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 > 2008 > October > 29
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Questions: Roping Gators and blackouts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You asked for it; you got it. Following are the FAQs (frequently asked questions) you guys submitted for this week’s game. These are the ones that, by my best estimation, were posed most often. I’ll answer or get the answers to any other ones you have as we go through the day.
Let’s get right to it:
(1) Defense, defense, defense.
I hear more complaints about the defense — and defensive coordinator Willie Martinez in particular — than anything else on this blog. Lately, I can understand it. I, too, am surprised that Georgia hasn’t played better as a defense this season, especially considering it was returning nine starters from last year’s unit that finished 14th in the national in overall D. Granted, injuries have been a problem again, especially losing DT Jeff Owens right out of the gate. But they still seem to have all the parts needed to be dominant, and they’ve been anything but that. Entering the Florida game, the Dogs are sixth in the SEC overall (298.1 ypg), eighth against the score (20.2 ppg) and 11th — and 77th nationally — against the pass (221.2 ypg). The only thing they’re good at is stuffing the run. All that is before they meet Florida, which is one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
Asked about defending the Gators, Martinez said: “You have to play good with your eyes and execute the defense and get off blocks and make plays. It’s not going to change [for Florida]. You’re just trying to defend plays and the players, too. Making plays and recognizing where there strengths are and match them up with our strengths and weakness. You’ve got to execute on defense.”
Whatever all that means…
(2) Lots of questions about whether or not the Bulldogs are planning to “blackout” the Florida game.
There certainly has been no indication of that. Of course, if they were to do it this time they’d try to keep it a secret until kickoff. Personally, I think it would be a bad idea. Never mind that they got waxed by Alabama the last time they wore them. I just don’t think it would be nearly as effective in Jacksonville where the stadium is 50-50 Georgia and Florida fans. And I don’t think it’s sending the right message either. To me it’s almost like they’re trying to derive power and strength from wearing a certain color. I’m more of the mindset of wearing traditional colors and trying to win the game on your own athletic and strategic merits.
(3) A lot of queries about the tight ends, such as “why aren’t we throwing to them as much as we have in the past?” and “are they going to play Aron White more after his big catch against LSU?”
This question just won’t go away no matter how many times it gets answered. There are three basic reasons you’re not seeing more tight ends in the passing game this season. First, Georgia is having to utilize the tight ends much more in pass protection due to the young offensive line. Secondly, injuries have ravaged the position this season, with all three players currently battling serious shoulder problems (probably from all that pass protection on D-ends). And, finally, because the Dogs have three major threats — flanker A.J. Green, slot receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and whomever is playing split end — at wide receiver, plus the backs to throw to out of the backfield, they’re just not as reliant on the tight end as a receiver this season. That said, they still have plenty of plays in the playbook and, because they haven’t gone to tight ends as often, it’s more of a surprise when they do (see White’s 48-yard catch vs. LSU).
(4) Do the Dogs kick away from Florida returner Brandon James?
CMR: “There are two ways [to handle a great returner]: Either kick it away or kick it high. And you hope it’s high enough to cover. If you keep it in play or kick it out of bounds, you hope you didn’t shank it and you hope you got it off. Because when you do have to ask a punter to angle kick, he’s basically stepping \into a place that’s not quite as safe. You hope the pocket is wide enough to be safe. It also usually takes a little bit more time to turn and angle kick which is also a protection issue. You also have a chance for shanking them but we practice it and it will be ready to go. The other problem is when you put it in play you give a great player a chance to return it for a touchdown. There’s really not an easy answer. They’re going to stress us either way.”
For the record, a talked to punter Brian Mimbs after practice Tuesday — it’ll be an item in today’s notebook — and it sounds like the Dogs are going to punt straight at James and high. It worked well last weekend against LSU’s Trindon Holliday.
(5) Any plans to move some “speed guys” to defensive end to improve pass rush?
Same answer as all season: No. The coaches like who they have there and think they’re improving weekly.
So that’s all for now. Like I said, keep ‘em coming. Meanwhile, here’s a few links:
Alleged BCS guru Jeff Sagarin currently has the SEC ranked fourth among the super conferences in his weekly power rankings… .
If you’re rooting for an eventual playoff in college football, then you should root for this BCS disaster scenario… .
Alabama is a great team and it has the league’s best shot at making it to the BCS title game unscathed. But the Tide has benefitted from an extremely weak SEC Western Division… .
Here’s a good column on Georgia’s O-line by the Athens Banner-Herald’s David Ching.
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