Tight ends: Led by Orson Charles, strong UGA legacy poised to continue
We’re about one month away from the start of preseason football practices in Athens, so it’s time to take a closer look at Georgia’s 2011 football team. This is the third in a series during which we will break down each of the Bulldogs’ position groups to give you an idea of who the projected starters are and what the expectations might be. Then as always, we’ll throw it open for your commentary and analysis. There are only 60 days until Georgia’s season opener against Boise State. Time to get busy. . . .
There aren't many tight ends that can match the speed and athleticism of Georgia's Orson Charles, who promises to be a primary target for the Bulldogs this season. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
THE TIGHT ENDS:
- Projected starters: Orson Charles (Jr., 6-3, 241), Aron White (Sr., 6-4, 239)
- Others to watch: Sophomore Arthur Lynch (6-5, 272), who played as a true freshman, returns to action after a redshirt season and gives the Bulldogs some extra thump on running downs. True freshman Jay Rome will likely get some looks on offense and special teams.
- Key losses: The Bulldogs moved senior Bruce Figgins, a former starter at tight end, to fullback in the spring to shore up depth in the backfield.
- Key fact: Georgia has produced an enormous amount of tight end talent for the NFL, including Leonard Pope, Ben Watson, Randy McMichael, Jermaine Wiggins and several others. That legacy seems poised to continue.
- Key fact II: White has already graduated and was actually selected to be a student speaker at graduation ceremonies in December. He’s a team leader and probably underrated as a football player.
- Key question: Does Charles become the primary target for quarterback Aaron Murray? The two have played together since they were at Plant High in Tampa and the Bulldogs lost their go-to guy early to the NFL in wide receiver A.J. Green. It could argued that Charles, who has averaged 16.2 yards per catch the last two seasons, has been under-utilized with 49 receptions and 5 TDs in 26 games. He won’t be under-utilized this season.
- Recent developments: Georgia’s problems on the offensive line could actually translate into more dependence on this position. In a pro-style offense, it’s never certain whether the tight end is going to block or run a pass route. The Bulldogs can move Murray around in the backfield and hit Charles and White on quick patterns and keep outside linebackers and defensive ends on their heels. Don’t forget about the 6-6, 250-pound Rome. The AJC Super 11 selection out of Valdosta was ranked the No. 1 prospect in the nation at his position by ESPN and is expected to be a huge pass-catching threat. He will also be given the opportunity to show his stuff.
- Outlook: Excellent. This is unquestionably the strongest position on the team.
- Your turn: Your thoughts on the tight ends?
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256 comments Add your comment
WDE
July 5th, 2011
3:15 pm
@Food Lion Bag Boy really did God whisper in you ear little man…we still own the series record and guess what you’ll never catch us…I’m thinking the worm has turned.And you don’t have Tommy Bowen or Tyrone Willingham who at last review had actually won a game as HC’s..
JB
July 5th, 2011
3:15 pm
Caller with a country accent….from Bammer………nah…………LOL
Food Lion Bag Boy
July 5th, 2011
3:29 pm
WDE
LOL you own the series, yea but at the end of this decade you wont
Lets see Richt will be 1-9 again this decade with a new contract after a couple of TEN WIN SEASONS
7576DAWG
July 5th, 2011
3:50 pm
Last year South Carolina beat us because we could not stop Lattimore and thus he got 37 carry’s. Spurrier will always go with what is working. My biggest complaint with Bobo has always been that after we drive for a touchdown with a certain offensive set up, that Bobo will assumes that it want work again and you may not see that set up again all day. ADVICE TO BOBO IS ” IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T FIX IT”.
This year Spurrier knows that we will make sure Lattimore doesn’t beat us and Garcia will throw to Alshon Jeffery 20 times, so get ready for it. Garcia could kill someone and Spurrier would play him. It’s all Spurrier has and Spurrier will do what it takes to win.
Let the big boys , Geathers and Jenkins take care of the middle and blitz on every play. The one think that Garcia doesn’t do well is play smart when heavy pressure is put on him.
This year if you want to beat South Carolina you must stop Garcia.
