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AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December
December 2008
Who’s the franchise player?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia fans are all too painfully aware that the Bulldogs stand a very good chance of losing both Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno to an early departure from school for the NFL draft.
Of course, we’d love to have both of them return next season to see if they can win a championship ring before turning pro, but even wishing for that out loud feels like tempting fate.
There does appear to be at least a decent chance, though, that one of the dynamic duo will come back for another year. So here’s the question that came up in a couple of Dawg fan conversations this weekend: Which loss would hurt more, Stafford or Moreno?
You can make a good case either way, but based on what I’ve seen on the field so far my first inclination is to say losing Moreno would probably be the bigger setback.
Here’s my thinking: Joe Cox might not have the abundant natural physical prowess that Stafford has, but he appears to be a better than average passer and a smart player. Could he make a game-winning pass like the one Stafford threw against Kentucky? Well, his game-winner against Colorado a couple of years ago might not have rated quite as high on the difficulty scale, but it showed he can win under pressure. And if we need to change it up a bit, there’s Logan Gray, who is a running threat.
Put it this way: The prospect of Cox as starting QB is, as of now, a heckuva lot less scary than was the impending ascension of D.J. Shockley at the end of David Greene’s senior season. Remember how bad D.J. looked in relief of Greene, even in that last game of 2004? The Bulldog Nation shuddered. But we know how it worked out once D.J. had the starter’s job: an SEC championship.
Meanwhile, the drop-off from Moreno, who’s always a threat to break a long run any time he gets the ball, to off-and-on backup Caleb King looks to be quite a bit steeper at this point in King’s development … the key phrase being “at this point.” (Yes, we also have young Richard Samuel, who currently is No. 2, but I’d put my money on King to take over if Moreno leaves.) There’s no question King is a talented runner (though probably not in Moreno’s league), but his difficulties with blocking, a crucial job for a tailback in Georgia’s balanced offense, have been well documented and cost him the backup spot and drastically reduced his playing time late in the season. Of course, by next year that all might be behind him. But having Moreno back for another year definitely would keep Georgia from becoming a one-dimensional offense and take some of the pressure off Cox.
On the other hand, the case arguing that the loss of Stafford would hurt more is also pretty compelling. Quarterback is, frankly, a more crucial position than tailback, and Stafford is good enough to win games even when he doesn’t have much of an offensive line. Chances are he could continue to do so with King as his tailback. So on second thought …
Anyway, bottom line: If either one of them returns, Georgia’s offense should still be pretty damn good.
It’s the defense we’ve got to worry about. …
SPEAKING OF STAR PLAYERS: I saw the basketball Dawgs in action Sunday against North Carolina A&T and came away with two thoughts: First, winning over a team like that by 30 points is what Georgia should be doing, as opposed to the two previous games coming down to the buzzer. So it’s not a win to get excited about, though it was enjoyable to watch. Which brings me to the second thought: Trey Thompkins (once known as “Little Howard” out in Gwinnett County) looks like the real deal. Hampered much of this season so far by injuries, the much-hyped freshman really hadn’t asserted himself much until Sunday, when had 22 points (including five of six 3-point attempts), a dozen rebounds, four steals, two assists and a couple of blocks. An all-around player, in other words. The Dawgs are probably too young and raw this season to do much in the SEC wars, but if Dennis Felton can land another star to go along with Thompkins next year, his hot seat might cool off considerably.
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Welcome to the hot seat, Willie
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So the Willie Martinez issue appears to have been settled, and in fact isn’t really an issue at all, from what we’re told. Mark Richt supports his staff, including the fans’ favorite whipping boy, Martinez, and Damon Evans supports Mark Richt.
End of story, right?
Well, maybe not. There’s a wild card in Georgia athletics that hasn’t been heard from … UGA President Michael Adams, who in the past has shown no reluctance about pulling the trigger on decisions that his athletic director isn’t ready to make.
If, heaven forbid, Javon Ringer and the Spartans run up and down the field against the Dawgs in the bowl game and Martinez’s defense again gives up 30-plus points in a loss, will Adams be willing to sit back and let things ride? Or will he call Richt in and tell him Georgia can’t go another season with such woeful defense and the only change that can be made needs to be made without delay?
