Catching Up With... Rennie Curran

In case you weren't aware, Georgia's annual Pro Day is today, with last year's group of departing Bulldogs working out for NFL scouts in a combine-esque environment.

This year doesn't have exactly the same box-office cache that last season did with a bevy of big names gawking at future No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford, but for many of Georgia's next crop of pros, this marks a key step in impressing scouts and moving up draft boards.

So, to get you prepped for the day's events, who better to chat with than one of the stars of this year's Pro Day, linebacker Rennie Curran…

(NOTE: You can get all my updates from the Pro Day festivities by following me on Twitter.)

David Hale: You've been training for the combine and pro day for the last few months since announcing you were leaving school a year early, so what has the whole process been like?

Rennie Curran: The last couple months have been crazy. I announced, chose my agent, got my own apartment, started training at CES -- where I trained in high school, got back with my strength guy, Ryan Goldin. So I've just been working with him. I'm really just making sure my body's in line, all my movements are efficient. It's been a lot of work.

And besides that, studying football and making sure I understand what my teammates and everybody are doing so I could prepare for the combine. A big part of the combine was doing the interviews, and standing in front of the GMs and coaches and explaining your defense to them to let them know you're a student of the game.

And when I'm not training and seeing doctors and things like that, I'm eating a lot, keeping my weight up and studying football. That's basically it, and just seeing my family and spending time with them. With my little girl, I'm just like 10 minutes away so that's been really nice that if I need to see them or spend time with them, that's right down the road.

DH: You mentioned those interviews with scouts and GMs during the combine. Obviously you've always been a favorite of the Georgia media when it comes to doing interviews, but what was the experience like of interviewing for a job in the NFL?

RC: It's pretty strange. My first one, I was sweating, I was nervous. I was just trying to make sure I said all the right things and impress them. That's what I came there to do. But after like the third one, I just relaxed and got more and more comfortable with it. The biggest thing that everybody tells you is just to be yourself. That's so important, and it's true. They're going to know when they talk to you when you're not being sincere or you're just saying what they want to hear. So I was just real with them and just showed them what I could do and was honest with them in what I could bring to the team and what I felt like my strengths and my weaknesses were. That's the main thing, and then just showing them that I understand defense, I understand offenses and what they're trying to do, and how we use our defense against you and different things.

DH: I remember last year there was a big deal made of some rather personal questions asked of Matthew Stafford during an interview with the 49ers and it was enough to convince Matthew to get up and leave the room. I've heard plenty of other interview horror stories, too. Was the experience as bad as all that? Did they ask you some personal questions to try to throw you off your game?

RC: Oh yeah. A couple of them would ask you if you'd ever been arrested, about your family, you know, they wanted to know about my situation of having a little girl and my relationship with her mom, if we were getting married, things like that that I didn't really know how to answer the best way.

I was just glad that at UGA that I did things right and I wasn't a guy who got in trouble and got DUIs and all kinds of other mess because that would have been something I'd have to sit there and explain to them. That would have been rough because it's like, you're sitting there and you're on the hot seat and they grill you. So if you're not a guy who took care of business, and you're trying to vouch for yourself and say, 'I'm a good guy, I can do this and that,' it's not going to really say much if you don't have your coaches backing you up or you don't have people that you worked for before that saying good things about you.

DH: So see, us Georgia reporters weren't so bad after all.

RC: Nah, that really prepared me for moments like that.

DH: Well, I'm glad we could help. Well, let me switch subjects to the physical side of the combine. You got to do a bit of the work, but a hamstring injury ended your workout early. I'm sure that was a bit of a disappointment, but what was the experience like overall?

RC: I felt good. Even though I tweaked my hamstring a little bit, I tried to be smart and not push it. Once you put those numbers down, that's it, and that goes a long way. For your whole career, you might be known by that 40 time or by what you're doing in those combines.

So the main thing was I got to see my competition and what I needed to work on, which ended up being a good thing. I came back and went back to work, and I know what I need to improve on for Pro Day and how to impress those coaches even more. I want to show them what I can do because it's been non-stop work for me from 8 until easily 3 o'clock, and that's not even counting studying football. So it was a little bit disappointing, but one of the biggest things was the interviews and just introducing myself. And believe it or not, measuring -- getting those heights and weights in and showing them that I'm not as small as they think I am.

DH: Obviously it's your height that always gets talked about, and yet, as you've said, it's the one thing you really have no control over. So I'm guessing you knew what the results would be when you went in for that measurement, but was it still pretty stressful anyway?

RC: It was one of those things, I wish I could control it, but there's nothing I can do to change it, so it was like, they're going to have to accept me for who I am. I'm 5-10-and-a-half, and that's not going to change. So I just went up there with confidence. I worked hard in the weight room, and it showed when I stepped on the scale. I was 235 and looked good, so that's all I can really offer is to show them I worked hard and I have that weight and let what I did at the combine speak for itself. As far as my height, I wasn't worried at all. I knew I'd be one of the shortest or the shortest there, so I was ready.

DH: What was the feedback you got from NFL people when it comes to your height?

RC: Everyone I talk to says, you know, you're fine, you're going to play in the NFL, don't worry about your height, don't worry about what people say. I talked to London Fletcher before I left, and a couple of other guys like Jessie Tuggle as well, and they just reassured me. The coaches that I met with, that was the last thing they were worried about was my height. They were looking at that film and seeing that I could help their defense. So it was a good feeling to have more than one team telling me that.

DH: Have you been keeping in touch with some of the other UGA guys who will be at Pro Day -- Jeff and Geno and Reshad and those guys?

RC: Oh yeah. I talk to them. Me, Jeff and Kade are training at the same place. We all keep in touch with each other and watch the film and train.

DH: Were you impressed with Jeff doing 40-some reps on the bench press at the combine?

RC: Yeah, definitely. He did good. We all worked hard, and it was good to see the guys all get the results they wanted.

DH: Well you get to come back to UGA for Pro Day, but what has it been like being away this spring? Any regrets about the decision you made to leave early?

RC: I definitely miss it. That's probably the biggest thing is I miss being with my boys. I go on the Web site and look through the spring practice pictures and I'm used to seeing myself in there, and I'm not there. It's a weird feeling. But even though I'm not going to be with my teammates, I keep in touch with them a lot.

Just not being on campus is weird, but at the same time, I've got a huge opportunity. It's one in a million, and a lot of people never get to do that. A lot of people can't say they're living out their childhood dream. So I have no complaints. I have nothing to look back at and say I should have done it different. That was the biggest thing when I made the decision was to wake up every morning and not have any regrets, saying why didn't I do this or why didn't I do that. I still feel the same, I still feel like I made a good decision.

DH: You said you talked with those guys a lot still. What are you expecting from guys like Akeem Dent and Darryl Gamble who are stepping into your shoes this year as the leaders of the linebacking crew? Are they up to the task?

RC: Oh yeah, I know they're going to be fine. Those guys work really hard. They know how to lead. They can lead by example and by what they do and say on the football field. I'm not worried about them at all. DG and Dent, they're going to do things right. They'll get in that film room, and -- especially for Darryl and the two Akeems -- it is their senior year, so it's going to be even more important for them to have a good year, to bring that defense up to where it should be. I'm excited for them, and I want to see them do really well. It's going to be tough not being on the field with them, but I know they're going to do great things.

Catching Up With... Jon Stinchcomb

On my list of people I most enjoy talking about football with, Matt Stinchcomb probably ranks pretty high. (Go HERE, HERE or HERE for some examples of why.)

(NOTE: Matt Stinchcomb also is one of three former Bulldogs on this year's college football hall of fame ballot.)

Oddly though, I had never talked to his brother, Jon, another Georgia grad now playing in the NFL. But then Jon went out and won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints, and it occurred to me I had to correct that massive oversight.

Of course, in the wake of a Super Bowl win, there's plenty on the docket for guys like Jon Stinchcomb, but he still managed to find a few minutes to talk about his team's big win, his love of New Orleans and his loyalty toward UGA with me. Here's the interview...

David Hale: Well, first off, congratulations on the Super Bowl win. I assume it's been pretty crazy for you since then. What was the whole experience of winning that game like?

Jon Stinchcomb: For me, it's just been a lot of family time. It was probably one of the best months, if not the best month, of my life. We won the divisional playoff game against Arizona, the birth of our first child, our son Mason on that Tuesday, we win the NFC championship game, I make a Pro Bowl appearance, and then we win the Super Bowl. I don't know if it gets any better than that. I don't know how it could. It's been truly special.

So post-Super Bowl, the parade on that Tuesday was something that was so special just because I've never seen that many people fill a city and there was just such an outpouring of love. It was special because you felt like some kind of Roman conquerer returned from some foreign land and just welcomed with open arms and everybody loves you. It's been truly awesome.

DH: As someone who works in the media, I'm pretty easily jaded and cynical and I don't usually buy in to a lot of the feel-good stories that us media folks love to tell. But even I was really starting to buy in to the stories of how close the Saints and the city of New Orleans were as this Super Bowl run progressed. Was it just a good story or is that relationship really as meaningful as the media made it out to be?

JS: Absolutely, it's something that's real. You can't go anywhere -- a gas station, a restaurant, a Walgreens -- it really doesn't matter, there's someone in there with a Saints hat on or a bumper sticker or a shirt. If they recognize you as a player, the first thing they tell you is, 'Thank you.' The 'congratulations' and 'how does it feel,' that comes secondary. It's always, 'Thank you' and that speaks to the relationship the Saints have with the city.

