2009 Georgia Preview

2008 will be remembered as a season with lofty expectations and a pre-season #1 ranking, but a brutal schedule, combined with key injuries along the offensive and defensive lines, felled Georgia’s expectations and the Dawgs ended the season at 10-3 with a uninspiring Capital One Bowl win over a lesser Michigan State team. Mark Richt managed to net another double digit win season, something commonplace in the Richt era, but after the 41-10 thrashing of overmatched Hawaii in the 2008 Sugar Bowl, more had been expected of the Dawgs.

The 2009 season sees key players gone to the NFL (among them the #1 overall pick, QB Matthew Stafford, star RB Knowshon Moreno, WR Mohammed Massaqoui, and cornerback Asher Allen), but also sees key players returning from injuries including one of the best offensive lineman in the country, Trinton Sturdivant, and defensive star Jeff Owens. The expectations are more muted this year, but this could be a classic unheralded Richt team that sneaks up to beat higher ranked teams. Richt also replenished the roster with another top 5 recruiting class including freshman wide receiver sensation Marlon Brown, who may see immediate playing time. The most glaring issue is that once again, Georgia faces the toughest schedule in the country starting at Oklahoma State with 7 BCS teams in row.

Offense

Losing three of the best offensive players in the country with the departures of Stafford (1st overall to Detroit), Moreno (14th overall to Denver) and Massaquoi (2nd round to Cleveland), definitely is a challenge, but not a killer by any means with an offensive line expected to be one of the best in the nation, led by left tackle beast Sturdivant.

The key to the smooth transition for Georgia is the steady hand of 5th year senior Joe Cox. Cox, once a star recruit out of Independence High School in Charlotte (along with H.S. teammate, Massaqoui) lost his chance to become the man for the Georgia team once Stafford arrived even more heralded from Dallas. Now, Cox finally gets his chance, and unlike Joe Tereshinski III (but like DJ Shockley in 2005), Cox can play, he’s extremely accurate, and most importantly, Mark Richt, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, and the rest of the team have complete confidence in Joe.

Behind Joe, the Bulldogs are loaded with a Quarterback depth chart that includes super sophomore, Logan Gray, who’s so fast he’s been used on special teams, but also has great skills in the pocket and a cannon arm. But arguably the most talented Quarterback on Georgia’s roster is one of their two heralded incoming freshmen, Aaron Murray, who teamed at Tampa’s Plant High School with star tight end recruit Orson Charles. Murray is the guy most fans see as the next Stafford for this program.

One of the reasons Georgia can have such confidence is the return of super Sophomore AJ Green, who along with Alabama’s super sophomore Julio Jones gives the Southeastern Conference arguably two of the best wideouts in the country. Green is expected to have a huge year and should start it off with a bang in Stillwater against Oklahoma State, as the Cowboys don’t return any players from last year’s secondary.

Green’s help will arrive in the form of 5th year senior Mikey Moore, who was a pleasant surprise in 2008 catching several key touchdowns, and a couple of stud freshmen, in particular Marlon Brown, whom the Dawgs stole out of Memphis and from the evil grasp of Lane Kiffin. Also watch out for another freshman, Rontavious Wooten, a star in the making to get some early playing time, at least until senior Kris Durham returns from injury to help depth.

Georgia managed to bring in one of the top freshmen tight ends in the country with Tampa’s Orson Charles, a key addition to the 2009 Dawgs, especially considering Urban Meyer had been chasing Charles for months to come to Florida. The starting tight end will be solid Junior Bruce Figgins, a solid performer who isn’t as prone to drops as previous starter Tripp Chandler.

At running back, there are big shoes to fill with Knowshon Moreno’s early departure to the NFL and the Denver Broncos. However, Georgia has one fantastic “committee” with a number of players who can step in and be a star. The starter in that group will be Richard Samuel, whom most of the coaches watching him this Summer say he’s arguably the fastest running back Richt has had since arriving in Athens. Samuel is big and strong and most Georgia fans expect him to make a big name for himself this year.

The guy who was the expected starter and the big name coming out of High School is Caleb King, who was a RB legend in Atlanta on his way to Georgia. King is hurt and likely won’t play in the first game, but expectations are extremely high. Among the guys behind Samuel and King, Sophomore Carlton Thomas is small, but a total burner, reminding Dawg fans of Tyson Browning, while incoming freshman Washaun Ealey could also start right away with the speed and agility he’s shown. Depth and talent won’t be a problem and though it won’t be just one guy replacing Knowshon, it didn’t exactly hurt the 08 Alabama team to have multiple great RBs.

