Georgia WR Marlon Brown Still Has His Share of Doubters

Twitter is a fun place to be late at night—when most people have likely decided to engage in other more interesting activities—and this past Friday evening was no exception.

Noted Atlanta Journal-Constitution recruitnik, Michael Carvell, had this to tweet about Marlon Brown, the former five-star standout for Harding Academy in Memphis, TN:

While I don't share Mr. Carvell's insomnia over Brown's former recruiting rank—personally the stars don't mean a whole lot in most cases, because the pudding is proved on the field—I do admit to having a slight obsession with how insignificant a role he has played since he's been at Georgia. As a matter of fact, he's graced the thoughts and pages of this blog on several occasions (see link below) for that very reason and he's been a subject of fierce debate as to whether or not he will ever live up to the hype or promise he displayed in high school.

Brown isn't lacking in self-confidence where his skills are concerned, but putting his money where his mouth is will be the ultimate goal this season. As a junior, he's already being lauded as a potential No. 2 option playing opposite Tavarres King (who is set to step into the role left vacant by A.J. Green), but redshirt freshman, Michael Bennett, has received every bit the praise and accolades for his 'Kris Durham like' hands and 'A.J. Green like' flexibility so who's to say how things will turn out?

If anything, I find that I am more intrigued about Bennett's potential than Brown's—but that's just me.

Related articles

• Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Marlon Brown? (theladysportswriter.blogspot.com)
• Georgia Bulldogs: Tight End Is The New Wide Receiver (theladysportswriter.blogspot.com)

Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Marlon Brown?

Photo Credit: Brant Sanderlin/AJC

It feels like we've been asking this question for longer than necessary as Marlon Brown was supposed to be the gem of Georgia's 2009 signing class. On that signing day, if you had told anyone that Brown would be entering his junior season with a stat line of 13 receptions, 148 yards, and one touchdown, they might have asked if you needed professional help.

He was a star at Harding Academy in Memphis and was considered a lock to become the same at the next level—how could he possibly fail playing alongside the likes of A.J. Green? Brown was coming into a good situation, possibly being able to make a mark early with Mohammed Massaquoi exiting in 2008, and he had every opportunity to break down the freshman wall and become the next big thing at Georgia.

However, as it turns out, the mediocre competition at Harding Academy proved to be a bigger obstacle to his development than some thought it might. He wasn't prepared for the physical play of the SEC and was never able to find his groove on the football field.

Truthfully, he should have redshirted his first year as his two catches for 15-yards weren't worth the paper they were printed on. Even more, it was clear that he needed more time to learn the routes, learn the league, and add more weight to his lanky frame—the height was there, the strength was not.

By 2010, the question was no longer 'is he ready?', but rather 'where's he at?'  and if ever there were a time for him to shine, it was last season—A.J. was suspended, the running game was mediocre, and Aaron Murray was looking to make new connections, in the passing game, with anyone willing to step their game up—so what happened?

Well, Brown saw much of that season cut down by a shoulder injury.  He was never able to get healthy enough to make a real contribution.

2011 is already seeing some positive reports on Brown out of spring practice, but the same was said in 2010—and look how that turned out. At this point, it would just be nice to see Brown doing something other than traversing the sidelines as he's not become nearly the player Georgia expected him to be when he arrived in 2009.

It's time for Marlon Brown to make something happen at Georgia and hopefully this is the year that finally happens.

Georgia Bulldogs: Waiting on Marlon Brown To Become "Marlon Brown"

Photo Credit:UGA Sports Communications

When Marlon Brown announced he was heading to the University of Georgia, there was a lot of excitement about the talented receiver from Harding Academy in Memphis, TN.

Many expected him to immediately step onto the field and become an impact player—catching footballs alongside A.J. Green. However the opposite has proven true as Brown has not only not been an impact player, but has hardly made much of a contribution at all.

So, what's the problem?

Popular opinion seems to be that the young man simply wasn't ready for the SEC. He certainly had the size and speed, but his domination came easier when he was playing in Memphis—against the lesser competition in his league. He simply wasn't challenged enough at the high school level and, to some extent, coach Richt's staff understood that when they signed him, said Richt, at that time,  "...the league he played in certainly made you question just a little bit, is this just a big man in a league where he's dominant, or can he really play with the big boys."

That said, the potential for Brown still seemed limitless in terms of what he could do once he became better acclimated to SEC play. However, he has been plagued with a series of unfortunate setbacks, mostly injury-based, that have translated into Georgia Bulldog fans seeing a player who doesn't look like he will ever become what they imagined.

To be fair to Brown, it seems only right to mention that the wasted redshirt season of 2009 is as much a factor in Brown's overall lack of development than anything. The young man was targeted less than a dozen times during his true freshman season (2009) and, essentially, wasted a year of possible tutelage.

The mentality behind that decision not to redshirt him is a source of ongoing debate, but is neither here nor there as he enters his third season at Georgia—you know what they say about hindsight.

With A.J. Green gone and Kris Durham graduated, Brown has a better than average opportunity to begin to showcase what he can do at Georgia. He is no longer playing in the shadows of a superstar wide receiver, nor is he likely to be short-changed on the football field if he can play consistent football throughout the spring and summer.

The sky can still be the limit for Brown—if he can remember how to fly.

What say you, is Marlon Brown finally ready or are his best days behind him?

Georgia Bulldogs: Coach Bobo Needs To Bring His 'A' Game In 2011

Last season, Mike Bobo wasn't impressive.

While Mark Richt was quick to point out the streak where Georgia's offense put up 30 or more points (six)—setting some kind of record—most of us failed to be wowed by the overall product.

To be frank, Bobo's tendencies towards being too predictable became difficult to watch and, most of the time, you found yourself wondering why he was wearing a set of headphones in the first place.