DH: I assume that's a gratitude that goes both ways.

JS: Definitely. Just playing the home games in the playoffs and the difference that made for us and the advantage we had just having the fans support. And it wasn't isolated to just the playoffs. It's the overall support the city has given us throughout the year. It's played to our advantage, and I think you start from Katrina and work to where we are now, we've just worked hand in hand. The team has tried to give back to the city, which has been really spearheaded by Drew (Brees) and his effort, and then just the attachment that's been formed, the bond between the city and the team has only grown with the wins we've brought this city and I think the hope that we've brought this city.

DH: You were with the Saints through the really rough times of Katrina and the aftermath -- one of the few guys on the team still that persevered through all of it. Did the Super Bowl have a bit more meaning for you, just having that personal understanding of how far you'd come?

JS: It just makes it that much sweeter having been here for some lean years, including a 3-13 where not only was the team relocated around the country for Katrina, but we weren't exactly sure the Saints were still going to be the New Orleans Saints. There were serious talks of San Antonio and maybe L.A. There was just a lot of turmoil -- not only with the organization, but with the city.

So after Katrina, you bring in a whole new staff, half the players are turned over, and there was a lot of questions that were left following that season. To come from that point that was not only a low for this organization but a low for this entire region, I don't think I'm overstating it when I say the city and the region looks to us and sees what we've come from as an organization, the down times, to the top of the league, and it offers hope for them. As we rebuilt our program, they're rebuilding their lives, and it was something that I think is organic and was generated because we were all kind of suffering at the same time.

DH: So your brother played in a Super Bowl when he was with the Raiders but didn't win. Does this give you permanent family bragging rights now?

JS: You know, I think it's just so special to have that feather in both our caps to have been able to play in it. Does it give me bragging rights? Absolutely. Will I use them? Only when I have to.

DH: You're not the only Georgia guy on that Saints team. In fact, you probably spent a lot of time in practice going head to head with Charles Grant at the line of scrimmage. What's that been like?

JS: I shared my entire career with Charles. We've been together since the early days in college. Over a decade has been battling against that big old bear. I'm sure it's only made me better. It's always good. With Georgia guys, you know what you can expect, the class of guy, and it's like a family. And any time you can work with family, it's a good thing.

DH: You guys played a tough game against Dallas toward the end of the season that actually turned out to be the first loss of the year for you guys. I'm curious as a guy tasked with stopping that D line, did you get to know much about Georgia's new defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham? What were your impressions of his defense with Dallas?

JS: Dallas is such a talented team. You start with Demarcus Ware, an unsung hero, and Anthony Spencer on the other side. They're just really stacked with talent. But as soon as we made that hire, I'm asking some of our defensive coaches about him. It's such a network when you start talking about coaches and everybody seems to know everybody. And there's been nothing but great things said about him. So I'm excited about it, just the way they described his personality, his coaching style, I'm sure it's going to bring a lot of fire and life to the program.

DH: Do you get to watch a lot of Georgia during your season? Is it something you and guys like Charles and Travis Jones are focused on every Saturday?

JS: Every Saturday for bragging rights. You'd be amazed. The guys in the locker room are pretty loyal to their college and the allegiance is strong. And any time you can get bragging rights on a teammate, it's a good thing.

DH: You were a part of those early Mark Richt teams, and you mentioned how long ago it seems like you and Charles started playing across from each other. Looking back now, are you surprised at the consistency Richt has had at Georgia? What's the difference between Richt then and now?

JS: I think it all starts with respect, and he's such a good man and leads with the best of intentions. As a player, it makes it easier to play for a coach that you can respect. You're never going to agree 100 percent with all the calls and the decisions that are made, but if you can respect what the coach is doing and feel like he's honest and up front in everything that they do, you can play your heart out for him. And I think that's what Coach Richt has brought to the University of Georgia.

DH: I've talked with your brother a few times about how you two were never the prototypical offensive linemen, that your success was based so much on work and less on natural ability or body type. How much did the strength and conditioning work you did at Georgia help you in your career in the NFL?

JS: I don't think I'm at this point in my career without that sturdy base of training and understanding the demands that this game takes and requires from your body. So the preparation I got at Georgia was exactly what you need to make the transition into the pros. I see a lot of guys that there's still something lacking that they have to develop and that's based primarily on the fact that they didn't have the training that we had at Georgia.

DH: OK, last question -- your old quarterback, David Greene, is now doing some broadcast work for UGA. Your brother is an analyst for the SEC now. So, is there a future in media for Jon Stinchcomb, too?

JS: No there is not. I'm leaving that to the big bro. He can have all of that that he wants.

Catching Up With... Sundiata Gaines

If you haven't seen the video yet, go check it out right now.

The hero of Georgia's run through the SEC tournament two years ago is back to his old tricks, but now he's doing it in the NBA. Of course, perhaps more remarkable than his big shots is the road that Sundiata Gaines has taken from Athens to Salt Lake City. I got a chance to chat with him earlier this week about his meteoric rise to achieve his NBA dreams. Here's what he had to say...

David Hale: So you make it to the NBA and a few days later you're hitting one of the most dramatic shots of the season to beat one of the league's best teams. What has the past few weeks been like for you?

Sundiata Gaines: It's something special. Pretty much any kid growing up dreams of playing in the NBA, so to see it come true is like no other. I'm speechless. But I'm just happy to be here in Utah. And I'm just trying to enjoy every moment and at the same time produce.

DH: Well you were always a fan favorite in Athens, but it wasn't a traditional journey to the NBA for you. What has improved about your game over the past two years that has allowed you to finally make this leap?

SG: I always felt I could play at the NBA level, but just going overseas and working on my jump shot and having an extra year under my belt as a point guard, learning that position and defending, my defense got better. It was always good but it got better. That's what teams look for in the NBA, because I'm going to have to oppose the other team's best player. Put that with my all-around game and I did a good job in the developmental league and made the most of it.

DH: You mentioned playing overseas. (Gaines played in Italy before joining the NBA's developmental league.) What was that experience like for you? Was it a huge change that was hard to adapt to or was it good to just get away and concentrate on basketball?

SG: First it was tough. Playing in another country, there's a language barrier and the culture is different. You want to go out and get something to eat, but things close at early times. That was a big adjustment as far as the language. And the style of play is totally different than in college. It's more physical and there are guys that can really shoot the basketball overseas. So that time, being over there and practicing twice a day, it really gave me an opportunity to work on my game and my jump shot got a lot better. Just having that opportunity of going over there, I learned the defensive schemes, how to play off the pick-and-roll and stuff.

DH: So that's life playing overseas. What has it been like being in the NBA?

SG: Everything is at a first-class level. You have first-class seats on the plane. You get priority. They carry your gear, so you don't have to carry your own gear. And you're playing in the NBA. You see it nationally every night, every time you play.

DH: You've gone up against some of the biggest names in the NBA already. What was going through your head the first time you stepped on the court and saw guys like LeBron James on the other team?

SG: My first step on the court in the NBA, I was a little nervous. But after a few minutes of playing, I realized that it's just basketball. I always knew I could play on this level, so my jitters definitely went away. Seeing guys like LeBron and Dwyane Wade -- at first it was definitely a little shock like, you're here, but it's not like they're not human. It was good to see them and all, but I knew we were here to compete and win. I just looked at them like competitors.

DH: What kind of reaction have you gotten from family and friends since your big shot against Cleveland?

SG: My family is definitely behind me 100 percent, so obviously they were happy. The fans, they've kind of embraced me, knowing what I went through to get where I'm at. Pretty much it's all been good, and I want to try to keep that going as long as possible.

DH: Have you had a chance to see much of your old team at Georgia this year? What do you make of the way the team has been playing?

SG: I haven't seen Georgia that much. I saw them a couple times, and I know they've lost a lot of close games. The first time I met Coach Fox was actually when I played at Georgia and he was at Nevada. But I actually had a chance to talk to him before the season started, and he seems like he's a good coach, and he's got the program going in the right direction. Now he just needs to bring some good, talented players in. But I think the team is on the right track of possibly becoming SEC champions and potentially going on a Final Four run.

DH: OK, let me put you on the spot -- if you had to choose between the two, which moment was bigger for you, the game-winning shot to beat the Cavs or your run through the SEC tournament two years ago?

SG: Man, that's tough. I love the NBA and all, and the last shot is great. But I'd have to go with the tournament run, just because, my team, I'd been with since the beginning. We had to work from the bottom and go all the way to the top. It was four games in three days, and that's crazy and unheard of. And for us to go to the tournament -- the last time Georgia won the SEC tournament was like 1983 or something, so to win it, that to me was probably the best moment of my life right there. Then comes the NBA shot.

Catching Up With... Sean Jones

It has been way too long since we've done one of these, but with our All-Decade team coming out last week and the Philadelphia Eagles on the verge of a huge game against Dallas, this seemed like the perfect time to catch up with one of my favorite former Bulldogs, Sean Jones.

Sean is currently a starting safety with the Eagles, but he spent his college career in Athens, helping Georgia to the 2002 SEC championship and earning All-American honors a year later. Here's what he had to say about the All-Decade team, the coaching search at Georgia and, of course, his soothing of my concerns about this week's big game...

