Georgia Football, Then and Now . . . . Questions?

This won’t come as a surprise to anyone that follows Georgia football.

Every season, there comes a point when football hits a slack period, just about now.

Spring football is over and some have found players and coaches that we believe will make a difference in the 2013 Season.

I have heard what the coaches have to say, which does not vary a lot. Coach speak does not change too much from season to season. Take that back, some coaches have a different delivery system, comes down to what they think they should say. Called job security. No such thing in football, either college or professional. Those that have successful programs count the bucks, and then there are the others.

So here I go. Georgia football has not been what I would call a successful program, overall. That being said, when compared to other teams in the SEC that have the Crystal to show to one and all when they visit is my reason for that comment.

We at Georgia win our share of games that keep folks like me blogging and sitting in the seats. I do however have a problem when looking at our last championship and where we are now. Been a long time sitting in the wings watching Alabama, Florida, Auburn, LSU stepping up and getting to where we have not been in many, many years.

So, this is what I have picked up from watching Spring football in Athens. There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm among those of us that follow our university. That is proper.

Mark Richt said in his presser that football positions are open on both sides of the ball. Don’t know that I have seen that from him in his time in Athens. Richt does know that the time has come to change not only the way he coaches and runs the program, he now has to win against teams like Clemson and South Carolina. Over the years our team, UGA, has a sparkling record against both of these teams. Why now should that change?

If I have said it once, have probably said it close to more times than I like to admit. Year after year I see talent come to Athens, year after year since we raised the Crystal, I see young men that are not coached to their potential. I would and will debate that with anyone since we won the National Championship. We have had too many “fat cats” that don’t have a clue running our program. That is not only coaches, includes AD’s, former coaches and those that sit on Mahogany Row, now a President that will hang around Athens without the title.

Here is how I would address the above statements. How is it that Urban Meyer can ride up and win? How is it that Nick Saban can leave the NFL and win? How is it that Les Miles with his lack of game management win? What are we doing wrong at Georgia? Is that not a fair question?

Many ask . . . . Why is it that Urban Meyer left a program in Florida broken and now take the reigns at Ohio State and pull top talent out of Georgia? Why is it that Nick Saban can pull top talent out of Georgia? Could it be coaching? Just asking.

Surely the new regime at Auburn won't go from the worst to beating us this season . . . . right? They are going to play fast football on both sides of the ball . . . . no problem, right? We have our team ready for Malzahn and . . . . Garner.

Going to stop for now, just fall into the thinking of “what if” sometimes.

I think I have seen some positive changes in our program, coaching is what I am talking about. This group has to step up and do some things differently on the football field.

I do have more to say, and truthfully, it ain’t all bad, it will be to the point.

Comes a time when many folks that blog, hibernate. You one of those?

Go Dawgs, Coach Them Up!

Those crystals are hard to come by, unless your last name is Saban. Of course, "Alabama" has a certain cache' in college football, just as Augusta has in golf and "Yankees" has in baseball . . . there's just no getting around that . . . and when you add someone like Saban into that, you get crystal.

On the other hand, there's also short term gimmicks. I'm thinking of Chizik and Meyer. There's cheaters too. Tressel, Carroll, Meyer, Chizik.

I keep reminding myself that we were 5 yards short of crystal. Watch this video starting around the 7:00 minute mark.

www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/201...ns_full_post-ga.html

I happen to agree with Saban.

I agree with you Buc - Georgia doesn't have the crystal. But I'm far FAR FARRRR from unhappy about the seasons we've had since Richt has been around.

I for one say it is leadership among players I think this year they are some guys that

are ready to take the role as a team leader and lead by example as much as I liked

JJ-29 he was no leader.

Gurshall-Murray-Jordan Jenkins-Ray Drew- Trey Matthews all leaders that's what been missing they know

what they can do I for one believe in Gurley even if he does get hurt he will play he

has alot of heart just like Pollack that's what Georgia has been missing.

Said it before and I will say it again......CMR is not the one to lead UGA to the promised land of Crystal......Buc hit the nail on the head with the above mentioned coaches who did it in a relatively short tenure.....even the old ball sack got a couple for himself with the gaytors....do I agree that coaching attitude has changed in Athens......no not really, but the coaching staff has changed for the better with the recent additions and departures....we will see but last years team had Crystal written all over it and yet failed again to get to the promised land......now this coming year we are supposed to have a top 5 offense with Crystal written all over it unlike last year when we had the defense with Crystal written all over it.....sigh.....will a perceived "attitude" change among the coaches make a difference? It did not last year in bringing us to the promised land of Crystal.

We will see but my confidence is not high to finish #1 in the land. 12-2 is nice and a great game against the Tide was nice.......but 14-0 or 13-1 and a Crystal Football would be a whole lot nicer.......I am getting tired of wearing my 1980 NC shirt it is old and fading.....I really really need a new one....

I certainly don't know the answer but I can see changes being made. Can CMR lead us there?.....I have no idea.

This may sound a little stupid but imo, I don't feel CMR's coaching ability has limited us as much as his lack of recruiting and building depth in the right positions. BAMA and LSU dominate the league mainly because they ALWAYS have the best OL/DL with depth. Their skilled positions don't come close to ours (UF has always had great OL/DL as well).

Saban is great and Miles can't coach a lick but one thing they do have in common is, they know what wins championships......OL/DL fronts.

Were we on the verge of the crystal last year??....imo, not really. I felt we were pretty fortunate to have been in the SECCG and that BAMA was clearly the best team in the country. We play them 10 times last year, we lose 10 times. But I get the point.....5 yards away etc....but imo, we weren't the best team.

My bottom line is I'm not sure CMR can deliver but I sense he knows where SEC/NC football is won and loss now....just look at the depth building at ALL positions now....OL included.

Oh, along with coaches that actually know how to coach.

I have been watching the South Carolina "scrimmage" on ESPN3. Honestly do not see a reason for them to come out of Athens with another win.

They do have Connor Shaw running the offense and he is a good quarterback. With the loss of Lattimore, going to be hard for them to fill those shoes.

Other things that I think about are . . . . Chris Wilson openly says that he will play more folks on the defensive line. Makes me wonder just how far Todd Grantham will allow the coaches to game plan. If Wilson has "true" depth on the defensive line, will prove another point . . . . needed a coach like him sometime back. Front seven does their job, with depth, hope that the offense does comes out firing and trying to score lots of points. Offense scores a lot of points, gives the defense an opening to "use the depth" and it certainly pays dividends down the road.