Video Blog: QB Reps, Limiting Turnovers & Running at Richard

Carlton Thomas, Mike Bobo, Ben Jones and Aaron Murray talk about spring practice so far...



Video courtesy of Brandon Spoon.

Deleted Scenes: Carlton Thomas

I had a handful of people asking about Carlton Thomas the last couple of weeks, so I figured he'd make a good story -- particularly when you consider that a year ago, he was among the most buzzworthy players on the Bulldogs' roster.

Anyway, you can read the story HERE. And for a few extra quotes, here ya go...

Thomas on how many touches he's expecting...
“I really don’t know. That’s up to the coaches, and that’s why we’re out here this spring. There’s no time to dwell over last year. It’s basically time to work and let the coaches decide.”

Thomas on the relationship between RBs...
“We feel as a unit, we run the offense. So that’s what keeps us motivated is just going out there and going hard all day, every day.”

Bryan McClendon on Thomas' role...
“If he just keeps competing and being sharp on assignments and being able to hold up in pass protection, I think he can have a big role this year.”

McClendon on establishing a package for Thomas...
“We have to make sure that we do the things that we do, too. You can’t get caught up in doing a bunch of other stuff, and doing what you know it takes to win. You have to be able to hit people in the mouth and run the ball, pick up the blitz, do everything and be able to hold up in every aspect and not be one-dimensional when a particular guy is in the game.”

Caleb King on what Thomas brings...
“He’s a special back. With his size, people don’t think he can run through the tackle, but he can run straight up. He’s a strong back. They said they’re going to put him in the slot some more, just try to find ways to get him the ball – be it a pass, some screens – just be a playmaker.”

King on what Thomas could do this year...
“I believe they showed a little bit of him the beginning of the season last year, and if they plug him in a little more, he’ll make more plays and gain a little confidence.”

Practice Notes: Ealey Looks Improved

It took Washaun Ealey more than four games before he saw any action last season, and it wasn’t until the final few weeks of the season that he really came into his own as a running back. But when he found his stride, he turned in huge results. Ealey tallied at least 70 yards rushing in each of his final seven games, including a huge 183-yard performance in a win over Georgia Tech.

In the months since the season ended, head coach Mark Richt said Ealey has only managed to climb even higher up the learning curve, and when he hit the field Tuesday at practice, his head coach marveled at how far Ealey had come.

“Washaun is just a whole lot different than a year ago in my opinion,” Richt said. “He was a true freshman. He wasn’t in the greatest of shape, and now he’s in much better shape, he knows what to do, and he’s having fun out there practicing with a lot of tempo and confidence.”

RETURNING TO RETURNER

Logan Gray may still be in the running for Georgia’s starting quarterback job, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be giving up his part-time gig on special teams.

Richt said that, while Gray isn’t likely to see much special teams action this spring, the rising junior quarterback is likely to resume his duties as a punt returner once fall camp opens in August. While Gray is unlikely to be the full-time return man, Richt said Gray has proven he’s adept at fielding deep punts that require the returner to decide whether to fair catch the ball or allow it to bounce into the end zone. Gray played on several other special teams as well, but Richt said those duties would depend heavily on his position on the depth chart at quarterback.

“In the fall I think he will either be the guy or be a very strong candidate to do what he did last year on the punt team,” Richt said. “When we’re backed up and you’ve got a guy at his heels on the 10-yard line to decide should I field it or let it go, he did a very good job of that last year, and that’s kind of a hard thing to teach. I think he would do that, and we’ll just see what the future holds. I’m not counting him out for any other special teams either. It just depends how this QB race goes.”

NO DOUBTING THOMAS

As for the primary punt returner job, tailback Carlton Thomas appears to have the inside track on landing the role that was filled by Prince Miller for the past two seasons.

“I’m pretty confident back there,” Thomas said. “Prince talked to me a lot while he was here and showed me the ropes. So that’s been one of my main focuses since he’s been gone for me to pick up his slack where he left off.”

Bobo said he was hopeful to find several ways to get the undersized but speedy Thomas on the field and said the special teams work would be a good option.

“A role for him on special teams as a return guy is very possible,” Bobo said. “He’s a hard worker in practice and if he continues to do that, he’ll get an opportunity in the fall.”

ON THE MOVE?

With Mettenberger’s arrest and possible suspension, the future could also be cloudy for Gray, depending on how the depth chart at quarterback shakes out this spring.

Gray had considered swapping positions from quarterback to wide receiver before the spring, but decided to stay put for the time being. But Richt left the door open for a potential position swap after spring practice ended, which could then leave the Bulldogs with only Murray and incoming freshman Hutson Mason at quarterback, should Mettenberger miss time due to a suspension.

Tuesday, Richt said a potential suspension for Mettenberger would not necessarily preclude a position change for Gray, but that the bottom line was that Gray could be called upon any time.
“No matter what happens,” Richt said, “he’s got to be ready to play quarterback.”

BUILDING CONFIDENCE

Bobo said A.J. Harmon was working extensively at left tackle this spring in hopes of building some additional depth on the offensive line.

“We’re rotating him a lot in with the ones just to get him some experience playing with those guys and get him some confidence," Bobo said. "He moved over at the end of his redshirt freshman year. This is his second spring, and he’s a little bit behind. It’s learning what to do from a confidence standpoint because there’s no doubt he’s got some ability. We just need him to take that on the field and be able to execute offensively.”

Short Cuts: How Bad a Runner is Richard Samuel?

The biggest UGA story during my week off might have been Mark Richt's admission that there was at least a chance Richard Samuel would be moved to linebacker next season. The rationale is simple: Samuel is big, strong and fast, but he just doesn't have those natural instincts a running back needs to hit the hole and break tackles. The evidence is simple, too: He makes contact, then goes down. Too many short runs, not enough first downs. But is it true?

Here's a rundown of the runs made by each of Georgia's four primary tailbacks this season:

Player	Total Runs	0/Neg. (Pct)	1-3 yds (Pct)	4-6 yds (Pct)	7-9 yds (Pct)	10+ yds (Pct)
R.Samuel	77	16 (20.7%)	31 (40.3%)	15 (19.5%)	9 (11.6%)	6 (7.8%)
C. King	35	9 (25.7%)	13 (37.1%)	6 (17.1 %)	1 (2.9%)	6 (17.1%)
W. Ealey	31	6 (19.3%)	15 (48.4%)	6 (19.3%)	3 (9.6%)	1 (3.2%)
C.Thomas	19	3 (15.8%)	5 (26.3%)	5 (26.3%)	2 (13.2%)	4 (21.1%)

Well, it's hard to argue with the notion that Samuel does, indeed, provide a hefty dose of short runs. In fact, 61 percent of the time Samuel carries the football, he picks up fewer than 3 yards. That's not going to get it done.

But is that Samuel's fault or are there other forces at work here?

Look at Georgia's other three tailbacks: Caleb King picks up 3 yards or fewer on 62.8 percent of his carries. Washaun Ealey fails to top 3 yards on a whopping 67.7 percent of his carries. Only Carlton Thomas has had more success at picking up consistent yardage on his runs than Samuel, and his numbers are dubious for several reasons including both a small sample size and the fact that the majority of his work has come during "garbage time" efforts.

So is Samuel really more prone to going down on first contact? These numbers say no. The problem is either a.) All of Georgia's tailbacks fail to break tackles or b.) Georgia's O line simply isn't making longer runs an option.

Of course, there's also the other end of the scale. What about those really long runs -- the ones that seriously erode a defense's confidence and set the offense up with strong field position? On that end, King is the clear winner, and Samuel doesn't seem to have much success. Perhaps that is a better indication of "instincts." Perhaps those real running lanes have been a rarity this season, but when they do appear, King has taken advantage of them while Samuel has not.

That seems reasonable, but if we expand our definition of "big play" to include any of more than 7 yards, suddenly the difference between Samuel and King disappears. So maybe it's not first contact that Samuel has more trouble with than others, but second contact.

Again, none of this is a foolproof answer to the question, but at the same time it does sort of dampen that conventional wisdom that Samuel simply isn't cut out to play tailback.

A few other points worth noting from this data:

-- If Georgia does move Samuel, I'm not sure the coaching staff can be criticized for a failed experiment. What does seem perplexing, however, is why -- if Samuel needed time to develop his skills as a runner -- he wasn't redshirted last year when he was just 17 and had minimal tailback experience.

