Can Georgia develop at star at DE?
So what did we learn over the weekend?
At Georgia, the most important question of the spring will not get answered: I spent a chunk of time Friday in Athens visiting with the Georgia coaches. I’ll be sharing more on that visit later this week as I begin my Spring football tour around the South. But this much is clear to me. The biggest question I had about Georgia this spring is the biggest question I had about Georgia last spring. It’s the defensive end position and if you’ve been following the reporting of Tim Tucker and Chip Towers, you know that it is not going to get answered between now the G-Day game this Saturday.
I know people have been obsessed by the quarterback and running back situations, but I believe those will take care of themselves. Everybody in the building has confidence in Joe Cox at quarterback and one of those running backs is bound to emerge as the go-to guy because the offensive line will be very good. There is not a Knowshon Moreno in the bunch, but there are some good SEC running backs in that group.
But the biggest problem Georgia had last season, and the reason the Bulldogs were unable to meet preseason expectations (at No. 1), was that there was not an elite athlete at the defensive end position. In the SEC you have to have at least one David Pollack/Quentin Moses/Charles Johnson and you really need two. Right now Georgia has a lot of candidates to play that role but only two scholarship guys are healthy enough to practice. When Georgia resumes practice in August somebody like a DeMarcus Dobbs (broken foot) is going to have to step up. The best defenses in the SEC can consistently get pressure with four guys up front and blitz when they WANT to instead of when they HAVE to. If Georgia can’t develop at least one star player at the DE position, there will be issues again come fall.
There is more proof that the LSU defense is loaded: LSU defensive back Phelon Jones, a rising redshirt sophomore, has decided to transfer. He will finish out the spring semester and then move to another school. For the native of Mobile, that could be Auburn. Jones played in eight games and started two in LSU’s nickel package last season. But this spring, under new defensive coordinator John Chavis, it has become clear that that the Jones might not be able to crack the starting lineup because the secondary is so talented and so deep. I’m telling you that the longer spring practice goes on, the better LSU is starting to look. Now that Chavis is in place and the quarterback issue seems to be settled (Jordan Jefferson), the Tigers seem to have fewer holes to fill than Alabama. We’ll see.
New DC Ted Roof is shaking things up at Auburn: Roof, the former DC at Georgia Tech and head coach at Duke, told me that his first spring at Auburn will be dedicated to finding the best 11 guys and getting them on the field. He has apparently found lightning in a bottle in linebacker Eltoro Freeman, a JUCO transfer. Over the weekend he moved Freeman to a starting weak side linebacker spot, but everybody in camp could see that coming because this kid is high energy has been very impressive in the scrimmages. Safety Marcus Jemison has been moved to strong side linebacker. Roof felt that depth was a big concern at the linebacker position going into the spring.
It’s a good thing spring ball’s not over at Florida State: Last Saturday was the annual Garnet and Gold Spring game at Florida State. But thanks to weather and other scheduling issues, the Seminoles actually have three more practice sessions left. That’s a good thing because the offense looked pretty spotty last Saturday with five turnovers and six total fumbles. The pass rush and secondary play were getting rave reviews after the spring game. But one of the problems I’m hearing is that the Seminoles are dangerously thin at the wide receiver position. Bowden had no choice but to kick Preston Parker off the team earlier this year but if somebody doesn’t step up as a big play receiver it’s going to put a lot of pressure on that offense.
It’s time to hit the road. Any questions? I’ve been finishing up a book (which we’ll discuss later this spring) and now I’m excited about getting on the road to see some spring football in person. On Tuesday I’ll be at Tennessee, Thursday at Alabama, and Friday at Auburn. Next week I’ll be at Florida for a couple of days. Before I’m done I’ll get to Georgia Tech, Clemson, and South Carolina. If you have any specific questions for any of those places, post them here. I’ll take the best ones and work them into my visit.
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91 comments Add your comment
Kid Ray
April 6th, 2009
8:09 am
How can FSU not fire BB? That team is more undiscipline (on and off the field) than any other team I have seen. Turnovers. turnovers, turnover plus penalties = another dissapointing season.
These are all the hallmarks of a rudderless program. And I would just pay off Jimbo to make him go away and hire a proven coach. FSU is not a learn on the job type of place.
Ken Frier
April 6th, 2009
8:26 am
How serious is UF about the I formation? Is it a smoke screen or are they trying to help Tebow prepare for the NFL?
