Searels & Thompkins: UGA's Two Best Big Men

Just finished up at basketball practice, but the real show had little to do with the UGA hoopsters.

Georgia's assistant football coaches were playing a pick-up basketball game in the practice gym -- going the width of the court rather than length-wise -- and I would have happily paid admission to watch that -- and make a few jokes about it.

The star? That would be Stacy Searels, who not surprisingly played like Bill Liambeer -- throwing elbows, sweating profusely and occasionally draining a shot from the perimeter you wouldn't have expected him to hit.

Mike Bobo played the point and did so with a new-look goatee. Or perhaps that was Mike Bobo's evil twin. Either way, John Lilly was no match for him.

But the real bummer here was that there was no appearance by Scott Lakatos, who should have been stepping in to represent the Big East. (And note, there was no Todd Grantham or Mark Richt either, despite Richt's penchant for the trick shot.)

And the quote of the day comes from Mark Fox: "I told them if they wanted to keep playing here they had to start going the long way and not the short court."

A few other hoops notes:

-- Talked to Fox about playing at Vandy, where the benches are on the baselines instead of the sidelines. He said the team has practiced that, but added, "I don't know how much they listen to me during the games anyway."

-- Fox also said he has never coached in Vandy's gym before, but it was one of the places he was looking forward to going when he took the job. Added Trey Thompkins: "It's one of those places you can tell it was used for something else before it was a gym." That's exactly how I feel about places that used to be IHOPs.

-- Fox said he's fine with playing Thursday-Saturday this week, which is part of the deal with the new SEC Network agreement. He said that's what he did every week while at Nevada, so he's used to it.

-- Talked to Trey a bit about his NBA future. Here's what he had to say...

On whether he considered the NBA last year...
"I didn't think about it because I knew personally I wasn't ready. I just wanted to come back to school. I became a much better player, and with the coaching change, it didn't slow that process down at all. ... Coach Fox let me know things individually that I had to improve, and I think I've become a better player."

On whether he considered transferring after last year...
"Every now and then, but when Coach Fox came in, we had our meeting, I talked to him about it, we settled it, and obviously I'm still here."

On whether he gives much thought to people writing about him and Travis Leslie being potential lottery picks in 2011...
"Not at all. We take it one day at a time and play basketball. If that's what people say, that's what people say. We just try to stay within our team and stay focused on the task at hand."

On what it's like playing alongside another player being talked about as a lottery pick...
"It's a blessing because Travis is a great player. He's showing the world what he can do and it makes our team so much better."

On whether he has thought about leaving for the NBA after this year...
"I haven't really thought about it just because I want to take care of this season before I let anything else come to my mind."

On what he wants to work on as a player before heading to the NBA...
"Being more of a vocal leader and taking care of the ball. Those are two things I need a lot more improvement on."

On whether the team's turnaround makes his decision harder now than it would have been...
"Yeah, because I want to be known as a guy who helped the program go from where it was to where it will be."

Notes: Position Changes Could Come Soon

Several of Georgia's top commitments on the defensive side of the ball made it official that they were coming to Athens on Wednesday, but just where they might line up once they arrive remains a bit of a mystery.

Star defensive back Alec Ogletree will begin camp at safety, head coach Mark Richt said, but there's a chance he could end up at linebacker at some point. At 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, defensive end T.J. Stripling has the prototypical frame for an outside linebacker, and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said that's a move any of the Bulldogs' ends could make, including new recruits Brandon Burrows, Jalen Fields and Dexter Morant. Even prized prospect Garrison Smith, who played defensive tackle in high school, could find he fits better at end in Grantham's 3-4 scheme.

"Any of these guys you bring in, you get them working, then you evaluate and see where they can help you, wherever that may be," defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos said.

And for now, Grantham said finding a home for players who have yet to arrive on campus is a secondary priority.

“It’s kind of early because we’re still evaluating our guys," Grantham said. "Once we get our guys in place, we’ll figure out what the best matchups and best scenarios are.”

The process of evaluating the current Georgia players is one Grantham began several weeks ago, breaking down film on each player and working to decide where they might fit in.

The results aren't exactly in yet, he said. But they're not too far off, either.

“We’re getting closer," Grantham said. "It’ll be sooner than later, but nothing’s ever etched in stone. We’re going to start some guys out at positions and see how they handle it. But I can tell you that nothing is etched in stone right now, and we’ll be constantly tweaking it throughout spring ball and into the fall to get our best players on the field at all times.”

That's a plan Lakatos is on board with, and he might take it even a step further.

Film study provided an initial gauge, spring practice will add more, and the fall will see the arrival of the new freshmen -- but it might be years before everyone has found a home, and even then things will be re-evaluated with each new matchup.

"Sometimes people's ability correlates to what you're trying to stop and how they can help you that week may be different than the previous week," Lakatos said. "And then players change. Players develop at different rates than other players. So it's a constant evaluation of who the best guys are and what's the best situation."

