Hear, hear! Dogs have a new kickoff philosophy (PLUS: practice notes)
ATHENS – I’m guessing most of you will be happy to read this: Georgia’s kickoff philosophy has changed.
Kicker Blair Walsh indicated Thursday night that the much-criticized directional kickoffs –- kicks aimed to a specific spot on the field –- will yield to more deep kickoffs.
“It’s not like it was here the past two years, directional-wise,” Walsh said. “It’s a lot more use of my talent, I would say. I was fine doing what they wanted me to do. I’m a team player. I can go along with it. But it’s a lot more use of the talent, and I’m happy about it. I don’t think there’s a restraint on me anymore.”
He stopped there, wary of “giving too much away.”
But you get the idea.
New assistant coach Warren Belin is in charge of kickoffs, a role previously held by Jon Fabris, one of three assistants dismissed in December. The directional kicks became a controversial topic the past two seasons, compounded when Walsh didn’t keep them in bounds or the coverage broke down.
Walsh also said there is an aggressive approach to kickoff coverage this spring.
“From what little I know about football, I know we’re going down there and trying to bust helmets up,” the kicker said. “We’re trying to beat the guy in front of us and go get the guy.
“It’s a lot of old-school football involved in our kickoff coverage. [Belin] doesn’t like me to talk too much about what we’re doing exactly, but . . . you’re going to see a lot of guys hustling, a lot of fast, fast stuff.”
Walsh, who had 17 touchbacks last season, has a goal of at least 25 this year –- or about one-third of his kickoffs.
Sound good, everyone?
—————————————
From Thursday’s practice:
- Mark Richt cut practice short by 20 or 25 minutes to try to keep the team fresh for Saturday’s scrimmage in Sanford Stadium. But before they left the field, the players had to do an exhausting punishment drill for excessive penalties.
- The practice was the hottest of the spring, with bright sun and temperatures in the mid-80s.
- Tailback Caleb King sat out with a combination of nausea and a sprained knee. The knee flared up from an old high school injury and is nothing serious, Richt said. “It just got a little irritated.”
- Jakar Hamilton was working at a first-team safety, but defensive-backs coach Scott Lakatos said not to read too much into that yet. He’s still trying various combinations in the secondary.
- Wide receiver Marlon Brown again was wearing a green non-contact jersey because of a sprained shoulder joint, but he participated in practice.
- I spent a lot of time after practice talking with Todd Grantham for a story I’ll do next week. He exudes enthusiasm.
- No practice Friday. The Dogs hold their second of three spring scrimmages Saturday in Sanford Stadium. The third scrimmage is the G-Day game on April 10.
Also: Richt “waiting to see” what comes of police report.
And: One year ago today — April 2, 2009 — Mark Fox was hired as UGA’s men’s basketball coach. Here’s a look at how he sees things a year later.
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193 comments Add your comment
ESPN Chris Low Overlooks UGA Again?
April 2nd, 2010
7:48 pm
Wooten gained more yards than ALL the Florida receiver sin their Spring scrimmaghe COMBINED, and did the same against all the Tenn WR’s COMBINED. Amazing performance. Don’t hear a lot fo people talking about Wooten. I wonder if this had happened at Florida’s scrimmage, if Low would have been ALL OVER IT???
http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/040210aab.html
p.s. Da Rick Rogers did not catch a single pass. And the Tenn QB’s ALL looked TERRIBLE.
harold
April 2nd, 2010
7:49 pm
GEORGIA FOOTBALL IS VERY AVERAGE COMPARED TO ALABAMA & FLORIDA!
ESPN Chris Low Overlooks UGA Again?
April 2nd, 2010
7:51 pm
For those of you that like to compare UGA’s WR Wooten, to the ENTIRE Tenn WR Copr, or the ENTIRE FLORIDA WR CORP, Wooten outgained BOTH TEAMS BY HIMSELF, see post above or this link:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/gators/os-florida-football-news-0328-20100327,0,1465757.story
Rambo Wins!
April 2nd, 2010
7:55 pm
Guess who Bleacher Report named as one of the TOP 10 College Football players….
WHO CHOSE THE WRONG SCHOOL?
Da Rick Rogers:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/370293-2010-recruiting-10-commits-who-might-have-chosen-the-wrong-program
Adele
April 2nd, 2010
8:21 pm
Looks like four more bad apples in the bunch.
There’s no end to it, is there?
YELLOW HAMMER
April 2nd, 2010
8:49 pm
hey dawg fans ,remember this name A.J.McCARRON back-up Q.B at BAMA ya’ll will get to see him. HE’S THE REAL DEAL
Dawg Tired
April 2nd, 2010
8:57 pm
I don’t think it could be any of our players because the report indicates they actually hit what they swung at.
col fot
April 2nd, 2010
10:03 pm
Hey! techie tucker, why don’t you and swartz get a life, all you do is write up BULL…. about The University of Georgia, what gives dude? Oh! By the way, i heard one of the players passed gas in public…go sniff it out!!!!!
