Bleacher Report - Articles by Matthew Burns

We Took it on the Chin...

Matthew Burns — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:16:00 -0400

To all those Dawg fans out there calling for the heads of Mike Bobo, Joe Cox and Willie Martinez, let's take a step back. . .

Georgia went into Stillwater as underdogs for a reason. I have, and always will say that, the guys in Vegas (and wherever else lines are made) are very, very good at their job. They make money on "locks" and "hunches" every week because they study the facts.

So, lets look at the facts:

1. Oklahoma State was opening a new stadium.

+1 for OSU on emotional advantage.

2. OSU met Georgia at home in, what they claimed to be, the biggest game in the history of Poke football.

+1 for OSU emotional advantage.

3. OSU returns potential All-Americans at QB, WR, LT, and RB.

-any questions? (see Robinson converting with his legs, Hunters explosiveness and Dez Bryant's mid-air catch in the endzone.

4. Georgia essentially opened the game with a first time starter at QB (coming off of the flu) and RB.

5. Our experienced offensive line is still unbelievably young.

6. Our defensive line in respected because we have a ridiculous DT rotation and a very very mediocre pass rush off the edge.

7. Our best linebacker is extremely talented but criticized for being undersized.

8. Our defensive backs are as athletic as any in the nation, but either inexperience and chronically a step late.

9. Our offensive coordinator is still finding himself as a big time assistant.

10. Our biggest weapon is a type of player who NEEDS a quarterback who can augment his physical talents with an accurate and timely pass.

So, you take all of this and you understand why we were almost seven point dogs to the team from Stillwater.

Did we drive down their throats to start the game? Yes.

Did we hold their vaunted offense under 30? Yes.

Is there a lot to be disappointed about? Yes.

We can be completely dejected by the loss (and I am) but I am also confident in the future because Joe Cox can't look much worse, we won't play a better triumvirate on offense all year, we are now battle tested (in week 2) and we have a chip on our shoulder for the rest of the year.

Demarcus Dobbs said this year's team was a brotherhood and I guarantee you that the brotherhood is pissed off to high hell right now. I see us losing two more games this year. One to a Florida team that is a perfect storm of recruiting talent and coaching and an LSU team that plays a brand of physical football that we are not quite ready for.

We end the season 10-3 with another bowl win in Orlando. The question is who will be leading us under center when we get there?

By the way, how will the BCS matchups look with Notre Dame, Boise State and a terrible Big East team receiving bids? Shoot me now.

Georgia Football: Post G-Day

Matthew Burns — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:01:00 -0400

I will stick to my words. I think the Bulldogs will be more than okay next year.

Will we go undefeated? Probably not.

Will we lose six games? Not likely.

Joe Cox will be everything you need in an SEC quarterback (though he may not be much more athletically).

His energy on the field is evident, along with his uncanny ability to lead his teammates. This program is in need of that emotional leader and Cox may be that player.

Our offensive line and running backs will also be everything we need to get by. We probably won't have a 1,000 yard rusher, but we most certainly won't be a "pass-because-we-can't-run-it" offense.

What I like is the return to discipline in between the white lines and a code of conduct off the field.

This team has the potential to be everything we love about Georgia Football.

Yeah, I loved Stafford's big time arm and Knowshon's highlight reel talent just as much as the next guy. To me, however, Georgia football has always been about a defense that wants to wear you out so our offense doesn't have to. A team that feels just as proud about dominating a game 16-3 or dominating it 50-10.

This team has the potential to be that type of good. Not Leinart-Bush Sports Center good. Just "solid-because-we're-good" good.

Georgia Basketball Coaching Search Thoughts

Matthew Burns — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:43:00 -0400

1. Money talks- DE said money would not be a factor in bringing a coach to Athens. That means he is committed to bringing a coach in who (he believes) will lead the program to the next level.

2. Facilities are not a deal breaker- Yes, Stegeman is 40 some years old and only holds 10,000 people, but the place would be on fire if, for example, our "40 Minutes of Hell" was taking Kentucky to the woodshed on our way to the NCAA tournament.

Also, if anything, a coach can use the gym for leverage as the negotiate a contract. Why wouldn't a coach say, "I agree to the terms of the contract as long as the proposed renovations are completed by 2011" ?

3. We don't want a coach who will simply bring more in-state talent to Athens- To me, the definition of a "home-run hire" is a guy who makes Athens an attractive city for players nationwide.

Everyone knows that doesn't happen overnight, but Mark Richt would not have the success he has had without kids like Stafford, Moreno, Massaquoi, Owens, Weston, etc. (Sorry for the football reference but it is true).

