Dogs can learn from Justin Houston’s NFL slide
One of Justin Houston's "poor decisions" might have been taking plays off. (Associated Press)
There’s a lesson in the Justin Houston story for his former teammates who remain in Athens, and not just the one about getting caught one toke over the line.
Houston’s surprising slide to the third round of the NFL draft, after being considered a consensus second-round pick and some analysts even speculating he could go late first round, would have been a real shock had it not been for the FoxSports.com report this week that he had tested positive for marijuana at the February NFL combine in Indianapolis.
After all, in his junior year, playing outside linebacker in Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme at UGA, Houston became a regular visitor to opposing teams’ backfield, racking up 18.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and 44 quarterback hurries, along with 38 solo tackles, 67 total tackles, forcing two fumbles, recovering a fumble for a touchdown and making an interception. He wound up all-SEC, made several All-America teams and was in the running for the Bednarik, Butkus and Nagurski awards. If he’d returned for his senior season, he probably would have been considered one of the nation’s premier defensive players.
All of that and only a third-round draft pick?
But while Houston seemed to be thinking of the failed drug test when he told reporters he attributed his drop in the draft to “some of the poor decisions I made,” there was another factor pointed out by ESPN analysts Todd McShay and Jon Gruden, who criticized Houston’s work ethic.
Working hard every day has made Orson Charles an MVP in his head coach's eyes. (Associated Press)
Both complained that, as Gruden said, Houston doesn’t “play hard all the time.” As McShay put it, “The problem is this guy doesn’t play every single down like it’s the last play of his career, which drives you crazy because he has so much potential.”
Actually, I’d heard UGA fans complain sporadically last season about Houston occasionally taking plays off — something that unfortunately has been a recurring problem for the Dogs over the past five years or so.
Perhaps it was the lack of conditioning that eventually resulted in an overhaul of Georgia’s strength program this offseason, but the Dogs have become known for sporadic effort. Even Knowshon Moreno, famed for popping up from a tackle and sprinting back to the huddle, seemed to take himself out of the game with alarming frequency during his time at UGA.
One encouraging sign for the coming season is that the Dogs have among them an example of the kind of player who draws comparisons with the legendary David Pollack, whose motor was never off. That player is Orson Charles, who’s even been known to take offseason early morning exercise with the ROTC cadets at UGA to improve his fitness and who Mark Richt praised recently as “the MVP of the entire spring.” Richt noted that, “Even wind sprints at the end of practice, he goes as hard as he can go. The last guy I can remember giving that kind of effort every play, every day was Pollack.”
So, sure, I hope current Georgia players take note of the fact that smoking an illegal substance can cost you professionally. But I think the greater lesson is that if you’re not playing every play like it could be your last (and ask Trinton Sturdivant, that’s a very real possibility), you’re not only likely to get beat, but someone at the next level is going to notice.
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133 comments Add your comment
First
April 30th, 2011
10:50 am
First
Amee Lou
April 30th, 2011
10:59 am
The problem with Mark Richt (okay, this is just one of many problems) is that he continues to recruit kids who he should know are going to have serious off-field character issues. As with Houston, the new kid Crowell is guaranteed to cause problems and get suspended or dismissed.
So why does he keep on recruiting these punks? Does he really think he can win with them?
Newman
April 30th, 2011
10:59 am
Goes back to overall lack of discipline.
Nick
April 30th, 2011
11:03 am
Talk about Justin Houston all you want, but don’t you dare badmouth Knowshon.
Danny
April 30th, 2011
11:03 am
“Does he really think he can win with them?”
Apparently he does. One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.
So I guess Richt is either insane or he’s totally incompetent. Either way, he’s a loser who needs to be gone from Athens PDQ.
EC
April 30th, 2011
11:07 am
AD McGarity cost Houston several million. McGarity had th fellas working out, from trailers last year. It wasn’t even a 3rd class conditioning program. The players were all out of shape, collapsed in the 4th quarter, on the football and basketball team. Too bad for Houston.
Frederick Hobart Mertz
April 30th, 2011
11:07 am
Crowell is another Ealey-King who will be in and out of jail. Two years at most before he’s off the team.
Norm Greenbaum
April 30th, 2011
11:10 am
Amee Lou, what crystal ball do you have? How in the world do you know Crowell will be a problem? Do you know him personally and have seen him acting a fool? Please enlighten us to how you know this for a fact.
Robin
April 30th, 2011
11:11 am
I have no sympathy whatsoever for jerks like Houston. I predict he’ll have an extremely short career in the NFL.
Do you want it?
April 30th, 2011
11:15 am
Goes back to the overall lack of a sense of discipline, accountability, focus, and “do ya want it?” that the Georgia program lacks.
You all are so funny
April 30th, 2011
11:30 am
Just like everyone else you want to point the finger at someone else for your problems – the problem with Justin Houston is Justin Houston – not GA and not Coach MR – all of you on here knocking the program are the same scum that live off the government and tax payers money because your situation is someone elses fault – well guess what – these players have a choice – they can be like Pollack or Orson and go above and beyond or they can lay back and go in the 3rd or 4th round and lose out on millions and probably never have a NFL career – and Amee Lou your comment just shows your ignorance -
Dawg Tired
April 30th, 2011
11:43 am
Talk about not getting it! The fact that Justin Houston was allowed to continue to play while not putting forth supreme effort is not his fault. That is clearly the responsibility of the coaching staff.
Dawg Tired
April 30th, 2011
11:46 am
The team culture is allowing this lack of effort. Players who loaf in practice or during a game should not be allowed to play on Saturday. Repeatedly failing to give max effort should result in removal from team and loss of scholarship. Then the culture would change.
Beast from the East
April 30th, 2011
11:48 am
Gator fan here. This is not a UGA problem. All schools (and pro teams) have players that don’t go all out every play. It drives the coaches nuts when you have someone with that potential, but you just don’t know which plays the effort will be there. Houston better develop more focus or he won’t last in the NFL.
Dawg Tired
April 30th, 2011
11:49 am
Plus, as the man in charge, if my employees don’t do their jobs as needed, it’s my fault if I continue to allow that to go on. Trust me, I don’t.
