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Georgia football coach Kirby Smart shares concerns, two involving pass game

ATHENS Georgia football fans worried that Kirby Smart has no interest in an explosive passing game can rest easy. Yes, Smart believes a powerful run game is an important component to any offense, but he wants Jake Fromm to continue to throw the ball effectively, too. The No. 10-ranked Bulldogs planned to evolve their passing game against Kentucky before a storm front with wind and rain changed the blueprint for success in a 21-0 win. ' We worked really hard,' Smart said, asked about improving the pass game on the heels of the 20-17 overtime loss to South Carolina on Oct. 12. 'The concerns coming into the week were: Can we get separation, can we create some space, can we get healthy, can we run the ball explosively.' The explosive runs took care of themselves in the second half with D'Andre Swift breaking loose on three runs of 20 yards or more and the team totaling six of 12 yards or more. One of the key players Georgia got back healthy was redshirt freshman receiver Kearis Jackson, who has provided a spark for the offense. 'That kid plays with passion and energy, (and) he doesn't care if he gets the credit,' Smart said. 'He's a winner. He fights his butt off. He took a tough injury (broken hand at Vanderbilt) and came back, and he's more excited about his block than catching the ball and doing anything with it. 'That, to me, is what winning programs have. It's what winners do. It's the kind of guys that I want on my team. I want guys lined up all over that are like that.' Smart credited his team for hard work in the days leading up to the win over Kentucky, citing leadership as a key. 'I think when you start with a core leadership, guys like D'Andre (Swift) and Jake (Fromm) and J.R. (Reed), Andrew (Thomas), those guys, they believe in each other,' Smart said. 'That's all you need. Players that believe in each other. 'Where we are right now is not where we need to be. We're not a finished product. We've got to get better. It's what we're gonna do this week.' DawgNation Georgia football Bulldogs' defense says it has offense's backs RELATED: D'Andre Swift stands up for team after 21-0 win Georgia football winners and losers from Kentucky game Georgia football stock report, lock-down defense gets shutout D'Andre Swift gets game ball, carries Bulldogs to victory Georgia game recap, how the Bulldogs beat Kentucky WATCH: Kirby Smart proud Bulldogs able to chop wood' The post Georgia football coach Kirby Smart shares concerns, two involving pass game appeared first on DawgNation.

Georgia offensive lineman Big Ben Cleveland chimes in on ‘back yard’ football

ATHENS Georgia offensive lineman Ben Cleveland said it was back yard football Saturday night at Sanford Stadium. And it was just what the Bulldogs needed. 'It's the kind of game we all grew up playing in the back yard, crappy days you go outside and you play football with your friends outside in the yard, and that's what (Saturday) was,' Cleveland said. 'We went out there, we said before the game we wanted to have fun, play physical, just get after it. That's exactly what we did.' It added up to a 21-0 win for the No. 10-ranked Bulldogs (6-1, 3-1 SEC) against Kentucky (3-4, 1-4 SEC) on cold, rainy night in Athens. Georgia outgained the Wildcats 270 yards to 177. Both teams stuck primarily with their run games throughout the action. UGA quarterback Jake Fromm was 9-of-12 passing for 35 yards. The ball so slick that the Bulldogs attempted just one pass in the second half. At one point, Georgia had 25 consecutive run plays. 'He just didn't have the feel of the ball in his hand, with it being wet, he didn't have he confidence to throw it, and he'd rather take it and run it himself and get what he can rather than make a bad decision and throw it in the hands of the defense,' Cleveland said. 'So he's really playing smart at quarterback. Even when it does look like he's a little shaky back there, but he knows what he's doing.' Fromm said Georgia knew the weather conditions would limit the pass game, they just didn't know how much. 'You know going into it, it's going to be a ground and pound game, and you have to accept that and guys have to take that as a chip on their shoulder and it's let's go out and execute,' Fromm said. 'Eventually the body blows just keep adding up. Tthe physicality of the game took over.' Indeed, the game was tied 0-0 at halftime before Georgia broke through on D'Andre Swift's 39-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs gained 140 of their 235 yards rushing in the second half. Brian Herrien added an 8-yard TD run in the third quarter, and Swift scored again from 3 yards out in the fourth quarter. Cleveland said the backs did what they were supposed to do, following the offensive line blocks and hitting the holes hard. 'Most of our rushing yards came from the last half of football, so we let them piggyback off us,' Cleveland said. 'That's what they come here to do, is sit here and find holes and make yards. We do what we're supposed to do and they do the rest.' Swift leads the SEC and ranks 12th in the nation with 752 yards rushing. Swift's 6.84 yards per carry ranks also leads the SEC and is 12th in the country. Georgia ranks second in the SEC and 14th in the nation in rushing with 236.9 yards rushing per game. DawgNation Georgia football coverage Bulldogs Freshman Report: UGA 21, Kentucky 0 Georgia defense buys in to offense, we've got each other's backs' RELATED: D'Andre Swift stands up for team after 21-0 win Georgia football winners and losers from Kentucky game Georgia football stock report, lock-down defense gets shutout D'Andre Swift gets game ball, carries Bulldogs to victory Georgia game recap, how the Bulldogs beat Kentucky WATCH: Kirby Smart proud Bulldogs able to chop wood' The post Georgia offensive lineman Big Ben Cleveland chimes in on back yard' football appeared first on DawgNation.

