UGA football: Some questions answered, others linger for Bulldogs
The best thing about spring for Georgia coach Mark Richt, here jogging off the field after the G-Day Game, is the Bulldogs escaped without a single serious injury. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
ATHENS – Georgia wrapped up its spring practice with a surprisingly exciting G-Day Game on April 14, won by the offense-oriented Red team 32-31 over the Black.
But, truthfully, there is really not much anyone can take out of a spring scrimmage. Did the offense look good or was the defense bad, etc.? Georgia coach Mark Richt probably put it all in perspective the best when he talked this week about the Bulldogs’ spring accomplishments.
“The most exciting thing for me might have been the fact that no one had an injury that would last more than a week or two after spring ball,” Richt said. “Right now the entire team should be healthy beginning in June to go through the entire off-season program. So if we don’t have any setbacks this summer, when we roll into camp it might be the first time since I’ve been at Georgia that we don’t have somebody in the red cross area. So that’s good.”
Cornerback/wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (hamstring), freshman tailback Keith Marshall (hamstring) and safety Shawn Williams (knee) all missed the spring game with minor injuries, while offensive linemen Zach DeBell (ankle) and Xzavier Ward (knee) and defensive end Sterling Bailey (foot) sat out while recovering from preexisting injuries.
But there were a few tangible conclusions we could make from the 15-practice spring period:
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER(S)
The good news for Georgia is there were several candidates in this area. But for the sheer expanse of improvement made, Justin Scott-Wesley has to be at the top of the list.
The redshirt freshman wide receiver was completely raw as a skill player when he arrived from Camilla as a true freshman last summer. And despite splitting his time with the track team – he’s a multiple state championship sprinter – this 6-foot, 220-pound athlete showed great promise and turned a lot of heads both in the practices and the spring game. Scott-Wesley led the Red team with three catches for 46 yards, including a 21-yarder for a first down on third and long that required him to go up high and haul in a pass over his outside shoulder with senior cornerback Branden Smith on his inside hip in tight coverage. Scott-Wesley competed his way into the playing rotation for this fall.
Honorable mentions: Offensive lineman Kolton Houston, linebacker Ramik Wilson, tailback Ken Malcome and tight end Jay Rome.
POSITION BATTLE RESULTS
Georgia was left with three major voids on the offensive line due to the graduation left tackle Cordy Glenn, center Ben Jones and right tackle Justin Anderson. The most important of these position battles ended up not being one as junior Kenarious Gates (6-foot-5, 328 pounds) grabbed the left tackle job by the throat and never let go.
Meanwhile, Houston (6-5, 291) turned out to be the unexpected winner of the sweepstakes at right tackle. After missing all last season with NCAA “eligibility issues,” Houston was expected to earn playing time at one of the guard positions. But midway through camp, line coach Will Friend decided to give him a look out wide and the former Under Armour All-American from Buford out-performed Watts Dantzler and Austin Long at the position and came out as the starter.
Sophomore David Andrews (6-2, 280) appears to have held onto the center job. But Friend continues to experiment by working larger players in there such as Chris Burnette (6-2, 313) and Dallas Lee (6-4, 303) in the hopes of eventually settling on the five best overall players. Also, 5-star signee John Theus will be thrown into the mix in August.
“There’s no question we made a lot of progress up front,” Richt said. “As the spring went on, we got a little more settled in the top five. . . . We have other guys fighting for spots, and we have freshmen who can come in and fight for a position as well.”
DEEPEST GROUP
Georgia enjoys more quality depth on the defensive line – followed closely by linebackers — than at any other position on the field and it’s for that reason that the Bulldogs have to be in the SEC championship conversation.
Georgia features a pair of 350-pound noseguards in John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers that are the envy of any of the top programs in college football, much less the SEC. Meanwhile, under-appreciated end/tackle Abry Jones is back, Cornelius Washington proved to be a beast in his move to defensive end from outside linebacker and Garrison Smith, who played a lot of quality snaps late last season, was un-blockable at times.
Combine that with an All-American pass rusher in Jarvis Jones at outside linebacker, seasoned veterans Alec Ogletree, Michael Gillard and Christian Robinson at inside linebacker and versatile up-and-comers Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson, and the Bulldogs feature one of the most formidable front sevens in football.
