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OPINION: What to make of the end of the 2025 Georgia football season
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OPINION: What to make of the end of the 2025 Georgia football season
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We'll be good again next year, we might even win another SECC, but what does that truly matter if you can't get past the 1st round in the playoffs? If we fail again next year and get knocked out I think CKS loses his crown as being the best coach in College football. I for one don't want to see that happen, but to be honest doubts are starting to creep in. He seems more willing now to accept defeat. It's hard to stay focused for so long. It' why Saba will always be the GOAT.
Excellent article Jeff. That Roster Construction is certainly telling. Personally, I like the H/S recruit & development philosophy that Kirby utilizes, but maybe a more balanced approach is better. The problem is many, but not all, of the transfers are players who aren't starting or feel they aren't utilized enough, maybe even paid enough, on their current team. That means they still probably need some development, possibly not as talented, unless you just get lucky. Carson Beck transferring is an example a bit out of the ordinary, but it does happen when a starter transfers for whatever reason. Starters Judkins and Will Howard transferred for one National Championship Buckeyes season, and boy, did it pay off. The key is getting the right players to plug the right holes. The jump from our 10% transfers all the way to 28% by Ohio State is a pretty large gap. I think what works for every team is going to vary based on culture, coaching philosophy, and development potential. I trust Kirby to figure it out, but my guess is he will try and utilize the portal a bit more. He may be forced to do so if the Dawgs are going to improve and compete past Round 1 (that's assuming they continue to make the playoffs every year).
Personally, if I am an above average or elite WR, do I think I will be utilized enough to turn some heads with the NFL scouts by the end of the season by transferring to Georgia? Branch did. Young did. But, would most WRs? My guess is no. That's just not our kind of offense, or at least, hasn't been. The Dawgs are not much of a vertical passing threat like several other teams. The Dawgs aren't even 50% passing unless you count all those dink passes and little screens.
And you are spot on with this comment…." How does Lawson Luckie catch three touchdowns to help outscore another seemingly unstoppable Ole Miss offense in Athens, but get one catch in New Orleans? " Amen to that. (9) passes to Delp and Luckie in our Rebel's victory back in October, and one pass - the first pass - to a TE last week. I don't get it at all. It's baffling.
The fact that most every team deals with injuries is now a problem for those teams that aren't able to hoard the talented depth in backups and had been dominating the league by doing so. How big is the drop off in talent from Bobo to Toliver?
My last question is this: How many transfers has Kirby really gone after that he didn't get?
That answer may tell us a lot about whether we are not looking or simply striking out more than any fan realizes.
A lot of typing to evade the real issue: every single team to win a playoff game in 2024 and 2025 had better WRs than UGA does. You like Trinidad Chambliss? So do I. But does Chambliss throw for 300 yards per game with the UGA WRs? People are talking about Gunner Stockton's ceiling. His ceiling is higher than Stetson Bennett IV, who lest we forget was 25 his last year at UGA instead of Stockton's 21. Does a 21 year old Stetson Bennett throw for 4100 yards with these WRs? Before you answer that, look at Bennett's stats from 2020 when he was 23 and the WRs on that team were better than the ones that UGA has now.
Yes, UGA gets a lot of blue chip recruits but nearly all are on defense, OL and TE. They get almost no elite talent at WR or RB. NFL drafts during the Smart tenure demonstrate this. It takes more than Zachariah Branch, Nate Frazier and a bunch of guys to win a title. Especially since Branch is no AJ Green and Frazier is no Todd Gurley.
All this falls on Kirby. He's got a lot of holes to fill for '26. I hope he can bring us to where we have been rather than being a three time loser in the Sugar Bowl.
Kirby flat out lost this game. His time management at the end of both halves was as bad as his first season, and his decision to throw the ball on 3rd down instead of running it with max protect cost Georgia the game. Non of the players are to blame. He needs to reassess how he runs things. It took more than half the season to find the right defensive players. He has always had time management issues. It also sounds like he needs to more clear on play calls on whether he wants the ball snapped or not.
JMPO, but more telling than any factors listed here and other articles, is the fact that our OL & DL were consistently beat….not against a traditional powerhouse but Ole Freakin’ Miss
All should be reminded that winning championships is HARD. Bear Bryant won 6 in 38yrs, Nick Saban won 7 in 28 years, Joe Paterno won 2 in 45 yrs, Bobby Bowden won 2 in 39yrs.. No matter how great the talent winning championships is HARD. While we are all disappointed that Dawgs haven't won the Natty the last three years but sustained excellence. will allow Georgia to be in the National Championship conversation every year.
the team that beat us last year in the 1st round went on to play for the NC. The team that beat us this year will probably play for the NC. That’s how close we’ve come.
With the advent of NIL and the TP I doubt very seriously there will ever be any more CFB dynasties like Bama, FSU, etc.
