Georgia football will have a new identity on offense this year.
There are few true constants in college football, what with the constant roster turnover and the sad precedent that coaches at big programs only get two seasons to prove themselves. Luckily, hallowed institutions like rolling Toomer’s Corner and clanging cowbells in StarkVegas are effectively eternal. And at this rate, Georgia’s annual recruiting dominance under Kirby Smart feels every bit as immutable.
That doesn’t mean Georgia football is a slam dunk to return to the SEC Championship Game for a shot at the College Football Playoff, of course. According to an Athlon Sports survey of unnamed rival coaches, there are stern questions the Dawgs must answer on the offensive side of the ball.
Georgia must replace Jake Fromm, D’Andre Swift and two first-round tackles.
“Recruiting-wise, it’s them, it’s Alabama and it’s everyone else,” one coach said. “They’re out-recruiting the division by a mile. If they fix the offense, they’re national title contenders.”
“Everything is focused on their offense,” one coach wrote. “[Transfer quarterback] Jamie Newman is completely different than what they’ve done in the past, so expect a quarterback run game and RPOs, not as much dropback. Maybe none? How can they adapt that offense to fit his skill set?”
If this sounds like an evaluation of an up-and-coming team without much of a track record for national success, you wouldn’t be too far off-base. However, we’re talking about a perennial title contender here.
Such is life when finally forced to live life without the assurance of Jacob Eason or Jake Fromm behind center.
“The pressure is real to win in Atlanta, so you have to lead with defense,” another coach said. With this in mind, perhaps the best thing for Newman — a dual-threat quarterback the likes of which Georgia hasn’t seen since the days of D.J. Shockley — is to perceive every question about this offense as a slight. A refusal to endorse his talents.
Given the colossal expectations they face every year now that Smart has installed them as the toast of the SEC East and a true juggernaut across the college football landscape, the Dawgs have to find a way to avoid becoming victims of their own success. The personnel will look different in 2020, but until a true challenger emerges, this team is a clear favorite to return to Atlanta to fight for that all-important conference crown.
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