G-Day lineup: New coaches, new defense, new quarterback
ATHENS – G-Day, always a rite of spring for Georgia football fans, also will be a celebration of change this time.
Three new coaches.
A new defensive alignment.
A new starting quarterback, even if his identity remains unrevealed.
And no Willie Martinez to kick around.
Georgia’s annual spring intra-squad football game will be played Saturday afternoon in Sanford Stadium, which will be open for business for the first time since the nadir of the 2009 season –- a Nov. 21 game in which the Bulldogs committed four second-half turnovers and lost at home to Kentucky for the first time in 32 years.
The G-Day game, which starts at 2 p.m. and will be televised on CSS, completes Georgia’s spring practice and provides the first open-to-the-public glimpse of the team’s overhaul for 2010:
- The new coaches: Other than a couple of closed scrimmages, this will be the first time coaching between the hedges for Todd Grantham, who replaced Martinez as defensive coordinator, and Scott Lakatos, the new secondary coach. The staff’s other newcomer, inside-linebackers coach Warren Belin, coached against the Bulldogs in Sanford Stadium four times while at Vanderbilt.
For Grantham, Lakatos and Belin, G-Day continues their introduction to Georgia football, and vice versa.
“There is so much tradition here,” said Lakatos, who had spent his entire career in the Northeast, the past six seasons at Connecticut. “I’m just trying to learn the traditions so I can fit in.”
- The new defense: Spring practice has been dominated defensively by the transition from Georgia’s old 4-3 alignment to Grantham’s 3-4, which has three linemen and four linebackers rather than vice versa. Grantham advocates an aggressive, attacking defense –- just what most UGA fans want to hear.
While fans won’t get a full picture of the new defense Saturday –- “we don’t want to give away any of our secrets,” defensive end Demarcus Dobbs said — Grantham promises a sampling of what’s to come.
“We’re going to do our core stuff,” he said. “We’ll do some things, but we obviously won’t do everything.”
The defense, he cautioned, is very much a work in progress. “Everything’s new,” he said. “Everybody’s a rookie. Everybody’s a freshman.”
But Richt expects folks will be encouraged by what they see.
“Everything is starting to solidify, I think,” Richt said. “I know we still have a long way to go, but you can just see it little by little. The mistakes that are being made just become less and less. There is less and less space to run the ball and less and less time to throw the ball. I think they’re really progressing well.”
- The new quarterback: Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo have been pleased by the practice-field performances this spring of the three quarterbacks competing for the starting job — Aaron Murray, Logan Gray and Zach Mettenberger –- but have resisted revealing a pecking order.
“I don’t even know who’s starting G-Day,” Murray said. “They haven’t told us yet.”
Bobo said he expects to unveil a quarterback depth chart in another week or so, after reviewing video of G-Day and the spring’s 14 other practices.
“I think all three of the QBs have competed well,” Gray said. “And obviously this weekend will be interesting, too, to sort of cap it all off.”
Bobo’s G-Day advice to the quarterbacks: “Let’s go relax and have fun and enjoy the moment of playing quarterback at the University of Georgia. Don’t think, ‘Every throw is going to determine whether I’m starting or not.’ You go out there and have fun and enjoy it.”
G-Day matches the “Red” team, which includes the first-string offense and second-string defense, against the “Black” team, which includes the first-string defense and second-string offense. (And the “Black” team, you should know, actually will be wearing white jerseys.) Dropping no clues about their quarterback preferences, coaches put Murray, Gray and Mettenberger on the “Red” roster and no QB’s on the “Black” roster.
The plan, Richt said, is to rotate the three quarterbacks between the two sides, so that each of them plays with both the first- and second-string offense.
The offense, like the defense, hopes to put on a good show without digging deeply into the playbook.
“I don’t think we’ll show too much out there,” Murray said. Then he recalled that at last year’s G-Day, “we came out with a flea-flicker to start the game off. So I don’t know what crazy tricks Coach Bobo has in mind.”
More G-Day info:
- Rosters for the “Red” and “Black” teams are here.
- UGA’s spring football awards are here.
