Injury risk won’t stop Dogs from using A.J. Green on punt returns
A.J. Green might or might not return punts for Georgia this year. But if he doesn’t, it won’t be because of the risk of injury.
“People talk about, ‘Well, gosh, what if he got hurt?’” coach Mark Richt said Thursday. “Well, he can get hurt running down the sideline and getting hit while he’s trying to catch the ball. So I don’t know if there’s any more risk factor [returning punts] than any other play.”
The deciding factor, then, on whether Georgia’s star receiver doubles as a punt returner will be: Is he the best player for the role?
Richt isn’t sure.
“I wouldn’t be against him doing anything for us that would help us win,” Richt said. “But the bottom line is, is he the best at that skill? If he is, then we’ll let him play. Or if there are certain times we feel like it’s important to get him in there and do that, we might do that, too.”
Green returned punts at Summerville (S.C.) High School -– he returned 12 for touchdowns –- and he told Richt during spring practice that he’d like to reprise the role this year for the Bulldogs.
He was among seven players who took turns returning punts in spring ball, joining Branden Smith, Brandon Boykin, Washaun Ealey, Bacarri Rambo, Carlton Thomas and Rantavious Wooten. The job is open because of the graduation of Prince Miller, who had 19 of the Dogs’ 23 punt returns last season.
See also: Richt says no timetable on Logan Gray decision but position change possible if he stays
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127 comments Add your comment
bkbroila4224
April 29th, 2010
10:11 pm
First….
bkbroila4224
April 29th, 2010
10:12 pm
2nd
bkbroila4224
April 29th, 2010
10:12 pm
3rd
bkbroila4224
April 29th, 2010
10:13 pm
4th 5th 6th…ect….
bkbroila4224
April 29th, 2010
10:14 pm
Use him as much as possible…..I, personally think that Boykin would be the best bet at PR….
Delbert D.
April 29th, 2010
10:19 pm
AJ is much better running away from people. Don’t risk him.
Delbert D.
April 29th, 2010
10:20 pm
“Richt isn’t sure.”
That’s not news.
impressed
April 29th, 2010
10:23 pm
every major program (Alabama, USC, Florida, etc.) puts the best person for the job on the field for every play. not that it matters, but this makes me think Mark Richt really is serious about winning!!! GO DAWGS!!!
ps- I wanna see happen on the field before I believe it.
Sonrisa
April 29th, 2010
10:36 pm
As always, the real question is whether the player can stay out of jail. With UGA’s players, that’s very much in question.
This simply isn’t a serious issue at 99% of US schools, only at UGA. I would really like to see an investigation into why UGA players are arrested so often, but the AJC doesn’t seem to want to upset anyone by asking the hard and embarrassing questions.
bufbox
April 29th, 2010
10:38 pm
The dif is when AJ makes a pass reception, he usually has from 0 – 3, maybe 4, people between him
and the goalline ….. not 11. Doesn’t make sense to worry about lack-of-depth at receiver on the one hand, and then put your main go-to WR back fielding punts on the other. I don’t think a good idea. Thomas Brown tore ACL returning a KO late in a game already won, and sat out the whole next season.
Sonrisa
April 29th, 2010
10:40 pm
Perhaps when we get a decent governor, we’ll get the investigation that’s long overdue. It’s going to be so much fun to see so many heads roll over the results.
And you thought things might change after Jan Kemp exposed UGA for the farce it is.
TashaB
April 29th, 2010
10:42 pm
Two words feared most in Athens: Jan Kemp (aka Saint Jan).
bufbox
April 29th, 2010
10:51 pm
You would think they would at least stick to the subject. But it matters not, trolls are everywhere on other sites I participate in, non-sports even. If no one would engage them and play along… they would move on.
Ace
April 29th, 2010
11:38 pm
Not a good idea with his excessive celebration history. Flags for days.
Ted Striker
April 29th, 2010
11:47 pm
As long as FATIGUE isn’t a factor, if Green is the best threat for punt returns — and that’s a big if — play him there.
Vince Dooley, a very sound coach, underutilized UGA’s best ever talent. How much more effective could Herschel Walker have been if Dooley had been willing to pass to him out of the backfield?
Walker showed what he could do catching the ball in the NFL.
guy
April 29th, 2010
11:47 pm
There are some dumb people who comment on these articles. They don’t want to win or lose,they just want to argue and criticize. You can’t hide simple and childish minds! 1st,2nd,&3rd shows what level in school they made it to and it shows.
FL Dawg
April 29th, 2010
11:53 pm
If Smith has learned how to hang onto the ball he should be the man on pr. If not either Boykin or Green would serve well. Perhaps this will be the new role for Gray.
Delusional Dawg
April 30th, 2010
12:24 am
That would be another DUMB decision.
SEC Champions 2010
April 30th, 2010
12:43 am
I hear Murray and Charles plan on opening a 7-Eleven in Athens
this fall…Operating hours: 90 minutes each Saturday!
If you look up the term “one-two punch” in the dictionary, you’ll see
a picture of Thing One and Thing Two.
Ealey part Herschel; King part Walker (3)(4)
Advice for Murray: If you do decide to gamble in the passing game,
place your bet on the “Easy Eight”. You’ll come up big more often
than not!
Aaron Murray quote during his college football recruitment: “When I
left Florida with Georgia on my mind, I knew Athens was the place for
me.”
GT12
April 30th, 2010
12:46 am
I think it’s a great idea to use him if he’s the best for the job.
