Bradley’s Buzz: ESPN likes the look of the 2009 Bulldogs
The Worldwide Leader gushes over UGA
Breaking down its Top 25 for 2009, ESPN.com lavishes so much praise on its No. 16 team (link requires registration) you wonder why the team in question — namely, Georgia — isn’t ranked, like, No. 6. I’m usually pretty high on the Bulldogs, but I’m not as optimistic about these Dogs as Chris Sprow seems to be.
It’s Buzz policy not to quote overmuch from a linked article — that’s why there’s a link; you can read it yourself — but because ESPN’s Insiders is a pay site and not everyone has $39.95 to burn, I make an exception. So here goes. Mr. Sprow writes:
• “Last year, Stafford had plenty of weapons to utilize, but he was always on the run. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Stafford was drilled 93 times last season, up from 77 as a sophomore. Because of that, a Georgia offense that still managed 31.5 points per game [third in the SEC] was too star-driven. [Offensive coordinator Mike] Bobo admits that Stafford had a tendency to [focus on] his most reliable players while on the run.”
Loading ...• “While the previews will say the Dawgs get back seven starters on offense, Bobo contends they get back eight … and that’s just on the offensive line. ‘We actually have eight guys back [on the O-line] that have started games for us, and we can move them around if we have to,’ Bobo says. Because of that, he thinks [Joe} Cox will be able to get more options involved. And he'll need to. 'Right now, we really have just one proven playmaker, but it's not how we'll play where we're just tossing it to [A.J. Green]; you’ll see us spread it around.’ ”
• “When Georgia gets expected improvement in the secondary from a team that picked off only 11 passes last year [eighth in the SEC] and up front from a team that sacked the QB just 23 times [ninth in the SEC], perhaps even against this schedule you could see a jump.”
• “For as good as the Dawgs looked on paper to begin last season, injuries, combined with star reliance, made that paper flimsy. This year, with Cox in charge and more healthy depth on both sides of the ball, on paper maybe it’s not as pretty, but it feels as thick as a phone book.”
Me, I say Georgia faces more “ifs” than “absolutelys” this time around, which is why I picked the Bulldogs to lose four games. But there is a chance, as Sprow suggests, Georgia could figure things out in a hurry. Still, I keep coming back to this: Minus two players who went in the top dozen of the NFL draft, a lot of guys must pull a heavier load.
Regarding a former Falcon …
Don’t know about the veracity of this, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes the Patriots might be interested in Michael Vick. And now you ask: To play … where?
At last check the Pats had a QB. (I forget his name. Y’all help me here.) And Florio never quite says what New England might do with Vick. Make him a backup? A red-zone QB? The Wildcat implementer? Ambiguity aside, it’s a great rumor.
More gushing, this time about Hanson
In his ESPN.com blog, Buster Olney quotes Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell as likening Tommy Hanson to Dwight Gooden: “[Gooden] was the same, in the way he knew he belonged, and every fifth day he knew he was going to kick someone’s butt.”
I wish McDowell would say something half that good to me. But I get the feeling he doesn’t like me. He has contracted the Smoltz disease, I fear.
Laying down the Law on the Braves’ draft
I wondered what the Braves were doing last week, and I was encouraged to find I wasn’t alone. Keith Law of Scouts Inc., writing for ESPN.com’s Insiders, was left bewildered by the whole Braves’ draft (requires registration), not just the Round 1 choice of Vandy lefty Mike Minor.
Quoth Law: “I’d love to know what happened in Atlanta to change its scouting philosophy; this is a team that would typically shy away from college players in general and college pitchers in particular, and the Braves went as college-heavy as any team, including taking a low-ceiling college arm in Mike Minor with the seventh overall pick in the draft. They took Princeton’s David Hale at [No.] 87; Hale has a good arm but mediocre command and wasn’t that successful in getting Ivy League hitters out, which is a big red flag for someone who can sit at 92-94 mph.
“Their third pick was Mycal Jones, a short [listed at a generous 5-foot-10] and slight [165 pounds] shortstop from Miami-Dade JC who can run but plays out of control at the plate and in the field. They didn’t take a high school player until the 10th round; last year, they started out with three prep arms and took only one player from a four-year college in the top 10 rounds. Money could be part of the explanation, but not all of it.”
With that, another meeting of the Frank Wren Fan Club is in session. First on the agenda, how do you “play out of control at the plate”? (And don’t say, “Be Jeff Francoeur.”)
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121 comments Add your comment
Mitch Cumstein
June 15th, 2009
6:43 am
I, for one beleive the Dawgs will be much improved this season. The lack of star power is what has them behind the eight ball, but that is what also will create an atmosphere of teamwork, thus leading to wins. Dawgs will be top 8 in the nation by the 3rd game of the season.
ImADawg
June 15th, 2009
7:03 am
Be Jeff Francoeur!!! (Sorry, had to do it)
Baracked the vote!
June 15th, 2009
7:22 am
I don’t know what the Braves are doing in the draft, or on the field. this team is becoming increasingly disfunctional. the SS-2nd base combo is minor league defensively, the mclouth trade was no help, and tommy hanson could not consistently get his curve ball or his slider over for strikes friday night. of course, they should have another high draft pick next year so they can proceed to screw that up as well. or draft a high prospect and trade him, along with a few others, for a mediocre major leaguer or a six month rental job.