IT WORKS BOTH WAYS

While the loss of a few longtime Georgia commitments, including receiver Da'Rick Rogers, before signing day was the primary buzz among fans and recruiting services this week, head coach Mark Richt took a more pragmatic view of the situation.

Georgia was lucky enough to hold on to its entire class a year ago, but Richt knows that's the exception to the rule. More often, he said, keeping an 18-year-old's mind made up is a difficult task.

"These kids are 17, 18, 19 years old and coaches that are anywhere between 25 and 65 are trying to convince them why one school is better than another," Richt said. "So it can be confusing at times. It can be very difficult at times. That’s why our policy has been to be very straightforward from the beginning, Don’t say something that won’t come true in the end. Trust is really the only thing we have to hold us together, I think.”

Richt said coaches get a good feel for recruits during the process, and they usually have a pretty good idea of which ones are sincere about their commitments and which are likely to bolt before signing day.

But the process works both ways, and even Georgia got in on the action this year, swiping offensive lineman Kenarious Gates at the last moment from Kentucky.

It's just part of how things work on the recruiting trail, and while it may have put a dent in the Bulldogs' rankings from recruiting services this year, it's nothing Richt is getting too upset about.

“If we feel like that kid is not 100 percent certain, then we’ll continue to recruit him," Richt said. "I think everybody does that. If you take a kid is solid, then you’re wasting your time and you don’t want to do that. Sometimes these kids make decisions based on emotion and they’re not certain what they want to do, so we’re going to continue. I think you have to.”

That explanation doesn't necessarily smooth things over with some of Georgia's current defenders, including Jakar Hamilton, who said Rogers' late decision prevented another player from being recruited as heavily and left his team in a bad position. Hamilton and teammate Bacarri Rambo both promised some retribution on the field should they get a chance to hit Rogers in a game.

When reminded that Georgia, too, had lured a commitment away from another school, however, Hamilton's mind didn't change much. Just like any hijinx on the recruiting trail, a little retribution is all part of the game.

"It happens a lot," Hamilton said of the de-commitments. "But your in the SEC. You're going to get hit regardless."

A POSITION OF STRENGTH

The loss of Rogers put a bit of a damper on Georgia's signing day festivities this week and, perhaps more importantly, it meant the Bulldogs' depth chart at wide receiver would take a hit going forward.

Georgia will have just seven scholarship receivers on hand in 2010 -- senior Kris Durham, who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, juniors A.J. Green and Israel Troupe, sophomores Marlon Brown, Tavarres King and Rantavious Wooten, and true freshman Michael Bennett, who just signed with the Bulldogs on Wednesday. Durham will most certainly be gone in 2011, and there's a strong chance Green could depart for the NFL a year early as well.

“Depth is definitely an issue at receiver. I would say we don’t have, at this moment, a good number that I feel comfortable having," Richt said. "Usually during the season you’re probably going to play around six or seven (receivers) and that’s what we have right now, so everybody’s going to get their share. We need to stay healthy at that position.”

Of course, while the Bulldogs may be a tad thin at receiver, the tight end position is overflowing with riches, and that could certainly offset any shortcomings in the passing game, Richt said.

Georgia returns all three of its top tight ends from 2009 -- junior Aron White and sophomores Arthur Lynch and Orson Charles -- while junior Bruce Figgins is set to return from a shoulder injury that cost him last season.

Richt said he still plans to employ three-receiver sets on occasion, but the diverse skill sets of his tight ends makes them a prime option for offensive coordinator Mike Bobo's scheme.

"What you’re looking for in offensive football is a chance to have some mismatches," Richt said. "We’re blessed with four outstanding tight ends. We certainly have playmakers and good solid depth with guys that can really play that position. I think that takes a little of the burden off the wide receiving corps."

BACK TO BASICS

In what was no doubt the most unintentional highlight of Georgia's signing day for fans, the Bulldogs' normally reclusive offensive line coach, Stacy Searels, was forced to address an inquiry about injured left tackle Trinton Sturdivant during a question-and-answer session with fans.

Searels stepped to the microphone and attempted an answer, but his voice was noticeably hoarse.

“My voice is gone because I was hollering at somebody else this morning,” Searels said, to huge applause from fans.

Truth be told, however, Searels was thrilled to have a scratchy throat, too. It meant he was finally off the recruiting trail -- where the shorthanded Georgia staff has spent much of the past two months -- and finally back to the business of whipping his players into shape.

“On Monday and Wednesday we had our offseason program," Searels said. "It’s fun to get off the road, sleep in your own bed, and get back to coaching ball."

BIDING THEIR TIME

As for those players Searels has been busy motivating of late, the past three seasons have provided a big dose of encouragement as to what the future might have in store.

Georgia landed three offensive line recruits this year -- four-star prospect Brent Benedict, burly lineman Kenarious Gates and Kolton Houston, who enrolled in January and is already working out with the team.