WDE
July 5th, 2011
4:02 pm
@Food Lion Bag Boy you will never catch us…ever.
Carlton
July 5th, 2011
4:04 pm
I have a weird feeling that this year will be a special one. I think Richt is done playing with Bobo when it comes to how he runs the offense, and I’m sure there has been a meeting or two between the two where Richt laid down the law. We’ve been in a 3 year slide because Richt & Co. got complacent with how they did things (especially after that let-down of 2008 when we were preseason No. 1).
That said, Charles & King will be the primary receivers for this team. I think they’ll utilize Brown & Troupe in screens and short routes to get them acclimated to playing (since they haven’t had many receptions thusfar). Troupe might get some deep looks. White will primarily be a blocking TE and will get a few catches in the two tight end set when Charles is either off the line in the slot or when he’s being covered (even though he can beat any LB in the country in coverage).
It’s the same with the RB situation. Crowell and King will be primary running backs (with King doing most of the carries/pass-blocking). Carlton Thomas will be a swing-back for throws, Ken Malcolme will primarily be used for short yardage situations since he’s great up the middle.
Food Lion Bag Boy
July 5th, 2011
4:05 pm
Another year of the gators stomping a mud hole in the bewildered dogs
But hey theres always 10 win seasons right
blahahahahahahaha
AltamahaDawg
July 5th, 2011
4:06 pm
All good Central Florida residents prefer Publix, everybody knows that.
Food Lion Bag Boy
July 5th, 2011
4:08 pm
Yea
Richt laid down the law with Booboo
YOU BETTER THROW MORE SIDELINE PASSES SON OR ELSE, OR ELSE, OR ELSE,
you’ll have to call the plays from the bench
lol
Food Lion Bag Boy
July 5th, 2011
4:10 pm
I almost forgot
UCF beat you, I bet it was because Florida was in there name
blahahahahahaha
By October we will have a handle on this matter
July 5th, 2011
4:23 pm
As we go into the summer camp period and then on into Fall, we will have a handle on CMR’s future at UGA. By late October we will then know if CMR will survive and continue as HC at UGA or we will then know that it is over. If we have major losses prior to AU and to Florida and to GT, it will not bode well for him two days after the GT game, which will be a win for UGA.
Offensive line woes, thin at Fullback and frankly at back up QB and LB corps with the new problem issue with Jones out of Columbus …………….. that USC transferee, we will win 10 this year or we will not. CMR must win 10.
The alumni do not want to accept a 9-3 season with a Boise State loss and then two more SEC games to either UT or AU or Mississippi State and/or Florida. 9-3 will not make the alumni happy and it will absolutely place UGA in a Gator Bowl or Outback or Chic Fil A situation and that won’t save him. 11 years will then be enough!!!
CMR can ONLY save himself with a 9-3 season IF …………….IF UGA loses one out of conference game and then two SEC losses but we tie with SC and go to the Dome. This scenario would save CMR. A loss there and then one in the bowl would put UGA at 9-5 and that would stink to high heaven with the alums. 9-3 could end up being a lousy year after another low level bowl game.
10-1 is his ticket.
UGA man, class of 71 & 73.
DawginLex
July 5th, 2011
4:26 pm
Predicted headlines:
Florida falls at home to UT in OT. Weis blames Muschamp
Florida continues slide with losses to Bama, LSU, and UGA.
Weis eats entire buffet at Gainesville Golden Corral
Brantley benched for Murphy. Muschamp blames Weis for being indecisive.
FSU pounds Florida
Florida ends year 7-5, accepts bid to Motor City Bowl Bowl
Weis eats entire stock of lobster and shrimp in Detroit area.
Bowl officials express “regret over inviting Florida”
Army whips florida 35-7 in bowl game
florida ends year 7-6
Muschamp fires Weis
Linus & Lucy
July 5th, 2011
4:28 pm
KoolAid anyone?
Hey 7576
July 5th, 2011
4:30 pm
You are 125% correct. SC and Spurrier will try to test UGA up the middle early on like 2010 but then will throw deep to beat us. THAT is how Spurrier thinks. He does not repeat a repeat and he does that logically, to keep folks of balance. Smart guy he is.
