Talent should be least of problems for Georgia’s defense
Based on the recruiting rankings of the players playing defense for Georgia, talent should be the least of the problems for the Bulldogs.
As we all know, Georgia is experiencing serious defensive issues this season. The fact is, just looking at bottom-line numbers, the Bulldogs have been trending downward on that side of the ball for the past five years. Scoring since 2005 has gone from 14.6 points per game to 17.1, 21.0, 25.6 and now 27.8. Average yards allowed over the same period: 298, 264, 325, 318 and 358. After giving up 30 or more points to opponents only three times under head coach Mark Richt from 2001-06, Georgia has let it happen 11 times in the three seasons since, including 37 or more points eight times in the last season and a half.
So that got me wondering — is Georgia just missing out on good defensive talent?
I’m going to qualify this finding by saying what I’ve done here is hardly scientific and probably could be explained away by Richt or anybody else who cares to argue the point for Georgia. In fact, feel free to make an argument either way. That’s what we’re here for. But all I did was go through the Bulldogs’ current starting lineup and look up each players’ 1-through-5-star recruiting rankings coming out of high school from Rivals and Scout. I averaged the rankings for each guy and totaled up the numbers.
Based on that simplistic approach I was able to determine that Georgia’s defensive starters totaled 44.5 stars for an average of just over 4 stars per player. That, by the way, was without factoring in freshman Branden Smith, a consensus 5-star prospect who plays in the nickel package, and Geno Atkins, who brings a 4.5 average and usually starts but hasn’t lately.
In a nutshell, , Georgia’s defenders were all highly-rated prospects. And with an average of three years experience on that side of the ball, you certainly would not expect them to be ranked 75th in the country and next-to-last in the SEC in total defense at 377 yards or 100th in America and deal last in the league in points allowed (30.7 pg).
Next, I applied the same method to one of the elite defensive teams in the nation and in the SEC — Alabama. I was surprised to discover that the Crimson Tide, which is ranked No. 2 nation in total defense, totaled only 37.5 stars, or an average of 3.4 stars per player on defense (who knew that Javier Arenas was a three-star recruit or that Cory Reamer got only two stars from Scout?)
There wasn’t really any need to break down the whole league. It’s easy to deduce that South Carolina (4), Vanderbilt (5), Ole Miss (6), Kentucky (8) or Mississippi State (9) — five of the 10 SEC teams whose defenses are ranked ahead of Georgia’s — probably doesn’t have higher-ranked prospects than the Bulldogs, who were considerably ahead in national recruiting rankings. And we all know Florida, which leads the country in total and scoring defense, is chocked full of bluechip recruits, as is LSU. You get the point.
Now some people will say that’s irrefutable evidence that defensive coordinator Willie Martinez and/or members of his staff are simply not getting the job done. But one could also argue it merely illustrates the imperfections of recruiting rankings. And, of course, everybody hasn’t played the same teams, so any head-to-head comparison is going to be skewed.
As is the case in most things, the truth probably lies somewhere in between. Either way, it’s clear that some very good prospects are playing very bad defense for Georgia.
Here’s the breakdown of the Bulldogs’ defensive starters:
DE Demarcus Dobbs — 3.5 stars
DT Kade Weston — 4.5
DT Jeff Owens — 4.0
DE Justin Houston — 3.5
LB Darius Dewberry — 5.0
LB Darryl Gamble — 3.5
LB Rennie Curran — 4.0
CB Brandon Boykin — 4.0
SS Reshad Jones — 4.5
FS Bryan Evans – 4.0
CB Prince Miller — 4.0
Total — 44.5 stars
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99 comments Add your comment
Exley DAWG
October 14th, 2009
9:18 am
Dewberry and Jones stink
Mark Lawless
October 14th, 2009
9:21 am
I’m sick of all this garbage. Too much dancing, juking, jack-jawing and jiving out there for my tastes. I’ll now spend my Saturdays doing something constructive like fishing or taking the kids to the park or for long walks. Life is too short to waste a day of each week elevating my blood pressure over 20 year olds who don’t appreciate a chance at betterment that I would have killed for. My kids will appreciate the time I spend with them much more than the un-gratefuls who play and coach on this team do. I promise you that.
firemarkricht.net
October 14th, 2009
9:21 am
It would seem that the declining defensive numbers you give point towards coaching. The biggest concern is that LAST YEAR people were complaining about Martinez and Richt did nothing to change things, so here we are with an even worse defense this year. Please understand that I’m not blaming the players, I think they work their butts off and still have to go to school. The coaches are paid to do their jobs, scheme a solid D, and get the players ready…which they don’t seem to be doing.
My biggest concern with the entire coaching staff is the philosophy. They need to build a power football team, not a finesse team. My fear is that Richt, who comes from two finesse programs (Miami and FLA ST), doesn’t know how to build a power team or hire coordinators who can get us back to our traditional Junkyard Dawg defenses or hard-nosed smash-mouth offenses.
Paddy
October 14th, 2009
9:23 am
This star system was developed by the “for profit” companies Scout and Rivals. If coaches and recruiting coordiators put a number on a kid it would carry some weight. Numbers assigned by people trying to get your money for their services is dubious at best. Use it for entertainment. Using this formula above from the ajc proves very little and to me flawed, but fun to read.
Saint Crompton
October 14th, 2009
9:26 am
((((( 45 19 ))))) ((((( Crompton for Heisman )))))
hahahahahahahaha
Joey
October 14th, 2009
9:31 am
Willie got a raise after last season. A RAISE!!! Amazing.
George
October 14th, 2009
9:32 am
Great Points.
Ron
October 14th, 2009
9:45 am
The star system is a FARCE. Stars are probably based 75% on who is offering the kid. The bigger the fan base of the program, the more stars, hence more subscriptions sold. Just look at the facts, just as many 2 star kids go in the first round of the NFL draft as 5 star.
