Three-point stance: ND, Bama, ACC - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN

Three-point stance: ND, Bama, ACC - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN: "3. The best sign that the ACC is on the rise is that 20 All-ACC first-teamers are underclassmen. You have to assume that one or two of them will declare for the NFL Draft. Georgia Tech alone has three juniors with pro prospects (TB Jonathan Dwyer, DE Derrick Morgan, WR Demaryius Thomas). But the future is blinding, especially with two All-ACC freshmen, TB Ryan Williams of Virginia Tech and LB Luke Kuechly of Boston College."

Mark Richt on Recruiting Jonathan Dwyer

Bulldogs Blog: Practice Notes: Rambo Likely, Green Questionable:
"THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Back when Georgia was courting two of the top running backs in the state in 2006, Richt was sold on both Caleb King and Jonathan Dwyer as the next big thing for the Bulldogs’ ground game.

As it turned out, however, Dwyer found a better fit at Tech, and he even surprised Richt by how good he became.

“We tried like mad to get Jonathan Dwyer,” Richt said. “We thought he was one of the finest backs in the state and in the country and a very fine young man. I didn’t know he was going to grow into such the big hoss that he is. I thought he was a good-sized back, but I didn’t think he’d get up to the 235-240 range and still keep his speed and power.”

Georgia did land King, who has started the past three games for Georgia and appears to have a bright future. Dwyer, however, already has an ACC offensive player of the year award to his credit, and he could be departing for a job in the NFL as soon as next year. The Tech tailback has racked up 1,203 yards and 11 touchdowns this season for the 10-1 Jackets.

Richt doesn’t fault Dwyer for choosing Tech over the Bulldogs, however, and the opportunity clearly worked out for him.

“I think he felt like he had a better opportunity to play at Tech,” Richt said. “I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but I think that was part of it. That’s kind of what those kids are looking for. They are looking for where do I fit in and do I fit in more quickly here than I do over there.”"

My opinion on the ACC and SEC and Other BCS Conferences

I am sick of getting these questions about which conference I think is the best and so forth.

Here are my opinions on the conferences:
· All of the BCS conferences provide excellent competition year end year out.
· I agree with my brother-in-law (UGA grad) when he states: Everyone is fanatical about their conference often times based on where they live geographically.
· The SEC does have an impressive BCS bowl record and has recently done well against the ACC in the Peach Bowl.
· With the SEC and ACC both having 9 bowl tie ins and sending approximately the same number of players to the NFL, I think it is hard to say there is note worthy difference in the level of competition in these conferences.
· The TV commentators say so many wonderful things about the SEC, only during the SEC games, because of all the money invested in that conference. The networks are trying to sell their “investment” to their viewing audience. Not to mention, Jesse Palmer, played QB at Florida and SEC school.
· The ACC hasn’t had a National Champion caliber team last year or the year before.
· The SEC hasn’t had the top to bottom quality of the ACC last year and maybe this year. The ACC sent 10 teams to bowls last year.
· The SEC’s best teams over the past couple of years would end up losing at least 1 conference game if they went through a typical ACC schedule.
· I don’t think Florida or Alabama would go undefeated in the ACC and am surprised that SEC fans use that as a bragging point to say their conference is the best.
· Finally, and to repeat, I think all 6 BCS conferences are competitive and deserving of credit and respectable comments. With UCLA beating UT, Washington (#7 in Pac-10) playing LSU (#3 in SEC) tight, GT beating Vandy and MSU (#9 in SEC) worse than most any other SEC team, and UGA (#7 in SEC) losing to OkSt and struggling with ASU. You can’t intelligently go around and declare your conference as world beaters or dominant. And don’t ever, ever forget: that putting 100,000 people inside of a football stadium in no way makes a football team better than another. Never, ever, never. Some experts also believe that a high percentage of fans that attend SEC games are intoxicated.
· Year in and year out I think the ACC and SEC are the best 2 conferences based on the number of bowl tie ins, out of conference BCS+ record, and number of players that go to the NFL from these 2 conferences.
· I would have to give the SEC the edge over the ACC because they send a few more players to the NFL and have won more National Championships. Remember though, for every year you have an undefeated Florida or Alabama, there is a Vandy or Kentucky that must be weighed equally. You still have to give a National Championship a little more weight for a conference.
· The college recruiting rankings mean only a little to me because they seem to rank the teams with the largest subscriptions with the best recruiting classes. What matters to me regarding talent is how many players go pro!

Big Question About Conference Scheduling

GT and UGA WRs Performing Well
Right now, AJ Green is rated the #8 WR and Bebe Thomas is rated the #5 WR, in all of college football.
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/viewCFSE.asp
Both are in the top 10 finalists for the Biletnikoff Award.
Congrats to these players and UGA and GT.

SEC and ACC in the Top 25 – Strength of Schedule
Both conferences have 3 teams in the top 25. Because Clemson choose to play #6 TCU, out of conference, and lost 10-14, they are not rated in the top 25 with 3 losses. Please note: the SEC has all 3 of their top 25 teams in the top 10 but LSU and Alabama play this Sat.! Because Virginia Tech choose to play Nebraska and Alabama, out of conference, they have 1 additional loss as well and are only ranked like #23. Clemson will also play USCe out of conference. Meanwhile, Alabama, Florida, and LSU only play one BCS+ game out of conference all season. Boston College has played #22 Notre Dame and the #1 team from the MAC (Cent. Mich), out of conference. UGA is the lone team in the SEC willing to play more than one game out of conference and they are currently 4-4. And of course GT plays 3, out of conference, BCS+ games in addition to their treacherous ACC schedule.

Big Question
Should the ACC teams change their schedules to only play one out of conference BCS+ games to be like most of the SEC teams or should the SEC teams play 2 out of conference BCS+ games to be like the ACC? Right now, it like trying to compare apples to turnips.

