John Eason

ATHENS, Ga. — When freshman receivers arrive at Georgia, they are told to adhere to a rather basic rule.

If you don’t block, you don’t play.

Some receivers have picked up the concept quickly in recent years, which resulted in playing time sooner than later for those such as Sean Bailey and Mohamed Massaquoi. Then there are others who haven’t.

“We’ve got a few now who don’t play because of it, and they’ve got to understand that it’s just not about catching the football,” receivers coach John Eason said. “It’s about catching and blocking, and I think that’s where the team aspect comes into play. In order to be a team player, you’ve got to block.”

Junior Kris Durham has evolved in that area and is hoping to notch his third straight career performance Saturday when the No. 2 Bulldogs host Central Michigan. The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder from Calhoun had three receptions for 48 yards in the Sugar Bowl trouncing of Hawaii and had three catches for 74 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 45-21 opening win over Georgia Southern.

University of Georgia photo Georgia receiver Kris Durham scored his first collegiate touchdown last week and is drawing praise for his blocking.

Durham’s productivity doesn’t occur without being on the field, and being on the field doesn’t occur without blocking.

“I think a lot of people have wanted Kris to be ready to play, and he was not,” Eason said. “He just needed time to develop and mature. He did a better job this summer of lifting weights. He’s had a shoulder problem in the past, and that has limited him somewhat in terms of the weights. He’s gotten that down and has become a lot stronger.

“We looked at some of the tape from this past weekend, and the guy who made his block just about every time was Durham. He was physical.”

Durham’s 61-yard touchdown reception from Matthew Stafford early in the second quarter last week marked his first collegiate score. He hopes to collect more touchdowns and more responsibility this season, and he knows what will help make that happen.

“Blocking is one of the most important things, because our running backs can always break one,” Durham said. “As long as we are down the field blocking and they make big runs, then opponents will stack the box. That will open up the passing game.”

Georgia had six different players, including tailback Knowshon Moreno and tight end Tripp Chandler, with receptions of longer than 25 yards against the Eagles. That was a first in Mark Richt’s seven-plus seasons.

Stafford wasn’t always on target but threw for a career-best 275 yards, and Moreno rushed eight times for 59 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bulldogs had 535 yards against Georgia Southern and would love to approach that against the Chippewas, but doing so would have to start with blocking. Receivers included.

“Kris Durham was down there blocking on one of my runs last week, as was Michael Moore on another,” Moreno said. “They’re all 25 yards downfield blocking, and once you have your receivers doing that, it’s much easier for a running back to spring a big run.”

Said Stafford: “Our receivers want to make big plays down the field, and they want to make other people make big plays by blocking downfield. They’re really doing a good job of playing hard, which is what downfield blocking is. It’s extra effort, and it’s kind of contagious among the group.”

Odds and ends

Eason said no receiver played more than 25 snaps Saturday and that Massaquoi, Durham and senior Kenneth Harris were the only three over 20. ... Georgia’s eight-game winning streak dating back to last season ranks second nationally to Brigham Young, which has won 11 in a row. ... Defensive line coach Rodney Garner said his cousin, former NBA great Charles Barkley, will be attending the game at Arizona State later this month and cheering on the Bulldogs.