I like Paul Johnson’s comment…”Denzel McCoy dropped 50 spots in his “ranking” after he committed to Tech”
Bryan G.
October 14th, 2009
9:46 am
I actually made up a stat this week:
Georgia leads the nation is linebackers who look good getting of the bus who can’t plan worth a damn. (Gamble, Dent, Dewberry, Hebron, etc.)
Coach
October 14th, 2009
9:48 am
Georgia is going down the same road as FSU thinking that a team full of 4 & 5 star player will give them what they need to compete, 4 out of every 10 star rated players are really worth the rating they have, the others are over hyped & get 2 much publicity, ther are still bringing in such player Garrison Smith for example the kid was average at best his junior year & is below average his senior year, Mike Thorton should have been given the super 11 spot instead of him, Washington High as a DT that has out played him head to head for the last 2 yrs , he gets no press but makes plays constantly every game, stays humble & produces for his team his name is Garrison also, this is the example I’m trying to make, Georgia needs to start recruiting kids that play hard & are productive, & there are many who does this year after year, too many kids get there heads swollen with too much press & ratings etc. UCLA’s head coach made it clear last week he wants good players with no star ratings, that can be coached up & produce, he will get them just as Alabama, VT, Cincinnati, & Nebraska for example, Georgia is also rubbing too many kids the wrong way looking down on them because they are not star rated, dont get to the position that FSU as before you get real about good players & good coaching or you wiil fall flat as they are now.
DAWGS73
October 14th, 2009
9:48 am
Here seems to be the problem for me. When a kid is rated highly coming out of high school, they seem to believe that they are entitled to a college scholorship. The spotlight has been on them and shining brightly through these recruiting websites. Their talent alone is probably enough to make them head and shoulders better than other high schoolers. When they get to college and try and rely on that talent they see that its not enough. Then they don’t know where to go from there.
It is kind of like the really smart kid that never had to study and made good grades through high school and got to college and had no study habits. Normally they regress until they find their way. That is what the coaches are for. To help these kids find their way. The problem is the fact that we don’t have anyone on the defensive coaching staff that knows that way. Alabama is getting kids that have had to really work to get to where they have gotten and they are not about to stop now that they have gotten to college. That is all they know. It’s time we quit recruiting by the web sites and start finding kids with heart who haven’t been lauded over in high school. Pollack and Greene would have hopped onto the field with one leg just to get a chance to play big time college football at the college that they absolutely loved. Those are the type of kids we need to recruit. Those that love Georgia, who would do anything and everything to play there. Not just use it as a stepping stone to the NFL.
Other George
October 14th, 2009
9:51 am
Bryan Evans was benched during the 2d quarter of the LSU game for a blown coverage. When UGA returned from the locker room after halftime, Evans was leading a dance before the 2d half kickoff. One would think that he would have more discipline that he displayed. I imagine that this is merely a symptom of a bigger problem with the defense.
collegeballfan
October 14th, 2009
9:54 am
I say your numbers are an indictment of the entire recruiting industry.
I have always considered Scout & Rivals a joke. Your column is just more evidence.
If a player gets offers from 8 SEC schools & 7 ACC schools & 3 Big 12 schools is that player really a 2 star? Or are the coaching staffs making the offers a bunch of real football dummies?
Coaching staffs must recruit players that fit their offensive & defensive systems. What Rivals & Scout think is irrelevant.
UGA has had top 10 recruiting classes for the past 5 years. Yet UGA is playing 14 Freshmen & Redshirt Freshmen every game. That fact alone
should tell you that the “recruiting ratings” are a joke.
PMC
October 14th, 2009
9:58 am
Yeah those last three guys on that list…. have worse fundamentals than pop warner players.
PMC
October 14th, 2009
9:59 am
Darius Dewberry is was a 5 star recruit? REALLY?
Metal Jacket
October 14th, 2009
10:17 am
The more the coaches talk the lamer their excuses get. What a shame. Make the coaching changes and move on.
Paddy is an Idiot
October 14th, 2009
10:20 am
Of course they are for profit! That certainly does not make them wrong!!! UF, Texas, USC, Ohio State, etc. etc. etc. all get great recruits according to these services and low and behold these same schools are all top 10!!! The lone exception being UGA. That is COACHING!!!! We’d save ourselves a year or two of headaches to fire Richt and the whole staff RIGHT NOW and begin the process of establishing a great staff instead of this mediocre one.
shards1967
October 14th, 2009
10:21 am
Brandon Miller of about 6 years ago was supposedly one of the best “can’t miss, all world, 5 star, soon to be in the NFL” recruits at UGA only to never be a factor as D end or L Backer. We get too mnay of these losers at UGA for my money. He was a bust and so were pleny of others. Odell Thurman comes to mid too but he did have a couple of good UGA games. Basically, another loser, however.
d dawg
October 14th, 2009
10:40 am
Would Kirby Smart come here to coach defense this time? Got to be a candidate.
gt
October 14th, 2009
10:40 am
NO DEFENSIVE ENDS – DOOLEY ONCE SAIDHE RECRUITED BY THE HEART. HOGUE’S FAMOUS COMMENT—”COACH RECRUITS WINNERS-WE REFUSE TO LOSE.”
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW HOGUE, 14 YEARS IN NFL- 3.9 IN GENETICS- STARRED WITH WALKER AND COMPANYU, INCLUDING BLOCKING A FG IN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME -SUGAR BOWL.
