Practice update: Dallas Lee well, starters injured, Nick Marshall on hoops
ATHENS – Dallas Lee is feeling like himself again, and that’s a really good thing for both him and the Bulldogs.
Lee
Lee had spent the better part of the last 18 months not knowing what was wrong with him and that’s especially bad when the problem involves breathing. Now he’s well and just in time to work himself into Georgia’s rotation on the offensive line.
“Dallas has had a great turnaround,” head coach Mark Richt said. “He’s the sixth guy [on the offensive line] right now. He’s the putty man for any guard or center situation. And he’s not done competing for a starting job either.”
That’s pretty amazing considering Lee hadn’t even played in front of first-year line coach Will Friend until the first practice on August 5.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been around him in six months,” Friend said. “Two weeks ago was the first time I’ve gotten to work with him because I couldn’t do anything with him in the summer. So that was good to get him. Dallas has played good at times. He’s actually worked some with the ones. I have no problem whatsoever with Dallas being in the game.”
Currently, Friend said, Lee would be the first guy in at left or right guard or at center.
That’s a long way from where the 6-foot-4, 300-pound redshirt sophomore was last fall. Stricken by some sort of asthma-like condition, Lee was worried about where he get his next breath rather than his next snap.
“It was real frustrating,” said Lee, a Buford High graduate. “They had me going to all kinds of doctors and nobody could figure it out. It ended up being like almost a year and a half of not being able to figure out what was wrong. They still haven’t really figured out what was wrong, but they finally got a medicine combination that works. So that’s all I’m worried about. I’m back playing.”
Friend said otherwise the O-line depth chart has remained unchanged. The starters have been the same since the opening of camp, with Cordy Glenn at left tackle, Kenarious Gates at left guard, Ben Jones at center, Chris Burnette at right guard and Justin Anderson at right tackle.
“Those guys have done nothing to lose their positions,” Friend said. “They’ve all performed pretty well, so we’re pretty set there.”
Friend said tackle Watts Dantzler and center David Andrews are the only freshmen he’s considering playing at this point. Redshirt freshman Kolton Houston, he said, “has got to do better for us.”
Also, Friend said Austin Long, sidelined for two weeks with mono, is back to full speed and working his way.
Asked if the 305-pound Long had lost any weight during his illness, Friend laughed. “I need to but he didn’t.”
Caleb King signs free agent deal with Vikings
Former Bulldog Caleb King was passed over in the NFL supplemental draft Monday but landed a free-agent deal from the Minnesota Vikings, his agent confirmed.
“He’s shown that he has skills that are transferable to the next level,” agent Kevin Conner of Atlanta’s Universal Sports and Entertainment said Monday. “Running back is such a volatile position for them to project. You can find good ones, early, in the middle and late.”
King, who would have been a senior running back for the Bulldogs this season, flunked out at the end of summer semester. A graduate of Greater Atlanta Christian School, he rushed for 1,271 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in three seasons at Georgia
Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor was the only player taken in Monday’s draft, which was delayed more than a month due to this summer’s lockout.
Marshall still planning to play basketball
Freshman defensive back Nick Marshall, who missed four practices due to a concussion suffered returning a punt, is back to full speed in practice. He said he’s now working as a backup at boundary corner and is a member of the kickoff and punt return teams.
Meanwhile, the four-star basketball prospect said he still intends to join the Bulldogs’ basketball team in January. That is, pending the approval of Richt and basketball coach Mark Fox. “We want to make sure he’s taking care of business academically first,” Richt said.
Nike Pro Combat uniforms mostly disliked
As of 8 p.m. Monday night, 9,350 individuals voted on the AJC.com poll about Georgia’s new Nike Pro Combat uniforms that will be worn in the season opener. Of those 6,058 – or 65 percent – don’t like the way the uniforms look.
But only 35 percent actually “hated” the all-red-with-silver-helmet look. Another 30 percent “didn’t like them” but think it’s up to the players. About 22 percent “loved” the new unis while 13 percent didn’t care one way or another.
