Fan talk: UGA’s football players must battle ‘soft’ reputation
Offensive lineman Cordy Glenn, just drafted by the Buffalo Bills, started 50 games for the Georgia Bulldogs. (University of Georgia)
Let’s jump straight into some of this week’s Junkyard Mail …
Robert Nesbitt writes: Junkyard, I heard on the [NFL] draft coverage of the 1st round something that has me hopping mad. Gil Brandt, the resident draft guru, was pontificating on why Cordy Glenn may not have been drafted. Gil indicated it is well known Georgia players do much better in the pros (than college)and that Glenn (and by association) other Bulldogs are soft in they way they play college ball. This burns me up, because the truth hurts. What are your thoughts?
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this rap on Georgia players. NFL scouts were dissing the strength and conditioning of Mark Richt’s players at least a couple of years before the head coach decided an overhall of the conditioning staff was in order. And while the team overall looked stronger last year, the fourth-quarter fade in the bowl game showed there’s still room for improvement in that regard. Of course, Georgia has still had 57 draft picks in the past 10 years (tops in the SEC), though the rate has fallen off somewhat in the past five years. Still, I’m not sure Brandt’s citing of the Dawgs’ reputation around the league for being “soft” was really at play in Glenn not getting drafted until the Bills took him in the 41st spot in the second round. There was some talk about him occasionally showing lazy technique, plus there probably were questions about his weight (somewhere in the vicinity of 345), though he’s shown himself to be remarkably quick for a big man. More likely there were questions about his suitability at tackle, since he was a guard for 32 of his 50 starts at UGA. Still, those 50 starts for a team playing in the SEC (tying Clint Boling’s record for a UGA offensive lineman) belie the “soft” tag and it should be noted that another draft guru, Jon Gruden, professed himself “shocked” that Glenn was still available in the second round. “I thought he was a legitimate first rounder. He’s handled consistently SEC competition,” Gruden said. But back to your overall point: Joe Tereshinski has only had one season to turn things around in the strength and conditioning department. It’ll take some demonstrable improvement there to get rid of the Dogs’ previous reputation among NFL types.
Terry Lively writes: Bill, I appreciate your insights. I just have to ask: Why do you think the Dawgs consistently struggle in recruiting the offensive line position? This is prompted by the most recent “should have had him” in Max Garcia. We have the need, we have the skill players and we have the offensive style (allegedly) that should make it attractive for MANY linemen, yet we always seem to lose way more than we win. Take Garcia — wanted to be closer to home, an OT (and Lord knows we need them), and we were his leader at least at one point … but we lost him. Tell me where I’m off in my assessment or why you think we are always lagging at that position. And by the way, yes I know it’s a long way to signing day, but we seem to say that every year down the stretch but don’t close well in this area, and right now out of 15 commitments we have ONE OL on the board. It just doesn’t make sense given the opportunity in Athens.
We all know the offensive line has been a weak point for Richt’s program in recent years and recruiting no doubt lies at the heart of that. Of course, Will Friend is only in his second year as OL coach but, yeah, letting Maryland transfer Max Garcia slip away falls on him. The Georgia native left the Terps because he wanted to play closer to home and listed Georgia as his favorite early on. You can’t say Georgia doesn’t ever get quality OL players, though. John Theus, who’ll join the team this summer, is a highly touted five-star signee. And while three-star tackle Aulden Bynum is currently the only offensive lineman committed to Georgia in the 2013 class, recruiting experts see the Dogs having a good shot at quite a few others, including five-star player Laremy Tunsil. The Dawgs are considered likely to sign several tackles and another center and guard or two. I’m not ready to write off Georgia’s OL recruiting just on the basis of not snagging Garcia.
Steve Yearta writes: First, I thought that we should be as good as last year; maybe [Aaron] Murray will make it through the season without throwing pick 6’s at inopportune times; the running back corps will be vastly improved; and the OL and special teams probably won’t be any worse; and we’ll wind up winning 10 and losing 3. Now, however, I’ve drifted to: the offensive line will not be, even with the starters healthy, a strength and if, heaven forbid, injuries occur, it will be a struggle to have any consistency; no, [Murray] hasn’t beaten a good team yet, and I have great concern about his effectiveness and health if the OL is ineffective; and considering the lack of attention to special teams under this regime who knows what will happen there? Obviously, my concerns are with the offense and special teams. I think the defensive line and backers are excellent and can probably cover up some deficiencies in the defensive backfield. I wouldn’t be surprised if we wound up losing 1 game or 5. Just too hard to read this team. Thanks for your blog!
