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Building the best Georgia football dodgeball team

In case you missed it, the Georgia football team had some fun over the weekend. The Georgia football Twitter account tweeted out a video of Georgia coach Kirby Smart challenging his team to a game against the Georgia coaching staff. Should the team beat the coaching staff, the players wouldn’t have to do weight training for the day.

It turned out to be some pretty entertaining content and a real photo finish, with D’Andre Swift delivering a narrow victory for the players.

Honestly, it’s refreshing to see these guys have fun in the midst of the grind this is the offseason. It doesn’t have to be screaming and a trying all year round. This game got us to thinking, what would Georgia’s best dodgeball team look like? Some names are obvious, but you need all six guys to contribute to build a great team. And Georgia’s team has a chance at being maybe the best in the SEC.

Also Dodgeball is a great mid-2000’s comedy and I just wanted to put that out there. The Georgia team would definitely have the five D’s of dodgeball — dodge, duck, dive, dip and dodge — down pat.

Jake Fromm, quarterback

I don’t really need to spend multiple sentences explaining this, right? Best arm on the team. Just have him stand back and pick opposing players apart.

D’Andre Swift, running back

Small target, great shiftiness and strong hands as well. He’s kind of the perfect dodgeball player. It’s not a coincidence that in the video put out by UGA, Swift is the last player remaining. As great as Fromm’s arm might be, Swift’s all-around game might make him the best overall player for the Bulldogs.

Tyler Simmons, wide receiver

If Dominick Blaylock were on Georgia’s campus, we would put him here without a doubt. But since he’s not we’re going to go Tyler Simmons. He’s got good hands and speed, and despite what the referees in the national championship game think, Simmons isn’t going to cross over the halfway line prior to the start of the game.

Adam Anderson, outside linebacker

Anderson goes against the grain here, as his 6-foot-5 frame provides a big strike zone. But Anderson has a great get-off and wingspan. He’s going to be key in corralling balls at the beginning of the game. Ideally you’d want someone with a quick first step, and he may have the best one on the team.

Nolan Smith, outside linebacker

Like Anderson, Smith has a great get-off, which is going to be key. We also know that Smith is very competitive, as demonstrated by his performance in this year’s All-American bowl. He was rated the No. 1 player in the 2019 recruiting cycle, and a big reason why was his athleticism.

Richard LeCounte, safety

We could’ve gone with another wide receiver here or a linebacker like Channing Tindall. But LeCounte is going to be able to sit back and diagnose what every player on the opposing team is doing. He’s also got excellent hands and moves well. We also know he’s ultra-competitive, and that is something we want on our dodgeball team. With LeCounte, Swift and Fromm, the team is going to have great chemistry, which would help it be one of the best teams in the SEC.

Of course there are a number of combinations that could make a successful Georgia football dodgeball team. Got one that you think would be better? Feel free to let DawgNation know in the comments or on Twitter @DawgNation.

Justin Houston is going to make some team very happy

Former Georgia football standout Justin Houston was released by the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Houston had spent his entire NFL career with the Chiefs and wrapped up 78.5 sacks in his eight seasons.

Houston, despite finishing with 9.0 sacks and 5 forced fumbles in 12 games last season, was released in large part because he would’ve been owed $15.5 million in base salary for 2019. Houston signed a 6-year deal with the Chiefs in 2015 for $101 million, with $52.5 million guaranteed.

“Justin has made a lasting impact on this franchise and I can’t thank him enough for his contributions over the years,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said in a statement. “These decisions are never easy. I have a great deal of respect for Justin as a player and person and I wish him and his family the best moving forward.”

Houston, who just turned 30, has been a productive player in the last two seasons when he’s been on the field for the Chiefs, and he’s only missed a total of five games in that time. After being a third round  pick in the 2011 draft, Houston has done very well for himself in the NFL. If he wanted to hang things up, no one could blame him.

But there’s a good chance that a smart team is going to sign Houston. Given how close he’s come to a championship with the Chiefs, you would have to think Houston wants to go play for a winner. Winning a Super Bowl is just about the only thing Houston hasn’t done yet in his NFL career. He’s been an All-Pro player, as he racked up 22 sacks for the Chiefs in 2014. He’s also been to the Pro Bowl four times as well.

Houston was a very good player in college, racking up 17.5 sacks in his final two years at Georgia and he’s been an even better pro. Should he continue playing, he’s going to continue being an excellent representative for Georgia football in the NFL.

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