While it's unlikely that any of the three will see the field -- just as last year's signing class of Austin Long, Chris Burnette and Dallas Lee failed to do -- that's not necessarily a bad thing, Searels said. It means that Georgia's starters are doing their job, and unlike years past, the younger players are being given an opportunity to develop before being thrown into the fire.

“The first two years (Searels was at Georgia) we started four true freshmen," he said. "These kids being able to redshirt, get a little bigger, get a little stronger, work in the weight room and develop and not just be thrown into the fire, I think it’s going to make the offensive line even better.”

AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED

Georgia's newest safety, Jakar Hamilton, arrived from Georgia Military College with a pretty impressive reputation. Grantham, Lakatos and the rest of the Bulldogs' staff had seen him on tape enough to know he had plenty of ability. But there's always a concern about how a player will react to a new environment.

In Georgia's first few days of offseason conditioning, however, Lakatos said Hamilton has gone a long way toward eliminating any of those worries.

"We watched him on video, and he's a very good player on tape -- very exciting, very physical, rangy, competitive guy," Lakatos said. "The encouraging thing is, the couple of morning workouts we've had, he's been that guy. I know that's different from being on the field, but he's a hard worker. And with his ability times the hard work, he has a chance to be pretty good."

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

It's not just Georgia's defensive players that are going to get a quick study in Grantham's new 3-4 scheme. It's also the rest of his staff.

While Lakatos will be new to the scheme, he's not likely to be greatly affected by the changes to the front seven. Rodney Garner, on the other hand, is going to be getting a fresh look at preparing a defense, and he's excited for the opportunity.

“This is my first time coaching in a 3-4 scheme," said Garner, Georgia's lone holdover among defensive coaches from last season. "I’m excited about expanding my knowledge as a coach just like the players are.”

THANKS FOR THE EFFORT

For six crucial weeks of recruiting, Georgia's coaching staff consisted of just one full-time defensive coach. That meant keeping a full staff on the road talking to recruits would be a chore for all those involved.

But to avoid being too shorthanded, the Bulldogs activated three of their graduate assistants to head out on the road, too, and when Georgia finally wrapped up recruiting season Wednesday, Garner said its successes were due in no small part to the efforts of the graduate assistants.

“They played a very vital role," Garner said. "I think it was beneficial for them and it was beneficial for us. It gave them a chance to get out there on the road and enhance their resume, and I thought they did a nice job when they were out there.”

Following Directions: Boling Move Makes Sense

One thing about the problems in the running game that remains difficult to really analyze statistically is the impact of the offensive line. I'm not a coach, so film study of the line is both inaccessible and fairly useless for me. Maybe the line stinks, maybe the runners do. I pretty much have to take the coaches' words for it. It's the ultimate anecdotal evidence position.

Of course, there is one bit of statistical data I do have access to that might tell us a little bit about Georgia's O line as it relates to the running game.

While the play-by-play from each game is hardly a vivid description of actual events, I do have directional results from four of Georgia's seven contests so far. That is, the play-by-play tells us whether the tailback ran left, right or up the middle. For three of the games, I don't have that info, but for 88 of Georgia's 165 carries by its tailbacks this season, we do have the data. Considering that's more than 50 percent, I think it's fair to extrapolate those results out to give us a bit better overall picture of where Georgia has had success and where it has struggled.

Direction	Carries	Yards	Average
Middle	46	204	4.43
Left	18	41	2.27
Right	24	131	5.46

First, a couple of notes:

-- This research is for tailbacks only. I did not include runs by Branden Smith and Logan Gray or any of the fullbacks or QB sneaks, etc., as those tend to be the most reliable examples of true rushing attempts.

-- The directional analysis was at the complete disgression of the scorekeeper, so it's hard to truly define whether "middle" means between the left guard and left tackle or straight behind center, etc. It's simply a "between the tackles" run.

-- The four games we get these numbers from are South Carolina, Arkansas, Arizona State and LSU.

Now, some conclusions:

-- Georgia's split between "up the middle" and "outside" runs is nearly 50/50. That may not be a good thing and it may also be another holdover of Mike Bobo's fascination with "balance." (Also, I think I'm overusing "quotation marks" on this post.)

-- Those numbers down the middle are skewed a bit by Richard Samuel's 80-yarder against Arkansas. Obviously that run can't be discounted, but it does inflate the overall average quite a bit. If you calculate the yards per carry average for runs between the tackles without that carry, it's a mundane 2.75 ypc.

-- The overall yards per carry average by the tailbacks in these games was 4.17 ypc. So looking at the raw numbers, Georgia was about average down the middle, well below average running left and well above average running right.

Considering Georgia has started three different left tackles this season and has had left guard manned by an injured Chris Davis and Vince Vance, who is recovering from ACL surgery less than 12 months ago, there's probably a good reason why the Bulldogs have had less success running in that direction. I've said for more than a month now that Georgia has missed Trinton Sturdivant far more than people are acknowledging, but these numbers really bear that out.

