Georgia WR Marlon Brown Still Has His Share of Doubters

Twitter is a fun place to be late at night—when most people have likely decided to engage in other more interesting activities—and this past Friday evening was no exception.

Noted Atlanta Journal-Constitution recruitnik, Michael Carvell, had this to tweet about Marlon Brown, the former five-star standout for Harding Academy in Memphis, TN:

While I don't share Mr. Carvell's insomnia over Brown's former recruiting rank—personally the stars don't mean a whole lot in most cases, because the pudding is proved on the field—I do admit to having a slight obsession with how insignificant a role he has played since he's been at Georgia. As a matter of fact, he's graced the thoughts and pages of this blog on several occasions (see link below) for that very reason and he's been a subject of fierce debate as to whether or not he will ever live up to the hype or promise he displayed in high school.

Brown isn't lacking in self-confidence where his skills are concerned, but putting his money where his mouth is will be the ultimate goal this season. As a junior, he's already being lauded as a potential No. 2 option playing opposite Tavarres King (who is set to step into the role left vacant by A.J. Green), but redshirt freshman, Michael Bennett, has received every bit the praise and accolades for his 'Kris Durham like' hands and 'A.J. Green like' flexibility so who's to say how things will turn out?

If anything, I find that I am more intrigued about Bennett's potential than Brown's—but that's just me.

Related articles

• Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Marlon Brown? (theladysportswriter.blogspot.com)
• Georgia Bulldogs: Tight End Is The New Wide Receiver (theladysportswriter.blogspot.com)

Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Marlon Brown?

Photo Credit: Brant Sanderlin/AJC

It feels like we've been asking this question for longer than necessary as Marlon Brown was supposed to be the gem of Georgia's 2009 signing class. On that signing day, if you had told anyone that Brown would be entering his junior season with a stat line of 13 receptions, 148 yards, and one touchdown, they might have asked if you needed professional help.

He was a star at Harding Academy in Memphis and was considered a lock to become the same at the next level—how could he possibly fail playing alongside the likes of A.J. Green? Brown was coming into a good situation, possibly being able to make a mark early with Mohammed Massaquoi exiting in 2008, and he had every opportunity to break down the freshman wall and become the next big thing at Georgia.

However, as it turns out, the mediocre competition at Harding Academy proved to be a bigger obstacle to his development than some thought it might. He wasn't prepared for the physical play of the SEC and was never able to find his groove on the football field.

Truthfully, he should have redshirted his first year as his two catches for 15-yards weren't worth the paper they were printed on. Even more, it was clear that he needed more time to learn the routes, learn the league, and add more weight to his lanky frame—the height was there, the strength was not.

By 2010, the question was no longer 'is he ready?', but rather 'where's he at?'  and if ever there were a time for him to shine, it was last season—A.J. was suspended, the running game was mediocre, and Aaron Murray was looking to make new connections, in the passing game, with anyone willing to step their game up—so what happened?

Well, Brown saw much of that season cut down by a shoulder injury.  He was never able to get healthy enough to make a real contribution.

2011 is already seeing some positive reports on Brown out of spring practice, but the same was said in 2010—and look how that turned out. At this point, it would just be nice to see Brown doing something other than traversing the sidelines as he's not become nearly the player Georgia expected him to be when he arrived in 2009.

It's time for Marlon Brown to make something happen at Georgia and hopefully this is the year that finally happens.

NFL Draft 2011: "Green To Cincy Makes The Most Sense" Says John Clayton

John Clayton thinks the most logical destination for former Georgia wide receiver, A.J. Green, will be the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 4—Carson Palmer or no Carson Palmer. That offense is built around the passing game and with Terrell Owens out and Chad OchoCinco likely on his way to free agency soon, the Bengals will be looking to add some young, playmaking talent.

If not them, the Browns are still a very good possibility at the No. 6 spot—assuming they don't decide to select Julio Jones. The Browns need receiver help and Green would not only fill that role, but would be just the impact guy they need to expand their offense and give Colt McCoy more viable options in the passing game.

Here's what John Clayton had to say:



Either way, it sounds like Green will be selected in the Top 10.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Washaun Ealey Leads The Way In 44-31 Win Over Kentucky

The Georgia Bulldogs went into Lexington with one goal: run it down their throats—period. It was a plan that worked to utter perfection as Georgia QB, Aaron Murray, barely broke a sweat (9/12 for 113-yards) in allowing Washaun Ealey to do all the dirty work for the offense.

Ealey led the charge in Georgia's 44-31 defeat of the Kentucky Wildcats, running for 157-yards and five touchdowns on 28 carries (5.6 ypc).  He became the first Bulldog running back to do so since Robert Edwards did so against South Carolina.

The game was all Georgia from the start, as they ran out to a 28-10 lead, by halftime, on the strength of a 100-yard return by Brandon Boykin, three rushing touchdowns by Washaun Ealey, and three Kentucky turnovers (all fumbles).

Add to that, the immediately noticeable pass-rush offered by a determined Justin Houston (who finished with three sacks), and you have a Bulldog team that continued to roll for the third straight week.

