Bulldogs are hit hard by injuries; Commings shifts to safety
ATHENS – Injuries have piled up for the Georgia football team, which continued spring practice Thursday with a number of key players sidelined.
Particularly hard hit were the inside-linebacker and safety positions.
At inside linebacker, projected starters Christian Robinson and Alec Ogletree missed the practice because of a concussion and a strained groin, respectively, and backup Michael Gilliard was out with a sprained knee.
At safety, Jakar Hamilton was sidelined with a concussion, Marc Deas with a tweaked hamstring and Bacarri Rambo with a previously reported sprained knee ligament.
The rash of injuries left the Bulldogs practicing with only two healthy scholarship inside linebackers, Richard Samuel and Brandon Burrows, and one healthy scholarship safety, Shawn Williams.
Coaches responded by shifting Sanders Commings, who started nine games at cornerback last season, to safety — at least for now and possibly for good. It’s a move that had been contemplated even before the injuries.
“The safety position is pretty low as far as depth,” Deas said Thursday night. “What we pretty much have now are the walk-ons and Shawn. . . . Sanders is new to it, so he’s learning plays and stuff. . . . I think he’s adjusted pretty well.”
On offense, tailback Washaun Ealey remained sidelined with a strained left hamstring. Ealey has missed the past five practices.
Rambo is not expected to return to practice this spring, and it is not clear when the others will be back.
Georgia said Robinson and Hamilton are “day to day” and Ogletree “out indefinitely.” Deas said he hopes to be back at practice by Monday, and UGA said Gilliard is expected back before the April 16 G-Day game, which completes spring practice. Ealey also could be back next week.
Outside linebacker Cornelius Washington chose to focus on the upside of the injury situation.
“It makes us better, I feel like, because it gives you opportunities to put guys in new places and see what they can do,” Washington said. “Whenever you have an injury, another guy steps up and fills in the spot. It makes us communicate better because a new guy might not know this or that, so we’re all talking. That just builds habits. Later on, when the [first-teamers] get back, we should still communicate like that.”
Thursday’s practice was Georgia’s 10th of the allotted 15 this spring. Despite the extensive injuries at linebacker and safety, “the defense won” the practice, coach Mark Richt said in a statement. He didn’t meet with reporters. The Bulldogs won’t practice Friday but will hold a closed scrimmage in Sanford Stadium on Saturday.
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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164 comments Add your comment
Mobile Dawg
April 8th, 2011
10:02 am
Man my grammer’s terrible this morning. Meant to say “worse” yet….Gotta get off this blog and get to work….
UGA Insider
April 8th, 2011
10:03 am
You people are nuts about UF not having injury problems. For UF they are down to 1 scholarship running back and 7 Offensive lineman. Will Muschamp said recently that injuries were part of the game and the team had to persevere.
UF has had many many more injuries than UGA. Go to the SEC blog on ESPN from earlier this week for proof.
Matthews Dawg
April 8th, 2011
10:03 am
Herschel Talker….Turn the page!! Do you really think you have any control or say so about CMR’s job? You don’t, just like I don’t! Be positive from time to time! It’s negative, negative, negative….it is really old news and just boring!
Matthews Dawg
April 8th, 2011
10:06 am
Injuries are a part of the game! All of these guys are bigger, stronger and faster! They are knocking each others head’s off! If this were the regular season most of these guys would be playing. It’s spring football and no reason to push it with a lot of time left until Boise State game. Relax all you haters!!
YardDawg
April 8th, 2011
10:12 am
UGA Insider, I don’t think I’ll share sadness with the SEC cheaters’”sad time.”
Didn’t see the SEC sympathizing with us during our 3-year arrest streak. More like they used against us when talking with prospects’ mommas and daddies.
Cheating, thankfully, is the one thing UGA doesn’t have to worry about with with our coach. Here’s hoping he has fixed the the other stuff, and turns this program around.
I hope the vets and freshmen all play like their hair’s on fire this season. Sounds like Ben has the O practicing like that, maybe someone on the D will lead.
Big Dawg
April 8th, 2011
10:14 am
Some of you need to rethink your comments as they have no bearing on reality. I wonder how many of you actually ever played football or better yet went through spring drills at the college level. Injuries like hammys, strained obliges, knees, concussions etc happen. It is good that these guys are getting after it. One poster stated that Richt had gone soft over the last two years because of all the injuries in 2008 and YOU KNOW WHAT he is right, all those injuries certainly cost us a chance at winning the SEC East, THE SEC and possibly a shot at a MNC that year. I personnally believe we will see a much improved team out on the field this year and they will be back to playing aggressive, hard nosed football and we will be competitive again. Not like last year when we lost to South Carolina, and Miss. St and were never in those ballgames. Or lost to Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, UCF and Kentucky in close games that we should have won due to the team tiring out and/or just didn’t show up in the case of UCF in the bowl game.
