Former Players Must Remain Mum?
A truly hot topic today is the brewing verbal sparring match between former Chicago Bears greats, Gale Sayers and Mike Ditka and present day stand-out Brian Urlacher. Sayers was speaking to a group in Nebraska earlier this month, and pointed out some question marks for the Bear’s 2010 season. Namely Jay Cutler’s sub-par year and Urlacher’s return from off-season surgery on his wrist. Urlacher took exception(click here).
Instead of answering the specific questions Sayers posed, Urlacher went on the offensive. “How many championships has he won?”, speaking of Sayer’s career, etc, etc. If you listen to the video or read the article linked, you will probably understand that Sayers was not taking cheap shots at his old team, but based on last year’s performance, speaking the truth. But does speaking the truth even matter in this situation?
Many of you realize that I got into some hot water last season by choosing my words carelessly in some blog posts. In my situation as well, I felt strongly that some of the negatives I pointed out were true, but many Georgia fans feel I as a former player should never, ever speak ill of the program. I don’t think that’s fair. As long as the statements are based in reality and are not some inflammatory position taken just to recieve page-views as some bloggers are wont to do, then it’s all good.
I have learned a lot in my year of blogging, but I will always try to be honest. I may lose some fans, but maybe I will gain a few in the process as well.
At the risk of opening old wounds, what say you Dawg fan?
Barry, that is just plain wrong, son.
Former players are just as able to speak up, such as Rex Robinson, Buck Belue and Ben Dukes as former coaches are such as Jim Donnan and Vince Dooley.
And, they are just as welcome to offer up their opinion of just 10-10 vs SEC East the last 4 years as every national publication.
And, every national publication has said the same exact comments as the former players and coaches have.
Everyone in fact except for you SECgal and you barry, neither of which had anything to say when Rex Robinson made his statements.
I looked.
05/24/2010 at 4:35 AM
I think that you have an insight others might not have and a responsibilities others don’t have. I think you have learned when to say what. I hope you are not in the same position you were last year. I hope that you can offer insight this year as to why things are going well.
05/24/2010 at 12:44 AM
Ben Dukes on his WebPages goes into it in chart form, about our Offense here at UGA.
http://dawgsview.blogspot.com/2010/04/thing.html
Our Players are not coached up on Offense.
Ben, thank you for putting so much time into what is so hard to do, the charts.
In 2007 with Matthew Stafford, our Passing Offense is # 83.
In fact, if you look at our Passing Production in the entire Coach Richt Era, the only 2 years where we did not pass more than 200 yards a game are Matthew Stafford’s freshman year where he was the only QB to play in all 13 games and in 2007.
# 79 Passing in 2006 and # 83 Passing in 2007.
Anemic.
Last year with Joe Cox, we were only slightly better at 201 yards passing a game and that is the 3rd worst ever in the Coach Richt Era.
# 80 Passing in 2009.
Those who say that Joe Cox was great passing, are simply put, wrong-headed about what they must see on your chart table, Ben.
The same can be said about Matthew Stafford, that he really did not produce passing the football.
He didn’t.
It is not possible to look at the production, or lack thereof, on Offense throwing the football and say that our Offensive Coaching Staff took advantage of the Passing of Matthew Stafford 2 of his 3 years and in his 3rd season here, we failed miserably to give the ball to Knowshon Moreno in all 3 devastating horrible losses.
With Stafford and Moreno, we won no SEC Championship and in fact were never even invited to the game.
In 2008, we handed our Offensive Coaching Staff, Knowshon Moreno. With Knowshon Moreno our Offensive Coaching Staff managed only # 56 in the nation Rushing. Why is that ? Because we gave Knowshon only 14 carries on the average in the only 3 games that mattered. How poorly coached on Offense is that ?
How can you have Knowshon Moreno and in the only 3 games who were any good that we played 2008 lose all 3 while allowing Knowshon an average of only 14 carries per game, all 3 losses. All 3 games – the only 3 games that year – our Offensive Coaching Staff allowed 31 to nothing to Alabama at half time with us ranked the # 1 team in the nation with 14 players arrested / suspended the very night we got ranked # 1, we allowed 42 unanswered points by Florida and 29 unanswered points to Georgia tek. All 3 losses, and in the 3 losses, our Offensive Coaching Staff allowed Knowshon Moreno to average only 14 carries per game.
