Richt ‘pretty certain’ Mettenberger suspension will be one game; Anderson moved to defense
(Updated 9:30 p.m.)
ATHENS -– Georgia coach Mark Richt said Tuesday night that he is “pretty certain” recently arrested quarterback Zach Mettenberger will be suspended for only one game — the Bulldogs’ Sept. 4 season opener against Louisiana Lafayette.
Richt is withholding a final decision in case there are any further police reports on the case.
“What I’m looking for is if there is any other report I can get my hands on,” he said after Tuesday’s practice. “A lot of times there is an initial report and then another one.”
Mettenberger was arrested by police in Remerton, Ga., near Valdosta, on March 7 on five misdemeanor charges: underage possession/consumption of alcohol, disorderly conduct, obstruction and two counts of possession of false identification.
UGA Athletic Association policy mandates at least a one-game suspension for an alcohol-related arrest, although Richt could impose more.
“I’m pretty certain it’s going to be a one-game suspension and all the other internal things that we do that [Mettenberger] is in the process of doing right now,” Richt said. “It could change, but I’m doubtful it would change from that.”
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Justin Anderson, who started five games on Georgia’s offensive line last season, will move to the defensive line, Richt said Tuesday night.
The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Anderson likely will play the nose position in Georgia’s new 3-4 defense, Richt said.
Although Anderson immediately will start attending the defensive-line meetings and learning the terminology of the new position, he’s not able to practice this spring because of a shoulder injury. He’s expected to be back on the field by preseason camp in August.
Richt said the move was based on the depth on the offensive line.
Anderson “knows that if we lose a tackle or two offensively, he’d have to come back,” Richt said. “But right now, if everybody who is projected to be healthy comes in healthy [in August] and makes it through camp healthy, we’ll probably keep him on defense.
“I think he’ll do well. He’s a real explosive athlete, a big strong kid, and we think it’ll fit him. . . . In this scheme, he’s the type of body that we think can help us at that nose position.”
Kwame Geathers has worked exclusively at the nose position in spring practice, while DeAngelo Tyson and Abry Jones, among others, are working at nose and defensive end.
Richt expects the numbers on the offensive line to grow this summer, when Trinton Sturdivant and Tanner Strickland are expected to be available. They are sidelined from spring practice while continuing to rehab from knee and shoulder surgeries, respectively.
Richt said the idea of moving Anderson to the defensive line surfaced soon after Todd Grantham was hired as defensive coordinator in January. Richt said he hesitated to make the move since Anderson is injured, “but the more I thought about it, the more I really believe it might be in his and our best interests.”
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Georgia’s strength and conditioning staff spent two days late last week observing the program at Virginia Tech. Richt joined the group there for part of the time.
“Our strength coaches have really done a good job of going out there and seeing what other folks are doing and finding things they can implement to get better,” Richt said.
He said Georgia’s staff is “trying to find new ways to do position-specific drills that help [players] at their position, instead of saying ‘the whole team does this.’” Another area of emphasis, he said, will be in-season nutrition, particularly for players who live off campus.
On the visit to Blacksburg, Richt said he got a chance to spend some time with Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer. They talked about practice schedules and special teams.
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– Safety Nick Williams was working with the first-team secondary at Tuesday’s practice, the fifth session of spring ball.
– Grantham said Cornelius Washington and Justin Houston are currently the first-team outside linebackers, backed up by walk-on Reuben Faloughi and Montez Robinson, respectively.
– Tailback Caleb King missed practice with an upset stomach. Richt expects him back for the next practice on Thursday.
– Wide receiver Marlon Brown missed practice after suffering a shoulder injury on Saturday. Brown called the injury “just a bad bruise.” Richt expects Brown to be back at practice, at least on a limited basis, later this week.
– Wide receiver Israel Troupe is slowed by a strained hamstring.
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128 comments Add your comment
Buckhead Bulldog
March 24th, 2010
6:58 am
AmericusDawg- I remember when UGA recruited the SW corner of the state pretty hard, and it paid off with kids from Cairo, Camilla etc. I know Columbus was always a battle with AU, but what are you seeing down there as far as recruiting goes? Do you see FSU having a stranglehold down there?
Good to hear from you RED DOG 77…..it is a small world. McRae ain’t that big. I love going down there for family things….I swear my blood pressure drops and I’m sooo much more relaxed. Plus, I get to all of those down home veggies. My cousins look at me like I’m nuts because I eat 3 or 4 plates of that food, and I volunteer to pick up the pecans under the trees so my Aunt can make me a pie.