Saint Nick
April 6th, 2009
8:32 am
How can a team that had 50+ poured on them twice last year be loaded?????
JB
April 6th, 2009
8:43 am
Dawgs defense will be better than last year, but not up to Georgia standards. For Tech folks, that would be a top 10 stat wise in the country where Van Gorder had us. We have got to have 3 or 4 guys step forward to become all SEC performers. I see a couple so far. This year will be tough……8….9 wins.
Or for our Tech friends, Ring time.
Atlanta Gator
April 6th, 2009
8:43 am
Ken—-I attended the “Gator Gathering” with Urban Meyer here in Atlanta on Saturday. Meyer seemed to take it very personally when the issue was raised about Tim Tebow’s NFL future. I don’t think the Gators’ hiring of the Detroit Lion’s former quarterbacks coach, or the rumbling about new offensive formations, are coincidence. Meyer not only wants to win in Division I, he wants his boys to do well at the next level, too.
On another note, Meyer did not mention Lane Kiffin in his 60-minute talk with Atlanta Gator alumni . . . not even once. The only other SEC school discussed at any length was Alabama, and that was in the context of last year’s SEC championship game. Of last year’s SEC game, Meyer said:
“I’ve never been a part of a game like that. It was a war for four quarters. Neither team had anything left when it was over; they left it on the field. Afterwards, we were really banged up, and so were they. If we had to play another SEC opponent the week after that, we would have lost by 2 or 3 touchdowns. We were that banged up.”
BernieDawg
April 6th, 2009
8:47 am
The DE question won’t be answered, but that position will be aided by a healthier DT position. And it sounds like Houston is ready to make some plays. I’m cautiously hopeful…
And will be looking on eagerly Saturday to see what the D-line does.
Percy Harvey
April 6th, 2009
8:56 am
can i come back for my senior year now that i have screwed up my draft status?
Tony Barnhart
April 6th, 2009
9:07 am
Ken Frier,
I met with Urban Meyer on Saturday when he was in Atlanta. He is serious about the I-formation because he wants to give Tebow more snaps under center, like Atlanta Gator said. The results early on have not been good in practice. But Meyer reminded me that they ran a lot of I-formation stuff in 2006 with Chris Leak. Don’t think you’ll see it a lot in the fall, just enough to prove that Tim Tebow can handle it.
Tony B.
KYBulldog
April 6th, 2009
9:28 am
The real problems with Georgia last season were a lack of discipline, on and off the field, entitled players, and the second highest penalty rate in the country. I am sure that these weaknesses were fixed by the big pay raises for the coaching staff.
ChuckKnapp
April 6th, 2009
9:50 am
I bet you’re right KYBulldog! I hear Pres. Adams has been filling in on defense, too. It’s a lot safer than taking hits over that new book “Behind the Hedges.”
G State Ben
April 6th, 2009
9:50 am
Kid Ray,
Breathe. The discipline has been far heavier than in the past and Jimbo is handling more and more. I promise the last 3 practices will be the toughest of the spring (full pads for at least 2) after all the TOs in the spring game. Remember this, you’ve got two Sophmore RBs and arguably the best of the bench sitting out the spring while recovering from an ACL.
I agree that Florida State is thin at WR and that’s why you’ll see true freshman have a shot there. Add to this, Dekoda Watson, Taiwan Easterling and Budd Thacker didn’t play (3 starters right there). I’m cautiously optimistic that the ‘Noles can improve on the 9 win campaign.
WILL
April 6th, 2009
9:51 am
Be careful when you go to South Carolina, Steve Garcia will steal your hubcaps.
Cameron
April 6th, 2009
9:53 am
I agree with you about needing a DE to emerge. However, I do not share your concern. I know that it will happen. I say watch out for a healthy Rod Battle, speed rushing ends Neland Ball, Cornelius Washington, and Justin Houston, and high motor Dobbs and Longo. As soon as fall practice starts and these guys are healthy, they will be turned loose and three or four will emerge (not just one or two).
But, the main reason our DE production will get back to where it needs to be is six-fold: Geno Atkins, Jeff Owens (healthy), Kade Weston (healthy), DeAngleo Tyson, Brandon Wood, and Brandon Wheeling (impressive walk-on senior). That is our DT rotation, which is outright nasty. It is no secret that Geno Atkins production slipped last year, which is a direct result of seeing the double teams that Jeff Owens used to occupy. Kade Weston had knee trouble all year. Tyson and Wood would start on any other team. Production in the middle like that will open up the outside for guys to fly around and wreak havoc.
