5 reasons UGA should be concerned about Joe Cox
Georgia's Joe Cox: A Saturday hero or just a workout wonder? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
1. He last threw a pass that mattered Sept. 30, 2006.
2. The Colorado comeback victory over which he presided in relief in 2006 came against a team of Buffaloes that finished 2-10. The victories were over Texas Tech and Iowa State.
3. He has no Knowshon Moreno to make play-action fakes work to maximum effect. Maybe Caleb King will assume such stature. Then again, maybe not.
4. He doesn’t throw the deep ball like Matthew Stafford, which is why he spent most of three seasons backing up Matthew Stafford. (The longest of Cox’s 33 collegiate completions — 34 yards.) And Georgia’s best player is A.J. Green, who does his best work on deep balls.
5. His first start of 2009 will come on the road, which is a major thing for a quarterback. As Mark Richt said, by way of explaining his program’s success in opposing venues: “It all starts with the quarterback.” And Cox has started one collegiate game.
(OK, OK! Before you get all riled up — too late, I fear — please be advised that this correspondent has compiled a companion list: “5 reasons Georgia shouldn’t be worried about Joe Cox.” On this issue I am, as they say, covering the waterfront.)
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161 comments Add your comment
XBOX360
August 25th, 2009
10:24 am
According to the simulated game from last night, UGA pulls it out late for a 31-28 victory!!!
jdawg
August 25th, 2009
10:24 am
wish we still had massaqua, last year he finally stood up to be a leader, and didnt he play with joe cox in HS
KNelson
August 25th, 2009
10:26 am
EvertDawg, UGA will not have a perfect season. I dont think Cox will be the starting QB when UT rolls around.
TommyP
August 25th, 2009
10:26 am
#3 and #4 gotta go.
David Greene didn’t have Knowshown, DJ Shockley didn’t have Knowshown….they did alright on play action. And Richard Samuel will be the difference maker, not Caleb King. I’ve been saying ever since King got injured that we did not get the Caleb King as a Junior. He was a different player then.
I honestly don’t think Caleb King will ever start a game at UGA.
#4: Nobody throws it longer than Stafford. C’mon….I agree with stretching the field. A 35 yard pass will do the same.
We’ll be just fine with Joe Cox.
5 reasons Georgia shouldn't be worried about Joe Cox | Mark Bradley
August 25th, 2009
10:27 am
[...] to get all wishy-washy on you — too late, I fear — but here are 5 reasons Georgia should be concerned about Joe Cox. And, coming a bit later, I offer 5 reasons Matthew Stafford left Athens without a [...]
Topdawg
August 25th, 2009
10:29 am
It absolutely KILLS me to have to say this, but reebok, (a filthy bumble bee), is right on the money. Joe Cox sat behind Matthew Stafford for one reason, he wasn’t as good as Stafford. And furthermore, it’s ridiculous to read what some of these UGA “fans” are saying about Stafford now. I wish there was a way to get these people’s comments from this time last year………….
800 Credit Card Debt » Blog Archive » Latest don’t pay your bills news – Why Designer of Gory Diablo III Lets His Daughter Play
August 25th, 2009
10:31 am
[...] 5 reasons UGA should be concerned about Joe Cox [...]
Sanford Drive
August 25th, 2009
10:42 am
Does anyone know what Cox’s completion % goal is for the season?
RxDawg
August 25th, 2009
10:45 am
Stafford didn’t throw a horrible deep ball as some on here are saying. He completed some, he incompleted some. It’s the deep ball thus thats the way it goes for a low percentage play.
That said, I do not think there will be as much of a drop off on our ability to make long passes. Joe Cox throws a very nice deep pass as well. As someone said, it might be 10yards short of what Stafford could throw but it will be a nice pass none the less. I don’t think you’ll see much of a drop off here at all.
AltamahaDawg
August 25th, 2009
10:47 am
Mark, will it ruin the gag if I go ahead and predict that in your reasons to NOT worry will also be “he doesn’t throw the deep ball like Stafford”? It’s clever, for sure.
