The Go-To Guys

I have a buddy named Ken, whom I've known for a long time now. I think most groups of friends have a guy like Ken. He's the guy who makes things happen.

I met Ken in high school when he was on a movie date with a girl I was friends with. Across the street from the movie theater was a McDonalds. It was December, and the McDonalds was advertising a visit from Santa on one of those signs with the plastic letter cards you can change out whenever you want to advertise something new. Ken ran over to the sign in broad daylight and changed the notice from "Santa is Coming!" to "Satan is Coming!" It was the type of high-school delinquency that I found hilarious at the time.

Anyway, from that point on, Ken's primary goal when hanging out with us has been to make sure we're all having fun. He's the guy who makes things happen. If you don't want to wait in line at a crowded bar, he greases the bouncer with a bill larger than any of us have in our wallets. If you need a wing man to go talk to a girl, he'll be buying drinks for her less attractive friend before you've even thought of a good opening line. If you complain there's nothing to do, there's a good chance someone will need bail money by the end of the night. He's a good guy to have around.

I tell you all of this because Ken came to mind as I was reading through the responses to my post on Monday about Georgia's reliance on its stars last season. There have been a good number of people here and over at the Senator's blog both in favor and pretty stridently against the impact of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno last year. Some think the pair was the best thing the team had going. Some people think they didn't get the job done. Ken reminds me that, perhaps, both theories are correct.

A bunch of us took a limo to go out in Philly for my birthday a few years back. Birthdays out on the town were a problem for me because people tended to buy me a lot of drinks and I have trouble turning down anything that's free. Needless to say, I was not at 100 percent.

When the limo dropped us off at my apartment late that night, we ran into a problem. In my diminished capacity, I had misplaced my keys. My roommate, who could have let us in, was nowhere to be found. He had either been distracted by a girl or stopped at Pat's for a cheesesteak. In any case, we were locked out.

So there we were, in the middle of January in chilly Delaware, a half-dozen guys, standing outside my apartment with no way in. As was usually the case, we put Ken in charge, and he remedied the problem. He broke down the door.

Twenty minutes later, we were sitting in my living room watching TV and enjoying some Hot Pockets when my roommate finally returned. He turned the handle on the front door and pushed in, and the door promptly fell onto the hardwood floor. He was less than thrilled.

Rather than yell at Ken though, my roommate was furious with me. At the time, I didn't get it. Ken broke down the door, after all. I had nothing to do with it. But it has since become clear to me what my roommate understood at the time: If we were always going to rely on Ken to make things happen, sometimes we had to shoulder the responsibility for the consequences of his actions.

Seems to me that's pretty much the same situation Georgia had last year. It wasn't about Stafford or Moreno failing to come through. It was about expecting a bit too much of both of them. It was about the other players on the team -- many of whom had the best of intentions -- simply assuming that, when the chips were down, they knew who they could count on. Most of the time, they were right. Sometimes though, their doors got kicked in.

I'm not sure this year will be different in terms of wins and losses, and I'm not inclined to think losing two players as talented as Stafford and Moreno helps a team, but I do think there's an advantage to having 11 guys on offense and 11 guys on defense who each realize that success depends as much on them as anyone else on the team.

Anyway, a few other thoughts on some of the comments I've read following that post...

-- Yes, the defense was suspect last season, but the offense simply did not show up throughout most of the Alabama game and all of the Florida game. Scoring was a problem against South Carolina, too, and the defense bailed Georgia out. So yes, the D needs some big improvements this season, but they weren't the ONLY problem.

-- Turd Ferguson and Richt Flair are both great commenter names.

-- I can't help but wonder what the opinion of Willie Martinez would be if he had followed someone who had a personality closer to his own rather than the fiery, ill-tempered Brian Van Gorder.

-- The "we're coming together as a team" talk is starting to get a little old, but it's the offseason, and that's about all we've got. Just be happy that you've gotten a lot of "teamwork" stories rather than stories about arrests and suspensions.

-- I'm glad a few people pointed out Mark Richt's minor jabs at the media's coverage. His quote in my post is no less than the third time I've heard or read something similar. Honestly, yes, if he's talking about ESPN, they did focus on Moreno and Stafford. But around here? I really don't think that was the case. In fact, I'd say I talked to Moreno and Stafford less than almost any other starters on the team because, quite frankly, they were two of the worst quotes. Then again, I doubt too many of the coaches or players are reading the Macon Telegraph.

-- I'd be willing to wager there isn't a player in recent history Georgia fans are more split on that Stafford. It's amazing... I never hear anyone say, "Yeah, he was a pretty solid QB, but just didn't put it all together for that Heisman-type season while he was here." People either love him or hate him. In truth, I think that comes from the fact that Stafford was pretty inconsistent throughout much of his career and fans tend to cherry pick the moments from his career that best prove their point.

