Buck's Blog

Giant Steps Forward For New 'Dogs Defense

2010-03-11T15:40:00Z

    Todd Grantham finally got to see his new personnel on the field. Wonder what he really thinks about the chances of getting this defense turned around? For the Bulldogs to contend for the SEC East's spot opposite Alabama in the title game, the Georgia defense will have to make a giant step forward.
    Bama and Florida allowed 11 points a game last season. That means Grantham's defense will have to find a way to shave 2 TD's off what they allowed last season (26.4). A realistic goal would be to cut it by 10...less than 17 points a game allowed would be a huge step forward. But how do they do it? That's easy.
    The answer is this: Forced Turnovers.
    It's embarrassing to see the lack of production in this area last season. The 'Dogs were dead last in forced fumbles with 2. The top teams had 10-plus. The interception total was embarrassing too. The Bulldogs had only 8 picks...the top teams had more than TWICE that number. So, the 'Dogs only forced 10 turnovers last year and the best SEC defenses produced 23-plus.
    So, how does Grantham get this turned around? The 3-4 scheme will help make it happen, by challenging protection schemes with its multiple blitz packages. It will create more confusion for the offense. That should help. But Georgia desperately needs more playmakers on defense.
    Anxious to see Justin Houston and Richard Samuel this spring at outside linebacker. They both have the skill set to create some havoc. They can run and hit. And hopefully knock the ball loose. Cornelius Washington and Montez Robinson also have the talent to bring pressure off the edge. At defensive end, sophomore Abry Jones and RF Derrick Lott need to emerge and impact players.
    These 6 players will be given the opportunity to make plays in this scheme. Can they make'm? If they can, look for those embarrassing forced turnover numbers to multiply and Georgia's defense to be much improved.
    On the back end, Grantham has some big-play talent roaming in the secondary. Boykin is a play-maker. Branden Smith has some serious ball skills. The safety spots appear to be solid, with Rambo, Commings, Jakar Hamilton getting a shot, before freshman Alec Ogletree shows up later this summer.
    Stay tuned. Spring practice is heating up in the coming days.

Mettenberger's Rep Takes a Hit

2010-03-09T03:15:00Z

    Logan Gray and Aaron Murray just moved ahead of Zach Mettenberger. Part of winning the quarterback job is earning the respect of your team and coaching staff, so this hurts Zach. Does it eliminate him from the competition? Perhaps in 2010. He's probably facing a 1-game suspension. Can't be going with a guy sitting out the opener, right? Long term he might be okay. Short-term it doesn't look good.
    Zach is not the first, and certainly won't be the last college student getting stung by the Remerton police. It's been a trap for as long as I can remember. Remerton used to be a small cotton mill village (plant closed in 1979), but it has always been a speed trap. Dad used to take the long way around on the way to the ball park, because he was scared of getting a ticket for going 26 in a 25 mph zone. And the last 10-15 years, Remerton has turned into a small party district for the nearby college students. And yes, the police has a rep for almost stalking students out doing the late night scene.
    Mettenberger made a mistake. And he'll pay for it (stadium steps, increased scrutiny, probable suspension). Hopefully he'll learn a lesson. And he'll overcome this. But the timing stinks.
    Why was he in Valdosta? Visiting high school buddies and checking them out in the VSU Blazer spring football game. And a night of fun turned into a nightmare. Advantage Logan Gray and Aaron Murray.

Friday With The Braves

2010-03-05T15:10:00Z

    Get to see Wagner and Saito throw against the Nationalsw today. This is the new order at the back of the bullpen. The two guys that will be closing the door. Saw both in liove BP sessions this week and both showed off explosive fastballs. And both have breaking balls as an "out pitch". Translation: when they have 2 strikes on a batter and he's expecting to try and catch up to the fastball, they can throw a spinner and make them look silly.
    Moylan is down here working with change-up specialist and former Braves Gene Garber. Peter owns right handed hitters (they hit less than .200 last season). He needs another pitch to get the lefty out, so Garber is working with his change. Moylan has named his change-up "Dave." And Dave got some left-handers out a couple of days ago.
    Funny sight: Jason Heyward talking to a Braves minor league instructor in the Braves dugout...this guy was standing on the 2nd step to be able to look at the 6'5" about to be star. Dinner with Don: we had dinner with Don Sutton and Jim Powell at Shula's steakhouse last night and they don't like the "quality start" stat (6 innings, allow 3 runs or less). That's an average start, they say. A quality start would be to pitch into the 7th inning, and allow 3 runs or less. I've joined them in that philosophy.
    Another funny sight: 58 Braves players are in big league camp. Trying to arrange interviews for the Buck & Kincade Show, Jonathan Chadwick and I have to work a crowded clubhouse. Among the men are bat-boys in full uniform. It'll catch you off guard, as these teens strut around with the older guys. And it's still odd to see these older instructors in full uniform too.
    Escobar is bowed up. Ball is jumping off his bat. Glaus turned a 3-6-3 double play yesterday and looked smooth doing it. Conrad appears to have taken the early lead on Joe Thurston, in the battle for the final position roster spot. Long way to go though. Conrad is a switch-hitter. Local pitcher Lee Hyde looked good in his first outing. A scout told me Hyde will pitch in the big leagues soon.
    Heyward hitting 2nd again today. Should have Hudson on the show today. Later.

