Practice update: Big John goes down, TBs return, Wooten impresses
ATHENS – As for A.J. Green fans, there are none bigger than Georgia’s Rantavious Wooten. The junior wide receiver from Belle Glade, Fla., spent two seasons getting to know Green up close and personal and witnessing his daily feats in games and on Woodruff Practice Fields.
That said, Wooten doesn’t feel the wide receiver position is suddenly the weak link of the Bulldogs’ football team. He has heard it described that way and doesn’t much care for it.
“The whole receiving corps takes that personally,” Wooten said. “Of course, A.J. and Kris Durham came here and made plays. But as a group of receivers, we all can make plays. Actually I think we have more depth this year than we did last year and I think we made big strides in this camp. We’re going to show the Bulldog Nation what we can do and we’re going to show everybody we can get it done without A.J.”
Wooten has been one of reasons for optimism. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound speedster from Belle Glade, Fla., is showing the same type of form he did as a freshman when he caught 10 passes and scored two touchdowns.
Wooten played in 12 games and started three that first season. But he actually got on the field less as a sophomore and finished with 7 catches for 41 yards and one touchdown.
“It was disappointing for me and I took it to heart,” Wooten said. ” I took it personally. I came out this year and I knew what I had to do and I knew what the coaches expected from me. I just need to be consistent. I’m trying to show them that I can be consistent and they can depend on me.”
He’s apparently getting his message across. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said Wooten is position to be among the Bulldogs’ first three receivers behind Tavarres King and Marlon Brown. He’s being pushed by Michael Bennett and Malcolm Mitchell.
“Rantavious has had a very good preseason,” Bobo said. “Coach [Tony] Ball challenged him. He had to be more consistent. He had shown flashes of making plays but hadn’t been consistent. He’s being more consistent now and has had a great camp.”
Big John goes down
The Bulldogs got a big scare Friday when nose guard John Jenkins had to be helped off the field during the full-contact practice. But it wasn’t as bad as it looked. Jenkins suffered what was described as a “mild hamstring pull,” according to Ron Courson, UGA’s director of sports medicine. Jenkins’ recovery time was called “day-to-day” but Georgia has said in the past the injuries generally take seven to 10 days to heal.
Jenkins is a 6-foot-4, 350-pound junior college All-American who transferred to Georgia from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He was expected to step in as the starting nose guard but thus far has been unable to unseat 6-6, 350-pound sophomore Kwame Geathers.
Crowell, Samuel back on field
The Bulldogs got a welcomed sight with tailbacks Isaiah Crowell and Richard Samuel back on Woodruff Practice Fields on Friday. Crowell has been out a week with the groin pull while Samuel was sidelined with an quad strain since last Saturday. Both players remained in green jerseys, signifying their non-contact status. Crowell was able to participate throughout the entire practice while Samuel said out for the teamwork and scrimmage portions.
Asked if the duo would be ready if there was a game this weekend, running backs coach Bryan McClendon said, “oh, definitely.
“Isaiah got to do everything we did out there today,” he said “Richard, we’re having to slow him down a little bit. But he’s doing great. He got to do all the individual work. He got to do everything except for contact stuff. Both of those guys are doing great and healing up well.”
Bobo said Brandon Harton and Ken Malcome have been working first team in the meantime.
Dogs plan to ‘Spread the Red’
Can’t make it to Athens for Fans Picture Day and the big unveiling of Georgia’s Nike Pro Combat uniforms? Have no fear because UGA is providing a sneak preview via Facebook.
According to UGA promotions director Emily Deitz, pictures of the Bulldogs in the new uniforms they’ll wear against Boise State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will be posted at www.facebook.com/georgiabulldogs at noon on Saturday. The real live Bulldogs won’t appear in the actual uniforms until 3 p.m. during Picture Day at Sanford Stadium.
Deitz, in an interview with Chuck Dowdle on 680 The Fan, provided a hint as to what the uniforms might look.
“I would definitely plan on wearing a lot of red that day,” she said of the Sept. 3rd game in the Georgia Dome. “A lot of red.”
Etc. . . .
