One good thing about a month off between the SECCG and the bowl game is that there’s enough time passing to allow for a return of the walking wounded.
Kirby Smart met with reporters on Monday for the first time since the SEC Championship game where he revealed that multiple UGA players have benefited from a couple of weeks off to heal.
Sophomore inside linebacker Monty Rice has practiced the past couple of days and should be ready for the Sugar Bowl. Freshman offensive lineman Cade Mays is practicing and is “good to go.” while redshirt sophomore Ben Cleveland has improved a great deal from where he was two weeks ago in his comeback from a leg injury.
Rice suffered a foot injury during the pre-game warmup prior to UMass in November. He missed that game, Georgia Tech, and Alabama in the SEC Championship game. He also missed the Missouri game earlier this season with a knee injury. It looked as if he might give it a go in the SEC title game. He warmed up with the team as a second-team inside linebacker but he didn’t appear in the 35-28 loss. Despite missing four contests this season, Rice is still Georgia’s second-leading tackler with 59 starts.
All good there. So is this: “Senior outside linebacker D’Andre Walker, who missed the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship game against Alabama, should be good to go for the Sugar Bowl.”
Too bad they won’t get David Marshall back in time.
No Rice and no Walker for sure really, really, hurt the 4th Quarter.
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I was about to post the same thing. Losing Walker in particular was a huge reason why we lost. I doubt Hurts rolls out to his right as easily with Walker in there.
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You are correct sir
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I don’t recall hearing how he got hurt. It’s not unheard of for Bama to take cheap shots when they are behind. Thinking of 2012 and Marray getting crushed by a “blocker” going uncalled. If that were today he’d be out with concussion protocol.
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Excellent! All hands on deck. Let’s put the beat down on Texas and carry that momentum into next season.
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Odd thing with Cleveland was he traveled to FU, Kentucky, and Atlanta but wasn’t used. In the last quarter and a half of the SECCG I was surprised Big Ben wasn’t used when the OL was getting manhandled. Not questioning the judgement regarding his health but why did we give up a spot on the traveling squad if he couldn’t contribute?
Agree with DD, the loss of Walker in the 4th quarter may have been the difference against Bama. Timing really sucked for him, and the team on that injury. Also, Tua getting hurt may have cost us too, no way Saban pulls him for Hurts if he had a choice at that point, imo.
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Ben played on special teams in the SECC.
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Knowing Walker was out, probably played a huge part of the fake punt decision.
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