QBs, defense, Wooten share spotlight in Bulldogs’ first spring scrimmage
(Please click here for scrimmage statistics.)
ATHENS -– Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger put up good numbers but Logan Gray not-so-good. Caleb King and Washaun Ealey picked up where they left off last fall. Rantavious Wooten had a big day.
And the new 3-4 defense apparently made its presence felt at times, too, as Georgia’s football team held its first scrimmage of spring practice Saturday morning in Sanford Stadium.
“I’m pretty sore right now,” wide receiver Wooten said afterward. “The defense was bringing it.”
The 90-minute intra-squad scrimmage was closed to the public and media, but these were among the storylines, based on statistics provided by coach Mark Richt and post-scrimmage interviews:
- The quarterbacks: Murray completed 10 of 15 passes for 125 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown throw to A.J. Green. Mettenberger completed 7 of 10 passes for 157 yards, including a 65-yard TD to a wide-open Wooten. Gray, though, completed only 6 of 14 for 37 yards. Murray and Gray threw one interception each.
Richt said all three quarterbacks “made mostly good decisions” in the scrimmage, but offered no sweeping assessment about their competition.
“If you’re trying to get at where we’re going, I mean, I don’t know where we’re going yet,” Richt said. “But they’re all competing and doing a good job.”
He said Gray’s numbers were partly attributable to “just circumstance, what plays you might have when you get in there, what opportunities present themselves.”
- The tailbacks: King and Ealey apparently ran strong, combining for 143 rushing yards on just 15 carries. King had six carries for 79 yards, including a 55-yard run, and Ealey nine for 64.
- Wooten’s breakout: Wooten, who is being counted on heavily at receiver, had a welcomed performance.
“Actually, Rantavious was struggling a little bit [in spring practice] until today,” Richt said. “Today was good medicine for him. He [had been dropping] more balls than we’re used to seeing, but today he caught everything. I’m sure that’ll get him over the hump.”
Said Wooten: “Certainly, spring hadn’t started off too good for me. I have to kind of get back in the groove, and I took today to show them . . . I can make plays.”
His 65-yard touchdown, he said, came after Mettenberger faked a short throw and the cornerback and safety “bit on it.”
- The new defense: New defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s unit made its first appearance in quasi-game-like conditions.
“I feel like as a whole the defense did a decent job,” linebacker Akeem Dent said. “I wouldn’t say it was good or great. We did good enough to get through the scrimmage, but we feel that we have a long way to go.”
After the scrimmage, Grantham “just told us that it was decent, that we did OK,” Dent said. “He asked us if we wanted to be great. I feel everybody on the defense wants to be great. We want to be aggressive; we want to attack. To be that way, we’re going to have to continue to work.”
Richt’s assessment of the defense’s play: “I think we all understand that we’re still learning. I think the things coaches are looking for are, ‘Are the players trying to do it the way we ask? Are they playing with intensity? Are they hitting hard? Are they getting better daily?’ And that part of it, I think, we’re all pleased with.”
Richt also was pleased that “when the defense had a chance to get their hands on the ball, they made the play.” Safeties Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams intercepted passes.
Etc.
Richt said offensive lineman A.J. Harmon injured his leg, but the severity was not known. . . . Richt said there were “very few penalties.” . . . Green had just one catch (the 40-yard TD) but didn’t play many snaps. . . . Georgia’s next session of spring practice is Tuesday. Another scrimmage is scheduled for next Saturday and the G-Day intra-squad game for April 10.
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220 comments Add your comment
Excuse city
March 28th, 2010
1:25 pm
Get ready UGA fans for the Florida excuses about to start for why Brantley threw an int and completed just 41% of his 31 passes in the scrimmage.
Consider the #2 QB’s for LSU, SC, and Fla all did better than the #1’s, so it wasn’t incredible defenses, it’s just all their #1’s choked.