As previously mentioned, the talented and experienced Offensive Line will finally be anchored again by Junior Trinton Sturdivant. When Trinton tore his ACL in August of 2008, it was an ominous sign for the Dawgs season and many thought his career might be over. But Trinton will be back anchoring the line again in a few days. He’ll be joined by a group of experienced and talented lineman including Junior Clint Boling, Junior Chris Davis, and Sophomore Center Ben Jones.

Defense

Last year’s defense went in with rather high expectations after a great year in 2007, but thanks to a season ending injury to star (then Junior) Jeff Owens, plus, a serious of miscues and mental gaffes in big spots that brought seriously into question the level of preparedness being given from Defensive Coordinator Willie Martinez, the defense well under performed and against Georgia’s two most hated opponents, Florida and Georgia Tech, the defense performed miserably at the worst possible times.

Though the Dawgs lost several key players to the NFL including Cornerback Asher Allen, who left a year early and went in the third round to the Vikings, as well as DT Cory Irvin, DE Jarius Wynn, and star middle linebacker Dannell Ellerbee, the Dawgs get Jeff Owens back to anchor, and also back is arguably two of the best “hitters” in College Football, weakside linebacker Rennie Curran (a first team all SEC candidate) and free safety Reshad Jones.

Along with Owens, Curran and Jones, the Dawgs also have talented seniors Geno Atkins and Roderick Battle and senior Cornerback Prince Miller, and Junior Middle linebacker Darryl Gamble made a name for himself in 2008, when he picked off LSU Quarterback Jarrett Lee on the first pass of the game for a return touchdown in Baton Rouge, and later picked off a 2nd pass for a touchdown.

Also, watch out for Freshman Cornerback, Branden Smith. He’s a big time stud, was arguably one of the the highest rated recruits (along with Murray, Marlon Brown, and Charles), and could start and succeed now. Georgia has a lot of experienced talent so Smith may redshirt, but a kid to keep an eye on.

The biggest key to the defense however is actually the coaching and game planning of much maligned defensive coordinator Willie Martinez. This is a make or break year for Willie. If the defense plays great football all year long and cuts way down on the mental errors and turnovers, Willie will restore the luster and pride to the defense. But if the defense, despite all this talent, underperforms again, there will likely be a new D.C. in Athens in 2010.

Special Teams

K Blair Walsh looked great early on and then got sloppier down the stretch. He has a very strong leg and should be due for a great year. One thing the coaches have commented on over the Summer is that with Georgia bringing in a big time kicking recruit (from San Diego) in Brandon Bogotay, this is pushing Walsh and he’s been terrific in what they’re seeing.

The starting punting duties will be handled by a legacy for Georgia, as famed Kicker Kevin Butler’s son Drew will be the punter for the team. While not a lot has been seen yet by the younger Butler, his dad was a legendary performer who went onto to a great career with the Chicago Bears.

Last year, Georgia mixed an array of players on punt and kick returns, after the graduation the year before of the awesome Mikey Henderson. One of the players who really shined for the Dawgs was back-up Quarterback Logan Gray, who this year is listed as the #2 signal caller behind Cox, but the Sophomore may also see time in an array of duties, including some punt returns. One of the other guys widely talked about for return duties is RB Carlton Thomas.

Schedule

For the 2nd straight year, Georgia has amassed arguably the toughest schedule in the country. The Dawgs start off this Saturday with one of the two biggest games to open the 2009 season as they travel to top 10 ranked Oklahoma State in Stillwater. If Georgia can escape Big 12 country with a big road win, the Dawgs follow that up with 6 more BCS opponents with division rival South Carolina between the hedges, a tough road game at Arkansas, home dates with Pac Ten opponent Arizona State and (scarier) the next week when LSU arrives. Then the Dawgs have road games in Knoxville and Nashville to play Tennessee and Vandy, before finally getting a week off to prepare for the #1 ranked Florida Gators.

Georgia’s only cupcake comes a week after Florida when we host Tennessee Tech, but end the year with three more big rivalry games with home dates against Auburn and Kentucky, and then the in-state “pure hatred” match up against the always annoying, evil nerds of Georgia Tech.

The hope is Georgia that Georgia can get through those 12 games 9-3, and then win their bowl game for another 10-3 schedule.

