Bulldog Bites: Talent drop-off, JUCO players, Dogs winning SEC East in 2011, Blackout and more
Justin Houston is drawing NFL draft attention, but generally Georgia's talent level on defense is down. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Some bye-week discussion points. …
The drop-off in talent for the Bulldogs, particularly on defense, has been the subject of several discussions of late on Sunday’s “Bulldog Brunch,” and The Macon Telegraph provides some context by noting that during Mark Richt’s first five years, when the Dogs were 52-13 and won two SEC titles, Georgia had 32 players drafted by the NFL, 15 in the top three rounds, while in the past five years, with a 42-20 record, only 15 players have been drafted, five in the top three rounds. On the current team, only juniors A.J. Green and Justin Houston are considered first- or second-round picks, if they enter the draft. Senior offensive lineman Clint Boling is seen as the next most draftable player, but as a late fourth- or early fifth-round pick. The drop-off has been especially hurtful on defense. Do you agree that Georgia’s talent level right now is pretty mediocre?
Speaking of which, I’m inclined to agree with Buck Belue, who thinks Todd Grantham and Rodney Garner should be putting a big push on landing some JUCO talent, especially for Georgia’s woefully undersized defensive line. Immediate help is needed next year, and junior college players seem the best way to get it. …
Along those lines, I’ve heard more than one fan make the case (which I don’t buy) for dumping Richt now by noting that with the possible loss of Green and Houston the Dogs’ prospects for next season don’t look too promising. But a piece on Saturday Down South actually tries to make the case that Georgia will win the SEC East in 2011. Among the reasons cited are the schedule, which will include seven home games and a weak-sister SEC West lineup of the Mississippi schools, an open date before the Florida game, most of the talent back on the offensive team (haven’t we heard that one before?), the maturation of Aaron Murray, Grantham’s defensive troops having a year under their belts in his system, the kicking game, and Richt’s obvious need to turn things around. I think the writer downplays the likely loss of Green a bit too much, but it’s nice to hear an optimistic forecast for a change. …
Talk of a possible “Blackout” for the upcoming Tech game is beginning to circulate on fan sites. I’m inclined to think it’s too soon to pull out the black jerseys again, no matter how sharp-looking they are, but I can understand the rationale behind wanting to get the crowd more involved in this make-or-break final home game. What do you think?
Lastly, if you look up “mealy-mouthed” in the dictionary, you’ll find something like this: “avoiding the use of direct and plain language, as from timidity, excessive delicacy, or hypocrisy; inclined to mince words; insincere, devious, or compromising.” Which pretty much sums up Auburn coach Gene Chizik’s response when asked on this week’s SEC coaches teleconference about criticisms that Nick Fairley is a dirty player.
“I don’t know how people refer to him,” Chizik said. “I’m not really sure exactly what you’re talking about, but certainly no one teaches that. He’s a very try-hard guy. He plays with great effort, great passion for the game. And certainly nobody would have any intent to do anything other than the right things in any game.”
Someone get a shovel, it’s starting to pile up …
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235 comments Add your comment
duvaldawg
November 18th, 2010
2:12 pm
would really like to see black jerseys, helmets, an pants. maybe next year we can pull out the red pants 2. Go Dawgs we look good n any color.
75-76-DAWG
November 18th, 2010
2:16 pm
Let’s not get too optimistic about next year just yet. I will agree that next year is a perfect schedule to win it all in the east but UGA didn’t come close to stopping Lattimore this year and he will be more of a handful next year. As great of a coach as Spurrier is you don’t want him to start dominating the east like he did when he was at Florida. The reason SC has been kept at bay up until now is because the state of South Carolina is small and doesn’t have near the high school pool to chose from.
As much as I like CMR he is an amateur compared with Spurrier. As much as you don’t like his personality he is a results driven coach and I don’t think anyone who has followed Spurrier over the years would dispute that if he was at UGA we would have twice the SEC championships and at least one national title if not two in the last ten years.
rincon dawg
November 18th, 2010
2:25 pm
Question? what formation do we use most of the time? The power I correct. What are we gonna due at fullback since we lose two seniors? We lose some on the O line and yeah they havent been great but they have experience. Lets face it coach is screwed either way, no way he gets it done next year. Defense we lose Dent Gamble Houston maybe Boykin. Still feel good about next year huh. No matter what I still love the dogs and will cheer no matter the record. I just dont have to cheer for the coach. GO DAWGS
Dawg 39
November 18th, 2010
2:25 pm
Speaking OF JC Players. Lonnie Outlaw Is Having A Fairly Good Year At GMC.
