Isaiah Crowell Says He "Can Be A Starter" At Georgia This Year

Photo Credit: Jason Getz

In an interview by Gentry Estes of Dawgs247.com, Georgia 2011 signee Isaiah Crowell speaks on his goals coming into this season as one of the most heralded tailbacks the Bulldog Nation has seen in a good while. And it's clear, from the tone of their conversation, that Crowell is ready to make good on his hype, saying, "I know they're depending on me, so I've got to work hard. I've got a point to prove."

And you can best believe all eyes will be on this young man, as well as others in his signing class, as they arrive on campus to debut just how much of a dream team they have the potential to become.

For Crowell, the main competition will be with his own expectations as the guys currently on Georgia's roster seem to already be playing second-fiddle to the five-star phenom out of Carver-Columbus High School. But, to be clear, those stars won't amount to much if Crowell can't block and pick up blitzes for Aaron Murray—arguably the most important player on the field for the Bulldogs last year.

That last point is one of the main reasons why former Georgia running back, Washaun Ealey, wasn't as popular with coach Richt as he was with a lot of the fans in his short career.

It's no secret that Richt values blocking ability as much as running ability where his tailbacks are concerned, and you can bet your red and black glasses if Crowell can't pick up on pass-blocking schemes and blitzes, he will definitely find his reps limited no matter how well he runs.

Even so, his overall work ethic, drive, and desire to prove that he's more than just hype could very well be the difference in him finding immediate success on the field.

One things is certain, he will have plenty of chances to make his mark this summer as the starting tailback job is wide open. Crowell knows that and says his main goal is to prove that "... I can be a starter. That’s the main thing.", he wants his shot and he feels good about his chances to make his mark for the program he loves.

Many are hoping that is indeed the case as the young man could become the spark that Georgia needs in the running game this season—one of the most critical in Mark Richt's career—and possibly the key to making the offense really come together for offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. If nothing else, it would take some of the pressure off Aaron Murray.

June 6th will mark the beginning of Crowell's tenure at Georgia and many are hoping it starts with a bang.

Related articles

• Mark Richt: Caleb King Has "Become...a very dependable football player" (theladysportswriter.blogspot.com)
• Georgia Bulldogs: Are The Running Backs Man Enough? (theladysportswriter.blogspot.com)
• Reset (blutarsky.wordpress.com)

Aaron Murray: Change A Few Plays And "...Our Season is Completely Different"

In a one-on-one interview with Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel earlier this week, Aaron Murray spoke about his progress over this past spring, what he will need to work on this summer, and what he hopes to see happen in 2011.

From some of his statements, it's clear that he is still bothered by how everything turned out (6-7 overall record, losing to Central Florida in the bowl game, etc.), but you also get a sense that's he's feeling good about Georgia's potential in 2011—if everyone is one the same page.

He says his biggest goal this summer is to "...work on my timing with my receivers.  We’ve got a lot of new guys out there...but not a lot of guys with experience."

That's not exactly news to those who follow the team closely. With the departure of A.J. Green, junior Tavarres King steps into the role of Georgia's No. 1 receiver and, with only 47 receptions in his three year career, he's a No. 1 of a different collar. By contrast, Chad Bumphis of Mississippi State had 44 receptions in 2010, as a sophomore, on a team that ran the ball nearly three times as much as it passed.

So, to say that King has a bit more work to do in the experience department is an understatement.

That said, last season was his most productive one to date (27 receptions, 504 yards, and three touchdowns) so there is reason to be optimistic that the transition will go well.

As for Murray's options beyond King, there is no denying that Orson Charles is that guy. Richt has been vocal about Charles' place in the offense and he hasn't been shy about calling the tight end his "best receiver". So, look for him to get a lot of reps this summer in anticipation of his increased role.

One thing is certain, Murray won't be sneaking up on defenses this season and he knows it. He took one heck of a beating last year, thanks in large part to an offensive line that didn't seem to play consistently, and he's added a few more pounds to his frame (about 10 to be exact) in order to "...be able to endure a bit of the punishment". Although, most fans will be hoping that he won't see the turf nearly as much in 2011 as he did in 2010 (25).

On the other hand, from an armchair point of view, many are just hoping to see Murray stay focused for all four quarters. 

Murray, admittedly, had some mental lapses in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of games last year and that often led to negative lulls in the offense. But, with a year under his belt, perhaps he will be able to correct those inconsistencies and play more evenly across the board.

Overall, Murray looks to be confident that a lot of the mistakes of 2010 can be forgotten in 2011, if the team does what it's supposed to do on the field—play well every second, of every down, of every game.Said Murray,

"...Every week is going to be to the end, it’s going to come down to the fourth quarter. That was our biggest problem last year, just not finishing off games. Maybe three or four plays every game you go back and change and our season is completely different. So, just come in with a mindset that it’s going to be a long year and you are going to have to mentally prepare yourself for 13-to-14 games and you have to mentally prepare yourself that you are going to play every play of every one of those games."