Damon Evans knows this. Whether he is successful or not with the hire remains to be seen but I promise you he is looking for that program changing guy. The last thing he wants to do is settle for a Plan B.

4. Our program's prestige right now is not the limit- Just because we have yet to realize our potential as a basketball program does not mean we will not achieve elite status. Gonzaga, Arizona St., Virginia Tech, and Baylor are not historical basketball powers.

Yet, with Mark Few, Herb Sendek, Seth Greenberg, and Scott Drew all of these programs became "relevant" in the last few years. In basketball, a coach can make a significant difference in only a few years time.

I understand it is an extreme example but where was Baylor's basketball program a few years ago? Again, Evans realizes the importance of the right hire.

All of this being said, it doesn't matter that Kentucky is looking for a coach or that Anthony Grant would sell his soul to be in Gainesville rather than Tuscaloosa.

What matters is that UGA is committed to improving its basketball program (or so say the powers that be).

We will see how serious Damon Evans was when he said "I'll say this: Our commitment and my commitment to build Georgia basketball is strong, and when I say strong, I'll add very strong onto that.

"We're going to go out and find the best possible person for this job. That may mean we commit more resources than we have in the past but we're not letting that hold us back from doing what we need to do to have a successful men's basketball program."

In five years, will top 100 recruits want to wear the "Mighty G"? Who knows?

I will say this, if we don't hire a man who sees that as a legitimate goal, Damon Evans did not do his job.

Go Dawgs!

Where Do the Georgia Bulldogs Go from Here?

Matthew Burns — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:28:00 -0400

I'm worried.

I have been worried since the opening kickoff, and it took an embarrassing first half against Alabama for me to admit the worry.

I thought we would be very good this year.

Let me change that. I convinced myself we would be very good this year.

I thought Stacy Searels would repeat last year's coaching job and the offensive line would mature in weeks.

I thought our defensive line would step up and continue to surprise the nation, much like a high-motor David Pollack, hardwood recruit Quentin Moses, and undersized Marcus Howard did in years past.

I thought our linebackers and defensive backs would be scary good. Rennie has flown around the field and shown Knowshon-type excitement at times, but it hasn't been enough. We have bent and broken as many players in this young season as I thought we would all year.

I thought Matthew Stafford, MoMass, and Knowshon would be an unstoppable air and ground attack that would rival FedEx. So far, I have seen more "Draft Day 2" out of Stafford than "See you on Sunday."

Don't get me wrong, the kid can play. He has all the physical tools. We've all agreed on that since he was a junior at Highland Park.

I have yet to see the leader CMR talked about all preseason; the kid who will pull the team together and say: "We will not lose today."

That is what we need as we enter the UT, Vandy, LSU, Florida gauntlet: we need the swagger the team played with last year.

It's the swagger that had Georgia fans worried that, although we may have never lost again, we would have been compared to the U.

We all wanted to be on ESPN every day. We got there and lost. Now what?

Fulmer's squad sucks this year. Flat sucks.

They waxed us last year and have to come into Sanford after the Dawgs crapped the bed against a talented Alabama team. There is no reason we don't beat this team by 35.

The restoration of confidence began in the second half of the Bama game and will continue against the Vols. Fat Phil may be Tony Franklin'd at halftime.

Looking forward Vandy is another example of a new trend in college football. Well coached teams are beating the big boys, because the big boys tend not to show up a few times a year.

Vandy will not fly under the radar. We almost lost to them last year. Even though this team is young, they will not forget that. Dawgs roll again.

LSU and Florida play this weekend. Watch closely. Georgia will finish in time for all of you to sit down and dissect both teams like I will. You will see two beatable teams playing each other.

These two teams compare very well to the Georgia team they play in the subsequent weeks.

For now, I say the Bulldogs go to bed Nov. 1 with two losses.

I hope I am wrong, but 1-1 right now with LSU and Florida is a very acceptable proposition.

That is all. Athens Saturday.

Georgia-South Carolina: Three Problems With the Bulldogs' Win

Matthew Burns — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:08:00 -0400

I haven't seen the game from the TV perspective yet, but I can assure you that as sober as I may have been at the game, I've got a bad taste in my mouth.

And for several specific reasons.

While I am happy we escaped a very emotional battle in Columbia and very glad to see some strong points, there are a few glaring questions I have for this team. Unfortunately, the bad may very well outweigh the good.

I should probably wait to address my concerns until I watch the game from a different perspective (and mindset, for that matter), but here are a few things that immediately come to mind.

