The Marlon Brown case: Will he blossom in 2010 after a quiet freshman season?
It’s a frequent question on the blog: Why didn’t Marlon Brown play more last season?
He hears it, too.
“Oh yeah, all the time,” he says. “I either avoid it or just go, like, ‘I don’t know.’”
Marlon Brown: catching on? (AJC photo/Brant Sanderlin)
Brown, of course, signed with UGA as a much-hyped recruit out of Memphis in February 2009, a Parade All-American who was ranked the No. 2 wide receiver in the nation by Scout.com. And then he caught just two passes, both against Tennessee, in extremely limited playing time as a freshman.
The adjustment from a small school (Harding Academy) to SEC football went slower than the recruiting rankings would have suggested, but not necessarily slower than Georgia coaches expected.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Mark Richt said this week. “People have their rankings and expectations because of rankings and all that, but I knew Marlon was going to take a little time to get used to the speed of Southeastern Conference football. He really made great strides.”
By all accounts, the strides continued this spring until Brown was sidelined for a week by an injured left shoulder -– a sprained AC joint.
“I felt bad when he got hurt because he looked so much quicker to me and just a much smoother route runner in the spring than he was in the fall,” Richt said. “I thought he had great improvement, and I think he’s going to really help us a bunch.
“He’s a very physical football player. He’ll block. He’ll get after you. He’s got strong hands. He’s going to help us. I’m really looking forward to seeing him blossom.”
The 6-5, 200-pound Brown returned to practice on a limited basis Tuesday, wearing a green non-contact jersey. Georgia didn’t practice Wednesday and holds its 10th of 15 spring sessions this afternoon.
“We were pleased with Marlon’s progress last year and pleased with him early in spring ball,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. The shoulder injury, Bobo said, cost Brown important practice time last week. “Marlon needs this time tremendously. . . . He’s got to be on the field to get better.
“Hopefully he can practice the rest of the way,” Bobo said. “Just get him out there running around, it doesn’t have to be contact, but getting out there running routes and learning how to run routes. Not in a negative way, but he was a lot of times a little bit raw and has to fine-tune his skills and is getting close there and just needs practice.”
Brown said he was “frustrated” by the ill-timed shoulder injury, but if he was frustrated by his quiet freshman season, he never showed it in a negative way.
“All these guys tend to get a little frustrated if they don’t come in and play like a recruiting service or somebody ranks them and thinks they’re going to be instant impacts,” Bobo said. “But that’s just part of the process, going through that.
“And sometimes I think it’s good for those kids to go through that and have a little adversity and learn how to fight and push. Marlon is a kid who has accepted that well. I haven’t seen anything [to indicate] that, hey, this guy is sulking or disappointed. He’s working hard.”
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130 comments Add your comment
Delusional Dawg
April 1st, 2010
7:18 pm
Sorry, Rubiks Cube. I’m always leaving off the “k”. I think Jeff Luc has the same problem.
jimmy loves football
April 1st, 2010
7:22 pm
Marlon Brown’s been a sad tale so far. With a $25 million future on the line, the guy can’t seem to get the picture. Man, if I had his talent, I’d be setting some records at Georgia. He’s a playmaker. We need him to step up and rewrite the stories people are telling about him. At 6′ 5”, with his speed, there’s no excuse for this guy. It’s a mystery to me how somebody falls from No. 2 in the country at his position, into complete oblivion. Bobo doesn’t sound like he’s on the Marlon Brown bus right now. Marlon’s got a golden opportunity of being the other guy, that gets the bad db, single coverage, and coverage rolled to AJ on the other side. Man, that’s a GOLDEN TICKET to the NFL if he can open his eyes up. God gave this guy his size, speed, and skills and mad talent. And what has Marlon done with it so far for Georgia? Nothing, absolutely nothing. I hope for his sake, that changes real soon. I was looking for to reading his scrimmage stats. Then he bruises his shoulder and quits running routes in practice. Bizarre.
