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
TallyDawg
October 20th, 2011
10:00 am
@ Arthur Redding Jr. – Thanks for trying to turn the conversation to what our defense should look like in the Florida game. I have been mulling it over and I think with the bye week and return of some other players (such as the ones you mentioned), Grantham has what he needs to get through the first half.
The Lyam Hound
October 20th, 2011
10:00 am
So here’s what I’ve seen so far regarding the Vandy vs. Georgia game:
Wait… I should first mention that I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about the Vandy vs. Georgia game but for the heroic(?) actions of one Coach Todd Grantham after the contest had already ended.
Okay… Now back to the game. This outing wouldn’t have gone down as a particularly dirty SEC game. There were maybe a few personal foul calls. That typically happens in a game. Now that attention has been brought to the way the game ended, some are claiming that it was an extraordinarily dirty game, with the Vandy team committing chop blocks on a regular basis throughout the contest.
Well folks, I watched the replay on television yesterday. I didn’t see any chop blocks and I didn’t see an unusual amount of cut blocking on the line either.
“So how about the youtube clips?”, you ask. Yes. I’ve seen those also. The block that triggered the punch from the Georgia player was close to being a clip. Perhaps it actually was. It appears as if the Vandy player got his head and shoulders in front of the Georgia player’s legs, but he was coming at an angle from behind. It’s certainly a close call. I wouldn’t consider that a block worthy of being called “dirty”, even if it was an illegal block. I don’t think this block would have triggered an SEC suspension, had it not been followed by the punch.
The other questionable block is less dubious. The Georgia player speared the Vandy player from behind. That was a dirty hit. It was clearly an intentional foul. There have been reports that this same player had, on multiple occasions, grabbed his crotch and made lewd exclamations toward the Vandy bench during the game, but I have seen no youtube video evidence of that happening. From reading reports of the incident, this is the same guy who was harassing Coach Franklin after the game.
If any particular football play (BTW: punching is not recognized as a “football” play) in that game brought the SEC into the picture, it was Georgia’s spear block from behind on the Vandy player. Still, I’m not sure there would have been a suspension handed down for that hit – had Coach Grantham not had to be restrained from engaging in physical violence in front of a national television audience after the game was already over.
Flat Tire on I-81 Near Roanoke
October 20th, 2011
10:01 am
Hey Everbody! Ahm about to cover it all so that ya’ll can quit posting and get your lazy butts back to work. After all, that’s what you’re gettin paid for! Her goes: Richt has to go! No, Richt has to stay! Grantham did good! Grantham did bad! Michael Adams is wonderful! Michael Adams must be fired! Bobo can’t coach in the red zone! Bobo’s a genius! Tech sucks! (That one stands alone). Muschamp is a hot-headed mercenary! Muschamp is a dedicated leader! Bring in a new coach! A coaching change will only set us back for years! Jeff Schultz is an idiot! Jeff Schultz is a loser! (That’s a tough one). The SEC is way too punitive! The SEC stands for all things good! My wife’s sister is HOT! My wife’s sister is…. Better wrap this up. Okay, now, GET BACK TO WORK!!
ugab
October 20th, 2011
10:02 am
A different story now? As long as The Young, College Student, “Drunk Driver” has learned from his mistakes. He will be ok.
um.....right
October 20th, 2011
10:02 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT1×0fm_pUM&NR=1
Another high class moment from the beloved “Joe Pa”.
TallyDawg
October 20th, 2011
10:04 am
We seem to have good depth returning at linebacker and safety positions to cover for Williams. The big question mark is how many plays can Jenkins go in the first half? I’m not sure about that. Has anyone really payed attention to how many plays he has been going? Has it been 50/50 with Geathers? Has it been rotation between series? within the series? I would imagine Florida will run outside sweeps early on the tire him out and then later in the half see if they can go at him. I’m sure Grantham will factor that all in and bring the linebackers inside more when Jenkins is taking a breather. Either way, it will be an interesting chess match between Weiss and Grantham
MarineDog
October 20th, 2011
10:05 am
@Delbert D.,
No problem. No offense taken! That’s the same video that i’ve been listening to and I did not hear those words being said by Richt. My hearing has suffered over the years and maybe I’m just not hearing it.
Every step scrutinized...
October 20th, 2011
10:08 am
Have any of you homers ever considered whether or not you’d like the job at UGA? That way, you’d realize when you point a finger at someone you’ve got three fingers pointed back at you.