Call me a wild eyed optimist, but I think Georgia will do one better and end the year 11-2. I am predicting losses (unfortunately) to Florida (though it will be close this year with the week off and a hopefully healthy OL) and at home to LSU and boldly picking wins for Georgia in the other 10 games – which would put us at 10-2 heading into a Bowl game.

Of course, with some of the departures, this team could be as down as 8-4 and I wouldn’t be shocked. It’s hard to predict.

-Alex R.

2008 Georgia Bulldogs

Expectations. Coach Mark Richt is entering his 7th season as head coach and this is by far his greatest challenge. At the same time, he may be coaching his most talented group yet. But they simply don’t come more even-keeled than Mark Richt.

That word, “expectations”, comes with the territory when your school ends the 2007 season in a magical way, with 8 straight wins, an improbable run of dominance that nearly (and should have) led to an appeance in the BCS championship game, but did lead to another trip for Mark Richt (a 3rd) to the AllState Sugar Bowl and a 41-10 thrashing of undefeated (but overmatched) Hawaii.

With 17 returning starters, Georgia leads the majority of the polls (including the CNN/USA Today Coaches’ & the Associated Press Poll) and heads into the season as the #1 ranked team in the country with not one, but two Heisman Trophy contenders.

Of course, along with trying to meet expectations (and for many Georgia fans, nothing less than the BCS Title game in Miami on January 9th, 2008 will meet those expectations), comes the toughest schedule in school history, which includes an early season road game at Arizona State, and a four game stretch, later in the season, that includes back to back games in Baton Rouge (at LSU) and in Jacksonville (at Florida).

Offense

Most of the main players from last year return to this group with the two most key players back being legitimate Heisman Trophy contenders. First, there’s Junior Quarterback Matthew Stafford. Second, there’s Redshirt Sophomore Running Back Knowshon Moreno, arguably the most electrifying player in the nation, who in the last few weeks, has graced the covers of The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and ESPN the Magazine.

Along with Stafford and Moreno, the Dawgs return Senior Wide Receiver Mohammed Massaqoui,the best Fullback in college football, Brannan Southerland, (who starts the season out for at least the first 3-4 games) as well as Senior Tripp Chandler, who started slowly for the Dawgs in 2007, but came on in a big way and seems to be continuing the tradition of Georgia being “Tight End U.”

Last year, the offensive line had to be completely rebuilt and a down year was assumed with so many new faces. However, thanks to the amazing work of one of the best Offensive Line coaches in the country, Stacey Searels, the offensive line was one of the best in the country by the end of the season and that effort was led by Senior Fernando Velasco and Freshman Trinton Sturdivant. The problem? Velasco (the vocal leader on the line) is gone and Sturdivant, the huge left tackle expected to be this year’s leader, may now be out for the year, barring any positive changes in the medical report.

Even more now will be expected from the increased depth that Coach Richt and his staff (including Searels and offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, have been working hard on) especially from RG Clint Boling (suspended for the first game, this weekend), Center Chris Davis, and LT Kiantee Tripp, who’s filling the role for injured Sturdivant and has the versatility to excel.

One of the questions any good fan base asks is what freshmen can come in & compete and contribute right away. Thanks to the masterful recruiting job the last several years by Coach Richt, recruiting (guru) coordinator Rodney Garner, and other members of the staff (especially Bobo), Georgia’s Freshman class was once again in the top 5-7 in the nation (depending on which recruiting service you prefer, I prefer the ones not run by Tennessee grads) and several freshmen may come in right away on the offense.

Starting in the backfield, Knowshon Moreno has no shortage of help. First, there’s phenom Caleb King. King, a redshirt Freshman who was the #1 RB recruit in the country when he came to the Dawgs in January of 2007. He’s so big and talented that despite having a serious Heisman contender in Moreno, the Dawgs will be forced to get him in there. Of course, they may have both share time with one of two Freshmen sensations: Richard Samuel and Carlton Thomas, both of whom have exceeded the already big expectations they had, with commanding spring practice performances.

At wide receiver, the Dawgs lost talented veteran, Sean Bailey, but are loaded with veteran help for Senior Mossaquoi, but maybe no one will be more help than Freshman sensation, AJ Green. Along with Alabama’s Julio Jones, Green was the other top wide receiver recruit in the nation, and has already blown his peers away in practice.