AREA OF CONCERN
It didn’t look like it at the end of last season, but Georgia’s defensive secondary is suddenly the biggest question mark. The Bulldogs already knew they would be without Hornung Award winner Brandon Boykin, who will be selected in the early rounds of this week’s NFL draft. But then All-America free safety Bacarri Rambo and cornerbacks Sanders Commings and Smith ran into off-season trouble and face multiple-game suspensions early in the season. So shaky is the situation that UGA’s coaches made the bold decision to move Mitchell, their most explosive offensive play-maker, from wideout to corner to shore up depth.
Meanwhile, Georgia is relying on a pair of freshman signees in Collin Barber and Marshall Morgan to step in punter and place-kicker, respectively. That’s a challenge in itself but especially when replacing such special teams stalwarts as Drew Butler and Blair Walsh.
QUESTION GOING INTO SUMMER
Soon after news leaked of Rambo’s impending suspension due to a failed drug test, there was rampant speculation that several other players were facing disciplinary action due to similar violations of athletic department policy. Georgia has already lost 10 players to transfer, dismissal or suspension, so the Bulldog Nation will be holding its collective breath in hopes that the team remains intact come September.
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209 comments Add your comment
Dawg Haus
April 26th, 2012
3:41 pm
Last year certainly left much to be desired in special teams, Gary, no doubt. If it’s any consolation, Marshall Morgan looks to be the real deal. I read somewhere that he averages hitting the endzone on kickoffs. He’s supposed to have amazing accuracy, as well. Just another stud in that south Florida kicker pipeline that the coaches have established. I am a little worried about coverage, though.
I'm Just Saying
April 26th, 2012
4:52 pm
Kingdaddy…really? Valedictorian at ugump huh? …Dawg in Lex…BFD…you idiots should have sent it back and demanded a refund…but you still hung the it up…brilliant!
LSU
April 26th, 2012
5:32 pm
I got Dec. 1st circled on my calendar for another smackdown in atlanta! Mettenberger is going to flat out outplay Murray in ever statline.
yall need to quit hyping up that team so much before the season when they havent played well or won a sec championship since ‘05.
Im no fan of Uga but theyre a historically good team. Id really like to see them in a bcs bowl in the next two years but it doesnt look like that’s going to happen.
In my opinion, yall just need a clean sweep of that entire offensive coaching staff and get richt out of there! That man shows no discipline!
Maybe stealing Todd Monken (OC at Ok. St), Mark Helfrich (OC at Oregon), or Dabo Swinney (@ Clemson) by offering at OC or Head coach would bring some fire power to that offense, look at how their schools are doing now!
Richt is too soft of a coach, he thinks hes invincible cause the people love him.
Yeah he wins games, but not the ones that matter. Boise St., S. Car., LSU, Michigan St. just last year, and that was a fluff schedule they had.
In the end none of this really matters, for uga will not win a Nat’l Championship for a long time.
As long as LSU, Bama, Arky, Auburn, and the newly rising powerhouse Tx aTm are in the SEC West, no team in the east stands a chance!
LSU’s D-Line and Secondary is going to be a nightmare for them this year!
Our stable of RB’s is again going to run the ball down their throats!
Mettenberger is going to perform an Air Show in the dome throwing all over that uga secondary!
What looks like a good season next year for yall….is not.
Whether it’s LSU, Bama, or Arky in the dome with yall, youre $h1t out of luck!!
B'dawg
April 26th, 2012
6:02 pm
Ill get in on this and say it. If we dont win the SEC it wont be because of defense. IF our offense can manage 24 points a game we will win the sec and be mentioned for the crystal ball by mid to late November. Nobody will score that many points on UGA. Book it.
J.Y.Dog 76'
April 26th, 2012
6:42 pm
This blog really sucks when Richt’s three leg-humpers Brainless Brainiac, DummyInLex and QueenDaddy sign on and attack everyone who is not a delusional reprobate, koolaid-drinker like they are. The more UGA football these fools watch the dummer and more delusional they get. It shows everyone how stupid these idiots are for being fans of Richt the coach, and not Georgia the Program.
VirginiaDawg912
April 26th, 2012
6:47 pm
How hard can it be to replace Walsh?
mansup
April 26th, 2012
7:02 pm
Who cares about UGA? Not many outside their redneck fan base. I’m sure they are headed for another run at the national championship. They’re perennial challengers for that honor, you know.
Dawg Alum
April 26th, 2012
8:27 pm
@LSU
Yes indeed you have a great QB, great, but not as good as Murray. We would have kept him, but he had no class or values so we felt LSU would be a fabulous fit for him!!! Good luck
Dawg Alum
April 26th, 2012
8:32 pm
@Techster
Yes we have have our problems, but we have not lost conference championships for cheating, had coaches fired for rape, convicted of obstructing an NCAA investigation, etc. Hey dude…..you throwing rocks in a glass house?
