Photo by John Bazemore
Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno celebrates with lineman Fernando Velasco, right, after a touchdown run against Auburn last season.
Georgia at a glance
- Coach: Mark Richt (eighth season)
- Record at school: 72-19
- Record last year: 11-2
- Returning starters: offense 8,defense 7.
- Outlook: The Bulldogs are deep, talented and experienced but they will have to overcome one of the toughest schedules in the country if they are to play for the national title.
Since winning the Sugar Bowl, Georgia has been touted as a national championship contender. But you would never know it by the media’s preseason All-SEC team.
Only two Georgia players, running back Knowshon Moreno and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, made first-team All-SEC. Three other Bulldogs were named to the second team.
South Carolina also had five players selected to first- or second-team All-SEC. And nobody is picking the Gamecocks to contend for the national title.
If you go back to last season, this isn’t surprising. Georgia didn’t finish second nationally because of star power. Its strengths were depth and balance.
That hasn’t changed.
Sure, Moreno might be a Heisman candidate and junior quarterback Matthew Stafford is being projected as a future high first-round NFL draft pick. But what’s more striking about the Bulldogs is their level of experience and talent among their starters and backups.
Aside from the uncertainty of a new placekicker, who is expected to be high school All-American Blair Walsh, Georgia looks solid at virtually every position.
When asked for a position of concern among his 22 starters, Richt struggles to find examples.
“Well, it’s still the offensive line,” he said at SEC football media days. “We have one junior and no senior linemen.”
An absence of upperclassmen in the offensive line would worry any coach. But this unit relied so heavily on freshmen last year, its wise beyond its years.
Trinton Sturdivant, Clint Boling and Chris Davis all started last season as freshmen. Vince Vance, Josh Davis and Kevin Perez played as backups. And another highly ranked recruiting class has added center Ben Jones, who’s expected to play as a true freshman after impressing the coaching staff during spring drills.
What’s next on Richt’s worry list? He’s concerned about depth at several positions.
“At safety, we’ve got three guys right now that I think are game-ready,” Richt said. “You get one of those guys hurt, then you don’t have any substitutes that have any game experience at all.
“There are other positions, even tailback. Knowshon is a heckuva tailback. I have zero experience behind him.”
But he does have Caleb King, who got the same rave reviews as Moreno during his redshirt season. More depth should come from the recruiting class, including Richard Samuel and Dontavius Jackson, who, like Jones, enrolled early and took part in spring practice.
In listing his concerns, Richt doesn’t mention “receiver.” That’s progress.
Georgia repeatedly has been hampered by dropped passes the last several years. Moreover, the Bulldogs haven’t had a go-to guy. Not since Reggie Brown in 2004 has a Georgia receiver caught more than 39 passes in a season.
Senior Mohamed Massaquoi, who has 100 catches for his career, is the best bet to change that. He finished strong last season with an 84-yard touchdown reception against Florida, a 58-yard TD catch against Auburn, six catches against Georgia Tech and five catches against Hawaii.
Senior Kenneth Harris only had four catches last season but has won a starting job after being named the best all-around offensive player in the spring. Freshman wide receivers Tavarres King and consensus All-American A.J. Green also are expected to contribute right away.
“The sky’s the limit for those guys,” said Massaquoi, who has been impressed with the young receivers this summer.
Stafford has the most to gain from the improved receiving corps, which provides a nice mix of size, speed and experience. With better receivers, maybe his production will come closer to matching his potential.
In two seasons as a starter, Stafford has completed only 54.5 percent of his passes and thrown just three more touchdowns than interceptions (26 to 23).
While the offense should be improved, defense still should be Georgia’s strength. The Bulldogs are experienced and deep in the line and at linebacker, despite losing middle linebacker Marcus Washington to an off-season shoulder injury.
Despire Ellerbe’s All-SEC recognition, Rennie Curran, who started five games as a freshman last season, could be the best of the linebackers.
