While the secondary has gotten the majority of the blame for Georgia’s defensive problems the past two weeks, defensive tackle Jeff Owens said his unit will be the key to shutting down the opposition’s passing attack.
“It starts with getting more sacks up front,” Owens said. ‘I think we’re nowhere near where we can be, and we need to get over that hump to get where we can be. But we’re going to keep progressing and just get better because we’re not where we want to be right now.”
Through three games, Georgia has recorded just four sacks, despite opponents throwing the ball or using the quarterback as a runner on more than 70 percent of their offensive plays the past two weeks.
Georgia finished last season ranked 11th in the SEC in sacks, with the bulk of its success coming in non-conference games against Arizona State and Michigan State. The Bulldogs worked on the pass rush this offseason, but so far the results haven’t shown up on the field.
“It gets frustrating after all the effort and time you put into it during the offseason, you think you’re going to come out and have a better season than last year,” defensive end Demarcus Dobbs said. “But it’s still early on. It gets frustrating, but we just have to keep grinding and try to go make a play.”
Part of the problem, Dobbs said, is that the group hasn’t been able to function at full capacity often this season.
Starting defensive end Justin Houston missed the first two games of the season with a suspension, and Owens and fellow defensive tackle Geno Atkins were forced to rush off the edge for nearly 60 snaps during the first two weeks.
Dobbs said the group showed some signs of improvement last week – sacking quarterback Ryan Mallett twice – but that more time together will be a key in getting the pass rush going on a consistent basis.
“We have to be able to mesh as a group,” Dobbs said. “Sometimes we’re getting pressure from the edge and people aren’t in the middle and we lose contain. But it takes chemistry, and you have to know the other person’s strength and when to cover somebody. It will come in time.”
HE’S THE MAN
It was against Arizona State last season that wide receiver A.J. Green had his first breakout performance – racking up 150 receiving yards in the first half.
Since then, Green hasn’t surprised too many defenses, and as the sophomore continues to compile big games, even his quarterback thinks there’s a chance Green will go down as the best receiver to play at Georgia.
“He’s one of the best I’ve ever seen,” Joe Cox said. “He’s an incredible playmaker, and he could end up being one of the best players that ever played here.”
As to what makes Green so impressive, head coach Mark Richt said it’s hard to identify just one thing. The beauty of having Green is that he does everything so well.
“When you take his combination of height and the range of his arms, his speed and agility; a lot of guys who are tall might be fast and can make a play on a deep ball, but A.J. can out-jump people, he can run by people,” Richt said. “He can make them miss, and he’s becoming a pretty darn good blocker. There isn’t much that you’d ask a receiver to do that he can’t do well. He’s pretty good, and I’m glad we have him.”
WOOTEN GETS THE NOD
After earning just one snap during the first two games, freshman receiver Rantavious Wooten saw a big increase in his workload against Arkansas last week.
While Wooten was targeted for just one throw and ran a sweep that failed to gain, he was in on a number of plays, and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said that’s a trend that will continue this week.
“We’ve just got to play some of those guys and Wooten has done a good job at practice,” Bobo said. “He’s extremely quick and explosive and does a nice job running routes. He hasn’t had many opportunities to catch the ball. We tossed him a sweep. But you’ll see more of him this week just because of our number issue at receiver.”
DO-IT-ALL GUY
With tailback Caleb King sidelined for Georgia’s first two games, the burden of being the counterpunch for starter Richard Samuel fell to redshirt freshman Carlton Thomas.
The results so far have been mediocre, at best. The 5-foot-7 tailback has mustered just 25 yards on 10 carries, including one fumble. Thomas has been far more successful as a receiver, catching two passes for 18 yards – utilizing his elusiveness in space to his benefit.
Now that King is back, running backs coach Bryan McClendon said the team would like to find ways to better utilize Thomas, but he said it’s still essential that his freshman tailback learn all the intricacies of the position.
“There’s definitely things Carlton can do, but Carlton needs to work on being a guy that can get in there and we can run everything with him,” McClendon said. “That’s the focus he needs to take. We need to get him ready to go every play if he has to. There are definitely things he can do, but we want to make sure he knows everything come Saturday.”
JOE COOL
Georgia has trailed by double digits in the first quarter in each of its past two games, and the Bulldogs have won both. The common denominator, according to tight end Aron White, is the guy doing all the talking in the huddle.
Against South Carolina, the Bulldogs’ offense barely saw the field in the first quarter, and a special-teams turnover cost Georgia an early possession last week as well, but White said Cox has been calm, cool and collected each time – a bit asset in coming back from behind.
“Joe’s just extremely lighthearted when he’s in the huddle,” White said. “He came back into the huddle, just smiling, some words of encouragement, and we see his confidence and that does a lot to motivate guys and take some of the pressure off.”
COACHES STILL HIGH ON BROWN
Although Marlon Brown has yet to see any significant action, Bobo said he’s still expecting the freshman receiver to be a contributor to Georgia’s offense before the season is done.
“Marlon is starting to show some progress,” Bobo said. “Marlon is working hard, and we’re not at all disappointed with Marlon. I think Marlon has as much potential as anybody we’ve got on this team, it’s just a matter of him understanding what’s going on and learning how to do things.”
DREAM MATCHUP
With the Pac-10’s Arizona State making its first trip to Athens this weekend, linebacker Rennie Curran was asked which team outside the SEC he would most like to play. He said he’d like to stay in the Pac-10, but set his sights a little higher.
“Southern Cal because they are respected across the nation and they get a lot of hype,” Curran said. “Also, because of the kind of program they have. I was hoping we would get them a couple years ago in the Sugar Bowl, but they had their rule with the Rose Bowl. I think that would have been bigger than the National Championship.”
BUSY WEEKEND
Richt said he expects a high number of recruits to be visiting Athens this week, but it’s next week’s matchup against LSU that’s the really hot ticket.
“From what we’re hearing, there’s an awful lot of interest in this LSU game already,” Richt said. “It’s probably more than we can handle. There’s only so many that can get in, so it’s probably going to be tough to get everybody in who wants to get in.”
Showing posts with label Bryan McClendon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bryan McClendon. Show all posts
Friday, September 25, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Practice Notes: Dawgs Getting Impatient
It has been three weeks since Georgia started fall camp, and the grueling pace of practice is starting to wear on the players.
It's not that the Bulldogs are easing up, it's just that they're getting tired of tackling each other.
"I think we're just ready to play somebody else," quarterback Joe Cox said. "You come out of camp and it's kind of a relief, but you're really still in it, you just have school to go along with it."
A year ago, Georgia was already into the game-planning phase for its opener, but this August, the team has an additional week to prepare for its first game of the season against Oklahoma State.
On the positive side, it's an extra week to get ready for what promises to be one of Georgia's toughest opening-week opponents in years. The downside, however, is that all the reps in practice are starting to get a little dull.
"We're ready to hit that phase where we're game planning and worrying about other teams and going other places rather than just coming out and doing the same things every day," Cox said.
After three weeks of the most grueling preseason senior Jeff Owens can remember, however, the extra week of practice time isn't so much about preparation as it is about rejuvenation.
"This extra week will help guys get their legs back up under them," Owens said. "I think we can just go out and work on our fundamentals and get better, make sure everyone knows the scheme of the defense."
THE SUM OF THEIR PARTS
Richt offered a ringing endorsement to sophomore Richard Samuel on Friday, saying the tailback was firmly atop Georgia's depth chart. But while Samuel hopes to approach the 1,400 rushing yards compiled by Knowshon Moreno a year ago, the plan for replacing the 33 receptions and nearly 400 receiving yards Moreno added is still likely to be a committee approach.
