Mark Richt speaks, we listen. Well, we also ask questions, and then he speaks, and we write. And after this process Wednesday night, here are seven things we learned:
1. They went full pads again on Wednesday to practice more against the cut block, a staple of Georgia Tech’s offense. Richt didn’t like how they were looking against it so far in preparation.
In fact, every practice they’ve had the past two weeks has been full pads.
2. The Thanksgiving plan: They’ll be done by about 10 a.m., and then excuse everyone to go eat.
“Anybody’s who’s close enough, they usually go home," Richt said. "A lot of times, families will come in and have Thanksgiving here. And there’s a lot of guys who will take their teammates who have a little far to go, to their homes. Coaches take players to their homes.”
Richt also expects assistant coach Rodney Garner to hold his usual turkey-day feast.
“It’s become legendary,” Richt said.
3. Injury update No. 1: Carlton Thomas had a stinger on Monday. He did scout work today.
“We think he’ll be ready,” Richt said.
4. Injury update No. 2: Defensive back Sanders Commings (ankle) has been practicing too.
“He’s getting there,” Richt said.
5. Richt repeated earlier praise of linebackers Jarvis Jones and Richard Samuel, each sitting out this season.
“Between (Jones) and Richard Samuel playing linebacker, it’s probably the best linebacker tandem in the country. Scout-team linebacker tandem,” Richt said. “They’re outstanding talents, and giving our guys all they want all year long.”
In hindsight, Richt agreed, Samuel’s injury could end up a blessing, as it gave him a year to acclimate to the linebacker switch. He will have two years of eligibility remaining, and Jones, the transfer from Southern California, will have three.
6. Georgia will not be sporting black jerseys on Saturday, Richt confirmed.
“I don’t think we’ll have a jersey change for awhile here,” Richt said.
7. Richt was asked if the struggles of the running game have increased the need to sign a big-time running back in February. That was an obvious reference to a certain Columbus recruit, whom Richt can’t talk about, per NCAA rules.
“I would just say we sure would love to sign a big-time back this year. How’s that?” Richt said, looking up and smiling at Claude Felton, UGA’s associate athletics director for communications. “That’s a very big priority for us. A very big priority.”
8. Three juniors – Charles White, Ben Harden and Josh Sailors – are leaving the program early and being honored with the senior class on Saturday. That’s a common occurrence for juniors who are going to graduate early and haven’t played much.
Richt said he had spoken with White, and planned to have a conversation with Harden.
“I just tell them I appreciate everything they did for us,” Richt said. “They busted their tail, they did the best they could, it didn’t work out the way they wanted it to on the field. But they’re going to get their degrees. I know they’re men of integrity, they’re guys that are gonna be tremendous employees, and probably employers one day. They’re gonna be good husbands and fathers. They’re just great people. I think they’ve done well.”
And that’s it, for now. Look for a story on Richt, and how he’s held up this season, with quotes from his new boss, in Thursday’s papers.
Oh, and happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your turducken, or stuffing, or green bean casserole, or all of the above.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
15 comments:
Good stuff, Seth. Would love to see a (certain) big-time back sign up.
Green bean casserole? Are you a Yankee?
I've been hearing some of our recruits wavering. At this point, that big-time back sounds like he's giving Auburn and Alabama a hard look too, I think our chances of signing him are looking slim.
Thanks, Seth, Archie and Lizzie. You sunsabitches are what RSS feeds and Twitter are all about, and I'm thankful, even though no Yankee is ever comin’ to Houston.
Seth,
You're correct that Samuel will have 2 years left - he played RB in '08 and '09.
However, Jarvis will have 3 years left - he played in about 8 games last year at USC.
But don't get the wrong idea - unlike a lot of people on the Internet, I don't get off on correcting others.
Have a good Thanksgiving.
Thanks Carter, I knew that, just mistyped. Brain fart. I've corrected it.
I hope that before Georgia gets another big time back, they learn what to do with them instead of wasting them and not blocking for them. It might be that until they can fix that, they won't get another big RB.
@CSA, you're clueless. You don't know what you're talking about. Also to "anonymous" it's stupid to say Georgia has been "wasting" RB's.
