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 > 2007 > September > 03
Monday, September 3, 2007
Will less Lumpkin mean more Moreno?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We saw exactly why Georgia coach Mark Richt doesn’t like to be overly dependent on one tailback during Saturday night’s win over Oklahoma State. Kregg Lumpkin, the Bulldogs’ leading rusher last season, suffered a fracture and dislocation of one of his thumbs in the 35-14 win over Cowboys. He will be out at least a couple of weeks, which obviously includes Saturday’s game against South Carolina.
This is bad news. But, had Lumpkin been the only featured tailback in the Bulldogs’ backfield, it would have been devastating news. Because Georgia’s offensive philosophy under Richt is for tailbacks to share the load, the Dogs have two well-trained and experienced runners to absorb the blow in Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno.
I’m sure after this past Saturday, a lot of people will want to see more of Moreno and you may. But, a closer look reveals that the Dogs didn’t exactly bulldoze Oklahoma State on the ground. Moreno averaged only 3.5 yards on 20 carries and, as a team, the Dogs managed only 3.0 yards per carry versus the Cowboys’ modest defense. Most of their success came on quick screens but, you can be assured, they’ll meet much more resistance from a stout South Carolina defensive unit.
That’s notable because it’s very likely Georgia is not going to be able to just line up run the ball against the Gamecocks, something it did on 47 of 71 plays against the Cowboys. That means the Dogs will have to pass more and that puts a premium on pass protection. This is an area in which Moreno himself says he needs the most improvement.
So what do you think? Should the Dogs go to Moreno even more against the Gamecocks? Or should they stick with Brown and just bring in Moreno as an occasional change of pace? And what about behind those two? Jason Johnson did not play Saturday because of a neck injury. If he can’t go, should the Dogs pull the redshirt off Caleb King and see what he’s got?
LOOKING FOR COMMENTS: I need your help for a piece we’re doing for the paper this week. Our editors want to know: Is Steve Spurrier still the most hated coach for UGA fans? Or has he lost that distinction to Phil Fulmer or Urban Meyer or Tommy Tuberville or Nick Saban?
If you’d like to be quoted in an article we’re doing on this, please e-mail me your thoughts on this at ctowers@ajc.com and be sure to include your full name, hometown, occupation and a phone number at which you could be reached.
Thanks in advance.
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