UGA’s Rambo: “I feel like we’re more talented (than Alabama)”

One of UGA’s veteran defenders has provided some of the first bulletin board material of the week in advance of Saturday’s SEC Championship showdown between the Bulldogs and Alabama.

UGA's Mark Richt (AP)

UGA's Mark Richt (AP)

UGA safety Bacarri Rambo went on ESPN radio after Saturday’s blowout win over Georgia Tech and said some words that will surely get the attention of Nick Saban:

“I feel like we’re more talented (than Alabama). We have better players at each position, across the board, especially on defense. It’s going to be a great challenge for us. I know it’s going to be a battle. It’s going to come down to who has the best defense and who makes more turnovers. It’s going to be a battle of the defenses.”

Which defense is better?

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What do you think? Is Rambo correct? Is UGA’s defense better than Alabama’s? And if so, should Rambo have made the remark? If not, why not? Please post below.

Saturday’s SEC Championship game will match up No. 2 Alabama versus No. 3 Georgia. Please check back all week for the AJC’s coverage of “SEC Championship Week”

AJC’s SEC CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE

AJC’s UGA blog

727 comments Add your comment

ljmal

November 25th, 2012
9:16 pm

Rambo seems to foget that all that trash talking was what cost them the only loss of the season when South Carolina BLEW THEM OUT 35-7.

Ken

November 25th, 2012
9:17 pm

I think that you don’t run your mouth and let your play on the field do the talking. I don’t think Bama needs any extra incentive in this game. Stupid statement at an inappropriate time especially by a senior.

say what

November 25th, 2012
9:17 pm

hey Rambo, your thoughts before or after pot smoking? Just wondering

Mobile Dawg

November 25th, 2012
9:18 pm

Dogs are getting the love they deserve. We’re there, in contention, and in excellent positon for the big prize. Rambo should keep his trap shut and let his/teamates play do the talking. Richt should issue a gag order for trash talking, he and Bobo need to be game planning for the Bama defense. Bobo hasn’t impressed me in the past for being able to think on his feet, and to change the subject, whomever win this game, I hope they bury ND. Did Musberger make anyone else sick with his overzealous calling of the game Saturday?

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:18 pm

DP
November 25th, 2012
9:13 pm

kerryb, as long as you’re issuing apologies, where’s the apology for your lie, repeated several times, that Alabama has the 72nd ranked offense?

______________________________________________________________

Why should I apologize for what is fact. Just check ESPN’s site.

Contractor

November 25th, 2012
9:18 pm

kerry b,

You have more excuses than anyone I have ever heard. It’s the people like you that are the main reason so many fan bases around the country hate Georgia fans. You talk out of the lower hole on your body and always have an excuse. I am simply going by on the field results, not inexperience or any of that garbage that you just expressed in your comment. Look at how many on defense Alabama lost last year in the first round alone, now look at how good Alabama still is on defense. Look at the numbers, they don’t lie. You’ll see on Saturday which team has the better coaches and which team is overall better. There is nothing you can present to this argument to prove your point, or Rambo’s for that matter. Simple hear say or your opinion does not suffice, actions and facts do.

Jeff

November 25th, 2012
9:19 pm

Shut your pie hole Rambo and play the game. Win and then you can talk. This is a team game and not who has the best athletes. Your a leader on this team and you give bulletin board material to the other team. In case you did not hear they won the NC last year and the Dawgs lost to Michigan State. After your bold talk you better bring your A game on Saturday.

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:20 pm

ljmal
November 25th, 2012
9:16 pm

Rambo seems to foget that all that trash talking was what cost them the only loss of the season when South Carolina BLEW THEM OUT 35-7

_________________________________________________________________________

I don’t recall any trash talking before Carolina.

USMC Dawg

November 25th, 2012
9:20 pm

Guys, Let’s get back to the big game next Saturday.

I admire Alabama’s coaching style as a highly disciplined; HOWEVER, I think that BAMA has a tendency to play too TIGHT sometimes. Saban sometimes gets WAY too conservative.
I think Georgia presents a lot of problems for BAMA.

We have a more DIVERSIFIED offense, but BAMA makes fewer mistakes.

Bama has a good defense, but I think Georgia has the edge in experience AND talent on the defense.
(But Saban isn’t going to hang what I say on his players lockers, Rambo’s comments, he will)

I also think that this is Mark Richt’s year to get a Crystal Football.
(The man is also religious which doesn’t hurt, either)

MANY BAMA fans forget that they lost a ton of EXPERIENCED talent last season.

If our Defense can hit hard and make plays like we did against FLORIDA, we win.

Go Dawgs!