Beating The Mets

2010-03-04T03:25:00Z

  Bumped into Braves Closer Billy Wagner early this morning, and he immediately started singing the "Beat The Mets" song. Wagner didn't get to participate, but I'm sure he's looking forward to closing them out in the regular season.
Bobby Valentine has been working the Braves scene for a couple of days now. He's been peppering me with questions about some of the Braves players. Today he was all about the new batting glove that is hot new thing. The X-Pro Tec gloves have some built in padding to protect the hands from a wild pitch. Bobby pointed out that a lot of the players can't use them, because they have deals in place with other batting glove companies.
    Dale Murphy arrived today and started working with some of the young outfielders. Javy Lopez and Glavine will be in camp soon to do the same thing...drop some knowledge. Smart to have these guys involved.
    Tim Hudson was strong today against the Mets. Worked 2 scoreless and got'm 6-up, 6-down. Pumped the fastball at'm and had good location with it too. Huddy told me earlier in the day that he didn't want to show the Mets starters all of his pitches in the spring...but for the 2nd straight day, manager Jerry manuel didn't have any starters in the line-up. So, Hudson mixed in some breaking balls, with the fastball and cutter.
    Moylan looked strong, but he seems to own the Mets. And he owns right-handed hitters. Last season, RH's hit .196 against Peter. Mike Minor, the Braves newest 1st round pick, got the 8th inning and hit 93 in the speed gun with his fastball. He looked sharp. Jeff Lyman struck out 2 in the 9th and attacked with his fastball. Power arm.
    Oh yeah, Jason Heyward made several nice defensive plays in right and also smoked another fastball, this time in the gap for a RBI 2B. Go ahead and sign up for his fan club, before it gets crowded!

Traveling With The Braves

2010-03-03T03:47:00Z

    Got to see a baseball game today, and had to drive 2 hours to see it. Just seeing Tommy Hanson and Jason Heyward do their thing made the trip worthwhile. Hanson's plus-fastball looked strong. Much like Billy Wagner, his motion and release hides the ball from the batter. These guys had trouble catching up to it. His breaking stuff was devestating when he threw them for strikes. Tommy will be determined to get better command with the slider and curve the next time out. Love this guys make-up...confident and smart, fearless and determined, Tommy Hanson is on his way to being a star.
    Jason Heyward's 2010 spring debue was impressive too. Bobby hit him 3rd and the kid delivered 3 good at-bats. He walked twice, after working the count, and he blistered a fastball for a base knock. His physical talents are obvious, but I like his approach too. His plate discipline is a strength. Dude knows a strike when he sees one, and he's not up there swinging at balls out of the zone. Smart. Can't wait to get back out there tomorrow and see him play again. This guy is special. Wait until you get a good look at this.
    Medlen was strong today. Throws strikes. Fields his position. He's a keeper.
    Who had the longest bus ride back to Orlando? Jesse Chavez. Tough outing today. He couldn't locate the fastball. Got in trouble immediately and only a double play ball got him out of it. Jesse needs to pick it up, if he is going to win one of those bullpen spots.
Resop got touched up for a solo shot, when he got a heater over the fat part of the plate. He's another one that needs a solid spring to make the club.
    Get to see Hudson tomorrow against the Mets. Excellent weather forecast on Wednesday, so maybe Jerry Manuel will play some of his stars. Today he and Bobby took a look at the field and the conditions...and Bobby went with his starters and Manuel put in the B-Team. Guess it was too windy for Reyes and Bay to play?

Day #2 Braves Notes

2010-03-02T02:29:00Z

    Chipper was taking ground balls before most of you finished your first cup of coffee this morning. Chipper and Troy Glaus both got in some early morning work on one of the back fields, with Glenn Hubbard showing off his fungo skills. This was extrra work. And to me, Glaus looks comfortable over there at 1st base. We'll see how it goes now that the games are starting.
    Best news today was Jair Jurrjens bullpen session. He tested his arm and felt no pain. Threw 15 fastballs at almost full speed and did not feel any discomfort. He'll take a day off and try it again on Wednesday. Looks like he'll get in the mix soon. After 3 pain-free bullpen sessions he'll get his first start.
    The most impressive thing I saw today was Billy Wagner's Live BP work. Wagner threw hard for 10 minutes against Matt Diaz and Troy Glaus. His fastball, even at age 39, was explosive. Diaz and Glaus couldn't catch up to it. Wags also threw a slider and change and was working to locate both down in the zone. His stuff is nasty. And he's fearless. That's a special combination.
    This next wave of Braves prospects will look good getting off the bus. Hanson is 6'6", Heyward 6'5", Freddie Freeman 6'5". Cody Johnson is 6'5". Pitcher Kyle Cofield is 6'5". If a brawl breaks out...I'm just saying.
    One of the best places to set up interviews for the Buck and Kincade Show is to hang out in the home dugout. All these guys have to leave the clubhouse to get a cell signal, so they come down to the dugout to call the sweetheart. When they hang up, you set it up.
Yesterday, the Braves started practice working on pick-off moves and rundowns. Today they worked on cut-offs on balls hit into the outfield gaps. Remember the formula: Pitching & Defense.
    Did I mention how impressive Jason Heyward is? Thought so. And he's working hard on chasing down balls in right field. He's a complete player. Dude can hit, run, throw, catch and look great doing it. Get to see him hit Mets pitching tomorrow, if the weather permits. And Hanson is expected to work the first two innings. Play ball!