Redshirt sophomore Dallas Lee is currently running second team at both left and right guard and center. Line coach Will Friend has been extremely impressed with the Buford High grad. . . . Offensive lineman Austin Long has returned to practice and his fully participating after missing two weeks with mononucleosis. . . . Receiver Israel Troupe is sidelined with a groin injury. . . . Secondary coach Scott Lakatos said safety Bacarri Rambo is still running with the first team. . . . Freshman outside linebacker Ray Drew is still out with a separated shoulder. . . . Defensive back Nick Marshall is back from a hamstring injury.
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166 comments Add your comment
SLCDawg
August 20th, 2011
6:44 am
The black jerseys looked great. Every other uni change has looked awful. These will be no exception.
Jimmy Crack
August 20th, 2011
6:52 am
Groin and hamstring injuries mean these guys are overcooked and more than ready to play a real game of football. Enough of this practice crap, let’s do this. The pros know this and changed their NFLPA contract to make it so. They cut their full-padded practices in half. Too much practice on these modern athletes’ bodies is Russian roulette for injuries and detrimental to their potential careers. Ask the pros.
Loyal Dawg
August 20th, 2011
6:58 am
Dadgummit! Is football season EVER going to get here. It’s like waiting for Santa Claus!
Loyal Dawg
August 20th, 2011
7:00 am
You can’t learn to tackle somebody in helmets and shorts. Just look at our defense the last couple of years.
Loyal Dawg
August 20th, 2011
7:02 am
You can’t learn to hold on to a football when you get hit, if you only practice 1/2 speed. Just look at our RB’s the last couple of years.
CHDawg
August 20th, 2011
7:05 am
The unis are for Nike, not UGA. The money is for BSU and UGA, not the fans. Nike marketing knows what they are doing. Athens is correct–we outweigh their D line by almost 50 lbs per man. The problem is that we have outweighed other teams, like UCF, and that didn’t equate to dominance. We will just have to see how well their 260-280 lb ends can do–BSU nation is convinced they are All Americans. They could be blinding quick; I don’t know. I expect CMB to line up and see how well they handle a rock pounding, but he may come out and start gun-slingin’. I would think BSU would have a hard time defending both. On O BSU does have a great RB–very solid, and one of those guys a team can have a hard time tackling–like the Lattimore experience, and of course, Moore was a Heisman finalist, so his ability is already legend. Interestingly, nobody was able to get to Moore last year. A few sacks out of our fast LBs, or our big line could challenge him in a way he isn’t used to being challenged. BSU has a great running game, though, and that is what they will try to establish. Also, interesting is the fact that they feel their little D line is dominant, and will sack Murray all night, so our O line could be the key to the game. This one is really stacking up to be a great game. BSU is very well coached. I wouldn’t be surprised by a blowout on either side, but being an optimist, I like our chances. Some of the talking CFB heads aren’t even giving us a chance in this game or this season, so that may actually help the Dawgs…Go Dawgs.
CHDawg
August 20th, 2011
7:08 am
The hamstrings and groins may not have much to do with S&C. They may be evidence of a lack of proper stretching. Unfortunately, a lot of coaches and players don’t understand how important stretching is. Takes a lot of valuable time they don’t have, but it pays dividends if done correctly.
CHDawg
August 20th, 2011
7:14 am
One more point on Moore. He is shorter than Murray, ~20 lbs lighter, and he is slower than our D linemen, so our size and speed could be a factor. If he lacerates us and has a great year, it will certainly kill the argument that a QB can’t succeed without height, weight or speed. Moore has none, and he almost won the Heisman last year.
bitter smash mouth
August 20th, 2011
7:32 am
i hope to see a 2 tight-end set, white and charles can and will help push our backs and MOST
IMPORTANT———————————-CONTROL THE —-CLOCK——————YAAAW
———————got to keep kellen moore off the field—————————simple
Arthur Dent
August 20th, 2011
7:45 am
42
SEC1
August 20th, 2011
8:05 am
has anyone on the team NOT had a hamstring injury?
might be easier to report it that way…
RedandBlackDAWG
August 20th, 2011
8:06 am
Tide Roll,
Heres a little tip for you, when you try and post on a nlog. Think before your fingers start typing everey once in a while. A versatile man on the line, as a backup is an asset, noy a liability. He gewts more playing time and also allows for multiple starters to get a rest break. Yes, UGA does have some experience depth problems, not unlike a lot of teams in football. A team can not alwaysw control injuries and academic failures. By having backups with multiple position talent, you can help to negate that problem. Now go back to your nintendo, in the basement and mom will call you up for breakfast. Leave the big boy talk to big boys, OK?
