Will Friend: Georgia’s O-line needs to be more physical, better on assignments
I’ve had a lot of folks asking me about how the offensive line has looked so far. I had a chance to interview line coach Will Friend this past week on just that subject. Following are some of his observations so far:
Q: Who has had the best spring?
A: [Kenarious] Gates has had a good spring so far. We’re not far in it yet, but he’s had the best spring. The rest of the guys need to elevate like he’s done so far.”
Q: What’s the main improvement you’re looking for?
A: “Number one, with this group being younger, your offensive line has to be physical. That’s where your team gets its physicality from. I think they’ve got to be able to improve that part of it. Last year’s group, when they came to the park they were physical. That was the big thing they brought and that goes a long way as games go on. This group needs to be tougher, to play more physical, to be better on assignments. . . . And, of course, we’ve got to find some people we can count on.”
Q: Looks like junior guard Dallas Lee has been getting some work at center. What’s the thought there? .
A: “He’s done it before. He’s still got a long way to go on because he really didn’t do it at all last year. He snapped for us, but he didn’t do it in live action in a practice or game. But I think he’s got to get used to exchanging the ball to the quarterback and after that it’s blocking. [David] Andrews has done some good things. We’re just moving people around.”
Q: Do you have a starting five yet?
A: “No, not a first five. Nobody’s separated themselves with the exception of Ken Gates. Right now if you were going to play a game I know he would be there. [Chris] Burnette has done some good things, too. We’re just trying to get all the pieces together.”
Q: How is JUCO transfer Mark Beard holding up and fitting in?
A: “It’s a lot going on right now. We didn’t pull back on anything we’re installing. It’s a good thing for a midyear guy to come in early. But at the same time, when you’re the only one, the show keeps on going for everybody else. So it’s kind of hit him a bit. But he’ll get better as the spring goes on. It’s kind of spinning fast. He’s just got to keep it from beating him and he’ll be all right. . . . We’re working him at left guard. And he’s worked some at tackle, but mainly left guard.”
Q: Would you say Watts Dantzler or Austin Long is ahead at right tackle?
A: “Both of them have worked with the 1s, both of them have had good practices, both of them have done some good things. We’ll just continue to hash that out.”
Q: How has Austin Long looked? . . .
A: “He’s gotten better. He’s not where we want him yet but he’s gotten better.”
Q: Do you anticipate freshmen John Theus and Greg Pyke competing for playing time later this summer?
A: “Can we wait until after spring ball? [laughs] Right now we’re just trying to see what we’ve got with these guys. We’ve got to get them going in the right direction. We’ll go from there.
“I think both freshmen we got are real talented guys. I think they’re good athletes. They’re tough guys and they’re big. They’re going to get a shot. That’s one thing these guys have to understand, that right now is their shot with those guys not being there. They’ve got to make the most of it, because those two are going to get a shot when they get in here. That’s why we signed them.”
Q: What’s your expectations for Kolton Houston?
A: “We’re expecting Kolton to be a good player for us this year. He’s a good athlete, he’s got good strength, he can run well. He’s probably the best athlete of the guards that we’ve got, to be honest with you. If he can continue to get tougher and continue to improve, he’s going to be a good player for us. He’s got a ways to go now but he’s got a chance.”
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189 comments Add your comment
AltamahaDawg
April 3rd, 2012
10:56 am
DIL, didn’t you hear? We are all singing out of the same hymn book now.
Gorilla Biscuit
April 3rd, 2012
11:01 am
When I read some of our opponent’s comments, and even some of our so-called fans, it’s hard for the average ape to believe that man descended from us.
1eyedJack
April 3rd, 2012
11:06 am
Being physical on the o-line ain’t worth squat if you blow your assignment.
Would I rather see the o-line be more physical or be more intelligent?
Smarter, I think. Smart don’t jump off-sides on 1st and 10 three times a game.
truedawg
April 3rd, 2012
11:07 am
Love the way CWF is looking at the line. Play the best players and make them work hard to play. I feel better about the line, but I still think it will have to grow up fast. I agree Murray has made mistakes at worse possible times. He has to learn going 3 and out is better than 2 and turn over. I hate the dumb mistakes players have made reguarding drugs and offenses off the field. I stand behind CMR still and the young men that are wearing the red and black. I do see us with another 10 win season, but not any championships. But staying positive, we have tallent and if they play up..We can win big.
