Monte Kiffin compares A.J. Green to Terrell Owens, Randy Moss
Monte Kiffin, Tennessee’s defensive coordinator, reached for the stars when discussing Georgia’s A.J. Green with reporters in Knoxville after practice Thursday.
“I’ll tell you what, Green is something else,” Kiffin was quoted as saying by the Knoxville News Sentinel and utsports.com. “He’s special now. I told our guys this: ‘Terrell Owens in his heyday, Randy Moss, that’s what this guy is.’ You just throw it up and he’ll go get it.”
Kiffin, the longtime NFL defensive mastermind and father of Tennessee’s head coach, added: “I do believe you can double guys, but it’s hard to do against [Georgia]. We don’t plan on doing it, because they’ll just go to the other side.”
He cited Tavarres King as a receiver who has “really come along,” but apparently had not heard that King suffered a concussion last week. Mark Richt has said “it’s very unlikely [King] will travel” to Knoxville. Kiffin also praised the pass-catching abilities of Georgia’s tight ends, Aron White and Orson Charles.
Green, by the way, is well ahead of his stellar 2008 pace. He led the SEC last season with an average of 74.1 receiving yards per game –- and is averaging a league-leading 105.4 yards per game this season. He caught eight touchdown passes last season and already has caught five this year.
– I was talking with Brandon Boykin a couple of days ago about his upcoming first trip to Tennessee’s large, loud, 100,000-seat Neyland Stadium.
“The only experience I’ve had with it is on video game,” said Boykin, Georgia’s sophomore cornerback.. “It’s always, like, the loudest stadium in the video game. I’m sure it’ll be like that in real life. I’m looking forward to it.”
Boykin, by the way, minced no words in discussing his bad decision to run an interception out of the end zone in the first quarter last week. He was tackled, as you know, on the 2-yard line.
“I should have kneeled with it; that’s as simple as it gets,” he said. “Initially, I thought I saw an opening. A couple of my teammates were telling me to get down, which I didn’t see, and some of the LSU players were engaging on me. I shouldn’t have brought it out. I should have kneeled.
“That’s my fault, totally. I take responsibility for that. It’s a learning experience, and I’ll get better from that, I’m sure. . . . It might have made a difference in the game. Little things like that can help win the game.”
– And finally, a couple of stats that might prove pertinent on Saturday:
Tennessee is the least penalized team in the SEC at 28.8 yards per game. Georgia is the second most penalized team in the league (74.6 yards per game), having yielded last place in that category to Arkansas (77.5).
Georgia remains last in the league in turnover margin (minus-9) by a wide margin. Tennessee is ninth at minus-4.
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143 comments Add your comment
ST.Simmons Mom........
October 9th, 2009
1:07 pm
I left that little turd with his dad so I could go back to 14th street, St. Simon if you’re reading this, you have three illegitimate sibling can you bring milk and some apple jacks to the kids, and three Varsity chili dogs to me? I’m still on 14th street. You’ll see me with the LSU cap on, I had a good time with them after that 38-3 But kicking they gave my regulars.
senoiadawgs
October 9th, 2009
1:23 pm
Boykin, my new UGA hero. I thought that Joe Cox was a leader on the team. What Boykin said is what a true leader does.
Dawg Fud
October 9th, 2009
1:30 pm
Richt has been rather defensive since the 2006 season. If we lose to Kiffin and Co. tomorrow (which is very possible), Richt will become more defensive.
Coach Richt needs to understand that there is a pattern. It would also behoove him to acknowledge that he is 2-6 versus Florida which is the real stat that matters.
Dawg Fud
October 9th, 2009
1:33 pm
SavNolaDDawg,
I think people just get frustrated. If we beat South Carolina at home in 2007, we likely play for the national title. I doubt anyone would argue that was the “hottest” Georgia team under Richt.
