New contracts, Malcolm Mitchell to defense highlight UGA spring football
UGA FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
ATHENS – As expected, the University of Georgia on Monday announced contract extensions for head football coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.
Richt, who has been the Bulldogs’ coach for 11 years, received a three-year extension that will pay him through the end of the 2016 season. Grantham, who just completed his second season at Georgia, had two years added to make his a three-year deal through the 2014 season.
“I’ve never really changed my stance on how I feel about Georgia from the first day I got the opportunity to be here,” Richt said during a news conference Monday at UGA’s Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. “My goal and my wife Katharyn’s goal was to build our life in Athens and raise our children here and finish my coaching career here. That thought has never changed for me.”
The deals – which essentially are new contracts – are expected to include modest salary increases, though UGA Athletic Director Greg McGarity said financial terms are still being finalized.
“We’ve agreed upon [financial terms] but that’s sort of in the hands of the lawyers,” McGarity said. “We’ve agreed on the major parts. We met a couple of weeks ago and talked about it. So now we’re tweaking some things and it’s in the lawyers hands to work through some language and things like that. There’s really not a rush. Whenever it’s ready, it’s ready.”
Richt’s job was thought to be in jeopardy before last season, then the Bulldogs won 10 straight to finish 10-4. He is 106-38 in 11 seasons at UGA. He has won two SEC championships and won or shared five SEC East titles. His winning percentage of .736 is fourth best among active coaches.
Georgia finished fifth in the nation in total defense under Grantham’s leadership last season. Including suspended cornerbacks Sanders Commings and Branden Smith, the Bulldogs return 10 starters on that side of the ball for next season.
McGarity said no other contract extensions are currently planned for any other of Georgia’s assistants.
Mitchell moving to defense
Depth concerns due to attrition in the secondary solidified Richt’s decision to move star wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell to cornerback full time for spring practice.
Mitchell starred on the offensive side of the ball as a true freshman last season. He caught 45 passes for 665 yards and four touchdowns despite missing four games with a hamstring string. But he was a four-star prospect as a defensive back at Valdosta High before coming to Georgia and volunteered to play on that side of the ball after the Bulldogs lost several defensive backs due to disciplinary problems and transfers.
Richt said he was not sure yet whether Mitchell will play both ways once the season starts
“Malcolm was going to play a big role at corner regardless of what happened with Branden [Smith],” Richt said. “Our goal is for him to help us on both sides of the ball. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the fall, whether he’ll go exclusively defensive back or not yet. But you can’t be in both meetings at the same time. So, early on, we’re going to have to have him help at corner.”
Richt said the coaches feel they can afford to move Mitchell because of the depth they have at wide receiver.
“We had to sit there and measure what’s going to happen if we take him out of the receiving corps,” Richt said. “Do we still have enough guys that can make plays? And I think we have enough guys that can make plays that we could make that move. . . . [Offensive coordinator Mike] Bobo and [receivers coach Tony] Ball weren’t thrilled about my decision to move him to defense, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.”
Strength staff completed
Richt also completed his strength and conditioning staff before heading off on a trip with wife Katharyn to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. The Bulldogs hired John Thomas, head strength coach at Penn State for the last 20 years, as senior associate director. They also hired Sherman Armstrong, a “speed specialist” from VAST training academy in Tampa, as associate strength and conditioning coach.
Their additions give the Bulldogs five full-time members of the strength staff, joining director Joe Tereshinski and assistants Rex Bradberry and Tony Gilbert. Five is the maximum number allowed under new NCAA legislation that goes into effect in August.
Malcome impressing at tailback
Richt was asked if he had seen a growth in that maturity of tailback Isaiah Crowell during the offseason. But halfheartedly acknowledged he had but ended up praising rising sophomore Ken Malcome instead.
“I’m really seeing a lot of positives out Ken Malcome,” Richt said “The last couple of mat drills, he turned a corner, in my opinion. And talking to our academic people about his change of demeanor and maturity level, he comes in and takes care of his business. You don’t have to prod him along like you do a lot of freshmen. He’s turning the corner.”
