SB Nation - Asher Allen

Playing the Numbers Game: New Vikings Get Their Numbers

Gonzo — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:44:19 -0000

According to Access Vikings, the newest members of the team have all gotten their new numbers. Here they are. . .at least when I get that Harvin jersey in a few weeks, I'll know what number is on it.

Vikings' Draftees

Percy Harvin (WR, Florida) - #12

Phil Loadholt (OT, Oklahoma) - #71

Asher Allen (CB, Georgia) - #30

Jasper Brinkley (LB, South Carolina) - #54

Jamarca Sanford (S, Mississippi) - #33

Vikings' Undrafted Free Agents

Sean Glennon (QB, Virginia Tech) - #6

Nick Moore (WR, Toledo) - #14

Vinny Perretta (WR, Boise State) - #15

Kahlil Bell (RB, UCLA) - #36

Ian Johnson (RB, Boise State) - #42

Devon Hall (S, Utah State) - #44 (Chuck Foreman's number? Really?)

Robert Francois (LB, Boston College) - #57

Tremaine Johnson (DT, Louisiana State) - #67

Jon Cooper (C, Oklahoma) - #68

Bobby Lepori (OT, Fresno State) - #72

Andy Kemp (G, Wisconsin) - #78

Nick Walker (TE, Alabama) - #89

Antoine Holmes (DT, North Carolina State) - #97

Scouting the news

Mocking Dan — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:00:09 -0000

It's not looking especially good for Knowshon Moreno. At Georgia's pro day today, he ran a 4.63 40-yard dash. Not good. Conversely, cornerback Asher Allen ran a 4.33. Very good. Allen did defend Moreno, which I think is good summation.

"I don’t care what the watch says, if there’s 40 yards between him and the goal line, Knowshon’s going to get there first, I can promise you," Asher told reporters. "I can tell you from personal experience. And NFL folks understand that. He’s as fast as he needs to be but you ain’t gonna bring him down."

Most importantly, Matthew Stafford reportedly threw the ball really well. According to Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Stafford threw 50 passes in 10 minutes, missing only two targets.

The NFL Competition Committee is mulling a change in the draft order. The proposal would call for all draft placement of playoff teams be done based on playoff performance, beginning next season. Currently, only the Super Bowl has an affect on the draft order. This would be bad news for Internet draftniks. That would mean even more guess work on early mock drafts.

This is a bummer. Missouri tight end Chase Coffman still can't work out for NFL teams due to a broken foot suffered in the Alamo Bowl. While I still contend that Coffman is the second-best tight end in the draft, he'll likely slide because teams are becoming enamored with Shawn Nelson, Jared Cook and James Casey. They shouldn't forget that Coffman is bigger and a much better route runner than those three.

A couple years ago, many considered Nate Longshore of California a certain first round pick. Now, he's just hoping to grab a free agent contract. Longshore has some upside, but his injury history and the fact he lost his starting job last season is troubling.

Georgia Diamond Dogs 11, Georgia State Panthers 6

T Kyle King — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:22:56 -0000

Despite dropping two out of three games in the opening series of Southeastern Conference play, the Diamond Dogs headed to Atlanta to face Georgia State as a top five team after every S.E.C. East team came up short against a Western Division opponent last weekend. In an outing in which the hometown Panthers continued to fight throughout the night, Georgia prevailed in a tough 11-6 battle.

A Matt Cerione single was all the Red and Black had to show for the top of the first frame, so Alex McRee quickly got his opportunity to take the field for the Classic City Canines following his bout with mononucleosis. In the bottom of the inning, the Georgia starter surrendered a leadoff single to Joey Wood, followed by a base hit to Derek Simmons. After Carl Moniz put down the sacrifice bunt that advanced both baserunners, Marc Mimeault sent a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Wood.

Bulldog miscues kept the inning alive, as a passed ball allowed strikeout victim Bradley Logan to reach first and an error by McRee permitted Matt Van Horn to take second on a single. Although Logan was thrown out, Simmons crossed home plate to notch an unearned run, thus concluding a three-hit, two-run canto for the home team.

The Diamond Dogs answered in the visitors’ half of the second stanza. Rich Poythress got the inning underway with a double down the left field line and, after Bryce Massanari grounded out, Lyle Allen dropped a single into left field to plate the Georgia first baseman. Chase Davidson gave the Red and Black the lead with a two-run homer to center field before the next two Bulldog batters registered outs. The Panthers went three up and three down against Chase Hawkins in the home half of the frame.

The Panthers have a player named Matt Van Horn. Let’s go ahead and get the obligatory "Witches of Eastwick" reference out of the way early, shall we?

After Johnathan Taylor singled but was picked off to start the third stanza, Cerione tripled and Colby May brought him home with a base hit. The next two at-bats ended in outs. Moniz’s two-out single represented the sum total of Georgia State’s achievement in the bottom of the canto and Georgia kept the pressure on in the top of the fourth frame.

Allen led off with a base hit and took second on an error by Chase Childers. Following a Davidson pop-up, Michael Demperio moved the Georgia right fielder over to third with a double. A Panther pitching switch ensued, after which Levi Hyams grounded out to score Allen. The next two Bulldog batters were plunked before May stared at a called third strike.

The host squad showed some signs of life in the bottom of the inning, beginning with a Logan single and a Van Horn R.B.I. double. The Georgia State right fielder advanced to third on a Brandon Williams groundout and scored on a Childers single. This caused Steve Esmonde to be brought in from the bullpen and the Georgia reliever caused Michael McCree to hit into a fielder’s choice and sneaked a called third strike past Wood to close out a three-hit, two-run frame.

With the Diamond Dogs now holding a narrow 5-4 edge, Massanari got things going once more in the top of the fifth canto with a one-out single to right field. An Allen double put two men in scoring position and, after Davidson struck out, Demperio drew the walk that loaded the bases for Hyams, whose double to center field scored a trio of runs. Zach Cone popped up to put the three-hit, three-run inning in the books.