DeeMack
October 14th, 2009
10:44 am
DAWGS573 you hit the nail on the head correctly. Say what you want about the Hurricanes, but Coach Randy Shannon sees it just that way. He is not giving LOI to only 5-star recruits, but recruits who display a heart and love for the game and who bleed green & orange. The state of GA reminds me so much of FLA, there is so much to pick from, and you can’t get them all, but maybe UGA need to get back to talking to kids, their parents and dig a little deeper as far as heart goes and willingness to learn on the college level. I watched some of these kids in high school that UGA selected, and some of them how literally gone south. Can’t and won’t put it on the coaching staff, but where has a love for the game gone? The “U” still have some players that are still sitting on the bench b/c some of the younger players come in every day and give 110%. So guess what? Coach RS play them when it’s game time, 5-star or not. This is what I think has to return to UGA. Play those who bleed red & black. That’s my take on that. Nough said.
Alabamadawg
October 14th, 2009
10:46 am
Great article Chip, thanks !!!
knoxdawg
October 14th, 2009
10:46 am
I have always felt that recruiting was like the NFL draft. It is not the 1st & 2nd rounders that comprise a team. It is the 3 – 5 rounds that make up the bulk of a team. You need a good mix of both to make a team. Give me a 2-3 star player that works hard everyday and knows his limitations. He will give you more than any 4-5 star player does who relies on his talent. You must add to it coaching that knows what it is doing. A team that doesn’t seem to make the needed adjustments during a game tells me the coaching doesn’t know what it is doing. UGA has talented players, they just need to be coached up!
Bryan Evans is a joke in yo town
October 14th, 2009
10:47 am
Bryan Evans should never even smell the field. Rambo should take all of his snaps.
WILLIE MARTINEZ
October 14th, 2009
10:48 am
Yall get off my back,,,,My raise was part of the bailout. What yall dont know is that I am a wonderful brown nose and CMR felt sorry for me.
Also, Bobo got a raise too…and his offense is laying goose eggs.
hatfieldgeoff
October 14th, 2009
10:52 am
I have to admit there are a lot of supposedly big-time recruits UGA signed over the years that go through four years and never have any impact on the field. Not fair to the kids to list them but eight or nine come to mind immediately. Of course this will happen at all schools signing 20 kids every year, but it would be interesting to see if is is happening more at UGA than other SEC schools.
ricardo
October 14th, 2009
11:05 am
UGA- Best dancers in the SEC! It’s not the players at fault, it’s the coaching. Period. CMR has lost the fire in the belly that is needed to compete in today’s SEC. UF and Bama have long passed us bye.
GATOR CHOMP
October 14th, 2009
11:06 am
Paddy I told you losers to”Book It”
WILLIE MARTINEZZ
October 14th, 2009
11:17 am
Oh yeah, and lest you all not see the big picture……I MAKE MORE MONEY IN 1 MONTH THAN MOST OF YOU TICKET PURCHASERS MAKE IN 12 MONTHS WORKING AT WALMART. Yes, that is what I think of you. What a bunch of dumb bunnies you all are, forking over your thousands to your beloved “university” so they can pad my paycheck and I can buy the Beemer for da wife and live in a 5 BR, 4 BA 5000 sq foot house. Hah! I revel every time I see one of your re-possessed single-wides in foreclosure. And believe you me, I am BUYING with CASH that really nice South Beach Property in Miami which I plan to move me and da ole lady to once I can’t continue to pull of this farce any longer. But by that time though, I should EASILY have enough of YOUR money forked away in a Bermuda Bank Account that I’ll be on EASY STREET for the rest of my life…….Mu Haw Haw Haw Hah!! What a bunch of FOOLS!
Glenn
October 14th, 2009
11:24 am
It comes down to coaching, my friends. If you allow the best athletes in the world to go into a situation un-coached, undisciplined, and unmotivated, you can only go so far on physical ability.
How many times do the players consistently have to miss a key block or a tackle, or be out of position before you start to realize that it may not be their fault? How many times do they have to run wrong routes or fumble before someone starts to realize that the players are making too many mental mistakes, not physical mistakes? How many times does the team have to quit on the field before someone starts to realize that even the best athletes still need to be motivated?
Finally, how many games does a team have to lose before there will be changes to address these issues?
SimpleDawg
October 14th, 2009
11:30 am
Uhhhh, him look like Tarzan, but play like Jane.
You’ve got to focus on what’s inside the kid, what motivates him.
I’m paraphrasing here…’What matters most is not what lies behind me, nor what lies before me, but what lies within me’.
That’s the true measure of a player…and a person.
Echo
October 14th, 2009
11:35 am
If you a clear cut sign that coaching is the problem (as if you needed one) look to last weeks game. Any average defensive coordinator should be able to adjust the gameplan to defend the play action. Even if it means getting gashed by the run, but the darn thing was never altered. We need help…bad!
Kendawg
October 14th, 2009
11:40 am
If Bacarri Rambo doesn’t start at Vanderbilt, then the coaches have learned nothing during the first six games. There needs to be some changes in Athens. Our defensive problems were obvious last year. And Willie gets a raise? Maybe it’s time to start looking at somebody like Brian Kelly at Cincinnati.
WILLIE MARTINEZZ
October 14th, 2009
11:40 am
My Momma Talka to me, try to tell me how to live
Da na na, Da na na, duh duh dah
But I donn listen to her cauze my Head is like a Sieve
Da na na, Da na na, duh duh dah
My Daddy he disowned me cauze I wear my sister’s clothes
Da na na, Da na na, duh duh dah
He caught me in da bathroom with a pair of panty hose
Da Dah Dah, Da Dah Dah, Dih Dah Dah, Dih Da Dah, Duh Da Da
And it don’t bother me if people think I’m funny,
cause I’m a big coaching star and I’m making lots of money.
Money, Money Money, Money! MONEY!! MONEY!!! AHHHhhhhhh-
Hahahaha……..
