Here we go for another college football season.
I am excited about the Bulldogs chances this year but have some reservations.
I am excited about the Bulldogs chances this year but have some reservations.
Georgia Bulldogs 2017
- Thread starter THE KOD
- Start date
Here is a list of state of Georgia?s 10 best offensive linemen.
*Christian Armstrong, Warner Robins (6-5, 355): Armstrong, rated the consensus No. 27 tackle nationally, is committed to Florida State. He was the only junior offensive lineman to make first-team all-Region 1-AAAAA last season.
*Warren Ericson, North Gwinnett (6-4, 290):Ericson made first-team all-state last season, the only junior offensive lineman to do it in AAAAAAA. Committed to Georgia, Ericson is the consensus No. 15 guard nationally.
*John Harris, Mill Creek (6-4, 260): Harris, now the best all-around player at state contender Mill Creek, was all-Gwinnett County and second-team AP all-state last season in the highest class. He is committed to Virginia Tech.
*Trey Hill, Houston County (6-4, 340): Hill is the consensus No. 2 guard nationally behind Jamaree Salyer (below). He was second-team GSWA all-state in AAAAAA last season and first-team all-Region 1 and all-Middle Georgia. Georgia, Florida State and Clemson are his college leaders.
*Casey Holman, Brookwood (6-4, 285): Holman made first-team all-county from the Gwinnett TD Club, one of two juniors. Ericson was the other. Holman also was first-team all-Region 7-AAAAAA. He?s rated among the top 50 tackles nationally and is committed to Duke.
*Jalil Irvin, Stephenson (6-3, 245): Irvin, an Auburn commit, made first-team all-state last season in AAAAAA. He?s among the top 20 senior guards nationally.
*Christian Meadows, Macon County (6-3, 330): Meadows, who is committed to Florida State, was the best lineman on the Class A public-school champions last season and didn?t allow a sack during QB K?hari Lane?s state-record season of 56 touchdown passes. He?s the consensus No. 14 guard prospect.
*James Ohonba, Woodland-Stockbridge (6-5, 320):Ohonba was first-team all-region in 4-AAAAA when he graded 96 percent for the season and had a school-record 26 pancake blocks. He?s the consensus No. 33 player overall in Georgia per 247Sports Composite. His leaders are Alabama, Duke, LSU, Michigan and Southern Cal.
*Jamaree Salyer, Pace Academy (6-3, 285): Salyer is the consensus No. 1 guard prospect in the country, the No. 7 player overall, with a chance to become a rare three-time first-team all-state player. Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and Stanford reportedly are the leaders in his recruitment.
*Dylan Wonnum, Tucker (6-4, 280): Wonnum made first-team all-state last season in AAAAAA and again will be the best offensive lineman for Tucker, the 13-2 state runner-up that should be even stronger in 2017. South Carolina is the reported leader for one of the 10 highest-rated tackles nationally
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alot of football talent in Georgia
*Christian Armstrong, Warner Robins (6-5, 355): Armstrong, rated the consensus No. 27 tackle nationally, is committed to Florida State. He was the only junior offensive lineman to make first-team all-Region 1-AAAAA last season.
*Warren Ericson, North Gwinnett (6-4, 290):Ericson made first-team all-state last season, the only junior offensive lineman to do it in AAAAAAA. Committed to Georgia, Ericson is the consensus No. 15 guard nationally.
*John Harris, Mill Creek (6-4, 260): Harris, now the best all-around player at state contender Mill Creek, was all-Gwinnett County and second-team AP all-state last season in the highest class. He is committed to Virginia Tech.
*Trey Hill, Houston County (6-4, 340): Hill is the consensus No. 2 guard nationally behind Jamaree Salyer (below). He was second-team GSWA all-state in AAAAAA last season and first-team all-Region 1 and all-Middle Georgia. Georgia, Florida State and Clemson are his college leaders.
*Casey Holman, Brookwood (6-4, 285): Holman made first-team all-county from the Gwinnett TD Club, one of two juniors. Ericson was the other. Holman also was first-team all-Region 7-AAAAAA. He?s rated among the top 50 tackles nationally and is committed to Duke.
*Jalil Irvin, Stephenson (6-3, 245): Irvin, an Auburn commit, made first-team all-state last season in AAAAAA. He?s among the top 20 senior guards nationally.
*Christian Meadows, Macon County (6-3, 330): Meadows, who is committed to Florida State, was the best lineman on the Class A public-school champions last season and didn?t allow a sack during QB K?hari Lane?s state-record season of 56 touchdown passes. He?s the consensus No. 14 guard prospect.
*James Ohonba, Woodland-Stockbridge (6-5, 320):Ohonba was first-team all-region in 4-AAAAA when he graded 96 percent for the season and had a school-record 26 pancake blocks. He?s the consensus No. 33 player overall in Georgia per 247Sports Composite. His leaders are Alabama, Duke, LSU, Michigan and Southern Cal.
