Kickoffs remain a ‘challenge’ for Dogs
Jon Fabris, Mark Richt (Associated Press)
I was driving home from Athens Saturday night, listening to the “Fifth Quarter Show” on WNGC, and the subject of the Dogs’ terrible kickoff coverage came up.
The frequently asked question since last year has been why Georgia can’t get a kicker to put the ball deep into the end zone for a touchback like so many other teams do. At the end of last season, after too many of Blair Walsh’s directional kicks had sailed out of bounds, Mark Richt indicated he wanted a kicker who could “boom” it and famously said he’d go as far as Poland to find one.
Instead, he looked to California and signed junior college player Brandon Bogotay to a scholarship, ostensibly because of his strong leg. But in preseason competition, it was decided that Walsh should keep the kickoff job as well as handling PATs and field goals. And the Dogs stuck to special teams coach Jon Fabris’ policy of preferring high, shorter kicks directed into the corner.
If you’re wondering what happened, former Georgia players A.J. Bryant and Kelin Johnson, now regulars on the “Fifth Quarter Show,” put it all into perspective. Both of them played on special teams for Fabris, and they said that it wouldn’t matter whether the Dogs had a kicker who could put it in the end zone or not; Fabris likes “the challenge” of directional kicks. That’s just Coach Fab, they said, get used to it.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Fabris would rather his coverage team face “the challenge” of containing a return than get a touchback and have the other team at their own 20.
Of course, the argument that Richt continues to make in favor of directional kicks is that they have more hang time and allow the coverage team to get downfield and prevent a long return. Theoretically, that is. As the Dogs have shown time and time again, including in Saturday’s Oklahoma State game, that frequently isn’t the case.
Meeting with reporters Tuesday, Richt said of the OSU game, “The fans want the long kick, but the longest kick had the longest return. The kicks that were a little shorter had the better hang times and ball placement. We covered those better.”
It’s worth pointing out, of course, that it’s not just “the fans” who would like to see Georgia kick it into the end zone. Some folks who know a thing or two about kickoffs, including former Bulldog greats Kevin Butler and Rex Robinson, have come out against the directional kicking approach. Why Richt sticks with Fabris’ philosophy, even when it obviously has greater risk than kicking it deep, is a real mystery.
But let’s put aside for now the argument over deep kicks vs. directional kicks, since apparently Fabris is going to go with the latter, no matter what, and Richt shows no sign of doing anything about it.
The bigger problem for several seasons now is that Georgia’s kick coverage is just plain lousy. The first players to reach the kick returner are usually pretty easily eluded — frankly, they fall down a lot — and once a returner gets past the first wave, there’s frequently a wide-open seam running through Georgia’s coverage that produces results like Saturday’s 74-yard return by the Cowboys’ Perrish Cox.
Richt himself conceded that on the long return by Oklahoma State, “I wouldn’t say that because we kicked it deeper that was the cause. We had a young man who should have contained and forced [Cox] inside to where our coverage teams were. We didn’t do a good job of that. Our second wave didn’t get in position to corral him. There was some great hustle at the end to keep him from going the distance. The guys that were designed to be safeties did their job, so it didn’t become a touchdown at that point. Ultimately that ensuing drive was a touchdown on a short field. We just can’t have it.”
Indeed.
Richt talked during the preseason about bolstering the coverage by using some of the Dogs’ much-lauded freshman talent, though Fabris apparently wasn’t so enthusiastic about that idea. But that’s not really the problem. The Dogs could load up the coverage team with first-teamers and it wouldn’t matter if they’re not properly coached and if Georgia doesn’t devote the needed time to improving its special teams play.
Bad coaching, or not enough coaching, seems to be the problem.
Here’s another example: On the other side of the kickoff game, the Dogs had a true freshman, Branden Smith, receive a kick deep in the end zone Saturday and, against all common sense, he tried to return it and got stopped inside his own 10-yard line. OK, chalk that up to a stupid freshman mistake. Surely, he’d get coached up on the sidelines, right?
Nope, next time he tried the same thing again.
All of which makes it seem that Richt and company don’t take special teams play seriously enough.
Until they do, it’s likely that Georgia is going to continue to lose the field-position battle. And games.
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121 comments Add your comment
Saint Simons
September 9th, 2009
10:21 am
Get along little Doggies ((((( 24 – 10 )))))) hahahahahahahahahahaha
Paul's Johnson
September 9th, 2009
10:32 am
“Richt talked during the preseason about bolstering the coverage by using some of the Dogs’ much-lauded freshman talent, though Fabris apparently wasn’t so enthusiastic about that idea”.
Who’s the Head Coach of this team?
Richt needs to man up and demand some accountability from these clowns Fabris and Bobo. We are not utilizing the talent on this squad to it’s maximum capacity because Richt, due to loyalty or too much confidence in the coaches is too complacent and will not take control. Until he does this, we will see the same tired play.
Saint Simons
September 9th, 2009
10:36 am
Get along little doggies ((((((((((( 24 – 10 ))))))))) hahahahahahahahahahahaha
L-Dawg
September 9th, 2009
10:40 am
GLORY GLORY TO OLE GEORGIA!!!
SO GOOD TO LOVE MY TEAM AS OPPOSED TO HATE/ENVY ANOTHER!!
GO DAWGS!!!!
4 DAYS TIL HOME/SEC OPENER!!!!!
Daniel#12
September 9th, 2009
10:41 am
Let’s see. The choice is give the other team the ball on their own 20 or face the “challenge” of directional kicking. How many times over the last 2 years have we contained the other team inside the 20? Very very few. Boom it and make them go 80 yards. As for Branden Smith, one stupid mistake calls for severe penaltyies (surely he has been told not to return a kick from deep in the end zone) 2 such mistakes is incomprehensible. Is there no in game coaching for the special teams?
David
September 9th, 2009
10:43 am
Bill,
Coincidentally, the play from our DEs has been terrible for two years, which is coached by Fabris. Yes, we were injured last year, but I don’t think there was much production from them against OK State. Prior to two years ago, UGA was loaded with ubertalented guys who probably didn’t need too much coaching from ol’ Fabris….Howard, Johnson, Pollack…..
It seems like CMR or the coaching staff has lost its edge and plays the games about as conservative as a Puritan! Tressell may be more edgy than our coaching staff these days…….It’s time to take some chances, get those guys out on the field and make some plays……..
One other item of note – UGA’s inability to put away less than opponents in years past has a direct effect on our team today….When you play the teams you pay, you need to blow them out and get game time reps for your backups, ala JOE COX….the ol boy barely got chances to get in the games, and when he did it was spring draw left, sprint draw right, off tackle left, off tackle right….not sold on Joe, but some more game time experience obviously would have been beneficial!
David
September 9th, 2009
10:45 am
I bet if Urban Meyer reads this, he will be laughing for weeks…..Take a lesson from that stain, he prides himself on special teams, plays it smart, and does a heckuva a job at it………….Hello CMR, anyone in there?
