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.

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Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Richard Samuel?

"I need to show that I have what it takes to come back and play. To show that I can contribute and help the team win. That the coaches can trust me and I’m not, what you say, a bust or whatever." (Richard Samuel, AJC, 4/17/2011)

Do you remember when Richard Samuel was a factor in the Georgia Bulldog's offense? Can you recall the last significant play he made for the team? Most would point to the 2009 run against Arkansas (the one where he ran 80-yards to the endzone) as the last time he was relevant—no doubt you recall the play I'm referencing but, in case you've forgotten, you can see it again here—because he's been AWOL since.

Samuel made the move from offense to defense in the spring of 2010 and, at the time, everyone felt that was the best place for him to continue his development. However, he has yet to grow into the defensive player most felt he would and his appearance in Saturday's G-Day game, while nice to see, didn't exactly inspire confidence that he's ready to compete for a starting job this season (while he did recover a fumble, his play was, otherwise, only mildly impressive)—he still has some work to do.

A great many of his problems have stemmed from a) his inability to digest the playbook and b) the reps he lost after going down with a knee injury last season. He simply hasn't had time to showcase his skill set or put what he does know into practice—and it probably hasn't helped much that Alec Ogletree was tabbed to be Georgia's newest talent at inside linebacker.

Still, Samuel is keeping the faith and feels confident that the best is yet to come. As for the coaching staff, well, that seems to be another matter altogether, "Robinson and Alec Ogletree leave the spring with the inside track on the inside linebacker starting spots. Of Samuel’s prospects, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was vague, saying he has shown some promising flashes [emphasis added] and that "he will have a role as we move forward." (AJC, 4/17/2011).

Hmmm, sounds like Samuel will be on the bench quite a bit this year—aside from some spot reserve duty—but I could be wrong.

Hopefully Samuel can finally fight his way through the playbook and onto the football field. Georgia could always use another play maker on defense and it's obvious that Samuel would love to be that guy again, "I still have more inside of me, I still have more to show."

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Georgia Bulldogs: Don't Put All Your Eggs in Boise State's Basket

Photo Credit: David Tulis

"Every time we go out there, that’s what we think about — getting better to beat Boise State on Sept. 3rd."—(Georgia defensive back, Jakar Hamilton, AJC, 4/13/2011)

Speaking candidly, as a Georgia fan, I both love and hate that statement by Hamilton. I love knowing the team is doing all it can to avoid losing a big game, on a national stage, in the first game of the season. However, at the same time, I hate that the Boise State game has become the only reason some guys are so motivated to play because, while it would definitely be a great thing to see them win, it means nothing in the grander scheme of it all.

Point blank, I've seen Georgia play Boise State before and, while I respect everything Chris Petersen has done over the past five-years, I cannot say that I feel Georgia is the inferior team going into this match-up. Despite what these teams look like on paper, Georgia is capable of beating Boise State—if they play their brand of football.

That said, I am more concerned about the September 10th game against South Carolina than the one September 3rd against Boise—no disrespect intended to the Broncos—because all I want to see Georgia do in 2011 is get back to the SEC Championship game and Boise State has absolutely nothing to do with that happening.

Of course, the natural response to that last statement will be that the Boise game will set the tone for the rest of the year. Well, I only have one response to that: Virginia Tech.

The Hokies lost to Boise State to start last season, got embarrassed in week two by a Division I-AA opponent, but went on an 11-0 tear afterward and ended up winning the 2010 ACC Championship Game. So, you'll have to forgive me if I don't necessarily bite on the whole tone-setting approach.

Georgia could lose to Boise State and still be just fine.

Sure, it would be nice to have a repeat of 2005—defeat Boise in a big way and secure bragging rights over a team that many feel is one of the best in the country—but, if that happens, I can assure you that there will be a lot of unimpressed fans who were already feeling that Georgia was the better team anyhow—regardless of their mediocre 2010 record.

That said, quite a few people will be looking past Boise—win or lose—and pointing to South Carolina as the true barometer of what Georgia will be in year two with a more experienced Aaron Murray under center, bolstered by a second season of a Todd Grantham executed defense, with a new offensive line coach to lead the way, minus a few "cancers", led by a new approach to the strength and conditioning, and minus the talents of either an A.J. Green or a Justin Houston.