(nobody reads my post , so no worries)
HH
August 25th, 2009
10:48 am
I bet Richt, Willie and Bozo are praying, not to mention sweating, that Searels pulls ‘em through again this year.
Tuesday Notes « Football on the Brain
August 25th, 2009
10:54 am
[...] 3.Mark Bradley lists 5 reasons Georgia fans should be concerned about starting QB Joe Cox. [...]
AltamahaDawg
August 25th, 2009
11:00 am
RX, I think it was more a matter of the dosage.
billytdoogan
August 25th, 2009
11:21 am
When you say he doesn’t throw the deep ball like stafford, you mean incomplete, right? Because that is what stafford did best.
Cox will surprise a lot of people. His knowledge of the playbook and lack of having to sit behind a less talented golden child (suckford) for three years will really pay off.
southgadawg88
August 25th, 2009
11:26 am
I have never been on the Joe Cox bandwagon..in my view if the kid had the goods he would played more period.Having said that it could be good for the team to have a QB that knows the system early on in the season to help get all the new kids in position and such.Long term I think at best Cox will rotate with Gray or by mid season be the back up.I think we can still win 10 games without Cox as the starter.
osu fan stuck in a tall office building in tulsa
August 25th, 2009
11:28 am
Dawg fans shouldn’t be worried he hasn’t thrown a deep ball. It’s the short dinky stuff that kills OSU year after year. However, we have a new D coach this year. So who knows how this game willturn out?!?!? It will be fun!
Dave
August 25th, 2009
11:35 am
As good as Stafford was, he was NOT good at throwing the deep ball. Yeah, he had superb arm strength and could throw it 70+ yards, but as far as his touch and being able to hit his receiver in stride (like what David Greene was SO good at doing), he was not that good.
KimZ's Package
August 25th, 2009
11:37 am
Ain’t Skeerd. Cox will be rydn the pine by the 3rd game. Stanford Drive I don’t think Stafford could throw the short pass too good either. Unless you think throwing the pass to the D. He did it great for Tech and as a Lion he did it again last week, over thrown long ball and short INT.
Hedgepruner
August 25th, 2009
11:44 am
AN AWFUL LOT OF OPTIMISM coming from the hydrant humpers, if they go 7-5 that would be a stretch without a decent running back & QB, you better hope the young gun from Tampa Aaron Murray gets the playbook down and the sooner the better.Okl St will win by at least 10 points, wwhhhhaaaaa 45-42 !!!
Sanford Drive
August 25th, 2009
11:52 am
That’s true. I’d be a lot more optimistic if we were playing in the ACC or the Pac 10.
5 reasons Georgia should be concerned about Joe Cox | Mark Bradley | Georgia Today
August 25th, 2009
12:10 pm
[...] Go here to see the original: 5 reasons Georgia should be concerned about Joe Cox | Mark Bradley [...]
wrangler
August 25th, 2009
12:15 pm
do cows pick?
Brad
August 25th, 2009
12:29 pm
yes Stafford threw a pick 6 in the Tech game last year…he also threw 5 touchdown passes…morons!
Rebel Ace
August 25th, 2009
12:33 pm
Man, I wish Ole Miss and Georgia were playing this year.
Ag
August 25th, 2009
12:36 pm
Am I the only one that thinks that sign on the mirror does not belong in a STATE RUN INSTITUTION??
Lilburn Dawg
August 25th, 2009
12:43 pm
I wish Joe all the best. I think he’ll come through for us. Now, about Caleb King. I went to all of the Parkview games when Caleb was there. He racked up so many yards rushing because every play called was “give the ball to Caleb”. Coach Flowe just wore the boy out! Play after play…it was Caleb, Caleb, Caleb…….! Now that he is at UGA, he is not likely to accumulate as many yards relatively speaking. I wish him well, too, but am not convinced that he will be a shining star like everybody had hoped.
