Richt says Bulldogs off to 'great start'

By KEN SUGIURA

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Athens — Georgia’s first week of preseason practice is in the books.

Coach Mark Richt has been pleased — he called the first five practices a “great start” Saturday — but now the heat gets turned up.

After a day off Sunday, the Bulldogs will have their first day of double workouts Monday, also their first in full pads. Saturday, the team practiced in shells. Richt described it as hot and nasty and that “everybody was in a little bit of a bad mood, which is OK.”

Richt said that the team likely will practice in pads more this preseason than last, when injuries depleted the roster and led Richt to run fewer full-contact practices than usual. He went through a list of drills he has planned for Monday, including one in which three offensive players line up against three defensive players in a 10-yard chute. The offensive players block for a ballcarrier, who has three downs to make the 10 yards. Richt called it a “very competitive drill.”

The players are “ready to put the pads on and start playing football,” Richt said. “I’m excited about that.”

So is defensive tackle Jeff Owens, who reported no pain in the knee that he tore up in last year’s season opener, ending his season.

Said Owens, “When the pads come on, I think the intensity comes out.”

Offense installed

Quarterback Joe Cox said that the offense’s package of plays has been installed.

“There’s a lot of things we’ll find on film against certain teams that we’ll want to put in,” he said. “That’ll just come week by week, but as far as everything we would call on any normal down versus any team we play, that’s all in.”

Cox said the offense can begin to hone and tweak various plays.

Scholarship granted

Walk-on right tackle Casey Nickels has been awarded a scholarship for the season. Nickels was named the most improved offensive lineman and the outstanding walk-on for the offense after spring practice. He is working with the second string in practice.

“It’s a lot of fun to award scholarships for those guys that work so hard,” Richt said. “It’s his fourth year, and he’s been busting his tail.”

Etc.

● From Saturday’s practice, Richt said that cornerback Sanders Commings and wide receiver Israel Troupe made noteworthy plays in practice. Commings returned an interception for a touchdown in a passing drill. Troupe, Richt said, “caught more deep balls than I’ve seen him catch in awhile.”

● Sunday, Richt will have the senior class over to his house for dinner, a preseason practice tradition. Owens was looking forward to it. “I’m a big guy and I love to eat,” he said.

● There were 79 team members who earned GPA’s of 3.0 or higher in the summer semester, including 22 who made dean’s list. The team finished with a 3.148 GPA for the summer, meeting the team’s goal of earning a cumulative 3.0.