What we learned from spring practice (PLUS: injury update, Bulldog Club tour)
If you’re looking for definitive answers about a football team, spring practice isn’t the time or place. That’s what fall is for. Yet Georgia’s spring practice, which ended with the G-Day game on Saturday, provided a few revealing threads:
1. The offensive line is benefiting from the experience young players gained the past couple of years.
Example: Cordy Glenn. When the offensive coaches named their spring MVP, they chose the left guard, who enters his junior season with 23 UGA starts already.
“Early on, obviously as a freshman, he had to depend on a lot of guys next to him to help him out,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “Now he pretty much knows what we’re doing, and he’s able to execute and then use his God-given ability to dominate. And that’s what kind of player we think he can be.”
Bobo said the entire first-team offensive line -– left tackle Clint Boling, Glenn, center Ben Jones, right guard Chris Davis and right tackle Josh Davis –- had a strong spring. The group will be reinforced if Trinton Sturdivant, who started as a freshman in 2007 but missed the past two seasons because of knee surgeries, and Tanner Strickland, who missed last season because of shoulder surgery, return this summer as planned.
2. Todd Grantham is . . . intense.
G-Day offered little insight into Georgia’s new 3-4 defensive scheme, but it did provide a good glimpse of the new defensive coordinator. Grantham is a fiery presence on the sideline –- even in a spring intra-squad game.
“Well, anytime you’re playing, it’s important, and that’s the thing I wanted to get across to our players,” Grantham said. “Any time you step on the field, it’s important you do your job. And our job is to hold people to low numbers and to stop people.”
“That’s what you want . . . a guy that’s got some fire in him,” said head coach Mark Richt, known for his low-key sideline demeanor. “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.”
3. Three NFL-bound defensive tackles will be sorely missed.
Defensive line coach Rodney Garner was reminded of the talent lost from last season’s line when he looked up at practice one day last week and saw Geno Atkins visiting. “I was, like, ‘As big a headache as you were, I’d sure love to have that headache back,’” Garner said with a laugh.
The loss of three senior defensive tackles –- Jeff Owens, Kade Weston and Atkins -– and the transition to the 3-4 defense made the spring difficult for the D-line. Practices ended with a No. 1 unit of DeAngelo Tyson at nose, Abry Jones at left end and Demarcus Dobbs at right end. Of the three, only Dobbs has started a college game, and he admits the 3-4 is a different world for him.
“We’re making some progress . . . but we’ve still got a ways to go,” Garner said. “DeAngelo and Abry, they’ve been role guys. Now you got to step up to the plate and be the guy. It’s different being a guy and the guy.”
4. Washaun Ealey is going to be even better than last season.
You didn’t see it in the G-Day game, mostly because the coaches didn’t want opponents to see much, but the rising sophomore tailback had a terrific spring by all accounts.
Ealey ran for 717 yards in nine games (two starts) last season and seems hungry for much more. He is in better shape, has a better grasp of the offense and is working with better “tempo and confidence,” Richt said.
As for the other half of last season’s tailback tandem, Caleb King missed the final week of spring practice, including G-Day, because of a sore, swollen knee. “We think he’ll be fine in a week or two and able to do everything all summer,” Richt said.
5. The quarterback debate is just beginning.
You’ll get a real-time gauge on the quarterback race, as well as the competition at all other positions, when coaches unveil their post-spring depth chart, probably late this week. But the spring’s fluctuating performances suggest the Aaron Murray-Logan Gray-Zach Mettenberger battle will remain fluid -– and hotly debated, to be sure.
“Ultimately, everybody’s going to have to compete again during fall camp, go out and take reps and make plays and run the offense again,” said Gray, the only quarterback in the program who has ever taken a snap in a college game.
Truth is, the quarterback debate won’t subside until one player proves himself unequivocally in games that count. A key question in picking a starter, Richt said, is: “Can he handle the pressure of the job?” And “this is just the beginning,” Richt added, “of feeling the pressure of the job.”
