Dogs’ Alec Ogletree changes positions
ATHENS — There’s an interesting — and significant — position change on Georgia’s football team.
Former five-star recruit Alec Ogletree, who played safety as a freshman last season, will move to inside linebacker when spring practice starts next week, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said Thursday.
“Basically, every year what you do is you evaluate the players you have, and you look at your needs,” Grantham said. “He’s a tall guy; he’s got good size; he can run and hit, and he’s physical. I feel like moving him closer to the ball is going to allow him to make more plays and be more productive for us.
“I’m really excited because I think by moving him there it will allow us to put Jarvis [Jones, who was redshirted last season after transferring from USC] at outside ‘backer.”
The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Ogletree started four games last season.
As a senior at Newnan High School in 2009, he was rated the nation’s No. 2 safety prospect by MaxPreps.com and the No. 3 outside linebacker prospect by Scout.com.
Georgia returns one starter at inside linebacker, Christian Robinson, and also is intrigued about the potential at the position of Richard Samuel, who was redshirted last season after shifting from tailback.
Grantham said returning starter Bacarri Rambo can play either safety position and that returning lettermen Jakar Hamilton and Shawn Williams, as well as redshirt freshman Marc Deas, “are going to get their opportunity in the spring to show us what they can do with the system and how productive they can be.”
Etc.
In moves that had been expected, Richt said Cordy Glenn will move from offensive guard to offensive tackle, and Grantham said DeAngelo Tyson will move from nose guard to defensive end and Justin Anderson from the defensive line back to the offensive line. . . . Richt said new inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti will be in charge of the kickoff coverage unit.
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147 comments Add your comment
clifdog
March 4th, 2011
9:14 am
Doesn’t matter how fast the LBs are when the ball is sailing over their heads to WRs who are wide open yet again.
The 3-4
March 4th, 2011
9:19 am
In our system, we need some studs at LB. THEY have to step up in this system and make the plays.
Last year, I was pulling for Jakar Hamilton at safety but after the SC game he disappeared, it seemed.
nerds! nerds! nerds!
March 4th, 2011
9:24 am
Coaches know best, yall. This move reminds me of Thomas Davis and Derrick Brooks!
GATA
chilidawg
March 4th, 2011
9:27 am
Put me in the “What the?” camp. How many times did we watch Hamilton and Rambo get torched last year? I was looking forward to watching ‘tree back there. I’m sure he’ll make a great linebacker, I just hope the secondary improves A LOT this year.
Virginia DAWG
March 4th, 2011
9:28 am
Just remember that the 2011 recruiting class includes the #1, #3 & #5 defensive backs in the country. Don’t know who will pan out and also if any will play as freshmen, but this certainly looks promising and especially good for 2012.
dallis04
March 4th, 2011
9:29 am
Is it just me or are all these flip floppin on position changes every season kindaaaaa worrisome…..
PMC
March 4th, 2011
9:36 am
yeah but…. what is this going to do to the abysmal options at Safety???
PMC
March 4th, 2011
9:40 am
The best news is what it does for the linebacking corps. Clearly they want to get thier best players closer to the ball. Jones and Ogletree are quite possibly the best players on the defense. They are going to have VERY athletic linebakers and pretty good corners.
Put me in the camp of believing in Olividotti and Lakatos.
I guess we will find out in the spring if the safeties can work out thier coverage issues.
Time for a change!
March 4th, 2011
9:43 am
When does Rambo graduate? I can’t wait for him to be gone! He really turned into a domesticated house cat after that hit in the AU game 2 years ago.
DawginLex
March 4th, 2011
9:44 am
Go back and look at the touchdown pass that gave Auburn the lead. It was over Ogletree. He got burned. He will be better suited for linebacker. they can put about 15 pounds on him and he can bust some heads across the middle.
i like the move.
Speaking the Truth
March 4th, 2011
9:46 am
Did any of you watch the games last year? Jakar is terrible, if he is our best option at safety this yr we are in big trouble…do me a favor and watch what he does durning the South Carolina, Colarado, etc
alabamadawg
March 4th, 2011
10:01 am
Poor Justin Anderson, he just gets moved around like an unwanted piece of asparagus…
Dirty Dawg
March 4th, 2011
10:04 am
Hey truthseeker and okiedawg…you’re right, those coaches that we pay all that money to and have had all those year’s experience doing what they do , don’t have a clue compared to us when it comes to judging talent and deciding who can best play where. Keep it up, I’m sure they’ll be certain to check out this blog before they make any more stupid decisions like this one…
studawg
March 4th, 2011
10:06 am
love the move, get our playmakers up close, if we dont get pressure to the QB and stop the run, they will pass all over our defense no matter who our safeties are
thetruehurts
March 4th, 2011
10:24 am
This will be Shawn Williams year.
tide roll
March 4th, 2011
10:27 am
Bean Anderson and Kenarious Gates at offensive guard, and Sturdivant and Glenn at tackles and you win the SEC, even if Burnette sits behind Jones, which isn’t fair to Burnette, but that’s Georgia football.
rascaldog
March 4th, 2011
10:28 am
Remember all those short over the middle passes that turned into 8-12-15 yard gains all season against us? Those days will be gone with the athletic “Tree” on the inside. Big, strong, fast, long arms, great hands and a BIG hitter!…Go Dawgs!
