Dawgs BUI 2.0

About that Outback Bowl

MikeInValdosta — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:49:10 +0000

It appears as if all of the Bulldawg Nation has turned its eyes toward recruiting and the 2012 season. Personally, Michigan State scares the hell out of me. Despite a heartbreaking loss in the Big 10 Championship game, I expect the Spartans to arrive in Orlando hungry for a win to build on the momentum of their 2011 campaign.

I have only seen a few Spartie games this year. Each time I came away impressed with their effort. I believe Mark Dantonio gets the maximum return from the talent he has at his disposal. His team plays hard with discipline and the expectation to win.

We better be focused on the Michigan State Spartans. It could get ugly if we are not.

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Georgia Bulldogs

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Michigan State Spartans

The tease was torture, recruiting is the remedy

MikeInValdosta — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:43:12 +0000

Late last night, after watching the Dawgs get destroyed 42 – 10, I felt remarkably at peace with the Georgia football program. I am not going to blow smoke up anybody’s skirt, we resembled France and made LSU look like Germany those last 30 minutes. From my point of view, the Cajuns won that game many Februarys ago.

LSU, and Alabama, will return to the pack the next few years. Both the Tide and the Tigers have made just as many recruiting misses as have the Dawgs. The difference between the Tigers, Tide, and the rest of the league is, and has been, their NFL style roster management. Oversigning.

Oversigning isn’t everything, but it is the main thing.

Georgia simply doesn’t have the sheer number of elite athletes LSU and Bama have. When Caleb King and Washaun Ealey went astray, we were left with empty scholarships. Every scholarship, signed letter of intent or not, at Alabama and LSU has been awarded after August tryouts, those that didn’t make the cut were sent home.

Oversigning mitigates most, if not all of the inherent risk that comes with making 4+ year commitments to 17 and 18 year old kids. In fact, where Georgia is concerned, many of these commitments are made to 14 and 15 year old kids. When I taking the oversigning practice into consideration, it is amazing Richt was able to have his guys in the Dome at all.

We simply lacked the depth along the line of scrimmage to play with those guys for 60 minutes.

As for coaching, I was leading the call for change following the debacle against South Carolina. Eleven games later I must admit, Nick Saban, Les Miles, nor Urban Meyer could have cooked a better meal with the given ingredients than did Mark Richt. I hate the spread offense but, I am know forced to admit, we didn’t have a single tailback made for playing big boy SEC offense. Coach got maximum return from the players he had.

The worst decision of the night was kicking the ball to Honey Badger, especially from the back of our end zone. The decisions that concern me most, those that have been made, and those that are to be made in the next two months, are the recruiting and player development choices Richt and company make.

I can’t help but think about Knowshon Moreno. Most in the Dawg Nation, including Richt, believe it was a mistake to redshirt Moreno. I have come to believe otherwise. I have come to believe redshirting running back should be the rule with few exceptions. Those exceptions being the based on physical size and the level of competition faced in high school.

Moreno may have been ready as a true freshman, but I now believe that year on the scout team made him better, stronger, tougher, and hungrier for game days. I don’t know what level of competition Moreno faced in high school, but it probably didn’t prepare him for the rigors of SEC play.

Level of competition matters in recruiting, Washaun Ealey, like Crowell, didn’t face many, if any, future SEC players. If nothing else, the scout team will teach you about contact. The scout team will get you ready for the best the SEC has to offer. Skipping practice with lingering issues doesn’t.

The roster attrition Georgia has suffered in recent years provides little to no room for error in the recruiting department. Richt must not count on running back that earned their reputation beating 200 pound defensive tackles and 190 pound linebackers. These kids may very well develop, but it is far from a sure thing. Herschel, Bo, Trent Richardson, Marcus Lattimore, those cats for LSU, they arrived on campus grown men. Isaiah Crowell is not yet a man.

I don’t know what happened this year with Crowell. I know he is talented. I know he wasn’t physically, nor was he mentally prepared for the SEC grind. Few true freshmen are, that is not a knock on Crowell. It is a knock on our recruiting strategy.

Malcolm Mitchell dominated arguably the best region in the biggest class of high school football in the state of Georgia. He showed up ready to compete. Mike Gilliard dominated that very same region, but at a very different position, a position exposed to violence on every snap. Gilliard grew into a tackling machine and his absence on the field was felt last night.