MiltonDawg
June 15th, 2009
7:29 am
I think the Dawgs will surprise a lot of people. Majority of Offense/Defense starters returing..including the line on both sides. Won’t be a perfect season, but we may just end up suprising people. I see Vick used a WR or KR..he probably still has some speed to him. Braves??? I would love to know what’s going on with them? We get blown out by the O’s who 10 games (or so) under .500, and we play them like we’re a little league team.
ivan
June 15th, 2009
7:42 am
This year I will take tech over ga
Atlanta Journal Constitution » Blog Archive » Bradley’s Buzz: ESPN likes the look of the 2009 Bulldogs
June 15th, 2009
8:03 am
[...] Mark Bradley | ajc.com – [...]
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
8:08 am
So will I, Ivan.
MightyQuinn
June 15th, 2009
8:09 am
The question about Vick is, will he be willing to take a “special weapon” role with a club? Or does ego demand, as the SI cover on him a few years back, “I AM a Quarterback”. Of course, if no one will hire him otherwise, he may be forced to take the freak show route. But no one should hire him as such if he still believes he can QB fulltime, because then his presence will be an even more disruptive force than it is already going to be. Whoever takes him (and I am certain SOMEONE will) will be taking a high-risk high-reward gamble.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
8:13 am
That’s absolutely the question, MQ.
MightyQuinn
June 15th, 2009
8:22 am
I remember a game when they put Shaub in at QB and put Vick either in the backfield or out in the flat, I don’t remember which. They only did it one or two plays, but I remember thinking that it could have been a tremendous attack. I am sure it was ego that wouldn’t allow Vick to accept such a role then (the SI cover statement again) but my god what a weapon he could have been/still could be in that type role. I know its just a pipe dream and could never had happened but the thought of Vick in the backfield with Ryan and Turner with Smith and now Gonzales on the ends makes me want to be an offensive coordinator!
TROTTINGHOME
June 15th, 2009
8:28 am
Baltimore embarrassed us. Someone on the coaching staff needs to go.
» SEC links: Is Florida getting a bad rap on crime? John Clay’s Sidelines
June 15th, 2009
8:29 am
[...] In his AJC blog, Mark Bradley writes that ESPN likes the look of Georgia 2009. [...]
Cuz
June 15th, 2009
8:36 am
Look a picture of AJ Green catching the ball at Arizona State during a goldout. I bet they never have one of those again. Oh the humiliation.
Cuz
June 15th, 2009
8:41 am
I don’t know the name of that New England Quarterback but I hear he is the husband of Giselle Bundchen. Not too shabby no matter how sorry a QB he is.
Jack G.
June 15th, 2009
8:41 am
TROTT
The word is not Someone, its Everyone.
Cuz
June 15th, 2009
8:43 am
Has the Georgia Tech Dungeons and Dragons Fantasy League started their draft yet? If they have could you post a link for it Mark?
Bill
June 15th, 2009
8:46 am
I keep saying for the Braves.77-85.Mediocrity starts at the top.That means you,Liberty Media and Frank Wren.
Nuggs
June 15th, 2009
8:51 am
Vick should be willing to be a long snapper or a holder if that means he gets an NFL paycheck. If he’s not willing to show that sort of humility, of course I’m stretching on those actual positions, then he hasn’t learned a darn thing in prison.
I think UGA gets off to a slow start, maybe even 0-2, but will finish strong only losing to the Gators down the stretch and end the year 10-3 again.
Dawg A
June 15th, 2009
8:55 am
Mark , I am looking in the AJC archives ….. did you pick the majic or the lakers?
doyle, Atlanta
June 15th, 2009
8:55 am
I easily remember (yes, I’m that old) the doubts about my beloved Dawgs the year after Hershel jumped to the USFL. Seems we had a pretty decent year after all (beat #2 Texas in Cotton) as the entire team stepped it up. Maybe I’m just getting senile, but this years team has a whole lot of the same feel as that one. Go Dawgs!!
RxDawg
June 15th, 2009
9:04 am
Well, the good thing is it wont take very long to find out how good UGA is. I love being “under the radar”, but with our schedule we wont stay there very long if we start winning. Heck, if we win our first 3 games it will probably bring some pretty heavy national attention. The game that scares me the most (in the begining of the season of course) is Arkansas. We go to OkSt, then the war of a game with USC, then we travel back to Ark. Meanwhile, Arkansas plays Missouri St (ha!), then their off, then they have us at home. Yeh….thats probably going in the books as an L. It will take some good focus and discipline to win that game.
Trip
June 15th, 2009
9:07 am
I wouldn’t take five Mark Richt’s for Paul Johnson
exNFLplayer
June 15th, 2009
9:10 am
GT will finish 3rd in their division. Defense will cost them games. PJ historically doesn’t get better on defense because his offense requires the best athletes on that side of the ball. Fortunately he has Gailey’s extremely good recruiting class in the house. I still contend that PJ’s approach will be proven or disproven when his recruits are on the field.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
9:15 am
Magic. In six. More about that to come.