Miserable.
For the entire Coach Richt Era, our Passing averages # 48.
For the entire Coach Richt Era, our Rushing averages # 55.
You looked at the entire Coach Richt Era on Offense in The SEC and found that on Offense, we are MIDDLING.
For the entire Coach Richt Era, our Total Offense is # 52.
We are not in the Top 50.
Pardon me, but not in the Top 50 for the entire Coach Richt Era on Offense.
This season, in this state which produces the # 3 most high school players who go on to the NFL from the state of Georgia, we whiffed signing the Offensive Players. Is this due to the Offensive Coaching Staff the entire Coach Richt Era catching up with us ?
Do you think the kids on offense in this state felt Knowshon should not have been redshirted ? Do you think the kids on offense in this state felt Knowshon should have averaged more than 14 carries in the 3 losses after we were ranked # 1 ? Do you think that the kids on offense in this state felt that we should have been better than # 79 and # 83 in 2006 and 2007 in Passing with Stafford ? Do you ?
You and many others have detailed that in NFL Drafts, that UGA has dropped off significantly since the Jim Donnan Recruits have all graduated, and that we really have NEVER produced Offensive Draft Picks with this Offensive Coaching Staff. The 2 we did, we squandered. Right ?
For God’s sake Ben, they not only Redshirted Knowshon Moreno so that we only got to see him only 2 years, but in 2008 with Knowshon Moreno, we
With Knowshon Moreno 2008 we are # 56 in Rushing.
With Matthew Stafford 2006 & 2007, we are # 79 & # 83 in Passing.
4 years in a row now consecutively coming into this season we average 21 fumbles every single year.
4 years in a row now consecutively coming into this season we average 14 interceptions every single year.
4 years in a row now consecutively coming into this season we average # 96 in the NCAA in Penalties.
Watching the games the last 4 years, on Offense we cannot line up and run a play like we have ever practiced the play. Most likely, we got a Penalty. When we did not have a penalty called on us on Offense, we either fumbled or threw an Interception. On 3rd and long, we called running plays. We played Favorites on Offense, screwed up totally on Redshirt or not the players and had a middling offense, according to Ben Dukes.
According to Rex Robinson, we did not coach the players up.
We could not figure out to start Orson Charles until game 12, with his 23 catches his freshman year because Aron White caught 3 his freshman year.
We royally missed it too with Knowshon Moreno, not only Redshirting him so we got to see him only 2 years but in our most Disappointing Season, ever, we in 2008 averaged only 14 carries per game in the only 3 big games of the season. We ended up # 56 in Rushing 2008.
We recruited Marlon Brown and did not Redshirt him, throwing him a grand total of only 2 Passes all year. What our Offensive Coaching Staff could teach AJ Green but cannot teach Marlon Brown ?
Branden Smith is also another probably best recruit we did sign and we threw him also only 2 Passes all year. How in the hell can this happen ?
We ripped the Redshirt Off the # 11 Running Back Recruit in the nation, Washaun Ealey in the 3rd Quarter of the Game # 5. Do we have ANY clue what we are doing on Offense, I ask you Ben ?
Washaun goes on to lead the team in Rushing. He only gets to Start 2 games, and they not even the last 2 games.
Let’s look at these position coaches, is that allowed if we are to discuss this ?
We have a great former running back, coaching wide receivers. Is that obvious from the glaring issues such as but not limited to the fact that no running back can be taught how to carry the ball so that we don’t average 21 fumbles a year all 4 of the last 4 years.
We have our own former wide receiver, coaching running backs. How has he done ? Look at his decisions, look at his production, look at his personnel moves, look at his results, and share with me how this has worked out please ?
We have a former Quarterback coaching tight ends. How do you think he has done with his personnel decisions, his production when for example the year before last, we had 0 tight ends who caught as many as 5 catches on the entire season.
And, if we are going to discuss the Offense and try to make conclusions on the Offense based up Chart Tables, let’s take the gloves off shall we in discussing Mike Bobo ?
You see Ben, you allude to Mike Bobo, but you don’t actually say it. It’s like the gal on Rex Robinson’s WebPages yesterday giving him total hell for what he already apologized for before she posted the ripping comments on him as a former player daring to say the Truth.
