Georgia’s young receivers impress with toughness, skill
Georgia redshirt freshman Michael Bennett reaches across the goal line to record his first career TD as fellow freshman Malcolm Mitchell trails on the play. (UGA photo)
ATHENS — After Isaiah Crowell scored on a 15-yard run to give Georgia a 35-31 lead over South Carolina this past Saturday, everybody ran up to congratulate Crowell as soon he came to the Bulldogs’ sideline.
Everybody, that is, but Mark Richt. The Bulldogs’ head coach made a bee line for Michael Bennett and engulfed the big wide receiver in a bear hug.
“I was happy for the run Isaiah made, too,” Richt explained this week. “But I grabbed that kid [Bennett] and gave him a big hug because that was a heck of a play he made.”
The play to which Richt refers was Bennett’s catch on third and one at the South Carolina 28. Bennett’s number was called on a slant pattern and he pulled off an amazing shoe-top grab off a deflection for a four-yard gain and a Georgia first down. Two plays later Crowell notched the go-ahead score around right end.
“After watching it on film I thought that was one of the best catches I’ve ever seen,” Richt said. “Especially considering how important it was at that moment. It’s third down and if we don’t make it we might be deciding to kick a field goal. He makes it, then we go score.”
“It was an unbelievable catch,” quarterback Aaron Murray echoed. “It hit one guy’s helmet and I thought, ‘oh, no, it’s an incompletion.’ I didn’t even think he caught it at first. I thought it hit the ground. It was unbelievable the way he adjusted to the ball. Pretty nice.”
As surely no one has forgotten, Georgia ended up losing the game anyway. But it wasn’t because of the wide receivers, a unit that entered the season as one of the Bulldogs’ question marks. It was a group about which many were still unsure after the season-opening loss to Boise State where some critical drops contributed to the outcome.
But all along, Georgia coaches and players maintained that the infusion of young talent at the wideout position was significant. Fans are now getting a glimpse heading into the season’s third week.
Bennett, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound redshirt freshman from Alpharetta, had two other catches this past Saturday, including a 19-yard scoring grab in which he dodged one defender and broke another tackle. True freshman Malcolm Mitchell leads the team with eight catches for 116 yards and had a 51-yard score in the opener.
In all, five different receivers have caught passes and four have recorded touchdowns.
“I’ve been very impressed,” Richt said. “There is a toughness about them that I really like. Sometimes it takes time to get a guy tough enough to play the game the way it should be played and get after it they way he should get after it. I really think these guys showed up with some physical and mental toughness that I really like.”
Georgia was in dire need of some moxie at receiver. After losing A.J. Green and Kris Durham to the NFL, the Bulldogs had no proven play-makers beyond Tavarres King, who had 27 catches for 504 yards.
But King said he knew this summer what Georgia had in these young wideouts.
“I called it,” King said this week. “I said guys like Malcolm Mitchell and Michael Bennett were going to step up and be huge contributors for us. They have been, thus far.”
Actually, the Bulldogs realized they had an exceptional receiver in Bennett last fall when he redshirted. Richt said Bennett was good enough to play last season. But with Green and Durham in the fold and already established, it seemed prudent to redshirt Bennett.
I’ve been excited about him since last season when he was out there making plays as a scout teamer,” Murray said. “He has all the abilities and he’s a big strong kid who works hard.”
Bennett played his way into the six-player rotation at wideout in preseason camp. He did not have a catch in the season opener, so he was especially anxious to contribute against the Gamecocks.
“I think [redshirting] helped me a lot,” said Bennett, who had had 1,084 yards offense as a senior at Alpharetta High. “I knew I was going to play this year. So whenever you go out there on that field you know you’re going to have to make plays. That’s the only way to get playing time.”
Bennett said he was taken aback when he was embraced by Richt on the sidelines.
“That was a real cool moment,” he said. “I can’t even remember what he said I was so zoned out. But I just remember saying I love you and he said I love you, too. It was a cool moment to impress him like that.”
King says you can expect more such moments from the young guys.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I think the nervousness and all is out of there. The jitters are out. They know what it’s like to play between the hedges in front of a huge crowd in an extremely intense game. I think all of that is out of there and they’re ready to roll now.”
