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Georgia Football: Contenders or Pretenders in 2016

By John Richardson

Sep 26, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs past the Georgia bench on his way to a touchdown against the Southern University Jaguars during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Southern 48-6. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs past the Georgia bench on his way to a touchdown against the Southern University Jaguars during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Southern 48-6. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Even though March Madness has captivated the attention of the country, this is still a conference obsessed with SEC Football. We’ll continue to breakdown the pretenders and contenders, and next up is Georgia football.

First things first, we must establish what it means to be a contender or a pretender.  Many fans would love to see their favorite team finish 8-4 and win their bowl game in 2016.  Although fans of many programs would consider that a successful season, that would not make them a contender.  In order for a team to be considered a contender, they must have a reasonable shot at contending for their division crown.

Related:  Mississippi State Football: Contender or Pretender in 2016

So does there being a new coach between the hedges in Athens, Georgia for the first time since 2001 make the Bulldogs contenders or pretenders in 2016?  If Smart can lead Georgia football like his predecessor, that would be a resounding yes to contenders.  Mark Richt led Georgia football to an SEC East title in three of his first five years as coach.  It was his inconsistency later in his tenure and failure to break through to a National Championship that led to his demise.

Georgia Football (Contender)

One thing Mark Richt never failed to do was recruit.  A top 25 class was a guarantee every year and it was expected for him to land a top 10 class.  He delivered on guarantees and expectations.  Kirby Smart kept up the tradition, delivering a top 10 class according to 247sports.com despite his late start on the recruiting trail.

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This year’s class offers a fantastic solution (5-star Jacob Eason) to Georgia’s recent quarterback struggles.  While the early years of Richt’s tenure saw great college quarterback after great college quarterback, the position saw more and more upheaval during Richt’s final few years.  The wheels came completely off in 2015, as Brice Ramsey and Greyson Lambert could not compete against even average defenses once star running back Nick Chubb went down.  So the quarterback position should see an upgrade in 2016.

There are other reasons to believe Georgia will be a contender in 2016:

-Nick Chubb is coming back.  Enough said.

-The defense will only improve under a defensive-minded coach who is a protege of Saban.  Why is that important?  Former defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt is also a Saban protege who ran a similar system.  Learning Smart’s variations on this defense should take no time at all.

-The Bulldogs play in the SEC East.  Missouri, South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt have already eliminated themselves from the discussion.  If Georgia can split their games with Florida and Tennessee, they’ll have to like their odds to make it to Atlanta.

Georgia Football (Pretender)

Georgia football has enough unjustified hype every offseason to make the Tennessee Volunteers jealous.  Sure Georgia football has to be a considered, but they would be picked to finish higher than fourth in the SEC East.  If they can upset Ole Miss September 24th in Oxford, MS, they will announce themselves as contenders.  Before that point, though, everyone is going to wait for Georgia football to fall flat in a big game as it became known for doing under Mark Richt.

What are the problems that can prevent Georgia from being a contender in 2016?

-Quarterback play.  I know, I know.  Jacob Eason.  While I believe Eason will be a special college quarterback, he’ll be a true freshman.  He is going to make some mistakes and likely cost the Bulldogs a game or two early in the season.  That is if he starts from the beginning of the year.  Kirby Smart just came from years of coaching with Nick Saban.  Would anyone be surprised if Smart favored experience to potential?

-Uncertainty at running back.  If Chubb stays healthy all year, great.  There is no question he is an elite running back and could find himself in the thick of the Heisman race if he stays healthy for the entire 2016 season.  But running back is a hard position to come back from injury.  There is too much uncertainty to call this a strength position just yet.

-The schedule.  Georgia plays Auburn and Ole Miss from the SEC West.  While their primary competition also have tough draws from the SEC West, Georgia could easily find themselves 0-2 in inter-division games if Auburn finds a quarterback.

Georgia Football (The Verdict)

I’m not jumping on the Kirby Smart hype wagon just yet.  I’ve seen way too many defensive coordinators fizzle out as head coaches.  Georgia’s roster also isn’t built for College Football Playoff contention, which you will be if you win teh SEC.

Then again, they play in the SEC East.  While the division is improving, they’re nowhere near the SEC West.  It’s Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and then everyone else in the SEC East.

More sec: Mullen Wants to Ban Cowbells at Mississippi State

For the simple fact that they play in the SEC East, Georgia football has to be considered a contender in 2016.

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