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
gary
November 19th, 2010
7:06 am
Simply put, we are not winning the recruiting war in the state of Georgia. There are just too many very talenteddefensive players that choose to leave Georgia. Until we fix this we’ll have a mediocre defense requiring UGA to score 40 points to win. We used to get the best in state talent and were also able to go and pick up great talent like Goldberg and Hoage from elsewhere!!
chazzo
November 19th, 2010
7:06 am
I think next year’s prospects are pretty good. Let’s face it. AJ and Houston are going pro. The Dawgs will lose Boiling, Chapas, Cuff, Durham, and maybe a couple more to graduation/eligibility. These are some big losses of key players. I think we forget what a young team UGA has fielded, though. There are plenty of younger guys stepping up and getting experience this year. Everyone else will be bigger, faster, stronger. Grantham’s scheme will be a little more set in, and Murray will start the season with the whole play book. The schedule is lighter in the West again, and there is a bye before UF.
Lowcountry Dawg
November 19th, 2010
7:15 am
If we need jerseys to get us motivated, then we must think we’re going to lose!
lawdawg
November 19th, 2010
7:45 am
What differance does it make what jersey we wear,better start to worry about Tech, we lose the season is over.
FootballFan
November 19th, 2010
8:12 am
Any fool that thinks UGA is going to win the East in 2011 and that Richt and his faithful sidekick Bozo are going to bring UGA football back to relevancy also believes in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Ain’t going to happen.
dgog
November 19th, 2010
8:27 am
Thank you StevenW and chazzo, it is nice to see that some people know a little about football. We are a young team, next year looks good.
Big dog fan
November 19th, 2010
9:14 am
Our colors are red@ home white on the road. Not black.
Let’s keep it that way. If you need to put another color on to get
fired up for a game, You donot deserve to be a Bulldog.
John, Cumming
November 19th, 2010
9:35 am
I think we should “black out” the last home game every year, essentially Auburn or Tech. For two reasons: #1: It’s a tribute to the seniors, etc. and #2: These are usually both big games, regardless of the teams’ records. It just adds a little more school pride.
This way it doesn’t become a “gimmick” and we don’t sit around arguing about what the heck we want to wear to a football game. We sound like a bunch of women.
I don’t care if UGA wears black jerseys or not. That’s their call.
Just a Thought
November 19th, 2010
9:44 am
Why not just go out and “buy” Cam Newton……put him in the backfield with Murray and have two players that can run or throw…..we would score 80+ points every game and not have to work about the defense. Seriously, it sure is gonna suck being an Auburn fan and having your entire season erased for playing an ineligible player……if the NCAA tagged AJ for 4 games for selling a jersey for $1,000, I would certianly hope they would do much more to Cam…..sorry Tigers, your boy Cam may be in the NFL without ever playing a NCAA recognized down for AU.
dovebirddog
November 19th, 2010
9:48 am
Its ALL coaching.
Gbal
November 19th, 2010
10:24 am
No doubt in my mind that we have seen a talent drop off over last few years, especially across O line and D line… AND this years class is not looking that strong on the D either.
We have 2 commitments from D linemen Bailey and Mayes (295 & 260 lbs.)
Also loosing 3 starters at LB and have only 1 commitment for this years class.
AJ is great no doubt, but I feel like our O can be better next year with a years experience at QB and only loosing 2 linemen on off our two deep charts and I hope they hit the weights hard in off season… Backs returning and hopefully some help from a Freshman (IC)… We dont have another up and comming AJ but we do have other receivers that can step it up and 3 commitments…
Our D however… I just dont see it improving next year with the talent we have comming up and we dont seem to have much focus in this in our recruiting. Gotta have some studs!!
