Mark Richt: "We Didn't Win The Fourth Quarter"

During a Thursday presser, some of which can be heard here via UGASports.com ($$$), Mark Richt discussed a few of the things that went wrong with the team last season, and what he feels needs to happen to not see a repeat of it again in 2011. Said Richt,

"...we all gotta be pulling in the same direction, and we all gotta be believing, and we all gotta get better at doing the things that will help us win the fourth quarter, really. I mean it's...we gotta, we have to finish well,  ya know? I think that's the main thing that we did not do. Six out of seven games I believe we were within a touchdown in the fourth quarter...and we didn't win the fourth quarter. That was our biggest problem—really."

In short, finish the drill.

There were many things that went into Georgia's inability to finish well in 2010—hopefully most of that will be remedied with the institution of a new strength program—but the attitudes on and off the field were in need of tweaking as well. There were too many alpha dogs trying to mark their territory, in my opinion, and that made for a team that didn't have the type of continuity or effort that we would have liked to see late in games last season.

All signs this off-season point to a team with a renewed interest in playing football for Georgia—not just at Georgia—and if that ends up being the truth, 6-7 will be a footnote for Mark Richt and not just the kink in the chain that led to his departure.

Related articles

• You get what you pay for. (blutarsky.wordpress.com)

Georgia Bulldogs: 2012 TE Prospect Ricky Parks

Ricky Parks is on Georgia's radar for 2012.

The uber-talent out of Callaway High School in Hogansville, GA has born comparisons to both Cam Newton of Auburn and Orson Charles of Georgia. He currently plays the quarterback position for Callaway High School, but is projected by many to be a tight end at the next level. However, one look at his film and it is safe to say that he could be a special prospect at either position.

As for Parks' preference, he has already stated that he would like to play tight end—specifically in a pro-style offense—and Georgia is currently tied at the top of his list with Alabama.

Parks is 6'3", 210, with a lot of potential, but he will need to work on his technique a bit more if he's going to play at a consistently high level in the college ranks—can he become a sufficient blocker? Either way, Parks is a prospect worth keeping a close eye on as the 2012 recruiting season moves forward.

Below is some film on Parks—mostly playing at quarterback—where you definitely can get a feel for how much talent he has.

Ricky Parks, QB #9, Callaway High School:

(h/t RustyMansell)

Steve Spurrier: Oversigning is a "Helpful" and "Ticklish Situation"

The Wall Street Journal discussed the practice of oversigning with three SEC coaches—Steve Spurrier, Houston Nutt, and Bobby Petrino—and the general consensus among them was that it's not a big deal. Quite frankly, all felt the it was something that was both necessary and helpful during the recruiting process.

For those that aren't aware,"oversigning" occurs when a coach knowingly brings in more players than  allowed in order to account for the unforeseen consequences of attrition, transfers, or the inability of a player to academically qualify.

It's a practice that is largely frowned upon yet, for some reason, continues to go unchecked.

What I found interesting about the statements made by the above-mentioned coaches is how well they have managed to justify their actions.

Spurrier claims that he is forthright with all the guys who stand the chance of being let go, but somehow you get the feeling that's not always the case. Spurrier even went so far as to criticize conferences that don't utilize the option—specifically the Big Ten—said Spurrier, "I think that really hurts them a lot...they end up giving scholarships to a lot of walk-ons."

Bobby Petrino echoes the sentiment saying, "I don't see it as a bad thing unless you're being dishonest or waiting until the last minute, which eliminates their visit opportunities with other schools".

However, its hard to believe that coaches are being as clear and concise about this matter as Petrino or Spurrier would have us all believe and, after all, the victim in this process isn't the coach or the football program, it's the athlete who gets cut after being promised a scholarship.

Do any of these coaches really expect us to believe that a prospect would still offer their comittment if they knew their name could end up on the cutting-room floor? It just doesn't seem likely, particularly when many of them have the option of signing elsewhere—and, the guys who are entertaining that conversation and saying they are still willing to take that chance, lets be honest, probably aren't the ones most likely to see their walking papers.

You think Spurrier would cut Jadeveon Clowney? Not likely. The coaches can pick and choose and the player is left at a huge disadvantage. 