Dawg Nation
October 14th, 2009
11:41 am
I think it at least proves that the recruiting rankings are crap and mean nothing. My fellow UGA fans put way too much emphasis on how many stars a recruit has. Willie still sucks though.
getthepicturenow
October 14th, 2009
11:42 am
Shards, come on now, if Brandon Miller had gone to FSU-(his 2nd choice) and became a geat player, you’d be on here talking about how we just can’t get the top notch talent to athens blah blah blah. duds happen, you can’t judge a kids heart. look at Marquise Ellmore. that kid was a 5 star lock. name probably doesn’t ring a bell for most fans. but for all the big stud recruits, there are guys like Keelin Johnson, a 2 star recruit if i remember correctly, but the kid played ALL OUT every play, kick coverage and eventually as our Safety and the best safety we’ve had since Blue in my opinion.
BEAUSKI
October 14th, 2009
11:57 am
Ron, I hope PJ isn’t mentioning Denzel McCoy by name to the public. That’s a NCAA recruiting no-no.
Mike Bobo (Willie's buddy)
October 14th, 2009
12:04 pm
I’m so bloody rich! Haha Haha ha ha……..
I own apartment buildings and shopping centers! Ahh Haha ha…..
I only know three plays, Hahaha ha ha…….
Watch me burn…..You fools!!!! Hahahahaha!!!!! ! ! !
When you’ve lost Tony Barnhart… « Get The Picture
October 14th, 2009
12:17 pm
[...] while you’re surfing the AJ-C sports page, take a gander at Chip Towers’ look at Georgia’s defensive recruiting. It’s pretty sobering as well. … it’s clear that some very good prospects are [...]
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 14th, 2009
12:21 pm
Chip it’s hard to get a gauge on what these numbers mean in regard to UGA’s performance on the field. For one thing in the UGA scheme the DE’s are the critical components and we have two average ends.We depend on pressure of the edge so we can play LB’S and the secondary in zones.Dewberry was a miss as a 5 star(happens)I’d say besides Renne we are average at best at LB as well…Is the secondary a bad as it seems or is the lack of pass rush coupled with poor LB play a bigger factor than has been acknowledged?
Mutley
October 14th, 2009
12:29 pm
I heard today that CMR will not fire CWM. I feel now it is only a matter of time before Richt is on the chopping block and he will have only his blind stubborn attitude to blame for it. Any ideas who the next head coach will be?
RxDawg
October 14th, 2009
12:35 pm
Im not quite on the fire Martinez bandwagon. If he was replaced I wouldn’t loose any sleep over it and it would get me a little bit more excited about the play of our defense. BUT, the whole defensive unit really has got the short end of the stick a LOT thanks to our offense and special teams.
That said, this quote:
“Scoring since 2005 has gone from 14.6 points per game to 17.1, 21.0, 25.6 and now 27.8. Average yards allowed over the same period: 298, 264, 325, 318 and 358.”
Is the best argument I’ve seen for a change in defense. I might be convinced now.
Honestly though, I watch every game intensely. Our defense has more, how should I put this…umph to them then our offense. I’m so dissapointed in our offensive bunch I don’t give a lot of thought to our D. Our offense looks stuck in the mud out there. They look slow. They look like children amongst men. The biggest change I think should happen belongs there.
MyView
October 14th, 2009
12:39 pm
No matter how you view the star rating system, it has to be a fairly accurate measure. If you notice, the highly rated prospects mostly sign with the Powerhouse schools with a few exceptions. I don’t think that the coaches are offering these kids because of their star rating. They offer players based on how he projects to the college game. So coaches generally agree with recruiting services about who the best players are yearly.
Beyond that its about how the kid adapts to college life first(mental toughness), and how he is taught to utilize his skills(coaching). Coaches want the (biggest, fastest, strongest) players in r.
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 14th, 2009
12:44 pm
The thing about 5 star players being bogus…I say not so fast on that one…there was a study on the rivals rankings in regard to star rankings as it pertains to a kid actually making it to the pros.What they found was that 5 star players were drafted in significantly higher numbers than all others.I’m talking 40% or better.Keep in mind they were the smallest group…as you would expect 3 stars were the largest group because they had the most amount of kids in that group.Sowhile it’s true some don’t pan out …the numbers indicate that most are as good as predicted.For every Mudcat and B.Miller there are MORE Tebow’s,Harvin’s,Berry’s and Green’s out there that were ranked as a 5 star.Just look at the Rivals rankings from 06-10.Fla has signed 8 5 stars on D.LSU 5,TENN 5 ALA 3 and UGA 2 Jones and Smith.That’s a big difference.Bama runs a 3-4 which has more emphasis on LB play the DE which means they can get away with lightly ranked rush ends.The recruiting is not the only culprit in UGA’s poor play but I look at it this way…when the scheme breaks down and a kid makes a mistake…the elite player has a way of making the play regardless which will win you ballgames.I’d rather have a team of Jordan’s than Pippen’s!… just saying
tdawgg37
October 14th, 2009
12:49 pm
Sylvester Croomes!!
MyView
October 14th, 2009
12:49 pm
the end should have read Coaches want the biggest, fastest, strongest, athletes in recruiting, so that they can mold them into winners. If it were only about best athletes, I would move to Vegas and become a professional gambler.
That is what disappoints me about UGA’s Def. lately. We have the athletes, but we have failed somewhere beyond that. And that is correctable. I have faith that we will get it together though.
Texas DAWG
October 14th, 2009
12:55 pm
Recruit Rankings do mean something coupled with great coaching! See USC for years! Carroll has lost his d coordinator and o coordinator….that’s why USC is declining….BUT THAT IS BESIDES THE POINT and Makes my point at the same time!!!! UNDER WILLE THE DEFENSE HAS GOTTEN WORSE…WORSE….WORSE every year! IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT STAR RANKING RECRUITS get before they come to GA WITH WILLIE IN CHARGE OF THE DEFENSE! Gurantee with the best d coordintor and o coordinotr we are in it to win it every year!
ApopkaDawg
October 14th, 2009
1:03 pm
Would you hire this coach?