With the win, the Bulldogs move to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the SEC (2nd to South Carolina).

The stat of the game is 423-yards. That's the total yards given up by the Georgia defense tonight—353-yards of which came through the air. The secondary will need to tighten up before next week's match-up with Urban Meyer's Gators who, reeling themselves, will be looking for any advantage they can find against this, suddenly, surging Georgia defense that has been so stingy against the run.

But, for the night, Georgia fans can rejoice in being a .500 football team. Something that seemed improbable just three-weeks ago.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Where Does A.J. Green Rank All-Time Among Bulldogs Receivers

There is no denying A.J. Green is a phenomenal wide receiver. At 6'4", 210-plus pounds, he's a hard target to miss on the football field.

He's not the quickest off the blocks, nor is he the fastest man on the field, but his ability to control his body, in the air, and make plays on any ball within three-feet of his reach, makes him a special player to have.

Furthermore, his lanky frame belies his overall strength because one would think he could be contained by bigger, more physical, defensive backs.

However, whether double or triple-covered, he always manages to win the jump ball battle—despite any size advantage on the opposition's part.

He uses his hands extremely well when battling for position and he excels at making the most difficult catches look elementary.

All things considered, it's easy for any Georgia Bulldog fan to say that Green is probably one of the best receivers Georgia has ever had—and that is saying a lot considering the Bulldogs history books house the SEC's All-Time Leading receiver in Terrence Edwards.

So, in just his junior season, where exactly does Green rate amongst the all-time greats who've played
at Georgia?

1. Pass Receptions—Career

Terrence Edwards—the SEC's all-time receiving leader, who also wore the No. 8 that is now more famously associated with A.J. Green—caught 204 receptions in his career. Green, to date, has 122.
Given the fact that Green might forgo his senior season for the riches of the NFL (he's a projected top 10 pick), Edwards' appears safe.

That said, both Fred Gibson (161 ) and Mohammed Massaquoi (158) totals are well within Green's reach and it's possible that he enters the all-time list at third before the close of the 2009 season.
Brice Hunter is second all-time with 182.

2. Yards Receiving—Career

Terrence Edwards also holds this record—not only at Georgia, but in the SEC—as he accumulated  3,093 receiving yards at Georgia.

Fred Gibson ended his career trailing closely behind Edwards with 2,883 yards (imagine what Gibson could have done if he had been blessed with Green or Edwards' work ethic—hmmm). At present, Green's total rests at 1,986 yards.

He needs only 112 more yards to surpass Lindsay Scott (5th), 296 to pass Mohammed Massaquoi (4th), and 387 more to overtake Brice Hunter at third—all very possible this year.

3. Average Gain Per Reception—Career. 

The great Gene Washington, who is most remembered for his part in the Bulldogs 1975 victory over the Florida Gators (Appleby-to-Washington) averaged 24.6 yards per reception over the span of his four-year career at Georgia.

A.J. Green is currently averaging 16.33 yards per catch for his career—including games played this season. It doesn't seem likely that he will catch up to Washington, Bobby Watson (20.7), or Rex Puntal (20.5) before he ends his career at Georgia.

4. Touchdown Receptions—Career 

Terrence Edwards leads the way with 30. It's amazing that Edwards was so dominant during his time, but most of this generation are not likely to ever associate the No. 8 with him again—sad.

Green has 17 career touchdowns entering his third game of the 2010 season. Given the propensity of Aaron Murray to look for Green first, in the redzone, it seems feasible to believe Green will add 6-7 more grabs to that count. If he does, he will easily slide into 2nd place behind Terrence Edwards with a chance to surpass him altogether if he returns for his senior season.

Points to Consider:

The legend of A.J. Green at Georgia, and around the country, hinges more on his skills than his production. While no one can deny he's an absolute beast on the football field, he has been limited in what he can do by several factors:

1) The offense: Georgia is still geared towards the run. The Bulldogs have only one wide receiver in the last 60 years who has tallied a 1,000 yard season—Terrence Edwards did so in 2002 (1,004).

2) The quarterback: Green had the good fortune of playing with Matthew Stafford in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, but his past two years have been somewhat hampered by inexperience at the quarterback spot, coupled with poor offensive play calling by his still-green offensive coordinator.

3) No offensive support: Terrence Edwards had Reggie Brown and Fred Gibson. Lindsay Scott had Herschel Walker). Gene Washington had Richard Appleby. Brice Hunter had Andre Hastings and Hines Ward. Who has A.J. Green had?

Mohammed Massaquoi played for one season after the arrival of A.J. Green and, in that season, Green set records by catching 56 passes for 963 yards and 8 touchdowns. Imagine what he might have been able to do his sophomore season with a decent number two receiver to take some of the burden off of him.

Conclusion:

While Green may never surpass the numbers that some of his counterparts have accumulated at Georgia, he's certainly done more with less than any player one can recall in recent memory. He's great for all the things you cannot find on a stat sheet, and that is why he is held in such high regard by both the fans and the coaches.

He's special and everyone knows that when they see him step on the football field—numbers be damned.  
 

