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kirkhilles
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
I dunno. It seems like this is not a wise decision especially given possible NIL money. His stats for 2024 obviously weren't even up to his Florida numbers and I'm not seeing anything to indicate a decent draft position. One site listed him as the 24th best draft RB and another showed a dropping stock and an undrafted position. I keep thinking back to Holyfield and how clearly that was a mistake to leave early. I think he has a tougher road ahead than he realizes.
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1SICemDAWGS1
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
Etienne never impressed me, I see why he was a backup up at Florida. He will be very lucky if he's chosen before the 4th round in the draft.
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UGADad20
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
NIL and the TP has changed CFB. It is not the same "system" that allowed Saban and Smart to dominate at AL. Saban had the advantage of selling winning most games and championships. Transferring players had to sit out and there was no CFB "free agency" with lucrative offers tampering with players. THAT allowed Saban to use his recruiting prowess to stack unprecedented depth. A luxury that UGA does not enjoy any longer.
The money is getting so big for the elite players, that UGA got routinely during CKS's time at UGA, that NFL no longer trumps NIL. Get the money when you can while you can. You could be hurt tomorrow. Why wait to live the good life?
Until all that is fixed, '23 and '24 is the new UGA ceiling. With the possible exception of UGA getting a 5* QB. A 5* QB that plays well can carry a CFB team or put one over the top.
UGA can still compete for championships with these RB's. But you have to have better QB and WR play. AND much better OL play.
As for the UGA D, UGA D was NOT Top 10 in '24 in total D, Passing D, Running D or Scoring D.
When a team like OSU is buying up elite and missing pieces, UGA does not have the depth (and maybe the skill) to win championships. Other programs are (recklessly?) throwing money around and have closed the gap on UGA.
ND seemed like the team that played for each other this year. UGA players have evolved into "me first" players. They consistently go pro early and move on for money routinely. Like most players on most teams these days.
As for "not wanting to play for Kirby". Playing for Kirby/UGA is hard. Harder than most if not all places. Most young people, young players want to collect a big check and take it easy.
IF the rules are not going to change, CKS needs to somehow adapt his recruiting to keep players longer (mature) and develop them more in the time they are here.
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UGA66
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
Huh? Etienne is boarding the NFL train? This the same guy that wanted a championship ring and knew UGA would produce it? This the same guy that loved UGA almost as much as his grandmother? All of a sudden nothing is as important as leaving his "beloved" team for probably not a high draft slot? Could it be he knows something we think we know…lack of a potent Oline? Frazier seems to be the guy with the real juice? NFL money better than NIL he got from UGA? What goes through the minds of these young players continues to baffle me. BUT, I wish him the very best.
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mmiller06
✭✭ Sophomore
You ask why "Kirby, just can't seem to fid that " go-to Back", that propelled the Saban teams"
I've said it before and i'll say it again and again. These players don't like playing for Kirby.
1.) He still has this thing where he tends to talk down to the players (disrespectful) and throw them under the bus.
2.) He shows favoritism (players don't like that)
3.) Mike Bobo- Kirby is keeping Mike Bobo over the good of the team.
The above issues are real in Athens. Kirby has a stubborn-arrogance problem behind closed doors. In the media, he comes off as a good humble guy., yet behind closed doors him and the players done see eye.
It's true that NIL and the portal has changed the landscape in college a lot, but Kirby was losing players (15-20 via portal) EVERY year before NIL came into play.
Saban was a little more charismatic and even keel with his players.
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reddawg1
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
Unless they can fix the O-line with less experienced players (seems counter intuitive) then we will have to lean heavily again on the passing attack. Good thing we got those portal receivers and the very good HS kids coming in.
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CWdawg1979
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
Etienne came to UGA because he was tired of being the #2 back at Florida. It's very possible that Frazier could be the Dawgs #1 back this year. He has more energy and burst than Etienne and will have a full off-season at UGA that he didn't have last year, as he did not come to Athens until June. Fix the fumbling, and to me, Frazier is clearly the #1 back. Hopefully, 1 of the Robinson's will return to full health and Bowens and Phillips will push for meaningful snaps. I wish Etienne well, but 1 and done after only a partial year seems contrary to his post season comments. Other than the games against Texas, I am not sure what the NFL sees that would push him up the draft boards.
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MontanaDawg
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
Well, as a few others have said, this one caught me a bit off guard. Both Robinson RBs have potential, but they haven't been on the field enough to know how good they truly are. Both are injury-prone, so their durability remains questionable. Frazier is a very good all-around back, and Cash has his moments. But I don't think they can carry the load through next season without one or two other good, durable guys.
