Granted, I can see why we were picked first in the SECE, based on returning players (especially on defense although it might be until game 5 before all our returning players are playing together-more on suspensions later), and also our schedule. We also have a very solid QB and some quality players at both RB and WR. The OL of course is the big question as is the kicking game/special teams. I read yesterday that Coach Richt is still not sure about the status of Kolton Houston?? He sat out all of last year but had worked his way in spring to be 1st string on the OL. My question is, if there is any doubt about the kid regaining his playing status, why even let him go through spring practice? Seems that is waste to me and thus I have to believe he will be eligible to play come September. Coach Richt also said that incoming freshman RB Todd Gurley is up to 215 or 220. I have read also that Keith Marshall is up to nearly 210. Richt said Marshall is probably the fastest kid on the team. Yes, Crowell was certainly a talented kid as we could all see last year but I am not so sure it will not be addition by subtraction in this case. Remember, Marshall went through spring practice with us so he will NOT be coming in like Crowell did, and like Gurley this year-trying to learn everything over the summer and fall camp. Course you also have Ken Malcome that is a capable back and Richard Samuel will split time at TB and FB most likely. Richard Samuel is a beast, he is up to about 240 and still runs a 4.4 time, put it this way, I am not really concerned about our RB position. I continue to be most concerned about how the OL shakes out.
As for the suspensions, Richt said he knows what they will be but will not announce until he has to let it be known. What we do know for sure is that CB Sanders Commings is out for the first two games. That loss alone led the coaches to move our best WR Malcolm Mitchell to corner in the spring. Since then of course you have had the arrest of Branden Smith, also Rambo and Ogletree snacked on some pot filled brownies on a spring break trip. There have been rumors swirling about the suspensions-how many games, if the UGA drug policy has changed to match the rest of the SEC, the players appealed and won, you name it and I have read it on various UGA blogs/websites. Here is what I feel the most secure in saying, Rambo it is known tested positive after a spring break trip, in which per his HS coach he ate brownies with a pot thrown in the mix. Because he was suspended last year for what was believed to be a drug related issue, the policy would be for him to be out 4 games. Now, I have heard that the deal last year was he was in a car with someone and pot was found. If that is the case, this SHOULD be a first offense for him and the fact he is appealing the drug test finding based on he had no idea the pot was in the brownies, there seems to be some wiggle room from the 4 games most everyone has speculated. Branden Smith was stopped in Alabama on his way to the beach, pot was found in the car. If you just read what I said about Rambo last year, he got ONE game for that. I expect Smith to sit out the first game and play against Missouri. As for Ogletree, you might remember that the first summer he was on campus, he took someones motorcycle helmet and made it his own-the only problem, this was a personalized helmet. I have heard the charges were later dismissed but I can't confirm that. In any event, that was NOT drug related and thus based on previous drug related suspensions (Crowell last year for example), he should get no more than 1 game so I predict Alec is back for Missouri.
To sum up, the Haney prediction for suspensions would go like this-
Commings-2 games
Smith-1 game
Ogletree-1 game
Rambo-2 games
Considering that Missouri has a mobile QB, they run a spread type offense with 4-5 WR's on the field at a given time, I do believe having Smith and 'Tree back for that game is a big deal. We still have Shawn Williams to play one safety, we moved Mitchell over and from all reports he might be a better corner than he is a WR-and we all know all good he was last year at WR, Damian Swann is a good corner and of course getting Smith back also is big. Another factor we all have to remember here is that our front 7 is REALLY good. I heard Jarvis Jones on the radio yesterday saying Cornelius Washington is now 6-5 and about 270 and runs a legit 4.4 to 4.5, ok, that is SICK. We have two HUGE nose tackles, we have a SR stud at DE in Abry Jones, we have Washington at DE, also a kid that played really well last year in Garrison Smith, Ray Drew is also going to be a stud. At LB, if Tree is back, we have him, Jarvis, Gilliard, Herrera, Vasser, Ramik Wilson looks to be a player, of course Christian Robinson as well. Bottom line, our front 7 SHOULD be so outstanding it makes the job of the secondary much easier. That being said, I am a bit concerned about the fact we have in the past couple years had trouble handling QB's that can move and escape the pocked. This kid for Missouri, Franklin, he is elusive and then can throw. He reminds me a lot of the QB for Tampa Bay, Josh Freeman.
Dawg Night was last Friday, and we did pick up two commitments, and then got another one this week from a kid from my alma mater. First, last Friday night we picked up safety prospect Quincy Mauger from Kell HS, also MLB Tim Kimbrough from up in Indiana. Kimbrough is a great pickup in the fact that Reuben Foster DID switch his commitment from Alabama as most predicted he would, but instead of picking UGA, he picked AU. Long story short, family played a big part in Foster flipping to AU. Foster is ranked the #1 MLB prospect in the nation, Kimbrough is ranked #3 so yes we lost a great one in Foster but we gained a really good one as well. On Monday of this week, Brookwood LB Shaun McGee picked UGA over Bama, he also had offers from UF, Michigan State, UK and others. The kid plays on the DL for Brookwood at 6'3 and 233. He will be a good LB prospect for us though.
The recruiting class sits at 22 right now, with 14 or 15 of those kids being defensive players. From most indications, we will sign as many as 34 kids in this class but defense is certainly a need considering all the SR's we have on defense this year, and underclassmen that could leave school early for the NFL. There are still a lot of elite players that are strongly considering us and if we can get some of them, this class could be one of the best in the history of UGA. We need to stock up, I know I am tired of being so far under number of kids we can have on scholarship, about time we fill our slots and quit essentially being like a program/team that is on probation.
All for now, thanks for reading my opinions and comments. Remember, if anyone ever wants to ask me any questions or have me research something, you should be able to easily post a comment on this blog. I would welcome any feedback. Fall practice starts August 1st, just around the corner. Have a great weekend and as always, Go Dogs!
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