A.J. Green on returning punts, Aaron Murray on offense’s ‘great week,’ Marlon Brown on his progress
(Updated 4:15 p.m.)
ATHENS –- A.J. Green, Georgia’s star wide receiver, wants to add a new role to his repertoire. He wants to return punts for the Bulldogs in the fall.
“I hope they give me a chance back there,” Green said after practice Saturday. “It’d be fun.”
The coaches gave him a chance as Georgia held its fourth session of spring practice -– its first in full pads and first in Sanford Stadium.
Green was among seven players who practiced returning punts, joining Branden Smith, Brandon Boykin, Washaun Ealey, Bacarri Rambo, Carlton Thomas and Rantavious Wooten. (Actually, the punts were simulated –- thrown rather than kicked — but that sufficed for practicing returns and coverage.)
Georgia’s punt-return job is open with the graduation of Prince Miller, who had 19 of the Dogs’ 23 returns last season.
Green, who will be a junior in the fall, returned punts at Summerville (S.C.) High School. In fact, he said Saturday, he returned 12 for touchdowns. And he seems serious about reprising the role here.
“I was talking to Coach [Mark] Richt just the other day about it,” he said.
Asked if he’d have concerns of injury in the role, Green said: “Nah. It’ll just add one little dimension to my game.”
Richt was not available for comment Saturday. He was meeting with a large delegation of high school juniors –- players the Dogs are recruiting for the 2011 signing class – after practice.
————————————
Wide receiver Marlon Brown sustained an apparently minor shoulder injury Saturday.
“Just a little bruise,” Brown said. “I fell on it wrong.”
He said it’s day-to-day as to when he returns to practice. Georgia next practices on Tuesday.
Brown, the much-hyped recruit who caught just two passes in limited playing time as a freshman last season, said he has a much better command of the playbook this spring than last season.
“Now I’m on full speed to my assignment,” he said.
Brown and fellow freshman receiver Wooten have improved “greatly,” quarterback Aaron Murray said.
“Both of them know the playbook almost inside and out,” Murray said. “They know where they need to be; they know where they’re going to line up, what routes [to run] and what as quarterback we’re looking for. . . They’re definitely doing a lot better.”
————————————-
Only the first 30 minutes of practice were open to the media, but players said the three quarterbacks –- Murray, Zach Mettenberger and Logan Gray –- rotated series with the No. 1 offense in 11-on-11 work.
“All three of them looked real good, especially Logan,” Green said. “You’re seeing a different side of him right now; he’s taking more a leadership [role].”
Murray said the offense “had a great week” of practice. “We’re installing things pretty fast,” he said. “We’re pretty much rapid-fire right now.”
————————————–
After the first three sessions of spring ball were held on the practice fields behind the Butts-Mehre building, players seemed excited by Saturday’s shift to Sanford Stadium.
“It’s a whole different feeling,” tight end Orson Charles said. “I was nervous before 3-on-3 [drills]. I mean, I’m in Sanford Stadium again. I know the last time we were in there we lost [to Kentucky], so we wanted to just scratch it out of our head. Practice was real good. We got after it. And we enjoyed ourselves.”
—————————————–
Richt said through a spokesman Saturday that he hasn’t yet reached a decision on how to discipline Mettenberger, including how many games the recently arrested quarterback will be suspended to start the season. Richt had said earlier that he would have a decision by the end of the week.
Mettenberger was arrested March 7 near Valdosta on five misdemeanor charges: underage consumption/possession of alcohol, disorderly conduct, obstruction and two counts of possessing false identification. UGA Athletic Association policy mandates a suspension of at least one game for an alcohol-related arrest, but Richt could impose more.
——————————–
– Trinton Sturdivant was on the field Saturday, although not participating in drills. He wass wearing a brace on his left knee. Sturdivant, still rehabbing from his second ACL surgery, worked with director of sports medicine Ron Courson on the sideline. Sturdivant is expected to be back for preseason camp in August.
– With the session the spring’s first in full pads, there were more players in green non-contact jerseys, signifying injury, than the previous practices. Among them: offensive linemen Justin Anderson (shoulder), Tanner Strickland (shoulder), Austin Long (back) and Sturdivant.
– Also watching practice: NFL-bound defensive tackle Jeff Owens. “The guys look very good,” Owens posted on Twitter. “I like the new defense!!!”
If you missed it: Dogs seeking taller cornerbacks; Grantham praises Rodney Garner.
