Quite simply, is this kid ($$) ready to step up and be a contributor?
Demetris Robertson cut a lonely visual in the Georgia locker room after the Sugar Bowl. He sat at his locker in a corner, putting his unused jersey, unused pants and unused cleats in a bag. He did not play in the Sugar Bowl, a fitting ending to a shockingly quiet season.
“It was a learning experience, mostly,” Robertson said. “I already knew my position coming into the season. Learning the playbook. Talking to coaches about playing more special teams, things like that.”
He left out blocking, which, to my eyes, was the biggest thing keeping him off the field last season. There’s no question he’s a gifted receiver who has the speed to take the top off a defense, but if he can’t block a lick, there’s not much use for him in Georgia’s offensive scheme.
He comes off in Seth’s article as composed and sharp, so hopefully he knows what’s ahead for him if he wants to play a major role in 2019. Lord knows there’s a place for him.
Get The Picture 
There is definitely an opening for someone to walk through. Hope the kid takes advantage.
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IDK, maybe we should ask Mr. College Football.
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He’d give us a definite “maybe.”
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Georgia lost 3 of Jake Fromm’s favorite targets to the draft. Look for some guys buried on the depth chart to emerge as household names !
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Clemson showed us that height countrs..along with speed…so some of the candidates are Holloman, Bush, Robertson, Landers, et al. Will Cheany put the plays in to use them? Can Hankton have them ready? Who knows…the Shadow know!
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Maybe it’s just me, but if a wide receiver has ball skills and game breaking ability, I really don’t care if they can block consistently. Sure, you don’t want the guy to be a liability, but I want playmakers out there.
I want guys on the outside that clearly send a message that if you walk a safety up to the line of scrimmage and leave guys 1 on 1, we’re going to attack down the field.
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Right – especially after seeing Clemson’s WRs make incredible plays up and down the field last night.
But, I recognize that our offense is different and asks different things of its receivers than theirs may
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It’s the reverse of corners. Corners who can support the run are just a bonus when I want the guy who can take half the field away.
Blocking ability in a receiver is a bonus. We don’t run a ton of WR screen stuff, and it’s typically not a corner who blows a perimeter running play. It’s a scraping linebacker or a safety.
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Neon Deion did a pretty good job while being a complete liability against the run.
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Exactly my point … he was the poster child. I don’t think any coach he played for would have benched him for his inability to tackle and be physical.
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Kirby would.
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So agree
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I hear you. If have to choose between either/or …I’d rather have a blazer with good hands and routes but a weak blocker than a WR whose blocking is his highlight reel.
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Not playing skill position players due to blocking fears looks to be a tradition that Richt passed on to Kirby. Still can’t believe we redshirted Knowshon.
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Richt learned his lesson. Gurley and Marshall weren’t great at pass protection when they were freshmen, but they were on the field early.
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Yeah and that worked out well at the end of the 2012 SECCG. 😦
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Without Todd Gurley, I’m not sure we would have even been in that game. 😉
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And if he’d have been a better pass protector, that whole spike the ball bitchfest would have been moot. 🙂
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For the record, Nick Chubb was a terrible pass protector pretty much all four years. Was almost never in the game on 3rd downs where a pass might have happened.
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He eventually learned his lesson.
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You think receivers during the Richt era were good blockers? Some were, but far from all.
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I was mainly thinking of running backs missing playing time early in their careers due to blocking issues. Went on for years until the famous Knowshon redshirt gaffe caused Richt to finally give in.
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One of the most overblown circumstances of Richt’s tenure. Maybe he shouldn’t have redshirted him, but it wasn’t exactly the no-brainer people make it out to be in hindsight when you consider Moreno would have started the season 4th on the depth chart behind Juniors Thomas Brown, Kregg Lumpkin, and Danny Ware.
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+1
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What does Richt have to do with Robertson?
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Nothing, but tying any possible, real or fantasized, shortcoming to Richt is great sport for a few here. As if they hadn’t made fools of themselves long before now, the sad tradition continues. Not sure it will even end for some which continues a long running streak of UGA fans being divided over the smallest, and relevant, of issues.
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It obviously hurt us scoring.
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It seems to me that if they’d had a shortage of playmakers at wideout, he’d have played. They didn’t, so he barely saw the field.
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That’s why he’ll play 2019 regardless
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The way I look at it, if you’re a special talent (and consequently will draw a bunch of double teams), go catch balls and block the best you can whenever it’s required. But anything less than that; you better be a strong, strong blocker of you’re at the wrong school.
In a perfect world, my goal for WR recruiting would be this: get the cream of the crop, regardless of style, and then all other WR recruits should be 6’4″+.
Sort of like linemen – if you’re not a true stud, at least be huge.
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I think the problem is a little deeper than your saying. Effectiveness and willingness are 2 different things.
You can’t hold one guy to one standard and others to another unless he’s a legend. Then everybody kind of understands different rules apply.
The problem with playing a kid that won’t block is the other guys say: why should I?
