Dawgs Ready To Bite The Tide
2008-09-25 10:04:27.0
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ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - Wonder what Knowshon Moreno will do this
week.
Leap over the hedges at Sanford Stadium? Soar through the
uprights?
The Georgia running back has turned real life into something out
of a video game, pulling off one spectacular move after another for
the No. 3 Bulldogs. If he keeps this up, the highlight film at the
end of the season will be nothing but No. 24.
Against Central Michigan, Moreno hurdled a defender to pick up a
few extra yards. Last week at Arizona State, he soared through the
air as though he wanted to fly at the end of a 9-yard touchdown
run. Next up, he leads Georgia (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference)
against No. 8 Alabama (4-0, 1-0).
Coach Mark Richt knew Moreno was something special as soon as he
watched him in high school.
"Most high school tapes are pretty bland," Richt said.
"You're just watching the film. There's no commentator, no sound.
But every once in a while, a personality jumps off the screen. He
was of those guys you knew loved to play the game. He played with
high energy. He had some flair to him. He wasn't a showboat. He
just was what he is. He gets excited about playing the game."
The Bulldogs are equally excited to have Moreno on their side.
He's already rushed for 455 yards - averaging 6.6 yards a carry
- and scored nine touchdowns. Project those numbers over the course
of a full 12-game season and Moreno finishes with 1,365 yards and
27 TDs, likely good enough to get him in the mix for Heisman Trophy
consideration.
But he knows the toughest part of the schedule is still left,
beginning with an Alabama defense allowing just 55 yards per game
on the ground.
"It's going to be a challenge," Moreno said. "They have some
big linebackers and some big defensive linemen that can really move
around and make plays."
He certainly has no idea what he might do this week.
How about a back flip into the end zone?
"I don't know, man," Moreno said. "Just let the game come to
you, really. That's what you've got to do as a back. Just take what
you can get."
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PRACTICE BLACKOUT: Georgia's uniforms weren't the only thing
getting blacked out this week.
Coach Mark Richt also closed practice to the media, just as he
did a year ago before the Bulldogs' game against Alabama.
A coincidence? Unlikely.
Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban is a protege of New England's Bill
Belichick, who was caught illegally taping opponents in the NFL.
And Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searels once worked for
Saban at LSU.
"It worked last year," Richt said with a sly grin. "We just
thought we'd try it again this year."
Even under normal circumstances, Georgia reveals very little
during its practice sessions. The media is normally allowed on the
field for only a short period near the start of workouts, when the
main information that can be gleaned is who might be injured or
what position someone is playing.
Asked about practice being closed, cornerback Asher Allen said,
"That just means we've got some serious focusing going on. We
ain't playin'."
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STAFFORD-NO PICKS: Quarterback Matthew Stafford quickly searched
for a wooden table to tap when someone mentioned he has yet to
throw an interception this season.
Quite a change from his freshman year.
In 2006, Stafford got a rough introduction to the college game
with 13 interceptions and only seven touchdown passes. But his
numbers flipped as a sophomore (19 TDs, 10 INTs), and he's yet to
be picked off this season.
Stafford has completed nearly 61 percent of his throws for 919
yards and five touchdowns.
"It's good not to turn the ball over," he said. "Obviously, I
still have room for improvement. I'm missing some throws I wish I
could have back. But overall, I feel like I'm playing pretty
well."
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GULLY'S CHANCE: Andrew Gully couldn't believe it. He actually
got on the field with the outcome of the game still in doubt.
Georgia's senior defensive end got the first significant playing
time of his career in the 27-10 victory over Arizona State. He made
two tackles and was credited with a half-sack.
"It's definitely awesome," he said. "Last week was the first
week that I've ever been in the game when we were still in the mix
of things. It was exciting to get to go in. That first play, I was
pretty nervous. The stadium got silent and I was just watching the
guy I was supposed to attack. Once the first ball was snapped, I
just relaxed and played."
Gully decided to walk on at Georgia, even though he faced long
odds of ever playing much. He appeared in three games the last two
years, always with the outcome long since decided.
"I always liked the Dogs," he said. "I wanted to go to a big
school. Then, one of my friends said, 'You should try to walk on.'
The first year was rough learning all the techniques, but I've
caught on and was able to help the team a little bit."
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DOG BYTES: Fullback Brannan Southerland, coming back from a
broken foot, will likely make his first appearance of the season
against Tennessee on Oct. 11. ... University police warned fans
that high-quality counterfeit tickets could be on the market for
Saturday's game. Chief Jimmy Williamson said authorities were
alerted that crooks circulated hundreds of fake tickets before and
during last week's LSU-Auburn game, and they could be on their way
to Athens.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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