[su_spacer size=”20”] Mark Richt understands the importance of practicing ball security and why it is something that must be worked on every week by every player. Ball security is emphasized at the University of Georgia through a number of drills.
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The Georgia Bulldogs, as a team, have done very well at protecting the ball and not putting the ball on the ground much at all. One player, who came close to fumbling the ball this season is freshman wide receiver, Terry Godwin. In his first game as a Bulldog, Godwin caught a pass and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the other team. However, although it eventually was ruled that his knee was down prior to the ball coming out, Richt still knew ball security would need to be emphasized.
[su_spacer size=”40”] The Bulldogs have many drills that teach ball security in a large variety of ways, but Richt knows that a player does not truly know if he has improved his protection of the ball until he gets in a real game. Right had this to say about ball security in practice versus ball security in a game.
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Even in practice, it’s not like a game. You may have the scout team try to strip the ball, but we don’t want guys on the ground. We’re not tackling. We’re not striking. So you get in a game, that’s when you really find out how good a guy’s ball security is. 

[su_spacer size=”40”] Richt also mentions how ball security can even be demonstrated in the best way possible by a player and the ball still come out. His recognition of this is the reason the Bulldogs have a wide array of drills that stress ball security
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Sometimes when you do it perfect, it still comes out, but most of the times the ball is away from the body… It’s hard to be perfect on ball security because you get off-balance. That’s why you’ll see our coaches do drills where they’re hopping on one foot or do some kinda drill where they’re jumping over bags… because when you lose your balance you tend to wanna put your arm out, to gain balance and you put your arm out the ball is exposed.

[su_spacer size=”40”] Mark Richt understands why ball security is so important and how it can be a game changer if a player lacks skill as a ball carrier. The drills mentioned above by Richt are to teach a player to keep the ball high and tight at all times. These drills seem to be working thus far and should help keep the Bulldogs from having any fumbling problems this season.
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