Mailbag: Big John Jenkins, Diamond Dogs, O-line and what about ‘Boo?’
THE MAILBAG:
CBB1 asks: I read your story about the Georgia baseball team and its chances of making the NCAA tournament. My question is, has an at-large team has ever gotten in with a losing record?
Chip: I turned to my old friend Jim Callis of Baseball America for this (Jim and I went to college together and worked alongside each other at the school newspaper). As luck would have it Jim had recently answered a question on this specific subject for the “Ask BA” feature he does for his publication. Interestingly, the question came to him from Stephen Hartzell of 960 The Ref’s “Morning Show” fame, so clearly it’s on a lot of folks’ minds.
Anyway, Callis said the NCAA informed him that an over-.500 record is a requirement for making the NCAA tournament field of 64. Since the field expanded from 48 to 64 teams in 1999, only two teams have made the NCAA playoffs with a record of just one game over .500: UCLA (30-29) in 1999 and Houston (29-28) in 2001. Both teams received No. 3 seeds, with the Bruins winning one regional game and the Cougars going two and out.
Callis said if the Diamond Dogs can finish the regular-season where it is now — three games over .500 — not only are they “a lock to get in,” he projects them as a No. 2 seed. But, he said, finishing a few games above .500 is important to protect against going two-and-out in the SEC Tournament.
Georgia, Callis points out, is among 12 teams that finished within five games of .500 earned berths in NCAA regionals. The Bulldogs lost seven games in a row to finish 30-27 but managed to reach the finals of the Atlanta Regional in 2002.
RHall55 asks: Can you provide an update on any junior college players UGA may be looking at?
Chip: Defensive end Jalen Fields and wide receiver Lonnie Outlaw are 2010 signees who are currently attending Georgia Military College in Milledgeville. They both have told me they plan to re-sign with the Bulldogs, hopefully in December. Other than that, I don’t know of any specific JUCO prospects Georgia is presently considering. I could see the Dogs possibly trying to find another defensive lineman, however.
TV’s Devon Wade from Stone Mountain asks: Every time I watch my beloved Bulldogs play I find that my heart beats a little faster each time the Dawgs kickoff coverage team heads on the field. I know in theory this team is supposed to be made up of talented freshmen, who have not found their way on to the two-deep yet. My question is when is Mark Richt going to seriously address the lack of tenacity the kickoff coverage unit has had in the last couple years? Do they not practice special teams coverage a lot?
Chip: Well, Mr. Wade, I believe your fears are largely unfounded. At least they were last year. Georgia actually led the SEC in kickoff coverage in 2010. The previous season Georgia finished eighth in the league, but assistant coach Warren Belin took over last season and obviously got that fixed. The question now is how they will be now that Belin left to join the Carolina Panthers’ staff. But overall I expect the Bulldogs’ special teams to be a team strength this season. Punter Drew Butler and place-kicker are both All-America candidates and Brandon Boykin is a record-setting kick returner. If you’re looking for something to fret about, I’d be more concerned about the O-line and pass defense if I were you.
Keith McCants asks: LT- Cordy Glenn, LG- Kenarious Gates, C- Ben Jones, RG – Justin Anderson RT- A.J. Harmon. Is it safe to say that this will be the starting offensive line when Georgia opens with Boise State? Will Chris Burnette be a factor this
year?
Chip: I don’t think it’s safe to assume anything about the offensive line this year. I think your left side and center positions are pretty solid. As for the right side, I’m hearing some very good things about Burnette and he may end up as your starter at right guard. Anderson will likely alternate with Harmon and Glenn at both tackle positions and the starter at right tackle will probably change often. If we learned nothing else about new offensive line coach Will Friend, it’s that he juggles the depth chart constantly based on practice performances. I’m sure he’ll do the same on a week-to-week basis in the fall.
John Vaughn of Newnan asks: Chip, with Richt’s admission that he will have more time for “coaching duties,” can we expect to see any major changes in offensive or defensive strategy?
