UGA

By Bryan G.

February 14, 2006 04:09 PM | Link to this

It must be a full moon…I agree with Carter. I always felt like Kirby was a fish out of water coaching our young RBs. Lump, Brown, and Ware are all very talented. (I assume Moreno is…that is yet to be seen). They just need someone to help them grow up and to teach them technique. We’ll really need our RBs to be stout this year with the young O-line and new QB (please not Joe T, please…).

By godawg

February 14, 2006 04:20 PM | Link to this

Yea Carter, a UGA Football blog! Sally Mae will luv u!

Tony Ball appears to be a good hire to the Georgia staff. A former RB @UT-Chatt with experience as a RB coach at SC and Holy Cross. Maybe can help a little with his experience w/WRs as well as kick-off returners. Also lets Kirby Smart move back to the defensive side to help out WM. Who knows, maybe his undergrad degree in criminal justice will come in handy too.

One question: Is he a good recruiter?

By AltamahaDawg

February 14, 2006 04:22 PM | Link to this

So if JoeT beats out all that talent to start, your not ok with that?

Good point about position coach. Appearantly good coaches can switch around specific position responsibilities. Hopefuly he brings an added level of experience to the offence as a whole. And many of you in here will appreciate the help for Eason at WR, right? lol.

By Doug

February 14, 2006 04:24 PM | Link to this

Dang, for a split-second there I was terrified that Reggie Ball was going to transfer and Richt was actually going to let him on the team. Don’t do that to me again, Carter.

By AltamahaDawg

February 14, 2006 04:24 PM | Link to this

Oh Kirby is moving alright, out of state.

By godawg

February 14, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this

My bad, I didn’t hear Smart went to be back with Saban in Miami. Ain’t much dawg news here in Tenersee.

By AltamahaDawg

February 14, 2006 04:51 PM | Link to this

prabably aint much Vol football news up there either.

By godawg

February 14, 2006 05:02 PM | Link to this

They IS kinda quiet about football right about now. (Probably still stunned.) Although they is right steered up about this new fangled basketball sport they heared the men is play’in now.

By g8trh8tr

February 14, 2006 05:03 PM | Link to this

I’m in Tenersee & I knew Smart was leaving. You just gotta know where to look. And yes, Altamaha, it’s been quiet up here in vol country. It’s been great!! I do hope Ball will help coach the WR’s too.

By godawg

February 14, 2006 05:14 PM | Link to this

I know, I know. I should be checking georgiadawgs.com frequently, but hey, I get busy and am lucky to blog occasionally. And I can only get dial-up at home in the country. Oh well its “quit’in time on the mountain” as they say up here and its time I “mosey on down through the knobs and into the valley” home.

Man ‘o man, after living off and on in Athens for 35 years, you miss it sometimes. GO DAWGS!

By northwestDAWG

February 14, 2006 05:22 PM | Link to this

Question: if posistion coaches are so valuable(I think they are) and the TB is so important to the Dawgs attack, why didn’t we have a real TB coach last year and not a one year stop over? Anybody ask MR about that?

By geechee

February 14, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this

godawg, just make sure you don’t start singing Rocky Top.

We need some of our WVU buddies to fill us in on this guy. He’s coming from a great program. There seems to be no downside here at all. Things may have worked out great for Dogs’ fans. A different perspective on offense from another winning program and face it, with the talent we had at RB last season, we all had expected a little more fireworks from those guys.

By northwestDAWG

February 14, 2006 05:49 PM | Link to this

there we go again geeche! we agree. you made my point. thanks. if the TB posistion is that inportant why didn’t we have a true posistion coach?

By Bulldog Bry

February 14, 2006 05:50 PM | Link to this

I’m on the phone trying to find out from all my Va Tech buddies about Coach Ball. I live 25 miles from B’burg. I CAN tell you that Coach Ball visited our church a couple of years ago with Ernest Wilford and I was impressed with both. But to be honest, I will always assume that CMR will get class guys for the program - what I want to know is how is he going to fix the Brownlumpware sitcheeashun (I lived in TN, too.) Rememnber us talking about the “three headed monster” this time last year? Tony needs to light a fire and get the monster going.