*Jamaree Salyer, Pace Academy (6-3, 285): Salyer is the consensus No. 1 guard prospect in the country, the No. 7 player overall, with a chance to become a rare three-time first-team all-state player. Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and Stanford reportedly are the leaders in his recruitment.
*Dylan Wonnum, Tucker (6-4, 280): Wonnum made first-team all-state last season in AAAAAA and again will be the best offensive lineman for Tucker, the 13-2 state runner-up that should be even stronger in 2017. South Carolina is the reported leader for one of the 10 highest-rated tackles nationally
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alot of football talent in Georgia
I honestly cant see that happening.
Georgia is loaded
I think they will lose two but not to App and Kentucky
The Georgia Bulldogs football team wrapped up spring practices with the annual ?G Day? game on April, 22nd. Subsequently, a quiet murmur of concern surrounds their Quarterback depth.
After two consecutive years of recruiting at an elite level, the Georgia Bulldogs football team is unusually loaded at the Quarterback position. In fact, one could argue that they have more talent in that room, and at the same time, than at any point in their history.
2016 delivered the statuesque and sequoia-like Jacob Eason all the way from Washington state. His laid back west coast demeanor, couple with a 6-6, 245 lb frame, and a cannon attached to his shoulder, immediately had fans expecting bombs.
The very next year, and in Kirby Smart?s first full recruiting cycle, Jake Fromm switched commitment from big bad Alabama, and early enrolled in Athens. By all accounts, dude is a leader on and off the field, and has an earnest knowledge of the game.
Both of those guys will see the field. Both are assured, barring injury, to be the starting QB at UGA for multiple years. So, what?s the concern? What?s the problem?
The problem is that great programs recruit ?down the road?, both metaphorically and literally. The 2018 recruiting class is off to a very slow start for Kirby and Co. That has fans anxious. Especially, when no less than three elite QBs are in this Georgia 2018 high school class. All three are committed elsewhere.
That fact, along with the fact that Eason and Fromm are the only two scholarship QBs on campus, has folks murmuring. Some are actually openly questioning.
A quick look at the numbers and things aren?t all that bad. Eason will start in 2017 and 2018. Much like Matt Stafford, he?s then off to the NFL after three years. You can mark that down.
Fromm is more ?Aaron Murray? than Stafford. My guess here is that he?ll start in 2019 and 2020. That would give him two years running the offense.
The point being that UGA doesn?t need a QB to start until 2021. If there is a quality Quarterback in the 2019 class, he?ll be ready by then and will, presumably, be a Junior. Going Junior, Senior, Junior, Senior, Junior (2017-2021) isn?t a bad thing.
The problem is that until then there is no depth. And that is a concern. Injuries happen. They happen often. If that were to happen to a UGA QB, it could mean serious trouble.
Yes. It is troublesome that Georgia Football could miss out on in-state talents like Trevor Lawrence, Emory Jones, or Justin Fields. Those dudes are ballers, and will succeed wherever they go. All have the ability to lead a team to a National Championship at some point.
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The average wins from a Freshman starting in the SEC was 6
Eason is sometimes off the mark and will gun it in but not with accuracy.
He has a strong arm and sling it.
We will see this year if Eason has progressed to be a top SEC QB.
There are alot of questionmarks.
I really do like Fromm
I think he will be a star.
After two consecutive years of recruiting at an elite level, the Georgia Bulldogs football team is unusually loaded at the Quarterback position. In fact, one could argue that they have more talent in that room, and at the same time, than at any point in their history.
2016 delivered the statuesque and sequoia-like Jacob Eason all the way from Washington state. His laid back west coast demeanor, couple with a 6-6, 245 lb frame, and a cannon attached to his shoulder, immediately had fans expecting bombs.
The very next year, and in Kirby Smart?s first full recruiting cycle, Jake Fromm switched commitment from big bad Alabama, and early enrolled in Athens. By all accounts, dude is a leader on and off the field, and has an earnest knowledge of the game.
Both of those guys will see the field. Both are assured, barring injury, to be the starting QB at UGA for multiple years. So, what?s the concern? What?s the problem?
The problem is that great programs recruit ?down the road?, both metaphorically and literally. The 2018 recruiting class is off to a very slow start for Kirby and Co. That has fans anxious. Especially, when no less than three elite QBs are in this Georgia 2018 high school class. All three are committed elsewhere.
That fact, along with the fact that Eason and Fromm are the only two scholarship QBs on campus, has folks murmuring. Some are actually openly questioning.
A quick look at the numbers and things aren?t all that bad. Eason will start in 2017 and 2018. Much like Matt Stafford, he?s then off to the NFL after three years. You can mark that down.
Fromm is more ?Aaron Murray? than Stafford. My guess here is that he?ll start in 2019 and 2020. That would give him two years running the offense.