Along the offensive line, the Dawgs added a lineman who’s performed so well so early (Ben Jones) Georgia may be forced to play the young man early. Depth is key with injuries and a few suspensions already getting in the way here early.

And though they won’t be in Athens until they arrive in the 2009 class, Georgia has already landed 2 of the top 8 Quarterbacks in the nation for next year: Zack Mettenberger. and Florida’s Aaron Murray. The staff continues to fill the ranks with talented stars keeping Georgia in contention, year in and year out.

Defense

If you think the offense is loaded with stars and firepower, meet the 2008 Georgia Bulldogs defensive unit. This is arguably the fastest defensive unit in the nation, and the same unit that sacked Florida golden boy Tim Tebow 6 times (on his way to a Heisman.) Another Heisman contender, Hawaii’s Colt Brennan, looked like a Division III scrub after our defense was done beating the heck out of him in the Sugar Bowl. Interestingly, Brennan sought Tebow out for advice at the Heisman ceremony in New York about Georgia’s defense. Tebow must have explained how to properly eat grass every time one of our guys plants you in it.

Leading the defense will be Linebacker Darnell Ellerbee, a special and fast hitter, who seems to play his best in the biggest games. But Ellerbee has a LOT of help – to say the least. Georgia only lost one starter from 2007 (Marcus Howard, who was terrific) but bring back a veteran crew of talented players, many of whom will be on the All America watch list.

Along with Ellerbee, linebackers Akeem Dent and Rennie Curran — a small but super fast hitter — who came on late and punished opposing offenses with his quickness and striking ability. Along the line, another powerful group of dangerous veterans return for the Dawgs. Leading the way is Senior DT Jeff Owens, who’s considered a potential major breakout star this year and who — according to the AJC — will be a contender for the Outland and Nagurski awards. Several players will be teaming up with Owens to smash opponents, and none more so than Junior DT Geno Atkins, also a legitimate contender during the awards season.

The secondary is just loaded as well. The leader of this unit is Junior Asher Allen, who came into his own last year and is now one of the most feared cornerbacks in the nation, giving opposing wide receivers nightmares. Teaming with Allen in this talented unit will be Free Safety Reshard Jones, the other leader of this group as only a redshirt Sophomore.

The leader of the unit is defensive coordinator Willie Martinez. Martinez has experienced his share of growing pains, but grew up with the defense after last year’s embarrassing loss to Tennessee. Martinez led the defense the rest of the way to arguably the best performance by any team in the country, the last 8 games, finally, fully, earning the confidence of Dawg Nation. For a long time, many Dawg fans missed the intensity of former DC Brian Van Gorder. Martinez seems to have finally come into his own and has a chance now to be one of the best coordinators in the country.

Special Teams

The kicking game, arguably the most important part for any team trying to win close games (and Georgia will have many this year with their schedule), lost a kid with potentially the strongest leg in America, Brandon Coutu. Coutu will be missed, but Freshman Blair Walsh showed off an incredibly strong leg during spring, and Coach Richt appears to have full confidence in Walsh ably filling Coutu’s shoes.

Returning to lead the punting is proven senior Brian Mimbs, who showed himself a smart distance kicker last year.

The big question is, among the various speedsters Georgia has to choose from, who will take super fast and shifty Mikey Henderson’s place to return punts. Along with Henderson’s graduation, senior tailback Thomas Brown (now with the Falcons) was the leading kick returner and will also have to be replaced.

Asher Allen got a lot of experience returning kicks last year and will be back in that role, more often than not. As of the end of spring practice, rumors (and now possibly fact) at who will now be returning punts, Mark Richt has apparently decided that his team’s best all around player, running back and Heisman contender Knowshon Moreno, may just be the man for the job. And why not? Considering how many defenses Moreno destroyed last year, getting the ball in his hands as often as possible seems like a pretty good idea.

Outlook

Well, if everything goes according to plan, we should go 12-0, roll through this schedule and after blowing out LSU or Auburn in the SEC Championship game, roll through Ohio State (like everyone else in the SEC) , USC, or Oklahoma in the National championship game.

But wait, we do have to now deal with the hardest schedule in the nation and no matter how biased I am and how much I love my Dawgs, I don’t see how we can run the table, unblemished. I am a realist.

The scariest game on the schedule (as always) will be Florida. The Gators return Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and a 2nd contender for that award in Percy Harvin, and have generated faux anger over our end zone celebration, as written about by Urban Meyer in “Urban’s Way”, a self help book for all Gators who couldn’t get over losing to us in 2007. And though I make fun, this game (IMHO) is the toughest game on the schedule. The Gators are loaded and our best opponent.

