Washaun Ealey: "...I probably need to go somewhere I can focus."

Photo Credit: Josh D. Weiss

In case you hadn't heard, former standout Georgia Bulldog running back, Washaun Ealey, has been granted his unconditional release by the University of Georgia football team. And, from the looks of it, that's precisely what needed to happen in order for the team to truly move forward in a more postive, team-focused, direction.

Now, I am never one who likes to bash a kid, but Ealey has grated my nerves for quite some time with his poor attitude and inability to place the team (not his jersey number) first. So, when I peeped some of the comments he made this afternoon in regards to his departure from the program, I can't say that I was surprised he said them, but I was disappointed that he said them out loud.

Here are just a few of the gems he dropped:

On his time at Georgia:

"I probably would have stayed out of a little more trouble than I did, but I feel like everything happens for a reason. So I probably wouldn't change anything." 

Is this kid for real? I completely get the whole idea behind not having regrets, but his actions at Georgia would have bordered on insubordination if he were employed.

On why he decided to transfer:

"...I just felt like I want to be able to stay focused. For me to be successful, I probably need to go somewhere I can focus." 

Ummmm, okay. I only have one question for him on that one: what the heck were you focusing on before—if not the game of football and being a student at the University of Georgia?

On his diminishing role as a tailback:

"I'm a person where I want to be a premier back, if I was to play here, I would have had to share the backfield with Caleb (King) and Carlton (Thomas) also. Then they were going to try to give the freshman Isaiah his chance... I just felt like I didn't want to be in that mix of things anymore."

It's called COMPETITION, Washaun and, if you're a good, quality, back then you relish the opportunity to show why you're still the best option.  You were never entitled to have the role of starter and you certainly did not prove yourself worthy of consideration with your shenanigans....just wow. 

It seems to me that Washaun Ealey was looking for a place where his ego could be coddled and his skill level unquestioned. Georgia might suffer on the depth chart because of his departure but, as a fan, does he really sound like the type of player you want on your team?

Read the entirety of the interview (conducted by Gentry Estes of Dawgs 24/7) here ($$$).  

Related articles

• The rise and fall of Washaun Ealey (blutarsky.wordpress.com)
• RB Ealey transferring after problems at Georgia (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Georgia Bulldogs: Is Washaun Ealey's Release Really A Surprise?

Photo Credit: Brant Sanderlin/AJC

It has been announced that Georgia Bulldog running back, Washaun Ealey, has been granted an unconditional release by the team—he will finish his career elsewhere.

Now, raise your hand if this news surprises you.

Okay, raise your hand if you truly saw Washaun Ealey playing any significant downs for the University of Georgia football team in 2011.

I'm willing to lay a bet down that not many of you raised your hand because, to be quite honest, the surprise would have been if Washaun Ealey made it through the summer based on some of Mark Richt's comments last month at a Bulldog Club gathering in Augusta, GA.

Said Richt, at that time, "Washaun has a ways to go still to show me that he deserves to start or even play right now..."

Does that sound like a guy who's in a hurry to bring back a kid who has been, for the last 12-16-months, displaying less and less interest in wearing a Bulldog uniform? Let's face it, Ealey wore out his welcome a long time ago and, I'll go on record and admit, I'm not so sure how much a pulled hamstring had to do with his lack of carries this past spring.

It has long been rumored, although not confirmed, that Ealey wasn't happy with the new attitude being promoted and enacted at Georgia (mostly from the strength and conditioning aspect) and he wasn't buying into the program that new strength coach, Joe Tereshinksi was selling. It was for that very reason he was given an indefinite suspension this past February.

If we assume the latter is all true, then Ealey's release was not only a matter of time, but a necessary evil as there is no place for that level of dissension on a team that is already heading into a tenuous 2011 football season.

That said, there will be even more pressure for new recruit, Isaiah Crowell, to be all he can be—now—as the depth chart at tailback just got real thin, real fast.

Hopefully Mr. Ealey can find what he's looking for at another institution. He's clearly got a lot of talent, but he'll need to mature a bit before he can reach his max potential.

