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
DawginLex
August 23rd, 2011
11:24 am
I’m not going to deny that I believe we will be better.
If that is kool aid drinking then pass the pitcher…………..
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 23rd, 2011
11:24 am
He obviously did not read the string of posts. He picked and choose what part he wanted to use to fit into his agenda. No surprise, but if he was “logical” he would have grasped our overrall conversation.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 23rd, 2011
11:29 am
Yea, i think the dogs will be better.
Its looking like a 7-5 year.
JDawg1785
August 23rd, 2011
11:34 am
I like red kool aid the best.
Why not .............
August 23rd, 2011
11:36 am
I would utilize true Frosh Jay Rome at FB along with FB Figgins in a twin set. That formation would be basic, then run Samuel/Crowell behind these two 6′6″ 265 lb. mountains and then run QB Murray behind all three. On other times, fake that QB run and allow QB murray to throw it or run it. He could/should gain 12 -15 yds per play. Wear them out with this formation. OLD WB formation and unlike GT, we actually have some major backfield talent.
With two giant, athletic FBs and a giant, powerful bulldozer 6′3″ 235 lb. Richard Samuel, I would give new meaning to the Green Bay Packers sweep play.
After we run this a few times, then probe their middle with Crowell and Samuel and Figgins pounding away at it. Do not use 5′6″ Carlton Thomas on 3rd and 6th off tackle, this year, please. He too could be correctly utilized in a sweep running behind the FB GIANTS for HUGE gainers, resulting from his sppppppppppppppppppppppppppeed.
If we end up 3rd and 13 and out, we will wear down our D and we will not like the result.
Go Dogs.
DougsMugs
August 23rd, 2011
11:58 am
@Football Insider , I don’t feel like I am over inflated. I didn’t expect much last year and admittedly, it was worse than I had expected, so maybe I was about 28 pounds on a 35 pound tire, but not over inflated. Before the season, I was really concerned about UGA and the first two games, but the more I followed, the more I actually have come to feel a little sorry for Boise. I like the smurfs, but they are going to crushed. SC is another matter. I think UGA wins that one, but I am nowhere as confident as I am about the BSU game.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
12:00 pm
He needs to change his name to OpinionUS.
DougsMugs
August 23rd, 2011
12:02 pm
@Bluenorange51, MAT, hmmm, I hope you all do well after this beat down, but it is unlikely you will even be ranked in week 2.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
12:03 pm
So basically, better than our worst year equals SC best year ever?
Ace
August 23rd, 2011
12:04 pm
The defensive end that lines up on Danzler will have it made as this kid is SLOW.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
12:09 pm
Thomas got the call on 3rd down twice last year, one of which was a pretty good gain. So not likely to see that this year either.
Dawg Gone
August 23rd, 2011
12:18 pm
@Ace then its a darn good thing he is not starting.
kb
August 23rd, 2011
12:19 pm
Logicalus and Football insider, know very little about football in general and much less a bout UGA football, couple of NATS trolls.
kb
August 23rd, 2011
12:23 pm
So Ace you seen Dantzler play this year? I’ve seen him his trimmed down toned up , probably a little quicker than he was in high school last year.
Chip Towers
August 23rd, 2011
12:43 pm
bitter AJC troll: Quit bashing on my colleague and posting antagonistic material or you’ll be banned. One warning.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
1:16 pm
2 things just occured to me:
1. Chip does a very good job of having to read through some of the garbage and holding his warning to a minimal.
2. For some reason that popped a musical verse in my head called “Dontchu be bashing on my colleage, bwa bwa bwa ba bam bwa”.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
1:18 pm
Trust me, it sounds a lot better in my head.
Mobile Dawg
August 23rd, 2011
1:18 pm
Hey Alt, after that rendention you should audition to sing the national anthem.
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
1:22 pm
As long as I don’t have to spell it correctly.
TampaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
1:28 pm
@Football “Insider” — Only a troll would look at people like Caleb King and Washaun Ealey as “stars”. Not to mention, you can’t proclaim we lost all of our “stars” if it was only a 6-7 season. And lastly, if you think we as UGA fans pump up our team after a down season and losing a few guys, you obviously haven’t been on an FSU, GT, Notre Dame or Ohio State blog any time in the last 10 years.
kb
August 23rd, 2011
1:35 pm
Only time will tell, but I think I would trade Samuel for Ealey all day.Washaun needs to grow up, hope he will at Jax State.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 23rd, 2011
1:36 pm
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.
——————————————————————–
Looks like these injuries are to key players at key positions.
