Top Dawg targets - Jarvis Jones

The state's top uncommited player is in Baton Rouge with the Hat for his last visit this weekend. With Florida, USC, Texas, LSU and Georgia in the mix, Jones is keeping his poker face on. The Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year in his junior year played LB mostly in high school. But the Columbus prospect could figure to be a weak side end in college.

+     After Branden Smith committed, Jones became the biggest in state target for CMR's staff. With all due respect to Greg Reid, quality depth at D end is a much bigger issue for the Dawgs. But it would be great to get both in state defensive players. Jones is a talented LB pospect, but at end could fit the mold of an athletic and quick Marcus Howard.

-     Rumors have Jones crossing the border, but truly no one really knows. Georgia may be a long shot on this player's short list, but there have been known to be some surprises at the signing day table. Maybe Jones will knock the books off the shelves of Carver High School's Media Center by choosing the Dawgs.

Clip 

This one was hard as I had two faves until I got about 2:18 in when Jones fights off a block and then levels the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage.

http://www.youtube.com/user/DeanLegge

Top Dawg Targets - Greg Reid

Something tells me this kid likes to wear flip-flops. Ever since standing his ground during the Urban Tirade, Reid has been hopping over fences nearly daily. But it's hard to blame the guy that starred in Orlando during the Under Armour All-Star game. Since that stellar two (should've been three) interception performance, Reid has been the nation's hot recruiting topic.

Bernie's Take

+     DB is as renowned for the verbal lashing he took from the Swamp Coach as he is his cover skills. He is an all around talent that has recently settled in on the defensive side of the ball. He wants to play early which may be why he backed away from TebowLand. Georgia can offer a fair shot at time. But he'll have to earn it against some players who have been waiting on the sidelines as well as the state's top player, '09 commit Branden Smith.

-    Needs a good academic semester to avoid being a non-qualifier. Saban and Smart, who are both DB coaches, have been leaning heavily on Reid. Tallahassee is a short hour and a half drive for momma to see him play as a Seminole.

Potential +    Athens is Reid's last visit and he'll make it with good friends in tow - Washaun Ealey, Dexter Moody and Michael Gilliard, all Dawg commits. They plan to arrive this evening and leave Sunday morning. The dead period for coaches begins Monday and he plans to announce on Tuesday. If Athens makes a good impression on Reid and he picks the red and black hat Tuesday, it could provide some good momentum for the Dawgs' coaches as they await others who will solidify their picks Wednesday.

While in town, CMR promised Reid his #24 jersey should he decide to become a Dawg.

Clips

Rivals' Jamie Newberg evaluates Reid after going from a 4star to a 5star.

AMP: The new five stars @ Rivals Video

2:15 in, a Thomas Davis type hit over the middle. I checked...#11 eventually regained his breath.

http://www.youtube.com/user/fredking042000

Super Bowl Spectacular: Super Dawgs and Dirty Birds

Friday Feedbag

Could Hines Ward become the greatest Dawg to play on football's grandest stage? Georgia's "Mr. Everything" already has one Super Bowl win and an MVP trophy to show off. A strong performance Sunday could help make his case.

But that honor belongs to Jake Scott (at least for another 48 hours) in this blawgger's humble opinion. 

Scott has a SB MVP as well from his performance in VII (2 INTs and 63 return yards). But he trumps Ward in rings with two.

Of course, Richard Seymour has three rings for his services with the New England dynasty. Fran Tarkenton reached the gridiron Valhalla three times with the Vikings, but was not able to grab a single ring. And it is hard to deny that Charley Trippi is the greatest Dawg athlete to grace professional football's championship field.

Trippi of course, played before there was a Super Bowl (and subsequently before there were commercials that starred talking frogs and lizards). But he played more positions than Ward has professionally and even used a pair of basketball shoes on his way to 206 total yards and 2 TDs in the 1947 NFL Championship game. He helped his Chicago Cardinals to a 28-21 win over Philly by using his feet, hands and undoubtedly his Dawg heart.

