First sight of RB signee Keith Marshall brings grin to Mark Richt’s face
A lot of news and notes coming out of the Georgia football camp on Monday, starting with Brandon Boykin being named the recipient of the 2011 Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player. I’m in the process of putting together a notebook for tomorrow’s newspaper. But, in the meantime, following is a quick summary of the information and quotes that came out of today’s season-wrapup teleconference call with Georgia coach Mark Richt. Enjoy . . .
MARK RICHT
On 5-star running back signee Keith Marshall, an early enrollee who began classes at UGA on Monday:
“He’s a very talented young man. He’s very focused. As a matter of fact, I walked into the meeting last night and he had a playbook in his hand and he was looking over assignments. It just gave me a moment to grin seeing how excited he was about being at Georgia.
“I’m sure he’s a little nervous, too, like a lot of guys. I remember my first night I spent away from home. There’s a little bit of anxiety, but it’s mixed in there with a lot of excitement.”
On what running backs have to do to play better:
“I think the biggest thing will be consistency and maturity. That’s what we have got to get. We played a lot of inexperienced running backs. Those guys have gained some experience and hopefully because of that they will become more mature players and more consistent players. I think that’s going to be the two most important things for me. And as always the fundamental things such as ball security and pass protection are important. We have to do a better job than we have in that area this year.”
On the Bulldogs’ two other early enrollees, quarterback Faton Bauta and offensive lineman Mark Beard:
“Pronounce this man’s name properly . . . it’s Fuh-TONE BOW-tuh. He’s a quarterback for us. Faton is here as well, as is Mark Beard, an offensive lineman for us. Those guys were here at the team meeting last night. They got a chance to introduce themselves to their teammates and got a round of applause from their teammates. They did a good job of welcoming them. And now they’re going to class and getting ready for the off-season program.” [Added that Bauta will definitely play quarterback)
On off-season priorities for trying to get to the next level:
- "I think there's no doubt that we've got to be a whole lot better on special teams top to bottom. We went through some growing pains with some young guys. We kind of bit the bullet with some true freshmen and some inexperienced guys. But, you know, the good news is they will be a year better. And we will make sure all hands are on deck as far special teams. Whatever it takes. We as coaches also have to review everything we do and make sure we feel very confident that we're doing the right things with the right personnel. That's going to be big for us.
- "We also want to create as much depth as we possibly can so we can continue to try to finish better.
- "We definitely want to be able to run the ball extremely well. That's going to be a big challenge for us breaking in some new linemen offensively.
- "Even defensively we've got to make sure we can finish the games like we start them."
On satisfaction of the 10-4 season:
"I think we came a long way this year. I'm proud of the effort. I'm proud of the progress. But we're still on a journey to do even greater things and that's going to be the goal."
On whether coaching staff will remain intact:
"I certainly hope so. I've had no indication otherwise. I guess I'll just leave it at that. I've heard nothing at all."
On whether sophomore quarterback Hutson Mason will return next season:
"I've talked to Hutson a couple of times and I'm not sure he's 100 percent settled on what he's going to do at this moment. But when that time comes we'll let everybody know."
On decisions of tight end Orson Charles and some other underclassmen to enter the NFL draft or not:
"We had a team meeting last night and all those guys were there. That doesn't guarantee everybody's going to stay, but at least they were all there. I guess it means they aren't 100 percent sure what they're going to do. When is everybody going to decide and have some finality to it? I don't know. Certainly they have to have it by the deadline. I think there's some guys who's heads are spinning still and they're not 100 percent sure what they're going to do.
"There's a bunch of them staying, but I can't sit here and say every guy has nailed it down."
On decision of sophomore cornerback Jordan Love to transfer:
"I just want to say that I really appreciate everything Jordan contributed to Georgia. He's a great kid and I really wish him well." [Knows of no one else leaving]
On whether they’ll sign full allotment of 25 scholarships in recruiting:
“That’s the hope. We’ll see. There’s a lot of things to do and there’s still a lot of great players out there. There’s a lot of decisions to be made. We’re just working our tails off trying to finish this class off as best we can. We’re going to have to wait and see if we get the full allotment or not. But we’ll be shooting for it.”
Goals for 2012 season:
“As always, we want to compete in such a way and prepare in such a way that we’ve got a chance to win every time we go out there. The goals aren’t going to change. We want to win the East. If you win the East and you win the SEC, you’ve got a shot at the next one. So, you know, that’s not going to change for us.”
