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UGA sports blog

UGA notebook: Two positions for Washington; Samuel ‘1B’ at fullback?

9:31 pm August 23, 2012, by Tim Tucker

ATHENS — Cornelius Washington, who played outside linebacker last season and moved to defensive end in the spring, has practiced at both positions this month.

So what is Georgia’s plan for him this fall?

Both of the above, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said after practice Thursday.

“He’s going to play both in a rotation,” Grantham said, “and I think he’s going to have a really good year.”

Grantham elaborated: “When he puts his hand in the dirt as a true defensive lineman, you have some athletic ability, a little bit of a mismatch on guards sometime in space, so that’s a benefit. And then because of his body type and athletic ability, he can still play outside ’backer … and give you some pass rush out there.”

When Washington is at linebacker, Grantham mentioned several options at end: Garrison Smith; starting nose guard John Jenkins, who “knows how to play some end too”; and Ray Drew, who “can do some things.”

“We’re going to mix and match those guys to try to get athletes on the field,” Grantham said.

Abry Jones will start at the other end.

Samuel 50-50 TB/FB

Running backs coach Bryan McClendon said Thursday that the competition at tailback “has been probably the stiffest I can ever remember it being around here at that position.”

Freshmen Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall continue to compete with sophomore Ken Malcome and senior Richard Samuel, although McClendon noted that Samuel’s practice time is split “about 50-50” between tailback and fullback.

Echoing the previous day’s comments by head coach Mark Richt, McClendon said Malcome likely will start the Sept. 1 opener against Buffalo but stopped short of assuring it.

“It’s likely that Ken will be there, but it’s definitely not final right now,” McClendon said. In any case, he indicated that two or three others also will see action at tailback in the opener.

The coaches do not intend to name a pecking order, “especially with us having a few more padded practices,” McClendon said. “You don’t want to put anything out and in three days have to change it, because then that’s a whole ’nother story you’ve got to deal with.”

At fullback, McClendon reiterated that former walk-on Merritt Hall “is going to start the game” against Buffalo but said Samuel “is definitely going to play” that position, too. He said Hall and Samuel could be considered “1A and 1B” at fullback and added that freshman Quayvon Hicks also will see action there.

“We’re going to try to keep [Samuel] progressing at both [tailback and fullback] as long as we possibly can before we have to have him at one spot or the other,” McClendon said.

Etc.

Actor Samuel L. Jackson attended Georgia’s closed-to-the-media “situational scrimmage” in Sanford Stadium on Thursday afternoon and spoke briefly to the team before the practice. Grantham said he has seen a few of Jackson’s movies and liked them.  “I like his temperament,” Grantham added with a grin. . . . Freshman outside linebacker Josh Dawson will get playing time right away, Grantham said.  “I’ve been very pleased with his progress,” Grantham said. “I look forward to watching him play next Saturday.” … Branden Smith and Malcolm Mitchell are the likely punt returners, said McClendon, who coaches that unit.

– Tim Tucker, AJC

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131 comments Add your comment

Game Changer

August 24th, 2012
7:16 am

QB play??? Why is it that the offensive players still say H Mason is outplaying AM. Third year in a row.

JB

August 24th, 2012
7:20 am

Went to hear David Greene at the Augusta Bulldog club last night. He told some Richt stories. I have to admit I have been rough on Richt at times on here, and yes I would love to see UGA win a NC, but after last night, I hope Richt stays at UGA for a long time. He is one great human being. The guy is a class act who cares about football, but cares about people more. Great stuff.

zbulldawg

August 24th, 2012
7:32 am

You call this news ? Dog bites have been talking about this for weeks ! So has Mark Richt ! Don’t tell me they locked you out Chip ? Or is not worth your time to go up there for just 15 minutes ? It’s a shame to see the Dawg fans leaving AJC. I had been buying your newspaper for 40 years. I come on here just cuz it’s free & to defend my DAWGS. How about wrting about Russ our mascot that’s going to be replaced because of a few brown spots. Let’s have a vote Chip maybe that will generate some buzz back to AJC. Chip you & Carvell need to get a grip ( if it’s not already to late) IT’s a shame a real shame

Mark Richt's Goatee

August 24th, 2012
7:49 am

“say what again”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snW3cM1KipQ

Dawg Tired

August 24th, 2012
8:05 am

Find the best two at tailback and let them split the playing time. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

HoneyBadger Has the Munchies

August 24th, 2012
8:12 am

Souunds like a stable of tailbacks and full backs this year for our Dawgs. Utilize everyone of them for certain situations and they will all be “fresh” when rotating them through four quarters. Having fresh backs in the game will help the O-line too. Good things

FLA DAWG

August 24th, 2012
8:15 am

When they put Samuel at FB last year I thought it was a good move. He looked ok at first then I can’t recall what happened. Refresh my memory guys. Did he get injured?