Braves Notes From Camp

2010-02-28T14:42:00Z

    Just like Heyward, I showed up early at the Braves big league camp. Basically, it was either hang out with Mike & Mike during ESPN The Weekend, or walk 20 steps into Champion Stadium and check out the Braves. I'm sure Golic and Greenie don't mind. Picked up the spring training credential (priceless) and got right to work.
    Walked by Jair Jurrjens in the tunnel and he was smiling. Arm must be feeling better. Tommy Hanson took the field and patted Bobby Cox on the butt. Only in baseball and football can you get away with that. It's also a sign of the respect the kid has for the skipper. Medlen really looks like a kid out there with the adults. It's refreshing. Sort of funny. Glaus was working on his game at 1st base. Taking ground balls and throws from Escobar at short. Troy is a big dude. Chipper joked that it will be hard to throw one wild over his head at 1st. Chipper also told me that the strength of this team is the quality depth. Deep in pitching. Deep position roster. Tough outs 1-8 in the line-up. McLouth is really fit. And the Braves really need Nate to step up with a big season. McLouth is not the smallest player in camp. That title goes to #78 Matt Young, a minor league outfielder, who is 5'8" 165. Young hit .289 at AA Mississippi last season and stole 42 bases. The Braves would take 25-30 out of McLouth this season.
    One of my first moves at spring training is to check out the dudes with the high numbers, because it's the first time I'll put eyes on most of them. Mike Minor, the 1st round pick, is #73. He's probably looking at AA MIssissippi this season. Cody Johnson is #77. He's a big bopper (6'4, 200) from the left side, who hit 32 homeruns in High-A Myrtle Beach last year. Of course, he struck out 171 times too. After the big ESPN The Weekend ceremonies, fans were treated with some BP, under the lights at Champion Stadium, and Cody treated them with a few bombs. Freddie Freeman is #70 (6'5", 220) and he's got a smooth left-handed swing.
    Obviously, the big story is phenom Jason Heyward. Big #71 has been putting on an impressive show of power in batting practice. He's 6'6" in cleats and now 245 pounds. When he gets his arms extended, the ball just explodes off the bat. There is a lot of talk about these BP homers, but he's a line-drive hitter. Heyward will be seen galloping towards 2nd base for a lot of doubles this season. And know this, this kid is aware of the strike zone. He walked as much as he struck out last season in the minors. He wasn't overwhelmed last year in Braves camp...hit over .300 and with 3 homers in 40 at bats. No reason to believe he'll come up short this time around. He's just special. Because of the damage he's doing to automobiles in the parking lot, Disney has installed the "Heyward Nets", to protect the cars. Wait to you get a look at this guy! And get ready to see him take the stage back in Atlanta. It's going to happen. And it's going to be big. And exciting. He'll be the biggest deal since the Falcons took Vick #1.
    Of course, this is the last go-around for Bobby Cox. The players just love him. And he's straight up with the media. Always comes right over and shakes your hand. Bobby spends the early days of spring out in the bullpen, watching the pitchers throw. He's got a walkie-talkie, which allows him to communicate with the batting practice cage. It's going to be an honor to follow his 25th and final season managing the Braves.
    Got to see Saito throw some live BP. That's where the pitcher tells the hitter what's coming---fastball or breaking ball. Saito's fastball appeared explosive. His breaking ball looked nasty too. Hope he can hold up for 162-plus. More later.

How to Win the QB Job

2010-02-24T17:36:00Z

    The new 'Dogs start spring practice soon and the quarterback job is open for competition. Logan Gray gets the first look and then, the two much publicized, highly-rated redshirt freshmen get their shot running the #1 offense. May the best young man win.
    How does a guy go about winning the job? Well, it goes far beyond just completing passes. The first step is winning over your teammates. How do you do that? It's complicated.
    The first step to earning respect is to keep your mouth shut and just go about doing your job. No one wants an unproven QB talking smack about how good they are. They haven't done anything yet. Best I can tell, this hasn't been a problem for Logan, Aaron or Zach. So, rule #1: Keep the smack talk to a minimum. It creates a bad vibe. Instead, be a team guy.
    Rule #2: Talk it up on the field. Quiet guys don't make for good leaders. A big part of this job is communicating. You can be quiet off the field, but you must speak up on it. Take charge! Encourage the receivers and the O-Line. Motivate the backs. Stand up to the defensive player talking trash. Be in control of the huddle. Basically, do a great job communicating.
    Rule #3: Work hard at improving. No team wants a QB who doesn't work hard. Arrive early and stay late. Work on your mistakes after practice. If you have passion for the game, you won't mind working hard.
    Rule #4: Be tough. When you get hit, get up. Save the drama for your momma. No team wants a sissy at QB. Be fearless in the pocket. Throw it and take the hit. Don't back down. Don't take on the MLB when scrambling around, but don't just go lay down like a sissy. I got some good advice as a freshman in high school...go hard and go low. Get under the pads of the guy tackling you.
    Rule #5: Always be prepared. Know the playbook. Understand what the OC is trying to do with his playcalling. Study the plays he calls on 1st down and 3rd down situations. Ask him why he's calling certain plays to get a better understanding. Ask him to let you call a series at practice...and when you get the opportunity, call the series like the coach would.
    Rule #6: Show'm you're about one thing, and one thing only...winning. That's the most important thing. You've totally won your teammates over, when they understand you can help them win games.

