the clear best) are clearly the best in their respective division. But, after that, I think the divisions might be fairly even. Except at the bottom with Vandy of course.

It is more difficult IMHO, but part of that is because UF plays UGA and UGA can’t play itself in the East.

“Would you put AU above LSU, tA&M, or Bama? ”

As far as schedules go? Yes to Bama and TAM.

“Utah will probably be a top 10 team ”

“UF’s schedule is more difficult than UGA’s this year.’

JTF – I kind of agree, but the East needs a season to make this completely true in my mind. If Tenn and UF take the next step forward, I think the two divisions will even out.

Kirk – Haha, point taken. If you remove UGA from the equation, that still leaves UGA at 1 and UF at 2-3. Not a diss to UGA, just the way scheduling and ascension/falls have taken place.

Ron – I guess I don’t understand your point, then. You seem to take offense to a commenter calling UGA’s schedule “interesting”, then got into a measuring contest trying to say UF’s schedule was easy. I simply highlighted that, as far as preseason goes, UF’s is much more challenging. Our opener will likely be higher rated, and even taking UGA out of the UF equation, we are still playing 1-2 more preseason top 25 teams than UGA.

cbmckay- good points. Also, UF’s schedule can be considered more difficult because they play UGA whereas UGA doesn’t have UGA on it’s schedule to boost the SOS.

Now you be nice Ronnie.

Dodges? Implying somehow that they control that? Idiotic.

Agreed. I hate when writers say stuff like this. Schedules are decided years in advance.

Please, play 9 and not 8 conference games.

I think UGA will drop a regular season game they shouldn’t (@Scar, @Kentucky, or Tennessee). They’ll win the East and then get run out of the Benz, again, by Bama and miss the playoffs.

Aww, if wishes were fishes, Gump.

I don’t see a single team UGA loses to unless maybe a bad flu bug hits the entire team at the same time.

On another article you said UGA was one of three teams that has a chance to win the Championship and now they are not even making the playoffs. You’re not very good at this trolling thing.

I do think UGA is one of three teams good enough to win it all, especially given the odds of that bet mentioned in the other article.

I just don’t think they actually will as my prediction above indicates. Wasn’t a troll at all considering it could very well happen.

Saying it could happen is one thing. Using expressions like “get run out of the Benz again” is pretty much the definition of trolling.

Was that statement wrong? What happened in the Benz last year? What happens every time we play UGA in Atlanta?

That’s fair. What do you base that on? Because it can’t be based on a one-to-one comparison of talent. So it’s coaching? Facilities? What? Gut feeling? You’re magic 8-ball? Anything meaningful to make that prediction?

Well as history has shown, Kirby has lost games where he had no business doing so. It’s extremely hard to go undefeated and also tough to go back-to-back regular seasons undefeated.

UGA will have to take every team’s best shot coming off a title. @Scar is a tough environment for game #3. Playing an always improving Kentucky on the road is no gimme. Tennessee will look to finally break through this year. Even at Miss State could be tough as Kirby struggles against the West.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think Bama will go undefeated this year either, but I do see them beating UGA in ATL this year.

History has shown that Coach Saban has lost games he had no business losing. Happens to the best of them.

since ’17 (i’m excluding his 1st yr as a hc) and outside of sc in ’19, name a game that smart has had ‘no business’ in losing? that perception is just wrong. he’s rocking a win % of .810.

as for your statement that he struggles against the west, he’s 12-8 against the west which is 2nd only to bama in win % in that time. of that 12-8 record, that includes a 2-4 record in champ games against secw teams, so it’s not like he’s been going against the bottom of the secw either.

Correction: Y’all dominate Auburn out of the West. Take them out and your record is bad. Lost to Bama in 2020, LSU in 2018, close game against TAMU in 2019, struggled with Miss State last year. Not to mention the beat down by LSU in 2019 and Bama last year.

Split with Bama last year, thanks and “close game with” and “Struggled With” still equal wins, correct?

Outside of the blatant home team favoritism, it’s not the craziest thing to wonder if UGA stumbles on a game they shouldn’t. The history is there for this to happen. UGA will look so strong, though, that one loss won’t make any difference.

