A review of Bulldogs’ first spring scrimmage (and who is Brandon Harton?)
ATHENS – Georgia’s football team held its first scrimmage of the spring Saturday morning in Sanford Stadium, and coach Mark Richt had no complaints afterward.
“I thought today was outstanding, really outstanding, in regard to the guys playing with a lot of energy,” Richt said. “Some really nice plays on both sides of the ball.”
Georgia didn’t keep statistics on the scrimmage, which was closed to the public and media. Richt offered these observations afterward:
- Tight end Orson Charles “had a pretty big day, making some nice catches,” wide receiver Michael Bennett “caught my eye” and wide receiver Marlon Brown had a “very nice touchdown grab in tight coverage — reached up and snatched it away from a defender [on a] very nice throw by [quarterback Aaron] Murray.”
- Tailbacks Washaun Ealey and Carlton Thomas didn’t participate because of hamstring injuries, but Richt said Caleb King continued a good spring. “Caleb has been practicing very well. He’s practicing with great focus and a physical attitude and … a lot of energy.”
- Richt singled out 5-foot-6, 167-pound walk-on tailback Brandon Harton. (”Harton did good,” said Richt, who then turned to a staffer and asked: “What’s Harton’s first name?”) Harton “took a long run to the house” — a 65-yard touchdown — for the third-team offense vs. the third-team defense, Richt said. “He did a very nice job running the ball.”
- But “by no means” was the scrimmage “just an offensive juggernaut,” Richt said. “It was a really good competitive day. I wouldn’t say either side of the ball dominated.”
- Defensively, outside linebacker Jarvis Jones was “in on a bunch of plays” and cornerback Brandon Boykin “did a nice job in coverage,” Richt said. “We tried to throw [Boykin's] way a few times and got nothing.”
- And Richt took note of nose tackle Kwame Geathers’ progress: “Going against [center] Ben Jones is not easy, and [Geathers] made some plays. He’s making very good improvement.”
Harton in spotlight
Harton, who is from Tattnall County, said he had opportunities to play college football at Georgia Southern and Charleston Southern, “but I really wanted to play for Georgia.” So he enrolled at UGA and walked on last summer as a wide receiver. He said he asked the coaches “if it’d be all right” to switch to running back this spring.
“Obviously everyone here is good, but you just have to go out every day and work hard,” said Harton, who is Ealey’s cousin. “And whenever you get your opportunity, you’ve got to take advantage of it.”
Teammates enjoyed Harton’s moment in the limelight Saturday.
Murray said Harton “had a nice run where he, like, ducked under two guys fast as heck, and he was gone.” Charles said Harton “was breaking runs and making everybody excited.”
Etc.
Among players who didn’t participate in the scrimmage: fullback Bruce Figgins (stiff neck), linebacker Richard Samuel (rib injury) and tight end Aron White (unknown injury). . . . Safety Bacarri Rambo, expected to miss the rest of spring practice because of a sprained MCL, was not at the scrimmage. Rambo was attending his sister’s wedding, Richt said. . . . Murray said offensive coordinator Mike Bobo “had some every positive words” for the offense after the scrimmage. “You know it’s a pretty good day when he has some good comments to say,” Murray said. . . . Linebacker Christian Robinson said the defensive line “has really stepped up.”
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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221 comments Add your comment
DawginLex
April 4th, 2011
3:55 pm
Bama goes 10-2 and loses to LSU. LSU wins west. Jefferson player of the year.
Saban leaves to coach Ohio state
illinoisdawg
April 4th, 2011
4:10 pm
Hutson Mason had 2 tds and no ints in the scrimmage this past Saturday.
Double Standard is correct
April 4th, 2011
5:28 pm
dawginlex
why would Saban leave bama to coach the buckeyes?
Seriously
April 4th, 2011
5:34 pm
“Georgia didn’t keep statistics on the scrimmage” – not surprising, the bull-dregs aren’t too good at math.
916Dawg
April 4th, 2011
6:04 pm
DawginLex;
“Saban lvs to coach the shrubs” that is too funny. (Must be your April Fools joke)
I am glad to hear CMR upbeat about the scrimmage but also a bit concerned. I have been keepin tabs on several other programs across the country too see how their coaches felt after the first scrimmage and by most accounts they all had real concerns or were flat out unhappy with the results. Now either CMR sees REAL improvement over the end of last season & how the team looked at this point last spring or as some have remarked he is/has lost grasp with reality and this doesn’t bode well for us come Sept/Oct etc… when the games are for real.
