Bulldog Bites: Julio who?
A.J. Green holds on to a key reception against ASU. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Before the season, when it came to SEC wide receivers, most of the national media spotlight was on Alabama’s Julio Jones.
But if you look at the Top 10 receivers in the conference so far this season, you won’t find Jones, who has caught seven passes for 120 yards and one touchdown.
That sounds like a single game for Georgia’s A.J. Green, who’s atop the SEC receiver stats in both receptions and yardage, having caught 25 balls for 428 yards and four touchdowns.
The media attention is beginning to turn around, with outlets such as ESPN and Sports Illustrated giving Green kudos. He’s also the subject of a major feature in today’s USA Today, which notes “as if Georgia opponents didn’t have enough to worry about when receiver A.J. Green gets loose in the secondary or makes an acrobatic catch while being double-teamed, they now have to be concerned about him making game-changing plays when the Bulldogs don’t even have the ball,” referring to Green blocking an Arizona State field goal attempt last week.
We’re watching a legend in the making.
WOOOOOOOOOOT!
Bulldogs Blog talked with Rantavious Wooten about the Georgia crowd cheering his catches against Arizona State with a sustained “Wooooot.” How did that make the freshman receiver feel? “It was crazy. I didn’t know what to think. I was excited because I knew that the fans had accepted me now. It just felt great. It was amazing, and I walked off the field smiling.”
RISING STAR IN SECONDARY?
Buck Belue thinks redshirt freshman safety Sanders Commings might make the best Georgia match-up for LSU receiver Brandon LaFell. “Last week against ASU,” Belue writes, “Commings played some CB in the nickel and held up fine. He’s a long 6′2″ and has the skill set to match up better against LaFell and [Terrance] Toliver, than say Branden Smith. Looks to me that the best 3 CBs are [Prince] Miller, [Brandon] Boykin and Commings.”
A SMART MOVE?
A Mobile Press-Register columnist wonders whether Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart might not look back home to UGA after the season, which might come into play if Willie Martinez’s defense falters. Writes Gentry Estes: “[Nick] Saban’s heart was in the right place when he publicly praised defensive coordinator Kirby Smart after last weekend’s Arkansas victory. But while there is no doubt that Smart is one of the fast-rising young coaches in the nation, there also is no denying the public perception that this is Saban’s defense and always will be. At least a portion of that perception, in my opinion, stems from the fact Saban typically doesn’t allow Smart to share opinions and football knowledge with the media. Regardless of that, would Smart now leave to take over the defense at a place like, say, Georgia, his alma mater?”
UPDATING THE STEG
The Athens Banner-Herald takes a look at the plans for UGA’s Stegeman Coliseum renovation, which will leave the arena’s seating and competition areas unchanged but add about 10,000 square feet of space to the outer concourses by moving the walls to the edge of the roof line.
Stegeman Coliseum. (University of Georgia)
The paper notes that Stegeman is a two-part design with the roof separate from the building. Because the walls do not bear the weight of the roof, a glass facade can be installed that will modernize the look of the building while keeping its distinctive arched silhouette. That suits Georgia gymnastics coach Jay Clark, whose team draws the Steg’s biggest crowds. “Just from a perception standpoint, there’s a uniqueness about the roof line that everybody wants to keep intact,” Clark said. “That roofline with the archway, it has a brand of its own. As long as I can remember, even back when I was a kid, I always thought that was the neatest building. There’s so many stories about people riding their motorcycles over it or people climbing the arches before they put the gates up there. The roofline and general look of the structure itself has so much history here at the University of Georgia.” Clark doesn’t think a new arena is needed. “I’d hate to see that they even attempt to bulldoze it.”
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60 comments Add your comment
Doogsga
October 1st, 2009
2:24 pm
Kirby’s done a good job. But how much of it has been Saban and how much has been Kirby? At this point in Kirby’s career, he’s a gamble. If CMR lets DM go (won’t happen) then he’d better hire someone who can produce (see Chavis)
Saint Simons
October 1st, 2009
2:25 pm
45 – 42 !!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahaha
L-Dawg
October 1st, 2009
2:26 pm
Enter your comments hereGLORY GLORY TO OLE’ GEORGIA!!!!
