Offensive line: Starting a summer series of synopses up front
I’m on vacation, so the UGA blog is on quasi-hiatus. But rather than shutting down entirely, I thought we could use this lull for a leisurely look at the 2010 football team. I put together synopses of the various position groups, and one will post each weekday. Then the floor will be yours — at least those of you not on a beach somewhere. I hope everyone has a great summer. Just 82 days, by the way, until the season opener between the hedges.
THE OFFENSIVE LINE
- Returning starters: LT Clint Boling, LG Cordy Glenn, C Ben Jones, RG Chris Davis and RT Josh Davis.
- Others to watch: Trinton Sturdivant and Tanner Strickland are due back from knee and shoulder injuries, respectively, and redshirt freshman Chris Burnette could make his presence felt.
- Key losses: All of the players who started at the end of last season are back, but one player with starting experience graduated (Vince Vance) and another shifted to the defensive line (Justin Anderson).
- Key fact: Georgia’s roster boasts players who have started an impressive total of 155 collegiate games on the O-line –- 38 by C. Davis, 36 by Boling, 23 by Glenn, 23 by Jones, 14 by Sturdivant, 12 by Anderson and 9 by J. Davis.
- Key fact II: Georgia had double the rushing yardage per game in the final seven games last season as in the first six –- improvement that coincided with a reconfiguring of the line when J. Davis took over at RT.
- Key question: Will Sturdivant, who has missed almost all of the past two seasons with knee injuries, be able to pick up where he left off as a freshman and reclaim his spot on the starting unit? (The latest from Mark Richt is that Sturdivant’s rehab has gone extremely well, that he should be ready for preseason practice and that there’s every reason to expect the best for him and from him.)
- Recent developments: Boling had arthroscopic surgery to “clean up” an ankle but is expected to resume full workouts soon. Glenn was a dominating player in spring practice, which culminated with him being named Offensive MVP.
- Outlook: Excellent. If the unit stays relatively healthy for the first time in three years, it should be the strength of the team. And it needs to be.
- Your turn: What say you about the offensive line?
Tomorrow: wide receivers.
Click here for Georgia’s latest football depth chart.
And please follow @ajcuga on Twitter for the latest on the Bulldogs all summer.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
158 comments Add your comment
Frank Lane
June 14th, 2010
6:25 am
I would rather have the best offensive line in the conference than the best running backs, the best quarterback, the best receivers, whatever. Hopefully they will stay healthy.
Big L
June 14th, 2010
6:33 am
Ak anyone who knows anything about football. The game is won up front on the line. Gonna be awesome.
Bulldog59
June 14th, 2010
6:37 am
Frank and Big L, agreed, the game is won in the trenches, and CMR knows that as well as anyone.
Spike
June 14th, 2010
6:41 am
These guys should be steamrollers. If they don’t get hurt or arrested between now and when the season starts, this O line should dominate. They need to sknock off the false start penalties. A line with this experience and with King, Ealy and the others our running game should click and help Murray. I know, a lot of “ifs” and “shoulds”. Just my two cents.
Tide Roll
June 14th, 2010
6:57 am
The Starters should be Sturdivant, Glenn, Burnette, Anderson and Davis. This group compares favorably to Florida,s starting Offensive line of Xavier Nixon, Carl Johnson, Mike Pouncey, Maurice Hurt and Marcus Gilbert. Thses types of athletes have been a large part of Florida’s domination of Uga through the years. Richt’s problem at UGA always been his offensive line and his personnel decisions. Moving Kiante Tripp and now Justin Anderson are collossal mistakes. Just follow Florida’s model and win instead of going against the laws of nature and continuing to lose. It’s an arrogant and stubborn stance by Richt and Bobo and continues to cost Uga football games. It makes you wonder what the real purpose behind these kids not playing is.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
June 14th, 2010
7:01 am
Should be a solid O-line to help Murray get his feet wet. Add that to experienced WRs/Rbs- Offense should be great!!
82Dawg
June 14th, 2010
7:06 am
Tide Roll …if you are such an expert why don’t you go apply for the job?
dawgerbrown
June 14th, 2010
7:09 am
Here’s hoping this group stays healthy. It would have been interesting to see what Staffortd could have done had he ever had a healthy, experienced line. The success of this unit is the key to the season along with the defense. Now, let’s get some of these “big uglies” committed for this incoming 2011 class. We’ve got some outstanding athletes coming in, but, we need the hogs to clear the way.
JB
June 14th, 2010
7:25 am
Tide Roll is another quality example of a gut that obviously pays no attention to other teams. Sheeesh!
That said, this should be the best OL in the league. Time will tell. If it is and Murray can just be decent, will will score often and regularly.
HBTD!!!
Tide Roll
June 14th, 2010
7:31 am
I give up! Do Georgia fans not want to win. You’re considered one of the most under acheiving progams in America by everyone but yourselves! You’re being dominated by Florida (97-20 the last two years!) because of their offensive line personnel vs. yours. You trailed Alabma 31-0 at half for the very same reason. You have the personnel on campus to alleviate the problem and either refuse to play them or move them to defense ! To hell with georgia. May you get what you deserve.
Mr D
June 14th, 2010
7:34 am
Tide roll, you are absolutely correct. 100%. But you don’t buy that Boling & Jones are the 2 best ol’s on the team??
Tide Roll
June 14th, 2010
7:43 am
Thank you Mr. D. at the risk of getting waylayed, I think they are two of the most over-rated ol’s on the team. Burnette is better than Jones right now and will only get better with time. Boling continues to kill you with holding calls, and should be replaced by Sturdivant There is no way Boling is better than James Carpenter another offensive lineman from georgia now anchoring Bama’s left side, and instrumental in our win over Texas. By the way, rumer has it that Sentrel Henderson is transferring from USC to Florida. Easily the top Ol in America last year.
FBR
June 14th, 2010
7:57 am
Should be solid. To win in the SEC, you need 1-good offensive line play 2-good defensive line play and 3-good special teams play. Let’s hope we’ll have all of these this fall—I think we’ll need them against S.C.
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2010
7:59 am
Tide roll, not only the sole expert on the Georgia offensive line, but also knows what everybody in America thinks.
destin dawg
June 14th, 2010
8:07 am
we’ve got great talent at skill positions !! need to work on basics… line play.. tackling, special teams.. I think Grantham, Belin, Lagotoes, will be a big improvement !!!!
Monticello Dawg
June 14th, 2010
8:15 am
Many are saying this is the best O-line in the SEC. And we were able to move Anderson and Tripp to defense due to the depth we have piled up on offense. As knowledgeable fans are aware, out 08 offensive line was in a shambles due to large number of injuries. The offensive line last year was one of the least of our problems. We were done in mainly by an inconsistent defense and a terrible turnover ration.
One, two, free, fo, fi, them der Gator don't take no jive!
June 14th, 2010
8:16 am
Tide Roll is the foremost expert on offensive line talent in the country. LOL!
Seriously, o-line should be a strength for the Dawgs this year. Hope Sturdivant stays healthy. It’s a shame to see such a promising career continuously hampered by injuries.