Energy Dawg
August 20th, 2011
8:32 am
Listen up.
All these ostriches saying it ain’t so doesn’t make it not so. It is.
It is the easiest UGA schedule in many, many years. No reason not to win a championship.
Players are trying real hard. Great talent, great spirit to date.
Same old coaching problems. Richt has no energy for his team either on or off the field. He’s a great recruiter, but a lousy coach who uses ACC game strategies in the SEC.
Bobo is as predictable as the cycles of the moon each month.
The season boils down to coaching. I’m torn.
If the Dawgs have a good season, we’re saddled with Preacha Man even longer so every year will be full of anxiety and disappointment. If the Dawgs turtle again, it’s a sad day for us all but at least we will have the potential to get a real coach who is a leader and understands the SEC.
Hope is not a method.
Firemarshall Bill
August 20th, 2011
8:38 am
LET ME TELL YA SHUMPTHIN! The last time we played Boise….and when we played Hawaii, their QB’s were gonna take us to the woodshed. With Boise, I believe it was Charles Johnson coming off the end; Hawaii….it was Marcus Howard. Both games our D was fired up and swarming. If this new defense will just adopt a nasty attitude…it’s gonna be a long night for Kellen Moore.
RedandBlackDAWG
August 20th, 2011
8:38 am
Anybody else out here have comcast as thier ISP? No matter what sometimes, blogs disapear and letters get scrambled. Let’see now, corrections to the 8:06 AM post.
nlog=blog
everey=every
gewts=gets
This after using a spell checker.
By the way, Nike is probably paying each school about 300 grand to wear these uniforms for this game. The players make the uniform, not the other way around. I say, if it makes these kids happy to weat them, let them have at it. They are the ones doing all the work and representing UGA. If UGA does well this season, I would bet it will not matter what they played in as UGA folks will be too darn happy to care what uniforms they wore.
GO DAWGS
UGA's NG men
August 20th, 2011
8:43 am
Get healed up Big John Jenkins, we need you, man. I do like hearing that Gathers is running first team right now. FIne with me. He must have desire in his heart and body. The depth at NG this year is superior to any year UGA has experienced in a long time. I know that the D changed last year and ND is the keystone to it all but UGA usually lacks the big bodies and Gathers and Jenkins and one other young man provide that. Additonally ABry Jones and DeAngelo Tyson do provide big size at D Ends, for a change.
This is good stuff and on paper, UGA is the best D team that we have seen in a very long while. I suspect that SC will run off tackle but will absolutely try and beat UGA with the long balls, early too.
Gooooooooooooooooooooo Dogs. Sic Em!!
Go Dawgs
August 20th, 2011
8:54 am
New Uniforms are up http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/usnikefootball/en_US/?sitesrc=uslp
Coach Hewitt...
August 20th, 2011
8:55 am
here’s the new unis..straight from nike home page…
http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/usnikefootball/en_US/
Coach Hewitt...
August 20th, 2011
8:55 am
lol.. you beat me to it gdawgs…
Pro Combat Sucks
August 20th, 2011
8:59 am
Why wait until noon. Nike has already release a pic of what could be them.
http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/usnikefootball/en_US/
I’m not a fan of them at all…. Please let this be a joke!
Beast from the East
August 20th, 2011
9:03 am
Those unis are hideous! Oh well, at least it’s only for one game!
Go Dawgs
August 20th, 2011
9:05 am
Who cares if you like it – grow up – it is just a promotional uniform and the kids love them – get a life
Prozac Dawg
August 20th, 2011
9:06 am
The uniforms might have been cool with silver britches and the traditional red helmets. Don’t particularly like these that much. Guess i’m a traditionalist.
