Our whiffs on offensive tackle recruiting...

I'd put it on Richt. I posted an article a few weeks back that showed the absolute failure to recruit O-line in Richt's second half of his career here. As you said, Pittman got us some looks from guys, but a bit too little, too late. At this point, it's going to be on Pittman to work some miracles during the offseason to get these guys ready, and then Chaney will still likely have to tailor the offense a bit to account for less than ideal levels of protection. Good news is we have some deep threats now on the roster, so assuming Eason is everything we hope, there will be some chances to blow the top off which could relieve some pressure on the O-line, assuming they can get him enough time to take some deep shots.

Will be important to see how Cleveland and Barnes develop for sure. If Barnes continues to grow (6-3 now but dad is 6-9) and put some muscle on his frame, I think he has a chance to be a hidden gem. Cleveland has some work to do, but seems like a guy that will give max effort so could end up staking claim to the LT spot with the right coaching and good effort.

Yea, it's disappointing as usual. But who did we miss on who was highly rated? I looked at the typical state of Georgia poachers, Auburn, Tennessee, Bama, etc. and did not see any highly ranked OT from GA in their classes. Umm, now I see; 4 star E.J. Price went to Southern Cal. Crapolla.

Price was the one that hurt. But in the mix for an OT that chose FSU (they ended up with 5 highly ranked Olinemen actually) and too little too late with the big guy that was committed to Baylor. I think everyone puts this more on Richt simply not being after guys prior to the change. Next year it will definitely have to be a focus. You could tell in interviews that it's not sitting well for Kirby.

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Will be important to see how Cleveland and Barnes develop for sure. If Barnes continues to grow (6-3 now but dad is 6-9) and put some muscle on his frame, I think he has a chance to be a hidden gem. Cleveland has some work to do, but seems like a guy that will give max effort so could end up staking claim to the LT spot with the right coaching and good effort.

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This. I have watched Cleveland for a long time. They have already talked about the possibility of moving him to LT. I think with Pittman coaching him, he can be a GREAT LT.

Richt was always lazy with his O-line recruiting it has been that way for probably the last 10 years. He never really had that good of a O-line coach besides Neil Calloway, but he was never elite. Richt tended to rest on his laurels and end up signing a 2 star "OT" that weighed 260 lbs with the hope that they would get in the weight room and bulk up and make an impact, but it rarely ever worked that way. He spent too much time recruiting skill positions and let the positions that typically make or break a team with the lines of scrimmage just kind of happen. The 2008 team had great skill position players, but the line had more holes than Swiss Cheese and the DL was not much better. A lot of the D-line problems fall back to Garner and his lazy coaching style. Geno Atkins was a decent player in his time at UGA but now is regarded as one of the best in the NFL. That is a coaching problem not a talent problem. Once Van Gorder left the defense was soft and had no real identity. Martinez and Grantham were terrible at developing talent and Richt kept Garner around longer that he should have been along with quite a few other coaches who were simply getting paid but not earning it.

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Kirby's follow up comment was basically that 6'6" 320lbs OTs dont grow on trees and that it is always the toughest position to recruit because of the laws of supply and demand, especially in the SEC.

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Yeah, I thought those comments were pretty telling. Not just that he felt that UGA was deficient at the position, but that the majority of coaches at any program if you polled them would largely tell you that they feel they don't have enough talent at OT.

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Pittman... S&C...

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Yup. At this point, when you don't have the titles to point to, it's going to take finding some rough gems and turning them into studs. Doesn't mean we can't go grab 1 elite OT each cycle, but I have a feeling more of them will be projects which is why I feel 2017 class has to be 5-7 deep (depending on total schollies available). It's going to be a numbers game early, then if you can show success and strong development at your program, it gets easier to take fewer and be selective.

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Would have liked to see what Pittman could have done with Theus - kid was not developed while at UGA

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I'm still not sure much would have changed for the team on the field, as I don't think he was a glaring weakness, but probably would have gotten him a better draft grade.

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This. I have watched Cleveland for a long time. They have already talked about the possibility of moving him to LT. I think with Pittman coaching him, he can be a GREAT LT.

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I hope that turns out to be true but it doesn't match up with what's often said about him: That he's big and powerful and will make a great guard or a right tackle, but doesn't have the agility and quick feet for a left tackle in the SEC. Now that may be b.s. - the "experts" are wrong half the time, it seems. Give him a year with Pittman to work on things, including pass protection - where he's raw - and who knows.

I also think that there's some talent in Allen and Baker. I also think we have some sleepers like Hardin who might surprise folks with the proper coaching.

All that aside, we need to go after elite left tackles across the country next year....

so next year's might be

Ist Team
LT Cleveland
LG Pyke
C Koobs
RG Wynn
RT ?

2nd Team
LT ?
LG ?
C ?
RG ?
RT ?