Crowell may develop into a workhorse for Georgia, but we were all fools to expect that this year. There was nothing in his high school body of work to make us all think so. It may not be fair to the small school kids, but Grayson, Lowndes, Stephenson, MLK, and Valdosta play a different brand of football than Carver, Buford, and Emmanuel County institute.

Jarvis Jones is three years removed from Carver. I imagine Crowell, if he doesn’t quit, will be just as reliable as Jones in two years’ time. I just pray his development was not stunted by being thrown into the fire too soon.

All of this is my way of saying; we were not out schemed last night. We were out manned. In the out years, LSU and Bama’s talent level will regress to the mean, but they will still have a 15 scholarship pad to play with as long as every scholarship is a single year. Miles and Saban are still going to have nearly 15 extra ball players that signed letters to “cut” after August evaluations.. Unless Richt and company are going to start yanking scholarships, our recruiting strategy must change.

We can no longer fill a substantial portion of our signing classes 12, 18, 24 months in advance. We may have to start gambling on the late decisions and learn the ins and outs of grey shirting. The other option is to be proud of doing it the right way and being SEC runner-ups.

Recruiting is a cut throat business, one that Mr. Nice Guy Richt has done remarkably well in. Georgia is a remarkable good football team when compared to the other 120 FBS ball clubs. If LSU and Alabama are going to be the standards of success, or recruiting standards must keep pace.

Having said that, I am not sure being SEC runners-up is all that bad.

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Georgia Bulldogs

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SECCG, LSU, BAMA, Richt, Miles, Saban

5 Keys to an Upset

MikeInValdosta — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:46:21 +0000

I believe the Dawgs have better than a puncher's chance against the vaunted Bengal Tigers.

1. The Dawgs must win the special teams battle. LSU is very strong in all 4 phases of special teams. We cannot afford any lapses here.

2. Protect the football. We simply can't give away points or field position. We have to go all 15 rounds and hope for a decision. We can't allow the knock-out punch to connect. Turnovers get you knocked out.

3. Don't give up the big play on defense. Quarterback play is the weak link in LSU's chain. The more plays we force LSU to run each drive, the more likely a mistake. Miles has been more than comfortable playing it conservative and letting special teams and defense provide short fields. Stay deeper than the deepest and survive each play. I am talking to you, Rambo!

4. Make LSU respect the run. I don't expect much from the running game, but we have to make them respect it. And I am talking about downhill running. None of this handing it to a flat footed back 5 yards deep. Not against this defense. Pound it out for three or four yards and give some teeth to the play-action pass.

5. Eliminate Marc Curles prior to kickoff. I mean, if you see Marc Curles having dinner Friday night, take his ass OUT.

If these 5 things happen. I see us winning 23-21.

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Georgia Bulldogs

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LSU, SEC Championship

Rest in Peace Larry Munson

MikeInValdosta — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:26:35 +0000

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Larry Munson

To Grantham the Glory - SEC East Champs

MikeInValdosta — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:46:31 +0000

Much has been made about the hurry up offense and the number of offensive snaps the Dawgs have taken. Few have properly credited Grantham and his gang for forcing the opposition's offense to get off his damn field.

I am rooting for Arkansas against LSU. I'd prefer a field goal battle with Bama in the Dome, but I think we match up pretty well with LSU.

Get healthy Richard Samuel.

I have a good feeling.

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Georgia Bulldogs

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Todd Grantham

Payback

MikeInValdosta — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:51:19 +0000

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Georgia Bulldogs

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Auburn Tigers

Looking back at it

MikeInValdosta — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:54:06 +0000

There was no talk of the Coastal Carolina game being a must win or not being a must win. It was, as it should have been, obvious to all when the game was scheduled the outcome would favor Georgia.

A lot of Dawgs are pounding their collective chests after Saturday.

Ole Miss looked horrible in Nashville. That scares me. There are 2 things Houston Nutt is good at, ruining his team's season and ruining another team's season.

In any case, I have to winder if this is a "must win" game. Even if Coach Richt doesn't think it is, I hope he keeps quiet about it. I just don't subscribe to telling your players they don't have to win prior to kick-off. Save that stuff for post-game "we'll get'em next week" talks.

Reality suggests he was wrong about the South Carolina game:

“Right now, we’ve lost control of our destiny in this thing but there’s so many ball games to be played,” Rich said. ” … Overall, I think we’re a team that’s on the rise.”

