Film Study: UGA WR Malcolm Mitchell poised to finally tear up the SEC

As a journalist who prides himself on professionalism and providing bias-free analysis, I try not to root for game outcomes, instead opting to hope for favorable results for certain individuals.

So when I think about the career of University of Georgia wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, I can’t help but hope his career will finish as strong as it began.

(Sue me; I’m human.)

I, like plenty of other Georgians, became excited with the now infamous “Dream Team” recruiting class of 2011 as it signified a turn in the right direction for the program. Coming off an uber-disappointing 2010 season, which saw UGA finish with an astounding 6-7 record, the presence of some of the top recruits in the nation was the proverbial Pot ‘O Gold at the end of a one-way, trashy, alley street. (17th street in Downtown Atlanta?)

Prospects like Ray Drew, Jay Rome, Damian Swann, Sterling Bailey, Ramik Wilson, Amarlo Herrera, Justin Scott-Wesley, Chris Conley, David Andrews and Nick Marshall all ended up contributing to various degrees, some for other programs, but it was 5-star running back Isaiah Crowell who generated the fastest impact on his way to an SEC Rookie of the Year award — with 850 yards on 185 attempts (six touchdowns).

But in retrospect, it was the 45-catch, 665-yard performance by Mitchell that captured the imagination of the fan base, too, especially when you consider it was coming off the heels of the great A.J. Green.

But while Mitchell failed to take the next step in etching his name besides the likes of Terrence Edwards, Hines Ward, Fred Gibson, Brice Hunter, Reggie Brown and Mohamed Massaquoi, after a follow-up season that saw him oscillate between receiver and cornerback, we may very well see him do just that with a huge final season Between the Hedges.

The McClendon Effect

Lost in the sauce that is the return of former UGA great Thomas Brown, as the newly minted running back’s coach, is the fact that his presence allows for the former holder of that position, Bryan McClendon, to finally receive a chance to coach up the position he undoubtedly has the best feel for: wide receivers. (No slight on former coach Tony Ball as he’s an excellent coach, too.)

When I think about the Bulldog’s 2005 season, which saw UGA claim an unlikely SEC title, I remember a seldom-used senior receiver in McClendon stepping up and providing the great D.J. Shockley with a reliable target in the form of route running.

As a coach who shined brightest in his last season as a player in Athens, as a receiver no less, you have to believe McClendon will be in Mitchell’s ears all season instilling whatever it takes to reach the pinnacle in his career.

While Mitchell has been known as a vertical threat for the majority of his career, Schottenheimer and McClendon will be relying on him to master the quick game in addition to his vertical duties.

I expect “12 personnel” to be the grouping of choice from the former New York Jets and St. Louis Rams coordinator, which means Mitchell will get the benefit of being on an island out wide with tons of room to operate.

But make no mistake about it, Mitchell has the type of versatility which could see him moved all around the formation similar to what University of Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin did with all-world receiver Amari Cooper (Oakland Raiders) last season.

Kiffin and Schottenheimer are similar in the fact that they moonlight in just about every offensive scheme imaginable: Air Coryell, Erhardt–Perkins, Spread, Option, Wing-T and, of course, West Coast, so you can bet Schottenheimer has umpteen ways to get the ball to his premier playmaker out on the edges.

Skill Set

At 6’1″, 195 pounds, Mitchell has ideal NFL size, but his skill set allows for him to be used like the Swiss-Army, gadget-like player Schottenheimer left behind with the Rams, Tavon Austin; expect Mitchell to be lined up all over the formation.

Mitchell excels in the screen game, so expect Tunnels, Bubbles and Slips to be headed his direction.

Mitchell is a rare breed who possesses zero-to-60 speed similar to the new BMW M5, so getting him the ball out in space is paramount. Check him out on a Bubble against Georgia Tech: he received the ball not only with a tandem of blockers in front of him, but he also had the benefit of a two-way go. It’s hard to think of many initial defenders being able to tackle him out in space, so it becomes all but stealing when the defense doesn’t press him at the line of scrimmage.

Where he will ultimately make his hay, though, is in the mid-range game with Digs, Flags, Outs and routes of that variety. This means that McClendon’s honing in on his craft will pay dividends with chain-moving routes that’ll be paramount for whichever QB the ‘Dawgs trot out against the ULM Warhawks.

Here’s one of my favorite plays from earlier in his college career: he showed his explosiveness off the line; he displayed some serious agility as he can stop at a moment’s notice; he exhibited his football strength in being able to shake off an arm tackle; he’s hard as heck to chase down in the open field.

Naturally, as a former defensive back, I wondered just how great Mitchell could’ve been had the staff fully committed to his switch over to the defensive side of the ball. On numerous occasions he showed how great of a football player he was guarding some of the league’s best receivers and making a ton of plays in the process.

But one man’s loss is another man’s gain as Mitchell is about to wreck shop in his last season in Athens. Schottenheimer has an array of vertical concepts in his arsenal, and you know he has to be chomping at the bit to send Mitchell on 9’s, Posts, Overs and Comebacks.

Case in point: Mitchell quickly ate up the pseudo-cushion provided by the Ole Miss corner on a 9-route that went for an explosive gain. If Brice Ramsey wins the QB competition, or Greyson Lambert for that matter, we can expect Schottenheimer to use his arm in combination with Mitchell’s wheels to push the third level of the defense back to clear room for the great Nick Chubb.

Mitchell is poised to finally build on his budding stardom of a few years ago, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for a Georgia program that’s a legit contender for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

If health is no issue, expect a big season from the versatile, polished former “Dream Team” member.