"I think we're kind of going to pull from everybody to get certain aspects of what Knowshon did," Cox said. "Richard's a hard runner, kind of a bruiser and he gets open, but it's not like he has incredible ball skills."
Samuel caught just two passes for 11 yards as a freshman, numbers likely to increase with additional playing time this season. Still, fellow tailbacks Caleb King and Carlton Thomas are better known for their abilities as receivers and are likely to see plenty of action in that role.
"A guy like Caleb or Carlton, they have really smooth hands," Cox said. "I'm not saying we're not going to throw the ball to Richard, but I definitely think we'll be using them rather than expecting Richard to run every down and catch every ball we throw to the backs."
HOUSE CALLS
Senior defensive end Marcus Washington returned to the practice field Saturday after missing two days due to illness. Sophomore linebacker Marcus Dowtin worked out with the team, too, but in a green, non-contact jersey. Dowtin had missed nearly a week with strep throat.
"He's been in the bed," Richt said of Dowtin. "He hasn't even been going to class. But he's coming out of it now and he's made enough progress for us to believe he'll be back Monday."
The two illnesses were enough to warrant quick medical attention for both players, but it's a scenario Richt said his training staff has been preparing for since the spring.
With the outbreak of the H1N1 virus – better known as the swine flu – Richt said trainer Ron Courson and his staff have been quick to diagnose flu symptoms and isolate players who may be ill.
"We had a few guys over the summer that we moved them out of their dorms or we moved a roommate out of the dorm when we thought a guy might have some flu symptoms," Richt said. "Even Dowtin, we kept him away from everybody even though we knew it was more of a strep throat thing. Ron always does a great job, but on this we were pretty proactive."
DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE
Last season, Georgia entered the year with its best-ever preseason ranking, players on the cover of Sports Illustrated and a ton of hype surrounding the team. The result was a disappointing 10-3 campaign in which the Bulldogs never came close to meeting lofty expectations.
This year, the shoe is on the other foot as Oklahoma State features the Sports Illustrated cover boys and national attention. While Cox isn't ready to call that an advantage for his side, he said he's well aware of the perils of too much publicity before a team even hits the field.
"I don't know how much of an advantage it will be," Cox said. "They might feed off of it. I just know it wasn't the best thing for us, or at least it didn't turn out to be last year. I like the way we're ranked. I like being in an underdog situation. I think it made us work harder this offseason, and we'll see how it affected them when we play them."
(NOTE: Cox may not know if it's an advantage, but I highly recommend reading this story from The Oklahoman and forming your own opinion.)
SCOUTING THE COW POKES
Georgia began scout team work for Oklahoma State on Friday -- doing about 20 minutes of preparations, head coach Mark Richt said. The scout team work will increase gradually this week, culminating with Georgia's final preseason scrimmage Wednesday in which the No. 1 units will play a simulated game against the scout team's version of Oklahoma State.
"We're in good shape," Richt said. "We're ready to move into our scout team units. By Wednesday we want them to have enough work so that when we have that game, they've give us a pretty good look."
After Wednesday's practice game, the Bulldogs will take Thursday off, then return to full practices Friday and Saturday. Next Sunday is a regularly scheduled off day and Georgia then begins its normal preparations the following Monday with a practice in full pads.
"It'll be good to be moving toward the game plan, but I think it will also be good to get their bodies refreshed," Richt said.
IT'S A MYSTERY
As to what Georgia might expect from Oklahoma State, Richt has some good news and some bad news.
When it comes to the defensive side of the football, Richt said the Cowboys offer some familiar looks.
"Defensively, as far as schematically, they're a lot like Arizona State," Richt said. "Their base is a 4-3 and they play quarters coverage. Their fire zones are similar to most everybody else. We're very close to them schematically in the secondary."
The problem, however, is on offense. Oklahoma State features three talented playmakers in quarterback Zac Robinson, wideout Dez Bryant and tailback Kendall Hunter and usually employ spread formations. The problem is, the Cowboys' spread isn't much like the others Georgia has played in the past.
"Offensively, I can't really say there's anybody that would closely relate to them," Richt said.
REPLACING MO-MASS
Finding a suitable replacement for departed wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi wasn't a difficult chore Cox said. Senior Michael Moore is expected to earn the bulk of the throws that went to Massaquoi a year ago, and that's a role Cox said Moore was ready for even before this season.
"He's a guy who works hard every day, knows what to do, and he's dependable," Cox said. "Any time you have a guy like that you want to get him the ball because you know he's going to be in the right place at the right time."
FITTING RIGHT IN
The attention has focused on the new faces fighting for the starting tailback job this offseason, but head coach Mark Richt said the new man coaching the tailbacks has done a pretty impressive job so far, too.
Bryan McClendon has only been on the job for about eight months, but Richt said the players have enjoyed his coaching style and the rest of the staff has been a strong support system.
"He's got great support with (last year's running backs coach) Tony (Ball) being right there, and of course, Mike (Bobo) and really Coach (Stacy) Searels," Richt said. "So he's surrounded by a really good support and everybody believes in him. And the players, they believe in him and are responding real well."
INJURY UPDATES
-- Demarcus Dobbs and Nick Williams had both been in green jerseys following minor neck sprains last week, but both were back on the field and full participants in Saturday's practice.
-- Caleb King is looking better, but he may not practice fully for a few more days. "I will say he'll start doing some drill work, doing some ball handling, maybe doing some pass skeleton, but I don't know," Richt said. "He's getting close though."
-- A handful of players with hamstring injuries could be back as full participants in Georgia's next practice Monday. "By Monday, hopefully a lot of these guys that haven't been working will work," Richt said. "I think Reshad (Jones) is real close, Aron White's real close. (Bryan) Evans, I'm not sure if he'll go full speed Monday, but they're all getting work."
-- Add Darius Dewberry to the "getting close" list, with a little extra praise coming his way. "Dewberry's very close. I would say this week coming up and maybe Monday," Richt said. "He really had a great summer. He's in tremendous shape, he's strong, and he knows what he's doing and has become very good at it."
-- One player lagging in his recovery is linebacker Akeem Dent, whose timetable for a return remains unclear. "Dent is actually a little further behind some of these other guys," Richt said. "He's not responding as quickly. I'm hoping by the end of the week Dent will be able to go but I'm more optimistic about the other hamstrings."
EXTRA POINTS
-- Just in case you haven't cruised over to Macon.com yet, be sure to check out my story on tailback Carlton Thomas, who has kept his name in the conversation for significant playing time this offseason despite the constant concerns about his size.
-- Matthew Stafford is getting the start for the Detroit Lions tonight, in case you were wondering.
-- Got an email from Sean F. asking: "Do you know when Jeff will begin his blog again? And has it not been updated lately due to NCAA rules or just the time constraints of football?"
There are no problems with NCAA or team rules. Quite the opposite, actually. Jeff's biggest issue, he said, has been finding good topics to write about, but the school is actually planning to give him a hand with that, and he'll be back to blogging soon.
"I've got a lot of stuff coming up," Owens said. "I'm supposed to get hooked up with sports communication to put it on GeorgiaDogs.com and they're going to have different people talking about what they want to hear, what they want to read and stuff, so that'll give me help."
It's not that the Bulldogs are easing up, it's just that they're getting tired of tackling each other.
"I think we're just ready to play somebody else," quarterback Joe Cox said. "You come out of camp and it's kind of a relief, but you're really still in it, you just have school to go along with it."