Chip: I would not expect any major strategic changes in 2011. Richt is a staunch believer in a balanced, pro-style offense and I don’t see that changing. As for the defense, Richt has given total control of that to defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Based on the new and improved personnel on that side of the ball, I’d expect a very aggressive philosophy with the front seven.
Patrick Green asks: I didn’t get to see the spring game (only drawback to DirecTV is no CSS) but how did Ken Malcome look and is he a viable candidate to push for major PT this year? Also, who is the best option for us as a between-the-tackles pounder at RB?
Chip: Mr. Green, I believe Malcome is your answer to your second question. As for your first, I thought Malcome looked very good in the spring game and he’s looked good in every single practice in which he’s been healthy and full go, according to UGA coaches. Therein lies his problem. He has had a little bit of trouble staying healthy during his short tenure in Athens and that probably has something to do with his physical style of play. But as he gets bigger and stronger through training, I believe he’ll become more effective on the football field. Eventually I think him and Isaiah Crowell could make a good inside-outside tandem. And don’t take Washaun Ealey for granted. If he can get his act together off the field, he’s a pretty darn good, between-the-tackles runner.
One more thing about Malcome. His friends and family call him “Boo” and he’s told me that’s what he hopes to be known as by Georgia’s fans.
Daniel of Gulf Shores, Ala., asks: Do we know for sure that the JUCO transfer Jonathan Jenkins has even qualified to enroll yet?
Chip: I tried to reach Big John to get some drop-dead confirmation on this but haven’t heard back. But I did see on his Facebook page that he has finished exams at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and gone home to Meriden, Conn. He also said there he’s “ready to be in Georgia on June 3.” I know this: The Bulldogs are ready for him to get there.
Remember, to have your question answered in The Mailbag, send it to me at UGAmailbag@yahoo.com.
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126 comments Add your comment
Troll Power Ratings
May 6th, 2011
2:19 pm
DIL – thanks, I forgot that one…that may actually be the “best” one.
Aaron MUrray must quickly impress the UGA fan base after .........
May 6th, 2011
2:22 pm
Murray must quickly impress the UGA fans after his dismal UCF Liberty Bowl game. His Batman gloves worn in that game, were 100 % unneccesary.
He needs to get some wins over big boy schools or the fans will be growling. He is on watch. It is the way that it is at UGA.
Go Dogs.
CountryBlumpkin
May 6th, 2011
2:23 pm
And there he is Lex and Troll
AltamahaDawg
May 6th, 2011
2:23 pm
Why would anyone play thier next-to favorite?
DawginLex
May 6th, 2011
2:27 pm
Didn’t take long for the G1 troll to show up.
Get ready for a series of posts with mind numbing stats about Murray’s 6-7 record and statements about Gray and Mettenberger transferring because of Richt’s favoritism.
Hey Boss Gator
May 6th, 2011
2:27 pm
UGa owns the Gators. This rivalry did not start in 1990. Hell no. I recall watching Spurrier spitting up chunks of the old Gator Bowl in 66, when UGA’s Bill Stanfill flung him and his Heisman into the ground ………. time and time again.
UGA STILL OWNS FLORIDA> all of my paternal side uncles are U of Florida grads and my 1st cousin was a LB on one of Ray Graves’ old teams …………….. my family in Florida are well aware of UGA’s OWNERSHIP of the Gators. ONe uncle told me 6 weeks ago, that ” we were nothing before SS arrived as a coach.” Nothing means nada, no future, no hope, enslaved by them DAWGS.
Get your story straight ……….. surfer punk. Real Gators know that UGA STILL OWNS FLORIDA> always has and always will.
AltamahaDawg
May 6th, 2011
2:34 pm
When facing opponents with access to the internet, G1 was only 73% accurate when using stats as the 100% basis for his argument.
Wow a new record for non nasty blogs
May 6th, 2011
2:37 pm
It took 36 posts before someone felt the need to trash the Dawgs..that has got to be a record.
Boss Gator was the guilty party..but since he’s an idiot we will ignore him and his BB brain and keep rollin..
