We started strong, but then we dropped a ball in the end zone then had problems
scoring. CMR says it wasn’t the most fun he’s had on a Saturday afternoon, but
he’s proud of the team for doing what it took to win the game. It’s one thing
to play crummy and win, but it’s another thing to play crummy and lose.
Bennett made the kicks that counted the most. You can’t complain about that.
One was a 48 yarder into the wind.
The old-fashioned T they put on us caused problems. They had that one drive
that went 18 plays, 16 of which were runs. We had a drive that went 16 plays,
the one that had a couple of dropped balls and ended with the missed FG.
We’re beat up and a tired football team right now. We won’t be able to do much
putting on the pads this week. We’ll have to get the mental assignments down
and they’ll have to remember their fundamentals from past weeks. This last game,
we had Schneitzer starting and Velasco playing a lot at the other guard, no
fullbacks. We’ve got to try and get as many guys ready to go and they’ll have
to fight like mad.
This team has been very resilient to this point and CMR expects no less Saturday.
Steve in Senoia opened tonight by asking about the overall health of the offense,
hoping it could take pressure off the defense. CMR thinks we’re more banged
up there than on defense. On offense, both FBs, 4 WRs or so, both OGs.
Pollack’s chances of playing are better than Gibson’s. CMR has seen nothing
from Gibson to indicate he’ll be ready – questionable at best. Pollack will
probably find a way to get in there no matter what.
Keith in Conyers – how do we get the 3rd stringers ready and motivated for this
game? CMR thinks they’re excited about playing. The problem is knowing exactly
what to do and how to get it done. It’s hard to get guys enough reps in such
a short time.
Robert in Midtown (Ferrall) – Decory Bryant’s status. Bryant did hurt
his neck – he had to have it checked out at the hospital. He is out for this
game.
Also, that slip screen/pick play
Florida runs – how do we strategize against
it? First, you have to have players to fight through blocks, and sometimes roll
coverages towards it.
As for Jasper Sanks giving a motivational speech, it really had more to do with
life lesson – stuff he’d gone though and the team should know about.
Richard in Snellville asked about the FB situation: Des Williams did a good
job. What about Jeremy Thomas? CMR says Thomas is questionable and it could
be well into the week before we know for sure. Jamario Smith is doubtful. We
could get a good I formation plan together then find out late in the week Jeremy
is not available so we have to be careful.
Toni in Canton – what about having players experimenting with other positions?
CMR says a number of guys are athletic enough to play more than one position,
but football is more complicated today. You have to learn assignments, technique
and execution. It’s hard for freshmen to come in and play extremely well. An
upperclassman is more experienced but is like a freshman again if moved to another
position. Right now, we have enough injuries on both sides of the ball where
we can’t rob one to pay the other.
Bert in Roswell thinks Cooper might have been a better option than Browning
when we were running out the clock. CMR says we weren’t trying to run clock,
but to score. We were working both backs, who aren’t different styles. Browning
is doing well at making people miss sometimes. Cooper is hitting it in there
harder most of the time, but he knows he can be more physical sometimes.
Also, what is the confidence level of the staff this week? Bert is afraid if
something goes wrong it’s like we’re climbing out of a ditch. CMR says our plan
is to get the guys prepared the best we can from what we see on the tape. Our
guys are used to playing in big games; every time you play in this league it’s
a big game.
Lee in Rome says we don’t need motivation and complimented the staff for doing
a fine job getting new guys ready to play.
Phone problems about 8:30 … two calls dropped…
Jeremy from Memphis (this should take long enough to fix the phones!).
– thinks we ought to blitz Leak frequently. He also thinks yesterday’s game
made it obvious we need to develop even more depth on the defensive line. CMR
says Leak has played enough ball to become more than a true freshman now. We
have to decide how to attack without leaving ourselves too vulnerable.
CMR also says we’re still working on the plan for this game, also checking the
special teams to make sure there are no cracks in the armor.
