Home / Hotline Reports / Bulldog Hotline - Oct. 13, 2008
Bulldog Hotline - Oct. 13, 2008
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Scott opened mentioning that broadcast lines are not working tonite so backup equipment is being used. Other notes: Tommy Bowden stepping down at Clemson. UGA ranked #9 in coaches and Harris (BCS polls) and #10 in AP. Vance lost to a knee injury. Boling moved over to LT and the offense went on to roll up over 450 yards, and Boling was named SEC OL of the week.
Coach is on the line, following family night. Scott asked for basic impressions. CMR said anytime you beat a team that wears orange it’s a great day. Tennessee is a dangerous team. Our guys came in focused and started strong. We left some points that could have been on the board – two interceptions, a dropped pass and a situation getting only one shot from the 3 instead of three shots.
Scott was impressed with us finishing the drill with the long drive in the 4thquarter. 17 plays, almost 11 minutes. Who knows what kind of momentum Tennessee would’ve gotten if we’d gone right out then instead of keeping the ball.
Scott thought time of possession was meaningful in this game. CMR thinks the more meaningful stats was number of plays – over 80 for us to about 45.
Injuries:
Figgins will try to play the rest of the year. He’ll need surgery at the end. For now he’s gonna go.
Southerland – no setbacks
Ellerbe – running fine straight head – in pads tomorrow. Hopeful he’ll play vs.Vandy
Chandler – making strides, doubtful this week but hopeful next week
Durham – same
Jonathan in Ky. – still turns the radio up and TV down to listen to Scott. He really enjoyed the OL performance. He had a chance to tour the weight room recently, and noticed rule #7 was ask God for help. Also, about play calling – has anyone run the flea flicker recently? CMR – if you had just one rule, that would be it. But we’ll have to ask Coach VH. About the flea flicker, most people have it in their system and look for just the right moment. You can’t just call it any down or against any time. You have to find a down & distance and maybe a certain formation. There is some risk to it. You could get a sack if they don’t buy it. Those are exciting when they work.
Jeremy in Memphis asked about redshirting players. It seems we’ve played more this year. He can think of three who have played but not much. And the physical teams like Alabama .. how important is it to go out and sign top OL & DL each year?
CMR: Boykin is playing on four special teams Cummings has had mono and may not be able to play the rest of the year. The goal is to try and play guys who can help you win. We try to look at guys and get a feel whether they can graduate in 3 ½ years. If they can start on four special teams that is a big contribution. As for OL & DL – OL, 1 junior and most are frosh and sophs. We might sign 3, just to have 15-17. DL – we need to bring in 2 per year.
I asked about that defensive holding call – adding that the lead official in this game was someone we had issues with in a couple of games last year. Richt said he was surprised to find out it was not an automatic first down. If you’re holding an eligible receiver and the ball crosses the line, it is an automatic first down. We all assumed it was an automatic first down. The next play call made was based on it being first and goal. Right before the play, Searels noticed it was still 3rd down on the down marker. As soon as the play was over, Richt asked an official and the official said it wasn’t an automatic first down. Later, he spoke to the lead official, who said they made a mistake, but there was nothing that can be done. (Richt said he really didn’t get after him, but it looked to me from the stands that Richt lit the guy up pretty good.) Once the ball is snapped, it can’t be changed. Let’s face it, we all make mistakes. It doesn’t do any good to get all riled up and embarrass an official. He does not think there is any kind of an agenda.
Doug in Cumming wants CMR to pass on to guys who took some really hard licks in the game .. Moreno taking a helmet to helmet and Mo Mass too. When both got up it seemed to inspire the team. CMR thought MoMass showed more courage than he’d seen. Also Moreno delivered some shots. He made great blocks on the way out a few times. Both guys are leaders and hard nosed players.
Scott noticed the guys did a little dance when MoMass got up. He also noticed a “chip” block where he decleated a DE on one play. CMR said Coach Ball does a great job of teaching that. When there are no sacks, it’s a credit to the OL but also backs and TEs doing their job.
John in Villa Rica was going to ask about that defensive holding, but instead asked about OL depth. CMR: LT is now Boling, LG Glenn (true frosh), C Ben Jones (true frosh), RG C. Davis, RT J. Anderson. Behind them – J. Davis (either tackle), Strickland (either guard). If something happened to Ben Jones, we’d have to move C. Davis over or could go to Kevin Perez. Scott asked about Kiante Tripp. CMR said we have moved K. Tripp back to tackle so we have two backup tackles ready to go. Those are guys the staff thinks are ready to play winning football.
Rob in Dallas, GA is concerned about penalties. CMR said they’ve already bitten us in the Bama game – that early penalty where we forced a turnover but called for hands to the face of the QB. This week, the penalties credited to the players were 7. CMR took 3 delay of games – one on a FG try and two punts. And two others the SEC officials thought shouldn’t have been penalties after all. That’s improvement and we’ll keep after them. Scott asked if CMR did up/downs for the delay of games. CMR said tomorrow would be a perfect day for that – full pads and 86*. CMR said the players also asked about the delay but it was a strategic decision.
Tim asked about the offensive huddle. He’s noticed some times we’ve had the huddle close to the line and a couple of times the center almost tripped over the ball. Our goal is only to be three yards from the ball. When Calloway was here, our huddle was 6-7 yards from the ball but Searels likes it closer. The goal is 3 yards. Now all the Bulldog Nation can watch the huddle. Scott noticed we callers aren’t missing much tonite. CMR laughed and said if we trip over the ball coming out of the huddle we can do up/downs for that too.
Danny in Waycross wants true frosh, redshirt frosh and walk on defined. CMR said true frosh is a guy on campus for the first time and is playing in his first season. A redshirt frosh is a guy who’s in his second year but didn’t play his first year. The NCAA gives you 5 years to play 4. If he doesn’t play until his second season he’s a redshirt freshman. Those guys are on scholarship. A walk on comes on his own and proves he’s good enough to be on the team. You only get 85 scholarships. We have 125 on the team, so you’re talking about 40 extra guys. Some of them actually earn scholarships at different points in time.
Josh in Carrollton asked about the OL. Is Vince Vance eligible for a medical redshirt? And are we close to pulling a couple of redshirts? Richt thought about the medical redshirt but the rule is you can only play 3 of the first 6 games. Richt doesn’t see taking a guy off a redshirt would be Jonathan Owens but he’s injured.
James in Jacksonville, FL wonders if Jeff Owens is eligible for a medical redshirt, and what about various quotes on TV citing assistant coaches. Owens could get a medical redshirt but he never redshirted to begin with. If Owens were to (God forbid) get hurt again next year he could have two redshirts and play 6 years. As for TV commentators, people take what they say a little too much to heart. It’s them trying to look for something to be a good story.
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