Bulldogs open against SI coverboys
Athens — Already embracing the role of underdawg this season, Georgia’s football team is gonna love this: Its season-opening opponent is on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Oklahoma State is featured on a regional cover of the SI college football preview issue – the first time current OSU student-athletes have appeared on a SI cover, the school announced.
On the cover: senior quarterback Zac Robinson and senior center Andrew Lewis.
Oklahoma State trumpets the coverage:
“OSU is one of three resurgent programs profiled in Austin Murphy’s cover story as a potential BCS spoiler and national title contender. The magazine tabbed the Cowboys as the No. 7 team in the country.
“SI also predicts the Cowboys to finish 10-2 overall, 6-2 in conference play and meet LSU in the Cotton Bowl. The magazine also picked senior cornerback Perrish Cox and junior wide receiver Dez Bryant as preseason All-Americans.”
SI says Oklahoma State has “an offense full of game-breakers” and an attack “so prolific the defense doesn’t have to stop opponents cold, just hold them off a little better than it did last year.”
Meanwhile, SI’s preview issue ranks Georgia No. 15.
The magazine is scheduled to reach newsstands today, although the Oklahoma State regional cover presumably won’t reach Georgia (except, perhaps, for the UGA locker room).
The Bulldogs play at Oklahoma State on Sept. 5.
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Georgia coaches have been saying there are five candidates to start at tailback and three to serve as backup quarterback. Those numbers figure to be reduced soon after today’s late-afternoon scrimmage in Sanford Stadium. (Update: Because of weather, the scrimmage has been moved up to morning. In progress now. It is closed to media except for warmups, but will post update after CMR holds post-scrimmage briefing.)
Running backs coach Bryan McClendon said Tuesday that he has been giving all five tailback contenders roughly equal reps with the Nos. 1 and 2 offenses in practice and will do the same in today’s scrimmage. But after today, he indicated the field will separate and the parity will dissipate. “I was really hanging off until the scrimmage to give me some sort of pecking order,” he said. And by the way, McClendon said Caleb King, currently No. 1 on the tailback depth chart, “came in in much better shape” and is “working his tail off.”
Although the logical assumption is that Logan Gray will start the season as the No. 2 quarterback, coaches have said Gray is competing with freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger for the job. Asked Tuesday when that will be further sorted out, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said it might be today or it might be the middle of next week. In any case, soon.
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Beyond specific depth-chart battles, the coaches are eager to see generally how the team performs in the first scrimmage of preseason camp.
“I’m interested to see how guys compete when they get hit , playing in the stadium and playing without their coaches behind them telling them what’s going on,” Bobo said. “I’m just excited to see who’s going to step up [and to] try to get an idea of what our identity is going to be, based on who can make plays and who will move the football.”
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Every word gets parsed in Bulldog Nation, so when Mark Richt commented after several practices that defensive players were doing a good job of coming up with interceptions, concern understandably surfaced about whether the quarterbacks were doing a bad job of throwing the ball.
Richt said on Monday that most of the picks have come with the No. 2 offense playing against the No. 1 defense. And on Tuesday, Bobo said: “I think the defense has done a nice job of making plays . . . catching some balls and intercepting them. But when you’ve got two freshmen quarterbacks out there, you’re going to have turnovers. That’s just how it goes.”
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Last thing. Wil Walton asked here yesterday for an update on Branden Smith, the speedy freshman cornerback.
The coaches have said they’re open to occasionally using Smith on offense at wide receiver. But so far, Smith said, he has worked only on defense and special teams (punt return, kickoff return and punt block).
Asked his expectations for his freshman season, Smith said: “Take it game by game, day by day. Try to get better. Play with my team. Learn from the vets. Win a national championship.”
That last sentence from Smith is your prize for reading to the end. Thanks.
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59 comments Add your comment
ratdawg
August 12th, 2009
6:13 pm
Hey Bama 1…just curious what your prediction is for VT/ALA game? I’m thinking 1st year starting QBs don’t fare too well against Hokie defenses in the past. Patiently waiting for your delusional response.
Reality Check
August 12th, 2009
7:54 pm
Stinger and Dawg Hater, denial of reality is a sign of mental illness. You are both having parinoid delusions and are in complete denial of the reality of the Tech situation. CPJ is another Chan Gailey. Except for the fluke win over Ga. the 2008 season was the same as 2007. You will see by seasons end and your illness will get worse as the denial gets more pronounced. You guys are sick. Admit it.
dawg man
August 12th, 2009
8:04 pm
Hey! You tech SCUM…suck this! One out of eight!!!HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH.
