Adios, Isaac Nauta.
https://twitter.com/inauta18/status/1081279130673602560
Hey, at least he played in the bowl game, amirite?
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UPDATE: Make it three.
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UPDATE #2: Four.
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UPDATE #3: Honk if you’re leaving Athens.
https://twitter.com/MecoleHardman4/status/1081304473463652353
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UPDATE #4: One more gone.
I guess Kirby’s got himself some maneuvering room on signing day now.
Gonna absolutely kill it in the league.
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Agreed. He may reach Terrell Davis-like “how did we not use him more when we was in Athens” status when we watch him on Sundays.
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He was the third leading receiver on the team two of his three years.
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Jim Chaney wasted Isaac Nauta.
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As a receiver, definitely. As a blocker, there are four 1,000-yard running backs who would disagree with you.
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That’s what I mean. I doubt Nauta came to Georgia thinking he was going to be a 3rd offensive tackle. He stuck by his commitment in the middle of the transition where we used the TE a ton in the passing game to where the position seemed to be an afterthought in the passing game.
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Very true. The plays are obviously in the system; for some reason, Chaney adopts a limited play-calling palette during big games.
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We haven’t used the TE a “ton” in the passing game since Orson Charles and Artie Lynch were here.
I agree though, Nauta was wasted as a receiver.
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And Riley Ridley, and Godwin, Robertson, Crumpton, Woerner, Cook, Herrien, etc…
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To reiterate: He was the third leading receiver on the team two of his three years.
If he was wasted, then every Georgia receiver is wasted.
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Nauta was a weapon for sure. I would say that it feels we could’ve utilized him more consistently.
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Consistent use … he would disappear at times
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Nice farewell comments from Issac. He’s made some big plays and will be missed!
Good luck, big guy!
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Next man up… to underutilize and achieve heartbreak at the hands of offensive incompetence.
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Is 13th in scoring offense incompetent ?
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Scoring 21 thanks to garbage time against a 9-4 B12 team that averaged giving up 26 ppg all year with a month to prepare is pathetic. I suppose 10-3 was not enough to get rid of CMR for you.
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I’m glad nobody’s overreacting on the basis of a single bowl game or anything. Because that would be dumb.
Really, really dumb.
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Your statement is so powerful. You sure you ain’t the smartest guy in the room?
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I think if you can repeat, “that bowl game was meaningless” enough times to yourself, you can become convinced that everything is A-OK.
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I’m no expert at projecting NFL success for college prospects and I’m going to wait-and-see on Mr. Nauta. Love what he did as a Dawg and I wish him well … But it’s difficult for me to see him suddenly become Gronk Jr. for a franchise his rookie year. So much of early pro success seems to be the right fit and true opportunity.
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Double J has already added his name (Nauta) to the board in the war room at THE STAR in Frisco, TX. He gonna be a stud in the league!
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Of all the things the Boys need in the draft, Nauta ain’t one of them by the time it comes to pick. But then again, it’s Jerruh, so he’ll keep drafting stupid. I have no hope we get past the Seahawks tomorrow night. None. Nada. Zip.
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We’ll see what kind of player he is in the league. He seems to me to be in the Orson Charles mold. He’ll make a roster and a living if he stays healthy, but I don’t see him at the Kelce or Gronk level.
Good solid player. Unlikely to move the Draft needle much by coming back but he could hurt himself if he got injured. Probably the right call to make the move.
Good luck!
I wonder if #45 will be impacted by this? Not sure Woerner’s nephew is ready to be “the guy.”
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If he really puts in the effort and time and is a team player, he could be Ben Watson. And there would be no shame in that…amazing how long that guy has stuck around.
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As others have noted, his number wasn’t called enough in the passing game, but he was still impressive. If that former 5* freshman from Illinois transfers, we’re suddenly looking a lot thinner at TE.
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He’s going to Illinois.
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I hope God allows me to never forget the drive before the half of the fla game of this year.
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Sorry – 2018 season I mean
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Best wishes and good luck to all! Thanks for your hard work! Jadon,there’s playing time to be had here.
