Tag: uga

Georgia football places two on the ESPN All-Bowl Team

ESPN name Richard LeCounte and George Pickens to the ESPN All-Bowl Team Pickens collected 12 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl LeCounte started all 14 games at safety and was the team’s third-leading tackler with 61 total stops

ESPN name Richard LeCounte and George Pickens to the ESPN All-Bowl Team Pickens collected 12 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl LeCounte started all 14 games at safety and was the team’s third-leading tackler with 61 total stops

Dear New England Patriots and Patriot Nation….it’s not Tom Brady, it was the the absence of Georgia great David Andrews

It’s not Tom Brady that was the problem with the New England Patriots, it was the absence of UGA football great David Andrews

For most NFL teams, after securing a 12-4 record, having the 2nd highest point differential in the league, winning their division for an unprecedent 11th consecutive season and advancing to the playoffs for the 17th time in 21 years, that would constitue a very successful year.

However, the New England Patriots aren’t the normal NFL team….they’re not even the normal sports dynasty. With Tom Brady at quarterback, the Patriots have won six Super Bowls and advanced to the playoffs for 17 of the 19 years Brady has started.

The 2019 season didn’t end as the Patriots had envisioned, losing the regular season finale to the Miami Dolphins (thus losing a first round playoff bye) and being bounced from the playoffs at home, 20-13 by the Tennessee Titans. The offense struggled during the year, especially during the second half when the Patriots averaged only 18.3 points per game.

Of course the focal point of New England’s offensive woes has been the future Hall of Famer, Brady. Arguably the greatest signal caller the game has seen, the 42-year old Brady threw for 4,057 yards and completed 60.8 percent of his passes, with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Those are extremely productive numbers, but rather pedestrian for the greatest clutch player the NFL has ever seen. The Boston and national press is almost screaming for the former Michigan Wolverine to retire.

But they have it all wrong…it’s not the gerontological-defying Brady, it wasn’t the retirement of all-pro tight end Rob Gronkowski or the lack of quality receivers…..it was the absence of former Georgia center David Andrews.

The Patriots placed the 27-year old Andrews on injured reserve in August 2019 and he missed the entire season. One of the team’s six captains in 2018, Andrews was hospitalized due to blood clots in his lungs. He returned for the preseason in street clothes and remained a spectator for the remainder of the season.

Andrews was a three-year starter and All-SEC center for the Bulldogs and became a finalist for the Rimington Trophy. The former three-star recruit from Norcross, Georgia had not missed a game in his three seasons as a starter and led Georgia to several offensive records, including season scoring records. The importance of Andrews to the Georgia offense was demonstrated during the 2014 Florida game. The No. 9 Bulldogs were heavily favored over the unranked Gators. With UGA leading 7-0 in the first quarter, Andrews suffered a severe sprained ankle and was forced to leave the game. The Georgia offense lost its momentum and the Dawgs fell to Florida 38-20. The following week, Andrews returned against Kentucky and helped lead Georgia to a 63-31 victory.

An offensive line is like a well-oiled machine with the sum of the parts greater than the individual units. Andrews was the bond that drove those great offensive lines at Georgia and was the key component to the New England line. This past season, the New England offense missed the former undrafted free agent’s leadership in the locker room as much as his on-field presence.

Andrews has anchored the Patriots’ offensive line since being installed as the full-time starter in 2016, starting 57 of a possible 59 games over the last three seasons. Without Andrews, the Patriots fell to 7th in the league in points per game, to 26.3, their lowest average output since Andrews came on board. With much the same running backs, the Pats’ rushing attack slowed to 1,703 yards (3.8 yards per carry) in 2019 vs 2,037 yards (4.3 yards per carry) in 2018. After averaging 4.5 yards per carry in 2018, lead back Sony Michel’s average carry dipped 17.8 percent to 3.7 yards. Back up James White saw his average fall 13.6 percent to 3.9 yards per carry.

