UGAly Podcast: What if the Vols Had Hired Mike Leach?
ATHENS - Dylan Webber and Matt DeBary talk about the Bulldogs' upcoming game with the Vols, the Braves and what Tennessee had hired Mike Leach?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BMhYo8Zss8&feature=youtu.be
Dylan Webber:
What is up guys? It is another edition of the ugly podcast, Matt to bury Dylan Weber. Matt, what is up? What's going on, man? Good to be back. We had a little off week last week back in business now. I'm excited for some ugly dog post podcast here. Yeah, man. It's I mean, bye week was just awesome.
Matt DeBary:
Absolutely. I mean, I got to travel a little bit. I'm going to talk more about that later in the episode. But I know it was good for the dog post crew. I know we've been traveling around seeing recruits going to these games. So I know the week was good for us to have off. What do you think it means for the team though? It feels like the media hasn't been able to see a whole lot the past couple weeks. Am I wrong there? I mean, how do you think the team is done so far with this off week? Well, I mean, it was just, it was exactly what it was for us, man. It was just a second to sit back and breathe.
Dylan Webber:
I mean, especially for guys who are hurt. I think a lot of guys sat out the entire
week guys like Eric Stokes Tyson Campbell, Solomon Kindley. I mean, there were a lot of notable injuries in that Notre Dame game and this week I think was huge for them.
Matt DeBary:
Yeah, they definitely just getting healthier. I mean Eric Stokes went down early and that Notre Dame game they're going to need him you know, now that this sec schedules really starting to hit you know, and same with Tyson Campbell. I mean, those were there's two starting quarterbacks coming into the year looks like they're both a little knocked up now. Along with Solomon Kennedy, who was the starting left guard, I mean, all three of those guys good to go for Tennessee. I mean, as Kirby talked about that, or, I mean, what's the latest with those guys? Are they playing?
Dylan Webber:
I mean, Eric Stokes, it seems is going to play that is what it looks like right now. I'd be surprised if he didn't. Solomon Kimberly, it looks like can play is capable of it. But Justin Schaefer was still rolling with the first team on the last practice and got to see Tyson, Tyson, I think, is probably the iffyest of them all right now. He was out there and dressed out, but Kirby said he did not practice was just running on the sideline. So I mean, that was on Tuesday. So if I had to take a guess right now, I would say he'll dress out and travel but won't play.
Matt DeBary:
Gotcha. Now, another guy that we always talk about when we talk injuries, and if he's healthy, is he not? is David Marshall. I mean, what's the latest with him? He did play in the Notre Dame game. But he didn't play in that second half. It looked like I might have the wrong but obviously banged up as well. What's the latest with David Marshall? There's always something with him
Dylan Webber:
It seems like it's always that foot with him the list for injury. I mean, those those linger for a long time. And I think they just they're just trying to play it as safe as possible. Because I mean, David Marshall is good. They they need him for later games on that defensive line. And so I don't know if it's really straight up keeping him out of games as much as they're just trying to keep him completely healthy and safe with it and trying to limit his workload on it.
Matt DeBary:
Fortunately they're not going to be going up against Alabama Clemson this weekend. It is poor Tennessee. I mean two years ago when we covered the game in Neyland Stadium, whatever is called Neyland Neyland. I'm not even sure but a Georgia what their ass 41 nothing. 42 nothing. I thought that that might be the lowest point Tennessee football that I had seen. I was wrong. And it is this year it is now. And I think it's going to be another bloodbath. I mean, I never thought Tennessee football would be this bad. I really didn't. Okay, so it was the Georgia State loss is worse right. Georgia State loss at home is worse than the 41 point blowout, right? Oh, yeah. Yeah, okay. The BYU loss is really bad to Tennessee should never lose to BYU. But that home ass kicking they got from Georgia State they didn't barely lose that game. Yeah, I got punched in the face over and over. And the Georgia State just knocked him out. And that fourth quarter it was, you know, TKO, that's bad at home. That cannot happen. But the quarterback play Dylan is so bad. It is so bad. The defense is terrible. They can't cover they can't tackle. I'm trying to find ways. I mean, if Georgia State can be Tennessee, Tennessee could be Georgia. Right. That's college football, but I don't think there's any way Tennessee keeps this one close. Am I wrong?
Dylan Webber:
I don't think so. I mean, I think I said yesterday on the podcast with Dean I said, 6% chance. And he almost kind of scoffed at it. It was just like, really, like, it was like, I would call it lower than that. And I was like, Okay, I got 6% was pretty damn low. Yeah. But I mean, the big goal this week with Kirby in the players has been like, Well, you know, how do you prepare for two quarterbacks? And it's like, well, I mean, how much he has to prepare when I'm sorry. Both are just not good.
