Brian Jones of Score Atlanta fame broke down on Score Atlanta's The Official Visit last night. We weren't able to get to it, but he gave the top five recruits for each Georgia Tech and Georgia as of RIGHT NOW....
(Scott Janovitz offers insight for Big B's picks.)
Georgia Tech
5) Vad Lee: 6-2, 193-pound NC QB;
4) Chaz Cheeks: 6-3, 220-pound DE from East Hall. He seems like the perfect fit for OLB in 3-4;
3) Chris Milton: 6-0, 175 out of Charlton County. Electric athlete with the ball;
2) Errin Joe: Big, physical athlete who is a mauler at guard, and plays with good balance;
1) Jabari Hunt-Days: Tremendous athlete out of Hillgrove.
Missing: Airyn Willis, Dominique Noble, Tremayne McNair, and
UGA
5) Nick Marshall: 6-2, 185 out of Wilcox County;
4) Damian Swann: 6-0, 175 out of Grady;
3) Malcolm Mitchell: 6-1, 187-pounder out of Valdosta;
2) Jay Rome: 6-5, 255-pounder out of Valdosta;
1) Ray Dew: 6-5, 243-pounder out of Thomas County Central.
Missing: Corey Moore, Xzavier Ward, Amarlo Herrera.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Hey Richt, keeping doing the opposite
On one episode of Seinfeld entitled “The Opposite,” George Costanza came to the realization that everything he did was wrong. To remedy this situation, he did the opposite of every impulse he had, thus leading to a better life. Perhaps Mark Richt came to this realization himself immediately following the Liberty Bowl and maybe just maybe the Bulldog Nation will see OPPOSITE Mark Richt.
The reason I have surmised this is that the Georgia Bulldogs are CLOSING in recruiting for the first time seemingly ever during Richt’s tenure. The Bulldogs’ usual MO under Richt has been to get the class locked into place well before National Signing Day and just cruising towards the first Wednesday in February, maybe picking up a spare part or two but nothing major. National Signing Day 2011 will be different however. Not only will Georgia hear about tailback Isaiah Crowell, but defensive tackle John Jenkins will decide a few days after NSD. A few years ago, the drama would have been over around Labor Day but this year defensive end Ray Drew just declared last week, just days after Malcolm Mitchell and Jay Rome announced they too were becoming Bulldogs.
This late surge has led to the Bulldogs shooting up the recruiting rankings from the mid-teens to No.6 in one of the latest rankings, and the Dawgs could move up again should a combination of Crowell, Jenkins, Jeoffrey Pagan and/or a few others decide on Georgia.
And maybe the Bizzaro-Richt will continue into the season. Perhaps that means Georgia gets off to a HOT start instead of the slow start that killed the 2007 season with losses to South Carolina and Tennessee which cost the Dawgs a shot at the title. Perhaps that means Bizzaro-Richt will finally reverse the Georgia/Florida rivalry and get the upper hand on the Gators. Perhaps that means Richt will not kneel on the ball, up 14 with eight minutes to go against an overmatched FCS opponent. Perhaps he’ll want to run the score up the way he used to when he was OC’ing for Bobby Bowden and FSU. Perhaps he’ll take the SEC by storm by doing the opposite of what he’s been doing for the last few seasons.
It is worth a shot because the last two years have been awful. So far the opposite thing has worked for recruiting. Maybe it would work as well on the sidelines.
The reason I have surmised this is that the Georgia Bulldogs are CLOSING in recruiting for the first time seemingly ever during Richt’s tenure. The Bulldogs’ usual MO under Richt has been to get the class locked into place well before National Signing Day and just cruising towards the first Wednesday in February, maybe picking up a spare part or two but nothing major. National Signing Day 2011 will be different however. Not only will Georgia hear about tailback Isaiah Crowell, but defensive tackle John Jenkins will decide a few days after NSD. A few years ago, the drama would have been over around Labor Day but this year defensive end Ray Drew just declared last week, just days after Malcolm Mitchell and Jay Rome announced they too were becoming Bulldogs.
This late surge has led to the Bulldogs shooting up the recruiting rankings from the mid-teens to No.6 in one of the latest rankings, and the Dawgs could move up again should a combination of Crowell, Jenkins, Jeoffrey Pagan and/or a few others decide on Georgia.
And maybe the Bizzaro-Richt will continue into the season. Perhaps that means Georgia gets off to a HOT start instead of the slow start that killed the 2007 season with losses to South Carolina and Tennessee which cost the Dawgs a shot at the title. Perhaps that means Bizzaro-Richt will finally reverse the Georgia/Florida rivalry and get the upper hand on the Gators. Perhaps that means Richt will not kneel on the ball, up 14 with eight minutes to go against an overmatched FCS opponent. Perhaps he’ll want to run the score up the way he used to when he was OC’ing for Bobby Bowden and FSU. Perhaps he’ll take the SEC by storm by doing the opposite of what he’s been doing for the last few seasons.
It is worth a shot because the last two years have been awful. So far the opposite thing has worked for recruiting. Maybe it would work as well on the sidelines.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Hooters Magazine spoiler (article spoiler, no pics)
This is an upcoming Give a Hoot piece for Hooters magazine. No pictures included. Sorry.
Beer for a buck, hamburgers with doughnuts for buns, and sleepover at the stadium night. Heaven? Nope just promotions at minor league baseball games. No idea is too stupid, out of line or off the wall when it comes to getting people through the turnstiles at minor league baseball games, and between having the time of your life participating in the silly promotion and watching future all-stars mature into major leaguers, you should give a HOOT about Minor League Baseball.
Major League Baseball has so many advantages over minor league baseball in that it is televised, and you get to see the stars at every position whose jerseys and cards you collect. The MLB teams are all in major cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc.)while the minor league teams are mostly in smaller cities whose grassroots run deep (Rochester, Buffalo, Chattanooga) but perhaps without the disposable income that MLB cities have. Minor league rosters are also made to be raided by the parent club. Either the team is made up of young future stars that are just marinating until ready for the call-up or filled with older players that are has-beens or never-was guys. Basically as soon as you start doing well, odds are you are moving on up.
Over the years, minor league baseball owners and leagues have looked at their product and realized that it needed a little something extra to get people to come out to the ballpark. Therefore the franchises started coming up with these “hooks” to get folks to come. These owners and GMs brought in marketing folks and PR honchos to brainstorm for ways to get fans to turn down a chance to watch the game on television or go to another sport and instead come out to their park. In most cases, the zanier the idea the better.
How else can you explain “Beer for a Buck!” night? Some Major League teams have started doing this but minor league baseball first started the tradition of selling beer for just one dollar on various nights and most franchises have this promotion at least once a month to get folks through the gates. One franchise, the Lake County Captains even did Nickel Beer Night once, honoring the history of the Cleveland Indians franchise, who used to only charge one nickel for a beer many years ago. True there are limits to how many cups you can get for $1 and the size of the cups is much smaller compared to the normal cups, but when you consider it is nearly $9 in some Major League parks for a serving of suds, you come to appreciate the beer for one dollar.
Ever go to buy a hot dog at a Major League park and come to find that you have to take out a second mortgage just to feed yourself and your two kids? Sorry to say that minor league parks aren’t exactly giving food away, but most are getting creative and giving you your money’s worth. The Gateway Grizzlies, just outside of St. Louis may have set the lowest low (or created the greatest thing EVER) when, in 2006, it debuted the Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger. The bacon cheeseburger was sandwiched between two Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts and served for $4.50, packing up to 1,000 calories. Since the introduction at the Grizzlies game, state fairs have picked up on the “delicacy” but you can rest assured that minor league baseball gave birth to that momma and you should GIVE A HOOT that minor league baseball is always looking to take food to the next level.
Fan interaction is also welcomed far more at minor league parks than at the stuffy Major League stadiums. Think about it: do MLB teams regularly have Jersey Shore Night, where fans are encouraged to dress up like DJ Pauly D or JWoww? The Omaha Royals did just that last May. Do MLB stadiums ask for all of the fat people in the crowd to come down onto the field in between innings for free liposuction? Hello Mahoning Valley Scrappers game. When was the last time you recall being able to sleep on the field after the game at a Major League stadium? The Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers have a night where fans are allowed to stick around after the ninth inning and roll out sleeping bags right on the outfield grass. And while Bark in the Park may be popular enough for Atlanta’s Turner Field to have two every season, the Colorado Springs SkySox started the tradition known as Puppypalooza in 1996.
And perhaps the most infamous promotion was Popsicle Night on June 3, 2003, a night invented by the Bisbee Copper Kings to honor the memory of the cryogenically frozen Ted Williams. When everyone heard about the promotion, usually it was met with a guilty laugh and a laughing “that’s terrible,” followed by more laughter.
Promotions are the only reason to give a HOOT about minor league baseball though. The last few seasons have been particularly fantastic for Gwinnett Braves fans as they have been treated to watching Tommy Hanson, now dominating for the Atlanta Braves after finishing just short of a Rookie of the Year award in 2009 and then Jason Heyward, the runner up for Rookie of the Year honors in 2010. Last year, the team was able to watch Mike Minor and Freddie Freeman, both sure to be with the parent club in 2011 and this year, Gwinnett fans will likely get a glimpse at MLB.com’s No.10 prospect Julio Teheran before he too is called up to be with the big boys.
And that is what is so cool about attending a minor league game: you get to see the future before it becomes the present. You get to see the cream of the crop before it rises to the Major League level. On a personal level, I got to see Steve Avery, David Justice, and Mark Lemke in Richmond before they went on to the World Series with Atlanta. Then a new batch of future all-stars came through Richmond in Javy Lopez, Chipper Jones, Mark Wohlers, Ryan Klesko, Andruw Jones, Jermaine Dye, Jason Schmidt and Kevin Millwood. All of these people were on the minor league field at the same time or within two years of each other; all of these people would go on to be on a MLB all-star team at some point in their career. Along with many other minor league fans, I got to seem them grow into their all-star bodies by going to a minor league baseball game.
Minor league baseball is relaxed and fun and honestly pleased to get your business. The owners and executives know that you have options so they want to make you WANT to come out, be it to see the future or to enjoy a crazy promotion. Give a HOOT about minor league baseball and go to a game. Fun is guaranteed or you’ll get your money back...wait that sounds like a great promotion!
Beer for a buck, hamburgers with doughnuts for buns, and sleepover at the stadium night. Heaven? Nope just promotions at minor league baseball games. No idea is too stupid, out of line or off the wall when it comes to getting people through the turnstiles at minor league baseball games, and between having the time of your life participating in the silly promotion and watching future all-stars mature into major leaguers, you should give a HOOT about Minor League Baseball.
Major League Baseball has so many advantages over minor league baseball in that it is televised, and you get to see the stars at every position whose jerseys and cards you collect. The MLB teams are all in major cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc.)while the minor league teams are mostly in smaller cities whose grassroots run deep (Rochester, Buffalo, Chattanooga) but perhaps without the disposable income that MLB cities have. Minor league rosters are also made to be raided by the parent club. Either the team is made up of young future stars that are just marinating until ready for the call-up or filled with older players that are has-beens or never-was guys. Basically as soon as you start doing well, odds are you are moving on up.
Over the years, minor league baseball owners and leagues have looked at their product and realized that it needed a little something extra to get people to come out to the ballpark. Therefore the franchises started coming up with these “hooks” to get folks to come. These owners and GMs brought in marketing folks and PR honchos to brainstorm for ways to get fans to turn down a chance to watch the game on television or go to another sport and instead come out to their park. In most cases, the zanier the idea the better.
How else can you explain “Beer for a Buck!” night? Some Major League teams have started doing this but minor league baseball first started the tradition of selling beer for just one dollar on various nights and most franchises have this promotion at least once a month to get folks through the gates. One franchise, the Lake County Captains even did Nickel Beer Night once, honoring the history of the Cleveland Indians franchise, who used to only charge one nickel for a beer many years ago. True there are limits to how many cups you can get for $1 and the size of the cups is much smaller compared to the normal cups, but when you consider it is nearly $9 in some Major League parks for a serving of suds, you come to appreciate the beer for one dollar.
Ever go to buy a hot dog at a Major League park and come to find that you have to take out a second mortgage just to feed yourself and your two kids? Sorry to say that minor league parks aren’t exactly giving food away, but most are getting creative and giving you your money’s worth. The Gateway Grizzlies, just outside of St. Louis may have set the lowest low (or created the greatest thing EVER) when, in 2006, it debuted the Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger. The bacon cheeseburger was sandwiched between two Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts and served for $4.50, packing up to 1,000 calories. Since the introduction at the Grizzlies game, state fairs have picked up on the “delicacy” but you can rest assured that minor league baseball gave birth to that momma and you should GIVE A HOOT that minor league baseball is always looking to take food to the next level.
Fan interaction is also welcomed far more at minor league parks than at the stuffy Major League stadiums. Think about it: do MLB teams regularly have Jersey Shore Night, where fans are encouraged to dress up like DJ Pauly D or JWoww? The Omaha Royals did just that last May. Do MLB stadiums ask for all of the fat people in the crowd to come down onto the field in between innings for free liposuction? Hello Mahoning Valley Scrappers game. When was the last time you recall being able to sleep on the field after the game at a Major League stadium? The Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers have a night where fans are allowed to stick around after the ninth inning and roll out sleeping bags right on the outfield grass. And while Bark in the Park may be popular enough for Atlanta’s Turner Field to have two every season, the Colorado Springs SkySox started the tradition known as Puppypalooza in 1996.
And perhaps the most infamous promotion was Popsicle Night on June 3, 2003, a night invented by the Bisbee Copper Kings to honor the memory of the cryogenically frozen Ted Williams. When everyone heard about the promotion, usually it was met with a guilty laugh and a laughing “that’s terrible,” followed by more laughter.
Promotions are the only reason to give a HOOT about minor league baseball though. The last few seasons have been particularly fantastic for Gwinnett Braves fans as they have been treated to watching Tommy Hanson, now dominating for the Atlanta Braves after finishing just short of a Rookie of the Year award in 2009 and then Jason Heyward, the runner up for Rookie of the Year honors in 2010. Last year, the team was able to watch Mike Minor and Freddie Freeman, both sure to be with the parent club in 2011 and this year, Gwinnett fans will likely get a glimpse at MLB.com’s No.10 prospect Julio Teheran before he too is called up to be with the big boys.
And that is what is so cool about attending a minor league game: you get to see the future before it becomes the present. You get to see the cream of the crop before it rises to the Major League level. On a personal level, I got to see Steve Avery, David Justice, and Mark Lemke in Richmond before they went on to the World Series with Atlanta. Then a new batch of future all-stars came through Richmond in Javy Lopez, Chipper Jones, Mark Wohlers, Ryan Klesko, Andruw Jones, Jermaine Dye, Jason Schmidt and Kevin Millwood. All of these people were on the minor league field at the same time or within two years of each other; all of these people would go on to be on a MLB all-star team at some point in their career. Along with many other minor league fans, I got to seem them grow into their all-star bodies by going to a minor league baseball game.
Minor league baseball is relaxed and fun and honestly pleased to get your business. The owners and executives know that you have options so they want to make you WANT to come out, be it to see the future or to enjoy a crazy promotion. Give a HOOT about minor league baseball and go to a game. Fun is guaranteed or you’ll get your money back...wait that sounds like a great promotion!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Whatever Drew does today, Richt is a MONSTER
As Teddy KGB once said in Rounders, "Lays down a monster." Over the last few weeks, Georgia head coach Mark Richt has been compiling a "Monster" recruiting class, snatching up big-time prospects left and right. So who would have ever thought that all Richt would need to do to ascend to the Urban Meyer/Pete Carroll/Nick Saban/Mack Brown-level of the college recruiting scene is have a losing record at Georgia (and wait for Meyer and Carroll to leave)? Shoot, if he needed to just lose in order to rake in a top flight recruiting class, shouldn’t he have done this a lot earlier in his career, perhaps during his honeymoon grace period, so he could save himself all of this “hotseat” talk that he is currently soldiering through?
The Georgia head coach is not-so-quietly-of-late putting together a recruiting class that is quickly rising and could get even hotter over the next few days as several Georgia targets declare their intentions and four have Georgia as finalists. Running back Isaiah Crowell recently dismissed Auburn and said it is between Georgia and Alabama, though the Tide have already received one pledge from a big-time back in Dee Hart. Defensive Ray Drew narrowed his list down from five to three and Georgia made the cut. Even if Drew doesn’t commit Friday morning, (in a recent interview he seemed high on Auburn and noted that Georgia was recruiting him as an OLB to play in the 3-4, something he said he was “not fond of,”) Georgia now seems ready to pounce on the recent Clemson de-commit Jeoffrey Pagan who told an Atlanta newspaper that he is “excited about Georgia.” Oh, and don’t forget that mountain of a man John Jenkins whom Georgia is calling “the missing link” for its defensive tackle position, a title Jenkins is liking according to reports.
If Georgia can wrangle two of these four, Richt would be looking at a top five recruiting class. If the Dawgs land three, perhaps top three. And in Mark Richt’s wildest dreams, if all four were to decide to come to Athens, suddenly the Bulldogs could be looking back at Alabama and/or Texas with a No.1 or 2 class. Richt does have the advantage of telling these young men they will have EVERY chance to come in and compete for a spot on the field when the Dawgs face Boise State in the Georgia Dome. Should Richt land these players, all of a sudden that hotseat cools down and he could ride this “Dream Team” to the SEC championship game.
That’s getting ahead of ourselves a bit, but who would have thought that after a losing season, Richt would still be able to assemble the class he has to date. Maybe Richt should have scheduled this 6-7 year back in 2001. If he had, would he already have a crystal football on display at Butts-Mehre? Hmmmm. And if he does wrangle in these final pieces, those Richt-haters might be muttering another Teddy KGB line, "Hanging around, hanging around. Kid's got alligator blood. Can't get rid of him." But why would you want to with this talent?
The Georgia head coach is not-so-quietly-of-late putting together a recruiting class that is quickly rising and could get even hotter over the next few days as several Georgia targets declare their intentions and four have Georgia as finalists. Running back Isaiah Crowell recently dismissed Auburn and said it is between Georgia and Alabama, though the Tide have already received one pledge from a big-time back in Dee Hart. Defensive Ray Drew narrowed his list down from five to three and Georgia made the cut. Even if Drew doesn’t commit Friday morning, (in a recent interview he seemed high on Auburn and noted that Georgia was recruiting him as an OLB to play in the 3-4, something he said he was “not fond of,”) Georgia now seems ready to pounce on the recent Clemson de-commit Jeoffrey Pagan who told an Atlanta newspaper that he is “excited about Georgia.” Oh, and don’t forget that mountain of a man John Jenkins whom Georgia is calling “the missing link” for its defensive tackle position, a title Jenkins is liking according to reports.
