A.J. Green says he’s smarter, healthier and better
Athens — A.J. Green remembers what it was like a year ago at this time: “just going out there and playing, not really knowing the plays, not able to read defenses and stuff like that.”
You’d never have known it from his stats, but Green says what you saw last year was not the full A.J. because his knowledge of the system was limited and his groin was bothering him all year.
He says he’s “smarter” and “healthier” now.
“I know the plays and know the system also,” he said. “I’m pretty comfortable.”
And: “It will be good to go out there without my groin hurting me in the middle of the game.”
All in all, Green thinks the improved knowledge and health, plus a year’s experience, have made him “much better” than a year ago. And remember, he led the SEC in receiving yards as a freshman a year ago.
Other things will be different for Green this season, too, of course. He won’t have Mohamed Massaquoi as a fellow receiver, for one thing. And he’ll be catching passes from a different quarterback.
Asked the difference in catching balls from Joe Cox vs. Matthew Stafford, Green said: “Joe not as much heat, but he’s got a great touch. I think it’s easier. Joe throws a good ball.”
Green’s 2009 season starts Saturday against a team, Oklahoma State, that also has a star receiver on its side, Dez Bryant. Green insists he isn’t concerned about any kind of personal showdown. “It doesn’t really matter to me, as long as we come out of there with a victory,” he said.
“When I was in high school, I saw [Bryant] play a couple of times [on video],” Green said. “I know he’s a real good receiver. On YouTube, they were comparing me and Julio [Jones] and him and all that.”
Green is interested to see how the rest of Geogia’s receiving corps unfolds on Saturday. Aside from him and fifth-year senior Michael Moore, the Bulldogs are looking for young talent to emerge, ASAP. Among those in the mix are Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten, two freshmen whose knowledge of the system is probably about the same as Green’s was at this time last year.
“Any one of them could have a breakout game,” Green said, “because that is the kind of potential they both have.”
As for himself, “I’m not as nervous as I was last year.”
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72 comments Add your comment
D'Tavious
September 2nd, 2009
4:37 pm
Key offensive Lineman for the Georgia Bulldogs:
Clint Boling #60 – Clint is 6-5, 286 lbs…Clint started 12 games last season.
Chris Davis #63 – Chris is 6-4, 296 lbs…Chris started 13 games last season.
Ben Jones #61 – Ben is 6-3, 304 lbs…Ben started 10 games as a true freshman last season.
Cordy Glenn #71 – Cordy is 6-5, 331 lbs…Cordy started 10 games as a true freshman last season.
Trinton Sturdivant #77 – Trinton is 6-5, 293 lbs…Trinton missed 2008 with a knee injury. He started 13 games as a true freshman in 2007.
Vince Vance #72 – Vince is 6-8, 325 lbs…Vince started six games before he injured his knee last season.
Justin Anderson #79 – Justin is 6-5, 338 lbs… Justin started seven games last season.
Tanner Strickland #54 – Tanner is 6-5, 327 lbs…Tanner was a back-up last season. He also is No. 1 on the team squatting 700 lbs. in the weight room.
Josh Davis #78 – Josh is 6-6, 293 lbs… Josh started four games last season.
Question
September 2nd, 2009
4:39 pm
How da frack did dewberry get back atop the deep chart? Nick Williams would be my choice
rvadawg
September 2nd, 2009
5:11 pm
I am very excited at the potential we have on both sides of the ball. PLAYMAKERS all over the field. 3 more days dawg fans
rvadawg
September 2nd, 2009
5:13 pm
and playmakers behind the big boys up front. I believe games are won in the trenches, if an o-line gives the qb enough time, he will make plays. if the d-line gets to the quarterback it forces him to either hold it for a sack or throw it up. I like our o-line and d-line in any game. Also interested in seeing how Walsh will do with kickoffs. Hopefully he’s improved, but if he doesn’t, how long til Bogatay goes in?
