Georgia saw Cam Newton as ‘more of a tight end prospect’
ATHENS – Sound bites from Mark Richt’s news conference today:
- On Auburn quarterback Cam Newton: “Just when you thought [Tim] Tebow left town, he showed up again in another jersey.”
- On recruiting Newton as a high school player: “I remember him. He was a very talented guy, a guy that we did look at. We actually had him pegged as more of a tight end prospect. A lot of it had to do with what we like to do offensively, more of a fit [issue] than any disrespect to his ability to play quarterback. He’s proven to be pretty darn good, though.”
- On whether he expects Newton to be distracted by all the controversy swirling around him: “It was swirling last week. It didn’t seem to bother him last week. So I doubt it. . . . Usually, when you start playing ball, no matter what’s going on around you, it’s a haven for an athlete be in his element and shut the world out and go have some fun and play ball.”
- On who will simulate Newton in Georgia’s practices this week: “Well, we’ve got Parker Welch, just because he’s been our scout-team quarterback all along. And one of the best similarities I guess I could say he has to Cam is he wears No. 2 this week. Parker, he’s a great scout-team quarterback. He throws the ball real good. He’s doing great for us. But he’s not 6-6, 250. It’s just a little different.”
- On Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley: “I’ve not really seen any one man block him. I rarely have seen two guys block him very well. I’ve seen him get a sack without even touching the quarterback –- he knocked a guard into the running back and then the running back into the quarterback and the quarterback got knocked down. . . . And then when he sacks guys, he tends to like to body slam them. It makes me real nervous. Hopefully, [Aaron] Murray won’t see this press conference.”
- On whether Georgia figures it can get the ball downfield to A.J. Green vs. Auburn: “You know what the biggest problem is? The biggest problem in my opinion is Nick Fairley. Because when you’re talking about getting the ball downfield to A.J., to do that you’ve got to hold the ball a little while. And it’s hard to hold the ball a little while when that guy is coming. Because he is relentless. I think Ben Jones is a pretty good center, and I think Cordy [Glenn] is a pretty good guard, but I tell you: This guy, he’s a lot to handle. . . . Fifteen quarterback hurries, 18 tackles for loss, 7 ½ sacks — those are huge numbers for an interior defensive linemen. Those are [Warren] Sapp type of numbers. . . . Nick, he’s the closest thing I’ve seen to Warren Sapp in all the years I’ve been coaching.
- On the high profile of Saturday’s game: “We know everybody in the country is going to watch the game, but they’re probably tuning in to watch Auburn. Hopefully we’ll show up and give them something to watch.”
- On Arkansas’ victory over South Carolina last week, an outcome that would have boosted Georgia’s chances of reaching the SEC title game IF the Bulldogs had beaten Florida on Oct. 30: “I was sick. I’ll be honest with you; I was sick. . . . If we had won the Florida game, we’d have been in position to go to Atlanta depending on what happens this Saturday in Florida vs. South Carolina. And it would have been a wonderful story. But it’s not.”
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293 comments Add your comment
"the money was too much."
November 10th, 2010
7:17 am
Goodbye Auburn Football….. hello death penalty.
gatrzrit
November 10th, 2010
7:48 am
CMR’s career in a nutshell: Cam Newton at tight end….Ronnie Brown at safety.
Eddie
November 10th, 2010
7:53 am
Meyer at Florida didn’t see enough talent in Cam Newton to keep hi on his team, and lost Newton. Biggest mistake Meyer has ever made was letting that big fish get away from him.
Richt's Butt Cut
November 10th, 2010
8:01 am
Typical…Thats why the big ones in GA always seem to get away….. Need to make sure we get the best in state going forward.. Preaching to the choir though.
NoAxeToGrind
November 10th, 2010
8:02 am
Well. Looks like Richt screwed up again in the recruitment evaluation of Cam Newton. What a surprise. I guess Richt will find out what kind of a quarterback prospect Newton is on Saturday.
Common Sense
November 10th, 2010
8:10 am
We beat Auburn (5 in a row).
Then Bama beats them.
LSU wins the West.
(or we get trounced by Auburn)
Dream over, back to reality.
LSU defeats UF.
LSU / Oregon for BCS.
RNB
November 10th, 2010
8:10 am
We saw Cam as a tight end. That says it all about why GA football is where it is.