A.J. GREEN > JULIO JONES
GO DAWGS!!!!!!
2 SHORT DAYS TIL WE GO 3-0 IN THE SEC!!!!!
please please please.......
October 1st, 2009
2:31 pm
That would be the key for this extremely young and talented Dawgs team to put a championship in Athens. BRING ON KIRBY SMART NEXT YEAR!!!!!!
GeezusDawg
October 1st, 2009
2:33 pm
Jasper Sanks > Josh Nesbitt
tizzle82286
October 1st, 2009
2:33 pm
Julio Jones is a great talented receiver but should went to better passing offense school like LSU or USC because his numbers will never on par with say A.J. Green or Brandon LaFell. He will still be a top 15 pick in the 2011 Draft.
Kirby Smart would love to come back to his Alma Mater to be the Defense Coordinator, but unless CWM finds another job he will never get the chance and thats a shame! Instead of 1 or 2 big defense recruits a yr, UGA could make a play and be in the mix for 4 or 5 thats the different between Alabama, Florida, USC, Texas and UGA. Is that we would to develop our talent either slowly or fast instead of having a course or a plan in place.
Matt
October 1st, 2009
2:34 pm
Kirby Smart being hired would be the RIGHT move look who he is learning from that is one of the key factors in hiring him and if our D keeps playing as it is there is NO way CMR can NOT fire CWM he under performed last year and has been inconcistent at best this year
New era dawg
October 1st, 2009
2:37 pm
I say hire Derek Dooley before he goes to Virginia along with both Kirby Smart and Muschamp. These Bozo’s we have now are wasting talent and will never bring UGA a NC!
GeezusDawg
October 1st, 2009
2:38 pm
I don’t pretend to think that Kirby Smart is THE guy for UGA. I think that high-dollar recruiting firm that found Coach Fox would be better suited for this endeavor. Year-over-year defensive stats do point to the need for a change however.
Damon Evian
October 1st, 2009
2:40 pm
yes Fire CMR !
Bo Joe the Clown
October 1st, 2009
2:42 pm
We need a new staff because its getting real stale around here!
Jeff Owens
October 1st, 2009
2:44 pm
We gots sum cupcakes a cumin in Ida hoe States !
bill
October 1st, 2009
2:47 pm
Enter your comments here
Vince Vance
October 1st, 2009
2:48 pm
uummmmmm cupcakes.
bill
October 1st, 2009
2:49 pm
Hey genious…. Julio has only played in 2 games because he’s been hurt. In addition, McIlroy has been throwing to about 11 receivers each game so the burden is not strictly on Julio. Georiga only wishes they had as many offensive weapons as Alabama does. Roll Tide!!!
Youve been Spooned
October 1st, 2009
2:49 pm
Joe Cox will sneak up behind and surprise everyone this weekend ! Mark it down!
Otto
October 1st, 2009
2:49 pm
Chavis is not producing and there is a reason UT fans coined the phrase 3rd and Chavis. I have watched enough of a prevent soft coverage over the past few years.
I would take a gamble on Smart before Chavis. Joe Kines is still coaching and did a fine job at Bama.
Maybe we could get Beamer’s son who is at S. Car. to take over for Fabris for special teams. Pollack could be hired in for DEs.
I’d take Al Borges over Bobo or maybe CMR could call the plays. Year over turnovers go up and 3rd down conversions are a problem.
Julio? Good to see Bama has more options than UGA to move the ball.
Paul H
October 1st, 2009
2:54 pm
Bring Smart home!
Youve been Spooned
October 1st, 2009
2:59 pm
http://deepsouthsports.blogspot.com/2007/05/talledega-days.html
Drew
October 1st, 2009
3:00 pm
Julio has been hurt so you can’t really compare him and Green at this point. And there is no point in comparing players stats right now. One big game can tilt the stats in one person’s favor. Wait the whole season and then compare them.