Injury report
Junior wide receiver Marlon Brown missed practice Monday. Richt said the starting split end “tweaked an ankle” late in the last practice, but that trainer Ron Courson, “doesn’t think it’s anything real serious.” Freshman flanker Malcolm Mitchell also remains sidelined with a pulled leg muscle.
Junior nose guard John Jenkins (hamstring) worked on the side but did not otherwise participate in practice. Tailback Richard Samuel (strained quadriceps) got in some individual drill work but nothing else. Outside linebacker Ray Drew (separated shoulder) practiced in a non-contact capacity and Sterling Bailey (shoulder) is now full go.
They said it
“Down here every game we play is such a huge rivalry. We hate South Carolina, we hate Auburn , we hate Florida, we hate Tennessee, we hate Tech, we hate everybody. Everybody is a rival. I didn’t realize that when I first got down here but I really grew into it. I have a strong dislike for all those teams now.” – Senior tight end Aron White of Columbia, Mo.
Etc. . . .
Other than some individuals, Richt was generally unhappy with his team’s ability to “fight through” a three-hour, full-contact practice. The Bulldogs have now split into scout and varsity and are preparing for Boise State. . . . UGA linebacker signee Kent Turene of Tampa, who was unable to gain clearance for freshman eligibility from the NCAA, confirmed that he has decided to attend school and play football at Jireh Prep in Matthews, N.C. He said he will enroll there later this week. . . . Based on rankings alone, Georgia’s first two games against No. 5 Boise State and No. 12 South Carolina represent the school’s toughest back-to-back opponents in history to open a season. . . . The Athens Chick-fil-A store at Beechwood Shopping Center is hosting “Spirit Day” on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. to kickoff events surrounding Georgia’s appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. UGA cheerleaders, Pep Band members and Hairy Dawg will be among the guests.
CLICK HERE for video of tailback Isaiah Crowell in action.
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246 comments Add your comment
Smokewagon
August 23rd, 2011
8:58 am
Not familar with bluorange here-I have always posted as Smokewagon.
kb
August 23rd, 2011
9:00 am
Bluandorange, Boise is the best team in the West and they’ve proven it? By playing whom? Play a schedule that has a combination of tough games and come back? too busy hanging your hats on a victory here or there play competition. If Boise was in the SEC they wouldn’t be ranked in top 25.
DC
August 23rd, 2011
9:06 am
to Boise’s defense..they do schedule at least 1 tough Out of conference game…thing is…why would the “big boys” want to play boise?…they have no gain in it…especially teams in the sec…play arkansas jimbo univ and go to a national title or slip up and play and lose to boise and play in the capital one bowl..
JDawg1785
August 23rd, 2011
9:08 am
I’d bet on it as well, Lowcountry. The Dawgs will have to eat up as much clock as possible to keep that Boise offense off the field.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
9:09 am
It was about 54% run last year, (same as Alabama), down a bit from the our 10 yr average. It’s certainly a myth that anyone runs 60% of the time, at least in the traditional style, only in rare cases of a QB who is the majority of the offence.
Can somebody explain to me what “finesse offense” means. Real question. I’ve asked several times and never get a good answer.
DawginLex
August 23rd, 2011
9:17 am
Altamaha
Finesse offense describes us because we have not been a power running team. Stacy Searles taught more zone blocking for the offensive line. Will Friend is teaching the OL in a way that will create a power running team.
The skeptics in all of us will say wait and see what Bobo will do but the thought is we will try to do more power running than in the past.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 23rd, 2011
9:18 am
The finesse label gets put on UGA for the way down and distance plays are called. In scenarios where it is 3rd down and 2-3 yards to get UGA, imo, has never been a team that has lined up against a upper tier SEC team and been able to successfully get that type of first down. In that singular inability that label of finesse appears. In the years of watching a UGA team coached by CMR UGA lacks that physical attacking type of offense, but that was never the way FSU played either. It is certainly a stylistic difference.