————————————
Good news from UGA today on the G-Day injury front:
- RT Josh Davis‘ shoulder injury was just a bruise.
- OLB Cornelius Washington’s leg injury also was a bruise.
Both players “should be fine,” UGA said.
————————————–
UGA’s annual tour of Bulldog Club meetings around the state begins next week. All stops on the “Dawg Days” tour start with social hour at 6 p.m., followed by program at 7 p.m. Here’s the schedule and who’ll be attending from UGA:
April 22 in Columbus: Mark Richt, Mark Fox and Damon Evans
April 28 in Savannah: Richt and Fox
April 29 in Augusta: Richt and Fox
May 12 in Macon: Richt and Fox
May 13 in Statesboro: Richt
May 26 in Albany: Richt
May 27 in Griffin: Richt
July 26 in Atlanta (Cobb Galleria Centre): Richt, Fox and Evans
More details, including locations and contact info, are here.
—————————————————
OK, your turn: What did you take away from Georgia’s spring practice?
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260 comments Add your comment
#1 hater
April 12th, 2010
4:55 pm
Ron Mexico, if Richt will just stay 9 more years we will tie the series.
GT BABY
April 12th, 2010
4:55 pm
lets face it…..UGA SUCKS!! 7-5 AND A TRIP TO THE INDEPENDENCE BOWL!
termigator
April 12th, 2010
4:57 pm
I wouldn’t say UGA sucks, they beat you in your own little house with your best RB,WR and defensive player and now their gone and you are really in trouble.
Bobby
April 12th, 2010
5:01 pm
We will take the wins while we are alive Mexico and don’t have to read about past wins in a book. Now go pop in that 1980 VHS highlight tape to go down memory lane, that is assuming you were even alive in 1980.
TUCK FECH
April 12th, 2010
5:36 pm
GT Baby….Try selling out your high school stadium and actually winning a Bowl game!
CDAWG
April 12th, 2010
5:45 pm
I was at the G-Day game and have read on here a few times that the Dawgs did not want to show too much so their opponents wouldn’t see anything. We are going to have to show something when the season starts sooooo Florida, Auburn, UT and the Nerds will get plenty of time to see what we have.
Whatever, I CANNOT wait until September.
we running backs ain't taking this $hit anymore
April 12th, 2010
5:45 pm
The question was, “what did we learn from spring practice? 1- The UGA de3fense must have been very weak on fundamentals, when a coach is installing a new defensive scheme and still must spend several days out of the thirteen practices allowed schooling his charges in basic tackling, backpedaling, and playing off blocks, then that D had to be extremely weak. 2- Geathers is a player, watch for him and Nick Williams. Vance Cuff and Smith can also ball some. 3- That O line will be dominating IF they stay healthy. 4- UGA is rich in TEs. 5. The QBs have a lot of work to do.
51
April 12th, 2010
5:46 pm
Look, Brantley completes 51% of his passes, and Florida’s defense gives up 51 points a game. Florida loves that 51.
CDAWG
April 12th, 2010
5:49 pm
Bobby, I was alive then and that was an AWESOME year. I was watching the game on TV when Buck Belue threw that pass to Lindsey Scott.
Vince Dooley did not put up with any crap.
51
April 12th, 2010
5:49 pm
We learned:
1) we have the best defense in the SEC (Florida and Bama both gave up over 50 points in their scrimmage game)
2) we have the best QB in the SEC
3) we have some great wr’s (durham, wooten, t. king, green0
4) we have the best offensive line
5) we have the best punter in the NCAA (won the Ray Guy award)
6) we have the best kicker (finalists for Lou Groza award)
we gonna win it all baby.
kevin
April 12th, 2010
5:49 pm
GTBABY is at again–got that caps lock pressed and spewing nonsense all over the place.