It's a process that needs to be cut out completely by the NCAA, but something tells me it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Read the full article here.

Related articles

• SEC Coaches Defend 'Oversigning' (online.wsj.com)

Georgia Bulldogs: There Are Only Two Things Worth Knowing About Will Friend

Will Friend is the new offensive line coach at Georgia. He coached at UAB, under Neil Calloway, and played college ball at Alabama. Those are the things we know about Will Friend, the rest is a mystery.

That said, the first question many were asking after hearing about this hire was "why"?

Richt's future at Georgia is teetering on the brink to start the 2011 season—despite a stellar recruiting class—and this hire needed to be money. So, why on earth would he bring in a guy who is 1) unknown, and 2) relatively unproven?

Well, to be quite honest, who Will Friend is doesn't matter. No one knew much about Brian Van Gorder before he arrived at Georgia, from Western Illinois, in 2000 either, and he turned out just fine? If nothing else, trust that Richt understands the security of his job rests on the success of the 2011 season. Everyone on his staff knows that, so he's not going to bring in a guy unless he has faith that he will be a success—sooner rather than later.

That said, there are only two questions any fan needs the answer too, where Will Friend is concerned, A) can he coach, and B) can he recruit. The rest is just message board chatter. So, let's answer those two questions now, shall we?

1. Can he coach?

While no one is likely to mistake an SEC schedule for a Conference USA one, it is interesting to note a few major points when comparing the production of UAB's offensive line versus that of Georgia's last season.

Georgia made 64 rushing attempts on third down last year and those attempts totaled 91-yards of offense. What that means is Georgia averaged a mind-boggling 1.42 yards per carry on all third downs attempted last season—deplorable is the only word for that stat.

By contrast, UAB's rushing attack totaled 245 yards on 74 attempts (that's better than 3.3 yards per carry). Even more, the teams rushing averaged was even more impressive when better than 10 yards was needed to convert the first down (6.54 yards per carry in those situations).

So, again, say what you will about the quality of competition, and the offensive scheme UAB runs, good offensive line play is good offensiveline play and, in Georgia's case, it would be nice to see that kind of production from their stable of talent in 2011.

As far as pass protection is concerned, UAB allowed only 12 sacks last season, good enough for 14th in the nation. Georgia's rank—trotting out what was touted to be one of the best offensive line units in the country—was 66th.

Despite the above points, it would be short-sighted not to point out that the lack of consistent production from the offensive line could have had as much to do with conditioning as it did coaching, so it will be interesting to see how the addition of Friend—coupled with a more fine-tuned S&C program—will translate onto the football field next season.

That said, there should be no doubt that Friend is qualified to coach.

2. Can he recruit?

UAB isn't Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, or Mississippi. Quite frankly, they aren't even the true class of their own conference—that distinction goes to UCF, Houston, and Southern Miss—but Friend still managed to bring quality two and three-star prospects to their university.

That says a lot about the effectiveness of his sales pitch.

Friend has solid footing in both Mississippi and Alabama, as well as relationships with some of the more well-known junior colleges in the south.

He knows what he's doing and if he can sell UAB, he can sell Georgia. Recruiting is about building relationships, and Friend has honed his skills in that area well over the last several years.

Conclusion

The proof will be in the pudding as far as how far Friend's coaching abilities can lead the Bulldogs in 2011 but, for now, let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

What say you?

Ameer Abdullah Doesn't Have Nice Things To Say About Tennessee

Do you know who Ameer Abdullah is? He wasn't on the national radar during the recruiting season, but he did sign with a major Division I school—the Nebraska Cornhuskers—on signing day.

He received a nice slew of offers, including several from SEC schools, but it's his comments about his visit to Tennessee that will likely raise a few eyebrows—especially given the more positive, toned down, atmosphere perceived to be in place under coach Dooley.

Check out the question, and corresponding answer, given by Abdullah during an interview by Rivals.com writer, Mike Matya:

What was the worst moment during the recruiting process?

"Probably when I visited Tennessee. The guys down there… I really didn't want to surround myself with."

Ouch! What's up with that?

You have to admit that was a curious statement to make about a school with a first-class guy as it's head coach.