The level of exposure the game against Boise State offers may have injected some needed life into the program but, in my very humble—yet honest—opinion, Boise is the least of Georgia's concerns. The true questions will be answered in Knoxville (where Derek Dooley is spearheading a great turnabout for the Vols), in Jacksonville (where the changing of the guard has taken place and Georgia is desperate for a win), and in Athens (where the defending national champs (Auburn) and SEC East Champs (South Carolina) will come to play in 2011).

Sure a win against Boise State would be a great start, but I'd trade that for an SEC Championship and wins over Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, and South Carolina—just being honest.

So, hopefully, the coaches at Georgia are selling more than just Boise as motivation for the guys who will be representing the red and black because, as I said, Boise is the least of their concerns.

Georgia Bulldogs Recruiting: 2012 DE Prospect Leonard Floyd

Leonard Floyd is 6'5", 220, and he's been on Georgia's radar for quite some time. He has an offer from coach Richt—secured after his participation in 2010's Dawg Night—as well as several other SEC powerhouses.

Floyd, considered by many to be one of the best pass-rushers in the state, is as gifted an athlete as they come, and he could be solid at the next level. As a "rover" (Floyd has played linebacker, defensive end, safety, wingback, and tight end) at Hawkinsville High School, Floyd has amassed quite the resume. However, it's most likely he'll settle into either a linebacking or tight end position in the college ranks.

While Georgia defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham, has already locked Floyd in as an outside linebacker, coach Richt has also mentioned the possibility of Floyd contributing on offense—if he were to choose Georgia as his destination.

Said Floyd, last October, "I like playing defense, but I like playing tight end/wide receiver about the same. No one had talked to me about playing on offense before, but Mark Richt said he had heard about my numbers catching the ball and said I would have a chance to play there as well. That made me feel good because that was the first time anyone had said I could play offense at the next level as well..." (Kipp Adams, UGASports.com, 10/17/10).

Floyd has long arms and quick feet, but will need to add more muscle to his frame if he expects to be effective in the Division I ranks.

His main strength is rushing the passer, but he's mostly played defensive end in high school, so he would need some practice if he were to play in Grantham's 3-4 as an outside linebacker—he would need more work standing up as opposed to playing with one hand on the ground.

Floyd is a strong Georgia lean at this time.

Georgia Bulldogs Recruiting: 2012 ATH Prospect Josh Harvey-Clemons

Josh Harvey-Clemons is a 6'5", 205 lb, ATH (athlete) prospect out of Valdosta, GA. He has split time between both the wide receiver and outside linebacker positions at Lowndes County High School.

His speed, size, and ability to get to the ball make him an intriguing option for either offense or defense, but Georgia is looking to make him a defensive weapon, specifically at linebacker—where the Bulldogs are hoping to add more depth in 2012.

Harvey-Clemons is a dynamic edge rusher who uses his speed, size, and great instincts to get into the backfield and disrupt quarterback play. He plays with focus and discipline on the football field and has the ability to lay down those bone-jarring hits when given the opportunity. He's a force to be reckoned with on either side of the ball and should be very good at the next level—with the right coaching.

Currently, depending on what you read, Georgia is in the lead race for Harvey-Clemons as he has, apparently, developed a close relationship with Todd Grantham. That said, it's a long way to February, and Harvey-Clemons could just as likely end up at FSU—a school that has built up a very strong relationship with the Lowndes County coaches over the years (landing such players as Greg Reid and Telvin Smith)—or Florida (the first school to offer him)

Both the Seminoles and the Gators want to make Harvey-Clemons a wide receiver at the college level.

Either way, Harvey- Clemons is an exciting player to keep on your radar as the march towards Signing Day 2012' continues.

Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Branden Smith?

Branden Smith hasn't made much noise at Georgia since his freshman year when he burst onto the scene in with one very big play against the South Carolina Gamecocks. A play that happened so long ago that you've likely forgotten how spectacular it was—see it again below:



That one still leaves me shaking my head in awe—his speed is amazing—but what happened to Mr. Smith? Where has he gone and when the hell will he be back? All indications point to a 2011 return—whether it comes more on offense than defense is yet to be seen—as Smith was observed fielding kicks and punts over the weekend.

