Fan talk: Offseason concerns and looking forward to G-Day

Jarvis Jones could lose playing time if his helmet comes off as frequently this season as it did last year. (Associated Press)

Jarvis Jones could lose playing time if his helmet comes off as frequently this season as it did last year. (Associated Press)

Saturday morning musings: With an NCAA rule change mandating that players who lose their helmets in a game must sit out for at least one play, I’m wondering if Georgia’s equipment managers will be trying hard to come up with a new strategy for keeping the lids on Jarvis Jones and Isaiah Crowell, who ended quite a few plays topless last season. … Another rule change has teams kicking off from the 35-yard line but touchbacks being brought out to the 25, which is likely to make high, shorter, directional kicks the vogue with some coaches. Somewhere Jon Fabris must be smiling. … And in the case of an arrested UGA soccer player, I’m left wondering: Where exactly does one hide stolen hash browns in one’s pants?

With that image stuck in your brain, let’s dip into some of this week’s Junkyard Mail ….

First, a little social media feedback. This week, I asked on Facebook and Twitter what Georgia fans’ biggest offseason concerns are and what they’re most looking forward to seeing at G-Day.

The most common concern mentioned (besides Mike Bobo still being offensive coordinator) was, naturally, the offensive line. As Lee Bowen noted, “Even [the] best running backs need hawgs opening holes.”

Arrests and “off-field incidents” was another frequently expressed concern.

As for G-Day, Robert L. Kushner III is excited about seeing Keith Marshall and Christian LeMay. Darren Micheal Self wants to see some “toughness” out of Crowell. Wally Logan is hoping for “a Junkyard Dawg aggressive defense and some excitement from our running backs!”

And, returning to the concerns, Jesse Murrah is looking forward to seeing “what we have on the offensive line. The rest of our talent will do just fine as long as we can protect, block, and open holes.”

From the regular Junkyard Mail, DawginLex writes that, among other things, on G-Day “I want open QB competition between Murray and Lemay. I would love to hear of a plan to semi-platoon the 2 of them to take some of the heat off of Aaron.”

Frankly, I wouldn’t get your hopes up, Dawg. The David Greene-D.J. Shockley rotation appears to have been a one-time aberration for Mark Richt and Bobo. I’m also a proponent of getting your No. 2 quarterback some meaningful game time, even if you don’t go as far as platooning or scripting offensive series for the backup. But, barring an injury to Aaron Murray, I’ll be surprised if we see the backup QB any more this season than we did last season.

There will be a lot of interest in Isaiah Crowell this spring. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)

There will be a lot of interest in Isaiah Crowell this spring. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)

Also on the subject of G-Day, Eddie Whitaker writes: I’m quite simply looking forward to being in Athens (Sanford Stadium to be more specific) on a glorious spring Saturday. G-Day games are usually less than exciting, but just the chance to be in the stadium, see the green field, the hedges, and the Red and Black, gives me something to look forward to during this “black hole” time of the sports year. You never know how many opportunities you’ll have in life to experience this. Thanks, Bill!

I agree with you complete, Eddie. We only get a handful of opportunities to watch football Between the Hedges each year, and G-Day’s the only time where you can choose your own seat. I’ve hunkered down through several cold, rainy April Saturdays just for the chance of seeing the Red and Black teams scrimmage. And also quite a few gorgeous spring days when just being in Athens was a pleasure, no matter whether the action on the field was compelling or not. Attendance is always pretty good for G-Day, but I’m betting with the Keith Marshall-Isaiah Crowell story line this spring, there might be a few more folks than usual showing up.

On offseason concerns, Jason Meucci writes: No surprises here … O-line and now with suspensions and dismissals, very concerned about our secondary. Also seems odd to say I’m comforted by having a true freshman as a kicker, but even that is an upgrade over what had become of Blair Walsh. If there’s a “darkhorse” concern, its Aaron Murray’s tendency to commit multiple turnovers against good teams. Oh, and Mike Bobo is still never to be trusted to come up with a creative or aggressive game plan or adjust when things aren’t working. 9-3 with losses to Mizzou, Florida and Auburn.

