With Cornelius Washington suspended 2 games, is it now Ray Drew’s time?
With Cornelius Washington's suspension, 5-star freshman signee Ray Drew could be in position to step into the spotlight. (UGA photo)
Lots of things going on in the wake of Georgia’s 24-10 win over Mississippi State on Saturday. Of course, the big news was starting outside linebacker Cornelius Washington, who had served as defensive captain and starred in the game, getting arrested for DUI about 10 hours after the game was over.
As Tim Tucker reported, Washington is now going to be suspended “at least” for the upcoming road games against Tennessee and Vanderbilt. That’s obviously a major blow as Washington was playing his best ball and was emerging as perhaps the Bulldogs’ best pass rusher.
The question is, what happens now?
Fans have been calling all season to see more of five-star signee Ray Drew. One of the things that was holding back Drew, if you will, has been the stellar play of Washington. We’ll see very whether Washington’s suspension will automatically result in more playing time for Drew. You’d think it would, but defensive coordinator Todd Grantham coulld decide to shift some things around.
Here’s what coach Mark Richt had to say about Drew Sunday night:
“It’ll be an opportunity for him certainly. He’ll be part of the mix, as far as our discussions. Any time a guy goes out of the game, whether it’s by suspension or whatever it is, it always creates opportunities for guys. Will Ray be the sole beneficiary of that playing time or part beneficiary of it? I don’t know. That’s what we’ve got to decide. Some of it might be decided in practice as far as how their performance goes in practice.”
Drew will certainly get a hard look and likely will get more snaps. But chances are good that the starting nod will go to redshirt sophomore Chase Vasser. Vasser already has two starts under his belt and actually started the Ole Miss game ahead of Washington because of his superior ability to drop into pass coverage. Redshirt sophomore Reuben Faloughi will also get a hard look this week.
One thing that’s certain about playing the Vols on Saturday, Georgia will see a lot of passing. Sophomore quarterback Tyler Bray leads the SEC in passing at 332 yards per game and pass efficiency (176.1) with 14 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. Meanwhile, Tennessee has allowed just 7 sacks in four games, third least in the league.
Said Richt: “There’s no doubt, they are very good at what they do. Tyler is very accurate, as you can see. He’s got a quarterback rating that may be the best in the country. I know he’s the best in our league. So it’s definitely going to be a great challenge for us.”
Here’s a rewind of everything we’ve written since Saturday’s game:
- OLB Cornelius Washington suspended 2 games for DUI arrest
- Game story: Georgia gets defensive in 24-10 win over Mississippi State
- Bradley: Dogs dominate but don’t dazzle
- Freshman Malcolm Mitchell catching on as wide receiver
- Georgia’s defense motivated by pregame taunt
- Georgia-Mississippi State rewind
- Postgame notes: Murray says 3 picks no cause for alarm
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417 comments Add your comment
phil
October 3rd, 2011
2:58 pm
More embarassment not being adequately addressed by my alma mater….
Throw this bozo off of the team and do it now! He should never play another down!
But, he’ll be welcomed back with open arms only to do something else incredibly stupid.
You see, Richt, the thing about DUI is that risks OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES!
Get rid of him and do it now.
Spaceman Spiff
October 3rd, 2011
2:59 pm
Les W. Moore = RAMBLE ON = bugnutscratcher = techie… I don’t like to respond to troll questions because they are, in fact, trolling…but why do you think?
I love it when techies live vicariously through us
BipolarDawg
October 3rd, 2011
2:59 pm
Things happens for a reason especially to Ray Drew, did yall hear what he just said? Praise a lord…you
answered my pray…you let me play…thank you Jesus thats exactly what he said.
The General Feeling
October 3rd, 2011
3:00 pm
Mutts lose by three TDs this weekend. Dawgs have no pass defense going against the SEC’s top rated passing attack. Even ol’ Nash Nance gets into the game for Vols in mop-up.
AltamahaDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:02 pm
1:49 pm is among my sharpest times of the day, thanks. Even if Mason doesn’t have a disaster happen to him, what if he just fails to move the team. Let’s see, we were sitting on a lead, running it up the middle 3 times in a row……quite possible he doesn’t exactly light it up. So now what? Give it back to MSU a couple of times, maybe they score and guess what, he’s coming right back out and what was accomplished? That’s exactly what would have happened too.
RedandBlackDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:03 pm
Heck of a way to get onto the field but it will be nice to see him play, The Coastal Carolina game didn’t give him much chance to show his talents off.