Congrats to Calvin Johnson and David Pollack For Making the All-Decade Team

Congratulations to Calvin Johnson and David Pollack for making the Sporting News All-Decade Team. When a player makes the All-decade team they are also considered to be one of the top All-time at their position. In fact, in 2007, Rivals.com voted for the Ultimate Team and David Pollack and Calvin Johnson were both listed to vote for them. Calvin Johnson was voted the #1 WR of all time in college football and David Pollack was voted the #9 DE all time in college football.

Calvin Johnson was also voted onto the ACC-All Decade Team. The experts and fans continue to prove that Calvin's impact on college football at WR will never be forgotten until Jesus Christ comes and then God destroys the earth!

OFFENSE
WR Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh
WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
T Chris Long, Virginia
G Shawn Andrews, Arkansas
C Alex Mack, California
G Marcus McNeill, Auburn
T Robert Gallery, Iowa
TE Kellen Winslow, Miami
QB Matt Leinart, USC
RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma

DEFENSE
DE David Pollack, Georgia
DT John Henderson, Tennessee
DT Tommie Harris, Oklahoma
DE Terrell Suggs, Arizona State
LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
LB Paul Posluszny, Penn State
LB Derrick Johnson, Texas
CB Terence Newman, Kansas State
CB Lito Sheppard, Florida
S Sean Taylor, Miami
S Roy Williams, Oklahoma

SPECIALISTS
K Mason Crosby, Colorado
P Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor
KR Ted Ginn, Ohio State
PR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri

ACC and SEC Football Facts - Week 4

ACC and SEC 2009 Football Facts
Numbered By Week

Bill Trocchi has quit doing his rankings this year for some reason.

Notice the computer rankings, how can the SEC and ACC be so close? How come the ACC was ranked ahead of the SEC after week 3? Because all of the SEC's BCS non conference wins have been against opponents not ranked in the top 25. The ACC has wins against the #7 and #20 nonconference BCS+ teams.

The SEC rarely plays BCS+ out of conference games and when they do they don't play teams ranked in the top 25. It all makes sense to the non-homer. I talk to fans from all over. And everyone thinks their conference is the best. I recently have bumped into 2 Pac-10 fans (USC) and they think the Pac-10 is hard and they indicated that the SEC is not impressive.

With all that said, after week 4, the SEC has a clear upper hand over the ACC.

Big games this week for the ACC are GT vs. MSU and Miami vs. Oklahoma.
In the SEC the big out of conference BCS+ games are Arkansas vs. Texas A&M and MSU vs. GT.

Head to Head Record (ACC vs. SEC)
· SEC = 2-0. ACC = 0-2.
o 9/3/2009 - USCe defeated NCST 7-3. SEC win.
o 9/5/2009 – AL defeated VT 34-24. SEC win.

Teams in the Top 25
1. SEC = 5. ACC = 4. 9/1
2. SEC = 5. ACC = 4. 9/13
3. SEC = 5. ACC = 4. 9/20
4. SEC = 5. ACC = 3. 9/28

BCS+ Out of Conference Record
1. SEC = 3-1. ACC = 0-4. 9/1
2. SEC = 3-2. ACC = 2-5. 9/13
3. SEC = 5-2. ACC = 4-6. 9/20
4. SEC = 6-2. ACC = 5-9. 9/28

Conference Ranking by Sagarin Computer
1. SEC = 1. ACC = 4. 9/6
2. SEC = 2. ACC = 3. 9/13
3. ACC = 2. SEC = 3. 9/20
4. SEC = 2. ACC = 3. 9/28

Conference Ranking by Sports Illustrated (Bill Trocchi Vanderbilt Grad)
1. No rankings
2. SEC = 1. ACC = 6. 9/15. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/bill_trocchi/09/15/sec-tops/index.html
3.

Can the Georgia Tech Offense (Spread Option Flexbone) Succeed In BCS Play

I was asked a very good question tonight at dinner by a dear friend:
“Tommy, as a GT fan, are you starting to question whether or not GT’s offense can work?”
Again, fair question.

Facts:
1. Against JSU GT had 497 yards of total offense
2. Against Clemson GT had 418 yards of total offense. Clemson held Boston College to 54 yards of total offense in their next game. 54 yards, not a misprint.
3. GT ran only 54 plays against Miami and had 228 yards of total offense. Miami was the 3rd team GT played in 12 days.
4. Navy, with much less talent, played the #6 team in the country down to the wire.
5. Navy beat LaTech 32-14. Auburn beat LaTech 37-14. Auburn has much more talent than Navy.
6. Navy runs an almost identical offense to GT.
7. GT led the ACC in yards per game in 2008.
8. Auburn and Oklahoma won in the late 80s with a similar offense.
9. In 1994, 1995, and 1997 Nebraska won the National Championship with a similar offense.
10. In fact more national championships have been won with this type of offense than any other. The power I might be last. Remember Florida is winning these NCs with the spread option, not the boring-I, I mean power-I. J (kidding)

Facts:
1. UGA was held to 252 yards of total offense last year when they played South Carolina. While having 2 first round picks at QB and RB.
2. UGA scored 10 points against Florida last year.
3. UGA struggled against Auburn last year, offensively.
4. UGA had 257 yards against OkSt this year.

As a UGA fan, do you question the Power I?

Florida, like GT, runs the spread option and even though UF only had 323 yards against TN this weekend I still don’t question that particular offense. But mainly I don’t question Paul Johnson one of the most winning active coaches today. He ran the offense at Hawaii leading the Rainbow Warriors to their first Western Athletic Conference title and their first bowl appearance and victory. He led GA southern 2 national championships. He led Navy to their first bowl since 1996. Coach Johnson dominated the commanders trophy at Navy going 11-1 against the other service academies with equal talent. Last year at GT Coach Johnson was awarded the CBSSports.com National Coach of the Year and ACC Coach of the Year, in a year Sports Illustrated predicted GT would win 3 games. Over Paul Johnson’s last 11 seasons as head coach he has won Coach of the Year, in the division (not conference) 5 times.

