Like I said, Aaron Murray will be the starting QB this fall

Following G-Day, many people seemed quick to anoint Zach Mettenberger the starting quarterback based on his performance. I was cautious because while Mettenberger was impressive last Saturday, he was still facing a minimum 1 game suspension and needed to continue to improve other skills such as his footwork. After his dismissal from the team yesterday, I hope that all of the Georgia fans that seemed to give up on Aaron Murray are ready to get back on the bandwagon. While I never want to see a talented kid kicked off of Georgia's team, the actions taken by Coach Richt may ultimately be a blessing in disguise. Let me explain.

With Mettenberger gone, that means there will be one less quarterback splitting reps this summer. Mettenberger had a good chance of being named #1 on the depth chart following a strong spring, but because of his suspension someone else would need to take a large portion of snaps with the first team as well to prepare for the season opener. Now, the coaches will have a clear number 1 going into the season who can become the sole focus point.

This also means we avoid any type of quarterback controversy this fall. I think most of us have come to accept the fact that Logan Gray is not going to be a big time SEC quarterback. With Murray entrenched as the starter, all of the Bulldog nation can get behind him as opposed to people calling for his job the first time he makes a mistake. A freshman QB is going to inevitably make some mistakes and I am glad we won't have to hear the lunatic fringe calling for a QB change after an interception in the third quarter of a blowout against Louisiana Lafayette.

The final reason this is could be a blessing in disguise is that it already seems to have changed the media's mind about Coach Richt's discipline practices. Many people criticized Georgia for player arrests over the last few years, but this year we have removed both of the players from the team who have gotten themselves into trouble.

In the end, it sucks that Mettenberger had to go. He was a talented player who may have become a great quarterback. I wish him luck at whatever school he lands at (as long as it is not in the SEC).

Thoughts on G-Day

Another G-Day has come and gone and now we have over 4 months to wait until we see the Georgia Bulldogs take the football field again. This year's G-Day was definitely better than the 2009 snooze fest, but still lacked in the excitement department. Here are my thoughts on what took place Saturday:

- The weather was absolutely amazing and it felt great to be back in Athens. There was a pretty good crowd on hand, but it was really weird to see the entire North stands empty.

- Talk about vanilla - both offense and defense kept the game plan about as simple as could be. This was most noticeable in the blitzes and in the running game.

- The running game was pretty weak. Outside of Carlton Thomas's 30 yard scamper, I don't think there were any other rushes longer than 10 yards. The defense was not doing anything special, it was just regular up the middle running (often times with walk on fullbacks playing the role of tailback.)

- Washington and Houston looked very comfortable at outside linebackers. These two are going to put up monster years in Grantham's defense.

- Really glad to see Kris Durham back. Expect big things from him, particularly on third downs and in the red zone.

- Expect big things from Rambo, Dowtin, and Vance Cuff this fall.

- Georgia has the best group of tight ends in the SEC, if not the country. White, Charles, Figgins and Lynch would all be starters at most schools in the SEC.

- The QB Competition.

• Mettenberger was impressive, but he also played against the second team defense all day. His arm is strong and he is definitely improved, but he doesn't move well in the pocket. Some people are ready to anoint him starter but I still think he has a lot of work to do.
• Murray was off a bit and his numbers were not that good, but I thought he actually made some pretty good plays in the pocket. If he hits AJ in the end zone, how many people would have a totally different opinion of his day? Also, while throwing the interception was bad, the drive up until that point was impressive. I still like his pocket presence better.
• Logan looked good, but he was also not asked to do too much. He clearly has the weakest arm of the three and is more of a scrambler than a pocket passer. I would like to see him continue to take some snaps at QB simply for his running ability.

Overall, it was a nice game that ultimately means very little for the 2010 Bulldogs. The play of the day was the pass from Mettenberger to Wooten. I still expect Murray to be the starter against Louisiana-Lafayette and as long as he performs well in that game and against South Carolina, the job will be his.

GO DAWGS!!!

2010 G-Day: Roster Observations

David Hale has got the rosters for tomorrow's game posted over at his blog. You can check them out here. Here are my quick observations.

1. It looks like the first team offense is on the red team and the first team defense is on the black team.

2. All three quarterbacks are listed on the red team meaning they will all split time between both. It will be interesting to see who goes out there first when the red team goes on offense. My bet: Logan Gray, just based on experience.

3. Caleb King will not play, which means another shot for Carlton Thomas to put on a show. If only we could get him to do it on Saturday's in the fall.

4. I'm looking forward to seeing Rambo and Jakar Hamilton out there on the field at the same time.

5. The black team got shafted in the receiving department. Brown, Troupe, and Figgins against AJ, Wooten, King, Durham, and Charles - that just isn't fair!

