The radio presenter blames Kirby Smart, not Mike Bobo, for the Georgia Bulldogs’ season-long troubles and Carson Beck’s problems.

The Radio Presenter Blames Kirby Smart, Not Mike Bobo, for the Georgia Bulldogs’ Season-Long Troubles and Carson Beck’s Problems

The 2025 college football season has been one of mixed fortunes for the Georgia Bulldogs. While the team remains one of the top contenders in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), a host of questions have emerged about the team’s offensive production, particularly in the passing game. One of the most pressing concerns has been the struggles of quarterback Carson Beck, who was expected to carry on the Bulldogs’ legacy of elite quarterback play following the departure of Stetson Bennett. Yet, despite high expectations, Beck has found himself mired in inconsistency, and the Georgia offense has underperformed relative to its talent.

In the midst of Georgia’s offensive struggles, many have pointed fingers at offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who returned to Georgia after a previous tenure as the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator and a stint at Auburn. While Bobo’s play calling has been scrutinized, a prominent radio presenter has shifted the blame squarely onto head coach Kirby Smart, rather than Bobo. According to this perspective, Smart, rather than his offensive coordinator, is primarily responsible for the Bulldogs’ ongoing troubles and Carson Beck’s lack of development this season.

The Georgia Bulldogs: High Expectations and Early Struggles

Georgia football has become a perennial powerhouse under Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs won national championships in 2021 and 2022, and with a program built on elite recruiting, stellar defense, and the development of quarterbacks, the 2025 season was supposed to be another opportunity for Smart to solidify his place as one of college football’s premier head coaches.

With Carson Beck taking over as the starting quarterback, expectations were sky-high. Beck, a former 5-star recruit, had shown flashes of brilliance in limited action as a backup behind Stetson Bennett, who had led Georgia to two consecutive national titles. As the heir apparent to Bennett, Beck was expected to seamlessly transition into the starting role, continuing Georgia’s success.

However, the Bulldogs’ offensive production has not matched the lofty expectations. Beck’s play has been erratic, with a number of high-profile mistakes—turnovers, missed throws, and a lack of rhythm in the passing game. Georgia’s once-potent offense, under Smart’s leadership, has been sluggish and predictable at times, struggling to generate explosive plays and keeping opponents in games longer than expected. As a result, a sense of unease has surrounded Georgia, as fans and pundits alike have searched for answers.

The Mike Bobo Narrative

As the offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo’s name has been frequently mentioned in connection with Georgia’s offensive struggles. Bobo, a former Georgia quarterback and long-time offensive coordinator, returned to Athens in 2023 to take over the play-calling duties after the departure of Todd Monken, who left to join the NFL. Monken had been the architect of Georgia’s explosive offense during their back-to-back national championships, and his departure created a void in Georgia’s offensive philosophy. Bobo, although experienced, was tasked with filling those big shoes.

Bobo’s return to Georgia wasn’t without controversy. Many Georgia fans were initially skeptical about his hiring, as his previous tenure as Georgia’s offensive coordinator between 2007 and 2014 had seen mixed results. While Bobo is well-respected for his knowledge of the game and his ability to coach quarterbacks, he had struggled to develop a consistent offensive identity during his previous stint at Georgia. Following his time at Georgia, Bobo had served as the offensive coordinator at South Carolina and Auburn, where he faced challenges with both program’s offensive performance.

As Georgia’s offense began to show signs of stagnation, Bobo’s play calling was increasingly scrutinized. Many noted that the Bulldogs had become too predictable, with too many conservative play calls and a lack of variety in the offense. Carson Beck, despite being an incredibly talented quarterback, appeared to struggle in Bobo’s system. His inconsistency with ball placement, timing, and decision-making became a recurring theme, leading many to wonder whether Bobo’s playbook was the issue.

Yet, while Bobo’s play-calling has been heavily criticized, some, including the radio presenter in question, have argued that the root cause of the Bulldogs’ struggles lies not in Bobo’s hands, but in the decisions and leadership of Kirby Smart.

The Case for Kirby Smart’s Role in Offensive Struggles

Kirby Smart has undoubtedly transformed Georgia into one of the premier programs in college football, but he is also the head coach who oversees every facet of the team, including the offense. While Smart is known for building one of the most ferocious defenses in the country, his approach to the offensive side of the ball has been somewhat more conservative. Georgia’s offensive style, even under Monken, often relied on a strong running game, complemented by timely passing. However, as college football has evolved and the SEC has increasingly embraced pass-heavy offenses, Smart’s philosophy has remained rooted in a run-first, defense-first mentality.

The radio presenter’s argument centers around Smart’s overall approach to the program and his reluctance to fully embrace the offensive innovation that the college football landscape demands in the modern era. While Smart is an excellent recruiter and a proven defensive mastermind, the narrative suggests that his lack of commitment to offensive excellence has hampered Georgia’s development at quarterback and in the passing game.

It’s important to note that while Smart hired Bobo as the offensive coordinator, Smart still holds ultimate responsibility for the direction of the team, including the offensive philosophy. Under Smart’s leadership, Georgia has become known for developing pro-style quarterbacks who excel in a run-heavy system. But the present-day reality of college football is that teams need to have a dynamic, high-powered offense to win championships, and Smart’s reluctance to fully embrace this shift has had consequences for Beck and the Bulldogs.

Smart has also been hesitant to shift away from his defensive-first mentality, which includes a preference for controlling the clock with a strong running game, even if it means sacrificing offensive explosiveness. While this strategy has worked in the past, particularly with a stellar defense to back it up, it has created friction with the modern demands of a high-powered offense. Carson Beck, as a quarterback with first-round potential, has struggled to find rhythm in a system that doesn’t maximize his talents in the passing game.

Moreover, while Smart has overseen Georgia’s development into a perennial title contender, he has not been as hands-on with the offensive side of the ball as other top-tier coaches, like Alabama’s Nick Saban or Ohio State’s Ryan Day. Smart’s decision to hire a conservative play-caller like Bobo reflects his unwillingness to evolve Georgia’s offensive system to match the rapid changes in the game.

Carson Beck’s Struggles: Development and System Fit

Carson Beck’s struggles are perhaps the most glaring example of the disconnect between Georgia’s offensive system and the modern college football landscape. Beck was touted as one of the top quarterback prospects in the country, and expectations were that he would immediately step into the starting role and elevate Georgia’s offense. But Beck’s inconsistency, both in terms of his decision-making and his performance under pressure, has been a source of concern for the Bulldogs.

Beck’s issues are multifaceted. While his physical tools—arm strength, accuracy, and size—are impressive, he has struggled to develop a consistent rhythm in Bobo’s system. His issues with timing, reading defenses, and adjusting to defensive schemes have made it difficult for the offense to find consistency. This, in part, can be attributed to the structure of Georgia’s offense, which does not lean on Beck’s strengths as a quarterback. In a more pass-oriented system, Beck might have been able to thrive, but in Georgia’s run-heavy system, his skills have not been fully utilized.

The radio presenter argues that Kirby Smart’s reluctance to embrace a more progressive offensive system has stunted Beck’s development. While Bobo may be culpable for certain play calls, it is Smart’s overall philosophy and approach to quarterback development that have left Beck in a difficult position. The development of quarterbacks under Smart has often been slower, with an emphasis on game management rather than on creating explosive, pass-heavy offenses.

Beck, like many Georgia quarterbacks before him, has had to grow within a system that prioritizes running the football and controlling the clock, even at the expense of offensive fireworks. Smart’s insistence on maintaining this model in the modern college football era has created friction between the system and the players, especially with a quarterback like Beck who is capable of much more than what the current system demands.