So, the natural question continues to be this: why is he still the offensive coordinator at Georgia? What on earth does coach Richt see that so many others don't?

Those of us who judge Bobo, from our sofas and office water coolers, have already decided at least this much about him, 1) he often moves away from what's working (whether that be the run or the pass) in an attempt to diversify the offense, 2) he falls in love with a particular play and keeps running it (even when it becomes clear said play is not working), 3) he can't seem to make an offensive adjustment to save his life, and 4) he has no idea how to use the talent he has on the field.

Last season was a perfect example of that last point. It was clear that Green was Bobo's ace, and he wasn't prepared to call an offense that didn't feature him—who could blame him, right? A.J. Green wasn't only a playmaker for Georgia, he was the playmaker—no disrespect to Kris Durham—and while he was out, no one else seemed to step up.

Where were Marlon Brown?... Rantavious Wooten?... Tavarres King?

Or perhaps the better question was this: why didn't Bobo change his play calling to fit the guys he had on the field? Why not develop plays that take advantage of each player's respective skills?

Every team can't be blessed with an A.J. Green, so it's important that the offensive coordinator understand the skill-sets of each position player on his team's roster so that he is better able to use those skills in a productive manner.

For example, Tavarres King was able to get deep at numerous points last season, yet Bobo seemed hesitant to target him—even when it was clear that Green was not the best option (although, to be fair, that blame could have been just as much on Aaron Murray's shoulders).

Marlon Brown is a huge target, why didn't he get more redzone looks? Better still, with the gluttony of talent at tight end, why not employ more two-tight end sets once Georgia was in scoring range? Mix it up! Be innovative! Do something!

If Bobo has clear concepts of what he wants to do, he doesn't seem to have a clue how to get them from his head to the football field and that's a a problem.

2011 will be his defining season and, minus Green, Bobo will need to tap into whatever creativity he has if he expects to see the further progression of Aaron Murray on the football field.

Bobo's on-the-job-training ended a long time ago, it's time to see if he's worth the confidence that coach Richt keeps throwing his way—his job, and coaching future, likely depends on it.

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Georgia Bulldogs: Former QB Prospect, Logan Gray, Will Transfer

Logan Gray will no longer play for the University of Georgia.

The former quarterback prospect who began the 2010 campaign as a possible candidate for the starting QB position, only to be moved to wide receiver/flanker once Aaron Murray was named, has decided to take his degree (which he will be awarded in May) and seek out another school at which to use his remaining eligibility (he has one year remaining).

According to DawgPost.com, Gray wants to play his final season at a school closer to his home of Columbia, MO so that his family can come to his games.

I'll admit that I am uncertain if the same loophole that allowed Jeremiah Masoli to play at Ole Miss in 2010 will apply to Gray but, if it does, the NCAA waiver would come with the caveat that the University of Georgia doesn't offer an advanced degree in whatever field he hopes to obtain his Masters.

Would that open the door for him to play for the University of Missouri who, coincidentally, just lost their starting quarterback? Just an idea, nothing confirmed or heard about that possibility as it is just as likely that Gray could go the Division-II route.

Either way, you have to wish the kid nothing but the best. He gave his all at Georgia and it's too bad the coaching staff could never find a spot for him.

He finished last season with 105 receiving yards and things appeared to be looking up in 2011, especially with both A.J. Green and Kris Durham moving on, but his departure will leave Georgia even thinner at receiver, and will put a lot more pressure on guys like Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten to, finally, live up to their potential.

Georgia Football: Five Players Who Need To Start Realizing Their Potential

Mark Richt is hoping for big things next season. Todd Grantham's defense won't be in it's infancy anymore—although there is still some doubt that he will have the nose he needs to make the 3-4 defense work—and Aaron Murray will have a year of SEC experience under his belt.

That said, there will also be some big holes to fill—on offense and defense. The biggest holes will arise with the exits of A.J. Green (who is all but certain to bolt for the NFL) and Kris Durham (who came into his own at the wide receiver spot this past season but is graduating).

Both players will be tough to replace and, as of now, there isn't much reason to assume that whoever does step in will be an adequate fill-in.

Even more, the likely loss of Justin Houston, coupled with the departure of Akeem Dent, leaves a lot to be desired on the defensive front.

Dent ranked 2nd in the SEC in tackles (121)—20th in the nation—while Houston became the terror off the edge that many predicted he would—ending the regular season with 57 tackles (19.5 for loss), 11 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.

Keeping all this in mind, it seems that Georgia will need to find a few more role players to fill-in the gaps in 2011 if they expect to better their 6-6 regular season record, or stand any chance of winning the eastern division—a feat which seems a bit premature considering the numerous questions still left to answer.

So, what players need to finally start becoming the studs that Georgia expected them to be when they decided to make Athens their home? Read on, and feel free to drop a few names of your own in the comment section:

1. Marlon Brown, WR

He's got the height, the build, and the talent to be a talented receiver, but he's fallen short in two straight seasons. In year one, Georgia wasted an opportunity to redshirt him—a head-scratcher to this day—and his forgettable play amounted to two receptions for 15-yards.

This season, he caught 11 passes, for 125 yards, and a touchdown—better but still not impressive given the hoopla he garnered coming out of high school. With both Green and Durham gone in 2011, it's time that Marlon Brown start playing up to his potential.

He's had two years to get comfortable with the speed and defensive play of SEC opposition and now it's time for him to start earning his keep.

2. Rantavious Wooten, WR

He came on strong near mid-season of 2009, and finished sixth on the team in receiving yards. His inspired play made many predict 2010 as a potential breakout year. However, his inconsistent spring play, coupled with an inability to hang onto the football, made him a lesser factor as time wore on.

He finished the regular season with seven catches for 41-yards and a touchdown.

