The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/6/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: FRANNIE FABIAN Knowshon Moreno does a drill while Fred Munzenmaier watches on the third day of preseason football practice.

Media Credit: FRANNIE FABIAN John Lilly, formerly of Florida State, and the Bulldogs new tight end coach talks to tight end Bryce Ros on the third day of pre season football practice Wednesday.

Media Credit: FRANNIE FABIAN Basic blocking drills

Media Credit: FRANNIE FABIAN Matthew Stafford (left) practices with Knowshon Moreno at the thrid day of pre season football camp Wednesday

Today was the team's first practice in shoulder pads, and coach Mark Richt started his post-practice presser off by sharing his excitement about his players' eagerness to already take it to the next level:

"It was the first day of shoulder pads, so we've got a little more tempo out there. One thing I like this team the most is having to reign them in a little bit. It's not time to tackle yet, it's not time for certain things yet...they really enjoy competition. And that's a good thing."

More praise for Stafford, Cox has a sore elbow

Richt, as well as Georgia teammates, continued to be impressed by junior quarterback Matthew Stafford so far in spring practice.

"Stafford's really been outstanding," he said. "Reading and throwing and just knowing what to do with it. He's really doing just a really fine job."

Stafford has said he's feeling like he's in the best shape of his Georgia career, if not his life, and it shows. He looks a lot leaner, and has impressed teammates.

"Us quarterbacks work out together in the summer, and this is the best I've seen him run and just the type of shape and conditioning since I've been here," backup Logan Gray said. "He looks good, he's weight's down, and he's been throwing the ball very well."

"I can tell. He looks more confident right now," senior receiver Kenneth Harris said. "He's throwing the ball real well. I feel like he dropped some wait, he's been doing real well in the pocket and seeing things a lot different."

On the other hand, backup QB Joe Cox is hurting a little, but it didn't seem to concern Richt.

"Joe Cox's elbow is a little sore, we held him out," was all he said.

Gray taking reps at punt returner, improving at QB

Punter Brian Mimbs told the Banner-Herald's Marc Weiszer Tuesday that speedy backup quarterback Logan Gray had been taking some punts in practice, and that he liked the results. Gray agreed on Wednesday.

"It's going pretty well. I'm playing a few different special teams positions, and I'm enjoying that, I'm just trying to get on the field anyway possible. And if I can just give it my all on special teams and help the team that'd be great."

Gray didn't make the initial offer, but was more than willing to do so.

"They kind of came to me in the summer and asked me if I'd like to do it and I said I'd love to."

Is it something he's done before?

"A little bit. I caught a few punts in high school. My coach didn't want to get me hurt or anything but definitely when I was younger and fooling around a little bit."

That said, Richt has also been impressed with Gray's performance behind center.

"Logan is progressing very well, I really like how Logan's progressing. He's a guy who looks confident in his assignments, a guy who continues to throw the ball with authority. And knowing who to throw it to, when to throw it."

"It's a learning process it seems at first," Gray said. "I feel like I'm starting to get a grasp, it's starting to come to me. I'm satisfied with how camp's been going so far but I just have to keep getting better and better as things go along."

Anderson an inconsistent world beater, Strickland moving on up

Guard Justin Anderson has been inconsistent on the offensive line, but Richt said he has still seen improvement in the redshirt freshman.

"He's been hot and cold. Some days he looks like a world beater, and then some days he looks like a very inconsistent guy. But he's much more consistent than even in the spring. He's improving. But you want a guy that's going to be very consistent."

Richt also said he was surprised by Tanner Strickland's performance, and that he's "pushing for a starting job at guard."

"Before we started we wouldn't have predicted him to compete the way he's competed. I'm not saying he's moved ahead of him, but he's kind of gotten into a competition with him, where before we were kind of like, 'Who knows with Tanner.' He's never competed as well as he is right now."

Walk-ons Boyd, Williams given scholarships

Richt announced that Benjamin Boyd, who has moved from linebacker to fullback, was awarded a scholarship Tuesday night, adding that Boyd "christened" himself as a fullback with a good block during Wednesday's practice.

Andrew Williams was also reawarded a scholarship as a sixth-year senior. He sees most of his action on special teams.

Even smaller tidbits: Richt also mentioned that Drew Butler has been punting the ball extremely well as compared to the spring, and that freshman receiver AJ Green "got out there and worked a little bit," but had limited reps.

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