A year ago, Georgia was already into the game-planning phase for its opener, but this August, the team has an additional week to prepare for its first game of the season against Oklahoma State.
On the positive side, it's an extra week to get ready for what promises to be one of Georgia's toughest opening-week opponents in years. The downside, however, is that all the reps in practice are starting to get a little dull.
"We're ready to hit that phase where we're game planning and worrying about other teams and going other places rather than just coming out and doing the same things every day," Cox said.
After three weeks of the most grueling preseason senior Jeff Owens can remember, however, the extra week of practice time isn't so much about preparation as it is about rejuvenation.
"This extra week will help guys get their legs back up under them," Owens said. "I think we can just go out and work on our fundamentals and get better, make sure everyone knows the scheme of the defense."
THE SUM OF THEIR PARTS
Richt offered a ringing endorsement to sophomore Richard Samuel on Friday, saying the tailback was firmly atop Georgia's depth chart. But while Samuel hopes to approach the 1,400 rushing yards compiled by Knowshon Moreno a year ago, the plan for replacing the 33 receptions and nearly 400 receiving yards Moreno added is still likely to be a committee approach.
"I think we're kind of going to pull from everybody to get certain aspects of what Knowshon did," Cox said. "Richard's a hard runner, kind of a bruiser and he gets open, but it's not like he has incredible ball skills."
Samuel caught just two passes for 11 yards as a freshman, numbers likely to increase with additional playing time this season. Still, fellow tailbacks Caleb King and Carlton Thomas are better known for their abilities as receivers and are likely to see plenty of action in that role.
"A guy like Caleb or Carlton, they have really smooth hands," Cox said. "I'm not saying we're not going to throw the ball to Richard, but I definitely think we'll be using them rather than expecting Richard to run every down and catch every ball we throw to the backs."
HOUSE CALLS
Senior defensive end Marcus Washington returned to the practice field Saturday after missing two days due to illness. Sophomore linebacker Marcus Dowtin worked out with the team, too, but in a green, non-contact jersey. Dowtin had missed nearly a week with strep throat.
"He's been in the bed," Richt said of Dowtin. "He hasn't even been going to class. But he's coming out of it now and he's made enough progress for us to believe he'll be back Monday."
The two illnesses were enough to warrant quick medical attention for both players, but it's a scenario Richt said his training staff has been preparing for since the spring.
With the outbreak of the H1N1 virus – better known as the swine flu – Richt said trainer Ron Courson and his staff have been quick to diagnose flu symptoms and isolate players who may be ill.
"We had a few guys over the summer that we moved them out of their dorms or we moved a roommate out of the dorm when we thought a guy might have some flu symptoms," Richt said. "Even Dowtin, we kept him away from everybody even though we knew it was more of a strep throat thing. Ron always does a great job, but on this we were pretty proactive."
DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE
Last season, Georgia entered the year with its best-ever preseason ranking, players on the cover of Sports Illustrated and a ton of hype surrounding the team. The result was a disappointing 10-3 campaign in which the Bulldogs never came close to meeting lofty expectations.
This year, the shoe is on the other foot as Oklahoma State features the Sports Illustrated cover boys and national attention. While Cox isn't ready to call that an advantage for his side, he said he's well aware of the perils of too much publicity before a team even hits the field.
"I don't know how much of an advantage it will be," Cox said. "They might feed off of it. I just know it wasn't the best thing for us, or at least it didn't turn out to be last year. I like the way we're ranked. I like being in an underdog situation. I think it made us work harder this offseason, and we'll see how it affected them when we play them."
(NOTE: Cox may not know if it's an advantage, but I highly recommend reading this story from The Oklahoman and forming your own opinion.)
SCOUTING THE COW POKES
Georgia began scout team work for Oklahoma State on Friday -- doing about 20 minutes of preparations, head coach Mark Richt said. The scout team work will increase gradually this week, culminating with Georgia's final preseason scrimmage Wednesday in which the No. 1 units will play a simulated game against the scout team's version of Oklahoma State.
"We're in good shape," Richt said. "We're ready to move into our scout team units. By Wednesday we want them to have enough work so that when we have that game, they've give us a pretty good look."
After Wednesday's practice game, the Bulldogs will take Thursday off, then return to full practices Friday and Saturday. Next Sunday is a regularly scheduled off day and Georgia then begins its normal preparations the following Monday with a practice in full pads.
"It'll be good to be moving toward the game plan, but I think it will also be good to get their bodies refreshed," Richt said.
IT'S A MYSTERY
As to what Georgia might expect from Oklahoma State, Richt has some good news and some bad news.
When it comes to the defensive side of the football, Richt said the Cowboys offer some familiar looks.
"Defensively, as far as schematically, they're a lot like Arizona State," Richt said. "Their base is a 4-3 and they play quarters coverage. Their fire zones are similar to most everybody else. We're very close to them schematically in the secondary."
The problem, however, is on offense. Oklahoma State features three talented playmakers in quarterback Zac Robinson, wideout Dez Bryant and tailback Kendall Hunter and usually employ spread formations. The problem is, the Cowboys' spread isn't much like the others Georgia has played in the past.
"Offensively, I can't really say there's anybody that would closely relate to them," Richt said.
REPLACING MO-MASS
Finding a suitable replacement for departed wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi wasn't a difficult chore Cox said. Senior Michael Moore is expected to earn the bulk of the throws that went to Massaquoi a year ago, and that's a role Cox said Moore was ready for even before this season.
"He's a guy who works hard every day, knows what to do, and he's dependable," Cox said. "Any time you have a guy like that you want to get him the ball because you know he's going to be in the right place at the right time."
FITTING RIGHT IN
The attention has focused on the new faces fighting for the starting tailback job this offseason, but head coach Mark Richt said the new man coaching the tailbacks has done a pretty impressive job so far, too.
Bryan McClendon has only been on the job for about eight months, but Richt said the players have enjoyed his coaching style and the rest of the staff has been a strong support system.
"He's got great support with (last year's running backs coach) Tony (Ball) being right there, and of course, Mike (Bobo) and really Coach (Stacy) Searels," Richt said. "So he's surrounded by a really good support and everybody believes in him. And the players, they believe in him and are responding real well."
INJURY UPDATES
-- Demarcus Dobbs and Nick Williams had both been in green jerseys following minor neck sprains last week, but both were back on the field and full participants in Saturday's practice.
-- Caleb King is looking better, but he may not practice fully for a few more days. "I will say he'll start doing some drill work, doing some ball handling, maybe doing some pass skeleton, but I don't know," Richt said. "He's getting close though."
-- A handful of players with hamstring injuries could be back as full participants in Georgia's next practice Monday. "By Monday, hopefully a lot of these guys that haven't been working will work," Richt said. "I think Reshad (Jones) is real close, Aron White's real close. (Bryan) Evans, I'm not sure if he'll go full speed Monday, but they're all getting work."
-- Add Darius Dewberry to the "getting close" list, with a little extra praise coming his way. "Dewberry's very close. I would say this week coming up and maybe Monday," Richt said. "He really had a great summer. He's in tremendous shape, he's strong, and he knows what he's doing and has become very good at it."
-- One player lagging in his recovery is linebacker Akeem Dent, whose timetable for a return remains unclear. "Dent is actually a little further behind some of these other guys," Richt said. "He's not responding as quickly. I'm hoping by the end of the week Dent will be able to go but I'm more optimistic about the other hamstrings."
EXTRA POINTS
-- Just in case you haven't cruised over to Macon.com yet, be sure to check out my story on tailback Carlton Thomas, who has kept his name in the conversation for significant playing time this offseason despite the constant concerns about his size.
