We're all for equal opportunity but...

(Photo courtesy washington.edu)

...when will college football's postseason stop expanding. I'm not talking about the BCS right now, and apparently neither is the BCS committee. Unfortunately, I'm speaking of the Postseason Football Licensing Subcommittee and their decision to add two more bowl games to the schedule next year. The Congressional Bowl and the St. Petersburg Bowl will be played in relatively large markets and may be economically viable, however I already get sick of mediocre football during the holidays. 

At this rate, teams will stop celebrating the concept of "making a bowl game" because any .500 team will be in a bowl. 71 teams reached bowl eligibility last year and the creation of two new bowl games will provide a grand total of 68 teams with postseason invites. Don't get me wrong, I love bowl season and rarely peel myself away from the TV during the holiday games. However, games already exist between teams that are barely mediocre. Why do we need two more?

The Big East has 7 tie-ins for its eight team league. While leagues of twelve teams like the ACC and C-USA now have 8 and 6 tie-ins, respectively. So you're telling me that everyone in the Atlantic Coast Conference but Duke, Virginia, NC State and Maryland could go bowling? Or that I have to name 7 bowl-worthy teams in the Big East (um Syracuse and Pitt please...)?

Next thing we know, we'll be watching the 'Ol Ball Coach Bowl in Columbia, SC between two "vastly underachieving teams with brilliant coaching minds". I know it's a cheap shot but its not that far from reality (they did finish 6-6 last year after losing their last 5).

So that's my rant for the day. I'll leave the BCS and the Bob Costas debacle to my fellow bloggers.

Evaluating the NFL Draft - Part II:The Tweeners

As we move on in our three-part series, let's explore some teams who had some interesting drafts that could go either way. These teams had some questions going in, and still have some questions going out. What should we make of these teams?

The Tweeners:

St. Louis? – I was close to putting these guys in the L column. What held me back was the overwhelming promise and potential Chris Long carries with him. Long has all the fundamentals down and is a balanced rusher. He lacks elite speed or strength, but he is a smart rusher who can run sideline to sideline. Simply a pure football player. Adding to that, I think the Rams got steals in CB Justin King out of Penn State and WR Keenan Burton out of Kentucky, both taken in the 4^th. The Rams don’t have to overpay either of the two, allowing a grace period where the two can be groomed into elite players at the next level. Both have the potential, but only time will tell. However, what knocks the Rams down are their other choices. WR Donnie Avery in the second round? I think there were a few other winners available here at the same position. Avery has elite mobility and speed, but there are too many question marks. OT John Greco won’t make an immediate impact, and neither will OG Roy Schuening. LB’s Chris Chamberlain and David Vobora are excellent options in the seventh round. Both have assets of their own, and can be developed over time.

Atlanta? – Is Matt Ryan the answer at quarterback? That is the major question here. I do not doubt his physical skills as a passer nor his playmaking ability in the clutch (a la at Virginia Tech), but he simply threw too many INTs in college to make me believe in him as an NFL kind of guy. 31 touchdowns is an impressive number in the ACC, but 19 interceptions is just average at best. Sam Baker should pan out, but he needs to develop his run blocking skills. WR Harry Douglas out of Louisville is quick and a great route runner, but he doesn’t have the top end speed to run away from DB’s. I also obviously like the selection of hometown player Thomas Brown for his quickness, agility, and raw power, but does he have the durability to play in the NFL? Questions like these also hold true for the rest of the players taken. Will Curtis Lofton continue to overcome his size to be an effective linebacker? Will Chevis Jackson’s experience as an SEC corner be adequate enough to overcome his lack of elite speed? Will Kroy Biermann make a smooth transition to OLB from defensive end? There are just too many questions you could ask about this draft class. But in the end, you cannot be measured until there are results.

