Heat Check: Was cutting Ray Edwards a message sent?
"So, former colleague Brian VanGorder, how's this Auburn gig working out?" (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Our weekly Heat Check appears a day late but, one hopes, not quite a dollar short.
FALCONS: Lost for the first time this season against the rival that has become an abject nemesis and, in losing, saw their biggest weaknesses – can’t run the ball, can’t stop the run — exposed. And what were the two things Mike Smith, after taking this job in January 2008, said a good team had to do? Run the ball and stop the run. Barometric reading: Barely 24 hours later, the Falcons cut defensive end Ray Edwards, who had little to do with Sunday’s loss but who did little after signing as a big-ticket free agent. Students of Falcons history will note that, after the first loss of the 1998 season, Dan Reeves cut cornerback Juran Bolden for messing up a coverage in San Francisco. Those Falcons would go 14-2 and make the Super Bowl.
(Please see my video chat with Brian Clark of CineSport, included below, for more on Edwards.)
GEORGIA: Beat Auburn the way a good team should beat Auburn. Will play Alabama — presuming Alabama beats Auburn — for the SEC title. Barometric reading: A week ago, almost nobody thought Georgia would have a chance against the Tide. That tide, so to speak, is turning. Brad Edwards of ESPN now projects Georgia over Alabama, and Mr. Edwards isn’t known for flights of fancy. And there’s still a real chance the SEC champ will play for the BCS title.
GEORGIA TECH: Played in Chapel Hill. Gave up 50 points. Won by 18. That’s Georgia Tech football. Barometric reading: The Jackets could well play for the ACC championship. When was the last time Georgia and Tech won divisions in the same year? Why, never.
HAWKS: They’re 3-3. Given that they’re in major flux and that they’ve had a frightful early schedule, that’s quite good. Barometric reading: Because this team was so structurally different from its predecessors, it was hard to know if it would fall into the lottery or make the playoffs. We’ve seen enough already to know that this is a playoff-caliber team.
GEORGIA STATE: Lost Bill Curry’s final game by 44 points to finish 1-10. Barometric reading: The next coach, whoever he is, won’t exactly have a tough act to follow.
GEORGIA TECH HOOPS: Opened the new McCamish Pavilion and won big. Barometric reading: The Jackets seem to have twice as many real players as they did last season, and they’re set to get one more when Stacey Poole, a Kentucky transfer, becomes eligible next month.
GEORGIA HOOPS: Scored three first-half baskets in losing to Youngstown State, which is known mostly for its nickname (Penguins) and being the place Jim Tressel coached before he landed at Ohio State. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 27 of the Bulldogs’ 56 points, which means his teammates managed 29. Barometric pressure: A program working in its fourth year under a demonstrably skilled coach shouldn’t be losing anywhere to Youngstown State, let alone at home.
GEORGIA STATE HOOPS: Lost its opener at Duke. Big upset there, huh? Barometric reading: In his first collegiate game, freshman R.J. Hunter scored 14 points and took 10 rebounds. Ron Hunter, who coaches the Panthers, has always said his son could really play.
KENNESAW STATE HOOPS: Markeith Cummings hit with 0.8 seconds left in overtime to lift the Owls past South Carolina State last night. This marked KSU’s first victory of calendar 2012. The Owls had last won by beating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Dec. 23, 2011. They’d since lost 20 in row. Barometric reading: KSU isn’t apt to go 3-28 again. Its competitive opening loss at Tennessee was a good sign, and winning three nights later on the road is an even better one.
BRAVES: Lost backup catcher David Ross to the Boston Red Sox, who can, as we know, outspend anyone save the Yankees. Barometric reading: Given that he’s the best No. 2 catcher in the game, and given that the Braves aren’t sure when the surgically repaired Brian McCann will be ready, Ross is a major loss.
By Mark Bradley
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210 comments Add your comment
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
1:42 pm
After further review, yep. UGA is most likely looking at a Capitol One Bowl bowl if they don’t pull the huge upset against Bama. Possibly even the Outback Bowl again.
Then you're blind
November 13th, 2012
1:44 pm
To the tens of thousands of Ga. Southern alums who call metro Atlanta home? Hmmm. Bad business. You could at least pick up more AP coverage.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
1:45 pm
I think it would be better if the AJC would start talking about Georgia ST football than spending wasted time on Tech football
I mean the Tech fanbase doesnt even care about them
Scott
November 13th, 2012
1:47 pm
There are two teams in the state with a legit shot at a national championship, and they are playing each other this weekend. Wish the AJC would put out an occasional article about Georgia Southern!
Joey
November 13th, 2012
1:53 pm
Mark, next Monday’s game UGA vs #1 Indiana could be horrible for Dawg fans.
BOY THAT DAWG IS UGLY
November 13th, 2012
1:54 pm
Concerned…..I would be concerned also. You mention Tech’s loss to Middle Tennessee State a 6-3 team. No should not have lost. Here’s some concern for you. Dawgs “yawn” teams have a combined 28-51 record. That’s a combined 35% winning record. “Hot”? I guess your definition of “Hot” beating teams with a 28-51 record is different than mine. Oh….how soon the Dawg Nation forgets the loss to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl. But this is the mightly SEC, I forgot.
