Georgia prepares for Tech’s option

Athens — Georgia began preparing for Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense Wednesday, with Bacarri Rambo playing the role of Josh Nesbitt.

Rambo, a freshman safety who is being redshirted this season, quarterbacked the Georgia scout team as it simulated the Nesbitt-quarterbacked Tech offense in practice.

The Nesbitt role came naturally to Rambo, he said, because of his four years as an option quarterback at Seminole County High School.

“We ran the same plays” Tech runs, he said.

Georgia plays Tech on Nov. 29 in Sanford Stadium.

Rambo has been Georgia’s scout-team quarterback several other times this season. He played the part of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, Kentucky quarterback Randall Cobb, Auburn quarterback Kodi Burns and Vanderbilt quarterback MacKenzi Adams as Georgia prepared to face those teams.

“I do it because it’s fun,” Rambo said.

He said it also gives him a sense of satisfaction during his redshirt season to help the defense prepare for the next opponent.

Although recruited to Georgia as a defensive player, Rambo had impressive statistics as an option quarterback in high school, rushing for 1,186 yards and passing for 488 as a junior.

The key to stopping an option offense such as Tech’s, he said, “is for everybody to do their assignments. Do what the coaches tell you, and you’ll stop it.”

Historic territory for offensive stars

Georgia players lead the SEC in three major offensive categories — Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and A.J. Green in passing, rushing and receiving yards, respectively.

And if that is still the case at season’s end, it will be the first time in more than four decades that one team has had the league’s individual leaders in all three categories.

The last time it happened, according to the SEC, was 1966.

That year, Florida’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Steve Spurrier led the league in passing yards, while teammates Larry Smith and Richard Trapp led in rushing and receiving, respectively.

Etc.

Among those watching Georgia’s practice Wednesday were Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and New England Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli. … The Bulldogs will practice at 5:30 a.m. today because of academic conflicts later in the day, coach Mark Richt said. That’ll be the team’s last practice of the week. … Richt on President-elect Barack Obama’s desire for an eight-team college-football playoff: “I’d be all for it.” … Many Georgia players say they’ll watch tonight’s Tech-Miami game on ESPN in hopes of gleaning some insight into their next opponent. … With no game this weekend, players plan to scatter. Stafford said he’ll go home to Dallas. Linebacker Rennie Curran said he’ll go home to Gwinnett County and attend a high school football playoff game and a friend’s wedding. … Defensive tackle Jeff Owens, out since the season opener with a knee injury, said he remains undecided whether to return next year or enter the NFL draft.