Crack backs and blocking for running backs and for fellow receivers is huge. And youre not being asked to move a big DL, just put your body or hands on someone roughly your size or put a shoulder in the ribs of a slightly bigger guy. You know, football.
So to me the issue is: are you trying or are you scared? If you’re trying and willing but not decleating people, fine. If you just won’t? Sit on the bench.
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I totally agree with that. That’s why I said he can’t be a liability.
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tldr version; not everyone is Hines Ward, but everyone can put in the effort that Terry Godwin did in 2017-2018 vs what he did in 2016.
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Good point
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Exactly. One of the things that impressed me most about Alabama’s receivers this year wasn’t their numbers or their highlights. It was how they made their team better without the ball in their hands. A ton of effective down field and edge blocking. Great attitude and technique.
It makes a huge difference on the damage done by explosive plays. And it’s very much a part of team culture. If 1 guy isn’t all-in on clearing space for his teammates because he’s extra good at something else, then that can become a real problem.
And – news flash – blocking well improves his value at the next value exponentially. He might as well start learning it now.
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I agree but I think Kirby’s philosophy is that a good blocking receiver is the difference between a 12 yard run and a 40 yard house call.
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Right, but what would the offense be able to do with an elite WR threat who does the best he can at blocking? That’s where I’m scratching my head. We have highly rated WRs, probably equal or higher than Clemson, but they’re just average in Athens.
fwiw, I think Ridley was about to have a monster year. He knew it, the NFL scouts knew it, and so he bolted. Not blaming Ridley, just pointing out that I think we were about to have that elite WR.
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Agree. I can hear Oklahoma sales pitch to haselwood right now…”Jadon, I cant wait to get you to Norman so we see you block”.
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To be the Devil’s advocate here, it all has to do with making the defense have to prepare for everything all at once. If you give half of the playbook up (potentially) by trotting a single dude out on the field, and at the same time essentially signal to the defense that that dude will be your QB’s first read, that’s an awful lot of hand-tipping in one player swap. I’ve come around to the idea that that’s why you don’t see much I-form anymore. The minute a dedicated fullback trots out onto the field, you’ve told the defense you’re either running, or mostly going to max protect. If you can run effectively out of 4 wide and single back, you’re devastating – which is what we try to do.
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but if one of those 4 WRs is an elite WR the defense will have to shift to be sure he is covered with help nearby.
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Hopefully he and Fromm work out a lot this offseason and build a great chemistry. Who is responsible for developing his blocking skills?
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I can almost guarantee that the issue is effort and technique. Cortez Hankton is responsible for teaching him the technique. It is D-Rob’s responsibility to embrace the challenge ahead.
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His technique was good enough at Cal.
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Sorry, I accidentally left out the word not. I meant, “I can almost guarantee that the issue is effort and NOT technique”.
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Great question. I can’t see Kirby giving one of his precious scholarships to somebody that isn’t capable of contributing. But it’s like he’s the forgotten man.
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Does anyone else notice that the terminology used to describe Georgia’s receivers is starting to make us sound a bit like Georgia Tech? Here’s a thought. If our offense has a hard time incorporating players like Demetris Robertson and Justin Fields maybe it’s time to look at some different options. This is why kids like Haselwood are starting to shun Georgia in favor of more high octane passing attacks, and I can’t say I blame them. If given the choice I prefer receivers who can catch and run to receivers that can block like tackles, the ones who can do both are great but they don’t exactly grow on trees. Jayson Stanley and Michael Chigbu for all their hard work and contributions to the program are becoming fossils in today’s college football world. At this rate it would be almost inconceivable for Georgia to have a receiver even approach 1,000 yards for a season.
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Nope.
BTW, watch Oklahoma’s receivers some time. They block. So do Alabama’s.
Now if you’re talking about touches, good point about Haselwood. Oklahoma is a much better place for a receiver who wants to average 4 or 5 catches a game than is Georgia.
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That’s what I’m saying. Receivers block on run plays in most every offense, but when you run it on most plays you become like Tech. Hell, we might as well bump Woerner out wide, let some of these young TE’s block inside.
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Give me 3 of those AJ Green look alike receivers that Clemson has and then I don’t care if they block or not..
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AJ Green lookalikes will block you into the dirt.
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Well, I’m just some internet schmoe, but when I see all the true freshmen on Bama and Clemson lighting it up, while many of ours sit the bench or barely contribute, it makes me wonder what’s different about our system and if it needs changing. Jordan Davis barely played until injuries forced it in the middle of the season. All he did was make freshman AA, the only one on defense.
When we tell ourselves that highly ranked players are only going to be here 3 years max before bolting for the pros (or transferring before that), we need to make sure we’re putting all the talent we can on the field. Of course, we rotated a ton of people early on this season and it seemed to hurt continuity/development, so again, what do I know? I’m just an internet schmoe.
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Davis was an overweight 3 star that had to be eased in, but I see your point.
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I know that’s the common wisdom, but do you really think he goes from overweight afterthought to AA in the span of half a season? I don’t doubt he had prep to do, but that prep is pretty amazing if it was responsible for all of it.