-- Matthew Stafford is getting the start for the Detroit Lions tonight, in case you were wondering.
-- Got an email from Sean F. asking: "Do you know when Jeff will begin his blog again? And has it not been updated lately due to NCAA rules or just the time constraints of football?"
There are no problems with NCAA or team rules. Quite the opposite, actually. Jeff's biggest issue, he said, has been finding good topics to write about, but the school is actually planning to give him a hand with that, and he'll be back to blogging soon.
"I've got a lot of stuff coming up," Owens said. "I'm supposed to get hooked up with sports communication to put it on GeorgiaDogs.com and they're going to have different people talking about what they want to hear, what they want to read and stuff, so that'll give me help."
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Fumbles Still Haunt Samuel
Once the initial excitement died down after Richard Samuel's big day in Georgia's first scrimmage of the fall, it wasn't his 178 yards or his three touchdowns that stood out in the minds of many fans. It was his fumble -- a lone turnover following a long run on a third-down play.
Fans had seen too much of it from Samuel in his rookie season last year, starting with the first carry of his career against Georgia Southern and continuing even into his special teams work as Georgia's primary kick returner.
On one hand, Samuel's breakout scrimmage moved him to the top of the depth chart at tailback.
On the other hand, it meant Georgia's top-performing tailback had a pretty nasty case of fumble-itus.
"That's probably the only thing that will keep him from getting a substantial amount of playing time is just being a guy who fumbles," head coach Mark Richt said after the scrimmage.
Running backs coach Bryan McClendon said he has worked closely with Samuel on avoiding fumbles this fall, but it's a message he said he preaches to all of his tailbacks.
During drills, there's never a point in which the running back can be loose with the football, McClendon said, even if they're simply tossing the ball back to the quarterback after a play.
“That’s a main point of emphasis that we have," McClendon said. "You have to focus a lot on it. A lot of what we do, even in all the drills, we focus on ball security, how we’re holding the ball. They have to maintain good ball security whenever they have the ball in their hands.”
And that's the key, Samuel said. There's no physical reason he should lose the football so often, but he understands he needs to get mentally stronger to overcome the problem.
“I feel like if I’m mentally prepared, I’ll be able to protect the ball," Samuel said. "Fumbling is just a mental thing. You have to keep the ball tucked and know that it’s tight and be prepared for contact.”
So far, it looks like the preparation is working.
The fumble in Georgia's first scrimmage was the first of the fall for Samuel, Richt said, and he hasn't let go of another one since.
The opportunity for playing time may have been the best motivator, but Richt said Samuel never doubted the importance of changing his stripes when it comes to keeping a firm grip on the ball.
In the end, he spent his big day worrying about the same thing most of the fans did.
"He took it to heart, which he should," Richt said. "As good as he played that day, really all he could think about was that he fumbled the ball. I was really praising him for the job he did, and he was like, ‘Yeah, but I fumbled the ball, and I can’t do that.’ And he’s right. He can’t. One fumble can cost a game, and one game could cost you a chance at a championship. So every bit of ball security is very important.”
Fans had seen too much of it from Samuel in his rookie season last year, starting with the first carry of his career against Georgia Southern and continuing even into his special teams work as Georgia's primary kick returner.
On one hand, Samuel's breakout scrimmage moved him to the top of the depth chart at tailback.
On the other hand, it meant Georgia's top-performing tailback had a pretty nasty case of fumble-itus.
"That's probably the only thing that will keep him from getting a substantial amount of playing time is just being a guy who fumbles," head coach Mark Richt said after the scrimmage.
Running backs coach Bryan McClendon said he has worked closely with Samuel on avoiding fumbles this fall, but it's a message he said he preaches to all of his tailbacks.
During drills, there's never a point in which the running back can be loose with the football, McClendon said, even if they're simply tossing the ball back to the quarterback after a play.
“That’s a main point of emphasis that we have," McClendon said. "You have to focus a lot on it. A lot of what we do, even in all the drills, we focus on ball security, how we’re holding the ball. They have to maintain good ball security whenever they have the ball in their hands.”
And that's the key, Samuel said. There's no physical reason he should lose the football so often, but he understands he needs to get mentally stronger to overcome the problem.
“I feel like if I’m mentally prepared, I’ll be able to protect the ball," Samuel said. "Fumbling is just a mental thing. You have to keep the ball tucked and know that it’s tight and be prepared for contact.”
So far, it looks like the preparation is working.
The fumble in Georgia's first scrimmage was the first of the fall for Samuel, Richt said, and he hasn't let go of another one since.
The opportunity for playing time may have been the best motivator, but Richt said Samuel never doubted the importance of changing his stripes when it comes to keeping a firm grip on the ball.
In the end, he spent his big day worrying about the same thing most of the fans did.
"He took it to heart, which he should," Richt said. "As good as he played that day, really all he could think about was that he fumbled the ball. I was really praising him for the job he did, and he was like, ‘Yeah, but I fumbled the ball, and I can’t do that.’ And he’s right. He can’t. One fumble can cost a game, and one game could cost you a chance at a championship. So every bit of ball security is very important.”
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Looking Deeper Into the RB Depth Chart
If you check out my practice notes from yesterday, you'll notice two things about the running back battle.
For one, Richard Samuel has clearly impressed his coach.
Secondly, his coach is doing his best to be coy about the situation.
I can't blame Bryan McClendon for playing his cards close to his vest. After all, his running game coordinator is a man who refuses to speak to the media at all. So he's just doing his job.
But that's not to say that we don't know a pretty good deal about things right now. So let's take a closer look at the contenders.
-- Dontavius Jackson missed more practice time last week and just hasn't shown anything to really prove he deserves significant consideration. He's had minimal production in both scrimmages, has been hurt almost the entire time he's been in Athens, and at this point, he's probably behind even rookie Washaun Ealey.
-- Ealey certainly has a lot of upside, and the reports through two-plus weeks have been encouraging. But the simple truth here is that he's a true freshman with little knowledge of the offense and, in particular, Georgia's blocking schemes. I don't think it's impossible for him to earn some special teams duty early and earn more time at tailback down the road, but I'd call him a longshot for any significant carries early on.
The battle is then back to the three main players we've known about all along -- Caleb King, Carlton Thomas and Samuel.
I'm not ready to write King off, and neither is offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, despite the sophomore's problematic hamstring.
"Obviously it's hard to evaluate somebody when they're injured, but he's injured right now, so he's just got to rehab that injury and we'll evaluate him when he gets back," Bobo said.
But Bobo's next sentence may be more telling: "I've been pleased with what Richard's done and Carlton Thomas. Both of those guys have stayed healthy and practiced hard."
That illustrates King's biggest problem. It may not be so much about what he hasn't done while injured as it is about what his top two competitors have done.
McClendon said he saw enough of King during the offseason and early in practice that he's not worried about evaluating him properly, but it sounds like Caleb might be.
"Caleb feels like it might be a tough break for him, but you still have a lot to base your judgment on about all of them," McClendon said. "You sort of had an idea how they ranked up before he got hurt, so you still get an idea."
Despite McClendon's lip service to a proper evaluation of King, the clear situation is that Thomas and Samuel are progressing and King is not -- at least at the moment. That's important because McClendon is making changes to the depth chart right now. He called each player into his office over the weekend to discuss the updated depth chart -- which he won't confirm the specific order of -- and he seems to be taking careful appreciation of King's concerns.
