Who’s No. 1 QB? Answer this week, Richt says (PLUS: more from G-Day)
(Updated 7 p.m.)
ATHENS – The G-Day game produced no immediate answer to the No. 1 question in Bulldog Nation: Who is Georgia’s starting quarterback?
“I know everyone wants to know what’s going on, wants to know who the starter is, and I couldn’t name the starter right now if I wanted to,” coach Mark Richt said after Saturday’s intra-squad game. “I really don’t think I could.”
But Richt said hopes to have a new quarterback depth chart by the end of this coming week.
Between now and then, he and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo will review video of the quarterbacks’ performances throughout spring practice, which concluded with the G-Day game.
And Richt cautioned that whoever is No. 1 on the post-spring depth chart won’t be guaranteed of keeping the position into the Sept. 4 season opener against Louisiana Lafayette.
In the G-Day game, won by the “Black” team 17-7 over the “Red” team before a crowd of 38,742, strong-armed redshirt freshman Zach Mettenberger had the best statistical performance of the three quarterbacks.
He completed six of 10 passes for 150 yards for the Black team, including touchdown throws of 20 yards to walk-on wide receiver Rhett McGowan and 39 yards to tight end Arthur Lynch.
Mettenberger, who is suspended from at least the first game of the season because of his arrest near Valdosta last month on five misdemeanor charges, worked only with the second-team offense and against the second-team defense Saturday. The other quarterbacks, Logan Gray and Aaron Murray, worked with both the first- and second-team offense.
“Mettenberger certainly had a nice day, there’s no doubt about that,” Richt said. “But I think they all did well.”
Gray completed seven of 13 passes for 102 yards and one touchdown — a 7-yard toss to wide receiver Kris Durham – for the Red team and three of four passes for 30 yards for the Black team.
Murray completed eight of 19 passes for 96 yards (with one interception) for the Red team and two of three for no net yards for the Black.
Mettenberger was not available for comment afterward, per Georgia’s policy for suspended players. Both Gray and Murray said Mettenberger had his best day of the spring.
As for their own days:
“I think I did decent,” Murray said.
“I thought it went pretty well,” Gray said.
Now they await word from Richt and Bobo on a pecking order.
“I think it’s a close competition. I think it’s a great competition,” Murray said. “I think all of us, throughout the spring, have really stepped up our game.”
Said Gray: “Obviously this game was big, but it wasn’t a deciding factor for everything.”
While the G-Day game gets the most attention because it is open to the public and televised, the other spring practices, particularly two earlier closed scrimmages, get equal or greater weighting from the coaches.
“After every scrimmage, you might say one guy did better than another one,” Richt said. “I think they all had their day.”
The upcoming depth chart “will gauge where we think [the quarterbacks] are right now, but it won’t necessarily be who will start when the first game rolls around,” Richt said. “It will indicate who will be where when we start [preseason] camp.”
——————————————
Georgia put its 3-4 defense on public display for the first time Saturday -– sort of.
To avoid giving opponents a peek at the new defense, the Bulldogs were extremely guarded in how much of the playbook they showed. (Virtually none, players said.) And to keep from exposing how the defense would react to certain situations, the offense was toned down, too.
Still, new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham seemed pleased, particularly with his No. 1 unit.
“The biggest thing I was pleased with was how we worked the game and adjusted to what happened,” Grantham said. He noted that one specific running play went for a long gain in the first half but was stopped for no gain when tried again in the second half.
Grantham said he was impressed with the play of inside linebacker Akeem Dent, outside linebacker Justin Houston and the cornerbacks.
Said Houston: “I think the defense did a great job, especially holding the No. 1 offense to seven points. It was a great confidence builder, especially since they have been sticking it to us all spring.”
Fans got a first look Saturday at Grantham on the sideline. He’s intense, to say the least.
“That’s what you want . . . a guy that’s got some fire in him,” Richt said. “Everybody knows my demeanor and has a little bit of a feel for that. I think it’s probably good to have somebody who’s a little more outwardly excited. I do get excited on the inside, but it’s good to have that energy on the sidelines.”
