A few reasons for UGA fans to look on the bright side
UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has been named one of the nation's Top 25 recruiters. (University of Georgia)
The gray skies outside have reflected too much of how my winter has gone so far, so it’s time for a few mood brighteners, of the red and black variety.
Some might choose to be focusing on those potential signees that Georgia didn’t manage to flip last week, but the Dogs still will have some pretty impressive fresh blood coming to Athens, and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham reportedly had a big hand in making that happen. Rivals.com has noticed, and named Grantham one of the nation’s 25 best recruiters, which bodes well for replenishing the senior-laden defensive secondary after this season.
Speaking of which, David Ching of ESPN’s DawgNation notes that while Georgia could have depth problems in its defensive secondary in the wake of last week’s dismissals, the returning starting lineup is pretty awesome, with Bacarri Rambo, Shawn Williams, Branden Smith and Sanders Commings.
Ching quotes Williams as saying, “The whole defense, it’s going to be one of our goals to finish as the No. 1 defense in the country this year.” If they’re successful, the Dogs might well be able to kick it up a notch from a 10-win season.
At any rate, I like the way Rambo is thinking in putting off the NFL for another year: “God put it on my heart that I need to stay my senior year so I can get better and improve at the small things that I need to and just be a complete safety. I’m going to do my best this offseason to try to get better, work hard, be a leader and hopefully help my team get to Miami next year.”
Meanwhile, in the wake of signing day, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach has updated his 2012 Way-Too-Early Preseason Top 25 and UGA has moved up a spot to No. 5. Notes Schlabach: “Georgia has to run the ball more effectively and learn how to finish games, but there might not be a more inviting schedule in 2012 than the one the Bulldogs will face. Georgia is expected to bring back 10 starters from a much-improved defense, including All-American linebacker Jarvis Jones and safety Bacarri Rambo. Incoming freshmen Josh Harvey-Clemons, Jonathan Taylor and John Atkins might provide some immediate help. Quarterback Aaron Murray and receiver Malcolm Mitchell are coming back, and UGA signed two highly regarded tailbacks — Keith Marshall (already enrolled at UGA) and Todd Gurley — to push sophomore Isaiah Crowell. Georgia doesn’t play SEC West favorites Alabama, Arkansas and LSU during the regular season and plays four of its first five games at home.”
And let’s top it off with one of my all-time favorite Dawgs, Hines Ward, who recently told 11 Alive he would like one day to return to Athens as a coach. “I tease Coach Richt if he wants to hire me, hire me,” Ward said. “I would love that. That would be my ultimate dream.”
Wouldn’t you just love to see that?
Yeah, I’m definitely feeling better now. How about you?
Got something on your mind concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
Find me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
264 comments Add your comment
GreasedStar
February 8th, 2012
12:09 pm
I don’t get why people are high on Grantham.
39 points a game is 11th in SEC against tough competition.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/911/team/defense/split13/category09/sort01.html
Poor tech fans
February 8th, 2012
12:10 pm
Something smells weird down on the plains.
GreasedStar
February 8th, 2012
12:10 pm
UGA defense was also last in red zone conversions.
Easy to score on.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/911/team/defense/split01/category27/sort01.html
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:13 pm
Isn’t Coach Grantham from Virginia Tech, one of those inferior ACC schools?
GreasedStar
February 8th, 2012
12:13 pm
Great players rarely make good coaches. They don’t know how to teach what they know. Doubtful on Hines Ward’s future in coaching.
Look at Richt, bad player at Miami, good coach.
How many Heisman trophy winners became great coaches?
WDE
February 8th, 2012
12:14 pm
@GreasedStar tell you what you keep your DC and we will keep ours..by the way which if the teams we beat last year is yours?
DawginLex
February 8th, 2012
12:14 pm
Spurrier didn’t do too bad……………
GreasedStar
February 8th, 2012
12:15 pm
Richt isn’t good at exceeding expectations. 80% of the time, Richt comes in worse than expected in pre season polls.
http://www.pollspeak.com/data/over-underrated-2010-AP-5-Year-OtoU.htm
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:17 pm
There may be others, GreasedStar, but Bobby Dodd was an All-American quaterback at UT before he coached the Yellow Jackets.
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:18 pm
I forgot about Spurrier, DawginLex. Good example.
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:20 pm
Bear Bryant was only 2nd Team All SEC when he played at Bama.
GreasedStar
February 8th, 2012
12:21 pm
Gretsky, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, none can coach.
