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Comments
@reddawg1 Love me some "stinky leg" lol!
Observation on the SEC Media Days...SECN and other correspondents, when asked about ranking the West seemed scared or extremely reluctant and intimidated, to suggest that anyone other than BAMA could challenge for the SEC East crown, this year. To the point, one correspondent suggested, if you picked anybody other than BAMA, i.e., ARK, LSU or A&M...you were "dumb". This after he practically picked A&M to challenge.
After......... losing to A&M and UGA last year...lucking out against FLA and AUB (both teams significantly challenged internally) for a last minute or overtime win....being seriously challenged by ARK, TENN and a depleted LSU team...all in 2021. Losing their 3 most productive receivers and their best OT, their lead RB and a few of their best defenders.......why is it such a stretch to suggest that LSU, ARK, A&M or Ole Miss could challenge for the SEC West. I understand the reload concept, but when they have to go to the portal to find an OT that can block, a DB that can cover, a RB that can run and a WR previously considered in the same league as Bolden (not Williams or Metchie, mind you) and all 4 guys are being touted as the best at their position, where does that put BAMA depth-wise? Seriously, we knew what Burton was at UGA. He was no better than Jackson, Mitchell, Smith or McConkey.
How, in God's name, is BAMA considered better this year than last year? Are they expecting Young and Anderson to wave their press clippings at the opposition to elicit a surrender during games? LOL.
BAMA will lose 2 or 3 games next year and lose the SEC West. That's my prediction. Remember you heard it here first....mainly because the media is afraid to call it, for fear of being minimalized and laughed at. No balls...no blue chips, guys. Call it like you see it. Be bold...don't just go along, to get along. You will not be remembered for a conservative, safe prediction. Texas might even have a little surprise for em. Everybody goes all out to beat the best and BAMA has a target the size of Texas on their back.
I get that BAMA wil take a step forward defensively, but their DB's were awful last year. THey had to grab(mug) BUrton in the NC game. THey got the RB from Tech who is really good, but they lost a 1st round and a high 2nd round receiver. Williams, like Smith before him, was basically uncoverable. If they can replace those 2(Williams and Metchie) then watch out, but I don't believe they can. They also lost their 1st round Left Tackle.
If any team is plug and play they are, but we're right there with them. We lost a couple of linemen on offense, but we have good depth there. We have just as high quality receivers(even with Burton's transfer)as them, if not better this year. THey can't match our TE's. Our RB's don't have to take a backseat to anyone.
Our defense will have to sort itself out a little as the season goes along, but by end of the year I believe they will be a formidable group.
BAMA's offense wil have to sort itself out as it goes along. I'm not sure of their schedule but if they play a tough opponent early on , they could be vulnerable offensively.
By the end of the year both UGA and BAMA will be the best versions of themselves and it should be interesting.
Ok, I will admit, I'm a little more put out than I was originally was that Arch didn't choose UGA after just watching Arch throw it 70 yards in the air to a receiver in practice. Didn't see that on any of his HS film. LOL!
But seriously though, I don't believe we were every his Numero Uno. It's not like he changed his mind on us. He's been high on Texas since childhood.
I don't care if he wins the Heisman or sets passings records at Texas(all the best to him) as long as it doesn't affect UGA winning the SEC and the NC. Go Dawgs!
To my recollection I have never disparaged a HS kid's decision to go play elsewhere. I know we have have lost some kids that would have made us better and I have been sincerely dissappointed on occassions and expressed that feeling, but nothing spoken angrily about a kid because they didn't choose UGA. I just try to give honest opinions based on what I see. FOr example I hope we get the Sayin kid. I think he will be a star wherever he goes! If he pciks some place else I'll be dissapointed for us, but not angry at him.
That said, Haynes was highy recruited by about everybody which means they see something in this kid that I don't. They're probably right. I'm probably wrong. It's hard to accurately assess HS talent and I don't claim to have any insight into that job other than, I look at alot of HS tape on these potential recruits. I look for the WOW factor. Something that tells me this kid is different than all the thousands of kids out there that could run straight through a gaping hole untouched. for a TD. Show me something on your tape that says, I'm special.
I would just challenge anybody to objectively watch BRanson Robinson's HS tape or say Kenny McIntosh's film and then tell me you'd rather have Haynes instead of them. Not that you wouldn't like to have him, but that you would choose him oer the other two, because he's just that special looking. He just doesn't look(again to me) to be up to their level. CAn he develop to Kenny's level? TIme will tell, and if he does good on him.
I'm certainly not stopping him from being great by offering my opinion. And I'm defintely not crying over spilled milk as some are.
I think,, and again just my opinion, that Some are upset that he chose BAMA over us, not because of his WOW factor, but that BAMA edged us out again on a kid and he was a legacy. Hum?
@reddawg1
Red...I think you get it. I agree on pretty much, everything you posted.
Here's my philosophy on recruiting. It's like the military recruiting for elite fighting forces, such as, SEALS, Green Beret, Airborne Rangers, etc.. "UGA is not for everybody". Now, we've all heard that before. Let me tell you what I think it means.
Even the elite fighting groups, previously mentioned, don't get it right everytime, when they vet recruits. They are very selective in the process and dig a lot deeper than the obvious qualities. Still, they wind up cutting ⅓ to ½ of the guys they recruited, when they find underlying weaknesses that don't line up with their standard and aren't identified in the vetting process. They want the cream of the crop and the cream rises under pressure.
That's why you see guys bailing on UGA every year, even some considered to be top prospects, like Brenton Cox (currently @Fla), etal..
Smart uses a similar vetting process that takes more than just talent and potential into account. He dives into how a kid is handling school, what do his teammates think of him, does he lead from the front, how does he act when he thinks "nobody's looking", does he put in the extra work it takes to develop his natural talent into greatness, does he love the game and his teammates, etc.. All of these things, give Smart an idea of how hard a kid can be pushed and if he is capable of meeting or exceeding "team standards".
I've got news for ya, there are a lot of very talented kids playing HS Football, that think they can reach greatness on talent alone and don't respect their teammates contribution to their success. Those are the guys Smart is not interested in and we're talking about 4 and 5 star players.
A prime example of this is Zack Evans. Now, Zack isn't the only one and I have hope that he will have a change of attitude and eventually develop into the player he was meant to be. He's just an example. Smart was forced to turn his back on Zack after he exhibited qualities that were contrary to Bulldog Standards, in the Texas State HS Playoffs. Saban had to cut a top RB several years ago for attitude reasons, that's playing RB for the NO Saints today. Dabo Sweeny cut Derrien Kendrick, 2 years ago for "attitude & commitment issues". Kendrick, as you know, wound up at UGA, straightened himself out and was drafted in the 6th round this year.
The thing is this....for the upper tier teams, a lot more than talent goes into whether you want to sign him or not. I don't care how many stars he has after his name, on the recruiting boards. The basic question you want to ask yourself is, "will this kid make our TEAM better or will he be a disruption to harmony?". It's just that simple and complicated.
So, when you see teams like UGA or BAMA take a pass on a 4 or 5-star player....they have at least 1 good reason. Much more value is placed on "The Team" than "The Individual". In fairness to all of the kids on your team, that have met the standards and demands that you placed on them, you have to protect them from disruption and mediocrity.
So...good for UGA...good for Smart. Nothing personal. I'd like to see all HS kids excel....but, UGA's not for everybody.