On White’s move to fullback — and Samuel’s future
Mark Richt’s weekly radio call-in show was much tamer last night. Whereas a week before most callers vented about Georgia’s performance at Tennessee, last night’s callers mostly commended the win at Vanderbilt.
A couple of interesting items from Richt’s comments, which came by phone from his pickup truck in a Columbus parking lot after a speaking engagement:
On last week’s practice-field move of backup linebacker Charles White to fullback: “[He] hasn’t been getting a lot of reps at the linebacker position, and we feel the best chance he can help this football team in the future is at fullback,” Richt said. “So we have made a change for him to play fullback in mid-season because we don’t believe we are pulling away from the defense and he can still play special teams. We will have two senior fullbacks next year [Shaun Chapas and Fred Munzenmaier], so we need to cultivate another fullback.”
White, a redshirt sophomore, has two years of eligibility remaining after this one.
– Richt was asked about the possibility of moving Richard Samuel from tailback to defense. (The most frequently mentioned position is linebacker, at which Samuel made the AJC’s All-State team in high school.) Richt said such a move would be premature — but did not rule it out eventually. If Samuel ever were to switch positions, it would be between seasons, Richt said.
“The thing about Richard, first of all, is that he’s got a lot of reps at running back,” Richt said. “He’s still in the race to be our No. 1 running back, and at this point I think his best chance to help Georgia win is to stay at running back. If there was ever going to be change, it would be an off-season change for him.”
Samuel started the first six games of this season at tailback for Georgia but did not play until the third quarter last week, getting six carries for 18 yards.
By the way, the Dogs are back on the practice field today, one of two practices this week. The other is Thursday. They’ll lift weights Wednesday and Friday.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
183 comments Add your comment
Not Disappointed!
October 21st, 2009
10:02 am
Morning Pups!!!!!!!!!!
You know, as a Tech Fan/Alum, I too second guess the coach on switching player’s position, etc.
I still have faith in CMR. This may be a down year, but it isn’t over. Now, go out and get ready to beat Floriduh.
Ramblin Wreck.
Dawg realist
October 21st, 2009
10:13 am
Saint Simons you are truly pathetic brother! You have to be a liberal!
lefty fielder
October 21st, 2009
11:02 am
CMR’s note to self:
1 – Cross Bud Foster off the short list.
2 – Call Petrino – get the video
3 – What we doin this week? We taw mout practice . . . not a game, not a game . . . we taw mout practice . . . what we taw mout?
4 – Call Petrino – get the video
mark
October 21st, 2009
11:19 am
T’ville- i agree, Bobo is still learning on the fly, just wish he was learning on the fly at Troy or Jack St. He’s overmatched every week. Do you think Monte Kiffin, Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, Les Miles, Urban Meyer are afraid of Mike Bobo?!?!?!?!?! They had to respect the talent that we had with Stafford and Moreno but that’s it.
When people like me say things like “my wife is calling the plays before they snap so you know the opposing D coordinator knows what’s coming” you and others respond with “then tell your wife to become a college coach but until then stop your whining” My response: you’re right. Maybe my wife should. If my wife can do Bobo’s job from the stands what does that tell you?? NO, not that my wife is qualified to be a college playcaller but that Bobo is NOT qualified to be an SEC playcaller.
Some of you people in here think that if we aren’t blind loyalists then we aren’t fans. That if we critcize the coaching staff and expect them to do their jobs at a high level then we aren’t fans. I’m sorry but i’ve been a fan since I was in the womb and my mother was jumping up and down watching Herschel and what i’ve seen in Athens as of late is an underperfoming and inconsistent program. It’s been that way since Shockley left.
They look lost and inept and lose to teams they shouldn’t, get blown out, or look pitiful and pull out a win. They hardly ever look good while winning and they NEVER look good but just fall short and lose.
Bernie Matt
October 21st, 2009
11:25 am
Aimee, WHAT I’M TELLING YOU AND EVERYBODY ON THIS BLOGS IS, … THE DAYS OF THROWING OUR KIDS UNDER THE BUS ARE OVER. UGA gets to the same allotment of scholarships (85) as all the other D-1 schools. Therefore if a kid is not performing, and it happens from time to time, turn around and look on the sideline and put someone else in the game. But don’t keep dragging these kids names through the mud, and announcing position switches for 3rd team LB’s. Only at Georgia do they look around and find which kid to blame rather than fire the coach. I bet the great Don Shula’s kid could probably point the finger at a lot of kids who underperformed, but in the end the folks at Alabama, pointed to his ass. And low and behold they come to town and embarrass us with pretty much the same kids. Nah, the truth is going to be told, by me and others just like me, you won’t keep trashing our kids, we’ll send them somewhere else. “I aint scared of you mothas”.