GTSteve
June 15th, 2009
9:15 am
UGA will be out of the top 25 after the first week…….no way they win at OSU
SEC links: Is Florida getting a bad rap on crime? | MrSEC.com
June 15th, 2009
9:21 am
[...] In his AJC blog, Mark Bradley writes that ESPN likes the look of Georgia 2009. [...]
Otto
June 15th, 2009
9:21 am
UGA faces fewer ifs this year than last. The lines are much more solid and UGA has a better QB.
MilitaryDawgInDC
June 15th, 2009
9:22 am
phil steele is much more accurate in his prognostications, and he has UGA as a dark horse for the NC…Mark, you hate UGA and it’s obviously in your diatribe. UGA will smash the nats, and restore order in the state….
MilitaryDawgInDC
June 15th, 2009
9:23 am
mark, your’re killing me man..File that with your, braves will with east in 2008. They are the real deal this year..LOL
MilitaryDawgInDC
June 15th, 2009
9:25 am
GT will lose at least 4, maybe 5…the junk offense won’t be such as mystery this year, and you have no DL..
Manny
June 15th, 2009
9:28 am
That point really needs to be emphasized further. If you hire Vick, you are hiring a QB, period. You can do all kinds of funs stuff with him, but you are really hiring a QB.
Let me tell you why: He has won with a mediocre team at QB. Forget his stats, except for one: He has won much more than he lost playing QB in the NFL. He went to the playoffs and was a perennial playoff contender with a team with not a lot of tools except his feet and Crumpler’s hands. (Roddy White wasn’t the Roddy White of now.)
So let me tell you why I am harping on that. If he goes to a team and that team starts to have QB issues- or if the good QB gets hurt; people will want Vick under center. And remember this feeling Falcons fans?- whenever Vick was under center, you felt that you was always in a game. Why? Because Vick is capable of a big play with both is arm AND his feet.
So all I am saying is this: When you hire Vick and line him up at wideout or tailback or clipboard duty- if and when you start to get shaky, you will have to put him under center eventually.
Dawg A
June 15th, 2009
9:29 am
I thought you picked the Magic……. I feel better about my dawg’s chances against G.T.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
9:31 am
Pretty much everybody is more accurate than I am, prediction-wise. More about that to come.
IC
June 15th, 2009
9:33 am
I think GA will be fine this year it depends on the first game. Ok state is going to be in the top ten. I really believe we will beat them. I think our “D” will show up this year and play hard every game and quarter, If not someone should be leaving Athens an I am not talking about players!!! This should be a very interesting year, we have strong O-line/D-line but the speciality guys need to step up.
Manny
June 15th, 2009
9:33 am
The Bulldogs, by the way, will not lose 4 or 5 games. That’s wishful thinking by some people. I see the Bulldogs losing 3 games next year. I don’t see 4. (And Mark Richt haven’t lost 5 games since he has been head coach.)
TommyP
June 15th, 2009
9:34 am
I hope someone starts a website or at least keeps up with the Frank Wren moves in Atlanta.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
June 15th, 2009
9:35 am
The media typically does not pay alot of attention to the UGA program, so I suspect someone within EPSN felt sorry for this program, and tried to throw them a bone.
UGA will go 8-4 at best in 2009, and I suspect they will lose the opener to OSU, because they are no accustomed to opening on the road against at strong opponent. They typically prefer to open at home against Parkview HS, or Agnes Scott.
Dawg A
June 15th, 2009
9:36 am
Mark , I am just messing with you! I really enjoy your blog’s and enjoy reading your articles. WOULD YOU PLEASE DO A ARTICLE AND POLL ON WHAT YOUR READERS THINK ABOUT THE BRAVES KEEPING COX! I think you might be surprised with the responses. Thanks!!!
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
9:37 am
I seem to remember the media rating Georgia fairly highly this time a year ago. But maybe I’m wrong about that as well.
RxDawg
June 15th, 2009
9:43 am
Mike Bobo 17 INT, your credibility and the wisdom of your words is immeasurable.
Paul
June 15th, 2009
9:44 am
I guess UGA is done this year because they lost two guys to the first round of the NFL draft…That makes sense. I remember in 2002, no one went in the first round off of that team, and in 05 only Pollack found the first. Georgia has talent and can be successful w/o Stafford and Knowshon.
UGA’s rushing yards never went up on average with KNowshon in the backfield…so, again this year, we will split carries with 3-4 very talented backs – instead of one guy – and we will be fine.
Cox won’t throw 10 INTs either, IMO
Mac
June 15th, 2009
9:45 am
I said last summer and fall that the Falcons had a Bennett, Lebaron, Braatz feel about them. That 1977 team overachieved in getting to .500 and setting an NFL record for fewest points allowed. Then the Smith, Dimitroff Falcons went out and overachieved at an even greater level.
I’ve been saying this Georgia team has a John Lastinger feel about it, i.e. post-Herschel/Belue team that beat a superior opponent in the Cotton Bowl. Can’t wait to see how accurate that feel is.
