With Ogletree slated to return, what should Dogs do at linebacker?
ATHENS – One of the most welcome sights at Georgia’s practice Tuesday was a guy in a green jersey running by himself in one end zone at the far end of the field.
Starting inside linebacker Alec Ogletree, out since the first quarter of the first game of the year, was in full pads and running — quite swiftly and fluidly, in fact — through a series of speed and agility drills under the watchful eye of sports medicine director Ron Courson. Earlier in the day, head coach Mark Richt had made a rather bold pronouncement on what until then had been merely a wishful goal.
“Ogletree is looking really good,” Richt said during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. “We don’t think there is any question at all that he’ll be ready for the Florida game.”
“Tree,” as he has come to be called by coaches and teammates, was the talk of preseason camp because of the athleticism he brought to the “Mo” linebacker position from strong safety, where he started as a freshman the previous season. But Ogletree broke a bone in his foot early against Boise State. Not coincidentally, the Broncos were able to exploit Georgia’s defense late in the second quarter and early in the third quarter in that 35-21 loss.
The trouble regarding Ogletree’s return is the Bulldogs’ defense has developed quite nicely in his absence. Even after losing fellow starting inside linebacker Christian Robinson to an ankle injury in Game Two, Georgia’s linebacker corps has been a strength on a unit that is ranked sixth nationally and third in the defensive-minded SEC heading into Saturday’s game at Vanderbilt (7:08 p.m. Fox Sports South).
Robinson has been back for the last two games but has not returned to the starting lineup. “Backups” Michael Gilliard and Amarlo Herrera, who were working with the first-string defense again on Tuesday, have simply played to well in their absence to unseat.
Gilliard, who has started at “Mike” linebacker the last four games, was named SEC defensive player of the week after a 12-tackle effort against Tennessee that included a game-clinching sack. It was the fourth consecutive game he led the Bulldogs in stops and he now leads the Bulldogs with 40.
“I just feel like it’s my time to step up,” said Gilliard, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior from Valdosta. “I just go out there week in and week out, learn the playbook, learn our opponent and try to make plays and help my team win.”
Herrera, a 6-2, 231-pound freshman from College Park, has started the last four games at “Mo” linebacker and is tied for fourth on the team with 24 tackles.
Gilliard was asked what should happen upon Ogletree’s return. “Only time will tell,” he said. “I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing. It’s up to the coaches.”
Ultimately it will be up to defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who is thrilled to have the dilemma.
“There’s 11 spots out there,” said Grantham, in his second season with Georgia since being hired away from the Dallas Cowboys. “Each Monday we’ll know who’s available. Based on who’s available we’ll figure out where we need to play guys by combination to give us the best chance to win.”
Gilliard, Grantham admitted, may be hard to move. Plus, he doesn’t know yet what he has in Ogletree.
“The plan is to get him out there next week and work a little bit and I’ll have a better idea then,” he said. “But I haven’t seen him do anything yet. I’ve been around him in meetings and on the field this week. That’s all I have. But the reports have been good.”
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158 comments Add your comment
Turdinpunchbowl
October 12th, 2011
1:05 am
Who Cares! They all will play and the best ones will play the most(or should)! We need to look at the turn over machine called Aaron Murray and quit wasting carries on Richard Samuel.
Turdinpunchbowl
October 12th, 2011
1:06 am
I like money!
Turdinpunchbowl
October 12th, 2011
1:06 am
Put Artie Lynch on the D Line he is too talented to just play special teams!
cougars
October 12th, 2011
1:48 am
We havent played anybody! Tree should start because he is just better than both of them and you all will see he is the best defensive player on the team. Glad we are winning but look who we have beaten. Not one team that has any running game look what happen against SC. Go Dawgs,START TREE
hot dawg
October 12th, 2011
1:53 am
tree was already good……..now he is good and hungry and that element alone could make a difrrence and depth is always an advantage……….go dawgs
hot dawg
October 12th, 2011
1:54 am
difference..lol
dogdawg
October 12th, 2011
3:59 am
The turn around at UGA and CMR keeping his job is all thanks to coach Todd Graham.If we do win the east I’m affraid,some other schools will come after him.Hope CMR dosen’t blow it like he did with Van Gorder.
» Blog Archive » Dogs defense sixth in nation – Chattanooga Times Free Press
October 12th, 2011
6:18 am
[...] Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Tennessee, the Bulldogs have catapulted to sixth nationally …With Ogletree slated to return, what should Dogs do at linebacker?Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 89 news [...]
