Bradley’s Buzz: Tech, UGA both among early-entry losers
Derrick Morgan and Morgan Burnett: They're gonzo. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
This won’t be surprising to those among us who follow college football. Still, it’s jarring to see in megapixeled black and white. Both Georgia Tech and Georgia rank among the nation’s biggest losers regarding early entry to the NFL draft.
For the Bulldogs, there’s good news amid the bad. Tech is seen as having been hit harder, and Florida is the consensus choice as having been hit hardest.
Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com rates Tech the second-biggest loser, Georgia the fifth-biggest. His reasons:
“Georgia Tech: I was tempted to make the Jackets No. 1 on this list because every player who realistically could consider declaring did. Tech says goodbye to its two best defenders in DE Derrick Morgan and safety Morgan Burnett as well as quarterback Josh Nesbitt’s top two weapons, running back Jonathan Dwyer and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.
“I still think Nesbitt, RB Anthony Allen and RB Roddy Jones are big-time players, but the offense takes a huge hit, especially when you consider that Thomas accounted for about two-thirds of the team’s receiving yards this past season. Meanwhile, Morgan had half the team’s 25 sacks.
“Tech could’ve been a preseason top five or six. Now I think it might not be in the top 20 …
“Georgia: The Dawgs’ defense has been really shaky the past few seasons and is in rebuilding mode. A new defensive coordinator is coming from the Dallas Cowboys (Todd Grantham), but he’ll have to retool Georgia’s scheme without the team’s two leading tacklers, LB Rennie Curran and safety Reshad Jones. Curran, a fireplug, had 130 tackles last season, while Jones, who put on a dazzling show against rival Georgia Tech, also picked off four passes this past season.”
Stewart Mandel of SI.com sees it pretty much the same. He has Florida first among his list of four losers, with Tech second and Georgia fourth. His comments:
“Georgia Tech: The defending ACC champs had a chance to return a staggering 19 starters, but leading rusher Jonathan Dwyer, leading receiver Demaryius Thomas, second-leading tackler Morgan Burnett and ACC sacks leader Derrick Morgan all turned pro. The Jackets’ running game should be fine with Josh Nesbitt and Anthony Allen, but Thomas was their lone receiving threat, Morgan and Burnett their best defenders …
Georgia: The Bulldogs’ defense struggled in 2009, costing coordinator Willie Martinez his job. New coordinator Todd Grantham would have inherited a depleted unit regardless, but his job wasn’t made any easier by the defection of Georgia’s two best juniors, linebacker Rennie Curran and safety Reshad Jones. The defense will now return just four starters.“
My take: Just because they fall under the same heading doesn’t mean all losers are equal. Georgia lost two good players. Tech lost four of its five best players. Tech got hit way harder. Way harder, I say.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
266 comments Add your comment
Keydet Dawg
January 19th, 2010
2:25 pm
SouthGaDawg88, not sure on the fact that uga has missed on any offensive recruitis instate. Based on the list of offers:
-Mack Brown, visited UGA twice. Committed to Florida.
-Tai-ler Jones, visited UGA. Committed to Notre Dame.
-Antonio Godwin, visited UGA, coaches made two in home visits, going to clemson.
-JaWuan James *They wanted him bad, a true big OL commited to Tennesse.
David Beasley *Another kid they want bad. However UGA has an official visit January 22nd, UGA trying to flip the VC. Big OL commited to Clemson.
If we were to jump to the defensive side of the ball
-Neiron Ball – Florida commitment.
-Adrian Hubbard – Alabama commitment, Under Armour All American
-Blake Sims – Alabama, Richt made several in home visits, his family even has a picture of Richt on the wall, per reports. UGA offered almost a half a year later than Bama.
-Corey Crawford – Clemson
-Michal Taylor – Florida, UGA wanted recruit, recruited hard.
-Telvin Smith – Florida State, numerous visists by UGA staff.
If, Would, Should Have, Next Year
January 19th, 2010
2:26 pm
” UGA had the best team in 07 and 02 we just didnt win the beauty contest those years. With a playoff we win both of those. Yawn”
Boo Hoo, sorry the Gators had to beat you in 02 to keep you from the Title Game and sorry you lost to South Carolina in 07 causing a tiebreaker with the Vols(who killed you that year) so you didn’t even win the East. Move On……………………………………….Yawn
JB
January 19th, 2010
2:28 pm
The Maggots lost damn near anyone who was anyone. We lost two guys. One of which is a tough loss and the other one, not so much.
Like Mandel said, from top 10 to out of the rankings.
On the flip, if we have a QB, and I think we do, we’re well positioned.
Just da facts.
HBTD!!!