So you’re pegging Missouri as a loss, huh? Well, I know quite a few fans are pointing to that as a “trap” game for the Dogs. But I watched Missouri in its bowl game, and while they can move the ball, I can’t quite see their defense shutting down even Bobo. As for Florida and Auburn, those are always tough games, but I’m more worried about South Carolina.

DawgDayBlog writes: I am a longtime reader and huge fan of your undying love for all things UGA and Athens. If I had to pinpoint one concern for the (every) offseason, it would be spring break and the raucous outings and getaways our players will have. Unfortunately, we live in a world today where every move is made under a microscope, and an individual, especially of high profile, cannot get away with indulgences once considered mundane and insignificant. Many forget our players are kids, and are going to go out and have the times of their lives, much like we did at their age. Many on these blogs will moan and groan about Coach Richt not having control, though it is asinine to expect Coach to a) monitor every move by every player at every hour of the day, and b) expect Coach to lock them in a box and not allow them be kids (and we saw how locking kids in a box worked out for Mike Leach). Many other people on these blogs (mostly Tech fans who have nothing better to do than come on and spew their drivel about their football stadium property owners) will point fingers at these kids for having a party bone. Reality is, everybody, even the Techies, enjoyed life to its fullest when we were in college and would just about give up everything for one more day of carefree youth. Anyway, with spring break on the horizon, I, along with many other Dawg fans will hold our breath every morning when we open up the AJC or Twitter. Hope the boys have a GREAT time, but manage to keep a level head on their shoulders in the process. GO DAWGS!!!!!

Yeah, I’m always thankful when spring break is over and we don’t see the beat reporters having a feeding frenzy over an arrest report. And you make a good point: Yes, the head coach sets the tone for his team in terms of discipline, but he can’t control what 120 college kids do, especially when they’re not under his supervision. What he can do, though, is make it clear up front what will be tolerated and what won’t and also make it clear that transgressions will be punished. I think Richt has done a good job of especially the latter in recent years.

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

185 comments Add your comment

Neutral

February 25th, 2012
5:54 pm

Actually the only game I got wrong this year in the “pools” was Michigan State…..and I still would pick UGa if they played again tomorrow!!!

@panicattack

February 25th, 2012
5:54 pm

Lsu was 101st in red zone scoring defense , I guess their defense was bad too. 2 first team ap all american returning I’ll take Uga defense . another pretty arbitrary stat Houston was 2nd in redzone defense but 36th in scoring defense. Georgia was 23rd in scoring defense. 5th in total defense and in the top 5 in many defensive categories like 3rd down efficiency, interceptions. As for the scoring defense vs ranked teams, another one thats a little misleading NCAA stats attribute all points scored to the defense.You are most likely a tech fan ,looking for anything negative you can post about Georgia, there are many things that can be improved on but there are more thing in place that indicate with reasonable number of injuries Georgia will have the depth and talent to have a very successful season.

@still2thebar

February 25th, 2012
6:04 pm

That was an NFl scouts evaluation of Murray , Not mine. he’s has plenty of room for improvement but he was only a sophomore last year , playing with a patchwork line and very inconsistent rushing attack. He ’s has good arm strength, his accuracy needs some improvement ,but certainly isn’t a weakness. His decision making was suspect at times last year but overall he is one of the best if not best Qbs in the conference. I lost my Chrystal ball , but given his work ethic and more familiarity with WR I like most see Murray improving with age.

Neutral

February 25th, 2012
6:14 pm

Enter your comments here
Dawgs just knocked-off #12 Gators 76-62…..breaks my heart!!!!

JB

February 25th, 2012
7:52 pm

hope Muschamp was there with some juniors showing them the place LOL

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:01 pm

The UGA defense ranked 12th in td % in the red zone, LSU was 3rd.

With the same defense coaches, same scheme, gets same result.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/911/team/defense/split01/category27/sort05.html

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:03 pm

Sure wish we had a defense like LSU’s or Bama’s in the red zone, both gave up 6 or 12 td’s in the red zone.

