"I need to show that I have what it takes to come back and play. To show that I can contribute and help the team win. That the coaches can trust me and I’m not, what you say, a bust or whatever." (Richard Samuel, AJC, 4/17/2011)
Do you remember when Richard Samuel was a factor in the Georgia Bulldog's offense? Can you recall the last significant play he made for the team? Most would point to the 2009 run against Arkansas (the one where he ran 80-yards to the endzone) as the last time he was relevant—no doubt you recall the play I'm referencing but, in case you've forgotten, you can see it again here—because he's been AWOL since.
Samuel made the move from offense to defense in the spring of 2010 and, at the time, everyone felt that was the best place for him to continue his development. However, he has yet to grow into the defensive player most felt he would and his appearance in Saturday's G-Day game, while nice to see, didn't exactly inspire confidence that he's ready to compete for a starting job this season (while he did recover a fumble, his play was, otherwise, only mildly impressive)—he still has some work to do.
A great many of his problems have stemmed from a) his inability to digest the playbook and b) the reps he lost after going down with a knee injury last season. He simply hasn't had time to showcase his skill set or put what he does know into practice—and it probably hasn't helped much that Alec Ogletree was tabbed to be Georgia's newest talent at inside linebacker.
Still, Samuel is keeping the faith and feels confident that the best is yet to come. As for the coaching staff, well, that seems to be another matter altogether, "Robinson and Alec Ogletree leave the spring with the inside track on the inside linebacker starting spots. Of Samuel’s prospects, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was vague, saying he has shown some promising flashes [emphasis added] and that "he will have a role as we move forward." (AJC, 4/17/2011).
Hmmm, sounds like Samuel will be on the bench quite a bit this year—aside from some spot reserve duty—but I could be wrong.
Hopefully Samuel can finally fight his way through the playbook and onto the football field. Georgia could always use another play maker on defense and it's obvious that Samuel would love to be that guy again, "I still have more inside of me, I still have more to show."
