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
quaildawg
March 20th, 2010
12:24 pm
First
quaildawg
March 20th, 2010
12:25 pm
Having said that I feel so gay!
trojan94
March 20th, 2010
12:34 pm
You should feel that way!
Buckhead Bulldog
March 20th, 2010
12:48 pm
Nice coverage Tim….do you live close to or in A-town? You are on it, bro’, and we LOVE it! Thanks for the updates!!!!
Paul Johnson
March 20th, 2010
12:52 pm
Why are you not covering me. I won the ACC. Please pay attention to us.
quaildawg
March 20th, 2010
12:56 pm
CTG ” we are going to put guys out there who are physical and hustle. If we do that WE ARE GOING TO BEAT YOU” Damn I love this guys sound bites and attitude!!! GATA
unweaned lil pup
March 20th, 2010
1:00 pm
Please tell me they wouldn’t truly risk AJ fielding punts.
11Dawg
March 20th, 2010
1:00 pm
AJ Green returning punts? Why don’t we just have him at Safety and play every snap of the game?
chazzo
March 20th, 2010
1:03 pm
hallelujah!!!!!!! to a taller backfield. Now for 220 plus tailbacks….
Hey, thanks for the insight. This is reporting. Much more pertinent than the glove thing.
mike on lake hartwell
March 20th, 2010
1:15 pm
sounds good so far. GO DAWGS!
btw, happy 40th to SALITA!
PJ
March 20th, 2010
1:23 pm
Unless Logan makes the switch, I’d disagree with any WR returning punts.
jughead brown
March 20th, 2010
1:24 pm
good to see Coach Richt using playmakers for special teams.
Green, Smith, Wooten, and Ealey are all Parade All-Americans. These 4, along with Boykin, are big-time playmakers. Boykin had some huge kick-off returns for td’s in 2009.
Green, Boykin, Wooten and Ealey are excellent at ball protection.
Smith’s speed is blinding, #1 ranked athlete out of high school, just needs to learn to hold on to the ball–tends to focus on speed instead of ball protection. This could be a breakout year for Branden, he could play a Percy Harvin role. He just needs to stop fumbling the ball. He’s extremely productive when he touches the ball.
Berzerk8dawg
March 20th, 2010
1:27 pm
Nice I think CMR spending more time on special teams and offense instead of having to worry about defense as much will help out alot. We have the best kickers in the nation so that is already in place. I think rotating return men might be good too (as long as they dont fumble) but boykin and smith should will probobly be the returners this year. I like how they are letting alot of guys practice returning though. AJ too (but i get scared watching him return alot more than Logan)
idiot
March 20th, 2010
1:57 pm
15th. My mommy must be so proud of me !!
jacket bracket
March 20th, 2010
2:00 pm
Jackets are the ACC CHAMPIONS, Baby, and we are going to win the NCAA’s two. Meanwhile, you doggies are playing touch football and getting ready to get your tails kicked in by the yellow & black attack again this year!!! Go Jackets!
Paul Johnson
March 20th, 2010
2:11 pm
Jacket bracket is not a tech fan. Two means 2 and no tech fan would be so ignorant. I hate the Dawgs, they beat me when I am great and they are bad even on my home field.
daino
March 20th, 2010
2:59 pm
Hellllll Nooooo! He couldn’t even stay healthy at receiver last year!
PTC DAWG
March 20th, 2010
2:59 pm
NIce to see the GT fans care…good luck vs Ohio State…..
daino
March 20th, 2010
3:07 pm
I think that Carlton Thomas should end up returning punts or kicks. He’s suppose to be so good when he has the space, and he seems to be wowing everybody in practice. It’s just wasting his talent by sitting him on the bench. He seemed to use the most out of his very limited caries last year.
crazy dawg
March 20th, 2010
3:36 pm
I have no doubt that A J Green would do a great job as a punt returner,but is it worth the risk? Why not use get more use out of Carlton Thomas he is elusive in the open field and to good of a player not to be used more. I would also like to move him to a slot receiver and give the receiving corps a little more depth and a possible big play maker.
goatD
March 20th, 2010
3:41 pm
Dawgs are great! We’ll get a BCS bowl bid AND an NCAA tournament invite next year. You just wait and see………….