It is clearly a close race for these former Dawgs. I give Scott the edge as Super Dawg because of the impact he had on his two SB wins with the turnovers (he also had a fumble recovery and 67 return yards in SB VIII). 

Ward will be slowed by a knee sprain Sunday...or will he? True Dawg fans don't have to be reminded that #19 was one Damn Good Dawg that could hardly resist playing the game, even injured. It would take a team of Clydesdale horses to keep him off the field...and they'll likely be too busy scheming against that dalmation to intervene Sunday.

Super Segway! 

Is Dan Reeves Cursed? This guy got stabbed in the back by Shanahan in Denver, was fired in Atlanta because his QB broke his leg (no dogs were harmed in that preseason game, just a future felon), and now may be charged with cleaning up a botox laden mess in Dallas.

Since his Dirty Bird departure in Atlanta, Reeves has been pretty vocal about wanting to get back into coaching. Regardless of what you may think of him, he's a good guy, a great Georgian and just happens to have made a few trips to the Super Bowl (told you there was a transition in there).

Last week Reeves drew some interest in San Fran, but has evidently been lured back to where he fell off the Landry tree. Problem is...the franchise Reeves cut his teeth on is a far cry from the soap opera that is the Cowgirls today.

I'm sure he felt compelled to help his longtime friend Wade Phillips out. And I'm sure the Georgia Peach in Coach Reeves would have felt a little out of place in San Fran. But while botox has sufficiently stretched Jerry Jones' face back into the mid 90s, no surface makeover is gonna help his franchise.

Will Jones give Coach Reeves the authority to make wholesale changes? Because I'm sure Reeves isn't going to see eye to eye with TO. And I'm certain the old coach isn't going to wait an hour on a plane for anyone but Jesus himself.

Quick Hits

• Another irreverent blog post paying tribute to Gainesville's Golden Boy. In other words...this is awesome!
  
• Georgia recruit Bobbie Massie of Hargrave Military Academy was evidently worried about BDB having to cover all of the Top Dawg Targets before NSD. He has cancelled his visit to Athens for this weekend. Guess Saban made him an offer he couldn't refuse...
• Felton was a great hire at a difficult time in Dawg Hoops. He ran a clean program and brought UGA back from the NCAA file 13. But he failed to produce wins or make friends. In any area of coaching that is a losing combination.
• As I watched Evans speak about the firing, I couldn't help but think of Derrick Favors...you know, the state of Georgia's next one and done basketball star in line for the NBA. It's rumored that by choosing Tech he saved Hewitt's hide for another year. However, I didn't get the impression that Evans would've granted any kind of reprieve if Felton had been granted a favor?
• Evans granted his reprieve last year after the tornado I guess...
• At the risk of aging myself, I provide my reader this link as a public service. If you have been missing that humming sound coming from the metal playing field of the electric football game you once enjoyed for hours...a membership in the MFCA awaits. And yes...you're welcome!
• Is it at all possible, even remotely conceivable that Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis could prove to be sane after all that has happened with that miserable franchise...the last few years especially? Since being named as the prepubescent successor to Philmer, Lane (that's a beautiful girl's name isn't it?) Kiffin has all but legitimized the quirky and sleazy NFL owner. Paul Finebaum argues that not only is that happening, but it may be the biggest upset in NFL history.

Friday Trivia

Let's try another reader interactive. How many catches will Ward have Sunday? And feel free to parlay that into a prediction for how many catches Leonard Pope will have for the Cardinals. Winning reader gets the leftover chips and cheese dip from Sunday night.

Check back later today for today's installment of Top Dawg Targets. That's all for now reader. I'm off to help interview candidates for the head basketball coach position. I hear there's some guy at St. Martin's that has his team on a roll. 

