Bobo: Dogs' QB competition is ‘wide open'

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATHENS -- One week from the start of spring football practice at Georgia, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo declared the competition for the starting quarterback job "wide open."

Bobo said Thursday that junior Logan Gray and redshirt freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger will get equal shots to win the job in spring practice.

"There is not a clear-cut No. 1 guy going into the spring," Bobo said. "Logan Gray will take the first reps with the [No.] 1 offense, but we are planning on rotating all three and giving all three equal amounts of looks with the first group."

He said there's no way to predict when a pecking order might emerge, or whether it will happen before preseason practice in August.

"I do think all three [quarterbacks] are talented in their own way," Bobo said. "You'd love for a guy to come right out and take hold of the job and say, ‘This is the guy, there's no doubt.' But it's too early to say that [will happen]."

After a 2009 season in which Georgia committed 28 turnovers -- 17 interceptions and 11 fumbles -- Bobo said a key criteria in judging the quarterback competition will be how the candidates protect the ball.

"Coming off last year, that is going to be a big focus of ours -- taking care of the football and not turning it over and just ... playing fundamentally sound," he said. "Now, if you add something to that with your legs or athletic ability, that's a bonus."

Georgia's spring practice begins March 4, resumes March 16 after an 11-day interruption for UGA's spring break and concludes with the G-Day intrasquad game on April 10.

Defensive changes

Georgia's defense is in flux, particularly on the line and at linebacker, with the transition to a 3-4 scheme. Coaches haven't revealed publicly where they see various players fitting into the new scheme, but players shed some light Thursday.

Marcus Dowtin said that he, Christian Robinson, Akeem Dent and Darryl Gamble are among the inside linebackers. Gamble said Justin Houston, Cornelius Washington and Montez Robinson are among the outside linebackers. Dowtin said he thinks converted tailback Richard Samuel will work at inside and outside linebacker in spring practice.

Gamble added that new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has emphasized positions are subject to change and that "you might be playing somewhere else when the season starts, so learn everything."

Etc.

• Tailback Washaun Ealey, who wore No. 24 last season, said he is lobbying the coaches for a switch to No. 3, his high school number. Last season, senior defensive back Bryan Evans wore the number.
• Former UGA quarterback Matthew Stafford attended the Bulldogs' baseball game Wednesday and was at the Butts-Mehre building Thursday.
• Chad Gloer will shift from defensive back to wide receiver for spring practice to help the numbers at that position.