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
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
3:37 pm
Oh the shame of it all …………
Thats really great for Tech Im glad your athletic program means nothing and has been a joke for 50 yrs
Now do the ACC a favor and leave for Div II and let Georgia ST join the ACC.
The ACC will be much better having an up and coming program that wants to do something in athletics
oh and this is a sports blog, the academic blog is somewhere else
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
3:40 pm
GT Girl
Might beat UGA this year LOL
Dont you have another How to Lose The Tech Way in Football class to attend
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
3:40 pm
With that logic about FL tell us why is ND ranked #3
barely beating Pitt in overtime and BYU
Notre Dame is pretty suspect also but they beat Oklahoma by 17 at Oklahoma. That, combined with the rest of their schedule gives them a little more credibility in my opinion. They may not be top 3 but they are surely top 10. Florida may be top 15 at best.
Mark Bradley
November 13th, 2012
3:41 pm
I was covering GT-Tulane on Friday, Steve Nash.
Mark Bradley
November 13th, 2012
3:44 pm
Given that Florida has beaten three teams in the BCS top 10, I’d say the Gators deserve to be in the top 10 themselves.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
3:44 pm
GT Bob
How is FL top 15 at best
They beat SC; Texas A&M and LSU
All 3 ranked in the top 10
ND cant even say they beat those level teams
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
3:45 pm
Mark Bradley
Great minds think alike; poor GT Bob is a little slow
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
3:47 pm
Given that Florida has beaten three teams in the BCS top 10, I’d say the Gators deserve to be in the top 10 themselves.
Deserve to be in the top 10 in the rankings? Yes. Actually one of the ten best teams in the country? Bowling Green and Louisiana Lafayette probably don’t think so.
Billy Ray Cyrus
November 13th, 2012
3:48 pm
Derek Dooley should not be fired. I would not have ran the clock out, but…if the QB throws an interception or a fumble and they give it away. I understand the logic. I would invest in Dooley for 3 more years. He is up and coming. When you hire up and coming you have to let them have some time. He is a good coach.
Mark Bradley
November 13th, 2012
3:48 pm
I’d concede that Florida isn’t playing as well now — but I don’t see any other team in the nation having three victories of that caliber.
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
3:49 pm
They beat SC; Texas A&M and LSU
Yes, and Texas A&M is the only one of those teams that has looked good recently and Florida had the luxury of playing them in their first game of the season. Do you really think Florida would beat Texas A&M if they played again now?
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
3:51 pm
GT Bob hates the SEC he always thinks the SEC has been over rated for decades even though the SEC has won the most National Titles and most bowl wins since 1960
Cant really say the ACC even comes close to SEC
ramblingbuzz
November 13th, 2012
3:52 pm
Hey, when did flat tire get patched? Was it a life changing experience?
Ernie Harris
November 13th, 2012
3:54 pm
Am I the only one who thought the Falcons loss to the Saints was because Matty Ice threw behind open receivers the last quarter?
Mark Bradley
November 13th, 2012
3:55 pm
Florida also had the “luxury” of playing in College Station in Texas A&M’s first SEC game. Not many teams could have won there that day.
Prediction
November 13th, 2012
3:55 pm
Football
Ga 37
Gt 30
Basketball
GT 72
Ga 61
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
3:56 pm
Yea I think FL would beat A&M
A&M got bama off an emotional victory; thats SEC football
I cant remember when you saw an emotional victory in the ACC; you see it week to week in the SEC thats why its so hard to win in this league and is probably why Tech didnt want anymore grown man football 50 years ago
Prediction
November 13th, 2012
3:57 pm
Teams evolve mark. Playing a team in week 2 versus 10 can be a majot difference. Texas am is much better than they were early while florida is the opposite and waaay over ranked. I think fsu will beat them by 2-3 td’s.
Steve Nash's Pick and Roll
November 13th, 2012
3:57 pm
Come on down to the Sports Arena next week Mark. GSU has three games in three days. Great young team with one of the best coaches around!
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
3:58 pm
ramblingbuzz
When will the GT program have a life changing experience and drop out of Div I sports or better yet drop the entire sports program all together
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
4:00 pm
Florida also had the “luxury” of playing in College Station in Texas A&M’s first SEC game. Not many teams could have won there that day.
It was also Johnny Manziels first ever collegiate game. Its safe to say he has probably improved a bit since then. If Florida played Texas A&M tomorrow on a neutral field and there was an even spread who would you bet on?
Old Dawg
November 13th, 2012
4:00 pm
“The next coach, whoever he is, won’t exactly have a tough act to follow.”
Now that was funny MB!
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
4:00 pm
Prediction
With that observation I guess UGA has evolved too and A&M and UGA should play for the SEC championship and the winner for the National Championship
ramblingbuzz
November 13th, 2012
4:01 pm
I dunno Flat/Patched, I guess we’ll see how the season ends before we cross that bridge.
Mark Bradley
November 13th, 2012
4:02 pm
Teams do evolve. But you can’t take away victories just because it suits the argument you’re trying to make.
About Florida State: Let’s tick off its signature wins. I’ll spot you one — Clemson.
