Let’s talk football: Murray on arm, Samuel on LB move, Mettenberger on improvement
Athens — Let’s talk some football this afternoon.
I’m at the Butts-Mehre building, planning to talk with a number of UGA football players. Hoping to chat with Richard Samuel about his move from tailback to linebacker, with Logan Gray about whether he intends to remain at quarterback for the duration, with Aaron Murray about whether his arm is 100 percent after last fall’s tendinitis, and others.
I’ll post updates through the afternoon. Please check back.
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UPDATE 1:
Richard Samuel seems very happy about the move to linebacker. ”I feel like I’ll be more comfortable, be able to play more freely at linebacker,” he said. He said coaches pretty much left the decision up to him about whether to remain at tailback or move to linebacker.
He said his biggest problem at tailback was blocking. “I couldn’t block correctly and keep a good pocket for the quarterback,” he said. With the play of Caleb King and Washaun Ealey at the end of last season, “my future wasn’t looking too good at running back.”
He said he’s gaining weight for the move to linebacker. He’s up to 230 now. His goal is to start at linebacker in the season opener.
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UPDATE 2:
For those wondering about the health of Aaron Murray’s arm: He says it’s 100 percent fine, thank you.
Limited by triceps and forearm tendinitis for a big chunk of his redshirt season last fall, Murray said he is not worried at all about his arm now.
Recounting last fall’s problem, he said: “I just tried to push through. It inflamed up and spread throughout the arm. I didn’t give it the proper rest I should have. If I had, I would have been out a week instead of going four-five weeks without throwing. I learned from that. This off-season I’m doing a lot more shoulder maintenance, making my arm strong, building the endurance.”
He said the arm didn’t bother him at all the final month or so of last season and through bowl practices. He said extensive medical tests revealed no problem beyond tendinitis. He said he’s currently throwing three or four times a week. He said he doesn’t expect any setbacks with the arm this spring.
But he did say the missed practice reps last fall “set me back a good bit.”
As for the upcoming quarterback competition with Zach Mettenberger and Logan Gray, Murray said: “I view it is pretty much anybody’s job to take right now. I’m looking forward to spring, going out there and working as hard as I can. It’s my goal to get that position. . . . It should be fun. It’s going to be interesting. Off the field, we are not enemies; we hang out, go out to eat. It’s not [a competition] where we will go out there in hatred. We’re just going out there to win a position. . . . Two days ago, Zach and I went throwing with Marlon [Brown], helping each other with footwork and mechanics. . . . It’s going to be a friendly competition, and in the end the best guy will win.”
————————
UPDATE 3:
OK, about all those rumors of a possible position switch for quarterback Logan Gray.
Gray said he expects to play quarterback exclusively in spring practice, and although he acknowledged giving some thought to a position switch, he said the rumors were overblown.
“I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t think about what my options were, but I just think it’s too early to make any decisions,” Gray said. “I’m just going to keep on playing quarterback. If there comes a time where I’m not going to be playing or contributing and I think I’d be better off somewhere else, then maybe I’ll make a decision.”
He said the coaches never approached him about a possible position switch for spring practice.
“It was kind of interesting [when] all this whirlwind talk started brewing up and everything,” Gray said, “because it seemed to me like Coach [Mike] Bobo was planning on me playing quarterback through the spring.
“I feel like obviously we’re looking for a starting quarterback, and I feel like I can compete for it. Last year, I didn’t get quite as much experience as I would have liked. But I feel like I’m ready to go this spring, and I’m excited about spring practice and what is going to happen.”
If there comes a time when it’s clear he has no future at quarterback, Gray said, “I’m not, like, opposed to playing receiver or trying to play defense.”
——————–
UPDATE 4:
Still no official word on whether newly hired linebackers coach Warren Belin will coach the inside or outside ‘backers, although LB Chase Vasser said today, “I want to believe it’s inside, but not 100 percent on that.” Whichever group of linebackers Belin coaches, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham will coach the other.
———————–
UPDATE 5:
Zach Mettenberger, whose shaky completion statistics in preseason scrimmages last summer caused some concerns in Bulldog Nation, said he is “10 times better than when I came in.”