JP
August 25th, 2009
12:45 pm
As a Gator fan, following UGA for a long time, I think the Dawgs will do just fine – mark it down. The defense ought to be better and it’s not like the offense is bringing back terrible players. Just a touch inexperienced. Cox will do fine if he’s patient and realizes he has a great supporting cast. Don’t be shocked if UGA wins 10+ games. Worst case in my opinion is 9-3. Good Luck Dawgs.
Tech Tever
August 25th, 2009
12:55 pm
Georgia sucks. They sucked last year with the number 1 overall pick and a top running back. Why in the world would anyone think they’re not going to suck this year?
Joe
August 25th, 2009
12:55 pm
He doesnt throw a deep ball like Stafford???? Lets hope not..into triple coverages, intercepions and oh yeah, Cox isnt out to impress the NFL. Stafford is a loser…..way to consumed in himself….
NRBQ
August 25th, 2009
1:04 pm
Sanford:
Cox threw 66 touchdowns, 4500 yards, and 5 int. at Independence.
As a SENIOR.
As a junior, 4000 yds and 47 TD’s, 11 int.
Back-up, indeed.
Kendawg
August 25th, 2009
1:15 pm
Joe Cox will be fine. He’s going to have a great offensive line, a great WR, with possibly a second great WR. If our tailbacks do well, Cox won’t have to do too much, just complete some short and intermediate passes. A much bigger worry right now is how will the defense perform?
joe
August 25th, 2009
1:19 pm
“I’m shocked at how the Georgia fans are ripping on Stafford.”
Unfortunately most of the UGA fanbase and alumni, of which I am included, are stupid idiots who don’t know jack. They hate Stafford because he left and because we didn’t win a title with him. Unfortunately, they’re too dumb to realize that his offensive lines sucked, had no tight end worth spitting on, horrible receiving corps his first three seasons, and played with atrocious defenses aside from the last 6 games of the 2007 season. UGA never had a team around Stafford. That’s why we never won a title with him.
I hope Joe Cox turns out to be great, but I’m afraid my fellow UGA fans are in for a rude awakening. The fact is Joe Cox is a no talent, noodle arm, second rate QB next to Stafford. He shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath with Stafford.
“Well I certainly hope not! Maybe this year UGA will have a QB that can put some touch on the ball and maybe even hit a receiver in stride to let him make a play in space.”
LOL! How is he going to hit a receiver in stride when he can’t even throw the ball 40 yards with authority. Here’s a perfect example of the clueless, idiot UGA fan.
joe
August 25th, 2009
1:22 pm
“As good as Stafford was, he was NOT good at throwing the deep ball. Yeah, he had superb arm strength and could throw it 70+ yards, but as far as his touch and being able to hit his receiver in stride (like what David Greene was SO good at doing), he was not that good.”
Oh good God! Shut up idiot. Anyone who watched us play knows that our receivers were rarely ever open downfield. 9 times out of 10 they weren’t open at all.
Dawg fans are in for a hard lesson. Cox won’t even make it the rest of the season because Gray will beat him out.
joe
August 25th, 2009
1:24 pm
“Sanford:
Cox threw 66 touchdowns, 4500 yards, and 5 int. at Independence.
As a SENIOR.
As a junior, 4000 yds and 47 TD’s, 11 int.
Back-up, indeed.”
LOL! Call me when playing catch with world beating receivers in high school translates to the SEC.
Smart Plays
August 25th, 2009
1:27 pm
Stafford has more raw talent than Cox but Cox reminds me more of David Greene. Greene rarely forced passes for pics and played strategically and smart. Cox new his day would come and he has been patient while probably putting this playbook to memory.
Pi$$onaDawg
August 25th, 2009
1:32 pm
BRAD how did those 5 TD passes work out for UGA? They were as valuable as Payton’s 27 passing TDs all season. Great for stats but not so good at the end of the game for Matt or in the playoffs for Manning.
Constantine
August 25th, 2009
1:36 pm
I can’t believe you get paid for writing this crap.
AltamahaDawg
August 25th, 2009
1:37 pm
joe, so we got you down as optimistic but guarded about Joe Cox.
