Recent dismissals, arrest leave Georgia with secondary concerns
The dismissal last week of three Georgia football players coupled with the legal trouble facing Sanders Commings has left put the Bulldogs in a pinch in the secondary.
Initially thought to be a team strength heading into the 2012 season, Georgia’s defensive backfield is suddenly left precariously thin and extremely vulnerable after head coach Mark Richt booted off the team Nick Marshall and Chris Sanders. Including the departure of three other defensive backs since the start of last season — Jakar Hamilton, Derek Owens and Jordan Love all left, allegedly of their own volition — that leaves the Bulldogs with just nine scholarship defensive backs heading into spring practice next month.
Included in that number is senior and starting cornerback Sanders Commings. However, Commings is not expected to be available for at least the first couple of games next season due to his arrest on a domestic violence/simple battery charge last month. Unless those charges end up getting dropped, Commings is likely looking at a suspension of at least two games.
Game 2 is, of course, on the road against pass-happy Missouri. The Tigers return starting quarterback James Franklin, leading receiver T.J. Moe and two other receivers with 20 or more catches from last season. Meanwhile, they added wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, the nation’s No. 1 overall recruiting prospect, on national signing day.
The Bulldogs will play most of the season with four senior starters — Commings and Branden Smith at the corners and Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams at the safeties. Rising sophomore Damian Swann figures to fill in for Commings. But Swann is likely to be the starting nickelback as well and, as we’ve seen, Georgia probably plays 66 percent of the time in its nickel package.
So which players will be the sixth and seventh defensive backs on the field for the Bulldogs is the real issue here. It will have to come from a group that includes sophomore safeties Marc Deas, Corey Moore and Quintavious Harrow, redshirt freshman Devin Bowman and true freshman and recent signee Sheldon Dawson of Memphis. Georgia also has several walkons in the secondary, including juniors Blake Sailors and Luis Capella and sophomore Connor Norman. But generally if you’re having to play walkons you’ve got problems.
The lack of depth could affect the Bulldogs in other places as well. Branden Smith, for instance, was expected to return kicks and take some snaps on offense. But the Bulldogs might need to weigh the risk of Smith multitasking against the possibility of injury and/or fatigue. They’re going to need Smith to play great on defense next season, first and foremost.
And what about Georgia’s defense beyond this season? Again, all four starters are seniors. Who are the cornerbacks of the future? Are they on campus yet? Are there some 2013 prospects that are good enough to come in and start in the SEC?
Granted, that is a somewhat pessimistic view. As we’ve seen from defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, he has a decidedly NFL mentality when it comes to playing time, keeping his starters in the game for the entirety regardless of time or score. And his very mantra is to put the 11 best players on the field regardless of their declared position. You’ll never hear a coach, particularly that one, say they can’t get it done.
Here’s another thought: Would Georgia dare play Malcolm Mitchell on that side of the ball? The rising sophomore was the Bulldogs’ most explosive wide receiver last season. But he was, after all, considered one of the best DBs in the nation coming out of Valdosta High. Could he play defense even part-time?
All food for thought. It’s not my intention to preach doom-and-gloom for Georgia’s secondary. Again, at full strength and with everybody present and accounted for, there are few defensive backfields in the nation that can compare. But suffice it to say, injuries or further attrition of any sort could spell big trouble for this secondary.
Again, a brief rundown:
LOST DBs
- S Jakar Hamilton, transfer
- CB Jordan Love, transfer
- CB Nick Marshall, dismissed
- CB/S Chris Sanders, dismissed
- CB/S Derek Owens, transfer
STARTERS
- CB Sanders Commings, Sr.
- CB Branden Smith, Sr.
- SS Shawn Williams, Sr.
- FS Bacarri Rambo, Sr.
RETURNEES
- CB Damian Swann, So.
- S Marc Deas, So.
- S Corey Moore, So.
- S Quintavious Harrow, So.
- CB Devin Bowman, RFr.
ADDITIONS
- CB Sheldon Dawson, TFr.
WALKONS
- CB Luis Capella, Jr.
- CB Corey Dunson, Jr.
- SS Autin Herod, Jr.
- SS Connor Norman, So.
- CB Blake Sailors, Jr.
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321 comments Add your comment
3 + 4 + 1 = 0
February 8th, 2012
10:17 am
Cut the crap about the “walk-ons” … they can play … actually want to play more so then the scholarships kids … if you didn’t have wlk-ons then you’d really have problems …
TDF
February 8th, 2012
10:26 am
but seriously how does it feel to do hours upon hours of research only for it to be ripped to shreds within 2 mins??? hahahahhahaha keep it up clown, your just too easy.
Crimedog
February 8th, 2012
10:35 am
Richt reminds me of what Abraham Lincoln said about General George McClellan. “He has all of the attributes of a great general, except he doen’t like to fight.”
