UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 18
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Lumpkin talks about the tailbacks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There has been a lot of talk about redshirt freshman tailback Knowshon Moreno since the end of last season and his performance during spring practice and the G-Day Game ( 11 carries, 68 yards, 2 TDs) did nothing to quell that. But, lest we forget, junior Kregg Lumpkin is solidly entrenched at the No. 1 position in Georgia’s backfield and, with Thomas Brown sidelined (at least heading into preseason practices), stands to be the Bulldogs’ primary ballcarrier this fall.
I recently talked to Lumpkin, a junior who led Georgia with 798 yards rushing last season, and asked the soft-spoken Lithonian to size up the Dogs’ tailback situation.
Q: With Brown out of the rotation this spring and Caleb King still not on the scene, did you feel like you got a lot more repetitions this spring with just you and Moreno back there?
A: Yeah, I guess so. But when Thomas comes back it’ll be a competition between all three of us again.
Q: Do you feel like, with the circumstances as they are, this is the your year to be The Man in Georgia’s backfield?
A: I mean, we still have an awesome backfield. We have a lot of talent. Whenever we get out there and whoever gets out there, we have to play as one. It’s a team game.
Q: Obviously most of the talk this spring has been about your freshman backfield mate Moreno. So give us the scoop from a players’ perspective. Are you as impressed as everybody else?
A: Whew, yeah, I am. He’s a mixture of Thomas Brown and Danny Ware and me. He has their speed and my power. He brings a lot of energy to the field. He brings a lot of smiles, too. We have fun all the time. He’s just another character on this team.
Q: Is there anything he needs to improve on to become a better tailback?
A: Coaches harp on us all the time about pass protection for the quarterback. That’s one thing that the whole group has to work on. He still has a lot to work on with that but he’s picking up on it well.
Q: Is there anything in particular you’ve worked on or plan on working on this summer, like losing weight, improving your speed, getting stronger, anything like that?
A: Just trying to stay healthy, stay focused and working hard to get better.
So there you go. If you’re looking for trash-talking and chest-beating, you’ll have to look for another player other than Lumpkin. The truth is, some coaches have told me Lumpkin had a great spring and has responded well to the challenge Moreno represents. He appears a tad bit leaner and looked a little quicker, too, though I don’t have any tangible data to support that at this moment.
What are your thoughts on the subject? Do you think this is going to be Lumpkin’s year or is he just holding down the spot until Moreno takes over? What do you want to see? And what about the X factor that is Thomas Brown? Every indication is he is going to be back in time to participate in preseason practice. CMR has always said a player won’t lose his position because of an injury. So does Brown just slide right back in ahead of Moreno? And what about King? Is there any option other than redshirting?
Meanwhile, I’ve been asked to remind you Georgia fans of the Michael Lemon Fund. UGA got clearance from the NCAA to raise money to help the Bulldogs’ redshirt freshman defensive lineman and his little brother in light of the horrible tragedy that befell his family earlier this year. Go to www.georgiadogs.com for more information.
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