Injury a painful reminder
“Oh, no! Here we go again!”
Considering Georgia’s record string of injuries last season, you probably heard or read or said something along those lines when you saw the news of the season-ending shoulder surgery coming up for backup offensive lineman Tanner Strickland.
The redshirt sophomore, who was injured during summer workouts, played in 13 games last year and topped the depth chart at right guard in the spring before the return of Vince Vance from injury at left guard shifted Cordy Glenn to RG. Strickland was expected to be one of the first off the bench for line coach Stacy Searels, who views all his players as interchangeable at any of the OL positions.
Because last year’s injury-prompted shuffling of players on the OL led to a lot of game experience for the young group, the offensive line is expected to be one of the Dogs’ strengths this season. And there’s still a fair amount of depth in that corps, despite the loss of Strickland, since Georgia has eight offensive linemen with starting experience.
Still, four of them — likely starters Trinton Sturdivant and Vance and backups Chris Davis and Josh Davis — are returning from injuries. And Chris Davis isn’t yet fully recovered from hip surgery and has missed a lot of work. Another reserve, Justin Anderson, also is coming back from an injury.
So naturally the loss of Strickland has fans thinking about how a twist here and a tear there could have Searels back playing musical linemen. And that could force incoming freshmen Dallas Lee and Chris Burnette in the mix a lot earlier than planned.
On the positive side, you’ve got to figure the odds are that the Dogs won’t see another streak of injuries like that again this year.
I bet Joe Cox has his fingers crossed anyway, though.
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96 comments Add your comment
MiltonDawg
July 9th, 2009
2:23 pm
let’s hope this doesn’t set off a pattern here. we need health & strength on both sides. best wishes Tanner!! see you next year.
RxDawg
July 9th, 2009
2:23 pm
Ughhh….
3 reasons we lost our games last year.
1. Injuires
2. Penalties
3. Tackling
4. (yeh I know, only 3 but I don’t want to sound too much like a Bama fan) We were outplayed by the opposing teams.
I really hope we don’t see the same injury bug as last year. People will try to inappropriately put the blame with someone (strength and conditioning coach maybe?) if we do.
Dawg Man
July 9th, 2009
2:27 pm
The dawgs have way too many injuries. They need to replace their trainers and team doctors and get people who know what they are doing! I’m getting tired of this!
OZZFEST
July 9th, 2009
2:32 pm
Beer lubricates the joints.
riggo
July 9th, 2009
2:42 pm
Time to look at how they are strength & conditioning, to many injuries per year
some of your top players can be rested during some practices. MIKE SMITH ATLANTA FALCONS
SSI gator
July 9th, 2009
2:44 pm
A little early for excuses Bill
PTC DAWG
July 9th, 2009
2:44 pm
Keep your head up Tanner….
bigshot
July 9th, 2009
2:50 pm
I too am begining to think that maybe they should start looking at strength and conditioning.
DawgFan24
July 9th, 2009
2:50 pm
Sorry to hear that Tanner will be out for the season, but we are talking about a backup here. No excuses, Dawgs will still shock the CFB world next season w/ a top 5 finish. Bank it!
larry munchin
July 9th, 2009
2:55 pm
trust me, we haven’t seen the last of injuries. we haven’t even gotten to two-a-days yet…really hate to hear about any injury, but i had heard strick was making alot of progress towards some quality PT.
lets hope our interior d-lineman stay healthy, we’ve got to have them.
harry dog
July 9th, 2009
3:00 pm
Last year we “did not hit in practice”, said Richt, post season. Now in 09? We will be hitting and let the chips ( miniscusci ) fall where they may. Every team has them and U of F last year had TONS of KEY D back and LB injuries and flunk outs but they won it all.
Coaching is the key. This year? CWM knows that Evans and Adams will be watching and IF UGA is lousy,like 7-4 he will resign OR ELSE > this is his year to turn it around Dawg nation.
UGA will be fine. Let’s tee it up !!
Drew-G-A
July 9th, 2009
3:04 pm
The one thing everyone was giving us as a positive heading in to this upcoming season is the strecgth and experience of our O-Line. This is a hard blow considering that Searels had him listed as a started on the depth chart. I still believe we’re gonne be better than most people think. And I still believe our line will be the strength of our team this year. However, I don’t think we can take one or two more injuries on the line before the start of the season. Here’s to hoping the rest stay healthy.
big dawg
July 9th, 2009
3:12 pm
this one hurts, but it could be much worse…like last year,losing sturdivant…
oh yeh, don’t be surprised to see no.22,samuel, at linebacker or even safety in the near future…..just a lil inside info..
mcdawg
July 9th, 2009
3:13 pm
my exact reaction
DamnGoodDawg
July 9th, 2009
3:17 pm
Here we go again. Over the years Georgia linemen have been seemingly very brittle. How many times in the past I remember Munson saying stuff like, “We’re running out of healthy bodies” or “We don’t have anybody healthy enough to line up on the line of scrimmage”. Here we go again.