-- Washaun Ealey seems to be the ray of hope for most fans, but while he has had a couple of more memorable runs, his overall body of work is clearly the worst of the four.

-- Carlton Thomas needs more touches. He's not a traditional runner, but when given a chance to succeed, he does it. Coaches need to stop looking at him as a third or fourth option and start viewing him as a real weapon for the offense.

I did a good bit more research on the running game as well, and we'll get to that later today and tomorrow, so stay tuned.

ADDENDUM: I should also note that perhaps the most stinging indictment of Samuel is not his short runs but rather his propensity for fumbles. I'll take a series of 2-yard totes over a turnover any day.

Notes: Special Teams Staying Young

Georgia’s kickoff coverage team has struggled throughout this season, culminating with a disastrous effort against LSU that allowed the Tigers to begin their final drive with exceptional field position.

While head coach Mark Richt said the team continues to address the problems, he said some of the issues are simply a matter of youth that can only improve with increased experience.

“I can’t sit here and say we’ve got 10 guys that are really getting after it and getting it done,” Richt said. “I think they’re trying their tails off but there’s a lot of youth on that thing and they’ve got to continue to mature.”

Richt said the kick coverage team is the youngest of any of Georgia’s special teams units, and the loss of special teams stalwart Chad Gloer to a hamstring injury simply removed one more rare veteran presence.

Gloer will not be ready for this week’s game against Tennessee, Richt said, but could return in time to take on Vanderbilt next week.

As for last week’s debacle following a go-ahead touchdown by A.J. Green, sophomore Logan Gray – who serves on the coverage unit as well as being the team’s No. 2 quarterback – said the problems started early with a 15-yard penalty backing up a kick, and the execution that followed was bad from the start.

“If we hadn’t gotten the penalty, we probably would have had a lot more options as to what we wanted to do, but because we were backed up, we had to kick it as deep as we could to try to save field position,” Gray said. “The kick was more middle of the field and we had tried to directional kick it. You have to play off that, but (Trindon Holliday) is a good player, and fast. We couldn’t let that happen, so it was unfortunate.”

While Gray concurred that an excess of youth on the unit has caused problems, he said the key to improving coverage going forward is far more about effort than experience.

“We did lose a lot of guys that played kickoff their whole careers here that were seniors last year, but I think kickoff is about want and desire and guys wanting to make a play,” Gray said. “I’m not saying our guys don’t want it, but we’ve got to dig deep for the rest of the season and make plays. It’s all about making plays, us vs. them, on kickoffs, with everybody getting to the ball.”

TAKING THE HEAT

Sure, Joe Cox tossed a potential game-winning touchdown for Georgia with just 1:09 to play last week, but even he knows it was far from his best effort.

The Bulldogs mustered just one first-half first down, and Cox threw a few passes that went wide of their intended targets.

So while his comeback effort was nice, he’s not at all surprised by some of the criticism he’s gotten from fans since Georgia dropped a heart-breaking 20-13 game to No. 4 LSU.
“Any time something’s not going right, they think if you put a new quarterback in, that’s going to change the problems,” Cox said. “That doesn’t bother me at all.”

For the season, Cox has completed 59 percent of his passes, including 11 touchdowns, while throwing six interceptions.

Against LSU, he finished 18-of-34 for 229 yards, but was just 3-of-9 for 31 yards in the first half.

“I missed a couple throws,” he said. “It’s jut being more accurate. That’s all it is. You’re not going to be able to make every throw. It’s not that I have a lack of confidence in certain throws. There’s just some times when you’ve got to hit them and (Saturday) I didn’t hit ‘em.”

WHERE’D HE GO?

After seeing a healthy dose of action in Georgia’s first two games of the season, freshman tailback Carlton Thomas has disappeared from the offense in recent weeks.

That’s no knock on Thomas, head coach Richt assured. It’s simply a matter of a numbers game at tailback, where Caleb King’s return to the lineup and a desire to let the Bulldogs’ top two runners establish a groove, left little room for Thomas to see the field.

“He’s getting it, but when Caleb came back that was kind of more of the issue than anything else,” Richt said. “We’re not disappointed in Carlton. But we’ve had a lot of extremely close games and one more healthy back in the lineup when Caleb was out.”

Thomas could see more playing time this week, as King is expected to miss the game after suffering a concussion and a broken jaw last week against LSU.

The bulk of King’s carries, however, will be going to freshman Washaun Ealey, who saw his first taste of action last week and looked sharp in the second half against the Tigers.

That was a home date, however, and this week’s task gets tougher in front of more than 100,000 fans at Neyland Stadium. Richt said he’s not sure how Ealey will react, but he said the freshman appears confident.

“He seems excited about it,” Richt said. “I think he’s practiced pretty well. He thinks he’s ready, but we’ll see. It’s hard to describe what it’s like over there to the guys who have never been there, and he’ll get a taste of that.”

Richt said he expected Richard Samuel to be the starting tailback, with Ealey getting roughly half the carries in the game.

THE WAITING GAME

For the fourth straight week, Georgia will be without linebacker Akeem Dent and defensive end Kiante Tripp, who have both missed time with injuries that have lingered since fall camp.

Dent hurt his hamstring in early August and was slow to recover. He played in Georgia’s first two games, but re-aggravated the hamstring injury against South Carolina and hasn’t played since.

“For some reason he’s just really had trouble healing,” Richt said. “Some guys have a hamstring injury, and most guys just recover a little bit quicker. Even when he did play a game or two, it happened again.”

Richt said Dent would be questionable next week against Vanderbilt, but barring a setback, would definitely be ready to take on Florida after Georgia’s open date.

A neck stinger limited Tripp during the preseason, but like Dent, he attempted to get back on the field after the season began. The injury never completely healed, however, and he hasn’t seen action in three games.

While he’ll be out against Tennessee, Richt said the junior defensive end was upbeat about his prognosis.

“He feels like we’re really close, and it could even be next week that he’ll begin to practice,” Richt said. “He’s definitely improving, and he doesn’t feel like he’s just stuck.”

NO HARD FEELINGS

While Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin made headlines throughout the offseason by criticizing several other programs in the SEC, linebacker Rennie Curran isn’t looking at this week’s game as a chance to punish the Volunteers’ coach for any potentially critical comments.

“You see it and react to it, but you go with your life,” Curran said. “You realize a coach is going to talk, but at the same time, I’ve never seen a coach put on pads and play. Sometimes as a coach you have to do things to get your team fired up, and I guess that was his way of doing that.”

That doesn’t mean Curran isn’t taking this week’s game seriously, however. When it comes to playing Tennessee, he doesn’t care who’s on the sidelines. He just wants to win.

“No matter what coach they have, this is such a huge rivalry and there’s so much tradition invested in this game, that for them to beat us would be a huge boost to their program,” Curran said.

LOST IN THE SHUFFLE

With just six scholarship receivers on the team, third-year sophomore Israel Troupe thought this might be his breakout season. So far, that hasn’t been the case.

Troupe caught three passes last year but has barely seen the playing field in 2009, despite the fact that Georgia has routinely employed only three receivers.

“I would say he’s right on the verge of breaking through,” Richt said of Troupe’s progress. “I like how he’s been practicing. I like the effort that he’s putting forth. He knows what to do. The coaches have just determined that other guys should be playing ahead of him right now.”

Richt said a combination of cool weather, long TV timeouts and a number of short drives have allowed the team to get by using just its top three receivers, with only a few rare appearances by Troupe and freshmen Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten.

That could change this year with No. 2 receiver Tavarres King expected to miss Georgia’s date with Tennessee due to a concussion he suffered last week. King’s absence could open the door to Troupe for the first time this season, and Richt said that might be all it takes to make the sophomore a regular part of the offense.

“Sometimes that’s all a guy needs is a chance,” Richt said, “and if he gets it, hopefully he’ll do well.”

READY AND WAITING

Logan Gray hasn’t seen much action at quarterback this season, but he is getting a healthy dose of life atop the depth chart in practice. Gray has handled all of the first-team reps each Wednesday, while starter Joe Cox rests an injured shoulder.

The extra work in practice has been a boon to Gray’s confidence and knowledge, he said.
“It’s benefited me a lot just to get more and more reps,” Gray said. “I feel like starting from the beginning, I’ve gotten more and more comfortable. I feel like it has me more ready to get in the game.”