"The biggest thing is you have to understand that the decision you've made on whatever is based on what you think when everyone is healthy, not because Coach did this because I got hurt or Coach is keeping me down even though this guy is hurt in front of me," McClendon said. "You base your judgment on things you see when everyone is out there doing it full speed."
Well, for now, King isn't out there doing it full speed, but Samuel and Thomas are. McClendon also made a point of saying one or two backs getting regular touches would be preferable than three or four on game days, at least for him.
So where does that leave King?
Well, here are Samuel's stats through the first two scrimmages:
19 touches, 233 yards, 4 TDs
It's not hard to see why McClendon said Samuel is separating himself from the pack, and for his part, Samuel isn't satisfied yet.
"I wouldn't say 100 percent pleased because there's always room for improvement," Samuel said. "I would say there's areas I need to improve on, but just getting back out there, showing that I have the heart, the drive to get out and get better, I'm pleased with that. But there are things I need to improve on."
The top items on his list, he said, are his route running and his blocking, and that latter issue might be the saving grace for King at this point.
While Thomas has excelled in racking up yards -- even the tough ones between the tackles, which has impressed Bobo -- his frame makes the blocking game more difficult for him, and it's a nagging concern for Georgia's coaches, even as they marvel at his running ability.
"Some things, he can do better than the other guys. Some things, other guys do better than him just off sheer body type," McClendon said. "I think it would be real tough for me to have a peace of mind knowing that he has to go out there and be down blocking on D-ends all day."
McClendon made a point to say that he believed Thomas can be successful in the blocking game, but there are obvious reservations there.
"We've got to be smart about how we use our personnel and put them in the best place that they can succeed," is the way McClendon put it.
So that might be what keeps King afloat on the depth chart while he rests his sore hamstring. The bottom line is, he's a better blocker at this point -- maybe the best of the bunch -- and that carries a lot of weight in this discussion.
So, my best guess as to what the depth chart looks like right now:
1.) Samuel, 2.) King, 3.) Thomas, 4.) Ealey, 5.) Jackson.
How about you? Are you ready to give up on King or do you think this is a minor setback? Would you like to see Thomas given a chance to show what he can do as more of an every-down back? Are you sold on Samuel, or are his numbers a function of going against second- and third-team defenses?
For one, Richard Samuel has clearly impressed his coach.
Secondly, his coach is doing his best to be coy about the situation.
I can't blame Bryan McClendon for playing his cards close to his vest. After all, his running game coordinator is a man who refuses to speak to the media at all. So he's just doing his job.
But that's not to say that we don't know a pretty good deal about things right now. So let's take a closer look at the contenders.
-- Dontavius Jackson missed more practice time last week and just hasn't shown anything to really prove he deserves significant consideration. He's had minimal production in both scrimmages, has been hurt almost the entire time he's been in Athens, and at this point, he's probably behind even rookie Washaun Ealey.
-- Ealey certainly has a lot of upside, and the reports through two-plus weeks have been encouraging. But the simple truth here is that he's a true freshman with little knowledge of the offense and, in particular, Georgia's blocking schemes. I don't think it's impossible for him to earn some special teams duty early and earn more time at tailback down the road, but I'd call him a longshot for any significant carries early on.
The battle is then back to the three main players we've known about all along -- Caleb King, Carlton Thomas and Samuel.
I'm not ready to write King off, and neither is offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, despite the sophomore's problematic hamstring.
"Obviously it's hard to evaluate somebody when they're injured, but he's injured right now, so he's just got to rehab that injury and we'll evaluate him when he gets back," Bobo said.
But Bobo's next sentence may be more telling: "I've been pleased with what Richard's done and Carlton Thomas. Both of those guys have stayed healthy and practiced hard."
That illustrates King's biggest problem. It may not be so much about what he hasn't done while injured as it is about what his top two competitors have done.
McClendon said he saw enough of King during the offseason and early in practice that he's not worried about evaluating him properly, but it sounds like Caleb might be.
"Caleb feels like it might be a tough break for him, but you still have a lot to base your judgment on about all of them," McClendon said. "You sort of had an idea how they ranked up before he got hurt, so you still get an idea."
Despite McClendon's lip service to a proper evaluation of King, the clear situation is that Thomas and Samuel are progressing and King is not -- at least at the moment. That's important because McClendon is making changes to the depth chart right now. He called each player into his office over the weekend to discuss the updated depth chart -- which he won't confirm the specific order of -- and he seems to be taking careful appreciation of King's concerns.
"The biggest thing is you have to understand that the decision you've made on whatever is based on what you think when everyone is healthy, not because Coach did this because I got hurt or Coach is keeping me down even though this guy is hurt in front of me," McClendon said. "You base your judgment on things you see when everyone is out there doing it full speed."
Well, for now, King isn't out there doing it full speed, but Samuel and Thomas are. McClendon also made a point of saying one or two backs getting regular touches would be preferable than three or four on game days, at least for him.
So where does that leave King?
Well, here are Samuel's stats through the first two scrimmages:
19 touches, 233 yards, 4 TDs
It's not hard to see why McClendon said Samuel is separating himself from the pack, and for his part, Samuel isn't satisfied yet.
"I wouldn't say 100 percent pleased because there's always room for improvement," Samuel said. "I would say there's areas I need to improve on, but just getting back out there, showing that I have the heart, the drive to get out and get better, I'm pleased with that. But there are things I need to improve on."
The top items on his list, he said, are his route running and his blocking, and that latter issue might be the saving grace for King at this point.
While Thomas has excelled in racking up yards -- even the tough ones between the tackles, which has impressed Bobo -- his frame makes the blocking game more difficult for him, and it's a nagging concern for Georgia's coaches, even as they marvel at his running ability.
"Some things, he can do better than the other guys. Some things, other guys do better than him just off sheer body type," McClendon said. "I think it would be real tough for me to have a peace of mind knowing that he has to go out there and be down blocking on D-ends all day."
McClendon made a point to say that he believed Thomas can be successful in the blocking game, but there are obvious reservations there.
"We've got to be smart about how we use our personnel and put them in the best place that they can succeed," is the way McClendon put it.
So that might be what keeps King afloat on the depth chart while he rests his sore hamstring. The bottom line is, he's a better blocker at this point -- maybe the best of the bunch -- and that carries a lot of weight in this discussion.
So, my best guess as to what the depth chart looks like right now:
1.) Samuel, 2.) King, 3.) Thomas, 4.) Ealey, 5.) Jackson.
How about you? Are you ready to give up on King or do you think this is a minor setback? Would you like to see Thomas given a chance to show what he can do as more of an every-down back? Are you sold on Samuel, or are his numbers a function of going against second- and third-team defenses?
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Practice Notes: Tailbacks to Highlight Wed. Scrimmage
It's just nine days into fall practice, but it's already crunch time for a number of depth-chart battles.
Georgia hits the practice fields twice Wednesday, beginning with a morning session in shoulder pads and a full scrimmage at Sanford Stadium in the afternoon. The scrimmage will be the first opportunity for coaches to evaluate players under game conditions, and a number of key preseason battles will begin to take shape afterward.
"I'm interested to see how those guys compete when they get hit and playing in the stadium and playing out there without their coaches behind them telling them what's going on," offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. "I'm just excited to see whose going to step up, try to get an idea of what our identity is going to be based on who can make plays and who'll move the football."
The most intriguing of those competitions is at tailback, where five players have earned roughly equal reps with the first-team offense during the first week-and-a-half of practice, but running backs coach Bryan McClendon said the ranks should get thinner after he sees his troops in action.
"I'm really holding off until this scrimmage to sort of get in some sort of pecking order," McClendon said. "It's really up to those guys now."
