Bleacher Report - Articles by Tyler Estep

Georgia Football Is 3-3, and It's Not Joe Cox's Fault

Tyler Estep — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:59:09 -0400

Well that sucked.

Georgia got worked by Tennessee in Knoxville Saturday, showing no signs of life in a 45-19 loss.

Quarterback Joe Cox and linebacker Rennie Curran both used some form the word "suck" to describe the Bulldogs' flop against the Vols; one that sent them to 3-3 for the first time under Mark Richt. And, whether Georgia players think they're part of a team that should be .500 or not, it was appropriate—because they are.

"I don't think we are [a .500 team] and I don't think anybody on this team thinks we should be," Cox said. "But that's the way it is right now, and the only thing you can do is just keep playing. It's tough taking one on the chin like that, but we've got to find a way to bounce back."

"Nah, man," said receiver A.J. Green, before pausing and reconsidering his answer. "I don't know, man. We're just going to have to keep fighting and see what happens."

So why is Georgia at .500, and not looking like it will finish the season any other way?

(Hint: It's not Joe Cox's fault)

1. The secondary has shown a penchant for making chump quarterbacks look like champs.

Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton looked like Peyton Manning Saturday, and South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia (usually just short of Smelley) picked apart the Bulldogs in September.

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett threw for 1.6 million yards against Georgia. In his first-ever SEC start.

And, given coach Mark Richt's loyalty to upperclassmen, the fact that it's Prince Miller (senior), Bryan Evans (senior), and Reshad Jones (redshirt junior) getting burned most of the time doesn't provide a whole lot of hope for improvement this season.

(Side note: Don't forget who the Georgia secondary coach is—Willie Martinez).

2. The offensive line has been, well, offensive.

Yes, Trinton Sturdivant is hurt again. And yes, there's some young talent at tailback.

But isn't it starting to look like Knowshon Moreno made the line look good, as opposed to the line making it harder on him? The Bulldogs are averaging 97.7 yards per game on the ground, 104th best in the FBS.

They ran for 89 yards Saturday—and that wasn't even (close to) their worst effort of the season (see: LSU, 45 yards).

Sure, some of that has to do with the inexperience at the position. But with three running backs (Richard Samuel, Caleb King, and Washaun Ealey) that were highly-touted out of high school, and with O-linemen that have a boatload of game experience, where does the blame go?

Line coach Stacey Searels won't tell you it should be on his squad's shoulders—but that's only because he doesn't talk to the media.

3. A.J. and….A.J. and…..A.J. and…?

The Georgia offense has taken "going green" to a whole new level this season, and they're not using biodiesel to fuel the team charter.

There's a moderate amount of depth at receiver. But as far as scoring options go?

Green has five touchdowns this season. The rest of Georgia's receivers have three.

Georgia tailbacks have two. Yes, two. In six games.

Fullback Shaun Chapas is the team's fifth-leading receiver.

4. When things do go well, change them!

With the game still in reach, Georgia seemed to be finding an offensive groove, moving the ball through short passes on its first few drives. But then Cox threw an interception, and the idea was all but abandoned.

The Bulldogs never would score an offensive touchdown.

And remember that time when freshman corner Branden Smith had a 61-yard touchdown run against South Carolina? He's touched the ball on offense exactly once since then.

Speaking of Smith—he was in the game on the kickoff immediately following Brandon Boykin's second 100-yard return for a touchdown of the season Saturday.

Not Boykin.

Richt said Sunday that, in preparations for this week's game against Vanderbilt, he and his coaches "have to make sure when we put a plan in, that it's not too much and that our team is capable of doing what we want to do."

If that's not a sign of the state of Georgia football, I don't know what is.

Excessive Celebration: Georgia's A.J. Green Didn't Do It

Tyler Estep — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:35:11 -0400

The NCAA rule book reads that a 15-yard penalty will be assessed for "any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves)."

The ball that Georgia receiver A.J. Green snagged in the corner of the end zone for a last-minute, go-ahead touchdown Saturday is no longer up in the air. But exactly what part of that rule Green violated (or didn't violate) afterward is.

A post-game release from the SEC said that "following a brief team celebration, Green made a gesture to the crowd calling attention to himself." Green, not your stereotypical diva receiver, still doesn't know what he did wrong.

"Everybody just came and jumped on me. I didn't do anything that I thought nobody else ever does," the soft-spoken sophomore said. "That was crazy. I definitely don't feel like I did anything that could put a flag like that."

Replays show Green catching the ball, falling down, getting back up for a chest bump with fellow receiver Michael Moore and being mobbed by several teammates before trotting off the field. Roughly 20 seconds passed.

Green's catch put the Bulldogs up 13-12 with 1:06 to play. The subsequent kickoff (from the 15-yard line after the penalty was assessed), LSU return, score and two-point conversion put the Tigers up 20-13, made Georgia 3-2 on the season, and put the Bulldogs on the outside of both top-25 polls.

It also created unneeded controversy.

"To me, if you're losing the game, and it's late in the game and it looks like all hope is lost, and then you get a spark, you get down the field and score a touchdown, I think that was probably the right amount of celebration," said Georgia coach Mark Richt.

"I don't know if it was excessive for the moment. Considering what happened, I thought it was probably about par for the course."

Added Moore: "I gave [Green] a chest bump and kind of ran away, and then the rest of the team was just celebrating with him. There was no individual act that I know of ... That's just how the game goes. There's never going to be a perfectly called game."

The 15-yard penalty didn't lose the game for the then-18th-ranked Bulldogs, and LSU was flagged for excessive celebration as well after Charles Scott scored the winning touchdown for the Tigers (a celebration that was, Richt said, "well within their celebratory rights"). First-year Georgia tight end Orson Charles was also flagged for celebration after a 22-yard reception in the third quarter.

"He needed to celebrate with his team," Richt said. "That's what I told him."

Whether there was truly "excessive celebration" on either end in the game's waning minutes, or if it was more excessive sensitivity and excessive desire to promote sportsmanship on behalf of the referees, is a debate some Bulldogs are still struggling with.

Simply put, Green's celebration was tame.

"I don't even know what happened, but it must have been really bad if they throw it when you score a touchdown with a minute-something left against the No. 4 team in the country," said quarterback Joe Cox.

"Football's an emotional game, and a game that's supposed to be played with passion," Cox went on. "I understand there's a lot of things that shouldn't be done, taunting and things that are just unsportsmanlike. But when you're celebrating with your teammates after a good play and a big play, I don't see why you'd penalize a team for getting excited about having a successful play."

According to NCAA Football Rule 9-2, "After a score or any other play, the player in possession immediately must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot."

And after an arguably phantom celebration helped Georgia find a way to lose Saturday, Green said he'll be doing that from now on.

"I'll be cautious next time," he said. "I'll give the ref the ball and go celebrate with my team on the sideline."

But, at least when he makes what looks to be a game-winning catch, he shouldn't have to be.

Hands Across America: Is Georgia's A.J. Green the Best Wide Receiver in College?

Tyler Estep — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:59:26 -0400

We all know A.J. Green is good.

But (use your game show voices) how good is he?

Running backs coach Bryan McClendon, a former Georgia receiver: "He's truly one of the best I've ever seen, and the best I've ever been around. He's a guy that does amazing things and just makes it look so simple, and makes it look so effortless. It's gotten to the point where the guy, if he doesn't go out there and make something spectacular happen, then you're like what's going on?"

Quarterback Joe Cox: "He's one of the best I've ever seen. He's an incredible playmaker and he could end up being one of the best players to ever play here."

Wide receiver Michael Moore: "To me he's hands down the best receiver in the country. If anybody wants to doubt it, put the film on and see for yourself. It's amazing to be a part of what he does and just watch him go to work out there."

Without him, Georgia could very well be 0-4. With him, it's 3-1.

Starting this week with LSU's Chad Jones and continuing next week in Knoxville with Tennessee's Eric Berry, Green will go against two of the best safeties in the country.

Good, he says.

"It's going to take my game to a different level. I'm not going to try and do anything different, out of my character, but I'm just going to work hard and try to get open."