Gray has been in on just three snaps at quarterback so far this season, despite repeated discussions by the coaching staff this preseason that the sophomore could be a valuable weapon as an athletic change-of-pace under center.

“Obviously our coaches know what they’re doing, and we have tons of different stuff we put in each week, but it’s one of those things where situations call for different things,” Gray said. “I was hoping maybe (he’d get more playing time), but it’s worked out how it’s worked out, and I’m just going to keep on practicing and see what happens.”

Part of the issue, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said, has been the particularly close games Georgia has played so far. While Bobo said he’s been impressed with Gray’s growth throughout the season, Cox still holds a distinct advantage in his ability to run the offense.

“I think (Gray) has an understanding of it, but I don’t think he understands it as fully as Joe Cox,” Bobo said. “But like I’ve said in the past, getting reps every week with the ones, it has definitely improved his confidence level. It’s still not a lot of game experience, which you’d worry about, but if he had to go in there I think he could execute and help us win a game.”

IT COULD’VE BEEN WORSE

Quarterback Joe Cox admits it is a bit ironic.

For four weeks, Georgia turned the ball over three times in every game, yet managed to win three of the four.

Each week, the team preached about protecting the football, and finally the lesson took hold against LSU. Georgia didn’t cough up the ball until Cox’s final throw of the game – a heave toward the sideline as the clock ticked and Georgia desperately needed to move the football. Yet, despite the reduced turnovers, Georgia came up on the wrong end of the final score.

It is an odd twist, Cox said, but it’s by no means a lesson that turnovers are acceptable.

“That’s one of the reasons we were in the ballgame,” Cox said of the improved ball protection. “If we’d have turned the ball over, it could have gotten ugly. Three-and-outs are going to happen, mind you we didn’t want to have that many in the first half. But we didn’t do anything dumb with the ball, and we kind of waited for our chance to get things going.”

LIGHTER ON HIS FEET

Senior defensive tackle Kade Weston has started the past two games for Georgia, and he’s responded with two strong efforts, including a five-tackle, two-sack performance against LSU last week.

The keys to Weston’s success, he said, have been a combination of an injury-free season and a slimmed-down physique. Weston lost about 15 pounds and is finally playing at a weight his coaches had hoped for.

“It’s a lot different now,” Weston said. “Coaches wanted me at 315, and I’ve been around there the whole season, and I think it shows on the field.”

WHO ARE THESE GUYS?

Mark Richt admits the term “identity” is overused a bit, but he also admits it’s hard to really quantify just what his offense is capable of this season.

Some weeks, the unit has been spectacular. Some week, it’s been awful. Against LSU last week, the offense was as bad as it’s been all year in the first half, then looked incredibly sharp during a second-half comeback.

“I guess no one has an identity until they are consistently playing something where you could define that team to say this is what we do well,” Richt said. “Right now we’ve not been consistent offensively, defensively or in the kicking game quite frankly. I feel like we are gaining a lot of positive momentum defensively. Some of our special teams have played outstanding and a couple have struggled. Offensively, we’ve pretty much run the gamut of emotions and productivity. Again, I guess the one word I’m looking for more than anything else is a more consistent effort all the way around.”

RUBBING IT IN

Just a final side note for the day.

I was wearing my Newhouse t-shirt to Richt's news conference today -- Newhouse being the name of the Syracuse communications school.

Richt looked at the shirt and asked if it was a Syracuse shirt. I said that it was, and he asked what Newhouse meant.

"Did they get a new stadium or something?" he said.

"No," I told him, assuming he was serious and not simply making a sly joke at the embarrassing level of Syracuse football. "It's the name of the journalism school there."

"Ah," he said. "So, do they still have that basketball player playing quarterback?"

That's when I figured he was, in fact, making a sly joke about the embarrassing level of Syracuse football. Either that, or he's awfully good at unintentional humor.

Good times. Go Orange.

Notebook: Turnovers Remain a Concern for Dawgs

In many ways, Georgia and LSU have had similar seasons. Both teams rank near the bottom of the conference in rushing yards, have seen highly regarded offensive lines struggle and have failed to get a consistent pass rush. But if there’s one statistic that starkly contrasts the Tigers and Bulldogs, it’s the turnover margin.

Through four games, LSU leads the SEC with a plus-seven turnover margin, while Georgia is among the worst teams in the nation with a minus-nine.

While that’s a concern for head coach Mark Richt, he said the past doesn’t have to be prologue to what happens Satuday.

“Turnover ratios are important, but what’s happened in the past I don’t think is very important at all,” Richt said. “I’m more concerned about the turnover ratio Saturday than I am what we’ve had to this point, so hopefully we’ll get that thing turned around and be in a whole lot better shape.”

To ensure that happens, Georgia’s coaching staff has taken a more disciplinarian approach to preventing turnovers during practice this week, but that’s not always a solution.

“We work on that every day at practice,” wide receiver A.J. Green said. “I don’t know what’s the problem. It’s not like we’re not trying, but it’s just happened.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said the team actually enhanced its discipline for fumbles and interceptions during practice last week, making the entire team do calisthenics when one person coughed up the football. The result was yet another three-turnover game.

“This week we (did) a little more ball security at practice,” Bobo said. “But at the same time, I don’t want to talk about it to the team every day. We want to practice it to where they’re consciously doing it in practice. It’s like telling somebody after they drop a ball, ‘Hey, catch it.’ Well, why did they drop it? You’ve got to coach it up.”

Linebacker Rennie Curran hopes the increased focus on protecting the football works because with No. 4 LSU coming to town Saturday, the Bulldogs can’t afford to give away offensive drives and set the Tigers up with easy scores.

“When we play a team like LSU, we have to have a perfect game,” Curran said. “We can’t give them any room to breathe. We have to get ready to play our best game of football. We have to put all the mistakes we made behind us, get ready to have a great game and put it all together.”

MAKING PROGRESS

Freshman defensive end Montez Robinson had seen little action during the first three games of the year, but was on the field for a few extra snaps last week against Arizona State.

That’s a trend that defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said could continue, and if Robinson keeps progressing at the same rate, Georgia’s defensive ends could become a lot more dangerous as the season goes along.

“He’s getting better and better,” Martinez said. “He’s learning the system, and he’s a great athlete. And we need it. We need that push. He did some nice stuff. He’s learning it, and he’s got the ability, so that’s a good thing to see.”

STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Georgia’s big defensive stands in the fourth quarter of last week’s win over Arizona State proved to be crucial in the Bulldogs pulling out a last-second victory, but the effort also helped to rejuvenate the beleaguered defense, too.

“That fourth quarter was huge,” Curran said. “It shows we’re a serious defense. It shows that no matter where we are on the field we’re going to stay positive and we can stop anybody. That was our attitude when we got that sudden-change situation. Before we even hit the field, we were like, ‘Hey, let’s do this. It’s our opportunity to show greatness.’”

FIGURING IT ALL OUT

After four weeks of tough tests against four BCS-conference foes, Georgia’s players admit they still aren’t quite sure how good the team really is, but safety Bryan Evans thinks the hard-fought games are helping to shape the team’s identity.

“We don’t have a true identity yet,” Evans said, “but it’s molding into an identity where we’re fighting through the tough games.”

Of course, the real mark of a good team always comes down to its record, quarterback Joe Cox said, and on that scale, he’s happy with where the Bulldogs are at.

“I know that after Week 1, if you’d asked us where we wanted to be going into the LSU game, we’d have said 3-1,” Cox said. “That’s where we are. We’ve found ways to win, we’ve stuck together. When the defense needed to make plays, we made plays. When the offense needed to make plays, we made plays. So there’s a lot of things in between that we need to correct that could make us a pretty good football team. We’re fully aware of the things we need to work on, but once we correct those things, we could be a good team.”

CAN’T FORGET CARLTON

After racking up 43 yards on 12 touches in Georgia’s first three games, freshman tailback Carlton Thomas disappeared from the offense last week. But offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said the team hasn’t forgotten about him. In fact, with the running game struggling, Georgia’s coaches aren’t crossing off any options from the playbook.

“I would not rule out Carlton Thomas,” Bobo said. “We haven’t ran the ball like we’ve wanted to, so I wouldn’t rule out any running back on our roster getting a chance to run the ball.”

SHORT DRIVES, SHORT RUNS

Georgia’s ground game ranks 11th in the SEC through four games, and while the blame has been shared between the offensive line and the tailbacks thus far, there’s a chance the entire offense is to blame.