1. Mother f@$%ing dropped f#@%ing passes

Sure, Stafford throws a laser. It's a heat-seeking bullet traveling over the line of scrimmage. But my God, when it hits your hands when it really counts, it has to count. This is the f-ing SEC. This ain't no ACC.

In my opinion, Chandler's first two dropped passes almost cost us the game. One was even a pivotal third down conversion that put us within scoring range in the first quarter, which would have given the entire team a confidence boost.

Stuff like that puts the offense out of sync and maybe gets into Stafford's head a little bit. If he can't rely on his tight end, a man that is supposed to be a consistent and stable option and the quarterback's best friend, it puts the quarterback in a difficult position.

Stafford then feels that he has to rely on the power of his arm, maybe forcing a throw here and there or trying for the deep ball when it's not available.

Durham probably shouldn't receive as much heat, as his ball, if caught, would have been a spectacular catch in the end zone in my opinion. Still, it did hit his hands, and we all know that if the ball hits your hands then...

2. The play of the defensive backs under pressure

For three quarters Georgia's defense was swarming. Save what appeared to be a beautiful ball delivered to the corner of the end zone from Smelley, Spurrier was throwing fits. Stephen Garcia had to be inserted several times to attempt to change the pace of the game. Nothing seemed to be going right for the SC offense.

Rennie Curran and crew were swarming the field, attacking every player with the football. The rushing defense held the 'Cocks to under 2.0 YPC, an extremely valuable stat in SEC play.

But with 10 minutes remaining in the game, a seven-point lead, and the pressure on, they looked like dog crap. Slants, zone reads, screens, out routes...everything seemed to work.

6'5" TE Jared Cook seemed to be everything Tripp Chandler isn't—a matchup nightmare for the defense. He looked like an 8' tall superman, grabbing all sorts of passes and running all over the field. Moe Brown also found the holes in the defense all game for several big gains.

Now I can understand a few breakdowns here and there from a defense, but it seemed like there was one every play in the last 10 minutes, whether it be a huge completion or a penalty (which is another story). If there is one thing that makes a team champions, it's the ability to shut down an opponent in crunch time—and this game didn't look good.

Good thing Spurrier doesn't have a Matthew Stafford, or we would have been torched. A few bad throws by Smelley is what eventually won us the game.

3. The penalties

118 yards? That should be the total over at least two full games. Unacceptable. Practice tomorrow better not be fun, or we're going to continue to have issues.

While there were a few phantom calls here and a few bad calls there, which you'll see every game, there were too many bad ones—costly ones, for that matter. 118 yards of penalties will not win you the game against the LSUs and Floridas of this world. Hell, it may not even beat the Vandys or Kentuckys.

These issues should have been sorted out by now, which makes me wonder how much better it's going to get.

Now, I've got to be pleased with the way this team fought the emotional roller coaster. I have to be especially pleased with the play of Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, and A.J. Green.

Stafford fought through four sacks and several dropped passes to deliver some great plays, including some incredible runs. Knowshon fought extremely hard and deserved every last inch of his yardage.

A.J. Green continues to impress me with his downright God-given ability to go out and grab a football. Stafford's beautiful hook-up with Green for 39 yards in the first half saved us from a 3rd-and-20 or so.

To continue on the A.J. Green note, him and MoMass absolutely deserve to and need to see the field more. No more of this rotation. Stafford seems to have a unique rhythm with these two, and they're the ones that have gone out there and made plays on a consistent basis.

Michael Moore and Kris Durham have proved valuable, but Green and MoMass are the ones getting it done every chance they get. Keep them on the field, for God's sake—let them get their touches and see the big plays increase.

Now that I've vented, it's time for some sleep. I still need to watch the film, but man, were there some glaring issues in person.

News and Notes Around SEC Football

Matthew Burns — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:36:00 -0400

It has been said that teams improve the most between week one and week two. As we take a look around the SEC, how much did each team actually improve?

In Knoxtown, Tennessee Volunteers head coach, Phil Fulmer, had the weekend off, presumably spending the day "with his family, lounging around the living room and kitchen around the TV and a 'few' boxes of donuts and pizza," according to reports.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Vols had the opportunity to sulk a little longer after a what-could-have-been on national TV last Monday. The actual on-field improvement will have to wait another week when the Vols take on the formidable Blazers of Alabama-Birmingham. Looks like the jury may have to wait until Florida.

"I regret to inform you, ..."

Not much more could be said in Fayetteville, where Bobby Petrino's 'revitalized' career is looking for any vital signs period. The Razorbacks are looking like the cellar of the SEC for the second straight week after surviving with a late Casey Dick touchdown strike followed by a missed 45-yard field goal attempt by a Louisiana-Monroe squad that no SEC team should schedule in the near future.

