With the cancelation of all spring sports, the campus for the University of Georgia is nearly empty as only a few essential staff members and the construction crew is on campus.
For the football program, the abrupt cancelation of spring practice hasn’t stopped the team from continuing to get better. While the team may not be on the same field with pads and a practice jersey or hear the sound of a coach’s whistle. Players have taken it upon themselves to get better. Rising sophomore edge rusher Nolan Smith posted a video of his workout that he has been doing on his own time. In this short video, he ends up calling out the rest of the Georgia defense to follow suit and post their workout videos. Eric Stokes answered the challenge along with Monty Rice and running back Prather Hudson has even responded to the challenge that was sent out by Nolan Smith. Spring football is arguably the most crucial part of the offseason for a football team as it is the first time since the ending of the prior season for the players to put back on the pads and start hitting again. This is also time for coaches to begin installing their systems. With this pandemic uprooting normal lives for many people all around the world, it doesn’t take away from the fact that every football program will have an uphill climb as they prepare for the start of the regular season. Fall camp will be the first time for players to put back on the pads and for coaches to install their systems on the field. This will be a short amount of time for new Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken to install his Air Raid offense in Athens. It will come as a big transition for players as they will be moving away from the Pro-Style attack that has been run in Athens for as long as we can remember. For many years the SEC East has been known as one of the weakest divisions in football. In the last three years, the throne has belonged to the University of Georgia. In the first four years under Kirby Smart, he has won the East the previous three years. While only losing to Florida once in his first four years. Smart also boasts a winning record against every SEC East foe. While many still believe that Georgia is still firmly entrenched in the throne of the SEC East. Many feel that two teams could push Georgia to the limit in 2020. As always, Florida is in the talk for the SEC East, but someone new has entered the title talks. Tennessee has also seen its stock rise in the last year. While the Volunteers started last season with a terrible 1-4 start where they lost to teams like Florida and Georgia, their most embarrassing losses came to the hands of Georgia State and BYU. Those two losses came right at the beginning of the season. The Volunteers then turned that embarrassment into motivation as they finished the regular season 7-1. As their only loss was to the Crimson Tide of Alabama. Coming off a win in the Gator Bowl over Indiana, the Vols have springboarded into the division title picture. Like always, the Gators are in the talks for winning the SEC East. Florida has always been the favorite of the media when it comes to talking about who will be in the SEC Championship game. But as of the last three years, Georgia has been penciled in from the very beginning of the season. In their second year under Dan Mullen, the Gators finished their season with a New Year Six Bowl win over Virginia, which contributed to an 11-2 record overall as their only losses were to the eventual SEC Champion LSU and the SEC runner-up Georgia. The big story of the season was at the quarterback position. Felipe Franks started the first three games of the season for Florida until, in the middle of his third game, he suffered a season-ending ankle injury against Kentucky. A new star was born in that game when Kyle Trask came in as the backup quarterback and led Florida to an 11 win season while he passed 2,941 yards and 25 touchdowns. Now, after his Cinderella-type story to the starting job, Florida has been thrust into title talks for the SEC. After winning the Sugar Bowl with a few men down, Georgia saw another mass exodus of its team for the NFL. Kirby Smart and his staff will is being tasked with replacing
A big task, but Georgia like always has been preaching the next man up mentality. They brought in another number 1 recruiting class in the nation, along with a few graduate transfers to come in and fill a few holes. Jamie Newman, former Wake Forest quarterback, will be in Athens to try and take the reins of the Georgia offense that will be different from the one run by his predecessor. While Newman is new to Athens, he is on a level playing field with the rest of the offense as with he cancelation of spring ball; they will all be waiting on the installation of Monken’s new offense. This could go both ways for Georgia next season, but the offense will have time in the summer and fall to learn together and gel as a team before the regular season is at its peak. Newman is walking into a better situation this year at receiver then Fromm was at this time a year ago. George Pickens and Blaylock will be the most productive returning starters at receiver for Georgia this season while we do expect one of the incoming freshmen to have a breakout year much as Pickens and Blaylock did a year ago. Ultimately the SEC East will be a battle for years to come as both Tennessee and Florida are starting to put the pieces in place to contend. But questions remain for each of them. Tennessee has yet to find it’s the quarterback of the future. At the same time, Florida needs to recruit at an elite level to be able to compete with Georgia, along with finding a way to out coach Georgia. Georgia is still the Top Dawgs in the SEC East, and it’s their yard, while everyone else is just living in it.