Through four games, nearly 70 percent of all of Georgia’s offensive drives have lasted five plays or fewer, meaning few opportunities for the tailbacks to get in a groove running the football.

“It’s hard to get in a groove, and once we are in, we’re pass blocking or don’t get the ball for entire series,” tailback Caleb King said. “But the balls we do get, we have to do better at taking advantage of it.”

Richt said he isn’t going to complain about Georgia’s quick-strike touchdowns, something quarterback Joe Cox has made a habit of so far. But the number of turnovers and three-and-outs has been disturbing, and it’s a trend he hopes will change this week.

LSU also provides an opportunity for Georgia to improve its running numbers, too. King said the Tigers play an aggressive style in their front four, and the best way to counter that is to run the football – meaning he’ll have more chances to make a big play.

“I think we’ll run the ball a lot, so that’s a good thing,” King said. “We’ll see what happens.”

UGA Notes: D Line Looks For Pressure

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.”

From the Mailbag: One Week to Go Edition

It's Friday, there's just one week until football season, so that means we crack open the mailbag...

(Quick note: All of these are real emails, comments or Tweets, but some have been abridged for easier reading. Also, if you send me correspondence that you don't want included in a mailbag or re-posted on the blog, please say so.)

Brett writes: David read on a site (Zach) Mettenberger ran scout team in preparation for Zac Robinson. I don't see any similar qualities between the two wouldn't Logan gray be the best fit for that duty?

DH: No similarities, Brett? Umm... they're both named Zac(h), aren't they? You've got to start thinking like a coach, man!

Actually, Mettenberger, Aaron Murray and walk-on receiver Vernon Spellman each took turns playing the role of Robinson during Wednesday's practice game. For the scout-team work, the coaches will often rotate in different players to simulate the various skill sets of an individual opponent. So on a passing play, it might be Mettenberger in there, and on a designed run, it might be Spellman.

Bob W. writes: I enjoyed your piece in today’s paper regarding the grueling practices the Bulldog players have endured and their commitment to themselves, the team, the school and the fans.

Rennie Currans comments at the end of the article struck a chord with me.

Curran said. “If we don’t sacrifice now, it’s going to get ugly. The way I look at it is, I’d rather hurt now than hurt on ESPN or in front of those fans and look sloppy in front of the fans. We’ve been putting work in day in and day out, and hopefully it’s going to pay off.”

That being said I was wondering what commitment will the fans have to the team? Will it be “you’ve got our support 100 percent” but then the Dawgs hit a bump in the road and the blame game starts or the Defense has a bad day and the fans begin to cry out for Martinez’s head?

Or will the fans step up and pledge their undying support for this unheralded group? Thick or thin “We are Dawgs through and through” should be the mantra of the Dawg Nation.

I see this as a challenge to the fans to make the same type of commitment as the players have made. Stand firm, hurt when they hurt, celebrate when they celebrate, admit any shortcomings but forge on.

When the season draws to its conclusion can the fans say “they laid it on the line for us and we laid it on the line for this group of Damn Good Dawgs!”

If you so choose put it out there to the fans. Curious as to how deep is our (the Dawg Nations) allegiance.

DH: I'm a First Amendment guy, so I'm not going to criticize anyone for speaking their mind, but I figured it was a sentiment worth sharing, and the rest of you can do with it what you will. Something tells me though that we'll still hear an occasional "Willie Must Go" cry this season.

(And a side note... I was cleaning out some old clothes for Goodwill the other day and came across a "Fire Ed Wade" t-shirt I'd bought several years ago when the current Houston general manager was busy ruining the lives of every Phillies fan on the planet. It was a pretty low-quality piece of merchandise, but on the back it listed every bad move Wade had ever made, from signing Gregg Jeffries to hiring Larry Bowa. I wore it to a Phillies game during Wade's last season before being fired, and not only did I get a number of drinks bought for me by fans who loved the shirt, but people would actually come up and ask to have their picture taken with me. Anyway, I mention all this because it seems to me someone is missing out on a prime chance to make some quick cash off disgruntled Georgia fans here.)

Jimmy H. writes: First off, thanks for the blog, stories, and all the information you share about Georgia football. I was wondering why there has been no mention of AJ Harmon this season ? I assume he is still on the offensive side of the ball, maybe 2nd or 3rd string? Any info would be great.

DH: I couldn't begin to tell you why, but I would bet that I get more questions about A.J. Harmon than almost any other player on the team. Anyway, I posed the question to Mark Richt, and here's what he had to say:

"He's showing signs. In any given day, he makes plays where he looks like he's getting it, then he makes plays where he gets beat. He's working against Geno every day, working against Jeff, Kade. Those guys are pretty darned good, so I think anybody's going to have a rough time against them. Our No. 1 unit would be struggling against those guys. But he's getting comfortable as an offensive lineman. I think he has the ability to do it. He has really gotten his body in good shape. He's still got a ways to go, but he trimmed it down and now he's building it back up in a real positive way. He's getting his technique down, getting more comfortable with all his assignments and the tandems. I think he's making good progress."

Anonymous writes: David: Objectively, didn't Adrian Karsten's rise--as seen through his walk up to the top of the roof Carrier Dome--and fall--as seen in his later tragic death--symbolize perfectly the modern day highs and lows of the Syracuse football program?

DH: You know, I had to Google this to get the whole story on Karsten because I'd simply forgotten about him altogether. And in that respect, he's just like the Syracuse football program.

Anonymous Suckup writes: did you ever talk to anyone about why Carlton Thomas doesn't appear to be getting any looks at punt returner or kick returner? I thought he would be a good candidate, but what do I know?

DH: I reported a while back that Mark Richt did not list Thomas among the players working return duty for Georgia this fall. Here's the thing about getting info from Richt -- he's rarely deliberately evasive, but I honestly think sometimes he just has too much on his plate to remember every detail of what's going on.

Anyway, I checked with Bryan Evans, who Richt said was among the kick return options. Evans told me that Thomas is working with the kick returners, along with Vance Cuff, Branden Smith and Brandon Boykin. So you might then assume that Thomas was a legitimate candidate, right?

Well, Richt did his best to shoot that down again Wednesday, adding that Richard Samuel is a leading candidate to handle kick returns and saying Thomas wasn't particularly close.

"Carlton (Thomas) is in there, too," Richt said, "but I don't know if he'd be in the top three right now. But he's been getting work."

So, why would Richt say Samuel was a top candidate and Evans not even mention Samuel's name? Your guess is as good as mine, but if I were a betting man, I'd say there's a little subterfuge on Richt's part that Mr. Evans simply wasn't in on.

Carter writes: CMR said the following regarding Ros career ending injury: "We have petitioned for an NCAA medical exemption that will allow him to remain on scholarship." Does such an exemption allow a player to maintain an athletic scholarship without counting against the limit of 85?

DH: Yes, Ros can remain on scholarship for the rest of his time at Georgia without counting against the team's 85 scholarship limit. That doesn't begin this season, however, so it won't open up a scholly for someone currently on the team. It will mean an extra slot for the 2010 class.

@RexRobinson5 asks via Twitter: I am curious to know that if something HAS clicked with Richard (Samuel) compared to last year what was it that clicked?

DH: I'm not sure it's "something" as opposed to a lot of things. Richard spent the spring studying, learning and getting more comfortable with being a running back in the SEC. That might seem like a small thing, but for a kid who was 16 when he arrived on campus, it's really not.

I had a story in yesterday's Telegraph on Samuel's thirst for knowledge, and I think that was his biggest asset in developing from where he left off last season to being Georgia's probable starter this season.

Jake G. writes: Do you know what's going on at the cornerback position? ... Do you see our cornerbacks as a strength, wash, or weakness for us this year? Probably tough to say with a redshirt freshman starting on one side...

DH: I corrected Jake in his email that Brandon Boykin was, in fact, a sophomore, not a redshirt freshman. Then I asked Bryan Evans for his thoughts on Boykin, and Evans also referred to him as a freshman. Goes to show you how little playing time Boykin got last year, I guess.

Anyway, here's what else Evans had to say:

"Boykin is very athletic. I don't think it's a drop-off at all (from Asher Allen). He needs to get some experience, but that comes with the game. I have no doubts that Boykin is going to probably be one of the best first-year starters on our team this year. People need to look out for him."