HoneyBadger Has the Munchies

August 24th, 2012
8:17 am

@ FLA…Crowell took over for Samuel. Samuel is a better fullback than tail back…based on size and lack of “tail back speed”.

DOGGIE IN NC

August 24th, 2012
8:18 am

Why do some of you people still hate on Bobo? The facts do not back up your hate. I figure you must be Democrats – ignore the facts and believe the lies! GO DOGGIES!

HoneyBadger Has the Munchies

August 24th, 2012
8:28 am

@DOGGIE….it is probably frustration because honestly….the play calling has been on the conservative side that last few years. I love the Bulldogs but again if you have a lead on your opponent you have to keep the throttle down to certain point without humiliating your opponent.

Dawg Tired

August 24th, 2012
8:30 am

A fresh running back who has not found his rhythm is not as good as the guy with dirt and grass stains all over his uni who is feeling it. Stick with the best two and let them run the ball.

DOGGIE IN NC

August 24th, 2012
8:39 am

HoneyBadger – that probably has more to do with how Rich wants the offense to run once they get a comfortable lead. I believe Bobo would score a 100 points, if Rich allowed him that option.GO DOGGIES!

Bernie Matt

August 24th, 2012
8:44 am

Something fishy is going on at UGA. Anyone else notice the guys being asked to practice at multiple positions (Washington and Samuel) are competing against Vasser and Hall. HMMMMM! Something for potential recruits to look out for maybe.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 24th, 2012
8:48 am

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Tell them you saw it on the AJC blogs.

http://www.englishbulldogpuppychase.com/english-bulldog-puppies-for-sale/index.htm

@Gamechanger

August 24th, 2012
8:55 am

Your post about Samuel was one that most UGA fans certainly agree with.

However, i have a problem with your quote “Why is it the offensive players still say H Mason is outplaying AM.” Please identify these mysterious players, or are their names top secret?

dawgfan

August 24th, 2012
8:59 am

Alot of hype about our running backs. We’ll see if Bobo uses them properly. I have my doubts. Anybody catch the ESPN.com story on Aaron Murray? It might be pretty old. I don’t know. I just read it last night. Anyway, the focus was on how he is only 2-7 vs. ranked opponents. He was a big 0-fer before we beat Auburn and Tech last year, both of whom didn’t even finished ranked. Gee, you think maybe our offensive coordinator might have something to do with that?

“….the play calling has been on the conservative side that last few years. I love the Bulldogs but again if you have a lead on your opponent you have to keep the throttle down to certain point without humiliating your opponent.”

I don’t think it has anything to do with conservative play calling. If Bobo was conservative we wouldn’t see the kind of dumbfounding turnovers that are now an annual tradition of UGA football. Letting the QB try to throw us out of 3rd and short deep in our own territory is not conservative playcalling. Its just stupid. No, our inablity to put away opponents is due to the lack of a strong running game. When you have the lead you run the ball to eat up clock. Either we have no ability to do that or Bobo has no interest in it because he’s more concerned with Aaron Murray’s stats. I haven’t figured out which yet.

Thanks.

@Bernie Matt

August 24th, 2012
9:00 am

Sounds like a deep conspiracy of some kind to me. Could you elaborate? And recruits are supposed to care about this?

I am at a loss to understand you. Should potential recruits get upset because some Georgia players are practicing at more than one position, or should they be upset because some are only practicing at one?

Seriously doubt if any recruit gives a flip about some players cross-training. It doesn’t matter anyway because that is going on at every major university.

Tide Roll's Tutor

August 24th, 2012
9:04 am

Bernie Matt, don’t go “Tide Roll” on me. I have got my hands full with TR, and cannot take on another student.

