Practice update: The latest on Samuel, Smith, Rambo and Boykin
ATHENS — Georgia held its final full-pads practice of the preseason Monday, with two key players still limited by injuries.
Tailback Richard Samuel sat out half of the practice to protect a quadriceps injury, and cornerback/punt returner Branden Smith did only some jogging and rehabbing because of a foot injury.
Both, however, said they expect to play in Saturday night’s season opener against Boise State in the Georgia Dome.
“I’ll be ready by Saturday, no doubt about it,” Smith said. “It’s not a major injury. Just trying to be on the safe side.”
Smith has not practiced since injuring the foot on Thursday but vowed that it won’t slow him against Boise.
“I’m still at a 4.3,” he said, referring to his 40-yard dash time. “I still have my speed.”
Samuel, meanwhile, said he has “no doubt” he’ll play Saturday despite the quadriceps injury that has bothered him for 2 1/2 weeks.
“I went half of the practice [Monday], so it was not too much of a setback,” he said. “It felt fine. Just didn’t want to push it too far too fast.”
Coach Mark Richt said Samuel is “not 100 percent yet, but he’s getting there.” If healthy, Samuel is expected to share carries with freshman Isaiah Crowell against Boise. As of Monday night, Richt said Samuel remains the Bulldogs’ No. 1 tailback.
“He has been the projected starter,” Richt said of Samuel. “Today he is still our projected starter.”
Rambo’s status
Richt declined to say whether safety Bacarri Rambo, who started all 13 games last season but is not currently listed as a first-teamer, has been suspended from Saturday’s game.
“No, I’m not going to address that,” Richt said Monday night. “At the appropriate time, if anybody has anything like that, I’ll let you know, though.”
Asked when the appropriate time would be, Richt replied: “I don’t know. I’ve got to figure that out. Still working on that.”
Richt said on Saturday that Sanders Commings and Shawn Williams are currently the No. 1 safeties.
Boykin’s challenge
Georgia cornerback/kickoff returner Brandon Boykin issued a challenge to Boise State via Twitter over the weekend.
“Dear Coach Petersen,” Boykin tweeted, referring to Boise coach Chris Petersen, “I DARE you to kick to me. Sincerely, Me and my Dawgs.”
Boykin was hardly backing down from his tweet Monday.
“It did exactly what I wanted it to do. It created a buzz and got the fans excited,” Boykin said. “I didn’t say anything disrespectful, I don’t feel like. So if they didn’t like it, I mean, whatever.
“Me and my teammates and the coaches are excited and feel like we’ve got to come out and be confident and have that swagger in order for us to be successful against a team like Boise.”
He acknowledged the tweet generated a mixed buzz from fans.
“I knew some of our fans would be like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s great.’ And some of them would be, ‘What are you doing? You’re going to give them an advantage,’” Boykin said. “I mean, that’s their job to come and tackle me. Maybe it did give them an extra incentive, but we’ve still got to do what we’ve got to do, regardless.”
Boykin said he informed Richt of the tweet shortly after posting it.
“He said, ‘OK, now you’ve got to back it up,’” Boykin said.
Etc.
Nose guard John Jenkins, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury, and wide receiver Marlon Brown, who had been out with an ankle sprain, practiced Monday. . . . . “I felt pretty good, actually,” Brown said. He had missed the past several practices but said there’s “no doubt at all” he’ll play Saturday. . . . Also back at practice Monday: fullback Bruce Figgins, who had been sidelined with an injured hamstring. . . . Boise State’s team will arrive in Atlanta late Thursday and plans a walk-through practice in the Georgia Dome on Friday.
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260 comments Add your comment
FaithfulDawg86
August 30th, 2011
3:05 pm
To “Do They Teach English at UGA?” I don’t see anywhere on that profile where it lists his major, so I don’t where you’re getting that, but if you heard it somewhere, I’d venture to say that his major is Mass Communications Print Journalism (hence his goal to write/work for “magazines”). As an English professor, I have no problem with his grammar – it was appropriate for his audience and purpose…. and I’d venture to say your grammar wouldn’t be any better if you were answering questions on the fly. This blog is about football, so get on the bus, or get the heck out of the way. I like Boykin’s confidence, and I like Richt’s response. Quit looking for trouble, everyone.
Im Standing
August 30th, 2011
4:24 pm
CHDawg
August 30th, 2011
8:34 am
Suwanee,
We have had lots of swagger the last few years. I remember when Reshad Jones was taunting the GT sideline during the game. I remember when Cox led the Dawgs in a demonstration against Florida, with the whole team jumping up and down in front of the whole world. Of course, Jones missed a tackle a few minutes later and we lost to Tech, and the Dawgs fell to pieces against Tebow and company just after the swagger demo, and we got blown out. We need competence, not talk. Confidence, not swagger. Discipline, not taunting–on the field or off. Call me a relic if you like, but taunting is what losers do, not winners. Boykin is above this. He is a leader. What if everybody on the team starts taunting opposing coaches? ‘Nuff said?
Are you that dumb kid??? We beat florida after the celebration. it was the next year we lost. Get it right before u bash something moron.