As for the rest of the secondary, the most recent two-deep I've gotten is this:

WC: Prince Miller, Branden Smith
SC: Brandon Boykin, Vance Cuff
NB: Makiri Pugh, Nick Williams
SS: Reshad Jones, Baccari Rambo
FS: Bryan Evans, Sanders Commings

Brian writes: It looks like Brandon Boykin has locked down a starting corner spot, and that Pugh and Rambo are the backup safeties, but I have yet to see anything saying who the nickle corner is. Especially against a team like OSU, I imagine that the defense will be playing nickle more often than not. Do you know who is likely to be that fifth defensive back?

DH: Good follow-up to Jake's question. I talked with Mark Richt about the nickel position, and he agrees that the importance of having a good nickel is growing each year.

What the defense essentially does when going against three-wide or a spread offense is drop the Sam linebacker (who would normally be on the tight end) in favor of an extra defensive back (usually a safety). This gives the defense a bit more speed to handle coverage and avoid the mismatch of a wideout being covered by a linebacker. Considering the number of teams now using some version of the spread, this has become almost a default defense for Georgia in recent seasons and the reliance on the nickel will be even greater this year.

Richt said Makiri Pugh has spent the most time working at nickel, and the extra reps he got this fall while Evans, Quintin Banks and Reshad Jones were out with injuries, could prove to be key in his preparation. Pugh even iced Georgia's practice game with an interception late in the "fourth quarter" on Wednesday.

The more intriguing name at nickel, however, might be sophomore Nick Williams.

Williams has easily been one of the most popular players this offseason among the coaching staff because he loves to hit and he's a bundle of energy. (And, I'll add, one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.) Because of all the injuries, he's been shuffled back and forth from safety to linebacker to safety and back to linebacker in the past 18 months. While moves like that have hindered the careers of players like Kiante Tripp, it may have turned out to be a blessing for Williams, who now may see action at both the Sam and the nickel -- which as Richt said, will essentially be the same position when Williams is on the field.

"They've let me know that maybe I need to learn everything, and that's my mentality is that I'm just going to learn it all so whenever it's time for me to go in, I'm prepared," Williams said. "I think it will get me on the field more. Coach likes versatility. He likes guys who can do more than one thing."

Williams has been packing on and losing weight seemingly every month because of the position shifts, but he said he's now at a comfortable 220 pounds, which is where he plans to stay. The weight hasn't cost him much speed either. He ran a 4.47 at the end of offseason workouts.

Brad writes: With respect to the "Team" attitude, I heard a story from practice last Wednesday. A couple players got into a tussle during practice and were punished with running. I'm told the entire team put on running shoes and ran. If that is true, then that is impressive.

DH: That's a great story, but sadly, it's apparently not true.

There have certainly been a few scuffles, but Jeff Owens said the team running part didn't happen. (Well, he called it "an exaggeration.") Not that you should be too concerned about the fights. They happen all the time, he said, and that's a good thing.

"That's the name of the game," Owens said. "Every play, offensive line and defensive line are getting into it. Backs and linebackers. Everybody's getting into it. Every play, you're competing, and when you're competing, the aggression's out there. But it's all just love. If you sat out there and watched practice, you'd see scuffles every day. But you're competing, and that's the name of the game. That's how you get better, you compete."

Jon writes: After reading comments made about Abry Jones last week, I was wondering if there was any thought of playing him some at defensive end since there are so many seniors on the interior line?

DH: Good thought, Jon, and having seen a little of Jones' high school tape, I think there's little question he could do it. Problem is, the coaches aren't planning on it, so it's not likely to happen. Of course, that doesn't mean you won't see a good bit of him this season.

“Right now, he’s inside and we don’t see him being outside right now," Mark Richt said. "Abry has done a very nice job and he's right on the cusp of getting some good playing time. Right now we think he’ll play.”

(NOTE: If you were playing a "right now" drinking game with that quote, please pause here and take a few minutes to sober up.)

@007dawg writes via Twitter: For Branden (Smith): What road trip are you most looking forward to in your first season?

DH: Branden didn't have to think too long about this one: “I’d have to say Jacksonville. I heard it’s loud, and there’s nothing like playing with a lot of fans. So I’d say Jacksonville.”

Mike B. writes: what kind of camp has Justin Houston had? I know there is the two game suspension thing but what about game three? Is he going to take over the starting job or just be depth?

DH: The reports on Houston have all been very positive, despite his suspension. I wondered whether he might backslide after a great spring because of two-game absence, but virtually every player I've talked to has said that Houston has continued progressing and working hard, which leads me to believe that, if he's not the starter Week 3, he'll be right in the thick of things.

“He’s been really good about it," fellow defensive end Demarcus Dobbs said. "He’s been coming to all the workouts, showing up on time and being a great leader to those other guys. Even though he’s had this setback, he doesn’t show it.”

JaxDawg writes: you do not have children. If you did, you would realize that while we want to give our children plenty or freedom, checking on them and monitoring their activities is the mark of a good parent. Most is innocuous chatter - but not always.

DH: This was in response to my comment that parents befriending their kids would be the ultimate death of Facebook.

I get what JaxDawg is saying, and while I don't have kids (and Lord knows, that's best for everyone), I can fully understand how Facebook allows parents to get a certain peace of mind through a social networking site. Heck, I've certainly stalked enough ex-girlfriends that... you know what, scratch that last part.

Anyway, the bottom line is not that I'm personally opposed to parents joining Facebook. The problem is that it's simply bad for business for Facebook. Hey, I'm in favor of prisons and liquor stores and Sonic drive-thrus, but I don't want any of them to be built next to my house because it lowers the property value (you know, if I owned property). I imagine the operators of Facebook view parents much the same way.

jferg writes: Should we read anything into CRGs comments on Jeff and Geno...something to the tune of "if those two don't get it going, they might not even start, regardless of what list they're on". Was that just a barb to get his horses working hard again? I don't remember CRG ever saying something like this for no reason. Have the two big guys been slacking a little? He even said Kade has been a better leader. Really? Can you go deeper for us?

DH: I appreciate JFerg's willingness to take Rodney Garner at face value, but I can promise you, Garner's never met a player he didn't think was slacking off. That might be a slight exaggeration, but he really does find ways he wants all his guys to improve, and he's not shy about telling them and the media about it.

So, bottom line, Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens will still be the two starters -- and two of the best interior linemen in the country -- but Kade Weston and DeAngelo Tyson will see a good bit of action, too.

Frank D. writes: We, of the Dawg Nation, have been working by email committee, sub-committee and focus group. Behind your back.

The Season of Most Apprehension stretches out before us. We are nervous. We are Don Knotts with a hairy Dawg fetish and lines on a mirror. We are caffeined, bourboned and Valiumed. We are a mess.

We lay our collective agony at your feet. We have come to Delphi and bow before you. We ask, we plead for your wisdom, insight and undivided attention to our needs. We need every minute of your time. Every second.

In light of the crisis at hand, the Committee for the Season of Most Apprehension has assembled a regiment for you to follow over the next four and a half months. This is NOT a suggestion. I hope I make myself clear on this point.

Until the clock runs out in the unnamed bowl game, you shall, and without complaint or equivocation:

1. Forgo sex with any other humanoid other than yourself, and keep that to a bare minimum.

2. Eliminate meals. Fruit cups on-the-go should suffice. This will additionally eliminate the Gas-X tab on your expense account.

3. Bathe infrequently.

4. Dispose of your watch, alarm clock and hair brush.

5. Bunk in with the team. Joe Cox talks in his sleep.

6. Pray to Buddha. Jeezus is working with the meek this fall.

7. Unplug your TV.

8. Avoid Barbara Dooley.

9. Channel Squab Jones.

10. Get a swine flu shot.

These Ten Commandments are absolute and unconditional. You are bound to these orders as of noon today. Thank you.

DH: There are two things particularly frightening about this email. (And, yes, I know what you're saying... "Only two?")

First, it's amazing how many of these items I was already sticking to without being asked. I may need to rethink my life and where it all went wrong.

And second, this wasn't my favorite email of the week.

Which leads me to...

McCullough writes: David, this posting made me a big fan of yours. Of course, it could be the beers I've already consumed, but so many parts of this made me very happy. I'm so glad to have your stuff to read every day, and this was a banner day for you. I don't give a $#@! about Lost, but that's OK. So many parts of this post was very enjoyable. I can't even go into detail. But, you the man. Thanks.