Richt is indeed a great head coach but the little things kill us and the little things are what you get paid to address at $2 million a year. Capiche?
senoiadawgs
October 9th, 2009
1:37 pm
Ok, here is task for all those that say we shouldn’t be talking bad about the program!!!!!!
Give those of us who are frustrated something to look forward to other than AJ Green, Ealy, Curran, Butler, Rambo, T King, Wooten, Brown, Smith, Boykin, Houston, Charles, Thomas, etc… Give us something good other than the obvious we complain about. I’m willing to listen unfortunately this isn’t even a debate other than you all saying we shouldn’t be complaining.
MtnDawg
October 9th, 2009
1:43 pm
Please read my previous post at 1:00 pm concerning criticism–complaining would fall into the destructive criticism category.
Also note: you just listed quite a few reasons to look forward to every Saturday. The UGA PLAYERS THEMSELVES!!
Ghost of football's future
October 9th, 2009
1:47 pm
these comments are eerily similar to those on Tennessee message boards 3-4 years ago.
need I remind you of what unhappy deep-pocket boosters have the power to do?
doesn’t matter how many wins the coach has brought to the program…Phillip Fulmer even had a National Championship ring.
Dawg Drool (BaseballVol13)
October 9th, 2009
1:48 pm
Come on people!!!!!!!
October 9th, 2009
9:32 am
People like DawgFan are not true Dawg fans. Get behind the team and stop whining like a bunch of babies. Is Georgia perfect? Obviously not. There are many things that we can improve upon and I assure you the guys are working hard at doing just that. If you are not behind the Dawgs then we don’t need you as a fan. Go DAWGS! GATA!!
LinkReport this comment.HBTD
October 9th, 2009
9:33 am
YOU PEOPLE – Right on! I’m in 100% agreement with you. To all those so called UGA fans who cannot support the team and coaching staff 100% in the tough times, you should hit the road and find a team more to your liking. I truly believe that our coaches who work 80 – 100 hours a week getting the kids ready to play, know a heck of alot more about what will and what will not work than any of us.
You 2 guys are just “narrow minded” or horses with blinders”!!! I’m not a puppies fan, obviously, not even close! But why do you lambaste other pup’s fans that can actually deal with or “accept” the reality that CMR and staff are “NOT” very good coaches. If they were, you “ball lickers” wouldn’t have been 10-3 last year with 2 1st round draft picks on the team after being pre-season #1!!! CMR can recruit, he just isn’t very good at team discipline and “gameday” coaching. Georgia Tech last year is a good example! Should have lost to Ark. and S.C. this year as well and be sitting at 1 – 4!!! Wake up and realize that this coaching staff is not that good, people on the outside looking in can see that, as well as most of the”pup” nation.
SavNolaDawg
October 9th, 2009
2:19 pm
I get the frustration. I walked into an office full of Purple and Gold monday morning. My secretary has been wearing purple all week (she claims its for the Florida game, but I know her all too well). If there is anyone that should be angry this week, it’s me. But I am also rational. The best coaches in college football history did win national championships, but not every year. Infact, most had some awful seasons. Just terrible. Why are we as “entitled” Georgia fans not supposed to take that, bc he hasn’t won one? The man has had 7 ten win seasons. Who else can say that? Very few. Should we look at a new DC? Maybe. Should we look at a new OC? Maybe. But to say there is some unbelievable issue is at best fleeting, and at worst just plain nonsense. Maybe most on this board didnt suffer through the Golf years, but as a donor for close to 25 years, I know a good thing when I see it. But all this flat out complaining just brings weight to the Tech argument that we are disillusioned fans who are mostly bandwagon. That is what it looks like from the outside. I’m surrounded by LSU fans today who say they would rather have Richt than Miles. They hate Miles and he won a NC. We all want more for this Georgia squad, but sometimes you’re have a bad year. Maybe this is our bad year.