My advice?
If you are a team who’s coach had several consecutive victories over Chan Gailey, understand that Paul Johnson is a different coach and will be at GT for a long time. The days of GT losing many games in a row to any team on their schedule are over with Paul Johnson as their head coach. When O’leary beat Donnan 3 years in a row I never viewed it as GT beating UGA 3 years in a row. Coaching is so important. Don’t question a team’s offensive scheme, always question their ability to execute. Just be a good sport, show class, God’s watching and His name is all that matters. Congratulate GT on their supreme coach, just like Mark Richt has proven to be a supreme coach. In the end UGA and GT’s football traditions will burn and so will the universities. Nothing will remain except what you have done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

My opinion
I will start questioning GT’s offense when teams like OkSt hold them to 257 yards. Just kidding. Seriously though, I believe GT had such a poor offensive showing against Miami because they have a weak defensive line. The weakness at the position allowed Miami to keep GT’s offense off the field.

Strength of Schedule

We all know what happened to Auburn a few years ago when they went 12-0 in the “mighty” SEC.

If I were doing the scheduling, for GT, for example I would have:
The 8 ACC games, UGA, 1 more BCS game with a lower tier BCS opponent and 2 cupcakes. I would recommend the same for UGA. That way if UGA or GT go undefeated they would most likely play for the NC. I think Florida, Ole Miss, and most of the other teams in the SEC don’t play enough out of conference games to go to the NC game. Auburn, for example, plays WV, 8 SEC games, and 3 cupcakes. That is actually right on the bubble especially considering that one of Auburn’s cup cakes was LaTech a division 1 team. I think it would be better for GT to play the 9 regular BCS games and 3 cup cakes than to play 11 BCS games.

The SEC currently has the advantage in all of the below categories. Bill Trocchi has not yet released his rankings yet.

ACC and SEC 2009 Football Facts
Numbered By Week

Head to Head Record (ACC vs. SEC)
· SEC = 2-0. ACC = 0-2.
o 9/3/2009 - USCe defeated NCST 7-3. SEC win.
o 9/5/2009 – AL defeated VT 34-24. SEC win.

Teams in the Top 25
1. SEC = 5. ACC = 4. 9/1
2. SEC = 5. ACC = 4. 9/13

BCS+ Out of Conference Record
1. SEC = 3-1. ACC = 0-4. 9/1
2. SEC = 3-2. ACC = 2-5. 9/13

Conference Ranking by Sagarin Computer
1. SEC = 1. ACC = 4. 9/1
2. SEC = 2. ACC = 3. 9/13

Check out the Diesel - Jonathan Dwyer

2010 NFL Draft- An early look at the top prospects on offense - NFL - SI.com

In my opinion, Jonathan Dwyer is the best RB in GT history. This season should confirm that statement.

2010 NFL Draft- An early look at the top prospects on offense - NFL - SI.com:
"Jonathan Dwyer*/Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets primary ball-carrier offers tremendous size and power. He's a running back that pounds opponents on the inside and occasionally breaks the long run. Dwyer is a top 20 selection and likely the first back selected if he opts for the draft next April."

SEC Rated #1 BCS Conference by NY Times

Ranking the B.C.S. Conferences - The Quad Blog - NYTimes.com:
"SOUTHEASTERN (No. 1)
College football’s premier power conference boasts the defending national champion, Florida, as well as four other teams in the A.P.’s top 13: Alabama, Louisiana State, Georgia and Mississippi. As deep as the league is, the story will be the Gators, winners of two of the last three national championships and a favorite to repeat in 2009. Tim Tebow dominates the headlines, but linebacker Brandon Spikes quarterbacks an aggressive defense that has plenty of experience. Florida’s stiffest challenge from within the East Division will come from Georgia, whose title hopes went unrealized in 2008. The Bulldogs hope less flash and more substance will yield another 10-win season and a potential B.C.S. berth. Lane Kiffin has achieved his goal of getting Tennessee back into the national conversation, but none of his bluster will matter come Saturday. The West is deep. Alabama enters Year 3 of the Nick Saban era looking to build upon last season’s success, which included a division title and a loss to Florida in the conference title game. Ole Miss is the trendy pick in the SEC, thanks to its upset of Florida, a strong finish to last season and quarterback Jevan Snead. L.S.U. should be very good, especially if the Tigers can improve upon the quarterback play that defined last season’s disappointing 8-5 record. Even teams out of the conference title hunt — like Arkansas, Auburn and South Carolina — have the potential to win nine games."

How Loaded is GT at RB? Marcus Wright Part 4

What is not mentioned below is that Marcus Wright was also a high school Parade All-American just like Herschel Walker, Garrison Hearst, Jonathan Dwyer, Knowshon Moreno, and Washaun Ealy. Look at what Wright did in high school it is insane especially considering he played Texas 5A ball.

Player Bio: Marcus Wright - GEORGIA TECH OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE:
"Rushed for a San Antonio city record of 3,374 yards on 359 carries and scored 45 touchdowns last season as a senior... had at least one carry of 70-plus yards in eight consecutive games... played in the Army All-America Bowl... a first team all-state selection... played in eight career playoff games, producing 2,201 yards and 31 touchdowns... named the Texas Class 5A offensive player of the year... selected to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl... finished high school career by rushing for 100 or more yards in 25 consecutive games... had a career total of 7,036 career yards and 85 touchdowns"

How Loaded is UGA at DT? Part 2 - Abry Jones

Abry is only a true freshman so he might even get redshirted. Most years a player like this would not get redshirted for the Dawgs or be left out of the 2 deep. However, it might happen to Abry although everyone is saying he is having a terrific camp. Abry is definitely a pro prospect and looks to help the interior d-line for UGA for many years to come.