(h/t TheOriginalBlawger)

Georgia Bulldogs Football: A Closer Look At What The Dawgs Are Doing Wrong

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see what's going wrong for the Georgia Bulldogs this year—just look at the games and you'll be plenty aware of what's not right.

This is not the team that fans signed up to see when they said goodbye to the reign of Willie Martinez. The "mediocre" 2009 was replaced by a hopeful 2010 with the arrival of Todd Grantham.

Grantham was going to be a breath of fresh air for the defense and Aaron Murray, although inexperienced, had to be better than Joe Cox—or at least if he wasn't, the running game would help him in the short-term.

Either way, this wasn't going to be a team that looked as disorganized, inconsistent, and out-manned as the one we saw last year—no way that was going to happen again at Georgia.

Unfortunately, 2010 brought a bitter pill to Athens, GA. A pill so tough to swallow that it almost seems like too much. The hang-dog look of die-hard fans who are still reeling from losses to Mississippi State and Colorado, tells the story of a season that, to this point, has been a complete disaster. No one wants to admit the team is bad, but at 1-4 it becomes more and more difficult to believe much else.

So, if you take the biggest magnifying glass you can find, and look only at the statistics* and not the people running the plays, what the heck is Georgia doing so wrong that they not only can't pull out a win, but can't seem to remember how to win at all:

1. The offense is terrible. 

That seems pretty obvious, right? Georgia is ranked No. 79 in the nation in points per game (PPG), scoring 24.8 per contest. Through the first five games of the season, the Bulldogs have scored 124 points—1/3 of which are courtesy of Blair Walsh (40 points).

Even more disturbing, A.J. Green has missed four games this season, yet, his contribution to the team's overall point total is 12. That may sound like nothing, but that ties him for second on the team—behind only Aaron Murray and Tavarres King.

That's pathetic.

While A.J. Green showed that he is the uber talent that most everyone knew him to be, there is no excuse for the offense being so centered around his presence that it becomes a wet rag minus him on the football field.

2. The running game looks worse than it is.

Through the first five games of 2009, the team averaged 3.20 yards per carry (ypc). The running game was not only anemic, at that time, but it was a bit of a joke as the coaches kept trying to find the right man to do the job—Richard Samuel, Carlton Thomas, Dontavius Jackson (here and there), and Caleb King all had there shot before Washaun Ealey was allowed to show us what he could do.

This season the team is averaging better than 4.03 ypc, yet they still look awful. Even still, aside from the contest against South Carolina, the team has eclipsed better than 100 yards per game—on the ground—each week. That includes two 150+ yard efforts (184 and 188) against Louisiana and Colorado, respectively.

The problem isn't a lack of effectiveness in the run game, but rather the fact that it has been used, ad nauseum, when it seemed more beneficial to call a pass instead. 14 run plays have been executed on third downs where a distance of more than four yards was needed to convert—Georgia's total yardage on those 14 plays: -4 yards.

3. The punting game is off. 

Drew Butler is an All-American punter. Last season he averaged better than 48 yards per attempt—that ranked Georgia No. 1 in the nation. This season, he's averaging a little more than 44 yards per punt (No. 22).

Last season, he was better on the road (52.23 yards per attempt) than he was at home (47.23). This season, the opposite has been true.

Field position matters in the SEC, and Butler has not been booting it the way he was in 2009. That makes for a shorter opponent field and a lot more work for the Georgia defense.

4. Too many three-and-outs!

Georgia ranks only above LSU, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee in converting first downs. The defense spends more time on the field than the offense does. That means a tired, wore out, defensive unit will usually enter the fourth quarter. You do the math on that one—especially if you consider that a majority of Georgia's losses were sealed in the fourth quarter.

The offense has to do a better job of extending drives if they hope to put any pressure on opposing defenses.

Georgia has 88 first downs this year—two of which were granted through penalties. That's not going to cut it (Oh, and if you want a contrast to that, Alabama has 117 first downs this year).

5. Penalties! Penalties! Penalties!

There are too many of these coming back to haunt Georgia.

In 2010, the Bulldogs have 32 penalties for a total of 219 yards. As a result, Georgia has lost, at least, 17 points of offense and helped extend countless drives for the opposition. It's something that needs to be improved, but—silver lining—it is better than what we saw from the team in 2009.

Through the first five games of that season, Georgia incurred 42 penalties for 373 yards.

6. The offensive line is not pass protecting. 

If Aaron Murray couldn't scramble, he'd be toast right now. The young phenom sees the ground at least twice a game and rarely comes out of his drop without seeing a defender breaking through on his right or left side.

The offensive line is filled with, essentially, the same guys that lined up for Georgia last season. There is no way they are this bad—strength and conditioning needs to be addressed.

There is no other explanation for the way the line gets pushed, punked, and pulverized on a weekly basis—NONE!

7. The redzone is a problem. 

Would you believe it, if someone told you that Georgia has a higher conversion rate, overall, in the redzone than Alabama, Auburn, and Florida? Well, they do.