UGA coughed up 21 td’s in the red zone.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:05 pm

Murray finished 11th for most interceoptions thrown with 14

11th worst, out of 459 qb’s in the NCAA.

mURRAY’S BACK, bOBO’S BACK, SAME COACH, SAME qb, SAME RESULT.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/interceptions

Neutral

February 25th, 2012
8:11 pm

Hey Red…..do not fear, that defense you want has arrived!!! We just need to get our offense cranked-up to give the defense a rest. I believe it will happen this upcoming season. The offense will control the clock and will quit giving the opponents great field position.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:11 pm

NFL has zero interest in Aaron Murray, he’s barely 6 foot, threw 14 interceptions, can’t beat a ranekd team, and can’t complete more than 59% of his passes.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:13 pm

Our defense has a ways to go

ranked 11th in SEC in scoring against ranked teams.

39 points a game.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/911/team/defense/split13/category09/sort01.html

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:15 pm

Murray’s not elusive or mobile.

was the 11 most sacked QB in the NCAA out of 459 QB’s.

448th worst at getting rid of the ball before taking a sack.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/sacks

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:16 pm

Murray also ranked 72nd in completion percentage among qb’s

kid can’t hit a wide open receiver to save a game.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/completionPct/count/41

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:18 pm

With our 116th ranking in punt return yards

Sure surprised Richt didn’t hire a Special Teams Coach.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/national/team/defense/split01/category04/sort01.html

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:22 pm

We’ve had a ngative turnover margin against ranekd teams the last 4 years in a row.

I am sure that won’t be fixed, it never is.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/911/team/offense/split13/category12/sort01.html

Neutral

February 25th, 2012
8:23 pm

Red, everything is connected…….the percents, etc. will all improve with a good running game to take the pressure off Murray. Also, good field position is everything. I thought the most significant statistic in the Boise State game (other than the final score) was field position. No one ever discussed it, but UGa averaged starting on the 17 yard line and only once beyond the 20 and that was on the 24 yard line. Murray had his back on the wrong goal line all night. Boise State had an average field position starting at the 47…….and they had a very seasoned QB……not one who had only played as a freshman. It is amazing we didn’t get beaten by 50 points considering the most lopsided field position I have ever seen, in any game. This will be a great season, I promise and will be on your side if I’m wrong. Be patient and believe in the Dawgs 1 more year.

Neutral

February 25th, 2012
8:30 pm

Red……are you really a Dawg fan? You come across as the most pessimistic fan I have ever seen. Either you are eternally pessimistic or you are a GT, Bama, Vol or Gator fan trying to tear down the Dawgs on this blog. Be cool, relax and quit focusing on the negative stats. For every negative you give I could give 3 positives. Yes indeed we need to improve, but I believe we are on the right path.

Still@theKool-aidBAR

February 25th, 2012
8:31 pm

I think I just heard NEUTRAL Wait til next year. I have only heard that for the last 32 years. Eventually I guess the dawg fans will be right.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:31 pm

Unless we get a special teams coach, get a new QB, and a new defensive staff, this team won’t win a championship.

Field goals missed, punt and kick return among worst in SEC

Murray worst in nation in sacks and interceptions–committed 56 negative plays last year where he didn’t throw it away and got sacks or misthrew and got picked,

defense among worst in nation against ranked teams in red zone td’s, and in points against ranked teams.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:36 pm

80% of the time, last 9 years, Richt figures out a way to lose more games than the year before.

So for you positive ones, you got a 20% chance of being right, I have an 80% chance.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:37 pm

Makign intelligent off seaon changes hasn’t been Mark Richt’s forte in the past.

And Richt’s not good at 2nd half adjusting either.

