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Defense, QBs on Georgia's mind this spring
By Mike Huguenin
March 5, 2010
Georgia is coming off an eight-victory season, which was a disappointing effort for a program that thought it could win 10 games.
The defense again had problems slowing down good offenses, so coach Mark Richt fired three of his four defensive assistants and brought in Dallas Cowboys assistant Todd Grantham to overhaul that unit.
The Bulldogs don't have near as many issues on offense, but they are looking for a new quarterback. Whoever wins the job will be the Dawgs' third starter in as many seasons.
Here's a look at the Bulldogs as they prepare to open spring drills.
The offensive line returns six players who started at least six games. In addition, touted T Trinton Sturdivant -- who has missed the past two seasons with torn anterior cruciate ligaments -- is expected to be ready for fall camp (though he will miss spring drills). Look for the coaching staff to be able to mix-and-match linemen all spring, trying to find the best spot for each guy. WR A.J. Green should be one of the best in the nation at his position. This spring will be about finding consistent complementary guys to play opposite Green. RBs Washaun Ealey and Caleb King are expected to provide a nice 1-2 punch, and they will run behind what should be a punishing line. Given that Georgia is breaking in a new quarterback, the rushing attack should take on added significance this spring. Brandon Boykin and Branden Smith should be a solid cornerback duo.
Help is needed
Who's the quarterback? Georgia again is looking for a new starter after Joe Cox graduated. While the quarterback battle will get most of the national headlines this spring, what is happening on defense will be more important. New coordinator Todd Grantham, who had been the Dallas Cowboys' defensive line coach, is installing a 3-4 set after the Bulldogs had been using the 4-3 as their base scheme. While he and his assistants are teaching the new defense, they also will be looking for seven new starters. Actually, it could be as many as nine new starters because the returning starters at end could move to linebacker. Richard Samuel started last season as the starting tailback, but by the end of the season he was the third-stringer. Samuel will play linebacker this spring and is expected to be in the mix for a starting job. Both starting safety spots are open, and that's a potential trouble spot.
Guys to watch
S Jakar Hamilton: Georgia has two open safety spots, and Hamilton -- a junior college transfer -- is being counted on to fill one of them (most likely at free safety). Hamilton was a finalist for National Junior College Athletic Association defensive player of the year this past season, and he finished his two-year JC career with 88 tackles and six interceptions. Hamilton has good size and is known as a big hitter. If he doesn't pan out, the Bulldogs could be in big trouble at safety. You don't bring in a JC transfer of Hamilton's caliber and expect him to become a backup; he's expected to be a starter.
QBs Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray: Georgia is looking for a new starting quarterback again, and these redshirt freshmen would seem to be the leading candidates. Mettenberger is the prototypical drop-back passer; Murray also has a strong arm but is much more mobile (he ran a spread-type attack in high school). In a perfect world, Georgia would identify its starter in spring practice and not have to worry about a potential quarterback controversy in fall drills. We'll see if that comes to
fruition.
DT DeAngelo Tyson: Georgia lost three NFL-caliber tackles off last season's team, and coaches will be looking to identify a starting nose tackle for the three-man line this spring. Tyson, a squatty 300-pound junior, looks to be the leading candidate. He played in all 13 games as a backup last season, finishing with 12 tackles and a blocked point-after attempt against South Carolina. Tyson doesn't necessarily fit the mold of a run-stuffing behemoth in the middle of the line. But reports are that he has the quickness to be the penetrator that Grantham wants.
The pressure is on
LB Akeem Dent: Maybe the move to the 3-4 will spur big-time production from Dent, a senior who hasn't come close to living up to his high billing. He had 32 tackles last season, when he was bothered by injuries. Dent has 114 tackles in 38 career games, with six tackles for loss and three pass breakups. He's expected to be an inside linebacker in the new scheme, and he must show this spring he can be a guy who can make impact plays.
The buzz
This is an important spring for Richt and his rebuilt staff. There are numerous question marks on defense, and putting the right guys in the right spots in the new scheme obviously is going to be vital. Can Tyson handle the nose tackle spot? Will the outside linebackers be able to drop into coverage? Will there be a consistent pass rush? Can the new safeties handle their responsibilities? As for the offense, the pieces are in place for a highly productive unit -- assuming the new quarterback comes through.