Wooten can be a deep ball threat when he's got everything going, but he doesn't seem to be as focused  as he was in year one. He needs to fix what ails him in the mental department and step into his role as a solid contributor on this football team.

3. Caleb King, RB

King has mostly fallen flat during his career. He's never come close to eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark, and his numerous injuries have kept him on the sidelines more than we've seen him on the field.
If nothing is clear about the Georgia offense, this one thing is, they need a good rushing attack to make things happen in the passing game. If King can't be that guy, then hopefully Georgia finds the player who can be—the success of Mark Richt rests heavily on that factor.

4. Kwame Geathers, Nose

Geathers is a beast, but his commitment level has been a question mark since he entered the program in 2009—overweight and poorly conditioned. He's made great strides in the 18-months since that time, but he's still not proved to be the guy that coach Grantham is comfortable with at the all-important nose position.

Georgia experienced a lot of inconsistency at the nose this past season, and it's a position that has to be shored up if the defense expects to get any penetration off the edge. Geathers will be one of the key options the team looks to in that regard—he needs to be ready to make it happen.

5. Nick Williams, SS/LB

It's uncertain whether the learning curve for Nick Williams has been so slow because the coaches are confused about the best spot for him to play, or if it's due to Williams' inability to play consistently at either position.

Williams' desire to play safety has been well-documented, but it's obvious that coach Grantham sees a need to continue placing him at linebacker. Whatever the case may be, Williams is too talented to be relegated to the bench. Georgia needs to find away to get him more involved next season.

That said, Williams needs to find a way to play more controlled football when he does have his chance. His tendency to lose his temper and make careless mistakes after the play is just as much a reason for his absence on the field this past year.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Redshirt Players Who Could Have An Impact in 2011

For most Georgia Bulldog fans, the 2010 season is already done—no matter what happens in the Liberty Bowl. For those fans, the time for looking ahead starts now...today. So, as we look into the future just a little bit, and search for potential 'diamonds in the rough', there is no better place to start than the guys who took a redshirt in 2010.

Aaron Murray used his one season of bench time to study the offense and become the man that Georgia would eventually call their starting quarterback. And, despite the impression Georgia's 6-6 record might have sent, there were few who saw him play that didn't walk away with a positive impression.

That said, 2011 presents the opportunity for another young player to show what he has to offer to the team and, perhaps, become the piece that either the offense or defense needs to help Georgia get back on the championship track.

Here are just a few guys worth keeping track of this summer:

Michael Bennett, WR

Bennett wasn't highly touted coming out high school but his work ethic and ability to make the big play didn't escape the attention of many during last summer's workouts. With Kris Durham graduating and A.J. Green likely bolting for the NFL (unless there is a lockout), Murray will need another big, strong, dependable target to lock in on when he's in a tight spot. Bennett could be that guy—he's a definite sleeper.

Mike Thornton, DT

He was one of last years biggest 'gets', and there were some who felt he was a perfect fit for Todd Grantham's 3-4. However,  for whatever reason, he wasn't ready to be installed into the system this season. Even so, he's worked hard and put on a little more weight and has impressed his coaches with his tough play. With the 3-4 still searching for playmakers, particulary at the nose spot, Thornton could make a big splash real soon.

Ken Malcome, RB

Georgia flirted with letting him see playing time after injuries, and suspensions, limited the depth chart at his position. However, he managed to stay on the sidelines this season and continue to get comfortable with his potential responsibility at running back. That said, he isn't likely to be a gamebreaker, but Georgia won't need him to be if he can do two things well, 1) hold on to the football and 2) move the chains.

He could become a big factor this fall as neither Washaun Ealey, nor Caleb King can count on being the shoe-in's that they were when the 2010 season began.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 10 Things Not To Do Against The Auburn Tigers

This is the time of week that this site offers a "10 Things To Know..." section, discussing the upcoming opponent.

Well, by this point in the season, we have all seen, read, and heard so much about the Auburn Tigers, that it would be a near impossibility to offer anything of substance.

With that in mind, this week will be a bit different as we will touch on the things that Georgia does not need to do if they expect to have a chance at winning this Saturday.

So, let's just jump right into it: 

1. Come out flat.

Georgia should have come out firing against the Bengals last week but, as they have often done this season, the offense came out looking mediocre and out of sync. If they do that against Auburn this weekend, they will find themselves in a hole very quickly.

They cannot come out looking dazed and confused like they did last week or the week prior against the Gators. The Tigers will bury them early if they do.

2. Concentrate too much on Cam Newton.

Cam Newton might be the most recognizable and talked about weapon on the field for Auburn, but he's not the ONLY weapon for the Tigers.

Michael Dyer leads the SEC in rushing—for a freshman. He has more yards than Marcus Lattimore and he's been a perfect compliment to Newton this season. Add to that, both Darvin Adams (WR) and the emerging Terrell Zachery (WR), are every bit the playmakers they appear to be.

Georgia cannot allow No. 2 to occupy so much of their mental and physical attention that they leave the other guys on the field free to beat them.

3. Forget how to pass protect—again. 

Nick Fairley is a beast and, if left unattended, he will feast on Aaron Murray.

For all the chatter about how poised and steady Murray has been this season, he has yet to truly face a defense as athletic, tough, and fierce as this Auburn front seven, and he's going to need a competent line, giving their best effort,  if he hopes to have a shot at picking apart Auburn's secondary.

4. Turn the ball over.

This is obvious, but it had to be said.

Georgia has both lost and gained momentum on turnovers this season. They need to be stingy with the football this weekend. No bobbles, no bad snaps, no forgetting how to secure the ball on long-gainers, etc.

Hold onto the football and be purposeful with every pass. 