About LSU, I have to disagree with you there. I know Chavis will help turn thing around next year. But, I don’t think I guy transferring says anything about how good their defense will be. They weren’t exactly good at all lst year, outside of the GT bowl game. That bowl game had more to do with their big, experienced line manhandling GT’s O-Line than their whole defense being good. In fact, their defense was down right embarassing last year. Worse than UGA’s and worse than LSU’s has been in a long time. I am not saying they have talent, but I am sure that guy transferring has more to do with his lack of work ethic than anyone ahead of him.
DawgGirl32
April 6th, 2009
9:54 am
I think the penalty situation will sort itself out. A lot of it came from lack of experience at certain positions and I think when everyone gets healthy it will be fine. Keep in mind that a lot of the top teams last year were also high up on the penalty list but Georgia’s penalties seemed to always happen during huge plays.
corrine brown (D) FL
April 6th, 2009
9:59 am
Happy Munday, Toni!
GO GATOR!
1980 revisited
April 6th, 2009
9:59 am
Fine coach willie $10,000 every time he calls a 3 man rush. This will improve the defense greatly. Just saying the 3 man rush is the dumbest play in football. Prevent defenses never win. Tried and true saying the best pass defense is a good pass rush. Can not do this with 3 man rush. I DESPISE THE 3 MAN RUSH AND HAVE NO RESPECT FOR AN IDIOT THAT KEEPS USING IT.
Huh?
April 6th, 2009
10:05 am
I think too much emphasis is being placed on the DE’s, as if that one simple thing will fix all of our problems on defense. It won’t. Until the entire unit learns to tackle better and be more physical I don’t care if we’ve got Reggie freaking White in his prime at defensive end. It doesn’t matter. Our defense was soft, lazy, and undisciplined in 2008. Good grief, if our only problem in 2009 is the lack of a pass rusher we’ll be doing pretty darned good.
Huh?
April 6th, 2009
10:09 am
DawgGirl, its no coincidence that alot of our penalties came during huge plays. It probably has something to do with the fact that our defense got burned, was late to the ball, out of position, etc. The good defenses get penalties because they are agreesive and physical. Our defense got penalties because they were lazy and not doing what they were supposed to do. BIG difference.
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 6th, 2009
10:11 am
Thanks once again for 20% of your coverage Mr. SEC Football.
Blindog
April 6th, 2009
10:32 am
Ramble On, I wish you would ramble on somewhere else and shut the hell up, you sound like an idiot. Thank you and have a nice day.
Roadrunner
April 6th, 2009
10:35 am
Anybody who watched Georgia’s games last year knows that the grossly high number of penalties was not explainable by the play on the field. Several times even the neutral TV announcers took the bold step to actually question the official’s calls on the air which they RARELY do. It was that obvious that something was going on. And what was that? I can only guess, but I’d bet money that Georgia’s storming the field in the UGA/FL game the year before was still earning them penalties a year later. Some of these poor calls were back-breakers coming at critical junctures often taking points off the scoreboard in Georgia’s losses. I just hope the zebras have their pound of ‘Bulldog’ flesh and can call the games fairly from this point forward. Seriously, fans of every team claim biased officiating but if you watched all the games last year you would see a pattern of costly poor calls game after game…
Mark
April 6th, 2009
10:39 am
I know you can only “coach up” players to a point. Do the Vols have enough talent to be competitive (8-10 wins) this year or do they still need to get a few more recruiting classes to get back in the SEC mix?
Barnhart Talks Georgia, LSU And Auburn | MrSEC.com
April 6th, 2009
10:49 am
[...] Barnhart of The AJC breaks down some of the recent news coming out of Georgia, LSU and Auburn in his latest blog offering.Among his observations:Georgia: [...]
bama12titles
April 6th, 2009
10:52 am
Tony,
One question. How often can someone reasonably expect a team that won only 3 conference games the year before to suddenly jump up and win 6 or 7 in the span of 1 year? Are you considering all the great offensive and defensive lineman LSU lost? Not to mention the rugged schedule. For 2 eastern opponents they play Florida and then Georgia on the road and in the west they play at least Bama on the road. They are likely to lose 2 of those 3 and that leaves no margin of error through the rest of their sec slate to win their division. Ole Miss and Bama get a break in that they both get to avoid both Florida and Georgia. Big advantage for those 2.