Only a few Heisman trophy winners went on to win a National Championship as a coach.
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:22 pm
Howard Schnellenberger was an All American tight end at UK.
MattDawg
February 8th, 2012
12:23 pm
Hines Ward as a coach at UGA… be still my beating heart!
GreasedStar
February 8th, 2012
12:23 pm
How many wide receivers went on to win a National Championship as a college coach?
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:25 pm
Heisman Trophy is a poor predictor of future football success.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/11/sports/la-sp-heisman-to-nfl-20111212
GreasedStar
February 8th, 2012
12:26 pm
Ray Drew made no impact as a freshman, why would Clemons be any different?
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:27 pm
Good question, GreasedStar. Mike Tomlin played wide receiver in college but did not play in the NFL.
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:28 pm
Mike Ditka was a tight end, but I can’t think of any college coaches who played WR.
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:31 pm
Pete Carroll played some wide receiver. Not a big time player, though.
evillurks
February 8th, 2012
12:32 pm
Nothing gives me a bigger, better laugh than this homer circlejerk sessions this guy writes about THuga.
What’s that Mullins song….”everyyyyyyyything’s gonna be alriiiiiiiiiiight. Rockabye…
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
JB
February 8th, 2012
12:33 pm
Not many successful pro players excelled at several positions in college. I’ll give Hines the benefit of the doubt as a coach.
GTBob
February 8th, 2012
12:33 pm
I don’t get why people are high on Grantham.
He padded his defensive stats against terrible offensive teams. Therefore UGA fans think he is a defensive genius.
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:35 pm
Dabo Swinney was a wide receiver for Bama.
GreasedStar
February 8th, 2012
12:35 pm
Grantham did a good job recruiting.
GreasedStar
February 8th, 2012
12:37 pm
Grantham’s D gave up 29 of 32 scores, in red zone defense.
Not many are worse than that in the nation.
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:37 pm
Still, what’s the harm? Hines Ward would make a good wide receivers coach and Herschel Walker would make a good strength and conditioning coach.
JB
February 8th, 2012
12:42 pm
What’s going on at Tech day ?…………………………………………………………Crickets
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
12:43 pm
GreasedStar
February 8th, 2012
12:37 pm
Grantham’s D gave up 29 of 32 scores, in red zone defense.
Not many are worse than that in the nation.
————————————————————
That is pretty bad. At least he picks fights with other coaches, you know, to let the players know he has their back.
Buckeye
February 8th, 2012
12:53 pm
Knowshon knows “sauce(d)”. Another fine day reppin’ the dogs, eh Key?
LagDawg
February 8th, 2012
12:54 pm
Having Hines Ward as an assistant coach would be great. Should be hired as the WR Coach. Can teach these kids how the WR position should be played and also should help in recruiting some top level WR and some other players. We all know that the O needs some help in recruiting on a top level on a consistant basis.
Buckeye
February 8th, 2012
12:54 pm
One fine dog, eh Key?
Buckeye
February 8th, 2012
12:54 pm
Enter your comments here
LagDawg
February 8th, 2012
12:56 pm
@Jackets99. All of that and the D was still ranked #5 in the nation. So, just think with the depth coming in, all that should be much improved this coming season. By the way. Where was GT Defense ranked?
TDF
February 8th, 2012
12:57 pm
Buckeye
February 8th, 2012
12:53 pm
funny coming from Tatoo U. with a head coach that bails on a team bc he cheated on his wife.
Yup them buckeyes are great ppl. ahhahahahahahha run along clown.
Ohio state = the most over ranked team the past decade.
TDF
February 8th, 2012
12:57 pm
Buckeye
funny coming from Tatoo U. with a head coach that bails on a team bc he cheated on his wife.
Yup them buckeyes are great ppl. ahhahahahahahha run along clown.
Ohio state = the most over ranked team the past decade.
Old Dawg
February 8th, 2012
12:58 pm
Bill, I hope you’re doing well since the passing of your father. You’re a real trooper to be posting so quickly after all you went through last week.
I, too, am excited about UGA’s defense next year. I know Friend has some work to do to get the young offensive linemen prepared and there’s a ton of work to do on special teams, and CMR has targeted those areas for a lot of work during spring practice.
Every team has areas of concern entering spring, so some folks needs to relax and let the coaching staff do its work.
Thanks for all you do to keep us informed.
LagDawg
February 8th, 2012
12:59 pm
All the GT blogger on this site and GT couldn’t pad there numbers on anybody. It’s sad to criticize UGA when your team sucks even worse. Oh by the way, GT did lose to UGA.