We don’t coach up our players on Offense.
If we did Coach Richt would not have taken over the Offense from them 3 weeks ago, now would he ?
Take the Gloves Off, Ben.
# 52 the entire Coach Richt Era on Offense.
We are NOT ANY GOOD ON OFFENSE.
You know that Ben. I know that. That gal knows that. Rex Robinson knows that. Hells Bells, Coach Richt knows that, doesn’t he ? Why else would he tell all the Offensive Coaching Staff that he is going to do what he promised us all he would do when Vince Dooley hired him at 2 a.m. December 20, 2000.
You discussed it here Ben that Coach Richt was involved in actually preparing a QB one year for the next year, that Coach Richt was involved in actually preparing an Offense to take advantage of the talent he had.
So, Coach Richt looked at the same thing you looked at here Ben, and Coach Richt said he had to go to every OFFENSIVE MEETING – said this just 3 weeks ago.
How do you think Mike Bobo feels ?
Public Announcement in the press that Coach Richt is TAKING OVER the OFFENSE.
Put yourself in Mike Bobo’s shoes.
How does that feel ?
Go ahead and say it, we face South Carolina in Game 2 this up-coming season and if we do not beat South Carolina, we are 10 wins 11 losses vs just The SEC East the last 5 years then.
Without a QB prepared again this year as we did not in 2006 at 9-4 and as we did not in 2009 at 8-5.
If we do not beat South Carolina at night on the road without a QB prepared yet again this up-coming season (and no one behind him) if we don’t beat South Carolina, Coach Richt has a LOSING RECORD vs SEC East teams at 10-11 then the last 5 years that night.
Bad news.
Who cares where we rank nationally and it is # 52 the entire Coach Richt Era on Offense, we cannot get out of our own Division of our Own Conference and therefore are not given the Opportunity to beat a Top 10 Final AP Poll team in our Bowl Game on the National Stage.
We have not in the Coach Richt Era beat a Top 10 Final AP Poll team in any bowl game.
We have lost 8 games to Top 10 Final AP Poll teams and won only 3 in the Coach Richt Era.
We have lost 8 more games to teams not ranked in the Top 25 Final AP Poll in the Coach Richt Era.
We have squandered the talent given to us.
We have had a MIDDLING offense.
Do you really believe that we are going to Beat Florida this up-coming season at 2-7 coming in Ben ?
With a team who has 1 Quarterback and he totally unprepared. So unprepared that not only did we recruit him injured in his leg and ankle, but that our Offensive Coaching Staff allowed this 1 man to throw his throwing arm out, missing in all 21 Practices last Fall.
I have as much optimism as the next guy, but I like you and Rex call it like it is.
I say we are not going to fix this by saying we are going to beat Florida and Win The SEC, play in a bowl game and beat a Top 10 Final AP Poll team and have an Offense that averages in the Top 50 in the nation with this Offensive Coaching Staff.
I say that because Coach Richt said that 3 weeks ago, admitting they are not getting the job done.
But according to the gal who started this with her reply to Rex when Rex already apologized before she posted and again after she did, it is BEST TO NOT DISCUSS IT.
Inside information that we are not coached up on offense ?
Duh, is all I can say gal. Coach Richt told you 3 weeks ago we are not coached up on offense m’am.
We better have an Offense that is a well-oiled machine that looks like they know what they are doing that takes advantage of the players they have to take advantage of this season for the first time on Offense, or Ben I will come back in here and summarize that we waited a year too late at least to do something about this Offensive Coaching Staff.
I think Coach Richt needs to be our Head Coach, not do their job he hired them to do and then said oh well, it’s not working out. You can keep your job. I’ll do my job and yours. I’ll coach up the Offense.
You don’t fix anything by running and hiding. You fix it by admitting the Offensive Coaching Staff is not coaching up our players on Offense. Coach Richt did that gal. Why don’t you join in his statement instead of buying your head in the sand and giving Rex hell.
05/23/2010 at 6:11 AM
Honestly, Rex, you did not shed any new light on the kicking struggles. You simply gave a well reasoned explanation of the flaws in our kick-off strategy.