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Greg Paulus’ next trick — play in the NFL
By John Kekis
March 5, 2010
Syracuse, NY — After playing point guard at Duke and quarterback at Syracuse, Greg Paulus is ready for a new frontier—the NFL.
“You dream of these things. To have this opportunity, I wanted to take advantage of it,” the 23-year-old Paulus said as he prepared for Thursday’s pro day before at least a dozen NFL teams at Syracuse. “In the back of my mind this was definitely something I wanted. Hopefully, we’re going to get some positive feedback. I’ll do the best I can.”
Paulus ended his one-year career with the Orange with two school records— most completions and highest completion rate. He started all 12 games of a 4-8 season, completing 193 of 285 passes (67.7 percent) with 14 interceptions and 13 touchdowns for 2,024 yards.
Orange head coach Doug Marrone, in his rookie year at his alma mater, tabbed Paulus as the team’s starter in preseason camp last August—less than a week after seeing him throw a pass in person for the first time.
“Only having since the end of May, you only have two or three months to build your arm strength,” said Paulus, who was voted a team captain before the season by his new teammates. “That wasn’t enough. Now that I’ve been doing it a certain amount of months straight and preparing for this time, it’s gotten a lot stronger. It’s not even close.”
Paulus has been working out with Orange strength and conditioning coach Will Hicks and has boosted his weight to 204 pounds, up from about 180 when he arrived.
“I feel good about that. I’m always trying to get stronger, faster, continuing to build footwork,” Paulus said. “I didn’t have as much time to prepare for the season. Being able to work on footwork has been a huge thing. Being able to throw on a consistent basis has allowed my arm and my timing to be better. I’m just trying to continue to get better.”
Hicks said Wednesday that the 12 to 15 NFL teams Syracuse expects at pro day all want to take a look at Paulus.
“Considering when he first got here, he’s made great progress as far as his body weight, strength, core stability, arm strength, those type of things,” Hicks said.
“I’ve been getting a lot of interest … He’s going to have a legitimate opportunity. He’s a hard worker, he’s got all the charisma and leadership skills and the smarts. I just hope he improved enough physically to give himself an opportunity.”
Paulus’s unique college athletic career entered a new stage just days after the Duke basketball season ended last spring. He worked out for the Green Bay Packers and had contact with more than 20 college programs before deciding Syracuse was the best fit.
Paulus handled the transition to football well when one considers he played for a team that had won a total of 10 games the previous four seasons and whose offensive line was constantly in flux as Marrone persevered with a depleted roster.
“You have to respect him just coming in here, not playing the game for four years, not knowing any of his teammates,” said Chris Gedney, an All-American tight end at Syracuse in the early 1990s and now an analyst on football broadcasts. “Everything was new again. I thought he did exceptionally well with handling himself, and that’s the biggest thing.
“It’s hard to train for football. You’re not really building,” Gedney said. “You’re trying to maintain what you’ve put together with a little bit of emphasis on growth. It’s a grind, but if the team’s got a good conditioning program and you continue to grow, who knows where your ceiling’s at?”
Paulus was a record-setting quarterback at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse. As a senior running a spread offense, Paulus threw for 3,700 yards and 43 touchdowns in a 13-0 season. He finished his prep career with 11,763 yards and 152 touchdowns passing and was named 2004 Gatorade High School National Football Player of the Year.
Heavily recruited, Paulus opted for basketball and became an Academic All-American and two-year team captain at Duke.
Because he graduated from Duke in four years and did not redshirt, Paulus was able to obtain a waiver from the NCAA, allowing him to play one season of football at a different school without sitting a year.
Paulus has kept in touch with Marrone, who left his job as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints to take over at Syracuse.
“He’s been a great resource. He’s helped me,” Paulus said. “My passion is as passionate as ever. It’s been on an upswing ever since I started doing this.
Obviously, I’d love to have a shot (at the NFL). That’s the No. 1 priority.”
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