Notebook: Dogs’ defense reshuffling lineup yet again
ATHENS – The Bulldogs found out on Wednesday they would be without two defensive starters for the Florida game on Oct. 29. They also added two more with the returns this week of Alec Ogletree and Cornelius Washington.
For defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and his staff, being able to mix and match the lineup is old hat at this point. Thanks to injuries and suspensions, Georgia has utilized seven different starting lineups in seven games this season.
There’s a 100 percent chance it will be 8-for-8 against Florida in Jacksonville on Oct. 29.
“I’ve always said you rank your players and figure out your best combination for that week,” Grantham said Wednesday. “That’s what we’ve done every week. Guys have been in and out. We really haven’t played a game yet with what started out as our first 11. That’s OK, too, because guys have worked hard and built a lot of mental toughness on our defense and are finding a way to finish.”
Despite losing Ogletree and fellow inside linebacker starter Christian Robinson for multiple games due to injuries in the season’s first two weeks, Georgia made it to the eighth week of the season ranked No. 8 nationally in total defense.
Now they’ll have to adjust yet again as noseguard Kwame Geathers and strong safety Shawn Williams – who have started 10 games between them this season – have been ordered by the SEC to sit out the first half versus the Gators due to unsportsmanlike infractions in the Vanderbilt game.
“I just told them whoever is going to play in their place needs to play hard enough to where when these guys get in during the second half we’re still in contention in the game,” Georgia head coach Mark Richt said. “Somebody’s going to have to step up.”
Grantham and Richt anticipate junior John Jenkins, who has started the last two games and alternates regularly with Geathers, to simply get more snaps at noseguard in the first half. Defensive end DeAngelo Tyson, who played noseguard last season, will slide inside when Jenkins needs a breather in the first half.
As for Williams’ strong safety position, there’s a good chance cornerback Sanders Commings will move there. Commings started at safety when Bacarri Rambo was out for the season opener against Boise State. Branden Smith and/or Damian Swann could fill in at the corner, where they already get a lot of snaps.
Getting Ogletree and Washington back softens the blow.
Starting “Mo” linebacker Ogletree missed the last five games with a broken bone in his right foot. He entered the season with a reputation as potentially Georgia’s most dynamic defensive player. Washington started the first five games at weakside outside linebacker before his Oct. 2 DUI arrest led to a two-game suspension. Robinson, the starting “Mike” linebacker, missed two games and parts of a third with an ankle injury.
Michael Gilliard, Amarlo Herrera, Chase Vasser and Ray Drew all have filled in admirably.
“Guys have stepped up and embraced their roles and some have taken advantage of their opportunities,” Grantham said. “Moving forward we’ll do the same thing, plug guys in and keep moving.”
One option that Grantham took off the table is moving Ogletree back to strong safety.
“I think we’re past that,” he said. “I think he has shown up as an inside linebacker. I think he’s really good there.”
Grantham on SEC decision
Grantham said he wasn’t sure what might happen as the SEC mulled his fate for last Saturday’s postgame confrontation with Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin. But he was clearly happy Wednesday to have it behind him.
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure about anything,” Grantham said. “I’ve pretty much said what I’m going to say and moved forward. We’ve got an opportunity to get better this week. That’s what you use the open week for, to get better. We obviously have a big game next week so we’re preparing for that. I’ve moved on and we’re moving forward.”
Grantham did, however, express regret for his actions and said that his outburst is not a reflection of Georgia’s defense.
“I tell our guys you want to play hard from the snap of the ball to the end of the play,” he said. “After that, get back in the huddle. During that time you play hard, you play fast and you play physical. We’ve done that and had very few penalties on defense all year.”
Richt mum on video comments
A Nashville television station released Wednesday an unedited version of video that captured the postgame exchange between Richt and Vanderbilt coach James Franklin. Richt’s voice is nearly inaudible on the video but, according to an transcription being distributed on the Internet of that conversation, Richt uses an expletive to describe Williams, who is accused by Franklin of “rubbing our faces in it.”
