Alabama Football: Georgia Bulldogs expecting to bring an LSU offense to T-Town

When Alabama football next meets the Georgia Bulldogs there are expectations Kirby will have a ‘LSU-2019’ offense led by transfer quarterback, Jamie Newman.

College football fans, even Alabama football fans, make bold offseason claims. For the programs not mired in perpetual ineptitude, the coming season brings optimism. Even national college football pundits spin ‘next season x team will be improved’ about the majority of Power Five teams.

Given the pattern of frequent optimism, sifting through glowing opinions can be a chore. Head coaches of top teams will rarely divulge honest observations. If anything, the coaches will make vague comments, downplay their team’s prospects and purposely not give future opponents any clues.

Georgia Bulldogs’ head coach, Kirby Smart is doing all three. In that regard, his old boss trained him well. So when Alabama football fans wonder what Georgia’s offense will be with Jamie Newman, former Georgia head man, Mark Richt is a better source than Kirby.

Richt has added insight into Newman’s talents, having watched Jamie through Mark’s ACC Network gig. To say the least, Richt is bullish on Newman. Richt told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he expects Newman to be “the best quarterback in the SEC.” Going into more detail, Richt said,

"I don’t think he’s just a good player, I think he’s a great playerhe really is as good a fundamental passer as you’ll find. He has pristine form, a smooth delivery and very accurate with the footballHe can do anything anybody wants him to do"

With Newman listed at 6’4″ and 230 pounds, his running skills will also be showcased by the Bulldogs. It is not hard to see why Georgia fans are almost euphoric over Newman.

That enthusiasm leads to comparisons of Newman to Joe Burrow. While Newman may (or may not) be comparable to Burrow, Georgia replicating last season’s LSU offense is altogether different.

Kirby Smart will not admit it, but the Bulldogs’ offense will change. The Bulldogs version of RPO has featured powerful running backs, with few QB runs. Georgia could incorporate both RPO and zone-read and increase offensive production, with Newman’s dual-threat skills.

The Bulldogs will be looking for more explosive plays from wide receivers than last season. Georgia will be better at tight end, even after the departure of Charlie Woerner to the NFL. Alabama football fans will remember one future Bulldogs’ star, incoming freshman, Darnell Washington.

How strong Georgia will be in 2020 depends on some other position groups. Especially an offensive line requiring a major rebuild. Unless SEC defenses can confuse Newman, he won’t need much time to throw. He completed 61 percent of his passes at Wake Forest last season. He did that against ACC defenses, that other than Clemson, do not match SEC talent.

Should Alabama football fans worry about Newman and the Bulldogs? Some concern might be warranted. Without a National Championship since 1980 and only three SEC Championships since 1982, the Bulldogs will be hungry. Both teams should be ranked in the top five. It should be great fun.