Bernie

Top Dawg Targets - Marlon Brown

This kid could have the same impact at the WR position in '09 that AJ did last season. And CMR and staff are pressing hard for him to come to Athens. Problem is Nutt, Urban, Tressel, the Hat, Pete "Sunny Boy" Carroll and any other big name coach is in his ear as well. Not to mention KiffyBaby who gets Brown's last visit this weekend.

Bernie's Take

Brown has the skills and the frame to play early and probably will not want to go down to Gainesville and wait around at a position where the turds have depth. So if he wants to stay in the south, it could come down to the Dawgs and Vols. Mr. Brown, come to Athens where there's a program with a QB that can throw to you.

Clips

First, from the Rivals vault some highlights and talk of his visits.

AMP: Marlon Brown "talks visits" @ Rivals Video

A compilation of highlights. (audio disabled)

Felton Out As Hoops Coach

I'd recommend Hale's blog for the full story, but if your finger is cramping from having to click so much this morning, here's the quote from Evans:

"I'm disappointed that things have not worked out better," athletics director Damon Evans said. "I do think it is in the best interest of our program to move in a new direction."

For some more insight: 

• check out Westerdawg's piece on Hope
  
• Mark Bradley on who should be next...??
• And for a better write up on Bradley's top proposal....Westerdawg has the hook-up

Longtime Felton assistant Pete Hermann will serve as interim while the search commences. Here's a quick AJC write up.

And lastly, Favors choosing Hewitt ended up being a favor to red and black hoops fans. That kid will be eyeing the NBA draft next June...and Hewitt will still be their coach.

(image redandblack)

Gearing Up For Wednesday

National Signing Day

(image OnlineAthens)

Ahh...the first Wednesday in February. The day that turns grown men into cyber stalkers and college coaches' hair gray...at least what's left after they pull it out.

This is the first of a series of installments that will take us up to the moment CMR stands before us and the cameras and discloses who has taken it upon themselves to be the next stars of the Saturday Night's Alright for Fightin' video on fall Saturdays.

We'll definitely focus on players still uncommitted, at least at first. May even rank 'em closer to Wednesday.

I poured over minutes of YouTube clips to find what I believe are the best (there was less out there than I thought). I'll even give you the

 minute mark of my favorite highlight if you're pressed for time....and trust me.

To start things off, this one is a highlight compilation of some of the Peach State's finest: Branden Smith, Chris Burnette, Washaun Ealey and Jarvis Jones. All but Jones are UGA commits.

Bernie's Clip - so many to choose from, but I'll take it about 3:40 in when Jones shows a real nose for the ball.

thsbaseballers channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/thsbaseballer

WR Recruitin' Heats Up

AJC's recruiting guru Michael Carvell is reporting that newly appointed Dawg receivers coach Tony Ball spent some time on the phone with Tennessee commit Je'Ron Stokes, a 6' 1" 170lb prospect out of Philadelphia. And invitation to campus this weekend could be extended.

The Dawgs are scrambling for some fresh competition to the spot opposite some kid out of Summerville, SC. Cameron Kenney spurned the Dawgs this past weekend for a chance to play catch with Sam Bradford. Before Kenney even left campus Sunday, Ball had contacted Miller Grove's Stephen Hill, a Tech commit. Miller entertained the offer, but stuck to his pledge with North Avenue.

Marlon Brown is undoubtedly the Dawgs' top target at WR in this class. But he has offers from coast to coast. 

The Dawgs lost MoMass and Demiko Goodman to graduation. Durham, Moore, Wilson and King (Tavarres, not Caleb) are expected to push for more time. Id you missed it, Hale's blog has some quotes from Joe Cox on the competition at WR as well.

Fresh Quotes from Freshmen QBs

David Hale has some quotes from our two freshmen QBs up. It is Dawg fans first true look at two kids that are going to be competing for snaps from Ben Jones in years to come. Read Hale's blog (daily...if you're not already), then scroll down for some thoughts. And as always, feel free to leave your own...

