Injury could put a dent in development of UGA defense
Lost practice time for Akeem Dent (far left) could hinder the development of Georgia's defense. (Pouya Dianat / AJC)
I’m just back from a brief family trip to Nashville, where we had a nice reunion with an old friend, saw a great concert (Paul McCartney) and began a day with the jarring sight of a guy at the hotel breakfast buffet strolling around in a bright orange UT shirt and green pajama pants. It was like passing a wreck on the highway; I had the urge to tell the kids to look away.
Catching up on the news, I see nothing really surprising came out of the Atlanta fan gathering, which is probably a good thing. And it’s also no big surprise that the NCAA wants to talk with only one UGA player. Most folks always assumed that. But at least now we know that coaches need to pay attention to whether they’re answering an e-mail or a text from a prospect. Mind-boggling.
Meanwhile, the news about inside linebacker Akeem Dent being sidelined four to six weeks because of toe surgery is a bit worrisome, especially since preseason camp hasn’t even begun yet. While he’s likely to miss only the opening game, the loss of practice time for him might hinder progress for Todd Grantham’s revamped defense in the middle — an area that already concerns me, especially against the run. It looks like this pretty seals the deal that Richard Samuel won’t be redshirting, since depth is an issue at linebacker.
Injuries pretty well derailed the Dogs season before last and were partly responsible for the running game getting off to a very slow start last year, so a lot of fingers are crossed that Mark Richt’s team makes it through August without a bunch of guys in green jerseys.
We all know how important it is that Aaron Murray stays healthy, but thinking about what would happen with injuries at a few other key spots is scary. Without Justin Houston harrying quarterbacks, the new defense would look more vulnerable. If Washaun Ealey and Caleb King both were to get banged up, Shaun Chapas might have to shift over from fullback. And while there appears to be a fair amount of talent behind A.J. Green, the drop-off there still would be considerable should he get hurt again.
Maybe those UGA researchers who unlocked the secret to producing four-leaf clovers should send a shipment over to Butts-Mehre, just in case.
Does the prospect of injuries worry you as much as it does me? What else is on your mind in this last week before preseason practice starts?
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72 comments Add your comment
dawgmanwayx
July 28th, 2010
10:46 am
we need to recruit some linebackers this year. only 1 committed, and most of the in-state lb’ers are committed to other teams.
Amsterdam Sam
July 28th, 2010
10:47 am
Why fret over what hasn’t happened yet? All teams stand an equal chance at injuries, so let them play and don’t worry until something happens
Vick=Dog killing thug
July 28th, 2010
10:50 am
Injuries are part of the game. Dawgs have plenty of players. Ain’t no thang…
OEJ
July 28th, 2010
10:54 am
Its not that serious, hes probably going to mist the first 2 or three games. I think he should be back for the Miss St game. Either way I’m sure we have players to step up. Its a toe injury not a knee or shoulder injury. I’m sure he will bounce back.
bufbox
July 28th, 2010
10:59 am
Yes.. a little worried at inside LB. Gotta get Dent back in mix ASAP. Gamble gonna need come back to inside, at least short term. Another idea is get Robinson and Dowtin on field at same time. Dowtin slated to back up Robinson, but has some starts and more experience than the rest of the backups. Gonna have to use a duo of Robinson/Gamble… or Robinson/Dowtin… until Dent is back.
BurningRedBleedingBlack
July 28th, 2010
11:06 am
First welcome back BIll missed your articles, hope the trip went well. Bill i was also scared at first when i came across this new. Then i started looking into are depth more and remembered that Gamble was placed from inside to outside to help with outside, do you think they will move gamble back to inside. Gamble has great run stopping abilities, and hes not a rookie. With us signing RuebenFurloghi i feel moving Gamble to inside will be the answer. Plus Dent a young kid and Toe surgery should only take 4 weeks to heal if he doesn’t agravate it. I agree with you alot on the injury to all the other posistion, Hope that new coach they hired for stength and Condition pays off. As always GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!
“If we score we may win, if they never score,we’ll never lose.
