Tight ends: Orson Charles reprises high school role as Murray’s target
(Third in a summer series looking at Georgia’s football team by position.)
TODAY: TIGHT ENDS
- Returning starter: Junior Aron White started 12 games last season, but sophomore Orson Charles is currently listed No. 1 on the depth chart.
- Others to watch: Junior Bruce Figgins returns after redshirting last season due to shoulder surgery and a six-game suspension, and sophomore Arthur Lynch showed in the spring that he is ready to contribute, too.
- Key losses: None.
- Key fact: Charles caught 75 passes for 1,440 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior at Tampa’s Plant High School -– most of them from Aaron Murray, his quarterback then and now. Georgia is counting on that tandem connecting a lot this season and beyond.
- Key question: Will the offense get maximum benefit from the depth of talent at tight end, taking some of the burden off a talented but not-so-deep group of wide receivers?
- Recent developments: Not surprisingly, the Bulldogs worked a lot during the spring with two-tight-end alignments. And sometimes, as Murray described it at one point, “we’ll come out with two tight ends and [the defense] thinks we’re going to be in a two-tight formation and we split one out or split two out. It causes a lot of confusion [for the defense], just because of their athleticism.”
- Outlook: Maybe the deepest position on the team, consisting of four players with complementary skills. Charles, who has the talent to be an All-SEC player, and White, who caught two touchdown passes in the Independence Bowl victory over Texas A&M, should be big weapons as receivers. Figgins and Lynch are known more for their blocking, although Lynch -– rated the nation’s no. 2 TE prospect by Rivals.com coming out of high school in Dartmouth, Mass. — caught a memorable TD pass in the G-Day game.
- Your turn: What say you about the tight ends?
Links to previous entries in this series:
Offensive line: With 155 career starts, the strength of the team?
Wide receivers: Green’s final season and Brown’s breakout season?
Tomorrow: running backs.
Please follow @ajcuga on Twitter for the latest on the Bulldogs and related matters.
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144 comments Add your comment
Tom
June 16th, 2010
5:16 pm
the TE position is one that is never ultilized how it should be. Orson charles is a terrific player, but afterall last season he was a freshman. So the coaches were hesistant.
We don’t have a deep threat, and we don’t know how deep the QB’s can throw. King and Ealey will establish the running game and the TE’s can take us further.
Herbie
June 16th, 2010
5:21 pm
If BYU, Florida or Arkansas had a TE like Charles or White, with that kind of productivity, they’d get him 60-80 touches a season.
Richt’s the biggest waster of talent in the coiuntry.
The Sham
June 16th, 2010
5:22 pm
@Fillin up @ Juniors – IF ALL CAPS AND TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT IS ALL THAT BOTHERS YOU ABOUT MY POST, THAT’S A YOU PROBLEM (LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WORRY OVER SMALL STUFF LIKE THAT). OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT CONSIDER THE HANDLE “MONK”. IF YOU OR ANYONE ELSE READ IT, THEN MY MISSION WAS COMPLETE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION ON THE CHUCK THING THOUGHT. BTW – DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT AS TO WHAT THE HECK THE GATA THING STANDS FOR? IF YOU DO I’LL AT LEAST PROMISE TO POST IN NORMAL FONT SIZE FOR A WEEK…
The Sham
June 16th, 2010
5:23 pm
ERRRR – THOUGH RATHER THAN THOUGHT
Man Enough
June 16th, 2010
5:26 pm
Bama Rules, I’m sure you loved Richt in 02 and 07 huh? Richt is 2-1 vs Bama and yet we are 2nd rate? Get the F over your self!
Richard Tardits
June 16th, 2010
5:28 pm
I’m not getting my hopes up with Orson Charles. He’s got a serious case of the drops. I remember multiple passes that were throw right in his hands that he dropped.
Herbie
June 16th, 2010
5:32 pm
Orson Charles vs. Tony Gonzales
Sr. Yr High School Stats:
Tony: 62 catches, 945 yards, 15 ypc, 13 td’s, 20% passes to td ratio
Orson: 75 catches, 1440 yards, 19 ypc, 21 td’s, 28% passes to td ratio
if Richt had Tony Gonzales at UGA, he’d throw him 20 passes a season.
