Special Teams Woes Continue

by DKDAWGS on Oct 30, 2011 10:41 AM EDT

It was a great win last night for Georgia. Despite the emotional win, there is one crucial thing that needs to be addressed: special teams. My question as a fan is what has happened to Drew Butler and Blair Walsh? These are two guys that were preseason All-Americans that are supposed to be the best of the best. Blair Walsh has missed 11 field goals this year: more than he missed his first three years combined. Drew Butler had two punts yesterday under 30 yards. This, along with the awful kickoff coverage team, is inexcusable. Apparently Georgia doesn't have an official special teams coach. Various assistants work on the special teams during the week. The problem here is when our special teams doesn't perform well, there is nobody to take the blame and nobody to get on the players' asses for messing up! This falls on the head coach. He should make adjustments and tell his assistants to work with the players. They should hire a special teams coach and spend more time on it in practice. Special teams errors lost us the South Carolina game and almost cost us wins against Vandy and Florida. My suggestion for Mark Richt: put guys on special teams that want to play. I would let Bogotay kick field goals and punt to show Blair Walsh and Drew Butler that their current performances aren't going to cut it. We had to score touchdowns by going for it on 4th down twice yesterday because we don't have a kicker that is automatic like Blair Walsh once was. Special teams will be important down the stretch. You need to have a good kicker and punter to win at the SEC level. Georgia has a lot of things to figure out about its special teams. GO DAWGS!!

Poll

Should Mark Richt bench Blair Walsh and let Bogotay kick field goals?

Yes

25 votes

No

8 votes

33 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I'm confused

Butler should lose his starting job, because why, one bad game?

by AuburnDawg on Oct 30, 2011 3:05 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

and one of those kicks he was buried in the end zone, only so much one can do.

Editor, Dawgsports.com. "The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker

by tankertoad on Oct 30, 2011 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, Butler just had a couple of bad kicks.

I’ve advocated sticking with Walsh so far this season, but I’m now converted. It’s really time to to give Bogotay a chance.

by vineyarddawg on Oct 30, 2011 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

In addition

That kick Sailors downed at Florida’s 3- was masterful. Butler is no doubt still one of the best in the business and the best UGA has ever had to offer at that position

by AuburnDawg on Oct 31, 2011 9:43 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions

He's a great punter, no doubt

but we’ve had too many other greats for me to think he’s “the best UGA has ever had”.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Oct 31, 2011 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

We keep going down this road.

A full time ST Coach means removing a position coach. Which coach would fire, and who would you hire to be the “full time ST coach?”

Editor, Dawgsports.com. "The ball ain't heavy." Herschel Walker

by tankertoad on Oct 30, 2011 4:31 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe you should write a post on it

The optimal solution is for Richt to go the route of other HCs like Beamer and take over the ST duties himself.

The 984 Has Spoken!

by The984 on Oct 30, 2011 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not entirely sure that we need two linebackers coaches

But I also imagine that was Todd Grantham’s call to begin with when we were trying to hire him

Perhaps you could have a special teams coach that helps out with LB’s but isn’t officially assigned to them. Or, you could just have a competent GA unoficially take outside backers while Grantham spends more time with the inside backers (or vice versa).

by FisheriesDawg on Oct 30, 2011 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions

We could always fire the RBs coach and make CWF "running game coordinator"

I kid, I kid :-)

Editor, Dawgsports.com -- Sacrificing goats, chugging Maker's Mark, and walking underneath The Arch.

by RedCrake on Oct 30, 2011 7:51 PM EDT reply actions

We could fire Bobo, let CMR take over play-calling,

and hire Urban Meyer as ST coach.

by Cherokee's Grip on Oct 30, 2011 8:18 PM EDT reply actions

We have to play our best players on Special Teams...

too many walk ons=not enough athleticism to handle the Jeff Demps-es of the world on kick coverage. I dunno what to do about Walsh I’ve never seen such a talented kid fall apart like that. He’s like the Rick Ankiel of kickers.

Current UGA special teams:

by PhanofPhilly on Oct 31, 2011 12:06 PM EDT reply actions

mark wohlers comes to mind also.

did anyone see that “return of wohlers” game back in the day? the whole crowd was pulling for him and he just couldn’t do it. And I don’t think he ever turned it around.

by jumping_jack_flash on Nov 2, 2011 8:42 PM EDT reply actions