Trends and Georgia's chances on Saturday

sadlerdawg wrote: I think the fan's negativity (or pessimism, whichever) was a catalyst in creating the 11-1 season. I was calling for the staff to be fired because of their refusal to change and accept that football has progressed in the last decade. Well, they have changed. New DC and strength coach, Richt's demeanor has changed, Bobo's play calling has changed dramatically. Would they have changed without the internet and ways for fans to get their point across? Who knows, but yeah, I'm thinking Richt has gotten the message.

sadlerdawg, you mentioned strength coach and it started my mind to working. First off, I like what I have seen in the Strength and Conditioning area. There were a lot of comments made when the change over was implemented.

Below is an article that I think has a lot of merit, especially when thinking about the upcoming game. Also remember the gators in their last win over UGA in the second half laughing in the faces of our team about our lack of conditioning. Back to back wins gators, maybe you guys shooting off your mouths to the press had some effect on Mark Richt. This team is better conditioned.

Reading some of the comments to the article are worth a look. Everyone has answers.

Edit: Here is what one blogger had to say: Ahhhh!!! Stop doing this! Go get some fresh blood, a younger guy that knows the new methodologies in strength and conditioning. Both of these guys are still studying Arnold while those guys at Bama are pumping some real diesel. Did anyone see that piece on ESPN from the Bama S&C guy? I almost punched out the TV it got me so amped. There’s no way a 50 year old man is going to get these young guys that amped up.

blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2010/12/02...s-strength-director/

I am not really sold that it is the coaching that has changed. 1 good year out of 5 is the reason I say this. Has CMR really changed or is it that he has just so much talent that it is really hard for him to screw up?

Again I am happy that CMR has us competing for the NC and that is all that I ask. But will he have us competing for it the next 3-4 years? Time will tell and I refuse to drink the kool-aid even at 11-1.

Don't think that there have been too many years when talent between the Hedges was in question. Talent might not meet Alabama's standards, but some very good talent year after year.

ogredawg, guess all of us have to look at the program and decide for ourselves, as you just did in your post.

I would differ with you on the coaching not changing, simple fact . . . . Willie Martinez is gone and Todd Grantham occupies the post.

Think I have some comments from a while back about the 3/4 going to take 3 years. Appears to me that goal has been reached. This years group and especially after being called out have been on a mission. Regardless of what it took, meaning whether coming from players or coaches, the pace quickened.

Know that we are going to lose some of our best players after the 2012 Season. The test defensively will come in the 2013 Season. Coaching and players will answer that. Think that I see some players that will break out once the Big Dawgs leave that side of the ball.

Do understand that your question was directed at Richt and whether or not he has changed. I think so, hope so, he will be our Head Coach as long as he wants.

Look around college football and ask the question: is there any football team out there with more talent than UGA, or at least AS MUCH?

Answer: Oh, yes.

Southern Cal - This is a team with HUGE talent across the board - predicted by most to run the table this year and break the SEC hold on the crystal ball. What happened? I know what happened. You do too.

Clemson - Have you ever looked at their recruiting classes? They get more 5 star talent than anyone (other than Southern Cal) out there. Not only do they not get to hold the crystal ball, they can't even compete for their HALF of the ACC! What happens to them - every single YEAR?! I know what happens. I think you do too.

Abuurn - They sucked this year - but don't think they didn't have any talent. They held the crystal ball not all that long ago. What happened? I know. So do you.

Notre Dame - they have a national top 5 recruiting class almost EVERY SINGLE YEAR. They finally have found success (after YEARS of high visibility flailing around). Something OTHER than talent has happened to that program. I know what it is. I'll bet you do too.

My point is that you can have TONS of talent and accomplish NOTHING. I do not believe for one second that 11-1 happened this year because of a cupcake schedule (if that were the case, the entire ACC would be in contention for the NC). I also do not believe that it was PURELY because we are so stacked in talent - go back to the "Dream Team" and see where some of those guys are today (Alabama State or buried on a depth chart or not even playing football).