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Georgia Bulldogs

My Tribute to Munson

the_Real_paige — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:51:17 +0000

MY TRIBUTE TO MUNSON

There I was amongst a sea of Red n Black in awe of what my eyes beheld. I was young and it was my first trip to Athens, GA but by the end of that day I knew it wouldn’t be my last. That crisp, cool Georgia air and sounds of Glory Glory began what would become one of the greatest loves of my life. So much I remember from that day. Those shiny red helmets, silver britches, the Red Coats and that voice.

My dad had those head phones on from the time we got in the car until the time we left the stadium. I assumed it was his way of drowning out the questions that were continuously flowing from my brother and me. Where are we going? When does it start? How far do we have to walk? Where are all these people going? Hey dad, what are you listening to? With that my world changed because when the game started he held those head phones to my ears and on the other end was a man named Larry.

Those words he spoke painted something so fascinating that no picture could do them justice. His enthusiasm seemed to give me energy and my heart raced faster with every breath. All those people that filled in the seats next to me became a blur. On that day, in that stadium, it was just Me, Larry and my Dawgs.

He said words that didn’t make sense that somehow made sense. He made players into heroes and a 30 yard field goal seem like a miracle. He made Ole Lady Luck come alive and could make a players name so beautiful that it stuck with you forever. He would make you Hunker Down right there in your living room and pick up a chair and break it. He made you want to be a Bulldawg and never regret it.

There are so many games that would have been forgotten if Munson hadn’t cemented them into our memories and our hearts. There are so many players that would have just came and gone if Munson hadn’t made them into legends. There were so many times we were Dawg Tired and would have all given up, if Larry hadn’t begged us not too.

I’ll never forget when they said Larry was stepping away. He had been right there with me my whole entire life and we cheered and we screamed our way through a couple hundred games together. He raised me into the best dang Dawg I could be and made me want to be a better one. Every game since then I still hear echoes of that voice and I smile. I smile because I know I was better because of him and so were you.

Larry, you were the best there ever was when it comes to sports and radio. I love you with all my Dawg Heart and we will NEVER forget all the memories you gave us. Your words were like sugar falling from the sky.

HUNKER DOWN

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Munson, Dawgs, Larry, SEC

KISS, Please

MikeInValdosta — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:20:25 +0000

I really hope the Dawgs come out and keep the game plan simple. Run a core set of plays and run them well. Let the players out perform their opponents, let them play more and think less. Get the young pups a lot of reps, build some depth and so on. Most of all, I want a convincing win in a game played up to the talent level and not down to the opposition. Oh, and mistake free football would be nice.

A fairly tall order I realize.

If we are going to be a spread team, then run the base set of plays and run them well. That means letting Murray run the ball. If we do not demonstrate Murray is a threat to run, the spread is not viable SEC offense without a quarterback willing to keep it. With the exception of the sweep, our spread running game leaves a defensive end unblocked. If Murray is not a threat to run it, expect a lot of 2nd and 12s the remainder of the year. Furthermore, it is difficult to run a play-action passing game out of your "base" set without a dependable running game.

Bottom line, we have got to figure out what type of offense we are. Our players need to know a core set of plays like the back of their hand. In fact, they need to know it so well they can almost logically predict the next play that is going to be called because that is what we do.

Personally, I would still prefer a big tight end and a big fullback creating an edge, or an off tackle hole, for our prized running back to run around/through. I don't really get having him stand flat footed when he receives the ball. But hey, we have a game plan based upon running a certain amount of plays and I guess that is the only way to do it. Sorry, watching LSU run simple plays out of the I-formation, and run them well, made me reminiscent for Richt's early years.

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Georgia Bulldogs

Excuses and the Better Fans

MikeInValdosta — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:32:12 +0000

In all honesty, I showed my ass Saturday. I still believe we were beaten by an inferior football team. Still, I must admit I was way over the top.

Playing fast and loose with the football is something great teams rarely get away with. Young teams stand little chance. I feel it is the coaching staff's job to recognize and develop a strategy that gives us the best chance to win given the personnel we have and what same personnel is capable of consistently executing.

Throwing the football all over the stadium is exciting and may give a team its best chance of winning. The hurry up may also give a team its best chance of winning. Sometimes, slowing the game down with ball control and making an effort to cover up for one's lack of depth or any other identified weakness gives a team the best shot to win. Coaches are to make these decisions. I hope the coaches make these decisions on a game by game, if not series by series basis. To make those decisions in the off season and refuse to take game and personnel circumstances into account appears unsound and flawed to me.

