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ROM THE S
DELlN
G-Day: Positional Breakdown
By Jake Harrison
The Georgia Bulldogs football team’s
annual spring scrimmage game, also
known as G-Day, pits the team against
one another in a showcase of progress
made over the 2-3 week spring prac
tices.
Although the spectacle draws
between 40,000 and 50,000 fans and
was televised nationally by ESPN,
the final score is usually a secondary
concern. What most of the fans and
coaches are really concerned with is
the performance of the team, individu
ally and as a unit.
Here is a position by position per
formance breakdown from Saturday’s
game.
Quarterbacks:
Joe Cox, a senior who is expected
to start for the Dawgs this year, was
not overly impressive. To be fair, Cox
had several passes dropped and made
good decisions most of the game, but
his arm strength looked to be a little
subpar and his receivers were under
thrown on several passes.
Logan Gray, a sophomore expected
to back up Cox, put good zip on his
passes and utilized his speed and elu
siveness to rack up some solid comple
tions.
Between Aaron Murray and Zach
Mettenberger, the two highly touted
true freshman QBs, Murray looked
to be the more college-ready of the
two, showing good arm strength and
accuracy.
Running Backs:
Caleb King (RSo.) had several nice
runs and showed good burst. Despite
a slight tendency to run backwards
King looks to have the starting job
wrapped up.
Carlton Thomas (RFr.) will also see
Local newspapers
Continued from Page 4
Tocqueville wrote about early America,
"every village forms a sort of republic
accustomed to conduct its own affairs."
This idea is at the heart of federal
ism. The founders would have looked
upon the huge national machine that
exists in Washington, DC, today and
its claim of total sovereignty as a totali
tarian horror.
The truly literate and involved
American should be reading the local
newspaper. Weekly newspapers and
the internet are also vital to maintain
ing an educated citizenry. We must
ensure that they continue to flour
ish because they are all important
resources for maintaining a healthy
democracy.
And you need to do your part, as
well. Subscribe to your local newspa
per. Read it so you'll know what's hap
pening in your community. And when
you disagree, let your local politicians
know-even if it is with a picket sign
in hand.
Constitutional attorney and author
John W. Whitehead is founder and
president of The Rutherford Institute.
He can be contacted at johnwdSrutlier-
ford.org. “I
action this fall and while a little under
sized (listed at 5'7") is quick and has
good elusiveness. Look for Thomas to
be returning punts and kickoffs come
September.
Dontavious Jackson (RFr.) did not
impress in limited action and will
probably be relegated to fourth string
after Richard Samuel (So.) returns
from his injury.
Recievers:
A.J. Green (So.) picking up where
he left off last year, made a breathtak
ing catch on the opening play of the
game but was limited in his reps to
prevent injury.
Tony Wilson (Jr.), Israel Troupe
(RSo.), TavarresKing (RFr.), and Mike
Moore (Sr.) were all looking to prove
they could fill the hole left by Moham
med Massaquoi (graduated). Moore,
who performed well in the Capital One
Bowl against Michigan State, looks to
be the leading candidate but did not
record a reception in the game.
Kris Durham (Sr.), Georgia’s 2nd
leading returning receiver, did not play
due to injury but looks to start opposite
Green this fall.
Defensive Line:
After their failure to get to the quar
terback last season allowed opposing
quarterbacks to pick apart the Bull
dogs’ defense, someone or some two
needs/need to step up this season and
put on some consistent pressure.
Statesboro natives Justin Houston
(RSo.) and Deangelo Tyson (So.), who
some may remember being a large
part of the reason the Statesboro High
Blue Devils regularly beat the Terrors
or Pirates, showed that they may be
those guys. Houston, an end, had 2.5
“sacks” (quarterbacks are not tackled,
but tagged in the G-Day game) and
Tyson put regular pressure on the
quarterback while helping to stuff the
run.
Along with DL’s Geno Atkins (RJr.),
Kade Weston (RSr.), and Jeff Owens
(RSr.) and DE’s Kiante Tripp (RSo.)
and Marcus Dowtin (So.) the Dawgs’
line will try to make the SEC’s quar
terbacks fear them rather than mock
them this fall.
Linebackers: With starters Ren
nie Curran (Jr.) and Darryl Gamble
(Jr.) returning, the Bulldogs lineback
ing core should be better than ever.
Key backups Akeem Hebron (Jr.),
Akeem Dent (Jr.), and Marcus Wash
ington (RSr.) give the Dawgs great
depth at the positions. With the start
ers only playing a small portion of
the game, the backups were given a
chance to shine.
Marcus Washington shined. He put
constant pressure on the quarterbacks
and broke through the offensive line
on several occasions. Maybe he could
be the answer to Georgia’s woes at
defensive end. He’s certainly heavy
enough, at 250 lbs. but lacks ideal DE
height (6-0).
However, in 2007, Marcus Howard,
who was generously listed at 6-1, came
up with 13.5 sacks for the Dawgs.
Could Washington be the next under
sized DE to excel for Coach Willie
Martinez’s defense?
Defensive Backs:
The Bulldogs have such great depth
at the corners and safeties that it will
THE ISLANDER, APRIL 13, 2009, PAGE 9
be hard to keep this under a page.
Reshad Jones (Jr.) will start at
strong safety but the surprise will be
Bryan Evans (Sr.) who moved from
corner to safety during last season and
looks to be the starter at free safety.
Evans had a pick in Saturday’s contest
and also wrapped up on every tackle,
something the Dawgs struggled with
in 2008.
Prince Miller (Sr.) is locked in at
one comer spot but the other one is up
for grabs with Brandon Boykin (So.),
Vance Cuff (Jr.), and Sanders Com-
ming (RFr.) all looking to win the job.
Boykin, who has a 43 inch vertical
leap and tackles well, seems to be the
frontrunner with Cuff, who has great
speed, hot on his heels.
John Knox (RSo.) and Bacarri
Rambo (RFr.), both southeast Georgia
natives and both hard hitters, will
receive some reps at the safety posi
tion.
Abreviation Key: (Sr.)= senior, or
the year of the player.
(RSo.) = a player who was red-
shirted. □
Calendar
Tuesday, April 28 5:30 p.m. to 8
P.M. “A Tisket, A Tasket, A Literary
Basket,” silent-auction fundraiser to
benefit Brunswick and Sapelo librar
ies.Ziggy Mahoney’s, St. Simons
Island. $25. Tickets must be pur
chased in advance. 634-6148; 634-
9826; 264-2466; 267-1212.
Saturday June 20, 11 a.m. to 6
p.m. and Sunday June 12,12 noon to
6 P.M. The Annual Original Georgia
Sea Island Festival SSI Pier. 634-
0330. www.ssaahc.org. Sponsored by
St. Simons African American Heri
tage Coalition. □
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