Q&A: LB Alec Ogletree ‘very anxious to get back out there’ for Bulldogs
This is one of the last shots we saw of Alec Ogletree, getting the defensive call from the sideline in Georgia's Nike Pro Combat uniform at the Georgia Dome. (UGA photo)
Q&A WITH ALEC OGLETREE
Alec Ogletree was the toast of the offseason for the Georgia Bulldogs. Going back to spring practice and all the way through preseason, the experiment of moving the 6-foot-3, 240-pound sophomore from strong safety to inside “Mo” linebacker was said to be an unmitigated success. Coaches and teammates spoke in excited anticipation of the havoc Ogletree was going to wreak playing down close to the line of scrimmage in the middle of the Georgia’s 3-4 defense. “He was practicing extremely well,” coach Mark Richt said. “He was making most of the tackles and he was doing it with some enthusiasm and some physicality. He has the ability to knock people back and he has the ability to run sideline-to-sideline and he has the ability to cover well. He has all the tools.”
But all the air from that balloon was sucked out just two defensive series into the season opener against Boise State. Ogletree broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot in the first quarter. The break was confirmed on X-rays right there at the Georgia Dome and Ogletree has been sidelined ever since.
Make that WAS sidelined. The former AJC Super 11 selection and 5-star prospect was cleared for practice last week. Sunday night, Richt announced that Ogletree would in fact start his first game back next Saturday against Florida in Jacksonville. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham left little doubt that would be the case upon watching Ogletree negotiate his first full-contact practice last week. “It was exciting,” Grantham said with a rare grin. “He looked good. I was fired up.” Here’s a what Ogletree had to say about the injury ordeal and his feelings as he prepares to come back against the Gators:
Q: What exactly happened to break your foot?
A: “I just stepped and tried to turn and run and my foot didn’t turn with me. It just stayed there and popped.”
Q: Do you think it was those new Nike Pro combat shoes?
A: “I don’t really know. It was bound to happen from what the doctors told me. It just happened to happen then.”
Q: I heard you actually played a while with your foot broken. That true?
A: “I played two series with it broken. When I did it, I just started saying, ‘man, I think I broke my foot.’ I tried to shake it off but as play kept going I knew I had actually done something bad to it. I was telling all the guys, ‘I think I broke my foot.’ They were just yelling, ’shake it off, man!’ But I could tell it was bad.”
Q: What was going through your mind when you realized you were seriously injured?
A: “I was devastated actually. I’d never been injured to the point I was sidelined for a long period of time. So it was kind of hard for me. But at the same time I knew I had guys who could back me up and step in and play. And that’s what they’ve been doing, so it really hasn’t been a problem.”
Q: Any concerns whatsoever with the foot now?
A: “No. I don’t feel any pain at all. I just try not to think about it and just go out there and play.”
Q: What did you think of the job Mike Gilliard, Amarlo Herrera, Jeremy Sulek and those guys did in your absence?
A: “I had great confidence in what we could do because of how hard we worked in the offseason and how guys had a different state of mind than last year, the work ethic and stuff. They did a wonderful job as far as stepping into play for both me and Christian [Robinson]. So I give big ups to the guys for that. I mean, I didn’t think ‘Mike G’ was going be SEC Player of the Week, but I knew he could play. So that part wasn’t a surprise. Amarlo stepped up real good for us, too.”
Q: They have played awfully well. Are you worried how you might fit back in?
A: “That’s up to the coaches. Everybody is still going to come out and work hard. No position is given to you around here, so you’ve got to work for it. And that’s what I’m going to do. Each and every day, all four of us, me, Christian, Mike G and Amarlo, we’re going to go out there and work every day, whether I’m starting or he’s starting or whoever’s starting.”
Q: Any discussion of you playing some strong safety with Shawn Williams out for the first half?
A: “No, I don’t think so. I’m just trying to get back into the flow of things at linebacker.”
Q: You and Cornelius Washington both come back this week, but y’all lose Williams and Kwame Geathers for a half. Has it been frustrating not being able to have the full defensive complement on the field for this team?
A: “Like I’ve said, each of the 11 positions on this defense, everybody’s got backups that can step into play any time. So with them coming out I know we’ve got guys that can back them up.”
Q: How eager are you to play again in a real game?
A: “I’m very anxious to get back out there in a game and get going again. I’ve been out so long, right now I’m just trying to work on my conditioning and trying to jell back with the defense. I just want to help my team the best I can.”
|– Chip Towers
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367 comments Add your comment
sunny purdue
October 24th, 2011
9:06 am
Weis > Grantham
Muschamp > Bobo
Gators win big – again.