- And the latest injury report is here.
So what are you most interested to see at G-Day?
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84 comments Add your comment
hunker down
April 10th, 2010
2:04 am
Hey GT Baby,
Just remember a medicore SEC team last year beats the ACC Champions.
BuLLdawg
April 10th, 2010
2:53 am
QUOTE
by
patrick
April 7th, 2010 5:26 pm
“Fact……….UGA has 2 SEC titles..same as Fla in last 9 years and equal amount of total wins (90) over all.”
END QUOTE
91-27 LSU last 9 years all games total wins overall 2 NC
90-27 Florida last 9 years all games total wins overall 2 NC
90-27 UGA last 9 years all games total wins overall 0 NC
.
.
And,
Florida is 7-2 vs. UGA. Read your B.S. certainly think otherwise.
LSU has MORE WINS than UGA and Florida in last 9 years (Coach Richt Era) and BOTH
LSU and Florida BOTH have Two (2) National Championships Coach Richt Era.
Therefore CLEARLY LSU & Florida BOTH have done BETTER than UGA last 9 yr
Alabama, now too, has passed UGA by – Reigning National Champions.
.
.
.
.
QUOTE by Patrick
“Vs. SEC foes: 43-22”
Bold-faced LIE.
Coach Richt is
52-23 Coach Richt vs SEC foes, not 43-22.
AND :
56-19 Florida last 9 years (Coach Richt Era) vs SEC foes
53-23 LSU last 9 years (Coach Richt Era) vs SEC foes
52-23 UGA last 9 years (Coach Richt Era) vs SEC foes.
LIAR.
UGA is AGAIN 3rd best in The SEC vs SEC foes last 9 years
Where in the LIVING HELL did you get 43-22 ?
And, WHY discuss 43-22 in the 1st place WITHOUT proving how much
BETTER
BOTH
FLORIDA
AND
LSU again have been vs SEC foes last 9 years Coach Richt Era.
And, don’t forget that now Alabama has PASSED US BY TOO.
.
.
.
.
.
.
QUOTE by Patrick :
“Record at home: 46-9”
.
“Record on the road: 42-6 (including bowl games)”
.
.
Try to be consistent Patrick.
If UGA vs SEC foes last 9 years is 43-22 you say, THEN :
UGA vs SEC foes last 9 years is
26 Home Wins LSU last 9 years vs SEC foes
24 Home Wins Florida last 9 years vs SEC foes
24 Home Wins Auburn last 9 years vs SEC foes
23 Home Wins Tennessee last 9 years vs SEC foes
22 Home Wins Alabama last 9 years vs SEC foes
22 Home Wins UGA last 9 years vs SEC foes.
.
.
6th place UGA vs SEC foes in Home Wins last 9 years
.
.
And, you talk about
HOME WINS
ROAD WINS
Last 9 years but FAIL again TOTALLY to point out the OTHERS :
What about the games NOT HOME and NOT ROAD vs SEC ?
.
.
9-3 Florida Neutral site games last 9 years vs SEC foes
3-1 LSU Neutral site games last 9 years vs SEC foes
1-0 Auburn Neutral site games last 9 years vs SEC foes
1-1 Alabama Neutral site games last 9 years vs SEC foes
4-8 UGA Neutral site games last 9 years vs SEC foes
.
.
5th place UGA vs SEC foes last 9 years Neutral Site Games.
.
.
“Record at home 46-9”
LIAR.
UGA has Lost MORE than 9 games at HOME vs just SEC last 9 yrs
Date Opponent (record) Result Score Site
11/21/2009 vs. Kentucky (7-6) L 27 34 home loss 1
10/3/2009 vs. Louisiana State (9-4) L 13 20 home loss 2
09/27/2008 vs. Alabama (12-2) L 30 41 home loss 3
09/8/2007 vs. South Carolina (6-6) L 12 16 home loss 4
10/7/2006 vs. Tennessee (9-4) L 33 51 home loss 5
10/14/2006 vs. Vanderbilt (4-8) L 22 24 home loss 6
11/12/2005 vs. Auburn (9-3) L 30 31 home loss 7
10/9/2004 vs. Tennessee (10-3) L 14 19 home loss 8
09/8/2001 vs. South Carolina (9-3) L 9 14 home loss 9
11/10/2001 vs. Auburn (7-5) L 17 24 home loss 10
“Record at home 46-9”
Which of these 10 SEC LOSSES at Home are you
LEAVING OUT ?