New Leadership This Spring at QB!

2010-02-16T05:52:00Z

    Auburn, Tennessee and Georgia are trying to find out who their quarterback will be this spring. That sure makes it interesting for the teams, and the fans. Not so, at Alabama, LSU and South Carolina. We know who their QBs are. And they've got some weapons too. But back to the teams that are trying to find a quarterback to lead them.
    The biggest buzz is at Auburn, where Cameron Newton is out to earn the job this spring. Cam Newton? Yeah, the young man from Atlanta Westlake, who went to Florida and transferred out to play at a junior college. Dude is 6'6", 247 pounds. The Terrelle Pryor comparison comes to mind. He can run it. He can throw it. Cameron's challenge is to come in and bond quickly with these new teammates. Win them over with a good attitude and impressive practices. Athletically this guy is special. Can he lead Auburn? Gus Malzahn recruited him...so I'm guessing to get him, Coach told him the job was open.
    Who wants to be Tennessee's next QB? Dooley could go with the senior Nick Stephens, who has been there the longest. Or junior college transfer Matt Simms could step in and earn the job with a solid spring. SImms? Yeah, that's Phil's son. Went to Louisville. Transferred out to play JC ball...and played well. Thought he was coming to play for Kiffin. Instead, it's Dooley. His challenge is the same as Newton's. Got to fit in quickly and prove you can help them win. Tyler Bray is a freshman that showed up early. Jim Chaney will see test the kid in spring ball. Did I mention there are a lot of holes to fill on the O-Line. That might hold back the QBs & Bryce Brown.
    Spurrier's Gamecock offense has a chance to be dangerous this season. Garcia back to QB and he's got 20 games of experience. Alshon Jeffrey and Tori Gurley are long and tall out wide. I'm guessing they didn't recruit Marcus Lattimore to redshirt, so he's running it with sophomore Jarvis Giles. If that South Carolina O-Line holds up...I'm just saying.
    John Brantley takes over for Tebow at Florida. He's been groomed for this job. The bet here says he has a big year throwing it around, if the Gator receivers can step up. Brantley and Deonte Thompson appear to have some chemistry. Debose is anxious to touch it, after sitting out with an inured hamstring. But the Gators need 1-2 of the young receivers to emerge as play-makers. HInes, Hammond, or maybe one of these freshmen (Coxson, Dunkley, Dunbar, or Patton) can get involved. That's all this offense is missing. The Gator O-Line is solid. Demps and Rainey are the 1-2 punch at RB.

'80 Team Hunkered Down!

2010-02-14T01:42:00Z

    The 30th Anniversary of the 1980 National Championship team approaches this fall. Where does the time go? It goes quickly, but that was a time that will bond this team until they lay us in the ground. It was an honor to play with those guys. And it seems almost like yesterday.
    I knew we were close to having a championship caliber team. As a high school kid, I witnessed the '76 Bulldogs win the SEC and go to the Sugar Bowl. In '78, a tie with Auburn in the year's final SEC game allowed Alabama to win it. The 1979 season was mostly a bummer, but we did kick butt in the SEC, until Auburn cut us in the SEC season finale. We were close. Willie McClendon carried the load in '78 and we missed that in 1979. We needed an outstanding running back.
    Coach Mike Cavan delivered us Herschel Walker in the summer of 1980. And that summer night in Knoxville, we all celebrated a sweet victory, knowing our team would be tough to handle that season. Herschel was perhaps the best ever, but those title teams were full of talented, competitive guys. Practice was highly competitive and a lot of fun. Even during the season, we'd go full-speed,   1-on-1. We called it Bloody Tuesday. Bring your A-game. And we'd throw it in practice. LIndsay Scott was working on Scott Woerner. Amp Arnold on Mike Fisher. Womack on Ros and Nate Taylor.
    Erk Russell's defense in 1980 was the best in college football. Allowed 10.8 points a game. Had 3 shutouts. Erk's defense held the oppenent to 15 of less in 8 games. The most an opponent scored was 21. They allowed 3 1st quarter points. And they led the nation in Forced Turnovers with 44. No way we could lose. That's 4 forced turnovers a game. Those guys were awesome.
    On offense, by design we were 77% run and 23% pass, but we could make plays in the passing game when we needed to. Herschel was getting it 25 times a game. And he was running it downhill, man. We had some tough, mean dudes blocking too. Harper, Morrison and Nall were nasty. Hudson was one of the best linemen in college football. Happe, Blakewood and Radloff were solid too. Our fullbacks and tight-ends were underappreciated, but spectacular...Womack and Stewert brutilized linebackers. Norris Brown and Clarence Kay dominated the edge. Lindsay was blocking his butt off downfield too. Couldn't be stopped. Check the highlight tape.
    For me, the best feeling and the time I appreciate the most...was looking around the locker room pre-game and knowing there was no way we were going to lose. The going out there and doing it was fun too. Hitting the field, even in enemy territory, behind Tim Morrison, Jeff Harper, Eddie Weaver and Jimmy Payne was a very comfortable feeling.

