We've all seen Coach Bennett's 'need more dogs' speech. Here's hoping he gets all the Dawgs he can handle.
Can we play smart and focus on running the offense we'll need the rest of the season? We've seen smart play calling from Bobo in these types of games. Think using Knowshon the way we did in the Central Michigan game in 2008. We've also treated these games as opportunities to 'try something different' to varying degrees of success. The game last Saturday should be a pretty good indication of what will work and what won't. We don't need to waste 25 downs on plays that we won't likely use but one more time this season. We need those 25 reps on plays well run 6-10 times a game going forward.
Can the defense get their legs under them? Not to harp on this too much, but the front three or four needs to have a big game to get some confidence. We also need some strong reps for guys at ILB, since we could be playing a tuba player there if too many more people get hurt. I'd love to see a shutout. I'll take under 225 yards offense allowed.
Will Richt let guys have fun? I know it is Coastal. I'm not talking doing Soulja Boy on the sideline, I talking not putting the brakes on if we get up big. Not to make too big of a deal out of this, but winning can be both contagious and addictive. It has been a while since the team has felt that. Let them.
To date, we are the only SEC team that hasn't played a game like this. In a strange way, this week could help us understand where we are as much as the past two games did. Struggle to contain them like Ole Miss did with S.Illinois, that tells you something. Dominate them like 'Bama did with Kent State, that tells you something else. Here's hoping we get good answers.
Crowell for the TD against South Carolina (Image: Hipple)
Sorry for the light posting this week. My mom let me out of the basement....
I'll have a more succinct rundown and my typical three questions tomorrow, but I'm not going to entertain the thoughts of losing to Coastal. Clearly, if that happens, I'll have way more to talk about than how many linebackers we have for Ole Miss or who the interim coach will be. If we lose to Coastal, I say Joe Kines.
Me, I'd like to see...
Crowell with 100+ yards...in the first half. Yeah, I know we tend to treat these games as situational scrimmages and do wacky stuff like force reps with different looks. I also know that if we are to become the team Coach Richt thinks we can be, having Crowell confident in the running game is paramount. Odds of this one happening: 3-1.
Four sacks. Coastal is a rush oriented football team. They only throw about 25 times per game. Still, I'd like to think we could get enough pressure and throw enough looks at them to get there. Especially if we get up early. The problem is that both Coastal QBs (yes, both) are mobile. I'd settle for several tackles for losses. Odds: 5-1.
Get game speed passes to King, Brown, Troupe, Lynch, Figgins, Charles, Crowell, Samuel, and Mitchell. If we are going to treat it as a scrimmage, at least give guys a chance to gain confidence in their game. Odds: 5-1.
Hold the Chanticleers to under 225 yards offense. Odds: 11-2.
Get substantial reps for young guys, especially at offensive line and linebacker. Odds: 7-2
Murray not getting hit. Unless we run him a little. The dude needs a break. Odds: 9-2.
Us not letting up until under 5 mins in the 4th Q. I know it isn't in Coach Richt's personality, but if we are still moving well on them with the 2nd and 3rd stringers in, let them go. Put a Wisconsin on Indiana style whipping on. Odds: 13-1.
No 'bad play' turnovers. You know, posting who the receiver is on your Facebook on a pass play or botched exchange on the hand off. Odds: 3-1.
Feeling good that we accomplished all we needed to with this game. Show up, take this thing seriously, score early and often. Go for the jugular, instead of thinking we'll eventually grind them down. Odds: 20-1.
Shutout. Them, not us. Odds: 33-1.
So, what do you want to see this week? I mean an honest assessment of areas of improvement or legitimate areas of focus.
We have the Thursday night abomination game between LSU and the Bizzaro Dawgs on the slate. This game will close shortly before the 8pm Eastern kickoff. The rest of the picks will be due by noon Eastern on Saturday.
The scene above pretty much captures the current climate in college football. Jim Delandy is Josey Wales and Mike Slive is the Chief Lone Watie. The problem is Larry Scott, DeLoss Dodd and John Swofford are all under the misconception that they can win this gun fight.
Delany fired first last year, and Slive fired second. Now, we're waiting.
Lone Watie: "How did you know which one was goin' to shoot first?"
Josey Wales: Well, that one in the center: he had a flap holster and he was in no itchin' hurry. And the one second from the left: he had scared eyes, he wasn't gonna do nothin'. But that one on the far left: he had crazy eyes. Figured him to make the first move.