--The coda to the story of Ken breaking down my door came the next day. After a greasy Sunday morning breakfast, we went to Home Depot buy a new door. I figured this was going to be a hassle because... well, who breaks down a door? As it turned out, apparently quite a few people. The door aisle was mobbed, and not with a bunch of 40-somethings finishing a honey-do list. There was at least a half-dozen college-aged guys there buying new doors. None of us said a word to each other, but there was a subtle, unspoken understanding of what had transpired.

Oh, and one final note: Ken is a South Carolina graduate, so really, we should have known better all along.

Richt: No Stars in 2009

The focus of Georgia's offseason has largely been the loss of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. Mark Richt, however, thinks the bigger obstacle was all the focus on Georgia's two superstars last season.

So as the Bulldogs move into the third week of voluntary summer workouts, Richt said there's a distinctly different mentality among the players without Stafford and Moreno aboard.

"They've really decided that they have to come together as a team and work their tail off and get after it," Richt said. "You can't sit there and rely on a Stafford or a Moreno to carry the team."

The departure of Stafford and Moreno -- both of whom were selected in the first round of the NFL draft -- along with receiver Mohamed Massaquoi means there aren't a lot of known quantities on offense for Georgia in 2009, but a healthy offensive line could make that a moot point.

While Richt says there was clearly too much focus on the team's offensive stars last season, in some cases there weren't many other options. With an offensive line littered with fill-ins learning on the fly, the offense was often forced to go with what worked. There weren't many chances to improvise.

When the protection broke down, Stafford relied on the receivers he trusted most. With the second-string tailbacks struggling in pass protection, Richt was forced to keep Moreno in the game nearly all the time down the stretch.

With a healthy and deep corps of linemen, this year, things should be different.

"I really believe that if the offensive line matures the way we expect it to, we won't need as many heroics," Richt said.

But the pressure won't just be on the offensive line this season, and the new focus must extend beyond the offense. This year, Richt said, things will be different everywhere from the players on the field to the fans in the stands to the stories in the newspaper.

"Last year was one of the toughest years because the Bulldogs fans and the media were focused on those two guys," Richt said. "But this year everybody understands that that's what it's going to take to be successful. The star of the team is the team."

Stafford Not Starting Yet

What, Matthew Stafford hasn't landed the starting gig already? Well what are they paying him all that money for?

ESPN is reporting that Lions' GM Martin Mayhew has tentatively named Daunte Culpepper as the team's starting quarterback.

"He's a pro, and I trust Daunte," Mayhew told the (Detroit) Free Press' Carlos Monarrez. "He's got a lot of ability, and I anticipate that if we had something to do today, Daunte would be the guy today. But we've got a lot of time to work, and we'll see how it goes."

It doesn't sound like this is anything more than the typical lip service early on. A team would be insane to name a rookie as the starter after one weekend of workouts, so this is really not news. Still, with a veteran like Culpepper (who also has a long relationship with O coordinator Scott Linehan) on the roster, Stafford will probably have a bit tougher time landing the starting job this fall than Matt Ryan had a year ago in Atlanta.

Stafford on Letterman

Matthew Stafford read the top 10 list on Letterman on Monday. You can watch the video HERE.

Here's the full top 10 in text form though...

Top 10 Thoughts that Went Through Matthew Stafford's Mind on Draft Day
10. You don't often hear, "Congratulations, you're going to Detroit"
9. Why am I the only one who came to Radio City Music Hall dressed as a Rockette?
8. If the Lions win one game this year, I'm a hero
7. Anybody dumps Gatorade on me and I'll deck 'em
6. Holy crap, I think I just pulled a hamstring
5. I didn't think anything could top the excitement of Heidi and Spencer getting married.
4. Is it me or does NFL Commissioner Goodell look like a young Larry Hagman?
3. Why am I here when I could be at that movie where Beyonce and that babe fight?
2. Why does Jessica Simpson keep calling me?
1. I'd gladly go #2 if it means not having to appear on Letterman

Video Blog: Stafford's Selection

Want to relive the magic of Matthew Stafford being selected first overall by the Detroit Lions, only with shaky camerawork and the glitz and glamor of the back of some guy's head? Well, here ya go...

Draft Day Photos

Some of the sights from Draft day...



Gotta love this mullet. He fluffed it repeatedly...
Eagles fans and Cowboys fans hanging out together? Mass hysteria!...
Fans taunting ESPN's folks...
Mr. Berman, my old arch nemesis...
Chris Mortensen, ruiner of otherwise perfectly good Telegraph stories...
The rest of the ESPN crew: McShay, Wingo and Herm Edwards...
And all of us "regular" media...
Some trophy they give away... I think for the guy who eats the most Campbell's Chunky Soup...
Stafford's three roommates -- Chapas, Munzenmaier and Durham -- sporting some new hats.
And Roger Goodell makes things official...

Lions Talk Stafford

The following are transcripts from Saturday media session with Detroit Lions GM Martin Mayhew and Head Coach Jim Schwartz regarding Detroit's first round selection as well as a transcript of the media conference call with Lions QB Matthew Stafford. (Courtesy UGA Athletics)...