While I agree, let’s not make it a UGA phenomenon. It happens to everyone at some point.

For want of a shoe, the season was lost.

JTF – Good point. It’s a fault of top teams in general. I respectfully retract =)

Kirk – What the heck is wrong with UGA fans? You can’t even take the slightest hint of even fair criticism without going to barbs. You’re like the prom queen that was bullied throughout school and still doesn’t believe they’re pretty.

You implied, no you stated outright, that there is something inherent in UGA football “history” that leads them to lose games they shouldn’t, as if this does not happen to all teams.

I’m current watching a replay of Mizzou beating UF. Yesterday I watched a replay of South Carolina beating UF.

He retracted the statement. What else can he do?

“I think UGA will drop a regular season game they shouldn’t” Kinda like Bama did last year?

I don’t see GA losing in the regular season.

On the other hand, like last season, Bama is once again already crowned as the 2022 national champions.

We’ll see if they can avoid losing to another 8-4 team this season.

Bama did stumble last year, that’s correct Tim. Very observant of you. It’s very tough to go undefeated. Bama has stumbled once during the season a few times and still won it all.

It’s not a slight on UGA, which is how you took it, to say they may stumble in a tough road game during the season. I think that will happen this year. I’m sorry you don’t like my prediction.

The only team in the nation that would perhaps not trade rosters with Bama and UGA is Ohio State?

I expect both the GOAT and Kirby will again be coaching in the playoff this season?

I love this site and the passion shown by SEC fans. For someone who roots for a team outside of the SEC, ‘it just means more’ sounds like sheer hubris unless the statement is backed up. The SEC year after year does prove that it means more on ‘Saturdays Down South.’

Because it is the opening game and considering the turnover on the UGA D, Nix’ experience (although he has yet to play well vs Georgia) and Lanning’s experience coaching the UGA D, I’m hoping that Oregon will be able to give Georgia a decent game?

Everyone says it is an advantage for Oregon because Lanning knows the UGA staff and tendencies. Could the same be said for Kirby Smart against Lanning?

“Can Jalen Carter live up to the hype?”

Why are you acting like he hasn’t already done so? He was the best player on the DL last year that included three first round draft picks, including the No. 1 pick.

I said the same thing.

“Can Jalen Carter live up to the hype?”

Jalen was good last year but it’s an exaggeration to say he was the best lineman on the 2022 team.

That’s not me saying it. It’s CFB expert-type people.

is matt hayes one of those ‘cfb expert type people?’

carter was great, but we could go rounds in debating who in fact was the best dl las year

“What’s the next step for Stetson Bennett?”

This is the one thing I don’t really understand. Everyone applauds McCarron for being one of the best “game managers”. Why can’t Bennett catch some of the same love? He’s surrounded by a fantastic cast. He doesn’t need to be a Newton or Winston.

“Why can’t Bennett catch some of the same love? ”

I don’t see anyone bashing Bennett. The only knock I’ve seen on him from fans is that he’s not a five star which is moronic.

Omg. TN sacked four or five times alone and he has no technical throwing ability. He literally has no shot at the NFL. Maybe that’s why. Did you see the SECCG? LOL TN in a rebuild season last year, led UGA after one quarter and for most of the second quarter TN was either ahead or game tied.

I think that’s a bit of hometown blindness, Ron. The disagreements with Bennett are numerous, but my point is that he doesn’t need to be a “put everything on your shoulders and force a win” QB. UGA has recruited and developed so well, all he needs to do is manage. That’s not a knock to him, and if he can do that, he’s doing his job.

Aww gwhite you are right about one thing: Tennessee went toe to toe with UGA for all of 22.5 minutes. Too bad a full game is 60 minutes.

“TN sacked four or five times ”

What was the final score?

“He literally has no shot at the NFL.”

“Did you see the SECCG?”

Did you see the national championship game?

TN sucks. Deal with it.