6. With the lack of receiving threats on the black team, do you think we'll Branden Smith take some snaps on O?

7. I would love to see Aaron Murray throw a pick...to his walk-on brother. That would just be funny.

8. After coming forward as the "man in the cab", what kind of reaction will Dontavious Jackson get when he carries the ball for the black squad?

9. Remember how exciting it was to have Bogatay on the roster last year. Does anyone really care now?

2010 G-Day Preview - Part 3: "Don't Blow my Cover"

Todd Grantham’s complete overhaul of Georgia’s defense is not complete with just the shift from the 4-3 to the 3-4. Georgia’s secondary is also getting a complete overhaul in the former of new defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos. Lakatos has essentially been given a clean slate in the secondary this fall as the graduation of Prince Miller and Bryan Evans in addition to Reshad Jones leaving for the NFL leaves 3 spots in the secondary up for grabs.

Much has been written during spring practice about the complete change in coverage philosophy. Brandon Boykin, Georgia’s lone returning starter in the secondary, has raved about the technique and footwork the Dawgs have been taught already. On Saturday, I want to see the Georgia secondary holding coverage longer. I want to see safeties step up and prevent short dump passes to the tight end and running backs from going long distances. And I want to see improved tackling and fewer penalties.

The most interesting thing to look at on Saturday is the individual performance of the players competing for starting jobs this fall. I assume Bacarri Rambo will be the starter at one safety spot, leaving two positions open. Branden Smith and Vance Cuff are the favorites to win the other corner position. The remaining safety position is wide open, but I am excited to finally see Jakar Hamilton out on the field.

Two more days until football!

GO DAWGS!!!

2010 G-Day Preview - Part 2: “Bring the Rain”

The 2009 Georgia defense was a complete and absolute failure. A team once known for putting constant pressure on the quarterback was reduced to a team more famous for letting Jonathan Crompton look like an All-SEC quarterback. Georgia managed to win 8 games last year in spite of the defense and it was clear that regime change was needed. Georgia fans got their wish in the hiring of former Dallas Cowboys line coach, Todd Grantham.

Grantham brings with him the 3-4 defense, a departure from the traditional 4-3 defense that was run under Willie Martinez. The new defensive scheme means players in new positions, such as former defensive end Justin Houston now lining up at rushing outside linebacker. The defense is designed to get more pressure on the quarterback, which was seriously lacking last year. Hopefully, more pressure will not only lead to a lower third down conversion rate for opponents, but hopefully a few more turnovers to boot.

This Saturday, most of my attention will be on the linebackers. With so many guys in new positions (including Richard Samuel now at linebacker), it will look a lot different than it did in the Independence Bowl. A few sacks on Saturday would be nice as well.

G-Day Preview Part 3 – “Don’t Blow my Cover” – coming tomorrow.

Just 3 more days…

GO DAWGS!!!

G-Day Preview: Part 1 – “Less is More”

This Saturday marks the end of Georgia spring practice for 2010 and it culminates with the annual G-Day game. One of the most intriguing stories of the spring is the battle to see who will be Georgia’s new starting quarterback. Zach Mettenberger has looked strong in both scrimmages, but his arrest in early April has him facing at least a 1 game suspension and most likely a back up job to start the year. Logan Gray has shown improvement, but a poor showing in the first scrimmage hurt his chances at winning the job. The front runner continues to be Aaron Murray, who has looked impressive in both practice and the scrimmages. And while Coach Richt is expected to name a depth chart to begin fall practice (though he will not be ready to name a starter), the question I keep asking myself is does it really matter.

Georgia will return 10 starters on the offensive side of the ball this fall, including a veteran offensive line, a talented duo at running back, and the best receiver in the country. This year, the quarterback will be asked to do less in the offense, and I say that is a good thing. For all of his faults, Joe Cox was brilliant at times for the Dawgs last season. Take a quick look at these two statistic lines:

55.8%, 2588 yards, 24 TD
55.9%, 2584 yards, 24 TD

The first line belongs to DJ Shockley during the Dawgs 2005 SEC Championship season and the second line belongs to Joe Cox last season. The major difference between the two is DJ only threw 4 picks, Joe threw too many to count.

To have a successful season under center in 2010, the Georgia signal caller does not need to put up 2,500 yards and 20 scores. These are figures that are often only seen by experienced Georgia QBs. The running game of Caleb King and Washaun Ealey should provide the firepower to keep the Dawgs in the end zone on a consistent basis.

What I am looking for on Saturday is the quarterback who embraces the “less is more” mentality. We need a little less Stafford and a little more David Greene under center this fall. The player who can find the right balance between making the big play and also knowing when to take a sack will give Georgia the best chance at success this fall.

Only four days until football…at least for one day!

GO DAWGS!!!

It's Opening Day!

"Baseball is a pure game, an orderly game. The reason the uneducated think it's a dull, slow game is they don't realize the intricacies involved on every pitch." - Lewis Grizzard

This is a Georgia blog first, but today is one of my favorite days of the year. The Braves take on the Cubs to open the 2010 season and unfortunately I am stuck in the office. Let's hope Bobby Cox's final year brings winning championships back to Atlanta.