By AltamahaDawg

February 14, 2006 06:20 PM | Link to this

geechee please dont stop suddenly or there is going to be a terrible accident.

By sj

February 14, 2006 08:43 PM | Link to this

Since Smart is a defensive coach who coached RBs, (and we were 3rd in the SEC in rushing) I say let Ball coach our defense and put Martinez on special teams. Maybe we would have less than 7 players 12 yds off the line.

By J

February 14, 2006 09:39 PM | Link to this

Wow, First you write an erronous blog of which Knowshon Moreno is upset that Kirby left, now you give a back handed insult to Kirby about the running backs…

“He may also help improve the patience and the vision of the backs through teaching simply because he knows whereof he speaks”

WTF? What do you know? Kirby has forgotten more about coaching RB’s and Football in general than you will ever know. That’s it Monday morning Qb, everyone knows you know best. JA!

By geechee

February 14, 2006 09:56 PM | Link to this

J, you seem to have read more into what Carter has written than is there. His post was pretty straight forward and there are no back handed insults as you say.

Carter your news article on this was good. It was short, sweet, and too the point.

By geechee

February 14, 2006 09:57 PM | Link to this

to, not too, sorry

By georgiadawgger

February 14, 2006 10:03 PM | Link to this

One good thing about the hire is the possible “national” recruiting he can definitely help with. Via the AJC note about his hire, he primarily recruited the MD and DC metro area…it would be nice to tap this area like we pulled in Hebron with this last class.

By Sally Mae Johnson

February 14, 2006 11:03 PM | Link to this

Hey Tony,

How ‘bout them dawgs!

By dawg fan 1

February 14, 2006 11:13 PM | Link to this

I actually went to school with Sally Mae at UGA. I haven’t seen her in 30+ years, but she was one beautiful woman in her day. She loves the UGA football team like no one I’ve ever met too. Good woman for this blog. Go Dawgs! Sally, E-mail me please.

By ConyersDawg

February 15, 2006 12:47 AM | Link to this

I think our N. Car. and Maryland recruiting conections just got a little strong.

Go Dawgs!

By UGA 72

February 15, 2006 12:55 AM | Link to this

Guys, I know Tony Ball personally. He is a quality person who knows about running, blocking and catching the ball, our backs will be better for him being there. As far as Tony Ball the person, he is a solid good guy who can’t help but rub off on some of the player prone to making mistakes in judgement. This was an excellent hire in every way, and Tony is a recruiter like MR in that he really is interested in the future of the players he recruits.

Now if we could only get Saban to hire Martinez?

By geechee

February 15, 2006 01:05 AM | Link to this

Conyers, I think it may be a lot bigger than that. If you add UGA72’s post to the fact that Carter said in his news article that Ball has sought this position for two years now, it is outstanding. He has wanted to be the RBs coach at UGA for a while it now seems. The fact that he sought the position out even though he was already coaching at a very successful program such as Vatech is large.

By Blacksburger

February 15, 2006 03:21 AM | Link to this

Guys, I’m a current VT student. I’ve actually had the pleasure to meet Coach Ball, and he’s an awesome guy. If he has a downside, it is that he, like Coach Frank Beamer can sometimes be too loyal to players. Letting a senior back start when we had a freshman that had dramatically more yards per touch,etc. While I think shows how close he can get to his players (good thing) it may not always be in the best interests of the team. I know this is a tiny gray cloud in an otherwise blue sky for ya’ll. Great hire, and I’m happy for Coach Ball, cause that’s where he wanted to be.

By Insane Dawg

February 15, 2006 07:19 AM | Link to this

I like this hire because he gives us a better chance at pulling a couple of stud recruits (yes 07 recruiting)from the DC area (highly rated boys on our radar). What I also like about the hiring of Ball is simple: he is a forming running and should be able to relate better to those guys. Oh, one last word about recruiting, let’s hope that he is a good inner city grabber of talent because this could be Garner’s last year with the Dawgs.

