Notebook: Bulldogs mulling over possible redshirt for WR Blake Tibbs
ATHENS — At this point it’s becoming clear what freshmen are going to play for the Bulldogs this year. The only real mystery is Blake Tibbs.
The speedy wide receiver from Lithonia’s M.L. King High hasn’t played so far. But Georgia’s coaches discussed the redshirt equation on Wednesday and they haven’t ruled out Tibbs contributing just yet.
“He’s one guy who hasn’t played a snap yet, but before it’s over, he might and he might not,” Richt said. “It’s a little similar to Chris Conley last year.”
Conley did not play in the first three games last season but was activated after injuries sidelined Marlon Brown, Rantavious Wooten and Malcolm Mitchell. He ended up playing in all 11 remaining games and finished with 16 catches and 2 TDs.
“We realized we’re not going to make it through the season without playing this kid,” Richt said. “And we’re glad we did because he made a lot of plays for us. [Tibbs is] a guy who could end up playing.”
Of the 16 freshmen Georgia brought in, only quarterback Faton Bauta, offensive lineman Greg Pyke, defensive lineman Jonathan Taylor and Tibbs haven’t played so far.
Offensive snaps possible for Mitchell
Georgia would love to be playing Malcolm Mitchell on offense. It’s just that injuries keep getting in the way.
The Bulldogs had big plans for potential two-way star this season. But an ankle injury in the Thursday walk-through sidelined the starting cornerback for the opener and his availability was in question the week before the Missouri.
Now as Georgia prepares for Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Richt said there’s a chance Mitchell could play some offense.
“I’d like to see him get a couple of snaps, anyway,” he said. “If he had been healthier from the very beginning he’d probably be getting a few more reps offensively. . . . It’s just been difficult to do. Yesterday he got only scout-team work, so it’s just kind of tough to do it. And I don’t want to use him on offense until he’s really feeling great.”
Mitchell is banged up again this week. He’s being held out of contact with an ankle sprain and shoulder contusion. But he has continued to practice and is expected to play on Saturday.
Jones awash in accolades
After his performance against Missouri on Saturday — nine tackles, five pressures, two sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception — Jarvis Jones has been inundated with postgame awards. In addition to being named the Chevrolet player of the game and being named SEC defensive player of the week, Jones was named national player of the week by the Walter Camp, Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski awards. Jones was asked if he physically received something from all those bodies.
“I haven’t gotten anything yet,” he quipped. “But I’ve gotten a lot of pats on the back. The UGA student body and the Bulldog Nation has shown a lot of love, as well as my teammates and the people around here. But I’m just thankful for all of it.”
Balanced Bulldogs
Georgia has been the epitome of a balanced offense so far. In the first two games, the Bulldogs have ran the football 74 times and passed it 62 — including a perfect 35 runs and 35 passes in Saturday’s 41-20 win over Missouri. But that’s not exactly what they’re trying to achieve.
“It doesn’t matter to us,” Richt said. “We have to do whatever we think we can do best on any given day. There will be teams that will totally pack the box and say we’re going to play one-on-one out here, are you good enough to throw and catch and we’ll have to prove that we are. There will be other times that we’ll play two safeties and they’re going to say are you strong enough to run against our front seven and we’ll have to prove that we are.
“That’s what I think of when I think in terms of balance. To me it means we can do what we need to do to win.”
Etc. . . .
Richt was asked whether junior fullback Zander Ogletree is also suspended: “Zander didn’t travel, but we only take so many fullbacks.” The Bulldogs had Merritt Hall, Richard Samuel, Quayvon Hicks and walk-on Corey Campbell in Missouri. . . . Offensive lineman Watts Dantzler (high-ankle sprain) sat out practice again on Wednesday. Several other players were held out of contact but were able to practice, including All-American outside linebacker Jarvis Jones (groin, shoulder), nose guard John Jenkins (shoulder), cornerback Damian Swann (knee) and outside linebacker Cornelius Washington (hamstring). . . . Ron Courson, Georgia’s director of sports medicine, conducted a seminar on concussions on Wednesday.… Nose guard Jenkins said the injury that required him to be helped off the field Saturday night was his big toe. “It got stepped on,” the 355-pound senior said. “I was in pain, man. It hurt like crazy. But we just iced it down, and I’ll be fine.” . . . The FAU game is a sellout with 92,746 tickets sold. Georgia’s opener against Buffalo was 300 short of a sellout.