I thought about going here, what with the Bulldogs’ pinch hitter and substitute left fielder having the last name "Cone" and all, but, honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to make any joke that cast a Georgia man in the role of something orange.

Simmons walked to start the home half of the frame and Moniz delivered a base hit in the next at-bat, but Mimeault grounded into a double play and Logan struck out looking to keep the score 8-4. It looked as though that margin would remain unchanged in the visitors’ half of the sixth stanza when Cerione and May each struck out in the inning’s first two at-bats.

However, Poythress drew a base on balls in the ensuing plate appearance and Massanari put one out in right field to drive in a pair of runs. There was some additional excitement, insofar as Allen was hit by a pitch and Davidson knocked a single to third base, but there was no additional scoring before the third out was recorded.

Georgia State attempted to climb back into it against Justin Earls, commencing with Van Horn’s leadoff single in the bottom of the frame. After the next two Panthers generated outs, McCree homered to make it 10-6. Wood’s subsequent single was rendered ineffectual by Simmons’s canto-closing lineout.

The Diamond Dogs had but a trio of strikeouts to show for their efforts in the top of the seventh stanza and the Georgia hurling duties devolved upon Cecil Tanner to start the bottom of the frame. The latest Bulldog pitcher retired the side on a lineout, a pop-up, and a groundout.

Panther closer Asher Theo worked one inning, did not surrender a hit or a walk, and struck out two of the three batters he faced, but I could not for the life of me decide whether to go with an Asher Allen joke or a Theo Huxtable joke.

The eighth inning got underway with May’s leadoff single to center field in the top of the canto. Once the Red and Black third baseman had stolen second and Poythress had grounded out, Joey Lewis singled to put runners at the corners and Peter Verdin walked to load the bases. A Davidson groundout scored May to make it 11-6 but a Demperio strikeout stranded the remaining pair of baserunners.

A leadoff walk by Van Horn in the home half of the stanza was squandered when his teammates offered only outs and the Classic City Canines were set down in sequence in the top of the ninth frame. Jeff Walters took the mound in the bottom of the inning to close out the contest and he coaxed pop-ups from Wood and Simmons before striking out Moniz.

Georgia out-hit Georgia State by a 16-11 margin and gave up just two runs to the hometown Panthers in the final five frames despite a pair of Bulldog errors over the course of the contest. The Diamond Dogs were shut out in the first and last innings but scored in six of the seven stanzas intervening between them.

The Classic City Canines got production from deep in the order, as No. 6 hitter Lyle Allen went three for three, No. 7 hitter Chase Davidson went two for five with three R.B.I., and No. 9 hitter Levi Hyams batted in four runs. It was the kind of midweek game Georgia needed, one that was challenging enough without being overly so, that allowed David Perno to substitute freely, and that perhaps helped to prepare the Red and Black to host Mississippi State this weekend.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Pick Your Players: Two Georgia Bulldogs We'll Be Watching

T Kyle King — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:46:48 -0000

In case you haven’t noticed---and, judging by the comment thread, you haven’t---basketball season just ended, which means the countdown to G-Day officially is underway!

G-Day means a lot of things to a lot of people. For me, G-Day is about tailgating, friends, family, Athens in the springtime, drunks climbing trees, the mixed emotions that come from the knowledge that every good sign is also a bad sign (e.g., a 40-yard touchdown pass means the offense is in rhythm, but it also means our secondary is suspect), and the determination of which players are going to be "my guys" come autumn.

You know what I mean. You root for the team, first, last, and always, but, within that context, there are particular players you want to see do well. Oftentimes, these players are identified at G-Day. When Asher Allen broke the rules and blocked an extra point at the spring game as a youngster, I became an Asher Allen fan, and I have never stopped being an Asher Allen fan.

I’m sure one or two incoming athletes will make their mark at the spring scrimmage, but, for the moment, aside from the obvious guys for whom everyone who bleeds red and black is rooting (i.e., Orson Charles, Joe Cox, Jeff Owens), these are "my guys" for 2009:

1. Chad Gloer: I will admit up front that I have a bias here. Chad’s dad, Jon Gloer, is a history teacher at Starr’s Mill High School, where my wife also teaches. Consequently, I keep an eye out for No. 17 on special teams and I want the Fayetteville walk-on to do well. I have praised Chad’s gritty play before, and I’d like to see him get more opportunities to make his mark on Saturdays.

2. Tavarres King: In spite of the fact that we have the same last name, Tavarres and I are not related. However, he has a couple of things going for him, starting with the fact that his father, Anthony King, was a tight end for Clemson. While Georgia’s exchange program with Auburn generally is reciprocal (z.B., we got Vince Dooley, they got Pat Dye; we got Erk Russell, they got Shug Jordan; we got Stacy Searels, they got Will Muschamp, etc.), our swaps with our nearby border rivals from Lake Hartwell (a/k/a the New Testament Auburn) have been distinctly one-sided: Georgia coach Mark Richt’s son, Jon Richt, played for Clemson (albeit temporarily); Georgia tackle Jeff Harper’s son, Cullen Harper, played for Clemson; Georgia receiver Zippy Morocco’s son, Chris Morocco, played for Clemson; Georgia chancellor Patrick H. Mell’s son, Patrick Hughes Mell, became president of Clemson. It’s about time we got something in return. Moreover, an old friend of mine recently was introduced to Tavarres King, and, when he told the promising young athlete that he was looking forward to football season, the receiver replied, "Good. It is going to be a lot of fun." That’s the spirit. (Not only for that reason, incidentally, my friend came away with the sense that Tavarres King was a fine fellow, which is to his credit in this era of the Fulmer Cup.)

Those are two Bulldogs for whom I’ll be cheering especially enthusiastically this fall. Now it’s your turn to pick a player or three; which Georgia athletes will you be rooting for with particular gusto when it’s time to tee it up between the hedges?

Go ‘Dawgs!