Conventional wisdom seems to be that you don’t want to use your best players on special times because of the injury risk. While that might make sense at first, I have to disagree. If you want to stock your special teams with scholarship rejects and walk ons, I think you underestimate how important special teams are. Look at VT. they put great scholarship players on all of their special teams, and beamerball has typically resulted in some of the best special teams in the country. Special teams can be a game changer, and there’s an argument to be made that it’s worth the risk.
st. simons boyfriend
April 30th, 2010
1:05 am
i don’t know why he keeps using girl names on these blogs.
GT3O
April 30th, 2010
1:57 am
I personally thought Boykin was a helluva threat back there. But Richt is the head man.
BuLLdawg
April 30th, 2010
4:11 am
QUOTE
by
jasont13
April 29th, 2010 11:02 am
Dawgfan80, if your looking at BuLLdawg’s list of graduation rates then your looking at the wrong things. BuLLdawgs is a Florida fan. There is no way and I mean 0 way they lead have a\a higher graduation rate than most of the other schools in the SEC. They way graduations are accumulated are by how many players graduate in 4 years, not 5. And if you have a player who leaves early after his junior year and comes back two years later and graduates, that is not listed. Also if you have a player who graduates in the summer that does not count either. BuLLdawgs you in my book will never be a UGA fan or alum and if you really are, what a disgrace you are to the Bulldog Nation!
END QUOTE guy who knows NOTHING about Graduation Rates and how they are calculated.
1st transfer ARE accounted for by the NCAA. They do NOT count against the school if they are passing and on target at the time.
2nd This is not MY LIST D.A. It is the NCAA list of Graduation Rates, the latest one just released 2010.
3rd UGA is 9th in The SEC in football graduation rates.
4th It is NOT determined by who graduates in 4 years as you LIE. It is based on the same 6 years given every student at every school. Outside 6 years, all schools have some that graduate. If all you do is take 3 standard classes and do not go to Summer School, you would graduate in 4 years, not the 6 given everyone by the NCAA and DOE. I graduated in 3 years by taking an extra standard class or 2 extra 3 hour classes every enrollment and I went actually 4 Summers. Dean Fluellen approved my schedule personally every enrollment. I had a 4.0 into my senior year and ended 3.88. I ended up with 239 hours not the 180 minimum required.
I do not hold the football players to that. I DO HOLD them to the same as every other SEC school and we are WAY FAR BEHIND in Graduation Rates around here in football.
I graduated in the Summer and SUMMERS DO COUNT in the NCAA calculation, D.A. Quit making up lies you know NOTHING ABOUT.
Latest Graduation Success Rates in Football according to NCAA :
GSR released 2010 by NCAA for Football SEC :
.
.
91 % Vanderbilt
69 % Florida
69 % Ole Miss
67 % Alabama
63 % Mississippi State
60 % LSU
60 % South Carolina
59 % Auburn
57 % Georgia
.
Here is your URL Link. Look them up yourself. I already did.
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/ncaa/ncaa/academics+and+athletes/education+and+research/academic+reform/gsr/2009/841gfw951_2009_d1_school_gsr_data.html
BuLLdawg
April 30th, 2010
4:17 am
QUOTE
by
chazzo
April 29th, 2010 7:16 am
BullDawg,
Losing 14 games in the last 4 years is 3.5 losses a year. You are simply wrong in your negative outlook. 100s of teams would love to have that record. Other schools do have these problems.
END B.S. QUOTE
Well, chazzo, you and I have read each others’ posts for many years here and elsewhere, and there are NOT hundreds of teams who would love to have our record the last 4 years of 10-10 not a winning record in our own division of our own conference let alone be relevant on the national stage 0 of the 9 years of the Coach Richt Era having NEVER beat a Top 10 Final AP Poll team in any game and in fact having only beat 3 Top 10 Final AP Poll teams in the Coach Richt Era while having LOST 11. As for the other schools who have these problems, go ahead, name me a team with 4 Arrests / Suspensions since Spring Practice Started, name me a team with 3 kicked off their team since just Spring Practice Started, go ahead and name me a team with the 38 Arrests / Suspensions that David Hale of the macon.com just researched for you here at UGA in just the last 3 years.
I will wait for that response, while I point out we are 9th in The SEC in latest NCAA Football Graduation Rates, have lost to 5 SEC East teams the last 4 years who none of the 5 teams are Top 25 Final AP Poll teams.
Here is where we are in the last 4 years :
1-A Wins 2006-2009 (4 years)
1. Boise State 49
2. Florida 48
3. Texas 45
4. Ohio State 44
5. Brigham Young 43
6. Southern Cal 43
7. Oklahoma 42
7. Texas Christian 42
9. Cincinnati 41
10. Virginia Tech 41
11. Louisiana State 40
12. Penn State 40
13. Utah 40
14. West Virginia 40
15. Boston College 38
16. Central Michigan 38
17. Missouri 38
18. Wisconsin 38
19. Georgia 38
20. Texas Tech 37
21. Houston 36
22 Hawaii 36
23. Oregon 36
24. Oregon State 36
25. Rutgers 36
26. Georgia Tech 36
.
.
Which ones of these programs has had more than 94 Arrested / Suspended in the 9-Year Coach Richt Era ?
Go ahead make up your excuses.
There aren’t any and we are # 19 in the last 4 years.
IRRELEVANT.
.
BuLLdawg
April 30th, 2010
4:25 am
We have NEVER beat a Top 10 Final AP Poll team in a Bowl Game in the Coach Richt 9-Year Era.
We have played 11 games vs Top 10 Final AP Poll teams in the Coach Richt Era.
David Greene beat # 4 Final AP Poll vols in regular season 2001.
DJ Shockley beat # 6 Final AP Poll LSU for SEC Champs 2005.
Matthew Stafford beat # 9 Final AP Poll Auburn regular season.
We have LOST all other 8 games vs Top 10 Final AP Poll teams
3-8
0 wins over Top 10 Final AP Poll teams in bowl games.
