Updated: Georgia’s Malcolm Mitchell conflicted about future as ‘two-way’ player (with poll)
Adds comments from offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham . . .
Georgia's Malcolm Mitchell (26) continued to attend the Bulldogs' defensive meetings until the week of the Georgia Southern game. The question is whether he should attend them anymore going forward. (AJC photo by Bob Andres)
ATHENS – Georgia’s Malcolm Mitchell is one conflicted football player.
With the regular season and final exams in the rear-view mirror and a bowl game still a ways down the road, Mitchell has been able to reflect some on the “Great Experiment” that the 2012 season was for him. He went through spring practice and into the season expecting to be a two-way player. He said what came to pass wasn’t exactly what he envisioned, but neither was it anything approaching a disappointment.
In the end, Mitchell played the first four games as a cornerback and the last nine as a wide receiver. He never truly played both in one game, save for an occasional offensive play when he was playing defense. By the fifth game he was essentially a full-time receiver who merely attended defensive meetings. By Game 10 he quit attending defensive meetings altogether.
Loading ...All that is in the past. It’s what to do in the future that has Mitchell confused at this point. And as the No. 7 Bulldogs prepare for a Jan. 1 date against Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl, Mitchell says he has no idea what the plan is.
“Nothing has been said about it, nothing has been brought up about it,” said Mitchell, who led the team in receptions with 40. “I’m loving what I’m doing now. I love what I did before. So whatever they want to do, it’s their choice. Whatever they need for the team.”
Mitchell stepped up for the Bulldogs when they needed him most. They were without two starting defensive backs — safety Bacarri Rambo for the first four games and cornerback Sanders Commings for the first two — due to disciplinary suspensions. The status of cornerback Branden Smith was unclear — also for disciplinary reasons –until preseason camp.
Mitchell, a 6-foot-1, 184-pound sophomore from Valdosta, started three of the first four games at cornerback while playing defense full time. He accounted for 12 tackles and 3 pass break-ups in that time. He also played an extremely limited number of offensive plays in the third and fourth games. He had a single catch in each, one for 49 yards and another for six.
After Commings and Rambo returned, Mitchell returned to playing offense full time. He had four catches against Tennessee and three against South Carolina before breaking loose for a career-best nine catches for 109 yards against Kentucky. He had the game-sealing touchdown catch in the fourth quarter against No. 2 Florida and became Aaron Murray’s go-to guy down the stretch. He finished with 572 yards and four touchdowns.
As for the two-way player distinction, Mitchell asks a good question: “When did I really do both this season?,” he said “I came in a ran one play and came out. I mean, is that really both ways?”
There’s a chance Georgia may need to tap into Mitchell’s versatility again next season. The Bulldogs lose their entire starting backfield to graduation.
There are candidates on campus to replace them and others on the way via recruiting. But what if the coaches deem Mitchell as a better alternative again?
“The possibilities are the same,” Mitchell said. “I still know the possibilities of doing it. I mean, it’s a huge opportunity to play both and I still stick to that. But is that something I want to continue to do? That’s something that just has to be figured out over time.”
Mitchell said he would need a more “stable” situation if he did it again. That is, how much he’d play each side would need to be more detailed up front.
Mitchell did make this declaration: He likes offense better. The ideal for him, he said, would be playing wide receiver full time while becoming a situational defensive player.
“If I had to pick between offense and defense, one or the other, I’m going to pick offense just because I love doing it,” he said. “Now if you say, can you do a little bit of offense and a little bit of defense? I want that. I don’t want to play full-time defense. I can make that statement. . . . I want to play what I’ve been playing because I love playing it.”
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo swaid he doesn’t know what the plan is for Mitchell — “That’d be a question for Coach Richt, really; I couldn’t answer that” — but he has said from the outset he would prefer to have Mitchell as a full-time offensive player.
“I would, but we’ll do whatever we need to do as a football team,” Bobo said. “A lot of (Mitchell playing defense) had to do with our situation with suspensions on defense and depth. Hopefully that will be addressed and we can have him full time. But if Coach says he’s going to play both ways, he’s going to play both ways.”
Richt was unavailable for interviews on Monday.
Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham is taking the same tact, saying he’ll do “what’s best for the team.” But he did interject that he believes Mitchell’s up side as a full time defensive player could be through the roof.
