Georgia practiced Sunday, but instead of the turf field at Jacksonville University, the Bulldogs practiced on the carpet of the Grand Ballroom at The Omni Hotel. After the breakfast tables were cleared, of course.
A driving rainstorm Sunday morning canceled the Bulldogs’ scheduled practice outdoors. So they improvised. The defense conducted a “walk-through” practice first in the expansive room while the offense met and vice versa, then special teams took a turn, but without any kicking. They were supposed to do conditioning, but coach Mark Richt said the circumstances may have been “a blessing” that they couldn’t.
So that represented the 10th of 12 practices Georgia will hold before Wednesday’s Gator Bowl matchup against Nebraska. The NCAA allows 15.
“We went through the entire script,” Richt said. “… We were going to have two dress-rehearsal practices anyway. We’ll get on the grass and throw and catch tomorrow. I think we’ll be good. Sometimes it’s a blessing because we’ve been pushing them hard. Maybe they needed a break. I’m going to take it as that.”
Richt didn’t feel like the Bulldogs were losing a great deal in terms of preparation. Sunday’s workout was scheduled to be a walk-through such as they conduct on Thursdays of regular game weeks anyway. It will be the same for Monday’s practice as well, though the Bulldogs intend to add “some throwing and catching.”
Meanwhile, Nebraska simply postponed its scheduled Sunday practice and were able to get it in later in the afternoon after the rain moved out of the area. But the Cornhuskers have had issues of their own. They pulled up stakes at the University of North Florida because of poor field conditions and are now practicing at a youth football complex in the suburbs north of the city.
According to reporters who cover Nebraska, the Cornhuskers have also limited their practice sessions, mainly because of injury issues. Similar to Georgia, they have had seven offensive players miss a combined 29 games because of injuries, including starting quarterback Taylor Martinez, who will not play Wednesday. So it doesn’t appear Nebraska is getting an edge in the preparation department.
Redshirt for Marshall? It's unlikely to happen, but offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said the Bulldogs would consider redshirting tailback Keith Marshall next season if he is not adequately recovered from double-knee surgery.
Marshall had an ACL reconstruction on his right knee, injured Oct. 12 against Tennessee, and another more minor procedure on his left knee Nov. 12. He’s slated to return to action in preseason camp next summer, but that’s providing there are no setbacks.
Meanwhile, in addition to Todd Gurley, Brendan Douglas and J.J. Green, the Bulldogs are expected to add five-star commitments Nick Chubb and Sony Michel to the tailback position in the 2014 recruiting class.
“Obviously there could be a case where you might redshirt somebody because they’re injured and not full speed,” Bobo said. “You don’t want to waste a year. But you’re never going to make a decision on a kid early in the season or fall camp or even Game 1 to Game 2. It might be Game 6 or 7 when you need those guys.”
Players sick: Several Georgia offensive players, including Gurley and linemen David Andrews and Greg Pyke, were sick Sunday and missed the walk-through. But it does not appear to be a situation that will impact Wednesday's game.
“(Team trainer Ron Courson) thinks it’s just a 24-hour bug kind of thing,” Richt said. “Hutson (Mason) was going through it a couple of days ago, but he practiced through it. They’ll be all right.”
He said it: "He ain't afraid. He'll come attack you and hit you. Good thing there were no officials there for targeting rules, so we'll work on that." — Grantham on how freshman Tramel Terry has looked since moving from wideout to safety
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