Tuesday Press Conference – Offense

FOOTBALL

Georgia head coach Mark Richt and a delegation of players met with the media Tuesday during the Bulldogs’ weekly press luncheon. They offered the following comments:

Head Coach Mark Richt

On the importance of Richard Samuel’s play this season…

“There haven’t been a lot of guys that have been able to cross-train, but having Richard able to do that is good for Richard and good for Georgia. The thing that makes it easier than maybe a Malcolm Mitchell trying to play receiver and defensive back is that everything he needs to learn is being done in the same meeting room, whether it’s fullback or tailback. So that helps him really know what to do in both areas. I think throughout the year we’ll see Richard at both positions, and we might even see him at both positions this ballgame. It’s possible.”

On the development of Ken Malcome…

“I’m really proud of him. He got to a point in his career where he thought he should leave Georgia because he didn’t think he’d get to play much. He thought the answer was to leave, so I did try to talk him out of it when he first came in. I asked him if we had really seen the best Ken Malcome and he ought to show himself his best and then decide what to do. But he felt like he should go a day or two later, and once he was living that decision out, he realized that it wasn’t the right one. He didn’t want to quit, and he wanted a chance to come back. I told him that if he wanted to come back, I wanted to see his best and not only in the field but also in the classroom and everywhere else. He began to work, and he didn’t complain or look around at the competition, but he started to work. He became the best he could be in the classroom and on the field, and then good things started happening for him. He knows what to do and how to do it, and he’s been practicing his tail off. Good things have been happening to Ken, and hopefully this will continue when he steps on the field.”

On Ken Malcome’s career to this point…

“The book on his career hasn’t been fully written, but at the rate he’s going if he continues to progress like he has it’s going to be a wonderful story. He still has a ways to go to finish strong and make it a story worth writing, but he certainly has come a long way. There are so many of our guys who have had to overcome things. I think everybody in life - we all have our stories, we all have our issues that we need to overcome. Some things seem more drastic than others, but it’s real to everybody. Ken is doing well. I’m happy for him right now. I’m proud for him.”

On whether Christian LeMay could get some snaps on Saturday…

“Our plan is to line up with Aaron Murray as quarterback and try to win the game. We don’t have a plan with Christian like we might have had with D.J. Shockley back in the day where we knew we were going to play him in the first half. We’ll just see how the game goes and sub if possible.”

On Mark Beard…

“I’m not 100 percent sure he’d be the first guy to come in if something happened to Kenarious Gates, but the more he practices there and the more comfortable he gets there, the better chance he’ll have. We did have Austin Long there, but then we decided to move Austin inside, so I don’t know if he would go in first or if Mark would. Austin was at left tackle at the beginning, but now he’s moving around a little bit. We’ll see if it’s Mark or not.”

On whether he is more inclined to open up with a fullback so Merritt Hall can get the start…

“I guess if you don’t play the first play you aren’t considered the starter, but he’s the starter in our base unit. I’m happy for him and I’m happy for Georgia. Sometimes you look at a depth chart and a position and wonder how we are going to do. For him to come out of the blue and play the way he did in the spring and the fall and solidify the job and create competition, it’s good. It’s good for us, good for Georgia and good for him. Will we start in base? I don’t know. That means some other guy doesn’t get to start. We’ll see. I’ll let Mike Bobo decide that.”

Senior Wide Receiver Tavarres King

On young receivers like Justin Scott-Wesley and Blake Tibbs…
“They’ve come a long way. The big part is understanding the offense and what we’re doing; understanding the concepts. Tibbs has come a long way and has done really well – those young guys have done a good job learning the playbook and what we need them to do.”

On Marlon Brown…
“He’s been really consistent. He’s done everything that’s been asked of him – in the running game, the passing game, everything. He’s attacking the ball when it’s in the air, and looks like a really well-rounded receiver right now. He’s going to continue to progress and get better. It’s crazy the steps he’s taken and the strides he’s made.”

On expectations for Saturday…
“I just want to see our guys do what we’ve been doing in practice – guys having fun, enjoying themselves, fighting hard and playing for their teammates. That’s what we do in practice and hopefully that incorporates itself on Saturday.”

On the progress of the offense compared to this time last year…
“We’re absolutely further along. I tell my guys [the wide receivers] it starts with us. If we’re there when we need to be there, things will go right. I’m sure the O-line says the same thing. Everybody needs to believe the team success starts with them.”

Junior Quarterback Aaron Murray

On the offense…
“I think we look great right now. The biggest thing is the no-huddle, I think it’s been moving more rapidly and the guys are able to get lined up faster. We’re getting the plays in faster and things are smooth. When the guys don’t have to think too much, you can get lined up and execute. Credit goes to guys like Merritt Hall – they’ve learned the playbook and they’ve worked hard this offseason.”

On a freshman kicker and punter making their debuts…
“I’m excited to see what all the freshmen can do, every position. I know they’ll be ready. I don’t watch much kicking and punting in practice but I’ve heard good things. Hopefully we won’t need to use them too much for punts. Just kickoffs. That’s always the goal of the quarterback.”

On freshmen handling their first game…
“I think they have different reactions and it depends. Kickers, when your numbers is called and you have to make one play with all eyes on you, it’s nerve-wracking. Wide receivers might have some more time to get into it, then you might get hit and then your adrenaline starts going. I’m interested to see how they do. We try to simulate game situations in practice so everyone can get used to things.”