If fans are curious to see who impresses during the scrimmage, the actual competitors are downright giddy.
"I look at the scrimmage as the first test, the first exam," said sophomore tailback Richard Samuel. "It's the first test to show that you can put together everything we learned and be able to execute. The scrimmage will allow us to show coaches that we can get the job done, so it's pretty important."
Samuel split back-up duties a year ago with Caleb King, and while McClendon insists it remains an open competition, the two are the favorites for playing time again this season.
King, in particular, has made the most of his offseason and garnered the confidence of his coach during the early practices this fall.
"He came in in a lot better shape," McClendon said of King. "He actually picked up weight. He's actually gotten a bit heavier, just as far as body mass. A lot of that is due to age, and a lot of that is due to him taking the opportunity. He works his tail off, and he's making good. I'm excited to see what all those guys are going to do."
BUMPS AND BRUISES
Injuries to Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten have Georgia's receiving corps stretched thin as the team readies for its first scrimmage of the year.
Brown injured his finger Saturday and has been limited to route-running drills since. He said he plans to test the finger during Wednesday's morning practice to determine whether he'll be able to participate in the afternoon scrimmage.
Wooten fell victim to soreness in his hamstring and didn't practice Tuesday. Bobo said he didn't expect Wooten to miss significant time but wasn't sure if the freshman would be ready for the scrimmage.
"Marlon and Rantavious have had a couple little setbacks that have held them out of practice, and we're just eager to get them healthy and see what they can do," Bobo said.
While the time away from practice is problematic for the two freshmen, Bobo said he didn't anticipate their absence preventing them from seeing action early in the season this year.
"I really believe we're going to have to play those guys because we're so thin at receiver," he said. "The main thing is just getting them out there in practice so we can get them ready for the season."
Freshman tailback Washaun Ealey is also recovering from a hyperextended elbow, but fullback Shaun Chapas said he expected Ealey to scrimmage Wednesday with a protective brace.
GETTING COMFORTABLE
Last week, Bobo was concerned about the offensive line's ability to gel as a unit, but after a few more practices, he's been impressed with how well the group has played together.
Trinton Sturdivant, Chris Davis, Ben Jones, Cordy Glenn and Clint Boling are currently projected as Georgia's starting five, and Bobo said they've taken nearly all the reps with the first team since practice began last week.
"Vince Vance and Justin Anderson are backing up and really pushing those guys for playing time, but right there, that's the five," Bobo said. "You can kind of see us coming together. The more those guys play together, the more they get used to each other, the better they become as a group."
While Bobo has been pleased with the line's progress, he's still not ready to proclaim the unit set. That, he said, will take a bit more time.
"We've got the ability to be a good offensive line," Bobo said. "If we could stay together and stay healthy, in a couple years we might be great. A lot of people say we're going to be great, but that takes time. But we definitely have the ability."
SECOND TIME'S A CHARM
His freshman season didn't end how he had hoped, but Blair Walsh said his confidence hasn't been shaken. In fact, he feels a lot better heading into this season than he did a year ago.
"This time last year the head was spinning," Walsh said. "Just knowing what to expect is a lot better. You know how to pace yourself, and that helps a whole lot."
Walsh is competing against junior college transfer Brandon Bogotay for kicking duties this fall after struggling on kickoffs and going through a minor slump on field goals in the latter half of the 2008 season.
But while last year was a frustrating daze, this season, Walsh is ready for whatever might be in store for him.
"Coming in here and having a full summer to get ready," he said, "I definitely feel more prepared."
ORSON IMPRESSES
This year marks Michael Moore's fifth fall camp at Georgia, so he's not easily impressed by what he sees on the practice fields. But then again, freshman Orson Charles isn't your everyday tight end.
Moore said Charles made two spectacular catches over the middle during Monday's practice sessions that had Georgia's receivers in awe and had Moore wondering what Charles might be able to accomplish on game day.
"Orson Charles is going to bring another dynamic that we haven't seen before," Moore said. "He's a great pass-catching tight end. He just knows how to go up and get the ball. He's a different body type. He's like a big wide receiver, and it's going to cause some matchup problems."
LET'S PLAY FOUR
Georgia's three losses last season weren't so much three bad games. Instead, it was three bad halves of football, and that's something Bobo hopes the Bulldogs can avoid this season.
From spring practice through Tuesday's workouts, the key element Bobo has looked for in his players has been consistency. And while things haven't been perfect so far, Bobo has been happy with the results.
"There was maybe one day where I wasn't pleased with the effort and thought maybe we wasted a day, but for the most part, guys have been getting after it and trying to get better every day," Bobo said. "That's our main focus is to play hard for four quarters and play with some consistency, and that starts now."
For all the criticism the defense earned during dismal performances against Alabama, Florida and Georgia Tech a year ago, Bobo said a portion of the blame has to fall to his offensive players, too. While the D struggled to make stops, Georgia's offense mustered just three points in the first half against Florida, was shut out during the critical third quarter against Tech and failed to dent the scoreboard until the second half against the Crimson Tide.
Regardless of the defensive improvement, Bobo said the offense has to do its part to help swing momentum this year.
"We want to be more consistent, have less three-and-outs, try to change field position, limit giving the defense a short field and stuff like that," Bobo said. "There were a couple of times we might have been struggling defensively and then we disappear as an offense and maybe could have changed some momentum in certain games."
PINNING IT ON THE KIDS
The biggest question from concerned fans since practice began seems to be about which quarterbacks are throwing all the interceptions.
Head coach Mark Richt pointed the finger at the No. 2 unit after Monday's practice, but Bobo got a bit more specific.
"I think the defense has done a nice job of making plays on balls in the air, catching some balls and intercepting them," he said. "But when you've got two freshmen quarterbacks in there, you're going to have turnovers. That's just how it goes."
There is some good news, however, as Bobo sees it: "I'd rather it happen now than Saturdays," he said.
MAN IN MOTION
Bobo said a key for wide receiver A.J. Green's success this season will be moving him around the field to create confusion on the defense. Whether a lot of motion will become a widespread part of the offensive attack, however, will depend a lot on who else lines up alongside Green.
"It really depends what the other guys that are in there, what they can handle," Bobo said. "If we end up with Orson Charles and a couple other freshmen receivers, I don't know how much they can handle movement. You want them to go out there and be able to play fast and execute using their athletic ability."
Georgia hits the practice fields twice Wednesday, beginning with a morning session in shoulder pads and a full scrimmage at Sanford Stadium in the afternoon. The scrimmage will be the first opportunity for coaches to evaluate players under game conditions, and a number of key preseason battles will begin to take shape afterward.
"I'm interested to see how those guys compete when they get hit and playing in the stadium and playing out there without their coaches behind them telling them what's going on," offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. "I'm just excited to see whose going to step up, try to get an idea of what our identity is going to be based on who can make plays and who'll move the football."
The most intriguing of those competitions is at tailback, where five players have earned roughly equal reps with the first-team offense during the first week-and-a-half of practice, but running backs coach Bryan McClendon said the ranks should get thinner after he sees his troops in action.
"I'm really holding off until this scrimmage to sort of get in some sort of pecking order," McClendon said. "It's really up to those guys now."
If fans are curious to see who impresses during the scrimmage, the actual competitors are downright giddy.
"I look at the scrimmage as the first test, the first exam," said sophomore tailback Richard Samuel. "It's the first test to show that you can put together everything we learned and be able to execute. The scrimmage will allow us to show coaches that we can get the job done, so it's pretty important."
Samuel split back-up duties a year ago with Caleb King, and while McClendon insists it remains an open competition, the two are the favorites for playing time again this season.
