That Georgia’s 51-14 opening victory over the University of Louisiana-Monroe was shortened by dicey weather hardly dampened the spirits of punter Collin Barber.
The senior from Cartersville averaged 44 yards on four attempts with a long of 50, and none of his punts were returned. He also had four of his six kickoffs go for touchbacks.
“There is not a doubt in my mind that we’re going to do some huge things on special teams this year,” Barber said.
Georgia was indeed special in football’s third phase during Saturday’s shellacking of the Warhawks. Reggie Davis had a 33-yard kickoff return and a 21-yard punt return, while ULM averaged just 15.5 on its four kickoff returns.
The Bulldogs blocked two ULM punts, with sophomore linebacker Lorenzo Carter setting up the first touchdown less than five minutes into the game and freshman linebacker D’Andre Walker producing a safety in the third quarter. Saturday marked the fifth time in school history Georgia has blocked two punts in the same game.
Marshall Morgan tied a school record with 184 career extra points after making all seven tries Saturday, but can the Bulldogs maintain what they’ve started?
“I hope so,” coach Mark Richt said Sunday afternoon. “Having an experienced kicker, punter and snapper helps, and that’s a good place to start. We’ve got some guys who have a lot of experience on special teams, whether protectors or guys who can cover kicks and things of that nature, but we also are working a lot of young guys who are very athletic and very hungry.
“We’re using the term ‘they like to hunt,’ so we hope it gets contagious and that we get better as we go. It was a good start.”
It was certainly a good start for Barber, who set a school record two years ago with a 42.6-yard net average but ranked last in the Southeastern Conference with a 36.3-yard net in 2014. His troubles last season stemmed from a pain in his lower back.
“I was hurting, and things didn’t work out,” Barber said. “I didn’t work like I should have and didn’t focus on what I needed to focus on, and that’s what happens when you think you’re good enough. I was dying to get back on that field and show that my hard work is going to pay off.
“I know this was only one game and that I can’t get too big-headed about it, but right now I feel like we have everything going for us.”
The Bulldogs play this week at Vanderbilt Stadium, which has become a house of horrors for Georgia’s special teams.
In Vandy’s 31-27 upset triumph two years ago, the Commodores faked a field goal for a touchdown and benefited from Damian Swann’s fumbled punt and a punt snap that sailed over Barber’s head. Georgia escaped Nashville 33-28 four years ago despite allowing Andre Hal’s 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and Drew Butler having a punt blocked in the game’s final minute.
Rankings, shmankings
The Bulldogs played three ranked teams (Clemson, South Carolina and LSU) before October in 2013 and two (Clemson and South Carolina) last season, but they likely won’t play a ranked team this year until the Oct. 3 visit from Alabama.
“I’ve never thought about that,” Richt said after Saturday’s game. “Who did Stanford play today? Northwestern, and they weren’t ranked. Anybody can beat anybody at any time, so we don’t think much about rankings this time of year.”
Odds and ends
Georgia opened Sunday afternoon as a 17-point favorite over Vanderbilt, but the line had jumped to 19.5 by Sunday night. Richt said starting left guard Isaiah Wynn would have played some tackle late in the game had it not been called. Redshirt sophomore tailback A.J. Turman sat out the opener with an ankle injury but should be available this week, Richt said.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.