David Hale: We did a feature a few weeks ago where we let readers vote on the best Georgia players of the decade at each position. I think safety was one of the tightest votes, with you, Thomas Davis and Greg Blue all getting a lot of support. So I've got to put you on the spot right away -- who would get your vote?

Sean Jones: You know I'm going to say myself. Nah, but Thomas Davis and Greg Blue, they definitely had a lot of big plays at Georgia. They were an impact that we needed, and I think we all played better, all played our best football when we were out there on the field together. I think all three deserve credit.

DH: Do you still keep up with those guys and share a little trash talk about back in the day?

SJ: Oh definitely. The University of Georgia, it seems like everybody still talks to each other. No matter what year you come in, I know I still talk to a lot of guys I went to school with. Thomas Davis is one of my best friends, Greg Blue is a good friend. I actually went to TD's wedding this past year and we had a chance to get together and go to the LSU game together. It's always fun getting back to Athens and seeing all the guys and getting back to how it used to be when we were back in college.

DH: Well speaking of catching up with old teammates, Philly has sort of become a second home for Bulldogs. You have big Max Jean-Gilles, Reggie Brown, Will Witherspoon and Chris Clemons all up there. What's that like having so many former teammates playing with you now?

SJ: That's great, man. Just seeing guys you went to school with, guys you pretty much grew up with, become the man. The Philadelphia Eagles' colors are green, but you see a lot of red walking around here every day. Our equipment guy (at Georgia) sent us a care package so we're definitely rocking a lot of the UGA stuff around here. And it's fun. It's fun to see guys you grew up around and went to school with, and now playing professional football together and winning and going to the playoffs. It's a testament to what kind of program the University of Georgia has and the kind of work Mark Richt did for us.

DH: On that topic, what do you think of the pro prospects for Georgia's current safety, Reshad Jones? I know he considered leaving early last year, and Thomas Davis was one of those people who told him to stay in school. I guess he's going through a similar decision process now. What would you tell him to do?

SJ: I haven't actually talked to any of them, but the NFL, it's definitely a business. It's definitely fun though. It's a job, but it's also fun. It's the same thing as playing college football but you get paid for it and you have to go out there and win and you have to go out there and make plays. It's definitely more intense football. I think Reshad is definitely a professional football player, and I think he has great cache in the draft. With hard work and dedication, I think he's going to be OK in the league.

DH: I know you came up under Willie Martinez as your position coach, although Brian Van Gorder was the coordinator when you were there. What was your reaction the changes on Georgia's coaching staff last month?

SJ: It's always tough because we pretty much were a family out there when I was there. When Mark Richt came in, he brought in Willie and Van Gorder, and I just remember those days from the mat drills to the summer workouts to just pushing us. But at the same time, he developed us in our character, our toughness to be men, and I think we all remember that. It's unfortunate that the university had to move on, because Coach Martinez was definitely one of the best DB coaches I've ever had. I know they're going to move on to do great things ahead though, so I'm not too concerned about that issue. But it's still hard. I still talk to Willie Martinez, Coach G, Coach Richt. It's a family atmosphere and I'm glad I went to Georgia for that reason.

DH: There are obviously a ton of rumors swirling about who the next defensive coordinator is going to be. Is that something you guys in the NFL still pay attention to? Are you following the story?

SJ: I definitely do. It's a lot invested in UGA. It's like being at home, looking back at your high school teams back at home and seeing how your brothers and family are doing. I definitely keep tabs, I'm on top of everything, every big game, every week who they play. I know all the guys on the team. We might not be able to get back to the games as much as we'd like to, but there's definitely a lot of guys in the NFL looking back and wishing that they all do well.

DH: A few of the names out there in the DC search are current NFL guys. Do you think an NFL coach would succeed at Georgia or is there a big difference between coaching players in the pros and coaching in college?

SJ: I really don't think it's an NFL or a college thing. I think it's just getting the right coach, the right pick for that job. We want a coach that's a good coach, knows football well, knows the game plan, we want a coach that gets pressure, that motivates the guys. But we still want a coach that's as good a man, as good a person off the field. So we want to balance that, balance football and being a good guy that's going to help raise the kids, build character and make them better men when they grow up.

DH: I guess this is off topic a bit, but seems to be the big conversation this week -- what did you think about Urban Meyer first quitting then taking a leave of absence?

SJ: I actually saw it and it kind of shocked me when he said he was going to stop coaching. I definitely respect that decision because we love this game so much, but it's definitely still a game. You want to go out there and live life and enjoy your family and enjoy everything because you never know when your last day will be. So I respect that decision for him to see the whole big picture and try to get healthy so he can get back to the game he loves.

DH: OK, last question -- I'm a huge Eagles fan, and I need you to guarantee me a win this weekend in Dallas.

SJ: Oh, I'm definitely guaranteeing that, man. Going down to Dallas, we're playing for the East championship, playing for a bye, so it's a lot on this game and I think we're definitely ready. We're ready for this challenge and we're going to go down there and get the win.

Music to my ears… Hopefully Sean backs it up on the field. Big thanks to Sean for his time in doing this interview. Hopefully we'll have a few more of these coming up soon.

Catching Up With... Thomas Davis

It's been a while since we've done a "Catching Up With..." segment, which I take full responsibility for. But with so much going on in Athens lately, tracking down former Bulldogs isn't an easy task. But, like any great leader, I know how to delegate.

So, I called up our good friend and former Bulldogs beat writer Brett Jensen, who is now doing radio for WFNZ in Charlotte and covering the Carolina Panthers. I gave Brett a handful of questions for Thomas Davis, he added a few of his own, and -- voila -- we've got a Q&A with one of Georgia's all-time hardest-hitting defenders.

A quick note -- this interview was done last week before the LSU game took place, so keep that in mind when reading Davis' comments. Also keep in mind, he was being harassed by wide receiver Steve Smith throughout.

On to the interview...

Brett Jensen: How much have you been keeping up with Georgia this year? Have you seen much of the defense, and what do you think of their performance so far?

Thomas Davis: I'm always watching the Georgia Bulldogs whenever I get the opportunity. Defensively, I think we need to step it up. I think we started out and played pretty well against Oklahoma State, but from there we sort of struggled. We have guys that I feel are capable of getting it done on defense, but they need to step it up.

CBJ: You played for both Brian Van Gorder and Willie Martinez. What's the difference between the two of them, and do you think Willie deserves all the criticism he gets?

TD: I think Coach Van Gorder, he was a very intense coach, and he did a great job at Georgia. Coach Martinez, I never really got to play under him as a coordinator. I think both of them are great coaches. Coach Van Gorder got the best out of his players. Coach Martinez did the same as a position coach, but I don't know how he is as a coordinator. But Coach Van Gorder, he was a great coach, man.

CBJ: What is the difference between the defense you see Georgia playing today and the defenses you were a part of when you were on the team?

TD: The biggest difference is we were more aggressive. We did a great job of getting to the quarterback and I think we're struggling in that area now. It was like a competition when we were there to see who could get there first. I think now, we sit back in zone a lot. Maybe that has something to do with the players that are there or it's Coach Martinez's scheme.

CBJ: You're widely known as one of the best safeties to play at Georgia. What do you think of the guys they have playing there now?

TD: I look at a guy like Reshad Jones, I had a couple conversations with the guy and I looked at him and told him, basically, you could be a much better safety than I was if you apply yourself. I look for a lot of great things out of him. He's played well so far, but he's got to step up as a leader and get those guys going in the secondary.

CBJ: In terms of conditioning and strength, how prepared do you think you were for the NFL coming out of Georgia?

TD: I think from a physical standpoint, I was very prepared for the NFL. Mentally, I was fresh, on my own, didn't understand everything, didn't understand how this league worked. I feel like that's the reason I struggled as a rookie. I was on my own, newfound success, basically new money. I just didn't perform as a pro like I should have. But I've learned my lesson and I feel like I'm doing a better job now getting things done.

CBJ: OK, so you're known as one of the legendary hitters at Georgia. Where do you think you stack up on the Bulldogs' all-time list of best hitters?

TD: I think, if I had to rate myself, I'd be No. 2 on the list behind one guy -- and I've got to give him his props -- my man, Greg Blue. Blue was a hard hitter, man. But I ain't giving nobody else nothing. I'm a close second behind Blue.

CBJ: You're playing linebacker in Carolina now. Which position do you like better, safety or linebacker?

TD: 100 percent, I like safety better. The reason being, I was a lot more free. Everything was built around the safety. I came down in the box a lot. And when you come down with force, you get the big hits. Now at linebacker, you've got to take on fullbacks, you've got to take on linemen, you just don't have that freedom you did at safety. That's the big thing.

CBJ: So have you ever gone to Coach (John) Fox or anyone and said, 'Hey, I wouldn't mind playing a little safety'?

TD: Absolutely not. I'm in a position, I'm starting right now, I'm happy to be here, I'm playing the linebacker position and I'm excited about it. It's growing on me.

CBJ: So what do you think the potential is for Georgia this season from what you've seen?

TD: I think if they put it all together and start playing together as a team -- you've got to have guys like Rennie Curran, the veterans on that team step up and show some leadership to the younger guys. I feel like we have a lot of great talent there, especially offensively. I look at some of the receivers and they can go and start anywhere. If we get those guys to step up and get better play our of our defense, I think we're going to be great.