Get your own lives in order lunatic fringe.
TallyDawg
October 20th, 2011
10:08 am
I usually like for Georgia to receive the ball first in the second half, but in this game I think it might be worth considering taking the ball first to cut out one first half possession for the Gators against our “suspended” defense. Plus if we can go down and score and apply pressure by getting a lead, maybe it will take the Gators out of a game plan of trying to wear our inner defense (Jenkins) out and we can play with a “fast lineup”
G-Dawg
October 20th, 2011
10:09 am
I agree with Destin Dawg….theres a conflict of coaching interests in Grantham and Richt. Doubt Grantham stays…someone will come along and scoop him up..or resign to play under a head coach who has a pair!! I dont condone fighting in football…but this wasnt a Miami brawl…or a Garrett Leblount situation. The hit on Geathers was extremely extremely obvious…and Richt should have stepped up!! Grantham did instead..and got chastized for it. Its true we dont know whats going on behind closed doors…but Franklin should have never gone after another teams player. He didnt follow the code of conduct…so why shouldthe Dawgs get punished for his instigating actions and low class coaching tactics? Much of this falls on the responsibility of the referees in the game…they should be suspended for lack of gameday institutional control!!! MIKE SLIVE…how much are you getting paid by Trooper Taylor??
ugab
October 20th, 2011
10:10 am
MR should have went over and talked to the defense during the Vandy game. MR should have talked the special teams during the Vandy game. Get the team fired up. Expect the unexpected!!! Let the other team get the personal fouls. Take one 4 the team!! Why don’t we have a Special Teams coach? Meyer used to coach his Special teams. Why aren’t we kicking the ball DEEP IN THE ENDZONE? Walsh did it in Athens. Boykin did not get any blocks on kickoffs in the vandy game.
Delbert D.
October 20th, 2011
10:11 am
MarineDog – I used my Apple iPod earphones, and it is clear what was said by Coach Richt in response to Coach Franklin. I can’t make it out on the tiny laptop speakers that have limited frequency response.
Mr. Bitter
October 20th, 2011
10:11 am
Every step scrutinized… Ok Moron, I’ll take Richt’s job anytime. Are you offerring? I’d like to make millions of dollars for less than 20 days of work a year. Goodbye tax dollars.
Disgusted Dawg
October 20th, 2011
10:12 am
This Florida game won’t be a chess match, it will be an epic beat-down. That’s probably a good thing.
After we lose to both Florida and Auburn, maybe the haze will finally clear in Athens and we’ll realize that we’ve been chasing our own tails supporting this loser coaching staff.
Wake up Dawg Nation! We almost lost to Vandy and we made a public spectacle of our football program with our classless celebration of this near loss. Our team has zero class and zero discipline. We’re so far past due for a major change that it is no longer funny.
Matthews Dawg
October 20th, 2011
10:13 am
JB….you are exactly correc with your comments! I will read your comments over others because you have called CMR out at times and praised him at times! So now, let all the other posers JB’s start signing in under your blog name.
I-81… you summed it all up well!! Great job!!
Go Dawgs and all of you “turn the page”!!
jc_dawgs
October 20th, 2011
10:14 am
good to be in the thick of the sec race. Not worried about The suspensions. Big John and Sanders are very good and we will be fine in the 1st half vs Florida. But…dont take them lightly. Ga’s 4 conf wins are against opponents who are 1-13 in the conference.
Notice though….when big John is in at the nose…..it sure does get a lot toughter for our opponents to run against us.
Georgia Nation!
October 20th, 2011
10:17 am
I can’t wait for us to win the SECCG! Then it’s on to Nawleans!
Sugar is falling from the sky people!!!
We’re #1
Yay!!!
kingsfoil
October 20th, 2011
10:18 am
Lyam hound,
I didn’t see much cut blocking either. But I did see Vandy players throwing punches on that kickoff return where Williams got one of his flags. It was so obvious on the replay as to make me wonder how on earth the refs only threw one flag.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 20th, 2011
10:20 am
People Richt isnt going to sniff a National Championship here
In 2005 He won the the SEC championship albeit losing to FL again but was down 28-0 against West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl and lost that
In 2008 with the best offense ever to step on the field at UGA (Stafford, Moreno, Greene, Masequoi) he couldnt even get a field goal against Alabama in the first half being down 31-0 and blown out by FL again a few weeks later
SORRY PEOPLE THIS COACHING STAFF COULDNT WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP IF THEY HAD THE BEST PLAYERS FROM THE LAST 3 SUPERBOWL TEAMS ON 1 Roster. Period
Let me re-phrase couldnt even play in the game much less win it
Mako
October 20th, 2011
10:21 am
Grantham all you’ve gotta do is insert a 3rd teamer or 2 and have them take cheap shot at UF runningbacks knees as a play ends…the insert some other 3rd teams to take out the QB and so on. I mean what the heck, Slive, will only suspend ‘em for 1/2 game the next week. You can afford this everyweek.