I am betting he (CMR) IS JUST TYRING to give some propts to people who otherwise might not get much mention durign the year. CMR is a fine coach & a quality man, period.
Go Dawgs!!!
Fire Richt
April 4th, 2011
6:06 pm
Another Great recruiting class…another happy day in spring practice when it does not count! I am going to say it now…Just because you have a new (’old’) strength and conditioning coach, and Richt has time to focus (what?)…if history is any indication on what’s gonna happen this fall…UGA will have another typical losing season..GO DAWGS!
doug
April 4th, 2011
6:31 pm
I hope everyone is not thinking we are going to be the Auburn of 2011.
Not going to happen. Georgia will be good. Very good. But they are not allowed to win National titles with Mark Richt at the helm. He lacks to many coaching and motivational skills to ever win it all.
We may go undefeated for 7 or 8 games but he will fall asleep and the dream will die.
Gary Patterson is the ticket.
Shawn
April 4th, 2011
7:23 pm
Hey fire Richt moron…Another typical losing season????When has it become typical to have a losing season at UGA? NEVER, unless you call 1 every 10-15 years typical! Move on moron!
Dawger
April 4th, 2011
8:00 pm
JE You can live in a dream world if you wish… But the ones out here who would like to see an SEC championship every 2 or 3 years at least and the occasional national championship are the true fans… You aren’t doing UGA or the fans any favors by settling for mediocre play and worse coaching and not speaking up about it. If the fans let the powers that be at UGA know we won’t settle for it we have a better chance of getting some real coaches in there… Look at FSU they settled for Bowen for years after he had lost his way what did it get him… I think Jo Pa at Penn is a cool old dude but his day is looooonnnggg past and they just keep rolling down that road to nowhere… Ricth he’s already been given to many chances… I give him credit for getting rid of the DC last year but he should have either replaced his buddy BoBo or called the plays himself…..
Dawger
April 4th, 2011
8:04 pm
Shawn Richt has had winning seasons and the rare SEC championship but he doesn’t beat the big dawgs in the conference you have to beat in order to be top dawg. If you want a team that is #1 after the BCS championship game or even the SEC championship game R man isn’t gonna get you there…
Billy
April 4th, 2011
8:20 pm
7 out of last 8 seasons, Richt loses more games than the year before.
90% chance Georgia win 5 games or less this season.
This is the end of the line for Mark Richt. His last season of atrophy.
Richt will go down with Murray throwing for 3000 yards against unranked teams and going 5-7.
Shawn
April 4th, 2011
8:42 pm
I’ll bet my life savings on the over if the over/under is 5 for UGA TY. I’ll take my chances on your 90% mathematical wizardry Billy. You must be a tech grad!
Jayson
April 4th, 2011
8:46 pm
Billy,
Right on. Richt gets worse in wins, almost every year. UGA fans are dreamers. 14-0 dreamers.
Stinger
April 4th, 2011
9:49 pm
When your star running back is a 5′6″ walk on you are in deep kaka. Your pathetic team is a friggin joke. Always running your mouth in preseason and crying and whinning during the regular season. Celler Dwellers forever.
BigDawg
April 4th, 2011
9:51 pm
What is the deal with Ken Malcome 6ft 226lb Freshmen Tailback. Did he play over the weekend?
Coach Grohbo
April 5th, 2011
12:02 am
This team is gonna suck.
Coach Grohbo
April 5th, 2011
12:04 am
Georgia’s defense gets trucked by a 5-foot-6, 167-pound walk-on tailback.
It’s like the Colorado game all over again.
Coach Grohbo
April 5th, 2011
12:10 am
I see a lot of UGA players are hurt already.
Looks like the S&C and nutrition programs are working great!
Coach Grohbo
April 5th, 2011
12:16 am
Mike Bobo had some very positive words for the offense after the scrimmage.
He said, “This defense positively sucks. Let’s go to the pool.”
Jayson
April 5th, 2011
8:13 am
Only 1 of the td’s was against the first team defense.
Georgia always looks great in Spring, it’s the Fall against winning teams where the problems start.
Truthfully
April 5th, 2011
9:04 am
Mark is scared to mention how good Lemay looked because at 6′4 with a rocket arm and championship poise and ability the last thing CMR wants to do is start a QB controversy around his 5′11 wunderkind Murray bad deal there !! Dummy