AltamahaDawg
August 20th, 2011
9:06 am
So……….. having uniform is perfectly fine, but if you alter the design from the most recent version, that is for girlies. But your teams stripes and coordinating colors, that real men stuff there.
Go Dawgs
August 20th, 2011
9:07 am
Some people will find negative things to say about anything – the coach, the players, the uniforms – you people really need to get a life – why do you all bash, bash, bash – trying to bring the team and fans down to your level . . . I guess
Prozac Dawg
August 20th, 2011
9:09 am
But what I’m really interested in is CMB coming off his meds and calling an unpredictable game AND seeing Kellen Moore sacked at leat 9 times (he was sacked 8 last year).
Snoop Dawg
August 20th, 2011
9:10 am
I see that Preacha Man and McCavity have once again prostituted our great tradition for a few sheckels of gold. When will this bs stop?
Those uniforms are hideous. They look like the Transformers. They aren’t even recognizable as the University of Georgia. This will take any advantage we may have had away from the florescent blue BSU trashbags as now we are groveling with them for the maggots at the bottom of the dumpster.
Snoop Dawg
August 20th, 2011
9:15 am
Hope this doesn’t turn out to be a redux of the UGA smackdown by Alabama during one of the infamous “blackout” motivational gimmicks by pseudo coach Markt Wrecked. These hokey uniforms are bad luck.
AltamahaDawg
August 20th, 2011
9:18 am
I think we need to remember these guy are playing the equivalent of a game 3 times a week. Like an entire season in a few weeks. Pulls and strains are the norm in game calls football. Would you feel better if they just didn’t report every single detail of a pre-season practice on the hour like the old days. If you didn’t know, it didn’t happen, and it wouldn’t matter, and all of that will even out in the end like it always does.
Snoop Dawg
August 20th, 2011
9:21 am
The Bulldog Nation would feel better with a competent coaching staff.
AltamahaDawg
August 20th, 2011
9:21 am
The uni have changed upteen times over the years, but some fan in 2011 gets to decide which version is THE tradition for all of history?
AltamahaDawg
August 20th, 2011
9:26 am
I hope 50,000 people who don’t play the game, aren’t going to try to sit in a seat and holler things. That’s such a gimmick. And what the heck is with that whole playing band music. How does that have anything to do with an 50-0 coaching victory?
In fact why do we actually have colors. All that is required is to tell the difference in the team. Anything besides dark and light, is a pure gimmick.
@snoop dawg
August 20th, 2011
9:29 am
Get a clue , Richt had nothing to do with uniform change, this is for Nike and the kickoff classic.
bwkdawg
August 20th, 2011
9:29 am
I hear Kwame Geathers missed fridays practice also with an unspecified injury, also Nick Marshall was out with a concussion not a hamstring
Junior Samples
August 20th, 2011
9:33 am
winning takes care of the uniform worries. if you win, you can wear a pink tutu and everyone will be happy, including mr samples
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
August 20th, 2011
9:39 am
Wearing a different uni each week is for the weak like UGA and Richt. Athens Dog…you sir are the ultimate jock sniffer.
ryan
August 20th, 2011
9:43 am
Ugly Uniforms don’t win games players do can’t believe you guys getting worked up over a freaken Jersey .
RedandBlackDAWG
August 20th, 2011
9:50 am
Snoop Dog,
If the players like them, that is all that should count. The the opinion of a malcontent matters not one bit. Get it snoop dog. You would complain if they hung you with a gold rope. Hmmm, now there’s an option that might get some support from UGA fans.
ryan
August 20th, 2011
9:52 am
I think we need give players a couple of days off they really getting over worked i truly hope these injury’s i keep hearing are minor .
JAWJeRDAWG
August 20th, 2011
9:53 am
As an old traditionalist Dawg fan, I prefer our standard game-day uniforms. BUT, I understand having to met our Nike contract requirements and the company’s imposed mandate of wearing their vision of UGA’s Pro Combat uniform for the Boise State game.
It doesn’t matter to ME how the players are outfitted as long as THEY like it and play an intensely focused and hard-fought game.
We fans just have to accept the fact that the change has been made for this nationally televised Kick-Off Classic; that Coach Richt didn’t make that decision and had no choice but to accept what Greg McGarity had to consent to from Nike; from what we read, the players have seemingly bought into, LIKE the change; and it won’t be a distraction to their play.
