Not so worried

David Ching is back with five SEC defensive unit groups with something to prove.  We’re familiar with one of them:

2. Georgia’s defensive front: Georgia boasted one of the nation’s better defenses last year – particularly when it came to defending the pass – but the Bulldogs were surprisingly average at times along the front line. Especially when it came to rushing the quarterback. The Bulldogs posted just 24 sacks in 14 games, ranking 13th in the SEC with an average of 1.71 sacks per game. Their average of 4.64 tackles for loss per game was dead last in the league.

And now the Bulldogs move into 2019 without their only player to post more than two sacks, D’Andre Walker (7.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss in 2018), as well as All-SEC defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter. But fear not, Georgia fans. Kirby Smart’s defensive line will return numerous candidates to wreak havoc in opposing backfields and add significantly to last year’s paltry sack total. That group includes 6-foot-6, 330-pound nose tackle Jordan Davis, tackles Tyler Clark and Devonte Wyatt, and end Malik Herring. In addition, Smart’s vaunted 2019 recruiting class added players who could instantly upgrade the defensive front up the middle – five-star defensive tackle Travon Walker – and off the edge – Nolan Smith, the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and Jermaine Johnson, 247’s No. 1 overall junior college prospect.

This seems like a situation that is bound to improve this fall, simply because of the way Smart’s staff has stacked ridiculously talented recruiting classes in the last few years. There are too many future NFL players on Georgia’s roster for the Bulldogs to be average against the run and fail to frequently penetrate opposing backfields. It will be a surprise if the Bulldogs fail to have at least one or two players match or surpass Walker’s totals from a season ago.

This is one I’m not as worried about as I was yesterday’s group, provided Jordan Davis remains healthy and a factor all season.  The talent is there to upgrade the upfield pressure and Kirby seems determined to make that happen.

Your 7.3.19 Playpen

Evidently there’s some kind of contest in New Jersey to determine which trial judge is the most boorish.  This year features two strong contenders.  Number one:

On July 30, 2018, Judge Troiano denied the waiver to try the teenager as an adult, arguing that prosecutors had abused their discretion.

Judge Troiano said there was a “distinction” between “a sexual assault and a rape.”

He said “the traditional case of rape” generally involved two or more males using a gun or weapon to corner a victim into an abandoned house, shed or shack, “and just simply taking advantage of the person as well as beating the person, threatening the person.”

It was under those egregious circumstances, he said, that the state would try a juvenile in adult court.

He delved into the facts of the case, questioning “whether or not this young lady was intoxicated to the point that she didn’t understand what was going on.”

He said the boy’s actions were not sophisticated or predatory, and dismissed G.M.C.’s text messages as “just a 16-year-old kid saying stupid crap to his friends.”

That’s strong, but number two is succinct.

In the other case, the appellate division reversed another judge’s decision not to try a 16-year-old boy as an adult after he was accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in 2017.

The second family court judge, Marcia Silva, sitting in Middlesex County, denied a motion to try the teenager as an adult and said that “beyond losing her virginity, the State did not claim that the victim suffered any further injuries, either physical, mental or emotional.”

Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?  She was twelve years old.  (The criminal defendant claimed he broke up with the victim because she was “too little”.)

Judge Silva is female, so at least it’s a relief to know we shouldn’t chalk things up to gender bias.  Clueless stupidity, on the other hand…

Have at it in the comments.  (I should probably start a drinking game on the Betsy Ross flag, but I don’t have the energy.)

It’s what’s on the side of the TV camera that matters.

Dabo’s policy for ACC Media Days being what it is — no underclassmen — Trevor Lawrence won’t be in attendance.  David Hale notes what a disappointment that must be for at least one party.

Of course he doesn’t need the promotion. Neither does Clemson. But the ACC does. https://t.co/Nd2RMaHIry

— That's so David (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 2, 2019

That new ACC Network isn’t gonna sell itself, you know.

Which brings me to today’s question:  Lawrence clearly has promotional (i.e., commercial) value to a third party that doesn’t contribute a single thing to his academic experience.  For the sake of argument, let’s say Dabo gets overruled, relents and directs Lawrence to appear (gratis, of course).  Isn’t that an obvious case of exploitation?

2019 SEC Unit Ranks: Linebackers

You know, after reading Poseur’s latest SEC position group rankings, I think you can make a decent argument that linebacker is the single deepest position in the conference, overall.  It’s really impressive.  Texas A&M appears to be the only school without one excellent linebacker.

Your thoughts?

Who am I to argue?

Pictures don’t lie.

Best RB in the country. pic.twitter.com/Nmm8iw55D6

— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) July 1, 2019

Count me as someone who thinks Swift is a little undervalued going into the season.  In a way it’s understandable, as he didn’t look completely healthy last year until midseason against Florida.

Nobody should sleep on him in 2019, though.  Between Georgia’s offensive line and that ridiculous jump cut move of his, he’s coming.

Reflections at FSU

Shorter Florida State’s athletic director on the strong possibility that FSU will sell less than 25,000 (non-luxury) season tickets in 2019:

This is sad:

According to FSU’s planned budget for the coming year, the Seminoles are projecting a decrease of more than $8 million in overall football ticket revenue — from over $23 million to around $15 million.

Coburn said the Seminoles are hoping to offset some of those losses with money they make from their season opener against Boise State in Jacksonville. Because of the way that deal is structured — it originally was a Florida State home game — the Seminoles are hoping to profit more that than they would from a normal game at Doak.

“Jacksonville tickets are going pretty well, and we hope to make up some ground, budget-wise, there,” Coburn said.

Jeebus.

EEP

Shaking my head…

This Team is about to Attack the 4th of July with Extreme Exaggerated Passion! pic.twitter.com/PPPi6S0aYt

— GT Football Strength (@StrengthGT) July 2, 2019

If Paul Johnson were in his grave, he’d be rolling over in it about now.  In the meantime, I’m starting to wonder if Geoff Collins will embrace Dragon*Con.  After all, it’s about as 404 as you can get.