Is that where Georgia hopes to see him do the most damage this season, particularly given Smith's injury history? After all, it's well-known that Smith suffered through multiple concussions in 2011, and if he continues to play defense, collisions with opponents who outweigh him by better than 40-50 pounds is likely. Of course there are those who would point out that defensive back Brandon Boykin doesn't dwarf Smith by very much, size wise, yet he's been able to achieve success.

While the latter is true, it's premature to place Smith and Boykin in the same category where skill or development is concerned. Smith is not yet the caliber of player—at least not defensively—that Brandon Boykin is, and Boykin makes up for in ball skills and mental play what he lacks in overall size.

Overall, however, the biggest challenge Smith will have—if he does intend to succeed on defense—is grasping Todd Grantham's defense.

Recall that when Smith signed with Georgia in 2009, Martinez was still running the defense, and the soft-zone scheme Georgia's defense operated under was meant for guys like Smith and Boykin who could use their speed to catch up to a play if they missed a read (although, to be honest, we all remember how well that worked out).

With Grantham at the helm, defensive backs have to take a more proactive role in how they play their position. They have to both read and react—not just react—and not every player has proven that they can do this with ease.

If Smith is going to get back on the field fast, I suspect it will be in a special teams capacity—for the most part—with some gadget plays thrown in for good measure. I don't know that he has a future on defense at the corner spot, at least not now, but his speed and talent are simply too valuable a commodity to not find a home on the football field in 2011. 

Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Richard Samuel?

Photo Credit: Curtis Compton/AJC

A lot of names have been floated about where the position of linebacker is concerned. Georgia Bulldog fans have heard how newcomers Amarlo Herrera and Kent Turene—both 2011 signees—could be difference makers in the future,  how Alec Ogletree's switch from safety to inside linebacker could produce more big plays close to the ball, how Jarvis Jones is on track to be a monster, and how Christian Robinson is the new leader of the pack.

Much has been said about what coach Todd Grantham has in store for his revamped linebacking corps, but little has been mentioned about where Richard Samuel still fits in that picture—you remember him don't you?

Here's a quick recap of this former five-star (according to Rivals) athlete prospect out of Cass High School in Cartersville, GA: He inked with Georgia in 2008—as a 17-year old—and played backup to future NFL first-rounder, Knowshon Moreno, in his first season. By the start of 2009, he had leapfrogged Caleb King to be named the No. 1 tailback—many hailed him as a tough, hard-nosed, ball player with an uncanny ability to find holes and gain yards.

However, once the season began, the opposite proved to be true as it became apparent that Samuels' upright running style was hindering his ability to play consistently well at the position. So, by the end of 2009, he was out of the running back rotation and, by spring, he was being groomed for a switch to linebacker.

2010 saw a redshirt season, but there were rumblings that his performance on the scout team was becoming a thing of legend and it appeared that the switch agreed with him—and big things were  expected as 2011 neared.

So, what happened to all that hype? Is Samuel still in the mix to start at inside linebacker or has his slew of nagging injuries slowed his ability to develop?

You have to wonder if the coaching staff is still counting on him to be a key factor, especially when there hasn't been much heard or said about him over the last few months, and so much new talent appears to be making their way into the conversation.

As the spring game approaches, it will be interesting to see how Grantham rotates the linebackers—that may give us the first real bit of insight as to how Samuel will be used—until then, it's a guessing game.

Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Jakar Hamilton?

Photo Credit:AP/JOHN AMIS

Jakar Hamilton...remember Jakar Hamilton? He was the stud JUCO defensive back who was supposed to make the Georgia Bulldogs' secondary come alive in 2010.

However, instead, Hamilton is best remembered for two things—one of which isn't very good—a 17-yard interception return for a touchdown in his season-opening debut, and an ill-advised decision to lend a license-less Washaun Ealey his Chevrolet Impala.

When Hamilton first arrived on the scene, he had Georgia fans salivating at the prospect of his, possibly, being the 'next' Greg Blue or Thomas Davis—legendary safeties from the Mark Richt era—who were known for laying thunder and lightning on opposing players.

Hamilton was going to be the difference and the defense, particularly under the new 3-4 of Todd Grantham, was going to be a much better unit in 2010. 

So, what happened to all that promise Hamilton displayed in the early-going? How did he go from potential stud to disappointing dud in the span of just a few games? Was it the sudden change in the level of competition? Did the playbook overwhelm him? Is he playing the wrong position?

All of the above are possibilities.