LSU corner Patrick Peterson is pretty good too, and, at least physically (6'1"), he matches up well with Green, though he's only a sophomore. But then again, Green is only a sophomore too.

A damn good sophomore.

Right now, Green is on pace for 1,391 receiving yards this season, which would shatter Terrence Edwards' Georgia record of 1,004.

He's also on track for 13 touchdowns, which would break Edwards' school record of 11.

He's headed toward 81 receptions as well, which would top Brice Hunter's mark of 76.

Said Green: "I like big challenges. They bring my game to a different level."

Which could be scary. Nay, downright frightening.

Talk about Alabama's Julio Jones being equally as good has subsided. In Bama's four games this year, Jones has just nine receptions for 185 yards. Weak sauce.

Green was nearly better than that Saturday against Arizona State, with eight catches and 153. And I bet Jones hasn't even blocked a field goal yet.

Green says he's "never in the zone," he's a "relaxed person." Which is true.

He's not in the zone.

A.J. Green is on his own planet. He's in his own solar system. He sits on his ethereal throne atop Mt. Olympus picking passes out of the sky as easily as his picks grapes off the vine he probably planted himself while doing a double gainer and catching a 40-pound bass and three touchdowns with Joe Cox the Fisherman.

What else can you say? Dude is good.

HOW GOOD IS HE?: A.J. GREEN IS ON PACE FOR...

1,391: receiving yards this season, which would break Terrence Edwards' Georgia record of 1,004
13: touchdowns this season, which would break Edwards' Georgia record of 11
81: receptions this season, which would break Brice Hunter school record of 76
2,009: extrapolated for inflation, the yardage Green would tally in his junior season next year
4,363: given previous estimates, the total yardage Green would accumulate in his career if he opts to leave for the NFL after his junior season. That would shatter Edwards' school and SEC record of 3,093

This column originally appeared in The Red & Black.

Also, check out Estep's Georgia football blog.

Georgia-Florida in Jacksonville: Stop Whining Already

Tyler Estep — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:27:11 -0400

Georgia-Florida will be in Jacksonville until at least 2015.

Good.

The Georgia Athletic Association Board of Directors met Wednesday and agreed upon AD Damon Evans’ proposal to keep the World’s Largest Cocktail Party off campuses, out of Atlanta and in the state of Florida.

Good.

The Georgia football team will continue to travel 363 miles to its annual matchup with Florida. The Gators will go 71 miles north.

Good.

It’s not that I feel that strongly about keeping the Jacksonville tradition alive — I’d love to see the game moved to campus.

It’s that it’s not the huge, mind-numbingly terrible disadvantage that (not all, but) many Georgia fans make it out to be.

Mainly, because the players don’t care.

I have asked somewhere around 10 to 15 Georgia football players about their preference surrounding the game. Sure, some said that playing on campus “would be cool,” others that a game in Atlanta “would be fun.”

But every one of them said this: The travel isn’t that big of a deal.

I spoke to former Georgia/current Atlanta Falcons quarterback D.J. Shockley a few weeks ago, and he told me this: “I really didn’t mind. It was so big regardless of wherever it is. Regardless of where it’s at both sides are going to travel, and it’s going to be evenly-matched. It really wasn’t a big issue to me.”

Tell me something: The last time you drove roughly five hours somewhere, then got a good night’s sleep, were you still feeling the effects the next day?

Probably not.

And they don’t even drive anymore — they fly.

In fact, one of the already agreed-upon provisions in the new contract, Evans said, is that the City of Jacksonville will charter three private jets each year, so the Bulldogs can fly directly out of Athens’ Ben Epps airport, nixing the hour-and-a-half drive to Hartsfield International in Atlanta.

As Georgia president Michael Adams made a point of saying at Wednesday’s meeting, “our flight will be shorter than their bus ride.”

OK, so maybe you’re in it for the party, but Jacksonville and the sweaty and oft-disgusting “Landing” isn’t your scene. Go to St. Simon’s Island.

It’s full of Georgia students, alumni and fans of all ages doing their thing and creating the craziest and most diverse party scene the state of Georgia has seen since Freaknik left town.

You can still make it to the game — it’s only an hour or so from Jacksonville.

Yes, coach Mark Richt voiced his opinion against keeping the game in Jacksonville in the past. But he said this Wednesday after practice: “My only comment on that game or any game is just that we’re trying to win it and not being really too concerned with where it’s being played. So any question that you ask me about the game, that will be my answer. Refer to answer No. 1.”

Now, I’m sure Richt was spoken to by his superiors about his rather strong stance after taking it in the spring. But that’s the attitude Georgia, and Georgia fans, should take.

It’s just a football game.

It doesn’t matter where you play it.

There is. no. advantage. for. Florida.

To restate a tired argument: Where was that advantage when Georgia took 15 of 19 games between 1971 and 1989?

It wasn’t there. Because there isn’t one.

It’s been fabricated by disappointed, Gator-hating Bulldog fans blinded by the fear and the aura of Urban Meyer and Tim “Jesus Throws Jump Passes” Tebow.

If you want to visit Atlanta so bad, go to a Tech game.

Just calm down.

Georgia Football: Defense Good Enough When It Counted

Tyler Estep — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:01:14 -0400

You can call it the final stand, a potentially season-changing stop or just Rennie being Rennie.

Either way, Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran swatted down a fourth-down, fourth-quarter throw from South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia, keeping the Gamecocks out of the end zone and sealing the Bulldogs' 41-37 win.

The play summarized Georgia's defense as a whole on Saturday—it didn't play great, but made it happen when it counted.

"It was a crazy play in a tough situation," said Curran, Georgia's leading tackler with 15 on Saturday. "But that was just one play that helped us win. We had guys all over the field making plays here and there, making turnovers. That was just part of my effort for this defense and this team."

To say Georgia's defense was a makeshift one against the Gamecocks would be a stretch; but there was some added adversity for the Bulldog defense that had started out the season stalling Oklahoma State's powerful offense.

Starting defensive end Rod Battle went down in the second quarter (and will now be out for the season with a left ACL tear), linebackers Darius Dewberry and Nick Williams did not play, and Marcus Washington flip-flopped between defensive end and linebacker throughout the game.

"As a team we put a premium on every single play," said corner Brandon Boykin, who had Georgia's first interception of the season. "And I think we did a good job giving the defense good field position [on special teams]. Even when we didn't, the defense bowed up and made a couple of huge stops."

Georgia's defense surrendered 427 yards of total offense Saturday to a Gamecock offense that put up just seven points in its opener against N.C. State.

But the Bulldogs got consistent pressure on a quarterback for the first time in what feels like ages, holding the Gamecocks to just 6-of-17 on third-down conversions, and hunkered down when the game was on the line. It was good enough to avoid starting the season 0-2.

"This wasn't just another game," said Curran. "It was the SEC championship. We can't expect to go to the [Georgia] Dome [for the SEC title game] unless we take care of the South Carolina Gamecocks and the next SEC game after that."

Georgia's Offense: Not a Good Start

Tyler Estep — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:33:43 -0400

For all of Joe Cox's waiting, learning and goodwill, Saturday's season debut was not what he wanted.

Georgia's fifth-year quarterback, in his second career start and first since 2006, put up decent-enough numbers - 15 of 30 passing for 162 yards, a touchdown and a late interception.

But after an 80-yard, 10-play scoring drive on the Bulldogs' first offensive possession of the game, Georgia didn't score another touchdown and the offense was visibly defunct.

It's hard to swallow a 24-10 loss when your defense holds the Oklahoma State offense, one of the most high-octane offenses in the country, in check for most of the game.

"[The offense] looked good there for a minute, didn't it?" coach Mark Richt joked halfheartedly after the game. "But I don't think we're far off."

Added Cox: "It seemed like whenever we'd have a play there'd always be one person who didn't finish a block or even me - missing a person running open. Just little things really hurt us."

Admittedly, there were some dropped passes for the Bulldogs, and sophomore tailback Richard Samuel (who rushed for 87 yards on 20 carries) was a shoestring tackle away from breaking more than one big run.

But the offense's performance Saturday left some message-board junkies and online commenters clamoring for Richt and coordinator Mike Bobo's heads, as well as the start of the Aaron Murray Project behind center.

