Three and out: Dissed Dogs, key Falcon and the wrong M.J.
Hairy Dawg canceled his subscription to The Sporting News after hearing the publication ranked the Bulldogs only 27th.
Welcome back to another edition of, “Three and Out,” three items stuffed into one blog. Now that’s value! Because this is a holiday weekend, we’ll even throw in a bundt cake.
1. Georgia ranked No. 27?
I’m sure Georgia Tech fans will enjoy this (Georgia fans, not so much). The Sporting News just came out with its preseason top 100 rankings — which of course mean nothing, but they’re fun to look at — and the Yellow Jackets are slotted at No. 18, a whopping nine spots ahead of the No. 27 Bulldogs. So I guess Tech losing four top players in the NFL draft doesn’t outweigh Georgia started a freshman quarterback.
Not surprisingly, defending national champion Alabama is ranked No. 1.
You can go to the link for the complete list, but I’m positing the top 10, as well as all SEC and ACC teams in the top 100.
For easy reference for debates, I’m putting the SEC teams in red and ACC teams in blue.
1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Boise State
4. Miami
5. Florida
6. TCU
7. Nebraska
8. Wisconsin
9. Texas
10. Oklahoma
—
12. Virginia Tech
14. Florida State
17. Auburn
18. Georgia Tech
20. LSU
21. Arkansas
23. North Carolina
27. Georgia
34. Boston College
38. South Carolina
48. Mississippi
54. North Carolina State
56. Tennessee
58. Kentucky
59. Mississippi State
61. Clemson
68. Virginia
70. Duke
83. Vanderbilt
86. Wake Forest
89. Maryland
♦
2. Mark Jackson for the Hawks? Why?
Mark Jackson was a great player but he would be a huge risk as Hawks' head coach.
Notwithstanding my policy of not prejudging coaches, here goes: Of all the potential candidates I’ve heard to coach the Hawks, Mark Jackson makes the least sense. Jackson is expected to get interviewed after the Eastern Conference finals. The former NBA guard was a great player. He’s also an excellent commentator. He’s bright and tough and certainly has the traits to be a solid coach one day. But the Hawks are a relatively veteran team now. They parted with Mike Woodson because they want to take the next step in the playoffs. So why would general manager Rick Sund and ownership risk turning over the team to somebody who has zero coaching experience? I think the last time Sund tried this, he hired Quinn Buckner in Dallas, and as I noted the other day on this list of past Sund hires that didn’t turn out so well. If Jackson gets the job and proves me wrong, it will be so noted. In large bold letters. But I just don’t think it’s the direction the Hawks should be going in.
♦
3. Could Harry Douglas be the key to the Falcons’ season?
Harry Douglas's knee injury was a crusher for the Falcons in 2009.
Pat Yasinskas, ESPN.com’s NFC South blogger, has posted an excellent blog titled, “Five NFC South players ready to pounce.” The context: five players in the division, some coming back from injuries, who may be the keys to their respective team’s success next season. Among the five: Harry Douglas, who was projected to be the Falcons’ third receiver and punt returner last season until suffering a torn knee ligament in training camp. The other four players are Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith, Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, Tampa Bay linebacker Barrett Ruud and New Orleans defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis.
I still don’t think a lot of people realize how significant this injury was to the Falcons. They had huge plans for Douglas in his second season. He was going to be the third receiver in this offense. The Falcons were planning on using him in the slot and bringing a whole new dynamic to their offense. The injury prevented that and really kept Atlanta’s offense from ever hitting its stride last season. But Douglas should be back at full strength and that alone could change the complexion of an offense that’s loaded just about everywhere else. Tight end Tony Gonzalez and wide receiver Roddy White already are very good and wide receiver Michael Jenkins is dependable. Throw Douglas’ speed into the slot and Gonzalez, White and Jenkins immediately become even better. Quarterback Matt Ryan might even become great.
Enjoy the rest of your day, folks. I’ll be back tomorrow from the Braves’ game.
♦
Earlier posts
♦ Wade, LeBron and Joe are meeting? Where — Yalta?
♦ ‘Friend’ of Clint Eastwood, Julie Andrews wants Thrashers!
♦ Hawks’ Sund lacks string of great coaching hires in past
♦
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83 comments Add your comment
Sven Ottke
May 29th, 2010
12:12 am
heeldog, obviously preseason polls don’t mean a thing….much like 2 years ago when you guys prematurely celebrated a national championship and dropped like rock!!!
