Another preseason pick likes Dawgs in SEC East
Blair Walsh topped one of ESPN's many SEC lists. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
ESPN.com’s SEC coverage team, Chris Low and Edward Aschoff, so far have spent the summer making lists. Lots of lists. They’ve compiled conference rankings looking at each position on the basis of team strength and individual players (Georgia’s Blair Walsh topped all SEC place-kickers, for example).
And after all that was done, they crunched the numbers all together and have come up with an overall ranking. As Aschoff explains it, “For our overall team rankings, we took all eight position rankings and found the mean for each team. Obviously, the lower score, the better — just like golf.”
Alabama came out on top, as you’d expect, and the SEC West dominated the top of the chart, with Arkansas second, followed by LSU. But Georgia pulled an upset by nudging out South Carolina for fourth place.
And, says Aschoff: “That gives Georgia the SEC East in our book. The Bulldogs also had 13 players ranked in our position rankings, with seven making it in the top five. Even with those offensive questions, Georgia has some pieces in place to make a real run in the East. The Bulldogs would feel right at home in Atlanta for the SEC championship game against Alabama (if our rankings hold true).”
So we can add that to the growing list of preseason picks that like Georgia in the East.
KEEPING DAWG FANS OUT
Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich has made an appeal for Jackets season ticket holders to purchase additional tickets to the game against UGA at Grant Field this season so as to keep tickets out of the hands of Dogs fans.
“Two years ago,” he writes, “you all responded en masse and our entire remaining allotment wound up in the hands of our season ticket group. The result was an overwhelming display of Gold and White support at that critical state rivalry game.”
Which Georgia still won, by the way.
He continues that with the last day for season ticket holders to exclusively purchase single-game tickets and request additional tickets to the Georgia game coming up on June 30, “we still have a long way to go to get all of these tickets claimed by our Georgia Tech faithful. Please take the time to purchase your additional Georgia tickets now and help us maintain that great home field advantage when we face the Dawgs.”
Yeah, I know. Pathetic, isn’t it?
Anyway, if the Tech faithful don’t buy all those tickets, they undoubtedly will be snapped up by Georgia fans. Of course, some Red and Blackers go so far as to buy Tech season tickets to assure a seat at Grant Field when the two schools meet. If you want to go that route, it’ll cost you $350 for the game you want and the six that you don’t care anything about. An additional TECH Fund per-seat contribution is required in some designated sections throughout the stadium, but not all of them. You can buy Tech season tickets here.
BEAT NOTRE DAME!
Kevin McCann writes: “Bill, UGA has fallen behind ND. Can’t let those guys win this thing. Re-post if you can and try to drive some traffic to vote. Thanks for what you do.”
Kevin is referring to the EA Sports NCAA College Football Traditions battle, where our mascot Uga is now up against Notre Dame’s “Play like a champion” sign. As of this morning, the Notre Dame sign was leading with 51 percent of nearly 43,000 votes cast. If you haven’t voted already, support Uga here!
PLAYING IT OLD SCHOOL
As the brother of a Redcoat Band alum, I get a kick out of a vintage version of “Hail to Georgia” done by the Redcoats and the UGA Men’s Glee Club back in 1955 that UGA has posted online. Check it out and read about the history of the Redcoats.
Go Dogs!
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263 comments Add your comment
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 27th, 2011
10:56 pm
The NT and DE’s in a 3-4 defense do more than just occupy blockers with the LB’s getting most of the tackles and sacks. If your DE and NT are double blocked, the RB holes are kind of narrowed down just a bit. Can’t make a hole, if you are occupied, doubling one guy. It is also good to remember where that NT will be lining up most of the time. A center knowing he has a 360 pound man that can move fast and is strong, makes his job that much tougher. He has to make a good snap and instantly be in front of a freight train and hope his guard can help out in a split second. Then the runner is forced to the outside where the LB’s should meet him. Since he has been moving laterally, instead of straight ahead, he is not at full speed so he better be tough and put his head down and be able to shake off the LB. There are a few RB’s in the SEC that can do that, but only a few. Lattimore and Richardson come to mind, but not too much after that. The D coach, will be well aware that the LB’s will have to be aggressive so they can double team on tackles as well. The 3-4 defense is one that is simple to execute if you have the right personnel on the field. I think UGA has the personnel, and I think they will be coached up enough, to be very effective.
If the UGA offense can control the rhythm of the game and play ball control, the defense will be able to hold up their end of the bargain. It could be a good year.
probation
June 27th, 2011
11:46 pm
puppies may not even be bowl eligable
A.Bishop
June 28th, 2011
2:27 am
Unfortunately my roommate is a 2011 GT grad (this poses a problem since I am a 2010 UGA grad). However, unfortunately for GT’s argument about how their football players are “so smart” and have high GPA’s, he revealed (to nobody’s surprise) that they take half ass classes because they aren’t smart enough to take anything tougher than “How to Count to Ten Using Your Fingers 101″. Time to find a new argument/ dis GT fans. You lose again.
A.Bishop
June 28th, 2011
2:33 am
Did someone from Alabama seriously call Georgia fans rednecks? Is he delirious? Other than Mississippi, Alabama is the epitome of redneck. Wow
Truth dawg
June 28th, 2011
8:09 am
Does anyone have a link to the 1997 game at Tech where 80% of the stadium was UGA fan in RED…(It was a blimp shot)
ray goff for next coach
June 28th, 2011
9:13 am
@truth dawg…that’s in the past…don’t continue the stereotype that UGA fans live in the past because they have no relevecy in the now. Get you tickets for the new years day bowlgame in Birmingham vs. a scrappy Boston College squad…
GT4EVER
June 28th, 2011
9:40 am
We have more than our share of rednecks here too.Witness any Uga home game.
GT4EVER
June 28th, 2011
9:43 am
Which is funny considering most of their team is Black.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 28th, 2011
9:50 am
I just read where UGA’s AD reported this mess with Columbus to the NCAA and SEC. I hope they can get a resolution pretty quick, but I would almost bet Jones doesn’t see the field for the first few games at least. Not sure what they will do about the BB freshman, since he wasn’t signed to any team at the time. Jones, evidentially was on the USC roster, so the SEC Kiflin curse exist once again, LOL. I am pretty sure that Jones would have known it was not the thing to do, but it could be a hard lesson for him to learn. It just appears that UGA is snake bitten this year. They just lost another LB, that was expected to maybe see a fair amount of play, going to North Alabama. Not sure the reason he transferred, but I am sure it will come out.
truedawg
June 28th, 2011
9:52 am
I dunno how many games the Dawgs will win this year…I just know they’ll have one win in Atlanta
GT get ready for another beat down. GO DAWGS!!!!
truedawg
June 28th, 2011
9:55 am
The other LB wasn’t expected to play as much as you think. Jones will most likely miss the first two games, which is sad. He is needed bad for those first two!! Vasser will most likely fill Jones’s spot now, and look for Ray drew to be on the other side, with Tree and Samuel inside. Samuel isn’t getting much talk now, but look for some seriuos hits from him when he plays he was a head hunter in HS. GO DAWGS!!!
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
10:04 am
Dowtin transfered because for some still unknown reason Belin started Robinson over him.I never understood that move either.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 28th, 2011
11:51 am
Good luck to the kid at his new school. You got to be where you are comfortable with your position on the team and think you can be successful. Not even going to try and out guess his position coach, because he is a lot closer to the players on a daily basis than I will ever be.