FOOTBALL
Coach Mark Richt:
On handling receivers in practice:
A.J. (Green) is going to practice. When we practice, we always have our No. 1s and our No. 2s practicing, so if A.J. lines up at one or two and the other guy lines up at one or two, he’s going to be learning the things in the position that A.J. would play. So it’s not like there isn’t someone getting reps. Kris Durham got a lot of those reps last week in practice. In the game it turned out he was the one catching the fade at the goal line. We’ll just continue to do it that way.
On whether A.J. Green will practice with the No. 1s:
What happens is when receivers are running a lot of routes and getting tired, sometimes you might just have a No. 2 run with the ones because of just a fatigue issue during practice. Thursday we try to hone it down to who do we think is going to be in the game on this particular play and we want to make sure the quarterback gets matched up with those guys.
On players carrying the football in the outside arm:
I think it’s just the philosophy of the coach and sometimes it’s a kid in particular. Some guys are so strong right-handed, they have a better chance of holding onto the ball right-handed even if it’s inside. I personally want them to hold the ball in their strongest hand and the one they are most comfortable with because not every play goes to the sideline. Here’s the problem, let’s say you have it in your right arm and you break out to your left. Now if you try to switch to your outside arm in the middle of a run, if they hit you in the middle of you switching it or if you just bobble it in the middle of you switching it, then the ball is on the ground. A lot of people have studied that and some people believe never switch. Some people believe always get it in the outside arm. I want it to be in their dominant arm, and I’m not really interested in them switching it. It happens from time to time and I won’t go crazy unless they fumble it. If they’re out there in space and they feel comfortable getting it in their outside arm, seeing someone coming is probably a wise thing, but I prefer them just to keep it in the arm they have the most confidence in.
On whether Logan Gray is a permanent part of the receiving corps:
Logan is a receiver right now. He’ll get just a couple of reps (at quarterback) here and there, mostly in the ball-handling at quarterback. We got some for him last week, just a little bit, maybe five or 10 minutes worth. The good news was he looked good doing it. He didn’t forget anything. He has three years of reps at quarterback, so it would be hard for him to forget everything because he is a real bright kid. He has proven to be a very good receiver. I think last week’s game gave you a little indication of what he looks like as a receiver. He was a little bit hobbled from an ankle injury. (UGA Director of Sports Medicine) Ron Courson said he looked really good this morning. I think this week, unless he has a setback, he would be as healthy as he can be.
On when Logan Gray will be a prominent member of the receiving rotation:
He’s earned playing time. He earned playing time regardless of Tavarres (King) or A.J.’s situations last week. He’s a guy who we all believe can play. He knows what to do, he runs good routes, he’s got good hands, he’s a physical blocker. He’s definitely going to play.
On if Washaun Ealey will play Saturday:
If nothing dumb happens between now and then, he’ll play.
Quarterback Aaron Murray
On preparations for South Carolina:
I take every game pretty much the same, no matter who we’re playing. You take it one week at a time and if you get lazy or don’t prepare well for a team, it’ll hurt you. I take every opponent the same. You have to go in each week with the right mindset, make sure you know everything there is to know about this defense, those players, what blitzes you’ll see. I’ll put the same work I did against Louisiana Lafayette into South Carolina this weekend and for the rest of the games this year.
On the opponent crowd noise:
It’ll be a little different [than the noise in Sanford Stadium]. Stadiums are not quiet regardless, but on the road you have people screaming at you and trying to disrupt you. But we have ways to communicate, and last year I did get to travel and experience crowd noise and how to deal with it. We’ll be signaling things, working on the huddle, and doing it in practice to review for the game. We’ll be ready by the time we get there.
It’s what college football is about. We grew up watching it, and everybody wants to see who has the loudest crowds and who has that advantage. It’s fun when everyone is on your side but that’s what makes it college football.
On the personnel questions:
We just go out and do our thing. We have tremendous guys all around and all our wide receivers go out and play. I trust everyone, no matter who is out there. All those guys have worked so hard all summer and during camp.
Center Ben Jones
On the first game overall:
I think we played a good game. [As an offensive line] we worked hard. We’ve worked together 3-4 years now, so we’re used to each other. With the penalties and jumping offsides, I think there was a little first game jitters.
On the crowd noise:
Since we’ve been together so long, we don’t have to say as much on the line. I can look at Cordy [Glenn] and know what he’s going to do, so it helps that we’ve been working together so long.
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