Good afternoon all. Today was the final practice before G-Day, and the Bulldogs were getting in their last workout before Saturday's glorified scrimmage at Sanford Stadium (4 p.m.).
Here's what we saw:
...After having been limited in practice, Terry Godwin was back working out without any issues, running with the first group of receivers. Godwin appeared to be moving more than fine—no issues that I could see.
...It was interesting to see redshirt freshman Matt Landers run with the first two groups. Kirby Smart spoke highly of Landers last fall and, apparently, he's picking back up where he left off. Tyler Simmons and Riley Ridley repped with Godwin in the top two groups at outside receiver. Mecole Hardman and Ahkil Crumpton worked 1-2 at the slot.
...Kendall Baker and Solomon Kindley were seen taking turns with the first team at left guard. No other changes along the offensive line were apparent. Andrew Thomas is still No. 1 at LT, Lamont Gaillard at center, Ben Cleveland at RG and Isaiah Wilson at RT.
...Sony Michel and Nick Chubb were at practice today.
...Still no sign of defensive lineman Michael Barnett (knee). It's probably safe to go ahead and write him off for G-Day.
...Ameer Speed wore what looked like a small club on his right hand.
The participants in the annual G-Day alumni game, set to kick off at 1:15 Saturday at Sanford Stadium, were announced:
White Team
Derick Bailey
Roger Betnnett
Stephen Braue
Tyson Browning
Bruce Milton
Drew Camp
Corrie Collier
Dick Conn
Ty Frix
Rick Fromm
Gabe Galt
Chuck Coddard
Joey Hestery
Jim Hickey
Andy Hogan
John Huff
Lee Jackson
Charlies Junior
Stuart Kingsley
Jim Lewis
Mohamed Massaquoi
Matt McCormick
Carter McInnis
Deshay McJever
Casey Nickels
Mike Oakes
John Osborne
Ross Philips
Pulpwood Smith
Horace Thompson
Todd Wheeler
Brandon Wheeling
Ben WIlson
Bobby Poss
Red Team
Dave Allison
Jeremiah Beall
Robert Bell
Butch Box
Chris Brown
Michael Cooper
Patrick Cfoffie
Marquis Elmore
Thomas Flowers
Bow Fowler
Trent Frix
Jacob Hawk
Ben Hayes
John Jennings
Jevaris Johnson
Charles Krauth
Mike Mashburn
Paul Messer
Brandon Miller
Prince Miller
Sean Rivas
Ryan Sewell
Richard Samuel
Ryan Schnetzer
Chris Shaw
Jody Tanner
Ted Tarpley
Joe Teasley
Jeffrey Thomas
Ridge Underwood
Vince Vance
Tyger Vollrath
Todd Wade
Des Williams
Brandon Wood
Johnny Cobb
From Patrick Garbin…
…Besides Chubb and Michel, other former Bulldogs at practice included Kevin Butler, who was working with the kickers and hasn’t been at practice much this spring, if at all, until today, and Javon Wims.
…For the initial of the two periods we were allowed to observe, the defensive line’s running order was 1) David Marshall—DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle—Julian Rochester; 2) Michail Carter—Devonte Wyatt—Tyler Clark; and 3) Chris Barnes—Koby Pyrz—Justin Young.
“Third down is the money down… Let’s go!”—assistant Tray Scott.
…Also during the initial period, Jim Chaney and Kirby Smart supervised an inside zone-read drill, whereby it appeared to be 6-on-6, maybe 7-on-7. Smart was situated right down in the drill; he almost could’ve been mistaken for a linebacker. Jake Fromm and Justin Fields were taking turns at quarterback, until Mecole Hardman took a snap under center out of the “Wild Dawg” formation. Running to his right, Hardman easily out maneuvered the defense, prompting some assistant to holler, “Touchdown!”
Out of the Wild Dawg, Mecole Hardman for a touchdown.
...During the second period of viewing, the receivers did not look good at all, likely the worst I’ve seen from the group in some time. Besides dropping several passes, the unit apparently had issues running routes, as well. At one point, when the receivers were evidently supposed to be running the same route, Smart piped up, “Every one of y’all are running routes different!”