And, let’s see last home game vs Georgia tek ?
11 LOSSES at HOME Patrick.
LIAR.
.
.
“Record at home: 46-9”
.
“Record on the road: 42-6 (including bowl games)”
.
“Record on the road 42-6”
WHY DO YOU HAVE THIS BLIND SPOT FOR NEUTRAL SITES ?
.
.
duh
.
.
“Record at home: 46-9”
.
“Record on the road: 42-6 (including bowl games)”
.
If you ADD up your 2
88-15
Let’s see now. According to you Patrick
WHO MAKES UP EVERY LINE OF YOUR POST
ALL LIES
91-27 LSU last 9 years all games total wins overall 2 NC
90-27 Florida last 9 years all games total wins overall 2 NC
90-27 UGA last 9 years all games total wins overall 0 NC
90-27 minus your 88-15 leaves OUT 2-12
Where is this 2-12 record according to you Patrick ?
.
.
LOOK, we are number 3, number 4, number 5, number 6 somewhere in there in The SEC last 9 years ANYWAY YOU SLICE IT.
Never mind we cannot get out of our own DIVISION of our own CONFERENCE.
There are a MYRIAD of teams doing FAR BETTER last 9 years
Not the least of which are
LSU
Florida
Only then Georgia in The SEC alone.
There are :
Texas
Boise State
Southern California
Oklahoma
Ohio State
LSU
Florida
We are NOT on the National Stage.
QUIT your lies.
You have been CALLED OUT on your LIES IN THIS POST
Patrick
jonL
April 10th, 2010
7:52 am
does anyone know if you have directtv, can you still pick up the game?
Larry
April 10th, 2010
7:56 am
Hey “Gaytors”, Timmie (I want my mommy) Tebow won 1 SEC title as a starting QB, which someone does every year. Roll Tide !!!
Buckhead Bulldog
April 10th, 2010
8:03 am
dawg from carolina: No where like a regular season game. Traffic/parking is much lighter and easier. Very little tail gating. However, I expect a good turn out with the nice weather, and curiosity with the new D coaches/formation and QB battle. Plus, the baseball game with Ole Miss at 4pm..
You can roam pretty freely in the lower decks…I don’t think the upper is open(?). Pretty relaxed atmosphere. You may be able to get autographs from former players in the Alumni game. Does anyone know when that starts? It is usally an hour or so before the G-Day game.
FYI- there is a big track meet in Jefferson today from 9am-11pm so…….
Dawgbreath
April 10th, 2010
8:05 am
We are going to have to hang in with this team this year. We’ll likely lose in Columbia so our fans are going to have to show some patience and let this team improve. Spurrier will practice all summer for the dawgs and just ignore Southern Miss. Likely losses: USC, UF, AU, and Arky. Richt will be on the hot seat so fans will have to support. Or not…
HBTD1
April 10th, 2010
8:20 am
17 of 20 – You have never even set foot in Gainesville FL, have you? The only time you even go to FL is for holidays at your Mom’s mobile home park outside of Panama City, right? Typical band wagon, white trash, jort wearing, UF fan who never even attended a class of community college, much less UF.
PTC DAWG
April 10th, 2010
8:46 am
Who’s down with OPP?
BuLLdawg
April 10th, 2010
9:01 am
91-27 LSU last 9 years all games total wins overall 2 NC
90-27 Florida last 9 years all games total wins overall 2 NC
90-27 UGA last 9 years all games total wins overall 0 NC
.
Florida is 7-2 vs. UGA
LSU has MORE WINS than UGA and Florida in last 9 years (Coach Richt Era)
and BOTH
LSU, Florida BOTH have Two (2) National Championships Coach Richt Era.