Cincinnati? – Keith Rivers is a polished OLB ready for the NFL. Pat Sims could also make an immediate impact at DT, but he lacks consistency and stamina. Cincy took a few more shots at defensive players, picking a second DT in Jason Shirley, a safety in Corey Lynch, and another OLB in Angelo Craig. Cincy’s defense has been their downfall the past few years, so any help is help. There are several questions about each of these three, but they all have upsides that could pan out. Matt Sherry adds depth at the TE spot with his receiving abilities and mismatch capabilities. Perhaps the most surprising move is drafting three WRs. Is Cincy preparing to move on without Chad Johnson? It would appear so with picks of Jerome Simpson, the tall, speedy receiver out of Coastal Carolina, Andre Caldwell, a speedy guy with good YAC potential out of Florida, and Mario Urrutia, the tall Red Zone threat out of Louisville who has great hands. But the main question is, are these picks adequate enough to make up for the losses of Chris Henry and Chad Johnson? Carson Palmer hopes so.

New England? – It is obvious what the Pats were after in this one. With Asante Samuel gone and the linebacker corps aging, New England specifically targeted cornerbacks and speedy linebackers. All three of the linebackers drafted have great speed and all project as outside linebackers. Jerod Mayo (thank God he’s gone) out of Tennessee should make an immediate impact, and Shawn Crable from Michigan and Bo Ruud out of Nebraska could soon follow. All three have experience at big schools in big conferences, and all three have pretty good skill sets. The Pats also addressed their CB needs with Terrance Wheatley out of Colorado and Jonathan Wilhite out of Auburn, two more big-school big-conference players with speed. But other than Mayo, do all these guys have what it takes? Big time schools don’t always translate into big time plays at the next level. Another issue with this draft class is NE’s third round pick of quarterback Kevin O’Connell out of San Diego State. Who saw this one coming? O’Connell has a solid skill set, but he is too highly inaccurate to make an impact in the NFL. Besides, doesn’t some guy named Tom Brady or something play under center? Wasting a 3^rd round pick on this guy is a little too much for me. Perhaps Bill sees something I don’t…

Buffalo? – Buffalo got three players they needed, two of which could make an immediate impact. Cornerbacks Leodis McKlevin and Reggie Corner have the speed to stay with receivers and both are very athletic. James Hardy fills a need for a top-end, tall WR who can make catches in traffic and has quickness. But other than those three, the rest of the picks are all potential hit or misses. I see a few position changes and no other outright players, other than maybe Xavier Omon, the RB out of Northwest Missouri State. He is a big back who can make the first cut, which can be a nice complement to Marshawn Lynch, but don’t expect a Brandon Jacobs. If some of these other guys can produce above expectation, huge props to the Bills scouting and draft teams. But at the same time, if they turn out to be flops, I don’t think many people will notice.

Detroit? - …didn’t draft a WR in the first round? Times really are changing in Detroit. Godser Cherilus is a gifted run blocker who has the abilities and frame to develop into a good pass blocker as a right tackle, but Jeff Otah was a better selection. Jordon Dizon’s size will be under a lot of scrutiny, but he possesses the speed and coverage ability to be an effective OLB. He is also a gifted tackler and can react quickly. Kevin Smith may turn out to be the best RB in this class. I love his style. He is a big back who isn’t the fastest, but he is quick to the hole and has good vision. It isn’t easy to run for 2,000 yards in a single college season, I don’t care who you are. Andre Fluellen out of Florida State is a potential steal in the late third round at the DT position. But the rest of the picks, with the exception of Army’s feel-good story in Caleb Campbell, are undersized at their positions. Can they overcome their small frames to compete in the NFL?

A few reasons we're glad to be Bulldogs...

1- Our mascot has never been killed by its son. As random as that sounds, UNC-Chapel Hill's mascot Rameses XVII was mortally wounded by the horns of its own son, Pablo. The blue-horned ram died at the age of 8 following an injury sustained while butting heads with its son. When the football team needed overtime to beat Duke last year we thought things couldn't get any worse.

2-We made it through the spring with not only our starting QB but his backup too. Both of UCLA's top two signal callers went down in consecutive plays during spring practice last week. Patrick Cowan will miss the entirety of the 2008 campaign with a torn ACL while Ben Olson suffered a broken foot that will keep him out of action for 6-8 weeks. When it rains it pours Mr. Neuheisel...good luck with the Men of Troy.