MAYHEW: Opening statement: "We were able to reach an agreement with Matthew Stafford here. We received the contract back by fax within the past hour. We're excited to have him as a part of this organization and now we feel like we have a young guy that we build. We think, with him, that he's one of the best young quarterbacks in the league right now and now it's up to us to develop him. It's up to us to get good players around him. I think all of us will have to work together to make him be a successful player here in the NFL. We're excited about him, we're looking forward to the draft and we're going to add some more players today who will help us this season."

MAYHEW: On whether they still would have drafted Stafford had the contract not been signed: "Well at this point it doesn't really matter. We've got him, he's a guy that we targeted, he's the highest rated guy on our board and we're glad to have him."

MAYHEW: On whether Stafford will play right away: "It's hard to say until he gets here and starts playing. It takes awhile to learn how to play this game, so we'll see."

MAYHEW: On what sold him on Stafford: "After the private workout we started feeling really good about him and really comfortable with him. It's just the way he carried himself, how smart he was about the game and obviously the way he threw the football was very impressive. I was at his pro day and at theprivate workout and this guy can throw the football. We think our fans will be really excited to see Matthew play."

SCHWARTZ: Opening statement: "The first thing I want to talk about is that when we started this process we went in with an open mind. We didn't start this process saying, 'hey we're starting a franchise. We're going to start with a quarterback, or we're going to start with a left tackle or a defensive player.' We let the process work and I think this is year 17 in the NFL for me and this is the probably one of the few times I remember in 17 years having a consensus in the building for the No. 1 pick - that goes from the area scout, to the director of college Scouting, to the general manager, to the assistant coach, to the offensive coordinator and the head coach. I think when we started stacking the board and we started talking about different things in selection at No. 1, the thing that came off very strong about Matthew was the consensus of opinion and it made it an easy pick."

SCHWARTZ: On the consistency of Stafford's accuracy over his college career: "Accuracy wise, let's not down grade him for what he did as a true freshman. I think we saw increased accuracy each year, he got better every year. A lot of quarterbacks wouldn't have played as a true freshman, he went from high school to the Southeast Conference and played right away and I think maybe if he had red-shirted that year, maybe if he had been a backup that year, maybe that would haven't been out on him.

"I think we like the fact that we saw improvement from a year-to-year basis. We saw him win on the road at Alabama in a big game and contrary to one of the other things that was sort of put out there that he didn't do a lot with the talent at Georgia; it's easy, look at the players that were drafted from Georgia over the last couple of years. I think they had a sixth-round running back, I think they had a fourth-round tight end and a couple of offensive linemen that may have been free agents. I think all of those things were out there, but we were able to put our minds at ease with a lot of those questions."

SCHWARTZ: On what will determine whether Stafford will sit out for awhile or be able to play right away: "The same that goes into the decision on any player on this team. The best player is going to play and I think that we need to keep an eye toward that with Matthew. Is he the best player and is he ready? And both of those questions have to be answered. We're at a really good position right now with a rejuvenated Daunte Culpepper. Daunte has done an incredible job between the end of the season and now of making a commitment and being back. I think anybody that saw any of our mini-camp sees a lot of the old Daunte Culpepper. I think it's a great situation to be in where we have a comfort level with what Daunte has done up to this point and we have a good young quarterback and we don't have to force our hand. We don't have to make a decision that's not based on merit."

SCHWARTZ: On whether the best case scenario will be to give Stafford as much time as possible: "I've answered that before with 'it depends,' and Tom (Kowalski) loves that answer, and it does. I think, just like when we went into the draft and we said, 'we're going in with an open mind,' we're not going to say, 'hey, we're drafting a quarterback', or 'hey we're drafting a left tackle.' We go into this process the same way, not with, 'hey were going to sit him for a year regardless', or 'hey, he's going to start right away.' I think we go in and we say, 'if he's ready, in our eyes he's ready, and if he's our best quarterback, then he plays.'"

SCHWARTZ: On what he sees in Stafford: "I think a lot of things. The one thing that everybody sees is the arm strength; I think that kind of ability is release, it's classic. The other thing is his history of productivity. Going back to his sophomore year of high school, highly recruited player, mid-season transfer to Georgia and plays right away in the Southeast Conference - that body of work; but more than that, what came out in this process - I don't know if it was a surprise to us - intelligence, worth ethic and passion for the game of football. It's easy when you're around this guy a lot, he's a gym rat. He loves football; he loves to talk the game.

"We took him through, when we went down to Georgia, we took him through a game on film from Alabama two years ago and we said before we start watching this game and you start talking us through it, why don't you tell us a little bit about the game. He started out saying, 'hey, I remember the very first play of the game we wanted to take a shot, we went twins right demon and threw an 18-yard completion over the right side.' He started talking through the whole game and we didn't tell him that we were going to watch that game. It reminded me of golfers that can tell you every shot that they made in the game. He remembers back… we actually had high school film on him when he was here for his visit. He could tell me everything that was getting ready to happen in his high school games and that kind of recall and that kind of intelligence that was the thing that was most interesting."

