Linebackers: Promising group despite virtual makeover since last season
Seventh in a series breaking down Georgia’s 2011 team by position . . .
Georgia is counting on junior Christian Robinson's leadership and play-making abilities at linebacker this fall. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
THE LINEBACKERS
- Projected starters: SAM Jarvis Jones (So., 6-3, 241), MIKE Christian Robinson (Jr., 6-2, 226), MO Alec Ogletree (So. 6-3, 236), WILL Cornelius Washington (So., 6-4, 260)
- Returning starters: Robinson started 11 games at the “Mo” inside linebacker last season and Washington started eight at the “Will” outside position. Alec Ogletree was moved to the Mo in the spring after starting five games at strong safety as a true freshman last season. Robinson moved to Mike.
- Others to watch: This is the much-anticipated debut season of Jarvis Jones, who had to sit out this past year after transferring to Georgia from Southern Cal. Jones (6-3, 241) is slated to start at “Sam,” or strongside outside linebacker, but first he has to clear some recently-raised eligibility issues. . . . Former starting tailback Richard Samuel will be playing his first season on defense for the Bulldogs. He redshirted his junior season last year while making the initial transition. He is currently second-team at “Mo” but could play outside linebacker if called upon. . . . Reuben Faloughi, Michael Gilliard and Chase Vasser will be counted on as backups.
Moving Alec Ogletree (9) from strong safety to inside linebacker was bold and potentially bountiful. (AP photo)
- Key losses: Georgia lost a massive amount of production from this unit. Gone are leading tackler Akeem Dent (126 tackles); pass-rushing specialist Justin Houston (10 sacks); No. 4 tackler Marcus Dowtin, who transferred out; and No. 7 tackler Darryl Gamble, who graduated. That’s 259 tackles, 14 sacks and 52 games played just from last season. The Bulldogs also lost linebackers coach Warren Belin to the NFL.
- Newcomers: Georgia signed five linebackers in February to shore up depth, including five-star prospect Ray Drew (6-5, 250) of Thomasville, who will be expected to contribute immediately. The Bulldogs also inked Sterling Bailey (6-5, 260) of Gainesville, Amarlo Herrera (6-1, 224) of College Park, Kent Turene (6-3, 225) of Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., and Ramik Wilson (6-2, 218) of Tampa.
- Key developments: As alluded to earlier, the eligibility issues facing Jones threaten to dog Georgia up until the season opener like those facing A.J. Green did last year. A police investigation into alleged corruption within the ranks of the Columbus parks and recreation department revealed that some of Jones’ flights to Los Angeles his first season at USC were paid for by the department’s director from state funds. Even though Jones was at Southern Cal, the NCAA could require Jones to sit out games at UGA. Georgia has launched its own investigation and will fight to get the situation resolved well before the season opener, unlike last year’s fiasco with Green, who ended up sitting the first four games.
- Key question: This is year two of Georgia’s switch to a 3-4 defense under defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. But due to all the reshuffling, three of the four projected starters will be playing new positions. How quickly and how well will the group adapt to new assignments and new inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti?
- Outlook: Uncertain but promising. If there were no issues facing Jones, it would be tempting to say this is an across-the-board improvement. But the drop from Jones to Vasser would be steep and moving Samuel back outside could be complicated. Meanwhile, moving Ogletree to Mo from strong safety was a bold move and, even though Grantham says he’s “100 percent certain” it was the right thing to do, it’s an uncertain how he’ll perform in games.
- Your turn: What’s your view of Georgia’s linebacker corps?
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262 comments Add your comment
Bernie Matt
July 11th, 2011
3:20 pm
@ WDE – that’s what the natives were teaching their young before that first ship got here and we started moving them out. It all sounds real good!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 11th, 2011
3:28 pm
Who said they would in the first place? BrandEn Smith will spell Crowell and Malcombe. He is going to be used in shotgun formations or in Wildcat formations.
Also what the Hell do Natives and teaching have to do with if are LB are going to knock someone out or not? Think Bernie Matt needs to ship on out.