God
April 2nd, 2010
10:23 pm
I saw em do it, it’s true. Four drunk football negros beating up on innocent people. Woof Woof Woof
trailer park manager
April 2nd, 2010
10:28 pm
Only a momma would believe those boys.
Classof84
April 2nd, 2010
10:34 pm
It’s not like Athens is any more dangerous than Atlanta, but at least the nerds on North Avenue don’t prey on each other. Inexcusable for this kind of behavior, and Richt REACTING to this is not enough, not this time. It’s time the AD, the HC, and Dir of Football Ops start recruiting the right kind of young men and leave the trailer and ghetto trash to the Miami’s, FSU’s, and VaTech’s of the world.
trailer park manager
April 2nd, 2010
10:35 pm
Wasn’t there a movie a few years ago called the Blair Walsh Project?
God's Boss, Vince
April 2nd, 2010
10:42 pm
Now, everyone knows that boys will be boys. The players haven’t changed, but nowadays with internets and newspapers and such it’s just a lot harder to keep it quiet. Besides, what’s up with college kids these days? It used to be the regular students were happy to be propositioned by one of the team. Now they file charges.
Classof84
April 2nd, 2010
10:45 pm
There’s time when enough “apples” go bad that you need to throw out the whole bunch and start over, including the pickers and leaders.
BD has a VD
April 2nd, 2010
10:48 pm
Chris Rock used to talk in routine about cringing everytime there was another murder or crime announced on the news, and hoping it would not be a brother. I’m beginning to feel the same way about any crime in Athens and the UGA football team. No reason, no excuse, no punishment can make up for this behavior. Richt has lost control and the inmates run the asylum now.
BD has a VD
April 2nd, 2010
10:49 pm
Or, maybe it’s more appropos to say the gorillas run the zoo.
Observer
April 2nd, 2010
10:51 pm
Fab was hired by Strong but decided he didn’t want to move away from his mom in Athens.
Punishment at end of practice was 2 sets of 100 yard log roll. Guys were puking midway through the final set. Reason for the post practice discipline — penalties during 11 on 11 drills.
Too many holes in the cab “story”. Cabbie says he’s stopping to pick up his “boy” Derrick and then later says he doesn’t know any of them? Victims have cabbies cell phone # b/c he was cool with them on a previous trip? Victims wait 2 days to call po-po? Somethin’ ain’t right here…..
ScatteredSmotheredCovered
April 2nd, 2010
10:51 pm
time to clean house, CMR. it’s too late to nip it in the bud because this problem has been growing for years. when one of these huge psychopaths finally kills someone, either another student or maybe even a teammate, then maybe someone will finally take notice.
ScatteredSmotheredCovered
April 2nd, 2010
10:56 pm
………. Punishment after the fact is not enough. It’s time to PREVENT, not time to REACT. Beating Tech and then bleating about it used to be fun, but now we spend half our time explaining why our program produces so many rednecks and gangstas. A QB on the eve of his biggest challenge (winning the starting job for UGA) gets drunk and disorderly in public while underage? Four brothers verbally and physically bully around two fellow students with a third as witness and for no good reason.
Barking
April 2nd, 2010
11:01 pm
This taxi story has teeth, fellow Dawgs. The cabbie is not cooperating but someone or ones who know the thugs has been talking plenty. They contacted the police when the story first broke. Richt is too soft again, not putting any real pressure on players to “out” the goons. Eventually there will be an inside whistleblower, but CMR has to guarantee some kind of immunity. Word on Jackson Street is that 3 were varsity players, maybe one starter, and the fourth one was on the practice squad but trying to make varsity.
Barking
April 2nd, 2010
11:02 pm
Go Dawgs!!! Next time, don’t be so stupid. Just go to Atlanta and bully some Tech students. Nobody will believe them.
Babsishot
April 2nd, 2010
11:04 pm
When you merely react to these charges and police reports as Coach Richt has been doing for the last four years, then players just learn to not get caught. He isn’t punishing the behavior, just their getting caught. Richt is a good man so it is not intentional, but he needs to build some character among his players so we don’t have recurrent episodes like this one.
Babsishot
April 2nd, 2010
11:08 pm
CMR, you have to stop treating these oversized children like men, expecting them to develop character and gentlemanly behavior by osmosis. You have to treat them like the 300-lb children they are and teach them to become men.
Beatman
April 2nd, 2010
11:11 pm
Two scholarship players, one walkon, and one practice squad player. By this time Monday, they will be two former scholarship players, one former walkon, and one former practice squad player. The main offender was one of the scholarship guys. Two of the players were mostly passive, though they were laughing at the others comments and actions.
Beatman
April 2nd, 2010
11:11 pm
Just be glad they weren’t riding mopeds down the sidewalk in their condition.
VoiceofMosesLarryM
April 2nd, 2010
11:14 pm
Many holes in taxigate, but several higher ups have confirmed that some players were involved. Several witnesses from the dorms and near the pickup site have come forward and named names. Charges on Monday.
VoiceofMosesLarryM
April 2nd, 2010
11:16 pm
The victimized couple said something that provoked the players. Still no excuse, but bet the cabbie had to clean out the couple’s seats when they left. Having over a ton of hurt threatening to kill you and rape your wife will have that effect.