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137 comments Add your comment
Hiram Dawg
March 20th, 2010
11:08 pm
I’d like to see Carlton Thomas win this job. We’re short on WR’s anyway.
Cliff Claven
March 20th, 2010
11:23 pm
First !!!
Casey
March 21st, 2010
12:03 am
This will be A.J. Green’s last year. Why not use him for everything we can? I would rather him get injured doing everything, than just playing receiver like last year. I hate that we wasted the eligibility of Knowshon and the fact that we have the best receiver in the county and won’t use his full potential. This is football, people get hurt. I would rather our team lose and try it’s hardest, than lose and ask what if. Let the man fan out and use his god given talents to show his wealth, and give us and the NFL a good luck at his full potential. Do it up A.J. and practice 100% and play at 120%.
Jeff
March 21st, 2010
2:31 am
I love the idea of our playmakers getting the ball more, but not A.J… I just worry about a potential for injury. We need him for 60 offensive snaps a game more than for 6 punt returns a game. I would like to see Smith, Boykin, Wooten and Rambo get 95 percent of the kick and punt returns.
I also like the optimistic approach in the offseason and spring ball so far… I think with the TON of freshmen and sophomores we played last year, plus some really solid recruits from the class of 2010 and 2011, I think Georgia will be steadily improving in 2010, 2011, 2012, etc. And I think coach Grantham should do wonders with these kids on defense… we’ve never lacked for 4-or-5-star talent, we just sometimes haven’t had the best coaching.
And finally, glad to see some Tech fans still love to come on UGA blogs! It shows you care, and that’s touching to me. If the ‘Dogs were not a threat, you’d ignore us… the fact you like to jaw with us means you know that the rivalry means something. By the way, good luck in the NCAA tourney… if your Jackets play like they have the last week or so, you’ll make a good run. Just tell Hewitt to have the guys playing like this in Dec., Jan. and Feb. and you’ll get better than a 10-seed in the future! Good luck, it’s been a crazy tourney so far… but I can’t wait for August and the return of football!!!
RED DOG 77
March 21st, 2010
2:34 am
AJ Green might decoy some at the punt return spot, but rest assure he will spend his time{ most of it} baffling SEC cornerbacks. I can see CMR pull a couple bigtime “trick” plays this fall, and AJ might just be your man for something fancy like that. Branden Boykin and Rontavious Wooten are natural punt returners and I think will return alot of punts, but don’t say I’m crazy when I say, if given the right circumstance, Richard Samuel might return a couple punts himself. Some might forget, when Richard was a freshman, he was the fastest guy on the team…………kid can fly ! If he can hold on to the dadgum football !……………Me? I’m really more concerned with using some quality blockers on punt returns, kids smart enough to set up the “wall” and also, figuring how to get to the other guys punter, and block a few more in 2010 than we got in ‘09. Really, to me thats much more important than who will return the tater, hell we got a half dozen guys that are tailor made for catching and running back punts.
RED DOG 77
March 21st, 2010
2:44 am
And Big Marlon Brown………….Marlon, Marlon, Marlon, Marlon, Dude needs to man-up, quit getting dinged-up, get out there on the grass and show us a big time WR in action !!! its time, and I think Big Marlon Brown will make us a proud bunch of BULLDOGS come the 2010 season, Yup, this year is Marlon’s break-out year ! GO DOGS !!!! GATA !!!!
UGASUXS:
March 21st, 2010
4:11 am
Dawg Rule
Georgia’s got little talent and is young so they had a much better year than Tech, who had a bunch of highly recruited talent and underachieved. Tech will not make the ncaas, but hewitt’s contract will roll over another year with millions more in raise money.
Is that so? don’t think so! Jackets are playing in March and your team is playing with themselves. THWG! JACKETS ROCK. Enjoy the tournament, coz your not in it. Also, great loss to GT in baseball and Kennesaw State. Are you serious? What a laugher!
UGASUXS:
March 21st, 2010
4:14 am
By the way, did you guys win in mens basketball today? I cannot seem to find the score anywhere……hmmmmmmmmmmmmm………….I thought for sure with being cellar dwellars in the SEC (Sorry Education Conference) and a SOS of 200 like your Math scores on the SAT, you would have been invited. My bad, it’s next year that you win it all. Go feed UGA VIII or whatever mutt your on, and enjoy watching a real team play in the real tournament. Even if GT loses, we accomplished much more than your crappy sports teams. TWWG!
