Just because Mike Bobo was a safe hire doesn't mean Kirby Smart made a bad bet with Georgia's offensive coordinator opening

Let’s not sugarcoat the loss here: Todd Monken was the single most important — and impactful — hire of the Kirby Smart era at Georgia.

Monken’s departure for the Baltimore Ravens stings, as the veteran offensive coordinator revitalized Georgia’s offense and cemented himself as college football’s best playcaller the last two seasons for the back-to-back national champions. 

And yet, Kirby Smart’s decision to tab Mike Bobo as Monken’s replacement should not be seen as some death nail to Georgia’s budding dynasty.

The Internet’s jokes and initial reactions were predictable, and some were even funny, but they mostly all missed the point. 

Mike Bobo’s uninspiring resume as Auburn and South Carolina’s offensive coordinator is totally irrelevant to his potential success or failure as Georgia’s OC. 

The former Bulldogs quarterback didn’t get promoted by his best buddy to run to Mike Bobo’s playbook. He’s tasked with running the Georgia system.

Is Mike Bobo a wizard playcaller like Monken? No. Can he keep UGA’s train humming? Absolutely. 

Bobo won’t be working with (apologies) Luke Doty at quarterback or underwhelming offensive lines at UGA. The idea he can’t maximize top talent is absurd. 

Aaron Murray. Todd Gurley. Nick Chubb. Sony Michel. Ever heard of’em?

The last time Bobo had this much talent at his disposal, Georgia ranked No. 1 in the nation in yards per play (2012) and scored a school-record — one Monken didn’t quite crack — 41.3 points per game with Hudson Mason at quarterback (2014). 

Todd Monken’s impact on Georgia, Kirby Smart

Todd Monken turned Stetson Bennett into a Heisman Trophy finalist and found creative and fun ways to best utilize 12-personnel in a modern offense, but the single most important impact Monken had during his time at Georgia was helping Kirby Smart evolve his offensive philosophy. 

The Bulldogs averaged a hair over 30 points per game in 2019 when Smart correctly surmised his program needed a philosophical shift after getting waxed by LSU in the SEC Championship. He fired James Coley and brought in Monken, who capped his final year in Athens averaging 41.1 points per game and dropping 65 on TCU in the national championship. 

Under Monken, Georgia became a more balanced and explosive offense. The Bulldogs still ran the ball plenty, but they also led the SEC in passing plays over 20 yards (70) in 2022 and played with more temp. 

They averaged 7.1 yards per play and were ruthlessly efficient, especially on third downs. 

So Mike Bobo has major shoes to fill, but this is not a moment that caught Georgia off guard. 

Kirby Smart has known for a while that Monken was not long for Athens. He was the highest-paid coordinator in the country, but at 57 years old, he didn’t have the desire or heart to recruit. Those off-season junior days and official visit weekends add up. Mike Bobo is an instant upgrade as a recruiter on staff, but that’s not why he got the gig.

Smart began preparing for Monken’s eventual exit for more than a year. He brought Bobo on staff last offseason as an analyst, prepping him as a natural successor to Monken. 

Be a sponge. Learn Georgia’s terminology and playbook. Develop relationships with the QB room.

During the College Football Playoffs, Monken was asked about Bobo’s return to Georgia and said, “I knew he was going to join the staff whether I agreed to it or not. It didn’t matter. So (Smart) made it seem like it was my choice, but it really wasn’t.”

And yet, the pairing worked. Monken credited Bobo for contributing to Georgia’s weekly game plans, and referred to the longtime assistant as “ego-less.” Just today, On3’s DawgsHQ reported that Monken played a role in Bobo’s promotion, too.  

“I’m fired up that Mike’s here,” Monken told The Athletic.

“I hope he’s here for an extreme amount of time.”

Well, looks like he will be now. 

Much like Nick Saban at Alabama, Kirby Smart opted for continuity, chemistry and culture to make a major hire. Sure, it was a safe bet, but that doesn’t make it a bad gamble. Lest we forget, Todd Monken didn’t exactly come to Georgia dressed in recent glory (OC for the Cleveland Browns), either. 

Monken left a lasting impact on Kirby Smart that allowed Georgia’s head coach to make this move. Smart brought the famed Process to Athens and Monken helped him tweak the recipe. 

Now that Georgia has baked that cake twice in row, Smart had little reason to gamble on unknown ingredients. Mike Bobo might be a vanilla hire, but that fit and flavor works for these Bulldogs.