GeoffDawg
September 9th, 2009
10:52 am
Sounds like Fabris is viewing special teams as being there for purely his own interest and enjoyment. Personally, I don’t care if we bring back the wing T and play the most boring brand of football on the planet as long as it’s effective. If we have the leg to force them to start on the 20, then do it already. If it means so much to him, let Coach Fabris perfect directional kicking on playstation at home.
Lynn43
September 9th, 2009
11:01 am
Why look to California for a kicker. LaGrange College junior, Josh Stripling, is awsome. What a game on Saturday!
l-dawg lover
September 9th, 2009
11:10 am
L-Dawg = Try selling out a 55k seat stadium = 1-888-TECH-TIX
getthepicturenow
September 9th, 2009
11:10 am
if Walsh was the guy all along, why did we even bring in the kid from california? its almost like the right hand has no idea what the left hand is doing. Football-(yes Joe, i’ve played a down of football) is a marriage between offense-defense&SPECIAL TEAMS. i’m starting to get concerned about this group. that was a dis-heartening read.
CHS
September 9th, 2009
11:12 am
CMR – Check out the Calhoun kicker. He is from Poland and can kick it in the endzone but you will have to wait … he is only a soph. He has never missed a PAT somthing like 60/60 so far.
jdawg
September 9th, 2009
11:12 am
I have posted this before…watching from my seats, Fab, Martinez…all the time are getting at each other…and sometimes CMR will get in the fray. For folks that watch TV only, you are missing a good show, and I will admit I might miss a play…watch the re-run….but don’t you think after a while we could just try it…in the end zone. I just do not understand….my opinion…is that at the end of this year, something is going to change….a def head job…a special teams..def end job….Greg Wilsons article commented that even at a small school in Augusta…kicked the ball out of the end zone twice…..and they were so proud they put it on YouTube…my tube Sat. showed NOTHING….jdawg
BR
September 9th, 2009
11:13 am
All Tech fans do is talk… they sure as he** don’t show up to support their team. They have nothing better to do than to stay on UGA blogs all day. Poor nerds.
Life long Dawg
September 9th, 2009
11:22 am
I can guarantee that if Georgia kicked the ball out of the end zone the opponent would start on the 20 yard line every time. Can Fabris guarantee that with directional kicking the opponent would start on or inside the 20 yard line every time?
GeoffDawg
September 9th, 2009
11:22 am
“we could just try it…in the end zone”
I’ve tried that with girlfriends in the past jdawg. They usually don’t go for it either.
andrew horne
September 9th, 2009
11:24 am
Lets face it Mark Richt is just too much of a “nice guy” to be a great coach, you know what they say nice guys ,they finish last! He does not have the killer instinct to get his team fired up enough to come out and dominate a game from start to finish. Don’t get me wrong since he has been at UGA he has done and good job, but the program is still not were fans what it. I also think Bobo is not that great of a coach either. There is no reason that UGA should not lose more than 1 or 2 games a year with the talent they get. Last year, i did not know which UGA would show up, sometimes they come out fired up, then other times they come out flat….like most games. This last game, they came out fired up, then went flat.
Far as the kicking game goes, kick it deep in the end zone. The directional kicks do not work, a team that does not give the other team a chance to run it back will win. Make them go 80 yards every time! Fabris needs go!!!!! If he does not understand that, then he does not understand football.
What???
September 9th, 2009
11:27 am
Is Fabris really my ex-wife? That biatch was stubborn toooo! Kick it in the endzone like OSU did Saturday and maybe we can find another Freshman that wasn’t told not to run it out from 8 yds deep while backpeddling.
Mac
September 9th, 2009
11:28 am
Kick it through the end zone, a la Robinson and Butler and make ‘em start on the 20, otherwise you risk creating a challenge for the defense, Coach Fabrege. Martinez might put a boot up your bum one of these days and get cheered for it, fancy egg man.
Bradley G
September 9th, 2009
11:30 am
BK, don’t forget Branden Smith’s attempt to outjump Prince Miller for the ball on OK State’s 1-yard line on a punt. The result? First and Ten at the 20! I think Prince Miller should have been flagged for a penalty, b/c he SHOULD HAVE went all LaGarrette Brown on Branden right then and there.
GeoffDawg
September 9th, 2009
11:30 am
But my boyfriends really liked it. Hey, let’s get our own tickle pile.
LaGrange College coach
September 9th, 2009
11:32 am
Hey, we’re not a junior college. Quit trying to get our players to transfer.
Disappointed
September 9th, 2009
11:36 am
It doesn’t matter how high you kick it if it comes down at the 10-15 yard line, the returner is going to get past the 20 yard line regardless of your coverage team. All he has to do is take 2-4 steps and he’s past the 20. A line drive kick out of the end zone can NEVER get past the 20. WTF? The long return on Saturday was a big reason GA lost. It set the tome for the 2nd half and was basically over once they scored.
coach smith
September 9th, 2009
11:36 am
Saint Simons
what a SAD person you are…I pity you….
how miserable must your life be for you to live for the moment that a new UGA blog is posted so you can run in and laugh about your team’s ONE WIN over Georgia in about a DECADE…
and now it has gotten worse becasue you are having to live vicariously through other team’s success
just go and enjoy whatever good fortune your team has
What a sad loser of an individual you are
Blog cop
September 9th, 2009
11:36 am
If you’re the LaGrange College coach, what’s your name?
mightyKC
September 9th, 2009
11:38 am
but can the kicker really kick it in the endzone? does anyone know that? I know UF’s coaches prefer the same kick, but, quite frankly, their kickers of late don’t seem to have the leg to go endzone anyway.
mightyKC
September 9th, 2009
11:39 am
it’s not like the old days of kicking from the 35 (or was it 40?)…moving the ball back 5 yds a few years ago has made the touchback a rarity
shards1967
September 9th, 2009
11:40 am
Let’s all face the facts …………..finally, our sub standard performance vs. a so called top 9 team has revealed some major issues ……….lack of MO, poor play calling, no hustle, not playing smart ball, goofy calls, pass drops and not playing the skill kids like M. Brown and R. Wooten and their position coach not having a clue about them missing action.
Richt does not impsire them nor do any of his subordinate coaches inspire and THAT is why we lose games like to OSU, WVA, to a faltering U of T twice in three years. Awful we were and Cox needs to sit down and let the future QBs play. I am not so sure that they ( frosh QBs) are what they are supposed to be, however. Joe Cox we were told could play and now? Um, ahh, well, um he was um sick. he is only worroed about fans complaning about him because he knows that he too is Joe The Plumber aka Joe T.
This season will get very,very ugly and it has to happen for us to have a new coaching staff with a kick butt mentality come in for next year. This season is toast gang.