His statement echos a common sentiment that has been heard a good bit around Butts-Mehre this off-season—from Joe Tereshinski Sr. to coach Mark Richt—the hard line is Georgia just didn't finish games last season and that played the biggest role in a most every one of their losses.

If that is the case, Georgia's players are doing all they can to not make those same mistakes twice, especially with jobs and reputations so firmly on the line, and that motivation is hopeful to continue this summer when the new class comes to town.

Related articles

• Aaron Murray, tactician (blutarsky.wordpress.com)
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Georgia Bulldogs: 2012 QB Prospect Greyson Lambert

Last year, all anyone could talk about was the quarterback position at Georgia. This season, with Aaron Murray firmly cemented as the starter, and Hutson Mason and Christian LeMay battling for the No. 2 spot, no one is sweating how things will pan out in 2011—at least not as much.

However, Georgia is always looking towards the future, and Greyson Lambert is a key target for 2012.

The Bulldogs extended an offer to the young man from Jesup, GA last November and, at that time, he was very excited to be extended the opportunity. Since then, his popularity has grown exponentially as Division I programs from all over the country have him on their radar.

Lambert is 6'5, 200, with a long, lean build. He's not quick on his feet—clocking in at just better than a 5.0 forty—but he has a strong pocket presence, a nice arm, and better than average field vision. When you couple all of those things with his towering 6'5" frame, you've got the makings of a potential star on your hands.

Wayne County High School is implementing a new offensive system this year in hopes of capitalizing on Lambert's passing ability, so he will be tossing the ball around a lot more in 2011—that should do a lot for him in terms of building up his stamina and overall accuracy. Last season he only averaged 8-10 passes per contest—his team's base offense was the 'Wing T'—so his arm didn't get much work.

That said, he still took a good bit of snaps from under center so he does have a fairly decent feel for making reads and going through progressions. His main focus this season will be on getting stronger, faster, and more accurate (as a junior, he completed 52 percent of his passes for 21 touchdowns and 1,991 yards).

Lambert expressed an early interest in the University of Alabama—both his parents were born there and he's familiar with the campus and the football program—but with interests from Auburn (his parent's alma mater), Clemson, and Georgia, he's keeping his options open.

According to his coach, Jody Grooms, Lambert would like to make a decision prior to the start of their team's season, but who knows if that will remain the case.

Here's some video on Lambert:

(h/t RustyMansell)

Related articles

• Aaron Murray Vs. Hutson Mason: Who's Got The Intangibles? (sbnation.com)

Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Rantavious Wooten?

Rantavious Wooten, the sleeper prospect of 2009, has been on the cusp of becoming something special since his arrival at Georgia. He didn't sign under as much fanfare as others in his signing day class—a group that included the likes of  Marlon Brown, Aaron Murray and Orson Charles—but he appeared to have as much, if not more, potential to break out early and make a big impact.

Coming out of Glades Central High School in Belle Glades, FL, Wooten did a little bit of everything. He rushed, he received, he passed, and he returned kicks. He was the type of player whom many felt could be a tremendous offensive weapon—if used in the right formations—as he offered enough versatility to be plugged and played just about anywhere on the football field.

He was going to be a welcome addition to a team which, at that time, was saying goodbye to two of it's biggest offensive weapons—Knowshon Moreno and Mohammed Massaquoi. The team needed a spark on offense and Wooten had the makings of being that guy—and, early on, he seemed poised to live up to his hype.

In Georgia's game against Arizona State, Wooten came down with two very nice catches, both of which were in key third down situations, showing a level of maturity that belied his true freshman status.  He went on to complete a modest season of 10 catches, 197 yards, and two touchdowns, but flashed enough brilliance to make 2010 look like a potentially huge season for him.

However, 2010 proved, instead, to be lackluster—both for him and the team—as his offensive numbers took a hit (7 catches, 41 yards, and 1 touchdown) due to a lack of playing time and a plethora of injuries ranging from a nagging hamstring—prior to the start of the year—to his knee and leg as the season wore on.

Even so, the time for this junior to make his move is now and at least one former Georgia player thinks he could be ready to make something happen. That said, a lot of how Wooten fairs this season will depend on what offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, does with the playbook, and whether or not he chooses to, finally, start using the wealth of talent he's accumulated at the tight end position.

Ideally, Wooten's size and speed make him a perfect candidate as a third receiving option—slot him in and let him rip—that is where he is likely to do the most damage on the field. But, again, it's anyone's guess what Georgia's plan for Wooten will be at this stage, if any.

We'll all just have to wait and see if this former sleeper finally wakes up and becomes the player that many always thought he could be. 

Georgia Bulldogs: Tight End Is The New Wide Receiver

In case you missed the bulletin, A.J. Green is gone. No longer will No. 8 traverse the fields of Sanford Stadium, and while there is currently not a guy on the Georgia Bulldogs' roster who seems ready to step into Green's huge shoes—have no fear—the tight end could be back in style again.