TDF
February 8th, 2012
12:59 pm
GreasedStar
February 8th, 2012
12:37 pm
Hahahaha yea and what percent of drives actually reached the red zone??? dont have to have the best red zone defense in the world when you have one of the best defenses at preventing the other team from even reaching the redzone.
TDF
February 8th, 2012
1:00 pm
GTBob
February 8th, 2012
12:33 pm
Yea he padded them really well against GT too thanks for noticing!!
David Granger
February 8th, 2012
1:00 pm
We certainly had another good recruiting year. Got both quality and some quantity, as well. Now the problem is turning athletic talent into production on the field.
We had a better season that expected last year, due (in large part) to a favorable schedule. SEC East is down a little bit, but that’s just a cyclical thing…both divisions go up and down over the years.
But we only really looked good in two games last year, against SC (in a loss) and against Auburn in a win. Florida had their worst team in years, and we had to scramble to beat them by 4. Our punter had to make a game-saving tackle to save a win against Vanderbilt.
Whatever has been the problem with our team in recent years has NOT been due to lack of talent.
Rick James
February 8th, 2012
1:00 pm
I like the idea of Hines Ward joing the program in some capacity but I do agree that great players dont always make great coaches.I’m sure there are some exceptions but only two come to mind right off.Lenny Wilkins,hall of fame coach and hall of fame player and the same goes for Bill Russell.If Hines Ward has the patience to teach what comes naturally to him he will do well.
Jacket99
February 8th, 2012
1:10 pm
LagDawg…I think you misunderstood. GT’s defense was rank, not ranked.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
February 8th, 2012
1:10 pm
JB… you talk a great game sport…UGA wants to play Alabama…..LOL excue me but you might wish to put than on hold. UGA the deam fanbase and wthout a doubt the best college football program in America from March until August…then you suck as usual. I ran into Garner at the Walmart in Columbus. He’s recruiting some of the guys bringing in the shopping carts. Sanders Cummings charges have been reduced to “batting out of turn” so take that for what’s worth.
Bill…all the best to you sir and the family. Just remember Dad’s smile and the goodtimes.
TDF
February 8th, 2012
1:16 pm
Wet Willie…keep on smiling
February 8th, 2012
1:10 pm
ahhahahaha we would love to play bama this year or any other year they want just to shove it down their throats when we beat them again (Richt is 3-1 vs bama)
FYI bama will finish no better than 3rd in the west this year. will miss out on the SECG AGAIN this year.
Funny though that its only the trolls that claim that we say we are the best team???????
suck when season starts??? hmmmm making it to SECG sucks huh?????
Another wal mart joke huh??? let me know when you can come up with something new you clown.
GTBob
February 8th, 2012
1:17 pm
Do you guys know if there are any online dating sites that focus on the nerdy type? I’ve never had a girlfriend and I feel the time has come now that I am 45 with no friends or a life. I mean the only reason I post on UGA blogs is because my team sucks and I have nothing else to do. Thanks!
MATH GENIUS
February 8th, 2012
1:19 pm
GREASED STAR said “Grantham’s D gave up 29 of 32 scores, in red zone defense.
Not many are worse than that in the nation.”
32 scores in 14 games is pretty damm good, slick.
32/14= 2.3 scores per game.
I’LL TAKE THAT EVERY GAME! GREAT JOB CTG!!!! GO DAWGS!!!
GTBob
February 8th, 2012
1:20 pm
Yea he padded them really well against GT too thanks for noticing!!
GT was playing pretty awful in all areas by the end of the year. That game combined with 9 SEC games in which none of their opponents were ranked in the top 70 in offense will get you some inflated defensive numbers. Boise St was really their only defensive test and they failed it.
G-Dawg
February 8th, 2012
1:24 pm
As an honest Dawg fan…what looks good on paper, never pans out during the actual season. No way we’re a “way too early preseason top 5 or top 10″ team. We havent established in any consistency offensively yet to be a real threat to any major players. Do we have the potential and players to be a dynamite team? Heck Yeah!! But not sold yet that their completely focused on football…and still too many fair-weather fans bringing negativity to the program!! Hines and Walker would both be great additions to the University!!!
TDF
February 8th, 2012
1:26 pm
GTBob
February 8th, 2012
1:20 pm
Back on the offese crap again. Guess you will never understand how football works. Best defenses in the country lead to low offensive numbers sorry moron, try again.
Lets put it in terms you can understand.
Your arguement does not compute error error error, blue screen!