SCHWARTZ: On how he feels he'll handle this level of the game: "I think the most interesting thing with that was leadership. His style of leadership has come from a lot of different people. He's a calming influence on the huddle. He's not a 'rah-rah, hey fellas lets get going.' The team has confidence when he's in the game, they have confidence that they're never out of the game and this goes way back with him. I think that kind of guy brings calming to the huddle. The guy that brings that kind of confidence, the players believe in him, players that have played with him in the past, so I think that was the most important thing."

SCHWARTZ: On how he feels Stafford will handle the pressure of being the No. 1 overall pick: "He's used to it. He was the, if not the highest recruited player in the country, he was the highest recruited quarterback in the country. He went to the University of Georgia with that kind of pressure. He was the guy who was to 'lead them to the promised land.' Walk around the streets of Athens Georgia with this guy, you'll see that he's used to this kind of pressure, this kind of notoriety. We went to dinner and I sort of lagged behind, I spent a lot of time with Matthew. Scott Linehan and Shack Harris were walking ahead with him and I was about 20 steps behind and it was amazing, every person that passed him onthe street all did a double take and looked and said, 'there goes Matt Stafford.' When grown men are following you around, following us into the restaurant, he's used to that kind of scrutiny and that gave us a comfort level too."

SCHWARTZ: On whether Stafford's decision to play collegiately out of state factored into their decision making: "I don't know if it ever came up in retrospect. That's probably a good sign, someone who's willing to leave the nest so to speak. He did have some connections there with his family at the University of Georgia, his older sister had gone there I think a year or two before, so there were some connections there, but that wasn't a criteria, that wasn't a part of our decision."

Draft Notes: Knowshon to Denver

The Philadelphia newspapers spent the past few days speculating about his imminent arrival. The bevy of New York Jets fans in attendance at Radio City Music Hall had their fingers crossed Knowshon Moreno might end up with their team. For their part, Moreno's family hoped he would land close to his New Jersey home, too.

As it turned out, they were all wrong, but it was a pleasant surprise.

Moreno was expected to be a mid-to-late first-round pick in Saturday's NFL draft. Instead, he was taken 12th overall by the Denver Broncos.

"You know, a lot of teams needed (running) backs, but I didn't know what was going to happen," Moreno said. "But once I got that call, got that idea and (head coach Josh McDaniels) told me about it, about that they were going to take me, I was so excited about the situation and to be a part of the team now."

Moreno follows in the footsteps of former Georgia running backs Olandis Gary, who had a 1,000-yard rushing season with the Broncos, and Terrell Davis, who won a Super Bowl MVP for Denver.

Denver's current running back situation is in flux after numerous injuries decimated the position a year ago.

Moreno said he think he can help in a multitude of areas, including in the passing game. More than anything, however, he said he'll bring energy to the Broncos' backfield.

"Really, I'm a high-motor guy," Moreno said. "Tough, hard-nosed, a hard runner, can make you miss at times. And just competitive. I love to play the game and I bring that energy to my team. So, we'll see how that goes."

STAFFORD THE STARTER?

Matthew Stafford hopes he can swing his status as the first player taken in the NFL draft into a starting job with the Detroit Lions next year, but his new general manager is taking more of a wait-and-see attitude.

"It's hard to say until he gets here and starts playing," Detroit general manager Martin Mayhew said. "It takes a while to learn how to play this game, so we'll see."

While no job will be guaranteed to Stafford, his new coach has been impressed by Stafford's leadership ability and thinks it will be a quick transition to life in the NFL.

"His style of leadership has come from a lot of different people," Jim Schwartz said. "He has a calming influence in the huddle. A guy that brings that kind of confidence, the players believe in him."

UGA IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Georgia head coach Mark Richt said Saturday's first round of the NFL draft was clearly a big day for his program, showing off the Bulldogs' talent on one of the sport's biggest stages. But more than a ringing endorsement for Georgia, Richt said the selections of Stafford and Moreno in the first round was a credit to how good both players were with the Bulldogs.

Still, Richt said the program did help in one way: It gave both players a chance to shine.
Georgia's offense resembles a typical NFL style closer than most college teams, allowing the Lions to get a good view of how Stafford would handle a similar game plan at the next level. Similarly, Moreno was able to improve his blocking and become a weapon as a receiver out of the backfield, illustrating his versatility to NFL teams.

"We hope that we've been very beneficial for them in their quest for their dream," Richt said. "For us, it's very exciting, and we're just really proud of them."

MORE TO COME

A number of former Georgia players are expected to hear their names called in the second day of the draft today.

Wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi led the Bulldogs in receptions last season, his fourth as a starter, and was the third Georgia player selected Saturday, going 50th overall to the Cleveland Browns.

Cornerback Asher Allen, who impressed scouts with his Pro Day workout in Athens, figures to land somewhere in the third or fourth round after leaving school a year early.