3-We aren't subjected to a Paul Johnson system overhaul. It blows our mind that some Tech fans are so excited about the upcoming season. Yeah Paul Johnson is a great game coach and knows the "triple option flexbone" offense better than just about anyone, but will it work in the ACC? Or more important for Tech fans, will it work against Georgia? We won't go as far as to say that he will never be successful, but he won't do it until he gets the recruits he needs in the program. With the transfer list at 4 and climbing, we don't see the new coach winning the instate recruiting battle anytime soon. So, GT will look like a juiced up high school team with a dominant defensive end (Michael Johnson) in the fall and may not improve until Johnson hits the road. 

4-We get to watch the best players in the country week in and week out. It's fine. You don't have to believe me. Just ask Todd McShay. His mock draft for '09 slots 7 SEC athletes in his top ten drafted while his first round includes 13 from the best conference in football. Stafford, Moreno, Tebow and Harvin aren't even guaranteed to leave early so we may get to watch these highlight makers for more than another season. Add to that list the UGA players we see getting drafted at some point in the next few years: Brannan Southerland, Reshad Jones, Asher Allen, Jeff Owens, Kade Weston, Geno Atkins, Caleb King, AJ Green, MoMass, and Trinton Sturdivant just to name a few. Considering this list there has never been a better time to catch a game in Sanford Stadium or make a trip to the Cocktail Party. 

Five More Dawgs Make the Cut

Following up the article on the drafted Dawgs, five more former Georgia football players have signed free agent contracts.

Going back to what I said before, I mentioned seven former Dawgs in the 2008 class that had the potential of getting picked up. So far, I am 5/7, but 0/2 on the guys that I thought had an outside chance. Those two, RB Kregg Lumpkin and OLB/DE Brandon Miller have both been offered free agent contracts by the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons, respectively. Lumpkin fits into Green Bay’s running scheme, and his power and abilities as a role runner should work out for the Packers. Brandon Miller may be a bit of a stretch to make the Falcons, but the chance is his to take.

The three others earning contracts are S Kelin Johnson with Seattle, WR Sean Bailey with Kansas City, and C/G Fernando Velasco with Tennessee. As I mentioned earlier, these three possess several traits that will allow them to achieve some success at the next level. I don’t see any of these three missing cuts with the teams they have signed with.

We wish all these guys good luck at the next level.

With that being said, this year, the graduating seniors and departing juniors overall as a class did not rate as high as the classes in previous seasons under Mark Richt.

This means two things that actually aren’t bad at all. For one, these guys were great roll players at the college level. Similar to David Greene’s current situation, these guys left Athens as great system players that excelled under Richt. This doesn’t mean they are bad players, it just means they don’t quite fit into every scheme at the next level. Therefore, their draft status takes a hit, but their opportunities continue through the free agency process. Teams can get a feel for these system players, and if they fit, they can and will contribute. Most of these players can compete at the right level. It just takes a little bit of luck in finding the team that wants them. The most important thing coming out of this situation, however, doesn’t have anything to do with this class. It has to do with the classes behind them. A team that goes 11-2 and wins a BCS bowl has talent. NFL Draft-type talent. If none of the departing players were drafted in the first four rounds, what does that say of 2008’s team? Loaded. Not to take anything away from the departing guys, because many of them had huge impacts, but next years team and the following classes are that much better. If anything, we should be happy that no player from last year’s team cracked the first four rounds. That means we have plenty more guys that are that caliber. They’re just back for more.

Evaluating the NFL Draft - Part I: The Losers

While we’re still in the aftermath of the draft, why not stretch into the NFL perspective and do a little rating? As there are every year, there were some obvious winners and losers of the 2008 draft. Teams look to draft both immediate needs and potential players that can be groomed into superstars of the future. The importance of the NFL draft can never be undermined. It is the one time where the NFL comes together to wheel-and-deal and select their future legends—and soon-to-be busts. So who won and lost this past weekend? In this three part series, let’s start with the latter.

Losers:

Chicago Bears – Got off to a bad start by not selecting the top two tackles in the draft. Chris Williams out of Vanderbilt is not a bad choice by any means, but his run-blocking skills have been questioned and he wasn’t the highest rated tackle available at the time. They had a few decent selections in Earl Bennett, Marcus Monk, and Matt Forte, but none are home run hitters that can alleviate the problems under center. Which brings me to… For the 3^rd year in a row, the Bears did not select a QB. They had their chances, and several QBs this year would be an upgrade from Grossman or Orton. Neither have shown what it takes to be an elite QB, and you have to wonder what the deal is in the Windy City.

