Redshirt freshman Bacarri Rambo ‘works with first team’ defense
August 20, 2009 by TYLER ESTEP
Filed under Sports
With Georgia upperclassmen Reshad Jones and Quintin Banks out with injuries, redshirt freshman Bacarri Rambo is getting a lot of No. 1 snaps at strong safety.
It’s quite a transition for a young kid that has yet to see real game action in a college football game, especially at a position that’s highly demanding in intelligence.
“It’s been a great thing because I get a chance to work with the first team and see how fast they go and learn what their playing style is,” he said.
Though Jones (day-to-day with a hamstring) and Banks (out for a few more weeks with a knee injury), as well as free safety Bryan Evans (hamstring), are all limited in practice, they’re still out there helping Rambo and Makiri Pugh, another redshirt freshman seeing more reps at safety.
“I talk to them boys every day,” Rambo said. “They help me with techniques and how to do this and how to do that. Especially Q. Banks, he calls me to the side after every play.”
The ball skills and athleticism are undeniable in Rambo and Pugh. But the knowledge is still being developed, and with that will come smarter plays and bigger hits.
“The toughness is coming,” said coach Mark Richt. “I don’t think it’s a matter of the guys not wanting to strike, I think they’ll strike better when they better understand exactly what they’re doing and gain confidence in what they’re doing.”
Added Evans: “Rambo’s looking good. At times he has better days than others. As he will mature, he’ll get more consistent. But he’s doing well.”
All three of Georgia’s veteran safeties are likely to be back when the Bulldogs start the season Sept. 5 in Stillwater, Okla. But, as Richt pointed out after Wednesday’s practice, a midday game is going to require a lot of depth at every position.
“I have a lot to improve on, but by the time the game comes I think that I’ll be ready,” he said. “If one of them goes down it will be my opportunity to step up; I know it’s my chance to get up and play. But I think those guys will be ready to go … Whether it’s staying in the film room all night or reading my playbook all night, I just want to do whatever I’ve got to do.”
Geathers still coming into form
Kwame Geathers is still getting in shape. The freshman defensive tackle came to camp late after finally being cleared by the NCAA, and was thrown right into the mix with guys that had been conditioning since June.
“It’s tough. It’s real tough,” Geathers said Wednesday. “I’m trying to run after practice and stay in good shape, eat the right things. But we’ll see how it goes in the end.”
Defensive line coach Rodney Garner said Wednesday that Geathers was not in the right kind of shape.
“He missed all summer, and everyone else was here from June or July,” said senior tackle Jeff Owens. “That takes a toll on him but I think he’s doing a good job and I’m very proud of him.”
Center sprains ankle
Sophomore center Ben Jones sprained his ankle in Wednesday’s practice, and will be day-to-day. X-rays were negative.