Georgia’s offense, and championship aspirations, will go as far as D’Andre Swift can go

Welcome to Good Day, UGA , your one-stop shop for Georgia footballnews and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more. Georgia football D'Andre Swift D'Andre Swift does not care what you might think of Georgia's offense. 'We're going to do what we need to do to win games,' Swift told reporters after win. 'And if people don't like what we're doing, they shouldn't come to the games.' To Swift's point, the Georgia offense did enough to win the game, largely because of the junior running back. He put up a season-best 179 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns. The effort earned him SEC Player of the Week honors and placed him at the top of the SEC rushing leaders list. Swift didn't care that the game was played in a constant downpour. Or that he was ripping off huge runs. He wanted Georgia and quarterback Jake Fromm to throw the ball. 'I was like, Jake we've got a good opportunity, let's throw the ball,' Swift said. 'But then Jake said it was hard to throw the ball because it was wet.' Last week, Swift made his thoughts on the issues with the Georgia offense perfectly clear. Georgia needed to get the ball to its playmakers down the field. And despite what some on Twitter might think, Swift still very much believes Fromm is the guy to do it. In the past few weeks, as concerns about Georgia have risen, Swift has become outspoken. He's become more confident in his own abilities and with the Georgia team floundering, Swift took it upon himself to try to provide a spark to the team during halftime of a 0-0 game. Whatever Swift appeared to do the trick, as the Bulldogs final four offensive possessions ended touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, kneel down. Swift also broke the deadlock himself, by slicing through the Kentucky defense for a 39-yard touchdown. TOUCHDOWN!!!! D'Andre Swift @DAndreSwift !!!! #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/JS1PTlbZwp Hiro Katsuki (@KatsukiFB) October 20, 2019 While Kirby Smart said it was hard to take anything away from a game played in that much rain, one thing became crystal clear: If Georgia is going to accomplish its championship goals this season, Swift is going to be the biggest reason why. Any time you have an opposing coach openly campaigning for you to go to the NFL like Kentucky's Mark Stoops did, you're a special a player. In three career games against Kentucky, Swift has 401 yards and 4 touchdowns. If they cared about football as much as they about basketball in Kentucky, Swift would be right up there with Christian Laettner as far as Kentucky killers. Two years ago, the University of Georgia RB depth chart included Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, and D'Andre Swift. Wait until NFL fans see Swift next year. Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) October 22, 2019 But Georgia will play tougher teams than Kentucky in the coming weeks. Georgia's schedule during October pales in comparison to the gambitit's set to face in November. The Bulldogs open the month against the No. 7 ranked Florida Gators, host the 5-2 Missouri Tigers, visit No. 9 Auburn, host Texas A&M and close with a visit to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech. Georgia's offense is going to need to be much improved from what it was in the month of October if it's to make it through that November stretch without a loss. But Georgia entered last November facing a similar stretch of games and desperation. Georgia turned to Swift to help carry the Bulldogs to the SEC championship game. Related: Georgia RB D'Andre Swift stands up for team, puts critics in their place He ran for 104 yards and a touchdown against a Florida team that ended the season ranked in the top-10. He followed that up with a 156-yard performance against Kentucky, which won 10 games. Then against Auburn, he went off for a career-high 186 yards. Swift played his best football in November last year, and it coincided with Georgia playing its best football of the year. He's going to need to do that again in November and possibly in December and January. If Georgia is going to reemerge as one of the best teams in the country, it's going to need to take up the mindset of Swift. 'He brings energy without making plays. He's heart and soul. A leader. He's inspirational,' Smart said.' The runs kind of get the fans involved. Swift gets the team involved by all the things he does and says. He cares.' A few teammates have already taken up Swift's new mantra, as offensive lineman, Ben Cleveland repeated Swift's phrase of 'Whoever counting us out, can't count,' after Georgia's win over Kentucky. But those suspect of Georgia's title chances will continue to mount as long as the passing offense continues to look like what it has the past two weeks. For as great as Swift is, most still believe you'll need to create explosive plays in the passing game if you're going to beat Clemson, Alabama, LSU or Ohio State. And right now, Georgia ranks 72nd in the country of completions of more than 15 yards down the field. One member of the Georgia team still has confidence in what the Georgia offense is doing. 'I don't doubt what they are doing, eventually it will work, they just kept leaning and pushing on those guys,' Linebacker Monty Rice said. 'I don't think anything is misfiring it looks fine to me, it looks like the same offense that we've always run here. We went to the national championship using the same offense, so I think it's fine.' That national championship run was led by Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, who both combined for over 2,500 yards that season. Against Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff, the two ran for a combined 326 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Bulldogs are going to need efforts like Swift's Kentucky display if they are to reach the highs of the 2017 season. If Georgia is going to be 'fine' as Rice indicates, it will be because of Swift literally carrying the Bulldogs offense there. Georgia football running back D'Andre Swift speaks after Kentucky game More Georgia football stories from around DawgNation Georgia football winners and losers following victory over Kentucky Georgia football freshmen report: UGA 21, Kentucky 0 Former UGA players offer prayers and support for Mark Richt after heart attack Former Georgia football coach Mark Richt tweets good news after suffering heart attack Georgia football podcast: 5 pieces of good news as UGA heads into bye week Georgia basketball lands commitment from 2020 guard K.D. Johnson Georgia defense bought in to offense: We've got each other's backs' 3 takeaways from Georgia's 21-0 win, some reminders for booing fans Dawgs on Twitter I am assuming word travels fast. So I wanted to be able to inform everyone that I did have a heart attack this morning. I am doing fine. As I went through the experience I had peace knowing I was going to heaven but I was going to miss my wife. I plan to be at work this week. Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) October 21, 2019 Hoping for a quick recovery for coach @MarkRicht ! Maybe take a few days off before heading back to work coach. The Joneses are praying for you. Feel better Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) October 21, 2019 #ATD #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/hLi1cIzotf Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) October 21, 2019 Sony Michel powers in for his third TD! Michel now has 18 Rush TD in 23 career games (Including playoffs). #NEvsNYJ (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/DggzjzNVhj NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 22, 2019 Good Dawg of the Day This is Willo. She likes to awoo while she eats. Tonight's meal was worthy of a gentler, but perhaps more meaningful, second awoo. 13/10 pic.twitter.com/I6vWGvwEsd WeRateDogs (@dog_rates) October 22, 2019 The post Georgia's offense, and championship aspirations, will go as far as D'Andre Swift can go appeared first on DawgNation.