This is the national stage at the end of the season to be rewarded with a game against a relevant team. Florida State had 5 losses in 2002, ranked # 24 Final AP Poll. Hawaii was ranked # 19 Final AP Poll, neither relevant wins on the national stage between 2 power houses on the national stage.
What we have done to get on the National Stage is to be Arrested / Suspended and to have the 9th WORST Graduation Rate in The SEC, along with going 2-7 vs Florida, losing 5 games to teams NOT ranked in the Top 25 Final AP Poll the last 4 years who all 5 were in The SEC East alone.
I am NOT SATISFIED with that.
What do I want ?
More.
And, for Mike Bobo to be FIRED.
bruce mac
April 30th, 2010
4:48 am
BuLLdawg, we got it man. How many of the arrests are for drinking with no one the worse for wear at the end of the day. What do you suggest CMR do about it other than kick them off the team which is what he is doing? CMR is supposed to know before hand that walks ons are going to drink? I do believe he may have been too willing to give a second or even third chance to some in the past but that is him. As to Bobo, this is his last year to make it happen IMO. Graduation rates are similar except Vandy, big deal. Football team is very similar to the rest of student body at UGA as far as rate.
Jen
April 30th, 2010
5:18 am
BuLLdawg, if your not happy, go be a GT fan…or a Scar fan, UT, Old Miss Miss St, Ky, Vandy, Duke, Miami, UV or who ever…..since they are soooo much better than UGA.
If you can’t be a fan, no matter what…STFU……Life ain’t perdect all of the time.
I would love a NC @ UGA as much as any UGA fan but life’s a bitch. Deal with it.
BuLLdawg
April 30th, 2010
5:20 am
On the street on his butt.
AM 690 The FAN has reported THIS on their media outlet I read myself.
2 other accounts, both first hand are not 3rd hand reports like AM 690 the FAN who quotes 3 SOURCES, and I have read both of those and have the URL Link for.
The Sorority issued a statement. I have that URL Link too. They said that they hope that he gets all he has coming to him.
Around here, oh we can’t talk about that.
Coach Richt was wrong to punish Montez Robinson by kicking him off the team for FAR MORE than Zach Mettenberger did.
THAT is what is said around here.
BuLLdawg
April 30th, 2010
5:24 am
They do whatever the hell they want to do. Which is to NOT GRADUATE. To lose 10 SEC East games the last 4 years. To have 38 documented arrests / suspensions in the last 3 years like these, according to David Hale of macon.com. To have lost to 5 unranked top 25 Final AP Poll SEC East teams the last 4 years, and YOU SAY I should be more positive.
Oh, I love this. This is just what I want to have all this going on.
Jen
April 30th, 2010
5:25 am
Wrong to punish Robinson?!!…are you on crack?
BTW, this is yesterday’s news get over it.
Gin
April 30th, 2010
5:40 am
BuLLdawg needs to go back to bed. DA.
robertussen
April 30th, 2010
6:33 am
i went to shs and saw aj play and return punts. i say use him in any way while you have him. the more hes on the field the more he has the opportunity to make a big play. he might not be back next year and i dont blame him. this is a big time nfl player.
Richard Tardits
April 30th, 2010
6:34 am
BuLLdawg, what do you do for fun? BTW I think you are confusing radio stations. It’s 680 The Fan and 790 The Zone not 690. I think 690 is the Mexican fiesta radio station.
Friday morning buffet « Get The Picture
April 30th, 2010
6:50 am
[...] Mark Richt says the right things about A.J. Green, punt returner. [...]
Go AJ
April 30th, 2010
6:53 am
Go AJ!!!!!! Glad to hear he’ll get to return some punts. CMR coaching to win and coaching someone from getting hurt. I truly hope that was not the case, as some others on this board have been stating. An injury just happens and is not restricted to how, where, and what type of play that you happen to be in for. Bo Jackson going down, the wide receiver breaking his leg while running a pass route a few years back, a kicker jumping up and coming down wrong and blowing out a knee are but a few freakish injuries. Then you see someone take such a lick that you know that he must be dead, and then the player jumping up and running off the field. Coach to win and let the chips fall where they may. Glad to see CMR has changed his mind.
ATL XMAN
April 30th, 2010
7:01 am
bulldawg…bulldawg…robinson didnt slam her to the ground or up against any dumpster…the girl herself told the cops he didnt do anything other than walked away. she wouldnt get out of his way and he bumped/ran into her. he being as big as he is and she is all of 5′5 wouldnt have taken much for her to fall. get your facts right..think about it..if he slamms her to the ground she aint getting back up.
and you cant just pick and choose richts wins and losses, you have to grade his whole body of work, all of his 9 years here. he is top 5 easy in college football. thats why you will never get any respect on here..your a joke
82Dawg
April 30th, 2010
7:16 am
Jen ….Well said!!!!
DawgNole
April 30th, 2010
7:45 am
Good memory there, Striker. I believe Walker caught 18 passes his entire three years at UGA–then 60 or so his first year in the pros. Always wondered why we didn’t better utilize his open-field talents.
Mike in the SAV
April 30th, 2010
7:48 am
I believe Javier Arenas returned punts for the Tide and held down his regular role as a DB.
He was the best they had so they did not fear using him.
FORTY NINE POINTS to your ten points
April 30th, 2010
7:56 am
Doesn’t matter.
((((((((((((((41-17)))))))))))))))
Clarke County Correctional
April 30th, 2010
7:57 am
And those arrests just keep on coming.
James T. Kirk
April 30th, 2010
8:08 am
A.J. who? Stephen Hill will take over college football this year. The overhyped, overrated A.J. fella will be an after thought. Stephen Hill will win the Heisman contest if Nezbit doesn’t. Book it.