Apparently, Petrino's secretary didn't pass on Nick Saban's message where he left numerous words of advice and scouting tips on the Warhawks. The revitalization will be on hold for at least another week, as Bobby takes his Hogs down into Austin for a grudge match with Mack Brown and the Texas Longhorns.

Speaking of Saban, all is well in Tuscavegas after the Crimson Tide improved to 2-0 after "ripping" the Tulane Golden Wave. After the victory, Saban only had good things to say about his squad that needed two special team touchdowns to save them from a repeat of last year's bout with the aforementioned Warhawks.

"The boys really played hard today, and they really showed how they could overcome a challenge from a formidable opponent," Saint Nick reported. What's next for Saban and the Tide? A nationally televised bout with the 'Toppers of Western Kentucky, followed by a trip into Arkansas to take on Petrino's new career (if he has not quit by then). I guess we won't really know how Crimson the Tide is until September 27th.

"Dear God, please guide me away from Rennie Curran"

Head coach Urban Meyer and his Florida Tebows have much to rave over in Gainesville after routing the "old" U, the one that used to reside in Miami but now apparently lives in the 'Ville.

Tim Tebow's un-Godly performance should make the world forget the Heisman even exists.

After Florida's reign over Miami, Brent Musburger reported in his post-game review that "Tebow is without a doubt the greatest specimen I've ever laid eyes on. The way his arm flexes when he throws, his eyes glisten when he scores, his calves flex when he gets sacked, he just makes me warm inside. Some even say his eyes are the sparkle of God. I've seen the light, and that light is coming from Mr. Tebow."

Brent's jubilations are words the nation can share and cherish. Meanwhile, Mark May had similar words, while saying Knowshon Moreno's performance was "just so-so."

"Mommy, Mr. Steve hid my bottle of bourbon. Wait 'til he sees his car after the Vandy game..."

I'm not sure the Ol' Ball Coach even knew how to find his way back to Columbia after what happened at Vanderbilt. He didn't have much to say in the post-game press conference, but in his closing statements, Spurrier reported, "I sure hope Stephen Garcia is sober on Saturday." I think we all do, Coach.

Out in the plains, head coach Tommy Tuberville has "found the quarterback of the future." Tuberville went on to rave about his new guy under center, saying "he's got all the tools we need for a 9-4 season. He's sharp, makes minimal mistakes, and throws enough touchdowns per game to lead us to free chicken biscuits for a year from the kind people in Atlanta."

After beating the new-look Southern Miss, the War Eagles travel to Starkville to take on Sly Croom's Mississippi State—squad still trying to look past what happened in Shreveport in week 1.

As for the Dawgs in Athens, I think The Leap just about wraps that discussion up.

The Vanderbilt "Coverdores" Strike South Carolina Again

Matthew Burns — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:23:00 -0400

Well they didn't strike again because they've never really "struck" since before the Great Depression. But it was great to see the 'Ol Ballcoach lose for the second year in a row to a recently overachieving Vanderbilt team.

The Dawgs rode the back of Knowshon Moreno and the leg of Brandon Coutu to squeak by with a victory in Nashville last season and it looked like South Carolina was going to pull off the same sort of win last night.

With two minutes left, I was certain that Carolina would find a way to come back. I was mad at Spurrier and felt horrible for Vandy fans because it would be yet another loss they pulled from the jaws of victory.

Needless to say, the "Coverdores" hung on for the win and are a surprising 2-0 on the year (is there such a thing as a surprise 2-0?). The Gamecocks, however, will stumble back to that dump known as Columbia.

They will have to deal with that oh-so-annoying fan base and the evil temptations of Stephen Garcia following the first of what may be many embarrassing losses this year.

You don't show you belong in the SEC East by losing to its bottom feeder Mr. Spurrier...because you, then, become the bottom feeder and everyone knows that bottom feeders don't "belong" with the big guns.

Go Dawgs and the heck with the Poor Man's Tim Tebow.

How Will Georgia Handle This No. 1 "Mess"?

Matthew Burns — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:15:00 -0400

I'll start by saying that I completely agree with PWD at Georgia Sports Blog.

Plain and simple, an undefeated season is pretty much ruled improbable. It's the SEC, and especially in this day and age, anything can happen. We saw it last year with App State. They shocked the world.

Georgia could shock the world just as much by going undefeated.

I say that because our schedule just plain sucks. Just when you thought playing Florida, Tennessee, Steve Spurrier, and Georgia Tech every year wasn't enough, you've got to slap on a trip out to Arizona State, a meeting with a revamped Alabama, a trip to the Plains, and a descent onto Bourbon Rouge.