DawgFan
October 9th, 2009
2:20 pm
You people…
take your blinders off. This program hasn’t been the same since we won the SECC in 2005. The subsequent WV game was a disaster and began the trend that will be the downfall of this coaching staff – the team being completely unprepared for big games (or any game for that matter) and unable to put a complete game together. While 2006 ended on a high note, that trait certainly exhibited itself numerous times in that season (which could have easily been much worse). 2007 – UT in Knoxville. Need I say more? Ok – I will – we almost lost to Vanderbilt the following week. I was as happy as anyone that we turned things around in 07 but come on – if the coaching staff hadn’t decided to take the south carolina and UT games off we would have won the NC. unfortunately they did and we didn’t. 2008 – don’t get me started. we did not beat a single quality team. got blown out in the 2 biggest games we played and then decided not to play the 2nd half against GT. i challenge you to show me one game in 2008 where we played a complete game. i was willing to overlook last year until we got into more of the same this year. Right now, this team could just as easily be 0-5 as it is 3-2. One of these years we’re going to crack thru the thin ice we’ve been skating on. I hope it isn’t this year but if we lose to UT saturday then i fear it will be the beginning of the end for mark richt at uga. mark my words. i was upset when i realized santa claus wasn’t real too, but i got over it. open your eyes.
DawgFan
October 9th, 2009
2:21 pm
And another thing – do not question my loyalty as a fan. Sometimes the truth hurts. I’ve given more money to UGA than the vast majority of the rest of you ever will. I bleed red and black. i also know how to call a spade a spade. i don’t like it any more than you do, but it is reality and it hurts.
Dave In Tampa
October 9th, 2009
2:29 pm
Well, some of you on here that want to see CMR leave, which is really stupid, might get your wish. I just got off the phone with someone up the chain at FSU and they are getting ready to through everything and the kitchen sink to get CMR back. They are finding ut that big Jimbo is not the coach they thought. Don’t know if CMR would take it, but he will be tempted. All depends on how strong his roots are at FSU. I wonder if we gave them Willie instead what would happen.
DawgFan
October 9th, 2009
2:41 pm
I question your sources as we’ve been hearing variations of this for years, but Richt going to tallahassee is probably the right answer. It won’t be hard to find a coaching staff that will be better at making the incredibly talented individuals we have on campus and in our state play better as a TEAM than the product we are seeing on the field now. that isn’t to say that it won’t be a painful transition, but the damage done by goff and donnan staying on for too long was immense. Richt leaving for FSU now could be an elegant way to begin the process of fixing all this. Don’t get me wrong, I think Richt was the right hire at the right time and has done wonderful things with the program. Unfortunately it has come as far as it is going to under him and is now slipping backwards.
NewnanDawg
October 9th, 2009
2:46 pm
WOW – such huge swings both ways on this debate – how about a little middle ground?
Just my opinion, but I think we have excellent coaches in some respects, but we are getting stale.
I keep going back to when we first hired Searels and we got what I thought was a spark. We then overachieved with a young line, etc. I think that there is something to be said for a stable coaching staff, but with that you give opposing coaches 8 years of film to look at now. I feel like someone new on the staff, on either side of the ball, could bring a fresh perspective. Someone who has been coaching against us that can say, “Well everyone knows you are going to………., and here is how we should keep them on their heels.”
Obviously, because of the NCAA rules, to hire one, one must go. To me, the choice has to be Fabris. I have had problems with Martinez and Bobo, but mostly given the luxury of having already seen the game. Looking back on a lot of the things they have done, most (not all) make sense based on what was known about the opponent and the talent we had to work with.
I just don’t understand why Richt doesn’t put his foot down and have Bogotay, Walsh, or whoever, kick the ball through the dad gum endzone. He made that great comment last year about finding a kicker that could do it “if he had to go to Poland.” Now, he continues to let Fabris put our defense in bad situations. I believe the stat is that when we force a touchback in the last 2 years (not often done), the opponent has scored 17% of the time. That number goes up dramatically with each additional 10 yards allowed on kickoff. Coaches are supposed to be numbers guys – this one seems like a no brainer to me. Our defense also seems to play much better with a predictable situation. When the play on the field gets frantis, our coaches seem to get frantic, and we commit dumb penalties. If they are confident the other team will start on the 20, they go out prepared and focused; a big return, and all heck breaks loose.