Bluenorange51
August 23rd, 2011
9:20 am
Mars Mutt – that was a great compliment. I’ll be a bronco until buried, but you can’t beat the storied tradition of UGA football. I was at the fiesta bowl and can tell you it was the best game ever played. OK and BSU fans were exhausted at the end. People forget with BSU miracle finish that OK was down 18 points in the 4th and had to have a series of fantastic plays and minor miracles just to tie the game with a minute left. I do not expect this game to look like that – the defensive units are too strong on both sides. Go broncos!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 23rd, 2011
9:22 am
JDawg,
Certainly UGA will have to have the T.O.P won and I say by a large margin. The best defense is a good offense, cliche I know, but the run game is key. Have to keep Moore off the field and probably for 2-3 TO whether thru INT’s or fumbles. A big play on special teams also. It doesn’t have to be a return for a touchdown, but a return that flips the field position is just as important for UGA. It is going to be a uphill battle but one that UGA has the talent to do it. They just need to taste a little bit of success to truly believe they can finish it off.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
9:25 am
Friend is a disciple of former O-line coach Calloway, who presumably has the same philosophy. Where we finesse under him too?
And that seems to be the only definition I keep getting. Finesse is defined by what it isn’t. Are there only 2 option in football. Finesse and power? So it’s not a philisophical term, more just a description of factors.
JDawg1785
August 23rd, 2011
9:26 am
I appreciate your insight and passion for your team, Blunorgange. You totally prove that a fan of an opposing team can come on here and have a healthy discussion without being an obnoxious troll. I wish all fans of opposing teams on here could learn from a class act like you. Best of luck to your Broncos in all games but the first this season.
DawginLex
August 23rd, 2011
9:30 am
Altamaha
Remember Musa Smith? Go back and watch that 2002 team run the ball. We were 9th in the league in rushing but no one cared. We could run the ball physically. We won with our defense.
Nothing has changed regarding the formula for success. We either do it or we don’t. The pieces are there. It’s up to the coaches and players now.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
9:35 am
Oh, I absolutely agree that 3rd and short has not been a down where we have lined it up and run effectively. And was true even with Moreno. I just think that’s a failure though. We haven’t done it well. I don’t think it’s a matter of not attempting to do it. To me labeling some would mean something they are doing, not something they don’t. It seems to be used here as a derogatory, or more-so , the “anti”.
Isn’t it much more accurate to just say we have been inefective at running the ball on short yards lately?
personally I thought we needed MORE finesse last year. Was frustrating watching them run into a wall over and over.
RxDawg84
August 23rd, 2011
9:36 am
Is it just me or does the physical condition of the football team seem to be showing? It seems in most years past that we’d have a slew of significant injuries by now… although I’m knocking on wood as I say this.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 23rd, 2011
9:36 am
Well Dawg what you are saying as long as we have a horse it doesnt matter. Musa, Knowshon, when we have had a back that you could give the ball to and trust to get the job done it is irrelevant if it is finesse or physical.
I guess when I watch some of the SEC games with a LSU/BAMA/AUBURN games that are physical hardnose grinders that end in a 13-3, 16-10 type scores I watch them and analyze how we would fare in those same situations. How confident are we that we win those games? Mentally we have not shown that ability to grind those out.
Joey
August 23rd, 2011
9:36 am
Good luck, Caleb King.
DawginLex
August 23rd, 2011
9:41 am
It all comes down to the defense and our ability to get off the field.
If we can improve on 3rd down alone, we will be much improved defensively.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
9:44 am
Sure, I remember Musa, I remember Brown, and Lumkin, and Moreno. I also remember the carousel of RB that couldn’t get their act together in the past 2 years. And that’s my point. It’s situational. And honestly I don’t think it really has varied from then till now as much as folks believe.
I do think the Searles years were not the norm, how much do to him, how much circumstantial……. well its doesn’t really matter now.
I think everybody can agree that the lack of being able to run effectively bothered everybody, including the staff, and whatever the issues, we should be better going forward……or try.