Tack on a Central Michigan squad led by a poor-man's Tim Tebow in Dan LeFevour, and you've got arguably the hardest schedule in the country.

All doubts aside, this team has the potential to do it.

If Matthew Stafford can respond to all the hype, if Knowshon Moreno and Caleb King can form a thunder and lightning-type tandem, if the receivers can respond to all the doubt, if A.J. Green and/or Tavarres King make an impact beyond expectations, if the defense continues to grow with a great combination of speed, athleticism, and power, and if Mark Richt leads the team like we all know and believe he can, it can work. It can happen.

From here on out, however, all those aforementioned scenarios have to play out to perfection. The question has moved from the potential to the will of this team.

We know the talent is there. It just has to blend together methodically and thoroughly. Mohamed Massaquoi, Matthew Stafford, and Asher Allen are three guys among a handful that I have faith in for leadership both on and off the field.

13-0 sounds mighty nice—almost too mighty. If this team can finish 12-1, it shouldn't have any problems getting a spot in Miami.

I'm optimistic for 12-1. I'd be disappointed with 11-2 or 10-2, so there is a fine line where my expectations are drawn. I don't see a repeat of LSU happening for Georgia, especially with the influence of media darlings these days, which I feel we are not a part of.

It's time for the boys to let their play do the talking. Give 'em hell, you sons of bitches.

Go Dawgs!

What Georgia Bulldogs Fans Really Don't Want to See in 2008

Matthew Burns — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:51:00 -0400

With the high temperatures of August come the wonders of a new season of college football. And with those wonders come expectations of what to see, which we have already previewed, and what not to see.

These lists can be extensive. They can be demeaning. They can be very biased. Here at DawgsOnTop, we frankly don't even care what you think.

So, to follow up our What to See, here is our list of Top 10 What Not to See in 2008...:

10) An empty seat in Sanford Stadium

We are preseason #1. Unless there is a death in your family or someone offers you $2,000 for your ticket, your seat better not be empty. I take that back... your seat better be empty, but the area immediately in front of it better be occupied by a loud, rambunctious, drunk, and standing Dawg fan. Yes, Mr. Adams, drunk. Noise people, noise.

9) More Big-10 love

Yes, I saw that OMGZ!#@ Michigan totally beat Florida n their bowl game!!! Ohio State was in da 'Ship!!

I don't care. Florida wasn't that good, especially their defense. Ohio State got waxed for the second straight year. It seemed like all of last season, the "experts" believed the Big-10 was a challenging foe for the SEC, maybe even better. But we all know true football isn't played up north.

8) A healthy season for Percy Harvin

He hasn't had one yet, and he is more important to his team than ever. He is that type of guy that can change the game in a matter of seconds, and we can only expect more in his third year. Hopefully those expectations will fall short... That being said, we don't want to see an unhealthy season for any of the Dawgs. (Note: this is all in good fun. Kind of.)

7) Any more arrests

I swear, the whole team should be locked away in the states if one more athlete gets arrested for having a BAC of .183. All jokes aside, the team does need to stay out of trouble and the media's spotlight.

6) Mark May

"With my top 5, I have Georgia at #4 and as my team that is most at risk for a disappointing season. On the outside looking in, I see Pittsburgh making a strong push for a Top 25 spot and in contention for the Big East."

Anything else, Mr. May?

5) A loss to an overwhelmingly under underdog.

As much as I love a great upset, I hate them. Especially when my team is on the receiving end. App State's victory over Michigan was priceless. Losing to Vandy again at home is not.

4) A "darkhorse" Heisman Trophy candidate

There are darkhorses, and there are "darkhorses." Noel Devine, Jeremy Maclin, A.J. Green... those are darkhorses. I don't care if DeSean Jackson returned 2 punts for touchdowns. I really don't care how many touchdowns Colt Brennan threw in OT to beat Louisiana Tech or San Diego State. And I know this shouln't be a factor, but I do care that Tim Tebow only won 9 games. Just a thought...

3) A deserving team shut out of the BCS National Championship game

I hate to say it, but the '07 Dawgs team was a South Carolina game away from the title game. Did we deserve it? No, probably not. Did we deserve a shot? Maybe. Fool on you, BCS. But no one wants to see a repeat of 2003.

2) Tim Tebow accepting a second Heisman Trophy

True, he may be damn near Superman for Florida's offense, but he only won 9 games last year. True, his numbers are hard to ignore. But a repeat year is far-fetched, as is an East title. Tennessee has the Gators at home looking for revenge, Auburn would love another bite of Gator tail at home, and, of course, the #1 Dawgs meet them in Jacksonville. Look for a few more tears out of Timmy, either in his Crocs or cleats.