Hamilton's looked confused more times than not, and it was clear that he was not used to being "blown up" by the bigger, more physical, receivers of the SEC as a JUCO standout. There was a definite learning curve for him coming from Georgia Military College, but he's been slower to catch on to than some of his counterparts—Alec Ogletree in particular—and that meant seeing him fall victim to a steady regression in 2010. 

Perhaps a change in position is best for Hamilton (there have been discussions that he could be more comfortable at cornerback). The defensive responsibility that comes with the safety position, particularly in Georgia's 3-4 scheme, may simply be too much for Hamilton to overcome.

At the same time, you hate to see him waste away on the bench when he, at least physically, appears to have so much potential. 

Hopefully, as Hamilton enters his senior season, he is able to find his mojo again and make a genuine contribution. He may no longer be the 'Hitman' that he imagined himself to be, but he's definitely capable of being a good football player if he can just find his groove in this defense.

Georgia Bulldogs: Who Is Kirk Olivadotti?

Late yesterday evening, the news broke that coach Grantham was set to name his newest assistant—Kirk Olivadotti will be that guy. Olivadotti is a well-respected assistant in the NFL ranks, but isn't quite as well known to the avid college football fan. 

Even still, as news of his impending hire hit Twitter, several respected sports figures chimed in on exactly what Georgia would have in Olivadotti. Phillip Daniels—a former Georgia Bulldog—was one of those voices, said Daniels via his Twitter account, 

For those who may not have already checked Olivadotti's bio, here's the short and sweet of it: he's been a defensive assistant for the Washington Redskins for 11-years. He was promoted to linebackers coach in 2007 and has served in that capacity for the past three seasons. When Mike Shanahan was introduced as the head coach in 2010, Olivadotti was briefly considered as a candidate to take over as the Skins' defensive coordinator before being maintained as an assistant on the staff. He's had experience in the college ranks as both a tight ends and wide receivers coach, but has spent the majority of his career at the NFL level.

I was a bit more curious so I dug a little deeper to see what else could be found out about the new guy. It wasn't long before I ran across this one-on-one interview Olivadotti did with Matt Terl of the Official Redskins Blog that gave a bit more insight into Olivadotti's coaching philosophy.

Here are a few of the highlights:

On coaching linebackers:

"...everybody needs to know where they fit, coaches and players included. And, in a defense I think it helps that I know where everybody fits, and as a group we need to know where we fit as linebackers, and that's kind of what we talk about: where do we fit in this defense, where do we fit in this group, where do we fit in the form of leadership. All those kinds of things and you have to have a pulse of what that is, and it's an ever-evolving process."

On evaluating players:

"Really, to be honest with you, you look at what you got, and who your best eleven are, and you make your defense fit your best eleven, to be perfectly honest. And I know that's not the sexy answer that everyone wants, but that's what we need to do as coaches is, 'Okay, here is our best eleven, and that's who we are going to get on the field. This is what they're good at, these are their limitations,' and you go from there. What each guy can do differs from week to week. You just try to put guys in the best positions to be able to be productive."

His coaching philosophy:

"...you start from square one. You know, you can only eat the elephant one bite at a time; some guys are at a different level than other guys are. But every year you have to start like you are starting brand new, and you start with the fundamentals of how to do things, and the basics to be able to at least put a Redskins jersey where a Redskins jersey is supposed to be.

"Start there, and then teach them how to go from point A to point B, physically, and then start getting into C, D, E, and F, as opposed to trying to get all that stuff done. Alignment, assignment, you hear coaches say that stuff all the time, but to get aligned, you've got to know what to look at, and then you've got to know how to move. We try not to overcomplicate it, because if you are moving fast, you are moving better."

You have to love the feel of this hire, Olivadotti appears to be a solid addition to the staff and, given the improvement the Redskins have seen at the linebacker position over the last few years, it has to be exciting to think what he might be able to do with the young talent currently on Georgia's roster.

His players have had nothing but great things to say about his coaching/teaching ability and it's clear that he was a coach on the rise in the NFL. In fact, current Alabama coach, Nick Saban, tried to hire him away from the Skins' twice when he was the head coach for the Miami Dolphins—he was denied the opportunity of even speaking to him.