DH: Now here's what we're going to do. I want everyone reading this to drink a fifth of bourbon, then re-read the mailbag again. Then, tell everyone you know about how great it was. I think we're remarkably close to becoming the first blog post to win a Pulitzer.

Thanks for all the questions, folks. Keep 'em coming, and we'll do more next week.

From the Mailbag: Aurora Cable Access Edition

It's Friday, it's 3:30, it's time to party. I'm your excellent host David Hale, and with me as always is... well, OK it's just me. And that "Wayne's World" reference was probably lost on a majority of you. Nevertheless, it is Friday, so let's crack open the mailbag for a few quick questions and answers...

From Bill in Sandy Springs: ESPNU has been reshowing the Texas vs Oklahoma State game. I couldn't help but notice what a big part of the Oklahoma State offense TE Brandon Pettigrew was(currently Detroit Lion). Pettigrew had atleast 5 or 6 catches in the parts of the game that I was watching and they were all at needed opportune times. After Dez Bryant last year Pettigrew got the second most catches on the team. I Also can't even imagine the huge impact a tight end of that great talent would have on the running game. No one seems to be talking about the void that OSU needs to fill at Pettigrew's vacant position. I am wondering how much of an effect it will have on the Cowboys offense particularly QB Zac Robinson. Your thoughts?

David Hale: It's tough to say really since I didn't watch a ton of Okie State last year. The obvious answer, looking at Pettirgrew's stats and draft value would be, "They'll miss him a lot." But if you simply go by stats and draft value, well Georgia's in a whole lot of trouble with what it lost.

The Oklahoman has a good article today, however, on who might be replacing Pettigrew , so that's probably the best place to start, and the OSU tight ends coach tells the paper that Pettigrew was "a bell cow." Now, I have no idea what that means, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say if Pettigrew was still around, we'd all be wearing gold-plated diapers.

(Again, I'm curious how many people actually got that reference.)

Of course, if you want a homegrown opinion on how good Pettigrew is, you can get it from Matthew Stafford, who told ESPN's Page 2 that he and the former Cow Poke are new BFFs.

Robert asks: How's that new MacBook working for you, David?

DH: Types like a dream. Thanks for asking.

Anonymous asks: What about (Kalvin) Daniels? Would he be above (Washaun) Ealey and (Dontavius) Jackson?

DH: Kalvin Daniels gets mentioned by coaches often and has run the ball well so far this fall. Daniels has been running with the second unit along with Ealey of late, but that's due in part to Jackson and Caleb King missing some action with injuries. My guess, however, is if Daniels has the confidence of the coaches -- which he appears to -- that's probably another mark in favor of redshirting Ealey.

KYDawg asks: I'd like to know what our new number 7 would consider his second best or favorite position if he were not a TE/reciever. I read that at plant he played some on D and even carried the ball a few times.

DH: You ask, Orson answers...

"If I wasn't playing tight end, I would be playing receiver," Charles said. "I'd slim down and get faster and play receiver. No defense. That was pretty much a high school thing."

Anonymous asks: Hey David, how do you say that DE's name? Fa-loo-ey?

DH: It's Reuben -- like the sandwich -- Fah-low-ghe -- sounds like "Flowbee." ("It sucks, as it cuts." ... "Well, it certainly does suck.")

Via Twitter, @jeffostensen asks Carlton Thomas: how will your small stature affect your blocking ability?

DH: Again, you ask, Carlton answers...

"You just can't sit back and let him come and get in to you," Thomas said. "You've got to attack. If you let them build that momentum up, they'll win every time because they're bigger than you. But if you can get to them early before they've built up a head of steam, you can win. You might lose a couple, but you'll win more than you lose."

And finally, Anonymous asks: Why is Vance Cuff left off your "depth chart", and why have we heard nothing about him recently? I know for a fact that he recently ran a 4.28 40 in practice and is trying to break Champ Bailey record at UGA in the 40, which is 4.24 I believe. Where's the love? Pretty good corner as well.

DH: The only answer I can give is that I'm an idiot. Sorry about that. Cuff is with the No. 2 unit at corner right now, and as you'll probably remember, he saw a good bit of action at the tail end of last season. I think the confidence the coaches have in him was a big reason they saw no issue with making Makiri Pugh a full-time safety.

OK, that's it for this week. Back with practice notes later tonight...

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?

Talking to the Tailbacks

Just a quick bit of info from yesterday's practice that I meant to include, but it slipped my mind:

Richard Samuel was among the players available to media early in the day, and I was the first to talk to him. My obvious first question was simple enough: "How's the wrist feeling?"

SAMUEL: "OK."

ME: "So are you back to 100 percent?"

SAMUEL: "(Trainer) Ron (Courson) knows all the details and he told me I was good."

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of his own health, right?

Now, you might read into it that Samuel doesn't feel his wrist is quite as strong as the training staff does, or you might read into it that he was quickly surrounded by reporters and a bit overwhelmed by the whole scene. Or maybe you read nothing into it at all, which is probably the most likely scenario.

But then you read this in a notebook from the Red & Black:

Redshirt freshman Carlton Thomas took most of the second team snaps, alternating with Richard Samuel, who was expected to get all the looks with the second team.

Of course, the next sentence in the notes says Samuel "indicated he was 100 percent," so perhaps all of this was cleared up long after I determined I wasn't going to get any useful quotes from Mr. Samuel.

Again, all a bit of speculation for now, but it will be interesting to see if Samuel is getting more action today and the rest of the week.

Oh, and as a side note, I spoke with Caleb King after practice, and here's what he had to say: "My main focus was to get in more shape before the season started, and I believe it showed out here. I'm honestly not tired. I could go out for another practice right now."

And as those of you who follow me on Twitter know, Caleb managed to dodge interviews for the better part of the past two months. When I asked if he'd been avoiding me, he laughed and said, "Nope, I'm just staying focused on getting better."

I'm guessing fans would love to start hearing a lot more of that talk from Caleb.

Deleted Scenes: Georgia's Mentor Program

One of the biggest changes this offseason for Georgia has been a new dedication on the part of the team's veterans on teaching the younger players rather than simply letting the coaches do the coaching. I have an article in today's Macon Telegraph on how the new attitude has helped both the older guys and the new freshmen.

After you're done reading the article, check out these additional quotes from players about the emphasis on mentoring this offseason.

Fullback Shaun Chapas on the team-first mentality...
"I think this team's very united. We all love each other and we have good chemistry on the team. And I know that we all really care about each other, what we do on and off the field."

Defensive end Kiante Tripp on the different feel of this offseason...
"From the time I've been here, I'd have to say that this has been a real successful summer in that I've never seen the guys work as hard as we've been working. Everybody's out there working. It's a good environment to be around to prepare for the season."

Tripp on the team's new mantra...
"In order for us to be successful, we've got to be a team and help each other out. It's a team thing, and we've got to work together. Mark Richt said the star of the team is the team, and we took that and have run with it."

Linebacker Akeem Dent on the offseason philosophy...
"It started in the weight room. All of them came in and were really willing to work. We've had a lot of guys who when we go into the film room, they're already ready, they have pens and pencils to take notes, and we're ready to teach them."

Dent on this offseason compared to past ones...
"Now compared to when I got here, there's more guys willing to go out and teach, teach the whole playbook. When they first came in, guys like Mike Gilliard and Chase (Vasser), we started from the basics and then moved on and letting them go out and throw them into the fire to see if they're grasping everything."

Dent on handling the freshmen...
"You have those first time jitters the first time you go out on the field because you don't know what to expect, but me, Darryl Gamble, Rennie, we're out there and we critique them on everything, even if it's something minor because we want them to do it the best way."

Running back Carlton Thomas on the difference between this year and last...
"Everybody's just become more hands-on. You can just see it in every unit. Everybody has this focus, everybody's pushing each other, everybody's trying to learn more. We're getting in there to watch film, and that's something we really didn't do a lot of before. A lot of units are even coming in in the mornings to watch film. And it's not just a couple guys trying to improve each other. It's like everybody's on the focus of, if I can get my unit better, it's going to help the team."

Thomas on the attitude this year...
"Since mat drills we've been saying the thing, the star of the team is the team. It's been a team thing, and we want to be a player-driven team. That's basically been what it's been. Nobody's being forced. We're just coming out here and doing extra work."