Here is a coaching resume for Dog fans to look over. Would you hire this guy to be our new Defensive Coordinator?
Just a quick resume review:
Grand Valley State (Def. Coord. / Def. Backs)
1992 went 8-3; gave up 45 to Indiana
1993 went 6-3-2; gave up 34 to Indiana, 38 to Hillsdale
Central Michigan (D-Backs)
1994 went 9-3; gave up 52 to Iowa, 52 to Las Vegs, NV
Central Florida (D-Coord / D-Backs)
1995 went 4-7; gave up 34 to E. Michigan, 48 to W. Michigan
1996 went 5-6; gave up 55 to Virgina, 46 to Miami (OH), 51 to Kent St.
Eastern Michigan (D-Backs)
1997 went 4-7; gave up 44 to Missouri, 38 to Toledo, 41 to Kent St., 47 to Ohio, 48 to Marshall, 41 to W. Michigan
Central Michigan (D-Backs) (2000 became Asst Head Coach / D-Coord)
1998 went 6-5; gave up 38 to Iowa, 38 to W Michigan
1999 went 4-7; gave up 47 to Syracuse, 58 to Purdue, 38 to W. Michigan, 31 to Bowling Green, 32 to Toledo
2000 went 2-9; gave up 48 to Purdue, 31 to Wyoming, 47 to Boise St., 41 to Toledo, 52 to Ohio, 38 to Ball St., 31 to E Michigan, 40 to N. Illinois
Well guess what Dog Fans, we already did!!! This is Willie’s resume before coming to UGA!!! How this guy got hired is a question for the ages.
IT IS NOT THE TALENT!!
IT IS THE LACK OF COACHING!!
My father used to use this saying and I will pass it on to my son. Willie should take note: “It is a poor carpenter that blames his tools.”
Kennesaw Dawg
October 14th, 2009
1:11 pm
I can’t honestly figure out what the problem is except to say it’s with the coaching.
tdawgg37
October 14th, 2009
1:25 pm
We have the talent so the problems on defense and of late…also offense must have a weal link somewhere else in the program. We can all see what’s going on here. The other SEC programs are winning more game and in the process santching up the 5-stars. Kiffin has come right out and said it, “he plans to take a strong hold in Georgia”! Bobo is suspect but Willie Martinez is a diaster!! Sylvester Croomes would be a great fit at Georgia!
uuughh...
October 14th, 2009
1:42 pm
Our Stud Defensive Recruits come to campus with all kinds of Talent but are ruined my Willie Martinez…or Martinezed. 5 star recruits don’t want to come to UGA and get Martinezed…they want to go someplace to learn to be better football players!!
6 more games until Evans and Jones are done. I am looking forward to seeing new safeties. If we could only get rid of Martinez before he has a chance to ruin any more players. That guy has the exact opposite of the Midas touch…everything he touches turns to $hit. Maybe that should be the Martinez Touch!
K Dawg
October 14th, 2009
1:48 pm
Crompton for heisman?? now thats funny, how well did he throw against Auburn? Dudes a fluke, at best.
uuughh...
October 14th, 2009
1:55 pm
K Dawg…not much of a fluke really. He just came up against our defense is all. Facing our Defense is a shot in the arm to any struggling QB. If Reggie Ball had one game of eligibility left and played that game against UGA, I bet this one performance would get him picked in the 2nd round of the next NFL draft (Obviously not being able to count to 4 would keep him out of the first round).
DawgCamp
October 14th, 2009
1:56 pm
enough about stars. this is a coaching issue!!!! simply look at the GA-ARK game and then compare it to the AL-ARK game. Same level of athletes–different coaches. We need a new DC and Richt is going to be forced to make the move.
K Dawg
October 14th, 2009
1:56 pm
good point
Spike
October 14th, 2009
1:58 pm
I hate to say it, but it is true. Our defensive backfield of Miller, Jones, and Evans suck. They get torched every game even by second rate QB’s. If they manage to cover or make a tackle, which is rare, then they will get flagged for holding, or a late hit, or interference.
Dorsey Hill
October 14th, 2009
1:59 pm
The fact that the highest rated player is Dewberry underscores the uselessness of recruiting rankings. There is simply no correlation between ratings out of HS and performance on the field. Pick up any TOP 100 prospects out of HS from 10 years ago and see how many names you even can recognize. If you want to see the trend in talent at Georgia look at the last three drafts and compare them to the prior 5. There is no comparison between the defensive talent produced in the past and that of late. Why that is? I don’t get paid 2 mill per to figure it out, but somebody better had and fast.
DawgCamp
October 14th, 2009
2:01 pm
ApopkaDawg–your stats are very telling–no more needs to be said–good stuff. Right on.
K Dawg
October 14th, 2009
2:09 pm
It’s funny if you think about it, UGA is 3-3 this season which is the worst since 1996. Who was the QB in 96?? Enough said.
59bulldawg
October 14th, 2009
2:15 pm
Erk could have got Miller, Elmore, and a lot of those half-hearted effort guys to play with passion and pride. Otherwise they would either be finding other options to finance their college education or headed home. But then Erk was a leader of men . . . not some rah-rah cheerleader who likes to jump into the arms of his charges like a little girl. Erk’s defense trusted and respected him. Despite what they say, I think CWM’s defense knows he’s a joke. They don’t trust his game-planning and therefore play tentatively. It’s hard to play all out if you’re uncertain of what you’re doing. As far as the offense is concerned, I don’t know what in the hell is going on there. Before Saturday’s game they were pass blocking better than they were run blocking . . . which I had always figured to be more difficult of the two. But against the Vols they couldn’t do either. My wife’s wheelchair bound 90 year old granny might not sack Cox behind this line but I honestly believe she might get pressure on him. I love CMR . . . I really honestly do . . . but at this point he is stretching my support about as much as he can stretch it. I hope he wakes up and makes some long-needed changes. All you Van Gorder fans (and that includes me) need to pull for the Falcons to win the Super Bowl and that it will satisfy his NFL dreams. That might be our only hope of getting him back to Athens. But I’d be surprised if it ever happened. Sylvester Croom would be a great fit and I’d love to have him.