While Cox will undoubtedly get the start come this week against South Carolina, past trends against the 'Cocks may not help him production or appearance-wise.

The Bulldogs haven't scored more than 18 points in their annual matchup with the Gamecocks since 2004. Even with Stafford and Moreno in 2008, they scored their lone touchdown in a 14-7 win on a run where Moreno had no business finding the end zone.

"[The South Carolina game] is a huge one," Cox said. "It was huge even before this loss."

While Georgia's defensive performance may have been even better than it looked in the box score (the No. 9 Cowboys had two drives start inside Georgia's 25-yard line after a fumble and a long kick return), the Bulldog offense floundered.

Georgia's first drive was an exercise in efficiency and creativity - Samuel pounded the ball for consistent three to five-yard gains, Cox was two for three with a 29-yard toss to A.J. Green, and mobile backup Logan Gray and freshman cornerback Branden Smith both took direct snaps.

But after that, the Bulldogs failed to make it to the red zone again. As Samuel continued to make solid gains on the ground, Cox struggled to create a consistent passing attack.

Senior wide receiver Michael Moore said coach Tony Ball didn't even realize he only played three of the Bulldogs' six scholarship receivers until after the game. Freshman tight end Orson Charles was Georgia's second leading receiver with two catches for 46 yards.

"I don't know what changed," Samuel said.

The Bulldogs may not have to score that many points to come away the victory Saturday - South Carolina struggled mightily in its opener, too, managing to beat N.C. State only 7-3.

Cox missed some practice last week and flew to Stillwater separately after experiencing flu-like symptoms, but downplayed its effect on his performance, saying he wasn't 100 percent but "definitely good enough to play a football game."

And while it may be a stretch to say he's playing for his job on Saturday, another lackluster performance won't help quiet a growing chorus already chirping for Murray, a highly-touted freshman quarterback, to begin his indoctrination. Still, Cox knows that what he saw Saturday wasn't simple stuff.

"[Oklahoma State] pretty much threw every blitz imaginable at us, different coverages, just a lot of different things to confuse us," Cox said.

"I feel like I let a lot of people down today."

Oklahoma State-Georgia: Key Matchups

Tyler Estep — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:20:41 -0400

DEZ BRYANT VS. GEORGIA'S SECONDARY

Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant is a playmaking freak. The 6'3" junior hauled in 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns last year.

Enter Georgia's secondary, which has plenty of experience with three senior starters. This will be group effort, since going man-to-man with Bryant would end in big numbers from the wideout.

The Cowboys' other two starters (senior DeMarcus Conner and redshirt freshman Justin Blackmon) have a combined three career receptions, so Georgia can afford to focus on Bryant as quarterback Zac Robinson's primary target.

Bryant is going to get his hands on the ball, but limiting his yards after the catch will be the biggest key to Georgia's secondary success.

RENNIE CURRAN VS. ZAC ROBINSON & KENDALL HUNTER

Linebacker Rennie Curran won't always have contain responsibilities against OSU's mobile quarterback and dynamic tailback, but the SEC's leading returning tackler has a knack for flying to the ball and an endless motor.

The Cowboys feature a balanced attack and Curran said shutting down the run and making OSU one-dimensional would be the first step in slowing down the offensive juggernaut.

Staying disciplined in OSU play-action situations and recognizing when Robinson is scrambling is instrumental in eliminating momentum-shifting plays.

DEMARCUS DOBBS & ROD BATTLE VS. RUSSELL OKUNG

Oklahoma State left tackle Russell Okung is a skilled, athletic beast of a man. The All-American and projected first-round pick is the anchor of an offensive line that returns four starters and helped make Oklahoma State's attack the nation's sixth-best in terms of total offense.

Demarcus Dobbs and Rod Battle—Georgia's starting defensive ends—will share time taking on Okung, trying to get pressure on Robinson, and attempting to rope in Cowboy running back Kendall Hunter. Bulldog defensive ends were both injured and lackluster in 2008, and this first test could build the momentum for the position's return to productivity.

GEORGIA RECEIVERS NOT NAMED A.J. GREEN VS. OKLAHOMA STATE'S SECONDARY

Everyone knows A.J. Green. Georgia's then-freshman sensation led the SEC in receiving last season and will be looking to have an equally dominant year in 2009. But, if Georgia's offense is to have any real success, he can't be Joe Cox's only weapon. Senior Michael Moore will be a reliable target, but the four other scholarship receivers, all very inexperienced, must find a way to make an impact and help Green shed some of the double-teams sure to come his way.

The Cowboys' secondary is led by three senior starters, including stud corner Perrish Cox—creating a situation eerily similar to the one the Bulldogs use to try and stop Bryant.

DEZ BRYANT & PERRISH COX VS. JON FABRIS

Oklahoma State boasts two of the premier return men in the world. Bryant was No. 3 in the country in punt returns last season, averaging almost 18 yards per and taking two to the house.

Cox was the nation's No. 3 kick returner in 2008, and lacks only 110 return yards before becoming the Big 12's all-time leader. He also leads all current FBS players with four returns for touchdowns.

Georgia? No. 43 in punt defense and No. 73 in return defense last season. Special teams coach Jon Fabris will have his hands full figuring out how to contain Bryant and Cox.

Georgia Bulldogs' Defense "Remembers The Feeling" of 2008

Tyler Estep — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:29:45 -0400

Do you remember the feeling?

Georgia's defense does. The newest addition to the Bulldogs' defensive team meeting room reminds them every day.

Amid dog bones and gas cans signed by Bulldog defensive greats and an enormous photo of Erk Russell, the founder of Georgia's "junkyard dawgs" philosophy, sits the sign that reads just that: "Do you remember the feeling?"

Just as Georgia defenders enter the room, one they go to every day, they're greeted by the poster, the phrase, Tim Tebow grinning and Georgia Tech players flossing their teeth with hedge clippings.

The Bulldog defense remembers the feeling. And it's not ready to forget it.

"We don't want to forget," defensive tackle Geno Atkins told me. "You've got that bad taste in your mouth. Until you get that win, that's probably when you'll forget."

More than just a reminder of two losses, the poster signifies what the Bulldogs hope will be a departure from last season's defensive struggles.

It means more than just 49-10. It means more than 45-42.

It's a reminder of the missed expectations that affected the whole team, but especially the defense.

It brings other numbers to life, too—just 24 sacks, only 11 interceptions, and a Richt-era worst 24.5 points allowed per game.

"We use it as motivation," said sophomore Brandon Boykin, who will be looking to fill Asher Allen's big shoes at short corner. "Those two games that we lost last year, they were very important games, and we lost by a lot. Just remember the feeling that we had a lot last year, we're using that as motivation this year. When we make mistakes, we look at that. And we don't want to have that same feeling."

Georgia lost three games last year, but the Alabama loss (a 41-30 defeat that saw the Crimson Tide up 31-0 at the half) is not on the poster, presumably because of the way the Bulldogs fought back in the second half.

Fighting back will be a familiar theme for the Bulldogs this season, starting with their Sep. 5 opener against No. 9 Oklahoma State, a squad boasting three potential Heisman Trophy candidates on offense.

"It can be as different as we want to be," said linebacker Rennie Curran. "We can be as good as we want to be. The leadership is there, we have all the intangibles as a team to be successful. It can be as good as we want it to be if we control the things that we are able to control and just make the best [effort] and correct those mistakes from the past."

One thing that the Georgia defense lacked in 2008 was that leadership, but there's plenty of that this time around.

Vocal senior tackle Jeff Owens is back from an ACL tear, and he and Atkins are anchoring a strong interior line. Curran is the leader of a linebacking corps packed with experienced juniors. Prince Miller and Bryan Evans have found their voices in the secondary, and safety Reshad Jones stuck around for his senior season.

"I think our leadership is pretty solid when you've got guys like Rennie Curran and Jeff Owens right in the middle of your defense," said defensive coordinator Willie Martinez. "They have a tremendous amount of experience."

With a little inspiration from the past added in, it all spells hope for a better year for the Bulldog defense.

"You always use your bad experiences and use it as motivation and see how you can improve on it and make sure it never happens again," Curran said.

