Georgia Bulldogs: RB Coach Bryan McClendon Gets A Hefty Raise

Photo Credit: David Manning

Chalk this one up to the 'he's one helluva recruiter' explanation because, otherwise, I'm scratching my head at how running backs coach, Bryan McClendon managed to get a raise which more than doubles what he made in 2010 ($90,000 to 200,000). Tony Ball, Georgia's wide receivers coach, will also see his paycheck get a bump from $165,000+ to $200,000.

But, back to McClendon.

The raise, according to Chip Towers, was McGarity's way of being proactive in keeping the football staff intact. Both Ball and McClendon were apparently pursued by other schools this past season and opted to stay at Georgia. As a result, they were given "competitive counter offers" that allowed them to stay at Georgia and not disrupt the continuity of the coaching staff.

While I can certainly get on board with maintaining continuity, particularly in a year already marked with a ton of questions about Mark Richt's future at Georgia, McClendon's pay raise seems too generous given what he's done as a coach.

That said, it's easy to see that McClendon's value as a recruiter has given him more rope than he might normally have had. Mark Richt said as much himself when he was forced to defend McClendon's sub-par performance at recent speaking engagement.

Said Richt of McClendon's worth, "...Bryan McClendon is a hell of a coach, he’s a hell of a recruiter. And I’m glad we got Bryan McClendon."

Last season, McClendon was key in the recruitment of Isaiah Crowell, Zach DeBell, Quintavious Harrow, and Nick Marshall—all of whom are expected to be impact players at Georgia in the near future and a good recruiter is something that most any head coach will covet.

Bobo has a similar talent and has elicited as much loyalty from Richt as both McClendon and Garner.  By way of mention, however, all three men have had their fair share of criticism from both pundits and fans, about their ability as coaches—none of them appear to be in danger of losing their jobs anytime soon.

I suppose you can't blame Richt for wanting some of the best recruiters in the nation peppering his staff but, at some point, you would hope their coaching talents would be every bit as worthy of the praise.

McClendon is still young, only 27 years old, so he's still growing into his role as running backs coach (much like Bobo), but he is clearly a star on the rise, particularly as a recruiter, and if he's able to bring it all together this season, then Georgia will have made one very good deal.

Related articles

• Mark Richt is pissed off, and wants you to know it. (blutarsky.wordpress.com)

Georgia Bulldogs Flashback: April 28, 1997 Sparked A Return To Glory

April 28, 1997 was a dreary, wet, and somewhat cold day in Athens, GA as the Georgia Bulldogs competed in the annual G-Day Game before a crowd of less than 10,000. Those faithful fans braved both the elements and low expectations to see what might be in store for the 1997 version of their football team—a team that was coming off a 5-6 season and hadn't completed a winning one since 1994.

To say that people weren't expecting much was an understatement—bowl eligibility would have been a nice surprise.

The game ended up being an entertaining one—at least from an offensive standpoint—as the Red team clobbered the Black team 41-10 in a contest which saw 100+ yard rushing efforts from both Robert Edwards and Patrick Pass.

Edwards looked much improved from 1996. A season in which he seemed to struggle with ball control and didn't produce as many yards or as much excitement as many felt he might (Hmmm, a running back with a fumbling issue who is seeking redemption after a disappointing season? I smell a trend here). Patrick Pass offered a nice counter to what was shaping up to be a fine rushing attack.

On defense, sophomore Champ Bailey took advantage of his phenomenal ball skills and wowed the crowd by grabbing two of the team's four interceptions. It was very clear after that performance that Bailey was a star and Donnan let it be known that Bailey would see both sides of the ball that season—offense and defense.

At quarterback, Mike Bobo held a slight edge over redshirt freshman Mike Usry, but it was by no means a comfortable one. Donnan felt that Bobo's experience would be his biggest asset and Bobo's play that day at least offered a glimmer of hope for what was to come (12 of 17, for 157 yards, and two scores), but the crowd ran hot and cold on him all day—cheering when he made big plays, but booing when he failed to capitalize on others.

Imagine that, Bobo was a polarizing figure even back then—very interesting.