5. Blitz too early and/or too often. 

While the "attacking style" defense of the 3-4 has been effective at points this season, Newton isn't going to crumble under the pressure of whatever Georgia has to offer. He's got a passer efficiency rating of 258.4 and a completion percentage of better than 70 percent against the blitz.

In other words, it hasn't worked on him.

The best thing Georgia can do is neutralize the running game and concentrate on jamming the routes of the Auburn receivers. If they can do that, they will flush Newton out of the pocket.

While that may seem like a poor option—given the fact that he's tallied more than 1,100 yards on the ground this season—it's the one that offers Georgia (which is currently No. 2 in the conference against the run) the best chance at disrupting the Tigers offense.

6. Over-commit to the running game. 

If Auburn's pass defense is shaky, then their rush defense is the steadying force that evens things out.

The Tigers are third in the SEC in rush defense (114.0 ypg). More to the point, Auburn has been
deadly good against the run this year and the three-headed monster of Caleb King, Washaun Ealey, and Carlton Thomas isn't likely to leave them with nightmares.

The most important players on the field for Georgia will be Kris Durham, A.J. Green, Tavarres King, and Orson Charles.

Should they abandon the run? No, but if they see it's not effective, they shouldn't remain so committed to it, that they fail to consider other playcalling options.

7. Allow Auburn to set the tempo. 

Auburn hasn't been the kind of team that grinds out plays. They have, for the most part, been quick to strike and quick to score. Georgia cannot allow the Tigers to control the tempo of this game, they don't run the kind of offense that would allow them to go toe-to-toe with Auburn for 60 minutes and if they have to get into a shout-out with Cam Newton and his trusty brigade, the defense could be sucking wind before halftime.

Georgia has to find a way to control the clock, keep the Auburn offense off the field, and slow the game down enough that Auburn has to adjust to them—not the other way around.

8. Get too caught up in this being the "Best Team In The Nation".

Part of Murray's problem against the Gators was he let his emotions control his play for the better part of 30 minutes. He was too pumped, too anxious, and too embedded in it being "Georgia-Florida". He cannot do that on Saturday if he expects to run an efficient, focused, and productive offense.

Ditto that for the defense. They need to play this game like it's just another opponent—don't let the ranking or "what this win means for the program" come onto the field of play.

Finish. The. Drill.

9.  Fail to maintain defensive intensity on third down.

All season it has seemed that Georgia goes full-out on first and second downs, then completely falls apart on third downs—no better example of this than against the Kentucky Wildcats a few weeks back.
Georgia needs to maintain a consistent level of intensity on every. single. down.

Defensive lapses have killed them all season and, more often than not, have led to momentum-changing plays.

10. Tighten up if the game is close. 

Cam Newton has proven that he only gets more resolved, more focused, and more calm as the game winds down. He's ready to play for all 60 and he's willing to take the team on his back if he has to. By contrast, Georgia hasn't found their formula for doing the same.

The tighter the game, the more prone to mistakes they become.

If they find themselves in a position to win on Saturday, they need to play like they both deserve and CAN win. If they don't believe it, their play on the field will reflect it, and they will have already lost.

What say you, do you like the Bulldog's chances to make a game of it this weekend?

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Ranking The 10 Best Performers In The Win Over Vandy

The start of the game was reminiscent of the start of Georgia's SEC season—wildly inconsistent, out-of-sync, and frustrating.

The offense found it difficult to get going, thanks in large part to the frequent stoppages of play and early on, it seemed as if the Bulldogs would be regressing back to the mediocre brand of football many came to expect during their four game losing streak (three timeouts used in the first six minutes).

However, the Bulldogs dominated that other team from Tennessee, both offensively and defensively, pitching their first shutout of the season and running all over and through the Vanderbilt defensive front—A.J. Green didn't even have to get his super hero clothing dirty on Saturday as there were plenty of big plays and familiar playmakers to go around.

So who made the cut for being the most productive on the day?...

1. Washaun Ealey, RB

Ealey ran with purpose on Saturday, breaking tackles, driving the pile, and making running lanes appear even when there didn't seem any. He even managed to hold onto the ball inside the five-yard line—the place he's struggled all season long—and score a touchdown.

He finished the day with 17 carries, for 123 yards, and one touchdown (7.2 ypc).

Note: Vanderbilt was the team Washaun Ealey broke out against last season as well. From that point on, he became a force in the Georgia running game, rushing for 595 yards and three touchdowns the remainder of the way.

2. Carlton Thomas, RB

Thomas finally hit pay dirt in the redzone, scoring twice on the day—once on a nice 15-yard run led by the blocking of center Ben Jones and, for the second time, on a nine-yard run late in the third.

He still isn't going to be the guy between the tackles but you have to applaud his efforts on Saturday.

Note: Those were the first touchdowns of Thomas' career. 

3. Kris Durham, WR

What more can you say about Durham?

Whether he was gaining yards on the first big passing play of the game (55 yards), or leaping above three defenders to pull down an ill-advised pass from Aaron Murray, the senior has given the Bulldog faithful everything he's got this year, and his four catch, 112-yard performance on Saturday just gave the fans yet another reason to smile.

Note: Durham averaged 28.0 yards per reception for the game, bringing his average, on the season, to 20.6. 

4. Aaron Murray, QB

He didn't have to run it much, but he stepped up and made a couple of really big plays from the pocket, a 48-yard strike to A.J. Green which led to a touchdown and a 22-yard completion to Aron White during a 16-play, 86-yard drive to end the first half.

The redshirt freshman ended the day with 287 yards and two touchdowns.

5. Uga VIII

How can you not mention Georgia's newest member?

"Big Bad Bruce" was a baaaaadddddddd Dawg on Saturday—bad meaning good—as he started his tenure both undefeated and, as coach Richt pointed out, "unscored upon".