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Nauta’s the biggest loss. Riley’s a close 2nd tho. Ford certainly looks the part. Maybe he’ll reconsider.
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Couldn’t whoever designed Ridley’s release found a picture from some other game than that turd we just laid?
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My first reaction as well
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Personally, I don’t see Ridley as that big a loss in the passing game, but maybe in the running game. I’d imagine he’s a 4th or 5th rounder.
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I’ve seen Ridley as high as the third receiver off the board. He’s the best route runner on the team.
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It’s gonna hurt. Not gaudy numbers, but a really good, dependable player. I thought Mecole regressed a little this season
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Brotherly success always helps (just ask Bosa #2). Ridley looks the part in person and on film. He’s going to do very well in the NFL, and he’s a huge, number-changing-in-the-secondary loss.
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Whoa!!! I clearly wouldn’t have guessed now that. I guess maybe he was under utilized.
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Mecole gone too.
https://twitter.com/mecolehardman4/status/1081304473463652353?s=21
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“Honk if you’re leaving Athens.” Awesome Bluto.
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Just curious how did some of these come to the decision to leave while Chubb, Michel decided to stay one more year.
Good players, but not sure if NFL caliber at this time. At least they played in the SB…and survived getting the injury virus that was going around.
So with the departure of 4 [QB, 2 TEs, & WR] what will that do re ’19 recruiting class.
Who knew that going back to classes would be so difficult.
Now we know why Smart has not named a DC, he is trying to figure out if he has a team since the SECCG for coaches.
Back to back losses, sit outs, transfers, early departure…what a terrible way to end a season with a lot of hype and hope.
Smart has lost control of his program…more comparison to CMR’s first three years.
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LOL at least you’re consistent.
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LOL
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Make that 5
There goes your ’19 season folks.
Want to look at that schedule.
Bet Kirby is wondering what in the hell is going on now.
Just wonder if they all knew they were going to leave after SECCG, and why practice and game planning could have actually been an issue.
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Sky is perpetually falling, eh?
We’ve got a 3rd year starter at QB who just turned in one of the best seasons in school history. We’ve got two 1000 yard rushers potentially returning along with the additional depth provided by Cook, White, and (potentially) Herrien. 4 of 5 starters on the O-line returning as well as guys who got significant PT due to injury/rotation. A ton of returning talent on defense and the second best recruiting class in the nation.
R-E-L-A-X
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It’s time for the annual UGA fan’s “Next year!!” narrative to roll on over to 2020 (wait, we go to Bama… how about 2021? wait, breaking in a new qb…22 it is!!)
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Sign of the times men, get use to it.
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Adios, Mecole:
https://twitter.com/MecoleHardman4/status/1081304473463652353
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Well, I guess I’m less concerned over the size of this year’s class and our ability to stay at 85. So there’s that…
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Tired of being underutilized?
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I have no idea why Mecole is leaving. His production especially in the passing game trailed off the 2nd half of the season. Good luck to all 3 of them.
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4.3 speed gets you on a NFL roster…..regardless.
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#8 WR rated out of 203
http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=1017702&draftyear=2020&genpos=wr
And a 4.28 – 40……blazing
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Those are UGA times. He’s not going to run that fast in the combine. Was a DGD, but he’s not Deion fast. Or quick. 4.28 is Deion fast. He’s a possession receiver in the NFL. That doesn’t make him top 3 receiver in the draft. He’ll get drafted, but he’s gonna to be in the right situation to succeed. I wish him well. I’d be shocked if hot-rod hasn’t declared while I’m typing this
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He is going to have a LOT riding on his combine and pro day 40.
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isn’t he #8 on like slot receivers ? As i understand it, there’s 2 categories of receivers in rankings.
He could have as many as 15? receivers ahead of him. How many receivers go in a round ? 3-4 ? So what’s that 4th round at best or 5th round ? Nothing guaranteed at that.
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So the guys we’re losing represent 56% of the receptions this season and 60% of the receiving yards.
Holloman and Simmons have their work cut out for them next year. Hope Demetris Robertson has learned the playbook.