BOSS GATOR
May 6th, 2011
2:50 pm
Hey who stole my jorts and flip flops?
BOSS GATOR
May 6th, 2011
2:51 pm
And my wife beater T shirt no less..what is going on here?.I cant keep anything around this trailer
tide roll
May 6th, 2011
3:01 pm
Chip, Any word on Sanford Seay’s academics? He looks like someone who could help early. Thanks
Maconbulldog
May 6th, 2011
3:07 pm
I hope Ken Malcome is stays healty he looked like a strong back out there on G-DAY. But I guess we wont know until Sep3
Lowcountry Bulldawg
May 6th, 2011
3:11 pm
Alt,
That was funny! Exactly, why would they? LOL!
This Dawg Want Hunt!!
May 6th, 2011
3:19 pm
Dawg in lex, based on your brilliant breakdown earlier about the positions of UGAvsFl., UGA only had advantage a5 one position, that being Q.B. Even if UGA has advantage there, which i’m not sure they do, Murray only threw 3 ints against the gators last year. Taking all that into consideration, when a team has a clear advantage at every position except one, i would say a beatdown could very easily happen. Factor that with Richt’s coaching, and his assistants play calling, and no one would be surprised to see Richt’s pitiful prepared team lay another egg in Jax. Your optimism is nice, but facts are facts, and this dawg under Richt clearly want hunt.
DawginLex
May 6th, 2011
3:24 pm
UGA-QB,Kicking game and coaching
Fla-OL and DB and maybe LB although I believe UGA’s are as good
Murray threw 3 picks and the game went into OT. You predict a beatdown.
Biggest change is Meyer and he spread are gone. Replaced by a pro set.
Looks like a close game to me. Tebow got eligibility left?
Only blowouts in the last 10 years were with him playing.
Dawgbite
May 6th, 2011
3:33 pm
Tide Roll, you made a few good points. Yes, Saban is results oriented and I am not going to argue in any way against his success. But, CMR is a victim of the disease that gets a hold of so many coaches and professionals of every kind. Its called complacency. Happened to Mack Brown this year. Started happening to Pete Carroll (along with some other stuff). Happened to Fulmer. Happened to Lloyd Carr and Tuberville and Paterno and Bowden and the list goes on and on and on. These coaches are all great, not good but great coaches. But things can grow stale. It is human nature to grow complacent. Yes, Richt should have shuffled the cards before he did, but that is a hard thing to do when you work with these coaches and develop relationships and sometimes because a head coach is entrenched in a program, they can’t see things outsiders (fans) can. And the opposite is true as well.
Now, Saban has not had this problem because the guy has not stuck around one place long enough for complacency to develop. I’m not knocking him here….its a fact. When he shows up to East Lansing or Baton Rouge or Tuscaloosa or his next stop, he has tons to prove and he has to do it quickly. So you talk about how UGA should have never fallen like they have and I agree to an extent, but EVERY program has down years. There are no exceptions. Find me one. Recent top schools to stumble (last 15 years) include: Alabama, Auburn, LSU, UGA, Florida, Tennessee, Miami, FSU, Ohio St., USCw, Michigan, Penn. St., Oklahoma, UCLA, Texas. Need I go on? It is impossible to maintain 10+ wins season after season.
I love CMR. I don’t love everything he does. Will UGA be back? I don’t know about this year but eventually, yes. Too much in state talent not to. And by the way, you call these games down in Jacksonville a scrimmage? I think Meyer, Spurrier, and Zook would disagree. And if that’s the case, then I guess those guys from Auburn had about six straight scrimmages against Alabama not long ago. Don’t try to throw mud on other programs cause we all got mud on our jeans (or jorts, depending on where you come from).
AltamahaDawg
May 6th, 2011
3:38 pm
Longest Consecutive 10+wins streak…….14 yrs.
SSIgator
May 6th, 2011
3:41 pm
DawginLex -
I thought you were through trying to rationalze an overtime lose by UGA to UF. You are not into “moral victories” now are you? You seem brighter than that.
