BOULDER — Just Colorado’s luck: The next time the Buffs step on the football field for a game will be the first time Georgia’s all-world wide receiver A.J. Green gets to as well.
He’s a top-10 NFL talent. CU cornerback Jimmy Smith and his teammates have already begun studying film, bracing for the challenge. Everyone else is interested to see how the Smith-Green matchup plays out, and that includes Smith’s teammates.
“Totally,” CU quarterback Tyler Hansen said. “I’ll be on the sideline during the matchup, so I’ll be watching it. I’m really excited, actually, about seeing A.J. Green. I’ve heard all of the good things about him. He’s a good player. I’m anxious to see what Jimmy does against him.”
Smith is a pretty highly regarded NFL prospect himself. And yet he downplays the matchup. In fact, he says stopping Green won’t be an issue he deals with just by himself. He expects to match up against Green some, but also against other Georgia wideouts as well.
“I wouldn’t say I’m focusing so much on him,” Smith said. “There’s other receivers that I have to face. I’m not really worried. I’ve got to go out and play my game no matter what. He’s a great dude, and I know every time he comes over I’ve got to strap it up and be ready. But I’m not just like, ‘I’m focusing on this guy’ because I know I gotta face another wide receiver they have that’s pretty good. He’s tall, he’s big and he can run routes. I have my hands full with both sides, whoever comes my way, the ‘X’ or the ‘Z.’ “
Green missed the first three games of the season because of an NCAA suspension for selling his 2009 Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000 to Chris Hawkins, an ex-North Carolina defensive back who the NCAA says is an agent or a person who markets amateur athletes.
And Georgia has missed him. The Bulldogs have limped out to an 0-2 start in conference play, and a 1-2 record overall, with their only win coming against Louisiana-Lafayette. Georgia’s passing offense averages just 212 yards a game going into this weekend’s contest against Mississippi State, which ranks 63rd in the NCAA.
Green is the deep threat. After Georgia’s loss to South Carolina, a relieved Gamecocks defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said the Bulldogs clearly missed Green’s ability to stretch the field. He told reporters: “That can change field position. He can change a game plan at times.”
Smith is fifth on the Buffs in tackles (12) and tied for first in passes broken up (two). In addition to Smith’s obvious coverage ability, Hansen notes he’s a crafty cover corner as well.
“We’ll have routes on the backside, and they say if you have it, take it,” Hansen said. “And I’ll look at it, and it looks good. But with Jimmy you know it’s not going to be there. He’s that good at recovering, deceptive; he’s going to make it look like he’s doing one thing and do the opposite. So, he plays with the quarterback’s mind a lot. He’s a little scary.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