1) A two-week campaign party thrown by ESPN endorsing a single (or multiple) candidate(s) for a seat in Miami

Anything else need to be said about that?

Once again, I would like to add that here at DawgsOnTop, we love to joke around about these sorts of things, even if we are completely serious and mean everything we say.

Go Dawgs!

College World Series: Is This Heaven? No, It's Omaha...

Matthew Burns — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:44:00 -0400

If you've never been to Omaha...go to Omaha.

If you've never seen the College World Series...go to Omaha.

If you've never seen Baseball Heaven...go to Omaha.

If you don't like college baseball/baseball period...go to hell. And that's not Omaha, that's in or around Gainesville, Florida.

But in all honesty...Omaha is more than you can imagine. The sheer rush you get while driving around that hill westbound on I-80 on your way out of Iowa (or, the newest addition to the Great Lakes), makes it worth it alone.

Add to that a hundred thousand fans, a stadium as legendary as Uga, a steak town, a neighborhood that just screams "welcome!" and locals who are calling you in with open arms, and you're in heaven my friend.

I'm telling you, simply incredible. I don't think I said a word for the first 30 minutes we were parked in our tailgate spot.

That tailgate spot happened to be the back yard of someone's trailer, but hey, $5 and a 10 minute walk? I couldn't ask for more, especially while drinking with the fellow Right Field Guys and the guys from the Left Field Lounge, some of the biggest Dawg fans around.

I was in Heaven, and I hadn't even been inside the gates of the stadium.

Standing in the ticket line a few hours later, my knees trembling in excitement and my hands sweating in anticipation, I realized that I had died and was born again.

Well, that born-again feeling actually happened when I stepped into Section E. Just look for the time when your jaw hits the concrete at your feet, and that's when you'll feel it too.

At that point, I didn't care who won really. I didn't really care who was playing, either. I was just glad to be there, experiencing a slice of Heaven.

So if you ever get the chance, go. No, actually, I don't care if you have the chance or not. Forget summer school. Take off from work. Spend the few hundred you have in your wallet. Make the trip. It will change your life.

Georgia Football: Bulldogs Should Survive Injury, Suspension

Matthew Burns — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:46:00 -0400

Amidst all the excitement from the Georgia baseball team's playoff dominance, several things slipped my attention. Until now.

For one, our star fullback Brannan Southerland will miss 16 weeks after he underwent surgery on his ailing ankle. The stress fracture didn't respond well to the initial process, and he had no choice but to be subdued under the knife again.

The way I see it, we should be just fine. With the exception of Carolina, our first four games (within the 16 weeks) are against teams that Shaun Chapas and Fred Munzenmaier should be able to handle.

Munzenmaier will be suspended for the first two, but Chapas has proven he can handle the offense enough to cover Georgia Southern and Central Michigan, not to mention run a little bit of it as well.

Munzenmaier will bring size when he comes back for the South Carolina game and should be able to contribute. So, while I am concerned about Southerland, I am optimistic that we'll be just fine.

Perhaps Bobo's revamped offense will focus less on power and more on speed and redirection, so we may not need to worry at all. But come the Alabama and Tennessee games, Southerland better be back. Those are going to be dogfights, and his motor, size, and experience will be needed badly.

While the impact isn't as glaringly obvious, Perno's Diamond Dogs took several blows to next season and beyond.

Not only did the two-sport star Xavier Avery get yanked in the 2nd round, but the top two pitchers in the class were also selected, both by the Braves. The Bravos must have a thing for trying to take Bulldog pitchers. Georgia Sports Blog has more info on that impact and also on the hope that still remains.

Looking forward, however, there is still plenty of promise for both teams. Football should be preseason #1. Baseball should continue to roll in Omaha. The recruiting classes for both are stacking up well, and it looks as if Perno can overcome the fallacy of the MLB draft.

Georgia Bulldogs Well-Represented in MLB Draft

Matthew Burns — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:49:00 -0400

As mentioned earlier, our very own Gordon Beckham and Joshua Fields have been selected in the first round of this year's MLB first-year draft, as they were selected eighth and 20th overall.

Fields has recently been named the top closer of the year after his stunning season where he accrued 16 saves, captured the SEC all-time save lead, and racked up 56 strikeouts, not to mention his amazing 0.00 ERA streak.

Beckham is looking for a trophy of is own, as he awaits the final tallies of the Golden Spikes Award, similar to football's Heisman Trophy.

Silently, however, another Bulldog was chosen in the second round of the draft, 50th overall.