Patriots blitz Darnold, Jets 33-0 to remain undefeated

Tom Brady set the tone and the New England Patriots' blitz-happy defense took over from there. Bill Belichick's bunch is still undefeated after another absolutely dominant performance. Brady threw a TD pass to Phillip Dorsett, Sony Michel ran for three scores and New England forced Sam Darnold into five turnovers while cruising to a 33-0 victory over the New York Jets on Monday night. 'We were able to make some plays early in the game,' Belichick said, 'and play pretty solid for 60 minutes.' The Patriots improved to 7-0 for the third time in franchise history, and first since 2015. They also swept the two-game season series against their AFC East rivals for the fourth straight year, outscoring the Jets (1-5) 63-14 in the two meetings this year. And, the top-ranked Patriots defense was a big reason in this one. 'They're just playing great football,' Brady said. 'They cover the rush. They stop the run. Make critical plays. It's awesome to watch.' Darnold was the AFC offensive player of the week after leading New York to a 24-22 win over Dallas last Sunday in his return from missing three games with mononucleosis. He was miserable against New England, finishing 11 of 32 for 86 yards and a 3.6 quarterback rating. ESPN had Darnold wear a microphone during the game, and he was caught on the sideline saying, 'I'm seeing ghosts' at one point. 'It was a rough night out there,' Darnold said. 'And obviously, I've got to be better and learn from the mistakes, but we will get better.' Belichick blitzed Darnold often, giving the second-year quarterback little time and forcing him into bad — and often ugly — throws. Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Stephon Gilmore and Terrence Brooks all had interceptions. Darnold also lost a fumble on a sack, and later knocked an errant snap out of the back of the end zone for a safety. 'I don't know, man,' a smiling McCourty said when asked if there were 'ghosts' on the field. 'We were just locked in tonight as a defensive unit. When you get a lot of time to prepare for a game, you start going over everything over and over again. I think it showed for us tonight as a defensive unit.' Brady was 31 of 45 for 249 yards with a TD and an interception before leaving with 2:55 left to chants of 'Brady! Brady!' from the Patriots fans who stayed until the end at MetLife Stadium. They watched New England take total control from the beginning. Michel's 3-yard touchdown run capped an efficient drive by Brady to open the game. The Patriots went 16 plays and 78 yards while eating up 8:47, and converted four third downs along the way. The last came on third-and-2 when Brady pitched it to Michel, who easily zipped into the end zone. 'Our guys were ready to go today,' Belichick said. 'We got off to a good start. That was a great opening drive. It took up most of the first quarter.' New England made it 10-0 a few minutes later after McCourty intercepted Darnold's first pass of the game, coming on the Jets' second play from scrimmage. New England turned the turnover into a 34-yard field goal by Mike Nugent. After the Jets went three-and-out, Brady went back to work. On fourth-and-6 from the 35, Belichick opted to leave the offense on the field instead of having Nugent try for a 53-yard field goal. And, it paid off. Brady connected with Ben Watson for 7 yards to extend the drive. After a 2-yard run by Michel, Brady threw a perfectly placed ball to Dorsett, who caught the pass over Trumaine Johnson in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown. 'We had good balance,' Brady said. New England took advantage of another turnover by Darnold on the Jets' next drive when John Simon popped the ball out of the quarterback's hand for a strip-sack and Kyle Van Noy recovered. The Patriots linebacker ran 39 yards for what was initially called a touchdown, but officials then ruled he was down. Four plays later, it appeared James White had a 4-yard touchdown run, but it was wiped out by an illegal block in the back penalty on Julian Edelman. Brady's pass to Jakobi Meyers fell incomplete on third-and-goal from the 3, but Brian Poole was called for defensive holding. Michel ran it in from the 1 three plays later to make it 24-0 with 9:18 left in the first half. Darnold's third turnover came on the Jets' next possession when his throw to the end zone was intercepted by Harmon. Gilmore picked off Darnold on New York's opening drive of the second half. It only went downhill from there on the Jets' next possession when Ryan Kalil's snap sailed over Darnold's head and he knocked it out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Michel added a 1-yard TD run with 12:32 left to cap the scoring. 'Obviously, that was brutal,' Jets coach Adam Gase said. 'We couldn't do anything right. All three phases, we were bad. It was just a bad performance.' CENTER OF ATTENTION Kalil injured his right elbow late in the second quarter and was replaced by Jonotthan Harrison. Kalil returned to open the second half with a sleeve over his elbow, but again left after his wayward snap. STATS It was New England's second shutout this season after winning 43-0 at Miami in Week 2. ... The Patriots dominated the opening quarter, outgaining the Jets 141 yards to 14 while holding the ball for 12:34 compared to just 2:26 for New York. ... Brady's 29 regular-season wins vs. the Jets are his second-most against any opponent, with only his 31 against Buffalo more. MAWAE HONORED Former Jets center Kevin Mawae received his key from the Pro Football Hall of Fame during a halftime ceremony. Mawae, who played for New York from 1998-2005, was inducted in August. UP NEXT Patriots: host Cleveland next Sunday. Jets: at Jacksonville next Sunday. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Tarasenko has goal, 2 assists as Blues beat Avalanche 3-1