Richt was asked after practice Wednesday whether that transcription was accurate.
“I don’t have a comment on that; I don’t think it’s worthy of a comment,” he said. “But I wasn’t happy after the game. I can say that. I wasn’t happy.”
Asked why he was upset, Richt said: “The thing I was bothered by mostly was, the game’s over, it was a great game, let’s all go shake hands and say good luck. Let’s do that. Can we do that? That’s my goal personally and that’s my goal for our football team and that’s how I want to operate from this point forward. Hopefully that will be the case.”
Stafford takes up for Richt
Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is now starring for the Detroit Lions, was asked the “hot seat” question Richt on a teleconference call with reporters on Wednesday. Stafford’s Lions play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
“I’ve always been a huge Mark Richt fan,” Stafford said. “He’s one of the huge reasons I went to Georgia from Texas. I think he’s great for that program, he’s great for the community, he’s great for the kids in that program. They’ve really started stepping up and playing better these last couple of weeks. They lost to two really good football teams the first two weeks. They are a young team in many spots, still learning the defense and acclimating to some new players they are mixing in. I have total confidence that he will get the job done, for sure.”
Etc. . . .
Georgia cornerback/kick returner Brandon Boykin missed practice while undergoing a dental procedure on Wednesday. Boykin busted his mouth and several lower teeth on a kickoff return against Mississippi State on Oct. 1. . . . Bacarri Rambo also sat out portions of Wednesday’s full-contact workout due to a turf-toe injury. It’s not expected to limit his play against Florida. . . . Wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell was on the field in a green jersey but did not dress out in full pads and did participate in most drills. . . . Tailback Carlton Thomas dressed out but remained in green with an undisclosed leg injury. . . . Former Bulldog A.J. Green attended Georgia’s practice Wednesday. The Cincinnati Bengals’ star receiver was in town on an off week.
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407 comments Add your comment
trey burton
October 20th, 2011
7:52 am
go back to bed thomas. Its too early for your rants.
Dogs Smell
October 20th, 2011
7:52 am
hop ,
Would that be the same statement they made to Boise State or to Carolina?
Thomas Brown
October 20th, 2011
7:54 am
Dap01 October 20th, 2011 7:49 am
“CMR should take the sides of his players first”
_______________________________________
Mark Richt should not be calling his own recruits whom he made Starter, DUMB***
Mark Richt apologized for his “wording” because of the profanity but has yet to apologize to Shawn Williams calling him a DUMB***
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 20th, 2011
7:58 am
flag football Bobo
LOL
one of the best statements on this blog this year
Notebook: Dogs’ defense reshuffling lineup yet again – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Online Dog Today
October 20th, 2011
7:58 am
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Thomas Brown
October 20th, 2011
7:59 am
What should Mark Richt do ?
Well, he should not call his own Scholarship Recruits here, who he then made Starter, DUMB***
And, of course now, he must apologize in the PRESS he runs to after every loss BLAMING THE PLAYERS, and tell the press that he has hugged Shawn Williams and find in fact Shawn Williams has fine grades, is on target to graduate and that Mark Richt made an error calling him a DUMB***
What should Mark Richt do ?
DUMB*** question.
trupert
October 20th, 2011
7:59 am
There is no evidence that Mark Richt called anyone a Dumb+++. So the guy at Out Kick the Coverage types up a transcript of an inaudable sentence and you guys actually believe it?
Mark Richt will take the high road, as he should. Not coming out in public with criticism does not mean that he won’t support his players. Richt’s job is to point everybody in the right direction and set the example. Nobody does that better. Go dawgs, beat Fla.
tenndawg
October 20th, 2011
8:00 am
Columbus can’t see the obvious… CMR has lost this team, it has little spirit and no discipline. OUR goal each year at UGA should be to win the national Championship, that should be the goal of EVERY team in the USA when it starts the season. We have no chance, none… to win a NC with CMR as coach. If he didn’t win one with Stafford, and Moreno, a year which included a great defense and great receivers, then Richt can’t win one.