As to Richt. He is not as good as Pat Dye Or Spurrier but he is the best HC the Dawgs have had in my lifetime & I go back to Butts & Fran Tarkenton.
virginia dog
November 18th, 2010
2:26 pm
NO NO NO NO NO … UGA wears red period. if you want to be original go old school … wally butts old school. red shirts, silver britches and a silver hat with a red stripe.
robodawg
November 18th, 2010
2:28 pm
ole island dawg, Garner ain’t the problem at all. He’s put his share of players in the NFL, including three DTs just last year (2 starters and a backup, that’s pretty impressive). He’ll develop more talent at his position.
We need help on the DL, but also at LB. On those spread offense rushing plays that keep gashing us, you’d like to see more tackles coming from your front 7 and less reliance on your safeties (who are typically in coverage) to stop the run. Maybe Jarvis Jones can become what Rennie Curran was for us. And hey, you’d also like to have some lock down corners so you can play more one on one and position your defense for better run support.
Across the board we need to find and/or develop some talent. Just hope we’ve got some young guys coming along who can fill those holes next year.
AltamahaDawg
November 18th, 2010
2:29 pm
Bill, I hope you can get some takers on the 2011 prospects. I have tried several times to engage some folks in here to debate it and they run from it after proclaiming how much worse it’s going to be. After reading somebody else, and adopting it as an actual fact based opinion is all I can figure.
droopydawg
November 18th, 2010
2:31 pm
I want to suggest to everyone that we Dawgs fan boycott Tony “DC Grantham is evil, DT Fairley is a misunderstood hero” Barnhart.
AltamahaDawg
November 18th, 2010
2:32 pm
Which year(s) in the past 10 would have been the NC for Steve Spurrier at UGA?
Hike!!!
November 18th, 2010
2:34 pm
Richt won with Donnans’ players the 1st few years. Unfortunately, that early success has not translated into a continuation of recruiting top level talent. This would indicate that the program is in a downward cycle with no end in site. I hope I am wrong, but I have seen this pattern time and again especially with high school coaches where a mediocre coach follows a highly successful one. The win/loss ratio continues to go negative. Maybe this has something to do with Donnan being the better “judge” of talent than Richt. Thomas Davis for example, was not highly recruited.
rincon dawg
November 18th, 2010
2:34 pm
Dont know what spurriers would be but CMR s should have been 02 05 07 08. you cant tell me he shouldnt have at least made it to the game
droopydawg
November 18th, 2010
2:35 pm
Hike: 2007, we were pretty good. Stafford, Moreno, Massaquoi, R. Jones, A. Allen – all pretty good talent that was on the team within the last two years.
droopydawg
November 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
Spurrier hasn’t done anything with SC despite them having consistently impressive talent on defense and at WR.
rincon dawg
November 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
3 years
MichiganDawg
November 18th, 2010
2:53 pm
Lets wear Black Jerseys,Black Pants, Black Helments, Black socks and shoes and play some FOOTBALL!!!!!
Hmmmm
November 18th, 2010
2:56 pm
I don’t care how many UGA puts in the NFL. I hate the NFL. I want to see UGA win a NC.
Hike!!!
November 18th, 2010
2:57 pm
During Donnan’s tenure the “D” always had the better talent, they just were not well coached. Now we have Some excellent offensive talent here and there, but the “D” is seriously lacking. Hell, all we have to do is recruit this state effectively to have top 5 talent year after year and we can’t even do that. What would CMR do in Boulder……..think about it. How low can you go.
rincon dawg
November 18th, 2010
3:06 pm
Hike didnt they beat UGA. just asking if thats low for him to go there it must be real bad for him to be here right?