Mock Draft - Rounds 1 & 2 - v2.0

3k — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:11:30 -0000

I can't help but put together one more mock draft before the combine.

Again, check the TST mock draft database for all your mock needs. If I counted right, we have 38 mocks loaded in. That's ridiculous.

Let's check in with Mel Kiper, Jr.'s hair. Kiper's hair, how does 38 mock drafts make you feel?

Looks fluffy to me.

For reference, my last mock can be found here. 'ESPN' and 'MTD' refer to ESPN's draft profile reports and Mocking the Draft's scouting reports.

Round 1

1.) Detroit - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

Still my pick here.

Pulse of the Nation (Pride of Detroit): I think PoD is starting to see the momentum behind this pick.

2.) St. Louis - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Change from last mock: +1

ESPN, MTD

I just don't think the Rams are going to be able to pass him up anymore. The Andre Smith (OT, Alabama) pick has lost so much momentum, if the Rams were going OT at this point, I would think the Rams are leaning towards Eugene Monroe (OT, Virginia), Jason Smith (OT, Baylor) or Michael Oher (OT, Ole Miss) in that order. But I think post-combine, even though Crabtree won't run an official 40 there, his hype will be as high as Staffords, and they'll have to go 1-2.

Pulse of the Nation (Turf Show Times): A wrap-up from Van earlier this month on draft stuff.

3.) Kansas City - Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest

Change from last mock: +2

ESPN, MTD

With Crabtree gone and having moved Derrick Johnson to MLB, the Chiefs add a pass rushing threat here in Curry, the top OLB in the draft, hands down.

Pulse of the Nation (Arrowhead Pride): A breakdown of the top three picks by position since '98 and what that means for the Chiefs. And check out the renderings of the Chiefs' new digs. Nicey.

4.) Seattle - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

Change from last mock: -2

ESPN, MTD

If A-Smith does end up moving to guard once he makes the NFL, Seattle would be a nice fit since Gs Mike Wahle & Chris Gray are getting close to the end of their careers, just like OT Walter Jones.

Pulse of the Nation (Field Gulls): The community looks at draft trends.

5.) Cleveland - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio St.

Change from last mock: +9

ESPN, MTD

I didn't feel comfortable mocking Jenkins down at 14, but I didn't see a fit. With Curry off the board, Cleveland gets a franchise CB that can play against any WR in the NFL.

Pulse of the Nation (Dawgs by Nature): MTD's AFC North correspondent, shake n bake, stopped by to talk to the Browns faithful about the draft.

6.) Cincinnati - Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

If Orakpo has a solid combine, expect him to be the first DE off the board.

Pulse of the Nation (Cincy Jungle): The Jungle reads an essay-style mock database.

7.) Oakland - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

Change from last mock: -3

ESPN, MTD

Monroe still comes off as the 2nd OT, just a few spots later.

Pulse of the Nation (Silver and Black Pride): Someone agrees with this pick...

8.) Jacksonville - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

Between, J-Smith or Oher I flip a coin here. Without the combine, I lean Oher, but I expect J-Smith to open some eyes.

Pulse of the Nation (Big Cat Country): Tkopa wonders if the money issue that saw 1st round pick Derrick Harvey hold out last year will force this year's #8 pick to do the same.

9.) Green Bay Packers - Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn St.

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

Still confident in this one, although B.J. Raji (DT, Boston College) would make sense. I personally think Green Bay has more to gain in addnig a young DE than DT.

Pulse of the Nation (Acme Packing Company): A look at Eugene Monroe. Not interesting in that regard, but the idea the Pack could take an OT in the 1st is shocking. I was 100% sure it would either be DE or Raji.

10.) San Francisco 49ers - Everette Brown, DE, Florida St.

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

Still like this one.

Pulse of the Nation (Niners Nation): Fooch looks at Jeremy Maclin (WR, Missouri) and passes. Still a tempting pick for the Niners who could use a young game-changer at WR. Notice the featured poll on the main page has Brown at 30% leading all other choices with almost 300 votes.

11.) Buffalo Bills - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St.

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

It makes too much sense to me. Another team that could grab Raji, but Pettigrew gives them a versatile option on an offense that lacks versatile options, especially with Marshanw Lynch's drama.

Pulse of the Nation (Buffalo Rumblings): I cen't get these guys to agree with me. Maybe a strong showing by Pettigrew at the combine will push the Rumblings crew ni my direction.

12.) Denver Broncos - B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

I still feel it's between Raji & Knowshon Moreno (HB, Georgia).

Pulse of the Nation (Mile High Report): Of specific interest to the Rams, MHR breaks down the MLB prospects. Again, you should stop by. These guys are putting together the best draft coverage I've seen on the interwebs.

13.) Washington Redskins - Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

Change from last mock: +6

ESPN, MTD

My revolving door pick. Two times ago it was Michael Johnson (DE, Georgia Tech), and last time it was Rey Maualuga (MLB, USC). All that means is next time, I won't mock the Skins for Oher.

Pulse of the Nation (Hogs Haven): ebag wonders how to evaluate prospects as a whole package, not just as athletes or positional players.

14.) New Orleans Saints - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

Change from last mock: +10

ESPN, MTD

With Jenkins off the board, the Saints grab the next best corner of the draft, and the only other CB in the top-tier (pre-combine). In my last mock, I had Davis going 24th to Atlanta, but I did add, "Expect him to come off very soon after Jenkins to a New Orleans or a Houston."

Pulse of the Nation (Canal Street Chronicles): St. Sanchez? I don't see it happening.

15.) Houston Texans - Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

I can't wait to see the DE's at the combine. I have incredible difficulty separating the top 7 DEs on the board this year into two or three tiers. My top seven are obviously the four off the board at this point, Orakpo, Maybin, E. Brown & M. Johnson, but don't sleep on Tyson Jackson (DE, LSU), Paul Kruger (DE, Utah), or Robert Ayers (DE, Tennessee). Hell, you could even throw Michael Bennett (DE, Texas A&M) & Brandon Williams (DE, Texas Tech) in the mix with those seven, but you'd be hard-pressed to defend that pre-combine. I still put Johnson here if for no other reason than I had him here last time.

