Mark Richt’s ‘Dream Team’ picks up momentum
Ray Drew is the latest to say he'll join the "Dream Team." (Ray Drew)
Our Chip Towers reports five-star Thomas County Central defensive end Ray Drew announced this morning he’s going to become a Georgia Bulldog.
Perhaps some of those snarky folks who laughed at Mark Richt’s “Dream Team” gambit are taking it somewhat more seriously now.
Snagging Drew is a biggie not just because he’s rated a five-star player, but because Georgia badly needs talent on its defensive line. Now if UGA can get another stellar DE, Asheville’s Jeoffrey Pagan, who recently decommitted from Clemson and is reportedly favoring the Dogs, plus sign junior college nose guard John Jenkins (who won’t announce until Feb 5), Todd Grantham’s 3-4 will be looking a lot more formidable.
And then, of course, there’s still running back Isaiah Crowell, who’ll make his decision public on signing day on ESPNU.
The Dream Team is far from complete at this point. But it’s closer to reality than many ever thought it would be.
Assuming these guys all sign on the dotted line, is that enough to elevate the Georgia program back to the elite? And can it be done in the 2011 season — in other words, are the Dogs likely to actually get turnaround performances from that many true freshman players this fall against SEC competition? What do you think?
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503 comments Add your comment
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
4:11 pm
Guys its a great day to be a Georgia Bull Dog , good fun on the blog today..hope all of you Tigers,Gators,Bugs and Dawgs have a great weekend!
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
4:13 pm
Easy how2fish, first we have to get some coaches who know how to develop a “championship” type team. It starts with dominant “physical” play on the lines of scrimmage. A “committed” running game to compliment the passing game. Remember, even though we have a “solid recruiting class” don’t forget the type of game, and game plan, we’ve seen from these coaches through the years. I want to be cautiously optimistic, but I’m a realist. Now if we can get the Fridge, I think our chances get exponentially better.
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
4:13 pm
Tech Stinger but laddie that;s just it you don’t win with or without talent you LOSE..that is why your LOSERS..and I mean that with all the love and respect you and your program deserve..
kb
January 28th, 2011
4:14 pm
@Tech stinger since 1957 Tech has beaten UGA 15 times, go talk some smack on the Duke or Wake Forest board, and what does our Record with Florida have to do with Tech? Has Florida adopted Tech as their little brother?
Georgia State Patrol
January 28th, 2011
4:15 pm
Caleb and Washon already has a cell prepared for next season, we can only wonder what new convicts are coming too
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:17 pm
“that is why your LOSERS”
Careful now, both UGA and GT finished with bowl loses and 6-7 seasons.
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
4:17 pm
WDE, that’s true, but we were at your place, and your coaches allowed the style of play from Fairley, not just in this game but the entire year, that started the issue. They also seeming encouraged the debauchery during the game. Like I said, maybe we can restore the civility next year. Some “jerk” called CHARLOTTE DAWG says he’s gonna do some nasty stuff to you guys when you come over next year. Watch out for him.
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
4:17 pm
Mobile Dawg have a great weekend…but I’m thinking we should a lot of improvement this year 8-4 or a little better is within grasp…2012 I think we make a real run at the SEC…but the big component to my mind is how is the rest of the SEC performs this years..how will the Gators do with a new coaching staff, was USC a flash in the pan last year, how badly will Cam and Co be missed on the Plains….I have no clue to the answers to any of these questions but I’m looking forward to finding out the answers..
Tech Stinger
January 28th, 2011
4:18 pm
how2mutt and kbmutt
You losers haven’t won your conference in a long time so I can understand your pain. At least we can beat teams with winning records and compete with real teams that don’t beat us with one player(Marcus Lattimore).
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
4:20 pm
WDE correct however I take umbrage with some fan of a team we beat like redheaded stepchildren that calls us losers…I’m not tossing that term around all willy nilly after our year..