If Georgia can wrangle two of these four, Richt would be looking at a top five recruiting class. If the Dawgs land three, perhaps top three. And in Mark Richt’s wildest dreams, if all four were to decide to come to Athens, suddenly the Bulldogs could be looking back at Alabama and/or Texas with a No.1 or 2 class. Richt does have the advantage of telling these young men they will have EVERY chance to come in and compete for a spot on the field when the Dawgs face Boise State in the Georgia Dome. Should Richt land these players, all of a sudden that hotseat cools down and he could ride this “Dream Team” to the SEC championship game.
That’s getting ahead of ourselves a bit, but who would have thought that after a losing season, Richt would still be able to assemble the class he has to date. Maybe Richt should have scheduled this 6-7 year back in 2001. If he had, would he already have a crystal football on display at Butts-Mehre? Hmmmm. And if he does wrangle in these final pieces, those Richt-haters might be muttering another Teddy KGB line, "Hanging around, hanging around. Kid's got alligator blood. Can't get rid of him." But why would you want to with this talent?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The latest Score 44 Basketball version
Score Atlanta, GPB and I compiled a list of the top 44 senior football players and gave you a fluid list every week during this past football season. Well, we've decided to do a basketball list as well, which I will come up with every Thursday and you can check out on www.scoreatl.com and www.gpb.org/sports. (And here of course). We will be breaking up the Score 44 a bit, with 22 guys and 22 girls. That means MANY MANY MANY well deserving players will be left off every week. I have about 15 more guys that should be on the list based on this past Tuesday alone and it was SO tough to pick just 22 girls, but hey, that means this list is actually prestigious (well, I can think so at least). Enjoy the latest edition (you can check out the first two editions by heading to www.gaprepnews.com and click on WEEK ONE and/or WEEK TWO) and if you get Charter Sports, tune in tomorrow for the Newton/Stephenson boys and girls games as I'll make my Charter Sports debut, calling both the boys and girls games with Scott Janovitz.
Score 44 Week three
Boys
In: Karl Cochran, G Walton, Lanerryl Johnson, G Walton
Out: Alonzo Nelson-Ododa, PF Norcross, Nigel Snipes, SG Wheeler
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG Greenville
Julian Royal, PF Milton
Dai-Jon Parker, G Milton
Nick Jacobs, PF South Atlanta
Shannon Scott, PG Milton
Malcolm Brogdon, SG GAC
Kevin Ware, G Rockdale County
E. Victor Nickerson, SF Norcross
Herdie Lawrence, SG, Collins Hill
Devon Provost, SF Miller Grove
Dominique McCoy, G/F South Atlanta
Rashaud Bell, SF South Atlanta
James White, SF Jonesboro
Dominic Early, PF Hillgrove
Ryon Riggins, PF North Gwinnett
Henry Brooks, PF Miller Grove
Nick Marshall, SG Wilcox County
KK Simmons, PG Wheeler
Josiah Moore, SG Norcross
Saah Nimley, G Collins Hill
Karl Cochran, G Walton
Lanerryl Johnson, G Walton
Girls
In: Tashayla Steede, PF Wheeler, Kristi Ware, G Mays
Out: Bria Bourgeois, W Walton, Jennifer Heider, F Marist
Grace Leah Baughn, W Wesleyan
Jasmine Camp, PG Chamblee
Katie Carroll, G Parkview
Aneesah Daniels, F Redan
Nikki Dixon, G Milton
Sarah Durdaller, G Walton
Erika Ford, G Chattahoochee
DeArica Hamby, F Norcross
Brittany Hodges, F McEachern
Elem Ibiam, C Fayette County
Brianna Jones, C Whitefield Academy
Katie Mallow, PG Brookwood
Chakecia Miller, PG Campbell
Jarae Savage, PG North Cobb
Erica Norwood, PG Campbell
Teanna Robinson, C Berkmar
Danielle Gazaway, PG Warner Robins
Kristina Wells, G Douglas County
Kayla Freeman, PF Madison County
Tori Waldner, P Milton
Tashayla Steede, PF Wheeler
Kristi Ware, G Mays
Score 44 Week three
Boys
In: Karl Cochran, G Walton, Lanerryl Johnson, G Walton
Out: Alonzo Nelson-Ododa, PF Norcross, Nigel Snipes, SG Wheeler
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG Greenville
Julian Royal, PF Milton
Dai-Jon Parker, G Milton
Nick Jacobs, PF South Atlanta
Shannon Scott, PG Milton
Malcolm Brogdon, SG GAC
Kevin Ware, G Rockdale County
E. Victor Nickerson, SF Norcross
Herdie Lawrence, SG, Collins Hill
Devon Provost, SF Miller Grove
Dominique McCoy, G/F South Atlanta
Rashaud Bell, SF South Atlanta
James White, SF Jonesboro
Dominic Early, PF Hillgrove
Ryon Riggins, PF North Gwinnett
Henry Brooks, PF Miller Grove
Nick Marshall, SG Wilcox County
KK Simmons, PG Wheeler
Josiah Moore, SG Norcross
Saah Nimley, G Collins Hill
Karl Cochran, G Walton
Lanerryl Johnson, G Walton
Girls
In: Tashayla Steede, PF Wheeler, Kristi Ware, G Mays
Out: Bria Bourgeois, W Walton, Jennifer Heider, F Marist
Grace Leah Baughn, W Wesleyan
Jasmine Camp, PG Chamblee
Katie Carroll, G Parkview
Aneesah Daniels, F Redan
Nikki Dixon, G Milton
Sarah Durdaller, G Walton
Erika Ford, G Chattahoochee
DeArica Hamby, F Norcross
Brittany Hodges, F McEachern
Elem Ibiam, C Fayette County
Brianna Jones, C Whitefield Academy
Katie Mallow, PG Brookwood
Chakecia Miller, PG Campbell
Jarae Savage, PG North Cobb
Erica Norwood, PG Campbell
Teanna Robinson, C Berkmar
Danielle Gazaway, PG Warner Robins
Kristina Wells, G Douglas County
Kayla Freeman, PF Madison County
Tori Waldner, P Milton
Tashayla Steede, PF Wheeler
Kristi Ware, G Mays
The Braves future looks bright according to MLB.com
MLB.com announced the 2011 version of its Top 50 Prospects and three Braves made the top 21. Pitcher Julio Teheran was named No. 10 while first baseman Freddie Freeman checked in at No. 17, followed by lefty Mike Minor at No. 21.
The site also announced baseball's top ten prospects at each position and the three made appearances at their respective positions.
For righthanded pitchers, Teheran was named No. 2. MLB.com said of the Braves righty:
Teheran jumped on the fast track in 2010, pitching across three levels. He's got a terrific three-pitch mix (fastball, changeup, curve), all of which are at least above-average. Just 20, his command on the mound belies his years and that, combined with his stuff, points to a future at the top of a rotation
Minor was named No. 4 on the list of top lefthanders.
Minor's stuff was pretty good at Vanderbilt, but he fit more of the sensible lefty mold. As a professional, though, his stuff has been much better than expected. His fastball has gained a few ticks, his changeup is a plus pitch and his curve has improved as well. He can throw all three pitches for strikes
Finally, Freeman was No. 2 on the list of first basemen
He belongs on any list for 2011 National League Rookie of the Year Award candidates, and not just because he'll have the opportunity to play every day for Atlanta. He might not have the best power in this group, but there's plenty more than what he's shown to date (though he did have 35 doubles and 18 homers in 2010). His smooth left-handed swing should allow him to hit for average and drive in runs right out of the gate.
The site also announced baseball's top ten prospects at each position and the three made appearances at their respective positions.
For righthanded pitchers, Teheran was named No. 2. MLB.com said of the Braves righty:
Teheran jumped on the fast track in 2010, pitching across three levels. He's got a terrific three-pitch mix (fastball, changeup, curve), all of which are at least above-average. Just 20, his command on the mound belies his years and that, combined with his stuff, points to a future at the top of a rotation
Minor was named No. 4 on the list of top lefthanders.
Minor's stuff was pretty good at Vanderbilt, but he fit more of the sensible lefty mold. As a professional, though, his stuff has been much better than expected. His fastball has gained a few ticks, his changeup is a plus pitch and his curve has improved as well. He can throw all three pitches for strikes
Finally, Freeman was No. 2 on the list of first basemen
He belongs on any list for 2011 National League Rookie of the Year Award candidates, and not just because he'll have the opportunity to play every day for Atlanta. He might not have the best power in this group, but there's plenty more than what he's shown to date (though he did have 35 doubles and 18 homers in 2010). His smooth left-handed swing should allow him to hit for average and drive in runs right out of the gate.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Why Ray Drew WON'T be a member of the Dream Team
Fresh off winning a defensive player of the year award at a Thomas County Central (GA) awards banquet, Ray Drew appeared on Score Atlanta’s The Official Visit to discuss the recruiting process, which will end for him this Friday. Drew was recently passed by Monroe Area defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt as the top player in the state of Georgia according to one recruiting service, but the rankings don’t mean much to Drew. “I know what it takes to be great,” boasts Drew. “I’m going to go out each day and work...and play to the best of my ability.” Drew was still listed as the top player from the state of Georgia and one of the ten best in the nation by The Sporting News.
Drew is set to make his decision this Friday and one seeming favorite may already be out of the running. The Georgia Bulldogs would figure to lead for Drew’s services, especially since the recent commitments of Xzavier Ward (committed Monday afternoon), Damian Swann, Jay Rome and Malcolm Mitchell, but Drew admitted that Georgia had its drawbacks.
“They’ve gone to a 3-4 defense and that’s been weighing on me,” Drew revealed. “I’m not too fond of that idea (of playing standing up and not with a hand on the ground).”
Drew also broke the news that Georgia is looking at him as an outside linebacker and not a defensive end, his current position and his projected position at the next level. “I believe I play better in a 4-3, with my hand in the dirt.” That statement could be the final nail in Georgia’s bid to snag the defensive end.
“I have to do what is best for me, academically and football-wise. I’ll look at everything as a whole.” Drew did give Georgia’s journalism program some positive points though and praised the education aspect that UGA presented.
The new favorite might just be Auburn for Drew’s services as the defensive end used the term “family” to describe the Auburn program. “The coaches really stand out,” Drew gushed about Auburn. “They care about you as a person.” War Eagle Nation may also love to hear that Drew noted that “unless something miraculous happens (between now and Friday and eventually National Signing Day), odds are (Drew) will not be headed to Alabama.”
Clemson is making a late push for Drew’s services and Drew calls the Clemson Tiger program “the most peaceful.” He noted that head coach Dabo Swinney is trying to set up a visit before Drew makes his decision, but time is running out. Drew did like the possibility that he would “be able to get thrown into the (DE) rotation as a freshman,” with plenty of playing time on the table over the next three or four years.
LSU and Miami were also mentioned, each having positives. The LSU Tigers present a unique situation in that Drew’s faith could lead him to become team chaplain, taking over for Drake Nevis. Miami meanwhile has new coach Al Golden who, according to Drew, is “trying to get the program back to the glory days.” Drew calls Golden a genuine guy. Miami also features a family connection as Drew claims that 90% of his dad’s family is from the area.
In the end, Drew said he will have to weigh each school’s positives, which factors he considers to be the most important and whether he can see himself there. He gives Georgia the edge in education, Clemson the edge in being the “most peaceful,” LSU the edge in football and Auburn the edge in relationships and coaches. Drew will have to weigh their options quickly as he plans on announcing his selection this Friday. At this point, it could go any way, but you get the feeling that the Georgia Dream Team won’t be adding Drew to its haul.
Drew is set to make his decision this Friday and one seeming favorite may already be out of the running. The Georgia Bulldogs would figure to lead for Drew’s services, especially since the recent commitments of Xzavier Ward (committed Monday afternoon), Damian Swann, Jay Rome and Malcolm Mitchell, but Drew admitted that Georgia had its drawbacks.
“They’ve gone to a 3-4 defense and that’s been weighing on me,” Drew revealed. “I’m not too fond of that idea (of playing standing up and not with a hand on the ground).”
Drew also broke the news that Georgia is looking at him as an outside linebacker and not a defensive end, his current position and his projected position at the next level. “I believe I play better in a 4-3, with my hand in the dirt.” That statement could be the final nail in Georgia’s bid to snag the defensive end.
“I have to do what is best for me, academically and football-wise. I’ll look at everything as a whole.” Drew did give Georgia’s journalism program some positive points though and praised the education aspect that UGA presented.
The new favorite might just be Auburn for Drew’s services as the defensive end used the term “family” to describe the Auburn program. “The coaches really stand out,” Drew gushed about Auburn. “They care about you as a person.” War Eagle Nation may also love to hear that Drew noted that “unless something miraculous happens (between now and Friday and eventually National Signing Day), odds are (Drew) will not be headed to Alabama.”
Clemson is making a late push for Drew’s services and Drew calls the Clemson Tiger program “the most peaceful.” He noted that head coach Dabo Swinney is trying to set up a visit before Drew makes his decision, but time is running out. Drew did like the possibility that he would “be able to get thrown into the (DE) rotation as a freshman,” with plenty of playing time on the table over the next three or four years.
LSU and Miami were also mentioned, each having positives. The LSU Tigers present a unique situation in that Drew’s faith could lead him to become team chaplain, taking over for Drake Nevis. Miami meanwhile has new coach Al Golden who, according to Drew, is “trying to get the program back to the glory days.” Drew calls Golden a genuine guy. Miami also features a family connection as Drew claims that 90% of his dad’s family is from the area.
In the end, Drew said he will have to weigh each school’s positives, which factors he considers to be the most important and whether he can see himself there. He gives Georgia the edge in education, Clemson the edge in being the “most peaceful,” LSU the edge in football and Auburn the edge in relationships and coaches. Drew will have to weigh their options quickly as he plans on announcing his selection this Friday. At this point, it could go any way, but you get the feeling that the Georgia Dream Team won’t be adding Drew to its haul.
Big B's Top Ten recruiting classes one week from NSD
Brian Jones of Score Atlanta Fame breaks down the top ten recruiting classes just one week away from National Signing Day. Scott Janovitz of Score Atlanta's The Official Visit gives the breakdown. This list debuted on SAOV last night. Tune in next Monday to 790 The Zone from 7-9pm
10)†Clemson: 25 guys, four already enrolled. Recently landed the commitment of NC DE Jeoffrey Pagan and GA K Ammon Lakip. Also Mike Bellamy, and Martavis Bryant, Charone Peake and Sammy Watkins form best receiver class in America, and LB Lateek Townsend, DB Cortez Davis and DE Corey Crawford from a dominant defensive nucleus. This class may be as good as FSU’s;
9) Georgia: 21 guys, 2 enrolled in Conley and LeMay, and perhaps the hottest team in the nation, landing Ramik Wilson, Swann, Mitchell and Rome all in the last three weeks or so. Amarlo Herrera, Sterling Bailey, Nick Marshall, and Corey Moore also lead a class still waiting on Drew and Crowell;
8) Auburn: Class of 19 is really gaining steam, especially with the huge recent pickup of Arizona OT Christian Westerman, FL safety Robinson Therezie, NC LB Kris Frost and Alabama LB Brent Calloway. Also led by OL Greg Robinson, OL Reese Dismukes, WR Jaylon Denson, and of course QB Kiehl Frazier;
7) Notre Dame: 23 guys, and another class that has received a recent boost, get Stephon Tuitt back, FL DE Aaron Lynch, and Brooklyn DE Ishaq Williams. Better numbers but worse quality than Auburn, also guys like CA ath George Atkinson, ILL WR Davaris Daniels and OH DB Eilar Hardy make the team far more athletic;
6) USC: Big class despite the scholarship reduction at 25 guys, but 8 are already enrolled, which means they count towards last year’s class. Max Wittek and Cody Kessler, two top QBs, are already enrolled. Class also includes five-star talent like George Farmer and De’Anthony Thomas, stole Amir Carlisle and LB Anthony Sarao from Stanford, and really like DT Antwaun Woods and LBs Kent Turene and Tre Madden;
5) Oregon: Slowly becoming a recruiting giant, Oregon has 22 guys committed. WR Devon Blackmon is a future star, FL QB Jerrard Randall fits Oregon O perfectly, FL WR Tacoi Sumler is dynamic, and five-star athlete Colt Lyeria is a physical specimen at 6-5, 225 pounds;
4) Ohio State: 21 guys, five already enrolled, including Braxton Miller and Ryan Shazier. Love DT Michael Bennett, and DEs Chase Farris, Steve Miller and Kenny Hayes. DB Doran Grant is one of the best. Waiting on Curtis Grant;
3) FSU: 23 guys committed, 2 already enrolled, and also heating up. Most recent addition was top tight end Nick O’Leary. Class is also led by five star players James Wilder, and Karlos Williams, as well as by Nick Waisome, Bobby Hart, WR Kelvin Benjamin and WR Rashad Greene. Tyler Hunter and Terrance Smith from Georgia. Still in on Clowney, Steward, Jernigan…;
2) Texas: Great numbers and quality with 22, even after losing Westerman to Auburn. Malcolm Brown, DB Quandre Diggs, LB Steve Edmond, OL Sedrick Flowers, and Garrett Greenlea, DT Desmond Jackson, and athlete Mykkele Thompson;
1) Alabama: Great quality and well spread out at important positions. Just stole Dee Hart from Michigan, but lost Brent Calloway to Auburn recently. Has thee top WRs in Danny Woodson, Bradley Sylve and Marvin Shinn, DLinemen LaMichael Fanning and Xzavier Dickson, Phillip Ely, and big-time LBs Trey DePriest, Vinnie Sunseri and Shannon Brown.