MORE COVERAGE:
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
94 comments Add your comment
hotdawg
September 14th, 2011
11:12 pm
Harton was the rb everybody raved about…excuse me…..go dawgs….
truedawg
September 14th, 2011
11:21 pm
Yes! receivers are looking good! Yes UGA has a running game now! Yes the D is better. Yes the Oline looked better against SC! UGA will win out and will be in stride come November/ December, I see a sea of Bulldawg red at the Dome again. Say I’m drinking Koolaide all ya’ll want, but I’m seeing a lot of improvement and baring injuries, Dawgs could rise up in polls like lighting. I just hope CMR knows he must run the score up a lil on Saturday.
Ya’ll can say Richt’s seat is hot, but give it 5 weeks and the whole team will be hot!!
feel free to quote me on that..GATA GO DAWGS!!!!
dnunder jacket
September 14th, 2011
11:29 pm
is it any wonder the Dawgs have lost their edge? what player tells his coach “I love you”.
TampaDawg
September 14th, 2011
11:31 pm
PigIron, Bama coaches in the past have survived some horrific seasons before. .. See Mike Shula for a great example (first two seasons)
bugsquacher
September 14th, 2011
11:55 pm
WHY GEORGIA SHOULD BE CONSIDERING A COACHING CHANGE.
1-Georgia is a combined 0-5 against Top 25 teams in 2010 and 2011
2- GEORGIA has lost 10 of its last 12 against ranked teams. (2-10 record)
2- GEORGIA is now 14-14 in his last 28 games
3-GEORGIA is 6-10 in the past 16 SEC games.
4- REMAINING SCHEDULE. Games they will probably lose: 1- Miss St. 2- Tenn 3-Florida 4-Auburn. Games we should win (if we don’t have an off week): 1- Costal Carolina, 2-Miss, 3- Kentucky, 4- New Mexico, 5-Tech, 6-Vandy.
LOOKS LIKE A 50/50 CHANCE OF ANOTHER LOSING SEASON.
5- Its been 30 yrs since our last national championship…. Can Richt get us there? Are we trending in the right direction?
THE ABOVE SAYS……. NO!
Matt in Atlanta
September 14th, 2011
11:57 pm
Let’s don’t make this a self-fulfilling prophecy by getting down on these boys. Besides, it’s just a game, for gosh sakes.
Troup Co. Dawg
September 15th, 2011
12:38 am
I’m jumpin’ on the Gravy Train, Young talent will make young mistakes! I do believe that this “Dream Team” will be stomping some @ss next year and beyond. Just wait…we got some impressive o-line coming in next year. Dawgs need to continue to Hunker down and continue to Recruit the great state of GA…cause we still Run this state !!!
Tater Tot
September 15th, 2011
4:05 am
I’m with Troup Co. Dawg. Ya’ll sit back and watch some fun fixing to begin. They are gonna be great. It’s like building the engine on a car. Once you get it all put together then you got to set the timing on it in order for it to run like it should, I am proud of the Georgia Bulldogs and will be till the day i die. GO DAWGS !!
59bulldawg
September 15th, 2011
5:12 am
Dr. Luke … Funny stuff … LOL! Please post again. Your comments made my morning!
TampaGator
September 15th, 2011
6:20 am
Dr. Luke……
Next time you visit The Swamp, get out of the UAB section and your “mullets and jorts” nightmare will become a thing of the past for you. I have been going to THE SWAMP for over 40 years now and I must say…..I have never seen blue jean shorts on anyone….or a mullet for that matter. But I have never visisted the UAB section, as you have.
Paddy
September 15th, 2011
6:56 am
Dean Tate……AJ Green a prima donna? Believe you are alone in that observation. He was a great Dawg in all of the best traditions. We fans are very proud of him as a person and a player.
Texas Dawg
September 15th, 2011
8:15 am
Watched the game again yesterday (tapped0 AND SEVERAL THINGS were very evident and if the coaches don’t make changes in these areas they are just lousy!
1. Samuel is not a D1 running back. He needs to be moved back to LB NOW!
2. Start Bennet and Mitchell NOW
3. Crowell get the rock 30 times a game supplemented by Boykin when needed
3. Washington is the weakest point on defense…the worst….watch the tape…..put Drew in now!
4. Where are our tight ends????
5. If Richt doesn’t win them all from here he needs to go!!!! We deserve to win and please doesn’t accept any more excuses UGA fans! I’m done with the nice gut crap….
JoeFann
September 15th, 2011
8:30 am
Thanks for the writeup, Chip! I told my son at the game Saturday that Bennett reminded me of Brian Finneran–great hands, size, concentration and toughness. He and Mitchell will be a great team for at least a couple more years. Before the season ends, Mitchell will be drawing the double coverage and TK will cut loose. Wooten and the TEs make receiving probably the strongest area of the team.
Go Dawgs!