Buckhead Bulldog
March 24th, 2010
7:23 am
BuLLdawg- Okay so what would YOU like to see happen? Please tell us what your solution is to make UGA the number team in all stats. and be the SEC and BCS Champs year after year?
Where do you see UGA doing the right things, if any? Throw some positive stuff/stats at us. For at least the past three months you have told us all that is wrong with UGA football, so I would like to hear where you think we are doing things right.
Personally, I see a lot of positive things happening and I’m excited about this year and the next couple of years. I knew last year was going to be difficult, so I took it for that….a difficult year.
raymond
March 24th, 2010
7:29 am
Troupe get off the sidelines for once and get in the game your time has come.
zulucanibal
March 24th, 2010
8:16 am
watch out for this kid Reuben Faloughi out of Evans Georgia…he maybe a walk on but before it all said and done I think we will be a starter before his Sr. year. Great athlete and a supreme student of the game.
Too Easy
March 24th, 2010
8:37 am
Anderson’s move means fewer procedure penalties on offense, and his holding is now legal. Like the size in the middle. Mt. Bean?
Too Easy
March 24th, 2010
8:39 am
And BuLLdawg, don’t forget 350 yards combined in the gtu game last year. It’s just possible that the offensive line has a little something to do with the yards for the running backs. Maybe.
Me
March 24th, 2010
8:50 am
Oh, that righteous Richt!! All that “consideration” and “thought” and he decides to suspend the kid for the standard pre-determined one game that he would have had to do anyway. He should have just said that from the beginning! That kid hasn’t learned a thing, he’ll probably be back out there under age drinking somewhere this weekend!
Ben Rothlesberger
March 24th, 2010
8:57 am
Hey Zach, come hang out with me.
ESPN Home of College Football
March 24th, 2010
9:00 am
Too Easy, I wouldn’t get too excited about the 350 yards against Tech’s pathetic Defense.
how2fish
March 24th, 2010
9:02 am
Tim thanks for the updates at this point it’s all good, won’t be till August we really know what is what..or until Bulldawg tells us..sorry I couldn’t help myself.
Zach
March 24th, 2010
9:05 am
Ben, yeah, we can call ourselves the Berger Bro’s! I’ll bring the bourbon!
jaglaw
March 24th, 2010
9:05 am
wow……thin at receiver and two are out with injuries.
CMS
March 24th, 2010
9:06 am
Please don’t be alarmed at UGA visiting Virginia Tech. VT actually has a good football program and Frank Beamer is a heck of a coach. Plus its not far fetched of an idea for UGA to have that type of relationship with VT since Frank Beamer does have a house in Greene Co.
jaglaw
March 24th, 2010
9:11 am
Steve Carter……Hey I grew up in Fitzgerald. Glad I didnt play when Bean was in school.
ACC Strength
March 24th, 2010
9:24 am
Why in the world would UGA from the mighty SEC go and learn how to make their players stronger from a weakly ACC team…go figure!!
how2fish
March 24th, 2010
9:33 am
ACC Strength good ideas and methods can come from anywhere but as you know good football TEAMS come from the SEC.
Bradley G
March 24th, 2010
9:36 am
What’s the over/under on Bean’s return to the OL following Trinton’s annual knee blowout?
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2010
9:39 am
I defended Caleb King’s rushing effort in the LSU game? I did? Wow, I learned something new today. All this time I have just thought that I said we were awful running the ball last year. And here I was thinking that I was the expert on my opinion.
I’ve got a meeting later today. I’ll check back in and see if I can find out what I think about the topic before I walk in.
Will
March 24th, 2010
9:51 am
The fact that our backup DE is a walk-on tells me that our new coaching staff is not going to baby or play players who don’t work hard and deserve to play. That was a huge problem inside the UGA program over the past 4 years. There was an entitlement mentality there big time. I’m glad to see those days are over and Grantham will put the best players on the field no matter who they are or where they come from. If we stay healthy UGA will win the SEC East this year.
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2010
9:53 am
Too easy, the offensive line? nah, couldn’t be that. Surely you see how it’s strickly the coaches deciding if they choose to win the game. All other factors remain constant week to week.
ESPN Home of College Football
March 24th, 2010
10:02 am
Will, could it be the D has no depth? They lost 6 starters off of a terrible Defense from last year. If you stay healthy and Tenn, UF and SC lose a bunch of starters. Ah, hope in the spring in Athens.