SoCal Dawg
November 18th, 2010
3:08 pm
No Black Out. That has to be earned. Heck, I don’t think they should be wearing the G!
Hike!!!
November 18th, 2010
3:11 pm
PLEASE DON”T BLACKOUT!!!!!
Remember the Alamo…I mean Alabama.., totally embarrassing unless you WIN.
Paul Midler
November 18th, 2010
3:13 pm
Green stay one more year. You owe it to the fans…Houston stay cause we need you……go get some JUCO players to help on D…….I do think we will win the east cause QB will be great………..NO to any Blackout………….,” Chizik said. “I’m not really sure exactly what you’re talking about, but certainly no one teaches that. He’s a very try-hard guy. He plays with great effort, great passion for the game. And certainly nobody would have any intent to do anything other than the right things in any game.”
Are you on crack Chizik? He is dirty.
radly dawg
November 18th, 2010
3:15 pm
I am a teacher and have been seeing this trend develop for a while. Student/athletes are givenn to many chances. they are not treated as students first and athletes second. They’re spoiled and given the red carpet treatment “in high school”…no wonder they act like they do in college. I hate to say it…but the whole system is broken from high school to the pro’s. It’s a sad situation…all driven by $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!
radly dawg
November 18th, 2010
3:16 pm
given too They
Sorry ya’ll!
Todd
November 18th, 2010
3:17 pm
85 grad and letterman, I’m pulling for Tech week from Sat.
Had enough of Mark Richt. Sorry he hired Bobo, no one knows Bobo outside of Athens. When the guy finally gets canned, it’s Thomasville High or selling something for some big GA booster.
Enough is Enough with this regime and why anybody thinks there want be some crazy outcome next yr. (probably loose in Knoxville) where GA doesn’t show up……
And then Mark Richt and his I’m blessed, feel fortunate, it’s only a game attitude.
Can”t take it anymore.
Casual Ga fan
atlvol55
November 18th, 2010
3:19 pm
What about the black helmets???
icedawg
November 18th, 2010
3:22 pm
Most of the AJC bloggers have been blaming the coaching staff. I’ve been saying all along that the talent on the defense has not been what it has been since BVG days. Not that the coaching is blameless. I think that many fans have seen a talent rating by the services and drawn the conclusion that the recruiting class must all be at that level. That is not the case. A few good players can bring the rating up but that does not necessarily mean that all the others are of that caliber. UGA has had some success at qb and receivers but the rest of the slots on the team have turned out to be mediocre at best, hence the decline in the overall performance. DAWGS need to redouble efforts in recruiting on defense. If you can hold your opponent to no score or field goals then you have a great shot at beating them. As it stands, UGA has such a weak defense that its opponents have pretty much been able to score at will. The offense has actually played at a fairly high caliber once Murray gained some experience. The defense has lost most of the games.
RxDawg
November 18th, 2010
3:22 pm
I love the blackouts and the black jerseys.
However, the team has to earn a blackout game and this team has not earned that.
Maybe, MAYBE if they would of beaten Colorado. But we lost to one of the worst teams in NCAA… inexcusable. And this team gets a pass on a blackout this year.
AUBDAWG39
November 18th, 2010
3:24 pm
The black jerseys look too good not to bring them out occasionally……just don’t make that big of a deal about it. Lot’s of teams have multiple uniform combinations…..surprise me!
As for the talent level, we are middle of the pack in the SEC, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The results the past two seasons should not really be surprising to anyone. How many times from 2002-2007 did we all leave UGA games after a win, when it felt like a loss? We were playing teams with a fraction of our talent and squeezing by far too many times. Now that our talent has dropped off a bit, the other teams are squeezing by us. The bottom line is, for us to beat someone, we must have far better talent. If the talent level is close, we lose! That is coaching. And as much as Bobo takes heat, generally speaking, our problem (the last couple of years) has been on the defensive side of the ball. When I look at the points we put up last year with Joe Cox at QB, it blows my mind. How did we score all of those points in the SEC with a 1st year starter that should have been playing for Valdosta State? Now we are on our longest SEC run of 30+ points per game in the history of UGA football with a freshman that none of us thought would be starting after the G-Day game last year.
tired of losing to UF
November 18th, 2010
3:24 pm
how about a JUCO head coach!!! 2-8 vs. UF! and our fans accept that? thats even more disgusting. If it were UF the lost 8 of ten to UGA they would have fired TWO coaches by now.
droopydawg
November 18th, 2010
3:25 pm
You have to earn a blackout (and be playing for something more meaningful than continuing your bowl streak at some garbage bowl).
