Football Players Not Numbers . . . .

Still get a chuckle out of the way some of the football recruits are referred to.

Toby Johnson #4 JUCO Football Recruit. Media playing with numbers, that is their way of survival this day and time.

What about Toby Johnson, Defensive Lineman. Great addition to UGA Football.

Just what the heck does the number mean to the folks out there recruiting these young men. They don’t see a number, they see a football player that will fit in their scheme, whether offensive or defensive.

Anyone think that Saban/Smart see a number before a players name or soon thereafter. They have been in the coaching business for a long time, both as players and coaches, numbers attributed to a player mean zero to them. They don’t depend on the media to tell them who to recruit. This is what they do and have done for most of their adult lives.

This business of placing numbers to a player is a simple one. That is for you and me. That is the way they keep their ratings, have to do something like that to have me posting something like this.

Check the rating numbers out for the Gurshall players. That is not a knock on the two players, both are exceptional. The numbers selected by those that put them there carry about as much water as a bucket with a hole in it. Our coaches did not stop with Marshall being the highest rated (number wise), they stayed after and got Gurley. Maybe our coaches know something about players and their abilities.

I know that I keep harping about coach’em up, but that is exactly what all of this comes down to. I present the case of IC again. Great talent, impossible to coach. Who knew it would turn out like it did. I remember the reactions that myself and others had on this board and others.

In my opinion, we loaded up on the defensive side of the ball this recruiting period. I look at the many players that were chosen to fill the needs of the defensive backfield. In my book there are a lot of young men that can play SEC Football in the 2013 Class. One problem . . . . Eleven players on the field at any one time. Several carrying the star ratings, but it still comes down to coaching and the cream will rise to the top . . . . With the proper coaching, not like a few years back that UGA decided to go with unproven teachers, could be that a two or three star player becomes a starter.

There has been a lot of hype here and everywhere else about this years recruits. My way of thinking is that we (UGA) were in a state of flux. Had to separate ourselves again from someone that did not have UGA’s best interest at heart. Only natural to lose some that we thought would play between the Hedges. I commend Mark Richt for not making an issue of Garner leaving, that is what was needed and that too is part of the maturing of Mark Richt. Richt was ready for Garner to move on.

This group of coaches now have leaders on both sides of the ball, without any under currents. My opinion, first time since Mark Richt became head coach. Not talking about early winning record, SEC has changed since the early 2000’s. Tougher to win this day and time. Alabama has been stable on the coaching front for some time now . . . . No lateral moves. I think that is what we are seeing in Athens, and have needed to see for a long time.

For those that want to bring up the Todd Grantham issue in recent times . . . . Grantham is still here. Should Grantham decide to leave for the NFL in the near future, replacing him will not be the major task that confronted Mark Richt prior to Todd Grantham signing on. Georgia in my opinion has come closer to stability in the last three years than all of Mark Richt’s prior years of coaching in Athens. I see it as growth. If Grantham decides to leave, we can rest assured that he will not pull a Garner.

Chris Wilson, good get or helping to get Toby Johnson, football player to Athens.

Buc, nothing but truth there. I read an article this morning on bleacher report and it played to your point exactly. Here are the rankings of the players we are losing:

•Bacarri Rambo (No. 27 ATH))
•Sanders Commings Jr. (No. 29 ATH)
•Cornelius Washington (No. 60 DE)
•Branden Smith (No. 4 CB)
•Abry Jones (No. 22 DE)
•Michael Gilliard (No. 17 OLB)
•Shawn Williams (No. 29 S)
•Alec Ogletree (No. 4 S)

If you were to only look at the numbers, according to the recruitng rankings, this would not be an impressive class as all. These are position rankings and many didn't fall into the 300 or higher ranking. Jarvis and JJ were pretty highly ranked. Article also goes on to say Kwame was listed as an O-Lineman coming out of high school.

Article also goes on to show the rankings of the projected starters for 2013. Across the board they are much higher. What does that mean? To me, nothing. Buc, as you like to say, Coach'em up. I will also say, players, it is time to step up. Be difference makers.

GO DAWGS

AllDawgs5, this group that is coming in, 2013 Class, has my attention. I believe when looked at from the competition level, many of these young players are too close in talent to separate. What that means to me is with the young men already on campus with some experience, Georgia is going to build that long needed depth.

If I were coaching, had players at a position that were equal in talent, would not have a problem making sure both played. If for some reason ego's got involved by one player or the other, no doubt in my mind which player would see most or all of the playing time until the situation fixed itself.

You are right on with the number ratings of the players. Before all of this number rating started, never failed that someone that most of us had not a clue about would start for Georgia, happened many times.

Think that many/some college coaches are under the gun to play that media promoted athlete, see that often as a matter of fact.

Reload sounds so much better than rebuild.

Kevin Sumlin, head coach at TAM appears to have a jewel on his team. Before last year, all one has to do is look at the media rankings and . . . . where the heck is "Johnny Football"?

You played, you know that every Spring especially, there are going to be one or two that totally upset the apple cart. Even the coaches were not totally aware of the talent that was there, just needed the pads on to prove a point.

Say again, I think we are closer to being nationally recognized over the long haul because some of the changes that have been made in Athens appear to be working. Want to be in every game we play in 2013, don't like being blown out.

Reload sounds so much better than rebuild.

AllDawgs5, just read the article that you mentioned in your post. To me, spot on.

Often it is mentioned here that there is talent galore in Athens. At this particular time, maybe more talent on campus than has ever resided there. I know that I keep saying that, but . . . .

One thing that I know and appreciate. Some of the young pups that did not see a lot of playing time last season was for one reason, the upper classmen refused to "move over". That is a good thing. Now these guys step up and take on the same school of thought that their predecessors had. Part of the building process. My main wish is that the pups stepping up change a thing or two about "attitude" that became apparent with too many of our "veterans".

Think this is the link that AD5 referred to.

bleacherreport.com/articles/1537432-geor...an-be-better-in-2013

Short time back there was discussion on this board about Georgia not keeping enough of its talent home. Lot of truth to that.

Below is a link that some have probably looked at. Thinking back and reading again some of the comments, thought this would be a good place to pose this question rather than starting a new thread. I am serious about scrolling through and would like to see what you folks find missing in the link. Some probably don't have the time, or . . . . Personally went through the entire group, I am however, retired.

There were a couple of things that really stood out to me, wondering if we are on the same wave length. This is just a simple test of recruiting.

Number starts at 1, as you can see from the site, it lists now 101 or 102. That is where I ended.

bleacherreport.com/articles/1520632-rank...cts-of-2014/page/101

Buc wrote: Short time back there was discussion on this board about Georgia not keeping enough of its talent home. Lot of truth to that.

Below is a link that some have probably looked at. Thinking back and reading again some of the comments, thought this would be a good place to pose this question rather than starting a new thread. I am serious about scrolling through and would like to see what you folks find missing in the link. Some probably don't have the time, or . . . . Personally went through the entire group, I am however, retired.

There were a couple of things that really stood out to me, wondering if we are on the same wave length. This is just a simple test of recruiting.

Number starts at 1, as you can see from the site, it lists now 101 or 102. That is where I ended.

bleacherreport.com/articles/1520632-rank...cts-of-2014/page/101

Wow, Buc. That was pretty demoralizing. Georgia was MENTIONED by 4 recruits. MENTIONED. And I didn't count, but I'd say about 40 or 50% of the recruits on that board listed Alabama. WOW.