Bama Jammer
March 28th, 2010
1:28 pm
Alabama Fans = looking at spring practice and game #1 only…and looking at our Coaches Trophy
Florida Fans = looking at spring practice and game #1 only
Georgia Fans = looking at spring practice and cringing the thought of the Jacksonville game
hut hut hut
March 28th, 2010
1:28 pm
I think it’s safe to say, no QB in the entire SEC, including the #2 at Fla, threw WORSE than Brantely’s 41% in the scrimmage. And Brantley threw in an interception just to top it off. Brantley clearly performed as the WORST QB in the SEC in the scrimmage. Good to know.
I was there...
March 28th, 2010
1:28 pm
Guys don’t let the numbers on D fool you. There were a lot of third string guys that played several minutes. For those of you that don’t know, that’s how a scrimmage works, everyone plays. The pass D looked good, D-backs were breaking on the ball much better than last year, the o-line opened up some good holes for the backs. Murry looked good but Mettenberger’s stock certainly went up. Don’t count him out. Unfortunately Marlon Brown didn’t participate but he certainly looked good in his silver and green jersey.
Pi$$onaDAWG
March 28th, 2010
1:33 pm
Wonderdawg name calling and wow our coach is fat. Most football coaches I see are not in the great of shape but who cares. What is UGA’s record againts USC? USC will play the dawgs tough, but as long as UGA is on the field they will win like always. Arkansas coulod lightup your D deoending on how well they have learned the 3-4 but it will be a home game and again UGA should win. Miss State? Hell Tech has beat then the last 2 years, nad colorado is not the Colorado of Old and maybe the Thin Air will help them but I don’t think the Dawgs will lose that game either. Who knows about the VOLS yet, but UGA ain’t played them well the last few years. So yes after your High School Warmup Games you should be 5-0 with the Vols coming to town to Richt’s new Spray Tan.
Dawg 3/20
March 28th, 2010
1:36 pm
Georgia was looking great during spring 2008 with a team with a lot more talent……………what happened?
http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/2008/0812_large.jpg
Who will challenge them indeed?
TampaGator
March 28th, 2010
1:43 pm
Hut..Hut..Hut…doesn’t that tell you a little something about the Gator defense. Jeremy Brown is “all that” at cornerback replacing Haden. He is healthy an looking very good. He is a future All-SEC CB to go along with the other current All-SEC CB in J. Jenkins. Mo Jenkins is looking very good at CB too. And the 2 fresh CBs…Shaw and Watkins…are also playing well. This defense may be better than last years D….definitely more athletic and faster with Joe Bostic is the middle and William Green at DE (wait to you get a glimpse of this guy…Alabama people know about William Green!!!) and Will Hill at FS. No first team OL or WR played in yesterday’s scrimmage. The entire OL were freshman and redshirt freshman protecting (or not protecting Brantley)and the experienced and extemely talented Gator D ate them for lunch. Brantley will not be playing behind a freshman OL or with inexperienced WRs in the fall. Brantley has looked great playing behind the #1 OL. I think the OB from Tampa is going to be very good for Georgia and will give Georgia a very athletic QB. He does get hurt a lot, however. Can he stand up to SEC talent and pressure as a freshman? Big question to be answered in the fall for Georgia fans. But if you think the Gators are down this year….I am very, very SORRY to say you are badly mistaken. Tons of talent and experience in Gainesville still…and will be that way for years to come.
WonderDawg
March 28th, 2010
1:48 pm
Alabama Fans = Cringing while awaiting the inevitable next NCAA probation
WonderDawg
March 28th, 2010
1:56 pm
As much as I hate to agree with you TampaGator, fans getting worked up over statistics in scrimmages are probably celebrating a little too much. THEY ARE PLAYING AGAINST THEMSELVES, dufuses. If the QBs throw for 500 yds, why are you happy? If a DB gets 3 pics, is he great, or maybe the QB is telegraphing his throws? Jeez …
Pi$$onaDAWG
March 28th, 2010
1:58 pm
Richt’s phone rings after 10pm = Damn who got arrested now? Yes, bail them out!
WonderDawg
March 28th, 2010
2:05 pm
So ……someone with a blog name about urinating is detesting my calling PJ fat? Look at the picture on the front page ….. Son, that’s not name-calling. That’s telling it like it is!