You look at games like at Arizona State or at LSU, where we are the better team, but based on the timing of the game, the travel involved, or the location, and the better team may lose. LSU is dropped a little in my eyes with the loss of Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux. Auburn is also another big time rivalry game and they are expected to be a top 20 level team, and a new Quarterback actually helps them – the Dawgs will deeply miss slow-moving target Brandon Cox.

Then, there’s also games with South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. All games the Dawgs should win and are clearly the better team on paper, but all teams capable of beating us in the ever tough Southeastern Conference.

In the end, I will say 11-1 and I believe in Mark Richt and I believe in this team, and despite a loss somewhere along the way (yes, maybe Jacksonville), the Dawgs will make all of us Georgia fans believe and head to Miami to play for the BCS championship. Of course, this caveat always depends on good health, which is why it’s so important that Georgia is blessed with wonderful depth.

–Alex R.

Georgia Football Preview

2006 was the ultimate in Jekyll & Hyde football for the Dawgs. There was the points in the season where we lost to Vanderbilt and Kentucky, and with all due respect to my friend Stu, we shouldn’t be losing to Vandy (or Kentucky)–ever.

The biggest reason for those losses was the most devastating injury (in practice, no less) to placekicker Brandon Coutu, one of the best in the nation. His back up was the awful Andy Bailey. Thanks to Bailey, Georgia started going for 2 point conversions more than I have seen any college football team do in recent memory.

It was that bad with Bailey.

Plus, there was the Tennessee debacle where we took a solid lead into halftime and came out in the 2nd half (at home) and got killed. We allowed Erik Ainge to play like he was Joe Montana and lost badly. But then we closed the season with three straight big wins including a road thrashing of Auburn, our usual win over a feisty Georgia Tech, and a stirring comeback win in the Chick Fil-A Bowl against ranked Virginia Tech.

The key for Georgia’s upswing at the end of the 2006 season was the growth of freshman sensation Quarterback, Matthew Stafford, one of the most heralded recruits in Georgia history, and the hope to Georgia fans to finally bring us home another national championship–a taste we haven’t experienced since 1980.

Stafford looked like a typical Freshman during much of the season, stuck early behind fill-in senior legacy, Joe Tereshinski III, and even had to be pulled in the 4th Quarter of a possible embarrassing home loss to a mediocre Colorado team because he was so ineffective, before back up Joe Cox bailed us out.

But Stafford matured towards the end, took control, and got on the same page as new offensive coordinator (and former Georgia QB) Mike Bobo, and the team hit a peak in the last 3 games–all good wins over good teams.

Part of Georgia’s problem is the national media. Despite the overwhelming success Mark Richt has been brought this program in his first 5 seasons (including 2 SEC titles) the national media is in love with Spurrier, Fulmer, Saban and Urban Meyer, and Georgia continues to have to fight for respect and fight uphill with their quiet leader.

This year, Georgia has a real uphill battle with several losses along the offensive line and the defense line including stalwarts Charles Johnson, Quentin Moses & Ray Gant. A lot of pressure is on Stafford and his receivers, but I think he can handle it.

The Schedule:

S1 vs. OKLAHOMA STATE (Athens)
S8 vs. SOUTH CAROLINA (Athens)
S15 vs. WESTERN CAROLINA (Athens)
S22 @ Alabama (Tuscaloosa)
S29 vs. OLE MISS (Athens)
O6 @ Tennessee (Knoxville)
O13 @ Vanderbilt (Nashville)
O20 BYE
O27 @ Florida (Jacksonville) – THIS IS ALWAYS A ROAD GAME UNTIL THEY START HAVING HALF THESE GAMES IN ATLANTA
N3 vs. TROY (Athens)
N10 vs. AUBURN (Athens)
N17 vs. KENTUCKY (Athens)
N24 @ Georgia Tech (Atlanta – high school stadium)

Quarterbacks

This team starts & ends with what Matthew Stafford does. While ESPN continues to lap up Tim Tebow and his little runs like he’s Randall Cunningham, Matthew Stafford will be the best Quarterback in the SEC. Yes, better than Ainge, Blake Mitchell, Tebow, & even the vaunted Matt Flynn. We may not win the SEC, but he’s the most talented Quarterback in the conference. No matter how much ESPN promotes Tebow. As Mel Kiper said, Stafford has the best arm in college football and will be playing on Sundays.