Willie:
March 21st, 2010
4:25 am
I want my job back. can I please have my job back. Last year we did so well, I think I deserve a second chance. I mean we have not beaten the almighty Gators in the last 10o years and I think we have lost like 19 of 21. Well, make it 20 of 22, as UF OWNS YOUR TEAM. GO GATORS! WOOF WOOF SICKEM MEOW
Jen
March 21st, 2010
5:09 am
NESBITT FOR HEISMAN,…………ummmmm WR’s
aren’t usually Heisman candidates, but whatever.
I say good for AJ!….let him return kicks…..worked pretty good for Reggie Bush @ USC.
There is less risk of injury during a return than getting tackeled after a catch……AJ will be fine.
Mark Wrong
March 21st, 2010
7:34 am
Enjoy Aj’s last year. He really doesn’t have the body ro return punts. Just cause he has great hands does not mean he can get the ball upfield on punts.
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
7:37 am
2010 Final BCS rankings In football that the dog nation still won’t acknowledge:
Tech = 13
Uga = 33
Top 25 BCS Rankings 2010
1. Alabama 14-0
2. Texas 13-1
3. Florida 13-1
4. Boise St. 14-0
5. Ohio St. 11-2
6. TCU 12-1
7. Iowa 11-2
8. Cincinnati 12-1
9. Penn St. 11-2
10. Virginia Tech 10-3
11. Oregon 10-3
12. BYU 11-2
13. Georgia Tech 11-3
14. Nebraska 10-4
15. Pittsburgh 10-3
16. Wisconsin 10-3
17. LSU 9-4
18. Utah 10-3
19. Miami 9-4
20. Mississippi 9-4
21. Texas Tech 9-4
22. Southern Cal 9-4
23. Cent. Michigan 12-2
24. Clemson 9-5
25. West Virginia 9-4
26. Oklahoma 90 (votes)
27. Oregon St. 89 (votes)
28. Navy 85 (votes)
29. Stanford 67 (votes)
30. Oklahoma St. 40 (votes)
31. Rutgers 37 (votes)
32. Auburn 8 (votes)
33. Georgia 7 (votes)
34. Florida St. 6 (votes)
35. Arizona 5 (votes)
36. Connecticut 5 (votes)
37. Middle Tennessee 4 (votes)
38. Arkansas 3 (votes)
39. Villanova 2 (votes)
(((((((((((((((((((( 13-33 )))))))))))))))))))) hahahahahahahahaha
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
7:54 am
Speaking of NATIONAL rankings in all major Men’s sports…..
2010 FOOTBALL (final)
1. Alabama 14-0
2. Texas 13-1
3. Florida 13-1
4. Boise St. 14-0
5. Ohio St. 11-2
6. TCU 12-1
7. Iowa 11-2
8. Cincinnati 12-1
9. Penn St. 11-2
10. Virginia Tech 10-3
11. Oregon 10-3
12. BYU 11-2
13. Georgia Tech 11-3
14. Nebraska 10-4
15. Pittsburgh 10-3
16. Wisconsin 10-3
17. LSU 9-4
18. Utah 10-3
19. Miami 9-4
20. Mississippi 9-4
21. Texas Tech 9-4
22. Southern Cal 9-4
23. Cent. Michigan 12-2
24. Clemson 9-5
25. West Virginia 9-4
26. Oklahoma 90 (votes)
27. Oregon St. 89 (votes)
28. Navy 85 (votes)
29. Stanford 67 (votes)
30. Oklahoma St. 40 (votes)
31. Rutgers 37 (votes)
32. Auburn 8 (votes)
33. Georgia 7 (votes)
34. Florida St. 6 (votes)
35. Arizona 5 (votes)
36. Connecticut 5 (votes)
37. Middle Tennessee 4 (votes)
38. Arkansas 3 (votes)
39. Villanova 2 (votes)
BASKETBALL (current)
Tech = Sweet 16
Uga = Sweet 116 (tie)
BASEBALL (current)
1. Virginia
2. Texas
3. Georgia Tech
4. Texas Christian
5. Florida State
6. Florida
7. Louisiana State
8. Coastal Carolina
9. Louisville
10. Arizona State
11. Clemson
12. UCLA
13. Arkansas
14. Rice
15. UC Irvine
16. South Carolina
17. Miami
18. Oregon State
19. Vanderbilt
20. East Carolina
21. Mississippi
22. Kentucky
23. Stanford
24. North Carolina
25. Oklahoma
TELL ME AGAIN WHO’S irrelevant.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahhahahahahahah
tdog
March 21st, 2010
8:33 am
This might be a good thing. AJ could help us get to six wins by doing some extra work. Let a few of them play both ways.