You’re right that on first blush it’s easy to think that in 2012 Georgia should at the very least repeat as SEC East champ and perhaps be a bit better than the 2011 team. But, as you correctly note, there are a lot of questions still to be answered. As I’ve made clear here, Murray isn’t among my primary worries. I’m much more concerned about the offensive line and whether it will allow our impressive stable of tailbacks to get anything going. And, as you noted, there’s a huge question mark hanging over special teams play. Until we see how the freshman specialists perform and whether the offseason tinkering improves kick coverage, that must remain on the list of the Dogs’ major liabilities.
Will competition from new running backs provide a spark for Isaiah Crowell? (Associated Press)
On a more positive note, Jerry Cochran writes: Bill, I truly believe Mark Richt’s team this year has a chance to be special. I know the offensive line has to be rebuilt and we’re going to be missing some starters in the secondary against Missouri, but I really feel Aaron Murray is about to come into his own and I’m just plain excited by the prospects in the running game. I think the addition of Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley is going to spark Isaiah Crowell to fully live up to his potential and give Georgia the kind of versatility in the running game that LSU showed this past season. Am I being overly optimistic?
A lot depends on how the OL develops, in terms of both Murray’s progression at QB and the running game, but if that unit can gel before the South Carolina game, Georgia’s defense plays up to its considerable capabilities and the aforementioned special teams situation stablizes, the 2012 Dawgs certainly could be a Top 5 team.
Got something on your mind concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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466 comments Add your comment
Dawg Haus
April 28th, 2012
2:32 pm
Thanks for being the voice of reason, kingdaddy!
SouthernFried
April 28th, 2012
2:36 pm
@Bubbs,
That is frustrating. No way the NFL scout guys draft guys who can’t passblock. They came to the conclusion the guys can all block, Murray just holds on to the ball too long. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have drafted those 3, maybe 4, guys. Becoming clearer after this draft why UGA struggled in sack protection, anyone can see that now.
SouthernFried
April 28th, 2012
2:39 pm
@Bubbs,
Also right on, from what I have read, Murray did apply to be drafted this year. But after he read and heard what teams said, he decided no way he would eave Georgia right now, must have been because he ad no real chance at getting drafted. You notice Orson Charles, his high school teammate, did leave early, but probably got better NFL feedback.
Dawg Haus
April 28th, 2012
2:40 pm
The comment on strength and conditioning is a little unsettling (and also very evident in the 4th-quarter collapses), but I have high hopes for what Coaches Thomas and Armstrong will bring to the program.
kingdaddy
April 28th, 2012
2:40 pm
Bubbs
You’ve been bashing Murray since the beginning of this post. Did you make a pass at him tell you he’s “not really that into you Bubbs”? How excatly did A. MURRY BREAK YOUR HEART??? Quit obsessing over this kid with your EXPERT(lol) opinion. By the way, what school did you say you support? Here come the lies!!!
SouthernFried
April 28th, 2012
2:42 pm
Somebody needs to teach the guy who asked Bill the question, on UGA was soft, about football. UGA just got 3 of their linemen drafted, soft, don’t think so fellas.
Dawg Haus
April 28th, 2012
2:44 pm
SouthernFried, Murray claims he submitted his name for an official evaluation of his skills to see how he could improve his game at the college level. I think he knew he didn’t have much of a chance to get drafted at this point. Charles should have stuck around for his senior year, but I’m happy with how Lynch and Rome looked at G-Day.
Bubbs
April 28th, 2012
2:49 pm
I’ve been commenting on Murray’s performance numbers, to offer a more balanced view of things. You can take away Murray’s td’s and yards.