King, in particular, has made the most of his offseason and garnered the confidence of his coach during the early practices this fall.
"He came in in a lot better shape," McClendon said of King. "He actually picked up weight. He's actually gotten a bit heavier, just as far as body mass. A lot of that is due to age, and a lot of that is due to him taking the opportunity. He works his tail off, and he's making good. I'm excited to see what all those guys are going to do."
BUMPS AND BRUISES
Injuries to Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten have Georgia's receiving corps stretched thin as the team readies for its first scrimmage of the year.
Brown injured his finger Saturday and has been limited to route-running drills since. He said he plans to test the finger during Wednesday's morning practice to determine whether he'll be able to participate in the afternoon scrimmage.
Wooten fell victim to soreness in his hamstring and didn't practice Tuesday. Bobo said he didn't expect Wooten to miss significant time but wasn't sure if the freshman would be ready for the scrimmage.
"Marlon and Rantavious have had a couple little setbacks that have held them out of practice, and we're just eager to get them healthy and see what they can do," Bobo said.
While the time away from practice is problematic for the two freshmen, Bobo said he didn't anticipate their absence preventing them from seeing action early in the season this year.
"I really believe we're going to have to play those guys because we're so thin at receiver," he said. "The main thing is just getting them out there in practice so we can get them ready for the season."
Freshman tailback Washaun Ealey is also recovering from a hyperextended elbow, but fullback Shaun Chapas said he expected Ealey to scrimmage Wednesday with a protective brace.
GETTING COMFORTABLE
Last week, Bobo was concerned about the offensive line's ability to gel as a unit, but after a few more practices, he's been impressed with how well the group has played together.
Trinton Sturdivant, Chris Davis, Ben Jones, Cordy Glenn and Clint Boling are currently projected as Georgia's starting five, and Bobo said they've taken nearly all the reps with the first team since practice began last week.
"Vince Vance and Justin Anderson are backing up and really pushing those guys for playing time, but right there, that's the five," Bobo said. "You can kind of see us coming together. The more those guys play together, the more they get used to each other, the better they become as a group."
While Bobo has been pleased with the line's progress, he's still not ready to proclaim the unit set. That, he said, will take a bit more time.
"We've got the ability to be a good offensive line," Bobo said. "If we could stay together and stay healthy, in a couple years we might be great. A lot of people say we're going to be great, but that takes time. But we definitely have the ability."
SECOND TIME'S A CHARM
His freshman season didn't end how he had hoped, but Blair Walsh said his confidence hasn't been shaken. In fact, he feels a lot better heading into this season than he did a year ago.
"This time last year the head was spinning," Walsh said. "Just knowing what to expect is a lot better. You know how to pace yourself, and that helps a whole lot."
Walsh is competing against junior college transfer Brandon Bogotay for kicking duties this fall after struggling on kickoffs and going through a minor slump on field goals in the latter half of the 2008 season.
But while last year was a frustrating daze, this season, Walsh is ready for whatever might be in store for him.
"Coming in here and having a full summer to get ready," he said, "I definitely feel more prepared."
ORSON IMPRESSES
This year marks Michael Moore's fifth fall camp at Georgia, so he's not easily impressed by what he sees on the practice fields. But then again, freshman Orson Charles isn't your everyday tight end.
Moore said Charles made two spectacular catches over the middle during Monday's practice sessions that had Georgia's receivers in awe and had Moore wondering what Charles might be able to accomplish on game day.
"Orson Charles is going to bring another dynamic that we haven't seen before," Moore said. "He's a great pass-catching tight end. He just knows how to go up and get the ball. He's a different body type. He's like a big wide receiver, and it's going to cause some matchup problems."
LET'S PLAY FOUR
Georgia's three losses last season weren't so much three bad games. Instead, it was three bad halves of football, and that's something Bobo hopes the Bulldogs can avoid this season.
From spring practice through Tuesday's workouts, the key element Bobo has looked for in his players has been consistency. And while things haven't been perfect so far, Bobo has been happy with the results.
"There was maybe one day where I wasn't pleased with the effort and thought maybe we wasted a day, but for the most part, guys have been getting after it and trying to get better every day," Bobo said. "That's our main focus is to play hard for four quarters and play with some consistency, and that starts now."
For all the criticism the defense earned during dismal performances against Alabama, Florida and Georgia Tech a year ago, Bobo said a portion of the blame has to fall to his offensive players, too. While the D struggled to make stops, Georgia's offense mustered just three points in the first half against Florida, was shut out during the critical third quarter against Tech and failed to dent the scoreboard until the second half against the Crimson Tide.
Regardless of the defensive improvement, Bobo said the offense has to do its part to help swing momentum this year.
"We want to be more consistent, have less three-and-outs, try to change field position, limit giving the defense a short field and stuff like that," Bobo said. "There were a couple of times we might have been struggling defensively and then we disappear as an offense and maybe could have changed some momentum in certain games."
PINNING IT ON THE KIDS
The biggest question from concerned fans since practice began seems to be about which quarterbacks are throwing all the interceptions.
Head coach Mark Richt pointed the finger at the No. 2 unit after Monday's practice, but Bobo got a bit more specific.
"I think the defense has done a nice job of making plays on balls in the air, catching some balls and intercepting them," he said. "But when you've got two freshmen quarterbacks in there, you're going to have turnovers. That's just how it goes."
There is some good news, however, as Bobo sees it: "I'd rather it happen now than Saturdays," he said.
MAN IN MOTION
Bobo said a key for wide receiver A.J. Green's success this season will be moving him around the field to create confusion on the defense. Whether a lot of motion will become a widespread part of the offensive attack, however, will depend a lot on who else lines up alongside Green.
"It really depends what the other guys that are in there, what they can handle," Bobo said. "If we end up with Orson Charles and a couple other freshmen receivers, I don't know how much they can handle movement. You want them to go out there and be able to play fast and execute using their athletic ability."
Friday, March 20, 2009
Practice Notes: Ready to Hit
After being limited to lifting weights and performing in non-contact drills for over two months, the Georgia players will get a chance to hit tomorrow when they dress out in full-pads for the first time since the Capital One Bowl.
Although there won’t be an official scrimmage, UGA head coach Mark Richt is confident that the intensity will not be lacking.
“(Saturday) is going to be a spirited practice,” Richt said. “First day of pads is usually that way. I think the tension is already building, and I got a feeling that we’re gonna have to pull some guys off of each other.”
Despite giving up nearly 25 points per game a year ago, Richt made it clear that it is the defense that is making the early strides and dictating play in the majority of off-season drills.
“Defense without question is setting the tone in the spring,” Richt said. “I remember the years that I coached at Florida State, when we had that great run of 14 years in the top-5, I don’t think there was a spring where the defense didn’t kick our rear-end every year. It’s just the beginning, but the defense has really done a nice job.”
In addition to dressing out in full-pads for the first time, Georgia will also be hosting its annual Junior Day on Saturday.
“It’s a huge day,” Richt said of the opportunity. “It’s exciting that that many guys want to come. Every Junior Day we have is a little different and this year’s emphasis is going to be about the football part of it. They’ll get to see our Coaches coach and our players get after it.”
Richt expects at least 300 recruits to make the visit.
SAME FACES, NEW PLACES
Georgia’s offseason coaching shake-up didn’t exactly introduce the Bulldogs to a bunch of new faces, but former graduate assistant Bryan McClendon and former running backs coach Tony Ball have both brought new approaches to their new roles. Ball has taken over the wide receivers this season, and he’s giving each of his receivers a chance to prove their mettle with a clean slate and a fresh attitude.