I couldn’t disagree with you more on the LSU defense. Do people forget that this is a defense that gave up over 50 pts twice last year and that they lose several great defensive lineman which was the strength of their defense to the nfl?
They may be deep in the defensive backfield but the game is still won and lost in the trenches and they have some really big 300lb lineman shoes to fill. While I think LSU is going to be fine on offense I think people are putting way too much stock into one bowl game. What say you Tony? By the way, good to have you back!
Saint Nick
April 6th, 2009
10:53 am
The vols will be an absolute joke, besides the trucks that will run the vols over(Bama and Fla) i expect 6-6!!!
UGA Faithful
April 6th, 2009
11:01 am
If Florida goes with the I-formation, they’ll find some way of incorporating spread formation ideas into it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tebow take the snap and run forward just as much as he has in the past. You can’t change a quarterback’s mentality in one year. He’s a future NFL fullback, probably will go to the Dolphins.
knoxdawg
April 6th, 2009
11:04 am
I agree w/ Roadrunner that the endzone celebration against UF caused problems w/ penalties in 08, especially in the UF game. Penalties always came at questionable times and we never got the benefit of doubt in go either way calls. Add to that a lack of discipline on defense and the dawgs were in trouble. Injuries added to it and then not hitting in practice tackling drills to stop possible injuries made it even worse. We bacame a poor tackling team as the year went on and it showed, especially against Tech. One or two tacles in that game alone might have changed the outcome.
2009 will be interesting. Should Georgia’s defense not be better than Mr. Richt will have to make a decision about changing coaches. Despite the injuries, poor defensive play, not smart penalties we still managed to go 10-3. Not a bad record. However, some times its not how many you win but who you lose to and how you lose to them. Embarissing losses are not acceptable.
AltamahaDawg
April 6th, 2009
11:10 am
I don’t know if we have an “elite” athlete at that position right now, although those you mentioned weren’t exactly that in early in thier careers either, so I think there is a strong history of development.
What I do believe is that with so many of them returning, and hopefully able to remain in the line up, they will be able to roll, and at least be fresh. That simply was not the case last year.
Also, it has been stated several times that the DTs make the DEs look better, and we also had an issue with that. Sounds like that is a stengnth now.
murfdawg
April 6th, 2009
11:23 am
Atlanta Gator,
Interesting comments that Meyer had about having to play a SEC opponent wht week after playing a tough game. In 07 UGA had a week off before the fl game and in 08 we played in LSU. It looked like we had a cakewalk scoring 52 points, but our defense was really beat up by the LSU offense. The Gators were a better team last year, but not 39 points better. One reason UGA looks like they can’t finish a season, is we have Fla, Auburn, and GT every year at the end of the year. Sometimes we win all three sometimes we don’t. I have been around long enough to see good Dawg teams win them all and lose them all. See you on Halloween.
bigdawg01
April 6th, 2009
11:25 am
RAMBLE ON!!:
The reason you dont get coverage is because no one cares about GT. You will always be outside looking in when it comes to the SEC.
Rob
April 6th, 2009
11:30 am
KYBulldog makes a good point and I don’t think there has been enough questions for the coaching staff this Spring regarding last year’s penalties and undisciplined play, like very poor tackling. What is UGA doing this Spring to address penalties, if anything? Are they even emphasizing that, with extra laps, running stairs, etc?
38-3
April 6th, 2009
11:32 am
RAMBLE ON, still waiting on those Chick-Fil-A Bowl rings?
Inferiority complex coming through, always about the lack of coverage, and consumed with UGA=Ramble On!
Liebs
April 6th, 2009
11:35 am
Mr. Barnhart, I know its early but a few question for you to consider when you visit Georgia Tech this spring. The obvious one will be how is the defense going to look after graduating 4 seniors but retaining so many starters in other positions. Also, can we get your thoughts on the offensive line when you see them?
SomewhereinGA
April 6th, 2009
11:37 am
The endzone celebration referenced by Roadrunner was dead on! I have preached that since it happened. I was watching the game with our Dawgette daughter (since graduated) and the minute it happened I told her that would haunt us clear up till the next season…she was too high after that to care, but I was right….
Coincidence that the exact same officiating crew worked the game last year???? Hell NO!