The 6-foot-5 Mettenberger said he has lost 18 pounds in the past year, from 255 to 237, and has improved his footwork to the point that it is “as good as the other guys’, if not better.”
All three quarterbacks said they expect a highly competitive battle for the position in spring practice, which will run from March 4 through April 10.
“It’s definitely a big spring for us three quarterbacks,” Mettenberger said. “It’s pretty much going to determine who’s going to be the quarterback for possibly the next couple of years. We’re all excited about the competition, and we’re pushing each other to be the best we can. Whatever happens happens. We’re still going to be friends at the end. And it’s whatever Coach Bobo decides.”
————————-
UPDATE 6:
Here’s wide receiver Marlon Brown summarizing the different styles of the three quarterbacks:
“Zach can throw the ball 100 yards. Zach has a cannon. And Logan, he’s been here three years and is real smart and so he knows the offense better. And Aaron, he’s just an all-around guy [who] can make a tough throw and he can run. They’re all pretty good.”
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530 comments Add your comment
brucemac
February 10th, 2010
5:57 pm
Patrick, did I call it or what. Dumb Gators cannot win the argument so now you are a Twit. Watch out here comes a reference to your male organ. Grinch, that is the best I have ever seen. I love the jumping deal, I thought I was at a Duke BBall game until I watched Washaun and Kaleb run wild and then I reallize it was big boy football. You got to admit they do sell out one game every two years.
patrick
February 10th, 2010
5:58 pm
Diamond dog………ummm the NCAA accepts WHAT A SCHOOL CLAIMS. They have no opinion one way or another. They leave the schools to self police. They will not accept a “readers digest” poll but accepted 15 different polls prior to the BCS. The BCS uses opinions in there determination as well. hardly a true NC. Especially if USC can claim a NC the same year LSU claimed one. Duh
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 10th, 2010
5:58 pm
Maybe you should protest by not watching football? Or any amateur athletics that do not have a college playoff system.
If UGA wins a title this year, you should be disappointed that they will not really have won a championship. It will be nothing more than an opinion poll…
Relax Dawg fans
February 10th, 2010
5:59 pm
Gator 17 – Why 1936
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 10th, 2010
6:00 pm
According to you, there aren’t any national champions in football.
I’m sure that Herschel, Buck and Lindsey will be disappointed that they really aren’t champions.
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:00 pm
I have not responded to you because I effectively dismissed your only relevant comment (17-3) as merely a slice of an overall record. You have not brought anything else of import to the table.
Otto
February 10th, 2010
6:02 pm
http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=1004 loads of idle teams moving around.
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:03 pm
If there really has to be a national champion at the top level of college football, then it probably should be Crazee Bob Rubin’s House of Bailouts, which sponsored this years BCS title game between Alabama and Texas, as you could tell by the fact that Brent Musberger said “Citi” every 29.6 seconds for nearly four hours.
SSIgator
February 10th, 2010
6:03 pm
I crown patrick “Official KoolAid Dispenser of 2010″ The line forms to the right. No pushing.
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:04 pm
name a team that jumped three spots over an idle team by merely winning 1 of its last 2 games. while the idle team is on a 7 game winning streak….I will wait. My pizza should be here before I hear from you.
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 10th, 2010
6:04 pm
Patrick’s answer at 6:03:
Well played….
Gators 17 Dawgs 3
February 10th, 2010
6:04 pm
Relax Dawg fans
Gator 17 – Why 1936
Since 1936 the Gators lead the series 35-34-1, which make just as much sense as Georgia leading the series 47-37-2 from 1904.
How’s that for facts bruuuuuuceman
Alphare
February 10th, 2010
6:07 pm
patrick,
Let me tell you how to be one of the 2 teams playing NC. When there are 2 or more undefeated teams, you want to be one of them and you win SECCG. Then you will be in NC. When there are no undefeated teams, you want to be one of the 1-loss team, and you beat one or two highly ranked teams with style.
Or, by the way, it’s better lose early than late.
You can go tell CMR about what I just said.
Will
February 10th, 2010
6:09 pm
Fact. UGA has ten starters returning on offense and two splendid, highly recruited QBs competing for the 11th starting position.