Joey
August 23rd, 2011
9:50 am
“…Richt was generally unhappy with his team’s ability to “fight through” a three-hour, full-contact practice.”
*******************************************************
Dang, that’s an unexpected sentence, given the optimistic practice reports we’ve been getting. Kind of unsettling too.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
9:55 am
No, I am saying that when we had the horses (RB and O-linemen) nobody doubted the philosophy, and when we didn’t they seem to. And maybe its just that we have done it better and worse at times.
Certainly not to say that we don’t need to recruit more grinder outers.
And I think you make my point when you say if you watche Alabama play recently, and try to picture our (oline and RB) in that game would they have faied as well. Would we have lined it up and run more with thiers?
And let’s call that a complete failure of our recruiting, coaching, and disciplinee, before somebody has a cow about that statement.
Inlet Dawg
August 23rd, 2011
9:55 am
Aron,you hit the nail on the head.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
9:56 am
Coach gonna get fangs drawn on his picture…….
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 23rd, 2011
9:58 am
Is John Jenkins more of a fan-favorite than Geathers?
DawginLex
August 23rd, 2011
10:03 am
Joey
I’m glad richt is being honest and not sugar coating. Last year he “really like this team” and we got 6-7 and a bunch of cancers creating locker room issues.
I think part of this change has been to set a higher standard for UGA football both on and off the field and to be all about team or hit the road. It may not work and he may still get fired but I do give him credit for realizing something had to change.
DawginLex
August 23rd, 2011
10:04 am
NCBF
At Fan Day, the line for the OL/DL group rivaled the QB line in length.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 23rd, 2011
10:07 am
At Fan Day, the line for the OL/DL group rivaled the QB line in length.
——————————–
Thats interesting. I just get the feeling that many fans want Jenkins in there over Geathers. Is there any reason why?
how2fish
August 23rd, 2011
10:10 am
NCBF I think Jenkins has generated a certain amount of relief as we were finally getting a huge man mountain of a nose tackle as that was the biggest perceived weakness in our D. That being said Geathers has continued all year to work his tail off to vie for playing time and it looks like he may in fact start against Boise…we the Bull Dog Nation are glad to have Jenkins but I assure you we want the best player to play but I think there will be a lot of playing time for both.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 23rd, 2011
10:14 am
how2fish, I hear ya.
Does Jenkins have more ability than Geathers. Or does his larger size simply set him apart?
how2fish
August 23rd, 2011
10:23 am
NCBF..truth is there is very little difference in their size, the preconception was that Geathers was undersized last year and as it was his first year in a 3-4 he seemed a little lost. Jenkins was also supposed to be somewhat faster than Geathers but not sure if that is true or not. I think Jenkins will be a real boost for our D but Geathers has been a very pleasant surprise the way he has grown into the position.
JDawg1785
August 23rd, 2011
10:30 am
The last report I read said that Geathers weighed 360 and Jenkins was at 340. Regardless, having those guys will be a huge boost up front that was lacking last year.
how2fish
August 23rd, 2011
10:35 am
@JDawg1785 I saw a similar report but it kind of goes back and forth..they are both at minimum 340 lbs! Man that’s huge and if they can stay healthy we can hopefully keep rotating them to keep them fresh…
JDawg1785
August 23rd, 2011
10:38 am
For real, how2fish! Either way these guys account for about 700 pounds. Opposing offenses are in for a “huge” surprise from Georgia’s D this season.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 23rd, 2011
10:41 am
Not only is it the size of Jenkin/Geathers but it is that they are natural guys at the nose. Last year was it Tyson who was playing out of position? We now have guys who schematically fit in the role that Grantham needs. At least thats the line we are fed.
Our running game is like the Field of Dreams, if you build it they will come. Build a good offensive line and 1st downs via the running attack in short yardage situations will come. Just need some guys with a nasty streak in them.
LogicalUS
August 23rd, 2011
10:41 am
“Aren’t Samual and Malcome both nursing injuries at this point? The game is less than two weeks away”
Psssh, UGA players don’t need practice, that is for lessor mortals, not the 4 deep supermen at UGA.