Funny to see all these Tech fans saying how much UGA sucks. Hilarious, since we have owned your arses 8 of the 9 last years. Also, UGA has been in 3 BCS bowls and won 2 of three, while the Jackets got beat by Iowa. Get serious, off this blog and enjoy the rest of your day building foam weapons and playing D&D
51
April 12th, 2010
5:49 pm
we also have the best running back.
Jbrantley
April 12th, 2010
6:02 pm
51 sounds like the points Im hanging on jawja in Jax
termigator
April 12th, 2010
6:03 pm
Patrick the blowup doll, you changing from words to number “51″. Now that is really original.
CHDawg
April 12th, 2010
6:15 pm
My thoughts on the QBs and GDay–Murray has incredible potential and talent! Very, very quick release, doesn’t telegraph, nice mobility and vision. His overthrows and int were mistakes, but he also had some laser-accurate throws. If he stays healthy and develops and has good protection, I think he could be a Heisman candidate down the road. Mett doesn’t have as quick of a release, but he shows great potential, too. We will be deep at QB down the road. I see CMR giving them both plenty of playing time next year until one pulls ahead. It is way too early to get excited over the depth chart. Remember what Butler looked like last Spring? He was terrible, and he ended up being great. CMR’s past practice has been to let two contenders compete on the field until one pulls away. Now, they need to move Gray to WR for some work at both positions, and then work in a bunch of end around throwing options designed just for him and his unique skills. He is clearly number 3, but he should be used a lot.
Maria
April 12th, 2010
6:30 pm
What we learned is that UGA players are still being arrested, and that the Dawgs are still not remotely good enough to play the top SEC teams like Florida.
The fans will be calling for Richt’s job by midseason, mark my words. Even a good bail bondsman won’t be able to save him.
51
April 12th, 2010
6:31 pm
Murray threw more intercpetions than touchdown’s, not acceptable, we must have accountability. .67 td to int ratio, just doesn’t get it on ball protection.
Mettenberger listened. 5 td’s, only 1 int. 5 to 1 td to int ratio, that will win the SEC and a National Championship, it’s higher than Bama or Florida did last year.
Giata
April 12th, 2010
6:35 pm
Dawg fans need to brace themselves for some serious beatdowns this year.
And it will be another long drive home from Jacksonville.
CHDawg
April 12th, 2010
6:38 pm
51- You have to look at their ability and not just the stats. To me, it wasn’t even close: Murray has Heisman talent. The quick release, strong arm and great vision are unique gifts. Seriously, I think he is going to be great. Mett could develop into that kind of talent, but I think he is a bit rougher around the edges. His height and strong arm are keys to his potential. Point is nobody knows until they are under fire over a several game period.
long ride home from columbia
April 12th, 2010
6:42 pm
what makes you really think this team will be SEC ready in week 2?
The loss of three senior defensive tackles –- Jeff Owens, Kade Weston and Atkins -– and the transition to the 3-4 defense combined to make the spring difficult on the D-line. Practices ended with a No. 1 unit of DeAngelo Tyson at nose, Abry Jones at left end and Demarcus Dobbs at right end. Of the three, only Dobbs has started a college game, and he admits the 3-4 is a different world for him.
SC was inside the 10 yd line and one play away from winning in Athens last year. Spurrier is gonna chew up that new defense and exploit the new scheme.
by season’s end, I think the dawgs will have the hang of it… but early on, fuggeddit
go chickens!
51
April 12th, 2010
6:45 pm
Potential doesn’t matter if you can’t produce. Mett outgunned Murray. I wanted all the QB’s t well, but fair is fair, and Mett won the QB dERBY OUTRIGHT, NOT EVEN CLOSE.
UGASlobberknocker
April 12th, 2010
6:47 pm
KimZs Package..Please, get back on the meds.
51
April 12th, 2010
6:48 pm
You can’t put this decision off until Sept, we need a #1 guy to get the most reps to get him ready. We had 3 scrimmages, may the best man, win, Mettenberger won, hands down, dominated.