We are playing the most cup cake schedule we will ever play this year… if this team loses 4 games with this schedule, then it would lose 7 playing Florida’s schedule. OUR team sucks, that’s a given, and there’s no one to blame but Richt for that.
It’s you Richt supporters that need to “pull for another team”, your so called “support” for UGA has cost us another year of mediocrity and nothing else. If you love UGA, then you want them to sack Richt plain and simple.
Notebook: Dogs’ defense reshuffling lineup yet again – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Best Today Dogs
October 20th, 2011
8:01 am
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treyingeorgia
October 20th, 2011
8:05 am
Thomas Brown…. if he mouthed off at the opposing coach and is dancing around in a game they won by 5pts ( a game they should have won by 4+ touchdowns and they should have lost due to stupidity ) then yes he is a freaking DUMBA$$. That is the type of undisciplined behavior we have seen for the last 4+yrs – act like you’ve been there before…quit beating your chest… hit someone and go back to the huddle. I might add the majority of the players you quoted in the previous post were idiots and not team players. They were a direct reflection about whats wrong with the program and had to go.
Washaun Ealey didn’t want to compete hence the transfer, Caleb King was a dumba$$ – couldnt go to class and pay his speeding ticket’s.
…and I’m not a homer I might add- I don’t care if they are 5-2 – to me they are the worst 5-2 team in the country. predictable offense play calling… undisciplined play ( see jumping up and down, beating your chest after a tackly 5-7yrds down the field )
Yes Richt needs to grow a pair or get the hell out of Athens and let someone come in and coach. I have never seen a coaching staff waste this much talent in my life. I guess we shall see…
dawg bitesu
October 20th, 2011
8:07 am
Chuck you redneck. Stop posting. UGA is on track to be a really ball club . if you fired CMR who would you pick to coach the Dogs? Finding a new coach would only be a set back for about 2-3 years. It would be a very stupid move.
dawg bitesu
October 20th, 2011
8:09 am
PLEASE FIRE DUMB BO THE BOBO!
Buckhead Bulldog
October 20th, 2011
8:18 am
Hopefully, the Dogs D will be pumped about this BS, and the Junk Yard knock the hell out of UF! Sic”em Dogs!
Win P
October 20th, 2011
8:18 am
@ Preston 2:14 Amen
Notebook: Dogs’ defense reshuffling lineup yet again – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Todays Dog Blog
October 20th, 2011
8:18 am
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lagadawg
October 20th, 2011
8:20 am
Columbus,you are probably right,with McGarity coming from Fla. and them owning Richt and beating us when they are down would be the end of Richt.
Thomas Brown (not), Prestone, et al, listen up
October 20th, 2011
8:21 am
Shawn Williams is a college student at one of the top 400 universities in the world, according to the latest report out Monday. However, during the game vs Vandy, he cost us not once but twice with 15 yard penalties because he hasn’t figured out during his 8-10 years of playing organized football that when the whistle blows, you have to stop or your team gets penalized. In that respect, he was, TEMPORARILY, a dumba** and had I, or any of you, I suspect, been his coach we would have called him the same thing, if not worse.
Head over to Spec Towns track this week at about 5 a.m. I suspect you’ll see him running steps because of it, and you can personally give him your support for costing us 30 yards in penalties.
I think Richt will be back next year, unless we fold from here on out. I would like to know, however, why it is that every single year, we get hit with ’subsitution’ penalties multiple times. Always at the most inopportune moments, and why we couldn’t run out 1:10 on the clock against Vandy. Richard Samuel’s ankle is still hurt, as evidenced by his limping back to the huddle, yet we continually tried to get him outside to get that clock killing first down. He can’t get outside and cut, b/c his ankle is hurt. Why does Bobo not consider that? The one time they let his 240 pound hulk go up the middle, he picked up five yards. I think that Richt HAD to seriously consider having someone else call plays. Bobo still seems to defy logic at crunch time.
