Coming off the team’s first losing record in 14 years and an embarrassing bowl loss to Conference USA’s University of Central Florida, the Georgia football coaching staff is wants to see major changes.

Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said quarterback Aaron Murray (11) is even more focused now than he was this time last year. Photo from File

“I don’t think anybody that cares anything about the ‘G’ was proud of that performance [in the 2010 Liberty Bowl],” assistant head coach Rodney Garner said after Sunday morning’s practice. “It’s a bad taste — a bad feeling that you got. The only way you’re going to get that out is to go back out on the field and try to redeem yourself.”

But that may be easier said than done.

The Bulldogs will face Boise State — No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll — in the first game of the year on Sept. 3.

Though matching up against a former 2010 National Championship hopeful is sure to be a challenge, Garner said it will also be a great opportunity.

“We definitely need to come out of the chute. I think it’s going to be critical how we start,” Garner said. “It’s the first time since the Liberty Bowl and that fiasco and the performance we had there. … [The Boise State game] is a national setting. The whole country will have a chance to see them play. And hopefully they’ll come out and play with some energy and play like they’re capable of playing.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said the red zone is one area the Bulldogs hope to improve.

“We didn’t finish last year,” he said Sunday. “We were pretty good statistically in the red zone last year, but if you look at our losses, we left some opportunities on the board in the red zone. So today was focusing on finishing in the red zone.”

MIKE BOBO

In the final loss of the 2010 season, Georgia kicker Blair Walsh accounted for the team’s only points with a pair of field goals.

“Obviously you always want to get points and field goals aren’t the end of the world,” Bobo said. “But we want to make touchdowns. We got to score, especially in this league — you have tight games.”

Leading the squad as the Bulldogs attempt to turn things around is redshirt sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray.

And Bobo said he’s already started a wave of change.

“[Murray] is more focused than he was when he walked in this door even last year when he knew he was going to be the man,” Bobo said. “It’s a tremendous focus of everyday trying to get better. He’s really worked hard on his footwork, speeding his footwork up, his feet, his decision-making and becoming that leader.”