Anyway, just my 2 cents – good staff overall, need a fresh face, and kickoffs need to become boring.
Go Dawgs!
Nashville Dawg
October 9th, 2009
2:47 pm
Rambo needs to be on the field and start. I he plays much like Eric Berry.
Our linebackers needs to blizt more often instead trying to cover the TE.
On offense, needs more 4 receivers set and uses Logan Gray for the wildcat and give him the option to run or pass.
Cox needs to makes those short quick passes and keep the offense moving.
Let Washaun do his things like Moreno used to do. Run hard and move around.
We should be able to come with the Victory like Auburn did.
CMR
October 9th, 2009
2:49 pm
Guys come on. I know that ever since I was criticized for the touchdown celebration at Florida my testicles have retracted. Since then I have handed over all coaching responsibilities to the water girl who, in my opinion, will lead us to a very respectful 7-5 vanilla season. Let’s face it, I just don’t have time to coach anymore now that Ford, Carpets of Dalton and Lake Lanier are paying by bills. Gotta look out for number one you know! I apologize that my Coordinators will not retire. I would fire them but, dang-it, by testicles are still stuck. Maybe when they get tired of me they will let us all go. And then I can focus on what is most important.. TV advertising.
CMR
October 9th, 2009
2:59 pm
Since we all agree that Georgia is “Ford Country” if anyone wants to give me a free Ford truck that would be great. I tried getting a free lot and dock from Kroger Marina on Lake Hartwell but the idiots wanted me to do some advertising for them.. Can you believe the nerve? Let’s face it, I am only one man. All you so called “Dawg Fans” who spend wads of cash on tickets, gas, tailgating equipment (beer), flags, shirts, ponchos for those rainy days, alumni assoc dues and losing bets to friends can well, get over it. Not to mention the amount of time you spend reading articles on recruits, coming to spring games, practice reports, etc.. Get over yourselves. This is my team and I will be mediocre until something better comes along.
PS. The water girl is predicting a great game on Saturday. 24-17 Tenn. Looks to be another close one. At least we are in the chase right?
Gratefuldawghead
October 9th, 2009
3:09 pm
CMR…You need to worry about FSU this weekend and stop Obsessing over the DAWGS!
GO DAWGS!!!
NewnanDawg
October 9th, 2009
3:11 pm
Nashville – definately agree on Rambo – would be nice if we can do some of the others.
CMR – way to be uninformed, Richt started agreeing to some of the promotions to donate the money to the charities he supports.
Go Dawgs!
SavNolaDawg
October 9th, 2009
3:15 pm
Thank you NewnanDawg for clearing that up.
Shankit
October 9th, 2009
3:19 pm
Georgia has the vehicle, it just doesn’t have the
Mo Kanic or Pit Crew to tune it where it will perform.
water girl
October 9th, 2009
3:20 pm
So now it’s ok to lose games for lack of coaching if you are giving the money that takes you away from said coaching to charity?
Dang, I need to start focusing on my own charitable contributions so I can tell my boss that the reasy I haven’t exactly produced up to expectations is bc I have been philanthropic.
Poor excuse.
water girl
October 9th, 2009
3:22 pm
And I thought charity came from the heart. I didn’t know that a second form of income was needed in order to give.
NewnanDawg
October 9th, 2009
3:30 pm
water girl………. who will never come close to the class of the real water girl,
If you look above at my way too long winded 2:46 post, you will find that I can and will be be critical of coaching decisions. However, I will never be critical of the Richt’s choices when it comes to giving. They were already giving an unusally high percentage of their income away and still wanted to do more. I have seen this first hand in working with several charities, so your comments are assinine.