Neutral

February 25th, 2012
8:43 pm

Red, you forgot to mention on your list of Murray negatives that he was named by the SEC coaches, as the 2nd best QB in the conference. Are you listening, Saban, Miles, Muschamp, Dooley, Chizik, etc…….say he is the second best. Throw away your stats and listen to the experts who coached against him. That makes 10 other teams including LSU and Bama who did not have QBs as good as Murray…..and this is the coaches who say this. Heck, he would have been the second best if A&M and Missouri had also been in the league. Murray is a winner……give him another season and be positive.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:46 pm

We havn’t finished in the top 5 in SEC in rushing in the last 5 years.

That’s not going to change until we get a new run oriented Offensive Coach.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/911/team/offense/split01/category01/sort01.html

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:47 pm

Murray is the best,,,, against unranked teams with losign records.

Againt teams that finished in the top 25

Murray is 0-9.

Did you meant to type the WORST?

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:48 pm

I have been right, 7 out of the last 9 years in prediciting Richt would win less games than the previous season.

80% chance I’m right.

20% the pollyanna’s are right.

Still@theKool-aidBAR

February 25th, 2012
8:49 pm

Coaches saying he is good is OK. Coaches Never puff up a kid. 16-11 is not the 2nd best QB in the league. For ALL the good things Murray does he does a TON of STUPID & BAD things.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:50 pm

Im tired of not winning championhips.

We only play 1 ranked team on the schedule next year (South Carolina), so we should win the other games against the losing teams, and get blown out in the SEC Championship 42-10 again because we didn’t address any of the right issues in the off season.

Not good enough for me.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:50 pm

Murray is ranked 6th among SEC QB’s RETURNING in win %.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:56 pm

This defensive staff doesn’t get stops against ranked teams.

Can’t win coughing up 39 points a game vs. ranekd teams.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/911/team/offense/split01/category01/sort01.html

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
8:58 pm

rush defense was 7th in sec vs. ranked teams.

got to holdf them under 100 yards rushing a game to win a championship.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/911/team/defense/split13/category01/sort01.html

Neutral

February 25th, 2012
8:59 pm

Red…..I’m certain you are not a fan. You are one of those clowns who make comments like, “UGa hasn’t won a NC in 32 years”. I want to win, but not like Bama and Auburn. I can live with a clean program, 10-2 records, SEC championship games every 2-3 years and no major probations. CMR has a very spectacle record against every team in the SEC except FL. A real fan doesn’t continually look for negatives and write dozens of blogs with nothing, but negatives. I sincerely believe you are Not a fan……just some lonely impaired bozo!!! My bet is you are a GT fan, but too negative to be a Tech grad.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
9:00 pm

defense finished 12th in sec vs ranked teams in sacks.

got to get to the QB more than 4x against the ranked teams.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/911/team/offense/split13/category20/sort01.html

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
9:02 pm

I don’t think you’re a real fan. A rwal fan wants the team to win the championship if it has the talent.

A ral fan doesn’t like going 0-9 vs. ranekd teams, and winning less games 7 out of last 9 seasons than the year before.

Real fans don’t like being average.

Neutral

February 25th, 2012
9:03 pm

That’s respectable……not spectacle

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
9:03 pm

I am going to keep talking about these problems until Mark Richt fixes them.

As long as Mark Richt ningonores them, I’m going to bring them out even more.

Mark Richt will eventually have to fix them, or we’ll get another coach in here who can.

Neutral

February 25th, 2012
9:14 pm

Red, you are scary negative. I feel your pain, but cool it dude on the negativity……you’re wearing yourself out and I’m worried about you. I’m also convinced you are incapable of thinking positive. I would hate to have you as a teammate due to your inability to say anything at all positive. I was an infantry commander during Vietnam and I would have hated having someone like you in my combat unit. Negativity breeds negativity…….that’s why I really don’t believe you are a true Dawg fan….just a fair weather fan who is obsessed with searching for negativities and totally unable to see the light. My recommendation is you quit being a UGa fan and pull for one of those Alabama teams that are perfect in your eyes even though Richt has a winning record against both of them!!!!

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
9:16 pm

you keep pollyanna thinking the team will win more games than the year before, even though you know you’ll be wrong 8 out of 10 times.

keep being ok with never winning a championship, go find a team like vanderbilt who is thrilled to have a winnign season.