Therefore
CLEARLY LSU & Florida BOTH have done BETTER than UGA last 9 yr
Alabama, now too, has passed UGA by – Reigning National Champions.
.
.
56-19 Florida last 9 years (Coach Richt Era) vs SEC foes
53-23 LSU last 9 years (Coach Richt Era) vs SEC foes
52-23 UGA last 9 years (Coach Richt Era) vs SEC foes.
.
.
UGA vs SEC foes last 9 years is
26 Home Wins LSU last 9 years vs SEC foes
24 Home Wins Florida last 9 years vs SEC foes
24 Home Wins Auburn last 9 years vs SEC foes
23 Home Wins Tennessee last 9 years vs SEC foes
22 Home Wins Alabama last 9 years vs SEC foes
22 Home Wins UGA last 9 years vs SEC foes.
.
.
6th place UGA vs SEC foes in Home Wins last 9 years
.
.
.
9-3 Florida Neutral site games last 9 years vs SEC foes
3-1 LSU Neutral site games last 9 years vs SEC foes
1-0 Auburn Neutral site games last 9 years vs SEC foes
1-1 Alabama Neutral site games last 9 years vs SEC foes
4-8 UGA Neutral site games last 9 years vs SEC foes
.
.
5th place UGA vs SEC foes last 9 years Neutral Site Games.
.
.
LSU
Florida
Only then Georgia in The SEC alone.
.
.
There are :
102-15 Texas and one national championship
103-16 Boise State
97-19 Southern California and one national championship
97-24 Oklahoma and one national championship
94-21 Ohio State and one national championship
91-27 LSU and two (2) national championships
90-27 Florida and two (2) national championships
90-27 UGA and zero (0) national championships
Clearly, all these teams are better than UGA Coach Richt Era.
Clearly.
nice research...
April 10th, 2010
9:21 am
Nice research there BuLLdawg…
BuLLdawg
April 10th, 2010
9:25 am
We are, have been, and will be an afterthought on the national stage.
We have not yet beat 1 single Top 10 Final AP Poll team in a bowl game.
We have failed to have a qb ready 2006, 2009, and now 2010.
During these 4 years, we have lost to EVERY SEC East team in row
1-3 vs vols last 4 years
1-3 vs Florida last 4 years
10-10 vs SEC East last 4 years
14 interceptions average per year last 4 years
21 fumbles average per year last 4 years
# 96 NCAA in Penalties average per year last 4 years
92 UGA players arrested / suspended in Coach Richt Era proven
14-game seasons we have had more than 11 wins, one time
14-game seasons we are 10-3 or 9-4 again, this 2010 up-coming
Coach Richt FIRED entire Defense staff but Rodney Garner
Coach Richt TOOK CONTROL over entire Offensive staff
Coach Richt FIRED and replaced every Special Teams coach
We are in SERIOUS DECLINE
Caleb King remains our Starting Tailback, he can’t even play half the games
Everyone wants Aaron Murray to be QB
Aaron Murray injured his senior year High School like Caleb King was
Aaron Murray then got here and could not even practice, injured
That was all season last year, Aaron Murray missed practice sore arm too
Zach Mettenberger gets arrested / suspended since Spring Practice Started
Montez Robinson arrested / kicked off team 3rd arrest assault and battery girl
Montez Robinson recruited here by Rodney Garner
Who then visits Montez Robinson in JAIL (soon prison) with Coach Richt
We have a great defense
We have the 2 best kickers on one team in America
We have no Offensive Coaching Staff, no QB ready again
And, we signed 0 state of Georgia Offensive Football Recruits 2010
The recruits don’t like our offense.
Our SEC foes certainly do love recruiting vs our Offensive staff
They took ALL the top offensive stars in THIS STATE
Orson Charles we cannot figure to Start until game 12 of 13-game season
Marlon Brown we throw 2 passes to all season long
We never did play Zach Mettenberger last year when he should have vs Okie St
We rip redshirt off Washaun Ealey 3rd Qtr 5th game
Washaun Ealey leads UGA in rushing for the year, anyway.