As for Crowell, Richt said, “he’s definitely growing up. To say he’s there and he’s reached it and he understands completely all the work ethic and everything it takes to be great, I’d say he’s in the process of getting there like a lot of other guys that are freshmen. He’s just the one everybody watches closer than most.”
ETC. . . .
Richt said he has brought in several NFL coaches to meet with the Bulldogs about their special teams strategies and practices. He said they’ll devote more time to it during spring practice and that you can expect many more starters on special teams units. “I even told [quarterback] Aaron [Murray] he may be covering kicks.”. . . Richt said outside linebacker Sterling Bailey (ankle) and wide receiver Chris Conley (shoulder) will practice but be held out of contact during spring practice. . . . The G-Day Game has been set for April 14 at 3 p.m.
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132 comments Add your comment
Mike da Tiger
March 12th, 2012
7:43 pm
Valdosta Cat…I saw Mitchell play DB in high school. He’s pretty good. The issue he’ll have is learning coverages and also going up against strong WRs and QBs that look DBs off etc. It’s not his physical ability in question, it would be his technique at the position.
Charlie Hayes
March 12th, 2012
7:46 pm
Everyone has forgot about Justin Scott-Wesley. Fastest man in the state of GA with really good hands. He will fill-in nicely for Malcome Mitchell at WR this year. King, Brown, Wooten, Conley, Bennett, Wesley and Blake Tibbs will carry the load nicely. UGA will have two (2) receiver sets and all of them can catch well. Everyone is also forgetting about Josh-Harvey Clemons. Two-way player as well out of Valdosta that will get a serious look at WR since Mitchell will move to CB fulltime. Gonna be just fine! Go Dawgs!
My take on this BSmith thing
March 12th, 2012
7:49 pm
Brandon has made a TD or two on O. Great. He also FUMBLED the game away, just like Ealey did vs KY about three years ago ……………. we lost that game too.
HE MADE the decision to posess weed………………. so, maybe he needs to leave the program. HE MADE THAT DECSION AFTER the meeting. Oh well. Duh !!
I went ro UGA in the hippy era, late 60s, 70s ……………did not smoke pot, drank plenty of cold ones but NEVER EVER, even in Mardis Gras (I wentTWICE) got stopped for booze or drugs. If I can do it so can these kids.
Now? Successfully retired playing golf. SMith? he will never ever play NFL ball and is possibly done.
Attn: Charlie Hayes
March 12th, 2012
7:50 pm
You sir are 100% correct. UGA has talent and will best deploy it.
Go Dogs.
short memories
March 12th, 2012
7:51 pm
Richt is nice guy but Georgia is destined to continue as a second tier exercise in mediocrity. Yea , I know there are the eternal optimists who say “this could be the year” but doing the same thing against top twenty teams won’t get different results. Change is the only thing that will make things change
Valdosta Cat
March 12th, 2012
7:51 pm
The above mentioned receivers are unproven although I think we will be ok @ that position. Mitchell will be needed if they don’t produce
Charlie Hayes
March 12th, 2012
7:58 pm
@ Valdosta Cat – You would call Michael Bennett and Chris Conley ‘unproven’ receivers? Bennett and Conley came up with some amazing 3rd down grabs last year for us that converted much needed 1st downs. Both of those guys played lights-out every time they were targeted. I would say they are very proven. T. King and Brown are the let-downs of the group if any. If the real T. King shows up at a game then he is solid. However, Brown hasn’t proven to be a 5-star recruit yet. He will need a killer senior season to turn any heads in the NFL. I feel much better this year than going into the season last year at WR. Thus, I would call this group proven, not ‘unproven’.
Free the Leaf
March 12th, 2012
8:08 pm
Legalize It. It’s a plant.
&
Jobs. Medicine. Peace!
http://www.facebook.com/free.the.leaf
ARdawg
March 12th, 2012
8:11 pm
Brandon is most likely going to get a 2-3 game suspension for his first offense. Richt does set the high water mark on such offenses as opposed to his counterparts and I applaud him for that. Probably the only reason I approve of his 3 year extension. It certainly isn’t his game day ability.