Jeckyll Island
April 30th, 2010
8:08 am
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
Dawgs whip the jackettes to claim the Governor’s Cup as state champions of Georgia in football!!!!!!
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
Overrated Tech could not even win their own state championship in basketball. LMAO
Why can't?
April 30th, 2010
8:09 am
Why can’t GA Tech ever sell out that tiny little high school stadium of theirs?
Clarke County Correctional
April 30th, 2010
8:12 am
Reality—how’s Jermaine Phillips?
Clarke County Correctional
April 30th, 2010
8:14 am
Jeckyll—you forgot Baseball. How could you forget, say,
((((((((((((((((((((((25-6)))))))))))))
The Dawgnation
April 30th, 2010
8:15 am
Mettenberger LIED to Mark Richt about the events leading to his arrest. When Coach Richt finally received a detailed report he then realized that Mettenberger had lied to him. Any coach with decent character would’ve kicked Mettenberger off the team after that! Mettenberger deserved to be kicked off the team. The Dawgnation does not want players that lie to their coach.
How about the Florida Gators policy of allowing players to have up to 5 failed drug tests before being punished?
FORTY ONE POINTS to your seventeen points
April 30th, 2010
8:16 am
Good morning losers.
(((((((((((((((((((((41-17))))))))))))))))
dap01
April 30th, 2010
8:17 am
Why is this an issue? Boykins seemed to be one on the best in the country last year.
Clarke County Correctional
April 30th, 2010
8:21 am
SINCE 2005 GEORGIA (30) ARRESTS
Michael Lemon (aggravated battery)
Justin Anderson (simple battery)
Trinton Sturvidant (simple battery)
Blake Barnes (furnishing alcohol to a minor)
Tripp Chandler (minor in possession of alcohol)
Brandon Wood (DUI)
Kelvin Perez (DUI)
Vince Vance (knowingly driving with a suspended license)
Donovan Baldwin (DUI, reckless driving)
Fred Munzenmaier (underage possession of alcohol)
Jeff Henson (public urination)
Clint Boling (DUI)
Jeremy Lomax (reckless driving, possession of a concealed weapon without a license)
Matthew Prick (underage alcohol possession)
Tanner Strickland (fake identification)
Paul Taylor (battery)
Shane McCleskey (battery)
Akeem Hebron (underage possession of alcohol)
Antonio Sims (DUI)
Ian Smith (public intoxication)
Marquis Elmore (driving with a suspended license)
Dannell Ellerbe (DUI)
Kedrick Golston (disorderly conduct, bar fight)
Derrick White (disorderly conduct, bar fight)
Tavares Kearney (simple battery)
Derrick White (DUI)
Zeb McKinzey (underage possession of alcohol)
Darrius Swain (driving with a suspended license)
Michael Turner (possession of less than an ounce of marijuana)
Rennie Curran (theft, taking a parking boot worth $350)
Jeckyl Island
April 30th, 2010
8:24 am
Termite jackette: Baseball? We are talking events that people actually went to see!!!!! Besides the Dawgs still easily lead Tech in the all-time series record in baseball and lead Tech over the past 10 years in baseball, along with the Dawgs have been to twice as many College World Series as Tech has. Eat your crying whiny heart out jackette! Teach your players to read and write so you guys will not have to change their grades to keep them eligible. That’s right!! Tech served NCAA probation for academic fraud invloving 11 footbakk players and 8 other scholarship athletes! That makes Georgia Tech out to be CHEATERS!!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
GA Tech was overrated and overranked!!!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
Loser Tech could not even win their own state championship in basketball while fielding the most talented team in the nation! Those guys sure learned how to lose the big game while at Tech! LMAO
Hey UGA also beat you termite insects in women’s basketball too. And guess what? It was attended by as many people as the baseball games!! ha ha
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
8 out of 9!!!
TRUTH
April 30th, 2010
8:25 am
Georgia Tech = NCAA probation for academic fraud in athletics!!!!! Now THAT is a FACT!!!!
Georgia Tech = GUILTY!!!! And punished by the NCAA!!!!
Iceman
April 30th, 2010
8:26 am
He won’t.
FORTY ONE POINTS to your seventeen points
April 30th, 2010
8:26 am
@ Jeckyl
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((41-17)))))))))))))))))
7 out of 9
17 out of 20
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Loser!
Reality
April 30th, 2010
8:27 am
The only thing that I know and the only thing that is on the ‘peoples’ minds (including recruits) is that uga seems to be in the news week in and week out with some football player getting into some legal trouble. Forget the details, because this is all about impressions.
Other schools may have more severe instances that occur rarely, but uga is in the news CONSTANTLY with this stuff – and this is what people remember.
An aberration once in a while is one thing. Constant repeat offenses is another thing.
The Cynical White Boy
April 30th, 2010
8:29 am
I say let AJ “Push Off” Green return all the kicks and punts he wants – he’s an expert at getting away with pushing off defensive backs, why can’t he simply push off tacklers, too? The fact the refs don’t call offensive pass interference on him kind of deflates the Thug-Dawgs argument that they are biased against the Thug-Dawgs.
I’m gonna love to see how he makes out when he tries his “push-off” routine against NFL caliber defensive backs.
Perhaps more to the point, given that he will become another zillionaire in the NFL, he probably does not want to return kicks and risk his body prior to draft time.
gdawginkalamazoo
April 30th, 2010
8:29 am
AJ is one of the best receivers in college fooball. His future in the NFL is pretty much secure. IMO I think he should stick to WR. Boykin is one of the best return men in the SEC. Use him. Or possibly Thomas. He seems pretty quick and elusive.