Bobo's response to the boo birds was classic, said the embattled QB at the time "...I don't worry about the fans. They're not out there playing, they're not out there practicing with me every day like my teammates. I want to do well for my teammates and my coaches and that's it".


This Georgia team was aiming to be something special in 1997 as they finally seemed to be heading in the right direction under head coach Jim Donnan.


That season did end up being just what the doctor ordered for Donnan's Dawgs as the team ended the year with a record of 10-2, including a big SEC win over the Florida Gators (the team that demoralized them by 40 points the year before), a Top 10 finish in both the AP and Coaches Polls, and a comfortable Outback Bowl victory over Wisconsin (33-6). 

It was a season to remember in Athens. Here's hoping the same type of resurgence is in store for 2011.

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: Coach Bobo Needs To Bring His 'A' Game In 2011

Last season, Mike Bobo wasn't impressive.

While Mark Richt was quick to point out the streak where Georgia's offense put up 30 or more points (six)—setting some kind of record—most of us failed to be wowed by the overall product.

To be frank, Bobo's tendencies towards being too predictable became difficult to watch and, most of the time, you found yourself wondering why he was wearing a set of headphones in the first place.

So, the natural question continues to be this: why is he still the offensive coordinator at Georgia? What on earth does coach Richt see that so many others don't?

Those of us who judge Bobo, from our sofas and office water coolers, have already decided at least this much about him, 1) he often moves away from what's working (whether that be the run or the pass) in an attempt to diversify the offense, 2) he falls in love with a particular play and keeps running it (even when it becomes clear said play is not working), 3) he can't seem to make an offensive adjustment to save his life, and 4) he has no idea how to use the talent he has on the field.

Last season was a perfect example of that last point. It was clear that Green was Bobo's ace, and he wasn't prepared to call an offense that didn't feature him—who could blame him, right? A.J. Green wasn't only a playmaker for Georgia, he was the playmaker—no disrespect to Kris Durham—and while he was out, no one else seemed to step up.

Where were Marlon Brown?... Rantavious Wooten?... Tavarres King?

Or perhaps the better question was this: why didn't Bobo change his play calling to fit the guys he had on the field? Why not develop plays that take advantage of each player's respective skills?

Every team can't be blessed with an A.J. Green, so it's important that the offensive coordinator understand the skill-sets of each position player on his team's roster so that he is better able to use those skills in a productive manner.

For example, Tavarres King was able to get deep at numerous points last season, yet Bobo seemed hesitant to target him—even when it was clear that Green was not the best option (although, to be fair, that blame could have been just as much on Aaron Murray's shoulders).

Marlon Brown is a huge target, why didn't he get more redzone looks? Better still, with the gluttony of talent at tight end, why not employ more two-tight end sets once Georgia was in scoring range? Mix it up! Be innovative! Do something!

If Bobo has clear concepts of what he wants to do, he doesn't seem to have a clue how to get them from his head to the football field and that's a a problem.

2011 will be his defining season and, minus Green, Bobo will need to tap into whatever creativity he has if he expects to see the further progression of Aaron Murray on the football field.

Bobo's on-the-job-training ended a long time ago, it's time to see if he's worth the confidence that coach Richt keeps throwing his way—his job, and coaching future, likely depends on it.

Related articles

• About that scoring streak... (blutarsky.wordpress.com)

Georgia Bulldogs: Mark Richt Has An "Entitlement" Problem

Here's what Georgia head coach, Mark Richt, had to say following the team's loss to Central Florida, "We didn’t want to finish with a loss, we didn’t want to finish with a losing record. No one would have really predicted that, but it is what it is, as they say." 

"It is what it is"...that's the best you can do, coach? I'll tell you this much, this game did nothing to get people excited about Georgia's ability to rebound in 2011 and this staff hasn't shown enough urgency in making the necessary changes to get this program back on the winning track.

The very definition of what this team could be in the future was expressed on the opening offensive drive of the game when Richt elected to kick a field goal, on Central Florida's 2-yard line, instead of going for it on 4th-and-1.

