Same As it Ever Was

Ever since early Sept, when this amazing blog was born, we've been espousing (or just spouting about) the glorious virtues of running the football.

So now that the season has ended, & we are sitting at a very mediocre 8-5 (albeit the 13th straight season of 8+ wins, & the 10 straight under Richt), let's take a look at some stats.

See if you can find a pattern here.

- In the 5 losses:

* We were outrushed 823 to 546.
* Per game, that's 165 to 109 in favor of the opponent
* Per game, we avg 31 carries in the 5 losses

- In the 8 wins:

* We outrushed the opponent 1,547 to 843
* Per game, that's 193 to 105 in our favor
* Per game, we avg 37 carries in the 8 wins

So, to Coach Richt & to Coach Bobo...I hate to say "we told you so", because technically we did not (both coaches declined interviews & would not answer their doorbells).

However, team RTDB was spot on this year. No, it does not take a genius or a wily old veteran, or even Tim Tebow to know that running the ball more often & more effectively than your opponent - especially in the SEC - leads to many wins & few losses.

In closing, I would like to point out to all offensive coaches at UGA that all 6 of our top rushers in 09 (including 2 FB's) are returning in 2010.

Also, it is worth noting the following:

- Vince Vance is the only OL who will not be back in 2010
- Trinton Sturdivant will return (assuming his karma hasn't completely run out) next year, & we have 2-3 big time hosses signed for 2010.
- The starting QB next yr (Murray or Mettenberger right?) will come in having thrown a grand total of 0 passes for 0 yds in his college career.

This all points to a new blog next season, as RTDB has run it's course. You like that? You know what they say - always end on a high note & always keep em' wanting more.

Just a hunch, but since Kade Weston, Jeff Owens, Geno Atkins & Roderick Battle will all be playing on Sundays in 2010, perhaps "Please Stop Letting the Other Team Rush For 350 Yards Every Game" will be the new name.

PSLTOTRFTYEG.
Yup - that sounds good.

End of the Cox Era

Question...why do you play Joe Cox thru thick and thin...only to pull him in the 4th Quarter of his final game. Let the dude hand off. Let the dude throw it some more. What the hell? Time for some quality Logan Gray evaluation time? Time to show respect to A & M? Ugh. Let Cox finish.

While bitching...I should admit that I absolutely loved the double fullback formation. Seeing Chapas and Munzenmaier in the I formation was fantastic. Two big meatwheel, pipe-hittin fullbacks pounding the ball was a nice way to finish the season. Loved it.

We won on special teams and turnover ratio. Thank God! We kept penalties low and more or less kept huge mistakes to a minimum.

Overall, I believe it was a fair and square ass whoopin'. A great way to end the year.

The Dogs move to 13 seasons straight with a bowl appearance. 11-2 in those bowls ( I think...check my math there). Mark Richt is 4th among active coaches in winning percentage. I believe we also set some record with number of consecutive 8+ win seasons (13).

Anyhow...a new D Coordinator and a new QB combined with an experienced young team...plus...an "easier" schedule next year....I believe we'll be ok.

GO DOGS!!

The Something-or-other-bowl Preview

Ok...we had a tough year. But this is a lesson in pride. Respond to constant adversity with pride...play the way you know how...play for your team and your school, not for the record or trophy.

Anyhow...that's the type of nonsense I'm using as rationale to grill up steaks, fry a shit-ton of wings, have friends over, and tank back a bunch of cheap beer. I'm trying to work myself into a frenzy wherein I hold Texas A&M in utter contempt. A mock rivalry if you will...if only for the day. I'm having a hard time with it as they seem pretty mundane and non-confrontational.

They've never really done anything to me. I can't even hate maroon...can I? Who is that...Miss State? Ugh. I'm sure I'll find and share my motivation for hatred any day now...or make something up.

In lieu of any real analysis I present, instead, my version of the Texas A&M / Georgia preview if it were on any of the NFL preview shows....

"The key to this game for Georgia is to move the ball down the field and put it in the endzone. If Texas A&M can stop them from doing that and put points of their own on the board then THEY have a good shot at winning this thing".

Thank you. Go Dogs!

Conference Overhaul

So like I mentioned...in order to implement my plan, the conferences need to be overhauled. This isn't perfect by any means...but here's my first go at it.

Big 12, SEC, ACC, MAC - All stay the same

Big 10 - has 11 teams - add Notre Dame and call it the MID 12 Conference

Big East - add Navy, ECU, Army, Marshall

Pac Ten - add Boise State, TCU

Rearrange the displaced teams:

Western Conference: Fresno State, Hawaii, BYU, Utah, Air Force, Colorado St, Houston, SMU, Tulsa, Tulane, Memphis, Southern Miss

Sunbelt: Troy, Middle Tenn, U La. Monroe, Florida Atlantic, La Lafayette, Florida International, Arkansas St, La Tech, Western Kentucky, UAB, UCF, Rice

OTHER: Nevada, Idaho, Utah St, San Jose State, San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico, Wyoming, UTEP, North Texas, New Mexico State (Problem here...only 11 teams)

I haven't yet decided whether we should create an upper tier of teams and reduce some of these...or if it's more interesting if we gave them all a shot.

Also...I've updated my thinking to say that, while you must win your conference, your conference doesn't entitle you to a BCS title shot. So if the top SEC team was somehow 9-4...and there were other Conference Champ teams ahead of you....you aren't in the top 4 just because we all just love the SEC. In fact, if that 9-4 SEC winner came in at #9 in the overall rankings...you don't go to a BCS bowl. Suck it. The SEC team that beat them could, in fact, play in a BCS bowl ahead of them...just not in the top 4 for the National Title.

Again...still working on it. Please check my math and make suggestions. I want a good system more than I want to be right.