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All DGDs who we should all be proud of and happy for of course…
… that being said, this is quite the superstar exodus. Can someone talk me off the ledge and tell me we’ll be okay next season? Suddenly A&M, ND, and UF look a lot more formidable.
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Fromm is back. Holyfield and Swift should be back. Zeus White should be completely healthy. Cook is back. Herrien might stay. Robertson will get a full slate of playing time (dude up up 50/767 as a Freshman at Cal, Ridley’s best year was 43/559). Everybody on the O-line save Gaillard is back. Defense loses Baker, Walker, Ledbetter, and Natrez but returns Monty Rice, Tyson Campbell, Lecounte, Reed, Crowder, Davis, and a bunch of others.
No need to jump off the ledge. The depth is there.
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This aged well.
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Hey, Holloman. We got room dude….
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Another Hollaman is on the way.
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Hazelwood is what I shoulda have said…
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He isn’t coming. He’s going to OU.
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Nauta and Ford make sense. Ridley and Hardman do not.
Either way, I’m not too concerned. Our depth is solid, and I don’t buy into the narrative that this is some sort of mass exodus related to players feeling like the coaching staff let them down. Not yet, at least.
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Do you know what the got back re: potential draft status? If the answer is no, then how can you say what makes sense? If you do know, let’s hear how they would have done better to stay considering what the NFL thinks.
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I see. Only scouts and other NFL insiders are allowed to have opinions about whether someone has matured enough in their development to be NFL ready. And here I thought this was just the comments section on a fucking blog.
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This made me laugh. Gastr he just made you look really stupid. Next time some of you want to get high and mighty remember it’s just a damn blog.
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Made me laugh too.
But I’m not sure any of these players have a stamped ticket to the nfl. None of em made the kind of splash at UGA that last year’s draftees did – Sony, Wynn, R, Chubb, Carter – all those players made HUGE contributions during their time with the Dawgs.
I hope they all achieved their degrees. Holyfield’s the only one who I might consider slightly above an average RB – and that Texas transfer RB showed everyone just how average our RBs measure up. I think at least two will be lucky to get drafted at all. All of them would’ve benefited from another year in school.
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You sound mad dude, chill.
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Holyfield has made it official – he gone, too.
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This is crazy. I get the idea of “get paid” but man, that’s a lot of offense walking out the door, many not seemingly 1st/2nd rounders. Random thought – is it an indictment of Chaney?
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Running backs only have so much tread on the tires. Holyfield wasn’t going to trim another 2/10s off his 40 time. He has his 1,000 yard season in the SEC.
I have no idea if this is an indictment of the scheme or of the staff.
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He could’ve improved his stock, even losing carries to White, coming back behind that offensive line. He’s not gonna grade well in the draft. Not quick enough. But I wish him well
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Bad feet, falls forward rather than atack, angles out instead of finishing, no elite speed, tries to juke with no ability instead of hitting.
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I’m starting to think that.
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It’d be more of an indictment of Chaney if we didn’t have guys graded good enough to go pro early.
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Instead of crying and bitching why don’t we thank these guys for lifting this team, this University and us to the point of being disappointed in NOT playing for a National Championship. Thanks guys you are all DGD and I wish you the very best..
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Hear, hear. They could have gone somewhere else. They chose us and gave their all for the program. It looks good for Georgia for players to be wanted by the NFL.
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+1,000,000 They know more about their personal NFL potential than we do. Thank you to all of them.
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You’re not from around here are you?
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Aside from Holyfield who played well, the Sugar Bowl was a great draft improvement opportunity missed.
Different motivation tactics are needed for different players.
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Holy shit. Guess these guys aren’t too thrilled with the offense we run.
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Seems to me our O prepared them for the next level.
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Someone tell me there isn’t an issue in Athens.
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Other than Hot Rod, who are our draft-eligible players that are coming back? Supposedly we’re on the cusp of competing for the NCG and it seems that everyone that can is leaving. Maybe the locker room wasn’t that tranquil?
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On the plus side, this gives the staff plenty of time to fill the holes before Feb signing day. ABC – always be ‘cruiting!
