Offensive line looks to improve

By Andy Johnston

For the AJC

ATHENS – Georgia’s offensive line was supposed to carry the offense while first-year starting quarterback Aaron Murray gained experience.

The five returning offensive linemen had a combined 137 starts entering 2010 and, as a unit, was considered one of the SEC’s best.

Instead, the Bulldogs have rushed for a conference-low 122.5 yards a game and are averaging just 3.9 yards a carry. Without naming names, coach Mark Richt even called out guards Cordy Glenn and Chris Davis on Sunday, the day after South Carolina’s 17-6 victory over Georgia.

“Talent-wise, I think we have the guys up front to do it, whether we’re doing it every play or not,” offensive tackle Clint Boling said. “We just have to have that mindset that we want to dominate our guy every play, and I don’t know if we have that right now.”

Glenn, who had mono, and center Ben Jones, who had his knee scoped, both missed part of preseason practice, meaning the line could be hampered by continuity issues.

“We just have to regroup, play more physical and play harder,” Boling said. “A lot of people are questioning whether we’re talented enough or have enough heart. I think we do. I don’t know one thing that’s happening with us, but we’ve got to do a better job up front.”

Still waiting

An athletic department spokesman said the school doesn’t know when the NCAA will hear the appeal of receiver A.J. Green’s suspension, even though Richt said he expects it will be heard on Wednesday.

Richt’s comments were made on a radio show. He wasn’t available after Monday’s practice.

Green has served two games of his four-game suspension after selling a jersey for $1,000 to a person the NCAA considers is an agent.

Miss. State game time set

Georgia’s game at Mississippi State on Sept. 25 will kick off at 7 p.m. and be televised by Fox Sports Net (FSN).

It is Georgia’s first appearance on FSN since Sept. 6, 2008, when the Bulldogs defeated Central Michigan 56-17.

Also, Saturday’s game against Arkansas will be televised by ESPN. It will begin at noon.

Too many is too much

Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin on the plethora of missed tackles against South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, who rushed for 182 yards on 37 carries.

“It doesn’t matter about the numbers [of missed tackles],” he said. “It was enough for him to get 180-something yards.”

Etc.

Georgia leads the SEC in fewest penalty yards with an average of 27.5, ninth in the country. The Bulldogs are last in the conference in first downs, with just 28. By comparison, South Carolina had 23 in Saturday’s victory and has 48, second behind Alabama’s 49. … Jones, OT Josh Davis, DE Demarcus Dobbs and K Blair Walsh are the captains for Saturday’s game.