UGA vs. UF Prediction (not smack talk)

New to the board, but long time Dawgs fan, stuck in the worst possible place right now, Knoxville.

I believe the dawgs will play a good game, and hopefully find a much needed running game. However, i am becoming dissapointed in all the bashing of the coaches. I am not going to try to defend CWM cause there are way to many stats to prove me wrong, but I will always be a GA fan no matter who is coaching, or how bad our last loss was. I was fortunate enough to play college football, and can tell you that these coaches are not dear as dumb as many want to give them credit for. I was at the game at Neyland. I saw the boot enough to make me puke. I also saw the adjustment that was to made on the back releasing to the flat. It is not CWM fault that the linebackers never read the play quick enough to get into the flat. The correct adjustment was made. The correct play was not. I also remember the deep pass on the boot. I remember seeing Reshad and Prince looking at each other. I mean we can blame that on coaching if we want, but he cant play the game for them.

Just a thought. Having played divison 2 ball for a school that had high expectations every year, and really never panned out(thanks to Valdosta State) I can some relate on a much smaller scale. Its easy to jump on the band wagon and kick a man while hes down, but it takes a real man to extend a hand to help that man up.

Welcome AllDawgs5, you will enjoy this forum and the people here are rabid Dawg fans....make no mistake about that. We certainly will enjoy your imput as well your insights from the field itself.

If our players aren't reading or recognizing the plays etc., don't you think it would make a little sense to take their butts out and play someone with enough brains to follow the \"coaching\" reads they were taught? Are we recruiting kids with IQ's that low that they can't understand what to do and do it correctly? I don't think our kids can't get it.....I believe the D coaches have either taught bad schemes or have the players confused.

Well that is just the thing about it. Everyone gives credit to the \"schemes\". Coaches have been running the same defenses for years. There maybe a variation in alignment, or rotation in coverage, but the concept is still the same. Hate to use the instance, but for years people have credited Monty Kiffin with the Tampa 2. He himself said it was a coverage he learned while coaching high school in Nebraska, and has been around for years. They called it the Tampa 2 when Tony Dungy showed Kiffin that they could fill the weak spot in the cover 2(the middle of the field) by dropping the linebacker in that void. I hate to call out any player, and I dont want it to seem like I am, but if you watch the film our linebackers were a fraction late in picking up on the boot, and they were always a step behind on the full back flat.

I do agree with you though junkyard. Let them compete for playing time. Nothing feeds performance like competition. I also agree that they do look confused at times. Like I said, I am not trying to justify what CWM has done. Way to many stats to prove me wrong in any argument. I am just hoping we realize that it is not solely on the coaches.

Personally, I would like to see us lock up in man coverage, getting after peoples tail with the blitzing game. We are probably one of the worse zone playing defense I have seen. To busy looking at the qbs, instead of reading routes and seeing receivers enter, and leave their zones. I was always the type that believed it made it a little harder for a qb to throw with a red helmet in his chin, but maybe that's just me.

Anyways, I know you guys will be cheering just as hard as me on Sat. Lets hope the talent performs like we know they are capable of.

Welcome, AllDawgs5. Good to have you on board. However, I must disagree with your post. The defensive coordinator is ultimately responsible for the performance of his squad. I wasn't basing my \"bashing\" on the UT game that you happened to watch. We have been \"bashing\" him on years of steady decline. The D constantly makes the same mistakes over and over. Either they aren't good enough to play here, or they aren't being coached properly. Since, as Urban Meyer pointed out on his radio interview, UF and UGA recruit the same players, I'm pretty sure the talent level is there. Many of us here have played competitive football at different levels, and many are rabid fans...not sure that either qualifies anyone to make a better assessment of the team's performance.

I understand. I watched a terrible defensive performance against UT this year. GT last year, unfortunately the list could go on, but I am going to stop right there. Not saying I dont believe he doesnt need to recognized for his failures. I guess my point is this, for years Charlie Strong was criticized as a DC. Even many gator fans wanted him out, but now it doesnt appear that he is all that stupid.

Say we do get rid of CWM, and bring in KS or whoever. What if they don't live up to the billing. Do we get rid of them too and start a coaching carousel? Unfortunately being in knoxville, all I heard was how Fulmer had to go. What is the result. The same 3-4 record at the same point they were at last year.

AllDawgs5 wrote:

Personally, I would like to see us lock up in man coverage, getting after peoples tail with the blitzing game. We are probably one of the worse zone playing defense I have seen. To busy looking at the qbs, instead of reading routes and seeing receivers enter, and leave their zones. I was always the type that believed it made it a little harder for a qb to throw with a red helmet in his chin, but maybe that's just me.

I'm sure you know who's decision this would be!!!

But I get what you're saying, I don't want to start a coaching carousel either. That's why a well thought out decision is required, not a knee jerk reaction. I think after 3-4 years of decline, we are past the knee-jerk stage, time to make a well planned decision for the future. Hell, even a couple of years ago, I was thinking we should give WM a chance to shore up his D--but after poor season after poor season, I just don't think he's up to the task.