Fact. UGA a boatload of redshirts from top ten after top ten recruiting classes.
Fact. UGA has, according to Coach Richt, the best Defensive Coordinator that could be hired.
Fact. UGA has a much more favorable schedule than last year.
Fact. Two of UGA’s biggest rivals have be decimated by coaching changes (something that is blamed for UGA’s slip in recruiting but apparently having a defensive coordinator leave at UF did not have much of an effect on recruiting) and one has a head coach basket case and the other is a new head coach that has a losing record in college football minor league play.
Fact. Losing more than one, possibly two games this fall will be inexplicable.
Relax Dawg fans
February 10th, 2010
6:12 pm
Think people don’t realize the significance of Richt’s 90 in 9. This demonstrates being able to maintain a high level through adversity. BUT, two years like the last two and it won’t be 100 in 10. I’d like to see him get it and I think he has a great staff in place to fix what all of the experts I read on this blog were telling him to fix last year. UGA can compete with anyone and the sooner UGA players and fans quit listening to the naysayers, they never will.
Hopefully Grantham brings some controlled fire to our defense which will fire up the entire team. Always does.
SSIgator
February 10th, 2010
6:12 pm
Fact. Losing more than one, possibly two games this fall will be inexplicable.
So what do they say when they go 8-4 and return to the Outback Bowl. Oh, I know. “This sure beats the heck out of Shreveport.”
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:13 pm
Aphare…lfirst you said it was merely on wins…I discredited that with the comparisons to UGA and Fla in 2002 and 2006/8. Now you change and say tell Richt to go undefeated. Hmmm Bouncing around a bit arnt we?
You also say its better to lose early than late and yet an UGA team of 2007 lost its game early and then went on a 7 game winning streak while LSU lost not only its last regular season game but 2 while UGA was streaking.
Both ended up with identical records and UGA lost early and LSU lost late and LSU got in….
My my my. Is anything you say accurate?
Georgia Owns Florida 46 to 37
February 10th, 2010
6:13 pm
HMM, if UGA is so bad, why are Florida fans on this forum trying to turn people against UGA? Odd.
Particularly when you consider they have a losing record against Georgia.
Oh well, they must not like history.
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:15 pm
It appears alphare is a little lost
SSIgator
February 10th, 2010
6:16 pm
Georgia Owns Florida 46 to 37 -
No way. Patrick is the history record keeper. Like our CPA says, “Numbers are anything you want them to be.”
Relax Dawg fans
February 10th, 2010
6:17 pm
Gator 17 – it really doesn’t matter to me, but I would think one would have a reason to start the “record”. “All Time” or “Since joining the conference” or “since this head coach”. I just didn’t see a reason for 1936.
But since 1933 which is when both teams joined the SEC, the record is 38-37-1 in favor of UGA.
brucemac
February 10th, 2010
6:17 pm
Quite illogical in regard to any facts responding to my man Patrick. With that logic of fact, UGA won the last 2 minutes in 2008, therefore we are great. Pick a spot, any spot, good job for a Gator though.
Gators 17 Dawgs 3
February 10th, 2010
6:18 pm
Look dawg fans(not you Patrick) in the spirit of good sportsmanship I wanted to point out
that Dooley own the Gators from 1970-1989 (he was there all or most of the time), he was
15-5, the Gators are now 17-3 for 1990-2009, so over all its 22-18 in the Gators favor, but that make it the rivalry it has always been, both sides need to win.
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:19 pm
A post-season playoff leading up to the National Championship would replace the subjectivity of human and computer polls with the objective measure of winning or losing a game.
SSIgator
February 10th, 2010
6:19 pm
Relax Dawg fans -
Stay away from the facts. Your going to make patrick mad.
About Logan Gray
February 10th, 2010
6:20 pm
Good size, excellent speed, accurate good decision maker.
He was the #40 player in ESPN’s top 150 and ranked #12 QB on scout coming out of High School.
I like the fact he’s an accurate passer, and he puts pressure on the defense because if they drop people into coverage, he can really run. He’s a dual threat QB.
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:20 pm
The BCS rewards undefeated BCS teams, so schools sometimes try to schedule games against weaker opponents (i.e. Fla) to protect their records. A playoff would remove the easy schedule and make the championship solely about performance.