Oh, you boys!
March 24th, 2010
10:06 am
Grantham is a big ol fat Hog, who growls and yells, got fired from his only DC stint and you think he is going to lead you to the promise land. What a laugh this is! I love reading you hopeful morons.
ozzfest
March 24th, 2010
10:12 am
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR FILLING IN THE HOLES IN THE NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE FOR 2012?
I SURE WE ARE GOING TO GET PUNK’D WITH ALASKA TECH OR MISSOURI CENTRAL…BUT I CAN CONTINUE TO DREAM OF TAKING THE RED&BLACK TO AUSTIN OR SOUTH BEND.
DAWG07
March 24th, 2010
10:16 am
Good move getting some help on conditioning/strength building. Too many injuries maybe attributes to improper or lack of conditioning. Have heard several coments to that fact and seems evident on the field
and may contrubute to the number of injuries.
Bottom line conditioning/strength has got to improve.
Gratefuldawghead
March 24th, 2010
10:17 am
Frank Beamer does a great job Coaching his special teams and yes we could use help with them. We are happy to have Grantham plugging in the talent where he needs them!
Odell T.
March 24th, 2010
10:23 am
Surprise, surprise. The Louisiana Lafayette game for five mindemeanor charges and two games for beating up your girlfriend. Let’s bring back Thursday night bowling too.
ESPN Home of College Football
March 24th, 2010
10:31 am
Strength and Conditioning has been poor. Another one of CMR’s buddies running the program. The team looks like freshmen when they get of the bus.
John
March 24th, 2010
10:39 am
So whats the deal with VT and UGA being so close? They got together last year to work on how to play GTs offense, Richt tried to lure away Foster and now they all hang out sharing tips on strength training. Pretty sweet to see since they are my two favorite teams! I say the more they work together they better they both will be! Beamer ball would be pretty badass to watch in Athens…….i just hope the penalty bug doesnt hit VT! haha GO HOKIES! GO DAWGS!
jzdawg
March 24th, 2010
10:41 am
Here is my projected spring starting lineup from what I have read so far.
Offense
QB 11 Aaron Murray 6-1 209 RFr., TB 4 Caleb King 5-11 212 Jr., FB 49 Shaun Chapas 6-2 242 Sr., FLK 8 A.J. Green 6-4 205 Jr., SE 16 Kris Durham 6-5 211 Sr., TE 81 Aron White 6-4 240 Jr., LT 60 Clint Boling 6-5 300 Sr., LG 71 Cordy Glenn 6-5 330 Jr.
C 61 Ben Jones 6-3 295 Jr., RG 63 Chris Davis 6-4 290 Sr., RT 78 Josh Davis 6-6 300 Sr.
Defense
DE 58 Demarcus Dobbs 6-2 285 Sr., NT 99 Kwame Geathers 6-6 310 RFr., DE 93 Abry Jones 6-3 290 So., OLB 42 Justin Houston 6-3 260 Jr., ILB 50 Darryl Gamble 6-2 255 Sr.
ILB 38 Marcus Dowtin 6-2 220 Jr., OLB 83 Cornelius Washington 6-4 255 RSo.
CB 2 Brandon Boykin 5-10 185 Jr., CB 1 Branden Smith 5-11 172 So., SS 18 Bacarri Rambo 6-0 211 RSo., FS 36 Shawn Williams 6-1 206 So.
Justin Anderson Moves to Defense « Football on the Brain
March 24th, 2010
10:46 am
[...] 24, 2010 by cousinwalter Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution posted a story on AJC.com yesterday that the Georgia … For any of you who have forgotten Anderson was one of a highly touted recruits of the Mark Richt [...]
how2fish
March 24th, 2010
10:47 am
jzdawg it will be interesting to see how close you are on those lineups..looks pretty good to me.
BEEDOG
March 24th, 2010
10:56 am
6 foot five and 300 pounds. He could just lay down and close off the middle of the offense.
lil girl
March 24th, 2010
10:59 am
yea–espn, i wish we could be stronger so we could push the tech guys around on the line. will you show me?
Dawg Wood
March 24th, 2010
11:00 am
It’s kind of unsettling that Richt is so familiar with the way police reports are released. I’m guessing he learned that pretty quickly coaching at FSU.
sogadog
March 24th, 2010
11:15 am
“A lot of times there is an initial report and then another report.” CMR. Sounds like CMR is becoming an expert on arrest reports. Stricter discipline would solve that problem. A one game suspension is just a slap on the wrist. He needs to tighten up on these bad apples or he will get to read a lot more police reports.
