Practice report: Emergence of Shawn Williams eases pain of losing Hamilton
ATHENS – The bad news is the Bulldogs lost one-time starting safety Jakar Hamilton to a season-ending ankle injury this week. The good news for Georgia is there was a good chance Hamilton wouldn’t have started had he been healthy.
Williams
That’s chiefly because of the emergence of Shawn Williams. The junior from Early County has been one of the success stories in year two of defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 defense. With Hamilton sidelined for the entirety of preseason, Williams has been as solid as a block of granite in the back third of the No. 1 unit.
And he knows it.
“I pretty much know each and every play what I’m supposed to do,” said Williams, who started three games and played in all 13 last season. “I’ve got it down pat. I’d say [I'm grading] at least 95 percent.”
Not only has the light come on for Williams in terms of understanding schemes and knowing responsibilities, but his confidence has gone through the roof.
In regard to his ability to field the position, he said: “I’ve got the perfect size at 6-1-and-a-half , 220 [pounds]. I can run real fast. A lot of people underestimate my speed. And when I hit, I hit real hard.”
On losing Hamilton to injury: “We’ve got enough to play. We’ve got enough to play two or three secondaries. I feel comfortable about it. If the ones can’t get it done, the twos can get it done. We’re good.”
Heading into the last two weeks of the preseason, Williams appears to have locked down the safety position opposite Bacarri Rambo (the strong and free positions are interchangeable in Grantham’s system). Hamilton, a five-game starter last year, was listed behind Rambo entering camp but figured to be the next safety on the field regardless.
So that means some playing time is on the table. Sanders Commings is working much more now at safety than cornerback. Georgia also has Marc Deas and Connor Norman to turn to.
But Hamilton was also a prominent special teams contributor.
“I would think a young man like [freshman] Corey Moore would probably get a better opportunity to play on specials and he’s one step closer to the field as a safety also,” Richt said. “I would imagine that will light a fire under him a little bit.”
Williams’ flame is already burning hot.
“My name’s coming up because every day I’m just working to get better,” he said. “I try to make plays. That’s what I ask myself every time I step out on the field. What can I do to make a play?”
Crowell gets some work
Freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell was able to get in some limited work after missing four practices over the last six days due to a groin injury.
“He didn’t look full speed,” Richt said, “but he was healthy enough to get out there in a green jersey and run some plays.”
Originally Richt had predicted Crowell would return on Friday. Fellow tailback Richard Samuel, sidelined with a strained thigh muscle, won’t be back until “sometime next week.”
Practice update
Georgia held a two-hour special teams scrimmage at Sanford Stadium on Thursday. The workout was punctuated with 20 minutes of 11-on-11 work.
Richt said junior cornerback Branden Smith is currently running first team as the punt returner. Smith was the top returner last season with 10 for 143 yards. Behind him is record-setting kickoff return man Brandon Boykin and freshmen Malcolm Mitchell and Damian Swann are “battling” for the No. 3 spot.
Asked if Georgia would operate with two deep safeties/return men on kickoff return this season, Richt said, “that’s classified information.” Boykin is the school record holder with 1,813 career yards on kickoff returns and four touchdowns.
Narrowing it down
Heading into the last half of preseason camp, the Bulldogs are almost ready to set the depth chart and start determining playing rotation. Richt said he and the coaching staff sat down this week and went over every freshman to determine whether the assistants were slating them for the two-deep on offense or defense and whether or not they’d be available for special teams.
Off of those evaluations the Bulldogs next week will organize the scout team and begin earnest preparation for the opener against Boise State. Richt wasn’t prepared to unveil any of those decisions.
“There’s some guys we’re pretty sure, there’s some guys we’re not sure and there’s some guys that probably won’t,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m ready to give all that out because that usually causes players and moms and dads to maybe be happy or sad or whatever. I’m not ready for that today.”
Etc. . . .
Sophomore defensive end Derrick Lott, who had a deep cut on his right leg from a scooter accident late this summer, is now practicing without limitations. He backs up DeAngelo Tyson at right defensive end. . . . Georgia has now completed 15 of 29 preseason practices. Number 16 will be a full-contact practice Friday at 4:30 p.m. . . . Picture Day is Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs are expected to unveil the Nike Pro Combat uniforms they’ll wear in the Sept. 3 opener.
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280 comments Add your comment
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 19th, 2011
10:30 am
NCBF,
Not evening clicking that link but I bet it has something to do with a keg!
