In Theory It Looks Like a Great Idea, But...

With Sanders Commings suspended for two games and Nick Marshall and Chris Sanders now playing JUCO football, depth in the secondary has suddenly become an issue for Georgia. One idea that has been floated around and now commented on by Coach Richt is letting rising sophomore Malcolm Mitchell spend time at corner. And while this sounds like an idea that may work (I have no doubt Mitchell could be a very good CB in the SEC), I would rather not see our rising star at receiver playing both ways. Here are the reasons why.

#1 - His greatest potential is at the receiver position. Malcolm had a fantastic freshman season, catching 45 passes for 665 yards and four touchdowns. And he did it while missing three full games to injury. While those numbers are not quite AJ Green level, they are comparable to Mohammed Massaquoi (38 for 505, 2), Fred Gibson (33 for 772, 6) and Terrence Edwards (53 for 772). Mitchell has the potential to be one of the best receivers in Georgia history, why divert his attention?

#2 - Speaking of those three games he missed, is it worth it to risk an injury. He got hurt running a simple deep route and it took a month to recover. AJ Green ended up missing a lot of time due to injury and I don't want that to happen to Malcolm.

#3 - Playing Mitchell at corner this year will not help us prepare for 2013. The entire second will graduate after this year. We need to get some experience in those young players like Bowman, Swann, and Dawson. Let them fill in Commings role against Buffalo and Missouri. In case anyone else gets hurt, at least these guys will have some real experience.

#4 - We may need him to return kicks. This is the one place where missing out on Patterson really hurt. While Branden Smith will get first crack, I am still concerned about his tendency to fumble.

#5 - He's not Champ Bailey. Malcolm Mitchell is a phenomenal player, but to put any kind of expectation that he could perform like Bailey is asinine.

It's time to bring Champ home

I was listening to the radio yesterday and the conversation was all about the Falcons melt down against the Packers on Saturday. Clearly, the Falcons defense under Brian Van Gorder had a horrible game. however, if you look at the Falcons defense of 2010 and compare it to the 2009 team, clearly the team has made strides in the right direction. The apparent weaknesses of the defense appear to be in the pass rush and coverage.


With starting nickel Brian Williams out with injury, Christopher Owens stepped into the formation that was on the field much of the game to counter the Packers 3 and 4 wide sets. Aaron Rodgers picked on Owens all night long. It is apparent that Owens is not the future for the Falcons. Brent Grimes had a nice season as a starter opposite Dunta Robinson, but clearly his size is an issue. The perfect solution for the Falcons would be to move Grimes to the nickel and bring in an experienced player to start at corner. There just so happens to be a former Georgia Bulldogs player and multiple time all-pro team member who is a free agent. That man is Champ Bailey.

While Champ clearly falls into the veteran category, at 32 his still has a few good years left in the tank. The 1998 Nagurski winner has enjoyed years of success in both Washington and Denver. His 48 career interceptions and 9 Pro Bowl appearances would immediately draw respect from other teams, who clearly game planned to stay away from Robinson this fall. It would be great to see Champ back in his home state wearing red and black. Plus, because he is reaching the end of his career, he won't likely command the type of money that players like Nnamdi Asomugha will.

Thomas Dimitroff, make it happen!

The Countdown 2010: 7 Days to Go, Champ Bailey

7: Champ Bailey, CB/WR/ST #4 (1996-1998)

Hailing from as far down in South Georgia as is possible, Folkston, GA native Champ Bailey is often regarded as one of the greatest multi-position players ever to play college football.

Bailey came to Georgia as one of the nation’s most sought after recruits, and a member of one of Georgia’s now famous family heritages (with two brothers and a cousin that have played at UGA).

Bailey’s name is not plastered all over the record books at UGA, but that’s because he didn’t play just one position like a normal player, he played on every front: offense, defense, and special teams. Bailey was not dominant in one position; he was dominant in them all.

While only starting two games his freshman year, Bailey amassed 47 tackles (35 of them solo) with 2 interceptions. Starting his sophomore year, Bailey would become the feared triple threat player that turned him into a legend. His junior season was one of infamy, where he would play over 1,000 plays and over 100 in 7 different games.


Bailey would be named a consensus All-American that year by attaining 52 tackles, three interceptions,744 receiving yards, five TDs, 261 kickoff return yards, and 49 punt return yards. Bailey had near identical defensive stats during his sophomore and junior season, but his increased performance on offense and special teams made him a terror to the opposing teams every time he stepped on the field.

Bailey would top his junior season (1998) off by receiving the Bronco Nagurski Award, given to the best defensive player in college football, and helping lead Georgia to a 35-33 victory over Virginia in the Peach Bowl by catching three passes for 73 yards, catching a 14-yard touchdown, and returning five kickoffs for 104 yards.

Bailey would leave Georgia after the 1998 season, and would be taken 7th in the 1st round by the Washington Redskins. Bailey has continued his dominating ways playing cornerback in the NFL playing for both the Redskins and Broncos, where he’s amassed 621 tackles and 46 interceptions, and become a 9 time pro bowl selection in only 11 seasons.

Here’s a clip of an interception and 99 yard return by Bailey against Tom Brady and the Patriots. Ironically enough, fellow Dawg Ben Watson would be the one to tackle Bailey on the 1 yard line, depriving him of a 100 yard TD interception.

My God A Freshman

The Countdown 2009: 98

98

The year (1998) when Georgia Cornerback Champ Bailey won the Bronco Nagurski Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive player. Bailey would go on to an All-Pro career in the NFL with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos.