Mike Bobo

ATHENS, Ga. — With the addition of five children in the past five years — nothing like triplets to boost a family count — Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has gained significant experience at fatherhood.

He’s a bit more seasoned at play-calling, too, after having that role for more than a year.

Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt turned over calling plays to Bobo before the 2006 regular-season finale against Georgia Tech. Bobo called the ensuing Chick-fil-A Bowl against Virginia Tech and all 13 games last season, and he’s compiled a 13-2 record as play-caller entering Saturday’s opener against Georgia Southern.

Bobo worked for the first time last season with line coach Stacy Searels and is now working with new tight ends coach John Lilly.

“I think there is a little bit of a comfort level in working with the same guys with the exception of Coach Lilly,” Bobo said. “As a staff, we changed the system a little last year, and now we’ve been together for a whole year and a spring practice. We’re a lot more comfortable with what we’re trying to do and working out the finer points on each particular play. I think that’s made it an easier adjustment.”

Richt turned over play-calling chores after handling them for the better part of 14 seasons, eight as a Florida State assistant under Bobby Bowden and his first six with the Bulldogs.

“Once you’ve been through it and lived through it for an entire season, you’ve got a lot more confidence and at least a lot more understanding of what’s coming at you and the types of things you’ll have to deal with throughout the year,” Richt said. “I’m sure he was able to reflect and look back at some of the things he didn’t like and some of the things he did like.”

Though the Bulldogs have piled up mostly victories with Bobo in control, they haven’t always piled up the yards.

They amassed just 255 yards in his debut, a stat that was quickly forgotten when Matthew Stafford’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Mohamed Massaquoi with 1:45 remaining turned back the Yellow Jackets 15-12. They had only 200 yards in the bowl against the Hokies but capitalized on four turnovers to rally for a 31-24 victory.

Last season, Georgia racked up 400 yards once in its first seven regular-season games before surpassing the total four times in five games. Conservative during the early stages last year because of a youthful and limited offensive line, the Bulldogs erupted in late October with 413 yards in the 42-30 upset of Florida in Jacksonville.

Stafford, who had an 84-yard touchdown pass to Massaquoi and a 53-yard score to Mikey Henderson against the Gators, said he thought that was Bobo’s best-called game. Stafford had three touchdown tosses to just one by Florida counterpart Tim Tebow, the Heisman Trophy winner, and Bulldogs tailback Knowshon Moreno carried 33 times for 188 yards and three scores.

“He gave me a lot of chances to make plays on third down,” Stafford said. “We had third-and-long a couple of times, and instead of just running a draw play or a screen, he let me try and make a play with my arm. That was a fun one for me, because we took some shots deep.

“It seemed like every call that came in, I was right on board with.”

The Bulldogs were equally effective against Auburn, piling up 417 yards in a 45-20 win, but Bobo isn’t into picking a favorite.

“You enjoy it when the season is over and all the memories you had of what you did as a team,” he said. “The wins feel good in that locker room, and there are celebrations, but then you’ve got to move on to that next one. Really, the thing you remember are the losses. For me, it’s when you get your butt whipped that stings.”

Bobo said he could have made better calls in the red zone during last season’s 16-12 loss to South Carolina. He admits everything could have been better in the 35-14 loss at Tennessee.

The Bulldogs eventually overcame growing pains up front, but that storyline may return following the season-ending knee injury earlier this month to left tackle Trinton Sturdivant.

“This year, he knows he’s still got to learn what we’re capable of doing, and a lot of it is going to have to do with the capability of our offensive line,” Richt said. “A year ago, I thought he and the offensive staff did a great job of not trying to go beyond the boundaries of what our offensive line could accomplish. I think he’ll have to do that again, unfortunately.”