The point being that UGA doesn?t need a QB to start until 2021. If there is a quality Quarterback in the 2019 class, he?ll be ready by then and will, presumably, be a Junior. Going Junior, Senior, Junior, Senior, Junior (2017-2021) isn?t a bad thing.
The problem is that until then there is no depth. And that is a concern. Injuries happen. They happen often. If that were to happen to a UGA QB, it could mean serious trouble.
Yes. It is troublesome that Georgia Football could miss out on in-state talents like Trevor Lawrence, Emory Jones, or Justin Fields. Those dudes are ballers, and will succeed wherever they go. All have the ability to lead a team to a National Championship at some point.
.......................................
The average wins from a Freshman starting in the SEC was 6
Eason is sometimes off the mark and will gun it in but not with accuracy.
He has a strong arm and sling it.
We will see this year if Eason has progressed to be a top SEC QB.
There are alot of questionmarks.
I really do like Fromm
I think he will be a star.
They should have beat Georgia last year
In between auburn and tech could be a tricky spot coming off flor and s Carolina
for 2017.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is a defensive-minded guy and that figures to be the Bulldogs' strength in 2017. The defense, which was top 20 nationally in both total and passing yards per game allowed last season, returns intact and should be among the best in the SEC, if not all of FBS. Georgia also has an impressive tandem to lead its running game but needs sophomore quarterback Jacob Eason to take the next step. New playmakers need to emerge to help Eason, but Smart and Bulldogs should be able to stay in the SEC East race until the very end, and don?t be surprised if they win it.
Previewing Georgia Football?s Offense for 2017
Georgia fans figure their offense will improve this year, if only because it couldn?t get worse. Well, that?s what they thought entering last year, and it did get worse: 87th nationally in total offense, four spots worse than the season that got Mark Richt fired.
So how will it get better with three offensive line starters and the team?s most dynamic player (Isaiah McKenzie) all gone? There are reasons to believe in moderate improvement.
Jacob Eason will be more comfortable in his second year as the starting quarterback. He was solid as a freshman and now will be a better leader of the offense. But Eason will need to improve his footwork and accuracy, as he was a bit lucky to have only eight interceptions, and his 55.1 completion percentage needs to improve.
The unexpected returns of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel should keep the running game from falling off even more than it did last year, when the two were relatively healthy. But Chubb and Michel need blocking help.
So it ultimately comes down to the offensive line and receivers. The coaches have recruited well to those positions, but the impact there may not be truly felt until 2018. For this season, offensive coordinator Jim Chaney has said he will ?freshen up? the offense, featuring more run-pass options. And Chaney needs to do a better job of scheming around the weaknesses at receiver and line.
Previewing Georgia Football?s Defense for 2017
This has a chance to be one of the best defensive units in the SEC, and thus the country. It was pretty good last year, ranking 16th nationally in total defense. And it returns all but one starter (nickel back Maurice Smith), so the defense will be loaded with high-end players and has no obvious weak spot.
The front seven could be dominant, with a deep defensive line headed by Trenton Thompson and Jonathan Ledbetter. The edge rushers are both seniors who passed on entering the NFL Draft, Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy. And the inside linebackers are juniors who are adept tacklers, Roquan Smith and Natrez Patrick.
The secondary doesn?t have as much star power. Safety Dominick Sanders was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2015, but his performance fell off last year, when he dealt with shoulder pain. But he?s back healthy and is joined by fellow seniors Aaron Davis and Malkom Parrish, along with some talented freshmen who will push for playing time.
Given all that, it frankly will be a disappointment if Georgia isn?t among the top three defenses in the SEC. And it has a chance to be dominant.
Previewing Georgia Football?s Specialists for 2017
Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship had a solid freshman season (14-for-18 on field goals). The question is whether he can kick it long; he didn?t hit any field goals longer than 46 yards, and his kickoffs need to improve. Punter Marshall Long was okay as a freshman, then broke his kneecap late in the season. Both will have competition in the preseason. The return spots, meanwhile, are both wide open. Receiver Terry Godwin, who has dabbled in returning punts, will get a shot to do it full-time. Mecole Hardman, a dynamic sophomore who didn?t play much last year, will begin as the favorite to return kickoffs.
Final Analysis
If the defense plays up to its potential, and the offense and special teams improve even a little, Georgia has a very good chance to win its first SEC East title in five years. There?s a chance to go even further, depending on how quickly the young talent develops, and how Kirby Smart improves as a head coach. And there?s also a chance to disappoint, which Georgia has tended to do lately
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Love Kirby Smart
so glad that Loser Mark Richt was shuffled off to Miami
Smart is going to bring Georgia a National Championship at some point.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is a defensive-minded guy and that figures to be the Bulldogs' strength in 2017. The defense, which was top 20 nationally in both total and passing yards per game allowed last season, returns intact and should be among the best in the SEC, if not all of FBS. Georgia also has an impressive tandem to lead its running game but needs sophomore quarterback Jacob Eason to take the next step. New playmakers need to emerge to help Eason, but Smart and Bulldogs should be able to stay in the SEC East race until the very end, and don?t be surprised if they win it.