I-DOG

August 24th, 2012
9:08 am

Raleigh Dawg:

May have already been mentioned, but to answer your question about why Zander isn’t mentioned with the fullbacks is that he is running 4th string right now. With Hall coming out of nowhere and doing so well, Samuel moved there in the Spring, and Hicks coming in as a Freshman… suddenly fullback is pretty crowded. We don’t line up in a two back set all that often, so it is hard to see more than 2 fullbacks getting much action in the games.

Gamechanger is clueless

August 24th, 2012
9:31 am

Gamechanger is an unadulterated idiot. He belongs in the Hall of fame of stupid trolling.
Famous gamechanger inside info.
John Jenkins will be academically ineligible and georgia will face major NCAA sanctions if he plays.
JHC is leaving the program.
Jarvis jones can’t tackle SEC backs.
A murray is having a horrible fall camp.
Georgias defense was curb stomped 5 times in 2011
Much to everyones surprise he informed us yesterday it was sander Commings that granthan was defending after last years Vandy game.
350lb 6′9″ linemen can’t compete in the SEC.
Now we have the mysterious players saying amson is better than Murray.
Facts Gamechanger is a troll, Tech or South Carolina he knows nothing about Georgia football or football in general. First class idiot.

son's who?

August 24th, 2012
9:32 am

“Mobile Dawg

August 23rd, 2012
10:50 pm

Samuel Jackson is an actor, like I said the other day, Saban has a Navy Seal talk to his team about adversity, just a different philosophy I guess. Give me the real world any day.”

A Navy SEAl is more real world than Samuel L Jackson? Maybe you should Wiki Mr. Jackson sometime and see what life’s hard lessons he may be able to teach a young mind before you make such an arrogant and ignorant statement.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 24th, 2012
9:36 am

Who will Win? My 10 game Parlay……for the AJC Bloggers

No. 9 South Carolina at Vanderbilt
Texas A&M at Louisiana Tech
Tennessee vs. North Carolina State
No. 24 Boise State at No. 13 Michigan State BATTLE of the 2011 Dwag Killers
Notre Dame vs. Navy*
Miami (FL) at Boston College
No. 14 Clemson vs. Auburn*
No. 8 Michigan vs. No. 2 Alabama*
Kentucky at No. 25 Louisville
Georgia Tech at No. 16 Virginia Tech

JD

August 24th, 2012
9:36 am

I love how a visit by Samual L Jackson to practice gets two sentences at the end of a story, but anything slightly negative about UGA football is headline news and an article of its own.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 24th, 2012
9:37 am

When was SABAN a Navy SEAL?

WDE

August 24th, 2012
9:40 am

Anytime a young person gets to talk to Sam Jackson its a good thing…he is a fine speaker and actor. And lets remember one of the greatest Presidents of the last century was a actor. A for the love of Go can we just tee it up already, tried of all the talk lets play and see who is good and who is not.

RTR22

August 24th, 2012
9:41 am

Twinkie, Saban has forgotten more about leadership and discipline than you will ever know…. results
on/off the field speak for themselves. Roll Tide, 22 SEC Titles

GTT

August 24th, 2012
9:42 am

What happened to the Ogletree kid who was a fullback?

GTT

August 24th, 2012
9:44 am

Thanks I-DOG just saw your answer above.

WDE

August 24th, 2012
9:46 am

@I dropped my fried twinkie you didin’t know Saban is a Seal, and Astronaut and he owns this bar…and he is a damn fine dancer.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 24th, 2012
10:12 am

WDE…………I know RTR22 thinks leadership must be based on HITLER’s philosophy. I do know Saban can dance the GIG. :)

Bernie Matt

August 24th, 2012
10:29 am

I think you both know quite well what I am talking about. The fact is as I have stated before I want UGA to be as successful as possible,ie Nation title. However, it seems that some of the fan base is happy just being 10-2 or thereabouts, as long as “our boys play”. And i think that fact is not lost on CMR who, right now is in job survival mode. These things are not lost on elite recruits, their high school coach’s or advisors. The same issue probably cost LSU the title last year because Les Miles was presurred to put Lee on the field when he clearly knew that Jefferson’s versatility gave them the best shot at beating Bama. I hate Bama, but you have to admit Saban puts the best 11 on the field.

dawgfan

August 24th, 2012
10:31 am

“I love how a visit by Samual L Jackson to practice gets two sentences at the end of a story, but anything slightly negative about UGA football is headline news and an article of its own.”

