Georgia open practice observations: The non-quarterback edition

ATHENS — Georgia held a rare open practice Saturday, coinciding with “Fan Day” – and that has to be put in quotes, because fans (and media) were asked not to take photos or videos. The media also was asked not to tweet or live blog during the practice. But we did take dutiful notes.

My colleague Chip Towers watched the quarterbacks closely and handled that analysis. Yes, they merit a post by themselves. But there was plenty to be observed on the rest of the team, so here you go:

OFFENSE

• The requisite Nick Chubb analysis: He absorbed some hits with no apparent problem. But there was no tackling to the ground in this practice. So that’s presumably the next test, but once again Chubb looks on track. He made some cuts during 11-on-11 drills, and didn’t appear tentative or limited in any way at all … at least when he was in there. Chubb didn’t get many snaps at all during 11-on-11s at the tail end of practice.
• Elijah Holyfield got a lot of carries, and had a few good runs during 11-on-11 drills. The first was during a non-tackling drill, as the freshman went off right tackle, then reversed field and went all the way down the left side. The next saw him go to the right sideline, avoid tackles, then cut upfield and get free down the middle.
• Still, it did appear Brendan Douglas was running second team behind Chubb. This shouldn’t be a surprise, and while there’s time for Holyfield or Tae Crowder to move past him, if a game were held now Douglas would be the next guy in. (Unless Sony Michel is healthy enough.)
• Isaiah McKenzie got more than a few touches and had a big run on an end-around.
• Michael Chigbu had a good day catching the ball. He seems very fundamentally sound, good route-running, good adjusting to ball flight, and catching.
• Tyler Simmons pulled in a long bomb from Jacob Eason during pass skeleton drills. (The play received loud cheers, probably for Eason’s throw, as any Eason throw elicited cheers on Saturday. But Simmons’ ability to stay with the ball and haul it in, inbounds no less, was just as cheer-worthy.) Simmons also hauled in a long pass on a sideline fly pattern during 11-on-11 drills.
• Simmons and Riley Ridley got a lot of snaps with the second team. Chigbu and Jayson Stanley seemed to be running mostly first team. There weren’t many balls thrown for Terry Godwin, which may just be a case of “we know what we he can do.”
• Michael Chigbu had a good day catching the ball. He seems very fundamentally sound, good route-running, good adjusting to ball flight, and catching.
• Javon Wims had a good catch in traffic in goal-line passing drills. Wims, listed at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, really does stand out in terms of size.
• The first-team line at the start of practice was indeed (left to right) Isaiah Wynn, Dyshon Sims, Brandon Kublanow, Lamont Gaillard and Greg Pyke. But then Tyler Catalina rotated in at left tackle, with Wynn shifting to left guard.

DEFENSE

• Defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter was present, running on the side, but was not participating in practice. That’s probably not the first time Ledbetter has been on the field this week. Smart told the AJC’s Jeff Schultz earlier this week that Ledbetter, while not on the current 105-man roster while receiving treatment, is allowed to suit up for practice and work out on the side, as he did Saturday.
• When a play was run up the middle, Trent Thompson always seemed to be there.
• Roquan Smith had some pretty good moments, including during 11-on-11 drills, when he barreled through into the backfield, knocking over a blocking back in the process.
• The first-team defensive line, minus the injured John Atkins: Trent Thompson (as usual), DaQuaan Hawkins (expected) and Julian Rochester (hmmmm.)
• Mecole Hardman showed good athleticism in going up and then twisting himself as he knocked a short goal-line pass away from Reggie Davis.
• The ball-hawking Dominick Sanders had an interception during 11-on-11s. Sanders hung back in double coverage when Eason made a poor decision on a deep throw.
• Reggie Carter would have had a sack or a strip (if hitting the QB was allowed) during 11-on-11 drills. The junior inside linebacker did a nice job of breaking through the left side to get to the quarterback. It’s only noteworthy because Carter, set to be the unofficial captain of the front seven, is known more as a smart, steady Jake Ganus/Amarlo Herrera/Akeem Dent type. But he showed on that play he’s capable of being a playmaker too.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Eason is the holder on place-kicks. I mention this not because I’m obligated to lead with Eason at every opportunity. It’s just to reiterate what I’ve been told for a while now: Eason is the best holder. Although at one point Brice Ramsey went in to hold and got a high snap, but grabbed it well enough that William Ham was able to make the field goal.
• Ham – who attempted every field goal this practice – had a good day in field-goal simulation at the end of practice. He missed his first one wide right, then made the next four, and six out of the next seven. He had good height on most of them, but also had a couple of line drives (one because of a bad snap) that went through.
• Lorenzo Carter appeared to be running second team, at least in the packages I saw, with Chuks Amaechi on first team. It may have meant nothing, but you never know.
•  But the special-teams star may have been Hardman, who blocked the final two field-goal attempts. That was actually one of the most impressive things seen at practice.
  

  OTHER OBSERVATIONS

• Kirby Smart is very active, and for a defensive guy spends a lot of time watching from the offensive backfield. Considering the quarterback dilemma, that’s probably a wise idea.
• Inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann wore long sleeves and sweat pants. It was 95 degrees. Glenn Schumann may not be 100 percent sane.
• Sony Michel (arm) and Shaquery Wilson (knee) were working out on the side, not participating in practice. Defensive lineman John Atkins (knee) was not seen, at least not by this reporter.
• Another injury note: Cornerback Shattle Fenteng was in uniform but not participating. He didn’t have any obvious injury.