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
4:21 pm
Tech Stinger you can’t beat us can you LOSER?? This is too easy….lmao..
kb
January 28th, 2011
4:21 pm
WDE Auburns conference record in 2008 was 2-6 and in 2009 3-5, congrats on a great year
The Truth
January 28th, 2011
4:21 pm
UGA is nothing but pure garbage on and off the field
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:22 pm
Mobile Dawg
Fairley’s job is to smash the qb. He did his job well. Your team had more penalties in that game than we did. I’m not concerned with what some faceless blogger says. I’ve been to enough games to know how to deal with scumbag fans. Trust me, I can handle myself.
Tech Stinger
January 28th, 2011
4:23 pm
Thuga hasn’t won its conference since 05, wow what losers
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:23 pm
“Auburns conference record in 2008 was 2-6 and in 2009 3-5, congrats on a great year”
I’m not sure what 2008 has to do with us winning the national championship. Auburn got rid of Tubs and we are better off for it.
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
4:23 pm
how2fish, think the Gators have growing pains another year breaking in a new staff, even with Urban as an advisor, USC is the real deal, they will be tough, AU will be solid but won’t win the West, UT will show improvement. I see USC as the front runner in the East with UGA and UF fighting for runner up.
Look me up next time you get down toward Mobile, OB, or Gulf Shores. Good luck with the Stripers ! ! !
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:24 pm
“2009 3-5″
Yeah, and 14-0 in 2010. Your point?
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:24 pm
“AU will be solid but won’t win the West,”
Nope, we’re in a rebuilding year. Watch out for 2012 though.
woebegong
January 28th, 2011
4:25 pm
Somebody please go tuck in tech stinger in his bed for his nappy. It appears he is getting a little cross. He appears to be to me, like the poster boy for Gerber Foods.In fact, he might just be GT Joe, with a name change, and will become just as easy to ignore, either way.
how2fish
January 28th, 2011
4:26 pm
Tech Stinger last time you won your ACC we beat that Azz didn’t we….LOSER!
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:26 pm
Tech Stinger
If I were you I’d be more concerned about the fact that GT graduates Al Quaeda terrorists.
Gen Neyland
January 28th, 2011
4:27 pm
It’s not a matter of people being snarky commenting on the thing called a Dream Team, it’s a matter that should it be declared a successful endeavor then the proof can’t be far behind for the
nay-sayers. Proof. I think that’s what fans will demand from a HC recruiting a class that once again, might be in the top 5 or 10 nationwide…
kb
January 28th, 2011
4:28 pm
Tech stinger , what a joke comparing Techs schedule with UGA. Just who have you beat with winning records? havent won a bowl game in 7 years, UGA is 13-1 sincce 2001 against the pathetic ACC. 15 wins in 53 years what joke. # sec east titles , 2 sec tiltles since 2001 , finish 2nd in country in 2007, Tech hasn’t sniffed top 10 in years. UGA has won as many BCS bowls as your whole pathetic conference.
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
4:28 pm
Fairley was a “dirty player” IMO. Trying to intentionally injure the opponent may be acceptable, but not ethical. Hit him hard, you don’t have to pick him up, slam him down, and put 300 lbs on top of it. Just my opinion.
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:31 pm
Mobile Dawg
I don’t really want to rehash this conversation about Fairley. Like Buck Belue said: If Fairley was a UGA player, UGA would love him.
kb
January 28th, 2011
4:31 pm
@WDE , fortunes can change quickly
woebegong
January 28th, 2011
4:32 pm
Sure hope we get our new OL line coach picked and in place soon. It should be easier to get a good one now, after some of the players we have coming in as well as the ones already here. I believe that the increased emphasis on S and C will pay big dividends as well.
We UGA fans owe the coaches at UGA a big shoutout for doing a terrific job of recruiting this year. I do believe that UGA can be right in the hunt in the next few years. GOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS.
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:32 pm
“fortunes can change quickly”
Did you get that out of a cheap fortune cookie?
Roll Tide
January 28th, 2011
4:33 pm
Georgia has so much talent every year but what always happens every year? How do you go 6-7 with AJ Green?
kb
January 28th, 2011
4:37 pm
WDE awbern goes back to its 3-5 conference record next year, then it will be probation time in 2012 or 2013 .