And what did Green do in big games last year. I don’t remember seeing him do much while Bama was turning the blackout into a knockout. ROLL TIDE
Robert
October 1st, 2009
3:00 pm
AJ Green > Julio Jones (By far)
AJ has developed well past Julio at this point. Easily a top 10 draft pick.
McDawg
October 1st, 2009
3:00 pm
J. Jones has been injured-he is an outstanding receiver
S. Commings looked great in spring game and Rambo looks like he is going to be great
we need A. Dent back
Low Country Dawg
October 1st, 2009
3:03 pm
Bill, excuses excuses. Last year you bama folks said Julio would have had better numbers if he had a Matthew stafford throwing balls to him. Well, this year we have Joe Cox who has an f-ed up shoulder throwing it to multiple receivers, tight ends, running backs, and AJ still has better numbers. And blocks kicks! My only hope is that we see y’all in Atlanta. And Bill, don’t make excuses…it’s not your fault or mine that AJ is the better receiver!
38 Yardline Dawg
October 1st, 2009
3:04 pm
I would be glad to trade Willie for Kirby. Keep an eye on our dback Rambo, too. He has good potential. And he has a great name, too!
Michael Moore
October 1st, 2009
3:07 pm
How about throwing me the damn ball!
navydawg
October 1st, 2009
3:07 pm
I have to second the Pollack idea!!! Pollack could really do some good with our DEs. I’ve never seen someone play as hard as Pollack did for us EVERY DOWN!!! I miss those days when our defense was feared!!!!
navydawg
October 1st, 2009
3:10 pm
I do like the name “RAMBO”…he looks like he’s a promising young player!
38 Yardline Dawg
October 1st, 2009
3:11 pm
Heck, Pollack could be the second coming of Erk Russell! Sign him up, too!
uuugh...
October 1st, 2009
3:13 pm
I would trade Willie for Saint Simons at this point.
youngstar from atlanta
October 1st, 2009
3:16 pm
Treat branden smith like champ bailey by puttin him on offense and defense and let him grow from there. Because in high school he played everything
Roll Tide Roll
October 1st, 2009
3:23 pm
The jealousy of Bama on here is hilarious from Kirby Smart to Julio Jones.
EW
October 1st, 2009
3:27 pm
Bill I like the idea of Commings covering LaFell to match up with size but you forgot one thing….WE DONT PLAY MAN DEFENSE. We run back into a zone and wave at recievers as they run free in front of us.
timthebrave
October 1st, 2009
3:28 pm
Both are great wide reciever but you have to give the nod to AJ. Especially in td’s
Julio Jones 65 1,044 5
AJ Green 81 1,391 12
TenSpeed
October 1st, 2009
3:29 pm
Fire WM, Hire Greer!
EW
October 1st, 2009
3:31 pm
For the people who want to bring Pollack as a coach…NOT GONNA HAPPEN…you can’t teach what Pollack had; a burning desire to be great and a love for the game that generated more effort on one play than most put out for a game. Also, Pollack was recruited as a 2 star fullback. I am not sure what he could offer to the D-Line from a fundamental stand point. This isn’t a knock, DP was great…but he ain’t a coach.
Alabamadawg
October 1st, 2009
3:31 pm
Great article Bill !!! Thanks…
Bubba Gump
October 1st, 2009
3:34 pm
Reggie Ball = Nesbick
Joey
October 1st, 2009
3:38 pm
Neither is Willie, EW!
bamafan
October 1st, 2009
3:44 pm
Guys – AJ Green had the number 1 draft pick throwing to him last year.
Julio Jones had John “Sarah Jessica Parker” Wilson throwing to him. As for this year, Julio has only played in two games. Bama fans can only wonder why Greg McElroy didn’t play last year! As for AJ Green, we know he is good and he may be better than Julio but the comparisons you are using are suspect. In terms of the value to the team, I concede AJ is doing more for UGA………judging from what I saw of the secondary in the Arkansas game, you would do well to let him play defense in addition to receiver and field goal blocker!
