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June 7, 2008

Southerland's Foot is Stressing

Brannan Southerland, our 6-4 240 lbs. linebacker-wrecking machine, will likely miss the first several games of the season after having surgery Friday to repair a stress fracture in his foot. Ron Courson says it takes 16 weeks to fully recover which puts Southerland back in the lineup for the Bama game.

I'm trying to stay calm about this. I used to think we had too many fullbacks with Southerland, Munzenmaier, and Chapas. Now, we're down to one. Munzenmaier is suspended for the first two games because of booze and smart mouth. I'm not that concerned with Georgia Southern or Central Michigan, but Carolina is usually a physical, hard fought game, no matter the comparative talent levels of the two teams. Arizona State's defense doesn't have one of those LSU-like front sevens, filled with big, mean killers. In other words, I'd rather have Southerland out for the first four games rather than the heart of the conference schedule when we will need him to take on more physical defenders.

Both of the back-ups will need to play well in those first few games to open holes for Knowshon and Caleb. Munzenmaier and Chapas have played some, but they are no Brannan Southerland, a meast of the first order. I think after running with the ones in fall camp, one of those guys will be ready to step up. Honestly, I haven't been overly impressed with either of those guys so far, but maybe I'm just unfairly comparing them with Southerland.



Maybe we'll see more shotgun formations or two tailbacks?

Quinton

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Prime time to give Richard Samuel a shot at fullback!

Anonymous said...

To be honest...not a lot of them have been given a chance to shine. Chapas is a very good fullback and supposely just as good as Southerland when he was a R.SO.

Anonymous said...

He'll be back for the South Carolina game. Just encase his entire foot in cement and let him do his thang.

blackertai said...

I'm not too worried. The TD Machine will be back in good time, and Chapas has looked decent to me when given his shot. I think both Southerland's backups can develop into great FB's soon, considering their teacher.

Anonymous said...

Southerland is a proven commodity who will almost certainly play on Sundays, but I agree with others that Chapas and Fred haven't had as many opportunities to show what they can do. That said, we won't know until we buckle our chin straps in the fall.

Anonymous said...

I disagree that Chapas hasn't shown much. Certainly, he wasn't given the carries that Southerland was given. But, as the season wore on last year, Chapas got more and more playing time--and in some big situations. He'll be more than capable with an expanded role.

Anonymous said...

Channeling Vince Dooley...
I do not like this. To win the BCS a team needs to have some breaks go its way. This break certainly did not.

The missed time also means timing and conditioning will be delayed.

On top of that stress fractures are tricky suckers. 2 that close together is not a good omen for his future.

Anonymous said...

Chapas is real good. This isnt that big of a deal. And knowing Brannan, he will be back in fewer than 16 weeks.

Anonymous said...

I think this spells Caleb Moreno combo meal. Shotgun, early Richt FSU style it with AJ Greene. We have the horses.


Paid for by the Campaign to Blackout the Gators 09.

blackertai said...

Never happen. We can't blackout a stadium where it's split half and half.

Anonymous said...

blacking out Jacksonville is the lamest idea ever.

The Bama game will be the blackout.

Anonymous said...

Bama would be a hot blackout anonymous. The only way to counter the celebration Gator hate vibes is to blackout Jacksonville.


If you scured say you scared

Unknown said...

Clem91 game,

I personally think the blackout is the Tennessee game. But what do I know.

PWD

Unknown said...

Yikes, 2RB? Not that the formation doesn't have its merits but given how many awesome FBs Georgia talks into playing here, I have to think it would hurt recruiting a bit to not use them on a regular basis.

Anonymous said...

I'm with PWD. I think the Tennessee game is the blackout.

Anonymous said...

"Meast?" Is that a special GSB word for Meaty Beast, which Southerland most certainly is? I wish him a speedy recovery.

 
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