In the passing game, Brady’s completion percentage dropped five percentage points to 60.8 percent. His passer rating fell 88.0 from 97.7 in 2018. Of course all of this can not be attributed to Andrews missing the season, but his absence from the team was definitely felt.

The announcement the Patriots made prior to the regualr season opening will tell you everything you need to know about David Andrews. Five days after being placed on season-ending injured reserve, by a vote of his teammates, Andrews was selected as one of the Patriots’ seven team captains for the 2019 season, retaining a title he’s held since 2017. Despite not being able to play a down during the season, the respect from his teammates speaks volumes of his character and the importance of Andrews to the team.

“He’s got a wealth of experience and knowledge,” left guard Joe Thuney said. “He knows the offense inside and out, so you can always pick his brain to see what he thinks in certain situations. He’s just a really smart guy, and he’s great to have regardless. Obviously, he’s injured, but it’s just great to have him,” told NESN during the season.

Despite not being in a position to help the team on the field, Andrews traveled with the team and spent significant time on the sidelines and in the meeting rooms. He attended every practice and worked with the offensive coaches. During the season, head coach Bill Belichick acknowledged his presence on the team. Belicheck commented that Andrews’ off-the-field leadership has been outstanding.

Speaking of Andrews and injured fullback James Develin, Belechick said, “They’ve been very helpful to me just as another kind of perspective on where we are from what they see. They see things. They’re very mature. I wish they were both out there on the field, but they’ve done all they can do and contribute a lot on a daily basis and I’m personally very appreciative of what they do for the team and what they’ve done for me personally.”

The outlook for returning for the 2020 season appears to be positive for Andrews and the team. Speaking at a Patriots Charitable Foundation event in Providence, RI on Monday, Andrews offered an optimistic perspective on what lies ahead for him: “I should have a bunch of doctors’ appointments here in February, and get all that cleared up and be good to go next year.”

“Hopefully that goes well and then we kind of see from there. Pretty optimistic and just hope everything comes back good here the next month,” Andrews told ESPN’s Mike Reiss after his remarks at the charity event. “I’m not ready to be done playing football. If there’s any chance I can go play football, that’s what I’m going to do.”

No doubt Andrews was missed. Since joining the Patriots in 2015, he has been a leader within New England’s locker room…. and true leaders are invaluable to a team. For Tom Brady and all of Patriot Nation, hopefully Andrews is cleared to play in 2020 and continue his brilliant career.

Report: Georgia football OL enters transfer portal

This one came out of left field. After junior quarterback Jake Fromm announced today he is entering the 2020 NFL Draft, AL.com ‘s Matt Zenitz reports that sophomore offensive lineman Cade Mays has entered the NCAA’s student-athlete transfer portal. …

This one came out of left field. After junior quarterback Jake Fromm announced today he is  entering the 2020 NFL Draft, AL.com‘s Matt Zenitz reports that sophomore offensive lineman Cade Mays has entered the NCAA’s student-athlete transfer portal.

Mays saw signifigant action as a true freshman and started 11 games this season. He started at four positions on the offensive line and also filled in at center. Mays would join sophomore safety Otis Reese and redshirt sophomore linebacker Robert Beal who have also entered the transfer portal.

With junior left tackle Andrew Thomas and redshirt sophomore right tackle Isaiah Wilson leaving school early, Mays was slotted for a starting position. It’s rare to see a starting player enter the transfer portal, especially one that the coaching staff continuously praises, so there may be another reson the Knoxville, TN native has made the decision.

Georgia football to get one more year from LB Monty Rice

Georgia football linebacker Monty Rice announced that he is staying at Georgia and skipping the NFL Draft

Georgia junior linebacker Monty Rice, one of the most underrated defenders in all of college football, has reached a decision on his future.

Today being Rice’s birthday, the star linebacker announced on Wednesday that he will be returning to Georgia for one final season, foregoing the NFL Draft.

Rice was Georgia’s leading tackler this season with 89 and made the AP All-SEC second team.

As a high school prospect out of Madison, Alabama, Rice was a 4-star player. He was ranked the 334th overall recruit in his class by 247Sports.