Good luck Dawgs and see ya in Jax.
amelia isl.mike
June 14th, 2010
8:32 am
Tide roll obviously doesnt like Jones cuz he defected from L.A. (lower Alabama) Jones has been Steller. No complaints about his play. Why shouldnt he continue to Start. Burnett may also slide in at guard. Hes very intelligent and has size. And Burnett is a solid #2 center. No way he should start over Jones at center.
Bulldog
June 14th, 2010
8:39 am
Has UGA been recruiting well on OL to lessen the dropoff in quality/experience as these guys graduate?
Jim Tressell
June 14th, 2010
8:45 am
Tide Roll – you have spoken to quick and revealed your real weakness – stupidity and ignorance. Mr. Henderson is going to USC because he will not be released by Kiffin and if he is able to manage a release, he will be coming to Buckeye Land.
You should leave the UGA team alone because clearly you have no idea what you are talking about. Why do they care what your assessment is of their program? Why do you know so much about their program? Are you cheating on your name? I happen to be friends with Mr. Richt and you guys will be sorry because he is adapting and changing down there in A-town. I suspect I might be meeting him for the BCS Championship soon, which hopefully turn out different than when I played Florida or LSU.
It will be simple – the Big Ten is changing and will own your ass in the future. So you should study up on OSU…. Also – is Saban still at Alabama and it is about time he left to go somewhere else isn’t it? My guess – he probably quits this year or next..
BullyMack
June 14th, 2010
8:50 am
Roll Tide come on. It’s a conspiracy that Justin Anderson had problems with the playbook on the OL? I recall reading Tripp is happier now at D-End finally. He looked good at G-Day too. If he was the best we had on the OL he would have stayed there, same for Bean. Guess what, they weren’t. Sheesh. How could you possibly surmise that Burnette, who has yet to play a collegiate down, is better than Ben Jones who has been making all conference teams who also BTW handled Mount Cody admirably as a Freshman? No need for facts, it’s a conspiracy to keep them off the field right?
turkeycaller
June 14th, 2010
8:50 am
Key to the season will be how OF line handles opposing defensive schemes. I know we have the experience and skill at those positions but still question how effective they can be as a unit. Seemed we didn’t really click on all cylinders on the OF line last year when situations involved guards pulling on running plays that were misdirectional and looked lacking on pass protection in several games. Maybe experience and continued work has alleviated many of the problem areas but until we have actually played 3 to 4 games we won’t really know how things stack up.Regardless of hopes, it is going to be difficult for an untested qb to guide the ship unless our strength is the OF line. I am as hopeful as anyone that Murray will grow and mature into the leader the team needs. Despite fears regarding timelines for the new defense, I really feel more motivation provided by the new coaching staff will put some new spark into things. This has been missing for a while. Elimination of stupid penalties from celebrating and late hits, taunting and other boneheaded maladies hopefully will be behind us. Another plus is our entire kicking game which is certainly good enough to be relied upon not only for points but also helping control field position. Ga. usually does a good job with the kicking game year after year and this is an especially talented unit. The fact we will actually kick the ball into the end zone can’t do anything but help in relation to the boneheaded, senseless approach that was taken last season. Can’t believe we kept on and on with a mindless strategy that never worked and downplayed one of the team;s strengths. The defense did lose some folks but I think we will be hitting hard and playing more of a game flow defense that in past seasons. Excited and willing to let this team grow and watch the momentum going forward each week. Don’t kid ourselves. Each game is important and no one game is more important than the next one. I want to beat TN and Fla but the other games have to be as important for us to be in the SEC hunt. Go Dawgs.
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2010
8:51 am
I wouldn’t say the line was the “least” of the ‘09 problems. Maybe not the most visually obvious. When a DB bothes coverage, or a QB throws an int., you see the mistake, but in terms of doing your job, that’s no worse than an OL misses the block that caused the 3rd down play to fail. It’s just not as visual. As the article points out, the first half of the season we did not have a running game. Inability to pick up yards is not a TO or poor defense issue. I would argue that (while those 2 were big problems) the inability to run the ball set up and contributed TO those problem. In fact given a choice of one of the three, I would pick a more solid run blocking fix. That would, without a doubt, help solve the other two, and I don’t know if you can really know that going the other way.
It’s probably worth pointing out that part of the issue early on running the ball was in the backfield, and not totally on the OL.
BullyMack
June 14th, 2010
8:53 am
Hey Tressel, wake me up when you beat an SEC team. BTW, you spelled your name wrong. I may not agree with Roll Tide but we can certainly agree that the Suckeyes are chumps. The crap teams you are adding will still get their arse handed to them head to head with the SEC. Period.
1eyedJack
June 14th, 2010
9:04 am
Sounds like Roll Tide is harboring a grudge against Boling and C. Davis ’cause they’re light tan…and Ben Jones cause he left Alabammer.
Adonisdaking
June 14th, 2010
9:04 am
Why I Repeat Why Do NON-GEORGIA FANS OR SUPPORTERS CONTINUE TO COMMENT ON THINGS THEY DONT KNOW!…UGA Is A Program On The Rise I Assure U!…We Will Win The SEC and A NC…Soon…The Talent..Coaches…and Pedigree Of Players We Are Putting Together Will Only Bring On Much Success…Also CMR is 3-1 Against Alabama! We Beat U All In Tuscaloosa!…Florida Needs To Bring The Game To Atlanta!…Switch Out Home Games Cause If Its In Jacksonville Thats Still Considered The State Of Florida….
ga gator
June 14th, 2010
9:06 am
Well said BullyMack.
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2010
9:08 am
turkeycaller, I think you have it pretty wrapped up. Dead on with all of that, except that you seem to think we didnt kick the ball deep last year on the KO. Actually we were top the league in touchbacks, by FAR, and the vast majority of the KO were inside the 5 yard line at worst. Nobody in the league was kicking it any deeper than UGA, and as I saw several including the “I run the special teams” Meyer specifically DID utilize the high directional kick that place the ball much shorter than we did.
Now getting down there and tackling the guy with the ball was another matter.
ga gator
June 14th, 2010
9:09 am
Adonis, the site in jax means nothing except to the fans. Both teams travel. UGA flys in about an hour. UF travels by bus in about an hour. Both teams arrive on Friday afternoon and workout in the Stadium. Quit making excuses; Vince Dooley never did and he owned UF. All that said, I wouldn’t mind home and home.
TampaGator
June 14th, 2010
9:24 am
Georgia will go as far as the OL next year…and that is potentially very far. Georgia’s running game could be the best in the SEC and, if Murray plays well, they are a contender for the SEC East title. Georgia and FLorida have the two best OLs in the SEC East, no doubt. It should be a very good game in Jax this year. But, of course, Florida wins.
One, two, free, fo, fi, them der Gator don't take no jive!
June 14th, 2010
9:27 am
ga gator,
I’m from Jax and grew up watching ole Vince beat us down with great regularity. That being said, I’d be for making it home and home. Sanford stadium is a great venue to take in a ballgame.
Looks to be an exciting season ahead.
Good luck to all!
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2010
9:37 am
I agree, “stop making excuses”. The better team wins in J-ville, with very rare exceptions and that would still be true if the every single game was in Athens. (and be a million dollar a year poorer)
ga gator
June 14th, 2010
9:41 am
Altamahdawg, I dont agree that the best team has always won in Jax. There were quite a few games in the 70’s and 80’s that UGA won despite UF having more talent, just as there have been quite a few since 1990 when UGA had the superior team and lost. It has been a series of amazing streaks depending on who was in who’s head. Currently UF is in UGA’s head, but it won’t be forever.