It was as if Richt said, 'I'm willing to settle. You took our best shot—you win'. However, as a fan you're talking at the television, screaming even, because you cannot believe what you are seeing. Then, suddenly, the ugly truth starts to creep in—the line can't do it. 

This offensive line—with its budding NFL prospects—doesn't have the leg drive or the upper body strength to assist our running backs in netting one measly yard.

How depressing is that?


Then you start to understand that there are no more "gimme" games, and no reason for you to believe this team is capable of winning against even the least of its competition. However, that's just the negativity talking. Luckily for you, the team doesn't feel that way about themselves. 

Georgia kicker Blair Walsh made it clear that this team still feels like the one voted No. 1 at the start of the 2008 season. These guys still feel as if their presence alone is enough to scare teams into submission. They entered this game under the notion that they should have been able to win,

"Our attitude needs to change. We’re not entitled to win any games. Even though it was UCF, it was Conference USA, I think we felt like we were entitled to win this game. We can’t feel that way. They’re a great team, they absolutely are. But we need to play better and win. At the end of the day you’re playing football, you’re not playing conference, and which conference is better."

The message in that is this: 'Don't worry about the guys in the uniforms, this is (insert conference here) and—on paper—we're better than they are, so don't bother preparing for the possibility of a loss. We got this'.

If that's the case, maybe they should go back and ask Michigan how embarrassed they felt after losing to Appalachian State, or how shocked Virginia Tech was when they lost to James Madison, or how much of a wake-up call it must have been for Notre Dame to lose to Tulsa.

Entitled?...Really? 6-6 makes you feel "entitled" to win football games—ay yi yi—it's any wonder  these guys have so much time to post comments on Facebook and Twitter, or operate a Ustream account—they are basing their wins on what they "should" be able to do and not what they should be doing.

Good to know.

However, if you see this game as just another isolated incident—with no particular trend in the making—you could easily find a scapegoat.  Blame Mark Richt for his lack of passion, blame Mike Bobo for his unimaginative game-planning, blame Aaron Murray for wearing gloves, blame the offensive line for being deplorable, blame Stacy Searles  (the offensive line coach) for not having the o-line prepared, blame A.J. Green for thinking ahead to the NFL, or blame the entire team for having the audacity to feel "entitled".

Pick any of the above and you'd hardly find a person to fault you for your thought process.

Blair Walsh talked about a "culture change" being on the horizon, but shouldn't that have started in 2008—after the team was decimated by the Crimson Tide in the infamous 'Blackout'? Or in 2009 when the Tennessee Volunteers took them to the woodshed? Or how about this season, after Mississippi State manhandled them in Starkville?

How much more proof does this team need that they aren't "entitled" to anything?

If you're a Georgia fan, how can you be encouraged by this team's prospects for 2011 based on what you saw? And, if you've been like me—a Richt apologist through even the toughest of times—at what point do you start to wonder if he can really turn this thing around?

2010 is history but, after that loss, it's hard to see much better on the horizon for 2011. 

Here's hoping the skeptic in me is proved wrong. Happy New Year!

Related articles

• UCF wins AutoZone Liberty Bowl, downing Georgia 10-6 (commercialappeal.com)

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: Richt Makes Staff Change, But Is It Enough?

Coach Richt finally made the step that throngs of Bulldog devotees were hoping he would; he removed Dave Van Halanger from his position as Georgia's Director of Strength and Conditioning.

Okay, great! But why did he then turn around and hire/promote his replacement from within?

Joe Tereshinski, Georgia's newest director, was Van Halangers assistant/video coordinator. He's definitely not the splashy hire that Georgia fans were hoping to see when they called for this change. Many expected to see more time and care taken in selecting a qualified candidate.

The quickness of it all just seems, excuse the license, a bit sloppy and uninspired.

That's why it's not hard to believe this theory offered by Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution—Richt wasn't the impetus behind the decision.  Schultz speculates that the under-whelming nature of the hire could be because it was made at McGarity's insistence.

Richt has stated, on numerous occasions, that McGarity is clear about the direction he feels the football program needs to go if it is to become a force on the national stage. And, it's very possible, that he took one look at the S&C program and suggested maybe Richt should start with letting Van Halanger go.