A Different Story Now
October 20th, 2011
10:23 am
@kingsfoil
Funny that none of the Georgia fans noticed that during the game: http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2011/10/15/live-another-win-keeps-georgia-in-sec-east-hunt/?cp=all#comments
Vandy didn’t play dirty – until after Coach Grantham embarrassed the entire Dawg Nation on national TV. Now it’s a different story. Funny how that happens.
JB
October 20th, 2011
10:23 am
@Matthews:
There’s definitely more than one JB around here.
Thomas Brown
October 20th, 2011
10:24 am
treyingeorgia October 20th, 2011 8:05 am
So, it’s ok or not ok for our head football coach to call one of His Scholarship Recruits, His Starting Strong Safety, who played in all 13-games last season, out of Early County in Damascus GA where he was coached by Coach Trey Woo a Rivals.com # 2 best Safety in the entire State of Georgia and # 24 best Safety Nationally, a student in Good Standing at The University of Georgia, making good grades, a DUMB*** ?
I appreciate the fact that you agree with me on everything else, and I just only require some clarification, that it is ok for our football coach to call this student at my alma mater, a DUMB***, ? treyingeorgia ? And, Mark Richt owes this student no public apology for it, other than his wimp retort that he regrets the profanity – still leaving Shawn Williams a student in good standing at my alma mater a DUMB*** That’s ok for our football coach to go around calling his students DUMB*** without PUBLIC APOLOGY for it, sir, treyingeorgia ?
Delbert D.
October 20th, 2011
10:26 am
Good thing that Muschamp has the bye week to piece together a team. I have no idea what the offense is going to look like.
Well, Thomas Brown
October 20th, 2011
10:26 am
If the shoe fits…
KD
October 20th, 2011
10:27 am
@differentstorynow, you did not answer my question, but that figures. And ”taulting is a word. I do know this happens at every level, because I have been on the sidelines at every level and the trash talking does exists. Now if you cannot answer my question, then you need not to be on this blog, trying to answer questions, YOU BIG DUMMY !!!
This is just another example of Williams being a dirty player. In the video he cheapshots a UF receiver and then gets burned by Burton
October 20th, 2011
10:29 am
I hope someone chops Williams and ruins his punk career:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0357VcZfmE
GT is a 4th rate High School Team
October 20th, 2011
10:29 am
Yeah, it is Richt who better step up himself. He has let two good players hang to dry. If UGA lose this game, I doubt he survives even if he by luck still wins the SEC East this season. So it is all on him not on the players. If UGA wins it is because of the players. If UGA loses, it is solely on him.
Interested Observer
October 20th, 2011
10:30 am
So a comment made to an opposing coach, who was out of his mind livid and acting out, is selling out your coaches and players. You must not understand the role of Head Coach or CEO or President, you must difuse the situation until you recieve all of the facts, then move forward with what ever type of consequences that arrise. All CMR was doing is his job, difuse the situation, get your guys out of this situation and move on. So how about the rest of you nut jobs do that MOVE ON!
How Stupid are these Losers?
October 20th, 2011
10:31 am
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/taulting
Mako
October 20th, 2011
10:31 am
KD…I’m not a mental midgit like you…did you men “taunting or taulting”…I hope for your sake it’s a typo and you meant TAUNTING
Mako
October 20th, 2011
10:32 am
men = mean
TampaDawg
October 20th, 2011
10:33 am
Truth, the problem as I stated yesterday, is very seldom will there ever be articles written saying “Mark Richt marches in SEC presidents office and throws down for his player” .. in other words, we have NO WAY of knowing what he did or didn’t do to defend his players.
@A different story, a great point was made about the Joe Pa story but you avoid that. The point being that they are treated differently and for no legitimate reason. Bottom line is this though, you are just a troll who hasn’t made ONE legitimate point on here. You are a bottom feeder who won’t even own up to who your team is (probably tech again) so congratulations for showing such weakness even when hiding behind your computer.