AltamahaDawg
July 11th, 2011
3:31 pm
Appearantly BM was taught that his winning is directly proportional to the degree that somebody else did it all.
DawginLex
July 11th, 2011
3:36 pm
rip van tinkle
Georgia has won an SEC title or 2 since 1980. Try 1981,1982,2002 and 2005.
Florida didn’t win anything until 1990.
Beauty contest titles are won by a vote. SEC titles are won on the field.
1SG
July 11th, 2011
3:41 pm
Lowcountry….I thought there was a rule that the same number could be used on the roster as long as the player was not interchanging between offense and defense? How do they track the player?
RxDawg
July 11th, 2011
3:44 pm
Bernie, your trying to simplify a complex situation with a simple one sided answer (UGA’s coaches are bad). Not to sound like a Nerd, there are a lot of variables and they can’t just be hung on the coaches.
TO
July 11th, 2011
3:44 pm
Are you going to redo your rb write up? LOL
Just another example of how the end product/result = fail at the uga
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1238729
Bernie Matt
July 11th, 2011
3:45 pm
Now Back to our regularly scheduled program. Nobody remembers who came in second! As for someone else having done it all. Trust me, we know who did it all. And for no pay on top of that! Now look at them. White House and all, don’t it just make you mad!
AltamahaDawg
July 11th, 2011
3:51 pm
Them? ah now, don’t be modest.
Big Dawg
July 11th, 2011
3:51 pm
Tide Roll,
With all due respect Samuel was a disaster at running back, he made one good run the rest of the time he was going down even when he wasn’t touched. Also he missed a lot of blocks as well. Samuel should have NEVER been tried at running back and that is just a fact and it has hurt his progression at linebacker.
Bernie Matt
July 11th, 2011
3:53 pm
AltamahaDawg, you caught that, huh. Man I like you!
dapperdanman
July 11th, 2011
3:59 pm
Thunder Dome!!!!
This Sept. 3 in Atlanta, we Georgians (and Dawg Fans) have the opportunity to make a statement.
This may be the most pivotal game we play in deciding our outcome this season. Even if we were to win out the remainder of our schedule and win the SEC championship (the best you could hope for after a loss in the opener), we would not play in a National Championship if Boise remained undefeated, or anybody else for that matter, thus ending the SEC streak with the title game. Well this just can’t happen. We must win. Not because we think we should because we are the bigger program from the SEC and that should be enough to win. Not because we think we can play in a National Championship if we do. Our toughest games will be still to come. It is not because they think they will destroy us since they beat Va Tech last year right before James Madison did and “this isn’t the same team we beat in 2005”. It is because… THIS IS OUR HOUSE. THIS IS IN OUR STATE, IN OUR CAPITAL. THIS IS OUR COCA~COLA. THAT IS OUR DAMN CHICKEN SANDWICH. Do they even have Chic-fil-a in Boise?
When Boise St comes to the Georgia Dome to face us, we the fans have a responsibility to do our part to help our team. If you have ever been to the Dome you know how loud it can be. It is our job to make the walls crumble from our thunderous roar!!!!!!!!! Anytime the Boise offense is on the field it is our job to make as much noise as you’ve ever made. STAY ON YOUR FEET between plays still SCREAMING with all your might. STOMP THE GROUND and CLAP YOUR HANDS. SHAKE YOU KEYS. Bring those CRYING BABIES that you always bring to restaurants. Take off your belts, fold them in half, hold both ends, move your hands in then pull away making the belt pop. Try it, pretty loud. I don’t care if you wear tap shoes. We might take some heat for it if we all showed up in tap shoes, but that would make a ton of noise. Just sayin…
The point is we help win games too. We help motivate our kids to sell out body and mind for us and we strike fear and confusion into the other team. Though our part is nothing to what the players’ and coaches’ roles are, we must still show up prepared and ready to give our all, just like we expect from the team every Saturday. I don’t care if the score is 100-0, we don’t quit making noise or leave early. I want the TV announcers to show the noise meter at the Dome showing new records. Noise can cause miscommunication with play calling, unheard check-offs or audibles from the QB or sidelines, missed kicks, penalties, and turnovers. It can strike fear into the other team and kill momentum. We don’t need to take our feet off the gas, on the field or in the stands, till the game is over and we get that chicken dinner.