ARdawg
November 13th, 2012
4:03 pm
GTBoob
I wouldn’t lean on OU as a beacon for ND’s victories. The only two good/decent teams they played, they lost to unless you count Tx-Yech
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
4:04 pm
ramblingbuzz
Ive crossed the bridge and I can tell you if the defense that came to play in Jax shows up next week I predict a 21+ point UGA victory; if not I will say we win by 10-14 points
ARdawg
November 13th, 2012
4:05 pm
“t was also Johnny Manziels first ever collegiate game. Its safe to say he has probably improved a bit since then. If Florida played Texas A&M tomorrow on a neutral field and there was an even spread who would you bet on?”
The smart money is still on FL
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
4:06 pm
The smart money is still on FL
Can you give a logical reason why?
ramblingbuzz
November 13th, 2012
4:07 pm
My money’s on A&M in a rematch. Johnny Football looked pretty good.
Dwag logic: UGA>UF>A&M> Bama, ergo UGA>Bama. Anybody but DWAG fans see that logic?
ARdawg
November 13th, 2012
4:11 pm
GTBob
The most obvious reason is because they’ve already beaten them once with the same players and at home. I don’t know why you’d think a neutral site would favor A&M
Everything being equal I truly believe FL is a better team. A&M has the much better QB. Manziel is likely the best QB I have seen in my lifetime for a Fr but, he ain’t enough. A&M did demonstrate that Bama’s defense likely isn’t as good as FL’s
ramblingbuzz
November 13th, 2012
4:14 pm
I just hope the Aaron Murray that played against UF is the one who plays against GT.
Joey
November 13th, 2012
4:14 pm
“GT Bob, With that logic about FL tell us why is ND ranked #3 barely beating Pitt in overtime and BYU”
*******************************************
Patched Tire, you’re forgetting yourself again.
BYU 41 Tech 17
BYU is a powerhouse . . .
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 13th, 2012
4:15 pm
FL and LSU have a more experienced D-line than Bama
That makes a huge difference for an inexperienced QB
Thats one logical reason
Hunting Dawg
November 13th, 2012
4:16 pm
Is it just me or does Van Gorder look like a mad 1970’s P.I. and Richt looks likes he’s about to take a drunken whizz???? Just sayin..
Joe Dirte
November 13th, 2012
4:16 pm
Bradley of course the Falcons made a statement by cutting Edwards, the Falcons are serous about winning and if you dont produce you will be gone. Maybe the Braves should take a note instead of resigning a declining Catcher that wont play until Mayand allowing the good Catcher sign with the Red Sox and keep playing Uggla reguardless of how awful he is…..Its accountability the Falcons have it and the Braves dont. Michael Turner better watch out because hes on notice…..BTW please call up dimitroff and ask him to please sign Ovie Mughelli back.
Thanks
Joe Dirte
November 13th, 2012
4:18 pm
Bradley of course the Falcons made a statement by cutting Edwards, the Falcons are serious about winning and if you dont produce you will be gone. Maybe the Braves should take a note instead of resigning a declining Catcher that wont play until May and allow the good Catcher sign with the Red Sox and keep playing Uggla reguardless of how awful he is…..Its accountability the Falcons have it and the Braves dont. Michael Turner better watch out because hes on notice…..BTW please call up dimitroff and ask him to please sign Ovie Mughelli back.
Thanks
Heat Check: Was cutting Ray Edwards a message sent?
November 13th, 2012
4:19 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
ramblingbuzz
November 13th, 2012
4:20 pm
Hunting Dawg……Or else it looks like Richt whizzed in Van Gorder’s beer. Funny pic.
Why do we care about Georgia Southern?
November 13th, 2012
4:20 pm
We don’t. The AJC is for GT and UGA news, and maybe GSU (in Atlanta, they got the name first, like it or not) on slow news days.
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
4:21 pm
The most obvious reason is because they’ve already beaten them once with the same players and at home. I don’t know why you’d think a neutral site would favor A&M
I only said neutral site because I wanted to present an even situation. The truth is that A&M would probably beat them in any environment. Let me ask you this also. Since teams apparently do not improve as the season goes along, do you agree that SC would beat UGA by 28 points if they played again?
Spanky
November 13th, 2012
4:21 pm
Bob, there is no logic to it!! That’s why they play the game, and that’s why the SEC is so talented!! UGA beat Fla, that beat SC, that beat UGA….it’s all about who was better prepared that day, and who was off that day!! You can apply all kinds of logerythems to it that you like, but that’s all it is!!
Mark Bradley
November 13th, 2012
4:25 pm
I’m going to make a prediction: Texas A&M will not play the Gators again this season. Who cares who might win a rematch that won’t transpire?
Spanky
November 13th, 2012
4:25 pm
Hey Mark, if Shawn Williams never said a word, do you think UGA would’ve won the Fla game?
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
4:25 pm
That’s why they play the game, and that’s why the SEC is so talented!!
The SEC is so talented that a 6-6 team from the Big 12 can come in, beat the best team in the conference at their place, and go 8-2 in their first 10 games.
Mark Bradley
November 13th, 2012
4:26 pm
I think Shawne Williams’ comments were expertly timed. How’s that?
Stiffneck
November 13th, 2012
4:26 pm
I know this is a stretch, but I think Tech could beat Notre Dame. We need a playoff system this year…….
Joe Dirte
November 13th, 2012
4:28 pm
Well Bradley do you see the difference between how the Falcons and the Braves are run. The Falcons hold people accountable
GTBob
November 13th, 2012
4:29 pm
Did Shawn Williams also give a pep talk to Louisiana Lafayette before last weeks game?
Joe Dirte
November 13th, 2012
4:29 pm
The Falcons don’t tip their cap
The send your butt packing when you dont produce