Preston
June 15th, 2009
9:49 am
Mike Bobo 17 INT, so does just about everyone else.
Looking forwards and looking backwards « Get The Picture
June 15th, 2009
9:49 am
[...] forwards and looking backwards Jump to Comments Citing a Mark Bradley post that in turn quotes from an ESPN paid site is no doubt one the greatest sins I’ve ever [...]
siskel_god
June 15th, 2009
9:53 am
I think the Braves just wanted some advanced arms, guys who only need 2-3 years in the minors instead of 5-6. You got Lowe for 3 more, Kawakami for 2 and Hudson and Vasquez for next year if you want them. Somebody is gonna have to fill those spots, and if you go outside the organization for FA’s you can always trade to fill holes.
Bulldawg
June 15th, 2009
9:54 am
get a job GTSteve! damn laid off computer consultant!
JB
June 15th, 2009
9:55 am
Georgia will have a better team this year. A better record, maybe not. We have a schedule that most SEC teams don’t/won’t play. Look at Bama and Gators. Weak. The O line will be deep and great this year and will make our Average SEC backs look better than they are. Cox will be fine. He will be put in a more controlled passing game and it will be effective. Mark knows Willie’s job is on the line. Dawgs will be much improved on the D side of ball. 8-4 worst case, 10-2 on the high side.
Preston
June 15th, 2009
9:58 am
This is actually quite funny. Tech wins for the first time in 8 years and they rank them one spot higher than UGA. Okay, but don’t get your hopes up too high because LSU exposed how to defend that offense and don’t think the rest of the college football world wasn’t watching. I’ll guarantee you that they won’t finish the season ranked higher than UGA.
Gatorzone
June 15th, 2009
10:01 am
UGA will be better than people think. I am concerned about them this year more than last. I think with them not relying so much on 2 players will make them more dangerous than before.
JB
June 15th, 2009
10:03 am
Hey boboo 17……………………LSU 38-3…… a romp…..you guys didn’t even show up…..you sucked………couldn’t find the end zone with Daniel Boone……………An SEC team …Wow.
Our 3 point loss to ya’ll was a FLUKE. You know it. The world Knows it. Paul Johnson knows it.
You won, we tip our hat. You lose this year. Now, sweep your campus for more terrorist.
BruffDawg
June 15th, 2009
10:06 am
Coaching “hot seats” and a strong core of senior leadership will lead this team to a record better than most will expect. I don’t claim to know where the losses will be, but i do know a couple scores. First of all, where does UGA lose almost all their big games? AT HOME. This is why you can write down these two scores right now: UGA 35 OSU 17 (and don’t think Richt forgot about those photos of the hedge clippings; he will make them pay for that) UGA 45 GT 21. Will we lose 4 games? Maybe. But not these two.
PTC DAWG
June 15th, 2009
10:08 am
It wasn’t all that long ago that UGA opened on the road at Clemson, and won handily. Richt’s road record is 2nd to NONE. Bodes well for UGA this year, as it will be nice to win a couple of non-conference games on the road.
RD
June 15th, 2009
10:10 am
Mark,
I wonder if you will ever step out, and make a “bold” prediction. Then again, maybe you try to always play it safe…what fun is that?
If Georgia beats Oklahoma State, I can’t wait to read how you posture your expectations for the rest of the Dawg’s season.
Come to think of it, maybe your prediction of Tech over UGA at this date is a bold prediction. Want to wager?
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
10:10 am
It was 2003. Georgia beat Clemson 30-nil.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
10:11 am
You wonder if I’ll ever make a bold prediction? You must be new around here.
Johnny Danger Dawg
June 15th, 2009
10:11 am
Chris Sprow, like most writers, is focusing on the Dawgs offense. But our defense was a bigger problem last year. If the Dawgs are going to improve this year, it will require some better defense (especially better play from the defensive ends).
Coach D
June 15th, 2009
10:12 am
It all depends on how well the Dawgs do in their home opener vs. Oklahoma State. If the Dawgs go out there and lose to the Cowboys( say 24-14), then it will be a very up and down season, like 7-5.
If it’s a close win either way( say 24-21), then I say the Dawgs will be 9-3 or 8-4.
If the Dawgs go out there and blow the Cowboys out, I say they have a shot at a 10 win season and are one upset away from being a Darkhorse candidate for the National Title. People may laugh when I say that but keep 4 things in mind:
1.) the Dawgs were 6-5 in 1979 before going 12-0 in 1980. If they are going to win a National Title it will be when folks don’t expect it ala Tennessee in 1998.
2.)The Dawgs have a bye week before the Florida game this year. Last time that happened, they won 42-30.
3.) Florida, even though they return a bunch of starters, play a weak conference schedule. That can bite them in the butt when they least expect it. The Florida team in 2001 was ranked 1# and was one of Spurrier’s best. And they lost two games that year.
4.) The Dawgs will have to play hard for every win. Unlike in past seasons where talent could get them past an Arkansas or South Carolina, this team doesn’t have that luxury. When teams know they’ll have to compete each week, it makes them play better. I’m a coach, I know.
