News

Tonight’s show is an hour early due to the President’s speech at 8:30. It is being replayed in the 8:00 hour. As always, a world of upsets or near upsets. Munson recounted several surprising results, including Oklahoma barely escaping Bama, Ohio State barely escaping, Miami’s narrow escape over Florida and Tech dominating Auburn. UGA bothered a lot not so much because of penalties but because of more and dangerous injuries.

CMR didn’t think we were flat, but thought the penalties were due to playing extremely hard. Guys were just in a hurry to get to someone and jumping early. Their center was moving his head a certain way and we didn’t adjust. We had WRs blocking better than they ever blocked. Maybe they did have a handful of jersey but we’ve had problems getting receivers to block in the past.

Those were SEC officials, and CMR thinks lots of the stuff had to be called. He is surprised because we had either no or only one penalty in an officiated pre-season scrimmage. CMR went further to explain how the center was lifting his head after looking back for shotgun signals, then waiting a couple of counts to snap. It is a judgment call whether the officials think the center is doing something that looks like a snap. Richt thinks they got called for it once during the game.

A female caller later asked about a “non-football contact” penalty; CMR thinks it was a sideline warning we got but he will ask around. The sideline crews need some space to move the chains and the like.

The game has really slowed down for Greene. He plays very much under control and has much more experience now. He’s really making excellent decisions about when to throw the ball away and not take sacks, and if he can cross the line and get yards he should. Greene has graded out well in both games – completing a high percentage and thrown few into coverage.

One caller asked if Shockley is maturing at the rate the coaches hope? He has graded well and had only a few bad plays. One big mistake in the first game that could’ve gotten us in trouble and he should’ve thrown one away yesterday. His decision making has been good other than those two things.

CMR thinks we can still count on seeing Shockley some in the first half of every game. Greene is playing extremely well and Shockley is continuing to improve. All it takes is one unfortunate play and we’ll be relying on one or the other.

Denise from Dacula (late in the show) noted Greene and DJ in the game together. CMR said we had a swing pass called and two WRs blocked very well. But their DE got so excited when he saw DJ that he followed him around and clipped his heels.

We’re not sure about Gibson’s injury – questionable for next week. But we don’t think it will keep him out for, say, a month.

New guys who played – Velasco and Shackleford on the OL. Schnetzer started on the OL. Milner and Jackson were out at the last minute. Milner had a health issue come up and we had to be sure everything was OK. It is and he’ll be back to practice. Veal, Elmore, Watson, Milner, Jackson and possibly Curry may be ready among injured players. We don’t think Blue is quite ready but he is progressing well. Jennings, Minter – now at safety, Raley, McClendon all back from suspensions. Jennings will probably start in the nickel package. Browning has one more game.

SC played extremely well against Virginia; that was a close game until late in the game. SC scored the last three times they had the ball and pulled away. Their back was just running over people late in that game. Daccus Turman is a guy we let get away, who broke lots of Herschel’s HS records. Pinkins is a good runner and has had lots of passes dropped. If their really fast WRs catch the ball he would be hitting about 60%. Also, SC’s new defensive scheme is a lot like ours.

With a QB that runs like their guy, there are times where the safeties come up.

Does CMR talk to the team about series history? Early odds from Vegas have us as a two-TD favorite. CMR says we do. The team knows what’s at stake. CMR thinks a two-point line is probably a pick ‘em, especially playing at home. Upon being told of the correction of the odds CMR couldn’t believe we’re a two-TD favorite either.

As for red zone problems, CMR isn’t sure throwing to Pope is the answer but we do need to get better. We need to do what we’re doing better, but is there something else we need to try?

CMR thinks we’re a solid team, OK in the kicking game, only one big play on defense the entire year and we haven’t turned the ball over yet. We want to be the kind of team that doesn’t beat ourselves and will be tough to beat. Johnson will get more opportunities if Gibson is out, and Cooper has definitely earned more playing time.

We’re about to run into the stiffest defense of the year – disciplined and physical. Cooper will likely get more carries, depending on how Milton is doing. Regarding Lumpkin, we’re not sure if we should redshirt him. He is marvelously talented, close to be ready and very in tune with his assignments.

We have missed some tackles at LB. Our guys are very quick and physical, but they need to learn that the knockout shot is not always the way to go about it. The first guy needs to do his job, and everyone else needs to pursue and try to strip the ball. We’re excited what these guys are going to be, and hope they can become the leaders in the near future that Boss and Gilbert were.

Bennett has been a bit inconsistent as our kickoff man .. he hasn’t quite hit the same spot every itme. Even when he misses the spot, though, he is getting the kick high enough where we can cover it.

Jeremy Thomas is the best pass blocker among our backs with Milton next.

CMR will have to check to see if the WRs are tipping off plays by leaving the huddle too early on running plays. There is a sequence where they’re supposed to break the huddle a bit early but CMR will check that out.

MJG – the best thing that happened to him was the weather. He played very well, along with Inman.

As for taking a knee, the QBs are trained to do that. We don’t have a play called. We’re using cadence to try and draw them off. But the QB can read that and call a play if the defense shows its intentions.

Sheila from Statham complimented CMR for being a strong role model both on and off the field.

A female student asked about playing freshmen .. we were going to play a lot more freshmen because of injuries and suspensions. But sometimes it is better for someone not to play their first year.

About Pollack for Heisman? He almost can’t have a more spectacular year than he had last year. If he matched last year’s season with this year, he might have a chance.

An Ohio St. fan in Atlanta notes similarity in the two programs. Both have a chance to recruit among the finest athletes in the country and have all the resources. CMR would much rather play an Ohio St. in a bowl game.

In closing, CMR noted that both teams need this game. Munson figures SC remembers how it lost last year and will come in really wanting it badly. Also, Munson asked CMR not to have a scrimmage this week.