Jeff
July 9th, 2009
3:17 pm
With our schedule this year I would expect to lose at least 5 players off of our roster to season ending injuries. However, they can’t be at key spots like Owens and Sturdivant last year. This is exactly why CMR and Searels want 10 O lineman that can play all positions. We have the talent to do it. Time for coaches and players to step up and stop worrying about who isn’t playing versus worrying about who is going to play.
kiffinator
July 9th, 2009
3:21 pm
i get so tired of hearing ga complain about all of their injuries. every team has them. with all of the supposed 4 star recruits that they sign every year there should be enough depth to cover the injuries or maybe it is still the jan kemp thing that dawg fans leaned on so many years as an excuse.
BlackSmoke
July 9th, 2009
3:23 pm
I don’t think the problem lies in Strength & Conditioning. Coach Van is a great strength coach and takes all the proper precautions when it comes to lifting, etc. I truly believe it is just freak accidents that have claimed so many players over the last 3 years. Just my opinion, but I don’t think Coach Van is the problem
JayRoot
July 9th, 2009
3:28 pm
.
Any of you Ugag fans have a “day time job”?
I guess GaTech grads have taken your jobs? Ha!
.
dawgstephen
July 9th, 2009
3:28 pm
kiffinator, tell ya what.
Let’s take your top 2 Offensive Lineman, your top Defensive Lineman, 3 of your best LB’sand put them out for the year,your top Tight End out for 6 games. Your back up tight end for 4 games, move every Offensive lineman to a position opposite from where they are supposed to go, do all this during the season, and total up 22 yes 22 people lost for the season or near half season, and see how you do. REGARDLESS of how many players you have, starters start for a reason.
Ask BAMA what losing one Left tackle does for your pass protection when you only have 3 days to get ready for your next opponent. UTAH thats what.
http://www.dawgstephen.blogspot.com
no doctor but
July 9th, 2009
3:33 pm
We really do seem to have many more injuries than other teams. this has been going on for years now. we may need to change how we do things in practice.
coreen browns (d)
July 9th, 2009
3:36 pm
yall player need to pray jalike t-bow be doin. You dont see my gator player gettin hurt do you? das cause coarch Meyers be doing a good job and t-bow be keepin da LAWD wid us. go gator and vote democrats!
mr bodine
July 9th, 2009
3:40 pm
I’m tired of injuries too, but I’m also tired of all you people always screaming to replace this coach or that coach every time there is a bump in the road. When you do that, you often just show your ignorance of the facts…Coach Van Halenger is one of the very best in the nation.
ATLGT
July 9th, 2009
3:41 pm
Jayroot, you are a disgrace to all GT grads…
what kind of bs comment is that…matter of fact engineering jobs are dropping quickly right now. No reason to kid about the economy and people’s work lives.
kiffinator
July 9th, 2009
3:44 pm
dawgstephen, thanks for trying to straighten me out. i think all of you got so used to believing munson’s whining and poor mouthing that you just dont know any different.
dawgstephen
July 9th, 2009
3:47 pm
i guess we dont kiff, i guess we dont. thanks for the comment and reply. please feel free to comment and read my blog. have a good one.
http://www.dawgstephen.blogspot.com
Spence
July 9th, 2009
3:48 pm
This blog entry is stupid. Name one team that hasn’t had an injury during the off-season. Anyone calling for the replacement of our trainers is an idiot.
Dawgs73
July 9th, 2009
3:50 pm
I can’t believe we are going to blame our loses on injuries…PATHETIC! Oh, I forgot, we are the only team that has injuries. Excuses are for losers.
mr bodine
July 9th, 2009
3:57 pm
kiff, do you realize how dawgstephen just exposed you for the complete bonehead that you are? As is the case with most of you UT-terly redneck fans, you just can’t be bothered with the truth! Way to go dawgstephen!! Great post!
dawgstephen
July 9th, 2009
4:02 pm
Mr bodine, thanks for the praise, but its just the truth. I have a radio show here in dalton, and i have been fortunate enough to have Coach Van on my show, as well as Jeff Owens 2 weeks ago. I get to talk to a few people from time to time, and this business of excuses is NOT for me, but a real reason for something happening IS worth pointing out.