ALSO:
Offensive lineman Trinton Sturdivant is not expected to return for a sixth season. . . . No changes forthcoming in Strength & conditioning. . . . Spring practice will begin the week after UGA’s spring break [around March 19). . . . Richt favors the $2,000 stipend for student-athletes.
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251 comments Add your comment
JB
January 9th, 2012
6:36 pm
Smart, you think Bama puts 24 on that D?
evil empire
January 9th, 2012
6:36 pm
the new “winter wonderland” flavored kool-ade seems to be a big hit…you ugatards are sure drinking it up…hear the “pre season nat champ nectar” is on schedule for bottling beginning january 15th…just in time for that early pre season nat championship talk…losers…
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 9th, 2012
6:37 pm
LSU is the team I would like to see win. So many Tide Trolls make it impossible to pull for them.
evil empire
January 9th, 2012
6:39 pm
just so you know…LSU 25…Bama 13…Rueben Randle MVP…
JB
January 9th, 2012
6:39 pm
Richt knows what Mason will do , but won’t say. He knows that he hasn’t or won’t sniff the field under this staff for 2 more years unless it’s 2 minutes of mop up duty. Color Mason gone.
4.29 GPA
January 9th, 2012
6:39 pm
fa-TONE Tebow-like.
Funny.
He’s going to complete 45 percent of his passes in the NFL, be delcared the GPOE, should be Fullback, tell everyone to wait before the start of the Wonderlic Test and tell them they cannot take the Wonderlic before they all Pray with him first, get down on his hands and knees after every great play not against Georgia (against us he Gator Chomped), sit on the sidelines the last 3 games in a row losses with his face in his hands and his shoulders slumping clearly NOT PRAYING, rely on Denver’s Defense to win the games, tell everyone that as mothers they cannot decide themselves that he must decide for them that none of them ever for any reason can have an abortion ?
We got Tebow ?
I mean fa-TONE ?
Beast from the East
January 9th, 2012
6:40 pm
JB,
I say LSU by 3 (16-13).
Geaux Tigers!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
6:41 pm
We had a great year
All the ball players finished reading Energy Vampires
We had another Uniform change
We beat no top 20 teams again
And we come up with a new slogan this year “We are knocking on the door to greatness”
Last years slogan was “‘dream team”
FurryDawg
January 9th, 2012
6:41 pm
We have been SUPER sloppy on offense.
Offense:
32 sacks. QB has to release quickly in SEC.
11 fumbles lost.
14 interceptions.
6.5 negative rush plays per game (gave up 90+ tackles for loss)
Imagine if we could clean that up.
Beast from the East
January 9th, 2012
6:42 pm
“LSU is the team I would like to see win. So many Tide Trolls make it impossible to pull for them.”
Lowcountry,
See the post above yours for proof that all fanbases have them. Of course, Bama does have an abnormal amount…..LOL!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 9th, 2012
6:43 pm
Also if Mason transfers I hope he goes to UTC. They have a nice running QB in Robinson but Coleman excelled in Russ Huesmans offense. UTC is certainly a program on the rise.
JB
January 9th, 2012
6:43 pm
Beast, what about this class Bama is putting together. 26 commits and still 8 offers out there?
Fact….the last two years, there have been 26 medical red shirts in the SEC combined….12 ARE FROM BAMA. you figure it out.
FurryDawg
January 9th, 2012
6:44 pm
Like the tre amigos of Lemay, Mitchell, Marshall. Going to win a lot of games once those 3 get on the field together.
evil empire
January 9th, 2012
6:45 pm
something we can agree on lowcountry…coleman projected by kiper as maybe 5th round sleeper in draft…go mocs!
4.29 GPA
January 9th, 2012
6:45 pm
Furry Funny
Did you read Mark Richt just wish-away all the issues of the team by saying he was going to fix them within ?
You want the list, son ?
Mark Richt has eleventy-billion times said the same thing about Aaron Murray’s sacks, fumbles and interceptions. Mike Bobo too. Aaron Murray 3.
And, what do we get ?
Mark Richt said it again ?
You believe it, of course, because Mark Richt is a Christian.
Mark Richt.
Uh, huh.
I buy that.
4.29 GPA
January 9th, 2012
6:46 pm
NOT !
FurryDawg
January 9th, 2012
6:48 pm
Team committed 6.5 penalities per game, against ranked teams (11th nin SEC).