While a plethora of questions are worthy of conversation where the wide receiving corps is concerned—can Tavarres King be effective as a No. 1, will Marlon Brown or Rantavious Wooten ever become legit, is Michael Bennett the sleeper of the SEC this season—there seems to be little of that wondering going on where the tight ends are concerned. As a matter of fact, the only question that seems to keep cropping up is whether or not Aaron Murray will be able to air it out enough to keep his plethora of ends happy?

We start, of course, with Orson Charles who has been beastly since his arrival on campus in 2009. He has rarely disappointed, but you get the feeling that the best is still yet to come with this young man. Perhaps in his second season catching footballs from best friend, and former Plant High teammate, Aaron Murray, we will finally see him reach his full potential.

Next up is Aron White who, at 6'4", 239, is one of the smallest tight ends on the depth chart, but who has continually made his presence felt on the field during some of the more crucial downs. He's been hampered a bit by an injury this spring but, as the senior leader of this group, what he offers in poise and experience far outweighs his stat line which, given the lack of attention this position has been  given over the years, is still impressive.

Arthur Lynch looks like he's ready to make a difference on the football field this season as well. The redshirt sophomore gained better than 20 pounds this past offseason, and has looked solid in drills thus far. Lynch has always been lauded for his great blocking ability—a trait that will always get you on the football field for Mark Richt—but he has the potential to be every bit as useful as a pass-catcher. Look for him to step it up this season.

Finally, there's Jay Rome—who isn't even enrolled yet. You can expect to see him get a better than average shot at early playing time in 2011. He's got the size, the speed, the build, and the potential to make a nice contribution for the Bulldogs if placed in the right offensive situations.

There's no doubt that Georgia will be looking for playmakers this year and, as already mentioned, the wide receiving corps could use a boost with both Green and Durham now gone. It wouldn't surprise me to see one of these guys, perhaps Charles or White, step onto the football field in a hybrid role to fill in the blanks—particularly Charles who is known to get loose in the middle of the field to make the big play.

If offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, can FINALLY see fit to open up his playbook to include more offensive sets for his talented tight ends, perhaps the obvious void in the receiving corps won't seem nearly as daunting.

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.

Georgia Bulldogs: Are The Running Backs Man Enough?

Photo Credit: Kelly Lambert/OnlineAthens

In 2002, Pat Dye laid down a gauntlet for Georgia when he declared they weren't "man enough" to beat Alabama. That team, led by David Greene, David Pollack, Jon Stinchcomb, and Terrell Edwards, had the last laugh—beating the Crimson Tide en route to winning their first SEC Championship in 20-years.

They were plenty man enough.

So, in thinking about Georgia's running back situation, it's no mistake that the same phraseology has entered my mind.

After seeing what each player—minus Malcome—had to offer in 2010, it seems logical to question the toughness, focus, and motivation of each player as they enter 2011.

According to a report by Anthony Dasher of UGASports.com, Georgia running backs coach, Bryan McClendon says the tailbacks are working hard right now($$$). Said McClendon, "Right now I think it's more of the open competion which has sparked them [emphasis added]. I tell them all the time let's just worry about today...right now today is we have on scholarship Caleb (King), Carlton (Thomas), Washaun (Ealey) and Ken Malcome. Those are the guys we have on scholarship; those are the guys who need to worry about today right now."

Seriously, those guys need reassurance that they still have a shot at playing time to stay motivated? How about these reasons—just off the top of my head—you stunk in short-yardage situations, you ran like sissies for the better part of the season, you acted like idiots off the field (particularly you, Caleb and Washaun), and you contributed in a major way to at least three of Georgia's losses by committing crucial turnovers on key downs.

Isaiah Crowell is the least of your worries.

If you're a Georgia fan, which I don't deny myself the privilege of admitting, you have to ask yourself: are any of these guys ready to strap on the challenge of helping lead this team back to glory? Can Ealey or King set aside their egos long enough to remember it's a team sport? Can any of us have faith that Carlton Thomas' heart is enough to overcome the limitations of his sub-175lb body? Can Malcome really be an every down back?

In the best case scenario, Crowell turns out to be the workhorse, and the star, Georgia wants him to be and he, along with Aaron Murray, wreak havoc on the rest of the SEC for the next 3-4 years. But, what if that doesn't happen? Do any of us, right now, feel confident that either Ealey or King (two of the only other guys on the roster with significant experience) will continue to work or play nearly as hard for the team if they aren't 1 and 1A on the depth chart?

Honestly I'm a bit skeptical because if the only motivation any of them can find in giving their best effort is in the possibility that Crowell won't start, they're still missing the point—it's about the letter on the helmet, fellas, not the name on the back.

I'm no coach or expert in these matters, but I do have a little advice for those guys: start playing like you want to be at Georgia and maybe you won't have to look over your shoulders as much.

