Some random thoughts and beliefs before the opener on what I expect this season (no doubt I’ll abandon plenty of them as things progress):
- Mason brings a different skill set to the table than the one his predecessor did. But I’m pretty confident that Bobo will be very good at scheming around his new QB’s strengths and weaknesses. So I think Mason will put up numbers that will at least be serviceable. What I don’t know yet is whether he can match Murray’s will to drive the team against top opponents in crunch time that we finally saw emerge in the 2012 SECCG.
- Last night demonstrated that there isn’t a complete team in the SEC East this season. What lessons does Georgia draw from that?
- As we saw last season, the offensive line doesn’t have to be dominant for the offense to be successful. But greater consistency would be huge. I don’t think Theus is going to be a step down at left tackle, because Gates never was suited to play that spot anyway. But the other tackle spot worries me. So does Burnette’s departure.
- I think Floyd, Jenkins and Carter are going to be pass rushing beasts. And no one will be happier about that than their mates in the secondary.
- Speaking of the secondary, I assume we’re about to find out that playing fundamentally sound football trumps talent. What I don’t know is by how much.
- Outside of Marshall Morgan, you could tell me anything about Georgia’s special teams and I’d probably believe you. It shouldn’t be hard for the return teams to improve, but that doesn’t mean they will. And I’m not sure Collin Barber has gotten over the effects of the concussion he suffered last season.
- The guys I have the most faith in are Gurley and Marshall (duh). The kid I have the most hope for is McKenzie.
- The change in scheme from Grantham to Pruitt that I think will have the biggest payoff for the defense is the redefining of the role of the Star defender and the associated removal of a linebacker in obvious passing situations.
- I’m really intrigued by how well Quayvon Hicks manages to handle his increased responsibilities this season. I also wonder if we’re about to see the most diminished role for the fullback that we’ve had under Richt.
- As much as I’d like to see a pass rusher emerge on the d-line, I’ll be happier if those guys can do their jobs as well against the run as they did for much of last year.
- I hope Mitchell and Scott-Wesley get back soon, but for some reason I feel strangely pessimistic that’s going to happen. And I’m keeping my fingers crossed as to Jay Rome’s health.
- There are a lot of ifs you can point to, but the if with the biggest upside for Georgia this season is if this team can swing back from being in the hole with turnover margin.
- I think there are at least a couple of losses on the schedule, because it’s hard for me to discount the flaws in too many areas early on. But I agree with Bill Connelly that Georgia has the highest ceiling of any team in the East. If the coaches manage the rehab job faster than I expect, look out.
Anything you guys want to add?
Get The Picture 
I just wish he was talking to Spurrier on the phone here.
(yeah, I’m still on last night)
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What a dooshbag
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Nice $1. Must have been $250 in that stack
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Must be at a dance club.
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Isn’t it lovely that today’s youth are interested in learning the art of dance.
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A very concise and accurate assessment. I’d aldo add that I’m cautiously optimistic about the recieving corp. Even without Mitchell and SW, you still have Bennett and Conley, Rump and Tibbs, and here’s hoping Keith Marshall dazzles as an out of the backfield option.
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Davis and Langley 🙂
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Last night scared me. It was a flash back to us last year. Please please please don’t let our secondary look as bad as SC’s and A&M’s. Hopefully SC won’t suddenly figure out how to play the 3-4 in two weeks. SOS after a loss is gold. Oh and I think stopping Clemson’s and SC’s running game is going to be the key to the games.
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Your last bullet point sums up where I am going into the “great unknown” of the 2014 season. I agree that IF everything we are unsure about falls our way this could be special but the likelihood that happens is pretty unrealistic. The good news is our chance to win the East improved after watching last night’s SC game, the bad is that doesn’t mean we are a championship team, in fact we look to be short in that area….but we just might get the chance to play for one in Atlanta and anything can happen at that point in a winner take all, one day shootout.
I agree that 2-3 losses seems be what we will get but after last season’s unfortunate spat of injuries and breaks, maybe the football gods owe us one. Getting past the first 1/3 of the season unbeaten while allowing our young pups to get their sea legs will determine our fate. We have a shot and that is about all you can ask for at this point.
