March Madness at UGA means spring football!
It's a big spring for Caleb King. (Photo by Jason Getz, AJC)
Ladies and gentlemen, March Madness has officially arrived and that can mean only one thing at Georgia — time for spring football practice!
That’s right. While all those other fools pour over brackets trying to figure out if Sienna has a backcourt that can hang with Ohio State’s, we’ll be finding out where Clint Boling might line up on the O-line, whether Caleb King has, uh, moxie, and if there is a Division I defensive end somewhere in Athens-Clarke County. And some other stuff.
The Bulldogs trot out onto the Woodruff Practice Fields for the first of 15 practices — including the April 11 G-Day Game — on Tuesday afternoon. Fittingly on St. Patrick’s Day, there will be a bunch of players in green jerseys, which also signifies they’re injured.
Actually these players never really stopped practicing. Football is truly year-round these days and, other than spring break and a brief respite after the Capital One Bowl, these players have been running, passing or kicking on those fields every day. But now the coaches join them and the early competition for playing time will heat up. And we’ll be there to chronicle every minute! Well, at least whatever minutes they let us come out and see. But the post-practice interviews, we’ll be all over those. Woo-hoo!
As you might be able to tell, I’m a little jaded about spring football practice. Other than the occasional injury — OK, in the case of Georgia, daily injury — I’ve never found them particularly newsworthy. Especially now that they allow us to actually observe for only a short while each day. Used to be we would watch intently all day every day and form our own opinions about who might be able to do what. Now we watch them stretch, run a couple of drills and maybe do a little kicking. Then we’re ushered out like school children when recess is over. That’s somewhat understandable in the fall when the coaches hide under the paranoid possibility that plays will be leaked to opponents. Doesn’t carry much weight in March.
But I digress. Tim Tucker and I will do our very best to provide as much insight and commentary as we can under the circumstances. The tentative schedule calls for the Dogs to be on the field Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of this week. They go only three times the next week (3/24, 3/26, 3/27).
So in order of importance, here’s what I think are the three priorities:
(1) Find a killer defensive end if you have to create one out of a wideout;
(2) With all due respect to the other tailbacks, find out what Caleb King is made of;
(3) Determine who is your backup quarterback (Joe Cox is “Da Man,” as you all well know).
But that’s just me. What do you guys think?
Some links:
No. 1-ranked Diamond Dogs avoid sweep.
Here’s the AJC’s Georgia football spring practice preview by Tim Tucker. . . .
Wouldn’t be a blog without something from UT’s wacky Lane Kiffin, right? Big surprise here but the Knowville News Sentinel got to the bottom of it and Kiffin denies the “go to South Carolina and pump gas” comment. We know because Ed Orgeron says so,.
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137 comments Add your comment
dude
March 16th, 2009
1:16 pm
I hope to see the incoming freshman Brandon Smith contribute to special teams. This kid is fast.
GeoffDawg
March 16th, 2009
1:24 pm
kauai dawg – what are your concerns with the LBs? In my opinion, that’s one of if not the strongest unit we have going into next season.
SomewhereinGA
March 16th, 2009
1:25 pm
Two months ago the rumor was that a certain recruit slept with one of his coach’s wife.
GaDawgs
March 16th, 2009
1:35 pm
According to published reports, Georgia football coach Mark Richt has rescinded a scholarship offer to Emanuel County Institute’s Dexter Moody.
UGAsports.com is reporting that Richt will hold a press conference later this afternoon to announce that the Bulldogs will not take Moody, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound linebacker, due to behavioral issues.
Moody was one of two ECI players to sign with Georgia on National Signing Day (Feb. 4), the other being highly-regarded running back Washaun Ealey.
The Bulldogs begin spring practice on Tuesday and will hold 15 sessions, culminating with the annual spring “G-day” game scrimmage in Sanford Stadium on April 11.
Huh?