I'm thinking that were probably not gonna get Crowell. He seems Bama bound. I would love to have him but I just don't see it. If we could just get one of the big three. Drew, Rome, or Crowell. Rome I'm sure would have the least immediate impact.
I don't know of any other big time back out there that could step right in next year and perform like Crowell could. Our offense will still be very good next year even if Green leaves and we don't get Crowell. We have a couple of other NFL type talents for Murray in Charles, and Tavaress King. Also I see Marlon Brown possibly having a season kind of like Kris Durham had this year.
Also our rb's aren't that bad. It just seems like they never got going this year with all the injuries and suspensions. Everyone before this year started thought we would have one of the top rushing teams in the SEC. With Ealey a junior and King a senior they will have the experience they just need to play a whole season. You also have Malcome who was a four star back just like Crowell is.
I just don't want us all to sit back waiting for Crowell to come in and save the day. He might not come here, and if he does he might not even be that great. A lot of fans are expecting him to be the second coming of Herschel Walker or something. I think Crowell is gonna break a bunch of Dawg fans hearts.
The Buford coach said Crowell is the best back he's seen in state in 10 or 15 years.I'm not a professional scout but watched his highlight tape and he looks special.Word is we've got a great shot at him.South Carolina had a poor season last year and sold Lattimore on going to the instate school and helping rebuild,we can do the same with Crowell..Also,hope the coaches consider looking at Wesley-Scott at running back.The knock on him is poor hands and raw route running but his speed and size reminds me of a bigger Chris Johnson, who was also a wide receiver when he started at East Carolina.
Hope y'all are having a good turkey-day wherever you're at.
My advice is to not sweat the recruiting too much. Maybe every ten-thousandth player (and that ratio is only getting larger) is a Herschel or a Tebow, that can single-handedly change the fate of an entire program, but the vast majority of kids are simply contributors.
Yes, I care about wins, but in the end, I want kids who I can be proud of; kids I can point to and say "Hey, that guy went to my Alma Mater: they're Dawgs through and through," rather than worrying if the wins we've had will even count in the long run because we played the kid.
Be with your families today. Enjoy that feeling of belonging. And know that is what the University of Georgia should be about: NOT win-at-all-costs.
What is everyones thoughts on AJ Green being possibly the best Ga player since Herschel Walker. I know they play different positions and Walker could have more of a impact as the rb but the more I see Aj I'm thinking were seeing something special.
Players like Aj seem to come along about as often as players like Walker. The last player even close to to the combination of skills of Aj was Calvin Johnson and before that maybe Randy Moss. I think Aj is better than Johnson and plays harder than Moss. He's more like a mix of Fitzgerald, and Andre Johnson.
The closest player I have seen in recent years to Walker is Adrian Peterson. Speed, power, and moves!
We will get another really good wr eventually but there won't be another Aj Green for a while and I hope we know what we have in him for these next two games. Just like after Walker we have gotten a Hearst, and a Moreno. There very good but there not a Walker or Aj Green where they were just so far ahead physicallly they couldn't be stopped.
Happy Thanksgiving! I'm waiting to eat and bored right now.
Truth Tella,
I am clueless. Take my opinion for what it's worth. I'm not an expert. While my opinion won't change, I'd still be thrilled if he signed with Georgia.
If recruits are partly wavering because of the uncertainty of Richt, McGarity needs to come out and say he's going no where for more than just next year. Something more long term like an extension or mention how he's under contract for a few more years. Need to show stability for a longer term than 12mo.
Heck if Crowell goes to Bama Saban could leave at any time! That's what he does! I wouldn't be surprised if Saban left after this year. Richt is not the type of man to do something like that.
Also Ga has been putting backs in the NFL for years. Right now Moreno, Ware, and Lumpkin are all on NFL rosters right now. You also have Musa Smith, Haynes, and Patrick Pass in recent years who have been on NFL rosters and contributed. Am I missing anyone else? These are not all big names but that is a lot of players from one school at one position to make the NFL.
This stuff about Bobo not properly using his backs is BS and circular logic. If we had, say , a big time back , he would be properly used , more so than Lattimore at USC. We have always been tailback U. I love Washaun and Caleb, but they aren't getting the job done. Crowell could be the answer to (one of) our problems.
Post a Comment