To hell with UF, to hell with GT and anyone else that wears orange or that piss yellow gold.
m
April 6th, 2009
11:43 am
Tony Barnyard, your question for ugag this year, and should have been the question for ugag last year also, is how bad is Paul Johnson and the revitalized Tech program going to kick ugag’s sorry arses? Last year the answer was 45-42. This year it will probably be worse, but how much worse? Thank God and Greyhound that the worst coach in Tech history is gone FOREVER so that this question can even be asked.
Percy Harvey
April 6th, 2009
11:44 am
pass me that blunt!
Chick fil a bowl rings
April 6th, 2009
11:46 am
m,
We know you got your rings ordered for your once in a millenium squeaker win over the dawgs but have your ordered your rings for the chick fil a bowl yet?
Huh?
April 6th, 2009
11:48 am
It is highly unlikely that Barnhart will be attending any Georgia Tech practices because he doesn’t want to deal with the traffic and, quite frankly, nobody cares. I find it very ironic that Tech fans whine about the lack of coverage of their team while at the same time failing to fill up their own stadium for home games. Gee Einsteins, don’t you think there might be some kind of correlation there? If you don’t care then why should anybody else? Tech fans are about as bright as a 10 watt lightbulb.
Percy the wonderlich wonder kid
April 6th, 2009
11:49 am
Why you be messin wid me? Don’t make me sick Corrine Brown on yo azz! ALl u crackuhs, she whup dey azz!
bama12titles
April 6th, 2009
11:52 am
Huh,
I’m still betting that Tech fans are brighter than Percy Harvin though.
LSWho?
April 6th, 2009
11:53 am
m, please get some new material!
gumborue
April 6th, 2009
11:59 am
Tony is right about LSU. Their D was bad because of the patchwork co-DCs (now gone). They also lose much less than you think on D from last year. the big name guys that are now gone were overrated—tyson jackson and ricky jean-francois only played when they wanted to. alem and nevis will be stars and there are 4 or 5 others that will take advantage of double teams on the others.
chavis has said there are 7 or 8 DBs that can play. the weakness is at LB—and that is chavis’s strength. LSU will be the best in the west but the schedule is brutal and may keep them out of atlanta.
Old Dawg
April 6th, 2009
12:34 pm
Tony:
We haven’t heard a lot about how Arkansas is developing. The team was a mess last season but are there any indications on the team’s improvement?
Thanks.
Jim Osterman
April 6th, 2009
12:48 pm
Tony:
I’d love to get a sense of the mood/morale of the Auburn team with their new coach. he didn’t exactly come with a resume that left everyone thinking he was a slam dunk hire. Now that the dust has settled are the kids buying into a new regime? Are they genuinely excited about playing for this guy?
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 6th, 2009
12:50 pm
Tony, I think Roddy Jones just ran around that DE for 16.9 yards again.
Tony Barnhart
April 6th, 2009
1:05 pm
Bama12titles,
I’ve spoken to enough people to make be believe that last season was an abberration. Yeah, they lost some great DEs like Pittman and Jackson. But I don’t think you can read too much into last season. Not ready to pick LSU just yet in the West because they play Georgia, Alabama, and Ole Miss on the road.
Jim Osterman,
I’m scheduled to go to Auburn on Friday and will discuss that subject at length.
TB
DS
April 6th, 2009
1:05 pm
Silly Nerds. College Football is for grown ups. You Nerds use the same so called “come back” on every post. Enjoy your one year win out of every 8. This time next year you would have fallen off the face of the earth because the football world will be alined correctly when Georgia beats your sorry team on the flats….. again.
yellowblood
April 6th, 2009
1:14 pm
dawggies,
Last fall’s defeat is going to become routine under Paul Johnson. Your day in the sun is over. You rednecks are going to have many defeats this fall while we’re having some great Tickle Piles.
Dean
April 6th, 2009
1:14 pm
I’ve heard it said somewhere that officials were also upset at the hits that Georgia defenders put on Colt Brennan in the 08 Sugar Bowl and that officials were set to put a stop to what they saw as Georgia’s over aggresiveness. I don’t know how true that is. Georgia made alot of stupid penalties last year but there were also alot of borderline calls that gave the appearance that Georgia was being hen pecked by the officials.
griffdawg1
April 6th, 2009
1:25 pm
tony, you nalso didn’t mention the fact that Kiante Tripp will be moving back to his natural position, DE. That put a tested athlete at that position for us. He has great strength, speed and agility for a very large man. I’d hate to have to block him all day! He and Dobbs will be Taking care of your concerns.
