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Former NFL great harshly criticizes UGA offense
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Former NFL great harshly criticizes UGA offense
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This is the same team player who sucker punches his own teammates. In 2008, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. broke teammate Ken Lucas's nose with a sucker punch during training camp while Lucas was crouched down on one knee. Early in his career, Smith was charged with misdemeanor assault after attacking teammate Anthony Bright during a film session, breaking his nose.
The Hell with Steve Smith!
Steve Smith was a good player. Does that make him a good talent evaluator? Not necessarily. As a resident of NC, I can also say he was a poor teammate. He has always been a blow hard. Now, how good will Branch be in the NFL? I don’t know, but I think he can be very good.
I certainly would love to see better play calling for the Dawgs. At times our offense looked fantastic. At other times, one could only wonder what’s going on? Unlike many fans, I blame the play calling most of the time and not the players. Of course, at times the players fail to execute, but bad play calling occurs far too often, especially when we get a lead.
The UGA offense is run-based, using play-action to get the ball to receivers. They are not a wide-open RPO or quick-pass offense that relies on catch-and-run. The idea for UGA was to get the ball into Branch's hands as quickly as possible and let him make a play in the open field. Their offense has been that way since I started following UGA in the 1970's. They won back-to-back championships with that type of offense and a first-round pick at TE and second-round picks at WR. I get frustrated at times when UGA doesn't push the ball downfield in the passing game either because of play call or the QB taking the check down or running the ball. I believe Smith's criticism is short-sighted, but the Dawgs' offense will have to do a better job of creating explosive plays in the passing game if they want to win a national championship.
I been watching the replays over the last few years and seems no one even opposing teams have figured out that a backfield screen only works very few time. Even Todd ran it to death when he was OC. I like Cash Jones for blocking so now I hope the dawgs have a speedy back to throw the screen too on a 3rd and 20
Smith played for average coaches, and more often than not, very average teams. So I'm not putting much stock, or belief into his opinion..
Lol....okay. So, who the hell is Steve Smith?. Never heard of this "Great".
Why not just, ask the janitorial service at Butts Hall or the clerk at the Bookstore, what they think. Lmao
Smith is an imbecile-watch any interview with him and tell me his IQ is over room temperature.
let's be honest..Smith was an incredibly talented WR and was/is a mentally imbalanced (borderline institutional?) person..just "watch the tape"
and this assessment has nothing to do with his critical comments, some of which might have the seed of truth
Steve Smith?? REALLY??
The next person who sticks a microphone in front of his face should be fired immediately!
Steve Smith….. I laugh at you, silly person!
SMH.
I don't know what SS said because I didn't listen to the podcast. But I will say that a big step up is needed and expected in QB play this season if UGA is to reach its goals.
For the uninformed. Steve Smith played 16 years in the NFL. He played it at 5'9" and under 200 lbs. In the last 10 years of his career he missed 9 total games. He retired with over 1000 receptions, almost 15 thousand yards receiving and 81 TD's. In '05 he led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, receiving TD's and Y/TCH. In '08 he led the NFL in receiving Y/GM.
SS knows something about what he sees on a football field. He was 5x Pro Bowl and 2x All Pro. AP Comeback POY in '05.
Somehow I don't think that any of the janitorial service at Butts Hall or clerks at the Bookstore are quite as qualified to talk football as SS is.
and don’t forget how he almost won me my fantasy football title in 2003.
Guy is a baller. While I think he’s not exactly diving deep into the tape, I think his overall message is sound.
Ball don't lie……but ball don't make you an expert on talent evaluation. No one questioned his talent on the fireld or desire to win. I'll listen to millions before I give SS's comments any credence. But…. to each his own.
#Loose Cannon
Smith went a bit far with his critism of Gunner but there's much truth in what he said. Gunner's stats look good on paper but dig deeper and you find some serious issues. Take Branches stats for instance, of his more than 800 to 1100 yrds (confusion due to whether some of his catches were actually laterals)
70% were run after catch. He was not a good downfield passer and doesn't see wide open receivers and breaks to run to quickly. One area that not his fault is playcalling. Without any doubt, GA is a much more prolific offense when under center and up tempo. Too many times you saw GA move the ball quickly with explosive runs and effective playaction passing for scores only to see Bobo drag him back into shotgun or pistol, run those weak counters which rarely work and deal with the defensive onslaught. His overall play last year was around a B- and definitely needs to improve for 2026.
I'm tellin' ya....all he needs is time in the pocket. CONSISTENTLY! It puts an extra burden on the QB to know he can't count on more than 3 seconds to....
Drop back & set....Locate the target Receiver...Check down, if necessary or release the ball on time. 5-6 seconds on medium to deep routes.
Stockton spent a lot of time getting up after almost every throw.....or, run if he had to bail., And, still kept tickin'. I don't think there's a quarterback in CFB couldn't done as much...with as little as he had to work with. Especially, early in the season.
Just sayin'....take who ya want. I'll stick with Stockton and the new and improved, 2026 UGA Offensive Line....with an all-world [potentially] Backfield and Elite Tight Ends. Not to mention, a diverse group of excellent Wide Receivers.
Unless you're a random former NFL "Great" wanting to appear relevant & knowledgeable....How do you NOT see what the Dawgs are bringin' to the '26 SEC Gridiron Picnic. Only a fool or a Bama Fan would pick against em.
They obviosly can't do it without a good quarterback....but....the good quarterback can't do it, without the other 10 guys doing THEIR job. That's what was missing last year....imho.
Go Dawgs!