[Elvis]

[TSFH Fan]

John Lilly leaves Georgia an unbeaten play-caller
https://www.dawgnation.com/football/tea ... undefeated


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Before he went up to the press box to call plays for a second straight bowl game, John Lilly was on the field. He spotted Nick Chubb and made his approach.

“I asked him in pregame if he was sure that he didn’t have a couple carries in him,” Lilly said, smiling. “I wanted to send him out there.”

It wasn’t possible, of course, and the results didn’t end up being as spectacular. But the most important one remained the same: Lilly moved to 2-0 as Georgia’s offensive play-caller after the 24-17 win over Penn State in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

“I wish we could’ve finished the game a little bit better, a little bit stronger,” Lilly said. “But I don’t ever complain about a win. That’s something Mike Bobo always talked about. In this league, and against caliber of opponents like them, don’t ever apologize for winning.”

He especially didn’t need to after the circumstances.

The struggles of Georgia’s offense, and a pretty strong opponent in Penn State’s defense. The injuries in the backfield. The tumult over the last month in the Georgia program, which led to former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer stepping aside and Lilly, the tight ends coach, being elevated again.

“People don’t believe you when you say this. But every fiber of my being wanted to win this football game,” Lilly said. “And that’s really, for the most part, all I’ve been focusing on. All our kids deserve that. I love every one of those guys in that locker room. When you sit in their living rooms and recruit them, you tell their parents you’re going to take care of them no matter what happens, you owe it to them to come out here and do everything in our power to come out and give them a great plan and the best chance to win.”

Last year, with Lilly replacing Bobo, who had become Colorado State’s head coach, Georgia racked up 37 points and 492 yards in the win over Louisville. This year it was 24 points and 327 yards. But along the way the Bulldogs made some play calls popular in the locker room.

“Man, coach Lilly he’ll take some shots, that’s for sure,” senior receiver Malcolm Mitchell said, smiling. “You know, that’s exciting. Not to have anything against any other coach. But Lilly, you saw last bowl game he just lets it loose and trusts the players to make plays.”

That’s true, but Lilly actually called more runs on Saturday, in fact almost twice as many.

“He likes to run the ball. We like to run the ball,” offensive tackle John Theus said. “He’s a great coach. The guys respect him. He’s a man of honor, a man of character and a great football coach. Two-and-0. I know the circumstances aren’t the way he wanted. But he deserves a lot of credit.”

The play that opened things up was a pass by Terry Godwin, who had lined up in the Wildcat. Mitchell got open downfield and turned it into a 44-yard touchdown catch to give Georgia a lead it would not relinquish.

Chris Kragthorpe, an offensive line graduate assistant, was at LSU last year when they ran a similar play in the Music City Bowl.

“We were looking for some gadgets,” Lilly said. “(Kragthorpe) pulled it up, we said hey we can do that with Terry.”

Yes, there was preparation for this game, even while coaches – including Lilly – had to figure out their futures. And Lilly is one of the few who still doesn’t know where he will be.

Lilly didn’t want to talk about his opportunities, but it is known that he turned down a chance to re-join Mark Richt in Miami. He could be eyeing a chance in the NFL, where jobs will open up with the regular season ending this weekend.

“I’ve got great faith. I think the Lord’s got great things in store for myself, my family and all that. I don’t know what they are right now,” Lilly said. “But certainly from this stage that’s what we’re going to focus on.”

[den-the-coach]

John Lilly

Hometown:
Beckley, W. Va.
High School:
Woodrow Wilson
Last College:
Guilford '90
Position:
Off. Spec. Teams Coord./TEs Coach
Birthdate:
06/21/1968

John Lilly was named tight ends coach at UGA on Jan. 24, 2008, after serving as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida State University from 1998-2007. He added the duty of Offensive Special Teams Coordinator in 2014. Lilly, a native of Beckley, West Virginia, is a 1990 graduate of Guilford College (N.C.).

During his six seasons at UGA the Bulldogs have won 54 games including three bowl victories and two SEC Eastern Division titles. He's been part of an offensive staff that has led Georgia to two consecutive record-setting seasons: Total Yards in a Season (6,547 in 2012 and 6,294 in 2013); Average Yards Per Game (484.2 in `13 and 467.64 in `12); and Most TD's in a Season (72 in 2012 and 58 in `13).

At UGA, he's coached several star TE's including Arthur Lynch (2009-13), a fifth-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins; Orson Charles, a 2009 Freshman All-American, a consensus All-SEC tight end, AFCA first team All-American, Mackey Award finalist, and fourth round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals; and Aron White (2009), named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player in the 2009 Advocare V100 Independence Bowl following his two-TD performance. Lilly has also headed up the Bulldogs' punt team since his arrival in Athens and in 2009 the unit, led by Consensus All-American and Ray Guy Award winning Punter Drew Butler, was first in the nation in Net Punting with an average of 41.95 yards per punt. In 2010 Georgia finished fourth nationally in Net Punting with a 40.6 yard average. He also works with the Bulldog kickers including current Vikings kicker Blair Walsh and UGA All-SEC first team kicker Marshall Morgan.

Lilly's tight ends at FSU were a productive part of the Seminole offens. In 2006, charges recorded 38 catches, the most receptions as a group since 1990 and second-most receptions in FSU history by the tight end position. In 2006, he coached Brandon Warren, the first tight end in school history to receive freshman All-America honors and only the third tight end ever at FSU to receive All-America recognition. In 2005 and '06 his tight ends registered back-to-back seasons with 30 or more catches for the first time since 1990 and '91.

Under Lilly's direction, four of FSU's recruiting classes between 2002 and 2007 were ranked in the top four in the nation. Prior to being named recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach, Lilly served as a graduate assistant (1996-97) and videographer (1995) at FSU. He was an assistant coach at Northwest Guilford High School in Greensboro, N.C., from 1991-94.

Lilly played quarterback, wide receiver and special teams for Guilford and was named recipient of the Golden Helmet Award as the ideal Guilford College player as a senior. He was a Dean's List student all four years at Guilford and was chosen team captain as a senior. Lilly is married to the former Cheryl Brown of Tallahassee, Fla. They have one daughter, Allison Catherine, 4, and one son, Caleb Jackson, 3.

http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-foo ... 83486.html

[den-the-coach]

I am pleased with the addition of Mike Grohl and Lilly and will reserve judgment on Skip Peete. Now the coaching staff is complete IMO because they did not renew 5 assistant coaches, but one of them was an assistant strength & conditioning coach and the Rams have promoted from within (J. Aggabao) and Boudreau's son was one of the five not renewed and IMO they created a position for him as assistant special teams coach, not sure they will hire someone with that title.

[dieterbrock]

Methinks drafting a TE is in the cards

[den-the-coach]

Methinks drafting a TE is in the cards

[Hacksaw]

So Lilly (no relation to Bob, Rush or at&t) had a better win % than Schotty? The attached article compares the Bulldogs inept offensive to the Rams and call it no coincidence 'cos of BS.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... ttenheimer