VoiceofMosesLarryM
April 2nd, 2010
11:17 pm
When the cabbie breaks then more of the truth will surface. He’s just trying to save his job right now, but doesn’t realize he’s really hurting himself. What do you expect, he’s a cabbie?
augusta b.d.
April 2nd, 2010
11:18 pm
Just some racist kids trying to make a name for themselves by ratting out some brothers having fun.
ZedUndead
April 2nd, 2010
11:30 pm
Two asian kids, their friend, and four black guys get into a taxi….
sounds like a joke to me.
ZedUndead
April 2nd, 2010
11:32 pm
The taxi dropped the players off at East Campus near one of the unofficial jock dorms. The cabbie knew at least one of the guys. It happened. Just a matter of time before everybody starts talking.
ZedUndead
April 2nd, 2010
11:32 pm
The Red and Black has outdone itself on April Fool’s Day.
ZedUndead
April 2nd, 2010
11:33 pm
While Richt prays for strength to lead his team, his team preys on innocent kids who have to pay their own way through school.
Babsishot
April 2nd, 2010
11:34 pm
Which players are named “Derek”?
Sweet Home Alabama
April 2nd, 2010
11:34 pm
UGA football an embarrassment on the field and out of control off the field.Please think hard about leaving the SEC,you are making your fellow schools look bad.
I am sure Coach Suntan will be tough with these thugs,stadium steps for 15 minutes at least.The beat goes on .what a nightmare……………..
Why did Carl Moore Miss Practices--Florida Cover-Up
April 2nd, 2010
11:41 pm
WR Carl Moore angrily left the practice field and quit practice for a couple of days. What happened? Did Urban Meyer do something or was a different coach? This is bizarre, and this is a BIG story that will define Meyer’s career.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/gators/os-florida-football-news-0401-20100331,0,3960713.story
ZedUndead
April 2nd, 2010
11:42 pm
I’m not saying they are connected in any way, I don’t know. But the two “Derek’s” I know are Derek Rich and Derrick Lott. Both are pretty big guys. But again, it would be wrong to speculate based on that alone. There are probably dozens of “Derek’s” who are big, black, and students at UGA.
ZedUndead
April 2nd, 2010
11:46 pm
Urban Meyer’s behavior since his retirement redux is bizarre. I think the boy is wound too tight (beware Bama, your HC may be next) and is starting to unravel. For someone who carries the “good Christian” banner he sure is doing a lot of stuff to get forgiven for.
ZedUndead
April 2nd, 2010
11:47 pm
Urban: members of the media and your own team beg you to take your meds. Whether it is psychotic, or just high blood pressure, you’d better get that temper in check.
ZedUndead
April 2nd, 2010
11:48 pm
We may have our share of psychos on our team, but the Gators have one for a head coach.
Beatman
April 2nd, 2010
11:50 pm
UGA is on the rise and will drive Bama and UF to their knees quicker than four linemen can beat heck out of an Asian couple in a taxi.
Beatman
April 2nd, 2010
11:50 pm
New York has the “Cash Cab.” Athens has the “Cage-match Cab.”
Meyer goes off on reporter & player leaves practice
April 2nd, 2010
11:51 pm
What a wierd few days for URBAN MEYER. He’s back in the news.
First, he goes off on a reporter. Then, a player gets angry, leaves the field, and goes missing for several days.
Bizarre stuff going on. Out of control.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2010/03/urban-meyer-uh-passionately-defends-deonte-thompson.html
Beatman
April 2nd, 2010
11:51 pm
Herschel: did you and three of your personalities take a cab last weekend by any chance?
Beatman
April 2nd, 2010
11:52 pm
Meyer’s a NUT! I guess he just can’t bear Timmy leaving.
ZedUndead
April 2nd, 2010
11:53 pm
Meyer is just a step ahead of Nurse Ratched and electroshock therapy.
ZedUndead
April 2nd, 2010
11:56 pm
Gator, Gator, Urban’s a hater. Bullying young beat reporters is not just out of control….it is plain arrogance and ignorance. The AD better start pulling in the reins on Meyer before he goes really ballistic….it’s just Spring for gosh sakes.
Babsishot
April 2nd, 2010
11:59 pm
Expulsion from school. Revocation of scholarships and financial aid. Kicked off the team. All these are justifiable punishments, but when is someone in the Athletic Department going to step up and stop these incidences from happening in the first place. Coach Richt may be able to recruit talent, but he sure can’t recruit character.
Meyer goes off on reporter & player leaves practice
April 3rd, 2010
12:00 am
I still can’t believe this video where Meyer goes off on this reporter, when I watch how strangely Meyer acted against Jeremy Fowler, been viewed 180,000 times, very hard to believe, look at Meyer’s face, listen to his words, something is wrong with somebody.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgqQshESm8s&feature=related
32Ford
April 3rd, 2010
12:02 am
Near the Georgia Tech campus the local gangsta types have been hijacking cars and mugging students. In Athens, the students are attacking each other. No moral equivalency there, little doggies.