CMR – scary first-half performance. Munson said he kept waiting for someone
to make a big play to shake things up. CMR says give Vandy credit. Their defensive
players played very well and our offensive players did not. It was a team effort,
not good enough in the first half.
Injuries: CMR hopes guys will be back on the way – including Gibson and Johnson.
A few more banged up in this game – Tyson, Jeremy Thomas and Jamario Smith.
A caller about 8:40 voiced further concern about injuries – why do we get more
in practice than any team we read about!? CMR joked that it was because of Munson
making them scrimmage .. seriously, he reviewed this with Ron Courson and we
noted that many of the key injuries that did not occur in games were in non-contact
drills.
DL getting thin? We’re getting to the point where guys are having to play who
haven’t had a lot of reps. To this point, we’ve had guys step up when they had
to.
CMR says UAB is close to being 6-1 .. great team speed, especially on defense.
This could be a defensive battle. We have done a good job in turnover ratio
and they have struggled in that area.
Responding to a caller late in the show wanting further analysis of UAB: CMR
has studied their defense and is quite impressed with their defensive speed
and enthusiasm. Their defensive scheme is much like ours, with lots of schemes
and stunts. They will be quite a challenge for our offense. Their offense has
struggled some and we hope that continues. Their staff has been together for
awhile under Watson Brown and they are strong in special teams. Richt wonders
how they ended up being a homecoming opponent - which will make them mad and
make our job more difficult.
Munson worries about mental attitude. CMR thinks looking at the tape will be
good enough. I continued on this point as the second caller .. CMR thinks the
fans doing their part will help. Come out for the Dawg Walk like we always do,
and get in the stands early.
CMR added for another call that we look at the polls, as we’re all fans, but
we don’t get worried. What really matters is playing UAB to the best of our
ability. Last week really proved anything can happen. Watching the BCS is no
fun if we’re way down.
First call – Richard in Mableton – worried about hand fights. Guys get emotional,
it’s a battle. Sometimes it goes on past the play. We’ve got ways of deterring
those types of things.
Penalties? CMR is as concerned as the fans. Sometimes he wonders but sometimes
there is no doubt. There is so much judgment, and if we even come close, we’re
subject to having a flag thrown. There weren’t many late hits last week; it
was holding that hurt us the most. Example – MJG was blocking his man so well
on a play-action pass he kept going forward and was a yard or two beyond the
line, so we lost a big pass completion.
In reply to a caller who mentioned comments from CBS during the Florida-Arkansas
game, CMR said he’d use that info next week. It would also help if callers talked
about UAB instead of about
Florida. (about 8:25 pm) CMR laughed that
callers are upset if we’re not ready for the current game but are asking as
much about Florida as anything. Richt had the same response to the last caller
of the night who also talked about how Florida thinks they own us.
Lots of OL breakdowns weren’t assignments, but just getting whipped. But there
were also missed assignments, backs and WRs in particular. And Greene made a
handful of bad throws as well. As for Roland, he didn’t play much – we chose
to go with the top 2 at OT more.
This last game will teach a young OL they’ve got to get a “mean on” every time
they go out to play. They responded the second half.
Dale Dixson – CMR didn’t remember him being in the doghouse. But you can get
into Garner’s doghouse if you miss class or a study hall. Dale showed up on
campus at age 17. We thought it might take some time for him to grow into the
man he’s gonna be.
In reply to a call complimenting discipline, CMR chuckled and said its like
being a parent to 130 or so teenagers. We’re here to help them along the way
as they mature.
Now that Shockley is out for the year, what about JT3 staying on the punt team?
CMR says Joe has so many quality reps there it is difficult to take him off.
That is almost the most important squad there. Take him off and lots of bad
things could happen, but every time he covers a punt is one more chance for
an injury. The staff will discuss going to the #2 personal protector.
Great to see McClendon come in and step up at WR. Every guy that does that makes
things better for us. Jarrett Berry is just starting to feel better and able
to contribute.
WR is one position where you have to have lots of guys to run a no-huddle. We
don’t have enough right now.
Sean Bailey pulled a hamstring in practice laying out to make a great catch
in practice. He’s jogging again, but at least two weeks before he’s ready to
play again.
Yet another caller (Bruce from Roswell) wanting the page in the playbook
with “pooch kickoff” ripped out .. CMR wonders sometimes if we’re just mis-hitting
some kickoffs and that we need to find someone to hit it through the end zone
for the future.
Tony Milton will have season-ending surgery on Tuesday and may not be ready
for spring. We have considered using him at FB in different sets but aren’t
sure he is big enough to take the pounding. Shockley and Michael Turner will
also have surgery on Tuesday. All three could use our prayers.
Part of our up & down play may be a young group of guys trying to stay emotional
and consistent. Until they learn more, we’re vulnerable to playing like we did
the first half yesterday. You want to guard against things like telling them
how many points we might score because it may come out as not respecting an
opponent. But we might discuss some goals like trying to score a TD each quarter.
CMR goes through the first Dawg Walk each year. He thinks it is more for the
players to enjoy, and thinks he is better prepared by being calm rather than
emotional.
And if you think the team works hard in practice, try the band. The team goes
in after practice, and the band is still out there.
Comments