I’m sure you think anyone complaining about Richt’s starting QB, whether it’s Joe Terishinski over Matt Stafford, must be wrong.
kingdaddy
April 28th, 2012
2:51 pm
Haus
I’m looking for coach Armstrong to have a huge impact with his speed techniques. This should benifit the entire team…
Bubbs
April 28th, 2012
2:52 pm
You cant’ take away Murray’s rd’s, and yards, meant to say. Just there are too many other concerns. And the price to achieve those was too high.
kingdaddy
April 28th, 2012
2:54 pm
Bubbs
I see you chose not to tell us which school you support. We already know its not UGA…
Bubbs
April 28th, 2012
2:56 pm
SouthernFried:
Exactly. After seeing so many linemen get drafted, you have to ask why did they get drafted, when they gave up 33 sacks as a unit? The answer is obviously because they had a QB based problem in regard to sacks/interceptions/accuracy, not a pass pro o-line issue.
I’ve been saying this a long time, nice to see the NFL guys support me here.
Dawg Haus
April 28th, 2012
2:58 pm
A guy tabbed as a speed specialist can never hurt, kingdaddy. I can’t wait to see what kind of impact Coach Armstrong will have on the guys.
Hurry up, September!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
April 28th, 2012
3:00 pm
Enter your comments here
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
April 28th, 2012
3:02 pm
When a coach doesnt have the confidence to go for it on 4th and inches in a meaningless bowl against a team that was not even in Division I (UCF) up until a few years ago
LOLdawg
April 28th, 2012
3:04 pm
3 offensive blockers, already drafted. How in thr world did we give up 33 sacks with 3 NFL blockers on this line?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
April 28th, 2012
3:04 pm
soft is a great description
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
April 28th, 2012
3:06 pm
I wonder if Richt has what it takes to beat FL 2 years in a row
Im thinking not
LOLdawg
April 28th, 2012
3:07 pm
Speed coahc, Just means Murray will run longer before he is sacked 55 times.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
April 28th, 2012
3:07 pm
Can he break the 6 year dry spell this year of not beating a great team
Im thinking not
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
April 28th, 2012
3:08 pm
Is it halftime yet
I ready for the slip and slide
Bob
April 28th, 2012
3:12 pm
Enter your comments here
Bob
April 28th, 2012
3:16 pm
Bubbs said:
“Improvement isn’t Richt’s man strength, his teams usually lose more than the previous seasons, Richt tens to coast after a good year, all 4 first place SEC East finishes, were followed with a worst season in terms of wins. All 4 times.”
Brilliant, absolutely revealing. This demonstrates research at its finest. Lets see….the last SEC team to repeat as Conference Champ was Tennessee in 1998. So exactly how many other teams and coaches have improved the year following their SEC title? Check out Saban, who has won 3…each of the following years they were worse and in some cases dramatically so. Les Miles has won 2 and check out his 2008 record compared to his 2007 record. Ditto for Urban Meyer. So Bubbs, while we appreciate your amazing insight, you might actually try doing some real research before you enlighten us with your brilliance. LOL
@Bob
April 28th, 2012
3:31 pm
OUCH!!
To those slamming Murray
April 28th, 2012
3:37 pm
This is mainly addressed to Bubbs.
If you are a Dog fan, love the Dogs, and want them to win big, would you please tell us? If you are a UGA fan above all others, we can agree to disagree. I don’t agree with your logic, but pulling for the Dogs covers a multitude of differences.
If you are not willing to do this, I will classify you among those who have an anti-Dog agenda.
What say you about the Dogs? Are you a fan or not?
Bubbs
April 28th, 2012
4:04 pm
Nick Saban for example, finished 1st in SEC division 3 straight years at LSU. He also did it again 2 straight years at Alabama.
All 4 times Richt has finished 1st in SEC East, he has lost more games the next season.
Since it’s been said whichever team I say I favor, I’m lying, then I’ll refrain, but thanks to all for so much interest.
dogdawg
April 28th, 2012
4:06 pm
Does anybody know how old Ritch is?Maybe this year he mite wake up and coach us to the NC game since his time is running out!! But then again he is coach Ritch so Gratham is probably gonna have to bail him out again.
