University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Football Practice Notes: August 17, 2007
August 18, 2007 | Football
ATHENS, Ga. --- Although thunder and lightening delayed the Georgia football team’s bus ride to Sanford Stadium for about an hour, the Bulldogs managed to get a two-hour scrimmage in on their home field late Friday afternoon.
The scrimmage featured the No. 1 offense versus the No. 2 defense and vice versa, goal line situations, overtime situations and other specialty situations. Following the action, Georgia head coach Mark Richt said he was more optimistic after watching Friday’s scrimmage than he was after last Saturday’s matchup.
“We looked more like where we should be today, but we still have a ways to go,” said Richt.
Highlights from the scrimmage included sophomore quarterback Matthew Stafford connecting with Kenneth Harris and Sean Bailey for a 37-yard touchdown and a 40-yard touchdown, respectively. In addition, redshirt sophomore Joe Cox hit senior T.J. Gartrell for a 10-yard touchdown.
On defense, junior Dannell Ellerbe racked up nine tackles and a sack, freshman Rennie Curran tallied nine tackles and redshirt freshman Reshad Jones added five tackles and a pass break-up. Also, senior Kelin Johnson had an interception and junior Jeremy Lomax blocked a field goal.
“The big difference with the No. 1 offense today is that they blocked really well and we want that unit to do well at this point of the preseason,” said Richt.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo used a trio of tailbacks seniors Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin and redshirt freshman Knowshon Moreno during the first portion of the scrimmage and Richt was pleased with his backfield’s efforts.
“Thomas, Lump and Knowshon only played in the first half because we think they are the group that is game-ready,” Richt said. “We really wanted the first half to be as crisp as possible and to simulate what a real game would feel like.”
Richt added that senior Jason Johnson had two touchdowns when running behind the No. 1 offense near the goal line and that both receivers Tony Wilson and Michael Moore “deserve to play at this point if they don’t start going backwards.”
The Bulldogs will return to Sanford Stadium on Saturday, but will get the rare chance to leave their pads behind for this trip. At Georgia’s annual Fans’ Picture Day, players and coaches will sign autographs from 3-5 p.m. with Richt and the offensive unit located throughout the North side concourse of Sanford Stadium between Sections 109-101, and the defense located on the Gate 6 Plaza between Sections 125-121.
Georgia, which is ranked 13th in the USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll, opens the season at Sanford Stadium against Oklahoma State on Sept. 1. Kickoff against the Cowboys is slated for 6:45 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN2. All Georgia games are broadcast live on the Bulldog Radio Network on AM 750 WSB in Atlanta and on both 106.1 FM and 960 The Ref in Athens. The radio audio also can be heard worldwide on both georgiadogs.com, the official website of UGA Athletics, and on XM satellite radio.