LOWNDES COUNTY
March 20th, 2010
3:43 pm
SAVE THE CONFEDERATE FLAG AND PUT THEM GAYTORS IN THE DIRT. AJ JUST STAY HEALTHY!!!!!!!!!!!!
oledawg
March 20th, 2010
3:46 pm
I would imagine that if Green did punt returns we would have full analysis of other team’s punting capabilities. If they are pooch kickers and can drop the ball on or inside the 10 effectively he probably won’t be there. If we have them pinned inside their 20, then let’s watch AJ run along with a few others. He’s good at cutting and dodging and has great speed. If he wants to then I think he should get some shots. For you worry warts just remember that he blocked a kick on defense last year and has appeared briefly in other spots. No one wants a player going down while playing another position, but who’s to say when anything disastrous can happen? Remember, you can always cut down on injury possibilities by playing him half the time. Yeah. Now is the worry picture in proper focus for you? Hope so. Hope none of that low playing time idea gets into any player’s head. He’d be saving himself for the Pros instead of doing everything he can to win one for the team.
Remember, you can’t spell jteam without AJ.
dawgfan
March 20th, 2010
4:01 pm
Oh good lord. AJ Green is not going to return punts. Knowshon was supposed to return punts in ‘08 too. How long did that last, a week maybe? Get real people. Its spring practice. They are just experimenting. We have too many capable guys to get the job done to have our most talented player out there risking life and limb. He won’t return a single punt in a live game.
Green doesn’t seem like a prototypical punt retuner to me. He’s too tall and lanky. Punt returners are small, quick, and agile. Its more about elusiveness than pure speed.
God I hate the off season. This is the kind of crap that people talk about in the off season. What a waste of time. Bring on the games.
You all are welcome by the way.
Tal E. Bahn
March 20th, 2010
4:09 pm
The reason AJ couldn’t stay healthy last year is because he had to make circus catches every time the ball was thrown to him. Had the ball been thrown accurately he would have hauled the majority of them in for long gains and/or TD’s…just sayin
Stinger
March 20th, 2010
4:21 pm
Richt to announce decision on Mett sometime around Dec. 2014. Coach Richt has worked hard to improve his image of being a non disciplinarian.
Stinger
March 20th, 2010
4:24 pm
It really doesn’t matter if Green returns punts or not. I doubt seriously that we will have to punt against you this fall.
G
March 20th, 2010
4:38 pm
No way horrible idea
AJ for Hesiman
March 20th, 2010
4:38 pm
Desmond Howard won the Heisman by scoring 138 points in one season.
Tim Brown won it by gaining 2000 all-purpose yards.
So if AJ wants to finish big and get drafted high in the NFL, he needs to put up some big points or yards, or both.
He’ll also need to pay closer attention to his body, and learn how to take a hit properly, and how to fall properly. Off-season conditioning will help a lot there. AJ has the ability, but does he have the BELIEF?
Frank Lane
March 20th, 2010
4:40 pm
Every punt return should be threat. Need to get 4-5 breakaway threats and use on each punt the one who is most fresh.
AJ for Hesiman
March 20th, 2010
4:45 pm
Teams will start to punt away if Green returns a few for td’s. I’d put him in for the South Carolina game. But that gives Georgia great field position. Load the field with the playmakers on special teams.
It’s be cool if aj:
1- Blocked 2 kicks
2- Returned 3 punts for td’s
3- Scored 15 td’s receiving
The guy returned 12 punts for td’s in high school, he’s a natural punt returner.