On the other hand, Clint Boling has essentially been a constant at right tackle this season, and clearly that has been Georgia's best option to run behind (or around).

So perhaps the news that Stacy Searels was considering moving Boling from the right side back to left tackle, where he played last year, shouldn't come as much of a surprise. In fact, it seems like a pretty obvious solution.

Now the question becomes -- can anyone else step up to provide a few more running lanes for the Dawgs?

Things To Do In Athens When You're Furloughed

I'll say this: Aside from the lack of a paycheck, these furloughs aren't so bad. Relaxing, enjoyable and allowed me to catch up on a ton of DVR material. Just a complete delight.

Of course, I wasn't the only UGA-affiliated person to sit out a furlough this week. All of Georgia's coaches were forced to take one mandatory day off as part of the state-issued furloughs for 2009. For Georgia's assistants, that day was Monday.

Now, I know my responsibility for the furlough was to completely disassociate myself from work, but I didn't want you to think I was slacking. So I pulled some strings, called in some favors and did some hard-core reporting and came up with some top-secret material: The minute-by-minute itinerary from the furlough day of Georgia's most reclusive assistant -- Stacy Searels.

Don't ask me how I got it. I can't reveal my sources. But what follows is the true account of how Coach Searels spent his mandatory day off work last week.

4:27 a.m. -- Searels wakes up, sits up in bed and stares at his alarm clock.

4:30 a.m. -- Alarm clock goes off. Searels chastises it for not matching his intensity.

4:38 a.m. -- Enjoys morning protein shake, which includes 115 grams of protein, two bananas and one teaspoon of the tears of vanquished defensive linemen.

4:43 a.m. - 7:15 a.m. -- Time for film study. Unfortunately, due to furlough regulations, he is barred from watching game film, so he instead views Mel Gibson's "Braveheart," identifying 436 continuity errors and 61 anachronisms.

7:15 a.m. - 7:35 a.m. -- Breakfast with the family. After a few minutes of lackluster kitchen-table conversation, Searels revamps the seating arrangement in hopes of better results. When that doesn't work, he phones Josh Davis, who subs for Searels' youngest daughter for the remainder of the meal.

7:45 a.m. -- Time to take the kids to school. To save money on gas, however, he has Clint Boling and Justin Anderson push the family's Dodge Caravan the 13.6 miles from the Searels' home to school and back.

8:08 a.m. -- With no football study to do, Searels decides to hang around at his daughter's school for a while. During first-period science class, a fellow sixth-grader fails to properly explain photosynthesis, and Searels demands the boy does 25 up-downs while the teacher looks on, horrified.

8:11 a.m. -- Searels is escorted from the building by security. He vows to find a better school for his children, while also pointing out several problems with the security guards' technique as they shove him out the door. "You've got to get low, son! Put a hat on a hat!"

8:34 a.m. -- Searels phones Auburn head coach Gene Chizik to inquire whether he would have been forced to take a mandatory furlough had he accepted a job offer with the Tigers last offseason. Chizik informs him that, no, a furlough would not have been issued at Auburn.

8:36 a.m. -- Searels fires his agent.

9:12 a.m. -- Goes for his regular morning jog around the neighborhood, stopping occasionally to critique landscaping work of several of his neighbors.

9:41 a.m. -- Arrives home from his jog. Changes from his "workout sweatshirt" to his "formalwear sweatshirt."

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. -- "Maury."

11:35 a.m. -- Mows lawn. When he's finished, his wife notices the mowing pattern resembles the diagram of the screen-pass play to Caleb King from the Vanderbilt game. Searels quickly points out her mistake, noting that the flanker ran a go-route on the lawn rather than the quick hitch that was actually run on that play. He challenges her to view the lawn with more intensity next time.

11:58 a.m. -- Calls Bryan McClendon and tells him to come by the house, bring lunch and pick up his dry cleaning on the way. When McClendon asks why such menial errands should be his job, Searels reminds him of who the running game coordinator is and who is "just the running backs coach."

12:36 p.m. -- McClendon arrives with lunch. Searels sits down to enjoy the 34 oz. steak, while McClendon properly folds and puts away the 28 gray sweatshirts he had just picked up from the dry cleaner.

1:08 p.m. -- Searels phones former Auburn teammate Bo Jackson for their weekly chat about old times. Searels' reminds Jackson that he could have easily returned to football following hip replacement surgery if he had simply "wanted it more."

1:36 p.m. -- Flips through latest issue of Us Weekly, noting that Lauren Conrad looks "worse than Trinton Sturdivant's knee" and says Suri Cruise needs to "man up." He them compliments the father of the balloon boy for "really getting after it."

2:25 p.m. -- Calls Vince Vance. Tells him to switch apartments with Cordy Glenn.

3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. -- Sweatshirt shopping with Mrs. Searels. Rather than trying on any of the sweatshirts he picks out, however, Searels simply challenges them to "match his intensity."