IRISH DAWGS
November 19th, 2010
10:44 am
I AM NOT SOLD ON GEORGIA WINNING THE EAST IN 2011.UNLESS GEORGIA RECURIT ISAIAH CROWELL WE NEED A GOOD RUNNING BACK.ALSO JUCO PLAYERS ON DEFENSE OUR DEFENSE SUCKS AND RECURIT A BIG TIME WIDE RECEIVER TO REPLACE AJ GREEN,HE IS GONE TO THE NFL. ALSO HIRE ANOTHER STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH AND FIRE BOBO
AUinGA
November 19th, 2010
11:02 am
OMG, as an AU fan in GA for 40+ years, I can say the only thing more obnoxious than a UGA fan when he wins, is one after he loses!
Facts:
Second or third play of the game, BOTH teams hit with offsetting Personal Fouls.
Second quarter, Fairley drives Murray to the ground, a LEGAL PLAY in college
Second quarter, UGA line chop blocks Fairly, penalized
Later, Fairley hits Murray late, also penalized
Late in the game, Fairley is blocked, goes down, hits Murray in the knee, Murray leaves game
Next play, AFTER THE Whistle, UGA lineman dives into Fairley’s back while Fairley is on the ground, starting the fights where, for some reason, only AU players are ejected while the whole UGA team comes on the field.
Face it, BOTH teams played dirty! I’m sorry Murray is taking so long to heal and hope he’s ready for Tech, but Fairley WAS penalized for the illegal hit, and everything else is legit! And he’s been nominated for the national Nagurski award for Outstanding Defensive player, AFTER this game! That would not have come if his play was too dirty!
Think about the holding the blackout until next year, we’re looking forward to it.
Tired of you little Bi_ches
November 19th, 2010
11:12 am
Why dont you people stop Bi_ching. Can you do a better job! I like the blackout it is fun for the fans. And isn’t the point of this to have fun.
You people need a reality check.
cyberdawg
November 19th, 2010
11:58 am
As far as talent there are several teams besides the dawgs who have a great recruiting history but are struggling this year. Among them are Florida and Texas. It’s not the coaching but it is the talent. JUCO needs a strong look and it could help just like it did UGA this year with Hamilton. Look at what Auburn has done with it.
Mark Richt
November 19th, 2010
12:08 pm
Sanford Drive – I like it. Excellent point.
ca dawg
November 19th, 2010
12:31 pm
@guy: i take your point, but i think what bill (and other georgia fans) are saying is that the number of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties is a revealing statistic when and only when the penalties get called in the first place. the complaint isn’t just that fairley is dirty, but that he’s dirty and gets away with it. you’d be hard pressed to defend what fairley did, but it’s time for bill (and the rest of us) to find something else to talk about…
ca dawg
November 19th, 2010
12:45 pm
@AUinGA: i take your point about the rough play going both ways. let’s agree, you and i, to move on and find something else to talk about. having said that, i wouldn’t be “looking forward” to any part of next season if i were an auburn fan, least of all the georgia game in athens.
as far as a blackout… yeah ok. if the kids want to do it, i say go ahead. the black jerseys look better than some of the butt-ugly combinations that donnan’s teams used to wear (and that black stripe down the middle of the helmet was ghastly). people who think “real” programs don’t fiddle with uniforms are wrong: ohio state wore throwbacks last year against michigan. florida has several combinations. even alabama is rumored to have some “special” uniforms for the auburn game. per a couple of other posts, i’d actually like to see us bring back the silver helmets w/ the red G that we used wear.
doug
November 19th, 2010
1:46 pm
Those jerseys do look good, but the next time they are used it needs to be a win. Use them next year against one of the weak teams on the schedule.
I didn’t see anything listed on search. uga search
WDE
November 19th, 2010
2:04 pm
Anyone who says anything more hopeful than “too bad AJ and Houston are probably gonna leave, we’d be really good to have them back” has lost all credibility. You are a fool if you think either of them are staying for a senior year. They are both too good. Take your heads out of the sand and accept it now- I’ve already accepted that Nick Fairley and Cammy Cam are gone.
