We have pretty much all heard about the possibility of Logan Gray transferring to another program. I figured I might as well join the rest of the Dawgnation, and put in my two cents.
The selfish Dawgfan side of me says that Logan should definitely stay put here at UGA. I think that Logan should stay put and make the request to move to receiver. The part us fans don't know yet is whether or not that is what Logan is trying to do. Surely the coaching staff would not give him the option to stay only as a quarterback? Right?
Sure, Richt and company are going to be put into a major pickle if Logan says he doesn't want to be the back-up, but I for one don't want to lose such a dedicated athlete because we refuse to let him move positions. This is a tough one!
The logical side of me says "go Logan go". If I was Logan Gray, I would probably be on the next bus to Ga Southern. The only problem with that, is he would be competing against Jaybo Shaw (transferred from Tech) for that qb spot. I personally think he is a much better athlete than Shaw (even though Shaw was one hell of a high school QB).
Either way Logan, I support you because you have done everything that has been asked of you as a Bulldawg! Logan, you are a Damn Good Dawg even if you do decide to pick up and move on!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Special Teams Key To Championships
I love to read statistical analysis of all things football. While many statistics may not have a real bearing on win/losses, most of them do tell a story of why a team is successful or not. Turnover margins are virtually always directly related to the success of a team. The same can be said about yards allowed per game. I could go on and on.
Our dear friend David Hale is one of my favorite statistical reporters. He is one of the few reporters that gives us numbers that link to meaningful football happenings. This rambling leads me to my point for today, special teams. I am not going to spend hours compiling statistics and being a nerd (Sorry Hale). I am just going to simply state my opinion, and base that opinion on facts and things I have researched in the past.
First off, most knowledgeable college football fans know that Frank Beamer put Virginia Tech on the map playing "Beamer Ball". Beamer Ball was based around the fact that VT had some of the most domiating special teams play of any college in the nation over the past 10-15 years. VT realized that there was a lot of benefit to putting offensive and defensive startets on special teams so that the best athletes were covering and returning kicks, as well as, blocking punts and field goals. The number of kicks that VT blocked during the late 90's and 2000's is pretty unbelievable.
It's not as true today as it was 5 years ago, but too many teams were leaving special teams units to be fielded by back-ups and walk ones. Beamer helped make that a thing of the past by proving what a benefit you could get by putting the best man on the field during special teams. You might be shocked to see how high the percentage of plays in a college football game are special teams plays (kickoffs, extra points, punts, field goals, etc.). These plays can be game-breakers.
Too many times, a teams level of success is based on how they did during the special teams portion of a game. Getting a kick blocked can be devastating; missing an extra point can change the complexion of a game; how many games are lost by less than 3 points by a team that missed a field goal?
I know I just went on a bit of a rant, but this morning as I was deciding what I should talk about today, I realized that this Dawg team has the opportunity to be REALLY special on special teams. To quote a fan that had season tickets directly behind me for several years; "Let's Go Special Teams"!
GATA
Our dear friend David Hale is one of my favorite statistical reporters. He is one of the few reporters that gives us numbers that link to meaningful football happenings. This rambling leads me to my point for today, special teams. I am not going to spend hours compiling statistics and being a nerd (Sorry Hale). I am just going to simply state my opinion, and base that opinion on facts and things I have researched in the past.
First off, most knowledgeable college football fans know that Frank Beamer put Virginia Tech on the map playing "Beamer Ball". Beamer Ball was based around the fact that VT had some of the most domiating special teams play of any college in the nation over the past 10-15 years. VT realized that there was a lot of benefit to putting offensive and defensive startets on special teams so that the best athletes were covering and returning kicks, as well as, blocking punts and field goals. The number of kicks that VT blocked during the late 90's and 2000's is pretty unbelievable.
It's not as true today as it was 5 years ago, but too many teams were leaving special teams units to be fielded by back-ups and walk ones. Beamer helped make that a thing of the past by proving what a benefit you could get by putting the best man on the field during special teams. You might be shocked to see how high the percentage of plays in a college football game are special teams plays (kickoffs, extra points, punts, field goals, etc.). These plays can be game-breakers.
Too many times, a teams level of success is based on how they did during the special teams portion of a game. Getting a kick blocked can be devastating; missing an extra point can change the complexion of a game; how many games are lost by less than 3 points by a team that missed a field goal?
I know I just went on a bit of a rant, but this morning as I was deciding what I should talk about today, I realized that this Dawg team has the opportunity to be REALLY special on special teams. To quote a fan that had season tickets directly behind me for several years; "Let's Go Special Teams"!
GATA
Friday, April 23, 2010
Coach Richt Is Standing His Ground
I am probably one of the more vocal bloggers out there when it comes to agreeing or disagreeing with the coaching staff at UGA. I am probably one of the more vocal fans when it comes to shouting "I love Coach Richt".
