- A pair of Georgia rookies are making noise on the defensive line.
Sixth-round draft pick Warren Brinson and undrafted rookie Nazir Stackhouse were roommates as freshmen at Georgia, played their entire college careers together with the Bulldogs, and now they’re still lining up next to each other in the trenches.
Getting work on the reserve defensive line units, both Brinson and Stackhouse have shown up, particularly against the run, clogging the middle or getting into the backfield to disrupt plays. Brinson also has flashed some pass rush, an area Stackhouse continues to work on after being primarily a run-stuffer in college.
“I gotta be prepared in those moments,” Stackhouse said of the adjustment. “When we’re doing two-minute, like I can’t just be lackadaisical on the sideline, I have to always be expecting coach to call my name because they’re not just asking me to stop the run here. They’re asking me to stop the run and do a little bit more on the defense.”
The two are certainly enjoying sharing a huddle again.
“It feels natural, honestly,” Brinson said of playing alongside Stackhouse. “I’m really happy that he came here.
“We push each other to be the best that we possibly can be. But that’s my brother. I never had a brother growing up, and then being roommates with Stackhouse was like having a brother.”
- Jordan Morgan is getting snaps at left tackle with the No. 1 offensive line now.
As indicated by offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich in his media session Wednesday, Morgan will be getting more left tackle reps now that interior veterans Elgton Jenkins and Aaron Banks are returning to a full workload following back injuries.
Thursday’s practice started with Rasheed Walker in his usual spot at left tackle with the first unit. But after the opening team periods, Morgan played there the rest of the workout, including in the final two-minute drill.
It’s taken a while for the competition at left tackle to really get going, due to Jenkins’ absence in the spring and then Jenkins’ and Banks’ back injuries. Morgan was playing a lot of guard as a result. But it appears to be on in earnest now.
- Mecole Hardman put his veteran savvy on display.
The new addition at receiver/returner won two impressive one-on-one reps by being somewhat sneaky about his breakaway speed.
First, against cornerback Kalen King, Hardman began his route upfield, sold the go with a brief acceleration to top speed, and then abruptly broke it off as soon as King committed to going deep. He caught the comeback with ease.
Then later against Javon Bullard from the slot, he was on cruise control as he bent his route inside and curled back to the outside. Bullard was right with him until Hardman kicked it into high gear to get the separation needed.
Toward the end of practice in two-minute, Hardman gave the No. 1 offense a chance by converting on third-and-10 with a 20-plus yard grab over the middle on which he sat down in front of the deep zone.
- The defense held on both two-minute drives.
On a pair of two-minute situations, the offense was in a tough spot, needing to go 65 yards for a touchdown in less than 1 minute, 40 seconds with no timeouts. The defense actually changed things up, too, with the No. 2 D-line facing the first offense and the No. 1 D-line going against the second offense.
Love got the starting offense inside the opposing 40-yard line but ran out of time and had to just heave one downfield on the final snap. Valentine intercepted Willis on a deep seam ball on which tight end Ben Sims wasn’t on the same page as his QB. It was Valentine’s third INT of camp.
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