TDF
February 8th, 2012
10:40 am
Crimedog
February 8th, 2012
10:35 am
Thats not even close to reality. If he didnt have any fight in him, he wouldnt have won 100 games faster than pretty much any other coach.
He has plenty of fight in him.
bruce mac
February 8th, 2012
10:47 am
With the haul of young Linebackers the last two years UGA can always move Ogletree back to safety, he would be all world. This is not a problem, move along. Nothning to see here. Must be a slow sports day at AJC and ran out of Super Bowl rumors and how the Braves are going to be good lies, LOL.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
February 8th, 2012
11:00 am
didnt we have the same conversation about OL
TDF
February 8th, 2012
11:03 am
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
February 8th, 2012
11:00 am
No problems with OL. 14- 17 guys all competing to start. We will be better than last year at OL
Monkey
February 8th, 2012
11:04 am
Someone asked what Mark Richt’s record against the TOP 25 looked like? Where this is a great link to share that information along with dozens of other categories. Just realize that in some of the analysis the 2010 season is the last season loaded.
Mark Richt has been successful against Top 25 teams, but not as successful as some of his SEC Counter Points:
http://coachesbythenumbers.com/coach-rankings/?reportId=4
DogSTYLE
February 8th, 2012
11:32 am
To this “TDF” dude, take something, seriously. But please no caffine!
GREYSHIRT BAMA
February 8th, 2012
11:42 am
CTG D will be fine. You all should not worry yourselves so much over this article.
North Campus Trash
February 8th, 2012
11:46 am
“Look at those defensive backs fall from the sky!”
doug dawg
February 8th, 2012
11:46 am
excuse me. but this is OOOOOLLLLLLLDDDDD. news. not even news anymore. get the vermin who steal from other players OFF the team. coach richt did; and no messing around. steal from teammates = gone, gone, gone. good riddance.
??????????
February 8th, 2012
11:48 am
Sautee Dawg
February 7th, 2012
7:20 pm
Wet Willie
you do know that 2 players with more stars might come along between now and signing date 2013 that bammer would rather sign don;t you
________________________________________________________________________
RN is the #1 player for 2013 and right now some publications have Foster at #2. I don’t think you can get more stars or higher ranked than that but maybe you know something the rest of us don’t.
Bro
February 8th, 2012
12:42 pm
Great opportunity for someone to get a real good chance to play some football. Time to step-up and take advantage of a really good opportunity.
Gary
February 8th, 2012
1:02 pm
Techster… The answer to that would be ZERO since Richt kicks them off the team. Do something stupid at Georgia and you are gone.
News | MrSEC
February 8th, 2012
1:09 pm
[...] and Gator D-coordinator Dan Quinn worked together with the New York Jets.3. Off-field issues have whittled down Georgia’s secondary depth.4. This columnist says Anthony Davis’ defense is just the tip of Kentucky’s [...]
TDF
February 8th, 2012
1:10 pm
DogSTYLE
February 8th, 2012
11:32 am
TDF = TrueDawgFan
When the trolls leave I will settle until then deal with it
TDF
February 8th, 2012
1:11 pm
??????????
February 8th, 2012
11:48 am
Foster will be a dawg period.
Thank goodness those guys are not going to waste their lives with Richt.
February 8th, 2012
1:32 pm
Georgia will never get rid of Richt, no matter how awful he is. They’re more loyal to Richt than the student-athletics, the alumni, boosters or anyone else. The people who are running UGA should be fired. They don’t have the best interests of the school at heart. Like Richt, they are bums.
beebee
February 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
How come everybody at UGA KNOWS exactly what would transpire if the situation was at Alabama?
The JEALOUSY stinks all the way up to the top rows at Sanford Stadium.
Your laughable coaching staff cannot assemble of team of united, disciplined winners, so you take shots at top schools that can.
I’ll be listening and LAUGHING on Dawg Talk nights as you continue to WHINE and cry for Richt’s firing all over again!
bee
flo-ri-duh
February 8th, 2012
2:24 pm
Saban has never gotten rid of a player that would make his team better….. show just one instance where this has happened. Richt should have suspended them for one season instead and allowed them to stay in school on scholarship since UGA had at least 6 more open scholarships available. Give them a chance to repent their sins and grow up.
285exp
February 8th, 2012
3:13 pm
@ Duh
“Saban has never gotten rid of a player that would make his team better….. show just one instance where this has happened.”
Robby Green
King Gator
February 8th, 2012
3:25 pm
“Sauced”, what’s next for UGA vanity plates – “STOLEN”, “5FNGRS”, and “CLEPTO”! Can you get a vanity plate for a moped – “CRASH”!
DogSTYLE
February 8th, 2012
4:10 pm
DawginLEX seems to be on this like Mexicans on Tacos
TDF
February 8th, 2012
4:22 pm
Thank goodness those guys are not going to waste their lives with Richt.