As for players, they love him. London Fletcher, had this to say about the man they called 'KO' in Washington,

In linebacker meetings, Olivadotti gives each player a review sheet of the unit's performance from the previous day's practice. How well, or poorly, the unit fared is explained in detail, and that's a new one for Fletcher. 

"This is my 10th year in the league, and in terms of where a coach does that, I haven't really seen that," he said. "He actually gives you something where you have it in your possession; you can look at it and visualize it. With other coaches, you only watch it on film. It makes a difference to have it in your hand." (Washington Post, 2007)

If Olivadotti turns out to be the find that he appears to be on paper, Georgia should see much better production from it's linebackers in 2011.

What say you?

 

Georgia Bulldogs: John Jenkins Signs With Georgia, Fills Key Need (VIDEO)

The Georgia Bulldogs finally have the main piece to the 3-4 puzzle in nose guard John Jenkins, the 6'4" 353-pound JUCO prospect from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College chose Georgia over Florida because, in the end he "...felt they [Georgia] really needed me. Everybody else said they needed me, too, but at Georgia it just felt right. It felt like home."

And need him they did.

Todd Grantham has long looked for a player to fill-in the spot known only as the "nose"—a player who could both eat up space and create rushing lanes off the edge for the defensive ends to run through. If Jenkins is anything like advertised, he fits that bill and then some. 

Here's some video of Big John—the 26th and final commitment for 2011:

Jenkins is No. 95 in the video, but is expected to wear No. 6 (yes, that's not a typo) for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2011. 

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Georgia Bulldogs: Warren Belin's Departure Is Inconvenient, But Not Shocking

You certainly can't blame Warren Belin for making the decision to accept a job at the NFL level. There aren't many position coaches, with his kind of talent, who aren't looking to challenge themselves there—at some point.

While some might feel Belin's decision was shocking, he did give a small hint towards his ultimate goal a few months back when he was interviewed by Fletcher Page of DawgPost Magazine.

The article Page wrote, titled "Intense, Indeed", was meant to be a feature on defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, but the quote that caught my attention—especially after hearing the Belin announcement—was the following, "...From a system standpoint, I'm learning an NFL system and the way coach Grantham goes about the game plan, installing the game plan, calling the game on game day. That experience I'm gaining from being a part of this defensive staff is going to carry me a long time as a coach".

So, the fact that he decided to take an NFL job, in his home state of North Carolina, with his old friend, Sean McDermott, is not so much a shocking surprise as it is an unfortunate inconvenience. Belin's impact at Georgia was immediate, particularly in the area of special teams where the team improved from a dismal 85th and 117th in the nation, respectively, in punt and kick return coverage to 17th and 15th in 2010.

Belin's philosophy was simple, use the best players available and ditch the directional kicks. Hopefully, Georgia can continue that approach in 2011 as it worked more often than not. 

As for the linebackers, Belin's influence cannot be downplayed, but the 3-4 scheme was new to him and coach Grantham played as much a role in the overall development of the inside linebackers as Belin. Belin was a student of the 4-3,  a defense he spent 8-years coaching at Vanderbilt and, coincidentally, will return to as an assistant for Carolina.

So, what's next for Mark Richt and Greg McGarity? Well, they will be searching for two new assistants over the next two weeks, but you can be certain that Grantham will want a guy with some experience in his scheme—less of a learning curve to be worried about in that aspect—and it wouldn't surprise to see that guy come from the next level (just a personal opinion as no candidates have surfaced of yet).

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Georgia Bulldogs: Is There A Player Who Can Fill Justin Houston's Shoes?

Photo Credit: KELLY LAMBERT

Justin Houston finally made the decision most felt he would—he's going to the NFL.

Houston supplied the spark many thought he would—playing in Todd Grantham's 3-4 defense—and he took advantage of the freedoms that scheme offered him by wreaking havoc in the SEC's backfields. His quickness, tenacity, and game-changing ability will be missed—sorely. Who will, or can, step into those roles and take on the mantles of being both a leader and a playmaker in this defense?

Christian Robinson and Cornelius Washington are the two most experienced players returning in 2011, but are either one of them prepared to shoulder that much responsibility?

Washington showed promise early, and was impressive through the first few games, but again failed to blossom into the player most still feel he can.

He, like Houston, made the switch from defensive end to linebacker in 2010. And, while Houston took to his new position almost instantly, Washington had problems. He struggled with assigments—particularly in pass coverage—and tailed off as the season progressed. 

