Wide receivers: No A.J. Green, but plenty of options
We’re about one month away from the start of preseason football practices in Athens, so it’s time to start taking a closer look at Georgia’s 2011 football team. This is the second in a series of articles in which I’ll be breaking down each of the Bulldogs’ position groups to give you an idea who are the projected starters and what the expectations might be for this season. Then, as always, we’ll throw it open for your commentary and analysis. There are only 63 days until Georgia’s season opener against Boise State. Let’s get busy. . . .
Tavarres King hauls in one of his three TD catches last year in a game against Mississippi State. Georgia hopes to see more of this in 2011(AP photo)
WIDE RECEIVERS
- Projected starters: SE Marlon Brown (Jr., 6-5, 222), FL Tavarres King (Jr., 6-1, 192), FL Rantavious Wooten (Jr., 5-10, 185)
- Others to watch: Israel Troupe, Michael Bennett, Chris Conley and Malcolm Mitchell will likely get a chance to show their wares early as Georgia operates in a six-receiver rotation.
- Key losses: They don’t get any more significant than A.J. Green, who was snapped up by the Cincinnati Bengals with the fourth pick of the NFL draft after his junior season and left as arguably the Bulldogs’ best receiver of all time. Green and fellow NFL draftee Kris Durham were the Bulldogs’ top two pass catchers last season with 89 between them.
- Key fact: A fairly experienced group returns. King, Brown, Wooten and Troupe have played in 103 games between them, so knowing what to do and how to do it should not be a issue. King proved to be a solid secondary option opposite Green, hauling in 47 catches the last two seasons at a hefty 20 yards per catch. Brown, a former five-star prospect and No. 1 player in Tennessee, is poised for a breakout season. He had 11 catches and his first TD in 2010 and the Bulldogs named him Most Improved Receiver.
- Key question: Are multiple good options better than one great option? With Green on the field, quarterback Aaron Murray understandably had a tendency to throw the ball his way despite what coverages might have dictated. With no clear dominant force at wideout, Murray will likely need to be more reliant on his ability to read the defense and find the open man.
- Recent developments: Expect young players to have an impact as the Bulldogs search for a big-play threat during preseason camp. Conley, an AJC Super 11 selection out of North Paulding High School, enrolled early and impressed in spring practice. And the late recruiting victory for Mitchell, who had more than 1,400 yards receiving as a senior at Valdosta, could be a real X factor. He’ll be given every opportunity to prove himself and earn playing time.
- Outlook: Fair to good. Losing a mega-talent such as Green would seem to indicate an overall downgrade. But the Bulldogs have several players who have been toiling in his shadow and are eager to prove their worth. With a first-rate group of tight ends already in the fold, Georgia needs only two or three reliable targets out of this group to be effective and it says here it will have that and then some.
- Your turn: What do you think about Georgia’s wide receiver corps?
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346 comments Add your comment
Hairy Dawg
July 3rd, 2011
4:07 pm
Altamaha is right in that to many of these big mouth supposed fans is wrongly trying to hurt Coach Richt and bring down program as bad fans. Coach Richt is bests for Dawgs and goning make bad fans pay this year with the winning of SEC and on to BCS.
slaw dog
July 3rd, 2011
4:11 pm
Altamaha you can’t have your cake and eat it too! Old time dog was right on with what he said and I sure didn’t feel like he was lecturing you or anybody else for that matter. You are pretty guilty of lecturing about how great Richt is and that loyal fans wouldn’t do that. Nothing personal but I would have to agree with mustard dog in that you feel pretty smug about yourself. How about think before you pop off to everybody.
Randall H.
July 3rd, 2011
5:08 pm
For me this sums it up, T.E. Orson Charles.
Fennel
July 3rd, 2011
5:54 pm
Aaron Murray will prove beyond doubt after the BSU and USC games that he is not a big-time QB.
And Mark Richt will be scrambling, looking for a Plan B.
