Good special teams play was the one constant for the Georgia Bulldogs during their 6-7 season in 2010, and it was the one constant on Saturday as the players put on shoulder pads for the first time during fall practice.

After two days of working out with helmets and shorts the Dawgs moved a step closer to full contact with an early morning practice at the Woodruff practice fields.

While offensive and defensive players struggled to find their rhythm, kicker Blair Walsh, punter Drew Butler and the entire special teams crew appeared to be in midseason form.

“We were very, very sharp.” Richt said. “The snaps, the holds, the kicks — I think we were 100 percent in every way. Just about every kick split the uprights. It was a good start in the extra point and field goal department today.”

Although temperatures were much cooler during Saturday’s practice (the workout was held under cloudy skies with temperatures in the upper 70s) both UGA’s veterans and freshmen were sluggish.

“It’s day three and a little bit of fatigue is setting in, a little bit of weariness,” Richt said. “Even this morning we had a lot of cloud cover. We really got a break on how hot it could have been if the sun was blazing, and it was not until the very end. Without question, the fatigue affected the concentration level. Physically, I think the guys fought through it pretty good.

“Mentally, I thought we just weren’t as sharp. That’s why you practice in the heat, that’s why you have camp. Hopefully we’ll get better in that regard.”

Due to the dangerous heat Richt is holding as many morning practices as possible, but says the players are going to have to get acclimated to sweat box conditions once school begins.

“We’re going to practice in the morning because of the weather patterns and also because it’s going to be 10 to 15 degrees cooler,” he said. “Sometimes we concern ourselves with not practicing in the heat. You might play a game in the heat, but we also know that once school begins, we have to practice in the afternoon, so we’ll have two weeks of practicing in the afternoon before Game 1 (against Boise State). And we all know that Game 1 is in the (Georgia) Dome, so that won’t be much of a factor. We’ll play Game 2 (against South Carolina at Sanford Stadium) at 4:30, so we think three weeks will be enough time to practice in the afternoon.”

The Bulldogs will work in shorts and helmets this morning and don full gear on Monday.

independentmail.com