UGA coaches looking to see who wins spring Dawg fights
Can Jakar Hamilton win back a starting job at safety? (Associated Press)
After one practice March 10 and then releasing the hounds to play on the beach in Key West and other fun locales, Mark Richt gathers his team back on the Woodruff Practice Fields in Athens today to get serious about spring ball.
Between now and G-Day on April 16, some veterans will be trying to solidify their hold on a starting position (a few looking over their shoulders at the new guys coming in August) while other spots have been left pretty wide open by departures, as we discussed back before the first practice.
The bottom line, Mike Bobo told the Athens Banner-Herald, “is there’s going to be competition, you want competition. There’s going to be competition at every position on either side of the ball. We went 6-7, we didn’t get the job done. We didn’t finish at the end of games last year. We’ve got to have competition.”
While in reality some players probably do have their position locked down, the coaching staff obviously is encouraging the idea that the hungriest, hardest-working players will start.
There are several key spots where spring competition should be interesting. Washaun Ealey, Caleb King, Ken Malcome and Carlton Thomas will be competing to be the man Isaiah Crowell has to beat out. Marlon Brown, Rantavious Wooten, Israel Troupe, Michael Bennett and Chris Conley are trying to join Tavarres King at wide receiver before Malcolm Mitchell shows up. Can Jakar Hamilton, Shawn Williams or Marc Deas win the other safety spot alongside Bacarri Rambo, or will a true freshman figure there come fall? And how about the battle for backup quarterback or the competition for a starting spot under a new coach on the rejiggered offensive line?
Which of the battles for playing time will you be watching most closely?
BACK AT FOLEY FIELD
The widely traveled Diamond Dogs return home to Foley Field to face rival Georgia Tech tonight, with first pitch set for 7:06 p.m. The game, the first of three scheduled against the Jackets this season, will be televised by CSS. Last year, the hapless Dogs were swept by Tech, but while this year’s team got off to a rough start, they’ve improved a lot the past couple of weeks and have competed well against ranked opponents. Here’s hoping …
Go Dogs!
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133 comments Add your comment
just sayin'
March 22nd, 2011
10:40 am
looking forward to the notes coming from practices…
258DAWG
March 22nd, 2011
10:46 am
On defense im looking for someone to show an attitude, relaying they intend on being a big hitter. expect domination and settle for nothing less.
On offense im looking for a stud to break out and be the big time WR. get out there and take the ball beacuse “it’s yours”
Go Dawgs – GATA!!!
Auburn is All in jail
March 22nd, 2011
10:58 am
1.) Avoid jail time like Auburn
2.) Avoid arrests like Barron at Bama
3.) Lemay-plan on using him 25-40% of the game based on Murray’s effectiveness.
4.) Emphasize running the ball first and work on it over and over
Let Auburn win the 2011 Fulmer Cup and don’t even appear in the Fulmer Cup rankings.
Dawg Dude
March 22nd, 2011
11:10 am
Bozo as offensive coordinator, smh
Dawg_Mike
March 22nd, 2011
11:12 am
No Fulmer Cup this year. This is a different bunch of kids. They are adding muscle and getting stronger not just physically but mentally.
Cant wait….
Vance Duly
March 22nd, 2011
11:13 am
I would like to see some competition at the play-calling position!! While our total scoring output was OK last year, our 4th quarter offense was weak, and we were too predictable and ineffective at times. While our underperforming offensive line and running game were parts of the problem, our play-calling was inexplicable at times as well…. If I had to choose one position battle to watch, it would be the entire offensive line. If we could find 5 dominant lineman, with a few key reserves, we can overcome any weaknesses our offense might have.
devildawg
March 22nd, 2011
11:18 am
As a coach, albeit in another sport, I have never understood how important competition is at positions until you have it. It makes everyone hungrier, sharper, and just more enthusiastic about practicing. Get after it Dawgs. While all the other teams are busy posting bail, you can get a big head start on what promises to be a very interesting and exciting season. Go Dawgs!
Mike
March 22nd, 2011
11:29 am
14-0! Then again, I say that every year.
DougsMugsCoffeeService
March 22nd, 2011
11:35 am
I am looking forward to some numbers on strength, weight and speed gains.
Coachdawg 2000
March 22nd, 2011
11:51 am
Runningbacks-
Difference between the chuck-n-duck type of offense last year and celebration with a trophy in the Dome in December.
Pago Pago DAWG
March 22nd, 2011
11:54 am
Everybody says when a rb gets 25 carries we win. Why can’t our coaches figure that out!
CPO Dawg
March 22nd, 2011
12:07 pm
I hope to see the defense improved. Coach Grantham finally has the the space eating nose tackle he needed last year along with more talent recruited in hopefully Big John Jenkins will be as good or better than advertised.. if he is, and stays healthy, the UGA defense will be much better than last year.
I hope to see the offensive line protect Murray better, and the running back competition will be interesting to watch as well.
Mike
March 22nd, 2011
12:08 pm
Bobo & Richt claim there’s a competition every Spring. There’s not. Richt puts in who he wants. It’s Murray. Period.
