The SEC Forum at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Mullen basically had to scrap the entire running game, because the green OL could not run block AT ALL.  To go 11-2, knowing you're going to be one-dimensional before each game is pretty good.
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You know this, but your top 20 defense cutoff is arbitrary  and there's a big difference between the top of that list and the bottom of it.  Georgia wound up #1 in total defense, thanks to Clemson having to deal with LSU. 
So the Gators faced the #1, 14, 15, 17, and 23rd-ranked teams in total defense. 
Georgia dealt with the #7, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 20th-ranked Ds. 
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So what's tougher, 7th and 12th or 1st overall?  Hell if I know. 
I do know UGA had Fromm and Swift and a great OL, while UF had the backup QB, Perine, and an OL that could merely do half their job (pass block).
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And they wound up with the same records.

I'm not saying that Mullen isn't a good coach as much as i'm saying that UGA's offensive woes this year according to the folks who talk about such things is a little overblown especially considering the deficiency this year at WR and TE.  Cager, Pickens (freshman) and Blaylock  (freshman) were nice additions, but Cager was unavailable in all or parts of 7 games this year. (missed 2nd half of South Carolina, out vs Kentucky, most of the Auburn game, all of Texas A&M, all of Georgia Tech, LSU and Baylor)  Teams were loading the box all year because they didn't respect our downfield passing attack. 
Blaylock went down with a torn ACL in the SECC, Pickens was suspended 1st half, Cager was done for the season and Swift was a non-factor due to a shoulder injury in both the SECC game as well as the bowl game. (I was amazed our D only allowed 37 to LSU in that game with the attrition we had on the offensive side of the ball) Going 12-2 with that offense was a dang miracle in my opinion. Luckily our D was lights out. 

Also, Franks getting hurt was the best thing to happen to UF this year. Trask was better so i take the backup QB excuse with a grain of salt.  Your OLine, though, sure I can see that.  So we can agree that both of our teams were dealing with a deficiency.  Oline for UF, WR/TE for UGA. 
Hell, UGA lost their top 6 (I believe)  pass catchers from a year ago. That's hard to replace. 
UF i think loses a good portion of WR production this year, as well, so it'll be interesting to see if they feel the effects of that next year.  Not really sure how they've recruited in that area. UGA loses at least 3 starters on the Oline, plus Cade Mays who transferred to UT. We kind of saw what next year's oline will look like in the bowl game. 

UGA had to deal with LSU, as well. How are 12-2 and 11-2 the same record? 

UGA had to deal with LSU, as well. How are 12-2 and 11-2 the same record?

Are y'all talking about defenses faced here?  Having trouble following the conversation.  

There is only mild comparison between the defense Florida faced and the defense UGA faced as far as LSU goes.  LSU got Florida when multiple guys were still out hurt from the UT game, and even the guys who played had various problems with fundamentals for a long portion of the season.  

I heard Cole Kubelic says after the title game that Aranda had told him a few games into the season that the players just couldn't execute the scheme he'd drawn up for the season and he was having to go back to the drawing board in-season.  That would seem almost an outrageous claim, especially for someone as respected as Aranda, except it does match what we saw in a lot of ways.  

By the time UGA ran into LSU, all the starters were available and healthy, Chaisson had started playing up to his blue chip potential as an edge rusher, and guys generally seemed to understand their roles better and tackling had much improved.  I'm not knocking Florida, there were parts of that game was that just Florida making plays.  I'm just saying UGA got a much tougher defense in the same opponent than Florida did.  You would not see the LSU defense that played Florida hold OU and Clemson to those point totals.  

All that said....UGA really did have their chances at times in that game, especially early.  They just couldn't hit them.  Florida did.  

9/19 – Alabama Crimson Tide

10/10 – Auburn Tigers

10/31 – Florida Gators

11/7 – @ South Carolina Gamecocks

So, this comes down I think to a four game season, presuming the Dawgs are at least "competitive and pretty good".  Yes, they certainly could get upset by Tennessee or somebody, but this looks like the games "in doubt" to me, adding USCe to the mix is perhaps dubious.  

Beating Alabama would not be expected of course, and a win there COULD lead to the "Big Head" and some upset somewhere.  Auburn is in Athens, but that series has an odd habit of the home team's losing.  I expect Florida to be "on par" with UGA, give or take.  

They have to be close.  I think UGA signed more 5 stars in the past 4 years than anyone, but they had a few transfer out.

They are talent loaded.

UGA hired the Bama strength coach away, which apparently is more interestingly than it might seem, or not.