Zeb
June 14th, 2010
9:45 am
Hey Alt, I guess I’m gonna have to cut the Tide fans some slack from now on. My oldest son will be starting his matriculation career there in a couple of months. He would’ve gone to UGA, but they don’t have a wheelchair basketball program. Anyway, I’m a proud papa and will pull for UA except when they play the Dawgs.
On to our O-line………if this bunch can’t open some holes, then something’s rotten in Denmark. Playing either side of the line is not just about size, strength, or pure athleticism. A lot of us on here understand the concept of cohesion, and that affords these guys the opportunity to execute like a well oiled machine. The most successful lines in football do this because each individual knows the blocking assignments of the whole group on any given play.
It’s gonna be a long, hot summer and I’m chompin at the bit to get this football show on the road.
jason
June 14th, 2010
9:51 am
The biggest “IF” of the season is the OL remaining healthy for the entire season. Every season for the past 5 or so, UGA has had huge problems keeping the OL healthy. It forces youngsters like Ben Jones having to play early. If and I say IF Sturdivant is healthy and dominate as he was as a Frosh, the OL will fall into place. The past few seasons UGA’s Ol has looked like a MLB BP when relievers don’t know therir roles. Once the OL is established with starters, the reserves will fall into place. The one good thing about all the injuries is that UGA has alot of OL with game experience, and there should be no Continuity problems as everyone has played with each other.
76-Dawg
June 14th, 2010
9:53 am
Sturdivant is the most dominate offensive lineman UGA has if he can stay healthy. He has only played in 12 games ,i think, but I watched him a lot when he was playing and nobody playing against him could match his upper body strength. If he can stay healthy for the next two years , he will be a 1st round draft choice two years from now.
Chipper Jones
June 14th, 2010
10:00 am
The key to the OL staying healthy is to avoid ring finger injuries.
Rome Dawg
June 14th, 2010
10:05 am
If Roll Tide is such an expert on UGA’s O-line, how come he doesn’t know that Sturdivant would’ve been the starter the past two years except for injury? Yes, Sturdivant may be the best lineman on the unit (though I think Glenn should be poised for a breakout year), but he needs to stay healthy. There’s no conspiracy to keep him off the field. Having said all of that, if our O-line satys fairly healthy but doesn’t produce at a high level this season, then there may need to be some changes at the coaching level.
JC in Powder Springs
June 14th, 2010
10:31 am
Hey Tide roll. Need to go back and learn something about football before advising others. Boling has been the steadiest and arguably best O-lineman since joining the Dawgs – he’ll be a 4 year starter this season. Per fl, they shift players to new positions frequently. Didn’t Pouncey fill in on the D-line as a frosh when fl had injuries? Patchan too? Wasn’t their starting TE recruited as a QB? FB Pridemore was a LB? DT Marsh was a TE?
Bucket
June 14th, 2010
10:33 am
I just love comments from posters like Tide Roll. Do you guys really believe that CMR just wants to lose? Do you really believe that he keeps guys on the bench that he knows are better than the people who are in the game? How exactly does the conversation between CMR and CMB go? “Look Mike, I know that Tripp is our best option @ tackle, but we are going to move him to defense so that we can get killed by Florida and Alabama and so that all the arm-chair QBs can kill us on the AJC blogs.” Really?
BurningRedBleedingBlack
June 14th, 2010
10:34 am
GA Gator, i agree with you. I was talking with my father about the series between the Gator and Dawg. He said the same thing. Right now its hard being a Dawg fan in that series. The Gators are on top right now. Things don’t always stay the same i.e. Southern Cal. Too think that one team will dominate forever is foolish. I think Uga will be on top again soon and win some games down the strecth against the gators. I however don’t think the days of dominating years after year will happen like the old days for either team. I really feel we will have alot of close, great football games down in Jax. Good luck to your team next year, And like i always tell my friends, you never know whats gonna happen down in jax, thats what makes this rival game one of the best. Go DAWGS
harold
June 14th, 2010
10:51 am
THIS IS QUITE POSSIBLY THE WEAKEST LINE IN THE SEC. LAST YEAR, FLORIDA,TENNESSEE,AND EVEN KENTUCKY JUST HAD THESE GUYS BACK PEDDLEING AS IF TO SAY……..OHHHHHH CRAP! ALL ARE VASTLY OVER WEIGHT. THERE IS NO MEAN STREAK IN THEM. AHHHH…..TO HAVE A BIG HUGE OFFENSIVE LINE LIKE ALABAMA ( MOUNT CODY), AND FLORIDA! OF COURSE GEORGIA FOOTBALL IS AVERAGE COMPARED TO ALABAMA AND FLORIDA!
dawgs01
June 14th, 2010
10:55 am
I just hope we start off rolling. Last yr we ended hot, but look at the defenses we played. They were horrible defenses some of the worst in the country outside of Florida. We played Vandy, Tenn. Tech, Kent.,Auburn-had no depth, Ga. Tech-horrible on defense, T A&M-they knew they had to outscore us. So i want us to dominate a good defense like S. Carolina that is the only way we will win that game. The OLine has to take control. S.C. will be ready and that stadium will be rockin. They feel like it is their yr. That game could determine our season and their season, and it scares the hell out of me.
Bucket
June 14th, 2010
10:57 am
Uh, Harold, Cody played on the DEFENSIVE line for Alabama.
tide roll
June 14th, 2010
11:08 am
Thank you Harold. If bean anderson is the big and powerful man that Richt says he is, then why is Chris Davis starting ahead of him. if Davis is bigger and more powerful than Bean (which he obviously isn’t) then start davis at nose tackle. I’m tired of these Bobo like good ole boy asessments that a kid “can’t pick up the system”, or “can’t read the playbook” is this some recent discovery? They should have never recruited the kid in the first place, and he certainly shouldn’t still be in school if that is the case. The truth is it”s the reason Uga coaches always give to start one particular type of player over another. Know what I mean? Until that attitude changes, (and it never will) Uga will continue to be what it is: the most over-rated team in America.
tide roll
June 14th, 2010
11:14 am
Also, if Sturdivant is healthy, there is no way, based on the history of uga football, that he starts over Boling. These idiots are going to bench Josh Davis!
RDR
June 14th, 2010
11:16 am
I smell another championship!
DAWGS 2010
June 14th, 2010
11:22 am
Harold you are an idiot,UGA O-line is the best in SEC.Watch and see how the Dawgs pound the rock this year,Murray will also have a great year because he has more weapons to throw to than any team is SEC.UGA will contend foe SEC east title,AJ Green must stay healthy.GO DAWGS
1eyedJack
June 14th, 2010
11:22 am
tide roll, don’t worry about us, we’ll start the best five each week.
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2010
11:29 am
Zeb, I predict your son will have a fine college career. I don’t have a problem with U of Alabama either. The truth is that between the 2 schools, the differnce is zip codes where you were born. You could probably flip the two flag including the fan base and not notice the difference.
