Richt says Bulldogs prepared for Cobb

By Andy Johnston

For the AJC

ATHENS -- Mark Richt said Georgia will be prepared for Kentucky’s multi-talented Randall Cobb, if he’s able to play Saturday.

Cobb injured his shoulder against Vanderbilt on Saturday, missed Tuesday’s practice and had to leave Wednesday’s practice. With starting quarterback Mike Hartline out, Cobb was expected to see some action in Kentucky’s “WildCobb” formation as well as playing receiver.

Freshman Morgan Newton is expected to start at quarterback for the Wildcats.

“We’ve got a working knowledge of everything they do other than what they might slip in as a curveball for us this week,” Richt said Thursday.

Cobb started at quarterback against Georgia last season and rushed for 82 yards and three touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 42-38 victory.

This season, Cobb has 32 catches for 384 yards, has rushed for 396 yards and completed 2 of 7 attempts for 46 yards. He has scored 12 touchdowns, which is second in the SEC.

“He can make big things happen, big plays happen,” Georgia defensive tackle Geno Atkins said. “He can find the seams in cracks and things like that. As a defensive front, we’re going to have to play behind their line of scrimmage and cause havoc, so he can’t hit the seams.”

Picking from the Peach State

Like Auburn, last weekend's opponent, Kentucky heavily recruits Georgia and has 17 players on this season’s team.

That group includes three starters -- cornerback Trevard Lindley (Hiram), linebacker Sam Maxwell (Hart County) and tight end Ross Bogue (North Gwinnett).

Maxwell leads the Wildcats with four interceptions and is third with 62 tackles. Lindley has an interception and 18 tackles, and Bogue has two catches for 14 yards and a touchdown.

Backup guard Trevino Woods attended Clarke Central in Athens, receiver Matt Roark quarterbacked North Cobb to a 10-1 season in 2007 and freshman linebacker Qua Huzzie (LaGrange) was the AJC’s Class AAA defensive player of the year last fall.

Sacks still down

Georgia has allowed only 11 sacks this season, which is tied for second in the SEC and tied for 20th in the nation.

“That’s definitely an accomplishment,” left tackle Clint Boling said. “Obviously we’d like to have run the ball better than we have, but giving up that number of sacks is a real big accomplishment. Hopefully, we’ll be able to carry it on for the next few weeks.”

Quarterback Joe Cox has been sacked 10 times and backup Logan Gray once in a combined 271 attempts.

Strong protection is a carryover from last season, when Georgia quarterbacks were sacked only 17 times in 400 attempts.

Safety depth

With Bacarri Rambo out with a concussion, defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said Quintin Banks and Makiri Pugh will back up starting safeties Bryan Evans and Reshad Jones.

Banks missed all but one game last season with a left knee injury and missed time this season with a right knee problem. He made two tackles against Vanderbilt in his first action this season.

“They’ve been practicing well for weeks, and they’ll get an opportunity to play Saturday,” Martinez said. “Quintin is in better shape than he has been in a while, and he’s excited to play.”

Etc.

*Richt said he isn’t sure who will start at receiver with A.J. Green out with a shoulder injury. Tavarres King is listed on the depth chart as the starter on one side. Israel Troupe and Rantavious Wooten are listed as possible starters on the other.

*Kentucky hasn’t won at Sanford Stadium since 1977, when Prince Charles was in attendance.

*Bowl tickets go on sale online today for William C. Hartman Fund contributors.