Rice joins fellow defenders cornerback Eric Stokes, safety Richard LeCounte and defensive lineman Malik Herring as players who are returning to Athens next season.

On offense, things have been going differently, however. Offensive linemen Andrew Thomas, Solomon Kindley and Isaiah Wilson have all declared for the draft, as well as running back D’Andre Swift.

With all the returning and incoming talent on Georgia’s defense, the dawgs could have an even better 2020 than they did in 2019.

The big one we are all waiting on is Jake Fromm, who has not announced a decision yet.

Former Georgia DL Trenton Thompson still pursuing a dream and a football career

Former Georgia football defensive linemen Trenton Thompson is still pursuing a football career.

After seeing the reports that former Georgia linebacker Davin Bellamy was re-signed to the playoff-bound Houston Texans practice squad this week, I was wondering what his former Bulldog teammate and fellow 2018 free agent Trenton Thompson was doing.

Thompson was the USA Today Defensive Player of Year coming out of Albany (GA) Westover Comprehensive High School in 2014. The previous year, he was Rivals’ Junior of the Year. He was the highest rated recruit in the country and the subject of a ferocious recruiting battle among Auburn, Alabama and Georgia. The centerpiece of Mark Richt’s class that year, the 6’4″, 280-pound defensive lineman had stardom written all over him and the expectations were sky high.

Thompson was projected as a game changer and a double-team necessity. During his freshman year, he played sparingly during the first four games, recording 7 total tackles including a half a sack. He made his first start for the Bulldogs in a week 5 loss to No. 13 Alabama, where he recorded four total tackles. Thompson finished his true freshman year with 25 tackles (8 of which were solo), 2.5 tackles for a loss and half a sack. Several nagging injuries began taking their toll on Thompson toward the end of the season, as he dealt with two bad ankles. His numbers may not have been off the charts, but as a true freshman getting that much playing time in the SEC as a defensive lineman, was quite the feat. Pro Football Focus listed him as the nation’s best true freshman on the interior defensive line.

Thompson’s sophomore year, the defensive tackle returned healthy and appeared in all 13 games with seven starts, leading the Bulldogs interior defensive linemen with 56 tackles, nine tackles for a loss and 5 sacks. After that performance, the expectations for Thompson’s junior season were extremely high but injuries prevented him from reaching his full potential.

He had off-season surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder and withdrew from the spring semester. He rehabbed his injury and appeared at spring practice but did not participate in any drills. During his junior season, he suffered two sprained MCL ligament injuries, causing him to miss two games and rendering him less effective. He finished the season with 38 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss in 13 games.

Unexpectedly, Thompson decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2018 draft. Seven rounds came and went and the quiet man from south Georgia never heard his name called. It was a shame that Thompson could not return to Athens and play his senior year. But due to draconian NCAA rules, which allow scholarship basketball players to test the NBA (provided they do not hire an agent) and return to school if not drafted, college football does not allow that option.

The siren song of the NFL is filled with false promise. A record 106 underclassmen entered the draft that year and 33% of them did not get drafted, including Georgia teammate Davin Bellamy. Thompson became the first No. 1 overall recruiting prospect to go undrafted.

Thompson signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns in 2018 but was waived before the preseason. He joined the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football for its inaugural season. In his first game, a four-tackle performance in a 38-22 win, Pro Football Focus announced a Team of the Week, and Thompson made the list.

After the Alliance of American Football’s financial collapse during its first season, Thompson joined the Washington Valor of the Arena Football League. In June 2019, he travelled north of the border and signed with the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos but was released shortly thereafter.

In October 2019, Thompson was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks of the new XFL. The eight-team XFL will play a 10-week regular-season schedule. The inaugral season begins February 8, 2020. The league appears to be well funded by the World Wrestling Federation ownership group and all games will be nationally televised by ABC/ESPN and FOX Sports. Thompson was the 6th defensive lineman taken in the draft out of a pool of 80. He should expect a minimum annual salary of $65,000 and could reach $120,000 with incentives.