Georgia can get into the redzone, they have been there 18 times this season—scoring on 16 of those drives. The problem isn't getting into the redzone, the problem is that of those 16 scores, only nine of them went for six. Georgia continually settles for field goals and that cannot continue to happen.

8. By contrast, Georgia's opponent's have no problem scoring touchdowns in the redzone. 

What's that phrase we fans love to use where the Georgia defense is concerned? Hunker Down? Well, there isn't much of that going on this season. The defense is doing the opposite of hunkering down in the redzone, they are helping their opponents find holes and get free for six with ease.

On 11 attempts, the opposition has scored 10 times—all but one went for six.

Conclusion:

The obvious problems are obvious for a reason and, to be frank, most of the problems above could be solved by making two moves: firing the offensive coordinator and asking the strength coach to step down—neither of which seems likely to happen in-season.

What that means is there could be more mediocrity in the near future unless this team starts learning how to play with or without A.J. on the field. There is no excuse for the offensive coordinator to be so unimaginative and dependent on one player that he ceases to do his job when said player has left the field—that's the very definition of incompetence.

As for the defense, it's not nearly as ineffective as it seems, improvements have been made in every phase of the game. The problem isn't Todd Grantham, it's the execution of each play by the players who don't seem altogether familiar with what they should be doing—yet.

If anything, a spotlight is needed on the sudden inability of the running backs, aside from Carlton Thomas, to hang onto the football. It's deplorable to lose points due to lack of fundamentals in ball carrying. Perhaps the duties of the running back coach need to be looked at again because it seems that Bryan McClendon has some questions to answer about what his guys are learning versus what they are doing.

Comment below if you have something insightful to add, but, in the end, the only number a fan will see is 1-4 (Georgia's current record).  Everything else is just chatter.

*All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com.

The NCAA Don't Need No Stinking Investigators...TMZ Will Do Just Fine

Who needs to investigate the wrongdoings of the collegiate athlete when you can just find a cheap tabloid television show to do it for you?

The fact that A.J. Green jeopardized his season for a few extra spring break ducats was a lot less surprising than his mention of TMZ being the initial impetus of the NCAA's investigation into his actions.

Said A.J., "I didn’t know anything about it, Green said of the party. "When the NCAA told me about it, they said they heard it from [website] TMZ. [The NCAA] just heard it was a rumor, so they came down here and asked me." (AJC, 9/28/10).

In case you have no idea what TMZ actually is, it's a celebrity gossip site known for being very unfriendly to famous people. If tabloid journalism had rungs, TMZ would fall somewhere between US Weekly and The Enquirer—in other words, it's pretty close to garbage.

So, it seems rather comical that the NCAA has agents patrolling cheesy tabloid websites for information on what the college athletes they get paid to keep tabs on are doing. It makes you question their ability to actually find out anything major, that's not self-reported by the institution, on their own.

Perhaps that's why it took them five years to figure out that Reggie Bush was dirty, North Carolina was paying tutors, and South Carolina players were living in hotels—jeez, Marc Emmert (the new NCAA president) has a lot of work left to do if he expects to streamline that operation.

Adding more insult to injury was the fact that the NCAA investigation into A.J. Green's actions continued long after it was established that he wasn't in attendance at the South Beach party. Why was that even necessary? Just thinking out loud here, but, wasn't that the reason for the inquiry in the first place? He was rumored to have been there and—shocker—the rumor turns out to be a fabrication.

Why then mull over his bank statements from the previous 15-months?

Did the NCAA agent feel a little silly coming away empty-handed after their "source" ended up being complete hogwash? Did it then become necessary to find something—anything—to justify their contacting Green in the first place? If that wasn't case, why didn't they just leave well enough alone?

Unfortunately for Green, they did unearth his dirty, little secret. One that he, admittedly, knew was wrong but didn't properly calculate the consequences of after the fact.

It's all over now, thankfully, and Georgia can see what restitution Green can  repay the Bulldogs on the football field. Georgia offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, is already foaming at the mouth trying to come up with better plays than the slants, draws, and iso's he's been blindly running over the last three weeks.

Even still, it's perplexing to think that the NCAA expects anyone to take them seriously when they rely on such trashy mediums as TMZ to point them in the right direction—Seriously?

You know that somewhere, someone is thinking, "if not for that POS (piece of shhhh) website, Georgia could be 4-0 right now", right?...just putting that out there because someone is thinking it—no doubt.

As for the NCAA, when asked about the allegation that they don't have agents who can find their own dirt, minus the help of entertainment news, they had no comment. 

Georgia Wide Receiver, A.J. Green, Is Ready To Play Some Football (VIDEO)

The Georgia Bulldogs have been without A.J. Green for the last four weeks. Many thought he would return to a team that was 4-0, at best, and 3-1, at worst. There were few who believed he would make his debut on a team that was 1-3 and reeling from one of the most embarrassing losses in a very long time.

However, Green is undeterred by the record or the circumstance. After sitting on the sidelines, watching the offense sputter minus his play making hands, he is simply ready to suit up in his signature No. 8 jersey and play a little Georgia Bulldog football.

Fans are hungry for something to feel good about and, for the first time in a month, A.J. brings the hope of something better—at least for the moment.