Joey
August 19th, 2011
10:31 am
Slydog, I for one think it was the DUI and the too-drunk-to-talk, as well as the mug shot, that cost Evans his job, not the girl.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 19th, 2011
10:32 am
At least it wasnt the unexplainable Red Pantys in his lap…
Jasont13
August 19th, 2011
10:32 am
Slydog, you do not ask a question like this (Is it the color of Damon Evans skin that turns you off?) unless you suspect someone is racist.
Lowcountry- You may think it was Martinez but it wasn’t and the AJC had the information about the Tech incident and never reported it. Everything that takes place good or bad is not always reported, escpecially if things are kept quiet. Believe me or not I do not care, but I know which assistants that were going to be let go and they were not.
Mobile Dawg
August 19th, 2011
10:32 am
Hey Sly, you’re one ignorant human being, black or white. Evans wasn’t fired because he was caught with a woman, look at his picture again on his mug. He was fired because he was wasted, remember he was the one on the jumbotron telling us good people not to drink and drive. He was a hypocrit, with no integrety. That’s why he was fired, you seem awfully sensitive to race, maybe you have a problem Sport. Grow up.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 19th, 2011
10:33 am
Lowcountry, you should click that link.
Its just a team picture.
slydog
August 19th, 2011
10:33 am
I’m not naive enough to think Evans only made “one” mistake his entire life. He who is without sin, cast the first stone. No takers since Adam and Eve…lol. Long story short: Evans did a great job and he fff’ed it up by whoring. But let’s not say the man did nothing and McG, in less than 13 months on the job, has done everything successful. I have no doubt that McG will do an exceptional job, but let’s not put the cart before the horse.
Jasont13
August 19th, 2011
10:35 am
Stafford lost about 15# during his freshman season. I’m just curious as to what has happened to Alshon. Why does he look so plump?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 19th, 2011
10:35 am
JasonT,
Actually I am supecting no one. I am openminded to whom it may have been. I just think it is to much of a reach. No big deal, we can disagree on it. I think though that CMR had enough credits to make any staff changes he felt necessary or to hire a nutritionist if he so felt it was needed.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 19th, 2011
10:37 am
I think it was the way the pic was taken then distorted in its upload? Maybe? HAHA!
slydog
August 19th, 2011
10:38 am
@Jasont13 I don’t suspect racism, because hatred is apparent. I do, however, suspect a subconscious bias by some who don’t acknowledge it. I do know the difference between the two (UGA GRAD ‘01). I experienced more of the latter than the former while I was there. Bias is an unfounded assumption, same as I did towards you, and I apologize sincerely.
Joey
August 19th, 2011
10:38 am
Mobile Dawg, also the Adm dept has “green” legislation pending, which will prevent a home sale without it having energy effecient, or “approved” appliances, insulation, water heaters, and H/AC. The house would have to be brought up to the Administration’s green “code” before it could be sold.
Jasont13
August 19th, 2011
10:38 am
The thing about Damon was he had a great future but was kind of hypocritical. He was a good salesman to the donors. I’m just curious as to what he did in his tenure that was so great? Your right he messed up but he had to be let go/resign, for what he did. He was a public figure for the University. The only thing he did right was letting Felton go and hiring Mark Fox.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 19th, 2011
10:38 am
I’m just curious as to what has happened to Alshon. Why does he look so plump?
——————————
Not sure.
He participated in summer workouts.
JDawg1785
August 19th, 2011
10:39 am
Thanks, Chip! Good reporting, as always. I’d love for Sanders Commings to get his shot. The guy was in the right place on a ton of plays last year and seems to have great potential.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 19th, 2011
10:42 am
Tobias FLUNK
Thanks for the gramatical correction but you are wasting you’re time correcting my posts. This is a blog, not a term paper that has to be turned in. Nor am I writing an article. Basically I dont care
And what I post is what I have seen. I support the dawgs more than you do. Why? Because what I bring up is just facts
Facts that need to be dealt with from someone making $3 million a yr
Continue to lose to FL = lost recruits because we continue to lose to the same team, which means other coaches use that against UGA to recruit them to their school. Why go to UGA when your not going to compete for SEC championships unless FL loses out
Embarrassing the program by multiple player arrests: Yea sit there and say nothing for the last 5 yrs and let UGA lead the nation in total arrests by its football team. Say nothing at all right yet let a program continue to be on the news and be an embarrassment
Ranking #2 in recruiting the last decade behind USC trojans and yet we cannot even play for an SEC championship unless FL losses out
Have another glass of kool-aid bud. You love mediocrity and sales pitches like THE DREAM TEAM I dont, I want to see results. UGA is better than this.