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The football gods think they gave us everything we ever needed in 1980. We’ve been paying the piper ever since.
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I keep thinking this too. Football Gods – when will UGA get the magical season??!!
Makes me think of AU and all the breaks they’ve gotten….but then I quickly realize the Gods have nothing to do with those wins. Only Satan does.
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Lol
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I am in agreement with the case you stated above. We, like most fan bases, remember the last losses and how we need to change to overcome. For 2012, it was getting bigger upfront on DL. For 2013, getting trim and faster on DL to stop spread. My worry is that getting smaller upfront comes back to haunt us against a running team, maybe SC if Davis is healthy.
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My worry is that getting smaller upfront comes back to haunt us against a running team, maybe SC if Davis is healthy.
Pick your poison:
2012 Heavy weight D line against Alabama or Kentucky no subs
2014 Trimmed down,toned up and conditioned D line, plenty of depth.
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I think worrying about lack of size is a fake juice problem. In my mind, the only thing sheer size does is allow you to clog a lane and mess with the blocking scheme. I know we can’t win with 5′ 9″ / 185 pounders on the D line, but that ain’t what we have. Technique and teamwork is much, much, more important than size.
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Given the way Pruitt has arranged and sculpted the personnel in the front seven, as well as the fact that he really runs more of a 3-4 / 4-3 hybrid, I don’t see the smaller size hurting us against any power running game. Against a power offense, we will probably just run more of a 4-3 with Jenkins ghosting the weak side or with his hand on the ground (my understanding is that it’s dictated primarily by the player’s comfort level in either stance), with a greater emphasis on one-gap assignments along the line. This starting line is actually built for getting quick penetration and building an island to make plays on the run game, as opposed to controlling blockers at the LOS to free up the linebackers.
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Exactly. We’re going to attack the gaps, something Pollack did so well. Major difference from Grantham. And a welcome change.
~~~
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I’m a little more optimistic than most of the above…I don’t think Georgia is a world beater, but I don’t see three losses in the regular season, unless there is another spate of injuries.
I hope I’m right. So do you.
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I’m with you, ug. Look at the schedule. What 3 teams on that schedule are going to beat the Dawgs? USCe just got exposed last night–I don’t see us losing to the Cocks team I saw in that game. We might lose to Clemson but we’re at home and a 9 point favorite. Mizzou in Columbia, MO is the game that scares me. Auburn is a possible loss but the game is in Athens and it seems the only way we ever lose to the WarTigers is when our D self-destructs. Under Pruitt I really don’t think the D will. Vandy has fallen completely to earth (I now see why Franklin was so hot to get another job). UK is a joke. FU is not ready for prime time yet. Same for UT. Who’s going to beat us? The 2 cupcakes? This is the opportunity for a big season, IMHO.
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Looks like my cookies got there ahead of me, but with the natural high that’s going on now there’s not much reason to bring them.
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SC was a 9 point home favorite, too, and that obviously didn’t matter I could easily see that as a loss. SC starts off slow every year, and Spurrier knows how to play Richt. That’s a tough, tough road game that we almost certainly won’t be favored in. Mizzou on the road certainly isn’t a gimme. Florida could very well be improved, and their D will keep them in most games. Auburn certainly is a possible loss. If our secondary doesn’t coalesce quickly, we’re in deep shit.
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I honestly have no idea what to expect from the defense and special teams. I think the offense will be good, but not as good as it was before the Tennessee game last year. I want to say that the defense can’t be worse, but I don’t want to jinx it.
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I question if USCe is going through some thing like UGA had after BVG, the good DC leaves and slowly degrades.
I also hope Bobo doesn’t go hurry up on USCe. UGA’s OL and RBs should be able to control the game. Also, I would hope UGA’s front defensive 7 are better than A&M’s, if so UGA could be in good shape, especially if they aren’t gassed from trading quick TDs.
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No offense, but did you watch last night’s game? TAMU went ludicrous-speed all night and hung 50. Slowing down is basically saying “I saw what worked against what was supposed to be a good defense, but we need to do the opposite.” We need to go as fast as we can possibly go against their green defense and not give them time to get set up and organized.