Ssgt Dawg
April 30th, 2011
11:50 am
I find it amazing that people can come on a blog just to bash young men who are doing the same things that all of us did at the same age. The decision to get blazed was all Justins not CMR or anybody else. Also how can Howbart say that Crowell is anything like Ealy or King? Is it because he had dreads our maybe its his year round tan that makes him the same? Other than the fact that he’d a GA running back I see no other simularities.
Dawg Tired
April 30th, 2011
11:51 am
Beast – Good point. That point being if Houston continues to take plays off, he will not be employed very long, i.e., he will be cut (same as being fired in the real world).
Wonderful-Ohio-On-The-Gulf 'Dog
April 30th, 2011
11:53 am
Doesn’t “play hard all the time” is a far more damning issue than an untimely toke.
Judgment, too, maybe. After all JH had lots of notice that the drug test was coming.
Alphare
April 30th, 2011
12:15 pm
If you don’t play hard, you are out or here! How about that?
Did you notice Nick Saban’s reaction when a player didn’t play hard or right?
If you are a 100% talent, but give 70% effort, what’s your total output? 70%. That’s why you don’t simply recruit talents, dedication is part of the formula too. Unfortunately, UGA seems to have too many players who don’t give their 100%.
BigDawg
April 30th, 2011
12:19 pm
Where can you find the most expensive pot in the U.S.? In Justin Houston’s ashtray. Big mistake!
bigdon
April 30th, 2011
12:23 pm
Glad the Falcons passed on this moron. I’ve got no problem with weed, but if you can’t stay clean for 30 days before arguably the MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF YOUR ENTIRE LIFE then you’ve got a problem with weed and you’re a major idiot. It certainly shows lack of character, ambition and poor decision making. Nobody’s fault buy his period. I grew up on the 70’s and we smoked pot like cheech and chong and I never found it to be the least bit addictive nor did it ever interfere with out lives so I can’t see how this guy is some drug crazed toothless meth head that was out of control in the addiction and powerless over their drug. No. Mr. Houston probably blazed with his possee on the way to the combine while listening to rap about killing cops and mother…..ers in a childish attempt for street cred. Doooooosh bag. Luuuzer. Get the BIG L on your forehead now and save up the energy of having to tell you later when you’re broke, in jail and out of shape, but full of street cred. In the immortal words of Royal Marshall — the penultimate opposite in manhood and life choices — just damn.
BigDawg
April 30th, 2011
12:24 pm
Justin, remember Odell Thurman!
papadawg
April 30th, 2011
12:26 pm
I saw the whole danged DAWG team including coaches take plays off and sometimes just about the whole game off so lets not single out one player
bar employee
April 30th, 2011
12:30 pm
SOME OF THESE PLAYERS ARE DOWNTOWN 4-5 TIMES A WEEK UNTIL 2AM IN THE MORNING. THIS INCLUDES SPRING PRACTICE WHEN MARLON BROWN, ISREAL TROUPE, TAVARESS KING, CALEB KING, THE OGLETREES AND QUITE A FEW OTHER PLAYERS WERE OUT PARTYING ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHTS.
I see it every time I work, players like Marlon Brown who have so much potental, but instead spend their time trolling the bars. I know these guys are students and deserve to have a good time, but that needs to be within reason. Stafford and Knowshon had the same bad habits during their time in Athens.
The players you rarely see out are the ones making the biggest improvements. Aaron Murray is rarely out and the same goes for Orson Charles. CMR has the responsibility to keep these kids focused on the task at hand and driven to achieve team goals. These guys are allowed to have a good time, but the didn’t get scholarships valued at $150,000+ to party every night.
Dawgster One
April 30th, 2011
12:40 pm
CMR has the responsibility to keep these kids focused on the task at hand and driven to achieve team goals.
And Richt is NOT doing that, which is why he has to be fired. The best otcome for UGA is to have another 6-7 season this year. That will certainly result in Richt being sacked. At least then we could start over with a decent coach and some quality players instead of the losers we have now.
BroncoManiac
April 30th, 2011
12:44 pm
Boise State – 77
Athens Correctional Institute for the Retarded – 10
Bye bye, Saint Mark!
7576DAWG
April 30th, 2011
12:46 pm
Justin Houston could have played one more year at Georgia but unless his attitude changed it would not have mattered , any. I hope last years entitlement team is smart enough to realize that the next level is all business and by the time you declare for the NFL you better have matured enough to work in a MAN’S world or don’t even bother us.
Georgia has gotten rid of a lot of good players in the last year or put them on notice that the past liberty’s will no longer be tolerated at this school. I APPLAUD MCGARITY FOR BRINGING IN THE DISCIPLINE NEEDED AT GEORGIA.
I do not blame CMR for 18 to 20 year old acting like children and immature. BUT I DO BLAME HIM FOR PUTTING UP WITH IT.
Dr. Phil
April 30th, 2011
1:08 pm
Red flags for Crowell: 1. Richt signed Crowell’s not-so-talented homey as an incentive for Crowell to sign in a package deal. 2. Richt’s pandering with the missing runningback drama sent the message that Crowell is “special” and will be treated differently from other team mates. 3. Crowell’s other homeys and facebook pals robbing the UGA locker room indicates that he keeps some bad company. 4. Crowell’s facebook postings. 5. Crowell wearing a Bama hat on his official visit to Auburn–tacky if not stupid.
7576DAWG
April 30th, 2011
1:13 pm
I would recommend that UGA enact a no tolerance on drugs or you are off the team but I’m afraid that 75% of the team would be leaving.
CMR is a football coach and that’s all. But, a lot of progress has been made without tearing the team apart. I hope McGarity realizes now that he has started this stronger less tolerance policy he needs to take it to the next level.
ARdawg
April 30th, 2011
1:18 pm
broncomaniac
That’s just dayum funny right there. I will make a prediction right now. No matter how bad (possibly good) the Dawgs are next year, we still aren’t VT. We won’t lose to Boise ST and expect the same result you got in 05 when your azz was handed to you. Minimum 20 point victory for UGA
ARdawg
April 30th, 2011
1:20 pm
Oh wait, that’s obviously one of the Nerds who has nothing left in life but to post such crap on a UGA blog
Fans Lunatic Fringe
April 30th, 2011
1:24 pm
Georgia fans are insane. Also, Atlanta sports fans, too. Just a bunch of whiners. None of you have ever played the game but you come on these blogs to spurt your predictably irrational nonsense.