March 16th, 2009
1:41 pm
Agree on the safeties. Boy do I miss Greg Blue and Thomas Davis. Just go youtube these guys and relive the good ole days. It was a foregone conclusion that someone would get their clock cleaned every single game. There is no stat that accounts for all passes that were dropped because the reciever heard these guy’s footsteps, but I’m sure the number is up there. Nobody is afraid of our defense anymore. NOBODY.
JB
March 16th, 2009
1:44 pm
Roster loaded with 4 and 5 star players. we need an attitude , some swagger and coaching !!!!!!
GaDawgs
March 16th, 2009
1:55 pm
I have heard that he got caught having sex with the Coaches Wife
stevedawg
March 16th, 2009
2:04 pm
recalled one of richt comments were he might go to poland to find a kicker who could boot it in the end zone, definate need, i recall logan gray moving up ladder to be staffords back up over cox last fall, taking nothing away from cox, gray is a great ath, we will see in spring game,samuel was dogs fastest back last year, with 2 redshirts coming in that could change, samuel will play loads next year, he has complete pkg, too bad he just got out of hospital month ago
for real
March 16th, 2009
2:08 pm
man, i hate that about the moody kid, i saw him play and trust me, he was better than good. he’ll probably end up in starkville, they seem to like the ones we have issues with. on to this spring, sure do wish we could see djackson at tailback,he is another good one,and a good kid at that..one player not mentioned yet that is going to have a break out year is vance cuff..the dude is big,fast and very physical. he’ll be a lot like paul oliver was,not the fastest but knows where to be to make a play..our secondary will be fine..it’s like everyone else has said here, DE, that’s the position we need to make leaps forward at..dobbs is like a pollack,makes plays with mediocre skills,but we need a serious pass rusher..here’s the big,bold prediction, georgia,with one loss, playing texas for the national champiohnship, i love that we’ll be flying under the radar this year…what do ya think chip?
Music City Dawg
March 16th, 2009
2:25 pm
I’m really glad you posted this article. I’m not much of a basketball fan. That being said, I’m real excited about the 2009 dawgs. I don’t expect an NC but I think it will be a great season nonetheless. The TB position interests me the most, since King hasn’t really panned out the way we had hoped. I really want Georgia to find their running game next year since this is, often-times, the cornerstone of our program. But with Bryce Brown going to Tennessee, I’m sure they will be no joke either. And of course, defense will get better. It certainly isn’t possible for it to get any worse.
Music City Dawg
March 16th, 2009
2:31 pm
What’s the deal with kicking? I mean, Blair Walsh pretty much blows. Do we have anyone else that can make it from inside the 10? Does Billy Bennett have a younger brother?
GEORGE MCKEEHAN
March 16th, 2009
2:36 pm
HEY BULLDOG NATION: LET ME MAKE YOUR DAY. BRYCE BROWN, RIVALS NO.1 PLAYER, PUT ON AN ORANGE CAP WITH A BIG T ON IT. GO VOLS,GO KIFFIN,AND GO SMOKEY
DeployedDawg
March 16th, 2009
2:40 pm
Moody getting caught having sex with a coach’s wife is almost too unbelievable to be made up. Scary that it is possible.
I am concerned with the pressure from the ends (as is everyone else), but my biggest question is what our starting O-Line will be. I may be wrong, but I think we have 6 O-linemen who have been on an all-SEC freshman team, and at least 7 that have started. Jones is a lock for center and Sturdy should be the starting L Tackle if he is healthy, but who else starts where? Vance, Bean, Glenn, C Davis, J Davis? Searels (I know, I probably mispelled it) has done such a good job, our offense should be fantastic.
JB
March 16th, 2009
2:40 pm
Hey Mr. Mckeehan, let me make your day…………..Who cares. That is what got Fulmer fired. No team, all individuals.
What the Heck
March 16th, 2009
2:40 pm
I saw where Moody has been released from his scholly. Did he not qualify or what?