Pulse of the Nation (Battle Red Blog): TransientTexan asks, should Texans fans watch the combine? 3k answer, yes. Yes they should. Every man, woman and child should watch the combine. It should be a national week-long holiday with a tax break incentive on beer & nacho cheese, with mandatory town halls in the evenings for neighbors to yell at each other over why they should draft Moreno if he's still on the board. Or not.

16.) San Diego Chargers - Rey Maualuga, MLB, Southern California

Change from last mock: -3

ESPN, MTD

Last time, I had the Chargers picking Peria Jerry (DT, Ole Miss), but with Rey still on the board, I don't see the Chargers missing out on his run coverage skills.

Pulse of the Nation (Bolts from the Blue): The community weighs in with their first 4 picks after DaBolts sums up the total production of the Lions, Rams, Chiefs, and Seahawks.

17.) New York Jets - Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern California

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

Whether Favre retires or not, they'll need some potential here; Kellen Clemens, the former Oregon standout, doesn't bring much. Regardless, a post-Favre era that sees Sanchez and Clemens on the Jets' depth chart bodes well.

Pulse of the Nation (Gang Green Nation): Do these guys know there is a draft soon? They sure do miss Brett Favre a lot, for a team that didn't make the playoffs. I'll leave this spot linkless in the hopes it will motivate the GGN crew to start talking draft.

18.) Chicago Bears - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

I still feel this one's on point. And just to be fair on my last mock, I said the Bears needed a lot of help on offense, but left out Matt Forte. For the record: I like his skills, but I'm not sold on him yet. An avoidance of a sophmore slump will make me a believer.

Pulse of the Nation (Windy City Gridiron): GeauxBears looks at the top tier of OTs in the draft. I think they should start looking at the next tier; last mock I had all four gone by #8 and this time, they're off the board a bit later by 13.

19.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

For the Bucs, it's D-line or WR. With Raji, Orakpo, Maybin, E. Brown & M. Johnson off the board, I don't think the next best DT or DE does as much as Harvin, the next best WR, does. Plus, as I noted last time around, Tampa seems to be very comfortable when it comes to drafting Florida wideouts.

Pulse of the Nation (Buc' Em): The Bucs discussed how they whittle down a sea of options to the chosen few. Look for position rankings in the comments.

20.) Detroit Lions (via Dallas Cowboys) - James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio St.

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

I still love the pairing of Laurinaitis with Stafford for the Lions.

Previous pick: 1st rd., #1 - Matthew Stafford (QB, Georgia)

21.) Philadelphia Eagles - Knowshon Moreno, HB, Georgia

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

Still makes sense to me, especially this deep into the first round.

Pulse of the Nation (Bleeding Green Nation): Not drafty, but a nice primer for those who don't understand D-line tactics.

22.) Minnesota Vikings - Eben Britton, OT, Arizona

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

I keep trying to change my mind on these and it's not happening, especially since I have an inkling that Britton is going to have a beastly combine.

Pulse of the Nation (Daily Norseman): Do the Vikings go QB, C, or OT? Or best available? The Daily Norseman readership is unanimous in their disagreement with each other.

23.) New England Patriots - Brian Cushing, OLB, Southern California

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

I still can't shake my last mock, I guess.

Pulse of the Nation (Pats Pulpit): Not a lot of draftiness here, but this random Pats-dom does at least link to someone who says the Pats "could choose a linebacker" at 23. Plus it links to pictures of old mascots.

24.) Atlanta Falcons - Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma

Change from last mock: N/A

ESPN, MTD

Loadholt is probably the OT with the biggest question marks out of the top two tiers. He is also the biggest, and that, as we all know, is something you can't teach.

Pulse of the Nation (The Falcoholic): The signing of Will Svitek only confirms that the Falcons are willing to take on projects at OT.

25.) Miami Dolphins - Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

Nicks = possession receiver. Ginn, Jr. = speed receiver. The two together = good.

Pulse of the Nation (The Phinsider): From reader miamiphins 190 comes 9 suggested picks for the Fins.

26.) Baltimore Ravens - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

I still think the marketing behind this pick will drive it into reality.

Pulse of the Nation (Baltimore Beatdown): shake n bake stops by againn to talk to the Raven faithful. Best comment (from reader 'raven'): "Heyward Bey would be our well behaved Plexico." Is Plexico Plaxico's plastic twin?

27.) Indianapolis Colts - Evander Hood, DT, Missouri

Change from last mock: N/A

MTD

Flipped from CB to DT with combine on the mind. Hood looks to be a slippery pass-rushing DT. A solid combine showing speed & agility could vault him into the 1st round. Look for me to change my mind right back to D.J. Moore (CB, Vanderbilt) after the combine.

Pulse of the Nation (Stampede Blue): What do they need? After reading this... I know less.

28.) Philadelphia Eagles (via Carolina Panthers) - Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan

Change from last mock: 0

MTD

I still like this pick. It gives the Eagles a pair of safeties (in Delmas and Quintin Mikell) to build on over the next 4-6 since safeties are so key to their defense.

Previous pick: 1st rd., #21 - Knowshon Moreno (HB, Georgia)

29.) New York Giants - Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

Maybe the greatest risk/reward WR in the draft.

Pulse of the Nation (Big Blue View): Could Torry Holt be a Giant in 2009?

30.) Tennessee Titans - Sean Smith, CB, Utah

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

I still like the idea fo adding S-Smith's size to the Titans' secondary over their other CB options here.

Pulse of the Nation (Music City Miracles): The MCM crew ran put together their mock, but went with Alphonso Smith (CB, Wake Forest).

