Georgia football coach Mark Richt continues to send zingers Alabama's way this week.
Richt walked into his postpractice session with reporters on Wednesday wearing a black Bermuda hat and a black Georgia long-sleeved shirt before the talk turned to Saturday's blackout game.
"I'm going to a funeral,"
Richt said with a smile. "I shouldn't have said that."
The comment was a reference to a video that Georgia fans have taken note of on the Internet. It shows an Alabama strength coach telling players at practice - with an expletive for added emphasis - that the blackout is being held because Georgia is going to its own funeral.
Asked about the video, Richt said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
He had more.
Later when he was asked about Crimson Tide punt returner Javier Arenas, Richt said: "He's very good. Have you seen his highlights?"
That came after Arenas was asked this week about Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno.
"What about it,"
Arenas told the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertister. "Have you seen some of my highlights?"
Ellerbe welcomes physical Tide
Georgia's leading tackler last season is itching for a breakout game this season.
Alabama, the top rushing team in the Southeastern Conference, offers a welcome change of pace for linebacker Dannell Ellerbe from all of those spread and pass-first offenses the Bulldogs have faced.
"This is my type of football - downhill, a hard-physical game, not too much east-west,"
Ellerbe said.
Ellerbe is tied for sixth on the Bulldogs with 12 tackles. That's a far cry from the 93 he had in 13 games last season.
"I ain't playing bad,"
Ellerbe said. "I haven't missed a tackle all year. It's just the scheme."
Ellerbe and coach Richt said spread offenses don't offer as many tackle opportunities for middle linebackers like Ellerbe, who also got snaps at weakside linebacker last year.
Richt said he wouldn't be surprised to see Ellerbe get more tackles this week.
"I think it's hard for middle linebackers to make a lot of tackles when teams are in the spread system,"
Richt said. "The majority of the game is out and about. Catch it and sling it out there. There's a few crossing routes that a linebacker will get his teeth into but for the most part, most of the game is played outside of the box. That's part of the reason they spread it. They want to get guys out into space."
Added Ellerbe: "I guess I'm getting game planned and doubled-teamed a lot, but you've just got to go with it. If they double-team me, it opens up plays for other players."
Linebackers Rennie Curran and Darryl Gamble are 1-2 on Georgia in tackles with 29 and 15.
Blackout won't include black helmets
Georgia broke out black jerseys for last year's blackout.
Richt was asked if this blackout will have a new twist like black helmets.
"Come on, man,"
Richt pleaded. "Why are you doing that to me? There won't be any black helmets."
This and that
After no starter on the offensive line was in the same position as the week before against Arizona State, Richt said he expects the starting lineup to remain the same this week as it was against Arizona State: left tackle Vince Vance, left guard Chris Davis, center Ben Jones, right guard Clint Boling and right tackle Justin Anderson. ... Fullback Brannan Southerland, returning from foot surgery, will serve as the personal punt protector against Alabama and also work on the extra-point and field-goal team. "You don't have to run too much there, hopefully,"
Richt said. ... Georgia is ranked No. 9 in the initial Scout.com team rankings for the 2009 class. The Bulldogs have 14 total commitments, including four of Scout's top-100 prospects.
