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
happy warrior
November 18th, 2010
4:48 pm
Can someone PLEASE tell Gene Chizik to just watch the film. He can plainly see how dirty of a player Fairley is! But, I think he already knows. And if he doesn’t he’s not watching film either.
THE (G) ON THE MUTTS HELMET STANDS 4 GATOR
November 18th, 2010
4:53 pm
?
THE (G) ON THE MUTTS HELMET STANDS 4 GAY
November 18th, 2010
4:54 pm
THE NAME SAYS IT
ceph
November 18th, 2010
5:00 pm
I thought you were describing Richt when you said” mealy-mouthed” If there has ever been a person who fits that description it’;s Richt . His picture should be under the description!!!!!!
wpt
November 18th, 2010
5:03 pm
I am trying to understand this. There are some people who think Coach Richt needs to go now because he may win the SEC East next year and obviously that creates an even greater dilema in that he may then win the SEC and an even more frightful thought that we would then be in line for a very high ranking or even more. I guess we now have a better perspective of the intellectual ability of some of your readers.
AltamahaDawg
November 18th, 2010
5:06 pm
Until they get a dominate NG they may not be championship caliber, but they certainly will improve next year. If for no other reason, the DB and LB doing what they are supposed to be doing would take some of the pressure off. Even this group of DL can improve, even if its only to a point.
Improvement in year 2 of doing anything is a universally accepted expectation.
john
November 18th, 2010
5:08 pm
With the players we are returning, I believe we’ve got a good shot of playing for the SEC title next year based on the facts that were pointed out, plus the recruits that will plug into holes. Four returning starters on the oline, qb returning, rbs returning, and enough quality receivers returning. We need a nose tackle to step up and I think Kwame Geathers is the man to do it. Rambo will continue to improve and Ogletree will be a monster soon in the secondary!
Go Dawgs! Either get on the bus and stay now, or get off you fair weathered bandwagon fans.
SoGadawg
November 18th, 2010
5:09 pm
Burn those da** Black Jerseys, so we never have to see them again.
McDawg
November 18th, 2010
5:21 pm
the problems on offense at the beginning of the year have to do w/ depth a lack of
i like the black jerseys and why not-if it is done on a regular i.e. once a year its not a gimmick
yes Garner needs some scruitny
i think K. Tripp needs alot of credit for his play this year given all he has been thru
Flushed out of the pocket
November 18th, 2010
5:24 pm
Sure wish we could bring back the real silver britches. The gray pants looks so drab and stale just like the football program.
Mobile Dawg
November 18th, 2010
5:28 pm
John, I had hope three years ago CMR could tweak the program and get things righted. Even this year I had hope, returning the entire offense except Murray. He’s been the brightest star of the bunch. CMR and his staff are “pathetic”, everyone else knows it except you “blind” “kool aid drinking”, I will just leave it at that. I’ve lost total respect for Coach’s ability, we are indeed a “ship without a rudder”.
The other teams fans on our blogs are right, every year a major faction of this fan base proclaims “championships”, and we get worse. What will it take to open your eyes.
VInings Dawg
November 18th, 2010
5:44 pm
Once again you are an idiot for writing this crap. Yor writing continues to make UGA look like whiny loses. You have never written that the problem with Nick Fairley is that our sorry OL couldn;t block him. They couldn;t even pull off a chop block. Boling was terrible and Pigpen Jones was even worse.
Mike T
November 18th, 2010
6:20 pm
Burn those da** Black Jerseys, so we never have to see them again.
Why? We’ve lost more games wearing white or red than we have black.
Jersey color don’t matter, if they want to wear black, just come out in the black
and quit making a big deal out of it. No need to have to color co-ordinate every one in the stadium
and make a circus out of it just to give the other team bulletin board material.