Go DAWGS and GATA
Barney Fife
October 3rd, 2011
3:04 pm
Send Mr. Washington down here to Mayberry. We’ll lock him up in our maximum security cell and read him the “Here At The Rock” speech.
AltamahaDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:05 pm
Here’s to having a huge lead and Mason knowing what its like to play in front of a bunch of Orange Clad fans mumbling rocky top walking to the exits.
Spaceman Spiff
October 3rd, 2011
3:05 pm
@ Still – that is Hobbes to you
ARdawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:06 pm
Altamaha
Your talking would’s could’a should’a…L…. He could’a came out and sparked an offense that was already flat and scored a TD. Further opening up discussion on should he be playing more. Alas, but it’s a moot point as he didn’t get to try
AltamahaDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:08 pm
Have NO pass defense? really?
Mobile Dawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:08 pm
Well if you assumption came to pass I guess I could say, we haven’t exactly lit it up the second half with Murray, although I hold Bobo more accountable with his flow of the game. I think any game experience Mason gets can only help him if and when his time comes.
phil
October 3rd, 2011
3:08 pm
Fire Todd Grantham…
TampaDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:09 pm
The General Feeling
October 3rd, 2011
3:00 pm
Mutts lose by three TDs this weekend. Dawgs have no pass defense going against the SEC’s top rated passing attack. Even ol’ Nash Nance gets into the game for Vols in mop-up.
——————————
Yup, just like last year .. oh wait, it was 41-14 UGA last year.
TampaDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:10 pm
phil
October 3rd, 2011
3:08 pm
Fire Todd Grantham…
————————————–
Dumbest comment on here today
Anon
October 3rd, 2011
3:14 pm
Hey DawginLex, I know this is late to your post, but give Stafford a Tech receiver to throw to along with a defense and he may do really good at Detroit.
AltamahaDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:14 pm
Could have. And that would have been great, given the reality of the game at the time. We were running up the gut, and that what he would have been told to do as well. I suppose he could have sparked them to run off tackle into an 8 man front better. Always possible. I can all but guarantee the thing we were NOT going to do is open up the passing game with our back up QB in THAT game to see what might happen.
Mark
October 3rd, 2011
3:17 pm
TampaDawg – the dumbest comments are the drivel that GTBob posted…
TampaDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:18 pm
LOL Mark .. GTBob is typically a pretty good guy as far as Tech fans go, but he has been a little out of touch today. He is cool because he never gets personal with his posts and keeps it about football.
ARdawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:18 pm
Altamaha
True. We didn’t open it in the 2nd half with Murray playing either. Of course we didn’t score anymore so it’s all academic
Toe Jam
October 3rd, 2011
3:19 pm
You mutts tickle me so.
Spaceman Spiff
October 3rd, 2011
3:20 pm
@Still – “it the stuff?”
CMR
October 3rd, 2011
3:20 pm
I mean it this time. You are on double secret probabtion until the Florida game. No, really, I mean it.
CMR
October 3rd, 2011
3:21 pm
Now, lets all form a circle, join hands and sing Kum Bah Ya.
GoForTwo
October 3rd, 2011
3:21 pm
This is my wife’s fault. During the game, I mentioned there was an article about Cornelius in the AJC.
She says, oh, was he arrested. I said no, the article was how he has overcome hardships. Even if I have to eat out every night, I have forbidden her to talk about any other Georgia players. Putting karma on him like that was bad.
Alabama | MrSEC.com
October 3rd, 2011
3:22 pm
[...] defense is improving, but its offense still has some issues.5. Five-star linebacker signee Ray Drew might step in for suspended Dawg Cornelius Washington.6. Asked today how he’s dealing with the heat he’s taking, Kentucky’s Joker [...]
CMR
October 3rd, 2011
3:22 pm
Warden threw a party in the Athens jail, the redcoat band began to wail.
UGAmutt
October 3rd, 2011
3:22 pm
Georgia is 7-5 this year if they play in the West. The fact remains, however, that we play in the Eastern Division. Georgia will beat Tennessee, b/c they are a one-dimensional team. We will stuff the run, pressure Bray into making mistakes (a la Florida game), control the clock with IC, use play-action to open up deep threats on our side of the 20, and grind them down moving the chains and smothering them on defense. Vasser will take the TE coverage priorities, J.Jones will hold the majority of pass-rushing responsibilities, and the defensive secondary will step-up to force some big-plays. If we get up early, Neyland will be a void.