IF - and I put those two letters in ALL CAPS - IF - we win the next two games, there is going to be a very tough time explaining it based only on schedule (exactly 60% of the national top 10 are SEC teams, exactly 50% of those are from the East Division), and based SOLELY on talent. There HAS to be some other explanation. And is it that the coaching staff "finally gets it"? Or, as Buc says, have the changes finally taken hold? Either way, success is success. Where we are right now is EXACTLY where we all wanted to be at the beginning of the year - in control of winning it all.

I have always been a CMR backer. That being said, I have definitely seen an attitude change in CMR. Look no further than the quick interview at halftime of the GT game. He was very chippy. Even though he was winning 28-3, he seem to have a Saban moment. I am paraphrasing, but he stated that the defense needed to win first down. He then was fairly short with the reporter when she mentioned reminding the team of the 2008 GT game, when GT came back in the second half...

There definitely seems to be an edge to CMR...

The Dawgs are playing with edge. We knew we would give up yards the last two weeks, but we kept them out of the end zone.

I feel we will win this week! Can't put a score on it yet, but I do see a difference at UGA!

GO DAWGS!!

Buc wrote: thriller, Notre Dame is a "good" football team. My opinion. They are not the #1 team in the nation. Most of us know that. The winner of the SEC Championship in Atlanta will take them to task.

I predicted that USC would win, did not know that stupid was leading stupid in play calling. We sometimes think that Mike Bobo is bad, after watching Lane Kiffin calling plays for USC against Notre Dame, now I understand football a bit better. Tennesse folks should be "thrilled" (sorry about that) Southern California was the real "loser" in the transformation.

Media loves this, understandable. The media hypes keep their jobs with situations such as this. Have said it more than once on this board, bothers me a great deal that "Disney" is stepping forward and taking over College Football. Time is coming when "everyone" will pay or bend over for "Disney". Watched it happen in Central Florida, now . . . .

This old fart wants so much to go face mask to face mask with Notre Dame. This time, it is a run away, not like 1980. Notre Dame cannot win against either of the two teams playing for the SEC Championship.

Sad part of this is . . . . the losing team falls behind a Florida team that I would love to play again, just for giggles. Really don't like Muschamp, we will kick his butt again next season. This season started and most on this board were "hoping" for a "W" against Florida, times have changed my Brothers. Coaching staff has a grip on SEC Football. Willie Martinez once upon a time was Defensive Coordinator for our football team, now we have Todd Grantham, damn, just damn. Appears that Mark Richt grew up also. Regardless of what anyone thinks on this board, Mark Richt has changed and it IS noticeable.

Tried to stay away from this, but . . . . still waiting for a couple of posters that come up and tell us just how bad UGA football is if we should lose to Alabama. One in particular always shows his face when we lose a game. Same guy that said we would lose 4 or 5 games this season. Sorry, just know that we are doing some things differently, and have seen some posting opinions changes on this board. Me in particular. Carolina hurt, but I am a big boy and can see past the "hurt" to realize that we can get to a "different place".

Buck, this post speaks volumes. And in particular kind of describes me in a way. After the "columbia incident" as I like to refer to it I thought this team had once again regressed, could not live up to expectations. I was hurting after that loss and didn't expect to be in this team to be in the position they are in now. I have never been more happy to be wrong. When it comes to Georgia football my emotions get the better of me sometimes, but I am man enough to admit I was wrong. People can say Florida was overrated all they want they might not have been the number 2 ranked team in the country at the time but they have played some damn good football this season and we beat them.

I also have critized mark Richt and company after the "Columbia incident" and will be man enough to admit I was wrong about him as well. He stepped up, got his team ready to play against the teams we were scheduled to play, and he has lead this team to a potential national title. He has coached aggressively all year, he'll even against auburn and tech he didn't take his foot of the pedal until midway in the 3rd. I love seeing that.

To be honest I'm glad I was wrong about this team after south Carolina. I am glad and damn proud of these dawgs.