Sea Island
October 14th, 2009
2:15 pm
Glorified high school stadium not sold out for game vs #4. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha …………………………
Atticus
October 14th, 2009
2:29 pm
People that say recruiting rankings mean nothing are idiots. Look at the Top 5 in recruiting over a 5 year period and I will show you the best teams…..well, except for GA.
USC, Florida and Texas have been at the top each year and they are the best teams for the most part.
Albert the Alligator
October 14th, 2009
2:32 pm
Florida Gator defensive unit – 5 Games = 2 Touchdowns Allowed, 32 Points Surrendered. End O’ story.
WTF
October 14th, 2009
2:32 pm
Just goes to show that recruiting services are in it for the money and are not a predictor of performance at the next level. Just as a lot of college superstars are flops at the next (NFL) level.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 14th, 2009
2:34 pm
Something is wrong? What an amazing deduction!
59bulldawg
October 14th, 2009
2:35 pm
Sorry, but I’ve got to agree with Atticus!
Flo-Ri-Duh!
October 14th, 2009
2:35 pm
St. Simons is a nerdy, sissified prissy pants that still sleeps with his mama.
scdawg
October 14th, 2009
2:51 pm
I really believe there is more to playing football than 40 times and bench presses. You have to be somewhat football smart. Rodney Garner said David Pollock was probably a 5 on a 1-10 talent wise. He played smart and had a motor. Georgia’s db’s play dumb. At what point do you read plays and make a break on the ball? Hey, remember Thomas Davis, the 2 star athlete? How about the highly rated CJ Byrd? Was he that talented? Watch youtube clips of the 2002 and 2003 defenses and then watch the Georgia defense today. Completely different animal. My question about the coaching is also about recognizing talent. Why does Georgia continually recruit 5′8″ 170 DBs or ath.? Tyson Browning, Prince Miller, Carlton Thomas. Yeah, Tim Jennings worked, but that was a rare deal and not the norm. Why wasn’t Brandon Miller playing DE his whole career? Do you think Les Miles would have played him where he wanted to play?
Ask yourself this. Would Baccari Rambo be “sharing time” with Bryan Evan under Nick Saban? Would Logan Gray be fair catching balls at the 45 under Urban Meyer? How many times do you run Samuel on a toss sweep to the short side of the field before you realize..IT DOESN’T WORK!
Would Meyer, Saban, or Miles run out the clock in the 1st half against Michigan St. last year?
Georgia plays scared. They play not to lose instead of playing to win. I’m still waiting for a Georgia Offensive coordinator to say “they are going to have to adjust to me” instead of ” that’s all they gave us”
The picking of coordinators was too conservative also. Promote from within. Now, Richt is going to have to fire friends and family and that ain’t never a good thing. I hope learned his lesson on that.
Van Halanger is overrated too. Maybe there was a time when he was all that, but it isn’t anymore. Just look at Georgia players compared to others around the country. They don’t have the same looking atheletes.
Dawg_in_PA
October 14th, 2009
3:06 pm
IIRC, David Pollack was a 2 or 3 star FB coming out of high school. Seems like we need more GATA than stars.
Bobo
October 14th, 2009
3:10 pm
first down, run off tackle
second down, throw to AJ
third down, run off tackle
fourth down punt
paul
October 14th, 2009
3:10 pm
i agree brandon miller was not a bust how u going to put the number 1 rated de in the nation at linebacker just like richard sammual when they going to realize that he is a linebacker and not a running back i not just that the coaching staff at georgia can not coach they also do not know how to put there players in there right positons
Bama in the House
October 14th, 2009
3:12 pm
The Dawgs have more than just one problem, trust me since my team has gone through alot because of a coach. Will list them:
1; off season program sucks, they are worn out in the second half no matter what.
2; deff coor sucks, sorry. the whole team needs to back to basics and learn how to tackle.
3; you need to change out qb’s, cox is done and so is your season. bring in the freshman and let him get some reps.
4; penalties, ever since that one win over fla, that you got slapped with a 15 yard for the end zone party y’all have suck.
5; head coach needs to get some balls and start cracking down on coaches and players that are not doing there job. he is to nice.
i could go on, but dawg fans is anything i said wrong? i don’t think so. i went through nice coachs way to long at Alabama, they can can and do the best for the kid but not nice like your coach.
Tide fan in Ga.
Willie
October 14th, 2009
3:13 pm
first down, give up 8 on a run
second down, give up 12 on a screen pass
third down … play soft zone
fourth down, practice dance moves
Mark Richt
October 14th, 2009
3:14 pm
first down Look good in my shades
second down, Hope my tan is even
third down, Look at nails, make mental note for a manicure
fourth down, Look at water girl
BDAWG
October 14th, 2009
3:51 pm
What this boils down to is a severe lack of discipline. Both the offensive and defensive players come to UGA with a big name and a great game. Once they get to campus they forget that they are there to play football and win championships. That’s why you have coaches like Nick Saban to act like dictators to keep these guys in line. CMR wants to come off as the nice guy, but everyone knows that nice guys finish last. What the team needs is a coach with great disciplinary skills or hire coaches that are going to get the job done. If does not change the staff, he should be fired because no one wants to sit through another season like this. Having talent is great but you still have to coach.