UGA class of 73
coach smith
September 9th, 2009
11:40 am
By the way, I was a WALK ON at UGA in 2004 and 2005 and I can tell you
Coach Fabris is CRAZY
You did not want to get in his way or argue with him if you were a player and it was sooooo easy for him to GO OFF that if another coach confronted him it would end up in a shouting match…NO MATTER where it was (on field in the locker room or wherever)
LaGrange College coach
September 9th, 2009
11:40 am
Er, Smitty … Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen.
coach smith
September 9th, 2009
11:41 am
and before you ask….NO I am not telling you my name. I did not travel with the team, I never got into a game, I was just a part of the program and did what I could to help UGA get better
coach smith
September 9th, 2009
11:43 am
also out of the 180 minutes of practice…there is very little if any special teams work
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
11:47 am
To the dawg nation:
Like I’ve been telling you azzholes, “real world reality” is about to set in when South Carolina delivers a Major League Beat Down between the hedges on Saturday. If you thought the 26-0 Third quarter thrashing we gave you in last year’s Georgia Bowl was bad, wait until you see what’s going to happen on Saturday. Deer season will certainly start early and these boards are going to absolutely explode when all you koolaid drinking, Walmart shoppers begin to really realize “maybe yellow fuzz was right all along”. Even coach Richt (who I have great respect for) was serving up some Koolaid yesterday-
“Richt said Vince Vance will start at left tackle this week and added that the team is “anxiously awaiting” the return of tackle Josh Davis from shoulder surgeries perhaps next week”.
I usually just attack the ignorant georgia fans like
Sugar Hill Dawg
Mountain dawg
Habersham Dawg
1eyedjack
Kendawg
WTF?!?!?
Reservoir dawg
Altamaha dawg
MiltonDawg
Reality Check
SECrules
Jax Dawg
Miami Dawg
DirtyDawg
NC Dawg
PTC DAWG
G Dawg
CLTDawg
GeoffDawg
Bugkiller
SimpleDawg
CUZ
RxDawg
DawginLex
ToccoaDawg
L-Dawg
Pumpdawg
Denver Dog
45ACP
and not the players but take it from this ex-offensive lineman, Joe Cox better watch his blind side Saturday because Vince Vance is a guard and Josh Davis hasn’t blocked anyone the entire time he’s been there. Good luck to both but expect to get bitch slapped and beat down royally by SC. I’m talking 30 points or more if you turn the ball over 3 + times like I predict.
You heard it here first (6 months ago). Tech has passed Georgia in every sport except gymnastics and has always maintained a substantial lead in the classroom (and always will). You fit the mold. We make it.
Hahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DW
September 9th, 2009
11:48 am
Branden Smith must be really talented, because he sure as hell made a lot of bone-headed plays. That leap in front of Prince Miller was just idiotic– he should have been sat down on a bench and reamed by somebody. And the two attempted returns from deep in the end zone… what the hell?
As far as Fabris and directional kicks. Fire his ass. These are college kids, not pros, and more than half the time, they’re not going to place the ball where it needs to be when they’re under pressure from a good defense.
Here’s another complaint: what ever happened to our team rushing the opposing team’s kicker? I seem to remember quite a few dramatic plays earlier this decade (Champ Bailey, Pollack), where a punt was altered or blocked or the punter just freaked out and hit a terrible punt due to pressure. Doesn’t seem like our guys ever do that anymore. And clearly, based on our returns, they’re not working out a great blocking scheme. So there seems to have been no benefit gleaned from laying off the pressure. Who made that decision? Fabris? Again, I say fire his ass.
Richt needs to can some of these inferior coaches and get some better instructors in there.
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
11:50 am
The kicking game is the least of your worries. Unless of course you are refering to kicking azz or in georgia’s case getting their azz kicked. That’s a different story. That is a very big concern this week (and next).
RAMBLE ON!!!
September 9th, 2009
11:51 am
Hello mutts, I’ve been away for a bit.
Lot’s to catch up on…where do I start?
hmm, how bout 24-10.
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
11:52 am
Please contine to enter your lame excuses here
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
11:53 am
I’d rather be a nerd than the 2009 queen bitch of the SEC
uuugh...
September 9th, 2009
11:55 am
You know what…our special teams have been awful for at least 2 years now. It ain’t magic folks. If the atheletes are good, then the coaching must be horrendous for the Special Teams to look as bad as they have. I am sick of it. Urban Meyer sees the importance of Special Teams and plays the starters. He will be competing for his 3rd national championship this year at seasons end…while we will be begging for better coordinators again at years end. When Thomas Brown got hurt on Special Teams, I think that ruined any chance we had of seeing our best players on Special teams. The other teams are all doing it and we are getting further and further behind. It is really a shame. If Special Teams are as bad this Saturday as they were last weekend, Fabris should be hunting a job come Sunday morning. If we still can’t get anything out of our DE’s Fabris should be hunting a job. The problem is you can’t chang horses mid season so we are likely stuck with an underperforming team for another year. Get it together Richt.
David
September 9th, 2009
11:55 am
Look at that picture…its freakin Skeletor…he looks like a wack job….and unfortunately he is too far gone for his own good anymore…
uuugh...
September 9th, 2009
11:56 am
Tech Fans and Florida Fans…the only fans in the country that revel in another teams loss than their own victories. Way to go guys–keep it classy as usual!
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
12:01 pm
Uuugh,
believe me I will because you guys deserve every last jab you get.
georgia fans are number one in the NCAA when you factor the arrogance to ignorance ratio.
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
12:03 pm
Coach Smith,
Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?
uuugh...
September 9th, 2009
12:09 pm
…still can’t find my stupidity filter. Fuzz taking away from the exchange as usual. Thanks AJC. Does any one know if there is a pay site with a UGA blog that keeps the idiots out? If not we should look into it.
MoDawg
September 9th, 2009
12:10 pm
Yellow Fuzz, please add my name to your list.
coach smith
September 9th, 2009
12:10 pm
Yellow Fuzz
Those comments I gave to Saint Simons go for you as well
How miserable must your life be that getting on here to take shots is all you have to make you happy
I feel sorry for you
Go to your blog and enjoy whatever your team does
But you just can’t can you? That inferiority complex is just too strong
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
12:11 pm
Have not heard much yapping from the following big dawgs over the last four days. Anyone seen them? You won’t because most have already changed their handles. Some will even be wearing paper bags on their heads by the Kentucky game.
Sugar Hill Dawg
Mountain dawg
Habersham Dawg
1eyedjack
Kendawg
WTF?!?!?
Reservoir dawg
Altamaha dawg
MiltonDawg
Reality Check
SECrules
Jax Dawg
Miami Dawg
DirtyDawg
NC Dawg
PTC DAWG
G Dawg
CLTDawg
GeoffDawg
Bugkiller
SimpleDawg
CUZ
RxDawg
DawginLex
ToccoaDawg
L-Dawg
Pumpdawg
Denver Dog
45ACP
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
12:13 pm
You georgia fans can sure dish it out, but you can’t take it. You are famous for that!