bigdawg01
April 6th, 2009
1:39 pm
I think the defense will be much improved. Losing Jeff Owens was a death nail for us. He will be double teamed all the time, which in turn will free up the ends.
griffdawg-Very good point that Tripp will be moving back to his natural position. He will be slimmed down a bit because the bulked him up for O-line duty. He is very fast and will surely make a difference this year. I will say it again, NOT having Big Jeff Owens in the middle killed that line. We have a ton of talent to rotate. Remember what helped us in 07? Great rotations and fresh players. Look for that again this year. We had a destroyed o line and d line and still won 10. Not many other schools can do that.
Nachos
April 6th, 2009
1:46 pm
Gene Chizik? hahahahahahahaahahahahhahaahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahhaha !
Gator ATL
April 6th, 2009
1:47 pm
Mr. Barnhart. You met with Coach Meyer on Saturday? Cool. Would love to see the story you wrote. Can you post the link. Thanks. Excited to see what Meyer had to say.
corrine brown (D) FL
April 6th, 2009
1:52 pm
Gator ALT:
Its Corch Meyers, get it write!
Go Gator!
Gene Chizik
April 6th, 2009
1:55 pm
Nachos,
Beware! I am bringing all the prestige of my mighty 5-19 record as a head coach to the plains.
Nachos
April 6th, 2009
2:01 pm
Hello Coach Chizdik! You are as intimidating as a blackout night game in Athens!
Yo, JB (RE: your 8:43am post)
April 6th, 2009
2:17 pm
So you’re saying GA is going to get rings after losing to GT this season. Hmmm, you’re logic seems a little backwards.
Gene Chizik
April 6th, 2009
2:25 pm
Nachos,
I think you are underestimating me. Of the 2 wins I had last year we beat North Dakota State in one of those games. Excuse me but did your sorry excuse of a team lay a whupping on North Dakota State? I didn’t think so! You aint nothin till you man up and lay the wood on the college football powerhouses of the world like North Dakota State. I believe our other win was also over Kent State of the prestigious MAC conference. Top that Mr. Tough Guy!
dawgystyle
April 6th, 2009
3:54 pm
Ugas defense will be fine because they will tackle much better ad play with a chip on their shoulder. Watch out for fred munsenmier at rb run runs like jacob hester.
Otto
April 6th, 2009
4:14 pm
RoadRunner I agree with you on the calls. Lets see how UT gets called this year after calling Urban a cheater.
UGA’s success will depend on the defense. The DL should be stronger and it will be intersting to see how the secondary plays. The thin DL really hurt last year.
The west will be interesting Ole Miss or Bama wins but LSU and Auburn both pull out some big wins. IMO the west will be messy.
Let us know how the QB situation is at Auburn.
NashvilleVol
April 6th, 2009
4:53 pm
Tony,
Can Kiffin coach up this years Vols to a 9-10 win season or will he have to wait on Coach O et al to bring in more talent to get back in the SEC mix?
SEC1
April 6th, 2009
5:01 pm
Ramble on:
Dude, how many times do I have to tell ya?
hop
April 6th, 2009
5:30 pm
the d/line will be fine in ‘09. defensive tackles will provide a huge advantage with a hard push from the inside that will open up lanes for the defensive ends and linebackers against the pass and run attack.
also, we were young at DE last year but the experience gained will bold well for this much maligned group this season!
the overall defense will be much improve over 2008 and the dawgs will make a run for the championship.
i never thought 2008 was the year but 2009 will be just fine for the dawgnation!
RowdyReptile
April 6th, 2009
5:35 pm
How will UF plan to use Johnny Brantley this year? Will Emanuel Moody finally get a shot at being the guy at RB, if not the guy- at least some more short yardage carries to save Tim Tebow?
rolltide
April 6th, 2009
5:43 pm
Its funny now how all these alabama fans come out of nowhere all of the sudden talking all that smack after their team is somewhat relevant in the conference for ONE YEAR out of the last what…10? I don’t know maybe they just now got wireless internet set up in the trailer parks and this is all a coincidence. Have fun losing 4-5 games next year
AJC gives LSU 'D' some love! - SECTalk Forums
April 6th, 2009
5:58 pm
[...] Barnhart in the AJC giving LSU some love… AJC "There is more proof that the LSU defense is loaded: LSU defensive back Phelon Jones, a [...]
athensdawg
April 6th, 2009
6:01 pm
great. i’m glad to hear that a defensive end is the answer to all of uga’s problems.
the defensive end will
cut down on the total number of penalties,
teach the defensive backs how to tackle,
make sure that the team doesn’t quit when times get tough.
he will also
make sure that our players don’t get injured
make sure that we recruit an adequate number of offensive linemen.
when the defensive end is done with that, he will
win the heisman
cure cancer
cure aids
negotiate peace in the middle east
and run for president.