Vladimir Tarasenko doesn't like talking about himself. Alex Pietrangelo, however, doesn't mind talking about his teammate. Tarasenko had a goal and two assists to help the St. Louis Blues beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 Monday night, snapping a four-game losing streak. 'When he gets going, he's hard to handle,' Pietrangelo said about Tarasenko. 'His game is more well-rounded than you think. He doesn't get enough credit.' For his part, Tarasenko wanted to talk about how big the win was for the struggling Blues. 'We played for 60 minutes and it was a pretty good effort by everybody,' Tarasenko said. 'This was a big game for us. They are the best team in the league right now. This was a good test. They have a lot of skilled players. I think we played really well.' Blues coach Craig Berube liked what he saw from this club. 'This was our best game of the season,' Berube said. 'We just worked. We were stingy.' Brayden Schenn and David Perron also scored for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who came in with their longest skid since March 30-April 4, 2018. Jordan Binnington finished with 17 saves. 'We played a great game. That's how we need to play every night,' Binnington said. 'Hopefully, we can build off this.' Nathan MacKinnon scored for Colorado, which was the only team in the NHL without a regulation loss and fell to 7-1-1. Philipp Grubauer stopped 22 shots. 'It looked like we ran out of gas here tonight,' Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. 'They were the hungrier team, and when they're on the puck first with their numbers all the time, it just makes it difficult if you don't have the legs.' The Blues swept the four-game season series last season and their latest win moved them to 8-1-0 in the last nine home games against Colorado. The Blues are 15-3-0 over the Avalanche at home since April 5, 2011. St. Louis scored twice in the second period for a 3-1 lead. The Blues outplayed the Avalanche while outshooting them 11-1 in the period. Perron scored a 6-on-5 goal at 5:07, giving the Blues a 2-1 lead with his fifth of the season. Standing in the slot, Perron one-timed a pass from Tarasenko on a delayed penalty on Andre Burakovsky for kicking the puck like a soccer ball while playing with a broken stick. Tarasenko scored his third goal of the season with 4:54 left in the period. Jaden Schwartz fed Tarasenko, who was along the right goal line, and his shot trickled between Grubauer's pads for a 3-1 lead. Tarasenko has a five-game points streak and he moved into ninth place on the Blues career scoring list. 'I tried to make a good play,' Tarasenko said. Schenn scored a power-play goal at 10:07 of the first period for a 1-0 St. Louis lead. Tarasenko dropped the puck to Vince Dunn, who sent a pass across the ice to Schenn. From the top of the circle, Schenn skated into the slot and rifled a shot over the shoulder of Grubauer. Colorado had a two-man advantage for 26 seconds and made it count when MacKinnon scored a power-play goal on a wrist shot with 7:22 left in the first. The goal came with 3 seconds left in the two-man advantage. The Blues killed off the second penalty. MacKinnon became the first player in Avalanche history to score at least a point in the each of the team's first nine games in consecutive seasons. He tied the mark to start one season, set previously by John-Michael Liles in 2010-11, and matched by MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen last season. MacKinnon became the fifth player in NHL history with a season-opening point streak of at least nine games in consecutive seasons, joining Wayne Gretzky (30 games in 1982-83; 51 in 1983-84; 16 in 1984-85 and nine in 1985-86), Charlie Simmer (nine in 1979-80 and 13 in 1980-81), Guy Lafleur (10 in 1975-76 and 10 in 1976-77) and Rod Gilbert (nine in 1971-72 and 14 in 1972-73). But that was all the offense Colorado generated on the night. It was the lowest scoring game and lowest shot total (18) this season for the Avalanche. 'To be honest, it wouldn't have mattered if they had their 'A' game or their 'C' game tonigh,' Gabriel Landeskog said. 'We just weren't good enough and on a night like tonight we're not going to beat too many teams.' Colorado forward Mikko Ratanen left the game in the second period with a lower body injury. He did not return. 'As far as I know, we'll just have to reevaluate him in the morning and see what happens,' Bednar said. NOTES: St. Louis' Carl Gunnarsson (lower body) remained out of action. He was hurt last Thursday. This was his second missed game. ... Pitcher Michael Wacha and second baseman Kolten Wong of the St. Louis Cardinals were in the stands watching the game. ... The Blues hold a 62-61-18 all-time record against the Avalanche. The teams will play four more times this season. ... Colorado's D Nikita Zadorov played his 300th career NHL game. ... Colorado has played five games in its six-game road trip with a 3-1-1 record. UP NEXT Avalanche: At Vegas on Friday night to finish a six-game trip. Blues: Host Los Angeles on Thursday night in the finale of a four-game homestand. ___ More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