By gdawginkalamazoo

February 15, 2006 08:31 AM | Link to this

Thanks for the input Blacksburger. It looks like we have somone who will be motivated to produce some great RB’s. As for RG, NO would have been a very tough place to live and work this next season or two. Good for RG getting the interview time and NFL recognition. Don’t you think though that maybe WM has maybe one possibly two years to get that defense tightened up then he is possibly gone and RG steps up to DC?

By AltamahaDawg

February 15, 2006 09:27 AM | Link to this

Zoo so the guy gets 2 years total to be the best DC in the league? Took BVG about 3 and he had some really big playmakers. BUT I agree we need to have those kind of get it done standards.

WM numbers are every bit as good as BVG. Just need to work on those few lapses which had a whole lot to do with personel. I am with you though, this is the year to shut to clitics, fair or not.

Anyone not in love with the new hire? can’t see why that doesnt help all around on the offence.

NW you asked about position coach . Every thing I have ever heard (know a couple coaches)was that coaching was coaching. those guys can easily switch. Its all drills and practice and disclipline and philosophy of the staff in general. They dont as much teach them the position at this stage as they do run the program related to those select group of guys. It never bothered me about smart not being a RB coach in the past. I assume professional coaches could coach most any position. BUT it does seem to me that an offensive guy would bring a lot more to the table, not to mention having a lot more years under his belt. Just my opinion, totally not backed up , but it seems to me that a WR coach would bring a lot to the RB as they are rec quite a bit too. Not sure a RB coach would be as helpful to the WR. Anyway, NO way CMR hired anyone that he didnt think could do the job, so NO I dont think anyone needed to “ask MR about that”.

Also geechee and others, dont we need to hold Callaway equally as responsible for fireworks out of the backfield? Hard to just “make” holes.

By Richt Cheats

February 15, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this

You are all feces

By northwestDAWG

February 15, 2006 09:51 AM | Link to this

thanks altamahadawg for the input. I’ll give you the point that a coach is a coach;however, I believe that a “D” coach has a whole different out look as oppose toa “O” coach. interesting not about Smart that he’s going right back to “D” in the NFL. I hope that Ball will play underclassmen(freshmen)if that’s where the talent is and I’m not talking about this up coming year. Sounds as if he’ll fit right in.

By gdawginkalamazoo

February 15, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this

AltamahaDawg, I didn’t mean to sound harsh about WM or not give him an approptiate time frame. He was assistant under BVG wasn’t he. I think the thinking in hiring him was that there wouldn’t be a big lapse with the D. We obviously saw that this past year. Could not stop the run, gave up big plays. I agree with you 100% that coaching is discipline and fundamentals plus the little things that help the players at their respective position, some insight. I too hope that Ball will play the best possible at the position. WVU had a great season last year by finishing up with TWO freshmen at important positions. Those guys were given half a season and see what they did.

By geechee

February 15, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this

Altamaha, I wasn’t trying to hold Smart responsible for the lack of fireworks. I just meant that an offensive coach who has played the position might be able to get a little more out of the RBs. You are right that some of the problems might have been on the OL. Smart was coaching the RBs, it seems, more as a favor to Richt this past season. He has mostly been on the defensive side of the ball and this was the position for which he was hired by Miami. This seems to be a win-win situation for all.

By crs

February 15, 2006 11:25 AM | Link to this

I am kind of disappointed with the hire, I was really hoping we would go get David Kelly back who has a history in Georgia and is a fantastic recruiter.

By NC dawg

February 15, 2006 01:26 PM | Link to this

yeah, Kelly did some great work with the backs in his time…..the best college back he had was Hines Ward, also a receiver and QB (Robert Edwards didn’t shine as RB until after Kelly left). And it’s safe to say that just about anyone could have coached Ward. Plus Kelly did a GREAT job with the likes of Terrel Davis and Larry Bowie, both of whom went on to the NFL after, shall we say, less than stellar college careers. And anyone remember Rod Perrymond? Kelly pushed hard to bring him to UGA from the high school he coached at, thinking he’d be big news.

