… but this strikes me as a big factor in the constipation of Georgia’s offense last season.
“Last year was more about understanding the offense versus reading the defense and checking and making a better play,” Eason said. “That was a big, big focus this offseason, was getting my mind right, and being able to see something and check into something.”
Chubb thinks that flexibility will offer a “better possibility, a better avenue,” to find holes to run through when Georgia won’t be outnumbered in the tackle box.
“It puts us in better position,” he said. “I think last year we kind of stuck with what we had no matter what, and I think we didn’t have the right numbers to run the play. That kind of hurt us sometimes. I think this year more freedom, allows us to get a better look for us, and to execute it.”
Call it last year’s perfect storm: a substandard offensive line, a head coach who favored an offensive philosophy that maybe his personnel weren’t ideally suited for and a quarterback lacking the experience to take advantage of what opposing defenses were giving him.
Remember, it’s just happy talk until they do it, but with that being said, how much improvement in those areas do you anticipate seeing in 2017? And how much smarter will that make Chaney look?
Get The Picture 
I thought Eason was given a bit more later in the year. Basically from about the Florida game on. I thought he struggled with all the options he had. But obviously it’s necessary for success for a qb to be able to get the team in the right play. Last year Eason played best when he had the play and knew where the ball was going when the huddle broke. Otherwise he struggled. Some of that was being worried about getting killed because his line couldn’t block I’m sure.
There is no greater asset than a qb who can dissect the defense, find the right play and throw strikes. It’s what makes Brady so damn good. If you call a play and the defense has called the right counter and you can’t do anything but run the called play, that’s a problem. That was part of the problems we had last year.
Hopefully Eason can both be a “field general” and hit his targets this year.
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Right. Checking into a good play or out of a bad play is huge for success. These kids coming out of high school see nothing compared to SEC Ds. It is a learning curve and we have to be patient. It is easy to get caught up in physical abilities of a kid like Eason and forget about what it will takes on the mental part. Even this year he will not behave like a pro. Hopefully he will be better and learn even more game by game. Some O systems are a little easier for the young QBs to learn. I don’t think our ‘pro-set’ system is one of the easier ones. I’m anxious to see how Eason has developed mentally. Also, don’t forget the WRs have to be able to make reads of their own. Young QBs and young WRs are a bad combo. Hesitation is an enemy of speed.
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A freshman QB shouldn’t have to make all of those decisions. The coaches up top should be seeing that and making the adjustments. Another reason why teams don’t huddle now even if they don’t go hurry-up. The threat of the hurry-up makes the defense show their initial hand and gives the offense the chance to check into a better play selection. There were times Murray as a 5th year senior still had “check with me” plays rather than making the sight adjustment at the LOS.
If Eason with all of his physical tools doesn’t develop into a NFL-quality QB at UGA, the Dawg Nation should sue Chaney for professional malpractice.
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The problem with that I think is that it’s a crutch. Moreover, those who do it out of a habit face defenses that show one thing, wait for the change and then change up themselves. Alabama does that all the time to the look at the sidelines teams.
I’d prefer a qb going up with two plays and several audible choices and just run the offense. It’s not easy for sure but it can be done.
Check the mike, ck the safeties, ck the box numbers, ck where the corners are and call it. The defense is always going to give you something. Find it.
That changes in obvious pass situations but the song remains the same, out execute your opponent. You know where your going. He doesn’t. You know where the ball is going. They don’t. You have every advantage. Take it.
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I agree with you. If you have a 5th year senior doing the same thing, it is a crutch. Chaney expected Eason to learn to play from under, make limited sight adjustments, and put the ball in the right place every time … as a true freshman. There’s a reason an incredibly talented and smart kid in Aaron Murray didn’t play as a true freshman. There’s a reason Stafford and Eason struggled as true freshmen. Playing QB in the SEC is a grown @$$ man’s job.
When you’re getting to the line with less than 10 seconds on the play clock as it seemed we did a lot last year, you don’t have time for any checks. You only have time to call the Mike, run the play, and hope.
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Verily.
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The point of a hurry-up is to, tire the defense, not allow time for the defense to sub, confuse the ‘D (quick counts/not quick counts) to get into a rhythm (offense), to dictate the flow of the game…and in some cases, not give the defense time to get set. In most cases, the D’ always show their initial hand, or set…..regardless if it is hurry-up or not. The offense can also check into “a better play” most anytime they want (hurry- up or not).
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It’s hard to know if the problem is Smart or smarts.
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So my issue with this is that there has been a huge phenomenon in college football of sideline checks for 10 years now. Aaron Murray did it when he was green. Stafford did as well. And that’s just at UGA. it’s all over the country. Those sideline checks enable a coaching staff to use their experience to enable better results from a green quarterback.
They did that in the Tennessee game and I think the TCU game, but really didn’t do it the rest of the year. If Eason can’t make the checks himself, do it for him while he’s still young. He’ll grow into it throughout his career.
