College Football News: UGA’s First Padded Practice, GSU Eager For Full Pads, GT Going From 3-4 to 4-3 Defense

Aug 1, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt shown during practice at the University of Georgia. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

With each and every day college football season gets closer and closer. The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs had their first fully padded practice this morning, Georgia State head coach Trent Miles is excited for his fully padded day this Wednesday, and Matt Winkeljohn discusses the Georgia Tech defense.

Georgia

In Georgia’s first day of full pads the offense and defense were surprisingly closely matched. One would expect that incredible offense to roll over a comparatively inexperienced defense  but then again… full pads can get some hitters riled up. One of the highlights of the day–at least for head coach Mark Richt–was running back J.J. Green:

"Richt noted that the offense and the defense battled in 3-on-3 and team run competitions and the score was tied afterward. The offense then won the single-play tiebreaker, he said.“It was a very heated, intense competition, which was great,” Richt said. “It’s a great drill because it teaches the players to face the issue.”Richt said he was impressed in the 3-on-3 drills when tailback J.J. Green“hit it up in there pretty good, got on top of the pile, rolled over, landed on his feet and scored a touchdown. It was an impressive run.”The Bulldogs will continue their workouts with two practices on Tuesday. Georgia is slated to have its first scrimmage on Wednesday."

Georgia State

Head coach Trent Miles seems vaguely satisfied with the progress his team has made so far but is really just waiting for full pads to come out on Wednesday. A guy that GSU fans should keep their eyes early in the season is freshman wide receiver Robert Davis, who has impressed Miles as the only freshman at the position:

"“I saw guys flying around even better than yesterday, but I’m just waiting to get the pads on, when it really counts,” the Panthers’ first-year head coach said Sunday evening after practice. “This is like flag football. I’m ready to get the pads on and see who can really strike.“They’ve put two good days together back to back, but it’s easy to be good in just shorts and jerseys. Let’s see what it’s like when they get the pads on.”“We’ve got some kids in the freshman class who are really going to fight for playing time because they are talented. We’ve got a lot of talented young men.”Miles mentioned the wide receiver position, where the Panthers have just one freshman, Robert Davis of Warner Robins, Ga. (Northside High School). The 6-2, 190-pounder has caught the eye of senior wide receiver Albert Wilson.“He’s tall, fast, has good hands and runs good routes,” Wilson said of Davis. “I’m looking forward to seeing him in pads and seeing how physical he is with his size.”"

Georgia Tech

Like mentioned above the news out of Yellow Jacket camp is mainly about the team’s defense, which is undergoing a transition this year. The team will be going from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3–a change that head coach Paul Johnson says is “not rocket science”. Who couldn’t agree with that?

"The cornerstones: head coach Paul Johnson’s theory is that converting from a 3-4 to a 4-3 is not such a big deal; and seniorJeremiah Attaochu believes the Yellow Jackets have talent aplenty to D’ up.The senior has moved from outside linebacker to defensive end as new coordinator Ted Roof has continued the Yellow Jackets’ transition to the 4-3, although, really, that’s not much of a move. Attaochu is going to be doing much of what he was.“It’s not rocket science when you’re playing a 4-3,” said Johnson, who thinks the fuss about a 4-3 vs. a 3-4 is overwrought and silly. “We played a 4-3 the last six games of [2012].“Everybody talks about the new stuff, and it gives you something to talk about, but go back and look at how many times wasJeremiah Attaochu dropping [in coverage] last year? He was rushing the passer; he was lined up in the same spot [he will be as an end].”No, it’s not rocket science. Yet it doesn’t take a scientist to know that this ship isn’t going anywhere without fuel. Attaochu said that with eight returning starters on defense, and, “a lot of guys who could have helped us last year who redshirted,” Tech has the gas."