GeoffDawg
July 28th, 2010
11:07 am
We’ve had way more than our fair share of injuries the last couple of years. I’d say that we’re due for some good luck. *knock on wood*
BurningRedBleedingBlack
July 28th, 2010
11:08 am
bufbox, i totally agree i was thinking the same thing.
Tweets that mention Injury could put a dent in development of UGA defense | UGA: The Junkyard Blawg -- Topsy.com
July 28th, 2010
11:09 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bulldawg Illustrated, Tim Tucker and Gordo, AJC Junkyard Blawg. AJC Junkyard Blawg said: Injury could put a dent in development of UGA defense http://bit.ly/an71Kt [...]
BurningRedBleedingBlack
July 28th, 2010
11:12 am
GeoffDawg, your not kidding!!!!! It’s like when are we going to catch a break with injuries??? We need to pass that bad luck on to another team.
SOGADOG
July 28th, 2010
11:13 am
Dont be such a worry wart. Dent is just as inexperienced in Grantham’s defense as the guy behind him, so does it matter that much? Dent’s replacement has just as much to learn as Dent and who knows, he may be better. Put aside the fear. If Christopher Columbus had gotten scared and turned around you would have never heard of him.
Dawg 39
July 28th, 2010
11:21 am
I agree that Gamble may have to come back inside. I expected Dent to be the defensive play caller & defensive captain (keeping everyone else where thay were supposed to be & doing what thay were supposed to do). Now Gamble is the logical choice to assume that role leaving us a little short at OLB. Just 1 more concern before the season starts.
Budweiser Bob
July 28th, 2010
11:29 am
Bill
Will you do me a favor please
Since I have to continue to pay over $1500 in tickets and parking every year and endure watching my hard earned money pay the coaching staff at UGA to get a beat down from FL every year:
When you get the opportunity to sit at the press conference for the new Athletic Director could you ask him if they would send us a real license plate instead of this cardboard crap that wont last a week on the road
I mean come on I should at least get something a T-shirt a metal license plate something!!
Help me out Bill
Budweiser Bob
July 28th, 2010
11:33 am
I mean I know asking to beat FL is, well, asking too much, now that we are asked to give 5 times the amount we used too when we did beat FL
But I guess UGA demands more from its fans but fans cant demand more from them
kb
July 28th, 2010
11:33 am
Perhaps former parade All American Akeem Hebron will step up. Replacing Janacek is a big bonus.
dawg fight
July 28th, 2010
11:39 am
What ever happened to Chase Vasser? Is he project to play any this year?
SSIgator
July 28th, 2010
11:50 am
What is this article? A set up as to why UGA goes 8-4 this year? Come on Bill, all teams have injuries and the better teams have back-ups to fill in for those who go down. Or is this the first in a series of articles that basically tell why UGA is not as good as everyone thinks they are this year and at the end of the year you can say you tried to tell us back in July? Play the games and the other will be self-evident.
ca dawg
July 28th, 2010
11:51 am
glad trip to music city was nice, bill: i grew up there and am headed back myself pretty soon.
it’s unfortunate but i’m not terribly worried. marc weiszer reported that robinson and dowtin would start inside but didn’t say anything about moving gamble back inside–the problem with that is that we’re just as thin outside as we are up the middle, even after losing dent. the only way we could move gamble inside is if stripling or morant show us something at OLB right away.
Holy Cow
July 28th, 2010
12:00 pm
SSIGator – never anything nice to say, always bagging on the Dawgs and the Ajc and whomever is writing the article – yet always on the blog. Go figure.
thUGA
July 28th, 2010
12:04 pm
Don’t forget the jail time. That could hamper practice as well
RedandBlackGirl
July 28th, 2010
12:06 pm
Git off me daddy, yur crushin my cigarettes!
Big Bad John
July 28th, 2010
12:31 pm
Don’t worry about he mule going blind, just load the wagon!