HugoStiglitz
May 29th, 2010
12:23 am
heeldawg, the game in Athens was the last time Boise St opened the season against a strong OOC opponent? Did you miss last year? The played the #16 team in the country who eventually won the PAC 10 title and went to a BCS game. That was a pretty strong victory to open the season.
tyler
May 29th, 2010
2:26 am
Well- hmmm……..first of all, i have to totally agree with the assessment of Jackson-come on, really? I have no idea what’s going on with that interview- reminded me of the mandate that’s put on college/pro organizations to interview a minority, that isn’t an issue so it makes no sense. As far as the rankings go- Miami WAY too high, UGA too low- maybe somewhere @15th or so. GT seems about right at their spot. Ark is getting a lot of love but they won’t deliver w/o some sort of D this year. LSU will lose at least 3 or 4 games- AU the same…Hawks should hire AJ
rekingball
May 29th, 2010
9:28 am
54th and Gators Sux
rekingball
May 29th, 2010
9:29 am
54th and Gator Sux
heartofdarkness
May 29th, 2010
10:01 am
Would have been nice if AJC had a picture of Douglas in more of a pouncing posture. I think the slot is the key to the passing attack on many top offenses. Not only do slot receivers play a critical role in possession downs to extend drives, but when defenses gamble to put pressure on the passer, it is often the slot guy who reads the openings created and reads the QB’s mind to make a big play. The Colts stress this position so much they had two players on their roster who could perform this role in case their starter was injured. The Pats do the same. Good luck to Harry Douglas this year.
TommyJack
May 29th, 2010
10:35 am
Heeldawg: Thanks. I knew it wasn’t that complicated. Problem is, you still have to factor in Mark Richt. Another mediocre (at best) year for the dawgs.
Justin
May 29th, 2010
12:37 pm
There are 8 teams on the schedule that could be tough outs for Georgia.
Will lose 1 of these 3:
Miss St.–Kent–Tenn
Will lose these 5:
South Carolina–Florida–Auburn–Arkansas–Georgia Tech
Looking at 6-6.
Kip
May 29th, 2010
12:43 pm
#27 is optimistic. Georgia finished ranked in the 60’s in 2009, Richt’s worst recruiting class followed. I’d just try to break into the 40’s. You have to remember, Richt’s been saying for 3 years and off-seasons now he’s going to fix turnover and penalties, and the way his staff teaches, nothing changes.
Justin
May 29th, 2010
12:50 pm
You’d have to think because of the QB situation, installing a brand new defensive scheme, integrating 3 new coaches, the ongoing problems with penalties/turnovers, and a worse than expected recruiting class, Georgia will have another brutal year.
Hairy Dawg
May 29th, 2010
12:52 pm
Sporting News is sorry. Dawgs is one of stars on flags and Dawg nation dominating SEC this year. Gaytors loosing QB to. With no Teablows Dawgs beat Gaytors like Orange Blue step childs. Sporting News smoking something to thinking Dawgs end up below Techmites pointy header nerds. Dawgs got SEC talent speeds that gets them to winning and goning Sugar Bowl. We unloading whooping can all season and will BCS champs.
Sam Dog
May 29th, 2010
12:53 pm
UGA is 6th best SEC team this year?
I don’t think so.
Yes, Alabama & Florida should be higher, but UGA is the 3rd best team in the SEC, so I’d start them around #15 until they prove they’re better.
Tide Rising
May 29th, 2010
12:59 pm
Its a little ridiculous that Georgia is ranked 27th. qb is the only position where there is a huge question mark. The O-line may end up being one of the best in the nation and a solid O-line can anchor a whole team. Schedule is also very favorable for the dawgs with no major out of conference opponents and they avoid both LSU and Bama in the west. If the qb matures in a hurry they could be a 10 win team.
Now what is ridiculous is Miami being 4th. Sorry but I just don’t see it. Heck I would place my money on 27th ranked Georgia to beat 4th ranked Miami for that matter.
The rest of the poll looks pretty good except for one other glaring mistake. They have TCU ranked 6th and Texas ranked all the way back at 9th. TCU is a fine team but their first teamers couldn’t make 3rd team at Texas. Are you kidding me?
Tide Rising
May 29th, 2010
1:01 pm
I’ld start the dawgs around 15th. 27th? You gotta be kidding. And Miami 4th? Heck Georgia would whip them. And TCU 6th over Texas at 9th? TCU is a fine team but has nowhere near the talent of Texas.
Has Beens
May 29th, 2010
1:01 pm
Coach Richt will have a tough schedule, he’ll play 4 top 20 teams on the list: Florida, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, and Auburn
Last year’s schedule was terrible, Georgia played 4 top 10 teams, but this year’s isn’t much better, 4 top 20 teams.
Will
May 29th, 2010
1:18 pm
Sporting News, Bleacher Report & Sports Illustrated did NOT include Georgia in their pre-seaosn top 25.
ESPN has Georgia #23.
7-6 or 8-5 season.
Has Beens
May 29th, 2010
1:22 pm
Last year, Coach Richt played 4 top 10 teams: LSU, Florida, Ga Tech & Ok St. Lost 3 out of 4.
This year, Coach Richt plays 4 top 20 teams: Florida, Auburn, Georgia Tech & Arkansas. With a brand new QB & trying to learn the 3-4 defense, Coach Richt will lose all 4 of those.
crazy legs jackson
May 29th, 2010
1:30 pm
ESPN has a good approach. They average 25 experts together to come up with their pre-seaosn rankings. If course, most of those are not SEC guys, but at least it’s something.