10)†Clemson: 25 guys, four already enrolled. Recently landed the commitment of NC DE Jeoffrey Pagan and GA K Ammon Lakip. Also Mike Bellamy, and Martavis Bryant, Charone Peake and Sammy Watkins form best receiver class in America, and LB Lateek Townsend, DB Cortez Davis and DE Corey Crawford from a dominant defensive nucleus. This class may be as good as FSU’s;
9) Georgia: 21 guys, 2 enrolled in Conley and LeMay, and perhaps the hottest team in the nation, landing Ramik Wilson, Swann, Mitchell and Rome all in the last three weeks or so. Amarlo Herrera, Sterling Bailey, Nick Marshall, and Corey Moore also lead a class still waiting on Drew and Crowell;
8) Auburn: Class of 19 is really gaining steam, especially with the huge recent pickup of Arizona OT Christian Westerman, FL safety Robinson Therezie, NC LB Kris Frost and Alabama LB Brent Calloway. Also led by OL Greg Robinson, OL Reese Dismukes, WR Jaylon Denson, and of course QB Kiehl Frazier;
7) Notre Dame: 23 guys, and another class that has received a recent boost, get Stephon Tuitt back, FL DE Aaron Lynch, and Brooklyn DE Ishaq Williams. Better numbers but worse quality than Auburn, also guys like CA ath George Atkinson, ILL WR Davaris Daniels and OH DB Eilar Hardy make the team far more athletic;
6) USC: Big class despite the scholarship reduction at 25 guys, but 8 are already enrolled, which means they count towards last year’s class. Max Wittek and Cody Kessler, two top QBs, are already enrolled. Class also includes five-star talent like George Farmer and De’Anthony Thomas, stole Amir Carlisle and LB Anthony Sarao from Stanford, and really like DT Antwaun Woods and LBs Kent Turene and Tre Madden;
5) Oregon: Slowly becoming a recruiting giant, Oregon has 22 guys committed. WR Devon Blackmon is a future star, FL QB Jerrard Randall fits Oregon O perfectly, FL WR Tacoi Sumler is dynamic, and five-star athlete Colt Lyeria is a physical specimen at 6-5, 225 pounds;
4) Ohio State: 21 guys, five already enrolled, including Braxton Miller and Ryan Shazier. Love DT Michael Bennett, and DEs Chase Farris, Steve Miller and Kenny Hayes. DB Doran Grant is one of the best. Waiting on Curtis Grant;
3) FSU: 23 guys committed, 2 already enrolled, and also heating up. Most recent addition was top tight end Nick O’Leary. Class is also led by five star players James Wilder, and Karlos Williams, as well as by Nick Waisome, Bobby Hart, WR Kelvin Benjamin and WR Rashad Greene. Tyler Hunter and Terrance Smith from Georgia. Still in on Clowney, Steward, Jernigan…;
2) Texas: Great numbers and quality with 22, even after losing Westerman to Auburn. Malcolm Brown, DB Quandre Diggs, LB Steve Edmond, OL Sedrick Flowers, and Garrett Greenlea, DT Desmond Jackson, and athlete Mykkele Thompson;
1) Alabama: Great quality and well spread out at important positions. Just stole Dee Hart from Michigan, but lost Brent Calloway to Auburn recently. Has thee top WRs in Danny Woodson, Bradley Sylve and Marvin Shinn, DLinemen LaMichael Fanning and Xzavier Dickson, Phillip Ely, and big-time LBs Trey DePriest, Vinnie Sunseri and Shannon Brown.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Georgia won't help SEC make it 6 in a row
It started with a Florida sandwich of titles with LSU providing the meat. Alabama and Auburn followed by not only keeping the BCS crystal ball not just in the conference by within the borders of Alabama. As Cam Newton jets off to the NFL and Urban Meyer rides into the retirement sunset, the SEC is left without an overwhelming white horse to gallop straight to the title game for a shot at a sixth straight time. Perhaps Alabama will find a new QB to go with Trent Richardson and maybe LSU catch lightning in a bottle with new QB Zach Mettenberger to go along with the stable of athletes Les Miles has collected. One thing 99% of ration Georgia fans will agree on though is that Georgia has little chance of helping the SEC continue the run of titles.
There are just too many holes right now on January 24, 2011 for Georgia to be considered a serious contender. While Aaron Murray is a very nice piece to start with at quarterback, who will step up at wide receiver for him? Orson Charles is his most reliable returning weapon, however Charles is a tight end. Tavarres King could be as could Marlon Brown, but as of TODAY, those two COMBINED aren't what AJ Green was. Washaun Ealey has shown some great flashes that he could be a fine running back, but he also has shown that he cannot always be depended upon to hold onto the ball. Isaiah Crowell would be a nice addition like Michael Dyer was for Auburn last year or Marcus Lattimore was for the SEC East champion South Carolina Gamecocks, however he hasn't even publicly pledged to Georgia. The offensive line doesn't have a coach and must build some serious depth as just four players with starting experience return.
The defense is more of the same. Jonathan Jenkins would be a fine addition on the defensive line at nose tackle, but he isn't officially in the fold just yet and may decide to go elsewhere. If he doesn't show up to Athens for the 2011 season, the D-Line will have a huge hole in the center for the second straight year, leaving Jarvis Jones and Richard Samuel vulnerable at ILB. The OLBs will have to replace Justin Houston, only one of the most dominating linebackers/DEs in the SEC over the last two years.
A lack of players on offense and a huge hole in the center of the defensive line to go along with a coach on the hotseat, as he sees nearly every other coach in the SEC wearing a championship ring on his finger, will keep Georgia sadly on the couch instead of in the BCS title game at the end of the 2011 season. The SEC could very well win a sixth straight BCS title, but unless Georgia can ink a few major recruits such as Jenkins and Crowell on National Signing Day and get a receiver to step up to replace Green, the Bulldogs won't help continue that streak.
There are just too many holes right now on January 24, 2011 for Georgia to be considered a serious contender. While Aaron Murray is a very nice piece to start with at quarterback, who will step up at wide receiver for him? Orson Charles is his most reliable returning weapon, however Charles is a tight end. Tavarres King could be as could Marlon Brown, but as of TODAY, those two COMBINED aren't what AJ Green was. Washaun Ealey has shown some great flashes that he could be a fine running back, but he also has shown that he cannot always be depended upon to hold onto the ball. Isaiah Crowell would be a nice addition like Michael Dyer was for Auburn last year or Marcus Lattimore was for the SEC East champion South Carolina Gamecocks, however he hasn't even publicly pledged to Georgia. The offensive line doesn't have a coach and must build some serious depth as just four players with starting experience return.
The defense is more of the same. Jonathan Jenkins would be a fine addition on the defensive line at nose tackle, but he isn't officially in the fold just yet and may decide to go elsewhere. If he doesn't show up to Athens for the 2011 season, the D-Line will have a huge hole in the center for the second straight year, leaving Jarvis Jones and Richard Samuel vulnerable at ILB. The OLBs will have to replace Justin Houston, only one of the most dominating linebackers/DEs in the SEC over the last two years.
A lack of players on offense and a huge hole in the center of the defensive line to go along with a coach on the hotseat, as he sees nearly every other coach in the SEC wearing a championship ring on his finger, will keep Georgia sadly on the couch instead of in the BCS title game at the end of the 2011 season. The SEC could very well win a sixth straight BCS title, but unless Georgia can ink a few major recruits such as Jenkins and Crowell on National Signing Day and get a receiver to step up to replace Green, the Bulldogs won't help continue that streak.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Vaughters to stick with Stanford
When Jim Harbaugh decided to leave Stanford for NFL riches, several southeast schools attempted to move in on Tucker (GA) standout James Vaughters. As one of the top linebackers in the country, Vaughters raised plenty of eyebrows when he passed up Florida, Ohio State and Georgia Tech for the Stanford Cardinal. According to Vaughters himself Stanford’s football history, “has been shaky, but in the last five years it has been strong.” So when Harbaugh took off, Florida and Ohio State came calling once again.
Vaughters joined Score Atlanta’s The Official Visit to discuss his feelings on the new Stanford coach David Shaw and his decision to stick with Stanford. Of Shaw, Vaughters said, “he seems cool, a good guy. I’m excited to see who he’ll hire as defensive coordinator.” Whoever Shaw hires, Vaughters knows that the Cardinal will stick with the 3-4 defense and is “hoping for a lot of success next year.”
Vaughters’ first season in college will be Stanford’s first year post-Harbaugh. While Vaughters was disappointed that he won’t get to play for the new 49ers head coach, he understands the business and that coaches “move around so quickly.”
“I was expecting (Harbaugh to leave), that money is hard to turn down,” Vaughters revealed when asked what his first reaction was after hearing the news. “It seems he was preparing for the NFL.” Vaughters noted in the interview that he was not going to Stanford strictly for Harbaugh however. “You have to be attracted to more than a football program.”
Vaughters is still heading west for more than just the gridiron. “My decision was so much larger than football. It is a great education.” The chance to be among Olympians was also a big influence in his selection. “The type of kids (going there) are what’s keeping me committed.”
Vaughters reconfirmed his pledge to Stanford last week but he said that he had some visits scheduled. “I may not make them,” he said last week before he re-committed to the Cardinal. He noted that he wanted to speak with his parents on whether he wanted to revisit Florida and/or Ohio State. Now though he seems those visits will be cancelled and recruiting for Vaughters has come to a close. “The process has been really exciting. I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do.”
Vaughters joined Score Atlanta’s The Official Visit to discuss his feelings on the new Stanford coach David Shaw and his decision to stick with Stanford. Of Shaw, Vaughters said, “he seems cool, a good guy. I’m excited to see who he’ll hire as defensive coordinator.” Whoever Shaw hires, Vaughters knows that the Cardinal will stick with the 3-4 defense and is “hoping for a lot of success next year.”
Vaughters’ first season in college will be Stanford’s first year post-Harbaugh. While Vaughters was disappointed that he won’t get to play for the new 49ers head coach, he understands the business and that coaches “move around so quickly.”
“I was expecting (Harbaugh to leave), that money is hard to turn down,” Vaughters revealed when asked what his first reaction was after hearing the news. “It seems he was preparing for the NFL.” Vaughters noted in the interview that he was not going to Stanford strictly for Harbaugh however. “You have to be attracted to more than a football program.”
Vaughters is still heading west for more than just the gridiron. “My decision was so much larger than football. It is a great education.” The chance to be among Olympians was also a big influence in his selection. “The type of kids (going there) are what’s keeping me committed.”
Vaughters reconfirmed his pledge to Stanford last week but he said that he had some visits scheduled. “I may not make them,” he said last week before he re-committed to the Cardinal. He noted that he wanted to speak with his parents on whether he wanted to revisit Florida and/or Ohio State. Now though he seems those visits will be cancelled and recruiting for Vaughters has come to a close. “The process has been really exciting. I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do.”
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The biggest moves of the MLB off-season
Note:if you are reading Hooters Magazine in March/April and see the following piece, don't freak out! Wait, why do I doubt you'll be reading the articles in Hooters magazine? Hmmmm
The Major League Baseball off-season was once again full of big moves and address changes, but for what could be the first off-season in quite some time, the New York Yankees weren’t the ones making all of the big moves. It seems the Evil Empire of the New York has given way to the rising super power just a few hours southwest of NYC, the Philadelphia Phillies, and to New York’s AL East rival Boston. The Yankees made headlines by re-signing Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Boston and Philadelphia seemed to live on ESPN.com’s front page though ever since the World Series as both try to get back to the LCS and beyond.
In an attempt to return to the playoffs, the Red Sox outbid the Yankees and the Angels to sign Carl Crawford to play leftfield. The Red Sox gave the former Tampa Bay Ray a seven-year/$142 deal which weakens the Rays and gives Boston one of the best Sabermetrics players in the game. Crawford can swipe a base, hit for average and hit for some power. The Red Sox may have overpaid for Crawford, but it will be hard to imagine the BoSox missing the playoffs with Crawford in the lineup, along side Adrian Gonzalez. The biggest trade piece from 2010 was finally swapped after the 2010 season was over and the San Diego Padres struck a deal with Boston to send the first baseman east. With the move suddenly Boston has its first legit slugger in the middle of the order since Manny Ramirez was calling Boston home. Last year Gonzalez hit 31 home runs while hitting .298. Over his career, Gonzalez has slugged 168 homers and driven in 525 runs while making three all-star teams. With his acquisition, Boston will move Kevin Youkilis to third, and David Ortiz will have a bit of pressure taken off as he can move down in the order.
The Boston Red Sox did lose two major players this offseason as Adrian Beltre signed with Texas and Victor Martinez left for the Motor City and the Detroit Tigers. While Beltre’s signing helps the defending AL Champs with some pop from third base as well as some defense, Martinez may help the Tigers get back on top of the AL Central. The Tigers boast one of the most potent lineups in baseball and Martinez’s addition as a catcher/DH option will only add more power to the lineup featuring Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson and perhaps Carlos Guillen.
The Tigers will of course have competition from the Minnesota Twins but also the Chicago White Sox for the AL Central title. The White Sox brought Paul Konerko back into the fold while also signing Adam Dunn to serve as a DH and reserve outfielder. Dunn crushed the ball all year last year for the Washington Nationals but this will be his first foray into the American League and as a DH. The White Sox are hoping that Dunn can replicate his 38 home runs as he has done the last two years. Dunn has gone for at least 38 every season since 2004, striking 40+ five times. Dunn will offer some protection for Konerko, Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios.
The National League landscape also shifted as the already-rich Philadelphia Phillies rotation got richer with the signing of Cliff Lee. The lefty returned to Philadelphia after a one-year hiatus to Seattle and Texas, where he pitched the Rangers to the World Series. Lee will join 2010 NL Cy Young award-winner Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt in a powerful rotation that could rival the 1990s Atlanta Braves rotations of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Steve Avery. Lee returns to Philadelphia where he won seven games in twelve regular season starts in 2009 while tossing three complete games including one shutout. Lee was even better in the 2009 postseason for the Phillies, going 4-0 including two wins in the World Series against the Yankees. His postseason resume includes a 7-2 record.
In an attempt to keep up with the Phillies, NL East rival Atlanta made a serious move to bolster its lineup to combat Philadelphia’s rotation by acquiring Dan Uggla from the Florida Marlins. The Braves then inked Uggla to a five-year deal to keep the second baseman in Atlanta for the foreseeable future and cranking 30+ home runs as Atlanta tries to make the playoffs for the second straight year. Atlanta won its division for fourteen straight seasons starting in 1991, but the Phillies have claimed the last four division crowns. If Atlanta is to end that streak, Uggla will have to come in and contribute immediately along with Jason Heyward, Brian McCann, Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe.
Trades were the name of the game in the NL Central as the Chicago Cubs recently acquired Matt Garza to bolster its rotation as the Lovable Losers try to win the franchise’s first World Series since 1908. Garza pitched a no-hitter last year for Tampa, the first no-no in Rays’ history, but was moved as he will likely would have been too expensive for the Rays to hold on to long term. Garza should immediately move into the ace’s role of the rotation, ahead of Ryan Dempster, Jeff Samardzija and the expensive Carlos Zambrano. Though he went just 15-10 last year and has reached double digit wins just twice in his career, Garza’s stuff is electric and he has 572 strikeouts in a little more than three full seasons.
Zack Greinke was also on the move just one year after winning the Cy Young award for the Kansas City Royals. Greinke was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers and will move to the National League for the first time in his career. The 27-year-old righty made the all-star team in 2009 but “slumped” to just ten wins and a 4.17 ERA last year and has just two years left on his four-year contract he signed prior to the 2009 season. Greinke has had some personal issues that perhaps led to his being dealt to Milwaukee instead of New York or Philadelphia.
With every off-season though comes one head-scratching deal. This year it was Jayson Werth signing with the Washington Nationals for seven years/$126M. You have to wonder why Washington broke the bank for Werth after letting Adam Dunn go. Perhaps Werth will be the piece that helps the rest of the young Nationals get over the hump, but you would think that the Nats would have been better off re-signing Dunn to go with Werth. Otherwise Werth is going to get bored finishing last in the NL East every year of his seven-year deal.
Another off-season, another mint printed and distributed to free agents. This year was no different and several teams made some big moves with the playoffs in mind. Too bad the pesky marathon of a regular season gets in the way.
The Major League Baseball off-season was once again full of big moves and address changes, but for what could be the first off-season in quite some time, the New York Yankees weren’t the ones making all of the big moves. It seems the Evil Empire of the New York has given way to the rising super power just a few hours southwest of NYC, the Philadelphia Phillies, and to New York’s AL East rival Boston. The Yankees made headlines by re-signing Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Boston and Philadelphia seemed to live on ESPN.com’s front page though ever since the World Series as both try to get back to the LCS and beyond.
In an attempt to return to the playoffs, the Red Sox outbid the Yankees and the Angels to sign Carl Crawford to play leftfield. The Red Sox gave the former Tampa Bay Ray a seven-year/$142 deal which weakens the Rays and gives Boston one of the best Sabermetrics players in the game. Crawford can swipe a base, hit for average and hit for some power. The Red Sox may have overpaid for Crawford, but it will be hard to imagine the BoSox missing the playoffs with Crawford in the lineup, along side Adrian Gonzalez. The biggest trade piece from 2010 was finally swapped after the 2010 season was over and the San Diego Padres struck a deal with Boston to send the first baseman east. With the move suddenly Boston has its first legit slugger in the middle of the order since Manny Ramirez was calling Boston home. Last year Gonzalez hit 31 home runs while hitting .298. Over his career, Gonzalez has slugged 168 homers and driven in 525 runs while making three all-star teams. With his acquisition, Boston will move Kevin Youkilis to third, and David Ortiz will have a bit of pressure taken off as he can move down in the order.
The Boston Red Sox did lose two major players this offseason as Adrian Beltre signed with Texas and Victor Martinez left for the Motor City and the Detroit Tigers. While Beltre’s signing helps the defending AL Champs with some pop from third base as well as some defense, Martinez may help the Tigers get back on top of the AL Central. The Tigers boast one of the most potent lineups in baseball and Martinez’s addition as a catcher/DH option will only add more power to the lineup featuring Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson and perhaps Carlos Guillen.
The Tigers will of course have competition from the Minnesota Twins but also the Chicago White Sox for the AL Central title. The White Sox brought Paul Konerko back into the fold while also signing Adam Dunn to serve as a DH and reserve outfielder. Dunn crushed the ball all year last year for the Washington Nationals but this will be his first foray into the American League and as a DH. The White Sox are hoping that Dunn can replicate his 38 home runs as he has done the last two years. Dunn has gone for at least 38 every season since 2004, striking 40+ five times. Dunn will offer some protection for Konerko, Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios.