DawgGoneFishing
November 18th, 2010
6:20 pm
How about some bright red GA numerals on those dull white road jerseys.And while we are at it, throw in some bright red pants on the road !!!! Make ‘em see red !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tim
November 18th, 2010
6:27 pm
Please… NO MORE GIMMICKS, RICHT. NO MORE black jerseys and black helmets. And Bill, your defense of Richt is ludicrous! Wait and find out how bad 2011 may be. How much longer before the UGA Brass says enough mediocrity is enough? Dooley won almost every year against Florida with lesser talent and Richt loses almost every year to the Gators despite him almost always having more talent. Richt seems to manage to lose 2-3 games every year he should win. 2010 has to be his worst coaching job by far. The play calling doesn’t seem to ever consider game circumstances or take clock and field position into consideration. I’d find a whole new offensive staff because these guys are as inefficient and as poor a bunch of teachers as the defensive people Richt fired last year.
Einsteindawg
November 18th, 2010
6:34 pm
We just can’t evaluate talent, even in JUCO players. Bama got Mt. Cody, we got Vince Vance. Clean house…none of these jerks care about anything except their paycheck.
rural dawg
November 18th, 2010
6:38 pm
jerseys….don’t care… On other subject..Gene Chizick ..Why is anyone surprised at anything he says or does…He’s a Florida grad, is he not? 1983, i think…Tells me all I need to know…
LakeDawg
November 18th, 2010
6:41 pm
If they come out in black jerseys I’m gonna puke. BTW Of course Chizik condones Fairely’s actions or you wouldn’t be seeing it.
Devil's Advocate
November 18th, 2010
6:53 pm
Mark Richt, you are doing a great job. Moving the dawgs down in the ratings, year after year. Putting a pretty good qb behind a questionable O line so he gets killed every game. Playing ’stars’ like Rambo Mambo who couldn’t tackle my 6th grader. Sticking by your underachieving coaches till the fan base revolts, and on it goes. Keep it up and my boss just may give me a pay raise and early retirement.
Dawg89
November 18th, 2010
7:02 pm
In addition to JUCO defensive players, is there a chance of finding a top notch receiver in the JUCO ranks?
1eyedJack
November 18th, 2010
7:22 pm
I believe we have offered a JUCO All American WR, Anthony Denham 6-6 215.
Minnesota Dawg
November 18th, 2010
7:25 pm
I think some are missing the point about the black jerseys. They are not a guarantee that we will win. They are for the purpose of firing up the players and pulling the Dawg fans together in Sanford stadium to put up another fight to win. They are not a gimmick either. Go and let the outgoing Seniors wear them and let’s beat those Jackets!
BabsTolstoy
November 18th, 2010
7:26 pm
King you are a pathetic whiner about Auburn. You guys need to get your heads out your behinds and focus on Tech or you’ll end 5 and 7. 5 and 7 for goodness sake, and all you do is keep harping on last week. That is why Georgia is going to end up 5 and 7, because of sorry backward looking dill weeds like yourself. Move on twit, for your own sake. I’m really concerned about you and I only offer this as constructive criticism because I care. East Division Champs next year? With the way people like you think. Dream on. You would have to beat Fla. first and that apparently can’t be done anyway even when they stink, and long will that last. Man up candy striper, your skirt is showing.
Minnesota Dawg
November 18th, 2010
7:28 pm
Devils Advocate, you sure know how to kick a guy when he’s down. Two years of not living up to your standards and a coach is gone! Even if he wins, he sure better not lose or have a down year because you will keep firing coaches till you die!
beanuga
November 18th, 2010
7:36 pm
NO BLACKOUT! MR does not fire his team up enough to blackout. Players will come out unprepared. Blackout is a bad idea! Ole island dg! You notice Garner is a big problem too. He is the DL coach and he sucks. No doubt in my mind. Richt just keeps him around for recruiting and RG is lacking in that too. OMG he sucks!