It was hard enough Before all that. I don’t know the exact # and to lazy to look it up but there’s only a handful of teams with B2B Nattys.
No we didn’t get where we Hoped to be. And Yes it’s painful, frustrating, etc. But Dawgs Did go 12-2 and Won The SEC Crown plus at least made it to the playoffs. In THIS age of NIL and the TP that’s nothing to just yawn about and turn the page !! You can be sure plenty of very good programs would Love to say that !!
I personally believe OM has a very good shot at winning it all. But Even if they do it doesn’t mean they will be a repeat next year. And is Mendoza NFL eligible this year ? My very poor memory I think he is. So IN might not be as successful next year either.
Keep in mind Dawgs did what they did with a first Year starter in Gunner. The “ he’s been in the system a long time” though yeah carrying some value is NO substitute for Real Game experience . No One will be harder on themselves to get better than that young man !!
If losing twice makes Us feel this bad, stop and Try to imagine how HE must feel after having his body And emotions beat to pieces !!
My best advice to all of us as fans is savor another SEC trophy and look for a better next year. The Team will ( under Kirby) bust their butts to get better !! P.S. We Do have one 5* WR in Taylor that unfortunately missed allot due to injury. Perhaps he can be a shining star next year !! Go Dawgs !!
Proud of the way the dawgs didn’t quit. I would have thought they could make adjustments with the defense to stop letting receivers get open behind them. Personally I would have used a full backfield on that final drive and ran the ball to eat up the clock and try to score. This game was winnable as was the Bama game. The “getting cute “ with the punt team actually cost a TD from the short field. Go Dawgs.
NO SARCASM, at Anyone, I promise. But I see quite a few comments like winning the SEC is just Yawn.
So honest question as I want to know. Not that Kirby would Ever do this. But let’s say Dawgs go 11-1 and qualify for the SEC And the Playoffs. If You were Kirby should we just forfeit the SECCG spot in order to be fresh and I guess have momentum for the playoffs ?
Speaking Only for Me and again with No sarcasm.
Mark Richt a pretty good coach best my poor memory serves only won the SEC twice over his entire tenure. Please I Implore you actually beg of you don’t use this as a bash session on Richt, Please !!
Look I surely get the disappointment, sorrow, and depression. Trust me I feel the same !!
But 12-2 With the SEC Crown and at least making the playoffs is pretty freaking good to me !!
And I Know that even if we’d of only lost by one point it’d still be a loss. But OM didn’t blow us out of the house !! Take away the desperation Safety that we were more responsible for than them and they only beat us by 3 points.
Look at Bama and the other teams !! Destroyed !! I’m not gonna regurgitate all the factors that set us up to lose before even the first snap Yall have heard all of them over and over.
You know it’s not a sin to say that OM was/is a pretty dawg gone good team themselves. I think they will win the Ntl. Title.
Dawgs didn’t reach the goal that we hoped for. But the Team nor the fans have Anything to be ashamed of !! And I assure you with KS at the helm there’s no need to purchase a burial plot for the Dawgs program !! Go Dawgs !!
Injuries: May be my UGA bias, but we seem to have more than our share, to key players, and at worst time. I knew it was bad just opening DN as Sugar Bowl practice began. Sure enough - Gabe Harris out - ****! I think Sankey was "had" in agreeing to 9th SEC game. SEC teams will be a shell of what they were by the time the playoffs in these marathon seasons happen. Committee is more impressed with teams boat racing poor competition all through a season than tough scheduling, so why are we shooting ourselves in foot?
Head Scratchers: 1. As pointed out, Luckie w/3TD vs. Ole Miss in game 1, only 1 reception in Sugar Bowl. 2. Finally target a tight end (Delp) on last TD attempt (w/o success) when Branch or Colbie looked like easier (& likely successful) options. 3. Going into a shell when it was possible to KO Ole Miss after the scoop & score by UGA D. Seen this & similar (slow starts like Bama game 1) **** defeat from the jaws of victory. Not mentioning any names as to responsibility for this as I have an opinion but certainly don't know.
We had a great season, we could have lost multiple games but that doesn't take away the sting from the one we should have won but couldn't get 3 yards in 3 plays with the great wall of China up front on the OL.
Coach Dooley would have won the Ole Miss game as well as the first Alabama game in Athens.
Too bad Kirby can't talk to him about game management and real time game decisions.
He could use the advice.
Been pulling for th Dawgs since 1966, this years bunch has been one of my favorites. No superstars, just a bunch of hard nosed young men all pulling in th same direction. Very young team, mostly signed out of high school with a few portal guys. I think this was Coach Smart and his staffs best coaching job with all the youth and injuries. If a couple of things had gone our way and Chamblis hadn’t played the game of his life we’d still be playing. Looking for to being back in Athens for Spring game !