———————————————–
Just one penalty was called in the game. That particularly pleased Richt, given the Bulldogs’ No. 113 rank in the nation in penalties last season. . . Offensive tackle Josh Davis banged up his shoulder. The extent of the injury was not immediately known. . . . Tailback Caleb King didn’t play because of a strained knee. Richt said the injury isn’t a long-term concern. . . . Linebacker Richard Samuel did not play because of a concussion suffered at practice this week. . . . The Black team wore white jerseys (with black numbers). . . . Safety Nick Williams had the day’s high in tackles (7). . . . Not much was happening in the running game. Washaun Ealey had just 22 yards on seven carries for the Red team. Dontavius Jackson and Carlton Thomas ran for 43 and 41 yards, respectively, for the Black.
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359 comments Add your comment
Old Dawg
April 10th, 2010
10:47 pm
Alaska Dawg if it takes that long, it will probably mean we are 2-2 by then.
Lord of The Lizards
April 10th, 2010
10:48 pm
Last years D wasn’t too bad (just ask Uga) and I remember last years spring game being around the same points. Again, it IS spring, and teams are going to handcuff the defenses in general (limited package, no blitzing). What I look for is speed and execution…and other than using a converted tackled for your center, all is good. And even that kid improved as the game went on. It was exciting to see what was on the field today and then when you stop and realize what’s gonna show in the fall…wow!
patrick
April 10th, 2010
10:49 pm
Old Dawg. I am a homer I admit. But there is no way (even if I was the QB) that UGA will be 2-2
stay thirsty my friends
April 10th, 2010
10:49 pm
I hate those gaytors and think I am going to watch them tomorrow morning to see if everything Pat says is right about that brantley kid.
Old Dawg
April 10th, 2010
10:50 pm
Stay thirsty, do you know what channel they are going to be on at 9am?
stay thirsty my friends
April 10th, 2010
10:52 pm
I think sports south or sun sports; one of those florida stations.
patrick
April 10th, 2010
10:53 pm
LORDS OF LIZARDS??? LAST YEAR?? Ummm Strong is gone. Fla will not be near as good. AND they lost 6 starters
Old Dawg
April 10th, 2010
10:54 pm
That Murray kid looks like a midget, I hope Mett starts.
Old Dawg
April 10th, 2010
10:55 pm
Don’t be so fast Pat, didn’t we lose about 6 ourselves?
k-town
April 10th, 2010
10:57 pm
If Meyer or Saban think you win in the SEC by leading the SEC in offensive scoring, just ask Arkansas, last year’s SEC scoring leader, who finished 7-5.
patrick
April 10th, 2010
10:58 pm
Brantley is going to look good because Meyers had the defense back off to help his confidence. You need to look at his OVERALL spring before Meyers realize that he was a bust and called off the dogs
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:01 pm
Old Dawg…we did…but we gained a real DC while Fla lost theirs
Old Dawg
April 10th, 2010
11:09 pm
Was ours a DC in college or the Pros Pat?
Lord of The Lizards
April 10th, 2010
11:11 pm
Patrick…a spring game is an argument no one is gonna win. You’re playing against you. If your offense scores, they will question the defense. If the offense sputters, they’re gonna question that. Or talk about how great the D is. More often than not, the coaches set it up a little in favor of the offense ’cause there’s nothing worse than a score of 3-0 in a spring game. Nobody’s happy except the defensive coaches. Certainley not the fans who show up expecting some spring time football entertainment. About the best you can do is play a good hard competitive game with NO INJURIES and a close score of say…like…27-24.
Lord of The Lizards
April 10th, 2010
11:13 pm
BTW Patrick, I know you’re being largely facetious but the discussion is still fun.
k-town
April 10th, 2010
11:16 pm
Bama is the standard for Georgia right now.
Bama’s D held the offense to 14 in the Spring game last year in 2009, and Bama went on to become National Champions.
http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/041809aae.html
Florida’s defense gave up 5 or 6 touchdowns in the 2009 Spring game, and went on to give up 490 yards and 31 points oin the SEC Championship.
So, Georgia’s defense is looking more like Bama’s which we all like.
Old Dawg
April 10th, 2010
11:17 pm
k-town, do you know if our new DC was a DC in the pros or in college?
Old Dawg
April 10th, 2010
11:18 pm
ktown, you and patrick write almost the same.
?
April 10th, 2010
11:19 pm
Bamas’ spring game is the 17th. When did the D give up 6 TDs.
Old Dawg
April 10th, 2010
11:20 pm
ktown, I have been around along time, but until we beat florida, they are the standard, then we can worry about bama.