51
April 12th, 2010
6:50 pm
Murray was good in accuracy because he threw a lot of short 2 yard passes, but below average in touchdowns, scoring, interceptions, yards per completed pass, and td to int ratio.
Hey Tim Tucker:
April 12th, 2010
6:53 pm
Tim,
Can you put up the stats from all 3 QB’s and take a poll or survey as to who should be the #1 on the blog? No commentary, just their stats, just help our Coach make that decision a little?
col fot
April 12th, 2010
7:02 pm
GT BABY, now get on your knees!!!
THUGA in Florida
April 12th, 2010
7:03 pm
What scares me most are the Ref’s? Remember the Arkansas Game Gaytor Fans? Remember the personal foul call on a third down conversion where Spikes Helmet got knocked off and yet they called a penalty on UGA? Pure F’in Luck!!! A Pitiful Media Love affair with Tebow and Urban(Pu$$y A$$) Meyer!! Yes….we have out-an-out been beat a couple of times over the last ten or twenty years. But this is UGA my friends, more pros in the NFL, way more tradition(Florida has the tradition of N.C. State) until all the recent Butt-F’in Media Love Fest. Shamelessly it’s All RIGGED!! I’ve never seen more bad calls and non-calls since NBC contracted with Notre Dame. GEORGIA is and always will be the Greatest State in the World of Sports.
ed
April 12th, 2010
7:05 pm
got this from blogs.onlineathens.com
Here are the statistics from all three spring scrimmages (including G-Day):
Aaron Murray 33 of 56 (58.9 percent) for 380 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 INTs
Zach Mettenberger 23 of 36 (63.9 percent) for 433 yards with 5 TD passes and 1 INT
Logan Gray 23 of 42 for (54.8 percent) for 280 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT
JB
April 12th, 2010
7:06 pm
Funny how people on here are telling us what WILL happen next year….. Throw out a stock tip or two know it all’s.
CHDawg
April 12th, 2010
7:06 pm
51- if we had used that logic, Butler would not have kicked last year! Spring is for practice, learning and development, in addition to evaluation. We won’t know until next year. You have to look at their talent, and even then you have to see how they develop. Mett could end up being the man, but doing well in a scrimmage or two, and against the second string only, doesn’t mean he is ready to be crowned. As to your thought that they have to pick one now for reps: I think Richt’s record shows he knows how to develop QBs. I wouldn’t worry about that. Murray is trying to speed up his release to Pro standards. Obviously, he’s been watching Brees and trying to speed up his game. His release is already extremely fast, and he will have to make some mistakes to perfect the speed up. But, I will say this, Murray’s potential is better than any QB I have seen in quite a while–I believe he will be a great QB. Mett may become one, too. I’m not certainly not badmouthing him.
51
April 12th, 2010
7:17 pm
can’t get over Murray’s lousy td-to-int ratio, completely abysmal. 3 int’s, 2 td’s. bad judgment. loving mett’s 5 to 1 td to int ratio.
If Mett falters against S Carolina or Ark, then put Murray back in and let them battle it out. But Mett won the chance.
CHDawg
April 12th, 2010
7:22 pm
One other point to add: remember that if was all about performance and stats, Tebow would go number one in the draft. The scouts and teams look at release speed, telegraphing, vision, etc. (For all of you Gator fans, I like him and I am rooting for him, but he does have big issues he will have to overcome.) Murray points and shoots almost instantly. When he gets comfortable at this level, he will pick defenses to pieces. Incidentally, that was what one of the recruiting services said about him two years ago–he will pick a zone apart. His height may be a problem. To be honest, he really reminds me of Charlie Ward. He is missing a little bit of the mobility.