World Series: How the Nationals and Astros match up

A position-by-position look at the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros going into the World Series, starting Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park: ___ First Base: Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman. The longtime face of the franchise, Zimmerman was Washington's first draft pick in 2005 after the team moved to the nation's capital from Montreal. The fan favorite has been through all of the Nationals' ups and downs, from a string of painful early playoff exits to the feel-good story of his first trip to the World Series this season. A converted third baseman, he's been hampered by injuries much of the past six years — including shoulder problems that affect his throwing. But at age 35, he's become an everyday player again during a solid postseason. Astros: Yuli Gurriel. From a family of baseball royalty in Cuba, the highly touted Gurriel got a $47.5 million contract and has established himself as a productive RBI man during three full years in the majors. He took off in late June and put together a big 2019 season, with 31 homers, 40 doubles, 104 RBIs and an .884 OPS. He was slumping in the AL Championship Series against the Yankees until his three-run homer got the Astros going in the Game 6 clincher. Edge: Astros. ___ Second Base: Nationals: Howie Kendrick. The consummate pro, Kendrick is more than just a veteran presence at 36. A smart hitter and versatile defender, he batted .344 with 17 homers, 62 RBIs and a .966 OPS in 370 plate appearances this season. Then he won the deciding Game 5 of the Division Series at Dodger Stadium with a 10th-inning grand slam, and took home NLCS MVP honors after hitting .333 with four doubles and four RBIs in the four-game sweep of St. Louis. He has plenty of playoff experience, but this is Kendrick's first chance to play in the World Series. Astros: Jose Altuve. What else can you say about this clutch little big man who remains the heart and soul of the Astros? Generously listed at 5-foot-6, the 2017 AL MVP is simply one of baseball's best players — no matter the size. Altuve put Houston back in the World Series with a walk-off homer against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman in Game 6 of the ALCS and was selected series MVP. He's hitting .349 with five homers, eight RBIs, 10 runs and a 1.184 OPS this October. He has 13 career postseason homers, most by a second baseman. Edge: Astros. ___ Shortstop: Nationals: Trea Turner. A terrific leadoff hitter with pop and one of the fastest players in the majors, Turner is often the engine that makes the Nationals go. He was 35 for 40 on stolen bases attempts this year and is 159 for 189 in his career. Astros: Carlos Correa. After rib and back injuries limited him to 75 games this season, Correa made an impact with two big home runs and five RBIs in the ALCS. His walk-off homer in Game 2 at home tied the series and swung the momentum in Houston's favor. Dropped in the batting order for now, Correa hit just .171 during the playoffs. But the 2015 AL Rookie of the Year, drafted first overall in 2012 out of Puerto Rico, is a rare talent. Edge: Astros. ___ Third Base: Nationals: Anthony Rendon. Born and raised in Houston, the steady Rendon went to college there at Rice after attending high school a few miles from Minute Maid Park. He lives in the Houston suburbs during the offseason, and now gets to face his hometown team in the World Series. Perhaps overlooked and underrated for a while, Rendon is an all-around player who is finally beginning to get some accolades and attention after a spike in home runs and RBIs this season. He made his first All-Star team and is a contender for NL MVP honors. He led the majors with 126 RBIs and ranked third in the NL with a 1.010 OPS. During the playoffs, he batted .375 with five extra-base hits and seven RBIs. The 29-year-old is poised to become a prized free agent this winter, and word is he turned down $210 million from the Nationals. Astros: Alex Bregman. Coming off a huge season (41 homers, 112 RBIs, 1.015 OPS) that could warrant the AL MVP award, Bregman has been walked 10 times in 11 playoff games. He's got a great eye at the plate, so it's no surprise. But the cocky 25-year-old, already a two-time All-Star in three full major league seasons, can certainly wreck a game with his swing in the cleanup spot. Edge: Even. ___ Catcher: Nationals: Kurt Suzuki or Yan Gomes. Washington signed Suzuki and traded for Gomes last offseason to give the team two front-line catchers who could share the load. Suzuki was more productive at the plate, but Gomes is 4 for 13 (.308) with three RBIs and seven strikeouts this postseason while Suzuki is 1 for 20 with eight Ks. Suzuki hurt his left hand and head when he was hit by a pitch in Game 5 of the Division Series against the Dodgers, but returned during the NLCS. Astros: Robinson Chirinos or Martín Maldonado. Chirinos was signed as a free agent last December and hit 17 homers. Maldonado, who won a Gold Glove in 2017, began the year with Kansas City, played four games for the Cubs and was acquired by Houston in a July 31 trade. Maldonado has been catching Gerrit Cole and is 4 for 13 in the postseason. Chirinos catches Justin Verlander and is 2 for 22 with a homer and 10 strikeouts. Edge: Nationals. ___ Left Field: Nationals: Juan Soto. In his second big league season, Soto had 34 homers, 110 RBIs and a .949 OPS. The 20-year-old cleanup man seems to rankle certain opponents with his antics in the batter's box during intense at-bats, but he's one of the game's most impressive and polished young hitters. He's delivered several clutch swings this October, including a tying homer off three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. Astros: Michael Brantley. Another unassuming star who doesn't garner that much attention, Brantley has been a great free-agent signing for Houston at $32 million over two years. He posted an .875 OPS with 90 RBIs and played 148 games after injuries derailed him for a couple of years in Cleveland. Now in his 11th season, the four-time All-Star gets to play in his first World Series after sitting out three years ago with the Indians because of a right shoulder ailment. Edge: Nationals. ___ Center Field: Nationals: Victor Robles. A talented 22-year-old, the speedy Robles plays a strong center field and has power in his bat. He hit 17 homers during the regular season and stole 28 bases. After missing five games, Robles returned from a hamstring injury in Game 3 of the NLCS and homered. He also singled and scored twice. Robles went 5 for 16 (.313) during the playoffs and scored four runs, but he's not always smart on the bases. Astros: George Springer. The 2017 World Series MVP is dangerous at the top of the lineup. After missing time due to injury this season, he finished with 39 homers, 96 RBIs and a .974 OPS in 122 games. The three-time All-Star socked 12 leadoff homers, one shy of the major league record. His 41 combined homers between the regular season and postseason are the most ever for a leadoff hitter, surpassing his previous mark of 40 in 2017. Springer slumped to .152 (7 for 46) in the AL playoffs, but he hit two big home runs against the Yankees. His 13 postseason homers are tied with Altuve for the team record. Edge: Astros. ___ Right Field: Nationals: Adam Eaton. The pesky Eaton helps to get rallies started from the No. 2 spot in the lineup. He runs well and tracks balls down in the outfield, too. Healthy all season for the first time in three years with the Nationals, Eaton posted a .365 on-base percentage. He went 7 for 36 (.194) with three extra-base hits and four RBIs in 10 playoff games. Astros: Josh Reddick. Never shy about speaking his mind, Reddick is 3 for 22 (.136) with a home run in his fourth straight postseason and seventh overall. He's a fine fielder who won a Gold Glove in 2012 with Oakland and had a very productive season at the plate for Houston's championship team in 2017. Reddick has some power but often sits against left-handers, with Jake Marisnick starting in center field and Springer shifting to right. Edge: Nationals. ___ Designated Hitter: Nationals: Veteran switch-hitter Asdrúbal Cabrera (.260, 18, 91 in 131 games with Texas and Washington) and left-handed bopper Matt Adams provide a pair of credible options at DH against Houston's right-handed starters. Cabrera had a .969 OPS and 40 RBIs in 38 games with Washington after coming over from Texas. He went 1 for 9 with two RBIs during the playoffs and didn't get an at-bat in the NLCS. The strikeout-prone Adams hit .226 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs in 310 at-bats this season. Astros: Yordan Álvarez. Big and powerful, Álvarez was acquired from the Dodgers in a 2016 trade that appears to be a steal. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter from Cuba was called up in June and put up huge numbers: .313 with 27 homers, 78 RBIs and a 1.067 OPS in just 87 games. He set the team rookie home run record and has a chance to be AL Rookie of the Year, but a slumping Álvarez went 7 for 41 (.171) with 19 strikeouts and one RBI in the playoffs — including 1 for 22 with 12 Ks in the ALCS. Edge: Astros. ___ Starting Pitchers: Nationals: The most imposing rotation in the National League features three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, the Game 1 starter, followed by three-time All-Star Stephen Strasburg and $140 million lefty Patrick Corbin. Even crafty veteran Aníbal Sánchez carried a no-hitter for 7 2/3 innings in the NLCS opener at St. Louis and has a 0.71 ERA in two playoff starts this year. Washington starters boast a major league-best 2.04 ERA this postseason after permitting only four earned runs in four games against the Cardinals. Scherzer was slowed by a back injury this season but still joined Strasburg and Corbin in finishing among the NL's top 10 pitchers in ERA, strikeouts and hits allowed per nine innings. Strasburg has a 1.10 ERA in 41 career postseason innings and can opt out of his contract to become a free agent this fall. Astros: What a trio at the top in Cole, Verlander and Greinke, who was obtained from Arizona just before the July 31 trade deadline. Cole is 19-0 in his last 25 starts and hasn't lost since May 22. That includes 3-0 in the AL playoffs, when he yielded one earned run in 22 2/3 innings with 32 strikeouts. A victory in the opener would give him the longest winning streak for a pitcher in one year. Cole was 20-5 with an AL-low 2.50 ERA and major league-leading 326 strikeouts during the season. He can become a free agent after the Series and is expected to command more than $200 million. Verlander went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA and a career-high 300 Ks. He led the majors with 223 innings pitched and threw his third career no-hitter. The right-hander is 14-9 with a 3.26 ERA in his postseason career, but 0-4 with a 5.67 ERA in the World Series. Greinke was spotty during the playoffs and the Astros are expected to go with a bullpen game in Game 4 as they did in Game 6 of the ALCS. Rookie right-hander José Urquidy could be a big part of that again. Edge: Even. ___ Bullpen: Nationals: A weak spot all season, the relief corps looks different in October. Washington's bullpen ERA of 5.68 was the worst in the NL and ranked 29th in majors. To help cover for that, the Nationals used Strasburg, Scherzer and Corbin in relief during the playoffs. The unit has been more reliable in the postseason, with lefty Sean Doolittle regaining his All-Star form and Daniel Hudson supplanting Doolittle as an effective closer. Tanner Rainey has a live arm and 42-year-old Fernando Rodney, the oldest active player in the majors, offers tons of experience. But there are still plenty of question marks for this group, especially the further down the depth chart it goes. Astros: Hard-throwing closer Roberto Osuna was 38 for 44 in save chances this season with a 2.63 ERA. He was having a solid postseason, too, before giving up a tying, two-run homer to DJ LeMahieu in Game 6 of the ALCS. Osuna recovered for the rest of the ninth inning, though, and he'll need to bounce back in the World Series. Houston's bullpen has several answers and is better than many realize — the unit's 3.75 ERA ranked second in the majors behind Tampa Bay. Will Harris is a stingy setup man who is pitching well. Josh James has a big arm, submariner Joe Smith is tough on right-handers and versatile Brad Peacock is experienced in postseason games. Ryan Pressly, an All-Star this season, got some very important outs against the Yankees but aggravated his surgically repaired right knee in the ALCS finale. He said he'll be ready for the World Series. Edge: Astros. ___ Pick: Astros in 6. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Georgia Sports News