Dawg Alum
April 26th, 2012
8:34 pm
That’s “have had” not “have have”
Dawg Alum
April 26th, 2012
8:40 pm
@mansup
Like your favorite team is one that anyone cares for outside of a redneck fan base? Certainly not based on your comments……. you aren’t even close to being as classy as any redneck!!!
reality
April 26th, 2012
9:07 pm
Ohio St. “yuck flies. run your mouth and yap all you want. But everybody knows when you guys get to abowl and play a S.E.C. team you get your junk handed to you. And Techies you guys need to get the hell out of football. Get a chess team, all dorks are good at chess.
bitter dop_e heads
April 26th, 2012
9:19 pm
pee test ahead——————-no moo —–dope—ezzs
bitter dop_e heads
April 26th, 2012
9:26 pm
who the f—k is @jy dog76——dude you calling out queen—I mean kingdaddy is like your tribe
in tusk—ur—loooserville trying to repaint there rusty trailers——makes no sense
———-K/D is a true rough and tough member of the dawg pound—–speaking of pounding
————————–how does that crstal ball look lately———hahahahahah—–loooser
bitter dop_e heads
April 26th, 2012
9:29 pm
my sources (V.D.)close to the current A.D. has informed me with-in the coming day’s there
—-will be two more commitments——-”O” line——go dawgs
Bama=home of the T-bag special
April 26th, 2012
9:29 pm
@Techster if we bring 8 we will again beat the Bugs…
SEC Football Daily: April 27th | Saturday Down South
April 27th, 2012
5:46 am
[...] The Georgia secondary remains the biggest question mark exiting spring. Entering spring, it was the biggest question mark, and it is exiting spring, too. There are holes all over the place with Sanders Commings, Bacarri Rambo and Brandon Smith all suspended for the opening two games or longer. Sure, they moved WR Malcolm Mitchell to DB, and Mitchell is very gifted, but this is still a very vacant secondary. [AJC] [...]
DawginLex
April 27th, 2012
9:23 am
JY Dog 76
At least I have the cajones to defend UGA when the TROLLS spew their crap.
What do you do? Sit around and agree with them?
If you truly are a DAWG, you don’t sit back and take it.
DawginLex
April 27th, 2012
9:26 am
You see when a loser like hangtime memories shows up, he never will tell you who his team is. Most likely, it is Tech.
His blog handle is gutless, showing no allegiance to any school because that would actually mean standing up for something and risking criticism when things don’t go well.
Basically a coward.
ARdawg
April 27th, 2012
9:47 am
We own this state
Dawg Haus
April 27th, 2012
9:50 am
Good morning to all the Dawgs out there! I was pretty surprised that Cordy’s name wasn’t called last night. Where do y’all see him ending up in the second round? Indy sure needs linemen.
ARdawg
April 27th, 2012
10:03 am
Lex
Most all of the trolls on the UGA threads are Techies even the ones who try to identify with another team are usually pimple faced, black horned rimmed glasses wearing, high water pants styling Tech fans.
Why else would they be on here? Of course a few of them could be ignorant Bama fans but I digress. 95% are Tech fans with no life, no money and no girlfriend
ARdawg
April 27th, 2012
10:03 am
Enter your comments here
Dawg Haus
April 27th, 2012
10:15 am
ARdawg, good way of looking at it. It’s easy to tell a legitimate fan of another team: Big Crimson, The Bear, Beast of the East, etc. from a troll who’s just looking to get a rise out of people.
Dawg Haus
April 27th, 2012
10:16 am
Plus, those guys are good people who come on here to talk football and not spew nonsense.
BankerDawg
April 27th, 2012
10:16 am
Kingdaddy – define “troll” for the group. Is it someone from another fan base that comes on this blog to attack GA and it’s fans? Or is it a GA fan that tries to give an honest assesment of what he expects out of this years team and coaching staff. Again, this article was about “areas of concern”. You make yourself irrelevant by attacking other dawg fans for issuing an opposing position. You obvioulsy need to study the game more and take a class in critical thinking. You points are weak and your analysis is that of a pre-teen.