Previewing Georgia Football?s Offense for 2017
Georgia fans figure their offense will improve this year, if only because it couldn?t get worse. Well, that?s what they thought entering last year, and it did get worse: 87th nationally in total offense, four spots worse than the season that got Mark Richt fired.
So how will it get better with three offensive line starters and the team?s most dynamic player (Isaiah McKenzie) all gone? There are reasons to believe in moderate improvement.
Jacob Eason will be more comfortable in his second year as the starting quarterback. He was solid as a freshman and now will be a better leader of the offense. But Eason will need to improve his footwork and accuracy, as he was a bit lucky to have only eight interceptions, and his 55.1 completion percentage needs to improve.
The unexpected returns of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel should keep the running game from falling off even more than it did last year, when the two were relatively healthy. But Chubb and Michel need blocking help.
So it ultimately comes down to the offensive line and receivers. The coaches have recruited well to those positions, but the impact there may not be truly felt until 2018. For this season, offensive coordinator Jim Chaney has said he will ?freshen up? the offense, featuring more run-pass options. And Chaney needs to do a better job of scheming around the weaknesses at receiver and line.
Previewing Georgia Football?s Defense for 2017
This has a chance to be one of the best defensive units in the SEC, and thus the country. It was pretty good last year, ranking 16th nationally in total defense. And it returns all but one starter (nickel back Maurice Smith), so the defense will be loaded with high-end players and has no obvious weak spot.
The front seven could be dominant, with a deep defensive line headed by Trenton Thompson and Jonathan Ledbetter. The edge rushers are both seniors who passed on entering the NFL Draft, Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy. And the inside linebackers are juniors who are adept tacklers, Roquan Smith and Natrez Patrick.
The secondary doesn?t have as much star power. Safety Dominick Sanders was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2015, but his performance fell off last year, when he dealt with shoulder pain. But he?s back healthy and is joined by fellow seniors Aaron Davis and Malkom Parrish, along with some talented freshmen who will push for playing time.
Given all that, it frankly will be a disappointment if Georgia isn?t among the top three defenses in the SEC. And it has a chance to be dominant.
Previewing Georgia Football?s Specialists for 2017
Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship had a solid freshman season (14-for-18 on field goals). The question is whether he can kick it long; he didn?t hit any field goals longer than 46 yards, and his kickoffs need to improve. Punter Marshall Long was okay as a freshman, then broke his kneecap late in the season. Both will have competition in the preseason. The return spots, meanwhile, are both wide open. Receiver Terry Godwin, who has dabbled in returning punts, will get a shot to do it full-time. Mecole Hardman, a dynamic sophomore who didn?t play much last year, will begin as the favorite to return kickoffs.
Final Analysis
If the defense plays up to its potential, and the offense and special teams improve even a little, Georgia has a very good chance to win its first SEC East title in five years. There?s a chance to go even further, depending on how quickly the young talent develops, and how Kirby Smart improves as a head coach. And there?s also a chance to disappoint, which Georgia has tended to do lately
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Love Kirby Smart
so glad that Loser Mark Richt was shuffled off to Miami
Smart is going to bring Georgia a National Championship at some point.
The way the world remembers David Greene now, it was peaches and roses from the moment he became Georgia?s starting quarterback. A winner and a smoother operator from the start of his four-year run at the helm.
But that?s not quite the way Greene remembers his redshirt freshman year.
?I kind of got hit with the double whammy: It was the second year for coach (Mark) Richt but it was also my first year as a starting quarterback,? Greene said. ?By the end of my redshirt freshman year I was exhausted.?
Greene had guided Georgia to an eight-win season, with eight more touchdowns than interceptions, but began Year 2 as the starter with a much-hyped true freshman competing for the job ? all exactly the case for Jacob Eason.
One of the major questions for Georgia?s season is how much, if any, of an improvement Eason makes in his second year. He took over the second game of last season, after playing some snaps in the opener, and had an overall solid season, especially for a freshman. But he only went 7-5 as the starter, and entering this season the question is whether the things he did wrong last year were red flags for the future, or merely freshman kinks that will be worked out.
?I learned a lot of things. I did some things wrong, I did some things right,? Eason said this week. ?You kind of learn from your past experiences, and going into this next season having those experiences, I feel like I?ll be making more of the right decisions than the wrong decisions.?
Eason was the fifth freshman (redshirt or true) since 1991 to start the majority of Georgia?s games. The others all went on to start at least the next three seasons: Eric Zeier (1991-94), Quincy Carter (1998-2000), Greene (2001-04), Matt Stafford (2006-08), and Aaron Murray (2010-13).
The only one of those who didn?t really improve markedly was Carter ? who went from SEC freshman of the year to an injury-marred junior season in which he had more interceptions than touchdowns.