Ginger
November 18th, 2010
7:39 pm
If there are players out there who will help us in JUCO…we need to be finding them and signing them.
beanuga
November 18th, 2010
7:40 pm
So all dawg fans would not want Fairly playing for the dawgs! We could use him! About the last 4 years!
jack
November 18th, 2010
7:45 pm
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/stewart_mandel/11/18/coaching-candidates/index.html
1eyedJack
November 18th, 2010
7:50 pm
Lest we forget, Knowshon Moreno, Rennie Curran and Rashad Jones should have been part of this senior class…boy could we have used them.
Alabama Jack
November 18th, 2010
8:09 pm
Black jerseys and red panties, what a combination. Dagws are goin’ down.
UGA Alumnus
November 18th, 2010
8:10 pm
Bill:
“a weak-sister SEC West lineup”?
Don’t know if you noticed or not but Mississippi State beat us this year. And they beat Florida and Kentucky. Did you see the Auburn/MSU score this year? 17-14? I don’t think they’re weak by any stretch of the imagination.
The past is not the present. Just as Kentucky is no longer a “weak-sister”. Looks more like we might be the weak sister if anything.
UGA Alumnus
November 18th, 2010
8:12 pm
you people are crazy. black-out or no black-out, we are winning the Tech game.
Go Dawgs!!!
Losersville
November 18th, 2010
8:31 pm
What I want is for the team to play hard-nosed football for four quarters.
Dream on. Not this bunch of losers.
Dress optional
November 18th, 2010
8:38 pm
“Black jerseys and red panties, what a combination. Dawgs are goin’ down.”
Yes, but at least they’ll look good. Well, not good, maybe stylish.
Okay, bizarre.
Yamadawg
November 18th, 2010
8:41 pm
As a lifetime Dawg fan I do not like the black jerseys and helmets at all. But, maybe he can make them wear yellow (not gold) until they earn the red back.
professor Ed
November 18th, 2010
8:54 pm
Enough of this talk about recruits who can only play football. We need to go back to the days of the true student-athlete who knows how to read and write and be a good citizen. I am tired of watching players who otherwise would have no chance of being accepted to UGA if they could not play ball. Quit recruiting these thugs and the arrests will go down and we can once again be proud of the dogs! I had rather win 5 games per year with players who make UGA proud than win 12 games with idiots who have trouble with remedial math!
GWJ
November 18th, 2010
9:26 pm
NO black jersey….just go out and beat Tech ….9 out of 10 times!!
Lee
November 18th, 2010
9:30 pm
Bill King has got to be the biggest moron I’ve ever read. Fairley gets ONE personal foul and now he’s Satan. Just amazing the total lack of class by the fans and team and coaches of the Georgia Bullfrogs. Because they got their butts kicked all over the field they can’t stop talking about the big bad Nick Fairley. It’s HILARIOUS. Ignore your OWN TEAM coming onto the field, which SHOULD have been a penalty. Ignore the FACT that Nick Fairley was OBVIOUSLY blocked into the qb when he got hurt. Ignore the fact that even though YOU CLOWNS say Nick Fairley took cheap shots at the qb, OBVIOUSLY HE DIDN’T, since he only got the ONE penalty and ONLY has TWO for the entire year. Ignore what ALL SAW MORONS, and keep crying like the babies you are. I’ve never heard of this idiot Bill King, and from his writing it’s no wonder I hadn’t heard of him before now.
beach dawg
November 18th, 2010
9:42 pm
I would like to see the Dawgs puii the red britches out for the Tech game as the Great Larry Munson would say Dogs in red hats red jerseys and red britches get the picture, Make em see red dawga gata no matter what you wear.
