Richt confirms Smith as punt returner (updated)
ATHENS — It was a good conversation piece for the off-season, but you can put aside the idea of A.J. Green as Georgia’s punt returner.
“As it turned out, Branden Smith looks to be our No. 1 [punt-return] guy right now and Carlton Thomas our No. 2,” coach Mark Richt said today. “A.J. can do it. There may come a situation where we say, ‘You know what, let’s put him back there and do it.’”
Or there may not.
Richt noted that punt returners can get “splattered” as soon as they catch the ball and that there’s risk of “an overzealous player deciding they’re going to knock out A.J. Green. So we’re not too thrilled to put him in that situation. If need be, he can do it, but as it turned out we feel Branden Smith is our best option there.”
Green, Georgia’s star receiver, said several times during the spring and summer that he would like to return punts, as he did in high school. But Green said last week that he expected Smith to win the job.
“He’s explosive, man,” Green said.
Smith, a sophomore from Atlanta, cheered the news that he will return punts.
“I’ve been wanting to play punt return ever since I got up here,” he said after practice Wednesday.
Smith said he takes a three-pronged approach to the job: “The No. 1 thing is catching the ball. No. 2 is holding on to the ball. And No. 3 is just do my thing. With my speed and the blocking up front, it should not be that hard.”
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65 comments Add your comment
Shawn
September 2nd, 2010
2:53 am
Tide Roll- When you guys were up 31-0 we had a D lineman playing offensive line because everyone else was hurt. It was the only way bama could beat Coach Richt. He was 3-0 prior to that and he would have beaten them again if he was not starting all true freshman and a D lineman due to injuries. Can you tell me who was playing O-line for Bama when you guys lost to La. Monroe?
BTW, you keep after Boling and he is all conference. You must know more than someone.
Also, It’ll be ok for you to fall off the bandwagon and join a new teams when Bama returns to mediocrity!
James T. Kirk
September 2nd, 2010
8:18 am
Smith is the fastest criminal you got? He’s slower than I soon-to-be Highsman competition winner Jason Nezbit!!! Bad news for you mutts I’m afraid!!!
Tired of the talking, let's get to walking!
September 2nd, 2010
8:47 am
Bottom line if Branden can hold on to the football he will be the best PR in the SEC this season. The kid has blazing speed and the quickness to go along with it. UGA’s special team unit this year should be one of the nations best with Smith and Boykin fielding kicks and Walsh and Butler kicking them. All we need is for Murray to be smart and the defense to play fundamentaly sound and this should be a great season. ONLY TWO MORE DAYS! Goooooo DAWGS!
I Know My Players Names
September 2nd, 2010
9:37 am
James T. Kirk – Jason Nesbitt the boxer is going to win the “Highsman”. Get a freakin clue before you post something moron!!
Papadawg
September 2nd, 2010
10:59 am
Who cares who returns punts, I just want to see some meat eating defense
cadawg
September 2nd, 2010
11:18 am
tide roll: you don’t know anything. if you did, you’d know that your boy bean anderson was playing on the 2008 O line that you consistently disparage (he even played against bama). just imagine is we’d had chris burnette handling cody, though! we would have run for 350 yards, right tide roll? if i were a tide fan (and i don’t think you are), i’d less worried about the UGA offensive line and more worried about the alabama defensive backfield (2 freshmen corners behind a sophomore, and 1 experienced safety). i think chance warmack needs a handy; maybe you should go give him one.
b smith will be the latest in a long line of explosive punt returners. that kid can really bounce. here’s hoping he’s improved his ball security…
so much negativity on this thread! isn’t anyone just fired up about the season starting up? it’s great to be a georgia bulldog!!!
Mad Mike
September 2nd, 2010
11:35 am
let’s hope Branden applies his “three pronged” return mantra to his kickoff returns as well this year (because he didn’t last year). particularly prong #2.
DawginLex
September 2nd, 2010
2:52 pm
tide roll needs to worry about Bama.
Our OL is better than yours.
our DL is better than yours because Anderson is there at nose to provide depth.
Our punt return game, punter are both better than yours.
Our running backs are almost as good and now that Ingram is hurt, may be equal.
Our WR and TE are better than yours.
Our kicker is better than yours.
Why don’t you discuss that moron instead of harping about the same old crap?
Alabama will not repeat as champs this year.
No Javier Arenas-best player in the SEC last year.
too many holes to fill
Jborodawg
September 2nd, 2010
6:24 pm
I like Branden’s attitude…the “three pronged approach”. If he does that, he’ll do well.
(Yep, the article is about punt returning, not the OL, nor Flawduh nor Aladambammer. Good lord people.)
takedowndawg
September 3rd, 2010
8:31 am
roll tide, your “sincere” worry about OUR offensive line is both touching and”greatly” appreciated for all those who are looking for your “sensitive”, feminine side”. I, like most life long DAWG fans,are not. Let your team, take its best shot at us or any other fellow SEC member. OUR offensive line will be waiting. Your eyes have to be “brown,” if you know what I mean! Very, very brown!
earl
September 3rd, 2010
10:37 am
Let’s just hope the new A>D> can keep UGA players out of jail long enough to play a ballgame. I guess he’ll have to keep them in jail Sunday thrugh Friday and let them out to play on Saturday. Better keep a close eye on them during pre-game warmups and at halftime. They may find a way to get arrested.
UGA grad here, class of 71 & 73
September 3rd, 2010
12:17 pm
I am distressed about the latest arrest in Athens. I for one, have had enough.
Frankly, I would ask Alec Oogletree to leave the squad. He would be my example, for no particular reason. “Musical chairs” I would call it and “the music stopped with him” would be my reason, if asked. We all know that CMR and his coaches preach up the rules and talk about personal honor and personal comportment,etc.
These kids represent the flagship school in Georgia and this is the last one for me …………..the bloom is off the rose with CMR with me. His players DO NOT get it, so now, he needs to drop kick them one by one. Who cares???
Congress is full of lame ducks and CMR ought to be one too. AD Greg McGarity needs to put CMR on notice. Winning is not gonna do it for me. To go 10-1 with all of this bad news for me would be horrible. frankly, if they were to win, these kigs would accelerate their horrible behavior.
Mr. Ogletree ………..come get your son. The other son can remain, IF he can comport himself properly.
Something has to be done. I am a UGA man, wife is, my sis is, kids are, cousins are and tons of family and friends for many, many years. We have all had enough.
Go Dogs.
PRATTVILLEDAWG
September 3rd, 2010
12:26 pm
Hey TIDE ROLL, by the end of this season you will have a new cheer. Around the bowl and down the hole, ROLL TIDE ROLL.
Mike on Lake Hartwell
September 3rd, 2010
6:41 pm
im ok with branden returning punts as long as the ball doesnt
just pop out of his grasp after running about 8 yards.
bdawge71
September 7th, 2010
5:31 pm
dear fellow bloggers, please remember the immortal words of PAUL JOHNSON, able was i ere i saw elba. see if you can figure that one out. 10-4.