CHDawg
April 12th, 2010
7:43 pm
Columbia,
The whole point behind the screening that the UGA coaches did Saturday was to keep Steve in the dark. Grantham is used to stopping offenses that consistently win at the NFL level, something the Ball Coach, as great as he is, couldn’t do. I wouldn’t sell the Dawgs short. Spurrier may pull it off this year, but Grantham knows what he is doing, imo. They didn’t show a lot of their stuff, and that was obvious to anyone who knows what is going on…they won’t against UL Lafayette either. One of the other posters is right about FL and Auburn, they will see what the Dawgs have in earlier games next year. The GDay screening was for SC and ARK, imho.
kevin
April 12th, 2010
7:49 pm
UGA beat SC with a more inexperienced offense and a Willie Martinez style defense last year. While it may take time to perfect, Grantham will have these guys still playing better than Martinez did last year. And SC also lost Eric Norwood–the best defensive player they’ve had since John Abraham. It will likely be a close game–always is. But this nonsense about Spurrier figuring it out…he hasn’t figured it out since leaving FL:
trey
April 12th, 2010
7:53 pm
BOO BOO is the QB coach. Do people SERIOUSLY wonder why neither QB has developed sufficiently to break away from the pack? All 3 looked like right out of HS QBs. BOO BOO can’t coach QBs any better than he call call plays.
Remind me again how many phone calls BOO BOO has gotten so far offering him a job? The only one I know where he was even considered was the HIGH SCHOOL job in Valdosta and I don’t think that was ever even officially offered. Imagine that…
Better hope the OL and DL are good and you better hope that Mett or Murray’s talent will give them the ability to exceed (Gray isn’t going to make it as a QB unless CMR does that stupid a* dedication to the QB who’s been there the longest like he did with noodle arm) because BOO BOO will not develop either of these QBs. The QB position is going to be our weakness. And it’s going to be an ugly weakness unless, again, one of the QBs has strong enough talent to just propel himself through the season on his own.
kevin
April 12th, 2010
8:01 pm
Trey,
Seems pretty difficult (speculative at best) to know to what extent Bobo, Richt and the player himself have in developing skill. Presumably they all try and some do better than others. That said, Bobo was the QB coach for David Greene (who won 42 games–more than any other college football QB in history) as well as Matthew Stafford. So, given those 2, not to mention Shockley, and Bobo’s being the QB coach, seems far fetched to say he can’t develop QBs. That said, I will grant you that at OC, Bobo’s playing calling has at times been pretty terrible.
CHDawg
April 12th, 2010
8:02 pm
Trey,
1-Richt is taking an active role with this bunch. 2- Murray and Mett have both improved and developed drastically since last year’s game. They could be doing it themselves, but they both show tremendous promise already. Maybe Bobo knows what he is doing a little bit? Murray has obviously been working on his release. I was out of town and my wife DVRd it for me. I looked at some of the throws a couple of times and in slow mo–Murray is the real deal, imo. Mett shows great potential, too. They didn’t use the running game at all on Sat. I agree with you that Gray needs to be used as a WR who can throw off of reverses and throw overs, and that the key is the O and D line. If we end up with great lines, I think we make a run at the NC this year!
Jimmy
April 12th, 2010
8:21 pm
This QB battle is going to be interesting, especially if Mett continues his sharp play in summer practices. If Mett is named the starter but Murray has to start the first game because of Mett’s suspension. What do you do in game 2 at SC?? I don’t care how good Mett is, I don’t want him starting for the first time at the chickens. I would guess you start Murray and give Mett a few snaps, getting him ready for the third game at home against a weak team defensively in Arkansas??
Yall should check out ‘Herschel Talker’s’ “G Day Game 2010″ highlights on Youtube. I’m not sure if it’s the same Talker who frequents these blogs so much. It’s set to “Kickstart my heart” by Motley Crew. It’s well put together. And you can never go wrong w/a Crew song. haha
Jimmy
April 12th, 2010
8:25 pm
On that same YouTube hightlight is a link from a ‘BamaTony73′ named “Pittsburgh Steelers(Girls) Represnting.” All I could say to that is Oh My God!