2010 Looking Good for UGA
March 20th, 2010
5:01 pm
As Ealey and the O-Line gets loose in the running game, teams will bring extra guys into the box to try and stop the run. Then we hit AJ Green deep. Then we go back to pounding with Ealey. If they double Green, we hit Wooten or throw to our TE’s. If they pack guys inside to stop Ealey, we run Smith or Green or Wooten to the outside. Green plays his best the bigger the game–like the LSU game last year. He’s also impossible to cover in the red zone with his vertical and height. Georgia’s going to be impossible to stop in 2010.
poopdawg
March 20th, 2010
5:16 pm
AJ just wants to help this team win anyway he can , not a selfish bone in his body. But Carlton Thomas should get the 1st look . DBS sure like to get their hands on the ball anyway they can but the fatigue factor plays a negative role for them late in the game. Maybe this year UGA will make sure the other team punts before they start the punt return blocking. I understand the time factor but how does throwing the dang ball simulate a punt?
michael thomas
March 20th, 2010
5:29 pm
You guys with the first thing need to grow up and get a dam JOB.Way to go DAWGS , looks like another good practice.
Gator Special Teams
March 20th, 2010
5:41 pm
Please let him return punts this season!!
GoDOGS1
March 20th, 2010
5:56 pm
Who care about the Gators….soooo last decade!
jack
March 20th, 2010
6:23 pm
What QB race? Murray’s the man. Call him greeney with better legs! Good to here about wooten and brown. Both are gonna come on strong this year. Lets keep the o-line healthy and we’ll have the best offense in the conference.
CatsFly
March 20th, 2010
6:46 pm
While not making the NCAA tournament, UNC bb still holds on to most valuable bb program in NCAA, up 12% over last year. Heels are only true national bb team.
Birrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd Man
March 20th, 2010
6:47 pm
No! No! No! Do not let A. J. return punts.
Dawg On It
March 20th, 2010
7:24 pm
97th
Delbert D.
March 20th, 2010
8:23 pm
Not a good idea. Green is great running away from guys, not at them. Somebody might break him in half.
G
March 20th, 2010
9:16 pm
He is way to valuable of a reciever and has been injured most of his time in Athens to put back there. He’s put up monster numbers while injured let’s see if we can enjoy Aj for the whole year! Would love to see C Thomas be a return specialist as well as change of pace back.
G
March 20th, 2010
9:17 pm
T King and Woot could get the job done as well
Tdawg
March 20th, 2010
9:20 pm
What daino said, but stating a little more vehemently. Hellllllll Noooooo. No, Nada, Um Um, not gonna happen,don’t want to hear it. Did I say No? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Leadership?
March 20th, 2010
9:25 pm
Come on AJ focus on getting stronger and being the best wr in the country , not punts.
The Real SugarHillDawg
March 20th, 2010
9:49 pm
Murray has to grow up QUICK!He has to be able to it passes when there is 8 in the box.
sandiego
March 20th, 2010
10:03 pm
what’s the deal w/ Dontavious Jackson? He looked good in open space and then they shut him down
Top Dawg
March 20th, 2010
10:07 pm
Stinger correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t y’all just get beat in your joke of a stadium by the Dawgs WITHOUT A.J. Green on the field catching passes, blocking kicks, OR returning punts. So if I were you I wouldn’t be so concerned with Georgia’s recieveing cops, I’d be worried about how I can find a number one reciever that won’t drop the ball with on 4th down. GO DAWGS!!!!
Gators!
March 20th, 2010
10:22 pm
GoDOGS1…I think you meant to say soooo last TWO decades. But don’t worry…no matter how old or passe it seems to get…we’ll always be your Daddy!!
Notes: Dogs seek taller cornerbacks; Grantham praises Garner; full pads Saturday | UGA sports blog
March 20th, 2010
11:01 pm
[...] (UPDATE: For a report on Saturday’s practice, please click here.) [...]
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 !!!!!!!!!
Big Dawgs Eat!
