So, today is the day we run our Boise scout team against our number one offense and defense. Of course the big deal in that is that it signifies we are basically in game week prep for the 2011 season. Our scout team will be running the Boise offense and defense to get our guys a look at what to expect on September 3rd. The bad part is, our scout team is not nearly as good as the real Boise we will face that day. Another interesting thing to look for is just who is playing on the scout team. Typically, if a player is on the scout team and he is a true FR, that means at least initially the plan for him is to redshirt. Obviously, this brings about a lot of conversation leading into the scrimmage as to who might or might not be on the scout team. Coach Richt has said today's scrimmage will be as live as you can get-meaning not scripted, just play as it happens and thus making decisions in real time and not planned out in advance. This is good for both the players AND the coaches.
There are some notable injuries as we get closer to the season, although none appear to be serious injuries for now. John Jenkins, Richard Samuel, Malcolm Mitchell, Marlon Brown, Bruce Figgins, and Carlton Thomas all have lingering issues. Of course Thomas is out week one. Isaiah Crowell will be back at 100% for today, and Mitchell actually did a good bit yesterday it appears so he hopefully will be ready to go today. I still believe Crowell will start against Boise State, I have said all along, unless something drastic happens-injury or the kid just doesn't seem ready, he will start. Richt pretty much called it on signing day and thus I have stuck with my prediction this entire time.
Ok, so my blog is all about my opinion, based on what I read and know-it is my blog afterall. But, when it comes to an area that I think most readers are always interested in, RECRUITING, I have a couple sources I use to provide me with some information. I will give them their due always, because these guys know their stuff and honestly, I am email friends with both these guys but I have NO IDEA where or how they get their information-I will just say, both guys have a great track record of being accurate with their thoughts on recruiting. So, let me give those guys, Lowndes and mikkuga, all the credit for any future success I might have on this blog for accurate recruiting information. I am NEVER going to be a guy that has the breaking stories, all I will say is that per my sources, I feel good about so and so. That being said, here is my first recruiting blog info of the season.
John Atkins, DL from Thomson Ga, will make his decison on September 2nd. He is down to UGA, GT, AU, Florida, Clemson. Most believe it is down to UGA/AU. My sources feel very strongly Atkins will anounce for UGA next Friday. So, a little bit about Atkins-dude is BIG, 6'3", 294, athletic enough to play goalie for his high school soccer team. He has played OL, TE, and DL in high school. He is projected to play NT or possibly DE for UGA.
Jordan Watkins, DL from Woodward Academy is now down to UGA/Stanford (just recently eliminated UF). It is believed UGA is the team to beat IF Coach Richt is around next year. This kid is really interested in getting into the J-school (journalism) and UGA has a top notch program in his field of study-hey, I know because I am a proud graduate-just don't tell my prof's of my grammer and spelling errors!! Hey, I used to write for the Red and Black years ago. I would write a nice article and by the time editor was finished it was maybe two paragraphs!!! Ok, so Stanford is obviously a great academic school but still, got to like our chances here just not sure when Jordan will make his decision.
I think the current theme on the recruiting front is our opponents are obviously using the "hot seat" to make recruits a little uncomfortable when thinking about UGA. This is why 2011 is a HUGE year for our program. If folks are sick and tired of Coach Richt and staff, fine, just jump off the bandwagon now. If you want to support the program, TRULY support it and trust the folks in power to make the right decisions in regard to our program-ie, firing/hiring coaches. If Mark Richt wins 8 games this year in the regular season, he should come back. Anything below that, I would say, let's take a very deep look into the program. I LOVE Coach Richt, the man he is and I think he is a good football coach as well. I also know that UGA has too much going for it to continue down this slope of losing 5-6 games a year. So, as I continue to say, 2011 is a very critical year for our program and I think most agree. I am ready to get the hot seat CRAP away for good. If a change needs to be made, it will be made. If Coach Richt wins 8-9-10 games, finally teams can stop using that against us (well, they can still use it but it will not be true) and maybe our fans can reunite and be all in, to borrow from our SEC rivals. I think if we have a good year this year, our 2012 class is going to be VERY VERY special. Our 2013 class could be even better than 2011 or 2012.
Today will answer a lot of our redshirt questions, and hopefully give us more of an indication of who will be starting etc. We just have to continue to hope that our team survives without any injuries, the guys hurt now can heal up, then we go out next Saturday in our red power ranger costumes (they honestly are not that bad but just borrowing what others have said about the uniforms), and let the college football world know we are back.
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