UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 06
Monday, November 6, 2006
Offensive options limited
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With the news that Demiko Goodman is gone for the year with an ACL injury, maybe now Mark Richt has no choice but to run Kregg Lumpkin more than 13 times. And it won’t matter if the opposing defense is playing straight man and rolling someone into the box (Richt’s explanation why Lumpkin didn’t get more carries in the second half against Kentucky) or in cover 2 (Richt’s explanation for why he did get 10 carries in the first half).
Regardless of the carries he gets against Auburn, Lumpkin probably won’t be as effective as he was against Kentucky. (Eighty-three of his 85 yards came in the first half.) Auburn is solid defensively. Kentucky is a sieve.
Goodman’s injury comes at a time when the sophomore was finally figuring out being a wide receiver is more than just running fast. In a receiving corps that has been mediocre, Goodman had become the one possible threat other teams had to guard against. Without his speed to stretch the field, you can guarantee Auburn will play man-to-man on the receivers, leave an extra guy in the box and blitz like banshees.
Georgia will try to counteract things with short screens, and the middle of the field could be open on some hot routes. But the screens are only effective every once in a while. As for the over-the-middle route, no one has stepped up and proven they can make a tough catch over the middle. Wait, Mario Raley did; the senior grabbed the ball on a very difficult catch. But he was hurt on the tackle. His teammates saw that and now may even be more hesitant to go over the middle.
Too bad, because if Auburn sends everybody and is in man coverage, that is what will be open.
Georgia has had a staggering amount of injuries this year. Nine starters have been injured and missed at least one game at some time this season. And Sean Bailey was hurt before the season began.
It is hard to say which of those was the most critical injury. But one could make an argument that losing Joe Tereshinski in the second game threw everything into a tailspin.
Really, think about it. Would Georgia’s record be any worse with Tereshinski? Doubtful. In fact, Tereshinski probably would not have had three interceptions at Kentucky.
Still, it’s been clear Matthew Stafford was thrown in before he was ready. (If anyone wants to argue that point, before you do, just remember Stafford has four touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.)
There is good and bad with playing early. Stafford will be more than ready next season because he played this season. But in playing this season, he is getting beat up physically and emotionally. How long will the effects of this season linger with him?
He seems like the type who can shake things off easily and won’t become a timid quarterback because of past failings. Whatever you think, it is clear Stafford is going to be very good if he ever gets some help around him.
Now to the most critical injury. That would have to be Brandon Coutu’s hamstring tear suffered while experimenting with a new onsides kick. With Coutu, it could be argued Georgia would be 8-2 with just one blowout loss to Tennessee and a close loss to Florida. Fans wouldn’t be happy — they rarely are — but they wouldn’t be out on a ledge, either.
Now, instead of Coutu, Georgia is on its third kicker, who just happens to be the punter, Gordon Ely-Kelso. And he hasn’t kicked in a game since high school.