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There might not be a more underrated prospect in the 2020 class for Georgia than Carson Beck.
Beck, a longtime Georgia commit that is from Jacksonville, Florida, where he attended Mandarin High School, where he led the Mustangs of Mandarin to the 8A Florida State Championship in 2018. Beck threw for 330 yards and five touchdowns on 25/36 throwing, which led the Mustangs to a 37-35 win over Columbus in the 2018 8A Florida State Championship game. At 6’5 and 225 pounds, he has the arm talent to be a college football quarterback. He will have a chance to prove very early on in his career at Georgia as he one of many early enrollees that enrolled in the University during bowl practice. With former starter Jake Fromm pursuing the NFL Draft, Beck has entered a quarterback room that is without a starting quarterback for next season. Along with a new offensive coordinator will be in Athens next season. To add to the competition, Wake Forest starting quarterback Jamie Newman announced last week that he would be enrolling in Georgia this winter as a graduate transfer where he hopes to win over the starting job at quarterback. At 6’5 and a slim built 225 pounds, Beck adds another classic pro-style quarterback that can sit back in the pocket and throw the ball around. With Georgia moving to more an air raid offense in the 2020 season, this could suit Beck well as he does have the ability to run an offense like the air raid, which does depend on a competent quarterback. While he doesn’t provide you with the physical strength and dual-threat ability to escape the pocket and pick up yards on his own that people look for nowadays in a quarterback. Beck makes up for it with elite arm strength. Beck and Fromm have a lot of things in common as both wowed college coaches and fans with an impressive junior season. Beck’s junior season saw him pass for 3,546 and 39 touchdowns through the air while he added five of those in the state title game alone. While things simmered down in the Beck’s senior season as Mandarin went from State Champions with a 12-4 record a year before, they regressed to 7-4 to end the 2019 season, which would be the last of Beck’s high school career. In his senior season, Beck threw for 1,843 yards and 20 touchdowns. While the stats may have regressed from junior year to senior year, Beck is still as great of a prospect as he was from his junior season. Beck has endured a lot of criticism this past season as he didn’t put the stats and showings that many would’ve expected him too. Much like Georgia quarterback, Jake Fromm did this past season as both struggled at times in their seasons. Much like Fromm, Beck lost some of his biggest weapons offensively to graduation after the 2018 season. Both now know how much that can not hurt a team’s performance but individual success as well. Now going into his freshman season of Georgia, he has made through some fires already. He has proven that he can endure the wide-spread criticism that may come with being a college football player. He went through some of it only as a senior in high school. What may be most valuable for Beck’s career is the time he got to spend in the quarterbacks’ room, while limited he was able to be around former quarterback Jake Fromm in the weeks leading up to the Sugar Bowl. A potential mentorship that could be to the advantage of Beck in the not so distant future as he will be entering a highly anticipated quarterback battle this coming spring that could run it’s course into the start of fall practice. Just a few days after the hiring of new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Georgia continues to bolster its offensive staff, this time in an off-field role.
On Monday, Georgia hired Buster Faulkner to the offensive staff that is continuing to expand and undergo some changes. Faulkner is coming over from Southern Miss, where he worked as the offensive coordinator since February of 2019. He also worked with the quarterbacks in his time with Southern Miss. He will be joining the staff in Athens in an off the field role where he is will be an offensive quality control coach. This will be Faulkner’s second stint in Athens as he served as a graduate assistant under Coach Richt in 2006. In his work since he spent three seasons at Arkansas State as offensive coordinator, which saw his offense rank 17th in total offense and 21st in passing offense, while also having three players make first All-Sun Belt. Including the two time winner of Sun Belt’s Player of the Year Quarterback Justin Hansen. Before joining the staff at Arkansas State, Faulkner spent four seasons at Middle Tennessee State. Faulkner spent his playing career at Valdosta State, where Kirby Smart was on staff as the secondary coach and defensive coordinator. On Friday, Georgia and Coach Kirby Smart decided to turn the page on the last four decades for the University of Georgia Football.