Related articles

• Georgia Bulldogs reinstate Washaun Ealey after 2-week-plus ban (sports.espn.go.com)
• Put on notice (blutarsky.wordpress.com)
• Lingering hamstring issue to sideline UGA's Ealey for spring game. (collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com)

Georgia Bulldogs: 2012 DB Prospect Deion Bonner

Deion Bonner is one of the top defensive back prospects in the country for the 2012 recruiting season. He's been offered by Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina, and Alabama thus far and, barring any missteps, was on par to pick up a few more looks as the season progressed.

He was also a sure-bet to land at Georgia in 2012 but, somewhere between 'sanity' and 'have you lost your damn mind', Bonner decided it would be cool to steal a few items from the players at one of his suitors' facilities—that suitor being Georgia and those players being his potential teammates.

I have to tell you, this incident had me scratching my head because it screams of the type of idiocy that seemed to plague the Georgia football team last season when the program became the butt of just about every SEC joke involving a criminal, an arrest, or a suspension—it wasn't a happy time.

So, naturally, my first thought was that coach Richt would yank this kid's offer and concentrate on landing someone else—maybe send a little more attention in Ryan Dillard's direction. Don't know who Dillard is? Well, he plays for AA Buford High School and, so far, has only fielded one offer—Harvard.

Dillard's claim to fame is shutting down former 5-star recruiting prospect, Da'Rick Rogers in 2009's AA finals—call that a plus—and, oh yeah, not being a thief (sorry, if that seems harsh or insensitive, but...whatever). 

However, when you look at Mark Richt's comments today, it doesn't look like he's ready to cut bait on Bonner just yet. Said Richt, "...these were just 16-, 17-year-old kids, that kids do different things, and it’s part of growing up".

Well, alright then.

Listen, thieving was never a part of my indoctrination into post-adolescence but, hey, different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Quite frankly, given the giant microscope Mark Richt is under this season, it would surprise me to see Bonner given an opportunity to play at Georgia. After all, what teammate wants a thief as his roommate and what on earth would Georgia's continued pursuit of him do to team morale?

Chances are Bonner will have to pay his penance playing football somewhere outside of the 30605 zip code.

In the end, I think T Kyle King of DawgSports.com summed this situation up best with the following statement:

...Visitors to Athens are alleged to have committed a crime against Georgia players, yet the likely outcome is that the purported perpetrators still will receive scholarship offers commensurate with those they would have received anyway, rival institutions will snag players they otherwise might not have gotten, and the only folks meaningfully harmed in all this will be the ones in the Classic City, who were the only ones with clean hands in the entire affair.

Such is life in Bulldog Nation, where forthrightness and honesty cost us our best offensive player for one-third of a season while other schools’ stonewalling and obfuscation earned them conference championships and BCS bowl victories. Maybe I watched a few too many cowboy movies growing up, but I’m about ready for the good guys to win one for a change.

Amen to that, Mr. King. Amen to that.

Related articles

• College prospect allegedly steals from Georgia players' lockers (georgia.scout.com)
• Three Football Recruits Named In Georgia Locker Room Robbery (sbnation.com)
• Prep prospect among three charged with theft from Georgia locker room (sports.espn.go.com)

VIDEO FLASHBACK: Odell Thurman Runs A Loooonnnnngggg Way

The 2003 Auburn Tigers came into the year ranked in the Top 10 and poised for a run at the National Championship. However, after opening the season with two road losses* to USC and Georgia Tech, respectively, it seemed that the Tigers may have been given a little bit too much respect by the pollsters.

While they quickly recovered from the stumble—winning their next five games in a row—by the time they met up with the Georgia Bulldogs in Sanford Stadium, they were losing steam fast as they'd lost two of their last three games—including a heartbreaking 20-24 loss to Ole Miss in Auburn—and were trying desperately to get back on the winning track.

Georgia, coming off their first SEC Championship in 20 years, was enjoying their resurgence in the SEC as a perennial contender—under the leadership of third-year head coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder—and entered the contest ranked No. 7 in the nation, with a 7-2 overall record.

Considering the history of this rivalry, the average football fan would have thought Georgia's chances were pretty good coming into the contest—after all, they were playing this game at home. However, the truth of it was, Georgia hadn't beaten Auburn, in Athens, since 1991, and had only accomplished the feat three times in the previous 14 meetings at Sanford. It wasn't exactly a sure thing for Georgia.

However, the offense didn't need to be great on this day, as it was all about the defense. The Dawgs held the Tigers to 259 yards of total offense and put the kibosh on their stud tailback, Carnell Williams holding him to 45-yards on the day.