BobDog
March 21st, 2010
8:35 am
Breaking news: In addition to recruiting big cornerbacks, the only running backs the Dogs will recruit in the future will have sub 4.2 speed, weigh 220 lbs. +, and be from Wrightsville.
» SEC links: Tennessee’s bench takes Vols to next round John Clay’s Sidelines
March 21st, 2010
8:36 am
[...] The AJC reports that Georgia’s A.J. Green wants to return punts. [...]
DD
March 21st, 2010
8:45 am
Hey yellow Fuzz(nuts) 30-24, 8 out of the last 9 – 20 game lead in the series. Go crawl back into your hole. Tech will be back to winning 6-7 games next year and losing to UGA 8 out of 10 tens. It’s a given.
HBTD1
March 21st, 2010
8:57 am
Who is irrelevant? That would be YOU, Yellow Fuzz! You are a big pudding pants who wussed out by not showing up to your tailgate by the baseball field last year that you were talking all big on here. You blog, duck and hide by writing your junk all over UGA’s blog, but when it comes time to put your money where you big mouth is, you run like and scream like a little school girl. It is now proven that you are all blog and ZERO action. You are a weak, weak little boy. I bet you were the kid with the big mouth who always got pummeled in school. Heck! You probably still do?
SEC links: Tennessee’s bench takes Vols to next round « MrSEC.com
March 21st, 2010
9:20 am
[...] The AJC reports that Georgia’s A.J. Green wants to return punts. [...]
AltamahaDawg
March 21st, 2010
9:23 am
Note to ACC, “touch football” is a good game plan against gatech.
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
9:41 am
SROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Speaking of NATIONAL rankings in all major Men’s sports…..
2010 FOOTBALL (final)
1. Alabama 14-0
2. Texas 13-1
3. Florida 13-1
4. Boise St. 14-0
5. Ohio St. 11-2
6. TCU 12-1
7. Iowa 11-2
8. Cincinnati 12-1
9. Penn St. 11-2
10. Virginia Tech 10-3
11. Oregon 10-3
12. BYU 11-2
13. Georgia Tech 11-3
14. Nebraska 10-4
15. Pittsburgh 10-3
16. Wisconsin 10-3
17. LSU 9-4
18. Utah 10-3
19. Miami 9-4
20. Mississippi 9-4
21. Texas Tech 9-4
22. Southern Cal 9-4
23. Cent. Michigan 12-2
24. Clemson 9-5
25. West Virginia 9-4
26. Oklahoma 90 (votes)
27. Oregon St. 89 (votes)
28. Navy 85 (votes)
29. Stanford 67 (votes)
30. Oklahoma St. 40 (votes)
31. Rutgers 37 (votes)
32. Auburn 8 (votes)
33. Georgia 7 (votes)
34. Florida St. 6 (votes)
35. Arizona 5 (votes)
36. Connecticut 5 (votes)
37. Middle Tennessee 4 (votes)
38. Arkansas 3 (votes)
39. Villanova 2 (votes)
BASKETBALL (current)
Tech = Sweet 16
Uga = Sweet 116 (tie)
BASEBALL (current)
1. Virginia
2. Texas
3. Georgia Tech
4. Texas Christian
5. Florida State
6. Florida
7. Louisiana State
8. Coastal Carolina
9. Louisville
10. Arizona State
11. Clemson
12. UCLA
13. Arkansas
14. Rice
15. UC Irvine
16. South Carolina
17. Miami
18. Oregon State
19. Vanderbilt
20. East Carolina
21. Mississippi
22. Kentucky
23. Stanford
24. North Carolina
25. Oklahoma
TELL ME AGAIN WHO’S irrelevant.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahhahahahahahah
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
9:55 am
BOOGIE,
hahahaha.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
March 21st, 2010
9:56 am
QUIT BOO- HOOING AND GET A LIFE……………
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
9:58 am
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
March 21st, 2010
9:57 am
15 MINUTES AND NOT A WORD………… MUST BE GONE TO GET MOMMIE………..
hahahahahahaha
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
March 21st, 2010
9:59 am
TOOK ME 15 MINUTES TO THINK OF RESPONSE. SO INTELLIGENT …
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
9:59 am
Hey BOOGIE MAN,
when does YOUR basketball team play again?
ahahahahahahahaha
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
10:00 am
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
March 21st, 2010
9:59 am
TOOK ME 15 MINUTES TO THINK OF RESPONSE. SO INTELLIGENT …
suprised it didn’t take longer
hahahahahahahaha
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
March 21st, 2010
10:03 am
DID WE PLAY YOUR bb TEAM THIS YEAR?? KICKED THAT AZZ TOO………….