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:21 pm
Facts make me mad??? Thats all I post.
Alphare
February 10th, 2010
6:27 pm
patrick,
“Both ended up with identical records and UGA lost early and LSU lost late and LSU got in”.
LSU got in because LSU was considered so good and they lost game because of their bad luck, or lost to to an inferior team on a bad day.
Can you say the same thing about UGA during their SEC champ years? A lot of people were thinking UGA was lucky to win the SEC. That’s the difference, my friend.
By strong, be powerful, beat the team you have to beat, and beat with style. Luck will take you there.
Cherokee
February 10th, 2010
6:30 pm
Patrick there are 385 post on here and over half of them are yours. Dude do you go to school or have a job. FORGET the past you cannot change it, worry about 2010 season
Gators 17 Dawgs 3
February 10th, 2010
6:30 pm
I finally figured out why Florida is the dawgs head. All the players Georgia recruits have never seen the dawgs beat the Gators with any thing resembling consistency. These kids are 18-21 years old and Georgia is 4-17 in their entire lifetimes.
I'm Patrick the Retard
February 10th, 2010
6:32 pm
FACT: Georgia has not won a National Title in almost 30 years.
FACT: Mark Richt has never won a National Title @THUGA
FACT: Mark Richt did win those “two Fraud” SEC Titles with Jim Donnan team.
FACT: Mark Richt has not won a SEC Title with a team he Recuited.
FACT: Vandy, KY, TN ,Auburn, Colorado, Ga Tech and FLA will again beat THUGA.
FACT: In 20 years Georgia only has 3 wins over FLA.
FACT: Lane Kiffen did not lie. He did beat Georgia.
FACT: Georgia fans are nothing more than a bunch dumb redneck hicks.
FACT: Georgia Mutts are always over rated
FACT: Georgia ended the 2009 season not ranked
FACT: You send your kids to UGA, Your kids think you hate them.
FACT: CHOKE! THE OFFICAL DRINK OF THE GEORGIA BULLDAWGS
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:33 pm
ALPHARE…..LSU lost to a Kentucky team UGA beat in 2007.
UGA was ranked ahead of LSU until after the SEC title game so it appears that UGA was considered better than LSU.
Never has an idle team that has won 7 in a row (UGA) been jumped by a team that went 1-1 over its last two games. Especially 3 spots. Please give it up. you are looking more and more like the village idiot.
Again you are failing miserably
Gators 17 Dawgs 3
February 10th, 2010
6:34 pm
OK ok ok, I give, the dawgs own the Gators 47-37-2——-they just haven’t done
sh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!t in the past 20 years.
jbts30228
February 10th, 2010
6:34 pm
Their senior year of high school Scout.com has Samuel running a 40 time of 4.52 and Curran running it is 4.54
Relax Dawg fans
February 10th, 2010
6:34 pm
Gator 17 – I don’t need anyone to tell me what our record has been over the last 20 years to UF. I am well aware of it. But are you saying that makes UGA a bad program? How about those close games win or lose? So I guess if team a wins my a missed FG then team B is not good?
The Gators have been good, I think we all get that. But the Gators are always beatable, just ask Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, LSU, Mississippi, and yes even Georgia and South Carolina.
I'm Patrick the Retard twin brother
February 10th, 2010
6:39 pm
You know how to get Patrick off your door steps? pay him for the pizza.
Gators 17 Dawgs 3
February 10th, 2010
6:41 pm
patrick
You really have to get over it pal, no SEC team will ever
go to the Sugar Bowl or a BCSNC game ahead of the SEC champion–just deal with it.
I don’t care how many games GA won in a row at the end, they lost too many early.
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:41 pm
havent done shiit in last 20 years??
How about last 9?
Fact……….UGA has 2 SEC titles..same as Fla in last 9 years and equal amount of total wins over all.
.
Fact……….UGA has been ranked more times top ten in last 9 years than any SEC team.
.
Fact……….UGA 90 wins in 9 years no other SEC team has more.
.
Fact………..UGA has 2 SEC titles…same as Fla
.