I'd be interested to know how Abdullah spent his time in Knoxville and with whom, exactly, he spent it.

Ironically, Abdullah's best moment in the recruiting process came courtesy of Tennessee's eastern division rival, Georgia. Abdullah witnessed former star receiver, A.J. Green, in action during his visit to Auburn:

What was your favorite moment during the recruiting process?

"Probably when I visited Auburn and they played Georgia. I saw A.J. Green in action and he caught 211 (yards) on them. That game and seeing him play was the highlight for me."

(sigh)...A.J. did have that effect on people, didn't he? But, I digress.

Honestly, Abdullah's pronouncement should come as a surprise to the Knoxville contingent as it was only a handful of months ago that he was singing a much different tune following an official visit in November.

Said Abdullah, at that time, "I didn’t know much about Tennessee. I learned they have a very huge fan base no matter how the season is going. I met with Tauren Poole, he’s a real cool guy and he was my host. I really like Tennessee."

Uh-huh, just another example of how the recruiting game can be a kick in the head.

Georgia Bulldogs: Will They Be As Good In 2011 As Auburn Was In 2010?

Let me be the first to say this: when E$PN personalities talk, I rarely listen. In my very humble opinion, E$PN is a spin factory and most of what they say is driven by an agenda—a network agenda—to bring in more ad dollars, more reader subscriptions, and more viewers.

Now, they aren't alone in that respect, many of today's networks operate in that way, but E$PN is the big daddy of them all, and that makes them a little easier to criticize.

That said, this response by Bruce Feldman, to the following question was intriguing. Here is the question and the answer in their entirety—well, in the most complete form one could get them in without paying for more:

From mattplanet: What impact do you think these latest big recruits will have in improving the Georgia Bulldogs' chances in the SEC East next year?

This "dream team" plan at UGA of bringing together many of the top local players seems to be working out great. Landing five-star DE Ray Drew is a big addition to a defense that needs help. Drew, by most accounts, has the tools to be an impact guy for the Dawgs in their 3-4. Jay Rome, the nation's top tight end, is a guy who can block and catch and should team well with speedy Orson Charles. Malcolm Mitchell, the nation's No. 7 WR, won't be A.J. Green, but his outstanding speed and ball skills will only make their passing game more dangerous. Now, if they can reel in Isaiah Crowell, the country's top back, that could take even more pressure off of quarterback Aaron Murray and pump some much-needed juice back into the Bulldogs run game.

While it's easy to see this 2011 class shaping up to be something special, it isn't the first time that Mark Richt will have had a good class. Prior to 2009, Georgia was often in the Top 10 or Top 15 for recruiting some of the best prospects in the nation—both in and out of the state.

That said, the question isn't what this "dream team" will do for Georgia, but what Georgia will do for this "dream team".

Crowell will be an important part of the puzzle, but Caleb King was every bit that part four-years ago was he not? One player can bring hope, but none offer a guarantee. Shoot, not even Vince Dooley could have told you how good Herschel was going to be when he got to Georgia.

It's a crap shoot and nothing is a given.

The point is this: the success of this recruiting class, on the field, has as much to do with the coaching as it does the players, and no one knows, as of right now, if the coaching will be exponentially better, the same, or worse.

Everything is a work in progress and this Georgia program is no different. There are still many questions that will need answering before long—strength and conditioning cannot be the only piece of the puzzle in need of replacing or tweaking.

Is Georgia capable of making the kind of turnaround in 2011 that Auburn did in 2010? Absolutely, but lets not put the cart before the horse just yet.

What say you?

Georgia Bulldogs: The New Football Facility Already Earning Its Weight (VIDEO)

If a recruiting prospect is seriously considering signing with Georgia for the next four-to-five years, the new Butts-Mehre Expansion project has to be a nice selling point.

It looks amazing (the steel steps with the trademark 'G' inserted into the face is a nice touch) and the great technological touches will be a major plus as the staff tries to make 2011 a banner year—already talking BCS trophies in Butts-Mehre (well, at least they're doing it tongue-in cheek)—for Mark Richt's football program.