Related articles

• Washaun Ealey's Suspension Ends In Time For Spring Practice (sbnation.com)
• Georgia: Washaun Ealey 'Still on the Team' (nytimes.com)
• Sources: Washaun Ealey of Georgia Bulldogs suspended indefinitely (sports.espn.go.com)

Georgia Bulldogs: Aaron Murray Is Ready To Take A Few More Hits in 2011

Aaron Murray (standing left of center) has gained weight and muscle under the guidance of Joe Tereshinki's strength and conditioning program—and it shows:



While you hope to see the offensive line protecting the backside of No. 11 a lot better in 2011, it's nice to see that Mr. Murray is ready to take a few shots, if necessary.

Keep pumping that iron, boys.

PHOTO: It's Nice To See Aaron Murray Off His Crutches

Ahhhhhh...what a great site, no crutches for Georgia Bulldog starting quarterback, Aaron Murray. He's happy, smiling, and getting around just fine with just a walking boot. No doubt he'll be ripping it up again come spring.

How long before G-Day, again?

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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.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Mark Richt Under Fire After Loss to Mississippi State

That game in Starkville, what can you say that hasn't already been said? It was a travesty, an
embarrassment, a flaming pile of horse manure, and whatever other colorful adjectives you wish to use at this point.

Mark Richt, and the rest of his coaching staff, have gone from being a group with potential to a potential group without jobs—if you believe the interwebs.

Well, if you came here to see Mark Richt or Todd Grantham get thrown under the bus, leave now. That's not going to happen here—not today.

Despite the hideous display of undisciplined football that was played in the first half of the Mississippi State game, Georgia wasn't demolished by those other Bulldogs. On the contrary, as they have done all season, Georgia shot themselves in the collective foot by making foolish mistakes and continually forgetting that every down matters.

That is the reason why most rational fans are unhappy this morning. That is why they are scratching their heads and wondering what the hell is going on in Athens. The fact is, by the end of the first half, the Bulldogs should have, at worst, been sitting on a 14-7 lead.

Washaun Ealey's ill-timed fumble (again) and Marlon Brown's inability to play with proper fundamentals, erased eight points from the board. In both cases, the mistakes were avoidable and the poor execution of those plays was the reason the momentum of the first half ended in Mississippi State's favor.

Moving on to the defense, the one question that has to be asked is: what was the problem on third downs? Time and again, the defense placed the Bulldogs in situations where they should have been playing back on their heels, yet they let them off the hook by allowing them to convert for the big gain.

It was like they gave all they could give on first and second down, then let their foot off the gas on third downs—hoping Mississippi State would do the same.

Even more, where's the pass rush? Chris Relf had too much time to sit back and scan the field. Give any quarterback that kind of time and he will beat you. It also didn't help that the guys up front were continually dominated by the Bulldogs' offensive line—a frightening trend that began in week two at South Carolina.

People say there's nothing wrong with the strength and conditioning program at Georgia, well, all signs to the contrary because what I've seen is a front seven that can't muster a fraction of the pressure that they should under this new "attacking" style of play.

Admittedly, some of that is personnel. Grantham doesn't have the players to fit what he would like to do, but there are still plenty of good athletes at Georgia, and they should not continually get whipped by every offensive line they come up against in Division I football—that's embarrassing. 

One of the lone bright spots is Aaron Murray. He continues to shine despite standing behind an under-achieving offensive line. Bless him for being the play maker that he is, but he's going to get killed at some point this season because his line has no heart—that's right—NO HEART!

Last night, it became more and more difficult to count the sheer number of times the pocket broke down, particularly on the right side, and defender after defender was able to break through and flush Murray from the pocket. He was able to scramble his way to the first down more than once, but is that really what you want him doing all season—running for his life?

At one point, either Chris Burnette or Chris Davis just got outright flattened by a defensive player who managed to break through the line—sad. Did Stacy Searles (Georgia's offensive line coach) go on a long vacation because he's obviously not showing up to coach these "so-called" veterans who were supposed to be the rock for Georgia this season.

As for the offense, where do you possibly begin? Mike Bobo is atrocious at play-calling. There is no other way to say it. Georgia had one-on-one coverage all night against the Bulldogs, yet he decides to let Carlton Thomas have a go, or he calls some crappy draw play that loses yards—just no imagination whatsoever.

The only thing Bobo did right last night was accept responsibility for being such a hack. A welcome change from the idiocy that was last week when he, essentially, blamed the lack of offensive success on Aaron Murray's inability to get rid of the football—such class that guy.

Special teams is another conversation altogether. Did Georgia ever start outside of the shadow of their own 20? Seriously, where is the protection on special teams during kick/punt returns? The blocking was horrible and, aside from one very nice run by Brandon Boykin, there was nothing spectacular about the way Georgia played on returns last night.

All of this leads to one conclusion: Georgia is young and undisciplined in most areas. There is no leadership on the field and no player seems willing to step up and be the guy. The arrests and suspensions that plagued the team in the spring and summer were a harbinger of just how young and undisciplined this team would be on the field this season—hate to admit it, but it's true.