I WANT THAT CHICKEN DINNER!!!!!!!!
Then I want to eat chicken again the next week.
Don’t let me down Dawg Fans.
Don’t let our team down.
We will only become champions with each other. Standing behind one another proudly and united. It’s time to bring the noise. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
murfdawg
July 11th, 2011
4:10 pm
Beast from the East……Where did the other 15-25 players go? NFL, injuries, academics. There is no way you should be below 90. Don’t want to scare you but UGA has be treading close to that 75 number since 2008. This year I think we are back up to about 95, counting the incoming freshmen. Where this will hurt is in October, when you will lose one player a game to injury every week.(except when you play the Dawgs). I’ll be watching the injury report from Gainesville closely this year.
Bernie Matt
July 11th, 2011
4:16 pm
@RxDawg – I’m not only saying the coaches are bad, just some of them. By the same token not all of our players are bad, just some of them, but then that means, coaches are bad at evaluating talent or coaching talent. Depth charts should not just be for show. If one guy doesn’t get it done, go to the next guy. If you go through the depth chart and no one can get it done, then you tell me, where should you point the finger then.
Beast from the East
July 11th, 2011
4:16 pm
murfdawg,
Lots of transfers, a couple kicked off, etc. That’s to be expected when you have the massive coaching turnover we’ve had the past couple of years. Kinda makes you want to go the oversigning route like some other schools, huh?
Bernie Matt
July 11th, 2011
4:18 pm
By the way, all the other schools are giving out 85 schoolies as well, at some point coaches have to distinguish themselves. Otherwise, why the huge contracts?
Van Winkles Rip
July 11th, 2011
4:20 pm
DumbinLex, The REAL SEC Championship was not decided until their was a Championship Game and when did that start Wise One?
ga gator
July 11th, 2011
4:24 pm
murfdawg I mostly agree with you; we are as thin on the line of scrimmage as we have been in years. I blame this on Urban in his quest to load up the team with speed (which we have plenty of). I expect the star of the 2011 team to be Trey Burton who will be used playing about 6 different positions.
AltamahaDawg
July 11th, 2011
4:27 pm
Why would you expect coach turnover to lead to player turnover, just of itself? That sounds right at first, but then to think about it, the guys aren’t leaving just BECAUSE the coach changed. They left because of some factor(s) associated with the the coaching changes. Any idea what reasons they are giving?
Delbert D.
July 11th, 2011
4:29 pm
Will Georgia be starting 7 linebackers this year too?
Old Dawg
July 11th, 2011
4:31 pm
WTF – why does something that happened when Jarvis Jones was being recruited by and then playing for USC have anything to do with his eligibility at Georgia?
Van Winkles Rip: and, lest I forget, conference champions from years prior to the SEC dividing into divisions or any other conference champions are in the record books … so they’re REAL and OFFICIAL. The first SEC championship game was played in 1992 at Birmingham’s Legion Field with Alabama beating Florida.
Nuff said.
AltamahaDawg
July 11th, 2011
4:34 pm
The SEC championship was always determined on the field. Never a vote. The divisional format did not start the REAL to it. By your logic, the big 10 has never had a champion.
Beast from the East
July 11th, 2011
4:38 pm
AltamahaDawg,
Each kid has their own reason, but as you know, they develop relationships with the coaches throughout the recruiting process. This is several years in many cases. Then you have discipline issues that a new coach usually cracks down harder on than their predecessor to set a tone. Lastly, a totally different philosophy on offense. At this point, it is what it is and we’ll have to suit up with what we have. The good news is that a ton of underclassmen will get some significant amount of playing time in Muschamp’s first year, so 2012 and 2013 should be much better…….SHOULD BE!