Carter did, however, see a statistical improvement from Year 1 to Year 2. The only stat that went backward was wins: From 9-3 to 8-4, but that Carter?s sophomore-year team was much younger.
Truth be told, an examination of the other freshman-to-sophomore years of Georgia starting quarterbacks doesn?t feature many eye-popping improvements, except for one category: Wins.
Murray?s pass efficiency rating actually went down from his freshman to sophomore year. But his other stats remained strong and the Georgia went from 6-7 to 10-4.
Stafford and Zeier were slightly more than part-time starters as freshmen, then started their sophomore years. Stafford guided Georgia to a two-win improvement, and Zeier to a one-win improvement.
Greene?s numbers were fairly similar as a freshman and sophomore year. But the team went from 8-5 to 13-1 and SEC and Sugar Bowl champions.
Like Eason, Green?s first year as the starter coincided with a new head coach. There was a culture adjustment for the whole team, including Greene.
Jacob Eason passed for 2,430 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman in 2016.
DAVID BARNES / AJC
?They coached us and I think we practiced probably harder that first year than we ever did,? Greene said. ?Probably a little bit harder than we should?ve. I think everybody was gassed by the end of the year, that first year. Our legs were toast. That first year was a complete grind.
?At least going into the second year you kind of knew what to expect, and our bodies were able to get prepared for it a little bit more. But Year 1 was a challenge. It wasn?t so bad in September and October, but it go to November and I was hitting the wall a little bit. Because I hadn?t done it before, and my body hadn?t been through it as well.?
Eason may have dealt with some of that last year. So maybe there?s also natural improvement this year as he knows what to expect. But most of the talk this preseason has been about improving as a leader, and his knowledge of the offense.
Senior tight end Jeb Blazevich said he noticed Eason just in general being a ?better, well-rounded quarterback.? Including the leadership part.
?He?s definitely out there yelling, getting guys in position. ?We?ve gotta go, we?ve gotta go at this tempo.? I think that?s been the greatest thing, seeing him develop as a leader and being able to follow him.?
Head coach Kirby Smart has emphasized Eason?s completion percentage ? 55.1 percent last year ? as the area needing the most improvement. That percentage was indeed six percentage points lower than Murray as a freshman (61.1) and four points lower than Greene as a freshman (59.3). But it was actually better than Stafford (52.7).
Either way, Eason was well aware of it needing to improve.
?There?s a lot of things that go into it,? Eason said. ?Just from looking at the rush, to seeing what I?m not supposed to see, having my eyes in the wrong spot. There?s a lot of things. That all results in being late on the throw, or being off-balance, or that kind of thing.?
Kirby Smart knows Georgia has to step up in his second season
After starting as a freshman, Greene went on to be the winningest quarterback in school history. Zeier went on to break Georgia passing records. Murray went on to break those. Stafford went on to be the overall No. 1 pick in the draft.
Now here comes Eason, whose legacy appears at least two years away from being written.
?I?ve still got some things to do, and a long ways to go,? Eason said. ?But I?m comfortable with where I?m at right now.?
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But that?s not quite the way Greene remembers his redshirt freshman year.
?I kind of got hit with the double whammy: It was the second year for coach (Mark) Richt but it was also my first year as a starting quarterback,? Greene said. ?By the end of my redshirt freshman year I was exhausted.?
Greene had guided Georgia to an eight-win season, with eight more touchdowns than interceptions, but began Year 2 as the starter with a much-hyped true freshman competing for the job ? all exactly the case for Jacob Eason.
One of the major questions for Georgia?s season is how much, if any, of an improvement Eason makes in his second year. He took over the second game of last season, after playing some snaps in the opener, and had an overall solid season, especially for a freshman. But he only went 7-5 as the starter, and entering this season the question is whether the things he did wrong last year were red flags for the future, or merely freshman kinks that will be worked out.
?I learned a lot of things. I did some things wrong, I did some things right,? Eason said this week. ?You kind of learn from your past experiences, and going into this next season having those experiences, I feel like I?ll be making more of the right decisions than the wrong decisions.?
Eason was the fifth freshman (redshirt or true) since 1991 to start the majority of Georgia?s games. The others all went on to start at least the next three seasons: Eric Zeier (1991-94), Quincy Carter (1998-2000), Greene (2001-04), Matt Stafford (2006-08), and Aaron Murray (2010-13).
The only one of those who didn?t really improve markedly was Carter ? who went from SEC freshman of the year to an injury-marred junior season in which he had more interceptions than touchdowns.
Carter did, however, see a statistical improvement from Year 1 to Year 2. The only stat that went backward was wins: From 9-3 to 8-4, but that Carter?s sophomore-year team was much younger.
Truth be told, an examination of the other freshman-to-sophomore years of Georgia starting quarterbacks doesn?t feature many eye-popping improvements, except for one category: Wins.
Murray?s pass efficiency rating actually went down from his freshman to sophomore year. But his other stats remained strong and the Georgia went from 6-7 to 10-4.