PaulPaul
October 24th, 2011
9:06 am
Thomas Brown
It is a shame you share a name with one of our toughest and best Bulldogs. Your negativity is a bit overboard. I have been a Bulldog since 1966 when I started professional school there. I have seen ups and downs in this program and it seems we are on the right track once again. We have problems just like any college program. These are mostly 18 to 22 year old young men who are still learning about life and football. Sometimes they do well and sometimes not so much.
I am no blind homer. We need better special team coaching, better red zone planning and a lot more discipline with penalty situations. All things that can hopefully be corrected.
It would be nice to come to these blogs and not have people like you spewing continual negativity with nothing positive. Having played this game I understand how tough it.can be.
This weekend should start a new era in the series with Florida. I look forward to a Bulldog win.
c
October 24th, 2011
9:07 am
hey buzzzzzzzzz…………..LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only losers bring up SAT scores on a football blog! I’m glad you guys can lose with honor. It happens more often than the winning. LOL!
DIT
October 24th, 2011
9:08 am
techies are so predictable. They go back to their normal losing ways and out comes the “we are smarter than you” garbage.
Funny thing about it Buzzzzz is that you probably were not one those that got an education from tech. You just don’t have anything else to fall back on so you go there.
News for you. It’s a football blog, not an education blog. Now go back to the cooking blog where you belong.
ga gator
October 24th, 2011
9:10 am
DawginLex I agree with your post. UF is down emotionally after being physically whipped against UA and LSU and poor offensive play against AU. If Brantley plays; 27-24 UGA. If Brantley is out 31-10 UGA.
Joey
October 24th, 2011
9:12 am
Our OC and OL are the keys. And you better believe Brantley and Demps will be on the field.
If the OL does its job, and Bobo calls plays like he did vs SC, we should get the lead. But if we get up by 10 pts, is Bobo gonna sit on it, and start his famous 3-and-outs?
Rich better put his own foot on the gas and hold it down. Lose this game and all the support he’s been getting flies out the window on the way back to Athens.
Joey
October 24th, 2011
9:16 am
Man, I hope Walsh makes his first one – you know he’ll get 4 or 5 chances Saturday . . .
TampaDawg
October 24th, 2011
9:16 am
So between Thomas Brown the clown and Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz idiot with accusations and no facts, it’s hard to tell which one is the bigger idiot. I say both. They are both Tech fans who have nothing better to do than bash UGA, but TB gets the bigger nod because he poses as a Dawg fan .. how lame.
Destin Dawg
October 24th, 2011
9:17 am
Come on Richt/BoBo…. let Grantham’s FIRE rub off on the Offense,.. killer instinct… run from the I formation.., throw passes to the TE’s for 1st downs…. go on 4th and and foot.. in the red zone… play aggressive… trickeration once in a while… Grantham’s Junk Yard Dawg defense has your back … Go Dawgs… Beat Fla….
Unbiased Observer
October 24th, 2011
9:20 am
UGA should win handily; the only thing UF has in it’s favor is Aaron Murray in big games and Mike Bobo’s play calling.
Palm City Dawg
October 24th, 2011
9:26 am
JUNKYARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JUNKYARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JUNKYARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JUNKYARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JUNKYARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DrDawg
October 24th, 2011
9:28 am
No Mercy.
UGAfan
October 24th, 2011
9:31 am
Thomas Brown = WASTE OF CARBON! SHUT UP and FIND ANOTHER TEAM!!! We’re all sick of you!!!
piermontdawgny
October 24th, 2011
9:32 am
just win baby
just win baby
just win baby
DePort
October 24th, 2011
9:32 am
@ BUZZZZZZZ …. Hey … last time I checked. .. GT had some major sanctions dropped on their program … Sooo how could you even say anything about UGA ????
AltamahaDawg
October 24th, 2011
9:33 am
I think I broke my finger, but I’m going to try to blog this week anyway.
piermontdawgny
October 24th, 2011
9:33 am
just win baby
bucket
October 24th, 2011
9:34 am
UGA will get a much different Florida team than what showed up to play against LSU and Auburn, so we should temper the talk about blowing them out. We need a win and I don’t care if it’s by 1 point. Brantley and Demps will be back because Muschamp can explain what happened against ALA, LSU, and Auburn, but he can’t let UGA back in this series and he knows it. I still think CMR has to win out to keep his job, but this game Saturday is the biggest so far in his career at UGA.
Also, there is no way you can afford to redshirt Tree with Florida, Auburn, and GT remaining on the schedule. Barring injury next year could be his last year @ UGA and you have to get more than 2 seasons out of a top recruit like Alec.
I-DOG
October 24th, 2011
9:35 am
Looking forward to having you back ‘Tree. Lead us to victory over the Gators
kybodawg
October 24th, 2011
9:40 am
lets hope the only thing fla wins this week is the coin toss.