He has a firm handle on this offense now and has plenty of weapons around him. Behind Staff, Matt has a very solid back up in Joe Cox. Cox proved himself on a few occasions last year, in particular the Colorado game, but he gives the Dawgs depth. After Cox, Blake Barnes has talent but is not going to break in, and the Dawgs added a terrific freshman named Logan Gray, who offers a tremendous arm and running attack.

Running Backs

This position will also be even stronger this year with a healthy & returning Thomas Brown, a lightning quick back with great explosiveness. He will start, but is being pushed hard by a top notch recruit named Knowshorn Moreno. Moreno has been a beast during practice and spring drills and many think he may yank the starting job sooner than later, no matter how good Brown is.

Also back and a contender for big minutes is talented Kregg Lumpkin. Like Brown, he got over a major leg injury a few years back, but is very talented and just gives the Dawgs even more great depth. The depth is so good at RB, that heralded star freshman recruit Caleb King, is now going to redshirt. Like QB, this should be a position of terrific strength for Georgia.

Wide Receivers

The weapons for Stafford got deeper once again with the return of 5th year senior, the speedy Sean Bailey. Bailey put on a show in the SEC Championship game in 2005 (receiving 2 TD passes from then senior starter, DJ Shockley) before breaking his leg and losing the 2006 season. Bailey returns to a deeper, more mature corps of receivers.

The other expected starter along with Bailey is the electrifying Mikey Henderson, who became a highlight reel for the Dawgs with some electrifying punt return touchdowns last year. Pushing Henderson and Bailey will be AJ Bryant & Mohammed Mossaqoi, two more talented receivers who shouild see plenty of playing time. Big things are expected from Mossaqoi to finally deliver on some of the promse he’s shown.

Also expected to see regular field duty will be Kenneth Harris, solid with the occasional flashy catch, and star recruit Israel Troupe. Kris Durham is another lanky, 6-6 receiver who also made the occasional big catch.

Tight end should be a big upgrade this year with the departure of Matrez Milner; Milner had great physical gifts but couldn’t hang onto to the damn ball and his end zone drops singlehandedly cost us the Florida game.

Many Georgia fans are relieved to see Tripp Chandler as the starter, who’s not as athletically gifted as Milner, but good hands, a good blocker and very reliable. He will be pushed by a pair of talented back ups including 6-6 Coleman Watson and former star recruit, Na’Derris Ward.

Offensive Line

Many predictors have been saying Georgia’s offensive line could be a huge problem with all the departures, but heralded freshman Trinton Sturdivant has come in and immediately made a huge impact, so a lot of the concerns have been eased.

Georgia has two returning starters in Fernando Velasco and Chester Adams, who are both a year older and more experienced, and should help the younger players coming in like Chris Davis.

Also helping will be another new starter, JUCO transfer Scott Haverkamp.

Overall, the offensive line will have it’s off moments at times, but this unit will actually be a lot more solid then being projected, and should still give Stafford’s rocket arm enough time to get his downfield touchdown passes off.

And keep an eye on Military college transfer Vince Vance–very talented and a good chance he pushes his way into a starting role this season.

Defensive Line

There’s a whole bunch of new starters on the Defensive line with the departures of stalwarts like Moses, Johnson & Gant. However, at a school like Georgia, we are expected to reload and not rebuild, and the new starters should perform better than the national media wants to give them credit for.

Among the new starters is Jeff Owens, a talented and speedy back up who finally gets a chance to start. Marcus Owens and Geno Atkins, two more small & speedy defensive players are expected to start as well.

The star on the line this year should be Sophomore Roderick Battle. Very talented, a very hard hitter.

Among the reserves, the x-factor player in my opinion is Kade Weston. Like running back Knowshorn Moreno, Weston was a star recruit from the state of New Jersey a few years ago but some weight issues have prevented him from realizing his full potential. He’s mammoth and could be a huge run stopping force for Georgia–if he can keep his weight somewhat under control.

All in all, this will not be Georgia’s best Defensive line by any means, but it will be competitive. It’s hopeful that even the games this unit doesn’t play as well, Stafford’s high octane offense will be putting major points on the board to supplement.

Linebackers

Georgia lost two more good players here with the graduation of Tony Taylor and Jarvis Jackson.