Abry Jones Bio - Official Athletics Site of the University of Georgia Bulldogs:
"USA Today All-USA Second Team Defense...PrepStar Dream Team... Atlanta Journal Constitution 2008 Georgia’s Super 11, Super Southern 100, Class AAAAA Defensive Player of the Year, and All-State Team... 2008 Georgia Sports Writers Association Class AAAAA Defensive Player of the Year and All-State Team... Maxpreps Second Team All-America... 2008 Under Armour All-America High School Football Game participant"

Which NCAA Football Conference Is the Best? We Pit the SEC Vs the Big 12 | Bleacher Report

At the end of each season it would be very nice for all 24 ACC and SEC teams to leave a Saturday date open. On that Sat. they would play be corresponding ranked team in the other conference. So there would be 12 games. Last year, including the bowls, the SEC went 6-6 against the ACC. The Big 12 is another good conference.

Which NCAA Football Conference Is the Best? We Pit the SEC Vs the Big 12 Bleacher Report:
"Though it is hard to argue that the SEC is not the best conference in football, the Big 12 has certainly at least made it an argument with the likes of Texas, Oklahoma, and even Oklahoma State garnering much deserved national attention. So which conference is better top to bottom? Below is the list of teams in each conference ranked from best (the Generals) to worst (the Privates), and how each fare against their respective counterpart in battle. In addition is the numeric weight of each battle, which will be accumulated to determine the winner.. Two conferences. Twelve Battles. One winner. Let’s get it on."

10 Things That Might Surprise You This College Football Season | Bleacher Report

I definitely think this could be a better year for the ACC than even last year. Will the ACC have a team finish in the top 10?

10 Things That Might Surprise You This College Football Season Bleacher Report:
"2. The ACC will finish with at least two teams in the top 10. College football can be cyclical, and it's been a down cycle for the ACC. It's been a while since any ACC team has been in contention for the BCS Championship, but I think that is going to change this year.While a lot of people have been counting the ACC out, the reality is it has been more of these teams beating up on each other than losing to out of conference teams, which makes their records look mediocre. I think this is the year that at least one ACC team starts to flex its muscles.The ACC has been playing a lot of young players, and if you follow the NFL draft at all, you probably noticed that for the last few years ACC players have been flying off the board early and often. It's obvious the talent is there."

3 True Freshman Crack the UGA 2 Deep for 2009

UGA is a much more mature and experienced team than GT, just from looking at the depth charts. The following 3 freshman are in the 2 deep for UGA according to Rivals.com.

1. Orson Charles, TE at 6'3" 232lbs - Look if this young man stays healthy I expect him to be starting by the end of the season. He follows in a line of NFL caliber TEs at UGA. As a senior in high school recorded 75 catches for 1440 yards and 21 touchdowns…had 7 carries for 59 yards and one touchdown. I like how Richt gave him or allowed him to wear #7 because that is not a standard TE #.
2. Brandon Smith, CB at 5'11" 169lbs - Don't worry about this young man's light weight. He is one of the quickest players in the SEC and country. In front of him is senior Prince Miller. If I were Miller I'd be very concerned about my starting spot. Smith was a Parade All-American his senior year of high school. He wears #1, which again shows me that Richt really thinks alot of this young man. Definitely a player to get excited about also because of his punt return abilities.
3. Jordon Love, CB at 6'0" 185 lbs - Rated the #1 cornerback from the state of Virginia this is a hard nosed player that is benefitting from UGA's lack of depth at CB. He has good height and weight, for his position, as a true frosh.

Well there you have it. I think Charles and Smith could find their way onto most 2 deeps in NCAA football. UGA is mature this season with lots of experience and it could not have come at a better time with the loss of 3 offensive players to the first 2 rounds of last year's NFL draft.

Jonathan Dwyer May have Less Carries and Yards in 2009

This is what I have suspected all along. I am not mad at CPJ, of course. I just notice that the school and coaches aren't really hyping Dwyer. With that said, look at Adrian Peterson at GA Southern who won the Walter Peyton award in Johnson's offense. I hope Dwyer gets over 200 carries but I would rather see GT win.

GEORGIA TECH:
"'He may not get as many touches or as many yards this year, but he can be a lot better player in areas you won't see in the stats.'" - Paul Johnson

4 Opinions on Dwyer - Beamer, Wilson, Johnson, and Spiller

I think Dwyer will end up being the very best RB GT has ever had.

GEORGIA TECH:
"He has everything you want in a lead back in terms of speed and power." - Frank Beamer
"He'll run through you or around you, whatever it takes. He's fun to play against because you never know what he might do next." - EJ Wilson NC DE
"He has a lot of God-given talent." - Paul Johnson
"He's a Heisman-caliber player." - CJ Spiller Clemson RB
"Who?" - Knowshon Moreno UGA RB

5.5 True Freshman Crack GT's 2 Deep

Here are the true freshman that have Earned a spot on the 2009 GT roster at 1st or 2nd string:

1. Orwin Smith - A-back at 6' 206 lbs. This is amazing considering how stacked GT is at RB. Most all services have rated GT and Oklahoma as having the best RBs in the country so for a true freshman to earn a spot in the 2 deep at this position is breathtaking!
2. Stephen Hill - WR at 6'4" 196 lbs. Here is the man who keeps his word. I expect Stephen to be a starter by game 6 for GT. This player has the talent to be a 1st round draft choice.
3. Izaan Cross - DE at 6'4" 272 lbs. GT is not very deep at DE, quite frankly. So you would think that at least one of the incoming freshman would make the 2 deep. Not to take anything away from Izaan Cross who is currently the leading frosh at this position.
4. Julian Burnett - LB at 5'10" 221 lbs. Julian is tied for 2nd string with BJ Machen (6'1" 233lbs). This young man reminds me of a young Rennie Curran only 1 inch shorter. Because of his being an inch shorter than Rennie his draft potential probably isn't quite as high but this is very impressive considering GT is loaded at the LB position. I mean loaded! Fans in the know are shocked by this development.
5. Jemea Thomas - Rover at 5'10" 178lbs. How can a freshman that only weighs 178lbs make the two deep at rover? I will let Jemea's play answer that for you as the season goes on;)
6. Sean Poole - Punter at 6'1" 161 lbs. 161 lbs? Is that a misprint? He must have an excellent foot because Scott Blair is a good punter as well and would seem like the most likely choice for 2nd string punter. Oh well! Go Mr. Poole.