A.J. Green can't fix what ails Georgia. If you still believe he can, stop fooling yourself, it's simply not true. Even more, if you think firing Mark Richt right now is the way to go, answer this question: then what? Who do you think should take his place? Rodney Garner? Mike Bobo? Todd Grantham? Some other, currently unemployed, has-been, who got fired for doing the same thing Richt is right now?

Forgive the license, but continue to take your chances with Richt the rest of this season and in 2011 too—he's done enough to earn that much. Firing Mark Richt today is not the answer. He's still a good coach and this one season, as catastrophic as it has been thus far, could just as easily have been one that started 4-0.

Last night was painful. No doubt about it, but with 5:32 left to play in the game, it was still a 10-6 contest that Georgia had every opportunity to win—it's the same opportunity they had against both Arkansas and South Carolina.

This team has questions to answer about their heart, but the talent is there—they just need to start figuring out if they're man enough to use it.

The comment section is open to whatever you want to say, even if it's in total disagreement with my take—I assure you, your points are every bit as valid as mine.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Where Has The Running Game Gone?

This was supposed to be the year that the Georgia run game took off. Washaun Ealey and Caleb King were supposed to be the guys to make it happen on the ground—leaving Aaron Murray free to rule the air. Everything was supposed to be good for the Georgia offense in 2010 because the end of 2009 showed, without question, that "we run this state".

Well, proof-positive that things don’t always go as planned: Caleb King went back to being the guy that couldn't stay healthy, the offensive line forgot that it still has to supply holes for the backs to run through, and Washaun Ealey left his motivation for playing better on his key ring.

Washaun Ealey turned it on during the second-half of last season and, by the time Georgia met up with Georgia Tech in the finale, it was clear that he was going to be something special. Where has that dominance gone this year?

In 2009, he averaged 5.74 yards per carry (through nine games). This season, he's averaging 4.38 yards per attempt. That's not an altogether bad average, but if you look closer, he isn't doing that well where it matters—on those critical third downs.

In 2009, Ealey had nine attempts on 3rd-and-short (a distance of 1-3 yards), and he averaged 7.22 yards per attempt (h/t cfbstats.com). As a result, Georgia was able to extend drives and force defenses to  play the run more aggressively—thereby opening up the passing game.

This season, Ealey is averaging 2.25 yards per attempt—he's not getting it done. That means more attention is on Aaron Murray and his wide receivers. Teams have the luxury of abandoning their rush defense because there is not much threat of the Bulldogs converting a short-yardage situation via the run—hence the offense stalls.

Who’s to blame for this lack of effectiveness?

The first finger, naturally, gets pointed at the offensive line. They aren’t dominating at the line of scrimmage and, as a result, they are getting pushed backwards by opposing defensive lines. It’s an issue we have seen before—it happened on multiple occasions last season as well (the game versus Arizona State stands out).

Was the line overrated this season? Is the chemistry not yet clicking with the starting five? Is it a conditioning issue? Has offensive line coach, Stacy Searles, lost his ability to coach? All of these are questions that have come up—none have acceptable answers. The hope just seems to be that, whatever the problem, it’s fixable and, everything will be fine.

However, just as much of the blame could fall on the performance of Ealey. He isn't running with the
same amount of urgency or motivation that he did last season. Despite the questions surrounding the line, he should be doing better than he has thus far.  He played well, at times last season, in spite of the line—not because of it.

Perhaps there was more to his rivalry with Caleb King than met the eye. It's no secret that the two fed off each other's energy.  With no Caleb to share the load with this year, Ealey might not feel the need to give more than necessary—no true competition is there to unseat him, so why bother.

Does that mean Ealey’s not giving his all? No, but most can agree that some players perform better if they know there is a possibility they will be benched in favor of another. As it stands, at Georgia, there is Ealey and no one else.

Ealey shared carries with Caleb King, Carlton Thomas, and Dontavius Jackson (the latter two to a lesser extent) in 2009. This year, it's just him. He's played nearly every offensive down, as either a rusher or a pass-blocker, and it's not altogether clear that he's built for the increased workload.

Whatever the case, it's clear that this is not the same Washaun Ealey that turned heads last year. He's less confident, less effective, and less exciting to watch on the field. All three of those together contribute to an offense that has become more vanilla by the minute and a passing game that, if not for the legs of Aaron Murray, could be more of a concern.

This is an offense that has talent but, without a significant run game, Georgia is going to continue to struggle to put points on the board. Ealey needs to find his groove again—soon—and perhaps that will start with the return of Caleb King—assuming he’s capable of staying healthy this season.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Coach Richt's Post-Game Press Conference (VIDEO)

This is the press conference that followed the Georgia Bulldogs' 17-6 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday (h/t bulldawgillustrated). Richt discusses the fact that the team tackling wasn't so much the issue as it appeared to be an overall inability to keep Marcus Lattimore from gaining yards after contact.

Furthermore, he states the obvious by saying that it's time to take the training wheels off quarterback, Aaron Murray, see what he can do—you think?