Wonder how much this affects Richt’s gameplan development vs Boise?
Smokewagon
August 23rd, 2011
2:17 pm
Ok. You got me. I’m 400 different user names here.
TampaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
2:56 pm
Blue Boise just making stuff up about practices .. Kellen’s day is going to be full of Kwame hitting him, Ogletree shutting down their run and Boykin and Rambo making his receivers lifeless
DawginLex
August 23rd, 2011
3:22 pm
NCBF
Lattimore and Jeffrey have not played 1 scrimmage yet.
How will this affect preparation for the season?
No reps?
Shaw is hurt and not playing
Garcia 3 for 11 in recent scrimmage
What if Garcia goes on a drinking binge and shaw has to play?
No reps=not prepared
concerns abound
Bluenorange51
August 23rd, 2011
3:24 pm
Hey dogs, you do have a good indoor practice facility – right? Looks like you are in line for some weather in the next week. Keep those players healthy.
Big Spur
August 23rd, 2011
3:36 pm
No big concerns here on our injury situation.
Georgia has tough games the first two weeks of the season.
Our tough games don’t come until October.
TampaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
3:41 pm
September 3
It was supposed to be one of the most intriguing match-ups of the opening weekend of college football–two top 20 programs, squaring off. Boise State had a lot of momentum and buzz based on their bowl game showing last year and were heaviliy talked about for their wide-open offense. Meanwhile, Georgia had questions on both sides of the ball as to how to replace the senior leadership lost last year.
Someone must have forgot to mixed up the scripts for this one. Georgia looked like the world beaters on all sides of the ball Saturday afternoon while Boise State looked confuse and bewildered by the relentless attack of the Bulldogs. Georgia won the first game of the 2005 season in convincing fashion, 48-13.
Obviously, that was the result from 2005. How familiar it will sound. And that game saw a first year starter at QB for Georgia in DJ Shockley versus a heralded returning starter Jared Zabransky. In other words, watch out BSU fan .. it’s not always easy to play a weak in conference schedule, win a few out of conference games over the course of 5-7 years, then think you are going to dominate a team with no pressure on it. All the pressure is on BSU from the start. No one expects Georgia, outside of UGA fans, to do much more than 7-5 this year. BSU is picked by many to possibly run the table.
Again, sound familiar?
TampaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
3:42 pm
and BTW Bluenorange, I agree with an earlier post … of all the trolls on here, you are among the classiest. Lets play some football!
Jason
August 23rd, 2011
3:46 pm
Football Insider
August 22nd, 2011
10:08 pm
Oh yeah, and Boise has beaten Oklahoma, VT, and Oregon. Not exactly pushovers. Those three teams could beat UGA and IMO so can BSU.
Don’t forget UGA is middle of the pack in the red headed step child division to the SEC West.
Whens the last time any of those teams beat a sec team?
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
3:56 pm
I like what Mr. Lee had to say:
You got a six- to eight-week training
program here, a tough one.
Which is perfect for me.
I’m gonna walk out of here
a lean, mean, fighting machine.
TampaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
3:58 pm
Great point Jason .. and in the “People with nothing to do” Department, there is actually a Facebook page called Boise State vs Georgia 2011 ..
We won’t know if Oregon could because, like BSU, they schedule one good out of conference game a year and play a week in conference schedule then thump their chest at how good they think they are. VT? Oh yeah, the same VT that lost to James Madison the very next week after BSU. I like Georgia’s chances there too. And Oklahoma? Maybe. But then again, they aren’t exactly big fans of SEC competition either.
TampaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
3:59 pm
@AltamahaDawg .. way to quote one of the greatest (IMHO) movies of all time. We would like to dedicate this game against BSU to our good friend and big toe, SFC Hulka.
Bluenorange51
August 23rd, 2011
4:03 pm
Tampadog – for all the great things Zabransky did in a blue helmut, he did have a brain meltdown on occasion. He had a total meltdown the first half of the 2005 game – 5 picks if the painful memory serves me right. I do believe the Georgia ‘d’ was a big part of the meltdown. The character of the 2011 team is not finesse football. They want trench warfare. It will be a much different game – and, most importantly, they do have a cool-headed senior leader at QB. 11 days!
AltamahaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
4:08 pm
If you only knew how often my pals and I use the phrase “have that removed”.
TampaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
4:08 pm
11 days indeed! And I don’t think that history will be made on Sept 3rd since BSU is trying for their first ever win against an SEC opponent. The SEC is truly a different animal and most teams never figure it out until they have to play them straight up. Do they lose their share in the SEC, sure. But year in, year out look at the bowl records of SEC teams versus other conferences bowl records. No comparison.