UGA history over 50 years
July 3rd, 2011
6:01 pm
I can name but will not name, 10-15 UGA wide outs, not counting tight ends, that won more games than AJ Green ever did. Part of the motives behind proclaiming a kid as “the numero uno best, ever in the last 4000 years” is ……………. recruiting. Coaches are always in future mode with players.
Green promised to make someone pay for his absense in the first 4 UGA games. We played Colorado and his leg cramped and he did make some fabulous grabs …………. but he punished no one and we lost.
Good luck to AJ, he is not the best ever and frankly, will be forgotton within 3 years.
Jimmy Shirer was really good and so was Richard Appleby and his pass to Gene Washington vs Florida and too many to name. Hell, even McClendon, the UGA running backs coach caught the winning score vs GT in the game where Reggie Ball dumped it out of bounds on 4 th down in Grant Field.
Go Dogs.
UGA class of 71 & 73
Effie's of Athens Boarding House
July 3rd, 2011
6:29 pm
Run Lindsey, Run.
Fran Tarkenton
July 3rd, 2011
6:32 pm
The problem isn’t the wide receivers. The problem is called Bobo…
Snoop Dawg
July 3rd, 2011
6:34 pm
Good on you Slaw Dog! I’m tired of these self righteous apologist losers like Altamaha, it ain’t rocket science and southgadawg88 or whatever his stupid name is. These folks are just losers. They are probably Florida Gators or Alabamans trying to con the Bulldog Nation to keep Richt and his embiciles on the payroll. We aren’t going to win again until they are gone. Wake up folks.
Poopdawg
July 3rd, 2011
6:43 pm
Lydia, low class punk? AJ has more class than you why make such an ignorant comment? Anybody questioning AJ’s greatness has no clue on evaluating talent.
Hairy Dawg
July 3rd, 2011
6:44 pm
I don’t knowing how someone can see Murray throwing and not realize kid got big times arm and goning displays talents this year. We just needed to get rid of stinkys like Ealy and bring in Dream Team to be back on top and running SEC. Now we have to cast out bad fans that not supporting and all be back well with Dawg nations.
Poopdawg
July 3rd, 2011
6:45 pm
Fennel , keep on wishing your life away.
Poopdawg
July 3rd, 2011
6:53 pm
Fran, you can’t blame it all on Bobo . He’s Richts choice and Richt is a offensive coach. Just like Kirby Smart shouldn’t be blamed for all of Bamas defensive shortcomings due to Saben.
AltamahaDawg
July 3rd, 2011
6:54 pm
Mustard dog, and slaw dog, you can distort the truth all you want. I know, and folks in here that I trust and respect know what I said, what I meant by it. You didn’t like my comments, fine, but your feigned indignation might be a bit more convincing if you could actually disagree with any points I make. Or even categorized it correctly.
My comment to old dog were extremely specific about a point he said to me, deal with it. Particularly since I agree with that point. No idea why you two decided to get offended by that. I assume he didn’t.
hairy dog, with all due respect, I can live without you distorting what I said as well.
AltamahaDawg
July 3rd, 2011
7:04 pm
I’d like to see an example of me “lecturing to everyone how great Richt is”. You can certainly find plenty of examples of me disgreeing with a specific points made about Richt and giving my take on that. I’d direct you to several right on this very thread. I’m sorry that you can’t tell the difference. Or want to. I would have enjoyed the honest debate.
old time dog
July 3rd, 2011
7:08 pm
altamaha dawg… eYe could really give a rat’s ass what you print or think. You ain’t the only UGA fan in town. Seeem to be spending more time defending what you defended before you defended that!!!!!!! You and Sir Richt deserve each other.
AltamahaDawg
July 3rd, 2011
7:16 pm
Appearanty you do though.
AltamahaDawg
July 3rd, 2011
7:18 pm
So, no dispute to what I actually said?