Tennessee Titans – Taking an unproven RB out of a mid-major conference? Questionable. Selecting your third RB in the top three rounds for the third year in a row? What the hell? Alright, on the Titans’ defense, Chris Johnson is a favorite of mine. He’s tall, very fast, and a playmaker. But he played at East Carolina so he hasn’t had a chance to prove himself against elite players week in and week out. If this was their guy, you have to assume they could have waited and made some trades in the 2^nd or even 3^rd round. To add to that, they selected two DE’s from another mid-major school and a school I didn’t even know existed, much less had football. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of small-school guys that come into the bigs and make an impact. But I’m not a fan of selecting three all before the end of the 4^th round. To top it off, the Titans didn’t nab an impact receiver that Vince Young needs.

Washington Redskins – Most experts out there haven’t been down on the Redskins’ draft picks. I’m not either, they’re all quality players. But come on, let’s put all our eggs in one basket, why don’t we? Second Round recap: Pick 3 – Devin Thomas, WR. Okay, nice choice. Good receiver, great upside. Pick 17 – Fred Davis, TE. Decent tight end who is athletic, but isn’t an overwhelming blocker nor the fastest guy out there. Still, he’s a pretty good fit. Pick 20 – Malcolm Kelly, WR. Tall, good speed, good hands, good upside. Wait, didn’t we just say that, 17 picks ago? I’m aware that the ‘Skins had been seeking someone for Jason Campbell to throw to, but 3/3 in the second round? Come on! Don’t you have Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, Antwaan Randle El, and a few good young guys? Don’t you have some other needs, like at safety or linebacker? Maybe an elite pass rusher?

Seattle Seahawks – I love Owen Schmitt. I wanted the Cowboys to draft him bad. I also love Brandon Coutu, not only because he went to Georgia but because he is a great kicker that can deliver in the clutch. But Seattle wasted an early pick on Lawrence Jackson, the defensive end out of USC, picked a TE in John Carlson out of Notre Dame who had a very weak combine, a long snapper, and a small RB in Justin Forsett who lacks top end speed to get it done at the next level. Seattle has some pressing needs at WR and several positions on defense, and none were addressed with the exception of DT. Red Bryant out of A&M is a potent run-stuffer, but lacks pass-rushing capabilities.

Houston Texans – Duane Brown won’t be the answer at OT. He lacks an overall blocking ability, but he is athletic. It will take him some time to adjust to the power of DE’s at the next level. It will also take time for Antwaun Molden, the CB prospect out of Eastern Kentucky. He played at a very small school that had a simple scheme, so his transition into the NFL will take a lot of teaching and practice. He has the skill set, but not the experience to make an impact immediately. Slaton is a steal, because his quickness will prosper in the zone blocking scheme in Houston. Dominique Barber, brother of Marion Barber III, might turn into a sleeper at the safety position due to his physical style and aggressiveness, but he doesn’t have elite speed or great coverage skills. Other than those two, I don’t see much improvement. LB Xavier Adibi out of Virginia Tech is a strong player, but his lack of an initial burst will hurt him severely. All in all, there are no impact players in this class. Houston is still a growing franchise, and they need all the help they can get in the draft.

Four Dawgs Drafted

At the conclusion of the 2008 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, four former University of Georgia football players had found new homes.

Marcus Howard, who really turned it on and showed his potential the second half of the 2007 season, got the party started in the 5th round. With the 126th overall pick, the Indianapolis Colts selected the speedy OLB. While Howard may be undersized, he sure can make up the difference with his uncanny quickness and explosiveness for his position.

Eleven picks later and into the 6th round, the Atlanta Falcons selected RB Thomas Brown. Brown, a small but physical tailback, is quick on his feet and a solid pass blocker. He will serve as a nice complement to the physical Michael Turner as another Jarius Norwood-type back. While it may take some time to crack into the lineup, Brown will be an effective and useful runner in the future.

With the 222nd overall pick, the Chicago Bears nabbed the mammoth OG/OT Chester Adams to help add depth to the line. Adams provides versatility, as he played heavy minutes as both a guard and a right tackle for the Dawgs.