‘No more soccer’ for Aaron Murray | UGA sports blog
March 4th, 2011
10:45 am
[...] Alec Ogletree makes a position change. [...]
Honest Abe
March 4th, 2011
11:10 am
Alec Olgetree has unlimited potential and should excel at either position if he is taught how to tackle. If you watched him last year, maybe lacking confidence as a true Freshman playing in the SEC, he did not tackle well. He was around the ball alot, but his tackling skills must be improved.
dawgfacedboy
March 4th, 2011
11:38 am
Isn’t he kind of small to be an ILB?? Just asking.
16
March 4th, 2011
11:39 am
Not a big fan on this move!!!!!
savh dawg
March 4th, 2011
11:43 am
@MICHAEL, Hamilton and Rambo on the field at the same time. Did you watch any games last year? They can’t tackle. Safeties are suppose to tackle. I don’t agree with this move at all on Ogletree. The next thing we will hear is how he is trying to get adjusted to a new position. All I heard was how tough Jones looked in scout scrimmages last year. I’m assuming this was at inside LB. I agree with Speaking The Truth. Our coaches seem to move players around more than most programs.
Heeldawg
March 4th, 2011
11:46 am
I suspect that the athletic skills of a couple of true freshmen will be tested early–including a certain All-State QB from Wilcox County!@
Delta Flight Attendent
March 4th, 2011
12:21 pm
It is not like Alec was the next Eric Berry in the first place.
BYRDDAWG
March 4th, 2011
12:37 pm
Players change positions all the time!! Some outgrow where they started and he def can hit but he also got TORCHED a few times in the secondary… He’ll rock @ LB!!!!
dangboy
March 4th, 2011
1:42 pm
It means they are gonna clog the middle with the front fatties and run to the ball with 4 linebackers.
Dawg Tired
March 4th, 2011
1:45 pm
Surely, our coaches have someone other than Rambo in place to play safety! I was hoping we would get him out of the starting lineup.
Dawg Tired
March 4th, 2011
1:49 pm
I gotta agree with Savh Dawg – especially as to Rambo – He is absolutely horrible at tackling. If we don’t shore up the safety position, we will be hurting on defense.
gbal
March 4th, 2011
2:38 pm
WOW DOGIN LEX – No bonehead terms list for us on this piece. Went over well huh?
MRC
March 4th, 2011
3:07 pm
Just an FYI, in the true 3-4, the flats and short field are covered by speed-line backers and the O-Line is covered by outside backers (with coverage exceptions). Putting a safety in the LB position (speed wise) puts UGA at an advantage for a backfield release/short pass or dump/QB run out of pocket; all of which yielded several brutal yards last season. In particular, we can now get coverage sacks instead of having a 4th or 5th look for an opposing QB being completed because a speedy back or freed up tight end can outrun a line backer. Great move!
Charlie Hayes
March 4th, 2011
5:44 pm
This was an anticipated move by many before Ogletree every stepped foot on the UGA campus. He has the size of a linebacker for most D1 schools but has the speed of a safety. Ogletree showed last year that he can hit and that he has really good form tackling. He reminded me of the Thomas Davis days watching him drive through the ball carriers on kick off returns and when he played at safety. Everyone is also forgetting about Nick Williams. He is another big physical safety that can hit hard. With Hitman, both Williams (Shaun and Nick) and Deas in the mix for one spot we will have it covered. I think the coaches waited to make this move in hopes that a 5-Star LB would be attracted to the 2011 class if there was a depth issue in the LB corps. We didnt get that 5-Star LB so now they can make the transition to the public. I bet Ogletree has known this was coming for a while now…..Good year for the Dawgs in 2011! Go Dawgs!
long time dawg fan
March 5th, 2011
2:20 am
wow……maybe he will become our “Al Wilson”…do you remember when he played for Tennessee….so unfair for an offensive linemen to have to block him….he was gone before a blocker could touch him…hope this works out
woebegong
March 5th, 2011
7:51 am
If the 3-4 defense is working right, with the right personnel on the field, the QB will be hurried a lot more, and you will be containing the runners. No CB or safety is going to cover a receiver if the QB has all day to find him because he is not getting any pressure. IF Big J. Jenkins can plug up the middle and occupy two linesmen, that means we can utilize the outside linebacker to blitz a lot more, and the inside linebacker can contain the middle. When you have a young man such as Ogletree, that is still growing and hits like a guy 20 pounds heavier than him, it makes sense to move him into the middle of the backfield. He has exceptional speed as well. I believe, with his speed and toughness, he will be a real good player there. UGA’s 3-4 scheme, or any teams 3-4 for that fact; depends on pressure at the point of attack and I beleive we have the big boy in the middle and the Def. ends to deliver that this year. I look for a much improved defense this year as I really believe the DC is an excellent coach and now he has had a year with his folks and some quality recruits to work with and utilize. He can fashion the defense to work the way it should.