The National League landscape also shifted as the already-rich Philadelphia Phillies rotation got richer with the signing of Cliff Lee. The lefty returned to Philadelphia after a one-year hiatus to Seattle and Texas, where he pitched the Rangers to the World Series. Lee will join 2010 NL Cy Young award-winner Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt in a powerful rotation that could rival the 1990s Atlanta Braves rotations of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Steve Avery. Lee returns to Philadelphia where he won seven games in twelve regular season starts in 2009 while tossing three complete games including one shutout. Lee was even better in the 2009 postseason for the Phillies, going 4-0 including two wins in the World Series against the Yankees. His postseason resume includes a 7-2 record.
In an attempt to keep up with the Phillies, NL East rival Atlanta made a serious move to bolster its lineup to combat Philadelphia’s rotation by acquiring Dan Uggla from the Florida Marlins. The Braves then inked Uggla to a five-year deal to keep the second baseman in Atlanta for the foreseeable future and cranking 30+ home runs as Atlanta tries to make the playoffs for the second straight year. Atlanta won its division for fourteen straight seasons starting in 1991, but the Phillies have claimed the last four division crowns. If Atlanta is to end that streak, Uggla will have to come in and contribute immediately along with Jason Heyward, Brian McCann, Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe.
Trades were the name of the game in the NL Central as the Chicago Cubs recently acquired Matt Garza to bolster its rotation as the Lovable Losers try to win the franchise’s first World Series since 1908. Garza pitched a no-hitter last year for Tampa, the first no-no in Rays’ history, but was moved as he will likely would have been too expensive for the Rays to hold on to long term. Garza should immediately move into the ace’s role of the rotation, ahead of Ryan Dempster, Jeff Samardzija and the expensive Carlos Zambrano. Though he went just 15-10 last year and has reached double digit wins just twice in his career, Garza’s stuff is electric and he has 572 strikeouts in a little more than three full seasons.
Zack Greinke was also on the move just one year after winning the Cy Young award for the Kansas City Royals. Greinke was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers and will move to the National League for the first time in his career. The 27-year-old righty made the all-star team in 2009 but “slumped” to just ten wins and a 4.17 ERA last year and has just two years left on his four-year contract he signed prior to the 2009 season. Greinke has had some personal issues that perhaps led to his being dealt to Milwaukee instead of New York or Philadelphia.
With every off-season though comes one head-scratching deal. This year it was Jayson Werth signing with the Washington Nationals for seven years/$126M. You have to wonder why Washington broke the bank for Werth after letting Adam Dunn go. Perhaps Werth will be the piece that helps the rest of the young Nationals get over the hump, but you would think that the Nats would have been better off re-signing Dunn to go with Werth. Otherwise Werth is going to get bored finishing last in the NL East every year of his seven-year deal.
Another off-season, another mint printed and distributed to free agents. This year was no different and several teams made some big moves with the playoffs in mind. Too bad the pesky marathon of a regular season gets in the way.
TheFletch one day Early! Enjoy
The only thing that could have ruined the incredible season that was 2010 for the Atlanta Falcons would be for the team to get blown out at the Georgia Dome on national television. Sadly as Murphy’s Law would have it, that’s exactly what happened. Aaron Rodgers looked like a future Hall of Famer (which he very well may be) last week as he led the Packers on scoring drive after scoring drive in a 48-21 victory over Atlanta in the NFC Divisional playoff round. The worst part about the loss was not that Atlanta would be denied a shot at the NFC crown and a Super Bowl bid. The worst part of the loss was the fact it occurred on a nationally-televised FOX broadcast and the national media was ruthless in tearing down the Falcons. The CBS studio team acted like it was zero surprise that the Falcons would lose in this manner and several ESPN talking heads were telling us “(they) told us so.” It seems that all of the good will that Matt Ryan and Roddy White and Mike Smith built up this year came crashing down in a hurry with two Matty Ice interceptions in the final three minutes of the first half, giving Green Bay a lead it would never relinquish.
That night Falcons fans were, of course, upset and took to the airwaves to voice displeasure. 790 The Zone was jammed full of callers for its postgame show and the calls continued the next day on the Ford Football Show and Score Atlanta’s Sports Sunday. For three hours Score Atlanta’s Brian Jones, who covers the Falcons for this paper, Josh Hagadone and I took calls that blamed the loss on everyone from Matt Ryan to Mike Smith to Mike Mularky to the defense to Brian VanGorder. Then finally a few callers had had enough of the doom and gloom and finger-pointing and for about six callers in a row towards the end of the show, fans started to pick up their battered franchise and applaud their season-long effort. The fans realized that this was one defeat, a bad one, but one the team could recover from, learn from, and rebound from in 2011. After hearing so much negativity, it was nice on a personal level to hear the silver lining finally coming through the dark clouds.
With the loss, coupled with the strong regular season, the Atlanta Falcons draft slot has been decided, and the Dirty Birds will be picking at No. 27 in the first round in the upcoming April NFL Draft. During the barrage of calls, numerous suggestions were tossed out as to whom the Falcons should select with that pick, but some local pundits have revealed picks. 680 The Fan’s Buck Belue would like to see the Falcons go after a running back to complement Michael Turner, especially after his partner John Kincade noted that Turner’s “arrow is pointing down.” Belue tossed out the name of Oklahoma Sooners tailback DeMarco Murray as a name of a fast back that can catch out of the backfield for the Falcons to target in the draft. 790 The Zone’s Hans Heiserer found a mock draft that predicted the Falcons would select Alabama tailback and former Heisman winner Mark Ingram. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC rattled off a pair of cornerbacks as well as an offensive lineman as potential selections (shockingly NOT a center as he was calling for last year), but Ledbetter’s other option was the one that most intrigued me: Ohio State standout defensive end Cameron Heyward. The former Peachtree Ridge Lion was unstoppable in the Sugar Bowl and would bookend John Abraham nicely, eventually taking over from the Predator. I hope Ledbetter is right on this one.
Speaking of John Abraham, Yahoo! Sports was not too kind towards the Falcons Defensive End after Abraham finally broke through in the third quarter for a sack on Green Bay’s Rodgers when the Falcons were down two scores. Here is Chris Chase from Yahoo! Sports’ Shutdown Corner Blog:
An unsolicited tip to all NFL defenders: If you're down 14 points in a playoff game, don't mock the quarterback that's beating you after making a relatively inconsequential sack at the start of the second half. Sadly, this advice comes too late for John Abraham The Atlanta Falcons defensive end sacked Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the start of the second half and celebrated by mocking Rodgers' championship-belt move. Not a terrible move, but better done when your team isn't down two touchdowns at home.
I was appalled to read in a recent forum on the AJC’s Georgia blog that some one thinks this Georgia basketball team is the best team the program has produced in twenty-five years. Really? I have a hard time believing that some one would say that this team is the best Georgia has fielded in the last quarter century. No disrespect to this team but I have a hard time believing that this team would beat the 2003 unit that was ranked as high as No. 6 at one point before the team was pulled due to the Harrick scandal in a best-of-seven series. Tubby’s teams were quality and I would rank them higher than this team AT THIS MOMENT. This team certainly has the chance to surpass those squads, but it is early in the season. Let this year play out before the current squad of Bulldogs is crowned as the best of the best.
Finally, I would like to tip my cap to two “update” personalities that are worthy of more airtime. 680 The Fan’s Chadd Scott and 790 The Zone’s Justin Hanover are both outstanding at providing updates, but both also bring interesting opinions on a variety of topics that keep me locked to my radio. Scott, who also writes College Football’s Most Dangerous Blog for chuckoliver.net, is sometimes given airtime with Kincade where he presents his takes logically, to the point that even if you disagree with him you still nod your head to concede his point of view. Meanwhile Hanover has been a Sunday fixture over the past few years on the Zone’s Falcons postgame coverage. This past college football season though Hanover was on the airwaves most Saturdays as well and he proved that his football expertise is not simply NFL-exclusive. Both of these gentlemen should receive a push from their respective stations as both have earned more time.
Can You Believe He Said That
Amid another Georgia Tech losing streak, continuing grumbling over Paul Hewitt’s rollover contract and a “home crowd” punctuated by empty seats… the Jackets went and threw everybody for a loop Sunday night. They won a game.
Jeff Schultz of the AJC isn’t a bad as Mark Bradley when it comes to taking the Yellow Jackets head basketball coach to the woodshed, but in his column following Tech’s big win over North Carolina, Schultz laid on the backhanded compliments pretty thick. I would say poor Paul Hewitt, but he could have walked away from a fan base that seems to have cooled on him and a newspaper that is seemingly out for his head, but he chose to stick around for the rollover contract. He deserves what he gets until he turns it around.
That night Falcons fans were, of course, upset and took to the airwaves to voice displeasure. 790 The Zone was jammed full of callers for its postgame show and the calls continued the next day on the Ford Football Show and Score Atlanta’s Sports Sunday. For three hours Score Atlanta’s Brian Jones, who covers the Falcons for this paper, Josh Hagadone and I took calls that blamed the loss on everyone from Matt Ryan to Mike Smith to Mike Mularky to the defense to Brian VanGorder. Then finally a few callers had had enough of the doom and gloom and finger-pointing and for about six callers in a row towards the end of the show, fans started to pick up their battered franchise and applaud their season-long effort. The fans realized that this was one defeat, a bad one, but one the team could recover from, learn from, and rebound from in 2011. After hearing so much negativity, it was nice on a personal level to hear the silver lining finally coming through the dark clouds.
With the loss, coupled with the strong regular season, the Atlanta Falcons draft slot has been decided, and the Dirty Birds will be picking at No. 27 in the first round in the upcoming April NFL Draft. During the barrage of calls, numerous suggestions were tossed out as to whom the Falcons should select with that pick, but some local pundits have revealed picks. 680 The Fan’s Buck Belue would like to see the Falcons go after a running back to complement Michael Turner, especially after his partner John Kincade noted that Turner’s “arrow is pointing down.” Belue tossed out the name of Oklahoma Sooners tailback DeMarco Murray as a name of a fast back that can catch out of the backfield for the Falcons to target in the draft. 790 The Zone’s Hans Heiserer found a mock draft that predicted the Falcons would select Alabama tailback and former Heisman winner Mark Ingram. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC rattled off a pair of cornerbacks as well as an offensive lineman as potential selections (shockingly NOT a center as he was calling for last year), but Ledbetter’s other option was the one that most intrigued me: Ohio State standout defensive end Cameron Heyward. The former Peachtree Ridge Lion was unstoppable in the Sugar Bowl and would bookend John Abraham nicely, eventually taking over from the Predator. I hope Ledbetter is right on this one.
Speaking of John Abraham, Yahoo! Sports was not too kind towards the Falcons Defensive End after Abraham finally broke through in the third quarter for a sack on Green Bay’s Rodgers when the Falcons were down two scores. Here is Chris Chase from Yahoo! Sports’ Shutdown Corner Blog:
An unsolicited tip to all NFL defenders: If you're down 14 points in a playoff game, don't mock the quarterback that's beating you after making a relatively inconsequential sack at the start of the second half. Sadly, this advice comes too late for John Abraham The Atlanta Falcons defensive end sacked Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the start of the second half and celebrated by mocking Rodgers' championship-belt move. Not a terrible move, but better done when your team isn't down two touchdowns at home.
I was appalled to read in a recent forum on the AJC’s Georgia blog that some one thinks this Georgia basketball team is the best team the program has produced in twenty-five years. Really? I have a hard time believing that some one would say that this team is the best Georgia has fielded in the last quarter century. No disrespect to this team but I have a hard time believing that this team would beat the 2003 unit that was ranked as high as No. 6 at one point before the team was pulled due to the Harrick scandal in a best-of-seven series. Tubby’s teams were quality and I would rank them higher than this team AT THIS MOMENT. This team certainly has the chance to surpass those squads, but it is early in the season. Let this year play out before the current squad of Bulldogs is crowned as the best of the best.
Finally, I would like to tip my cap to two “update” personalities that are worthy of more airtime. 680 The Fan’s Chadd Scott and 790 The Zone’s Justin Hanover are both outstanding at providing updates, but both also bring interesting opinions on a variety of topics that keep me locked to my radio. Scott, who also writes College Football’s Most Dangerous Blog for chuckoliver.net, is sometimes given airtime with Kincade where he presents his takes logically, to the point that even if you disagree with him you still nod your head to concede his point of view. Meanwhile Hanover has been a Sunday fixture over the past few years on the Zone’s Falcons postgame coverage. This past college football season though Hanover was on the airwaves most Saturdays as well and he proved that his football expertise is not simply NFL-exclusive. Both of these gentlemen should receive a push from their respective stations as both have earned more time.
Can You Believe He Said That
Amid another Georgia Tech losing streak, continuing grumbling over Paul Hewitt’s rollover contract and a “home crowd” punctuated by empty seats… the Jackets went and threw everybody for a loop Sunday night. They won a game.
Jeff Schultz of the AJC isn’t a bad as Mark Bradley when it comes to taking the Yellow Jackets head basketball coach to the woodshed, but in his column following Tech’s big win over North Carolina, Schultz laid on the backhanded compliments pretty thick. I would say poor Paul Hewitt, but he could have walked away from a fan base that seems to have cooled on him and a newspaper that is seemingly out for his head, but he chose to stick around for the rollover contract. He deserves what he gets until he turns it around.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Caffey gives the details on his switch from Purdue to UK
Grady tailback Marcus Caffey joined GPB’s Sports Central XL Tuesday for the first show of 2011 to discuss his recent de-commitment from Purdue and subsequent pledge to the University of Kentucky. Caffey was a standout running back for Grady last season despite playing in the shadow of teammate Damian Swann, a highly sought after receiver/defensive back, though at times Caffey outplayed the higher-rated Swann. In the GPB Game of the Week October 22 against St. Pius, Caffey took a first half draw over 70 yards to the house for the game’s lone touchdown in a 7-6 Grady win.
Despite the success though both Georgia and Georgia Tech were slow to show interest in Caffey, forcing him to look outside the state. “I never though about it (a perceived slight by the Dawgs and Tech),” Caffey said in the interview. “I was in a good situation at my school, so I didn’t think about it.” Purdue, Kentucky and several other schools were showing Caffey enough interest for him not to think about the two local options, Kentucky in particular.
“I’ve been talking to Kentucky since my junior year,” admitted Caffey. He would go on to say that Kentucky’s head coach Joker Phillips is also a big reason for his recent de-commitment from Purdue and commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats. “I like Coach Phillips. I feel really comfortable with him. He’s laid back.”
Phillips was only one of the reasons though that Caffey pulled the switch to UK. The draw of playing in the SEC was a big factor as well said Caffey. “My parents can go to the games,” was a reason that Caffey said helped influence his decision. Also coming into play was the Kentucky roster dotted with Georgia players. “They already have plenty of Georgia talent. I like going to a place that has so many (Georgia natives).”
With the pledge of Caffey as well as the recent commitment of Whitewater (GA) back Josh Clemons and last year’s running back signee Raymond Sanders of Stephenson (GA) High School, Kentucky will boast a loaded Georgia backfield. The competition doesn’t scare Caffey though as he feels Kentucky will be a great program in the next few years. “We will run more aggressively. Raymond, Josh and myself all run a bit differently.”
But what was the reason for Caffey’s switch? Purdue was “a great atmosphere,” Caffey conceded but Kentucky just knocked his socks off on a visit. “I went to the Cat Center (student learning center) and they took me through a day in the life of a student. It was fun.” He did have some nice things to say about Purdue such as how nice the campus was and how friendly the people were, but the weather was a bit much for the Georgia native.
Caffey revealed he is happy that the recruiting process is nearly done. “I like the attention and the interviews, but sometimes it is too much.” He also said he felt that recruiting is biased towards a group of players identified early and sometimes players get left behind that are just as talented.
Once National Signing Day hits, Caffey will get his playbook and he’ll spend the summer learning the offense. “I’ll need to get ready to take those SEC hits and get back up,” said Caffey. While he may think he needs to gear up for the hits, he is certainly ready for the speed and he’ll bring his own speed to the fastest conference in the land.
Despite the success though both Georgia and Georgia Tech were slow to show interest in Caffey, forcing him to look outside the state. “I never though about it (a perceived slight by the Dawgs and Tech),” Caffey said in the interview. “I was in a good situation at my school, so I didn’t think about it.” Purdue, Kentucky and several other schools were showing Caffey enough interest for him not to think about the two local options, Kentucky in particular.
“I’ve been talking to Kentucky since my junior year,” admitted Caffey. He would go on to say that Kentucky’s head coach Joker Phillips is also a big reason for his recent de-commitment from Purdue and commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats. “I like Coach Phillips. I feel really comfortable with him. He’s laid back.”
Phillips was only one of the reasons though that Caffey pulled the switch to UK. The draw of playing in the SEC was a big factor as well said Caffey. “My parents can go to the games,” was a reason that Caffey said helped influence his decision. Also coming into play was the Kentucky roster dotted with Georgia players. “They already have plenty of Georgia talent. I like going to a place that has so many (Georgia natives).”
With the pledge of Caffey as well as the recent commitment of Whitewater (GA) back Josh Clemons and last year’s running back signee Raymond Sanders of Stephenson (GA) High School, Kentucky will boast a loaded Georgia backfield. The competition doesn’t scare Caffey though as he feels Kentucky will be a great program in the next few years. “We will run more aggressively. Raymond, Josh and myself all run a bit differently.”
But what was the reason for Caffey’s switch? Purdue was “a great atmosphere,” Caffey conceded but Kentucky just knocked his socks off on a visit. “I went to the Cat Center (student learning center) and they took me through a day in the life of a student. It was fun.” He did have some nice things to say about Purdue such as how nice the campus was and how friendly the people were, but the weather was a bit much for the Georgia native.
Caffey revealed he is happy that the recruiting process is nearly done. “I like the attention and the interviews, but sometimes it is too much.” He also said he felt that recruiting is biased towards a group of players identified early and sometimes players get left behind that are just as talented.
Once National Signing Day hits, Caffey will get his playbook and he’ll spend the summer learning the offense. “I’ll need to get ready to take those SEC hits and get back up,” said Caffey. While he may think he needs to gear up for the hits, he is certainly ready for the speed and he’ll bring his own speed to the fastest conference in the land.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Big B's ACC recruiting class rankings
Brian Jones of Score Atlanta fame provides a top ten list every week for Score Atlanta's The Official Visit. After a week off due to weather, Big B and The Official Visit is BACK! Tune in tonight from 7-9pm on 790 The Zone!