That other Bulldog, Xavier Avery, may never even put on the "G" and run out onto Foley Field. Or Sanford Stadium, for that matter. The two-sport athlete signed his letter of intent earlier this year to play both football and baseball, a la Israel Troupe, for the Bulldogs.

As good as he would have looked in the Red and Black, it appears he will be donning the orange and black for the Baltimore Orioles instead. 50th overall out of high school is too promising for a young man with a bright future to hold out on the opportunity.

Sure, we all feel that a college education is key these days, but with his talents and promise, we all hope he'll do just fine.

In other news, Georgia Sports Blog has a great article on the Wolfpack and their bullpen and starting pitching rotation that sounds quite formidable. As hot as our bats are right now we will hopefully be fine, but the 'Pack should pack a punch at the mound.

DawgBone.net also has a handful of good baseball news about Gordo, Fields, Avery, and the upcoming weekend.

And remember, first pitch for the weekend series is Friday at 12:00 pm. If you can't make it like me, you can catch it on ESPN. We know their presence will be known in and around Foley, but hopefully ESPN gives a shout out or two to the right field brew crew up there at the Greenhouse and Brickhouse.

College Baseball: Georgia Bulldogs Set to Face the Wolfpack

Matthew Burns — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:27:00 -0400

On the eve of Georgia's Super Regional matchup with the North Carolina State Wolfpack, the Diamond Dawgs should be riding high.

The team completed an impressive string of four wins with an 18-6 drubbing of Danny Hall and his Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Georgia's bats heated up and the team was rewarded for impressive pitching performances by Nick Montgomery, Will Harvil, and Alex McCree.

As for this weekend, the Diamond Dawgs will bring their renewed confidence into a home matchup with a talented Wolfpack squad. The boys from Raleigh come in boasting an impressive pitching rotation and skilled bullpen.

However, the Dawgs should take advantage of their hot bats and their own pitching prowess to take down the 'Pack.

In addition, two high profile baseballers should be playing without MLB draft pressure following the selections of Gordon Beckham (No. 8 overall ChiSox) and Joshua Fields (No. 20 overall Seattle Mariners). Look for both to contribute to the continuing thrill-ride that is Georgia baseball.

We'll be providing updates and tidbits throughout the weekend and will hopefully wrap it all up with details about our trip to Omaha.

Go Dawgs!!!

Georgia Baseball: Dawgs Will Host Regional As National Seed

Matthew Burns — Mon, 26 May 2008 23:12:00 -0400

After a disappointing showing in Hoover, the Georgia Baseball team started the week with a bang as it was announced as one of the top 8 seeds for the 2008 NCAA college baseball tournament.

The Bulldogs grabbed the No. 8 spot despite losing four of their last five games. Georgia will host the Athens, Ga., Regional site Friday through Monday. The region's other teams are rival Georgia Tech, Louisville and Lipscomb.

Here's the schedule for the week:

2008 NCAA Baseball Athens Regional
Friday, May 30

Game 1: Lipscomb vs. GEORGIA, 3 p.m. ET
Game 2: Georgia Tech vs. Louisville, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, May 31

Game 3: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 3 p.m. ET
Game 4: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 7 p.m. ET

Sunday, June 1

Game 5: Loser of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 3, 2 p.m. ET
Game 6: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5, 6 p.m. ET*
Monday, June 2 (*If Necessary)

Game 7: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6, 7 p.m. ET

More updates as the week progresses.

Georgia Takes 2 out of 3 from Ole Miss

Matthew Burns — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:41:00 -0400

The Georgia baseballers returned to their winning ways this weekend with another SEC series victory. Using wins on Friday and Sunday, UGA maintained a 3 game lead in the Southeastern Conference. The boys in red and black left the weekend with increased offensive output coming from the bottom of the lineup (Demperio, Cerione, and Lyle Allen all with HRs Sunday). However, Mike Demperio left the game after a terrible collision as he hustled towards first base while trying to beat out a throw. He will get an MRI tomorrow and we hope the speedy second baseman comes out of it with a positive report.

On a slightly different note, Joshua Fields' streak of innings without an earned run ended on Sunday. Fields didn't cut his hair while the streak was intact and we imagine he will sport a new hairstyle in the near future. With that in mind, we here at "Dawgs on Top" thought we'd provide a few suggestions...

1. Josh could sport the "Dos Cinco" mohawk?

2. Does Carlos Valderrama need explanation?

3. This would make him even more unhittable...

3. Or this?

4. "High and tight, no sideburns no mistakes"

5. Is this even allowed?

6. Or he could leave his coiffe the way it is and cruise around campus like our man P. Swayze.

That's all I've got. The Dawgs play the 'Nerds from GT on Wednesday before a huge series next weekend in Nashville. A couple of wins would hopefully lock up a national seed. Let's hope whatever hairstyle Josh chooses helps the team continue their impressive season.