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+1,000. And Mason LOVES to go fast. Pedal to the metal is the way to go.
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….so are you saying if it’s clutch time at the end of the game and we need to go fast so as not to let them “get set up and organized” we best not slow down or spike the ball.jk Mayor 😉
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I’m as excited as the next guy about Pruitt but I don’t expect miracles this year. Rome wasn’t built in a day and the dumpster fire that was our defense last year had been smoldering since 2005. I am expecting us to be modestly improved from last year. What I hope to see, is an increased aggressiveness in the pass rush that creates turnovers and covers some of our secondary’s inexperience and other flaws. I am expecting Hutson to be in essence a fairly solid senior quarterback but not an all-star. If he can be good enough to be a threat and keep defenses honest where they can’t sell out to stop the run we should be decent on offense but not as good as last year. With the special teams, with the exception of Marshall Morgan, there really is nowhere to go but up.
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◾Last night demonstrated that there isn’t a complete team in the SEC East this season. What lessons does Georgia draw from that?
From what I saw last night USC isn’t prepared for a fast paced offense–and Bobo has said that Mason likes to go fast.
The cat and mouse game the coaches are playing in regards to the secondary makes me think (hopefully) that they have something up their sleeve. I believe that the secondary will be much better than what I have read.
And how can the fact that any of the coaches have even thought about Special teams hurt?
I am stoked to see what the OLBs are going to do this season.
31 hours now–this is the best part of the season…the best is still possible.
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I just don’t know what is going to happen this season. I’m optimistic that will be good… but damn you just never know in the game of football
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Maybe now the DAWGS have a good chance to win the east, but you never know what you’re going to get with a CMR team?
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But you do with other coaches? I get that we have had disappointments in the past, and some great moments to celebrate, but what team/coach hasn’t over time? Too much is put on one individual, imo, this is a team game and sometimes a key member doesn’t show up at a critical moment. I guess SC got what they expected last night from Steve? Or Bama against OU in the bowl? I know everyone prefers to point a finger at one person so they have someone specific to blame but the truth is just not that simple. You win, or lose together in this game, it isn’t golf or tennis.
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“Maybe now the DAWGS have a good chance to win the east, but you never know what you’re going to get with a CMR team?”
Yea, we could win the East like we did in 2011 and 2012, or we could beat LSU and USCe, get decimated by injuries, and not win the East like 2013. NEVER know with slick ol Mark Richt.
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LOL. Guess as he has gotten older he has forgotten how to coach, or maybe he just likes to disappoint all the young men and hear the internet geniuses bust on his character…..hourly. He would also like to lose that contract money he uses to help people in need. All a part of the master plan.
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Yeah, too bad we don’t have a coach like Spurrier, then we’d definitely never have disappointing losses, right?
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All of these responses to JRW7 are excellent. Well done, gentlemen.
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I can’t believe it’s here! I can’t lie- my lips are purple from all of the Kool Aide I’ve been drinking the last two weeks. I’m very excited to watch our RBs and our Outside LBs. I have a feeling those guys are going to be a lot of fun to watch.
I have no clue what we’re going to get out of Mason. I’m hopeful and worried all at the same time. It’s going to be a huge benefit to have a consistent OLine (lets hope) and two of the best backs in the nation to hand off to. Here’s hoping, as you point out, that he has WRs to throw to. My guess is MM and JSW are not going to be a factor this season, which really, really sucks.
Turnover margin can’t get worse can it?
I’m with you Senator about us having a loss in there somewhere. BUT, I think if we can sweep the state of South Carolina, our guys will be confident and have some swagger (hopefully not too much) which could lead to some great things.
Go Dawgs.
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“I can’t believe it’s here! I can’t lie- my lips are purple from all of the Kool Aide I’ve been drinking the last two weeks.”
Right there with ya. I cannot conceivably see how we lose a single game.