Tech Hater
November 18th, 2010
3:26 pm
We are not winning the SEC in 2011, A J Green will be gone our running game will be the same so-so collection of average backs, Murry will play well but the system and players are not explosive.
But the #1 factor is the LACK of defense, it is and has been a joke for about 3 years. Defense wins championships, Gratham has no clue the defense has not improved all year, it looked okay against bad teams.. Tenn, Vandy etc. but got smoked against Kentucky, Fla. and Auburn.
SugarHillDawg
November 18th, 2010
3:34 pm
You mean to tell me that someone out there wants to waste a “blackout” on Tech. What tha………………………………
75-76-DAWG
November 18th, 2010
3:34 pm
There is no way to know what years we would have won SEC or national championships if Spurrier had been our coach, we probably wouldn’t have even recruited Stafford unless because his sister was at UGA on scholarship the Stafford’s came to our coach in the first place. What I am talking about is with our talent pool much bigger than South Carolina and Spurriers connections in Florida we would have had signed even better players and Spurrier wouldn’t have even considered Martinez for a second as any coach let alone defensive coordinator. Also, at best Bobo would be a regular coach and certainly not offensive coordinator. Spurrier doesn’t get personally involved with his coaches and UGA would not be in the mess they are in right now. If a coach or coordinator needs to be replaced Spurrier would do it in a second. I read not to long ago that Spurrier is on his third offensive or defensive coordinator in as many years . I don’t know if it was offensive or defensive coordinator but the point is Spurrier does not let personal feeling stand in his way to be the best coach possible. He is only result oriented and make no mistake he is calling the shots on defense and offense not his coordinators. He only believes in delegating control to the coordinator to a degree which is the way you keep control of your team and respect of your players. I can assure you everybody on SC team including the coaches have a degree of fear when they are around Spurrier because he will not patronize anyone , he tells you the way it is and is going to be, period.
chickenman
November 18th, 2010
3:39 pm
BLACK IT OUT BABY. I GOT MY 2010 shirt already ordered
75-76-DAWG
November 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
I have always preferred ‘”OLD SCHOOL” way of coaching . Spurrier is a dying bread which is a shame.
Fools Gold
November 18th, 2010
3:41 pm
No way UGA wins the SEC east. USC east will once again repeat. UGA is in deep deep doo doo.
Gene Cheatzik
November 18th, 2010
3:58 pm
Ok, so I do know what people are saying about Fairly. They are saying he is a sorry a_ _ thug that can’t play by the rules. He has to take cheap shots at people with their back turned and about 15 seconds after the play is over. So what do you expect me to do? Turn my back? I have done tht with Scam already and may not get away with it again.
rincon dawg
November 18th, 2010
3:59 pm
no doubt fools gold. SC is going to return just about everybody including Lattimore. We lose Chapas Durham Green 2 Offensive linemen and I wouldnt doubt C. King. Without an experienced FB this offense will not work. Heck thats just the offense lord knows whats going on with the D.
JB
November 18th, 2010
4:07 pm
Sad to say…..We are now Average. The talent that was here is not anymore. The talent we do get is not being developed. No pre season Magazine will help. We need to prove it on the field.
Yes, we all like Mark……Mark has had 11.2 million dollars in earnings the last 4 years, and our brand of football has all but disappeared off the front page. We couldn’t even have recruits in this year for playing at noon, and high school kids playing Friday nights could not get here. Sad. I like Mark. We need a fresh start.
Jaydawg
November 18th, 2010
4:07 pm
Cant people see this Richt is clueless and is all out of ideas & now has to rely on gimmicks to motivate his players?Then again if this program was held to a higher standard by its alumni,boosters ,fans,and administrators it would have a Hell of a lot more wins & championships than it currently does.