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
12:18 pm
coach smith,
Those comments I gave to Saint Simons go for you as well
Don’t feel sorry for me. A lot of other things make me happy coach. I just like giving you guys a taste of your own medicine.
And believe me, there is no inferiority complex in the Tech Nation after 45-42 (26-0 3rd qtr)!
Life is good up here where we are.
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
12:18 pm
MoDawg,
You’re not a big enough azzhole
big dawg 89
September 9th, 2009
12:19 pm
i honestly think most of our coordinators “get off” with challenging themselves. ala, when something is working, lets go to something else… coach bobo did it, coach martinez did it. we were lulling them to sleep with that first drive, it was working, sooooo, lets try something else and see if it works too… we were putting pressure on the quarterback early on, wellll that was working soooooo lets try something else and see if it works… as far as the kickoff game goes, heck, i’d just assume try a on-side kick and see if we recover it. that’s where they’re going to start anyway, right?
Captain
September 9th, 2009
12:20 pm
The definition of “insanity” is doing the same thing over and over hoping for different results. Hmmmm, Fabris and Richt insist on directional kicks HOPING to pin the opponent inside the 20 rather than kicking the ball into the endzone, Ok St has a 75 yd return, in 2008 average starting field position for our opponents following a kickoff was the 37 yd line. Doing the same thing over and over hoping for different results? IT AIN’T WORKING, TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT!!!! This is indeed insanity.
DawginLex
September 9th, 2009
12:22 pm
I’m right here. I actually have a life, especially on a holiday weekend, so I spent it away with my family.
Yellow fizz, your obsession with UGA only shows your all out ignorance. what a pathetic idiot you are.
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
12:28 pm
DawgInLace,
Are you speaking for the entire group?
Yellow Fuzz
September 9th, 2009
12:31 pm
DIL,
My obsssion is not with UGA, but the UGA fans who have mistreated the Jacket Nation for too long. Now that the tables have turned we derive great pleasure in seeing the dogs get sh*t on in public. Great pleasure!
MH
September 9th, 2009
12:34 pm
2009 UGA Football coach Salaries
* Head coach Mark Richt: $2.8 million
* Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez: $325,815
* Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo: $325,000
* Defensive line coach Rodney Garner: $290,000
* Offensive line coach Stacy Searels: $290,000
* Defensive ends coach Jon Fabris: $202,241
* Receivers coach Tony Ball: $165,480
* Tight ends coach John Lilly: $165,480
* Linebackers coach John Jancek: $163,000
* Running backs coach Bryan McClendon: $90,000
J Dub
September 9th, 2009
12:36 pm
Getthepicturenow – to piggyback off of your the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing, have you heard some of the comments coming from coaches? Richt said that Caleb was ready and we were going to get him in after yesterdays practice but then Bobo said he was unable to go hard so it is up in the air if he plays. Were they are the same practice? Tony Ball, WR coach after the game was asked why Marlon Brown and Wooten didn’t play, and he responded, “They didn’t?” What is going on in ATHENS????
Drew-G-A
September 9th, 2009
12:36 pm
It’s starting to feel like our coaching staff doesn’t really care. Maybe it’s just all these articles I read and the feeling after last week’s defeat, but it’s starting to feel like there is zero intensity, accountability, or drive in the program. I’ve always backed Richt while others have slammed him, and I still back him, but his whole nice guy, loyal thing is starting to get on my nerves.
Maybe we don’t know what goes on behind the doors of Butts-Mehre. Maybe he is giving all of his coaches a good talking to. He’s not the kind of guy that would air that out for us to see. But, it at least feels like to me that he’s not doing that. It feels like he’s saying, “let’s keep our poise and stick to our guns.” Right now what are our guns? I know we have talent, but why is that talent so inconsistent? I’m honestly scared about this season. We didn’t just get beat by OK State, we got beat by UGA.
The thing that makes me so mad is that I can see how we could have won that game. The talent level was there, their offense didn’t look that great. Our defense wa doing a good job. All we needed was some first downs and a score or two, but we couldn’t get them because all of our top rated recruiting classes looked slow and lethargic for a top tier SEC program.
Does this team want it bad enough?
Guam
September 9th, 2009
12:37 pm
Kickoff coverage problems? I could GARA!! I just fed up with the Kay-lib King chronicles. He’s too soft to play college ball. He’s had his time to shine and can’t crack the lineup. Have a seat back on the pine Kay-lib, you’re used to it.
RedPantsDawg
September 9th, 2009
12:39 pm
How in the world Fabris keeps his job is beyond me. I’ll never understand why Richt allowed him to come back after he accepted a job with Ole Miss and then changed his mind. Kevin Bulter has said that he’s seen Walsh kick it out of the end zone in practice but Fabris won’t let him do it. Fabris also coaches the DE’s. Wonder why the defense hasn’t been good? No pass rush. And the Skelton himself coaches the rush. This guy needs to go and needs to go now.
reasonable
September 9th, 2009
12:43 pm
If Richt has called for deep kicks and the assistant has basically said no – the assistant should be fired on the spot to instill discipline in the coaching staff. If the assistant coah does not produce results in terms of kick and punt coverage and Defensive end play consistently, fire him for lack of performance, don’t blame players when a consistent pattern of non performance develops. It will shake up the staff and renergize them if they realize they have to perform to keep their jobs. If the assistant coach loses his temper and shouts and browbeats players and other coaches and tries to get his way through intimidation, the head coach should man up and can him not only for the program’s good but also for the coaches own good. If the allegations are true, he will eventually lose his temper and do something that will not only lead to his firing but also to much greater problems for him, please remember Woody Hayes and how sadly he ended his career. Finally, Richt needs to understand this is a critical time for him. As a Bobby Bowden disciple, he needs to remember that the history of such disciples is that they start off good to great the first few years, stagnant for a few years, and start slipping away toward being fired (the entire cycle seems to take about 7 – 12 years). T Bowden, T West, the NC State coach, all Bowden disciples appeared to follow this track. I suspect that the influence of the Bowden “family atmosphere” and the great store put on stability in the program by keeping the coaching staff intact, gradually leads to stagnation, going along to get along, and a certain smugness that inevitably creeps into the players. I earnestly hope Richt sees this and realizes some creative destruction and turmoil (not to the extent that Turberville employed) is vital to any successful operation. Seeing stability as the first and only virtue usually leads to stagnation and smugness and a decline in an operations’ effectiveness. Tis may be what Bradley is sensing in the something is missing blog today. If Richt does not or will not see it, then Evans needs to have a heart-to heart with him. This has been a concern of mine every since Coach VG left, he brought needed fire. Since then, a depressing sameness and acceptance of less that intense efforts seems to have become the rule. The very fact that the DAWGS had to have an end zone dance to fire them up two years ago against the Gators is actually a possible confirmation of my concerns. No Georgia team should ever approach GA-FLA needinga gimmick to get intense. Finally, even if UGA ralles and beats SC this weekend, these concerns will remain and I hop Richt moves aggressively to address them. There is too much smoke out here among fans and ex-players for there not to be some fire.