Bulldog Quarterbacks & The 3-4 Defense

2010-02-13T03:26:00Z

    This is the most compelling spring pratice since Stafford showed up early in 2006. The 'Dogs will find out who's ready to be the QB AND Grantham's 3-4 defense will be on display. Big stories on both sides of the ball.
    Sure hope that new 3-4 can force as many turnovers as Erk's Split-60 defense did a few years back. That's the best way to get this defense turned around and hunkering down. Coach Grantham will be looking for playmakers this spring. Guys that can make a difference. Dudes that can force turnovers. Make plays in space. This new 3-4 looks good on paper. And it will allow the 'Dogs to match up better against the spread offense. But who are the players?
    Richard Samuel is the guy on defense to keep an eye on this spring. He's back to his roots...hitting people with the ball. This guy is tough and talented. Plug him in at linebacker and turn him loose. Had a high school coach tell me that Samuel is one of the best linebackers he's ever seen. LIke the sound of that.
    The green flag on the QB competition is about to drop. Sounds like Logan Gray is ready to compete. Bobo has dusted off the bootlegs and roll-outs. Get him on the go, with a run pass option. But the big thing for Logan is proving he can be successful in the pocket, working the short to intermediate passing game. He hasn't backed down to these highly-publicized redshirt freshmen.
    Zach Mettenberger is 10 times better than this time last year. Can't wait to see this. He's now 6'5, 237. The ball gets downfield in a hurry. There is some zip on it. Looking for two things from Zach: accuracy and handling the pass rush. But if he's 10 times better than last year, this will be something to see.
     Aaron Murray showed me last spring that he can stand in the pocket and wing it around AND escape out of the pocket and make plays on the run. Throws a catchable ball. The thing with Aaron is just staying healthy. The last two years he's had a broken leg and a bum arm.
    The best advice I could give these 2 young quarterbacks is this: 1- Step into the huddle and take charge. Project confidence. 2- Execute the offense. Limit the mistakes. Show them you are serious about winning.
    All 3 quarterbacks will benefit from the experience and solid play of the other 10 guys. That should make it easier to perform at a high level. Stay tuned. Spring ball in less than 3 weeks.

Super Bowl Stories

2010-02-05T02:49:00Z

    Super Bowl 44's Radio Row was fast-paced today. The big names were working the room. Our people were talking to their people. Most of the time Buck & Kincade Show Executive Producer Jason Cofar could work something out. Let them sell something and we get to hang for a few mintues.
    Joe Montana & Dwight Clark talked about "The Catch" in January of '82, which beat the Cowboys in the NFL Title Game. It was a Bill Walsh designed play that had Clark as a secondary option late, in the back of the end zone. Joe was supposed to throw it high, where only Dwight could get it. Joe also said his son seriously considered Georgia, but Murray & Mettenberger already on campus redshirting made him shift his focus to Washington. Clark also tells the story about how Bill Walsh discovered him at Clemson. Coach Walsh worked out QB Steve Fuller and left impressed with Dwight.
    Stafford and Moreno look happy. Both worked the room today. Knowshon was selling the new Reebok training shoe. Matt was pushing Axe shampoo. The "Georgia Man" should be proud of these two guys. They respresent. Polished and confident. Genuine, with some deep pockets, without flaunting it. These two careers got off to an impressive start as rookies. I'll admit it, they made smart decisions to leave Georgia early, But they both loved their days at Georgia. Stafford must have been on 50 stations and was selling Axe shampoo from 9:00-to-6:00. Must have been a sweet deal.
    Nick Faldo was a surprise guest. Loved this one. Nick became interested in the game, after watching Jack play in the 1971 Masters. Signed up for his first lessons the next day. And the rest is history. He was selling clean water. Nick believes the tour players should agree to not play those old wedges. And he says Tiger coming back for the WGC Match-play event would be smart... all the cameras and attention might make his opponent mess up.
    Got to ask Tony Dorsett if he thought Ed "Too Tall" Jones was....too tall? Archie Manning is cheering for the Colts, but wouldn't feel bad if the Saints won. Eddie George is passionate about College Football. He said Joe Paterno wanted to make him a FB, so Ohio State looked a lot better. Shaun Alexander was beeming over Alabama winning the title and Ingram taking the Heisman. He's taken Ingram under his wing, knowing his Father is away in prison. Falcons LB Curtis Lofton looked like he wanted to tackle Kincade. Roger Daltrey of The Who is looking old. Kerri Underwood is flashing a huge diamond. Jamie Dukes might be the coolest dude here. Tony Dorsett won the Heisman, beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, went to Dallas in a draft day trade, and won the Super Bowl with the Cowboys in year one...back in New Orleans. Cool cat. He was Chris Johnson, way before Chris Johnson showed up. Jim Mora, Jr. sure texts a lot. The food is lousy on radio row, but the hot coffee always flows. Marshall Faulk loves him some Kurt Warner, like we all should.
    Wonder what tomorrow will bring?
    Can't avoid the Super Bowl merchandise tents. Got a Super Bowl ball signed by all of our guests today. Had to keep track of who signed...can't make out some of the autographs.