However, Georgia has a chance to be just as good this season with super fast linebackers like Darnell Ellerbee, Darius Dewberry (another big time recruit ready to break out) and Brandon Miller, who was one of the top linebacking recruits in the country a few years back, but has had mounting injuries at times. I think Miller will be the one who’s the leader of this group.

The key reserve is Marcus Washington–a very hard hitter like many others on the Dawgs defensive depth chart. After that, depth is in thin if there are injuries and it might gives some talented freshmen a chance to play. What hurt the depth even more was the loss of Akeem Hebron who was suspended for the year. Hebron was expected to be the star here.

Secondary

A few months ago, us Georgia fans received crushing news when it was announced that star cornerback, and the guy would have probably been our best defensive player in 2007, Paul Oliver, was ruled academically ineligible. This was a very tough loss and definitely is affecting the way a lot of analysts are viewing Georgia’s defense this year.

Oliver ended up being taken by a shrewd Chargers organization in the 2nd round of the NFL’s supplemental draft.

So, the Dawgs have to pick up the pieces and thankfully, there are some other studs to help do that.

It starts with safety Kelin Johnson, who had some of the best highlight reel hits on wide receivers of anyone this past year. Kelin’s safety cohort will be CJ Byrd, who also has a wealth of talent and should keep Georgia strong at safety.

Trying to offset the loss of Oliver at Corner, will be Bryan Evans and Asher Allen. Evans is solid, but Allen is the player with the star potential. Another heralded recruit who needs to step up this year and hopefully become a leader.

However, Georgia coaches love what they see out of star reserve safety Reshard Jones and there’s a good chance Jones likely takes Evans or Allen’s starting corner spot, just to get him onto the field sooner than later. We’re also very excited about another big recruit named Quentin Banks, a sophomore and possibly the best hitter in the group.

Despite how hard the loss was of Paul Oliver, this group still has the potential to strike fear into opposing receivers.

Special Teams

Despite the graduation of excellent punter, Gordon Ely-Kelso, Georgia is fortunate to have back one of the best kickers in the country in Brandon Coutu.

Coutu’s injury last year was a huge factor in the Vanderbilt and Kentucky losses, as back up Andy Bailey gave ulcers every second he strode onto the field. Hopefully, Coutu will stay healthy and Georgia fans will never ever have to see Andy Bailey ever kick again–he flat out sucks. Sucks, sucks, sucks.

Andy Bailey = the Chris Reitsma of Georgia football.

With Ely-Kelso gone, the punting duties come down to either junior Brian Mimbs or fresman legacy, Drew Butler, son of former Dog kicking legend, Kevin Butler, who went onto a great career with the Chicago Bears.

But as long as we have Coutu, we will win at least 2-3 games because of him alone this year.

Outlook

Most forecasters are dismissing Georgia as a legit threat in the SEC. Frankly, I don’t understand why.

Yes, without question LSU is the best team in the conference and deserves to be favored to win in Atlanta in early December.

But while every single person at ESPN, Fox, CBS, etc. is gaga over Florida, again (and let’s face it, our won-loss record with Florida the last 16 years gives anyone pause) I am not at all sold of Tim Tebow’s ‘gimmick’ making him a sudden star. He doesn’t nearly have the arm of a Stafford, though certainly Tebow has the weapons, if his arm shows more than we’ve all seen.

But keep in mind that Florida lost all their defensive starters practically and despite being loaded once again recruiting-wise, Florida will have to outscore teams to win this year. That generally doesn’t work all the time (see: 2007 Braves).

Tennessee is now dealing with an injured Erik Ainge and some big losses of star players on their offense. Sure, I don’t expect Georgia to blow either team out, but let’s just say I won’t be as shocked as say Lee Corso if Georgia wins both those huge rivalry games. Mark Richt is 3-0 as Georgia coach at Neyland Stadium and we have a chance to be 4-0 this year. That big disgusting sea of orange does not intimidate us and we’ll have revenge on our minds.

The sleeper SEC East team of course is South Carolina. With the evil genius Spurrier and better talent, it would not be shocking for this USC to possible sneak ahead of all of us in the division and represent the East in Atlanta.

So, I will save making actually predictions on individual games and put the Dawgs at 10 wins, Bowl game included. No matter how much America dismisses the Dawgs or ignores the quiet confidence of Mark Richt, I know what we’re capable of and these kids will play hard and smart for Richt.

GO DAWGS.

- Alex R.