I do have an issue with the Bama fans that hang out too much in a UGA blog, but I have a feeling that has less to do with actual school alliances and more about broader personality issues. Don’t particularly care for some of the dawg fans in here either.
italian_29
June 14th, 2010
11:39 am
Harold that weak OL ran all over your BUGS last year, we know you are a BUG fan, go back to the GIT blogs and quit playing with your pocket protector. 30-24 because you know it still hurts you!
dawgfan
June 14th, 2010
11:52 am
I’ve heard hype about our O-line before and then a couple of guys go down and we’re screwed. I’ll believe it when I see it. A couple of key injuries and all that preseason mag hype won’t be worth more than toilet paper.
Pesonally, I think spotty O-line play has held back Richt’s offenses from being truly great instead of just good. I’d like to see a little more emphasis there in recruiting. Its great that we sign guys that run 4.2 forties but they aren’t that fast lying flat on their ass. Somebody needs to black for them.
Thanks.
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2010
11:54 am
ga gator, “with very rare exceptions” is not the same as “always”. That’s why I made the specific caveat. I still think if you look at that series throughout the decades, the occurance that an upset occured is equal to, or less than, any home and home series in the conference. Even a look at the games in the 70 and 80, keeping in mind the oft-turmoiled state of the gator program in general, most (most) outcomes were predictable on paper. That was my point: that moving the game changes nothing.
But even conceeding to your comment, all the more reason for UGA to play in J’Ville, because if so, the history of the underdog prevailing would be slanted our way.
TheWad
June 14th, 2010
11:56 am
Now you are a nationwide expert on the perception of Ga football? Ga football is considered one of the most underachieving programs in the nation? Whta the hell was Al for the 10+ years before Saban came along?
441 North
June 14th, 2010
12:03 pm
If we get by Carolina in Columbia, we could easily be 8-0 going into Jacksonville.
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2010
12:10 pm
It’s a shame that in the door to door national research that many of our devoted trolls seem to have conducted, they didn’t just include the question: How many people in your household? That could have saved the govenment a lot of money.
San Francisco Dawg
June 14th, 2010
12:15 pm
The true beneficiary of having a great offensive line will be Murray..I predict a lot of play action calls, tight end screens and balls thrown into the flats…this will force defensive coaches to play close to the line and then…AJ Green touchdowns!!
MaconKnight
June 14th, 2010
12:19 pm
Let’s just wait and see this year… we all know how things turned out last year when all of you media types pumped the O-LINEMEN head’s up… NEXT TOPIC!!!!!!!!
Lunchtime links: Vols’ ticket sales down | SportsTalk South
June 14th, 2010
12:22 pm
[...] Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution takes a closer look at Georgia’s offensive line entering the 2010 [...]
jason
June 14th, 2010
12:24 pm
The OL has been good to great the past few years. Injuries have depleted the depth and forced youngsters to have to play early. it will remain the same this season. If the starting 5 stay healthy UGA will dominate in the run game and play action. If not, the offense will struggle as it has the past 2 seasons until Searles finds the right combination. Funny thing, we have about 8 or so OL who have been playing together 2 years or more, there should be no issues finding the right combination if injuries do occur.
Lunchtime links: Vols’ ticket sales down | Hog Country Online
June 14th, 2010
12:27 pm
[...] Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution takes a closer look at Georgia’s offensive line entering the 2010 [...]
Get Tough and Stop the Excuses
June 14th, 2010
1:11 pm
“The physical aspect of the work includes strength training, cardiovascular endurance, speed training, flexibility and agility improvement, and nutritional consultation. These things not only help the athlete perform at a higher level, but also aid in preventing injuries, and will allow the athletes to remain on the competitive field of play.” ……. Ok This is part of UGA’s mission statement concerning strength and conditioning. The preventing injuries really jumps out. CMR… its time to produce and halt the slide which also includes the barrage of excuses of these last few years. Its time to stop getting blown away by both Florida and Tennessee. Its also time to quit hanging on for dear life against the Vandy’s, Kentucky’s UAB’’s and S. Carolina’s of college football.
Bulldog59
June 14th, 2010
1:27 pm
Tide Roll has been doing a cut/paste of the same comment concerning Georgia’s OL, over and over and over, pasting in every blog he can find for at least the last several weeks.
Amazing how simple it is, not sure why CMR and Coach Searels don’t take his advice on personnel decisions.
My advice, when you see a comment from Tide Roll that begins “The Starters should be…” scroll down quickly.
SavannahDawg
June 14th, 2010
1:29 pm
Got to remember the tight ends on our blocking schemes too!!
droopydawg
June 14th, 2010
1:33 pm
Frank Lane (first comment) is absolutely right. A great OL can make mediocre skill position players and a mediocre QB look good. Since we have (much) better than mediocre players, a great line should lead to us having a good offense, even if it takes a while for Murray to get a feel for playing in the SEC.
This season is starting to look good as long as we take to the 3-4 defense relatively well in the first year.
droopydawg
June 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
Good point SavannahDawg: we have great TEs too.
Urban Meyer
June 14th, 2010
1:36 pm
What’s there to say, this is the deepest, most talented and possibly most dominate offensive line in the country. Oh sorry, that was one of last years comments.
Lunchtime links: Vols’ ticket sales down | theSPORTSpage Arkansas
June 14th, 2010
1:44 pm
[...] Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution takes a closer look at Georgia’s offensive line entering the 2010 [...]
Urban Meyer
June 14th, 2010
1:49 pm
What’s there to say, this is the deepest, most talented and possibly most dominate offensive lines in the country. Oh sorry, that was one of last years comments.
maddawg
June 14th, 2010
1:49 pm
I am very optimistic about the o-line for this year but I can’t help but think that this was supposed to be a strength the last 2 years and was actually a weakness. we did get it together the last 3 or 4 games last year. That being said, with the returning talent and the stock pile at TE if the defense comes together (we have the talent on that side) this could be a great year!!!
GOOOOO DAWGS….SIC EM!
Adonisdaking
June 14th, 2010
1:49 pm
Our Offensive Line Will Be A Strong Part All Are Returning Starters and They Are Going To Come In Like They Left Off Last Year Running The Ball Well..OT Clint Boling | 6-5, 304, Sr., 3V / OG Cordy Glenn | 6-5, 329, Jr., 2V / C Ben Jones | 6-3, 298, Jr., 2V / OG Chris Davis | 6-4, 295, Sr., 3V / 78 Josh Davis | 6-6, 305, Sr., 3V…..The Offensive Line Is Full Of Jr’s and Sr’s….We Will Surpass Expectations This Year…
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2010
1:57 pm
Good call out of Savannah. Figgins being out really turned that position into a WR just trying to get in somebodies way during the run instead of an actual blocking lineman that can catch the ball as well. I assume our young TE’s have made some progress with thier blocking skills by now but we certainly had to work around that at times last year.
How2fish
June 14th, 2010
2:00 pm
harold,harold..please take the meds. Baring injury the O line should be very good this year..if we can get past SC healthy we could be in for a very good year.
ryan
June 14th, 2010
2:03 pm
http://edgeteamsports.com/
NRBQ
June 14th, 2010
2:04 pm
TideRoll:
When you have to stoop to Harold to find an ally for your opinion, it’s time to call in the dogs and whiz on the fire. The argument’s over.