Big Bad John
July 28th, 2010
12:31 pm
‘the’
dawgster
July 28th, 2010
1:03 pm
SSigator, just a classless gator, what else to say…can’t wait to hear the excuses from the gators whern their season starts to tankl..Go find a gator blog to spout off your remarks..At least if you are going to post on here try to come up with some original material…And just to add, all of the gator fans on here are not classless…just a select few that are always chestpumping…
jj
July 28th, 2010
1:03 pm
I like Dowtin. I’m surprised he’s not starting the way he finished off the year last year. He looks very promising. I’m not sure if he plays in the middle or not, but he seems to have some size and knows where to be. Gonna miss Curran getting 10 tackles a game.
Ocilla Dawg
July 28th, 2010
1:24 pm
Bill
Have you heard any injury updates on Justin “Bean” Anderson and others. Wondering if they will be ready for camp
IveyLeaguer
July 28th, 2010
1:25 pm
Have you seen Chapas run? If Ealey and King go down, it won’t be Chapas at tailback. Goodness gracious. Munzenmaier could get some snaps, but that’s about it.
Schuyler
July 28th, 2010
1:29 pm
Red panties are falling from the sky and are blanketing the Cesspool of the South!!!
here we go again
July 28th, 2010
1:34 pm
Once again, as is the case every year…..a few injuries could “hurt” this club. Toe injuries, shoulder injuries, arrests….is it any wonder why we can never field a team that can compete…..
Why are we perpetually thin at every position? Why do we always have so many injuries?
I for one am about tired of the injury excuse. Maybe the S/C staff should have been shown the door with Willie…..
We should bring back Warren Morris….he would glue people’s limbs back together and get them back into the game.
Or maybe bring in Rodney Hampton (The greatest player in my lifetime to ever wear #7 at UGA) he could talk about how he ran for 100+ yards one week after undergoing knee surgery.
Budweiser Bob
July 28th, 2010
1:34 pm
Bill
Seriously
I really need an answer here
This cardboard tag cant even be used for a dust pan. I really want to feel Im getting my money’s worth here
Please see if you can get me a metal car tag, that shouldnt be too much to ask for the money I give
76-Dawg
July 28th, 2010
1:55 pm
Georgia has had more trouble with injury than most good teams because they don’t weigh, CONDITIONING , as high on the importance list as they should. When CMR got rid of the very inept defensive coaches they should have hired a great conditioning coach and not take such an important position for coaches so trivial
DawgFan24
July 28th, 2010
1:55 pm
Dont forget Dawg Fans, we are getting the LB transfer from USC, should be ready to go by next year! GOOOOOOO DAWGS!
rduck
July 28th, 2010
2:00 pm
just a thought from the other side of things.. Why is an injury to any one player on this team so hard to handle. This is the bunch that raves on their top 10 recruiting classes every offseason. Why is it that you guys sign all of these so-called can’t miss prospects but never have any depth? Could it be that the great Mark Richt and coach Gardner do not sign kids based on what the needs of the team are? Just a thought…
bufbox
July 28th, 2010
2:07 pm
@here we go again… heading into camp, we are in good physical shape… other than Dent, everyone is expected to participate. Don’t know what S/C could have done in their regimen to ward off a stubbed toe.
Budweiser Bob
July 28th, 2010
2:12 pm
Bill
Come on man
I have to watch us get crushed by FL even with 3 NFL prospects on offense.
Dont I deserve a metal car tag instead of cardboard for the $1500 dollars I have to give to watch this crap.
How2fish
July 28th, 2010
2:51 pm
Budweiser Bob what are you ten years old if you want a bloody metal tag go buy one. What are you waiting for Obama to set up a new federal watchdog group to ensure the proper allocation of metal tags..quit whining.
Fozzie Bear
July 28th, 2010
3:10 pm
Get it? Injuries could put a ” Dent” in the development of the defense! Waka! Waka!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 28th, 2010
3:19 pm
Who is worried about the conditioning? Good grief have you ever seen the mat drills? Collegiate football players are so conditioned that it is laughable to blame injury’s to “lack” of conditioning.
shane#1
July 28th, 2010
3:23 pm
Yeah, gotta keep them toes in condition!
shane#1
July 28th, 2010
3:36 pm
I have a metal tag with a cartoon Uga on one side. I got it from the State of Georgia. Guess I will go drink a beer and quit being a smart a$$, ’cause nobody likes a smart a$$.