Just not playing smart football:
Penalties, fumbles lost, interceptions, sacks, messy.
evil empire
January 9th, 2012
6:48 pm
12 noon wednesday at the roundhouse…utc vs. wofford…get out there and support the mocs…
Beast from the East
January 9th, 2012
6:49 pm
JB,
I think he oversigns, but he’s getting away with it. It won’t stop until the other AD’s demand it, but so far not a peep out of anyone as far as I know.
On the other hand, I sometimes wonder if he really is doing this medical redshirt deal, then why do kids keep flocking to Bama? Word would spread by now, so maybe most of it is legit.
Either way, Saban is one heckuva a recruiter.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
6:49 pm
Lemay; Mitchill and Marshall going to win a bunch of games
LOL
Yea
Just like Stafford, Moreno, Green, and Masoqoui did under Richt and Bobo
oh
And Stafford rarely had a 300 yrd passing game under Richt; sure funny how thats not the case in the NFL against real defenses throwing for 5000 yds this year
evil empire
January 9th, 2012
6:50 pm
jb, bama has rough practices…expect more injuries…
FurryDawg
January 9th, 2012
6:50 pm
Self preservation will set in with Richt eventually, and over rule his lack of common sense.
Then, out of depseration, he’ll have to open up competition at QB. Just can’t have the QB turning the ball over so many times against South Carolina last 2 years, SEC East opponent. If Murray starts melting down again against South Carolina for thye 3rd straight year, Richt will pull him pretty early, before the game gets out of hand.
paint
January 9th, 2012
6:51 pm
not a fan of the pass first spread. but this is a great read and a good explanation of having the vision to put the right personnel in the right situation, and through coaching and repitition, make it instinctive.
http://bit.ly/gWk2AF
JB
January 9th, 2012
6:51 pm
Dawgs 2012…………..10-2 and another Outback Bowl…The 2 losses will come from this two of this group…..Mizzoui, SC,Fla,AU……
FurryDawg
January 9th, 2012
6:52 pm
I didn’t say they’d set indivisual records, they don’t care about that, but Lemay, Marshall, and Mitchell, the tres amigos, will WIN a lot of games playing POISED SMART football.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 9th, 2012
6:52 pm
If it is a noon game at the Roundhouse unfortunately they may be lucky to get 500 people watching it. The BB team deserves much more support.
JB
January 9th, 2012
6:53 pm
Yep Beast, it’s envy. The guy wins. He’s done it everywhere ( colleges)
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 9th, 2012
6:53 pm
Beast-unquestionable yes!
evil empire
January 9th, 2012
6:54 pm
i think mizzou definitely gets them…first sec game, at home…look out, especially if they go ahead early…they have the better qb too…
Tater Tot
January 9th, 2012
6:54 pm
Dawg fan here. I am gonna go with Bama for tonight.
RHall55
January 9th, 2012
6:55 pm
CMR: 1) Interesting to see what happens w/ J Jenkins 2night!! If he disses UGA then it is time for UGA to revamp their recruiting!! AL has a recruiting staff and is kicking butt!! LEARN FROM THE BEST!! 2) Start the search for a new OC; Bobo, the QB Coach, as well on the Recruiting Staff!! If it ain’t working, gotta change it; beating top 20 Teams!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
6:56 pm
I understand you said win a bunch of games
Did Stafford Moreno Green and MoMass do anything great under Richt and Bobo Nope
They lost the 2 to 3 games every year just like every team under this coaching staff does
JB
January 9th, 2012
6:59 pm
The devil is in the details for UGA recruiting our own state. This state produces about 150 real D1 prospects every year, and about 15-20 of those are pure blue chip, go where I wanna go type players. Richt needs to improve his numbers with THAT group. We get 3-6 of those kids and we need to get 7-10 of them. Over a 4 year period, that’s 20 more really good “Boykin-Jarvis Jones” types in the program. That’s a game changer.
4.29 GPA
January 9th, 2012
7:01 pm
LSU fans were obnoxious. They never read the posts of any blog. They typed away and left, like NYCDAWGFAN.
Alabama fans ?
Alabama fans told it like it is.
Every single one of them.
They read your posts and told you what is.
You just didn’t like what is.
Guess what ?
They were RIGHT AS RAIN.
