Monday, April 26, 2010

If Gray Transfers, could Bacarri Rambo move back to QB?

Rumors are flying today that Logan Gray may leave the program and transfer for an opportunity to start during his final two years of eligibility. If that happens, Georgia will be down to one scholarship quarterback until freshman Hutson Mason arrives on campus later this summer. Fortunately for the Dawgs, they have a player on campus who played quarterback in high school and acted as the main scout team quarterback during his freshman year in 2008. Of course I am talking about starting safety Bacarri Rambo.

Rambo came to Georgia from Seminole County High where he was a star on both sides of the ball. While Rambo has developed into a great play making safety, if the situation was right, would Georgia move him back to quarterback? He spent his true freshman year emulating mobile QB opponents on the scout team including Tim Tebow and Josh Nesbitt. In 1995, Georgia was faced with a similar situation and moved Hines Ward to quarterback for much of the season.

Of course, none of this will probably happen. Even if Gray leaves, Mason should come in and be fine in the back up position. But with the way things have been going lately, you never know what will happen next.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Friday Thoughts and a Few Links

Well, it has been quite an interesting week for the Dawg nation and the college football landscape as a whole. From the Mettenberger situation to the NFL draft, there are a lot of interesting stories going on right now. Here are my thoughts as well as some links for your Friday:

- Coach Richt has released the post spring depth chart and the biggest story is Aaron Murray on top of the depth chart at quarterback. This was all a forgone conclusion after the Meetenberger dismissal, but I am glad that Richt stated that Murray would have been #1 even if Mett was still around. Here's the quote from Richt (courtesy of David Hale):
“I’m not out to hurt anybody worse than they might have been hurt to this point, but Aaron would have been the No. 1 quarterback.”

- Check out the full post spring depth chart HERE.

- Christian Robinson at the top of the linebacking depth chart was a surprise. As Earl said to me this morning:

Good to see Robinson listed as a #1 (over Dowtin no less). Seems like he's using his smarts and work ethic to move up the depth charts. Dowtin will see plenty of playing time b/c he's athletically gifted, so I hope Robinson being ahead of him motivates him. But in no way do I expect Robinson to lose his job to Dowtin b/c I don't expect a guy like Robinson to lose his job to anyone once he's secured it.

We have so many LBs. It's great.

- The NFL Draft began last night with a new format of having the first round on Thursday night. As expected, there were no Georgia players taken in round 1.

- Tim Tebow went #25 overall to the Denver Broncos. There has been much debate about how his skills transfer to the NFL. I am not sure what to think at this point, but I certainly do not think he should have gone in round 1. I also can't fathom the idea of Tebow sharing a backfield with Knowshon. It just makes me a little queasy. Here is Smart Football's take on Tebow going to Denver

- Why did the Falcons pass on Dez Bryant?!? I know they needed a linebacker, but when a projected top 10 pick falls that far, I think sometimes you just have to take the best player available. I really wish Derrick Morgan had continued to fall as well. In the end, the Falcons appear to have gotten the player they wanted all along.

- What is it about Florida guys kissing other guys?!? (Even if it is your twin.)

- I received a pretty big response to my SEC expansion post yesterday. It seems most of you think that the SEC would go after other high profile school like Florida State. When I wrote the post, I only considered schools not currently part of a BCS conference and Big East teams (because if the Big 10 pulls anyone from the Big East, it would most likely disband). Here's Michigan blogger MGoBlog's look at what the new Big Ten could look like.

- And lastly, here is an interesting read I found on Sports Illustrated's SI Vault, which allows you to view articles from any previous SI Issue. This is the article that appeared in Sports Illustrated following Georgia's victory over Notre Dame to win the 1980 National Championship.

Have a great weekend and GO DAWGS!!!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

SEC Exapnsion? What would a super sized SEC look like?

With all of the Mettenberger junk going on, I think many Georgia fans have failed to pay attention to what may be a game changer in the world of college football - the expansion of the Big 10. The Big Ten may be known for its slow, plodding players and inability to win BCS games, but if the conference expands to 16 schools, it will change college football forever. The next logical step would be the expansion of all of the major BCS conferences to 16 teams, setting up the perfect scenario for a playoff. I won't go any further into the playoff vs. BCS debate, but I have to wonder what an expanded SEC would look like.

If the SEC did expand from 12 to 16 teams, what schools would join the best conference in the land? Here are the schools I see as the most likely candidates (Note: if the Big 10 goes to 16 schools, I am pretty sure that will signal either the end of the current Big East football conference or some major realignment, so Big East schools are included in this list. Also, I assume all current SEC schools are staying and schools from other big conferences, i.e. Clemson, will not be available).

- East Carolina - The two-time defending Conference USA Champions have proven to be a quality program that can hang with some of the best teams in the country. They would provide a new, in-conference rival for South Carolina and also give the SEC a presence in ACC territory (North Carolina).

- South Florida - The Bulls have reached as high as number 2 in the rankings in recent years but have been unable to finish the climb. South Florida would give the SEC its second school in the state of Florida and provide an in-state challenger to the Gators.

- Troy - The Trojans have played a number of SEC schools over the past few seasons and showed the ability to score with the best of them.

- Louisville - Already a big rival with Kentucky, the Cardinals have been a top team in the Big East (until recently). Georgia already has a two game series booked with Louisville in the coming years.

Others considered: Tulane, Central Florida, Memphis, Southern Miss

Here is how I would align the divisions:

East-
Georgia
South Carolina
East Carolina
Tennessee
Florida
Vandy
Kentucky
South Florida

West -
Alabama
Auburn
Arkansas
LSU
Louisville
Troy
Ole Miss
Mississippi State

What would your new SEC look like?

Monday, April 19, 2010

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).

Monday, April 12, 2010

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!!!

Friday, April 9, 2010

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?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

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!!!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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!!!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

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!!!

Monday, April 5, 2010

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!