March 21st, 2010
1:48 pm
green is a elite athlete, looking forward to seeing him at full speed and CMR using him in different ways as well. with the new defense in place, it should be more of a challenge for green, which will only make him better.
30-24 Dawgs - WE RUN THIS STATE!
March 21st, 2010
2:24 pm
Auburn used to have Cadillac Williams & Ronnie Brown as there return guys, totally like that strategy of putting your best athletes out there. Yeah they might get injured in that tole but then again they may also get injured in a scooter accident!
Ban Blog Time Wasters
March 21st, 2010
3:05 pm
Tim-
Please ban blog time wasters, we call them “trolls”, who post meaningless stuff. Ban them for life and your blog will get better dialogue and higher readership.
Here are two on here to ban for life:
1) Yellow Fuzz
2) Boogies the Man
Back to Relevancy:
AJ returned 12 punts for td’s in high school. He’s the most TESTED punt returner on UGA.
Tide Rising
March 21st, 2010
5:27 pm
You guys should absolutely use AJ Green for punt returns. We’ve been using Julio Jones for 2 years on both punt returns and kickoff returns. We used him on punt returns when Arenas was injured and on kickoff returns we got tired of people not kicking to Arenas so we put Julio back there too. The thinking was that one of 2 talented players will get their hands on the ball. Julio never got hurt and come to think of it I can’t remember the last time I saw a punt or kickoff returner get hurt returning the kick. If you only have Green one more year since he is likely to go pro after this year you should maximize his talent. Green probably got the idea from watching Julio return kicks and said ” I can do that too”. No reason why he shouldn’t.
DAWGS
March 21st, 2010
6:00 pm
gayturs we are your grand daddy.check the overall record.
goose is loose
March 21st, 2010
8:56 pm
Good to hear from Murray that Brown and Wooten are both MUCH IMPROVED.
If Wooten is MUCH IMPROVED, that’s scary. Wooten averaged over 18 ypc last year.
Would love to see Marlon reach his potential, he has the ability and the speed and the size. But don’t know if he’ll ever believe in himself enough to become great.
goose is loose
March 21st, 2010
9:00 pm
Surprised AJ Green said Logan is kind of standing out so far in the 3 QB race. Green said he’s seeing a whole new side to Logan.
No wonder Richt got so upset with Bill King’s blog and anti-Logan posts.
If Logan’s looking better than Murray and Mett in practice, as AJ was hinting, it explains why Richt went off a bit on Bill King.
STEINER
March 21st, 2010
9:35 pm
Stinger and Yellow Fuzz:
Thought you 2 had died after the Big Georgia win on November 28 at the Joke by Coke….Fuzz, don’t go to the trouble of putting all of those teams down by number, the only two teams that matter played on November 28 and you came up short because your master playcaller, aka punchem in the nose, got away from the triple option and chunked it to ole BAYBAY…Took you guys 4 months to get over that game, with the defense I saw Saturday, you would be lucky if the QB gets 41 yards and the fullback gets 36, as was the case last year….Ole Wiley Willie Martinez outcoaches Pugnacious Paul down the stretch, and although I know with all jokes you made about Willie that is hard to accept, Accept it you must….One of my best days as a Bulldog forever, beating a Tech team with 4 possible 1st or 2nd rounders after they were a shoo in to win…Tech folks talked in terms of a blowout….History should have taught you better, we still running this state….
STEINER
March 21st, 2010
9:39 pm
Yellow Fuzz:
Our basketball team is playing at the same place yours it, sent home with an Ohio State a$$ whipping…Bark wanted to write a nice piece on them, now he’ll go after the coach…But I do remember that our 1st year Coach Fox laid one on your A$$ this year, and when you look at the two teams, how could that be???? As Wiley Willie took it to Pugnacious Paul, so did Coach Fox take it to Coach Hewitt….
Reality Check
March 21st, 2010
11:56 pm
Every single UGA or GT article is loaded with comments from both fan bases arguing.