"So that's just something we use that shows what can happen when we're not disciplined and we don't execute, just to make sure that we build on it and don't let those mistakes happen.

"But last year's over, this is a whole new year, and we've got a new mentality."

For now, Georgia's defense remembers. But it's also ready to start making people forget.

"Last year was last year," Atkins said. "After we have a good year this year, everybody's going to forget about what happened last year."

Want more Estep and more Georgia football? Check out The Red & Black and his blog, SanfordKnowsBest.com

Why Joe Cox Is Not Another D.J. Shockley

Tyler Estep — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:29:21 -0400

Joe Cox is not Matthew Stafford.

He's not going to be Tee Martin, winning a national championship the year after Peyton Manning left Tennessee.

And, by God, he's not D.J. Shockley.

Cox, the fifth-year Bulldog quarterback who sat and watched as Stafford became a Georgia legend, is now at the helm and behind center in Athens.

And while the comparison of Cox to Shockley, who sat for three years behind legend David Greene before leading the Bulldogs to an SEC championship in his only season as a starter, is running rampant in the media and in the fan base, it's not something Cox has grown weary of.

"I don't get tired of it. I hope it happens," Cox said. "He's definitely a guy I look up to, and I hope I have a senior season like he had."

Cox was behind Stafford for all these years—but he was also behind Shockley during that 2005 SEC championship year. The two have stayed in touch over the years, and, as soon as Stafford announced his early departure for the NFL, Cox reached out to Shockley, now a backup quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons.

"He asks about what to expect, and my general thing was just take everything one day at a time," Shockley said in a phone interview. "You can't look at it and get overwhelmed because you only have this one year and you're replacing whoever. You've been playing football your whole life, and you know what to do."

Added Cox: "I've talked to him quite a few times, not to call him to ask him about things necessarily or learn things, but just knowing that there's a guy who went through the same situation I have to go through. It's just good having somebody you can talk to about anything."

Shockley took the Bulldogs to the SEC title in his season, and while it won't be impossible for Cox—whose inner fire and outer leadership burn as brightly as his red hair—to do the same, the odds are stacked against him.

Shockley didn't have to compete for the Eastern Division crown against a Florida team that had won two of three national titles, was the overwhelming favorite to win a third, and boasts arguably the greatest college quarterback, if not players, ever.

Shockley had the experienced Thomas Brown at tailback and veteran receivers to work with, and a Georgia defense that still had its swagger working for him.

Cox has inexperienced running backs; A.J. Green, Michael Moore and a whole lot of unproven talent at receiver; and a defense that's trying to regain its power after an abysmal 2008. Shockley played in plenty of series as a change-of-pace type threat before becoming the starter.

While Cox's heroics in the 2006 Colorado game are well-documented (against a Buffalo team that finished 2-10, mind you), most of his field time since then has been in mop up duty.

In his first season as a starter, Cox is taking Shockley's advice and not thinking too big.

"Personally I just want to be the best leader I can be and I just want to put my team in position to win games," he said. "I don't care, there are no statistics that I'm worried about. It's not something that's ever bothered me or something I've been thinking about."

Cox and Shockley have vastly different playing styles, and Cox likely won't lead the Bulldogs to a title this season. But maybe the two are just a little similar.

"He is kind of like me, a laid back guy, and he's a born leader," Shockley said. "I respect guys that come in, work hard, and put in their time."

And Cox has certainly done that.

Need more? Go to sanfordknowsbest.com and redandblack.com.

Georgia's New No. 7: Orson Charles

Tyler Estep — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:58:39 -0400

As we all know, Matthew Stafford's early departure for the NFL left the door open for...Orson Charles?

Charles, once a big-name tight end prospect, is now a Bulldog. Many have pointed to him as the man who will restore Georgia's once-proud reputation as a tight end powerhouse.

But what if Stafford hadn't left after his junior season, and hadn't left his No. 7 jersey for Charles to take?

"I think that was kind of really the deciding factor on me coming to Georgia was that I was able to keep my same number," Charles said, seemingly only partly kidding.

"That seven means a lot to me. I switched schools [to Plant High in Tampa, Fla.] and switched to No. 7, that was my change. I had wanted to change completely. And then seven is God rested on the seventh day, he created Earth and rested on the seventh day. So that meant a lot to me."

Charles pulled down three receptions for two touchdowns and 55 yards in the Bulldogs' first scrimmage of fall camp last Wednesday. He added two receptions for 49 yards in Saturday's scrimmage.

"Orson's had a good camp," said head coach Mark Richt. "We've got some good tight ends and receivers going."

The 6'3" freshman has already put on 13 pounds since coming to Athens, and is now up to a healthy 233 pounds, and says he's gotten faster, too. With Bruce Figgins suspended for the Bulldogs' first six games and Aron White already having missed some time with a sore hamstring, Charles has already gotten more chances. And he's loving every minute of it.

"I love college," said the always-enthusiastic Charles. "A lot of people think I'm crazy, but I just love college period. Just being with a new team. It's kind of crazy because this is what you dream of. You're playing NCAA [football video games] and you create yourself on the game, but then you're actually here."

Charles denied throwing to himself profusely in those games (though he did admit high school, and now Georgia, teammate Aaron Murray is usually behind center). But in real life, he is being implemented in all kinds of formations.

"We have different formations that stretch me out and keep me at tight end, and two tight end sets," Charles said. "So it's very, very different."

Charles is sporting Stafford's former number, but the comparisons to receiver A.J. Green, and expectations for Charles to match his spectacular freshman season, are what have really run rampant so far.

"He just loves to play," said offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. "He wanted to take every rep. He didn't want to sit out a single play ...He [doesn't] know everything that's going on, but neither did A.J. Green last year. He made plays."

So, with all that said, would Charles really have not come to Georgia if he hadn't gotten his seven?

"I probably would have come," he said. "I probably would have been wearing an ugly number, but I probably would have come."

Thanks to The Red & Black's Daniel Shirey for the photo.

Need more Estep, and more Georgia football coverage? Go to redandblack.com and sanfordknowsbest.com.

The Michael Vick Saga: Why It's Not "A Race Thing"

Tyler Estep — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:59:36 -0400

Michael Vick is black.

Roger Goodell is white.

Vick, the Atlanta Falcons’ dynamic former quarterback, was released from federal prison this week, and many want to make his quest for reinstatement back into the NFL a race issue.

They want to make the commissioner’s lack of a confident answers about Vick’s potential return into a hesitation based on race, and to make Vick one of the most polarizing figures in professional sports, if not the country.

And he is. But not because of his skin color.

In a recent article, Jemele Hill of ESPN astutely pointed out that when Vick was playing as a Falcon, there were “Falcon fans” and “Michael Vick fans.”

And, yes, I will admit that the majority of the “Michael Vick fans” (those who didn’t particularly care how the Falcons did, as long as Vick was thriving) were, and still are, African American.

I’m from metro Atlanta. I saw what Vick did for the city and the franchise.

His exciting playing style took the Falcons from irrelevancy to legitimate NFC South contenders every season. He brought a lot of pride to Falcons fans, whether they were black or white.

But I was also in Flowery Branch for the Falcons' training camp a few years back—one with animal rights activists and Vick supporters barking back and forth at each other, plenty of dogs running around, and a plane carrying the banner “NEW TEAM NAME: DOG KILLERS” flying overhead.

And you wonder why Goodell is hesitant to reinstate Vick, even after his 23 or so months have been served? It must be because Vick is black, right?

No.

Nobody (except maybe Al Davis) wants that circus around their franchise. Goodell knows that, and he’s trying to do what’s best for his league, and, believe it or not, probably Vick too.

I love Mike Vick. I wrote last week that he was the reason I became a Falcons fan. I whole-heartedly believe that he deserves a second chance, and that he’ll get it—this season.

But can you blame Goodell for hesitating to instantly reinstate him?

This is a guy that has already created a ruckus around Atlanta and the entire NFL. A guy that lied to Goodell and Falcons owner Arthur Blank about his impending doom. A guy that already had an image problem before the dogfighting scandal broke (See: flipping off fans at the Georgia Dome, a photo that surfaced showing him possibly smoking pot, and that water bottle incident at the airport).