Green is ready to play—saying he still feels he has a lot to "prove" to those out there who might still be questioning his overall legitimacy as a player. (h/t wnegtv)

Georgia Bulldogs Football: What Are The Revised Expectations For 2010?

The Georgia Bulldogs won't be entertaining an SEC Championship, they won't be a sleeper in the BCS, and they are not very likely to finish among the top 25 teams in the nation. At this point, it's time to face the grim reality that this Georgia Bulldogs team's greatest challenge for 2010 is bowl eligibility.

Sitting at a painful 1-3 record, they have dug a hole that could become the foundation for a losing season, if their tailspin doesn't stop soon.

Therein lay the heartbreaking truth of being a Georgia fan in 2010: you might actually endure a team that will be 5-7, or worse, this year—something that, admittedly, was inconceivable to many just a few months ago.

After all, Mark Richt got rid of the albatross that was Willie Martinez. He rid the defense of the ails that made them the laughing stock of the SEC in 2009, so things were supposed to be on their way up.

The new defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham, was going to cure all the inefficiencies of the defense and restore the respect it lost when Brian Van Gorder left town. He, along with his dazzling new assistants: Scott Lakatos and Warren Belin, were going to get things moving in the right direction on defense and the team was going to be much better than last year's 8-5 finisher.

Well, 8-5 is starting to look pretty good at the moment because this team, despite the changes made, isn't playing with any more fire than the one last season. To be honest, there is more personality and passion shown by the players on their Twitter and Facebook accounts than there is on the football field.


However, let's not digress.

What should Georgia Bulldog fans expect from this team the rest of the way? Well, that's a mystery, but it depends on five key factors:

1. Will A.J. Green really be the spark needed to get the offense and the offensive play calling going in the right direction?

For the last four weeks, all any Georgia fan heard is how A.J. was the reason the team wasn't playing well. A.J. is the guy who can make it all better. If the team had A.J. for South Carolina, Arkansas, and Mississippi State—they'd be 4-0 instead of 1-3.

Uh-huh...and if "ands" and "buts" were candy and nuts, then everyday would be Christmas.

While no one can deny the impact A.J. has on the field, even the new athletic director of the University of Georgia, Greg McGarity, knows better than to place the record of this football program on one guy—that's preposterous. Here's his take on the absence of A.J. Green this season:

"You’ve seen other programs that have injuries or have unfortunate things that develop, and someone else steps up. So I think what this has done has maybe let some other receivers develop, I think Kris Durham certainly has been one of the highlighted receivers. I think it gives others a chance to pick up and play...

"It’s all how you look at it. A.J. doesn’t play defense, he doesn’t block, he’s not an interior lineman. I’m sure it hurts the team. But I think there are so many other moving parts with it – it’s the what-if word, probably the two worst words you could use in coach-speak. You can’t play the what-if game." (Seth Emerson, Macon Telegraph, 9/27/10).

Couldn't have said it better.

If the absence of No. 8 limited the imagination of offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, to the point that he didn't know how to adjust his play calling to the talent he did have on the field, then he doesn't need to be the offensive coordinator at Georgia—period.

2. Will Caleb King EVER be healthy enough to play a full game this season?

Does anyone trust Washaun Ealey with the football, inside the redzone, right now? Let's be honest, he's got some problems with ball protection. He's fumbled at the one-yard line twice in the last three weeks—is that the kind of play you want from your top running back?

Caleb King is the only guy that seems capable of both running between the tackles and keeping the ball from hitting the ground. Furthermore, King is a lot better at pass protection than he was just a season ago—the same cannot be said of Washaun Ealey.

King needs to get healthy and get on the field. His missing time is getting frustrating and old for those of us who thought he was going to be the next big thing at Georgia a mere three seasons ago.

3. Who will step up on defense and make plays?

Christian Robinson, Akeem Dent, and Justin Houston have all played well this season—absolutely. However, for as well as they have played, there isn't one guy on the defense right now who is a consistent play maker. On the contrary, different guys are, occasionally, making plays—there is a difference.

Where are the sacks? Forced fumbles? Interceptions?

Someone needs to start making his presence felt a bit more. Georgia needs guys who, when they walk on the field, the opposing offense has to adjust to them. Right now, Georgia is doing all of the adjusting—teams are adjusting for what the Bulldogs are bringing to the table.
  
4. Is Mark Richt capable of drawing a line in the sand?

These guys are undisciplined and unfocused. As mentioned in the opening, they have more passion when using social media than they do playing football on Saturdays. Their opening effort against Arkansas in week three was the most fired up brand of football they've played all season. Since then, it's back to the mediocre, uninspired play they displayed against South Carolina.

The sense of entitlement they seem to feel because of the black 'G' on their helmet is disgusting. Go out there and work for those wins, guys! Get After Them Aggressively, better known as, GATA!!!

My goodness, where is the passion on the football field?!?

Can Richt get that back?...Honestly, the scarier question is: Does Richt have enough energy left to get these guys on track THIS season?
  
