Pick Your Players: Two Georgia Bulldogs We'll Be Watching
by T Kyle King on Mar 12, 2009 8:46 PM EDT
in Football
Email
PrintIn case you haven’t noticed---and, judging by the comment thread, you haven’t---basketball season just ended, which means the countdown to G-Day officially is underway!
G-Day means a lot of things to a lot of people. For me, G-Day is about tailgating, friends, family, Athens in the springtime, drunks climbing trees, the mixed emotions that come from the knowledge that every good sign is also a bad sign (e.g., a 40-yard touchdown pass means the offense is in rhythm, but it also means our secondary is suspect), and the determination of which players are going to be "my guys" come autumn.
You know what I mean. You root for the team, first, last, and always, but, within that context, there are particular players you want to see do well. Oftentimes, these players are identified at G-Day. When Asher Allen broke the rules and blocked an extra point at the spring game as a youngster, I became an Asher Allen fan, and I have never stopped being an Asher Allen fan.
I’m sure one or two incoming athletes will make their mark at the spring scrimmage, but, for the moment, aside from the obvious guys for whom everyone who bleeds red and black is rooting (i.e., Orson Charles, Joe Cox, Jeff Owens), these are "my guys" for 2009:
1. Chad Gloer: I will admit up front that I have a bias here. Chad’s dad, Jon Gloer, is a history teacher at Starr’s Mill High School, where my wife also teaches. Consequently, I keep an eye out for No. 17 on special teams and I want the Fayetteville walk-on to do well. I have praised Chad’s gritty play before, and I’d like to see him get more opportunities to make his mark on Saturdays.
2. Tavarres King: In spite of the fact that we have the same last name, Tavarres and I are not related. However, he has a couple of things going for him, starting with the fact that his father, Anthony King, was a tight end for Clemson. While Georgia’s exchange program with Auburn generally is reciprocal (z.B., we got Vince Dooley, they got Pat Dye; we got Erk Russell, they got Shug Jordan; we got Stacy Searels, they got Will Muschamp, etc.), our swaps with our nearby border rivals from Lake Hartwell (a/k/a the New Testament Auburn) have been distinctly one-sided: Georgia coach Mark Richt’s son, Jon Richt, played for Clemson (albeit temporarily); Georgia tackle Jeff Harper’s son, Cullen Harper, played for Clemson; Georgia receiver Zippy Morocco’s son, Chris Morocco, played for Clemson; Georgia chancellor Patrick H. Mell’s son, Patrick Hughes Mell, became president of Clemson. It’s about time we got something in return. Moreover, an old friend of mine recently was introduced to Tavarres King, and, when he told the promising young athlete that he was looking forward to football season, the receiver replied, "Good. It is going to be a lot of fun." That’s the spirit. (Not only for that reason, incidentally, my friend came away with the sense that Tavarres King was a fine fellow, which is to his credit in this era of the Fulmer Cup.)
Those are two Bulldogs for whom I’ll be cheering especially enthusiastically this fall. Now it’s your turn to pick a player or three; which Georgia athletes will you be rooting for with particular gusto when it’s time to tee it up between the hedges?
Go ‘Dawgs!
19 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Aaron Murray and Logan Gray
Kind of hard to root for 2 quarterbacks, but maybe we could get some kind of platoon? I sort of like the running/passing tandem, but I don’t know. Of course this would only work if Cox pulls a JT III and stinks.
Well, two things.
First, I can appreciate your love affair with Asher, because that play did show a lot from a kid who we knew little about at the time. However, I get the feeling FAR too many people shared this feeling about our cornerback, because rarely, if ever, did he get the (dis)credit he deserved for his play. People were all too quick to jump on a Bryan Evans when he blew a coverage, but if it happened to Asher, excuses abounded. Plus, “he’s a great tackler!” Well, he wasn’t much better, if at all, than Evans. But either way, he’s gone, he was a good kid and played hard, so water under the bridge and over the dam. Good luck to him.