DeployedDawg
March 16th, 2009
2:41 pm
Oh, and Boling will start somewhere. Who knows where, but somewhere.
GEORGE MCKEEHAN
March 16th, 2009
2:44 pm
REMEMBER COBB/WEBB, CAN YOU SAY OKU/BROWN. THIS IS A GREAT DAY TO BE A VOL
georgia87
March 16th, 2009
2:46 pm
I ran into Stafford, Cox, and Gray in Athens last year. Both Cox and Stafford were very high on Gray as the QB of the future. I think the special teams work was a good idea, letting him get used to the speed of the game.
The kids really played tentative ball last year, as if the pressure of that number one ranking weighed too heavily on them. Compare the video of the Auburn blackout game in 07 to any game in 08. Even while the game was still tight, the kids were playing loose. They need to get that swagger/looseness/aggressiveness back.
The silly penalties have to be addressed but someone in the SEC office needs to call the refs off of Georgia. Ever since the Florida incident, Georgia gets an inordinate amount of silly calls or no calls that are game changing. I just saw the 08 Florida game at the gym the other day and found myself screaming at the officials after a couple of no calls, especially the long TD pass early in the second half where the FL receiver pulled the GA defender by the jersey. No doubt Florida was better that day, but that was brutal officiating.
No one is talking about how hard our schedule is this year. Much worse than last year, with only one patsy on the schedule, and that won’t happen until November. If we go 11-1 against that sched we deserve a trip to the BCS championship.
Cameron
March 16th, 2009
2:50 pm
Priorities:
1) Look for a DE to emerge – Unfortunately, a lot of them still aren’t healthy. I think Neland Ball and Cornelius Washingotn are the sleepers here though. They both have tremendous speed to be used to get to the QB. However, I think Justin Houston and Rod Battle will win the starting jobs. Backed-up by DeMarcus Dobbs and whoever emerges next. Wathc out for Longo, he could be a workmen type like Pollack.
2)Find a Kick-off man – I think Blair Walsh can handle this. No reason why you can kick 60-yard FGs, but can’t kick off. I think he will take control of the KO position.
3)See what Caleb King and Carlton Thomas can provide – I think Caleb is the best RB we have right now. I think he can be REALLY BIG for us. I am interested to see how we can work in Carlton Thomas in the running game and special teams. Since they will be the only two healthy RBs, we will get to see a lot of them.
4)Find a CB to start opposite Prince Miller – I expect it to be Boykin. I think he is an exceptional athlete that can be a shut down corner. Sanders Commings is one to watch though, with his physical nature.
5)Stay healthy
thomas johnson
March 16th, 2009
2:51 pm
Awesome, Chip. Can’t wait for your updates. Who cares about the final 4. GO DAWGS!
Cameron
March 16th, 2009
2:53 pm
Starting O-Line:
Sturdivant at LT (if healthy, Boling if not), Glenn/Boling at LG, Jones at Center, Boling/Chris Davis at RG, Anderson at RT. Wild cards: Harmon, Strickland, Vance
update from DawgDad
March 16th, 2009
2:53 pm
Bryce Brown signs with Tennessee. Rats.
Scuttlebutt
March 16th, 2009
2:55 pm
Another sports board had a guy that said he went to school with Moody and he had been told (by Moody, apparently) that he was going to try to walk on to a baseball team somewhere. He also said that his scholarship being pulled was the result of a fight with a teacher.
DawgGirl32
March 16th, 2009
2:59 pm
George McKeehan- Isn’t that the same guy who up and moved somewhere to like Nebraska to be close to a girlfriend that he had met on his recruiting trip?? Yeah have fun with that drama queen.
Music City Dawg
March 16th, 2009
3:04 pm
Special teams need help. Badly.
NRBQ
March 16th, 2009
3:07 pm
From Dexter Moody’s coach, according to the ABH:
“They kind of had a plan for him to finish up the year as far as eligibility and schoolwork and behavior,” Turner said. “He’s kind of gotten off track there, and I think they felt it was best to give him an unconditional release and let him kind of decide what he wants to do.”