DawginLex
October 24th, 2011
9:41 am
Thomas Brown suggesting that our best defender be redshirted before the biggest game of the year and before Richt’s biggest game ever shows us 2 things
1.) He wants UGA to lose and Mark Richt to fail
2.) He is an idiot
HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE SIR?
REDSHIRT OUR BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER??
With him in the game against Boise-ZERO points
The same Boise that will now play the LSU/Bama winner for the BCS title!!!
I am amazed at how much you hate Richt and how stupid you truly are.
Thomas Brown
October 24th, 2011
9:42 am
Yes, for heaven’s sake, by all means, just allow those who view 5 consecutive cupcakes, 6 with Saturday’s game – in nothing but positive view.
DawginLex
October 24th, 2011
9:46 am
Thomas
So you are in favor of redshirting our best defensive player?
And you believe this gives UGA the best chance to win?
Just so we can be clear as to your true agenda.
DawginLex
October 24th, 2011
9:48 am
Positive view?
How about, it is our next game?
We should want to win it.
You on the other hand, want Richt to lose and be fired.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
October 24th, 2011
9:49 am
UGA wins if:
Murray has 1 or less TOs
Crowell has 100+ yrds
Defense gets 3+ sacks
thats if Brantley plays or not
RedandBlackDawg
October 24th, 2011
9:50 am
B U Z Z Z ,
I’ll give you credit for one thing. It takes a lot of guts to come onto a UGA blog, spout the same old poop you always do, and with your team having been exposed as the losers they usually are. Why not stay on your own blogs for techies and offer them some of your divine wisdom as to why they are so good. This is a blog about football. I realize that the concept of good football escapes you, since you must be so buried in your calculus books, you don’t get time to form a good team, but you really need to watch some teams that do play football. Your jealousy is so apparent, it kind of makes you look like a buffoon, to keep spouting your B.S. negative crap about UGA, and not be able to produce a team, worthy of playing even in the mighty ACC. If all your rocket science football players, (and we all know, they are not that), can’t play as a team, perhaps it is your offensive game plan. How many major college programs are running the T.O. this year and winning? Got an answer for that. Don’t use tech. because you have now been exposed by two average teams in the ACC. Maybe it is those so high academic standards that prevent your coach from recruiting athletes needed to compete in your own conference. Maybe, it is people like you, who think you are superior because you go to a engineering school, that sour them them because they know the fan base, thinks they are so superior to everybody else. I keep tabs on a lot of the new scientific things happening at major universities, because, even though I am an old scientist who did not graduate from Tech. (Thank God) and I very seldom see anything new or innovative come from Tech. that makes the news. I see a lot of stuff from Cal. MIT., Standford and a few others but not Tech. Heavens forbid if you lose your ability to brag about Techs. accomplishments in the world of academics as well. You need to concentrate on your own school and stay away from targeting the school, that consistently hands your team it’s britches each game after thanksgiving. People don’t fill a stadium to see supposedly academic all Americans play football as you would like to be able to brag that you do. In fact, they don’t fill your stadium to watch your team, irrespective of academic standards at all. Using your premise and the results it brings, you must really be saying that smart people can’t play college ball. We all know that is not true, so Techs. lack of success for the most part must be do, to 1. Poor coaching, 2. Poor offensive game plan, 3. Smart guys can’t play football, 4. Poor calls by the refs, or most likely, 5. You are a small time school, with terrible fans that do not support their team, in a miserable location for a college.
GO DAWGS and GATA
ncdawg
October 24th, 2011
9:51 am
Must stop the boneheaded special teams play. Stop that and I believe UGA wins. Please treat every punt like it is a fake punt!
DawginLex
October 24th, 2011
9:53 am
Thomas Brown won’t answer me because he knows I have his agenda figured out.
Won’t answer a question that exposes his true agenda
That’s fine.
You keep on being miserable and I will keep on supporting my school
Top Row Dog
October 24th, 2011
9:58 am
It’s great to be a Gator hater.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
October 24th, 2011
10:00 am
You Dogs fans that bring up beating Nick Saban are so funny. Heck the East is so weak Ga State could tie for 1st this year. You dogs go and do your yearly choke job in Jax. I have to admit you have that part down. Perhaps Will can get his two smurfs ready to play but don’t dare mention Alabama punter around Demps otherwise he will go get under his bed. Youth is a good thing but only if their worth a sheet. remember Vandy and KY each year bring back 25 experinced players each year…LOL
G-Dawg
October 24th, 2011
10:00 am
BUZZZZZZZ OFF!!! this is a UGA football blog….nothing to do with scholastic or GT BS. With all that garbage, you should be able to read and comprehend where you belong…its obviously not here. Sad to see GT fans cant follow directions!!