Morons Abound
January 19th, 2010
2:37 pm
Good players, who are well coached win. It’s not rocket science and nobody holds the patent on it. Alabama has been really bad and really good, they have been good much more than bad……mainly because historically it’s had good players AND coaches more often than not. Florida has historically had exceptional players, but they’ve had two really good coaches and during those era’s they’ve had exceptional success.
Georgia has always had good talent. Since about 1985 they’ve had great talent. They have had mostly poor coaching in that same era. They’ve also had better than average coaching under Richt. Which is why they’ve averaged 10 wins a season under Richt. When they get exceptional coaching to go with their exceptional athletes…..they’ll win the SEC Championship and National Beauty Pagent.
Tech has better than average talent, but not exceptional. When they had average talent they got average results…with pretty
grab a few top ten classes. They’d probably compete for the National Beauty Pageant.
Florida had never won the conference prior to 1990 and had a history of winning 1 in 3 games with UGA…….history couldn’t do a damn thing to stop them from turning the series on Georgia. And vise versa if UGA gets better players and coaching than UF………..it’ll turn the series again. They can get as good of players…..we’ll see if they can get as much out of their coaches.
Tron Carter
January 19th, 2010
2:42 pm
I agree that Georgia Tech is the big loser here.
Not because of early departure, but because of 30-24, 73-66, and 60-39-5.
They do, however, excel at douchebaggery.
CHDawg
January 19th, 2010
2:46 pm
I’m going to hit the record: the Dawgs win it all next year! The O line is going to be very good. Backs are finally up to SEC speed. We have the best receiving corps to ever grace UGA! The QBs will mature quickly. Two springs, red shirt year, and stiff competition. The key is how fast they mature and how well the offense is coached. If Bobo develops them with confidence instead of running all of the time, the O could be awesome. SC, ARK, and MSU will be critical to ramping up the O. The D has more talent than people realize and we will have to see what Grantham can do with it…my feeling is that they start stronger than expected and keep getting better!
ugaaccountant
January 19th, 2010
2:47 pm
I’m surprised that we’re among the 5 hardest hit. Fl and Tech were obvious for such a list, but losing only 2 mid-round guys I figured we were doing ok. Shows you just how much talent we put in the NFL when this is a light impact year by our usual standards.
Tron Carter
January 19th, 2010
2:48 pm
………and terrorism
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/10/georgia.terror.trial/?eref=rss_latest
KJ
January 19th, 2010
2:52 pm
People who think that Jones/Evans departing is going to be a big loss apparently didn’t see them play, and also didn’t see the play of Smith, Boykin and Rambo. Better players starting + coaching upgrade = better defense in 2010.
Mark Bradley
January 19th, 2010
2:58 pm
I was a little surprised at Georgia’s inclusion myself, ugaaccountant.
JB
January 19th, 2010
3:02 pm
Especially when you look at Mandell’s, “middle of the road” grp. They seem harder hit than we do.
HBTD!!!
ugaaccountant
January 19th, 2010
3:02 pm
gatorman
January 19th, 2010
1:43 pm
Elmore Spencer , How is 3-3 more than holding your own against Saban, unless you have low expectations of Richt?
Saban is the most proven college coach in America. A .500 record against him is a fantastic achievement for anyone. That’s not low expectations, that’s not being a ****ing retard.
And for the record, Meyer was among the fastest rising coaches hot on Saban’s heels but with his health issues I can’t put him ahead of Richt anymore. Regardless, each is easily a top 10 coach in the country so it’s a dumb thing to argue over.
ugaaccountant
January 19th, 2010
3:29 pm
E”very player on the team will be from a top 10 recruiting class. Anything less than an SEC championship is not acceptable. Correct?”
Incorrect. Every player on Florida and Alabama and LSU is also from a “top 10″ recruiting class. We can’t all win the SEC championship every year.
bruce feldman is an idiot
January 19th, 2010
3:32 pm
“Now I think it might not be in the top 20″
HAHAHA you have to be kidding me. not that i think preseason polls mean anything nor do i think they should even have preseason polls but GT will be in the preseason top 15 for sure. once again not that this means ANYTHING at all but SI has GT at number 8 for next seasons “preseason” polls.
1eyedJack
January 19th, 2010
3:39 pm
When should a college athlete turn pro? Not until he has earned all he can in college as an amateur.
Lazy will not work in the League
January 19th, 2010
3:40 pm
Good luck to Rennie Curran. Reshad? he played one game and that was that. He will not be missed and in fact, I will bet anyone that his old safety spot will show huge % increases in production with smackles, sacks, and pics. Baccari rambo is a hustler and Reshad? he is or was lazy and he will not be missed by any UGA grads. None at all.
