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 > November > 05
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Moreno, others hear your questions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As we have the last couple of weeks, I vowed to answer or get answered your more prevalent questions posed here on Monday. Since then I had three interview opportunities with the team (one with coach Mark Richt): Monday night after practice, Tuesday’s press luncheon and Tuesday night after practice. Let’s get right to it.
(1) Many of you wondered about Knowshon Moreno taking himself out of games, particularly at a couple of inopportune moments against Florida.
Moreno: “It’s just keeping a good rotation out there and keeping everybody fresh. I’m not really tired out there. I’m really energetic guy. It’s not really about tired. It’s more about keeping the rotation going.”
[But isn’t Georgia better off with you out there rather than Caleb King, I asked] “I see the stuff Caleb does in practice,” Moreno said. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s a really good athlete. We’re not really losing a step when he’s in there. The same thing with Richard [Samuel]. We wouldn’t be losing with a step with Richard in there either. We have some really good backs back there.”
There was a little more to this but I’m writing a story for the paper, which should be up later this evening.
(2) What’s the motivation moving ahead?
Believe it or not, Georgia can still make it to the SEC Championship Game. Yes, it is very unlikely but the fact is it is still possible. And as we all know after last season (remember Pitt over West Virginia?) anything can happen. I called the SEC to verify the scenarios. Here’s what has to happen: (a) Florida has to lose Saturday at Vanderbilt, which would be a monumental upset but, hey, they have to play the game and also to South Carolina (again, unlikely but not beyond the realm of possibility), and Georgia and Vanderbilt win out, then Dogs go via head-to-had tiebreaker; (b) if Florida loses to Vanderbilt and wins out in the SEC, and Georgia and Vandy win out in the SEC, then it goes to the last of seven tiebreakers between the three 6-2 teams, which is highest BCS ranking. It’s still a longshot Georgia would be ahead of Florida since the Gators put a 49-10 thumping on the Dogs, so they’d probably need Florida to lose to Florida State as well.
“Until we’re mathematically eliminated, we’re still focused on winning the East,” Richt said.
Also, there has been a lot of talk about getting 11 wins again.
(3) Should Richard Samuel be playing more?
Well, of course, Richard Samuel thinks so. I talked to him after practice Tuesday night and he said he doesn’t know if he will be but he seems to be getting more reps on kickoff return in practice (he had three returns for 99 yards with a long of 60 against the Gators). Samuel bobbled a couple of those and practically had to be tackled by his own teammate to be kept from bringing the ball out from six yards deep in the end zone. CMR hinted said he might have to get a few offensive carries but there aren’t many left over after Moreno and King.
(4) Willie Martinez (and Mike Bobo) gotta go.
The defensive and offensive coordinators are always targets after a loss like Georgia had to Florida. No, I didn’t come right out and ask CMR is he was considering firing either guy. There are still four games left to play this season and the Dogs likely will be favored in them all. So let’s let the season play out. But Richt did say Tuesday “I believe in our defense” and said the same thing about the offense and about kicker Blair Walsh. Sorry fellas, but Richt doesn’t share Tommy Tuberville’s philosophy on coordinators. But I can assure you it’ll be brought up the downward trends continue.
(5) How are the players taking it?
Pretty good considering. I walked by the weight room Monday night and watched through the glass wall about a minute and the music was cranked up loud and the players were laughing and joking and getting after each other to lift more and go harder, etc. And there’s definitely an edge to them in interviews. I’ll let senior defensive tackle Corvey Irvin handle it from here.
Irvin: “It’s over. The game is over. They hyped it up, ‘big payback’ and all this. We just made too many mistakes, offense, defense, special teams, we made too many mistakes. I’ll still say we’re the better team on any good day. You put Georgia on a good day, y’all know how good we can be; y’all seen it. Life goes on. Football, I believe it teaches you to be a man. When adversity hits, let’s see how you respond. I figure right now nobody respects Georgia, they probably say we’re a fluke, we were the number one team in the preseason and probably calling us overrated. But, hey, we’re gonna go and make a statement against Kentucky, see if we can get our swagger back.”
Some links:
Looks like Kentucky is going to stick with two quarterbacks… .
Speaking of two quarterbacks, Chattanooga’s David Paschall writes about the one that’s making a big difference for the Wildcats, freshman Randall Cobb… .
Here’s a good story by Charles Odum of The Associated Press on Matthew Stafford’s interceptions problem… .
Baton Rouge prepares for the return of the great and terrible and Nick Saban… .
The master list of potential Phillip Fulmer replacements from the Nashville Tennesssean… .
Here’s a refreshingly different take. The BCS is not just a good thing; it’s a great thing, according to [Ron Morris of the Columbia State].
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