 5. Will people stop tip-toeing around the strength and conditioning program at Georgia?

The guys aren't tough enough. For some bizarre reason, people want to extol the great weight lifting numbers the players are putting up on a yearly basis in the Georgia training program. In case you didn't know, they set records every year in different areas (squats, bench press, clean lift, etc.)—SO WHAT?

It's obvious those "records" haven't meant a hill of beans on the football field over the last three years. All anyone has seen is guys getting beat by, sometimes, smaller, less athletic, offensive and defensive linemen.

There's something wrong with that picture and the strength and conditioning coach needs a big, bright, spotlight shown on what he's not doing at Georgia so that his level of accountability can be taken under consideration.

Conclusion

The expectations for the remainder of the year have to be minimal. Some drastic changes have to be made in order for coach Richt to turn this thing around—A.J.'s return will help, but more has to be done to get things going in a more positive direction.

Does that mean the fans should give up on the team, absolutely not, but to ask them to go 8-0 the rest of the way seems like a stretch—right now.

Based on the display of play so far, the schedule that seemed "easy" at the start, now looks like a land mine of possible losses—at Kentucky, at Auburn, Florida, vs. Tennessee, vs. Vanderbilt, and this week at Colorado. None of those are guaranteed wins right now—not the way this team is playing.

So, simply based on what is known, Georgia could go 5-2 in the rest of the way. That means, they would enter their season-ending match-up with Georgia Tech at 6-5—hopefully no worse than that.

What say you? What are your expectations for the rest of this season?

(This article appears courtesy of The Lady Sportswriter)

Georgia Bulldogs Football: AJ Green Out Four Games????....The Hell?!?

The final word came down this afternoon and—after this Lady finished setting things on fire—it became alarming clear that the NCAA is full of shhhh...wait, this is a public blog, let me be careful about this statement.

Ahem, let's start again.

After hearing about the four-game suspension of Georgia's star wide receiver, A.J. Green, it became clear that the NCAA is one big ball of hypocrisy.

How on earth did they justify suspending Green four games for selling his jersey...on Ebay? They say the buyer "meets the NCAA definition of an agent"? Uh-huh, did A.J. know that his buyer was a bloodsucking vulture when he made the sale?

Last I checked, the profile of the sellers and the buyers on Ebay aren't necessarily an open book.

Furthermore, isn't this the same NCAA that gave the thumbs up to Jeremiah Masoli to continue playing college football? Lest we forget, despite what Houston Nutt espoused about second chances and whatever else he says to keep a clear conscience at night, Masoli was convicted of a crime and is, by all accounts, a criminal—yet he gets to play football on Saturday?

Too harsh?...Okay, lets try another, less sinister, example.

Isn't this the same NCAA that told Alabama defensive player Marcel Dareus that he would only need to sit for two games after he (knowingly, mind you) took $2000 in benefits from an agent at a party—that he took a flight to attend?

Sooooooooo, it's okay to accept gifts from an agent, or be a criminal, but it's not okay to make a profit from selling your own damned jersey?...Give me a break!

How many No. 8 jerseys are walking around Sanford Stadium on any given Saturday? You think the school and the NCAA isn't making money off of that sale?...Ludicrous is what this situation is, and it's high time the NCAA do a little more investigating into their practices because, from this vantage point, they look suspect as hell.

Listen, there is no denying that what Green did was wrong because, at the end of the day, rules are rules, but to give him four games is a bit excessive—much like the celebration penalty last season that—in the eyes of many—cost Georgia a win over LSU.

But, no need to digress.

As for the team and how they will adjust, well, this suspension just means it's time for the Georgia Bulldogs to hunker down and do what they need to in their stars' absence.

A.J. is out so...STEP UP, Marlon! Catch the ball, Rantavious!  Git' er' done, Tavarres! The team is counting on you guys, along with Israel Troupe, Kris Durham, and Logan Gray—show us what you got.

As for the AJ Green ruling, Georgia is appealing—as well they should—and, hopefully, the NCAA will come to their senses. Although, given the time it took for them to come down with this decision, it seems doubtful that they will change their minds anytime soon.

Tough break for Georgia, with South Carolina looming on Saturday, but hopefully the dimming of one star simply means the emergence of another. Stay tuned for more commentary on this later—after the Lady calms down, that is...*mumbling*...four games, what a bunch of bullshhhhhhh....(sorry, public blog, gotta be careful)

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Ranking The 10 Best Performers In The Win Over Louisiana

The first Georgia Bulldog Saturday—Between The Hedges—is in the books, and what a lovely day it was to be a Georgia Bulldog football fan.

The Bulldogs started the game a tad out of rhythm—allowing a 40+ yard return on the opening kickoff—but soon found their groove and cruised to a 55-7 victory over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. It was a well-deserved victory for Mark Richt's bunch who played well without starters Washaun Ealey (suspended), A.J. Green (team decision), and Tavarres King (suspended) on the field.

Todd Grantham's first game as defensive coordinator was marred only by a 60-yard touchdown to Louisiana's Ladarius Green on a play that their safety, Bacarri Rambo, allowed to get behind him. If not for that play, the Georgia defense likely would have pitched a shut-out in their home opener.