“The disagreements with Bennett are numerous, but my point is that he doesn’t need to be a “put everything on your shoulders and force a win” QB. ”

UGA blew most every team they played out of the water except for Bama in the SEC Championship game and Clemson.

UGA destroyed every other team.

gwhite…. congrats on “leading in the 2nd quarter”, lmao.

Georgia didn’t beat Tennessee for my entire high school and college years, and here we are, you’re bragging about leading UGA in the 2nd quarter.

Georgia won by 24, OH BY THE WAY

Thanks, I needed the laugh.

gw, tn led for less than 10 min of the 1st half and just over 5 min for the 2nd qtr. simple math tells us that any lead tn had wasn’t to the degree that you’re trying to sell.

but just for fun, uga lead for 37+ min, while tn only lead for 9+ min of that 50 min game.

This article missed badly on the most crucial question: How will UGA handle the season after winning it all — can the coaches maintain the drive and commitment needed for excellence? I’m looking forward to another great season, and team culture will be the deciding factor in our success. The talent, both in players and coaches, is there.

That is the only real question imo.

This is one of the very reasons it is so hard to repeat. Maintaining focus and determination in a bunch of kids that were the best last season and think that makes them the best this season is very difficult.

Coach Smart has made it pretty clear that this particular team hasn’t won anything.

Ducks fan hoping that Georgia will take the Ducks for granted.

Likely the only way Oregon has a shot at wining the game.

There are a tiny handful of P5 coaches that I’d trust to ensure complacency after success doesn’t settle in. Kirby is high on that list.

That said, it was the team leadership that drove the post-season mind-set last year. Hope we had good understudies in that arena.

This list of questions is pretty accurate. ILB is another big one after losing 3 great ones to the draft with only one coming back with any experience. After that it’s talented guys with injury histories. Also can one of the RBs be the workhorse and get the tough yards like Zeus did?

Freshmen: Another Freshman who can make an impact will be Branson Robinson. His recruiting stock was growing late last year, but for good reason. He is going to be a force.

Can Jalen live up to the hype: Seriously??? He lived up to the hype LAST year, and was very possibly our most dominant defensive lineman. Just watch what he and Zion Logue will do this year.

Wide Receiver: Legitimate question. But there is a lot of talent there and I think AD Mitchell is going to light up the league. Kearis Jackson was finally healthy at the end. Dominic BlaylocK will be a big factor as will McConkey.

Nolan Smith: He’s the leader. Incredibly intelligent. Amazing athlete. That defense is packed with elite athletes. The narrative that there will be a big drop is going to be gone after the first game of the season imo.

Coaching staff: There are some big changes. But the departure of Lanning is not as impactful because Kirby heads that up and still has Schumann and Muschamp. That is an impressive defensive trio. Monken and Bennet know each other well and the offense will be better than last year’s 9th ranked offense (which took its foot off the gas in the 3rd quarter of every game).

I’d add Arian Smith and Rosemy-Jacksaint as receivers to watch really hard. If the receiver corps can stay healthy, watch out. No shortage of ball-slingers on this team – the only limiting factor last year was enough healthy guys to throw the ball to.

Those were omissions on my part. You’re right.

I RESPECT PLENTY OF TEAMS AND WORRY ABOUT NOBODY!!!!!

” and the Bulldogs continue to face depth questions at wide receiver, and how the offensive line will evolve. ”

The bulldawgs are NOT short at receiver nor have any depth issues. Unless it’s who are our top depth receivers???? Everyone is sooooooooooo big on Burton that went to Alabama. And I expect him to do well at Alabama. But true freshman Lad Mcconckey had just as many touchdown catches and nearly identical stats!!!! Our fastest receiver that was breaking out. The former blue-chip wide receiver and world class sprinter Arion Smith that was hurt is now healthy!!!

Arion Smith would have left Jamison Williams in his tracks in a foot race!!!!!

Georgia doesn’t attempt to create 1000+ yard receivers that everyone wants to see. They don’t need to either. Meco Hardeman is a top NFL player and I don’t think he made it to 1000 receiving. Georgia instead gets lots of big-time threats and plays anyone worthy. Thus staying fresh!!!!!