That said, the most memorable defensive play of the game came in the fourth quarter when linebacker Odell Thurman collected a tipped Jason Campbell pass in the Auburn endzone, and ran it back for 99-yards and the score—sealing the deal on a 26-7 Georgia Bulldogs' victory.




*The Auburn/USC match-up was played in Atlanta—a neutral site.

Georgia Bulldogs: The First Step Towards Change Comes With Recognition of Mistakes

While Mark Richt is not totally responsible for everything that has gone wrong with Georgia football over the last three years, he is accountable for the overall lack of progress the program has experienced during that time.

On the record, my opinion of Mark Richt is that he's a great football coach who has hit a rough patch. However, off the record, I am an admitted apologist of him and his decisions regarding Georgia football. I want to see him succeed and I want to see those who would otherwise torch him be forced to reconsider their stance.

That said, imagine the glee and disappointment felt upon learning that he took his foot off the gas the last two years—played with his cards a little too close to the vest.

An article, published by The Orlando Sentinel on Christmas day let us take a  small peek inside the mind of the much-maligned Georgia football coach, and exposed a flaw that many of the most skeptical fans of the program have suspected for quite some time now—coach Richt had lost his fire.

When asked about the issues the team has encountered over the last few years—particularly in the area of conditioning and overall preparedness—Richt had the following to say,

"I started the season in camp probably not doing enough live scrimmaging and tackling to the ground... Ever since I've been coaching, that's all I've been around. But we've had a couple of years in a row. We had one season, we started the season we had 32 guys injured before the year even got started. And so I'm like, `Alright, this year, I'm going to do what some other teams do. … We were still going to scrimmage, you know have three big scrimmages, but we were going to try to go full speed but not go to the ground or not block below the waist to try to beat everybody to the gate."

While it's understandable that coach Richt would want to be cautious, it would seem that he would have looked elsewhere for answers—why fix what was not broken? The systematic pull-back of intensity was bound to affect the overall attitude of the players and the coaches at some point.

Did he not think his approach would become a factor at some point?

Furthermore, the holes in the S&C program might have been a lot easier to see if the team were approaching scrimmages and practice sessions with more intensity. Perhaps canceling 'two-a-days' and heading to the pool hurt more than some cared to admit—including myself.

Either way, his honesty should be considered as a positive step towards the type of change you want to see at Georgia because it's clear that coach Richt is on the same page as many of his harshest critics—including himself—and hopefully that translates into quick production by the players as spring approaches.

We'll just have to wait and see. What say you?

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Getting Back To Fourth-Quarter Dominance in 2011

There was a time when the Georgia Bulldogs knew how to 'Hunker Down' in the fourth-quarter. They knew how to G.A.T.A and make the other team play their game.

There was very little of that in 2010, and Georgia has got to get back to doing that if they expect to impose their will on the SEC in 2011.

The new strength regime at has expressed an understanding of this fact, and that bodes well for the future, but the end-result will come on the football field—we're left with questions until then.

That said, this post is less about continuing the conversation about the direction of the defense or the strength program,  than it is about recalling a time when that conversation wasn't necessary.

Below is another phenomenal video—courtesy of Patrick Garbin—(circa 1976) that shows the 'Junkyard Dawgs' (JYD) in action against the hated Florida Gators—back when Georgia owned the orange and blue—the game was a close affair through the first-half, but the JYD's showed up and shut Florida down in the second-half—yielding no points.

Their fourth-quarter dominance during that season—particularly in this game—was impressive and, given the lack of such dominance this past season, made this video all the more compelling to watch.

Enjoy:



(h/t apgarbin)

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Redshirt Players Who Could Have An Impact in 2011

For most Georgia Bulldog fans, the 2010 season is already done—no matter what happens in the Liberty Bowl. For those fans, the time for looking ahead starts now...today. So, as we look into the future just a little bit, and search for potential 'diamonds in the rough', there is no better place to start than the guys who took a redshirt in 2010.

Aaron Murray used his one season of bench time to study the offense and become the man that Georgia would eventually call their starting quarterback. And, despite the impression Georgia's 6-6 record might have sent, there were few who saw him play that didn't walk away with a positive impression.

That said, 2011 presents the opportunity for another young player to show what he has to offer to the team and, perhaps, become the piece that either the offense or defense needs to help Georgia get back on the championship track.