I'll be back later this week for my G-Day preview.

GO BRAVES!

Who Does the Defense Need?!? The Hanson Brothers

Earl sent me this link today to a story about the Johnstown Chiefs, a minor league hockey team which takes its name from the team of the same name in the classic Paul Newman comedy, "Slap Shot". If you have never seen Slap Shot, shame on you. It is one of the greatest sports films ever made. Remembering Slap Shot got me thinking about what Georgia needs on defense to get that swagger back that the team had under Brian Van Gorder. How would Paul Newman's character have gotten the bite back into the Georgia D? With the Hanson Brothers, of course!


Georgia's needs its own group of enforcers, tough guys who step on the field and strike fear into the other team. In recent years, the most success has come at the safety position, where Thomas Davis and Greg Blue wreaked havoc on SEC receivers. But who will lead this new breed of Georgia defense? My first nominee is the man with best name in sports, Bacarri Rambo. Ask Mario Fannin if he likes going over the middle with Rambo flying around.


After Rambo, there is a long list of other guys ready to join the fight and bring the ferocity back to the Georgia defense. Guys like Akeem Dent, Justin Houston, Jakar Hamilton, and Alec Ogletree will all have their chance to make their mark this fall.

Maybe Grantham's boys won't take it this far, but knocking opposing teams around sure would be fun to watch.


GO CHIEFS....err DAWGS!!!

Go, Mike, Go!

For any of you who have attended The University of Georgia, it should come as no surprise that the majority of people associated with the school do not like Michael Adams. The man who has been at the top of University of Georgia food chain since 1997 has constantly upset Georgia students, alumni, and faculty with his ill advised decisions and policies.

Adams has been notorious for making decisions that have been particularly upsetting to followers of Georgia athletics. In 2003, it was Adams decision to punish the entire Georgia basketball team for the actions of Tony Cole, removing the team not only from the SEC tournament but the NCAA tournament that year. It was arguably the best Georgia team since the early 80's and Adams decision is still haunting the men's basketball program to this day. Adams was also behind the "forced retirement" of Vince Dooley. While Damon Evans has done a fine job at the helm, Coach Dooley is a legend in Athens and should have been able to leave on his own terms. Most recently, the announcement of the new tailgating policies are a direct results of Adams' desire to make more money and move tailgating off campus.

With presidency of the NCAA vacant, Adams sits near the top of the short list of people to take the job. Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe and ESPN fame wrote an article (found here) on why the rest of the country should be scared. Do I think Adams would do a horrible job as NCAA President? Yes. But for the love of everything that is good in Athens, I hope the man gets the job.

All I can say is, NCAA give Mike a chance (and get him away from my University!)

What's on my mind - March 25th

My final thoughts on the North Campus situation:
- Things have only gotten really bad on North Campus over the last few years, but what did the University expect. As the drive to build more buildings on campus has continued to grow, many of those new buildings took away from places where people used to tailgate. It started with the building of the Coverdell Building which took away the entire parking lot next to McWhorter. It continued with the building of East Campus Village, the SLC, the Carlton Street Deck, the new Greek park, and the list just goes on and on.
- Last year was even worse because of new ESPN contract, which resulted in 4 of 6 home games taking place after 7 PM. When you give people 6 to 8 hours to party, there is going to be a lot more trash. Plain and simple.
- The University handled this badly and it has turned into a PR nightmare. I'll miss tailgating on North campus this fall but I wouldn't surprised if there is a "pay to play" plan in place for the 2011 season.

AJ Green wants to return punts:
- I am all for it. He is one of the most talented players we have had at Georgia and this will be his last year on campus. Why not take advantage of his playmaking ability why we can. In '08, we tried Knowshon returning punts and he broke one off for 33 yards against South Carolina. But after the loss to Alabama, Knowshon never saw the field at PR again. If he wants do it, I say we give him the chance.

Murray's got a glove:
- If he can make the deep throws with it on, I don't care what it looks like.

3-4 Offense, 3-4 Defense:
- Herschel Walker made the number 34 special during his 3 years in Athens. If the new defense and the running back tandem of Ealey and King can bring an SEC Championship back to Athens, 3-4 will once again be the most talked about number in the Bulldog Nation.

Grantham's Approach to the Depth Chart:
- It seems to me that Grantham is set on putting players in the positions that fit them best, as opposed to trying to make them better players at a specific position. This is contrast to some of the methods employed by Willie (see Bryan Evans) and I am glad to see they moved Samuel inside. I think Richard Samuel will surprise a lot of SEC coaches and leave them thinking they are glad he was playing running back for his first two years at Georgia.

ONLY 18 DAYS UNTIL G-DAY!!!