True, UGA has underperformed and so too has Atlanta sports, in my opinion. Nonetheless, fans in this state are pitiful. Listen to a Hawks game. The PA announcer has to scream throughout the game “lets go Hawks” just to wake the fanbase up. Go to an Alabama game. LSU game. Auburn game. Clemson game. The fans there love their teams…and cheer throughout the game.
In Sanford stadium, I’m told to sit down and shut up when I try to cheer on UGA. I don’t get it.
Try this…why don’t all of you shut your pie holes and get 100% behind your teams and show some character. Cheer these student athletes on instead of judging them for all that they do.
teewest
April 30th, 2011
1:32 pm
The folks on here complaining about 18 and 19 acting like seasoned adults, do not have any kids OR if the do they keep them in a bubble. I have 3 kids all 3 are doing very well in school, college, and at work. This does not make me feel like some kind of superior parent only a fortunate one. I wonder what kind of ADULTS are Dr. phil and Amee lou! This is the most challenging time in history to be a parent, bet Coach Richt turns out more A J Greens, Aaron Whites, David Greenes, Stinchcombs,Orson Charles and Pollacks than Kings or Ealeys
The Eternal Pessimist
April 30th, 2011
2:05 pm
Good Lord. I love the Dawgs with every fiber of my being, but I can barely stand to read this blog anymore because of all the bad vibes I get every time I come on here. I don’t know if you people are just trolling or legitimately sick in the head, but I sincerely hope it’s the former. I’d hate to think that I’m part of a fan base full of such self-righteous, judgmental venom.
Ca dawg
April 30th, 2011
2:11 pm
Yeah we should probably go ahead and preemptively toss Crowell and all those guys who (gasp!) go to bars in jail now, before they actually do anything wrong. We should also assume that they don’t work hard enough because they like to have a beer every now and then. I bet saban doesnt allow players to go out at all. Once again, bill, you find a way to bring out the crazies.
Ca dawg
April 30th, 2011
2:12 pm
@the eternal pessimist: cheers, brother.
here is an idea
April 30th, 2011
2:25 pm
When I was in college our coach always knew if we had been out partying and made us work five times as had doing sprints, hills, broad jump races until we puked our guts up. CMR needs to hire guys like bar employee to blow the whistle on these guys during the season and if they are reported out and getting loaded during the season, dont kick them off the team, bust their asses. Make them puke and puke and puke, and feel the pain of partying too much
AltamahaDawg
April 30th, 2011
2:26 pm
I have been in Sanford Stadium for 30 yrs and I have never, not one time, heard any fan who was simply cheering on the Dawgs to “sit down and shut his mouth”.
I have however seen on many occation folks tying to enjoy the game on their own terms constantly annoyed by the guy who is more concerned about them than the actual ballgame.
But I am sure you Atlanta folks appreciated one more transplant telling you how to do it all.
RHall
April 30th, 2011
2:43 pm
Chris Davis, OG for UGA, is a perfect example of a player given a scholarship but not caring; constantly at the bar called “On the Rocks” / he lived with the owner of the bar; HE should have been a senior leader but decided it was more important to be out late @ night; no wonder the OL was horrible last year: out of shape and no discipline!!! Hope this changes for the 2011 season!!
1eyedJack
April 30th, 2011
3:02 pm
Western Carolina – 77
North Avenue Institute for 2-Star Booger-eaters – 10
Bye bye, Coach Fishfry!
“Thank God and Greyhound” will be the new battle cry.
shane#1
April 30th, 2011
3:08 pm
Percy Harvin tested positive for the wicked weed. Other than migranes he has turned into a very good NFL player. ASs for taking plays off, all Richt could do was get on his butt. Houston led the SEC in sacks last season, and you morons want him kicked off the team? You guys would not last long as coaches.
kerryb
April 30th, 2011
3:20 pm
What McShay said you can say about Georgia’s defense the last few years. When a coach like John Gruden says something about you like that you think it might wake you up. I guess we’ll see. He needs to wake up and quit smoking the dope. It looks like he has fried some brain cells already.
kerryb
April 30th, 2011
3:23 pm
shane#1, yes, Houston had great career at UGA. Think how much dominating he could have been for us when we needed him to be if his lazy butt had given 100% on every play.
razordawg
April 30th, 2011
3:30 pm
seems to be alot of bigots and borderline racists in the dawgblog today. u people do not even know who crowell is, what he has done, or what he will do. any negative statements about crowell, without hard evidence, can only be attributed to two things: his dredlocks and his chocolate complexion. if this was some “grant hill ” looking rb, then we would not be equating a guy who is banging his prom date today with houston, ealy, or queen (king). we all do not look alike and we certainly do not all act alike despite sharing similar backgrounds.
1eyedJack
April 30th, 2011
3:34 pm
I had read in Athlon’s, I think, an opposing coach (Spurier? Saban?)state that he felt Georgia was soft. I hope Coach Tereshinski read it too and that that phase is history.
Get off the bus and make old ladies faint and children cry!!! What is best in life? “Crush your enemies, drive them before you….and listen to the lamentations of their women!”
Say what you really mean
April 30th, 2011
4:07 pm
To all the sad haters on here who predict Crowell and other UGA players are destined to be in jail and fail have the guts to write what you really mean. Yes I’m talking to you cowards sitting in basements in states far from Georgia with non white populations of 5% or less.
