UGA linebacker Robinson out ‘at least’ two weeks, plus other updates
Another week, another injury to a key Georgia linebacker.
Christian Robinson will miss “at least a couple” of games with a foot injury sustained in Saturday’s loss to South Carolina, UGA coach Mark Richt said Sunday.
The injury, coming one week after Alec Ogletree suffered a broken foot in the season opener, leaves Georgia (0-2, 0-1 SEC) without both of its starting inside linebackers.
Compounding the problem, inside linebacker was probably the thinnest position area on Georgia’s defense and the one at which the team was least equipped to withstand injuries.
“We’ve definitely got a challenge at the linebacker position right now,” Richt said.
Ogletree, who underwent surgery last week, is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks. Richt did not have medical details on Robinson’s injury — he suggested it might involve a hairline fracture — but said it is not as severe as Ogletree’s.
The first names Richt mentioned as candidates to fill in for Robinson in the next two games — Saturday at home against Coastal Carolina and Sept. 24 at Ole Miss — are from the same trio that competed last week for Ogletree’s spot: junior Michael Gilliard, freshman Amarlo Herrera and senior walk-on Jeremy Sulek. Herrera started against South Carolina, but all three played.
Richt suggested that freshman Ramik Wilson or perhaps Chase Vasser might shift from outside linebacker to get some work at the depleted inside position. Moving Richard Samuel back from tailback to linebacker, or moving Jarvis Jones from outside linebacker to inside, are not wise options at this point, Richt said.
“You might weaken two spots if you take Jarvis away from what he’s doing and put him inside,” Richt said.
Robinson’s position is the on-field leader of Georgia’s defense, and “somebody is going to have to really get in there and be able to handle a lot of the communication issues,” Richt said.
Robinson, a junior, had a team-leading eight tackles Saturday before being injured late in the game. He was unable to play on the Bulldogs’ final defensive series. He was in the locker room afterward with a bag of ice on his left foot.
Among other topics Richt discussed Sunday:
- Although left guard Kenarious Gates is expected to play this week after missing the South Carolina game with an injured ankle, he “is going to have to compete to get back in the starting lineup,” Richt said. That’s because of a strong performance by Dallas Lee in his first collegiate start Saturday. Right guard Chris Burnette also played well against the Gamecocks after he “quite frankly didn’t play all that well in the first game,” Richt said.
- After reviewing film of Isaiah Crowell’s costly third-quarter fumble, which led to a South Carolina touchdown, Richt indicated the freshman tailback might have taken too much responsibility when he said after the game the botched handoff was entirely his fault. Quarterback Aaron Murray was “hobbling” from a hit on the preceding play and “didn’t bring the ball as deep as he normally would,” Richt said. “Isaiah should have been more patient, but certainly the timing in my opinion was different because of Murray hobbling back there instead of really sprinting.”
- Although tight end Orson Charles did not catch a pass Saturday, he “had his very best game as a blocker,” according to Richt. “Run blocking, pass protecting –- I don’t think I’ve seen him play with that kind of intensity.”
- Richt liked what he saw from the wide receivers. “You see Malcolm [Mitchell] coming on and Michael Bennett having a big day and making some plays. I think we have at least six guys who can make plays out there. I’m encouraged, definitely.”
– Tim Tucker, UGA blog
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392 comments Add your comment
BIGMIKE
September 12th, 2011
1:15 am
Let me remind some of you geniuses out there calling for Mark Richts head:
What we got 10 years ago after a couple of longwinded failed attempts at aquiring a worthy head coach is an untested offensive coordinator out of FLA ST that managed to win two SEC Champions and compete for a few more along with taking us to the brink of a National Championship.
Along the way he….by his own admission…. made some mistakes. Like the defensive coordinator change after losing Van Gorder, which was a biggie. There were other factors in his recent inefficiency like a less than adequate Athletic Director….the university saw fit to Fire Dooley….remember? And replaced him with a philandering drunk. And his wife’s battle with cancer…if you don’t think that will effect a man’s focus…you need to walk a mile in those shoes.
SO WHAT! So what those aren’t excuses…they are lessons and a man grows from them. He is a better football coach for it.
They lose by 14 points to the number 4 team (and I believe eventual #1) in the nation and 3 points to the number 11 team in the nation and you want to rid the University of it’s most successful coach in decades. BRILLIANT!
