Measuring up: Examining Georgias offensive evolution, comparing past to current UGA teams – DawgNation

ATHENS Kirby Smart is in the business of winning games, and the Georgia football coach isnt concerned about aesthetics or posting gaudy statistics.

But there are certain characteristics Smart insists be a part of his Bulldogs identity on offense. The ability to run the football effectively and avoid turnovers are at the top of the list .

A heightened sense of awareness for protecting quarterback Jake Fromm is also on the list. Fromm is the most valuable and irreplaceable piece on a team aiming to win an SEC and national championship.

Four games in, theres room and arguably a need for Smart to modify his offensive framework. Like any other coach, Smart is using his bye week to closely examine his team and find ways to improve.

Giving Fromm and offensive coordinator James Coley more rope could be a start. Theres more to to opening up the Georgia offense than just throwing more on first down and attempting more deep strikes down the field.

The three areas Smart indicated he wants to improvement after the 23-17 Notre Dame win are:

Getting the plays in quicker

Getting the ball to playmakers in space

Making teams pay for stacking the box.

Getting the play in quicker enables Fromm to do more at the line of scrimmage, in terms of reading defenses and changing to more favorable plays.

Getting the ball to playmakers is easier said than done. The pro style offense is built to take what the defense gives and defenses arent willing to give DAndre Swift, James Cook or George Pickens much space.

And Fromm, based on his recent history, isnt inclined to force the ball as much as he is to find a more available option going through his progressions.

Thats where its important for big targets Pickens and Lawrence Cager to continue to earn Fromms trust on fade and vertical routes. The quarterback has to have faith in them to make plays on the ball.

Personnel decisions are another key. Putting the fastest and most explosive players on the field pays off, as theyre the most inclined to turn check downs into big plays.

The other change up Coley could consider with the approval of Smart is to go more uptempo.

Defensive-minded coaches like Smart arent always big fans of that it puts their defense on the field more quickly and for more snaps. Smart spends most of his time with the defense and often speaks from the defensive perspective after scrimmages.

Georgias current pace of play 62 plays per game ranks 120th out of 130 teams. Its the lowest rank since Mark Richts final team (2015) ranked 126th with 64 plays per game.

Defensively, Smarts 2019 team could prove to be his best if current trends hold.

The Bulldogs focus to increase havoc has paid off thus far, as reflected in the statistics comparing this seasons team to last seasons and the 2017 UGA SEC Championship team.

The biggest issue facing the defense appears to be the players durability. Injuries have hampered players on all three levels of the defense, even with Smart protecting them by limiting the number of plays and substituting liberally.

Heres a look at how Smarts past three Georgia teams measure up:

Current Georgia 42.8

2018 Bulldogs 37.9

2017 UGA 35.4

Current Georgia 508.8

2018 Bulldogs 464.9

2017 UGA 435.3

2017 UGA 258.4

Current Georgia 253.0

2018 Bulldogs 238.8

Current Georgia 255.8

2018 Bulldogs 226.1

2017 UGA 176.9

Current Georgia 178.81

2018 Bulldogs 170.52

2017 UGA 154.12

2018 Bulldogs 47.5

2017 UGA 45.6

Current Georgia 44.7

Current Georgia 10 ppg

2017 UGA 16.4

2018 Bulldogs 19.2

Current Georgia 262.5

2017 UGA 294.9

2018 Bulldogs 314.3

Current Georgia 57.0

2017 UGA 126.0

2018 Bulldogs 134.0

2017 UGA 168.9

Current Georgia 205.5

2018 Bulldogs 180.3

Current Georgia 107.20

2017 UGA 113.40

2018 Bulldogs 117.47

Current Georgia 30.0

2017 UGA 32.9

2018 Bulldogs 34.0

Current Georgia +0.50

2017 UGA +0.27

2018 Bulldogs +0.21

Current Georgia 3.00 per game

2017 2.27

2018 Bulldogs 1.71

Current Georgia 0.25 per game

2018 Georgia 1.43

2017 UGA 1.47

2017 UGA 23.54

2018 Bulldogs 22.85

Current Georgia 16.3

Current Georgia 12.60

2017 UGA 19.52

2018 Bulldogs 31.30 (128 of 129)

2018 Bulldogs 16.64

Current Georgia 15.10

2017 UGA 10.11

2017 UGA 5.94

Current Georgia 8.50

2018 Bulldogs 12.80 (119th)

2017 UGA 41.65

Current Georgia 39.45

2018 Bulldogs 37.35 (70th)

Current Georgia 32:22

2017 UGA 32:07

2018 Georgia 31:29

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Measuring up: Examining Georgias offensive evolution, comparing past to current UGA teams - DawgNation