We Dogs with Ogletree and Jakari Hamilton and Baccari and Cummings Sanders ( vice versa) UGA is now far superior than with Evans and Rehad. Far superior.
Case closed.
gigantor
January 19th, 2010
4:05 pm
Rennie will be missed, but with a family who can blame him. No matter where he gets drafted he will play in the NFL. Not so sure about Reshad. Martinez refused to play his best players in the secondary. The switch to 3-4 is even more ammo to move Richie Samuel to LB. They will be stout. With Rambo back, and B.Boykin and B.Smith both with a year’s experience, Ogletree coming in and playing and possibly a healthy Quintin Banks, personnel will be just fine. Add to that a change from Willie’s “Bend but Still Break” defensive philosophy to an agressive, attacking, sure tackling defense – - and it is exciting to think about!
Atlanta Jacket
January 19th, 2010
4:09 pm
GT lost a lot of talent, but we will be fine. GT will win at least 9 games next year.
SOUTHGADAWG88
January 19th, 2010
4:43 pm
Keydet Dawg my point was all the kids you listed had been offered early and committed elsewhere early. The only Offensive players they have recently came back after are Beasly and Godwin but neither are must gets.Now Smith is the defensive guy they seem to want more than the others.
Big John
January 19th, 2010
5:00 pm
1- I think the reason ESPN and SI ranked Georgia so tough, is because Georgia only has 5 returning starters on defense.
2- What ESPN and SI don’t know is Mark Richt has NEVER had two, 8 win seasons in a row, always follows up an 8 win season with either an 11 or 13 win seasons, and Grantham has been a part of 2 of the biggest turnarounds in NFL history (ex. Colts went from 3-13 to 13-3 in 1 year, Browns from 6-10 to 10-6).
3- Georgia’s SEC division competition is in a RARE down year, ripe for a big up year for Georgia (Tenn/Fla WAY down).
Bryan Basamanowicz
January 19th, 2010
5:11 pm
Dwyer deserves to go to the NFL- he’s probably taken more big hits this year than any RB in the country. I give him and Nesbitt and the strength trainers at GT a ton of credit for getting through the year with minimal injuries.
not too worried about the GT secondary situation- Burnette capitalized well in his Sophmore year when he had monsters on the D-line. I see him as having a fantastic football IQ, but maybe not the best coverage man. Cooper Taylor will show up next year, and watch for Mario Butler to jump to a new plane, he’s talented and getting better- made a phenomenal defensive play in the Iowa game.
Stinger
January 19th, 2010
5:11 pm
CH Dawg, I’m sorry, I just can’t stop laughing. That was the funniest blog that I have read this year. Keep them coming. LOL,LOL,LOL,LOL.Ohhh, that was funny. Your quarterback will probably be a freshman and will be worse than Joe Cox, for crying out loud. You will probably win 7 or 8 games and that is because you have one of the weakest schedules in the nation. Based on what Grantham did against the Vikings, I would not be very optimistic.
raleigh
January 19th, 2010
5:31 pm
losing bryan evans doesn’t really count because he was so terrible. that just means rambo will get to play full time, and from the little time i saw quinton banks put in at the end of tech game, it seems like we’ll be okay at safety. but losing rennie is obviously huge.
Small Johnson
January 19th, 2010
5:44 pm
Who cares about these loses UGA didn’t do anything with them
And Tech you couldnt even beat a middle of the road SEC team or IOWA
BLAH HA HA HA HA HAHA
The Planets are alined
January 19th, 2010
5:51 pm
It will be national championship for the the dawg this year. The Planets are alined.
Our top recruting classes are gonna show up this year, we have a great team and admitedly a weak schedule next year (just like Bama did this year) Who cares about strength of scedule when you go undefeated in the SEC baby!!!!
Time to roll – Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morgan Burnett
January 19th, 2010
5:55 pm
Just like Caleb King on his untouched run en route to a 30-24 Dawgs victory, I’m GONE!
UGA is the NFL Pipeline
January 19th, 2010
6:01 pm
Yes, some guys are going go to the NFL from Georgia, UGA has over 45 active players in the NFL right now.
That’s attractive to top recruits.
More than anyone in the SEC.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/alumni-tracker/school/5813
Stinger Envy
January 19th, 2010
6:05 pm
GT players jumping to the NFL is a tremendous loss to the Georgia DOT talent pool.
heeldawg
January 19th, 2010
6:08 pm
My thoughts:
1. Tech took a bigger hit than U.Ga. with the underclassman departures. Lost a ton of playmakers on offense and their two best defenders. Georgia lost a lot of starters, but has more depth.
