With Tripp Chandler out for a few games and Bruce Figgins contemplating surgery the tight end position may seem like a weak spot for Georgia going into Saturday against Tennesee.

Not so, head coach Mark Richt said in his press conference Tuesday.

“[Redshirt freshman] Aron White is actually, I guess, taken the bull by the horns, whatever you want to say, he’s seizing the opportunity,” Richt said. “He’s blocking better than he’s ever blocked, he’s got more energy than he’s ever had. When you’re third-string you’ve got a certain mentality, it’s hard to have that eye of the tiger or whatever you want to call it.”

Richt added that there’s a “very good chance” that Figgins will play, and that he’s happy with the progress of former offensive lineman Kiante Tripp’s conversion to full-time tight end in practice.

“He’s not taking any reps at tackle right now,” Richt said. “He’s in the tight ends meeting, he’s getting the tight end reps, he’s a capable blocker and he actually has very good hands.”

Richt did ‘poor job’ with penalties

With 53 penalties for 437 yards so far this season, flags have undoubtedly become a problem for the Bulldogs. But Richt has changed his approach in an attempt to reduced the amount of yellow on the field when his team plays.

“I’m wearing them out. I’m wearing them out physically for the penalties. The team and individually,” Richt said with a suddenly straight face.

“Before I was a little reluctant to make such a strong point that I was concerned about some aggressive play and all that kind of thing but my strategy and my thoughts were wrong.

“Penalties have not slowed down and have cost us some. I did a poor job on the front end.”

No explanation for all year’s injuries

Along with the penalty virus, the Bulldogs have suffered from the injury bug all season. The number of important injuries that Georgia has endured may seem unfair, but Richt couldn’t provide an answer Tuesday-even with the help of a Georgia legend.

“Sometimes there’s a certain injury that all of a sudden if you get five hamstrings in camp you’re like ‘something isn’t right’ and ‘we didn’t do this or that right.’ Then the next year you might do the same thing all summer long and nobody pulls a hamstring,” Richt said, before turning to former Georgia football coach and athletic director Vince Dooley, who was sitting in on the press conference, for an answer.

Dooley laughed, shook his head and smiled, saying, “They come in bunches.”

Right guard line’s biggest question

Richt said that Saturday’s starting offensive line “could be one of a couple things.”

He said the main question would be whether it would be redshirt sophomore Chris Davis or freshman Cordy Glenn starting at right guard against the Volunteers.

“Those guys are going to get better,” he said. “Their level of play should pick up more drastically than a guy that’s been around a while.”

- Tyler Estep