Mike
October 21st, 2009
11:27 am
Where is Yellow Fuzz?
Billy Ray Valentine
October 21st, 2009
11:58 am
Mike,
there should be plenty of Yellow Fuzz down around Techwood Ave. Or 10th and 14th.
You might have to pay extra
PHIL
October 21st, 2009
12:01 pm
I’m done. It’s a waste of time and energy. All you armchair quarterbacks could surely make more money at a D-1 school as a coach than you do at McDonalds. Not sure why you aren’t applying for jobs allover the country. Someone besides Ga must need you. Enjoy the rest of the year with your idiot comments.
Billy Ray Valentine
October 21st, 2009
12:03 pm
Thanks Phil. See ya later.
Chris
October 21st, 2009
12:35 pm
How’s the underside of the sand, Phil? Still abrasive and dry?
monty
October 21st, 2009
1:02 pm
THis GA team doesn’t have the ablity to line up on offense and play rock’em sock’em football with the big boys of the SEC for whatever reason. I guess Sturdivant getting hurt changed all that. So, I believe that Bobo really has to open the offense up to the short passing game mixed with occassional long and intermediate throws down the field. This offense seems better suited for the spread than the present system.
Bernie Matt
October 21st, 2009
1:08 pm
Oh by the way, just for the record. I suggested to CMR last year that this same Charles White should be at fullback and he looked at me with a blank expression. I also suggested to him that he play more sets with Samuel and King or Samuel and Ealy, again, blank expression. The same blank expression CBS shows when UGA is done by 3 td’s to a hapless Tenn. team. And did anyone else notice he just said he needs to get the ball to AJ more. Folks, this guy is not in touch with reality. He still thinks he living in the late 90’s before everyone else caught up with what they were doing at FSU. Eventually, people catch up to what you’re doing and you have to make changes, just ask Spurrier. Do you folks on here even realize, he’s still using the same plays from his days at FSU. GIve me a break. And in case most of you don’t know how big-time football works, generally, the head coach tells the coordinators what the philosophy is and the DC or OC work within those guidelines, so all the soft coverages you see on defense and all the wildcat looks with Joe at QB and everyone on defense knowing he’s not going to keep it, while we blame the coordinators, it’s really CMR’s philosophy in the end. If it were not so, I would not have told you it were. “who ya wit”!
bigcalidawg
October 21st, 2009
6:28 pm
I agree that Samuel lacks instinct, but is a good athlete. Move him back to LB and call it a day.
Go DAWGS!
doesherschelstillplay
October 21st, 2009
9:25 pm
oh wow, you cannot make the dawg fans up..all these years, you have acted like you cannot even be concerned with GT because your too caught up with you high and mighty games in the SEC. But here comes Loran Smith running his mouth in the UGA-Vandy broadcast how GT has nothing for VT. Since when do you hyprocrites even care? It has been 29 years since you won a national title and you act like it happened yesterday.. GET OVER IT and that includes Loran, my God, I cannot not believe how jealous you people are. By the way, I heard some of Loran on the broadcast as I was driving to the GT-VT game and he sounded incoherent and like he is 100 yrs old. He said something about some country music singer on sidelines which you couldn’t even understand what he was saying and the GA announcers had to repeat it and make something out of his nothing comments. I apologize if Loran is suffering from Dementia ..I don’t follow your games so I really truly dont know but he sounds like a hack, it is what it is
fans? FANS???
October 21st, 2009
10:25 pm
I know it’s expensive to go to a Georgia game, I’ve had season tickets since ‘86, believe me I know. Saying that, I’m as disappointed as anyone else. I was as happy as anyone two short years ago when we finished strong to end up #2, and were a missed field goal at Carolina (by our best kicker in 20 years, no less) from playing for the conference title. We lost a receiver, tailback, quarterback, cornerback from last years’ team, and replaced them with good talent, and very little experience. Give it a rest, CMR knows his business.
Dawgs-r-peterlickers
October 21st, 2009
10:58 pm
SEC refs/officiating crew suspended…….maybe it’s a conspiracy…….maybe the Refs don’t like Ga….maybe Ga is behind on it’s “under the table payoffs”…………maybe you just SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!