Matt DeBary
I mean, I've got a really good friend who's a big Tennessee guy, and he's been joking with me the past couple weeks, you know? Tennessee’s got zero chance. I mean, they're expecting the blowout. Football is football, any given Saturday, I get all that. But when you can't throw the ball, they're certainly not going to run it on Georgia. Georgia doesn't you know, they're not going to know Georgia. They're not thrown it on Georgia with that quarterback. And defensively, they're just they're bad. They're not in the right positions. When they are they're not finishing tacklers. I mean, the ball carrier, excuse me, guys are wide open in the middle of the field when you know against the past. So it's just a bad team. And it's too bad because Tennessee used to destroy Georgia will not destroy the beat them consistently in the 90s. And when I was a kid growing up in North Georgia, I mean, there was a lot of Tennessee, people around here and there still are up here in Forsyth County. So that game used to really mean a lot, and it still does. But this younger generation of Georgia fans I don't think understands what this game meant, especially in the 90s when Tennessee was a top five team. When they play Georgian would usually come out on top, I think they've won like nine out of 10 in the 90s. But once Margaret got here and really changed things up, that rivalry took a little one at and I just think people forget what it used to be and what this game should mean. I guess when when college football is better when Tennessee is good. The SEC is better when Tennessee is good. I think it's just good for college football when the balls are relevant. Right now they're not. And it's too bad that we have you know, this is a few days before Georgia, Tennessee, would used to be a meaningful game. And we're talking about Georgia winning by 40 points.
Dylan Webber
I mean, I feel bad because like I try to find the good teams and not to shit on teams so hard. But I mean, this week, just through our recordings is just been a nonstop just, you know, festival of shooting on Tennessee. But I mean, it's warranted, right? I'm not like, I'm not being a jerk here by just, you know,
Matt DeBary
You can't lose to Georgia State and not have the entire college football world just laugh at you a little bit. And I put this in final feelings that will be on Dawg Post tomorrow. I mean, boy, Georgia Tech and Tennessee, I think are the laughingstock of college football right now. And I think I would laugh my ass off if Tennessee had to play Georgia Tech this year I'd be that would just be the worst football you can imagine. But there's no reason Tennessee should be this bad. They're not I mean, when they hired Jeremy Pruitt, I thought it was a really good hire, especially considering what they could have had. He knows the SEC. He's a good recruiter. And he's a decent X's and O's coach. Really? Yeah. So I thought was the right hire. But boy, it is not clicking up there.
Dylan Webber
Now what if they had hired Mike Leach? I would they they almost interviewed him and I was big on that hire possible hire.
Matt DeBary
At some point, you got to run the football in the sec and play defense. But yeah, they throw it all over the place. They put up some points. And I think they still would be in a better position than they are today. I think Tennessee would not have lost the Georgia State and BYU if maybe Mike Leach was there. But damn, you never know. But I mean, they got talent. It's young talent. But they brought in a few five stars in this class. And they, I guess can still say, Hey, we still suck. Hey, come in and help us immediately get playing time as a freshman, which is what all these kids want. Nowadays, no one wants to sit. So in an era where you can tell these 18 year old five star say you can come in and play immediately. Because we really bad we've been really bad for a while. He can still kind of play that angle. But he can't play for much longer.
Dylan Webber
But I mean, there's a certain line that's going to be drawn with these kids. I mean, yeah, you want playing time immediately. But do you want playing time on a two and 10? team? Do you want to get your brains bashed in every game and get playing time?
Matt DeBary
Yeah, I mean, some of them do. Some of it. It's all about three and out. I want to start for three years. I don't really care if we lose that much. I just want to play and get some film out because I'm only gonna be there three years anyway, I'm not worried about the academics. But you also have kids who are there strictly for academics and you know, they might be four or five star guys, but they come from a family where academics comes first. When a kid pick Stanford or Michigan, or those type of schools over Georgia, and you can kind of connect the dots there, but every kid's different. And I guess Jeremy Pruitt can still kind of play that angle. We probably talked too much about Tennessee where they're at, but when they're this bed, I mean, we have to recognize a little bit. But I think Georgia covers in this game. What do you think?
Dylan Webber
I would say they cover too? I don't it definitely won't be as bad as last time. I mean, that was an all time just historic. Just It was so bad. I don't know.