Vince Dooley
October 3rd, 2011
3:23 pm
My petunias froze last night.
Barbara Dooley
October 3rd, 2011
3:24 pm
Vince, honey, you petunia has been frozen for years.
Barbara Dooley
October 3rd, 2011
3:25 pm
But not Herschel’s. He has one HOT petunia.
UGAmutt
October 3rd, 2011
3:26 pm
Tennessee just doesn’t look to have the defense to win this game. Add in doubles with Shawn Williams and B. Boykin on Hunter and a healthy pass-rush and this is a recipe for a route.
phil
October 3rd, 2011
3:29 pm
Tampadawg – the good news is that i was actually kidding….
phil
October 3rd, 2011
3:30 pm
Someone thinks we’ll beat UT?
Get real….not a chance.
Ray Drew
October 3rd, 2011
3:31 pm
Cut Cornelius Washington today!!
Spaceman Spiff
October 3rd, 2011
3:32 pm
@Still – right you are!!
phil
October 3rd, 2011
3:32 pm
Fire Joe Paterno!!
confused out west
October 3rd, 2011
3:32 pm
altamaha – you are correct – they probably would not have opened up the pass game as they didnt with Murray in the game. They could have allowed Mason to get some reps handing the balll off (same results as Murray would have had) and ALSO play some of the short dump passes that Mason did SO well with in the one game he played in. I do agree though with everyone that Bobo probably would not have made that adjustment – but that is a whole other arguement.
I will argue all day that while our defense was doing so well – they havent given up a real touchdown in two SEC games – it wouldnt have been dangerous for putting in Mason. Even if he did the same as Murray (ie handing off the ball) it would give him the feel of a real game that he needs if Murray goes out. It also has the POSSBILITY of letting him throw short quick passes and opening up the running game some. Murray with 3 INTs basically told the defense that we would not pass anymore. That turn everything very one dimensional. Putting Mason in would have confused them some and potentially offered some new play avenues.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 3rd, 2011
3:36 pm
I don’t know about this weekend. It seems to me that the past few years that we have gone up to Knoxville the team has failed to get off the bus. I hope they find the door this year.
TampaDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:38 pm
then I offer my SINCEREST apologies Phil .. sometimes jokes and sarcasm doesn’t translate well on here.
phil
October 3rd, 2011
3:39 pm
They won’t. We couldn’t find it against either Miss team and only won because both are so pathetic and awful…
Won’t be the case this week as reality returns to Athens…
phil
October 3rd, 2011
3:39 pm
Well, I didn’t exaclty make it obvious, Tampa! I’m the one who should be sorry….though I’m not…lol!
TampaDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:44 pm
Nice Phil.
Now, let me put another spin on the whole Murray/Mason debate. Say we put Mason in and disaster happens; again, throws a pick, fumbled snap at center (even the snap can be an adventure with game pressure), fumbled hand off (again, during a real game, the timing can get jacked up) or something that lends to Mason making the mistake that leads to another TD by MSU. Onsides kick and MSU has the ball back and scores to tie. We go to overtime. Who is in at QB now?
Not to mention, all the “put Mason in” section on here would join the “fire CMR” section had Mason gone in after a a pick and blown the rest of the game.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 3rd, 2011
3:47 pm
Tampa, it is obvious that you put in Christian LeMay to kick the field goal to win the game because the D stopped MSU on their try.
TampaDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:49 pm
Ahhh, I see. Thanks kalamazoo. The picture is clear now.
phil
October 3rd, 2011
3:49 pm
Mason shouldn’t even be a consideration….
Naturally the lunatic fringe wants to see him, but he’d only make matters worse…no thanks.
phil
October 3rd, 2011
3:50 pm
Fire Richt!!
Nah, not yet…
Steve Mitchell
October 3rd, 2011
3:52 pm
If Bobo is going to run between the guards on 3rd and long, why not just concede (as he has done) and punt the ball on 3rd to save the opportunity for injury or turnover. If Richt does not replace Bobo then maybe we need a new leader.
TampaDawg
October 3rd, 2011
3:52 pm
Phil, I can’t tell anymore dude. But I think serious about your Mason comment right? And I agree whole heartedly. He might be a good one. But you have to let the starter play through it. Rotating QBs will ensure a 5-7 season.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 3rd, 2011
3:52 pm
See we can’t have Murray throwing the pick or Walsh missing the FG. Coaching 101. You are welcome my friend.