“He’s got a different philosophy with what he does and how he wants to us do things, so it’s like rebuilding and starting over again,” said redshirt freshman Israel Troupe.
McClendon, who now handles Georgia’s running backs, has given his players a fresh start, too. Tailback Caleb King said McClendon has made a point of starting from scratch and re-teaching many of the fundamentals that may have faded into the background in the past.Of course, neither Ball nor McClendon have seen this spring as any drastic departure from the past, but they are excited to be undertaking a new adventure.
“It’s not too different,” McClendon said. “I’ve been through it as a player, I’ve been through it as a graduate assistant before, so I pretty much know the regiment. The biggest thing is the excitement – how excited I am to be able to work with those guys and just to be on the field coaching. It’s always great to be out there with those guys and improving those guys on and off the field.”
KICKIN’ IT OLD SCHOOL
Blair Walsh took plenty of criticism throughout last season for his problems on kickoffs, including hearing his head coach suggest he would fly to Poland to find someone who could handle the role. As it turns out, however, Walsh looks to be the guy to handle kickoff duties once again, and while he hopes to improve the results, he hasn’t changed his approach.
“I keep it the same,” Walsh said. “I approach it just like I do everything, very professionally and try to do my best at it. But I haven’t changed any way I look at it.”
As for what the coaches might have in store for him this year – whether he’ll be kicking deep, directional kicking or not kicking off at all – Walsh said he hasn’t gotten any news.
“I don’t know yet,” Walsh said. “We haven’t really done anything yet. I don’t know what their philosophy is, I don’t know what the coaches are doing or thinking about.”
STARTING FROM SCRATCH
Troupe is one of several players this spring hoping to turn a particularly minor role last season into significant playing time this year. Troupe’s game plan for working his way into the offense is simple: He’s going back to basics.
“This year coming in is kind of like my freshman year all over again,” Troupe said. “I’ve got a clean slate coming in and I’m just starting over from scratch.”
HANGIN’ IN THERE
Dallas Lee’s introduction to life in the SEC hasn’t been a particularly enjoyable one, thanks to the magic of offensive line coach Stacy Searels. But despite the typical freshman struggles, Lee – who Searels said is working out at center and guard so far – has held his own.
“He’s doing good,” Searels said. “It’s a kid who should still be in high school right now, but he’s out there working and it’s an eye-opening experience for him.”
Although there won’t be an official scrimmage, UGA head coach Mark Richt is confident that the intensity will not be lacking.
“(Saturday) is going to be a spirited practice,” Richt said. “First day of pads is usually that way. I think the tension is already building, and I got a feeling that we’re gonna have to pull some guys off of each other.”
Despite giving up nearly 25 points per game a year ago, Richt made it clear that it is the defense that is making the early strides and dictating play in the majority of off-season drills.
“Defense without question is setting the tone in the spring,” Richt said. “I remember the years that I coached at Florida State, when we had that great run of 14 years in the top-5, I don’t think there was a spring where the defense didn’t kick our rear-end every year. It’s just the beginning, but the defense has really done a nice job.”
In addition to dressing out in full-pads for the first time, Georgia will also be hosting its annual Junior Day on Saturday.
“It’s a huge day,” Richt said of the opportunity. “It’s exciting that that many guys want to come. Every Junior Day we have is a little different and this year’s emphasis is going to be about the football part of it. They’ll get to see our Coaches coach and our players get after it.”
Richt expects at least 300 recruits to make the visit.
SAME FACES, NEW PLACES
Georgia’s offseason coaching shake-up didn’t exactly introduce the Bulldogs to a bunch of new faces, but former graduate assistant Bryan McClendon and former running backs coach Tony Ball have both brought new approaches to their new roles. Ball has taken over the wide receivers this season, and he’s giving each of his receivers a chance to prove their mettle with a clean slate and a fresh attitude.
“He’s got a different philosophy with what he does and how he wants to us do things, so it’s like rebuilding and starting over again,” said redshirt freshman Israel Troupe.
McClendon, who now handles Georgia’s running backs, has given his players a fresh start, too. Tailback Caleb King said McClendon has made a point of starting from scratch and re-teaching many of the fundamentals that may have faded into the background in the past.Of course, neither Ball nor McClendon have seen this spring as any drastic departure from the past, but they are excited to be undertaking a new adventure.
“It’s not too different,” McClendon said. “I’ve been through it as a player, I’ve been through it as a graduate assistant before, so I pretty much know the regiment. The biggest thing is the excitement – how excited I am to be able to work with those guys and just to be on the field coaching. It’s always great to be out there with those guys and improving those guys on and off the field.”
KICKIN’ IT OLD SCHOOL
Blair Walsh took plenty of criticism throughout last season for his problems on kickoffs, including hearing his head coach suggest he would fly to Poland to find someone who could handle the role. As it turns out, however, Walsh looks to be the guy to handle kickoff duties once again, and while he hopes to improve the results, he hasn’t changed his approach.
“I keep it the same,” Walsh said. “I approach it just like I do everything, very professionally and try to do my best at it. But I haven’t changed any way I look at it.”
As for what the coaches might have in store for him this year – whether he’ll be kicking deep, directional kicking or not kicking off at all – Walsh said he hasn’t gotten any news.
“I don’t know yet,” Walsh said. “We haven’t really done anything yet. I don’t know what their philosophy is, I don’t know what the coaches are doing or thinking about.”
STARTING FROM SCRATCH
Troupe is one of several players this spring hoping to turn a particularly minor role last season into significant playing time this year. Troupe’s game plan for working his way into the offense is simple: He’s going back to basics.
“This year coming in is kind of like my freshman year all over again,” Troupe said. “I’ve got a clean slate coming in and I’m just starting over from scratch.”
HANGIN’ IN THERE
Dallas Lee’s introduction to life in the SEC hasn’t been a particularly enjoyable one, thanks to the magic of offensive line coach Stacy Searels. But despite the typical freshman struggles, Lee – who Searels said is working out at center and guard so far – has held his own.
“He’s doing good,” Searels said. “It’s a kid who should still be in high school right now, but he’s out there working and it’s an eye-opening experience for him.”
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Little Big Man
I have a story in today's Telegraph on the big impression Carlton Thomas has made in his 10 or so months in Athens. I lead the story with a couple of examples, but I bet I've had a dozen different players praise Thomas' game without any provocation on my part. He may not be big, but the kid manages to draw attention.
Anyway, because UGA practices so late this spring, I was pressed on deadline and couldn't weave any quotes from Thomas' new position coach, Bryan McClendon, into the story. Still, McClendon had some good things to say, so I figured I'd post them here.
McClendon on Thomas' best attributes...
"The thing that's going to make Carlton so good is his will to compete. He wants to compete and be the best at anything you tell him to do. Wherever you line him up at, whatever you ask him to do, he's going to do it, and he's going to try to do it better than everybody else out there. That's what makes him so special."
McClendon on Thomas' chance to impress this spring...
"He's had a fantastic offseason, and he had a great end of last season just improving and learning a little bit more. Him being able to dive into this competition full speed was all he needed for any incentive or motivation that may have been may have been needed. For him to know he's in a competition for this spot, he's really responded very well to it."
McClendon on whether he has been surprised by what Thomas can do...
"We got to see a lot of it last year, and we got to see a lot of it during mat drills, how he just wanted to compete on the mat. We're out there in mat drills and he's busting his tail. That part doesn't surprise me one bit. I knew he was going to go out there and try to be the best out there."
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