BiggdawgK
August 23rd, 2011
4:10 pm
@Bluenorange51
What a polite and well spoken temporary rival you are. It is a pleasant change of pace to hear from a fan wearing orange that is not a complete doosh bag. It is almost a pity that my beloved Dawgs have to crush your BCS championship dreams by defeating BSU but best of luck on the Broncos running the board on a 1 loss season.
TampaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
4:11 pm
LOL Altamaha .. we quote that movie every week it seems like. That was my reason for wanting to join the Army. A decade later, I wanted to sue Bill Murray for false advertising .. jk.
“It’s like Wisconsin, you zip in, you zip out!”
BYRDDAWG
August 23rd, 2011
4:24 pm
He’s a GREAT kid!
Bluenorange51
August 23rd, 2011
4:26 pm
Tampadog – I don’t question the proposition that the sec is the best conference. I know that BSU has played, and never beaten an sec team. In fact, the games have not been close. For those of you that remember the 2005 game, look at the yards per carry (not including sacks). ?
BSU was able to run the ball. In hindsight – they should have run more! BSU has knocked on the SEC door and have been impolitely shown the door. I think this is the year.
TampaDawg
August 23rd, 2011
4:58 pm
We shall see Bluenorange, we shall see. I don’t think so honestly. Again, all the pressure is on BSU to prove they belong in the big time. UGA is already in a big time conference and most still feel they are rebuilding rather than ready to compete. It will be a great test for both.
Clive Bigsby
August 23rd, 2011
6:51 pm
I know past performance doesn’t guarantee future success, but:
In the last 10 years Boise State has played four games against SEC opponents…
2005 (10-3) Georgia 48-13 (9-4) Boise St.
2002 (9-4) Arkansas 41-14 (12-1) Boise St.
2001 (9-3) South Carolina 32-13 (8-4) Boise St.
2000 (6-6) Arkansas 38-31 (10-2) Boise St.
You have to line up and play with the players you have this year, and I know 4 games in a decade isn’t a huge sampling, but, through 10 years you figure coaching staffs come and go (they have), players come and go (they have) and offensive schemes change (not much, but definitely tailored to Moore’s style). YET, with all those changes and 9 years to perfect the schemes against the fast defenses of the SEC, you would think Boise would have gotten a win or two. When you lose all 4, with the closest margin of defeat being a touchdown, with various teams, schemes, and coaches….that to me says there’s a pretty big discrepancy between the level of players, and play in general, between ANY SEC team and Boise. I’m no Carnac the Magnificent, so I won’t predict a win…but I like the dawgs chances.
RedandBlackDAWG
August 23rd, 2011
6:56 pm
I think, with all the hype surrounding Jenkins coming to UGA, Geathers was kind of over looked and he took offense to that idea. Geathers has worked his butt off preparing to play this year, and he is probably easily the equal to Jenkins now. That is a good thing and can be awesome, if they can both be worked into some plays together. Both are going to be very good this year and having them both also means, neither one has to go every defensive play and can therefore get a little rest. The NG position is probably one of the toughest postions to play as you can almost always count on double teams and it takes it’s toll on you physically. I think UGA is blessed to have two of the better ones around on the team.
GO DAWGS and GATA
RedandBlackDAWG
August 23rd, 2011
7:10 pm
I read somewhere yesterday, that the man protecting the Boise QB’s blind side has never started before. I think it also said that the center is coming off a season ending leg inujury and is 5′11, and 288 pounds. I sure hope Boise has the back ups in case these two get pushed around a bit. I guess UGA is not the only team with a few concerns on the O line. Boise is giving away a fair amount of beef to UGA on thier offensive line, compared to UGA’s defensive line. Speed and strength are going to turn out to be a big advantage for UGA I believe.
Dome to Done.
August 23rd, 2011
7:20 pm
Richt was generally unhappy with his team’s ability to “fight through” a three-hour, full-contact practice.
Does this mean there is now a picture of Coach Richt with fangs on the bulletin board?
Bluenorange51
August 23rd, 2011
7:24 pm
Clive – The first ten years of D-1 football was a growing experience (they joined D-1 in 1996). BSU had much success and a few butt whippings – as you correctly point out -several by the sec. The last team to really whoop them was UGA. Since 2006 they have been on par with the best teams from each conference – but have not had another chance at the sec. Kudos to UGA for scheduling the game. We will see how far BSU has come, since they started playing D-1 in 1996, since they last played UGA, and since they beat Utah in last years bowl game.