Below is a video tour, put together by Dean Legge of DawgPost.com, and it gives you a little taste of what the future prospects on Georgia's target list will see when they visit the campus and what the current commits and roster players have to look forward to next season.

National Signing Day: It's Less About The Signature Than The Spotlight

College football recruiting used to be about the team. It used to be about each school's football program, and how well their coaching staff went about finding, and signing the best players the high school ranks had to offer.

The schools were in the spotlight, and the prospects were just a bunch of names on a big board—hanging in some coach's office—the importance of those names had little to no meaning to the everyday fan until said player showcased his talents on the football field.

College football didn't have the luxury of sending out key members of their staff to recruit a particular player. That was something schools with big money did—schools that many coaches considered as "cheaters" for doing so.

You see, during the 1950's, few schools had a recruiting budget and there was no place on the staff for a "recruiting coordinator" or talent scout. There was no Rivals, Maxpreps, or Scout around to offer up their evaluations. It was a fairly new concept back then to do so and very few schools had any idea where to start.

Sure there were guys who knew how to analyze talent—and they did it well—but, for the most part,  their talents were only valuable to those who were looking for an edge over their opponents and were willing to pay to get it.

Nowadays, the everyday college fan finds himself paying a premium to keep up with every little item on a prospect they, prior to that point, probably had never heard of and they will likely know as much as any analyst about how good that particular will be.

In 1956, the University of Florida was the only school in the State of Florida to utilize a full-time recruiter on it's staff.

Fast-forward to 2010, and not only is recruiting a full-time endeavor on just about every Division I football staff, but it's something that is thought to be the very definition of success and/or futility for any given program.

So, the best thing a coach can hope to do is land the best of the best. There isn't a coach worth his millions that doesn't want to be the envy of every other Division I program in America come signing day when he trots out his Top 10 class and it is for this very reason that an 18-year old kid can hold a team, it's fanbase, and it's coaches in the balance.

If he chooses to go to school 'X', then the media, publicity, and leftover spotlight given to schools 'Y' and 'Z' could be enough to bring other big-time recruits their way—particularly if the school is not on the same level, exposure wise, as school 'X'.

The same holds true of the prospect himself. The greater his flamboyance, the larger his legend, the more scrutinized he will become once he hits the field.

Just look at the fate of former University of Miami linebacker, Willie Williams. His path to destruction started with something very innocent—a blog. He was given the unfortunate opportunity to share with the college football world exactly the kinds of perks a blue-chip recruit is awarded.

He relayed experiences of expensive lobster dinners and campus co-eds. The items seemed funny at the time. However, after he signed on the dotted line, he was found to be less a comedian than a comedy of errors.

He bounced around to five different schools before landing in the NAIA—a far cry from the powerhouse of the then, Larry Coker-led, Miami Hurricanes. Needless to say, he never lived up to what his premature coronation promised.

The only thing he ever accomplished in Division I football happened as a result of his recruiting tales. The NCAA enacted new laws to keep such pandering from ever happening again—at least where the public could see it.

Another such example is Ryan Perriloux. The Bayou Boy Wonder with the all-world talent and game-changing athletic ability. The day he de-committed from the Texas Longhorns, it seemed the UT faithful saw their dreams of a national championship float away.

However, all Perriloux ended up doing at LSU was squandering his opportunities. He was eventually kicked off the team and left many wondering what might have been if he had just been able to handle the expectations of the next level. 

Talent evaluation isn't always an exact science. Some kids might be athletically gifted, but mentally incapable of handling the pressure of being touted as a blue-chip talent. That is why for every success story you can find, there is another story with less of an positive outcome.

Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten that these are teenage boys, not men. The elevation of the high school game via televised game broadcasts, prep magazines, and national rankings has made it possible to start scrutinizing kids at 14 and 15-years of age.

Can you imagine being barely out of middle-school and someone is already asking for your allegiances? Your autograph?

Better still, you are 18-years old and involved in the social networking scene afforded us all by the presence of such sites as Facebook and Twitter, and your friend numbers go from a couple hundred to a couple thousand within a week of your name hitting a college team's message board.

It's an unusual position to put an adolescent in when he's barely able to understand the rules, much less the risks. 

