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Determining Georgia’s 2018 Most Valuable Assistant coach

This week, we’re going to use Good Day, UGA to hand out some awards for the 2018 season. Today, we’re going to hand out pick Georgia’s most valuable assistant coach. On Monday, we named outside linebacker D’Andre Walker the team’s most valuable defensive player.

Offensive line coach Sam Pittman did it again on Monday. Sure he landed another 5-star offensive line commitment, as Clay Webb — who is also the No. 22 overall player in the country and the No. 1 player in the state of Alabama — picked the Bulldogs. But Pittman also dropped his now famous “Yessir,” on Twitter. Pittman’s “Yessir” might be more enjoyable than seeing a “Go Dawgs!!” tweet from Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.

Related: 5-star Clay Webb shares why he picked Georgia over Alabama

For the third consecutive recruiting class, Georgia has landed a 5-star offensive lineman. In Mark Richt’s time at the school from 2001 through the 2015 season, Georgia signed just one 5-star offensive lineman.

Of course Pittman isn’t the only ace recruiter on Georgia’s staff — Dell McGee and Glenn Schumann are also big reasons Georgia has the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class for the 2019 recruiting cycle. But Pittman’s work on the recruiting trail isn’t the only reason he’s Georgia’s most valuable assistant coach.

The Georgia offensive line was the Bulldogs’ most banged up unit this year. Pittman constantly had to reshuffle lineups due to injury, as Mays, Ben Cleveland, Andrew Thomas and Kendall Baker also missed time due to injury. The Bulldogs were starting a true freshman, Trey Hill, at right guard by the end of the season. And yet Georgia still led the SEC in rushing this season.

Pittman also helped turned Isaiah Wynn into a first round draft pick last season, and Thomas will likely be another one next year. In his first three seasons at Georgia, Pittman has been everything Georgia fans and Kirby Smart have wanted in a position coach. Georgia has a number of great assistant coaches but it’s hard to name a better position coach in the country than Pittman. For both his recruiting chops and on-field development skills, Pittman is a clearly Georgia’s most valuable assistant coach.

Top Dawg in the NFL

On Tuesday, we hand out the Top Dawg award, which goes to the former Bulldog who had the best week in the NFL. And this week, the Bulldogs on the defensive side of the ball came to play.

New York Giants linebacker Alec Ogletree, picked up another pass giving three interceptions in the last two games. Ogletree also led the Giants in tackles with 8, as they pummeled the Washington Redskins, 40-16.

Thomas Davis of the Carolina Panthers had two fumble recoveries and 6 tackles, but it wasn’t enough as the Panthers lost to the Cleveland Browns. Former Bulldog Nick Chubb finished the game with 66 yards and a touchdown in the 26-20 win.

But this week’s top performer came from rookie Bears linebacker Roquan Smith. He only finished the game with 6 tackles, his fewest in a game since week 8, but he came up with the first interception of his NFL career to set up one of the few scoring opportunities the Bears had on Sunday night.

Smith and fellow former Bulldog Leonard Floyd were also a big reason that  Rams had their worst offensive output of the season. They scored just six points, making it the first time all-year Los Angeles was held under 20 points. Former Georgia running back Todd Gurley finished the game with just 28 rushing yards, which is the fewest he’s had in a game since his rookie season.

So for shutting down one of the league’s best offenses and bringing in his first career interception, Smith is our Top Dawg of the week.

Past Top Dawg winners:

Week 1: ReShad Jones DB, Miami Dolphins Week 2: Shawn Williams DB, Cincinnati Bengals Week 3: Matthew Stafford QB, Detroit Lions Week 4: A.J. Green WR, Cincinnati Bengals Week 5: Todd Gurley RB, Los Angeles Rams Week 6: Todd Gurley RB, Los Angeles Rams Week 7: Todd Gurley RB, Los Angeles Rams Week 8: Todd Gurley RB, Los Angeles Rams Week 9: Benjamin Watson TE, New Orleans Saints Week 10: Nick Chubb RB, Cleveland Browns Week 11: Alec Ogletree LB, New York Giants Week 12: Nick Chubb RB, Cleveland Browns Week 13: Todd Gurley RB, Los Angeles Rams

Two possible future Bulldogs to watch on Tuesday

On Tuesday, the state championship games in Georgia get started at 10 a.m. as Clinch County takes on Irwin Country. Georgia linebacker commit Trezman Marshall will be looking to win his third championship in four seasons with Clinch County before taking his talents to Georgia.

Then at the 1 p.m. ET, 5-star wide receiver Jadon Haselwood will take the field for the final time for Cedar Grove High School, as it takes on Peach County. Haselwood will be looking to win his second state title. He was a one-time Georgia commit and is someone the Bulldogs are very much trying to add to the 2019 class. Haselwood is the No. 1 overall player in the state of Georgia and the No. 1 wide receiver prospect in the country.

The third game of the day also has two Georgia tie-ins, as Bainbridge Kirby Smart’s—alma mater takes on Warner Robins, which has the younger brothers of Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm. One of Jake’s brothers, Tyler, is committed to Auburn as a tight end while his other brother, Dylan, is a quarterback committed to Mercer.

Below you can see a full list of teams and game times for the state title games. All games will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The games can be watch on Georgia Public Broadcasting & streamed on gpb.org.

GHSA State Championship Game Times

Dec. 11 10:00 am – A Public: Irwin County (13-0) vs. Clinch County (12-1) 1:00 pm – 3A: Cedar Grove (13-1) vs. Peach County (12-2) 4:30 pm – 5A: Bainbridge (9-5) vs. Warner Robins (12-2) 8:00 pm – 6A: Northside, Warner Robins (9-5) vs. Lee County (14-0) Dec. 12 10:00 am – A Private: Athens Academy (13-0) vs. Eagles Landing Christian (12-1) 1:00 pm – 2A: Heard County (12-2) vs. Rockmart (14-0) 4:30 pm – 4A: Cartersville (14-0) vs. Blessed Trinity (14-0) 8:00 pm – 7A: Milton (12-2) vs. Colquitt County (14-0)

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