How Much More?
September 9th, 2009
12:48 pm
Tired of coaches who don’t coach? Want to be consistent contender for a NC? Want a team who plays with passion? Want coaches who make adjustments and who are accountable for their mistakes? Tired of the excuses? Tired of losing to FLA? Want to win a NC?
Have your voices heard at http://www.firemarkricht.net.
RAISE THE BAR!!!
DawginLex
September 9th, 2009
12:53 pm
Entire group? You are so stupid no one can even comprehend your posts.
Just STFU and go fix my computer nerd.
Joey
September 9th, 2009
1:02 pm
Let’s see, Fabris coaches the kickoff team and defensive ends? Hmmm.
coach smith
September 9th, 2009
1:06 pm
Yellow Fuzz
Keep hanging your hat on that ONE WIN you get over the Dawgs about ONCE A DECADE
Football Ken
September 9th, 2009
1:06 pm
Reasonable, well said!!! I totally agree to every point!!!
we had a great gameplan, but failed to execute.
September 9th, 2009
1:07 pm
people.
the kicks are a part of our infallable gameplan that no one executes.
now, if we can just get these players to execute, your worries would go away.
i don’t know when that will happen because we haven’t got a gameplan for that.
Do any of you realize how difficult...
September 9th, 2009
1:16 pm
…it is to kick the ball 80 yards off the ground (30 yard line kick-off to out of the end zone)? I read the “Butler has seen Walsh kick it out of the end zone, but Fabris won’t let him try”. That is because it cannot consistently be done – check out the pro kickers and see how many “out of the end zone” kicks, or even touchbacks they have!
We might as well kick the ball out of bounds on EVERY kickoff since the worst that can happen is that the other team gets the ball at their 40 yard line – they usually get it there or farther anyway, and we take away the possibility of a longer return for touchdown.
Now, you are all correct; the problem is a double whammy since Fabris coaches the special teams AND the DEs – yes, it is not a coincidence that both are problem areas for UGA.
David
September 9th, 2009
1:18 pm
execution is directly correlated to coaching…..there is a difference between some dropped balls and mistakes here and there, but to lose to an OK State team that looked alright at best is unacceptable and can be directly attributed to coaching and game plan….Yesterday, CMR took the blame off of Bobo and his lousy play calling and chalked it up to execution….well, when you pound the ball on the ground 8 out of 11 plays in the first drive, score and then on the next few drives start throwing it around a bunch and get no where, it is time to adjust your game plan and start pounding the ball………..there is a major inability to make adjustments, I dont know it it is being stupid or stubborn, probably both!
Joey
September 9th, 2009
1:21 pm
UUUUGH, Meyer also IS the special teams coach at UF. And we’ve got a nut coaching ours….
dap01
September 9th, 2009
1:23 pm
I love the Dawgs, but I am sick of CMR indicating that we, the fans, do not understand what is going on. Well we do, our kicking game is below average, our special teams are below average, our defensive schemes and adjustments are below average.
Even the AVERAGE DUMB FAN recognizes what average is. CMR, quit being hard headed and correct something. UGA has the best recruits, but not the best players or coordinators.
JB
September 9th, 2009
1:23 pm
A, folks, one game does not a season make.
We played the number 9 team, on thier field. Pretty easy to say that if two or three plays went our way, we’d have won. One would have thought we lost 50-0. Take a breath and see how we look this weekend before freaking out.
B, Yelow Fuzz, I want to thank you for the comedy you are posting. Your cluelessness is staggering. Funny but staggering.
HBTD!!!
Anti-Saint Simons
September 9th, 2009
1:26 pm
(((((Saint Simons is a TOOL))))) hahahahahahahahahahaha
Super dog
September 9th, 2009
1:29 pm
AMAZING, The UGA assistant coaches make more money than I will make in 7yrs and they didn’t know that some of their best prospects were not on the field. Fans let me break it to you the next time we beat Florida might be when I turn 65 which is 33 years from now.
Dawg_man
September 9th, 2009
1:31 pm
Hey “Techies”..now this is class. From the AJC: Two Georgia Tech students have been arrested for allegedly stealing manhole covers from the street outside their off-campus apartment.
I-DOG
September 9th, 2009
1:37 pm
Congrats to the Cowboys on their victory over our Dawgs
I thought the defense played well. I would give them a B+. Points off for dropping 2-3 chances at interceptions and the one long pass for a touchdown to Bryant. Martinez deserves praise for getting the guys in the right spots. I have been very critical of his D’s, but this was a good performance.
Given the fact that Martinez D shut down their running game in the first half and held a top 5 offense scoreless for the first 25 minutes of the game… you have to hand it to them.
Even though the Dawgs D was put in terrible situations and was on the field all day because of the offense and special teams… they held OK State to a very reasonable number of points. Stopping the drive that started inside the UGA 15 right before the half to a field goal should have been a difference maker in a Dawg win.
I also credit the D for making two ACTUAL stops where an extra 14 points was awarded by the refs. The terrible spot of the ball on 4th and nearly 2 yards to go inside the 5 when the ballcarrier was stopped for NO GAIN and a 1st down was GIVEN to OK State inside the 2 yard line was a game changing blown call. I believe the game goes down the last 2 minutes if the right call is made there.
UGA also stopped OK state again on the next series, but Rashad Jones was called for a flag and automatic 1st down on a key 3rd down despite his textbook hit which was clearly shoulder to chest of a receiver who touched the ball. That flag put the game out of reach. I don’t understand how 4 refs could ALL throw flags on such a clean and allowable hit? OK State was flagged for a lot of false starts, so I don’t think the refs were biased, but the 2 flags against UGA COMPLETELY changed the game and were obvious wrong calls.
The offense gets an F for not running the ball down the throat of against a smaller D-Line. Special teams get a C- extra points on special teams for a 52 yard field goal and good (though frequent punting)
Great info Bill on the directional kick deal. Look what their deep kickoffs did to us. How can a player be allowed to make the same rookie mistake TWICE in one half in taking the ball out 8 yards deep in the end zone? Puzzling is a good way to put Richt’s philosophy on directional kicking. If we have a guy who booted what would have been a 60 yard field goal, why can’t he put it 2 yards deep in the end zone? I’ll take my chances with that all day long.
Jeb
September 9th, 2009
1:54 pm
Check, check, is this thing working.
I-DOG
September 9th, 2009
1:55 pm
Mighty KC, boy that OK STate kicker had no problem putting his kick in the end zone and then some. Even if the ball goes to the 2 yard line, isn’t that preferable to the 15? How many times last season and this season has our opponent gotten PAST the 30 yard line with our strategy. I’d say 85%.