Here are just a few guys worth keeping track of this summer:

Michael Bennett, WR

Bennett wasn't highly touted coming out high school but his work ethic and ability to make the big play didn't escape the attention of many during last summer's workouts. With Kris Durham graduating and A.J. Green likely bolting for the NFL (unless there is a lockout), Murray will need another big, strong, dependable target to lock in on when he's in a tight spot. Bennett could be that guy—he's a definite sleeper.

Mike Thornton, DT

He was one of last years biggest 'gets', and there were some who felt he was a perfect fit for Todd Grantham's 3-4. However,  for whatever reason, he wasn't ready to be installed into the system this season. Even so, he's worked hard and put on a little more weight and has impressed his coaches with his tough play. With the 3-4 still searching for playmakers, particulary at the nose spot, Thornton could make a big splash real soon.

Ken Malcome, RB

Georgia flirted with letting him see playing time after injuries, and suspensions, limited the depth chart at his position. However, he managed to stay on the sidelines this season and continue to get comfortable with his potential responsibility at running back. That said, he isn't likely to be a gamebreaker, but Georgia won't need him to be if he can do two things well, 1) hold on to the football and 2) move the chains.

He could become a big factor this fall as neither Washaun Ealey, nor Caleb King can count on being the shoe-in's that they were when the 2010 season began.

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

The start of the game was reminiscent of the start of Georgia's SEC season—wildly inconsistent, out-of-sync, and frustrating.

The offense found it difficult to get going, thanks in large part to the frequent stoppages of play and early on, it seemed as if the Bulldogs would be regressing back to the mediocre brand of football many came to expect during their four game losing streak (three timeouts used in the first six minutes).

However, the Bulldogs dominated that other team from Tennessee, both offensively and defensively, pitching their first shutout of the season and running all over and through the Vanderbilt defensive front—A.J. Green didn't even have to get his super hero clothing dirty on Saturday as there were plenty of big plays and familiar playmakers to go around.

So who made the cut for being the most productive on the day?...

1. Washaun Ealey, RB

Ealey ran with purpose on Saturday, breaking tackles, driving the pile, and making running lanes appear even when there didn't seem any. He even managed to hold onto the ball inside the five-yard line—the place he's struggled all season long—and score a touchdown.

He finished the day with 17 carries, for 123 yards, and one touchdown (7.2 ypc).

Note: Vanderbilt was the team Washaun Ealey broke out against last season as well. From that point on, he became a force in the Georgia running game, rushing for 595 yards and three touchdowns the remainder of the way.

2. Carlton Thomas, RB

Thomas finally hit pay dirt in the redzone, scoring twice on the day—once on a nice 15-yard run led by the blocking of center Ben Jones and, for the second time, on a nine-yard run late in the third.

He still isn't going to be the guy between the tackles but you have to applaud his efforts on Saturday.

Note: Those were the first touchdowns of Thomas' career. 

3. Kris Durham, WR

What more can you say about Durham?

Whether he was gaining yards on the first big passing play of the game (55 yards), or leaping above three defenders to pull down an ill-advised pass from Aaron Murray, the senior has given the Bulldog faithful everything he's got this year, and his four catch, 112-yard performance on Saturday just gave the fans yet another reason to smile.

Note: Durham averaged 28.0 yards per reception for the game, bringing his average, on the season, to 20.6. 

4. Aaron Murray, QB

He didn't have to run it much, but he stepped up and made a couple of really big plays from the pocket, a 48-yard strike to A.J. Green which led to a touchdown and a 22-yard completion to Aron White during a 16-play, 86-yard drive to end the first half.

The redshirt freshman ended the day with 287 yards and two touchdowns.

5. Uga VIII

How can you not mention Georgia's newest member?

"Big Bad Bruce" was a baaaaadddddddd Dawg on Saturday—bad meaning good—as he started his tenure both undefeated and, as coach Richt pointed out, "unscored upon".

6. The Defense

Wow.

Sure it was Vanderbilt, but that means nada—keeping a team off the board is impressive, no matter who they are or what they've done this season. After all, even Louisiana got on the board against Georgia in the first game of the year.

The Bulldogs held Vanderbilt to a total of 140 yards (82 passing and 58 rushing), 1-of-11 on third downs, and eight first downs....eight! Not to mention, they were +2 on the day after forcing an interception and a safety.