I”m convinced we are 4 points/game better last year if they do that all season long. It was one of the coaching strategies that I simply couldn’t get my head around.
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That’s an excellent point. I am not a huge fan of check with me’s but I have to admit, if the problem is not getting into the right play, why did we not do more of it throughout the season.
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Seems kinda obvious that it was a combination of everything. QB, OC,OL and WR. That doesn’t really jive with the folks who want to turn to Fromm already but I don’t feel bad.
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I guess we will know by 8pm tomorrow night. After the first quarter and a half, if we are seeing a lot of checks then maybe that is good. If we see a lot of checks, and we still aren’t moving the ball consistently, I may start to get concerned.
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IF Smart can fix the OL in 2 years…damn brilliant…jury still out, IMHO…
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AND fix WR blocking skills… and i agree with you.
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I really still don’t understand why we spent so damn much time in the huddle last year. No one including Alabama does that anymore. I’m worried that was Kirby’s defensive coaching background thinking “do no harm” by keeping the clock moving. The games where went HUNH we seemed to move the ball at will. When we huddled every play, the offense got constipated. That’s coaching and has nothing to do with QB play.
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So coaches knew that it wasn’t a good idea to run into 8 and 9 man fronts out of the jumbo formation… yet we continued to line up in the jumbo formation. Too bad only one player can be in motion at the same time or we might be on to something.
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When you have zero OT’s to work with, the jumbo can be helpful.
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The jumbo set brings more people into the box. If you’re outmanned at the line of scrimmage, you use the width of the field to create running lanes. You don’t bring more tight ends and a fullback into the game. That brings safeties down and allows personnel groupings to put 3 or 4 linebackers on the field. Hell, I’m an accountant and understand that.
A good offensive coordinator creates mismatches with personnel groupings and formations. We saw none of that last year other than IMac in the slot. Put Sony and Nick on the field at the same time with Sony in the slot. Go 3 or 4 wide with Nauta in the slot. Run the pistol to give Chubb or Michel momentum toward the line of scrimmage rather than the zone read where you have a QB with no threat of the run with the back beside him.
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literally do anything but what we just doing all season.
to be honest I am not seeing how these comments from the players are positive. Basically saying that the coaches made a lot of really awful decisions all season long and will likely continue to make them and the players are just hoping that they have gotten good enough to cover up for the glaring weakness coming from the coaches.
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Lol. So, basically try anything, huh? Sounds like you’re even thinking of the triple option now and then. This team last year had a True Frosh at QB (that couldn’t be dethroned by boy wonder Fromme as a lot expected), a very porous line, no jump off the ball, an injured soon to be AA in Nauta, New coaches cross the board, etc etc etc.
The ONLY way is up and we’re headed there boys. I know football. We COULD give it a small run this year. I’m thinking final poll 7 or 8. But before this decade is up, we’ll raise that trophy. I GUARANTEE
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Lol. So, basically try anything, huh? Sounds like you’re even thinking of the triple option now and then. This team last year had a True Frosh at QB (that couldn’t be dethroned by boy wonder Fromme as a lot expected), a very porous line, no jump off the ball, an injured soon to be AA in Nauta, New coaches cross the board, etc etc etc.
The ONLY way is up and we’re headed there boys. I know football. We COULD give it a small run this year. I’m thinking final poll 7 or 8. But before this decade is up, we’ll raise that trophy. I GUARANTEE
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Think you have to realize where the offensive line re depth and experience. Have to see how Eason will be with his center this year. Dawgs need bigger guicker centers than lately. In shotgun a lot 2016. High school QB in SEC. Understand eason is agood size kid. His center was low. Hard for him to go under andcome out. How much did those factors play into overall offensive play and schemes. I think more than folks realize.
More depth inoffense should mean better plays re fatigue as game goes along
Want to see how many carries rbs have furst two games. Hope it is not all chubb. Having a rb tote the ball 25 times not good over the long haul re this schedule.
First game shiuld be window how chaney meshes his depth and experince re a somehat yiung offense
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Not to mention the somewhat Chinese Bandit defense
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Chaney’ history and his philosophy are not my cup of tea, but all the points made here are truly legit. Now, if we have a bunch of repeats with the talent present I’ll be screaming for some butt and Cheney can “fly cargo ships to Hong Kong”
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Eason vs Murray. I say compare the center Murray had vs what Eason had or will have. Murray does not start or play much in NFL. Where does his center play?
How much does the play of a QB coming out from under a low center to hand offs to Chubb, MIchel, and the other RBs impact your playbook and moving the chains.
Will give Chaney a few games, but I think we need to see some much improved play and scoring. This year will define Chaney and Smart. Smart liked those tackle to tackle lines Saban had. Plus look at the size of the Bama QBs during that time. But Saban is possibly changing his offense to match his QBs now. Pre Kiffin and post KIffin.
Cajun Navy in Texas. What was the most used? Hard to say. But I like the up end G3s john boats.
Thank GOD for sportsman in the South!!