What you pathetic friendless losers want to say is Crowell is a thug and criminal because he is not white. I get so tired of racist haters who live in what might as well be a segregated state usually far from the deep South claiming all Southerners are in the KKK. Meanwhile these pitiful hate filled idiots spew their venom about 18 year old kids safe in the knowlege that no one knows them
1953Dawg
April 30th, 2011
4:21 pm
1eyedjack, i to have heard the same thing form opposing coaches about UGA the past several years. That about sums up Richt and his coaching staff doesn’t it. Hell Richt even admitted that his team loses games because they didn’t play as hard as the other team. How in God’s name can the A.D, and the powers to be in Athens allow this coach to continue to run the UGA football program. What else needs to happen before McGarity and Adams and the big money contributors run this coach and his coaching philosophy(whatever in the hell it is) out of Athens. Rival coaches know he runs a finesse offense, and they have seen the same stupid plays called and run by BoBo &RIcht for the past 10 years. Richt and his tool have never made any adjustments to their offense, and it shows on the field. Richt’s results on the field the past 5 years, clearly show that his program has become stale, and he has admitted that his players don’t respect him or his coaches, because they refuse to play hard. And Richt and his coaches have proven that they aren’t capable of preparing the team mentally or physically, so i ask UGA fans, alumni, contributors, and A.D, what more needs to happen before enough is enough? It’s so disappointing to watch other teams hire new coaches that bring energy and life into their programs,(Auburn, Alabam,Tenn, Florida, Miss.St.), are all building winning programs with winning coaches, yet we have to sit and watch the same pathetic coaching staff continue to put a terrible product on the field. UGA deserves the same success on the field as these other schools, hopefully we will get what we deserve after this year. This coach has had 11 years to build a successful, respected program, and he has failed at both the past 5 years. Time to end this coaching regime, and move on.
FRED
April 30th, 2011
4:50 pm
Houston should have stayed one more year. Had he played one more year he would have gone up to a 1st round and would have made millions more. These kids get greedy and they loose millions because of there greed.
UGASlobberknocker
April 30th, 2011
5:10 pm
I believe it was the perception of laziness more than the weed that made him drop down so far.
tide roll
April 30th, 2011
5:12 pm
You can’t bring in the 9th rated offensive line class in the Conference while at the same time allow in state studs like James Carpenter, Chance Warmack, Jujwuan James, and now Brandon Greene to leave the state and help your competition beat you. It simply can’t continue to happen. Not if you expect to win.
1953 dawg there you go again
April 30th, 2011
5:12 pm
Good Lord man dont you EVER have anything positive to say? Not only are you always negative but you write way way too much. Why dont you just choose another team to pull for and save everyone the trouble of reading your whining epistles?
I iwsh I was a smart as tide roll
April 30th, 2011
5:14 pm
the pearls of wisdom that pour out of his mouth are awe inspiring. I wonder if he was that smart prior to 2007 when Bama sucked for 15 years?
UGASlobberknocker
April 30th, 2011
5:16 pm
Aimee Lou do you know something about Crowell that the rest of us dont that makes you categorize him as a potential trouble maker??
or is it that you just dont like his looks or his dread locks?
1953 Dawg is jusy a bitter old man
April 30th, 2011
5:19 pm
Go gum some dinner you old fool
SOUTHGADAWG88
April 30th, 2011
6:01 pm
Congrats to the kids who realized their dreams today….good luck gentleman!As for this year’s team well…no Searles.no Tripp and Wood at DT,sounds great to me so far!This team has better talent than last year’s and hopefully better coaching too.Belin was good for the special teams but I wasn’t all that impressed with his ILB coaching
1962 DAWG
April 30th, 2011
6:21 pm
What we need is to hire ” tide roll” to recruit a new O-line for us and all our problems will be solved.
tell me again
April 30th, 2011
6:30 pm
I come on this blog and – am stunned – over and over again by the simpletons who claim to be Dawg fans who think firing Richt is the only answer. And as for other programs hiring winning coaches – Tennessee? What has Dooley won yet? Florida? Urban tanked in his final year – won with somebody else’s QB his first year and had a run with Tebow similiar to Ga’s with Herschel – his winning ways were gone the minute Tebow hit the door. And the new guy ain’t won crap yet. AUBURN ? Are you kidding me? One year out of 5 they beat us with Mr. soon to be jailed and the program heading for probation with ex players ADMITTING they took money?? THAT is a winning coach and program – THAT’s what you want???? Are you stupid or something?
pj
April 30th, 2011
7:47 pm
This blog was EXACTLY what was on my mind as I watched Houston slide. Great point, great article – hope somebody of consequence will read it and share it with the team…
AdMan
April 30th, 2011
9:43 pm
What the hell do all you know-it -alls know that CMR doesn’t know?….nothing! What a bunch of idiots….none of you naysayers have even spent one second with Crowell….you know nothing of his character or his heart…you trash him because he has long hair…Go take a good look in the mirror you idiots…because you most likely look and act like the kind of person most people try to stay away from…..you know… people that constantly run thier mouths and tell anyone who will listen how great they are…people who get laughed at behind their backs by everyone else….go route for Tech or Bama cause we don’t need losers like you who claim to be dawg fans.
dawgster
April 30th, 2011
10:29 pm
Thank goodness there are still some fans that have some common sense and know the game of football…Shane#1…”tell me again”, “1953 dawg there you go again”, Adman” just to name a few that are probably as disgusted with some of our so called dawg fans as I am…I mean just go find another team if you are so unhappy..Heck none of us are pleased with last season, but its done, finished…lets move on a actually see if things turn around, if they don’t then I’m sure there are people more capable than us that will do what’s best for UGA….go dawgs
Taco
April 30th, 2011
10:51 pm
Let me say what I mean. I am from Georgia. Crowell is a thug from a thug school. Don’t drink the Kool Aid. I hope he does not embarrass the state and the school like his high school teamates who just stole everyones stuff from the locker room on G Day. Carver is the HOOD and go down there and look for yourself. I hope the kid can rise above it and make it in the world but he comes from a rough place.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
April 30th, 2011
10:53 pm
I have always told “Roll Tide” and Aubum fans to just go back to Alabama and enjoy their work at Toomer,s Corner. I guess they have nothing better else to do, not unlike those North Avenue classy folks who display their school’s image on those waterless urinals (See them at Callaway Gardens, some malls and hotels) Have you not seen them yet, they are right where your stream ends.