Any “inside information” may have got your dander up, but it was not needed in order to form, or support, the opinion you shared.
And frankly, Mr. King kinda threw you under the bus.
05/22/2010 at 1:50 PM
Question the loyalty of Rex Robinson…..really?
I was a fan of yours then, and I am a fan of yours now. Nothing you can write would make me question your loyalty to UGa.
Speak the truth as you see it Rex. I don’t need the source, only what you gleaned from the information provided by the source. I don’t need some watered down, politically correct opinion of a UGa great….I want your honest opinion. That is why I read your blog. I may not always agree, but I definitely respect your opinions and weight them with other well thought out opinions in an effort to establish my own. Continue to learn and evolve, but never lose your passion.
And BTW…… Dukes does a really good job of getting to the point.
05/22/2010 at 10:52 AM
Your situation is not even in the same ballpark as Gale Sayers. He was asked a question and gave a upfront answer. You on the other hand was apparently privy to private “information” and chose to write a blog full of innuendo about the program but refused to tell what you “knew”. The problem then is two fold. One you were given PRIVATE information about that team that you refused to repeat or give specifics about. The result was a lot inflammatory accusations were thrown around about the program. This is no way benefited the fans, the team or the program but I guess it resulted in hits to your website. Two, if something is so private that you can’t repeat it, then you should keep it to yourself. Otherwise yes, you look disloyal not only to the program but to your source. You also look like a opportunist at the expense of your alma mater.
05/21/2010 at 5:19 PM
I understand your frustration and like I said, I have learned a lot.
05/21/2010 at 5:49 PM
Baloney.
To accuse former players for expressing their opinions (right or wrong, about something that’s going on in the program) as being disloyal is ridiculous. Former players have opinions and feelings just like other Dawgs. They wan’t to win, just like everybody else. And when we don’t, they want to feel proud of the way our team played.
There may be a disloyal letterman out there somewhere, but I have never heard of it. But it’s certainly not Rex, or Buck Belue, or any of the other former players who have expressed concern over things that were going on the last 3-4 years.
If anything, Rex used a great deal of restraint last year. There were a lot of things he could have said but didn’t, and they were true. I was one who said a lot of those things, and they were true. Richt has addressed most of them, some problems are no longer on the team, and it could be he has addressed them all. I’m very hopeful that he has. We’ll see, because if so we will no longer be a team that beats ourselves.
But to even hint that Rex Robinson is somehow disloyal to Georgia is silliness.
~~~
05/22/2010 at 11:35 AM
Hey Rex. I’m a former Dawg as well, lettering on the 2000 squad under Jim Donnan. I write a little blog about what I see, and often times I say things that couldn’t be listed under the “rah, rah” header. Many die-hard UGA fans think that former players must speak no evil against our team, and that to do so is treason.
I, like you, disagree with that philosophy. The fact is, I love this team, and I want nothing but the best for it. To sit back and say “all is well” when the wheels are coming off, well, that isn’t being a “damn good dawg”…that’s being a fool. Now, don’t take that statement to mean that I believe the wheels have come off at UGA. Far from it. In fact, I believe that Richt has done a great job this offseason in bringing the program back to where it was to start the last decade. I’m very optimistic going into 2010, and have said as much.
I also spent a good part of last month breaking down the performance by the teams of Richt’s tenure, and showing just where they did and didn’t succeed, and WHY the defensive staff was shown the door.
There are people in the blogosphere who will react irrationally to anything presumably negative that you write. However, there are those of us who will read it, and take it for what it is – your own opinion of what’s happening. That’s actually the rationale behind naming my blog “This Dawg’s View.” I’m not claiming to be the end-all be-all expert on sports, college football, or even UGA football. But, I call it like I see it.
Keep up the good work, and stop by my page if you have some time.
Dukes
05/21/2010 at 5:08 PM
I will definitely check in on your blog and include it my blog listing. Thanks.
05/21/2010 at 5:47 PM
I was one of those who criticized you but not because you should never speak ill of the program. I just think that, as a former player, your comments have to be especially weighed, both for content and timing, before you make them as your opinions will be amplified by the media.
You admitted that you were careless in choosing your words and that settled the matter in my view.
05/21/2010 at 4:30 PM
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
05/21/2010 at 5:46 PM