RED DOG 77
October 22nd, 2009
12:31 am
Oh my goodness BuLL DAWG is back, How do I know? Saw him eating chili dogs and suckin down an FO up on North Ave . He was heading across the bridge to you know where. As for me I was haulin fanny north on peachtree………Dont particularly feel too comfy around those parts. Back out in the country now feel much better. But I did see ol BuLL DAWG down there, now just what does that tell you?………..Yep……Yer Dern Tootin!!!!! Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
south ga sec fan
October 22nd, 2009
12:52 am
Bernie Matt, YOU are so right man. I love SEC football and “no” never cared too much for TECH until they finally got smart and hired a man by the name of Paul Johnson. I have watched UGA football all my life and it has been a coaching disappointment. Golf, look at the talent that man had. Donnan, good talent but they loved their drugs too much. Richt, who is a good coach, person, christian is way too conservative. But I stayed agrivated watching GA over the years. Few times they looked great all around as a team putting together a complete game. They lived and died so long on Van Gorder’s defense. Richt called so conservative it drove me nutts. And all these people calling for Bobo’s head come on. I could call every play before the snap when Richt did the play calling from the sideline. And oh my gosh that year Joe T. started the Florida game and ran the same qb draw over and over. To me Bobo has mixed it up better. But the plan is the same. I understand UGA keeps guys that commit to them. But the class has been high year after year and we aren’t very good. Joe Cox has been in that system too long not to be better. Still starring down recievers like he’s still in High School. Now LSU and Florida seem to sign a lot every year, so their cutting a lot later somewhere. When you do it the way UGA has and you lose players the reserves aren’t that great. If I was a top recruit I would not pick UGA from what I’ve seen over the years. Paul Johnson would be my man unless I was a big time wide out. To me GA’s offense has to have too many things to happen inorder to work. What I don’t understand is why the line is so bad, when UGA’s line coach was so wanted and considered so good. I love the person Richt is, but he’s made a lot of money, they should be better,and I want to see GA win. I said it when he got the job and a lot of people think I’m crazy. But they will see I am right. PAUL JOHNSON WILL TAKE OVER THE STATE OF GA. UGA should have hired him when he applied from GA Southern after Dunnan. He will make yall pay for that one. He already has. He doesn’t have the recruits the rest of them have and still beating them. All you guys leave Bernie Matt alone he’s only speaking the truth sorry if it hurts. But the truth is the truth.
RealityRose
October 22nd, 2009
1:01 am
What in the h$ll is wrong with losing anyway? Winning is greatly over-rated. When teams lose often, expectations are more realistic. Winning too often causes the fans to act delusional like they ought to win a conference or national championship every year. Just look at the mess Urban Myer has gotten himself into by winning two SEC and National Titles in the past three years. Now all those Florida fans will be delusional and think that the title belongs to them every year. Coach Myer will catch h$ll when this doesn’t happen. It’s far better to be a sorry, losing team with tiny expectations that lead to no disappointments and no delusions. There are more advantages: the home game traffic is lighter, less attendees at games mean the lines to the concession stands and restrooms are much shorter and ESPN gameday analysts don’t badger your team with ignorant and irrelevant observations. And of course, the tropy case maintains a rather beautiful emptiness that can’t be dublicated with championships. To all you genuine Dawg Fans, experience the wonder of losing with grace and humor that only mediocrity affords.
south ga sec fan
October 22nd, 2009
7:53 am
What’s wrond with losing? Well, if you lose game after game and don’t put up the numbers. Recruits drop off and the program falls. You are Vandy singing fight songs like “That’s alright that’s ok you gonna work for us one day anyway”.
Jefferson
October 22nd, 2009
9:56 am
Wasn’t David Pollack was a fullback before he moved to DE? If so, that was the best change of position in UGA football history.
Also, for the Tech fans out there, when you only win one game in 8 years, you still suck. You play a weak ACC schedule, and your defense is worse than ours.
GO DAWGS!!!!
Tyler S.
October 22nd, 2009
11:40 am
I think that Mark Richt needs to change the coaching before he changes the players because good coaching on both sides of the ball is crucial to success in this division. Samuel should either be moved to fullback or linebacker in my opinion,but only after some coaching changes are made first.
Saint Simons
October 22nd, 2009
11:54 am
Did I tell you guys I did not graduate from Georgia Tech? I really went to Georgia State. Tech was way too tough for a dummy like me to get in! I just leeched onto GT this year and now I like to refer to the team as “WE” or “US”. I really like living with my my mom too! Oh I think I have a date with a real girl this week. We are going to Denny’s!!!!!!!!
Saint Simons
October 22nd, 2009
11:55 am
Enter your comments here
djawjuh
October 22nd, 2009
1:25 pm
I think BANDWAGONS are just great as long as it is our, UGA’s, bandwagon. Winners produce bandwagons, folks. It’s a fact. I’d love to be on one but alas as long as CMR and company are in charge, we’ll have neither the band nor the wagon.
And by the way, you CMR defenders, how do you psych out us not offering that Gainesville kid? CMR first went to see him four years ago according to the AJC story and we continued to recruit him to the present, but no offer until now? Saban came, he saw, he offered, he conquered. That kid is going to Bama.
