Richt looking for strong running game to lead Dogs

ATHENS -- Georgia has a new starting quarterback and a new defense.

Those may be good reasons to embrace an old offensive philosophy.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray has never taken a snap in a game. No other current quarterback had taken a snap in a practice before this summer.

On defense, the Bulldogs have scrapped their four-man front for a new 3-4 scheme under new defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham.

That combination means Georgia will have to play some old-school football to win in the demanding Southeastern Conference.

"We must run the ball well this year," said coach Mark Richt.

A strong running game was the constant for Georgia in Vince Dooley's quarter-century as coach from 1964-88. Dooley won six SEC championships and the 1980 national title by keeping the ball on the ground with such backs as Herschel Walker, Rodney Hampton, Willie McClendon and Lars Tate.

Richt prefers a run-pass balance to a run-dominated attack, and junior receiver A.J. Green is the team's biggest star. Even so, there is good reason for the Bulldogs to run ball and take pressure off Murray and the defense.

Murray will be surrounded by 10 returning starters on offense, including three seniors and two juniors on the offensive line. Washaun Ealey and Caleb King are considered co-starters at tailback after sharing the carries the second half of last season. Senior fullback Shaun Chapas is a reliable blocker.

"I'd be very disappointed if we don't run the ball well, and if we do run the ball well it'll take pressure off Aaron or whoever is at quarterback," Richt said.

Georgia finished its 8-5 2009 season with an upset win at Georgia Tech before beating Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl. The encouraging finish was not enough to make up for a disappointing season filled with too many defensive lapses.

Richt fired defensive coordinator Willie Martinez and two other defensive assistants before the bowl game. Grantham was hired from the Dallas Cowboys staff.

Grantham has placed a fourth linebacker on the field. He also has added a new attack mentality to the unit.

"It's going to allow me to put more pressure," said Justin Houston, who has moved from defensive end to outside linebacker.

Houston led Georgia with 7.5 sacks as a sophomore last season. He expects even bigger numbers in the new scheme.

"In that other system I had to read and I couldn't always attack," Houston said. "In this system I'm attacking a lot more.

"It feels great knowing I basically have just one assignment, to attack. It's a lot of pressure off me. It's just one thing I've got to do. You can just focus on that one thing. If we do what coach Grantham tells us to do and we practice hard, we can make some great things happen."

Richt said he can understand fans' interest and excitement to see the new defense. He said that "extra little energy or whatever, that anticipation of something you're not sure of," has spread through the team.

"We're all intrigued by it," Richt said. "Our fans want to see it. I want to see it. Coach Grantham and our defensive staff and players, our offensive players, everybody is interested to see what it looks like."

Georgia lost two juniors - linebacker Rennie Curran and safety Reshad Jones - and its top three defensive tackles from last season.

Junior DeAngelo Tyson is expected to start at nose tackle. Inside linebacker Akeem Dent could return for the Sept. 4 opener against Louisiana-Lafayette after having toe surgery in late July.

The Bulldogs boast perhaps the nation's top pair of kickers. Drew Butler won the 2009 Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter. Blair Walsh was a Lou Groza Award finalist after making 20 of his 22 field-goal attempts.

Georgia also has a strong return game. Brandon Boykin set the SEC record last year with three kickoff returns for touchdowns.

Murray will follow David Greene, a four-year starter, and Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL draft, as the third freshman to start at Georgia.

"Those two guys definitely did a tremendous job at quarterback here at Georgia," Murray said. "My goal is just to go out there and be me. I can't be David Greene. I can't be Stafford. I can only be Aaron Murray. I can take a couple of pointers from David and from Stafford and hopefully implement them into my game. I've just got to go out there and be me and have fun and get the ball to my playmakers."

Murray, who sat out as a redshirt last year, is joined by true freshman Hutson Mason and freshman walk-ons Parker Welch and Greg Bingham at quarterback.

Logan Gray, a junior who was the backup to 2009 senior starter Joe Cox, moved to receiver after Murray was named the starter at the end of spring practice. Richt said Gray could move back to quarterback if necessary.

Richt has been upbeat in his early reviews of his team.

"I like the look of this team, I really do," he said. "I like how the coaches have been preparing ... I like how we've been recruiting. I like a lot of things right now."

He said the first week of practice was "very, very good."

"We've been very fortunate on injuries with nothing more than bumps and bruises," he said. "There's a really good feeling surrounding this team. It has a good mental edge to it."

The 2010 Georgia Bulldogs:

-- COACH: Mark Richt, 10th season, 90-27 career record.

-- LAST YEAR: 8-5 overall, 4-4 Southeastern Conference (tied for second in Eastern Division); defeated Texas A&M 44-20 in the Independence Bowl.

-- OFFENSE: Richt says redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray has the "it" factor to be a star. But Richt also says Murray will have to grow into the starting role. Murray has never taken a snap in a game, and yet he is the most experienced quarterback on the roster. A true freshman, Hutson Mason, could be the top backup. Junior Logan Gray has moved to receiver but could return to quarterback in an emergency. Murray has the advantage of passing to A.J. Green, one of the nation's top receivers, while being protected by an offensive line that returns all five starters. Georgia Washaun Ealey and Caleb King are considered co-starters at tailback. Aron White, who had two touchdown catches in the Independence Bowl, and Orson Charles head a deep list of tight ends.

-- DEFENSE: Defensive line coach Rodney Garner is the only returning assistant on defense. Richt hired Todd Grantham from the Dallas Cowboys to install a 3-4 scheme, and players are excited that they'll be unleashed in a more aggressive, attacking mode. A big question is who will start at nose tackle after Georgia lost its top three interior defensive linemen; one possibility is DeAngelo Tyson. Justin Houston moves from end to outside linebacker in the new scheme. He led Georgia with 7.5 sacks as a sophomore, despite playing in only 10 games. Linebacker Akeem Dent could miss the opener as he recovers from a toe injury. Junior linebacker Marcus Dowtin had 57 tackles last season, the most of any returning player. Georgia lost three starters in the secondary. Junior Brandon Boykin and sophomore Branden Smith could start at cornerback with sophomore safety Bacarri Rambo.

-- SPECIAL TEAMS: Georgia may boast the nation's top duo of kicking specialists. Drew Butler won the 2009 Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter and Blair Walsh was a Lou Groza Award finalist after making 20 of his 22 field-goal attempts. Boykin set the SEC record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns. Butler, Walsh and Boykin are juniors.

-- KEY LOSSES: DT Geno Atkins, QB Joe Cox, LB Rennie Curran, S Bryan Evans, S Reshad Jones, CB Prince Miller, DT Jeff Owens, OL Vince Vance, DT Kade Weston.

-- OPENER: Sept. 4 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

-- OTHER PIVOTAL GAMES: Sept. 11 at South Carolina, Sept. 18 vs. Arkansas, Oct. 30 vs. Florida in Jacksonville, Nov. 13 at Auburn, Nov. 27 vs. Georgia Tech.

-- OUTLOOK: Georgia's biggest unknowns are how Murray will handle the starting role and how long it will take the defense to adjust to the new scheme. Those are very big questions, but there are more reasons to be excited about the season. A veteran offensive line, standout kicking specialists, good talent and great depth at tight end, one of the nation's top receivers in Green and a solid tandem of running backs are reasons to think the Bulldogs will improve on last year's win total.