BurningRedBleedingBlack
March 24th, 2010
11:19 am
Can’t wait to see this new hungry aggresive defense at UGA come on G-game!!!!!!!! GO DAWGS!!!!!
Dawg Wood
March 24th, 2010
11:23 am
DawgFan24, regarding your Q about UGA’s strength & conditioning: This has been an area of “debate” by people commenting on these blogs for some time. How many knee and hamstring injuries does it take?
It’s just good to hear the coaching staff is doing something about it. I’m hoping Grantham ushers in a good number of changes…attitude, talking to the press (Richt seems to think that the best thing to say is to say nothing, while Grantham seems to say what he thinks), intensity, some aspects of recruiting, etc., etc.
DawgTired
March 24th, 2010
11:28 am
Wow, this is interesting. Zach must be in serious contention for the starting job if he’s only getting a 1 game suspension. I figured Aaron was the runaway favorite and Zach would get a several game suspension since he’s not an important factor, but clearly now that is not the case. Interesting…..
Gratefuldawghead
March 24th, 2010
11:31 am
If Zach getting drunk during Spring Break is the only arrest we have then its been a great year!
GO DAWGS!
jasont
March 24th, 2010
11:33 am
I believe a one game suspension is fitting for what will turn out to be only minor consumption of alcohol charge.
harold
March 24th, 2010
11:37 am
GEORGIA IS JUST AN AVERAGE FOOTBALL TEAM COMPARED TO BAMA AND FLORIDA!
jasont
March 24th, 2010
11:38 am
For all the people talking about the arrests that have occured within the UGA football program, most are for driving offenses and or minor consumption of alcohol. I’m a UGA grad and I can tell you the Athens-Clarke County make an example out of athletes. While I was in school at UGA my best friend was a football player under Donnan and we were pulled over by ACPD and my friend who was driving didn’t have his up to date insurance card on him and he was arressted and the cops didn’t care if it was actually up to date or not. He went to court with the card showing it was not expired and was let out of the ticket. However he was still arressted, finger printed and mug shot taken.
These are the same things that are going on still.
jasont
March 24th, 2010
11:38 am
Harold, would you say Bama was an average football team up until this season?
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2010
11:42 am
Not sure we are really going to be able to judge the “aggresiveness” of the defense in the spring game. Can’t actually sack the QB, some other restrictions, so we might have to see them actually tee off in a real game to see that. Plus they were putting hands on the QB last spring game about every third play, and we see how that translated once the season started. Turns out that was MUCH more of an indictment of the O-line, than it was any real glimps of pass rush.
I’d feel better to see them be able to run the ball in the G-day game. We tried to believe that the inability to do that last year wasn’t telling the real story, but sadly it was.
jasont
March 24th, 2010
11:47 am
Harold since 2005
UGA 48-17 and a SEC Championship
Alabama 49-17 SEC and National Championship and I gave you the wins for cheating which the NCAA will not.
Seems outside of the national championship win your average as well from your standards.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 24th, 2010
11:57 am
Altadawg, LMAO! BullDawg will let you know when you are the expert on your opinion. Just hang tight.
Maybe Mettenberger should have tried to gouge the cops eyes out. That would have been a 1/2 game suspension. These kids need to THINK about these things.
Wasn’t Jacek running the strength and conditioning program? If so who runs it now? If not who is running it?
Paul Johnson
March 24th, 2010
11:58 am
I love BullDawg, he is one of our greatest allies. Nothing like a Bennedict Arnold Dawg to build around. Hope all the UGA potential recruits read his commments, they will get a good feel for ignorant Dawg fans. They beat us every year and they still have ignorant fans like BullDawg running their mouth everyday on every blog with his selected piece meal facts.
Yeah...
March 24th, 2010
12:01 pm
A 3 week deliberation for a one game suspension. Sounds almost like someone was doing a little spring evaluation of where these guys stood before the decision was made. No wonder this team has discipline problems!
harold
March 24th, 2010
12:17 pm
Actually GA is looking quite good this year. I’m a bit worried if AL has to play them in the SEC champ game.
Georgia Plan
March 24th, 2010
12:25 pm
That’s great news! Even 1 game is too much for having a few beers, but Michael Adams and Damon Evans have to act “in charge” to justify their outrageous salaries. The first game is a creampuff anyway against louisiana–no big deal. The dawgs can beat them with their third string. 2010—the year of the Dawg—bank on it.