Joey
November 13th, 2012
1:55 pm
“I mean the Tech fanbase doesnt even care about them”
*************************************
That was last week, Patched Tire. You should venture over there now – some Techies are comparing NC to UGA and think they can outscore the Dawgs in Athens.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
2:01 pm
Joey
ooops I forgot Tech beat powerhouse #1 Ranked UNC
Yea I can see where this excitement is going
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
2:02 pm
That was last week, Patched Tire. You should venture over there now
Fans tend to be more optimistic after wins. Its a strange concept huh?
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
2:06 pm
ooops I forgot Tech beat powerhouse #1 Ranked UNC
Other than an overrated Florida team, has UGA beaten any teams better than UNC?
Stinger 2
November 13th, 2012
2:08 pm
Fifty-one post and none about the Braves? Oh well, at least Frank and Fredi are
not getting bashed….not yet.
ramblingbuzz
November 13th, 2012
2:09 pm
Dwag fans already have the Tech game chalked up in the win column and are looking ahead to a big upset of Bama. Hope the football team feels the same way.
Stinger 2
November 13th, 2012
2:10 pm
52-50 GT. Write it down and take it to the bank.
Alphare
November 13th, 2012
2:11 pm
BAMA pass defense is bad.
UGA, get ready to pass the ball, especially short passes.
1eyedJack
November 13th, 2012
2:13 pm
Covers the south like the dew.
Alphare
November 13th, 2012
2:14 pm
van Gorder is horrible, considering the guy has been doing this gig for years.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
2:21 pm
GT Bob
Actually Vandy has the same Record as UNC in a tougher conference
oh
Yea we beat several Teams better than middle Tenn
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
2:23 pm
Stinger2
Yea I can agree but UGA vs Tech in basketball is not next week
Zinni
November 13th, 2012
2:23 pm
Bama will steamroll the dwags like a boulder rolling over an ant.
It will be quick, with the dwags never feeling a thing as they pass into oblivion.
Crapital One Bowl
November 13th, 2012
2:30 pm
Thanks to the loss(beatdown) to South Carolina, here we come.
Gracious!!!
November 13th, 2012
2:30 pm
Stinger 2, are you late for your rehab appointment? That was some kind of hilarious post! If you are sober & clean then perhaps you should consider writing skits for Saturday Night Live!! Man, that was funny!!
Crapital One Bowl
November 13th, 2012
2:30 pm
Tech Fan
November 13th, 2012
2:31 pm
Go Jackets!
sandiegodawg
November 13th, 2012
2:32 pm
BVG looks like Ron Swanson on Parks & Rec
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
2:32 pm
Thanks to the beatdown UGA gives to Tech next week they probably will end up not making a bowl game or going to the Charmin Delux Toilet Bowl
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
2:34 pm
Good job Patched Tire. You found one win that might be better than UNC. You guys are claiming that you are the best team in the country because you beat Auburn. GT fans cant be a little happy after beating UNC?
JSS
November 13th, 2012
2:37 pm
Clusters, your stalker is still crying…
Steve
November 13th, 2012
2:37 pm
GTBob, “you guys” are claiming to be the best team in the country because you beat Auburn? WHAT? Poor little bobby making things up again. Still loving you jealousy! Go ahead and comment on this comment since all you do is comment on other peoples comments.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
2:51 pm
GT Bob
Congrats on Tech beating 1 team this year with a winning record
Sure Tech can be happy beating powerhouse UNC but not happy enough to make them think they have a chance against UGA next week
BTW
I never said UGA was a National Championship contender this year
I guess thats one thing Tech and UGA have in common; and thats morons who think such stupidity
Spanky
November 13th, 2012
2:52 pm
Bob, I really can’t speak for anybody else, but up until the Fla game, we were supposed to get waxed like Danielson…now that we beat them, they’re overrated?! ……..unbelievable…
Spanky
November 13th, 2012
2:55 pm
btw….all this talk about a route to the BSC Championship?!..just stop it!! We had a chance and blew it, now we move on whislt Notre Dame and Oregon fight for it!
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
3:05 pm
Spanky
I totally agree with the BCS championship garbage
I do wish we could play Notre dum in a bowl game though
Ghost
November 13th, 2012
3:05 pm
GTBOb, Why in the world would any Georgia fan want PJ to be fired ? All I know would gladly contribute to him staying at tech forever, PJ is as bush league as they come. There are 12 SEC teams that would win the ACC coastal.
Stiffneck
November 13th, 2012
3:06 pm
Would like to see UGA win a meaningful game ( other than Fla ) this year. Beat Bama and take the SEC. Whatever it takes………..
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
3:09 pm
Spanky, Florida turned the ball over 6 times in that game and you beat them by a touchdown. Since then they barely survived against Missouri at home, and then had to return a blocked punt for a touchdown or else they would have gone to overtime against a 5-4 sun belt team. I know you guys like to think you beat the second best team in the country, but be realistic.
Stiffneck
November 13th, 2012
3:11 pm
The discussion: Does the SEC title game winner deserve to play for the BCS Championship, even if there are two undefeated teams remaining?