For example, if a player has gotten beat in a one on one situation all year, or all game, or even all half, perhaps we should attempt to cover up for that short coming. This is the root of my criticism. I believe it to be legitimate. Crowell's fumble, or bad QB exchange, did happen on a running play. Stuff happens. Stuff happens more frequently when the ball is put in the air or a quarterback is retreating with hopes of putting the ball in the air. Perhaps Paul Bryant was an amateur, too.

To be sure there was improvement from week one to week two. Based upon that progression, we should be able to expect we will be a better football team in October and November than we were today. By New Year's eve we should be world beaters, right?

Is that what the past few years tell us?

Saturday we lost a close football team where our offense and special teams basically gave away 28 points and settled for field goal attempts too often. Many are pointing out that we are only 0 - 2. Some would have you believe the early departure of some fans was a contributing factor. Some may even blame the verbal commitment of an in-state star to Stanford as a result of poor fans.

However, when I see that so many people are piling on a movement against him, and that it can cause a negative air to exist around our team, I have to speak out against that. My biggest issue with this is that it's GAME FRIKKING TWO, and the crowd isn't into the game in the first half....and then, they're leaving with four minutes to go, and us getting the ball down only by ten. That is NOT fan support. It's childish. It's "I'm not getting my way, so I'm taking my ball and going home."
That's what I can't stand. I remember fans leaving my last game in Sanford Stadium early. Yeah, we got our asses handed to us by Georgia Tech, and the fans bolted on us. It was a cold, rainy day, and they didn't want to watch it. The last time I left that field as a player, it was to a 2/3 empty stadium.
...
You want to be critical of the staff? Fine. Be Critical....but before you go crying for a retooling of the staff, see what these coaches do with this season. Why? Because no coach is going to come in and make this year better than Richt will make this year. You won't find an interim coach who is going to come in and suddenly turn this season on its ear. You won't find an interim coach who is going to come in and suddenly make us 2-0. We're 0-2. You have to deal with that, and move on. Be a FAN. Go out and be FANATICALLY SUPPORTIVE of your team. Give them a REASON to play for YOU.
...
And some fans will say, "But Dukes, we've just been through so much, we've lost too many close games, we haven't won a title, it's been so hard to be a fan...I just don't know how much I have left in me." You're not a player, you're a fan. Your job is to be as LOUD as possible IN SUPPORT of YOUR TEAM at ALL TIMES. That's your job. You want the players and the coaches to do their jobs? Do yours.

That is one opinion, and one way of looking at it. True we are 0 -2. We are also 14 - 14 in our last 28. It is no longer an aberration. It is a trend. I am not even going to touch our conference record over the last 2 seasons. I will say this, and I am admit it is tongue in cheek, if a few thousand fans leaving early to beat traffic and get back to their lives is so instrumental, and our players need the fans to give them a "reason to play," do we stand a chance at winning a road game? Has it gotten to the point where we must point fingers at the fans in order to be supportive of the coaching staff, to project responsibility for the program's success or failure on those "outside those arena?"

The kid didn't sign with Stanford due to the fans, he certainly did that give that as his reason. Furthermore, it is Coach Richt's job to prepare and motivate the team to play for HIM and THEMSELVES.

The fans are not getting paid, no are they receiving anything free from the school. Quite the contrary.

One last thing, it was quite impressive the fans had enough optimism and support to show up on that cold an rainy day mentioned above. Back then, things were as Kelin Johnson says they are now:

It was the team leadership through the last few years that most concerned Kelin Johnson, the defensive captain and vocal leader of the 2007 squad.
"One of the hardest things is walking around this city and to be around these players and to see some of them taking things for granted, some of the guys who are just happy to put the 'G' on or to wear a Georgia football shirt downtown to pick up women," Johnson said. "They want to put a 'G' on so people will recognize them. So what? The 'G' doesn't make you. As soon as these players realize the 'G' doesn't make the person, the person makes the 'G,' that's how they know Georgia's so much better than everybody else."

Are the fans really responsible? Calling players out and acting like an overall ass is wrong. No dispute there. Laying the success of a coach getting paid $3 million on the fans is nearly abetting larceny.

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Georgia Bulldogs

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Just Not Happy