None of the true freshman have made starter yet, but Stephen Hill looks like the probable candidate to be the first and maybe only.

Mel Kiper has Dwyer being Drafted #13 overall

Kiper believes Dwyer will be the first RB taken in the 2010 draft. Maybe Dwyer will be like Tebow and stay for an extra year. He can get insurance folks! I'm serious about the insurance, we went through this with Calvin.

Bradley's Buzz: Dwyer of GT is on Mel's board; Tebow isn't Mark Bradley:
"The top running back in the draft is Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech, who’s listed as No. 13 overall. (And who is, we must note, technically a junior.)"

Fastest 100M Ever

Direxion: "LIGHTNING BOLT - Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt set a new world record in the men’s 100-meter dash on 8/16/09, running 9.58 seconds. Just 10 years ago (1999), Maurice Greene of the USA held the world record with a time of 9.79 seconds, a speed that would trail Bolt’s record-setting dash by 7 feet (source: BTN Research)."

How Loaded is UGA at DT - Part 1 DeAngelo Tyson

UGA may have the most depth at DT, this year, in the history of college football. I kid you not, UGA may have 5-6 players to get drafted at this one position. Incredible depth like I have never seen before at this position in football. And it couldn't have come at a better time with the loss of Knowshon, Mo Mass, and Stafford on the offensive side of the ball.

Notice that DeAngelo was a Parade All-America his senior year of high school and named the most improved defensive tackle from a group that is astonishing on paper. Congrats to UGA and their fans for this group of DTs.

DeAngelo Tyson Bio - Official Athletics Site of the University of Georgia Bulldogs:
"2009: Recorded three tackles in spring G-Day game
*Named Most Improved Defensive Tackle at conclusion of spring drills

2008: Named Freshman All-SEC by SEC Coaches
*Named of the team’s Newcomer of the Year Award winners for defense
*Appeared in 13 games recording 11 tackles and five quarterback hurries
*Tallied a career-high two tackles three times: at No. 11 LSU, vs. Central Michigan and vs. Georgia Southern

High School: USA Today All-USA First Team Defense...2007 Parade All-American...2008 SuperPrep Elite 50, All-America, and All-Dixie teams....2008 Rivals.com Rivals100 (45), DT Rankings: Quickest (1), Best athlete (1), Best pass rusher (3), defensive tackles (4), Georgia Top 50 (3)...UGASports Georgia Top 50 (2)... Scout.com five-star prospect, Top 100, #44 player in America, #3 DT in nation, #14 player in the South, #2 player in Georgia...U.S. Army All-America...Atlanta Journal-Constitution 2007 Class AAAA All-State first team... Georgia Sports Writers Association Class AAAA All-State selection...Atlanta Journal-Constitution Georgia’s Super 11 and Super Southern 100... Statesboro Herald Defensive Player of the Year...No. 45 on ESPN.com 150 list...registered 54 tackles, 14 for loss, and nine sacks in 2007...member of 2005 AAAA state champion team."

UGA a "Contender" and GT a "long shot" for the BCS Title

GT is considered a "long shot" for the BCS Title and UGA a "contender".

A Simple Process of Elimination: Deciding Who Will Play for the BCS Title Bleacher Report

UGA Predicted to Go to Capital One and GT to Gator in 2009

Obviously it is way too early for bowl predictions for most of us. But here is someone who feels comfortabl with it.

Two Tickets to Paradise: College Football's 2009 Bowl Projections Bleacher Report:
"7. Capital One (Citrus) Bowl: Georgia vs. Penn State
9. Gator Bowl: Ga Tech vs. West Virginia"

GT Coach Todd Spencer Says "No Excuses"

Here is GT's offensive line coach making no excuses for his players. This is wonderful for GT fans because this is the answer of an excellent coach! When you see a coach talking like this that means you probably have a good one! Coach Paul Johnson did a nice landing Coach Spencer on staff at GT. I believe Army considered him as their headcoach, I may be wrong on this.

Scout.com: Interview with Coach Spencer:

"Q: Is that a sign of physical or mental fatigue?

'A: I don't want to give them any excuses or outs. Anytime we go out there we have to be ready to work and push through things. I thought this afternoon we really took a step back. It was really disappointing.'

UGA Ranked as Having the #6 WR Corp in the SEC

I think they are underestimating Marlon Brown. And giving Ole Miss WRs way too much credit for their stats. We'll see where everybody is drafted. I do think Alabama has better WRs than UGA top to bottom. This is not a Julio vs. AJ statement.

SEC position rankings: Receivers - SEC - ESPN: "6. Georgia: Just like Julio Jones, A.J. Green is so dynamic that he makes everybody else around him better. Green led the SEC with 963 receiving yards last season as a freshman and tied for the league lead with eight touchdown catches. Redshirt freshman Tavarres King, and true freshman Marlon Brown are two guys to watch."

Atkins and Jeff Owens on Nagurski List

Both of UGA's tackles are on the Nagurski list! Have you ever heard of such a thing? Congrats to UGA

SEC players everywhere on Nagurski list - SEC - ESPN: "The Bulldogs nominated were defensive tackles Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens and linebacker Rennie Curran."

How Loaded is GT at RB? Part 3 - Richard Watson

Richard Watson looked good in the spring. I believe he is 2nd or 3rd string B-Back for GT. At 6'1" 234lbs with great strength and decent speed, Richard Watson is another RB for GT with all the tools to get drafted. He is very athletic as you can see he played LB in highschool as well. Ohio State puts out more players to the NFL than just about any program, so it is impressive to know that they offered Richard as well. Richard is a redshirt Freshman so learn the name early my friend, you might be seeing 4 years of him at GT.