We still only Started Washaun 2 games
And, not even the last 2 games by the way
.
.
GET YOUR EXCUSES READY
Here they come AFTER G-Day this afternoon :
Our OL was injured.
Our OL could not block for Aaron Murray
Aaron Murray was not to blame for the 2 fumbles
Aaron Murray was not to blame for the 2 interceptions
Logan Gray should not have been taking snaps Aaron Murray sorely needs
Zach Mettenberger yelled at Police, drunk, age 18 in Valdosta
Zach Mettenberger cannot start game 1, so forget about him
Mike Bobo is not good enough to determine his Depth Chart
Mike Bobo is not good enough to determine the play calls
Mike Bobo is not good enough to prepare a QB yet again 2010
So, Coach Richt is TAKING CONTROL over ALL THIS too
The WR are all injured, dropped passes from Aaron Murray
The OL injured could not block for Washaun Ealey
Caleb King has a chronic knee since high school, could not play
We cannot even figure out Caleb King must have knee surgery
Logan Gray criticizes staff for not giving him a chance LAST YEAR
It should have been Zach Mettenberger
Nate
April 10th, 2010
9:32 am
So is the game on TV?
Kramer
April 10th, 2010
9:34 am
Hey BuLLdawg. Thanks for reminding me to make sure my scroll button works. Works fine. Did you say something?
BuLLdawg
April 10th, 2010
9:59 am
Kramer,
Nice comeback to all the B.S. going on in Athens the last 4 years in a row sir.
Buckhead Bulldog
April 10th, 2010
9:59 am
TV = CSS
On line ESPN 360….I think?
BuLLdawg
April 10th, 2010
10:00 am
Where is patrick to tell us how great we are doing ?
Sanford Drive
April 10th, 2010
10:01 am
BuLLdawg,
I bet you’re super fun at parties.
POSER
April 10th, 2010
10:07 am
Hey BuLLdawg, You can’t state facts to the dawg nation. They can’t handle it. They call you every name in the book and correct your spelling. Its being negative. You gotta be positive no matter how hard it is to be positive.”We got 10 returning starters”, ‘we got three of the best freshman QB’S in the nation”. yOU know B.S. like that. And then its “stay off our blogs”, go to your own blogs. WE’RE JAWJA!
Deuce
April 10th, 2010
10:11 am
That’s right POSER! Little weak, yellow, puddings like you should go……bye-bye!
John
April 10th, 2010
11:38 am
BULLDawg,
I can appreciate your in-depth stats on UGA over the last 9 years, but I think you need to find a hobby.
SEC FANATIC
April 10th, 2010
11:43 am
Why do UGA fans always ultimately end up resorting to name calling when they are trying to “make” a point or present a viewpoint??? I wish I had a nickel for every time I have read the words “Gaytors” or “Gayturd” or “jorts” or “Teblow”. And each time, it’s written and presented like the poster JUST suddenly came up with it and is saying, “look how insultingly clever and funny I am!!” If you’re gonna be insulting AND childish at least come up with something we all haven’t heard a trillion times. But I think when you have a weak argument, that’s what you do…you revert to child like nah nah name calling with nothing substancial or reasonable to add and then you take your toys home.
Does anyone here have a ..... diploma??
April 10th, 2010
12:07 pm
I suspect that 80% of you morons here are 20 something, un employed or are un employable and just bad mouth UGA because your friends from HS that can $$$ go away to college are having a blast AND getting a great UGA education. Geeeeeeeeeeeeeez.
UGA is the ONLY school that has over 13 years won 8 or more games.
UGA’s BRAND is $$$ TOPS according to Forbes magazine. ( Forbes is not a sports magazine or a Music industry pub.,so you likely have not a clue as to what Forbes is.)
UGA sends grads off to fabulous careers in business, law, education, agriculture, arts, communications and on and on. What is not to like? Our campus is gorgeous our babes are the best and our stadium is of the finest football venues …………ANYWHERE.