4:45 p.m. -- Grocery shopping with the wife. Searels orders three pounds of thin-sliced turkey breast at the deli. When the butcher weighs the order and finds he sliced 3.02 pounds, Searels forces him to do 30 up-downs and re-slice the meat.

5:04 p.m. -- Puts 12 packages of toilet paper in cart. His wife inquires as to why they need so much toilet paper and Searels offers no explanation.

5:23 p.m. -- Upon check out at the grocery store, the clerk asks whether Searels would prefer paper or plastic bags. Mrs. Searels quickly interjects, reminding the clerk that her husband doesn't do interviews.

5:49 p.m. -- Calls Kevin Perez. Gives him Marc Curles' home address and the location of the 12 packages of toilet paper, adding "You know what to do."

5:51 p.m. -- Hangs up the phone and mutters, "They called me crazy, but I knew giving Perez a scholarship would eventually pay off."

6:16 p.m. -- Begins cooking dinner. On the menu: Pasta.

6:18 p.m. -- Mrs. Searels finds her husband standing stoically in the kitchen. When she asks what he's doing, he replies that he wanted to see if he could get a pot of water to boil just by staring at it.

6:19 p.m. -- Pot of water begins boiling.

6:30 p.m. -- Dinner with the family is delightful. Searels makes McClendon do the dishes afterward.

7:05 p.m. -- Phones a few former colleagues from his days on the LSU staff and procures the cell phone number of a certain SEC quarterback who will be playing against the Bulldogs in a couple weeks.

7:09 p.m. - 7:23 p.m. -- Prank calls Tim Tebow repeatedly, including ordering 74 pizzas to be delivered to Tebow's house and ending with, "my 8-year-old daughter can throw the deep ball better than you, and I've seen A.J. Harmon run harder after a fun-size bag of Doritos."

7:35 p.m. -- Calls Dallas Lee, who is sitting at home playing NCAA football on his Playstation. Searels' critiques Lee's play calling and tells him to "man up."

7:56 p.m. -- One last call to Tebow, in which Searels reminds the Florida quarterback that, "real men don't get concussions. They simply choose to forget minor details like their names, addresses and what number comes after six in order to free up space to remember more blocking schemes."

8:25 p.m. -- Settles in on the couch for an evening viewing of "Monday Night Football." Within seven minutes, Searels has deconstructed Denver's blocking schemes, identified a half-dozen instances in which Knowhshon Moreno failed to hit the hole and questioned whether Jon Gruden was intense enough for the broadcast booth.

9:08 p.m. -- During a commercial break in the game, Searels flips over to "Two-and-a-Half Men." He mentions to his wife that, "the chubby kid might have a real future as a left guard if he wasn't such a wuss."

9:44 p.m. -- Tucks kids into bed. Tells bedtime story of about the time King Stacy made Princess Tebow cry.

10:26 p.m. -- Sends text message to Ben Jones saying simply, "Bring it."

10:34 p.m. -- Ben Jones arrives at Searels' house with a footlong turkey sub from Subway and a 32-ounce Diet Mountain Dew.

11:15 p.m. -- McClendon attempts to go home for the night. Searels flags him for a false start and forces him to do 30 up-downs.

11:59 p.m. -- With just one minute of his furlough remaining, Searels opens his front door, steps out onto the patio and looks around.

12:01 a.m. -- Boling arrives at Searels' house with film of Florida's last game, a case of Red Bull and his playbook. Searels asks Boling why he was late.

Analyzing the O Line

One of the problems with my job is that I'm hardly qualified to explain the more technical Xs and Os of football, but issues like Georgia's offensive line problems remain an issue I feel obligated to explore. That job is made tougher because Georgia's line coach is, well, not a big fan of folks like me.

One of the great aspects of my job, however, is that when I can't get answers firsthand, I still get to call someone else who knows a great deal about the issues and get their insight instead.

So when it comes to explaining Georgia's problems running the ball behind what was expected to be a solid offensive line, I knew just who to ask -- former Georgia lineman Matt Stinchcomb.

Stinchcomb is not only one of the top linemen in Georgia history and a recent Circle of Honor inductee, but he's also an analyst for the SEC Network. Be sure to check him out on the pregame show at noon this week before Georgia takes on Tennessee.

In the meantime, Stinchcomb was kind enough to break down some of the problems we're seeing with Georgia's line. Here's what he had to say...

David Hale: So I'm assuming you've seen a bit of Georgia this year. What gives with the offensive line?

Matt Stinchcomb: It started this year against Oklahoma State with the injury to Sturdivant, and you start moving guys around trying to plug and play. Vince Vance is coming off a knee injury. There's still some instability in their lineup. Cordy Glenn was the left tackle the last two games. What was thought to be a strength was compromised in Week 1. Ben was injured at the center spot in training camp. It shows up mainly, I think, in the run game. They're protecting the passer pretty well. You look at the South Carolina game, Vance had some difficulties in that game in pass protection, but by and large, they've done a good job of keeping Cox clean, but the running game has struggled. Losing one of the best running backs we've see in a while -- Knowshon Moreno was a unique talent, and it's been a challenge for Georgia to replace him.