Fact………..UGA has won 4 str8 bowls….more than any other SEC team.
.
Fact……..UGA has won 11 of last 13 bowls…more than any team tied with LSU and more than FLA
.
Fact…… UGA has won 8 or more games in last 13 years…more than any other team.
.
Fact…… UGA has been ranked more times in top ten than any SEC team over last 9 years.
.
Fact…….UGA is clearly as good or better than any SEC team over last 9 years. Only a fool or a fan of the mythical BCSNC selection process (non playoff) would think otherwise.
.
Fact…….UGA had same record when they won the SEC title in 2002 as Fla did in 2006/8 when they won the SEC title. But UGA had the misfortune (luck) to have that record in a year that had 2 other teams with undefeated records.
Hardly an indictment on UGA but rather on the NC selection process.
I'm Patrick the Retard twin brother
February 10th, 2010
6:42 pm
When did UGA win 7 in a row? was it women gym dawgs?
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:42 pm
17-3….hence the need for a playoff.
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:42 pm
clearly UGA was the better team in 2007
patrick
February 10th, 2010
6:43 pm
7 in a row? That was merely to close out the season….they then won 4 more in a row the next season. making it 11 in a row. Duh
Gators 17 Dawgs 3
February 10th, 2010
6:44 pm
“Never has an idle team that has won 7 in a row (UGA) been jumped by a team that went 1-1 over its last two games. Especially 3 spots. Please give it up. you are looking more and more like the village idiot.” by Patrick
Are you looking in the mirror Patrick, LSU just jumped over UGA again.
Dr. Demento
February 10th, 2010
6:44 pm
What it really come down to is that you have to beat the teams that count! Forget about records over the years, just who are you beating when it counts. You join a conference and you play these teams, some good and some not so good. Everyone has a cream-puff game early in the year, and a cream-puff for homecoming and yet another breather late in the year. So the only place to separate yourself from the rest of the field is in the big games. A team can loose a Big Game early in the season and drop down, but move back up as the season wears on because they’re beating teams that COUNT. You loose late in the season to a sub par team, or your biggest rival on national television, well kiss it good-bye.
Someone mentioned Penn State, who played as independents, thus playing schools that would agree to play them. They were willing to play anyone, however the conferences wouldn’t readily go out and schedule schools that they had a chance to loosing to. They had some great, great teams, however they just couldn’t get the backing they needed back then from the writers around the country. Ever been to Penn State?
Then there’s always Miami, who was also an independent school until the early 90’s and prior to Schnellenberger and them winning their first NC they were very attractive to schedule. But they had such a dramatic turn around that teams had to schedule them. They were also willing to go anywhere and play anybody, anytime. Then they joined the Big East and later the ACC to insure that they get a shot at a BCS bowl. Gee, how did that turn out for them. Seems to me it’s all about money.
Boise State, Utah, and I’m sure there are a few more who will go anywhere and play anybody, however no one will schedule them, So I guess they are the Penn State and Miami of the past. Side note is that ND is still an independent, however the TV money, exposure, and history that they generate/have makes them attractive to play. Plus the fact that they have sucked for quite awhile can’t hurt. LOL
So for UGA, or for that matter anytime big time program, need to stay focused for an entire season, especially the second half, because one slip up against an inferior foe with a close win, or a loss on national television will have you singing “Wait until next year!”
c'mon man
February 10th, 2010
6:45 pm
Patrick you are the man! You get’m Dawg!
Who let the DAWGS out…… Go DAWGS! 30-24
Gators 17 Dawgs 3
February 10th, 2010
6:46 pm
Patrick, you keep posting the same comments you have in your computer file———it’s getting really old. Do you have any orginal thiughts?
I'm Patrick the Retard twin brother
February 10th, 2010
6:48 pm
sorry folks.my family and I are really sorry for all those stupid posts Paterick makeing here..he is always rambling about nothing as always.
bama rick
February 10th, 2010
6:48 pm
hey not a smart man, we all know what BAMA is x 13= national champs
Relax Dawg fans
February 10th, 2010
6:48 pm
Gator 17 – I think are correct in your statement about kids not seeing UGA win. In fact, not until Richt, have they seen UGA really even be competitive.