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:21 pm

USMC Dawg. Agree 100%

you can't fix stupid or Democrats or bulldogs

November 25th, 2012
9:21 pm

Ramboo is a thug…..I hope Bama shut his mouth!!!!!!!! ROLL TIDE

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:22 pm

Jeff
November 25th, 2012
9:19 pm

Shut your pie hole Rambo and play the game. Win and then you can talk. This is a team game and not who has the best athletes. Your a leader on this team and you give bulletin board material to the other team. In case you did not hear they won the NC last year and the Dawgs lost to Michigan State. After your bold talk you better bring your A game on Saturday.

______________________________________________________________________

Last season is the past. Get out of the past.

Ron Farmer

November 25th, 2012
9:22 pm

Rambo must be smoking crack,first off Alabama’s Defense ranks # 1 in nearly every catagory.Georgia gave up over 400 yards on offense to a running team i9n Ga. Tech. So look out Rambo your wish is fixing to come true,Alabama 30 Ga. 12

T.Earl

November 25th, 2012
9:22 pm

Discipline. Our Dawgs lack it and Bama has it, I wish it wasn’t so but that’s the truth. Rambo is entitled to say whatever he wants but it was neither necessary or smart. Puts a bigger target up for the media to point at all week long. I hope CMR puts a “gag order” on these truly gifted athletes so they don’t show how childish they can be.

Discipline. Just watch Bama film and see how they go about the “business” of beating their opponent while our guys jump, “carry on” and trash talk like they are still on a high school field.

Act like you’ve been there.

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:23 pm

you can’t fix stupid or Democrats or bulldogs, or trailer park Bama fans

CHDawg

November 25th, 2012
9:24 pm

Unfortunately, the stats don’t back him up. Alabama has several common opponents with us and they are rated number 1 in the country on defense; we are highly rated, but nowhere close. This isn’t the way to win this game guys! I recommend the following retraction: “Hi, I’m Rambo, number 18, and I just wanted to pull my foot out of my mouth for you all today. I am truly sorry for running my mouth. Alabama has the number one rated defense in the land, and we respect them tremendously. I hope to join Dr. Lou and Mark May some day, but I remembered I am a player right now and not a commentator yet.” How well did talking before the game work out before the Boise State game? How about Missouri for 34? Bad idea. Distraction 100% of the time imho.

Contractor

November 25th, 2012
9:24 pm

A little information in case you want to continue to harp on the “inexperience” on Alabama’s defense.

http://ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/1042/p1

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:25 pm

CHDawg
November 25th, 2012
9:24 pm

Unfortunately, the stats don’t back him up. Alabama has several common opponents with us and they are rated number 1 in the country on defense; we are highly rated, but nowhere close. This isn’t the way to win this game guys! I recommend the following retraction: “Hi, I’m Rambo, number 18, and I just wanted to pull my foot out of my mouth for you all today. I am truly sorry for running my mouth. Alabama has the number one rated defense in the land, and we respect them tremendously. I hope to join Dr. Lou and Mark May some day, but I remembered I am a player right now and not a commentator yet.” How well did talking before the game work out before the Boise State game? How about Missouri for 34? Bad idea. Distraction 100% of the time imho.

___________________________________________________________________

Stupid comment.

W.P.Miller

November 25th, 2012
9:26 pm

No doubt both teams have some of the most talented talent in America. Both have had some wonderful recruiting classes over the last several years. It just seems that Alabama has gotten more mileage out of their players, hence two National championships in the last three years. They don’t seem to brag alot in the media either. They just seem to do their talking on the field. I also noticed that CBS stated that Bama had 11 first round NFL draftees since 2009. They do seem to be doing something right. In terms of defense, Alabama is ranked ahead of the Dawgs in almost every category. I think that this game will be won on defense and if this is so, Alabama could be headed for the BCS game again. I really think it is going to be a great game!

War Eagle

November 25th, 2012
9:26 pm

He is GA smart.

USMC Dawg

November 25th, 2012
9:26 pm

Bottom line, folks is Rambo is a SENIOR. He should know better.

And Georgia really needs to prove it on the field this year. We have laid some eggs here recently and have given Herbstreit and others reason to disrespect us.

All we have to do is win! G Dawgs!

I want to apologize to Kerry for my comments earlier.

Let’s just win!

#1bamafan

November 25th, 2012
9:27 pm

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:29 pm

Georgia is ranked 22 in defense mainly because they were missing players the first half of the year from suspensions and Jarvis Jones missed 3 games because of injury. I bet if you go back to the week of the Florida game when Georgia started playing defense like everyone thought they would the 2 teams would be about equal.

Contractor

November 25th, 2012
9:32 pm

kerry b,

You are over matched by anything you bring to the table. You can only hope Georgia bails you out this weekend, because everything you say isn’t adding up and is resulting in you getting called out. You aren’t wanting to talk about the past, yet you bring up how many players Alabama lost LAST YEAR. Well take a look at the link I provided above at what the defense is doing THIS year, and with a quarterback that just threw his first interceptions of THIS YEAR last week.