Fullback Brannan Southerland and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe both expect to chosen in the middle rounds of Sunday's draft as well.

Defensive tackle Corvey Irvin, safety CJ Byrd and defensive end Jarius Wynn could all be late-round selections.

TWO OF A KIND

Moreno was the first running back taken in the first round of Saturday's draft, but his good friend Donald Brown heard his name called as well.
Brown, who played Pee-Wee ball with Moreno in New Jersey, was taken with the 27th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts.

The two kept in touch throughout the draft process, helping each other to keep level heads.

"We were on a visit together (with the Jets)," Moreno said. "We went to the hotel room and just kind of chilled out. We didn't talk about the whole process but, we kind of looked at each other like, this is kind of crazy, you know? But it's a great experience. Not many people get to do it, and it only comes once, so you've got to enjoy it while it's here."

Stafford In Central Park

Matthew Stafford and the rest of the NFL prospects in New York for tomorrow's draft were in Central Park on Friday for a charity event with local school children to promote active lifestyles.




NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was on hand as well...

As was Deion Sanders...

Stafford gave rave reviews to a young reporter from Sports Illustrated for Kids...

And then signed some autographs for other youngsters...

Stafford Not Concerned With Deal

Everyone else wants to know, but Matthew Stafford swears he doesn't care.

As negotiations between Stafford's agent, Tom Condon, and the Detroit Lions rage on into a third day – and the clock before draft time keeps ticking – the former Georgia quarterback said he wouldn't know any of the details of the contract talks that could make him the first overall selection in the NFL draft if it weren't for the near constant questions from media.

In fact, Stafford said at a charity event in Central Park this morning, he hadn't even spoken to his agent all day.

"I'm sure they've been going pretty hard, but to tell you the truth, I'm out of the loop on it," Stafford said. "I try to stay away from it."

When Stafford last spoke with Condon, things weren't particularly clear, he said. He hung up the phone as confused as ever, and since then, he simply hasn't worried about it.

The Lions have said they want a deal in place with whomever they plan to select first overall Saturday, and contract negotiations have been ongoing since Wednesday with Stafford. Detroit officials said that did not mean a deal would definitely get done, however.

The deal will be tricky, as Stafford has already learned. Matt Ryan, the third overall pick in last year's draft, but first quarterback taken, landed a huge contract that guaranteed him $34.75 million over six years, with the total value of the deal reaching a staggering $72 million.

But other factors are in play with Stafford's deal, too. The NFL's collective bargaining agreement expires after next season, throwing team's future salary cap calculations into flux. More over, the league has said it would like to reduce salaries for rookies, and commissioner Roger Goodell even discussed the possibility of a future rookie salary cap with Stafford on Friday. The various economic problems facing the rest of the country – the city of Detroit in particular – add further chaos to an already confusing negotiation.

"There's a lot of stuff that goes into it, and I don't understand a word of it," Stafford said. "I'm not a lawyer. I just let my agent go to it, and hopefully he can get it done. He knows what he's doing, and I trust him with everything."

The bottom line, Stafford said, is that by late afternoon Saturday, he'll have realized a dream – regardless of what city he finally calls home.

"I'm going to be playing NFL football wherever I end up," he said. "If it's with the Lions, that's great. If it's somewhere else, I'm going to make the best of that situation."

Of course, being that No. 1 overall pick is pretty tempting, and it's a deal Stafford said he definitely wants to get done. Still, life as a professional football player has already begun he said, and the business of discussing the dollars and cents of his first contract has been a learning experience.

"I'd love to be the first pick, obviously, I think everybody in the draft would," Stafford said. "But if it doesn't happen, I really don't mind where I go. It's going to be a great day whatever happens."

Stafford the Celebrity

Missed this in my links earlier today, but figured I'd pass it along...

Matthew Stafford was a guest chatter over at ESPN.com. You can read the full transcript of his chat session HERE.

Stafford was also on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" last night. You can see highlights of Stafford doing a little football skeet shooting . The full episode is online, too.

The Truth About Stafford

If you happened to read the comments on this post yesterday, you're probably aware why I led my links today with a rather long rant on journalistic ethics.

As a reporter, the one thing you cannot allow to be damaged is your reputation, so that's a battle I'm likely to fight every time.

Having said that, I'm not above accepting a good suggestion on ways to be a BETTER reporter. The original arguments came because a reader disagreed with my willingness to link to a story that first appeared on ProFootballTalk.com that said Matthew Stafford was telling former teammates that his deal with the Lions was all but done.

I passed along the link because the news was already out there, and I figured my readers deserved to know where it was coming from. What I did not do was judge the accuracy of the article or give my opinion as to its legitimacy. I still don't believe that was something I needed to do.

Still, I understand the desire to get to the truth, and the truth really wasn't that hard to come by. I spoke with Kris Durham today, who is one of Stafford's closest friends on the team and his roommate for the past year. Here's what he had to say:

"There isn't any truth to that. He still doesn't have any idea where he's going yet."