The best offense starts with a good defense.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Shawn
March 5th, 2011
9:35 pm
Maybe we can get Cootie with his 4.4 speed on the field at safety. I watched him play and he is all over the field and in on every tackle. You cannot place enough “recruiting stars” on that kind of instinct. I have a feeling he may have been the steal of this recruiting season. He had to work for everything he has accomplished and that takes commitment, heart, and desire. Those are the kind of kids that make everyone around them better!
woebegong
March 5th, 2011
10:02 pm
Shawn,
I saw a small tape about him and he sure did get to the ball in a hurry. You may be right about him. I think the academic questions about his qualifying may have steered people away from him, but I think, with a little more weight, he just might be a good one. I hope he plays with an attitude and works hard on the field and in the classroom.
GOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSS
Stinger2
March 6th, 2011
4:56 am
Good to see so many UGA fans playing as coaches. I doubt that the real UGA coaches will read their blogs. These
fans do seem to be interested in their team. Give them credit for that.
CW
March 6th, 2011
8:53 am
Dogs have so many weak areas: inexperience guards on O-Line, best 2 WR’s gone, QB who’s winless against winning teams, RB’s who fumble and have off the field issues, lost Justin Houston–leading sacker, lost Dent–leading tackler, lost 75% of LB corp, etc.
dawgfan
March 6th, 2011
9:48 am
Justin Anderson was an O-lineman. Then he was a D-lineman. Now he’s an O-lineman again. Richard Samuel was a starting running back. Now he’s a linebacker. Cordy Glenn was a guard and now he’s a tackle. Alec Ogletree is a safety…no, he’s a linebacker…What do you want to bet he moves back to safety at some point?
I’m sorry but how is any of this a GOOD thing? On the surface it looks like the coaches don’t know what the hell they are doing. Then you look at last year’s 6-7 record and think “hmm…maybe these coaches really don’t know what the hell they are doing.”
I mean really. Geez.
woebegong
March 6th, 2011
9:56 am
CW, identify the team you are a fan of, and perhaps we can help you also analyze their weak areas for you. It sounds like you are trying to make excuses but I doubt a UGA fan would be this critical about our own team. Every college program starts over each year with a certain amount of new personnel. The Dawgs will be just fine this year.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
King Gator
March 6th, 2011
10:39 am
He would be an excellent midfielder or defender.. not sure he could be changed to goalie. Go Kickin Dawgs! .. wrong football? Go Gators!
Suwaneedawg
March 6th, 2011
2:15 pm
I love these moves! You want the best players that can hit and get to the ball in your front 7, especially when you play the 3-4. Alec will be a stud there and with Jones at OLB and Rambo at Safety you have a bunch of hitters with speed. Can’t wait to see how this progresses.
Big Dawg
March 7th, 2011
9:55 am
First off Samuel should have been at linebacker the whole time, IMHO it was a waste of skill and talent putting him at running back. He is a naturally gifted linebacker, as for Alec Ogletree the jury is still out on him, we will see how he adapts to a different position if his skills are better suited for LB. I believe that last year as the year went along overall we got better on defense as the players learned discipline in their respective roles and assignments. Now that this is going to be most of these guys second year in the 3-4 we will see a vast improvement as a lot of the time last year the guys were out of place and looked confused on what they were supposed to do on certain plays. My biggest complaint has always been with the offensive play calling as we have always gotten pass happy which has led to being inconsistent. Anyway this is only my opinion which we are all entitled to.
Go Dawgs
John
March 7th, 2011
7:21 pm
Every year at Georgia the strength of the team turns into the weakness the next season. UGA was suppose to be strong on the offensive line, it was this year weakness. The defense will improve this year, and the weakness will be at quarterback and offense. Quarterbacks ALWAYS regress under Bobo and Richt after their first year. Stafford left Athens no better than he was as a freshman, with a rifle arm but no touch.
Senator Blutarski
March 8th, 2011
12:19 am
Let’s do it!!!!
Al E.
March 8th, 2011
11:17 pm
If Jakar Hamilton ever sees the light of day at safety the Dawgs are in BIG trouble.
Freddie G
March 9th, 2011
1:05 am
Cordy Glen is now to be moved to Tackle, we have to wonder how long it will be before he is moved again. That is part of the problem with the Oline at Georgia, with the constant moving around of the parts it is difficult to have consistency which will ensure the desired performances on Saturdays in the fall.
Tom
March 9th, 2011
11:31 pm
UGA is just lucky ogletree is even in athens. His dad is an Auburn Tiger. How many bandwagon uga fans do you think knew that? Ogletree wasn’t good enough to play at Auburn.