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81 comments Add your comment
UGA Insider
September 13th, 2012
9:48 am
Vince…. we have to play starters because we only have 67 scholarship players and 7 of them were suspended or hurt. We have NO depth because of attrition at the moment. That is your answer.
1eyedJack
September 13th, 2012
9:52 am
“Jarvis Jones has been inundated with postgame awards. In addition to being named the Chevrolet player of the game and being named SEC defensive player of the week, Jones was named national player of the week by the Walter Camp, Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski awards. Jones was asked if he physically received something from all those bodies.”
I guess he is yet to recieve the 1eyedJack atta boy certificate I sent.
Augustabred
September 13th, 2012
9:53 am
I think they’ll probably play the starters until after the first series into the third qtr or maybe even second. They will be trying to hold onto that #7 ranking so they will be looking to have a big lead. Still predict 52-6.
Destin Dawg
September 13th, 2012
9:59 am
yes let big Mike Thorton play some N.G… play him on O line next year at center or guard ??
Destin Dawg
September 13th, 2012
10:04 am
We are in better shape this year for sure.. Improved S & C and also nutrionist Jen Ketterly’s buffet a Butts Mehre.. up til last year all we did was give players a food allowance.. now we’re feeding a balanced diet.. watch for continued O line and 4th Qtr. performance.. Go all the way Dawgs !!!
Old Hippy Tea Partier
September 13th, 2012
10:07 am
Auburn is imploding and recruits should be available…
GA Dawg81
September 13th, 2012
10:30 am
The defense should be better with Vassar and Commings back. It will free CTG to move some players around. We can not take this game lightly. We need to jump on these guys from the start. Hopefully we get a big lead early and some of the starters can take a break. I would love to see the reserves get some time on the offensive line. You can practice all you want but nothing is like game experience.
Go Dawgs!!!
Bernie Matt
September 13th, 2012
10:43 am
Of course Zander is suspended! You really think Alec was smoking weed by himself! What a dumb question. Oops, maybe it wasn’t, I forget this town doesn’t have a real media that investigates things. Everybody wants to be friends and not step on toes. Now, Richt doesn’t want to announce it, like with Alec, because they know that Zander should have never been offered in the first place. He’s a D-2 athlete at best, maybe D-3, but it’s a package deal gone bad since Alec can’t stay on the field, so to avoid the same embarrassment as with Crowell and Coot, they want to avoid the conversation. You people claim to be in the Know, but don’t know anything!
GA Dawg81
September 13th, 2012
10:49 am
Zander dressed out first game I believe.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 13th, 2012
10:52 am
Better sit Jones this week if that groin is bothering him. That can linger all season or become a sidelining injury if he isn’t careful.
Bernie Matt
September 13th, 2012
10:53 am
Well if he wasn’t dressed, they would surely have to have the conversation. GENIUS!
Destin Dawg
September 13th, 2012
10:58 am
Zander was going to FSU.. until UGA offered which was AFTER Alec committed.. de’s a DGD !!
Bernie Matt
September 13th, 2012
11:04 am
Son, Zander wasn’t going to any D1 school without Alec coming along, if you think otherwise you are uninformed. By the way DGD’s should behave responsibly and not be breaking rules or maybe the DGD standard has changed and that’s the problem.
Bernie Matt
September 13th, 2012
11:08 am
Anyway, not looking to take this conversation off track. I’m glad the team is 2 – 0, just wish the media was a bit more thorough or just not ask the question at all. That’s all I’m saying.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 13th, 2012
11:13 am
“By the way DGD’s should behave responsibly and not be breaking rules…”
Good point Bernie, THAT definitely should be part of the definition of a DGD. DGD’s don’t let their teammates down by getting suspended.
BTW, we don’t need to redshirt anybody. Get the kids some playing time while we can. You never know when they might be needed.
Chip Towers
September 13th, 2012
11:52 am
GA Dawg81: Zander did dress out first game, but he didn’t play. As you’ll recall, Rambo dressed out though he was suspended last season.
Mark (another one)
September 13th, 2012
12:10 pm
I don’t see a lot of respect in this blog for this week’s opponent. I hope for a blowout every week, but more important is the win. The Dawgs need to approach this with their heads on straight or someone is going to get themselves hurt or we could get embarrassed.
And yes, I realize who the opponent is this week. The fact is they will put eleven people on the field and go after it because this is the kind of game that could make their season. Ask Arkansas how it feels.