Georgia won’t stub their toe vs MSU. Because I guarantee you Kirby has it circled already. Plus it wasn’t the same team that allowed them to give us fits. That team had so many injured STARTERS that it was the SCOUT TEAM PLAYING. SAME AS FLORIDA THAT BEAT GEORGIA THAT SEASON!!!! BECAUSE THE BEAT OUR SCOUT TEAM!!!!!

This Georgia team will likely win by 3 touchdowns or more by then!!!!! It’s not the later teams you worry the most about as a young team. It’s the start of the season. I guaranteed a national championship in 2021 back in 2016 and before the season last year. It wasn’t a prediction. It was a guarantee!!!!!! And it was loooooooong before the season. As far back as 2016 as I said!!!!! In fact everything I predicted since 2016 happened except the SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. I predicted EVERYTHING PERFECTLY! Including the SEC CHAMPIONSHIP WIN IN 2017 AND THE OT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROBBERY GAME. I PREDICTED FLORIDA WOULD WIN THE EAST IN 2020 BASED UPON SOMETHING CRAZY INCLUDING INJURIES.

JUST EVERYTHING I SAID HAPPENED!!!!! I WOULD HAVE CORRECTLY PREDICTED THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP LAST SEASON TO HAD I ACTUALLY WENT BY MY MODEL. INSTEAD I GOT LAZY!!!!! Because I was far more concerned about the national championship we were about to win!!!!!

ACCORDING TO THE MODEL IF GEORGIA STAYS HEALTHY AND GETS THROUGH THE EARLY PITFALLS. THEY AGAIN PLAY FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND HAVE AN 80% CHANCE TO REPEAT!!!!!!!

Georgia haters give it up if we repeat in 2022 because Georgia is going to be HISTORICALLY GOOD AGAIN IN 2023!!!!! If we repeat in 2022 which I’m personally predicting. In 2023 Georgia will have a shot at a 3PEAT!!!!! And it would be a huge shot!!!!!

NO CHANCE AT A 3PEAT WITHOUT THE REPEAT!!!!

The model is easy and same as 2022!!!! You respect ALL OPPONENTS PERIOD!!!! Again ALL OPPONENTS without fail period. You come to play YOUR GAME every single time!!!!! You play UNSELFISH AS A TEAM and without jealousy!!!

Got to play Oregon exactly as we played clemson. Only we will likely need points!!! Oregon has weapons and are pretty stout on both lines of scrimmage!!! Bo Nix will have lots of insight about Georgia with a brand new team. He was a 5 star recruit!!! Now he’s a 5 star experienced QB!!!! That makes him dangerous!!!!!

In short if Georgia takes care of Georgia’s business. Georgia will defend their championship!!!! And that is my prediction!!!!!

REMEMBER NEGAN CALLED IT!!!!!! WHEN NEGAN TALKS ABOUT COLLEGE FOOTBALL. THE INTELLIGENT SHOULD LISTEN! Keep telling Lad M, K Jackson, Arion Smith, and Adonis Mitchell along with a ton of others. That Georgia has questions at wide receiver!!! LOL

PS. Then watch as they and others provide the answers, along with those TE’s!!!! THEN THAT MUCH QUESTIONED AND TERRIBLY DISRESPECTED YOUNG DEFENSE, WILL DO THEIR BEST JUST TO HANG ON!!!! LOL

“The bulldawgs are NOT short at receiver nor have any depth issues.”

You actually read his post. LOL.

Would you be willing to share this model that provides incredibly accurate outcomes? Is it UGA specific, or can it be applied to other teams?

lol…I see where you’re going there.

Wow, your making these crazy predictions for a team that is only bringing back 58 percent of its production from last year lol. Seriously. You’ll lose to regular season games and a number of teams could be good enough to beat you.. TN lead you after one quarter and most of the second before some key turnovers. Your secondary is going to be ever more open. TN passed for 300 yards on UGA last year and sacked SB 5 times, and that was a first year rebuild team.

gwhite, where can I make a bet against Georgia losing two regular season games? I’m ready to lay down a lot on that bet.