Wake up or we will be saying that over and over again. Substitute Meyer for Saban and you got the picture. Our group of coaches have gotten so complacent that they can’t even drive 45 miles to Gainesville to reel him in. Better still, an overnight letter to the kid with the offer. This scenario doesn’t make sense to me. Does it to you? We make too many mistakes in recruiting like that, ONE is too many.
But how about this? Remember the kid who came to Athens in late summer/early fall whose scholly had been revoked but they didn’t tell him. His parents came with him. A screwup in the extreme. No excuse for that either. Can you imagine how they felt when told their son no longer had an offer from UGA? Plain outrageous. Yet CMR will want to retain those responsible because he feels badly for their families if he should axe them. I do too. But people who can’t or don’t perform get axed everyday.
This staff has presided over a four year decline and it’s picking up memometum.
Repeat, this will be the FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR without us winning the SEC East. And we rebuild anew next year because we have no seasoned QB to step in for Joe.
CMR is crapping on his legacy of his first four years at UGA because he’s just not with it anymore. Talking about a third string change in the off week before Florida? Huh? There is something dreadfully wrong on Ag Hill in Athens and I wish I knew what it was.
It is time for a change. CMW and CMB should be the first to go. . . voluntarily would be the best way. Bobo might be an offensive genius in the making but we can’t wait that long. I’m looking for dramatic changes come the day after the Yech game. I would bet that CMW and Bobo resign so as to better their chances of gainful coaching employment. Firing puts you in the hole. And friend CMR doesn’t have to fire them. CMR goes after next season.
WE CAN AND MUST MAKE CHANGES! IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
AceDawg
October 22nd, 2009
1:52 pm
The question is whether Samuel can tackle anyone standing straight up like he does when he runs. That said, he is fast and strong, and maybe not having to break tackles, which he is terrible at, would allow his talents to be used better on defense.
Rooster Cogburn
October 22nd, 2009
2:03 pm
Hey Saint Simons: Try winning six straight and then talk. Tech will always–for the remainder of time on Earth–take a backseat to Georgia. You will never surpass them. Momentary hiccups aside, Tech has been dominated and will continue to do so in the long run. Stick with Halo and tickle piles, you inferior twit.
Stinger
October 22nd, 2009
3:15 pm
It’s so funny to see that some of you still don’t want to give Tech credit. You try to deflect attention from your sorry AZZ team by putting Tech down. YOU only make yourself look stupid, because everyone knows that the Jackets are for real. We only have 6 scholarship football players who are seniors on our team. We are for real and we are here to stay. Long live Paul Johnson !!!! Coach of the Century.
ugaaccountant
October 22nd, 2009
5:28 pm
djawjuh – If you want to be taken seriously regarding recruiting, you need to actually understand the situations.
Gainsville kid – This was no mistake. He’s just now getting barely good enough. We chose not to offer him until now because he’s a mediocre recruit. Not a head scratcher at all. Richt saw him way more often than Saban and knew that this was a borderline recruit. Same with all his other teammates. Our coaches are well aware of each of them, and have chosen not to offer.
Columbus kid – I feel bad that the kid thought he had been offered, but just because he wanted to be a UGA player doesn’t mean he had an offer.
Ole Yeller Dawg
October 22nd, 2009
5:56 pm
Since the Georgia offense played better with Coach Bobo on the sideline…….maybe we ought to send Coach Willie Martinez upstairs to the booth!? (*_~)
south ga sec fan
October 23rd, 2009
2:11 am
Well, if the Gainsville kid is such a mediocre recruit. What was Cox? He was a 3 star rated QB. And Blake Barnes who we never saw throw a pass. These weren’t good recruits either. What would UGA have done with Tebow? DE/TE/FB I’m not buying the talent evaluation from up there. Saban is a very talented recruiter. I wouldn’t say he was wrong?
Ed
October 23rd, 2009
7:36 pm
I don’t get Richt’s mentality – any position change would be at the end of the season. That kind of stubborness doesn’t help us THIS year. You have a kid who has dropped from 1 to 3 on the RB depth chart and didn’t even see action until the third quarter of the Vandy game – not a good sign. Yet everyone agrees that he has talent and it’s a fact that he was a stud defensive player in high school. Georgia could really, really use some help on defense right now. Anything is bound to be an improvement. Who knows, maybe this kid will get after the qb like David Pollack, or at least Marcus Howard. Maybe he’ll turn into a stud linebacker. It’s worth a shot…this year. Seems like an off week would be a great time for a crash course in a new position.
Gdawg
October 26th, 2009
8:13 pm
Bernie Matt is not a UGA fan. He is an imposter. Get back on the Tech blog Bernie, you punk.