tide roll
April 28th, 2012
4:23 pm
MUSCHAMP knows what UGA is about. He played there. Tereshinski, Freind, Booboo and Richt don’t want MAX GARCIA, or OUTLAW from MLK. They want Greg Pyke, They want Hunter and Austin Long. They want Bynum from some scholastic league in Southwest Georgia! Then the plan is for Joe T. to bulk ‘em up and create some master race of offensive lineman that the Dawg fans will just drool over. The problem is they’re not physical or athletic enough to compete at this level. All Muschamp had to do was show those two what y’all are all about. Neither would receive a fair shot at Georgia, and they trusted Muschamp, as they should. It’s a plan that UGA should be embarrassed and ashamed to implement, but at UGA it’s a source of pride. This guy Tereshinski is crazy. 31 years and counting.
urwrung
April 28th, 2012
4:26 pm
Huh, 3 of our 6 linemen just got NFL drafted, not physical or athletic enough? Sure.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
April 28th, 2012
4:30 pm
The closest we will get to a national title appearance is playing it ourselves on our kids PS3
Puntdawg
April 28th, 2012
4:37 pm
Good news for Murray?
1 5′ 11” QB was drafted.
Bad news for Murray?
That 1 guy Wilson only threw 4 interceptions (Murray threw 14), and completed over 72% (as opposed to Murray’s 59%), and beat 2 ranked teams (as opposed to Murray’s 0-4 record).
Joey
April 28th, 2012
4:44 pm
“Joe Tereshinski has only had one season to turn things around in the strength and conditioning department”
******************************************
Exactly. There’s no reason in the world that a video coordinator can’t get our players to the level of LSU and Bama in the weight room.
And if Joe can’t, Richt has a whole bunch of buddies that he can plug in to run his S&C department . . .
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
April 28th, 2012
4:50 pm
The whole state is soft.
Puntdawg
April 28th, 2012
4:51 pm
Good news for Murray?
1 guy got drafted with more than 30 sacks,
Bad news?
He’s 6′4”
Good news for murray?
1 QB got drafted with below 58% accuracy
Bad news?
He’s 6′4”.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
April 28th, 2012
4:51 pm
buddies
yep
those buddies are the reason we sit and watch top teams time after time beat the tar out of us
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
April 28th, 2012
4:51 pm
Top 5?!? Soft? Expectations? Wow. You guys provide more joke materials than the government.
NCDawg
April 28th, 2012
5:03 pm
Yes our O-line has not been knocking people off the ball the way they should. Last year we were thin on the line and several guys played hurt. The blocking scheme I think is too complex. We need to simplify it. Our running game could be amazing. We have more depth this year but it is all very young. But young doesn’t mean they can’t be good. It’s all about confidence. We need to talk these guys up, make them feel like they CAN do it rather than undercutting them at every turn.
The same is true with Murray. Yes, he has had the tendency to make big mistakes in big games. He tries too hard. Trying too hard is like squeezing a bar of soap too hard. He needs to play within himself and let it happen. He has the weapons. He just needs to have his confidence bolstered. Again everyone harping on his past mistakes does nothing to help him. He knows what happened. He obsesses over it in fact. Back the guy and believe and see what happens.
The Bulldog Nation needs to back these guys and stop tearing them down. They are just young men and they want to win as badly as any of you. Football is a game of momentum and grabbing momentum is about believing you can do it.
How do teams come back from being down? Believing they can do it. Plain and simple. These young men need to know you believe they can do it. The talent is there. They just need us to back them. If the people you work for only tell you what you do wrong over and over again what happens? Your confidence wanes and you don’t perform well. These guys play the game for US. Stop the negativity and be positive. I believe and you can too.
The Plan, according to tide roll
April 28th, 2012
5:04 pm
Sounds like a good idea- Saban employed it. Get a OL named Barrett Jones from a private Christian school, and build your line around him. You would already know this if you were a real Bama fan, tide roll, but Saban had more whites in his OL than UGA last year. Was that a good thing or not? Looking at the record, following the Saban Model might be a winning plan.
You cannot make this stuff up
April 28th, 2012
5:08 pm
Tide roll says Richt did not want Garcia or Outlaw. RIcht showed he did not want them by offering them a coveted scholarship to play at UGA.
How much sense does that make? I take it you never had a course in logic.
