One of the less pleasing aspects of the Process is the “speak with one voice” approach that hides the assistant coaches from the public except for the rare times when their presence is mandated by higher ups. That’s a shame, because it’s always nice to get a little insight from the assistants about what’s worked and what hasn’t.
Take Sam Pittman’s appraisal of Isaiah Wynn’s two years under his tutelage.
“Isaiah Wynn meant everything to our offensive line,” Pittman said. “If you look at him last year to this year, it’s night and day. He gained 20 pounds, and he gained way more than that in confidence. He may only be 6-2, but he’s good football player — make that a really good football player. He wasn’t as a junior, and very rarely do you see a player who wasn’t great as a junior turn into a wonderful player as a senior.
“That usually doesn’t happen, but he got stronger and bought into the techniques. Once he got confident, he poured over everybody else.”
Pittman’s made Wynn a lot of money this season. I’ve seen NFL mock drafts projecting him all the way into the late first round, which is something nobody would have expected after the 2016 season. Yeah, Wynn will be seriously missed this season, but I’m looking forward to seeing what Pittman can do to polish Andrew Thomas’ game in 2018.
Get The Picture 
Never got the posts about what a poor coach he is. He is without a doubt one of the truly elite OL coaches anywhere. He is elite at getting talent by being relentless, and developing his players from wherever they are. He’s a good one.
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I think a lot of the questions about Pittman’s performance last year had to do with getting the most out of the talent you have (and Chaney’s play calling) … and why didn’t Wynn play LT last year and put Catalina on the inside (where the NFL put him)?
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Can’t wait to see what he does over the next two years with the talent he has brought in.
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The transformation of Ben Cleveland was amazing. Scary amazing.
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I agree, both Cleveland and Wynn are good examples to use with the sales pitch UGA must be using with recruits. The next two seasons could be the real proof about Pittman is doing along the front line. We had a lot things go extremely well in 2017, but the positive response to the question about the OL was probably the most impactful. Pay the man, you know there many other top programs that will make offers while we continue our wait and react approach to spending.
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So how bad was the guy before him, Rob Sale I believe?
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Who was the guy before him? sarcasm alert
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good for IW. I hope he gets paid mad money and has a long career.
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Hope Pittman doesn’t dislocate his arm patting himself on the back. Truth is, Wynn was a starter and fine player before Pittman arrived. Wynn’s a good soldier and does as he’s instructed. If I’m going to question Pittman’s or Wynn’s performance, confidence, and/or technique in 2016, it ain’t gonna be Wynn.
But 2016 is water over the dam as far as I’m concerned. If Pittman wants to bring it up, then I think he’s got some splainin to do.
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I must have missed the part where Pittman praised himself. Please continue, governor.
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I don’t think it’s unreasonable to pay Pittman more than Chaney. Not saying do it out of spite, but I think Pittman is worth $1.5m+
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FWIW, I have no idea what either makes or will make, but I think Pittman is worth just shy of a top O-Coordinator’s salary which, as I understand it, just cracked $2m for the first time. His line is going to be our offense.
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It kills me when the fans can’t admit that at the offensive line position it take longer than a spring and fall of practice to turn chicken shit into chicken salad. The offensive line is the one position group that has to be like a dance line. He has to get them to work as a unit and not only that but he must work with the TE’s enough that they also know the dance routine. Oh by the way Catalina is on the Washington Redskins as a Guard. He said that Wynn was not as good in 2016 as he was in 2017 and credited Wynn for his personal effort to improve. Our fans are friggen amazing, sometime. Pittman is the best in the business and I only hope McGoofy will spent enough to keep him happy and in Athens for a long time.
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Agreed
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