Let’s just hope they come out on both offense and defense with a GATA attitude and play four complete quarters like that. If so, I believe we’ll win.
I can’t wait to get to the Dome dressed in MY red and black to complement and support my team! .. Go Dawgs!
Brucerugby79
August 20th, 2011
9:56 am
Bob –Boise did not blow out VT last year they got a lead and barely hung on
Mobile Dawg
August 20th, 2011
9:58 am
Not a bad looking uniform, just different than we’re used to. Get over it, if this becomes a pattern we all know what to do. Sorry guys, letters of complaint, and finally money talks.
RedandBlackDAWG
August 20th, 2011
9:59 am
I think the increase in practice injuries is equal to the increase in practice intensity and the increased emphasis on better prepared, stronger players. I don’t think it is anything unusual and only reflects the fact that the DAWGS are preparing seriously for this season. I would be concerned if no players were getting dinged up. Except for a backup safety, none of the injuries so far threaten to derail, the team or change the makeup of this team. Just ask Arkansas if they would trade a mild hamstring injury to their TB versus a leg injury that keeps him out for the season. Pre-season injuries are part of the game.
ugab
August 20th, 2011
10:00 am
Do the darn players stretch before and after practice.? Are they using bad technique? I understand football is a physical sport. Why is it every year alot of players have hammy problems? Every single year at uga.
ugab
August 20th, 2011
10:02 am
I vote to keep our present uniforms……
Mike Oxbig
August 20th, 2011
10:03 am
Snoop, how much weed have you smoked today already? Obvious techster…
Let the "BIG" Dawg eat!!
August 20th, 2011
10:04 am
Let’s see our 3 biggest recruits are all out with injuries(I.C,Drew, and now Jenkins). Typical of how every bigtime recruit UGA gets has an injury that limits his play the first year. This program is snake bitten, and the football GODS certainly don’t look over this program. No other program in the SEC has the same bad luck UGA does when it comes to big time recruits and injuries. Without big contributions from I.C. Drew, and Jenkins, this will be another long season for UGA. Hell maybe Richt should just practice in shells the rest of preseason practice,because after the last scrimmage next week, UGA probably want have enough bodies to play Sept.3rd. Can you imagine how good this team would be and how deep it would be now if Benedict,Austin Long, Tanner Strickland,Dallas Lee(Hopefully he has asthma under control),T.J.Stripling,Burrows,the list goes on and on. Can only hope these latest 3 will be healthy when the season starts, but groins and hamstrings can be lingering injuries that can hamper a player all season. I’m afraid we want see the real break away speed and acceleration from I.C. until later in the season, my GOD look how long Boo has had his groin injury, and he still is having problems. The coaches can sugarcoat this all they want, but for the running backs to constantly have groin pulls and hamstring pulls all the time, then there is an issue with the old S&C tactics that this staff uses. S&C if done properly limits injuries, it doesn’t cause more injuries. Just another desperate move by Richt to put the entire team’s future in the hands of an over the hill S&C coach. How did it work out with Benedict? This guy could have been the best lineman UGA has signed since the Matt&John Stinch brothers. Hope i’m wrong, but the history of this staff when it comes to injuries doesn’t bode well.
jasper sanks
August 20th, 2011
10:05 am
those new uniforms are bad A$$!
i love them.. i still like the all read traditional helmit..wouldnt mind seeing a mixture of both..
definitely the new jerseys are far from the old tradional stuff.. im sure there will be outrage..
traditional uni’s werent gettin it done on the field.. need new mojo
and if we dont beat florida this year, we will need a new coach as well.
Bulldawg Bivins
August 20th, 2011
10:06 am
Does anyone know if Mitchell will get extensive playing time this year? I heard he ran past Boykin in practice,he has to be a speedster to outrun Boykin.
ugab
August 20th, 2011
10:07 am
Uniforms are ok. It looks like a distraction. The ga fla uniforms were the ugliest yet. If the dawgs play solid football, they can wear any uniform they want. Boise State is doinf alot of talking!!! Lets shut them up. Gooooo DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!