CBJ: Last question -- Georgia and Florida recently agreed to keep their annual game in Jacksonville going forward. There was a lot of controversy about where it should be played. Now that you're away from it, what do you think? Is it fair to play it in Jacksonville?

TD: My personal opinion, I look back at this game, and I definitely feel like it's not a neutral game. I feel like it's a game that's in Florida, and we're playing Florida. So regardless of what you say, you split the stadium down the middle, I still feel like at some point Florida has an advantage because the game is in Florida. I think we should switch it up and play at the Georgia Dome a couple of years. Florida has to drive to Jacksonville and we have to fly. We have to drive to Atlanta and they can fly. Let's try that for a couple years and see how that works.'

Big thanks to both Brett and Thomas for the interview.

You can catch TD's Panthers as they stomp the awful Washington Redskins this weekend. You can also read Brett's blog at www.wfnz.com.

Catching Up With... Andrew Williams

We've chatted a good bit this week about special teams at Georgia, and we're also just a couple days away from the first Sunday of the NFL season. So for this installment of "Catching Up With…" I figured we needed to find someone who could speak eloquently -- or at least entertainingly -- on both subjects. The result: Andrew Williams, Georgia's reigning special teams permanent captain and current roommate of former tailback Knowshon Moreno of the Denver Broncos. I chatted with Williams earlier this week while he was sitting on the couch in Knowshon's basement doing absolutely nothing. Suffice it to say, I was jealous.

David Hale: You started as a walk-on at Georgia but made your mark at Georgia on special teams before working your way up to getting a lot of playing time on defense last year. I hear from a lot of fans who don't like the idea of so many walk-ons getting special teams playing time. They'd rather see the scholarship guys on coverage units. From your experience, what's the advantage to having walk-ons playing and what can it do for a player's career?

Andrew Williams: The guys that get recruited into Georgia are big recruits. They don't typically want to see themselves running down on kickoffs or kickoff returns. They see themselves playing a position on defense or offense or whatever they got recruited for. A lot of times you'll find that a walk-on just wants to get on the field and will bust his tail to sell out and make a lot more plays because he wants it more. I think that's where a lot of the guys can see their way onto the field. Not every scholarship guy is like that. There's several guys that want to get out on the field and play, want to contribute. The coaches aren't going to play you on defense unless you play on at least two special teams, that's what Coach Martinez always preaches, and that's how a lot of guys launched their careers is going out to play on special teams. You make plays in space, they know you can make plays at your position on defense.

DH: I think the fact that Georgia does play so many walk-ons and because there isn't a full-time special-teams coach, there are a lot of fans who assume that the coaching staff doesn't consider special teams a top priority. As someone who was there day in and day out, how much do the coaches really care about what goes on with you guys?

AW: Obviously it's a third of the game, and it's equally important. Coach Fab always says the game will be won by the field-position battle and it's going to come down to the kicking game. So they put great emphasis on special teams. You look at the game last Saturday and take back the 74-yard kickoff return and take back Prince's return all the way to the 1-yard line, take away that block in the back, and obviously special teams are just as vital as offense or defense and sometimes, the way the coaches at Georgia preach, sometimes they're more important.

DH: Georgia's game against Oklahoma State last weekend was the first time in seven years that you haven't been a part of the team on game day. What was that like for you?

AW: It was agony. It was awful. I love seeing my boys, but I wanted to be out there so bad. Me and Knowshon sat down in his basement and we couldn't watch it sitting down because we were going crazy with all our boys out there. Obviously we wanted a better turnout, but the guys played hard and that's all you can ask for.

DH: You know Joe Cox pretty well. Watching the offense struggle last week, were you as upset for Joe as he probably was?

AW: Definitely. I love Joe. He's a great competitor and a great guy, and I know how much he wants it. I know how hard he's worked. He's waited for his time for four years and I just felt awful for him because, he's a great athlete, a great player, a great quarterback. We can all have our bad games, but you have to think, the kid hadn't started at quarterback since Ole Miss in 2006 and before that since his senior year in high school. So you're going to have your first-game jitters, and it's just a shame that he had to get his out of the way vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State instead of, let's say a Georgia Southern or App State or something like that.

DH: Well, you weren't happy with the end results of the game, but as a former safety, I'm sure you were pretty pleased to see the big hits dished out by Bryan Evans and Reshad Jones, despite the flag that Reshad got, right?

AW: Hell, yeah. Those boys were bringing the wood. That's the way a Georgia safety hits, period. People know you're there, and old Dez Bryant was running his mouth, and that's what happened to him. Yeah, he caught two little dinky touchdown passes, but you're going to know those boys are there. That one with Reshad, what a joke. I don't even know what unnecessary roughness means anymore. It means you can't hit hard? It seems like they're trying to take the game of football away, trying to soften it up. That was a great play, and he hit with his shoulder, didn't lead with his head. That's the way you're supposed to hit. Ask Thomas Davis. Ask Greg Blue. That's the way a Georgia safety is supposed to hit, so I was definitely proud of my boys for coming and bringing the wood like they're supposed to.

DH: Let's talk about what you're up to now. You're living out in Denver, hanging out with Knowshon and living the dream. How'd that happen?

AW: Well, we've been really good friends for a couple years and he got this awesome opportunity that comes along to not very many people, and I just wanted to be a part of it. With us being such good friends, he was like, 'Yeah, man, come out here.' We're just trying to build his legacy from the ground up. As of right now, nothing's really happening, but we've just got to wait for him to get out on the field and do his thing like everybody knows he's going to. So as of right now, I'm a spectator. I'm just out here hanging out with my boy, doing some job searching myself. But hopefully whenever this thing gets kicked off and Knowshon starts doing his thing and a lot of people are knocking at his door, hopefully I can work with him. As of right now, I'm just a buddy.

DH: So you're essentially Turtle from "Entourage"?

AW: That's me, man. That's me.

DH: Awesome. I'm completely jealous. How is Knowshon doing?

AW: He's good. He's working hard and getting out there every day. He gets up every day is out by 8 o'clock and isn't back home until around six, so it's a full-time job for sure. He just wants to get up to 100 percent so he can do his thing like everybody knows he's going to. He's just taking it in stride, soaking it up and enjoying the experience so far.

DH: Yeah he missed a lot of the preseason because of a small knee injury. Is he getting excited to finally get out on the field for some real games?

AW: Oh yeah, definitely. He's appreciating the game. It's an unbelievable experience and he can't wait to see what it's like when it counts. He's definitely going about his business. Also, Tom Brandstater, the third-string quarterback, also lives here with us so those guys get together and watch film in the basement while I play video games and act like a fool. Other than that, he's just doing his thing.

DH: Well, I drafted him for my fantasy team this year, so I'm counting on him to put up some big numbers.

AW: I'm sure you know as well as everybody else does, he's not going to disappoint.

DH: That's good to know. So what's life like for you living with an NFL celebrity in Denver?

AW: It's definitely different. We've gotten to do some cool things. We went to go watch that Cirque de Soleil thing and after the show they let us backstage to meet all the circus people. Those people are crazy. They had these three girls, these contortionists that could just bend their body any way you could imagine. The whole time you see it from the stands, and then you get to meet them, it's the opposite of when you're playing football and the fans get to meet you, so it's cool to know what that's like. But it's cool. We go out to restaurants and stuff. Those two guys get recognized and everybody wants to know who the bald guy is they're hanging with. But it's been awesome so far. But it was actually a lot crazier in Athens, actually. Right now, I'd just call it normal.

DH: So does that mean you're itching to get back to Athens? Will you make it back for a few games?

AW: Oh, for sure. I'm thinking about coming for South Carolina this weekend. Definitely LSU, 100 percent. Then probably Florida. That's not in Athens but I'd like to get the fan experience from the Georgia-Florida game.

DH: Well next season you won't have to make the trip because the Dawgs come to see you with a game in Boulder against Colorado. Do you already have that date circled on your calendar?

AW: Absolutely. It's kind of funny, one of my buddies, Scotty McKnight, is a receiver up there and we all went to the game against CSU on Sunday night. Unfortunately they lost, and we got to watch from the sidelines, meet the players and the coaching staff. So that was pretty cool. That place is pretty fun. The Dawgs are going to have fun playing there. It gets pretty crazy, and I'll definitely be there for sure.

Catching Up With... Verron Haynes

Some of you may remember Jason Butt as the talented sports writer from the Red & Black. Others may remember him from his delightful performance in "Angels in the Outfield." Regardless, Jason is now covering the Atlanta Falcons for CBS Sports and was kind enough to track down former Bulldog Verron Haynes for the latest in our "Catching up with..." series.

Jason Butt: After spending your entire NFL career in Pittsburgh you had to take a year off because of a knee injury. What is it like coming back to the NFL with a chance to make the Falcons, a team very close to where you played college ball?

Verron Haynes: It’s definitely refreshing. I had a chance to get some rehab on my knee and it’s back to 100 percent and I feel good. Coming back to a place where I’m known and where I went to school is a great feeling because the fans here, a lot of them are Bulldog fans as well as Falcon fans, so that plays into the favor. And the system, I can definitely attest to the hard-work system they have around here. That’s what Pittsburgh implemented when (offensive coordinator Mike) Mularkey was up there, when they drafted me. Coming here, I’m definitely in the same system. It’s definitely headed in the right direction and it helps when you are able to come play football and not think. I think that’s one of the most difficult things for a rookie. They say the speed of the game is faster, but it’s really because you are thinking so much. I have a leg up with this offense and that’s key.