AltamahaDawg
July 3rd, 2011
7:41 pm
I will say this old time dog, I assumed you were talking “other people”, since I certainly have never called you any less of a fan (or anyone else for that matter, which was my point). So I hope you don’t think I was lumping you in with the folks who might as well be trolls because they sound exactly like them or those who do nothing but rant emotionally. I’ve never known you to be either.
tenn.DAWG
July 3rd, 2011
9:26 pm
There is plenty of talent on this squad,it’s all about coaching at this point.CMR and Bobo know they need to perform.Should be an interesting year.
old time dog
July 3rd, 2011
9:36 pm
eYe know this blog was about receivers and we should have a few that can play. eYe think the King kid has been blown up a bit. He doesn’t appear to be too eager to grab passes after the defense sticks him good. He does have some speed and if he works on his moves then maybe he is a factor. Brown seems to have been written off and hasn’t shown alot but the kid has the ability, size and speed to be a good one. Don’t know if he will develop but like him on the topside. Bennett has been pretty consistent and could actually play a bigger role than last year. The tight ends ? Doesn’t seem like we utilize them much except for blocking or when Murray sprints out and has multiple targets to the sideline. Maybe other teams are just as predictable but we sure as hell are. What ever happened to that quick slant over the middle? It used to be a pattern that worked every now and then. It would really be nice to see these these receivers do a little blocking downfield once a play takes off. eYe thought this was a problem in several games last year. Overall, eYe feel the receivers are likely to be good enough and should be good to go.
sneakuponum
July 4th, 2011
6:10 am
7 and 5
mustard dog
July 4th, 2011
9:51 am
altamaha, old time dog really popped it to you didn’t he? HAHA! I guess he got tired of your kissing Richt’s tail just like everybody else has. Nice read and take on the receivers by old time dog.
slaw dog
July 4th, 2011
9:53 am
AltamahaDawg, I agree completely with mustard dog. You are a
slaw dog
July 4th, 2011
9:56 am
My bad there. Anyway, AltamahaDawg is a Richt fan more than a dawg fan. Mustard dog got it right. Old time dog seems like a pretty level headed guy and apparently called out Altamaha for spouting his craziness.
old time dog
July 4th, 2011
10:03 am
mustard, slaw…eYe ain’t looking to put nobody down, just trying to hear of something new on UGA and spill my frail thoughts every now and again. eYe have read some good stuff AltamahaDawg has thrown out and eYe have read alot he said eYe don’t agree with. Sure it’s that way with lots of folks who go on these things. Anyway, eYe enjoy reading what eYe can on UGA and probably sort of use it as a barometer on things. Where did ya’ll come up with those names???
slaw dog
July 4th, 2011
10:05 am
Got my handle cause I like slaw dogs, especially those at Kenny’s.
mustard dog
July 4th, 2011
10:08 am
I came up with mustard dog because it was all I could think of when I went to post something. Probably not real imaginative. Ole Altamaha ought to try a mustard or slaw dog or maybe one with pickles and relish.
old time dog
July 4th, 2011
10:09 am
….okay…..Guess now we know…??….
SSIgator
July 4th, 2011
10:12 am
AltamahaDawg -
Stop digging. The hole is just getting deeper.
CajunInjectorDawg
July 4th, 2011
10:13 am
Slaw,Mustard,Chili,Old Time, and Altamaha Dawgs and/or Dogs…..Best of all try shooting a little creole butter in a ballpark frank. But of course Altamaha would disagree with all of us.
old time dog
July 4th, 2011
10:26 am
Wow!!! eYe didn’t know there were so many dogs/dawgs. Well, what say we get back into football instead of hot dogs/dawgs? eYe know eYe got several questions in my mind about some things regarding the upcoming season at UGA. First off, eYe admit eYe am NOT a Richt fan and have never been. My reason for saying that lies in the fact he was a young first time head coach who came into UGA with some fire and new ideas offensively. eYe always felt he was lost on defense and when he had to make choices for assistant coaches, well he didn’t use the best of rationale, IMO. eYe hate gimmicks, unprofessionalism, being asleep at the wheel and a few other things that cropped their ugly heads while Richt has been here. eYe have mouthed off about those before. Has Richt seen the light and has he matured as a leader and head coach? eYe don’t know. To me, that is one of the biggest question marks heading into this season.