Georgia has the third highest Blue-Chip ratio in CFB. Losing 58% – even sending more talent to the NFL than any team has won’t be enough to make your daydreams come true.

Congratulations on TN leading for one – almost two quarters.

What will you do when SEC DC’s start shutting down the Vols offense? Just like Malzahn’s offense, they will figure it out. Especially Kirby and his staff…

“TN lead you after one quarter ”

lol actually made me chuckle, Ron.

You laugh out loud way too much.

“You’ll lose to regular season games”

gwhite you’ve been predicting UGA will lose 2-4 regular season games for the last (at least) four years on SDS and you’ve yet to be correct. And you still stand tall while issuing your predictions as if you have no memory of all the very many times you’ve bene wrong.

Also, the details of what happened last season (number of yards, sacks, etc) means nothing, absolutely nothing, for this year’s game. You seem to think CFB is an ultra-linear progression of building exactly off of prior season’s outcomes. I know you claim to be old and have watched CFB for decades, but you really do have the football mind of an 8 year old.

Considering this is an article written by Farner, yes, I use the term article loosely, I would say the biggest question for UGA is how many “elite” 3* players they can sign.

Tidefan. I would put the over-under at 3.

Kirby signs several underrated players every year. Or is it that they just develop those 3* into 4-5*?

Look at the insanity here. Most UGA fans expect UGA to be as good as they were last year on D and better on offense despite the truth in this article. Most all forget TN led UGA after one quarter and most of the second. That was a rebuild year for TN with severe depth issues on D, yet the above still happened. Passed for over 300 yards on this UGA secondary that won’t be nearly as good as it was last year. TN turns it over twice and UGA capitalized. TN failed for first downs on two occasions that led to UGA scored. There’s your difference in the game. Now imagine only bringing back 50 something percent of last years team and that is what your getting. This team will lose a game or two during the regular season. The most likely to beat them is TN.. I can’t call that an upset simply because of how much UGA has lost from last season. I wouldn’t sleep on Auburn or UK also if I were UGA.

You are ridiculous. Do you realize how idiotic you look?

1. TN led UGA by 3 pts from 1:38 in the 1st Qtr to 9:42 in the 2nd Qtr. 2. TN LOST AT HOME 41-17. Get it? You LOST. And it wasn’t close. 3. You were outgained at home by 100 yards 4. Your avg yards per play was 4.2 compared to 7.0 for Georgia. 5. You were 9 of 20 on 3rd down. 6. TN turned the ball over twice compared to UGA’s 0.

With all the talk of Tennessee’s vaunted offense and Georgia’s stale offense, the Dawgs almost doubled your yards per play. Get it? Try to keep up. You LOST. You were defeated at home. This constant garbage you babble just makes you look ridiculous. Most of the time I just roll my eyes at your cr*p but sometimes I just want to say omg shut the f* up.

gwhite – No GA fan expects the defense to be as good, but by the end of the year they could be and likely will be close.

As far as the offense. The O-line may be the nation’s best – top 5 at least. Most of the receivers and the all-American TE returns, not to mention Arik Gilbert, Darnell Washington – each of which would start for 90% of the CFB. The Backs will be just as productive as last year. The receivers will be better.

In short, the offense and special teams will be as good and likely even better.

What will you hang your TN hat on after GA beats your Vols again this season?

The ONLY team TN beat last year that was decent was Kentucky, and even they weren’t that good. Just shut up GW, you are a fool!

“Look at the insanity here”. Gwhite, you described your writings perfectly.

No one, and I mean no one, can find a tiny fleck of fools gold in a turd and proclaim a mountain of riches quite like gwhite.

Scoreboard? The ONLY thing that matters is the score at game’s end.

You seem to be jacked over some kind of ‘moral victory’ loss vs UGA last season?

UT may be a challenge for UGa. In fact, they will likely only lose to LSU (away), UGa (away), and Alabama (home), and LSU & UGa will probably be lost in the 4th.