12. NC State
11. Wake Forest
10. Miami
9. Duke
8. Boston College
7. Georgia Tech
6. Maryland
5. Virginia Tech
4. Virginia
3. North Carolina
2. Clemson
1. FSU
12. NC State
11. Wake Forest
10. Miami
9. Duke
8. Boston College
7. Georgia Tech
6. Maryland
5. Virginia Tech
4. Virginia
3. North Carolina
2. Clemson
1. FSU
Houston is GONE.... that's a shame
The Georgia Bulldogs lost two juniors to the NFL draft as the deadline for underclassmen to declare passed last Saturday, one not-so-surprising and one not-so-surprising-but-a-tad-disappointing. Wide receiver AJ Green will be taking his talents to a team picking in the top five or six slots in the draft while DE/OLB Justin Houston will likely be drafted late in the first round or perhaps early in the second round if his workouts don’t go well. You would have to be blind not to have seen Green licking his chops for the NFL, but Houston? He is ready for the NFL, but you get the feeling that with another year in Athens learning under Todd Grantham, who made DeMarcus Ware into a beast with Dallas, Houston would be an impact player as a rookie in 2012. Georgia fans should not be angry with Houston; I’d do that same thing if I was as fast as he was at his size. Georgia fans do have every right to wistfully wonder about Houston in year two of the Grantham era in Athens.
So where will the two go in the upcoming draft? You have to think that Carolina at No. 1 might think long and hard about taking Green, a South Carolina native from just a few hours out of Charlotte. He would open up the running game and give Jimmy Clausen a viable downfield threat. Or you would think that Cincinnati might take a chance on Green, allowing the team to cut ties with TO and Ochocinco if it so chooses. Cleveland and San Francisco could also be players in the Green sweepstakes, if he is still around.
As far as Justin Houston goes, the Giants and the Bucs at No. 19 and No. 20 would be nice fits for Houston as both could plug him in to remember the glory days of getting after the quarterback. I also wouldn’t put it by Chicago to pick up Houston if he is still there, instantly giving Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher some juice as both near the end of their primes.
Georgia fans aren’t shocked to lose both Houston and Green, but the fans shouldn’t feel bad though thinking that both could have done more while donning the red and black in Athens.
So where will the two go in the upcoming draft? You have to think that Carolina at No. 1 might think long and hard about taking Green, a South Carolina native from just a few hours out of Charlotte. He would open up the running game and give Jimmy Clausen a viable downfield threat. Or you would think that Cincinnati might take a chance on Green, allowing the team to cut ties with TO and Ochocinco if it so chooses. Cleveland and San Francisco could also be players in the Green sweepstakes, if he is still around.
As far as Justin Houston goes, the Giants and the Bucs at No. 19 and No. 20 would be nice fits for Houston as both could plug him in to remember the glory days of getting after the quarterback. I also wouldn’t put it by Chicago to pick up Houston if he is still there, instantly giving Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher some juice as both near the end of their primes.
Georgia fans aren’t shocked to lose both Houston and Green, but the fans shouldn’t feel bad though thinking that both could have done more while donning the red and black in Athens.
Friday, January 14, 2011
TheFletch for TheWeek of 1/14/10
As Aretha Franklin once sang, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T!” The Georgia Bulldog basketball team has been an afterthought since the Jim Harrick scandal in 2003, as the team has slipped into mediocrity under former coach Dennis Felton. Even when Felton engineered a lightning-in-a-bottle SEC tournament championship in 2008, the Dawgs were still looked at as a joke with a double-digit seed. Last year under new coach Mark Fox, the Bulldog basketball team earned some respect with Trey Thompkins’ outstanding play and Travis Leslie’s ESPN Top Plays dunks and Connor Nolte’s Youtube trick shots. Last Saturday though, Georgia pulled off a big win over No. 11 Kentucky. The AP headline read: Trey Thompkins helps Georgia stun No. 11 Kentucky in SEC opener. This headline was found on ESPN.com’s front page and all over CNNSI. While I am sure Dawg Nation appreciated the front page blurbs, I wouldn’t exactly call Mark Fox winning at home a “stun” job. Eamon Brennan of ESPN.com’s college basketball agrees with me. On Brennan’s Saturday wrap up blog, he wrote:
No offense to the AP -- I'm a huge fan, guys! -- but the use of the word "stun" in the aforelinked headline is a little bit questionable. Georgia, in addition to being at home, is also a pretty good team. The Bulldogs' only two losses this season came in double overtime to Notre Dame and by seven points to Temple all the way back in November at the Old Spice Classic. Otherwise, this Bulldogs squad has been playing just fine, thanks. Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie remain underrated; Thompkins scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Leslie put on his trademark dunk show on the way to his 15-and-eight afternoon. Good win for Georgia, but this one is probably about as much of an upset as Kansas State-Oklahoma State. Which is to say, not much of an upset at all.
The AJC gave the game both a live blog and post-game response from Mark Bradley in addition to the normal coverage from Tim Tucker, the Georgia beat writer. Bradley was quick to praise Fox following the game and admitting he was wrong about the Fox hire, which he initially disagreed with. Of the Bulldogs, Bradley gushed:
“This team won’t be outclassed by anyone it sees. It has the players, it has the blend, and it darn sure has a coach. Georgia could/should be in the SEC East chase until the last dog dies, and don’t be surprised if the last dog standing is a Bulldog.”
Meanwhile columnist Jeff Schultz a few days prior to the game wrote a glowing piece on Fox and how he is succeeding in changing the basketball culture at Georgia. Schultz said in the piece that of the two major college programs in the area, Georgia is the only one “obviously” going in the right direction.
“The job he has done in a short time is nothing short of remarkable. He took over a wreck of a program, engineered a few upsets, put a scare into Kentucky in Lexington and finished 14-17 — a losing record, but a clear 180 for the team.
Schultz would end the piece by saying that Fox “game over,” has won the perception contest. Georgia getting a bit of respect. Mark Fox and company will take it…for now.
What did the Falcons do to warrant the recent foreboding playoff prognostications from the so-called experts over the last week? Apparently playing well enough during the regular season to clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs was not enough for Peter King and a few other ESPN personalities that are calling for a one game-and-done showing from the Falcons in these playoffs. The Falcons are 20-2 at the Georgia Dome and 1-0 this season at home vs. the Green Bay Packers yet many are thinking that the Falcons will be bounced two stages before Dallas and the Super Bowl. After so much love all season long for Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Mike Smith, it just seems weird that a switch would be thrown so quickly to shove dirt on the best team in the NFC through the 2010 regular season. (And we won’t even get into the fact that, if the NFL had the BCS, the Falcons would already be in the Super Bowl, ready to square off against the New England Patriots)
680 The Fan received a bit of national attention last week from its Frankly Fran segment when former Georgia quarterback Fran Tarkenton was very critical of his alma mater and its football coach Mark Richt. Several other outlets picked up the comments and ran with them, but if you’ve followed this segment throughout the course of the college football season or even followed Tarkenton’s comments in 2009 on 790 The Zone in regards to Brett Favre should know that this isn’t anything new. Apparently Tarkenton’s MO for getting a mention is to go on the air and throw out negative harpoons towards current big-name targets in the hopes that the smear will float his name around the blogosphere and the sports radio world. He also got into a war of words with ESPN’s Marcellus Wiley that had an air of Andy Kaufman vs. Jerry Lawler in that it got both some cheap publicity over a topic that neither really had a real connection to. I understand the purpose of the show was to simply to get a Georgia legend to say something negative about Georgia and its current struggles, but Tarkenton came off like a mad man shouting at the snow for making his drive take twice as long. It even seemed to make another Georgia quarterback that the station employs uncomfortable in Buck Belue of Buck & Kincade. He seemed to shy away from endorsing the comments, due to his ties to the school. Maybe Tarkenton is angry that his name is never brought up when changes are made to the football broadcast coverage? 680 The Fan ultimately got what it was looking for I guess. The interview has been talked about across the country on radio and in print. Kudos?
Can You Believe He Said That
So Andrew Luck won’t be the QB in Carolina next season. It’s a bad development for the Panthers, obviously, but what can you do? The Panthers need to give (their) quarterback some weapons. Green is an absolute stud.
That was from NFL Fanhouse, who now predicts that former Georgia wide receiver AJ Green could be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. No receiver has gone No. 1 since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996, though Georgia Tech wideout Calvin Johnson went No. 2 in the 2007 draft. While Green is certainly a freak of an athlete, he never really lived up to the promise and hype he came to Athens with. Aaron Murray and Mark Richt will miss him certainly, but the roster does have replacements.
No offense to the AP -- I'm a huge fan, guys! -- but the use of the word "stun" in the aforelinked headline is a little bit questionable. Georgia, in addition to being at home, is also a pretty good team. The Bulldogs' only two losses this season came in double overtime to Notre Dame and by seven points to Temple all the way back in November at the Old Spice Classic. Otherwise, this Bulldogs squad has been playing just fine, thanks. Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie remain underrated; Thompkins scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Leslie put on his trademark dunk show on the way to his 15-and-eight afternoon. Good win for Georgia, but this one is probably about as much of an upset as Kansas State-Oklahoma State. Which is to say, not much of an upset at all.
The AJC gave the game both a live blog and post-game response from Mark Bradley in addition to the normal coverage from Tim Tucker, the Georgia beat writer. Bradley was quick to praise Fox following the game and admitting he was wrong about the Fox hire, which he initially disagreed with. Of the Bulldogs, Bradley gushed:
“This team won’t be outclassed by anyone it sees. It has the players, it has the blend, and it darn sure has a coach. Georgia could/should be in the SEC East chase until the last dog dies, and don’t be surprised if the last dog standing is a Bulldog.”
Meanwhile columnist Jeff Schultz a few days prior to the game wrote a glowing piece on Fox and how he is succeeding in changing the basketball culture at Georgia. Schultz said in the piece that of the two major college programs in the area, Georgia is the only one “obviously” going in the right direction.
“The job he has done in a short time is nothing short of remarkable. He took over a wreck of a program, engineered a few upsets, put a scare into Kentucky in Lexington and finished 14-17 — a losing record, but a clear 180 for the team.
Schultz would end the piece by saying that Fox “game over,” has won the perception contest. Georgia getting a bit of respect. Mark Fox and company will take it…for now.
What did the Falcons do to warrant the recent foreboding playoff prognostications from the so-called experts over the last week? Apparently playing well enough during the regular season to clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs was not enough for Peter King and a few other ESPN personalities that are calling for a one game-and-done showing from the Falcons in these playoffs. The Falcons are 20-2 at the Georgia Dome and 1-0 this season at home vs. the Green Bay Packers yet many are thinking that the Falcons will be bounced two stages before Dallas and the Super Bowl. After so much love all season long for Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Mike Smith, it just seems weird that a switch would be thrown so quickly to shove dirt on the best team in the NFC through the 2010 regular season. (And we won’t even get into the fact that, if the NFL had the BCS, the Falcons would already be in the Super Bowl, ready to square off against the New England Patriots)
680 The Fan received a bit of national attention last week from its Frankly Fran segment when former Georgia quarterback Fran Tarkenton was very critical of his alma mater and its football coach Mark Richt. Several other outlets picked up the comments and ran with them, but if you’ve followed this segment throughout the course of the college football season or even followed Tarkenton’s comments in 2009 on 790 The Zone in regards to Brett Favre should know that this isn’t anything new. Apparently Tarkenton’s MO for getting a mention is to go on the air and throw out negative harpoons towards current big-name targets in the hopes that the smear will float his name around the blogosphere and the sports radio world. He also got into a war of words with ESPN’s Marcellus Wiley that had an air of Andy Kaufman vs. Jerry Lawler in that it got both some cheap publicity over a topic that neither really had a real connection to. I understand the purpose of the show was to simply to get a Georgia legend to say something negative about Georgia and its current struggles, but Tarkenton came off like a mad man shouting at the snow for making his drive take twice as long. It even seemed to make another Georgia quarterback that the station employs uncomfortable in Buck Belue of Buck & Kincade. He seemed to shy away from endorsing the comments, due to his ties to the school. Maybe Tarkenton is angry that his name is never brought up when changes are made to the football broadcast coverage? 680 The Fan ultimately got what it was looking for I guess. The interview has been talked about across the country on radio and in print. Kudos?
Can You Believe He Said That
So Andrew Luck won’t be the QB in Carolina next season. It’s a bad development for the Panthers, obviously, but what can you do? The Panthers need to give (their) quarterback some weapons. Green is an absolute stud.
That was from NFL Fanhouse, who now predicts that former Georgia wide receiver AJ Green could be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. No receiver has gone No. 1 since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996, though Georgia Tech wideout Calvin Johnson went No. 2 in the 2007 draft. While Green is certainly a freak of an athlete, he never really lived up to the promise and hype he came to Athens with. Aaron Murray and Mark Richt will miss him certainly, but the roster does have replacements.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Recruiting breakdown AC Slater v Johnny Moxon
As National Signing Day approaches, once per week I will be breaking down two high school football players from Hollywood history for college teams out there looking to fill a need with perhaps one of these silver screen (or television screen) legends.
Today's breakdown will be the quarterback position. It would be too easy to go ON AND ON about West Canaan's Lance Harbor, the all-state gunslinger from Texas that EASILY could have been the greatest QB in Texas high school history, had his knee not been messed up by that fateful hit following Billy Bob's collapse due to post-concussion syndrome. He had a ride to Florida State (back when FSU was GOOD). One could also argue for Jason Street, but too bad he had the whole paralysed thing. He was set to field offers from Notre Dame and Texas. JD McCoy is too young for this breakdown and Matt Saracen frankly isn't good enough. The guy is 5'9 TOPS with a noodle arm.
So today's breakdown: West Canaan's Johnny Moxon vs Bayside's AC Slater.
Johnny Moxon is incredibly smart, having been accepted by Brown, but you have to question his experience (he only started three games in his prep career, though he did lead a comeback following Lance Harbor's injury), and his desire to play the game. He does have a rocket arm (he hit a line judge 60+ yards away with some velocity while seated) and an ability to improvise with his legs and when he cannot get the play call. His stats are not known but he did go 2-1 as a starter and ran in the winning score in his first action following Harbor's injury. He threw for two scores to complete a comeback win to win the district title in the season finale. QB'd the team to 66 points in a road victory but lost the next week, throwing several interceptions.
Positives: Smart; Gutsy (willing to change play into a trick play); can take off and run with the ball; Strong arm; Innovative (willing to offer new ideas/plays for the offense); strong presence in the locker room and in the huddle; great teamamte
Negatives: experience (only 3 career starts and didn't receive many reps in practice playing behind Harbor); size (6'0 tall, which means really 5'11?); doesn't take well to authority (led a revolt against the coach at halftime of a game); ignored playcalls and ran what he wanted; questionable desire towards football (didn't play in playoffs).
Grade: 3 Stars. Likely destination: Ivy Leagues (Starter) or Conference USA backup
AC Slater is quite the athlete, having played five total sports during his time at Bayside. In addition to football, Slater indulged in wrestling, basketball, track and apparently swimming (though I don't really remember that episode). Slater's real sport though was likely wrestling as Iowa offered him a scholarship while Stansbury (Stanford?) was really the only football offer to come his way. (He would go on to California University, though I don't believe he played football there) Slater was always hanging out with the football guys but it is not known if Bayside ever won a game other than the one game that Slater nearly missed as he was taking a test during the first half. His stats are unknown.
Positives: tremendous athletic ability (played five total sports); clearly fast (as he was on the track team); leadership (his fellow players seemed willing to run through a wall for him and his fellow classmates went crazy during pep rallies).
Negatives: grades (he missed the first half of that one game due to poor grades); size (I have seen Slater/Mario Lopez's height listed at 5'10 but that really means 5'8/5'9 and I saw one report that said 5'6. I mean Jessie was taller than he was...); commitment to football (would he rather wrestle at the next level?)
Grade: 2 Stars as a QB (3 Stars as ATH). Likely Destination: WAC (Fresno State maybe?)
Today's breakdown will be the quarterback position. It would be too easy to go ON AND ON about West Canaan's Lance Harbor, the all-state gunslinger from Texas that EASILY could have been the greatest QB in Texas high school history, had his knee not been messed up by that fateful hit following Billy Bob's collapse due to post-concussion syndrome. He had a ride to Florida State (back when FSU was GOOD). One could also argue for Jason Street, but too bad he had the whole paralysed thing. He was set to field offers from Notre Dame and Texas. JD McCoy is too young for this breakdown and Matt Saracen frankly isn't good enough. The guy is 5'9 TOPS with a noodle arm.
So today's breakdown: West Canaan's Johnny Moxon vs Bayside's AC Slater.
Johnny Moxon is incredibly smart, having been accepted by Brown, but you have to question his experience (he only started three games in his prep career, though he did lead a comeback following Lance Harbor's injury), and his desire to play the game. He does have a rocket arm (he hit a line judge 60+ yards away with some velocity while seated) and an ability to improvise with his legs and when he cannot get the play call. His stats are not known but he did go 2-1 as a starter and ran in the winning score in his first action following Harbor's injury. He threw for two scores to complete a comeback win to win the district title in the season finale. QB'd the team to 66 points in a road victory but lost the next week, throwing several interceptions.
Positives: Smart; Gutsy (willing to change play into a trick play); can take off and run with the ball; Strong arm; Innovative (willing to offer new ideas/plays for the offense); strong presence in the locker room and in the huddle; great teamamte
Negatives: experience (only 3 career starts and didn't receive many reps in practice playing behind Harbor); size (6'0 tall, which means really 5'11?); doesn't take well to authority (led a revolt against the coach at halftime of a game); ignored playcalls and ran what he wanted; questionable desire towards football (didn't play in playoffs).
Grade: 3 Stars. Likely destination: Ivy Leagues (Starter) or Conference USA backup
AC Slater is quite the athlete, having played five total sports during his time at Bayside. In addition to football, Slater indulged in wrestling, basketball, track and apparently swimming (though I don't really remember that episode). Slater's real sport though was likely wrestling as Iowa offered him a scholarship while Stansbury (Stanford?) was really the only football offer to come his way. (He would go on to California University, though I don't believe he played football there) Slater was always hanging out with the football guys but it is not known if Bayside ever won a game other than the one game that Slater nearly missed as he was taking a test during the first half. His stats are unknown.
Positives: tremendous athletic ability (played five total sports); clearly fast (as he was on the track team); leadership (his fellow players seemed willing to run through a wall for him and his fellow classmates went crazy during pep rallies).