I thought the same thing. It just doesn’t fit the narrative that the AJC goes for with UGA. You know, we’re just a bunch of drunk partying rednecks that have never left the state of Georgia and football is the only thing important in our lives. If he had visited Tech there would have been an entire story on it, like when Charlie Sheen visited a Tech baseball practice a little while back.

UGA Insider

August 24th, 2012
10:40 am

Offense has really impressed me so far. We are in good shape altogether. This season sets up as good as any I can remember. There are NO excuses so let’s see what happens. Win the USCe game and you probably go to Auburn undefeated. I hope CMR/Bobo see this opportunity and I hope they have changed their second half strategy. S.T. is a problem but if we keep scoring TD’s it won’t matter. The only defense we will see that can maybe stop us is USCe and UF. Please note the USCe pass defense is a disaster and has been having major problems this camp. Shaw has been lighting them up.

claytondawg

August 24th, 2012
10:45 am

A little more than a week to go. Put up or shut up time, ‘Dogs!!! I’m not trying to be negative; however, there is a very hungry ‘Dog Nation ready to demonstrate that ya just can’t keep a dog down for long. Are we cancer-free? Probably not, but I believe we’ll see more of a TEAM effort and spirit.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 24th, 2012
10:53 am

claytondawg……………after seeing your school system problems and your sheriff elections you have no creditably making comments.

Washington's Lawyer

August 24th, 2012
10:55 am

After the DUI he owes it all to me.

WDE

August 24th, 2012
10:55 am

@UGA Insider you make a good point the UF defense will be stout this year baring a load of injuries. I think the healthier unit will win the Cocktail party this year.

UGA is Vandy without the education

August 24th, 2012
10:56 am

UGA Insider so glad that you are impressed. Maybe that is what is wrong with Bobo; he leans on you for advice.

ga gator

August 24th, 2012
11:01 am

WDE I agree with you; if we can get past Carolina at home we should be at worst 6-1 heading to Jax to face a 6-1 or 7-0 Dawg team. Not a game for the women and children.

WDE

August 24th, 2012
11:02 am

@UGA is Vandy without the education well at least he doesn’t lean on your trollish advice…now back to you hole…troll.

fan

August 24th, 2012
11:04 am

mobile dawg,

Sam Jackson’s sister went to UGA and he is a fan. He probably stopped by just for the hell of it and because he has the star power to do so. I severely doubt that CMR asked him to speak to the team.

Gorilla Biscuit

August 24th, 2012
11:09 am

Is Bernie Matt one of Tide Rolls illegitimate children?

WDE

August 24th, 2012
11:13 am

@Gorilla Biscuit given that Tide Roll doesn’t like girls I doubt Bernie Matt is his..

G-Dawg

August 24th, 2012
11:26 am

If Shaw is lighting up SC’s secondary…either the kid has drastically improved (highly doubt)…or the secondary is that awful (not surprised).

UF defense will always pick it up a few notches against us!!

Dawgs oline might surprise alotta folks this year!!

Contractor

August 24th, 2012
11:27 am

Samuel L. Jackson needs to stick with the Falcons. The Georgia Bulldogs don’t need him running around campus or practice. Get that crap out of here.

Dawg Haus

August 24th, 2012
11:59 am

I really like the proposed rotation on D. Hopefully they won’t all look so gassed in the 4th quarter this season. Also sounds like an interesting development at tailback- the more, the merrier! Go Dawgs!

Nash Nance's Dad

August 24th, 2012
12:29 pm

My son is playing D-3 ball and Duh-Rick is out.
Nice job I did here.
I should become a full time agent.

Blackberry Cobbler

August 24th, 2012
12:31 pm

The biggest uncertainties this year are the OL and whether or not Aaron Murray can play big in big games… he has yet to prove he can. It’s time for Murray to become an elite SEC QB or turn the duties over to someone else.

Nash Nance's Dad

August 24th, 2012
12:38 pm

Blackberry – My son Nash is available, and he’s a package deal with Duh-Rick. My commisions are way less than Cecil Newton and I’ll make sure it works this time. Hit me up.

bucket

August 24th, 2012
12:59 pm

@ Bernie Matt – Vasser is suspended for the first game, so they better have someone prepared to play his position.

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