Coach D
June 15th, 2009
10:14 am
whoops…I meant to say their “opener” instead of ” home opener”.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
10:17 am
About Point No. 4 … I agree, Coach D. In fact, I tried to suggest as much a while back.
Gatorzone
June 15th, 2009
10:21 am
Coach D, many of those points concern me as a Gator Fan! I think #4 will really help Ga, and I agree about the opener setting the tone.
Robert
June 15th, 2009
10:23 am
Phil Steele is the most accurate at preseason predictions. He knows his football. Just look at his rankings thus far on philsteele.com.
UGA will be good this year.
dawg fan that hates Kool-aid
June 15th, 2009
10:23 am
fifth year senior QB, experienced OL,A.J. at WR, the running game will be there. This should help keep the defense off the field too.
WinderDawg
June 15th, 2009
10:27 am
Such bold predictions from the Tech crowd on UGA’s demise.And of course we all know just how big and bold they were after their once a decade win over us last year.I saw were one treckie said he would not take 4 Mark Richts for one Paul Johnson, I think thats a joke, just like all that smack you talked prior to your beatdown in the chick fila Bowl.Too much smog being inhaled down on techwood ave.Yeah, PJ’s offense may be even better after a year of running it, but his defense will be lackluster.GT kind of reminds me of Texas Tech, offensive guru-haha,but can’t stop anybody.Have’nt you figured out that defense wins Championships? But by all means, enjoy your preseason rankings, then enjoy your trip to Boise, or Seattle in December. Go Dawgs!!!
Pete Orr
June 15th, 2009
10:29 am
I think the Braves draft philosophy has something to do with these “great” 2011,2012 seasons everyone thinks they are building for. By drafting more college players they will be ready in a couple years to contribute to those teams along with Heyward, Freeman, Hanson, etc.
Hope they’re right…
athensdawg
June 15th, 2009
10:36 am
mark…your man-crush on M.Stafford is showing.
you sound like all the other koolaide drinkers that sit around me in sanford stadium….who believed that stafford was going to bring us the “glory” that we “deserve.” uh…last time i checked, that didn’t happen.
now that he and K.Moreno are gone, georgia football is in the toilet.
you just “….go on and throw us in that brier patch.”
historically, as you should know, the dawgs have always been better when they have no respect and no allstars. so, in that respect, we have them right where we want them.
now, do we execute? does the defense step up? we’ll see.
PMC
June 15th, 2009
10:42 am
Because anyone paying any attention last year knew they were done the second Jeff Owens was out for the year after they had already lost Sturdivant.
If they are healthy they have a top 6 team. They won’t score as many but they won’t give up as many either.
Last season they had too many players out due to either suspensions or injuries.
Coach Searles should get a medal for what he was able to pull off last year, watch what he can pull of with Sturdivant healthy.
HH
June 15th, 2009
10:42 am
My advice: Don’t bet any money on what Bobo says, unless your last name is Gates.
PMC
June 15th, 2009
10:44 am
A lot of young players got experience last year filling in.
Diggity Dawg
June 15th, 2009
10:46 am
I agree with JB. The Dawgs will be a better, tougher team in ‘09 than they were in ‘08 no matter what the end record says. That comes from Richt’s commitment to having tough practices regardless of the injury situation. Remember, they did that after the Tech Aberration (for you Techmites, an aberration is a “deviation from the ordinary, usual, or normal type,” which last year’s game certainly was) and held 1,600-yard rusher Javon Ringer to 55 yards in the bowl game. Add to the tough practices the linemen who were missing last year and you will have a team that won’t give up 30+ points five times like it did in ‘08.
godawgs.bark
June 15th, 2009
10:47 am
Boise State’s going to come here and kick our…oh maybe not. Arizona State’s is going to take us to the woodshe…hmm. Not so much. OSU? More of the same.
GO DAWGS
Cheer Up, Yech. I hear Boise’s awesome in December…oh, wait, you already know that.
See line three
Heavy Dawg
June 15th, 2009
10:51 am
I said on some websights that my DAWGS would be better this year than last. I was verbally attacked for saying so. It is good to now that I am not the only one who thinks that, but I was the first one to think that, and I got attacked about it, and now they can see that they were wrong.
Tom Pilgrim
June 15th, 2009
10:51 am
Mark, about your trade Frenchy article. The Braves need to trade Terry Pendleton. I have felt for over a year that Terry messed up Andru Jones, Matt Diaz is no longer the same, and he has almost ruined Frenchy. Terry wants everyone to hit the way he did. Take two and hit to opposiste field. Look at how the Braves are hitting, have been for a couple of years. They have two real hitters who produce. Oh, I know, they want Terry to replace Bobby Cox someday. Wow.
Otto
June 15th, 2009
11:01 am
PMC I agree the best OL and DL were out last year and many young players have experience. The offense will be able run long Greene style quarter killing drives behind the big OL.
If this new kicker pans out UGA can keep the other team from getting to the 30 or worse on kick offs.
Overall the team has much more promise than last year.
Paul From Milton
June 15th, 2009
11:04 am
Mark, you must be doing something right if you have people mad at you. There are a lot of Braves that deserve to be mad at you – Francoeur, Johnson, Escobar and numerous members of the bullpen to name a few.