Negatives: grades (he missed the first half of that one game due to poor grades); size (I have seen Slater/Mario Lopez's height listed at 5'10 but that really means 5'8/5'9 and I saw one report that said 5'6. I mean Jessie was taller than he was...); commitment to football (would he rather wrestle at the next level?)
Grade: 2 Stars as a QB (3 Stars as ATH). Likely Destination: WAC (Fresno State maybe?)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
I wasn't rooting for Auburn last night. Nope.
As much SEC pride that Georgia fans have, Bulldog Nation could not have been rooting for Auburn last night. It isn't a bitter jealousy thing about Auburn being there and Georgia not (well it is, but...) it is more that Gene Chizik, in his second year has already surpassed what Georgia head man Mark Richt has done during his entire tenure in Athens. Since Mark Richt took the job at Georgia just days after Christmas 2000, Nick Saban (LSU), Urban Meyer (Florida, twice), Les Miles (LSU), Saban again (this time at Alabma) and now Gene Chizik (Auburn) have won BCS titles while Richt has taken Georgia to three BCS bowl games, but never the biggest BCS bowl game. Meyer and Chizik managed to get the crystal football in their second seasons on campus while Miles and Saban won it all in their third seasons. Richt meanwhile will be lucky to make it through the upcoming season.
A majority of Georgia fans are frustrated with Richt and Chizik passing him on the hierarchy of SEC coaches cannot make life easier. If one were to rank the coaches in the conference, Richt drops yet another peg and recruits are now starting to notice. Last week two in-state targets elected to go out of state, one to Alabama and one to Auburn. Personally as a Georgia alum, I look at what Chizik was able to do with a grain of salt as he has tremendous assistant coaches as well as the Heisman winner on his squad this year. I will take nothing away from him, but I also look at Chizik the way I look at Urban Meyer and wonder how much of his success was tied to one player? Richt has never been tied to one player so what you are seeing is Richt's ability at all times. That is a double-edged sword though as Richt's last few seasons haven't been impressive and maybe Richt could use one of those transcendent players like a Newton or a Tebow. AJ Green never turned out to be that guy, Knowshon Moreno only played one and one half years (the first half of his redshirt freshman year, he wasn't the starter), and Matthew Stafford was a No. 1 pick but he could never do better than a two-loss season. Maybe Aaron Murray will develop into Richt's Newton or Tebow, but he won't have the weapons next year, at least to this point.
Georgia fans just want Richt to shoot up the SEC Coaching food chain a few pegs. Get that BCS title that for the Butts-Mehre Building, but ore importantly give Georgia fans the feeling that we still have one of the best coaches in the country. Congrats Auburn fans, but I hope Richt rebounds in 2011 and wins his second game out of three meetings against Chizik next season.
A majority of Georgia fans are frustrated with Richt and Chizik passing him on the hierarchy of SEC coaches cannot make life easier. If one were to rank the coaches in the conference, Richt drops yet another peg and recruits are now starting to notice. Last week two in-state targets elected to go out of state, one to Alabama and one to Auburn. Personally as a Georgia alum, I look at what Chizik was able to do with a grain of salt as he has tremendous assistant coaches as well as the Heisman winner on his squad this year. I will take nothing away from him, but I also look at Chizik the way I look at Urban Meyer and wonder how much of his success was tied to one player? Richt has never been tied to one player so what you are seeing is Richt's ability at all times. That is a double-edged sword though as Richt's last few seasons haven't been impressive and maybe Richt could use one of those transcendent players like a Newton or a Tebow. AJ Green never turned out to be that guy, Knowshon Moreno only played one and one half years (the first half of his redshirt freshman year, he wasn't the starter), and Matthew Stafford was a No. 1 pick but he could never do better than a two-loss season. Maybe Aaron Murray will develop into Richt's Newton or Tebow, but he won't have the weapons next year, at least to this point.
Georgia fans just want Richt to shoot up the SEC Coaching food chain a few pegs. Get that BCS title that for the Butts-Mehre Building, but ore importantly give Georgia fans the feeling that we still have one of the best coaches in the country. Congrats Auburn fans, but I hope Richt rebounds in 2011 and wins his second game out of three meetings against Chizik next season.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Big B ranks the ACC classes with one month to go
Brian Jones of Score Atlanta fame breaks down the ACC recruiting classes with less than one month to go before National Signing Day. This list will be debuted tonight on Score Atlanta's The Official Visit (assuming we still have a show due to the weather) on Sports Radio 790 The Zone, 7-9pm.
12. NC State
11. Wake Forest
10. Miami
9. Duke
8. Georgia Tech
7. Boston College
6. Maryland
5. Virginia Tech
4. Virginia
3. North Carolina
2. Clemson
1. FSU
12. NC State
11. Wake Forest
10. Miami
9. Duke
8. Georgia Tech
7. Boston College
6. Maryland
5. Virginia Tech
4. Virginia
3. North Carolina
2. Clemson
1. FSU
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Swann and Seay are nice; Crowell and Drew would be better
The Georgia Bulldogs picked up two commitments and missed out on two others last week, but Bulldog fans shouldn't put too much stock into the pledges as bigger fish are still in the ocean. The Bulldogs needed a receiver after pulling an offer from Zack Witchett, and Mark Richt and company picked up a pledge from Lee County wideout Sanford Seay. The two-star receiver was all-state his senior season and offers nice size at 6-2, 190. The Dawgs also picked up a commitment from Grady (GA) cornerback/receiver Damian Swann at the US Army All-American game. While this stand-out two-way star is certainly a feather in the cap of Georgia, the Dawgs should be still looking at the big picture. Swann is nice, as is Seay, and while Xzavier Dickson (a fine defensive end) and Quan Bray (tailback/wide receiver that underachieved his senior year) would have been nice to have in the Dream Team class, Georgia should still be striving after tailback Isaiah Crowell and defensive end Ray Drew.
Both Crowell and Drew are Georgia natives and both could make an impact immediately during the 2011 campaign. Crowell is one of the top three backs in the entire nation and Georgia's chances of landing the Carver (GA) running back increased when Dee Hart pledged to Alabama. Crowell could step onto the Athens campus and make the impact that Marcus Lattimore made for South Carolina last season as the Gamecocks won the SEC East. He seemingly has a sixth gear that he can turn on and jet away from opposing defenders. With Caleb King's on-going troubles clouding his future and Washaun Ealey's inability to seize control of the starting job, Crowell could easily be the staring tailback when Boise State travels to Atlanta to open the season against Georgia.
Drew meanwhile might be just the person to step in and thrive in the 3-4 as a defensive end. The Dawgs haven't yet heard about Justin Houston's future but odds are the OLB/DE will head to the NFL, leaving a void as pass-rushing specialist. Drew has shown the athleticism to get after the quarterback at the high school level and every single major program in the country can't be wrong, can they? The Sporting News labeled Drew as its top player the day after National Signing Day 2010, and Drew can make just as much of an impact defensively as Crowell can on the offensive side of the ball.
While Swann and Seay are nice pieces, Georgia fans are hoping they are just the beginning of what could be a huge signing class. If Crowell and Drew sign on to join Seay and Swann, maybe just maybe Mark Richt can reach double digit wins and save his job. If Crowell and Drew go elsewhere, Swann and Seay might just be playing for a new coach in 2012.
Both Crowell and Drew are Georgia natives and both could make an impact immediately during the 2011 campaign. Crowell is one of the top three backs in the entire nation and Georgia's chances of landing the Carver (GA) running back increased when Dee Hart pledged to Alabama. Crowell could step onto the Athens campus and make the impact that Marcus Lattimore made for South Carolina last season as the Gamecocks won the SEC East. He seemingly has a sixth gear that he can turn on and jet away from opposing defenders. With Caleb King's on-going troubles clouding his future and Washaun Ealey's inability to seize control of the starting job, Crowell could easily be the staring tailback when Boise State travels to Atlanta to open the season against Georgia.
Drew meanwhile might be just the person to step in and thrive in the 3-4 as a defensive end. The Dawgs haven't yet heard about Justin Houston's future but odds are the OLB/DE will head to the NFL, leaving a void as pass-rushing specialist. Drew has shown the athleticism to get after the quarterback at the high school level and every single major program in the country can't be wrong, can they? The Sporting News labeled Drew as its top player the day after National Signing Day 2010, and Drew can make just as much of an impact defensively as Crowell can on the offensive side of the ball.
While Swann and Seay are nice pieces, Georgia fans are hoping they are just the beginning of what could be a huge signing class. If Crowell and Drew sign on to join Seay and Swann, maybe just maybe Mark Richt can reach double digit wins and save his job. If Crowell and Drew go elsewhere, Swann and Seay might just be playing for a new coach in 2012.
TheFletch for LastWeek
o much has happened over the last few weeks as the college football bowl season really kicked into high gear and the NFL football regular season came to a close. For starters, both of the major sports radio stations in town gave their regulars some time off which led to a few interesting developments. First off on 790 The Zone, the Young Guns, at least three of them, received a major push, getting the Barnhart and Durham slot the week in between Christmas and New Years. There is some talent there on that show as Hunter gives some real opinions and seems to do a fine handling point duties and keeping the other two in check. Some times it is hard to differentiate between "Dags" and "Bax" but 790 may have found a keeper in Hunter. I would like to hear him with other personalities such as Hans, Sam Radin or John Michaels.
Speaking of 790 and Hans, Hans and Beau Bock having been subbing for Barnhart and Durham Tuesdays, but the duo moved into the Pollack and Bell slot for that post-Christmas week, and as much as it pains me to say because I think he is a fun guy in person, but it might be time for Beau to step away from the radio. It seems for segments at a time that he is disinterested in the topics and will shut down, while others he brings up complete non sequiturs that make one scratch his/her head and wonder, "where did that come from?" He is an important part of Atlanta sports history, granted, and I enjoy bumping into him on occasion on Sunday mornings when he is on his way out and I'm on my way in, but he should be a third or fourth man on a radio show, not having to serve as Karl Malone to Hans' John Stockton on a two-person show. He simply isn't what he once was.
While Hans and Beau and the Young Guns were filling in on 790, 680 The Fan featured a former 790 midday host, teaming with another 790 midday monster as Brandon Adams took Chuck Oliver's spot during the break to team with Matt Chernoff. As an admitted fan of Brandon Adams when he was a 790 weekend personality and then a midday host, I was pumped to hear BA back on the air. Adams' reemergence though was unsatisfying though as he was playing the straight man mostly to Chernoff's running of the point, and Adams was subdued mostly. He still gave insightful viewpoints, but I didn't get very many of the classic Brandon Adams' teases that I had come to look forward to during his time with 790. Regardless, let's hope that The Fan has plucked another one of the ex-790 crew and Adams returns to the airwaves at least on a part-time basis, perhaps during school's summer break.
For those wanting even more high school football featuring players from the 2010 season, you are in luck. On a local level, you can tune in this Saturday to the inaugural AT&T Junior Bowl featuring 90 of the best rising seniors from the state of Georgia. The game will pit East vs. West and will be played at Hallford Stadium. Lowndes coach Ricky McPherson will coach one side while Tucker's Franklin Stephens will be the head man of the other unit. Rising stars such as Greyson Lambert, Scott Hosch, and Deion Bonner will be on display. You can catch the game, featuring myself and Bob Houghton on the call on a number of platforms, including gpb.org/sports, Fox5, and ajc.com. The game was also scheduled to be televised by CSS.
The current class of seniors will also be on display Saturday in the US Army All-American Bowl. Georgia pledges Sterling Bailey and Corey Moore will be playing as will Georgia targets Damian Swann and Ray Drew, as well as Stephon Tuitt and Avery Walls. The game will be aired on NBC. The Under Armour All-America game was this past Wednesday and several Georgia athletes were on display. Quan Bray, Isaiah Crowell, Xzavier Dickson, AJ Johnson, Malcolm Mitchell, Jay Rome, Thomas O'Reilly, Justin Scott-Wesley, James Vaughters, Gabe Wright all represented Georgia on the game, which aired on ESPN.
The bowls kicked into serious gear as Georgia Tech and Georgia both suffered losses, causing both programs to finish the year with sub-.500 records. While Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech appeared a bit red-faced and some people openly wondered whether Tech will ever compete for national titles without Chan Gailey's players playing for Johnson, Georgia's loss led to greater turmoil. The AJC had two very different viewpoints as Jeff Schultz openly questioned whether Mark Richt should even be allowed to fix the program he has seemingly driven into the ground and if he even can fix it. Meanwhile Tony Barnhart believes Richt should still be allowed to stay but demanded he show more emotion as that is what he feels is missing from the Georgia coach and the Georgia program. While I used to fall in the Barnhart camp, I am now thinking that I might just jump in the Schultz camp as I turned off my television completely frustrated from Georgia's lack of offense. Wait, does this mean that I am now also in the Mark Bradley camp? I can't do that. (Fighting the urge to call for Richt's head, like Bradley does on days ending in "-ay"). Nope. Let Richt finish his drill.
Finally, I may be the only one, but I wanted to throw my remote control through the television a few Mondays ago when the Falcons played the Saints. What was with the opening montage of the 2006 Monday Night Game at the SuperDome and the first game back in New Orleans since Katrina? Was that really necessary to bring that game up? So much has happened since that night. Talk about Ryan's rise. Talk about the Saints winning the Super Bowl. Talk about the two competing for the NFC South Division title. Don't bring up a game that holds no significance to this season. Why bring that up? And PS, the Falcons still won the NFC South Division and home field. ESPN should have pointed out that the Falcons didn't need the game. New Orleans did, but it still didn't matter as the Falcons beat the Panthers to claim homefield advantage. Next time ESPN, talk about THIS YEAR and the factors surrounding the game. Don't just slurp the Drew Brees/Saints kool-aid. Give the Falcons a bit of credit. Atlanta is the NFC's top team entering the playoffs. Deal with it.
Can you believe he said that?
Georgia and Georgia Tech each finished 6-7 after being ranked in the preseason Top 25, but that’s all the programs have in common. Tech lacks players. Georgia lacks coaching. All things considered, you’d rather be Tech.
Yep, despite the fact that he was on vacation, Mark Bradley still had his notebook open, ready to rip Mark Richt. Glad to see that some things never change. Let’s just hope for his sake that Georgia never gets rid of Richt and Tech never gets rid of Paul Hewitt.
Speaking of 790 and Hans, Hans and Beau Bock having been subbing for Barnhart and Durham Tuesdays, but the duo moved into the Pollack and Bell slot for that post-Christmas week, and as much as it pains me to say because I think he is a fun guy in person, but it might be time for Beau to step away from the radio. It seems for segments at a time that he is disinterested in the topics and will shut down, while others he brings up complete non sequiturs that make one scratch his/her head and wonder, "where did that come from?" He is an important part of Atlanta sports history, granted, and I enjoy bumping into him on occasion on Sunday mornings when he is on his way out and I'm on my way in, but he should be a third or fourth man on a radio show, not having to serve as Karl Malone to Hans' John Stockton on a two-person show. He simply isn't what he once was.
While Hans and Beau and the Young Guns were filling in on 790, 680 The Fan featured a former 790 midday host, teaming with another 790 midday monster as Brandon Adams took Chuck Oliver's spot during the break to team with Matt Chernoff. As an admitted fan of Brandon Adams when he was a 790 weekend personality and then a midday host, I was pumped to hear BA back on the air. Adams' reemergence though was unsatisfying though as he was playing the straight man mostly to Chernoff's running of the point, and Adams was subdued mostly. He still gave insightful viewpoints, but I didn't get very many of the classic Brandon Adams' teases that I had come to look forward to during his time with 790. Regardless, let's hope that The Fan has plucked another one of the ex-790 crew and Adams returns to the airwaves at least on a part-time basis, perhaps during school's summer break.
For those wanting even more high school football featuring players from the 2010 season, you are in luck. On a local level, you can tune in this Saturday to the inaugural AT&T Junior Bowl featuring 90 of the best rising seniors from the state of Georgia. The game will pit East vs. West and will be played at Hallford Stadium. Lowndes coach Ricky McPherson will coach one side while Tucker's Franklin Stephens will be the head man of the other unit. Rising stars such as Greyson Lambert, Scott Hosch, and Deion Bonner will be on display. You can catch the game, featuring myself and Bob Houghton on the call on a number of platforms, including gpb.org/sports, Fox5, and ajc.com. The game was also scheduled to be televised by CSS.
The current class of seniors will also be on display Saturday in the US Army All-American Bowl. Georgia pledges Sterling Bailey and Corey Moore will be playing as will Georgia targets Damian Swann and Ray Drew, as well as Stephon Tuitt and Avery Walls. The game will be aired on NBC. The Under Armour All-America game was this past Wednesday and several Georgia athletes were on display. Quan Bray, Isaiah Crowell, Xzavier Dickson, AJ Johnson, Malcolm Mitchell, Jay Rome, Thomas O'Reilly, Justin Scott-Wesley, James Vaughters, Gabe Wright all represented Georgia on the game, which aired on ESPN.
The bowls kicked into serious gear as Georgia Tech and Georgia both suffered losses, causing both programs to finish the year with sub-.500 records. While Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech appeared a bit red-faced and some people openly wondered whether Tech will ever compete for national titles without Chan Gailey's players playing for Johnson, Georgia's loss led to greater turmoil. The AJC had two very different viewpoints as Jeff Schultz openly questioned whether Mark Richt should even be allowed to fix the program he has seemingly driven into the ground and if he even can fix it. Meanwhile Tony Barnhart believes Richt should still be allowed to stay but demanded he show more emotion as that is what he feels is missing from the Georgia coach and the Georgia program. While I used to fall in the Barnhart camp, I am now thinking that I might just jump in the Schultz camp as I turned off my television completely frustrated from Georgia's lack of offense. Wait, does this mean that I am now also in the Mark Bradley camp? I can't do that. (Fighting the urge to call for Richt's head, like Bradley does on days ending in "-ay"). Nope. Let Richt finish his drill.
Finally, I may be the only one, but I wanted to throw my remote control through the television a few Mondays ago when the Falcons played the Saints. What was with the opening montage of the 2006 Monday Night Game at the SuperDome and the first game back in New Orleans since Katrina? Was that really necessary to bring that game up? So much has happened since that night. Talk about Ryan's rise. Talk about the Saints winning the Super Bowl. Talk about the two competing for the NFC South Division title. Don't bring up a game that holds no significance to this season. Why bring that up? And PS, the Falcons still won the NFC South Division and home field. ESPN should have pointed out that the Falcons didn't need the game. New Orleans did, but it still didn't matter as the Falcons beat the Panthers to claim homefield advantage. Next time ESPN, talk about THIS YEAR and the factors surrounding the game. Don't just slurp the Drew Brees/Saints kool-aid. Give the Falcons a bit of credit. Atlanta is the NFC's top team entering the playoffs. Deal with it.