Turner said he was unsure whether the university made the decision or if it was made independently by the football program. Turner said Moody had no legal issues that were a factor.
“I think there’s some disappointment there, but he’s a senior in high school, and when they give you a plan to follow and you don’t follow it, you kind of reap what you sow,” Turner said.
Turner said Georgia had a weekly plan for Moody to follow in hopes of showing progress academically.
“It had to do with grades and test taking,” Turner said. “I just don’t think he was following the plan that was set up for him.”
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Moody played in the Under Armour All-American game and was rated No. 101 on the ESPNU150 rankings.
Moody also considered Florida and LSU.
“I’m sure there will be other folks interested,” Turner said.
dawgrific
March 16th, 2009
3:12 pm
The one thing my friends and I have been talking about is the steady decline of the defense. I will NEVER take a great defense for granted again, and I really hope that Willie can get the kids to learn/buy into his system, each and every game, again. It just seemed like last year there were WAY too many games/posessions where we ran around like chickens with our heads cut off, in true fire drill fashion. I know we need some REAL leadership on defense (Jeff Owens could be the man there, but who else), and we need to pay serious atention to detail and positioning play after play. I pride myself in not being a pile-it-on type of fan, but Coach Martinez really needs to prove himself this year, and I hope the bowl game was a taste of what we will see this entire year. The Tech game was inexcusable, but at least we can start a new streak this year, as winning 8-9 of every ten or so is pretty strong. Thanks for the article, and I look forward to the Spring updates.
dawgrific
March 16th, 2009
3:21 pm
By the way, I couldn’t agree more with the commentary on avoiding bad penalties and on the bad officiating we faced often this past year (not crying here, but watch the Florida game again-and I am NOT saying we would have won if zebras hadn’t stunk) . It was SO bad that I expected a flag on every play our defense made, and that has GOT to be an awful feeling for kids trying their best to make big plays.
alabamadawg
March 16th, 2009
3:25 pm
D-FENSE!!! If we stay healthy, the Offense will be top notch!! I long for the days of Jimmy Gilbert and Freddy Payne the bookends at Defensive end on a true Junkyard Dawg Defense…or Erk Russell head butting the defense until his forehead is bleeding!! We need some attitude on Defense this year!!! Who is going to step up?? and Martinez, can we say BLITZ!!!! Rennie can be on the QB every play, dammitt….Go DAwgs
Steve in Buford
March 16th, 2009
3:27 pm
Hey Bama man… and your team is 0 and 1 for 2009? Dawgs!!! 1 and 0! Way to start the year tide! loser
uga_b
March 16th, 2009
3:42 pm
I think I can boil it down to what is not a priority: Starting QB, FB, and number 1 receiver; DTs, one LB, and one corner; punter.
I like our line, but figuring out how they are going to be deployed is still a priority.
I just want them to get through the Spring healthy and ready to go with some intensitvy and love for the game.
dan
March 16th, 2009
3:48 pm
Hey,
what does GA Tech, Alabama, and a pound of weed all have in common? They all get smoked in BOWLS! LOL BURN!
ceph
March 16th, 2009
3:58 pm
Cox needs to shut up about what he is going to do. Spring practice is starting so he can show what he can do or cannot do. I think the competition should be thrown open and may the best man win (ala Searles with the lineman and McClendon with the backs) I don’t see why the QB position should be any different, as Pete Carroll said,”I will take talent over experience any day.”
griffdawg1
March 16th, 2009
3:58 pm
I look for big things out of dontavious jackson. they need everyone to stay healthy on the O-line. Defensive end and safety have to be priorities. they haven’t had an impact safety since blue. the back-up linebackers have to get alot bigger and everyone on defense needs to get an attitude including willie martinez.