Akeem Dent and Darius Dewberry also have starting experience, and look out for junior college transfer Akeem Hebron, who was the leading tackler and recovered a fumble in the spring game. Hebron is a former consensus high school All-American.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 38
4114 writes:
The only hole that Ga needs to worry about is the one that the VOLS are going to plow thru them. Just like last year.
minor writes:
you got that right! GO VOLS ! Woodstock , GA
gnm53108 writes:
Gotta agree with 4114.I actually think we might be able to score a few more this year.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Looking at their schedule - they SHOULD (note) be undefeated when the Vols roll into Athens. If they are, they wil be a top 2 0r 3 team, due to the media adoration of Richt.
What an opportunity for the Orange....
alfrizzle097 writes:
Four losses lie on that schedule.
oasis3#214380 writes:
Hey John- nothing about all of Georgia's off the field problems? I thought that was a major concern of yours regarding college football programs. I guess it only matters at Tennessee. You choked on this article.
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
OVERRATED. The team & the article.
HotlantaVol writes:
As long as we are the underdawg, we have a great shot at knocking these guys down. But if we go in there with national respect and swelled heads, history says the Vols lose. Plus, don't forget the revenge factor. We embarrassed them last year. Don't think they won't be pumped. They may even pull out the black jerseys on us. It could get Uga-ly.
HotlantaVol writes:
John - what's a despire?
ctownvol writes:
To He(l with Georgia!
LifeTimeVOL writes:
I don't see what all the hype is around Stafford. When he came to Knoxville last year, he looked completely lost and struggled to even go through the motions. The dawgs are overrated and are going to experience a michael vick like beat down in october
bobbarbilly writes:
Jarja is a good football team but the Vols gonna carry y'all all over dat field.
tnbanker_govols writes:
I do not understand the hype around this team either. Stafford is kinda like the Tim Couch of 2008. Supposed to be the next big thing but instead, the next biggest flop. We saw how overrated they were last year, no different this year.
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
CrankE writes:
In two seasons ...Stafford has completed only 54.5 percent of his passes 26 TDs, 23 INTs.
And they're projecting him as a first round NFL draft pick!?
Then there's Massaquoi (That's arabic for "handle required for completion") touted as their top receiver.
And this is a possible National Championship team?
You know who Georgia 2008 sounds like? Tennessee 2002. I wonder how they'll handle their first loss? No wait, I've lived down here for 12 years, I know the answer to this one; Blame the refs. Play Dead UGA!
Joe2724 writes:
I think Georgia will take a loss to the "mighty" volunteers every year if that means a BCS bowl and top 5 ranking. Thanks for waking us up last year!!!
LifeTimeVOL writes:
hey joe, don't worry we would be honored to give the dawgs another thorough beating in their own doghouse. ya must be nice sneaking into a BCS bowl against the mighty pacific powerhouse Hawaii. i mean who wouldn't want to get throttled by the vols, costing them a shot at the SEC title?
murrayvol writes:
Georgia closed strong with a tainted win over UF (Tebow hurt) and a BCS blowout over a vastly overhyped Hawaii team.
Hence the media love affair. Alas, the honeymoon will not survive that schedule.
Tampa_Dawg writes:
You hillbillies are all dreaming. You don't have a chance against UGA this year and your coach (Fat Fulmer) finally got nabbed in Alabama for being a snitch to the NCAA. You better thank God for your only decent player in Eric Berry, who by the way is from the great state of Georgia. Rack'em!
vscebail#247785 writes:
You gotta know that the DAWGS are always tough and ready with HELEN HUNT (RICHT) at the helm. He is so intense... I don't know which I like better: his scared look from "Twister" or his sad look from "Castaway".
BADGES0413 writes:
Tampa Dawg,
1. Bama Cheated
2. Fulmer 10 and 4 vs. the Puppies
3. Richt 1 and 3 vs Phil since Donnan's recruits graduated.
tractoronthepole writes:
I found it refreshing to look at the Georgia Players game comments from last year.
http://www.tennfb.com/ViewArticle.dbm...
Tenn_Dawg writes:
I'm not sure why some Dawgs are coming on here talking smack after the last two years.....but oh well? Anyway I read those comments by the UGA coaches and players that was linked by tractoronthepole and they seemed to give credit were the credit was due without excuses. Hopefully this year will be a better game.
