Dogs' Bailey likely out for season: ACL tear

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http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/u...0727bailey.html

Dogs' Bailey likely out for season

Receiver still recovering from ACL injury before Sugar Bowl

By CARTER STRICKLAND

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 07/27/06

Hoover, Ala. — Georgia, which still doesn't know who is going the throw the ball this season, is now looking for someone to catch it.

Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said Wednesday that senior wide receiver Sean Bailey, the team's top big-play producer a year ago, will "more than likely" redshirt this fall after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during bowl practice seven months ago.

As recently as a month ago, Georgia coaches had held out hope that Bailey may be healthy enough to play this season.

"We were trying to help motivate him to rehab," Richt said Wednesday at SEC media days. "If a kid gets an ACL injury and you say you are not going to play for 18 months, 18 months is an eternity to those guys. And sometimes they won't work as hard as they should.

"We wanted him to have the mindset to try and prepare to play and just see what happens."

Georgia is not disappointed in Bailey's progress, but Richt said with a year to rehabilitate, Bailey will be in a better position to have a solid final season in Athens.

As a junior, the former Milton High star had 16 catches for 364 yards and four touchdowns — two in the opener against Boise State, two in the SEC championship game against LSU. He led Georgia in yards per catch with 22.8.

With Bailey out of the mix, the only proven wide receiver for the winner of the Bulldogs' quarterback derby to throw to is sophomore Mohamed Massaquoi, whose 38 catches and 505 yards led all Georgia players at the position.

Beyond Massaquoi, Richt said he'll be looking for someone to go out and prove they can be a reliable target. Among the candidates: Kenneth Harris (11 catches a year ago), Mario Raley (six), A.J. Bryant (five) and Mikey Henderson (converted from cornerback).

Quarterback and wide receiver aren't the only positions on offense where the Bulldogs will be searching for players the next few weeks. Because of suspensions and depth issues, Georgia may have to play a true freshman on the offensive line early.

Daniel Inman, a starter at tackle, was suspended two games for violating unspecified team rules. Ian Smith, a projected backup center, was suspended two games after his February arrest on a charge of public intoxication.

True freshman John Miller could be a candidate at the tackle spot. But he had offseason shoulder surgery and Richt is not sure Miller will be 100 percent healthy in time for the Sept. 2 opener against Western Kentucky.

"As far as experienced football players, we have no depth at tackle in the first two ballgames," Richt said.

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I dont think anyone thought he was coming back anyway until 2007