Photos: People's Choice Awards 2018 red carpet

Georgia Sports News

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  WR Jones, TE Hooper, G Lindstrom return to Falcons' offense

  FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) - Receiver Julio Jones, tight end Austin Hooper and first-round pick Chris Lindstrom are returning to the Atlanta Falcons' offense for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. Coach Dan Quinn made the announcement after Friday's practice. Jones missed the Thanksgiving night loss to the New Orleans Saints with a shoulder injury. Hooper will be back on the field after sitting out three games with an injured knee. Lindstrom has been activated off the injured list and will start at right guard for the Falcons (3-9). Lindstrom, the No. 14 overall pick, hasn't played since breaking his right foot in the season opener at Minnesota. He is expected to share time with Matt Gono. Offensive linemen Ty Sambrailo (hamstring) and James Carpenter (concussion) won't play against the Panthers (5-7). Punter Matt Bosher (right groin) and safety Sharrod Neasman (shoulder) are questionable. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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  David Pollack Q&A: D’Andre Swift ‘has to have an enormous game if Georgia wants to win’

  ATLANTA Georgia football legend David Pollack has proven to be as aggressive and direct with his analysis as he once was as an All-American pass rusher, and Friday was no different. Pollack emphasized the importance of UGA tailback D'Andre Swift and dished out criticism aimed at Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm on Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. RELATED: Kirby Smart Friday press conference in Atlanta, updates D'Andre Swift Asked to rate the importance of Swift in Georgia's game against LSU at 4 p.m. on Saturday on a scale of one to 10, Pollack replied, '15,' and explained why. 'One of the keys would be to get him and Brian Heroine the ball out of the backfield, because LSU is not covering backs,' said Pollack, a two-time SEC Player of the Year and three-time All-American during his UGA career (2001-2004). 'I think (Swift) has to have an enormous game if Georgia wants to win, and it needs to be inside and outside. It needs to be screens, it needs to be finding ways to get him the ball he's the best back in the country in space.' Pollack also said Fromm, the first quarterback since Florida's Danny Wuerffel to lead his team to three straight SEC title game appearances, is 'not playing his best football' this season. Here's more from Pollack's Q&A on Friday: Can Georgia hold LSU's offense? POLLACK: Define hold?Kirby and Company are going to have to check their egos at the door and understand that from 20 to 20, have all the yards you want, make it a slow death, and then make them be really efficient in the red zone and kick field goals. I don't think anybody can stop this offense. I think Joe Burrow is operating on a level that, his worst game is 71 percent, I think. It's not human. It's an offense where it has great answers for everything you do and great weapons and a running game. And not only that, there's a quarterback who buys time and scrambles and breaks tackles and makes big plays. There are gonna get theirs, and Jake is going to have to play really well. What would you say to Georgia fans who have had questions about the Bulldogs' offense? POLLACK: You should. I Tweeted about being excited about old school versus new school, because it used to be defense wins championships. I don't think it's defense wins championships anymore. I think you have to have a great offense to win a college football championship, and the game has changed so much. We'll get to see if old school defense can still reign supreme. This is a Big 12 offense. This is not an offense that reinvented and does new amazing things that nobody else does. It's just an offense that has answers that spread out so it can throw the football to a lot of different weapons. They are gonna get theirs.' What role do you think Jake Fromm plays for Georgia's offense? POLLACK: He's not playing his best football. I can look at him and watch him, his mechanics need to improve. He's fading away throwing the football way too much. That's the kind of stuff for a three-year starter, where you can't do that. He's definitely culpable. He's missed a lot of throws that are wide open. I think the system and the scheme is getting to know each other still and hasn't really clicked together great yet, and it needs to do that this week. It will change a little bit more. It has done well at times, but it hasn't put together a complete game and it needs to do that.' The SEC West has had three teams in three years, Georgia has won three straight in the East, what does that say? POLLACK: Florida is doing OK. Florida is back to back 10 win seasons for the first time since 2008, so Florida is doing their share and doing well But Georgia is three times in a row here, that's pretty dad gum good. If you had told Georgia fans that when Kirby got hired, they would have said sign me up for that. How about three straight years ending where you're in the conversation for the college football playoff? That's pretty dad gum good. It's still a pretty good young team, that's not going to lose much on defense, offensive line who leaves early? Who leaves early, Swift will leave early. When he leaves, how many leave will be the better questions. So it shows a lot about Kirby and how he has been able to recruit and restore. What is the trick about this LSU offense that has made it that unstoppable? POLLACK: 'There ain't no trick, Bro. It's not a trick, they know how to execute, they know exactly if you blitz them, they have their answers, and if you want to play Cover One they are going to hit deep overs and they are going to hit