JB: Now, I know you're well aware that in the NFL nothing is guaranteed. Has that crossed your mind this preseason?

VH: The one thing about it is the older you get the wiser you get. And you don’t count numbers and all that stuff. You just try to make the best out of every situation you get, and every opportunity in performing. And that’s what I’m doing now, I’m living in the now – not looking farther than today, not looking farther than the play that’s called. I’m living right here in the now and working as hard as I can every day and on every play.

JB: On this Falcons team there's you, Thomas Brown, D.J. Shockley and Tony Gilbert—all former Georgia guys. Is it easier to approach those guys in the locker room and do you get to share your experiences with each other?

VH: The Bulldog Nation is definitely running thick on the team. And we definitely have some experiences and some times where we get on other universities that are close to here and they try to rag us. But we’re pretty deep in the locker room.

JB: You're famous in Athens for "P44 Haynes," the play to beat Tennessee in 2001. What is your reaction when that's ever brought up in front of you?

VH: It’s definitely an honor. Once you look back, and that was our first time when coach Richt came and we got to implement his Finish the Drill statement that he was preaching form the time he walked on campus. It actually opened up the season for us and gave us a sense of self accomplishment and understanding of if you do the little things it will take you far.

JB: How often do you keep in touch with Mark Richt, if you're able to do so?

VH: I talked to coach Richt pretty frequently. He had me come down for the Tennessee game last year. I spoke with the team, so that was definitely cool. And I still talk to a bunch of guys that are still on the coaching staff there. That’s always going to be home for me. That’s still my family.

JB: Let's switch gears and talk about this year's Georgia team. How do you think they will fare this season?

VH: I expect great things. For one thing, the pressure is off as we all know. The one thing that I know is that coach Richt is going to have those guys working hard — and that’s going to pay dividends. I think collectively they are going to take more of a cohesive approach as a team unit, come together and gel which will make them excel.

JB: With Joe Cox waiting as long as he has to start, do you have any advice for him?

VH: He’s had a long time to grow as a quarterback. And he needs to take the experience, and enjoy it, embrace it. Another thing is as you get older and you get thrown into the fire, you see it and you learn from your mistakes. The veterans don’t make the same mistakes twice. So when he’s in there and takes his lumps and bruises along the way, it’s going to make him a more efficient quarterback.

JB: You made reference to the pressure being off Georgia this season. However, the Falcons have a lot of expectations this year. Do you think it's easier or any different to manage those expectations at the professional level than the college level?

VH: I think the main thing is what you put in is what you’re going to put out. And we’re putting in some good work. But, now that’s not guaranteed that we’re going to have success. But we’re working each and every day hard, and I think it’s going to pay dividends.

---

Big thanks to Jason and Verron for their time.

Catching Up With... D.J. Shockley

My first real job out of grad school was covering Georgia for the Albany Herald in 2005. It's not that I hadn't dealt with big names before -- I'd interviewed Jim Boeheim, covered the Big East tournament, even done some groundbreaking reporting with a former "Amazing Race" cast member. But I started my job at the Herald in August, and two days later I was in Athens to pen my first story on the Bulldogs. Prior to that, I probably couldn't have picked Mark Richt out of a lineup, but I knew who D.J. Shockley was, and I'll admit, I was more than a bit intimidated.

I've grown past all of that for the most part (though if I ever get the chance to interview Mark Grace, I may shed a tear or two), but that first day talking to Shockley, I was pretty in awe of how far I'd come.

Five seasons later, my boss still teases me about my D.J. Shockley infatuation. He overstates the issue a good bit for comic effect (I believe the phrase "man crush" gets thrown around a little too loosely) but I make no bones about the notion that talking to D.J. still reminds me of those first moments when I thought to myself, Wow, I'm a legitimate sports writer.

(Now, whether or not the term "legitimate" should have been applied to anything I wrote after that is still a matter of debate, but it was my moment, so don't ruin it.)

So I have no doubt after my boss reads this, I'll get a humorously written email (likely with poor grammar) teasing me about stalking the former Georgia quarterback. That's fine. After five years in this business, I have a thick skin. But more to the point, with all the comparisons between Georgia's current starting quarterback and the one who led the Bulldogs to their last SEC championship, I figured there wasn't anyone better to chat with at this time of year than D.J....

David Hale: A lot of Georgia fans are drawing some obvious parallels between yourself and what Joe Cox is doing this year. As someone who waited so long to start, what are the biggest obstacles for Joe to overcome in getting ready for this year?

D.J. Shockley: I think the biggest thing is just the mental aspect of being thrown into that situation -- the whole, everything's going to happen right now, and you only have this one year. That's all you get. And that's the biggest part of it. Once you get over, OK, I'm not going to force everything into this one year, I'm just going to go out and play and let things happen, then you're a lot further along. So I think the biggest thing is the mental part of it. He's been through the physical part of it, dealing with that. He's just got to make sure he's mentally strong before the season.

DH: You played a year with Joe. Did it seem even back then like he was the type of guy who could really step into a situation like this and rally the team around him?

DJS: I think that's the first thing that you have as a quarterback is those leadership qualities and capabilities in you already. When he first got there, you could definitely see it just pouring out of him that he was a born leader. He had it in him to lead the offense, lead the team and lead at a place like University of Georgia. It's nothing new. I knew he had it in him way back when.

DH: I remember talking to you the week before your first start and you telling me how you were having trouble sleeping and were sort of overwhelmed with excitement and nerves. Have you prepared Joe for all those emotions?

DJS: I already know it's going to be one of those things where it's going to be one of those things where he can't sleep and things like that, but I've just been trying to let him go through camp and let him have his time and get his mind wired in and focused in on leading the team. But I'm definitely going to hit him up within a week or a few days of that first game and see how he's feeling.

DH: Even as highly touted as you were coming out of high school, a lot of fans were concerned about how you would do as a starter when you finally got your shot. There probably weren't the highest of expectations for that 2005 team, and you guys won an SEC title. Can you see some parallels between that year and this season for Georgia?

DJS: I think the biggest thing is Coach Richt is always going to bring guys in who want to compete and give everything they've got. They have a lot of talent over there now and they can definitely get them to where they need to be. There's a lot of parallels between this team and the team we had in '05 just because everybody said, hey, this team doesn't have much, they may finish third in the East, pretty much what they're saying this year about the guys. With Knowshon and Stafford leaving, they're not giving them much of a chance, which is the same parallel as we had in our 2005 season.

DH: OK, enough about Georgia. Let's talk about D.J. Shockley and the Falcons. What's your relationship like with Matt Ryan? Is it a good locker-room dynamic between the two of you?

DJS: It's been great. We're both likable guys and we like to joke on each other. We're both competing, we both like to work hard, and it's all for the team. I've definitely learned things from him, and he's learned things from me, so it's a great mutual relationship that we have.

DH: Maybe it's sort of bad luck for you, but you were at Georgia behind David Greene. You arrived in Atlanta behind Mike Vick. You got hurt the one season when there might have been an opening for you, and now you've got a guy like Matt Ryan as a franchise QB ahead of you again. What has that been like? How much did what you went through here at Georgia help you get through it?

DJS: I think that whole situation prepared me for what has come now and helped me mentally with how to handle this situation entirely, as far as how you handle yourself on and off the field -- how you handle yourself in the meeting rooms, how you prepare. I think the biggest thing is that it allows me time to watch more film, to understand the game, understand what's my role. I think just what I did at college has helped me more than anything else could.

DH: OK, well if Mark Richt and Georgia helped you so much, can you chip in with some inside scoop for them on how to beat Bobby Petrino in Arkansas in Week 3?

DJS: I don't know much, man. I think Coach Richt is going to have a good game plan, a plan for those guys, and who knows what's going to happen but hopefully the Dawgs are going to come out on top.

DH: Alright, that's a politically savvy answer. Back to the Falcons, the common refrain I hear the most about the them is that old stat that they've never had consecutive winning seasons. After surprising so many people last year, what makes you think that you can break that streak this season?

DJS: I think it's the same work ethic as we had last year, just going out and preparing for one game at a time and not really concerning ourselves with our opponents as much as making sure we're doing the right things ourselves and making sure we're in a position to play well. I think a lot of guys have that passion, they're working hard, putting in the extra time to be better and get better.

DH: There's a lot of buzz surrounding Mike Vick's efforts to get back into the NFL right now. Have you talked to him much lately, and do you think he's ready to get back into the spotlight that comes with playing in the league?

DJS: I talked to him a little bit after he got out of jail, and we've talked a few times and we've texted. He's just anxious. He's definitely changed his life. He has a different mind-frame on life. He's definitely ready to get out, get back into the league and get back to a normal life of an NFL football player. He's definitely changed, and he's ready to get back in.

DH: You're an Atlanta guy, you played at Georgia and you're with the Falcons now. When fans see you out somewhere or come up to you for an autograph, do they approach you as D.J. Shockley, the former Bulldog or D.J. Shockley, the quarterback for the Falcons?

DJS: It's a little bit of both. It just depends on who it is, but they always appreciate you. We have so many great fans throughout the area, and they love Georgia football. It's always a pleasure to meet people who've seen me play, and people who have a little respect for what you've done. It's definitely a pleasure, and it's very much appreciated.

DH: So I'm assuming you follow what's going on at Georgia still. What are you most interested in seeing in the next few weeks? Do you have any big concerns for this season?