So, who were a few of the games best individual performers on Saturday?...

1. Aaron Murray, QB

Murray was as poised as you would have hoped he would be standing in front of a home crowd of 92,000+.  He made few mistakes and showcased his above-average scrambling ability whenever necessary—including one scramble near the end of the second quarter that led to seven points.
He spread the ball around well (10 players had one catch or more) and got good zip on his throws even when rolling out of the pocket. His decision-making was only questionable at certain points—particularly on what appeared to be a hail mary pass in the end zone that was nearly picked off.

He finished the game 17-26, for 160 yards, and 4 TD's (1 rushing). His lone interception was on a throw to Kris Durham that should have been caught by the senior receiver.

2. Carlton Thomas, RB

Thomas had some nice gains on Saturday. He fought through the Louisiana defensive front well and didn't seem to have trouble netting positive yards. His 16-yard run on a second down, late in the first quarter, set up a touchdown—leading to a 14-0 lead for Georgia.

The 5-foot-7 back from Frostproof, FL, took advantage of the extra playing time allotted him by the absence of Washaun Ealey—he was the leading rusher on the day for Georgia—finishing the game with 64 yards on 13 carries (4.7 avg).

3. Caleb King, RB

Despite the fact that he finished with less yards than Thomas, King ran strong on Saturday and showed some of the brilliant flashes of greatness that led him to an 800+ yard season in 2009.

King broke tackles, juked, spun, and ran through Cajun defenders on his way to 49 yards and a touchdown in the Georgia win.

His most impressive rush came late in the first when he ran 20 yards for a touchdown—Georgia's first scoring drive of the day.

4. Kris Durham, WR

Durham was Georgia's leading receiver on the day, and he did a fine job of filling in for the absent A.J. Green.

He made some tough catches, and took a couple of big hits, but he never hesitated to go up strong and come down with the big reception. He lost a battle for a ball late in the third—leading to an interception for Murray—but overall had a strong outing for Georgia.

He ended the game with five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.

5. The Georgia Bulldog secondary

What a difference a year, and a coach, makes for the Georgia Bulldogs' secondary. The much-maligned, often burned, secondary of 2009 racked up three interceptions. Brandon Boykin, Jakar Hamilton, and Sanders Commings, all came down with picks for Georgia—Hamilton's turned into a pick-six.

The team had 10 interceptions total last season.



6. Shaun Chapas, FB

Chapas continues to be a stellar renaissance man for the Georgia Bulldogs offense. He blocked brilliantly on both passing and rushing downs and was an excellent short-yardage option for Murray when called upon. 

He had one touchdown reception and 18 total yards (ground and air), but it was his intangible contributions that made him so outstanding on the day.

7. The Georgia Bulldog defense

Todd Grantham's 3-4 still has some kinks to work out, after all this was nowhere near the level of competition that Georgia will face in the coming weeks, but overall you have to be impressed with the level of play that he has his unit executing at this early on in the year.

Georgia's front seven held the Cajuns to only five first downs on the day. Chris Masson felt the pressure on nearly every down and struggled to find any adequate passing lanes to throw into.

Justin Houston had one sack, and Akeem Dent and Daryl Gamble made life miserable for both the receivers and the ball carriers.

All told, the defense was responsible for three sacks for -18 yards and nine tackles for -26 yards. 

8. Drew Butler and Blair Walsh

This kicking duo is already in mid-season form. Walsh didn't get much work kicking field goals, but he did make two on the day—both from 48+ yards—with ease, while going a perfect 7-for-7 on PAT's.

As for Butler, he continues to boom it out. He had six punts for 280 yards (46.7 avg), with a long of 59 yards.

Clearly, Georgia will need the strong, accurate, legs of both of these young men next week when the Bulldogs travel to South Carolina to battle the Gamecocks.

9.  The Georgia Bulldog offensive line

The guys did a pretty nice job of keeping Aaron Murray upright on Saturday (zero sacks). The young quarterback had to improvise a time or two when the pocket seemed to break down, but overall the Georgia passing game was consistent all day.

The rushing lanes were there for the backs to get some good yardage on the ground (184) and the Cajun's defensive front had a tough time getting pressure on Murray or Hutson Mason—who threw a touchdown on his first pass (one of only eight collegiate quarterbacks ever to have done so).

10. Mark Richt

He wasn't on the field of play, but there is proof that his expectations for his quarterback have yet to ease.

After Aaron Murray rushed for his first collegiate touchdown, instead of being happy about the six points, Richt had this to say: "If he thinks that's how he's going to make a living in our league (SEC), that's not a good thing". His point being, Georgia was near the end of the quarter, and if Murray had not gotten the points, Georgia would have squandered an opportunity in the red zone to put some on the board—Murray's run ran the clock to zero.

It's obvious that Richt is going to make certain that Murray is aware that the SEC is a different animal altogether and, come next Saturday, things will be a lot tougher for him. Nice to know that Richt is keeping everything in perspective.

What say you, Georgia/SEC fans? What stood out for you on Saturday?