Anyways it is only spring and we will all have to wait to at least the 4th game to see if they have indeed improved and turned the corner on two straight disappointing and mediocre years.
Go Dawgs
UGA Insider
April 8th, 2011
10:20 am
It’s sad in that our league looks like a group of cheaters and a group of institutions out of control. Currently their are ongoing investigations at AU, UT, LSU and now Bama. People tell me there are 7 different investigations currently ongoing at Auburn alone!!!! Then there is the Pearl situation which is pathetic. My point is there are only so many hits we can take before the entire league is turned upside down. And where is Mike Slive??? He is like our president… hiding out and pretending he is above the frey. This league may destroy itself.
AltamahaDawg
April 8th, 2011
10:33 am
It’s not really statistical fanatisism. # of play per game, how many were rushing attempts. It’s about the same for most SEC team. I would submit that the “perception” about that has more to do with how successful it was.
I’m hoping the perception is that we are running the ball a lot more this year.
Cobb Dawg
April 8th, 2011
10:33 am
Must mean our boys are gettin’ after it! Go Dawgs!!
I-DOG
April 8th, 2011
10:41 am
It isn’t really all that many injuries, Most of them are at the same two spots where we are already thin (linebacker and safety). The good thing as that none of them appears to be serious where it will affect these guys in the Summer or Fall (knocking on wood here). I don’t know whether to be concerned about the offense or happy that the defense won the day despite having to go deep into the depth chart in the middle of the field at ILB and Safety. Guess we will know which it is by game three this Fall.
Mobile Dawg
April 8th, 2011
10:55 am
As far as stats go, of those 60% runs a significant number were scrambles, sacks etc. I would have to disagree that we “commit” and run 60 plus percent of the time. And I might be wrong, therein is why I said I’m not a statistical fanatic. Statistics are not always what they try and represent. Everyone have a good day, I’m gone for sure.
fan
April 8th, 2011
11:02 am
Soft ! ! ! How about grow your _$$ up and practice banged up ! Its spring practice.
chilidawg
April 8th, 2011
11:15 am
Even with all of the injuries, the defense won? Uh oh. Sounds like the O-line needs to do some of that jelling stuff.
59bulldawg
April 8th, 2011
11:19 am
@UGA ‘05: NOT at you. It was @ Old_School_FB whose comment was “How in the world did UGA end up with a former video coordinator as the HSC???”
Dawg Gone
April 8th, 2011
11:35 am
Really 10 practices into spring ball and we have some injuries…wow that’s strange I thought we were playing ACC football and no one ever got hit? What would you morons be saying if we had no injuries…I can hear it now, CMR is too soft,we aren’t physical enough, we aren’t playing with ‘fire in our bellies” or my fave…we need to GATA!! Guys big strong fast young men will get banged up when they are doing there damnest to make a play…none of these seem to be very serious and could very well be an indication we are getting after it pretty good. And really anyone who thinks there is a team in the SEC that doesn’t get concussions or groin sprains is a moron…that is not open for discussion.
Depressed UGA Fan
April 8th, 2011
11:38 am
Our “rockstar” coaching staff already can’t figure out what position to put our players at, but now our depth is so thin that we have to move players because of injuries? Richt should just start packing now, because we won’t be able to produce with this kind of stuff going on too.
Alabama | MrSEC.com
April 8th, 2011
11:43 am
[...] Georgia’s Aaron Murray is looking to build off of an outstanding freshman season.12. A wave of injuries has forced UGA coaches to do some shifting on the defensive side of the ball. 13. Mark Richt and Mark Fox will take their spring speaking [...]
Dawg Gone
April 8th, 2011
11:44 am
UGA Insider I think its a damn shame what is going on in college football in general, the SEC is in the spotlight but as OSU and the TAT 5 have shown no one is exempt. I think the NCAA has lost control them allowing the TAT 5 play in a bowl is just an indication that they will do what ever it takes to put the most exciting product in front of the fans, no matter what rules they set aside or corners they cut. You can’t expect the coaches and kids to not follow that example.
Charlie Sheen's Red Panty Brigade
April 8th, 2011
12:07 pm
At least the Dawgs are winning!!
Mean Machine
April 8th, 2011
12:10 pm
It’s only spring, so go ahead and get it all out of your system now. Because once camp starts in August, I don’t want to hear the “injury bug” excuse. Every other year, that seems to be a the favored excuse. I don’t want to hear any of that garbage once the season rolls around, and it dang sure better not be an excuse to back off physical practices!
Dawg Gone
April 8th, 2011
12:24 pm
Mean Machine I don’t want them to back off physical practices either but you can’t have one without the other…..contact breeds injuries, lets just hope we don’t have the season ending ones.
