Got to see four periods during the second day of preseason practice. Interesting stuff all around…

* The safety unit is a close group, constantly chirping and talking it up. In one particular drill the group worked on technique and ball skills, and Reshad Jones was the class of the field. The drill called for a shuffle, skate and a back peddle. The defender would then have to break toward the quarterback, or go deep depending on the pass thrown. Jones had two excellent reps, with a good break toward the ball. A dropped interception would result in 12 push-ups, and when Bryan Evans wiffed on an easy pick, Jones let him know he had 12 to do. Head coach Mark Richt was watching the drill, and said, “This first game is a DB’s dream,” and, “we’re starting to look like something.” Redshirt freshman Bacarri Rambo was smooth, with soft hands, as Sanders Commings spent some time doing push-ups, missing two interceptions while I watched.

* The wide receivers were manuerving through a cone drill working on curl routes. Coach Tony Ball instructed them to drop their weight at he cone, so they could break back more quickly. Players were also criticized for letting their arms float. Freshman Marlon Brown made it through fairly well on his first attempt, but Rantavious Wooten had to re-do after a poor first effort. As always, A.J. Green should have won a medal for his performance, gliding through the cones as if to say, “give me something harder.”

* The offensive line worked on recovering fumbles, and believe me, there was no scoop and run. It was hard to ground, and covering them up. In another drill, the big guys shifted from left to right and then released in a full spring. Coach Stacey Searels instructed, “Full speed, good stance and stay tight.” The starting five looks to be Clint Boling, Cordy Glenn, Ben Jones, Vince Vance and Trinton Sturdivant. Yeah, get excited, because this is a major college football line.

* Running backs worked with the quarterbacks in the I-formation early in practice. There were no botched pitches, while the group worked on sweeps, but there was an interesting rotation. Freshman Washaun Ealey took reps ahead of Dontavius Jackson. Not sure what to read into that, but it looks like Ealey is moving up the depth chart.

* Defensive ends coach Jon Fabris let out a, “Wake Up” toward one of his players that gave me goosebumps. The man’s intense.