Tonight's BCS game

Buc, believe the D will basically carry us again next year. As much confidence as we all have in Friend, in my mind, that OL will still be a work in progress and the most concern. Hopefully by mid year it will be pretty good, like you stated.

The East is surely between UGA and USC....huge game in Columbia......seems like we say the same thing every year about our OL, doesn't it??

If we had an OL like BAMA's this year, we would have been playing last night imo.

wlayton, it really bothers me when I read quotes from Mark like this . . .

“I think there’s no doubt that we’ve got to be a whole lot better on special teams top to bottom,” Richt said. “We went through some growing pains with some young guys, I bit the bullet with some true freshmen and some inexperienced guys. The good news is that they’ll be a year better.”

My problem with the above is all of the talking heads, along with the party line coming out of Athens were saying the same thing. If there was one part of our team that we could count on, and they did not say one part of our team, (I said that) it would be special teams. Many said, best in the country. I know that things can go wrong, but we seemed to be creatures of habit. It did not get better, with the exception of one game.

You and I have been around here for a while, you longer than me. You were right some time back when you made the comment that all on this board were excited about IC coming to UGA. I was, looking at the youtube film, this young man was an absolute game breaker. All of us know how that turned out, even though he rushed for over 800 yards. We also know what the competition level was when he gained those yards. Looked real good against Auburn, but if we take his season as a whole, can't understand the media placing him where they did. He was not all that. I wish he had been, but I am looking for people that will go to the wall for their teammates. IC did not do that. That is not a reflection on you or any or us, it is just a FACT that we have seen that type of all about me before. I wish I could say something differently about IC, but I sat in front of my TV or with a group of pretty knowledgeable folks in my area that would look at me and say nothing, just look.

Mark Richt said:
“I think the biggest thing will be consistency and maturity,” he said. “That’s what we’ve got to get. We played a lot of inexperienced running backs as well, and those guys have gained some experience and hopefully because of that, they’ll become more mature players and more consistent players. So I think that’s going to be the two things that I would say would be the most important for me.”

We both know that our backfield is depleted. We have a new running back headed our way, with the hope that we have two more entering school also. Plain and simply what Mark Richt was doing was the CYA thingy that many of us know and understand. We have seen that type of thing outside of football. Mark Richt needs to square up with how things are, we do understand football, we have played football, he just happens to have a "nicer arena" than the ones we played in. We do not need to be spoon fed by someone that thinks he can "talk down" to us. This in my mind is what he has done for far too long. Maybe he does not realize what he is doing. First be honest with yourself, good things can and will happen if that is done.

You said to me and others on this board when you posted this above. . . .

Buc, believe the D will basically carry us again next year. As much confidence as we all have in Friend, in my mind, that OL will still be a work in progress and the most concern. Hopefully by mid year it will be pretty good.

wlayton, Mark Richt did not mention the offensive line, the same thing that you and I have mentioned here as being very important. Guess it is my age, I however fail to understand where his priorities are as head coach sometimes.

I think that the defense is in good hands. I am not sure that the overall wellness is understood by Mark Richt and Bobo. One would think that two ex-quarterbacks in such a prestigious position or positions would understand that games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage.

wlayton, we are in agreement on some things, and the O line seems to be one of them, now if we can get Mark Richt's attention, maybe some good will come out of those of us that "played once upon a time" and only want our school to be in the mix. I am in agreement with you, fix the fundamental things, take a page from Saban/Smart's book of "HOW TO". It will put smiles on our faces again.

Yes, the wins were nice, but I look at a team like Alabama and think back to the beginning of Saban's start there and look at where they are now. Somewhere there is an answer and it is not just 10 or 11 wins a year. As you posted today, it is the beginning of a dynasty in college and SEC football. While it is not The University of Georgia, it is the SEC. Sometimes we have to settle for second best, or . . . . step up, and coach them up. Really happy to have Jenkins hang his hat with UGA. Huge step for our team, another one that did not get away, much the same as Mitchell last season. Someone on the defensive side is trying to close that fence around the State of Georgia.

Talk too much, love my Dawgs. . . .All of us do!! Not going to read this post, too damn long, hope it is not filled with errors. Coming from the publishing business, always had proof readers.

Go Dawgs . . . . Avery Young, we have a place for you at our table. . . .

Buc wrote: Any doubt in minds as to who the quarterback will be at LSU next season. . . . .

You already knew right . . . . Mettenburger.

So, if we make our way through our very difficult schedule next season, guess we will face a one time Dawg possibly in Atlanta. Though I have my doubts that LSU will stand toe to toe with Alabama for the right to play us.