(As a side note, former Georgia Bulldog defensive backs Corey Moore and Damian Swann, quarterback Aaron Murray and long snapper Nick Moore signed with Tampa Bay and defensive tackle Toby Johnson signed with New York).

Trenton Thompson was always quiet, unassuming and respectful. His demeanor may not be protoypical of a professional defensive lineman, but his athletic ability, past on-the-field performances and the continued pursuit of his professional dreams speak volumes of his desire and drive to be successful. It has been unfortunate that injuries interfered with his college career and he was bypassed in the NFL draft. After pursuing his craft across two countries and five leagues since leaving Athens, Thompson’s goal is to show someone in the NFL that he has the talent to compete on the big stage. DawgNation is pulling for ’78’ to become a force in the XFL, remain healthy and to continue to enjoy his journey.

Report: Georgia football DB enters NCAA transfer portal

Georgia football loses another defender to the NCAA transfer portal

One thing about today’s college football…it’s a 365-day dynamic environmnet. Georgia has experienced that as well as any program in the country and today’s report from Al.com’s Matt Zentiz that sophomore safety Otis Reese has entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal adds an exclamation point to the satement.

Reese joins UGA redshirt sophomore linebacker Robert Beal in the portal.

The 6-foot-3 210-pound defensive back from Lee County High (Leesburg, GA) played in each of the Dawgs’ game this season. He played in 11 games as a freshman.

Reese was a four-star prospect coming out of high school. He had been a Michigan commit before Kirby Smart flipped him to the Bulldogs.

Georgia has 18 defensive backs returning next season and with rising senior Richard LeCounte and rising sophomore Lewis Cine expected to get most of the reps at safety, Reese has decided to test the waters.

Georgia OG Solomon Kindley makes NFL Draft decision

Georgia has lost another offensive lineman to the 2020 NFL Draft. Via his Instagram account, redshirt junior guard Solomon Kindley said he will forego his senior season and pursue an NFL career. “To start, thank you God for everything, Coming to UGA …

Georgia has lost another offensive lineman to the 2020 NFL Draft.

Via his Instagram account, redshirt junior guard Solomon Kindley said he will forego his senior season and pursue an NFL career.

“To start, thank you God for everything, Coming to UGA from Raines High School has been far more than I could ever imagine. Over the past four years I’ve created bonds that will last a lifetime. Bulldog nation thank you for accepting me and always being there when I needed you. I’m forever grateful for all your support. Thank you to my athletic trainers that have taken care of my body and the equipment staff that made sure I always had everything I needed to compete and look good doing it. Coach Pittman thank you for recruiting me and changing my life. Thank you for always being there for me on and off the field. All my coaches thank you for making me a better man and getting me to where I am today. The state of Georgia and Athens will always have a special place in my heart. With that being said and after discussing it over with my family, I’ll be foregoing my senior season and will enter the 2020 NFL Draft.”

The 6-foot-4 332-pound Kindley joins line mates Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson in leaving the Bulldogs early. They are joined by junior running back D’Andre Swift in entering the draft early.

Kindley started 32 games and saw action in 42 games over his UGA career. Best of luck to the Jacksonville product and all of DawgNation is hoping for a long and successful professional career.

The Georgia Bulldogs are your 2020 Sugar Bowl champs – Quick thoughts

Georgia football is the Sugar Bowl champions after beating Baylor in New Orleans.

Georgia is undefeated in the new decade.

The Dawgs moved to 12-2 on the season and 1-0 in 2020 after defeating No. 7 Baylor 26-14 in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Things were just clicking on Wednesday night against a Bears defense that is one of the best in the country.

But with 10+ key players sitting out the game, Georgia still came to play. After an embarrassing defeat last year, Kirby Smart made sure that the players who actually wanted to be there were ready for it.

Despite the fact that this was essentially an exhibition game, the win leaves Georgia fans with a nice feeling about things to come.

Recruiting is not over, and I’m sure Georgia targets were impressed by how the Dawgs played.

