UGA notebook: Green's return opens up offense

"When you start seeing coverages you haven't seen before," Richt said, "you know it's because of A.J."

The Bulldogs have scored 111 points in the three games since Green returned, compared to 42 in their three preceding games.

Green has caught 16 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns in his three games -- and could have caught a couple more against Vanderbilt.

"I had, like, two drops. After that, I was, like, ‘Man, I got to get back on the JUGS [passing machine]," Green said. "I took my eyes off. I was getting a little too cocky, thinking ‘turn upfield.'"

Green said he caught "at least 100″ balls off the JUGS machine after practice Tuesday night.

Green's catches haven't been the only impact of his return to the lineup. Just as significantly, opponents' efforts to defend him have opened up other aspects of the Georgia offense.

"Defenses have to roll coverage his way," wide receiver Kris Durham said. "You can't allow him to have one-on-one coverage because of the playmaker he is. I've seen when I'm running routes the safeties are running away from me just because they have to run to his side. It's opened up windows for me and Tavarres [King] and other receivers, and at the same time it's opened up our running game."

Said quarterback Aaron Murray: "When you've got safeties respecting A.J. so much and playing deep, that's one or two less guys in the box for run support. So that opens up [the run game], and the other receivers are stepping up when A.J. gets double-teamed."

Richt on Murray

Seven games into the season, here's Richt's review of Murray's play at quarterback:

"The surprising thing for me is how many plays he has made running the ball. I knew he was mobile and would bide time moving around the pocket, and I thought he would run for a first down every once in a while. But I didn't think he would be able to make the kinds of plays he's been making. His speed has been impressive. Not that he's running away from everybody, but he's not getting run down in a hurry either.

"The other thing is his ability to take some shots. He's taken, I thought, some pretty brutal licks, and he's stood up to that pretty good. ... I think his accuracy is improving. It's one thing to complete balls; it's another to hit people on the move. I think he's begun to hit people on the move a whole lot better."

Etc.

Georgia had a physical practice Tuesday, similar to the past two weeks. "It's a 'bloody Tuesday' every Tuesday from here on out," Green said. "It's physical, man, every play." ... The Bulldogs' back-to-back wins caught the attention of South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, who said during his weekly news conference in Columbia: "They looked like the best team in the SEC last week and maybe the week before. They got their act together." ... Cornerback/punt returner Branden Smith, who missed the past two games because of a concussion, did not practice Tuesday and is unlikely to play Saturday at Kentucky.