31.) Arizona Cardinals - LeSean McCoy, HB, Pittsburgh

Change from last mock: N/A

ESPN, MTD

I changed this one from Chris "Beanie" Wells (HB, Ohio St.) to McCoy with the combine in mind. Depending on who shows better speed & agility (and at this point I'm inclined to go with the undersized McCoy), I think they'd fit better in a two-back system with Hightower.

Pulse of the Nation (Revenge of the Birds): A look at some mocks and who they mocked for the Cards.

32.) Pittsburgh Steelers - Alex Mack, C, California

Change from last mock: 0

ESPN, MTD

As much as I'd like to see Mack fall to us, I don't see the Curtain passing up on Mack to improve their interior O-line.

Pulse of the Nation (Behind the Steel Curtain): If we ever pull the traffic, I'd love to see us to something like this: a weekly round-up of the best FanPosts from the community.

Round 2

(33) 1.) Detroit - Max Unger, C, Oregon: ESPN, MTD

Previous picks: 1st rd., #1 - Matthew Stafford (QB, Georgia), #20 - James Laurinaitis (MLB, Ohio St.)

(34) 2.) Kansas City - Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #3 - Aaron Curry (OLB, Wake Forest)

(35) 3.) St. Louis - Johnathan Luigs, C, Arkansas: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #2 - Michael Crabtree (WR, Texas Tech)

(36) 4.) Cleveland - Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #5 - Malcolm Jenkins (CB, Ohio St.)

(37) 5.) Seattle - William Moore, S, Missouri: ESPN , MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #4 - Andre Smith (OT, Alabama)

(38) 6.) Cincinnati - Darry Beckwith, MLB, Louisiana State: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #6 - Brian Orakpo (DE, Texas)

(39) 7.) Jacksonville - D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #8 - Jason Smith (OT, Baylor)

(40) 8.) Oakland - Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #7 - Eugene Monroe (OT, Virginia)

(41) 9.) Green Bay - Clay Matthews, OLB, Southern California: MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #9 - Aaron Maybin (DE, Penn St.)

(42) 10.) Buffalo - Paul Kruger, DE, Utah: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #11 - Brandon Pettigrew (TE, Oklahoma St.)

(43) 11.) San Francisco - Larry English, OLB, Northern Illinois: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #10 - Everette Brown (DE, Florida St.)

(44) 12.) Miami (via Washington) - Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina: ESPN

Previous pick: 1st rd., #25 - Hakeem Nicks (WR, North Carolina)

(45) 13.) New York Giants (via New Orleans) - Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #29 - Kenny Britt (WR, Rutgers)

(46) 14.) Houston - Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama: ESPN

Previous pick: 1st rd., #15 - Michael Johnson (DE, Georgia Tech)

(47) 15.) New England (via San Diego) - Darius Butler, CB, Connecticutt: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #23 - Brian Cushing (OLB, Southern California)

(48) 16.) Denver - Scott McKillop, MLB, Pittsburgh: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #12 - B.J. Raji (DT, Boston College)

(49) 17.) Chicago - Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas St.: ESPN, MTD

*NOTE: I know most people will think this is too low, but I have never been impressed with Freeman outside of his arm strength, which is tops of any QB ni this year's draft.

Previous pick: 1st rd., #18 - Jeremy Maclin (WR, Missouri)

(50) 18.) Tampa Bay - Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #19 - Percy Harvin (WR, Florida)

(51) 19.) Dallas - Patrick Chung, S, Oregon: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: N/A

Pulse of the Nation (Blogging the Boys): A primer on the draft that applies as much to any team in the NFL as it does to the Cowboys. I did a PotN here since the Boys don't have a first round pick.

(52) 20.) New York Jets - Jairus Byrd, CB, Oregon: ESPN, MTD

*NOTE: My most underrated CB. His draft stock could explode at the combine.

Previous pick: 1st rd., #17 - Mark Sanchez (QB, Southern California)

(53) 21.) Philadelphia (via Carolina) - Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri: ESPN, MTD

Previous picks: 1st rd., #21 - Knowshon Moreno (RB, Georgia), #28 - Louis Delmas (S, Western Michigan)

(54) 22.) Minnesota - Nate Davis, QB, Ball State: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #22 - Ebon Britton (OT, Arizona)

(55) 23.) Atlanta - Ron Brace, DT, Boston College: MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #24 - Phil Loadholt (OT, Oklahoma)

(56) 24.) Miami - Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee: N/A

Previous picks: 1st rd., #25 - Hakeem Nicks (WR, North Carolina), 2nd rd. #12 (44) - Jamon Meredith (OT, South Carolina)

(57) 25.) Baltimore - Asher Allen, CB, Georgia: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #26 - Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR, Maryland)

(58) 26.) New England - James Casey, TE, Rice: ESPN

Previous picks: 1st rd., #23 - Brian Cushing (OLB, Southern California), 2nd rd. #15 (47) - Darius Butler (CB, Connecticutt)

(59) 27.) Carolina - Fili Moala, DT, Southern California: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: N/A

Pulse of the Nation (Cat Scratch Reader): Jaxon mocks mocks.

(60) 28.) New York Giants - Ricky Jean-Francois, DT, LSU: ESPN

Previous pick: 1st rd., #29 - Kenny Britt (WR, Rutgers), 2nd rd. #13 (45) - Clint Sintim (OLB, Virginia)

(61) 29.) Indianapolis - Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan St.: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #27 - Evander Hood (DT, Missouri)

(62) 30.) Tennessee - Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #30 - Sean Smith (CB, Utah)

(63) 31.) Arizona - Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #31 - LeSean McCoy (RB, Pittsburgh)

(64) 32.) Piitsburgh - Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma: ESPN, MTD

Previous pick: 1st rd., #32 - Alex Mack (C, California)

Well, have at it.

Chatting With The Pigskin Podcast About Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Rockwell Moreno

T Kyle King — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:00:09 -0000

I know, I know, I know; like me, you’re trying to put the 2008 football season behind you. Believe me, I’ve been putting off going back and wrapping up my postseason prognostications and preseason predictions because I don’t want to revisit the whole thing, even if it means finally being able to bury it in a time capsule until 2108 or Georgia’s next college football national championship, whichever comes first.