Da'Rick & The Dawgs

2010-01-28T13:03:00Z

    This recruiting tale has gotten interesting. Really interesting. The press is on. Time is running out. The mind game card has been played. And it's almost time to find out if it worked or not. Will it be Georgia or Tennessee?
    Coach Richt was in Calhoun on Tuesday to see where Da'Rick's head was at. Try to put out the fire. To reassure him.
    The Tennessee sneak attack started with Kiffin and Orgeron. They played the "come to Tennesse with your buddy" card, by offering Calhoun HS QB Nash Nance, a Vanderbilt commitment. After they split for USC in the middle of the night, Derek Dooley has taken advantage of the open door, by catering to the young man's ego. And that's legal.
    The message: come to Tennessee with your HS QB. Come play for Coach Baggett, who coached up Moss, Carter, Chambers, Burress and Rison. And by the way, we've got jersey #21 waiting on you. Kiffin and Orgeron had already planted the seed of sitting on the bench behind A.J. Green at Georgia. Come to Tennessee, and you can start immediately.
    Okay, reasons NOT to choose a college.
    1- BECAUSE I GET MY HIGH SCHOOL JERSEY NUMBER. That screams out SELFISH. ME, ME, ME. By the way, Georgia has retired #21 to honor the great Frank Sinkwich. I had some coaches use that "number" card on me and I found that silly. One coach told me, "Go to Georgia and you can't wear #7...Pyburn already has that." My attitude was: not going to let a jersey number stand in the way of where I wanted to be. Just don't give me #13.
    2- BECAUSE MY FRIEND IS GOING THERE TOO. This decision should be based on you. Not your friend, or girlfriend.
    3- BECAUSE THEY PROMISED ME I CAN START IMMEDIATELY. What about showing up and earning a spot? Do you want to play for a coach promising starting spots before they even step on the field? How does a coach explain that one to guys already on the roster busting their butt? Had some coaches use this one on me too. Pepper Rogers told me that if I came to Georgia Tech, I'd win the Heisman Trophy. Yeah, right. Promises, promises. Don't be afraid of the competition.
    Couple of thoughts. If Da'Rick Rogers comes to Georgia he won't be sitting on the bench behind A.J. Green. The 'Dogs are in a 3-WR set 48% of the time. Another 48% of the time, they are in a 2-WR set. Come earn a spot next to A.J. And the last time I checked, the Georgia program has sent some impressive WR's to the NFL too...Mohamed Massaquoi and Reggie Brown just made the jump. Might be time for a call from Bobo's buddy Hines Ward.

Herschel Thinking Knockout!

2010-01-27T20:49:00Z

    Make plans Saturday night for Herschel Walker's mixed martial arts debue. Showtime at 10 o'clock. That's Showtime, the movie network. Herschel's on the main card in a heavyweight fight against some dude named Greg Nagy. Get ready to see Herschel rumble. This is serious stuff. Enter the cage and it's about surviving.
    Talked with Herschel today. He thinks Nady is going to try and brawl. Grab and tackle. Get him on the ground. Wrestle him. This sounds like a poor plan to me. The best tacklers in the world couldn't tackle Herschel at Georgia or in pro football. What makes this guy think he can get him down? Crazy stupid. By the way, he's new to the MMA thing too. Nady claims to be trained in wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
    Herschel told me that he's going to be on the offensive. He won't be counter-punching. He's going after him. Plans on attacking this dude. "I'm ready to fight," Herschel said. "I'm going to knock him out." Like the sound of that. Herschel is a 5th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and now has additional training in Muay Thai and Kenpo. He's spent the last 2 months training in San Jose.
    And one more thing, Herschel says he "doesn't feel 47." Hope he feels the same way after the event.