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Kudzu
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
A lot of great comments to unpack here, so a few observations:
- While I liked Etienne, and this was definitely a surprise, I never thought he met all the hype. Solid player, but go-to guy consistent with what @BigDawg61 was saying? Did not really see that, IMHO
- Injuries. I think this will continue as long as CKS (appropriately, I think) keeps practices harder than games. I still wonder if there is an issue with the UGA practice field, as all the practice lower extremity injuries we hear about increased after the install of the new turf... worth thinking about
- Dominance of the SEC in peril? Yes... and it's not the basis the MSM sports news pundits claim. Actually, it's simple: no conference beats the @#$& out of each other like the SEC every week. After months of that, these beaten up teams then face good, but healthier, teams (usually Big Ten) and are playing more 2nd/3rd string on average than their opponents
I'm actually cautiously optimistic despite the 2024/25 season-ending chaos CFB-wide. CKS is amazing (even though he also appears a bit stubborn) and, with recruits arriving and TP2 still to come, I bet we'll have a pretty strong cadre come August 😁
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GtheGreek
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
TE's no dummy…..He "reconsidered"…..why risk another year on a TEAM that prides it self on having the hardest, most grueling practices in college football, knowing the talent level behind him is better than his "potential"…..better to be a 3rd or 4th or 5th round pick and be a back up earning millions with a shot at demonstrating that "potential"…..
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JimWallace
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
This is not what I wanted to hear first thing in the morning.
I certainly wish ETN the very best and appreciate his contributions this last season. I was certainly hoping to see more of him in Red & Black, but he's been a very good Dawg.
Go, Dawgs!
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GtheGreek
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
I wish TE well…..this opens the door for an RB room full of potential….bring on the competition cause we're all lookin for another "gurley-man", "chubb-buster" or "walker-runner"….or how bout all three!
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Betheredge
✭✭✭ Junior
The game has changed both on & off the field. If the SEC is going to remain on top, leadership in the SEC offices & universities need to examine every aspect of the game including scholarship limits, NIL, recruiting, league structure, scheduling, revenue sharing, leveraging league/team values, etc… To continue domination of the sport will require more financial investment as well as taking advantage of every rule, regulation, & loophole available. It’s time to take the gloves off or we will see more seasons end like 2023 & 2024.
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BigDawg61
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
I did too. Just goes to show you...ya can't count on anything in CFB...till August. And...even then...? Lol
For all we...and "Sports Media".…know, Herschel Walker may get another year...or 2, if they don't count the COVID year. Lmao
CFB is far more chaotic, today, than the NFL "ever" was. Who knows where this merry go round is gonna stop, next.
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BigDawg61
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
You're right...IMO. Kirby, just can't seem to find that "go-to Back", that propelled the Saban teams.…especially, early on. Later...it became go-to receivers, but, Bama always had a go-to guy in the backfield and so did UGA.
They don't, now....and, neither does UGA. That's going to have to change, if either team is planning on going Natty hunting next year.…or, the next. Defense and a relentless ground game are the tools of the trade....if you are a Championship Program.
I expect Kirby sees everything we see. I have no doubt, he'll get it fixed. There's still one more transfer window to go shopping in....plus the incoming recruits.
Even without that go-to guy....UGA is still gonna be UGA. They'll have a top 10 defense, they'll be fundamentally sound and disciplined....and, they'll be competitive.
The "healthy" part, always seems elude em, somehow. Somebody is always injured. And, it's usually one of their go-to guys. I don't know....maybe they need to work on "toughness". Lol...just kidding. They been the victims of a string of bad luck.....like Wile E Coyote.
THAT particular worm, is bound to turn. Soon, according to the law-of-averages. This could be the year, they put it all together, for 16 straight games. Ya never know. They've got all the ingredients to make another serious run.
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navydawg
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
Ouch !! I have to admit that this caught me off guard. I thought he was coming back. Still I wish him the very best. The RB room getting thinner makes it even more imperative that the O Line operate at a much higher quality level.
I sure hope Both the Robinsons will stay. When healthy Both are bulldozer type backs that can move the pile. Not so much speed and finesse but pure strength, not saying they don’t have at least decent speed and finesse. Frazier is a very capable RB but he needs to work on upper body strength this year so defenders can’t s s t r I p the ball out.
Cash is good at catching passes and toss backs. Hoping Phillips will develop more strength and durability he looks blazing fast. Bowens is highly touted but I haven’t seen enough of him at college level. Allot of Dawgs fans are excited about him so I’ll take their word. Then Walker the freshmen. Any other scholarship players at RB. ?? Course Cash is not a scholly player either.
I tell you and Yall already know this I’m just repeating but sometimes there can be some Diamonds In The Rough in allot of positions among these preferred walk on’s. No I know they are rare. But the coaches need to keep a close eye on some of those guys at All positions as there are some capable players among those ranks.
We have a QB for example that lead Perry HS to winning the State Championship a AAA school. Sorry to see Etienne go, but look at it like this it Might cause someone to want to come to UGA during the April TP. Just have to work with the cards your dealt I guess.
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UGADad20
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
The RB room for UGA is pretty weak. Frazier is a player. BRob and RRob are questionable even when healthy. Which they never seem to be. Phillips and Jones are (small) situational players. Bowens has a Daijun Edwards vibe. Walker is a freshman. As of right now next year's version of UGA football is looking like '24 Lite.
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reddawg1
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
Either he got some good news on his draft evaluation or he got to thinking about our o-line with less experience than the one we had this season. I hope it’s the former.
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osmosiphobe
✭✭✭✭✭ Graduate
REEEEannounces.
I'm not worried about losing him. I do worry, though, about what his decision to leave suggests about players' perspective regarding next years' offensive ceiling.