Wide receiver Michael Moore on interacting with the youngsters...
"Everybody knew we had to step up as leaders. We all know how hard it is to come in as a freshman, and this year we're depending on everybody for success. When I knew Wooten and Marlon were coming in, even on Facebook before they got here, they were asking questions, and it's just good to see. Orson's asking me questions every day. And when you have players that want to learn, it makes it easier for us."

Moore on his experiences as a freshman...
"It was a lot different. The senior class that we had, everybody was more established. Everybody to me was more trying to get their own stuff together. This year, we're trying to take it as more of a team, because we need the younger guys. You don't want them to shy away. You want them to be able to perform and be able to compete with you."

Moore on dealing with the new freshmen...
"Sometimes it's funny because when you try to explain things to them, they're still looking at you like you're talking to a brick wall. So sometimes you need to take a step back and break it down for them from point A to point B to point C. You can't just go from A to C. The guys that we have now, they're real smart and they're picking it up real fast."

Wide receiver Kris Durham on teaching teammates...
"Sometimes you have to tell them what they did wrong and get in their face to explain it to them. Yeah, it might make them mad, but everybody realizes that you're trying to make them better."

Durham on learning lessons from last season...
"We've discussed what happened last year, and we're trying to move on and learn from it. Everyone's just trying to build off of what works."

From the Mailbag: Thomas Adjusts to SEC

As it turned out, most of the players I'd hoped to talk to on Wednesday weren't available (although Bryan Evans is forgiven, as he was working on a class project), but I still got a few of your Twitter questions answered.

The first questions were for tailback Carlton Thomas, who had a stellar spring and hopes to be a big part of the offense in 2009.

@ClintThomason asks: "Find out from Carlton Thomas where he thinks he can be most effective. Is he a 3rd down rb, redzone rb, passblocker, or what?"

@CrossfitDawg13 asks: "how does CT think his running style will fare against fast SEC defenses?? Can he truly see himself as an every down back?"

So, here's what Thomas had to say....

Five Against One

The biggest question many Georgia fans have about the upcoming season might be who'll carry the load at tailback, but redshirt freshman and spring standout Carlton Thomas said the players are pretty sure they already know the answer.

"Right now we're looking at it as tailback-by-committee," Thomas said. "That's how we're looking at it and everybody's just trying to get better. But maybe if there's a guy that's really doing his thing, it might be (a featured back), but right now, everybody's got to be ready."

That's not to say that nothing can change in the five-player battle to replace Knowshon Moreno. While Thomas, Caleb King and Richard Samuel appear to be the front-runners for playing time, Thomas said running backs coach Bryan McClendon has assured each tailback that there's no limit or guarantee when it comes to carries this season. Redshirt freshman Dontavius Jackson and incoming freshman Washaun Ealey will also compete for playing time.
-
"He told us it's a clean slate," Thomas said. "Whoever comes out and performs, that's who's going to play."

That's a mantra that has superseded any planned committee approach, Thomas said. With five potential vultures in the backfield and only one football to go around, the tailbacks have been working hard even if a true starting job isn't in the cards.

"As a unit, we're communicating good and everybody's pushing each other behind (fullbacks) Shaun (Chapas) and Fred (Munzenmaier) who are leading the group, and everybody's falling in line behind them," Thomas said. "We're coming in and working, then doing some extra work, and even sometimes we might come back and do some more. Everybody's on track and everybody's holding everyone accountable."

So, what do you think? Are you in favor of the tailback-by-committee approach or would you like to see the trend Moreno started of one featured back continue in 2009? If so, which tailback do you think can do the most damage?

Stars of the Spring

As spring practice drew to a close last week, I took an unscientific straw poll of 18 Georgia players and coaches to get their thoughts on who had improved the most during the past month.

The question posed was simple enough: Which one or two players on each side of the ball have taken the biggest step forward this spring?

The answers varied wildly. There were some veterans with more than 20 starts under their belts already. There were some freshmen who had yet to play a single snap on game day. The majority of the votes, however, tended to focus on the handful of freshmen and redshirt freshmen who got a taste of life in the SEC a year ago and took what they learned to the practice field this spring.

In all, there were three names mentioned more than any other. Several others received multiple votes, and a bunch more appeared on one ballot. Here's how things shook out…

(*Note: classes are as of the start of 2009 season)

(*Note: some of the links provided are to notebooks, so you may have to scroll down to find the appropriate article)

The Top Performers

Carlton Thomas (RB, RFr.), eight votes

Background: The undersized Thomas came into spring practice as "the other running back" with Sophomore Caleb King expected to nail down a job as at least a part-time starter replacing the departed Knowshon Moreno. Instead, it was Thomas who wowed teammates with his speed and elusiveness.

At stake: Thomas figures to be strongly in the mix for a starting job now this fall, but the return of Richard Samuel and Dontavius Jackson from injury and the arrival of freshman Washaun Ealey will make it a competitive battle for carries.

Quotable: "Last year he was just trying to learn the plays, but this year, he's playing wide open and making plays," said Thomas' roommate Nick Williams. "You're not going to get a big hit, you're not going to sling him down, so just break down, let him do his thing, and then make the tackle."

"He's just so quick that if he sees a hole, he can get through it in a hurry," wide receiver Kris Durham said. "And he's always running straight downhill. I always saw him as more of a scat back, but he's hit it through the tackles real well."

"I know we're battling," said fellow tailback Caleb King, "but he's doing good."

Brandon Boykin (CB/So.), seven votes

Background: Boykin played in all 13 games a season ago, but mostly in limited duty as a nickel back. His speed and athleticism, however, had already turned heads during practice last year.

At stake: When Asher Allen surprised many by foregoing his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft, Georgia's short corner position was thrown up for grabs. While incoming freshman Branden Smith figures to make a run at the job in the fall, Boykin's big spring has certainly given him a leg up in the race.

Quotable: "He's just an athlete, and he's just always in the right spot at the right time," said tailback Caleb King.

"You ought to see him on the basketball court just going up and dunking on people," wide receiver A.J. Green said. "It's amazing how someone his size can get up so high."

"He's always been a big-time playmaker but he's excelled his game so much this year," said Nick Williams, who played in the secondary with Boykin as part of Georgia's No. 2 unit much of last season. "He's playing with confidence, he knows what to do, and when a play needs to be made, he's there."

Nick Williams (LB, So.), five votes

Background: Williams arrived at Georgia a year ago as a safety, but was moved to linebacker midway through the season because of a rash of injuries at the position. Williams took to the new role quickly and coaches liked what they saw enough to keep him there this spring. He's put on 30 pounds in the past year and hopes to add another 5-10 more before the season starts.

At stake: As thin as the linebacker position was last year, it's that deep this season, and with Rennie Curran ahead of Williams on the depth chart, he's not likely to see a ton of action in 2009 regardless. But Williams' progress has been so impressive that coaches will have to think about getting him on the field whenever possible, and he's secured a role as one of the top special-teams performers already.

Quotable: "Nick is a high-energy individual," defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. "Anything he does, he can't sit still, and we like that. But it's trying to calm him down though in times when he's got to focus, but he's learning it."

"Nick's definitely a character," linebacker Rennie Curran said. "He's a little goofy kid, but he really has a passion. He has a real positive attitude, and I'm excited about what he's going to do for our defense."

"He played a lot of special teams and I think that's where you develop that desire to go hard every play," wide receiver Tony Wilson said.

Strong Support

Justin Houston (DE, So.), three votes

Background: Houston was a part-time starter a year ago, finishing with 19 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 16 QB hurries. By the mid-point of spring practice, he was the only healthy scholarship defensive end with any game experience at the position.

At stake: Georgia's D-ends were dismal last season, failing to get pressure on the quarterback with any consistency. This spring, nearly all of them were relegated to the sidelines with injuries. Houston used the opportunity to improve his game and now has a chance to be a major weapon for the Bulldogs' 2009 pass rush.

Quotable: "I thought a lot of guys perked up, but the guy that really caught my eye in a hurry was Justin Houston," head coach Mark Richt said. "Considering the limited amount of plays these guys are getting, that was by far the most productive defensive player."

"One name that always jumps out is Justin Houston," linebacker Rennie Curran said. "I've watched him in the weight room just sort of explode in his improvement."

"With the D ends being so thin, for him to push through that on almost every snap has been impressive," lineman Chris Davis said. "He's worked hard."