(Images TotalUGA)

• So a Tampa kid leaves his Gainesville visit with Georgia on his mind. Classic!
• Hale's right about Mettenberger's leadership quote. I don't know about you, but it made me think about penalties...
• Pretty great that these two roommates will be under Joe Cox's tutelage this year before truly competing with each other and Gray for snaps. 
• Cox:  "That's going to be a tough situation for both of them whenever it comes because they're both really good friends. But I don't talk to them about that situation much, but they know they can talk to me about anything."
• I hope future recruits and potential signees were listening when Cox said we don't want cha if ya don't bleed red and black.
• And especially telling of the personality of the freshmen that neither was afraid to sign along with the other one at the same school. Competition...bring it on!
• Here's a link to Hale's article in the Telegraph where you can read his story on Mapquest and Moped.
•  Go Dawgs!

Hines Will Play...No Question

"I don't have a brace on, I'm walking around fine...I'm not going to be 100 percent, I'm not going to trick anybody. But I think I'm going to go out there and perform like I'm used to."

That may come as news to the writers and personalities on Media Row down in Tampa. But as a Dawg fan...be honest...did you expect anything less?

Monday's Meatloaf...with a side of Greene

Reheat when ready and enjoy...

• So the weather in Athens and Miami has been quite pleasant. Hurricane Willie never packed much of a punch and has been officially ruled a rather pleasant rain storm. In fact the bloggers that were so eager to pack CWM's bags last week have dried out...some.
• I see some brass tacks, so let's get down to them. The truth is one of two things:

1. Miami was never interested in Martinez, or
2. they called and Martinez said "no thanks"

• Smart money is that sometime fairly soon Miami will definitely call. And ol' Willie will definitely be interested...in their head gig.
• GeorgiaSports' Paul Westerdawg offers this update on some changes in the off season workout program. Individual attention + accountability + leadership opportunity = GATA!
• David Greene has hung up his cleats. The former third round pick and beloved Dawg has travelled around the NFL since '05 with his latest stop in Indy. The arm behind such infamous plays as P44 Haynes and 70X Takeoff holds a degree in Risk Management and will put that to good use.
• Speaking of QBs, AJ Green isn't lamenting Stafford's pro decision. In fact he sings the praises of Joe Cox in Hale's Football Notes.
• We've mentioned Dacula's Cameron Kenney's decision to spurn the Visor. After visiting Athens this weekend, the WR  announced another decision.
• I paid a visit to Get the Picture's Saturday morning buffet where Senator Blutarsky treated readers to a better way of predicting decisions made by 17 year old hot-shots. It can get rather scientific...you may need more than a #2 and a slighty used post-it note.
• Trivia this week caught Allen and Nama napping. I'm forced to give Cordgeous the poncho...he's still too shy to comment, but in his email came within one tackle of correctly guessing Irvin's total from Saturday night.
• But the maddest props go to Ally for being the only reader to call BDB's bluff. The rest of you need to get your act together. Just because the season's over doesn't mean you can go into hibernation mode.

In honor of #14:

I remember a game in Tallahassee years ago between FSU and Clemson when CMR was tutoring Weinke. The QB made a play fake from his own end zone that was the best I had seen until this play by David Greene. Supporting nods go to Musa and Edwards. You'll have to hit pause to keep count of the 'Dore jock straps on the turf. Or you can just take a stab in the dark and say 11.

Yes...David Greene = DamnGoodDawg

Here's a napkin reader. Have a great week!

Bernie

Sunday Meet and Greet

Was skimmin' around YouTube, the greatest legal addictive device invented since Atari, and found these clips of Dontavious Jackson. I horded them for a day, now I'm willing to share.

So, in case you haven't seen them..

Here are some clips from his high school years at Heard County High. He sat out practically all of his senior year with an injury. And after redshirting this year, you can bet he's hungry for action.

And here is an interview with him after he arrived on campus last January. Great look at a very down to Earth young man. Not to mention a glimpse of one bad ass center, Ben Jones.

Now I gotta get back to Pong! and Defender before dinner. And remember to save room for tomorrow's meatloaf.