Can you believe he said that?
Georgia and Georgia Tech each finished 6-7 after being ranked in the preseason Top 25, but that’s all the programs have in common. Tech lacks players. Georgia lacks coaching. All things considered, you’d rather be Tech.
Yep, despite the fact that he was on vacation, Mark Bradley still had his notebook open, ready to rip Mark Richt. Glad to see that some things never change. Let’s just hope for his sake that Georgia never gets rid of Richt and Tech never gets rid of Paul Hewitt.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
West wins the 2011 A&T Georgia Junior Bowl
In a game featuring the some of the best rising seniors in the state of Georgia, perhaps the 2011 season will be dominated by the defense in the Peach State. The Randy McPherson-coached West roster defeated the Franklin Stephens-led East squad 20-18 in the inaugural AT&T Georgia Junior Bowl thanks to some great defense and strong special teams play.
The East got out to an early lead after a bad snap on the game’s first play from scrimmage went for a safety. With the 2-0 lead it appeared that North Gwinnett’s Scott Hosch connected with Lassiter’s Charlie Hegedus for a long touchdown, but the score was erased due to a penalty. Austin Hardin did add a field goal to give the East a 5-0 lead. Then the West’s defense made a huge play. With Greyson Lambert of Wayne County in the game at quarterback, a blitz forced a fumble that the West’s Terrell Cason (Cairo) scoped up and scored to give the West the lead. The lead was padded on a successful two-point conversion catch from Zach Gordon of Carrollton.
The West stretched its lead out on a quarterback keeper from Ricky Parks of Callaway to make it 14-5. Parks showed that he will be one of the top athletes to keep an eye on this upcoming season. With his blend of size and speed, look for Parks to maybe switch to tight end at the next level, but Callaway should be a player in 2011 with Parks in the shotgun and under center.
In the third quarter, the East got to within three points after a Mike Davis score from about eight yards out, but the momentum was thrown right back to the West side after Westlake’s Charles Purnell returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a score. Purnell showed great patience and waited for his blocks to set up before making his cut on the return. The East could only manage seven more points, on a DiAndre Atwater touchdown with less than three minutes to play. The East defense forced a three-and-out but the punt was fumbled with one minute to play and the West ran the clock out.
Carver-Columbus’ Deion Bonner came up with a few pass breakups and blocked a field goal and extra point, showing he will be the next great Carver player, following Isaiah Crowell, Gabe Wright, Devin Burns, Corey Crawford and Jarvis Jones. Kaleb Nobles of Fitzgerald also looks to have a nice sense of running a football team. Another quarterback for the West, William Gardner showed that he has some serious arm strength, with his ability to simply flick the ball 40 yards. On the defensive side for the West, Jordan Jenkins will be a serious player for Harris County but will likely be a DE instead of a DT as his Alabama-bound teammate LaMichael Fanning was. Mike Hilton of Sandy Creek also showed that he has the ability to carry the Patriots to a third straight state title.
For the East roster, Hosch showed better than Lambert and MLK’s Jonquel Dawson, though Dawson did lead a late scoring drive for the East. Perhaps Hosch was used to the constant rotating of rosters, but Lambert must work on his accuracy on the run. The Wayne County product does have four major scholarship offers, including Georgia, Alabama and Clemson. Peachtree Ridge’s Alex Gray was all over the field for the defense as he came up with an interception and made several nice pass breakups and a blocked extra point. The Stephenson defensive front also will be stout this season as Carlos Hood, Jafar Mann and Jarontay Jones were impressive on the East DLine all afternoon. Finally Tre Sorrells of Alcovy showed he has some nice moves at tailback and could be an under-the-radar back entering the 2011 season.
The bottom line of the 2011 AT&T Georgia Junior Bowl was that these players showed they are in fact ready for primetime and the upcoming season could be one of the better defensive classes in the last five year.
The East got out to an early lead after a bad snap on the game’s first play from scrimmage went for a safety. With the 2-0 lead it appeared that North Gwinnett’s Scott Hosch connected with Lassiter’s Charlie Hegedus for a long touchdown, but the score was erased due to a penalty. Austin Hardin did add a field goal to give the East a 5-0 lead. Then the West’s defense made a huge play. With Greyson Lambert of Wayne County in the game at quarterback, a blitz forced a fumble that the West’s Terrell Cason (Cairo) scoped up and scored to give the West the lead. The lead was padded on a successful two-point conversion catch from Zach Gordon of Carrollton.
The West stretched its lead out on a quarterback keeper from Ricky Parks of Callaway to make it 14-5. Parks showed that he will be one of the top athletes to keep an eye on this upcoming season. With his blend of size and speed, look for Parks to maybe switch to tight end at the next level, but Callaway should be a player in 2011 with Parks in the shotgun and under center.
In the third quarter, the East got to within three points after a Mike Davis score from about eight yards out, but the momentum was thrown right back to the West side after Westlake’s Charles Purnell returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a score. Purnell showed great patience and waited for his blocks to set up before making his cut on the return. The East could only manage seven more points, on a DiAndre Atwater touchdown with less than three minutes to play. The East defense forced a three-and-out but the punt was fumbled with one minute to play and the West ran the clock out.
Carver-Columbus’ Deion Bonner came up with a few pass breakups and blocked a field goal and extra point, showing he will be the next great Carver player, following Isaiah Crowell, Gabe Wright, Devin Burns, Corey Crawford and Jarvis Jones. Kaleb Nobles of Fitzgerald also looks to have a nice sense of running a football team. Another quarterback for the West, William Gardner showed that he has some serious arm strength, with his ability to simply flick the ball 40 yards. On the defensive side for the West, Jordan Jenkins will be a serious player for Harris County but will likely be a DE instead of a DT as his Alabama-bound teammate LaMichael Fanning was. Mike Hilton of Sandy Creek also showed that he has the ability to carry the Patriots to a third straight state title.
For the East roster, Hosch showed better than Lambert and MLK’s Jonquel Dawson, though Dawson did lead a late scoring drive for the East. Perhaps Hosch was used to the constant rotating of rosters, but Lambert must work on his accuracy on the run. The Wayne County product does have four major scholarship offers, including Georgia, Alabama and Clemson. Peachtree Ridge’s Alex Gray was all over the field for the defense as he came up with an interception and made several nice pass breakups and a blocked extra point. The Stephenson defensive front also will be stout this season as Carlos Hood, Jafar Mann and Jarontay Jones were impressive on the East DLine all afternoon. Finally Tre Sorrells of Alcovy showed he has some nice moves at tailback and could be an under-the-radar back entering the 2011 season.
The bottom line of the 2011 AT&T Georgia Junior Bowl was that these players showed they are in fact ready for primetime and the upcoming season could be one of the better defensive classes in the last five year.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Saturday's AT&T Georgia Junior Bowl!
I will be calling the First EVER AT&T Georgia Junior Bowl on Saturday, January, 8 2011 LIVE from Hallford Stadium. Look for coverage on gpb.org/sports, ajc.com, FOX5 as well as several other outlets. My PXP partner Bob Houghton and my Official Visit co-host Scott Janovitz join me in the booth.
Over the last few years, recruiting has gone younger and younger with colleges starting their evaluations of potential prospects beginning with the targets’ sophomore and sometimes freshman year of high school. More juniors than ever have already committed to schools before even playing a down of ball their season seasons, some during their junior year. For the first time ever, the top rising seniors in Georgia will be given a chance to showcase their talents in front of the entire nation, and those 86 juniors lucky and skilled enough to participate in the 2011 AT&T Junior Bowl will have a chance to learn under some of the best prep coaches in the state. These players will also taste the spotlight for the first time as they will try and carry a team for the first time in this all-star showdown. The rosters of the 2011 contest will pit the beasts from the East versus the best of the West. The two rosters feature players that are sure to be on everyone’s “Best Of” list such Rivals.com, Scout.com, the AJC Super Eleven and the Score 44.
In 2010, several quarterbacks stood out on the playing field such as Collins Hill’s Taylor Heinicke and Chattahoochee’s Timmy Byerly, but only Clarke-Central’s Martay Mattox received a scholarship offer from a BCS school to play QB at the next level. The next generation already has that beat with Greyson Lambert (Wayne County) holding multiple SEC offers. Jonquel Dawson (ML King) set several DeKalb County passing records last season and will join Lambert and North Gwinnett’s Scott Hosch on the East roster. Both Dawson and Hosch will be looking at offers from big-time programs soon. The 2011 season could very well go down as the year of the quarterback with these three under center next year.
It will be hard for a running back to follow the hype that Isaiah Crowell lived up to the last two seasons but Stephenson’s Mike Davis (East) will try, as will Peachtree Ridge’s DiAndre Atwater (East). The West roster will also offer up two candidates to carry on Georgia’s tradition of talented tailbacks. Hillgrove’s Kenyan Drake was impressive all year long in 2010 and will have a chance to shine during his senior campaign. Sandy Creek’s Mike Hilton will also be the focus of the offense in 2011 now that his highly decorated teammates have left with back-to-back state titles.
Two members of the East can boast an NFL pedigree. Peachtree Ridge’s Ray Buchannan Jr is the son of the former Falcon and his high school teammate Atwater calls the former Bronco and Raven Steve Atwater “Dad.”
The talent on the West shouldn’t be overlooked, especially on defense. Carver-Columbus defensive back Deion Bonner is atop every BCS school’s dream list while Harris County defensive lineman Jordan Jenkins outplayed Alabama-bound LaMichael Fanning at times this season. Calhoun kicker Adam Griffith can also boot the ball through the endzone and through the goalposts on a regular basis. Griffith is as cold-blooded as you can be as a kicker and he will be one of the most sought-after kickers across the country in 2011.
These are just a few of the near 90 players that will be showcasing their talent at the 2011 AT&T Junior Bowl, which is sure to be one of the best all-star games one will see in the country.
COACHES SECTION
The players won’t be the only all-stars roaming the sidelines at Hallford Stadium for the 2011 AT&T Junior Bowl. The coaching staff is top-notch and should have plenty of experience and knowledge to offer their outstanding rosters.
Tucker’s Franklin Stephens will coach the East team, and the players would be smart to soak up as much wisdom as Stephens offers as he has a state title on his coaching resume. Stephens’ staff would make some NFL head coaches blush as Camden County’s Jeff Herron, a three-time champion will assist, as will Chattahoochee’s Terry Crowder, who just claimed the Class AAAA title a few weeks ago. Ed Dudley of Ware County will bring his many years of experience to the East staff. Dudley took Walton to the AAAAA semi-finals several years ago. Leroy Ryals was also in the AAAA state championship game one year ago.
The West coaching staff is just as decorated and it starts with the head man. Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson will serve as the boss of the West and he can hold his charges’ attention with his three state titles. Tom Fallaw of Cairo can also sport a championship ring as he will assist McPherson. Thomasville High School’s Richard Marsh has made the playoffs every year during his tenure and Fitzgerald coach Robby Pruitt has taken a team to the state finals in 2000 and been in contention seemingly every other year as well. Steve DeVoursney will also command some respect after all of the talent he has turned out the last few seasons.
In addition to bring together some of the best rising seniors, some of the state’s best coaches have been tapped to participate in the 2011 AT&T Junior Bowl.
Over the last few years, recruiting has gone younger and younger with colleges starting their evaluations of potential prospects beginning with the targets’ sophomore and sometimes freshman year of high school. More juniors than ever have already committed to schools before even playing a down of ball their season seasons, some during their junior year. For the first time ever, the top rising seniors in Georgia will be given a chance to showcase their talents in front of the entire nation, and those 86 juniors lucky and skilled enough to participate in the 2011 AT&T Junior Bowl will have a chance to learn under some of the best prep coaches in the state. These players will also taste the spotlight for the first time as they will try and carry a team for the first time in this all-star showdown. The rosters of the 2011 contest will pit the beasts from the East versus the best of the West. The two rosters feature players that are sure to be on everyone’s “Best Of” list such Rivals.com, Scout.com, the AJC Super Eleven and the Score 44.
In 2010, several quarterbacks stood out on the playing field such as Collins Hill’s Taylor Heinicke and Chattahoochee’s Timmy Byerly, but only Clarke-Central’s Martay Mattox received a scholarship offer from a BCS school to play QB at the next level. The next generation already has that beat with Greyson Lambert (Wayne County) holding multiple SEC offers. Jonquel Dawson (ML King) set several DeKalb County passing records last season and will join Lambert and North Gwinnett’s Scott Hosch on the East roster. Both Dawson and Hosch will be looking at offers from big-time programs soon. The 2011 season could very well go down as the year of the quarterback with these three under center next year.
It will be hard for a running back to follow the hype that Isaiah Crowell lived up to the last two seasons but Stephenson’s Mike Davis (East) will try, as will Peachtree Ridge’s DiAndre Atwater (East). The West roster will also offer up two candidates to carry on Georgia’s tradition of talented tailbacks. Hillgrove’s Kenyan Drake was impressive all year long in 2010 and will have a chance to shine during his senior campaign. Sandy Creek’s Mike Hilton will also be the focus of the offense in 2011 now that his highly decorated teammates have left with back-to-back state titles.
Two members of the East can boast an NFL pedigree. Peachtree Ridge’s Ray Buchannan Jr is the son of the former Falcon and his high school teammate Atwater calls the former Bronco and Raven Steve Atwater “Dad.”
The talent on the West shouldn’t be overlooked, especially on defense. Carver-Columbus defensive back Deion Bonner is atop every BCS school’s dream list while Harris County defensive lineman Jordan Jenkins outplayed Alabama-bound LaMichael Fanning at times this season. Calhoun kicker Adam Griffith can also boot the ball through the endzone and through the goalposts on a regular basis. Griffith is as cold-blooded as you can be as a kicker and he will be one of the most sought-after kickers across the country in 2011.
These are just a few of the near 90 players that will be showcasing their talent at the 2011 AT&T Junior Bowl, which is sure to be one of the best all-star games one will see in the country.
COACHES SECTION
The players won’t be the only all-stars roaming the sidelines at Hallford Stadium for the 2011 AT&T Junior Bowl. The coaching staff is top-notch and should have plenty of experience and knowledge to offer their outstanding rosters.
Tucker’s Franklin Stephens will coach the East team, and the players would be smart to soak up as much wisdom as Stephens offers as he has a state title on his coaching resume. Stephens’ staff would make some NFL head coaches blush as Camden County’s Jeff Herron, a three-time champion will assist, as will Chattahoochee’s Terry Crowder, who just claimed the Class AAAA title a few weeks ago. Ed Dudley of Ware County will bring his many years of experience to the East staff. Dudley took Walton to the AAAAA semi-finals several years ago. Leroy Ryals was also in the AAAA state championship game one year ago.
The West coaching staff is just as decorated and it starts with the head man. Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson will serve as the boss of the West and he can hold his charges’ attention with his three state titles. Tom Fallaw of Cairo can also sport a championship ring as he will assist McPherson. Thomasville High School’s Richard Marsh has made the playoffs every year during his tenure and Fitzgerald coach Robby Pruitt has taken a team to the state finals in 2000 and been in contention seemingly every other year as well. Steve DeVoursney will also command some respect after all of the talent he has turned out the last few seasons.
In addition to bring together some of the best rising seniors, some of the state’s best coaches have been tapped to participate in the 2011 AT&T Junior Bowl.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
SBF's FIRST mock NFL draft, picks 11-20
So after seeing CNNSI and ESPN already throw up a couple of mock drafts, I've decided that I am NOT too early by throwing out the first 20 picks. Scroll down to see picks 1-10, but a quick recap before we move to picks 11-20. (Why just 1-20? Beacuse only the first 20 spots have been determined. the rest of the order is decided after the playoffs!)
Quick recap (for quasi-witty comments, check out the first part)
Carolina-Luck
Denver-Bowers
Buffalo-Locker
Cincy-Green
Arizona-Mallet
Cleveland-Dareus
SanFran-Jordan
Tennessee-Fairley
Dallas-Peterson
Washington-Blackmon
11) Houston. Robert Quinn, DE UNC. Put this guy opposite Mario Williams and suddenly Peyton Manning is running for his life and perhaps Cowher gets the Texans into the playoffs next year!
12) Minnesota. Stephen Paea, DT Oregon State. With one Williams "brother" retired and the next possibly on his way, Paea steps in beside Jared Allen and the Vikings front doesn't miss a beat. Plus, this guy went to school in Oregon. He'll LOVE Minnesota. It'll be like a vacation for him.
13) Detroit. Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska. I am sure the Lions would trade this pick if it guaranteed that Matt Stafford would be healthy for the entire season, but they had such success with Suh last year, why not grab his former Nebraska teammate?
14) St. Louis. Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida. The Rams looked one or two players away in that last game against the Seahawks. While Bradford would probably LOVE a wide receiver, Jenkins is too good to pass up. Suddenly the Rams defense is starting to look pretty good....sort of.
15) Miami. Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa. If Cowher goes to MIAMI instead of Houston (and even if he doesn't), Clayborn would be perfect for Miami, whose fans will love Clayborn as though he was the third coming of Jason Taylor (because isn't Taylor himself the second-coming of himself when he re-signed with the Dolphins after one unsatisfying season with Washington?).
16) Jacksonville. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska. The Jags have had little luck drafting defensive linemen, so why not take a swing on Amukamara aka a DEFENSIVE BACK!?! This guy will be going up against Andre Johnson and Kenny Britt each twice a year. The offense could use some help, but if the Jags are to squeak into the postseason next year, it will be thanks to the defense.
17) New England (from Oakland). Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue. While the Pats will likely trade the pick, if they DO decide to keep it, Kerrigan might just make sense. Justin Houston is available, but I like Kerrigan for New England's style of defense. Plus he is a cold weather player already, coming from Purdon't.
18) San Diego. Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio State. The local Peachtree Ridge kid was unstoppable in the Sugar Bowl....when he was healthy. While Larry English likely won't be taking Merriman's place anytime soon (the juiced version of Merriman, that is), Heyward could be just what the doctor ordered for the Chahjaws in 2011-12
19) New York Giants. Von Miller. LB Texas A&M. I would think to put Justin Houston here, but I'll go with Von Miller, who will be strictly a LB at the next level, whereas Houston can float back and forth. The Giants already have a floater. Miller can get after the QB, much like Houston, but Miller appears to be more of what the Giants look for.