Joey in Summerville .. recruiting questions (in addition to some asked by
Jeremy). CMR says some players come in for official visits, but most come
on unofficial visits on gameday. Meals are provided but they have to pay for
them. Coaches are available to talk to them. They do as much as they can. We
used to let them go through the Dawg Walk but that is no longer allowed. They
do get the see the end of it and see the players walking through the crowd.
Allen in LaGrange wants to know what CMR thinks about the Ga. HS talent pool.
CMR was already impressed as FSU did some recruiting in Ga. CMR thinks highly
of the HS coaching in this state. CMR believes even more that if we can
Scott in Lilburn – also concerned about FB. What about Chris Hickman and Jeff
Lyons? Scott was also disappointed in the crowd. Scott says the team has a job
to show up and play, but the crowd has a job to show up, cheer and support the
team without waiting on a play. CMR doesn’t blame the crowd for not being excited
about what was going on in the game. If they do see the boys having a hard time,
they can start making noise and it can get the guys cranked up pretty quick.
Hickman will not play due to discipline problems and Lyons was doing well then
had a shoulder injury. Hopefully he’ll be doing better by the end of the week.
Susie in Kennesaw (still hoarse) disagreed with Scott regarding the
crowd; she thought the crowd did well in the second half helping the defense
and thinks the crowd needs to be loud for the
Auburn and UK home games. She’s
also one of the charter Gridiron Gals and wants Munson to be at the event next
year. Munson laughed and said he has enough trouble with his movie group…
CMR says that excitement goes both ways sometimes; its hard to cheer when you’re
getting sacked.
Jeff in Savannah is superstitious - he has noticed when Munson forgets to say
“Get the Picture” we play poorly or lose. Munson says he tries to if the mic
gets to him in time before kickoff.
CMR proud of Bennett as the all-time leading kicker. Those FGs do count for
a lot. We’re not sure what we’ll do next year when he’s gone.
Rob in Savannah appreciated the great game call from
Tennessee, as he was hunting
in south Ga. With Golston out, what about Ray Gant? CMR said Gant got hurt yesterday.
We feared it was broken but it was not. If the swelling comes down there is
a chance he could play Saturday.
Florida likes the short to intermediate passing game, occasionally going long.
They also have two young RBs who have been running well. CMR was surprised to
find they have 13 seniors starting and a bunch of juniors. It just appears they’re
young because they’re playing a frosh QB.
Stan in Springfield worries about what the WRs do (flapping wings) –
that’s a signal for personnel groups. Skill position players signal as they’re
going in and out. Sometimes there are other hand signals for one player coming
in for another. We’ve improved quite a bit on avoid illegal substitution penalties
that many teams have had problems with. We also have talked to the team about
avoiding stuff that could end up on opponents’ bulletin boards.
Matt in Whitman wants to know what it will take to beat Florida. CMR says we’ll
have to find a way to win at least two of the three areas (offense, defense,
special teams). We also have to hang on to the ball and be strong in the
red zone on both offense and defense, converting our opportunities into TDs
and keeping them out of the end zone.
Grading the offense – we’ve been up & down. We’ve had some games where we’ve
played very well, at least for a half. We’ve taken very good care of the ball
and done what is needed to win.
******************
Injury update summary from call-in show:
Pollack – probable
Gibson – questionable
Bryant – out (note: former Coach Donnan reported on CSS show, airing at
same time as call-in show, that Bryant had surgery this afternoon for a displaced
vertebra)
Jeremy Thomas – questionable, will be monitored during the week
Jamario Smith – doubtful
Jeff Lyons (now 3rd string FB) - questionable
Ray Gant – questionable, swelling in leg will be monitored during week
Brock – questionable (hope to have back)
Miller - questionable (hope to have back)
Other injuries, not mentioned on show:
Harrison
Taylor
Swain
Elmore
M. Johnson
Dixson
Out for season:
Thompson
Haywood
Curry
Milton
Shockley
Turner
Golston
(Bryant will likely be added to this list)
Hope I got the list complete.
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