February 8th, 2012
1:32 pm
Those guys just lost the oppurtunity of a life time actually. 2 of them realized it so much that they are trying to transfer to JUCO and begging to get another shot in 2013.
TDF
February 8th, 2012
4:24 pm
beebee
February 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
Actually moron no real dawg fan would want Richt gone.
1. there are no good replacements
2. too good at recruiting
3. would be rebuilding for 3-4 years
TDF
February 8th, 2012
4:25 pm
flo-ri-duh
February 8th, 2012
2:24 pm
1-2 of them will be at GMC for this year and get a shot at coming back the next
TDF
February 8th, 2012
4:26 pm
King Gator
February 8th, 2012
3:25 pm
so what are they for gaytors
“Death Texts”
Florida has been in just as much if not more trouble with players as UGA. But keep thinking other wise and i will keep laughing at you
Nooga Dawg
February 8th, 2012
5:06 pm
Put Gurley at corner, the kid can fly and looks like he can tackle better than anyone the Dawgs have now.
He wraps up when he hits !
Sanders Commings
February 8th, 2012
5:10 pm
Domestic violence, battery and an arrest? Shouldn’t I be looking at a bit more than just a 2 game suspension? Just sayin’, man!
angry mangy mutt
February 8th, 2012
5:37 pm
Move Mitchell to DB. This is why we are not in the hunt for NCs and LSU and Bama are. Our best athletes need to be where they are needed most. The finesse stuff is not working. We have plenty of quality WRs, no need to keep him here especially with one no need to name RB coming in who can be used in multiple ways and be a lethal weapon. Until our OL destroys the LOS it does not matter who we have at skill positions.
@GTBob – Dude, SEC has plenty of offense, we just understand what wins the games.The O simply cannot become favored here as it has in BIG 12 & PAC country or we too will be dominated by the conference who can play D. Good point about CTG. However, being a DC who could easily get a job at the next level leads me to believe he knows the game.
UGA Golfer
February 8th, 2012
6:03 pm
“Richt didn’t indicate to Williams whether Georgia could potentially take any of the players back after spending a year at GMAC.”
No doubt learning the ropes of automobile finance can help a kid straighten out his life. I look forward to seeing him return to the team, contribute and manage the F&I Department at Butts-Mehre.
DunwoodyDawg
February 8th, 2012
6:04 pm
I can’t believe Sailors hasn’t earned a scholarship based on his special teams play alone.
Buzz2011
February 8th, 2012
7:39 pm
Dawgs need to worry about their weak coaches not secondary. The secondary is indeed secondary……….Discipline and football knowledge needed to help this high school like program..
Bangor
February 8th, 2012
7:54 pm
Any more UGA t-h-u-g-s arrested this week?
What a bunch of losers!
Nupe1911
February 8th, 2012
8:03 pm
Wow, I know that was unexpected but I wish they would have given my son a chance as a preferred walk-on….I would have paid for his way until he would have earned a scholarship. I am not saying my son is a 4 or 5 star but I do feel he is talented enough to play Div 1 football….check out his highlight; Christopher Amos Henry County Senior Highlight and tell me what you think…
A-Ville Ranger
February 8th, 2012
9:45 pm
Thoses who think Grantham has some kind of majic potion that will make the defense ok don’t pay attention. We were killed every game by good teams last season after fatigue set in 3rd and 4th quarter. He did a terrible job recruiting for the 2012 class ( 1 DB, no ILBs). For the 2013 class he has let Bama take huge leads with many of the top instate defensive players. Trey Johnson is the top ILB instate, he’s committed to Auburn and we have yet to even offer. Carl Lawson looks like a black David Pollack and Grantham hasn’t offered him either.
Bama's 14 Titles!
February 8th, 2012
10:13 pm
It doesn’t matter what kind of defense GA has—Bama’s winning the SEC again with ease. If they win the east, Ga can look for a good beatdown in the SEC title game. RTR!!!
Fats O Kelly
February 8th, 2012
11:40 pm
Recruit players with clean rap sheets from now on
Fats O Kelly
February 8th, 2012
11:42 pm
UGA keeps this up and I would not be shocked to see a few Parole Officers patrolling the side lines next year just to keep an eye on their “clients” LOL but sad too
peeper
February 8th, 2012
11:45 pm
No worries Bulldog fans….no team will make it passed Jarvis and Alec!
FLA DAWG
February 8th, 2012
11:55 pm
SECONDARY CONCERNS CHIP!?
So you are telling DAWG NATION that the O Line is not a concern for next season?
FLA DAWG
Class of ‘79
boykin
February 9th, 2012
12:02 am
Please…..FLA DAWG your sooooo pessimistic or a closet Gator!!! For Christ’s Sake…
Is it Correct, 3-13 correct vs teams finishing top 10 all 11 years of Mark Richt ?