EW
October 1st, 2009
3:47 pm
bamafan, AJ would never succeed on defense…well wait, he IS used to running AWAY from other players, he’s inexperienced on D, and he doesn’t look like a physical tackler..I stand corrected! Sign him up Willie!
Sam
October 1st, 2009
3:48 pm
Folks said the same thing about Muschamp when he was with Saban (that is was all Saban). To me even if it is taking a position coach from one of the best defensive minds in football to make him a DC it is a good move.
L-Dawg
October 1st, 2009
3:53 pm
I refuse to be critical of my team or it’s coaches, however, the numbers on Defense are not hiding themselves. I personally would like to see Willie Martinez take another roll with the Dawgs, and welcome the idea of bringing Kirby Smart on over. David Pollack would be a GREAT addition to the program no matter what he does.
In speaking with an Alabama Alum in my office about this topic, he admits that this conversation about Kirby Smart going back to his Alma Matter (UGA) has come up among Tide fans as well. This situation is far from far fetch. Thank you for shining light on it Mr. King.
AND GO DAWGS!!!!!!
2 SHORT DAYS TIL WE GO 3-0 IN THE SEC!!!!
EW
October 1st, 2009
4:01 pm
LDawg, thinking that CWM should have another role IS critical..I’m just saying. That’s like saying that I am not critical of grammar or spelling but that your incorrect usage of ROLL can’t hide itself and you should move to a new role that doesn’t require typing…See my point?
Otto
October 1st, 2009
4:03 pm
EW, Pollack has energy something Bobo, Fabris and CWM seem not to have. DEs has been one of UGAs least productive positions over this year and last. Someone with energy should would not hurt.
Cuz
October 1st, 2009
4:10 pm
Motorcycles on top of the Steg is true. My roommate used to think it was a gas to ride his enduro to the top and then he could see when the cops were coming. He would lead them on a merry chase then hide the bike in the backyard for a few days. That is why those steel grates are on the top of the arches at the Steg. I did used to tell him he was crazy. Of course I thought I was immortal back then too. I found out even Superman gets old. Old age=Kryptonite.
L-Dawg
October 1st, 2009
4:12 pm
EW,
You are just like everybody else, when you know somebody has made a good point, you attack them about thier grammar and spelling. This is a blog, where you type mindlessly and swiftly, and don’t bother taking time to re-read your post for mistakes. This is not a letter to your boss asking for a raise, it is a simple blog comment.
That being said, as long as Willie Martinez is in the booth making calls, I will support him until the end. Acknowledging my team’s lack of defensive production is not being critical, it’s admitting the truth when the truth is not exactly pretty. Admitting I would be open to other options for Defensive Coordinator means I want whats best for MY team whatever it may be.
But as of now, Willie Martinez is my teams DC, and I will support him as long as that is the case.
Please be sure and point out any gramatical or spelling errors I just made, so I can better myself in the futre.
Thanks EW!!!
ricardo
October 1st, 2009
4:14 pm
Kirby will come back to UGA as HC or Coach-in-waiting, not DC. Another year or two under Saban will sharpen his skills more as Bama plays more challenging teams in the near future.
One Tin Soldier Rides Away
October 1st, 2009
4:18 pm
You know, right now, Green is th cream of the crop, he was last year also. They are both talented and #1 type draftees. Kirby Smart is turning out to be a great defensive coach and whether he stays at Bama or goes somewhere else is totally out of the world to think abou right now.
Go dogs
One Tin Soldier Rides Away
October 1st, 2009
4:19 pm
Thank you L-dawg
Ron Jeremy
October 1st, 2009
4:33 pm
Bill, individual accolades are blown out of proportion. Would you rather have a team that plays great D, runs the ball on offense and passes it around or 1 great receiver carry the entire team? If AJ gets hurt, we’re in trouble. I’d much rather have a complete team like AL than a 1 man show.