Brandon sc**wed up. Hopefully, he’ll learn from it and move on. He’s a good kid and a good player. You az@hats need to lighten up, let him get his just due and move on as well
ARdawg
March 12th, 2012
8:15 pm
Charlie Hayes
Bennett and Conley are both good but, you can’t deny Mitchell’s raw talent for catching the ball (sans the SECCG). AJ Green was a great athlete, I have no doubt Mitchell is every bit the athlete as Green
Beast from the East
March 12th, 2012
8:22 pm
The loss of your 2 starting CB’s is going to be very tough to overcome at Missouri. They like to spread the field and throw the ball quite a bit. Maybe blitz the fool out of ‘em?
Texas Dawg
March 12th, 2012
8:24 pm
Move the best reviver we have to defense???? He we go again? I just don’t get it?
We do not have ……the deep threat that Malcom gives us…..he just pulls away from db’s for the long ball….
trupert
March 12th, 2012
8:33 pm
You Alabama trolls talking trash about Richt and disciplin is simply hilarious.
Saban simply refuses to suspend a starter. What did Saban do to Courtny Upshaw when a Tuscaloosa police officer witnessed him attacking his girlfriend and arrested him for it?
Saban, ”this is as fine a young man as we have in the program, really a great person, really works hard academically, couldn’t ask anybody to be a better representative, really overachives as a football player”.
It was announced the very next day that Upshaw wouldn’t miss any practice or any game time after a Tuscaloosa Police officer witnessed Upshaw assault his girlfriend firsthand.
Montgomery
March 12th, 2012
8:38 pm
Release the hounds!
Lakedawg
March 12th, 2012
8:41 pm
Just to clarify the schedule for 2013 we do get Bammer in Athens, but do not play Lsu until 2014 in Baton Rouge. New schedule will be one year deals in order to get to all teams more often.
Great to get contracts out of way before spring practice next week. Look for some great commits between spring ball and DawgNite.
Montgomery
March 12th, 2012
8:43 pm
Brandon will get a tearful hug from CMR then they’ll sing kumbaya together and all will be good. Don’t you people get it?
Valdosta Cat
March 12th, 2012
8:43 pm
Bennett showed up when needed I’ll grant you that but Conley IMO lnot so much. King and Brown for the most part are underachievers.
Valdosta Cat
March 12th, 2012
8:47 pm
For the record, I believe Malcolm Mitchell’s numbers will surpass Green’s before he turns pro. You heard it from me first. Mark it down barring injury.
dmr
March 12th, 2012
9:33 pm
I’m all for Richt recruiting kids and letting them know there will be a TWO STRIKE POLICY on drugs. The first time, you get suspended for 10% of the games. Also, you get your ass chewed off so hard by Grantham and Joe T., that if you are dumb enough to get caught a second time, you deserve to be kicked off the team.
Bill Yeager
March 12th, 2012
9:46 pm
Trupert…. You need to get the correct facts about Upshaw before you post
anything about Bama. His girlfriend attacked him, not the other way. She beat on his chest because she saw him talking to another girl. He DID NOT
hit or attack the girl like your Dawg friend. Several people saw this & the policeman agreed, & that is why Saban did not suspend him. They were both arrested & the Judge ordered both to attend Anger Management class.
Don’t post crap about Bama unless you know the facts. Roll Tide
biggame
March 12th, 2012
9:57 pm
A contract extension for a program that had more arrests than wins last year! I think the entire SEC chipped in to help pay for these extensions.
Dawg48
March 12th, 2012
9:59 pm
Justin Scott Wesly will be the next guy at WR. The guy is the fastest person on the team and is a big WR. MM is going to be. Stud at CB.
@biggame
March 12th, 2012
10:00 pm
please name the 11 arrests in the past year.
Student
March 12th, 2012
10:05 pm
Branden probably got the weed from Carlton Thomas (a real businessman from what I understand)
krazydawg
March 12th, 2012
10:31 pm
I agree about Mitchell.The one thing that makes me cringe is him getting hurt playing defense.Then we be out a weapon on offense.Why has no one mentioned Jay Rome.This guy is going to be a beast.
Real Problem
March 12th, 2012
10:40 pm
Mitchell is going to play both ways….about time. Kid is best player at Georgia since Champ Bailey. Great, great move!!
SEC Fans for Richt
March 12th, 2012
10:42 pm
We have the champagne chilled and ready to go. Please let us know when this is signed!!