Lord of The Lizards
April 10th, 2010
11:20 pm
Old Dawg…both Florida and Georgia new DCs came from the pros. The UF game will be replayed 9:am Sun on Sun Sports. See for yourself.
Old Dawg
April 10th, 2010
11:22 pm
Lord what team was Grantham the DC for in the pros?
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:23 pm
old dawg. standard?
.
.
I submit UGA for the following reasons
.
UNDER Richt
Vs. SEC foes: 43-22
.
Vs. Top 25 foes: 29-18
.
Vs. Top 25 foes away from home: 18-12
.
Vs. Top 10 foes: 8-6
.
In postseason games (bowls and championships): 9-3
.
In games decided by a touchdown or less: 34-14
.
Record at home: 46-9
.
Record on the road: 42-6 (including bowl games)
.
Losses to unranked teams: 6
.
Top 25 finishes: 8
.
Top 10 finishes: 6
.
Fact:………UGA was 12-1 in 2002 (prior to bowl selections)
.
Fact ………Fla was 12-1 in 2006 (prior to bowl selections)
.
Fact ………Not UGAs fault there were 2 unbeatens that year. “unlucky”
.
Fact……….Not Flas credit that there was only one unbeaten in 2006. “Lucky”
.
Fact:………Luck (not merit) had more to do with Fla getting an invite to the BCS not that Fla was more deserving to go to a NC than UGA with identical records.
.
Fact:………No SEC team has ever lost a BCSNC game and if UGA would have been invited nothing indicates that it would have been different
.
Fact……….UGA has 2 SEC titles..same as Fla in last 9 years and equal amount of total wins (90) over all.
.
Fact……….UGA has been ranked more times top ten in last 9 years than any SEC team at 6. Fla has only been ranked top ten 3 times in 9 years (real impressive).
.
Fact……….In 9 years under Richt only LSU has more wins 91/90
Fact………..UGA has won 4 str8 bowls….more than any other SEC team.
.
Fact……..UGA has won 11 of last 13 bowls…Thats more than any team (tied with LSU and more than FLA)
.
Fact…… UGA has won 8 or more games in last 13 years…more than any other team in the nation including Fla.
.
Fact…….UGA is clearly as good or better than any SEC team over last 9 years. Only a fool or a fan of the mythical BCSNC selection process (non playoff) would think otherwise.
.
Fact…….UGA had same record when they won the SEC title in 2002 as Fla did in 2006/8 when they won the SEC title. But UGA had the misfortune (luck) to have that record in a year that had 2 other teams with undefeated records.
Hardly an indictment on UGA but rather on the NC selection process.
6 times finished in the top 10
2 times finished in the top 3
3 SEC Championship Appearances
2 SEC Titles
3 BCS Bowls
2 Sugar Bowl wins
90-27 record over 8 seasons – 79% winning percentage (one of only 7 in the history of college ball to have ever accomplished this)
4 str8 bowl wins
7-2 in bowls (big games)
Mark Richt coached QB coach for Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke = 2 Heismans; Head Coach for David Greene = all time winningest college QB until Colt McCoy this year); and coached Matthew Stafford = very rich #1 draft pick)
No Probations
He has my respect.
Old Dawg
April 10th, 2010
11:24 pm
We still gotta beat florida pat or none of your stats matter.
Old Dawg
April 10th, 2010
11:26 pm
you are an amazing young man patrick. you are like a walking talking larry munson fact machine.
jzdawg
April 10th, 2010
11:26 pm
Old Dawg, Murray is no midget. I was waiting in line at a restaurant in Athens this evening and there was Murray on his cell phone with a few friends waiting to be seated. I am 6-5 and he impressed me with his height. They list him at 6-1 but he looked to be around 6-2 or 6-3 to me.
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:26 pm
Richt has finished in the top 10 six out of his eight seasons at Georgia (yes he finished #10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll in 2008, the same poll that hands out the BCS Natl Championship trophy). You call that middle of the pack? You have to be very lucky to win a Natl Championship – Florida would not have been in the Natl Champ game in 2006 without USC inexplicably losing its final game to Karl Dorrell and UCLA. Look at LSU in 2007 and the circumstances in which that two loss team made the championship game. Richt simply has not had that kind of luck bestowed on him yet – matter of fact he should have been playing for the Natl Championship in 2002 and 2007 if not for some luck of the opposite kind.
chazzo
April 10th, 2010
11:26 pm
Folks,
I guarantee that Florida will be a formidable opponent. As will South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Auburn. I was happy to see Strong go. That was the best hire Florida has made since they hired Spurrier. Rest assured, though, they will have it together for Jax. Spring games don’t mean a thing. Not a big fan of Meyer, but he is a good coach.