After my post this week calling for details on the Mettenberger dismissal, I caught a HUGE amount of flack from readers of this blog. I am in no way whining because if I make bold comments, I deserve whatever I have coming to me. Some fans, like Ben Dukes, S. Fla, etc. even cause me to re-think some of my positions on things. Like releasing details on Mett; I realize there is most likely some legal issues with releasing details, so point taken. I still think we should have been given a little more.
All this aside, I want to say that I am very encouraged to see Coach Richt standing his ground on the issue of violating team rules. Richt just dismissed the 3rd player in two weeks from the program. He is making a stand. This program is going to clean up, or you are gone!
Keep on doing your thing Coach Richt.
After my post this week calling for details on the Mettenberger dismissal, I caught a HUGE amount of flack from readers of this blog. I am in no way whining because if I make bold comments, I deserve whatever I have coming to me. Some fans, like Ben Dukes, S. Fla, etc. even cause me to re-think some of my positions on things. Like releasing details on Mett; I realize there is most likely some legal issues with releasing details, so point taken. I still think we should have been given a little more.
All this aside, I want to say that I am very encouraged to see Coach Richt standing his ground on the issue of violating team rules. Richt just dismissed the 3rd player in two weeks from the program. He is making a stand. This program is going to clean up, or you are gone!
Keep on doing your thing Coach Richt.
Moreno and Tebow, Together At Last
So, now that he will not be donning the disgusting orange and blue any longer, I can admit that I like Tim Tebow, right? I was glad to see a team like Denver take a chance and draft Tebow. After all, he is probably one of the best college football players of my lifetime.
Now in Denver, you have arguably the best running back of the decade from the SEC along with the best quarterback of the decade from the SEC. Most likely Tebow won't get much playing time in his first season, but you never know.
I for one, would have to give a guy like Tebow a chance. The guy knows how to win a football game, and bring a team together like nobody else I know of.
Now, let's get some Dawgs on the draft board baby!
Now in Denver, you have arguably the best running back of the decade from the SEC along with the best quarterback of the decade from the SEC. Most likely Tebow won't get much playing time in his first season, but you never know.
I for one, would have to give a guy like Tebow a chance. The guy knows how to win a football game, and bring a team together like nobody else I know of.
Now, let's get some Dawgs on the draft board baby!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Decade Of The Dawg
I have used this term Decade of the Dawg quite a few times in the past month here at UGABlog. I'm not sure if anyone own's the rights to it or not, but I haven't heard of it before I started posting it.
Yesterday, a very insightful reader (Ben Dukes) suggested I elaborate on the concept just a bit more. I'll start off by linking you to a few posts I have made that were tagged with my Decade of the Dawg catch phrase:
-Team Feeling
-Thirteen Reasons
-Bulldogs Post 2009 Season
-Top 10 Team
-Todd Grantham
After reading through those posts, you may be bored to death, so I will try to sum up this post with just my top reasons of today that this is The Decade of The Dawg!
1) The foundation has been set by a great coach, and he has made the necessary changes to begin this decade.
2) UGAs recruiting is solid, was solid, and seems to be getting even more solid.
3) We have a fan base that supports our coach even when we may not exactly agree with him (yikes, at least 100 of you thought I hated Richt yesterday, but I LOVE HIM).
4) We are over due for a few National Championships, so the players and coaches are hungrier than I have seen them in years!
Yesterday, a very insightful reader (Ben Dukes) suggested I elaborate on the concept just a bit more. I'll start off by linking you to a few posts I have made that were tagged with my Decade of the Dawg catch phrase:
-Team Feeling
-Thirteen Reasons
-Bulldogs Post 2009 Season
-Top 10 Team
-Todd Grantham
After reading through those posts, you may be bored to death, so I will try to sum up this post with just my top reasons of today that this is The Decade of The Dawg!
1) The foundation has been set by a great coach, and he has made the necessary changes to begin this decade.
2) UGAs recruiting is solid, was solid, and seems to be getting even more solid.
3) We have a fan base that supports our coach even when we may not exactly agree with him (yikes, at least 100 of you thought I hated Richt yesterday, but I LOVE HIM).
4) We are over due for a few National Championships, so the players and coaches are hungrier than I have seen them in years!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
If You Thought My Mett Story Was Controversial...
...then you are in the majority of people that read these blogs.
Let me start by saying that I usually deserve any criticism that is given to me, so keep it coming. This blog is nothing more than my opinion, and my Dad always told me "opinions are kind of like a-holes; we all have them, and most of them really stink"!
I've enjoyed my first 3 months writing this blog. Not only does it give me the chance to voice my opinion, but I get to hear what a whole bunch of people think as well. Plus, I get to spend a few hours each day reading any and everything there is to do with the University of Georgia.
let's get things straight: I LOVE UGA FOOTBALL & MARK RICHT. I wouldn't trade the coach for 10 Bear Bryant's (here come the Bama fans). I know he hasn't won us a national championship yet, but it's coming boys (that's for you, Kevin)!
"The old lessons (work, self-discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, fighting to achieve) aren't being taught by many people other than football coaches these days. The football coach has a captive audience and can teach these lessons because the communication lines between himself and his players are more wide open than between kids and parents. We better teach these lessons or else the country's future population will be made up of a majority of crooks, drug addicts, or people on relief."
