Former Georgia quarterback and current 680 The Fan host Buck Belue is reporting that Mike Bobo intends to step down from his position as the Bulldogs offensive coordinator.
Bobo has been in Athens in some capacity for two decades, whether as a player or coach. In his second stint as offensive coordinator, following Todd Monken, who led the Georgia offense to back-to-back National Championships, Bobo delivered in his first season.
Bobo, Carson Beck, Ladd McConkey, and Brock Bowers helped lead an offense that finished fourth in the country in yards per play and fifth in scoring. There was seemingly no drop off from Todd Monken, even though the Dawgs eventually lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship.
This season went much differently, though. The Dawgs regressed severely, finishing barely inside the top 50 in yards per play and scoring. Of course, that regression isn’t just on Mike Bobo, especially the Notre Dame loss. There’s only so much he can do with a receiving corps that led the nation in drops, one of the worst offensive lines in Kirby Smart‘s tenure, and a quarterback making his first-ever start.
While many blame Bobo for being aggressive at the end of the first half in the Sugar Bowl, Kirby Smart backed it. Yes, it was an egregious decision with Gunner Stockton behind a shaky offensive line, and Bobo will have to wear it, but the buck stops with Smart.
The Georgia offense never found its groove, even before Carson Beck’s injury. Some of that blame lays at the feet of the guys on the field, who did not live up to expectations, but Bobo’s inability to accentuate the strengths of his personnel was a staple of the entire season.
The entire body of work was not up to Georgia’s standard. The Bulldogs only led at halftime in half of their games against power conference teams, scoring only ten first-half touchdowns in 12 power conference games. That’s frankly pathetic.
The 2024 offense took a step back in all facets from 2023 — Carson Beck, the run game, and the pass catchers. Buck Belue also cites health as a reason for Bobo to want to step away, so it makes sense if the two sides ultimately move on like Belue is reporting.
UPDATE
Per UGA insider Radi Nabulsi, Mike Bobo does not intend to step down as offensive coordinator:Â
Regarding Mike Bobo
I spent the last hour or so trying to run down the rumor that Mike Bobo was stepping side ats Georgia’s offensive coordinator.
He is not.
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Dawgs insider Rusty Mansell also indicated there are no signs of Mike Bobo stepping down. Although, he wouldn’t completely rule it out, citing the saying, “Never say never.”
Haven’t heard the quote from Buck Belue yet but I would be very surprised if that was the case with Mike Bobo.
He is out on the road today and is seeing some key targets next week some key recruits coming in town for the February 1 weekend. Not sure where all these rumors are coming from the last week or so but I’ve heard nothing that tells me he is retiring.
Never say never in this world I learned that a long time ago, but I’ve heard nothing that tells me he is retiring or stepping down for an analyst role in Georgia at all not one ounce.
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Photographer: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire
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