So there you have it... the truth at last!

Now, don't let this extra effort on my part fool you into thinking you can bully me into doing anything you want. Although you probably can.

Also, don't forget to watch Stafford on Jimmy Fallon tonight with Rachel McAdams and Lost's Michael Emerson.

Stafford Headed to New York

No surprise at all here, but it's worth noting: Matthew Stafford was among nine prospects invited to the NFL draft in New York.

Practice Notes: A Cold Day in Athens

It was an abridged media session with Mark Richt today, and there wasn't exactly anything immensely important to come of it, but here's some news worth noting:

-- It was cold... really cold. Richt lamented the weather over some hot chocolate after practice, and he reflected a bit on what Georgia might be missing under wet, windy conditions this coming season.

"Matt can throw the ball extremely well in the wind and the wet situations. It didn't seem to faze him at all," Richt said of former quarterback Matthew Stafford. "As a matter of fact, if it rained with Matt, it was probably an advantage to us because the DBs were going to slip around a little bit, and it wasn't going to affect how Matt threw the ball. Joe, we'll see how well he throws the wet ball if we play in those conditions."

Richt then showed a bit of rooting interest for where Stafford might land in this month's NFL draft.

"I guess Detroit plays inside," Richt joked. "Oh, but I guess he might not go to Detroit. But when the wind was whipping out there, we said, 'This is how Stafford's going to have it every day.'"

-- Richt discussed his rationale for moving spring practice back one week this year, noting that the agreement with ESPN to broadcast the G-Day game did play into the decision.

-- Dontavius Jackson returned to a full practice without a green, non-contact jersey for the first time this spring today and Richt said he'll be a full participant in the G-Day game.

-- A few guys who won't be available for G-Day: Kris Durham, who injured his shoulder two weeks ago, will miss the rest of the spring. Richt said they have not decided yet whether it will require surgery and Durham didn't offer too much more detail than that. Akeem Hebron was a player Richt mentioned last week as potentially returning to action, but by Monday, Richt admitted he wasn't ready. Same goes for Quintin Banks, who is still rehabbing from a mid-season injury that has limited him to mostly non-contact work this spring.

-- Baccari Rambo suffered a minor MCL sprain last week and has not practiced since, but Richt said he should be ready for the spring game.

-- Bryan Evans suffered a concussion during the scrimmage on Saturday, but Richt said he is responding well and should be good to go later this week.

-- One player who is now completely healthy is wide receiver A.J. Green, who said he is 100 percent for the first time since last summer. "I didn't limit me game-wise, but practice-wise, not being able to go every day and stuff like that. Sometimes it would be bothering me and I was missing out on reps that could help me."

As for the rest of the practice news and notes, here's the UGA official release, which employs a delightful use of the word "blustery" in the lead. That always reminds me of my favorite childhood episode of "Winnie the Pooh"...

The Georgia football team practiced for an hour and a half in pads and shorts at the Woodruff practice fields on a blustery Monday afternoon.

With the wind gusting up to more than 30 miles an hour and temperatures dropping into the 40s, the Bulldogs had their first of three practices before the annual G-Day game arrives on Saturday.

“It was very cold and windy out there today so we just tried to layer up and get things done,” said head coach Mark Richt. “According to Coach (Wayne) Norton, who has coached the track team for almost 20 years here, this was the coldest day his teams have practiced on during the month of April and I can believe it.”

Richt also commented on several players who are either returning from injury or who will now be out for the rest of the spring.

“Kris Durham injured his shoulder a few days back and he is definitely out for the rest of spring,” Richt said. “Bryan Evans also got a concussion during Saturday’s scrimmage, but we think he could be back as soon as Wednesday. As far as coming back, Charles White practiced for the first time (since an Achilles tendon injury last season) during the scrimmage and did a nice job. He was very physical out there and remembered all of the schemes from his position.”

One of the questions marks for Georgia this offseason has been who will replace running back Knowshon Moreno, who entered the NFL draft and is expected to be a first-round pick. So far, redshirt freshman Carlton Thomas has impressed Richt and the coaching staff.

“He’s a little like Tyson Browning. Probably more powerful but not as fast,” explained Richt. “But his agility and ability to change direction are probably more like Tyson than any other player I have coached at Georgia or Florida State.”

The annual G-Day spring game will kick off at 1:00 p.m. and be televised live by ESPN. Brad Nessler will handle the play-by-play duties, with Kirk Herbstreit providing the color analysis and Wendy Nix adding sideline reporting. Admission to the game is free. A lettermen’s alumni game will precede the varsity game with starting time scheduled for 11:15 a.m.

Sanford Stadium gates will open at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Gates utilized for the public will be the main gate under the Sanford Drive bridge as well as gates 2, 4, 6, 7 and 9.

In lieu of an admission fee, fans are encouraged to bring food donations to benefit the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. Among the items most needed are soups, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, rice, pasta and pop-top canned goods.