That’s why “FANS” don’t make decisions….Look what happen to Jacksonville when they dumped Coughlin….Moreover, look what Coughlin accomplished within a few years of being fired from Jacksonville (SUPER BOWL CHAMPION and perennial Contender)
Go ahead and get rid of CMR and be prepared for the mediocrity that follows. If winning the SEC was as easy as getting a new coach, then there would be 11 new coaches in the SEC every year. The fabulous Saban that everyone refers to when denigrating Richt is done for a while. What should Alabama do when they don’t win next year….Fire him
82nd Airborne
September 12th, 2011
1:22 am
CHDawg……you are a moron, please never again use my illustrious unit to compare to these bulldogs. The talent is great but never ever compare Richt or Bobo to some of our great generals and soldiers of the past. You are a moron,,,,,,,,,
signed 82nd Airborne Infantry Combat Veteran
Columbus
September 12th, 2011
1:34 am
Saban runs Bama’s D, not Smart. Smart does what Saban tells him is going to be done and he carries it out.
Georgia is about to turn the corner and be back to their winning ways of 10 games plus a season under Richt. Support the young guys, the prize recruits while they are getting their feet wet. Be great fans, not fans that put too much pressure on and tear the program down instead of supporting it and the young guys. UGA could have won Saturday and that is great to see. They were favored to lose. Heck over half of S.C.’s points were gifts from our offense and a fake punt when you include the fumble on the exchange that left them at about the 10. Add in the missed chip shot field goal and it was STILL a tie game. UGA could have DESTROYED THEM! Before this season is over they will be destroying some SEC opponents! Bank on that!
You know why they made so many mistakes? Trying SO HARD BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE PUT ON BY A BUNCH OF SORRY IMPATIENT FANS WHO NEVER WENT TO UGA!
Richt is not going anywhere if McGarrity has the wisdom and mental toughness that it appears he does. Nor does Richt need to go anywhere. The team is being rebuilt and WITH no returning running backs, significant injuries and players no longer on the team for whatever reason, to several positions and a bunch of new guys. UGA is going to be fine. How soon depends on how soon you fans start giving your support instead of impatience and hatred and plain criticism.
The players have already stated the pressure is getting to them and you are their fans?! Give them a break OK? The heat on Richt is stressing the players. They CAME to UGA to play for him and played one game against a top 5 team and then one against a top 12 team and you people are relentless and just plain wrong. You will see. All of you when UGA finishes this season STRONG and start out next year STRONG and instead of the underdog in the first 2 games, will be the FAVORITE IN THE FIRST 2 GAMES!
Go Dawgs! We believe in you coach!
The team is going in the right direction and improving and will be very good by the end of this season just like you said. You know much more than all of these beer drinking rednecks! Why do people listen to their rants?
Chill everybody. Everything is going to be OK Dawg Fans! In 2 weeks these young guys will have 2 wins under their belt. How good do you think Crowell, Mitchell, Jones, Jenkins, Lee, ETC are going to be by the end of the season? We havent even seen Drew yet. Man the future looks promising! You guys should be optimistic! These recruits would not even be here if not for Richt, not most of them especially the best ones. They will play hard for him and they are great players. Everything is on the right track….
Get on board!
bob
September 12th, 2011
1:43 am
Let me remind some of you geniuses out there calling for Mark Richts head:
============================================================
Let me remind you that we have gone from being picked to win a NC a few years ago, to now being pitied by bama fans, that is sad.
BIGMIKE
September 12th, 2011
1:59 am
BOBBY
Tennessee got rid of their highly successful coach because of a few down years due to rebuilding and just plain bad luck, ESPN Talking Heads and disgruntled fans like you, Bozo, and look where they are several years later. No closer to success than the day they fired Phillip Fulmer. Alabama isn’t going to be anywhere near UGA’s program by the end of this year and next year most of you Ghost Turds calling for Richts head will disappear. No one will ever recall being part of these shinanigans….except the players and future prospects. That’s okay though you keep pushin’ that broom.
bob
September 12th, 2011
2:11 am
BIGMIKE-You are insane, bama will be playing for a NC by the end of the year and if UGA even gets a bowl invite it will be a miracle, come talk this kind of nonsense in a few weeks when they are 2-4.
BIGMIKE
September 12th, 2011
2:23 am
bob
What are you……twelve? When you grow up you’ll understand how I know what I know,
Thomas Brown
September 12th, 2011
3:15 am
I have grown tired of this blaming of every loss on the players, with the glaring coaching issues this team continues to clearly demonstrate; and have grown weary of Mark Richt’s statements that he is telling us something for effect; when what he needs to do is to actually make some coaching decisions instead of cursing us and the media now too about his defense of the play-calling. There is no excuse for starting the game off once again with 3 drives to the goal line, to always all 3 end on some pass-happy offense poorly designed plays and poorly coached players that do not know yet in their 3rd year here fixing to be their 4th year here on campus in a few weeks now, that when a player cuts, you already have to have thrown the football near the goal line.