Alabama has holes like every other team out there, but they are able to cover it up and get help in other facets of the game. It is well documented and watch some game film and you’ll see. Have fun this week spending 12 hours a day trying to cover your butt on these blogs and your comments all while continuing to chase your own tail (no pun intended). I’ll come back Sunday morning and see how you’re feeling then.

'94 UGA Alumni

November 25th, 2012
9:33 pm

Thanks Rambo. You just made this game even harder you idiot.

DP

November 25th, 2012
9:35 pm

A little information in case you want to continue to harp on the “inexperience” on Alabama’s defense.

http://ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/1042/p1

Wait a minute, those stats show that Georgia’s defense has given up over 40% more yards per game and over 25% more yards per play than the Alabama defense has with inferior talent at every position. How can that be? Is it superior coaching, a lack of drug related suspensions, or something else?

Who cares?

November 25th, 2012
9:36 pm

This is a great matchup and I actually agree with Rambo. Fortunately, Saban is a super coach and will have our inferior players ready. RTR!!

intelibird

November 25th, 2012
9:37 pm

A number of thoughts.

Georgia is not likely the best of one-loss teams on the board, whether they beat Bama or not. There are several teams that would probably beat them. And, I’m talking Oregon, Kansas State, etc. So, IF Georgia makes it past Bama, they still do not deserve to be in the National Championship game. Their schedule is a total embarassment. One quality win over Florida and (hypothetically) Alabama. Not worthy of a title bid.

Secondly, Georgia plays undisciplined football which results in their regularly receiving rear-end kickings from more disciplined teams. This feature goes way back in the Mark Richt era. Players showboating, dancing on the field, helmets intentionally loosened to come off in order to show dreads, etc.

Thirdly, I am noticing that Georgia players who come out in the third year typically fall flat as pros. Knowshon, Orson Charles, etc. Do not believe that any of these present Georgia players are gonna come out and do anything either. Yes, Rambo and Jarvis Jones will be drafted in the 1st round, but hope that the Falcons don’t take them and further don’t believe that they will do anything noteworthy. Probably be bench players.

Thirdly, LSU won by 32 points last year and this year’s game will certainly result in a beatdown as well. If you believe that Bobo and Coach “Prozac” are gonna motivate and discipline this team then you have been watching something different than I have over the past 10 years.

Lastly, Notre Dame has a 400 lb. noseguard that is gonna cause problems for whoever plays them. So, this is not gonna necessarily be an automatic SEC win, especially if the over-rated Dawgs get there.

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:37 pm

Contractor, I only care how a team is playing the last five games. I don’t care what Bama did or Georgia did last year. Last year has nothing to do with this Saturday. I know that Georgia is playing just as good or better than Bama over the last 5 games and I predict it will end up a 10 point game.

DP

November 25th, 2012
9:37 pm

“I bet if you go back to the week of the Florida game when Georgia started playing defense like everyone thought they would the 2 teams would be about equal.”

Yeah, that’s it, you judge Georgia by the games that they decide to show up for and judge everybody else by their entire body of work. Disregard that South Carolina blowout and the wallowing around against Buffalo, Tennessee and Kentucky.

UGAclassof15

November 25th, 2012
9:37 pm

And shots fired…
Whatever, GO DAWGS

RGB

November 25th, 2012
9:38 pm

Even “student athletes” can have dreams I suppose.

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:38 pm

intelibird, I don’t know where to start to refute all of your brain dead comments.

td

November 25th, 2012
9:39 pm

Contractor

November 25th, 2012
9:02 pm

kerry b,

” Aaron Murray is no Johnny Manziel, and other than him, Alabama has had no problem with a quarterback. Todd Gurley is my main concern, as I figured him to be Freshman of the year, and he is the best true Freshman in the country. Other than him, Jarvis Jones is a beast, but Georgia can not match up with Alabama. ”

OK let us try an intellectual debate and see if you have any honesty.

QB’s: I call it even only because AL’s QB has played in championship games before but Murray has more talent.

WR: I give the edge to GA (especially considering Bell is out).

TE: I call this one even

RB: Another even but only because UGA’s backs are Freshman.

OL: I will give the edge to AL, especially in the run game but LSU was all over the QB and JJ is the best pass rusher Bama will face this year.

DL: Maybe even but John Jenkins will be a first round draft choice and I do not see any on Alabama’s.

LB: Advantage UGA. 2 first round draft choices maybe the top player picked in the draft.

Safeties: Advantage UGA.