Speaking of recruiting, the Dawgs have a few big ones coming up this week. 5-stars Zach Evans (RB) and Darnell Washington (TE) will be making their announcements live during the the Under Armour All-American Game on Thursday. Coverage will begin at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

Looking to next year, we saw a few players who are sure to make a big impact in 2020.

Zamir White took 18 carries for 92 yards. Kenny McIntosh, a freshman, took six carries and looked good as well. It will be interesting to see how they are used next year when Kendall Milton and possibly Evans come to town.

And then there was George Pickens, who was named MVP of the game. Pickens, a true freshman, hauled in 12 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown.

When interviewed, Pickens said “my offensive line is amazing. My quarterback is amazing.”

He then continued to praise his team.

“Put the camera on all these guys. I love them to death.”

Let’s talk about junior safety Richard LeCounte for a second. He receives a decent amount of unwarranted criticism on Twitter, but #2 is an absolute baller. His jersey number matched the amount of interceptions he had on Wednesday night. His NFL decision is unknown at this point, but we will have an answer on that shortly I’d assume.

As for Jake Fromm, the junior threw 30 passes, completing 20 of them for 250 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. When asked about what his future holds after the game, Fromm did not hint at whether or not he’s staying at Georgia. Instead, he praised God and his teammates. We will have to wait on that one.

D’Andre Swift is viewed as the No. 1 running back in this draft class by ESPN’s Todd McShay. We do not know what he’s going to do, but everyone expects Swift to turn pro. But what he did do was make the trip to New Orleans with his teammates. He was nursing a shoulder injury, but played through as much as he could.

After the game, Kirby praised the junior tailback for his dedication and for what he does off the field.

Kirby was clearly emotional about this win. Following the game, passion was pouring out of the former Bulldog as he hoisted the Sugar Bowl trophy with confetti flying.

Kirby called a great, aggressive game. He was aggressive on defense, pulled out some trickery on a flea flicker and a fake field goal. 

James Coley was also on his game. He was willing to adapt, call outside run plays and get his best available players into a spot where they were able to succeed.

[lawrence-related id=20774]

With the 2019 season officially over for Georgia, we look ahead to a 2020 that will see the Dawgs open with Virginia in Atlanta.

In week three, UGA travels to Tuscaloosa in what will surely be the game of the season at that point.

And Auburn, which complained about its schedule enough that the SEC finally did something, will be coming to Athens in early October rather than November.

Georgia vs Florida will be played on Halloween night in Jacksonville.

The South Carolina and Tennessee games will both be played in November, which will be an odd change of pace. Those games are typically in the first half of the year.

I predict 11-1, with the only loss coming to Alabama.

Dawgs vs Bama in the SEC Championship.

We’ll see….

Sugar Bowl: Georgia executes fake field goal, Zamir White scores shortly after

Georgia football executed a fake field goal and then handed it Zamir White who scored against Baylor in the Sugar Bowl.

Midway through the third quarter, Georgia faced a 4th and 2 deep in Baylor territory.

Leading 19-7, it would have made sense to take the three points and extend the lead to 15.

Instead, Kirby Smart went with some trickery and pulled off a fake kick that resulted in a Georgia first down.

Punter Jake Camarda, who was in as the holder, kept the ball and ran for a first. Had he not stumbled, he may have went for six.

The next play, Fromm gave it to freshman Zamir White, who has had a nice game so far. Zeus went for 13 yards and extended the lead to 26-7.

Azeez Ojulari gets the crucial 4th down sack

On 4th and 4 from the Georgia 46 yard line, Baylor attempted to convert and keep its drive alive. The Dawgs, leading 19-7 at that point early in the third quarter, were not having it, though. Edge rusher Azeez Ojulari kept his impressive season …

On 4th and 4 from the Georgia 46 yard line, Baylor attempted to convert and keep its drive alive.

The Dawgs, leading 19-7 at that point early in the third quarter, were not having it, though.

Edge rusher Azeez Ojulari kept his impressive season alive and came up huge, getting to Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer, sacking him and forcing a fumble.