And, don’t forget, after each of these incidents, Vick said he would clean up his act.

Blank, who cares a lot about image and who is white, was behind his quarterback all the way.

Until Vick lied to him.

The lines are truly divided around Vick, and yes, especially in Atlanta, African Americans may tend to be, at least stereotypically, more pro-Vick.

But, regardless of race, most smart, rational people seem to agree—what Vick did was despicable. However, he received and served a fair sentence for his crimes, and he should and will get a second chance in the NFL.

Said Blank: “I believe in second chances. I believe in redemption.”

So don’t make this into a race issue.

Yes, Michael Vick is black. And yes, Roger Goodell is white. You can probably draw the same face-value conclusion about plenty of proponents on either side of the Vick debate.

But Vick’s reinstatement isn’t a race issue—the issue here is the dogs that Vick bred, fought, and murdered.

Some of them were white, some black, some brown. More importantly, though, some are dead.

The fact that Vick is black has nothing to do with Goodell’s seemingly hesitant stance on his reinstatement—it’s more about the red still on his hands.

I'm in Love With a Convict (or at Least It's Why I'm a Falcons Fan)

Tyler Estep — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:38:21 -0400

Bobby Hebert.

Jeff George.

Chris Chandler.

Not to mention Billy Joe Tolliver, Tony Graziani, and Danny Kanell.

All Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks during my childhood.

And all slow, exceedingly boring, and with about as much star power as a blind kid playing Rock Band.

For a kid from suburban Atlanta whose Braves effectively supplanted his mother’s teat as a source of sustenance, I didn’t get it—why would anyone watch the Falcons?

They were bad. They played in a hideous pink building that was usually filled with more visiting fans than Falcons ones. And, more than anything, they were bad.

Neon Deion provided some excitement every now and then. A run to the Super Bowl in 1998 was cool. But the Dirty Bird?

Lame.

Enter Michael Vick, an impossibly elusive quarterback from Virginia Tech with a Howitzer for an arm.

Prior to Vick’s appearance in 2001, I would have considered myself a Falcons "follower."

But, above the NFL, I loved baseball. I loved college football. I loved college basketball.

Even NFL-wise, the Colts were my team, a product of being raised a Tennessee fan and one of my first real man-crushes on Peyton Manning.

I read about the Falcons. I watched bits and pieces of their games when I could (they used to be blacked out on local TV when it wasn’t a sellout at the Georgia Dome, which still doesn’t make sense). I rooted for them.

But I would cry sometimes when the Braves lost, and a Colts loss really punched me in the gut—I really didn’t care either way if the Falcons won or lost.

Now Vick was there, and now I cared.

I pursed my lips and pumped my foot like I was playing a bass drum every time he snapped the ball. His runs made me cringe and simultaneously pray for something spectacular and for him to get out of bounds (or slide, by God).

Instead of spending my Sunday afternoons in September nodding off halfway through a Braves game, I was jumping up and down, swearing and pacing as Vick turned a football game into a circus.

When he ran for what seemed like a 100-yard touchdown in overtime in Minnesota, he kept on running right into the tunnel, and I ran around the house screaming.

When he won that playoff game at Lambeau, I just about had a heart attack.

I was there during the infamous substance-in-a-water-bottle-at-the-airport situation, and I had his back, whether I was right or wrong.

I even stuck around as a Falcons fan when he tore his ACL in his second season as a starter and I had to endure the Doug Johnson era.

In hindsight, I didn’t care if he was good for the team, or if he would ever be a true leader or a true quarterback—he gave me something to exciting to watch. He gave me a reason to care about Falcons football, and a legitimate hope that they at least had a chance to win most Sundays.

Now he’s a convict, and deservedly so—what he did was despicable and stupid.

And yeah, I jumped on the bandwagon.

But I was 14, and none of that changes the fact that Michael Vick not only turned me into a Falcons fan, but a true fan of the National Football League.

Check out my articles about realisitc expectations for the Falcons in 2009, what I would ask if I had an interview with Tony Gonzalez, and what to expect from the Falcons' offense.

Atlanta Falcons: Less Offensive Vanilla, More Thrilla in 2009

Tyler Estep — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:22:00 -0400

The Atlanta Falcons' offense was a good one in 2008.

Matt Ryan emerged as a true leader behind center, receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins exploded, and the running game was one of the best in the league, as it has been since Michael Vick made his way to Atlanta.

The Falcons had an Offensive Rookie of the Year, the NFL’s second-leading rusher, and a Pro Bowler at wide receiver.

That said, among the self-serve ice cream bar of NFL offenses, it was vanilla.

The process of simplifying playcalling for a rookie quarterback in Ryan necessitated this, as did having such a top-notch ground attack.

The latter hasn't changed—the Falcons ran the ball 55 percent of the time behind Michael Turner and Co. in 2008, and will likely hit a similar ratio of run/pass in 2009.

But enter Tony Gonzalez, and the opportunities for creativity and barn-burning plays jump through the proverbial glass ceiling.

Gonzalez is a Hall of Famer (albeit an aging one) at tight end, and will present an all new problem for opposing defenses, as Turner recently pointed out to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

“They have to play us honest,” he said. “We are not just a one-dimensional team. We can use the middle of the field more. Line him out wide. We can create some mismatches out there.”

As Steve Wyche of NFL.com (a very good reporter who I had the chance to meet at Falcons’ training camp when he was still with the AJC) adeptly points out, Gonzalez gives the Falcons and offensive coordinator “more options than Little Debbie has snack cakes.”

And options are good.

Tony Gonzalez is the absolutely perfect fit for the current Falcons’ offense, and will drastically change their playbook in 2009.

He presents the threat over the middle that Atlanta largely lacked last season (Falcon tight ends combined for 19 catches, 211 yards, and a pair of touchdowns last season).

He can prevent teams from double-teaming receivers. White and Jenkins were huge in 2008. They could have even bigger seasons in 2009.

And he’s no slouch of a run-blocker either. When you add Gonzalez to an offensive line that was relatively inexperienced but got better as last season progressed and couple it with Turner, also a Pro Bowler, you get a very dangerous concoction. And a lot of potential for creativity.

Gonzalez’s presence makes it harder for defenses to stop Turner, and vice versa—other teams often pushed an extra safety in the box to try and stop Turner last season. They do that this season, and they leave a linebacker or a safety covering Gonzalez.

First down, Atlanta.

In short, Gonzalez will make both the Falcons’ passing and running games significantly more effective.

Look for offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey to put pressure on opposing defenses in any and every way possible—from motion to play action to throwing on first down.

Mularkey is a former tight end and former tight ends coach. It would be fairly safe to assume he knows how to use a tight end, and that he let out a devilish cackle when he found out he would have the best one ever to work with.

And lest we forget, Gonzalez has put up the best numbers ever for a tight end with no quarterback better than Trent Green. And he worked on a few routes one-on-one with Ryan during the Falcons’ recently-closed minicamp. Head coach Mike Smith said he looked as good as ever, including when he ran vertical routes.

Look for the Falcons to stick with the run-first philosophy again in 2009. But, with Tony Gonzalez and a proven Matt Ryan, boy do they have options.

(On a very unrelated and completely unsubstantiated note, as a Georgia guy, I would love to see the Falcons try a Wildcat formation with DJ Shockley)

Tony Gonzalez: 21 Questions for the Atlanta Falcons' New Tight End

Tyler Estep — Wed, 13 May 2009 02:15:41 -0400

Tony Gonzalez is now a Falcon.

The surefire Hall of Famer at tight end is now Matt Ryan's new plaything, and will hope to help Ryan and the rest of the Falcons build on their 11-5 regular season in 2008.