Thomas Brown
October 24th, 2011
10:00 am
DawginLex October 7th, 2011 8:20 am
“2012 New coaching staff New starting QB”
“Murray is on the hot seat big time this week. No turnovers, run the ball and let our D do its thing, we win. Keep forcing throws and trying to do too much, turn the ball over, and we lose.”
DawginLex
October 24th, 2011
10:02 am
WEt wille
I read over my comments and missed where I said anything about Saban.
I guess you consider yourself a mind reader and thought I was going to say something about him.
We play florida next.
Muschamp is their coach
You better worry about beating LSU
Joey
October 24th, 2011
10:03 am
Thomas, maybe you could request that the SEC office change the second half of our schedule – maybe substitute LSU for KY? Bama for AU? Would that make you feel better?
The schedule is what it is. UGA can’t help it that MSU, UT, and UF aren’t playing so well this season.
At least this year we are beating the cupcakes, as compared to last season, when we didn’t always . . .
DawginLex
October 24th, 2011
10:04 am
So what?
What did I say that was not truth?
Richt is on the hot seat you idiot.
The difference between you and me is that I want the team to win and you want them to lose so your agenda is carried out-to get Richt fired.
Why won’t you answer my questions?
G-Dawg
October 24th, 2011
10:05 am
T.Brown just wastes blog space….copy and pastes the same stuff from week to week. Just move along…nothing to see here!!
Thomas Brown
October 24th, 2011
10:05 am
DawginLex August 31st, 2011 4:03 pm
“SC season”
“SC manages to beat ECU 31-30″
“Spurrier fixes more coffee. Increases 1st team reps for Shaw. Shaw starts UGA game and throws 4 picks, 2 returned for TD’s. Georgia 24 SC 14″
DawginLex
October 24th, 2011
10:07 am
You are one sick dude.
I’m done arguing with an idiot
Do us all a favor and turn in your diploma.
You are not worthy of being a DAWG
Thomas Brown
October 24th, 2011
10:08 am
DawginLex August 31st, 2011 2:11 pm
“Tennessee 20 florida 17″
“Kentucky 31 Florida 30″
Joey
October 24th, 2011
10:10 am
Lex – call the FBI.
You have a stalker . . .
RedandBlackDawg
October 24th, 2011
10:10 am
Lex,
Having watched a couple of games now of both Bama and LSU, I think LSU will beat Bama. bama has a terrific defense but so does LSU. The difference I feel that gives LSU the advantage, is I think their offense is much more versatile, and it appears to me, if you force Bama. to pass a lot, by shutting down Bamas. hesiman hopeful, LSU beats them.
If UGA wins the East, I think I would rather play Bama. for the conference in Atlanta, and not LSU. They are both fine teams and worthy of their BCS rankings, but LSU to me, looks like the best team in the land right now.
GO DAWGS and GATA
McDawg
October 24th, 2011
10:13 am
if there is an odd man out in the LB rotation–based on what i have seen this year–its C. Robinson-just not sure he is physical enough-wrestles too much w/ blocks instead of shedding them
but D is just about 2 deep and that will help us in 4th quarter where so many of these games have been lost
BTW have walsh kick it out of the end zone
JAWJeRDAWG
October 24th, 2011
10:15 am
Thomas, Thomas.
And what conceptional point are you trying to make in posting a repeat of DawginLex’s, or anyone’s past comments?
Does that have anything to do with the upcoming GA / FL game?
1eyedJack
October 24th, 2011
10:18 am
The worst thing about this Saturday is having to wait through Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to get to it. If there is any justice in this world we win this game.
bubba4dawgs
October 24th, 2011
10:23 am
Just remember, Auburn beat Florida. Not only do you owe Florida a whoopin that is waaaaaay overdue, you owe Auburn a whooping too from a nasty game they pulled last year with Nick Fairly trying to take out Murray. They’ll be between the hedges on your turf this time. Florida is now what it used to be even though they have some talent. Go in with the mindset that you are going to win, play hard! Remember, they are not invincible. They put their pants on the same way you do, one leg at a time! GO DAWGS!!!! Kick butt!!!!
bubba4dawgs
October 24th, 2011
10:23 am
Welcome back, Tree! Go get’em!!!
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA
October 24th, 2011
10:26 am
JUST BEAT FLORIDA,JUST BEAT FLORIDA,JUST BEAT GOTDANGIT FLORIDA I MEAN!
gomdawg
October 24th, 2011
10:28 am
Georgia 27 Florida 10 , just watch for reverses and trick plays that’s what I’m afraid of the most. Head to Head we win Georgia has a better team.
Tobias Funke
October 24th, 2011
10:28 am
Just. Win. The. Game.
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA
October 24th, 2011
10:32 am
COACH RICHT THIS IS THE GAME THAT DECIDES IF YOU KEEP YOUR JOB OR YOU GET FIRED AT THE END OF THE YEAR!