Kramer
April 1st, 2010
7:27 pm
All this “banter” between Dawg fans and the haters out there is making me thirsty, just like those pretzels. Ah, Rebel Yell and Coke hits the spot nicely. Bottom line, Georgia will improve greatly from years past. Will we win the SEC or NC? That remains to be seen. A solid year of smashmouth football will be fine by me. Just GATA Dawgs.
jimmy loves football
April 1st, 2010
8:05 pm
if I was Marlon, I’d be hanging out with AJ Green, learning from him how he got to where he is. AJ will be willing to help Marlon, because the better Marlon gets, the more 1 on 1 coverage and less double teams AJ gets. Just follow a proven plan of somebody qwho’s already done it, how hard is that? If AJ won’t help, call Massoqia or Hines Ward or some of the Georgia alum and develop a mentoring connection.
Midland Dog
April 1st, 2010
8:29 pm
PLEASE limit your posts! I know you are also one of those that loves to hear himself talk, too, but if you really have to post more than 2 times, there is something wrong with you. Believe me, you’re not that interesting!
Me
April 1st, 2010
8:46 pm
Look out…Midland Dog is the new “posting police” and will pull you over if you go over the limit! What a tool!
SEC FANATIC
April 1st, 2010
8:52 pm
Yeah Midland Dog probably has a fake cop uniform and emergency lights in the trunk of his Chevy Cobalt. He sounds like one of those 300lb kids in school that used to wear that little badge and uniform and directed traffic like he was Hitler.
South Bound and Down
April 1st, 2010
8:56 pm
The only uninteresting person on this blog is Midland Dog!
jerrod
April 1st, 2010
9:08 pm
I agree, somebody needs to ban delusional dawg, he posts like a 1000x a day. man, nobody wants to hear that much posting form you, ok? try 3 or 4 a day, that’s plenty. THIS AIN’T A MONOLOGUE, IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE A DIALOGUE.
ok, back to focus. big brown fan. knew him since middle school. really cool guy. he’s making the transition from a smaller school type of atmosphere, and it’s surprised him a little bit to be in this program–uga is much bigger than he exepcted. but he’s gonna be fine. he’s adjusting great now, been doing well in the off-season so far, and the spring, look for marlon to have a breakout year. he’s simply a massive force and a dominating receiver.
radio's head
April 1st, 2010
9:14 pm
you’d think marlon would get sick of hearing about aj green, and about how bad marlon has performed so far. you’d think it’d drive him nuts. you’d think he’s a competitor. you’d think he’d want to get n the field.
Rock E. Topp
April 1st, 2010
9:40 pm
Hey Marlon….how’s the advise from your Granny working out? You are a TRAITOR to your home state and will be riding the pine most of this year down there in Athens. I do hope you get in the UT game this year. Janzen Jackson has a present for you….its called “Lights Out Marlon”. You will wake up sometime Sunday and Rocky Top will be playing in your head. Tell Granny we said hello.
Kramer
April 1st, 2010
9:44 pm
Rock E…..STFU troll!
Can You Dig It
April 1st, 2010
10:19 pm
Bama Stain….Who died and made you the the college football know-it-all. You consistantly talk out of both sides of your mouth like you’ve got all the answers. The fact is you don’t know sh_t. You are the kind of person that most people try to avoid because you are always talking like you’re an authority on everything…..You NEVER seem to point out how wrong you are most of the time…and always seem to find a way to tell everyone how great Alabama is. Please go run your mouth on the Bama blog…we don’t need you or want you on the Georgia blog…because you are full of more BS than a field on a cattle ranch……Can You Dig It.
Big L
April 1st, 2010
10:20 pm
Hey, if the Dawgs win 9 and beat Floriduh and Yech, i’ll definately take it. No natty championship with three losses tho. I’ll just take some big wins and moments.
gator nuthead
April 1st, 2010
10:56 pm
tell you what bro, if the gators win 8 this year, in a rebuilding year, i’ll take it. don’t think they will, but if they do, it will be great.
meyer can’t coach. this year will prove it.
strong and tebow, his security blankets, left the building.
Herschel Talker
April 1st, 2010
11:06 pm
Fire Mark Richt! More UGA players alleged to commit crimes. When is this crap going to stop?
South Bound and Down
April 1st, 2010
11:08 pm
jerrod…didn’t you read his posts? I don’t think you get it do you? It was obvious to me the second I started reading that it was all an April Fools parody and was actually pretty funny! You need to lighten up man!
UGASlobberknocker
April 1st, 2010
11:27 pm
Delusional Dawg, youre welcome at my tailgate anytime.