Your father
October 20th, 2011
8:21 am
What makes you idiots think that Richt isn’t “livid” at the sec?? He’s not going to go public because it does no good for his program at this point. Trust me, everyone in that program has each other’s back. That’s a fact.
Notebook: Dogs’ defense reshuffling lineup yet again – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dog Shop Blog
October 20th, 2011
8:22 am
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Thomas Brown (not), Prestone, et al, listen up
October 20th, 2011
8:24 am
Living in Athens, I can tell you two things, it’s a great place to live, and Richt is exceptionally good at keeping things that go on out of the press. Want to see him come alive, go to practice and watch. Screaming at the conference in public does, as ‘your father’ says, does no good.
Notebook: Dogs’ defense reshuffling lineup yet again – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dogs Blog Shop
October 20th, 2011
8:25 am
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tardawg
October 20th, 2011
8:26 am
CMR didn’t say any that would lead to not backing players because he wanted to get facts first, if he spouted off and was wrong you who are so negative would have jumped on him for that so he can’t win with supporters like you. Hey destin not sure of Schultz but Bradely is a Kentucky grad who grew up supporting Louisville you figure that one.
Gary
October 20th, 2011
8:26 am
Coach needs to teach the boys the old Hockey trick. You stay down role around and get helped off the field. Refs see guys getting hurt from the dirty plays they call the game different. Next play you are back in faking a slight limp in your walk while crushing it when play starts. The flags should start going the other way. You hit back and your done. Every player knows that. It is hard not to react unless you are taught. Dirty play stay down. Late hit stay down. Shove after the whistle fall down. Guys hand is on your helmet spin your head to get the face mask. Get some free yards and some sympathy from the refs. The guys will start to appreciate the process if the results yield yards. That and we all know penalties kill a drive.
Joey
October 20th, 2011
8:27 am
Flat Tire, on the Sunday morning after the SC loss, Columbus wrote that “Richt had turned the program around.” Yep, after a loss. So take his rants with a grain of salt.
I can’t stand Richt anymore. Not after the apology to that crybaby Franklin – before even speaking with Grantham and the other players who were nearby to get their version.
What’s sad is the very guy Richt dissed, Grantham, will probably save Richt’s job for him, by shutting down UF and AU.
roughrider
October 20th, 2011
8:28 am
I can’t believe Richt apologized to Franklin. It’s obvious Vandy was trying to hurt our players. Richt needs to go.
Notebook: Dogs’ defense reshuffling lineup yet again – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | New Dog Shop
October 20th, 2011
8:29 am
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Ray
October 20th, 2011
8:30 am
You have a head coach that is trying to make a name for himself (Franklin) and put his program on the map (Lane Kiffin style). He was looking for a reason to go after UGA so he could impress all the recruits that were there from the state of Georgia. Richt was just trying to get off the field and shut Franklin up. Franklin feel right in Richt’s trap. We don’t know what goes on in the locker room, but I am sure Richt explained his angle and what he was trying to do, not get in a shouting match with Vandy and stir up something that doesn’t exist (Vandy will never be a threat and shouldn’t start now). Richt is the CEO of UGA football. The CEO doesn’t go after the opponent. He sends somebody else to do it so there is less attention (Todd Grantham). Richt is a lot smarter than you give him credit for. The players and team are probably laughing this video up cause they know Richt a lot better than any of us do.
Devil's Advocate
October 20th, 2011
8:31 am
I believe what many posters are asking for is Richt to be fully committed to the “Good ‘ol Boy Network” where you blindly defend you and your’s while always saying the opponent is wrong.
tenndawg
October 20th, 2011
8:32 am
To answer the question about who to get other than Richt… let me answer that with another question. Do you think Richt will EVER win a NC here at UGA? I don’t. I saw what he did with a NC contender 5 years ago, and it stunk.
Richt is a puss, plain and simple. He didn’t take up for his players and/or coaches. I’ve seen the video and he plainly calls his own player a dumb*** before knowing what happened… he judges the player before he knows the story.