“His length and his ability to play in tight coverage and his (ability to) transition allow him to play close to receivers and cover them,” Grantham said. “And he’s a physical guy who can tackle. All those things make him a premier corner. There’s no doubt in my mind he can be one of the best corners in the SEC.”
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153 comments Add your comment
dagrapevine
December 17th, 2012
5:16 pm
rick tomberlin played malcome at corner his soph and jr years.rance gillespie moved him to wr his first year at valdosta and malcome’s sr year.gillespie says malcome can play where ever you put him,but he’s too explosive not to get in space at wr.
malcome was a quiet kid at valdosta not sure why he’s mouthy and exspressive after big plays now.he’s the perfect example of a team player and a great return man on special teams.
he loves being a dog,just ask him.
DawginLex
December 17th, 2012
5:19 pm
a fan
Bobo is one of the best OC’s in the NCAA. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t change that. And yes he did get interest from schools about a HC job.
You must seriously be blind if you can’t see what the offense did this year. It will only be better next year
Some folks are too stupid to walk across the street without help
DawginLex
December 17th, 2012
5:26 pm
Richard Samuel was a DGD but he did not have the athletic ability to get on the field at either LB, RB or FB. If he had the ability, he would have played.
MM is the best athlete on the team. He is an elite WR and KR. He is an average DB because he just hasn’t practiced his craft enough.
He is a difference maker on offense and special teams
BRYANT
December 17th, 2012
5:37 pm
Two yrs. ago Mitchell narrowed his college choices down to Al. & Ga. If he had chosen Al. he would be on the verge of getting his second ring. Also would be one more yr.away from cashing huge checks as a DB. Bet he wishes he could get a do-over. RTR
Bobo is Royalty
December 17th, 2012
5:37 pm
I need 84 more just like MM! I couldn’t get Isiah Criminal to do jack-sht last year but I want more just like Malcom!
GATA
December 17th, 2012
5:43 pm
Gonna need that lock down ability at corner in the SEC, so I’d keep him there primarily and mix in some plays on offense. No matter what, more of #26 on the field, the better.
hermdawg
December 17th, 2012
5:52 pm
gtbob, can’t you remember hines ward? played qback wr and rb in one season.
Moist Dawg
December 17th, 2012
5:53 pm
Play him like Charles Woodson and he will compete for a Heisman by the time he is done.
Bryant, nobody here cares about bama and some dead old shriveled up coach who used to look like a jacka$$ in his ridiculous hat.
hermdawg
December 17th, 2012
5:55 pm
it didn’t seem to end his fb career.
bigcalidawg
December 17th, 2012
6:02 pm
I was lookin forward to seein Trammel come in and make plays for the offense, but now the young man needs time to heal up. Perhaps if we sign Alvin K. We can continue to play him some at corner. Otherwise, we just need to pick a spot and let him settle.
tidog
December 17th, 2012
6:12 pm
The best player has to be the field the his designated position. Mitchell was a better corner than Swann and Sanders. Somebody needs to man up and do right by this young man so that he can develope into an excellent cornerback he’s destined to become. He’s confused because his leadership is confused. It makes no sense to get talent like Mitchell and the coaches can’t decide if he’s to play offense or defense. How about doing whats best for Mitchell and not the team.
ValdostaWildcat
December 17th, 2012
6:22 pm
Too bad the “brain trust” in Athens cant figure out how to use him. If you’re gonna use him at WB, youve got to throw the ball to him every now and then.
If not, play him at DB.
As it stands, he’s getting wasted. Shoulda went to Alabama.
rpollardrealtor
December 17th, 2012
6:25 pm
You know this is a team game, but I think it benefits Mitchell and the Team if they would let him know what they expect of him instead of leaving him in the clouds. First and foremost he needs to do what’s best for the team but also needs to think about where he will project in the NFL as well.
L5P Dawg
December 17th, 2012
6:30 pm
Wish Mitchell the best where he is at on the field. I just hope all the switching around doesn’t impact him negatively in terms of the NFL by not getting ample time to master one position.
Either way GO DAWGS………
Is out D ever going to be that good?
This team might have 8 players on D that see at least a couple of years in the NFL, yet we can’t stop the run. It is Grantham and the scheme, not the quality of players.