RED DOG 77
May 1st, 2011
1:44 am
@Bill King……You sir, certainly don’t need my approval, but I must say, after criticizing you for a lack of “team” effort, this one is dead-on………Great sory, had some serious “red meat”, and it talked to the future………..of what “our” beloved BULLDOGS can, and probubly will do in 2011. I won’t spend any “ink” on Justin Houston………just thank you for highlighting DAWGS like Orson Charles, and reminding current DOGS of players like David Pollack……..I don’t give a rats rear-end who Alabama, LSU, Florida and the likes have on their rosters, “MY” BULLDOGS are loaded with talent……..and when that chemistry gels, there is not a prouder program in all the land…….”I feel a change comin’ on”…….back to the days when you could pretty much count on the University of Georgia BULLDOGS to prevail on just about every Saturday………..GO DOGS!!! SIC’ ‘EM WOOF…WOOF…WOOF !!!!………Regards, RED
Destin Dawg
May 1st, 2011
6:53 am
this is the YEAR for CMR… with a huge boost in energy from T.G. and the new recruits… to turn the program around… serious S. and C. with an attitude…..play ‘em all play’em early… no seniority system.. schedule is there for the taking… win the 1st 2 and it could be a special season !!!!!
Barf
May 1st, 2011
7:35 am
These guys are volunteers,which means they do not get paid. Why not take a play off.
It is what it is
May 1st, 2011
9:16 am
Excellent article. While Justin’s decision ultimately lies with him, he probably needs some new friends. It’s time to stop trying to “keep it real” Justin.. They just cost you hundred’s of thousands of dollars. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
AltamahaDawg
May 1st, 2011
9:45 am
What is the obsession with “seniority system” in these blogs. How many examples of younger player starting over upperclassmen does it take to disprove the silly notion that this or any coach would ever play who he thought was not best. I get that not everybody have always liked his choices for starter but that is a you thinking you know more than him about that particular situation, just say it. That’s fine. That’s being a sport fan. I like this guy, I like that guy. Or this guy or that guy didn’t work out, so obviously that was a mistake in hindsight. All fine. Don’t make up some farce to gloss over the real issue of not wanting to say that you could do the job of evaluating the pieces of the puzzle better than the professionals.
The Reaper
May 1st, 2011
10:22 am
Discipline starts at home and should be transferred to anything that a person does. Houston brought all of this on himself. These kids get every break in the world and some know how to blow it big time. These kids fail to realize that what they do starting in high school follows them all the way through college. In life we have choices and it seems like these kids don’t know how to make the right choices. Now, with being said. When I played Football or any other sport, you learned discipline on the practice field or you would lose the game or not even play. Remember what CMR told the fan a couple of days ago, “I know what the hell I am doing”. So let’s see if it shows on the football field and in the W column or will UGA have a new coaching staff in 2012. He talk the talk, now lets see if he can walk the walk. So far, now arrest have been made and the S and C seems better. We’ll see if that transfers to the regular season and if we can get back to playing SEC football.
FB Fan
May 1st, 2011
11:04 am
Taking plays off? These guys took whole games off! Not to mention dozens of arrests the past few years. But don’t worry. CMR says he knows what the hell he is doing.
Tally Ho
May 1st, 2011
12:05 pm
You bunch of trolling fools.
Tom
May 1st, 2011
12:42 pm
It only took you three words to make a mistake……
“Dogs can learn…..”……
Selah.
This Dawg Want Hunt!!
May 1st, 2011
12:54 pm
Let’s see, Richt admits his teams don’t play hard, Gruden calls out one of Richt’s players as being a loafer, Richt adnits that he feels the fans frustration over his pathetic coaching ability, than he turns around and says he knows what he is doing. If this idiot knows what he is doing why does he continue to have players that don’t work or play hard, and why does he have a .500 record in the SEC east the past 3 years? This guy is lost, and after 25 years of coaching, he still has no clue how to develop an offensive game plan, nor does he know how to motivate his players, and get them prepared to play a big game.As for you idiots that contiune to drink his bitter Kool-Aid, don’t come on blogs and calll out other UGA fans that simply want a winning team, and they want a team that plays hard, and represents the University of Ga. with pride. If you are satisfied with this pathetic coach and his coahcing staff, then maybe you should go cheer for Tech, because that is what Tech fans deserve, not UGA fans. UGA has the money, facilites, andfan support to compete with any program in the country, yet we have to settle for this clown and all of his excuse, and now we have to put up with his losing record for God’s sake. He proved once again that he is a loser and a spineless head coach when he kicked a field goal in a meaningless bowl game against Central Fl. There is no defending this clown, and his pitiful offense. Any decent coach could have won with Stafford, Moreno,MoMass, and A.J., but not the wonderful offensive genius that Ga. fans call Coach Richt. Yea, he knows what he is doing alright. He has no clue, and his offense speaks for itself. The definition for Insane is to continue to do the same things over and over again and expect different results. That is the UGA offense under Richt and his wonderful O.C. bobo the past 5 years. You clowns had better have some vodka to put in that Richt Kool-aid this fall, ibecause that’s the only way you will be able to stand to drink it anymore
No more Richt
May 1st, 2011
1:04 pm
Taking plays off? These guys took whole games off! Not to mention dozens of arrests the past few years. But don’t worry. CMR says he knows what the hell he is doing.
At least he thinks so.
Richt is a pretentious hypocritical jerk. He should have been fired after last season.
JDOG
May 1st, 2011
1:28 pm
Amen! Dawg want hunt. Are you my brother, we talk about this too.
7576DAWG
May 1st, 2011
2:06 pm
This Dawg Want Hunt
A lot of what you said is true , facts speak for themselves. I have always supported CMR 100% until starting 3 years ago he stubbornly kept Willie Martinez an extra year . Everybody knew what was going to happen but CMR refused to accept it. Same thing last year with Bobo as offensive coordinator. I knew we were in for a long season when South Carolina had the ball approx. 17 minutes longer than we did. No defense can stay on the field that long against a good team and win.
I still think CMR is a good coach and want him to stay but his attitude was got to change and I hope that everything that has happened since last year with getting rid of a lot of the cancer on the team and bringing in the new S&C will do the job.
The only thing that still could have helped was to demote Bobo to just quarterback coach. CMR and Bobo are two peas in a pod , they think exactly alike meaning they support everything each says and that is NOT good. That’s why every coach we play against say preparing for Georgia’s offense is one of the easiest games on their schedule. You need an offensive coordinator that brings something different.
And for the Dawg FANS that come on here and only want to patronize and ignore that we have had a big problem the last 3 years have never played in any sport as one of the leaders that everybody counts on to put the team over the edge against good teams to win the game. Leader or great players only think about one thing, WINNING. Nothing else is acceptable.
