Player Profile: AJ Green

This week we profile Georgia BullDawg phenom wideout AJ Green. You might be saying I'm just posting this because I'm a homer but in reality anyone who thinks he is overrated or says that Julio Jones is better, they should go check their temperature. Don't get me wrong Julio is a good player but AJ is a very special player. I'm talking about the special that can lead you to being one if not the greatest of all time in the program. The kid just has a cool and calm demeanor and all he wants to do is win. From day one, he has always been loyal to the red and black. He committed to UGA two years before he even stepped on campus. Never wavered or swayed to any other school. He played the majority of his freshman year with a groin injury but still was able to put up numbers that made him SEC freshman of the year. He has been compared to Randy Moss since high school and while he has a ways to go, he has not disappointed in the comparison. AJ has saved UGA in a couple of games including this past weeks against Arizona State, where he picked up SEC honors for offensive player of the week that included a TD catch where he side stepped the defender, which made the poor boy fall, a blocked field goal that would have put the Devils in front with 2 minutes left and a final catch that set up the game winning field goal. AJ is truly is amazing and I could write all day about him but I do have a job to do(which I prefer to be on here) I think when its all said and done Green will be up their with Herschel Walker..and maybe a little higher....maybe

I have to many videos to post so I figured, why not just see the whole page...Enjoy!

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&source=hp&q=aj%20green&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#

Tigers on the prowl?

Much is still to be made of the 2009 Auburn Tigers but one can't help but notice that the War Eagles have made some serious strides in their quest to return to glory. First year head coach Gene Chizik has gotten the Plainsman offense rolling up yards on offense like the days of old.Only 27 teams in Auburn history have started a season 4-0. Eight of those occurred after 1974. Of the eight teams in the last 35 years that started 4-0, only two failed to win at least ten games. The 1994 Tigers reeled off nine before a closing with a tie and a loss. Auburn started 2000 with five consecutive wins before fading to 4-4 down the stretch.A lack of quality competition over the first four games is a valid criticism. None of the four teams Auburn defeated in 2009 were ranked at the time. That doesn't impact the trend, however. Of the eight Tiger teams that started 4-0 since 1974, only two beat a ranked opponent during the four-game streak. The 2009 Auburn Tigers have a long way to go before they can start considering double digit win totals. At some point during the SEC season, Auburn will run into a team that will put the clamps on the offense and the Tigers will need to lean on the defense to earn a win.

The Tiger stopping unit has so far shown no indication it is capable of holding up its end of the bargain. The next stop will be a visit to Tennessee this week, which we should get a better grasp of what both teams should be like for the rest of the year. Auburn has impressed me with the dual duo of running back Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb. As we know, the Tigers seem to have potent offenses when they have two legit backs(see Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams). Quarterback Chris Todd seems to have his confidence grow from week to week. He is coming off a 5 touchdown passes game and seems to really grasp the offense better than last year when he was benched in favor of Kodi Burns(who is now a wide receiver) The defense is still needing improvement as Ball State out up good numbers including 30 points. This seems to be the only factor of the Tigers really being back. The special teams have been terrific with a few blocks and touchdowns. All in all, we figure the Tigers to make it to a bowl this year and pull maybe one or two upsets along the way. We will be keeping check on the Tigers, Plainsman, and War Eagles.

Major contenders suffering from the injury bug

Alabama and Florida seem to still be on a collision course for a rematch for the SEC Championship in December but both suffered some major blows in the injury department over the weekend. While both teams have looked the real deal in every game so far this year, Injuries can derail dreams of a title quickly. Just ask the Georgia Bulldogs who were succumb to there own last year.

The Gator nation is in somewhat of a frenzy due to the injury of quarterback Tim Tebow. As he fell backward, his helmet struck teammate Marcus Gilbert's leg, violently bending his neck forward.Teammates and trainers rushed to Tebow's side, but several minutes passed before the quarterback sat up with help and then slowly made his way off the field. He eventually was carted off. My question for this is why was he playing anyways? They were up 31-7 midway through the 3rd quarter. Jeff Brantley is the future anyway so he might as well be getting in some work. Also, middle linebacker Brandon Spikes has been bothered by a Achilles problem and wide receiver Deonte Thompson missed his second game with a hamstring pull. Florida will have a much needed week off to get rested up for probably their toughest game of the year at LSU.

Alabama was not also safe from the bug as head coach Nick Saban confirmed the injury of sophomore linebacker Dont'a Hightower, he will undergo knee surgery to repair ligament damage, and Hightower is expected to miss the remainder of the season. It's a big loss for the Crimson Tide, as Hightower had been extremely versatile. He was one of their best pass-rushers and was lining up at the hybrid jack linebacker spot on passing downs. After he was injured last Saturday in the Arkansas game, he was replaced in the lineup by sophomore Courtney Upshaw. Here is Saban's statement on Hightower's injury:
“Dont’a Hightower’s MRI confirmed that he has ligament damage in his knee that will require surgery. Dont’a is a fine young man, has been an outstanding player for us, and we are confident he will make a full recovery.”(How weird is it that I could find a picture of both Hightower and Tebow in the same game)

Anyways, the lesson here is if the Tide and Gators can hold on to the top spots in the division. These teams are extremely talented and well coached, so it will be a great challenge for both coaches. As usual, a championship never comes without adversity and so far it has arrived for both squads.