One thing I haven’t heard people discuss about Georgia is that they open with seven games in a row with no break. I’ve read several coaches who talk about how team performance drops off after five or six games in a row. Georgia has five tough games in a row before going to Knoxville and Nashville back-to-back. If I was looking for an upset special, it would be one of those two games.
GOTech610
June 15th, 2009
11:07 am
Let me put to rest you DAWG’s fans aspirations for GT’s defense to be “lackluster” and that Paul Johnson neglects the defense for the offense. Over this weekend alone Paul Johnson has gotten the number 14 CB in the nation, someone Richt wanted, Number 12 Defensive Tackle Denzel McCoy, as well as two more DB’s in Fred Holton and Isaiha Johnson. That’s four top defensive players from the state of GA over one weekend, and I think we can expect the 15 ranked Ayers to commit anytime now too. That’ll make 5 defensive players for tech and 2 highly touted offensive lineman, namely Morgan Bailey who committed yesterday that the Dawgs also wanted.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it DAWGS!
L-Dawg
June 15th, 2009
11:08 am
I believe if the Georgia Tech “Nerd-Herd” would spend even half of the eneregy they do talking smack, and invest it being enthusiastic about their team, they MIGHT be able to sell out a game in their 55,000 seat capacity cracker-box of a stadium.
**Excuse me while I go purchase the $99 season ticket package, and burn every ticket except for the whoopin coming their way November 28th
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
11:09 am
There’s a British soccer/football team called Milwall. Its signature chant goes: “Nobody likes us. We don’t care.”
But me, I do care. I want everybody to like me. I’m more like Sally Field.
azcat225
June 15th, 2009
11:11 am
Uhhh, Mr. Bradley? Your Frank Wren Fan Club meeting has been moved to the broom closet on basement level three.
The Fire Frank Wren Club is meeting in the ballroom, if you’d like to pop in for a while after you and the other fan wrap things up.
Frank Wren: Living proof that the Peter Principle is alive and well.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
11:15 am
Frank Wren = Mr. Finesse.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
11:19 am
For those so inclined, here’s a new blog post: How I fixed — or broke — Chipper ’s wagon.
GOTech610
June 15th, 2009
11:21 am
L-Dawg…..Haha….you lost to a team on your turf that can’t even fill their own stadium….how stupid do you feel???? Please…is that what you dawg fan’s have to go on…attendance? Who gives a crap? GT beat UGA, we don’t need attendance to do that moron!
GOTech610
June 15th, 2009
11:21 am
Ohhh the dawgs are sooo big and bad because the have a big stadium….to lose in! HAHAHA!
WTF???
June 15th, 2009
11:23 am
UGA 10-2
Yeck 7-5
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
11:27 am
Let the record reflect that WTF, holder of the single-day posting record on this here blog, has joined the fray.
larryhmunsonthe3rd
June 15th, 2009
11:32 am
frenchy
Georgia News - 6/15/09 | MrSEC.com
June 15th, 2009
11:34 am
[...] Here are some Georgia notes for Monday:Georgia Tech is ranked higher than Georgia in most pre-season polls and that can’t sit too well with Bulldog fans.Georgia officials believe their season opener against South Carolina will kick off at 7pm ET on ESPN2.And Mark Bradley of The AJC wonders why ESPN.com — which praises UGA in their behind-the-pay-per-view-door rankings — doesn’t have the Dawgs ranked higher than 16th. [...]
Jack G.
June 15th, 2009
11:45 am
The problem with the GT defense is only getting to face the PJ offense in practice. They get no practice time against more traditional offenseses. Pass defense really suffers because they dont practice against it. PJ’s teams dont pass. They dont pass for 2 reasons. One they dont have a QB that can pass, and they dont know how to pass block.
WTF???
June 15th, 2009
11:56 am
This is true, I should really get rid of one of these monitors so I can’t keep my browser open all day…..
L-Dawg
June 15th, 2009
12:03 pm
I notice that the North Ave Trade School is located in the same city as AJC, but there is never any praise or coverage on here for them. Why waste their time right? UGA is the better program, and just because we lose 2 players to the NFL we suck? UGA has won the 3rd most games in the NCAA since 2000, and i guarantee you we will continue to recruit the best, and sign the best. The Nerd-Herd wins one sloppy game in the rain, and they forget that its the first time in 8 years….. stick to the dungeons and dragons you dorks.
L-Dawg
June 15th, 2009
12:04 pm
***3rd most WINS since 2000
Dave
June 15th, 2009
12:15 pm
The Dawgs will flake out as they do whenever they get any positive press. The best thing that could happen for UGA is for everyone to say they’re terrible and let them go out on the field with something to prove. UF’s won two out of the last three BCS trophies and you don’t read this kind of hype about them in the Tampa, Orlando or Jacksonville papers.