2. Bacarri Rambo will ably fill in for Reshad, and Jakari Hamilton will step in and start at the other safety slot–an upgrade from Bryan Evans. The corners are solid. DL will be fine–just some adaptation to the new scheme. The LBs will be solid. The defense could not POSSIBLY be worse than last year’s. I think they’ll be far, far better, in fact–will allow less than 20 points per game. Mark it down.
3. Georgia returns 10/11 offensive starters. QB is only question mark. Schedule is easier than last year’s horror. And Aaron Murray (who will be the starter) will be a redshirt freshman, not a true freshman. He’ll be an upgrade from Joe Cox in terms of sheer ability, and is a better running threat. Look for the OL to dominate, the running game to continue to develop, and a decrease in killer turnovers with Murray under center. Offense will average over 30 ppg.
4. Tech’s offense will be fine. Tech’s defense will still suck. The schedule will be tougher than this year’s. Tech won’t win the ACC next year, or even the division next year. And they’ll lose to Georgia again. Soon to be 9/10.
PowerDawg
January 19th, 2010
6:23 pm
Mark-
I know you hate to even try to find something positive to say about the Dawgs, but we will not be hurt much by the two that left early.
Personally, I don’t care about GT or their players. They wouldn’t have beaten us next year even if those four under-classmen had stayed. So that’s that.
As to our detrimental losses, Reshad Jones was a good player but he never played to the level of talent he possessed and in my opinion failed to realize his true potential. Rambo’s cover skills are better. He proved that in limited playing time this year. And he will deliver just as much pop on his tackles as Jones did.
Plus, he actually wraps up on the ball carrier when he tackles him.
Rennie will be missed but we won’t be employing linebackers the same way anymore. The kids we have coming back will be a better fit in the 3-4. The guys that might have lacked the weight to play the middle will be more effective as pass rushers in the 3-4.
The real losses will be at DT, but then again we won’t be utilizing DL in the same way next year.
If anything, we have some kids that may work out quite well as a Nose Guard or Tackle. A couple freshmen were thought to be a little heavy to play on D last year and were thought to be moving over to the OL this season. That could now change and those guys might be just the ticket for that job requiring a big body who can plug the middle but still get to the QB occasionally.
I can’t wait to see what happens but I truly believe the new scheme will more than offset our personnel losses.
doug
January 19th, 2010
6:27 pm
If Grantham is any coach at all Georgia will be better on defense. Curran is an excellent LB but not Great. Im sorry, he’s just not. Reshad Jones is a good one but he is just a safety. (dime a dozen) Besides we may have an incredible corner combo in Smith and Boykin. The concern falls on the DL but playing a 3-4 will help but we will still be asking a lot of D. Tyson. LBs will be better with Nick Williams and Marcus Dowtin on the field. I still cant see us playing a true 3-4. Perhaps a transition to a 3-4 but to play it all year. Na.
Sports Illustrated: Top Recruits Won't Help Florida
January 19th, 2010
6:36 pm
Sports Illustrated did a study of the top 100 recruits with all they hype and whether that translated to BCS or not.
The conclusion:
it did not.
Which means?
Florida should be VERY worried
1. Biggest loser of players in 2009
2. #1 in recruiting does not predict BCS success
I’d rather get some 3 star guys, that are hungry, and motivated, and have a chip on their shoulder:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andy_staples/12/24/top-100/index.html
PowerDawg
January 19th, 2010
6:50 pm
Stinger-
I’m willing to bet that our freshman quarterback has better stats than that mule-headed shot-putter you have taking snaps…including wins. Nesbitt is now your team’s best player and that is sad, dude.
Your team over-achieved in the regular season this year and under…scratch that…CHOKED in the post season.
I was going to say you MIGHT win 8 games next year but that means you would have to win a bowl game and we all know that ain’t gonna happen!
All of DawgNation looks forward to seeing the “Old Piss and White” back on the smurf-turf where they belong.
GT Fan...
January 19th, 2010
7:08 pm
Relax PowerDawg… and, since you’re such a fabulous prognosticator, can you give me the winning lottery #s for tonight’s drawing, I’d like to make fun of your idiotics posts from the French Riviera next week!
Huh?
January 19th, 2010
7:11 pm
Florida lost 5 starters on defense and 6 starters on offense. WOW!
Talk about a rebuilding year? You lose 11 starters? Ouch!
Georgia brings back 10 out of 11 starters on offense.