Bob
July 11th, 2011
4:50 pm
Fellow Dawg fans…what can you tell me about Kent Turene. I remember his name as a committment, but can’t remember any specifics. Thanks!
CHDawg
July 11th, 2011
4:56 pm
Checked back in and found some good football comments! Noticed several comments about BSU, especially Chip mentioning how strong their D line is…you want to see something interesting: go over to one of the recruiting pages and call up Boise, then look at their rankings and stars for the last few years. Amazing that they can establish a dominant program with a bunch of 2 and 3 stars! Also, BSU’s is significantly smaller. Some of the people think Murray’s too short, but look at Moore–6′ & 186 on the chart I looked at! That kid can play. It is an amazing testament to the coaching and to the kids on BSU that they compete so well against programs with vastly higher rated HS talent! Some of it may be that they have been belittled so much that when they get Georgia or VA Tech on National TV, they view it as a life and death game, while the bigger program doesn’t take it as seriously because they are one big game among many. The Dawgs better get excited, and not get distracted this year. The Broncos know how to bring it. I guess you have to be good playing on that awful blue field!
CHDawg
July 11th, 2011
5:00 pm
Make that BSU is significantly smaller…and one other point–looks like BSU might even be favored to beat us in this one!
Black Mountain Bulldog
July 11th, 2011
5:13 pm
I just checked out the Walk On Brandon Hartons’ highlights, on you tube. He reminds me of Thomas Brown. This kid could be a diamond, in the rough! Yeah it’s hot outside and I am bored, but you guys should check this kid out.
Stinger2
July 11th, 2011
5:19 pm
Chip is providing a lot of interesting info. about UGA football for 2011. The bottom line is UGA will do well and finish the regular season as SEC East champion. A 10-2 record is likely. As a GT fan, I do like to follow UGA and wish them well until the last Sat. in November.
GA_BOI 24/7_365
July 11th, 2011
5:45 pm
Tha Dawgs Lb’s are very young and inexperieced but they still should be very interesting to watch throughout the season though those 1st 2 games will tell who they really are. Hopefully they are who we think they are! LOL
Beast from the East
July 11th, 2011
6:02 pm
“Cops: Ward swayed, couldn’t say ABCs before arrest”
Wasn’t this resolved after the Jan Kemp case? LOL!
I just couldn’t help myself, as this was way too easy. For the record, I love watching Hines Ward play. In fact, he’s probaly my favorite NFL player because of his “lunch pail” approach to all aspects of the game.
ugab
July 11th, 2011
6:08 pm
Samuel was always the best back to me. Samuel did have a technique problem and fumbled a couple of times. What back hasn’t fumbled at UGA?. We have a ex WR as a RBs coach, who does not teach any technique. Looks like he is not good at keeping up with his players well being. Nick Sabans team takes care of the ball and plays defense!!!! MR is making alot of money. Why is he still at Uga. Who else is there to be the dawgs coach? Who Knows. MR came from FSU and there were many problems there too
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
July 11th, 2011
6:09 pm
When Auburn fans toss toilet paper on those trees, is it used toilet paper ?
ugab
July 11th, 2011
6:11 pm
Samuel is another one of MRs victims! He could have started 4 years at another school. MR takes a hot rb out if a game and puts a back in the game whom has not played all day. WTF.
ugab
July 11th, 2011
6:15 pm
It is going to be another horrible season. Why would MR start off with Boise and SC? He has never had his team ready at the beginning of the season. It take like 4 to 5 games for a MRs team to get in any kind of rhythm. AND THAT IS THE HONEST TO GOD TRUTH
RedandBlackDAWG
July 11th, 2011
6:55 pm
Ugab,
At his spring meetings conference in Destin Fl. CMR said they scheduled Boise State because for the past few years, UGA had lost some respect and he thought it would be a good way to open and hopefully get that respect back.
I don’t think the individual SEC schools control the conference schedule.