fades, and gos they do a good job if you are going to pay dime and nickel they are going to run duos all day and run the football at you. They do a really good job of knowing how to attack every level of a defense. The offense (once) trended toward Golden State, it was threes and dunks, it was gos and screens and they do a good job with their mid-range and attack. They do everything well. That's why it's hard to say I'm going to take this away, or that away. Every time you do, they have an answer for it. I think Kirby, as brilliant as he is defensively, can up with something to make a few plays. Tua (Tagovailoa) last year had a roll going coming into the Dome, and cooled off big time, got hurt too. It's what can you find that can slow them down for a possession and you win. Auburn tried the tower approach tried to go with three down and bring in a bunch of speed, it kind of worked, but what can you bring in and slow down just for a little bit, and hold the rope and hopefully your offense makes plays and hold the ball a little bit and works together. Could Coach Orgeron win Coach of the POLLACK: Year? POLLACK: In the league, or nationally? Yeah, Ryan Day, he's done a heck of a job, and you look at P.J. Fleck and Baylor's Matt Rhule, he's definitely in there. How about his record against Top 10 teams, and the hire of the offseason, nobody can debate that. I know who the Broyles Award winner is, I don't think anybody else is nominated, it's just go ahead and give it to Joe Brady. Can Joe Burrow lose the Heisman Trophy? POLLACK: Sure, I mean people have those moments when they start to have doubts and questions. He's by far and away commanding the lead, but what if he struggles mightily and limps to the finish and then all the sudden, you see a huge game from Justin Fields, or somebody like that, it can jump up, maybe. It's a small, small chance. I think Joe Burrow has done enough throughout the season. But it's a big-time stage where you have to prove things, but I think some people could have some doubts, still. I find it very hard to believe he'd lose it. LSU's Grant Delpit says he's close to 100 percent, is that what you've seen on film from him? POLLACK: I'm trying to measure my words here. He hasn't had his best year, this year. I think the secondary on a whole, you see a ton of talent, but you've also see more big plays than you're accustomed to seeing, more missed tackles than you're accustomed to seeing. Yeah, they are getting healthier, but they've got to play better. That's why Ohio State is No. 1. You can nitpick and say Cincinnati is a Top 25 team, or whatever, Ohio State has been more dominant, their defense has been more dominant. That's the difference between LSU and Ohio State. I could also swing the pendulum and say who has Ohio State played offensively that's any good? Even Cincinnati is not very good, Penn State is not very good, Wisconsin's offense, those all leave a lot to be desired. Michigan is a pretty good, and had some success. I think defensively it's very interesting we are sitting on championship weekend and we're pointing the finger at LSU and it's at their defense.' How important is it for Georgia to keep Joe Burrow in the pocket? POLLACK: 'I don't know, it doesn't matter. You better cover really well, and you better get him to the ground. I don't care about where you keep him, when you get your hands on him, you got to get him to the ground. He's strong, he's physical, but he's so dad gum tough. He doesn't give up. He's not like a Manning back in the day, you saw people get close to them, they would kind of take a dive. That's not a shot at them, but Joe Burrow is going to physically go through anybody he needs to. When he runs the football, he lowers his shoulder, he's going to make plays. So when Georgia gets here, whoever that is, get your hands on him and get him to the ground. I think another key will be batted passes. You want to take away some of those throws over the middle, when I'm a pass rusher and I know I can't get to the QB, I get my hands up and knock the ball down. Now maybe it's second-and-10 and you've got a better chance.' Is this game important to determine if Georgia has the right offensive identity? POLLACK: 'We'll see. I think that it's pretty proven now that offenses win, and you have to score. You have to win a championship game, a playoff game and another playoff game to be a champion. And to do that, you're going to play offensive juggernauts, and you better be able to score points. If you can't score points, and you can't be an explosive offense, it's very hard to win that many games in a row. It's like the NFL being in the playoffs, and you have to string three together, that's a tough thing to do.' #Georgia has named Jake Fromm, J.R. Reed and D'Andre Swift as game captains seemingly a good indication that Swift (shoulder) will play, although.. But, Brian Herrien was a game captain for South Carolina and he didn't play in that game (back spasms). Mike Griffith (@MikeGriffith32) December 6, 2019 Georgia football DawgNation Kirby Smart compares Jake Fromm to Tim Tebow CBS analyst Gary Danielson says key for Georgia not Jake Fromm 7 Georgia players to watch vs. LSU Why D'Andre Swift is the most important player for UGA vs. LSU LSU coach Ed Orgeron brings great confidence into matchup Georgia aware of Tigers dangerous running back Kirby Smart relays how LSU represents greatest challenge James Cook could provide offensive spark vs. LSU Statistical comparison of Georgia-LSU in SEC title game VIDEO: Kirby Smart shares feelings on George Pickens WATCH: Jake Fromm zeroes in on LSU David Pollack The post David Pollack Q&A: D'Andre Swift has to have an enormous game if Georgia wants to win' appeared first on DawgNation.
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  Georgia football podcast: A possible glimpse at how Kirby Smart might defend Joe Burrow