Gay dawg
December 17th, 2012
6:37 pm
Stay strong MM. I know what it feels like to be conflicted. Society wants you to be big strong defensive guy and you want to be a wide receiver.
rpollardrealtor
December 17th, 2012
6:43 pm
L5P Dawg,
Alabama’s RB and OL was just that dang good bro.
kral
December 17th, 2012
6:47 pm
I agree Gtee bobbie…kinda like how moving Hines Ward all over the place ruined his soon to Hall-FAME career
Chilidawg
December 17th, 2012
6:57 pm
I’d feel better if he did not return punts or kickoffs. He is a great receiver, but appears too much of a gambler for returning punts and KOs.
And Chip Towers...
December 17th, 2012
6:58 pm
…again tried to make something out of nothing – “Nothing has been said about it, nothing has been brought up about it,” said Mitchell.
I swear I would think Chip was a Tech guy if i did not know he graduated from UGA…
That’s twice in the last week he has done this, and at least 42 times since 2004, which is when I started paying attention to what he writes about UGA and its athletes…
Probably not, BRYANT...
December 17th, 2012
7:02 pm
…while it is true AL is playing for a second MNC, while UGA sits and watches, MM has played in 2 SEC championship games, and UGA lost both, yet that is still a pretty good stretch of games, and pretty good pub, too, especially since he plays two positions and does well as a receiver, and only so so as a DB – and from watching him, he may not be fast enough for the NFL as #1 receiver, but will be a great slot receiver in the mold of the guy at NE, Wes Welker…though not as fast as Welker…
L5P Dawg
December 17th, 2012
7:06 pm
rpollardrealtor
Yes they were, but TN and KY also ran for big yards.
Dawgdad (The Original)
December 17th, 2012
7:22 pm
Too much talent for this to ever happen, but Malcolm needs to be sure and avoid what happened to Richard Samuel. He can never develop fully, unless he has a full time position, and maybe then help out somewhere else. Hard to serve two masters.
james jones
December 17th, 2012
7:22 pm
what in the world is the point of this article other than to stir up a controversy thats not there!! The kid said that he loved what he was doing end of the story ( or in this case the non-story)
RED DOG 77
December 17th, 2012
7:28 pm
Well said, james jones…………..There is no story, leave the kid alone and let him play ball………….Find something else to waste ink on………………RED
mgdawg
December 17th, 2012
7:35 pm
While I prefer him at receiver, mainly because that is what he is best at right now, I do believe he has more upside at corner. He’s 6′1″, but he is pretty light. Look at the NFL, that is more the build of a corner then a receiver, especially when you are talking about elite WR. Truthfully, what’s best for him for the NFL would be to redshirt him a year and let him learn corner then play two years at corner. But that’s never going to happen, and it shouldn’t.
whiskey breath
December 17th, 2012
7:40 pm
I would say from experience, you guys have yourself’s a prima donna.
Thank goodness he didn’t go to Bama. This guy will be unhappy,
I will promise you. And when he does, remember WB said it.
RTR
rpollardrealtor
December 17th, 2012
7:45 pm
@L5PDawg,
Very true, however Dawgs played them before the Florida game when Shawn Williams called the Defense out for not playing to full speed and questioning their manhood. There was way to much talent on that defense with a great scheme to even let TN and KY in the game like the were which is what lead to Williams calling his own boys out. Defense played great the first half but that OL and RBs had holes you and I could run through. I can’t stand saying this but you just have to tip your hat to Bama. Dawgs played a great game and I for one and very proud of the way they played. We were in it the whole way to win it. My thought is the difference of that game was experience. Alabama has been there the past couple of years and we haven’t. I believe Richt, realizes we need to play more with a sense of urgency than laying back with no fire. Too much talent and some of the best coaches in the Nation for the Dawgs to of had the seasons they’ve been having. Having a player call each other out is what I think will be the difference of the Dawgs being on the fence to being an elite team. Eliteness is right around the corner. I’m only in my mid-20s but that was the best football game I have ever seen in my life and I’ve seen a lot of football games. Just too bad we had to lose.
45 ACP
December 17th, 2012
7:46 pm
Good problems and bad problems…this is a good problem.
rpollardrealtor
December 17th, 2012
7:50 pm
@DawgDad,
We all know how much of a DGD Samuel is… however he never had the talent Mitchell has…. If Mitchell can focus on one position, which he deserves, he will become a standout, elite player at whatever position he ends up at. I myself love defense more than offense, and think he can be a shutdown corner and a great corner in the NFL but he is a fantastic WR and deserves a chance to develop there if that’s where he feels most comfortable.
whiskey breath
December 17th, 2012
7:52 pm
None of you realize it, but Grantham is one of the best Defensive coaches in the nation.