WDEnATL
August 25th, 2009
1:43 pm
UGA barely beat my struggling Tigers last year that came down to the last play of the game. Then they lose to Tech. How is this team better than last year, because of the Defense and O-line? The same O-line from the last 2 games I just mentioned? I like UGA except for the one game in Nov. but, if this nasty schedule and mediocre performance from Cox could put Richt on the hot seat by season’s end especially if another gator smack-down ensues. These teams USC, UT, AU, UF and GT from last year; those teams are even better.
AltamahaDawg
August 25th, 2009
1:47 pm
Why are those teams even better?
cal
August 25th, 2009
2:14 pm
So glad to hear the expert opinions of the Dawg crew. Playing Pop Warner football certainly inflates ones’ opinion of themselves.
cal
August 25th, 2009
2:17 pm
Mark Bradley- 5 reasons why we should ask Santa for a real sports writer for Christmas.
Atlanta Truth
August 25th, 2009
2:23 pm
jp, when you say it looks like Cox has the “it” factor, if “it” is the ginger factor, then you are 100% right. didn’t take so long for us dog fans to rip on stafford did it. there is a reason cox was behind a guy who had zero touch on a pass. he wasn’t as good. we’re in trouble this year boys.
UGA Student
August 25th, 2009
2:34 pm
If you guys at the AJC were so knowledgeable about UGA QB’s, then why did you always rip Stafford every chance you got? One fact remains: The AJC will never criticize the coaching staff. Why one may ask? Because their readers don’t want to hear the facts. They just want to know what Richt is doing for his local church. Everyone knows the questions marks that surround Cox. Why don’t you raise some questions that the common man doesn’t know? Maybe how Cox is fairing in practices, scrimmages, zone coverage reading, conditioning, or anything non-Stafford related. A 5th grader in an Atlanta inner-city school could compile a top five list like this.
5 reasons Matthew Stafford left UGA without a title | Mark Bradley
August 25th, 2009
2:45 pm
[...] with that, our all-Georgia Tuesday is complete. The first installment: 5 reasons Georgia should be concerned about Joe Cox. The second: 5 reasons Georgia shouldn’t be worried about Joe Cox. Coming soon: 5 reasons [...]
Joe's allright
August 25th, 2009
2:54 pm
I’ve written it till I can’t write no more…Joe won the most accurate passer award in h.s. in the national elite 11 qb camp, defeating, among others, Mark Sanchez. He is going to be fine. Why? He’s a leader, he’s accurate, we won’t waste so many plays trying to force the deep ball (no, M.B., Stafford was NOT a good deep ball passer, thrower yes, passer, no) Remember a guy named Montana? He didn’t have a huge arm, either. Am I saying Joe will be another Montana? NO! I’m saying, relax…we’re in good hands.
I like Cox
August 25th, 2009
3:07 pm
UGA will win every game and no one will beat Cox
Larvell Blanks
August 25th, 2009
3:33 pm
Ostrich Racer – Such negativity. Why do you assume things will go bad in Oklahoma? And why are you writing at 4 a.m.?
ron
August 25th, 2009
4:19 pm
i’m afraid that cox may be another joe t.3rd.i don’t have any excitement or anticipation of him as a leader or quaterback.georgia will have a horrible season and by mid-season richt will start to get the freshman qb prepared.the bulldogs will be less than medicore in ‘09.don’t be surprised the dogs may bring up the rear of the sec east.
Dawg327
August 25th, 2009
4:32 pm
While I don’t think this will be a national championship season, I don’t see a complete disaster either. Joe is not the concern, it’s the offensive and defensive coordinators. I know that injuries proved to be overwhelming last year but we seem to have more depth this time around. With that being said, Willie and Mike need to show some major improvement, especially Willie. As for Stafford, I don’t care to bash him, the kid was special. Joe sat behind him “for a reason” as others on here have said. That reason is potential. Stafford has more potential than many of the QBs I’ve seen. He makes some phenomenal throws and then some, well, less than stellar ones too. I think what frustrates most UGA fans, myself included, is that we wanted to see him reach his potential in red and black.