Actually
April 30th, 2010
8:29 am
Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, LSU and Ole Miss all have a similar amount of arrests as UGA. The difference is that all of UGA’s are misdemeanors.
Reality
April 30th, 2010
8:31 am
The arguement that AJ shouldn’t ‘risk his body’ is BS. He or uga can take out insurance to cover losses of future NFL income such that even if he does get hurt he won’t loose the NFL money.
Is he just scared?
DawginLex
April 30th, 2010
8:34 am
Bulldawg I will never believe you attended uga.
Dawglasville
April 30th, 2010
8:35 am
So… the blog was about who should return punts, right?
Morrus
April 30th, 2010
8:36 am
Vote out the incumbents and start over
Ron Mexico
April 30th, 2010
8:37 am
Oh my god, the losers are out in full force this morning, can’t have a simple back and forth about FOOTBALL with out people acting like three year olds. Going to read Chips stuff cause at least he doesn’t put up with the losers that frequent the Bulldawg blogs and articles.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
April 30th, 2010
8:38 am
don’t risk Green. Use Carlton Thomas- short & speedy, could be perfect for that role
Joey
April 30th, 2010
8:39 am
I, for one, would put the ball in Green’s hands as many times as possible. Who knows how the downfield passing game will be this season, so AJ may only get the ball out in the flat. Let him return kickoffs and punts.
This is his last year, so get him the ball!
sogadog
April 30th, 2010
8:41 am
AJ should return punts. He will be gone after next year so maximize the use of his talent and play him every play possible. Can he play cornerback, safety or linebacker? If so, play him on defense too.
It is a shame such a talented receiver in his prime does not have a decent quarterback to throw to him. I hope Murray can successfully get the ball to AJ.
Coach Paul Johnson
April 30th, 2010
8:42 am
Our players at Tech dont get into any trouble because they are scared to venture off campus and be robbed or murdered. It is hard to get into trouble locked in your dorm room scared for your life. Our team is jealous of the fun players get to have in Athens. Alright team, make sure you dont get to close to the edge of campus and let the former Tech students rob/shoot you.
Dawglasville
April 30th, 2010
8:48 am
I want someone who can hold onto the ball and not lay it on the turf inside our own 25. How many times in the last two years have our kick off and punt returners fumbled the ball? I would like the focus to be on actually controlling a game, not worrying about a home run. Green may give you both. Only the coaches know that… I hope.
The Truth
April 30th, 2010
8:51 am
Weeeeelll….looky here
Source: ncaa.org (NCAA Legislative Database of Major Infractions)
1) Arizona State
Wisconsin
2) SMU
3) Auburn
4) Minnesota
5) Oklahoma
6) Texas A&M
7) Wichita State
9) Cal
10)Florida State
11)GEORGIA
Hmmmmmm….how about that?
1eyedJack
April 30th, 2010
8:54 am
It’s like A Clockwork Orange…I’m beginning to feel about seeing BuLLdawg post the way I feel about St. Simons.
Dawglasville
April 30th, 2010
8:55 am
sogadog I was feeling bad for A.J. too with a new QB but it could work out. Calvin Johnson had Reggie Ball and things turned out pretty well for him. That was one recruit I really hated to lose. Imagine what we could have done with him.
1eyedJack
April 30th, 2010
9:01 am
I think AJ could return punts just as good as Forrest Gump. Having said that, I think CMR knows just how his bread is buttered, and that is with AJ Green split out wide and going deep. I don’t think you will see Washaun in that role either.
Do you think Coach Smith would allow Roddy White to return punts?
jay
April 30th, 2010
9:02 am
Why do people come to a blog and not talk about the article. You really have nothing better to do get a life losers!
On the article I think if Aj wants to field punts then let him if he is the best at it. I come on here all the time and people bad mouth CMR and now he is wanting to put his best players out there and people still complain. Do your thing Mark! GO DAWGS!
1eyedJack
April 30th, 2010
9:03 am
Yarbles! Great bolshy yarblockos to you.
Brock
April 30th, 2010
9:10 am
Terrant- charges dropped
Robinson, Mett and the other 88- not so much
AJ as a punt returner- brilliant
steeldawg
April 30th, 2010
9:21 am
Did we really only make the other teams punt 23 times last year? That cant be right. I know Willie and last years squad was bad, but come on now…
Dawglasville
April 30th, 2010
9:24 am
jay Most of us have nothing but love for Coach Richt. I just hope that his coaches can drive the point home about holding on to the ball. I’m old school. Most of the trends I hate are on defense. No one tackles any more. I mean, wrap up tackle. Everyone goes for the ball and lets the guy go for another ten yards on extra effort. The high shoulder torpedo shots safeties give to receivers just so they can stand over them and gloat in front of the camera makes me crazy too. How many times do receivers bounce off and go the distance or you get hit with a personal foul. I seldom watch the NFL but fundamentals seem to find their way back to players when they get to that level.
Will
April 30th, 2010
9:28 am
I went to several spring practices and the man with the best talent back there is Carlton Thomas. He has all the natural ability to be the best return man since Damien Gary. Plus I think he will put in the extra hours this summer improving his ball catching skills. Also, Did anyone recognize the fact that we were only punted to 23 times last year!!!!!! That is an amazing stat I never noticed.
ugaclassof2004
April 30th, 2010
9:31 am
I agree with bkbroila4224. Why not Brandon Boykin? Or Branden Smith?Both are super fast and did well in that compacity. With those guys returning punts and kickoff’s along with Drew Butler’s punting, our special teams could be a strength. I don’t understand why this is so hard to figure out?
Dawglasville
April 30th, 2010
9:32 am
1eyedJack Too funny (I’m not sure how our humble narrator would say that).
