Georgia was the forgotten team at SEC football media days last week.
It was a distant second - so distant, it might as well have been third - behind Florida, which was a unanimous pick to win the SEC East. The Georgia players didn't fare much better than the team. Only one made first-team All-SEC.
The lack of recognition contrasted sharply with the previous preseason when Georgia was ranked No. 1 in the country. The preseason buzz was a testament to star power. Tennessee fans know all about that.
UT had All-American quarterback Peyton Manning and an abundance of future NFL players returning in 1997. It was a logical pick to play for the national title.
At least the Vols came closer than the Bulldogs did 11 years later. Georgia didn't even make it to a BCS game, despite having No. 1 NFL draft pick Matthew Stafford at quarterback and Knowshon Moreno, another first-round pick, at running back.
"I think the reason they picked us No. 1 was because of (Stafford and Moreno)," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "I don't think they really looked at the other ingredients.
"When you start three freshman linemen and two sophomores, your chances of being No. 1 are not very good."
Georgia didn't just fail to live up to preseason expectations. It was routed by Florida and Alabama, and it gave up 45 points in a stunning collapse against Georgia Tech.
Not only was Georgia overrated. It was thwarted by a run of injuries that cost it starters as well as quality depth.
"We got to the point where we were so thin at some positions, if we lost one more guy, we were gonna be in trouble with just having a guy that would know what to do," Richt said.
Attrition notwithstanding, it was puzzling how a team that had recruited so well for so long could occasionally look so inept on defense. And how could an offense with Stafford, Moreno, A.J. Green, and Mohamed Massaquoi be so unproductive in the first half of the Capital One Bowl against overmatched Michigan State?
So the Bulldogs arrived at last week's media days with more questions than stars. But this time, they're more likely to be underrated than overrated.
This should be the best and deepest offensive line the Bulldogs have fielded this decade. They're also talented and deep at linebacker, where Rennie Curran stars and four other players have starting experience. All-SEC-caliber tackles Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins will anchor the defense, and Green is one of the two best wide receivers in the league.
Although fifth-year senior Joe Cox has sat patiently behind Stafford for most of his career, Richt seems extremely confident in his new quarterback. It helps that Cox came off the bench to rally the Bulldogs past Colorado in the fourth quarter three years ago as a redshirt freshman.
"The team believes in Joe," Richt said. "They see him every day in practice. They see how accurate a passer he is."
The running back position might seem only slightly less certain to outsiders. But Georgia has a history of strength at that position. And if Caleb King, who backed up Moreno last season, isn't the answer at running back, maybe freshman Washaun Ealey will be.
The Bulldogs might benefit from something less tangible as well. Maybe they will be motivated to prove themselves without their star players, just as UT's 1998 national championship team was after losing Manning the year before.
"When two guys separate themselves (like Stafford and Moreno) as for their play and how the media perceives them, then it's very difficult to think of the Georgia football team as a team," Richt said. "It's more like: those two guys, and the rest of the team."
You don't have to look beyond the press guide to realize that Georgia is emphasizing the team concept this season. On the cover, mascot Uga VII towers over a huddle of unrecognizable players. On the back, all you have are a couple of empty Georgia helmets.
Stars play better than helmets in preseason. But if Cox plays up to Richt's expectations and the Bulldogs avoid last year's run of injuries, an overlooked Georgia team might distinguish itself after all.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 21
TurnUpTheVOLtage writes:
Who cares about Georgia?
chargervol writes:
I don't know if Georgia has a team leader like Al Wilson. I remember one magazine(forgot which one) quoting "Are you listening Al?" I think he listened. Even when he was sidelined, he was cheering, coaching and getting in teammates faces. Chavis said he had to tell Al to calm down, he was afraid he would aggravate his injury. Of course, we know how Al calmed right down. When it came to the game he was born to play, Al was never calmed down. It would be nice someday to see Al roaming the sidelines coaching our linebackers. I think he would be great. Definitely has the prestige. GO VOLS!!!
DennisVols writes:
Every year it is the same thing with GA. Their fans believe this is the one.
Living in the Atlanta area there has been some rumblings about coach Richt. As good a guy as he is GA always seems to lose the important ones. A losing record against UF, a loss to GA Tech last year and a discipline problem that has plagued this team since Richt arrived.
The is some question or debate the Richt is the coach on the hot seat in the SEC this Year.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!
crimsonviper writes:
On a thread awhile back i believe ctown vol said Richt does less with more than any other sec team.I would tend to agree.
gohawks1 writes:
Great memory - Al on the sideline with his arm in a sling waving that white towel and jumping up and down, cheering the fellers on.
99gator writes:
sit.
lay down.
roll over.
play dead.
good dog.