So far McGarity has made a lot of changes which I applaud and have a feeling he is just getting started. I for one hope that CMR is able to find a place to fit in. BUT THE LAST THREE YEARS WAYS CAN NOT CONTINUE.
Pago Pago Dawg
May 1st, 2011
2:08 pm
This dawg want hunt/1953dawg…please hit the “enter” button every 10,000 lines, gessh.
Big Dawg
May 1st, 2011
2:22 pm
Tide Roll while I agree with you on somethings, I don’t completely agree with you in that we did not get the o-linemen you mention i.e. James Carpenter, Chance Warmack, Jujwuan James, and Brandon Greene. I disagree with you because not getting those guys is only part of the equation. It seems every year we recruit players who were hurt in high school and never seem to recover. While I can understand taking chances on guys it seems that our o-line has been pretty injury prone and beat up and not ready to play especially the last 3 years. Hopefully that has been rectified and we will see a take no prisoners attitude on both sides of the ball this year and we won’t hear other SEC coaches talking about how soft our guys are anymore.
Now some of my fellow Dawgs who are talking about Isiah Crowell, well I would suggest you give the young man a chance before you start throwing him under the bus. I would suggest a change of attitude on your parts and some patience. I know you have a right to express your opinions but you know what it is ONLY your opinion and we all have one and yes we are entitled to it.
Besides Coach Richt knows his team has to show marked improvement this year or he could be replaced. Right or wrong he is the head coach and guess what he gets to make the decisions as long as he is. I for one support Coach Rict because he is a Christian, do I agree with everything he does “NO” I don’t and those of you who are regulars know that I have criticized as well as praised Coach Richt over the last 5 years that I have been coming on this blog. Anyway I will support my Dawgs no matter what and I am hoping and praying that Coach Richt has righted the ship and we will play hard for 4 quarters this year and we won’t lose games we should have won.
Go Dawgs
AltamahaDawg
May 1st, 2011
6:10 pm
SC held the ball for 35 minutes that game.
BYRDDAWG
May 1st, 2011
7:01 pm
Some of these posts are STUPID!!!!!! Almost everyone recruited him & they want to blame Richt for this….that’s a bunch of CRAP!!!! BTW Bubba just won another golf tournament….GO DAWGS
Ringleader
May 1st, 2011
7:38 pm
Tide Roll…………Don’t you have a little bit of tornado tiddy up you need to be doing?
powerhouse?
May 1st, 2011
8:14 pm
cross-eyed-jack, you must be kidding to think WCu will score only 77…LOL!!!!.
However the doggies start their season against a top ten ranked team that might just whip you.
RED DOG 77
May 2nd, 2011
1:05 am
No way in hell Boise St. comes anywhere close to beating the BULLDOGS in the dome on September 3rd………..Todd Grantham will have his defense so ramped-up, I doubt Kellin Moore has more than 40yrds in the air in the first half………..Dudes going to be so shell-shocked he might not even come out for the second half……….yea, yea, yea……we run a 3-4 defense, but don’t be surprised to see Grantham put two 350lb tackles on either side of a 5ft 10in 280lb Boise St. center with De Angelo Tyson on one end and Abry Jones on the other opening the way for our Linebackers to reak havock on Mr. Moore……….Our Offense might not set any records scoring that night, but they won’t have to………Remember Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl?…………This one will be the new benchmark for Georgia’s Defense………..University of Georgia Bulldogs 34 Boise St. 7
12 CRIMINAL CHARGES 6 wins 7 LOSSES
May 2nd, 2011
8:00 am
nuttin like a little weed to celebrate duh draff….aaahhhhhh
Judge Judy
May 2nd, 2011
9:11 am
I bet alot of the posters on here that are slaming UGA players for goofing off, are doing the same thing. If you’re not doing it now, I’d be willing to bet you have done it. Now, GET BACK TO WORK!
DawginLex
May 2nd, 2011
9:13 am
We have had our problems off the field in prior years.
Name me ONE arrest in recent months.
Now list the schools that had arrests recently while UGA has ZERO
Auburn
Florida
Arkansas
Iowa
Just to name a few.
I believe Richt has decided to lay down the law and it is reflected in ZERO arrests.
DawginLex
May 2nd, 2011
9:16 am
tide roll,
Your offensive line is rated behind ours by Rivals now.
Smoke on that
12 CRIMINAL CHARGES 6 wins 7 LOSSES
May 2nd, 2011
9:29 am
DawginLex
May 2nd, 2011
9:13 am
WOW. but 51 in 4 years. Nice.
Reality
May 2nd, 2011
9:32 am
DawginLex
May 2nd, 2011
9:16 am
tide roll,
Your offensive line is rated behind ours by Rivals now.
Smoke on that
When was your last NC? And how many NC’s do you have? Yeah, Smoke on that.
Superior Offensive Line, Huh ?
May 2nd, 2011
9:33 am
DawginLex (wherever Lex is, and if it’s KY, what do YOU know about football anyway?)
I’ve heard pre-season plaudits for Georgia’s OL several years in a row now. Just how good did those lines turn out ? Ratings and opinions are like “you-know-whats”.
I-DOG
May 2nd, 2011
9:54 am
FH Mertz:
Washaun has not exactly been “in and out of jail”. That term just doesn’t apply to him. He has done some dumb things, I think we can all agree on that… but in and out of jail isn’t a characterization that matches up with what he has done. In and out of the doghouse? Definately.
DawginLex
May 2nd, 2011
10:18 am
Bristled some Bama feathers?
Dish it out but can’t take it?
If Bama loses 3 games again this year after being preseason #1 or #2 for the second year in a row, who will have underachieved more?
SABAN
12 Idiot Bammers,6 posts, 7 boxes of donuts Eaten
May 2nd, 2011
10:29 am
Speaks volumes doesn’t it???????????????????
12 Idiot Bammers,6 posts, 7 boxes of donuts Eaten
May 2nd, 2011
10:31 am
tide roll-black racist
saban-god’s gift to football yet can’t win his own division-4th place?
can’t beat arch rival at home-blew 24 point lead
3 losses yet preseason ranked #1
Arkansas SEC West Champions 2011
LSU 2nd
Miss State 3rd
Bama 4th-AGAIN
Reality
May 2nd, 2011
10:33 am
Nothin like typical mutt fans…dreamers and idiots.
wde
May 2nd, 2011
10:43 am
Reality I’m confused is Bama still on probation or has that ended yet?
wde
May 2nd, 2011
10:44 am
Reality think your D can hold a 24 point half time lead this year?