BurningRedBleedingBlack
April 30th, 2010
9:34 am
idk, I kind of like this idea myself, Aj Green is really fast so i say go for it, plus he’s put on more bulk since last year and hes older and smarter. I agree with the post about Carlton Thomas also a short blazing fast guy. Brandon Boykin did a Great job last year with returning punts last year he was a natural at it. GO DAWGS!!!!
Scott Woerner
April 30th, 2010
9:43 am
Whoever we have back there better be able to catch the ball. Prince Miller was a fumbler.
AltamahaDawg
April 30th, 2010
9:53 am
“Well, he can get hurt running down the sideline and getting hit while he’s trying to catch the ball. So I don’t know if there’s any more risk factor [returning punts] than any other play.”
The deciding factor, then, on whether Georgia’s star receiver doubles as a punt returner will be: Is he the best player for the role?
This is what I have been saying all along. For my money he is not the best suited. I don’t think punt return is sytle of motion suited to him. Cross training always helps an athlete though.
SEE BuLLdawg, this is an example of how somebody actually HAS been saing it all along. I didn’t say the exact opposite, claim to have been saying this “all along”, then chicken turd pretend to ignore it when I get called out on it.
CLEVON LITTLE
April 30th, 2010
9:54 am
AJ’s a special talent –I believe everyone will agree on that. He’s also tall at 6′4″, and I personally think the smaller, shifty-er backs do a better job at making people miss. You also don’t want to get your best WR getting winded running a punt back, then have him go right back onto the field running routes & expect him to stay in for the whole series. It’s a give & take. Not sold on it paying off.
robertussen
April 30th, 2010
9:57 am
@sogadog yes aj can play d too. he did that at summerville high school. this kid is unreal. but i wouldnt play him that much at this or the next level. you want to keep a top notch receiver as fresh as possible to be able to make those big plays. heres something else interesting. while playing at summerville high, aj’s team, he went up against some top notch des. the only other high school in dorchester district two is fort dorchester high school. the two des were former florida, and now cin. bengal, carlos dunlap, and unc de, robert quinn. carlos went in the 2nd round of this years draft and robert and aj are both projected 1st rounders next year. its been a good last couple of years in zip code 29483
Exley DAWG
April 30th, 2010
10:19 am
The most successful punt returners are fast with the ability to change directions on a dime. Green is fast by to tall to change directions on a dime. I wouldn’t do it. Brandon Smith is the man for the job.
gdawginkalamazoo
April 30th, 2010
10:27 am
Branden Smith would be a good one too. That dude can flat out fly. I just think that we have too many other options than to risk AJ on the PRs.
Somebody should look that stat up on the punted to only 23 times? That is pathetic. How many did Logan call a fair catch on? Nothing against him on that by the way because that is what the coaches told him to do.
Now that we are talking returning punts that may be a good thing to get better field postion.
AltamahaDawg
April 30th, 2010
10:44 am
PUNT RETURN AVG G No. Yards TD Avg.
1. LSU 12 25 466 2 18.6
2. Alabama 13 36 568 1 15.8
3. Kentucky 12 26 340 1 13.1
4. Georgia 12 22 234 0 10.6
5. Miss. State 12 15 151 1 10.1
6. Tennessee 12 12 112 0 9.3
7. South Carolina 12 21 177 0 8.4
8. Arkansas 12 13 108 1 8.3
9. Ole Miss 12 24 186 0 7.8
10. Florida 13 38 290 1 7.6
11. Vanderbilt 12 31 149 0 4.8
12. Auburn 12 24 107 0 4.5
Just a thought ....... hmmmmm
April 30th, 2010
11:00 am
I propose a new rule for this site:
Only college educated folks can blog here. When you cross the blogshere line, to this site, the AJC will card you and ask for a university picture ID. We also will ask if ??? you are COLLEGE EDUCATED. Major football school grads can come in and blog BUT if you are just say, a 20 something, unemployed loser, sorry. Go watch Barry O speak somehwere.
To offer comments here one should at least have sipped of the wine ………or gone to COLLEGE and GRADUATED for crying out loud. All others can offer UNEDUCATED opinons and well, they simply do not matter.
coachx
April 30th, 2010
11:01 am
Both Boykin and B. Smith are stellar returners. No need to play Green there.
SILLY UGA FANS
April 30th, 2010
11:02 am
Wow in the beginning it looked like a civil discussion might occur, Then once again it turns into who had more players arrested and for what. As a GT fan I have nothing but respect for AJs skills as a WR. A move to punt returner could hurt him or could make his draft status that much better if he does well. Look at CJ Spiller it was not his skill at RB that had him taken so high it was his abilty to be a play maker as a RB, PR, and KR. If AJ is the best choice UGA has as a returner then use him if others are capable of the same play making abilty then why risk it.
Tim Tucker
April 30th, 2010
11:04 am
Steeldawg:
The stat (23) is just punts that were returned. Does not include punts that weren’t returned.
Lyle from Athens GA
April 30th, 2010
11:04 am
We really don’t have much speed.
I think it’s going to be a very long year
but all teams go through bad/down cycles.
At least we have gymnastics going well…
Nick
April 30th, 2010
11:07 am
I’ve said it all along regarding this issue. There’s no more risk involved in returning punts than there is in playing receiver and thankfully CMR has echoed my feelings on it. Face it, how many injuries do you see with a PR vs. a WR? It’s all conjured up people.
If he’s in on more plays, then it does stand to reason his chances of being hurt are greater, and playing more may tire him quicker, but if he can handle the load and is the best man for the job, I say put him back there.
Personally, I don’t think we have a faster player than Branden Smith, though, and I’d rather see him back there.
