Houston return means less time for Robinson

By Andy Johnston

For the AJC

ATHENS -- It might be tough for the reigning SEC defensive player of the week to find snaps against Auburn.

Starting defensive end Justin Houston, who missed the Tennessee Tech game with a hyperextended elbow, is practicing this week and should start Saturday.

That means freshman Montez Robinson, who was honored by the league after his five-tackle, two-sack performance in Saturday’s 38-0 victory, likely will see less action.

“It would be difficult to give [Robinson] the same amount of reps as he got last week with Justin coming back,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “He’s progressing and gaining confidence. We’re gaining more confidence in him. I’m glad that he had that experience, and being named the SEC defensive lineman of the week, I know it helped his confidence and made him feel great. That’s good.”

Robinson is third on the depth chart behind Houston, who leads Georgia with five sacks, and Cornelius Washington at one end position. Demarcus Dobbs, who is second with 3-1/2 sacks, starts on the other side.

Border War

As usual, Auburn has stocked up on players from Georgia, with 20 on this year’s roster.

That group includes leading receiver Darvin Adams (Harrison), who leads the SEC with nine touchdown receptions, running back Mario Fannin (Lovejoy), who is averaging 8.2 yards a carry, cornerback Neiko Thorpe (Tucker), who has three career interceptions, and starting guard Byron Isom (Lovejoy).

Offensive linemen Ben Jones and Jonathan Owens are the only Georgia players from Alabama.

Sporting News wants Dogs-Noles

In an article in Wednesday’s Sporting News Today, a daily e-mail newspaper, staff writer Dave Curtis compiled a list of 10 bowl-game matchups he would like to see this year. At No. 3: Georgia vs. Florida State in the Music City Bowl.

“Bobby Bowden and Mark Richt clashed in a Sugar Bowl when both teams seemed on an uptick,” Curtis wrote. “Now, they’d both stumble into a lower-tier game, with fans of the ’Noles and ’Dawgs clamoring for change. Let the Richt-to-FSU speculation begin.”

The last sentence is interesting considering that Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher already has been selected to replace Bowden when he retires.

Georgia defeated Florida State 26-13 in the 2003 Sugar Bowl, the only time Richt has faced his mentor and former boss.

McCalebb might miss game

Auburn coach Gene Chizik said freshman running back Onterio McCalebb, who has missed the past two weeks with a sprained ankle, also might miss Saturday’s game.

“We’ll have to play it by ear,” Chizik said on the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday.

McCalebb is Auburn’s second-leading rusher with 464 yards.

Green looks like Green

Richt said the Bulldogs haven’t been able to “throw and catch” much in this week’s rainy and windy conditions, but he’s happy to see receiver A.J. Green practicing.

Green missed last week’s game with a bruised lung.

“A.J. looks like A.J. Green, which is a very good thing,” Richt said.

“He might be a little more fresh than he would have been because we really didn’t let him exert hardly at all because of that injury.”