Remember last year all the talk from Richt about competing and how the QB might not surface “until the bullets were real?” What a luagh. Please. Mett desroyed Murray over Spring, outcompeting him by a mile, and Richt named Murray starter.
Here’s last year’s “we’re competing” hyperbole from Richt & Bobo:
http://blogs.ajc.com/junkyard-blawg/2010/03/04/richt-ealey-even-better-but-qb-may-not-surface-until-bullets-are-real/
Dawg Gone
March 22nd, 2011
12:18 pm
Pago Pago DAWG its most likely due to the fact that “everybody” is a bunch of bloggers who really don’t know crap about calling a football game..Really last year with our line how many games you think we would have won running the ball 25 times with any of our available backs?? And really we scored 30+ point in a record number of games…we have to get better on D.
Dawg Gone
March 22nd, 2011
12:20 pm
Mike would like some cheese with that whine??
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 22nd, 2011
12:31 pm
Buma fans should go home and enjoy their piece at Toomers Corner. Aubum fans should pay their respect in those Toomer Jail House. LOL
Really?
March 22nd, 2011
12:34 pm
still talking about Rambo? That guy should be helping Bruce Pearl pack up his locker
Scooter McDoogle
March 22nd, 2011
12:37 pm
We definitely need some competition at safety. Rambo looks like he’s got the skills but the kid gave up on a number of plays. That needs to stop right now. We need a kid that’s going to go 110% every play. I don’t think they know just how much of a privilege it is to suit up in the red and black. Everybody in the state lives and dies right along side this team. Everybody that matters anyway. Running back is an obvious battle, nobody took hold of the job last year. Crowell may be great and I hope he is but Ealey and King should be miles ahead of him and they probably are not. @ Vance Duly, you got a point… I could pick out exactly when a run up the middle was coming, (usually 70% of the time) they need to take Bobo’s playbook and rip that page out.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
March 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
Pago Pago DAWG:
Who is everybody??? 25 carries a game does not necessarily win a game….No doubt the running game must get better…..
Minnesota Dawg
March 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
It’s neat to see how Dawg fans come back home and have optimism that our guys will finally do it this year! It’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog!!!
Mike
March 22nd, 2011
12:39 pm
Hey Bill,
—————–
is there’s going to be competition, you want competition. There’s going to be competition at every position on either side of the ball. We went 6-7, we didn’t get the job done. We didn’t finish at the end of games last year. We’ve got to have competition.”
————–
Bet Mettenberger and Gray are laughing their heads off at Bobo’s annual “There’s going to be competition at every position on either side of the ball” Spring rhetoric.
Bill, thanks for that quote, funniest I’ve read on a sports blog EVER.
BeachBum
March 22nd, 2011
12:40 pm
Yo Mike, I don’t necessarily disagree with you but, as I remember it, Murray didn’t get the final nod last year until after “Mett” had spent a little time in jail. I’m just sayin’, Met stays out of trouble, who knows who starts last fall.
Mike
March 22nd, 2011
12:42 pm
Here’s Bobo’s 2010 Spring “open competition” speech, if you’d like to compare:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/bobo-dogs-qb-competition-330342.html
Let’s see, Mett beat Murray over Spring games in:
yards, accuracy, td’s, and threw less int’s
And Murray was named the starter.
“open competition”, what a laugh.
Mike
March 22nd, 2011
12:46 pm
P.S. guys, I’m a loser and I’m trying to rile you guys up. My moms about to be home any sec though so I gotta go.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 22nd, 2011
12:53 pm
The important thing which most understand and agrees to, is if this season is not good to spectacular most of those coaches would be out or should be out from UGA
bullodg keith
March 22nd, 2011
12:58 pm
If BOTH of the lines of scrimmage improve, we will be fine especially with the schedule this year. If the lines do not perform, we will be looking at a bad bad year. Just like winning becomes a habit, losing can as well.
GO DAWGS!!
The joke by Coke still sucks.
Maconbulldog
March 22nd, 2011
12:59 pm
The two things I look forward to is the RB competition and the safety battle. I mean if i remember correct there was an article on ajc not too long ago talking to the running backs (well just King anyways) and King was saying how he was going to take Crowell under his wing (not that I like that idea too much) But what I really like in was they were going to speak to Washuan but he didnt even speak to the media……I enjoyed that because that shows me he is WORKING and not talking so freaking much. Also I think Jakar was not so much a bust he had 1 pick 6 (yeah I know against a weak team) but do not count him out . Rambo is good but he has not been the same since he laid that hit on AU in 2009. Well here is to a great Spring,Summer, and Fall ( with AU leading the Fulmer cup) Go dawgs
DawginLex
March 22nd, 2011
1:02 pm
Post my comments please!!
DawginLex
March 22nd, 2011
1:14 pm
Can’t wait to see Zach Mett carrying a clipboard at LSU.
Can’t wait to see Logan Gray fair catching punts in Boulder
Neither one of them will ever start at QB
Same ole...
