[su_spacer size=”20″] Imagine being 16 years old. You’ve been driving the “Wagon Queen Family Truckster” for a full year to learn the rules of the road. On your 17^th birthday, your parents give you the keys to a very slightly used Aston Martin and say, “It needs a little tinkering, but why don’t you keep it and take it out for a spin.” That has to be similar to the way Brian Schottenheimer is feeling after being handed the reins of The University of Georgia’s offense as we round the final turn headed into the 2015 season.
[su_spacer size=”40″] When Mike Bobo departed to head west for fortune and glory, he left, parked in the garage at the Butts-Meher building, a well-oiled machine that is primed to do great things. And although there may be a few adjustments and modifications needed, Schottenheimer is also blessed with an incredibly talented pit crew in the likes of Lilly, Ball, McClendon, Brown and new “pit chief” Rob Sales.
[su_spacer size=”40″] So what now? The general reaction to Schottenheimer’s hire has been “all over the road”. As a coach in the NFL for 14 years, “Schotty” as he is called, has had the opportunity to guide talents like Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers. He has also been tabbed, in the past, with trying to develop the likes of Mark Sanchez and oft-injured Sam Bradford. Further, to judge his work, Schottenheimer’s offenses must be diagnosed and dissected because pure statistics does not tell the whole story.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Schottenheimer’s out of the Truckster and into the sports car. The frame is solidly constructed with the return of Theus, Kublanow, Pyke, Houston, and Blazevich. By the time the 2015 season rolls around, the speed and power should be fully charged behind a healthy Marshall, Michel, and Chubb. A returning Malcolm Mitchell and, hopefully, healthy Justin Scott Wesley will provide additional options on this speedster. Where Schottenheimer has his work cut out for him is in the following areas: 1.) He’ll have to design a new steering column. David “Boss” Andrews departure as the “leader” and play caller on the line will be a big hole to fill. 2.) Cole “Trickle” cannot be the driver. Georgia is going to have a quarterback competition, and Schottenheimer is going to have to develop Ramsey, Bauta or Virginia Cavalier transfer Greyson Lambert to find the right man to put behind the wheel. 3.) “Schotty” did a little shopping on National Signing Day. C.B.S. and Company are going to need to develop some of their offensive recruits quickly to make them fit into the mechanics of this modified ride; Godwin, Stanley, Wilson, Chigbu all have a chance to add some torque. 4.) Schottenheimer is going to need to work with the race team’s owner in Mark Richt to make sure this mean machine gets off to a fast start.
[su_spacer size=”40″] It is still too early to pass judgment on the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer. For now, C.B.S. can open the door, slide into the vehicle, take in that “new car smell”, rev up the engine, and get ready to take it out for a spin. However, with this much talent at his disposal, the one thing Schottenheimer cannot do is run this thing into a ditch. In fairness, in the early going, if Schottenheimer just keeps this baby on the road; with the support of Richt, the other offensive coaches, and a vastly improved defense, things will be just fine in Athens.