WonderDawg
March 28th, 2010
2:08 pm
Pi$$onaDawg, it’s okay, it’s okay. Only 8 or 9 more seasons and you’ll get your wish again. Hell, Tech never loses 10 in a row. 2018 will be here before you know it …
Pi$$onaDAWG
March 28th, 2010
2:09 pm
Nerd is the name calling you quick on the uptake. I didn’t say our coach was not fat either, but is that what you got really? So what about UGA being 3-2 going into the UT game would that make you happy after your High School Warmup Games?
John "Mr. 41%" Brantley
March 28th, 2010
2:10 pm
Urban gonna unleash his 41% completion QB on UGA??? Ooh, no, what will we do???
shane#1
March 28th, 2010
2:11 pm
I was glad to see Wooten have a big day. His spring had not gone well up to that scrimage so maybe he will gain some confidence. The guy runs beautiful routes but tends to start running before he puts the ball away. Nick Williams may be earning some serious pt opposite Rambo. I like to see those SOWEGA boys doing well. Nick seems to love the 3-4. You really can’t tell much from a spring scrimage, especially the first one, but it seems to me that the only guys with posistions locked up, other than the starting O line, are AJ, Charles, and Rambo. Green and Charles caught one pass each, everybody knows what they can do, let’s see what else we have. It is good to see the running game going well, hopefully this years o will look better than last years in the spring game. Last years O looked pathetic! And we all know that last years defense was not that great.
hut hut hut
March 28th, 2010
2:13 pm
Burton, Florida’s #2, completed more passes than Brantley. So we can’t say it was the defenses fault. Nope, Brantley just choked. Sorry. And Brantley threw an interception in for good measure in the red zone, typical Florida trouble in the red zone continues.
Pi$$onaDAWG
March 28th, 2010
2:14 pm
So I guess UF should be scared Logan or the other QBs that have never played in an SEC game too then? I will take the Gators D right now over UGAs, but there is a lot of time for UGA to learn the 3-4. All fans need to worry about is being healthy going in to the first game and wait and see.
shane#1
March 28th, 2010
2:15 pm
POAD, cool it man, we made fun of Phat Phil on here for years. Nothing was meant by that, just having fun at their expanse.
Bama Jammer
March 28th, 2010
2:17 pm
Bama is the defending BCS champion, Florida has 2 BCS Titles in 4 years and two Basketball Titles in 5 years, LSU has won 2 BCS Titles, and Tennessee won the first BCS Title and is about to play in the elite 8 in basketball…………..is Georgia going to get involved in the party anytime soon?
Miami Newspaper says Florida in Crisis
March 28th, 2010
2:20 pm
Meyer rolled all the dice in 2009, and lost the gamble. Now, he has an untested QB, no go-to RB (Tebow was leading rusher), and inexperienced WR’s.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/28/1551233/identity-crisis-on-offense.html
erkel
March 28th, 2010
2:23 pm
Poor Florida fans..all they can do is reflect on the past, years ago when they were winners.
This is about RIGHT NOW baby. And right now, Brantley is a 41% com,pletion QB, and Murray and Mett are over 67%.
Pi$$onaDAWG
March 28th, 2010
2:24 pm
Vols put down the 1 shot and a 3. 1 ACC team in the final four. Will the Vols add 1 SEC team? This could be the lowest rated Final Foul in TV history. Bob Who is winning the NASCAR RACE In Martinsville?
Pi$$onaDAWG
March 28th, 2010
2:26 pm
Glad you asked POAD it is raining now and the race has not started.
Debose
March 28th, 2010
2:27 pm
“Poor Florida fans..all they can do is reflect on the past, years ago when they were winners”
It’s been 30 years for the Dawgs, now that is a long time………………..remind us again when the last time you beat “poor” Florida two years in a row? Were you born yet?
The unspoken question: Who leads the QB derby? | UGA sports blog
March 28th, 2010
2:28 pm
[...] (UPDATE: Report on Saturday’s scrimmage, including the quarterbacks’ performance, is here.) [...]