It’s like watching two retards battle it out on Jeopardy.
takedowndawg
March 22nd, 2010
8:23 am
reality check, if your assessment is accurate, why would an astute and brilliant individual like yourself visit this blog daily! Course, some adults do like professional wrestling too. Maybe you are one of those?
GADawgFan
March 22nd, 2010
9:27 am
I wish Marlon Brown would go back to Tennessee. He has been the biggest waste of a scholarship that I can remember in recent years!
Clemfan
March 22nd, 2010
9:43 am
Teams will start to punt away if Green returns a few for td’s. I’d put him in for the South Carolina game. But that gives Georgia great field position. Load the field with the playmakers on special teams.
It’s be cool if aj:
1- Blocked 2 kicks
2- Returned 3 punts for td’s
3- Scored 15 td’s receiving
Than he would be CJ Spiller
Rico Suave
March 22nd, 2010
10:16 am
What’s up with all of the green jerseys? If injuries are another big story this year, Richt should take a good look at the team’s conditioning.
Do other teams suffer from injuries the way we do?
North Campus lawn lizard
March 22nd, 2010
10:29 am
WE TRASH THIS STATE
goose is loose
March 22nd, 2010
10:40 am
With Troupe, Wooten, and King all averaging around 20 yards a catch, and Marlon averaging just 8, Brown is at a big disadvantage because Troupe, Wooten, and King are all game-tested. But with Murray saying Brown is MUCH IMPROVED, maybe that means he’s putting up 15+ ypc numbers, if so, that’s scary with Brown’s size and speed.
Love the comment that Wooten is much improved. Wooten averaged around 20 yards a catch. If he’s much improved, AJ Green will likely start off getting the double teams so Wooten will get a lot of 1-on-1 coverage against the worse DB, so if Wooten plays big, it opens things up for Green, Olson, White, and Ealey.
Then you have our 2 TE’s, Olson and White, who both averaged over 15+ ypc.
Hopefully, 2010 will FINALLY be the year when Bobo moves to a merit-based approach to playing that has nothing to do with:
1) how high you were ranked in high school
2) how many years you’ve been in the UGA program
3) age
4) height/weight
It’s all about PERFORMANCE.
AltamahaDawg
March 22nd, 2010
10:40 am
Actually, if Logan Gray is actually starting to look more like a valuable QB, then wouldn’t Bill’s point be MORE understandable? I would say if anything he was being pro-Logan (as QB) in that blog. I disagree with Bill about using him in the punt safe mode, but don’t understand your point there.
crazy dawg
March 22nd, 2010
10:41 am
Leadership! That was same line they used last year about Joe Coxs wasnt it? How about talent and the ability to win football games thats what a Quarterback needs to have, if he can win games he will become a leader. Lets get the Qb with the most talent and game changing abilities under center this year. I dont want to hear how much of a leader he is just win baby. Go dawgs
AltamahaDawg
March 22nd, 2010
10:42 am
goose, who has ever played that wasn’t merit based?
Headlinin’: Bus scuffle puts ‘loud and obnoxious’ Pack lineman on ice | Florida Sports Net
March 22nd, 2010
10:45 am
[...] … Georgia’s star receiver, A.J. Green, wants to give punt returns a shot, even after missing almost all of last November with a shoulder injury. … LSU running back [...]
JackDawg1
March 22nd, 2010
10:51 am
I don’t want to hear anything out of LOWNDES COUNTY until you all can get ONE RECRUIT to stay home and go to UGA. Shut up and handle your kids down there. YOU LIVE IN GEORGIA!