Now, with a year under his belt, can he finally put it all together?

As for Robinson, no one can doubt his great attitude and above-average work-ethic. However, it's tough to say whether or not he's got the goods to become the kind of player opposing teams scheme for or make adjustments around.

He's a good player, but he's not going to blow your doors off on a weekly basis.

The wildcard here is, obviously, Jarvis Jones. Was he able to maximize his one year as a spectator enough that he will be able to step into the role of starter? It seems to be asking a lot of him—considering he hasn't played one SEC down—and there has yet to be any indication that Georgia will fare any better at the nose position.  A point that should not be forgotten.

Houston made plays despite deficiencies at that position, is there any reason to believe—at least right now—that there is a guy on this roster who would be able to do the same in 2011?

So, for right now, Georgia is left with one giant hole in their front-seven, and a whole lot more questions on how, and if, it can be filled.

What say you? Is there a guy on this roster, today, who can become anything close to what Justin Houston was over the last two years?

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Georgia Bulldogs: Richt's 'Dream Team' Takes A Direct Hit

When four-star DE, Xzavier Dickson, spurned the Georgia Bulldogs in favor of the Crimson Tide, panic attacks broke out across the state as Bulldog fans began picturing a 2011 class minus all of it's dream prospects.

Recruiting pundits, beat writers, and casual observers—read non-supporters—began readying fans and followers alike for the probability that this one decision, by this one kid, was the one domino needed to start the downward spiral of the football program, led by Mark Richt, at UGA.

The message was today it's Xzavier Dickson and Quan Bray, tomorrow it will be Ray Drew and Isaiah Crowell. Either way, Georgia's goose was already cooked for 2011, and beyond, as the likes of Tennessee, South Carolina, Auburn, Alabama, and Florida would begin snatching the state's best away from the home team—setting football in Athens back for the next decade.

Well, forgive me for saying so, but why should this one kid's decision be any more important than that of Jay Rome, Isaiah Crowell, or Damian Swann? Dickson would have been a great get and it would have been lovely to see him filling out the depth chart at Georgia, but the fact that he won't be suiting up for Todd Grantham shouldn't mean the football program is done.

In fact, according to the Rivals100, Georgia already has the best defensive end in the state—Sterling Bailey. Last check, Dickson didn't even make that list—just saying.

Furthermore, the very notion that Quan Bray, the other supposed prospect that kicked Georgia to the curb last night, was ever solid to the Bulldogs is erroneous. Bray was, largely, felt to be an Auburn lean.

Georgia made a play for him and they lost. It's that simple.

He didn't spurn the Bulldogs, he went with his initial choice—which was ALWAYS going to be Auburn.

Should Georgia be locking down the state? Yes, but it's foolish to expect they will sign every four- and five-star player that comes through the door. Big time prospects have the option of going wherever they like. They know it and many of them will take the opportunity to spread their wings—at other schools.

Georgia cannot get them all.

That said, they still have to nail a high percentage of the best this state has to offer and, so far, they've locked down seven four-star guys for this class. That's as many as LSU and Auburn, and more than South Carolina, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

If they can close out strong by snagging Damian Swann, Isaiah Crowell, Jay Rome, and—maybe—Ray Drew, this is still going to be one of the best classes in the SEC.

Georgia still has plenty of fish in the sea, they just need to close strong.

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Georgia Football: Are Expectations For 2011 Already Too High?

Once Urban Meyer stepped down at Florida, coach Richt became target 'numero uno' for where the SEC East will trend in 2011. Bloggers and sports journalists alike let it be known that Richt now has zero excuses for not winning the SEC East next season.

Well, let this site be one of the first to say that Urban Meyer's resignation means nothing beyond having a new coach to hate in Gainesville—hello, Will.

Aside from that, Georgia has as much chance of winning the East as South Carolina or Tennessee. All three teams have the ability to beat each other and all of them are likely to be as good, if not better, than they were in 2010—particularly Tennessee. So, it seems premature to start anointing Georgia based on a hunch when there are still a plethora of questions to be answered.

Let's jump into a few:

1. Will the 3-4 be better?

Todd Grantham needs a nose—bad.

Kwame Geathers is the man whom many feel has the size and talent to step into that role in 2011. However, can he sustain the focus and the conditioning necessary to be successful over the course of a season?