Why do UGA players play like cup cakes and make so many mental errors? The man has lost control of this team, anyone watching UGA FB can plainly see that. If UGA wins outr the rest of the year, with the cupcakes we have left, Richt should still be fired… period.
He will NEVER win a NC here at UGA, you can bank on that. He’s had 10 years to do so… are we closer to a NC now than we were 10 years ago? No.
Dogs Smell
October 20th, 2011
8:33 am
Georgia you’re 5-2 with one of the easiest schedules in the country for major conf’ play. You homers are thinking UF is your win all but seem to fail that the best team you play this year is Auburn. Oh , I know you homers will say “we should win that by 2 touchdowns but isnt that what you said about Boise? At least 2 more losses are ahead.
AthensDog
October 20th, 2011
8:34 am
Hey, TB, what would you do–have the whole team suspended? What do you think would have happened if CTG and Franklin would have started to push each other? What you think of CMR aside, coaches just cannot start riots that will get players suspended and coaches fired. The Dawgs are playing Florida next weekend, and a full compliment of players are definitely needed. It take a whole lot more between the legs to squash a possible riot than to instigate one. Let the guys with huge rocks play hard nosed football, not engage in mayhem.
tenndawg
October 20th, 2011
8:35 am
Ray, quit smoking weed… Richt is obviously a religious nut job, anyone, and I mean ANYONE who takes the bible that seriously needs to have their heads examined.
Richt is obvously not smart enough to hatch such a plan as you described.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 20th, 2011
8:35 am
I don’t think Richt has lost this team at all. I think they have been getting better every week. The thing that bugs me is that offense. We come out bang bang with plays that move the ball down the field, get to the red zone, change to the standard off tackle and up the middle runs that get stopped then attmept FG’s that may or may not be good. Would have been okay back in the day when Walsh was good as gold but now it just gives the other team and fans the fire it takes to come back on us.
Glad to see Grantham spelling it out. I think we have a damn fine DC there that is paying attention to what is going on and making the necessary adjustments. Just stop Rainey and Dempsey Grantham. Keep up the good work.
Notebook: Dogs’ defense reshuffling lineup yet again – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dog Deals Blog
October 20th, 2011
8:40 am
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Joey
October 20th, 2011
8:42 am
“Finding a new coach would only be a set back for about 2-3 years. It would be a very stupid move.’
***********************************
Yeah, it turned out to be a lonnnnng time before UF won with Myer, AU won with Chizik, Bama won with Saban, LSU won with Miles, Arkansas won with Petrino, should I go on?
What was stupid was the comment . . .
Your father
October 20th, 2011
8:43 am
Thomas Brown- you disgrace to a great name- you dont know what Richt has said to ANY one. You’re the biggest D-bag on the internet. I hear the jackets need some fans. Go hang out in atlanta.
Gary
October 20th, 2011
8:43 am
So how are the coaching changes going for Ole Miss? Mississippi State? Florida? Tennessee? Southern Cal? FSU? Most of your national Championships were won by three coaches. Sabans not available and he is about to get his 3rd NC, Urban has 2 but most likely will not coach again but certainly not in the SEC, USC coach is out of college for a while. Who is this magical coach that Georgia is going to hire to solve all of Georgia’s wowes? Gene at Auburn? He is a one and done just like his so called $$player$$. Again, I am just asking. You want me to support you in calling for Richt’s head but you offer no real solution. Les Miles probably won’t win the big one again and I can’t imagine how many of our players would be suspended for the Florida game with his level of dicipline and our athens police department. His kicker gets taunting penalties and his back up QB is a kid we kicked off the team. The Vest? He couldn’t beat and SEC team but still has a title. Could he fix Georgia? So ok fire Mark today. How many times do you net the next coach loose to FLorida and Tennessee before you fire them?
All Saints
October 20th, 2011
8:44 am
Just a reminder that we’ll be having our regular tribute and moment of silence on Saturday for Saint Jan Kemp, the courageous martyr who exposed UGA and Vince Dooley’s “remedial studies” fraud.