Tide rising
April 6th, 2009
6:07 pm
rolltide,
You might want to check your facts a little bit there pardner. We’ve certainly had some down years in the early 2000s because we were down 21 scholarships from the probation but in the last 10 years that you mention we have 1 sec title, would have played for another in 2002 except for the probation, we spent most of 2005 season ranked 3rd in the country, and then there’s last year. All in all we had 4 10 game plus winning seasons in the last decade so its not as if we fell off the face of the planet although we were definitely below the standards of what we accomlished in the 90s. Get used to resenting us because there’s no stopping us now. Just deal with it.
Incidentally, I haven’t seen one Bama fan on here talking smack about winning a national title or even an sec title this year. People are just happy that we’re having double digit winning seasons again, that recruiting is going extremely well, and that we’re good again. But we didn’t annoint ourselves national champions and I really don’t see all that smack talk that you speak of.
Miles
April 6th, 2009
6:22 pm
A new book? I can’t wait! Awesome. I’m eagerly anticipating it. Great news!
The Big Bug
April 6th, 2009
7:09 pm
m might give up the Greyhound crap if yellowblood would give the tickle pile schtick. But I doubt it.
Next to Tech I like to watch the doggies most. The killer penalties they had seemed to me to be of the unnecessary variety like late/out of bounds hits. 15-yarders that really hurt & kept drives alive. Luckily, I don’t think it had any effect on the won-loss record.
Kendawg
April 6th, 2009
7:15 pm
Everyone seems to have overlooked the possibilities that Cornelius Washington is going to bring to the defensive end position. He is very fast for a relatively big guy and speed is what Marcus Howard brought to the DE position. If he can get well, he may be part of the solution to our DE problems. But can anyone on our defense tackle? As for Tech fans being on our blog, where else can they be? They’re lucky to get 40,000 in Grant Field on a Saturday afternoon.
SugarHillDawg
April 6th, 2009
8:45 pm
Ramble On, if you had 2 neurons to rub together and you could read the posts you put up on here you would be so ashamed you would NEVER post again. Your replies are without a doubt, the STUPIDEST script I and scores like me have EVER read. BTW, Tony talks about what people want to hear–they don’t care about the minor leagues of college football!
UGA 2008 Preseason national Champions
April 6th, 2009
10:02 pm
45-42
UGA 2008 Preseason national Champions
April 6th, 2009
10:03 pm
Forty Five > Forty Two
UGA 2008 Preseason national Champions
April 6th, 2009
10:08 pm
Five reasons why Tech Football is superior to Tech
1) We have More National Championships
2) We have more Conference Championships
3)We dont look like a red and black Version of the green bay packers
4)We are ranked by ESPNU as the 18th most prestigious college football program of all time compared to UGA who didnt even make the top 119
5)Our coach still recruits in the state of Georgia which is one of the many reasons Tech is going to beat UGAg for years to come!
UGA 2008 Preseason national Champions
April 6th, 2009
10:08 pm
im sorry why Tech football is superior to UGA
UGA 2008 Preseason national Champions
April 6th, 2009
10:13 pm
Typical UGA comebacks
1) 7 years (if it wasnt for UGA beating us 7 years in a row than we would still have chan gailey so thanx UGA)
2) our stadium is bigger (who gives a crap)
3)mark richt adopts arab kid ( thats not all he does with them)
3)
dan
April 6th, 2009
10:28 pm
Dawgs had zero pass rush last year. Just a bunch of bodies out there on defense really. I just think the talent is not there period. And once the team had their burst against Florida, they lost confidence in themselves and quit playing. That was a very emotionally immature team last year. They got hit in the mouth and quit.Not exactly sure how you fix that.
For LSU: I do think they will be better next year. LSU really struggled on offense last year and they really put their defense in a bad position. I think LSU will be much improved this year. They have a great program there in Baton Rouge.