USC is a joke…You have two good seasons and you suddenly are a powerhouse?? You have no championships..at all!! The one time you make it to the SECCG you did what chickens do..laid an egg!! You say repeat?? I say of what?? laying another egg at the Auburn game?? You were a clearly better team last year and barely won the game with the Dawgs. UGA will no longer be a pass happy team this year, and will have a dominate D, no turn overs, and the chickens will lose this game by 3 scores. GO DAWGS!!!
tide roll
April 3rd, 2012
11:21 am
Right Dawg fans. Good riddance to Stacey Searels. Will Friend is the answer. All Searels was able to do at Texas last year was sign: KENNEDY ESTELLE, 6′7″ 300lb. OT, 4 STAR, DONALD HAWKINS, 6′5″ 320lb. OG, 4 STAR, CAMRHON HUGHES, 6′6″ 300lb. OT, 4 STAR, CURTIS RISER, 6′3″ 290 lb. OG, 4 STAR. And this year, he’s already received commitments from DARIUS JAMES, 6′6″ 320lb. OT, 4 STAR, and KENT PERKINS, 6′5″320 lb. OG. 4 STAR. Do it Richt. Do it Booboo. Do it Friend. AND DO IT DAWGS. HILARIOUS. What a program!
txdawg
April 3rd, 2012
11:23 am
redshirt for Theus if Gates is playing really well?
Gorilla Biscuit
April 3rd, 2012
11:25 am
Hey turd roll, tell us about all the wonderful linemen Coach Fishfry signed last year and the ones he has committed this year.
DawginLex
April 3rd, 2012
11:26 am
tide roll
Bama’s best offensive lineman and Outland Trophy winner is white
Looks like John Theus
Care to comment?
Theus is a 5 star and rated higher than all of the Texas signees you list.
Care to comment or are you just going to continue your nonsense?
Paddy
April 3rd, 2012
11:36 am
Albert…….no sense in comparing last years line play or the year before, for that matter, it was poor. This year must be better. I don’t care who gets drafted off of last years team, they were not up to parr. Something was missing. Have no idea what it was. I have faith in this line and its backups. Lets wait and see. Thats why they play the games!!!!
Go Dawgs
AJC Bloggers Beware
April 3rd, 2012
11:37 am
This is not what the 150 identifiable different IP Addresses here have said.
*********************************************
Anyone else see this comment as being somewhat unsettling/stalkerish???????????????
georgiasouthernalum
April 3rd, 2012
11:40 am
UGA 2-2 in the first four games 2 lost in SEC East!
DawginLex
April 3rd, 2012
11:45 am
I am fairly confident we can beat Mizzou because of our defense.
It will be their 1st ever SEC game so it will be wild.
If the antics don’t stop, we might not have enough players to suit up.
tide roll
April 3rd, 2012
11:46 am
Sorry to confuse you Dawg fans with facts. Y’all are right. You’re much better off with FRIEND. These guys Searels signed at Texas aren’t players, and the two private school kids, Theus and Pyke, are. What was I thinking? And hey, getting clobbered by LSU, and embarrassing yourselves in the Bowl game don’t count either. Now that’s the “GEORGIA WAY” ain’t it.
kingdaddy
April 3rd, 2012
11:57 am
Whats up Doggies! Having fun with the trolls? You know you can’t change their minds. The same trolls, with the same anti-Georgia spew, over and over again. Yeah, we know we have the worst coach, fans team, mascot, stadium, easiest schedule, and the worst blog-site. Did I miss anything trolls? I’m sure their favorite school is better in every way, shape or form. Now call me at 912-867-5309 for some free beachfront property in Statesboro. With Global-Warming, the ocean will be at your front door before you know it. Trolls, you gotta love them…
AltamahaDawg
April 3rd, 2012
12:07 pm
I’d like to think that the line is starting to turn the corner, but its obviously a work in progress. Depth to me seems to be the bigger issue, moreso than the occational NFL caliber talent. Having or not. Somebody would have to be a fool to try to declare what kind of Job Coach Friend will end up doing here. Obviously we would need to judge him over a few seasons. This is the year that the state is going to be exceptionaly rich in O-line recruits, so that will be a big part of his evaluation. Albeit somewhat late or after this season, which obviously he gets no pass on.
kingdaddy
April 3rd, 2012
12:29 pm
Coach Friend has his work cut-out for him, but when this line gels, it will be good for a long time. Until they mature, Bobo needs to keep from his favorite play which is running our smallest back up the gut 2 times in a row, then having to throw on 3rd and 10. Maybe this year he’ll try some screens,roll-out passes, 2tight-end sets, heck anything but up the gut. Theres plenty of options with our talent to ease this young OL into the fray of SEC ball. The question is, wil Coach Bobo’s early gameplan allow these young studs time to gel???
About our OL
April 3rd, 2012
1:07 pm
Remember they are going up against one of the top defenses in the country. Friend is obviously poor-mouthing. I think our offense will put up big numbers this year once the games start for keeps.
@ tide roll
April 3rd, 2012
1:13 pm
Don’t want to confuse you with facts, however, do you happen to know who Bama’s top offensive lineman is? Are you aware he went to a private Christian school? Like Richt, Saban does not care what color a player is, or where he went to high school, only if he can play. Barrett Jones can play, and I think we will find out John Theus can also.
One other question you have dodged in the past- and I doubt if this board will see you answer it. Do you think AJ McCarron should have started over Philip Sims last year? That should be a slam-dunk answer for a true Bama fan, considering how he QBed a NC team.