Please approach this special moment with reverence as we honor her name.
Notebook: Dogs’ defense reshuffling lineup yet again – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Best Online Dogs
October 20th, 2011
8:45 am
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McDawg
October 20th, 2011
8:45 am
Branden Smith at Corner might be a better match up w/ UF speed anyway-we should be okay
pressure the QB
wins-by-a-link
October 20th, 2011
8:46 am
Looks like the SEC has set a precedent, Will future players who commit a personal foul be punished further by being suspended for half a game? Or is this just for Georgia? Look at last season’s Aub and Ga game, Nick Fairley speared Murray in the back, Was he punished by the SEC?, No way, It will be interesting to see how other teams are treated in future games when players are called for personal fouls, Geathers was reacting to an attempt by Vandy player to tear his knee up and should not have been suspended, I hope Ga officials protest this action by SEC and get this lifted, I was proud to see Grantham defend his players,Thats more than I can say for Richt.
just sayin'
October 20th, 2011
8:48 am
yup…i’m beginning to lean towards those losing respect for richt because of his alleged choice of words with franklin…all he had to say was that he would check into his allegations and get back with him…very simple…can’t be apologetic before you know the full story…
tenndawg
October 20th, 2011
8:52 am
Gary thinks it’s great that we’re a middle of the road SEC team… why try and win, let Alabama and LSU have all the NC?
CMR will NEVER win a NC, that’s the only thing that matters… period.
Win P
October 20th, 2011
8:53 am
Do UGA players known that tauting the opponent is not “Classy” behavior?
Jeff
October 20th, 2011
8:53 am
I think this article means to say “Franklin used an expletive…” to describe Williams. Not Richt.
Matthews Dawg
October 20th, 2011
8:56 am
Thomas Brown (not)… you are correct IMO. CMR hasn’t lost the team and all on here who thinks he hasn’t backed his players are crazy! Again, many of us on here act like we are in the meetings rooms, on the practice fields, speaking with McGarity, etc… We all have no facts to base anything on.
Yes, IMO, SW was an idiot and if you have played sports (for longer than a year in Pop Warner or Little League) and done something stupid, I’m sure you coach called you a name too. It’s no big deal. That may be old school, but get over it.
tenndawg…you really don’t know of what you speak!!
Nothing has changed for CMR, we need to beat UF, AU and GT. We do all 3 and he receives a 3-5 year contract extension. Winning all 3 games won’t be easy. The UF game is a toss up IMO. Hopefully, we will be fine. Plus, we will be fine on defense, JJ will do fine for us in the 1st half!
Go Dawgs!!
Get Mark Richt the hell out!
October 20th, 2011
8:56 am
Just a microcosm of what’s wrong with this country! We have become soft as a nation. Mark Richt is softer than Charmin toilet paper! He threw his Williams and Grantham under the bus, and if I were them I would quit immediately! If Williams did taunt the Vanderbilt players, you discipline him behind the scene, not call him a dumbass to the very coach who was screaming at him. Grantham had every right to defend his players, like any real coach would have. In public, you stand up for your team, and handle the discipline internally. This lack of balls by Richt might destroy this team! Richt, Bradley and Schultz are three hairy crotches!
ChiliDawg
October 20th, 2011
8:59 am
Coach Franklin is getting a pass and instead of UGA fans being concerned about that they are attacking our coaches. Wake up people!
True Dawg
October 20th, 2011
9:01 am
why isnt Richt mad that vandy could have ruined one of is players knees?? I dont understand why he has not talked of that
Joey
October 20th, 2011
9:01 am
Ole Miss and Miss State don’t have UGA’s talent. UF’s coach is still in his first year but losing to LSU, Bama, and AU is hardly shameful. UT brought in an untested coach with a losing record. USC lost about 25% of it’s scholarships in their probation, and I have not idea about FSU.
Who brought up national championships? Not me. I was just responding to remark of “new coach would be a setback of 2-3 years.”
Those coaches started winning big after the 1st year.