20) Tampa Bay. Justin Houston, OLB/DE. Georgia. Here you go Houston. Tampa fans will love that Houston slipped to them past New England and the Giants, and Houston will help to bring some bite back to the Bucs' defense that is starting to be overshadowed by the ever-improving Bucs' offense. Houston may never be Derrek Brooks, but he'll have tons of fans in Tampa.
Who else will make the first round? Let's wait until the order is decided before we continue, but expect a few more Tar Heels to make the first round as well as perhaps an Alabama tailback and possibly a Wisconsin offensive linemen or two.
Quick recap (for quasi-witty comments, check out the first part)
Carolina-Luck
Denver-Bowers
Buffalo-Locker
Cincy-Green
Arizona-Mallet
Cleveland-Dareus
SanFran-Jordan
Tennessee-Fairley
Dallas-Peterson
Washington-Blackmon
11) Houston. Robert Quinn, DE UNC. Put this guy opposite Mario Williams and suddenly Peyton Manning is running for his life and perhaps Cowher gets the Texans into the playoffs next year!
12) Minnesota. Stephen Paea, DT Oregon State. With one Williams "brother" retired and the next possibly on his way, Paea steps in beside Jared Allen and the Vikings front doesn't miss a beat. Plus, this guy went to school in Oregon. He'll LOVE Minnesota. It'll be like a vacation for him.
13) Detroit. Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska. I am sure the Lions would trade this pick if it guaranteed that Matt Stafford would be healthy for the entire season, but they had such success with Suh last year, why not grab his former Nebraska teammate?
14) St. Louis. Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida. The Rams looked one or two players away in that last game against the Seahawks. While Bradford would probably LOVE a wide receiver, Jenkins is too good to pass up. Suddenly the Rams defense is starting to look pretty good....sort of.
15) Miami. Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa. If Cowher goes to MIAMI instead of Houston (and even if he doesn't), Clayborn would be perfect for Miami, whose fans will love Clayborn as though he was the third coming of Jason Taylor (because isn't Taylor himself the second-coming of himself when he re-signed with the Dolphins after one unsatisfying season with Washington?).
16) Jacksonville. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska. The Jags have had little luck drafting defensive linemen, so why not take a swing on Amukamara aka a DEFENSIVE BACK!?! This guy will be going up against Andre Johnson and Kenny Britt each twice a year. The offense could use some help, but if the Jags are to squeak into the postseason next year, it will be thanks to the defense.
17) New England (from Oakland). Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue. While the Pats will likely trade the pick, if they DO decide to keep it, Kerrigan might just make sense. Justin Houston is available, but I like Kerrigan for New England's style of defense. Plus he is a cold weather player already, coming from Purdon't.
18) San Diego. Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio State. The local Peachtree Ridge kid was unstoppable in the Sugar Bowl....when he was healthy. While Larry English likely won't be taking Merriman's place anytime soon (the juiced version of Merriman, that is), Heyward could be just what the doctor ordered for the Chahjaws in 2011-12
19) New York Giants. Von Miller. LB Texas A&M. I would think to put Justin Houston here, but I'll go with Von Miller, who will be strictly a LB at the next level, whereas Houston can float back and forth. The Giants already have a floater. Miller can get after the QB, much like Houston, but Miller appears to be more of what the Giants look for.
20) Tampa Bay. Justin Houston, OLB/DE. Georgia. Here you go Houston. Tampa fans will love that Houston slipped to them past New England and the Giants, and Houston will help to bring some bite back to the Bucs' defense that is starting to be overshadowed by the ever-improving Bucs' offense. Houston may never be Derrek Brooks, but he'll have tons of fans in Tampa.
Who else will make the first round? Let's wait until the order is decided before we continue, but expect a few more Tar Heels to make the first round as well as perhaps an Alabama tailback and possibly a Wisconsin offensive linemen or two.
SBF's first Mock Draft...is it too early?
Is it too early to do a Mock Draft for the upcoming NFL draft? NO! ESPN and CNNSI have already done a few, so we here at SBF will do one as well! The first 20 picks of the draft order have been determined and while a number of underclassmen have yet to declare, I feel pretty comfortable going with what I have here. With no further ado, my first twenty picks (and I like to do this assuming there are no trades. Shoot, there may not be a draft with the lockout coming...)
1) Carolina Panthers. Andrew Luck QB, Stanford. Duh. Easy pick here. Sorry to anyone out there that was expecting an earth-shattering choice here. The new coach of the Panthers will get Luck, Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen under center. SWEET! Looks like Jim Fassel will get to huff and puff and tell the media to point the spotlight on HIM instead of Luck. Wait, is there media in Charlotte when it comes to anything other than NASCAR or college basketball? Pack-Man?
2) Denver Broncos. Da'quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. This guy can get after it. He helped Clemson nearly knock off Cam Newton and Auburn earlier this year and he was the ONLY reason to watch Clemson this year....other than Dabo! (and to see if Kyle Parker would get hurt. You KNOW the Rockies just wanted him to hand the ball off EVERY PLAY after that Auburn game)
3) Buffalo. Jake Locker, QB Washington. While I think Ryan Mallet is the better QB (wait, did I just type that? About a guy I call Mallet, rhymes with ballet?) for whatever reason (because they are buffalo, they'll mess it up), I think the Bills ignore the tape and go with Locker. Ty Willingham CANNOT be wrong!
4) Cincy. AJ Green, WR Georgia. Green would give the Bengals the guts to dump either TO or Ocho, maybe even both. He has great size and can catch ANYTHING (he played a full year with Joe Cox for Pete's Sake!). And since he has played with Joe Cox, he'll be ready to play with a shite QB like Carson Palmer.
5) Arizona. Ryan Mallet QB Arkie. With all due respect Max Hall, Derek Anderson and John Skelton, Mallet is the starter from day one. This guy has a HUGE arm and can make all of the throws. If Luck wasn't in the draft, Mallet would go No.1 just like Stafford did. Stafford though was WAY more mobile coming out of college (just think about what I said about Shrek there). Mallet is a bit of a statue.
6) Cleveland. Marcell Dareus, DL Alabama. Depending on who the new coach of Cleveland is will depend on where Dareus will play on the DLine, but this guy was a force for the National Champs in 2009-10 and was very strong last year despite the scandal of Agent-gate.
7) San Fran. Cameron Jordan, DE Cal. Just like how the 49ers will go local for its next head coach, the 49ers will go local with the No.7 pick and take Jordan. Unlike the Jags pick last year, THIS Cal Bear D-lineman DESERVES a top-ten pick.
8) Tennessee. Nick Fairley DE Auburn. Ric Flair in cleats AKA the dirtiest player in the game, heads to Tennessee, a team that may be in search of a coach and a quarterback, but probably will have both of the incumbents return because the Titans owner is CRAZY. Fairley will do just fine in the NFL, though if he tries to spear an NFL qb like he did with aaron murray, he should probably set aside some of his signing bonus for the fines.
9) Dallas. Patrick Peterson, CB LSU. The uber-talented athlete is sure to catch Jerray Jones' eye just like Dez Bryant did last year. Peterson will be too good to pass up, considering how bad Mike Jenkins is in that Allas seconary (get it? No D!)
10) Washington. Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State. As much as I would LOVE for the Skins to get AJ Green (won't be there) or to have Ryan Mallet fall into their laps (won't be there), when you trot out Santana Moss and Joey Galloway (for a while at least) you need a big-time receiver that is taller than 5'10. Let's just hope that someone can drive Blackmon to the stadium.
Picks 11-20 coming up later today!
1) Carolina Panthers. Andrew Luck QB, Stanford. Duh. Easy pick here. Sorry to anyone out there that was expecting an earth-shattering choice here. The new coach of the Panthers will get Luck, Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen under center. SWEET! Looks like Jim Fassel will get to huff and puff and tell the media to point the spotlight on HIM instead of Luck. Wait, is there media in Charlotte when it comes to anything other than NASCAR or college basketball? Pack-Man?
2) Denver Broncos. Da'quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. This guy can get after it. He helped Clemson nearly knock off Cam Newton and Auburn earlier this year and he was the ONLY reason to watch Clemson this year....other than Dabo! (and to see if Kyle Parker would get hurt. You KNOW the Rockies just wanted him to hand the ball off EVERY PLAY after that Auburn game)
3) Buffalo. Jake Locker, QB Washington. While I think Ryan Mallet is the better QB (wait, did I just type that? About a guy I call Mallet, rhymes with ballet?) for whatever reason (because they are buffalo, they'll mess it up), I think the Bills ignore the tape and go with Locker. Ty Willingham CANNOT be wrong!
4) Cincy. AJ Green, WR Georgia. Green would give the Bengals the guts to dump either TO or Ocho, maybe even both. He has great size and can catch ANYTHING (he played a full year with Joe Cox for Pete's Sake!). And since he has played with Joe Cox, he'll be ready to play with a shite QB like Carson Palmer.
5) Arizona. Ryan Mallet QB Arkie. With all due respect Max Hall, Derek Anderson and John Skelton, Mallet is the starter from day one. This guy has a HUGE arm and can make all of the throws. If Luck wasn't in the draft, Mallet would go No.1 just like Stafford did. Stafford though was WAY more mobile coming out of college (just think about what I said about Shrek there). Mallet is a bit of a statue.
6) Cleveland. Marcell Dareus, DL Alabama. Depending on who the new coach of Cleveland is will depend on where Dareus will play on the DLine, but this guy was a force for the National Champs in 2009-10 and was very strong last year despite the scandal of Agent-gate.
7) San Fran. Cameron Jordan, DE Cal. Just like how the 49ers will go local for its next head coach, the 49ers will go local with the No.7 pick and take Jordan. Unlike the Jags pick last year, THIS Cal Bear D-lineman DESERVES a top-ten pick.
8) Tennessee. Nick Fairley DE Auburn. Ric Flair in cleats AKA the dirtiest player in the game, heads to Tennessee, a team that may be in search of a coach and a quarterback, but probably will have both of the incumbents return because the Titans owner is CRAZY. Fairley will do just fine in the NFL, though if he tries to spear an NFL qb like he did with aaron murray, he should probably set aside some of his signing bonus for the fines.
9) Dallas. Patrick Peterson, CB LSU. The uber-talented athlete is sure to catch Jerray Jones' eye just like Dez Bryant did last year. Peterson will be too good to pass up, considering how bad Mike Jenkins is in that Allas seconary (get it? No D!)
10) Washington. Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State. As much as I would LOVE for the Skins to get AJ Green (won't be there) or to have Ryan Mallet fall into their laps (won't be there), when you trot out Santana Moss and Joey Galloway (for a while at least) you need a big-time receiver that is taller than 5'10. Let's just hope that someone can drive Blackmon to the stadium.
Picks 11-20 coming up later today!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Georgia should resolve to be BETTER in 2011
With the calendar turning over, folks across the country will boast New Years’ Resolutions such as losing weight, staying in better shape, quitting smoking, etc. The Georgia Bulldog football program should seriously think about making a few resolutions as well. The program should resolve to FINALLY BEAT FLORIDA, stay out of the police blotter or at least finish with a winning record. Several members of the Bulldog program in particular should announce resolutions immediately and they should go a little something like this…
Head Coach Mark Richt: GET THE TOP RECRUITS FROM GEORGIA COME FEBRUARY. This coming National Signing Day will be the most important in Richt’s career in Athens as it might be the class that can save his job. Two straight underwhelming seasons following an underachieving campaign in 2008 has put Mark Richt squarely on the hotseat. NO ONE can deny that fact now. Richt needs to have a banner 2011 year potentially with a date in Atlanta come the first weekend in December, and the way to get started is to snag Carver tailback Isaiah Crowell and Valdosta TE Jay Rome along with a few more Georgia prep products such as Xzavier Ward, Xzavier Dickson, Ray Drew, Malcolm Mitchell and Damian Swann. If Richt can net the first two along with three of the five others, he will be well on his way to a top three recruiting class and perhaps living on to coach the Dawgs in 2012.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo: CONSTRUCT A CONSISTENT OFFENSE. For all of the talk about Bobo’s record-setting year of eight games with 30+ points, he also oversaw an offense WITH AJ Green that failed to score a touchdown in its bowl game against Central Florida. Not the University of Florida or Florida State. UCF. Bobo’s crew also failed to reach paydirt against South Carolina and only got into the endzone against Miss State when the game was all but decided. You had AJ Green and Aaron Murray and two rushers that should have each gone for 1000 yards, yet the offense sputtered in three winnable games. If the offense scores a TD in any of those three, suddenly the season is a LOT better.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham: MOLD THE FRONT THREE INTO A FORCE. The 3-4 offense didn’t take off this year. It didn’t seem to get better as the year wore on and honestly, if the 2011 season started today, it would be worse as OLB Justin Houston is likely to depart for the NFL draft and first round riches. So Grantham’s resolution should be to build the front line so the LBs can fly around and make plays. Scout the jucos, force-feed PB&Js to current players and teach some of the older guys how to eat space. Grantham coached up the defensive line in Dallas; time to start doing the same thing in Athens.
Receiver Tavarres King: WORK ON YOUR HANDS. It sounds silly for a wide receiver to have to make a resolution to work on catching the ball, but King needs to. He has the size/speed combo to be a dominant receiver; he just needs to NOT drop the balls thrown his way in big situations.
Receiver Marlon Brown: GET CONFIDENT. Speaking of size, Brown certainly has it. His first two seasons in Athens have been disappointing. Hopefully if Brown can just get confident, he can get on the field and dominate the way Bulldog Nation hoped he would when he committed on National Signing Day in 2009.
Safety Alec Ogletree: LEARN HOW TO TACKLE. Boy, this kid looked special at times this year. He can lay the wood just like Thomas Davis and Greg Blue used to do Between the Hedges. Let’s just hope that Ogletree doesn’t just look for the big hit. Georgia needs a safety that can come up and help in run support by tackling the ball carrier or taking down a receiver. Sometimes if you just try for the big hit, you’ll miss, OR you get a reputation as a headhunter and the officials, concerned over safety, may flag you after a big hit. Learn to tackle and the officials may let a few of the questionable calls slide your way.
Just a few resolutions for the Georgia Bulldogs to work on to make 2011 a successful one; and face it, Mark Richt and company need a successful year.
Head Coach Mark Richt: GET THE TOP RECRUITS FROM GEORGIA COME FEBRUARY. This coming National Signing Day will be the most important in Richt’s career in Athens as it might be the class that can save his job. Two straight underwhelming seasons following an underachieving campaign in 2008 has put Mark Richt squarely on the hotseat. NO ONE can deny that fact now. Richt needs to have a banner 2011 year potentially with a date in Atlanta come the first weekend in December, and the way to get started is to snag Carver tailback Isaiah Crowell and Valdosta TE Jay Rome along with a few more Georgia prep products such as Xzavier Ward, Xzavier Dickson, Ray Drew, Malcolm Mitchell and Damian Swann. If Richt can net the first two along with three of the five others, he will be well on his way to a top three recruiting class and perhaps living on to coach the Dawgs in 2012.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo: CONSTRUCT A CONSISTENT OFFENSE. For all of the talk about Bobo’s record-setting year of eight games with 30+ points, he also oversaw an offense WITH AJ Green that failed to score a touchdown in its bowl game against Central Florida. Not the University of Florida or Florida State. UCF. Bobo’s crew also failed to reach paydirt against South Carolina and only got into the endzone against Miss State when the game was all but decided. You had AJ Green and Aaron Murray and two rushers that should have each gone for 1000 yards, yet the offense sputtered in three winnable games. If the offense scores a TD in any of those three, suddenly the season is a LOT better.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham: MOLD THE FRONT THREE INTO A FORCE. The 3-4 offense didn’t take off this year. It didn’t seem to get better as the year wore on and honestly, if the 2011 season started today, it would be worse as OLB Justin Houston is likely to depart for the NFL draft and first round riches. So Grantham’s resolution should be to build the front line so the LBs can fly around and make plays. Scout the jucos, force-feed PB&Js to current players and teach some of the older guys how to eat space. Grantham coached up the defensive line in Dallas; time to start doing the same thing in Athens.
Receiver Tavarres King: WORK ON YOUR HANDS. It sounds silly for a wide receiver to have to make a resolution to work on catching the ball, but King needs to. He has the size/speed combo to be a dominant receiver; he just needs to NOT drop the balls thrown his way in big situations.
Receiver Marlon Brown: GET CONFIDENT. Speaking of size, Brown certainly has it. His first two seasons in Athens have been disappointing. Hopefully if Brown can just get confident, he can get on the field and dominate the way Bulldog Nation hoped he would when he committed on National Signing Day in 2009.
Safety Alec Ogletree: LEARN HOW TO TACKLE. Boy, this kid looked special at times this year. He can lay the wood just like Thomas Davis and Greg Blue used to do Between the Hedges. Let’s just hope that Ogletree doesn’t just look for the big hit. Georgia needs a safety that can come up and help in run support by tackling the ball carrier or taking down a receiver. Sometimes if you just try for the big hit, you’ll miss, OR you get a reputation as a headhunter and the officials, concerned over safety, may flag you after a big hit. Learn to tackle and the officials may let a few of the questionable calls slide your way.
Just a few resolutions for the Georgia Bulldogs to work on to make 2011 a successful one; and face it, Mark Richt and company need a successful year.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Big B's post-bowl look at the SEC's recruiting classes
While I am still in Colorado, the show must still go on. Tune in tonight for Score Atlanta's The Official Visit from 7-9pm on Sports Radio 790 The Zone. Brian Jones prodives a top ten (or in this case twelve) list every week. Here he gives his thoughts on the recruiting classes for the SEC, post-Jan1 bowls.
12. Vanderbilt
11. Kentucky
10. Tennessee
9. Mississippi State
8. Ole Miss
7. Auburn
6. South Carolina
5. Georgia
4. Florida
3. Arkansas
2. LSU
1. Alabama
tune in tonight to hear what Scott Janovitz thinks about Florida being No.4!
12. Vanderbilt
11. Kentucky
10. Tennessee
9. Mississippi State
8. Ole Miss
7. Auburn
6. South Carolina
5. Georgia
4. Florida
3. Arkansas
2. LSU
1. Alabama
tune in tonight to hear what Scott Janovitz thinks about Florida being No.4!
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