You don’t think it strange that our 5* freshmen struggle to see the field while true freshmen lit it up for Bama and Clemson last night?
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Are you just talking about receivers because we had a long list of freshmen that played significant snaps this season?
If you are just referring to receivers I think it’s just a matter of us not getting that caliber of players yet. Hopefully Blaylock and Robertson can change that.
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Is he ready? He better because after all the talent in front of him just opened up exciting opportunities. If he watched last night, then he should be hungry for nfl $$
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I still think we underuse our weapons at wideout waiting until they become the type of complete package the staff wants. If I’m Chaney, I’m looking at Drob’s film from Cal, where he was freshman AA, and picking the routes he excelled at and incorporating them into a package for him. Same thing with using Landers and Bush near the goal line for mismatches.
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Ed Zachery!
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Looks like Chaney is leaving for Knoxville
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Came to see the reactions; too soon I guess.
I’m incredibly surprised.
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I was thinking about popping the top on a cold one to celebrate.
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I’m surprised, too, though our failure to close against Bama the past two years makes the pill easier to swallow. If Coley replaces Chaney, I’ll be more nervous about 2019 than I’d have been if Chaney had stayed.
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There was a lot of ‘don’t give a shit’ on that Georgia offensive sideline in New Orleans. This explains it.
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Wow I saw that yesterday and then saw it debunked. Where did you see it. I hope Pittman stays. It is not good we will have two new coordinators.
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May be Coley’s or Enos’ challenge now. Stay tuned.
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I believe Enos already has the Bama OC job for Locksley
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Reports are Chaney has been hired away by the Vols. Kirby may have a busy off season with coordinator hires.
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More worried about Pittman going with him. Didn’t they come to Athens as a package deal?
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Friend is with Pruitt. Doubt that’s going to change. I sure hope not! That would be nuts to build the recruiting monster Pittman has on the O line and then leave when they’re ready to shine.
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Ive heard rumors that Bama may come after Pittman to replace their O-line coach that is leaving. Not sure is there is any validity in it or not but i hope Kirby is willing to open up the checkbook to keep him around
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DROB is a very-very bright kid. He came in out of shape. And he came in after playing in the ‘softest’ league he could have been in. The physicality part of the game was a shock to him.
I think this kid will work his butt off – have a huge year and set himself up to go in the top 3 rounds of next years draft. I just wish they had redshirted him – giving him more options.
We’ll be okay without Chaney. We will not be okay without Pittman. Lock Pittman down.
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I think he already redshirted.
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Yeah I think I read that he was getting a med RS for his second year at Cal giving him three years to play three here.
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Look for UT to let Friend go or drop him into another position coach. More than likely Pittman will go to. Pruitt having time recruiting linemen with Friend. Plus it was speculated Chaney would leave for UT due to spot being held open for so long.
Smart has a lot of work do now that he has to replace two coordinators. Been a very tough season for him tough losses and the departures of coaches and players.
Get ruthless and get some young hard working coaches. Tucker and Chaney have been around and are well traveled.
Smart is always quiet about hires. Plus methodical.
Is Smart willing to move away for a Bama style to a more Clemson like style as QB and RBs now prefer a more up tempo game and style.
For me the OC hire has to be top notch to compete with UF, UK, UT, Auburn, A&M, LSU.
Plus now how does Pittman fit in if he stays, but he and Chaney have been separated before. Smart would not want Pittman to leave!
Everybody is putting in staffs but UGA.
This was an issue CMR seemed to endlessly face.
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Kirby will talk with Bobo …for advice and opinion if no other reason
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Think a lot of us think Bobo could be in the mix.
Whoever he hire has to be able to put up points against the aforementioned top SEC teams. Did not happen against Texas, Bama, LSU, and Auburn.
If Clemson can put up 44 why not a Dawg team.
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Sigh….jeez people! Bobo is a head coach at Colorado ffs. Why would he be UGA’s OC?
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Several reasons he might entertain ….his wife and family too…. such as coming back home, getting the band back together, hotbed recruiting territory, hates being CEO, on an increasingly hot seat in Colorado, friendships, alma mater, similar money
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It would certainly be quite an odd move & not something that you really see happen
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One way to look at it: a preemptive move to not overstay his welcome and end up like a Butch Jones, for instance. Fired and an analyst somewhere. His record at CSU in his time there is under .500. 3-8 in ’18. Can’t be much fun, and he prob feels his seat is warming. Has had some physical problems with neuropathy. If the opportunity is there, he might easily give consideration to taking a step back from CEO responsibility in favor of returning to a more familiar role in a familiar place. I’m not saying it will happen, or even that it should; just that the idea is plausible. And I can see a woman/wife pushing for it, especially when health issues are in question. That causes everyone to reminisce of home.
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So with Chaney leaving does it mean Jay Johnson boomerangs back to Athens as QB coach, like Fountain did when Beamer left?
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Senator goes to bed early but he’ll have a Chaney post at 6am sharp.
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