In all seriousness, my concern hinges on Mason’s arm strength and ability to throw intermediate to long passes off of playaction – which is our traditional offense – especially with pressure. Kind of like how Dylan Thompson threw the long interception last night off his back foot. Just not enough “umpf” to get there. I do believe Bobo will tailor the offense to his strengths, and I believe if Mason performs just adequately and doesn’t turn the ball over, we’ll be tough to beat. I predict Gurley to New York but doesn’t win it. I predict Jordan Jenkins to be All American. I think the secondary will be fine as we will get pressure up front. My guess is we give up around 20 per game avg. Defense wont be elite, but will be much improved. I think we have a legit shot to make the CFP.
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My lips are stained bright red. I prefer my Kool Aid straight up. Purple lips? You guys are drinking red Kool Aid diluted with a blue mixer. 😉
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Purple Passions, made from grape juice and 190+ proof poured over a block of ice in a #2 wash tub are purple….for a while I guess. Never got past 30 mins drinking, so don’t know for sure. You could ask survivors at Pi Kappa Alpha.
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Puffdawg sounds as if he was there, but any old fart who went to school in the late 50s through 60s would know.
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I’ve had Purple Passion at the Pike house. Must be some sort of tradition. In my case, it was ’68 or ’69.
~~~
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Very excited about seeing Gurshall against this Front 7 tomorrow. I agree with the prediction of Gurley in New York and what gets me most excited about tomorrow’s game is the possibility that we get to witness the beginning of a Heisman award winning season from him. Ah, what the hell, I’m going all in and predicting Gurley winning the Heisman this year. 2000 all purpose yards and 24 total TD’s (five of those coming against Auburn btw).
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Normally it would be a concern. But Mason has the ability to place the ball where he wants it, almost every time. That helps offset the lack of zip and increased time for the ball to arrive. Not only that, it should result in more completions downfield.
It’s still a little concerning. But I don’t think you need worry too much. The problem will come, as it would for any QB, when he can’t set and throw. But by all accounts from everybody who’s seen him since summer, he is about as accurate as they come, and knows when to put air under the ball.
~~~
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Great synopsis, Senator.
Here’s my add: Part of me sees coming the Great Transformation that gets us deep into the postseason, rewards our patience and loyalty, and validates every good thing that we feel the “G” stands for. The other part remembers that Georgia has a profoundly troubling recent history of not being able to get out of its own way.
God, I wish I knew which one I’ll see this season. So, let’s beat the stink out of Clemson and just go from there.
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If I’ve been reading us right, that has already changed. I hope so. I’m already a nervous wreck about that part of it.
~~~
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Me too, Ivey. Hope my dinner stays with me tonight.
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I think that expectations for the defense should be tempered as there’s very little that we know for sure.
We don’t know that we have a dominant front seven. Jenkins and Floyd are really exciting athletes, not the same as great pass rushers or olbs as demonstrated last year.
We don’t know that the secondary won’t be worse. Pruitt hasn’t sounded very confident in the position group which could simply be coach speak or he could be simply telling the truth. After all this is a group of dbs who couldn’t beat out Connor Norman and tray Matthews for starting jobs. Two guys who combined to make one positive play on defense, an interception fof a miscommunication by north Texas. Not to mention the departures as immature and awful as they were, could still be argued were the most talented of the bunch, especially JHC.
Third, We don’t even know for sure that Pruitt or this coaching staff is even any good. The guys had ONE year as a defensive coordinator and hasn’t coached one live down for Georgia. For all we know he’s Kevin Ramsey 2.0. Now that’s a little overstated but the fact remains we don’t have a body of work to judge him on good or bad. I think he will be an improvement but even in a best case scenario where Georgia hired the next elite D.C. in the nascent stages of his career, battleships don’t turn on a dime. This defense set records for points and yards given up. You don’t go from that to even pretty good at the flip of a switch.
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Pragmatic. On target. You only omitted the great O’s ability to place winning points on the board. I think it’s the best one in the SEC.
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Roll one for me bro, if our offense is as good as the one I saw last night wearing white, I am liking our chances. At least from an execution standpoint that was as good as they can be. Not saying I am down on our offense at all but almost 700 yards on the road…..dude! They 52 points with 12 minutes to go and took their foot off the pedal.