Note: Georgia is currently ranked 39th in the nation in turnover margin. They ended last season ranked 118th. Also, over the last two games the defense has allowed 14 points, 409 total yards of offense, forced five turnovers, and held the offense to 7-of-24 on third downs. 

7. Drew Butler, P 

That's the Drew Butler that Bulldog fans know and love. Butler averaged 49.0 yards per punt on the day.

8. The Offense

The Georgia offense has looked significantly better over the last two weeks and yesterday, against the Commodores, they totaled 547 yards of total offense (315 yards passing and 232 yards rushing). Add to that, they dominated the time of possession (37:15), and averaged better than 11.0 yards per passing play.

Note: Over the last two weeks, the Georgia offense has totaled 949 yards of total offense and scored 84 points.

9. The Offensive Line

There is still some improvement to be made in both pass protection and run blocking, but you have to give a nod to the reconfigured line which features a confidence-gaining Trinton Sturdivant at left tackle and an impressive Kenarious Gates at right guard.

10. Tavares King, WR

He's quietly having a good season for the Bulldogs at his position and caught four passes for 70 yards on Saturday.

What say you?...What caught your eye about the team on yesterday.

Georgia Bulldogs Recruting: Isaiah Crowell Now Rolling The Tides' Way

The one matter that, more than anything else, should concern a Georgia Bulldog fan who is watching a 1-4 team disintegrate before it's very eyes is, how the perception of a sinking ship will effect future boarders.

It was a mere six-months ago that the Georgia Bulldogs were rolling strong with their "Dream Team" efforts. Guys were pledging their allegiance to Georgia with little hesitation, most were chomping at the bit to not only get to Athens as soon as possible, but to get as many guys to roll with them as they possibly could.

Well, that good fortune could be going south now that there is so much uncertainty about the team, the coaches, and the program. No one wants to be made a mockery of, least of all a highly-touted prospect with more than his fair share of suitors.

Seriously, if a national champion is knocking at your door, why would you sign with a team that is, right now, just hoping to become bowl eligible?

The recent mishaps in the Georgia running game are part of the problem at Georgia and that strikes a nerve with the tried and true fan who grew up watching Herschel Walker, Rodney Hampton, and Garrison Hearst break records wearing the 'G' on their helmet.

The obvious cure for an ailing running game would be to bring in a stud in the 2011 class. A player who is a game-changer and a sure-fire star at the position. That guy for Georgia is supposed to be Isaiah Crowell of Carver High School and, up until Saturday, the Georgia Bulldogs were in a dead heat with Alabama for his services, now, the Alabama Crimson Tide are his team to beat.

According to Chip Towers of the AJC, Crowell has become a bit disenchanted with the Georgia Bulldogs, and is liking the idea of going to Tuscaloosa and playing for Nick Saban.

Said Crowell, when asked about his change of heart, "Well, they’re (Georgia) losing a lot of games and have a lot of people getting arrested...there’s just a lot of things going wrong. I do want to play right away but I also want to be where it’s disciplined (emphasis added) and they win championships."

Wow, he said a mouthful there, didn't he? Imagine that, a prospect not wanting to go where it suddenly appears the inmates are running the asylum. Ten arrests in a season will get you a bad reputation for being a little too lenient with your guys.

Sure, Crowell is just one guy. It's possible that the team can win out and get back on track again, but the voices of dissension grow louder every day and they can be tough to ignore—especially if you are a prospect looking for a place to call home for four-years of your life.  It's easy to overlook a poor record, or a bad year, but it's not easy to overlook a drastic coaching overhaul.

Look how many guys Georgia missed out on last season when Martinez and his staff were let go. These kids are building relationships with THIS coaching staff—that's relevant. Firing Richt, Grantham, and every other clipboard holding fellow on the Georgia coaching staff could kill the 2011 class and handicap Georgia for years. 

That said, if you think things are awful now, you have no idea how bad it could really get if the fire sale that so many are calling for actually does happen. How does that "Dream Team" look minus all those great prospects?

Does it look good to you?

As of now, Crowell is waivering and there is word that Watts Dantzler is taking a look at Auburn (his No. 2 choice) again as well. Add to that list, Nathan Theus, a Dawg Night committment—who else will follow?
 