Pubert149
September 15th, 2011
8:46 am
Dr. Luke, no one cares for your opinion. Instead of taking over like your thoughts matter to us, why don’t you just start your own blog?
atlvol55
September 15th, 2011
8:46 am
I hate to rain on the Dawgs but MOST of the teams in the SEC are really young.
TN: Bray, Hunter, Da’rick, plus three starting offensive lineman, all true sophomores. 2 true freshman lb’s and cb’s.
FL: Very young outside of Rainey; particularly on defense.
Auburn: Really young this year; lost a ton of player’s from last year.
Alabama: See above.
UGA acts like no one else in the SEC recruits. If I’m not mistaken, Auburn’s and Alabama’s classes were ranked ahead of the Dream Team. The sophomore class for Florida was considered one of the best recruiting classes ever.
Listen I’m not trying to throw “Hateraid” on Georiga, but quite simply many teams in the SEC are young too. Just becuase Richt made us this whole Dream Team thing doesn’t mean other teams are just as talent, if not, more talented the Georgia in the coming years.
Go Vols
Run the Ball!
September 15th, 2011
8:50 am
In order for Georgia to win it must adopt a “run first” mindset. As someone mentioned on paper the offensive production looks above average (points, YPG) but in reality there is no game management. It seems our defense spends an inordinate amount of time on the field versus the offense and that’s an issue. A fatigued defense is a vulnerable defense as the great Vince Lombardi said: “fatigue makes cowards of us all.”
Traditionally, CMR favored small, “scat back” types for his running backs. He got away with that in the ACC because well… it’s the ACC, not the SEC. Tommy Tuberville called him out after UGA lost to Auburn in Richt’s first season and said “you have to be able to run to win in the SEC.” Richt paid it no mind until his second season when he still had Musa Smith in the lineup. He ran the ball much, much more with Musa and surprise; surprise the team went 13-1. That team was one TD away from playing for the NC. Flash forward to BoBo becoming the new OC and play caller. BoBo should have remembered from his playing days that running is the way to win in the SEC; after all, he had Robert Edwards and Olandis Gary to hand off to. With the exception of Knowshon Moreno and possibly Isaiah Crowell the dawgs have still favored small, so-called scat backs al la Carlton Thomas. Kregg Lumpkin never lived up to the hype, Danny Ware had durability issues and Tyson Browning was undersized too.
You want to win 11 plus games a year consistently at UGA? Then recruit durable running backs that are at least 5’11” 215 lbs who want to pound it out. The preferred would be a back who is 6”1” and 225 with at least 4.6 speed. Doesn’t matter if they’re 5 stars or 2 stars all they need is durability and heart. Likewise, Fullback is a position where we’ve slacked off at hence TE Figgins moving there this year. Zander Ogletree has heart but is too undersized to play FB in the SEC. An ideal Fullback would be in the 6’2” 250 lb neighborhood with at least 4.7 speed. Next ingredient is a powerful OL that can drive block. We have not recruited well in at least 3 years in the area of OL. CMR seems to feel OL is a necessary evil and recruits the minimum number and now look at our depth issue at OL. An adequate supply of OL would eliminate all of this cross training, an allow a guy to learn one position thoroughly, where he knows what to do all the time.
CMR, if he survives this season, must rethink his offensive philosophy an adopt a “run first” mentality or he will not survive much longer here. OL, RB and FB should be priority right now in recruiting. This next recruiting class needs at a minimum: 4 OL, 1 FB and 2 RBs included; no scat backs and no undersized linemen need apply.
“Run first” will equal “win more” in future.
UGA FALCONS
September 15th, 2011
8:58 am
After Isaiah Crowell scored on a 15-yard run to give Georgia a 35-31 lead over South Carolina this past Saturday, everybody ran up to congratulate Crowell as soon he came to the Bulldogs’ sideline.
Everybody, that is, but Mark Richt. The Bulldogs’ head coach made a bee line for Michael Bennett and engulfed the big wide receiver in a bear hug.
“I was happy for the run Isaiah made, too,” Richt explained this week. “But I grabbed that kid [Bennett] and gave him a big hug because that was a heck of a play he made”.
CHIP,
NO DISRESPECT BRO, BUT I THOUGHT THAT THIS INFORMATION WAS UNDESERVING. RICHT IS A PLAYERS COACH.