March 22nd, 2011
1:22 pm
No Fulmer Cup this year. This is a different bunch of kids. They are adding muscle and getting stronger not just physically but mentally.
Who are are you kidding? These are the same illiterate morons and thugs as usual. The names may change, but Richt keeps recruiting the same kind of stupid jerkoffs who couldn’t pass a single legitimate college course if their life depended on it.
D A DoubleU G
March 22nd, 2011
1:23 pm
DawginLex,
Bill King has an absurd filter on this blog.
I cannot figure out why a very pleasant post I made about Athens in the springtime will not go through.
Troll Power Ratings
March 22nd, 2011
1:25 pm
Mike by a mile, so far. Next up he starts posting under a different name.
Dawg Gone
March 22nd, 2011
1:25 pm
Same ole… = Troll of the day award goes to you…funny how all these players were in many cases competed for by every team in the SEC..your also Moron of the day…
Dawg Gone
March 22nd, 2011
1:27 pm
Troll Power Ratings for today’s ranking I went with Same ole, for just dumbest drivel , but for sheer venom and volume I agree Mike by a mile…
DawginLex
March 22nd, 2011
1:29 pm
Yeah, nothing like typing a bunch of stuff that never shows up.
MarineDog
March 22nd, 2011
1:32 pm
@Mike
March 22nd, 2011
12:08 pm
Bobo & Richt claim there’s a competition every Spring. There’s not. Richt puts in who he wants. It’s Murray. Period.
I believe that the starting QB wasn’t named until Mett was arrested and consequently kicked off the team as a result.
Troll Power Ratings
March 22nd, 2011
1:33 pm
Dawg Gone, yep, “Same ol” posted before I posted the “standings”. Agree he is in the lead under “Moron of the Day” sub category.
GODAWG
March 22nd, 2011
1:37 pm
Bobo couldn’t coach a dog to chase a ball!
Dawg Gone
March 22nd, 2011
1:43 pm
GODAWG chances are pretty good he hung 30+ on your team last year….
Mike Bobo
March 22nd, 2011
1:51 pm
Hey! F- you guys. That run up the middle works man, I just can’t get anybody to block. It’s my thinking if I run it 80 times a game, the other coach will be like, “There’s no way he’s running it up the middle again.” It hasn’t worked that way too often but I feel it coming this year, I’m gonna run it up the middle whenever I want. So fart on my chest and call me Suzy.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 22nd, 2011
1:54 pm
Same ole, another vote for you as moron and troll of the day. LOL
AltamahaDawg
March 22nd, 2011
1:54 pm
True Mike. Richt always plays the players he likes. He likes the players he thinks gives him the best chance to win.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
March 22nd, 2011
1:56 pm
Same Ole may be right, coz he is Chief Williamson. LOL
AltamahaDawg
March 22nd, 2011
1:59 pm
speaking of which…….can SOMEBODY get ol’ Jimmy some season tickets?
Tide roll
March 22nd, 2011
2:02 pm
Bill, Competition?! Chris Burnette could be the next Mike Pouncey and he ain’t going to beat out Bobo’s boy, Ben Jones.
7576DAWG
March 22nd, 2011
2:10 pm
I hope this year will be different from past years when everybody knew that freshmen didn’t have a chance to play their first year and would be red shirted . It didn’t matter how good they were. Only a select few would get to play at positions that didn’t have any depth and it was the last resort. Since what the team does on the field means where CMR will get an extension on his contract or not I hope that practice is no longer in force. Even though a lot of the times since the recruit is not coming from a very complicated system in high school and the only have a month to learn the play book I agree most should be red shirted but a lot more could be playing at least by the 3rd game. CMR will be doing things a lot different this year.
McGarity IS WATCHING.
A few positive changes have all ready come about. Getting rid of the so called dreaded MAT DRILLS is one. Now it will be year round tough conditioning like it should be. Also CMR finally realized that every kid coming out of high school doesn’t have the discipline and maturity that he raised is kids with and don’t deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt. These are two very positive admissions and we will see huge improvements from last year.
Dawg Gone
March 22nd, 2011
2:10 pm
Tide roll stop your putting the entire blog to sleep….zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Michael Vick
March 22nd, 2011
2:13 pm
Did someone say “dog fights” ??
cmdawg99
March 22nd, 2011
2:15 pm
Even though its going to be great to see the change in the players emotions and attitudesand playing abilities. I cant wait til our first, 4th and 1 , inside the 10 yard line call to see how CMR has changed……..GOOOOOOOOO DAAAAWWWGS……..
Lagdawg
March 22nd, 2011
2:22 pm
Why is Baccari Rambo guaranteed a starting position? I didn’t see anything from him last year to warrant that. With a 6/7 record, no one should be guaranteed a starting job. All positions should be opened to the best player. That’s how you get them to compete harder. Bobo should be taking a look at himself and his choice of playcalling. Make or break season for CMR. Let’s see just how bad he wants to keep his job. UGA has a really bad recruiting effort going right now. We are way behind other top programs. Alabama brings in top players every year and there are no excuses about we can’t recruit because our previous class was so good. Bull Crap!!!!!