Cmon man
October 12th, 2011
6:36 am
its funny how the comments go from uga cant beat this team or wont beat that team but when they win its oh uga hasnt played anybody. One minute the sec is the toughest conf now that uga is 3-1 the level of competition is weak. If you are really fans instead of trying to discredit what the team has accomplised so far just say congrats and focus on one game at a time. Stop looking for reasons to be negative.
dawg fan sitting on rockytop
October 12th, 2011
6:55 am
To quote the old ball coach when he was at Florida, “DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS” GO DAWGS!!!!!
Return to Glory
October 12th, 2011
8:09 am
“Tree” has done nothing when it counts, make him work and earn his postion back, the other’s have performed in games, If it was my call he is a backup until he proves otherwise. I do not mean to sound negative towards Tree but go with what is working, I wish him well in his comeback.
JAWJeRDAWG
October 12th, 2011
8:32 am
@ Return to Glory
Do you honestly think that Alec ‘has done nothing when it counts’?
In my opinion, he played stellar as an ILB until he broke his foot in the BS game.
Until he did, if I remember correctly, BS was having a hard time moving the ball.
Michael Gilliard has played amazingly well, and Amarlo Herrera not far behind.
Alec will probably be phased back into the lineup because of their outstanding play.
CTG has three good options here, and the UGA defense is much better off because both Gilliard and Herrera have proven their on-the-field mettle.
But, IMO, Alec has more than proven his value.
DJ Dawg
October 12th, 2011
8:45 am
I agree, bring him back slowly!
JDawg1785
October 12th, 2011
8:46 am
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Gilliard has been playing very well and to unseat him makes zero sense to me. CTG can still work Tree into the rotation as he’s been doing with Robinson and Herrera. Man, it’s great to see so much talent on D for the Dawgs!
DawgTired
October 12th, 2011
8:48 am
Are you kidding me. Tree is the best athlete on or off the field with a broken foot. Lets not forget the talent level this new mighty defense faced over the past 4 weeks. They have played well but it is the O-line that has me nervous. Aaron and I get happy feet just thinking about them. Tree can play a pass rushing D-end, LB and safety. Let him play all over the field in multiple positions. We need his speed against the Gatards.
JAWJeRDAWG
October 12th, 2011
8:56 am
DJ Dawg JDawg1785 and DawgTired
I agree with you all.
I just couldn’t see the validity with Return to Glory’s assessment that:
Alec ‘has done nothing when it counts’. …
With such good play from these young players, it’s a good position for our defense in!
beanster
October 12th, 2011
9:07 am
No way can we redshirt Tree. We only get one more season after this — he is too good of an athlete. I also like the idea of letting him play safety again and moving Commings back to the corner for Branden Smith. He is almost as fast and I would like to see the bigger hitters in there…especially the Saturday after Turkey Day.
Depth is the key
October 12th, 2011
9:12 am
UGA for awhile now, has lacked quality depth on their D side of the ball. Now, it appears to be changing for us. TG is the reason why. He deploys the talent as needed.
I will reserve final judgement on Coach Grantham but right now, he looks like a superb hire. I want to see UGA ’s D swarming all over Vandy, get a week off and get their legs ready for Florida and then, attack them.
If we do defeat Vandy and Florida and look good doing that, yes, we must destroy AU and KY and GT, then it will be a decent year. Very decent at 10-2 and a nice NY Day Bowl. After all of that and if UGA is still statisticlaly in the upper ecehlons of the SEC on D, then give Granthom a raise. Soon, he will be preceived to be head coach material for maybe Ole Miss or MSU ( yes, MSU) or maybe UT ( yes, UT) or possibly eslewhere.
This is a big if, but IF we can run the table all the way to the Dome, then maybe CMR stays. I am still undecided on that right now. First things first: Vandy must be dealt with.
I also fear the fact that SC runs the table in the SEC and we do too and they go to the Dome because of the head to head thing and we end up at best in the Chic Fil A Bowl. THAT WOULD NOT make the alumni happy.
Goooooooooooooooooo Dogs.
Chemistry and desire are at work at UGA
October 12th, 2011
9:20 am
Alec O could actually upset the old apple cart at UGA. This D team is meshing nicely, or it appears to be. Ogletree needs to work slowly back ino the LB mix and fill in as needed. He will get his tackles and his big hits. Depth allows that, because UGA plays in the ever rugged SEC and kids need to sit down and get a breath of air.
I like knowing that we have Ramik Wilson and Tree and Vasser and Robinson and Gilliard and the several others to play D with experience. We need C Washington back for Florida. At least his legs will be fresh for them.