6. The Defense

Wow.

Sure it was Vanderbilt, but that means nada—keeping a team off the board is impressive, no matter who they are or what they've done this season. After all, even Louisiana got on the board against Georgia in the first game of the year.

The Bulldogs held Vanderbilt to a total of 140 yards (82 passing and 58 rushing), 1-of-11 on third downs, and eight first downs....eight! Not to mention, they were +2 on the day after forcing an interception and a safety.

Note: Georgia is currently ranked 39th in the nation in turnover margin. They ended last season ranked 118th. Also, over the last two games the defense has allowed 14 points, 409 total yards of offense, forced five turnovers, and held the offense to 7-of-24 on third downs. 

7. Drew Butler, P 

That's the Drew Butler that Bulldog fans know and love. Butler averaged 49.0 yards per punt on the day.

8. The Offense

The Georgia offense has looked significantly better over the last two weeks and yesterday, against the Commodores, they totaled 547 yards of total offense (315 yards passing and 232 yards rushing). Add to that, they dominated the time of possession (37:15), and averaged better than 11.0 yards per passing play.

Note: Over the last two weeks, the Georgia offense has totaled 949 yards of total offense and scored 84 points.

9. The Offensive Line

There is still some improvement to be made in both pass protection and run blocking, but you have to give a nod to the reconfigured line which features a confidence-gaining Trinton Sturdivant at left tackle and an impressive Kenarious Gates at right guard.

10. Tavares King, WR

He's quietly having a good season for the Bulldogs at his position and caught four passes for 70 yards on Saturday.

What say you?...What caught your eye about the team on yesterday.

Georgia Bulldog Football: Mark Richt Needs More Than A.J. Green To Win Games

The Georgia Bulldogs, in case you didn't know it, are now 0-2 in SEC play after a heartbreaking loss to Arkansas today. The team fought hard, in the fourth quarter, but fell short as the Razorbacks walked out of Athens, GA sporting something they had not since 1993—a win.

It would be easy to make excuses for the team but, in the end, the truth would be simple: Ryan Mallett played like Ryan Mallett and the Georgia defense had no answer for him.

You see, all week long, the media and the journalists have tried their best to make Georgia Bulldog fans believe that without A.J., this team cannot win. However, in two weeks, the team has proven that it can indeed win—if they can ever get out of their own way.

Today, the run defense showed up in against the veteran running presence of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Aside from the one-yard touchdown run by Knile Davis in the first quarter, no other tailbacks made a significant contribution to the running game for the Hogs. As a unit, they carried 20 times for 59-yards (less than three yards per carry).

So, unlike last week, the run defense did a nice job of stopping the run and forcing the quarterback to make plays. Unfortunately for Georgia, they couldn't do two things well, on defense, at one time because Ryan Mallett had a field day with Georgia's secondary.

He was rarely pressured into a poor pass and every touchdown he threw, of which there were three, his man was left wide open. By the end of the day, the receivers had all-star numbers: Joe Adams snagged six balls for 130, Greg Childs caught three for 82, D.J. Williams...six for 61—see a poor trend here?

The secondary never seemed to show up today and that cost Georgia big time—none bigger than on Arkansas last possession of the game (a 36-yard, game winning touchdown). 

Truthfully, if you didn't know any better, you might have actually believed that Willie Martinez never
left the sidelines because it was deja vu all over again.

But, this article is not meant to be a recap. If you watched the game, you know what happened, and you can surmise from your own intelligence how it transpired—no need to do it for you here. That said, what is perplexing is how everyone seems to keep telling themselves that A.J. Green would have been the difference.

 While it cannot be denied that Green is a catalyst, a playmaker, and a genuinely wonderful weapon to behold, he cannot play defense. He cannot run block for the offensive line, he cannot pass rush for the linebackers, he cannot punt for Drew Butler, he cannot cover kickoffs for special teams, he cannot playcall for Mike Bobo, and he cannot cover wide receivers for the secondary.

As outstanding a football player as A.J. Green most certainly is, he is one guy and, as much as some outlets would like you to believe it, he is not the only piece this team needs to win on Saturday.

Furthermore, to say that A.J. is the only guy worthy of catching the ball on Saturday is disrespectful to Kris Durham. Durham has done a tremendous job in A.J.'s absence. No, he doesn't have the speed, the highlight reel grabs, or the NFL pedigree, but he does have 13 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown (through the same number of games last season, Green had 17 receptions, for 275 yards, and three touchdowns). Durham may not be Green, but he's done a phenomenal job filling in for him this season. 

Even more, a great point was made by Quinton McDawg over at the Georgia Sports Blog following the game on Saturday. He stated that the Alabama Crimson Tide have been without their Heisman winning playmaker for the last two weeks and they haven't missed a beat. His point, great teams can survive the storm—that's what great teams do.

Is this Georgia Bulldog team a great team?...No, it's a young one, with a redshirt freshman quarterback and a new defensive scheme—period.

This loss will lead to a lot of "hot seat" talk—be prepared. Some of the arguments for the inconsistencies of Richt's team this season will be valid, while others could likely be chalked up to the ridiculous rantings of a message board maniac. Neither argument will make a difference where this season is concerned—that's a fact. Richt is not going to be fired this season, but he could be under a lot more pressure if this 1-2 start turns into a 7-5 or 6-6 finish.

Curious to hear your thoughts after three weeks of play by this Georgia Bulldog team. Where do you stand on them now? I haven't given up on them but I certainly have begun to temper my expectations a bit more after today.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: The Best Individual Performers in The Loss to South Carolina

It seems comical to walk away from this loss with anything but a laundry list of negatives. After all, as much credit as you feel obliged to give South Carolina for securing a big time SEC victory at home, you feel equally sick to your stomach that Georgia didn't play the best they could play on Saturday.