…For the second viewable period, the running backs ran a chute drill. D’Andre Swift, who participated in the aforementioned inside zone-read drill despite being slowed, sat this particular drill out, along with Zamir White.
From Jake Reuse...
...Spent time watching the wideout and quarterbacks. Notice Cortez Hankton send Jayson Stanley back after a lackadaisical route: 'Nah, Jayson, that's not gonna get it done' he was overheard saying.
...Mecole Hardman's hands continue to get better, and he showed that very clearly today. Pulled in some tough catches with authority and got back upfield quickly.
...Ahkil Crumpton looked strong in that regard as well.
...Noticed Matt Landers make a great toe-tapping catch on the sideline.
From Radi Nabulsi...
...When the defensive linemen were going through three standing dummies. On the first drill they had to dodge each one, getting their hips around the dummies as they wove in and out. Julian Rochester flew through this drill. Brenton Cox did not. He messed up about halfway. I would have expected the exact opposite. I think Cox was tired. (just a guess)
They went through the drill in this order:
... Tray Scott then had the linemen practicing clubbing, and told Wyatt to club with his hand open and not with a closed fist. The advantage being that if you miss the club your hand is open and you can “grab ahold of something.” Herring actually got a shout out by Scott for properly vicious clubbing.
... Dan Lannig had his outside linebackers working with giant green rubber bands. He had them paired up. Three linebackers were in their stances on the line, watching the football Lanning was snapping. The point was to fire off as quick as possible and “gain ground” on the first step. The hard part was that there was a giant rubber band looped around their waists, while the other end was held by a linebacker standing behind them. The guys would fire off out of tow or three-point stance and the guy behind them would hold onto the rubber band. “How much ground did you gain on that first step?”
Quote: “How do I eliminate the false step? Coach me. Knee what? Yes, knee over toe. If your knee is over your toe, you can’t false step.”
Here's what we saw:
...After having been limited in practice, Terry Godwin was back working out without any issues, running with the first group of receivers. Godwin appeared to be moving more than fine—no issues that I could see.
...It was interesting to see redshirt freshman Matt Landers run with the first two groups. Kirby Smart spoke highly of Landers last fall and, apparently, he's picking back up where he left off. Tyler Simmons and Riley Ridley repped with Godwin in the top two groups at outside receiver. Mecole Hardman and Ahkil Crumpton worked 1-2 at the slot.
...Kendall Baker and Solomon Kindley were seen taking turns with the first team at left guard. No other changes along the offensive line were apparent. Andrew Thomas is still No. 1 at LT, Lamont Gaillard at center, Ben Cleveland at RG and Isaiah Wilson at RT.
...Sony Michel and Nick Chubb were at practice today.
...Still no sign of defensive lineman Michael Barnett (knee). It's probably safe to go ahead and write him off for G-Day.
...Ameer Speed wore what looked like a small club on his right hand.
The participants in the annual G-Day alumni game, set to kick off at 1:15 Saturday at Sanford Stadium, were announced:
White Team
Derick Bailey
Roger Betnnett
Stephen Braue
Tyson Browning
Bruce Milton
Drew Camp
Corrie Collier
Dick Conn
Ty Frix
Rick Fromm
Gabe Galt
Chuck Coddard
Joey Hestery
Jim Hickey
Andy Hogan
John Huff
Lee Jackson
Charlies Junior
Stuart Kingsley
Jim Lewis
Mohamed Massaquoi
Matt McCormick
Carter McInnis
Deshay McJever
Casey Nickels
Mike Oakes
John Osborne
Ross Philips
Pulpwood Smith
Horace Thompson
Todd Wheeler
Brandon Wheeling
Ben WIlson
Bobby Poss
Red Team
Dave Allison
Jeremiah Beall
Robert Bell
Butch Box
Chris Brown
Michael Cooper
Patrick Cfoffie
Marquis Elmore
Thomas Flowers
Bow Fowler
Trent Frix
Jacob Hawk
Ben Hayes
John Jennings
Jevaris Johnson
Charles Krauth
Mike Mashburn
Paul Messer
Brandon Miller
Prince Miller
Sean Rivas
Ryan Sewell
Richard Samuel
Ryan Schnetzer
Chris Shaw
Jody Tanner
Ted Tarpley
Joe Teasley
Jeffrey Thomas
Ridge Underwood
Vince Vance
Tyger Vollrath
Todd Wade
Des Williams
Brandon Wood
Johnny Cobb
From Patrick Garbin…
…Besides Chubb and Michel, other former Bulldogs at practice included Kevin Butler, who was working with the kickers and hasn’t been at practice much this spring, if at all, until today, and Javon Wims.