Lets see what there made of...

SEC Rewind: Week 4

LSU @ Miss St.- Goaline stand at the 1 saves the tigers in this one. LSU agian didn't look impressive but made plays when needed. LSU heads to UGA next week.

Arkansas @ Alabama- Bama steam rolls the Razorbacks and look ready to hit the road at Kentcuky next week.

Florida @ Kentucky- Tebow suffers a serious concussion and leaves game. Wonder what Florida will look like. They get a bye next week, just in time for a injury riddles team.

Ohio @ Tennessee- Vols looked uninterested as they trailed at the half but got things together but agian the rushing was a non factor. Good test next week agianst Auburn.

Ball St. @ Auburn- Tigers put up big numbers agian on offense and roll along.

Arizona St. @ UGA- Dawgs need last second field goal for the win to make up for sloppy game.

Vandy @ Rice- Vandy puts out best performance of the season for a big win.

Sorry, for the short and to the point post, will have more later.

SEC Preview and Predictions Week 4

Before we get started, lets talk about last nights game between Ole Miss and South Carolina. I have never seen a top ranked team play so scared like I did watching the Rebels last night. Snead turned in a horrid performance and as it seems, Ole Miss is still not ready for the big time. Give credit to the Cocks, as usual the defense stepped up and shut down the offense. The play of Stephen Garcia wasn't flashy but I think Spurrier has finally found himself a quarterback that can get it done. Garcia has put 3 games together of good play and has built himself some confidence. The relentless pressure they put on the Rebels on Defense was outstanding. Ole Miss looked unfocused and shaken. The o-line was mostly dominated giving Snead no time to throw and we he did have time, Snead didn't make good choices by throwing into double coverage. Ole Miss failed to connect on two fourth downs which pretty much made the game in doubt. Even, the touchdown they threw Snead was about to be sacked and the fullback ran into the back of him. All in all, the Rebels still have a shot at the SEC West, which in my opinion is wide open for the taking. They get Bama and LSU at home which seem to be their only tough games left. The big question out of all this is, how good is this South Carolina team? Remember, there only one play away from being defeated.

LSU @ Miss.St- This is a dangerous game for LSU. The Bulldogs are a confident bunch after winning at Vanderbilt last week, and senior running back Anthony Dixon is running like he means business. This is also Mississippi State’s first game back home after two straight games on the road, so the cowbells will be ringing with renewed vigor. The difference will be an LSU defense that hasn't allowed a touchdown in the past six quarters and appears to be rounding into shape under first-year coordinator John Chavis. Tigers win in a sneaky game.

Arkansas @ Alabama- Watching Ryan Mallett go up against Alabama’s defense will be a treat, although it might not seem that way to Mallett when he’s got Marcell Dareus, Dont’a Hightower and Rolando McClain chasing him. The Hogs’ passing game is the real deal, but so is Alabama’s defense. The Crimson Tide will get Mallett out of the pocket, where he didn’t look quite as effective throwing against Georgia last week. Tide wins going away.

Florida @ Kentucky- The Gators have scored at least 45 points in three of the four games in this series since Urban Meyer arrived in 2005. The Wildcats had serious problems hanging onto the ball last week in their win over Louisville. If you turn the ball over against Florida, what happens is what happened to the Wildcats last season when they were clobbered 63-5. It won’t be that bad this time around, but the Gators will still take out a little frustration after not having their "A" game last week against Tennessee. The flu-stricken Gators win.

Ohio @ Tennessee- Well, it’s a different day on Rocky Top. The Vols are trying to work their way back to elite status under Lane Kiffin and hope to build off their hard-fought 23-13 loss to the Gators. The best way to do that is play with the same pride, purpose and toughness they played with at the Swamp from here on out ... regardless of its Ohio.

Ball State @ Auburn- Ball State limps into Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 0-3 record, including a loss to the same North Texas team that was trounced last week by Alabama. Look for the Tigers to go to 4-0 and pour it on in this game, almost as hard as the rain poured last weekend on the Plains.

Arizona State @ UGA- This game scares me a bit(just like every other) but with more rain on the way just in time for kickoff makes me nervous. The Dawgs have had a hard time holding on to the ball at the running back position and throwing rain into the mix just doesn't make me feel comfortable. Arizona State has the best defense in the nation but have played two high school opponents(not true, but close enough) I'm going to pick an x-factor is this and this is going to send shock waves through my friends and family but I think Caleb King will be the difference. I say shock waves because I have done nothing but bash the kid since I saw him play in high school when he was at GAC. I was actually calmed by the fact he returned last weekend and he looked good. So, I will take the Dawgs in this one.