Mark Richt is in the dog house with many right now, and that's fair. However, this is about more than 2010, it's about the future of the Georgia Bulldogs football program from 2011 forward and, you have to start asking yourself this simple question: If Mark Richt is fired, like so many want, what kind of a future will the Georgia Bulldogs truly have?

Of course there are those who will argue that a losing season will bring the same result anyhow so why bother worrying about that factor one way or the other?

Well, to that end, only this question can be asked, how much of a chance are you willing to take on that actually being true? 

Think about it.
 

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: 10 Things You Need To Know About Tennessee

The Georgia Bulldogs are back from Boulder, Colorado and they are 1-4. Everything else is irrelevant at this point as the majority of Georgia fans likely woke up on Sunday morning asking only one question: when will the Bulldogs get another win?

It's useless to recap another disappointing Saturday, because there is no way to adequately explain how a game that could have been won by this Georgia team, was instead, again, lost by them—in such heinous fashion.

As with every week, so far this season, it's just time to move on and focus on the next opponent. This week that's the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols have shown plenty of fight the last few weeks: winning in overtime, at home, against UAB and in nearly upsetting a vastly overrated LSU team in Baton Rouge this past Saturday.

This team is hungry for an SEC win, and they are more than willing to come into Sanford Stadium to get it. So, what should Georgia fans know about the 2010 Vols?

1. They have a solid running back in Tauren Poole.

If people thought the running game at Tennessee was going to suffer minus the talents of Montario Hardesty and Bryce Brown, they were sadly mistaken. Tauren Poole has done a more than capable job of carrying the load this year.

The junior already has three 100+ yard rushing games—including a 109 yard performance against the SEC's best rush defense (LSU) last week—and he's one of the best offensive players on the team. He should not be underestimated.

2. They are steadily improving from week-to-week. 

The Vols aren't a bad team, they're a young team. They've fought through every win and loss and they've done so with a lot of heart. The quarterback play gets better each week, and the careless mistakes that seemed to plague them in the early-going are fewer and fewer as the team gels. It's easy to see that they are coming into their own under Dooley.

3. Matt Simms is gaining confidence. 

The junior quarterback has done as well as you can expect, standing behind a young offensive line, with little pass protection. His numbers may not seem impressive, but he's been money in third down situations (particularly those where between 3-7 yards is needed) and his toughness has made him a fan favorite. He's not particularly mobile, but he can make plays on the move if he has to.

4. Gerald Jones is the leader of this offense. 

After the heartbreaking loss to LSU, the senior wide receiver was said to have gotten in the face of the offensive lineman, asking them the following: "Ask yourself, are you doing your job?" He doesn't shy away from giving or receiving criticism, and he's definitely one to watch on third downs—84 of his 132 yards this season have come in those situations.

5. Eric Gordon—remember that name. 

David Oku has been the primary return man for the Vols this year but the flashes of brilliance that Eric Gordon displayed against LSU this past Saturday could be a harbinger of things to come. He's got nice speed and some killer moves in his game and, if given too much space, could soon break free for a touchdown—giving the Vols just the spark they need on special teams.

6. Nick Reveiz is the heart of the defense.

The linebacker is considered, by many, to be the emotional leader on the defense. He's not the strongest, fastest, or even the most talented player, but he plays with a ton of heart and he brings intangibles to the field that defensive coaches love to see (toughness, leadership, and sound fundamental play).

Statistically, he leads the SEC in tackles (50), but his leadership is probably the most important part of his game.

7. They have an opportunistic secondary. 

The Volunteers have six interceptions as a unit this season (28th in the nation). Sophomores Prentiss Wagner and Janzen Jackson are both more than capable of defending any wide receiver in the country—particularly Jackson who, as a five star recruit out of Louisiana, has already made his presence felt on the field. Wagner has two interceptions this year—both returned for touchdowns.

8. Speaking of opportunistic...the pass defense is top notch. 

So far this season, the Vols pass defense (ranked 13th in the nation) has 21 passes broken up, 22 quarterback hurries, and three forced fumbles (h/t cfbstats.com). They rank third in the conference—following only Alabama and Florida, respectively. By contrast, in the same category, Georgia ranks 79th (that's a match-up worth noting).

9. Despite point No's. 7 and 8, the defensive front hasn't put opposing quarterbacks on their backs much. 

The defensive line of Tennessee has struggled getting into the backfield. The Vols only have five sacks this year, despite their ability to put pressure on the quarterback.