Practice Notes: Longo Done For Spring

Just when coaches thought things couldn't get much worse for Georgia's defensive ends, another Bulldogs pass rusher has been shelved for the spring.

Freshman Jeremy Longo suffered a shoulder injury that will likely keep him off the practice field for the remainder of spring practice, head coach Mark Richt announced Tuesday. Longo was hurt during Monday's scrimmage, suffering what Richt called a "sublex" injury, which momentarily shifts the shoulder out of joint.

"It didn't dislocate," Richt said. "Sometimes those will create enough damage where you need to operate, but they don't think is one of those situations. But it's going to be sore enough where I doubt he gets back in before spring is over."

That leaves Georgia with just two healthy scholarship players at the position – Justin Houston and Kiante Tripp, who just moved from the offensive line last month.

With so few players to fill the void lefty by the myriad injuries at the position Georgia's coaches have been forced to resort to desperate measures.

"We took two of our walk-on tight ends, and I'm not even sure which two we took, and moved them to defensive end to help us get through the rest of the time," Richt said.

Beyond the sudden shift of the walk-ons, Richt promises few other changes. While the situation at defensive end has become dire, he said it was crucial to make sure the rest of the players were able to get in the requisite work they need to improve this spring.

"We're not going to cancel spring ball, we're not going to stop practicing, we're not going to quit tackling, we're not going to quit going full speed," Richt said. "We've just got a lot of guys that need a lot of work, and we want to continue to improve on the tempo of really both sides of the ball. We're not going to back down."

HE CAN'T BE STOPPED

Sure, several of Georgia's top offensive linemen are sidelined with injuries, but Mark Richt isn't sure it would matter who was lined up across from defensive tackle Geno Atkins.

"Geno is just a dominant football player right now," Richt said. "I don't know if anybody can block him."

For his part, however, Atkins is playing it coy. He said he definitely feels his game has improved – and he did have two sacks during Monday's scrimmage that was largely won by the offense – but he said there's still plenty of things he hopes to improve before he hits the field this fall.

"I feel like I've still got a lot to work on, but my pass rushing skills have gotten better," Atkins said. "I felt like I needed to work on my fundamentals and my footwork and have a better pass-rush game."

SHOWING OFF

While Atkins has been dominant, Richt said he has seen plenty of other Bulldogs step up their games this spring as well.

Near the top of his list of spring standouts has been linebacker Nick Williams, who had six tackles in Monday's scrimmage and is making a quick adjustment to his new position after moving from safety last fall.

"Nick Williams made some great strides," Richt said. "He's still learning what to do, but he's a guy who will play hard, will stick his face on you and try to run through you. He's certainly got some technique issues right now, but his effort, his attitude and his toughness have really showed."

Ah, but it wouldn't be like Richt to dispense small doses of platitudes when he could heap some praise on a handful of other top performers as well.

Here's a quick run-down, via Richt, of the top spring performances…

"A.J. Green, I thought he's done outstanding. Joe Cox has total control of everything he was trying to do. I think Cordy Glenn has been practicing extremely well. I thought Bryan Evans played with great energy and enthusiasm. Bryan had a nice day. (Vance) Cuff is coming along. Cuff, for a guy that when spring started wasn't even getting any reps, he's really had a nice spring so far. Rennie (Curran) is outstanding. (Akeem) Dent is playing well."

Richt said that depth chart decisions are usually made after the first scrimmage, but he had not had a chance to discuss any changes with his assistants prior to Tuesday's practice.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK

While the injuries at defensive end continue to mount for the Bulldogs, two other players who have spent the spring in green non-contact jerseys appear close to returning.

Running back Dontavius Jackson has participated in many of the non-contact drills this spring and Richt said he could be good to go at full speed by this weekend or early next week.

Richt also said linebacker Akeem Hebron appears ready to return to full participation by this weekend as well.

NO WORRIES

Georgia's freshmen quarterbacks have been the center of attention, and Logan Gray said he has been impressed by their progress. But when it comes to the battle to land the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, Gray isn't too concerned with what the young pups on the roster are doing.

"I'm watching them every day in practice, but all I've tried to focus on is myself and every single rep that I take," Gray said. "No matter what they do, that doesn't have any outcome on my situation."

HE'S FINE

Wide receiver Kris Durham sat out of Monday's practice with a minor shoulder injury, but he said he returned to individual drills Tuesday and doesn't anticipate any longterm problems.

"It's fine," he said. "I was out there today and did some individual (workouts) and other stuff, just trying to work it back in."

STRONG SHOWING

Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford held an individual workout for the Detroit Lions on Tuesday in hopes of securing his spot as the first overall pick in next month's NFL draft. While the workout was meant for a select audience, several of his former teammates and coaches dropped by to check out his performance.

"I came down and watched a little bit of it," Kris Durham said. "I had to show a little support. He looked pretty good out there. Hopefully he can settle that No. 1 spot."

Durham said Stafford has remained fairly stoic throughout the process, a fact that isn't at all surprising for those who know the quarterback well.