Vandy @ Rice- If the Commodores ever needed a win, they need one now. They were able to get by last season with a strong defense and key plays on special teams, which masked a limited offense. There’s been no masking that offense this season, but a simplified attack and a few big plays from sophomore quarterback Larry Smith should be enough to keep the Owls winless. They’ve given up 140 points in their first three games. Vandy wins in a close one....hopefully.

Well there are the picks. So far, I'm 13 and 3 for picks so lets hope we keep rolling. I will be in person for the UGA game so check back Sunday as I review everything. Peace, be safe and Go Dawgs!

Rebels with a cause

Well, the time has come for Ole Miss to take its first big test in what is supposed to end with at least an SEC West title. The Ol' Ball coach has something to say about that so lets dig into this a little more.

With the school's highest ranking in nearly 40 years, Ole Miss opens SEC play with a trip to South Carolina. Jevan Snead, voted preseason first-team All-SEC by Steve Spurrier, is off to a so-so start with 5 TDs and 2 INTs. The Rebels are trying to win an SEC opener for the first time since 2003.Mississippi (2-0) has a short week to get ready for its SEC opener after defeating Southeastern Louisiana 52-6 on Saturday. The victory came after the team spent its bye week recovering from a case of the swine flu that affected more than a third of the roster."Jevan really came on (Saturday)." Nutt said. "I felt that he could have had five or six touchdown passes. He threw the ball very accurately."Mississippi, which expects to have star defensive end Greg Hardy(sprained left ankle) back this week, forced five turnovers Saturday and stopped Southeastern Louisiana on all 14 third-down attempts.Defensively you have to prove it every day," free safety Kendrick Lewis said. "What we did tonight doesn't mean anything at South Carolina."The Gamecocks (2-1, 0-1) are coming off their best offensive game of the season, but they haven't faced a defense as talented as Mississippi's.South Carolina compiled 516 total yards in Saturday's 38-16 win over Florida Atlantic. The Gamecocks led 17-16 at half, but scored on three straight possessions in the second half to break open the game.South Carolina's running game finally got on track, racking up 287 yards against the Owls after rushing for 222 in the first two games combined.The discovery of a running game meant quarterback Stephen Garcia didn't have to match the 53 passes and 313 yards he had in a 41-37 loss to then-No. 21 Georgia on Sept. 12."We run the ball like that, we're going to be pretty tough to beat," said Garcia, who completed 20 of 27 passes for 222 yards, throwing for one touchdown and running for another.
It likely won't be that easy to move the ball on the ground against a Mississippi team that limited Southeastern Louisiana to 86 rushing yards on 30 attempts."Things are going to get a lot tougher," running back Brian Maddox said.

This is becoming a tough choice to decide the winner but I still feel Ole Miss will pull this one out. I think they will make enough plays in the passing game to get it done. The Gamecock D struggles with the pass and tackling has become issue outside of Eric Norword. Should be fun! Plus the lovely Erin Andrews is on the sideline and that gives us plenty of joy.

Player profile: Eric Berry

I thought about posting comments about the catfight that is still raging between Lane Kiffin and Urban Meyer but I'm done talking about those two. There now just acting like school girls as if they weren't before. So, with that said we begin a new segment in which we highlight special players around the league. This isn't your daddy's "player profile" where we tell you the favorite ice cream or book. We just let the video's do the talking. First up is Tennessee safety Mr. do-it-all aka headhunter aka soul destroyer aka beast. As I get carried away with nicknames, most of you know him as Eric Berry...aka Terminator...sorry. While I still feel a little torn about the fact he chose the Vols over the Dawgs(family connection) He simply is the best defensive player in the country to me. When quarterbacks line up on offense, the first thing they check to see is where is the predator? Here you can see Tebow didn't http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWij0BlWsD0. Tyler Donovan thinks he won't pay the price for this TD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvro9N3LKfI Berry was tied for the national lead in interceptions, with seven, and has already set the all-time career SEC record for interception return yards with 487 yards. Berry also set the single season SEC record interception yardage mark with 265 yards. The NCAA record for interception return yards is 501, set by Terrell Buckley of Florida State, which Berry only needs 15 return to tie the NCAA record. Here is one those picks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HPERvTwnfk

"The fifth dimension" is not shy about making contact either http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZKTaC9-jDQ and last but not least just watch this work he does here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw6s6ompZ7w.

I really enjoyed Berry never backing down on the mighty Tebow. 1 sack, 2 interceptions and a couple tackles on "superman"over his career.Alright already your probably saying and yeah, maybe we are over doing this but we should enjoy it, mainly Vol fans, because he will easily be a top 5 pick in the NFL draft come April.