How2fish
June 14th, 2010
2:04 pm
Urban Meyer no need to apologize..with the high powered meds your on, one year just sorta melds into another…but what ya going to do, coping without Tebow has got to be tough.
PTC DAWG
June 14th, 2010
2:07 pm
rival fans on blogs…always a HOOT!!
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2010
2:19 pm
Actually maddawg, going into 2008 the OLine was the listed area of possible concerns in the preseason rundowns. Sturdivant got a lot of talk, but I don’t recall folks saying that our very young line was a stregnth overall. (other than the normal assumptions that any big school “should” have that covered) And even thinking it might have been, the line that ended the season didn’t look anything like it did in the summer.
As I recall the 2009 optimism was based on the fact that since we had played so many different linemen, we had to be more experienced. More experienced…? yes, but for all the wrong reasons.
You would have to think that this year some of that starts to pay off. Very few of them missed the spring, (as they had in 2009) and most of them are more physically mature and 3rd year players now.
tide roll
June 14th, 2010
2:21 pm
Scroll down! if I listed Austin Long, Kolton houston ben jones, tanner stricland and jonathan owens you all would be clamoring for heights weights and times. It’s high time uga stops this non-sense and starts playing the athletes that give them the best chance to win, mnamly Sturdivant, Glenn, Burnette, Anderson and Davis
Urban Meyer
June 14th, 2010
2:32 pm
Actually AltamahaDawg, you have no idea what your talking about. Most preseason publications, and for goodness sake every DAWG report I had to stomach in 2009, had Georgia tabbed as one of the best OL in the country. Here is just one report from Athlon:
http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/16915/2009-best-units-offensive-line
It was considered by just about everyone to be the strength of their team. Funny think about print media AltamahaDawg, you can run but you can’t hide.
BrokeBackJacket
June 14th, 2010
2:51 pm
IF Sturdivant is back 100% healthy is will be UGA’s best starting OL….PERIOD…he was his freshman year. If Strickland is healthy he will play and play well!
As a result of an unusually injuries which caused CSS to play lots of our OL’s at different positions..that will be an added strength.
I am not as brilliant at knowing as much about football as Tide Roll (I guess CMR planned Sturdivant’s injuries so he could replace him with another player of his choosing)!
BTW Tide Roll…why do you sit and troll blogs all day when it is painfully obvious that with your infinite wisdom and expertise about college football? You obviously should have a job in coaching knocking down somewhere between 500,000 and 3 mil a year……IDIOT!
Berzerk8dawg
June 14th, 2010
3:00 pm
If our oline just cuts the penalties in half from last year and gets better they will be very good. ALso we have alot of depth to work with.
mike loves mandy
June 14th, 2010
3:02 pm
i quit reading Tide Roll when i saw that he could not
spell “rumor” correctly…
Bulldog59
June 14th, 2010
3:18 pm
Mike loves Mandy, I should have done the same!
Bulldog59
June 14th, 2010
3:23 pm
Just an FYI. Lemay met with the school board today, decision in 7-10 days.
How2fish
June 14th, 2010
3:26 pm
Urban Meyer your MEDS did it again you just melded the years together. AltamahaDawg was referring to 2008 and you were looking at 2009 big difference as far as the chatter about the O line. Your not driving I hope? .
FLA DAWG
June 14th, 2010
3:43 pm
Most Dawg Fans do not realize that Herschel ran behind one of the best College Offensive Lines in the country for three years. I don’t mean to take anything away from Herschel – he was the best, but a very good O Line and some runners (which we have) The Dawgs just need to develop a passing game which will take some time with a kid who never took a college game snap.
Don’t look for much out of Sturdivant. At best he’ll have an impact halfway through the season. You don’t miss two straight seasons and come in strong the first game. But I hope I’m wrong. He has great potential.
KnoxDawg
June 14th, 2010
3:48 pm
Whatever happened to Austin Long, the highly regarded recruit from the state of Tennessee?
1eyedJack
June 14th, 2010
4:15 pm
KnoxDawg
Back surgery last year.
Pope UGA XXIII
June 14th, 2010
4:37 pm
This is where the offense has to look to “get the ball game going”.
Believe that’s exactly what will happen this year in Athens. For
confirmation of what a strong O-line will do, please contact Head
Coach Paul Johnson at the North Avenue Trade School in Atlanta.
turkeycaller
June 14th, 2010
4:48 pm
Don’t rely too much on Sturdivant as evidenced by his past injury record. Could help and even be a big help but you must admit the obvious. He hasn’t played much for two seasons and that should be a concern. Ga. will run a balanced offense if Murray shows he is conscious of the ball. I think we will need to utilize both rushing and passing for either one to be consistently effective. Think you will see some things that have been missing from Richt on offense such as that quick slant across the middle and again,dependant on Murray’s performance, more play action than we have shown in a while. Altamaha, I don’t remember many deep kickoffs. I remember the frustration I felt when we kicked off with so many short directional attempts allowing opponents great field position time after time. Don’t know how things will shape up and fall but there is a good chance of seeing a quality team develop for us.
Urban Meyer
June 14th, 2010
4:55 pm
How2fish, your such a blinded Dawg homer. Do you know how long we’ve been hearing the offensive line at Georgia is supposed to be good? Even your fellow Dawg fans on this post are bringing it up. Insult all you want but remember “running back by committee”, “deepest most talented OL in the country”, “the 3/4 is the defense.” The story lines get spun every season and the Dawgy fans lap up the Kool-Aid, it’s just comical to the outside observer. You’re the Clemson fans of the SEC. Your team has gone undefeated once and your fan base is on undefeated season 17, ha!
CHDawg
June 14th, 2010
5:14 pm
Folks,
I agree that the key to 10 is the O line. We simply don’t know how good they are…Urb wanna be is right about the line being trumpeted last year, and they just weren’t as good as they were expected to be. I didn’t think they looked that great in the Spring game. Having said that, they were still very young last year, and they do have the potential to be dominant, imo. As I said a few weeks ago, if they are dominant, the Dawgs dominate, if they are just good (like the end of last year), then we have a good, but not great season. We will see in a few months. Let’s hope they are dominant…
Bruce Mac
June 14th, 2010
5:19 pm
TIde Roll, shouldn’t you be buzy pollishing that crystal trophy and stroking Coach Saban on BAMMER.COM. Why do you care what goes on in Athens?. Please take Harold with you as he too adds nothiing and makes absolutely no sense.
Dawgforlife
June 14th, 2010
5:21 pm
roll tide…are you saying the o-line starters are chosen based on race?…statements like “know what I mean”…wink wink and..”going against the laws of nature” make it sound as though you think UGA purposely snubs black players…well, lets see…Green, Wooten, King, Glenn, Ealey, Vance, Boykin, Rambo, White, Charles, Cuff, Josh Davis, Dobbs, Dowtin, Figgins, Gamble, Houston, Arby Jones, T. King, Tyson, Waashington, A. White….yeah we definitely don’t allow blacks to play because of bias….you do realize we have 4 of 22 players who are white listed as starters…I don’t know what point your trying to make?