PigIron
September 15th, 2011
9:01 am
TampaDawg
September 14th, 2011
11:31 pm
PigIron, Bama coaches in the past have survived some horrific seasons before. .. See Mike Shula for a great example (first two seasons)
Mike Shula was called upon to rescue his Alma Mater from a desperate situation. Alabama had already learned (the hard way) that they shouldn’t limit themselves to “Alabama Men” when choosing a Head Coach. Mike Price might have done well at the Capstone, but he didn’t understand Bible Belt culture, nor the fishbowl of public scrutiny that his position as the Crimson Tide Head Coach placed him in.
Shula came on-board in the Summer of 2003 with little time to put together a staff, much less tend to recruiting duties. He inherited a troubled program with low morale and reduced scholarships. Still, he managed to put together a team in 2005 that rivaled any that Mark Richt has ever produced in Athens. Were it not for 2 critical broken legs (Prothro and Closner) he might well have won a National Championship that year. Bama finished 10-2 and ranked in the Top 10.
And yet, Mike Shula (like Bill Curry before him) couldn’t win against Auburn. And so, when it became clear that he was not getting the job done, he was let go. He was a really nice guy and Bama fans loved him for what he had done both when he played at Alabama and when he rescued the football program from the catastrophe left in the wake of Mike Price.
Mark Richt has never endured the hardship that Mike Shula encountered at Alabama, and yet, here he sits… fat and happy. he has never played for a NC. He has never produced an undefeated season. He can’t (for the most part) beat Georgia’s primary rival in Florida. From the outside looking in, it appears that Georgia is just not really serious about competing in football at a championship level.
Nothing wrong with that. Happens every day.
1eyedJack
September 15th, 2011
9:02 am
Can anybody give me a link to an online broadcast for Saturdays game?
PigIron
September 15th, 2011
9:06 am
@Pubert149
Speak for yourself. I enjoyed the Doc’s post. Wish there were more fans who could express themselves so well. AJC has the best football blogs, not because of their authors, but because of the participation of the ordinary football fans. You can read professional writers’ work anywhere.
Joey
September 15th, 2011
9:13 am
Naming our freshman class “Dream Team” was a bit silly to me, but those guys are proving how talented they are.
To come in and produce, as many of them have already, especially on the big stage of two high profile games, is pretty amazing.
Somebody’s gonna have some nice talent to work with for the next 2 or 3 years. We’ll know who in the next 2 months . . .
Joey
September 15th, 2011
9:29 am
dnunder jacket, you’ve got a point. Kinda like, what coach tells his players after a loss to his hated in-state rival, “we’ve got bigger fish to fry.”
Buford Blue
September 15th, 2011
9:32 am
Currin’s story sounds like the Georgia lineman who was roughed up in class by the 110 pound English teacher over the cell phone cheating incident a few years ago. I think that the player in question suffered post traumatic stress when his professor wrestled his cell phone away. She may well have lost her job for her over-the-top behavior.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
September 15th, 2011
9:56 am
So how many schools try to recruit any of UGA coaches…just sayin….
Hope is in the air
September 15th, 2011
10:04 am
@Evansdawg: “I’m certain that something special is about to take place in UGA football. Something all Dawg fans will celebrate.”
Richt’s going to be fired?
Stephane
September 15th, 2011
10:09 am
I really enjoyed Dr. Luke’s post. The AJC should invite him to do occasional guest columns during the football season.
My prediction: UGA finishes 7-5, and Richt is fired/resigns.
just a fan
September 15th, 2011
10:14 am
@TampaGator
Never been to the swamp but been plenty of times to the WLOCP and seen many a gator wearing jean shorts aka jorts
GT Joe
September 15th, 2011
10:21 am
Coastal Carolina 35-7. Bennett scores the lone TD for UGA, and Richt gives him a hug on the sideline, whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
Teraza
September 15th, 2011
10:40 am
Any news from the ButtsSmear building about Richt? I can’t believe that McGarity hasn’t fired Richt yet. He should get rid of the loser now, so the dawgs can move on.
Piney Woods Pete in Sanibel
September 15th, 2011
10:45 am
35-21
45-42
I love it, love it, love it, and it’s just going to get worse!
35-21
45-42
Rennie Curran
September 15th, 2011
10:47 am
I didn’t do it.
Hey, Captain – You sound like a really smooth fellow. Can I come over when I get out ?