College Football: We're All for Equal Opportunity But...

Matthew Burns — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:00:00 -0400

(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.

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

Matthew Burns — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:04:00 -0400

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.

Georgia Football: 5 Dawgs Sign FA Deals

Matthew Burns — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:49:00 -0400

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 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 third down back 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 role 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 year's 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 of that caliber. They’re just back for more.

Evaluating the NFL Draft, Part I: The Losers

Matthew Burns — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:45:00 -0400

While we’re still in the aftermath of the draft, why not stretch into the NFL perspective and do a little rating?

As with 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: the losers.

Chicago Bears

They 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 third 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 a tall, fast 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 second or even third round.

To add to that, they selected two DEs 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 who come into the bigs and make an impact, but I’m not a fan of selecting three all before the end of the fourth 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. OK, 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 were 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 badly. I also love Brandon Coutu, not only because he went to Georgia but because he is a great kicker who 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 DEs 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 require a lot of teaching and practice. He has the skill set, but not the experience to make an impact immediately.

Slaton is a steal. 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.

Georgia Gym Dogs: Un-Four-Gettable

Matthew Burns — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:16:00 -0400

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)

College Football: Will Aaron Murray's Commitment Come?

Matthew Burns — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:07:00 -0400

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.

Spring Practice: News and Notes Around the SEC

Matthew Burns — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:49:00 -0400

As spring practices are winding down across the country, teams still seem unsure about themselves.

From College Park, PA to Atlanta, GA to Ann Arbor, MI, teams are trying to cope with coaching changes (or lack thereof), new offenses, new schemes, new personnel, and new players. This spring isn't boding as well for many teams as those schools had hoped, but for some, spring practices have been relieving.

USC has found their quarterback, people in Husker nation love Bo Pelini almost as much as Alabama loved Saban a year ago, and rants about Jimmy Clausen's skills are reappearing. For the SEC, the up-and-down summer hasn't been much different.

In Columbia, Steve Spurrier can't stand the play of his quarterbacks. In the spring game, the QBs managed to throw 8 INTs, even without Stephen Garcia's shenanigans. Spurrier is so frustrated that he has even turned over some of the playcalling duties to his son.

In Lexington, the huge void left behind by Andre Woodson will remain that way. Even though the QB roster is deep, Rich Brooks has come out of spring with just as much doubt as he did going in. Chris Pulley and Mike Hartline continue to show progress, but neither are showing the upper hand.

The new starter in Knoxtown has already hit his first road bump of 2008. The Vols' slated starting QB Jonathan Crompton underwent "successful" elbow surgery to clean up the joint. Crompton is expected to be back by June workouts, but you can never feel good about elbow surgery for your starting QB. In other news, Fulmer is telling his kids to calm down off the field. I'm sure that will work.

Some interesting news out of Gainesville. Urban Meyer has instructed Tim Tebow, do-it-all Everythingback, to pass more and limit his carries. This is interesting, considering Tebow made up about 75% of Florida's offense last year, Emmanuel Moody continues to struggle grasping the new offense, and Percy Harvin recovers from heel surgery.

In Tuscavegas, Alabama head coach Nick Saban is griping again. Saban, a very credible and successful recruiter, is complaining about the NCAA's new rule change prohibiting coaches from visiting high schools in the month of May. For once in my life, I may agree with the Sabanator. With the way recruiting is nowadays, recruits are continually committing early, forcing coaches to recruit early. The month of May comes at a pivotal point in this new-age recruiting process, the month just after spring practices rap up and coaches have a chance to have some face time with prospects.

Some bad news coming out of Fayetteville. Transfer QB Ryan Mallet is out for a while with a thumb injury. Although he can't play this year, it sets him back from learning the new intricate offensive scheme owned by Bobby Petrino.

Not sure which town they call home, but the guys that cover Auburn sports on Track Em Tigers have given some respect to the Dawgs, calling them 2008's media darling. As bad as it seems, its relieving in the sense that the media is finally giving us some respect. And as dangerous as it may seem, Coach Richt is working his magic, keeping the team focused on the task at hand - beat Georgia Southern. One game at a time, boys.

For all of SEC country, check out Paul Westerdawg's article on 2008's SEC schedules over at Georgia Sports Blog.

Also, on the homefront, two UGA students have started their own company called Heisman Gear, with Playboy's pre-season All-American Knowshon the centerpiece of their new product lines.