Matt DeBary
I don't think Georgia is as good as they were in 2017. But I think Tennessee might be worse. So wouldn't surprise me if they lost again. 41 nothing, but I'm not expecting that either. I do think Tennessee will manage to put up some type of points. Not a lot. But I do think Georgia should go into the 40s and there's no reason why they shouldn't do you think Tennessee will score a touchdown? This has been my question of the week. Um, I think they get a couple field goals. I don't think George is going to let them in the end zone unless it's the fourth quarter they've got a whole bunch of freshmen and whatnot. But I don't see Tennessee scoring a touchdown on this starting defensive unit unless it's some type of type of big trick play or you know, a bomb down the field one on one coverage. Yeah, Jennings comes up with it maybe takes it to the house. That's something like that.
Dylan Webber
I mean, john Jennings is maybe the lone bright spot of that team. He is actually very good.
Matt DeBary
Well, Ty Chandler is pretty good. The running back. They just don't give him the ball enough, I think. But, you know, I think he's a solid back. But no, I do think it's going to be a bloodbath. But especially when you talk about you know, Georgia getting two weeks off. I mean, they beat Notre Dame, that was a big win two weeks off to get healthy and prepare. I think that says bad news for Tennessee the Saturday night.
Dylan Webber
Yeah, bad news is maybe a little bit of an understatement. But we'll see. I mean, recruiting wise for them. How far can this actually go with them? I mean, they recruited Well, last year.
Matt DeBary
They did recruit Well, last year, and they'll get some guys that Georgia doesn't want or Florida doesn't want Alabama, Clemson, I mean, they'll get those type of guys that aren't being pushed by these high level sec schools. And they'll be fine there. But I don't see them beating Georgia anytime soon. And they'll get an occasional five star. They got a few last year and those guys are playing a lot for him this year. So I do think Tennessee will get better next year and and keep improving slightly, because they do have some young talent, but it's going to be tough for them to recruit even on the level they are now if they keep getting their ass beat and embarrassed. And I think Georgia is going to try to embarrass them that Notre Dame win wasn't exactly you know, pretty, they didn't cover people thought they might have won by a lot more. They need to come and make a statement against Tennessee and really whip their ass again, because we know they can.
Dylan Webber
So recruiting wise, I mean, yeah, Georgia did not destroy Notre Dame, as you know, Vegas predicted and a lot of other people predicted. But I mean, just the environment. How many kids were there, what they saw, how much did that mean for Georgia recruiting?
Matt DeBary
Yeah, I mean, I thought Georgia lead for five star tight end don't know Washington before that game. But I think Georgia has a very comfortable lead with him just seeing them on the sidelines pre game you were down there. Carson Beck was walking down to Johnson and Darnell, Washington, we saw Noah Sewell there with his big family, he brought a lot of guys, they stayed multiple days, they didn't go back to Utah until Monday evening. I'm told Kendall Milton there with his dad. I mean, there were a lot of guys, I mean, half the commitments couldn't be there, just because a lot of them are out of state, a lot of them do play games on Saturdays and either couldn't make the flight. So it's not like every single commitment was there. But they still had a good amount. And you throw in pretty almost all of their, you know, 2020 targets were their key the rainbow was not, I don't think Jordan birch made it. And Eric Gilbert was not there. But overall, lots of top targets a lot of official visitors and some of the best in 2020, in state and nationally. Were there to see him. So those are the guys that might go under the radar. But there were a ton of 2021 and even some early 2020 tues that I'm trying to write about and get their names out there. So everyone knows, but lots of really, really young talent in town as well as the five star official visitors. So it was a big deal. I mean, a few guys told me it was a party and a football game broke out, I mean, or the word party mentioned by a bunch of recruits. So you put the atmosphere, the game, the lights, I mean, it was a really, really big deal. And it made a big impact on all these recruits. I mean, did anyone mentioned the light show? The the blinding, red light show with the fourth quarter? Almost all of them? Yeah, I mean, what I do I try to get their favorite part of this and that how much time they spend with the staff? Who do they sit with? How many parents can I try to give all those questions when I go around asking for these updates afterwards. And I mean, I'm telling you them said that light show was phenomenal. So never seen before. It was crazy. mix that in with the crowd, how loud they were. It was hard not to have a good time, especially if you're there on a free visit and sit in the stands for that. It was a big deal. And that was definitely something that a lot of recruits told me was one of their favorite parts of the game.