That said, you start looking for the silver lining—wherever you can find it—because there is still a lot of football left to play.

So, after revisiting the game, and the box score, here are the performances that represent hope that tomorrow will be a brighter day.

1. Aaron Murray, QB

Murray was solid. Despite the final score, you have to be impressed with how the young freshman performed under hostile conditions, on the road, for the very first time. He made good decisons—aside from a play in the first half where he should have thrown it away, but took the sack instead.
He didn't try and do too much with the football and he didn't turn the ball over—that's key. He was as steady as the fans could have hoped in that pressure-cooker of a situation and that bodes well for the future. That said, the coaches need to take the handcuffs off him a little more.
Richt and Bobo still seem hesitant to set him loose and, to be frank, it's time to see what he can do with a more wide-open playbook.

2. Justin Houston, LB

Lost in the mess that was a myriad of missed tackles and poor run defense was the fact that Justin Houston performed well on Saturday—three sacks, ten tackles, and a forced fumble—against South Carolina.

3. Kris Durham, WR

Everyone, both before and after the game, emphasized the loss of A.J. Green and the impact his absence might have played in the loss. However, no one gave nearly as much credit to Kris Durham who, in Green's absence, managed to rack up 76 yards on three catches (25.3 avg). The senior continues to be a reliable set of hands for Murray and, unfortunately, not much attention is being paid to that fact.

4. Pass Defense

The main focus of conversation is centered on the inefficiency of the Georgia run defense. They got  got pummeled by Marcus Lattimore—all day long.  The true freshman had no problem making ground against the defensive front of Georgia.

However, the pass defense was pretty good. Garcia managed 165 yards passing in the game—most of which came on a couple of really big third down completions, in the first half, to Alshon Jeffery.

5. The Georgia defense—overall

The poor tackling cannot be expressed enough. However, even with that, and without A.J. Green—Georgia still kept it close. They ONLY lost by 11 but, the way they tackled, Lattimore ran, this game could have easily been a blowout for South Carolina.

For all the guffaws of the first half, give a little credit to Grantham for making some adjustments to the defense at halftime. The Bulldogs were pitching a shutout until the late field goal and, if the offense were able to convert a couple key redzone opportunities—who knows?

6. Blair Walsh, K

Where his counterpart, Drew Butler, seemed to be having an off day, Walsh continues to be money in the bank for Georgia. He wasn't given much of a chance to do anything special—like kick a game-winning field goal—but he did manage to convert his field goal opportunities when called upon.

Again, that may not seem like much to hang your hat on, but it's important to know that your kicker is able to perform—no matter the situation—particularly on the road in the SEC.

7. Washaun Ealey, RB

Ealey's fumble will be the focus for many—no doubt about it. However, it was encouraging to see him come out early and hit the holes hard. He churned out a lot of big yards before the offensive line started to look suspect for Georgia. Even more, he did it by himself.

Caleb King was not a factor in this game (still not certain what happened there—ankle?) but Ealey didn't seem to mind carrying the load on his own. He finished with 19 carries for 79 yards in his season debut.

Okay, that's it for this week because, honestly, it would have been easier to find 20 things wrong with the way Georgia played than to find five things right.

Time to prepare for Arkansas.

As always, love to hear your thoughts on the game. So, what say you?

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• No. 24 South Carolina holds off No. 22 Georgia (sports.espn.go.com)

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Mark Richt to Bulldog Nation, "There's No 'I' In Team"

After the disappointment of the A.J. Green suspension set into the minds and hearts of Georgia Bulldog fans, an alarming trend began to take place—suddenly, Georgia became a mediocre team. That's right, all of a sudden, Georgia became incapable of winning the game on Saturday.

Well, hopefully, that's not the message the fans in Bulldog country are trying to send to the rest of the players on the Georgia Bulldog roster who will travel to Columbia—ready to play—on Saturday because if it is, it's an awful one. 

Look, here's the fundamental problem with the "we can't win without A.J." theory, it doesn't take into account that other players on the roster are every bit as skilled in the areas necessary to win the game as Green is—the difference being that Green had it all in one pretty package.

That said, at last check, Georgia has other wide receivers who are capable of running fast (Tavarres King), catching the ball (Kris Durham and Marlon Brown), stretching the field (Rantavious Wooten and Israel Troupe), and getting into the end zone (Aron White, Orson Charles...etc, etc)—that trait is not specific to A.J.

While there is no denying the fact that Green is a dynamic player who brings a lot to the field by simply being there. There is also little doubting this fact: Georgia has won without him...six times. Trust this much, Richt isn't somewhere crying in his lemonade (neither is Todd Grantham) over A.J's loss. Similar to last season, Georgia will look to other players to step-up and fill in the blanks. 

And, another thing, this game won't mirror the 41-37 shoot-out of 2009. The 2010 version will be won in the trenches. Georgia isn't going to try and go tit-for-tat with the Steve Spurrier, they will try and run it down the throat of the questionable South Carolina defensive front.

That said, it would have been a far greater loss to the team if running back, Washaun Ealey, were forced to sit on the sidelines. Ealey will be counted on to use the energy he saved by missing game one to run over and through the Gamecock's defense in game two.

If he can do that, quarterback, Aaron Murray's job will be that much easier in the passing game.
Furthermore, in those critical third down situations that Green is so money in, Murray will likely look to the hands of Kris Durham, Orson Charles, or Aron White (expect to see the tight ends on the field a lot more this week) to fill the void—all of them are capable of making solid plays in that situation.

The point is, Georgia is anything but done for this week so fans should be conceding nothing—unless, of course, you are one of those who already penciled this as a loss (with or without A.J.). If that's the case—carry on.