Mel Kiper: In a word, yes.
Look, we all know polls and rankings reflect accomplishments more than merit. Going into the weekend, did any of us really believe that No. 9 Louisville could beat South Carolina, the team ranked just behind them? Of course not. And we have similar issues at the top. Notre Dame is a pretty telling case. They’ve had an exceptional season, and have, in the eyes of voters, earned their No. 3 ranking. But that number reflects what they’ve accomplished, not how good we really think they are. If they scheduled a neutral-site game for Saturday against Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, South Carolina or Florida, which one of those games would they be favored to win? Maybe South Carolina? Maybe Florida?
Mark Bradley
November 13th, 2012
3:16 pm
Please note that the post above has been amended to include my video chat with Brian Clark of CineSport regarding the Falcons and Ray Edwards.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
November 13th, 2012
3:20 pm
Somebody told us you only need to watch (catch!) the final 4 mins in roundball.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
3:22 pm
GT Bob
With that logic about FL tell us why is ND ranked #3
barely beating Pitt in overtime and BYU
GT Girl
November 13th, 2012
3:22 pm
Man, dwags suck in basketball this year. Can’t wait to squash them in roundball at our new arena.
Go Jackets! We may also beat them in football too!
Mark Bradley
November 13th, 2012
3:24 pm
I would remiss if I didn’t note there’s a pretty big basketball doubleheader at the Georgia Dome tonight: Kansas-Michigan State and Duke-Kentucky. I plan to attend.
coach13
November 13th, 2012
3:25 pm
Who has Oregon beat? Their D is awful and their passing game is non existent. Bama hasn’t played any of the top 3 teams in the East. Look around the SEC, they all play cupcakes. Who has KSU played? Is there a team in all of college football that you can honestly say is undisputedly the best team in America????
As much as it pains me to say this Notre Dame has the best case given their schedule.
Oh the shame of it all
November 13th, 2012
3:26 pm
Georgia Tech has the nation’s highest average SAT score for football players, and also the highest average high school GPA.
UGA, on the other hand, has one of the very lowest SAT averages, as well as a very low GPA average. As a result, 85% of UGA players are “special admits,” when means that they can not meet the minimum educational and intelligence requirements for admission to UGA, even as low as that is.
Yes, it would be great if Tech was more competitive with UGA, but Tech fans are proud of our heritage of having intelligent, responsible athletes who go on to rewarding careers and contribute to society.
Contrast this with the very unintelligent dummies that UGA recruits. The 53 arrests over the last four years is proof enough, not to mention winning the Fulmer Cup. Most of these goons are tossed out after their eligibility is over, and many end up on welfare.
UGA is clearly just a football factory dedicated to winning at all costs, and most UGA fans are okay with this, with no concern about the embarrassment this brings to the State of Georgia.
Mark Richt is the architect of this situation. As long as he is paid a huge salary, he will continue to recruit the illiterate brain-dead t-h-u-g-s who he thinks will win. Unfortunately for UGA fans, he’s not remotely in the same league with the top coaches in the SEC.
So the bottom line is that Georgia Tech – win or lose – does so with honor and integrity, while the lowlife punks, woman beaters, drug users, and drunks in Athens continue to embarrass us all.
dawgfacedboy
November 13th, 2012
3:27 pm
Should CPJ get fired? Or should they invest in a d-coordinator? I don’t remember anyone thinking this summer that Al Groh was bad hire?
dawgfacedboy
November 13th, 2012
3:29 pm
when means that they can not meet the minimum educational and intelligence requirements for admission to UGA, even as low as that is.
My sister in law was not admitted with a 3.8 and a 1280 on her SATs. My wife and her mother both went to UGA. Stop with the “it’s easy to get into UGA” stuff. 15 years ago a 3.0 and 1000 could get you in. It’s not that way anymore.
Ghost
November 13th, 2012
3:30 pm
Stinger 2 are you predicting the Tech Duke FB game? Or the Georgai GT basketball game? if its the Ga – tech football game I want some of what your smoking if you think Tech will score 52 on Georgia defense that’s given up 2 tds in the past 14 quarters . Tech fans have a tendency to forget the better more talented offensive team is Georgia and without question the Georgia defense is light years better than Tech.
Mark Bradley
November 13th, 2012
3:30 pm
Oregon’s passing game is non-existent? Really?
Oregon: Ten touchdown passes the past two games.
ARdawg
November 13th, 2012
3:34 pm
Man, it is GREAT to be a Georgia Bulldog!!!
Steve Nash's Pick and Roll
November 13th, 2012
3:36 pm
Mark, did you catch the GSU-Duke game? Was hoping you would have had more to say on that. GSU has a very young team and they held their own in Cameron Indoor. Game was a lot more competitive than the final score indicates (as Doug pointed out in his piece).
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
3:37 pm
They’ve had an exceptional season, and have, in the eyes of voters, earned their No. 3 ranking. But that number reflects what they’ve accomplished, not how good we really think they are
Sorry, but you could easily say the same thing about most of the teams in the top 10 including UGA.