Spring football is winding down but the Spring Games are just warming up. Saturday’s G-Day game at the University of Georgia was the first glance at what this team has without the services of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno – both opting for the NFL over the SEC after the 2008 season.
The Bulldogs had their No. 1 offense on the Red Team and their No. 1 defense on the Black team – meaning 1’s versus 1’s and 2’s versus 2’s. Red won the game, 13-3, but here are my quick thoughts following the game:
- Fifth-year senior Joe Cox is the starting quarterback, but Logan Gray made a lot of nice throws and is a quality No. 2. Gray, who played mostly special teams returning punts and covering kicks a year ago, brings a lot of athleticism to the position and proved he has the arm to match – a nice compliment to the cerebral-leader they have in Cox.
- Two true-freshman quarterback early-enrollees, Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray, made their debuts as well. Mettenberger worked mostly with the Red Team meaning he faced the No. 1 defense. He struggled as seen with his rocket that bounced off Michael Moore’s pads on a short slant route and then a floater down the sideline that was intercepted by safety Bryan Evans. Murray, on the other hand, looked sharp. Rolling out to his right, he made an accurate throw to Marquise Brown that went for nearly 40 yards before Brown fumbled.
- It looks as if Cox, Gray, and Murray will be 1-2-3 on the depth chart. Mettenberger, 6-foot-5 and 229 pounds, has the size to make a position switch to tight end. I know it’s very, very early in their collegiate careers, but Murray looks to be the superior quarterback at this point.
- A.J. Green established himself as one of the top receivers in the SEC last fall, but no one stepped up opposite him Saturday. Tony Wilson, Tavarres King and Moore stay log-jammed and Kris Durham will redshirt in 2009 following a shoulder injury this spring. Israel Troupe dropped a certain touchdown from Gray in the first half. Tight end Aron White dropped a pass in the red zone, too.
- Carlton Thomas, 5-7 170, was a bright spot for the running backs. The redshirt freshman had a long TD run in the final seconds – the only TD of the afternoon.
- Defensive end Justin Houston was nearly unblockable at times and was my choice for MVP. He seemed to always be around the quarterback and had a couple of sacks.
- The linebacker unit looks good. It all starts with Rennie Curran but Marcus Washington and Charles White, both coming off injuries in 2008, add quality depth along with Marcus Dowtin and converted-safety Nick Williams.
- Left tackle Trinton Sturdivant and defensive tackle Jeff Owens have been held out all spring as they recover from injuries that cost them all of last season.