Im tired of talk its time to start doing
Joey
August 19th, 2011
10:43 am
Enter your comments here
Mobile Dawg
August 19th, 2011
10:43 am
It’s getting scary Joey. Don’t think they will try and tax our football in ways they don’t already do you? Maybe impose an “enjoyment” tax.
slydog
August 19th, 2011
10:44 am
I wholeheartedly agree that he needed to be fired. I just disagree that he did NOTHING and McG has already been nominated as the greatest AD in UGA history in less than 13 months. That’s all.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 19th, 2011
10:45 am
That alone looks pretty good….
Also look at the scheduling. UGA wanted to create a National brand. Fans wanted to go outside of the south. We went to ASU, we went to OSU, Colorado. Also being ambitious enough to schedule Oregon. Only for GM to cancel that matchup.
slydog
August 19th, 2011
10:45 am
Hold up, we are Dawg fans and we are attacking each other over spoiled milk. Nothing Could Be Fatter than Alshon Jeffrey is getting away with potshots….lmao
Mobile Dawg
August 19th, 2011
10:48 am
“I wholeheartedly agree that he needed to be fired. I just disagree that he did NOTHING and McG has already been nominated as the greatest AD in UGA history in less than 13 months. That’s all.”
What’s wrong with that statement sly? I haven’t read a single “pertinent” post that says what you just stated. You have a “little man complex”. Grow up and be what you want to be, it’s America, that’s what we do here in 2011, at least as much as the Government lets us now. Be a role model in your community for those that don’t know they can achieve yet. Stop whining and do something.
Good day Dawgs, gotta run.
Mobile Dawg
August 19th, 2011
10:51 am
Peace Sly, as a Dawg, some of your priorities are good. We can agree to disagree on other things. Nothing Could Be Finer will be drinking the spoiled milk soon. Got nothing against Carolina, but some of their fans are becoming pretty arrogant, and obnoxious, especially when they’ve won nothing yet. Other than the East “once”.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 19th, 2011
11:01 am
Carolina won an ACC championship I think before the TV was invented
Maybe thats what they are bragging about
how2fish
August 19th, 2011
11:01 am
Well 15 days and counting…man I can’t wait. Chip thanks for the updates…Go Dawgs!
RiffRaff
August 19th, 2011
11:07 am
Boise State article -
The focal point throughout the offseason, at least for those who follow the program, has been the opener against Georgia. The Broncos haven’t beaten a Southeastern Conference team yet — one of the few remaining holes in their resume.
Georgia is gearing up for that game, too. The Bulldogs finished 6-7 last year, and coach Mark Richt says he took on the challenge of facing the Broncos to re-energize his program.
Boise State coach Chris Petersen doesn’t like the sound of that.
“He’s in a good spot, and I think he knows it — from a coaching standpoint,” Petersen said of Richt. “They’ve got a huge chip on their shoulder, they’ve got good players, they’ve got good coaches, they’re very motivated. … This will be as tough a team as we’ve played since I’ve been at Boise State.”
Dirty Dawg
August 19th, 2011
11:10 am
Good to see the young man so optimistic going into this critical season…now if he can be just as optimistic following the 9/3 and 9/10 games, we’ll really have something to look forward to.
As for the report that the Boise fans, and I expect team, are actually thinking about ‘dominating’ Georgia, that may be the best news I’ve had lately. Whatever success BS has enjoyed against teams other than the Sisters of the Poor, has been as an underdog and catching said teams under-prepared and over-confident. Watch out Wranglers, or Cowboys, or Mustangs, or Broncos, or Buckaroos or whatever your nickname is (really can’t think of it because I really don’t care), cause we don’t think all that much for rodeo stuff around here and, as they say, if you’ve seen one you’ve seen ‘em all.
Tell us BSers, what will you have to look forward to for the 2011 season after you get your a$$es handed to you in The (Georgia) Dome September 3rd?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 19th, 2011
11:10 am
Boise 1 & 2 star recruits
UGA 3,4,&5 star recruits
No excuse in UGA losing to Boise, period
Dawg Gone
August 19th, 2011
11:17 am
@Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville I think we win, but stars don’t play the game players do. The Boise players are used to winning and that once it becomes a habit is worth a few stars. They won’t be awed by stars or hype we will have to hit them hard and often, play mistake free football and GATA..we do that we win.