I certainly thinnk Richt has to make some changes as far as coaching staff and even his lack of fire about it in interviews, but personal disrespect for him is completely unfounded.
Go Dawgs & Thank You to Coach Richt for all that he and Kathryn do for others off the field!
NewnanDawg
October 9th, 2009
3:44 pm
Oh and one more thing water moron,
There is this nifty thing caleed prerecording. I know it may be hard for you to understand, but those ads were recorded during the off season, and took very little time. I for one, am glad that they are unselfish enough with their small amount of free time to work more so that they can help others.
NewnanDawg
October 9th, 2009
3:44 pm
sorry – called, not caleed
Denver Dawg
October 9th, 2009
4:09 pm
I’m Gay
Super Dawg
October 9th, 2009
4:09 pm
I’m Gay too
AltamahaDawg
October 9th, 2009
5:04 pm
Newnandawg, since we have 6 times more toughback than most SEC scools right now, why do you figure they too don’t just kick it out of the back of the endzone? Or the rest of college? Or anyone the pros? I like the idea, seems like a no-brainer, just curious why you think nobody else does it either.
AltamahaDawg
October 9th, 2009
5:05 pm
stick this h somewhere up there.
sowegadawg
October 9th, 2009
5:30 pm
biggest disappointment so far-offensive line play, we are 105 in nation in rushing offense. i certainly thought it would be better with the young but experienced guys we have returning from last year. but the key word there is young. we have the 4th youngest team in sec, per the 2 deep roster, usc is youngest followed by uf(scary), ar and then uga. we have the most sophomores(19), usc most freshmen(17), au most juniors(21) and um most seniors(20). we also have an inexperienced qb. UGA- our better days are ahead, so please lighten up and give this team your support, that will pay more divedends that all the bashing. heck yes it hurts now, but it is pain not injury, play through it.
Einsteindawg
October 9th, 2009
5:40 pm
CMK is the consumate and ultimate politician. AJ is special, and will probably be better than Moss and Owens; however, watch out in Knoxville, AJ. Anyone out there besides me think that Crompton will have Heisman trophy stats against Willie’s defense just like Garcia? Our defense just has a knack for bringing out the best in mediocre qbs. And, does anyone think that Joe Cox could start for another SEC team? ACC? (Maybe NC State or Duke).
St Simons
October 9th, 2009
5:47 pm
I’m gay too! Wow! Coming out of the closet at the “Drop Your Soap” Men’s Bath House is so liberating!
ChipperDoodle
October 9th, 2009
7:14 pm
Anyone who thinks this team is well coached and maximizes its talent has simply taken leave of their senses. Get this ship righted or Richt will lose his job over it eventually. Sorry, but that’s the way it is. The 10-win plateau won’t do any longer, and ironically, it’s Richt that has created this higher expectation. It’s too bad he can’t be the one to take us there. I believe that he is as stubborn about operations as he is loyal to his staff. Why would he cling to this directional kicking, otherwise?
AltamahaDawg
October 9th, 2009
7:17 pm
Chipper what do you consider directional kicking?
Rod
October 9th, 2009
7:33 pm
YOU PEOPLE: I am with you man. They need to get off the bandwagon because Richt is a great coach and real dawg fans want Richt to stay until he retires. FSU hasn’t been the same since he left. Believe this, when Bowden retires FSU is going after Richt and if he takes the job which he will. FSU will gladly buy out Jim BO. All the great UGA recruits will be heading to FSU.
AltamahaDawg
October 9th, 2009
7:35 pm
6 touchbacks
11/28 kicks to at least the endzone
19/28 kick inside the 8
considering 2 kick were intentional pooched, 2 bounced OOB, and 1 was from the 15, that leaves about 2 kicks this whole year that were “directional placed” (4 if you simple cannot beleive, that despite the grimace on his face, Walsh didnt just FU the oob kicks) none if you don’t believe the kicker has hit everyone exactly the way he wanted.