Raise The Bar
September 9th, 2009
2:01 pm
Raise the bar…www.firemarkricht.net
DirtyDawg
September 9th, 2009
2:05 pm
yellowfuzzy…I’m still here, just that after the showing on Saturday I don’t have anything to add to what’s been said other than we’ve got a lot of work to do and we’ll see if it gets done. As for the beat-down you’re predicting from South Carolina, guess we’ll just have to wait and see about that too, won’t we? Oh yeah, if that proves to be another of your ‘idiotic’ predictions/posts, does that mean we can expect you to keep your yeller-mouth shut for a while? I thought not.
Offensive lineman, eh. You weren’t by any chance one of the guys that got their butts thrown out of Moe’s and Joe’s last week, were you? I mean since they were a bunch of loud-mouthed, fat-boys – they even claimed they were from Tech – that showed their yellow-side as they were hustled out the door by a couple of other patrons, the manager and a bus-boy…I thought you might have been one of ‘em.
Otto
September 9th, 2009
2:09 pm
I Dog I agree 100%. The offense was not execution it was game planning. Bama had more dynamic and varied play calling than UGA.
Also what was said to the kid who returned 2 kick offs from 5 yd+ deep in the End Zone?
If we should “get used to” the directional kicks, Fabris should get used to looking for a job.
Denver Dawg
September 9th, 2009
2:14 pm
Hey “RAMBLE ON!”, there is no apostrophe in the word “lots” – if you Tech people were really everyone’s boss it seems you would know that. Now go getcha some more of that YELLOW FUZZ…
Johnny Test
September 9th, 2009
2:16 pm
The comments from the players are pretty insightful. Fabris sounds like an issue.
Yellow fuzz is just being his usual obnoxious self. He thrives on the pain of others. Takes pleasure in spewing insults. What does that say about him? He is a child in a man’s body. Think how pathetic you have to be to spend all of your time doing what he does. Watch him shut up when Clemson, Miami, Florida State, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and yes even the Dawgs drill teck.
senoiadawgs
September 9th, 2009
2:19 pm
Hey we have the answer to Smith returning it out of the endzone. Fabris most likely likes the challenge or returning any kick you can catch. Also, it was obvious they were not coached on this. How is it obvious you ask. there was no player not once signaling for Smith to not come out of the endzone
senoiadawgs
September 9th, 2009
2:25 pm
I’ve said it once I will say it again… To all of those saying ease up on calling the coaches and Cox. Let’s say we come out this weekend and play really well. Good play calling, no directional kicks and lots of energy without stomping in the other teams endzone.
How can you explain last week then? Oh, you can’t have a bad week in college football. There is no playoff and winning games and winning them in good style is the only way to a national title. Just ask the 02 and 05 teams.
RxDawg
September 9th, 2009
2:29 pm
I refrain from jumping all over the coaches for the most part after we lose a game. Most fans use them as a scapegoat for the loss.
That said these are excellent observations.
UGADawgs2010
September 9th, 2009
2:45 pm
has anyone seen firemarkricht.net??? oh boy……
Mark
September 9th, 2009
2:54 pm
Isn’t it weird that two alumnist (hall of famers by the way) are against this philosophy?? Also that Kirk Herbstreit remarked at how cautious UGAs play calling looked? WTF is going on in Athens?? How many times in the last 3 years has UGA looked good while winning?? 2? This has not been the same team since winning the SEC in ‘05.
takedowndawg
September 9th, 2009
3:00 pm
Fabris is DUD for our special teams. His strategies are outmoded and outlived. Putting the ball out of the end zone seems like a proven strategy that works in college or pro. 80 yds to go is much preferred to than 65 yds. or less! Our coverage is outrageous. What ever happened to the suicide type personally who wants to make the team and kickoff coverage gives him the opportunity. Plain mean linebackers who want nothing more than to take someone out with a full head of steam. Where are those players? I haven’t witnessed them in two years on kickoff coverage. Punt coverage??????GO ATTEMPT TO BLOCK THE DAMN PUNT!!!!!!!!! Opponent’s punter can take the “outback” approach, “no WORRIES” in Georgia attempting to block your punt! We don’t even attempt to. Also, Fabris’s defensive end play has also been less than stellar for the last two years. That means………what area of his responsibility are the players doing well? That would be NONE!!!! Richt, cut him loose now. I would settle for an assistant in charge at this point.
Denver Dog
September 9th, 2009
3:03 pm
So the special teams are again terrible. Poor coverage, poor decsions, useless penalties, block in the back behind the play. Not too good! Let’s see how they look this weekend, hopefully we get several chances to kickoff, and few to return. It appears that it is pure coaching on that, and maybe it is not that simple. Tthat is the one reason we lost. otherwise,. The other team won, but change those plays and the game changes.
Yellow Fizz, you must be blind, or even more than likely, just dumb. Why don’t you do something other than cut and paste. I thought you were a big “engineer” Grab this one, Special teams and all Clemson kicks techies this weekend. I hate it but that is going to happen.
Ron Zook
September 9th, 2009
3:03 pm
I’ve seen http://www.firemarkricht.net and I HATED it!
Thanks!
Ron Zook
RealDawg
September 9th, 2009
3:07 pm
I’m sure there was stuff said,” Cox said. “It’s not tough [to ignore], to be honest with you, because half the people that have things to say after a game have never played a down of football in their life. I wouldn’t criticize somebody for something I’ve never … done before. Hey Joe…got alot of faith in you but my mother could tell you were slow in your delivery. Sad to see his is already so defensive.
AltamahaDawg
September 9th, 2009
3:08 pm
3 KO were to the 8,2,and 4. Cannot do it better than that. The best coverage was actually the KO to the 8. OSU had 1 yard worst FP on the first 2 KO than they would have IF we could kick it out of the end zone, (which as we all know, cannot be done on a consistant basis even in the professional ranks). So in 2 attempt we gave them the 19 on average. This is bad?????
On the last KO, somebody explain to me HOW if you cannot cover a kick that is high, to the 4 yrd line, and you only have half the filed to cover because it was placed perfectly in the corner…..kicking down the middle and few yrds deeper is going to work. I am not getting the physics there.
Would Parrish Cox being one of the top KO return men in the nation qualify as a factor in that long return?.
BTW, (take out the obvious blown coverage, and the bone head freshsman play) our FP was BETTER than OSU’s even though they were kicking it deeper.
JaxDawg
September 9th, 2009
3:32 pm
Yellow Fuzz- I’ve been on the blogs. Now unlike you I actually have a life, took a little vacation time, and wasn’t available to blog until yesterday.
No one’s running from you. My you have a mighty big impression of yourself to think a few trash-talking comments are going to run us off.
BTW, thanks for investing so much time in to the happenings in DawgNation. Seeing you all over the place makes me feel a little better about the state of the program. UGA is obviously very relavent for you and the other techies to spend so much time here. Interesting you are more concerned with a UGA loss than a GT win. It’s okay if you want to become a Dawg Fan, you must want to you have to be spending more time here than on your own blog. Just admit it you want to be a Dawg Fan. Really it’s okay.