ARdawg
October 20th, 2011
10:33 am
Marine Dawg
If I had heard it I’d be calling for Richt’s butt now. I’ve tried and tried. I can’t make it out. Although he was mighty consoling to Franklin, I can not discern what he said. I challenge anyone who says they can
Mako
October 20th, 2011
10:33 am
My Gosh…my typo puts me into the mental runt class….oh no, help me!
GT is a 4th rate High School Team
October 20th, 2011
10:36 am
Yeah UF fan, how about the eye gougers. Yeah UF football players are angels. Illegal hits, holds and blocks are very common during games, there are just coaches like your beloved Meyer who can hide them well.
DJ Dawg
October 20th, 2011
10:36 am
@ARdawg
I agree. I have tried and cant make it out either. But the numbnuts were quick to throw up words trying to show what they think he said!!
How Stupid are these Losers?
October 20th, 2011
10:40 am
@Mako
KD can’t help it. He’s just a curio.
G-Dawg
October 20th, 2011
10:40 am
Only changes I’ve seen this year…Defense playing much better, but hard to disconcern if its schedule or talent. And increased playing time of Freshmen, but is that because lack of depth, or increase of depth?
Other than that, same mental issues…lack of discipline…still not closing games out strong…fans still divided!!
zbulldawg
October 20th, 2011
10:41 am
You happy now Chip Towers.Hope so !! Back to some positive It’s all good. We’ll be back at full strength after half. Anybody heard about Crowel’s wrist. Boy Richard did a good job filling in.He was a beast.The OL’s looking better every week.Them gators are going to be coming every play hoping for us to make a mistake. To help there offense.I hope we come out spread so we can run them ragged.We will have all our receivers back.I think it helps when Murray starts quick in the passing game.The offense also seems to get fired up when he tucks and runs some.Muschamp will be aggressive trying to stop the run to force us in 3rd and long.It would be great to see us run an option.Please get the special teams on track. GO DAWGS
GT is a 4th rate High School Team
October 20th, 2011
10:43 am
So you think it is right to defuse conflicts by hanging dry your own players????? That is really a good way to get their loyalty and improve morale.
Brandon Spikes
October 20th, 2011
10:44 am
4th rate high school, funny your whining fans always mention that but forget to say that Ealey said publicly I did not come close to his eyes. My favorite moment though is a tie between planting Meshon on his back and pick 6ing poor little 5 star Joe Cox. Humpers amaze me!
Delbert D.
October 20th, 2011
10:46 am
Franklin: “Yeah, rubbing our face in it, right after the game.”
Richt: “He’s a dumb***.” and nods his head.
Use earphones.
Delbert D.
October 20th, 2011
10:47 am
This topic has been beaten to death.
Thomas Brown
October 20th, 2011
10:50 am
Joey November 4th, 2010 9:09 pm
“if A.J. Green returns for a Senior season, I”m thinking not only SEC Title, but National Title!!!!!! Go Dawgs!!!!!”
_______________________________
Joey October 20th, 2011 8:27 am
“I can’t stand Richt anymore.”
_______________________________
2 of the most famous quotes ever, on this blog, both by the same poster a year apart. What does this tell you, please ? I submit that Mark Richt is in MORE HOT WATER at this moment than he has EVER been in, that he has LOST his base of support. Tick, Tick, Tick…
MarineDog
October 20th, 2011
10:50 am
That’s the reason why I asked that question. He’s being taken to task and all he did was try to diffuse a situation before it got even worse. Can you imagine if he would have told Franklin that he was wrong? He could have said, “I will check into it”, but based on the quality of this video, we probably wouldn’t have been able to hear him say that as well.
MarineDog
October 20th, 2011
10:52 am
this topic has been beaten to death. Anybody interested in talking about the upcoming game?
GT is a 4th rate High School Team
October 20th, 2011
10:55 am
@Brandon Spikes, if there was no helmet, you would have reached his eyes.
GT is a 4th rate High School Team
October 20th, 2011
10:58 am
@Brandon Spikes, trying to hurt somebody is criminal enough whether you successful or not.
tenndawg
October 20th, 2011
10:58 am
Still waiting on Gary to explain why UGA should settle on being a middle of the road team? What? You don’t think Athens is a great a place as Tuscaloosa?
We will NEVER be a NC team again until the Gary’s of the school realize that we too can win a NC… but not with Richt.