The Falcons start preparing for the future with trade of Sanu

The Atlanta Falcons have traded Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots for a 2020 second-round pick. After seven weeks, the Falcons are tied for the third-worst record (1-6) in the NFL, with a .143 winning percentage. They now have four picks in the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft, which include one first-round pick, two second-round picks and one third-round pick. Despite the hole the Falcons now have on their offense without their starting slot receiver, the Falcons will likely use these early draft picks to rebuild their struggling defense. The Falcons are one game away from becoming the first team in NFL history to fail to record a sack in five-straight games. The Falcons only have five sacks this season, which is the fewest in the NFL. The last time they got a sack was against the Indianapolis Colts. In addition to their lack of being able to pressure the quarterback, the Falcons defense also struggles to produce turnovers. They only have two interceptions, which both came against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Falcons have placed defensive end/outside linebacker, Vic Beasley on the trade block and have been rumored to be in discussion with teams on outside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. Falcons defensive ranks - 2019 31.9 points allowed per game (31st) -116.40 expected points contributed by all defense (32nd) 387.7 total yards allowed per game (27th) 274.0 passing yards allowed per game (28th) 113.7 rushing yards allowed per game (20th) 4 total takeaways (31st) 2 interceptions (t-30th) 2 fumbles recovered (t-25th) 5 sacks (32nd)
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart shares concerns, two involving pass game