However, I recently was given the opportunity to be interviewed by The Pigskin Podcast about Knowshon Rockwell Moreno and Matthew Stafford. You may listen to the interview by clicking here or download the 6.1-mb mp3 file directly by clicking here.

Enjoy.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Georgia Bulldogs 24, Michigan State Spartans 12

T Kyle King — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:30:05 -0000

Shortly before my family and I sat down to supper on New Year’s Eve, my wife, Susan, asked me what I wanted to drink with my evening meal. Reflexively, I told her I wanted a Coke.

When we had members of our extended family over for Christmas, however, my in-laws brought some soft drinks with them, including a twelve-pack of Fresca. My son, Thomas, who is five years old and whose status as a mojo savant has been confirmed repeatedly through several successive football seasons, asked me whether I wanted a Fresca instead. Without thinking much about it, I took him up on his suggestion.

After we had finished eating, I sat there at the kitchen table for a few more minutes when my eye spied the empty Fresca can, along the side of which were emblazoned these words: "Original Citrus."

Then it hit me: Thomas intuitively had done it again. Just before kickoff of the Chick-fil-A Bowl---an Atlanta-based postseason game featuring an Atlanta-based rival team---I had chosen the definitive Atlanta-based soft drink until my son talked me out of it, convincing me instead to drink a beverage billed as the original citrus on the night before the Bulldogs were to take the field in the Capital One Bowl . . . or, as it previously was known, the Citrus Bowl.

Coincidence? I think not.

From that moment forward, I had no doubt that Georgia Tech would lose, Georgia would win, and order would be restored to the universe . . . or, at least, to the Peach State, which is near enough to being the whole cosmos to suit me.

If you buy the idea that Thursday’s game was a referendum on Willie Martinez, you are free to come to one of two conclusions. If you prefer to see the glass as half-full, it is clear that the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator put together as effective a game plan against Michigan State as he had against Hawaii a year ago. If you prefer to see the glass as half-empty, it is equally clear that, if the ‘Dawgs are given four weeks to prepare for every opponent and Georgia joins the Big Ten or the W.A.C., Willie Martinez is our man. Against S.E.C. opposition with a game every Saturday, not so much . . . although my confidence would be bolstered by a public announcement that Coach Martinez TiVo’d the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Nevertheless, credit must be given for a stout defensive effort. The Spartans spent much of the first half in Georgia territory but managed only six points before the break. A first-quarter interception thrown by Matthew Stafford set up M.S.U. with first and 10 at the Bulldog 12 and a personal foul penalty halved that distance. Sparty picked up three yards on the next three plays and settled for a field goal.

Later in the opening period, a forced fumble was recovered by Michigan State on the Red and Black’s side of the field. The ‘Dawgs held, turning first and 15 into third and 24, when a borderline roughing the passer call give the Big Ten team a fresh set of downs at the Georgia 36 yard line.

By the way, as many times as Brian Hoyer was put on the ground on New Year’s Day, how could the announcers not use the phrase, "Down goes Hoyer!"? (Associated Press photograph by Michael Conroy.)

It was the sort of situation in which the Georgia D has folded this season; it was, in fact, the sort of situation in which the Georgia D has given up a play that covered whatever number of yards separated the line of scrimmage from the end zone. Instead, Asher Allen threw Keshawn Martin for a six-yard loss back to the 42. Javon Ringer’s second-down carry yielded a four-yard setback to the 46. An incomplete pass made it fourth and 20.

Overall, the Spartans held the ball for exactly 30 minutes of clock time, won the turnover battle, and picked up nearly as many first downs (16) as Georgia (19). Even so, though, M.S.U. was limited to a 25 per cent conversion rate on third down (4 for 16), managed only 236 yards of total offense, and averaged less than one yard per carry (34 rushes for 31 yards). Ringer picked up 47 yards on 20 attempts and never carded a scamper of longer than 21 feet.

There were, as there too often are, foolish penalties (7 for 53 yards) and long stretches in which Stafford simply appeared off his game. (From his vantage point on my living room couch, my brother-in-law opined that the Georgia quarterback was simply trying to get out of being drafted by Detroit.) Knowshon Rockwell Moreno had more receiving yards (63) and touchdowns (1) than rushing yards (62) and touchdowns (0).

Smart second-half adjustments saw the Georgia offense improving significantly, as the ‘Dawgs got away from attacking the middle and began using screens and going after the perimeter. Kris Durham had a moment or two at which he looked like he could be in the passing game what Brannan Southerland was in the running game. With six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, Michael Moore took up the slack when A.J. Green and Mohamed Massaquoi were held in check.

Our Michael Moore totally outclasses theirs.

Bad breaks and dumb luck (particularly in the kicking game) appeared for a while to be conspiring against the Classic City Canines, whose no-huddle attack worked like gangbusters for the first four plays of an eight-play opening drive that looked at the outset like the prettiest initial series ending in three points ever . . . or, at least, since the 2005 Outback Bowl. After that, though, it looked like a typical 2008 Georgia effort, in which the ‘Dawgs looked great in one phase of the game but only intermittently good (at best) in the others.

There is no denying that the Red and Black were lucky to be trailing only by a field goal at halftime. The opening possession of the third quarter gave little cause for confidence, as a 24-yard kickoff return and a 16-yard drive were squandered on a penalty and a punt. It wasn’t that I ever doubted that the ‘Dawgs would win---again, the Fresca on New Year’s Eve and the resulting Chick-fil-A Bowl win for the good guys left me certain of a Bulldog victory---but I had my doubts whether the Red and Black would win any way other than ugly.

Then an Aaron Bates punt went 53 yards and took a favorable bounce for the Great Lake State Gladiators inside the five. Moreno went 10 yards on first down and caught a five-yard pass two plays later. Stafford’s next five passes went to Moore for 16 yards and a first down, to Green for 12 yards, to Durham for 13 yards and a first down, to Caleb King for 11 yards and a first down, and to Moore for 35 yards and a touchdown. After that, the outcome never really was in question.

