Notes and quotes on position change, injuries (updated), QB race
(Updated 11:30 a.m.)
Justin Anderson seems intrigued and excited about his move from offensive line to defensive line, where he’ll probably play the nose position in Georgia’s new 3-4 defense.
Anderson said he first heard rumblings about a possible move in January but didn’t believe it would happen until coach Mark Richt called him into his office early last week.
“What was explained to me was that I was needed more on the defensive line than the offensive line,” Anderson said. “Because the offensive line has some depth with Tanner [Strickland] and Trint [Sturdivant] coming back [from injuries] and on the defensive line we lost Kade [Weston] and Jeff [Owens and Geno Atkins]. So we need to fill some bodies on defense. So I was like, ‘Of course. Change can’t hurt.’”
Anderson won’t be able to practice at his new position until summer, because he’s sidelined this spring after January surgery on his right shoulder. In the meantime, he plans to “learn as much as I can” from attending D-line meetings and studying the playbook, and he plans to drop 13 or 14 pounds to play the new position at about 320.
Anderson played on both the offensive and defensive lines at Irwin County High School. He said he was recruited mostly as an offensive lineman, although he noted that Georgia Tech wanted him as a defensive lineman.
“I feel like I got better as an offensive lineman [at Georgia], but injuries set me back,” Anderson said. “I just haven’t had a good career yet. I’m thankful I have two more years left to do what I can do.”
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Here’s an update on backup offensive lineman A.J. Harmon’s injury in Saturday’s scrimmage: He has a high ankle sprain, UGA said this morning, and will be sidelined for the remainder of spring practice.
On an earlier blog, someone asked about tailback Dontavious Jackson’s performance in the scrimmage. Jackson did not participate because of an ankle sprain.
Others who didn’t scrimmage because of injuries: OLB Justin Houston (shoulder), WR Marlon Brown (shoulder), WR Israel Troupe (hamstring) and TE Bruce Figgins (hamstring). None of those injuries are believed to be severe.
Full report on Saturday’s scrimmage is here.
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Here’s tight end Aron White’s take from late last week on the quarterbacks:
“I think they’re all doing really great. [Zach] Mettenberger has come out there and continued to perform. Logan Gray is probably in the best shape he’s ever been in; I think he looks like a specimen. Aaron [Murray] has been doing very well also; he’s a guy who’s a tremendous worker and puts in a lot of time outside practice. . . . It’s just so hard to tell at this point. . . . Whoever the coaches put in there, I feel like is going to get the job done, because all of them are very capable.”
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No football practice today. Georgia practices Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday this week. Saturday will be the second scrimmage of the spring in Sanford Stadium.
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283 comments Add your comment
St. Bernard
March 29th, 2010
2:55 pm
Here’s betting Mett and Murray go into the season still competing. Murray is average the first game. Mett will become the fan favorite by game three and be the starter by 5 or 6.
termigator
March 29th, 2010
2:55 pm
RAMMER JAMMER YELLOW HAMMER, Bama is like the gators, they are just going to reload. We will play twice this year and should be great games.
KimZ's Package
March 29th, 2010
2:56 pm
Dawgcounty: where did you get the LAW degree to rest your case?
Steve
March 29th, 2010
2:56 pm
P.S. I think UGA wins 8 this year (9 with bowl), but wins “prettier” than last year, and its a good season – take it. It will all come together in time – Offense, Defense, Schedule – and Richt will make us prouder than we already are.
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
Sometimes I get so frustrated I want to change my handle to Mad Max! “Who run Cow Town?”
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
2:59 pm
Blue Max imposter, I would rather have a history since 1990 than have one that stopped in 1980!
How2fish
March 29th, 2010
3:00 pm
Blue Max seems we both have “pests” stealing our names..glad to hear you think he is playing for effect..hope your right I want to beat the Gators and want him to be there and healthy when we do it..and I think he he is a much better coach than Saban overall…both are very good but to me the nod goes to CUM.
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
3:02 pm
How2, it actually is an Auburn fan who steals handles. I wouldn’t ever count Saban out, but I think he will leave for more money before Meyer melts down.
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
Can anyone direct me to an article about the Florida Gator Spring practice that I can make comments under?
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
See what I mean How2fish.
How2fish
March 29th, 2010
3:07 pm
Blue Max I never count out Saban so far he is the only BAMA coach who has been able to win without cheating since the Bear died. And yeah he may leave for more money..still think overall CUM is a little better if he stays healthy and doesn’t run his health into the ground.
dump the rah-rah
March 29th, 2010
3:07 pm
Florida will go 5-3 in the SEC again under Meyers for the 3rd time in the last 6 years. It’s a rebuilding year. Meyer lost 13 starters, and 5 coaches. On offense, they have a new QB, throwing at about 40% completion rate this Spring, new TE to try and replace Hernandez–leading receiver gone, no experience at WR, 1 rb with experience to try and replace Tebow–leading rusher last year was a QB, and Addazio coming off a year where Gators scored 8 less points per game and gave up over 25 sacks on offense.
Blue Maxi-Pad
March 29th, 2010
3:08 pm
Imitation is the sincerest form of plagiarism.
