I read all the message boards, I listen to the talk shows, I think I have a pulse on what many are saying about the UGA football team-and you know what, I get it. This team has won the games they should win, lost the games maybe most thought they would. They have not been overly impressive as a team in any of the wins-yes, the D has played well in several of the wins but we have not had a game yet this year where the team as a whole played a great game, we have to hope that is yet to come. Yet, with all the struggles, all the crucial turnovers and mistakes, with young kids becoming our major playmakers on offense, with two untested middle linebackers being thrown into the mix, along with youngsters at an OLB for the past two games, without any depth on the OL, with an all american kicker-he has proven he is that level for 3 years so I feel justified in calling him that now-missing more kicks in one half season than I think he did ALL of last year or all of the season before, the Georgia Bulldogs sit at 5-2 and 4-1 in SEC play. We all know that we gift wrapped a game to South Carolina which could ultimately lead to not playing for the SEC title. With all the fire Richt talk after game one especially, despite all the fire Bobo or Bozo or whatever other choice name Dog faithful choose to call Mike Bobo, this team is 5-2. Could be because of the light schedule for sure, but last year our schedule was not any tougher and we were 4-4 and 3-3 in SEC play entering the UF game. I guess my point of all this would be, sure, this team can and probably SHOULD be playing better but let's just be thankful they are 5-2 and in contention for the east title. Now that Marcus Lattimore is done for the year at South Carolina, Stephen Garcia is done for the year, the Gamecocks are far from a lock to win another conference game this year. That includes the game at Knoxville in next weekend, a trip to Arkansas the week after that, and then hosting the Florida Gators the week after that. It is quite possible SCarolina could lose all three of those games. UT has the misfortune of playing LSU/Bama back to back, same thing happened to UF of course. But, after playing those two schools, you think facing SCarolina is going to intimidate the Vols?? Don't think so, now, they could be so beat up that they fall apart but it will not be because they are scared. Arkansas has two road games up next, at Ole Miss followed by a trip to Vandy, before returning home to play SCarolina. UF, they play us next week, host Vandy the next week before making the trip to Columbia. I have said all year that I believe the east champ will have a 6-2 record. I still think that is very possible, but obviously now that eliminates UF and makes it between UGA and SC. IF UGA is to win the east, I think we might very well have to go 7-1, because you can't count on SCarolina losing two, even though I think they certainly could do so. I think it is reasonable to assume they lose one. Anyway, as Mark Richt has said and everyone can agree, the key for us is to just keep winning. If we go 7-1 in conference and don't get in, kudos to SCarolina for taking care business without one of the best players in college football.
Bottom line for me has always been get the W and move on. I think especially after the last two frustrating seasons, UGA fans should care less about how we win and just focus on the fact we won. Heck, the Vandy game was so very frustrating on so many levels, having to settle on FG's yet again, having the D not be able to stop the scrambling QB or the little scatback, having the penalties all night long, special teams blunders yet again, I mean the list could go on and on. But, rather than talk about all that went wrong, I try to think of all the positives. First, Marlon Brown having a career night, as did Michael Bennett. Let us not also forget Tavarres King, he was just steady all night, no drops. Murray was pretty sharp, setting highs for passing yards, attempts, 3 TD's pushed him into 4th on the all time passing TD list, behind three great UGA QB's, Greene, Zeier, Stafford. On D, we had several INT's, blocked a punt, Ray Drew has his best game of the year by far. Abry Jones played really well, tipping away several passes, the LB's played pretty well for the most part, secondary was outstanding. Drew Butler made a game saving tackle when his punt was blocked. Walsh missed two FG's but did make 4. This game was not as close, or should not have been as close as the final score indicated, but you have to give credit to Vandy for battling us and I still will maintain, what happens to us so many years against Vandy, you play a rival in UT the week before, even an improved Vandy still is Vandy-meaning the players take them for granted and after playing in front of 100K one week, you play in front of 40K the next, WOW. Listed attendance for the game this past Saturday, 36, 640.
