Thoughts on keeping defensive Dogs hungry and A.J. Green returning punts
Nick Williams likes the open competiton for playing time on defense. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
One of the side benefits of defensive coordinator Todd Grantham installing a new defense at Georgia may be that the players all know that no one is assured of a starting position — unlike last year, when some spots were locked up early by upperclassmen.
Nick Williams, who’s battling for playing time at one of the safety positions, talked about the benefits of the competition with The Macon Telegraph. “It’s great because it brings a lot out of players, knowing that you might not be the starter,” Williams said. “Nobody has a starting job. You can get kind of content when you know you’re going to be playing as a starter on Saturday nights, so you don’t practice as hard.”
The italics for emphasis are mine. I think we all remember too well what it was like last year when some players held on to their starting spots despite the fact that they were being outplayed by their backups.
Williams says he thinks the uncertainty this spring is helping the team. “I like how the coaches are doing it. They haven’t set on who is starting at each position. They have swapped everybody out, keep everybody wondering really. No one knows, so you have to come out every day with your best.”
Let’s hope they keep that mindset even after the season starts. Besides poor fundamentals like tackling, complacency seemed to be a big problem for Georgia’s defense the past couple of seasons.
THANKS, A.J., BUT NO THANKS
Georgia doesn't need to risk another injury to A.J. Green by using him on punt returns. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
I had not previously commented on A.J. Green’s stated desire to be considered as the Dogs’ punt returner, and Green joining a bunch of other players in trying out at that spot last week in practice, because I think the likelihood of that turning into a regular gig for him is about the same as it was for Knowshon Moreno a couple of seasons ago. But a couple of readers asked what I thought, so here goes:
I think it’s commendable that Green, the unchallenged star of the team, wants to go the extra mile, but I’m hoping the coaches decide that it’s not such a good idea. He’s just too valuable as the Dogs’ top wide receiver.
As David Hale pointed out, “Georgia has just six scholarship WRs, two wore green jerseys this week in practice, one is coming off missing the season following shoulder surgery, and A.J. … if he has a weakness, it’s that he’s been banged up most of his career.”
And The Grit Tree wisely noted that “unlike Knowshon in 2008, Green’s body is not built to take those added hits in the return game. I don’t think A.J. Is injury prone as some have speculated, but I’m not wanting to take any added chances either. I remember Fred Gibson got hurt returning a kickoff in 2003 and missed several games, notably the September game against LSU. … Green is far and away a more important player than Gibson was. There are a lot of other athletes who could be a better option other than Green or Logan Gray. If you want to utilize A.J.’s skill in the open field, throw him some more screen passes.”
Yes, the chances are pretty good that Green could break a long return. But he already has a big enough target on his back and we need him too much at receiver. Looking at the other guys who practiced returning simulated punts last week — Carlton Thomas, Washaun Ealey, Bacarri Rambo, Brandon Boykin, Branden Smith and Rantavious Wooten — it’s obvious there is a pretty impressive talent pool from which to pick a returner. No need to risk A.J. in that role.
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64 comments Add your comment
BuLLdawg
March 26th, 2010
5:41 am
Alabama has a better offensive coaching staff than we do.
Alabama has a better head coach than we do.
Alabama is on NCAA PROBATION in Football, is the only SEC team to be on PROBATION, and has been on PROBATION the most of all SEC teams since the current alignment of The SEC in 1990.
We would not have to tackle the opposing teams if our Offense did not average 21 fumbles a year for the last 4 years in a row every year, if our offense did not start in a hole averaging the # 96 Most Penalized team in NCAA football every year of the last 4 years and if our Offense did not average 14 interceptions per year every year for the last 4 years in a row.
That is NOT negative. It is a FACT.
NCAA Tournament Action :
SEC 15-4
ACC 9-9
SEC Men 5-2
ACC Men 5-5
SEC Women 10-2
ACC Women 4-4
ACC has neither a winning record in NCAA Tourney Men
ACC has neither a winning record in NCAA Tourney Women
SEC has winning record in BOTH NCAA Tourney Men & Women.
SEC is kicking the butts of ACC in basketball, again.