Bear Bryant
Let me start by saying that I usually deserve any criticism that is given to me, so keep it coming. This blog is nothing more than my opinion, and my Dad always told me "opinions are kind of like a-holes; we all have them, and most of them really stink"!
I've enjoyed my first 3 months writing this blog. Not only does it give me the chance to voice my opinion, but I get to hear what a whole bunch of people think as well. Plus, I get to spend a few hours each day reading any and everything there is to do with the University of Georgia.
let's get things straight: I LOVE UGA FOOTBALL & MARK RICHT. I wouldn't trade the coach for 10 Bear Bryant's (here come the Bama fans). I know he hasn't won us a national championship yet, but it's coming boys (that's for you, Kevin)!
"The old lessons (work, self-discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, fighting to achieve) aren't being taught by many people other than football coaches these days. The football coach has a captive audience and can teach these lessons because the communication lines between himself and his players are more wide open than between kids and parents. We better teach these lessons or else the country's future population will be made up of a majority of crooks, drug addicts, or people on relief."
Bear Bryant
Why The Details Should Come Out On Mett
I'm going to try and make this as to the point as possible so that I can start talking about some football again! Don't forget people, I LOVE UGA FOOTBALL, MARK RICHT, and almost everything else that surrounds this great program.
Yesterday, I posted a blog with a simple call for some details on what warranted Zach Mettenbergerr's dismissal from the UGA football team (Things Still Are Not Adding Up). Little did I know, it would piss off a lot of people, and many of them labeled me as someone who thought I was "entitled". Hell, I HATE ENTITLEMENT!
What I want is a few answers. Am I going to push for laws forcing those answers? Hell no! Am I still going to voice my opinion? Until I'm dead probably!
The main motivation for the post was when I got a call from one of my closest friends. His immediate reaction to the dismissal was that he couldn't believe Mettenberger had been kicked off the team for the spring break incident when other players had been given chances for things seemingly worse than underage drinking and lying to the police. My response to him was that he needed to calm down because surely there would be more details to come. Surely Mark Richt, being a level-headed man, knew something that we were not privy to. I know Mark Richt would only dismiss a player if he truly deserved it. The comment from my friend was "if it would have been one of UGAs thugs, Richt would have given them at least two more chances". I told "friend" that he was being ridiculous, and just wait until Monday for the "real story".
By Monday, we still knew nothing more. That prompted me to write Tuesday's blog. And DAMN, that blog got more negative comments than I have received in the 3 months I have been writing this blog.
Let me close with a few points:
1) In no way am I entitled to know what happened; but Mark Richt should tell the public in my opinion.
2) Without knowing what really happened, it does seem extremely unfair to Zach Mettenberger when you look at the actions of other players that were simply suspended.
3) The truth will eventually come out, so why doesn't it come from the head of the program as soon as possible.
4) If the case is still open, wait for the dismissal.
5) I am extremely glad that so many of you feel free to give me your opposite opinions. Especially when they are valid, ala Ben Dukes (I have deep respect for the opinion of a former Dawg).
6) Let's hurry up and get the Decade of the Dawg going so we can see some football!
Yesterday, I posted a blog with a simple call for some details on what warranted Zach Mettenbergerr's dismissal from the UGA football team (Things Still Are Not Adding Up). Little did I know, it would piss off a lot of people, and many of them labeled me as someone who thought I was "entitled". Hell, I HATE ENTITLEMENT!
What I want is a few answers. Am I going to push for laws forcing those answers? Hell no! Am I still going to voice my opinion? Until I'm dead probably!
The main motivation for the post was when I got a call from one of my closest friends. His immediate reaction to the dismissal was that he couldn't believe Mettenberger had been kicked off the team for the spring break incident when other players had been given chances for things seemingly worse than underage drinking and lying to the police. My response to him was that he needed to calm down because surely there would be more details to come. Surely Mark Richt, being a level-headed man, knew something that we were not privy to. I know Mark Richt would only dismiss a player if he truly deserved it. The comment from my friend was "if it would have been one of UGAs thugs, Richt would have given them at least two more chances". I told "friend" that he was being ridiculous, and just wait until Monday for the "real story".
By Monday, we still knew nothing more. That prompted me to write Tuesday's blog. And DAMN, that blog got more negative comments than I have received in the 3 months I have been writing this blog.
Let me close with a few points:
1) In no way am I entitled to know what happened; but Mark Richt should tell the public in my opinion.
2) Without knowing what really happened, it does seem extremely unfair to Zach Mettenberger when you look at the actions of other players that were simply suspended.
3) The truth will eventually come out, so why doesn't it come from the head of the program as soon as possible.
4) If the case is still open, wait for the dismissal.
5) I am extremely glad that so many of you feel free to give me your opposite opinions. Especially when they are valid, ala Ben Dukes (I have deep respect for the opinion of a former Dawg).
6) Let's hurry up and get the Decade of the Dawg going so we can see some football!
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