If not, does Georgia have enough faith in Mike Thornton (a player who has loads of talent, but is too small for the position) to entrust him with the most important role in the defensive scheme?

As of now, Grantham is hoping to sign one true nose in the 2011 class—possibly out of the JUCO ranks—but that is not etched in stone. 

Even more, if the Bulldogs can find the right man for the job, who will take over the space that Justin Houston leaves if he opts for the NFL? 19.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks is a hard thing to replace—who can step into that role? Will T.J. Stripling be ready?

2. Who will step up at running back?

Neither Caleb King, nor Washaun Ealey performed consistently enough to feel confident about them in 2011.

Ealey rebounded a bit after the Kentucky game, but his early season struggles with ball protection, coupled with his behavioral issues off the field, haven't given much reason for the Dawg faithful to feel good about him going forward. Add to that, Caleb King has yet to realize his potential either.

The once, highly-touted, in-state prospect has been, for the most part, a disappointment. He's shown flashes of greatness, but nothing sustained.

Georgia will need a back who can be productive and consistent next season—particularly with A.J. Green likely gone—if Aaron Murray is to continue his rise.

3. Will another wide receiver step up?

Marlon Brown, Israel Troupe, Rantavious Wooten, and Tavarres King have all shown their capabilities at one time. However, none have fulfilled their promise.

Murray will be looking for new targets next season, and he will look to one of the above-mentioned four to bring their A-game to the field—will they FINALLY do so? If they don't, there won't be much dimension to the passing game and you can't expect Orson Charles to do it all.

This is definitely a scary area of concern entering 2011—Georgia is going to be painfully thin—as there is no clear-cut playmaker amongst those who are likely to remain.  

4. Will the changes in strength and conditioning be a key factor?

Georgia lost a lot of games on line play this season. Neither the offensive or defensive lines were tough enough, strong enough, or conditioned enough to be a factor during the fourth quarter. New strength coach, Joe Tereshinski, has assured the Bulldog faithful that this will not be the case in the future—hope to heck he's right.

The new staff should be in place by spring and it will be interesting to see the direction this program goes in post Van Halanger.

5. How will recruiting pan out?

If Mark Richt closes with the class he's gunning for (Jay Rome, Ray Drew, Damian Swann, Isaiah Crowell, Xzavier Dickson, etc.), then Georgia has a real good shot at making noise next season. But, if they get only half of those guys—and one of them isn't named 'Isaiah Crowell'—forget it.

The 2011 class will have just as much of an impact on next season goes as anything else. The Dawgs have to close strong and they have to get the blue chips on their list if they expect to do well in 2011—period.

Conclusion:

Don't for one second get comfortable believing that Georgia is about to run all over the East next year. There are simply too many factors that need to come together before that has a chance of happening.

Georgia Football: Five Players Who Need To Start Realizing Their Potential

Mark Richt is hoping for big things next season. Todd Grantham's defense won't be in it's infancy anymore—although there is still some doubt that he will have the nose he needs to make the 3-4 defense work—and Aaron Murray will have a year of SEC experience under his belt.

That said, there will also be some big holes to fill—on offense and defense. The biggest holes will arise with the exits of A.J. Green (who is all but certain to bolt for the NFL) and Kris Durham (who came into his own at the wide receiver spot this past season but is graduating).

Both players will be tough to replace and, as of now, there isn't much reason to assume that whoever does step in will be an adequate fill-in.

Even more, the likely loss of Justin Houston, coupled with the departure of Akeem Dent, leaves a lot to be desired on the defensive front.

Dent ranked 2nd in the SEC in tackles (121)—20th in the nation—while Houston became the terror off the edge that many predicted he would—ending the regular season with 57 tackles (19.5 for loss), 11 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.

Keeping all this in mind, it seems that Georgia will need to find a few more role players to fill-in the gaps in 2011 if they expect to better their 6-6 regular season record, or stand any chance of winning the eastern division—a feat which seems a bit premature considering the numerous questions still left to answer.

So, what players need to finally start becoming the studs that Georgia expected them to be when they decided to make Athens their home? Read on, and feel free to drop a few names of your own in the comment section:

1. Marlon Brown, WR

He's got the height, the build, and the talent to be a talented receiver, but he's fallen short in two straight seasons. In year one, Georgia wasted an opportunity to redshirt him—a head-scratcher to this day—and his forgettable play amounted to two receptions for 15-yards.