Dawg Alum
April 27th, 2012
11:05 am
@BankerDawg,
There is a 3rd group you failed to mention. The folks who are with another “fan base” who tear down the Dawgs while impersonating and acting like they are Dawg fans. Those are the “trolls” who get in my crawl!!!
a country boy can survive
April 27th, 2012
11:09 am
great post BankerDawg…Dawg Haus, you should have been a detective with your skills of deduction…Lexipup and ARdawg are still as ses…Bama t-bag is an idiot…everyone but Banker Dawg needs to shut their damned mouths.
ARdawg
April 27th, 2012
11:26 am
Dawg Haus
Those are some good guys and there are also some Tech fans who occasionally grace the UGA threads and contribute some good discussion. There use to be quite a few of those along with a few fans from other teams but, they quit coming because of the trolls.
BankerDawg
A troll is anyone who posts hate and vitriol hoping for a negative reaction. Anyone, whether they are a fan or not. Many fans disagree with each other. Disagreeing isn’t trollish. Disliking UGA and it’s fans isn’t trollish. Posting just for negative reaction is. This use to be a fun blog, the idiots, arse holes and trolls like country boy has taken it’s toll
a country boy can survive
April 27th, 2012
11:36 am
just adding balance.
Dawg Haus
April 27th, 2012
11:37 am
Well said, ARdawg. i just ignore the goofballs and talk to the folks who come on here to discuss football. I could care less what their team is, what they think about Coach Richt, etc. A mature conversation can be had by all.
BankerDawg
April 27th, 2012
11:47 am
@ B’dawg: great post and interesting point. What you just described is our team during the Van Gorder days in 2002. Let me point out some other nuances that made that team successful and compare them to this year:
1). Defense 2002: Nasty – Greg Blue, Thomas Davis, David Pollack, Sean Jones, Robert Geathers etc. 2012 – Nasty: Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree, Bacarri Rambo, Branden Smith, Sanders Cummings, Ray Drew, Kwame Geathers, John Jenkins, Abry Jones, Christina Robinson etc
* You said if we score 24 points a game that we should win all our games. This may be true based on the defense that we are firlding this year. We have that type of talent again and if any Dawg fan doesnt think that Grantham isnt the best things to happen to our program in 10 years then I think this year will change your mind. I have high hopes for this team based on the Defensive side of the ball.
2). Offense: 2002: productive and efficient: David Greene, Freddie Gibson, Billy Bennett, Reggie Brown, Terrence Edwards, Gordon-Ely Kelso, Max Gean -Gilles, Daniel Inman, Quentin Moses, Ben Watson, Musa Smith etc. 2012: potentially explosive/potentially inefficient:
* I am not going to list the 2012 players, we all know them. If you look at the offense in 2002 compared to 2012, I think we have more talent now. The problem is all in the trenches. We haven;t had a great O-line since 2002 and I cannot figure out why. Some would say injury and some would say matriculation. They may all be right. For me, those are excuses. “If”, and its a big “if”, our Oline can come together, and we get 100 yrds a game or more from Crowell, Marshall, Gurley, Malcome or whoever, I think we have the recipe for a 2002 type season and maybe, just maybe, with the some luck and help from above, a shot at the MNC.
*That last line was for KingDaddy, DawginLex, and all the other “pie in the sky” fans.
BankerDawg
April 27th, 2012
11:49 am
Sorry for the typos, I was getting excited…Go Dawgs!
Dawg Haus
April 27th, 2012
11:54 am
BankerDawg, good point. One of the issues I have with recruiting nowadays is that the coaches seem too concerned with flash and finesse and not focused enough on quality depth in the trenches, where the game is won. CTG has addressed that issue on the defensive side of the ball, but the O-line leaves much to be desired. I’m hopeful that Coach Friend will get it going this year with a more athletic group of guys. I think Georgia is a solid offensive line away from being a really good team.
Dawg Haus
April 27th, 2012
11:56 am
Bucky Brooks sees Cordy going first in the second round to the Rams. Still no mention of Boykin or Charles.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d828a8579/article/secondround-mock-draft-fleener-osweiler-still-available?module=HP11_cp
BankerDawg
April 27th, 2012
12:00 pm
Mee too Dawg Haus, its as simple as that. We like to kick Bobo around, and rightfully so. But we seem to forget that we have never been a “Big 12″ (or whatever they are called now) type team. Defense, Oline, and running the ball win games in the SEC. Saban, as much as I hate to admit it, understands this. AJ McCarron is no better than AM, but he has a strong supporting cast and a solid O line to protect him. Thats the only missing ingredient that I see. That, and Murray needs to mature more. I dont expect him to win games for us with his arm but I do expect him not to lose any by turning the ball over and making dumb mistakes.