BTP
November 18th, 2010
9:44 pm
As directed, I looked up “mealy-mouthed” in the dictionary. Not surprisingly, all I found was a picture of B1LL K1NG.
bugsquacher
November 18th, 2010
10:40 pm
The girls volleyball team at agnes scott just called to say they would rather play tech than have the Dawgs show up in those god awful black jerseys and helmets…..
please stick to the tradition of red jersey and red helmets….. they are the best looking in the SEC
bugsquacher
November 18th, 2010
10:43 pm
oh,,,,,, and Mr Evans just called to say ……. “what red panties?”
georgiagirl
November 18th, 2010
10:59 pm
Sanford Drive you are soooooooooooooooo right.
And all the bad mouths fans will be there cheering them on every games.
GO DOGS FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
StevenW
November 18th, 2010
11:06 pm
We need a great JUCO WR to replace Green, and a outstanding JUCO CB’s for depth. I think, Bean, Tyson if he stays, and Geathers will be fine in the middle. And we have a ton of up and coming DL talent, a ton.
Gen Neyland
November 18th, 2010
11:10 pm
A Blackout against this GT team is a practically a sure bet. Dawgs win even if they wear Red, er, Britches…
let's do it
November 18th, 2010
11:15 pm
I’m game for a blackout. We don’t get the opportunity that often against Tech considering this is the first home night game in the series (blackouts are better for night games).
StevenW
November 18th, 2010
11:33 pm
2011 optimism. Experience. I have been following UGA for 35 years and next year we will have more experience than I can remember, especially if Jones and Glenn decide to stay. BTW, the NFL draft sites I look at have Jones around 5 as far a Centers go in this draft. I’d say that’s pretty high.
WR’s – Seniors – Troupe, Gray
Juniors – Wooten, T. King, Brown
Hybrids – White – Sr.
Charles – Jr.
TE’s – Figgins – Sr.
Lynch – Jr.
RB’s – Caleb – Sr.
Ealey – Jr.
Thomas – Jr.
QB – Murray – So
Mason – So
LeMay – Fr.
OL – Seniors – Sturdivant, Glenn, Jones, and Strickland – with 2 or 3 of those All SEC types, with Harmon as a Jr. and 6 talented Sophomores behind that.
On D, we have Tyson a Senior, Jones a Jr., with Bean, and 4 very talented Sophomores on the Line.
At LB, besides Samuel and Jarvis, we have a couple of Jrs. (and depending on where Nick Williams ends up), and some talented So’s and Rsh. Fr..
Secondary: You have 3 Srs and 4 Jrs. who have had significant playing time, and some talent behind that.
And if Walsh and Butler return, 2 Seniors there.
This will be the most experienced Offense I can remember, but not the most talented. The Defense will be younger, but a lot of young guys have played this year, so we have some experience there. Could be a good year!
My biggest concerns for next season – We need a great WR, and 2 shutdown CB’s behind Boykin and Branden. Man, what a team if we had those pieces!
StevenW
November 18th, 2010
11:36 pm
And I forgot about Dowtin and Robinson as far as LB’s go. The O looks juiced next year. I still think the D is a year away.
col fot
November 18th, 2010
11:50 pm
fairley is thug playing for a prison football team…he should kicked out of college for spearing Murray in the back, what a dirty coward. Of course he doesn’t go to class anyway. I hope ALABAMA drills and stomps those dirty rats!
PHIL
November 19th, 2010
1:39 am
A few observations about posters.
Ever notice that someone who has to tell you his qualifications on how smart he is and how much experience he has, all the organizations he has run, all the money he has made, always writes opinions that are more stupid than the stuff that St. Simons guy writes?
Ever notice that people who claim that an offense that scores over 30 points vs SEC defenses needs better coaching wouldn’t know a flea flicker from a toss sweep?
And have you ever noticed the guys in the white get up with the nets that always seem to be chasing those who think the color of a shirt or helmet lost a ball game?
Why is it that people who mention chop blocks wouldn’t know what one was if the players doing it had bells around their necks?
Ever notice that 99% of the people who are fans of one team, yet just have to post on another teams page are morons? Of all things there are a couple of GATORS here that are good folks. Can’t say the same for Auburn.