I believe that Coach TG is ALSO coaching the LBs, as their position coach. If true, I like that. His kids are showing the result of his D. teachings. Good stuff this is for a change on D.
Goooooooooooooooooooo Dogs.
DawgTired
October 12th, 2011
9:22 am
Bring him back slowly? I say bring him back full-time against the Gatards. He has another 2 1/2 weeks to get in playing shape. We have to put all our chips in now. Losing to the Gatards is not an option. We need to run them over and then back up and run then over again while they’re down. Tree didn’t have a torn ACL. His foot will be fine. If he is a half step slower, he is still a half step faster than what we have. Rotate everyone to keep fresh legs on the field.
DJ Dawg
October 12th, 2011
9:26 am
@DawgTired
Yes slowly! I mean for this week. Dont throw him out there full speed and risk injury in this game before we head into off week and then the FL game!!!
I agree with Dawg Tired
October 12th, 2011
9:26 am
I like your suggestion about Alec playing rush end. THAT is good stuff. He and Cornelius Washington would be awesome !!!
He is a big time athlete, so we need to utilize him as we can ……………..when he is healed up. I suspect CTG will do that. HE DOES KNOW what he is doing and it is fun to know that UGA has a D coach that knows his bidnezz.
Go Dawgs.
roughrider
October 12th, 2011
9:31 am
This is a good problem for the dogs to have. Wish we had the same problem on the offensive line.
DawgTired
October 12th, 2011
9:34 am
I wouldn’t play him against Vandy. The off week is when he can practice with first team. He’ll have 2 weeks to prepare. I don’t think he is cleared to play against Vandy yet anyway. Unleash #9 on Oct 29th. He’s got some built up hostility.
beanster
October 12th, 2011
9:43 am
I can’t wait for this weekend’s AUB v UF match-up. Night game on the Plains and should be very telling for both teams. My wife (Auburn grad) notified me that they, like the Gators, have their bye week before playing UGA. I will definitely be pulling for Auburn until they play us…and then I hope John Jenkins does a spinning headlock elbow drop off the top ropes on Barrett Trotter. Sorry you have to play the victim, Barrett, but fair is fair.
LawDawg
October 12th, 2011
9:51 am
Horticultural Zen: I know you were just trying to make a terrible joke, but he played great against BSU before getting injured.
The multiple calls for a redshirt on here are the perfect example of the naivety and low football IQ of the commenters on the various AJC sports blogs.
DawgTired
October 12th, 2011
9:52 am
Beanster- it’s also payback for the cheapshots Fairley put on Murray and 3 other SEC QBs last year. Can we root for a tie between UF and AUB ? I hate them both. SC might lose this weekend vs MSU but we just need to take care of our business and hope SC slips up one more time…minimum.
38 Yardline Dawg
October 12th, 2011
9:56 am
Play them all, if need be. There’s NO EXCUSE for not beating the Gators this year. NONE.
38 Yardline Dawg
October 12th, 2011
9:58 am
Beat the Gators once since the end zone celebration and extend Richt’s contract immediately? Hmm…Maybe. Does that mean we open up the head coach search immediately if we LOOSE?
NHS DAWG
October 12th, 2011
9:59 am
Tree is one helluva talent. He must be on the field in some fashion!! He will be your starter as soon as he is 100%. That is guaranteed!! Too gifted physically
Alabama Dog
October 12th, 2011
10:07 am
I say start Ogletree. It’s a basic rule that a starter cannot/should not lose his starting job due to injury.
It is what it is
October 12th, 2011
10:12 am
“..have simply played to well in their absence to unseat.”
Dear AJC; two, to and too. Know the difference.
gomdawg
October 12th, 2011
10:21 am
Georgia Rated # 6 in the Nation in Defense I say the coaches know what their doing so let’s leave it to the coaches. What we need is get our off. playing ball .Go Dawgs Vandy then Gators
BobDawg
October 12th, 2011
10:24 am
@beanster… I’m not worried about the AU weekoff before playing us… We probably have Ky or New Mex. the week before and should not be a problem….
beanster
October 12th, 2011
10:29 am
It is what it is — I think there’s a spelling blog or grammar blog on one of these pages. I am sure you could start up a riveting algebra blog over on one of the techies blogs.
beanster
October 12th, 2011
10:34 am
@BobDawg — Yep. New Mexico State is homecoming this year. We play KY the week before the nerds so that is essentially a week off then, too. I really don’t mean to rag on KY but man, they are awful this year.