February 9th, 2012
12:16 am
Christopher Amos Henry County
__________________________
Nupe1911, is he 6′ 3″ or 6′ 0″ ? Only 1 time I find shows 5.27 in 40-yard dash. Would WR be his position, shows played fair amount DB. Consistently shown at 190 or 192 lbs. Look, if he walked on for CB, he has a significant opportunity to get a Full Scholarship, if speed is way off. Mark Richt has given out 11 scholarships to walk-ons and has 8 in his hip-pocket now. He gets 85 and has only 77 left on Scholarship. Going to have to have heart-to-heart with any recruit walk-ons especially in this entitlement program we have now-a-days, where starters just not the same punishments as those who make a few plays, and tell your son, 1 screw-up, 1, and Michael F. Adam$ or someone above Mark Richt (Greg McGarity?) has mandated no 2nd chances at UGA any longer, not with 26 Scholarship mostly 4-Star Recruits whom Mark Richt has kicked-out of the program or transferred out of their own volition allegedly (to quote Chip Towers) – and all 26 in just the last 12 months run-off. I think Georgia Southern is a fine school, and a great football tradition where your son is going to really enjoy his time there. Georgia ? Maybe not so much. School is great, atmosphere unreal, and what kind of a chance does a good guy like your son have ? I walked on at Georgia; and, I never played in a game, not 1 snap. I don’t hold that against anyone; but, I never got a chance either. I only got to walk-on because I carried a 3.88 GPA. Everyone can’t play at Georgia, but there is little doubt that players such as your son, very easily could earn a Scholarship with 8 sitting there waiting to be handed out today, right now, unused. Can’t say Mark Richt is going to sit on them until January. Between now and then, the facts are that another large number of scholarships will also be run-off in our Over-Signing here by 24 players already at 109 Signed for 85 Scholarships this 2012 season, with 26 kicked-out, transfer of their own free will (right.)
Is it Correct, 3-13 correct vs teams finishing top 10 all 11 years of Mark Richt ?
February 9th, 2012
12:27 am
Sailors has been on Scholarship for years, one of 11 walk-ons handed scholarships instead of offering in-state recruits at positions of need such as Offensive Line and Secondary, a back-up Fullback to the 1 we’ve signed in the last 6 classes coming in now, a top-rated TE to replace Orson Charles and Aron White both gone, more DL, more LB to replace the 12 players we lose on Defense after this season, all 12 of whom have started on Defense. In the meantime, Sailors hasn’t played much in the secondary. None of the 11 walk-ons have played much offense or defense. They just play special teams, which rank # 80 in the nation. We should have given out more than 19 Scholarships we signed. It is yet another reason why here we sit with no EXTENSION signed for Mark Richt or Todd Grantham. NFL season is over. Giants Super Bowl Champs, again, who beat the Falcons in a rout. More than anything while I called for Mark Richt to have his EXTENSION since November here daily, THAT is why we only have 77 on Scholarship. Get him signed, even now at this late date worthless Greg McGarity and some of these last few recruits remaining could all run here as walk-ons now for Spring Practice. Good Heavens tennis player, and not a good one at that, Greg McGarity. Get with the FOOTBALL program son.
Gamtnlady
February 9th, 2012
5:52 am
I really liked the way that walkon Blake Sailors, Jr. seemed to consistently be where the ball was and be able to down the ball deep against opposing teams last year. Though playing walkons may not sound good, if they prove that they can make the plays and play well, by all means at least give them an opportunity. Not every player has to be a top pick in the country to be able to play well. Richt could have some diamonds in the rough, but he needs to brush a little sideline dust off of them before the real brilliance can shine through. I love the dawgs and just wish them and Richt a very successful season this year. Go Dawgs!
FLA DAWG
February 9th, 2012
7:37 am
Richt came from FSU when the passing game was at its best.
No wonder he is incapable of recruiting depth on the O line and is weak at fullback.
We’ve gotten away from our SEC running game attack because Richt does not believe running the ball wears down an opponent more than passing – ask any D lineman.
Larry
February 9th, 2012
9:57 am
Richt can’t fill a roster. Last year he awarded 6-8 walkons scholarships for 2011 and he’s in the same boat this year.
BrizDawg
February 9th, 2012
12:37 pm
The linebacking corp looks to be very strong next year – perhaps they would also consider moving Alex Ogletree back to safety?
Nupe1911
February 9th, 2012
6:34 pm
Is this correct 3-13: he is actually 6′2 and that 5.27 in the 40 was done in 2010 and that was his first time ever getting timed in the 40.. I am in the military and I was in Korea but when I got back, I got him a trainer and now he runs a consistent 4.5 and with a little more work, he will get that down to a 4.4. We signed a Letter of Intent to Florida A&M full ride, books, tuition, room & board, and meal plan.