WonderDawg
March 28th, 2010
2:31 pm
My bad, Pi$$onaDawg, didn’t realize “nerd” would offend you. Since you guys obviously don’t have a blog, let’s talk about Tech’s D. I’d take UF’s and UGA’s over that mess. You think Al can fix it? I don’t keep up with the acc (for obviously reasons), but how was Virginia’s D while Al was there?
"Hey, Tebow is a Real QB"
March 28th, 2010
3:18 pm
Although one Florida WR claims to be glad to have Brantley, a “real” QB, apparently, Brantley’s 41% is among the the worst in the SEC so far. So much for the WR’s assessment. Seems like UGA’s Wooten outgained all of Florida WR’s COMBINED.
Pi$$onaDAWG
March 28th, 2010
3:21 pm
Wonder will no more after next week. Guys start practice on Monday. Virgina always got Smart, Good, an Large D players. How Tech can work the guys we already have and how they pick-up the new Language of the 3-4 will be seen over the spring, summer and into the fall. Tech Blogs as of late weree about Hewitt and I could care less I think he should have taken the money and gone to St. Johns. Well he is still here and we will just see.
Uhhhh bye bye
March 28th, 2010
3:25 pm
UF=So last decade. See ya later, chumps!
Buster
March 28th, 2010
3:25 pm
I think BuLLdawg is upset he got passed over for offensive coordinator. He clearly was the best candidate. So Darn!!! He’s Right! Whatever shall we do? We’ve got an incompetent offensive coordinator – so forget ever having a quarterback or running back drafted anywhere inside the top 3 rounds. We’ve recruited incompetent idiots. Our line sucks. We should just clone AJ 10 times and line him up everywhere. Whatever shall we do?
And a new defensive scheme? This will be the worst year ever!!! Let’s start a hire BuLLdawg campaign – IF we’re lucky – he’ll get hired in time to sort all this mess out and salvage a 6-6 season. I mean let’s face it – we have NO CHANCE of winning the SEC EAST. We have NO CHANCE of a winning season. We’re CRAP. Just call us the DUKE of the SEC EAST. We’re pathetic – we just look good on signing day.
But the real problem is our coaching. We haven’t won the SEC championship in 25 years. And we haven’t won more than 8 games in . . . at least 12 years now?
FIRE THE WHOLE LOT!!!
HIRE BuLLdawg!!!
HE’s our MAN!!!
YAY!
SOUTHGADAWG88
March 28th, 2010
3:49 pm
If everything goes as I suspect the Offense should get the best of the D until mid fall camp.That is how it should be the Offense has players comfortable in their roles…the guys know what to do where to go etc…it should take awhile for the Defense to get familiar with the scheme and comfortable enough to play without thinking about their assignments all the time.I’m not looking for a “shutdown” dominant D this year. I would be happy to just shave 6-7 pts off of our scoring Defensive numbers from last season.Our Offense should be at least top 3 in the SEC even with a first year starter at QB.
Buckhead Bulldog
March 28th, 2010
4:38 pm
Good effort UT! Amazing season. considering.
Pi$$onaDAWG
March 28th, 2010
4:45 pm
Tenn lost! Now, I hate Duke but If the Final Four is Michigan State vs Butler and Baylor vs West Virginia This could bet the lowested rated Finals Ever. The Wrong Big 10 team and the wrong Big East team and WTF cares teams.
KL
March 28th, 2010
4:52 pm
Pi$$onaDAWG is from the might football school of Kennesaw State…… Ops, no football team there. If Tech had to play UGA’s 1st 5 games they would come out of it 2-3 AT BEST! Why are you even on this blog. Please do us all a favor and attempt your poor football knowledge on the Tech blog.
Congrats UT for making the final 4. Now go out and make the SEC Proud! Good luck!
KL
March 28th, 2010
4:57 pm
My bad, I thought UT won. Congrats on a great season anyway!
Pi$$onaDAWG
March 28th, 2010
5:02 pm
KL your GOD Vince is helping Kennesaw develope a plan to get football at KSU. Thanks for play now go back home and read some more how great UGA was in 1980. Why don’t you play Clemson sometime in the future instead of LA-La.