Player Bio: Richard Watson - GEORGIA TECH OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE:
"selected to the FSWA Class 1B All-State Team... member of the Florida Times Union's Super 75... named to Superprep's All-Florida team... led FAMU High School to the Class 1B state championship game in back-to-back years including a state title as a junior... led team to three consecutive district titles and two straight regional crowns... rushed for more than 1,500 yards as a senior... as a junior, ran for 2,140 yards and 34 touchdowns, ending the season with a 123-yard effort in the state championship game... served two years as a team captain... earned the Tallahassee Quarterback Club's Offensive Player of the Year... made 75 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss and five sacks as a sophomore... chose Georgia Tech over Ohio State... selected Georgia Tech because of the academics, the coaches and the family atmosphere.

No. 3 fullback in the nation (Rivals.com)
No. 4 fullback in the nation (Scout.com)
Top 75 player in Florida (Rivals.com)"

Jonathan Dwyer #6 on This Heisman Race Preseason Ranking

College Football Heisman Race: Preseason Bleacher Report:
"6. Jonathan Dwyer (Running Back, Georgia Tech)Running backs certainly get a lot of work in Paul Johnson's offense, as is evidenced by Dwyer's 1,395 yards last year. As the ACC's top returning back, more success seems likely."

6. Sanford Stadium—Georgia Bulldogs | Home Sweet Home: The Eight Toughest Stadiums in College Football

congrats to UGA, where Sanford Stadium ranks as the 6th toughest stadium in all of college football!

6. Sanford Stadium—Georgia Bulldogs Home Sweet Home: The Eight Toughest Stadiums in College Football:
"Georgia fans hold a distinction of having a football stadium recognized for a horticultural setup around the field.
Also known as 'Between the Hedges,' Sanford Stadium holds 92,746 crazed Bulldog fans and was a venue for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. With nine home losses in 51 games, Georgia football has a solid stronghold and a rowdy southern fanbase which rivals most in the country.
In recent years, the Georgia Blackout has become a ritual and has added to the mystique of the Hedges. The ground that UGA VII, the team's mascot, has walked upon is also the burial site for all previous mascots.
Expect more blackouts in Georgia as the reputation of Bulldogs fans continues to expand throughout the years."

Herschel Walker, Georgia | College Football's 10 Most Punishing Running Backs During My Lifetime

I will never forget the "Big Dawg" as long as I live. Herschel could flat play, never seen a RB as good since. Total package runner: power, world class speed, vision, and effort.

Herschel Walker, Georgia College Football's 10 Most Punishing Running Backs During My Lifetime:
"True story.
Back in my freshman year of college, one of the guys who lived on my floor was from Georgia. Well, he was a heck of a good guy and liked to have a few beers on a Friday night.
Back then the drinking age was 18, and we sure couldn't let him drink alone. In any event, after a few hours he would always talk the rest of us into a game he called 'Herschel.'
The way the game was played is one guy stands at one end of a hallway holding a football; his goal is to cross the goal line about 20 yards away. Standing between the ball carrier and the goal line are the other 10 guys, all playing defense.
For the real Herschel, this was about an even match against a real college football team, and let's not forget he was a world-class sprinter as well."

Jonathan Dwyer Rated #3 RB By Collge Football Saturday

Preseason Running Back Rankings 1-20 College Football Saturday:

"3. Jonathan Dwyer (GT): Georgia Tech’s triple option attack suits Dwyer just fine. Last season on 200 carries Dwyer rushed for 1,1395 yards and 12 TDs. In the Yellow Jackets final four regular season games Dwyer topped 128 yards every single time and scored seven touchdowns. His second season in the offense should be even better. Last season Virginia Tech was the only ACC team to completely shut him down. The Hokies come to Atlanta on October 17th."

Geno Atkins Mentioned as a top 3 DT in NCAA Football

Geno Atkins is pretty well thought of to be listed with Cody and McCoy. We like Geno because he gives high effort on each play.

Texas' Lamarr Houston ready to be on the same level as Sergio Kindle NewsOK.com: "He’s not yet considered in the same high regard as other more proven defensive tackles like Alabama’s Terrence Cody, Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy and Georgia’s Geno Atkins"

How Loaded is GT at RB? Part 2 - Embry Peeples

Here is GT's 2nd string A-back Embry Peeples. This is another one of those RBs back that if he gets past you he's gone.

Scout.com: Embry Peeples Profile:
"named to Superprep's All-Florida team... named the Orlando Touchdown Club Player of the Week in Week 1 after rushing for 223 yards on 21 carries... helped lead Dr. Phillips HS to a district championship in 2006...ran track for three years... has run a 10.71 in the 100-meters... maintained a high GPA of 3.5 or better each year... chose Georgia Tech over LSU, West Virginia"

Larry Foote On Calvin Johnson

"Veteran linebacker Larry Foote, who signed with Detroit after playing on two Super Bowl-winning teams with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Foote’s tone turned more serious when he added: “Any quarterback coming in here better be making sure that connection is special. Calvin, I’ve never seen anything like him — it’s amazing watching him play, especially going against him [in practice]."

Rennie Curran Named Hardest Hitter In The SEC

College football superlatives: Hardest hitters - Derek Samson - College Football - Sporting News: "SEC
Rennie Curran, LB, Georgia. When a YouTube video is labeled 'Rennie Curran busting heads' you've got a decent rep. But Curran's Greatest Hits can be found here."

GEORGIA TECH Ranked #1 in RBs

In only Paul Johnson's 2nd season and in large part to Gailey recruit Jonathan Dwyer GT is rated as having the #1 RB corp in the entire country! What do you think about them apples? Congrats to GT!

GEORGIA TECH:
"1. Georgia Tech

With all due respect to Oklahoma and USC, Georgia Tech, too, belongs in the discussion when it comes to the nation’s most talented collection of running backs. Not only is Jonathan Dwyer a bona fide All-American candidate, but he’s now surrounded by a terrific ensemble that’ll keep defenses from focusing on stopping him. If opponents commit too many resources to stopping the junior, Roddy Jones, Anthony Allen, and Marcus Wright will make them pay."

Tech's Dwyer is Kiper's top NFL RB prospect | ajc.com

Tech's Dwyer is Kiper's top NFL RB prospect ajc.com:
"NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper reiterated that he thought A-back Jonathan Dwyer, a junior, was the best pro prospect of any running back in the junior and senior classes"

The greatest compliment I can receive is a personal referral of a friend or family member.