No, I have not forgotten that our schedule has some very good football teams. Most seem to think that UGA is as solid as anyone on the East Side of the SEC. Talking heads are saying top 10 or close. Defense should be outstanding next season under Coach Grantham and his hand chosen assistants, for the most part.

So if Friend develops the offensive line, should not be a lot of excuses coming from Athens in my way of thinking. Bobo is going to turn over a new leaf and all is going to bode well for us.

We have a head coach with a lot of head coaching experience, eleven years or so, so that should work in our favor. Mark has been around the SEC a few times now, should have a good grip on what other coaches and teams like to do.

Not a big guessing game like for example when Urban Meyer came to town and introduced a new offensive system. Think that the gators are going to work from the I and Mark and company know a lot about that. No surprises.

Top ten team, wonder how that works when we are losing our offensive line to the NFL. Unknown replacements needed to fill in for Glenn and Jones. Looks like to me we need a couple more, maybe more than a couple offensive linemen. Offensive line has been a huge problem now for some time.

Top ten team, is that based on our greatly improved defense, the same defense that caught a lot of flack because they wore down against Michigan State and that last drive was unforgiveable. Never mind the missed field goal, amazing what hands up can do to a kicked football.

Just trying to throw a couple of my thoughts out to the board. Guess many of us feel that questions should be asked, or point to areas that seem to never get corrected. Can't win national championships with problems like these. Maybe after Mark Richt gets his contract extension some things will change. Although, he did say that there would not be any coaching changes. Feel that next season should surely bring us at least 10 wins, if we are a top ten football team.

That time of the year when college football is over and serious football folks ask the tough questions.

Buc, did you see schlabach's "way too early 2012 rankings"? As a grad I know he's a fan, but he has us at #6.

One thing I was thinking about richt...he refuses to lie, but he's a master of words. You have to pay attention to what he doesn't say as much as what he does. He said no personnel changes...he didn't say anything about the reassignment of responsibilities. Even if he refuses to hear the fan base on bobo's play-calling, I guarantee you Mcgarity is listening. He won't make richt fire him, but I would imagine he'll make a STRONG suggestion that richt do whatever else is necessary to make sure changes are seen.

If any thing, last night's game showed us how far we have to go to even be mentioned in the same class as Alabama.
Pains me to say it.

You are correct, averagedawg. The pain is mutual!

Mike what you said hit me right between the eyes. Think about your thoughts below.

Mike Honcho wrote:
Buc, did you see schlabach's "way too early 2012 rankings"? As a grad I know he's a fan, but he has us at #6.

One thing I was thinking about richt...he refuses to lie, but he's a master of words. You have to pay attention to what he doesn't say as much as what he does. He said no personnel changes...he didn't say anything about the reassignment of responsibilities. Even if he refuses to hear the fan base on bobo's play-calling, I guarantee you Mcgarity is listening. He won't make richt fire him, but I would imagine he'll make a STRONG suggestion that richt do whatever else is necessary to make sure changes are seen.

This is not to start a huge controversy.
In a back handed way you are making the point that many on this board and others are. McGarity had one of those sit downs with Mark Richt when he first took over the position of AD.

For McGarity to have to make a STRONG suggestion again to Mark Richt about how the football team should operate on the field, Mike that is one of the problems that I have with Mark Richt as the head coach. Don't think that McGarity has ever taken a snap on the football field in his life. Can't bet the farm on that, just something makes me think that way.

McGarity is an Administrator, not a Head Football Coach. If there is a problem with Mike Bobo and his play calling, that falls squarely on Mark Richt's shoulders. If Richt is so stubborn that he refuses to see what is going on around him, or correct what maybe McGarity would suggest, then he is not living up to his contract.

Mike I can respect that you are a Mark Richt supporter. We just happen to be on opposite sides as to what a head coaches duties are. With the talking head rating us at #6, tells me that a graduate of UGA is putting the heat on Mark Richt to produce this coming season, extension or not. There will be an extension because I do believe McGarity has gone too far down the road to make a U turn. Where would our football program be if Evans had not been caught with her pants down, not his and McGarity was not the AD. Only thing I can say for our ex-AD at this point, like his choice of panty colors.

All of us can play with words, but when our program is not showing growth over a certain period of time, then it is time for serious consideration as to what should be done. Many on this board and others tout the number of wins this year. I am glad that we won more than 6 games this season. When I look at the schedule of wins versus losses, the talent spread does not lead me to believe we are on the same path that Alabama, LSU, Arkansas, South Carolina are on.

Finally, running out of air . . . A lot is expected from our football team this coming season. Many say we can run the table. Hope we do. What are your feelings if we have a 50/50 season. Still want the same coaching staff in place, or maybe give second thoughts to improvement.

Just a thought or two. . . . Go Dawgs, coach'em up . . .