Next up: South Carolina. 

Georgia Bulldogs: Ten Things To Watch For in Week One

We are quickly approaching the first game of the season for the Georgia Bulldogs and many are anxiously awaiting kickoff. Georgia will face the University of Louisiana-Lafayette's Ragin' Cajuns in week one—a cupcake by the standards of most any Division I school.


That said, Bulldog fans won't take any match-up lightly, especially when it's one that will feature a Georgia team that has a new-look front seven, a new-look quarterback, and a new-look secondary. Even still, it's tough to imagine Georgia losing to the Cajuns—then again, the same was said about Michigan when they played Appalachian State—just saying.


So, what do I hope to see when the Bulldogs take the field on September 4th at 12:21 pm (EST) on ESPN3.com?...


1. How does the offensive line look?

This is the season that Georgia is going to depend on their offensive line to protect Aaron Murray and jumpstart the running game—which will be leaned on heavily to start.

However, if the 2009 version of this stellar 2010 unit shows up to play in game one—remember, the one that seemed to have trouble getting the needed push up front in short-yardage situations—be afraid...be very afraid.

2. Speaking of Murray...does he look comfortable?

The one thing that seemed to give Georgia fans some concern was the shell-shocked nature of Aaron Murray's play at G-Day. He equated it to jitters and being overwhelmed by the expectations of the fans, but if he thought playing in front of 40,000 fans who are all pulling for you was daunting, wait until he sees the 90,000 strong who have spent all summer hearing about what a tremendous young talent he will be for Georgia.

Expectations couldn't be higher for Murray than they are right now—is he ready to step into the spotlight and make it happen? Or will he fold under the glare of the national spotlight?


3. Who will emerge as the legitimate No. 2 wide receiver that can compliment A.J. Green?

If ever there were an opportunity for Marlon Brown to stake his claim to greatness, it's going to be in week one. He hasn't done much this off-season and, after an injury setback late in the spring, all anyone has heard about is Rantavious Wooten, Tavarres King, and Logan Gray.

However, Brown is the guy you hope to see come into his own this year (his size alone makes him an intriguing target) because you want to see A.J. have an opportunity to really bust loose this season—he can do a lot more damage if opposing defenses have to focus on more than just him.

4. How effective will the pass rush be?

I expect to see a lot more pressure on the quarterback this season. There were far too many games in 2009 where QB's were allowed to sit in the pocket or roll out to their left/right, and fire at will. That needs to stop.

Georgia cannot allow average quarterbacks to look like Heisman candidates this year.


5. Is the 3-4 jelling?

This is a biggie.

I expect to see some growing pains as players transition from running scrimmages and drills to actually implementing the concepts into a game. Even with that, there is still a level of competency that one will be hoping to see from this unit, against a lesser opponent, in that first game.

This game should be a tune-up, not a speed bump, of what we can expect to see this season. 



6. Hutson Mason?

Let's not kid ourselves here, Mason is the No. 2 QB at Georgia this season—barring a complete catastrophe. So, it stands to reason that if we are going to see what he has to offer, then this is the game to see it—right?

If things go as most fans hope, the game will be over by halftime and the second-unit (both offensive and defensive) will start getting its reps somewhere around the tail end of the third-quarter.

Mason is someone that we would like to see getting some time early—just in case—so that we can gain a better understanding of just how concerned we should really be–if at all.


7. Which newcomers are going to be special this season?

We all know about T.J. Stripling and Alec Ogletree. However, we'd like to see what Zander Ogletree can do on special teams—can he be special? Better still, how good is Logan Gray going to play at wide receiver?  All signs point to a good season for him there, if he can stay healthy—has he been in the wrong position all along?


Furthermore, what of Mike Thornton?  Garrison Smith? Derek Owens?...this is the game to see if they are could be something special at Georgia.

8. Fundamentals!


Last season, unfortunately, it wasn't uncommon to see poor tackling, bad angles taken on balls, big time lapses in coverage, and costly turnovers on offense. This offseason the coaching staff has taken a much tougher approach to stamping out that sort of play and, hopefully, it translates to a much more disciplined looking team on the field.

9. How well will the secondary play?

As mentioned briefly in the previous section, the secondary was a sore  spot last year—so many miscues and mistakes. They will definitely be something to look at in week one.

How well have the philosophies and teachings of new defensive backs coach, Scott Lakatos, sunk into his players?

Boykin, Cuff, Williams,Owens, Hamilton and Smith will all be called upon to make a difference this season, but the overall product will need to be the same—more consistency, less catastrophe.


10. Will this team be special in 2010?


Believe it or not, a true follower of any particular program can tell you after the first game is in the books, whether or not this is going to be a team that will win all season. The way they do so might not be scientific—typically it's a "gut feeling" or they "just know"—but it doesn't have to be; a well-coached team isn't hard to recognize.

If the Georgia Bulldogs are going to challenge in 2010, they will show their grit early and it will reflect on the scoreboard. This Cajuns team may be good but they are not better than Georgia and that message should ring loud and clear in the final score, in other words...it shouldn't be close.