If you argue putting someone other than AJ in there due to risk of injury then don’t you, by pure logic have to have the same argument for putting another starter in there doing it?
The only remedy to that is to have a full time punt returner only, which ain’t gonna happen.
Another TRUTH
April 30th, 2010
11:08 am
The NCAA stats were for MAJOR COLLEGES ……………that is why there are no ACC schools on their list. besides, didn’t Tech have a systemic academic problem in baseball, track and football and basketball about 6 years back?? Give me a break.
The UGA haters are jealous, because they did not have the where with all $$$ to go AWAY to a great university …………..so they HATE at home on mom’s PC, while she supports them. Am I right???
Be very afraid, be very afraid of ……………ETHYL Street. Scary that area of campus is. Tech ought to hire Crittendon for night guard duty, he being a G un T oting thug and all.
Lyle from Athens GA
April 30th, 2010
11:10 am
and we always have the Atlanta Braves (LOL)
My lil old Kappa Kappa head
April 30th, 2010
11:19 am
My lil old Kappa head is a swimming with all of these diffiult stats. I do however, want to offer one lil old stat that I CAN understand ………….. UGA owns Florida and tech in football. Always have and always will. OWNS THEM.
I have the May vapors. We are having our social this weekend wit the Tri Delts, so I must go sunbathe behind the House on Milledge Street. I hope the beers are Athens in May afternoon COLD.
Lordy, Lordy.
SEC East Headlines – 4/30/10 « MrSEC.com
April 30th, 2010
11:20 am
[...] more than anybody ever knows.”6. If AJ Green doesn’t return punts for UGA this year, it won’t be because of injury concerns.7. John Calipari is teasing Kentucky fans with the idea of starting a JV team in Lexington. 8. [...]
mark
April 30th, 2010
11:40 am
I thik the point that Richt doesn’t get is that it increases his chances for injury because he is out on the field getting hit more times than he normally would. If he’s the best PR we have then fine but understand that if he gets hurt our passing game (or whatever passing game we might have with a rookie qb) is out the window.
The D
April 30th, 2010
11:40 am
It is football, my gosh, let the man play it if he is the best for the job. It is impossible to have a great football team if you can’t have the confidence they won’t get hurt every play. What kind of message does that send to the team, “we know AJ is the best player, but we think he could get hurt, so we aren’t going to use him” IT IS A SPORT, CRAP HAPPENS BOTH GOOD AND BAD, how about giving us a chance for some good outcomes on punt returns,
And the post with the arrest records is absurd!! Alcohol on 2/3 of the arrests, these are such bad kids, right? (lol) you idiot, if you have been to Athens, then you would know the cops have nothing better to do than harass students, jealousy and envy will make cops look for more than they should.
Jessi
April 30th, 2010
11:59 am
You’re right, Clarke County Correctional…UGA has indeed had 30 arrests since 2005. Of those 30, 7 of them are related to alcohol (not DUI’s, which I think are far more serious), 5 are for simple fist-fights, 3 are for driving violations, and 1 is for a fake ID…not exactly looking at big-time criminal activity here. You’re talking about college kids who drink, sometimes get in a fight, and have driving violations. But you’re right…big time thugs up here in Athens.
On the other hand, Florida has had 24 arrests since 2005, six less than UGA. BUT a big chunk of those are for drugs, felony burglary (one case in which there was also the added charges of larceny and obstruction of justice), domestic violence, and theft. If I had a choice, I’ll take UGA’s 30 arrests since most of them are minor. Nobody is buying your UGA is so much more of a thug-school than elsewhere tactic. Pick another one.
West Coast Bias
April 30th, 2010
12:09 pm
Branden Smith and Brandon Boykin- It ain’t rocket science folks.
F-105 Thunderchief
April 30th, 2010
12:28 pm
I sure am glad Jon Fabris is gone. That guy was terrible.
Rantdawg
April 30th, 2010
12:32 pm
Apparently CMR has asked Hutson Mason to sitout the rest of the Lassiter Lacrosse season to avoid any chance of an injury. Looks like Coach is protecting his second option (Maybe First IMO). Smart move.
GT BBall Fan
April 30th, 2010
12:38 pm
All I hear from Dawg fans is how UGA selects the best players in the nation, WE don’t even have to recruit. And now your worried if ONE punt returner/WR gets hurt it will derail your season. I thought football factory’s like this just plugs in the next 5 star recruit and keeps winning. It works for FLA, Bama and LSU but not UGA. Now do you understand why all other fans tell you that UGA football is an average SEC program at best.
AltamahaDawg
April 30th, 2010
12:55 pm
Considering that you completely made up things that you hear from all those Dawg fans, your assurances of what all those other fans say might be a bit suspect.
AltamahaDawg
April 30th, 2010
1:00 pm
Are you sure “all (you) hear” from dawg fans isn’t how much better football team they have than yours? That sounds like something somebody that’s not an imaginary enemy drawn on a piece of notebook paper would actually say.
GT BBall Fan
April 30th, 2010
1:01 pm
AD – I read those exact comments on this blog, EXACT comments. Maybe not from you, but your people are posting those statements.
Church of the Latter Day Dude
April 30th, 2010
1:06 pm
I spent my time at college occupying various administration buildings, smoking first class weed, you know the usual stuff, man.
To tell you the truth, man, I don’t remember much about college.
Let’s go bowling, man.
UGA Football Fan
April 30th, 2010
1:06 pm
All I want to “hear” is GT BBall Fan bouncing the ball while he plays H.O.R.S.E. Leave all the football talk to the adults. Bye-bye.
AltamahaDawg
April 30th, 2010
1:21 pm
Uh huh. Sure they do.
GT is a proud Institution, cause I say so !!