OSU Scouting report: Georgia Bulldogs | OSU Cowboys Sports Blog
September 2nd, 2009
5:35 pm
[...] this report on Tucker’s blog, receiver A.J. Green says he’s better than last year, when he was one of the top freshman in the [...]
alphadawg
September 2nd, 2009
6:16 pm
just a reminder!!!!!!!!! 38 – 3 hahahahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahaha
robertussen
September 2nd, 2009
6:20 pm
Go GREEN WAVE Summerville High represent
59bulldawg
September 2nd, 2009
6:37 pm
Saturday November 28, 2009. On the corner of North Avenue and Techwood Drive in Atlanta, GA. Hell in red and black is gonna be unleashed upon the one season wonders known as Georgia Tech. Boys it’s going to get ugly!
Denver Dog
September 2nd, 2009
7:05 pm
Great story about a young man going on the road for a big game, and how he has improved. I don’t know Tech nerds got involved with this trying to pull the focus off a game an onto them. AJ is a great player and we will all thrill to see him catch and run. Watch for a lot of mis direction from OSU to try and offset our team speed on defense. That is what slow teams do as Tech did to us last year. Hopefully we learned to work on that after the fiasco.
jay
September 2nd, 2009
7:15 pm
By the end of the game, the best wide receiver in
the nation will be AJ Green.
T-Dawg
September 2nd, 2009
7:37 pm
Green should give way to Michael Moore for the first few games of the season. Let him have a few big plays and get noticed. Teams will have put more attention on Michael possibly doubling him up. Then Green can run a muck of the rest of the season. And you’re right Jay, Green will become the best WR in the nation.
dawg man
September 2nd, 2009
8:24 pm
just a reminder saint simons can you pronounce SCUM!!! HAHA
Top Dawg
September 2nd, 2009
8:55 pm
Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
crazeedawg
September 2nd, 2009
9:07 pm
Go dawgs! I was looking at the rivals rating on RS and interesting that he was #24 or so and the #2 at his position – he was a 5 star
KM was rated somewhere in the 70’s or so I think and was a 4 star and when KM came in the game he was also unproven – so let us hope that RS and get this thing rolling behind the great o-line and leadership of Joe Cox -
Chris
September 2nd, 2009
9:23 pm
the dawgs are gonnagive osu a good sec whipping!
Johnny DangerDawg
September 2nd, 2009
9:45 pm
With UGA’s veteran O-line, I think OSU’s defense is gonna start the game by defending the run and make Joe Cox throw. The wide receivers will get a shot early in the game.
Cuz
September 2nd, 2009
10:30 pm
Waiting for this game is worse than waiting for Christmas when I was a kid.
ThisDawgWillHunt
September 2nd, 2009
11:47 pm
The question is….who’s gonna cover Dez when they do get their hands on the ball?? If we don’t get any pressure on that QB it’ll be another LOOOONG day.
Can’t wait to see Samual and AJ light ‘em up! Go Dawgs!! Dawgs by 10!!
And yes….Orson Charles will see the ball comes his way more than a few times in light of this latest MLB news.
Can you imagine being Cox with all this talent around you and all those studs up front! Let’s get it on!!!
Scott
September 3rd, 2009
3:28 am
Of course we will miss Matthew and Knowshon! But how did UGA basketball do the year after Dominique was gone? (Final Four.) How did Tennessee do the year after Peyton left? (National Champs). I’m sure there are tons more examples! Maybe lowered expectations is a good thing…..ya think?
RANDY
September 3rd, 2009
7:14 am
SAINT SIMONS: A REAL PENIS HEAD
bdawg
September 3rd, 2009
10:46 am
I know it is easy to get caught up in the bigger receivers but im excited about Micheal Moore. He is going to have a big year!
Monty
September 3rd, 2009
11:50 am
That’s cute guys. Prepare to see the best receiver in college football on Saturday. Don’t worry you can draft him for your NFL fantasy team next year! dezbryantforheisman.com… Go Pokes!