I-DOG
March 22nd, 2010
10:55 am
Are we doing anything special to address turnovers and penalties? Being among the worst college football programs in the nation in these two important categories certainly hurt us the last couple of years. I’m skeptical we can move forward without addressing these two areas in a big way.
matt
March 22nd, 2010
10:56 am
Personally i would not like to see AJ returning punts. If he gets hurt our offense suffers greatly. Stick someone like Carlton Thomas back there.
goose is loose
March 22nd, 2010
10:57 am
Moreno, Ealey, both wern’t allowed to play early because of their age, although both impressed in practice. Ealey has been the most productive back, but still gets rotated with King because King’s older and been been on the team more years, although King fumbles like crazy. Joe T & Joe C were made QB starters because of loyalty to the program. Joe Cox kept starting, although he threw 17 int’s. Stafford was MUCH better than Joe T, and Logan AND Murray both out-performed Cox in the Spring game. Ealey was benched for several games early due to his age, although he is clearly the best back on the team, top 3 in the SEC. Bobo seems to see more potential in Marlon more than Wooten because of Marlon’ height/weight/high ranking coming out of high school, yet Wooten proved it on the field last season at 20 ypc he’s a performer/play=maker, even though he’s smaller/lower ranked in high school. The super high ranked guys sometimes don’t amount to anything because they feel entitled, the lower ranked guys have something to prove.
goose is loose
March 22nd, 2010
11:01 am
If you go back and look at Bill King’s recent articles, he’s been lobbying against Logan, and has said he doesn’t think Logan should start, and that Richt should gfo ahead and decide on Murray or Mett.
When key players like Green, are saying Logan is standing out on the field, and with his leadership skills, you can see why Richt went off on King for bashing the guy that performing the best in the Spring so far.
We want the best guy as the QB, not the most hyped.
AltamahaDawg
March 22nd, 2010
11:08 am
Wasn’t Olson a freshman getting major PT last year? Wasn’t that based on performance, certainly not age or yrs in the program. He can’t help it that he was highly ranked in high school. Good reason he was I would say. Conversely wasn’t M. Brown the highest ranked WR out of HS? Did he play less because of that, or performance? Didn’t we have older RB, OL, DL, that all gave way to younger players?
If you rule out: 1. Raw talent, 2. Experience and training. 3. Mental and physical maturity, 4. Physical attributes……… you’re not leaving the guy a whole lot to go with.
AltamahaDawg
March 22nd, 2010
11:15 am
Ok. I don’t know what Bill thinks of Logan as a QB. I can tell you I have never heard him buying into hype. Bill might or might not think Murray is the guy, BUT the point Richt took exception to was about Bill’s critisism of Logan taking punts, NOT as a QB. Did you read that whole deal?
AltamahaDawg
March 22nd, 2010
11:24 am
Ealey was hurt. He played the very down he could. Don’t pretend like you know what was going on behind the scenes with that.
BY all accounts that I have heard Moreno didnt “get it” till halfways through his RSFr year, and started tearing it up on the scout team. Given he had THREE NFL draft picks ahead on him, did not enroll early, and nobody knew till then what he could do, (and by then we did have a True Frsh at QB) I trust you would have done the same thing. I hardly think that was Coach Bobo’s call anyway.
And you cannot believe that JoeT was intended to play the entire season. The fact that Stafford came in needlessly last in the blowout win the very first game tells you he was going to play that year. Did Bobo send in either of the 2 more seasoned, older, highly ranked QB ahead on him in the second game when Joe went down? No he went with the True freshman. Not that it was his call either.
As far as Cox, playing, that was opposed to whom?
goose is loose
March 22nd, 2010
11:31 am
Logan’s an excellent QB who out-performed Joe Cox last Spring. Gray is a terrific athlete, was ranked a top 5 dual-threat coming out of high school, and was an Elite 11 QB, just like Murray and Mett. We need a QB who can run this year, to take pressure off the pass, a la Tebow.
Gray has better size than Murray. I think the QB job is Logan’s unless he under-performs. Gray also played High School with Aaron White, one of UGA’s star TE’s.
