Georgia football: Kirby Smart, it’s time to evolve the offense
Georgia football fans and the rest of the SEC have seen the Dawgs struggle to move the ball the past few games. Instead of making it work, it’s time to evolve the offense and take some notes from a fellow SEC team.
It’s time for Georgia football to make a change in regards to the offense.
While being a run dominate team works a good bit of the time in the SEC, the Dawgs need to get a tad bit more creative in regards to passing.
In my opinion, Kirby Smart and his staff need to take a page out of LSU’s book and do something like Ed Orgeron did.
Last season, Joe Burrows was in his first year as the Tigers starting quarterback. Most SEC fans thought he wasn’t nearly as talented as the media said. That statement could be true last year, but learning a new offense can be tricky, and it didn’t fit his style.
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Now, Burrows is the front runner in the Heisman campaign. Through seven games, he has completed 173-of-218 passes for 2,484 yards, 29 touchdowns, no interceptions, and has a 79.4 completion percentage.
According to the Action Network, Burrows has a 6/5 chance of winning the Heisman.
Before this season, LSU’s offenses got known for being highly conservative and the reason they lost a lot of the games they did. Those Bayou Tigers don’t have that issue anymore, and the conservative Dawgs need to take notes.
Last year, through seven games, LSU averaged 32 points a game, 202.14 on the ground and through the air and 404 overall. After the season ended, they averaged 173.6 on the ground, 228.5 through the air, and 402.1 overall.
Burrows only had 16 throwing touchdowns last year, as well. So while it was a productive offense, it’s nothing like it is this season.
Now, the Bayou Bengals average 50.1 points, 154.1 on the ground, 385.7 through the air, and 539.9 overall.
While the rushing decreased, Burrows and the passing attack has exploded. LSU evolved its offense to fit its quarterback’s strengths, and it got creative. Granted, Burrows has this offense down pat now, but at the same time, I don’t think anyone would expect the Tigers to average 385 yards in the air a game.
LSU has the No. 2 passing offense in the country only behind Washington State who averages 440.7 through the air. Those Tigers also have the No.2 scoring offense behind Oklahoma and the No. 3 overall offense behind UCF and Oklahoma.
The play calling fits Burrows, and he trusts it. I’m not saying Georgia’s players don’t, but there is a disconnect there.
Instead of just running it all the time, I think Georgia’s got to find a way to get more creative through the air to open up that run game even more.
Right now, the Dawgs average 36 points, 236.9 on the ground, 234.43 through the air, and 471.3 overall yards a game. Georgia ranks as the No. 14 rush offense and the No. 24 scoring offense and the No. 20 total offense in the country.
If we look at the SEC rankings, LSU is No. 1 while the Dawgs are No. 4 in scoring offense. Georgia is No. 2 in rushing offense while LSU is No. 9. The Bayou Bengals rank No. 1 in passing and overall offense while Georgia ranks No. 7 through the air and No. 3 overall.
Orgeron went out and hired Joe Brady from the Saints and named him the Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers coach. I think this is an excellent decision. He saw where they needed help, and he made it happen.
Without Brady, the Tigers would very likely be in the same boat and probably not undefeated.
Georgia’s got a young coaching staff that has a lot of passion. However, there is still a disconnect. The Dawgs will likely not change anything this season, and that might cost them in the long run. James Coley is a great recruiter, especially in South Flordia, but at the same time, is he the right man for the offensive coordinator job?
After the last two games, I have to say no. Jake Fromm needs someone that is going to help him keep getting better. Someone who will design and call plays that fit his strengths so that it’ll allow the offense to do what Smart wants to do, run the damn ball.
LSU can overcome a conservative offense and if the Dawgs want to win a championship they’re going to have to do the same.
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Georgia’s loaded with talent that would make most offensive coordinators drool. However, we’re barely seeing all of the weapons. It’s time for the Dawgs to evolve into a team that can keep up with the changing game of football; if they don’t, they can kiss the SEC Championship goodbye, among other things.