I’ll stay in touch with the real

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
9:17 pm

When a train’s coming down the tracks, you can sit there and do nothing, and mumle all your positive thoughts, or you can get up off the track to prevent it.

It’s not being ‘negative’, it’s about being real.

RedBarron

February 25th, 2012
9:19 pm

you do understand this team has gone 0-9 vs the alst 9 teams that were really good enough to finish in the top 25 right?

0-9.

0-9.

Neutral

February 25th, 2012
9:19 pm

You’re hopeless!!!

Neutral

February 25th, 2012
9:35 pm

NOTE: Every great team and coach has peaks and troughs. Our trough started with Oklahoma State several years ago and ended after the 2011 South Carolina game. It has been uphill ever since SC with a couple of bumps in the road……that will only get smoother in 2012. We are rising again and the slump is over…….and I’m not being a Pollyanna. Think positive and quit spewing negativity. I’ll give you my red Ferrari if UGa doesn’t win the SEC east and go to a BCS bowl next season.

Dog in Nam

February 25th, 2012
9:37 pm

Wet Willie….I tryed to post a response to you on Bill’s previous blog, but being a novice and living way out of country, I waited too long and the comments had been closed…but my reply was in response to your post concerning your HS coach and referring to the mentor and not a buddy concept…anyway, your post was unusually calm and mature for you, or for what I have been reading lately here of yours….when you discuss things as in this post here today, in a reasonable manner, it is easy to see that you are intelligent, well informed and mature and have excellent writing ability….all your stuff I read prior to yesterday and today was full of childish vitriol that made any point you were making seem lost and unbelievable…..You surely don’t think that these immature and low brow posts from georgia folks represent the majority of alums/fans of UGA…It is obvious to anyone who reads these blogs for a year or so, that the outrageously boring, dull and childish banter that is supposed to pass for writing is written by the same few people on both sides, over and over again, and there are some regulars on all sides who are very reasonable and extremely interesting to read, which is where you belong…I usually read and don’t post, but the other day I tried to respond back to you for your showing such a lack of respect for all things Georgia, both the state of Georgia and UGA….then I read your reasonable (first ever for me) comments without a bunch of immature yaah, yaah fouling it up, and discover that you are a decent, and well connected guy…..again today, you have a nice post….We at UGA know what our problems are and are taking steps in the right direction….Coach Saban is a one of a kind, everyone I know has tons of respect for him and the Alabama program…..You are a bit wrong when you say him getting players from Georgia ( you disrespectfully still call it JawJaw for some reason) is no different than what he does in other states….to the extent that he gets players from other states, you are correct, but his shift of focus to the state of Georgia does not come by accident, he learned at LSU from Travis Jones, Will Muschamp, Kirby Smart and Derek Dooley just how talented Ga HS football is and why could Auburn, Tenn, SC, Kentucky, FSU and Florida (Auburn particularly) get all those players when Alabama is virtually just as close….Coach Saban targeted Georgia (JawJaw) when he arrived at Alabama like had never been done before…there can be no argument as to the quantity and quality of top talent each year in Georgia….he knows that well, and his focus has paid dividends and will continue to do so, so you are mistraken not to realize that they are not treating Georgia as just some other nearby state…..that we have to agree to disagree on, but check it out in T Town with your connections and you will find it to be true….I thought it would be obvious, but you guys do recruit extremely well everywhere and I know that…but thanks for the reasonable and interesting arguments and good points you make ( but not JawJaw….come on)…you are so right about Auburn, they are worried sick about Saban’s new strategy…it hurts them even more than it hurts us…Good luck to you and thanks

Dog in Nam

February 25th, 2012
9:37 pm

sorry Willie….I tried

ugalee

February 25th, 2012
10:00 pm

I am not a huge Murray fan and feel like Mason,not Lemay should at least get one series per half for the first few games to see how the offense responds. That being said, Murray has plenty of talent to be a winning qb at georgia. The problem is the inexplicable lack of a running game and the clueless playcalling as to down and distance and stage of the game. Also, one of Murrays biggest strengths as a frshman, his mobilty, has been completely negated by Richt under the guise of not getting him hurt, As a result, we never see playaction bootlegs, or any pass plays that would actually play to the strengths of a smaller moblile qb. This offense is actually more suited to a pure pocket passer ie Mason. Until Richt finds a coordinator who can give this o an identity , we will continue to be lost in the forest.