Common Sense
November 10th, 2010
8:13 am
Reportedly, Richt sees Isaiah Crowell as an interior lineman.
GoGators
November 10th, 2010
8:40 am
@ RNB – that’s what I’ve been saying to myself.. Another thing UGA fans are saying is that he is a not pro style QB who can’t throw the ball 35 times, that he is a spread type QB, & GA runs a pro style offense. UGA recruits Spread type skill players!!! King is not an in btwn the tackles type runner, Ealy is not an in btwn the tackles type runner, Branden Smith would do wonders in the wildcat formation… AJ Green would dominate if the corners had to bite up on a run 1st QB.. Orson Charles is Aaron Hernandez but he always has to avoid a 280 defensive end that won’t let him get off the line of scrimmage. But hey, my opinion is like @$$ holes, everybody got 1..
dawgfacedboy
November 10th, 2010
8:51 am
GoGators- let’s not forget the 6′1 mobile QB, Yeah he’s a pro-style qb!! Carlotn Thomas would be amazing in Florida’s offense!!
AltamahaDawg
November 10th, 2010
9:14 am
Good point Big Dawg. Well thought out. Richt has such a poor 20 yr resume’ of appraisal, recruitment, and development of college football Quarterbacks.
ClantonDawg
November 10th, 2010
9:19 am
Well, o.k. So we missed the boat on Cam. I was wondering why he was not as interested in UGA as UF or MSU or AU. Now lets roll into Auburn this Saturday and shock the nation. See ya there DAWG FANS!!!!!
This Is A Problem « The Grit Tree
November 10th, 2010
9:41 am
[...] Mark Richt (or Mike Bobo, Rodney Garner whoever-but Richt is the head man) whiffed on not recruiting… Hindsight is 20/20. I am also not one of those who bash Richt for not getting all the instate guys-Massaquoi, Knowshon, Stafford, Green, Ben Jones, Orson Charles, Chapas, etc…all came from out of state. If you can go into other states and get talented players, then who cares if you pass up on Zeke. [...]
DDPO
November 10th, 2010
10:07 am
UGA also didn’t see the potential of Terrell Davis, who ended up as a starting NFL running back and Super Bowl MVP.
The Grinch
November 10th, 2010
10:08 am
The latest allegations kind of makes all the nonsense in yesterday’s blogs about how Mark Richt screwed up by recruiting Newton as a TE seem rather irrelevant, now doesn’t it?
The Grinch
November 10th, 2010
10:09 am
DDPO
November 10th, 2010
10:07 am
Correction, RAY GOFF, didn’t see the potential of Terrell Davis, who ended up as a starting NFL running back and Super Bowl MVP.
I remember reading a pretty damning article where Davis said Goff didn’t have a clue and just stood around at practice.
1eyedJack
November 10th, 2010
10:37 am
One of the things that is maddening about CMR is his strict philosophy of recruiting to “his” system. This can work well in the NFL where you have your pick of players and they have little choice. In college however, you need to be more flexible. Instead of recruiting the best players that fit your system you need to recruit the best players and mold your system to fit their talent.
This is why a C.J. Uzomah goes to Auburn instead of UGA. He’ll play QB at Auburn but UGA was recruiting him at TE. Just tell the players you’ll let them try any position they want to play. Once signed give them a shot. If it don’t work then redshirt them and move them to the position you think they fit best. They’ll either play that position or transfer.
Having said that, I’m glad we missed on Newton. Just extra baggage we don’t need right now.
Delbert D.
November 10th, 2010
10:40 am
It’s time to move Aron White to quarterback.
npgator
November 10th, 2010
10:43 am
The title of this blog pretty much explains why Georgia SUCKS so badly!
cmon coach
November 10th, 2010
10:54 am
Our scout team QB is similar beacuse he wears #2. What is that? Take Bruce Figgins out of the dog house and let him run up the middle on the scout team. TE, QB its the same position anyway. Heisman trophy QB would be a tight end on our team? WOW. The South Carolina loss made you sick. How do you think we felt watching the crap you keep running out there. I wish Miami would fire Randy Shannon so we could start the Richt to Miami rally. Saban wouldn’t let Kirby Smart make a latteral move, well we just were offering the wrong position to him last year.
Delbert D.