Oh yeah, there is the refrain that “Richt has no NCs”. Fine, we grads have C-A-R-E-E-R-S and $$$ and THIS IS WHY we attended UGA in the first place …………… you un educated morons or shall I say OBAMARONS??
Go Dogs.
Giorgio Johnston Atoll
April 10th, 2010
12:08 pm
17 of 20 is probably some trailer trash from waycross ….
Steve
April 10th, 2010
12:11 pm
Bulldawg, if UGA was irrelevant then why are you here? Lets research and find out. Usually the fans from other teams come on here under some sort of ” Buzz,” “Gator,” or “Vol” moniker, but not you. I wonder why? You see, the mask you are sitting behind, ie your computer screen, gives you a cloud of anonymity. And better yet, if you post as our mascot then the lines are blurred even more! Congrats, you are just championship material when it comes to going on other teams’ blogs, Im pretty sure that ESPN gives out an award for that. Could you research the word “fan” for me? And not the kind that keeps you cool, the kind where you have loyalty to a team, no matter what some goon on your newspaper’s blog says. After reading your oh-so-intuitive research (I don’t know where you got that Aaron Murray sat out all last season, sounds like you are the delusional one) I have decided not to be a UGA fan. You just make so much sense. We are probably the worst team in America, I am just so ashamed. And to think that I once like them, absolutely unacceptable.
You are a tool. Look that one up while you are at it.
Steve
April 10th, 2010
12:13 pm
And please feel free to direct your comments right back at me, you know my name and where my loyalty lies. I get a thrill out of shutting down my intellectual inferiors.
Steve
April 10th, 2010
12:14 pm
And SEC FANATIC, fans from every team do that. Don’t be blind to your own team’s contributions to the detriment of society.
SEC FANATIC
April 10th, 2010
12:32 pm
Steve, first of all just to clarify for certain people here, I am retired not unemployed so I don’t have to be labeled as such. So, as it is, I DO have time to visit various websites of various teams particularly around the South including Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and once in a while an LSU, U of Miami or an Ohio State. It’s just a hobby and a passion of mine. And although I agree that every fanbase engages in this type of “conversation”……. other than Miami, I have found that UGA fans do more “vile” name calling in their reference to other teams, players, coaches and their fanbases than any other group I see out there. That’s just my own observation.
gator
April 10th, 2010
12:35 pm
wtf is GATA ?
Pregame chatter from G-Day | UGA sports blog
April 10th, 2010
12:37 pm
[...] G-Day lineup: New coaches, new defense, new quarterback [...]
KimZ's Package
April 10th, 2010
1:14 pm
It is http://www.ESPN.com online live for the Dawgs that actually work a job.
KimZ's Package
April 10th, 2010
1:16 pm
BuLLdawg pleas get the 5000 word post under control. We don’t read but a few lines, laugh, and move on.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
April 10th, 2010
1:26 pm
GayTors are Uga bait.
Alf
April 10th, 2010
9:32 pm
I don’t know SECFanatic why do we? Maybe because of idiots like you who come to our blog to talk junk to us….LIKE YOU. So here is an idea, if you don’t like it then go FO somewhere else, dude!
Attn: SEC Fanatic
April 11th, 2010
11:43 am
If I were to blog here saying that I am a grad/fan of Ole Miss …..does that make it so?
It is my suggestion that the so called UGA name caller “fans” are not even UGA grads nor are they actual PAYING UGA fans. I am a UGA grad and I only call names here when they are deserved, like “drop outs” or “obamarons” ( meaning they are drop outs and stay at home on mom’s pc).
As for the name calling …………only children or folks with low IQs do that. Most of my alum UGA pals that are not retired like I am ( @61 ) are playing golf,sailing or on business trips or they are running small to medium to large businesses. The name callers here on this blog are not adults, nor are they professional at anything …………beyond name calling and guzzling Big Uranges.
Please do not paint with such a large brush, sir. UGA fans are pasionate just like Gators or Auburn War Eagles, Plainsman or Tigers or Rebels or LSU Tigers or Hogs and even sad lil Vols.
Go Dogs.