Stafford and Zeier were slightly more than part-time starters as freshmen, then started their sophomore years. Stafford guided Georgia to a two-win improvement, and Zeier to a one-win improvement.
Greene?s numbers were fairly similar as a freshman and sophomore year. But the team went from 8-5 to 13-1 and SEC and Sugar Bowl champions.
Like Eason, Green?s first year as the starter coincided with a new head coach. There was a culture adjustment for the whole team, including Greene.
Jacob Eason passed for 2,430 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman in 2016.
DAVID BARNES / AJC
?They coached us and I think we practiced probably harder that first year than we ever did,? Greene said. ?Probably a little bit harder than we should?ve. I think everybody was gassed by the end of the year, that first year. Our legs were toast. That first year was a complete grind.
?At least going into the second year you kind of knew what to expect, and our bodies were able to get prepared for it a little bit more. But Year 1 was a challenge. It wasn?t so bad in September and October, but it go to November and I was hitting the wall a little bit. Because I hadn?t done it before, and my body hadn?t been through it as well.?
Eason may have dealt with some of that last year. So maybe there?s also natural improvement this year as he knows what to expect. But most of the talk this preseason has been about improving as a leader, and his knowledge of the offense.
Senior tight end Jeb Blazevich said he noticed Eason just in general being a ?better, well-rounded quarterback.? Including the leadership part.
?He?s definitely out there yelling, getting guys in position. ?We?ve gotta go, we?ve gotta go at this tempo.? I think that?s been the greatest thing, seeing him develop as a leader and being able to follow him.?
Head coach Kirby Smart has emphasized Eason?s completion percentage ? 55.1 percent last year ? as the area needing the most improvement. That percentage was indeed six percentage points lower than Murray as a freshman (61.1) and four points lower than Greene as a freshman (59.3). But it was actually better than Stafford (52.7).
Either way, Eason was well aware of it needing to improve.
?There?s a lot of things that go into it,? Eason said. ?Just from looking at the rush, to seeing what I?m not supposed to see, having my eyes in the wrong spot. There?s a lot of things. That all results in being late on the throw, or being off-balance, or that kind of thing.?
Kirby Smart knows Georgia has to step up in his second season
After starting as a freshman, Greene went on to be the winningest quarterback in school history. Zeier went on to break Georgia passing records. Murray went on to break those. Stafford went on to be the overall No. 1 pick in the draft.
Now here comes Eason, whose legacy appears at least two years away from being written.
?I?ve still got some things to do, and a long ways to go,? Eason said. ?But I?m comfortable with where I?m at right now.?
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What You Need To Know About The Appalachian State Offense
The Mountaineer attack dominated on the ground, was efficient and effective throughout the air, and it scored with just enough consistency to go along with the overall gameplan working with the tremendous defense. And now it should all happen again.
Taylor Lamb is about to be a four-year starting quarterback who does a little of everything right. He throws a slew of picks, but he?s a good runner and tough enough to do a nice job with a revamped receiving corps. Shaedon Meadows is an all-star target to work around, but the O needs other options.
The bread is buttered, though, with a devastating ground game. Three starters are back on a good line that paved the way for a rushing attack that averaged 5.6 yards per carry. Jalin Moore might be the best back in the Sun Belt, Lamb will add around 500 yards on the ground, and there are plenty of dangerous young players to rotate in.
Biggest Key To The Appalachian State Offense
Run for 200 yards, and all will be fine. ASU has been among the best rushing teams in college football in the three years since it moved up into the FBS world, but it took a little while for the wins to come. Even when it went 1-5 to start the 2014 season, the running game still rocked.
Since then, the team is 23-1 ? the lone loss to Clemson in 2015 ? when the ground attack tore off 200 yards or more, and is 4-4 when it doesn?t. The Mountaineers dominate the time of possession, the defense is phenomenal at coming up with third down stops, and the team is great at controlling games. It all comes from the running game.
What You Need To Know About The Appalachian State Defense
There was the hiccup early in the 45-10 loss to Miami, and here were problems against an anemic Akron team in a 45-38 win, but other than that, the defense was a rock all season long, finishing ninth in the nation in scoring and 17th overall.
Five key starters are gone ? including linebackers John Law on the inside and Kennan Gilchrist on the outside ? but the D should still be among the Sun Belt?s best. DE Antonious Sims and NT Myquon Stout form an excellent pair to work around the front of the 3-4, while Eric Boggs returns as one of the league?s top all-around linebackers.
The secondary could use some reworking, but all-star CB Clifton Duck is a strong playmaker to build around. As long as the linebacker depth is solid early on, the defense will be more than fine.
Biggest Key To The Appalachian State Defense
Can the D force and recover a fumble? One. That?s it. Appalachian State recovered a fumble against Tennessee in the opener ? but not the one it could?ve had to pull off the upset ? and that was it when it came to fumbles recovered by the Mountaineer D. Oddly enough, ASU still finished a +8 in turnover margin thanks to 20 interceptions ? but again, there was just one fumble recovery, and none over the final 12 games.
