Did Coach Mullen Take the O with him to Miss St.

Seven games into the 2009 season and the sputtering offense is the hot topic. It seems to be the question that Coach Meyer is asked week in and week out now. Last week leading into the Mississippi State game he had this to say about the offense:

“I remember one time, someone said, ‘Coach Mullen is going to catch a lot of heat’ or something like that and I responded, ‘The only person he would get heat from is me’ and no he is fine.  We are just maneuvering through a difficult part of the schedule and trying to get some things worked out.  Anytime there is transition and changes in staff, I’m very pleased with the job Coach Addazio has done.  The wrist above the elbow was a problem.  Chris Rainey probably scores after the unbelievable move he put on the guy.  It wasn’t a freak fumble, it was a great play.  We’re going to be nuts about taking care of the football in practice this week.  We made a film for the guys to watch.  It wasn’t just the balls on the ground.  The catch Deonte Thompson made was holding the ball like this [extends arms and holds them out].  Old habits tend to show up.  That’s coaching.  That was the number one thing we will work on; and red zone production.  We didn’t get stopped, we fumbled the ball.  Over the past few years, we have been very good in those two areas and it did not look that way.  I think we’re leading the SEC in offense; total yards, pass efficiency, third down and all that stuff.  Turnovers in the red zone are critical.”

After the Mississippi State game Coach Meyer continued his message, “I know people are going to take shots,” Meyer said. “I think we’re pressing like crazy. I think the head coach wants to score so #@$% bad. We’re not used to this.”

The Gators problems on offense has even fueled hope for Georgia. UGA has three wins since 1990 in this match up, but them Dawgs could be one of the last major test before the SEC Championship game. The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party could still play a role in deciding the SEC East. Coach Meyer addressed the upcoming game at his Monday press conference:

“Georgia has great receivers, including one of the best in the nation.  He has the ability to go up and over us, like he did last year.  We have to find a way defend him and not be so concerned about him [that] they can run the ball.  Offensively, we will need to do a better job in some areas.  We were not good on third downs and red zone production.  We will spend time on those things early this week.”

Also on the mind of SEC Football fans has been the role of the refs in games this year. There is a good chance Coach Dan Mullen is going to get a letter from the SEC regarding his criticism of the refs. “I don’t even know why we have replay right now in the Southeastern Conference if they’re not going to utilize it,” Mullen said Sunday.

Does he have a point? You be the judge.

Coach Mullen is not the only SEC coach in trouble for his comments on the refs. Lane Kiffin once again gets on the bad side of Mike Slive. Slive said “further violations of SEC policies by Kiffin will subject the coach to additional penalties, including suspension.”

Tim Tebow was able to tie Herschel Walker’s SEC rushing TD record of 49 against Mississippi State. The first thing that many were to point out is Herschel Walker set the record in three years. Tebow tied the record in three and a half years, and oh by the way he is a Quarterback. Mark Bradley over at the AJC still says that Herschel Walker is the best ever (he makes some great points) , but in pointing out “Tebow has demonstrably more talent around him” there is no mention of the “demonstrably” better defense Tebow or any player in the SEC faces now verses the early 80’s.

With his sub-Tebow preferences since the UK game, Tim has now dropped behind  Mark Ingram in ESPN’s latest Heisman watch. Everyone has seen that Tim has held onto the ball longer than he should have when there is no one open, but it seems to me that Tebow’s throwing motion has gotten longer and at times slower than in years past. Two of his fumbles this year have come from defenders knocking the ball out when the ball is as the back of his throwing motion. (looking for photos)

Also a big thanks for the RTs, comments, and general discussion during the game goes to @Pattric, @HankatMarlows, @whitegatorz, @osgators, @LisaHorne, @ThatGuyBama, @deann16, @SirGQHollyWood, @ fuddmain, @DJBobbyV32, @kjhurst15, @AndyR24, @EricMcDonald, @thechodog, @edsbs, @Matti09, @ObiSun, @JrCoram, @Gatrbate, @SwamiG8R, @Sara6590, @guiltyofcraving, @theNFLguy, @GulfCoastGold, @gatormiami, @pixie1212, @1996Gator, @KyleHagler, @wealthdocintl, @rickydee1955, @donwb, @_karthik, @brianjsmith, @Umlat, @_CReX_, @CTiffany24, @dreamscometrue_, @Bgator13, @GOPMichael, @DALLASHALL. Sorry to anyone I missed.