CasualObserver
March 12th, 2012
10:46 pm
AJC: Maybe if people actually came on these blogs to discuss the linked article instead of to mindlessly bash whatever team the blog is about, then so many posts wouldn’t have to be blocked. Sad, weak little men/boys hiding behind an anonymous blog name to bash kids/coaches/programs that are so much better than they could ever be…pathetic little losers all.
kingdaddy
March 12th, 2012
10:48 pm
What’s up Doggies and Trolls …
Well I wanted to read some real UGA news, thanks Chip. Sometimes hearing about all the bone-headed moves by Rev. Richts kids, it reminds me of myself as a preachers kid. Everyone expected us to get into trouble so we certainly didn’t disappoint anyone except our parents. LOL!!! Thank God, my Dad had a lot of patience and love and never dis-owned me or my brother and sister. We never robbed any banks or fornicated with goats, but we weren’t perfect Angels either. Now I’ve got 2 boys testing my patience and I have my fathers experience to fall-back on. What I’m trying to say is, don’t blame the sins of the son, on the father. Our football players are lucky to have a coach like Mark Richt as a father figure. These kids will carry his positive influence on into life and share it with their kids. Don’t condem these kids for minor infractions and please have patience with them. How would you like to raise 85preachers kids?
kingdaddy
March 12th, 2012
11:00 pm
I think M.M. is going to make an emphatic statement as a C/B in the SEC. A top c/b in sec will knock down some serious money in the NFL. If it doesn’t workout at DB, he’ll still be a 1st rd. W/R. Either way, UGA/ MM WIN!
Columbus
March 12th, 2012
11:03 pm
4TH BEST AMONG ACTIVE COACHES:
SUCK ON THAT TILL IT DRIVES YOU TO DRINKING AND CRYING YOU IGNORANT HATERS!
YOU DONT KNOW JACK!
Columbus
March 12th, 2012
11:05 pm
To throw out the thought that is on EVERYBODY’S MIND:
Where is Bobo’s raise McGarrity?
ROFLMAO!
Dawson Dave
March 12th, 2012
11:10 pm
I’m sorry KingDaddy…it’s not quite as simple as that. “Reverend” Richt never has and never will take character into account on the recruiting trail. If they can run fast and jump high, that’s good enough for him. We can look forward to arrest issues for many years to come. At least five now.
Columbus
March 12th, 2012
11:11 pm
Cant lose Mitchell TOTALLY on offense. He causes defenses fits and opens up the other receives AND he IS the BIGGEST BIG PLAY MAKER AND THREAT ON OFFENSE. SOmebody better step up at CB so Mitchell can be a backup only.
Columbus
March 12th, 2012
11:17 pm
You look to arrest and I will be looking to the going to the SEC championship game. Athens police DO NOT PLAY! Like in Auburn and Tuscaloosa! You jave to commit a bodily-injury felony over there!
That being said. UGA players: GIVE UP THE WEED. DONT DRINK AND DRIVE. DRINK AND CALL A PLAYER. CALL A COACH. DO NOT DRIVE!
SMITH should pay and pay and pay. Run and work and run and lift and run and then run some more! He should do charity work over and over too. What a freakin SELFISH thing to do!
The team LEADERS BETTER CHEW HIM OUT!
Got to start getting the weed dealers out of Athens!
kingdaddy
March 12th, 2012
11:39 pm
Dave
I agree that it’s not a simple matter, it’s very complex. He has to balance Recruiting in the SEC with a couple of hands-full of kids capable keeping UGA competitive in the best conference in NCAA football. It’s not like these kids have rap sheets, some of them are just full of themselves. What would you have him do, Recruit only Church Kids? Good luck with that. It’s a high-wire balancing act that I don’t envy CMR. It’s the kids, not the coach.
kingdaddy
March 13th, 2012
12:00 am
Brendan should apologize to EVERY TEAM-MATE, AND COACH AND THE FRONT-OFFICE AND THEIR SECRETARIES! He should empty trash-cans and sweep Floors for the rest of the year. Every kid who messes up should be taught this lesson. If they do the crime, they do the time. Or they leave the team in Disgrace. Their Choice. UGA is in Dire need of some TUFF-LOVE
jaxdawgfan
March 13th, 2012
12:27 am
Anyone know if the G-Day game will be televised and by which channel?