Second, to address the question of who I’m rooting for this year. I have two answers, one general, and one more specific. Firstly, I am rooting for the linebackers. Those will be “my guys” this year. I know that Curran will be what we want him to be, but I think of crucial importance will be how his fellow ’backers develop. Can Gamble and Dent be every-down SEC LBs with some success? Will Charles White finally make his mark? THIS is a position battle I am looking forward to seeing.
Beyond that group, I am rooting heavily for the aforementioned Bryan Evans. That kid has gotten a tremendous amount of stick from fans during his tenure, but is by all accounts a good kid with all-world talent. If he can develop as a safety alongside a hopefully-improving Reshad Jones, we could have one of the fastest and most dangerous tandems at the back in the SEC. Here’s hoping that’s how it goes down. I’ll be rooting for #3 big time this spring, at G-Day, and for the 2009 season.
Good call
Whenever folks get down on a Georgia defensive back, I always remind them of Bruce Thornton, who looked lost and got picked on during his first year but matured into a force in the Bulldog secondary.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Mar 12, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions
"New Testament Auburn"...
That’s some good stuff.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog by and for Gamecocks Fans. http://www.garnetandblackattack.com
Man there are so many guys that i will be watching
I’m going to break it up into a few categories and positions. I know its severely breaking the point of the blog, but i couldn’t settle on just one, there are so many guys i want to see what they are capable of, the dawgs are always teeming with special talents i can’t wait to see.
Incoming Freshmen
Brandon Smith- we need a great lock down corner, and consistent PR
Every Freshmen that said screw you to rival schools and came to UGA. Cause you guys are awesome! (A. Murray; O. Charles; R. Wooten; A. Long; M. Brown)
Running Backs
Caleb King- he has all the ability just needs some confidence
Carlton Thomas-another guy from FL and he’s such a little guy i want to see him run over some LB Knowshon style.
Wide Recievers
Tavarres King- we heard a lot about him last year i want to see what he can do
Israel Troupe- Our highest rated recruit according to ESPN in 2007, everytime he’s been thrown to he catches it, i hope he gets an opportunity to show his stuff.
Quarter Backs
Logan Gray- I’m Praying Mark Richt uses him at least several times a game, whether we like it or not he could be the only guy we have next year with experience, I think he should play the whole Tennessee Tech game if not most.
The Ginger Assassin- does he need to go by anything else? I love his attitude, let’s see him back it up on the feild, the year of the White Shockley is upon us.
Tight End
Aaron White- he has the tools to be a big passing threat, here’s to hoping we use them
Arthur Lynch- he’s the guy who looks like our next TE that goes pro, he’s the all around package
Linemen (Offense and Defense)
Ben Jones- the guy ate a live bug for pete’s sake, has a reputation for being a nasty blocker, who knows what this guy will do next
Any DE- really Any DE who can get pressure on the QB
Secondary
Reshad Jones What does his Senior season hold and will he shake off the tackling problems that gave uga fans fits last season.
See Brandon Smith above
Linebackers
Darryl Gamble: Does he step it up again and go for a few more pick sixes?
Rennie Curran: the only question is how many tackles can he get?
Special Teams
Blair Walsh- does he grow a leg on kickoffs? I like him as FG kicker, I just pray he ignores every directional kick call that comes his way.
Drew Butler: I’m sure most of us have forgotten that Brian Mimbs will be gone and his booming leg with him, so what can this kids do?
Well that’s it, i hope its not too long or off-base but i just couldn’t choose. let me know what you think.
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
I Corinthians 9:24
Just two
hard to narrow it down
but I usually go after freshmen or sophomores.
I’ll have to say
1) Zach Mettenberger! With a name like that, why not? And his mom works at UGA, so he’s a local kid and a Dawg fan. Sign me up!
2) WaShaun Ealey. I really wanted Knowshon to stay so we could have Knowshon and WaShaun, but it’s okay. Pretty sure WaShaun will redshirt this year unless he is as good as Knowshon was. But “my guys” usually do redshirt.