HD
June 14th, 2010
5:23 pm
I hope I’m wrong, but I think our line is very overrated. The only great performance our line had was against Tech. We looked awful at the beginning of the year. We got better as the year went on, but the line’s performances against Auburn , KY, and TX A&M even late in the season were very mediocre. Again, I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t understand why we think our line is going to be so exceptional just because we had one dominating performance against GT (a pretty bad defense).
how2fish
June 14th, 2010
5:25 pm
Urban Meyer glad you got that off your chest before you ran into another reporter..that would have been ugly. By the way you calling anyone a blind homer is a HOOT! In 2008 the Dawgs question marks were centered on the O line in 2009 until the injuries piled up it was not a question mark..that simple enough to get thur that MED induced state your playing in these days ?
tide roll
June 14th, 2010
5:34 pm
HD You,re right to be concerned. I think they think they,ll be great because of the number of starts they,ve had. It,s crazy i know, but that,s UGA.
Go DAwgs
June 14th, 2010
5:39 pm
We are horrible. EW have no RBs, no QBs, and no O-line that is any good. Looking forward to 2011!
Dave In Tampa
June 14th, 2010
5:40 pm
I’m not worried about our Offense. Murray will surprise a lot of people. He IS that good. O-Line is strong along with our RB’s/WR’s. However, Defense wins you games. So that is my main concern. We will know where this team stands after the Arkansas game.
Dave In Tampa
June 14th, 2010
5:44 pm
Enter your comments here
Murray the Midget
June 14th, 2010
5:50 pm
Has not played football in two years nor in college against or any sec team…going to be a long season guys.
Hobnail Boot
June 14th, 2010
5:50 pm
I think the line can be as good as anyone’s as long as they.
1.) Hold their water and don’t jump offsides. (DRIVES ME CRAZY)
2.) Play as a unit
3.) Get nasty and bust somebody in the Mouth every play.
Dave In Tampa
June 14th, 2010
5:52 pm
It will be a long season for Tech.
how2fish
June 14th, 2010
5:53 pm
Hobnail Boot 3 very good points if the do those 3 and can stay healthy we will be fine.
Blind Homers Club
June 14th, 2010
5:59 pm
Yep I was disappointed in the job Stacy Searles did last year. Dawgs were not as dominant as they were said to be. You could just simply watch the play of the line which wasnt that great on run blocking. The line did well in protecting the red headed step child though. Dawgs are really going to have to man up to even think of a championship.
BigDawg
June 14th, 2010
6:08 pm
82Dawg,
Tide Roll’s just happens to be partially correct as we haven’t always played our best players but what he doesn’t realize that sometimes these guys get attitudes that are contrary to the team’s and their own best interests and need to be taught a lesson that hopefully will make them better men.
Lance
June 14th, 2010
6:15 pm
We Run this State!
Joe
June 14th, 2010
6:16 pm
I hate to be the fly in the ointment but……we have been in this place before. Of any position in recent memory, its our offensive line that has failed to live up to expectations more than not. Hope its different this time around…..we shall see
CHDawg
June 14th, 2010
6:40 pm
Let’s not forget that two of these guys were true sophs last year and they were blocking defenses like Florida. The extra year makes a big difference at that stage and age–I think they are, at least, a good line. Three seniors this year, and there is something about the last year–desire to finish strong and a desire to get drafted. At best, they will be dominant and nobody will be able to stop the run…much less the pass.
willie be gone
June 14th, 2010
6:46 pm
HAROLD PLEASE TELL US WHO YOUR TEAM IS
Tide Pride
June 14th, 2010
6:58 pm
I’m worried about our offensive line this year. We got pushed around prety good in the SEC Championship game last year and most of the yards we got during the bowl game were due to the individual effort of Mark Ingram. Julio Jones in my opionion has been a major disappointment. He just doesn’t make the kind of plays he needs to based on his size.Our passing game has got to get better or teams will stack the line and shut is down.Last year is long gone we’ve got to focus on the new season or risk losing everything we’ve previously accomplished. I’m worried about Auburn. They almost beat us last year and will surely be better this coming season… so that game is not an automatic win for the Tide.
skeered
June 14th, 2010
7:19 pm
Outside of Florida, UGA didn’t play any good defenses the last 7 games of the season. It was no coincidence their yardage suddenly spiked.
Tide Roll
June 14th, 2010
7:46 pm
Big Dog, Thanks for admitting UGA doesn’t play their best players on the offensive line. What you left out was: THAT’S WHY THEY LOSE ! At least you’re honest and aren’t hitting me up with “they don’t know the system”or “they can’t understand the playbook” and other “Boboisms”
Gratefuldawghead
June 14th, 2010
7:47 pm
Fired up about the “O” Line!
“F” the Haters!
GO DAWGS!!!!!
dan
June 14th, 2010
7:54 pm
I disagree when people say it doesn’t matter how the QB plays as long as the O-Line is good. Uga’s O-Line only gave up something like 12 sacks last season which is really pretty good, and it just goes to show how lousy some of Joe Cox’s decisions were. I will say that I think Uga’s O-Line is better when they establish the run first and then go to the pass. They’re not a horrible pass blocking unit, but they seem to do better when they are physical off the bat. Of course a lot of the offense’s problems last year were due to the fact that our defense couldn’t stop anyone. When the team is playing from behind, they’re forced to pass block more, which isn’t this teams strength. AJ proved that he can put a team on his back if need be which speaks volumes for his talent. But I think it will be better for AJ in the long run if they can establish the run.
I-DOG
June 14th, 2010
7:56 pm
I believe the UGA offensive line did underachive in 09, particulary in the first half. Losing Sturdivant in the first game didn’t help,but I don’t think Searels got what he expected out of this bunch until the last 4 games or so. I don’t know why. As has been noted, we played some really bad defensive squads toward the end.
I am high on Searels and think we will have great O-line play this year.
Tide Roll: How can you pencil in Burnette at center when nobody on the planet has seen him take a snap in a college game? He might end up being better than Jones, but how would you know that at this point? I hope he is better, since that would make him an All SEC candidate as I have no problem going to battle with Jones at center.
I hope we can bench AJ Green in favor of another receiver too!
Harold. Find the caps lock key on your keboard and give lower case a try. You might enjoy it.
Line O Type
June 14th, 2010
8:12 pm
ETAOIN SHRDLU
WestOfAthens
June 14th, 2010
8:12 pm
Thy news is sweet is to one’s ears. This unit will be quite impressive, if “healthy” is in the equation.
Thanks for the work Tim, i need a vacation myself
Coraline
June 14th, 2010
8:17 pm
The big question on everyone’s mind is how many of these players will be arrested and suspended before or during the season. With at least 39 arrests in the past three years, it’s a good question, especially since it’s clear that Mark Richt has no control over his players.
HD
June 14th, 2010
8:23 pm
I’m hoping the line is the best in the country, but why should anyone believe that they are? With the exception of the GT game, THEY NEVER HAD A DOMINATING PERFORMANCE last season. MEDIOCRE against BAD defenses like Auburn, UK, Texas A&M. What made everyone go from “these guys are underachievers” to “these guys are the strength of our team? Was it one single performance against Tech? I’m not buying it just yet.
UGA 1ST mascot was a goat
June 14th, 2010
8:24 pm
same old crap from all you dumb ugay fans.
