Got to see practice on Thursday. Few observations. Kirby was pretty tame w/ a bunch of professors there. Still very intense and direct, just tried to tone down the 4-letter words a bit. That being said, you can tell he's really trying find the Dawgs, and I mean that in both senses. A lot of talk about "do you just want a check" kind of stuff. Looking for who will respond. Think some guys are. Really challenging the early enrollees to be in shape, and no coach is off-limits if their position group isn't responding. Funniest comment was during a rep with 3s late in practice, joked about how all the early enrollees all probably wished they stayed home and went to prom because this is hard.
Best way is to just go by positions:
Offense
Defense
The demise of Georgia Football has been greatly exaggerated. I think our team will look more like the Fromm years and, at best, 2021. Meaning, we're not going to throw it 40 times a game like last year, and that will probably help in a lot of ways. I also think our TEs are going to be much of a factor. I think people are not taking into account what having 5 and 3 in that defense makes. Very experienced ILB makes a huge difference. Roquan, Monty and Nakobe didn't really 'takeoff' until their junior years. CJ has played a lot of ball and is an alpha dawg. I'm not sure our OL can be worse than last year, so I'm encouraged, and we were incredibly banged up. The WR will make a tremendous difference. (BTW, Tayln Taylor is quick, and Wiley is big).
Go Dawgs!
Best way is to just go by positions:
Offense
- RBs - Nate is just different and is an alpha. I really think Bo Walker can help us in some way. Just really impressive, and he is THICK. Cash will do Cash things, and did in practice. Will still help in passing game. 86 can play all the RB he wants for my money. I love him back there. Got work at both.
- QBs - It's Gunner and I'm not sure it's particularly close. They both were a little off yesterday, but for the most part it was simply really tight windows to squeeze it into. Pugs throws a beaut, but you can tell he doesn't know the offense like Gunner. Pugs can run more than you think, though.
- WRs - Man, Branch is going to be a difference maker in the slot, and Thomas is going to be a play-maker. That room is so much better. The depth out there will mean so much to Bell. He can play RB some and be in the slot more. If he stays out of trouble and stays healthy, Colbie Young is going to make a tremendous difference on this team. I'm not sure we had 3 guys last year mid-season on as good as Young, Branch and Thomas. Branch can be a real difference maker on returns.
- TEs - Thought Delp and Luckie looked good, but Reddell is an absolute unit. He caught a TD in tight coverage, and I think he'll play some. Barbour and Williams offer great promise for the future. Williams is gigantic. Barbour is thicker than I imagined.
- OL - Michael Uni is big and is can help us. Thought he did pretty good. Just in shorts and shoulder pads yesterday, so hard to tell there. Jahzare has one of the largest humans I've ever seen, and he has a shot. Getting lots of reps w/ Freeling out. Juan Gaston is also a giant.
Defense
- DL - I know much has been made about our DL the last couple of years, but I was most encouraged by this group. Hall looks the part. He's in tremendous physical condition. 320 and not a lot of fat. The Nigerian Nightmare is going to be a player, too. I think we've got more depth than people think.
- OLB - It's going to be interesting. I never know who plays what the way we play defense, and that's a little by design. But, Kris Jones is going to be good there. Gabe is out right now, and Q is going to be a force. But Chris Cole will rush a good big, and holy moly how does Kirby keep finding guys that look like that? I hope Chase Linton is a stud there because he wears #85, and I love it when players wear weird numbers for their position, and per my crack personal research, I think 85 is the weakest number in Georgia Football history.
- ILB - That room. Goodness. A lot of players. CJ, Raylen, Justin, Foster, Cole. Just some dudes. Leaders, athletic freaks. Williams has some learning to do, but he competes hard.
- S - Blessed to have KJ. What a player. I think Branch will help us. Amazing how much bigger he is than his brother. Looks like we are counting on Harris and Maddox to contribute here as transfers.
- C- Thought Demello looked pretty good, as well as Harris. Ellis had the DB highlight of the day with a Malaki Starks type INT. His ball skills are insane. He's still pretty thin. Very interested to see how that all shakes out.
The demise of Georgia Football has been greatly exaggerated. I think our team will look more like the Fromm years and, at best, 2021. Meaning, we're not going to throw it 40 times a game like last year, and that will probably help in a lot of ways. I also think our TEs are going to be much of a factor. I think people are not taking into account what having 5 and 3 in that defense makes. Very experienced ILB makes a huge difference. Roquan, Monty and Nakobe didn't really 'takeoff' until their junior years. CJ has played a lot of ball and is an alpha dawg. I'm not sure our OL can be worse than last year, so I'm encouraged, and we were incredibly banged up. The WR will make a tremendous difference. (BTW, Tayln Taylor is quick, and Wiley is big).
Go Dawgs!