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
September 15th, 2011
10:50 am
UGA dream team….pitiful when you need a gimic but hey that is the UGA way. Best football program in America from March until August.
girldawg
September 15th, 2011
10:51 am
Mitchell will prove to be better than AJ but he has to be thrown the ball in all 4 quarters not just the 4th… same for Michael Bennett and use your TE’s more… Murray needs to play and think like David Greene not Stafford. We have talent they are just using them. I am afraid CMR is still pinning away for AJ Green. I am actually nervous about playing Coastal Carolina. …
Jimmy Crack
September 15th, 2011
11:34 am
Hey Chip, don’t you think it would have been wise for UGA to pick up the bill for the Coastal Carolina game so fans could at least get a look at a “W” after two bad “L”s?
I would almost pay to see it, but that money just won’t jump out of my wallet after those two losses.
Dirty Dawg
September 15th, 2011
11:39 am
More than anything I want this team to ‘win out’ if for no other reason than to be able to rub the ’slydogs’, the ‘Dr. Lukes’, along with plenty of others’, noses in the biggest pile of ’she-ite’ we can muster. Any true Georgia fan appreciates the fact that faithful support – maybe even blind faith, after all what would the Churches do without it? – of your guys does wonders for their attitude and effort…plus it can help convince recruits that this is a place that cares about it’s players and program and ‘has their backs’, particularly when the ‘going gets tough’.
I don’t know what your purpose – sly, et. al. – is here but it ain’t helpin’ anything but the people we have to play. If things don’t work out McGarity will deal with it, regardless of what the likes of you and your like-minded friends have to say…so just STFU!
Spaceman Spiff
September 15th, 2011
11:44 am
Sanibel & Ft. Meyers…the crack towns of FL…hows that Tech record for ya?
Easily Amused
September 15th, 2011
11:49 am
@Dirty Dawg
Too bad the fans can’t play the games. Faith is a wonderful thing where religion is concerned. Is UGA’s AD supposed to be running a church, or a football program?
Stinger
September 15th, 2011
11:55 am
Could UGA start off 0-3 ??????? Just saying !
Chip Towers
September 15th, 2011
12:02 pm
Jimmy Crack: Yeah, that $34.95 price tag is certainly enough to give a lot of fans pause about it. Hearing it’s $400 for businesses to carry it. Don’t be surprised to get charged a cover from your local pub if they’re carrying it.
Easily Amused
September 15th, 2011
12:07 pm
@Stinger
They could go 0-4 and some folks would still be arguing for keeping CMR.
danny
September 16th, 2011
9:00 am
for all those saying 8-2 or 9-1 the rest of the way…..are you crazy?!?!?! Have you watched the same team i have watched this season? I have absolutely no confidence in Mark Richt and his coaching staff to pull off anything close to that kind of record. And no one else should either. I dont see anyway we beat UT, UF, AU, or Miss ST.In fact, i think we lose to all of them
bugsquacher
September 16th, 2011
9:41 am
SEVEN REASONS WHY GEORGIA SHOULD BE CONSIDERING A COACHING CHANGE.
1-GEORGIA is a combined 0-5 against Top 25 teams in 2010 and 2011
2- GEORGIA has lost 10 of its last 12 against ranked teams. (2-10 record)
3- GEORGIA is now 14-14 in his last 28 games
4-GEORGIA is 6-10 in the past 16 SEC games.
5- GEORGIA is 2-5 in their last 7 games going back to last season
6- REMAINING SCHEDULE. Games they will probably lose: 1- Miss St. 2- Tenn 3-Florida 4-Auburn. Games we should win (if we don’t have an off week): 1- Costal Carolina, 2-Miss, 3- Kentucky, 4- New Mexico, 5-Tech, 6-Vandy.
LOOKS LIKE A 50/50 CHANCE OF ANOTHER LOSING SEASON.
7- It’s been 30 yrs since our last national championship…. Can Richt get us there? Are we trending in the right direction?
THE ABOVE SAYS……. NO!
bobby
September 17th, 2011
8:33 pm
Uga will be fine don’t fear miss state at all i think they can beat them it looks like the best team they play rest of the year is florida. And SLYDOG i see that you said that uga will lose to auburn and miss state. First of all have you seen auburn’s defense this year, it really really stinks to me uga has a real chance to beat them at home this year heck auburn could’nt stop utah state SLYDOG and had no business winning that game and miss state i’m sorry SLYDOG they ain’t as good as they were last year, and tennessee they to beating them i watched them today against florida is getting pressure on tyler bray, stopping poole because to me he is the key to their offense, and moving the ball and scoring touchdowns against their defense. Uga has a true chance against tennessee, miss state, and auburn. The team to fear if florida Charlie weiss has made a difference with that team.
Charlie Weiss
September 19th, 2011
2:23 am
Too many chiefs not enougth indians.You guys pass me a beer.