UGA needs to be very formidable in our middle unlike last year. They have wide bodies with Jenkins, Gaithers and Abry Jones now. There is also another young man ready to stop up the middle who did very well in the G Day game. BULK we have unlike in 010 on the middle of the D line, plus barring injuries, our LBs are faster.
Cannot wait to see what develops.
Gooooooooooooo Dogs.
Food Lion Bag Boy
July 5th, 2011
4:31 pm
LOL
Hey Weiss will call plays watching it from his seat at the Golden Coral in Gainesville via verizon conference call and will still beat UGA
Pass some more of those mash taters as you Suth-un folk like to call em this is fun
Buffet and another beat down of UGA
Zeke
July 5th, 2011
4:37 pm
Richt only throws 2 passes a game to the tight end.
It’s a non-impact position.
Orson has averaged 23 catches a year for 2 seasons. He’ll get another 2 a game in 2011. Along with 2 td’s.
Same ole, same ole.
Zeke
July 5th, 2011
4:45 pm
i’D RATHER HAVE fIGGINS IN AT TIGHT END, SINCE gEORGIA NEVER PASSES TO THE TIGHT END, BETTER RN BLOCKING, WOULD HELP THE RUN GAME.
old time dog
July 5th, 2011
5:08 pm
Same old song. We have went after a number of te’s in recent years but don’t recall them being a major part of the passing game. You know, even if Richt turns things around this year it is still a shame that he was allowed to let things get like they did.
Ace
July 5th, 2011
5:10 pm
Problem is, the guy throwing to him, Murray, is ranked aganst winning teams:
44th in TD’s
81st in passing accuracy
In other words, Murray’s good against the lOUISIANA lAFAYETTES BUT HORRIBLE BEYOND IMAGINATION AGAINST teams like UCF (3 TO’S, O TD’S)
Ace
July 5th, 2011
5:15 pm
NOT A BIG GAME GUY, ONLY CAUGHT 1 TD AGAINST 5 RANEKD TEAMS. sHRINKS AGAINST GOOD COMPETITION.
LIKE HIS QB PLANT BUDDY MURRAY.
Food Lion Bag Boy
July 5th, 2011
5:19 pm
Smack smack smack, coach Muschamp, smack, smack, smack could you pass me some more of those ribs.
Im really hungry after calling such a good game against JAWGA
Valdosta Cat
July 5th, 2011
5:25 pm
Jay Rome is the best blocking tight end I have ever seen. He is already 265 pounds. Add 30 pounds to him and he is an all-American left tackle. He would be a first round NFL draft choice. Very athletic for a big man with long arms to protect the qb’s backside.
4 aces
July 5th, 2011
5:48 pm
ace, same old post different name tech fan talking smack lol.
Dawg Tired
July 5th, 2011
5:57 pm
Gotta have enough sense to use ‘em.
AltamahaDawg
July 5th, 2011
6:12 pm
I’d say that the TEs having more pass receptions than any WR on the team except AJ Green is a pretty major part of the passing game.
AltamahaDawg
July 5th, 2011
6:36 pm
Sounds funny to say we “never use TEs” since the leading returning receiver on the team is a TE. We never use TE. Hmm. Do we ever throw a forward pass then?
Pat
July 5th, 2011
6:42 pm
Great grammar as usual.
Food Lion Bag Boy
July 5th, 2011
6:47 pm
Not many forward passes just sideline passes mostly
Heck your first pass against FL was intercepted yep thrown toward the sideline
old time dog
July 5th, 2011
6:52 pm
Passing to te’s HAS NOT been a major part of this offense. It has been underutilized as an important avenue of our passing game. Not sure why but other than an occassional play that appears to be Murray trying to get rid of the ball or make something out of nothing, it definitely hasn’t been a go to position.