Everything worked, everything. I loved the way they distributed the ball to so many receivers, especially backs on short throws because I can see us running those plays with, or without, Mitchell and JSW to stretch the field. Then when they needed 2-4 yards for a first down or TD, they just ran straight ahead and bowled them over….and they don’t have Todd Gurley and Company. They only needed two or three punts. Dominating.
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I think I might be coming down with something. So have to opt out on the blunt. Have you finished baking those cookies?
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Posted a recipe on yesterdays blog from request.
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Already made a batch… I think. Right now, I’m having trouble remembering where I put them.
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Try attaching a note to your zipper when you put them away. Works for me…..inter..mit…tent…ly.
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Agree.
I think he is just telling the truth. IDK how good we’ll be. But I think we already know the secondary will be considerably better. I don’t see any way it could be as bad or worse.
LOL. C’mon now. How could we be happier with the new defensive staff, and with the resulting unity of the entire staff?
No, they don’t. But tomorrow isn’t Day 1. We’ve been at this since January.
This is a totally different defense. Not last year’s at all. I think it’ll look different from the get-go. No, you can’t just flip switch. But I think by midseason we will be at least “pretty good”. Maybe even better than that. And I feel that way because, at this point, all that’s left is for our guys to go out there and do what they’ve been trained to do.
~~~
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Just glad it’s here. Athens is rocking.
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What I would give to be there this weekend!
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Me too someone is using my ticket since I am helping with the grandkids.
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The Clemson and Scarilina games will mean the world to my attitude going into SEC play. Let us first win the battle of the Palmetto State, then the SEC East, then come what may. I like the way our schedule sets things up for us, if we can win early.
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Ain’t that the truth.
~~~
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Georgia has four backs to wear teams down with. Combine that with a hurry-up and a senior qb that will be good, or very good, and defenses better be in shape and well coached.
Late in the game, it’s going to be hard to tackle some of these guys.
Georgia’s defense will be very solid except for the defensive backfield, which is like saying your house is burglar proof except for there’s no front door. The encouraging thing is that it will be improved and maybe even fair to middlin’ or even pretty good. The defensive front will certainly help if the qb has to hurry his throws…and can stop the run before it gets into the secondary.
I actually see an offense that, heathy, has much more than last year’s injury ridden one. A defense that is improved. A great kicker with experience, a new emphasis on special team performance. This adds up to a better UGA team than we saw the last few years. And we already know SC has taken a step backwards…and Clemson should be down a notch from last year plus that one is in Athens.
But at the same time, everyone was picking SC to handle TAM…
But I like Georgia in every game on the schedule. Usually you slip up once or twice, but these Dawgs aren’t outclassed in any game.
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Like minds? See below, posted 3 mins later. Different looks at different parts, but on the same page. Loved reading yours.
Old farts rule!
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Great point. For some reason, hadn’t thought of that this week. Made my day.
I don’t think so, either. I’ve felt that way for some months now. But it all hinges on whether or not we are going to be solid, if we have shed the habit of beating ourselves.
I’ve never been more hopeful that we’ve finally, at long last, taken that step. If we have, we’re gonna be one tough team to beat.
~~~
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Spurrier’s whistlin’ through the graveyard was exposed last night. Moreover, the natl media’s guesses that followed his Pied Piper lead now are shown to be just that – guesses. No one did their work on A&M and relied on Spurrier to tell them about SC. I thought it was unusual at the time when he was upbeat, as if he was giving needed confidence to an overrated team. I even intended to blog about it, but forgot (???). The downer? One less top 10 ranked opponent on our schedule.
Anyway, our assessments of other teams and UGA are full bore good from everyone’s opinion on here. Our opinion here is more interesting than all the pundits combined.
Clemson is where it’s at. Win this one and the road gets better with confidence and all the peanut butter we can eat. First prognostications stand: we have a fine chance to beat them all. Hutson is more of an extention of D.J. than Murray, but with characteristics of both, bad and good. If the O line gives him half a chance, he can smoke’em. I put Clemson in the same class as SC last night as to their vulnerability and their ability to complete some long ones on us. A kickoff runback is possible with either team. We have too many good athletes to lose this game and one of them is Rome. Last I heard the new conformance shoes were doing the trick. Anyone heard different? Senator? My myopic vision information indicates that both he and Marshall are up to full speed with Marshall improved beyond his Freshman year. Will we have a FB or is Hicks going HB to lead Gurley and Marshall around right side as originally intended? Yeah, Hutson and the WRs are going to make hay.