Corrine Brown
October 14th, 2009
3:57 pm
Tell those * to start playing defense
Reggie Ball
October 14th, 2009
4:00 pm
Saint Simons’ mouth is a ********************************************************
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 14th, 2009
5:07 pm
Folks talk a lot about what Meyer,Miles or Saban would do but last I checked FLA lost 4 games under Meyer after they won a tittle…Miles bunch highly rated recruits and all went 8-5 last year and Saban for all his supposedly superior coaching ability has never won 10 games back to back in his entire career.So the knee jerk “So and so would be doing such “is greatly exaggerated.Richt was a nice guy when he was winning SEC titles why is that all of a sudden some big deal now?Programs go thru change at times it’s a fact of life…some of you youngsters don’t remember how much we sucked the last 5 years under Dooley and all you know is Mark Richt as coach.I’d bet a million bucks not ONE high profile coach would be running to come to UGA if Richt left not being appreciated for the work he has done.You can talk “COACHING” all you want but the PLAYERS make plays not the coaches.Ever thought maybe Bobo is only calling plays he knows we can block?
Paul The Vol
October 14th, 2009
5:23 pm
I was at the game and the one of the things about Georgia’s defense that jumped out at me was all of the arm tackling – and this was from the beginning of the game. I watched Hardesty and Brown repeatedly break through arm tackles and gain extra yardage. I don’t know if this is from poor coaching, fatigue or overall lack of effort but Georgia had better get that fixed quickly.
Brain
October 14th, 2009
5:29 pm
For those who are detractors of Rivals and Scout, please check out the first 3 rounds of the NFL draft, then come back and tell me what an inaccurate predictor they are. The fact is, ALL of this is tough to predict. But, the star system has proven over a long period of time to be pretty darn accurate if you start to weigh the averages.
92Champs
October 14th, 2009
5:34 pm
Regarding your comparison of the #2 ranked Crimson Tide defense to the near-bottom feeding Georgians, it should be noted that eight of the eleven starters on the ‘Bama D were either signed by Mike Shula or had committed to him before he was canned. As the record shows, Coach Shula is a good man but not known having a keen eye for talent or the ability to coach ‘em up.
Enter Nick Saban who proves every day he can recruit, teach and motivate. A bunch of no-stars who were once uninspired individuals are now a TEAM dominating the league because of COACHING.
That’s the problem at Georgia, an acute lack of coaching.
Einsteindawg
October 14th, 2009
5:59 pm
Let all the other schools get the 4 and 5 star recruits…we just can’t coach them up anyway. And, you are correct when you dismiss the “ratings” as trival and for profit only. Go back and look at UGA’s last 12 recruiting classes. You would be amazed how more 2 and 3 star players developed into really good players, and how many “can’t miss” actually missed. Richard Seymour was only a 3 star…but, Jasper Sanks was a 5 star. And David Pollack (another 3 star) is our hero, while Seth Watts (top defensive player in GA) never contributed. Do I hear any Caleb King supporters?
Dawgtime
October 14th, 2009
6:00 pm
This has to be one of the stupiest articles ever written. Do you really believe recruiting stars are that significant? If that is the case, check out the top 10 and then compare it to the top ten recruiting classes from 4 years ago. Stars are created to market recruiting products. They are just made up by people that have never coached or played the game. Get over yourself and write an article that has valid points. So if a kid is ranked a 5 star, that guarantees a long NFL career. No. These evaluations are done by people that have no clue what they are talking about. You can have a 2 star kid only to rise to a five star when certain schools recruit the kid. It’s all about recruiting propaganda. Why play the game? Just give the national championship trophy to the highest ranked recruiting class. Yes, this article is that stupid.
big time jacket
October 14th, 2009
6:10 pm
guys get use to it, your dawgs have always been overated and will continue to lose anytime it plays in a game that means something…..georgia sucks!!!!!! you will lose again when you face us this year!!!!!! this year it gets worse
Dawg'em out!
October 14th, 2009
6:35 pm
talent hasnt ever been a question, its the preparation and coaching that is! we still got a season to playout, and i think we finish 7-5. then CMR makes the dc/oc and other staff changes that are needed to get this program back into the limelight again.
Lovethosedawgs
October 14th, 2009
6:37 pm
My point exactly. Martinez is THE BEST DC ins the SEC. THESE PLAYERS ARE OVERRATED and Martinez is very underrated. THE TALENT IS POOR THE COACHING IS GREAT!
WaltonDawg
October 14th, 2009
9:02 pm
Recruiting stars mean nothing. As many 2-3 star recruits are drafted in NFL as 5 star recruits. David Pollack, Greg Belue, Thomas Davis, all no better than 3 stars recruits. It is more important in this state to recruit tough, hard nosed Georgia kids with good character and some ability. There are some many around ATL in general that don’t even get the chance. North Avenue Trade School coach has figured that out and that’s where he’s focused.
fan
October 14th, 2009
10:16 pm
to the coach at washington who said his player out played a player at douglass i can not tell cofield left that program in good shape need to start winning games before you start talking and yes i did graduate from washington not happy with losing
Michael Dawgs for life
October 14th, 2009
11:39 pm
this article really describes Georgia. They have a ton of raw talent on defense and with a good defensive coordinator there could be a few david pollacks or champ bailys, but Mark Richt is too much of a nice guy to get rid of willy martinez. Ever since Brian Vangorder left the defense has been going down the drain
Coach
October 15th, 2009
12:02 am
To Fan, i am not a coach at Washington , I’m a former coach in Dekalb County & also Washington alumni continue to support the team & the new coaching staff, Washington has always & will always have athletes when you compete at a high level you have to take a loss along with the wins,
be at St Pius & the Dome we need everyone to stay with the team. Remember stay positive good things will happen.