Given the chance, here are just some of the questions I would use to pick Gonzalez's brain:

What are thoughts following you first minicamp here? What did you take away?
There were rumors you kind of quietly campaigned for a trade out of Kansas City. Are they true?
If so, was Atlanta a team you had pinpointed for a trade?
Was the opportunity to win the biggest factor in your decision to come to Atlanta?
How hard was it being on so many unsuccessful teams in Kansas City?
Do you regret staying there until now?
Do you feel like you could have accomplished more elsewhere?
You’re obviously a Hall of Famer already. But do you feel like there’s something missing from your resume?
When you do go to the Hall, you’ll most likely be in a Chiefs jersey. But what do you want your legacy with the Falcons to be?
What do you know about Matt Ryan?
They say a young quarterback’s best weapon is a good tight end. Do you believe in that?
What kind of impact do you think you can have with Ryan?
I’ve read that you’ve been working on a few routes with Ryan. What can you tell me about those?
You’re a high-character guy. What would you say your biggest contribution can be on this team — on or off the field?
Do you have anything set up already to give back to the Atlanta community?
Do you have personal goals for 2009? Or is it all about winning?
You’re 33. How much do you have left in the tank?
Do you plan on ending your career with Atlanta?
It’s well-documented that the Falcons have never had back-to-back winning seasons. Is that something you knew coming in?
Do you think this team can change that this year?
Do you have a feeling of just how much fun it would be to be on a winning team?

For what Falcons' fans can reasonably expect from their team in 2009, click here.

Atlanta Falcons: Back-to-Back Winning Seasons

Tyler Estep — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:37:05 -0400

It's well-documented that the Atlanta Falcons have yet to have back-to-back winning seasons in franchise history. Seemingly random spurts of success (a Super Bowl run in 1998, a road playoff win in Green Bay) have come in the recent past — but have been spoiled by injuries, bad trades and just plain bad football (not to mention Bobby Petrino mid-season expatriation and the Michael Vick fiasco) in the following years. Now the Falcons are coming off of an 11-5 season and a playoff appearance (a loss to eventual NFC champion Arizona) in 2008. The stage is set for another disappointment. But it won't happen.

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Georgia's Matthew Stafford in the Best Shape of His Life

Tyler Estep — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:11:40 -0400

Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford has said recently that he may be in the best shape of his life. And quite frankly, I believe him.

He's looking trim and more nimble (OK, maybe not trim; he's still got a healthy thickness to him, but he's lost the pudgy doughboy look of yesteryears), and coaches and teammates alike are raving about him.

"Stafford's really been outstanding," coach Mark Richt said in Wednesday's post-practice presser. "Reading and throwing and just knowing what to do with it. He's just doing a really fine job."

This may be the year that Stafford finally lives up to the incredibly lofty expectations that have been placed squarely on his shoulders since the day he left the state of Texas.

With an offensive line that is still young but now at least has game experience, Knowshon Moreno, and a vastly underrated receiving corps, it's really all up to him. And with the work ethic he's already shown just three days into fall camp, it appears he knows it.

"Us quarterbacks work out together in the summer, and this is the best I've seen him run and just the type of shape and conditioning he's in since I've been here," backup quarterback Logan Gray said Wednesday. "He looks good, his weight's down, and he's been throwing the ball very well."

Stafford threw 13 interceptions as compared to just seven touchdowns his freshman year, but improved that to 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2007. He'll need another jump like that to cash in on Georgia's national title hopes. And I think he'll get it.

The junior has always thrown a hard ball (highly-touted freshman receiver AJ Green said Tuesday that the first ball the QB threw his way "about hit me in the mouth"), but it's the more cerebral parts of the game that will make the difference this year. And teammates say it already has.

"He looks more confident right now, he's throwing the ball real well," senior receiver Kenneth Harris said. "I feel like he's dropped some weight, he's been doing real well in the pocket and seeing things a lot different."

With an experienced, though often overshadowed, Georgia defense that looks to give Stafford and the offense plenty of scoring chances this season, number seven will have to take advantage. And he will.

Photo Credit: Frannie Fabian, The Red & Black

Mark Richt: Using YouTube To Keep His Bulldogs' Heads in Check

Tyler Estep — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:17:49 -0400

HOOVER, Ala.—YouTube consumes the lives of many. It's a way to kill time at work, not pay attention at school, or just exorcise the demons of boredom.

But amidst the highest expectations in Athens in recent memory, Georgia coach Mark Richt has used it to keep his players from developing a "sense of entitlement."

Richt was a volunteer assistant on the 1988 Florida State team, which, like some expect Georgia to be, was ranked No. 1 in many preseason polls.

Those Seminoles, led by the always-intelligent Deion Sanders, spent several days making a "Super Bowl Shuffle"-esque rap video called the "Seminole Rap."

That seems like a great idea, right?

Um. Not so much. The season opener against Miami? 33-0 'Canes.

Thursday at SEC football media days, Richt, a former Miami quarterback, was asked if all the national championship hype "bothered" him.

He immediately launched into the aforementioned anecdote about that 1988 Florida State team, detailing his 'Noles' quest to be like the Bears on the mic. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes were actually practicing you know, uh, football, leading them to look "more like the Bears' defense" than a music video, Richt said.

The Bobby Bowden disciple went on to say that he showed his players a video of the "Seminole Rap" in light of all the national attention they have been garnering already.

"[The hype] would only bother me if I felt like our players used that as a sense of entitlement where they're saying, 'I don't have to work hard, I don't have to try hard,'" Richt said.

"I think our guys see this as an exciting opportunity to prepare even harder. That's been the thing I've told them, this could be a blessing or a curse depending on how you guys react to it."

Chip Towers of the AJC wrote that a compilation of preseason magazine polls done by the SEC had Ohio State as the consensus No. 1 and USC at No. 2 (he also reported that Richt said he refused to rank his Bulldogs No. 1).

But that said, the hype around Georgia is as great as it's been in years.

The thought behind Richt showing his team the video is obvious, simple, and as it should be—keep your head small, work hard, and, to borrow a line from Public Enemy, don't believe the hype.

"Everybody says this, and everybody says that about Georgia," senior offensive lineman Jeff Owens said.

"But if we go out there and lose to Georgia Southern in the first game of our season, who's going to think about Georgia? We're going to drop from the polls, we won't even be ranked. We just can't listen to the hype, and just go out and play Georgia football."

The ridiculous video (which is actually pretty entertaining, but not as good as the Bears, who actually play instruments in theirs; Calvin Thomas melts faces on the sax) is just another reinforcement, another way to show what can happen when you don't work hard.

Tim Tebow: Why Georgia Fans Shouldn't Hate Him

Tyler Estep — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:12:27 -0400

HOOVER, Ala.—He's Superman. He's a media darling. He's an active Christian, he's been on three mission trips during Florida's three most recent weeks off from workouts, and it seems like everyone is always talking about him.

He's a Heisman winner on one of the best teams in the country.

And he's a Gator—so that all adds up to hatred for Bulldog Nation right?

Well, yes. But it shouldn't.

Granted, he is in the media ad nauseum, and they drive it down our throats. But it's genuine.

The Golden Boy entered the presser Monday with warm greetings and hugs for the media members he knew. He proceeded to answer questions candidly, warmly, and honestly. Seeing him in person, you can feel the sincerity and see why the media love him.

It's bizarre. Before today I was a hater. Now, I love him. (OK, love is a little strong.) He's still a Gator, but I honestly can say that I respect and even (gulp) admire him. Being in the same room with him is an eye-opening experience.

A sampling of his press conference today:

"I had three mission trips. First I went to the Phillipines, then I went to Croatia, then I went to Thailand, and they were all great trips. I got to do a lot of great things...I was getting the opportunity to preach in prisons, hospitals, marketplaces, schools, orphanages, you name it. For me doing that type of stuff is way more important than playing football or winning championships or winning Heismans."

"What I do gives you a platform, it gives you the opportunity. My goal has always been to be one of those good role models that a parent can say to their kid, 'Look at him, do it the right way like him.' That's what my parents said to me about Danny Wuerffel when I was six years old. My dream even more so than football is to be a role model for kids who look up to football players."

I know that's nothing anyone hasn't heard before, and I'll admit his forays into circumcision in the Phillipines are a little creepy.

I also cringe at being a part of "that group," but he sold me. Plain and simple.

This is directed to Georgia fans because of the rivalry, the fact that both teams are among the best in the country, and because I live in Athens and hear the griping all the time.

Don't worry. It's still OK to hate on Tebow because, well, he's a Gator.