Funny Meyer Picture--Liar, Liar
January 19th, 2010
7:34 pm
This is hilarious, Urban Meyer doing a Jim Carrey Liar Liar impersonation
check this poster picture out:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/434130708_0fd105479b_o.jpg
Paul Johnson
January 19th, 2010
8:41 pm
Next year we gonna try this offense i seen on gptv, its called the wing T, camdencounty won the state with it…at Tech we are the inovotors the revolutinizin coachin wonders if the exxocution is there we will win the acc again. this will sweep the country by storm..
CHDawg
January 19th, 2010
8:42 pm
Stinger,
Glad to bring some amusement into your life! Didn’t Murray outgun Barkley in a QB competition. He is a lot better than you realize. I’m not sure about Mettenberger, but the competition should make both better. Remember, the key is the line. A great O line can make almost anybody look good. Powerdog, although I like your logic–got to disagree with you on Nesbitt. He is very much underrated imo. His ball handling skills are nothing short of outstanding! GTs biggest problem comes when they try to replace him.
Big L
January 19th, 2010
8:49 pm
Stinger bangin on UGA QB’s is funny. Tech has a QB who wanted to go to UGA. No room so he had to go to tech. Now that’s lol. Or what the hell ever. Lay off my boy CHdawg. He uses facts and sense to make a point. He does’nt use seething hatred and jealousy to fuel his childish rants. If it sux being a techie, find another school. Living in UGA’s very large shadow is tough, I understand. Maybe some yoga to releive this stress you fight all year round. Dawgs will always own bugs so get another team or start heavy drinking.
GT Fan...
January 19th, 2010
9:05 pm
2009:
GA’s D gives up 30+ 5 times (losing 3), and dogs end up with 5 losses.
GT’s D gives up 30+ 6 times (losing 2), yet GT still wins 11 games.
BOTH hire DCs in offseason that appear to be upgrades from 2009 D, but many a GA fan put on their rose-colored glasses, and see the dogs going 10-2, 11-1, or better, and GT being lucky to even be bowl eligible. Keep the comedy coming people, it’s good to laugh.
Paul Johnson
January 19th, 2010
9:08 pm
Can I GET A HECH YEA FOR THE NEW O….WING T, ……WRAMBLIN WING…..WATCH YALL THINK ???
Big L
January 19th, 2010
9:11 pm
Hey Stinger , you did’nt take that whole bag of ludes didja? Appletinis and north ave crack don’t mix man.
Paul Johnson
January 19th, 2010
9:21 pm
We will be a pullin lineman and ovrwhelming th point of attack with blockers, with some misdirection thrown in….might try that throwing thing if we get down by 3 scores. just have to EXUCUTE….Groh is gonna run the old gap-8—10-1 defense he says it was awsome back in the 50s…..
Paul Johnson
January 19th, 2010
9:30 pm
I really dont wanna give away to much info on this here tweeeter thang cause u know that Grantham kid will be on to my new scheme, i learn alot about georgias D here this is a great coaches resourse on the new schemes and i am workin on beating that grantham boy……dont fret stingers we wil EXECUTE……..
WoodstockDawg02
January 19th, 2010
9:31 pm
glad to see cox, evans, and soft willie hitting the road. addition by subtraction as the “experts” say. i’m sad to see rennie and reshad go but i would do the same thing in their shoes. uga has the personnel to run the 3-4 from day one so i’m excited to see the lacking intensity in those guys.
Dwyer's belt
January 19th, 2010
9:39 pm
i’m too tight…..pleeeeeeease lose some weight.
Jesup
January 19th, 2010
10:03 pm
This is Irony of the finest, Ted Kennedy the number one fan of socialized medicine dies, his seat is a given for the dems so they can pass obama care……NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND…enter Scott brown, and we have the Biggest upset in Politics in a century…..isnt it ironic..Kinda like Al Gore could have won the Presidenc…y if he could have just won his OWN state……I love it….Great day to be an American..
Big L
January 19th, 2010
10:08 pm
Amen Jesup. Dem pompusness let an honest conservative kick a senate seat out from under them.
hind tit
January 19th, 2010
10:37 pm
grantham pretty much said everyone will start on a level playing field. the ones that produce will be the ones who play no matter how many stars are buy your name.wait untill he watches the game film and sees all the arm tackles and all the missed tackles for a loss that turned into big gains numerous times per game or seeing how hard they tried to hit only to miss them altogether. they will learn to tackle and cover or they will find themselves on the bench. this will be a spring like no other in their wildest dreams. for the kind of money he’s being paid they will gata.
hind tit
January 19th, 2010
10:48 pm
i can’t see how tech can be ranked has high next preseason after losing the heart of their offense and defense.
i also think nesbitt wasted his time on offense. if he had took the advace of other coaches and played lb there would be 5 going pro. would have made a great mlb with his size and speed.