Not For Thin Skins . . . . Real Talk

Buc wrote: There are many that point to the amount of points that UGA has scored using this system (pro style). My question is simply this . . . . where has it gotten us? Not where Gus Malzahn has been in a short time. Not where Nick Saban has been recently. Saban running the same system, but we must remember that he has stronger recruiting classes than we do, year after year.

Here's the thing about our offense. It's an over simplification to just talk about scoring points on offense unless you are so prolific that you score every time you touch the ball. There are other teams that we will play every year that will have their own fairly prolific scoring offenses as well. As wlayton pointed out...maybe we will have the
D to slow the other guys down now. Even if we do improve on D, we will still have times when we need the O to pitch in, in a different manner.

When you have a weak or reeling defense, there's this little thing an offense can do called ball control that comes in pretty darn handy...especially considering our D's in the past.

Teams tend to go into their breadbasket in big situations.... our meat and potatoes calls haven't changed much flavor, so it's not hard to guess what we're going to do. We've just been lucky in that our talent can still just out execute MOST of the talent we play and roll up impressive aggregate stats.

So yeah... we score lots of points, no doubt.... but there are some subtle things where we could do better.

I'm a big proponent of the pro style offense, but we have sometimes failed to pound out first downs to end a game..
We have fairly often handed the ball back to an opposing offense so we could watch them come back on our D.

We score points... a lot, but sometimes your ability to end a game with your O in another way is important. I love the flexibility of the pro-set..sure do, but if part of that flexibility is to be able to pound the ball and play keep away... then you actually need to be able to pound the ball and play keep away when it counts.

I'm not so sure we've always had a great handle on that aspect of our pro set O.

Interesting reads all.

Maybe I did not get my thoughts out totally and clear enough.

The overall point that I was trying to make was, we don't seem to use our talent as some others do. Comes back again to overall coaching in my mind.

If I come to your home for dinner, been there before, many times. One thing that I do not have to ask you is where the restroom is located. You have been to my home, the same applies.

Tried to mix it up in the thread with different questions and statements.

Already I think I see some more of the same. Meaning the past. Being a part of the media at one point, it is easy to recognize the importance of "continuity".

As far as the offense and the pro style we run . . . . it has been very good . . . . to a point. What has been lacking in my opinion is talent where it is needed just as badly as the running back or quarterback positions. Ball control as Wartdawg points out has often been a forgotten tool. We have had games (few) that we controlled the ball, but how often has that happened. Is that a lack of offensive line talent or coaching, or both?

Will our offensive line be better this season? I personally don't think so. Much of the press talk has been about Kublanow. When we have a sophomore that is the center of conversation . . . . why is that? What happened to leadership from higher up?

Don't think I am the only one that is asking Richt to do other things and let the coaches coach. He is sitting tall in the saddle again, that is ok, it was to be expected that would be the case. Will Friend threw Mark Richt a "lifeline", by the name of Pruitt.

As far as the defense, there has never been a shortage of talent, there has been a shortage of coaching. Pruitt said it well recently . . . . If the player or players don't understand the scheme, we won't run it. Finally a defensive coach that understands.

IC on the offense having to be told where to go on every play by AM. IC was not the only one, there have been others. Another case of a player that had problems, but taking that another step . . . . why was he on the field? Am I to believe that there were not other running backs that knew the plays and were ready to go?

Actually this thread was about players coming to Athens and not being utilized. Seen that happen too many times. Moreno bring back any thoughts? There have been others. I am questioning still the overall leadership of our program. Maybe things will change for the better . . . . with the talent in Athens, better start changing in 2014. Schedule seems to fit, Clemson and Auburn in Athens. Florida, hard to say, but it is called a neutral game site.

Good coaches have a way of changing what they do. To think that the ball cannot be thrown out of other offensive schemes, that is not the way it is.

Still shudder to think what AM could have accomplished with better offensive line play. As Theus said at the end of the season . . . . I have to go to work. I hope so.

Watts Dantzler for example has been mentioned as a starter in 2014. Don't know that I have seen anything from Watts that makes me believe the offensive line will be better than it was with those that departed after the 2013 Season. Is that a lack of coaching or a lack of talent, or both?

Hutson Mason is not a mobile quarterback, 9 times out of ten in a passing situation, he can be found in approximately the same area. Anyone believe we are the only football team that can rush the quarterback?

Am I a strong backer of Faton Bauta, yep. Think he does not have an arm? What about escaping and gaining yards in critical situations? Intelligent, you bet. Can Faton run the pro style offense? Why not? Tired of handing folks the football and saying you are the man. We have been through that, more than once.

Get a bit under the weather when I continue to read, "next year". Why in 13 going on 14 years has it always been, "next year"?

Glad that Pruitt signed on, believe that Bobo is ready. Something however on the overall coaching standpoint is missing. Maybe realization has set in, I sure hope so.

Agree with your last post Buc all but the Bobo is ready part anyhoo... Hope he proves me wrong but without AM I don't think so...

Buc, I can see where you're going.
Use Bauta similar to how we used Shockley.
I believe Murray was taught to stay in the pocket, sometimes to his detriment.

Saban can do what we can't, OL.
But I think even Saban via Kiffen will throw some wrinkles in his offense this year.

Without protection, Mason will not survive.

averagedawg wrote: Buc, I can see where you're going.
Use Bauta similar to how we used Shockley.
I believe Murray was taught to stay in the pocket, sometimes to his detriment.

Saban can do what we can't, OL.
But I think even Saban via Kiffen will throw some wrinkles in his offense this year.

Without protection, Mason will not survive.

averagedawg, you are reading me like a book.

Just one thought on the spread. The Eagles in the NFL had a new coach that did things differently than had been done in the NFL, ever. What happened was the Eagles won the NFC East. They threw the ball out of the spread, but made big news in the run game.

I was never in agreement with AM staying in the pocket at all cost. That type of coaching reminds me of what grantham did while here. There was only one way to play defense, his way. Again, not being ugly, trying to look at what has and will go on in Athens.

averagedawg, a very good point from where I sit on Saban/Kiffin. Nick knows that there are changes going on, he is not one to be left behind. Can imagine Henry and others running behind that offensive line. Kiffin will alter some things, and if he does, it will be with Saban's approval.

ogredawg, dead on with replacing AM. Would love to see someone in the list of players at quarterback in Athens take over and give us stability at the position. If Hutson Mason is all that this season, will be the first to say so. Watching him staring down his receivers will not only get Huston hurt, the receivers will be in line for punishment.

Looking back at some posts on this board by folks that no longer post here. Many comments about going back to a running game. Not a prettier site than watching TD busting a big running play.

One of the reasons I asked earlier about Quayvon Hicks. What happened? Thought I saw talent. My guess is he has been on someones list. Also, when is the last time we had an offensive line that looked anything like Alabama's? Go one step further, Nick Saban said after the Auburn game, yes I am repeating myself . . . . "Auburn had a great offensive line". He did not say anything else about backs and quarterbacks.

Johnny Football seemed to do well moving with the ball. Sitting in the pocket, this day and time is going to get someone hurt. Might not be a "legal" hit, think we have witnessed that.

There will always be controversy about offenses and defenses. My biggest problem to date in Athens is the lack of recognizing what the players do best. The same players that were recruited to play between the Hedges. Been way too much of that, both sides of the ball. Pruitt is a breath of fresh air. Will he respond? Already has . . . . he "energized" Richt.

Square pegs... round holes, and if you're not innovating you are stagnant.

First one doesn't work at all and the second one means you are moving backwards because everyone else is moving forward.