ATHENS — Georgia football was locked and loaded for full contact on Tuesday, the first full pads day of fall camp with an on-field heat index approaching 100.
UGA coach Kirby Smart explained during the offseason why he has the Bulldogs workout in the afternoons rather than in the cooler temperatures of mornings or evenings.
“Training camp is a grind and I think it’s important that it is that way, you create adversity in camp,” Smart said. “We practice almost every day with the exception of we have to give them a day off per week. But it’s a grind, and you go to the point of getting exhausted.
“You go from running 2,000, 3,000 yards a workout in the summer to possibly running 5,000, 6,000 in a practice.”
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The coaching intensity had seemingly picked up, with sharper tones from the coaches, and less margin for error permitted.
“We can do this all day until you get it right!” tight ends coach Todd Hartley barked at undersized freshman tight end Brett Seither as the 228-pounder looked to find the prescribed angle for attacking the blocking sled.
Smart is looking for precisely that sort of perfection and challenging tone from his staff.
“Challenge these young men in your organization or in your program,” Smart told DawgNation he said this summer, “because, if you don’t challenge these guys, I don’t know if there will be anybody else in this society who will.”
Practice 5 observations
— The ‘Great Wall’ lineup appears as expected, from left to right: Andrew Thomas, Solomon Kindley, Trey Hill, Ben Cleveland and Isaiah Wilson. Cade Mays is working at right guard and Jamaree Salyer is working at right tackle.
— Matt Landers moved ahead of Lawrence Cager at outside receiver in drills, an indication the competition to take J.J. Holloman’s job is hot.
— The other starting wide receivers were Tyler Simmons and Demetris Robertson, with Charlie Woerner at tight end. Working with the twos at receivers along with Cager were Kearis Jackson, Trey Blount and John FitzPatrick at tight end
— The current No. 1s in the back seven for UGA: Cornerbacks Tyson Campbell and Eric Stokes, safeties J.R. Reed and Richard LeCounte. Linebackers Monty Rice, Tae Crowder and Azeez Ojulari.
— Tailback Zamir White is no longer wearing a knee brace
— Kenny McIntosh shows fluid movement and cuts
— Kearis Jackson made a one-handed TD catch
— James Cook continues to take snaps in the Wildcat package at the open media portion of practice. Mecole Hardman held that role last season.
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