LAST WORD, THINK ABOUT IT.
YOU REMEMBER THAT SCORE, MR. STAT????
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
10:05 am
BOOGIE
I remember we are still in the NCAA tournament and you are not even in the NIT. Maybe you guys need to gear up for more than just 1 game a year. ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahha.
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
10:07 am
BOOGIE
How’s that face?
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
10:09 am
When does your baseball team play Kennesaw State again?
(((((((((((((((((((( 11-1 ))))))))))))))))))))
Maybe you otta blog with them
http://www.ksuownsugatoo.com
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
10:10 am
BOOGIE
You still there?
Paddy
March 21st, 2010
10:12 am
In certian situations where the opposition is pinned deep in their own territory, AJ would be a great choice to return a punt and break it open for a big gain or td.
Snoopdawg09
March 21st, 2010
10:13 am
Looks like Fuzz met his match.
Jim
March 21st, 2010
10:13 am
BOOGIE FEVER, I THINK IT’S GOIN AROUND
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
10:14 am
Snoopdawg09
March 21st, 2010
10:13 am
Looks like Fuzz met his match.
YEAH MAN
Augusta
March 21st, 2010
10:16 am
Snoopdawg09
March 21st, 2010
10:13 am
Looks like Fuzz met his match.
lol. That’s not the way I read it at all.
Fraud Alert !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2010
10:18 am
I was Yellow Fuzz, now I am Augusta
Fraud Alert !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2010
10:25 am
I was THE BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL, now I am Snoopdawg09
Fraud Alert !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2010
10:27 am
I was Fraud Alert !!!!!, now I am just a geeky nark
Louie is THE biggest FRAUD of ALL
March 21st, 2010
10:35 am
Yo Louie, how was the Atlanta Eagle last night, catcher boy?
Yellow Fuzz
March 21st, 2010
10:37 am
HBTD1
Nah. You win. You guys are taking this too far. Somebody could get hurt and I wouldn’t want that.
HBTD1
March 21st, 2010
11:41 am
Look Yellow Fuzz…..all in good fun, but quit talking SOOO much smack on the UGA blogs. Some of your stuff is pretty funny, but other times you go off the deep end, bro’. Peace!
Anyway, good luck today against the Buckeyes!
2BT
March 21st, 2010
11:47 am
You’re overdue for another arrest. It’s almost been a month.
Who is irrelevant ? Answer here
March 21st, 2010
11:58 am
Over the last 10 years UGA is #6 in WINNING football games. The UGA brand is TOPS in $$$ revenue for products and the Sanford Stadium attendance is in the top 5 or 6. IF YOUR TEAM, um, ah, like Tech or Alabama ( congrats on the 2010 NC ) and UT and Clemson, UCLA, Oregon St. or Ole Miss or Ok State or North Carolina or FSU is not listed ……………then you are irrelevant. Alabama IS the current NCAA NC so they are #1 in my book but they have been irrelevant …………that IS WHY they hired Nick, the Hat Trick.
Stop with the listings that show only this year. UGA had a losuy 09 and I am a UGA grad …..twice. If you have do that, then I may have to list every school to prove my point. Your numbers are as dumb as Obama’s HC lies.
Go Dooooooooooooooooooooogs.
BigMike Said...
March 21st, 2010
1:01 pm
Hands Down this job shold be Boykins to lose, He single handedly kept us in two games last year! Gray looking serious, Murray all around true player, and Mettenberger with that Missle of an arm. Fellows get ready through. if the kid from NC signs in 2011 ooooh what a rush by 2012!
Red shirt...
March 21st, 2010
1:19 pm
Amazing that they didn’t red shirt Brown, especially when he didn’t know the playbook…wasted year?
mussturd fuzz
March 21st, 2010
1:25 pm
gt katchup
Nick
March 21st, 2010
1:35 pm
Why’s everybody flipping out about AJ returning punts? Seriously, how many injuries have you seen at that position anyway? The line of scrimmage is much more injury prone.
I say put him in there!
uga bill
March 21st, 2010
1:45 pm
i wish it was game day !!!!!!!!!