Some further post-game video from the Georgia locker room (h/t bulldawgillustrated):
 

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Georgia Bulldogs Football: The Best Individual Performers in The Loss to South Carolina

It seems comical to walk away from this loss with anything but a laundry list of negatives. After all, as much credit as you feel obliged to give South Carolina for securing a big time SEC victory at home, you feel equally sick to your stomach that Georgia didn't play the best they could play on Saturday.

That said, you start looking for the silver lining—wherever you can find it—because there is still a lot of football left to play.

So, after revisiting the game, and the box score, here are the performances that represent hope that tomorrow will be a brighter day.

1. Aaron Murray, QB

Murray was solid. Despite the final score, you have to be impressed with how the young freshman performed under hostile conditions, on the road, for the very first time. He made good decisons—aside from a play in the first half where he should have thrown it away, but took the sack instead.
He didn't try and do too much with the football and he didn't turn the ball over—that's key. He was as steady as the fans could have hoped in that pressure-cooker of a situation and that bodes well for the future. That said, the coaches need to take the handcuffs off him a little more.
Richt and Bobo still seem hesitant to set him loose and, to be frank, it's time to see what he can do with a more wide-open playbook.

2. Justin Houston, LB

Lost in the mess that was a myriad of missed tackles and poor run defense was the fact that Justin Houston performed well on Saturday—three sacks, ten tackles, and a forced fumble—against South Carolina.

3. Kris Durham, WR

Everyone, both before and after the game, emphasized the loss of A.J. Green and the impact his absence might have played in the loss. However, no one gave nearly as much credit to Kris Durham who, in Green's absence, managed to rack up 76 yards on three catches (25.3 avg). The senior continues to be a reliable set of hands for Murray and, unfortunately, not much attention is being paid to that fact.

4. Pass Defense

The main focus of conversation is centered on the inefficiency of the Georgia run defense. They got  got pummeled by Marcus Lattimore—all day long.  The true freshman had no problem making ground against the defensive front of Georgia.

However, the pass defense was pretty good. Garcia managed 165 yards passing in the game—most of which came on a couple of really big third down completions, in the first half, to Alshon Jeffery.

5. The Georgia defense—overall

The poor tackling cannot be expressed enough. However, even with that, and without A.J. Green—Georgia still kept it close. They ONLY lost by 11 but, the way they tackled, Lattimore ran, this game could have easily been a blowout for South Carolina.

For all the guffaws of the first half, give a little credit to Grantham for making some adjustments to the defense at halftime. The Bulldogs were pitching a shutout until the late field goal and, if the offense were able to convert a couple key redzone opportunities—who knows?

6. Blair Walsh, K

Where his counterpart, Drew Butler, seemed to be having an off day, Walsh continues to be money in the bank for Georgia. He wasn't given much of a chance to do anything special—like kick a game-winning field goal—but he did manage to convert his field goal opportunities when called upon.

Again, that may not seem like much to hang your hat on, but it's important to know that your kicker is able to perform—no matter the situation—particularly on the road in the SEC.

7. Washaun Ealey, RB

Ealey's fumble will be the focus for many—no doubt about it. However, it was encouraging to see him come out early and hit the holes hard. He churned out a lot of big yards before the offensive line started to look suspect for Georgia. Even more, he did it by himself.

Caleb King was not a factor in this game (still not certain what happened there—ankle?) but Ealey didn't seem to mind carrying the load on his own. He finished with 19 carries for 79 yards in his season debut.

Okay, that's it for this week because, honestly, it would have been easier to find 20 things wrong with the way Georgia played than to find five things right.

Time to prepare for Arkansas.

As always, love to hear your thoughts on the game. So, what say you?

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Georgia Bulldogs Football: Mark Richt to Bulldog Nation, "There's No 'I' In Team"

After the disappointment of the A.J. Green suspension set into the minds and hearts of Georgia Bulldog fans, an alarming trend began to take place—suddenly, Georgia became a mediocre team. That's right, all of a sudden, Georgia became incapable of winning the game on Saturday.

Well, hopefully, that's not the message the fans in Bulldog country are trying to send to the rest of the players on the Georgia Bulldog roster who will travel to Columbia—ready to play—on Saturday because if it is, it's an awful one. 

Look, here's the fundamental problem with the "we can't win without A.J." theory, it doesn't take into account that other players on the roster are every bit as skilled in the areas necessary to win the game as Green is—the difference being that Green had it all in one pretty package.

That said, at last check, Georgia has other wide receivers who are capable of running fast (Tavarres King), catching the ball (Kris Durham and Marlon Brown), stretching the field (Rantavious Wooten and Israel Troupe), and getting into the end zone (Aron White, Orson Charles...etc, etc)—that trait is not specific to A.J.

While there is no denying the fact that Green is a dynamic player who brings a lot to the field by simply being there. There is also little doubting this fact: Georgia has won without him...six times. Trust this much, Richt isn't somewhere crying in his lemonade (neither is Todd Grantham) over A.J's loss. Similar to last season, Georgia will look to other players to step-up and fill in the blanks. 