We are not a very well coached football team, have not been over the period of the last Six (6) Seasons now, and the last excuse we need to hear now after all this, is that the coach BLAMES THE PLAYERS while he tries to APPEAR as that which he never has
Troup Co. Dawg
September 12th, 2011
3:40 am
@ tide roll…go jump in a hole some where!
calm down
September 12th, 2011
6:15 am
Enter your comments here
calm down
September 12th, 2011
6:18 am
we keep playing like we did aganist south carolina we will win 8 or 9 out of our remaning 10 games. not saying that it’s good enough, but get behind this team and lets see what happens.we stiil have all year! keep getting better and go dawgs!
Paddy
September 12th, 2011
6:43 am
We seem to be thin at every position but TE. Like the Ole Falcon coach once said, “you can never have enough TE’s”.
Thomas Brown
September 12th, 2011
6:56 am
Win 8 or 9 of the remaining games ? Who are you allowing them to lose to, for Heaven’s sake ? We don’t play a top team the entire remaining of the schedule, and you know it.
from what?
September 12th, 2011
7:33 am
I’m a loyal fan, but why do we describe this as a “rebuilding” year? CMR has been at the helm for many years. Each year you lose some; you recruit some.
Anyway, it was an exciting game. (Wish we had played Boise State in Sanford Staudium.).
legionaire
September 12th, 2011
7:49 am
I have never seen 3 turnovers become TDs in one game in 60 years of watching UGA football. This was just like being hit by lightning. More troubling is the continued poor play calling. UGA had it 3rd and 1 in the red zone. Why not load up in the I hand the ball to Samuels or Crowell with Figgins leading the way? Bobo decides to throw and it was broken up. Then a botched field goal. When you get in the red zone 3 times and get 6 points, that is not good. Also why didn’t Grantham make sure someone stayed home on punts to prevent what happened?
Mike Bobo’s impending decision | Get The Picture
September 12th, 2011
7:53 am
[...] that anymore. For one thing, he’s getting the crap beat out of him and that may be causing unfortunate repercussions. … After reviewing film of Isaiah Crowell’s costly third-quarter fumble, which led to a [...]
JB
September 12th, 2011
8:20 am
I think Boykin is a good player, but he mailed it in on the fake punt TD. He had a clear shot to stop him about the 35 or so and not being blocked, he just kinda half heartly (sp) reached for him with no effort. That has been our DB’s mind set for a while. I think the guys really tried to win this game, but the coaching and discipline and depth , and maybe talent is just not there to beat a ranked team.
Joey
September 12th, 2011
8:22 am
Well, I’ve heard it all now. UGA’s football decline is because Dooley got fired.
Thanks for that enlightening theory, BIGMIKE (Katharyn Richt).
As for the SC game, I actually thought Bobo called the game of his career – Richt handicapped him a little in the 1st quarter with his lusting for the almighty FG. In the drives after the first three (2 FGs and 1 miss) Bobo began taking shots at the end zone when he got close to the red zone, which was refreshing to see.
The O as well as the D played good enough for us to have won by 3 TDs, but the turnovers for scores (and one runback to the 4), and the fake punt did the Dawgs in.
Is it not getting weird that Murray still has not won a big game? I love the kid, but is he just a finisher, or is he just our QB on a bad run?
At any rate, the team played hard, but I don’t know if McGarity and Co will be satisfied with moral victories this late in Richt’s career. I think he will have to do something really special to keep his job, and I don’t really think he has anyhing “special” left in his tank anymore.
Spokesman for the SEC East
September 12th, 2011
8:23 am
My brother said it best when he said, “Take away Hershel and Georgia is Kentucky in Football”.
That being said, we hope Richt gets a lifetime contract.
ga gator
September 12th, 2011
8:26 am
Team played hard and well enough to win but as Spurrier said, these games just happen sometime. I agree that Bobo called a great game. Being from Tampa I pull for Murray to do well except against UF, but I am beginning to wonder if he can take UGA to the next level. He plays like he is all SEC but just goes brain dead 1 or 2 key plays a game.
ga gator
September 12th, 2011
8:27 am
legionaire I agree with most of you comments except for the play calling. Bobo hung 42 on a good defense.
hope2013
September 12th, 2011
8:31 am
Until CMR let Ken Malcome play they will continue to loose every game.