This season, he caught 11 passes, for 125 yards, and a touchdown—better but still not impressive given the hoopla he garnered coming out of high school. With both Green and Durham gone in 2011, it's time that Marlon Brown start playing up to his potential.

He's had two years to get comfortable with the speed and defensive play of SEC opposition and now it's time for him to start earning his keep.

2. Rantavious Wooten, WR

He came on strong near mid-season of 2009, and finished sixth on the team in receiving yards. His inspired play made many predict 2010 as a potential breakout year. However, his inconsistent spring play, coupled with an inability to hang onto the football, made him a lesser factor as time wore on.

He finished the regular season with seven catches for 41-yards and a touchdown.

Wooten can be a deep ball threat when he's got everything going, but he doesn't seem to be as focused  as he was in year one. He needs to fix what ails him in the mental department and step into his role as a solid contributor on this football team.

3. Caleb King, RB

King has mostly fallen flat during his career. He's never come close to eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark, and his numerous injuries have kept him on the sidelines more than we've seen him on the field.
If nothing is clear about the Georgia offense, this one thing is, they need a good rushing attack to make things happen in the passing game. If King can't be that guy, then hopefully Georgia finds the player who can be—the success of Mark Richt rests heavily on that factor.

4. Kwame Geathers, Nose

Geathers is a beast, but his commitment level has been a question mark since he entered the program in 2009—overweight and poorly conditioned. He's made great strides in the 18-months since that time, but he's still not proved to be the guy that coach Grantham is comfortable with at the all-important nose position.

Georgia experienced a lot of inconsistency at the nose this past season, and it's a position that has to be shored up if the defense expects to get any penetration off the edge. Geathers will be one of the key options the team looks to in that regard—he needs to be ready to make it happen.

5. Nick Williams, SS/LB

It's uncertain whether the learning curve for Nick Williams has been so slow because the coaches are confused about the best spot for him to play, or if it's due to Williams' inability to play consistently at either position.

Williams' desire to play safety has been well-documented, but it's obvious that coach Grantham sees a need to continue placing him at linebacker. Whatever the case may be, Williams is too talented to be relegated to the bench. Georgia needs to find away to get him more involved next season.

That said, Williams needs to find a way to play more controlled football when he does have his chance. His tendency to lose his temper and make careless mistakes after the play is just as much a reason for his absence on the field this past year.

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: Jeez, You'd Think Todd Grantham Choked Urban Meyer

Okay, we've officially heard enough about the whole Todd Grantham "choke" signal to Florida Gator kicker, Chas Henry. So, this post won't lengthen the controversy any further by rehashing the whole furor and analyzing it to death.

That said, you have to ask yourself the question: why is everyone so mad? Seriously, why the hate and lashing of Georgia's defensive coordinator for being in the moment and expressing what everyone else was secretly thinking: "miss it, dammit, miss it". It seems like a whole lot of nothing and if some Florida network had not decided to share it with the world, would we know? Would we care?

No doubt there are many coaches who are as animated as Grantham and, no doubt there are many of them who have, in the heat of the moment, said or made a gesture towards the other side that no one cared for but, unless you were there, you likely didn't know about it.

The funny thing about all of this is everytime Georgia plays Florida now, people are looking for some way to stick Georgia with some kind of negative. If it's not dancing in the end zone, then it's allegations of a dirty player (Washaun Ealey) provoking eye-gouges from defensive players.

No one seemed all that upset when Urban Meyer took multiple timeouts at the end of the blowout game in 2007 or, as "The Senator" points out, did the Gator chomp toward Georgia Bulldog fans as he ran off the field this past Saturday.

Get over yourselves!

Was what Todd Grantham did wrong? Yes, he should be more careful how he expresses some of his emotions. However, to act like he actually did choke somebody on the field is comical—he was caught up in the moment and made a mistake—period.

Honestly, you can't please the haters. Either they are jumping on Mark Richt for not having enough emotion or not enough—go figure.

Related articles

• Todd Grantham, Chas Henry, and the Controversy at the End of the Georgia-Florida Game (dawgsports.com)
• Georgia assistant seems to give Gators choke sign (washingtonpost.com)
• Richt says Grantham not proud of gesture (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

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: 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.