Has NFL-caliber talent underperformed at UGA?
UGA certainly didn't get the championships it expected out of Matthew Stafford's time in Athens. (Associated Press)
In anticipation of Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft, Rivals.com came up with a Top 10 for total draft picks since 2000 and UGA placed fourth with 61 behind Ohio State (73), Southern Cal (69) and Miami (67) and just ahead of Tennessee, which had 60.
The rest of the Top 10 was rounded out by Florida and FSU (both with 59), LSU (55), Virginia Tech (52) and Michigan and Oklahoma (both with 49).
When it came to having the most first-round picks, the Dogs were ninth, with 11, including the No. 1 overall pick in 2009 with Matthew Stafford. UGA trailed Miami (26), Ohio State (16), Southern Cal (15), FSU and Texas (14), and Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee (12). Penn State followed Georgia with 10.
As a Georgia fan, there are two ways of looking at this.
On the one hand, Georgia’s consistent status as a producer of NFL players no doubt was a factor in Mark Richt landing this year’s Dream Team, and is likely to continue drawing talent to Athens.
But while the Dogs won two SEC championships during the period this listing covers, and finished as high as No. 2 in the country, the most recent conference title was in 2005 and the Dogs brought home no BCS championship.
So you could argue that all that NFL-caliber talent underperformed while at UGA. That argument would be particularly on the mark for the Stafford-Knowshon Moreno era.
Richt got the Dream Team to Athens. But now he’s got to show he can do more with that talent than simply produce future pro players.
Johnathan Taylor (University of Georgia)
JT AT THE TED!
It was fantastic seeing the big smile on the face of Johnathan Taylor in the dugout with the Diamond Dogs Tuesday night as they beat Georgia Tech 6-4 before a crowd of 18,156 at Turner Field in the Spring Baseball Classic for Kids.
It was JT’s first time being reunited with the full team since breaking his neck in a game against Florida State in early March, and it no doubt helped spur the Dogs on to the win over the No. 9-ranked Jackets.
Go JT! Go Dogs!
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231 comments Add your comment
@Cran
April 27th, 2011
1:11 pm
Seriously dude…did he steal your girl?…Were you on one of the teams he beat in HS? What’s up?
Cran
April 27th, 2011
1:12 pm
Newton helped Auburn go form scoring 26 in 09, to 35 in 10′ against ranked teams. Great QB’s raise the bar for everybody.
Murray’s scoring went down from 20 in 09′ to 15 in 10′ against ranked teams.
Cran
April 27th, 2011
1:14 pm
I like Murray. Just don’t like losing, or teammates who fade when the pressure’s on, like Murray.
Cran
April 27th, 2011
1:15 pm
I think Richt is sometimes willing to let the whole team go down, to be loyal to a player, who isn’t helping the team look better.
Team chemistry goes down when Murray’s at QB, saw it again on G-Day.
Cran
April 27th, 2011
1:16 pm
You like losing?
WHEELER H.S.
April 27th, 2011
1:18 pm
Jeff Paulk, is that you for real? We played together at Wheeler way back when. Copeland
Cran
April 27th, 2011
1:18 pm
Hopefully, Richt will look at G-Day, and see which QB helped the teammates look better. Which was poised in the 4th quarter.
If not, it’s going to be another long losing season.
Eddie
April 27th, 2011
1:19 pm
Cran,
Couldn’t agree more. I like Aaron too, kid just cracks when it counts.
Pago Pago DAWG
April 27th, 2011
1:19 pm
Did UGA hire a “special teams” coach this year?
JJ Dog
April 27th, 2011
1:20 pm
I’m coming around to what Cran’s saying. No doubt, if you can’t lead SEC in scoring, against good teams, you won’t win the SEC. For whatever reason, the team looks more high school level than NFL since Murray’s started at quarterback.
Cran
April 27th, 2011
1:21 pm
Eddie, me too, I like the kid, just isn’t a poised leader, and the team plays poorly against good teams when he’s in there.
what of it?
April 27th, 2011
1:25 pm
3 were on the same team and they couldn’t even win the east in 2008
Call 'em as I see 'em
April 27th, 2011
1:28 pm
Boise State 77, Thuggos 10
59bulldawg
April 27th, 2011
1:28 pm
Well we seem to consistently get good talent from high school and the NFL seems to recognize that Georgia has talent because it keeps drafting Georgia players. But somewhere in between something has been happening in Athens . . . and the implications are not good for the Georgia staff currently in place since before 2010.
Eisendawg
April 27th, 2011
1:29 pm
Neither Ohio State, Southern Cal, or Miami play in the SEC, so it’s hard to get a fair comparison. To me, Miami should head the underperformance list. Ohio State finally won a game against the SEC, and thats with the NCAA pardon that UGA did not get with AJ Green.
Outside Observer
April 27th, 2011
1:35 pm
Eisendawg, you forget that this list is since 2000. Miami was incredibly dominant in the early part of the decade. The amount of talent on those teams was insane and yet, they were dominant in college as well. Yes Miami has struggled lately. But the Miami teams of the early 2000s were incredible. I wouldn’t put them down, especially since they were able to win some hardware in this past decade.