DH: I don't claim to know much about the Xs and Os of blocking, but why would a line struggle in run blocking but be so successful at pass blocking?

MS: It's difficult to say because it's not as if in pass protection they're just running man protections and you know who you've got so there's very little tradeoff. You've got to work in symphony with the guy next to you as well in the passing game. So that's a challenging question that's hard for me to answer.

When you look at the running game, there is a more assertive aspect of your blocking scheme. If you're unfamiliar with the position that you're playing, maybe that leads to some hesitancy. That being said you really didn't see that manifested in years past when Georgia had to move guys around. It's not been just a static lineup, but they were able to overcome that. Maybe that's because they had more stability at the tailback position.

You look at it this year, going into the season, you know you're going to have a new quarterback -- it doesn't matter if he's a fifth-year senior, he doesn't have a lot of starting experience. Richard Samuel and Caleb King, neither had a really substantial role in the running game in years past, so you have new faces at the running back position. The mainstay, you thought, was going to be the offensive line, but that changes early in the second half of the opener. So you get two quarters and some change out of your lone known commodity, and now all of a sudden that's in flux.

So really offensively the only established face that you know of that's a playmaker is the guy that's been making plays, and that's A.J. Green. It's not that everybody else is not capable of it, it's just it's new to them. You have new tailbacks and guys in new positions. Cordy Glenn played guard and right tackle at times, but now all of a sudden he's protecting his quarterback's blind side. It's not as if this is the offense they anticipated going into the season -- certainly not in terms of production, but also the roles and personnel. It was different starting in the opener.

DH: There's been problems beyond just running the ball for the O line. For a good bit of the season, they've struggled with penalties, too. False starts and stuff like that, it seems really surprising from a unit coached by a stickler for details like Stacy Searels. But I was thinking maybe all the shifting around and concern over the offensive struggles, does it almost become a situation where, as a lineman, you're thinking about so many other things that that first step sort of slips your mind?

MS: You got it. Absolutely. My senior year when I was at Georgia -- I struggled with false starts really throughout my career. I was so anxious. There's a number of reasons why it goes on, but ultimately it comes down to a lack of focus. You get so honed in on other aspects of your play that there you are, up at the line of scrimmage, and dang if you don't forget the snap count because you're thinking about what will happen post-snap. Next thing you know, you've got guys flinching, especially in passing downs, especially when you're in shotgun, but even in short yardage.

Whenever you see a unit, and this might be what's happening, you start to press a little bit. You can see it when a quarterback is pressing, he's maybe forcing some throws and floating the ball a little bit. In offensive line play, when guys get anxious and they know they're being counted upon, and next thing you know, they're getting a little bit of a head start against the rules.

I think it's probably a combination of a lot of things, but it's basically what you pointed out, that it ends up being a lack of focus on the first thing that has to happen, and that's getting off on the ball.

DH: Mark Richt and Mike Bobo have mentioned that the problems can certainly go beyond just the line and the tailbacks. Obviously play calling comes into it, but the tight ends are young and the fullbacks have to handle their jobs. Does everyone sort of share in some of the blame?

MS: Here's the thing about football in general -- it's pretty tightly strung. You're going to have difficulty establishing any silos where there isn't any interdependence. It's hard to say, oh our defense is playing great, and it's got absolutely nothing to do with our offensive play or vice versa. That's a bunch of bull. One impacts the other, incredibly so. The three phases of the game interact tremendously.

The same can be said for subsets of those phases. You look at the running game, you can go out there and say the offensive line has played poorly, but it very easily could have been that the backs haven't done a very good job of hitting the hole. Or the opposite is true where you may have a great running game, where your running back has a tremendous outing, and you didn't block that great. He just made them look really good.

I think it goes back to what I was trying to point out before. You come into the season, and you think you know what you've got. You know you're going to have some new faces in other spots, but you think you know what you've got at least on the offensive line, and now all of a sudden, even that has some new faces and some new roles for those faces.

It's got a cumulative effect. You have a couple tailbacks who aren't used to having as significant or as substantial a role, you have some guys playing different positions up front, and it's a little bit disjointed. Everybody hasn't played a lot together, hasn't played next to this guy very much, you have Caleb King coming in a couple games into the season and he's still trying to get into a rhythm. Everybody is still trying to develop some kind of a, you don't want to say a routine, but a rhythm. That's kind of what it looks like out on the field is that they've yet to have the right mix to where everything starts to click a little bit outside of, well, throw to 8.

DH: I did some research and looking at the five games so far, well over half of Georgia's drives are five plays or less -- either three-and-outs or turnovers or quick scores. Does having so many short drives make it hard for the line or the runners to get in a rhythm and maybe that's a reason they'd be struggling?