Also wanna give a fairwell to one of my guys, CJ Byrd!
My Two
1.Brandon Boykin-I have a sneaking suspicion that we will not miss Asher Allen, and that is entirely because of Boykin. Ever since seeing this kid’s basketball Youtubes, and with the knowledge that he was “just” a 3* recruit, he has been a favorite. He was an absolute demon on special teams last year and I expect him to break out across the league this year.
2. Aron White-flashed some potential last year. I think he knows that it is time to get it done or he is about to get passed by the new kids. He can be a difference-maker in the passing game, and I expect him to have a breakout season.
my .02
Ben Jones… That guy is a monster masher… Good technique/footwork… I missed a lot of Moreno cutbacks last year b/c I focused on outstanding play of #61… The kid is smart too… He knows that IT IS PERFECTLY LEGAL under current rules that you CAN BLOCK MORE THAN ONE PLAYER FROM THE OTHER TEAM ON EACH SNAP… Once you pound your first assignment into the ground, don’t lay on top of him and gloat… Go get another one… I like seeing the big boys twelve – fifteen yards down the field, and getting in the way of a safety or a corner…
The young receivers… They are a talented bunch, and if Cox/Bobo can find a rythm, I think that the receivers put a LOT of pressure on opposing secondaries… which helps the running game… snowballs… yada… yada… yada…
cookin and smilin
by cookin and smilin on Mar 13, 2009 8:38 AM EDT reply actions
Two cents on two choices
Pass rush…Ugh. It sucked in ‘08. At G-Day I’m really looking for some improvement there. So let me go with Justin Houston. He showed us some signs in ‘08. Even though we don’t get to see the QB eat turf in April, I’ll be looking to see what kind of pressure our d-ends put on the signal callers.
Secondary is another big question in my mind, so I’ll go with Boykin there. He’s got competition at short corner (Commings and your guy Gloer listed third on the depth chart over at SC). If our pass rush suffers even a fraction of what it did last year next season, we’re gonna need some good cover guys back there.
Call me crazy call me...........
whatever but I think we have a sleeper in Jeremy Longo. I have no specific reason and logic tells me I am indeed crazy but…….. who saw stardom in a lightly recruited FB. Go back and scan the 2 and 3 star players we have signed……………an amazing number have become far more than anticipated.
My two...
1. Michael Moore- Howabout that bowl game performance? I hope he can carry that into next year.
2. Bruce Figgins- Kinda got lost in the mix of tight-ends but I really like him for some reason. I don’t think he’s going to be a superstar or anything but he’ll be a consistent block/catch threat.
The person I’m most excited about, though, is Caleb King. This just has to be HIS year, right? I hope so.
1 offense/1 defense
Offense: I agree w/ DawgGirl32 – Bruce Figgins is a man child. I swear his leg is bigger than my waist. He’ll move the chains for us this year and seal off the corner.
Defense: First let me just say that safeties always seem to be “my guys”… I want to see Rambo’s first blood. Who will he light up this year? Probably won’t be a starter but hopefully he’ll get in.
by Chesterhighwater on Mar 13, 2009 8:32 PM EDT reply actions
Good call, Chester
You have to love a player named “Baccari Rambo.”
I haven’t confirmed this with him, but I’d be willing to bet cash money that MaconDawg has the recipe for the Bacardi Rambo already drawn up and ready to throw into the blender.
Go 'Dawgs!
Good call on Chopper Gloer
I’ve known Chad since we were both in the 3rd grade, we played together for the 2005 region 4-AAAAA champion Starr’s Mill Panthers, and his dad was my US History teacher. Chopper has bled red and black for as long as I can remember (his dad was a walk-on on the 1980 team), and he can hit like a ton of bricks. I’d love to see him get some reps with the defense, but even if he doesn’t it’s still cool to see a friend of mine wearing the red and black.
Sic 'em Dawgs
by ClassicCityDawg on Mar 14, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