Even if Adams doesn’t intercede and Martinez’s job is safe for another year, his defense’s performance in the bowl is going to be closely scrutinized. And if it’s another bad day, the pressure and debate will do nothing but increase during the off-season.
Even in the best-case scenario, next year would seem to be make-or-break for Martinez. Another bad year for the D and Richt might find himself being dragged down if he isn’t willing to cut Martinez loose.
Generally, there’s only room for one on the hot seat. Right now, it’s Martinez who occupies it.
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In Dawg Nation, reality bites
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We took my Dad to dinner Sunday at his favorite Athens cafeteria and a guy we didn’t even know came over to speak after noticing my brother Jon’s UGA windbreaker. As he walked away, he expressed what I’ve heard over and over the past week from Dawg fans: “Let’s hope we have a better season next year.”
Now, with Georgia having a 9-3 record and a New Year’s Day spot in the highest-paying non-BCS bowl and the fans still complaining and disappointed, it might sound like the Bulldog Nation is spoiled and in need of a reality check. But actually, it’s anyone who’s satisfied with that showing who’s in need of the reality check. Just aiming for a 10-win season isn’t enough any more for a program that aspires to the BCS elite, a point that hopefully is in the forefront of the minds of Mark Richt and his staff.
Of course, part of the general malaise among Dawg fans is the season-ending loss to the Yellow Jackets. Many if not most fans would have found an 8-4 record that included a win over Tech more acceptable than 9-3 with a loss to the suddenly delusional nerds who now think this triple-option gimmick is going to make them a dynasty.
Overall, I think we can all agree that while this wasn’t a bad season, it certainly didn’t satisfy anyone wearing red and black. So while we wait for exams to be over before serious preparations for Michigan State begin, here are a few random thoughts on the state of Bulldog football …
First, I can’t figure out whether Richt is blowing smoke on this kickoff situation or what. Poor Blair Walsh. He’s been thrown under the bus by his coaches and teammates and assumed a larger share of the blame for the Tech loss than he deserves. Those out-of-bounds kickoffs didn’t lose the game. The poor tackling and lack of focus on assignments on defense did that. But now we have Richt indicating he might look for a JUCO kickoff specialist or even a walk-on from the soccer team or student body who can “boom it” out of the end zone. Which makes it sound like they wanted Walsh to do just that, but he wasn’t capable. However, Kevin Butler, a man who knows something about the kicking game and whose son is one of Georgia’s kickers, has said repeatedly that Blair is capable of putting it in the end zone but has been told to kick it high and short and to the corner. Even Richt himself had indicated earlier in the season that the Dawgs were going for that sort of kick because he thought it was safer than trying to cover a kick down the middle that’s in the end zone but returnable. (Especially since we load up our coverage team with walk-ons.) Bottom line: There’s a lot more wrong with our special teams than just Blair Walsh’s leg strength, and Richt better take the problem seriously.
On the subject of the defense, a friend checked the record book and came up with this: In four years, Brian Van Gorder’s defenses gave up 30 or more points just one time: in the SEC championship against LSU. In four years under Willie Martinez, the defense has given up 30 or more points 11 times, including to such powerhouses as Kentucky and Troy. And they’ve given up 40-plus three times this year alone! Which raises the question: If it’s not the coordinator who’s the problem, then what is?
Meanwhile, speaking of the lousy defense against Tech, even the coaches singled out Reshad Jones for his failure to wrap up runners. So it’s a little disorienting to read that he’s submitted paperwork to the NFL to gauge how he might be drafted if he didn’t return for his junior season. Talk about someone in need of a reality check!
And on the subject of leaving early for the NFL: If Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno do go, it’ll be a shame in terms of their UGA legacy. Instead of being remembered among the all-time greats like Sinkwich, Trippi, Tarkenton and Walker, they’ll be relegated to the status of talented players who were on underachieving teams, like Eric Zeier and Robert Edwards.
Another thing I wonder about: Besides players’ families, just who exactly is likely to buy that DVD of highlights from the 2008 season? In future years will we really want to dig that out and relive the glorious win over Arizona State?
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