Dawg Whisperer

February 25th, 2012
10:58 pm

Anyone who knows history knows that the RedBarron got shot down. This blog RedBarron shot himself with manic negativity. Some people need to re-order their lives. If he is truly a dawg fan (most likely, another hater), I hope he doesn’t sit anywhere near me at Sanford Stadium. UGA has the talent and the coaching to return to the SEC championship this year. Grantham’s D will be the next assemblage of junkyard dogs looking for its next meal.

@redbaron

February 25th, 2012
11:03 pm

Red baron = Thomas Brown,

John

February 25th, 2012
11:18 pm

Everytime I see Red Barron’s name I quickly scroll past his drivel and look to see the next coherent thought. When we win our next SEC championship he will even have negative things to say about how so and so should have done this and so and so should have done that. You can paint stats any way you want, studying stats are for losers and UGA and Mark Richt are winners no matter how you slice the stats!

RED DOG 77

February 26th, 2012
12:46 am

@Bill King…………Bulldog Nation, of which I’m a member seems to be the most nervous crowd in major college football………..I remember back to the day when the sports comments most common were “At least we can always count on the BULLDOGS to do us proud”…………….Bill, I’m an optomist, and I see us back to that point soon, but lest we all remenber, we just signed a 19 player class for 2012…………..I think all that really knows Georgia Football would agree, without all the “negative” blogging, stories, and gossip…………We would have probubly signed a full class, and had at least two more 5* Olinemen…………Just sayin’ Bill, lets keep the positive attitude, as a former football player myself, I assure you, positive support from the fanbase………..nomatterwhat…….will always give you an extra win or two per year…………Regards, RED

RaleighDawg

February 26th, 2012
2:38 am

Hey Bill,

Great game at Stegman tonight !

I was wondering if you knew why UGA has dropped the trumpet solo for Glory, Glory at the start of basketball games ? The solos were being played at the start of the season but somewhere around midseason they just stopped with no explanation.

Thomas Brown

February 26th, 2012
4:29 am

Mark Richt Signed Scholarships for 2012 to :

1.Brent Benedict # 10 OT 4-Star, transfer
2.AJ Harmon # 10 OT nation 5-Star, transfer
3.Dontavius Jackson # 23 TB nation 4-Star, transfer
4.Nick Williams Safety, transfer
5.Marcus Dowtin # 7 LB nation 4-Star, transfer
6.Bryce Ros # 22 TE
7.Johnathan Owens # 39 OT
8.DE Jeremy Longo
9.Xavier Avery RB
10.Toby Jackson # 9 DE nation 4-Star failed qualify transfer
11.Makiri Pugh, Safety Cornerback, transfer
12.Montez Robinson # 10 DE 4-Star kicked off team transfer
13.Washaun Ealey # 15 RB nation 4-Star, transfer
14.Lonnie Outlaw WR failed qualify, transfer
15.Jakar Hamilton Safety 4-Star, transfer
16.Derek Owens Cornerback, transfer
17.Demetre Baker # 23 LB 4-Star, kicked off team, transfer
18.Jalen Fields DE 4-Star, failed qualify, transfer
19.Kent Turene LB Dream Team failed qualify
20.Chris Mayes DT Dream Team failed qualify
21.Chris Little OL transfer
22.Zach Mettenberger # 14 QB 4-Star kicked off transfer
23.Jordan Love # 21 CB 4-Star, transfer
24.Sanford Seay. Split End, Dream Team kicked off, transfer
25.Chris Sanders, db, Dream Team kicked off, transfer
26.Nick Marshall left cb Dream Team kicked off, transfer