AltamahaDawg
April 8th, 2011
12:25 pm
Other teams scramble too? So even do it by design. Over the course of time, most SEC school run the ball between 50-60 % of the time. That averages out all that “yes but”. On average this is the deal.
I pointed out that stat exactly to make the point that the stat, or number, doesn’t matter. It’s not attempting to run the ball, its a matter of doing it successfully. It’s not a philosophical problem, its a preparation problem..
ugaclassof2004
April 8th, 2011
12:41 pm
Defense wins Championships? Ehh…that certainly wasn’t true in 2010. Neither Auburn or Oregon’s defense were that great last year, they won with phenomenal offense. The defenses were, however, able to tighten up when they needed to. Bama won with defense and ball control in 2009, and won a few close games that way. But that caught up with them in 2010 when they were breaking in new starters on defense. But when their offense stalled out, and teams like South Carolina and Auburn will able to score at will on their defense, Bama would lose because their offense just didn’t have the ability to score points in a hurry. I think winning a championship is a combination or good coaching, talent, the right system to go with that talent, and just some good old fashion luck. So I think there is defintely more than one way to skin a cat.
WIN WITH RICHT
April 8th, 2011
12:43 pm
Most of these injuries are short term and should not matter come September. But injuries cannot be prevented entirely.
Go Dawgs!
April 8th, 2011
1:21 pm
fan
April 8th, 2011
11:02 am
Soft ! ! ! How about grow your _$$ up and practice banged up ! Its spring practice
Seriously?! That makes a lot of sense. Let’s push them during spring practice which is nothing more than a glorified conditioning session to make sure guys haven’t forgotten what they learned last fall to summer.
This coming from someone who probably hasn’t ever even put on a helmet. I see guys like you at the gym all the time. Big talking about how soft this or that athlete is and then struggle to bench 125lbs.
Those that can, do,; those who can’t, criticize those that can!
On another note: I hope that all of our fans that have been so critical of the coaches and players over the past two seasons will be just as quick to be on here singing their praises when they do well.
GO DAWGS!!!
RTR
April 8th, 2011
1:45 pm
UGA is a finesse team, and they’re not even really good at that. Hit them in the mouth, and they cower. Roll Tide
DIT
April 8th, 2011
1:46 pm
Good! It means that they are actually hitting during practice. They’ll be just fine for the Fall! Toughen that D up!
WIN WITH RICHT
April 8th, 2011
2:03 pm
RTR
With these latest accusations about Bama, The sleaze about both Bama and Awbarn is piling up. Look at the scandals, the Toomer Corner Massacre, Auburn’s Hole in the Head Gang, Oversigning, Cam’s Pay For Play, and now Bama paying Recruits.
AltamahaDawg
April 8th, 2011
2:05 pm
ugaclassof2004
That is the the best post you have ever had, and one of the better post of the day.
Iowa corn fed dawg boys
April 8th, 2011
2:24 pm
Need to recruit tough guys at UGA. Players who not afraid to rub dirt on their wounds. Soft coach equals soft playa’s!
jasont13
April 8th, 2011
2:25 pm
To the poster that mentioned never hearing about other teams moving players around or having injuries. This just goes to show that you have zero idea as to what your talking about.
South Carolina-Kenny Davis moved from defensive tackle to offensive guard, while Corey Robinson moved from offensive tackle to defensive tackle. … True freshman Martay Mattox shifted from cornerback to free safety.
Florida- With injuries, the young offensive line is still a mystery. True freshman Mack Brown broke his fibula and will be out for three months, while Mike Gillislee was bothered by a stress facture. Center Nick Alajajian will need three months to recover from a knee injury he suffered this spring. … Starting cornerback Janoris Jenkins missed all of spring after having shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum he played with through most of last season.
LSU- The Tigers moved Chris Davenport from the defensive line to left tackle on offense. … Safety Brandon Taylor, defensive end Sam Montgomery and offensive guard Josh Dworaczyk were among the players being held out of contact this spring to fully recover from injuries.
MSU- Defensive back Jamerson Love (hand) and offensive lineman Sam Watts (leg) both suffered injuries late this spring. Safety Nickoe Whitley (knee) didn’t practice this week and could miss Saturday’s game.
Dawg Gone
April 8th, 2011
2:47 pm
Verlaine ………..yawn.
Erik
April 8th, 2011
3:18 pm
last year they didnt hit and played like b!t*he$. they started hitting and now they have injuries, its a contact sport, its football. no pain no gain. they get hurt now they will be stronger and smarter when the season gets here.
im glad to here that there are some injuries. im glad they are not career/season ending.
UGAB….chill the F#c% out. a tight end switched to FB and the trenches are covered. you throw stones at Richt cause you know your aim sucks and you wont hit him. get your fact right and then talk.
lookin forward to seeing CMR in Jacksonville.
GO DAWGS!