Tony averaged 80 passes a season in the NFL for about 1000 yards, and 6 td’s.
If Orson Charles was on Florida, BYU, or Arkansas, he’d get 50-70 touches. Those guys use the talent on their ball club. They get the ball to playmakers.
Not Richt. He likes to rotate his playmakers and sit them on the bench.
Bulldog59
June 16th, 2010
5:34 pm
Herbie, get back in your lovebug and drive away.
TE utilization is not the reason UGA didn’t do well last year. Florida didn’t win the SEC Championship, Arkansas didn’t win the SEC Championship, and BYU didn’t win the Mountain West Championship. And they would not have won their respective conferences even with Orson Charles.
He’s a huge weapon for us. He’s an added dimension for us, a WR at the TE position. But he’s not the reason we will or will not win the East…
Find another reason to hate UGA and CMR.
Herbie
June 16th, 2010
5:54 pm
TE production = key to Florida’s season
2005- Top TE- 4 catches- record 4 losses
2006- Top TE- 68 catches- record 1 loss
2007- Top TE- 34 catches- record 4 losses
2008- Top TE- 68 catches- record 1 loss
2005- Top TE- 68 catches- record 1 loss
If Florida’s Top TE gets less than 35 catches, Meyer loses 4 games
If Florida’s Top TE gets 60+ catches, Meyer goes 13-1
Herbie
June 16th, 2010
6:00 pm
Richt’s 2 SEC Championship seasons, 2002 & 2005, he had a great top TE who got 30+ catches, Ben Watson, back in 2002, and Leonard Pope back in 2005.
Watson almost got 40 catches in 2002
Pope broke 30 catches in 2005
Coach
June 16th, 2010
6:33 pm
So, CMR has two SEC champs. Big deal? How many NCs does he have? UGA thinks they are a top tier team. But no real results. Take UF now thats a top tier university. So is Bama. Uga you are not a top team. Top teams win champs.
Herbie
June 16th, 2010
6:43 pm
Richt’s coached in 5 National Campionships, has 2 rings.
Herbie
June 16th, 2010
6:46 pm
The reason I mentioned the 2 SEC Champ’s, was not to brag about how great Georgia or Richt is, but just to say, when Georgia or Florida has a great TE, it’s usually a great season.
So goes your top tight end, so goes the season.
Herbie
June 16th, 2010
6:59 pm
Alabama uses their RB’s for passes. Like to see Ealey get 25 catches this season. Have to figure out a low risk way to get the ball to playmakers.
Alabama throws to Ingram 25 times.
Florida does the shovel pass to the TE a lot.
They use their playmakers.
Richt, not so much. AJ–Ealey–Orson, 3 of the most productive players in the SEC, all had limited touches last season.
Me
June 16th, 2010
7:02 pm
Orson to Aaron at about the 2nd game of the season…”Midge, I don’t think we’re in high school anymore”.
Scott
June 16th, 2010
7:17 pm
Sham……..it’s Get After That A$$!!! Woooo whoooo
how2fish
June 16th, 2010
7:19 pm
Coach there are what 3 active coaches with a better record the last decade than CMR…if that doesn’t met your lofty standard..you can kiss the Bull Dog Nations butt at high noon on Main street…you slimy hater you…that was the last decade just to be clear.You guys have a pattern since the Bear died win a NC once every 10 years or so get caught cheating and have 2-4 terrible years and then work your way back…live with it everyone in the SEC since the Bear died has know that if Bama was winning Bama was cheating up to the day Nick Saban blew in..I have to give the devil his due he runs a clean program..but the minute he leaves……we have no NC’s under CMR YET but no 5-7 etc in the last decade can the might Tide say the same??
Adonisdaking
June 16th, 2010
7:23 pm
This Is A New Year and A New QB Whom Is Comfortable With O.Charles and A.White…The TE’s Will Play A Very Important Aspect Into Our Offense This Year…CMR Has Already Informed Us 2 TE Sets….Throwing The Ball To AJ Green…2 RB DUO and Maybe Even 3 Because D.Jackson Of Heard County Is Pretty Good…Experienced Offensive Line….I Know The UGA Offense Will Improve…The Assistant Coaches JOBS Depend On It!…This Is A New CMR He Is Holding Coaches Responsible…They Will Go Before CMR…I Assure U….Bobo Better Bring It!….GOOOOOOOOO DAWGS……..