Appalachian State Will Be Far Better If ?
The offense can hit a third down conversion. It doesn?t really make any sense. The running game set up plenty of easy third down chances, Taylor Lamb was a heady veteran quarterback who can run, and the offense was generally efficient and effective. But the Mountaineers still finished up converting just 34% of their third down tries.
The O got better late in the season, but converting just 5-of-26 chances in the losses to Tennessee and Miami and was 1-of-12 in the win over Georgia Southern. By comparison, ASU converted 43% of its chances in 2015 and 49% in 2014.
Best Appalachian State Offensive Player
RB Jalin Moore, Jr. ? Marcus Cox might have been the steady veteran star running back over the rise of Appalachian State in the FBS world, but Moore led the team in rushing last season. Cox ran for 1,015 yards, but Moore slipped and slid his way to 1,402 yards and ten scores ? averaging six yards per pop ? with 257 yards against Akron and eight 100-yard performances in the last nine regular season games. The 5-11, 205-pounder has a little power, great speed, and now he?ll be used more as a workhorse with Cox gone.
2. OG Colby Gossett, Sr.
3. QB Taylor Lamb, Sr.
4. WR Shaedon Meadows, Sr.
5. OT Victor Johnson, Soph.
Best Appalachian State Defensive Player
CB Clifton Duck, Soph. ? Tested throughout the year as a freshman, he came through in a big way with 57 tackles and five picks, taking one for a 44-yard score in the win over Idaho. While he?s not all that big, the 5-10, 175-pounder roared in his first season on his way to First Team All-Sun Belt honors. Eric Boggs might be the star of the defense, but Duck should be the biggest playmaker when the ball is in the air.
2. LB Eric Boggs, Sr.
3. DE Antonius Sims, Sr.
4. SS A.J. Howard, Sr.
5. NT Myquon Stout, Jr.
Key Player To A Successful Season
QB Taylor Lamb, Sr. ? How nice is it to have a fourth-year starting quarterback on a great team with a relatively easy schedule? The Mountaineers could use some linebacker help, they need steady punting, and replacing C Parker Collins won?t be easy, but as long as Lamb is in one piece, the team should be fine. You know what you?re getting ? 60% passing, about 500 rushing yards, and five or more rushing scores ? because he?s done the same thing for the last three years. However, the passing game could use a little more pop after averaging just 179 yards per game.
The Appalachian State Season Will Be A Success If ?
There?s a Sun Belt championship and a ten-win season. There?s absolutely no reason to shoot for anything less than something special. The opener at Georgia will be a problems and beating Wake Forest ? even at home ? is hardly a given, but the Mountaineers will be better than everyone else on their schedule. There?s no Arkansas State or Troy in Sun Belt play ? they?re the two other stars in the league this year ? and the road games aren?t that bad.
Key Game To The Appalachian State Season
Oct. 14 at Idaho. The Mountaineers should be favored in every game in the Sun Belt season, but the road date at Idaho is the one dangerous road game to worry about. Beat the Vandals, and with Coastal Carolina, UMass, ULM and a home date against Georgia Southern, it should be smooth sailing until the final two battles against Georgia State on the road and Louisiana at home.
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it would be hard to believe Georgia could lose at home to this team.
but the - 14 :scared
might be a struggle
The Mountaineer attack dominated on the ground, was efficient and effective throughout the air, and it scored with just enough consistency to go along with the overall gameplan working with the tremendous defense. And now it should all happen again.
Taylor Lamb is about to be a four-year starting quarterback who does a little of everything right. He throws a slew of picks, but he?s a good runner and tough enough to do a nice job with a revamped receiving corps. Shaedon Meadows is an all-star target to work around, but the O needs other options.
The bread is buttered, though, with a devastating ground game. Three starters are back on a good line that paved the way for a rushing attack that averaged 5.6 yards per carry. Jalin Moore might be the best back in the Sun Belt, Lamb will add around 500 yards on the ground, and there are plenty of dangerous young players to rotate in.
Biggest Key To The Appalachian State Offense
Run for 200 yards, and all will be fine. ASU has been among the best rushing teams in college football in the three years since it moved up into the FBS world, but it took a little while for the wins to come. Even when it went 1-5 to start the 2014 season, the running game still rocked.
Since then, the team is 23-1 ? the lone loss to Clemson in 2015 ? when the ground attack tore off 200 yards or more, and is 4-4 when it doesn?t. The Mountaineers dominate the time of possession, the defense is phenomenal at coming up with third down stops, and the team is great at controlling games. It all comes from the running game.
What You Need To Know About The Appalachian State Defense
There was the hiccup early in the 45-10 loss to Miami, and here were problems against an anemic Akron team in a 45-38 win, but other than that, the defense was a rock all season long, finishing ninth in the nation in scoring and 17th overall.