  Georgia football is the No. 1 topic every day on DawgNation Daily the daily podcast for Georgia Bulldogs fans. Catch up on everything happening with UGA athletics with host Brandon Adams and the DawgNation experts as they break down the latest Georgia football recruiting news and discuss coach Kirby Smart's quest to return the Bulldogs to the top of the SEC. On episode No. 1,089 (Dec. 6, 2019) of the podcast, Georgia fans can hear a discussion about how Georgia coach Kirby Smart might defend LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. Georgia football podcast: A possible glimpse at how Kirby Smart might defend Joe Burrow Beginning of the show: Georgia coach Kirby Smart and his defensive staff have a tough task in front of them in Saturday's SEC championship game attempting to craft a game plan to stop (or possibly just slow down) LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. A video recently shared on Twitter might provide a possible glimpse at how Smart could approach the challenge. I'll discuss more on that topic on today's show, and explain why at least one national media member recently highlighted the Bulldogs penchant for performing well in the underdog role. 10-minute mark: I'll discuss a recent article from an LSU site about the possible lack of rivalry between UGA and LSU. 15-minute mark: DawgNation's recruiting insider Jeff Sentell joins the show to discuss 4-star tight end Theo Johnson's upcoming commitment announcement and to preview the SEC championship game. 30-minute mark: I take a look at some other conference championship games including the Pac 12, Big 12, Big 10 and ACC. 35-minute mark: Former UGA quarterback D.J. Shockley discusses his memories of UGA's 2005 SEC championship win against LSU and what current Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm needs to play effectively this weekend against the Tigers. End of show: I admit to giving in to a superstition and share the Gator Hater Updater. The post Georgia football podcast: A possible glimpse at how Kirby Smart might defend Joe Burrow appeared first on DawgNation.
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  DJ Shockley: UGA needs to allow Jake Fromm ‘let it all hang out’