Big East had 8 bids to the Men’s Tournament. Butler beat # 1 seed Syracuse last night. Big East have 1 left, tomorrow night West Virginia vs. SEC # 1 Kentucky. Big East also does not have a Winning Record in Men’s NCAA Tournament, just like the ACC. Neither the Big East nor the ACC are better than The SEC in Basketball. Big East is NOT the best basketball conference and NEITHER obviously is the ACC.
jerry
March 26th, 2010
6:43 am
If Green is head and shoulders above everyone else, put him out there. He could be the difference against……Florida.
jerry
March 26th, 2010
6:55 am
BuLLdawg: Except for an occasional outburst, Richt’s offense has been shut down by the better SEC teams ever since he came here.
Points scored, Richt vs. Florida: 17-10-42-14-10-31-13-13-10
Craig
March 26th, 2010
7:36 am
Hmmm…players holding onto their starting spot even when out played by backups-….Hmmmmmmm- last time I checked, the head coach was in charge of the team……now that the defensive staff is mostly gone from last year- why do we think it will change?????????????? Again- the head coach is in charge and if he let it go on last year and years past- why do we think wha-la- now its different??
tdog
March 26th, 2010
8:28 am
MAYBE HE CAN HELP US GET SIX WINS RUNNING BACK KICOFFS. WE NEED OTHERS TO DO DOUBLE DUTY SO WE CAN BE MORE COMPETITIVE.
Mike's Dog
March 26th, 2010
9:54 am
Bill-
Can you please ban “Bulldawg”, this per son continues to write irrelevant posts, 8000 words, cuts down your readership, all other AJC writers have banned him, he’s what’s known as a troller.
How many times do we need to complain about this person?????
robodawg
March 26th, 2010
11:51 am
If AJ really separates himself from the rest returning punts, it’s not a terrible decision to have him take some returns now and then. If he’s really our best threat to take it the distance, you have to weigh the potential risk against the potential for TDs.
I remember a WR by the name of Tim Brown whose punt returning helped lift him to the Heisman trophy. And while I’m glad we’re more about Team First than individual awards, having a Heisman contender with highlights shown regularly on SportsCenter can be very good for the program.
RED DOG 77
March 27th, 2010
12:32 am
Carlton Thomas……….”At the 40……..45,50………35….20………5……..Touchdown !!!! DOGS
DawgNation
March 27th, 2010
11:53 am
I am in agreement with those who advocate not putting AJ back there. A punt return or kick off return specialist is just that a specialist. To be able to consistently catch and return a kicked football requires practice time that would take away from some one who is already a specialist at another position. The returner must be able to make decisions while the ball is in the air on whether or not to catch the ball, to call for a fair catch or return it, and understand the game situation that arises from those decisions. Only through dedicated practice does this come about. I’m not saying there have not been those special kinds of players who have been very successful at playing a position and returning kicks but they have, for the most part, started their college carrier doing the returning and then stepped into a starting role with in the offence or defense. AJ has not been utilized as a returner and will need more practice time away from the offensive drills he needs to perform despite his past experience in high school. This is no slight at AJ’s abilities and not to say he would not be a good returner but why when you have very good options available and a need for a new quarterback to jell with his new star wide receiver? Injuries aside, this is football, if CMR were to hand me a coaches hat for one minute then I would say, “Thanks AJ for the commitment and enthusiasm. We need that on our team however your best place for the team is catching touchdowns and moving the sticks”. But then again CMR will never hand me that hat and ultimately if AJ proves he is capable of the duel role then it will be CMR decision to put him in and none of ours.
YESDAWG
March 28th, 2010
7:59 pm
I AM FOR WHATEVER COACH WANTS TO DO!
june bug
March 30th, 2010
2:32 pm
If AJ has another big injury in 2010, it will cost him tens of millions in the NFL draft, so I don’t see that happpening, don’t see AJ wanting to be labeled “injury prone”. Is he tough enough? I don’t think so.
Paul Carrodus
March 31st, 2010
10:45 pm
Play your best! (at times anyway) If you need a spark put AJ back there and watch them kick away from him. But if they are foolish let him field the punt and make ‘em all miss! If you got ‘em use them!!!!!
UF FAN
April 1st, 2010
6:51 pm
does it matter? bulldogs suck. please put him in. you need all the help you can get.. florida beats ga 42-17. write it down suckers.
Is A.J. Green returning punts worth the risk? | UGA: The Junkyard Blawg
April 17th, 2010
11:30 am
[...] as I wrote a few weeks ago, I’m not a fan of using Green for punt returns because he’s just too valuable as the Dogs’ [...]