AltamahaDawg
July 4th, 2011
10:30 am
Yea, he really got me with that deserving Richt an all. ouch!. even got the rival trolls piling on. 50 cent for the first person to actually disagree with anything I have said. OR, just keep throwing out banilities. Seems to be the order of the day.
Please list anything crazy I have said slaw. I’m betting you can’t.
chili dog
July 4th, 2011
10:30 am
Hey boys!!!! The answer to your question old time dog is NO. Richt got fat off that big salary and quit taking notice of what he should have. May be too late to repair it. Just ask slaw, mustard,etc…
slaw dog
July 4th, 2011
10:34 am
AltamahaDawg, There you go again blaming old time for what you claim are trolls? Just look back over previous blogs and you will honestly know you caused more trolls than anyone. I bet old time gets tired of your bs about him.
old time dog
July 4th, 2011
10:37 am
eYe am out of here. Didn’t come to argue or even defend necessarily. In about a month there should start being some football worthy news maybe.
naked dog
July 4th, 2011
10:39 am
Way to go AltamahaDawg. Now see what you caused. You must be a Florida fan or a Tech fan or something.
AltamahaDawg
July 4th, 2011
10:48 am
Again, call me out on the actual statement I make, prove me wrong, or ….you know keep smokescreening your inability to do that. Under how ever many different names as it takes you. Weak.
McEverDawg
July 4th, 2011
10:50 am
Stop all this!!!!! Right NOW!!!!!! I bust into little bitty pieces when you boil me!!!!! Stop!!!!!
mustard dog
July 4th, 2011
10:53 am
Well okay Altamaha you kept asking for it so I will deliver. Bobo can call the same plays as last year and if the defense is even marginally better we will win 9 or 10 games. Remember that one?
Packdump
July 4th, 2011
10:56 am
Ga got a bust in super 11 Conley……when u disappear in a high school game where u get smacked the first play and don’t make a catch the whole game and don’t even try to get open then u are not gonna make it in college or the sec….guess he ran a great 40 at some camp!
slaw dog
July 4th, 2011
11:01 am
“there are some folks who are so over the top negative”…. remember that little jewel? I agree with mustard,creole,McEver,old time and naked dog. Now it is your turn to argue. You have already ran old time dog off with your nonsense.
mustard dog
July 4th, 2011
11:02 am
I am out of here too.
AltamahaDawg
July 4th, 2011
11:03 am
yes, I do, and I can give you factual statistical reasons to say that. WHY do you think that is incorrect specifically?
naked dog
July 4th, 2011
11:03 am
Wait on me ya”ll! Don’t leave me here with Altamaha!!!
slaw dog
July 4th, 2011
11:05 am
I am out of here too boys!!! This could be a UGA blog if it weren’t for Altamaha and the Richt swillers.
AltamahaDawg
July 4th, 2011
11:06 am
so you are saying that there AREN”T some folks over the top negative? you are saying that there aren’t poster in the AJV blogs that constantly refer to the coaches as “fools” “clowns” , stupid, clueless. no idea about the inner working of thier own football profgram?
I’ll be glad to hear how there are NOT some folks over the top negative in here.
chili dog
July 4th, 2011
11:08 am
Way to go!!! I am leaving tooo!!!!!! You got it all to yourself Altamaha. I knew it was over when old time signed out.
AltamahaDawg
July 4th, 2011
11:09 am
So far sounds like you picked a couple you didn’t like. Again, I am betting that you can’t actually dispute them.
AltamahaDawg
July 4th, 2011
11:13 am
Really? you and your other names not sticking around? Not going to tell me how I was wrong?. That’s so unexpected.
GATOR KING
July 4th, 2011
11:13 am
They just did dispute them. You are hopeless.