DJS: I'm just excited. Being from there and knowing Coach Richt and how he goes about things, I really respect him, and I know he's going to put the best team on the field. I can't put any numbers on it, but I fully expect them to be back in a big game.

DH: OK, one last question. David Pollack is covering the SEC now and doing radio stuff in Atlanta. David Greene is going to be doing radio for the Bulldogs this season. Bryan McClendon is now on the coaching staff at Georgia. Is it odd to see so many of the guys you played with just a few years ago back involved at UGA?

DJS: Not really. Georgia's a great place to be. It allows those guys to give back and be around the Bulldog Nation. Guys just love being around there, being around the university, so it's not weird to see so many guys doing that.

DH: So does that mean we'll be seeing you around here soon?

DJS: Yeah, absolutely. You try, and whenever we have a bye week I try to get back and get a game in. I think this year is the LSU game. We've got a couple guys talking about it already.

Catching Up With... Rex Robinson

It has been a little while since we caught up with a former player on the blog, but today's conversation was definitely worth the wait. I spoke last week with Rex Robinson, who in addition to serving as the kicker on Georgia's 1980 national championship team, is also one heck of a blogger. He launched his Bulldogs-related blog, Roughing the Kicker, a few months back, and regularly manages to write exceptional posts on subjects ranging from Georgia's special teams play to some great anecdotes about the good old days in Athens.

You can find Rex's blog HERE or follow him on Twitter HERE.

While Rex has done a great job talking about some of the most pressing issues facing the Bulldogs on his blog, he also was kind enough to take time out to chat with me about Georgia's kickoff issues, the biggest question marks facing the team in 2009 and, of course, we talk a little shop about the business of blogging.

This is probably one of the longer entries in our "Catching Up With..." series, but I promise this one is worth the read. (Perhaps you should print it out and take it someplace quiet. If you work in an office, feel free to leave a copy for the next person, too.)

Anyway, here ya go....

David Hale: OK, let's talk shop for a minute. I've really enjoyed reading your blog since you started it, but I read a post the other day in which you wrote that some of your friends were shocked you could even put two sentences together, let alone maintain a blog. So what got you interested in doing it in the first place?

Rex Robinson: When I was in high school, I did a little bit of writing, but it was usually what might be construed as poetry or lyrics for songs. It was always something that I just used as a way of getting my thoughts down or my feelings out on paper. I guess only one of them was ever really published, and that was in my junior year yearbook, which was a unique one because it was the bicentennial in 1976.

I never had really thought about it until very recently. I started my business in January, and I ran into a guy named Ron Tarpley. ... Ron had started a Web site called Prep News Report and had gone through that process of learning how to put together a Web site. As we talked about it, he said, 'You need to do a blog.' I had a couple other people say that if you're trying to reach people, you need to do a blog, but Ron was the one that really put me over the top in deciding I wanted to pursue it.

The first one I did was on Word Press, which was pretty easy for someone like me that's not really a computer type of guy, but it really took off. That really blew me away how, in the first month, particularly with the article on the kickoff situation over at Georgia, I had like 14,000 views my first month. In the big picture, I know that's not huge, but for me, that blew me a way to go from zero to whatever in a month's time.

It's gone, I guess well. I did get a lot of positive feedback. Out of the 10 or 12,000 people, unique visitors, less than half come back. So even though that's a decent number, I guess, that to me means a lot of people said, 'What is this crap?' and have not come back. So I haven't gotten a big head yet that it's that big a deal or that it's ultimately going to be a huge thing, but it's been fun and it's given me another way to communicate with fans.

DH: One of the great things about writing about Georgia is how passionate the fans are. What has been the response you've gotten from fans who have found your blog?

RR: It's been overwhelmingly positive, but I don't get a tremendous number of comments left on the blog, which leads me to believe there's a lot of people out there that don't agree with everything that I say or talk about. I'm trying not to be overly controversial, even though when I have written things that are critical of the coaching staff or something of that nature, it just blows up. But I don't want to go down that path intentionally. If it's really something I feel strongly about, then I will. I don't want to be one of those old-school reporters or tabloid type of deals where I'm just saying stuff for the sake of generating traffic. But occasionally I'll get someone who offers a little bit different slant on something, but I've gotten mostly very, very positive feedback.

What was funny is one thing I saw on another blog was actually a comment about one of my first blogs, probably one of the first three or four blogs. A guy said something about that I made Mark Bradley and Terence Moore look good as far as my sports mind and the way I looked at things. I've never been overly critical of those guys -- though I don't really care for Terence Moore too much -- but I knew what he was saying, and it wasn't good.

Then later on, two or three weeks later, he actually left a very positive comment on my blog. So I don't know that he's totally come around, but I had to tell myself that I had to be prepared for people to say negative stuff. With people being anonymous, a lot of them will say stuff that if we were standing face to face, they certainly wouldn't. So I prepared myself if I really wanted to go down that road, and so far it's been OK.

DH: A couple months ago, Urban Meyer made news by saying that he didn't want any former players to say anything negative about the Florida program, and if they did, they were no longer welcome in the locker room or at practice. You've written some things that have been at least a little critical of some of the things Georgia has done. What kind of feedback did you get from the team or the coaching staff?

RR: I have not been contacted and I haven't run into anyone. I haven't had the opportunity to go over to Athens for any reason. I almost went over last Thursday because I had gotten a call a few weeks ago from Blair (Walsh) just wanting me to come by when those guys kicked. He, Drew (Butler) and Ty Frix all get together and kick on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Anyway, I haven't been to Athens since all this started, but I probably will be going pretty soon, and I don't know what to expect. I don't know how much of this might have gotten back to the staff. I know some people on Twitter actually tried to get Coach (Mark) Richt to go to my blog when I was talking about all that stuff. I don't know that he ever did.

I'm of the opinion that -- I truly respect Coach Richt, and I really respect all of those coaches, and the fact that there might be one aspect of things that doesn't quite seem right or the best that it could be, I don't think that's anything to be that upset about. I don't call them names like some people do. Somebody left a comment on my blog the other day calling Coach (Jon) Fabris a numbskull. I had to answer and said, 'I don't think that he's a numbskull. I just think that he's possibly stubborn and maybe a little shortsighted on this one issue.' He's a great defensive ends coach, but they seem to really feel like they need to, what I would call, hide the weaknesses they have on the coverage team by putting all the pressure on the kicker, and that's a tough thing, particularly for a true freshman.

Anyway, I don't know what to expect. I doubt Coach Richt would ever take that position that Urban Meyer took. I think they're really pretty different people. And hopefully he has seen some of the other stuff that I've written, because I'm really not blowing smoke or anything. I truly believe all the positive things I've said about him, too, so hopefully he'll know where I'm coming from.

DH: I know kickers have to stick together, but you've gotten to be pretty close with Blair. How did that relationship develop, and what was it like for you watching his season unfold last year?

RR: I went over to Athens one day to watch practice and while I was there I met Blair that day. It was sort of like Brandon (Bogotay) when I talked to him on the phone a few weeks ago. They know enough about the history and tradition of Georgia to know who I was and was very respectful of that. He's a very nice guy. I had been watching him, and he's very serious about what he's doing, very focused. I had watched him kick some and he did well.

It was very difficult for me to watch the whole season progress because I felt like they were putting all that pressure on him. If he'd been an upperclassmen and had been there a couple of years and was physically stronger and more mature, I don't think it would have been as big a deal. But to continually put that amount of pressure on him, and even in games when it was obviously very windy, they were still trying to kick over there to the corner and it went out of bounds.

I think it ultimately, that one aspect of things, the kickoffs affected him overall, confidence-wise and maybe even technique-wise. I think even Kevin Butler voiced that opinion in his postgame one time. What you're asking Blair to do, he sort of had to go to extremes with how hard he's kicking the ball. It got to the point where he was almost aiming it instead of kicking it, and I don't if you ever played baseball or any other sports, but when you start thinking too much, things go bad. I think that's where he went with that.

It was difficult to see. I went and saw him around December or January and had lunch. We talked about some of the issues. For guys like that that have sort of gone through a rough patch, I always tell them that during the offseason, they can sort of prepare themselves for anything. They may have gotten blindsided as a freshman, but you can't get blindsided twice.

I think Coach Fabris can really be kind of hard on those guys as true freshmen. I think that may have happened to Andy Bailey, and I think it may have happened with Blair temporarily. Blair started off well. Andy got off to a rough start and never really recovered totally from his experience as a freshman. Andy never progressed through his four or five years. Blair started off well but struggled late. But I think all the competition that's coming, Brandon and all those things, I think it's going to create a good situation. I think both of those guys will respond well.

DH: You mentioned on your blog a little while back that you had a chance to talk with Brandon Bogotay as well. What was your impression of him?

RR: He seems to be a very level-headed and good guy. I was very impressed. Both guys seem to have the right attitude in terms of not assuming anything one way or the other. I don't think Brandon is assuming he'll be the guy, and I don't think Blair is assuming he won't be the guy. I know he wants to be the guy to do the kickoffs and field goals. They seem to have gotten off to a good start in terms of their relationship, having a working relationship that will be positive and not have a lot of animosity in it.