The 2009 Capital One Bowl resembled the 2005 Outback Bowl in ways more profound than the similarity of the Bulldogs’ opening drives in the two Sunshine State season-enders. We knew that beloved players, including an established starter under center, were or probably were playing their final game in silver britches, and we felt a profound sense of disappointment at the thought of what that season might have been.

That feeling has pervaded most of this autumn. It will rear its ugly head anew as I sit down to watch the national championship game in which my alma mater’s football team does not appear. That depressing sense of opportunity lost will weigh me down throughout most of the coming offseason. Even with Thursday’s victory, this will be a cold hard winter in Bulldog Nation. For now, though, I am going to enjoy a game which, however imperfect, ended in a Georgia win. That’s enough, at least---if only---for the moment.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Georgia Bulldogs 26, Tennessee Volunteers 14

T Kyle King — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:30:37 -0000

I enjoy an emotional game as much as the next fellow, but games that are about who is more fired up than whom wind up at one extreme or the other, as evidenced by the last two occasions on which the Bulldogs wore black jerseys when facing Yellowhammer State-based squads between the hedges. Because it is impossible to be emotionally inflamed for every challenging game---and the ‘Dawgs are at the point in the season at which every game is a challenging game---a team has to win some of them in strictly a businesslike manner.

So it was against Arizona State on September 20, and so it was against Tennessee yesterday afternoon. (Let us leave aside for now the fact that both the Sun Devils and the Volunteers now stand at 2-4; the Bulldogs have twice as many victories over Division I-A teams with winning records as our division rivals from Gainesville can claim.) Everywhere except on the scoreboard, Saturday’s Sanford Stadium showdown was a thumping.

How else do you describe a game in which Georgia holds the ball for over 42 minutes and gains 29 first downs to the Big Orange’s ten? How else could you characterize a contest in which the Red and Black converted more than half of their third downs (9 of 17) while holding the visitors to a one-third conversion percentage (4 of 12)?

Matthew Stafford connected on 25 of his 36 attempts for his first 300-yard passing day in a Bulldog uniform. Knowshon Rockwell Moreno became the first running back to rush for over 100 yards against the Volunteer defense this season. Meanwhile, Tennessee tallied a lone rushing yard---one; count it: one---and, even discounting Nick Stephens’s 15 lost yards on sacks, the tailback tandem of Lennon Creer, Arian Foster, and Montario Hardesty combined for 25 yards on 11 carries.

Tennessee twice threatened to climb back into the game, both times due to Georgia miscues (about which more forthwith), but the Bulldogs built up leads of 13-0 early in the second quarter and 20-7 at halftime in the course of amassing 458 yards against a fairly stout Volunteer D while holding the Big Orange to a measly 209 yards of total offense.

The day was far from perfect, of course, as evidenced by the Bulldogs’ 12-point margin of victory. After the indignities of the past two seasons, in which U.T. drubbed the ‘Dawgs once in Athens and again in Knoxville, this game could and should have been, at a minimum, 35-0.

A.J. Green just flat dropped a touchdown pass at the goal line for no good reason whatsoever. The defense missed a couple of shots at contest-clinching interceptions and failed to force a turnover all game. The penalties, which appeared throughout much of the first half finally to be under control, once again got out of hand in the second half, to the tune of 76 yards surrendered on eleven flags.

Stafford threw more interceptions (2) than touchdown passes (1), and both of the Georgia quarterback’s picks ended what would have been Bulldog scoring drives and led to what became the only Volunteer scoring drives; absent those two bad passes, the final score would have been, at worst, 32-0.

While I appreciate, respect, and even agree with the argument that it is better to be beaten deep than dinked and dunked to death, it isn’t any fun watching it happen to your team. My hope for Prince Miller is that he will turn out to be a latter-day Bruce Thornton---picked on unmercifully while experiencing growing pains before turning into a first-class defensive back---but, for now, it is painful watching him struggle in pass coverage.

Not all of the adversity the ‘Dawgs encountered was their own doing, of course. The unfortunate loss of Vince Vance was no one’s fault, naturally, nor was the fact that the S.E.C. officiating crew that sets new standards for incompetence set up the Bulldogs with third and goal on the three after a penalty that is supposed to produce an automatic first down.

In the end, though, there was much more to like than to dislike in Saturday’s performance. Mohamed Massaquoi had a great day and Demiko Goodman had a good one. The forward wall of the Georgia offense kept Stafford upright and able to throw, which was very impressive, considering the attrition in the Georgia ranks and the quality of the Tennessee defense.

In a not unrelated item, Brannan Southerland’s overdue return proved well worth the wait, and, not to be outdone, Shaun Chapas stepped up his game. Asher Allen remains Asher Allen and C.J. Byrd made some nice plays, as well.

While it’s unfortunate that Blair Walsh had to attempt four field goals, he split the uprights on all four of them, even though one of them was a bit harrowing and I’m not altogether convinced that the wind rendered it wise to let the third quarter expire before letting the true freshman try a 41-yarder at the other end of the field. Brian Mimbs returned to the form he displayed against South Carolina and we appear finally to be getting away from this nonsense of placing kickoffs anywhere other than the end zone.

I could have done with a few more touchdowns and I carry some sense of dread that another such effort of dominance on the stat sheet but not on the scoreboard will not suffice against L.S.U. or Florida or, heck, Vanderbilt. Nevertheless, the ‘Dawgs did what they had to do, converting critical third downs and closing the deal when the chips were down.

Clinging to a 13-7 lead and facing third and eight at their own five yard line, the Classic City Canines moved the chains to spark a drive that went 97 yards in nine plays, culminating in a touchdown with nine seconds remaining until halftime. After the Georgia defense later forced the Vols to go three and out, the Red and Black ran the ball 14 times in their next 16 plays, covering 76 yards and tacking on the game-icing field goal after taking eleven minutes off of the clock.