And, another thing, this game won't mirror the 41-37 shoot-out of 2009. The 2010 version will be won in the trenches. Georgia isn't going to try and go tit-for-tat with the Steve Spurrier, they will try and run it down the throat of the questionable South Carolina defensive front.

That said, it would have been a far greater loss to the team if running back, Washaun Ealey, were forced to sit on the sidelines. Ealey will be counted on to use the energy he saved by missing game one to run over and through the Gamecock's defense in game two.

If he can do that, quarterback, Aaron Murray's job will be that much easier in the passing game.
Furthermore, in those critical third down situations that Green is so money in, Murray will likely look to the hands of Kris Durham, Orson Charles, or Aron White (expect to see the tight ends on the field a lot more this week) to fill the void—all of them are capable of making solid plays in that situation.

The point is, Georgia is anything but done for this week so fans should be conceding nothing—unless, of course, you are one of those who already penciled this as a loss (with or without A.J.). If that's the case—carry on.

Green's suspension is a setback, no doubt about that, but to intimate that his absence is going to turn the team into a pushover is not only a slap in the face to the defense, but a mockery to an offense that is going to look a bit different with Murray standing under center.

Hang in there, Bulldog Nation, there is still plenty of fight in these Dawgs!

GATA!

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 vs Louisiana Special Teams:The Decided Edge Goes To The Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs may enter 2010 with questions on offense (how will Aaron Murray fare?) and defense (will the 3-4 be the difference?), but the special teams unit is set.

Blair Walsh (K) and Drew Butler (P), lead the way on a unit that is expected to be one of the best in the nation this season.

Last season, Walsh was one of the most accurate kickers in the SEC (completing 20-of-22 field goal attempts and all 50 of his PAT's), while Butler averaged 48.1 yards per punt to lead the FBS.  Both are expected to be even better this season.

As far as the return game goes, Georgia has no shortage of candidates—starting with Branden Smith.
Smith will be used as a punt returner this season and what he brings, without question, is speed. In case you forgot just how fast this young man truly is, take a look at the clip below:



Smith will share the role with other Bulldog players—A.J. Green and Bacarri Rambo could get some looks as well. Said Smith of the role, "I bring a lot,..Speed. That’s the main thing, is speed. Big plays. Punt return, you need a reliable guy to be back there, and you don’t really have a lot of speed, but
you’ve gotta be able to catch the ball, and just to have that breakout speed."

On kick returns, Brandon Boykin will attempt to work his magic again. The junior defensive back had three returns for a touchdown last season—including two that were more than 100-yards. He is definitely a commodity at Georgia and will, hopefully, be special again in 2010:



The Cajuns unit is also very good. Special teams has been one of the bright spots for them under head coach, Rickey Bustle (who doubles as the special teams coach) thus far.

For those who didn't know, Bustle was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 1993-2002 and he picked up a thing or two about how to run a special teams unit from the master—Frank Beamer.
Louisiana ranked 26th in the nation in both kick and punt return defense in 2009, allowing 20.15 and 6.15 yards per kick/punt—respectively.

They also are third in the nation since 2002 in blocking kicks (41)—an impressive distinction to be sure.

Spencer Ortego is the team's punter and, in 66 attempts last season, he averged just over 40.0 yards per attempt. More remarkable is the fact that only 21 of the 66 punts attempted were actually returned—for a grand total of 21-yards.

Their place kicker, Tyler Albrecht, also returns. His longest field goal in 2009 went for 48-yards, but it was for the win against Kansas State so he has some proven ability in the clutch.

The Cajuns are a lot less impressive in the actual return-game as they haven't been able to find a reliable kick or punt return man who offers the explosiveness you'd like to see on the field. Bustle is hopeful that he will be able to find a guy this season who can take the ball and run with it—literally—because last season, the Cajuns ranked 118th in the nation in kick return average (18.06).

Georgia vs Louisiana Defensive Analysis: What Scheme Do The Cajuns Run?

Yesterday, we looked at the quarterback match-up between Aaron Murray and Chris Masson. If you missed it, you can find it here. Today we will take a snapshot of the Cajuns' defensive scheme and how it operates.
 
The Cajuns run a multiple 4-3 defense. It's a very physical, in-your-face, scheme that depends greatly on the intelligence and athletic ability of its linebackers. It was installed in the spring of 2004 and is currently being coached by the Cajuns defensive coordinator, Kevin Fouquier.

In this scheme, there is a big emphasis on the linebackers ability to react first and read second. If that sounds funny, it's not, anticipation is an important element to executing this scheme effectively. It's important to be quick afoot and have the ability to adjust to each play as it progresses, rather than reacting after the snap.

That said, it can be a good way to force turnovers because, if your players can adapt quickly to the snap of the ball, then they have a genuine opportunity to blow plays up, force fumbles, and foster interceptions.