There is something special brewing in Athens, im tellin ya GET READY.
http://www.dawgstephen.blogspot.com
Mike from NC
July 9th, 2009
4:03 pm
Get those excuses ready early Dog fans!
RAMBLE ON!!!
July 9th, 2009
4:27 pm
Oh yeah, it’s getting close the football season. Time for the annual UGAg injury excuse.
I just don’t understand why UGAg is the only School that has football injuries!?!
I sure Huh? will be along to explain it soon.
GT had pleanty of them last year, especially on the OL, but you never heard about them.
Oh, I forgot, it’s the cry babies that get all the attention. My bad, carry on.
big dawg
July 9th, 2009
4:45 pm
nobody heard of gt’s injury bug because nobody really cares.. really, nobody cares. so just keep on ramblin, as you do so well.
by the way, i haven’t heard one person here give this injury as an excuse to the UPCOMING season. it’s not even august yet..dang!!
TybeeDawg
July 9th, 2009
4:46 pm
harry dog, which game are we not going to play this year???
TybeeDawg
July 9th, 2009
4:49 pm
and how do you “turn around” a 10-3 season???
Sportsdawg
July 9th, 2009
4:57 pm
What’s with shoulder injuries and UGA linemen? Does this type injury hit other teams like it seems to at UGA? Perhps it is just freak occurances, but whew, it seems to happer quite often with us. I’m just saying…
Richard
July 9th, 2009
4:58 pm
bite me ramble…
G-Man
July 9th, 2009
5:09 pm
Dawg73, you nailed it. Every year the injury bug bites. Time to stop crying and start working. Get on with it. Excuses are for LOSERS!
AltamahaDawg
July 9th, 2009
5:11 pm
Sportdawg, it is puzzling, but could it be like all the knee injuries to Running backs, and hamstring/groin injuries to receivers?
RAMBLE ON!!!
July 9th, 2009
5:15 pm
big dawg, This whole blog is an excuse.
Oh gee, we got the toughest Out of Conference schedule in the history of College Football, we got to play in the toughest conference in all of College Football, and now we got injuries again after having lost more players to injuries last year than any team in the history of College Football.
WHY EVEN BOTHER PLAYING THE GAME!?!
…Coming in Oct. “Well we lost the number one and number 15 pick in the NFL draft” and the annual, “terrible officiating” call.
You’ll see if you can look in the mirror.
Paul Finebaum
July 9th, 2009
5:19 pm
It’s ALL Richts fault! Nick Saban doesn’t ALLOW injuries on his teams!!! Long live the Sons of Saban!!!
AltamahaDawg
July 9th, 2009
5:20 pm
Excuses for what?
gtfan1951
July 9th, 2009
5:23 pm
what about A.J. Harmon? will he play this season?
jason
July 9th, 2009
5:38 pm
dawgstephen, I went to your site to check it out. I tried to post a comment, but wouldn’t let me post. The drop down box confused me;as I am not a computer expert. Anyway, I like your site and will visit often. Once I figure out how to send the post I will. Hopefully before the season starts.
RAMBLE ON!!!
July 9th, 2009
5:39 pm
excuses for going 6-6 this year.
Portland Dawg
July 9th, 2009
5:43 pm
Ramble On…if you’re soooo tired of hearing it, do us all a favor and refrain from posting and reading articles about UGA. If you continually visit the blogs only to complain about what you’re reading, then why are you here? It makes no sense, right?
Long Dawg
July 9th, 2009
5:44 pm
Ramble On, you are a sick little boy looking for someone to play with. The games are played on the field and not on this blog. You have one victory in 8 years to crow about so crow while you can. Just try to do it will a little more maturity and class.
Portland Dawg
July 9th, 2009
5:45 pm
It’s a shame that GT “fans” hate UGA more than they love GT. It really is.
Fools Gold
July 9th, 2009
5:48 pm
Van whatever strength and conditioning coach needs to go . He has been resting on his laurels from the Florida State days. My goodness no spotters or supervision in the weight room? no wonder opposing coaches says UGAs offensive and defensive linemen have been soft for years now. Ive been saying this for two years now… Willie and Van whoever needs to go if UGA wants a another SEC or National Championship.
Fools Gold
July 9th, 2009
5:52 pm
dawgstephen….. nice blogspot and good luck with it !