ST.Simmons Cousin was here>>>>
October 9th, 2009
8:05 pm
Hey cuz you still 45-42in everybody?
Shananeeeeeee Fananeeeeeeeee
October 9th, 2009
8:16 pm
Terrell Owens? Ok, so the celebration flag was justified then. Monte, call down to Gainesville and get the secret to stop this guy, the Gators will keep him in check again this year. Scary statistic for Dawg fans: 90’s – Dawgs win 1 against the Gators, 00’s – Dawgs win 2 against the Gators.
Shananeeeeeee Fananeeeeeeeee
October 9th, 2009
8:16 pm
Terrell Owens? Ok, so the celebration flag was justified then. Monte, call down to Gainesville and get the secret to stop this guy, the Gators will keep him in check again this year. Scary statistic for Dawg fans: 90’s – Dawgs win 1 against the Gators, 00’s – Dawgs win 2 against the Gators.
BigMike Said......
October 9th, 2009
8:17 pm
Us Bryan Evans parents paying for this kid to play? He couldn’t cover Grandma Klump, stop Caleb on the run, and defend nothing. The sad part about it is Dawg fans here blogging hadn’t said nothing about hi sorry behind. Get him outta here and replace him with the freshmen Shaun Williams. Bulldog fan if you don’t know this kid is the next T. Davis at safety.
reebok
October 9th, 2009
8:23 pm
Tech fan here. Wow, lots of anger on the blogs tonite…anyway, just wanted to wish The Loyal Opposition good luck tomorrow, I hope you play well and avoid the injury bug…man, what is it with all the concussions lately…? oh yeah, and we’ll see you on The Flats in November.
And may the Football Gods spare both the Dogs and my Jackets from crappy officiating.
AltamahaDawg
October 9th, 2009
8:24 pm
BigMike….I can tell you why nobody is on Evans, because to consider the performance of a player wouldn’t feed the argument that its all……….you get it.
Not a fan of Willie
October 9th, 2009
8:39 pm
To answer all the pros/cons of fairweather fans … fire willie and fabris and all the fans will be back in the boat. Unranked? Penalities? Special teams awful? Spin and make excuses? 5 and 12 against ranked team. Close to last in many, many statistics. Headed to the PaPa John’s Pizza bowl if we’re lucky? Losing at almost certain losses to FLA/Tech/ … maybe to Tenn/Aug … poor bowl play. How does 7-6 possibly look. If we play like we’ve been playing (poor offense/soft defense) … the other teams will be licking their chops to face a very weak and poorly coached Georgia team. Fire willie and fabris now….. it would change the landscape of the entire football program.
HERBIE
October 9th, 2009
9:20 pm
dawgfan you suck and you are a loser
mkrob.com
October 9th, 2009
9:20 pm
A.J. Green isn’t big or physical enough to be like Terrell Owens, but Randy Moss is a great comparison, slender build, great leaping ability, very nice hands and deceptive speed.
HERBIE
October 9th, 2009
9:21 pm
all you willie and fabris haters go get a life because you can coach better than they can
HERBIE
October 9th, 2009
9:23 pm
Enter your comments here
DawgFan
October 9th, 2009
9:53 pm
HERBIE – whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you…there. You people need to wake up
Jack Schitt
October 9th, 2009
10:58 pm
Top 3 Reasons UT will beat UGA on Saturday………..
3. Mark Richt called for multiple excessive celebration penalites while doing Soulja Boy dance after UGA
goes 3 & out on every possession in first half
2. UT mascot, Smokey, bits Joe Cox in the nads during warm-ups taking him out of the game.
1. And the # 1 reason UT beats UGA on Saturday……..Lane Kiffin has UT receivers dress in UGA jerseys
and Crompton completes 28 out of 28 passes!!!