But do it just because he's a Gator, and do it based on stuff on the field. Don't doubt his sincerity or his genuine caring for his fellow Earthlings.

Just cut the guy a break.

Larry Munson: Still Georgia's Voice, at Least for Home Games

Tyler Estep — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:25:09 -0400

The voice of the Bulldogs will be returning.

Probably, anyway.

Georgia Athletic Director Damon Evans told the Athens Banner-Herald on Friday that he's expecting 85-year-old Larry Munson, who had heart surgery in April, to be back and calling home games in the fall.

"If there's a time that comes and Larry says 'Yeah' or 'No' we'll adjust then," Evans told Marc Weiszer of the Athens paper.

Just from reading what he told that particular colleague, it seems like Evans is optimistically cautious at best. And why not?

Munson chose not to call home games last season, even opting out of the Sugar Bowl, and understandably so.

Not to be rude, controversial, or morbid, but I've seen Munson in the press box at Sanford Stadium. He does not look healthy. He needs to do what's best for his health.

Munson has not only been the voice of Georgia football for decades (I think '66 was his first year), but he wholly epitomizes the program.

His voice is on the pre-game video intro at Sanford. He had an Uga named after him (sort of), and he's had countless legendary calls during his 40-plus years in Athens.

Here's hoping a Georgia legend will return to his post. More to come from Birmingham and SEC football media days later this week...

Michael Lemon of Georgia: Tragedy or Travesty?

Tyler Estep — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:23:54 -0400

It’s really just sad.

Two Februaries ago, Georgia defensive end Michael Lemon’s mother was fatally shot and found in the remnants of her burned-down home. Phaba Lemon’s boyfriend was charged in the incident.

The University’s Athletic Association set up the "Lemon Support Fund," raising almost $70,000 to cover any expenses Lemon might need during the rest of his stay in college. It was one big, happy football family in Athens.

That was until Sunday, when the redshirt sophomore was released following a July 2 arrest stemming from a felony aggravated battery charge. According to the police report, Lemon punched another Georgia student in the face "about five times before someone pulled him off."

After initially suspending Lemon indefinitely, head coach Mark Richt dropped the hammer on Sunday, citing “poor decisions and conduct that is not in line with standards we have in place at Georgia,” according to his press release.

The poor decision part is obvious. Lemon allegedly attacked this student because of a rumor that he had some type of relationship with his girlfriend. That's obviously not the best of choices.

What we're left with is trying to figure out just how to feel about Lemon. What happened to him last year was a tragedy. It's hard to cope with the loss of a loved one, much less a loss that comes in the brutal and senseless form that it did. Everyone empathized with Lemon and rallied around him.

That said, let's not compare apples and oranges, but Lemon’s incident was senseless too.

Under "About Me" on his Facebook profile, the 6'4", 260-pound Lemon says, "I love to have fun. I don't cause any conflicts or drama because I could care less about it. If we hang together, we're both guaranteed to have a good time."

Hmm…I don’t know much about the guy Lemon pounded in the face, who I've chosen not to name, but we can assume he doesn’t have the stature of a D-I defensive lineman.

Does repeatedly getting hit in the face by that big of a person in the middle of a pool party sound like a good time to anyone else?

Lemon isn’t exactly a stud on the field (seven games, six tackles last season), so the loss of a playmaker isn’t really a factor here. He says he'd like to find a way to get back to Georgia eventually (reference Akeem Hebron).

But how are you supposed to feel about someone who is undoubtedly still struggling with having his mother killed, but does something like this?

I honestly don't have a good answer.

Photo credit goes to Josh Weiss of The Red & Black

Georgia's Gordon Beckham Plays Hero in College World Series

Tyler Estep — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:58:13 -0400

OMAHA, Neb. — Gordon Beckham is good.

Beckham, the eighth overall draft pick of the White Sox in this year's MLB draft, is the lifeblood of the Georgia baseball team, and never was that more apparent than in Monday's Game One of the College World Series championship series.

With his team down three in the eighth inning, Beckham launched a two-run shot that put his team within one and ignited the Bulldog offense—and he called his shot, too.

"I told [Georgia] coach [David Perno] earlier on in the week you know, every one was giving me grief for not hitting a home run and breaking that record and our school record and all that stuff," said Beckham, one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes award, which will be announced at the MLB All-Star Game.

"I turned to coach and said, ‘I’m going to hit it when we need it the most.'"

The homer was the 52nd in the shortstop's Georgia career (the school record), and his first since the Bulldogs' Super Regional against N.C. State. His 27th shot of the season added to the single-season Georgia record he already owns, and pulled him to within one of the NCAA lead (LSU's Matt Clark had 28 before his Bayou Bengals were ushered out of Omaha).

"He's a pretty special player," Perno said. "He's called a bunch of shots throughout his career. A couple of guys have been on him about when he would hit his next home run and he said, 'When we need it the most.' He delivered."

More importantly, the .404 hitter again served as a catalyst for his team en route to another win, this one pushing Georgia baseball to within one win from its first national championship since 1990.

"He’s our leader, if he goes we’ll go, and the time that he picked you couldn’t have asked for a better time to get going,” said designated hitter Joey Lewis, who delivered the game-winning RBI double in Georgia's 7-6 Game One win. “We see what he does and go from there.”

This isn't the first time Beckham's done it. From walk-off home runs to scoring the winning run on wild pitches, the Bulldog junior has done it all season after a "mediocre" sophomore campaign (.307-13-51). His team looked dismal in a first-game loss to Lipscomb in the Athens Regional, and not much better in the first six innings of its second game against Louisville.

Cue the SEC Player of the Year, whose seventh-inning, three-run shot set off a four-game winning streak in the Regional and carried them all the way to the championship series in Omaha.

"[Monday's] homer is bigger, because this is the national championship," said the six-foot, 185-pound righty. "But the Louisville one got us going, and it's the reason we're here."

It's an oft-used cliche in sports, but Beckham makes his teammates better too. Georgia cleanup hitter Rich Poythress is having an outstanding season in his own right, batting .374 after Monday's game with 15 home runs and 71 RBI.

Though this "pick your poison" situation doesn't allow Beckham to be walked as often as his All-American status should dictate, when it does happen, Poythress makes opposing pitchers pay—he's hitting close to .700 (yes, that's a seven) after a Beckham intentional walk this season.

"When Rich is up there he's got as good of a chance as I do," Beckham said. "If he wasn't producing [the walks] would be aggravating."

During the entry draft, ESPN's Peter Gammons repeatedly praised Beckham as, simply, "a baseball player," and that's exactly what he is—the Atlanta native does it in the field and on the basepaths too. On Monday, his unassisted double play (where he snagged a line drive and dove to tag a Fresno State runner caught off of second) kept a three-run Fresno inning in check.

The three-hole hitter also leads the Bulldogs in stolen bases (17-for-19 on the season).

"It's unbelievable, he's like Nintendo," Perno said in March.

Along with closer Joshua Fields, Beckham is part of only the second Georgia tandem to go in the first round (Cris Carpenter and Derek Lilliquist in 1987). After a dismal 2007 season that saw the Bulldogs go 23-33 and not ranked this preseason, if Georgia goes on to win its second national championship, Beckham will obviously be a huge reason why.

With Fields projected to be one of the first draftees to debut in the Majors (20th overall pick to the Mariners), Beckham shouldn't be far behind.

College World Series: Fresno State 19, Georgia 10

Tyler Estep — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:24:09 -0400

OMAHA, Neb. — It’s not typically a good thing when the opposing team sends 27 batters to the plate in a three-inning span.

Leading 5-0 after the top of the third, Georgia’s version of the Bulldogs learned that the hard way—Fresno State’s “Wonderdogs” proceeded to rattle off 15 runs in the next three frames en route to a 19-10 win in Game Two of the College World Series’ championship series.

Those 19 runs are the most Fresno State has scored in the NCAA postseason since 1959.

“They beat us. They just beat us straight up,” Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham said.

“We were not fooled, we weren’t thinking, ‘we can let down.’ They kicked us in the rump. We were ready and they just did it. They just kept hitting the ball.”