Falcons At The Senior Bowl

2010-01-25T17:20:00Z

    The Falcons are busy in Mobile this week. Dimitroff & Coach Smith are taking a good look at outside linebackers, defensive ends, and offensive linemen prospects. Those are the top needs moving forward. Not that the Falcons personnel department needs my input, but I've got a short list of the guys they should be looking at this week.
    1- Tim Tebow. Dimitroff and Smith will take a peek or two, even though they don't need a QB. Tim's the top name in Mobile and he's there to impress. All the personnel guys will be checking that out. Everyone is curious to see how he performs this week.
    2- Eric Norwood. The Falcons need outside linebacker help in the worst way. This guy is a playmaker. Serious ball skills. He can bring pressure off the edge (South Carolina's all-time sack leader) and he can drop and cover. Dude is from Ackworth and came out of N. Cobb High. He's always around the ball, can tackle, and force turnovers. Right now, he's considered a 3-4 round pick. This guy would look good in a Falcons uniform.
    3- Chris Scott. Got to get bigger and more physical up front on the O-Line. He played LT for the VOls this season and RT earlier in his career at Tennessee. I see him as a guard in the NFL. Check out the size: 6-5, 346. Chris is a Lovejoy High product here in the Atlanta area. Looks like a 4th round pick.
    4- Javy Arenas. Falcons still searching for cover guys and this cat performed against slot receivers in nickel sets. He is also a dangerous return man, which the Falcons need too. Championship character is a plus. May be around in the 3rd round.
    5- Sean Weatherspoon. Outside LB from MIssouri. Athletic and 6'1", 245. Can run. Maybe around in the 3rd round.
    6- Antonio Coleman. DE out of Auburn. Might be better fit in a 3-4 as an OLB, but worth taking a close look at. Probably a 4-5 round pick. Can rush the QB. Played a lot of football.
    7- Sam Young. OT from Notre Dame. Set a Notre Dame record by starting 50 games. Prospect as a right tackle in the NFL. Entering process as a 3-4 round pick.
    8- Perish Cox. CB out of Oklahoma State. Did a nice job on A.J. Green in game against Georgia. Tough cover guy. Can return kicks too.
    9- Trevard Lindley. CB out of Kentucky. Outstanding cover corner. A playmaker. Get to know him, Flacons might like him.
10- Rodrick Muckelroy. 6'2", 235 LB from Texas. Good tackler, tough competitor. Experience at inside and outside. Played 40 games. Muschamp loved him.

Hunker Down Defense

2010-01-21T16:30:00Z

    Todd Grantham's hire and the Bulldogs changing their scheme to a 3-4 defense is a very compelling storyline right now. Recruits want to meet Grantham and hear about the 3-4. The current players are energized and are anxious to see how they fit in the new scheme. Fans are excited about the thought of a more attacking style of play. More pressure on the QB, more turnovers. There are certainly a lot of benefits.
    A third of the NFL teams are in a 3-4 scheme now. Not many Top 25 college programs are using it. The 'Dogs will now be unique in what they do. And Grantham can obviously teach it, so recruiting should benefit. Coach Grantham can sell it too. The message: Come join us at Georgia, help us win, and I'll teach you the 3-4 and help get you to the NFL. That's a mighty strong selling point.
    The current players are looking forward to spring ball, so they can see how they fit in the new scheme. Grantham is busy studying tape and formulating a personnel plan. Who fits where?
    Here's an educated guess.
    DeAngelo Tyson will take over the nose tackle position and thrive. He can get off the ball and get off blocks. He can penetrate. Grantham will get him excited by showing him tape of Jay Ratliff, the Cowboys nose tackle, who plays at about the same weight. It'll be important to find a guy that can back-up Tyson. Not sure who that is.
    At defensive end, Justin Houston is a beast and will hold on to that right DE spot. The left side is up for competition. Dobbs might not be the best fit here. Brandon Wood is probably a good bet to win this job. Abry Jones & Derrick Lott are young players with some upside. These 4 guys are strong, physical players. There will be some good competition at this spot. Montez Robinson and Cornelius Washington need to add some bulk to play at DE in the 3-4. But they both can play in the nickel package, when Grantham wants to rush the passer in a 4-man front.
    The inside linebacker spots look like good fits for Dowtin & Gamble. In the 3-4, these are the guys that can run downhill and make most of the tackles. Dowtin came on strong last season. Gamble is a reliable senior. The competition behind those two will be interesting.
    Grantham is probably thinking the 2 outside LB spots are wide open. And it's critical that some playmakers emerge at this position. Could Richard Samuel make the switch from RB and grab that weakside, playmaking spot? That appears to be a good fit for him. Georgia has a number of young linebackers that will get a look. Nick Williams is athletic and probably factors in here. Christian Robinson will be in the mix. Gilliard and Vasser get a look too.
    On the back end, Boykin, Cuff, Brandon Smith and Rambo will lead the way. Grantham is looking for another safety to emerge. Banks, Commings and maybe Alec Ogletree fight it out for a spot next to Bacarri.

'Dogs Selling Grantham

2010-01-21T12:53:00Z

    So I listened to Georgia's new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on 680 The Fan on Thursday morning and left very impressed. His reputation on the field is "fiery." Off the field, in an interview setting he was very personable. Didn't hear him talking down to the guys, as he explained his 3-4 scheme and how it would fit at Georgia. Impressive. This guy looks to be a great fit.
    Grantham is busy recruiting and analyzing his new personnel. He plans to meet with his new players starting tomorrow (Friday). In perperation for those meetings, he has put together tapes on each player, involving about 30 plays from last season. After the meetings, he will begin putting together a depth chart for spring football.
    Richt is playing this recruiting angle correctly. Not much time is left, so Grantham is targeting guys that are hanging in the balance right now. That's smart. Let him sell Jeffrey Whitaker, Mike Thornton and Deon Rogers.
    Coach Grantham's sales pitch is right on the money too. We want guys that want to come to Georgia and win. And I'll coach those guys up "just like I was coaching DeMarcus Ware or Jay Ratliff." Recruits know Grantham can help them develop and get a shot at the NFL. I like the first part...guys that want to come to Georgia and win.
    The transition from the 4-3 to the 3-4 shouldn't be that radically different, once they get the personnel in place. DeAngelo Tyson wants to be the nose tackle. Abry Jones is thinking he's a better fit at DE. There will be some shifting around on the D-Line. And one of the big keys to a smooth transition is finding some playmakers at the OLB position. Not sure who those guys are right now.
    It took 42 days, but it appears as though Georgia found a good fit for the job. Todd Grantham is a very impressive guy right now.

