There is an old saying that whenever something ends, the opportunity for something new begins. With the 2024 college football season officially in the rear view mirror, something new is exactly what Georgia football fans are looking forward to.
Georgia is a program that prides itself on its ability to reload, not rebuild. Next man up is not just a slogan, but an expectation. And when you have a program that is as strong and highly respected as Georgia's, those expectations are expected to be fulfilled, regardless of how rampant or unrealistic they may seem at times.
So let's do something a little different. Let's take a quick look back at the 2024 season and look at things at the coaches level, beginning first with the offensive side of the ball. Below is a ranking of each position coach by concern level, discuss how things went in 2024 and where expectations will be in 2025.
1. Offensive Coordinator - Mike Bobo
Barring any late breaking developments, Mike Bobo will be returning to Georgia for his second season as the Offensive Coordinator under Kirby Smart. Bobo has had a hand in the guidance and development of some very talented players at Georgia including Aaron Murray, Matthew Stafford, David Greene, A.J. Green, Todd Gurley and many others. However, we live in a "what have you done for me lately" society.
In 2023, Bobo's offense ranked 2nd in the SEC and 5th nationally in total offense (496.5 ypg) and scoring offense (40.1 ppg) and 2nd in the SEC and 11th nationally in passing offense (305.3 ypg).
In 2024, his offense took a major step back ranking 10th in the SEC and 51st nationally in total offense (405.4 ypg), 5th in SEC and 38th nationally in scoring offense (31.6 ppg), and 3rd in the SEC and 12th nationally in passing offense (281 ypg). By most standards, these are good numbers, but being good at a place like Georgia is not going to cut it.
Sure, losing the likes of Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey makes your job as a play caller more difficult, but this is Georgia. Replacing talent, no matter how high, is something you are supposed to be able to do.
Is Bobo a championship caliber Offensive Coordinator? The answer to that question remains to be seen, but with no national championships directly under his belt, confidence in Bobo's play calling is waning. If the Bulldogs see a repeat of 2024, the calls for him to be replaced will only grow louder and more emphatic.
Bobo is a talented coach and developer, but one of the things working against him as a play caller is many are beginning to believe that Georgia has been winning in spite of his offense, not because of it, and that is not a good sign for him.