With the hiring of Todd Monken as the next Georgia Offensive Coordinator, Kirby Smart is bringing to Athens one of the most experienced coaches in college football and the national football league. Monken is one of the most respected coaches in football today. As he has been successful everywhere, he has been. From LSU as passing game coordinator(2005-06) to Oklahoma State, and even to Southern Mississipi as head coach for a few seasons (2013-15). Not only has he been successful in the college ranks where he has overseen offenses that have set records for total offense, total offensive yards, passing yards, completion percentage, but points also scored and passing touchdowns. Monken has been a success in the professional ranks where he has coached the Jacksonville Jaguars (2007-10), Tampa Bay Buccaneers(2016-18), and in his latest stint with the Cleveland Browns (2019). Monken has worked with Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden (QB), and Justin Blackmon (WR) both went on to become NFL first-round draft picks. Not only that, but he has worked with Jamis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick in the professional ranks, where he coached explosive offenses with the Buccaneer. Coach Monken brings with him a proven track record for success, and an aggressive style and playcalling that resembles Mike Bobo’s offense for Georgia in the hay days of the Mark Richt coaching tenure in Athens. Monken has traditionally run offenses that rely on the air attack. Still, in his past few stops in the National Football League (NFL), he has proved to run a balanced offense that can involve an explosive running game. With the Cleveland Browns this past season, Todd Monken was the offensive coordinator and held all of those duties but wasn’t the play-caller, as head coach Freddie Kitchens held those duties. Monken oversaw the successful season of former Georgia running back Nick Chubb as he finished second in the NFL in rushing yards last season. A pass-first offense as it looks to the play action to open up the run. It is an offense that runs a lot of shotgun sets with three or four-receiver sets. Under Monken, Georgia will shy away from running under center, as he likes to have his teams run out of shotgun sets. While they still use under center for play action and some running plays to keep the defense off-balance. After a disappointing season offensively for Georgia, Kirby Smart decided to pull the trigger on a change at the offensive coordinator position. Todd Monken will bring the Georgia offense into the modern era of football. Georgia Football's official Twitter account has announced Todd Monken as the new offensive coordinator.
The "Air Raid Expert" will be moving to Athens as he brings with him years of experience from the NFL and College Football. Monken is leaving the Cleveland Browns, where he held the title of offensive coordinator. While Monken wasn't the play-caller, he was the strategist for the offense, which saw Georgia fan-favorite Nick Chubb become the second leading rusher in the NFL. A hire that is echoing across the nation as it is a move that resonates with Georgia fans. Former offensive coordinator James Coley will remain on staff but in a different role. In an official press release, Kirby Smart had this to say about Monken, "He has a history of establishing explosive offenses at each and every stop in his impressive career in both the National Football League and at major college football programs." Monken is the third offensive coordinator for UGA since Smart took over as head coach. It is a signal for change in the philosophy of the Georgia offense just a week after the departure of Jake Fromm for the NFL. Just days after Wake Forest starting quarterback Jamie Newman announced that he would be heading to Georgia. The Georgia offense will get another weapon as Florida State tight end Tre’ Mckitty will be joining Newman in Athens for the upcoming 2020 season.
Mckitty will be a welcomed addition to the Georgia offense, especially in the tight end room, which saw two departures this offseason from Charlie Woerner and graduate transfer, Eli Wolf. Mckitty produced 520 yards on 50 catches over the last three seasons as a Seminole. He caught 49 of those passes over the past two years. He only has two touchdowns in his career, which came in his sophomore year. At 6 foot 5 and 245 pounders, he was rated top 15 in his position coming out of high school as he attended IMG Academy. This acquisition makes him the fourth graduate transfer brought in by Coach Smart in his prior four seasons as the head coach of Georgia. Jamie Newman, the dual-threat quarterback being the latest addition for Georgia. Mckitty will join incoming five-star Darnell Washington. Along with John Fitzpatrick, and Brett Seither in the tight ends room, which are both coming off their redshirt year. It has been one of the busiest offseasons for Georgia so far, and it has barely even begun. Georgia has already had to replace an offensive line coach in a month.
Now they will be tasked with relacing Special Teams Coordinator Scott Fountain as he has taken the same job at Arkansas to join former UGA offensive line coach, now Head Coach Sam Pittman. This was Fountain’s second season as coordinator for the special teams unit. He replaced current Oklahoma Tight Ends Coach Shane Beamer after the 2017 season. Fountain joined the staff at Georgia in 2017 as a Special Team analyst. He was promoted to coordinator after that season. Under Fountains, watch the special teams unit has produced some players, the likes of NFL rookie Mecole Hardman, and Lou Groza Award winner Rodrigo Blankenship. This vacancy puts Kirby Smart in a bind as he can promote from within to fill this position. Or he can ask current Tight Ends Coach Todd Hartley to absorb another job title. Doing the latter would allow Georgia to bring in some help for Offensive Coordinator James Coley. A man to look at for potentially helping Coley put up in the box is current Georgia offensive quality control coach Shawn Watson. Watson joined the staff last off-season as a quality control coach after he was let go by Pittsburgh as the offensive coordinator. Watson has experience as a Coordinator at programs like Nebraska, Louisville, Texas, and Indiana. Watson would provide Georgia with another reliable recruiter and veteran play-caller to help work out the kinks in the offense. Junior safety Richard LeCounte has made his NFL decision, and that he will return between the hedges for the senior season in Athens.