2009 SEC Football Week 3

Tim Pollock gives us a wrap-up for week three in the SEC

Ryan Mallett looks every bit the elite quarterback he was touted to be, but it appears Georgia is out to kick-start every quarterback’s 2010 Heisman campaign.  First the Dawgs gave up 37 to South Carolina, then 41 to Arkansas.

Maybe Stephen Garcia and Ryan Mallett really are Heisman hopefuls.  Chances are, though, that Georgia’s defense is just bad.  The true test will be when Georgia plays Tennessee.  If Crompton completes more than seven passes—not including catches by the Bulldog defenders—then all is lost for the Georgia hopeful.

I’m not saying Willie Martinez is going to get fired—he’ll just be encouraged by Georgia officials to get a new start at a different school.

Randall Cobb, you can be on my flag football team.

Lane Kiffin still hasn’t figured out that talking doesn’t win games.  And I have no clue what “powerful message” Tennessee is sending recruits when the Vols are on a two-game losing streak.

Urban Meyer, meanwhile, was uncharacteristically happy after his team’s less-than-impressive 23-13 win.  Meyer wanted to watch tape before commenting on his team’s national championship win, yet a 10-point win over a one-dimensional Tennessee team needs to be “enjoyed”?  What in the world is going on?

Alabama just picked up another first down.

After spotting West Virginia 14 points, Auburn finally woke up and dropped 41 on the Mountaineers.  Is Guz Malzahn the Tim Tebow of offensive coordinating?  Methinks yes.

Jordan Jefferson’s yards per completion average is becoming comical.  The man still hasn’t thrown for even 175 yards in a game.  How many more pedestrian efforts do we have to watch this kid play before we stop calling him a good quarterback?

If you’ve never watched true freshman cornerback Stephon Gilmore play, do us all a favor and punch yourself in the face.  This kid demands your television-viewing prowess.  Circle this Thursday on your calendar—when Gilmore faces off against Jevan Snead and his posse of receivers.

And also be sure to watch South Carolina’s top receiver, Tori Gurley.  I used to think he was the most physical receiver in the country because he always gets tangled up with whoever is defending him, but I finally figured it out after looking at the kid’s shoes: the dude has Ronald McDonald feet. DVR the game, replay a slow motion sideline shot and marvel at his size 19s.

For all the hype around Tennessee’s “amazing” recruiting class, we certainly aren’t seeing big-time results.  Bryce Brown looked great against Western Kentucky, but in games against UCLA and Florida, his production was average at best—45 yards on 19 carries, or under three yards per carry.

Marsalis Teague and Nu’Keese Richardson, meanwhile, combined for zero catches against UCLA and Florida.  Return man David Oku is dangerous, but he’s only on the field a handful of times.

And don’t tell me they need time.  Look around the league—and the nation, for that matter—over the last few years.  True freshmen are not only contributing, they are starring.

So how many times did you get grief  over playing Charleston Southern last week? The guys over at Orange & Blue Hue ask if anyone wants to complain about the schedule now? Simply put Georgia,Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma fans all wished their teams played cupcakes in week one.

Where did Uga's Mojo Go?

Mark Bradley of the AJC after watching the Dawgs for two years sees  something missing at UGA, and it isn’t talent. Maybe that slice of Time-Out Pie that Coach Urban Meyer served them up last year took some of their mojo away. The season is still young, so the Dawgs can’t be wrote off. Reading some of the Bulldog sites a lot of them have already done just that.