Poopdawg
July 11th, 2011
7:23 pm
Ugab, pretty new to game of football? Samuel had no business touching a ball with his hands and vision. That why god made linebackers.
bitter "OLE" School Dogs-fan
July 11th, 2011
7:33 pm
after working 10 long hours and seeing tolit paper tide take 2 lines to show that every time he
opens his mouth————-maggits fly out——————–your “R” the comfirmed leader of the
——————————————–TROLL NATION—————–hahahahah—–loooooser
bitter "OLE" School Dogs-fan
July 11th, 2011
7:44 pm
————-the deal with bringing in JOE T, would thin out the spoiled 4@5 star recruits
—————————-like eally and king–ect————-gone with the wind
————————————like a nasty fart after eating pinto beans————-hahahahahahah
RJ Voorhees
July 11th, 2011
7:57 pm
Georgia fans are gonna have plenty of reasons to be excited in the next couple weeks!! Go Dawgs!
PeePants the hobo clown
July 11th, 2011
9:20 pm
I’m pretty sure Vasser got a medical and is done.
PeePants the hobo clown
July 11th, 2011
9:23 pm
@UGab I disagree. Samuel had countless opportunites to make something happen.He’s very,very fast,but no lateral movement and no moves to speak of,not o mention he ran straight up which was why he took some serious shots. Love the player,but RB was not for him.
Chip Towers
July 12th, 2011
12:22 am
corey: Last I heard on Devin Bowman was he was at UGA. Kent Turene was the only signee (besides JUCO-bound Chris Mayes, of course) who hadn’t made it to town yet. But I have to be honest, I don’t pay a lot of attention to that mid-summer. This is just from passing conversations. The only time freshman presence is pertinent is when they’re scheduled to report the first week of August. We’ll see who shows up then.
Chip Towers
July 12th, 2011
12:25 am
Lowcountry Bulldawg, truedawg: Sterling Bailey is super young man and a fine football player. He’s coming off early-spring shoulder surgery and plans to be available in preseason. But Georgia won’t know how much he can do until he gets his preseason physical.
Chip Towers
July 12th, 2011
12:26 am
1SG: Crowell and Smith can’t play together on offense as long as they’re both wearing No. 1 jerseys.
7576DAWG
July 12th, 2011
12:39 am
CHIP
Does practice start on August 1st and do you know if it will be open to the public?
Do you expect any updates on Jones anytime soon?
Stinger2
July 12th, 2011
4:12 am
I have always thought that any player (yes, including GT`s Reggie Ball) who wears No. 1 has a huge ego and is looking for special attention.
savannadawg
July 12th, 2011
7:01 am
Chip, How do you know the drop ffrom Jones to Vasser would be steep and moving Samuel to outside would be difficult.You are just pulling stuff out of your rear end. It’s football not Rocket science or brain surgery, so please try to stick to the facts and be a little more possitive. We are going to just fine.
Jimmy Crack
July 12th, 2011
7:18 am
Scott Eichler.
RxDawg
July 12th, 2011
8:12 am
Bernie, I guess I’m just not quite ready to point any fingers. Am I happy with 6-7 record? No, I’m not. But we were competetive in every one of those games last year including one to the eventual national champions, SEC east champions, and Sugar Bowl team. And I like the direction of the program now.
Nick Fairley
July 12th, 2011
8:16 am
Where are all of those UGA fans trash talking about how great Georgia schools were and then topped it off by calling UGA the Kudzu League? Kudzu = ivy league I guess? I’ve just got to laugh now that even the Daily Show makes jokes about Atlanta schools and cheating. There’s almost as much cheating there as there is on the field when Ben Jones is playing. And getting schooled by me. Something he couldn’t cheat was my education of his ineptness.
Ah, football season is almost here. Trying to figure out how many weeks until UGA fans say “screw this I’m going huntin’.” I say 1. If Boise St scores more than 60 and UGA fails to score more than 14 then the UGA fans will walk. If BSU is under 60 then there will be next week and “let’s when the SEC East!” Until Spurrier puts a beat down on probably scoring more than 30 to UGA’s 10.
It’s going to be very ugly in those first two weeks. It’s too bad it couldn’t come today!
-Nick Fairley