BeatTech
November 18th, 2010
4:09 pm
I’m for one blackout per year, and this is really the only game that has set up all year for such. Also, I don’t see it as a gimmick…it’s a jersey, but let’s face it, the kids love to wear it. So, let them freakin’ wear it for one game/year. Lastly, to those that say “this team hasn’t earned it”…I say they have. Not with their Win/Loss record, but because they are Dawgs. C’mon guys, they’re kids…throw them a daggum bone every now and then (pun not intended).
RedandBlack
November 18th, 2010
4:09 pm
Please bury the black jerseys in the closet for a long time. It should be an honor enough to put on the Red Home jersey for every Bulldog player and supporter. Coach Richt and his staff need to be out recruiting this weekend to get bigger players for next year’s season. Whether they are JUCO or still in High School, the Dogs need starters to hit them hard and often. No more 5 feet something defensive backs, running backs, or receivers. Ballplayers. Ballplayers with gumption and not credit for how many stars they have beside their recruiting information. Go Dogs!!
dgog
November 18th, 2010
4:13 pm
Why is it that Coach Gardner is suddenly a big problem? For years we have had nothing but accolades for the man pertaining to his recruiting prowess. I remember how excited everyone was we he came over from Tennnesse. He has done a great job. Is our talent level that bad right now? I think that we do have the athletic talent to take our place at the head of the SEC. I just wish we had the fans that would not try to jump off the wagon every time we hit a hole in the road. I hear all of this complaining about the mediocraty of the defensive line. At nose guard we have a red shirt fressman, Gather @ 6′6″, 325. He has been injured and has not played much. He is only going to grow and get better. The starter , Tyson who is a junior is 6′2′ @ 290. Now I will agree that improvement can be made, possibly moving him to end. Presently at ends you have Dobbs and Jones. Dobbs is a 6′2″, 285 lb Senior. His back-up is Tripp who is 6″6 293 Senior. I think both of these guys have done well. At left end you have Jones, 6′4″ @ 297. He is a true sophmore. Jones is another one who has played well. He is only going to get bigger and better. His back ups are wood and Smith. Wood is a Senior and Smith is a freshman. I see a defensive line that is going to be very strong. A lot of people think that if a defensive lineman is not making sacks, he is not perfoming. Watch the stunts that a defensive lineman has to do, especially in a 3-4. The majority of the time the linebackers should be making the tackle. Come on dawg fans wake up, look up, not down.
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2010
4:14 pm
I’m with Ed (the original) on this: Wear throwback silver helmets and silver britches ala ’50s and pre-Dooley ’60s. No stickers or names on jerseys. It would be inspirational for those of us who learned to drive in cars without turn signals.
The single-bar facemasks won’t cut it, though. My crooked beak is evidence of that.
Bad journalism by the AJC
November 18th, 2010
4:14 pm
Tony Barnyard needs to apologize.
Wiretaps don’t link Milton McGregor to Auburn quarterback Cam Newton
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/11/sources_wiretaps_dont_link_mil.html
wildbill
November 18th, 2010
4:29 pm
Black jerseys? Ok, if they wear pink pants!!!! Much ado about nothing. Just play ball !!!
AltamahaDawg
November 18th, 2010
4:30 pm
So Spurrier wouldn’t hire somebody he was personally involved with like, say….his son?
gomdawg
November 18th, 2010
4:32 pm
Enter your comments here
ALDawg
November 18th, 2010
4:33 pm
I thought, after the last Blackout, Richt said that we wouldn’t see any more of this crap unless we got to the Dome. Which to me, means that we won’t see any more uniform gimmicks for the rest of Mark Richt’s tenure, unless by some heavenly magic, we make the Peach/Chik-Fil-A Bowl next year. This crap has BEEN old. If we do this, there goes the last ounce of respect I have for CMR as a coach. Or, do whatever, who cares?
wins-by-a-link
November 18th, 2010
4:43 pm
Don’t look for defense to improve much next year because of lack of talent on D line, Too small to handle huge offensive lines in SEC, Even with a good class of recruits it will take a couple of years to make a difference, I’m not sure Richt can survive another six win season, Great offense and no defence, Sounds like one of those Fla schools.