AltamahaDawg
March 22nd, 2010
11:56 am
You saw a controlled scrimmage with rotations of 3rd and 4ths string at times and determined Gray was better prepared to play than Cox? I saw Gray in the real game, and (although I think he was put into bad situations) I didn’t see anything that suggested we stood a better chance of winning. Also professional judges of football playing didnt think so. FWIW I am pulling for Gray despite that looking like “loyalty” to a guy whose paid his dues.
From that G-day criteria Carlton Thomas should have been our go to guy at RB too.
As far as this year, werent you JUST saying how ranking out of high school dont matter. Arent you also suggesting that age, expeience and size does matter. Arent you FINALLY hoping it doesnt?
And Murray played with Orson Charles.
Now back to this idea of loyalty for loyalty sake:
RUSHING GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G
Washaun Ealey 8 112 649 10 639 5.7 3 44 79.9
Caleb King 9 98 550 16 534 5.4 5 75 59.3
Now tell me what the problem is with KIng and Ealey last year? I’m not seeing it. King fumbled how many times “like crazy”, as opposed to Ealey?
And Wooten got 5 times the PT as Brown. Plus in this case, you do want the older more mature guy?
Should we play the young guys or the old guys, I’m not getting it?
run the ball
March 22nd, 2010
12:10 pm
Why are we assuming Green is gone after this year? Did he not come to Georgia to win a NC? Did he not come to Georgia to be the best receiver in the country? Perhaps if some of these kids would stay a little longer then the program would “get over the hump”. What if Stafford and Moreno had stayed last year? Really, why not be a legend? Come on AJ stick around, give us a chance.
AltamahaDawg
March 22nd, 2010
1:15 pm
Tebow played in a spread option type where the RB could just as well be a receiver. BY design his running ability was critical to thier success.
UGA is a pro-style play action offense. Our RB’s takes the pressure off of the passing game, not our QB around. I would like for him to tuck the ball and run, but by all accounts, Murray is mobile. It’s taken years to get an O-line as capable (as we hope) this one is going to be, let’s not suddenly convert our entire offensive playbook.
Personally, I thought most of Tebow’s effectiveness as a runner was in short yardage, when the whole world knew what was going to happen, and it was in no way meant to grease the passing game. At best it was to misdirect the multiple rushing options. If we wanted to mimic that (a big guy basically falling forward through a huge hole), Mett would be a better fit than Gray.
how2fish
March 22nd, 2010
3:49 pm
Tide Rising good post I agree we need to have all the playmakers in the game as much as possible..if A.J proves to be a legit threat he should return kicks.GATA.
Attitude...
March 22nd, 2010
6:59 pm
Don’t know if Gray has it, but Murray sure does…Gray needs some serious coaching with sticking with a play, keeping his eyes down field, and not being so ready to take off and trying to out run players at the college level…this isn’t H.S. and Bobo needs to instill this now, because he sure hasn’t done so up to this point…if Gray keeps forcing this running crap, they’ll light him up and he’ll be looking out of the ear hole in his helmet…
tampadogfan
March 23rd, 2010
3:28 am
Uga needs to be paying attention to another Tampa Plant player, James Wilder Jr. He said recently that he wants to stay in the southeast to play. The guy is an absolute beast at LB and running back.
John
March 23rd, 2010
7:29 pm
I would perfer to see Branden Smith return punts, not that A.J. Green couldn’t do a good job, but from the prospective of a football player it was always difficult to see a return man short in stature while on the field. From ground level it is the most difficult thing to spot a short return man to tackle until he breaks free, then if he has a little speed it was too late to catch him. It is one reason why I think Prince Miller(5′7) and the punt returners from FLA & LSU were so successful. Kick off returns are different the field is spread, speed is only needed to get upfield.
Kickoff/punt returners: A new role for A.J. Green? | UGA sports blog
June 29th, 2010
6:02 am
[...] it known during spring practice that he would like to have the job. (You can find more on that here and here.) Mark Richt said injury concerns won’t dissuade the Dogs from using Green on punt [...]