That ESPN approach has Georgia at #23 pre-season. Looks about right, that means most expect Georgia to go 9-4, most see Georgia losing 4 of these 5 games to Florida, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Auburn, and South Carolina.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=5143606
Reid Adair
May 29th, 2010
1:39 pm
Mark Jackson would be a huge mistake. The players on the team have as much coaching experience as Jackson does. Surely Rick Sund learned from the disaster that was Quinn Buckner in Dallas.
Interesting thought about Harry Douglas. Assuming he’s ready to go for training camp, Pat Yasinkas might well be right.
Has Beens
May 29th, 2010
1:56 pm
The Georgia football program is in decline, that’s the eprception, and you see why, drop in recruits, drop in final polls, & now drop in pre-season rankings.
Why?
The direction of the program. You go from 11 wins in 2007, to 9 wins in 2008, to just 8 wins in 2009. you get blown out by Florida and you lose to Kentucky. The -16 in turnover margin. The 100+ penalities last year. The 16 interceptions. The decline is evident.
Has Beens
May 29th, 2010
2:08 pm
What you get out of Richt, is 1 good year, followed by 4 years where you get worse every year.
2002 13-1, then 11-3 2003, 10-2 2004, 9-3 2005, 9-4 2006.
2007 11-12,then 10-3 2008, 8-5 2009, 7-6 2010, 6-7 2011.
If you look at his past pattern, you’re looking at 2 more declining years now at 7-6 and 6-7 before things improve.
Hairy Dawg
May 29th, 2010
2:18 pm
Dawgs is goning to be beating everyones and winning table running to Sugar. Dawgs declining is making me laughing. Techies win once in decades and think they hot sh**. Reality is pointy heading nerds and the pestky bugs is beating down bad this years to lose bads and stinks.
dbird1
May 29th, 2010
2:50 pm
Jenkins dependable?????? has Pat watched a Falcons game? Jenkins has one more shot this year. If he drops any more key passes, its time to let him go.
Has Beens
May 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
the special teams have been deplorable.
Kick off’s going out of bounds.
Kick off’s being returned 50 yards.
18 out of the last 22 games, Georgia’s had a major kicking team error.
No ability to fix errors on coaching staff, just like penalties & turnovers.
Kick off’s have been disaster zone, not going to change.
Hairy Dawg
May 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
Dawgs just got to get the SEC talent speeds and player that plays instead and get rids of chumps that stinks with Adams-Evans doing the jobs. Then Dawgs best talent team to win East and GA Dome.
Go Dawgs!
Has Beens
May 29th, 2010
3:50 pm
No wonder the Dogs arn’t on anyone’s tp 25 list.
Richt has the program in bad shape, here is where Georgia ranks out of 120 teams in the NCAA:
#118 in Turnover Margin
#117 Kick off return opp team
#120 Fumbles recovered
#118 takeaways per game
#111 Penalties
#100 Interceptions thrown per game
#59 Scoring Margin
That’s just inexcusable.
Hope Ray
May 29th, 2010
4:06 pm
Georgia is top 5 in the country at 1 thing:
———————
Running the ball
———————
Over the last 3 games, 250 yards a game.
If that trend continues, might finish in the top 25 again.
Hairy Dawg
May 29th, 2010
7:06 pm
Dawgs aint has beens but team of futures. We just got more SEC speed talents than any teams otherwise. We goning to beat Urban Liar the Gaytors for nervous breaking without Teablows. Then we whips Dooley boy and that slob of goo with high school offense of pestky bugs. We replaced Martinaz to fix defenses problmes. Now we got good QB to be there instead of stinky Cox. We got best receiving and that is how Dawgs can win it all for 2010.
falcon4ever
May 29th, 2010
9:08 pm
why aren’ ga. and ga. tech tied for first? it’s just not fair! i’ll bet the refs had something to do with it.
After beating bottom feeders, Braves can get serious now | Jeff Schultz
May 29th, 2010
10:54 pm
[...] Three and out: Dissed Dogs, key Falcon and the wrong M.J. [...]
Three and out: Dooley's doom, Richt's seat, Tech's rebuttal | Jeff Schultz
May 31st, 2010
1:50 pm
[...] Three and out: Dissed Dogs, key Falcon and the wrong M.J. [...]
Clay
June 1st, 2010
7:30 am
Yasinskas: “…Michael Jenkins is dependable.”
We can depend on him for what, dropping at least one probable TD pass per game?
NFL’s Kirwan says three Falcons poised for breakout season | Jeff Schultz
June 1st, 2010
2:54 pm
[...] I agree with the three players Kirwan selected. Biermann especially doesn’t get talked about enough. He’s a guy who can really impact the pass rush. One other player that deserved consideration is wide receiver and punt returned Harry Douglas, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. Douglas was singled out by ESPN’s NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas as a potential key to the 2010 season, which was referenced here last week. For more on that, here’s the link. [...]