Most everything you pointed out can go right and wrong, Senator, but these guys are the only ones who can produce what we hopefully predict. I envy you Dawgs for pregame and gametime. Too bad I’ll not be there to blow smoke up your ass, literally, but you may be interested in the rep I’m sending. He doesn’t smoke and he doesn’t know that I do, so keep it cool, please. Jason is a Gentleman Dawg of the first order. If he’s there, you will know him by his button.
Hoping yall have one of the greatest Dawg Days of the year. Smoke’em if you got’em.
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FEED THE BEAST!
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I’ve got two turntables and a microphone….oh, you said ‘where I’m at’…my bad.
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🙂 The randomness of this blog at times is just fantastic. Well done.
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Word of caution dog fans- Cocky looked bad last night. But they won’t look like that when we are there in 2 weeks.
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Yes they will. Their problems can’t be fixed in two weeks.
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Good stuff. Great stuff, really. One might think you’re an avid reader of the GTP Blog.
One question I have is how will Richt manage the collective psyche of the team through the ups and downs of the whole schedule. Especially if we win the first 3 or 4 games. Other than 2003 & 2004, he has never seemed to get a handle on it. Understandable, having trained under Bowden, who was never good at it, and could have won more NC’s had he been just OK at team psychology.
But then I also wonder how much the culture factor had to do with it, as these happenings closely coincide together. Last year was the first year the culture was really different (Richt had been working on it for 3 years or so) and we at least showed up for every game pretty much ready to play. That might not be a coincidence.
In fact, I’m almost certain the culture itself had a good deal to do with it. Add in better preparation, and we should be even better this year in that regard since our culture and preparation has improved 100% this year alone.
But I suspect it might be a little bit of both, and wonder what you guys thoughts are about it. I’m hoping Richt has worked on it personally, and I have a feeling he has thought a lot about it. I know I really like his frame of mind right now.
~~~
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…we at least showed up for every game pretty much ready to play. That might not be a coincidence.
Ivy, I beg to differ on one point you make. We did not show up at Vandy last year ready to play. I know the TN game took the wind out of the kids, but nothing Richt could say or do would have worked.
Just one game, small sample, I get it.
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No, you have a point. I’m not sure we showed for that one, either. It certainly was an off day.
~~~
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Yep. Assuming Theus has indeed improved, there’s nowhere to go but up.
Hoping Houston is a different player physically. He should be. Not worried about Burnette’s loss. We’re more athletic at both guards, especially RG.
There’s a long way to go, but do not deviate from the plan. Do not get ahead of ourselves. There’s not a thing that happened this year (injuries excepted) that we need to have another go at. It’s been a great year so far, everything is different, and the coaches have put us in position to be successful. Be about business and execution, and prepare well. Then just go out there and play the game the way we know we can play it.
IDK either, but it should be considerable. And I think we have more talent than many think. That won’t hurt.
For me it’s McKenzie, Sanders, and Parrish. I love Parrish already. His HS film speaks for itself. But when I saw this, I fell in love. It reminded me of Herschel when he was a 17-year-old freshman.
Here’s another quick view:
Me too. Especially Mitchell. Personally, I ruled him out of Clemson & SC three weeks ago. So I’m over his loss. I wouldn’t be surprised if we never see him. 😦
~~~
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Parrish is a football player. I’m anxious to see Carter get some reps too.
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Yeah, me too. With all the concern and attention to the secondary, there hasn’t been much time to think about Carter.
~~~
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I re-watched the Clemson game from last year. I forgot how strong the narrative was for Murray playing terribly in big games. He did a lot for his legacy by returning last year and playing big with games on the line.
I also forgot how good Scott-Wesley is. I remember his late huge touchdowns against LSU and USCe but, when healthy, he can be an elite receiver.
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Agree. He had that monkey on his back for sure. Think LSU was when he finally shed it for good. Was so happy for him.
~~~
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