griffdawg1
March 16th, 2009
4:01 pm
I also think you will see kiante tripp do some special things at DE
stevedawg
March 16th, 2009
4:09 pm
i hope i am wrong about reshad jones and he turns out to be a huge factor next year for the dawgs winning, i got so upset watching him miss tackles and pics last year, coach richt wants him so thats enough for me
YoungDawg
March 16th, 2009
4:10 pm
George Mckeehan, You know whose going? The NCAA straight to Knoxville! Lame Kitten hasn’t figured out that this is not the PAC10! This is the SEC where the other schools will not let anything slide & will force the issue. You’d better hope everything is above board if not the Vols might be on probation before Kiffin coaches his first game! One thing led to Foolmer’s demise was having some ME first NFL minded kids. It’s already been documented that Brown’s advisor told him to take it easy in HS games & to pull himself out to avoid injury. His HS coach said things like that prevented the team from coming together & brown was a ME 1st guy thus the team was mediocre. How will he handle it if he doesn’t win or get handed the starting RB job? If the kids understands he has to EARN respect & playing time things may be OK but if not he could be a TO type cancer. Like Tony said in his blog whoever signed Brown had best know what all there getting into BUT wait Lame Kitten doesn’t seem to get what the SEC is about yet but he’ll soon find out!
Brock
March 16th, 2009
4:11 pm
Behavioral Issues? Maybe he was moody.
boodawg14
March 16th, 2009
4:12 pm
griffdawg, where you from? And I agree Tripp could make a difference at DE
law dawg
March 16th, 2009
4:19 pm
Personally, I think we desperately need to fix our kick off and kick return deficiencies. We had to be among the country’s worst in these categories. I can’t remember the number of times we put our defense in terrible field position. It seemed like everytime we scored to take the momentum, we would immediately turn around and put the opponant on their 40, including the Tech game. (BTW Tech fans, congratulations on your victory. However, I would like to point out that the margin of victory was 3. Every Tech fan I hear from seems to remember the game as a blowout. A blowout is what LSU did to you.) But I digress. I love Coach Fab, but those stupid directional kick offs are killing us. If we can’t find somebody to kick to the endzone, let’s at least put some air under the ball and cover. Richard Samuel is not a kick off return guy. I know we’re not coaching him to step back as he fields the kick, so he just must not judge the trajectory of the ball very well. He also can’t make anybody miss. We need to put a fast, shifty db or rb back there. Also,
I’ve heard that Caleb was a real disappointment to the coaches last year. Something about work ethic. They pushed him hard in mat drills and reports are pretty good. However, if he doesn’t man up in spring, he may find himself buried.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 16th, 2009
4:22 pm
Congrats to to UT on signing Maurice Clarett. Even though his bro plays at The U, he probably shouldn’t have dissed them with the hat trick.
AltamahaDawg
March 16th, 2009
4:28 pm
Steve, the boy was among the SEC leaders in ints, and tackles, last year. I’d say that wasn’t too bad for a sophomore in his first year starting.
Oledawg
March 16th, 2009
4:33 pm
If the Bryce Brown rumor is true, I predict that the NCAA will investigate his recruitment. I admire Shannon for his stand in not offering another scholarship when the first offer expired. The situation at Miami would have worked well for them both before the interference by the jerk in Kansas. So let’s see- we have progressed from services that charge membership to get info on our own recruits to the point that “agents” will represent them in the future. You can pay the “agent” for your info in the future. “No thanks” to both of you. You have worn my curiosity out boys. If it isn’t public knowledge from AJC, The Banner Herald, The Red and Black or other public media, I ain’t curious. So the hell with you jerks who don’t respect the amateur athletic programs. If you have a college alma mater or respect for a highschool team, then how could you cheer for a kid on your team that allows exploitation of his achievements that were done as a team? Why would he strike you as a great team player you would want? Since he won’t be blocking as a team member, then why do you not consider that your QB and other running backs won’t be on their butts on each play when he doesn’t get the ball? And defenses can key on him as the only offensive weapon on your “team”. I would have felt the same way if he had gone to LSU. Warning: this issue will heat up and take other antiamateur turns in the near future. The risk for cheating has grown larger with the saga of Bryce Brown.