Innocent Bystander
April 27th, 2011
1:45 pm
Murray is as good as he will ever get as he redshirted and learned the playbook inside and out lost to every team with a winning record because he is too short to see over his line and the DLine and Bobo has to roll him out for him to see downfield. Great kid and maybe a leader but just too short. In LeMay Richt see’s the second coming of Charlie Ward and time will tell.
Eisendawg
April 27th, 2011
1:49 pm
No argument about Miami in the past. But, they have to be disappointed with how their program has been the last few years. After all, UGA did pretty well overall under Richt until 2 years ago.
DawginLex
April 27th, 2011
1:54 pm
Defense improves ppg from 22 to 15, Murray, not Lemay, not Mason, not Gray, not Mettenberger will go 10-2 or 11-1 with this schedule.
Gray won’t play QB at colorado. He will be a backup WR
Mett won’t start at LSU. He is 3rd string. Maybe he can find a hot cajun chick that will let him feel her up without screaming.
Murray will be ALL-SEC preseason. If the defense improves, the offense will be fine under Murray.
Cran is the same troll who blogs this same crap about Murray, Gray and Mett UNDER NUMEROUS DIFFERENT BLOG HANDLES. HE IS AN IDIOT AND HE IS WRONG.
schmeckdawg
April 27th, 2011
1:57 pm
D A DoubleU G
April 27th, 2011
11:52 am
Those attempting to make the argument: “UGA recruits top 5/top 10 classes, then what happens”….
The answer is: We win. 96 games in the past decade…. 2 conference titles, 2 BCS bowl games, and a handful of “lesser” bowl victories, and a LOT against Georgia Tech
No offense but we’ve been to 3 BCS Bowl Games! 3 Sugar Bowls: FSU, West Virginia (I try not to remember that one) and Hawaii.
RxDawg
April 27th, 2011
1:57 pm
Bah, this is fodder for the Richt haters. Fact is, it takes a lot more than having a few great players to win championships. That’s just a small piece of the puzzle.
JB
April 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
The last 10 years in the SEC the Dawgs have put more players in the NFL than any other program. We do not have a National Title as Bama,Florida(2) and LSU.does, so the answer is yes on under performing. OL and Martinez two biggest reasons.
red&silver
April 27th, 2011
2:02 pm
DawginLex
April 27th, 2011
12:05 pm
It’s real simple folks.
We allowed 22 ppg in 2010
We gave up 30+ points 4 times
Van Gorder gave up 30+ points ONCE IN 4 YEARS.
BVG allowed between 14 and 16 ppg from 2001-2004
Get our defense back to allowing 14-16ppg and don’t give up 30 or more EVER. We will win 10 or 11 games with the schedule we have.
continue to allow 22 ppg and give up 30+ routinely, we will go 6-6 or 7-5 and we will have new coaches in 2012
Finally! Somebody gets it!
schmeckdawg
April 27th, 2011
2:05 pm
KUDOS to red&silver and DawginLex!!!!!!!!
RNB
April 27th, 2011
2:05 pm
It’s all coaching. Until you get quality coaches, they will always underachieve while at UGA.
DawginLex
April 27th, 2011
2:05 pm
thanks R&S
you da’ man schmeckdawg
JB
April 27th, 2011
2:05 pm
red &silver……Amen…you hit it on the head. Average teams running up and down the field on us has killed us. Watching QB’s survey the field and hit a receiver with no Georgia back within 10-15 yards is a nightmare played over and over. Look at our sack total. Interceptions,blocked punts etc. What’s going on……
JB
April 27th, 2011
2:07 pm
The funniest blog i ever read on here was someone saying they were going to have to get a 65 inch TV as to be able to see a Georgia DB in the picture……LMAO….
saban
April 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
Actually overperformed.
Given the coaching and all the jail time, hard to do much better than simply a mild loser.
Boise State 50 Dawgs 8. South Carolina 42 Dawgs 12.
Another national championship for me. Fulmer Cup for the dawgs. Let the krispy kreme`s fall from the sky.
edumacated
April 27th, 2011
2:11 pm
RxDawg,
You sir are correct. It takes great players and great coaching to win championships. We have had great players lately at Georgia. The NFL has proven that by drafting many of them. So that can only mean….
DawginLex
April 27th, 2011
2:14 pm
saban,
alabama fans will be wanting to melt that statue after Bama loses to LSU and Arkansas and Arkansas wins the west and plays us in the Dome for the SEC title. Does that thing have wheels on the bottom?
So much talent, so many losses. How big was that lead you blew at home vs Auburn last year?
Skitty Fritty
April 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
How does a pre-season #1 (Alabama) lose 3 games? What a terrible coaching job by Saban in 2010. He even had the returning Heisman trophy winner.