I know that because he basically has saved zipper head’s job. I hope he does get hired away.
But you little mutts just don’t know anything about defense.There is a reason he is one of the
highest paid dc’s in the nation. But please keep giving him the credit for what goes wrong with Ga.
Keep on being Ga.
Gay dawg
December 17th, 2012
8:00 pm
When I played football my coach wanted me at tight end. I told him I was flattered but I clearly was a wide receiver. Spread out wide
whiskey breath
December 17th, 2012
8:04 pm
As far as paying players, we will find out about Ga shortly. If Foster goes to Ga, then don’t ever say
Ga doesn’t pay players. Foster doesn’t play for free. Auburn pretty well virified that.
whiskey breath
December 17th, 2012
8:11 pm
Gay Dawg is for real isn’t he Ga? Better you guys than us. Keep up the good work Gay.
DawgFan
December 17th, 2012
8:14 pm
All you guys bringing up Richard Samuel are delusional. I understand he is a great kid but a less natural football player I have not seen. I had him as one of he worst RB’s in the country as a Jr and it was a shame we had to play him so much. I am sure he played LB about the same. He had plenty of chances and was just not very good.
Mitchell excels everywhere we put him. He could probably play Center if needed.
Spoke
December 17th, 2012
8:20 pm
“Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham is taking the same tact…” You mean taking the same TACK. It’s a sailing expression.
Carry on.
bubba4dawgs
December 17th, 2012
8:35 pm
I have nothing but praise for all Valdosta players and Mitchell is no exception to that statement! He’s good no matter where he plays. I’m always glad to see a Valdosta player come to UGA as I know nothing but top notch players come from there. DGD, Malcolm Mitchell!!
BG
December 17th, 2012
8:54 pm
Mitchell is a DGD!
kral
December 17th, 2012
8:59 pm
wb believe also he is a good dEF. coor. but disagree with the saved job comment…unless you mean to keep it willie had to be fired..do not know and neither do you..and some think UGA would have done better or could do better if they would just hire someone else..easy to type hard to prove…but you bet if things got worse they wouldn’t mind clamoring for the next one to be fired..they have the right too..and that way they are never wrong
Jeff
December 17th, 2012
9:01 pm
The first line “Georgia’s Malcolm Mitchell is one conflicted football player,” left a bad taste in my mouth. For some reason I kept reading and found that it was just poor writing; that in fact Mitchell is a team player who was forced to declare which position he most wanted to play by a journalist desperate to find controversy where none existed.
Fire Richt
December 17th, 2012
9:03 pm
you guys are so stupid with the FIRT COMMENTS.
how about 73rd… just as stupid.. sheesh
kral
December 17th, 2012
9:10 pm
missed your point fired, but read my 8:59
kral
December 17th, 2012
9:15 pm
And oh by the way gaye dawg..you bring diversity to a sports blog but you often demean yourself..could mean you are not really gaye just having fun…like I said demeaning yourself…carry on
23 SEC Titles
December 17th, 2012
9:21 pm
Turned down a chance to play for the best DB Coach in America, period. Already missed out on some championship rings and could be one year away from tne NFL. Roll Tide, got 23 JAWJA?????
Chuck Oliver
December 17th, 2012
9:23 pm
Mark Richt has lost control.
kral
December 17th, 2012
9:24 pm
you just lost that db coach..defensive coordinator FSU..so he would not have gotten to play for him long
kral
December 17th, 2012
9:27 pm
you do not even know if he would played some wr at the 23 sec champs
Delbert D.
December 17th, 2012
9:27 pm
Take a poll of next year’s opponents, and I think they would much rather see Mitchell on defense. In no way is that a knock on him on defense.
Topp Dogg
December 17th, 2012
9:33 pm
GT Bob cannot answer he has his mouth full.
Bamafan
December 17th, 2012
9:39 pm
Last week the RB at UGA expressed his unhappiness. This week a receiver is “conflicted” about his role. Good grief, why the heck does CMR allow this crap in the media. Get control of your team!! that never, I mean never happens at Bama. Grow some coach!!!
kral
December 17th, 2012
9:41 pm
Lord thank you for albammer fans that point out UGA problems…and be with the pygmies in Africa