Bulldogs’ results mixed in first scrimmage

ATHENS — Georgia held its first scrimmage of the spring Monday, and the results, according to head coach Mark Richt, were decidedly mixed.

Both the offense and defense were dominant at times, but neither unit handled adversity well.

“There were spurts. When things were going well on one side of the ball or another, they had enthusiasm," Richt said. “When they weren’t, they had their head down a little bit. They have to be able to recover from a bad play. We’ve got to be able to handle a little adversity when things don’t go just right.”

The beginning of the scrimmage was dominated by Georgia’s defense, which held the first-team offense to virtually nothing on the first six or seven plays, but freshman quarterback Aaron Murray and walk-on wide receiver Vernon Spellman hooked up for a 75-yard touchdown pass that turned the tide.

“It looked like they were going to stop them again on third-and-long, and (Murray) launched one out there that Spellman caught on the run for a touchdown,” Richt said. “Then it got pretty back-and-forth from that point. I would say we’ve got a long way to go yet.”

The sudden momentum shifts were a particular concern for Richt, who watched his team respond poorly to big runs by Alabama, Florida and Georgia Tech in losses last season. Richt said he addressed his team after practice Monday to ensure he got his message across and said it will now be up to the team’s leaders to respond with a strong performance in Tuesday’s practice session.

“We’ve got to understand things aren’t always going to go out way, and we’ve got to be able to recover right away and play ball,” Richt said. “I just didn’t see that.”

WAITING IN THE WINGS

The immediate goals are simple for Georgia defensive end Cornelius Washington.

“Right now it’s just to get healthy and get myself onto the field,” Washington said. “Everything else I think will fall into place.”

Confidence comes easily for the freshman pass rusher, who was a beast during his senior season at Burke County, when he racked up 55 tackles, six sacks and 18 tackles for loss. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Washington is slim, sleek and awfully fast, making him a difficult matchup for opposing offensive linemen.

His speed could have made him an impact freshman a year ago, but he was plagued by injuries. A shoulder injury has him sidelined still, keeping him out of spring practice and keeping fans waiting to get their first glimpse of the potential difference-maker in action.

More than making fans wait patiently for his debut, the injuries have forced Washington to be patient in his progress. His speed is a natural asset that could help him make an impact quickly, but the details that turn a talented player into a great one still must be developed.

“My speed helps, but there’s a lot of things that I have to get better, a lot of things I have to work on technique-wise,” Washington said. “I’m a freshman, and there’s still a whole lot of learning I have to do, but I’m ready to do whatever it takes.”

NO REST FOR THE WEARY

Georgia’s defensive ends took another hit Monday, when freshman Jeremy Longo suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out of most of the day’s scrimmage. Richt said he was unsure the severity of the injury immediately, but should Longo miss any significant time, Georgia will be down to just two healthy scholarship ends.

“By the time (the scrimmage) was over, (defensive tackle) Geno (Atkins) played a little D-end and Kade (Weston) played a little D-end,” Richt said. “So I’m not sure how we’ll proceed.”

MORE HURTS

Incoming freshman offensive lineman Austin Long underwent back surgery Monday and likely won’t be available to practice when he arrives at Georgia, possibly until December.

“I think we still plan on bringing him in at the normal time and being there to rehab him,” Richt said. “By the end of the season, maybe by bowl practice, he might could get some work and be ready for spring. If he gets a medical redshirt his true freshman year, he’ll still have four (seasons) to play.”