Crank Dat Soulja Boy Noshow Moreno
June 15th, 2009
12:17 pm
This is the only time of the year UGA fans can talk trash about being great. Once the season starts, that will all change. CHOKERS
edward
June 15th, 2009
12:17 pm
45-21 Bruffdog? Darkhorse national title Coach D? Where do you guys come up with these predictions? Can’t wait for your unranked team to come to Atlanta and get tossed up. Hopefully after Okla.St. wipes the field with yal you will see what a joke of a football team you have this yr. Last years win was a fluke? Yeah, and Mike Vick is coming back to the falcons to help TD and the coaching staff. We ran all over you with our “High School offense” and will continue to do so every year Paul Johnson is at Tech. And that is Mr. Paul Johnson to all you ugay fans. Keep telling yourself that uga will be better without Stafford, Knowshon, etc. And JB and every other uga fan, stop with the LSU remarks. Please, it just makes you look more stupid, even if that doesn’t seem possible. Was that uga that beat us? WTF, 10-2? Tech 7-5? Your name does fit your remarks. And please ugay fans, don’t come back with winnng 7 in a row before last yr. or anything about our stadium. We still own the longest winning streak in the series and have more national titles so stop living in the past, it will only continue to make you guys look bad. And our stadium is named after a certain Hall of Fame coach, something yal don’t have, not to mention something called the “Heisman trophy,” maybe you have heard of it? Hey, at least uga softball will be ranked high next year!!!!
MightyQuinn
June 15th, 2009
12:19 pm
Mark, re your 11:09 post: I don’t know about the rest, but I like you! I really, really like you! (In a hetero manly way!)
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
12:21 pm
OK, MQ. You did it. You made me laugh.
Oh, and I’m fairly sure Vince Dooley is in the Hall of Fame. Not sure about Ray Goff, though.
update...
June 15th, 2009
12:24 pm
Has anyone seen Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones? They went missing last Nov. 29. Were last seen running through, around, and over uga defenders. Anyone with information please contact Mark Richt, he would like to know what the hell happened. Thank you.
edward
June 15th, 2009
12:27 pm
Yeah, my bad. Dooley could coach a little bit, huh?
L-Dawg
June 15th, 2009
12:32 pm
If any of my fellow Dawg-Nation EVER needs an incredible belly-busting laugh, I encourage you to go check out the level of absolute DORK waiting for the “stinger-shuttle” outside the midtown MARTA station between 8-9am mon-fri. You have never in your life seen such socially awkward nerds with pictures of a wolf or wizard on their t-shirts, bookbags pulled extremely tight on their backs, and a lunchbox and thermos most likely containing a note on a napkin from mom stating “remember son, mommy and daddy love you, and that brings your total to two.”
WTF???
June 15th, 2009
12:39 pm
I’m telling ya’ll now.
UGA will go 10-2, possibly 11-1. A loss to LSU & UF or UF, I’m still out on the LSU Bayou “Bobby Bouche” Bengals. They may be good, then again they may not be. Defense was TERRIBLE last year, although they did drag the nerds all over the field. Will the QB be any better??
Yech will not beat Miami, VT, FSU & UGA.
So maybe they go 8-4, whatever.
UGA will have a better record & be ranked higher at the season end.
NO DOUBT
WTF???
June 15th, 2009
12:51 pm
Oh yeah, Okie State beat UGA?
LOL! Don’t drink the koolaid. Didn’t they try it back in 05-06?
Somewhere along there anyway. UGA will beat up on the Cowgirls
Rodster
June 15th, 2009
12:55 pm
I agree. The Dawgs will be significantly improved this year barring the rash of catastrophic injuries they incurred last year, particularly on the O-Line and assuming the defense stays healthy and improves. Starting out low in the polls will actually help them. They’ve got plenty of play makers on offense and Cox will get the job done at QB.
heeldawg
June 15th, 2009
1:00 pm
Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.
Let’s line it up.
2Cents
June 15th, 2009
1:00 pm
I recall a chant at Rice University – “We’re from Rice, ain’t that nice. Who are you – do you know?” Everyone at UTexas loved those tidbits of existentialism from the Owl fans. Thought it might help you get over your overriding need to be liked.
Mark Bradley
June 15th, 2009
1:31 pm
Thanks, 2Cents. I’ll endeavor to seem less like Eeyore from here on.
exNFLplayer
June 15th, 2009
2:01 pm
edward, has anybody from Tech ever won that Heisman Trophy?
dawgone good dawg
June 15th, 2009
2:01 pm
Georgia Tech = Ghetto campus, high school stadium, ugly women, sissy men, bug mascot, broken down car, faded out uniforms, ugly women, mop and broom engineering majors on football team, ugly women… one 3 point victory in eight years…ugly women…boy do they have ugly women!
Harleydawg
June 15th, 2009
2:05 pm
When stars leave, teams become more cohesive and rely less on the star-power of others. The Dawgs will definitely be dangerous this year. I think they will lose an early game, just to keep it interesting and make me lose sleep…but they will find themselves and may just find themselves in Atlanta.
Now Tech wins one game in 8 seasons, and now they think they are the second-coming. If you don’t think Martinez has that game bubbled, you’re crazy. Dawgs are going to feast on gnats this year. Paul Johnson is a respectable coach, but the option lanes will close fast. This isn’t 2-A ball…the speed will catch the system. LSU proved it with a subpar team. Get over yourselves gnerds.