November 10th, 2010
10:59 am
Miami has shown this season that they are capable of anything, including losing to Georgia Tech. If that happens, will they retain Shannon?
cmon coach
November 10th, 2010
11:03 am
McGarrity could proceed with the Kirby Smart move. Institue new discipline and heart into the program. O-line coach and D-Coordinatior will now be allowed to get in kids face when they screw up not coddled by pastor Richt. Grantham 3-4 coach. Smart 3-4 coach. Dont have to eat that contract. Smart and Bobo are buddies they could make the offense more dynamic with Richt out of the picture. Or cut ties. We loose Christian Lemay who will be more a distraction than benefit with Aron Murray at the controls. The rest of the recruits would stay on borard with not much turn over in the staff. Or hire Smart and let him clean house. Either way we win more ball games next year and beyond.
1eyedJack
November 10th, 2010
11:03 am
Delbert, I think Donna Shalayla (sic) is more concerned with the image of Miami as a University than with football.
check Up
November 10th, 2010
11:16 am
Will the “curse of the red panties” end Sat.???
cmon coach
November 10th, 2010
11:17 am
Jack you are right with ole Donna. Richt a Miami man with FL ties and now a solid Ga recruiting base. Smart a UGA man with a solid AL recruiting base. Shouldn’t be a hard sell for the parties involved. I know it is easier said than done. We need to think big too win big.
Cam Newton at Tight End
November 10th, 2010
11:54 am
Sadly, this not surprising given UGA’s recent history at evaluating and developing talent.
Predictable to the Bitter End
November 10th, 2010
11:57 am
The fact Coach Richt lacks the imagination and versatility to change his scout team QB to someone who could better simulate Cam Newton is just so predictable- and it also means Cam will run roughshod over a UGA defense that is not remotely prepared for him. Just sad.
Texas Buuldawg
November 10th, 2010
12:13 pm
Remember when we were recruiting him we had Stafford and we ran/run a Pro offense. Just becasuse he is great at college does not mean he will be a quarteback in Pros. Mack Strong was a good tailback at UGA; but made a very living in the NFL for 15 years as a fullback Hinds Ward played reciever, tailback and some q-back at UGA. I love “experts” who know it all but don’t really know nothing. When we got Coach Richt we were paying 3 coaches. He is 95–32 and 7-2 in bowls but “experts” still want him to go. Coach Dooley coached for 25 years and won 200 games. This is Coach Richt 10th year. Give it a rest all you “experts”
Delbert D.
November 10th, 2010
12:21 pm
jack – You are probably right.
azdawg
November 10th, 2010
12:22 pm
Geez. How do you allow a Cam N get away? You tell him he can’t play QB. No wonder GA’s sinking to the pits of the SEC. We have idiots running the program!
John Mac
November 10th, 2010
12:55 pm
He didn’t fit well as a quarterback in regards to running play action on third and long is what I heard.
monty
November 10th, 2010
2:07 pm
You’re not going to “punish” a 6′6″ 250 lb. QB who is faster than 7 or 8 of your defensive players. You can only hope to not let him break containment for big plays. Make him have to beat you passing.Tough job though if you try to get alot of penetration by sending your backers, once he dodges the initial attack the field will be wide open to run. But on the other hand, the longer he can hold the ball without pressure the more vulnerable we are to a big pass. Catch-22!
MountainDawg
November 10th, 2010
2:52 pm
John @ 3:49PM (11/9) – Football is a team sport, thus Auburn’s success is due to (overall) team performance. The point I was making is that as a pocket passer…(s)Cam cannot hold Stafford’s jock. These scrambling QBs like (s)Cam & Pryor will NOT duplicate their (college) success in the NFL (at the QB position).
258DAWG
November 10th, 2010
3:34 pm
I rather have Murray………. for 2-3 more years, Scam is gone after this season.
Yes, even considering UGA doesn’t have the numbers I would like this year, I am licking my chops knowing whats coming back.
Boca Baby
November 10th, 2010
3:59 pm
DDPO: Terrell Davis was a starter at UGA but his career there was hampered by injuries. And it wasn’t as if Georgia did not have options. The second team player was Hines Ward, thank you!
tyger
November 10th, 2010
6:46 pm
I hope every black high school QB in America saw that stupidity
College Playoff Conundrum…
For those, like me, who believe the FCS Bowl Championship should go to a playoff format because it’s fairer, take a deep breath, it’s not. Right now, in the DII Playoff Super Region Format there’s a bevy of deserving schools that will be on the outside looking in and only God knows why?