Dawg Pride
June 14th, 2010
8:25 pm
I hate to be the fly in the ointment but……we have been in this place before.
And we’ll have results again this year. Players come and go, but Mark Richt is the common denominator if you’re looking for reasons why UGA can’t beat Florida or several other SEC schools consistently.
Get a winning coach and we’ll have a winning team. Or keep Richt and we’ll continue to wallow in mediocrity.
UGA 1ST mascot was a goat
June 14th, 2010
8:26 pm
tn,fla,ky owns ugay.
Coraline
June 14th, 2010
8:28 pm
Tuck Fech, go back inside your single wide and have another Ripple, you moron.
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2010
8:50 pm
They didn’t give up many sacks, a good thing, but also a bit misleading. You would never give up a single sack if you throw the ball away every down. That’s not the stated goal of the game however. Never make a first down, but those sack number look good. Cox threw at least a third of his picks while trying to avoid the sack or throw the ball away under pressure and we would have been better off obviously in those situation to just have him eat the ball. That’s Cox’ fault but the pass protection stats were helped by that. I think they were a decent pass protecting unit, but I don’t assume that there’s not a lot of room for improvement in that area as well.
techboy
June 14th, 2010
8:53 pm
Uga fans are so weak i just punched one of them for talking this same nonsense.
BigDawg
June 14th, 2010
8:57 pm
Instead of insulting other people try to coherently make your point either why the Dawgs will be better this coming year or worse. But please leave the infantile insults out of it. I know that is saying a lot for the haters on this blog but you might find it more interesting to stay on topic occasionally.
Go Dawgs
BTW Georgia’s inconsistency on offense the last few years was caused by a lot of different things some of which belongs squarely on the shoulders of BoBo and Richt and their offensive play calling.
Urban Meyer
June 14th, 2010
8:58 pm
I asked the Pope to help me not to have a nerveous breakdown this year without Timmy…hope my players are as tough as I am!
guy
June 14th, 2010
9:28 pm
This group will either get mean and aggressive or we will see a lot of offensive coaching changes after the season.Why can’t we get with it like Fl. and Al. on both sides of the ball? Same old story!
AltamahaDawg
June 14th, 2010
9:34 pm
turkeycaller, I think you just got conditioned to think we were kicking it off short in 2009, but that’s just not the case. We had 17 touchbacks. Most teams weren’t even close to that. Half the SEC had single digits. We had a better KO team that Bama did. In terms of average distance, there was a couple of guys longer, but only a yard or so. As far as coverage (as bad as that was) UGA was within 3or4 yr per kick of anybody in the league. That aspect gets WAY too much attention for the minimal difference there actually was between us and them.
Read the box from a game like Ark or SC where we kicked off a bunch and see how many of those were short kicks. Or just look up the individual stats for the entire year. Walsh’s average kickoff was 63.9 yards. That’s the 6 yrd line. And that’s skewed slighly because the 17 touchback max out at the goal, no matter how deep they are. His true average is probably 65/66 yrds.
Old Coach
June 14th, 2010
9:46 pm
I have coached for a many, many years. I have coached Georgia High School Football. Coach Mark Richt has 2 problems that the biggest line can never solve. 1. NO DISCIPLINE. He needs to take control of his team. His own players don’t take him seriously. I believe he has started to recognize this and he has begun regaining control of the reins. 2. POOR WEIGHT CONDITIONING. The weight coach cannot be the players friend. He must be feared and hated…like a drill sergeant. This team is plagued with injuries every year that keeps them from achieving their goals. It all boils down to strength and conditioning. The best way to keep players healthy, increase strength. Van Halanger needs to go. Sorry to say.
Warrior Queen Boudica
June 14th, 2010
9:59 pm
Please ! No more about Trinton Sturdivant. Coach Richt has been using him as a “crying towel” for two years. The Dawg Nation wants Trinton Sturdivant to step up and perform and earn recognition. This O-line has had the same players for two years, they are experienced, yet have underperformed with mediocre running stats and results for two years. The Dawg Nation wants “Championships Plural” like Alabama, LSU and Florida. This requires an offensive line and running backs that are posting rushing stats at the top of the SEC. This Offensive line has rushed poorly against SEC opponents
athdog
June 14th, 2010
10:25 pm
One,two,free,fo,fi…you have the greatest ‘handle’ on the entire blog! I still crack up when I hear that illiterate idiot speak…the sunshine state’s version of Cynthia McKinney.
That Percy Harbins was a great player. Urban Meyers’ is a great coach. We’re gonna get y’all this year, though.
superDawg
June 14th, 2010
10:29 pm
I love UGA football.
athdog
June 14th, 2010
10:30 pm
It’ll take us 3-4 games to play the new defense at full speed, having it come naturally. This is the key, I think.
athdog
June 14th, 2010
10:31 pm
I have to agree with many of the posters, though. It is time to man up and play with the big boys if we want to be big boys.
superDawg
June 14th, 2010
10:44 pm
It’s hard being a no.ave.nerd they don’t get out much just ask Harold.
JT
June 14th, 2010
10:58 pm
A good chance that the running game had more yardage later in the season may have had something to do with the excess in the passing game early in the season. The Offensive Line should be built to run first and pass second with the backs we have. Sometimes three passes and a punt puts too much emphasis on the defense as well as excessive time on the field for the defense. Clock management and running the ball are really important. A balanced scheme of runs and passes will allow the OL to become more efficient and less able to show tendendancies that will give away a pass or a run to the opponent.
turkeycaller
June 14th, 2010
11:58 pm
Altamaha, I have suffered two strokes and realize I have lost some mental awareness but old buddy I remember raising hell about UGA kicking short and directional and all it did was put the defense on it’s back from the get go. The reason it finally stopped was somebody,somehow either realized their stupidity or listened to folks constantly pointing it out. Agree totally with your statements regarding sacks. Either Cox was being pressured or when he did have time didn’t always make the best of it. It is just not an accurate way of measuring the line against sacks. They ought to be better, little more maturity and acquainted with what is called for. Our kids are big and fast enough I think.
turkeycaller
June 15th, 2010
12:02 am
Altamaha, There is no question we had a kid who could put it in the endzone repeatedly. He was not given the opportunity to do so until on in the season because of coaches so called strategies.
Dawgforlife
June 15th, 2010
12:05 am
roll tide….first of all, I am having a hard time figuring out why it matters to you what the configuration the line…and second, you didn’t answer my question…are you honestly saying that a team with like 7 or 8 players on the three deep deoth chart that are white…are you seriously trying to say UGA has an anti- black bias?…sometimes the white guy is the better player..I’ll admit not very often…but, sometimes…ie Joe Thomas, Steve Hutchinson, Brian Buluga, Mike Kenn, Dan Dierdorf, Bill Frailic, Nick Mangold, Ron Yary, Mike Webster…oh and the best Bama lineman of all time…John Hannah…I have every confidence that UGA will play the best 5 offensive linemen…and I will supposrt them regardless of their color cause they all represent the bulldog nation
meansonny
June 15th, 2010
12:23 am
Old Coach,
I have to disagree with you about the weight training and the S&C Coach.
Even the strongest and most fit players can blow their knees. Every player is susceptible to a concussion.
