Petrino’s return, Sturdivant’s comeback, Murray’s progress, etc.
ATHENS – Saturday’s game in Sanford Stadium will be Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino’s first in the state of Georgia since he abruptly resigned as the Falcons’ coach with three games left in the 2007 season.
“I haven’t even thought about it,” Petrino said Wednesday of his return to Georgia. “This game is all about our players.”
Petrino, who bolted the Falcons for Arkansas, is 15-12 (5-11 SEC) as the Razorbacks’ coach.
++++++++++
Georgia offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant, who missed almost all of the past two seasons because of knee injuries, played just one series — three snaps — against South Carolina last week. It was his first action of the season after missing the opener with a stomach ailment.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo thinks Sturdivant will play more as he gains confidence in his surgically repaired knees.
“He’s healthy,” Bobo said. “Anytime a kid goes through two major knee surgeries, it’s something that is hard for anybody to understand what he might be thinking. But he’s out there practicing, he’s out there getting better every day, and I think it’s going to click sooner or later that, ‘Hey, I’m ready to go, I’m full speed.’”
++++++++++
Georgia beat Arkansas 52-41 last year in a game in which Bulldogs quarterback Joe Cox threw five touchdown passes and earned a national player-of-the-week award. So Richt was asked if Cox’s successor, redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray, has progressed to the point that he is ready for a similar shootout.
“We have to let him shoot a little bit more than we have lately,” said Richt, referring to Georgia’s conservative game plan the past two weeks.
Richt said he generally finds it impossible to predict whether a game will be high-scoring or low-scoring.
“Of course, Joe Cox had a heck of a game [against Arkansas] last year,” Richt said, “and no one would have predicted that, especially after we played Oklahoma State [two weeks earlier] and didn’t have much offensive production. Then it kind of flooded.”
Richt and Bobo made it clear after last week’s game that it’s time to open up the game plan for Murray. Bobo, of course, isn’t eager to disclose exactly what that means going into Saturday’s game against Arkansas. “Just allowing him to make some more plays, I guess, would be the answer,” he said in his weekly chat with reporters Tuesday night.
++++++++++
After the debacle of poor tackling against South Carolina, Georgia has made its practices more physical this week.
“It got ramped up a little bit more,” Richt said Wednesday night. “Our practices have been good [previously this season] but apparently not good enough in regard to simulating tackling without tackling, which is what we call ‘thud.’ So we tried [this week] to make something a little bit more intense than thud but still a little bit less than grabbing guys and throwing them to the ground. When you tackle to the ground all day long in practice, you tend to get people hurt. … I’ll just say it got intensified a little bit.”
++++++++++
A couple of freshmen who are impressing Richt on the practice field: safety Alec Ogletree and inside linebacker Demetre Baker.
On Ogletree: “He’s one guy that will strike you, there’s no doubt about that. He loves to hit. … Because of that, I’m anxious for him to learn what to do and continue to get work and hopefully get some scrimmage downs.”
On Baker: “I don’t know if it’ll turn into any kind of playing time right now, but one guy on the scout team that has really kind of ramped things up has been Demetre Baker. He is showing signs of being able to really run and strike. He’s been playing with a lot of energy, so when you watch him, you’re like, ‘That guy’s going to be pretty good one day.’”
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388 comments Add your comment
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:13 pm
Stafford is hurt he ain’t playing
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:14 pm
of course calvin is still on the field for Detriot
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:14 pm
But Stafford was a starter prior to getting hurt and had a great preseason and will be starting again in a few weeks
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:15 pm
and of course calvin is dropping game winning TD passes in the endzone
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:17 pm
and as for Moreno:
Despite Moreno looking forward to splitting snaps with Maroney, Fantasy owners can’t be too happy about this move. Moreno did rush for 60 yards and a score in Week 1 against Jacksonville, but faces a Seahawks defense that gave up just 38 yards to San Francisco’s Frank Gore in Week 1. Moreno is still expected to start and will have a lot to prove to his coach in Week 2. The second-year back should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy RB based on his matchup and potential loss of carries.