Chip- How do you rate players after a good G-Day Game? Let’s see; Caleb King had a great day running against the D-line. Would this mean that we could expect him to continue against other teams in the fall or that our D is no good? Conversely, if he has a bad day does that mean that he is not our #1 running back or that our D is great? How do you writers distinguish between these two issues when it is an intrasquad game? Was this what you were alluding to when you mentioned you were jaded on spring ball? Maybe we have two great DEs and that’s why Caleb can’t run well. My point is that we shouldn’t put any importance to the spring practice that should affect position players or their success. We won’t give a crap what is printed until August because then it is for keeps. So Caleb not showing his stuff until fall would be understandable and the same goes for the DEs , the D-line, etc. Making such a decision from Spring Ball would be silly. I’m just traveling to see my Dawgs play (and galoot all over the field for that matter) while keeping in shape for the fall. It has nothing to do with who will play what position. If in the G-Day Game a receiver has a great game and long passes prevail, what does this say about our pass D? For every positive there is a negative to infer so it is not a sporting event per se. It’s our guys letting us watch them practice. To infer more is to take away from us watching the joy of amateur athletics.
Oledawg
March 16th, 2009
4:40 pm
Chip-Forgot to thank you for the article . My pleasure comes from the other Dawg fans writing here. It’s beginning to feel a lot like a nice big year and it’s Fall already.
monty
March 16th, 2009
4:47 pm
Coaching is as important if not more so than talent.(See Utah). 7-8 SEC teams had top 25 recruiting.Now it’s up to the coaches. Top priorities are stop dumb penalties that end drives or prolong opponents drives. Play with some intensity. Coaches look at replay of Texas Tech-Texas game to see what real intensity looks like by Texas Tech.
LSU
March 16th, 2009
4:50 pm
I am curious to see what Cox does. I wonder if it will be like the JoeT situation. When JoeT started to struggle as a 5th year senior, Richt pulled him for the freshman Stafford and let Stafford take his lumps for a year.
Chip do you think this is possible to happen again with UGA’s Murray and Metenberg (pretty sure I didn’t spell his name right) if Cox starts getting in trouble this season.
Joel in ATL
March 16th, 2009
4:55 pm
I’m just glad the jackets are a factor now I was thinking about contacting Damon Evans to see if we could sxcheulde them for homecoming since it was beginning to become a traditon if kicking their tails. Outside of that people there is a lot to fret about over in Athens. We need manpower in more ways than one. The big name freshmen surley will not redshirt as much and and the training staff is the most important part of the team. With all due respect can we please get the Pheonix Suns on the line for some advice. Looking forward to the over hyoed strech sessions but the real fun starts in Augustr but at UGA with the basketball team routinely ended prior to Spring football (by dessign I may add) it’s something to to get pumped about it you like vanilla play calling and walkons getting the most time.
Chip Towers
March 16th, 2009
5:02 pm
UGA confirmed Dexter Moody has been released from his scholarship. In so doing, UGA claims Moody is now a “recruitable athlete” under NCAA rules and can’t comment on him. Neither ECI coach Milan Turner nor principal Boyd English have returned my calls so you’re left to your own devices why he wasa released. The Chief of Police in Twin Cities said Moody has not been arrested. It’s not because he was doing what he’s supposed to.
Roddy Jones
March 16th, 2009
5:12 pm
Recruit more backs like that Rasheed guy!
Auggie Doggie
March 16th, 2009
5:21 pm
Sleeping with the coach’s wife? You got to be kiddin’. This would normally only merit a one down suspension VS. Central Northern Michigan. Don’t tell me UGA is trying to clean up it’s image!