Hey Hey Hey We're the Monkees
April 3rd, 2012
1:14 pm
Tide Roll
Different day. Same old tired crap.
DIT
April 3rd, 2012
1:19 pm
Never have understood why people from other teams feel that they need to jump on a UGA blog and post juvenile posts. However, what gets me more are ugaer’s that fall for that hook and take the bait.
As for the topic at hand. There is nothing new coming out of camp. Bottom line is that we will live or die with this O Line. Let’s hope coach Friend can pull a rabbit out of his hat.
G-Dawg
April 3rd, 2012
1:23 pm
Anyone thinking Searles recruited any of those Texas players is off their rocker!!
'94 UGA Alumnus
April 3rd, 2012
1:27 pm
Hey Nothing Could Be Finer,
Still haven’t heard how the chickens are going to stop Jarvis Jones & Co. Our suspensions are over by the SC game and our defense we will be at full strength and chomping at the bit to get on the field and eat some chickens.
News | MrSEC
April 3rd, 2012
1:37 pm
[...] isn’t sure about his spring game status.3. Georgia O-line coach Will Friend says his unit has be more physical.4. South Carolina has found a top receiver, but what about a backup quarterback?5. Derek [...]
AltamahaDawg
April 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
I think they fall for the bait, and take the hook.
Moneyball
April 3rd, 2012
3:07 pm
If the world ever needs an enema, Columbia, SC is where it will be inserted.
bobby
April 3rd, 2012
3:58 pm
uga will have 13 offensive line on schloarship during the summmer. they will find five good linemen to start fo them.
Mobile Dawg
April 3rd, 2012
6:47 pm
The best thing the OL has going for them is who they practice against.
LogicalUS
April 3rd, 2012
7:45 pm
“Still haven’t heard how the chickens are going to stop Jarvis Jones & Co.”
I doubt they are very scared of a defense coming off of 37.5 pts a game to finish the season…most likely they will do what they always do…turn and hand it to the Lattimore kid who has absolutely own UGA. He is averaging around 120 in just the 4Q along against that defense. Question is will UGA be able to beat their average of 1/2 TD a game in Columbia to make this one respectable???
SC wins this one by 10 and once again UGA fans become huge SEC West beaners.
krazydawg
April 4th, 2012
12:21 am
S.C new pro combat uniform,willhave kfc on top and a picture of the colonel on the sides.Go Dawgs!!
SEC Football Daily: April 4th | Saturday Down South
April 4th, 2012
9:45 am
[...] Georgia offensive line coach says he needs them to be more physical and better on assignments. Will Friend – quite the name – says the entire team’s physicality primarily starts along the offensive line. No has separated themselves from anyone else, either. Friend says the competition is open at every position along the line. However, the physicality is the main improvement he’s looking for this off-season. [AJC] [...]
docdawg
April 4th, 2012
4:39 pm
CLowney is good, the team is solid, great back , they`ll get rolled in Columbia this go round,
Marion
April 4th, 2012
5:09 pm
After so many years with people bragging about UGA’s great experience on the O line, and going through a season where, against the big boys, they seemed to fail to protect Murray and make the backs have to make cuts behind the line of scrimmage and not getting to the line until too late; I feel a bit better about hearing the coach saying that they need to do some work.
secone
April 4th, 2012
5:33 pm
The reason S.C. doesn’t have their own blog is because only 2 out of 5 of them can read & write.
Dawgs2012
April 4th, 2012
8:27 pm
Georgia’s Oline will come together and dominate the SEC east! Mark this down–Ga wins 10 games and plays alabama in the SEC title game!!!
Charlie Weis' Cooler (chair)
April 5th, 2012
6:16 am
Hey Nothing Could be Finer, what makes you think SC has some imposing O Line. I live in Columbia, and word on the street is that Spurrier is not too enthused by his O line. Looks like we both may have growing pains at that position. BTW, Lattimore will not be near as effective as he was because of that knee. They’re rushing him back, and everyone knows that injury takes about 2 years to recover from. So you got a hobbled Lattimore, Carson and Kenny Miles trying to run on John Jenkins, Kwame Geathers and Co. Good luck with that! Also, you no longer have Alshon to bail you out. I have a funny feeling that the Dawgs march into Columbia and ROLL this year.
Northern Sympathizer
April 5th, 2012
7:55 am
Sounds like the coaches need a little space from the press questions.
Paddy
April 5th, 2012
5:59 pm
Marion……I agree with your post 100%.
ole yeller
April 5th, 2012
6:27 pm
Stop worrying about the “O” line they will be fine. You need to worry about how fast Murray and Bobo start out this year. That is the key to the “O”. Enough said………
RHall55
April 6th, 2012
12:12 pm
CWF, where is your depth? That question pops up year after year!! Only (3) OL commits last year; why??? No OL from the state of GA; why?? Only one JUCO OL; why?? No OL commits so far this year; why??? CWF, you’ve got to get the product to develop it!! So far, a big, fat “F” for your OL recruiting!! C’mon Man!! “Win, Baby, Win”!!