After the first game all the buzz was about Riley Cooper showing he was ready to be number one target for Tebow, and also for yaking after catching three passes in a row.

Coach Meyer said after the game, “Riley played like he practiced. He’s playing as good as he’s ever played. I know it’s been one game, but the way he practiced, I knew he was ready for a breakout game.”

Tim Tebow played less than a half, but both Olin Buchanan and the Rivals.com Fan Poll still has him in the lead for the Heisman Trophy. Yes that is a Heisman Trophy poll after the first week of the season.

On to week two, with the Troy Trojans paying a visit to The Swamp. Florida Coach Urban Meyer says not to take this team lightly, and they have more NFL talent than “several” Southeastern Conference teams the Gators will play this season. It may be easy to over look Troy after they got off to a bad start to their season with one of Coach Meyer’s old teams in Bowling Green.

The flu has hit the Gators this week just like many football teams across college football. Urban Meyer is monitoring his players’ flu situation closely. Right now Brandon Hicks and Nick Alajajian have been reported to have the flu.

Jelani Jenkins looks like he will be out due to an ankle sprain. While the defensive line could get a boost as Lawrence Marsh was able to practice Wednesday. Also Carl Johnson after limping off the field in the CSU game will be ready to go against Troy.

Orson Charles says the Gators don't feel right

Orson Charles took the Gators off his list of schools he is still considering. This leaves USC, Georgia , and Tennessee still in the running. Now the question I ask is why? He has stated that he will make his official announcement on March 6^th, so why take the Gators off the list with 10 days to go? I tried to look at the facts on this one, and why would a hybrid TE like Charles not want to play for the Gators?

Of the three schools that he has left which one of them has shown that they use a TE that can line up as a WR like the Gators have? These schools have had some great TE’s come through there program, but they have all been the big traditional tight ends which right now Orson isn’t. All he had to do is walk on campus and he was 2^nd on the depth chart.

This one will hurt the depth chart, but we still have a great one in Aaron Hernandez and the Gators did pick up Desmond Parks a fast TE that can cause match up problems for opposing linebackers. Also the Gators are working the class of 2010 hard for a TE, and have Xavier Grimble, Gerald Christian, and Charles Fashaw targeted.

This is just one that I will not understand. The only thing I can think of is Urban and company did not make Orson feel special, because he would have been a perfect fit for the Gators spread offense.

The comedy of errors leading to the total implosion of the Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators in the 2008 Cocktail Party.

The Dawgs Two Best are Gone to The NFL

The season started out with a lot of hope and promise for the Bulldogs with a preseason #1 ranking, but did not result in the outcome most Georgia fans wanted. This is not to bash Georgia. As a team they had to deal with a tough schedule and a lot of key injuries. After a win in a 24-12 win over Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl three key players are leaving Athens. Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, and Asher Allen all announced they are headed to the NFL. Then factor in the departure of senior Mohamed Massaquoi, you end up with A.J. Green and a lot of unproven players around him. The only QB returning with any offensive stats is Joe Cox, and he played in all of 3 games.

Georgia coach Mark Richt still thinks they can compete. On the same day Stafford and Moreno announced their departures: “There are a lot of things we can improve on as a football team,” he said, “that can give us an opportunity to win the East.”

Richt said that with Cox under center and a new group of runners in the backfield, this season’s offense will have a different look, but not necessarily a less successful or more conservative approach.

In fact, even without two of the biggest stars to call Georgia home during Richt’s tenure with the Bulldogs, Cox said he doesn’t expect much to change at all.

“We still have the same type of guys,” Cox said.

“It always hurts when you lose two superstars like Matthew and Knowshon and another in Mohamed, but the good thing about football is, once somebody leaves, somebody’s got to step up, and we’ve got plenty of guys to do that at every position.”

My out look is another 10 season would be a huge goal to shot for the 2009 season, but I look the returning roster and see a big drop in talent and experince. They should be in a dawg fight for 2nd in the SEC East.