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Will, a good point about center play the last couple of years. We got spoiled with Ben Jones and Boss Andrews. Both of those guys were (and are) good football players. They both came from small high schools and weren’t highly recruited (believe both were 3-star recruits). One has had a solid career, and one has a Super Bowl ring after going undrafted.
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Ben Jones was 4 star, #3 C in the country
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I couldn’t remember. Thanks.
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All I remember was the bitching about how bad Jones was as a center while at UGA. But that’s kind of the norm.
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Not to mention Murray was a REDSHIRT freshman when he started. Had a whole year and a half to learn the system and defenses since he came in a semester early.
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We will know tomorrow. App St. will definitely load the box to stop
the run.
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I want to see Chubb and Michel will combine for 350+ all-purpose yards.
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All of their D, the water boy and two cheerleaders will be in the box against us until we show we can run something different…
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Regarding the cheerleaders; male or female? Or does that really matter? 🙂
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Don’t be a hater 😜.
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Yep. But I am going to be optimistic and look forward to a lot of three wide one back sets… some misdirection… three or four bootlegs… a reverse… attacking the edges to tire out their defense early… then run all over them in the second half. Come on… who’s with me… Senator?
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3 OC’s and 3 OL coaches in 3 years doesn’t help the learning curve of a freshman QB. The veterans of the offense are all having to learn and adapt as well.
Expecting big things this year.
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Answer 1: I anticipate a whole lot of improvement.
Answer 2: Based on the way Bobo is viewed by Georgia fans, that’ll depend who you ask.
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“And how much smarter will that make Chaney look?”
He can’t look much dumber.
( you knew that was coming from someone)
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Other than Rocker, who turned in his usual solid job, I wasn’t impressed at all with the coaching staff in 2016. Some assistants were flat out awful. And now Rocker’s gone.
This is truly an odd situation. They may be world class recruiters, but if you ask me our entire coaching staff needs to prove they can coach a top 15 team.
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Some on here will never give Cheney credit if the offense does well.
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I will – I hope to be proven wrong
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Watching the OSU/IU game last night, I had a very nervous feeling as I watch the Buckeyes sputter on offense the first half. Just thinking about how I have these high hope and expectations for a better offense this year and how maddening it will be to see us do the same tomorrow. I think what amplifies the concerns is a) how many 2018/2019 recruit eyes are watching to see how we come out and b) if 2017 is more of the same, it could mean a massive derailment of the Kirby plan…imagine having to find yet another OC after this year. Anyways, I remain cautiously optimistic and everything in the article makes logical sense…I just hope it plays out that way on the field.
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If we break this down into three main categories for this year, we should know what we think we need to know after a few games.
1) Georgia’s offense shows little to no improvement. In this case, the buck stops w/ OCJC and it’s time to move on.
2) Georgia shows a noticeable, if only moderate improvement. In this case, it becomes evident that all the ‘perfect storm’ pieces in play last year were the main causes for Georgia’s offensive ineptitude.
3) Georgia improves to the point of being an effective, even potent offense. In this case, same as with point 2, and add to that the acceptance of OCJC as a very capable OC.
I’m fine w/ #2, and of course, would love #3, as we would have to be considered a threat to make some noise at the end of the season.
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If the offense turns out to be good, we’re a top 5 team.
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The talent and depth on the D-Line is exciting. If they are as good as I am thinking they will be, our D could be scary. The secondary only needs to be slightly above average if we are able to stuff the run and generate a reasonable pass rush without doing anything exotic (I hate that term, but I’m using it anyway).
Add to that the speed at all 4 LB positions, and we’re looking at what could be the best Georgia defense in quite some time.
Could just be the anticipation of a new season talking, but I can say that I really haven’t been this excited about our defense in a while. Just need someone (L. Carter, D. Bellamy, D. Walker, or even W. Grant) to become a respected pass rusher, and I think it will be game over for most teams on our schedule.
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We just haven’t had that one guy that offenses lose sleep over since Jarvis Jones. If even of those guys can step up, the rest of the talent is solid enough for this to be an elite D.
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This also had a factor in our run ability (or lack there of) last year. There was a reason that the last offensive series against Nicholls State that they put Lambert in. It wasn’t because Eason might fumble or that he could not turn around and hand off as well. It was because Lambert could check us into a better play and out of a bad one. That issue plagued our running game all last year.
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Bobo’s last few offenses broke every single season scoring record in the books yet some still swore and insisted he was the worst play caller in the game. That will never change. Chaney’s just the new scapegoat. If you want to be the OC at UGA you better a) have thick skin or b) score a touchdown on every offensive snap.
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The difference is Bobo had a record of sustained success. His floor was still above average. Chaney had that 15 years ago, and has been a fairly consistent disaster since.
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Is it Chaney or Cheney? Tired of seeing both used.
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It is Chaney, or A-H, is another name I hear used/spelled out. Love to see him earn Comeback Coach of the year in 2017, he needs a good 2017.
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