Interview with Geno Atkins

As you know, here on this blog we like several players from GT and UGA and Geno Atkins is certainly one of those players.

Geno Atkins press conference @ Rivals Video

How Loaded is GT at RB? Part 1 - Daniel Drummond

GT is absolutely loaded at running back. The 2 teams in recent history that have put the most RBs in the pros that were on the same college team at the same time was Oklahoma and Auburn from the 80s.

Remember the team with Bo Jackson, Lionel James, Brent fullwood, etc.?

GT is that good at running back this year and in this post we are going to start with 4th team B-back Daniel Drummond.

Daniel is 6'3" 250lbs.

Flowery Branch High School...AJC first team all-state...ranked #5 for his position by Scout, #3 by ESPN and #14 by Rivals... had 102 tackles from his linebacker position and averaged six yards per carry as a fullback with over 700 yards total as a junior... as a senior, rushed for 1,102 yards and 13 touchdowns... recorded 72 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks during senior year... was a team captain in 2008... began high school career at West Hall High School... earned four varsity letters in football and two in track (shot put, discus) at West Hall HS and Flowery Branch HS combined... led Flowery Branch to a second-place finish in the AAA state playoffs... 2008 state champion in the discus and earned state championship top performer award... owns the Flowery Branch HS single-game rushing record after running for 258 yards and three touchdowns in just two quarters.

Drummond is The Times 2009 Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year from his senior year in highschool. The future Yellow Jacket broke Flowery Branch records in the squat (600 pounds), bench press (415) and a power clean of 330. Georgia Tech’s highest when combining those three disciplines last season was defensive lineman Vance Walker at 1,310. “Daniel’s walking in the door at Georgia Tech at 1,345,” his father added.

Dwyer has already said that Drummond moved well for his size and is one of the most impressive freshman at camp. Hard to believe this NFL caliber fullback is 4th string at GT!

Jonathan Dwyer on Walter Camp List

At least from this list we can state as a fact that:
Walter Camp does not agree with SEC fans that AJ Green and Julio Jones are 2 of the top 5 WRs in the nation. Neither AJ Green nor Julio Jones are one of the 5 WRs listed on the Walter Camp POY "Watch List". That's OK I think that both of these WRs will be drafted in the 1st round and are at least in the top 10. And hopefully their season's performance will put them in the top 5.

Spiller on Walter Camp list:
"2009 Walter Camp Player of the Year “Watch List”
Jahvid Best, RB, Junior, California
Arrelious Benn, WR, Junior, Illinois
Eric Berry, DB, Junior, Tennessee
Sam Bradford, QB, Junior, Oklahoma
LaGarrette Blount, RB, Senior, Oregon
Dez Bryant, WR, Junior, Oklahoma State
Daryll Clark, QB, Senior, Penn State
Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Junior, Georgia Tech
Mardy Gilyard, WR, Senior, Cincinnati
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Senior, Oklahoma
Max Hall, QB, Senior, Brigham Young
Tim Hiller, QB, Senior, Western Michigan
Jerry Hughes, DE, Senior, TCU
Kendell Hunter, RB, Junior, Oklahoma State
MiQuale Lewis, RB, Senior, Ball State
Taylor Mays, DB, Senior, USC
Colt McCoy, QB, Senior, Texas
Kellen Moore, QB, Sophomore, Boise State
Todd Reesing, QB, Senior, Kansas
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Sophomore, Oregon State
Evan Royster, RB, Senior, Penn State
George Selvie, DE, Senior, South Florida
Jordan Shipley, WR, Senior, Texas
Rusty Smith, QB, Senior, Florida Atlantic
Jevan Snead, QB, Junior, Mississippi
Brandon Spikes, LB, Senior, Florida
C.J. Spiller, RB, Senior, Clemson
Golden Tate, WR, Junior, Notre Dame
Tim Tebow, QB, Senior, Florida
Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Senior, Missouri"

Geno Atkins A Top DT in the SEC

SEC, football, defensive tackle, Geno Atkins, Terrence Cody, 2009 > Buster Sports:
"Geno Atkins, Georgia – He may not be the most imposing figure at only 6-foot-1, 290 pounds. But don’t let it fool you. Atkins plays with a physicality and brute strength that belies his stature, and his quickness and agility make it tough for opposing linemen to keep their hands on him. He had a down year in 2008, with his 34 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and zero sacks representing significant drops from his sophomore season, when he led the Bulldogs with 14.5 tackles for loss and made 7.5 sacks. That drop off was representative of the entire Georgia defense, though, and shouldn’t be expected to carry over. Atkins still has that ability to penetrate and wreak havoc in the backfield, and a solid year could push him back into first-round draft territory."

Reshad Jones and Morgan Burnett on Jim Thorpe Watch List

Georgia Tech's Morgan Burnett Named To Jim Thorpe Award Watch List ACC Football News:
"Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Candidates
Javier Arenas - SR - Alabama
Aaron Berry - SR - Pittsburgh
Eric Berry - JR - Tennessee
Ahmad Black - JR - Florida
Morgan Burnett -J R - Georgia Tech
Kendric Burey - JR - North Carolina
Crezdon Butler - SR - Clemson
Kam Chancellor -SR - Virginia Tech
Chris Chandler - SR - Clemson
Barry Church - SR - Toledo
Kurt Coleman - SR - Ohio State
Parrish Cox - SR -Oklahoma State University
Ras-I Dowling - JR - Virginia
Van Eskridge - SR - East Carolina
Dominique Franks - JR - Oklahoma
Joe Haden - JR - Florida
Duke Ihenacho - SR - San Jose State
Reshad Jones - JR - Georgia
Jordan Lake - SR - Baylor
Myron Lewis - SR - Vanderbilt
Trevard Lindley - SR - Kentucky
Taylor Mays - SR -Univ. of Southern California
Amari Spievey - JR - Iowa
Darrell Stuckey - SR -Kansas
Earl Thomas - SO - Texas
Syd'Quan Thompson - SR - California
Walter Thurmond - SR - Oregon
Alterraun Verner - SR - UCLA
Stephen Virgil - SR - Virginia Tech
Deunta Williams - JR - North Carolina
Kyle Wilson - SR - Boise State"

Rennie Curran Strongest LB for UGA

This should come as no surprise considering Curran is less than 6 ft tall and over 230lbs.

