Dogs move a tight end to fullback, are close to hiring offensive line coach
ATHENS –- Three non-recruiting bits of news:
- 1. Position change. Georgia is moving Bruce Figgins from one of the team’s deepest positions, tight end, to one of its thinnest, fullback.
Figgins, a rising senior, worked some at fullback in Liberty Bowl practices in December, but the plan now is to make him a “fulltime fullback,” coach Mark Richt said Wednesday. “We think that’s going to be a really good move for Bruce,” Richt said.
Georgia returns a wealth of talent at tight end: Orson Charles, the 2010 starter; Aron White, the 2009 starter; and Arthur Lynch, who redshirted last season. Plus, Georgia signed a highly regarded tight end, Jay Rome, as part of its “Dream Team” recruiting class.
The 6-4, 265-pound Figgins figures to get a chance to contribute more at fullback, where the top two players last season -– starter Shaun Chapas and backup Fred Munzenmaier –- graduated.
- 2. Coaching search. Richt expects to fill the offensive-line coaching position, vacated by Stacy Searels‘ departure for Texas, soon.
“We’ll probably knock that out hopefully in the next few days or so,” Richt said. “For sure by early next week.”
He said there has been a “tremendous amount of interest” in the job. “My phone was blowing up hard after Coach Searels decided to go to Texas. . . . We have some tremendous people to choose from.”
- 3. Mat drills no more. The famous/infamous mat drills –- a grueling part of Georgia’s off-season conditioning program since 2001 –- have been replaced in the Bulldogs’ revamped strength and conditioning operation under Joe Tereshinski. Several players have commented on the difficulty of their weight-room workouts under Tereshinski, a long-time staffer who took over Jan. 1 as director of strength and conditioning.
“We’re not doing mat drills,” Richt said. “Some people say, ‘Why aren’t you doing mat drills?’ Well, you can ask the boys why we’re not doing mat drills, because they’re getting a taste of that just about every day with ‘Coach T’ and his strength staff. It’s already paying off.”
Richt mentioned that two members of the 2011 signing class who enrolled this semester, wide receiver Chris Conley and quarterback Christian LeMay, already have gained seven and 10 pounds, respectively, through their work in the strength program.
– Tim Tucker, UGA Blog
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164 comments Add your comment
PHIL
February 3rd, 2011
5:19 pm
Hey Ed, you must have missed that day KY beat us 35-0 for homecoming in front of Prince Charles if you think Dooleys teams always showed up. Or that 44-0 waxing UVA gave him.
Just for the record, I don’t think most of you people have enough sense to know how to tie your shoes, yet you claim to know more than BCS football coaches and AD’s. Why don’t you apply for the job? Oh, the one you have now is better.
See just above for instance. We score 30 a game and the OC is a moron. How stupid is that?? Say it out loud and see for yourself.
tarheeldawg
February 3rd, 2011
5:37 pm
HUGE dawg fan here in NC. I believe they will have alot of options on offense and Bobo will hopefully use this to his advantage.(tight ends, fullback,et.) Jenkins would be a great get on saturday and would add to an improving defense. I’m pulling for Richt to see this “dream” come true. Hunker Down!
Hector
February 3rd, 2011
6:20 pm
For an offensive line coach, check out Bret Davis at Ga. Southern…….
True Dawg Supporter
February 3rd, 2011
7:09 pm
I would love to see the coaching resume’ of the bloggers like Dawgerbrown and Destin Dawg who obviously know more than the guys like Bobo who do this for a living. It is amazing how people who never played major D1 football, or coached at that level know more than the real coaches. Oh well, I guess that is why the stadium is full every Saturday when the Dawgs play. Support ALL of our guys, or find another to school to support.Selah.
Snoop Dawg
February 3rd, 2011
9:51 pm
Two pearls for the Bdawg Nation today:
1. You’d all better be on your knees pointed toward Mecca praying that John Jenkins announces UGA on Saturday. Without that big slab of beef, Grantham’s 3-4 defense will be no better than last year and that my friends means losing at least as much as we lost last year. It’s all about the hogs on the line. These fancy skill players aren’t crap when they run into bulldozers on the DL.
2. From reading these blogs, sounds like everyone’s fallen off the wagon and once again is drunk on da Preacha Man’s Koolaid elixir. Listen, how many times has UGA under Richt had top 5 recruiting classes? What happens every time? They underperform. Why? Any casual observer concludes it’s poor coaching. Richt’s spots won’t change. He is what he is. He is a loser. He is an imposter who trades on the raw talent of Georgia athletes. He plays his political favorites like Rabbit Mike Bobo who couldn’t win a game of Fantasy Football against Tiny Tim. As much as I love the UGA, I just cannot see him hiring enough competent assistant to compensate for his complete incompetence. I want to hear from all these love it or leave it Preacha Man zombies after we lose to Boise State and South Carolina because of a stupid game plan and poor play calling.
With all that being said, I do take my hat off to the Tan Man and his staff for a great recruiting success. Just reel in Jenkins….
woebegong
February 3rd, 2011
10:04 pm
I beleive that UGA will be where Jenkins lands. He will really help out the defense and might just be the missing link, in UGA becoming a top notch team, employing the 3-4 defense. He has a strong character as well, and he is a mature young man. I think that teamed with Drew, the DAWGS are gonna get after some folks.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Ed (The Original)
February 3rd, 2011
11:28 pm
Phil, I gave 7 examples of Richt’s teams laying major eggs since 2008, and you counter with two bad games for Dooley in 25 years.
I can’t tell if that was a rebuttal or if you were trying to help me make my point.
Look, if you guys are happy with what Richt has given us in the past several years, fine. But you’re not going to sell me. I guess we have different standards, especially for a school that lands top-notch recruits year after year (that didn’t start with Richt). That doesn’t make me less of a Georgia fan – just less of a Richt fan.
Ed (The Original)
February 3rd, 2011
11:34 pm
7 examples since ‘07, that is.
And you can add the first-half stinker against West Virginia in the ‘06 Sugar Bowl. I admired the effort in the second half, but it looked like high schoolers trying to play WVU in the first half. The poor preparation and lack of motivation was shocking. Unfortunately that’s become the norm under Richt. His response isn’t better execution and discipline, but blackouts and a tacky endzone celebration. I’m ready for Richt to take his act somewhere else, it’s gotten old.
WBDAWG
February 4th, 2011
12:57 am
This is the same bunch which that was practically last in D-1 last year in penalties and Destin Dawg wants us to run a hurry-up offense!!! Let’s just run some basic plays, get them down, then we will worry about the trickeration!
Destin Dawg
February 4th, 2011
11:36 am
Auburn’s on side kick to start 2nd half.. was brilliant… turned the game around for them…. LSU.. Fla… not afraid to fake.. Trickeration etc… WAY TOO predictable !!!
doggie pooh
February 4th, 2011
2:57 pm
What happened? Last week, you guys all but had Ralph Friedgen nailed down. Couldn’t get him to come to the cesspool huh?
doggie pooh
February 4th, 2011
2:59 pm
I assume Bill Belichick was persuadable either?
Marietta Dawg Lover
February 4th, 2011
3:43 pm
I wish we would think about running a 2 tight end set more often this year. We are very strong a tight end. We will be weaker at wide receiver this year. This will help out with blocking for run plays and give us two targets to throw too. Also, I think that Friend will be a good O-line coach. I hope that he can get some push out of the O-line this year too. They have got to block better.
NCDAWG
February 6th, 2011
7:14 am
Offensive Line Coach? We need an OFFENSIVE CORDINATOR!!!!!