  Former SEC quarterbacks and current SEC Network analysts D.J. Shockley and Tim Tebow probably don't agree on much after all, they were on opposite sides in the 'World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party' rival with Shockley attending Georgia and Tebow playing at Florida. But Shockley and Tebow concur on one thing that the Bulldogs should turn it loose with UGA quarterback Jake Fromm in the SEC Championship game. 'In this game, you've got to let it all hang out. You don't get another opportunity like this, to be in a ballgame like this, playing in a game that everybody in the country is looking at,' Shockley said at the East Atlanta Kids Club charity event on Thursday. 'I think he's just got to trust those guys and play within himself. Do what he does as far as letting it fly.' Both Fromm and UGA offensive coordinator James Coley have shared the majority of blame for the team's offensive words, but both Shockley and Tebow brought up other issues. Both ESPN analysts cited Georgia wide receiver core as a reason for Fromm's statistical dip in 2019. Senior Lawrence Cager has been terrific, but he's been in and out of the lineup since the middle of October and won't be playing against No. 1 LSU in the SEC Championship Game. While freshman George Pickens has shown flashes of brilliance as well, he won't be playing in the first half of Saturday's game either because of an ejection against Georgia Tech last week. That puts Fromm in a difficult spot against LSU. Regardless of who is playing receiver, though, Shockley says Fromm needs to trust those young guys,' and Georgia must spread it out' and let Fromm go. Tebow said that Fromm is 'going through his reads' and 'playing well' this season. He also added that not just Georgia's receivers, but Fromm's entire offensive cast needs to be better. 'I don't know that it's necessarily Jake (Fromm) getting his groove back, I think it's the support. I think it's the receivers winning in man-to-man coverage, being able to get more of a running game going, being able to support him,' Tebow said Thursday. 'Fromm has been a lot better in big games that people give him credit for. He hasn't had the numbers this year, and there's the criticism. I hear it, but if you really watch him play, he needs some receivers to step up.' Shockley and Tebow both volunteered as part of the 'SEC Good Works Day of Service' at the East Atlanta Kids Club charity event Thursday in Atlanta. The project was designed to improve indoor and outdoor facilities in Brownwood Park Recreation Center. 'We have an opportunity to come out here with AllState and have a big part of putting a community together, helping kids, and kind of rejuvenating a certain park or area, and the opportunity today to come out here and do that is pretty tremendous,' Shockley said. 'We'll get to see some kids later on today. We're putting the work in now, early in the morning, early afternoon, and then kids come out in the afternoon and see all the hard work, and it makes their day full of joy. It's definitely one of the more enjoyable times of year.' The post DJ Shockley: UGA needs to allow Jake Fromm let it all hang out' appeared first on DawgNation.
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  Georgia coach Kirby Smart: SEC Championship Game an expectation, but not taken for granted

  ATLANTA Kirby Smart said the expectation at Georgia was to be back back at the SEC Championship Game for a third straight season, but by no means is it taken for granted. 'I'm excited to be here because I love the venue and the opportunity to play in it,' Smart said Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 'It means you accomplished something and won your division, you don't ever take that for granted. 'It's earned, it's not something we take lightly or for granted, it's something we expected to do, and we're going to always set that as a bar, because this is where you go to take the next step.' The No. 4-ranked Bulldogs (11-1) are a touchdown underdog against No. 2 LSU (12-0) in the 4 p.m. game on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Tigers feature Heisman Trophy front runner Joe Burrow along with two 1,000-yard receivers. 'They've broke about every record there is in the SEC, and I know our guys are excited,' Smart said. 'It will be a challenge for us.' LSU beat Georgia 36-16 last season in Baton Rouge, but Smart said the Tigers' offense has undergone a complete makeover. 'It's extremely different, you can see remnants, small elements, but the unique thing now is they are doing whatever they want to do,' Smart said. 'Last year they were a little bit more predictable and had more of a run element.' Georgia's offense, meanwhile, is largely the same. The Bulldogs look to be efficient throwing the football and feature a power element on the ground. Smart didn't offer much of an update on tailback D'Andre Swift, who left last Saturday's game with a shoulder injury but hasn't missed any practice time. 'It's hard to measure from practice, because at this point of the season you don't go live and hit,' Smart said. 'He's practiced and done everything we asked him to do.' LSU coach Ed Orgeron said the Tigers expect to see Swift. 'We're planning for him to play,' Orgeron said on Friday. 'Just like other great players we play, I'm assuming this guy is a great competitor, and I'm assuming he's going to play.' Smart said he's confident his team can handle playing on the big stage 'In the SEC, these games are championship games every week,because if you don't win them, you're not in the championship game,' Smart said. 'It's another week you have to go out and play, and you're playing the best from the other side in LSU.' Georgia football DawgNation Kirby Smart compares Jake Fromm to Tim Tebow CBS analyst Gary Danielson says key for Georgia not Jake Fromm 7 Georgia players to watch vs. LSU Why D'Andre Swift is the most important player for UGA vs. LSU LSU coach Ed Orgeron brings great confidence into matchup Georgia aware of Tigers dangerous running back Kirby Smart relays how LSU represents greatest challenge James Cook could provide offensive spark vs. LSU Statistical comparison of Georgia-LSU in SEC title game VIDEO: Kirby Smart shares feelings on George Pickens WATCH: Jake Fromm zeroes in on LSU The post Georgia coach Kirby Smart: SEC Championship Game an expectation, but not taken for granted appeared first on DawgNation.