But don’t worry too much, most of what you are seeing posted here is wishful thinking and empty boasting with little basis in reality. You can see it in the fanciful thinking that a Bama-like power running game is going to emerge magically from nothing in September. There is a reason why Samuel was moved to scout team defense on a 8-5 and 6-7 UGA football team and it wasn’t to hide and save him to win the Heisman in 2011. Now as for Crowell, he is continuing his health issues from the past 18 months, he was injured often last season and missed significant time at Columbus Carver.
UGA simply lacks the tools to implement these fanciful dreams. UGA will have to depend on Murray and the hope that their cast of averages at WR are more athletic that Boisy CBs. A complete collapse by the Boisy QB would greatly help their cause.
Looking at UGA results from last season defensively, the numbers got steady worse as teams became more accustomed to what Grantham tendencies were but UGA is depending almost entirely on the fact that Bama’s defense from a couple of years ago got much better in year 2.
JDawg1785
August 23rd, 2011
10:43 am
Lowcountry, I also like the fact that Jenkins played some RB in high school. The kid will be like a bear out there- huge AND fast.
shankit
August 23rd, 2011
10:46 am
The Bear said, ” I make my practices real hard, cause if you are
a quitter, I want you to quit in practice, and not during the game.”
claytondawg
August 23rd, 2011
10:46 am
Wish I could come up with an educated prediction. But, let the game begin. Win or lose…they’re still my ‘Dogs. Wait, take out the word “lose.”
shankit
August 23rd, 2011
10:52 am
Knute Rockne said, “It isn’t necessary to see a good tackle,
you can hear it.”
Duffy Daugharty said, “Football is not a contact sport, it is
a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport.”
Paul Dietzel said, “You can learn more character on the two
yard line, than anywhere else in life.”
Dawg Gone
August 23rd, 2011
10:53 am
@shankit yeah and he also said Pass me that bottle of bourbon a bunch .
shankit
August 23rd, 2011
10:55 am
Dawg Gone – Yep, Jack Daniels if your please.
Joey
August 23rd, 2011
10:55 am
Nice analytical skills, IllogicalUS.
How about give us a shot at your team.
Tech?
Dawg Gone
August 23rd, 2011
11:01 am
@shankit I have not heard that Duffy quote thanks for sharing that’s a good one!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 23rd, 2011
11:01 am
Jdawg,
I would imagine you will see a few goalline situations where he will play as a leadblocker. Heck I would love to see him have the same impact as 62 did at bama on Special Teams. He was a beast to blog on FG trys. Remember the UT game? Didnt he block back to back FG attempts at the end of the game?
JDawg1785
August 23rd, 2011
11:07 am
Kody saved Bama’s hide in the UT game back in 09 with those blocks. I’d love it if Big John had a similar impact for the Dawgs. Heck, I’d settle for him lead blocking for Boo, Crowell or Samuel.
TampaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
11:09 am
Hey Tampa Gator .. as someone who respects your posts (very few other team posters on here I can say that about), I say this next line in jest but, how bad does your team’s history have to be if you can win 18 of 21 from on team and still be on the losing end of the overall series? Just a friendly jab. Later.
schmeckdawg
August 23rd, 2011
11:12 am
I hope Jenkins isn’t going to be another flop. Seems he can’t stay on the field.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 23rd, 2011
11:15 am
It will be interesting for sure. The thing about Jenkins is with th eemergence of Geathers he will not have to play 50+ snaps. So bringing him along with 30-40 snaps those first two games is fine with me.
DawginLex
August 23rd, 2011
11:17 am
Logical
Copy and past any of the kool aid drinking stuff you claim all of us post that was written by me.
I’ll be waiting.
DawginLex
August 23rd, 2011
11:18 am
paste, not past but you know what I meant hopefully
JDawg1785
August 23rd, 2011
11:23 am
Apparently, Lex, “drinking kool aid” to trolls just means “supporting and believing in the Dawgs” to us normal folk.