Lakedawg
October 12th, 2011
11:06 am
Coach Grantham will work Tree in to get all the guys playing time and the best shot for Dawgs to win. Yes we do need linebackers this class because we may lose 3 of the 4 after next year.
Coaching staff intact for next year and team looks even better, plus recruits not yet committed could yield another top 10 class to go with the Dream Team bunch.
Recruiting needs remaining 2 RB, 2 DB, 2ILB, 2 OL.
VegasRick
October 12th, 2011
11:13 am
Now we find out if favortism is still rampant on defense, we know it is on offense, as Murray continues to start, regardless of leading the nation in sacks and interceptions, and the worst in the red zone accuracy.
The other LB’s have played better, but Ogletree seems to be a favorite. I expect UGA to cotninue to play favorites, it’s “The Georgia Way”.
duronimo
October 12th, 2011
11:15 am
Should it take injuries to figure out how good of bench you haved? Isn’t it the oaches job to know what each player brings to the table? The fact that Robinson can’t unseat Herrera or Gilliard illustrates my point. You simply can’t judge a player entirely by what they do in practice. Some athletes are simply not good practice players but turn in to animals in an actual game. You have to play everyone in an actual game to figure out what you have. I think there are a lot of other surprises sitting on the bench.
azdawg
October 12th, 2011
11:48 am
The dawgs D will surely have their first real test when they play FL. By then Brantley will most likely be back and the trio of Dent, Rainey and Dubose on the field at the same time, provided they get out of AU w/o any serious injury. The dawgs D will have a better chance of stopping those three speedsters if Grantham can work Tree, Herrera and Gilliard on the field either at the same time or in some combination to keep them fresh. The dawgs will need their best 11 on the field to hold FL in check. The way the D is playing gives the Dawgs their best chance in years of stopping FL’s speed to the outside and deep threat. AL and LSU proved that when they shut FL’s running game down and made them one dimensional. Then its all up the the Offense and Bobo to put points on the board.
Dawgs worst fear is one of these 3 guys is going to hurt their own during practice to prove they deserve to be on the field as a starter. Don’t go sacrificing your own to make a point. Prove it on Saturday’s.
VegasRick
October 12th, 2011
11:50 am
The defense played a LOT worse with Ogletree and Robinson in the first 2 games. Gave up 40 points a game in those 2 games. There is no valid reason on earth to give these 2 guys their jobs back.
McDawg
October 12th, 2011
11:52 am
lets worry about Vandy!!!
Choke
October 12th, 2011
12:20 pm
This iis very simple. As soon as Tree is in game playing shape again, you start him at Herrera’s spot, regardless of how well Herrera is doing. You gotta give Tree the opportunity to make plays; he’s a freak. Robinson, however, doesn’t start; he only comes into to back up Gilliard, who should start in his place.
WDE
October 12th, 2011
12:23 pm
@VegasRick before you were VegasRick what was your troll name?
WDE
October 12th, 2011
12:24 pm
@McDawg you make a great point we are improved but not good enough to look past anyone !
Dawgs1
October 12th, 2011
1:29 pm
Ogletree should be medically redshirted. But if selfishly they decide to play him, there is no way he should be given the job; he needs to earn it all over again.
Gilliard and Herrera have stepped up big time.
Mad Dog One
October 12th, 2011
1:30 pm
Coach TG is the second DC we have had with the fire of ERK RUSSELL. I think we might let him coach and make the call on when & where Tree will play. I know we have made great strides against some bad teams but if you look at the other teams ( gt, sc etc)you will see the same. But in some of the past years this has not been true so I say well done CTG and D. As always GO DOGS & GATA
UGA Insider
October 12th, 2011
1:35 pm
Tree will NOT play this week. He will come back and take his starting spot that Herrera now occupies. Gilliard is staying put in front of Robinson for the time-being. Gilliard and Tree do NOT play the same positions guys so it’s not an issue. Tree/Gilliard will dominate the rest of the season.
schmeckdawg
October 12th, 2011
1:36 pm
Agree with Dawgs1 for the most part. Since he is only going to be here 3 years, I wouldn’t redshirt him. If we did, we would only have him playing for two years just like Knowshon. And I don’t know what kind of shape that he going to be in after pretty much 2 months of inactivity. Finally, he has to earn it, Gilliard, Herrera, Vasser etal. have been teriffic!
GATA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone ever thought------
October 12th, 2011
1:41 pm
UGA loves to have experenced backups everywhere but QB. Asfor Tree our D will only get better with his return. Something I would like to see is Figgins, Little Tree, and Crowell in the backfield together.