BIG MIKE
September 13th, 2012
12:37 pm
I’ve got a little time, so I want to say just one thing regarding Murray. I thought he played a heck of a game considering his receivers couldn’t hold on to the football and he had to keep one eye on the ends of the line to see which tackle was going to break down and miss a block out right. He came out of the game uninjured with decent numbers. If you look at what the other 10 players on offense were doing last Saturday, you would realize that without him, this game is propably lost.
I’m just sayin’…..
Todd Gurley, Georgia’s backs feel like there’s much room to improve | UGA sports blog
September 13th, 2012
1:12 pm
[...] Notebook: Bulldogs mulling over redshirt possibilities [...]
7576DAWG
September 13th, 2012
2:28 pm
I hope that Georgia plays players like Jones, Gurley , Jenkins , Mitchell and Murray no more than 1 quarter. Great opportunity to get the inexperience players some valuable game playing experience . This will minimize some of their missed assignments when they do get into a game. It will also give them a taste of what they can have with more hard practicing.
The main person who needs work is LeMay. I think his only problem is lack of confidence which he will not improve on unless he gets into the game doing more than just mop up duty. When he entered the game against Missouri he could have easily scored. Georgia ran very fluently the last few minutes of that game. I want to see him play for three quarters so we can see what he can do when we are trying to score instead of running the clock out.
GimmeAbreak
September 13th, 2012
2:33 pm
Just Sayin’
Only trying to be helpful but “acute” means serious! Let’s not wish for that PLEASE!
Destin Dawg
September 13th, 2012
2:44 pm
7576 Dawg.. yes we need to play several of our backups for more experience.. Le May for sure.. Spurrier did that last weekend when he could have played Shaw…
georgiajeepn
September 13th, 2012
2:51 pm
Do you suppose they suspended Zander because he inhaled second hand smoke???
@destin dawg
September 13th, 2012
2:58 pm
Shaw didn’t play because he couldn’t throw. He accuracy is questionable when he’s healthy much less when he’s in serious pain.
to quote spurrier
On the decision to start Dylan Thompson
The decision was made yesterday, actually about Thursday because Connor (Shaw) couldn’t throw Thursday. It appeared he couldn’t throw much Friday, and he didn’t. We were all set. If something happened and disaster struck all over the place, if Connor said ‘I can run that zone read with no pain,’ we might have considered it, but really it was never a serious thought.
GA Dawg81
September 13th, 2012
3:24 pm
Thanks for the clarification Chip. Rules have changed. Back in the day if you were suspended you were not allowed on the field by Dooley.
JvilleDawg
September 13th, 2012
3:39 pm
Why does everyone harp on the scholarship # so much, I mean I get it you want as many as you can have, but do the math folks. You line up 11 players on each side of the ball, that’ s 22 starters on offense and defense 2nd string equals 44 and 3rd string equals 66. When have you ever seen a situation where you need to go beyond the 3rd string, it’s rare if ever. If you are getting down to 3rd string, most likely a 2nd teamer from another complimentary position will be called over. It’s not as big a deal as people are making it. Alot of the kids that make up the 70-85 numbers are window dressing that won’t see much if any meaningful playing time.Just something to consider.
GA DAWG
September 13th, 2012
11:00 pm
Going to my first UGA game BETWEEN THE HEDGES, where’s a good place to park?
Just Saying
September 14th, 2012
9:03 pm
@gimmeABreak
Acute is the opposite of chronic so you are wrong with your correction. In other words, we don’t want chronic problems with our players……or we’ll be in deep poop!!!
BIG DOG
September 15th, 2012
8:39 am
Robert Nkemdiche could come to Georgia, HA
The big rumor that is spreading, his mom for some reason is angry with Clemson and Robert could have a change of heart by end of the season, one big problem is that Robert best friends have been recruited by Tigers along with coach having connections with program could keep him signing with Tigers on that day.
Me if im Georgia i would try very hard to get his best friend to come Bulldogs nation in a package deal, HA
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
FAU game
September 15th, 2012
9:56 am
Play Aaron Murray till the half. Then, open the 3rd qtr. with LeMay running the show at QB. Let him run, let him toss the ball around and let him earn some PT. We will need a confident second team QB come mid season.
MUrray needs to kneo that he must produce when he is on the field and that may no longer be a guarantee. His mind wanders in big games and he seems to choke.
I have yet to see Murray LOOK CONFIDENT in a really big game. Auburn last year was a nice showing, as was UT game two years ago when he was a frosh ( his best ever outting) and maybe the U of FL game last year and those are his three high water marks and not against top caliber teams.
GO Dogs.
Mel Douglas
September 17th, 2012
9:31 am
What does red shirting a player mean?