I do think UGA will be better but so will everybody else in the conference and the road schedule will be tough to overcome for UGA. My predictions are they will be a better team with the same record, 10-2 with a loss to Auburn and LSU/UF tossup. With UGA having the bye week this year I am giving them the edge over UT. Interestingly I noticed that every or most SEC east opponents have a bye week before UT this year. That could be a problem for UT this year with the tougher opponents.
As far as UT goes I think they are being underestimated a bit and I feel they will have a really strong team. JMHOs!
ctownvol writes:
Tampa- 86-47 total score the last two years. Both Tennessee wins. Just the facts. You can talk when you win.
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
Now we have Dawgs coming on our boards talking shite....seee....i told ya...you keep feeding the monkeys...and look....heres the baboons....good lord....I mean azz whipping after azz whipping and you show up on our board to talk trash....that would be like us hopping on UFs boards....(not gonna happen)....Georgia is about as relevant to us as Vandy....They are a SEC team...but we have no fear....our foot is clearly on that doggie throat of yours and we will not let you up.....soooooooooo ...go play with UGA??? and we will see you in Athens
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
And...tampa_dawg....WE are very thankful of Eric Berry...but know this....IT DOESNT MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM...WHEN YOU PUT ON THAT ORANGE...YOU ARE OUR GUYS....YOU ARE FROM TENNESSEE......NEYLAND STADIUM.....107K STRONG....RACK DAT BEOTCH
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
Dc......They are already there. Most UF boards have a healthy dose of UT, FSU and Miami participants...(please tell me that the UT faithful are talking shite though....cuz my azz still hurts from last year...and until we turn that around....im just gonna support my guys...no predictions...no trash talking....just wait and see how it goes...im sick of being abused by Florida..and i only hope that no one with a UT sign on name is making themselves or us look like idiots...lol
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
and DC FLORIDA....(if they are ....please dont tell me..) lol...I dont think I could handle that...lmao
Joe2724 writes:
Why is Florida fan on here? At least UGA and UT won their bowl games. I heard Tebow was going to Alabama to perform some more circumsisions. I hope he doesn't hurt his non-throwing shoulder so there will be no excuses when UGA smacks that A** again.
Joe2724 writes:
Georgia is 3-3 over the last 6 games with the mighty Vols!!
Would the VOL fans take a loss to Georgia and a guranteed trip to a major BCS bowl, or is the game against UGA the climax of their season? The way the big orange talk as long as they beat UGA they are satisfied with their season. Georgia fans want a championship but will take a top 10 finsh, something the vols haven't done in 4 years. Gotta love the orange colored glasses!!!
Ask any impartial sports guru which program is better right now regarless of the head to head match up (ie Stanford over USC/ App.ST over Mich. ). I bet you already know the answer.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Doldrums roiling.
ctownvol writes:
Joe- Don't flatter yourself big boy. Georgia is rather irrelevant. We just find it amusing at your willingness to talk smack after toting two consecutive thumpings. You boys are just annoying. That's all. Just like the trembling, little, ankle-biting chihuahuas that you are. All bark and no bite.
givehim6 writes:
That's ok, let the UGA people come to the VOLS site and talk trash. That just means there being cocky and overconfident, thats what we want. It's more fun to watch there smiles turn to the deer in the headlight look when we start kicking bulldog butt.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
rivals.com - good read on the Dawgs.
cjraney writes:
vscebail-
Hilarious on Saint Richt.
cjraney writes:
Hey Joe, when you're thankful for a loss, that doesn't make it a "wakeup call," it makes you a loser.
And if you'd rather have a BCS bowl than an SEC title you're just pathetic and don't deserve the privilege of being an SEC fan. You disgust me.
Tampa_Dawg writes:
Volguy41, I smell a hob-nailed boot coming down on your nose very soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFzYJ0...
By the way...does the "41nlouisianna" in your name stand for your cajun IQ? Don't ya just love talkin' smack. See ya in Athens... oh, I'm sorry, you will probably have to work on Saturdays. McDonalds can get pretty busy on weekends. In the words of Larry the Cable Guy, "I don't care who you are... that's funny!"
gavol2572 writes:
JAWJER SCUM!!!!!!
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