Five key starters are gone ? including linebackers John Law on the inside and Kennan Gilchrist on the outside ? but the D should still be among the Sun Belt?s best. DE Antonious Sims and NT Myquon Stout form an excellent pair to work around the front of the 3-4, while Eric Boggs returns as one of the league?s top all-around linebackers.
The secondary could use some reworking, but all-star CB Clifton Duck is a strong playmaker to build around. As long as the linebacker depth is solid early on, the defense will be more than fine.
Biggest Key To The Appalachian State Defense
Can the D force and recover a fumble? One. That?s it. Appalachian State recovered a fumble against Tennessee in the opener ? but not the one it could?ve had to pull off the upset ? and that was it when it came to fumbles recovered by the Mountaineer D. Oddly enough, ASU still finished a +8 in turnover margin thanks to 20 interceptions ? but again, there was just one fumble recovery, and none over the final 12 games.
Appalachian State Will Be Far Better If ?
The offense can hit a third down conversion. It doesn?t really make any sense. The running game set up plenty of easy third down chances, Taylor Lamb was a heady veteran quarterback who can run, and the offense was generally efficient and effective. But the Mountaineers still finished up converting just 34% of their third down tries.
The O got better late in the season, but converting just 5-of-26 chances in the losses to Tennessee and Miami and was 1-of-12 in the win over Georgia Southern. By comparison, ASU converted 43% of its chances in 2015 and 49% in 2014.
Best Appalachian State Offensive Player
RB Jalin Moore, Jr. ? Marcus Cox might have been the steady veteran star running back over the rise of Appalachian State in the FBS world, but Moore led the team in rushing last season. Cox ran for 1,015 yards, but Moore slipped and slid his way to 1,402 yards and ten scores ? averaging six yards per pop ? with 257 yards against Akron and eight 100-yard performances in the last nine regular season games. The 5-11, 205-pounder has a little power, great speed, and now he?ll be used more as a workhorse with Cox gone.
2. OG Colby Gossett, Sr.
3. QB Taylor Lamb, Sr.
4. WR Shaedon Meadows, Sr.
5. OT Victor Johnson, Soph.
Best Appalachian State Defensive Player
CB Clifton Duck, Soph. ? Tested throughout the year as a freshman, he came through in a big way with 57 tackles and five picks, taking one for a 44-yard score in the win over Idaho. While he?s not all that big, the 5-10, 175-pounder roared in his first season on his way to First Team All-Sun Belt honors. Eric Boggs might be the star of the defense, but Duck should be the biggest playmaker when the ball is in the air.
2. LB Eric Boggs, Sr.
3. DE Antonius Sims, Sr.
4. SS A.J. Howard, Sr.
5. NT Myquon Stout, Jr.
Key Player To A Successful Season
QB Taylor Lamb, Sr. ? How nice is it to have a fourth-year starting quarterback on a great team with a relatively easy schedule? The Mountaineers could use some linebacker help, they need steady punting, and replacing C Parker Collins won?t be easy, but as long as Lamb is in one piece, the team should be fine. You know what you?re getting ? 60% passing, about 500 rushing yards, and five or more rushing scores ? because he?s done the same thing for the last three years. However, the passing game could use a little more pop after averaging just 179 yards per game.
The Appalachian State Season Will Be A Success If ?
There?s a Sun Belt championship and a ten-win season. There?s absolutely no reason to shoot for anything less than something special. The opener at Georgia will be a problems and beating Wake Forest ? even at home ? is hardly a given, but the Mountaineers will be better than everyone else on their schedule. There?s no Arkansas State or Troy in Sun Belt play ? they?re the two other stars in the league this year ? and the road games aren?t that bad.
Key Game To The Appalachian State Season
Oct. 14 at Idaho. The Mountaineers should be favored in every game in the Sun Belt season, but the road date at Idaho is the one dangerous road game to worry about. Beat the Vandals, and with Coastal Carolina, UMass, ULM and a home date against Georgia Southern, it should be smooth sailing until the final two battles against Georgia State on the road and Louisiana at home.
...........................................
it would be hard to believe Georgia could lose at home to this team.
but the - 14 :scared
might be a struggle
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Ya app st should give em a tough time for bout a half hour... however app st is thin... too thin to keep up. It would be stupid for sattrefield to go all out here with the lack of depth up front
I can see the zoo coming back to beat em this year. Ly they lost by 1 point. Zoo have a buy and then at Kentucky, next week at Georgia with no look ahead in Idaho (who will probably beat the zoo) Buy week should help for that second game on the road... dogs at Tennessee at vandy come home to the zoo with a buy the next week... Florida after the buy... bad spot for the dogs against the zoo imo
damn just checked and its Georgia -14
thats when I like to tack on the 3 points and roll with it
thats when I like to tack on the 3 points and roll with it