I commented earlier this week, I don't think they are going to make any wholesale changes in the kickoff program. If Brandon wins the job, I think it will be because he's better at the directional kicking. He may be able to kick it a little bit deeper, but still with good height and into the corner. You probably know that I feel like they ought to just let those guys kick it as deep as they can, even if it's the goal line or two or three yards deep, and then just cover it. Brandon kicks it a long way, but if he doesn't kick it 100 percent of the time, Coach Fabris is not going to go for it. If he were to kick it -- this is maybe a little bit of an exaggeration -- but if he were to kick it out of the end zone 75 percent of the time, the fact that that 25 percent remains and the ball is coming back out, I don't think Coach Fabris would let him do it.

DH: One of the things I hear from fans quite a bit -- and this is probably a lot easier said than done -- but one of the biggest complaints I get is, if Georgia is struggling on special teams, why not hire a full-time special teams coach. Do you think having a coach that was strictly dedicated to that rather than splitting duties would make a real difference?

RR: In a perfect world, maybe. But the NCAA has limitations on the number of coaches that can be out there, and it's created a situation where you can't have a true kicking coach anymore, even if it's a volunteer. You just can't have that body out there, which is the craziest thing. I think most of them would say if they had somebody that could be on the field and devote their full time to that kind of thing, then maybe. But the thing is, all those guys are great coaches. It's not that they're deficient as coaches. It's just a difference of opinion as to what the best philosophy is. It's not like they're struggling because (Fabris) doesn't have the time or the focus. He's not deficient in his preparation or knowledge or anything like that. It's just a very strong opinion of his that that's the way it ought to be done. Lots of people disagree with it. His philosophy is one thing, and a lot of people think it should be different.

DH: OK, I'll stop hassling you about the kickers for a bit and go a little more big picture. I talked with Mark Richt a few weeks ago, and even he says this is one of the least predictable seasons he can remember. From what you've seen and heard about the team so far, what are your expectations for the upcoming season?

RR: I think that Coach Richt has been pretty open since the season that maybe they didn't do all they could to be all that they could be last year when everything was so hyped. I've heard through the grapevine that maybe from the top down they didn't prepare the same way they did in previous years when they had had so much success. It's one of those things where, maybe not so much the coaches, but the players had read their press clippings too much. I think they went back to the drawing board and have had a renewed focus that's probably going to mean they're going to be pretty doggone good.

I think that Joe Cox is, I don't think quarterback is a problem at all. The question mark to me is at running back. With the opportunities that Caleb (King) had and that Richard Samuel had, they really never showed that flash that you -- not even a Knowshon flash, but any kind of flash that they could be the every down guy if they were expected to be. That's the only thing that concerns me is whether one of those guys will be able to be the main guy.

It obviously won't be the end of the world if they have to do a committee type of scenario. As long as they're able to keep them honest with our receivers and everything and with Joe, I think they're going to be pretty good. I think the defense will be better, again after going back to the drawing board and really realizing, hey, this was not good last year. We've got to get better. And I think they'll be better.

To me there's no way to predict -- and I don't like predicting a record or something like that. I think the Oklahoma State game, with it being the first game could be one of those 45-42 games again, hopefully with us being 45. But if they do put it all together, when those guys are focused like in the Hawaii game or LSU a few years ago when they were in Athens, when they're focused, they're scary good. They just play with so much energy from beginning to end. It's just been the last couple years they haven't always done that, and it really hurts them when they don't come out totally prepared.

DH: Well, we're just a few days away from SEC Media Days and only two weeks away from the start of practice. I know I'm pretty excited about the new season. Do you remember what it was like during your playing days at this time of year?

RR: It was great because -- I have thought about it here lately because I've been coaching some college kickers and learning about what they've been doing to prepare. It always makes me think back to my mind-set going into a season. From May, maybe late May or early June, the preseason magazines started coming out. They'd have the predictions of preseason All-SEC, the preseason rankings and all that stuff. It was fuel to the fire as far as, it's close, it's coming. Coach (Erk) Russell always used it as motivation. He'd send out these letters during the summer. A couple different times he sent out this note that said, 'Athlon has Georgia ranked sixth in the SEC in their preseason poll. But you know what Dogs do to poles.' Just stuff like that to get you fired up.

I always set personal goals because as a kicker, you were always on an island anyway. So I felt like if I set personal goals that were pretty lofty and I reached those goals, then I was helping the team at the same time. I always had the attitude that I wanted to do my part and make sure that when the season came to an end nobody could say, 'Man, if we only had a decent kicker, we could've been good.'

I was sort of away from it for a while. In the past six or eight years, I've gotten more and more involved in high school athletics and then went on to college, so I've really gotten back into it. I don't always come to Athens, but I watch from 12 noon to 12 midnight every Saturday, and flip it to every conceivable place where there might be a game, so I'm very excited.

Catching Up With... David Greene

I've been doing this "Catching Up With" series since I started the blog last year, and pretty much since the first one, I've been wanting to track down former quarterback David Greene. As it turned out, he tracked me down (or at least, the publicist for his charity did) last week, and we chatted about everything from the great charity work he does to the future of the Cocktail Party game to his recent retirement from the NFL. It's a pretty long interview, so this might be one you want to print out and read somewhere comfortable (or at least take it back to your desk and pretend you're reading some important work documents so your boss doesn't get wise to your slacking off)...

David Hale: You were out doing a little promotion for your charity event today along with Matt and Jon Stinchcomb. For the fans, it's called Countdown to Kickoff and it brings current and former players and fans together to raise money for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the Georgia Transplant Foundation. What's it been like for you coming back and working on that project?

David Greene: It's been amazing really. Last year was the first year I was really involved from the very beginning, and I was amazed at how well they have put this thing together and the support and the amount of fans that show up and the sponsorships we get from corporations. Last year, I think we doubled the proceeds we had the year before. I think last year alone we raised almost $200,000, which is really impressive for any charity being in its third year. So it's really been exciting to be a part of it, and the part that I think is really neat is the way that we can come together and sort of bring together the Georgia fans and Georgia players and actually be able to raise money in the process. It's a win-win for everybody because if you go down this year and see the interaction between the players and the fans, and at the same time we're raising money in the process, it works out good for everybody.

DH: After having moved around a lot to a bunch of NFL cities, it must be nice to come back and be surrounded by so many Georgia fans who probably treat you like you never left.

DG: That's the great thing about it is once you're a Dawg, you're always a Dawg, and we're obviously extremely appreciative of that. And what's neat for us is the way we get current and former players together. We think that's a great aspect where you can have guys who are playing right now alongside guys who were on the 1980 championship team. It hits all age groups as far as who we're appealing to because we're appealing to the kid that has never seen Scott Woerner play, but he knows Mohamed Massaquoi. Well, he can get his autograph, and the dad who was in school with Scott Woerner can get his autograph. It's neat how it appeals to all age groups.

DH: What's it like for you to be around the team these days?

DG: It's good because the atmosphere is pretty much the same because it's the same coaching staff, and obviously it brings back a lot of good memories of exciting times, but it is different because for so many years I was used to coming back and knowing players. Now, this is my fifth year away from it, so I really don't know but just a handful of the guys personally. So when I come back, it's almost like I'm introducing myself to these guys because they weren't there when I played.

DH: What's the reaction you get from that new crop of players? Are they excited to get to meet legendary quarterback David Greene?

DG: Oh no, that's definitely not it. I think it goes both ways. I'm excited to meet the guys that are playing now, and probably some of those guys watched us play when they were in high school.

DH: Well, on the subject of this year's team, I'm curious to get your thoughts on Joe Cox. A lot of people seem to want to make the comparisons between him and your longtime backup, D.J. Shockley, because both waited so long to finally get their chance to start. Do you think those are fair comparisons?

DG: I think they both had experience starting and playing in games. They've been around for a long time, know the offense backwards and forward. And I know Joe is extremely confident in what he can do, and that's half the battle is believing you can do it. Obviously Shock did that. He won an SEC championship the year he started. But I think Joe's going to have a great year. He does a great job of running the offense. He understands his ability and who he is as a quarterback and that's a big key.

DH: There's been a lot of talk recently about moving the Georgia-Florida game out of Jacksonville. As a veteran of a number of those games, including some tough losses, do you think playing it in Jacksonville is unfair for Georgia?

DG: I don't really think it's a disadvantage. I understand it is closer to Gainesville than it is to Athens, but you also could make the argument that Coach Richt has had a lot of success on the road. So I don't think that really matters, plus the stadium is split half Georgia and half Florida fans.

I kind of like the way it's played, but who knows? It's hard to say. Obviously the travel is a little more for us, but we travel for so many games that I really don't think it's that big of a disadvantage.

DH: Speaking of Florida, the Gators just won their second national title. LSU has two in the past few years as well. You were on the Georgia team that came the closest to getting to that level, but there have certainly been a few that have had opportunities. Why do you think the Bulldogs have continued to come up short under Mark Richt?

DG: We've kind of been in a position where we've been right there tinkering on being the best. There's been plenty of years since Coach Richt's been here when we've finished in the top five, and it's just been one or two games that have kept us out of the big games. One of the main things ever since we've been there is we've got to win the big games. We've got to win all of them. I don't know the last time we actually been Florida and Tennessee in the same year. I never did it. It was always one or the other. Eventually we're going to have to win against a national championship contender. We've got to be able to pull them out.

