Georgia this season managed to score more points, gain more yards and pass for more yards per game to surpass many of the school’s offensive records set just last year. The Bulldogs did so despite losing eight of their top offensive playmakers to injuries for a combined total of 37.5 games.
Apparently the folks at 247Sports.com were paying attention because they named Georgia’s Mike Bobo as the nation’s Offensive Coordinator of the Year on Thursday. Bobo got the nod over over fellow finalists Chad Morris of Clemson, Rhett Lashlee of Auburn, Tom Herman of Ohio State and Dave Schramm of Fresno State.
“Obviously if you get any type of award you’re honored,” said Bobo, who was a finalist last year for the Frank Broyles Award for the country’s top overall assistant coach. “But you’re proud of your players because they’re the ones playing and the coaches that you coach with. It’s evident what a great job our coaches do getting guys ready to play, especially guys that weren’t expected to play this year.”
A lot of players got unexpected playing time after the Bulldogs suffered a rash of injuries the first third of the regular season. Among the victims were leading rushers Todd Gurley (four games) and Keith Marshall (seven) and leading receivers Malcolm Mitchell (12 games) and Justin Scott-Wesley (seven games). Receivers Michael Bennett (three) and Chris Conley (two) also missed games, as did tight end Arthur Lynch (one) and eventually record-setting quarterback Aaron Murray (1.5).
Despite all that, the Bulldogs averaged 38.2 points per game (up from 37.8 in 2012), 489.8 yards total offense (467.6) and 313.75 yards passing (285.1).
“I don’t think fans really realize the type of offense we had this year,” said Murray, who went down with a knee injury two minutes before halftime in the Bulldogs’ 11th game of the season. “It’s been pretty unbelievable the things we’ve been able to do really with only half the amount of guys we usually have.”
That’s all nice, Bobo said, but Georgia’s increases weren’t in the area he wanted.
“The bottom line is winning ball games and 8-4 is not where we want to be,” the 39-year-old UGA graduate and former quarterback said.”We wanted to be playing in Atlanta and have a chance to win the championship. You feel good about how some guys responded and answered challenges when they came their way and when there was some adversity. … But at the end of the day you want to win the East and the SEC Championship. When you don’t do that there’s a little bit of a letdown.”
Grantham excited about Terry: Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham made no apologies for pilfering Tramel Terry off the offense and moving him to safety earlier this week. He compared it to a couple of years ago when he lost a cornerback out of Valdosta named Malcolm Mitchell to the Bulldogs' receiver corps.
“When we recruit guys we’re going to do what’s best for our team.” Grantham said Thursday. “When you look at (Terry’s) body type and his measureables, he’s a pretty big, physical guy that can run. The thing about him is he’s got ball skills and can catch. So anytime you can take a guy like that and put him at safety, a guy that can cover and be a physical player in the run game, a guy like that can make some plays.”
Terry, a former Mr. Football in South Carolina, redshirted as a wide receiver this past season while recovering from offseason knee surgery.
Etc.: Georgia focused on the kicking game in a short one-hour practice on Thursday, then played kick ball for another hour with a young boy visiting from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. … Cornerback Damian Swann (sprained neck) was added to the injury report Thursday. Corey Campbell (concussion), DeAndre Johnson (illness), Hunter Long (concussion) and Shaq Wiggins (concussion) remained sidelined.
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