Auburn Week: Tuesday News and Notes

ATHENS - Josh Kendall's news and notes from Georgia's fall practices.

SLOW SEASON: After being praised by his coaches throughout the preseason, sophomore safety CJ Byrd has yet to make a big impact on the game field. Byrd, the 2004 South Carolina Player of the Year, backs up junior Kelin Johnson and has only five tackles this year.

“I think (defensive coordinator Willie) Martinez probably just about every game wishes he had played him a little more,” Richt said. “I think he’s more determined to do it now.”

Martinez said he will “beat myself up” at times after games for not playing Byrd more.

“Sometimes I get caught up in the game so much and play-calling, I kind of forget,” he said. “I would love to play him more, there’s no doubt about it, because he’s really coming on.”

INJURY UPDATE: Auburn safety Eric Brock, a junior who is second on the team with 45 tackles, won’t play against the Bulldogs due to an ankle injury, Tiger coach Tommy Tuberville said. He’ll be replaced by sophomore Lorenzo Ferguson.

Georgia linebacker Darius Dewberry, a Peach County graduate, expects to return from a hamstring injury. He participated in Tuesday’s indoor practice.

“I was not really full go, but I was out there,” he said.

THIS AND THAT: Georgia’s next loss will be the most in a season for Richt since his one season at East Carolina, when the Pirates were 5-5-1. He has never lost more than five games in a year. … In 109 meetings, Auburn has outscored Georgia by two points – 1,650-1,648. … The SEC has three finalists for the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker, but Georgia senior Tony Taylor is not one of them, even though he has more tackles than all but Ole Miss’ Patrick Willis.