Pitbull
June 15th, 2009
2:15 pm
I think Georgia will go 12-2 this coming year including participation in the SEC CG.
Win or lose I love my Dogs.
To Hell with Georgia Tech and fair weather Georgia “fans” that can only be satisfied with a perfect season.
Saint Simons
June 15th, 2009
2:17 pm
Somebody please help me.
I went to Georgia Tech and have my head stuck up my arse.
It smells like chili dogs up here with a PC on the side.
Trip
June 15th, 2009
2:21 pm
To all you pups, I wouldn’t take 5 Mark Richt’s for Paul Johnson. Ya’ll WILL NOT beat Josh Nesbitt while he is at Tech. BOOK IT
Glory Glory
June 15th, 2009
2:24 pm
I hope Saint Simons never has to pass gas and sneeze at the same time. But it would be fun to watch.
Glory Glory
June 15th, 2009
2:27 pm
Trip, you guys at Tech will be running Paul Johnson off by the end of his fifth year. BOOK IT.
McAmnesty
June 15th, 2009
3:07 pm
Paul Johnson should be under Chan Gailey’s desk expressing his appreciation for all the skill talent he left at Tech. When Paul’s #49 recruiting classes are all he has he’ll find somewhere else to be. BOOK IT!
dfries81
June 15th, 2009
9:15 pm
For those who think UGA picks sorry OOC opponents here’s some food for thought. Since Richt has been at UGA he has scheduled teams like Clemson (2x), Arizona St, OSU (2x), Boise State, GT (every year), etc, and RICHT HAS ONLY LOST 2 BOWL GAMES AT UGA, without once having to play in a gaylord’s hotel who gives a F bowl game. Yeah UGA plays GSU every 4 years but that has to do with an agreement made between Erk Russell and Vince Dooley (and when Ga Southern used to be good and won all those championships they wanted to play GT, and guess what GT said no). Who has GT played out of conference this decade besides Auburn and one of the ND teams they played, why great teams like GARDNER-WEBB (who has heard of them before) who they barely beat 10-7 last year. While tech did beat UGA last year (to that I tip my hat), like the old saying goes even a blind squirrel will find an acorn every once in awhile. OH by the way UGA has won more games this decade playing in the SEC than GT did playing in the ACC (who has great high school football teams like DUKE and UNC excluding last years team).
Truth
June 15th, 2009
9:49 pm
The real question is does ESPN still think a national title under Richt is inevitable?
TRUTH-SERUM
June 15th, 2009
10:00 pm
DOG ARE 2ND RUNNER UP AS USUAL.
dfries81
June 15th, 2009
10:02 pm
It doesn’t matter what ESPN thinks, it matter what AD at UGA thinks. I feel it will come (should of played in the one 2 years ago and the ‘02 one because that 12-1 bulldog team was way better than both that miami and osu team), but if Richt don’t hurry up and grab one he may get canned inspite of all his accomplishments.
Coach D
June 15th, 2009
11:29 pm
Edward…
You should have read all of my post. I said that the opener vs. Oklahoma State will be key. If the Dawgs go out there and blow them out, I absolutely could see that giving this team the confidence they need to knock off the Florida’s of the world. Momentum is a big thing in college football. And look at it this way: the Dawgs have a bye week prior to playing Florida this year. So let’s say they are 5-2 or 6-1 at that point( which they probably will be). With an extra week to prepare and an extra week to get his team motivated( especially after getting blasted 49-10 last year), I can most definately see Richt getting his troops fired up for a situation like, hell any coach worth their weight in salt would relise that opportunity.
If I were Coach Richt I say something like: ” Guys we didn’t show up in last year’s game. We didn’t lose that game because Florida was better, we lost it because we beat ourselves. This year Florida is the better team in almost every aspect. But we’re gonna play hang with them, we’re gonna hit them, and we’re going to make them earn everything they get. If we do that, we can keep it close, and if we can keep it close, we can find a way to win”. That game is going to be a war this year even if Florida wins, mark my words.
ken
June 16th, 2009
10:03 am
Obviously Edward needs only to look back as far as 1991 to see how dominating Georgia has been over Tech. If you care to go back a little further, you will find Tech wins 2 games per decade, this trend will not change. You reach back 52 years to boast about a streak, then make a statement about Georgia fans living in the past that’s bright. When was the last time Tech finished in the top 10? Gone to a BCS bowl? Zero. Bobby Dodd was Techs coach when it made its last major bowl appearance, that was in 1966. The 1990 national championship was won in the Citrus Bowl. Yes Tech has tradition , similar to those of Army, Navy, Tulane,Yale, Harvard, perhaps this phrase will bring help you back into reality “in a galaxy long ago and far away”.
Kendawg
June 16th, 2009
11:28 am
If we don’t have any major injuries before we play Okla State, I believe we will beat the Cowboys rather soundly. We should be very strong in our lines this year and it’s been my experience that that is where games are often won or lost. Bloggers from other schools have stated repeatedly that we don’t have a QB. Stay tuned, bloggers, and we’ll see if UGA has a QB.
Jackets21
June 16th, 2009
7:48 pm
For those touting Steele, take a gander at his ranking of Clemson last year.