Joey
September 12th, 2011
8:38 am
““Take away Hershel and Georgia is Kentucky in Football”.”
********************************************
So I don’t know if it is your brother or you who is the mental midget in your family, but I was unaware of Kentucky stellar records of:
12 SEC Titles (including 9 without Herschel) That’s right TWELVE!
And don’t forget 46 bowl games
Including 15 Major Bowls
And don’t forget to remind your idiot brother that UGA has still won more BCS Bowl games than the entire ACC.
roughrider
September 12th, 2011
8:39 am
A loss is still a loss, no matter how you spin it.Well coached teams do not turn the ball over 4 times.Also, it’s hard to win a game when you average giving up 40 points per game.
DawginLex
September 12th, 2011
8:45 am
We lost but I can find absolutely no fault with the coaches for this game
We scored 42 points
The defense played really well and only had one bad penalty all day
We made mistakes and like always, turnovers decide big games.
I hope against hope that Richt will get to finish out the year and be judged on the entire body of work.
Why can’t we pull a VT from 2010 and in the rest? We can. A lot of the haters will say no way.
I was proud of the effort the kids gave. If we had rolled over and played dead and lost by 30, I would say fire him today. We didn’t. We fought like crazy.
JG
September 12th, 2011
9:01 am
who was the d-back that avoided the tackle on the fake punt run?
Joey
September 12th, 2011
9:01 am
I believe there’s a 0% chance Richt gets canned before the season is over. We should be underdogs (slight) in only a couple of games left, so it’s possible for a special run. I hope so, but until I see Murray win a big game, one against a winning team, I’m gonna have my doubts.
JB was right that Boykin didn’t appear to want to hit the ball carrier on the fake punt. Otherwise, Boykin did have a great game, making plays all over the field – sacks, tackles behind the line and downfield, etc.
I have a peace about it
September 12th, 2011
9:05 am
Winning isn’t everything. I think I’ve proved that point — and my fans are here to back me up on it.
I’ll just be sticking to my “tweak” theory. Don’t want to throw out the baby with the bath…
robodawg
September 12th, 2011
9:08 am
Know who really let us down? Ealey and King. With some depth at TB, Samuel would be at ILB where he’s better suited and where we really need him right now.
I say put Samuel back on defense and take our chances with Crowell playing most of the game.
TampaDawg
September 12th, 2011
9:09 am
Spokesman for the SEC East — Ask your brother how many SEC Championships Kentucky has won the last 10 years. Guess he really didn’t say it best because it doesn’t make sense.
Restore UGA
September 12th, 2011
9:11 am
“Stop trying to recruit only blacks to play football”
I thought we were now “post racial”. In my entire 40plus year life, I have never seen as much racial tension from both whites and blacks as I have this last year. WTF is going on?
Joemac
September 12th, 2011
9:15 am
Paul Finebaum said last week that one person not talking about the situation with CMR was Steve Spurrier, and he was hoping that Richt would not lose his job. After the game Saturday and watching a woefully undercoached team, I see why Spurrier would want that. UGA was terribly coached for the second straight game. And, I would say that if Aaron Murray is the best QB the SEC has, then the conference is in big trouble at that position. For the second straight week, his weak QB play directly helped produce a loss. They need to give Mason a shot.
robodawg
September 12th, 2011
9:16 am
Playcalling was actually a strength in this one. Turnovers doomed us. Would’ve liked to have been prepared for the fake punt. We needed one more block from the OL. And we needed one more stop from the defense — I think we have depth issues there. But you can’t expect to win when you turn the ball over that many times.
Russdawg
September 12th, 2011
9:17 am
I don’t care who we play if we give them 21 or 28 on a silver platter the result will be the same.
Memo to the QB coach and Murray; When the D is coming at you like a jail break you fall on the ball, don’t keep stumbling in the wrong direction! If this Team beats Ole Miss there will be a celebration like they actually won a title or something. Sad
TampaDawg
September 12th, 2011
9:20 am
Dawginlex, I agree completely. I thought the play calling for the first time in recent memory was really good. Especially their attempts to get Crowell the ball in some space and not just run him up the middle. Even Samuel was running with a purpose and the line game both backs some holes to work with. The defense (the 4-yard run after the fumble recover aside), really only gave up 17 points with the rest coming off turnovers and a fake punt (this one is a little forgiving too since as mentioned on here earlier, Boykin, a member of the D, should have made a play). Murray will get it together, too much talent not to. He is a Soph. and I hope he gets mature in time for Richt to see this through.