Head to head, the talent disparity between TN and UGA is significant. Add to it that they will be in Athens, I think the Dawgs will be legitimate favorites… by a lot. And I suspect they will cover the spread. The SEC has all seen Heupel’s flash-bang offense. Last year was his chance to sneak up on the league. If he didn’t do it last year in Knoxville, he certainly won’t do it this year in Athens.

I tend to agree. TN fans say the tape on his offense has been out there fir years, but it is different when you see it in person and have tape with your guys defending it. SEC coaches are the best in the country and find answers.

With the players health for this season being good,if no major injuries occur,and the replacement DC does well,I believe Georgia,should be at the top of the East.Of course,I want Tennessee to beat them,but ,other than that,they look good.As far as Auburn goes,who really thinks they have a chance even with AU/GA being a rivalry?

Covington dawg,Remember the Dobbnail boot.The Vols offense spreads you out 53 yards to cover.It Tenn can hold off the dawgs rush,you willplay hell to cover it allover.We’ll just have to see.Hope noone gets hurt to affect the game.

Offense will be good. Not playing commentary football will wear down your defense over the season. Best chance at a big upset would be early in the season.

Couldn’t you have said the same thing last year? 41-17 and that was in Knoxville.

I just don’t see this trend changing anytime soon:

2021: 41-17 2020: 44-21 2019: 43-14 2018: 38-12 2017: 41-0

A five year average of 41.5 to 13.

yeah, it actually leads to the question of, which tn blowout was your favorite? i’d have to go with ’17. the int in the flat on the first play of the game was priceless.

Kirby is a better coach than Richt was. Kirby is still young and learning. I met Kirby, nice person to know. Yes the UGAly Dawgs can repeat. 1 lost maybe . We shall see. Go Dawgs Hunker down you silver britches

First three posts on this were from LSU and Bama fans. Interesting.

Actually, LSU, Florida. And TN fans. Like it or not, lots of people have Georgia on their minds lately.

The last time UT beat UGA was on the hail mary in 2016, ironically the last season, 2004 being the closest prior, that UT beat UGA and UF in the same season.

That 2016 team performed well in the SECC game in Atlanta after beating both UF and UGA didn’t they? Oh wait, nevermind.

I’d be surprised if Tennessee beat UF this year. You guys have a lot of talent and depth (Tenn doesn’t) and if there is buy in to the culture change (I believe there is), then Billy and the lizards are the biggest threat to UGA in the East just above Kentucky.

First two games at home are key. Start 2-0 the snowball effect starts. Likewise start 0-2 it starts in the opposite direction. I think Utah is really going to struggle with our crowd and the heat/humidity in that opener. We’ve got to get up early on them.

Utah struggling in The Swamp? Spot on. The heat and humidity will be a witch for the Utes. As will be the case for Florida in 2023 playing at altitude in SLC.

How do the Dawgs handle prosperity? Bennet in particular. His whole college career he was fueled and motivated by his underdog status, the desire to prove himself to all the doubters. Now he’s a rock star. How will he deal it? How does the whole team deal with being champions instead of perennial also rans?

The answer is that Bennett is a rockstar because they all think he is a terrible QB that came up big in the biggest game. He’s thought of as the 34th best QB in the fbs and even my Dad wants to see him benched. That’s enough rat poison for him to put together an all-american season. As to how they deal with being champs, they are no longer champs and this is a completely different team than the one that tore up the playoffs minus about 5 fulltime starters.

Great take Keith. Thank you.

Ducks fan here who is looking forward (?) to the opening game vs UGA at a ‘neutral’ site in Atlanta. (I’m just hoping that the Ducks can cover the +16.5 spread?)

That is an amazing TE group that Kirby Smart has put together. It obviously pales in light of a young person dying at the age of 22; however, while the Ducks TE group is, or was solid, Spencer Webb, a TE with NFL potential will be sorely missed.

Looking at Nix’ career stats vs Georgia, Bo is going to need all of the help he can get.

Hats off to Georgia for breaking through and winning the title last season.

With its 2022 schedule and the quality of the roster I see UGA being back in the playoff this season.

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