Herbie
June 16th, 2010
7:26 pm
Offensive Playmaker =
1) Don’t fumble (think of Ingram or Tebow or Hernandez)
2) Be productive (Ingram gets 6 ypc rushing and 10 ypc receiving)
Florida or Alabama do not reward people who don’t protect the ball with more touches, no matter how “productivre” they are, the risk exceeds the reward.
Guys like Caleb King & Joe Cox & Branden Smith would have never seen the light of day at Florida or Alabama.
Georgia has some offensive playmakers who excel in production AND ball protection, Richt just doesn’t get them the ball enough.
Ingram got 300 touches last year.
Tebow got 14 carries a game, plus 20 passes a game, 34 touches a game.
Ingram- 300 touches
Ealey- 125
Consider Ealey was ALMOST as productive as Ingram at 5.7 ypc rushing & 7.7 ypc receiving, Ingram was 6.1 ypc rsrushing & 7.7 ypc, both protect the ball superbly.
Tebow 476 touches
Orson 23 touches
1980 Dawg
June 16th, 2010
8:00 pm
Washaun Ealey is an excellent football player and a young man of good character. So is Caleb King. Aaron Murray lives and breaths football 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is a true leader. Orson Charles is a genetic freak, and a fine citizen. There is not another team in the SEC that has the depth at tight end that Georgia has. Offensive line is very experienced. Georgia has lots of wide receivers, including A. J. Green, the best receiver in all of college football. Todd Grantham is coaching the defense. I watched Georgia practice several times in the Spring, and Coach Grantham has the defense very focused. Folks, we are about to have a good season. GATA!
Toole
June 16th, 2010
8:29 pm
Let’s split all 4 TE’s out wide, put AJ and Wooten in backfield and throw a swing pass to either AJ or Wooten.
Justin
June 16th, 2010
8:41 pm
CMR needs to go to mis-matches—usually TE or RB for passes—best DB will be on AJ—best mis-match will be an LB trying to run and catch Orson, Aaron, Wooten, Tavarres, Caleb or Washaun.
Throwing dump pass to RB’s or TE’s for big gains will drive blitzers nuts. Murray will get a lot of that in the SC & Ark games, if he’s ready, he can really burn these guys for big plays off of simple dump checkdown passes.
Throws to RB’s need to be closer to the sidelines away from the defense, like Florida does.
orlando Dawg
June 16th, 2010
8:42 pm
Let’s hope that everyone on offense, defense and special teams execute well for UGA. If that happens along with everyone staying healthy, and throw in a bit of luck for good measure. The possibilities are limitless. GO DAWGS……………GATA
1980 Dawg
June 16th, 2010
9:09 pm
I forgot to mention a couple of very important points. Georgia has two of the best kickers (field goal & punter) in the country.
AltamahaDawg
June 16th, 2010
9:45 pm
Imagine a Senior TE is a spread offence getting more touches than a freshman in the pro-set. Amazing!
AltamahaDawg
June 16th, 2010
9:49 pm
“Guys like Caleb King & Joe Cox & Branden Smith would have never seen the light of day at Florida or Alabama.”
So they would ahve just played with 10 guys on the filed or what?
Or was your point that they had better players than us, Captain Obvious?
G
June 16th, 2010
9:51 pm
Tim if this is all you have don’t bother writing articles anymore. Come on
AltamahaDawg
June 16th, 2010
9:56 pm
I never realized that Ingram was a freshman last year who came into fall camp injured and couldn’t play until well into the season. And to think he won the trophy like that.
IGETTIT
June 16th, 2010
10:30 pm
Just learned that GT does not use tight end(position player)> That would leave them playing with only 10 guys!!! No wonder UGA won last year. Just wish I knew a little more about this game.
AltamahaDawg
June 16th, 2010
10:35 pm
Ingram- 300 touches
Ealey- 125
Uh yea, Ealey was a freshman who only was able to play in the last 9 games. Ingram the feature back from day one in 14 games.