Green's suspension is a setback, no doubt about that, but to intimate that his absence is going to turn the team into a pushover is not only a slap in the face to the defense, but a mockery to an offense that is going to look a bit different with Murray standing under center.

Hang in there, Bulldog Nation, there is still plenty of fight in these Dawgs!

GATA!

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Ranking The 10 Best Performers In The Win Over Louisiana

The first Georgia Bulldog Saturday—Between The Hedges—is in the books, and what a lovely day it was to be a Georgia Bulldog football fan.

The Bulldogs started the game a tad out of rhythm—allowing a 40+ yard return on the opening kickoff—but soon found their groove and cruised to a 55-7 victory over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. It was a well-deserved victory for Mark Richt's bunch who played well without starters Washaun Ealey (suspended), A.J. Green (team decision), and Tavarres King (suspended) on the field.

Todd Grantham's first game as defensive coordinator was marred only by a 60-yard touchdown to Louisiana's Ladarius Green on a play that their safety, Bacarri Rambo, allowed to get behind him. If not for that play, the Georgia defense likely would have pitched a shut-out in their home opener.

So, who were a few of the games best individual performers on Saturday?...

1. Aaron Murray, QB

Murray was as poised as you would have hoped he would be standing in front of a home crowd of 92,000+.  He made few mistakes and showcased his above-average scrambling ability whenever necessary—including one scramble near the end of the second quarter that led to seven points.
He spread the ball around well (10 players had one catch or more) and got good zip on his throws even when rolling out of the pocket. His decision-making was only questionable at certain points—particularly on what appeared to be a hail mary pass in the end zone that was nearly picked off.

He finished the game 17-26, for 160 yards, and 4 TD's (1 rushing). His lone interception was on a throw to Kris Durham that should have been caught by the senior receiver.

2. Carlton Thomas, RB

Thomas had some nice gains on Saturday. He fought through the Louisiana defensive front well and didn't seem to have trouble netting positive yards. His 16-yard run on a second down, late in the first quarter, set up a touchdown—leading to a 14-0 lead for Georgia.

The 5-foot-7 back from Frostproof, FL, took advantage of the extra playing time allotted him by the absence of Washaun Ealey—he was the leading rusher on the day for Georgia—finishing the game with 64 yards on 13 carries (4.7 avg).

3. Caleb King, RB

Despite the fact that he finished with less yards than Thomas, King ran strong on Saturday and showed some of the brilliant flashes of greatness that led him to an 800+ yard season in 2009.

King broke tackles, juked, spun, and ran through Cajun defenders on his way to 49 yards and a touchdown in the Georgia win.

His most impressive rush came late in the first when he ran 20 yards for a touchdown—Georgia's first scoring drive of the day.

4. Kris Durham, WR

Durham was Georgia's leading receiver on the day, and he did a fine job of filling in for the absent A.J. Green.

He made some tough catches, and took a couple of big hits, but he never hesitated to go up strong and come down with the big reception. He lost a battle for a ball late in the third—leading to an interception for Murray—but overall had a strong outing for Georgia.

He ended the game with five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.

5. The Georgia Bulldog secondary

What a difference a year, and a coach, makes for the Georgia Bulldogs' secondary. The much-maligned, often burned, secondary of 2009 racked up three interceptions. Brandon Boykin, Jakar Hamilton, and Sanders Commings, all came down with picks for Georgia—Hamilton's turned into a pick-six.

The team had 10 interceptions total last season.



6. Shaun Chapas, FB

Chapas continues to be a stellar renaissance man for the Georgia Bulldogs offense. He blocked brilliantly on both passing and rushing downs and was an excellent short-yardage option for Murray when called upon. 

He had one touchdown reception and 18 total yards (ground and air), but it was his intangible contributions that made him so outstanding on the day.

7. The Georgia Bulldog defense

Todd Grantham's 3-4 still has some kinks to work out, after all this was nowhere near the level of competition that Georgia will face in the coming weeks, but overall you have to be impressed with the level of play that he has his unit executing at this early on in the year.

Georgia's front seven held the Cajuns to only five first downs on the day. Chris Masson felt the pressure on nearly every down and struggled to find any adequate passing lanes to throw into.

Justin Houston had one sack, and Akeem Dent and Daryl Gamble made life miserable for both the receivers and the ball carriers.

All told, the defense was responsible for three sacks for -18 yards and nine tackles for -26 yards. 

8. Drew Butler and Blair Walsh

This kicking duo is already in mid-season form. Walsh didn't get much work kicking field goals, but he did make two on the day—both from 48+ yards—with ease, while going a perfect 7-for-7 on PAT's.

As for Butler, he continues to boom it out. He had six punts for 280 yards (46.7 avg), with a long of 59 yards.

Clearly, Georgia will need the strong, accurate, legs of both of these young men next week when the Bulldogs travel to South Carolina to battle the Gamecocks.

9.  The Georgia Bulldog offensive line

The guys did a pretty nice job of keeping Aaron Murray upright on Saturday (zero sacks). The young quarterback had to improvise a time or two when the pocket seemed to break down, but overall the Georgia passing game was consistent all day.

The rushing lanes were there for the backs to get some good yardage on the ground (184) and the Cajun's defensive front had a tough time getting pressure on Murray or Hutson Mason—who threw a touchdown on his first pass (one of only eight collegiate quarterbacks ever to have done so).

10. Mark Richt

He wasn't on the field of play, but there is proof that his expectations for his quarterback have yet to ease.

After Aaron Murray rushed for his first collegiate touchdown, instead of being happy about the six points, Richt had this to say: "If he thinks that's how he's going to make a living in our league (SEC), that's not a good thing". His point being, Georgia was near the end of the quarter, and if Murray had not gotten the points, Georgia would have squandered an opportunity in the red zone to put some on the board—Murray's run ran the clock to zero.

