CMR: defense did well again. We’ve had teams drive on us and hold the ball on
us, but hardly any scoring on us. Everyone got down about Thompson’s injury,
but Geathers, Moses and Jackson are playing well. We’re hoping to get some people
back soon.
The new OL played its best game so far yesterday. There are some things we’re
not quite as good on as we need to be, but we’re getting better and we’ll hopefully
have this group for three years.
LSU is a fast, aggressive team and well-coached. Coach Dooley’s son is over
there and has been helping them recruit great players. They did a little of
everything against Arizona. The defense really set the offense up. Arizona could
hardly do anything. Mauck is back and playing very well at QB. They were romping
and stomping until their QB got hurt last year.
This is a tough stretch of games. We’re fortunate to have an off week after
this game, if only to get Gibson, Watson and perhaps Milton back.
Pete (car phone) opened up tonite .. just wanted to offer congratulations
and best wishes.
Bert from Norcross – will Greg Blue be back, and what about that goofy fake
or running punt Holtz pulled? Blue is doubtful for this game but might be back
for Bama. CMR thinks he has seen the running punt before but couldn’t remember
who. CMR thought it was a gutsy call .. he was standing with Greene putting
in the first play for our next series and almost got run over.
CMR said SC’s whole punt scheme is unusual. The threat of the fake constantly
keeps people from coming in and trying to block punts. Seeing what they did
against us will keep other teams from trying to block punts.
The RB rotation – Cooper will start if Milton is not back, and close for #2
between Powell and Lumpkin. We need backs who will block and can pick up blitzes.
Tyson Browning had a great camp and will get a chance in the game.
Holtz just congratulated us, bragged on Greene and said we were a well-coached
team.
Mike in Duluth – what about Ken Veal? Veal is in pretty good shape with just
a bruise. K. Curry will practice this week but we don’t expect him to play until
the
Alabama game. Elmore and Jackson may also be ready this week. Mike also
hopes other QBs make comments about Pollack just like Pinkins did. CMR noted
one of the holding penalties against Pollack saved a TD.
Munson noted Reggie Brown is becoming more and more of a factor. CMR noted that
Brown is playing like he is practicing. He is running his routes and blocking
well. Brown is perhaps the best conditioned player on the team.
Reggie has been very consistent in practice and in games. He runs precise routes,
blocks well and catching the ball. He had to overcome ACL surgery two years
ago.
We are concerned with Reggie getting hurt on special teams, but CMR says that
may be the most important part of the game. Reggie is very effective at being
the gunner on special teams. Also, he is in position to be a punt blocker and
has blocked a couple in his career.
Steve in Eatonton – what about the no-huddle? CMR said it was partly because
of the early suspensions and because the SEC officials have been slow and methodical
about spotting the ball, not allowing us to go at the pace we’d like. This year
they are spotting the ball much faster. Some teams work very well in the no
huddle but if you go 3 & out, you hold the ball about 40 seconds.
Mike in Macon – he lives in Shreveport and his wife is an LSU grad. Mike offered
one bit of advice – Saban tried an onsides kick to start the game last year
against
Florida and UF never recovered from it. CMR says the staff will look
that over.
Cheryl in Lake Park wanted to tell Larry how much she & her friends enjoy
Munson’s play by play but was concerned about his monumental negativism. Munson
remarked that he was probably praying and sensing impending trouble. Cheryl
suggested he come to south Georgia and get some grits and “half full” sweet
tea.
Was Gordon Ely-Kelso’s HS nickname “The Cannon”? CMR did not know that but will
ask him. CMR said several coaches are involved in the special teams and listed
the coaches directly involved in each unit.
Any time you kick it as high has Gordon does, you can get down and cover it
well. His hang time has been around 4.5 seconds or more.
CMR said GMC guys have done well. Odell has had a rough time with his father
passing. Danny Verdun-Wheeler is a bright future star. Three true frosh LBs
backed up this game.
The basic defensive scheme doesn’t change much, but new things might be added
to the plan, based on opponent tendancies, formations and personnel group. The
idea is to make the opponent do things he doesn’t want in order to try and win
the game.
Luke – what about teams adjusting to Greene audibles? SC trumped us once or
twice. They were guessing that we were checking to a certain type of play and
got it right.
One guy remarked that his tailgate group arrives at 6 am and the area is already
packed.
About rotating QBs – CMR used to script it but now will just see how the game
plays out. Some people don’t like the fact that we’re playing two QBs but CMR
is committed to it and we plan to keep using it to our advantage.
At FSU, they never made a push for anybody for an individual award. We play
enough on TV that if Greene plays well enough, and we win enough, he’ll have
a chance at the Heisman.
Phillip from Atlanta said he has been in the stands for over 50 years .. he
thinks Woof! Woof! isn’t loud enough. He’s afraid Pollack is going to get tired
from jumping up and down. CMR remarked that Pollack has a knack for knowing
when their QB is calling an audible. Phillip thinks crowd noise is irrelevant
unless the QB is audibling and thinks we ought to switch from Woof! Woof! to
a howling noise. CMR laughed and said he would discuss it with Coach VanGorder.
Recruting – we have commitments at QB & TB and we need more WRs – big, fast
and dangerous. On defense, we’re always looking for guys who can rush the passer
and if there is a CB who can shut people down, we’re always looking for that
guy.
Hollis is making remarkable progress but some nerve damage is still healing.
He is close to practicing full speed and is going through ‘thud’ contact with
the scout team.
Gameday routine – pregame meal, special teams meetings, devotional (optional),
motivational tape, then get on the bus.
A supposed Tommy in Columbia got edited out about 8:55 (was it Tommy Bowden,
they joked?).
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