And we play in a tough league. Florida's won national championships. LSU's won national championships. But there's no real slouch. Nobody's in the division that is a gimme. Every single game is hard throughout, so you've really got to play a perfect season. That one year when we went 13-1, we didn't make it to the national championship game. We lost to Florida. It kept us out. So it's hard to say what they've done and what we haven't done. Some of it is a little bit of luck. LSU, fourth down and they throw a fade route for 40 yards and win the game. It's a game of inches, but it's also a little bit of a game of luck and you have to hope that it falls on your side.

DH: Were you surprised at the anger that some fans -- probably a pretty high number of fans -- had about how last season unfolded? The expectations were set so high, but that seemed like the first time there was real anger on the part of a big group of Georgia fans aimed at Coach Richt and his staff.

DG: It's a tough situation to be in because the expectations are set so high year in and year out. I wouldn't necessarily say I was surprised because he's done such an excellent job. He's got a tremendous coaching staff, top-five recruiting classes every year. There's a lot of expectations, but if there's any coach that can pull it off, it's him. He's been a part of national championships, he knows what it looks like, he knows what it takes. He was a part of the best college football that was ever played at Florida State. But he's just got to put it all together. When you have those unbelievable seasons, there's a lot of things that have to fall into place. You've got to keep guys healthy and you've got to win the close ball games. You've got to find a way to do it.

DH: While the on-field outcome wasn't exactly what everyone had hoped last year, the Bulldogs did end up with a quarterback going No. 1 overall in the NFL draft. Have you talked with Matthew Stafford since he was drafted about what it's like playing in the NFL? Have you passed along any advice?

DG: I've talked to him a little bit. Nothing too in depth, I just congratulated him. The main part for him is just to understand that there are going to be a lot of bumps in the road. He's playing at the pinnacle of football. He was the first pick of the draft, so there's going to be a ton of scrutiny, there's going to be a lot on his shoulders. You've just got to be able to take it in stride and not take yourself too, too serious. You just have to understand that there's going to be a lot of scrutiny and hype, and you just have to concentrate on getting better and stick with it.

DH: Speaking of the NFL, after four years, you decided to retire this offseason. What was it that made you decide to give it up?

DG: I got to the point where I just got tired of moving around from city to city. I was with the Colts last year, and in January, it had just been eating at me a little bit. I got a call from the Giants wanting me to come up there and work out, and I really just didn't want to go. I was kind of dreading it. I wasn't looking forward to doing it anymore. I eventually had to just be honest with myself. I wasn't enjoying it as much or looking forward to running and jumping on an airplane for a tryout. When you've already got that feeling, you're not going to be successful at it because at the NFL level, you've got to be at the top of your game, you've got to love it, you've got to have passion and want to work hard and be the best at it. For whatever reason, between moving places, I just got burned out a little bit and I just said to myself, I think it's time to call it quits. I've got a family, I have an 18-month-old son, and I just wanted to settle down in one place. So I'm back in Gwinnett.

DH: So what's in the future for you now that you're done with the NFL?

DG: Right now I'm actually working with Matt Stinchcomb. We have a risk management company. I was a risk management major at Georgia, so that was kind of a natural fit. We're excited about where things are going. Our company is only about six months old, but things have been going well. We're excited about the opportunity and the possibilities out there.

DH: Is there any chance we'll see you back in football one day, maybe as a coach?

DG: I think I always want to be involved with it in some way. I don't think I would ever completely rule out coaching just because I love the game so much. But at this point, I don't really think I would want to be a coach. I have family, and I know that in the fall when you're a coach, you really never get to see your family, and I want to spend as much time with them as possible right now. Of course I love the game, and I would love to help out, but maybe a local high school team or something like that.

Catching Up With... Danny Ware

Jeff Owens was the first Georgia player to launch his own blog, but he hasn't updated it in a few weeks. (He gets a little bit of a pass since it's finals week.) But since Jeff is on hiatus, there's another Dawg who is now in the blogosphere -- former Georgia running back Danny Ware.

Danny played three seasons at Georgia, leaving after his junior year for the NFL. He went undrafted, but eventually signed with the New York Giants, where he hopes to find some significant snaps this season out of the backfield.

I talked with Danny about his blog, his goals for next season and advice for his former teammates who are just now getting their first taste of life in the NFL. Here's what he had to say...

David Hale: You have a blog up now where you share your thoughts on life in the NFL. What inspired you to create the blog?

Danny Ware: I just wanted to get the fans involved. A lot of people have heard of me but didn't know exactly what I was about. So I figured I'd start the blog and let them know exactly what was going on in my world and how hard I was working and what they could expect from me. If they had any questions, they could ask and I would get on and answer it. It was just a fun project.

DH: One of your most recent posts is about your quest to get on the field more now that Derrick Ward is gone. What have you been doing to get ready for the upcoming season?

DW: I've just turned into an animal. I'm working hard non-stop. I'm doing extra running, going out and catching with Eli (Manning), our old quarterback David (Carr), Andre Woodson. Just working, in the playbook to make sure I know everything backwards and forwards, so when it's time to go into camp, I'm ahead of schedule. I just want to put myself in a position to go out there and excel.

DH: Coming out of college as an undrafted free agent, you've really had to work just to get noticed so far in your career. Has the hardest part of your NFL career just been trying to find that opportunity to show what you can do?

DW: Yeah, it has, but I kind of like it a little bit -- being the underdog and nobody knowing who you are, not being drafted and working your way up. It shows character. I just put everything behind me in the past, and I'm just moving to the future now, going out there working hard and getting better every day. I think I had two good preseasons, but it's just been a numbers game. But it's all good now. I think I've got a little bit more room to work with and I'm hoping I'll come out there and compete just as hard as I did last year and even harder and give myself a chance to play in the regular season.

DH: Looking back now at how things unfolded, do you have any regrets about leaving Georgia early to go to the NFL?

DW: I'm happy with the decision. I would have loved to have been drafted, but it didn't happen, and I'm not going to cry about it. I'm going to go out there and keep working and make my mark this way. This is really my opportunity to go out there and make myself known, let the world know who Danny Ware is and help the Giants win.

DH: You had a bunch of former teammates drafted last month, and a few others -- including your former backfield teammate, Brannan Southerland -- who will follow your route as an undrafted free agent. Have you talked to them yet or given them any advice on adjusting to life in the NFL?

DW: I haven't talked to them, but I certainly want to. I've got to try to get Brannan's number, but I talk to Knowshon (Moreno) all the time. I talked to Matt (Stafford) when he was up here in New York the week before the draft in the city and everything. I just told them that it's a great life, but you've got to also work and understand that there's a lot of things that come with this great life. There's going to be a lot of people that will mooch off you, there's going to be people that try to break you down. You've got to look past all that and clear those people out of your life and concentrate on playing ball.

DH: I know you watched the team pretty closely last year. As an outside observer, was there anything that you noticed that would explain why the Bulldogs fell short of expectations last season?

DW: It's always been kind of one of those things where we have a great team, and we have so many high expectations, and we have that one game or two games that just happen to slip by and everybody's just not on that same page. For some reason, you just don't know why it happens, but they've just got to get over that hump. Once they do that, I think they'll be playing for national championships.

DH: This year, things will certainly be a lot different for the Dawgs. You played with David Greene and then were there when D.J. Shockley finally got his chance to start. It's a little bit similar this year with Joe Cox taking over for Matthew. What does Joe need to do to find the same kind of success that D.J. did? Or was D.J. just always primed to be a starter and play as well as he did?

DW: D.J. was always like that. He was always talking to you, making sure your head was in the game and you were staying focused. We knew he was going to go out there and do everything he could to help the team win, and he did. I'm pretty sure Joe Cox is going to do the same thing. I like Joe, he's a friend of mine, and I'm excited to see what he's going to do. I'm expecting great things out of him. He had a great career at Independent High School, and I think he's going to carry that over now.

DH: OK, back to the NFL. I grew up a huge Eagles fan, so I have a rooting interest in the NFC East. How do you see that division shaking out this year?

DW: We've got to get through the first couple of games first. I couldn't even try to tell you that. I've got a couple of old teammates on the Eagles though -- Reggie (Brown) and Max (Jean-Gilles). I'd really like to play them. I've been up here for two years, but haven't had a chance to get in the games. I want to get a couple plays or a couple catches and finally get in the game against my old teammates.

DH: You play with a quarterback who was taken first overall in the draft and had some big expectations to live up to. Do you have any advice to pass along to Matthew now that he's in the same boat that Eli was a few years ago?

DW: Matthew's a great athlete. All he's got to do is go out there and play ball like he was back in high school. That's all he's got to do, and everything else will happen.

DH: You said you've talked to Knowshon a bunch, too. What do you think will be the biggest adjustment for him in the NFL, and what kind of numbers do you think he can put up in his rookie season?

DW: I think the hardest thing is going to be learning the protections and blocking the bigger guys that come with the NFL. They're a lot faster, a lot stronger, and they have a non-stop motor. In college, you've got guys who will lay down on certain plays. These guys up here come all day. It's going to be one of those things where he's got to know what he's doing, but I'm looking for big things out of him in Denver -- probably about 1,500 yards rushing in his rookie year.

DH: So how about you? Is 1,500 yards in your future this year as well? Should fantasy football owners have you down as a sleeper pick in 2009?

DW: I'd definitely like to get 1,500 yards, about eight touchdowns, about another 800 yards receiving. But we'll see how that goes. I've got to be patient, but I'm definitely going to do my best to do that.

* Don't forget to check out Danny's blog at www.dannyware28.com or find him on Twitter HERE.