Red Dog 77
October 15th, 2009
1:08 am
I sure wish we were sitting at 6-0 right now but we are not! My first real exiting recolection of UGA football was I believe in 1964 , Bama was ranked #1 we were playing them between the hedges. No one gave us a chance, with only seconds on the clock , and down 7 we executed the flea flicker to perfection for an 80 yard touchdown! we won. so goes college football, wonder how the folks feel at michigan about now, Notre Dame the last few years. What about Nebraska for years they were the team to beat, we handed LSU their butts last year and Fla. the year before, what if Fla State was your team? boy thats got to feel good about now. Point is college football goes in cycles, especially with the concentration on high powered offences, you have to have a pretty darn good qb to be in the top 10. Since CMR has been at UGA , if Im not mistaken no one has done beter year in and year out than us other than S. Cal. Mabe thats not good enough for many of you experts out there, but its good enough for me. We will be back on top again, and I really dont think it will take that long. Yes changes will be made CMR has made them before. ………………Trust me , Im a Dr.
Justin
October 15th, 2009
2:08 am
Lawless, if you you don’t like it, don’t watch it, don’t follow it and why are you even commenting about it? Go fishing, moron.
scdawg
October 15th, 2009
7:43 am
southgadawg88, would Miles, Meyer, Saban allow this to happen to their program? Would they field a team that is this bad?
How many times has Prince Miller been smoked this year? If Tori Gurley from S.C. could catch, he would have simply torched Miller. Believe it or not, but Prince Miller could have been a pretty good rb.
Would Prince Miller or Bryan Evans start for Fla, Ala, or LSU?
Perry Riley ain’t looking to shabby at LSU.
Keith
October 15th, 2009
11:23 am
Stars don’t measure what kind of person an athlete is, only their skills. You can be a 5 star, but if you are a knucklehead, you don’t do the program any good. Coaching is big in this case. Look what Petersen does out in Boise with 2/3 star guys. That team can hang with any team in the country. They may not win out, but they could do better than 27 a game. You’ll say, “they don’t play anybody..” but they play teams full of 2/3 star kids with 2/3 star kids. They are just coached up better. GA plays with 4/5 stars against 4/5 stars and just loses becuase they are getting out coached as of late. Quit looking so much at stars and start bringing quality kids in to the program.
reasonable
October 15th, 2009
3:02 pm
First, I think the comments by Richt and the ones by Damon Evans indicate there will be changes to the staff during the off season (I sure hope so). My gut tells me that if Richt tried to keep WM all hell would break loose. I think he knows that. Its a shame that his buddy WM isn’t really a true buddy. If he was, he would resign at the end of the season to spare Richt the agony of firing him. Second, recruiting rankings are a guess work process based on high schoole performance without any real analysis of the level of competition in which the young man plays. Therefore, it ends up being more a law of averages. That being said, however, the level of talent on the defense coupled with the steady and now rapid decline in the UGA defense speaks volumes about the need to totally overhaul the defensive coaches. As nearly everyone knows and most said last year, WM should have been gone during the past off-season. I know somerthing about the game and poor tackling, passive defensive schemes (including baby soft zones), terrible pass rush and coverage along with absolutely unbelievably bad angles of pursuit, no aggressiveness, and no gang tackling point directly to WM. If its the players fault as I have heard claimed, then the player problems have to go back to 2005. That’s a long time and a lot of different players for me to buy that horse chestnut. Coach Richt – sometimes if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, its a duck.
Ed
October 15th, 2009
5:28 pm
Maybe the Dawgs should try a new approach, at least on defense – recruit 2-3 star players who would run through a brick wall to please their coach. Just for the privilege of playing for the glorious UGA. Kids that maybe grew up on Munson and who have a lifelong hatred of Florida and Georgia Tech. We need men on defense, players with cajones. What we have now look like a bunch of pampered sissies.
RealityRose
October 15th, 2009
7:58 pm
Now, now, fellow fans! Let’s not get to hasty with the firings! Right off the bat, it appears that far too many of you can’t or won’t see the many benefits of being mediocre. First of all, we already have too many athletic trophies in our trophy cases. If our gymnastics team wins the NCAA championship every year coupled with another national championship in tennis, golf, or equestrian sports, added with the SEC trophies we occassionally win, it makes our trophy case much to crowded and actually detracts from the asthetic properties of the most cultured and refined trophy case art. It would be best for our football team to remain mediocre as a proactive and propylactic achievement to this very worthy end. What’s more, the traffic and parking is atrocious enough. Should we be so unfortunate to win another national championship game in football, it is likely that the rest of the uncouthed bulldog nation (the rednecks) would descend on Athens as if Walmart were giving away merchandise. Let’s be careful and rethink what our desired outcomes should really be. Let’s be reasonable with the remaining space in our trophy case and not rush to ruin the asthetic qualities of a rather bare, but beautiful emptiness that presently exists. And let’s not hastily give reason for every couthless (and toothless) character from the backwoods, mountains, and swamplands of Georgia even more reason to show up at our lovely Sanford Stadium full of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, moonshine, or homemade weed. We benefit enormously from mediocrity. Greatness is too overated. The benefits from such a grand perch are actually liabilities. Having said all this, let’s keep our present coaches and discourage others from being too critical. The best way to maintain mediocrity is to avoid criticism. Our mediocrity would be an extravagant price to pay for greatness. Thanks to all you Dawg fans who truly understand this finer point. If you must criticize, just keep it quiet.
DawgVoiceofReason
October 16th, 2009
8:43 am
To answer one poster’s question about “Would Meyer, Saban, or Miles run out the clock in the 1st half against Michigan St. last year?”:
Well, based on the evidence before us, Miles likely would. Did you see what he did at the end of the first half of our game?
J Dog
October 18th, 2009
6:07 pm
What makes me sick is that Kirgy Smart was on our staff when Richt promoted Willie to DC. After that, Kirby left, and the rest is history. Richt had another Vangorder on his staff (in Kirby Smart) and completely overlooked him. Like I’ve said before, I hope the hiring of VanGorder was not dumb luck. Richt apparently could not see Smart’s pontential when he was right in front of him.
Saban certanly could.