MS: It's true. That's exactly right. All of these are reasons. None of them can really be excuses, nor do I think anyone is going to propose they are. But absolutely that's part of it. Guys, especially at the running back position, the more they play, the more they get a feel for the game, I know as a player, that's one of the hardest things in the world to do. As a freshman, I platooned with another guy and you kind of get out of a rhythm. When you get a little bit removed from the game, it's hard to kind of re-introduce yourself to it. I've always wondered how defensive players do it where they can come in and out of the game when you have no idea what the flow of the game feels like.

You don't play a guy the same way in the first quarter as you do in the third quarter. You only get a feel for that as the game evolves, and you only get a feel for that as the game evolves. That's the same for the running backs. Maybe the holes seem to be developing on the back side a lot more than the front side. You can see that from the sideline maybe, but you can't feel that from the sideline, and there's a difference there.

DH: So looking forward, what's the longterm prognosis?

MS: Offensively, these guys -- with Ealey coming in there, there's a potential for there to be an establishment of something. At the end of the day, it's like skipping engines. You can see it there, but you see it in flashes. It's not synchronized. I think that's the ultimate overall assessment for Georgia, especially on offense. It hasn't lined up yet.

It's like an in-line six. You can see one or two cylinders are hitting and you're dropping a cylinder. It's not going to run smooth, but it's going to run. You see these guys, and they're able to put it up, they're just not able to put it up with any consistency yet. I think that shows up in the lack of long drives and with the spotty play. It doesn't mean they're not capable of it. They lack consistency, not capability. I view it how I view my golf game. It's frustrating why every once in a while I'll hit a decent shot and wonder why in the world I only do that three or four times a round. But that's a heck of a lot better than going out there and having no glimmer of anything whatsoever and shelving my clubs.

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Big thanks to Matt for his help. That's what makes a great analyst -- you don't have to understand all the technical stuff about playing on the line, but if you've played golf or changed a set of spark plugs, he's got you covered.

Along these same lines, I also have a story in today's Telegraph on Georgia's problems with its running game and a whole bunch of additional quotes from the folks involved on what needs to change to get the ground game going.

Burnette Excited, Not Intimidated

Chris Burnette knew what to expect even before he arrived at Georgia. In fact, that's what made him want to be a Bulldog so badly.

Burnette knew that offensive line coach Stacy Searels was a tough guy to play for, that he demanded a lot, and that freshmen weren't given any special treatment. They were thrown to the wolves, and they learned the hard way.

And yet, that's exactly what made playing at Georgia exciting. Freshmen were treated as equals, and while that meant a tough time on the practice field early on, it also meant he'd have a shot at playing as soon as he was ready.

"You really want to play as much as you can, and Coach Searels will put the best five guys on the field," Burnette said. "I'm all about competition, and I know that he won't say, 'Well, this guy's older so I'm going to play him.' He's going to put his best football players out there. I'm glad to have that kind of coach in charge of who's playing and who's not."

While Burnette figures to go through his share of hard times, he also isn't anticipating any earth-shattering changes from the way he's always prepared. In fact, his high school coach modeled their practices after what Searels did at Georgia. For Burnette, it will just be a faster pace for an old routine.

"I've been to a lot of their practices during the year, and they showed me that a lot of the stuff we do on our team is pretty similar," Burnette said. "It'll be turned up another level but I really think I've been prepared pretty well for it. The fact that Coach Searels does push his players pretty hard, I think helps in the long run as far as winning games and getting you ready to play on the next level on Sundays."

That doesn't mean Burnette isn't a little intimidated. This is the SEC, after all, and Searels is one of the country's top offensive line coaches. And while Burnette managed to avoid mat drills and the rigors of spring practice, he got some words of warning from early enrollee Dallas Lee that helped get him ready for what will soon be in store.

"Pretty much when I had one of my visits, he was telling me to take the time you have no to make sure you're in shape," Burnette said. "He said when he got there, he wasn't really prepared for that, so I'm just glad I could get some advice from the guys who did come early like I was planning to do originally."

Practice Notes: Durham to Miss '09 Season

Georgia wide receiver Kris Durham will miss the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder, head coach Mark Richt announced Wednesday.

Durham, a senior who caught 13 passes for 199 yards last season, suffered the injury two weeks ago and has not practiced since. Richt said Durham could have attempted to play through the injury, but that the coaches, trainers and Durham were all in agreement that surgery was the best option.

"It's a decision that we all feel like was in his best interest," Richt said. "He feels very strong that it is in his best interest, too. He just wants to make sure that his senior year is a strong, healthy one."

Durham will redshirt the upcoming season and return for a fifth year with the Bulldogs in 2010.

Richt said the surgery is scheduled for May. Had Durham hoped to get on the field in 2009, they would have performed the procedure earlier, but instead the receiver will wait until the end of his academic year before undergoing the surgery. Richt said it is typically a minimum recovery time of about six months.