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Or maybe a bunch of good players want to get paid. I think people staying four years is an exception, and we’ve been spoiled by last years group that stayed to remember that.
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Tyler Clark, David Marshall, Julian Rochester, Tae Crowder, Brian Herrien, Ben Cleveland, Solomon Kindley, JR Reed, Brian Herrien, Tyrique McGhee, Demetris Robertson off the top of my head.
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Sorry said Herrien twice.
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He deserves it after Monday nite. Probably, he should have seen more of the ball.
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Good point. I agree. After Holyfield hit 1,000 I would have only given the ball to Herrien from then on.
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Thanks, good list. Hard to remember that Big Ben is eligible. I forgot he redshirted. Not sure Robertson is eligible, is he?
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Yep. Spent two seasons at Cal and now one at Georgia. Class of 2016.
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I’m with Bob.
Definitely think there is an issue in the program with this many players leaving.
OFFENSE
Nauta, TE
Holyfied, RB…that is 1,000 yards gone, too
Ridley, WR
Hardman, WR
Ford, TE…Trsfr
Fields, QB…Trsfr
DEFENSE
none so far.
Lost 9 Seniors.
So as far as starters go that is at least 14- 17
Sorry folks that is a huge loss of this many players.
Nothing from Smart.
Say it again where is he. Getting some players, a DC, and perhaps a new OC.
East will be tough next year.
Do not expect an 11 win season.
This team is on a two game losing strike. Two bad back to back games.
Now losing these players.
Athens you have a problem.
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He gone, too.
Hell no 6 on offense is gone.
Black Friday
Why so many players on offense leaving?
A lot of us think is it due to Chaney and his playbook.
He is outdated.
Chaney had 14 points lead on Bama twice, then in 4th quarter the offense disappears like in CFP NCG. Then LSU
Just how stubborn will Smart be about this coach.
There is definitely a problem with player retention.
Looks a lot like CMR now. CMR had issues letting go of coaches who did not get the job done.
Chaney has to go. He is the reason Fields left.
He was clueless on how to use him. Drew Brees, etc is his stuck in the past QB playbook.
Tired of HC is Athens who can not let go of coaches not getting it done.
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troll
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So it appears…
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If they are legit NFL players, then why in heck did they get stuffed by LSU, Bama, and Texas.
Why is the common thread here?
Never understood why Chaney just did not line up in a Dooley era “I” formation.
Old Georgia folks love that, even if it means we get our ass beat. Then they grip cause we do not win big games.
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For one we don’t have a fullback on the roster.
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Say what you will about this team and the status of coaching, but it’s in desperate need of some good news. What a month this has been.
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UGA just signed a great class…
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This is true. It’s kind of like the market being up 100% over 5 years but being down 15% in the last month (hypothetical!!). I just want to be spoiled. Perhaps that’s a better way to phrase it.
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We had the highest completion percentage of any QB in the country and the first program ever to have two different set of two guys rush for 1,000 in consecutive years. Offense be broke.
If stupid were cash you fuckers would be on a yacht somewhere.
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If brains were gas some folks couldn’t run a pissants’ dirt bike two laps around a cheerio.
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The contrast between Chubb and Co. staying and this group leaving is night and day. I wonder if there something more going on with this team than we know about.
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They didn’t go 6-5 their junior year?
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In all fairness, 8-5!
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Good luck to those going early to the NFL, hope it works out well for all of you. We have all become used to players going at their first opportunity, so only the number is a surprise. I would bet some could have benefited from more time and improved their opportunity but you can never tell.
Hope Herrien is back and Zeus is close to being completely recovered. Cook will need some additional weight to shoulder more of the running load next year. Lot of opportunities for the young skill position players.
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I just get the feeling that their is something amiss in Athens. Hope I’m wrong. I can see Nauta being gone but not the rest of them.
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2017: “We only had ONE PLAYER taken in the NFL draft?! The program is imploding!”
2019: “Look at all these players leaving early for the draft! The program is imploding!”
Let’s all take a deep breath, count to ten, and unclench, shall we?