By crs

February 15, 2006 02:08 PM | Link to this

We’ll see on Ball, just saying there is a reason Kelly has been at schools like LSU and USC, has a great reputation as a top notch recruiter and lets face it running backs need the least amount of coaching. With Rodney Gardner a threat to leave every year, we need to have another top notch recruiter. As far as TD and LB - I think their less than stellar UGA careers had far less to do with Kelly than with Goff.

By scareddawgfan

February 15, 2006 02:13 PM | Link to this

I’d have to say that if Joe T beats out all of the competition that NO I’M NOT OK WITH THAT! What does that say about the 3 guys on the bench (all of whom were all-americans)? Would you rather lose 3 games with Joe T or 4 games with either Cox,Stafford or Barnes? Personally I’d rather lose 4 and let one of them get a ton of experience! Let’s be honest unless Moreno comes out looking like Herschel he’ll redshirt and unless Stafford comes out looking like Elway (who he’s been compared to) he’ll redshirt as well. The running backs will be fine IF the O-line blocks for them. You can put a question mark at almost every position as to how they will perform. Consider this upcoming year a GIGANTIC learning experience for the Dawgs and look too ‘07 for something special. Don’t expect to many happy Mondays after them and the Falcons play this year!

By crs

February 15, 2006 02:23 PM | Link to this

SDF, I agree 100% with your thoughts, this coming year is really the rebuilding year for the dogs, at best I think this is a 9-3 squad, most likely a 7-5 or 8-4. We have many issues besides the qb decision, poor o-line play and turnover on the o-line, same thing on the d-line, atleast three new starters, secondary is in shambles, we are very young and will take some lumps, special teams is average at best. I agree, Joe T. unless leaps and bounds above the others needs to end his career as a backup. I do not want to see UGA with four different qbs in four years come 07. I would much rather see us take a few lumps and let the young guys learn, than pick up a meaningless win or two and have another rebuilding project come 07.

By Bradley G

February 15, 2006 03:36 PM | Link to this

Will someone please tell me what Joe T has done wrong? Are we comparing who he will be based on the fact he wasn’t allowed to use the entire playbook against a hated team like Florida? I say if Joe T plays the best in spring, let him start! Rebuilding year? What happened to all of those DAWG bloggers talking about reloading after we won the SEC? C’mon guys!

By Philip

February 15, 2006 04:26 PM | Link to this

The question shouldn’t be what can Ball bring to the Dawgs’ offense as much as how will Georgia handle seeing eight men in the box every game. This team will have two huge things to prove next year…can the new linemen block and can the passing game develop and produce on a consistent basis.

By gdawginkalamazoo

February 15, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this

CMR will have the guys ready to go. He will have the best guy in at QB. We will have some freshmen recruits that are ready to make some plays. Most of you guys sound like our program is falling apart and lacking in so many areas that Mike Stipe will be singing Fall on Me for the Bulldog nation before every home game. Bradley G you are right we are reloading. It is a good time to be a Georgia Bulldog.

By AltamahaDawg

February 15, 2006 05:08 PM | Link to this

zoo, great song, showing your colors there. not falling apart, good time, correct indeed.

nw, just saying thats what the coaches say. I’m with you, an offensive guy got to bring more to that side. All is well now. Thanks for the effort Kirby.

By geechee

February 15, 2006 05:39 PM | Link to this

Philip pretty much summed it up. I feel we do have both the playing talent and coaching talent to handle the challenges this season but at this point all we can do is wait and see. Worrying about it does nothing but cloud the situation. It won’t change what will be. There is for sure a lot of rebuilding that will occur but I’m just keeping the faith in MR and believe we will as he has stated challenge for the SEC crown again.

