From Athens - Friday Thoughts 08-03-19

Good Morning All,

Pondering... and random thoughts...

Recalling some thoughts I shared during CKS and staff early recruiting successes.... Dawgs were not only signing quality recruits for focused position needs that they were also receiving interest and visits from players we at Dawg.com never believed would give Georgia at look....

Here we sit with three very solid recruiting classes.. Buc and other members stated correctly...2019 was a critical year for recruiting for us in maintaining building quality depth... based on the 14 early enrollment recruits and those due to arrive this summer....imho we took carry of business.....sure we missed a player here and there but we also received some surprise late flips.....

Remaining on recruiting.... it’s become clear as a result on our national exposure we have truly upgraded the Bulldog brand...While shutting down our state borders and keeping in state players home...interest has reach a new high from recruits all across the country.... a very good thing....

Been fun watching folks in Florida and elsewhere feeling what we felt for many recent years as we watched recruits choose to play elsewhere....

I am also Impressed with how the HC fills vacancies on his staff....Kirby has shown the ability to add a hire that fits with both mind and heart to Georgia’s and his needs....again this winter and early spring HC can’t speaks 10 words with at least four of them being ...”we”.....

The process continues...spring camp starts the 19th....boys of the south...know best come ready....right from the first snap....

Pause and give thanks

Have a safe weekend and a great week...

As always “Go Dawgs “

Allow these thoughts . . . .

The players on our football team are the young men that were recruited and have played under the direction of Kirby Smart. Many of these players will hit the ground running full speed, makes a difference third year around. Not having to "think" allows the total talent of the young men to take football to another level in Athens. Several very talented players left the team, have no doubts that those stepping up will do just that, step up. Has not always been the case.

Another year of Jake Fromm at the helm will also "allow" those not quite up to speed to get there quicker. Starters on the offense in 2019 are going to be even more of a challenge to those they line up against.

Defense is going to be a "highlight reel" this season. Too much talent and too many young men with comparable talent(s) not to be causing problems for opponents for "four quarters". That has definitely been a problem in past seasons.

Special teams will have personnel playing that might not start on offense or defense, however many or most of these players would start at many universities.

From where I sit, do not see a lot of "holes". Believe also that "newcomers" will see a lot of playing time as first year personnel. Spring practice will also move at a faster clip this year, just goes to show what has happened and what will happen since the coaching change(s).

Believe this . . . . folks in the Sunshine State are aware of the Georgia Football Program. Looking forward to another game in JAX in 2019. This group from the Classic City could be the best overall team that has lined up against the gators, maybe ever.

Coffee has always been special on Saturday morning...

Thinking about your comments about spring practice Buc..

HC and staff have been very successful in the development of the player culture of making every practice count and be productive...

Spring camp..... competition and working to get better...

Exactly right Buc...players know what to expect.....imho ..big reason

We have been very successful in recruiting....fact... Go Dawgs

HC and staff have been very successful in the development of the player culture of making every practice count and be productive...

Statement you made above yankeedawg1 has so much meaning . . . .

Young men that were in the program when Coach Pruitt arrived were soon indoctrinated to a "new and better way to practice SEC Football". Changing of the guard continued the system and actually added more to the existing program. Hard for me to sometimes get past what one "critical move" made in our program. Use that word because the young men that were in Athens at that time openly stated that football practice had taken a significant turn from previous years. Some got their feelings wrankled, that however did not change the "process" in the early stages of improving football in the Classic City. Some found it hard to live by the new way of doing things, they soon felt the sincere message that was being sent. Practice determines playing time on Saturdays.

Cannot let this stop without saying . . . . Mahogany Row, Head Coach and Athletic Director let their panties end up in a "wad". Proof is in the pudding . . . . UGA Football is now recognized as being one of the top programs in the entire college world of football. Took "balls" to say the things openly that Coach Jeremy Pruitt said, Red and Black stock has risen leaps and bounds since. Gets a bit under my skin when I now watch McGarity, Mahogany Row and a select few step into the "lime light" as if they were responsible for moving the "Cash Cow" forward.

Choice words Buc.... CJP .... most certainly stirred the puddin..

CKS. arrived and installed the process..... both have personal refinements learned from CNS...and then each has added their own tweaks...

The argument can be made that Kirby and Georgia are ahead of CJP and UT in the process because Kirby had better players to start with.... very true..

But imho the biggest difference....is in the coaching assistants ..

Kirby was able to assemble a staff that fit Georgia’s needs to move forward and improve...and...thie key is...commitment to recruiting.... not many D5 colleges can claim as much success in recruiting in the first three years.... one first and two seconds class rankings...

Need the horses ....

Amazing to me..HC has had to replace assistants.....and we gain on

Recruiting successes...... tells me a lot about ...

The process..... Go Dawgs

Kirby said that his group on defense in 2018 were being primed, being youthful played a large part in putting the braces on the puppies. Like the fact that Kirby is playing out the way he wants the game to be played, not allowing a lot of outside interference to disrupt what he knows to be the right process.

Really do not see any reason for this squad to under perform. Too many talented pieces that want to be a "playing part" on the defense. Not the way it was in previous years . . . . before Kirby Smart. When very little separates talent at so many positions, sure makes for practices to be lively. This group stays healthy, will be interesting to see just who can beat the 2019 Team. Do not see any team on the schedule that I can say is better than we are.

Jake Fromm and the offensive group are also loaded at all positions. Never again should a UGA coaching staff fail as so many before the Smart Era did when it came to recruiting and building for the future. Say again, from where I sit, the future is now. One more thing . . . . see often in print where it is discussed a bit too much about Jake Fromm getting hurt. That same "talk" applies to other teams as well. Jake Fromm is one tough dude and he has some serious "body guards" insuring his health.