Dawg Haus
April 27th, 2012
12:09 pm
BankerDawg, my fingers are crossed for some big-time O-line commitments soon. I’ve heard some rumors that two guys are committing soon, but you know how these blogs can get with the hearsay.
ARdawg
April 27th, 2012
12:48 pm
Flat Tire on 95 changed his name?
ARdawg
April 27th, 2012
12:53 pm
Banker
Preaching to the choir I know but, I don’t consider McCarron as good as AM. It’s easy for a QB to look good with a solid Oline, solid running game and receivers that catch the ball. Last year McCarron had it, Murray didn’t. If the Oline jells this year. I expect Murray will impress quite a few. He is much better than appeared last year
ARdawg
April 27th, 2012
1:00 pm
We had the biggest tonnage of any offensive line anywhere in the country last year and they couldn’t block a biscuit. It’s tough to look good as a QB when you are running for your life
Dawg Tired
April 27th, 2012
1:10 pm
Tony – While Blair Walsh was outstanding for 2+ seasons he was a liability last year. The incoming freshman kicker may well be better than Blair was last year. I seriously doubt he can be worse. If he is, we are in deep trouble when it comes to place kicking and we will have wasted a scholarship.
Dawg Tired
April 27th, 2012
1:10 pm
I meant Chip not Tony. Who is Tony?
Dawg Tired
April 27th, 2012
1:15 pm
ARdawg – I certainly agree with your assessment of last year’s O-line. That why I couldn’t understand why we had an O-linemen (Glenn) listed so high in the pre-NFL-draft predictions. I certainly was not surprised when he was not drafted last night.
Dawg Tired
April 27th, 2012
1:19 pm
ARdawg – As for AM, I hope you are right when you say he is much better than he appeared to be last season. O/W, we have trouble, real trouble, in River City because it is clear that CMR is not going to give anyone else a shot at playing QB regardless of how AM does.
SKB
April 27th, 2012
1:21 pm
different year: same story
I predict the usual
1. Coach Bobo terrible play calling
2. Lacking strength and Conditioning
3. Fans hails the next Herschel Walker aka Keith Marshall being hyped and under-delivering
4. Massive off-field disciplinary problems
Come on guys. I love UGA but how is this year going to be anyway different?
Dawg Tired
April 27th, 2012
1:25 pm
SKB – Your concerns are very logical. The best predictor of how someone will perform in the future is how they have performed in the past.
As Georgia fans, we can only hope things change. But will they? Only time will tell.
Dawg Haus
April 27th, 2012
1:43 pm
Dawg Tired, I hear you on Walsh. I hated seeing him self-destruct last season, especially given how great he was from 2008-10. If I’m not mistaken, he leaves UGA as the SEC’s leading scorer. Just shows you how good he was before 2011.
I’ve heard nothing but positive reports on Marshall Morgan, the incoming kicker. He apparently averaged hitting the end zone on kickoffs in high school and is supposed to be extremely accurate with field goals. Take it for what it’s worth, but I think we have ourselves a decent kicker coming in. Time will tell, I suppose.
Dawg Haus
April 27th, 2012
1:54 pm
Has anyone heard anything new on O-line recruiting?
Briscoe Darlin
April 27th, 2012
2:58 pm
TidePride, if UGA is such a looser, why don’t you do yourself a favor and STAY OFF OF THIS BLOG??? By the way, when Saban gets lured away, and he will, UA will be trying to dig up the Bear to find another decent coach as they did for a decade, at least one that doesn’t chase little girls.
BankerDawg
April 27th, 2012
3:41 pm
I hope you guys are right. Special teams was terrible last year – FG’s, kicks ,and coverage. We generally have done a good job recruiting here and usually these guys come in an make an immediate positive impact. I guess that is why im not too worried. I am worried, however, about our special teams coverage. Hoepfully Richt has settled in his mind that walk ons and 3rd string guys dont fair as well as your 4 and 5 star guys vs other 4 and 5 star guys.
The AM commentary is a fair assessment. You guys talked me in to it, I’ll give him a chance to prove me wrong. I’m not one who thinks Mason or Lemay would do a better job for us right now. It’s Murray’s job to lose, and yes I do believe that he should lose his job if he does not show drastic improvement. Thats how life works right? At some point you’ve got to prove why we “hired” ya.