Reality
May 2nd, 2011
10:49 am
wde
Do you think your team can win 7 games this year?
Reality
May 2nd, 2011
10:50 am
wde
Will you retain The Richt Cup this year?
Reality
May 2nd, 2011
10:55 am
wde
Let’s see, seems your 6-7 team had a 14 point lead, and lost by 18…49-31.
wde
May 2nd, 2011
11:01 am
Reality I think Bama is ahead of UGA in the Fulmer Cup standing but we are all way behind the Barn.And yes I think we could win a few more than 7 and I wish you were on the schedule I really do..now how long before Saban leaves and will he take his statue with him when he goes?
12 Idiot Bammers,6 posts, 7 boxes of donuts Eaten
May 2nd, 2011
11:01 am
Reality says the 5 old geezers that eat at the counter every day for lunch at the Tuscaloosa Five and Dime and Corner Drug Store have voted Alabam national champions 42 times even though 35 of those times, they lost their bowl game and nobody rated them national champions that matter.
Yet Reality says Dawgs are dumb and delusional!!
You can’t make this stuff up
Reality
May 2nd, 2011
11:07 am
wde
Saban is still there, and so is the NC trophy.
Reality
May 2nd, 2011
11:09 am
12
I said dreamers and idiots. But you can add dumb and delusional, thank you.
12 Idiot Bammers,6 posts, 7 boxes of donuts Eaten
May 2nd, 2011
11:12 am
That Saban statue is on wheels
Somebody ask tide roll how clint boling got drafted since clint is white and only black roadgraders can play OL
wde
May 2nd, 2011
11:42 am
Reality did you guys get a discount on that trophy ? Seems like you could get a bulk rate at this point in time…didn’t you guys give yours self’s one last year too, or is ending up 4th in the West even hard for you guys to sell as another NC? And are you still on probation or not?
Reality
May 2nd, 2011
11:47 am
wde
How’s that 6-7 selling? LOL!
DMR
May 2nd, 2011
12:42 pm
Amy Lou, Danny, and Fredrick need to put their collective heads on their desk and take a nap. The majority of the players on Richt’s 85 man roster are not problems. Has he had a few that don’t do right? Yes. Now look at guys like Pollak, Bailey, Stafford, T. Brown, O. Charles, and even A.J. Green, who did something wrong, but man’d up and paid the price…unlike someone like say Jim Tressel.
Richt has some quality kids on this team. But leadership cannot just come from Richt; it must also come from the players on the team. Richt may have had some minor problems with kids, but I think he has moved his discipline and number of times he will allow them to overstep to an appropriate level.
If you are already predicting a kid like Crowell will get into trouble, you’re just grasping at straws. I think it says a lot about a kid who is 18 years old, who during a time when being pursued by every major college, kept as low a profile as possible, and stayed away from Facebook and Twitter. I think that shows a great deal of maturity. Give him credit.
12 Idiot Bammers,6 posts, 7 boxes of donuts Eaten
May 2nd, 2011
12:42 pm
and Dr Phil, you need to shutup too.
If Crowell signed with Bama, he would have been the second coming of Mark Ingram.
Just shutup
DawginLex
May 2nd, 2011
12:44 pm
amen to the above.
all these Bama trolls make this blog stink
Reality
May 2nd, 2011
12:57 pm
Nice—blocking my posts, now, huh?
wde
May 2nd, 2011
1:03 pm
Reality we really didn’t like 6-7 and I pray many of our opponents this year will pay for our dissatisfaction ..now about that probation where are we again?
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 2nd, 2011
1:06 pm
Sure seems like a lot of folks just come onto these blogs to post negative crap, whether or not it is even your team this blog is about. I don’t give a rat’s buttocks about Auburn, Florida, Alabama or any other school until we play them. I don’t bother with their blogs because their teams are not my problem or my concern. Im of the opinion that a lot of the clowns that come on these blogs to put down UGA, have nothing better to do in thier lives. Must be a lonely existence, if this is all you have to do. I am getting a little tired also of all these fair weather supposedly fans of the DAWGS. A true fan and supporter will stand behind his coaches and the team and realize that all colleges go through rough patches. The DAWGS are going to get it on again and make us proud.
DawginLex
May 2nd, 2011
1:19 pm
Reality
May 2nd, 2011
12:57 pm
Nice—blocking my posts, now, huh?
WE CAN ONLY HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reality
May 2nd, 2011
1:23 pm
This blog has always stunk.
Dawg Gone
May 2nd, 2011
1:31 pm
Bill good article the current Dawgs could indeed learn a very valuable lesson from this. Justin best of luck going forward but please wise up the NFL won’t keep you if your not fully committed.
Contractor
May 2nd, 2011
1:58 pm
I’m so glad Orson is finally getting some publicity. The guy is always playing hard, and is a beast on the field. I have always wondered why he doesn’t get the ball more. Maybe he will rub off on everyone, and they will realize that it doesn’t take much to “want it”, just a little more determination and mind set. Way to go Orson, and I’m looking forward to seeing a very productive season out of you.
Snake Doc
May 2nd, 2011
4:14 pm
Dip Towers is a twit!
Questions for Tide Roll
May 2nd, 2011
6:31 pm
How is Georgia supposed to keep these guys in state if they don’t want to go to UGA?
Surely you are aware that you cannot force players to sign with a certain school.
You are supposedly a Bama fan, so why do you express such sorrow when Georgia doesn’t sign every OL in the state, yet I have not seen you express any remorse over Saban failing to sign Newton and Fairly, either of which would likely have guaranteed another NC.
So, did it upset you that Bama struck out on Newton and Fairly?
Still waiting on you to give one recognized recruiting authority who thinks Brandon Greene is a better prospect than John Theus. (Probably not a fair comment, since Theus is one of the elite linemen in the nation, while Greene is not at that level, though he does have potential.