Richt might have felt pressured to give McGarity what he wanted but, perhaps, wasn't willing to go all-in with the decision once it was made. Hence, he simply promoted Tereshinski.

Even still, setting his friendship with Van Halanger aside, one would think that Richt might be more careful in making such a choice. If nothing else the failure of former defensive coordinator, Willie Martinez, and the struggles of offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo—both in-house hires— should have given him the impetus to say, "maybe I should think outside the box on this one".

The S&C program is the one place where, it was clear, Georgia needed new blood and, no offense, but  Tereshinski doesn't exactly offer the excitement and change that so many were hoping to see.

Either way, it is what it is and, until this season is officially over, none of us will know what the "reorganization" will entail. 

Now, to be fair, Joe Tereshinski could, in the long run, be the solution that we were all waiting to see.

Perhaps he will bring an open-minded approach to the program which will allow him to make the necessary changes that Van Halanger didn't seem as willing to undertake—in which case he should be thought of as a considerable upgrade already.

However, if all Tereshinski manages to do is carry on the outdated traditions of Van Halanger, then, honestly, this whole business is much ado about nothing.

Georgia Football: It's Not A "Head-Scratcher", Mr. Bradley, Aaron Murray Can't Do Everything

The Atlanta Journal Constitution's pot-stirrer resident sports columnist/blogging fool, Mark Bradley wondered why Georgia is 5-6 this season when Aaron Murray has been so good?

More to the point, shouldn't Georgia be more than a below .500 team that's, currently, struggling for bowl eligibility?

In his words:

The Bulldogs were 9-3 in both Zeier’s and Carter’s freshman seasons, 8-4 in Greene’s, 9-4 in Stafford’s. How is it possible that a team returning every offensive starter save the quarterback could see that new quarterback perform so ably — and still be 5-6? (And of those six losses, only the Florida game,  in which Murray threw half of his total of six interceptions, could be debited to the quarterback — and it must be noted that even on his worst day Murray led the rally that forced overtime.)

Not much about this Georgia season has made sense, but this part makes the least. The one offensive variable has come up trumps, and still the team enters its final scheduled game needing to win to become bowl-eligible.

While it's easy to understand Bradley's question—if it weren't such a thinly veiled attempt at, yet again, pointing out the ineptitude of the current staff—the answers aren't hard to find.

For one, Aaron Murray doesn't play defense. He wasn't on the field when Ryan Mallett dissected and dismantled the Georgia secondary in four plays to lose their game against Arkansas. He's also not a part of the secondary that suddenly failed to remember their assignments in the second-half against Auburn—leading to a 42-13 run by the Tigers.

Secondly, he doesn't play running back.  On multiple occasions, a lost fumble either changed the complexity of the game (South Carolina and Mississippi State) or lost it altogether (Colorado).

Third, he's not on the defensive line that, at many points this season, couldn't stop a flea from scoring. Obviously, the 3-4 needs some personnel changes if it's going to be effective in season two because what's in the cupboard now is not a proper fit.

Lastly, as spectacular as Murray has been, he's not capable of catching his own passes.

A.J. Green was missing for the first four games of the season and, as a result, the offense struggled to find anything that resembled productivity—another clear indication of how in over his head Mike Bobo truly has been this year.

It's painfully obvious to many that Bobo planned 85 percent of his playbook around the presence of A.J. Green. Take away A.J., take away points—the stats don't lie.

Does that about clear it up for you, Mr. Bradley? Hope so but, for some reason, it feels a lot like you were never really that confused in the first place.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 10 Things Not To Do Against The Auburn Tigers

This is the time of week that this site offers a "10 Things To Know..." section, discussing the upcoming opponent.

Well, by this point in the season, we have all seen, read, and heard so much about the Auburn Tigers, that it would be a near impossibility to offer anything of substance.

With that in mind, this week will be a bit different as we will touch on the things that Georgia does not need to do if they expect to have a chance at winning this Saturday.