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:18 pm
However this was from my fantasy site and not directly from the coach so it holds no water
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:18 pm
oh please that was a TD and everyone knows it
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:19 pm
And we all know how awesome
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:19 pm
And we all know how awesome Maroney was in NE. LOL
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:20 pm
Actually the call on the field was incomplete!
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:21 pm
i am just doing what dog fans do every week…complain about the refs costing them the game
Say What???
September 16th, 2010
4:25 pm
5150 P.O.A.D., let me get this straight… You plan on spending your Saturday afternoon on a blog for the college team you hate? Wow… you are a sad, little man. You want to spend your free time on a fall weekend, when you could be watching your team (or any other team you like), sitting on a blog for UGA so you can spew your seething hatred? Seriously, I think you need some professional help. I am not joking. If the only way you can find happiness is by attempting to inflict pain and anguish on the fans of your rival, I am speechless. Over the past few months I have watched you post on our blogs thinking that the hatred that you have would pass… but it has only gotten worse. I have always just considered you a troll. I now think it is something far worse.
I can’t speak for the rest of the Dawg nation, I am sorry for whatever happened to you to put you in this mindset. From the way you act, it must have been terrible. It is my hope that one day you will realize that you are wasting your life putting us down and realize you could spend it more productively building your team up. God bless you, sir.
Say What
September 16th, 2010
4:26 pm
GO TECH
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:26 pm
i am just doing what tech fans do every week…complain about the refs costing them the game
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:27 pm
it’s ok you post under every one’s name but at least be original in your comments
DawgBuzz
September 16th, 2010
4:29 pm
TECH RULES
5150 P.O.A.D
September 16th, 2010
4:29 pm
Say What??? – I am just angry and I don’t know why. I know I have some issues. It all started when I was a kid in high school and was picked on all the time. And after my wife left me for a UGA fan that is when the rage got out of control. I know I need help!
Yep
September 16th, 2010
4:29 pm
it’s ok you post under every one’s name but at least be original in your comments
I thought
September 16th, 2010
4:31 pm
I would find empathy here because dog fans are completely depressed about the state of their football program
bamaguy
September 16th, 2010
4:35 pm
I have no problem with coaches who bolt the NFL to coach in the SEC
I thought
September 16th, 2010
4:36 pm
however I am a Tech fan and we are in way worse shape
I Thought
September 16th, 2010
4:37 pm
I thought…….That’s what I thought???
I thought
September 16th, 2010
4:37 pm
You forgot GO TECH
I thought
September 16th, 2010
4:38 pm
GOOOOOOOOOO TECHHHHHHHHH
I Thought
September 16th, 2010
4:38 pm
Go where…. to play Kansas… bbwwwaahhh!
boots
September 16th, 2010
4:38 pm
Let’s hope karma works for the Dawgs against Petrino this week. What a jerk.
Hogtime in Athens
September 16th, 2010
4:42 pm
Whoooo Pig Soooie……. Bobby P and Mallet will cut up the Dawgs.
YIkes!
September 16th, 2010
4:43 pm
THE SEC- Where terrible NFL Coaches go to die
Hogtime in Athens
September 16th, 2010
4:44 pm
GOOOOOOOOOOO TECHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
I Thought
September 16th, 2010
4:45 pm
GOOOOOOOO KANSASSSSSSSSS!
I Thought
September 16th, 2010
4:46 pm
GOOOOOOOOOO NORTH DAKOTA STATEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
I Thought
September 16th, 2010
4:46 pm
L.O.L. !!!
Epiphany
September 16th, 2010
4:49 pm
OMG! It totally just dawned on me that the people on this blog know more about football than those who make a living on it. Apparently they also want to win the game more than the people who whose paycheck depends on it.
I also now realize that these people want to win more than the 18-23 year old kids who put the pads on. We should really suit up everyone on this blog to either play or coach for our respective schools.
This is Great! Yaaaaaaaaaay!
Epiphany
September 16th, 2010
4:53 pm
GOOOO TECHHHHHHHH
big g dawg
September 16th, 2010
4:54 pm
Claire
go iron my shirt and make me a sandwich, and bring me a beer while your at it!