Alabama Dog
November 19th, 2010
2:05 pm
Chazzo: when is Georgia going to stop using the excuse “we are a young team”? I would have to say 10 of 11 starters on offense this season does NOT constitute Georgia as being a “young team”. That unfortuneatly, has become an old worn out excuse for not winning, and not getting the job done on the field. It is sad for me to witness the decline of this program in the last 3 years. Georgia was, at one time recently, among the nation’s elite teams. Now we are just another mediocre team. Book, Chapter & Verse.
Shane
November 19th, 2010
3:09 pm
AUinGA
Anybody who thinks Fairly isn’t a dirty player I have some real estate in Florida to sell you.
Only the blindest of Auburn homers would believe that. When your guy basically picks up the other teams QB with the direct intent of driving him to the ground and hurting him. Fairly has been doing that all year. He is a dirty player pure and simple. He is intentionally trying to hurt the other players.
I don’t think UGA was doing that at first but you can only take so much before you have to retaliate.
Kyle in Alabama
November 19th, 2010
4:22 pm
I would say if the Seniors want a Blackout then give it to them. However i would make one recomendation. Make it a true blackout. Black helmets, black pants, black jerseys. That would look very intimidating to anyone lining up against it. Anyone who has played NCAA 11 knows what that would look like (as they give you that option).
Kyle
Bama Dawg
November 19th, 2010
4:48 pm
Nobody was complaining when we wear the BLACK JERSEY and beat Auburn’s butt a few years ago! And we need a BIG JC nosetackle to anchor the D!
wildbill
November 19th, 2010
4:56 pm
I suggest selling the black jerseys on eBay. Then, set the money aside for bail money and fines for the 2011 year.
Alabama Dog
November 19th, 2010
4:58 pm
Bama Dawg: I agree nobody complained when they beat Auburn in the original “blackout” game. Then they wore them in the Sugar Bowl against Hawaii, and played great. They should have RETIRED them after that. Plain and simply put-gimmicks are great when you win, but make you look like complete idiots when you don’t. Case in point-the ‘08 Bama game. While I agree with most of the opinions posted that believe the color of a uniform doesn’t/shouldn’t make any difference as to who win, or loses a game, I remember in ‘80 when Auburn played Georgia with ORANGE jerseys and ended up having their heads handed to them. Auburn has since NEVER worn them again! If you look at most of the sucessful teams out there (Alabama, Texas, USC, Penn St) they ALWAYS wear traditional uniforms-they don’t deviate from them. Maybe that’s why they win more than we do!
Concern
November 20th, 2010
8:45 am
What the status of South Carolina’s ongoing NCAA investigation from the Agent Party in Miami and lack of team oversight concerning the Columbia Hotel?
DAWGHATER
November 20th, 2010
7:21 pm
WHAT DOES GATA STAND FOR
mashdog
November 20th, 2010
10:50 pm
blackout sounds good to me. we neede to get pumpede up… might as well do. we ain’t got nothing to lose. please reply
mashdog
November 20th, 2010
10:53 pm
i like how bama dawg thinks!
mashdog
November 20th, 2010
10:56 pm
i wish scam newton would just sit out during this whole epademic. aj did… so why not him
Blackout.....
November 20th, 2010
11:36 pm
Last time we had a blackout it was an embarrassment (florida 09). Bama beat us in the face too when had that black out. Blackout= gimmick/distraction/loss. Wildbill is right. GATA(b.van gorder): get after their ….
Stildawg
November 22nd, 2010
7:06 am
I hoope I never see the blackout again.
wildbill
November 22nd, 2010
9:00 pm
This is one GA/Tech game I just can’t get excited about. It reminds me of a middle aged midget arm wrestling with another middle aged midget. So where is the excitement, fun, and suspense of the outcome? It is anti-climactic, that is what it is. I wouldn’t bet $2 on this one. Black jerseys won’t work, a night game won’t work either. I will probably take a nap at the end of the first quarter. Yes, I CAN wait till next year.
Truth
November 22nd, 2010
11:38 pm
We have some one of the most recognizable uniforms in the country. We DON’T need black jerseys….period