As for a VT type run, it can certainly happen. I felt like if they won Saturday, a 2 loss season was more than realistic. As it stands, I still see only a 3 loss season being realistic. They hung 42 points on a team with very good front 7 and ran the ball well in the process.
TampaDawg
September 12th, 2011
9:25 am
Joemac, did you even watch the game? It was probably the best coaching job in two years. Turnovers are part of the game for one and Murray threw for four TDs. Without play calling that freed up Crowell and Murray’s passing, UGA isn’t even in this game from the beginning.
It’s just so cliche at this point to keep blaming coaches for an unranked team not being able to beat a top 25 team. But let’s face it, many on here didn’t even give the Dawgs a chance to be in the game to start the second half.
Eric
September 12th, 2011
9:31 am
It is sad to watch the trolls (bob, thomas brown, 82nd, and the list goes on…) from other schools try and bash our team. The fact is that yes we did have turnovers, but the team played great – and no one can fault the defense on this one…but wait, how the trolls’ school fared against SC or BSU? I don’t see Tech beating Georgia Southern, much less BSU or SC…
Support
September 12th, 2011
9:32 am
I think the Dawgs looked much better in game 2…the fans need to get behind them and do our part. No coaching changes are gonna take place in the middle of the season, pull for who we have. Go Dawgs!!!
gdawginkalamazoo
September 12th, 2011
9:33 am
I am proud of the way this team came out and played Saturday. SC has one of the best D’s in the conference and IC ran for 118 and we put up 42 points. But for a couple of bad plays by our QB we win.
I was worried as to how the team would respond to the loss last week. I think they play a damn good game. We didn’t have the benefit of playing a couple of soft teams to get tuned up for SEC play. That would have been nice. No we started against two top 11 teams and did okay in the first game and got a lot better for the second. Winning out is possible and I think this team can do that with what I saw Saturday. Hold your heads high and Go Dawgs!
Shelby Foot
September 12th, 2011
9:42 am
It’s not like UGA was going to win the East this year anyway.
Rebuilding Season: Part 30
TampaDawg
September 12th, 2011
9:42 am
Thank you Support for a sensible comment on here. Preach on and Go Dawgs!!
Restore UGA
September 12th, 2011
9:43 am
7576DAWG and JT, I want to support Murray. I like his toughness, but I think it is time to give Christian LeMay some snaps. If nothing else, it gives him a more fair opportunity to win out next spring.
Chase Vasser had a great spring game. Get him in there. Boo Malcom had a great spring game, too.
15 Games, 6 W's, 9 Losses ugggggggghhhhhhhh
September 12th, 2011
9:43 am
The loss of CR is hugh, the he and Commings are our only sure tacklers past the line of scrimmage. And those two fat nose tackles have produced only ONE tackle in two games——————-pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeze. The offense looked better, but Murray needs to learn to throw it away or just take a sack—–he is going to get kill trying to run out of trouble.
Designed running plays him are ok, at least he has some blockers helping him.
TampaDawg
September 12th, 2011
9:44 am
Shelby Foot, why not? They still could win the East. Athlon Sports has them winning the East with a 9-3 regular season record.
As for your Rebuilding Season part 30 thing, that doesn’t even make enough sense to comment on.
roughrider
September 12th, 2011
9:45 am
You don’t pat yourself on the back just because you stayed close in the gamne. We lost, have been losing and that is not UGA football. We have the talent to play with anyone in the country. You can’t say this is a well coached team when you turn the ball over 4 times. You can’t say this is a well coached team when the D is giving up 40 points a game.
Burma Shave
September 12th, 2011
9:45 am
Another stinko season
We must depict
It’s all to blame
On Mark Richt
BURMA SHAVE
Douglas Dawg
September 12th, 2011
9:47 am
The D did ok…. but when we needed them to make big stops they didn’t.
Restore UGA
September 12th, 2011
9:48 am
Support, I love a clean program. I want to win, but not at the expense of doing what is right. Mark Richt is clean. He is a little too stubborn in his personnel loyalties, but he runs an honest program and helps the young men graduate and to better their lives.
I hope he does what it takes to remain our coach and that next year, we win the National Championship.
Go Dawgs!
15 Games, 6 W's, 9 Losses ugggggggghhhhhhhh
September 12th, 2011
9:49 am
Restore UGA
September 12th, 2011
9:43 am
You are absolutely right, if no backup QB plays in the up coming blow of Coastal, it will be another example
of Richt not preparing the team properly. The dawgs are one big hit away from having a QB that has never taken a snap.
Restore UGA
September 12th, 2011
9:49 am
Do any of you know if Bobo or Richt made the play calls Saturday?