What a joke you are!
Bobby Bowden
September 9th, 2009
3:44 pm
“Dagnabit! I told Vincent (Dooley) I thought Mark’s only shortcoming is that he may be too nice for a head coaching job, and now he’s got this Fabris guy who’s the tail waggin’ the dog. Who’s the head coach? Mark or Fabris?”
AltamahaDawg
September 9th, 2009
3:51 pm
What are we up to now Bill, 7 times covering this topic? I am absolutely positive that we will improve our average this year by 3 yards. That is all we all talking, all this fuss over 3 yrds. What is magic about 3 yrds (2.3 really)? That officially will put us better than FL, AL last year and we will be right where we always are, upper middle of the SEC. Did anyone mention we had a freshman kicking off last year?
All this hero worship of how Saban and Meyers personally make sure this is taken care of……..really??? Well true Alabama was 1 yrd better, and Fl was 2 yrds better,last year, but that was the first time yet. Incidentally we had 4 TB, and Bama had 2, what on earth were they thinking?
ND was the best in the nation last year, yardage wise. Had ONE tb. Obviously there is no magic formula kicking it deep.
Do number and facts really have a place in this debate?
HH
September 9th, 2009
3:52 pm
1) Same old tired, lame excuses. You will hear them continuously as the season progresses.
2) For those of you poor souls who think Damon Evans is going to do anything, you may as well wait for the “Second Comming”. Damon Evans was put in his position to 1) simply look good and 2) to simply look good. Richt is the second most powerful individual at the U of Ga., and Evans is not going to confront him. The ONLY one who can tell or suggest anything to Richt is Michael Adams. Unless and until, Adams decides to, Richt will bumble on his merry way.
AltamahaDawg
September 9th, 2009
3:58 pm
Lost in all the whinning is: We have found ourselves a punter in Butler it looks like. Walsh’s 53 yrder had easily 4-5 more yards too.
Denver Dog
September 9th, 2009
4:03 pm
Yellow fizz, the only place you played offensive lineman was on WII. You are full of yellow beez wax. I guess you spend too much time stealing manhole covers. Jackets go down to Clemzone this weekend. Something about you guys playing against Tigers in Atlanta
Denver Dog
September 9th, 2009
4:07 pm
Hey HH, you Techies have got the Second Coming of Bill Fulcher.
Denver Dog
September 9th, 2009
4:10 pm
Yellow Fizz the only lead that you have got in a classroom is leading students to terrorism, and to perverted professors. You lost the academic lead about 7 years ago, and you don’t have the athletic lead at all. Bill Curry will make Atlanta forget all those miserable Tech teams as he turns Ga State into Atlanta;s college football team. Go steal some manhole covers you pervert.
Pester
September 9th, 2009
4:30 pm
I went to school with a guy that was just like Saint Simons – the only way he could get any attention was to needle the hell out of everyone around him. Everyone hated him but that didn’t stop him. Saint Simons craves the attention even if it’s negative. In his own sick way, he thinks he’s being cute, even though even Tech fans find him obnoxious! Sad!!
BOBO the CLOWN
September 9th, 2009
4:34 pm
Anyone could have a high gpa when you’re teaching student how to be a government school teacher. They don’t have as many low level classes at GT. You can’t truly compare academic scores to one another.
snot bubble
September 9th, 2009
5:27 pm
Nice guy don’t always finish last. but they don’t finish first either…….
dawg07
September 9th, 2009
8:01 pm
Ok’s deep kicks seemed to work. Did Richt or one of the others coach Smith after his return to the 10. Don’t think so. No urgency no hands on no coaching during the game on one with an overall picture.
JB
September 9th, 2009
10:24 pm
I think Georgia gets better coverage in Oklahoma.
I was at the game and met a number of great Georgia fans. The ones I met I would compare to the fans of Nebraska or Texas A&M. I hope they received a warm welcome from the Cowboys. Great Game!!! Beat Florida!
Go Pokes.
AltamahaDawg
September 9th, 2009
10:45 pm
Why do you say the OSU deep kicks worked?
Why do you assume nobody said anything to Smith after the 10 yrd return, Because he advanced a KO barely into the endzone out to the 20 the next time? yea, so? Are you suggesting that nobody is ever going to run a KO out of the endzone ever again? Are you saying that a hands on coach would have told him to never run a KO out of the endzone ever again??????They do that more often than they do not. Boykin ran one out to the 23 earlier. How the hell do you know what they said to him? Where did you get the sideline pass?
His first one was a mistake. Should have downed that one, as it was much deeper, and he hesitated, but we see that all the time by players far more experienced than him, at every level of the game. And obviously somebody “coached” him after that. What do you think, they figured they would just let him watch the tape the next day?
Chuck Uga
September 10th, 2009
12:22 am
Fabris is simply incompetent. There is no other words to describe it. When you have a block-headed man in a position like that, you are in trouble.
Mark Richt will NOT win another SEC title with the current staff. I am a season-ticket holder, donor and 37-year UGA fan (and alumnus). Coach Richt is digging his own grave currently. he can change all this by leading and not deferring to the assitants who are simply incompetent. For you idiots who attack me for this, look in the mirror. Anyone who disagrees should ask themselves this question: WHY do we continue to make the same mistakes and have the same problems week after week, season after season? Does anyone really think UGA can win a national title with this band of pinheads? Why would Mike Bobo repeat the same excuse that I’ve heard before about “we need to simplify the plan?” Why didn’t he do that AT HALFTIME? Why not? Because he thinks he is untouchable. Herein lies the problem. Mark Richt has taken UGA as far as he can. If he doesn’t have the backbone to make the obvious coaching changes, he’ll be gone by 2012 (he will resign-book it).
Hugedawgfan
September 10th, 2009
12:55 am
we will never get it. we will constantly be out played on special teams-our coaches are not bright enough(ie stupid directional kicks) to take a page out of meyer’s book and win the special teams game (remember, Meyer coaches the ST himself). Hey, Fabris, the proctologist called. They found your head.
Hugedawgfan
September 10th, 2009
1:01 am
Altamaha dawg, because–he did the same bonehead play twice in the same game. He probably did say something but if it is said in a low monotone voice and with one hand on his shoulder and the other hand patting Smith on the back, there is no deterrent from ever doing the same mistake twice. He needs to point it out where the young players will think twice before doing something soooo stupid. You sound like you are auditioning for a coaching job at UGA–your remarks would definitely get you in.
AltamahaDawg
September 10th, 2009
7:27 am
So running a KO out of the endzone EVER is bonehead? Really? Nobody ever does that? Since we are mindreaders here, I’ll tell you exactly what they said. “hey look for your blocking and make sure you have a seam. If it’s not there sit on it, BUT there is a reason that we put a freshman DB in there running KO back, and that is to punch it out there and make something happen, so don’t be afraid to take it if you think you can, and don’t hesitate next time if you are”. What happened? He took it shallow and up to the 20 which could have been the 15 or the 30, you don’t know. Did you see the Miami/FSU game the other night? lots of kicks into the endzone and they ran almost all of them out. So much so the squib kick started coming out later on.