Durham's absence leaves Georgia with just seven scholarship receivers for 2009. Michael Moore and A.J. Green are the projected starters, with Tony Wilson, Tavarres King, Israel Troupe and incoming freshmen Rontavious Wooten and Marlon Brown rounding out the roster. Richt said freshman cornerback Branden Smith could get some action at receiver, too, and freshman tight end Orson Charles could also be split out wide.

"It is going to push other guys to the forefront," Richt said. "Durham would have been a big part of what we're doing, and him leaving definitely puts a hole. He was at least in our top four."

JUST FOR KICKS

The spring isn't exactly a showcase for special teams, so Mark Richt hasn't seen a whole lot of punter Drew Butler, but he's still pretty confident Butler is ready to take over for Brian Mimbs.

The son of former Georgia kicker Kevin Butler, Drew got in a few punts a season ago, mostly in situations that dictated a pooch kick. That's all Richt needed to notice the best asset Butler brings to the table.

"One thing about Butler is he's got a very quick operation time where he'll catch it and get the ball off really quickly," Richt said. "Mimbs wasn't slow by any means, but Butler is a little bit quicker. The snap, the catch and the punt, that operation time is really outstanding."

Of course, replacing a two-year starter like Mimbs won't be easy, and Butler still needs to work on the one thing for which Mimbs was best known.

"Butler, when he hits it, it's very, very nice, but he has to become a little more consistent," Richt said. "But it's good to see he has the ability to hang it high and deep. He just has to get a little more consistent."

STILL THE SAME

Offensive line coach Stacy Searels got a new title this offseason – that of running game coordinator – but Richt said that hasn't meant anything new for the offense.

"Coach Searels title was basically a public announcement of what's already been happening. He's been the run game coordinator, and him and Coach (Mike) Bobo work close. Coach Bobo still has the final say on everything, but as Mike's studying the perimeter, (Searels) is studying the guts."

A NEW ATTITUDE

Richt was vocal in his support for defensive coordinator Willie Martinez a year ago, even as the defense struggled down the stretch.

The support has paid off this spring, Richt said, and the Georgia defense has looked sharp during the past four weeks.

"I see a defensive team that is very unified right now and has a little bit of a chip on their shoulder," Richt said. "They feel like they have something to prove. We've quite frankly allowed them to practice in such a manner as to create the attitude or the edge that they need to."

WRAPPING THINGS UP

Georgia finished its 13th practice Wednesday of the 15 allowed by the NCAA in the spring.

"It went fast," Richt said, "real fast."

Richt said the players looked sharp in the pleasant conditions offered by the light winds and warm temperatures. The team will be back in action Friday for a brief workout before hitting the field at Sanford Stadium on Saturday for the annual G-Day game.

"Friday will be not a whole lot. It's a shorts day." Richt said. "We'll probably do a little pass skel, then break up into teams."

The G-Day game is free to attend, and Richt encouraged Georgia fans to pack the house, including organizing group outings if possible. The game will air on ESPN at 1 p.m. Saturday.

"You can even TiVo it," Richt said, "and watch yourself when you get home."

Searels Speaks... Again!

So for two years, Stacy Searels refused to talk to the media. Then, several things happened:

1.) He was widely lauded by everyone who watched Georgia's O line overcome myriad injuries last year.

2.) Mike Bobo informed him, jokingly, that he'd be fined for missing media requests.

3.) He interviewed for a coaching job at another school.

Whether any of those things caused a change of heart in Searels' attitude toward us lowly media folks, I can't say. But the important part is, he's talking. First, he spoke with reporters at signing day. Now, he's talking to us during the spring. He's probably not too happy about it, but hey, we all do things we don't want. Like how I had to root for the Giants in last year's Super Bowl because I actually hated the Patriots more. Friggin' Belichick.

Anyway, Searels chatted with us for a few minutes Wednesday, and here are some highlights of what he had to say along with some video from the interview...

Searels on Dallas Lee's introduction to spring practice...
"He's doing good. It's a kid who should still be in high school right now, but he's out there working and it's an eye-opening experience for him."

Searels on when he knew he had a special player in Clint Boling...
"When I went and watched him play basketball and saw him dunk and score 20-something points, I thought that was pretty impressive for an offensive lineman."

Searels on what this spring is about...
"Right now, we're looking at this spring as trying to get to be the best we can be individually. Then when we get everybody back, we'll figure out through the summer and summer camp how we'll fit in to the positions. Right now we're working on the fundamentals, we're working on competing, toughness. Those are the things we're looking for."

Searels on how he'll decide next year's O line starting lineup...
"The thing we believe here, and I've heard it said many times, is we want to get the best five on the field. I don't care if he's a guard, center or a tackle. If it gets in a situation where you have a guy with a guard's body who is the very best tackle – that's what we would do. We want to try to find the best five combination, and the first sub is going to be the sixth guy. He's going to be the best player. He's not going to be the second right tackle. He's going to be the sixth best player. That's why I want guys to understand how it all fits together. You're not just a right tackle. You're not just a left guard. You're an offensive lineman and you need to understand that it all works together and if someone goes down and you're the next guy in line, you go."