Most of us will never know the glitz and glamour that a blue-chip recruit feels when all eyes are on him. We won't be able to understand what it feels like to stand in front of a crowd of a thousand or more people—knowing that they are hanging on our every word—and make a decision that will impact us for the rest of our career.

Think about that, just for a moment, how many times have you seen a kid immortalized for choosing the home team but crucified for spurning the others? How does it feel to know a whole state now hates you because you did what was best for you?

Granted, the prospects milk the spotlight too. Many of them take full advantage of this, likely, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They play the hat game, send the mixed messages, and play it coy with the media. Many of them love the attention and make the most of it. 

That said, when does it become too much? Where does the hype train stop? Who should be held accountable for the Willie Williams' and Ryan Perriloux's of the world? Someone has to be, right?

Where does the buck actually stop? When is enough truly enough?

Related articles

• Largest National High School Football Combine Camp Announces Expansion and 2011 Combine Schedule (prweb.com)

Recruiting: Jay Rome and Malcolm Mitchell Verbally Commit To UGA

Photo Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

When Xzavier Dickson pledged his allegiance to Alabama at the Under-Armour All-American game a mere two weeks ago, a feeling of dejection came over many a Bulldog fan as their dream of an in-state all-star team seemed to look more like a nightmare.

What a difference a few weeks and a couple of decisions can make.

While nothing is ever "official" until the ink is on the paper, the verbal commitments of both Jay Rome (TE) and Malcolm Mitchell (DB/WR) certainly helped rekindle the dream of a great class and, for once, made the Georgia faithful feel like a turnaround could indeed be in store for 2011.

What each player offers is likely obvious by now.

Jay Rome is rated the No. 1 tight end in the country and, playing alongside other great talents like Orson Charles and Aron White,  he adds yet another big weapon for the Bulldogs on offense.

He has good size, great speed, and excellent play making ability.

As for Malcolm Mitchell, no doubt he was a surprise for Georgia fans as Alabama was thought to be his school of choice for quite a while. Fortunately for Georgia, Mitchell's desire to remain in-state swayed him towards the red and black at the last minute.

At 6'1", 190, Mitchell has the size to play both receiver and defensive back at the next level. And, it has already been hinted that he just might.

Georgia could definitely use his services on both sides of the ball—particularly with Boykin likely gone after 2011 and Branden Smith suffering through his share of injuries. 

Both prospects should play well for Georgia provided they are given the proper coaching.

All in all, it's been a good day to be a Georgia Bulldog.

Jay Rome video:




Malcolm Mitchell video:

The Georgia Bulldogs Receive 11th Commitment: QB Nick Marshall

Georgia netted another early commitment on Tuesday night when Wilcox County quarterback, Nick Marshall, stated his intention to sign with the Bulldogs in 2011.

The Georgia native has been on the Bulldogs radar for quite some time—his initial offer came in December 2009—and he has been told that he will be allowed to play basketball for coach Fox as well.

He will play defensive back (DB), not quarterback (QB), for Georgia.

According to Dean Legge of DawgPost.com, coach Richt contacted Marshall's high school coach a couple weeks ago and re-offered the prep star as a DB. After giving the offer some thought, Marshall decided to accept the change and give his commitment to Georgia.

It was well-known that the commitment of Christian LeMay—considered to be one of the nation's top quarterback's for 2011—lessened the urgency for Georgia to sign another QB in this class. So, it wasthe popular opinion of many—fans and experts—that Marshall could decide to sign elsewhere.

However, after giving it some thought, he likely understood the advantages of playing defense instead of offense—particularly given his desire to continue playing basketball. After all, the demands placed on a Division I quarterback are many, and it would have been difficult to be as effective at one without, somewhat, eschewing the other.

SEC QB's don't really have an offseason—they are expected to be as involved during the year as they are after it is over.

If Marshall was harboring any hoop dreams, then it would not have behooved him to have them while playing quarterback.

He won't be coming into the position blindly—he played both corner and safety in high school—and his 6'2", 185 lbs frame, coupled with his above-average speed, will make him an intriguing prospect at the position for Scott Lakatos next spring.

Either way, the Georgia Bulldogs "Dream Team" continues to make all the right move.