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
3:08 pm
Just look at me and How2 get along. Aren’t just great lovers?
BigTimeTECHFan
March 29th, 2010
3:10 pm
UGA has easy schedule next year, should only lose 3 games max
1 to Forida
2 to Georgia Tech or Tenn or USC or Auburn(they should go 2-2 against those 4)
That’s the only good teams they play.
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
3:11 pm
dump the rah-rah, wrong. Try 7-1 with a loss to Bama. UF lost 6 on defense and 5 on offense. The offense will resemble the one when Chris Leak was QB except Brantley has a stronger arm. DL and OL will be better, I hope you dont bet on football dumb ass.
oledawg
March 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
MSN has a nice article on 8 best/typical college towns today. Athens topped the list and is the only one outside the north except one in the midwest. That would be nice for recruiting if they read widely or the coaching staff/students/players give recruits a nudge in the right direction.
Just Wondering
March 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
Why is it that Blue Max, 4 NCS, Stinger, etc all sound alike? Could it be they are the re-incarnation of St. Simons?
Just Sayin
March 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
Sounds to me Blue Max the original is a gator and the imposter is Patrick.
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
I come on AJC blogs because I think everyone can use a little Gator perspective on every topic, even ones about the University of Georgia Bulldog Spring practice.
dump the rah-rah
March 29th, 2010
3:17 pm
Justin Anderson at 6′ 5”, 330 lbs, is a good size for the nose. Grantham and Coach Richt like his quickness and explosion skills. Anderson played on the O-Line last year for the 1st 5 games, and wasn’t really excelling there, the running attack suffered. As a nose, Anderson’s skills are a better match and his size will be a lot to handle.
George P Burdell
March 29th, 2010
3:18 pm
The next few years of the series against Tech will be reminiscent of the 49-56 meetings in which Tech destroyed the ugas for 8 games straight.We should go back into the SEC once again and dominate the opposing factions as well to instill a higher GPA for the conference.LOL
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
3:18 pm
I actually love the dogs as well as How2 and am a beautiful specimen just like logan gray.
dump the rah-rah
March 29th, 2010
3:19 pm
The Gators offense in 2010 will resemble Vanderbilt.
Coach CMR
March 29th, 2010
3:19 pm
My Dawgs will go undefeated in the SEC East this year, book it Dano.
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
3:20 pm
Yeah dump, the year the beat the doggies in Athens.
Coach CMR
March 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
My Dawgs offense will resemble Southern Cal with the great running backs.
termigator
March 29th, 2010
3:22 pm
Dump the rah rah, are you on drugs? All of the major pubs predict UF to win the east again.
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
3:24 pm
No, but I feel like I am from all the termigator insecticide on this blog.
Queer for Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
3:25 pm
You gotta be into your own body to copy a handle.
Typical Gator Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:26 pm
We use handles that resemble an energy drink for erectile dysfunction and an insecticide. Aren’t we cute as a pail of kittens?
Coach Grantham
March 29th, 2010
3:27 pm
Why do tech and gator fans keep bringing up me getting fired by the cleveland browns?
Typical Dawg blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
I copy other handles because I know I can’t win an argument about how my coaches underacheive.
Typical Dawg Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:32 pm
I also don’t know how to spell “underachieve” for some reason. I guess it’s because the Gators never do.
jawja boy
March 29th, 2010
3:33 pm
I wish only loyal UGA loving fans would blog on here. I get tired of people getting onto CMR and other coaches. We have won 10 games a year over 5 times the last 10 years and that is a record no one could match.
Typical Gator Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:33 pm
Where would we blog if not on the AJC?
Typical Dawg Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
I hate all fans, even Georgia fans who put my beloved team down.
Typical Dawg Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
The AJC is a blog for georgia fans only.
jawja boy
March 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
Who the H are these clowns on here today?
Typical Gator Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:36 pm
You should keep you post short like that one so all the words will be spelled correctly. Of course you’ll sound like a punch drunk Tebow giving a pep talk, but at least you’ll revered.
War Damn Eagle
March 29th, 2010
3:36 pm
How come no one talks about the Tigers on here? We were robbed of the NC in 04!
Typical Gator Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
jawja boy
March 29th, 2010
3:35 pm
Who the H are these clowns on here today?
We are the old boys of Florida, and you?
Typical Dawg Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:38 pm
Typical Gator Blogger, at least post with correct grammar; but at least you’ll revered. You mean be revered?
Typical Gator Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:41 pm
No, it was written like Tebow would say it. God Bless.
Typical Dawg Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:42 pm
I am so proud of UGA equestrian team, at least we can beat those nasty gaytors in something.
Typical Gator Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:45 pm
Three cheers for the Lady Gators in their domination in the SEC gymnastic tournament in Jacksonville last weekend.
Blue Max
March 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
I forgot about the SEC Champ Lady Gators! More hardware for Hogtown.
Typical Dawg Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
We own the gaytors in the overall record and Emmit Smith wasn’t half the back that Hershel was.
Patrick
March 29th, 2010
3:47 pm
The Gaytors suck.
Typical Dawg Blogger
March 29th, 2010
3:48 pm
Aaron Murray will be president of the United States someday after he goes 4-0 against the gaytors.