So, let's just jump right into it: 

1. Come out flat.

Georgia should have come out firing against the Bengals last week but, as they have often done this season, the offense came out looking mediocre and out of sync. If they do that against Auburn this weekend, they will find themselves in a hole very quickly.

They cannot come out looking dazed and confused like they did last week or the week prior against the Gators. The Tigers will bury them early if they do.

2. Concentrate too much on Cam Newton.

Cam Newton might be the most recognizable and talked about weapon on the field for Auburn, but he's not the ONLY weapon for the Tigers.

Michael Dyer leads the SEC in rushing—for a freshman. He has more yards than Marcus Lattimore and he's been a perfect compliment to Newton this season. Add to that, both Darvin Adams (WR) and the emerging Terrell Zachery (WR), are every bit the playmakers they appear to be.

Georgia cannot allow No. 2 to occupy so much of their mental and physical attention that they leave the other guys on the field free to beat them.

3. Forget how to pass protect—again. 

Nick Fairley is a beast and, if left unattended, he will feast on Aaron Murray.

For all the chatter about how poised and steady Murray has been this season, he has yet to truly face a defense as athletic, tough, and fierce as this Auburn front seven, and he's going to need a competent line, giving their best effort,  if he hopes to have a shot at picking apart Auburn's secondary.

4. Turn the ball over.

This is obvious, but it had to be said.

Georgia has both lost and gained momentum on turnovers this season. They need to be stingy with the football this weekend. No bobbles, no bad snaps, no forgetting how to secure the ball on long-gainers, etc.

Hold onto the football and be purposeful with every pass. 

5. Blitz too early and/or too often. 

While the "attacking style" defense of the 3-4 has been effective at points this season, Newton isn't going to crumble under the pressure of whatever Georgia has to offer. He's got a passer efficiency rating of 258.4 and a completion percentage of better than 70 percent against the blitz.

In other words, it hasn't worked on him.

The best thing Georgia can do is neutralize the running game and concentrate on jamming the routes of the Auburn receivers. If they can do that, they will flush Newton out of the pocket.

While that may seem like a poor option—given the fact that he's tallied more than 1,100 yards on the ground this season—it's the one that offers Georgia (which is currently No. 2 in the conference against the run) the best chance at disrupting the Tigers offense.

6. Over-commit to the running game. 

If Auburn's pass defense is shaky, then their rush defense is the steadying force that evens things out.

The Tigers are third in the SEC in rush defense (114.0 ypg). More to the point, Auburn has been
deadly good against the run this year and the three-headed monster of Caleb King, Washaun Ealey, and Carlton Thomas isn't likely to leave them with nightmares.

The most important players on the field for Georgia will be Kris Durham, A.J. Green, Tavarres King, and Orson Charles.

Should they abandon the run? No, but if they see it's not effective, they shouldn't remain so committed to it, that they fail to consider other playcalling options.

7. Allow Auburn to set the tempo. 

Auburn hasn't been the kind of team that grinds out plays. They have, for the most part, been quick to strike and quick to score. Georgia cannot allow the Tigers to control the tempo of this game, they don't run the kind of offense that would allow them to go toe-to-toe with Auburn for 60 minutes and if they have to get into a shout-out with Cam Newton and his trusty brigade, the defense could be sucking wind before halftime.

Georgia has to find a way to control the clock, keep the Auburn offense off the field, and slow the game down enough that Auburn has to adjust to them—not the other way around.

8. Get too caught up in this being the "Best Team In The Nation".

Part of Murray's problem against the Gators was he let his emotions control his play for the better part of 30 minutes. He was too pumped, too anxious, and too embedded in it being "Georgia-Florida". He cannot do that on Saturday if he expects to run an efficient, focused, and productive offense.

Ditto that for the defense. They need to play this game like it's just another opponent—don't let the ranking or "what this win means for the program" come onto the field of play.

Finish. The. Drill.

9.  Fail to maintain defensive intensity on third down.

All season it has seemed that Georgia goes full-out on first and second downs, then completely falls apart on third downs—no better example of this than against the Kentucky Wildcats a few weeks back.
Georgia needs to maintain a consistent level of intensity on every. single. down.