Georgia starter Nick Montgomery faced only seven batters in his first two innings of work, but faced six in only a third of an inning in the third. Three of those scored before Montgomery left the game, and reliever Stephen Dodson gave up a three-run shot to Tommy Mendonca that sealed the six-run inning for Fresno State.

Mendonca’s 18th homer was his fourth of the College World Series, tying him with seven other players for the most all-time.

It didn’t end there, though, as Fresno added five more runs in the fourth, and another four in the fifth, capped by a Steve Susdorf two-run shot.

“Fresno State had the merry-go-round or circus or whatever you want to call it going around the bases all night,” Beckham said.

“They’re a good team. I told y’all last night that anybody that thinks they’re out of it is crazy.”

Despite the cringe-inducing deficit in the loss, Georgia coach Dave Perno had enough perspective to know there’s still one game left to play.

“We had a tough time defending the post pattern across the middle,” he said, smiling.

Fresno State’s 19 runs were by far the most they have ever scored in the College World Series, and the most Georgia has allowed in Omaha since matching that mark against Tennessee in 2001.

It was also the most the Diamond Dogs have given up in any action since surrendering 20 that same year to Arkansas.

The Georgia offense showed some signs of life in the seventh, with the first four batters reaching and scoring, but couldn’t muster a multi-RBI hit after loading the bases with no outs.

The Wonderdogs added three more in the bottom of the inning to squelch any Georgia momentum.

First baseman Rich Poythress finished the game 2-for-2 with three RBI and a pair of sac flies for Georgia. Gordon Beckham and Joey Lewis both drove in two runs for the Athens Bulldogs.

Fresno State is now 5-0 in NCAA elimination games, as is Georgia. One set of Bulldogs will have a blemished record after Wednesday’s deciding game, which is again set for 7 p.m. ET.

“It’s going to be a battle of the undefeateds in elimination games. It’s going to be a ‘dogfight,’” Beckham said, laughing and waving his arms.

Southpaw Nathan Moreau will get the nod for Georgia, while Fresno will have No. 1 starter Justin Wilson back, though on three days' rest.

That said, Perno has more specific plans for his pitchers.

“We’re going to start Nathan Moreau, you’re going to see Dean Weaver, you’re going to see Alex McRee, and you’re going to see Josh Fields. And everybody else is going to be cheerleading,” he said.

“We’re in Game Three or Game Seven or whatever you want to call it, it’s for all the marbles. Those are our guys that got us here, and they’re gonna get the ball tomorrow.”

Box Score

Georgia 3 1 1 1 0 0 4 0 0 10 15 0

Fresno St. 0 0 6 5 4 0 3 1 x 19 19 2

WP - Holden Sprague (6-2)

LP - Stephen Dodson (5-5)

HR - Fresno State: Mendonca (18), Susdorf (13)

For more complete coverage, visit The Red & Black online.

College World Series: Estep's Omaha Diary, Part I

Tyler Estep — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:11:35 -0400

After departing from Athens at 9 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday morning, I finally arrived in Omaha at 5 a.m. Central time Monday morning. In case you were wondering what it takes for a road trip from Georgia to Nebraska, here's a list of what it entails:

—20 long, long hours in a car

—About $150 in gas, even in a mostly fuel-efficient Volvo

—A mostly fuel-efficient Volvo borrowed from your mother

—Seven states (Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska)

—Passing wonderful places such as The Home of Superman (Metropolis, Illinois) and the National Quilting Museum (in Paducah, Kentucky)

—Crossing over four of the country's major rivers (Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri)

—Entirely too much time spent looking at corn

—About a pound of sunflower seeds

—Not being a coffee drinker, roughly 16 Cokes (at 39 mg of caffeine per 12 oz. can, that's 624 mg)

—Five different McDonald's in four different states (the McDonald's in Tennessee were just so high-quality I couldn't resist)

—400 songs, at an average length of three minutes apiece

—An entire one-pound bag of pretzels and several bags of Cheetos

—Cheap reservations at a sketchy Motel 6, especially at 5 a.m.

—A 12-pack to celebrate upon arrival

Just the first of many installments, with more to come, probably before tonight's game between Fresno State's Wonderdogs and the Diamond Dogs of Georgia, and definitely afterward. Stay tuned.

John Smoltz Headed Back to 'Pen Where He Belongs

Tyler Estep — Sat, 03 May 2008 08:39:27 -0400

I called it.

Not to brag or anything, but a few weeks ago I told a roommate that John Smoltz would be back in the Braves' bullpen before he retired. He looked at me like I was crazy.

However, it appears that Smoltz is in fact headed there following his stint on the DL. As a Braves fan, I couldn't be happier. It's where he has to be now.

"I'm coming back as a reliever first and then we'll see what happens," he told MLB.com's Mark Bowman. "I'm content with this."

His absence will definitely be felt in the rotation. Undoubtedly, a lot of fans will question his move, at least for now. But Smoltzie has reason to be content.

"I hear people say that we can't win without me as a starter. But we're not going to win with me as a five-inning starter either."

Bingo.

Five shutout innings just won't cut it with a bullpen, particularly long relief, that has been flat out bad.

The sole reliever to be consistent (Peter Moylan) now looks like he's going to have season-ending surgery. Also, Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano are still on the DL.

This is the right move. In case you forgot, Smoltz dominated in the 'pen from 2001-04, converting 154 of 168 opportunities.

Granted, he's not exactly a spring chicken anymore (he'll be 41 in less than two weeks), but why not?

"It's hard to doubt him if he feels that's all he can do physically to help the team," Tom Glavine said. "I don't think any of us are going to be complaining if he comes out of that bullpen with us having a one-run lead."

It may be a bit of a struggle with the rotation at first, but it will be fine.

Tim Hudson's going to be Tim Hudson, the young Jair Jurjjens has been incredible (3.05 ERA in six starts), and Chuck James and Buddy Carlyle are decent enough as fourth or fifth starters.

Glavine is in the same kind of five-inning boat as Smoltz is, but he doesn't have the stuff that would make him a good reliever.

(For painful and obvious reasons, Mike Hampton will not be included in this discussion.)

And with the Braves' wealth of middle infielders, there's got to be someone looking for a second baseman like Kelly Johnson who would eagerly part with one of their better pitching prospects.

Think about this—when everybody's healthy, the Braves would have Smoltz, Gonzalez, and Soriano in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings.

The Braves would go from one of the worst 'pens in the National League to what could be one of the best.

So guys, if you're worried about this or questioning the thought process behind it, just relax. It will all turn out fine.

Oh yeah, and I totally called it.

I Don't Like Chipper Jones...but He's Pretty Good at Baseball

Tyler Estep — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:43:10 -0400

So, I really, really don't like Chipper Jones.

I've been a die-hard Braves fan since I can remember, but I hate him. Maybe it's the illegitimate child via a Hooters girl, maybe it's the stupid smug look he always has on his face, or maybe it's just because he seems like such a, to be politically correct and family-friendly, jerk.

But I just don't like him (and don't even start talking about the other Jones, who, praise Allah, is now a former Brave).

That said, he's really, really good at this whole baseball thing.

As he approaches what should be at least the twilight of his career, ol' Chip is starting to push me toward his side. After quietly coming within a few points of being the National League's batting champ last season, Chipper has hit a pair of homers in each of the Braves' last two games, hitting around .450, leading the league in home runs, RBI, and batting, and making it look really, really easy.

Obviously, it's very early in the season, but I'm willing to put my neck (or anything else) under the guillotine and make a prediction: If the Braves (God willing) make the playoffs this year, Chipper Jones will be the NL MVP. Chip Caray said on today's broadcast that Chipper looks like a man on a mission.

My response: Well, yeah.

The dude is not happy about missing the playoffs the past two years, almost getting the batting title last year, and about David Wright getting the Golden Glove in 2007 (despite having 21 errors on a team that completely, and to much my delight, folded at the end of the season; Chipper had nine in arguably his best Major League season defensively).

In all honesty, judging by the pitching staff's current state of disrepair, it's a bit of a long shot for the Braves to win the East again, much less make the playoffs.

But, like I said, if they do, one of my least favorite athletes (not just Braves, not just ballplayers) of all-time will be his league's MVP.