…For the initial of the two periods we were allowed to observe, the defensive line’s running order was 1) David Marshall—DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle—Julian Rochester; 2) Michail Carter—Devonte Wyatt—Tyler Clark; and 3) Chris Barnes—Koby Pyrz—Justin Young.
“Third down is the money down… Let’s go!”—assistant Tray Scott.
…Also during the initial period, Jim Chaney and Kirby Smart supervised an inside zone-read drill, whereby it appeared to be 6-on-6, maybe 7-on-7. Smart was situated right down in the drill; he almost could’ve been mistaken for a linebacker. Jake Fromm and Justin Fields were taking turns at quarterback, until Mecole Hardman took a snap under center out of the “Wild Dawg” formation. Running to his right, Hardman easily out maneuvered the defense, prompting some assistant to holler, “Touchdown!”
Out of the Wild Dawg, Mecole Hardman for a touchdown.
...During the second period of viewing, the receivers did not look good at all, likely the worst I’ve seen from the group in some time. Besides dropping several passes, the unit apparently had issues running routes, as well. At one point, when the receivers were evidently supposed to be running the same route, Smart piped up, “Every one of y’all are running routes different!”
…For the second viewable period, the running backs ran a chute drill. D’Andre Swift, who participated in the aforementioned inside zone-read drill despite being slowed, sat this particular drill out, along with Zamir White.
From Jake Reuse...
...Spent time watching the wideout and quarterbacks. Notice Cortez Hankton send Jayson Stanley back after a lackadaisical route: 'Nah, Jayson, that's not gonna get it done' he was overheard saying.
...Mecole Hardman's hands continue to get better, and he showed that very clearly today. Pulled in some tough catches with authority and got back upfield quickly.
...Ahkil Crumpton looked strong in that regard as well.
...Noticed Matt Landers make a great toe-tapping catch on the sideline.
From Radi Nabulsi...
...When the defensive linemen were going through three standing dummies. On the first drill they had to dodge each one, getting their hips around the dummies as they wove in and out. Julian Rochester flew through this drill. Brenton Cox did not. He messed up about halfway. I would have expected the exact opposite. I think Cox was tired. (just a guess)
They went through the drill in this order:
- David Marshall – Julian Rochester
- Jonathan Ledbetter – DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle
- Devonte Wyatt – Tyler Clark
- Michail Carter- Justin Young
- Malik Herring – Koby Pyrz
- Chris Barnes
... Tray Scott then had the linemen practicing clubbing, and told Wyatt to club with his hand open and not with a closed fist. The advantage being that if you miss the club your hand is open and you can “grab ahold of something.” Herring actually got a shout out by Scott for properly vicious clubbing.
... Dan Lannig had his outside linebackers working with giant green rubber bands. He had them paired up. Three linebackers were in their stances on the line, watching the football Lanning was snapping. The point was to fire off as quick as possible and “gain ground” on the first step. The hard part was that there was a giant rubber band looped around their waists, while the other end was held by a linebacker standing behind them. The guys would fire off out of tow or three-point stance and the guy behind them would hold onto the rubber band. “How much ground did you gain on that first step?”
Quote: “How do I eliminate the false step? Coach me. Knee what? Yes, knee over toe. If your knee is over your toe, you can’t false step.”