Gator Lover
July 28th, 2010
3:47 pm
Have fun in Jacksonville this year. Dawg fans might want to be a little drunker than usual with Florida slaughtering UGA even worse than usual. It will be another glorious win for the Gators!
But it will be fun watching thousands of red panties falling from the sky. Feel free to take a pair home with you as a colorful souvenir.
Why
July 28th, 2010
3:48 pm
in the name of god would you pay money and spend valuable time at a McCartney venue?
Victoria's Secret
July 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
Victoria’s Secret has some extra nice crimson red panties for discriminating dawg fans. Check ‘em out.
Budweiser Bob
July 28th, 2010
3:51 pm
How2fish
I have put in a request to Obama for some federal aid so we can learn how to beat FL
Oh and I dont want to go buy a tag, its a slap in my face to recieve some cardboard tag for the money I have to give. Just save the money in postage and buying that imitation crap instead of sending that crap out.
Better yet take my money and invest in something that will beat FL
shane#2
July 28th, 2010
3:52 pm
Please note that I am not shane#1.
shane#2
July 28th, 2010
3:55 pm
It could be worse. At least they haven’t sent you any cardboard red panties.
Evansdawg
July 28th, 2010
3:59 pm
Again….even Georgia fans should take to the red panties. I don’t see whats so bad about people threatening to bring red panties to our games. Our own fans should embrace it and wear them on their heads the entire season. Why not? It could increase the bedlam in the stands. A good raucous crowd is good for the team. At least Damon wasn’t riding with a dude carrying his fruit of the looms…something I am certain Tebow has done before….or will do.
Budweiser Bob
July 28th, 2010
4:07 pm
Bill
Is it possible that I might recieve my request for federal aid, for the beat FL campain
What a mess
July 28th, 2010
4:23 pm
The excuses will be flying as soon as pratice starts and the real injury bug hits. Lets face it folks our football program is slipping and CMR is running out of gas.
Budweiser Bob
July 28th, 2010
4:43 pm
Yea and Im running out of money gambling or should I say donating my money to watch them lose to FL
Can I have my metal license plate now Bill
RedandBlackGirl
July 28th, 2010
4:45 pm
Look at the red panties falling from the sky!!
thUGA
July 28th, 2010
4:45 pm
thUGA likes dem red panties
Bill King
July 28th, 2010
4:46 pm
I wear red panties!
Dawgs Rule
July 28th, 2010
4:46 pm
It is amazing …the number of immature, computer hiding jealous people on this blog talking about “red panties”. For crying out loud, go get some red panties from the store and wear them while you talk crap about Georgia. That will probably help your inferiority complex. This is particularly useful advice for the FU fans who otherise would be wearing those hideous JORTS with a cheesy orange and blue T-shirt.
Mark
July 28th, 2010
4:47 pm
No one associated with UGA is offering any execuses, and none will be requested. We all would like to be injury free but that isn’t football. That’s chess.
Dent will be back, and in the mean time the coaches will put the best players available on the field. Its called reloading and it happens evey year. Dowtin was listed number two at the other inside position, but he has cross trained and ready to start.
As for Samuel, I expect to see him come on over the course of the season. This kid is a linebacker, and he appears to enjoy contact. Get him in a few games and let him show his spend to the point of attack. He just moved up to number two at Moe.
SickandTired
July 28th, 2010
4:48 pm
I have a question. How did Dent hurt his toe. I’ve not seen it reported the cause of said injury. Not on the Georgia web sites or on here. Is it some kind of state secret? Did he drop a keg on his toe? Did he ram his toe into a case of red panties at the Butts-Mehre? Did he fall off his scooter? Did he sustain the injury while distrubuting food for the homeless? Why the blackout of information on this? Those of us that pay attention to details smell a rat.
Dawg Days
July 28th, 2010
4:58 pm
Paul McCartney, really?
dawgcrzy
July 28th, 2010
5:07 pm
BudBob,what the hell are you talking about
swimdawg68
July 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
I wouldn’t go into the next office to hear Paul McCartney, (he’s a left wing loon), why do you think Obama had him at the White House. At 68 his voice is shot anyway, electronics try to make him sound good.