The only thing I am auditioning for is to be a charter member of the lets look are reality and stop making emotion accusations club. Yea, a coaching staff at a major SEC school isnt instructing a freshman on his mistakes, I’m sure that’s a real problem, and not imagined at all
Who doesn’t like a challenge? « Get The Picture
September 10th, 2009
7:40 am
[...] ready for another round of adventure on kickoffs, Dawg fans. It’s just how Jon Fabris rolls. … If you’re wondering what happened, former Georgia players A.J. Bryant and Kelin Johnson, [...]
AltamahaDawg
September 10th, 2009
8:42 am
Personally, I questioned having him in there at all. I suppose the first time he breaks a big one, I’ll kkow why, but is he really That much faster than a more seasoned guy? I openly questioned why we were running him on offence, I know we have better receivers than that.
HOWEVER you don’t stick a freshman in a game because he is a speedster and tell him to never, ever, under any circumstance, run a ball out once it crosses the goal line.
J Dub
September 10th, 2009
9:20 am
Altamaha, I understand your frustration with the bashing going on. It is very tough to understand after one loss why we are jumping off the cliff. BUT, there is reason to question what may be going on in Athens right now. Last year, our defense was abysmal and we got shelled by Alabama and Florida. All year we heard it was because we were too soft in practice. Is it that hard to imagine that with that being the case last year and with Richt’s demeanor that maybe some of that has rolled over into this season and some of the players or assistants are going about their business the wrong way (no sense of urgency) and with not enough heart or emotion? If what was said was true about Tony Ball not even knowing that Marlon Brown and Wooten had not gotten into the game, is it that much of a stretch that no one was very proactive in pulling Branden aside and instructed him on bringing the ball out of the end zone. True sometimes it is warranted and it worked out fine this time but we have not shown the big play ability on kick returns and the momentum was already against us. Not the best time in my opinion to try to bring it out. Again, my own personal opinion. I am not an advocate for never, ever under any circumstance run a ball out once it crosses the goal line, but in this circumstance I wouldn’t have. The frustration comes when we look to our sideline or look to our players on the field and they just look defeated. That was the look we had in the second half against OK State. Such a big deal was made out of the cameras catching Richt saying “Poise” to the offense after a couple of mistakes. Well that is fine and not many coaches would have that patience with their offense but sometimes it is o.k. to bring your offense over to the sideline and LIGHT EM UP! That may have happened, I didn’t have a sideline pass but all indications with our track record is it did not. All I want is some fire, some emotion. As someone said before, play with your hair on fire!! I have experienced a roller coaster of emotions over the past week ranging from depression to outright anger and none of that will change until Saturday when SC comes to town. The problem with having a coach that stays such an even keel is when you (the fan) gets mad, you want to know why he isn’t mad. Not saying it is right, it is just life. And life in the SEC is tough right now.
sedog
September 10th, 2009
9:26 am
Earlier someone commented about how Butler and Robinson kicked in the end zone. They kicked off from the 35 or 40 then. Kicking off from the 30 is a different story. To get the ball to the end zone if difficult enough. Through the end zone almost never happens now (w/o wind). To get deep, the kicks generally have a lower trajectory hence the ball gets to the goal line quicker. With the coverage team starting from the 30, the returner does not face the coverage as soon as he did with kickoffs from the 35 or 40. As stated earlier, the pros hardly ever kick through the endzone. Therefore, we need to improve the coverage or coverage schemesn and deep kicking may still not be the entire solution.
Also, have we wasted a scholarship on a kicker. He was signed sight unseen after looking at videotapes (at least that was what was reported). Could it be his highlight tape was so good because he was kicking an old ball? I know in high school, teams use an old worn out ball for kickoffs and even field goals. Those old balls will travel up to 10 yards farther than a new or slightly used ball which is being used by the offense during the game. Some GHSA referees allow such balls, some don’t. Perhaps that was allowed at the California league in which Bogotay played. Maybe our newest scholarship kicker has trouble with the game balls that are required by the SEC. At any rate, UGA stated as late as Vandy last year they would definitely not be giving a scholarship to any kickers for this incoming freshman class. Some kickers were planning to walk on but given the abrupt about face with Bogotay, those potential kickers were not encouraged to pursue the walk on process. I hope the best for Bogotay or Walsh because if either becomes successful, the Dogs will benefit. Regardless of who kicks, it will not matter too much if we do not develop a successful plan for kick coverage and make that a priority.
Yellow Fuzz
September 10th, 2009
1:10 pm
“Maybe one day Tech football will be as prominent as UGA football and they will have something to blog about”.
That day is now dude. It started in the 3rd quarter last November (26-0) and increases weekly. georgia is running scared and Tech is poised and enjoying every minute of the “changing of the guard”.
In two weeks, we will have 3 wins when you have 3 losses. I’ll remind you. Bank on it. But it won’t do any good, because like so many of you true georgia fans, you will be nowhere to be found. Or if you do return here, you will be using a new handle (I can’t blame you) or writing without listening because you just have too much koolaid wax in your ears.
Either way, Georgia Tech has always owned you in the classroom, but now you are our little bitch in football, basketball and baseball. You azzholes can keep your gymnastic, equestrian and other Title 9 dominance (for now).
((((( 0-3 ))))) hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Bill King
September 10th, 2009
1:33 pm
As long as our kickoff coverage is bad, it’ll likely remain a topic for discussion.
Yellow Fuzz
September 12th, 2009
9:08 am
Enter your excuses here
(((( 0-2 )))) hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahhahahhahahhah
Yellow Fuzz
September 12th, 2009
9:31 am
Attention Wal-Mart shoppers (dawg nation),
“YELLOW FUZZ WAS RIGHT” tee shirts will go on sale immediately following tonight’s game.
$45 to $42 (while supplies last)
hoseabrock » Blog Archive » Kickoffs remain a ‘challenge’ for Dogs
September 22nd, 2009
7:28 pm
[...] It’s worth pointing out, of course, that it’s not just “the fans” who would like to see Georgia kick it into the end zone. Some folks who know a thing or two about kickoffs, including former Bulldog greats Kevin Butler and Rex Robinson, have come out against the directional kicking approach. Why Richt sticks with Fabris’ philosophy, even when it obviously has greater risk than kicking it deep, is a real mystery. more [...]
My way, or the highway « Get The Picture
April 2nd, 2010
6:18 am
[...] back on that through the prism of Walsh’s stellar 2009 season, it’s obvious that Fabris’ insistence on directional kicking took its toll on Walsh’s confidence during his freshman year. If you’re wondering what [...]