Now we wait and the end game is still for Delany and the Big Ten to smoke out Notre Dame, but that's going to require obliterating the Big 12 and the Big East as we know it today.
So...here's the latest as of yesterday / this morning:
FSU - The Palm Beach Post is reporting that the Noles have created a committee to evaluate the situation regardless of whether or not they join the SEC or the ACC expands, they want to be ready to draw down. They are the guy with the flap holster in no itching hurry.
Oklahoma State - They are the guy with with scared eyes. They're going where OU goes and have zero control over their own fate.
Missouri - I have to imagine that Arkansas is behind all the Missouri rumors. Arkansas would be so well positioned if we added neighbor/rivals in TAMU and Mizzou. It would open the St. Louis recruiting market for the Hawgs, and fuel ticket sales and contributions to new heights. Still Mizzou wants the B10 invite more than the SEC, but they will take what they can get. Their regents met earlier this week to talk realignment.
Texas - The Horns have lots of options, but none are perfect. They can stick in the Big 12 by replacing OU and OkSU with some combination of Louisville, Cincy, Pitt, Houston and Memphis should the Big East collapse. Or they can move to the Pac 12 or Big 10 and relinquish the Longhorn Network. Or they can move to the ACC, keep the Longhorn Network and have zero natural rivalries. Being independent isn't a real option.
Kansas - and out in Kansas, they live in a world without gravity or clear thought as the KC Star reports that Notre Dame would be a great addition to the Big 12 as they have a great fan following, but the success on the field of an Iowa State.
Like everyone else, I really don't know what Slive is cooking up for the 14th team. If it were me, I would go balls to the wall for Va Tech. They expand the conference footprint and put everything else in play. Their departure forces the ACC to expand at the expense of the Big 12 or Big East and put the whole board into motion. That type of movement could unlock opportunities for Teams 15 and 16 in the SEC to include FSU, Clemson or even UVA.
The big thing that's becoming apparent to me is that teams are going to be added to leagues 1 or 2 at a time. This means the 15th and 16th members of some of these leagues will be very, very odd bed fellows.
Current UGA students only.MUST NOT OWN SCOOTER.Never sold jerseys or other memorabilia online. Done blow with hookers in Miami ok.Cannot demand to wear #1.
Remember, the humor is attempted, not guaranteed. By the way, if you were following earlier, I am posting more than the links to the blog, so you'll need to find another reason to not follow. Like your jealousy of my luxurious whitefro...
Like this, but only with more gray and less eyesex with the camera. (Image:Kegsneggsblog.com)
Papadoc hangs on to the first spot. Props to RobertkBurnham and contrarian for the perfect weeks, with Robert winning the week on the tiebreaker.
This week's Standings:
Standings for Week 2
Rank
Selection
Edit
W-L
Pts
Tie Breaker AL-PSU 27-11
Tie Breaker Winner
1
RobertKBurnham's picks
11-0
66
27-21
(*)
1
contrarian's picks
11-0
66
18-17
3
Panic CPA
10-1
65
24-13
4
watergoat's picks
10-1
64
41-14
5
sowegaboy's picks
9-2
63
6
ihateblueandorange's picks
10-1
62
28-17
6
snoopdawg's picks
9-2
62
21-14
6
crafdog's picks
9-2
62
23-27
9
ecdawg's picks
9-2
61
24-10
9
BernieDawg
10-1
61
30-13
9
t-diddy27's picks
9-2
61
24-14
9
seanuga's picks
9-2
61
31-17
9
Cstrickland's picks
9-2
61
35-7
Season standings:
Overall Standings Through Week 2
Rank
Selection
W-L
Pts
1
papadoc19's picks
18-4
112
2
contrarian's picks
17-5
111
3
zfitzpatrick's picks1
16-6
108
3
melj_go_dawgs's picks
18-4
108
5
HUTCH's picks
17-5
106
6
blaked04's picks
16-6
104
6
aueagle's picks
16-6
104
6
BernieDawg
17-5
104
6
Cstrickland's picks
16-6
104
10
Tyler Dawgden's picks
15-7
103
I had another decent week, but Quinton edged me by a point for the week.
TD
PROGRAMMING NOTE: The LSU vs Mississippi State game, to be played on Thursday night, is on the list for the week. This week's schedule should be available today.
