Sports Page Atlanta

On a very rainy day in Athens the feeling was that people were not going to come out and support the UGA football team. But, at around two o’clock the fans came out of the wood work. Some were tailgating, but most showed up right on time. It is the largest turn out for a spring game that I have seen in the seven years that I have been attending the G-Day game, despite the weather.

With the eight minute quarters it was a short game, but we got a preview of what we are in store for this fall. Stafford looked solid going 6 for 10 with 78 yards and a touchdown. He had the poise and command that everyone has been talking about all year. At half-back Knowshon Moreno looked good, with his limited playing time. But, the buzz around the stadium was how well Caleb King would run the ball. He looked pretty smooth and made people miss. He had 6 carries for 31 yards and 2 receptions for 17 yards. King displayed his quick feet by making a man miss with a nifty spin move at mid-field. That move brought most of the fans to there feet and had most people feeling like we are going to have two special running backs. At receiver Israel Troupe and Michael Moore brought the people to their feet with their combined numbers of 5 receptions for 92 yards and a TD.

The defense looked pretty good. I got a chance to talk to defensive standout Dannell Ellerbe and asked him how the defense played and he responded with “I think the defense played an overall average ball game.” He was right on the mark with that comment. The defense didn’t look that bad and it didn’t look all that amazing it was just an average game. When I asked Ellerbe, in his eyes who stood out on the defensive side of the ball he said “that John Knox and Jarius Wynn were the two that played a good game.” John Knox had 4 tackles and one pick on the day while Jarius Wynn had four big tackles.

The day went well. I saw both intensity and desire out there. When I asked Dannell if he felt that he needed to step up and become a leader this year he said, “Of course I do, but it is not a new role for me because I was already a leader last year.” All in all it was a pretty solid day for the Dawgs and with veteran leaders like Dannell on the team, I am sure when practice starts back up at the end of the summer, he will help lead the team in recovering the same momentum and intensity that they played with last season.
photo credit: popofatticus