GR42
April 28th, 2012
5:12 pm
Those of you over-emphasizing only the good, I’d encourage you to stop being a part of the culture of entitlement, that sort of thing encourages a sense of entitlement. Bringing up these areas to work on happens in every good company in reviews, otherwise, you don’t know what to fix and keep repeating the same mistakes, or getting worse at those areas like AMurray tends to do. Murray’s whole career he’s been coddled and babied, told how great he is, kid needs to fix his deficient performance areas, like NOW, or else we need to make a quick change at QB. Voting him Spring MVP every year won’t despite how he performs, won’t fix his interception or sack deficiencies or inaccuracy issues or lack of big game poise. In fact, it makes them even worse, as we saw in 2011.
no dog
April 28th, 2012
5:13 pm
With the background of LeMay (the winning, not the kicked out of school thing), will you dogs be satisfied if he does not get some quality playing time?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
April 28th, 2012
5:16 pm
The team needs coaching that knows how to coach more than being backed by fans to succeed
UGA fans have backed the program for years; fans are not the issue
Joey
April 28th, 2012
5:18 pm
I like Mark Richt – as a missionary. Richt’s compassion as a boss is the worst trait possible for a CEO. Whether it be a corporation or a football program, the leader has to be able to evaluate the production of his employees. I’ve read and heard Richt himself say “how hard he and his staff are working,” then, “next year we will work even harder.” Working hard ain’t exactly the POINT, coach.
Example? If I got the CEO job at GE, I would work as hard and long as I possibly could – but would I get the job done? Of course not. Being a hard worker is a nice trait, but hardly qualifies one to do a good job.
One more thing – Richt’s cronyism in hiring assistants has kept his most talented teams out of the Big Game, what, 3 or 4 times (and counting)? But the fan boys talk of ESPN conspiracies, and being done wrong by the BCS, etc. Truth is, Richt always loses games he shouldn’t – vs teams less talented.
One day, even the Richt-fan-boys will get enough of this . . .
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
April 28th, 2012
5:19 pm
Getting blown away is the 2nd half of the SEC championship game shows the coaching staff has no clue on how to coach a team to victory
JB
April 28th, 2012
5:24 pm
Dawgs don’t beat physical football teams anymore, not the last 3 years anyway. We are at the point it’s not who we beat, but who we lose to. We have the talent to beat average football teams. We don’t have the preparation and coaching to beat the good ones.
Bob
April 28th, 2012
5:29 pm
Bubbs said:
“Nick Saban for example, finished 1st in SEC division 3 straight years at LSU. He also did it again 2 straight years at Alabama.
All 4 times Richt has finished 1st in SEC East, he has lost more games the next season.
Since it’s been said whichever team I say I favor, I’m lying, then I’ll refrain, but thanks to all for so much interest.”
Really? Talk to me about what 3 years in a row he won the west while at LSU? He won in 01 and 03 and that is it. Arkansas won in 02 because Bama was on probation. Bama, under Saban won in 08 and 09. That is it.
LSU was worse in 02 and 04 and Bama was worse in 10 after 09.
Joey
April 28th, 2012
5:31 pm
“The team needs coaching that knows how to coach more than being backed by fans to succeed”
***********************************************
Exactly!
Fellow Dawg fans, how long has it been since UGA went into a game where any of you said to yourself, and to your fellow game-watchers, BEFORE the game, “watch Richt out-coach this guy?” Tech ‘09? Maybe. Bet nobody said it before either Dome trip last year.
You think the players don’t sense that too?
You recon Boise’s and Bama’s players wonder if their coach can win a game for them?
Bubbs
April 28th, 2012
5:35 pm
Justin Anderson just got drafted by the Colts. He joins 3 other UGA linemen Charles TE, Jones center, and tackle Glenn.
4 of the linemen UGA played with got drafted by the NFL, yet Murray got sacked 33 times.
You can’t ask for more as a QB. Looks like the NFL experts decided the 33 sacks were on Murray.
Joey
April 28th, 2012
5:39 pm
JB is right. We could have so easily been 8-4 instead of 10-2 in the regular season. Richt shut down the offense vs Ol Miss, UT, Vandy, and UK for whatever reason. A tackle by our punter basically put us in the SECCG.
Bubbs
April 28th, 2012
5:39 pm
Saban had 3 1st place SEC division finishes in a row at LSU, and 2 SEC division finishes in a row at Bama.