FAYETTEVILLE — Green means so many things these days: Going green. Green economy. Green with money. Green with envy.

And in Georgia - Green with catches.

University of Georgia spectators see the traditional red and black on the Bulldogs' uniforms, but opposing defensive players and defensive coaches mainly see Green, A.J. Green,that is.

The Georgia Bulldogs' sophomore wide receiver will beset Arkansas in the Razorbacks' 6:45 p.m. ESPN televised SEC opener Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

In no small part to the SECleading 56 catches for 963 yards, Green dominated last year as a true freshman and greened the wallet of UGA quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Stafford left the Bulldogs a year early to become the firstpick of the NFL's 2009 draft.

Now Green enhances senior Joe Cox, Stafford's longtime understudy. He's caught 10 Cox passes for 138 yards in two games for the 1-1 Bulldogs, including 6 for 86 yards and a touchdown when Georgia opened its SEC season outscoring South Carolina, 41-37 last Saturday night in Athens, Ga.

The fleet, powerful 6-4, 207-pounder is a mismatch waiting to happen against secondaries seldom sporting anyone combining the size and speed to defend him without help.

Especially with him lining up in so many places that defenses need help to find him much less sending help to support coverage against him.

"We've got to make sure we know where he's at because they move him around," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "They do a great job in their scheme, aligning him at differ-ent spots, trying to find ways to get him oneon-one. The length, you know, he's tall, and he's got long, long arms and he runs great routes."

And that's just the half of it.

"Really it causes you two problems," Petrino said. "No. 1 - being able to match up and try to stop him. No. 2 is to tackle him after he does catch the ball. He's impressed me with the way he runs with it after the catch."

The Razorbacks' secondary is impressed, too. Aside from their own responsibilities, safeties Matt Harris and Tramain Harris know at times they must lend a hand to starting cornerbacks Ramon Broadway and Rudell Crim covering Green.

"A.J. Green is a spectacular receiver," fifth-year senior free safety Harris said. "So we're definitely going to have to keep our eye for him."

If Green was a one-man show, like NFL draft caliber tight end Clay Harbor was for Missouri State, then he could be handled relatively easily. However unlike the lower division Missouri State Bears that Arkansas swamped 48-10 on Sept. 5 in Little Rock, Georgia surrounds Green with SEC caliber receivers and the traditional SEC ability to run the ball.

"We don't ever want to break down the integrity of our box," Harris said of forsaking rushing defenseto concentrate on Green. "But sometimes in certain situations we are going to put in different personnel, obviously, as any defense would do. We are going respect A.J. Green, but we know they have a heck of a tailback (Richard Samuel) and a good run game, because their offensive line can block well."

Sophomore strong safety Thomas implied it will take a well-rounded effort against a wellrounded offense.

"Georgia is a very physical team," Thomas said. "They've got the running game and A.J. Green stretching the field. We've got to know our assignments."

Of course, the free and strong safeties will be freer and stronger to help with all facets of the defense if the cornerbacks can remotely check Green like they checked the Missouri State receivers.

"I thought [junior college transfer] Rudell Crim had a heck of a game," Harris said. "I know we played against Missouri State, but still, his focus was really good. He gave 100 percent effort. Ramon Broadway is a little pit bull over there. I like the way he plays. He's physical. I'm not too worried about the corners. This will be a good test for them against Georgia, though. A good test For all of us."

Especially as Georgia goes Green.

"Just get it in the area," Georgia coach Mark Richt said, "and there's a very, very good chance he's going to come down with it."

Sports, Pages 8, 10 on 09/16/2009