It's obvious that Richt is going to make certain that Murray is aware that the SEC is a different animal altogether and, come next Saturday, things will be a lot tougher for him. Nice to know that Richt is keeping everything in perspective.

What say you, Georgia/SEC fans? What stood out for you on Saturday?

Next up: South Carolina. 

Mark Richt Suspends Two, Who Will Move Up On The Depth Chart?

The Georgia Bulldogs suffered another setback over the weekend as the football team made its way back into the headlines.

The arrests of Tavarres King (WR) and Dontavius Jackson (RB) cast another shadow over the football program, the result of which will mean there will be more depth chart shuffling.

At the end of spring practice, Tavarres King won out over Rantavious Wooten for the No. 2 receiving spot behind A.J. Green. The competition would likely have stretched into the summer, but King had a decided edge over Wooten in their position battle. Now, with King’s mandatory one-game suspension being a factor, the door is open for Wooten or someone else to grab the reigns—at least in game one.

King was one of Georgia’s best deep ball threats and there were some who felt that 2010 would be his breakout season. Now, it is unclear when he will play and that means someone else will be counted on to step up and fill his void.

The Bulldogs have one incoming receiver for 2010, Michael Bennett. His development will be watched with more interest now as he could be called upon early to contribute. It will be interesting to see how he adapts to the rigors of the SEC, both physically and mentally, because there is little doubt that he has the requisite skills.

The most likely scenario is that Bennett fills in as a reserve and Marlon Brown or Rantavious Wooten battle it out this summer for the No. 2 spot—assuming Brown can remain healthy and Wooten can cure what ailed him during the spring where he seemed to struggle with dropped balls.

If neither of them can secure the job, look for Kris Durham to make some noise. He looked impressive in the G-Day Game and he has always been a good possession receiver for the Bulldogs throughout his career—despite limited opportunities to shine.

At the running back spot, the loss of Dontavius Jackson—who was slotted in at third on the depth chart, with Carlton Thomas trailing slightly behind—is a touch more worrisome. Despite the talented tandem of Washaun Ealey and Caleb King, a third back would be nice insurance against injury and fatigue.

The obvious choice to replace Jackson would seem to be Carlton Thomas. He looked good during the spring and, for the second year in a row, was impressive in G-Day.

However, last season highlighted some weaknesses in his abilities—mostly due to his size—and the
fact is, he is not an every down back. He has a very specific skill-set that the team will use where possible but he’s not the long-term answer.

The natural fit for the role is likely to be incoming freshman, Ken Malcome. He has the size and strength for running the ball between the tackles and his balance and vision make him intriguing as an early contributor.

He lacks the speed of Dontavius Jackson but his style closely mirrors that of Washaun Ealey and that's not a bad thing.

Will he be ready to jump in and make it happen? We'll just have to wait and see this summer, but with the lack of warm bodies on the depth chart at running back, Malcome will definitely be in the mix.

Hopefully the opportunity to move up on the depth chart will spark greater competition amongst those who are fighting to make a statement for the Bulldogs in 2010.

The Georgia Bulldogs' Michael Bennett Is Ready To Step Out of The Shadows

Despite the lack of depth the Georgia Bulldogs have at wide receiver for 2010, Michael Bennett’s name hasn’t been mentioned much as a potential target for Aaron Murray. This lack of notoriety is a familiar scenario for the young man from Alpharetta, GA.

Bennett was referred to as the “most underrated wide receiver” prospect in the state for 2009 by MaxPreps. He didn’t even receive any Division I offers until after his performance at the 2009 Atlanta National Underclassmen Combine (NUC).

It was there that he took home the prestigious ‘Combine King’ award after making mince meat of the competition in both 7-on-7 and 1-on-1 drills.

His impressive performances continued into his senior season at Alpharetta High School (AAAAA), where he finished the year with 1,084 all-purpose yards, 7 touchdowns, 35 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 693 rushing yards.

Now, he hopes to carry his productivity into the SEC where his goal is to be a solid contributor for Georgia—early.

Many have compared Bennett to current Georgia Bulldog receiver,  Kris Durham, and while the two are similar in size and build, that is where the similarities end.  The more film you see on Bennett, the more you realize that he is a very special player with more talent than he's been given credit for—in my opinion.

His size, speed, vertical leaping ability, and overall approach to the game is very similar to that of current Georgia standout, A.J. Green (who, coincidentally, Bennett states he has tried to model his game after). He has a tremendous ability to make the catch—no matter the situation—and his body control while in the air is something to see.

The latter was something that scouts were equally impressed by during their evaluation of him at the various summer camps he attended during his junior season. . He was fearless when going up to make the catch and his willingness to sacrifice his body for the ball made for some highlight reel catches on the field.

He doesn’t mind contact either (he also played some defensive back in high school) and, coming to the SEC, he has committed himself to getting stronger so that he is prepared to take the hits that will surely come his way as a result.

It’s that kind of dedication that has the coaches excited about his long-term potential.

As of now, it’s uncertain what will happen with Bennett for 2010. If he’s ready, and performs well this summer, it may be difficult to keep him off the field. However, with the maturation of Marlon Brown and the return of Kris Durham, it may be difficult for him to gain much in the way of playing time as the teams 5th or 6th option. 

That said, Bennett is preparing like a guy who expects to play this year—he is not looking to redshirt in 2010. His understanding is that his opportunity to play will come sooner, rather than later and if it does, Georgia fans should be surprised by what they'll see.

If nothing else, he has a ton of upside for the future and it would not surprise me to see him taking on a much bigger role in 2011—particularly if A.J. Green leaves for the NFL as expected (Green is a projected Top 10 pick).

Michael Bennett is definitely one to watch.