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:38 pm
Roll Tide
Your team is on probation until 2012. I wouldn’t be talking trash to UGA fans if I were you.
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:38 pm
“awbern goes back to its 3-5 conference record next year, then it will be probation time in 2012 or 2013 .”
If you have the ability to see the future then you must be a billionaire.
AceDawg
January 28th, 2011
4:39 pm
Grantham might be able to coach on defense, but last year made it difficult to judge. I’m confident that a talent boost, even if raw talent, will improve UGA over last year on defense. On offense, I am less confident that raw talent could ever overcome Mike Bobo’s foolish gameplans. As much as UGA has already had, the Dawgs found ways to struggle on offense in about half of the games they played.
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
4:40 pm
Last comment on Fairley WDE, we would love to have had him obviously. CMR wouldn’t have allowed him to pile drive his opponents into the ground intentionally trying to injure him….
Following how2fish’s lead, gotta run. Great day for the Dawgs recruiting, and optimistic rumors about a new OL coach, wink wink, great offensive mind being considered in Athens. This can only help….Good Day Dawgs, and others….
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:42 pm
“CMR wouldn’t have allowed him to pile drive his opponents into the ground intentionally trying to injure him….”
No, instead he allows his players to go to jail and chop block other players.
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
4:47 pm
We could do this all day WDE, but it wouldn’t make any difference….Go ahead, you get the last word….
AltamahaDawg
January 28th, 2011
4:47 pm
Caught a few strippers last year about 100 yrd from my back door. High water stage about this time last year had them all schooled up at the mouth of a creek waiting on the minnows being flushed into the main river. Felt like cheating.
WDE
January 28th, 2011
4:49 pm
“We could do this all day WDE, but it wouldn’t make any difference….Go ahead, you get the last word….”
Not trying to get the last word in. All I’m saying is that there is dirty play on both sides.
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
4:49 pm
Sounds kinda like the Snapper fishing last fall, except we had to step out the back door of the boat. Ya’ll have a great weekend, everyone….
AltamahaDawg
January 28th, 2011
4:50 pm
even caught some stripers. The strippers were another time. (also felt like cheating)
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
4:55 pm
I missed that Alt, now clarify, were those “strippers” at your back door, or “stripers”. I will check back later for the answer, I gotta go get the “four year old”, or else I will be at your back door looking for a place to stay….
Mobile Dawg
January 28th, 2011
4:57 pm
Real story Altamaha, we were bass fishing on Lake Sinclair years ago. Fishing docks, looked up and there was a “stripper” dancing for some guy in front of the sliding glass doors. I had completely forgotten that story.
kerryb
January 28th, 2011
4:59 pm
WDE, whats funny is that I remember all the whining the AU fans were doing when you hired Cheezed**k. You guys were asking who he was and wanted to fire the AD for hiring him. Now you all just love him so much. When you start cinsistently being the 3rd best team in the west again over the next several years are you still going to love him?
AltamahaDawg
January 28th, 2011
5:01 pm
You’d be welcome.
I’ve seen some strippers that were as ugly as a fish actually.
But these stripers were damn pretty.
Big D Dawg
January 28th, 2011
5:02 pm
rumors flying everywhere about the OL coach. Rumors it is…. Friedgen is not considering OL coach at UGA
WDE
January 28th, 2011
5:02 pm
kerryb
What’s funny NOW is all the UGA fans whining about UGA going 6-7.
“When you start cinsistently being the 3rd best team in the west again over the next several years are you still going to love him?”
Unless you have the power to see the future, nothing you write will mean anything to anyone.
WDE
January 28th, 2011
5:03 pm
“hired Cheezed**k.”
You must be 12 years old.
kerryb
January 28th, 2011
5:04 pm
WDE, I’m not whining because I know why it happened and know it’s about to change. And no, I can’t see the future but I can see the players that Alabama and LSU have compared to Auburns.
kerryb
January 28th, 2011
5:05 pm
It’s about as childish as saying that Tech graduates terrorist.