Dawgs Daily 03-Mar-12

Written by ecdawg | 03 March 2012

3-2-2012_1-35-01_PM

Pro Day Monday:

Tight end Orson Charles of Tampa, FL, and Cordy Glenn, a guard from Riverdale, GA, are thought to be possible second round draft picks. Brandon Boykin could be picked up in the third round.

Drew Butler of Duluth, GA, UGA's punter, also has a chance to be drafted.

Other participants in Monday's Pro Day include:

Justin Anderson

Brandon Bogotay

Bruce Figgins

Ben Jones

DeAngelo Tyson

Blair Walsh

Aron White

John Knox

[CBS Atlanta]

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Must play 9:

The SEC should go to a nine-game schedule. As conference realignment shakes up the college football landscape, other conferences have already adopted the model. The Pac-12 has played a nine-game schedule for years. The Big 12 began in 2011. The ACC just announced it would go to the system when Syracuse and Pitt join the league. The Big 10 is sticking with an eight-game slate, but they still only have 12 teams. We’d list the Big East’s model, but it’s more fun pretending they don’t exist.

There is actually historical precedent to add to the SEC season. When Arkansas and South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, the SEC played a seven game schedule. Part of the reason for expansion was to split into divisions, create an eight game schedule, and hold the SEC championship game. And in many of those years, schools played eight conference games while playing 11 game seasons. Schools still played non-conference games such as Florida State, Texas, Clemson, and Georgia Tech. I doubt schools would stop scheduling those games. Also, by adding two teams in 2012 without adding to the schedule, the SEC is diluting itself. In fact, Georgia is going to enjoy defending the East crown by playing neither Arkansas, Alabama nor LSU for the second year in a row.

The SEC brand is associated with being the toughest league in America. Some even refer to it as the NFL’s minor league. That reputation was built because nearly every week, there is at least one marquee game taking place. Should Alabama v. Florida only get played twice in 12 years? Here are just some of the games that would’ve happened in 2012 but were cut from the conference slate to make room for Missouri and A&M: Arkansas at Tennessee, Georgia at Alabama, and Auburn at Florida.

[Arkansas Sports 360]

Another yes vote:

Going to nine league games a year -- a step that is planned by the Pac-12, ACC and perhaps others -- not only reinforces the toughness of the league but makes it even more attractive to television. New TV contracts are coming, and a nine-game league schedule will make the SEC package even more enticing (and profitable).

It will provide better games than most non-conference matchups and boost the rankings of SEC teams, which will be important if a plus-one or other four-team playoff starts in 2014. A nine-game SEC schedule makes the SEC stronger than remaining at eight games. And wasn't that the point of adding A&M and Missouri?

[al.com]

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OC: NFL prospect to watch:

Georgia – TE Orson Charles

Key 2011 Stats: 45 receptions for 574 yards and 5 TDs
Combine essentials: 6’2’’, 251; 35 bench reps – eight more than the next closest tight end

Analysis: Charles proved to be a reliable target at Georgia as he caught 94 passes for 1,370 yards in three seasons. He showed incredible strength at the combine as well as his 35 reps of the 225-pound bench was by far the best for his position and even surpassed many offensive and defensive linemen. With the tight end position in high demand (thank you Jimmy Graham, Vernon Davis, Rob Gronkowski etc.), look for Charles to sneak up into the second or third round come April.

[Holy Turf]

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TLS has questions?

How will the offensive line fare without veterans Cordy Glenn and Ben Jones? How will Aaron Murray adjust to life without Orson Charles? Will special teams play be better or worse now that both Drew Butler and Blair Walsh have exited? Can the defense live up to the expectations that await them?

Will the staff or the players be motivated enough to keep complacency at bay, especially now that it's clear coach Richt's job is safe?

Georgia will need to maintain the same level of urgency that propelled them from a team that was down and out to the one that paraded into the SEC Championship to give LSU a run for their money for 30 straight minutes before collapsing under the weight of a very thin and relatively inexperienced depth chart. That's the team the fans are hoping to see get built upon because that's the one that has the potential to be more than just the SEC's runner-up.

[The Lady Sportswriter]

and answers about Crowell:

Herschel Walker might have been able to come in and be the difference, but there's a reason his name is spoken with such reverence by Georgia fans. There will only ever be one of him.

This season, if what teammates are saying is any indication, we should be prepared to see a more focused, more potent, and more energized player in Crowell. A player who is finally coming out of the haze of being lauded as the best tailback in the state as well as the player who will be the next Herschel Walker.

Isaiah can get back to the business of being Isaiah...and that may not be a bad thing.

[The Lady Sportswriter]