Lakedawg
May 2nd, 2011
8:58 pm
Tide Roll forgets Bama offered Cordy Glenn, Bean Anderson, A.J. Harmon, Kolton Houston, Austin Long, Brent Benedict, scholraships but all signed with Dawgs. Tide Roll also missed out on Ben Jones, 2012 all-SEC center from Alabama and Kenarious Gates. They also offer 3 of the incoming freshmen that signed with Dawgs. Their midget coach is not getting all the OL prospects and Dawgs will have much higher rated 2012 OL recuruits.than Bama. Tide Roll can’t you comment on something else since this one has been old for quite a while.
truedawg
May 2nd, 2011
11:00 pm
What as a Coach are you supposed to do? who have a player that even without trying is the best player on the D. Do you bench him, hurting the teams chances of winning? keep playing him when he could hurt the team with the “cancer” attitude?
All teams have this problem, not just UGA. The problem is that when the player that isn’t giving 100%, is supposed to be a leader, and is one of the most talented players you have, it is very infectious. Others, see “he isn’t giving 100% and is playing every down, why should I ?” UGA has had that probllem with a few players. We haven’t had that type of leader at UGA step up in a a few years. I hope with Charles, Murray, Jones, to name a few we see a new player responsibilty for the team, and they hold each other accountable for there on and off field performance. GO DAWGS!!
one more thing..CMR is a hell’uva Coach!!
Still@theBAR
May 3rd, 2011
1:02 am
Houston learned from Q Carter that DOPE is GOOD and you can still get a NFL contract. He will get 1 contract and then USE the GREAT UGA degree he EARNED in 3 yr to to pay for all the Baby Mamas and the kids
Still@theBAR
May 3rd, 2011
2:18 am
Houston was wearing #42 for the smok’n reference. It was short for 420. All his buddies knew what it was standing for.
Dawg'91
May 3rd, 2011
8:32 am
The problems you cite in Houston are spot on, and unfortunately, systemic in Richt’s program over the last five or six years. Richt himself saying that Pollack was the last player he remembers working as hard as Charles says a lot. We know that every player won’t go 100% every single moment in practice nor even every single play in a game. But the fact is when you look at some teams with less or equal talent, they individually and collectively play harder and practice harder. Saban’s practices are intense, not just because he is, but because the players are (intense). There is an atmosphere of urgency there that probably makes it less pleasant to be a player but ultimately far more rewarding.
Dawg'91
May 3rd, 2011
8:36 am
Lakedawg: you make some good points about recruits Bama did NOT get, but do you really think over the next four years we will be better than Bama? AS a Dawg fan I want to think so, but intellectually I can’t honestly say we will. Just look at the last four years.
Dawg'91
May 3rd, 2011
8:39 am
Under the terms of the scholarship contracts, schools can require an athlete to take a drug test at any time. CMR could have tested Houston (and others) any time he dared, but then he’d have to bench him or else defy his own zero tolerance directives. Unfortunately, blissful ignorance and plausible deniability do not make for championship-calibre teams.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 3rd, 2011
9:40 am
If this guy did smoke a little while in UGA and passed the test when they were administered, would there have been any reason to suspect him and therefore administer an out of cycle test? Did he show up for practice glassy eyed and tripping over his own feet? Did he just brag about using weed to all of his team mates and coaches and they buried it? I don’t think he is the brightest bulb on the tree, but I doubt he used it a whole lot in college. Why he thought he could use it just before the combine and not get caught is a mystery to me. I guess it was his way of celebrating the upcoming draft but it was sure a dumb move. To use his actions to once again, place the blame on everything on CMR is just as stupid as him using it prior to getting tested at the combine. I suppose some of you think he consulted with CMR and he told him that it was OK because he is a star. Get behind the team and the coaches and quit complaining all the time. The actions of this player were not the fault of CMR and the team as a whole, this guy did it on his own.
Dawg'91
May 3rd, 2011
10:11 am
And you clearly ain’t a rocket scientist. I can’t speak for everyone else, but I don’t blame CMR for Houston’s stupidity, but I do blame him for creating a culture that has allowed, and yes, even encouraged a PATTERN of such behavior over the past few years. Any one player at any time at any school will do boneheaded things, they are kids–spoiled kids–and that is what they do. But you CMR worshippers want to take one case at a time while you ignore the numerous, cumulative cases that indicate a big problem. See the Forest people, and stop trying to defend the trees one at a time.
Dawg'91
May 3rd, 2011
10:13 am
A UGA fan does not have to have Mark’s richt in his mouth be a true fan. Even fans need to be objective and see the big picture sometime. When fans don’t have a healthy perspective, then trees get poisoned, athletes get bribed, and worse, programs go down the drain. UGA is in grave danger of doing the latter….and we’ve been trending downward for half a decade.
Dawg'91
May 3rd, 2011
10:17 am
I don’t want Richt fired….he’s a good man and a good coach…but I do want him to assume more control and responsibility like he did in his earlier years. He is responsible for delegating authority, and we expect veteran coaches to delegate more and more duties and to take it easy themselves–that’s what most people do in their jobs. But when the duties aren’t getting done, then he has to make changes and sometimes that means taking control of it himself again until the program rights itself.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 3rd, 2011
10:32 am
DAWG91,
Direct your insults at someone who really gives a damn about your obnoxious opinions. I have stated mine and if you disagree so be it. But, you have no right to try and inmsult me because this is one old man that has earned the right to my opinions and if you don’t like it, I suggest you complain to the editor or journalist of this blog. Until then, keep your stupid insults to yourself. By the way,; I am willing to put my education up against yours any day.
Matt
May 3rd, 2011
11:51 am
If you don’t think 2/3 of the leagues smokes and gets away with it you’re crazy. Nobody cares this kid smoked weed.
Tank Johnson takes plays off and he’s made plenty of money. Nick Fairley was accused of same thing and was still a 1st round pick. Not sure why he was so penalized.
shane
May 3rd, 2011
10:25 pm
what poor taste,low class comment for Bill King to make about TS. This kid is nothing but a class act during one of the most difficult times in his young life and this old a-s h-l- is publishing trash like this. croak old man croak!!!
nobody
May 3rd, 2011
11:57 pm
move Orson Charles to Tailback and together with the other Tight End at Fullback, we can have fun watching the running game again…