Dylan Webber
And I'll say downtown after was probably another highlight that downtown Athens that weekend was the most insane thing I've ever seen.
Matt DeBary
Yeah, I mean, everyone. I mean, it was one of the biggest games of the year. And obviously Athens is, you know, either the first or second best college town. In the country, depending on who you ask, it's either Madison, Wisconsin or Athens, Georgia say,
Dylan Webber
Whoa, you forget.
Matt DeBary
Austin's up there, I guess I guess your top five.
Dylan Webber
Top three. I understand. I hear great things about math, Wisconsin. Athens is phenomenal. But Austin, Texas is as well. Come on.
Matt DeBary
But it's more of a city though instead of all college town as well. I guess Madison's the same way, though. But maybe on a smaller scale. But anyway, yeah. You were down there downtown Athens. You live over there cover that same. So if you said it was nuts, yeah, I mean, hundred percent believe you there and I'm sure it was. So yeah, big deal all around for recruiting for sure.
Dylan Webber
Let's move on from football. I've had enough of it this week. The Braves are finally in the playoffs. Matt, please give us your spiel on how this will actually go. I'm scared to death, man.
Matt DeBary
I've already had a couple beers. I'm nervous drinking. This is we're recording this on Thursday. It's for 20 right now not even making that up. But the game is at five. So the Braves are about to play here. less than an hour game one against the Cardinals. They're better deal and they're better than the Cardinals. They should win this series. But I think I don't know, man. Well, hearts race. I'm nervous. I really am. They should. And that's the worst part. They should beat this team. But it would be classic Braves to lose game one at home, find a way to lose this series. But I mean the way they were playing for a third of the year at least they're playing like the best team in baseball at least top three. But they didn't finish strong because they had wrapped up the division so early. I just hope they come out. They can still hit the ball. They're warm, they're fresh. When they play their best baseball, they really are hard to beat. And I think they could push the Dodgers and make a big time World Series run. But I put my money on them losing in the first round before I put money on them making the World Series but I don't know they're better than the Cardinals. They should win this series. But you never know what the Braves man.
Dylan Webber
Well, something you've complained about almost constantly is the bullpen. I mean, is it still a concern?
Matt DeBary
No, they address the bullpen and this is the best. Yeah, I mean, the healthiest the best they've been all year. I guess if you want to call it a weakness. I mean, it's a really strong team. And I guess it's still probably would be the weakest link. But there was a couple months we're that bullpen really turned around and was pitching the best in baseball. I mean, it was so up and down. But at the trade line, they made the deals they went they improve their bullpen. And so far it's worked out but the regular season so much different in the seventh, eighth and ninth inning in the playoffs. So if they can do in the playoffs, I'll be cool with it all but they did make the right decision they did go out and address the weakness which was the bullpen. We'll see how it goes tonight.
Dylan Webber
I mean, as a player, you would know better than I but you know how big of a difference as a player is it playing in the playoffs rather than, you know, regular season? Because I mean, the NBA, it's vastly different. I know.
Matt DeBary:
Yeah. It's just every pitch means more. Every at bat means more you have to take advantage of every at bat. I feel like with the NBA, you get the ball so often you can still shoot around and you know play that type of game even though teams actually play defense once you get to the playoffs, and that's when I watch is the post season but yeah, baseball, everything's amped up a little bit. And I mean, the ninth inning just gets crazier. It's tough to get those last guys out in the ninth inning, especially in the postseason. When everyone's on their game. Every pitch means something. It's something special. I'm a big baseball guy. I definitely understand if some people think it's boring. I get it. But playoff base was actually pretty cool. And I know you have something to do right after this. You probably not be able to watch this game, are you?
Dylan Webber
I'm going to try. I think I'm going to watch it on TV. I mean, I do watch postseason baseball. I watched the national game the other night. That was all that sounds. That was awesome.
Matt DeBary
I hate the nationals. It was a great game. It was not cool, though. That was the first time I've been excited about baseball in a long time. About a year probably. There's some really good teams. The Yankees are really good. The shows are really good. The Dodgers are really good. And I think the Braves are probably the fourth best team in baseball right now. Maybe fifth behind the twin so there are still teams better than the Braves. But I I'm expecting them to win the series against the Cardinals because they are 100% a better team and I think anyone who follows baseball would agree there.
Dylan Webber
Matt lastly we will end on your trip to Colorado. You ran into a dog fan there in the mountains. How was he tell us about him?
