Green dazzles UGA teammates, too

By TIM TUCKER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATHENS -- If you're impressed by what you see from A.J. Green on Saturdays, you ought to see some of the stuff he does on the practice field.

Green's greatest catch -- at least in the eyes of tight end Aron White -- came in preseason of 2008, soon after the star wide receiver arrived on the Georgia campus.

"He ran a post [route] and broke it hard. [Matthew] Stafford threw it behind him ... and [Green] jumped," recalled White, reveling in the story. "But when he jumped, he kind of stopped all forward momentum and twisted his body backwards and caught the ball completely parallel to the ground behind him with both hands. Then somehow, he twisted in the air and got his feet back under him and landed and took off running.

"Everybody was just, like, ‘Wow.' ... That was probably the most amazing catch I've seen him make."

Suffice to say that Green's teammates are not the least bit surprised by the show he has put on the past two Saturdays -- seven catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas, then eight more for 153 yards and a touchdown against Arizona State.

Plus, playing on special teams, a leaping Green blocked an ASU field goal with his elbow to preserve a tie late in the fourth quarter. And then he caught a 36-yard pass to set up Georgia's game-winning, game-ending field goal.

For his latest performance, Green was named the SEC's Offensive Player of the Week.

"You almost come to expect stuff like this from him," White said. "I don't know what more he could do; he does it all right now. Maybe get on defense or something."

Last week, fellow receiver Tavarres King said of Green: "That's Superman right there."

If Green hears any of this, he doesn't show it.

"He has no cockiness about him whatsoever," quarterback Joe Cox said. "Everyone on this team loves him. He's just a really good guy to be around."

Etc.

Green wasn't the only Georgia player honored by the SEC on Monday. Defensive end Justin Houston was named Defensive Lineman of the Week for his play (four solo tackles, including two for loss and one sack) against Arizona State. ... The starting time for Georgia's Oct. 10 game at Tennessee won't be set until after this weekend's games. CBS will televise Florida-LSU at 8 p.m. on Oct. 10 and choose among Georgia-Tennessee and three other games for a 3:30 p.m. telecast. If not chosen by CBS, Georgia-Tennessee would start between noon and 12:30 p.m. ... On points following turnovers, Georgia has been outscored by a mind-boggling 54-6 this season. Otherwise, Georgia has outscored its opponents 117-65.