For example: FVSU (8-2) lost to undefeated Albany St. (10-0) in the Fountain City Classic this weekend, are tied for 2nd in the SIAC and #23 in the DII AFCA Coaches Poll. Yet, are ranked #7 in DII Super Region 2 behind Morehouse (8-2).
Morehouse defeated FVSU early in the year, so they own the head-to-head, but they lost to Tuskegee (8-2) and Albany St. FVSU beat Tuskegee soundly and lost 12-7 to Albany for the SIAC championship. Morehouse lost soundly to Tuskegee and played Albany St. close as well. Morehouse is ranked #24 in the AFCA Coaches Poll behind FVSU, but #6 in the DII Super Region 2 ahead of FVSU.
Similarly, Winston-Salem State, Shaw and St. Augustine are all 8-2 in the CIAA and ranked #6 or worse in the DII Super Region 1.
As it currently stands, from this group, only Albany St., Shaw and Morehouse will make the DII Playoffs while other 8-2 teams: St. Augustine, Winston-Salem, Tuskegee and poor FVSU will sit home and watch while 6-3 teams continue to play.
Somethings not right here. Even Sheridan Broadcasting Networks Black College Poll did not even rank FVSU after its loss to Albany or did it receive any votes whatsoever. What’s the logic here? If you lose to the undefeated champion, you fall out of the poll completely, while other teams with the same or worse record remain?
for better analysis goto http://www.hbcuclassics.com
Black Power Poll
Week 10
1. Bethune
2. SCSU
3. Grambling
4. Albany St.
5. FAMU
6. FVSU
7. Shaw
8. Tuskegee
9. Morehouse
10. Tx Southern
Lakedawg
November 11th, 2010
7:28 am
You pick out the ONE thing in the interview that casts UGA in a bad
light and choose to make that your headline. I had thought that you
were better than that. You’ve been hanging around Schultz too long.
Here’s a novel concept…..the HOME STATE newspaper supporting the
HOME STATE team. You guys hurt our program with sensationalistic
actions like this one.
Cedrick Texas DAWG
November 11th, 2010
8:53 am
A tight end, really??? Wonder why we had NO chance to get this guy. Why are coaches so quick to turn talented black QB’s into WR’s or DBs?? Why can’t they just get the chance to play the position they are being recruited for?? Anyway who care now!! These idiots we have scouting are doing a poor job anyway. What needs to happen to put CMR on the hot seat???? These 4/5 star recruits have either been greatly overated or poorly coached… I’m going to go with poorly coached cause if Bobo runs a draw on 3rd and long one more time I think I’m going to break something!!
Cedrick Texas DAWG
November 11th, 2010
9:01 am
I am also so tired of people throwing out CMR coaching record 95-32 or something like that. Ok, now I have something for those people. How many National Chanpionships has CMR won?? Better yet, How many National Championships has the Bulldogs played with under CMR??? Well this is going to be easy, ZERO!!! But Florida and Alabama have change coaches during CMR’s prolifict 10 year run and both of those schools have a National title… So what do you think of that great record of CMR??
Kiffin says money not discussed in Newton recruitment | CollegeFootballTalk
November 11th, 2010
9:38 am
[...] at least Kiffin saw Newton as a QB prospect, right Mark Richt? Permalink 0 Comments Latest Stories in: Auburn Tigers, Pacific-10 Conference, Rumor Mill, [...]
4 ncs are better than 1
November 11th, 2010
7:09 pm
Tight End?????????????? Now that is funny stuff!!!!!!! No wonder that joke of a program is in the mess it’s in!!!!!
fan
November 12th, 2010
10:00 am
as good as cam is, he wont do sh@t in the NFL. How’s Vince Young doing these days? not exactly lighting up defenses.
fan
November 12th, 2010
10:05 am
hey texas dawg who we going to get???? if your such an expert, tell me who should we hire over CMR??? Smart or muschamp, yeah lets hire two guys WITH NO HC EXPERIENCE. Chris peterson aint leaving bsu. hey moron fans do know what happens when a school fires a coach and brings in a new one?? the program starts all over again. i tired of moron fans thinking that firing the HC is going to fix the problem.