Wasn’t Alabama leading at halftime against Auburn? Ha, Ha !!
red&silver
April 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
I always thought defense was the problem. All the other things are irrelevant. If we tackled Lattimore we win, if we stop Mallett from throwing for 300 plus yards, make key 4th quarter stops vs Colorado and Miss.State, and stop the gimmicks that Florida had we definitely don’t finish 6-7! Thanks Schmeckdawg and JB. DawginLex you are welcome.
1eyedJack
April 27th, 2011
2:19 pm
Western Carolina 50 Jackets 8. Middle Tennessee 42 Jackets 12.
I know, I know, but it makes about as much sense as your post. Putz.
Skitty Fritty
April 27th, 2011
2:19 pm
I think we get lost on the skill athletes but the real secret to success is the lineman on both sides of the ball. This was UGA’s problem under Ray Goff. Great recruiter of skill players but where’s the Beef?
Skitty Fritty
April 27th, 2011
2:20 pm
I just hope Ga Tech out coaches UGA again and loses by 8 !!
Cran's Significant Berry
April 27th, 2011
2:23 pm
Oh Cran…Oh Cran, I just came back with that bottle of Astroglide and those autographed pictures of Aaron Murray that you requested! I couldn’t find jockstraps at Pierre’s clothing store but I did get that new rubber gag ball you wanted! Cran…oh Cran, why’s that pesky computer on again….
Colonel Jesup
April 27th, 2011
2:24 pm
You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth! You want me on that line! You need me on that line! Code! Honor! Trust! You people don’t know the first thing about protecting a quarterback!
Saint Simons
April 27th, 2011
2:25 pm
Did someone mention jockstraps?
Russ the Smooth Pooch (p.s. don't paint me)
April 27th, 2011
2:25 pm
Cran..pretty obvious the only “sport” you’ve ever played was chess. You don’t blame wins and losses on one guy, it’s a team thing so you wouldn’t understand
The Reaper
April 27th, 2011
2:27 pm
Yes they have underperformed at UGA and thrived in the NFL. That’s all do to poor motivational skills. If Richt lets Grantham coach the players he will find out how to get maximum effort out of the players. If he continues to be the same old Richt, he will lose his job. When you hire NFL coaches, let them do what you hired them to do and that is to coach. Richt has accomplished winning quite a few games but, his coaching history will be based on his failure to win a NC and his inept ability to fire coaches in a timely manner and to hire better coaches to replace them,(Mike Bobo and his offensive staff). Even if they win nine or ten games this year, it will only keep his job, not bring a NC to UGA. It’s been 31 years since the last NC and with all the talent that comes through UGA, this is really pathetic. The administration has to demand more than just winning a few games if we are to become relevant again.
DawginLex
April 27th, 2011
2:30 pm
Saw a sign on a website:
DANGER
THE DOG HAS A GUN AND
REFUSES TO TAKE HIS
MEDICATION
I hope this applies to our defense this year.
Better Dawgs!
April 27th, 2011
2:36 pm
CranJOKE: AM did not play in 09. Get your data straight boy!
Buckeye
April 27th, 2011
2:48 pm
# 1 in draft picks……vs. # 4 in draft picks.
A lot of you must be right, the Big 10 sucks.
red&silver
April 27th, 2011
3:00 pm
Buckeye
April 27th, 2011
2:48 pm
# 1 in draft picks……vs. # 4 in draft picks.
A lot of you must be right, the Big 10 sucks.
Sure does! BCS Championships reflect that!
UGASlobberknocker
April 27th, 2011
3:04 pm
Redshirting Moreno was a huge mistake. and dont forget he didnt really play much the first half of his first eligible year. We seem to sign many highly rated receivers, but only AJ has lived up to the billing and he was not without his drawbacks. Same thing on the DL..our good DL players seem to improve in the pros.
I believe substandard weight training has been a large part of it, as well as questionable nutrition. I have been told by someone who knows that UGA does NOT take the one allowed segregated training meal they are allowed by the NCAA to give the team each day..the team must eat in the dining hall all 3 meals. Most other schools use that NCAA allowed meal as their main one and are able to monitor nutrition better…I dont get why we dont do that..
Hopefully the new coaches and the new weight program will do some good.
JB
April 27th, 2011
3:06 pm
Tech Football………..Most schools hire a coach to improve what they just fired. Johnson took a group of very good athletes that Gailey left on both sides of the ball and won some games. Bad news for Tech. They are gone. Recruiting other than a plum or two has been lackluster. Feasting on Duke etc is about it. They couldn’t beat a crummy Georgia team two years in a row The Johnson Era is over at Tech.
Effeminate Dawg
April 27th, 2011
3:12 pm
Richt did better with Donnan’s recruits also.
Ralph
April 27th, 2011
3:17 pm
Stone Mountain LB Markuss Eligwe commits to FSU over UGA
“Florida State is getting a young man who is very smart in the classroom and on the football field,” [his high school coach] Ferguson said.
thUGA can only recruit thugs who don’t care about academics – they only want to fight, dance, rap, showboat, and break the law. Grades and SAT/ACT scores don’t matter at thUGA.
wolfman
April 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
Go JT! All the Jackets are praying for your full recovery.