Auburn is another team that will be much improved this year. Their defense isn’t bad, and I think they’ll be bowl eligible this year.
FSU: Is just a terrible program. They’d have a losing record if they were in the SEC.
UGA 2008 Preseason national Champions
April 6th, 2009
10:34 pm
45-42-45-52-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42
45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42
45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42
45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42
45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42-45-42
Dawg Tired
April 6th, 2009
10:54 pm
Tony – Thanks for the article about Georgia football. I agree 100% with the biggest need on defense being at least one DE who can pass rush. During the entire recruiting period right up until signing day, I consistently asked about whether we would sigh a top level DE. Anyone who watched us last season should have seen the primary (obviously not the only problem) problem with the defense (other than coaching – but that’s apparently a lost cause) was the lack of pressure from the DEs. Not many college QBs can play well when under a strong pass rush (see Utah rush Alabama QB). However, almost all of them can pick you apart when there is no pass rush (see Alabama QB throw TD after TD against UGA).
Hopefully Houston is getting much better. Maybe one of the injured DE will come on strong in preseason practice. What about the incoming freshman from Indiana? Is he goof enough to play right away? If no one steps up, it will be a long season.
j. brown
April 6th, 2009
11:13 pm
Hey tech boy which is IQ 45 or 42, is that all you gnats have. I hate having to educate a bug but here goes. So you won a game big deal. Everyone wins one sometimes but what you can’t get is that to Ga. fans all you’re considered as only slightly better that a good high school team. YOU DON”T MATTER> YOU ARE A JOKE WITH AN INFERIORITY COMPLEX THAT IS WELL EARNED. Teams will catch up to your offense and you will get your drubbings and soon you will have another coach in three or four years. You recruit players for your system but they are not the best players which means you are going to lose big time. Keep smoking whatever it is you’re smoking boy cause if you think bugs are going keep beating the dawgs you need all the help you can get. be afraid boy.
JustCallMeChamp
April 7th, 2009
12:33 am
Tony, When you go to Florida, please ask the question we are ALL dying to know! Ask Urban how he REALLY feels about Lane Kiffin??? I know he won’t specifically answer it, just let us know how long he grinds his teeth when you ask!
Jim Veitch
April 7th, 2009
12:41 am
Well at least you will get to the flats before you are done. I’m sure that you are not very excited to stop by there. Could you ask Coach Johnson a question please? After we rush for over 400 yards on UGA this year, how many yards will we pass for? Thank you and have a good trip. I forgot to mention 45-42! GO JACKETS! Tell Roddy Jones and Jonathan Dwyer that I said hello.
bama12titles
April 7th, 2009
1:13 am
Just call me champ,
You’ll find out how Urban feels about Lane when its 66-0 with a minute to go, UF at the UT 20 yard line and Tebow still in the game and throwing the ball into the end zone to try to score another. Poor Lane has been talking all the talk, guess we’ll see if he can walk the walk. I wonder if Meyer will call timeouts with seconds on the clock to prolong Kiffin’s agony.
The Native
April 7th, 2009
4:49 am
Auburn has a great player coming in , in August from JUCO in Mahattan NY Brandon Glass who will solve there rush end problem the kid had 21 sacks , can cover & also play all LB positions a true hybrid, he will be a impact player, good job Coach rocker in finding this diamond.
The Native
April 7th, 2009
4:57 am
Georgia loved Brandon Glass on film but wouldnt, offer him he would have solved their DE problem the kid has STAR written all over him, the lb coach & coach T said he can really play but didnt bring him in???
Jack
April 7th, 2009
5:57 am
Tony, I’m not a SC fan but went with a buddy to their scrimmage. Looked like a whole new team. The Maddox kid and the Giles kid can flat out run the ball and their 6′4″ receivers are going to be a load. Garcia looked good too. Very impressive.
Spike
April 7th, 2009
6:58 am
Tony, can I have your job? Do you need an asistant?
m
April 7th, 2009
8:33 am
I heard some of you ugag dawgies have finally discovered modern technology and have gotten Tivo. Now, once you skip the commercials on the tv news magazine 60 Minutes, it only takes 45 minutes and 42 seconds to watch. Get used to it, mutts.
Nachos
April 7th, 2009
9:20 am
Fear the blackout! 2008 Preseason national champions… well done!
UGA_2001
April 10th, 2009
11:07 am
“at star at DT? ”
Poor editing- one reason why the newspaper industry is in a nosedive.