That was no fluke; Johnson let up!
August 12th, 2009
8:07 pm
dogs don’t get a second chance in Howladay Stadium this year. The game is two-first half and second half. First half don’t count.
GA BOY IN KUWAIT
August 12th, 2009
8:14 pm
STINGER says, “You can have all the recievers in the world, but if you don’t have anyone to get them the ball, they are useless”
YOU MEAN WHEN YOU GUYS HAD CALVIN JOHNSON AND COULDNT DO ANYTHING WITH HIM?
harleydawg
August 12th, 2009
9:04 pm
stinger, why dont your backs do something in the weak acc, why did your guys lose against lsu, dawgs backs would avg 250 to 300 yds a game in the acc, samuel would have at least 6 400 yrd games, setting all ncaa records in the acc but he wanted to play against the best in the sec
GooseDawg
August 13th, 2009
6:59 pm
Brad,
Welcome to the forum! We too look forward to the road trip to Stillwater. BTW, most real Dawg fans aren’t as mean-spirited as a lot of the posts on here would lead you to believe. Remember, it’s real easy to talk-err-type a BIG game from the comforts of your keyboard ya know (just look at the multitude of useless, daily posts from pathetic folks–mostly dawg haters, that contaminate this otherwise great web-site). Anyways, if you are planning on attending the season opener at Boone Pickens, I’ll think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the thousands of UGA fans that will actually make the long roadtrip to Stillwater. All will be passionate, some will be overzealous (and probably overserved) but the vast majority will be gracious guests. It seems to me that Stillwater suffers a similar fate as Athens, GA for folks in need of a hotel room, there just aren’t enough beds for everyone.
rhp997,
Really enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for the insider info. on your Pokes. I really think it’s gonna be a great game but I KNOW it’s gonna be exciting. Unlike most Dawg fans (or supposed Dawg fans–you never know on THIS site) I’m not taking the Cowboys lightly. Dez Bryant’s size and NFL talent going up against our inexperienced secondary is my primary concern. Could be a long day for our young pups at the corners.
I do think we put some big points up against OSU’s “less than stellar” defense but if we don’t get a pass rush w/o having to blitz, I’m afraid this game is gonna turn into a shootout and possibly one of those, “whoever has the ball last wins” game. I do know that whichever one of our DE’s is trying to get around your sure fire NFL first rounder OT, Russell Okung won’t be making much of an impact on many (if any) plays. OK, I’m worried and anxious as hell. Is it Sept. 5 yet?
dawgfanforlife
August 14th, 2009
8:29 am
to the OSU fans posting on here…..thanks for your honest imput….and the real dogs fans are nervous about this game too…looking forward to sept 5
HOWORANGEAREYOU
September 10th, 2009
10:59 am
Dawg Fans, I came across this blog while searching for something else, so I thought I’d leave this:
The first thing that struck me when arriving at Boone Pickens Stadium last saturday was the Georgia fans. You are the definition of a class act. The Georgia fans earned a spot at the top of my list of the best I’ve ever seen visit Stillwater. You were the only visitors that I would put in a category with the Texas A&M fans who I have always felt were in a category by themselves. I hope that other than the outcome of the game, you enjoyed Stillwater and our new stadium.
Second, the Georgia football team, it’s coaches and support personel represeted your school in a manner that many others around the country should try to mirror. Of course there was plenty of trash talking on the field, but it stopped there. Although this was the most physical, hard hitting game that fans in Stillwater are likely to see this year, it was also probably the cleanest we’ll see, no dirty tactics, just tough, physical play.
As for OSU’s play, the offense did what was expected, it sputtered and coughed most of the game just as it has in early season games since Mike Gundy and his staff took over.
What was probably more shocking to OSU fans than it was even to Georgia fans was the Cowboy defense. After Georgia’s first drive, it seemed to everyone wearing orange that nothing had changed from last year other than the defensive coordinator’s name. From that point on however, nothing about the way OSU’s defense performed remotely resembled what we have become accustomed to seeing.
Georgia’s offense, like OSU’s will improve over the course of the season and will simply wear most defenses out. Cox will grow into a very good QB. He’s tough, athletic, intellegent, showed great poise and took care of the ball. All three of the Dawgs turnovers were forced, not bad plays by the offense.
Finally, I just want to again say thanks to all of the Georgia fans that made the trip, you guys are a great example for college fans everywhere.
We would love to have you come back to Stillwater sometime.
Good luck this season, I hope you win ‘em all from here on out.