CB: Advantage UGA

Kicking game: Advantage Alabama

Coaching: Advantage Alabama (only because they have been in Championship games). CMR has a 3-2 record against Saban.

tidog

November 25th, 2012
9:42 pm

Locker room material is so overated. Will the offensive line give Murray time and will they sustain their blocks for the two freshman backs. Will Bobo be on top of his game and make the adjustments in the pass game when needed. I’d be more concerned about Murray and Bobo than Rambo shooting off at the mouth.

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:42 pm

DP
November 25th, 2012
9:37 pm

“I bet if you go back to the week of the Florida game when Georgia started playing defense like everyone thought they would the 2 teams would be about equal.”

Yeah, that’s it, you judge Georgia by the games that they decide to show up for and judge everybody else by their entire body of work. Disregard that South Carolina blowout and the wallowing around against Buffalo, Tennessee and Kentucky.

_________________________________________________________________________

You know nothing if you don’t take into account how a team has rounded out during the season and started to play good football over the last half of the season. Kind of like in 2010 when the Packers were 9-7 and had to win their last game of the year against the Bears 12-10 just to get into the playoffs. After that no one could beat them. You don’t know anything about Georgia football if you don’t know what was going on the first half of the year on the defense and how it came together after all of the starters were back. It’s a different team now.

USMC Dawg

November 25th, 2012
9:43 pm

I love Mark Richt as a person but sometimes he drives me crazy as a coach with the lack of discipline and lack of getting the team up for big games; HOWEVER, with all of the coaching changes (TN, AU, UK, AR, etc) I have a greater appreciation for Mark Richt lately. Now here me out:

Mark Richt came from FSU when they were DOMINANT. I remember him saying something like he likes the players to play LOOSE and does not like to discipline too much for fear that the players play too tight in games. At FSU, they had great athletes FLYING all over the field and knocking heads off. Sort of a controlled chaos.

Well I think this year’s Georgia team might have a little of that loose and undisciplined controlled Chaos working in our favor.

Our Offense has SO many weapons and is multi-facteted. But the QB has got to keep his head in the game and play ball.

ANd our defense punished Florida this year and kept their offense out of the endzone. Florida is no fluke this year folks, like Herby and all of the espn talking heads were spouting at the beginning of the season.

So as I am rambling on, my point is that I think CMR’s controlled Chaos will fimnally come through for the SEC CG and against an overrated ND team.

Go Dawgs!

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:45 pm

td, good and accurate post

goat

November 25th, 2012
9:45 pm

what did you expect he does attend UGA

CHDawg

November 25th, 2012
9:45 pm

kerry, quit trying to defend bad decisions. I think we can play with Bama, too, but these comments usually don’t help the cause. Rambo is a great player, but the coaches need to explain why this kind of talk can distract the team, and why it can motivate your opponents. Just think if an Alabama player had said this and the shoe was on the other foot…would it demoralize or motivate you?

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:47 pm

Murray is no Johnny Manziel? He’s only thrown for 3,000 yards 3 years in a row which no other QB has ever done. Thrown for 89 TD passes and is #1 rated passer in college football. I guess you can say that Johnny Manziel is no Aaron Murray.

horne

November 25th, 2012
9:47 pm

rambo: shut the hell up.

13 Titles

November 25th, 2012
9:48 pm

Bama is ahead of Georgia in every defensive category. You can look it up . Run defense, pass defense, scoring defense. Rambo acts like GA has won 2 of the last 3 BCS titles….How bout another Blackout ???

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:49 pm

Murray may not be able to run around in circles like Johnny Manziel (even though he has shown that he can run) but I have yet to see Manziel surgically dissect a defense either using 8 different receivers.

USMC Dawg

November 25th, 2012
9:50 pm

Our offensive line is our biggest weakness, but if the Gurshall Boys and a good mix of pass plays can spread Bama out a little, The offensive line will manage.

I hope our Freshman running backs get off. We will sure have our hands full with theirs.

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:50 pm

You wiennies need to quit worry about what Rambo said. Who cares. If Bama needs that for motivation they are already in trouble.

DP

November 25th, 2012
9:52 pm

kerryb, Aaron Murray has a history of throwing up all over himself in big games while Johnny Manziel has been fantastic all year. Aaron Murray can’t carry Manziel’s jockstrap.

But clearly the 400 yard 4 touchdown performances against overmatched opponents make a huge impression on you.

kerryb

November 25th, 2012
9:53 pm

DP, if you love him so much why don’t you ask him out?

MathewO

November 25th, 2012
9:53 pm

Quit whining you girls, what would you say? “We are going to lose” c’mon just let the young man have confidence in his team. No player cares about that stuff as long as he didn’t say that the tide sucks then none of the players will feel mad about that because they think their team is the best too. So my fellow grown men just be quite and let the college kids play the game.

Dawg

November 25th, 2012
9:53 pm

FLA TRASH TALKED DAWGS FOR YEARS THEN BEAT THE HELL OUT OF US.