Wednesday Practice Report

FOOTBALL

The Dawgs conducted a two-hour practice in full pads Wednesday in preparation for their Southeastern Conference opener with No. 12 South Carolina.

Coach Mark Richt said the start of practice featured a good tempo but fizzled by the end of the day.

“Yesterday and today, we put the pads on and competed, and the defense did a nice job overall, and the offense responded by the end,” said Richt. “I was disappointed in a few things for one, our third down pass protection. It was not good today. On the possession downs, third and short, third and medium, third and long, we didn’t protect good enough. We have to get it going or Murray is going to be on his back.”

Against fifth-ranked Boise State last Saturday in the Georgia Dome, the Dawgs were two-of-13 in third down conversions and Murray was sacked six times.

“ I saw enough in the ball game and again today that I’m concerned about our third down protection,” Richt added.

Richt did not indicate any changes to the starting lineup but did not rule out the possibility.

“The starting lineup could change in a lot of positions, not just at inside linebacker (sophomore Alec Ogletree is out with a foot injury),” said Richt. “You have to make plays when your number is called.”

South Carolina has been Georgia’s first Southeastern Conference opponent of the season annually since they joined the league in 1992. The Dawgs are 13-6 in these games including 7-3 under Richt. Seven of the 10 games in this stretch have been decided by seven points or less with Georgia winning six of them. Overall, the Dawgs hold a 46-15-2 edge in the series history. Last year, the Gamecocks posted a 17-6 victory in Columbia while in 2009, the Dawgs won a 41-37 thriller in Athens.

Richt said that sophomore starting nose tackle Kwame Geathers should play Saturday. He was limited in practice Wednesday due to a stinger.

“Kwame is from South Carolina, and he wants to play so you’re not going to keep him out of this game,” said Richt. “We’re just being wise with him the last two days, we don’t want to light him up in practice and then not be able to go Saturday.”