Im Standing
August 30th, 2011
4:35 pm
And to those crying like babies over the tweet. GET OVER IT. The real UGA fans are pumped from it and ready to go for Saturday night.
Those of you saying Richt doesnt have control over the team, are u that dumb??? Does Richt have some magic computer that constantly monitors these kids twitters and facebooks??? Get a clue people.
Those of you complainiing that this gives BSU some kind of edge or gets them fired up you have to be kidding me?? They most likely dont even care, and if they are dumb enough to kick to him, they wont have some magic defense against his speed and cutting ability.
Those of you saying its tasteless and crap talk doesnt belong, you had to have just had part of your brain removed or u dont go to the games and hear the real fans. Trash talking is part of the game, all games for that matter. If you cant handle it then put ur ear MUFFS on you wittle babies.
All in all to all the babies out there, we dont need you as fans. Go cheer for Tech, they cant possibly talk smack bc they are that bad. We might have went 6-7 last year, but i dont see the same team out on the field do you???
And yes everyone on that list were cancers to the team. Houston and Green were all about Me and I and how can I look better. They didnt care about the team. Gray was more worried about playing than how he could help the team. Now that the cancer is gone we can get this season started off right.
Get up bulldog nation its time to get ready to pound the smurfs.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Dawgs Sic Em
Tech Troll 13
August 30th, 2011
4:51 pm
I believe Boykin will have a LOT of chances to return kick-offs Saturday.
Big Dirty Dawg
August 30th, 2011
4:56 pm
I know one thing for sure….more of you trolls talk trash on here…compared to Boykins tweet. And one can hardly justify what he said as trash talking!! Its called getting into the Spirit of the Game. Apparently none of you trolls, or ultrconservative Dawg fans understand this point!! Just enjoy these lil side stories for what they are…and quit making it out to be something bigger than what it is. Its a friggin tweet…wasnt a text message he sent directly to Peterson or BSU. Get a gripe!! Hunker Down!!
AltamahaDawg
August 30th, 2011
5:26 pm
I guess the real test will be when UGA wins a close one, and Boykins has 127 total return yards….to see how many folks are going to say….”I’d give it all back and lose, to see him get benched to prove some vague hypothetical point that may or may not even apply here, but by God, I think I know what Bear would have done 40 yrs ago”. (and most likely wrong about that as well).
CHDawg
August 30th, 2011
7:15 pm
I’m standing, you need to check your facts before spouting that big mouth, son. There could be a moron in this conversation, but it isn’t me. Read the post again. *Cox led the celebration* should be the hint for you. I’m not talking about ‘07, obviously. I was at the game in ‘09 when it happened and I witnessed it. The whole team huddled on our sideline and began jumping up and down in a frenzy (after we started coming back); it was on a qtr break I think. They were trying to get fired up while demonstrating their swagger, instead of just doing it on the field. Shortly after this demonstration, the Gators blew us out. The Gators commented on what a great motivator the smack/swagger demo was for them. They said Georgia just doesn’t learn, do they. Apparently, we are looking at different concepts of what makes up winning character; you are for–in your face–smack talking, poor sportsmanship, and all that people of character hate about modern sports, and I am for being winners on the field and in character, too–being gentlemen, and then coming out and beating the other team soundly through superior play. Good sportsmanship is important to me. So is winning, but you can do both. We do agree on one thing, though: Go Dawgs!
CHDawg
August 30th, 2011
7:26 pm
Altamahah, and if he comes out and fumbles, or gives up a TD? Play isn’t the issue. The issue is about team behavior and discipline, and it is about correcting the mistake. I would have been extremely happy with, “Coach Richt said don’t do that anymore, and here is why, Brandon…” Instead of go back it up. Do you really want our whole team tweeting the opposing head coach? I’m surprised you guys think this is a good idea. I like Boykin. He is a great player and appears to be a fine young man. I don’t think this was a good idea.
AltamahaDawg
August 30th, 2011
9:27 pm
I dont recall anyone categorizing it as a good idea. Just to lighten up. It’s not a discipline issue. Not an issue at all. I trust if there is something to be done to keep the “whole team” from tweeting the other coaches, that will be taken care of, and I don’t expect him to handle his business via newspaper quotes. I think you can be sure that soundbite was not everything that was said internally about tweeting.
There is also a huge difference between “son, is that really the best idea” and calling for him to get benched.
I
FAYCODawg
August 31st, 2011
9:57 am
Goooooo Brandon, woofwoofwoofwoof, I see U got some Haters on here; I Love it!! but if all you’ve done is present “A Challenge” on Twitter and these people get this upset by your comments, OMG!! you’ve got Nothing to worry about son; these individuals obviously have Never played a competitive sport in their life; they are afraid of challenge, insecure and their idea of sport is being a passive-aggressive introvert on the couch! smh/I believe in you son; I believe in the whole team and coaching staff – Do you, play your game and keep on Believing; God has good things in store for you Dawgs
Gooooooooooooo Dawgs, woofwoof, sic’em………….yeaaaahhhhhhh