Troup Co. Dawg
March 13th, 2012
12:47 am
Branden never impressed anybody, I mean what has he done lately? Nothing, send his scrawny butt packing, take out the papers and the Trash! Who’s next on our long list of weed tokin’, girlfriend bashing, stopping in the middle of the road list of Idiots??? This team is going to reap what they see! No MNC for these guys, because they don’t want a National Title! They want rings and things all filled with Bling!
Troup Co. Dawg
March 13th, 2012
12:50 am
Branden never impressed anybody, I mean what has he done lately? Nothing, send his scrawny butt packing, take out the papers and the Trash! Who’s next on our long list of weed tokin’, girlfriend bashing, stopping in the middle of the road list of Idiots??? This team is going to reap what they see! No MNC for these guys, because they don’t want a National Title! They want rings and things all filled with Bling! I got a feeling this year will be 2010 all over again! High expectations with lackluster results. 8-5 at best!
RED DOG 77
March 13th, 2012
1:24 am
@Signal Mtn Dawg…………Dead-on brother, don’t let the trolls shake-ya. You are my idea of a DGD…………Support them Dawgs, GATA……….we’ll be fine. Regards, RED
not good
March 13th, 2012
1:33 am
No we need Mitchell on Offense….Defense is covered.
Tdawg
March 13th, 2012
3:58 am
I got a great idea. Test these kids as soon as their butts hits the campus and drug test them once a week for their whole 4 or how ever many years they attend school. Drinking and drugs are the main reason that I am against giving them any spending money. Crap they can get the drugs when they are not being paid, what do you think they will do with the money once they start getting a stippin? I also think that they should get one chance and one chance only. If you think for one second that a kid will stop doing drugs and alcohol because they got busted you are out of your mind. I have never seen a person give up these vises because they got busted. They mostly just get a little smarter at avoiding the law. Well some of them do anyway. Some don’t care, because it’s like I said. They won’t quit no matter what coach Richt threaten’s to do to them. I say no second chances. Kick there arse’s out the door right now. That way they can go home and smoke all the pot they want for all I care.
Tdawg
March 13th, 2012
4:03 am
Forgot, Mitchell is needed more at CB than WR. At this rate we won’t have any CB’s once the season starts. He may also consider moving hand’s of stone Brown and King to the secondary. They good at dropping balls so they shouldn’t have any problem in knocking some passes down.
DAWGMAN
March 13th, 2012
4:14 am
You boneheads do love to talk up yo NC for UGA early and often. You guys make me puke.
SEC Football Daily: March 13th | Saturday Down South
March 13th, 2012
5:32 am
[...] Mark Richt is moving Malcolm Mitchell to defensive back full time in the spring. Mitchell, who was a stud at receiver this past season, will get all his reps in at defensive back. And now with Smith’s arrest, Mitchell will play an even bigger role at corner than previously thought. He could start there for the first two games of the year if Smith’s suspension indeed is two games. I’m just not sold on this move. I like Mitchell better at receiver. [AJC] [...]
Morning Reads for Tuesday, March 13th — Peach Pundit
March 13th, 2012
6:13 am
[...] a healthy life? Get a dog. – God hates Radiohead. – UGA has locked up Mark Richt and Todd Grantham to contract extentions. – And Branden Smith, a UGA defensive back, was arrested for possession of marijuana in Henry [...]
Morning Reads for Tuesday, March 13th — Peach Pundit
March 13th, 2012
6:13 am
[...] a healthy life? Get a dog. – God hates Radiohead. – UGA has locked up Mark Richt and Todd Grantham to contract extentions. – And Branden Smith, a UGA defensive back, was arrested for possession of marijuana in Henry [...]
savannadawg
March 13th, 2012
7:16 am
Good to hear about Ken Malcolm. But, he is NOT a freshman and that should be duely noted also. He is at adult age so he should be acting this way.
Jimmy Crack
March 13th, 2012
7:30 am
Go Boo!
Show those freshmen (and Isaiah) how to tote that rock with some attitude!