Vance, Tripp do first-team work

ATHENS, Ga. — On Georgia’s first day of spring football practice, offensive line coach Stacy Searels was in midseason form.

“Should your elbows be like that?” Searels said to starting left tackle Trinton Sturdivant. “No, they shouldn’t. I want them in tight.”

Moments later, a walk-on became the victim when Searels yelled, “I don’t know what that is, but we don’t do that here! Do it again!”

A warmer than expected start to the first of 15 spring practices for the Bulldogs resulted in a lot of energy and an overall good day, according to head coach Mark Richt. The Bulldogs worked out for nearly two hours and will practice again Wednesday through Friday before the university goes on spring break.

Georgia returns 17 of 22 starters from a team that went 11-2 and finished No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, and two of the five openings are in the offensive line — at left guard, where Vince Vance worked Monday ahead of Chris Little in the four periods open to the media, and at right tackle, where former defensive end Kiante Tripp worked ahead of walk-on John Potts.

Chris Davis was the starting left guard last season as a redshirt freshman but has begun spring as the top center.

“I prefer whatever would help this team,” Davis said. “I know that’s cliche, but it’s how I feel in my heart. I have no problem playing it. Having the ball in my hands is something I’ve always liked to do.”

That Davis could even comment Monday was somewhat of a mini surprise. Searels doesn’t grant interviews to the media and originally wanted all of his linemen off limits this spring before making the 6-foot-4, 292-pounder available.

Rodney Garner, who was the starting right guard on Auburn’s 1987 Southeastern Conference championship team when Searels was the starting right tackle, said Searels stays quiet because he’s used to that. Georgia hired Searels, a former Trion High School star, in January 2007 out of LSU, where he had worked for Nick Saban and Les Miles.

“I think that comes from working where he was working, because they wouldn’t allow it,” Garner said.

Davis was available for interviews last year until Searels restricted him for making comments on how Ben Jones would be used this year. Jones, a freshman, worked behind Davis on Monday.

“There is a lot of pressure,” Davis said of being the line’s spokesman.

Whether Davis stays at center or moves back to guard to make room for Jones, Georgia will be dealing with someone significantly younger than normal making the snap to quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Bulldogs have had five senior centers in Richt’s first seven seasons, including each of the past three with Russ Tanner (2005), Nick Jones (2006) and Fernando Velasco (2007).

“I think we’ll have an idea of who it’s going to be,” Stafford said. “I think we’ll find who we need to get in there and that it will work itself out. I don’t think it’s a huge deal.”

Said Richt: “You just have to have a guy who knows what he’s doing.”

Championship focus

Richt already has answered his share of questions concerning the potential of a title run in 2008, and he was jokingly asked Monday night if his team practiced like a national champion.

“We have a new saying here at Georgia,” he said. “It’s called focusing on the moment. That’s what we are doing, starting with our stretching.”

Odds and ends

Stafford has completed 52.7 and 55.4 percent of his passes his first two seasons but is shooting for a minimum goal of 62 percent as a junior. ... Redshirt freshman Aron White is wearing jersey No. 81, which was previously worn by fellow tight end NaDerris Ward, who recently left the program. ... Redshirt freshman running back Caleb King wore No. 22 last year but is now in No. 4.