Tobias Funke
August 19th, 2011
11:17 am
You are a tad bit hung up on Stars, Flat tire.
UGA Grad '00
August 19th, 2011
11:18 am
Nothing could be finer, I have a questions for you. I went back and watched the UGA, SC game from last year. I had forgot about the UGA challenge on a 3rd and long where one of SC’s receivers caught the pass about 2 yards short and was tackled at that spot and the ref’s gave him the first down. UGA challenged the call and the annoucers both agreed he was short but the replay offical said he got the first down. If you do not remember that play I suggest you go back and watch. He was clearly short. Also, outside of Lattimore, rushing for a lot of yards I wouldn’t say you guys dominated. UGA had chances just blew them.
UGA Grad '00
August 19th, 2011
11:21 am
Everyone talks about Murray not having anyone to throw to this year. In the South Carolina game he was able to spread the ball around very nicely. The things that hurt him were being late on a few throws and I believe the Ealy fumble.
Tobias Funke
August 19th, 2011
11:21 am
Flat Tire
So, would you rather the Dawgs go 6-6 and Richt is fired or the Dawgs win 9 or 10 and Richt is given an extension? One will happen. Which is it?
Do you remember Jim “Ponzi” Donnan or Ray Goff? Have you forgotten about 96 wins 3 Sugar Bowls and 2 SEC Championships? You act like this is the NFL. IT’S NOT! Get on board or get the heck off.
Go Dawgs!
Bo In North Carolina
August 19th, 2011
11:23 am
I once had a dog named Daisy
UGA Grad '00
August 19th, 2011
11:24 am
Tobias, Flat Tire doesn’t care. I personally think he is not a true UGA fan or grad. I have friends I graduated with who do not like Richt and wanted him fired after last year but they have all said they will support him and this team this year because they bleed red and black. They will re-evaluate their dis-like after the season.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 19th, 2011
11:27 am
Are you really blaming the refs?
LOL
Tobias Funke
August 19th, 2011
11:27 am
EXACTLY!!!
Tobias Funke
August 19th, 2011
11:29 am
Flat Tire is they type of “fan” that EXPECTS a first down on every play, 3 and out on every series for the D, and a national championship EVERY year. We can all do without these types of “fans.”
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 19th, 2011
11:42 am
Tobias FLUNK
Yes I remember Ray Goof and Jim Dummy. Goof was allowed to coach to long because he kept beating TECH like Richt and Donnan was arrogant and in over his head but he was let go because he lost to TECH
So Richt gets an extension if he wins 10 wins, wow no wonder why FL and AL fans laugh
So UGA ranking 2nd in recruiting the last decade means 10 wins is a good enough place to be
So UGA ranking 4th since 1999 ahead of FL and AL means 10 wins is good enough
So UGA ranking 2nd in recruiting 4th in putting players in the NFL means its ok to lose to FL every year and having 2 SEC championships that we were allowed to play for only because FL lost out those years is good enough right
13-12 in the SEC east since 2005
3-9 vs top 10 teams
losing to Miss St 1st time since 1976, KY twice and Vandy since 2005, while having top recruiting classes thats good enough right
I guess as long as we beat TECH and have 10 wins thats good enough
Thats loser thinking with the talent and money that UGA has. Your the problem, how about you getting off the train and go pull for schools like Vandy and TECH who love mediocrity.
Your the reason why we watch FL play almost every year or other schools for the SEC championship, you love 10 win seasons and you feel good about yourself when you beat Div II Georgia Tech.
DawginLex
August 19th, 2011
11:43 am
1-11 with a win over floriduh and flat tire is all good
RedandBlackDAWG
August 19th, 2011
11:47 am
Dawg,
I think that MR’s reluctance to talk more openly about anything is due mostly to the fact thta the media and a lot of fans continue to critcize him so much, that he probably figures, “less is more”, when it comes to interviews. I would bet if he had a choice, you would see assitants doing those media interviews and he would just concentrate at the job ahead of him.
It also is better to keep some of the other teams guessing , rather than tell them too much.
DawginLex
August 19th, 2011
11:51 am
I have been going to Sanford Stadium longer than most folks on these blogs have been alive.
