Paul Finebaum evaluates Georgia's hire of Mike Bobo

Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken left for the NFL. This left a key assistant spot opened, which Kirby Smart filled with Mike Bobo, a decision that Paul Finebaum found himself defending from criticism even if he himself isn’t sold on Bobo.

This criticism comes, in part, due to Bobo’s time as a coordinator at South Carolina and Auburn in recent seasons, where his offenses struggled at times. Meanwhile, others felt like it wasn’t a very creative hire and that Smart was just hiring someone he knows well.

“He always, to me, seemed to be the fall guy for Mark Richt and I think that’s what happens,” Paul Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning.

“I mean, I want to make it clear, while I defended Kirby Smart there, he’s not someone I would pick out of a hat. Okay? I want to make sure you understand that. I don’t know him very well and even if I did, I’m not sure it would make any difference what I think or don’t think of us offensive play calling.”

Mike Bobo played quarterback at Georgia from 1993 to 1997. That crosses over with the time Kirby Smart was a defensive back for the Bulldogs and current defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was a safety.

From 2001 to 2014, Bobo was Georgia’s quarterbacks coach under Mark Richt. In 2007, he also took on offensive coordinator duties. He left to become the head coach at Colorado State, where he had a 28-35 record in five seasons.

Paul Finebaum on Todd Monken’s departure

Todd Monken is widely seen as one of the best offensive minds in football. Now that he’s gone, Paul Finebaum has explained what this means for Georgia.

“I’m somewhat surprised by the massive overreaction to this move. It’s as if Kirby Smart has abandoned his stewardship of his program and threw the keys to Mike Bobo … I understand Bobo’s past. I mean, we all do. We’ve all followed him and he’s probably gotten a lot of blame that coordinators shouldn’t get but get anyway,” Finebaum said.

“Ultimately, I don’t understand how this changes the trajectory. I don’t understand how people are writing articles saying, ‘Hey, now this opens the door to Nick Saban.’ Are we convinced Nick Saban has the right choice at offensive coordinator? Some of us like him [Tommy Rees], I know you guys do, but I just think we’re looking for some reason to find fault with–I say, we–fans collectively, media collectively, for Kirby Smart and that’s exactly what happened here.”