This news comes on a big day as the Georgia fans are watching the US Army All American game as number one overall cornerback Kelee Ringo made his decision about where he’d be attending school for the next 3-4 years. LeCounte has turned into an impact player on defense as well as a leader. LeCounte was a spark on the defensive side of the ball this past season for Georgia as he led the team in turnovers. Georgia caused 15 turnovers as a team this season, LeCounte was responsible for 7 of those turnovers. In his first two seasons at Georgia, he was very mistake-prone as a lot of underclassmen are in their early years of playing at the college level. LeCounte would try too hard to make the big play instead of making the right play. The safety grew into a ball hawk that can make the right plays for Georgia defensively in the big moments. Like the two interceptions that LeCounte was responsible for in the Sugar that energized his team onto victory. He will be the leader in the secondary after the loss of JR Reed, who will graduate and go onto a chance in the NFL. LeCounte is expected to start alongside rising sophomore Lewis Cine next season in Athens. After the conclusion of the Sugar Bowl and dusk has settled in Athens. Star running back D’Andre Swift has declared for the upcoming NFL Draft. As he Swift has decided to forego his senior season.
It was clear that after Swift’s sophomore year that his junior season would probably be his last as a Georgia Bulldog. Swift had one year behind the historic running back tandem Nick Chubb and Sony Michel as they played out their senior seasons in Athens. Swift was used as a receiving back for Georgia as they made some big plays out of the backfield for Georgia. The biggest play came in the SEC Championship game against Auburn when Swift ran for the game-sealing touchdown that would be the bow on top of Georgia’s SEC Championship win. After the legacy left behind by Chubb and Michel, who helped carry the Georgia offense to the National Championship game. Swift stepped up in his sophomore season and helped carried the rock for the Georgia offense alongside Elijah Holyfield. After Holyfield left for the NFL Draft after Holyfield’s junior season, Swift was Georgia’s premier back. Swift rushed for 1,203 yards and seven touchdowns to finish off his junior season that ended with an injury in the 52-7 win over Georgia Tech, where Swift injured his shoulder. It would limit Swift’s carries against LSU in the SEC Championship game and would limit his playing time against Baylor in the Sugar Bowl almost a month later. Swift will end his Bulldogs career as one of the most explosive running backs in Georgia’s history. He is being projected to be the number one running back drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. It was a game to remember for Georgia as they traveled south to New Orleans to play in the same bowl game that they lost in a season ago. Georgia was able to overcome the injuries and the players who didn’t make the trip.
While many focused on the many players who decided to stay home or were forced to stay home, Georgia was focused on the next game. That game was the Sugar Bowl, one of the most prestigious bowl games in College Football. The leadership of guys like Jake Fromm and the remaining captains was able to help the team overcome the disappointment and the intense criticism that the season brought on the side. Coach Smart and his staff did a terrific job handling the media and keeping them out of the picture and giving Baylor their complete and undivided attention. With the Draft status in question for Jake Fromm, the Sugar Bowl added a bow on top of an up and down season. Fromm ended the year throwing for 250 and 2 touchdowns on 20/30 throwing. Fromm led the team down the field and did with class. Excellent performance for Jake Fromm and the University of Georgia. Zamir White stepped up while D’Andre Swift didn’t take too many snaps for Georgia. White rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries for Georgia. With Swift likely leaving for the NFL, the future is bright for Georgia in the backfield. George Pickens brought in a career performance where he brought in 175 yard receiving yards and one touchdown. A great gameplan and excellent execution by the receivers and George Pickens as he made big plays for Georgia. The offensive line put in an excellent performance for Georgia against a very stout Baylor defensive line that was more talked about then the Georgia defense. The defense put on a great show as they racked up two interceptions, and both were by Richard LeCounte. The defense played very aggressive and showed that they wanted to be there — an excellent defensive performance against a dangerous Baylor offense. Georgia is the 2020 Sugar Bowl Champions!!!!! Go Dawgs!!! |
Harrison Reno
Is the founder and author of Top Dawg Blogging. Harrison has been blogging for the past 4 years Archives
April 2020
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