10. They haven't done a good job protecting their quarterback this season. 

Through five games, Matt Simms has been sacked 18 times. If there is one weakness the Vols have certainly had this year, it's in pass protection. Simms has managed to do well, despite their short-comings. Said Simms, "I think I've kind of mastered how to take a sack and just protect my body and protect the football, as crazy as that sounds."

Georgia Bulldogs Football: If This Is The Conditioning Program, Georgia Is In Trouble (VIDEO)

Have to give an ENORMOUS shout to the Leather Helmet Blog as they were the original posters of the first two videos you will see below. You can draw your own conclusions, most assuredly, but it's definitely clear that the approach that Dave Van Halanger takes at Georgia is a bit modest in comparison to others around the country.

Heck, let's be real, when compared to the program run by Benny Wylie at the University of Tennessee, Georgia's program looks like a Gymboree class.

Please, feast your eyes on this training video, for the "advanced athlete", presented by Georgia's strength and conditioning coach—Dave Van Halanger:



Now, did he really say three sets of ten? Now, no one here is professing to be an expert, but, shouldn't the routine be a touch more challenging—these are football player after all.

The  video above looks like it needs to be for the beginning athlete, not the advanced one and, production quality aside, no coach in the SEC is going to be rushing out the door looking for Van Halanger's regimen in any manual if this is what he's bringing to the table—hell, I can do three sets of ten!

Is he for real?!?

Now, take a look at Tennessee's strength coach, Benny Wylie, and ask yourself one question: could anyone describe him as soft?



"If you suffer as a group, you'll normally bond, and that's what we try to do. We put our guys through intense training, hard training, things that the normal person can't do—couldn't do—and we forge our guys together in the summer..."

Well, that sounds like a great idea: "suffer as a group and bond". Haven't seen too much bonding on the Georgia football field lately, could that be a part of the reason why? Just asking questions, here, because it seems that not enough light is being shined on Dave Van Halanger just yet and there has to be some accountability swept his way too.

But, no worries, right? The guys on the field can still lift with the best of them:

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 Bulldog Football: Mark Richt Needs More Than A.J. Green To Win Games

The Georgia Bulldogs, in case you didn't know it, are now 0-2 in SEC play after a heartbreaking loss to Arkansas today. The team fought hard, in the fourth quarter, but fell short as the Razorbacks walked out of Athens, GA sporting something they had not since 1993—a win.

It would be easy to make excuses for the team but, in the end, the truth would be simple: Ryan Mallett played like Ryan Mallett and the Georgia defense had no answer for him.

You see, all week long, the media and the journalists have tried their best to make Georgia Bulldog fans believe that without A.J., this team cannot win. However, in two weeks, the team has proven that it can indeed win—if they can ever get out of their own way.

Today, the run defense showed up in against the veteran running presence of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Aside from the one-yard touchdown run by Knile Davis in the first quarter, no other tailbacks made a significant contribution to the running game for the Hogs. As a unit, they carried 20 times for 59-yards (less than three yards per carry).

So, unlike last week, the run defense did a nice job of stopping the run and forcing the quarterback to make plays. Unfortunately for Georgia, they couldn't do two things well, on defense, at one time because Ryan Mallett had a field day with Georgia's secondary.

He was rarely pressured into a poor pass and every touchdown he threw, of which there were three, his man was left wide open. By the end of the day, the receivers had all-star numbers: Joe Adams snagged six balls for 130, Greg Childs caught three for 82, D.J. Williams...six for 61—see a poor trend here?

The secondary never seemed to show up today and that cost Georgia big time—none bigger than on Arkansas last possession of the game (a 36-yard, game winning touchdown). 

Truthfully, if you didn't know any better, you might have actually believed that Willie Martinez never
left the sidelines because it was deja vu all over again.

But, this article is not meant to be a recap. If you watched the game, you know what happened, and you can surmise from your own intelligence how it transpired—no need to do it for you here. That said, what is perplexing is how everyone seems to keep telling themselves that A.J. Green would have been the difference.

 While it cannot be denied that Green is a catalyst, a playmaker, and a genuinely wonderful weapon to behold, he cannot play defense. He cannot run block for the offensive line, he cannot pass rush for the linebackers, he cannot punt for Drew Butler, he cannot cover kickoffs for special teams, he cannot playcall for Mike Bobo, and he cannot cover wide receivers for the secondary.

