Cox still working, too

ATHENS – Never accuse Joe Cox of forgetting where he came from.

Cox is a junior quarterback now for Georgia, and he pretty much knows all the ins and outs of the system. As Matthew Stafford’s backup, he has nothing more to prove to his coaching staff and no major areas of weakness he needs to work on during spring practice.

So what is Cox focused on?

“Right now one of my biggest goals is just helping out a lot of the young guys, a lot of the second-team o-linemen, the guys who just came in at running back,” Cox said. It’s fun every day going out and helping people who haven’t played yet and are struggling and have that deer-in-the-headlight look.”

Cox remembers being a wide-eyed freshman in 2005, his first year out of Independence High School in Charlotte, N.C. Now he’s eager to lend a helping hand to others in that position.

“It’s a challenge for me every day, making sure I know as much as possible so that I can help out everybody around me,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been up to.”

As for himself, Cox is content being Stafford’s backup, he said. It’s a position he has held most of the last two seasons, which were highlighted by his relief effort against Colorado in 2006, when he threw the game-winning touchdown pass.

Cox is 22-of-43 for 281 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in his career. His approach to preparation hasn’t changed in that time, he said.

“I just make sure that I keep getting better every day myself mainly,” he said. My attitude “is the same as it was last year. I know that if my number is called that I have to be ready so I’m taking every opportunity I can to be ready for my opportunity if it comes up.”

Cox has gotten plenty of work with the No. 1 offense this spring, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said, and he could take a number of snaps there during Saturday’s G-Day game if the Bulldogs decide to rest Stafford.