Dawgbreath
May 6th, 2011
3:41 pm
We beat Boise but lose to USCe. Then we’ll see.
JDawg1785
May 6th, 2011
3:42 pm
Boo Malcome will prove to be a bright spot for the offense this season. Provided the OL can open some holes for him, he could be scary.
Troll Power Ratings
May 6th, 2011
3:43 pm
The issue of Richt’s tenure next year is that Georgia must win at least 8 games, and depending on who are the losses in that scenario and how they lost, that may not be enough. 9 wins should ensure his return as long as they compete and don’t lose badly in any losses. I don’t like losing to FL, but losing to a CO, or a Central FL is simply inexcusable. To state the obvious (again), the first two games are critical. Win those and some good things should happen. It will be ugly if Georgia loses both those games. I feel much better about Boise than SC.
AltamahaDawg
May 6th, 2011
3:46 pm
Don’t understand the high expectations from SC this year. Lost 5 games including the bowl and a blowout in the CG. Front 7 defense in question, QB in question. Best year ever they won the east with 3 losses. I don’t see where they are any better this year. I see where the rest of the east is going to be.
This Dawg Want Hunt!!
May 6th, 2011
3:51 pm
To say Richt has advantage over any coach in the SEC at this point is a stretch. Hell he couldn’t even beat Zook for crying out loud. THen Meyer takes over for Zook and he beat’s Richt 4 out of 5 with inferior talent in at least 2 of those games. Even if the new Florida coach is a rookie, he has surrounded himself with talented assistants that have proven they know how to develop successful game plans. At this point it is obvious BoBo doesn’t have a clue, and we will see with Grantham. I’m not predicting a blowout, i said it wouldn’t surprise anyone if one occured.
JDawg1785
May 6th, 2011
3:53 pm
True, Altamaha. They were lucky to be an average team in a very weak division last season.
Troll Power Ratings
May 6th, 2011
3:54 pm
SC has always played Georgia tough, and we play them early; they tend to fade late season. They should be fresh and still hopeful.
AltamahaDawg
May 6th, 2011
3:57 pm
They can develop successful Game plans!….oh my.
DawginLex
May 6th, 2011
3:57 pm
SSI
No I’m just trying to understand the mindset of someone who says losing 34-31 in OT is a beatdown. Or that we can expect annual beatdowns when the facts are that without Tebow, the games have been anything but.
AltamahaDawg
May 6th, 2011
3:59 pm
No I get the tough game coming up with us, always is. I just heard them talked about in terms of being way better than beating a 6-7 UGA team. I don’t know that they were.
SSIgator
May 6th, 2011
4:03 pm
DawginLex -
Richt better hope this year is more than “close” or it may be his last in Jax. Don’t forget to bring your sign and remember to color within the lines.
DawginLex
May 6th, 2011
4:05 pm
Agreed and yes i will
AltamahaDawg
May 6th, 2011
4:06 pm
You could clearly see they were confusing Murray last year in his first real competition. Or to be more accurate they were showing him more than he had the options to counter. Also very clear we did not have the beef up front at NT to stop them, or the experience in the backfiled getting burned about 3 times. NONE of that is true this year. What has SC added that will up their level in this game?
Troll Power Ratings
May 6th, 2011
4:08 pm
I actually enjoy a different point of view and information from reasonable fans of other teams. The juvenile personal attack stuff is asinine and says volumes about the individual posting it.
AltamahaDawg
May 6th, 2011
4:15 pm
I think that can also be said about the Miss State game. They (giving them credit) played up to thier ability, but that game came down to Georgia’s issues. If those are solved even noticeable, I don’t believe they have another gear to offset that.
Jumbo
May 6th, 2011
4:23 pm
DawginLex, RX Dawg.
Hey there smart ones. Its year 4 for Petrino at Arkansas.
RS
May 6th, 2011
4:34 pm
the dawgs will be fine this yr u need to get a life and stop and smell the roses.Go fishing ,play some golf,start a garden………..