Gwinnett Fred
September 16th, 2010
4:56 pm
I am NOT a UGA fan.
That said – I hope the Dogs kick Patrino’s teams ass so bad Saturday they need ass doghnuts to sit on during the flight back to pig city.
MaDLiB
September 16th, 2010
4:59 pm
Mark it down. I have an inside source at (insert favorite team’s athletic center) that claims (insert acronym for team’s coach) will pull (insert fastest red-shirted freshman)’s red-shirt and use him on some offensive packages including a Wild(insert play on word for team name) package.
I’m not worried about (best injured/suspended player), as WE still have (insert back up’s name), (insert backup backups name), and (insert backup backup backups name). This might be the most talented (insert player’s position) core WE’ve ever had. Not to mention my cousin goes to high school with (top recruit in the nation at that position) and all signs point he will sign with US.
(Insert current week’s opponent) is irrelevant to the rest of football and their fans are delusional. Expect the (insert favorite teams mascot) to hang at least 50 on them…the writing is on the wall. Just take a look over OUR dominance in this series.
(Insert overall series record)
(Insert score from 1938 game)
(Insert YPC stat with low wind and slight chance of rain)
(Insert overall record for the decade that looks the best)
The proof is in the pudding, IMHO…
(Insert Moniker)
(Insert unofficial number of national titles)
(Insert unofficial number of conference titles)
(Insert favorite team’s fan-tag-line)
(insert acronym to dis your rival)
MaDLiB
September 16th, 2010
5:01 pm
GOOOOOOOO TECHHHHHHHH!!!!!! THE BEST TEAM EVER
Say What???
September 16th, 2010
5:01 pm
@ MaDLiB… Now that was funny!!!! Do you mind if I use it from time to time?!?! It would save a lot of typing…
MaDLiB
September 16th, 2010
5:03 pm
By all means… Also I am not a Tech fan for the record… don’t know what troll is making everyone cheer for Tech…but its gay.
MaDLiB
September 16th, 2010
5:03 pm
Say What??? – You got it!
Common Sense
September 16th, 2010
5:14 pm
We can’t tackle. Simple. Stick your face mask in the guys numbers then wrap your arms around and drive him to the turf.
I learned that on my high school ball team with 23 players total. We didn’t THUD. And yea, guys got hurt.
And guys played with 3 wraps of tape on their ankles.
CMR is more worried about his teams psyche and less about wins and losses.
I’m over him and that joke of excuse from Thomasville O-coordinator.
Common Sense
September 16th, 2010
5:19 pm
GOOOOOO TECHHHHHHH
Claire is a Man... A tek man
September 16th, 2010
5:21 pm
Claire… your post is totally irrelevant to the subject of this blog… It is not timely nor is it accurate in context given UGA has much higher entrance standards now BECAUSE of Jan Kemp. You spew hate for UGA cause you are a loser from TEK. It is simple as that. 30 to 24 baby….
Delbert D.
September 16th, 2010
5:23 pm
Thud? Heck, the Falcons practiced Mixed Martial Arts.
Harold
September 16th, 2010
5:28 pm
Boo hoo you dirty birds the dirty birds and Dangelo Hall deserve no respect. good riddance Atlanta
les nessman
September 16th, 2010
5:33 pm
Tech Rules
Concrete Pete
September 16th, 2010
6:13 pm
STRENGTH PROGRAM= PROBLEM AT UGA. OH YEA- how2fish, YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT IS RUNNING OUT AND YOUR MOM WANTS HER RENT
les nessman
September 16th, 2010
6:34 pm
concrete, holla at yo’ momma to take the caps off, it makes you look like a douche-bag….
real uga fan
September 16th, 2010
6:39 pm
hey guys stop crying about things we can’t control and get behind this team! If they don’t tackle to the ground i agree that is stupid, but we have a whole season left and it can still be a good one , its the third week.Go to the game saturday and get up and make lots of noise so we beat these d bags and be thanful we still have the best team in this state and the best coach we not about to lose to the jayhawks! LETS GO DAWGS!