The Bulldogs played good football and moved the ball well on what is still a stout S.E.C. defense. I will admit that I am not unbiased upon this point, since my wife teaches with this particular walk-on’s father, but, for me, the emblematic play of the game is one you probably didn’t notice. On what I believe was Georgia’s last kickoff, Chad Gloer nearly made---arguably, should have made---the tackle that would have left the Volunteers with particularly poor field position, but, having missed his chance the first time, he got back up, gave chase, and made the tackle the second time. It wasn’t perfect, but it showed a refusal to let up and it got the job done.

The final score, while disappointing, was not surprising, particularly if you happened to read this weblog before the game. (Heck, I even picked the honorary game day captain correctly!) If you want to win a football game, you have to out-think, out-tough, and out-play your opponent. Georgia did that, and, anytime you can walk away from an S.E.C. football game with a win in your hip pocket, you’ve had a good day. I, for one, am not going to fret (for now) that the good was merely good and not great. When good is good enough, I’ll take it.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Georgia Bulldogs 14, South Carolina Gamecocks 7

T Kyle King — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:31:02 -0000

Well, I was right about the seven-point margin of victory, even if I gave both teams too much credit for offensive firepower. The Red and Black’s 45th series victory over South Carolina and Mark Richt’s 75th career win came in a game that was too close for comfort, although victory by the visitors never seemed to be in doubt.

The Georgia receiving corps had its usual bout with the dropsies, the Bulldog offensive line acquitted itself less well in its first real test than any of us would have liked, and the speedy Gamecock defense allowed next to nothing around the edge.

Both teams went five for 13 on third- and fourth-down attempts, with the Palmetto State Poultry holding the advantage over the Classic City Canines in first downs (20-17), total yards (289-252), and yards per pass (6.8-5.8). While the South Carolina secondary took away the perimeter, the Georgia defensive backfield surrendered far too many receiving yards, particularly up the middle and at the seams, to the tune of 271 passing yards allowed.

Despite having his best receiver sidelined by injury and having distinguished himself previously chiefly through not being Tommy Beecher, Chris Smelley completed 23 of 39 attempts, including a 34-yard touchdown pass to Moe Brown to cap off a 62-yard drive on which the South Carolina quarterback was three for four for 56 yards.

To top it all off, the ‘Dawgs were assessed 112 yards in penalties. In short, it was far from a flawless effort and many areas of concern were highlighted as the Bulldogs head into the meat of their schedule. You know what, though? I feel great.

Yes, there was a lot not to like about this afternoon’s outing in Columbia, and the ‘Dawgs had better be prepared to address some of the weaknesses which were exposed in Williams-Brice Stadium if they have serious designs on contending for an Eastern Division championship, much less any higher prize. However, let’s not overlook the positives:

Under greater pressure, Matthew Stafford looked less sharp, but, despite that (and the fact that some quite catchable balls went through the hands of his receivers), the Georgia quarterback still hooked up on 15 of his 25 tosses for 146 yards. Stafford has never thrown a touchdown pass against the Gamecocks, but, this year, for the first time, he didn’t throw a pick, either. Stafford also tacked on a 30-yard run for good measure.

As anticipated, South Carolina committed to stopping the run, yet Knowshon Rockwell Moreno still managed to rush for 79 bruising yards and the game-winning touchdown while the Georgia D limited the Gamecocks to 18 rushing yards.

The Bulldog defense also came up big when it mattered most. In the fourth quarter, as the visitors clung to a 14-7 lead, the home team mounted a nine-play drive on which a pass interference penalty gave the Gamecocks a first down at the Red and Black’s two yard line. Mike Davis was stuffed for no gain on the next play and, on Davis’s ensuing carry, Rennie Curran forced the fumble that Asher Allen recovered for a touchback.

On South Carolina’s next possession, a Smelley pass to Freddie Brown for eight yards set up second and short at the Georgia 32. The ‘Dawgs held and the ‘Cocks turned the ball over on downs. The Palmetto State Poultry’s final drive made it as far as the Bulldog 17 after a pair of pass interference penalties. Reshad Jones very nearly picked off Smelley’s first-down pass and he succeeded in intercepting the South Carolina quarterback’s second-down throw to close the deal.

What hitherto had been a high-flying Georgia offense went on the road and, facing a South Carolina defense that had given up 12.0 points per game in its first two contests, scored fourteen. A Gamecock O averaging 25.5 points per game was held to seven ticks on the scoreboard by a Georgia D that had given up double-digit point totals in each of its first two outings.

There are, of course, issues in need of addressing, as invariably there are. Lest anyone be overly concerned, though, let me put your mind at ease using a few data outlined in a couple of comments from this afternoon’s game day open comment thread. Consider these scores:

7-0. 21-20. 20-12. 13-10. 13-7. 17-15.

Those are the scores by which the Bulldogs beat the Gamecocks in 1966, 1968, 1976, 1980, 2002, and 2005, respectively. The ‘Dawgs won Southeastern Conference championships in each and every one of those campaigns.

For the game against Georgia Southern, I set a high standard for judging the contest a success, and, although the Red and Black satisfied my previously stated criteria, I still wasn’t altogether satisfied. Against South Carolina, I knew that a win was a win was a win.

The Gamecocks always play Georgia tough. The whole goal of the contest from the Bulldogs’ perspective is to go in, get the W, and get out with no major injuries. This the ‘Dawgs did. Don’t worry about whether it was pretty; it wasn’t, but, against those guys, it never is. Georgia’s record remains unblemished and the team’s goals remain fully intact. That’s all that matters. The Gator faithful know this and so should we.

The Bulldogs did what they had to do. They may not have done even one whit more, but they did enough. Find whatever fault you will with 14-7, but know that, if nothing else, it’s a darned sight better than 16-12.

Go ‘Dawgs!