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Early departures are what you get when you recruit at a super-elite level.
That said, I would not at all be surprised if Fromm is sitting somewhere quiet right now, thinking, “Well, shit.”
That’s a massive amount of receiving production and experience out the door. Robertson, you’re up. Hope you learned to block.
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HOLY F * C K !!!!!!! At least they all shoved in the dagger in coordination.
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Reconsidering my anguish.
Friend told me to look at the projected NFL draft…loaded with juniors
Said only 2 that would be taken in first 100 from Georgia would be Baker and Walker.
Then he said read carefully what Smart said about his junior offensive players declaring…have a shot at NFL…hope they would come back to pursue their degree.
Look at the draft by position and college…a lot from Bama and Clemson and Ohio State.
WRs. Ole MIss will have more and more higher draft than Georgia.
Did they make a good decision to go early? What we do not that staying for that senior year paid off for Chubb and Michel in a lot of ways.
Perhaps Smart wanted these players to declare early and not delay til 14th.
More than likely what is coming in is a close or better than this 4 going out.
Best young HS QB in Georgia is the rising sophomore at Thomasville HIgh. He will be better than Fields and perhaps Lawrence.
Re recruiting this is for all purposes Smart’s 3rd year considering how late he came in. 68% of the current players are freshmen of sophomores. Add this class and see where they stack.
DC is coming soon. Lights out!
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I follow recruiting not at all. Who is this QB prince in Thomasville of whom you speak, Mr. Trane?
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I don’t even know you anymore.
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Will the last guy to leave B-M please cut off the lights.
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Does anything make some of the UGA fans who post on here, happy. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
Thanks to these guys for playing and good luck in the
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If you just don’t read the obvious troll it’s not so bad. Dude is a fucking plague.
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Agreed idawg. That boy needs a double of his handle, a Xanax and an attitude check.
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Everybody needs to lighten up. Remember this is college ball. Players graduate, transfer, get injured and sometimes leave. The positive is that there is more roster space now to sign more 5 star and 4 Star replacements.The sophomores and freshmen on this past season’s team are the best players we have ever signed—plus we’ve got a whole new incoming freshman class of potential first round draft picks. No disrespect to those guys who are leaving but I honestly believe the younger players replacing them will be better. The future’s sobright we all are going to have to be wearing shades!
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The only concern I have is whether Kirby may be afflicted with the Richt Syndrome of hanging onto staff that everyone, to include the janitor, realizes should be gone……. like wonderful Willie. That could be a problem. It’s difficult for some coaches to make a ” gut wrenching” decision, even though it is in the best interest of the team and paying fans. I hope Kirby is not one of those kinds of coaches. One is enough.
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I have to admit to not being a big fan of Chaney’s playcalling. Frankly I think there are better OCs out there but we all have to admit that the stats support Chaney. It is the eye test during certain games where it appears Chaney doesn’t know what he’s doing. The LSU loss IMHO fell squarely on the coaches and mostly on Chaney. I sometimes wish someone would come along and offer Chaney a HC gig so we could get rid of him but that would frighten me too because Chaney might take our all-world OL coach with him.
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I think the big criticism of Chaney is the quality of play calling against elite defenses. He is certainly capable of posting big numbers against weaker defenses but what about LSU and Bama? I think most agree LSU was a poor job but what about Bama? We moved the ball pretty well against a great D in both games. I’m not sold that Chaney is a horrible play caller. I know some here say he is horrible. You can cherry pick certain plays that did not work, but do y’all think he did a shit job in the 2 Bama games?
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What else could the offense have done against Bama the last two years? Seriously. That is the best defense we played and had them beat twice. The offense wasn’t the problem unless you want to say we went to conservative which comes directly from the head coach.
I have criticized Cheney (and Bobo before him) to no end. Ultimately what it comes down to is execution. Coaches coach, players execute or don’t. I’m not saying Cheney isn’t without blame especially for LSU when we abandoned the run too soon IMO.
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Early departures Roquan Smith and Leonard Floyd making a huge impact in the NFL playoffs today.
Make it count.
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