By dawginduluth

February 16, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

Just popped in to see how my two favorite Richt suck-ups were doing. So, geegee and altamama, I see you’re both setting low expectations for the coming season? All that coaching talent, GREAT coaching talent I might add, and playing talent and we’re going to have to “wait and see?” Sounds like another top 5 recruiting class, 10 and 3 and no NC to me. When Richt states that he is going to challenge for the national crown, I’ll get excited. Hell, I’ll get excited if he can get his players to START every drill, much less finish the drill.

By scareddawgfan

February 16, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this

It’s not that Joe T has done anything wrong I just don’t feel that he’s another Shockley in waiting. I also feel that we have way to many question marks at skilled positions. We have a BUNCH of guys who have either never seen the field or have seen very little of it. I feel that we have the most question marks we’ve had since Richt has been here. If ya’ll think Joe T is going to lead that unexperienced team to Atlanta I’m afraid ya’ll had better pinch yourselves. I think you play Cox/Stafford/Barnes, whoever you deem the future of this program and let him go ahead and start getting his timing down with the other youngsters and feel comfortable. 9-3 with Joe T (best case) or 8-4 with the future of this program, you decide!

By AltamahaDawg

February 16, 2006 01:42 PM | Link to this

you decide? Id prabably defer that to the professionals running the program.

short man from duluth , please quote me setting up low expectations.

By AltamahaDawg

February 16, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this

I dont understand you guys argument about QB this coming season. Assuming I would buy the whole look to the future mentality , your argument just doesnt make sence. Unless Stafford takes the job, and half of you say he needs to redshirt, then we WILL have 4 different QB in 4 years. Thats an almost certainty, if not more. So? Its not because of default, its because of a wealth of talent. Why is letting Cox/Barnes start only in your mind to give way to Stafford the next year different than JoeT doing the same? I for one dont think the true freshman will take the starting job. (if he does , then he’s that good) Then to me its whoever WINS the job this year, and then again next year. With injuries, and uncertainty, you have to put out there the best chance to win this season, right now. NO WAY, NO WAY, CMR sacrifices this season to build for some uncertain situation next one. You guys would roast him for that kind of thinking. Tell me what coach is going to bench a more capable QB so one younger can work on his timing. That’s why they have practices. And mop up duty in blowouts. Real games are for winning. I plan on going to Atlanta this December.

Plus we have no earthly idea how that plays out. Cox/Barnes wins it and doesnt give way next year. JoeT starts does great or gives way mid season. Somebody gets hurt. Lets just let a guy who knows a thing of two about judging QB’s and winning take care of it. I just can’t beleive anyone would think we arent going to put the best QB on the field.

By Bradley G

February 16, 2006 02:56 PM | Link to this

Coming in to last year, we had major concerns about the season:

1) New starting QB 2) Pollack, Thurman, and Davis were gone 3) Brian VanGorder is gone 4) No experience at WR

This year’s concerns are:

1) New starting QB 2) Inexperienced secondary 3) Inexperience along both lines 4) RBs that need to play to their potential

Whichever TEAM in the SEC overcomes their particular questions the most wins the SEC. As for me and Altamahadawg, we’re planning on being in Atlanta in December. Are ya’ll jumping on this bandwagon or not?

By Dick Suave

February 17, 2006 11:03 PM | Link to this

You can’t go wrong with Tony Ball. You ‘Dawgs all know I’m a WVU guy so when you hear me praise a Hokie take it to heart. He’ll get the best out of every back you have and you will notice an improvement in your running game imediately. Don’t know how much he will help with the DC recruiting though…Maryland and Penn State seem to have a mortal lock on the area.

By Hairydawg

February 19, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this

Tony Ball, i’m sure, will end up being a good hire. But losing Kirby Smart as a recruiter will be a big blow to the staff. I hope Ball has a good deal of experienvce in that field.

Speaking of recruiting … Time has long passed that the Athletic Association should give Rodney Garner a three-year deal worth about $300,000 per year. He more than deserves it, IMO.