DawginLex
April 8th, 2011
3:19 pm
Another interesting spring update for the loser TROLLS:
QB depth chart at LSU
1.)Jefferson
2.)Lee
3.)Mettenberger
Colorado QB Depth Chart
1.)Hansen
2.)Some redshirt freshman
3.)Some true freshman early enrollee
4.)Some walk on
5.)Logan Gray
I COULD HAVE SWORE THAT METT AND GRAY “TRANSFERRED” TO BECOME INSTANT STARTERS AT LSU AND CU BECAUSE OF RICHT’S ENTITLEMENT SYSTEM?????????
Mobile Dawg
April 8th, 2011
3:38 pm
“It was an old-fashioned championship game that featured solid defense, goal-line stands, field goals and a safety.
The first quarter was scoreless and the fourth quarter was breathless.
What game was this?
Wes Byrum kicked a 19-yard field goal with no time left Monday night to lift Auburn to the Bowl Championship Series title with a thrilling 22-19 win over Oregon at University of Phoenix Stadium.”
I stand by “Defense wins Championships”, just read the quotes after the MNC game. A great defense will stop a great offense, good pitching will shut down great hitting, some things don’t change. There is however an “exception” to every rule.
Rick S
April 8th, 2011
3:42 pm
Injuries during Spring Practice is the reason I am totallu against Spring Practice especially live hitting as it means nothing and you risk your core group of players getting seriously injured and not being able to recover in time to be ready to play in the Fall when it does count! Do away with the live hitting during Spring and maintain a practice schedule that is Helmets and Shoulder Pads only!
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 8th, 2011
3:45 pm
UGA Insider,
The only thing I could find yesterday on the thing about Alabama, didn’t offer anything other than what the radio guy had heard being said. No names or dates or anything likke that. Can you provide some of the blogs that might be a bit more specific. This would not be good news for the SEC, with all that has gone on lately. Thanks.
GO DAWGS
DawginLex
April 8th, 2011
3:49 pm
the defense wins championships thing does not apply when you have a team whose QB is a paid hired gun surrounded by a team full of thug home invaders.
Auburn: 2011 Fulmer Cup Champions!!!!!!!!!
http://www.edsbs.com
UGA Insider
April 8th, 2011
4:04 pm
mrsec.com, bleacherreport.com and College Football talk. I don’t know if I believe it but it would not surprise me. Bama and Auburn are bringing us all down.
Gators for Richt
April 8th, 2011
4:33 pm
Is it too early to declare the bull-dregs are 2011 pre-season national champions? It seems to happen a little earlier every year and I need to reserve my seat on the wagon before everyone starts falling off.
Shawn
April 8th, 2011
4:52 pm
RTR, If Bama is so good at “hitting UGA in the mouth and making them cower” why are they 1-3 against CMR? Maybe the cower thing only works one in four chances! Or maybe your memory only goes back to the one they finally won in the last 10 years since Richt took over! I’d claim amnesia too if the team and coach I was dogging owned my team!
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 8th, 2011
4:54 pm
Hmmmm,
Seems like that 6 year journalist grad. of auburn may have his own little agenda. No proof to offer other than what he says he heard. Appears that alabama and auburn hate each other more than they hate the DAWGS. When is enough too much for some of these guys. Seems like anybody can start a rumor anymore, LOL. I guess I need to check out their blogs and see if they direct as much venom on each of them.
Berzerk8dawg
April 8th, 2011
5:01 pm
Even in highschool during spring you will have 7 or 8 or more injured players out. These players are playing hard and I would rather them get injured now than in the fall. Love the hate.
Charles
April 8th, 2011
5:17 pm
UGA will be just fine after the summer workouts.
AltamahaDawg
April 8th, 2011
6:30 pm
Well, the defense wins championship thing, wasn’t talking about The championship game either. I believe that is more of a, how you get to the game, mantra. 2004’s point is that it’s really a combination of things, which could include (from his example) just having a good enough defense to compliment your outstanding offense. Oregon and Auburn had better defenses than some give them credit for, but that particular score wasn’t because they both had “great defenses”.
Dawgs eat their own poop
April 8th, 2011
7:44 pm
“hey stupid…………….there is no championship at this level. But UGA has won two SEC titles since 2002. Same as Fla and one less than LSU. Get ur facts right”
Hey retard, all those teams have championship trophies. Auburn has 2 SEC titles since 2004, moron.
Get YOUR facts straight.
Candela Ross
April 8th, 2011
8:37 pm
When dawg players are injured, do they still have to attend their remedial studies classes?
Aubarner
April 8th, 2011
8:40 pm
“Is it too early to declare the bull-dregs are 2011 pre-season national champions?”
Bull-dregs! That’s funny.
Danielle
April 8th, 2011
9:11 pm
What’s wrong with Verlaine? Besides being French, of course.
Bigdsel
April 8th, 2011
9:50 pm
good, That means they are hitting hard