P T Barnum
July 28th, 2010
5:56 pm
Athens is full of Clowns including Mike Bozo……..
Alec Ogletree
July 28th, 2010
6:32 pm
I am the answer
SAMMY DAVIS, JR
July 28th, 2010
8:32 pm
Bill, I enjoyed your humor….Keep up the good work…
Dawg Tired
July 28th, 2010
8:34 pm
If one player getting hurt derails us, we deserve to be derailed.
SAMMY DAVIS, JR
July 28th, 2010
8:35 pm
Dawgs Rule, even more funny is all of the Techters on here posing as FL fans…..
chris byard
July 28th, 2010
9:47 pm
my answer is, no. simply. im not a pessimist. injuries are a part of the game. of course, in a perfect world, a team could prepare for the next season and not get banged up, much less, suffer some injuries. not likely. how do you get through preseason practice with the intensity to be prepared for the season without sufferring some injuries? my answer, you dont. you hope it doesnt happen. if it doesnt, youre unbelievably lucky, or youre not ready. injuries happen. winners adjust and overcome. stay safe dawgs. be prepared. and believe in yourselves. i do.
MisterT
July 28th, 2010
9:54 pm
OK, so you want to know why we hate you? This is the crap that your people post on Blogs about the Tech QB on the AJC.com.
The got the last part Dead Right…”classless.” THWg!
Glory Glory
July 28th, 2010
12:25 pm
….Bottom line, I really really really hope Nesbitt gets hurt, badly, early in the season, which is VERY possible considering he will run the ball 61.7% of the time. Unfortunately there just arent any big LBs in the ACC to do it….. but somebody will hopefully thump his skull or land on that ankle in a big way.
Am I classless??? Absolutely!! So don’t bother telling me I am. I do NOT speak for all of UGA fans, just myself, who hates Tech and Nesbitt beyond belief. GO DAWGS!!!!!
boots
July 28th, 2010
10:05 pm
Orange is just an ugly color period. Some dude walking around in public in his PJs just makes a bad situation worse.
As for injuries, when is it not a worry? We worry all the time, don’t we? In the new scheme, the LBs are key which just means we need to load up on them. I don’t know why we are having a hard time recruiting them since they are the centerpiece of the new D. However, we should be ok. Depth is something we have, and apart from losing our kicker or maybe the QB, we should be good. Can’t wait… not much time left!
What ifffff??///
July 28th, 2010
10:39 pm
Enter your comments here
take them der red panties off too boy
July 28th, 2010
10:45 pm
where are all of the 4 and 5 star rbs, lbs, and qbs that uga has recruited over the yrs? one or two injuries certainly shouldn’t derail uga this yr with all of the talent they have. by the way, gamble on the outside is a huge liability. i look forward to seeing it exploited
I-DOG
July 28th, 2010
11:12 pm
What is with all the Paul McCarney bashing? Not my favorite either, but If you don’t listen to music by left wing loons, I guess that leaves you only with country music. Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Jimi Hendrix, Counting Crows, U2 etc… I wouldn’t necessarily vote for them for Congress, but I wouldn’t boycott their music just because they are to the left of me politically.
Hate to see injuries, but sounds like he might be back for game 2, so all things considered, he will be “fresh” for the mid season grind not having to bang around in pre-season.
bitter RAY GOFF
July 29th, 2010
3:13 am
NOBODY GAVE A SHI— WHEN I HAD FOLKS GO DOWN, RED PANTIES, PRES ADAMS WARES RED PANTIES, GO DAWGS, PS HY VINCE
tt
July 29th, 2010
9:03 am
So Paul McCartney is still alive?! ……….panties, Its such a funny word. Pan-Ties. Only men say panties…women call em underwear. Red panties over jeans should be the style on game day. Im just ready to see some hitting!!! Reviewed the Tech game, which I attended, on Youtube. I was sitting in the Tech section and was so loud I about annoyed myself. Last year was a stinker but we looked good there at the end. Sic em DAWGS…PANTIEs..PANTIES….PANTIES!!!!