S&C is one of the better aspects of the Bulldawgs. Look at our stats each year. They’ve improved every year since Van Hallanger arrived on campus.
Regarding the kickoff problem…. it’s been magnified for a few reasons.
1) we should never kick out of bounds. that happened way too much last season. Moreso than our competition (this is a guess, but I’d reason fairly accurate).
2) Coverage stunk. OSU and LSU were horrible games.
3) We’ve got a leg. I think most fans would rather attempt to shoot it through the back of the endzone (even on a line drive). I’d favor those odds of a touchback greater than the odds of kicking it out of bounds.
turkeycaller
June 15th, 2010
12:25 am
Atta boy.
meansonny
June 15th, 2010
12:25 am
The OL is obviously a question mark going into 2010.
We ran poorly against every good defense last season. We bullied all of the weak teams.
We even struggled in the first half of the A&M game. That goes to show how thin we really are at OL.
The good news is that we don’t play many of the teams that we struggled against.
1) no OSU
2) no LSU
3) No ASU
4) UF lost all of their top playmakers
5) Tennessee is in shambles. Who knows, they might still find a way to embarrass our offense this season (but they’ll have to do it without Monty).
I’m optimistic about our run game next season. Not because we’ve improved.
But because our competition is so much weaker than in 2009.
76-Dawg
June 15th, 2010
2:35 am
The bottom line for 2010 will be our Quarterback , Murray. If UGA had a 1-A SEC quarterback in 2009 they would have won 2 maybe 3 more games. Cox was the best available QB for 2009 which wasn’t even close to being good enough. If Murray can live up to his billings then UGA will surprise a lot of people. If UGA beats SC and Arkansas they will be finish 12-0 or 11-1..
Wide receivers: Green’s final season? Brown’s breakout season? | UGA sports blog
June 15th, 2010
6:02 am
[...] The offensive line: 155 starts and counting. [...]
AltamahaDawg
June 15th, 2010
8:36 am
sonny , obviously nobody “wants” the ball kicked out of bounds. I’m pretty sure no coach ever told his player to do that. BTW, the actual number is 4 times. That’s out of 75 attempts. Given that he kicked it 17 times into the endzone, (not counting the ones that were returned from the endzone), I’d say that pretty much answer the question of if the startegy was to go deep or go OOB. Those 4 are what we call flubs. As far as the rest of the SEC, 3 was the average. Somebody had 5. UF by comparison had 4 also, coached by the Nexium poster boy himself.
The first 3 games of the year:
OSU, Walsh averaged 65.3 yrds on KO. Thats inside the 5 yrd line.
SC, he averaged 67.4. thats inside the 3 yrd line. first 3 of 4 in the endzone.
Ark the first 4 of 5 were in the endzone.
When was all this short directional stuff happening early on?
I’m not making this stuff up.
Just for the record, the best kicker in the NFL kick the ball for a TB maybe 30% of the time, And that just a couple of guys. Most are more like 20%. Are we really thinking that we had a freshman or even as a sophmore (last year) college kicker that should have been way better than anybody doing it professionally for a decade?
Or if you think that its a simple matter of the coaches just telling them to do it, something must be seriously flawed with the NFL coaches too.
The problem in 2008, by his own admission is that the first year placekicker and KO guy wore out halfway through the season and started making mistake. His words. Halfway through the season. That’s exactly when the KO started being an issue, had not been till then. Compounded by the coinciding of running out of able bodies to actualy field the coverage team.
2009, although the actual stats point out the KO coverage was about the middle of the SEC, I really think we still didn’t have the best personel for the job. Curran, Southerland, Boykin can only play so many down. We need to develop depth at LB and DB to have a better special teams unit as well. Tackling the man would help as well. And some Energy.
Coach D
June 15th, 2010
10:35 am
HD
I agree with you somewhat. I think the O-Line had better than a mediocre performance vs. Auburn. They actually protected Cox pretty well in the Kentucky game giving him time to make throws that he didn’t complete. Cox and the defense just played a LOUSY game in the second half. As for Texas A&M, sometimes you have to give the other team credit. Their DC Joe Kines came up with a good game plan with inferior talent mixing it up with 8 or 9 guys in the box with multiple stunts. Turnovers is what buried the Aggies, and towards the end of the game UGA’s size and conditioning was able to wear the Aggie defense down.
Another part of the problem is that not only did the coaching staff not find the right combination on the O-Line, but they also didn’t play the right RB’s until late in the season. Knowshon Moreno was able to compensate for some of the O-Line’s weaknesses with his elusiveness, while a guy like Richard Samuel is a North and South runner that needs an O-Line to open up holes for him. Ealey and King don’t have Knowshon’s talent, but they are consistent backs capable of big games( even though if I have to pick between the two, I’d go with Washuan since he tends to be more consistent).
Tight ends: Orson Charles reprises high school role as Murray’s target | UGA sports blog
June 16th, 2010
6:02 am
[...] Offensive line: With 155 career starts, the strength of the team? [...]
MountainDawg
June 16th, 2010
4:20 pm
Tide Roll – you’re sadly mistaken son. Boling’s the best OL on the team (bar none) & Jones has proven he’s worthy of starting. I suspect you’re jealous Big Ben didn’t go to Bama. Also…if Boling stays healthy, he’ll be a 1st round pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
meansonny
June 17th, 2010
8:32 am
Altamaha,
My comments about the kicking game early were more in regards to the returns unit.
74 yard kickoff return by OSU (resulted in TD).
57 yard kickoff return by S.Car (resulted in FG)
50 yard kickoff return by Arkie (resulted in TD)
And yes… nobody wants to kick the ball out of bounds. But when you’re aiming for the corner, you’ve got a much better shot at it.
Ready to talk some football? | UGA sports blog
July 9th, 2010
5:00 pm
[...] Offensive line: Experienced unit with 155 college starts should lead offense. [...]
Lee Dawg
July 9th, 2010
5:46 pm
should be strength of the team
Mr. Georgia Football Returns
July 9th, 2010
6:24 pm
Please ! No more about Trinton Sturdivant. Coach Richt has been using him as a “crying towel” for two years. The Dawg Nation wants Trinton Sturdivant to step up and perform and earn recognition. This O-line has had the same players for two years, they are experienced, yet have underperformed with mediocre running stats and results for two years. The Dawg Nation wants “Championships Plural” like Alabama, LSU and Florida. This requires an offensive line and running backs that are posting rushing stats at the top of the SEC. This Offensive line has rushed poorly against SEC opponents.
Mr. Georgia Football Returns
July 9th, 2010
6:29 pm
It’s about results and this O-line hasn’t produced. Trinton Sturdivant’s knee blows out quicker than the air bag on a Honda Civic. The O-line has underperformed against SEC opponents. They average 4 ypc against the SEC. That is mediocre at best!
Hobnail Boot
July 9th, 2010
6:52 pm
Hobnail Boot
June 14th, 2010
5:50 pm
I think the line can be as good as anyone’s as long as they.
1.) Hold their water
2.) Stop Playing with their unit
3.) Get nasty and get it out of their Mouth every play.
Baldemar Huerta
July 10th, 2010
11:57 am
hard to do anything when your entire team is a bunch of suspended drunks.