It is a lighter schedule this year, but it is by no means an easy schedule. All but two teams will beat you any given Saturday. Half the schedule is rivals. 2 of those are pretty close to even on the W/L, and 1 has owned the Dawgs. Well, that’s the SEC.
Lord of The Lizards
April 10th, 2010
11:26 pm
WOW…now because Bama’s spring game last year was low scoring and this years UGA spring game was…k-town (patrick?) is now comparing this years Georgia team to last years Bama team…now THAT is bulldawg logic if I’ve ever heard it!!! You need to go into politics!
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:28 pm
old dawg….I kinda like UGA LOL
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:29 pm
Patrick is Patrick….no reason to use a pseudonym
Lord of The Lizards
April 10th, 2010
11:30 pm
Patrick likes to talk all the time about “luck” and “unlucky” determining success…which is understandable since I’m sure Patrick hasn’t gotten “lucky” in quite some time. Please see Facebook for further evidence…
voice of reason
April 10th, 2010
11:30 pm
Patrick I hate the gators as much as anyone and this is a free country, but your ranting posts make us all look like coolaid drinkers. If anyone really thinks that the gators aren’t going to be good, then you need some analysis in a shrinks office.
patrick Patrick is Patrick….no reason to use a pseudonym
April 10th, 2010
11:32 pm
and Bo knows Bo
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:32 pm
ranting posts? Discredit a single one then you can call them ranting. Facts are facts even if you dont want them to be.
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:34 pm
there? or their? hmmm
patrick Patrick is Patrick….no reason to use a pseudonym
April 10th, 2010
11:34 pm
your opinions about luck are not facts; and we all know about opions. Everyones got one except you and you have 2 which makes it quite convienient.
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:35 pm
quit making fun of me!!!
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:37 pm
facts………….Fla was lucky (since they dint beat USC head to head) that USC lost to UCLA.
.
Fact UGA was unlucky (since they didnt play them) that OSU didnt lose any games in 2002.
.
yes those are facts
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:38 pm
if only we didnt choke against tennessee those nasty gators wouldnt be lucky
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:39 pm
prior to bowl selection UGA had a 12-1 record and a SEC title in 2002 and Fla had a 12-1 record and a SEC title in 2006. Luckily for Fla USC lost. Unlucky that in 2002 OSU didnt. Those are facts
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:40 pm
unlucky for us that we lost to tenn
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:40 pm
Fla choked against Ole Miss but was lucky that USC lost in 2008. This can go on all night but fact remains. UGA not as lucky as Fla.
Lord of The Lizards
April 10th, 2010
11:40 pm
When I see Patricks posts I think of the phrase…”Surely figures don’t lie but liars sure figure”. Or Mark Twains…”Lies, damn lies, and statistics”.
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:41 pm
not unlucky “we” lost to Tenn. Unlucky that OSU didnt lose. Fla lost to Ole Miss but was lucky enuff that USC lost hence the invite by luck. This is not rocket science
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:41 pm
lord dont make fun of me, i work hard for these facts
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:42 pm
i wish florida would choke against our doggies
patrick
April 10th, 2010
11:42 pm
i am a roket scientist
Observer
April 10th, 2010
11:42 pm
Yellow Hammer is right about size. ALL of Bama’s boys are huge. Even our players said the same thing after the failed blackout here in 2008.
Murray is the QB. Has been all spring and today didn’t change anything. He threw a beautiful deep ball down the sideline in the 1st half that the walk-on WR couldn’t catch up to. Orson should have snagged a TD in the 2nd half. He over threw a few guys but Stafford did the same thing himself, even in his 3rd year. It’s football, that stuff will happen.
Artie Lynch is a secret weapon. The kid has been making plays all spring. Charles & White are gonna get reps but Artie is making noise.
Glad to see no major injuries today. Been a quiet night from that perspective. Hope it stays that way!
And jack bull, the suspension isn’t going away. It’s a mandatory 1 game due to UGA & UGAAA rules. And if CMR feels like he needs to do more, he will.
hammertime
April 10th, 2010
11:43 pm
Hey patrick dude give it a rest, we take care of business and we dont worry bout nuthin, get it?