OrangeMagic writes:
my feelings exactly...99g, that was some funny shi~
hueypilot writes:
Georgia seems to be good when nobody expects them to be and not so hot when everybody expects great things. They are the only team in SEC like that............uh except for, well, you know who.
cloudodust writes:
yeah, their OL was beat up in 2008 and they survived because of Stafford, Moreno and a makeshift OL that pulled together. If this years highly touted OL and suspect backfield doesn't click, they can say hello to 4th place in the East.
SEAL_9821 writes:
I wouldn't go as far to say they will play for it all, but i do agree that Georgia will be a surprise along with us. I just hope we are a step ahead of them on the surprise game this year.
CrankE writes:
Richt lost the handle on this team against UF in 2007 with the touchdown mega-celebration. At the time, I loved it, but in hindsight it might be a shark-jumping moment for Richt.
Richt has only a couple of years left to really get it in gear if he's going to make it to the next level. Otherwise, he could turn into Georgia's Fulmer. Well liked and respected, but in decline and on the way out.
It's amazing how little is made of UGAs wins against Florida and how much is made of UT's failures. Since 1990, UT has 6 wins against UF. Does any SEC team have more wins on UF over that span?
On another note, John Adams breaks a streak of 413 consecutive columns where Tebow was mentioned/praised/worshipped.
PaulTheVol writes:
Georgia seems to take a lot of star players who don't get much better at the next level (Caleb King is the perfect example and, you could argue, Matthew Stafford is another). It's hard to tell if the players are overrated or the coaching staff isn't making them better. In the Atlanta area the feeling increasingly is that the assistant coaches (except for Rodney Gardner)are not SEC caliber and Richt has to answer for that.
Georgia has a very tough schedule this year - seven straight games to start the season - and should be ripe for an upset at Tennessee in week six (the week after playing LSU) and at Vanderbilt in week seven. If Richt doesn't win 10 this year and compete with Florida and beat Georgia Tech the heat could really be on him.
corrinebrown writes:
Need to be careful CMR is 30-4 in opponents stadium
Volunatic writes:
I'll mark the 10/10 game in the "CAN win" column for the Vols for now.
Tenn_Dawg writes:
No...CMR is 82-22 overall. His road record is the best though at 30-4. He has lost 10 at home, he is 2-6 in Gainsvilles, 2-1 in Sugar Bowls and 2-1 SECCG.
UGA is 10-2 against Ranked Opponents ON THE ROAD, and is 24-14 against ranked opponents overall since 2001. UGA is 6-4 against Top 10 teams, including 3-1 on the road.
Tenn_Dawg writes:
No....1 loss in Neyland for CMR. Check the records but I am pretty sure he is 5-3 against UT with one road loss in 2007 and two home losses in 2004 and 2006. UF is the only team he has a losing record against at 2-6. He is 5-3 against Auburn, 3-1 against Bama and 3-2 against LSU.
Tenn_Dawg writes:
Gotta. I agree with your assesment. Of course this is the SEC we are talking about and anybody can lose on any given Saturday.
I actually think UT will be better this year than in 2010 when your OL is made up of freshman and sophmores. Like UGA in 2007 and 2008 you can't win big with young guys playing in the trenches.
I look for Georgia to have a good year if Cox can manage the game ala JPW for Bama in 2008.
arlvol writes:
Marlon Brown catches a pass over the middle and gets laid out by Eric Berry. Good night Marlon Brown and thanks for playing!
volbald writes:
UGA has been a consistent under-achiever with the excellent talent it recruits. But UGA ranks near the top of the SEC nearly every season since Richt became the head coach. What will it take for them to consistently win the big games? Hope they never find out.
UGAgolfer writes:
Seriously, UGA will not be overlooking UT. I am a long-time, well-informed fan and ticket holder. The fact is UGA has an above average chance of losing at home to LSU the week before, and if they do, they will be primed to win in K-ville. LSU is going to win the West. Period. UGA won at LSU last year because the LSU QB threw two INT's to the same LB who scored both times. That won't happen again, and no one can stop their big RB (including Florida). LSU will play Florida in the SECC game. UGA however will have their best team since 2005. Why? Because they AVERAGED 18 PLAYERS OUT per game in 2008, and those people are back and healthy. No one could have won 10 games with that number of injuries, but Stafford and Moreno helped them win the close ones. That pretty much sums up blowouts to the two top teams in the SEC as well as blowing a 28-12 halftime lead against Ga Tech. In 2009, UT reminds me a lot of some of Jim Donnan's teams. A very thin D upfront and questionable QB and RB play. And being Kiffin's first year, it will be a lot harder to adjust to the new systems. I still think dropping Fulmer was a mistake.
LaneTrain writes:
I don't believe top ten 6 out of the last 7 years with ten wins each year in that same span is 'underacheiving'. I live in GA and every 'sane' Ga fan is grateful they have Richt as coach. I wish he was on the hot seat but that is a stupid comment to make by anyone. Here's hoping Lane can enjoy the same success Richt has in his tenure.
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