Sakerlina fans displaying jealousy

Just some evidence for you. That chickens been hatin' y'all.

Location:Brookwood Dr,Columbia,United States

Sakerlina - what to look for

If my phone battery allows I'll try and post some pics/vids from the scene today. It is supposed to be in the upper 80s as far as temperature, so it'll feel more like a hot day on planet Earth and less like the 9th circle of Hell. But regardless, here's what I'm looking for once toe meets leather.

• How often is Shawn Williams in the box. I expect Grantham to go man coverage on the outside and use our hard hitting safety as an extra brick in the wall against Lattimore. Their all-star running back looked good last week, but I still don't believe he's proven himself to be the same bruising difference maker after last season's injury. Stop Lattimore...more specifically, hold him closer to 100 rather than 200 yards and this one is more than winnable.
• Clean football, or at least not filthy. I'm sure Murray will take some shots. I know Gurshall will be hit like they have yet to experience before. Taking a sack is okay. A run for no gain or even a loss is fine. We just can't shoot ourselves in the foot like last year and turn a bad situation into a nightmare. Protect the ball, live to see the next down. With our rushing attack and our down field targets, the plays we need will come if we're patient enough.
• Position the field to our advantage. Special teams weren't a train wreck last week, but it was as close as you want to get to the sheer carnage of one. Both Gurley and Malcolm were just trying to make a play, but in this game field position is key. Historically you can't get away with miscues like that. One botched return may not seem like much. But there's a huge difference in beginning a drive from outside the 10 as opposed to inside the one.
• Rise to the occasion. This isn't unchartered water for Coach Richt. But his task for this game is to get his team focus on what they control - the outcome. Georgia is more talented. But we've seen a team of talent lose sight of what is within their grasp when the bright lights come on.

SEC Kickoff with Coach Dooley

This week's episode is heavy on the Dawgs. It has a look back on the win over Tennessee, a focus on Todd Gurley and a preview of tonight's game in Columbia.

Rejoice like a State Trooper!!

I might have completely lost the Friday Misery I wrote last night. It's saved...but it's evidently saved in a place I cannot locate at the moment. If I get a chance to look for it later I'll post it. If not you'll just have to be miserable without my assistance.

But enough about my blogging problems. I didn't want to leave you completely empty handed, so here's one of my favorite videos of all time. I don't expect a barn burner like we had in Athens in 2009, but I sure wouldn't mind seeing Spurrier wallowing in some of his own misery as the clock winds down.

A "Vermonster" of a task

If the offensive line can keep Murray upright, they'll be rewarded as kings.

Quarterback Aaron Murray has treated his line to Sunday night ice cream the past three weeks at Ben & Jerry’s for keeping him upright.

If they can protect him against a Gamecocks front led by defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor, that might call for a “Vermonster.”

That’s 20 scoops of ice cream, four bananas, three cookies, a brownie, whipped cream, choice of hot fudge or caramel and topped of with sprinkles, Oreos, M&Ms, walnuts or peanuts. The price tag in Athens is $48.

“With the talent that we’re going against, I’m sure Aaron wouldn’t have too big of a problem shelling out the money for a Vermonster,” said offensive guard Chris Burnette, the line spokesman this week.

It’s supposed to serve five to seven people, but this is offensive linemen we are talking about here.

When looking at the stats, something's going to have to give. Carolina is tallying over four each week, which is good for second in the nation. Meanwhile Georgia is only allowing 1.4 sacks/game. That's a fairly modest number, but considering the question mark that was surrounding the unit coming into the season, that's pretty good.

They’ve come a long from the first full pads practice this spring when coaches worried about what they had.

“To their credit they have worked their tails off,” Richt said. “The linemen knew we had some issues. All summer long they decided as a group to get up at the crack of dawn and be the first ones there in the weight room. They worked extremely hard with our strength staff. Going against the defensive front they were going against day after day after day they just had to get better or get embarrassed. They got better. I don’t know if they are the best offensive line in America or anything like that right now, but they sure have made a lot of improvement, and they are playing well.”

Countdown to Kickoff - Georgia at South Carolina

Good analysis and perspective

I've been told by numerous of my tailgate sources that I should be listening to 960 the Ref on Friday mornings when Russ Tanner drops in for an hour of The Morning Show. I've always liked 960 the Ref. Having run out of musical radio options around Atlanta that play actual music worth listening to, I often tune into talk radio or podcasts on my commute. My only problem with 960 is geography, as their signal is outside of my radio dial.

But nowadays, through the power of modern technology and internets, you can stream online. This is what they told me, to which I replied that 8:00 on Friday mornings are pretty busy for me. Being persistent, as they are known to be, they quickly shot back that the shows are archived so that you can listen to them later.

Well, yesterday I pulled one off the 960theRef shelf and listened in. And it's pretty good stuff. Russ is a funny guy and doesn't mind sharing some stories. Like the one where after losing a game Richt had to intervene after practice one day and tell Van Gorder he had run his defense long enough.

Y'all know by now I love listening to people talk about the Dawgs as much as I love reading about them. So just wanted to pass this one along. I found it under Audio Archives/The Morning Show Audio Archives. 

960theRef

SEC Audibles - Coach Richt

Coach Richt talks about Michael Bennett's injury and the upcoming game in Columbia SC.

SEC Audibles - Spurrier

Coach Spurrier previews the big game for this weekend, with no questions from Ron Morris.

Bennett to return with his epically clutch hands in 2013

It's being described from those who witnessed it yesterday as a "horrible" knee injury. He tore his ACL and now Michael Bennett with have surgery and miss the rest of the season. Perhaps that answers my question from earlier today.

Damn. I'm a selfish Dawg fan and want someone of his caliber on the field as much as possible. But in times like this my heart first goes out to the player. He's the leading receiver and was about to go into a game that athletes like him dream about...hell, we all dream about playing in games like this. But he's someone that was days away from seeing it realized. 

But it looks like Bennett is taking it in the same graceful stride that he shows on the field.

GATA Michael!