ATHENS Georgia football fans worried that Kirby Smart has no interest in an explosive passing game can rest easy. Yes, Smart believes a powerful run game is an important component to any offense, but he wants Jake Fromm to continue to throw the ball effectively, too. The No. 10-ranked Bulldogs planned to evolve their passing game against Kentucky before a storm front with wind and rain changed the blueprint for success in a 21-0 win. ' We worked really hard,' Smart said, asked about improving the pass game on the heels of the 20-17 overtime loss to South Carolina on Oct. 12. 'The concerns coming into the week were: Can we get separation, can we create some space, can we get healthy, can we run the ball explosively.' The explosive runs took care of themselves in the second half with D'Andre Swift breaking loose on three runs of 20 yards or more and the team totaling six of 12 yards or more. One of the key players Georgia got back healthy was redshirt freshman receiver Kearis Jackson, who has provided a spark for the offense. 'That kid plays with passion and energy, (and) he doesn't care if he gets the credit,' Smart said. 'He's a winner. He fights his butt off. He took a tough injury (broken hand at Vanderbilt) and came back, and he's more excited about his block than catching the ball and doing anything with it. 'That, to me, is what winning programs have. It's what winners do. It's the kind of guys that I want on my team. I want guys lined up all over that are like that.' Smart credited his team for hard work in the days leading up to the win over Kentucky, citing leadership as a key. 'I think when you start with a core leadership, guys like D'Andre (Swift) and Jake (Fromm) and J.R. (Reed), Andrew (Thomas), those guys, they believe in each other,' Smart said. 'That's all you need. Players that believe in each other. 'Where we are right now is not where we need to be. We're not a finished product. We've got to get better. It's what we're gonna do this week.' DawgNation Georgia football Bulldogs' defense says it has offense's backs RELATED: D'Andre Swift stands up for team after 21-0 win Georgia football winners and losers from Kentucky game Georgia football stock report, lock-down defense gets shutout D'Andre Swift gets game ball, carries Bulldogs to victory Georgia game recap, how the Bulldogs beat Kentucky WATCH: Kirby Smart proud Bulldogs able to chop wood' The post Georgia football coach Kirby Smart shares concerns, two involving pass game appeared first on DawgNation.
BREAKING: Nation’s No. 1 TE Arik Gilbert sets decision date right after his UGA official

Arik Gilbert has made his mind up. The nation's No. 1 TE prospect on the 247Sports Composite ratings tweeted out he will make his college commitment on Wednesday evening at his All-American Bowl jersey presentation ceremony from the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta. I will be commiting live at the All American Jersey presentation on October 23rd. Shoutout to @BUnterwagner and @TheiSmooth for the collaboration on my official top 5 edit. pic.twitter.com/oY31035m8S Arik Gilbert (@arik_gilbert) October 22, 2019 That escalated quickly. Gilbert was just in Athens over the weekend for his official visit to Georgia. It leads to two conclusions: UGA sealed the deal over the weekend with its long-term pitch and just how much the program has appreciated the recruiting relationship over the years. Gilbert saw Georgia one last time before he was ready to move on and choose from a contender pool which includes a very strong contender in Alabama along with Clemson, Texas A&M and LSU. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound senior rates as the top prospect in the state of Georgia for 2020 and the nation's No. 10 overall prospect on the 247Sports Composite ratings, too. The post BREAKING: Nation's No. 1 TE Arik Gilbert sets decision date right after his UGA official appeared first on DawgNation.
Georgia offensive lineman Big Ben Cleveland chimes in on ‘back yard’ football

ATHENS Georgia offensive lineman Ben Cleveland said it was back yard football Saturday night at Sanford Stadium. And it was just what the Bulldogs needed. 'It's the kind of game we all grew up playing in the back yard, crappy days you go outside and you play football with your friends outside in the yard, and that's what (Saturday) was,' Cleveland said. 'We went out there, we said before the game we wanted to have fun, play physical, just get after it. That's exactly what we did.' It added up to a 21-0 win for the No. 10-ranked Bulldogs (6-1, 3-1 SEC) against Kentucky (3-4, 1-4 SEC) on cold, rainy night in Athens. Georgia outgained the Wildcats 270 yards to 177. Both teams stuck primarily with their run games throughout the action. UGA quarterback Jake Fromm was 9-of-12 passing for 35 yards. The ball so slick that the Bulldogs attempted just one pass in the second half. At one point, Georgia had 25 consecutive run plays. 'He just didn't have the feel of the ball in his hand, with it being wet, he didn't have he confidence to throw it, and he'd rather take it and run it himself and get what he can rather than make a bad decision and throw it in the hands of the defense,' Cleveland said. 'So he's really playing smart at quarterback. Even when it does look like he's a little shaky back there, but he knows what he's doing.' Fromm said Georgia knew the weather conditions would limit the pass game, they just didn't know how much. 'You know going into it, it's going to be a ground and pound game, and you have to accept that and guys have to take that as a chip on their shoulder and it's let's go out and execute,' Fromm said. 'Eventually the body blows just keep adding up. Tthe physicality of the game took over.' Indeed, the game was tied 0-0 at halftime before Georgia broke through on D'Andre Swift's 39-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs gained 140 of their 235 yards rushing in the second half. Brian Herrien added an 8-yard TD run in the third quarter, and Swift scored again from 3 yards out in the fourth quarter. Cleveland said the backs did what they were supposed to do, following the offensive line blocks and hitting the holes hard. 'Most of our rushing yards came from the last half of football, so we let them piggyback off us,' Cleveland said. 'That's what they come here to do, is sit here and find holes and make yards. We do what we're supposed to do and they do the rest.' Swift leads the SEC and ranks 12th in the nation with 752 yards rushing. Swift's 6.84 yards per carry ranks also leads the SEC and is 12th in the country. Georgia ranks second in the SEC and 14th in the nation in rushing with 236.9 yards rushing per game. DawgNation Georgia football coverage Bulldogs Freshman Report: UGA 21, Kentucky 0 Georgia defense buys in to offense, we've got each other's backs' RELATED: D'Andre Swift stands up for team after 21-0 win Georgia football winners and losers from Kentucky game Georgia football stock report, lock-down defense gets shutout D'Andre Swift gets game ball, carries Bulldogs to victory Georgia game recap, how the Bulldogs beat Kentucky WATCH: Kirby Smart proud Bulldogs able to chop wood' The post Georgia offensive lineman Big Ben Cleveland chimes in on back yard' football appeared first on DawgNation.
Georgia’s offense, and championship aspirations, will go as far as D’Andre Swift can go