UGASlobberknocker
April 1st, 2010
11:29 pm
This just in
TECH STUDENT GETS DATE
April Fool.!!!..we all know that wont happen.
UGASlobberknocker
April 1st, 2010
11:32 pm
Herschel Talker..the last time I checked the constitution, one is innocent until proven guilty. Alleged means exactly that. In this case, they dont even know who it was or even if they were football players..so lets hold off on the kangaqroo court until we get the facts.
Bad News
April 1st, 2010
11:43 pm
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/040110/bre_599224333.shtml
RED DOG 77
April 1st, 2010
11:43 pm
I simply can’t believe these folks saying “why didn’t we red shirt Marlon Brown in 09 ? ” Answer: AJ Green was injured, CMR made a commitment to play “all” skill players that were Fr., that my friends, was a great move knowing that recruits, especially skill players want to get on the field in year one. And if they are any good they are usually gone after their third year anyway, remember Knowshon? Yes, Marlon Brown will be just fine this year, could break-out and be a real stud, but at the very least, with his hight, will be an exceptional third down reciever, who can turn around and snag a 12 to 15 yard pass to pick-up the first down. Might take big Marlon one more year before we see him doing the things we saw him doing in his high school films. I’m not real worried about our recieving corps, we have six exceptional WRs, and that isn’t counting probubly the deepest and most dangerous tight end group in the country. and don’t forget, Caleb and Washaun are both great catching the ball out of the backfield, after all with a red shirt Fr QB running the show, we won’t be chucking the ball 40 to 50 yards a whole hell of alot.I think we will be just fine ! And, what is that I see? Smoke and fire ? Yes, my friends, there is a fire burning in Athens Georgia, and it is the Georgia BULLDOGS……………..GO DOGS !!! GATA !!!
HanDAWG
April 1st, 2010
11:52 pm
What was missing last year in the passing game was a receiver to take the heat off AJ – He faced double and even triple teams the 2nd half of the season, and Joe got predictable forcing him the rock. After AJ had such success as a True Frosh the year prior, we expected Marlon to at least show up. He must have been a train wreck in practice to play that little in a shallow rotation with only one real producer at wideout. Fact is, he will either vastly improve or be a total bust. Hoping for the former. http://www.bighairyblawg.com loves the DAWGS!
G DOG
April 1st, 2010
11:59 pm
UGA have the best receiver group in college football. They should go to a three or four wide offens
gator nuthead
April 2nd, 2010
12:30 am
dude, wouldn’t be bringing up arrests, with meyer being the kingpin of arrested players, know what i’mm saying, doesn’t make meyer look so good, ok buddy, everybody knows meyer has had over 25 players ARRESTED since he brought over his unique style of coaching:
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/06/janoris-jenkinscharge-misdemeanor-affray-and-resisting-arrest-without-violence-for-his-role-in-a-may-30-fight-outside-a-down.html
Dawgone
April 2nd, 2010
2:16 am
Don’t read the Athens paper. Four players could be in deep trouble.
bobbydawg
April 2nd, 2010
10:55 am
james carpenter chance warmack darius mckeller thanks Bobo, ga. boys to Bama. You keep going after those “country strong ” chewin tobacco good ole boys for your offensive line. By the way Auburn wants to thank you for Byrom Isom and Ed Christian, Florida appreciates Maurice Hurt, Arkansas Ray Domingeuz, UT Jujuan James, and my favorite, Sergio Render at Va. Tech. Keep em coming.
dawgrph
April 3rd, 2010
9:33 am
i never see or hear anything about the TE recruit/signee Bryce Ros (think that’s his name – the son of former player, the great Frank Ros. is he still around? hurt… whatever? expectations ?
Ahhhh, maybe a redshirt was in order...
April 6th, 2010
3:55 pm
“I wasn’t surprised,” Mark Richt said this week. “People have their rankings and expectations because of rankings and all that, but I knew Marlon was going to take a little time to get used to the speed of Southeastern Conference football. He really made great strides.”
Why waste a year of eligibility when YOU KNEW he wasn’t up to contributing last year…
Ahhhh, maybe a redshirt was in order...
April 6th, 2010
4:01 pm
BTW…redshirt used at UT (6th game)…AJ hurt against Auburn in the 10th game…heck, I remember reading when the coaches forgot about him and Charles last year