I remember 1980-1983. It was golden
I remember 1984-1988. It was mediocre. I almost burned up in Williams Brice in 1988 watching Carolina beat us. Joe Morrison RIP
I remember 1989-1995 when we had no prayer of beating Tennessee or florida. I amused myself by going to Sanford and watching us play UT with the hope that we would win knowing deep down we had ZERO chance.
I remember 1996- 2000 when we were mediocre. “i have been waiting all my life to coach a team like this.” 2000 SC game PHHHTTTTT!!
I remember 2001-2005 when coach Richt actuall had me hopeful we could become a national power. And we did. We beat Tennessee. The only thing we couldn’t overcome was Florida.
I remember 2006-2010 when we were mediocre except for 2007 when we honestly could have beaten anyone by year end.
Our history is not all that great Mr Flat Tire. Richt raised the bar above anything in my 53 years of life.
He deserves a chance to make things right.
Griping and moaning and groaning about the past is for losers.
If he doesn’t win this year, I’ll be the first one wanting him fired.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 19th, 2011
11:51 am
UGA Grad ‘00 and Tobias FLUNK
No the evaluation will be after next season. I will not be on board until Richt can beat FL 2 yrs in a row with a 10 win season on top of that. Not after this season.
This yrs schedule is too easy, let this year and next year be the judge
And no I dont expect a National Title every year moron
The only thing I expect is better outcomes than losing to FL every year, a lousy record against ranked teams, multiple player arrests every year, losing to teams you shouldnt lose to like Vandy, 13-12 the last 5 yrs in the SEC east
All while ranking 2nd, yes 2nd, going to say it again, 2nd in recruiting the last decade and having more players go into the NFL than 97% of most schools
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 19th, 2011
11:54 am
Griping and moaning is not for losers my friend
When people gripe and moan, they start to demand for something better or else the organization goes down the tubes
A lot of you need to work in the business world
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 19th, 2011
11:55 am
RedandBlack,
Agree less is more. Richt should take a page out of Sabans book. After Bammers scrimmage he did not release any QB stats as he didn’t want the media to interpret them for themselves.
DawginLex
August 19th, 2011
11:56 am
I do work in the business world. You recognize problems and you fix them. Griping about them years later is wasted breath.
I have stated my opinion ad nauseum. Richt deserves a chance to fix things because of what he is done. I’m pulling for him to get it done.
LogicalUS
August 19th, 2011
11:56 am
“except for Lattimore’s constant jaunts off tackle. Ealey also fumbled on the SC 2 yd line. Murray overthrew his wide open receivers about four times resulting in blown TDs on the fly in that game.”
So once again we have the always present UGA beat itself not the other team which I suspect we will be hearing again this year!
Look dude in watching that game…those jaunts by Lattimore were there because Spurrier knew that was the ONLY thing that he had to do to beat UGA on that day.
It is silly the way people keep spouting off about a 3rd quarter fumble as if SC would have simply quit playing the rest of the game? And if I remember correctly, that fumble would not even give UGA the lead but just got them within striking distance. And finally got news for ya….every game comes down to missed passes, blocks and tackles. I am sure that SC fans think they missed a several TDs also, each groups only remembers the ones for their team.
It is going to be an uphill battle against that team whose most talented highly rated players are a year older and more experienced as well as seeming to be much more confident than when UGA played them last season.
A question to consider will be is how much will UGA players understanding of their own defense vs. the ability of Spurrier and other coordinators ability to now gameplan against a known quality offset each other? That is one facit of the upcoming season which has been overlooked in “the well the defense will now be much better because of its the second year”. The opponents now have a full year worth of data on Grantham to understand his tendencies and schemes. Last year he was an unknown.
UGA Grad '00
August 19th, 2011
11:59 am
Nothing could be finer, I love how I just ask you a question and now you say I’m blaming the ref’s? Actually its not a ref who is a replay offical. Secondly, I was not blaming the refs for the end of the game out come. All I did was ask you a question, and you answered like a child.
DawginLex
August 19th, 2011
11:59 am
Logical
the defense in year 2 better be improved or we won’t win squat.
On paper we should be better even with Houston, Gamble and Dent gone. The DL is much bigger as we actually have nose guards to fit the scheme. Last year-ZERO on campus.
We will see
UGA Grad '00
August 19th, 2011
12:01 pm
Lowcountry, who actually know’s what the stats are for the scrimmages. The GA’s are the ones who keep the stats in the scrimmages. Have you watched Coach Richt in the after practice press conferences. He acts like they don’t mean anything. No body knows how accurate they are. Plus stas can be misleading.