Moving on to discuss the other big event at the game, actually as the game was over, the Todd Grantham-James Franklin war of words. This has obviously been a huge topic of discussion on the boards and especially on the radio. Here is my take for what it is worth. I think Grantham needs to really watch his behavior first of all. The choke sign last year to me was MUCH worse than what happened Saturday because that was directed at player for Florida. I really didn't like that. This time, I think he shouldn't have maybe responded how he did however, that being said, I have to assume that Franklin was being a jerk towards some of our players, or player, as it has been reported he said something about Shawn Williams-this was WRONG by Franklin. I don't blame Grantham and honestly admire him for standing up for his player and I actually think this helps his image amoung players on the roster and those he recruits-despite what the radio "experts" might say. Fact is, it was known fact that during the game, Vandy OL were cut blocking, maybe even chop blocking our DL, and thus Shawn Williams and others were ticked off and probably were mouthing off quite a bit-which Franklin didn't like. But, Grantham didn't like his defenders getting chopped, which is what happened to Geathers when he threw is publized punch, as is always the case, they alwasys seem to catch the guy that hits back. Vandy was playing dirty, it brought out the worst in our players and in Grantham. But, for the guy to take such criticism is too much for me. I simply don't believe Todd Grantham unprovoked was in Franklin's face yelling choice curse words to him-Franklin did SOMETHING to set him off and yet it seems Grantham is made out to be the bad guy. So be it, but I do admire him for sticking up for his players, I do think though he needs to avoid those type situations moving forward. When the clock hits zero, he needs to immediately turn and run to the locker room. Don't put yourself in that situation in the near or distant future.
Now we have a week off to rest up and get ready for the dreaded Gators. They have lost 3 straight, granted they have played the last 3 national champs, two of which on the road. At this point, we have no idea who will be taking snaps for the Gators in Jax, will Brantley be back, will it be Driskell, will it be Brissett, will it be the guy that KILLED us last year Burton. Basically it boils down to this, if Brantley plays it gives UF a more balance offense because none of the other QB's to this point have shown the abilty to be a consistent passing threat. Now, that being said, they do have an extra week to prepare for us, and as we all have found out over the years, the Gators seem make very good use of their off weeks to come out and do stuff they have not done all year, and thus we can't stop it. UF has a stingy and talented D, so it is going to be VERY important our D plays well, much better than against Vandy. This is a game UGA should win but I NEVER feel confident about us beating the Gators, and I am old enough to remember when I felt the total opposite-I always expected a win against them when I grew up. Heck, from the time I started following UGA football, in the mid 70's (let's just say I can remember watching/listening starting in 1976, until the year I graduated UGA in '91 which happened to be Spurrier's second year, UGA's record in the series was 11-5. Since I graduated, from 92 to present, record is 3-15. Here's to a start of a new winning streak against UF starting in 2011.
Last note, the Grayson 7 year old Rams won 18-0 against Lawrenceville on Saturday to finish the regular season at 5-3, making the playoffs as the #11 seed. We take on the Buford Wolves, the #6 seed who was 6-2 during the regular season this upcoming Saturday. I watched film for a couple hours last night, I really think we have a shot. Being a rec coach, it really is amazing to think about the guys that make a living doing this stuff. I watched 4 games of Buford last night, not HD quality and of course not high octane offense or defense being 7 year olds. But it is really amazing what you can see on film, and how teams do show tendencies in each and every game. You can identify what they are trying to do, how they go about doing it, and how you want to try to stop it. You then can implement your plan in practice, make sure your players know what to do and when do to it, work on assignments, work on your plays etc, but then you know what, it all comes down to your players executing your plan. IF they don't do what you tell them or if they don't pay close enough attention to the details, there is little you can do as coaches. Maybe I am having more sympathy for coaches now but honestly, you can watch film until the cows come home. You can work on your gameplans and you can implement it during practice but then the players have to do their jobs. It is then up to the coaches to make sure the player DO the job or put someone else in there that will do it. Anyway, just like I umpired baseball for about 2-3 years in my twenties, I now have greater appreciation and sympathy for umpires. Not to say I don't yell at them when they miss a call but until you have done that job, it is hard to understand how difficult it is. Coaching is the same way, it is fun/exciting and can become addictive (thus why coaches can't seem to walk away) but it is also a difficult job as well.
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