A more fair comparison would be the year before as a freshman as well:
Ingram 14 game 143 attempts 728 yds
Ealey 9 game 125 attempts 728 yrd
In case you can’t figure it out, Richt got Ealey more touches per game than Saban did with his future Heisman talent.
I guess you missed the fact that AJ Greene was hurt much of the year too.
To sit there and try to say that Mark Richt is too stupid to get the ball to his best playmaker is about as silly as it gets.
BigCaliDawg
June 16th, 2010
10:39 pm
That’s a logjam. We might wanna put a shirt on Lynch.
All 4 will be back next year to boot.
Amazing one of those studs didn’t transfer!
Bulldog59
June 16th, 2010
11:04 pm
Wow, lots of comments on what CMR needs to do to the offense.
Everyone does realize that, even with All-Thumbs Joe Cox at QB in 2009, UGA LED THE LEAGUE IN SCORING IN SEC GAMES with 234 points. (tied with Arkansas.)
Other than JC at QB, the other offensive issues are easily addressable, i.e. Bobo calling the same 8 plays most of the time….etc.
The offense led the league in scoring…. the problem was the defense gave up 252 points, WORST IN THE SEC.
With CMR back to his old schedule of attending the offensive meetings during the week, the O is just fine.
P.S. 1980 Dawg good synopsis/comments
Herbie
June 16th, 2010
11:15 pm
CMR needs suggestions galore. He should be reading this blog. CMR sure ain’t figured out how to get his offense going yet. He was supposed to be some kind of offensive guru when he came in. Sure, he played in the ACC, and the SEC has much tougher defenses. But still, no one expected him to finish so middle of the pack in so many SEC areas. CMR needs suggestions. He does NOT know how to fix it, or what the problem is.
It might seem obvious to say Florida goes 13-1 when their best TE has more than 65 catches and 9-4 when they don’t, but since Richt has never had a TE catch 65 catches in a season, I’d say he hasn’t noticed this, and needs to try it out.
When Florida is scoring @38 points a game, and Richt is scoring @29, he hasn’t figured out his offense yet.
Pi$$onaDawg
June 17th, 2010
12:07 am
UGA has always used their TE.
AltamahaDawg
June 17th, 2010
12:12 am
It might seem obvious but Richt has gone 13-1 too. Did the TE catch the magic number of passes that year?
AltamahaDawg
June 17th, 2010
12:59 am
“It might seem obvious to say Florida goes 13-1 when their best TE has more than 65 catches and 9-4 when they don’t, but since Richt has never had a TE catch 65 catches in a season, I’d say he hasn’t noticed this, and needs to try it out.”
Except that UF also won a NC in 2006 and 2008 when the TE position only had around 30 rec. Richt’s worst (w/l record) had around 40 rec from the TE. That doesn’t really back up you point now does it?
BTW, this guy Hernandez that you brag on, had 9 cathes his first year. Charles had 23 his first year. So…..yea.
You are correct in that Richt does need to read this stuff. He needs a good laugh I am sure.
col fot
June 17th, 2010
1:04 am
Would somebody fill me in on the thugs of GT beating the girl almost to death in the 90’s, what is the real story? Seems to me this activity needs more attention.
Bulldog59
June 17th, 2010
7:00 am
UF went to the SECCG because they gave up 96 points in their 8 SEC games, SECOND best in the SEC, and they lost, Alabama, who gave up only 85 points in their 8 SEC games (BEST/LOWEST in the SEC.)
The offense needs “tinkering” the defense was our issue, hence, when you are WORST in the league, 3 out of 4 coaches get fired. Defense wins championships, not 10-12 extra passes to the TE.
Altamaha, good points……
How2fish
June 17th, 2010
8:12 am
Herbie the day CMR takes any suggestion from you on how to coach a team..he should hang them up..I pray that day is a long time coming.
AltamahaDawg
June 17th, 2010
10:06 am
How many thousands hours has Richt in his coaching carreer studied the TE situation in details that we cannot even imagine?
But yea, Meyer has it all figured out, and Richt needs to mimic exactly what he did. But just this one year mind you, because appearantly Meyer was a complete idiot all the year before now as well.
The Sham
June 17th, 2010
11:57 am
Scott- thanks! I like it… I MEAN I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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