Food Lion Bag Boy
July 5th, 2011
7:04 pm
10 wins 10 wins 10 wins 10 wins thats all that matters
LOL
Signs of a top tier program for sure
AltamahaDawg
July 5th, 2011
7:15 pm
OK. Well then we HAVE NO passing game, if the second most receptions on the team is insignificant.
old time dog
July 5th, 2011
7:26 pm
Well, I wouldn’t sweat arguing over it too much if I were you. The next coaching staff might have an offense in mind,reckon? BAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
old time dog
July 5th, 2011
7:29 pm
You know, if Altamaha is accurate about his claims and we did throw to the te’s that much, eYe hope to hell we don’t try it this year because it obviously didn’t work last year.
AltamahaDawg
July 5th, 2011
7:43 pm
Ah, the ol’ switcherooski huh? Wise choice.
AltamahaDawg
July 5th, 2011
7:51 pm
Now if the rest of us could resume the previous grown up conversation about how we can use the TE even more, and what factors might have affected that last year, and what could be done to offset that this year, that would be great.
MarineDog
July 5th, 2011
7:53 pm
1953 dawg,
Although you are entitled to your opinion about the coaches, the name calling waters down that point of view and it makes you look immature in the process. I sincerely hope that “1953″ is not the year you graduated or attended UGA. If it is, then it’s a shame that someone of your age cannot contribute to a conversation without resorting to calling people clowns.
wde
July 5th, 2011
8:11 pm
Enter your comments here
dawg gone
July 5th, 2011
8:16 pm
Well I’m wondering how the Food Lion clown is dissing 10 wins a season since his bunch didn’t come up with 10 last year….and won’t this year…oh and Foodie on what planet is Weiss a better coach than CUM and we took you to O.T last year with a freshman QB…
AltamahaDawg
July 5th, 2011
8:48 pm
I don’t care if 1953 was when your Dad was born, you should be able to express yourself better than that.
Win P.
July 5th, 2011
8:51 pm
More dreaming going on than just the 2011 football recuits. Hope this wonderful TE talent (situation) does not go the way of UGA’s 2010 two top running backs in the SEC and the “best” offense Line in the country. Don’t forget the best receiver in the SEC managed to get suspended for the first four games. We will know after the 1st two games if UGA football has changed.
old time dog
July 5th, 2011
8:58 pm
AD, According to u the te’s were thrown the ball an awful lot so why would you want to use them even more if they had all that much action? Apparently didn’t fare too well for us but eYe am having a hard time remembering them getting that many plays. Thanks for letting a youngster comment.
AltamahaDawg
July 5th, 2011
9:40 pm
It’s not a matter of what you remember, they actually track that sort of thing.
Shawn
July 5th, 2011
10:08 pm
WDE…we’ll never catch Au-barn in the series??? The barners lead 54-52 in the series…judging by recent history we will catch them in 2 years. That is if they don’t get the death penalty for cheating by then!
kb
July 5th, 2011
10:11 pm
Perhaps we may see some 2 TE formations with Orson in the slot,or a jumbo package with 2 TE( Lynch and White) , Figgins at fullback Charles at flanker and Rome at WR.
slaw dog
July 5th, 2011
10:19 pm
You just have to argue when you don’t have a chance at in any argument don’t you altamaha?! These folks are right about the tight ends not getting many passes and who is this “they” that “tracks” these “sort of things”? On second thought, there is no need for you to respond and I am asking that all real dawg fans ignore you.
Narvie
July 5th, 2011
10:22 pm
Braves won again. Freeman hit another homer. Uggla got him one also. I would rather watch them then read some of the dribble from Altamaha Dawg.
Mary Kastner
July 5th, 2011
10:24 pm
This marriage didn’t work either. So I’m back and available once again. Wanna try again Narvie?
Hartz Mtn. Dog
July 5th, 2011
10:26 pm
I got a new collar from KMart and it works. WOOF< WOOF!!!!
Narvie
July 5th, 2011
10:28 pm
Believe i’ll pass Mary. In fact, I think what I am going to do is just ignore you like slaw fog urged others to do with ad.
Poss dog
July 5th, 2011
10:30 pm
we will run some series with a 3 te set. alternate with some 2 split, 2 flank. gonna get to see mitchell and smith.