"That's just his personality," Durham said. "You can tell he has that confidence, and whoever wants him, he's going to go in there and show what he can do."

BUSY WEEK

Mark Richt said the team will have two more short practices this week and will scrimmage for the second time on Saturday. Last week's rained out practice session resulted in a five-practice week for the Bulldogs, which is something Richt hadn't done in the past.

"I don't know if we've gone five practices in one week since I've been here during spring ball, but that's the plan for now," Richt said.

Kiper on Stafford

ESPN's Mel Kiper held a conference call on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming draft. He was asked to compare Matt Ryan and Matthew Stafford. Here's his response...

"There is no similarity with Ryan because Ryan played his senior year. If Matthew Stafford would have played his senior year then there would be no concerns. I think he would have lit it up. A.J. Green is a developing star as a wide receiver. He was a true freshman last year and he's ready to be one of the great receivers in college football. The offensive line which was so young last year with freshmen and unproven players is now a cohesive group. Granted (Knowshon) Moreno left, but there's some quality backs in the program. Had he stayed another year, he would have been off the charts. I think that's where you say, where could he be? That's going to be his year. You have to coach him and treat him like he's a senior in college. You're not going to have a guy like Matt Ryan, even a Joe Flacco who stayed for his senior year. You're not going to have a veteran coming in. You're going to have a guy who is still a junior. … You have to treat him differently. If you draft him, the first year, if you want to get him later in the season, don't expect a lot. If you think he needs to play through his mistakes, fine, but you have to coach him.

"With the talent he has, he'll be a sponge. He'll pick everything up. He'll work hard at it. His arm strength is in the rare category, rare arm strength. We always talk about above average arms, great arms. A lot of guys have good arms, but elite arms are rare and this kid has it.

"So you ask why people are all over the place. They have to determine if he's worthy of being the No.1 pick in the draft. How NFL ready is he? How much time do we have to spend with him? Do we want to commit all these dollars? They don't treat quarterbacks like they did back in the 1980's where you have three to four years to develop them. They want them to play right away. In Matthew Stafford's case that's not realistic. In Mark Sanchez's case it's not realistic."

Hot Reads (3/22)

I started this blog the last week of July of this past year. This post that you are currently reading will be my 802nd. I'm no mathamagician, but I believe that works out to about 25 posts per week. Add to that the dozen or so links posted each day, my stories for the Telegraph and Ledger-Enquirer, and the enormous quanitity of content from other resources that isn't shared on this blog, and it's a wonder a hardcore Georgia fan has time to shower or eat lunch each day. There's a lot of Dawg news out there.

That's really both the cost and the benefit of the age of the Internet. We have access to so much more information than we did before that it can become a bit overwhelming. But fear not, I'm here to help.

Starting today, I'm going to launch a new weekly feature tentatively titled "Hot Reads" in which, every Sunday, I'll take a look back at the top four or five storylines in Georgia athletics from the previous week and provide links to the essential reading material you may have missed. Consider a Cliff's Notes on the week that was. Will you still miss a few things along the way? Sure. But you didn't need to understand that the ship was a microcosm for society to get that Moby Dick was a pretty pesky fish (...mammal... whatever).

So, here's what you should have learned this week...

1.) Georgia's basketball program is in flux. First, Zac Swansey trashed his team. Then he and Troy Brewer were planning to transfer. Then Brewer wanted to stay. Then they were both officially leaving. And of course, there's still no coach, but there are plenty of rumors.

2.) Pro Day was a big hit. Tons of scouts and former players came to Athens to watch this year's draft-eligible Bulldogs workout. Matthew Stafford had a decent day and has remained calm despite the spotlight. Knowshon Moreno didn't improve on his 40 time much, but several of the other Georgia players managed to up their draft stock with strong performances.

3.) Spring practice got started. There's a lot on the line this spring, but the big storylines to start the spring involved Joe Cox taking over the offense -- which raised a bit of debate on whether he was more like D.J. Shockley or more like Joe Tereshinski -- and Caleb King getting his shot at running back. As it turns out, Cox's understudy, Logan Gray, had a big first day, and King's backup, Carlton Thomas, seems to have stolen the show, which you could have read earlier this week HERE, but more like found the stories yesterday HERE, HERE, HERE or HERE. Don't worry, I'm not bitter or anything.

4.) Atlanta wants to throw a cocktail party. The Atlanta Business Journal reported that the city was making efforts to bring the annual Georgia-Florida game to the A-T-L. Georgia AD Damon Evans said the whole thing was blown way out of proportion. Of course, some smart, pragmatic folks think it's a bad idea to move the game no matter what.

5.) Tony Dungy came to town. Dungy was in Athens with Mark Richt to promote an organization called All Pro Dad, which encourages fathers to spend more quality time with their kids. Dungy didn't talk much football, but he did mention a meeting with incoming UGA tight end Orson Charles. Later, Charles said it was that conversation that convinced him to become a Bulldog.