Scout.com: New Attitude in Weight Room: "“There were guys everywhere that just worked hard, and when it came time for max day, it showed,” said Rennie Curran, who set the linebacker records for squats and bench press."

No need to fake it - Inside the Oakland Raiders - A look inside the world of the highly classified Oakland Raiders from the writers of ANG Newspapers

In this article Geno Atkins is compared to Terrence Cody. Considering Cody was an All-American last year I think that is pretty nice company for Atkins to be mentioned in. This is an Oakland Raider website so that is certainly neutral on UGA football, I would say.

No need to fake it - Inside the Oakland Raiders - A look inside the world of the highly classified Oakland Raiders from the writers of ANG Newspapers: "I think we might have other priorities, like a DT (Terrence Cody, Geno Atkins)."

ACC Preview - Morgan Burnett

Burnett is referred to here as a blazer.

ACC Preview - Georgia Tech: "The secondary is led by All-ACC strong safety Morgan Burnett. Burnett is blazer, a ball hawk, a sure handed tackler and a guy that should go beyond All-ACC to All-American this year. This guy is definitely an NFL caliber safety."

UGA and GT Ranked in Top 30 For Their Traditions

UGA and GT both have traditions that are ranked in the top 30 of all of college football. More good news for Georgia highschool football players who want to stay home and play college ball.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32239415/ns/sports-college_football/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1&beginChapter=1&beginTab=1

Mark Richt Says A Few Will Be Team Leaders This Year

Last year I felt like one big concern was lack of leadership from players. We all remember David Greene and Pollack. Now I can definitely see Boling, Joe Cox, and Curran stepping up to provide team encouragement during games. I guess Curran will be doing everything except punting;)

A face to face with UGA’s Mark Richt Morgan County Citizen Online:
"“Coach Richt, I always worried going into a season who my team leaders were going to be and if I had done enough to encourage them as a leader. Who do you think your team leaders will be this year and what do you do to try to get them to accept this role to provide a positive influence on other members of the team?”

Coach Richt’s reply: “We work hard to identify and promote leaders within each position group. The individual position coaches are kind of in charge of this because they have the most day to day contact with those players. Some of the guys that I have noticed and have high hopes for to be leaders are people like Joe Cox, Rennie Curran, Mike Moore, Ben Jones and Clint Bolling to name a few. We are fortunate to have a lot of seniors as well who have taken steps during summer workouts to make sure everyone is giving the kind of effort it takes to have a successful season and putting peer pressure on them to stay clear of trouble.”"

Calvin Johnson Rated #3 Player of the Decade in ACC

They rated Calvin behind Chris Wenke and Philip Rivers but in front of Matt Ryan and Julious Peppers.

The ACC's 10 best players of the decade, so far...:
"3) Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, WR (2004-2006)
Calvin Johnson didn't have the benefit of having an elite quarterback while Georgia Tech, but he still set record after record at Georgia Tech. Starting with his famous 'spider man' catch against NC State and his game winning TD against Clemson his freshman year, he went on to be a 3 time All-ACC player, 2 time All-American, and the Biletnikoff award winner in 2006. With the rare combination of mid 4.3 speed, and a 6'5 frame, Johnson was the 2nd player drafted in the 2007 draft by the Detroit Lions."

Tom Osborne only coach with more wins that Paul Johnson

That is pretty lofty company that Paul Johnson is in especially considering that 1 of those 12 years Coach Johnson only won 2 games at Navy.

GEORGIA TECH: "Tom Osborne is the only person to win more games in his first 12 years as a head coach."

Morgan Burnett Rated the 40th Best Football Player In All of College Football

Rivals.com 2009 Top 100 Players Countdown photos:
"No. 40: Georgia Tech SS Morgan Burnett

THE PARTICULARS: 6-1/211, Jr.; College Park (Ga.) North Clayton

THE BUZZ: Tech needed someone to make big plays last season, and Burnett answered the call. He tied for the NCAA lead with seven interceptions, a total higher than the entire Georgia Tech defense collected a year earlier. Burnett is best known for his ball-hawking ways, but he’s not a one-dimensional player. He also recorded a team-high 93 tackles last season – including 62 solos – and made seven stops behind the line of scrimmage."

Joe Cox says UGA will Turn Around the Underdawg billing and Use It On the Field

Everything right now is just talk, kind of like every season. UGA coach Mark Richt and their QB Joe Cox are very optimistic about the season. Here we see Cox saying that UGA will use the underdawg billing to motivate them.

So UGA won 9 game last year. This year they play 11 BCS games, now how many does Cox think UGA will win? 10? 11? 12? 9 would "be as good" as last year but then again maybe UGA ends up with a harder schedule this year and 9 wins means the UGA team is a little bit better. Who knows? Certainly I would say 8 wins would not be as good a team as last year regardless of the schedule. UGA had a pretty tough schedule last year as well.

NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source:
"Georgia hopes to use the lowered expectations to its advantage.
'With people telling you, 'You won't be as good,' you turn it around and use it on the field and in the locker room,' Cox said. 'When someone tells you you can't do something it motivates you and you better yourself.'"

Jonathan Dwyer Loses 10 pounds

Early on this blog we posted an interview where Dwyer states he has lost 4 lbs, now he is stating that he has lost 10 pounds in this year's off season! Losing ten pounds and working on his speed....this young man is going to be so fun to watch this year in my opinion based on these facts. Can you imagine a faster Jonathan Dwyer at 225lbs instead of 235lbs?

Scout.com: ACC Media Kickoff: Jonathan Dwyer:
"How much did you lose?
'Probably about ten pounds.'"