Dooley's Tennessee Proud

2010-01-16T13:57:00Z

    Out with Lane Kiffin, and in with Derek Dooley. That's an upgrade at every level, well except defensive coordinator. The new head coach at Tennessee is everything that old coach wasn't. Vol fans should feel good about that. Integrity is back in. Trust is back. Doing things with class and dignity is back. Mike Hamilton has hit a homerun here with this hire.
    If Derek Dooley's introduction speech didn't get Tennessee fans fired up and excited, well they should flee to the west and join that stiff Lane Kiffin in L.A. Man, that was impressive. Vince and Barbara must be so proud. I guess I could be described as an extended family member, and I was proud just listening to his comments.
    Tennessee hired a good man and an outstanding coach. Threats, cheap shots, and smack talk left town early this week. And the Vols welcomed a class act to town as his replacement. I'd say that is a huge upgrade.

Kirby Smart Fallout

2010-01-13T12:17:00Z

    Why didn't Kirby Smart take the Georgia offer? Couldn't have been the money. So, what prevented him from taking the offer? After talking this over with a handful of former players and people close to the situation on both sides, I've come to some conclusions.
    Again, it wasn't money. Reportedly, Damon and Mark offered Coach Smart a 3-year contract worth $700,000 per year. It's doubtful Alabama will be paying his 700k in 2010. He'll get a raise from the 2009 salary of $369,000, but it won't hit the 700 level.
    I'm told it comes down to 3 things.
    The first is Rodney Garner. These two guys have some sort of rivalry thing going on that started out on the recruiting trail. One of those competitive situations. Recruiting the same guy and one coach accused the other of something. They've been knocking heads ever since. Garner is the Assistant Head Coach. Kirby needed that title at Georgia to help make it a non-lateral move. Garner is the D-Line coach. Smart wanted to bring in "his guy" to coach the DL (that probably being Travis Jones). And remember, these guys coached together on Richt's staff in 2005. There is some history here. And the word is, Kirby Smart didn't want to work with Rodney Garner again.
    Reason #2 is the Georgia strength program. It's got a reputation of being less than outstanding. Some football guys even refer to it as being "outdated." There are reports that have some Georgia players going to see a strength coach outside the program. Spoke with one NFL guy who commented that even when Van Halanger was at FSU, the OL/DL prospects coming out of there were great athletes, but not NFL strong. Coach Smart was concerned by this, after all doesn't Alabama have one of the top strength programs in CF right now? Another person close to the program told me that Richt has been approached by 2 former Georgia strength coaches, who were interested in helping again, and they were told by Coach Richt that "they don't have a strength issue." The DC wants his DL strong. Sounds like this was an issue.
    Reason #3 is that Saban put the hammer down with this idea that he doesn't support assistant coaches making lateral moves. When that head coaching opportunity comes up for Kirby, maybe Saban trashes him behind his back. That thought isn't encourarging. Don't want to upset Nick Saban, right? Play it safe, work for Nick and get that awesome endorsement when the time comes.
    Richt has stayed loyal to Garner and Van Halanger. But it cost him Kirby Smart. Guess he thought the "knock his socks off" contract offer would trump those concerns. Kirby Smart was in a situation were he didn't need to take this job, if everything was not as he wanted it. So he stayed at Alabama.

Kiffin's Leave Vols In The Dust

2010-01-13T03:16:00Z

    The Kiffin's lasted but 13 months in Tennessee. The Vols rolled out the red carpet for young Lane and he stuck around 1 year. See you later. I'm out of here. Taking the wife back to L.A. And taking Dad and crazy Ed Orgeron with him. Wow. This guy has no conscious.
    National Signing Day is but 3 weeks out and Kiffin is turning his back on these guys he's been working on for a year now. Juwuan James, the N. Gwinnett OT who was rated the 11th best prospect in the state, just enrolled at Tennessee on Monday...he trusted in Kiffin and now he's stuck. Bet he's not happy about that. Ambles, rated #4 in Georgia, has his head spinning. What to do? Warner Robins DT Jeffrey Whitaker was considering Tennessee, but I bet that just changed. Lane got Gainesville playmaker Blake Sims to backout of his verbal to Alabama and make plans for a visit to Knoxville...wonder what he's thinking now? Back to Juwuan James...he must be really upset with how this went down. He should be filing for an instant release with the NCAA.
    One day Lane Kiffin is selling Tennessee like it's the greatest place in CF, and the next day he's selling USC. This guy cares about 1 thing...and that's obviously Lane Kiffin. Tennessee gets an $800,000 buyout on a salary of $2.3M per year.
    Phil Simms son, Matt has enrolled as a transfer at Tennessee. The Simms must feel like they got a raw deal. Join the club guys. You are not alone.
    A.D. Mike Hamilton has to work quick. Who are the candidates? Names are already being mentioned. Will Muschamp. Kirby Smart. David Cutcliffe. Gary Patterson. Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun. Stay tuned.