Welcome to Good Day, UGA , your one-stop shop for Georgia footballnews and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more. Georgia football D'Andre Swift D'Andre Swift does not care what you might think of Georgia's offense. 'We're going to do what we need to do to win games,' Swift told reporters after win. 'And if people don't like what we're doing, they shouldn't come to the games.' To Swift's point, the Georgia offense did enough to win the game, largely because of the junior running back. He put up a season-best 179 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns. The effort earned him SEC Player of the Week honors and placed him at the top of the SEC rushing leaders list. Swift didn't care that the game was played in a constant downpour. Or that he was ripping off huge runs. He wanted Georgia and quarterback Jake Fromm to throw the ball. 'I was like, Jake we've got a good opportunity, let's throw the ball,' Swift said. 'But then Jake said it was hard to throw the ball because it was wet.' Last week, Swift made his thoughts on the issues with the Georgia offense perfectly clear. Georgia needed to get the ball to its playmakers down the field. And despite what some on Twitter might think, Swift still very much believes Fromm is the guy to do it. In the past few weeks, as concerns about Georgia have risen, Swift has become outspoken. He's become more confident in his own abilities and with the Georgia team floundering, Swift took it upon himself to try to provide a spark to the team during halftime of a 0-0 game. Whatever Swift appeared to do the trick, as the Bulldogs final four offensive possessions ended touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, kneel down. Swift also broke the deadlock himself, by slicing through the Kentucky defense for a 39-yard touchdown. TOUCHDOWN!!!! D'Andre Swift @DAndreSwift !!!! #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/JS1PTlbZwp Hiro Katsuki (@KatsukiFB) October 20, 2019 While Kirby Smart said it was hard to take anything away from a game played in that much rain, one thing became crystal clear: If Georgia is going to accomplish its championship goals this season, Swift is going to be the biggest reason why. Any time you have an opposing coach openly campaigning for you to go to the NFL like Kentucky's Mark Stoops did, you're a special a player. In three career games against Kentucky, Swift has 401 yards and 4 touchdowns. If they cared about football as much as they about basketball in Kentucky, Swift would be right up there with Christian Laettner as far as Kentucky killers. Two years ago, the University of Georgia RB depth chart included Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, and D'Andre Swift. Wait until NFL fans see Swift next year. Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) October 22, 2019 But Georgia will play tougher teams than Kentucky in the coming weeks. Georgia's schedule during October pales in comparison to the gambitit's set to face in November. The Bulldogs open the month against the No. 7 ranked Florida Gators, host the 5-2 Missouri Tigers, visit No. 9 Auburn, host Texas A&M and close with a visit to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech. Georgia's offense is going to need to be much improved from what it was in the month of October if it's to make it through that November stretch without a loss. But Georgia entered last November facing a similar stretch of games and desperation. Georgia turned to Swift to help carry the Bulldogs to the SEC championship game. Related: Georgia RB D'Andre Swift stands up for team, puts critics in their place He ran for 104 yards and a touchdown against a Florida team that ended the season ranked in the top-10. He followed that up with a 156-yard performance against Kentucky, which won 10 games. Then against Auburn, he went off for a career-high 186 yards. Swift played his best football in November last year, and it coincided with Georgia playing its best football of the year. He's going to need to do that again in November and possibly in December and January. If Georgia is going to reemerge as one of the best teams in the country, it's going to need to take up the mindset of Swift. 'He brings energy without making plays. He's heart and soul. A leader. He's inspirational,' Smart said.' The runs kind of get the fans involved. Swift gets the team involved by all the things he does and says. He cares.' A few teammates have already taken up Swift's new mantra, as offensive lineman, Ben Cleveland repeated Swift's phrase of 'Whoever counting us out, can't count,' after Georgia's win over Kentucky. But those suspect of Georgia's title chances will continue to mount as long as the passing offense continues to look like what it has the past two weeks. For as great as Swift is, most still believe you'll need to create explosive plays in the passing game if you're going to beat Clemson, Alabama, LSU or Ohio State. And right now, Georgia ranks 72nd in the country of completions of more than 15 yards down the field. One member of the Georgia team still has confidence in what the Georgia offense is doing. 'I don't doubt what they are doing, eventually it will work, they just kept leaning and pushing on those guys,' Linebacker Monty Rice said. 'I don't think anything is misfiring it looks fine to me, it looks like the same offense that we've always run here. We went to the national championship using the same offense, so I think it's fine.' That national championship run was led by Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, who both combined for over 2,500 yards that season. Against Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff, the two ran for a combined 326 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Bulldogs are going to need efforts like Swift's Kentucky display if they are to reach the highs of the 2017 season. If Georgia is going to be 'fine' as Rice indicates, it will be because of Swift literally carrying the Bulldogs offense there. Georgia football running back D'Andre Swift speaks after Kentucky game More Georgia football stories from around DawgNation Georgia football winners and losers following victory over Kentucky Georgia football freshmen report: UGA 21, Kentucky 0 Former UGA players offer prayers and support for Mark Richt after heart attack Former Georgia football coach Mark Richt tweets good news after suffering heart attack Georgia football podcast: 5 pieces of good news as UGA heads into bye week Georgia basketball lands commitment from 2020 guard K.D. Johnson Georgia defense bought in to offense: We've got each other's backs' 3 takeaways from Georgia's 21-0 win, some reminders for booing fans Dawgs on Twitter I am assuming word travels fast. So I wanted to be able to inform everyone that I did have a heart attack this morning. I am doing fine. As I went through the experience I had peace knowing I was going to heaven but I was going to miss my wife. I plan to be at work this week. Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) October 21, 2019 Hoping for a quick recovery for coach @MarkRicht ! Maybe take a few days off before heading back to work coach. The Joneses are praying for you. Feel better Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) October 21, 2019 #ATD #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/hLi1cIzotf Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) October 21, 2019 Sony Michel powers in for his third TD! Michel now has 18 Rush TD in 23 career games (Including playoffs). #NEvsNYJ (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/DggzjzNVhj NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 22, 2019 Good Dawg of the Day This is Willo. She likes to awoo while she eats. Tonight's meal was worthy of a gentler, but perhaps more meaningful, second awoo. 13/10 pic.twitter.com/I6vWGvwEsd WeRateDogs (@dog_rates) October 22, 2019 The post Georgia's offense, and championship aspirations, will go as far as D'Andre Swift can go appeared first on DawgNation.