Bama wins. Where is my bowl pool. It is down to me and 1 other. The extra questions at the bottom of the bowl pool read points I said 34. Total TD by both teams I said 2. Now, that I look at the question we could have an issue on the wording of that. How many field goals does Bama miss ? I put 1. Boise State points scored, I put 64. (Then, Climpsum Farmers got 70 hung on them.)
70
I thought ACC Clempsum Farmers were great this year ?
Huh ?
Go Bama !
SEC 8 BCS National Championship Games, 8 Won.
Eat your hearts out you sorry little nothing 1-team conferences or depending on the competing conference, 2-team conference. Read an AJ-C “sportswriter” write today in my paper they through half-way down my driveway late this morning that The SEC
“actually has not diminished itself by having 5 different teams win The BCS NC Title Game of the 8 wins.”
What a hoot.
That is what makes The SEC, The SEC.
vols 1
Bama will be 2 tonight
LSU 2 one of which is Les
Auburn – better with Chizik than Richt here same timeframe
Florida GPOE played in 2 (should’ve QB, not FB)
but that’s college
Hey where is the 4th best football coach in America ?
8 SEC NC and the 4th best football coach in America ain’t got 1 ?
Hose job
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
7:04 pm
JB
Richt can improve those numbers by….
Beating top 20 teams every year, not once every 3 yrs
Beating your main rival FL more than once every 4 yrs and beating a good FL team not one that is down
Beating every team in the SEC East for once since he has never done that; Spurrier did this year at SC; SC can you believe that but not at UGA
Also having a big time win more than once in 6 years
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
7:05 pm
JB
If he does that those kids will want to come to UGA… just like those California kids want to go to USC because they WIN and WIN big
sgadawg
January 9th, 2012
7:08 pm
UGA Coach’s please read this text taken from a yahoo article about Denver.
“Football is an aggressive game, a combative game,” Broncos coach John Fox said more than an hour after the game as he mingled with family members outside the locker room. “You can’t play it careful. You can’t play it hesitant. You’ve got to pull the trigger.”
Vampire Bill
January 9th, 2012
7:09 pm
Richt is loyal to a fault. Murray will be a 4 year starter and Bobo is here to stay. CMR will not gamble or experiment at all. Straight as an arrow all the way. CMR won’t play a hunch or gut feeling. He’ll see Murray’s stats and Bobo’s ppg average which compare favorably to anything in recent history and that’s that.
JB
January 9th, 2012
7:09 pm
We went from 6-7 to 10 -2 and Richt calls it a very good year. That’s the problem.
JB
January 9th, 2012
7:10 pm
sgadawg…………….I read that today and though the very damn same thing.
JB
January 9th, 2012
7:11 pm
s/b thought the same thing
sgadawg
January 9th, 2012
7:14 pm
JB…. just reading it gets me pumped lol
Jay Dawg
January 9th, 2012
7:19 pm
Offensive line has to improve next year to be successful. Maybe McGarity will make the decision for Richt to demote Bobo to QB coach. Play calling way too conservative and predictable.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
7:21 pm
sgadawg
You think might could post that on here everyday
Maybe Richt and Bobo might see it and think about it that
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 9th, 2012
7:22 pm
FSN getting ready to do a segment on Marshall. Jenkins yet to go on air and announce his college. They also spoke very highly of OL Theus and showed some monster footage of him dominating. Also spoke of Avery Young and how they thought AU and UGA where the front runners for him.
JRW7
January 9th, 2012
7:36 pm
WELCOME KEITH MARSHALL!!!!!
tell me again
January 9th, 2012
7:37 pm
Auburn just hired Brian Van Gorder as their defensive Coordinator…………
Jacket99
January 9th, 2012
7:37 pm
Any word yet on what Marshall plans to major in? With a 4.3 GPA he could probably study whatever he wants. I’m curious if he will major in something like Pharmacy or Veterinary Medicine or any other major that is not typical for football players. Sounds like a good kid. Good job Coach Richt and good luck to Marshall, except for the last regular season game.
Lots of whiners on here
January 9th, 2012
7:38 pm
Scared to death that the Dogs are going to be taking no prisoners next year.
About drug tests, UGA and UK already have the toughest disciplinary measures in the SEC. Only schools that make a player sit out on first failure. Players on other schools can flunk a test and the public would never know it. Have to fail a second one before any games are missed.
Old Dog
January 9th, 2012
7:40 pm
“Saban is one heckuva a recruiter”
I would think it is easier to recruit to a top-tier WINNING team. Harder to get people to come to a second-tier program that can barelt win over easy opponents.