As outstanding a football player as A.J. Green most certainly is, he is one guy and, as much as some outlets would like you to believe it, he is not the only piece this team needs to win on Saturday.

Furthermore, to say that A.J. is the only guy worthy of catching the ball on Saturday is disrespectful to Kris Durham. Durham has done a tremendous job in A.J.'s absence. No, he doesn't have the speed, the highlight reel grabs, or the NFL pedigree, but he does have 13 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown (through the same number of games last season, Green had 17 receptions, for 275 yards, and three touchdowns). Durham may not be Green, but he's done a phenomenal job filling in for him this season. 

Even more, a great point was made by Quinton McDawg over at the Georgia Sports Blog following the game on Saturday. He stated that the Alabama Crimson Tide have been without their Heisman winning playmaker for the last two weeks and they haven't missed a beat. His point, great teams can survive the storm—that's what great teams do.

Is this Georgia Bulldog team a great team?...No, it's a young one, with a redshirt freshman quarterback and a new defensive scheme—period.

This loss will lead to a lot of "hot seat" talk—be prepared. Some of the arguments for the inconsistencies of Richt's team this season will be valid, while others could likely be chalked up to the ridiculous rantings of a message board maniac. Neither argument will make a difference where this season is concerned—that's a fact. Richt is not going to be fired this season, but he could be under a lot more pressure if this 1-2 start turns into a 7-5 or 6-6 finish.

Curious to hear your thoughts after three weeks of play by this Georgia Bulldog team. Where do you stand on them now? I haven't given up on them but I certainly have begun to temper my expectations a bit more after today.

Les Miles Has Offered, Former Georgia QB, Zach Mettenberger A Scholarship

Zach Mettenberger could be on his way back to the SEC in 2011. The former quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs has an offer on the table from LSU.

Mettenberger, if you recall, was dismissed from the Georgia Bulldogs football team last spring after pleading guilty to sexual battery. He was on the radar of a few schools immediately following the dismissal (Cincinnati and Louisville to name a few), but eventually landed at Butler Community College in Kansas—so far, he's done well  (three games, 40/63, 728 yards, and 10 td's).

Les Miles is in need of a quarterback in Baton Rouge as Jordan Jefferson will soon be out of eligibility—thankfully and, his replacement, Zach Lee, will likely enter with just as many questions once his time comes. Mettenberger, if he pans out, would be an immediate upgrade over either of the two.

That said, the move by Miles will be met with disdain by some of the Georgia Bulldog faithful who won't like the idea of seeing their former top prospect playing ball within the conference.  Mettenberger wasn't going to start over Murray this season, even if he had never gotten into trouble, but there was no mistaking his potential or his talents.

So, if he goes into Baton Rouge and becomes a star, some fans could be forced to swallow a bitter pill because their coach did the right thing—and make no mistake, it was the right thing to do at that time. 

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the long term—particularly if the two schools happen to meet and Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger are the respective quarterbacks at the helm.

For the record, I don't like the idea much. It's a sketchy move by Miles, in my opinion, but if it worked for Houston Nutt at Ole Miss, then why not for Les Miles at LSU—it's all about winning, right?

Mettenberger is rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com , and is being compared to the likes of Christian LeMay and Max Wittek—both of whom are thought to harbor pro potential. He is also one of the Top 20 junior college prospects in the country so, needless to say, he's been able to slightly overcome the stain of his actions in Valdosta.

Junior College players sign their letters of intent from December 15th to January 15th, if not mistaken. Mettenberger is slated to make an official visit to LSU on November 19th. 

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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• Initial Impressions: Georgia Bulldogs Fall to South Carolina Gamecocks (dawgsports.com)

Vince Dooley on the Georgia Bulldogs' 1980 Championship Team: "Herschel Was That Missing Piece" (VIDEO)

Former Georgia Bulldogs football coach, Vince Dooley, took a moment to sit down for an interview with the University of Georgia's student newspaper, the Red and Black, just prior to the start of Georgia's 2010 football season. In this taped interview, Dooley discusses not only the 1980 National Championship won by his team, but also what he feels is the future of the football program at Georgia.

The interview is in two parts: (h/t to wrbrown4):



Part 2...Vince Dooley on why Georgia hasn't won a national championship since 1980:

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.