John "Mr. 41%" Brantley
March 28th, 2010
5:04 pm
Tebow, in his scrimmage, had crazy outings, like 17 for 21. Brantley went 13 for 31.
Tebow did great agains the “Florida defense’. 17 for 21.
Brantley did terrible. 13 for 31. Brantley is the worst so far in the SEC at 41% completion rate and an interception in the red zone.
Brantley isn’t in Tebow’s league.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2839006
Dawg in Delusion-ville
March 28th, 2010
5:15 pm
Give the Dawgs credit, they are one of the best pre-season teams in the country!
http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/2008/0812_large.jpg
TUCK FECH
March 28th, 2010
5:24 pm
Pi$$onaDAWG….It is Funny to see how much Your Life REVOLVES around “What is GEORGIA doing today”
Gator Hype 2010
March 28th, 2010
5:26 pm
Just like 2009, here it comes again:
I-FORMATION THIS YEAR…REALLY!!!
QB UNDER CENTER THIS YEAR….REALLY!!
We will find a go-to RB other than Tebow….REALLY!!!
We will find a go-to WR and TE to replace Hernandez….REALLY!!!
Besides our new QB, our inexperiences WR’s, replacing the tight end, and only 1 rb with sec game experience, Florida is looking great!!!!!!
yogi B
March 28th, 2010
5:26 pm
Bobo stinks and always has. CMR will fire him after thsi season. CMR did not want to fire him and Martinez the same year which makes alot of sense
Addazio Hasn't Dazzled As a Coach for Florida
March 28th, 2010
6:46 pm
The Gators offense lost 8 points of scoring under Addazio and the offensive line, Addazio’s speciality, gave up the most sacks in the SEC.
Addazio Hasn't Dazzled As a Coach for Florida
March 28th, 2010
6:47 pm
If trends continue under Addazio, Florida will down 16 points less per game on offensive scoring, and give up 46 sacks in 2010.
Florida in Decline
March 28th, 2010
6:50 pm
Is Demp from Florida doing track this summer? Did they move Chris to slot? And who has any experience running the football for Florida for the RB’s in the current backfield?
Mark "2-7" Richt
March 28th, 2010
7:15 pm
“Addazio Hasn’t Dazzled As a Coach for Florida”
Florida 41 UGA 17
GoDOGS1
March 28th, 2010
7:17 pm
Shhhhhhh….BuLLdawg is taking a nap. Tip toes.
cantondawg
March 28th, 2010
7:29 pm
Enter your comments here
Lowcountry Bulldawg
March 28th, 2010
8:26 pm
David Paschall from the Times Free Press out of Chattanooga had just as good if not better coverage of the scrimmage. People wonder if there is UGA bias? This is embarrassing.
bobbydawg
March 28th, 2010
8:30 pm
Ala. OT James Carpenter (augusta), OG Chance Warmack (atl) OT Darius Mckeller (atl), Auburn OG Byrum Isom (Lovejoy), OT Ed Christian (Lowndes), Fla. OG Maurice Hurt (Milledgeville} UT. OT JuJuan James (Atl),Va. Tech OG Sergio Render (newnan), Ark OT Ray Dominguuez (Bainbridge). Fla. starts Mike Pouncey at Center we start Bobo man crush Ben Jones and move Bean Anderson OG, and Kiante Tripp OT to defense!? No wonder wer’re a joke. It’s time for a change. No more Coaches from South Ga.
uga MASTERS = Toilet cleaning specialist!
March 28th, 2010
8:38 pm
You guys are the biggest joke of a program ever. You get waxed every single year by Florida, get waxed by KENTUCKY AT HOME, you get beat by Tech AT HOME, your sorry excuses for quarter backs can’t help but getting arrested just like all the rest of your sorry thug recruits. Oh yeah and I missed your little basketball team during the big dance. Oh yeah you didn’t even make the nit. What a bunch of losers. But seriously please get back to work you hillbillies, My pizza is late.
GT Baseball 7 ugay baseball 6