The reason for this is because the plays are moving so quickly and, seemingly, with such chaos,  until the quarterback can be forced into panic mode. If he's not prepared for it, he will often forget to advance to the second or third progression in an offensive play. Often, this will lead to an ill-advised pass to a well-covered receiver.

Furthermore, from a running backs standpoint, it can be frustrating to see the lanes seal up so quickly.
So, unless a running back is able to make his cuts and create new lanes of his own, when one closes up, he could be met by a big wall of defenders—sometimes forcing a fumble in the process.

On the other hand, there are disadvantages to running this scheme as well.

For one, it allows a lot of ground yards if the linebackers cannot recover quickly from a poor read. Add to that, if the front four fails to do a good job sealing off lanes and closing gaps, it's possible to see a decent runner rattle off four-to-six yards before they are apprehended.

Furthermore, the secondary plays very conservatively in the scheme the Cajuns run, so there is little man-to-man coverage. They are constantly guarding against the big play but are vulnerable to plays underneath that can lead to easy scores or big chunks of yardage by speedy receivers.

The Cajuns have a stellar group of linebackers, a seasoned secondary, and a decent front four. They know the system and finally started making small strides in executing it last season, but there is still work to do. The key for Georgia will be to use the strength of their offensive line to keep the running lanes open.

If quarterback, Aaron Murray, can control the tempo, keep the linebackers guessing, and make smart adjustments, Georgia should be able to perform successfully against the Cajuns.

Georgia vs. Louisiana QB Analysis: Aaron Murray vs Chris Masson

The Georgia Bulldogs will face the University of Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in week one.

This match-up should be won by the Georgia Bulldogs, but the Cajuns are a feisty team and did catch at least one BCS team sleeping last season, defeating the Kansas State Wildcats, 17-15, on their home field.

Subsequent contests against BCS teams would not be as successful. They lost to both Nebraska and LSU by a combined score of 86-3. However, this early in the season, it is reasonable to expect that the Cajuns will be ready to go.

In anticipation of the game, Lets take a look at the various head-to-head match-ups that we'll see that day.  These will be relatively brief looks and will focus in on one particular aspect or position.

Up first is the quarterbacks—Aaron Murray and Chris Masson.

The first question that has to be asked with Murray is, will he be mentally ready to take the field and play as effectively as he has in summer practices?

Both coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, have given Murray their full vote of confidence. However, despite the strides he's taken, most fans will still be on pins and needles until Murray proves he can perform in front of a large crowd.

Murray, himself, still admits to having "jitters" when he steps onto the field at Sanford Stadium—even an empty Sanford—and while a few frayed nerves are expected, the crowd at Stanford, which is expected to be a sell-out, will anticipate his calming down in a hurry.

It should help that he won't be facing too much of a pass rush from the Cajuns.

The offensive line should have no problem getting Murray the time he needs to scan the field and find an open receiver. The Cajuns ranked 106th in sacks last season, tallying only 12, and often were stalled in their efforts to get into the backfield. On the other hand, the strength of the Cajuns defense lay in their second-level defenders—the linebackers and the secondary.

Senior linebacker, Grant Fleming, who ended 2009 with 89 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 5 tackles for loss, will be one to watch. He was moved from outside to middle linebacker over the spring and will be the leader of this unit.

Fleming, along with outside linebackers, Daylon McCoy and Devin Lewis-Buchannan (both starters in 2009), will look to slow down the Georgia running game—which fans can expect to see a lot of early.

Even more, the secondary returns all three of its starters. As a unit they were responsible for a, more than respectable, 16 interceptions in 2009 (23rd in the nation). It's an impressive number to be aware of, especially when you consider Georgia—with their above average talent—had only ten.

Hopefully Murray can avoid some of the mental lapses and overthrows that have plagued him at certain points this summer.

As for Chris Masson, he will be in his second full season at the helm. He was fortunate in 2009, as is Murray this year, to have a very good offensive line to stand behind last season. However, the Cajuns will replace three starters in 2010 and there is some doubt as to whether or not they will have a sufficient running game to offset their passing attack.

The Cajuns ranked 72nd in the nation in rushing offense 2009—nearly last in the Sun Belt. They are playing around with several options at that spot this summer and hope that someone will step up and be the difference.

Junior Julian Shankle returns and will offer some experience in the backfield but, the odds on favorite to get the most carries is likely going to be the incoming freshman, Rob Walker—he has impressed all summer as both a runner and a pass-catcher.

If Masson's reconstituted offensive line can give him some time, as well as offer sufficient lanes for the rushing attack, then he will have plenty of options in the passing games to target.

Ladarius Green (TE) and Marlin Miller (WR) return to offer their talents and it is reasonable to expect to see Masson targeting both on a regular basis.

Finally, Masson is a fairly nimble quarterback himself. He was responsible for six rushing touchdowns last season—leading the Cajuns to No. 16 in the nation in redzone offense. He is just as much a scoring threat as any of his receivers or running backs and, in the Cajuns multiple offense, he will need to be accounted for at all times.

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.