April 30th, 2010
1:48 pm
Tech has never, ever had one player be arrested, even for a speeding ticket. This fact dates all the way back to um, the 1930s. I am almost 20 years of age and I plan on one day getting a job. Right now? Um, I ah, sit here and bang away on my mom’s PC and drink Big Uranges and blame the ugly oil spill on BP and republicans, cause Barry told me to. Yes, I am clueless about anything beyond pulling for urban tech and Michael Vick and The JOKER AKA Barry O.
I hate UGA and i am smart.
Punt returners are no where to be found
April 30th, 2010
1:53 pm
Geez, “UGA has no none to return punts”. UGA “is in trouble” and these blogs prove it.
WRONG …………..try:
Wooten, Smith, Boykin, AJ, Durham, Gray or Ealey or Baccari, Marvelous Marlon Brown, or the other 10-15 no names at UGA. Speed, speed and speed rules. They ALL have it. Good hands too.
Problem SOLVED.
Next !!
Go Dogs.
GT BBall Fan
April 30th, 2010
2:12 pm
UGA Football Fan is really Jim Harrick’s son. How many points is a 3 pointer worth? You can’t make sh** like that up! If that’s your best response, you sound clueless on hoops, football and life. You should go bowling with Church of the Latter Day Dude. It sounds like you need an attitide adjustment!
GT BBall Fan
April 30th, 2010
2:14 pm
Attitude Adjustment – Before you correct my spelling.
bulldogmaniac
April 30th, 2010
3:03 pm
sonrisa>>>>you are a chump!
You ar crazy if you think that there are more arrest at UGA than other schools.
Do a little research before comming on here and spouting off! Here, I will make it easy for you.
The AJC had a listing, by school, of arrest. I think it was on Wed. UGA was not even toward the top of area schools much less nationwide!
Get a life!
GT FAN
April 30th, 2010
3:07 pm
Hello guys.
I am a GT fan. I come here to post on articles about the Bulldogs because we techies have nothing to talk ab….oh wait dont take my laptop….DONT SHOOT ME!!!! Hey, Hey, Hey.
Darnit! I was just robbed on campus for the 3rd time this week!
FLA DAWG
April 30th, 2010
3:41 pm
AJ can play receiver and returner like Prime Time Sanders did but with alot more humility and class. As far as injury is concerned, SEC College Football = High Probability of Injury and AJ has known that for a long time without fear.
Go Dawgs
Einsteindawg
April 30th, 2010
5:01 pm
While nobody likes this, the ONLY way to stop all these arrests is one and done. Grace gives you the opportunity to repent, not the oppurtunity to sin.
Ken
April 30th, 2010
10:15 pm
AJ Green returned 12 punts for td’s in high school, he’s a playmaker, he needs to get to 2000 all-purpose yards to win the Heisman, get the man back there and let him return some punts.
Neda
April 30th, 2010
11:20 pm
At least UGA is good for the economy. Their players keep a lot of cops, jailkeepers, and bail bondsmen in jobs.
It’s not all negative.
UGA Alumn
May 1st, 2010
8:31 am
Bulldawg says, “If all you do is take 3 standard classes and do not go to Summer School, you would graduate in 4 years, not the 6 given everyone by the NCAA and DOE. I graduated in 3 years by taking an extra standard class or 2 extra 3 hour classes every enrollment and I went actually 4 Summers. Dean Fluellen approved my schedule personally every enrollment. I had a 4.0 into my senior year and ended 3.88. I ended up with 239 hours not the 180 minimum required.”
You don’t have a clue buddy! If you took 3 classes a semester you would have 18 hours a year x 4 years = 72 credit hours. It takes, on average, around 120 credit hours to graduate!
It is apparent that you have know clue what you are talking about. I guess technical college has a different credit system so that would explain your confussion but it is obvious that you did not attend UGA. Crawl back under your rock troll!
UGA Alumn
May 1st, 2010
8:39 am
confusion
NC Dawg
May 3rd, 2010
8:03 am
“…I don’t know if there’s any more risk factor {returning punts} than any other play.” Mark, brother, I don’t think 12 guys trying to tackle you can be compared to one or two on a route. I mean, how often is A.J., when running a route, going to be standing still waiting for the ball with at least 5 or 6 guys running full speed at him with the sole purpose of creaming him? I think the risk of injury fielding punt returns is far greater. A.J. is far more valuable, not only making phenomenal catches, but don’t forget, the opponent has to use multiple resources to cover him, even if the ball’s not thrown his way. He gets injured, then you’ve lost a big advantage.
AltamahaDawg
May 3rd, 2010
11:46 am
It’s not how many guy are “trying to tackle you”, it’s how many DO tackle you. It’s still one or two guy that end up making contact. If anything, he would encounter less bodies running opposite than 3 or 4 guys chasing him with a shot. 5 ort 6 guys running full speed takes one step to avoid 4 or 5 of them.
I don’t think his skills are best suited for PR, but I can’t even remember the name of the last guy hurt doing that. I can rememebr plenty of WR injured in the act.
The 'Real' Mark Richt
May 3rd, 2010
4:16 pm
@”impressed”
thanks I am serious about winning
Go dawgs!!!
trueUGAfan
May 4th, 2010
12:32 am
BuLL Dawg, STFU, you coward, you sound like a lil !i#ch right now, dnt jus stop at CMR record over the past four years look at the whole picture you !i#ch, you doing all this ranting and raving, and probably don’t own not one season ticket or donation receipt to the university, whon the !@#$ are you, to call for someone head to be rolled you !i#ch, when was the last time you remotely had a job of this magnitude, you just sit around and !i#ch all day to your !i#ch ass friends, that are tired of hearing that issh from you punk a$$, do us all a favor and stay of the blogs !i#ch…