Sunday Practice Notes (12/28)

The transition from high school to the SEC hasn't seemed like a tough one for A.J. Green, but as he approaches the finish line of a stellar freshman season, the wide receiver is feeling the effects of the conference's physical football.

Green suffered a groin injury early in the season that never fully healed, and as time has gone on, playing through the pain has become increasingly difficult.

Early in the season, he said, the pain would dissipate as the game went on, but now it's just a nagging injury.

"At the beginning of the season it was like that," Green said, "but right now, the harder I go, it gets a little stiffer."

The effects haven't exactly shown up on the field, as Green leads the SEC in receiving and is just 49 yards shy of becoming Georgia's second 1,000-yard receiver in history.

He hopes to hit that mark Thursday in the Bulldogs' last game of the year, despite saying that the injury has not gotten any better with nearly a month's rest. Once the game ends, however, he'll be happy to take a much-needed vacation from the football field.

"I think I just need a little bit of rest," Green said. "I'm trying to get this thing better just to play and then try to rest it up after that."

-- Georgia has only faced Michigan State once in its history, and that was nearly two decades ago, but quarterback Matthew Stafford thinks the Spartans won't be a complete mystery by game day. In fact, the team Michigan State's defense reminds him most of is Kentucky a defense that allowed the Bulldogs to rack up 42 points in Lexington last month.

"We've still got to protect and hit some plays," Stafford said, "but as far as scheme-wise, that's probably the most similar team."

-- It has been a long season for Georgia's offensive linemen with injuries plaguing the unit since fall camp. Two of the Bulldogs' starters plan to play in the Capital One Bowl on Thursday, but neither will be at 100 percent.

Head coach Mark Richt said sophomore Chris Davis will most likely require surgery on an injured hip that Davis has played through all season.

Meanwhile, right guard Justin Anderson is getting healthier after a foot injury caused him to miss Georgia's game against Auburn and limited him two weeks later against Georgia Tech.

"(Anderson) is getting a lot of work, and I'm sure he'll play, but right now, Josh (Davis) is slotted to start at right tackle," Richt said. "He deserves to. He played well when he was in there. But I would think both those guys will play."

-- Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe was a hot commodity prior to the season and figured to be a first-day selection in the NFL draft, but injuries have limited his performance and his stock with pro scouts has slipped.

Ellerbe will play in the East-West Shrine game, however, which gives him one more chance after Georgia's bowl game to prove he's still the future star he appeared to be in August.

"It's a good opportunity because I got hurt," Ellerbe said. "I'm glad I at least have one more chance to show what I can do."