To round off Georgia's drafted alumni, Brandon Coutu was drafted 235th overall by the Seattle Seahawks. Aside from a booming leg and spot on accuracy, Coutu provides the ability to hit clutch field goals from distance. The ice in his veins will benefit the Seahawks, and the cold weather shouldn't be a factor for the All-American place kicker. He could make the biggest immediate impact of any of the drafted rookies out of UGA.

Congratulations, guys. Good luck on the next level. You guys all have promising careers ahead.

For those who didn't get drafted, there are several players who have a lot of potential to hit the free agency market as undrafted rookies.

Center Fernando Velasco is an intangible type player who brings hard work, determination, and leadership to the table. He also provides some versatility with his size and experience as both a guard and a center.

Safety Kelin Johnson has decent size, great enthusiasm, and good game speed, but needs some work on his quickness and coverage abilities. He would be a great practice player who can contend for a spot in the lineup on several teams.

WR's Sean Bailey and AJ Bryant also have shots at a spot on several teams due to their playmaking abilities and raw talents, respectively. Bailey, however, lacks ideal speed for a 6'0" receiver and Bryant has faced numerous injuries throughout his college career.

Thomas Flowers excelled throughout his career at Georgia as both a CB and a return man. He has decent size (5'10", 190) and elite speed (4.41) to play at the next level, but his durability is in question and his past character issues could pose a problem. He is a dangerous return man and could be a good role player on special teams.

While RB Kregg Lumpkin and OLB/DE Brandon Miller contain the physical sizes and experience to play at the next level, their lack of speed at their positions really hinders what impact they could have in the NFL. Lumpkin could be a good role runner, but he has durability issues. Brandon Miller is versatile at either OLB or DE, but he lacks that aggressive first and second step off the line. They have a chance, but cracking Sunday lineups will be tough for these two if they don't get faster.

Good luck to all these guys looking for a spot as undrafted free agents. They all had solid careers and each provide something an NFL team could use.

Aaron Murray Highlight Video

Yeah, he's good.

Un-Four-Gettable

Suzanne Yoculan has led our Georgia Gym Dogs to their fourth consecutive national championship at Stegman Coliseum on The University of Georgia's campus. The Gym Dogs posted a score of 197.450, barely edging out Utah's 197.125. Stanford, Florida, LSU, and Alabama finished off the field of six.


Georgia, with the victory, tied Utah with nine overall national championships. The Gym Dogs' fourth consecutive comes just one short of Utah's record five straight national championships in the early 80's.

For four seniors on the squad, Nikki Childs, Audrey Bowers, Katie Heenan, and Megan Dowlen, their memories of UGA will be filled with All-American honors and national championships. And for those returning, hopefully they will be in a class of their own when they hit the floor next year looking for UGA's 5th consecutive and record 10th overall national title.


Congradulations, girls. We'll watch you next year as you go for 5. And for you four seniors, good luck moving on to bigger and better things. Your skills and importance to the Gym Dogs squad will be missed.

(Thanks for Images to GeorgiaDogs.com)

Aaron Murray says, "Dawgs on Top"...

The University of Georgia got its 9th commitment for the class of 2009 this morning in Aaron Murray. The Elite 11 QB will certainly end up being one of the class's headliners.

Like I said yesterday, the class will be small in numbers but has the potential to be one of the most talent-loaded classes in Richt's tenure.

Let's hope Richt, Garner, Bobo and the rest of the staff keep the good times rolling.

Will a Murray Commitment Come?

Tune in tomorrow if QB commitments strike your fancy...

Aaron Murray is one of the top QB prospects in the country and he will be making his public commitment Thursday morning. The 6'1'' quarterback out of Tampa will most likely choose between Florida and Georgia. This pickup could be huge for both schools as it is assumed thata number of players will follow Murray's decision as far as schools go. For example, UF and UGA are both pursuing Orson Charles and he is said to weigh Murray's choice heavily in his decision process. As much as we hate Florida, it has made the long off-season more exciting with the heated recruiting war between the two staffs. 

Georgia will bring in a limited class next year due to scholarship availability, but Murray could be another step in making the small class one of the nation's finest come signing day '09.