"I thought it was going to be rough, but I looked at it as a time to get better, and the more reps I got, the better I got," Houston said. "Every rep I got was a chance to do it my hardest, and I got better."

Aaron Murray (QB, Fr.), three votes

Background: Murray arrived as an early enrollee with a huge amount of hype. He rallied from a broken leg early in the season to lead his Plant High School team to a Florida state title. His mix of athleticism and arm strength made him one of the nation's top recruits.

At stake: Joe Cox seems established as the starter at this point, but there are shades of the 2006 season when true freshman Matthew Stafford overtook fifth-year senior Joe Tereshinski for the starting quarterback job midway through the season. Murray isn't quite the natural QB Stafford was, and Cox is a good bit better than Tereshinski, but there may just be a few snaps for the freshman anyway if he continues his strong play. He finished spring with the longest play from scrimmage in each of the Bulldogs' three practices.

Zach Mettenberger (QB, Fr.), three votes

Background: Like Murray, Mettenberger arrived at Georgia a semester early to get a leg up on the competition. Unlike Murray, Mettenberger didn't have quite the hype or pedigree. What he does have is a mighty impressive arm that offensive coordinator Mike Bobo compared favorably to Stafford's.

At stake: Mettenberger's spring didn't go nearly as smoothly as Murray, and he struggled to complete passes in each of the scrimmages. Of the two, he seems more likely to redshirt in 2009, but there's still plenty of potential there. The knock on Mettenberger coming in was his footwork, and coaches have raved about his improvement in that area.

Quarterback Quotables: "I'm really, really pleased with the quarterbacks," head coach Mark Richt said. "Zach is placing the ball very, very well. Aaron has found the open man deep a couple times, which is good. I stand right in the huddle and listen to them call the play and they're getting more and more confidence. There's a lot less confusion."

"I'm surprised how quick they're picking up the offense, and they've both got great arms," wide receiver A.J. Green said.

"When they first came in, you could tell they were nervous," offensive lineman Clint Boling said. "But as spring went on, they got more and more comfortable, they knew what they were doing, and hopefully they can keep building on that. I think they did a good job this spring."

"I've been very pleased with his knowledge of the game and his approach to studying," offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said of Mettenberger. "I've been fairly pleased with how he moves, his footwork in the pocket. We knew we were going to have to work on his feet, but he's worked hard at that and actually moved pretty good avoiding the rush."

"Our main goal has been to get better every day, and from a quarterback standpoint, each of us has gotten a lot better from Day 1, so it's been a lot of fun," Murray said. "It's a big learning curve jumping in here, but I feel pretty good right now."

"You take every rep and every scrimmage and try to learn from it," Mettenberger said. "My stats people probably look at and think, 'Oh man, he sucks,' but there's a lot behind the scenes. The knock on me was my footwork, but I think my footwork's been 10 times better than what people have seen."

Making Strides

Prince Miller (CB, Sr.), two votes

The low-down: Miller has been a solid contributor for two years now, but he took a step forward last year as a full-time starter and has taken on a leadership role this spring as the senior member of the cornerbacks. More importantly, said fellow senior Bryan Evans, going against A.J. Green each day in practice has made Miller into a better player. "I think Prince can do nothing but get better going against A.J. Green, one of the best receivers in the country," Evans said. "You're not going to see too many receivers like A.J." That sentiment was shared by the man, himself. "He got better," Green said of Miller. "He's pushing me and I'm trying to push him, and we're competing every day."

Marcus Dowtin (LB, So.), two votes

The low-down: Dowtin worked primarily at middle linebacker this spring after seeing some action all over the field last year. He's got a lot of competition ahead of him, but with two sacks in the G-Day game, he's firmly in the mix for playing time. "In the film room, he's become a lot more football smart," linebacker Rennie Curran said. "He's really responded well, he's buying into the program, and he's going to be a huge contributor in the future."

Sanders Commings (CB, RFr.), two votes

The low-down: Commings appears poised to handle the primary nickelback role this season. He's battling for a spot at the short corner but is behind Brandon Boykin on the depth chart right now. With his size – he's 6-2, 210 – he won't be overwhelmed by any receiver in the league, but he's still a little green in terms of experience. "They definitely have the look in their eye like they're ready to get out there and contribute," wideout Kris Durham said of Commings and Boykin. "They're coming out with a new focus and a new state of mind."

Baccari Rambo (S, RFr.), two votes

The low-down: Rambo still looks to be behind Bryan Evans and Quintin Banks on the depth chart at safety, but he impressed this spring with his athletic ability and his willingness to hit. He spent a lot of time last season as the QB for the scout team, however, and that may have impressed his coach as much as anything. "Bacarri Rambo, if you had to turn him into a quarterback in a pinch, he can play," head coach Mark Richt said. "That might come into play for us."

Rennie Curran (LB, Jr.), two votes

The low-down: Curran had an All-SEC season a year ago and could become an All-American this year. He's been far more concerned with becoming the most vocal leader of the Georgia defense, however, after the D came up far short of expectations a year ago.

Tavarres King (WR, RFr.), two votes

The low-down: With the loss of Kris Durham for the season due to a shoulder injury, Georgia needs another wide receiver to step up. That might just be King, who saw action in a few games early in the year before falling victim to an ankle injury and taking a medical redshirt. "In the past he wasn't as consistent, but he's been making a lot of plays and showing he really wants to get out there," linebacker Rennie Curran said.

Geno Atkins (DT, Sr.), two votes

The low-down: Atkins turned down a chance to potentially be a first-round pick in the NFL draft, and Georgia's coaches were thrilled. Atkins has easily been the most dominant player in camp this spring, and he's hopeful that he'll be just as successful on game days in the fall. "Geno is just a dominant football player right now," head coach Mark Richt said. "I don't know if anybody can block him."

Kade Weston (DT, Sr.), two votes

The low-down: Weston battled through a nagging knee injury last year and had trouble staying on the field. This year, he'll be teamed with fellow seniors Atkins and Jeff Owens on the interior line, and Bulldogs fans are expecting big things.

Fred Munzenmaier (FB, Jr.), two votes

The low-down: With several of the running backs shelved this spring, Munzenmaier got his chance to touch the football early and often in Georgia's scrimmages. He has just two career carries in games – both went for touchdowns – but he showed he knew what to do with the ball in his hands during a couple of scrimmages this spring. Mark Richt said there could be a bigger role as a ball carrier ahead for Munzenmaier. "He hasn't had a lot of opportunities to do it," fellow fullback Shaun Chapas said, "but when given a chance, he's looked really good."

Others Receiving Votes

(*Note: Each received one vote)

Bryan Evans (S, Sr.), Logan Gray (QB, So.), Tony Wilson (WR, Jr.), Michael Moore (WR, Sr.), A.J. Green (WR, So.), Christian Robinson (LB, RFr.), Quintin Banks (S, Jr.), A.J. Harmon (OL, RFr.), Caleb King (RB, So.), Tanner Strickland (OL, So.), Ty Frix (RFr., Sn.), Drew Butler (P, So.).

Quotables…

Clint Boling on Tanner Strickland: "I thought Tanner has done a good job this spring of taking the opportunity and trying to get a chance to play. He's accepted the role, and hopefully in the fall when guys come back, he'll still be trying as hard as he was this spring."

Rennie Curran on A.J. Harmon: "He's just had a real transformation from his first year up until now. He's really just kept a positive attitude through everything, really worked hard in the weight room."

Aron White on Caleb King and Carlton Thomas: "They're playing more confident now and are two guys to watch out for next year doing big things."

Logan Gray on A.J. Green: "He's been stepping up, and he's definitely a fun guy to throw to."

Blair Walsh on special teams: "They're trying to get other positions settled, but we try to individually perform well. We lost our punter and our snapper from last year, and Ty Frix and Drew Butler have really come along great."

Mike Bobo on Logan Gray: "It's a big spring for Logan and establishing himself at that position, showing us that he can do the finer things of playing quarterback fundamentally."

Caleb King on his spring: "My biggest things was the blocking, and I think I'm doing excellent in the blocking scheme this spring."

Tony Wilson on his recovery from injury: "As far as the progress out of the surgery, it's the same, but now that I'm getting out there and putting some pressure on it, it's totally different. I can actually get out there and move and get in and out of cuts a little bit more."

Willie Martinez on Bryan Evans: "Bryan has done a really good job of being positive and each and every day he's getting better and better and better with understanding it."