Matt DeBary
Oh, Dale, I think his name was I think his name was Dale. Straight out of North Georgia i think but now he was gone. We saw multiple Georgia fans. If you're not a doctor he might not know I went to Colorado Denver a whole bunch of other places for little brothers bachelor party. One of the days we drove through the Rocky Mountain National Park It was amazing so many cool sites and we stopped at one little ledge got out of the car started taking pictures of everything and lo and behold dude in a Georgia hoodie you know comes walking up to us he saw my dad I think had a Georgia Polo on and last thing I wanted to do is talk Georgia football with random Dale from who knows where But
Dylan Webber
Why are we being so rude about about Dale here?
Matt DeBary
No, it was cool. It was cool. I was just too enjoy my time. With little Bros. I don't really get to see them that often. But uh, now he talked to my dad a good bit about the dogs and he put his phone down and he started talking Georgia football. It was pretty funny. But um, yeah, the G was everywhere. We saw some at the airport, saw some in Denver on our last night watching college football and one of the breweries there so Dale or whatever his name was and the Rocky Mountain National Park. The G's everywhere. It was actually pretty funny how many we saw
Dylan Webber
it is interesting. I feel like Georgia fans were more Georgia gear than the other schools do respectively. Like I don't see many people wearing Longhorn stuff around the country. I do occasionally. But I mean, I see a lot more Georgia stuff just around the country.
Matt DeBary
It's the red. It's the G I mean, it's also I mean, the kind of style of Georgia fans a lot of Georgia fans you know, like to wear polos and this and that. So especially I know when I was on vacation, I love to wear my Falcons gear, Braves gear whenever I'm on vacation. And you know my dad likes to wear his Georgia polos too. So it's pretty normal, I'd say but I definitely wouldn't expect him to see five or six Georgia fans like Colorado for sure.
Dylan Webber
All end on this note and this is kind of random. It's just about wearing Falcons gear or being a Falcons fan elsewhere. I don't know if you saw this news. But But Derek favors, you know, their favorite basketball player played at Georgia Tech. Well, he so he plays for the pelicans now in New Orleans, and he was in an Uber and he was talking to the Uber driver. He's like, well, well, I'm actually a Falcons fan. And the the Uber driver pulled over and made him get out of the car.
Matt DeBary
Oh, what a jerk. What he was saying?
Dylan Webber
Yeah, you would do that to a Saints fan, though. Don't tell me you wouldn't because that's a lie. If you say you would not do that to the Saints fans, you are lying.
Matt DeBary
I would want to but if I was on the job, I'm probably kissing the dude's asked for a five star review. You know, it's all about the money.
Dylan Webber
We took an Uber in New Orleans and you constantly talked shit the Uber driver because she was a Saints fan, and she talked shit back. She was having none of it.
Matt DeBary
I almost thought it was a flirtatious kind of saying it was
Dylan Webber
Absolutely not. It was absolutely not. She was aggressive.
Matt DeBary
Well I like aggressive but anyway I thought it was a little flirty just having fun with her but the more I think about it the more I do you think I kind of pissed her off there. But it is what it is. I hate the saints. They're actually really good though. But we don't have to talk about the Falcons. I'll just give me one upset that's bad.
Dylan Webber
And I don't think anyone else at least when we talked about the Braves people who listen are kind of excited because they're like yeah, Braves are good but you know if you bring up the Falcons, everyone just kind of like
Matt DeBary
so bad. so bad. But yeah, the Colorado trip was great. It was five days then I went to Asheville with the girlfriend Tuesday and Wednesday. Asheville is too weird. It's too weird for me I'm too normal to go to Asheville again.
Dylan Webber
You don't have enough, like, tattoos have meaningful symbols on you or you know or a fancy stash or glasses.
Matt DeBary
I don't have blood skinny jeans. No it was we stuck out like a sore thumb to you know, people wearing you know, semi decent clothes straight out of Forsyth County going up to Asheville we definitely stuck out but the beer was cool so it was two days in Asheville North Carolina was definitely enough though.
Dylan Webber
It's very hipster I cannot picture you there like he said that skinny jeans tight v neck that's how you fit in in that crowd.
Matt DeBary
So many Marilyn Manson types up there Severus Snape. I mean, everyone looks just like those guys. No one's seen the sun. They got this black skinny jeans, black lipstick. It was weird. It was weird.
Dylan Webber
I'm sorry for any of those who are from Asheville.
Matt DeBary
We can wrap this up before I say anything more offensive.
Dylan Webber
Yeah. Thank you all for listening.
Matt DeBary
Check out DawgPost.com for some great coverage. Have a great game this weekend.