TampaGator
May 6th, 2011
4:49 pm
Right now…Georgia should be rated higher than Florida….based strickly on Florida having a new coach and system. But that will change very quickly once this season begins. Florida’s defense, even with the loss of Janoris Jenkins, is going to be terrific and probably as good as the two national championship teams. So much depends on the play of Brantley….who can’t be judged by the spring game performance….and Weiss showed nothing in that game and Florida held out most of the starting OL for the game. The game in Jax probably will come down to the last few minutes or overtime….but Florida wins again…and also wins the East.
TampaGator
May 6th, 2011
4:51 pm
Also….Georgia upsets SC and finishes second to the Gators in the East. The Dawgs will be a much improved team this year.
Stinger2
May 6th, 2011
4:52 pm
From a GT fan: UGA fans should feel good about your Dawgs for 2011.
They could lose one or two regular season games. Don`t think you have to be concerned about your coaching. CMR is a proven winner based on his record over his 10 years at UGA. He has had problems beating Florida but what coach has not had the same bad times over the last few years? Be thankful for what you have.
Beast from the East
May 6th, 2011
4:53 pm
@Hey Boss Gator,
Believe UGA “owns” UF if you want to. UGA has a 6 game adavantage (7 if you want to use UGA’s stats). 23 of those wins were before 1950. 1950!!! How many people on here were even born in 1950? What next, bragging about how “we” dominated Japan? I wasn’t born during that era, either.
In my lifetime (born 1967), UF has “owned” UGA. Sadly, my childhood (70’s and 80’s) was dominated by UGA, but boy how the tables have turned!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_vs._Georgia_Football_Classic
Paddy
May 6th, 2011
4:58 pm
RxDawg….I also think Perino is a good coach, he is just no a good human!
Einsteindawg
May 6th, 2011
5:40 pm
Chip, thanks for doing this format, and I hope you continue it. These are the questions most Dawg fans would like to hear. Great job!
Emanuelle Chriqui
May 6th, 2011
5:43 pm
Chip:
Have you been watching me on The Borgias?
old time dog
May 6th, 2011
5:47 pm
Dawgbite… Good post. Like many UGA fans, I hope Richt has woke up. We have several games every season that have developed into strong rivalries. There is no way to look past any opponent without paying the price. I feel the former AD may have played a hand in Richt’s CEO type approach over the past few seasons. Not attempting to be overly critical but it does appear to run the same timeframe as our poorest seasons did. I would like to see a hard nosed team that shows hustle on every play.
Einsteindawg
May 6th, 2011
5:49 pm
Dawgbite, you are right on! But how can we avoid this dreaded disease with the non-incentive contracts we lavish on coaches?
lawdawg
May 6th, 2011
6:10 pm
“One more thing about Malcome. His friends and family call him “Boo” and he’s told me that’s what he hopes to be known as by Georgia’s fans.”
So we should literally boo Ken Malcome when he breaks off a big run. (A la “Moooooos” during Musa’s tenure.) I can get behind that.
Dawg48
May 6th, 2011
6:41 pm
Mock me now or Congratulate me later, but I think our line backers will be the strength of our team. If not the best group in the SEC. And the guy that will step up and be the best one will be Richard samuels he is going to be a beast this year and step up big time.
dawgster
May 6th, 2011
7:06 pm
Hope the fact Ken/Boo Malcom is about to be a father won’t distract him to much. These football players make bad decisions. How many of his teammates are already fathers at 18, 19, 20?
Bawbie
May 6th, 2011
7:44 pm
Fire Dave Perno!
Bulldog blog killed the anon poster
May 6th, 2011
7:48 pm
Richt shouldnt curse bulldog fans. He needs to curse his pathetic coaching staff. No excuse in losing to Mickey Mouse U in the Liberty bowl period!
Pulpwud Smiff
May 6th, 2011
8:26 pm
Does anyone seriously believe that someone named “Boo” is intelligent enough to even pass the kindergarten remedial studies courses at UGA?
What a joke.