Michael
April 12th, 2010
8:32 pm
Trey,
First your comment about Bobo is just dumb, His track record says he is a pretty good QB coach so i dont know why your hating on him for that and second with the running back tandem they have returning next year the QB will not be called on to dominate games like Stafford did a lot his last year with the running backs taking pressure of Mett/Murray(Im assuming gray is out of it) they’ll develop in time
Neda
April 12th, 2010
8:34 pm
By game day, some of the UGA quarterbacks will be serving time for a felony or at least a serious misdemeanor. Count on it.
Then clean up your act, Coach Richt. Start recruiting players with some intelligence and integrity.
Delusional Dawg
April 12th, 2010
8:36 pm
My only concern in watching the Spring Game was seeing how Mettenberger sliced and diced Grantham’s NFL quality defense and how the Browns are probably gonna sweep in and offer Berger a $42 mil contract and he won’t even bother coming back in the fall. Plus, I already have heard that the kid is working a sponsorship deal with Bacardi on the side…
Neda
April 12th, 2010
8:36 pm
If this upsets you Dawg fans, start bugging Richt to recruit student-athletes instead of illiterate thugs.
Michael
April 12th, 2010
8:37 pm
Neda,
I’m getting tired of all of these felony/crime thing everyone always puts on Ga, yeah they have ppl get arrested for drinking fairly often but have you been to Athens? And do you seriously think that doesn’t happen to other teams? Well it does they just dont talk about it as much because Ga is a competitive team year in and year out and they love getting down on teams like that. Same thing with Urban Meyer and the reporter thing, granted I despise Fl, but that was taken way out of proportion he was a little over the top but he was just backing up one of his players, Journalists love writing about Big name schools when anything happens at all, Bottom Line
CHDawg
April 12th, 2010
8:46 pm
Neda,
Since you brought it up and cast the first stone, answer honestly: did you ever drink beer as an underaged teen? Now answer honestly, because otherwise you would be a liar.
Deputy Dawg
April 12th, 2010
8:47 pm
I played football in high school so I know a thing or too about football. From what I seen at the G Day game we have a lot to be worried about this season. We are to thin at many positions and don’t forget loosing Derrick Rogers to Tennessee will really hurt us. I think we will go about 6 -6 and end up back in Shreeveport. But I think after 2011 things will get a lot better and we will win the national championship. I played football for 3 years in high school and now what I am talking about hear.
Debose
April 12th, 2010
9:00 pm
51 from the Gator D in 2010? 52 from the Gator D in 2009.
2009 Gator D – 18 Touchdowns allowed, 12.4 average points allowed per game, 174 total points allowed
2009 UGA G Day – Red 13 Black 3 = 16 points!!!!
2009 UGA D – 41 TDs allowed, 25.9 average points allowed, 337 points allowed
What happened???
ed
April 12th, 2010
9:06 pm
these people saying Murray has the most upside, look here.
according to scout.com, Mettenberger has
“the most upside of any QB in his class”
http://georgia.scout.com/a.z?s=135&p=8&c=1&nid=3230834
Sid
April 12th, 2010
9:32 pm
Dawgs have 3 QB’s either one of whom could start.So, we have some depth.With our OL and if defense improves,we will contend for the SEC East-write it down !!!!!
kevin
April 12th, 2010
9:40 pm
Neda,
Nearly every program in the SEC has players who do not behave themselves properly off-field. To single UGA reeks of bias. That said, Mett’s off-the-field troubles are not troubles at all. He got caught drinking underage–who the hell cares. As pointed at by CHDawg, who didn’t? And, if you didn’t I think there would be more cause to think something was wrong.
Mett had the strongest arm–no question. Though, Murray has the quickest release, and despite not having the best numbers, its early. Murray is more mobile and Mett will be out for game 1. Split reps between Murray and Mett and if Murray performs in game 1, you have to go with him. Though, if Mett appears the better QB in practice and Murray falters, give the ball the Mett.