Defensive lapses have killed them all season and, more often than not, have led to momentum-changing plays.

10. Tighten up if the game is close. 

Cam Newton has proven that he only gets more resolved, more focused, and more calm as the game winds down. He's ready to play for all 60 and he's willing to take the team on his back if he has to. By contrast, Georgia hasn't found their formula for doing the same.

The tighter the game, the more prone to mistakes they become.

If they find themselves in a position to win on Saturday, they need to play like they both deserve and CAN win. If they don't believe it, their play on the field will reflect it, and they will have already lost.

What say you, do you like the Bulldog's chances to make a game of it this weekend?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


However, let's not digress.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Couldn't have said it better.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where are the sacks? Forced fumbles? Interceptions?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

(This article appears courtesy of The Lady Sportswriter)

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 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 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.

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.

Hines Ward Encourages Top In-State Prospects To Go To Georgia

You gotta love this:



Hines Ward always supports his alma mater's efforts.

A little more video on the former Dawg—1997—at Georgia Tech:



Making Pro Bowl safeties look silly in the NFL:



And, finally, leaping over another former Georgia Bulldog:

The Georgia Bulldogs Are Selling A Dream—Haters Be Damned!

It seems that not everyone is enamored of the Georgia Bulldogs and their “Dream Team” approach to recruiting prospects for 2011. More and more, there are those who are taking issue with the idea as they wonder if it’s really something that they want Georgia to be hanging its future success upon.

The first issue is believing in the notion that one recruiting class is going to be the answer for Georgia football—fair enough. I mean, after all, it takes more than one group of players to transform a program from good to great, right?

Even if this class does end up being championship caliber, there is no guarantee that it will come together immediately. That’s an important point to consider when you think of the sensitive position that Mark Richt is currently under at Georgia—his seat may not be hot but, after 2011, it will get substantially warmer if the program regresses or experiences another sub-par season.

Which leads to the other issue posed by the naysayers, why put that much expectation on one group of players, on the Georgia football program, heck, on Mark Richt?!? Does he really need to see the consequences of his “Dream Team” idea backfiring on him?

The magnifying glass is close enough without adding fuel to the fire.

Now, while I can certainly understand both sides, all the vitriol has led me to one very simple question, why is anyone bothering to take this approach so seriously?

Mark Richt has offered the concept of a "Dream Team" to help fire up the in-state talent’s interest in Georgia, as well as infuse the fans with a little more enthusiasm for the future of Georgia football—that's it.

Honestly, anyone who believes a recruit will sign, based solely on the possibility of being a part of the "Dream Team", is not being realistic. Even more, they aren’t giving Georgia or Mark Richt much credit as a program. If a prospect signs with Georgia, he will ultimately do so as a result of how well he fits in at Georgia.

All Georgia’s staff has done is offer the excitement of, possibly, being a part of something special at Georgia in 2011. They could be a part of building Georgia into a champion. They might be the missing piece of the championship puzzle.

It’s that pitch that could pique the interest of a potential prospect enough to allow a Georgia coach his shot at selling the merits of playing in a red and black uniform—is that a crime?

After all, in the recruiting game, part of the process entails gaining an ‘edge’. If a particular concept can give you one, then you take advantage of the opportunity. The “Dream Team” sounds good to some of the guys it’s being presented to, others maybe not as much, but all any coach can ask for is a chance to make his pitch and so far, "Dream Team" or not, the coaches are selling the program.

Will they get everyone? No, they will miss a few, and I have no doubt that the coaches and Richt know as much.

That said, if the staff fails to close on a guy, it will have less to do with an inability to  sell the “Dream Team” concept, than with Georgia failing to promise something the recruit values (i.e. playing time, location, or position).

You simply can’t sign everyone.

Georgia has received 12 solid commitments—11 of whom are in-state—none of whom actually cite the "Dream Team" as their reason for choosing Georgia. So I am forced to, wonder again, why anyone has a problem with the coaches using this idea as a tool in recruiting?

For now, the “Dream Team” is nothing more than part of an effective sales pitch and, in the end, the coaches still have to sell the program.  So far, they have done a good job of that.